Written Answers of 27 June 1991

ENVIRONMENT

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

  Mr. Heseltine
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my Department's annual report 1991—Cm. 1508—which provides an explanation of my Department's expenditure plans, including measures of past and expected outputs and performance. Further details are also available from MINIS documents in the Library of the House; the latest MINIS returns—MINIS 12—will be published shortly.

  Last year 27,900 people and organisations were interviewed or consulted at a cost of £2·3 million in pursuit of the Department finding out more about the effects of its policies and programmes. Each year my Department publishes the results of its findings and distributes the reports widely. The Department also encourages its sponsored bodies and local authorities to take account of the views of consumers and other interested parties in developing performance indicators for the services which are delivered through them, rather than by the Department directly. For example, we have recently commissioned the development of a manual for local authorities and housing associations on conducting tenant surveys.

  Chromium Compounds
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the dangers to public health of airborne emissions of chromium compounds; and what measures are taken to monitor industrial sites which are known to emit such substances.

  Mr. Trippier
  Information on dangers to public health of airborne emissions of chromium compounds is a matter primarily for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

  New processes for the production of chromium, its alloys and compounds require an authorisation from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, under part I of the Environmental Protection Act. The authorisation will include monitoring requirements of the operator to demonstrate compliance with the release limits commensurate with the use of the "best available techniques not entailing excessive cost".

  However, existing chromium works subject to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act are required to demonstrate the use of the "best practical means" and this may include the specific requirement to monitor emissions of chromium and its compounds. These works will come under the requirements of part I of the Environmental Protection Act from I May 1994.

  Clyde Submarine Base
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many supervising officers' instructions at the Trident construction project at the Clyde submarine base have been issued at nil value; and what percentage of instructions on average come into this category;

  (2) what budgetary value is attributed to supervising officers' instructions to contractors and sub-contractors relating to work at the Clyde submarine base.

  Mr. Yeo
  Our contractual arrangements at the Clyde submarine base development are commercially confidenial.

  Planning Appeals
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to the statement of 2 May,Official Report, columns 273–74 by the Minister for Housing and Planning, if he will give the success rate of planning appeals in England divided into small sites of two acres or less not involving conservation areas or listed buildings, larger sites of the same type, proposals in conservation areas, proposals involving listed buildings not in conservation areas and appeals against enforcement notices.

  Sir George Young
  The information relating to appeals against enforcement notices is as follows:

  Number

  Per cent

  Appeals decided

  2,808

  —

  Notice upheld

  1,873

  67

  Notice varied

  81

  3

  Notice quashed

  854

  30

  The other information requested is not available in the form required.

  Concert Hall, Manchester
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what public funding has been put towards the financing of the proposed international concert hall, Manchester.

  Mr. Portillo
  The public funding put towards the financing of the proposed international concert hall, Manchester, has amounted to £311,500 to date for a number of feasibility studies.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will require all contracts which involve the importation of waste into the United Kingdom to include a clause which will require the waste to be returned to the exporter if it is found to be different in nature, content or toxicity from that described in the contract.

  Mr. Trippier
  One provision of the Basle convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous waste and their disposal is that, where the fault lies with him, the exporter or generator must take back his waste where it does not conform in a material way with the documents including the contract. The European
  517
  Community has considerable competence in respect of transboundary movements of hazardous waste and the United Kingdom is pressing the EC to adopt a regulation to implement the convention. The regulation will necessarily include provision for the return of waste in the circumstances described.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the amount of money saved in community charge reduction scheme payments due to the £140 reduction in headline bills; what is the likely cost of the reduction scheme in 1991–92; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The cost of the reduction scheme announced in January was £1·7 billion. Following the Budget changes, my best estimate of the cost of the reduction scheme is £1·25 billion.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to publish regulations relating to the Local Government Finance and Valuation Bill on either(a) capping or (b) valuation before the end of July; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  We intend to publish as soon as practicable regulations to enable us to make an early start on the exercise of allocating domestic properties into bands.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was paid in 1990–91 in poll tax transitional relief.

  Mr. Portillo
  Local authorities have not yet submitted final claims for grant in respect of transitional relief awarded, but to date they have claimed £260 million.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the administrative costs of administering(a) poll tax transitional relief in 1990–91 and (b) the community charge reduction scheme in 1991–92.

  Mr. Portillo
  A total of £19 million was paid to local authorities last year to reimburse them for the cost of operating the transitional relief scheme. This year local authorities will receive a further £15 million to cover the costs of preparing for and administering the reduction scheme.

  Pollution Insurance
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has made to the recent study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's environment directorate on pollution insurance and compensation funds for accidental pollution in regard to its relevance for United Kingdom legislation.

  Mr. Trippier
  I have made no response to the publication of the report. It will of course be studied by officials and any material relevant to United Kingdom legislation will be noted.

  National Association for Environmental Education
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many meetings he has had with representatives of the National Association for Environmental Education since 1987; and when he next expects to meet representatives of the association.

  Mr. Trippier
  There have been no recent meetings between Ministers and the National Association for Environmental Education although officials maintain regular contact. I am planning to attend the association's annual conference in April next year.

  EC Construction Products Directive
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to implement the provisions of the EC construction products directive in the United Kingdom.

  Sir George Young
  My right hon. Friend intends to implement the EC construction products directive — 89/106/EEC—by means of regulations made under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972. These regulations are to be laid in Parliament around the middle of July and it is proposed that they come into force around the turn of the year.

  Implementation of the directive in the United Kingdom will take place somewhat later than the target timetable set out in the directive—27 June 1991. However, our implementation timetable is entirely consistent with the European Commission's projected date for the publication of interpretative documents. These documents are essential to the commercial application of the directive and to effective enforcement action.

  Montreal Protocol
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress was made by the parties to the Montreal protocol at their third meeting; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  The third meeting of the parties to the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer took place in Nairobi from 19 to 21 June. Good progress was made in setting stronger mandates for the protocol's technological and economic assessment panels to consider the implications for a 1997 phase-out of substances that deplete the ozone layer, and to review the control measures agreed at the London meeting in 1990.

  The United Kingdom will play a leading role in the work of the working groups set up under the Montreal protocol to examine and recommend further changes to the protocol when it is reviewed next year at the fourth meeting of the parties.

  More than 70 countries are now parties to the protocol. The meeting welcomed the announcement from China that it would accede to the protocol. The parties also agreed to increase the size of the interim multilateral fund established one year ago at the London meeting to $200 million, and approved over $9 million of projects to be undertaken in 1991 by the World bank, United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Development Programme to support developing countries to phase out their use of ozone-depleting substances.

TRANSPORT

  Rail Privatisation
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will put into private ownership the Fenchurch Street to Southend line; if he will allow competing operators to run trains for passengers on the line; and if he will allow season ticket holders to buy shares in the lines;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to privatise designated British Rail lines on an experimental basis; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Our policy is to privatise British Rail. We are considering how that can best be done. We propose to provide for a right of access to British Rail's track for new operators, although this will require legislation.

  Bus Drivers
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will institute an inquiry into the hours worked by drivers employed by private bus companies in the Greater London area.

  Mr. Freeman
  No. The hours worked by bus drivers in the Greater London area, as elsewhere, are governed by rules contained in part VI of the Transport Act 1968 and EC directive 3820/85.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Police Numbers
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will construct a table showing, for each police authority, what the total accumulated bid was for increases in establishment between 1979 and the latest available date; what total increases in establishment have been awarded in each case; and what percentage the total increases represent as a proportion of the total accumulated bids.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The table for police authorities in England and Wales shows what has been approved since 1979.

  Accumulated bids

  Increases

  Percentage increases

  Avon and Somerset

  465

  231

  49·7

  Bedfordshire

  303

  169

  55·8

  Cambridgeshire

  232

  135

  58·2

  Cheshire

  235

  94

  40·0

  Cleveland

  89

  91

  102·2

  Cumbria

  654

  95

  14·5

  Derbyshire

  387

  111

  28·7

  Devon and Cornwall

  386

  205

  53·1

  Dorset

  299

  122

  40·8

  Durham

  54

  37

  68·5

  Dyfed Powys

  9

  9

  100·0

  Essex

  891

  365

  41·0

  Gloucestershire

  105

  67

  63·8

  Greater Manchester

  1,684

  306

  18·2

  Gwent

  115

  34

  29·6

  Hampshire

  441

  246

  55·8

  Hertfordshire

  296

  147

  49·7

  Humberside

  232

  86

  37·1

  Kent

  454

  226

  49·8

  Lancashire

  341

  105

  30·8

  Leicestershire

  327

  120

  36·7

  520

  Accumulated bids

  Increases

  Percentage increases

  Lincolnshire

  43

  23

  53·5

  Merseyside

  464

  255

  55·0

  Norfolk

  300

  155

  51·7

  Northamptonshire

  315

  210

  66·7

  Northumbria

  835

  253

  30·3

  North Wales

  161

  72

  44·7

  North Yorkshire

  210

  86

  41·0

  Nottinghamshire

  401

  199

  49·6

  South Wales

  316

  99

  31·3

  South Yorkshire

  773

  264

  34·2

  Staffordshire

  389

  144

  37·0

  Suffolk

  171

  127

  74·3

  Surrey

  469

  71

  15·1

  Sussex

  361

  179

  49·6

  Thames Valley

  1,840

  728

  39·6

  Warwickshire

  421

  139

  33·0

  West Mercia

  382

  189

  49·5

  West Midlands

  1,452

  432

  29·8

  West Yorkshire

  969

  189

  19·5

  Wiltshire

  213

  91

  42·7

  City of London1

  12

  (-224)

  —

  Metropolitan2

  —

  2,126

  —

  1 The establishment of the City of London Police was reduced in 1983–84 and therefore a percentage of posts approved from posts applied for cannot be shown.

  2 The Home Secretary is himself police authority for the Metropolitan Police. The table shows therefore only the extra posts awarded.

  Chief Superintendent Colin McMurray
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the original terms of the disciplinary inquiry into the alleged activities of Chief Superintendent Colin McMurray.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  This is a matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

  Police (Accusations)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what channels exist for senior police officers to vindicate themselves following false accusations being brought against them.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Where a senior officer has been the subject of a false allegation by a member of the public, it is open to him, as it is to anyone else, to bring a civil action against that person.

  Braille Voting Cards
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to provide Braille voting cards at polling stations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  No. The Representation of the People Acts and subordinate legislation already allow the presiding officer or a companion to assist blind people to vote. Alternatively, they may choose to vote by post or by proxy.

  Police Officers (Call-out)
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what information is available to him on the numbers of police officers available for call-out for each police force; what is the figure for each force during(a) daytime and (b) night time; and what proportion of the total force strength this represents;
  521
  (2) what information is available to his Department on the call-out response times by individual police forces; if he will give the average figure for (a) daytime and (b) night time, together with the 10 highest and 10 lowest figures; and what are the comparable figures for call-out to business and retail premises (i) in the high street and (ii) in out-of-town shopping centres.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  This information is not held centrally.

  TV Licensing Enforcement
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what sanctions are available to him to ensure that details of television purchases provided to the BBC for licensing enforcement are not used for commercial purposes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Under section 180 of the Broadcasting Act 1990, responsibility for the issue and renewal of television licences passed to the BBC on 1 April 1991. The right to use the records existing before 1 April for television licensing purposes was transferred to the corporation by deed of gift laid before the House on 8 March. Its use of those records for any other purposes would need my prior approval. However, subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1984, it is for the BBC to decide what use to make of the records created since it became the statutory licensing authority.

  Swear Belts
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to ban the sale of swear belts to minors.

  Mr. John Patten
  Legislation on the supply, display, importation or use of obscene or indecent material may apply to tape devices which replay foul language. The law should operate on the language used rather than the instruments for reproducing it. As well as the criminal law, we need the exercise of responsibility by parents and families in influencing minors.

  Mr. Samuel Antonelli
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the activities of Samuel Thomas Antonelli, a United States citizen convicted on four counts of harassment at Warrington magistrates court on 5 March; and what steps he intends to take in the matter.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 25 June 1991]: None, although I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has received a number of representations about Mr. Antonelli and his company. Mr. Antonelli has appealed to the Crown court against his conviction, and I can make no comment about those proceedings.

  Mr. Mohinder Paul Singh Bedi
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis about the current position concerning police inquiries into the affairs of Mr. Mohinder Paul Singh Bedi.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 25 June 1991]: I understand that the investigation by the Metropolitan
  522
  police into the affairs of Mohinder Paul Singh Bedi is continuing. Charges of conspiracy to defraud have now been brought against Mr. Bedi.

WALES

  Right to Buy
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the source of the information he gave in his answer to the hon. Member for Ynys Mōn (Mr. Jones) of 7 June,Official Report, column 369, regarding outstanding right-to-buy applications.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information came from a Welsh Office statistical return (WHO7) which is completed by each local authority on a quarterly basis. The return asks, among other things, for the number of"accepted Right-to-Buy applications being dealt with but not yet completed at end of quarter".
  The data from this part of the return formed the basis of my recent answer.

  The return, together with other housing statistical returns, was reviewed in consultation with local authority representatives last year.

  Youth Training
  Mr. leuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many youth training scheme places have been made available in Wales in the area of agricultural and rural skills training during each of the last 10 years.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  There were 730 YT places in agricultural skills filled at 30 March 1991. Information relating to earlier years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many youth opportunities programme, youth training scheme and youth training places were available in Wales in each year since 1978; and what is the estimate for 1991.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  This information is not available.

  EC Funding
  Mr. leuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what efforts are currently being made by his Department to ensure the maximum possible level of funding from the European Community structures directives to objective 5b status areas of Dyfed, Gwynedd and Powys.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The integrated development operations programme—IDO—for Dyfed, Gwynedd and Powys, under objective 5b of the EC's structural funds, was formally approved by the Commission on 14 May this year. The European regional development fund—ERDF —element of the IDO was already operating as a national programme of community interest, and some £67·4 million in ERDF grants has been allocated to projects in the three counties, out of a programme allocation of £79·3 million for 1987–91. Approval to the IDO means that European social fund projects can also be supported, and the allocation of £1·8 million for 1990 has already been committed to projects. A further IDO programme for
  523
  1992–93. to take up funds already committed to Dyfed, Gwynedd and Powys, will shortly be submitted to the Commission.

  Planning Procedures
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the success rate of planning appeals in Wales, overall and divided into: small sites of two acres or less not involving conservation areas or listed buildings, larger sites of the same type, proposals in conservation areas, proposals involving listed buildings not in conservation areas and appeals against enforcement notices.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  In Wales 33·8 per cent. of planning appeals were allowed in the financial year 1990–91. In the same period 31 per cent. of appeals against enforcement notices were allowed. Information is not kept in such a way as to provide the other figures requested.

  Mr. leuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to publish the results of his review on planning guidance in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The Assembly of Welsh Counties —AWC—has accepted my right hon. Friend's invitation to assess, in collaboration with other bodies, the existing strategic planning framework which provides the policy context for the preparation of structure plans and local plans in Wales. We expect to receive advice from the AWC early in 1992. We will then consider the need to revise or update the policy framework.

  Sheep (Attacks by Dogs)
  Mr. leuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of attacks on sheep by dogs have been recorded in each police authority area in Wales in each of the last five years; and how many sheep have been (i) killed or (ii) injured in each instance.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Agricultural Tenancies
  Mr. leuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many agricultural tenancies have been granted to people under the age of 30 years in Wales in each year since 1978; and what has been the ratio of applications to available lettings in each instance.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  This information is not available.

  Uniform Business Rate
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the effect of the uniform business rate on businesses in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Unified business rates remove uncertainty in financial planning for businesses by limiting year-on-year increases to no more than the retail prices index, equalise rates on similar properties in different locations, and avoid unreasonable levels of rates imposed by some local authorities under the old system.

PRIME MINISTER

  Cabinet Advisers
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister how many members of the Cabinet have a special adviser.

  The Prime Minister
  Seventeen.

  Medicinal Products
  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Prime Minister what arrangements are made to provide the Department of Trade and Industry with briefing from the Department of Health on the issue of supplementary protection certificates for medicinal products.

  The Prime Minister
  There is close co-operation and regular contact between the two Departments, to ensure that health care, industrial and intellectual property issues are reflected in the Government's approach to the Commission's proposal.

  Farmed Salmon
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Prime Minister which Ministry is responsible for negotiating with the European Commission concerning the dumping of farmed salmon.

  The Prime Minister
  The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department are together representing the current concerns of the United Kingdom's fish farming industry with Norwegian imports to the European Commission. In the event of a formal anti-dumping complaint being made by the industry, the Department of Trade and Industry working in close co-operation with other relevant Departments would represent the United Kingdom interest in Brussels in view of its overall responsibility for anti-dumping matters.

  Strategic Arms Reduction
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what is his policy on the inclusion of the United Kingdom nuclear deterrent in strategic arms reduction talks with the Soviet Union.

  The Prime Minister
  The current strategic arms reduction talks are bilateral between the United States and the Soviet Union; British nuclear forces will not therefore be included in the agreement. If United States and Soviet strategic arsenals were further reduced substantially, and if there had been no significant improvements in defensive capabilities, we would consider how best we might contribute to the arms control process in the light of the changed circumstances. But the introduction of Trident in the mid-1990s will provide the minimum capability necessary to maintain an effective independent deterrent into the next century and the reductions in prospect would not reduce our strategic needs.

  Indonesian Research Minister
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the outcome of his meeting with the Indonesian Research Minister on 19 June.

  The Prime Minister
  I met Dr. Habibie, the Indonesian Minister for Research and Technology, on 19 June. We
  525
  discussed a number of issues including commercial co-operation, particularly in the aerospace sector, and the arrangements for Indonesians to study in Britain.

  European Council
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what proposals he expects to put to the meeting of the European Council in Luxembourg.

  The Prime Minister
  I shall make clear the United Kingdom objective of creating an open, liberal and efficient Community. We want to improve foreign policy co-ordination, but the basis of our security in Europe must continue to be the Atlantic alliance. In order to allow European co-operation to prosper, we need a flexible treaty structure distinguishing between Community and intergovernmental activity. We also want the European Council to give fresh impetus to the single market programme. We shall discuss a range of international issues, including the crisis in Yugoslavia.

  President Mitterrand
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what matters were discussed during his meeting with President Mitterrand on 24 June.

  The Prime Minister
  The talks at the annual Anglo-French summit in Dunkirk on 24 June concentrated on the two intergovernmental conferences and the forthcoming Luxembourg European Council; European security and defence questions; and the situation in Iraq. The talks were fruitful and timely. President Mitterrand and I agreed to meet again on 29 July in Calais on the fourth anniversary of the ratification of the channel tunnel treaty.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 27 June.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I shall depart for Luxembourg for the European Council meeting tomorrow.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Maintained Schools
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will list the total number of persons employed as(a) teachers, (b) skilled ancillary staff and (c) unskilled or semi-skilled staff in (i) controlled schools, (ii) schools under the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools and (iii) other maintained schools, indicating in respect of each figure the number of persons whose perceived religious affiliation is Protestant and Roman Catholic.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I shall write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Housing, Dungannon and Fermanagh
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many private sector new-build planning permissions have been(a) approved and (b) refused in each year since 1986 in rural areas within (i) Dungannon and (ii) Fermanagh district council area.

  Mr. Needham
  The information requested is as follows:

  Approved

  Refused

  Dungannon

  Fermanagh

  Dungannon

  Fermanagh

  1985–86

  137

  235

  22

  11

  1986–87

  177

  235

  29

  32

  1987–88

  165

  230

  30

  37

  1988–89

  167

  224

  28

  28

  1989–90

  145

  215

  25

  33

  1990–91

  131

  219

  41

  38

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the(a) percentage and (b) number of unfit houses in private ownership in the rural areas of (i) Dungannon and (ii) Fermanagh district council areas according to Northern Ireland Housing Executive statistics.

  Mr. Needham
  The chief executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive has advised me that the information requested is not available separately for the Dungannon and Fermanagh district council areas. However the executive's 1987 house condition survey indicated that, taking these two areas together, some 27 per cent. —4,340—privately owned dwellings were unfit.

  Farming
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people earn their living entirely from farming in the constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone; and if he will indicate the trend since 1972 and projected likely trends till the year 2000.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested is not available. Information from the June 1990 farm census indicates that 10,300 persons in the constituency worked on farms, either as farmers, family or hired labour. Of this number 5,000 indicated that they worked full time in agriculture. Comparable data are not available for earlier years.

  Human Rights Report
  Mr. Beaumont-Dark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has received the 16th report of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  The report, for the period 1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991, has been published today and copies have been laid before Parliament.

  The report covers a wide range of matters that the commission has considered during the period under review. These include emergency legislation, education, fair employment, the law relating to children, peremptory challenge in the selection of jurors, silence as corroboration and prisoners' rights.

  I value the advice the commission gives me and appreciate the work it does in considering a wide range of human rights matters. The commission has undertaken another extensive programme of work and I am grateful for the continued commitment shown by its members.
  527
  Copies of my response to the commission's 16th report and of the report itself have been placed in the Library.

  Life Sentences
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of(a) policemen, (b) prison officers, (c) regular Army soldiers and (d) the Ulster Defence

  Prisoners released on licence from indeterminate sentences imposed for murder of members of the Security Forces and the Northern Ireland Prison Service

  Number released by years served

  Year

  Victim

  7

  9

  10

  11

  12

  13

  14

  15

  16

  17

  Total released

  1981–84

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Nil

  1985

  Army

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Ruc

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1986

  Army

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  RUC

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1987

  Army

  —

  —

  1

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  RUC

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  2

  1

  —

  —

  —

  4

  UDR

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1988

  Army

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  RUC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  5

  —

  —

  —

  7

  1989

  Army

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  3

  RUC

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  3

  —

  1

  5

  UDR

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  —

  —

  3

  1990

  Army

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  2

  1

  —

  4

  RUC

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  4

  —

  7

  UDR

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  —

  1

  —

  —

  5

  1991 (to

  NIPS1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  26 June)

  RUC

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  TOTAL

  3

  3

  3

  3

  7

  8

  10

  7

  6

  1

  51

  1 Northern Ireland Prison Service.

  Note: These figures include prisoners sentenced to detention during the pleasure of the Secretary of State.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. Thompson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the meeting of the Agriculture Council on 21 and 22 May; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  [pursuant to the reply, 3 June 1991, c. 38]: I represented the United Kingdom at this meeting.

  Agreement was reached in principle on instruments concerning health rules for the marketing of molluscs and of fishery products, veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from third countries, health conditions for trade in poultrymeat and safety standards for the use of pesticides on plants. In addition significant progress was made on a draft regulation on health rules for the marketing of fresh meat. All these constitute useful and significant steps towards the establishment of the single market.

  The Council had a first discussion of two proposals on food quality. I made it clear that the United Kingdom had serious doubts as to the usefulness of these proposals; and that major changes would be needed if they were to secure our support.
  528
  Regiment have been released on licence in each of the last 10 years, indicating, in each case, the number of years actually served in prison.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 26 June 1991]: The information is as follows:

  I made it clear that the United Kingdom expected satisfactory arrangements to be introduced to protect Community (notably Scottish) producers of soft fruit from exceptionally low-priced imports from eastern Europe when the present special controls expire on 31 July.

ENERGY

  Fissile Material
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State far Energy if he will make a statement on the responsibilities of the International Atomic Energy Authority with respect to monitoring the use made in civil nuclear programmes of fissile materials produced originally for military purposes.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  All civil nuclear material in the United Kingdom, whatever its origin, is subject to Euratom safeguards and to the terms of the IAEA-UKE-uratom safeguards agreement—INFCIRC-263.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether fissile material produced for military purposes in the United Kingdom is suitable for civil purposes.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Yes, in principle.

  Plutonium Exports
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how much plutonium has been exported to the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic in each of the past two years.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  There have been no exports of plutonium in quantities of a few grammes or more to the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic from the United Kingdom during the past two years.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Chittagong Hill Tracts
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid has been granted to refugees from the Chittagong hill tracts who have sought sanctuary in Tripura, India; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  No request for United Kingdom bilateral assistance has been received from either of the Governments concerned. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has been unable to gain access and is also therefore unable to assist.

  Project Costs
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a table showing the average agreed ceiling for local cost aid, and the percentage of bilateral aid actually given for local costs, as a percentage of project aid and a percentage of total bilateral aid, in Africa and Asia, in each year since 1979.

  Mrs. Chalker
  [holding answer 19 June 1991]: Since 1990 there have no longer been any limits on the extent to which our financial aid to least-developed countries can be used to meet local costs. For other countries, local cost ceilings are established on a country or project basis; data on the level of these ceilings are not available in an aggregated form. The percentage figures for actual local cost aid are as follows:

  Africa

  Asia

  Local costs as Percentage of Project aid (excluding ATP)

  Local costs as Percentage of total bilateral aid

  Local costs as Percentage of Project aid (excluding ATP)

  Local costs as Percentage of total bilateral aid

  1981

  28

  7

  20

  14

  1982

  27

  8

  37

  20

  1983

  26

  7

  41

  26

  1984

  27

  7

  42

  20

  1985

  18

  4

  46

  21

  1986

  24

  8

  22

  11

  1987

  19

  2

  21

  9

  1988

  9

  1

  33

  9

  1989

  11

  1

  25

  8

  19901

  13

  2

  25

  6

  1 Provisional.

  Note: Local costs figures are not available by region before 1981.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Residential Homes
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give a further breakdown of the figures given in the answer of 7 June,Official Report, column 350, to differentiate between claimants in residential and in nursing homes.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The latest estimate of the number of people in receipt of income support in residential care and nursing homes is for August 1990, when the figure was 128,000 and 71,000 respectively. Information on how many of these were over pension age is not available, but, as of May 1989, about 73 per cent. of income support recipients in residential care and 88 per cent. in nursing homes were over pension age.

  Citizens Advice Bureaux
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received regarding the practice of his Department's offices and agencies of referring clients to local citizens advice bureaux; what evidence he has of any increase in this practice; and if he will make a statement on the responsibility of his Department's offices and agencies to assist clients with their inquiries.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Neither the Department nor its agencies routinely refer customers to citizens advice bureaux: the provision of information and help on social security matters is, properly, a function of the Department and its agencies. However, customers may be told about the bureaux and other voluntary organisations where, for example, the problem lies outside the Department's area or where benefit is refused and help with an appeal is sought.

  Retirement Pensions
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost in 1991–92 of increasing the basic retirement pension by £5 per week for a single pensioner and £8 a week for a married couple, assuming similar increases in linked benefits and in income-related benefits for pensioners, giving figures(a) gross and (b) net of tax revenues and savings in other benefits.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The gross cost would be £3·1 billion. Net of income tax, the figure would be £2·9 billion. If those in receipt of a linked benefit but not the pensioner premium did not receive a similar increase in their income-related benefit, the net cost would fall to £2·8 billion.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the cost, net of savings in tax, of uprating the retirement pension, income support pension premium and housing benefit pensioner premium by £5 per week for single pensioners and £8 per week for pensioner couples in 1991–92; and if he will set out for linked benefits the cost in 1991–92 that would arise from these changes.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The gross cost of increasing these and the linked contributory benefits by £5 for a single pensioner and £8 for a pensioner couple is £3·1 billion. The cost, net of tax, would be £2·9 billion; this includes £0·5 billion to increase the linked benefits.
  531
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which benefits have a statutory requirement to link(a) the level of benefit to the retirement pension level and (b) the level of increase at uprating to the same level of increase for retirement pension.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The following benefits are paid at rates which are linked by statute to that of the retirement pension: widow's pension, widowed mother's allowance and invalidity benefit. Unemployment benefit and sickness benefit are also linked for certain categories of recipient over pensionable age. The Secretary of State has a statutory duty to review the value of the category A retirement pension on an annual basis and increase it if appropriate; if the pension rate is increased the level of the above benefits will be raised also.

  Household Incomes
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update to 1988 the tables on real rises in household incomes since 1979, provided in his reply of 26 July 1990 to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths)Official Report, columns 501–2.

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is not available.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his best estimate of the amount of the reduction in community charge benefit payments in 1991–92 due to the £140 reduction in headline bills.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The reduction is about £850 million.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the cost to his Department in 1991–92 of abolishing the poll tax 20 per cent. contribution rule.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The latest estimate is that the total cost in 1991–92 of awarding 100 per cent. maximum community charge benefit would be £440 million at current benefit levels. Such a change would affect all people receiving community charge benefit including those people on income support and equivalent incomes. This estimate assumes that no reductions are made in the income-related benefit levels which were adjusted in April 1989, to include help towards the 20 per cent. contribution to the community charge, at an estimated cost of £500 million.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much will be saved by his Department in community charge benefit subsidy in(a) 1990–91 and (b) 1991–92 for each local authority which is a housing benefit authority as a result of poll tax capping.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is not available.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the total percentage of applicants for family credit who were turned down in each of the most recent 24 months for which figures are available.

  Mr. Jack
  The administration of family credit is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the 532
  Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Severe Disability Premium
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the organisations consulted by the Social Security Advisory Committee about his Department's proposed changes to the severe disability premium regulations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  I understand that the Social Security Advisory Committee wrote to six organisations concerned with disabled people or their carers, seeking their views on the proposed amendment to regulations. The organisations were as follows:

  The Disability Alliance

  The Disablement Income Group

  RADAR

  Carers' National Association

  The Spastics Society

  British Council of Organisations of Disabled People

  Young People (Benefits)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many young people under the age of 25 years are in receipt of(a) community charge benefit and (b) housing benefit.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The most recent survey information indicates that in May 1989, a total of 460,000 householders aged less than 25 years in Great Britain were in receipt of housing benefit. This estimate excludes those under 25 years old in Scotland who were in receipt of community charge rebate, but who were not receiving help with rent; this information is not available.

EMPLOYMENT

  Employment Expenditure, London
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide a table showing expenditure in 1989–90, broken down by regions, with Greater London shown as a separate region, for job clubs, the Employment Service, and jobcentres.

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

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide a table setting out the number of YOP, YTS and YT places available in Greater London in every year from 1975, including figures for 1991, or estimates for 1991 if figures are not available.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information requested is given in the table. Information prior to 1984 is not available. Agreed place information from April 1990 is not available.

  Youth training—number of agreed places in London Region

  Number

  31 March 1984

  36,100

  31 March 1985

  28,900

  31 March 1986

  17,000

  31 March 1987

  37,200

  533

  Number

  31 March 1988

  36,300

  31 March 1989

  30,400

  31 March 1990

  32,700

  Source: SPECTRUM

  On 1 April 1986 YTS changed from a one-year programme to a two-year programme.

  All figures are rounded to the nearest 100.

  Dangerous Substances (Accidents)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy to examine the conclusions of the report published by the joint research centre of the European Commission on lessons learnt from emergencies after accidents in the United Kingdom involving dangerous substances—DOC. EUR. 13322EN.

  Mr. Forth
  The report has been studied, on my behalf, by the Health and Safety Executive. As regards matters that are my responsibility, the lessons learnt from this and other studies are being taken into account in the current fundamental review of EC directive 82/501/EEC, the "Seveso" directive, which deals with major accident hazards.

  Toxic Substances Bulletin
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current distribution of the toxic substances bulletin published by the Health and Safety Executive; and what assessment he has made of the benefits to health and safety at work of the bulletin.

  Mr. Forth
  The latest available figures—April 1991—show that there are 2,280 subscribers who receive a total of 2,608 copies of the Health and Safety Executive's toxic substances bulletin. There is also an internal distribution within Government Departments.

  It is a statutory duty of the Health and Safety Commission to make appropriate arrangements for

  Department of Trade and Industry expenditure budget after Revised and Summer Supplementary Estimates 1990–91 and 1991–92

  £ million all figures are net

  1990–91 provision

  1991–92 provision cash terms

  1991–92 provision real terms

  Increase/decrease in real (1990) terms

  VOTE 1

  Central government's own expenditure:

  Regional and general industrial support

  Regional development grants, Regional selective assistance and Selective assistance

  215·4

  156·6

  146·4

  -69·0

  Support for aerospace, shipbuilding and steel manufacture

  Aerospace support and Assistance to the shipbuilding and steel industries1(net of aerospace repayments)

  155·9

  91·9

  85·9

  -70·1

  Central government grants to local authorities:

  Regional development grants

  0·1

  0·0

  0 0

  0·0

  Regional selective assistance

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  Total Vote 1

  371·4

  248·5

  232·2

  -139·1

  VOTE 2

  Central government's own expenditure:

  Regional and general support

  Business development and Inner cities initiatives (including Regional enterprise grants)

  85·9

  80·5

  75·2

  -10·7

  534
  providing relevant information to those concerned with health and safety at work. The bulletin has proved to be a useful tool in providing information about current developments on toxic substances, both in the United Kingdom and the European Community, in an easily accessible format. I have arranged for copies of the most recent edition to be placed in the Library of this House.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Share Ownership
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Riddick) of 4 June, at column 170, on cash limits, if he will outline the reasons why the funds provided for assistance for the share ownership movement have been allocated under the consumer and investor protection programme.

  Mr. Lilley
  The proposed assistance is aimed at increasing the provision of information to investors, allowing informed choices to be made and therefore contributing towards the objectives of my Department's work on consumer and investor protection.

  Cash Limits
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mrs. Clwyd) of 4 June at column 170, on cash limits, if he will set out the increase or decrease in his Department's budget, by expenditure area and in total, in 1991–92 in real terms relative to the expenditure level of the Department after the equivalent supplementary estimate announcement of 1990–91.

  Mr. Lilley
  The information requested is set out in the table.
  535

  1990–91 provision

  1991–92 provision cash terms

  1991–92 provision real terms

  Increase/decrease in real (1990) terms

  Support for industry

  Industrial research (including Civil aircraft, Education and training, and Telecommunications), Space technology programmes and Miscellaneous support services

  287·1

  265·3

  248·0

  -39·2

  International trade

  50·2

  51·7

  48·4

  -1·8

  Statutory and regulatory work

  (including Measurement and technology support, Protection of innovation, Regulation of Trade and consumer protection and Research establishments)

  74·3

  116·2

  108·6

  34·3

  Central and miscellaneous services

  289·3

  265·4

  248·0

  -41·2

  Public corporations:

  English Industrial Estates Corporation2 (net of realised assets)

  0·0

  -16·8

  -15·7

  -15·7

  Central government grants to local authorities:

  Inner cities initiative

  0·5

  0·5

  0·5

  0·0

  Other expenditure not included in the planning total:

  Refund of pension adjustment

  0·1

  0·1

  0·1

  0·0

  Total Vote 2

  787·4

  763·0

  713·1

  -74·3

  VOTE 3

  Public corporations:

  Nationalised industries external finance—British Shipbuilders

  8·0

  19·0

  17·7

  9·7

  Total DTI

  1,166·8

  1,030·5

  963·1

  -203·7

  1. The lower level of net provision in 1991–92 for airbus development reflects a considerably reduced requirement for launch aid for the A330/340 Airbus in accordance with the launch aid contract and an increased level of expected levy receipts on the A320 Airbus.

  2. Planned gross expenditure by EIEC for 1991–92 is £126·3 million. This will be funded by asset sales. Surplus receipts—£16·8 million—will be surrendered to the DTI.

  Notes to Tables: All figures are for estimates provision net of receipts, rounded to the nearest £0·1 million. The items do not sum to the totals in all cases because of rounding. The table compares the position after the publication on 12 June 1990 of the revised estimate for class IV vote 2 with that after the publication of the summer supplementary estimates for class IV votes 2 and 3 on 13 June 1991. The cash figures for 1991–92 have been converted to 1990–91 prices using the GDP deflator of 7 per cent., as set out in table 2·1 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1991–92"—House of Commons No. 300.

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 4 June at column 170, to the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Riddick) on cash limits, if he will provide details of the mechanism by which certain items are to be fully met by receipts from the European Community.

  Mr. Lilley
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the European Community receipts in question will be appropriated in aid of class IV vote 2. For the purposes of the public expenditure planning total, such receipts are classified as programme 2.7—net payments to European Community institutions—for which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible. The consequent net reduction in that programme exactly offsets the increase in my Department's cash limit.

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out in tabular form the areas of expenditure covered by the supplementary estimate changes to his Department's cash limit and running cost limits for 1991–92 announced on 4 June at column 170 in ascending cash value order.
  536
  Mr. Lilley
  The information requested is set out, although not in ascending cash value order, in the summary to the summer supplementary estimate for class IV vote 2 which were presented to the House on 13 June.

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to which sections and sub-headings of the estimate for class IV, vote 2, each of the charges and activities described in his announcement of 4 June at column 170 on cash limit changes will be attributed.

  Mr. Lilley
  The information requested is set out in the summer supplementary estimate for class IV vote 2 which was presented to the House on 13 June.

  Consumer Safety
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Riddick) of 4 June, at column 170 on cash limits, if he will list the activities for which funds have been allocated to the Department's promotion of consumer safety.

  Mr. Lilley
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the sum of £71,000 for my Department's promotion of consumer safety will be allocated towards the moving, construction, publicising
  537
  and operation of the child safety "Hazard Dome" during 1991 at the Lightwater Valley theme park in North Yorkshire as part of the home safety awareness scheme.

  Arms Industries
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what figures he has for the amount of money being spent in the United Kingdom on research into conversion of arms industries to non-arms production.

  Mr. Leigh
  Information of this sort is not collected centrally.

  South Africa
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the trade restrictions that are still in force in respect of South Africa.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stamford and Spalding (Mr. Davies) on 7 May Official Report, column 409.

  Overseas Exhibitions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what grants were made from public funds towards travel and costs of exhibition stands at Dubai '91 and the international defence equipment and aviation exhibition in Ankara, November 1991.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  To date no financial subsidy has been provided by the Department of Trade and Industry to exhibitors at Dubai '91 and the international defence equipment and aviation exhibition, Ankara. The subsidy for companies which qualify for support will be at the standard rate of 50 per cent. of the eligible costs of space and stand construction and up to two travel grants at the appropriate country rates for Dubai and Turkey.

  Director General of Fair Trading
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he intends to publish the report by the Director General of Fair Trading for the year 1990.

  Mr. Leigh
  The 17th annual report by the Director General of Fair Trading has been published today. It covers the period from 1 January 1990 to 31 December 1990. Copies of the report have been laid before Parliament.

  Post Office Counter Services
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress Post Office Counters has made in implementing the recommendations of the 1988 Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on Post Office counter services at Crown offices.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Monopolies and Mergers Commission reported on Post Office counter services at Crown offices on 23 June 1988, Cm 398. Post Office Counters' initial response to this report was made available to the House on 21 December 1988,Official Report, columns 265–66. My Department agreed with Post Office Counters a detailed timetable for implementation of the accepted recommendations, and a reporting regime involving interim reports
  538
  on progress, a main report in mid-1989, Official Report, 27 July 1989, column 812 and a final report in June 1991. I am today placing copies of the final report by Post Office Counters in the Library of the House.

  Post Office Counters was able to accept, in whole or in part, 79 of the MMC's 80 recommendations. Action has now been completed on 76 recommendations. Of these, Post Office Counters has concluded, on the basis of detailed work, that two linked recommendations—Nos. 59 and 60—are impractical in the form suggested by the MMC. These recommendations propose that clients should each decide, on the basis of different options presented by Post Office Counters, the size and shape of network that they are willing to pay for. Post Office Counters has accepted the principle lying behind these recommendations, that clients' requirements should inform the provision of services and products, and will continue to look at ways of bringing this principle into their discussions with clients.

  Post Office Counters continues to take action on the three remaining recommendations. These are:
  recommendation 6a, dealing with the charging of occupancy costs for property on an open market rental basis; this depends on hardware and software becoming fully operational, forecast for April 1992;
  recommendation 18, concerning the assumption by Counters from Royal Mail of responsibility for all stamp vending machines; some of these have required modification to provide consistent customer service, and the handover should be completed by the end of 1991;
  recommendation 67f, proposing that the costs of the data transmission network he shared among its users; this will be further pursued when the related network automation plans are authorised— (earliest completion date July 1992).

  My officials will continue to monitor progress on the implementation of these three outstanding recommendations.

  The original report by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission was based on a wide-ranging and thorough review of counter services in Crown offices; I commend Post Office Counters for the conscientious and constructive manner in which it has addressed the MMC recommendations.

  Textile Machinery
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what consultations he has had with British textile machinery manufacturers about proposed new European regulations on magnetic compatibility;

  (2) what steps he is taking to ensure that British textile machinery manufacturers do not suffer unnecessarily under the terms of proposed new European regulations on magnetic compatibility;

  (3) if he has any plans to visit Sir James Farmer Norton and Co. to discuss the possible impact of proposed new regulations on magnetic compatibility;

  (4) if he will list those testing facilities which currently exist in the north-west of England which could be used for testing compliance of heavy machinery with proposed new regulations on magnetic compatibility.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 25 June 1991]: My officials met officers and members of the British Textile Machinery Association on 12 June to discuss the electro-magnetic

  539
  compatibility directive. I am not aware of any reason why British textile machinery manufacturers should be disadvantaged by the directive.

  My right hon. Friend has no plans to visit Sir James Farmer Norton and Co.

  Manufacturers following the "standards" route to compliance with the directive may use any test acilities, including their own. I regret that the Department does not have a list of such facilities in the north-west of England.

  "Competent bodies" have not yet been appointed to issue technical reports or certificates for manufacturers following the "technical file" route to compliance with the directive.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Basle Convention
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries which have signed the Basle convention and the dates on which these signatures were presented.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The following countries have signed the Basle convention:

  Date

  1989

  Afghanistan

  22 March 1989

  Argentina

  28 June 1989

  Bahrain

  22 March 1989

  Belgium

  22 March 1989

  Bolivia

  22 March 1989

  Canada

  22 March 1989

  Colombia

  22 March 1989

  Cyprus

  22 March 1989

  Denmark

  22 March 1989

  Ecuador

  22 March 1989

  European Economic Community

  22 March 1989

  Finland

  22 March 1989

  France

  22 March 1989

  Germany, Federal Republic of

  23 October 1989

  Greece

  22 March 1989

  Guatemala

  22 March 1989

  Haiti

  22 March 1989

  Hungary

  22 March 1989

  Israel

  22 March 1989

  Italy

  22 March 1989

  Jordan

  22 March 1989

  Kuwait

  22 March 1989

  Lebanon

  22 March 1989

  Leichtenstein

  22 March 1989

  Luxembourg

  22 March 1989

  Mexico

  22 March 1989

  Netherlands

  22 March 1989

  New Zealand

  18 December 1989

  Norway

  22 March 1989

  Panama

  22 March 1989

  Philippines

  22 March 1989

  Portugal

  26 June 1989

  Saudi Arabia

  22 March 1989

  Spain

  22 March 1989

  Sweden

  22 March 1989

  Switzerland

  22 March 1989

  Syria

  11 October 1989

  Turkey

  22 March 1989

  United Arab Emirates

  22 March 1989

  United Kingdom

  6 October 1989

  Uruguay

  22 March 1989

  Venezuela

  22 March 1989

  1990–91

  Austria

  19 March 1990

  Chile

  31 January 1990

  China

  22 March 1990

  540

  Date

  E1 Salvador

  22 March 1990

  France

  7 January 1991

  German Democratic Republic

  19 March 1990

  Hungary

  21 May 1990

  India

  15 March 1990

  Ireland

  19 January 1990

  Nigeria

  15 March 1990

  Poland

  22 March 1990

  Romania

  27 February 1990

  Thailand

  22 March 1990

  United States of America

  22 March 1990

  Strategic Arms Reduction
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the United States of America on strategic arms reduction talks.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs discusses arms control issues regularly with Mr. Baker and we keep in very close contact with the United States Administration on the subject at other levels. The START talks themselves are a matter for the United States and Soviet Union.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what monitoring his Department undertakes of the United States and Soviet proposals for reducing the number of nuclear warheads; and what sources of expertise are available to him on the quantity of fissile material that might be made redundant if a strategic arms reduction treaty is concluded.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have strongly supported United States and Soviet negotiations for reduction of their nuclear arsenals. Fissile material made redundant under strategic arms reduction treaty is a matter for the two parties.

  Journalists' Deaths (Iraq)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he has had with the Red Cross and the Red Crescent concerning the investigation of the disappearance of the British television journalist, Roseanna Della Casa, and the deaths of Nick Della Casa and Charles Maxwell in the Turkish-Iraqi border region; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The British mission to the United Nations in Geneva first raised the matter of the disappearance of Rosanna della Casa, Nicholas della Casa and Charles Maxwell with the International Committee of the Red Cross on 17 April 1991. ICRC delegates in Iraq have since then had many written and oral contacts with the Iraqi authorities. They continue actively to pursue the disappearance of Rosanna della Casa.

  We maintain regular contact with the ICRC in Geneva. We have had no direct contacts with the Red Crescent.

  Iraq
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to report to the House details of the report of the visit made
  541
  by the International Atomic Energy Agency's special inspection team in Iraq between 14 and 22 May, pursuant to United Nations Security Council resolution 687.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It would be wrong for us to publish details of IAEA documents communicated in confidence to IAEA member states. It is for the IAEA, with the UN special commission, to make such details public.

  Thailand (Sanctuary)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Thai Government on the proposed forced repatriation of Burmese people who have sought sanctuary in Thailand.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My noble Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth office raised the subject of Burmese immigrants in Thailand with the Thai Foreign Minister on 6 June. The Thai authorities are aware of our concern that no Burmese should be forcibly returned to face persecution in Burma.

  Chittagong Hill Tracts
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received a copy of the report produced by the Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Yes. The report is a useful contribution to public knowledge and debate about the problems of the Chittagong hill tracts.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Government of Bangladesh regarding reports of human rights violations of ethnic minorities in the Chittagong hill tracts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have regularly made our concerns about the situation in the Chittagong Hill tracts known to the Government of Bangladesh. We welcome their recent decision to implement the 1989 devolution plans in full, to allow the three hill tract councils greater autonomy.

  Office for Emergency Operations in Africa
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, at the meeting of United Nations heads of agencies, donors and nongovernmental organisations on 27 June, in New York, Her Majesty's Government will support the proposal to re-establish the Office for Emergency Operations in Africa.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We are considering the best organisational response to the serious situation in Africa. As I told the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd) on 17 June, the Office for Emergency Operations in Africa provided excellent inter-agency co-operation from 1984 to 1986. Since its experiences are reflected in current United Nations working practices, re-establishing it now does not automatically guarantee improved co-ordination. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and the German Foreign Minister launched a joint initiative on 9 June to improve and support the way the United Nations responds to humanitarian disasters and emergencies including those in Africa.

  Anti-ballistic Missile Treaty
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration Her Majesty's Government have given to signing the anti-ballistic missile treaty.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The AMB treaty is a bilateral agreement between the United States and Soviet Union; the question of United Kingdom signature does not therefore arise.

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

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [pursuant to his reply, 19 June 1991, c. 206.]: The figures for ODA energy consumption and expenditure in the financial year 1990–91 were as follows:

  Consumption

  Figures

  (i) Electricity (kwh)

  6,268,388

  (ii) Gas (therms)

  486,942

  (iii) Fuel Oil (litres)

  66,221

  Expenditure

  £

  (i)Electricity

  393,101

  (ii) Gas

  185,149

  (iii) Fuel Oil

  11,316

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Voluntary-aided Schools
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the amounts of(a) planned and (b) actual expenditure on capital projects for voluntary-aided schools in each of the last five years; and what is the planned expenditure for 1991–92.

  Mr. Fallon
  Figures for planned and actual expenditure on capital building work at voluntary aided and special agreement schools between 1986 and 1992 are as follows:

  (a) Planned£ million

  (b) Actual£ million

  1986–87

  27·8

  31·8

  1987–88

  39·1

  37·2

  1988–89

  55·3

  50·3

  1989–90

  65·3

  67·6

  1990–91

  87·2

  75·3

  1991–92

  98·8

  —

  Note:

  These figures include governors' contributions but exclude any work conducted off-programme and any which would be the responsibility of the Local Education Authority.

  School Meals
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has of the number of local education authorities which have now discontinued the provision of school meals on an authority-wide basis; and if he will list the authorities.
  543
  Mr. Fallon
  All local education authorities in England are obliged to provide a free school meal for any pupil whose family is on income support. In January 1990, the latest date for which information is available, some paid meals were also provided in all authorities.

  School Premises
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has of the proportion of secondary school places in each local education authority that are in temporary accommodation; and whether he will list all such authorities with more than 20 per cent. in temporary accommodation, giving the estimated proportion of such places in each case.

  Mr. Fallon
  This information is not available centrally.

  Brent (Schoolchildren)
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state how many children who are resident in the London borough of Brent are educated in the London borough of Barnet.

  Mr. Fallon
  As at January 1990, a total of 1,634 school pupils belonging to the area of the London borough of Brent were being educated in the London borough of Barnet.

  Education, London
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide a table setting out the number of pupils in Greater London reaching the school leaving age in every year from 1975, including figures for 1991 or estimates for 1991 if figures are not available.

  Mr. Fallon
  The table shows the number of pupils in maintained secondary schools in Greater London in their final year of compulsory education. The figure for 1990–91 has been estimated on the basis of the number of pupils in their penultimate year of compulsory education in 1989–90.

  Pupils in their final year of compulsory education in maintained secondary schools in Greater London, academic years 1974–75 to 1990–91.

  (Thousands)

  1974–75

  87·9

  1975–76

  88·9

  1976–77

  91·2

  1977–78

  92·7

  1978–79

  93·2

  1979–80

  94·1

  1980–81

  92·6

  1981–82

  90·5

  1982–83

  87·5

  1983–84

  83·9

  1984–85

  80·0

  1985–86

  75·5

  1986–87

  75·4

  1987–88

  69·4

  1988–89

  64·9

  1989–90

  62·4

  1990–91

  160·0

  1Estimated.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he has any plans to provide further funds for London's education service;
  544
  (2) if he has received a copy of the Association of London Authorities' report "Taking Stock, The Resources Needed to Fund London's Education Service."

  Mr. Eggar
  Yes. My right hon. and learned Friend has seen the document. The Government have provided a financial framework in which London councils can provide a high-quality education service if they manage their affairs well. Standard spending assessments for London for all services are on average 21 per cent. higher in 1991–92 than in 1990–91, while education standard spending assessments have risen 18 per cent. on average. Inner London also receives help through special education grants, which total £70 million in 1991–92 alone. The average SSA allowance for pupils of compulsory school age is around 50 per cent. higher in inner London than in Barnsley or Sheffield.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide a table for Greater London, showing the number of places available at, and the number of 16-year-old students entering separately, sixth forms, sixth-form colleges, tertiary colleges, and further education colleges in every year from 1975, including figures for 1991 or estimates for 1991 if figures are not available.

  Mr. Eggar
  The number of places available at, and the number of 16-year-old students entering, sixth-form colleges is not available centrally. The number of full or part-time students aged 16 years in sixth forms, sixth-form colleges and further education colleges are as follows:

  Sixth forms (thousands)

  Sixth form colleges (thousands)

  Further education (thousands)

  Percentage of population aged 16l

  1974–75

  26·8

  1·2

  —

  —

  1975–76

  29·6

  1·3

  —

  —

  1976–77

  30·8

  1·4

  —

  —

  1977–78

  30·0

  0·9

  —

  —

  1978–79

  30·4

  1·0

  —

  —

  1979–80

  30·2

  1·2

  21·4

  —

  1980–81

  31·0

  1·3

  —

  —

  1981–82

  33·7

  1·4

  20·7

  60

  1982–83

  32·6

  1·5

  21·0

  60

  1983–84

  30·1

  1·4

  22·1

  61

  1984–85

  28·2

  1·5

  22·2

  62

  1985–86

  26·5

  1·8

  20·4

  61

  1986–87

  24·6

  1·8

  21·7

  64

  1987–88

  24·5

  0·9

  21·6

  64

  1988–89

  22·5

  2·4

  20·8

  65

  1989–90

  22·2

  2·3

  21·5

  70

  1 Source: DES Statistical Bulletins 6/87 and 14/91.

  Notes:

  (1) Age is at 31 August at the start of the academic year.

  (2) Adult Education Centres have been excluded.

  (3) Information on which to make reasonable estimates for 1990–91 is not yet available.

  (4) GLC data for further education colleges are not readily available for 1974–75 to 1978–79 and 1980–81.

  (5) GLC data for tertiary colleges are not readily available.

  Teacher Training, London
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he plans to take in respect of London in response to the conclusions of Her Majesty's inspector's report on training teachers for inner city schools.

  Mr. Fallon
  We have asked the higher education funding councils to give specific consideration, in the
  545
  allocation of initial teacher training places, to courses which are particularly focused on the needs of inner city schools and which give the students concerned experience of teaching in such areas.

  We have made available grants to the Urban Learning Foundation, whose work in inner London was commended in Her Majesty's inspector's report, and the St. Peter's Saltley project, which provides teaching experience in inner city Birmingham for trainee teachers.

  We have commissioned research by Professor Desmond Nuttall of the London School of Economics to establish whether increasing the number of trainees at institutions in London would in itself increase the number of those taking up first appointments there.

  Finally, in the light of Her Majesty's inspector's findings, the Teaching as a Career Unit's spring advertising campaign "Train to Teach in London" was specifically targeted towards people resident in London, more than 11,000 of whom responded.

  Blind Students
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether he intends that blind and partially sighted students should have the opportunity to take the GCSE as key stage 4 of the national curriculum;

  (2) what arrangements are being made by his Department to ensure that examination papers for the GCSE are available in Braille.

  Mr. Eggar
  Examination papers are made available in braille for those visually impaired candidates who are notified to the examining groups as needing this facility. The cost of brailling papers is spread evenly over the examination fees of all GCSE candidates. I would envisage these arrangements continuing with the introduction of the national curriculum.

  Environmental Education
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has received a report on the meeting hosted at Warwick university on 22 May by the Association of British Chambers of Commerce on the development of environmental education and business schools, universities and polytechnics.

  Mr. Fallon
  Yes.

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to publish proposals to put into effect his policy of expecting whole classes of pupils who have taken examinations for GCSE or equivalent qualifications in national curriculum subjects early from the further requirements of the national curriculum.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The National Curriculum Council, as required by section 20(3) of the Education Reform Act 1988, will next week give notice of my proposal to except whole classes of pupils who have taken examinations for GCSE or equivalent qualifications in national curriculum subjects early from all the provisions of the national curriculum relating to that subject at key stage 4. I announced my intention of issuing such a proposal in January. Copies of my proposal have been placed in the Library.
  546
  My proposal is that where groups of particularly able pupils complete full courses of studies in particular national curriculum subjects before the last year of key stage 4 and take the relevant GCSE or equivalent examinations in those subjects, they should be discharged from any further requirement to follow the programmes of study or be formally assessed in those subjects. Pupils in such circumstances would then be free to use in other ways the time which they would otherwise have spent continuing to follow national curriculum requirements, as is already possible for individual pupils who take their GCSEs early.

  At present, the obligation to study further the relevant provisions of the national curriculum can be lifted only, in the case of individual pupils completing their national curriculum studies early, by moving such pupils into classes of older pupils. It is my view that the present restriction upon the accelerated progress of whole classes of pupils should now be removed.

  The period for the submission of evidence and representations on the proposals to the National Curriculum Council will end on 27 September 1991. The council will then report to me. I intend to publish draft regulations, as required by section 20(5) of the Act, in November 1991. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales is separately directing the statutory consultation process in Wales.

  Student Support
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information about Government support for students he will make available this year.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  We have today published a booklet, "Student Grants and Loans 1991–92". It brings together for the first time information on the two main parts of the Government's system of financial support for students. Copies are being sent—in England and Wales—to schools with sixth forms, colleges, local education authorities and careers information officers; and to higher education institutions throughout the United Kingdom. Further copies are available on request. Copies have also been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  City Technology Colleges
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether following the current review of the Education (School Government) Regulations 1989, he will amend the regulations in order to prevent the chairman and governors of a maintained school that agrees to close in order to assist the establishment of a city technology college from acquiring employment with the city technology college trust or a body sponsoring a city technical college.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 26 June 1991]: Such an amendment would be neither statutorily possible nor desirable.

SCOTLAND

  Students
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for academic year 1990–91(a) the number of students from Scotland in receipt of grants to attend

  547
  universities or colleges in England and Wales and (b) the number of students not domiciled in Scotland attending Scottish universities and colleges; and what percentage of the total that figure represents.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The latest available figures for the number of undergraduate students attending Scottish universities and colleges who are not domiciled in Scotland are for academic year 1989–90. These are set out in the table.

  Attending universities and colleges in Scotland

  Not domiciled in Scotland

  Percentage

  Universities

  44,094

  14,601

  33

  Colleges

  36,825

  2,581

  7

  80,919

  17,182

  21

  In academic year 1989–90, the number of undergraduate students domiciled in Scotland who were in receipt of grants to attend universities and colleges in England, Wales and Northern Ireland was 4,338. Provisional figures for academic year 1990–91 indicate that this figure will rise to 4,555.

  Pedestrian Crossing, Fraser Park
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Highlands regional council concerning a survey carried out in 1990 with a view to the provision of a pedestrian crossing on the A96 at Fraser Park, Nairn.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  None. The findings of the survey carried out by Highland regional council in 1990 showed that the pedestrian-vehicle flows at this location fell well short of the figure required to meet the criteria justifying the provision of a crossing. I understand that the council plans a further survey in July this year.

  Deer
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had from the West Grampian Deer Management Group and Mr. John Grant of Rothiemurchus.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The West Grampian Deer Management Group, of which Mr. Grant is a member, has recently responded to our consultation paper on natural heritage areas.

  Care Homes
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what statistics he has on the number of trained or qualified staff in(a) children's homes, (b) homes for the elderly and (c) hostels for the mentally handicapped.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information is not held centrally on the number of qualified staff in establishments in the independent sector or on the training of staff in all sectors. In local authority homes for children and the elderly, there were, at October 1989, 434 and 775 staff respectively with a formal qualification; but the corresponding information on homes for the mentally handicapped is not separately identified. A total of 1,545 officers in charge and assistant officers in charge of local authority residential establishments were qualified as follows:
  548

  Per cent.

  Certificate of Qualification in Social Work—or equivalent

  9

  Certificate in Social Service

  14

  Other Social Service Qualifications

  5

  Nursing Qualifications

  22

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Balance of Payments
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the Government's forecast for the balance of payments deficit in the first half of 1992 at an annualised rate.

  Mr. Maples
  The figure is £8 billion.

  Equipment (Write-off)
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals to allow an earlier write-off of capital equipment purchased by manufacturing industry.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  There are no plans to do so. The present capital allowance regime for equipment already provides a generous average rate of depreciation for tax purposes.

  VAT (Police Cars)
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change the way police authorities pay value added tax on police cars they buy.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  There are no plans to change the VAT treatment of police cars. Where VAT is non-recoverable by a police authority, as is the case when it purchases police cars, this is allowed for in its funding.

  Institute of Directors
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations about economic policy he has received from the Institute of Directors.

  Mr. Mellor
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley (Sir M. Fox).

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to persuade the high street banks to reduce their margins on loans to small businesses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Carr
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he has taken to assess the impact of high interest rates on small businesses.

  Mr. Maples
  My right hon. Friend has asked Treasury officials and the Bank of England to look into these questions.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from he Confederation of British Industry regarding interest rate policy.
  549
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I have received a number of such representations.

  Mortgage Repossessions
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of mortgage repossessions in 1990.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of mortgage repossessions in 1990.

  Mr. John Maples
  Figures published by the Council of Mortgage Lenders show that 43,890 properties were repossessed in 1990.

  Economic Downturn
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the effect of the current downturn on the economy in the north-west and south-east.

  Mr. Mellor
  No regions are immune from the current recession, but falling inflation will provide a firm foundation for economic growth in the north-west and south-east and throughout the United Kingdom.

  Earnings
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the increase in real take-home pay for a married man with two children on average earnings between 1979 and 1990.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. J. Pawsey).

  Civil Service Pay
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the recent Office of Manpower Economics report comparing civil service pay levels with the private sector; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Each of the civil service long-term pay agreements provides for a survey every four years of the pay and benefit levels in relevant jobs outside the public services sector to inform the pay negotiations. There are no such surveys this year. When my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer met representatives of the National Union of Civil and Public Servants on 11 June, they referred among other things to the survey conducted last year in respect of executive and related staff.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total revenue from privatisation receipts since 1979 in today's prices.

  Mr. Mellor
  Total privatisation proceeds since 1979 to 1990–91 are about £41 billion in 1990–91 prices.

  Inflation
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current level of inflation.
  550
  Mr. Maples
  The 12-month all-items RPI inflation rate was 5·8 per cent. in May, the lowest rate since August 1988. RPI inflation is now more than 5 percentage points below its peak last autumn and has fallen for seven successive months. We are on track for the Budget forecast of 4 per cent. in the fourth quarter of this year.

  Exchange Rate Mechanism
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has received any representations from British commerce or industry urging the withdrawal of the £ sterling from the exchange rate mechanism of the EMS.

  Mr. Maples
  I have received very few such representations.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of tax revenue from the profits of inward investing companies from overseas(a) for the current year and (b) for 1979.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Estimates of United Kingdom taxes on profits due abroad, which are published in table 5.1 of the 1990 Blue Book, are given in the table for 1979 and 1989, the latest year for which information is available.

  million

  1979

  1,047

  1989

  5,952

  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of United States investment in the EC during 1990 was in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Mellor
  Latest available figures from the OECD show that in 1988 and 1989 over 60 per cent. of total United States direct investment in the EC was in the United Kingdom.

  Foreign Governments (Rates Bills)
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Governments with official premises in London have not paid their rates bills; what are the individual amounts concerned; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maples
  The Crown Property Unit, formerly the Rating of Government Property Department, collects the beneficial portion of the rates from diplomatic missions.

  The following missions have arrears outstanding in respect of claims made before 1 April 1991 on official premises in London.

  Amount outstanding (£)

  Afghanistan

  12,300

  Cote d'lvoire

  14,900

  France

  10,900

  Grenada

  5,000

  Iran

  16,200

  Iraq

  115,300

  Jordan

  1,500

  551

  Amount outstanding (£)

  Liberia

  1,200

  Libya

  21,300

  Morocco

  4,000

  Pakistan

  8,600

  Portugal

  1,900

  Sierra Leone

  13,100

  Sudan

  1,000

  Uganda

  34,900

  Venezuela

  26,600

  Zambia

  6,800

  The Crown Property Unit and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office regularly approach countries that are in arrears and urge them to make payment.

  Mortgages
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 18 June,Official Report, columns 114–16, on mortgage payments, if he will give the information on a monthly basis.

  Mr. Maude
  Monthly figures may be obtained by multiplying the weekly figures in the previous answer by 52 and divided by 12.

  Leased Car Tax
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals to exempt community nurses from leased car tax.

  Mr. Maude
  Community nurses are treated in the same way as all other employees for the purpose of the car benefit scale charges and there are no plans to change that.

  VAT
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of licensed employment agencies are designated as agent and what proportion as principal for VAT purposes.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Records of whether licensed employment agencies are designated as agent or as principal for VAT purposes are not held centrally and the information sought could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was collected in VAT payments from(a) nursing agencies licensed under the Nursing Agencies Act 1957 and (b) licensed employment agencies in the last financial year for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  It is not possible to isolate total VAT payments made by nursing agencies licensed under the Nursing Agencies Act 1957 or licensed employment agents. Nor is sufficiently detailed information available on consumers' expenditure in this area to make an estimate.

  Taxation
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what proportion of taxpayers pay a smaller percentage of their earnings in direct and indirect taxes in 1991–92 than in 1978–79:
  552
  (2) what proportion of taxpayers pay a smaller percentage of their earnings in income tax and national insurance contributions in 1991–92 than in 1978–79.

  Mr. Maude
  There are no data available which match up the tax payments of particular taxpayers in 1991–92 with payments by the same taxpayers in 1978–79.

  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of earnings was paid in income tax and national insurance contributions, less child benefit where appropriate, by a single person, and by a married couple with two children, on an income of up to half average male earnings, between half and average male earnings, and above average male earnings, in 1978–79; what is the comparable information for 1991–92; and how many taxpayers, in total, were within each of those three earning groups in each case.

  Mr. Maude
  Figures for a single person, and a married man with two children, on an income of half, average, and one-and-a-half times average male earnings are set out in the table. These figures are calculated on the assumption that the households receive no tax reliefs other than the standard allowances; have income only from employment; and pay class 1 national insurance contributions at the contracted-in rate. For other taxpayers, tax payments will vary according to the level and sources of their income, their family circumstances, their entitlement to other tax reliefs and so on.

  Liability to tax depends on total income rather than on earnings; taxpayers may or may not be earners, and earners may or may not be taxpayers. Information on the number of earners in different earnings groups may be found in the New Earnings Survey.

  Percentage of earnings paid in income tax and NICs

  Multiples of average

  1/2

  1

  11/2

  1978–79

  Single

  23·6

  31·5

  33·3

  Married man with two children1

  2·5

  20·9

  26·2

  1991–92

  Single

  22·3

  28·2

  28·1

  Married man with two children1

  7·7

  20·8

  23·2

  1 Including child tax allowances and less child benefit.

  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of earnings was paid in direct and indirect taxation by a single person, and a married couple with two children, on an income of up to half average male earnings, between half and average male earnings, and above average male earnings, in 1978–79; and if he will give the comparable figure for 1991–92.

  Mr. Maude
  Figures for a single person, and a married couple with two children, on average male earnings are set out in the table. These figures are calculated on the assumption that the households receive no tax reliefs other than the standard allowances; have income only from employment; and pay class 1 national insurance contributions at the contracted-in rate.

  The estimates of indirect taxes are based on equations derived from the Family Expenditure Survey, making the illustrative assumption that 10 per cent. of disposable income is saved. Reliable estimates cannot be made outside the range of three quarters to one-and-a-half times average male earnings.
  553
  For other taxpayers, tax payments will vary according to the level and sources of their income, their family circumstances, their entitlement to other tax reliefs, the level and pattern of their expenditure and so on.

  Table: Percentage of earnings paid in direct and indirect taxes1At average male earnings

  1978–79

  1992–93

  Single

  42·5

  40·6

  One earner married couple with two children

  32·2

  33·4

  1 Excluding local taxes.

  Sport Governing Bodies
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to exempt the national governing bodies of sport from corporation tax.

  Mr. Maude
  None.

  Charitable Giving
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the estimated level of charitable giving in 1990.

  Mr. Maude
  There are no comprehensive data on donations to charities, but there is evidence of a substantial increase in real terms in recent years. For example, the Charities Aid Foundation's estimates show that donations to the top 200 fund-raising charities amounted to £1,058 million in 1988–89 which, in real terms, is more than double the corresponding figure for 1978–79.

  Manufacturing Exports
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average annual rate of growth in manufacturing exports was between 1974 and 1979; and what is the equivalent figure for the years 1979 to 1990.

  Mr. Maples
  On a balance of payments basis the United Kingdom volume of exports of manufactures' is estimated to have risen by an average of 2 per cent. a year between 1974 and 1979. The equivalent figure for the period 1979 to 1990 is 4 per cent. a year.

  1SITC (Rev. 3) Sections 5 to 8.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what studies have been made by Her Majesty's Government of the benefit for the United Kingdom of economic and monetary union and a common currency, respectively.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 26 June 1991]: I refer the hon. Member to my answer given to him on 7 December 1990 at column 216. In addition, Her Majesty's Government published in January this year draft proposals for a hard ecu, to be managed by a European monetary fund; these were tabled at the intergovernmental conference. In his speech to the House on 24 January, Official Report, column 470, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out the Government's assessment both of a single currency and of our proposals for a hard ecu.

  Unincorporated Businesses
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the effect on Treasury revenues of extending to unincorporated business the loss carry-back provisions for incorporated businesses proposed by the Government in new clause 46 of the Finance Bill.

  Mr. Maude
  The loss relief provisions contained in new clause 46 of the Finance Bill apply to losses for accounting periods ending on or after 1 April 1991. The effect of extending the provisions to unincorporated businesses would depend on the amount of any losses made in those and later accounting periods, but it might reduce tax receipts by £50 million in 1991–92, £35 million in 1992–93 and £15 million annually thereafter.

HEALTH

  Junior Doctors
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that health authorities implement the new arrangements for junior doctors' hours as quickly as possible.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Task forces have been set up throughout the country to assist regional, district and special health authorities and NHS trusts in ensuring that the contracted hours of duty of doctors in training are reduced to the agreed limits as soon as is practicable.

  Task forces will be responsible for ensuring that every training post is identified, for ascertaining the current working practice of each training post and for identifying those in which the doctors are contracted for duty for hours in excess of the agreed limits. They will be expected to advise on ways of reducing contracted hours of duty, for monitoring progress in achieving the required reductions in hours and for reporting on progress at six-monthly intervals to the ministerial and technical groups.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to maintain downward pressure on junior doctors' hours.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The ministerial group on junior doctors' hours, which I chair, and its supporting technical group, will be monitoring progress on reducing the hours of duty of hospital doctors and dentists in training, through the implementation of the guidance issued on 12 June. A copy of the guidance has been placed in the Library.

  Nurses
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has issued any guidance to employment agencies which supply unqualified nursing staff for private clients, on the assessment of client needs and general good practice.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The licensing and control of employment agencies that supply unqualified nursing staff is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.

  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any plans to amend the Nursing Agencies Act 1957 to bring the provision of unqualified nursing staff under the terms of the Act.
  555
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No.

  Sickle-cell Disease
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by regional health authority, and by district health authority, for the last 10 years, the amount of funding at current prices which has been provided for sickle-cell treatment.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not available centrally.

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

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wanstead and Woodford (Mr. Arbuthnot) on 25 June at column 428.

  Women's Health
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's new booklet on women's health.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  "Your Health—A Guide to Services for Women", published on Monday 24 June, is part of the wider Government initiative to improve and promote health. It draws together, in a single publication, brief details of the main health services which are available to women, encourages full use of them and gives tips on how to get the best out of those services.

  The booklet highlights the many preventive services, such as breast and cervical cancer screening, which are available to protect and promote women's health. It also shows where more information can be obtained on a range of issues in the form of leaflets, advice lines or organisations to contact.

  There will be a wide distribution of the booklet, including in hospital waiting rooms, GP surgeries, pharmacies, public libraries and citizens advice bureaux. It will also be advertised in women's magazines and national newspapers with copies available to those requesting them by Freepost or Freephone.

  Copies are available in the Library.

  Appointments
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will be reviewing the appointments of chairmen of district health authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The terms of office of 108 chairmen of district health authorities come up for review on 31 March 1992. Appointments and reappointments will be announced in due course. If hon. Members wish to nominate any individuals for appointment they are invited to write to me by the end of July.

  Blood Transfusions (HIV)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how blood given by donors is screened to ensure that it is free of the HIV virus; whether the screening process 556
  guarantees that all blood used for transfusions is free of the virus; and when the current screening process started being used.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Since September 1983 potential donors who have engaged in high-risk activities have been asked not to give blood. From October 1985, all blood donations have been tested for the presence of the HIV antibody using evaluated methods. Any positive samples undergo confirmatory tests at a reference laboratory. As a further safeguard, blood products such as factor VIII are heat-treated to inactivate any trace of the virus that may be present. Also, doctors are advised by the profession not to give blood to patients unnecessarily.

  All reasonable steps are taken to exclude HIV infection from the blood supply in this country.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has supplied, in response to representations from non-haemophiliacs infected with HIV virus from NHS blood transfusions, in respect of the effects of pre-existing haemophilia on the employment, mortgage and insurance prospects of HIV-infected haemophiliacs.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We have not considered it necessary to supply evidence in response to representations.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the haemophiliacs infected with the HIV virus who have received payments from his Department were related.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Among the haemophiliacs infected with HIV, we understand that there are 65 pairs and six trios of brothers who are infected. We believe there may be a significant number of other cases where HIV-infected haemophiliacs are related, for example, grandfathers, grandsons, uncles and nephews, but these cannot be readily identified from the available information. In addition, there are a number of cases where the haemophiliac's spouse or partner has become infected.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that people who have been infected with the HIV virus from an NHS blood transfusion and are taking legal action are provided with the information they require about the blood they were given and the donor who provided it.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Disclosure of information and discovery of documents in litigation are governed by court procedures, which include scope for claiming public interest immunity in appropriate cases.

  Royal National Institute for Rheumatic Fevers
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers of restraint or other controls he has over the employment and dismissal of employees including nurses, auxiliaries, ancillary workers and consultants, the procurement of supplies, the letting of contracts, the provision of ear, nose and throat services, casualty departments and maternity services and outpatient clinics, the range of operations provided, the sale of property, and the maintenance of buildings, in the case of the Royal National Institute for Rheumatic Fevers in Bath.
  557
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases NHS trust, like all other NHS trusts, is operationally independent and can exercise the powers given to NHS trusts in the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 to employ staff on conditions they consider appropriate, to buy and sell property and to enter into NHS and other contracts. The trust board is responsible for determining the overall policies of the trust. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has a range of reserve powers to intervene in trusts' affairs as defined at paragraph 6 of schedule 2 to the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990.

  Country and Year of Ban

  Years Studied

  Consumption Gms/Adult

  Average Change Percentage per annum

  From

  To

  Total ban on tobacco motion for health reasons

  Iceland 1972

  72–86

  3,426

  3,326

  -0·2

  Finland 1978

  78–86

  2,087

  2,017

  -0·4

  Norway 1975

  75–86

  2,017

  1,927

  -0·8

  Portugal 1983

  83–86

  2,068

  1,750

  - 5·1

  Advertising never permitted for political reasons

  Albania

  80–86

  1,254

  1,183

  -0·9

  Bulgaria

  80–86

  2,330

  2,282

  -0·3

  Czechoslovakia

  80–86

  2,612

  2,374

  -1·8

  East Germany

  80–86

  2,403

  2,408

  0·0

  Hungary

  80–86

  3,420

  3,246

  -0·8

  Poland

  80–86

  3,529

  3,558

  + 0·1

  Rumania

  80–86

  2,027

  2,071

  +0·4

  Soviet Union

  80–86

  2,106

  2,149

  +0·3

  Yugoslavia

  80–86

  3,269

  3,102

  -0·9

  These figures compare with an average change in the United Kingdom of minus 2 per cent. during the period 1970–86.

  National Health Service Trusts
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the location of the five regional monitoring centres established to monitor NHS trusts; when the centres will start their monitoring; what matters will be monitored; how many staff each centre will employ; what accommodation each centre will occupy; what budget will be allocated to each centre over each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We are intending to appoint as soon as possible one person in each of five regions—North West Thames, North East Thames, South Western, Trent and Mersey—to assist in the NHS management executive monitoring of NHS trusts' performance of their financial duties. The five host regional health authorities have each been asked to provide accommodation for the monitoring officer. The Department has allocated £50,000 for 1991–92 as a contribution to the costs of each of the five centres and this sum will be kept under review in future years.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what status the five regional monitoring centres of NHS trusts will enjoy; whether staff will be employed on NHS pay and conditions of employment; to whom the centres will report; with what frequency they will report; whether such reports will be made public; what sanctions centres possess if any trust refuses to provide information; and if he will make a statement.

  Tobacco Advertising
  Mr. Crowther
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on trends in tobacco consumption in those European countries where tobacco advertising has been banned.

  Mr. Dorrell
  A report published by the New Zealand Toxic Substances Board in May 1989 summarised tobacco consumption trends in 33 developed countries.

  A table in the report contains the following information on those European countries with complete tobacco advertising bans:

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The five local monitoring officers will be employed on NHS terms and conditions and they will report directly to the NHS management executive—NHSME—which will direct their day-to-day work. They will not be required to produce formal reports: they will simply be part of the financial monitoring arrangements for trusts set up by the NHSME. Under paragraph 8 of schedule 2 to the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 all NHS trusts are required to furnish such information as I may require.

  Fluoridation
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when a decision will be made on the fluoridation of the water supply to Greater Manchester and Lancashire.

  Mr. Dorrell
  North West Water commissioned a study into the design and costings for a standard fluoridation plant. The report is expected by the end of September 1991. The local health authorities believe that North West Water will then have all the technical information it requires to decide whether it is technically able to accede to the health authorities' requests to supply fluoridated water to the region.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which district health authorities have made applications to their local water authorities for fluoridation of the water supply in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The following district health authorities asked water undertakers to supply fluoridated water:

  Stockport

  Bolton

  Wigan

  559

  Oldham

  Tameside and Glossop

  Rochdale

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble

  Salford

  Trafford

  Bury

  Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

  Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde

  Lancaster

  Chorley and South Ribble

  Preston

  North Manchester

  Central Manchester

  South Manchester

  North Staffordshire

  Macclesfield

  South Cumbria

  East Cumbria

  All the requests were made in 1988.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which water authorities have fluoridated their water supply in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The following water authorities have fluoridated water supplies since 1985:

  Anglian Water Services Limited

  North West Water Limited

  Northumbrian Water Limited

  Severn Trent Water Limited

  Thames Water Utilities Limited

  Colne Valley Water Company

  East Worcestershire Water Company

  Newcastle and Gateshead Water Company

  South Staffordshire Water Company

  Yorkshire Water which was supplying fluoridated water in 1985 stopped doing so with effect from 31 October 1989.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the annual charge for fluoridation of the water supply charged by each water authority.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This is a matter for local negotiation and information is not held centrally.

  Dental Charges
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the number of people annually who are eligible for a reduction in dental charges or exempt from dental charges who do not claim.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We estimate that some 41 per cent. of patients are entitled to free NHS dental treatment. It is not possible to quantify the number of people who do not claim.

  Ambulance Personnel (Misconduct)
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many charges against ambulance personnel were made in each division in England and Wales for(a) general misconduct and (b) gross misconduct for each of the last three years for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not available centrally.

  Transfusion Aids
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further representations the Minister for Health has received from Graham L. Ross about transfusion aids legislation; what reply is being sent; what action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.
  560
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I have placed in the Library a copy of an official reply which has been sent to Mr. Graham Ross of J. Keith Park and Co.

DEFENCE

  Nuclear Weapons Reduction
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect on(a) NATO strategy and (b) the United Kingdom nuclear deterrent of future reductions in the global total of nuclear warheads.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  NATO is already in the process of reviewing and adapting its strategy to reflect the changed security environment. The communiqué issued following the meeting of its defence planning committee and nuclear planning group in Brussels on 28–29 May looked forward to the approval of a new alliance strategic concept later this year. It also reaffirmed alliance policy of seeking the lowest level of nuclear weapons commensurate with alliance security requirements.

  Likewise, the United Kingdom's independent nuclear deterrent has always been the minimum necessary to deter aggression and guarantee our security, and is not based on any numerical correlation with the nuclear arsenals of others. However, if, in time, the United States and Soviet strategic arsenals were further reduced substantially, and if there had been no significant improvements in defensive capabilities, we would consider how best to contribute to the arms control process in the light of the changed circumstances.

  Military Exhibitions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now make it his policy to publish the notified list of expected attenders at military equipment and armaments exhibitions.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  No.

  Royal Institute of International Affairs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place a copy of his speech to the Royal Institute of International Affairs on 19 June in the Library.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Copies of my right hon. Friend's speech have been placed in the Library.

  Kuwait
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the role of the Defence Export Services Organisation in Kuwait; and what is its planned future role.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  It is not our practice to discuss the activities of the Defence Export Services Organisation in particular countries. Its general role will continue to be as set out in my answer to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) on 19 March,Official Report, column 91.

  HOTOL Engine
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the declassification of the details of the horizontal take-off and landing launcher engine.
  561
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the reason for the declassification of the design of engines of the horizontal take-off and landing space plane.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  When the order prohibiting publication of the relevant patent applications was last reviewed, it was considered that technological advances had reduced the sensitivity of the detailed specifications sufficiently to allow them to be released.

  Aberporth Firing Range
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since 1987 Aberporth firing range has been used for test firings of missiles intended for use in the Chilean project RAYO.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Aberporth range is operated by the Defence Research Agency and questions concerning its day-to-day usage fall to the chief executive under the terms of his framework document. I have, therefore, asked him to reply.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 18 June,Official Report, column 147, when he expects to receive the report of the preliminary inspection of Samarra for chemical weapons under Security Council resolution 667.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The full inspection reports of the United Nations special commission under United Nations Security Council resolution 687 are confidential to the special commission. The special commission does, however, release information as and when appropriate and a detailed press release on the preliminary inspection of Samarra was issued on 24 June 1991. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Submarines (Clyde)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what conclusions he has reached in his consideration of extending the Clyde reporting scheme for submarines to other coastal waters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Argyll and Bute (Mrs. Michie) on 24 June at column 402 of the Official Report.

  Service Personnel
  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to make arrangements for service men and women to take out insurance cover against the risk of injury when on exercise.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is a matter for individual service personnel to decide what levels of private insurance for death and injury they wish to obtain in the light of their own financial circumstances. The services have, however, negotiated with the private insurance sector a number of special arrangements to provide cover at favourable rates of premium. In addition, there are a number of charitable funds to which service personnel may subscribe, which make one-time payments to widows or other dependants on the death of a subscriber. We continue to investigate ways of improving the availability of insurance arrangements to ensure that service personnel can obtain appropriate levels of cover.

  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the responsibilities of his Department for ensuring that service men and women injured on exercise are eligible for compensation.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Since the repeal of section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947, all service personnel are eligible for common law compensation for any injury sustained while on duty, or on Crown property, if that injury results from negligence on the part of the Ministry of Defence, its servants or agents.

  Any payment of common law compensation would be in addition to the benefits available under the war pension and armed forces pension schemes for an injury which is attributable to service.

  Operation Granby
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the joint commander will present a dispatch on Operation Granby.

  Mr. Tom King
  Air Chief Marshall Sir Patrick Hine's dispatch on Operation Granby will be published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office as a supplement to The London Gazette on 29 June 1991. The Gulf honours list will be announced on the same day.

  ROSYTH NAVAL BASE: FUTURE
  ROSYTH NAVAL BASE: FUTURE
  MARINE INSURANCE INDUSTRY: REGULATION
  MARINE INSURANCE INDUSTRY: REGULATION
  MILK: DIOXIN LEVELS
  MILK: DIOXIN LEVELS
  SEA FISHERIES COMMITTEE: JURISDICTION
  SEA FISHERIES COMMITTEE: JURISDICTION
  IRAQ
  IRAQ
  INNOVATION IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY REPORT: GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
  INNOVATION IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY REPORT: GOVERNMENT RESPONSE