Written Answers of 26 June 1991

EMPLOYMENT

  Skill Centre, Cardiff
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what consultations he has had with(a) the chairman of the South Glamorgan TEC, (b) Astra Training Services and (c) the Cardiff city council as planning authority and ground landlord concerning the future use of the skill centre land and buildings at Western avenue, Galealflor.

  Mr. Jackson
  My Department has had no consultation with the organisations listed. Negotiation about the sale of the freehold of land and buildings owned by my Department are being conducted on my behalf by King and Company.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has for extending, redeveloping or disposing of the skill centre land and buildings he owns and leases at Western avenue, Galealflor, Cardiff.

  Mr. Jackson
  The land and buildings at Western avenue, Cardiff, are in the process of being marketed by King and Company. It will be for the purchaser to decide any future plans for development.

  The leasehold interest in the site at Western avenue, Cardiff, was conveyed to Astra Training Services Ltd. on completion of the sale of the training businesses.

  Job Clubs
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list by address all the job clubs(a) in Leeds metropolitan district and (b) in Leeds, West constituency.

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

  Unemployment
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by how many unemployment has increased since October 1990.

  Mr. Jackson
  Between May 1991 and October 1990, the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the United Kingdom, rose by 539,400.

  Foreign Exchange Services
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if his Department has surveyed tourists about the charges levied by businesses providing a foreign exchange currency service.
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  Mr. Forth
  I have made no such surveys, but I am aware of complaints made by overseas visitors to Ministers and to the tourist boards about the insufficiency of information on the exchange rates and commission charges applicable. Commission and other charges and exchange rates offered by foreign exchange currency businesses are best determined by competition in the market. However, the Government believe that for competition to be effective the customer should have adequate information concerning the exchange rates and commission charges that apply.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry proposes to make regulations shortly under part III of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 which will set out requirements on how bureaux de change display their exchange rates and other charges.

  National Union of Mineworkers
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the cost so far of undertaking the legal action by the trade union certification officer against the president and secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The prosecution was brought by the independent Certification Officer for Trade Unions and Employers' Associations, to whom detailed questions about such matters should be addressed. I understand from the certification officer, however, that the total legal and professional costs arising from the preparation and conduct of the prosecution case are likely to be in the order of £17,000. The costs arising from the preparation and conduct of the defence are not yet known.

WALES

  Research and Development (EC Funding)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total amount of receipts for each standard region of the United Kingdom from ESPRIT, RACE, BRITE and other European Community framework funds for research and development.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Unfortunately it is not possible to provide a regional breakdown for allocation of EC funds. However, United Kingdom organisations are very successful in securing funding from the Community's R and D programmes, obtaining approximately 20 per cent. of the funding available under the Community's European R and D framework programme.

  Educational Psychologists
  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(a) the number of educational psychologists employed; and if he will also represent (a) as a ratio per 100 of children of school age resident in the local education authority area.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  This information is not held centrally.

  Local Government
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the date and time of publication of his document "The Structure of Local Government in Wales"
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  and indicate (a) the date and time at which he intends the document shall be available at the Vote Office and (b) the date and time of its provision by his Department to the Vote Office.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The consultation document "The Structure of Local Government in Wales" was sent to all Members representing Welsh constituencies on Monday 17 June. Fifty copies of the document were delivered by hand to the Vote Office for release at 3.30 pm on the same day, and copies were also placed in the Library of the House. At the request of the Vote Office, a further 50 copies of the document were sent on 20 June, and a further 100 copies on 24 June.

  Distribution of the document to a wide range of public and private sector bodies began immediately after completion of my right hon. Friend's statement to the House on 17 June.

  Acute Beds
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of acute beds in national health service hospitals in each health authority in each year since 1979.

  Average daily available acute2 beds

  Health authority

  Clwyd

  East Dyfed

  Gwent

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan

  Pembrokeshire

  Powys

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  1974

  1,459·9

  770·2

  1,682·9

  675·9

  1,965·6

  218·8

  293·2

  2,091·4

  1,607·1

  1975

  1,455·6

  763·5

  1,663·3

  673·8

  1,933·5

  220·2

  293·8

  1,986·3

  1,562·3

  1976

  1,437·1

  754·3

  1,586·1

  678·6

  1,906·0

  218·7

  296·6

  1,931·5

  1,569·2

  1977

  1,424·3

  779·7

  1,579·1

  688·6

  1,939·2

  220·0

  303·3

  1,941·7

  1,549·4

  1978

  1,404·7

  765·8

  1,567·2

  686·3

  1,933·3

  233·1

  304·0

  1,879·7

  1,498·3

  1979

  1,420·5

  761·8

  1,517·9

  686·2

  1,915·8

  245·7

  292·2

  1,864·9

  1,428·3

  1980

  1,434·4

  763·9

  1,541·1

  687·8

  1,886·6

  246·5

  240·4

  1,826·3

  1,447·8

  1981

  1,391·1

  740·9

  1,548·9

  681·7

  1,859·4

  248·7

  226·8

  1,818·4

  1,455·1

  1982

  1,400·8

  742·2

  1,535·4

  683·6

  1,842·4

  254·2

  229·2

  1,820·3

  1,440·4

  1983

  1,399·3

  741·6

  1,515·1

  670·4

  1,846·1

  264·1

  241·5

  1,864·1

  1,450·0

  1984

  1,371·2

  708·1

  1,478·9

  685·6

  1,844·1

  260·9

  237·4

  1,851·4

  1,398·2

  1985

  1,342·6

  690·1

  1,466·2

  716·5

  1,835·5

  261·1

  237·7

  1,839·3

  1,421·3

  1986

  1,337·2

  694·9

  1,388·7

  718·7

  1,813·5

  266·6

  221·0

  1,751·0

  1,448·0

  1987

  1,354·9

  692·9

  1,388·0

  705·1

  1,784·4

  258·0

  220·3

  1,753·7

  1,399·9

  1988

  1,307·1

  691·1

  1,382·6

  681·7

  1,878·3

  266·1

  195·5

  1,733·1

  1,336·7

  1989–901

  1,189·6

  645·4

  1,354·8

  680·8

  1,744·3

  261·9

  194·4

  1,699·5

  1,268·5

  1 Data produced on financial year basis only.

  2 Excludes geriatrics, younger disabled, obstetrics, GP maternity, mental illness, mental handicap, adolescent psychiatry, mental illness children, psychogeriatric and elderly mentally infirm.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Cash Benefits
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will commission a study into the impact on incentives to work of providing demand–led cash benefits for families, where extra income is received with the addition of each new child.

  Mr. Jack
  The importance of work incentives was taken into account during the development of the 1988 social security reforms. The introduction of family credit—the income–related benefit for working families with children—and aligned benefits assessed on net rather than gross earnings improved incentives for low–income working families. These benefits take the number of children into consideration so there is no loss of incentive if the family increases in size. Now only a very small proportion of working families would be better off not working, and claiming income support.
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  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  [holding answer 23 May 1991]: The figures, from 1974, are shown in the following table.

  For more than 20 years it has been a policy of both Labour and Conservative Governments to rationalise the provision of beds in the NHS to take account of changes in medical practice. These changes have led to patients having shorter stays in hospital, for instance in maternity confinements. Furthermore, elective surgery is increasing being undertaken on a day case basis.

  Bed numbers are no indication of the level of health care; rather, the crucial factor is the number of patients treated. Between 1979–90, the number of in–patients treated has risen by 36 per cent., compared with 6 per cent. between 1974–79, the number of out–patients rose by 28 per cent. compared with a fall of 3 per cent. between 1974–79 and the number of day cases has risen by 246 per cent. since 1979.

  I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising this question and I am sure that he will agree that it would be nonsense to base success in the NHS on a bed number rather than on quality of service promised to patients.

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

  Mr. Jack
  This Department has a long-standing commitment to maintaining good relations with our customers and their representative bodies and have sought their views on the service we provide. Sampling of customer opinion has been carried out annually since 1984 in local offices. Results are analysed and, since the 1989–90 exercise, have been fed into the target setting process. An external survey was commissioned in 1990 to provide a nationally representative picutre which in effect validates the national results of our own customer opinion sampling.

  The launch of the benefits and contributions agencies this year, in addition to our two existing agencies, has given us a springboard to improve further working

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  relationships with these groups. Managers will have more freedom to respond to the needs of their area and there will be many local initiatives. Nationally, external surveys will in future be undertaken annually and, in addition to specific quality of service targets, the Benefits Agency now has a customer satisfaction target. Their success in attaining this target will be measured by the results of these surveys. The contributions unit, now the Contributions Agency, commissioned a broad-based survey of contributions customers in February 1991 to establish their requirements and priorities; this will report in July 1991. A regular series of contributions conferences was also established in July 1990. Both of these will be used in the development of targets and performance indicators.

  Further details of Benefits Agency and Contributions Agency programmes for this year can be found in their published annual business plans which are available in the Library.

  Household Incomes
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will seek to reduce the period between publication of the family expenditure survey and publication of an analysis of household incomes by quintile and decile groups.

  Mr. Jack
  Once we have received the family expenditure data from the Central Statistical Office, we need to check and analyse data and discuss resulting queries with CSO. The time taken to produce an analysis of equivalised household incomes depends on the extent of the queries and the speed with which they can be resolved. We are actively considering what action can be taken to speed up and improve these processes.

  Residential Care Homes
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress is now being made to introduce regional variations in the amount of income support payable to meet the fees of private and voluntary homes outside the Greater London area.

  Miss Widdecombe
  There are no current plans to introduce regional variations beyond the present addition for the Greater London area. Information from the Price Waterhouse survey and other sources does not show a sufficiently secure basis for further geographical variation.

  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information his Department collects on the destination of elderly people who leave residential or nursing homes.

  Miss Widdecombe
  No such information is collected.

  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what evidence he has on whether elderly people have been obliged to leave the residential or nursing homes in which they were living because they were unable to meet the fees.

  Miss Widdecombe
  We are not aware of any instance in which residents relying on income support have been evicted because they could not afford the fees.

  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations he has received on the subject of income support levels to meet the costs of residential and nursing homes in the past six months.
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  Miss Widdecombe
  Several representations have been received recently, both from individuals and representative bodies.

TRANSPORT

  Rail Tickets
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will require British Rail to ensure that all return tickets issued from eastern Europe to destinations in the United Kingdom inform customers of the procedure to be adopted for booking return tickets.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  No.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that the restriction to London Victoria of facilities to book return rail tickets to Soviet destinations is publicised at all points of entry.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  No. This is a matter for British Rail.

  Road Crashes
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each quarter starting in the first quarter of 1987 the annual ratio to the distance travelled of the number of fatalities and serious injuries in road crashes.

  Mr. Chope
  The information requested is given in the table. It is given in the form of a rate of fatal and serious casualties per billion vehicle kilometres. Data for 1990 are provisional.

  Twelve month period ending

  Rates per billion vehicle kilometres

  Fatal

  Serious

  1987

  Q1

  15·7

  199·4

  Q2

  15·4

  193·8

  Q3

  15·2

  190·2

  Q4

  14·4

  180·5

  1988

  Q1

  14·1

  180·7

  Q2

  13·8

  175·4

  Q3

  13·2

  169·5

  Q4

  13·3

  166·7

  1989

  Q1

  13·4

  162·8

  Q2

  13·1

  160·4

  Q3

  13·2

  156·8

  Q4

  13·2

  154·9

  19901

  Q1

  13·1

  153·3

  Q2

  13·2

  152·0

  Q3

  12·9

  150·7

  Q4

  12·5

  148·0

  1 Provisional

  British Rail
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will amend British Rail's quality of service objectives to require it to provide facilities to permit reservations to Russian destinations to be made at major British Rail outlets.
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  Mr. McLoughlin
  No.

  Casualty Reduction Campaign
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the casualty reduction campaign brief.

  Mr. Chope
  A copy of the campaign brief has been placed in the Library.

  Casualty Reductions
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research projects on casualty reduction are being undertaken; and when are reports expected to be published.

  Mr. Chope
  Research is being carried out on a wide range of issues in road and vehicle safety. Main research areas on road user safety include driver behaviour, road safety education, pedestrian accident causation, engineering measures for accident prevention, enforcement, and rehabilitation. The vehicle safety research programme includes side impact protection for car occupants, motor cycle safety, pedestrian protection measures in vehicle design, HGV accident investigation, vehicle lighting and signalling systems.

  Research reports giving the results of research are published regularly.

  Transport Council
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the outcome of the meeting of the European Community Transport Council on 20–21 June.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I attended the first day of the meeting of the European Council of Transport Ministers which was held in Luxembourg on 20 and 21 June. My hon. Friend the Minister for Roads and Traffic was present on the second day.

  I am extremely pleased with the progress made at the Council, especially the agreements reached both on the development of Community railways and the need for safer design of vehicles.

  The railways agreement is an important step towards liberalisation, allowing access by individual rail companies to the railway systems of other member states for the purpose of international combined transport operations. It will encourage greater use of rail freight services thus acting to alleviate congestion on roads. The Commission reported that its work on the combined transport network was progressing well and a report should be produced by the end of the year. A regulation was agreed, providing for the replacement of public service obligations, in the public transport sector, by public service contracts. The amended regulation will bring greater transparency to dealings between governments and transport undertakings, particularly railways.

  Other inland transport matters discussed included transit and international road passenger transport. Ministers agreed that the Commission's mandate to conduct transit negotiations with Austria and Switzerland should be extended indefinitely, with a view to obtaining further concessions. The Council approved in principle a draft transit agreement with Yugoslavia.

  I reiterated the United Kingdom's strongly held view that concrete progress is needed on international road
  474
  passenger transport; the matter will be further considered in the Committee of Permanent Representatives and I hope to be able to report progress as a result of the next Council.

  A number of air transport issues were covered by the Council. There was a debate on which airlines should be included in the list of Community air cargo carriers, which forms an annex of the EC air cargo regulation. The Commission informed member states of its intention to have informal discussions with third countries on air cargo. On the question of state subsidies to the airline industry, a Commission report was promised in the near future, while the proposal on technical requirements in aviation was referred back to the Committee of Permanent Representatives for further consideration and finalisation.

  Moving on to the marine sector, agreement was reached on a revised presidency compromise on inland waterway cabotage, with a decision on derogations for the new German Länder. There was a disappointing lack of progress on maritime cabotage liberalisation despite the clear treaty obligation for liberalisation to be agreed, and implemented, as part of the completion of the single market. My hon. Friend the Minister for Roads and Traffic announced that the United Kingdom was withdrawing from the Loran C negotiations, partly because of the uncertainty of concluding an agreement within the time scale the United Kingdom had set for a proper transition, and partly because a more competitive offer has been received from the Racal electronics group to update its existing Decca system.

  The Council adopted a directive on roadworthiness tests for cars which will help to ensure that vehicles throughout Europe are maintained to safe standards. A resolution on road safety, asking the Commission to draw up a report outlining a Community road safety strategy, which should include measures on vehicle standards and equipment, was also adopted. Agreement in principle was reached on the driving licences directive which will provide for mutual recognition of driving licences throughout the Community and harmonisation of driving test standards in member states. The directive will enter into force in 1996.

  Some progress was made on the seat belts directive and the Committee of Permanent Representatives will consider it further with a view to a decision later this year.

  Noise
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the further noise alleviation measures to which his hon. Friend, the Minister of State referred on 19 June,Official Report, column 348; and whether or not they included compensation.

  Mr. Freeman
  My reference was to measures mentioned in Kent county council's paper "International Rail Services Noise Protection" which suggests action that could be taken where railway noise increases and exceeds specific levels at certain times of day or night. The suggested action includes the provision of noise barriers or sound insulation for people's homes. It is these physical measures which British Rail will be discussing with the council.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Justices of the Peace
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list by year for the last five years the number of justices of the peace in Doncaster by ward; and what steps have been taken over the last five years to increase the proportion of young justices of the peace, women justices of the peace, justices of the peace from ethnic minorities and justices of the peace from under-represented wards.

  The Attorney-General
  The present number of active justices of the peace in Doncaster by totalling the numbers for the wards in each parliamentary constituency is as follows:

  Number

  Doncaster, Central

  71

  Don Valley

  74

  Doncaster, North

  43

  The figures for the last five years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost and would not be likely to show any appreciable difference. Over the last five years the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee for Doncaster has continued, as required by the Lord Chancellor, to seek out men and women from all backgrounds and walks of life so that the bench broadly reflects the local community and is balanced in terms of age, sex, occupation and residence within the area.

  The methods adopted by the committee towards achieving this aim have been by way of notices and articles in the local press, letters to all parish councils, major employers, political organisations, trade unions and magistrates on the active and supplemental list.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Sardar Sarovar Dam
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of the Minister for Overseas Development on 12 June,Official Report, column 570, whether the independent team appointed to review the Narmada dam will include in its review consideration of proposals to (a) lower the height of the dam by 67 ft in order to reduce submersion and displacement by half and (b) resettlement and rehabilitation of 50,000 people displaced by irrigation channels in Gujarat, in addition to resettlement of oustees in Madyha Pradesh.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The World bank has informed us that the independent review team's terms of reference will not cover consideration of proposals to lower the height of the Sardar Sarovar dam. The team will consider all resettlement proposals. Bank staff estimate that the number of people affected by irrigation channels will be around 5,000 to 10,000.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether detailed plans have now been drawn up on how to provide drinking water for 10 million people from the Sardar Sarovar dam, funded by the World bank.
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  Mrs. Chalker
  Detailed plans have been drawn up for the provision of drinking water for people in the existing townships nearest to the dam; detailed plans are being developed for people in areas further afield.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the proposed compensatory afforestation for the Narmada dam, funded by the World bank,(a) will ensure a continued source of non-timber forest products, as well as that the total number of trees is maintained, (b) will be located close to the areas where forest will be submerged and (c) will be located so as to minimise the effect of the loss of existing forest on the micro-climate in the area.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Several species of trees will be planted, including those which will provide non-forest products. The total number of trees will be maintained. Afforestation will be close to the areas where forest will be submerged. Trees will be located so as to minimise the effect on the micro-climate of the area.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Nursery Schools
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will increase the minimum teaching area in nursery schools to take account of the need to meet in full curricula, equipment and staffing needs.

  Mr. Fallon
  Minimum teaching areas in schools, including nursery schools, will be considered as part of the current review of the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981. The results of the review are likely to be available towards the end of next year.

  Adult Education
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what has been the total capital and revenue expenditure on non-vocational and vocational adult education in each of the past five years by local education authority;

  (2) what has been the adult education expenditure in England and Wales for the past five years by (1) local education authority, (2) vocational or non-vocational groupings and (3) age and gender.

  Mr. Eggar
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many adult education services and facilities are free standing or absorbed into colleges of further education by local education authority.

  Mr. Eggar
  The following local education authorities in England made nil returns at November 1990 in respect of separate adult education centres outside FE colleges:

  Enfield

  Bolton

  Sheffield

  Harrow

  Manchester

  Bradford

  Haringey

  Salford

  Hertfordshire

  Newham

  Tameside

  Isle of Wight

  Knowsley

  Trafford

  Shropshire

  St. Helens

  Doncaster

  Wiltshire

  Wirral

  Rotherham

  Data on the organisation of provision for adults in Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Wales.

  School Premises
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give details of the responses made to the consultation exercise on the review of the 1981 School Premises Regulations.

  Mr. Fallon
  It is not the Department's practice to publish details of responses to such consultations. The views expressed will of course be given careful consideration and taken into account in the review.

  Further Education Colleges
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the representations made since 1 April from local authorities seeking approval

  Institution

  LEA

  Date of ministerial consent (if required)

  Swindon College

  Wiltshire

  14 June 1991

  Dudley College

  Dudley

  24 June 1991

  Brooklyn College of Technology

  Birmingham

  Not required

  Bourneville College

  Birmingham

  Not required

  Shipley College

  Bradford

  Not required

  North Devon College

  Devon

  Not required

  Barton Peveril College

  Hampshire

  Not required

  Elm Park Tertiary College

  Harrow

  Not required

  Stamford College

  Lincolnshire

  Not required

  Tameside College of Technology

  Tameside

  Not required

  The Peoples' College

  Nottinghamshire

  Awaiting contract details

  West Hertfordshire College

  Hertfordshire

  Awaiting contract details

  Bromley College of Technology

  Bromley

  Awaiting contract details

  Orpington College

  Bromley

  Awaiting contract details

  Sir John Deanes Sixth Form College

  Cheshire

  Awaiting contract details

  Taunton's Sixth Form College

  Hampshire

  Awaiting contract details

  Huddersfield College

  Kirklees

  Awaiting contract details

  Waltham Forest College

  Waltham Forest

  Awaiting contract details

  Chippenham Technical College

  Wiltshire

  Awaiting contract details

  Bacon's CTC
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what requirements have been put on the trustees of Bacon's city technology college about the money he has made available to them to build the city technology college should they decide not to proceed with the city technology college.

  Mr. Eggar
  Paragraph 24(A)iv of the CTC funding agreement requires the CTC on termination of the agreement to repay to the Secretary of State sums determined by reference to:

  "(a) the value at that time of the College's site and premises and other assets held for the purposes of the College; and

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  of expenditure on further education colleges and sixth-form colleges, the capital value of each scheme, and the institutions concerned; and whether, in any case, ministerial approval has been granted.

  Mr. Eggar
  The details are given in the table. In several cases, formal ministerial approval has not been needed for the action which the authority has been proposing to take. In other cases, while it has been possible to indicate our likely agreement, formal agreement has to await the details of the proposed contracts. I am unable to specify the values of the contracts concerned; to do so would be in breach of commercial information supplied in confidence.

  (b) the extent to which expenditure incurred in providing those assets was met by payments by the Secretary of State under this Agreement."

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will investigate the failure of the sponsors of Bacon's city technology college to offer all staff of Bacon's school security of appointment at the city technical college, as previously agreed between the school and the city technical college; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether he will make it his policy to contribute to the redundancy payments of staff of Bacon's school, when it closes on 31 August, who have not been offered equivalent employment at the new Bacon's city technology college or achieved employment elsewhere.
  479
  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend has been kept informed by the trustees of the Bacon's city technology college of progress towards the opening of the school, including issues of staffing. He is considering generally the question of liability of any redundancy payment.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw),Official Report, 9 May, columns 561–64, when the valuation of 1·5 million was made for the proceeds of the present site of Bacon's school; when the site will be put on the market; and what is the present estimate of the proceeds.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Bacon's school site was valued in 1989 at £1·5 million, following the advice of agents. The site will be marketed this autumn, with this figure as a guide price.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the new building for Bacon's city technology college will be available for occupation.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Bacon's CTC autumn term starts on 23 September, by which time most of the new building will be complete and available for occupation.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the cost of the chapel that has been built in the new Bacon's city technology college; and who has agreed to pay for it.

  Mr. Eggar
  The cost of the chapel, which is assessed at £140,000 will be met entirely by the Southwark diocesan board of education.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what role his appointee on the trustee of Bacon's city technology college has played in the appointment of staff at the new college.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Secretary of State's nominee on the Bacon's CTC trust has been directly involved only in the appointment of the principal of the college.

HEALTH

  Maternity Units
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many district health authorities have community maternity units; and how many places in these units each district health authority provides.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information relating to beds in wards designated for general practitioner—maternity use, is given in the table. Consultant obstetric wards also have beds available for use by general practitioners.

  Average number of beds available daily in general practitioner maternity units by district health authority 1989–90

  District health authority

  Available beds

  North Tees

  15

  South Tees

  13

  East Cumbria

  8

  West Cumbria

  10

  Northumberland

  21

  Gateshead

  6

  480

  District health authority

  Available beds

  Hull

  2

  East Yorkshire

  11

  Grimsby

  20

  Scunthorpe

  16

  Scarborough

  12

  Harrogate

  6

  Airedale

  5

  Calderdale

  6

  North Derbyshire

  22

  Leicestershire

  38

  North Lincolnshire

  0

  South Lincolnshire

  8

  Central Nottinghamshire

  8

  Peterborough

  12

  East Suffolk

  18

  Norwich

  1

  North Bedfordshire

  1

  Basildon and Thurrock

  7

  Mid Essex

  24

  North East Essex

  31

  Newham

  2

  Enfield

  15

  Redbridge

  4

  Tunbridge Wells

  8

  Bexley

  8

  East Dorset

  6

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  54

  South West Hampshire and Southampton

  36

  Winchester

  10

  Bath

  77

  Aylesbury Vale

  8

  Wycombe

  9

  Northampton

  5

  Oxfordshire

  32

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  17

  Exeter

  29

  North Devon

  11

  Plymouth

  20

  Somerset

  8

  Kidderminster and district

  24

  Worcester and district

  11

  Shropshire

  72

  North Staffordshire

  30

  South East Staffordshire

  6

  North Warwickshire

  10

  South Warwickshire

  1

  Coventry

  19

  Dudley

  31

  Sandwell

  2

  Walsall

  11

  Wolverhampton

  21

  Crewe

  5

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble

  44

  Chorley and South Ribble

  25

  Bolton

  4

  Bury

  1

  Salford

  4

  Trafford

  6

  England

  1,008

  Source: KHO3.

  Hospital Readmissions
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 23 May,Official Report, column 593, to the hon. Member for Don Valley, if he will make it his practice to keep central records of national health service patients who have been discharged from hospital, and within three months required subsequent hospitalisation for the same or a different but related complaint.
  481
  Mr. Dorrell
  There are no plans to do so. Patients may be re-admitted for a variety of reasons. Work carried out on using re-admission data to develop an outcome measure has encountered considerable difficulties in defining the necessary data and interpreting them.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Police (Compensation)
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on how much compensation, in out of court settlements, has been paid by each police authority for each of the last five years that figures are available.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Out-of-court settlements are made under section 48(2) (b) of the Police Act 1964 at the discretion of the police authority concerned; the information requested is not held centrally.

  Assistant Commissioner Alun Wyn-Jones
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what restitution or compensation has been made to Assistant Commissioner Alun Wyn-Jones following the decision that insufficient evidence for prosecution existed.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  None.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the precise terms of the inquiry into the certain matters concerning Assistant Commissioner Alun Wyn-Jones.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The precise terms of reference of the inquiry which the acting Commissioner, with the agreement of my right hon. Friend, asked Mr. Nobes to conduct into Mr. Wyn-Jones's conduct were a matter for the acting Commissioner and not for my right hon. Friend.

  Prison Discharge Grant
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received calling for the prison discharge grant to be increased to the equivalent of two weeks' payment.

  Table A1 Number of mates prosecuted and convicted for the offence of begging by petty sessional divisions 1987–89

  Petty sessional division

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Prosecuted

  Convicted

  Prosecuted

  Convicted

  Prosecuted

  Convicted

  England and Wales

  Bristol

  —

  —

  3

  3

  12

  11

  North Bedfordshire

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Luton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Forest

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  West Berkshire

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Aylesbury

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Cambridge

  5

  5

  6

  5

  8

  8

  Teesside

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Penwith

  2

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South East Cornwall

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  4

  Truro and South Powder

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Carlisle

  —

  —

  2

  2

  3

  3

  Penrith and Alston

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Diss

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Exeter

  2

  2

  6

  6

  —

  —

  Plymouth

  —

  —

  —

  —

  7

  6

  Teinbridge

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Torbay

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Bournemouth

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  2

  Brighton

  2

  2

  4

  4

  13

  12

  Hastings

  1

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  482
  Mrs. Rumbold
  We have received representations to this effect from the Association of Chief Officers of Probation.

  Refugees
  Mr. leuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to provide capital and revenue support for more short-stay hostels for newly arrived refugees in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Government currently have many aspects of asylum-seeking under review, but have no present proposals on the matters raised in this question.

  Satellite Television
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement regarding the proposed dedicated satellite television sex channel.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  If the proposed channel were to be uplinked from the United Kingdom, it would be subject to the licensing regime of the Independent Television Commission. This requires licensees to ensure, inter alia, that nothing is included in their programmes which offends against good taste or decency or is likely to be offensive to public feeling. If the service were to be uplinked from another European country, it would need to comply with international instruments which prohibit the broadcasting of pornographic programmes.

  Vagrancy
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale) on 27 February,Official Report, columns 502–4, if he will give the same information for prosecutions for vagrancy offences for (a) men and (b) women; and how many were convicted in each case.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information requested is given in the tables.
  483

  Petty sessional division

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Prosecuted

  Convicted

  Prosecuted

  Convicted

  Prosecuted

  Convicted

  Hove

  2

  2

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Manchester

  —

  —

  1

  1

  2

  1

  Alton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  Droxford

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Lymington

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Odiham

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Southampton

  1

  1

  1

  —

  2

  —

  Hereford (Borough)

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cheshunt

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  4

  Dacorum

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Watford

  2

  2

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Canterbury and St. Augustin

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Blackpool

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  Lancaster

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Preston

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Rossendale

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  1

  Liverpool

  —

  —

  7

  6

  5

  4

  St. Helens

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Daventry

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Northampton

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Wellingborough

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  York

  5

  5

  3

  3

  —

  —

  Guildhall Justice Room

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  3

  Bow Street

  192

  187

  162

  158

  599

  580

  Clerkenwell

  8

  8

  21

  20

  152

  143

  Greenwich

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Marlborough Street

  44

  40

  72

  66

  70

  63

  Marylebone

  48

  45

  82

  68

  49

  44

  Old Street

  —

  —

  2

  2

  5

  5

  South Western

  7

  7

  2

  2

  4

  4

  Thames

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Tower Bridge

  2

  1

  3

  2

  5

  5

  West London (Southcombe Street)

  7

  7

  9

  8

  9

  9

  Wells Street

  3

  1

  2

  1

  —

  —

  Camberwell Green

  2

  2

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Horseferry Road

  49

  47

  55

  52

  209

  204

  Highbury Corner

  7

  6

  38

  34

  31

  29

  Oxford

  12

  11

  12

  9

  38

  35

  Lambeth

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  North Oxfordshire and Chipping Norton

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yeovil

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  3

  Stratford

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  Barnet

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Brentford

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Bexley

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Ealing

  1

  1

  2

  2

  10

  9

  Hampstead

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Hendon

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Haringey

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Tottenham

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  2

  Harrow

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Willesden

  3

  2

  8

  6

  10

  7

  Wimbledon

  1

  1

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Uxbridge

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  Richmond upon Thames

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  —

  New Spelthorne (Feltham)

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Doncaster

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Kingston upon Thames

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  1

  Waltham Forest

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Redbridge

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Lowestoft

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Guildford

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Staines and Sunbury

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Birmingham

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Coventry

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Leeds

  3

  3

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Wakefield

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Chippenham

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Salisbury

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  Swindon

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Cynon Valley

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cardiff

  3

  3

  5

  3

  1

  —

  Neath

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  484 485

  Petty sessional division

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Prosecuted

  Convicted

  Prosecuted

  Convicted

  Prosecuted

  Convicted

  England and Wales

  430

  405

  530

  477

  1,313

  1,237

  Table A2

  Number of females prosecuted and convicted for the offence of begging by petty sessional divisions 1987–89

  England and Wales

  Petty sessional division

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Prosecuted

  Convicted

  Prosecuted

  Convicted

  Prosecuted

  Convicted

  Cambridge

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  South East Cornwall

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  Falmouth-Penryn

  —

  —

  1

  1

  2

  2

  Plymouth

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  Brighton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  3

  Hove

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Manchester

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Odiham

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Grimsby and Cleethorpes

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Liverpool

  —

  —

  2

  2

  1

  1

  Guildhall Justice

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Room

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  Bow Street

  12

  12

  14

  13

  19

  18

  Clerkenwell

  1

  1

  3

  1

  8

  7

  Greenwich

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Marlborough Street

  1

  1

  4

  4

  7

  6

  Marylebone

  6

  6

  5

  5

  6

  6

  West London (Southcombe Street

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Camberwell Green

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  Horseferry Road

  6

  6

  4

  3

  27

  26

  Highbury Corner

  2

  2

  3

  3

  1

  1

  Oxford

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Islington

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  City of Westminster

  2

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  West Ham

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Croydon

  3

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Ealing

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tottenham

  —

  —

  2

  1

  —

  —

  Dorking

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  England and Wales

  36

  35

  43

  35

  89

  82

  Table B1. Number of males prosecuted and convicted for the offence of sleeping out by petty sessional divisions 1987–1989

  England and Wales

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Petty sessional division

  Prosecuted

  Convicted

  Prosecuted

  Convicted

  Prosecuted

  Convicted

  Luton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  West Berkshire

  2

  2

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Thurrock

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Manchester

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Oldham

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  Portsmouth

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  Grimsby and Cleethorpes

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  Blackpool

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Preston

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Wyre

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Liverpool

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Selby

  —

  —

  9

  1

  —

  —

  York

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Bow Street

  3

  3

  1

  1

  2

  2

  Marylebone

  2

  2

  3

  3

  1

  —

  South Western

  2

  2

  —

  —

  4

  4

  Thames

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  West London (Southcombe Street)

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  —

  Horseferry Road

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Highbury Corner

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Ealing

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Hendon

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Haringey

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Uxbridge

  —

  —

  1

  1

  2

  2

  Barking

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  486 487

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Petty sessional division

  Prosecuted

  Convicted

  Prosecuted

  Convicted

  Prosecuted

  Convicted

  Leeds

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Cardiff

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  England and Wales

  13

  13

  17

  13

  21

  14

  Table B2. Number of females prosecuted and convicted for the offence of sleeping out by petty sessional divisions 1987–1989

  England and Wales

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Petty sessional division

  Prosecuted

  Convicted

  Prosecuted

  Convicted

  Prosecuted

  Convicted

  Liverpool

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Bow Street

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Marlborough Street

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Marylebone

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  England and Wales

  1

  1

  0

  0

  3

  2

  Prisoners (Drugs)
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing the average number of doses of drugs administered per inmate in each of Her Majesty's penal establishments in the latest available year.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  This information is not available.

  Overseas Visitors
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many overseas visitors were initially refused leave to enter and were removed from the United Kingdom(a) between January and April 1988 inclusive, (b) between January and April 1991 inclusive, (c) between January 1987 and December 1988 inclusive and (d) between January 1989 and December 1990 inclusive; and what were their nationalities.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The total numbers of passengers by nationality who were refused leave to enter and removed from the United Kingdom in 1987, 1988 and 1989 are published in Table 1 of the annual Home Office Command Papers "Control of Immigration: Statistics, United Kingdom"—Cm 415, 726 and 1124 for each year from 1987 to 1989 respectively—copies of which are held in the Library. Corresponding information for January to April 1988, year 1990, and January to April 1991 is given in the table. It is not possible from the information available centrally to ascertain how many of those refused leave to enter and removed from the United Kingdom sought entry as visitors.

  Passengers refused leave to enter and removed from the United Kingdom

  Number of persons

  Nationality

  January to April 1988

  Year 1990

  January to April 1991

  EUROPE

  1,392

  2,681

  767

  Austria

  23

  90

  15

  Belgium

  8

  6

  2

  Bulgaria

  7

  58

  26

  Cyprus

  59

  154

  44

  Czechoslovakia

  6

  106

  85

  Denmark

  1

  6

  —

  Finland

  16

  38

  15

  France

  47

  34

  8

  Germany (D.R.)

  1

  154

  2

  Germany (F.R.)

  25

  11

  Greece

  3

  1

  —

  488

  Nationality

  January to April 1988

  Year 1990

  January to April 1991

  Hungary

  5

  107

  77

  Italy

  20

  3

  2

  Luxembourg

  —

  —

  —

  Malta

  5

  21

  10

  Netherlands

  25

  25

  2

  Norway

  22

  88

  18

  Poland

  32

  93

  35

  Portugal

  177

  49

  14

  Romania

  2

  23

  18

  Spain

  189

  10

  1

  Sweden

  39

  164

  57

  Switzerland

  39

  80

  22

  Turkey

  514

  389

  110

  USSR

  10

  168

  34

  Yugoslavia

  117

  903

  170

  AMERICAS

  862

  4,420

  1,132

  Argentina

  23

  86

  43

  Barbados

  3

  36

  12

  Brazil

  108

  932

  222

  Canada

  25

  114

  32

  Chile

  32

  64

  15

  Colombia

  137

  750

  151

  Cuba

  —

  7

  5

  Guyana

  9

  57

  14

  Jamaica

  113

  580

  (36

  Mexico

  29

  150

  34

  Peru

  17

  132

  42

  Trinidad and Tobago

  13

  131

  33

  United States of America

  345

  1,319

  369

  Uruguay

  2

  18

  4

  Venezuela

  6

  44

  20

  AFRICA

  1,416

  5,155

  1,282

  Algeria

  396

  978

  57

  Egypt

  9

  40

  13

  Ethiopia

  3

  52

  21

  Ghana

  120

  479

  164

  Kenya

  42

  202

  56

  Libya

  9

  41

  9

  Mauritius

  52

  219

  62

  Morocco

  238

  634

  41

  Nigeria

  227

  848

  350

  Sierra Leone

  38

  321

  103

  Somalia

  4

  49

  21

  South Africa

  100

  530

  154

  Sudan

  15

  16

  6

  Tanzania

  22

  102

  35

  Tunisia

  65

  188

  18

  Uganda

  34

  193

  84

  Zambia

  18

  100

  28

  Zimbabwe

  24

  163

  60

  ASIA

  1,198

  3,902

  1,192

  Bangladesh

  153

  339

  143

  China

  12

  63

  35

  489

  Nationality

  January to April 1988

  Year 1990

  January to April 1991

  Hong Kong BDTC

  119

  261

  51

  India

  209

  488

  149

  Indonesia

  5

  44

  —

  Iran

  93

  363

  44

  Iraq

  18

  56

  22

  Israel

  51

  243

  53

  Japan

  73

  222

  66

  Jordan

  10

  27

  14

  Kuwait

  1

  1

  —

  Lebanon

  26

  80

  92

  Malaysia

  148

  858

  282

  Pakistan

  105

  435

  125

  Philippines

  40

  148

  39

  Saudi Arabia

  13

  14

  1

  Singapore

  38

  63

  13

  Sri Lanka

  48

  94

  43

  Syria

  11

  55

  8

  Thailand

  25

  48

  12

  AUSTRALASIA

  51

  351

  137

  Australia

  33

  219

  96

  New Zealand

  18

  132

  41

  OTHERS

  468

  2,671

  861

  British Overseas citizens

  19

  40

  9

  Other countries not elsewhere specified

  252

  1,248

  389

  Stateless

  197

  1,383

  463

  ALL NATIONALITIES

  5,387

  19,180

  5,371

  1 Refusals recorded as GDR refusals prior to the unification of Germany on 3 October 1990.

  Jamaican Citizens
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Jamaican citizens were initially refused leave to enter the United Kingdom as not being genuine visitors(a) between January and April 1988 inclusive, (b) between January and April 1991 inclusive, (c) between January 1987 and December 1988 inclusive and (d) between January 1989 and December 1990 inclusive.

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

  Jamaican citizens refused leave to enter and removed from the United Kingdom

  Reason for refusal

  Not a genuine visitor1

  Other reasons2

  January to April 1988

  91

  22

  January to April 1991

  114

  22

  January 1987 to December 1988

  536

  157

  January 1989 to December 1990

  1,184

  199

  1 Persons refused under paragraph 22 of the immigration rules.

  2 Some may have sought entry as visitors but been refused for reasons other than not being a genuine visitor.

  Electoral Procedures
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he holds as to which European Community countries use mechanical or electronic means to count votes at national elections.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Our information, which may be incomplete, is that electronic ballot paper counting machines are used at Lander, federal, European 490
  Parliament and—probably—some local elections in Germany. We shall try to obtain further details, and I will write to my hon. Friend when we have done so.

  Shops Reform
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those organisations which his Department is consulting about the reform of the Shops Act 1950; and when he expects these consultations to be concluded.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  To assist in the possible development of acceptable proposals for the reform of the law on Sunday trading, I have held or plan to hold separate discussions with representatives of the following organisations:The Shopping Hours Reform Council; Sort Out Sunday; OPEN (Outlets Providing for Everyday Needs); the Keep Sunday Special Campaign; the Free Church Federal Council; the General Synod of the Church of England's Board for Social Responsibility; the Churches Main Committee; the Council of Churches for Britain and Ireland; the Lord's Day Observation Society; Churches Together in England; the Board of British Jews; the National Consumer Council; the Retail Consortium; the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers; the GMB; the Association of District Councils; the Institute of Safety and Public Protection; the National Federation of Meat Traders; and the British Tourist Authority and the English Tourist Board.

  I have also met representatives of the Horticultural Trades Association in relation to a proposed private Member's Bill on Sunday trading sponsored on their behalf.

  I hope to be able to conclude this programme of separate discussions in the early autumn. I am keeping open the possibility of joint discussions thereafter.

  Maguire Case
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secrertary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Maguire case.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  On 12 July 1990, my predecessor referred to the Court of Appeal, under section 17(1)(a)of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968, the cases f Mr. and Mrs. Maguire, their sons, Vincent and Patrick, Mr. William Smyth and Mr. Patrick O'Neill. At the same time, he also sought the views of the Court of Appeal as to whether it was possible to refer to the court, under section 17(1) (a), the case of Mr. Patrick "Guiseppe' Conlon, who died in 1980. The court subsequently decided it could consider such a reference under section 17(1) (a), and the case was regarded as having been referred accordingly. My predecessor referred these cases in the light of the interim report of Sir John May who, on 19 October 1989, had been appointed by the Government to inquire into the circumstances leading to and deriving from the trial of the Maguire family and their co-defendants, as well as that of the Guildford Four.

  The Court of Appeal has now quashed the convictions of all seven defendants for the unlawful possession of explosives. Under the provisions of section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, any person whose conviction has been quashed on the basis of a new or newly discovered fact following a reference by the Home Secretary of the case to the Court of Appeal is entitled to apply for compensation. The amount will be decided on the basis of advice from an independent assessor. I will, of

  491
  course, give careful consideration to any application that is made to me by the Maguire family and their co-defendants. In the case of Mr. Patrick "Guiseppe" Conlon, I will be prepared to consider an application from his family or other personal representative.

  It is a matter of concern that there should have been such a serious miscarriage of justice in this case, which has resulted in the wrongful imprisonment of those involved. The Royal Commission on Criminal Justice, which I announced on 14 March, was established in part to ensure that, so far as possible, the likelihood of such events happening again would be minimised. The royal commission will be able to take this case into account during its deliberations. At the same time, I understand that Sir John May will continue to look into various aspects of the Maguires' case, and the Government will consider very carefully any further report by Sir John May.

  Pet Shops
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued to local authorities in establishing whether pet shop premises are suitable as respects(a) size, location, lighting, ventilation and cleanliness and (b) food and drink.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  [holding answer 24 June 1991]: None; under section 4(1) of the Pet Animals Act 1951, local authorities are able to authorise qualified veterinary surgeons to inspect licensed premises, if professional guidance is needed in a particular case, or more generally.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will indicate the type and extent of veterinary training given to environmental health officers for the purposes of carrying out their functions under the Pet Animals Act 1951.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  [holding answer 24 June 1991]: The training of environmental health officers in connection with any duties they may have under the Pet Animals Act 1951 is a matter for local authorities. As local authorities may appoint a veterinary surgeon to inspect licensed premises in their area or may seek veterinary advice subsequent to the inspection of premises by an official, there should be no difficulty in obtaining professional veterinary advice when necessary.

  Flooding
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statutory requirements are in operation to provide advance public warning of flooding rivers, estuaries and inland waters; if he will list those places which have a standard advance public flood warning system in operation; what form these systems take; what funding is provided for this purpose; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to her on 26 June 1991

SCOTLAND

  Salmon
  Mr. MacLennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the dumping of Norwegian salmon on the British market.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  We have received representations from a number of hon. Members, and from salmon farming interests in Scotland, about the effect of Norwegian imports on the European Community market for farmed salmon, particularly the market in France.

  The Government understand the industry's concerns and we are working closely with it to secure the future of the salmon farming industry in the United Kingdom.

  Full-time Education
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of Scottish children between the ages of 16 and 18 years remain in full-time education.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The proportion of Scottish children between the ages of 16 and 18 years remaining in full-time education was 32·3 per cent. in 1989.

  Footpaths and Bridleways
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Don Valley of 4 June,Official Report, column 201, if he will make it his practice to keep central records of the number of public footpaths and public bridleways that have been created or closed to the general public.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No. Each roads and planning authority, under the terms of its appropriate legislation, is responsible for the creation or closure of public footpaths and public bridleways in its area. There is no demonstrable benefit in my right hon. Friend compiling information of this type where he is not the authority responsible.

  Scientific Units
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ensure that a proportion of the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage scientific units are located in the highlands; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The location of scientific units for the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland and subsequently Scottish Natural Heritage is a matter for the bodies themselves.

  Polyscythaemia
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of polyscythaemia were diagnosed in Scotland in each of the past ten years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The number of in-patient cases treated for primary polyscythaemia in the period 1981–90 was as follows:

  Year

  1Cases

  1981

  224

  1982

  195

  1983

  193

  493

  Year

  1Cases

  1984

  230

  1985

  210

  1986

  169

  1987

  197

  1988

  203

  1989

  186

  1990

  194

  1 Estimated.

  Special Schools
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he intends to take to enable the Greater Glasgow health board to increase the provision of speech therapists and occupational therapists at special schools within Glasgow.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  On 11 June I instigated a number of measures designed to meet the shortage of speech therapists and of therapy services for children with special educational needs.

  These measures include a review of future demand, encouragement to qualified staff who are no longer in employment to return to work and a study to assess the feasibility of introducing in-service training courses for teachers to assist with the delivery of speech therapy treatment. Such courses would be supported by specific grant resources of 75 per cent. of the cost.

  Greater Glasgow health board has already taken steps to increase its provision of speech and occupational therapists.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions Her Majesty's Government have had with the government of the People's Republic of China about the future of Hong Kong.

  Mr. Hurd
  During my visit to Peking in April, I discussed Hong Kong with senior Chinese leaders. A further round of official talks on Hong Kong's new airport took place in Peking on 18–22 May. The 19th plenary meeting of the Sino-British joint liaison group took place in Hong Kong on 11–13 June. There are also frequent contacts on diplomatic channels.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to visit Hong Kong in the near future.

  Mr. Hurd
  I have no immediate plans to visit Hong Kong again.

  Syria
  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on current British-Syrian relations.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Relations have been consolidated since the resumption of diplomatic ties last November. In that time I have visited Damascus twice—most recently this month—and the Syrian Foreign Minister has visited 494
  London. These contacts were useful. The Syrians were members of the coalition against Iraq. They have a major role in the peace process, in Gulf security and in Lebanon. They are also seeking to help over British hostages in Lebanon.

  Poland
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to visit Poland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no immediate plans to visit Poland. During the state visit of President Walesa in April, my right hon. Friend had discussions with the Polish Foreign Minister. I myself visited Poland in March this year.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Kuwait and Southern Iraq were last discussed at the United Nations Security Council.

  Mr. Hurd
  Since the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, the Security Council has kept the situation between the two countries under constant review. It was last discussed during informal consultations of members of the Security Council on 11 June.

  Cyprus
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has to meet the leader of the Turkish Cypriots, Mr. Rauf Denktash.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to meet Mr. Denktash.

  Middle East
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had about solving the outstanding problems in the middle east; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is in regular touch with all the parties concerned on the outstanding middle east problems including the Arab-Israel dispute, Gulf security, regional disarmament and the situation in Iraq.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the prospects for release of the British hostages in the middle east.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My visit to Lebanon and Syria was a further opportunity to work for the hostages' release. The Governments of both countries said they shared our determination to achieve their freedom. We are also in close touch with the Iranian Government, who have said that they will continue to use their influence to achieve the hostages' release. As I said after the visit, there are no conclusive signs of an immediate release, but the trends are encouraging.
  495
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the middle east peace process.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United States Secretary of State continues with our full support in his attempts to secure the agreement of all parties to the convening of a peace conference. There remain unresolved differences, mainly of a procedural nature. We have played our part in urging the parties to resolve these problems in order to allow the peace process to begin. We regard Israel's policy on settlements as a serious obstacle to this process.

  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Britain's contribution to finding a diplomatic and peaceful solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict acceptable to the international community.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have given our full support to the United States Secretary of State's initiative to restart the peace process. This offers the best hope of progress. We have urged the parties to the dispute to show the necessary flexibility. We are in close touch with the United States of America and our EC partners on the way forward. We remain concerned about the situation in the occupied territories in particular the continued establishment and expansion of settlements.

  Japan (Prisoners of War)
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise with the Japanese Prime Minister, at next month's G7 meeting in London, the question of compensation for second world war Japanese prisoners of war.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  As I made clear in my reply to the Adjournment debate moved by my right hon. Friend the Member for Castle Point (Sir B. Braine) on 6 June, it is our view that the question of compensation was settled in the 1951 peace treaty.

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Sierra Leone about the security of its borders with Liberia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have had regular contacts with the Sierra Leone Government on this subject.

  Following these discussions we have provided a package of non-lethal defence equipment to the Sierra Leone army.

  South Africa
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the progress of reform in South Africa.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We warmly welcome the historic steps taken this month by the South African Parliament to repeal the Population Registration Act, the Group Areas Act and the Land Acts, and thus to abolish the statutory pillars of apartheid.

  NATO
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about the continuing role of NATO as the base of its members' security.

  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the role of NATO in remaining as the basis of collective western security.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  NATO remains the essential basis of collective western defence, and for the North American military presence in Europe. Other institutions including the EC, the WEU and the CSCE have a role to play in European security. But NATO is the essential forum for consultation among the allies, and for agreement on policies bearing on the security and defence commitments of its members under the Washington treaty.

  Israel
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Anglo-Israel relations.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Our relations with Israel are good, though differences remain on the peace process and on Israeli policies in the occupied territories, in particular the continued establishment and expansion of settlements. I had useful discussions with the Israeli Government in May when I visited Israel.

  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Israeli Government concerning a peaceful long-term settlement in the middle east.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is in regular contact with the Israeli Foreign Minister. During my recent visit to Israel and the occupied territories, I had detailed discussions with leading Israelis and Palestinians on the peace process and urged them to show the flexibility necessary for Mr. Baker's initiative to succeed.

  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any further plans to visit Israel.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no plans at present to visit Israel. I visited Israel on 6–9 May.

  Ethiopia
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Ethiopia.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front took over Addis Ababa on 28 May and formed an interim administration. As agreed at the London talks chaired by the United States, a conference is due to be held by 1 July to establish a broadly based transitional government which it is hoped will prepare for free elections.

  Soviet Union
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to hold a meeting with the Foreign Secretary of the Soviet Union.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend had a bilateral meeting with Mr. Bessmertnykh, the Soviet Foreign Minister, at the Council of CSCE Foreign Ministers in Berlin on 20 June. He has no plans for a further meeting, although Mr. Bessmertnykh has been invited to visit the United Kingdom later this year.

  Lebanon
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a Minister from his Department last visited Lebanon; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My visit to Lebanon from 9–12 June was the first by a British Minister since 1985. I had useful discussions with the President, the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister and other leaders. These addressed the situation in Lebanon and in the region. I was impressed by the determination of the Lebanese Government to restore its authority over the whole country. I was also able to stress the great importance we attach to the release of the hostages held in Lebanon.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Anglo-Lebanese relations.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My visit to Lebanon from 9 to 12 June was the first by a British Minister since 1985. I had useful discussions with the President. Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and other leaders. These addressed the situation in Lebanon and in the region. I was impressed by the determination of the Lebanese Government to extend their authority over the whole country. I was also able to stress the great importance we attach to the release of the hostages.

  European Political and Monetary Union
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest developments in the EPU-EMU inter-governmental negotiations.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The IGCs on EMU and political union have made good progress, but a number of problems remain to be resolved during the next months of negotiations before the shape of the final packages will become clear. I expect the European Council on 28–29 June to take stock of the negotiations so far.

  Antarctica
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether international agreement has been reached on the future of Antarctica.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The third session of the special consultative meeting of Antarctic treaty parties took place in Madrid from 17–23 June.
  498
  The parties reached agreement on much of the final text of an environmental protocol to the Antarctic treaty, including annexes on marine pollution, waste disposal, environmental impact assessment and conservation of wildlife.

  However, the United States has requested more time to consider the amendment procedure for the mining ban. and so a further meeting will be held before October, at which we hope that the protocol will be adopted.

  European Council
  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Her Majesty's Government intend to propose to the European Council of 28–29 June.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  We look forward to discussion of the inter-governmental conferences, progress on the single market programme, and major international issues.

  European Foreign Policy
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next proposes to have discussions with his European Community partners concerning the development of common European foreign policies.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The European Council will consider the question of a common foreign and security policy in the course of its discussion on both inter-governmental conferences at its meeting in Luxembourg on 28–29 June.

  Council of Europe (Social Development Fund)
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards membership of the social development fund of the Council of Europe.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  We take the view that our aid programme is best directed towards the poorest countries in Africa and Asia and elsewhere outside Europe, which have more pressing needs. If we were to subscribe to the fund we should have to divert our aid resources. This would result in a reduction in our contribution to bilateral and multilateral aid programmes, which neither we nor the other countries concerned in these programmes would favour.

  Kashmir
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, further to his reply of 12 June,Official Report, column 559, if he will take steps to ensure that human rights violations in Kashmir since 27 February are fully investigated and the subject of a further urgent joint European Community statement to the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Government of India are well aware of our concern that human rights must be respected. We have emphasised the importance of allowing independent investigations by human rights organisations and of being seen to bring wrongdoers to justice. We are confident that the Twelve will continue to monitor developments in Kashmir closely, and to reflect their
  499
  concerns in further statements at the annual meetings of the UN Commission on Human Rights, and of the UN General Assembly.

  Iraq
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he has had concerning the possible violation of the 1977 United Nations convention on the prohibition of military or any other hostile use of environmental modification techniques —ENMOD—by the destruction of chemical and nuclear facilities in Iraq during the Gulf conflict; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have had no such consultations. Throughout the conflict, the coalition forces were at pains to comply with the rules of international law, including the 1977 ENMOD convention which the United Kingdom has ratified and Iraq has not. This convention prohibits techniques devised to change—through the deliberate manipulation of natural processes—the dynamics, composition, or structure of the earth. There is no question that allied forces ever envisaged the use of such techniques. Moreover, allied attacks on chemical and nuclear facilities in Iraq were carefully planned to minimise the risk to the surrounding area.

  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is currently taking independently, and in collaboration with other nations, to prevent the persecution by the Hussein regime of the Shi-ite minority in Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We continue to give our full support to the deployment of UN relief workers and guards to the UN humanitarian centre in Basra. We have told the Iraquis that repression of the Shia population would have serious consequences. It would be a clear violation of Security Council resolution 688 and a matter for the Security Council's immediate consideration.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Electricity Industry
  Mr. McCrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Federation of Unions Supplying Electricity about the future of the electricity industry in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met representatives from the Federation of Unions Supplying Electricity on 16 May to discuss their views on the planned privatisation of Northern Ireland Electricity.

  Specially

  RVH

  BCH

  Mater

  Ulster

  1989

  1990

  1989

  1990

  1989

  1990

  1989

  1990

  General Surgery

  4,293

  4,517

  3,686

  4,022

  2,202

  2,346

  2,837

  2,840

  Urology

  377

  389

  2,071

  2,431

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Trauma and Orthopaedics

  1,072

  1,124

  1,335

  1,303

  204

  205

  1,357

  1,568

  Ear, Nose and Throat

  2,668

  2,988

  2,617

  2,357

  —

  —

  765

  716

  Ophthalmology

  3,451

  3,736

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Paediatric Dentistry

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  51

  63

  Oral Surgery

  840

  825

  216

  231

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Paediatric Surgery

  —

  —

  372

  58

  —

  —

  920

  941

  Neurosurgery

  1,300

  1,357

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Plastic Surgery

  365

  375

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,230

  2,261

  Waste Incineration
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the total cost of building the proposed incinerator at Maydown, County Londonderry; and what public funds will be made available for the project.

  Mr. Needham
  I understand that Du Pont estimates the total cost of building its proposed incinerator at Maydown as £38 million. The company has approached the Industrial Development Board for possible support for the project from public funds, but no final decision has yet been reached.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list the safeguards which will have to be taken by the operator to prevent emissions from the proposed incinerator for hazardous wastes at Maydown, County Londonderry;

  (2) if he will list the measures he intends to take to control the risk of emissions from the proposed incinerator at Maydown, County Londonderry.

  Mr. Needham
  The proposed incinerator would constitute a registrable process under the Alkali and Radiochemical Works Regulation Act 1906 as amended by the Alkali and Radiochemical Works Order (Northern Ireland) 1991. Before operations commenced, a formal statement of best practical means would be issued in respect of this process by the alkali and radiochemical inspectorate of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. This statement would specify standards of emission and operational and process controls with respect to air pollution abatement. The inspectorate would insist that the operator used the best available technology to treat emissions before discharge to the atmosphere, to ensure there were no adverse health or amenity implications.

  Acute Specialty Units
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many patients were treated in each year since 1989 in each of the acute specialty units at(a) Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast, (b) Belfast City hospital, (c) Mater hospital, Belfast and (d) Ulster hospital;

  (2) how many patients were treated in 1990 in each of the acute specialty units at (a) Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast, (b) Belfast City hospital, (c) Mater hospital, Belfast and (d) Ulster hospital.

  Mr. Hanley
  The table shows the number of discharges, including deaths, from acute specialties in each of the four hospitals in 1989 and 1990. Information is not available on the number of individual patients treated.
  501

  Specially

  RVH

  BCH

  Mater

  Ulster

  1989

  1990

  1989

  1990

  1989

  1990

  1989

  1990

  Cardiac Surgery

  601

  640

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Thoracic Surgery

  757

  761

  61

  85

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Accident and Emergency

  2,050

  1,765

  2,084

  1,870

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sick Babies

  —

  —

  323

  377

  30

  39

  368

  394

  Anaesthetics

  109

  262

  282

  308

  63

  30

  55

  55

  General Medicine

  4,320

  4,181

  4,359

  4,174

  3,205

  2,624

  2,149

  2,326

  Haematology (Clinical)

  —

  —

  677

  573

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Endocrinology

  813

  775

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cardiology

  2,360

  2,309

  1,979

  1,935

  —

  —

  1,005

  1,016

  Dermatology

  197

  190

  322

  338

  —

  —

  6

  13

  Paediatrics

  —

  —

  1,573

  304

  —

  —

  2,002

  2,134

  Genito-Urinary Medicine

  10

  16

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Thoracic Medicine

  —

  —

  499

  618

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Neurology

  1,128

  1,036

  7,130

  8,598

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Medical Oncology

  —

  —

  311

  300

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Rheumatology

  76

  76

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Nephrology

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Rehabilitation

  6

  13

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Obs Gyn (Gynaecology)

  1,604

  1,811

  2,435

  2,290

  795

  817

  1,305

  1,348

  Haematology

  547

  533

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Others

  267

  225

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  29,211

  29,904

  32,332

  32,172

  6,499

  6,061

  15,050

  15,655

  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many consultants are employed in

  Royal Victoria

  Belfast City

  Mater

  Ulster

  General medicine

  12

  11

  3

  4

  General surgery

  9

  7

  3

  5

  Accident and emergency

  2

  2

  1

  1

  Obstetrics and gynaecology

  4

  10

  2

  3

  Orthopaedics

  7

  4

  1

  4

  Paediatrics

  —

  4

  1

  2

  Anaesthetics

  28

  20

  4

  9

  Note: Not all consultants are employed full time; some are employed part time and some split their time between hospitals.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Building Societies
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the Government's policy for the future on double taxation of building societies.

  Mr. Maude
  There is no double taxation of building societies.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in making provisions for the repayment to building societies of tax paid under the transitional provisions of the Income Tax (Building Societies) Regulations 1986.

  Mr. Maude
  It would not be appropriate to comment on the tax affairs of individual building societies.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Building Societies Association and the building societies on the repayments to building societies of tax paid under the transitional provisions of the Income Tax (Building Societies) Regulations 1986.

  Mr. Maude
  Various representations have been received from the Building Societies Association and from some individual building societies.
  502
  each of the acute specialty units at (a) Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast, (b) Belfast City hospital, (c) Mater hospital, Belfast and (d) Ulster hospital.

  Mr. Hanley
  The number of consultants are:

  Duty-Free Allowances
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of revenue forgone to the Treasury because of the sale of duty-free(a) alcoholic drinks, (b) tobacco products, (c) perfumery and (d) other taxable or dutiable products to travellers leaving the United Kingdom to (i) other European Community countries and (ii) elsewhere.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 25 June 1991]: Reliable estimates cannot be provided because there is insufficient information on the amount of duty-free goods purchased by travellers leaving the United Kingdom.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Export Credits Guarantees
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the companies in the Dundee travel-to-work area in receipt of export credits guarantee assistance.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The names of companies that receive export credits guarantee assistance are confidential for commercial reasons. I am, however, able to say that 31 companies in the area are customers of Export Credits Guarantee Department insurance services.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's performance in attracting internationally mobile inward investment projects in 1990–91.

  Mr. Leigh
  My Department's Invest in Britain Bureau —IBB—announced in its annual report published today that 1990–91 saw a record for manufacturing and service sector for investment—and jobs—coming to the United Kingdom.

  Between 1 April 1990 and 31 March 1991, 350 direct investment projects by foreign-owned companies into the United Kingdom were recorded by the IBB. Based on information provided by the companies at the time of the announcement, it is estimated that these projects will create or safeguard about 62,000 jobs.

  Every one of these companies is expressing their belief in the underlying strength of the United Kingdom economy, and the climate of enterprise and initiative we have created here. Every one of them is endorsing the skills, productivity and trainability of our workforce. Every one of them is expressing a confidence in this country's future.

  The figures are testament to some very hard and very effective work by the IBB itself, by Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff overseas, and by the territorial, regional and local authorities.

  We all appreciate the jobs that foreign-owned companies have brought to the United Kingdom. But these companies bring more than just jobs. They bring strength to the economy. They also bring technology transfer. Five new Japanese R and D establishment set up in the United Kingdom last year. This brings the total number to 13. It is this kind of quality, long-term investment, associated with manufacturing, that is needed to see British science and industry in good stead into the next millenium.

  I have asked the IBB to increase its efforts to attract R and D type investment, particularly covering the full range of integrated research, design and manufacturing.

  They also bring huge gains in management skills transfer. That means being as good as the international competition in areas like total quality management, simultaneous engineering and "Just In time". It also means building long-term relationships with suppliers.
  504
  The IBB annual report is all about the long-term profitability and competitiveness of United Kingdom Incorporated. More overseas companies choose to invest here than anywhere in Europe. They do that for the very best reason—the United Kingdom is the place to do business.

  I am arranging for a copy of the report to be placed in the House of Commons Library.

  These totals exclude most retail and sales operations which are not the target for United Kingdom promotion.

  Companies Act 1989
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to commence provisions of the Companies Act 1989.

  Mr. Redwood
  On Monday 24 June I signed an order which brings into operation certain provisions of the Act. The provisions in question are the powers to make regulations under section 35—section 35 concerns the establishment of a register of auditors—and the powers to make regulations under section 36—section 36 concerns information about audit firms which must be made available to the public. The regulations themselves will follow shortly.

  I have placed a copy of the order in the Library.

  Foreign Currency Exchange
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will seek powers to prevent users of foreign exchange currency businesses from being charged excessive commission on their transaction;

  (2) if he will seek powers to prevent a double charge being levied on users of foreign exchange currency businesses through commission as well as marking up the value of the currency.

  Mr. Leigh
  Commission and other charges and exchange rates offered by foreign exchange currency businesses are best determined by competition in the market. However, the Government believe that for competition to be effective the customer should have adequate information concerning the exchange rates and commission charges that apply. I therefore propose to make regulations shortly under part III of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 which will set out requirements on how bureaux de change display their exchange rates and other charges.

ENVIRONMENT

  Buxton Memorial (Restoration)
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the current state of the Buxton memorial in Victoria gardens, Palace of Westminster; and if he will consider action to restore it.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Buxton memorial has suffered from both vandalism and the effects of time. The statues near the base of the roof, the drinking bowls in the centre of the memorial and the centre stone structure are in particular need of repair.

  The Department carries out a thorough cleaning and washing down of the memorial every quarter. It is working up a scheme for the necessary restoration of the memorial and funds have been allocated for the work to go ahead next year.

  Trade in Wildlife
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the reply given to the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Mr. Norris),Official Report, 9 May, column 550, if he will indicate when he intends to announce his decision arising from the forthcoming report on the trade in wild-taken plants and animals; and whether he will make the reports by the Royal Botanical Gardens and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee available to the public.

  Mr. Baldry
  We have asked our scientific advisers to submit their report by the end of July. We shall make an announcement as soon as possible thereafter. The report will be made available to the public.

  Refugees
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to provide additional resources to the housing corporations for housing associations catering for refugees.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Government have increased grant-in-aid to the Housing Corporation from £1·6 billion in 1991–92 to over £2 billion in 1993–94. This will increasingly be supplemented by private investment in housing association schemes.

  Due to the massive resources that we plan to invest in the Housing Corporation over the next three years, the housing association movement can look forward to an expanding programme. Additional resources are not planned specifically for housing refugees.

  Blackdown Hills
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is in a position to announce his decision on the Blackdown hills area of outstanding natural beauty designation order submitted to him by the Countryside Commission.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has today confirmed the order that will designate the Blackdown hills as an area of outstanding natural beauty. The designation covers an area of 370 sq km on the borders of Somerset and Devon. The Blackdown hills are important for their natural beauty and unspoilt rural character which the designation will help to secure.

  Water Charges
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received on the implications for charging for water of the introduction of the council tax.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 25 June 1991]: Among the numerous representations we receive about future methods of charging for water, some advocate basing domestic water charges on the valuation bands which will be used for the proposed new council tax. Each company is free to decide its future system of charging provided it does not give undue preference to, or unduly discriminate against, any class or group of customers. The Director General of Water Services is considering responses to his consultation paper on alternative future methods of charging and will, I understand, be issuing guidelines later this year based on the results of the consultation.

  Housing Estates, Bradford
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the sources and amounts of grant aid for the current financial year allocated to Buttershaw, Bierley and Woodside housing estates in Bradford, South; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 24 June 1991]: As part of its draft urban programme for 1991–92 Bradford metropolitan district council sought approval for two projects on these estates; £10,459 for a skills audit of Buttershaw estate and £22,154 for environmental works on Bierley estate. Both were approved. In addition, Bradford received a total housing investment programme allocation for 1991–92 of £13·37 million.

DEFENCE

  Tornado
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on improvements to the Tornado F3 radar.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Certain features of the second stage of the Foxhunter radar programme, together with other improvements, have already been introduced into those Tornado F3s deployed to the Gulf. We have now decided to add these improvements to the second stage of the radar programme, so that they can be extended to all Tornado F3 squadrons.

  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the Tornado F3 aircraft.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  We have decided not to proceed with the weapon system upgrade of the Tornado F3. We are confident that even without it the aircraft will continue to give effective service well into the next century. We anticipate that from the end of the present decade the European fighter aircraft will begin to complement the Tornado F3, thus providing a powerful reinforcement to the air defence capability of the Royal Air Force.

  Officers
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the net reduction, actual and percentage, in serving officers in each rank(a) in the

  507
  Royal Navy of captain and above, (b) in the Army of colonel and above and (c) in the Royal Air Force of wing commander and above since 1 July 1990.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The total number of officers, by rank, serving at 1 July 1990 and at 31 March 1991, together with the change in number and percentage change between the two dates, is set out in the table. These figures include augmented appointments to NATO.

  1 July 1990

  31 March 1991

  Change Number

  Change Per cent.

  ROYAL NAVY

  Admiral

  5

  6

  1

  20·0

  Vice Admiral

  12

  14

  2

  16·7

  Rear Admiral

  35

  36

  1

  2·9

  Commodore

  33

  37

  4

  12·1

  Captain

  363

  349

  -14

  -3·9

  ROYAL MARINES

  Lt. General

  1

  1

  0

  0·0

  Major General

  4

  3

  -1

  -25·0

  Brigadier

  3

  4

  1

  33·3

  Colonel/Lt. Colonel

  30

  27

  -3

  -10·0

  ARMY

  General

  9

  9

  0

  0·0

  Lt. General

  9

  11

  2

  22·2

  Major General

  64

  62

  -2

  -3·1

  Brigadier

  229

  240

  11

  4·8

  Colonel

  656

  653

  -3

  -0·5

  ROYAL AIR FORCE

  Marshall of the RAF

  1

  1

  0

  0·0

  Air Chief Marshall

  5

  5

  0

  0·0

  Air Marshall

  9

  10

  1

  11·1

  Air Vice Marshall

  39

  45

  6

  15·4

  Air Commodore

  122

  122

  0

  0·0

  Group Captain

  429

  438

  9

  2·1

  Wing Commander

  1,406

  1,407

  1

  0·1

  Submarines
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the estimated cost of removal of a decommissioned nuclear submarine reactor compartment from the submarine;

  (2) what is the annual estimated cost of storage afloat of each of the submarines HMS Conqueror, HMS Churchill and HMS Warspite;

  (3) what has been the annual cost of storage afloat of the submarine HMS Dreadnought for each of the years it has been stored at Rosyth;

  (4) what is the estimated cost of preparing each of the submarines HMS Conqueror, HMS Churchill and HMS Warspite for storing afloat.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  This information is commercially confidential.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost of preparing HMS Dreadnought for storage afloat.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  This work was carried out a number of years ago. The information requested, insofar as it may be available, could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.

  Unexploded Ammunition
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by place and date the occasions on which buried unexploded ammunition has been found outside the impact or target areas of live firing ranges in the last five years.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Information is not held in the form requested.

  Magnetic Treatment Facility
  Mr. Fishburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the magnetic treatment facility.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  We have decided not to proceed with the contract with Dowty Defence and Air Systems Ltd. for the design and construction of a magnetic treatment facility at Faslane. Recent design studies suggest that a more cost-effective and less environmentally obtrusive means of meeting the requirement should be available. The decision to cancel the contract in no way reflects on the standard of performance of the company or its subcontractors. It will not affect the programme for the deployment of the Trident submarine.

  RAF Wildenrath and Gutersloh
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any United Kingdom dependants employed at RAF Wildenrath and RAF Gutersloh have been employed for more than two years.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  A total of 460 dependants are employed at RAF Wildenrath and RAF Gutersloh, of whom 82 have served more than two years.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to issue notices of dismissal to United Kingdom dependants employed at RAF Wildenrath and RAF Gutersloh.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Notices of dismissal will be issued to dependant employees at least two months prior to the dates on which their posts are no longer required. Wherever possible the dates of dismissal will be linked to the posting dates of spouses-parents. The first notices of dismissal are expected to be issued to some of the employees at RAF Wildenrath in January 1992.

  Spare Parts
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 18 June,Official Report, column 143, whether the level of spare parts required is determined by his Department or by NATO.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Spares holdings are determined by MOD, although NATO guidance may be taken into account.

  Rapid Reaction Force
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has yet made a decision on the size of the British contribution to the rapid reaction force.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Work to determine precise national contributions to NATO's future rapid reaction forces is continuing.

  Residential Property
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the qualifying criteria for payment of injurious affection compensation referred to in his reply to the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Mailing on 3 June,Official Report, column 132.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The criteria are as follows:

  1. Departmental approval to the introduction of a noise compensation scheme at the airfield.

  2. Exposure of the individual dwelling to noise levels of at least 83dBLAeq 12 hours.

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the qualifying criteria for the acquisition of dwellings referred to in his reply to the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Mailing on 3 June,Official Report, column 132.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The criteria are as follows:

  1. Departmental approval to the introduction of a noise compensation scheme at the airfield.

  2. New public works, for example, runway extension or strengthening, which, when brought into use, have physical effects; in these cases, noise.

  3. The district. valuer is satisfied that such effects have adversely affected property values.

  4. The claimant's interest in the dwelling satisfies the qualifying conditions prescribed in the Land Compensation Act 1973, which the Ministry of Defence follows administratively.

  5. The claim is submitted within the prescribed period.

AGRICULTURE, FISHewERIES AND FOOD

  Imported Birds
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number of imported birds which died during the period of quarantine and which were subsequently analysed by the veterinary investigations service for each year since 1987.

  Mr. Maclean
  The number of captive birds dying in quarantine or in transit and subsequently submitted to veterinary investigation centres for examination were as follows:

  Number

  1987

  4,268

  1988

  3,791

  11989–90

  9,073

  11990–91

  8,146

  1 April-March years.

  Source: Veterinary Investigation Service.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will indicate the most common causes of death to imported wild birds(a) during transit and (b) during the 35-day quarantine period.

  Mr. Maclean
  The most common cause of death in imported captive birds is considered to be stress associated with malnutrition, dehydration, adverse environmental conditions and enteropathies. The other main specific causes of death recorded for the years 1987 to 1989 were salmonellosis, psittacosis, mycotic pneumonia and colisepticaemia.

  Carcasses of imported birds are examined at veterinary investigation centres for evidence of infectious diseases
  510
  which could spread to the national poultry flock, and the records do not differentiate between birds dying in transit or in quarantine.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has sought the advice of the Civil Aviation Authority concerning the transit of wild-caught birds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Department has held discussions with representatives of the CAA concerning the preparation of guidance to airline operators on the transport of animals, including wild-caught birds. I have also written personally to the airlines emphasising my concern about this trade and stressing the need to observe the International Air Transport Association's rules on the carriage of animals.

  I am concerned that all who are involved in any way with this trade should do everything possible to reduce the problems which have been shown to occur, particularly in relation to the mortality of certain species.

  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration has been given to increase the existing 35-day period of quarantine for imported birds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The 35-day period of post-import quarantine for imported birds provides the necessary level of protection against the introduction of Newcastle disease, avian influenza and other exotic avian diseases, and there is no scientific justification for extending this period.

  Flood Warnings
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what assistance is given by the Government for the provision of early flood warnings around the River Thames; what is the cost of providing warnings; what form such warnings take; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what statutory requirements are in operation to provide advance public warning of flooding around the United Kingdom coast; if he will list those places which have a standard advance public flood warning system in operation; what form these systems take; what funding is provided for this purpose; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  Under section 32 of the Land Drainage Act 1976 (as amended by paragraphs 1 and 14 of schedule 15 to the Water Act 1989), the National Rivers Authority (NRA) is empowered to provide and operate flood warning systems in England and Wales.

  Under section 92 of the 1976 Act (as amended by schedule 17 to the Local Government Act 1985 and by paragraph 1 of schedule 15 to the Water Act 1989) my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is empowered to make grants to the NRA towards the cost of flood warning systems. In the 1990–91 financial year these grant payments totalled about £55,000. The authority has made arrangements for flood forecasting and warning covering both river and coastal areas. Weather forecasts, weather radar, rainfall and tidal levels are monitored in order to detect possible flooding incidents. Information about possible surge tides from the storm tide warning service based at the meteorological office, Bracknell is also used in assessing the risk of coastal flooding.
  511
  This Department is responsible for funding the storm tide warning service, and in the 1990–91 financial year about £400,000 was spent on this service, which produces primary warnings based on estimates of surge tides at a series of specific reference ports. Detailed warnings for vulnerable points along the coast are given by the NRA drawing on expert knowledge of local conditions to interpret the information from the storm tide warning service.

  The NRA issues flood warning notices to the police who are responsible for deciding when the public should be warned, and local contingency plans for flooding will, if necessary, be initiated. These plans which are worked out by the NRA in conjunction with the police, local authority emergency planning officers, port authorities and others, cover the form that warnings will take (eg sirens, announcements on local radio, etc.).

  The River Thames area is covered by the arrangements outlined above. Surge forecasts are particularly useful in assessing when the Thames barrier should be closed to prevent possible flooding of London from the sea but the cost is not recorded separately by the Department.

  Nor do we have any information on the overall costs of providing public flood warnings.

  Separate arrangements apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  Bananas
  Mr. John P. Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he intends to take to ensure that preferential arrangements remain after 1992 to maintain the current United Kingdom-Caribbean trade in bananas.

  Mr. Curry
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) on 19 June 1991, at columns 194–95.

  Dioxins in Milk
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies are being carried out on the levels of dioxins in milk.

  Mr. Gummer
  Over the last year my Department has been carrying out a general surveillance programme for dioxins in food in a range of urban and rural areas. The results, which relate to milk collected at farms, wholesale and retail stages, will be presented to the study group on the chemical aspects of food surveillance later this year and scrutinised by independent expert committees. They will then be published in the usual way together with the committees' recommendations.

  Sophisticated techniques which have been developed recently in the Department's food science laboratory at Norwich have for the last year made it possible to detect dioxins at minute levels. As milk tends to show up airborne contaminants, it is a particularly useful and sensitive product to test in a programme designed to protect the public. Dioxins are of course widespread in the environment, and as could be expected, traces of them have been found in all the samples tested. Last year an international meeting under the auspices of the World Heath Organisation European region recommended a tolerable daily intake for dioxins of 0·01 nanogrammes per kilogram body weight per day. From this, scientific and
  512
  medical experts in this Department and the Department of Health have calculated a maximum tolerable concentration of 0·7 nanogrames per kilogram of milk, if the tolerable daily intake is not to be exceeded. Their advice is that action should be taken to prevent the direct consumption of milk if it contains a higher concentration of dioxins.

  Samples have been taken at three stages, at the retail outlets, at the dairies, and on the farm. At the retail stage, no sample contained more than the normal background levels of dioxin and there is no risk to consumers. At the dairy stage the same applies: this provides further reassurance. Similarly most of the samples taken on farms do not reveal anything unusual.

  However, on two farms in the Bolsover area of Derbyshire the levels were greater than the threshold set by this Department and the Department of Health. An extended survey has however indicated lower levels on all the other dairy farms in the vicinity. I am making the results available in the Library of the House. As to these two farms, milk sold is bulked with other milk in the milk tanker and at the dairy. Tests on milk from the dairy have shown normal background levels. Nevertheless it is best that milk from these farms not be mixed with other milk. My officials have today visited the farmers concerned and we have told them and the milk marketing board about these results. The milk marketing board has concluded that the milk does not meet the conditions in its standard terms of sale for producers and it will not accept the milk into the food supply. I welcome this prompt action, which shows that the board is determined to uphold the highest quality standards.

  At the same time, we cannot ignore the farmers whose livelihood has been milk production. There is no reason to think that they are in any way at fault and I have every sympathy with their predicament. My staff will give advice on the business and husbandry options that are open to them.

  This Department will continue to carry out surveillance in the area and will undertake further detailed studies to learn more about the mechanism for the transmission of dioxins. I am determined that through our surveillance of the food supply we should ensure that fullest possible protection of the public.

  Sea Fisheries Committees
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any plans to change his proposals for the possible extension of SFC jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  Yes. Following detailed consultations with all interested parties and after consideration of the views expressed, the Secretary of State for Wales and I have decided that, in order to enable sea fisheries committees to regulate those stocks, notably shellfish, which are predominantly fished within 0 to 6 mile belt, we are in principle ready to see the jurisdiction of SFCs extended to include waters out to six miles from United Kingdom baselines. It is now for SFCs and the constituent Councils to decide whether to seek extension of their jurisdiction.

  If an SFC's jurisdiction is extended, its existing byelaws will continue to apply only within the 0 to 3 mile belt. Any new byelaws intended to apply in the 3·6 mile belt will be considered on their merits in the usual way.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

  Ibbs Report
  Sir Gerard Vaughan
  To ask the hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what progress is being made with implementing the Ibbs report; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Beith
  Following the generally favourable response of hon. Members in the "take note" debate in the House on 17 January,Official Report, columns 1046–84, the Commission has been making progress towards implementing the main recommendations in accordance, so far as possible, with the timetable proposed in Sir Robin Ibbs's report "House of Commons Services"—HC 38. Competitions for the new posts of Director of Finance and Administration, and Director of Works, have been organised with the assistance of appropriate management consultants. The new Director of Finance and Administration, Mr. James Rodda, currently director of finance and administration at the London Futures and Options Exchange, will assume the headship of the renamed Finance and Administration Department on
  514
  Monday 1 July. The appointment of a new Director of Works within the Departmnent of the Serjeant at Arms will be announced shortly.

  Negotiations are in train for the transfer to the Commission of responsibility for the cost of printing, stationery and office supplies, currently accounted for by HMSO—class XVIII, vote 17; and for the Commons component of the parliamentary works budget, currently accounted for by the Department of the Environment—class VIII, vote 7. An announcement of the likely date of transfer of formal vote responsibility for these and other activities will be made in due course.

  Discussions are also in train to draw up appropriate draft standing orders for the new Select Committees which the Ibbs report proposes should replace the Select Committee on House of Commons (Services), and new terms of reference for the Board of Management. I understand that the authorities of the House of Lords are adapting their own procedures and administrative arrangements to keep in line with the implementation of the Ibbs report programme in this House. Other consequences of the recommendations in the Ibbs report are being implemented by the Commission as speedily as possible, although full account is being taken at every stage of the views and interests of other bodies and individuals concerned.

  EC TRANSPORT COUNCIL, 20th-21st JUNE
  EC TRANSPORT COUNCIL, 20th-21st JUNE
  COMPANIES ACT 1989: IMPLEMENTATION OF SECTIONS 35 AND 36
  COMPANIES ACT 1989: IMPLEMENTATION OF SECTIONS 35 AND 36
  BURMA: BALANCE OF TRADE
  BURMA: BALANCE OF TRADE
  GOLF COURSE DEVELOPMENTS: WATER SUPPLY
  GOLF COURSE DEVELOPMENTS: WATER SUPPLY
  SUNDAY SCHOOL PROVISION
  SUNDAY SCHOOL PROVISION
  BARKESTONE CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOL
  BARKESTONE CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOL