Written Answers of 6 March 1991

TRANSPORT

  Light Dues
  Sir David Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what decisions he has taken about light dues in 1991–92; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  After three successive years in which light dues have been reduced, I regret that increases in costs over that period make a 6·7 per cent. increase in the light dues tariff unavoidable this year. This is not unexpected and was anticipated in the light dues statement of my predecessor a year ago. Even with this increase, which is below the rate of inflation, light dues are still below their 1987 level and are at the same cash level as in 1981. In real terms the burden has been reduced by about half in a decade.

  Coupled with the tariff change there are two measures which will particularly benefit the regular payers of light dues. First, I am satisfied that there is room for a second year of the "bargain break" introduced in 1990–91 whereby the maximum number of chargeable voyages in the cargo sector will be reduced from seven to six. This will benefit shipping which has contributed in the past to the strength of the liquid funds of the general lighthouse fund. For individual ships the "bargain break" represents a 14 per cent. reduction in their annual liability.

  Secondly, in response to representations from the shipping industry, I am revising the dues liability for ships paying on a per voyage basis. From April such ships will be required to pay dues on no more than one voyage per month; and "month" for this purpose will be a rolling, rather than calendar, month. This replaces the present rule under which ships of less than 25,000 net tonnage have been liable to dues on two voyages per calendar month (up to the exemption limit) and ships of 25,000 net tonnage and over have been liable to dues on one such voyage. This will have significant cash flow benefits for most cargo shipping, and for some ships the total liability in the year will also be reduced.

  The necessary order to give effect to these changes will be laid shortly.

  I have not yet reached a conclusion on the recommendations in the British Ports Federation report about the extension of light dues to pleasure craft, but this matter is being actively considered. Any change here would almost certainly require primary legislation.

  Road Construction
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much he expects his Department to spend on road construction in 1991–92; and what new schemes are expected to start construction.

  Mr. Chope
  Spending on road construction, including land acquisition, in 1991–92 will total over £1,300 million.148
  A total of 53 new schemes, as listed, are expected to be started. Whether and when individual schemes start depend on the satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures.

  New Starts 1991–92

  Eastern

  A14 (M1–A1) Contract 2

  A14 (M1–A1) Contract 3

  A14 (M1–A1) Contract 5N

  A14 (M1–A1) Contract 8

  A14 (M1–A1) Contract 9

  M25 Junction 15–16 widening

  A12 Gorleston relief road

  A11 Thetford-Bridgham

  A602 Little Wymondley bypass

  A5 Little Brickhill bypass

  A41 Kings Langley bypass

  A41 Berkhamsted bypass

  A47 East Dereham-North Tuddenham

  All Four Wentways-Newmarket

  All Besthorpe-Wymondham

  A11 Newmarket-Red Lodge

  A47 Narborough bypass

  South East

  M20 Junction 5–8 improvement

  A20 Court Wood-Dover

  A20 Folkestone-Court Wood Contract 2

  A23 Warninglid-Sayers Common

  A41 Wendlebury-Bicester

  A27 Westhampnet bypass

  A27 Crossbush bypass

  A23 Handcross-Pease Pottage

  A2 Hardshoulders

  M25 Clackett Lane motorway service area

  A3 Milford bypass

  A339 Basingstoke bypass

  A420 Kingston Bagpuize bypass

  North West

  M66 Denton-Middleton Contract 4

  M56 Junction 4–6 widening

  A568 Widnes Eastern bypass

  A585 Fleetwood Dock Street

  A59 Greengates-Gutteridge

  London

  Hackney-M11 Contract 4

  A40 Long Lane

  A13 Blackwall/Cotton Street

  A13 Butcher Row improvement

  West Midlands

  M5 Junction 6–8 widening

  A5 Fazeley, Two Gates and Wilnecote bypass

  A423 Southam bypass

  A38 Fradley Lane

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  A638 Doncaster North Bridge relief road

  East Midlands

  A16 Ludborough bypass

  A16 Stickford bypass

  Northern

  A595 Egremont bypass

  A596 Wigton bypass

  A590 Dalton bypass

  A1 Marshall Meadows improvement

  A1Brownieside improvement

  South West

  A30 Okehampton-Launceston

  A39 Wadebridge bypass

  Public Bodies (Appointments)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to which posts in public bodies he appoints individuals where the posts are(a) part-time and (b) remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Only one: the chairmanship of the Civil Aviation Authority.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of those employed in his Department are disabled.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Of the Department's current staff of 15,274, 187 are registered as disabled (1·24 per cent.). A further 188 staff, who have indicated that they have disabilities, have not registered their disability.

  Antares Inquiry
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the results of the inquiry into the sinking of the vessel Antares from Carradale; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 4 March 1991]: I understand that the inspector's inquiry is likely to be completed by the early summer.

  Under the Merchant Shipping (Accident Investigation) Regulations, a minimum of two months will then be needed while the report is considered by persons whose reputations are likely to be adversely affected. Unless the Secretary of State finds good reason not to publish, this will follow as soon as possible after the chief inspector has submitted his final report.

  Inland Waterways
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to carry out his duties under section 13 of the Transport Act 1978 to promote a policy for the use of inland waterways for commercial transport.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government wish to see maximum use of rivers and canals for freight transport where it is commercially sensible. But they take the view that customers should be free to choose the mode of transport best suited to their needs. The Government's role is to ensure that conditions of competition are fair and subject to proper safety and environmental standards.

  However, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Transport may give grants under section 36 of the Transport Act 1981 towards inland waterway freight facilities. This brings environmental benefits by reducing the number of lorries on unsuitable roads.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Property Marking
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Attorney-General whether it is the policy of the departments for which he is responsible to mark property with an indelible mark or similar means of identification.
  150
  The Attorney-General
  The Departments for which I am responsible do not at present have a policy of indelibly marking equipment. Each Department records the serial number of equipment where such equipment is so marked.

  The Crown prosecution service requires all offices to maintain a register of valuable items of equipment recording serial numbers or other identification marks. Line managers are required periodically to check equipment against the register.

  The Treasury Solicitor's Department is introducing an asset register identifying assets within the Department and recording date of purchase, type of asset, and its location.

  Katyn Massacre
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer of 6 February,Official Report, column 140, if he will now reconsider the status of the eight documents contained on the file with Public Record Office references FO 371/34563–345900 and currently identified as withheld.

  The Attorney-General
  The eight papers referred to from the 1943 Foreign Office file on Polish-Soviet relations are retained by that Department under section 3(4) of the Public Records Act 1958. My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor is satisfied, on advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, that the documents are properly retained in accordance with the arrangements set out in paragraphs 28 to 31 of the White Paper "Modern Public Records", Cmnd 8531, March 1982.

  Omar Bakri Mohammed
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Attorney-General whether the Director of Public Prosecutions will initiate proceedings to prosecute Omar Bakri Mohammed for incitement to murder.

  The Attorney-General
  I understand that the Metropolitan police are investigating possible offences by Omar Bakri Mohammed in the light of statements attributed to him by the media. The result of the investigation will be reported to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

  Authorised Conveyancing Practitioners Board
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Attorney-General whether the Lord Chancellor has decided whom he proposes to appoint as members of the Authorised Conveyancing Practitioners Board.

  The Attorney-General
  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has today appointed the following people to serve as members of the Authorised Conveyancing Practitioners Board.

  Alan Brakefield

  Tamara Goriely

  Alan Mills

  Kate Mortimer

  June O'Dell, OBE.

  The chairman of the board is John Sadler CBE, whose appointment was announced by the Lord Chancellor on 20 December 1990.

  Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Attorney-General whether the Lord Chancellor has decided whom he proposes to appoint as members of the Lord Chancellor's advisory committee on legal education and conduct.
  151
  The Attorney-General
  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has today appointed the following people to serve as members of the Lord Chancellor's advisory committee on legal education and conduct:

  Mrs. Liliana Archibald

  Professor Richard Card

  His Honour Judge John Gower, QC

  Eric Hammond, OBE

  Brian Harvey

  John Hosking, CBE

  Patrick Lefevre

  Luke March

  The Reverend Dr. Colin Morris

  Dr. Claire Palley

  Ms. Usha Prashar

  Nicholas Purnell, QC

  Peter Scott, QC

  Graham Smith, CBE

  David Ward

  David Wilkins.

  The chairman of the advisory committee is Lord Griffiths MC, whose appointment was announced by the Lord Chancellor on 16 October 1990.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will make a statement on the progress of monitoring exercise carried out in the civil service in accordance with the codes of the Commission for Racial Equality and the Equal Opportunities Commission.

  Mr. Renton
  Departments, agencies and the Civil Service Commission continue to make good progress in carrying out monitoring exercises and taking follow-up action in accordance with the Commission for Racial Equality and Equal Opportunities Commission codes of practice. My office monitors overall progress.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Building Control Fees
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to what extent the increase in building control inspection fees and planning fees has fallen behind inflation since 1980.

  Mr. Needham
  Building control inspection fees are related to the cost of providing the service rather than the rate of inflation. Fees were first introduced in 1982. The retail prices index shows an increase of 65 per cent. between January 1982 and January 1991. Building control fees for the erection, alteration or extension of small domestic buildings rose by 52 per cent. in the same period. The sliding scale of fees for larger construction work is linked to the cost of the works.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) when he will establish a policy for 1991 renewables non-fossil fuel obligation in respect of Northern Ireland.

  (2) what action he proposes to encourage hydro-electric generation from sites in Northern Ireland.
  152
  Mr. Needham
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave the hon. Member for Erewash (Mr. Rost) on 11 February 1991 at column 324–25.

  Bus Services
  Mr. Fishburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made towards implementation of the recommendations contained in the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report of June 1989 on the bus services in Northern Ireland provided by Ulsterbus Ltd. and Citybus Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  The initial response announced to the House on 24 April 1990 indicated that there had been a positive reaction to the recommendations, none of which was rejected. The follow-up response, which I have today placed in the Library of the House, confirms that 32 of the 58 recommendations have already been implemented and the remaining 26 are in the process of implementation. The response was produced in consultation with the Northern Ireland Transport holding company and the bus companies.

  I am pleased to report that, among the more important developments, a new market-led approach with emphasis on customers' needs is now firmly established; capital expenditure on all major projects is subject to investment appraisal and post-completion audit; and a new unit, under an inspector general, ensures that quality of service is accorded high priority.

  The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland will keep the implementation of the recommendations under periodic review to gauge the improvement in bus services and management of the companies. I will report the progress to the House in due course.

  Public Bodies (Appointments)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to which posts in public bodies he appoints individuals where the posts are(a) part-time and (b) remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  There are no part-time posts in public bodies in Northern Ireland remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

HEALTH

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the percentage of those waiting for non-urgent operations who wait longer than(a) six months, (b) one year and (c) two years, (i) nationally and (ii) in the South Manchester health authority area;

  (2) what was the number and percentage of patients waiting for non-urgent operations in 1980, 1985 and 1990 (i) nationally and (ii) in the South Manchester health authority area.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information requested is given in the tables. Since March 1987 information on waiting lists has not been classified according to urgency of condition. Figures for 1990 therefore relate to all patients waiting for in-patient treatment in the surgical acute specialties.
  153
  It is the time people wait which is important. Since 1980 the number of patients waiting for over one year for in-patient treatment in the surgical acute specialties has fallen by 1 per cent. in South Manchester health authority and by nearly 11 per cent. in England as a whole.

  Numbers of non-urgent cases waiting on surgical specialty lists for in-patient treatment

  Year

  England

  South Manchester

  March 1980

  580,596

  5,781

  March 1985

  614,217

  4,875

  Total numbers waiting on surgical specialty lists for in-patient treatment

  Year

  England

  South Manchester

  March 1990

  723,447

  7,122

  Percentage waiting on surgical specialty lists for in-patient treatment by time waiting at March 1990

  England

  South Manchester

  6 months +

  45

  54

  12 months +

  24

  32

  24 months +

  9

  15

  Source: KH06/7/7A—March 1990

  SBH 203—1980 and 1985

  Devon Health Authorities
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what brief has been given to Touche Ross regarding a merger of North Devon, Torbay and Exeter health authorities; on what date this survey was commissioned; and by what date it will report.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I understand that South Western regional health authority has commissioned Touche Ross to conduct a preliminary examination of the case for mergers between health authorities in Devon. My hon. Friend may wish to contact Mr. Charles Stuart, the chairman of South Western regional health authority for details.

  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make it his policy not to approve formally any merger between Torbay and North Devon health authorities without prior consultation with the right hon. and hon. Members representing the county;

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 28 February, what is the timetable for any regional decision, consultation and formal approval for any merger between Exeter, Torbay and North Devon health authorities.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I understand that South Western regional health authority is still considering whether to propose any amalgamation of health authorities in Devon. Should it decide to do so, it would formally consult all interested parties, including right hon. and hon. Members representing the county. The regional health authority would consider the responses before deciding whether to recommend any amalgamation of Devon health authorities to my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State.

  New Hospitals
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what effect including a calculation of capital charges in a business plan for a bid to build a new hospital would have on its financial viability;

  (2) how capital charging has affected the planning of the building of new hospital projects.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The existing methodology for appraising options for NHS building plans takes account of the costs of capital, including the opportunity cost. The introduction of capital charges will have a similar effect in appraising options.

  From April 1991, when considering plans to alter service provision, provider units will also need to ensure that purchasing authorities are willing and able to meet any additional costs which may arise.

  Census Enumerators
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many advertisements for census enumerators were placed in jobcentres in January; and how many of these vacancies were filled by Friday 1 February.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and the General Register Office for Scotland made arrangements with the employment service to display a special poster advertising census enumerator posts in all job centres throughout Great Britain from early January 1991. A total of 117,550 enumerators are due to be appointed by 22 March 1991. By 1 February 91,041 people had applied, either to jobcentres or direct to the census offices; and 2,324 appointments had been made. The latest information available centrally is for 20 February. By then 185,960 people had applied and 24,671 appointments had been made.

  Public Bodies (Appointments)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health to which posts in public bodies he appoints individuals where the posts are(a) part-time and (b) remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

  Mr. Dorrell
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is responsible for approximately 1,213 part-time appointments to public bodies. Details of these posts can be obtained from the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies 1990". A copy of which is available in the Library.

  None of our part-time or full-time posts receives salaries in excess of £50,000 per annum.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of those employed in his Department are disabled.

  Mr. Dorrell
  A total of 0·74 per cent. of staff working in the Department are registered as disabled. The Department also employs a number of people with disabilities who are not registered as disabled.

  Mortality Statistics
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will update his replies to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East on 21 October 1987,Official Report, columns 808–09 and 2 December 1988, Official Report, columns 439–40, regarding mortality statistics.

  Number of deaths by month of occurrence and age group

  Males

  Females

  Persons

  65 +

  75 +

  60 +

  75 +

  75 +

  England and Wales, 1987

  January

  20,835

  12,812

  26,067

  19,115

  31,927

  February

  17,262

  10,609

  21,379

  15,617

  26,226

  March

  18,662

  11,407

  22,975

  16,530

  27,937

  April

  16,717

  10,095

  20,788

  14,890

  24,985

  May

  16,736

  9,977

  20,525

  14,567

  24,544

  June

  15,930

  9,523

  19,995

  14,047

  23,570

  July

  15,771

  9,383

  19,836

  14,112

  23,495

  August

  15,557

  9,304

  19,427

  13,978

  23,282

  September

  15,404

  9,192

  18,782

  13,353

  22,545

  October

  17,460

  10,557

  21,788

  15,612

  26,169

  November

  17,358

  10,488

  21,554

  15,537

  26,025

  December

  20,183

  12,517

  25,135

  18,313

  30,830

  England and Wales, 1988

  January

  19,994

  12,411

  24,840

  18,290

  30,701

  February

  18,486

  11,571

  23,179

  16,906

  28,477

  March

  19,911

  12,402

  25,661

  19,022

  31,424

  April

  17,439

  10,666

  22,067

  16,097

  26,763

  May

  16,608

  10,064

  20,711

  14,939

  25,003

  June

  15,686

  9,558

  19,638

  14,124

  23,682

  July

  15,915

  9,682

  19,563

  13,991

  23,673

  August

  16,071

  9,667

  19,879

  14,218

  23,885

  September

  15,569

  9,504

  19,099

  13,729

  23,233

  October

  17,025

  10,427

  21,007

  15,229

  25,656

  November

  17,774

  10,990

  22,189

  16,056

  27,046

  December

  19,924

  12,584

  25,647

  18,914

  31,498

  England and Wales, 1989

  January

  19,576

  12,340

  24,787

  18,306

  30,646

  February

  16,734

  10,431

  20,769

  15,174

  25,605

  March

  18,114

  11,351

  22,731

  16,713

  28,064

  April

  17,317

  10,706

  21,370

  15,531

  26,237

  May

  16,866

  10,576

  20,755

  15,237

  25,813

  June

  16,173

  10,053

  20,235

  14,785

  24,838

  July

  15,795

  9,909

  20,030

  14,703

  24,612

  August

  15,294

  9,454

  19,134

  13,923

  23,377

  September

  15,486

  9,589

  19,032

  13,851

  23,440

  October

  17.030

  10,693

  21,366

  15,545

  26,238

  November

  18,087

  11,308

  22,539

  16,604

  27,912

  December

  27,909

  18,587

  37,589

  28,894

  47,481

  England and Wales, 1990 1

  January

  21,018

  13,589

  27,279

  20,606

  34,195

  February

  17,182

  10,924

  21,290

  15,864

  26,788

  March

  18,036

  11,387

  21,963

  16,277

  27,664

  April

  17,154

  10,898

  21,532

  15,881

  26,779

  May

  16,977

  10,584

  20,775

  15,243

  25,827

  June

  16,125

  10,088

  19,916

  14,578

  24,666

  July

  16,087

  9,922

  20,043

  14,771

  24,693

  August

  15,400

  9,610

  19,501

  14,306

  23,916

  September

  15,588

  "9,765

  18,956

  13,814

  23,579

  October

  16,778

  10,587

  20,594

  15,182

  25,769

  November

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  December

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1 1990 data are provisional and the later months in particular are likely to be affected by late registration.

  156
  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested is shown in the following table.

  The data for 1990 are provisional, and the later months in particular are likely to be affected by late registration.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prison Education
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set a date to give every prisoner the right of access to prison education and to make the escorting of prisoners to education classes a duty for prison officers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Government are already considering the recommendation of the third report from the Education, Science and Arts Committee on this matter and will now wish to take into account the various recommendations that have been made by Lord Justice Woolf and His Honour Judge Stephen Tumim in the report of their recent inquiry into the prison disturbances, April 1990. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has said that the Government plan to issue a White Paper later this year, but we have already made clear the importance which we attach to education as part of a positive and constructive regime and that we want to see more prisoners taking up education courses. Escorting inmates, where necessary, to enable them to attend educational classes or to take part in other regime activities is already part of the task of prison officers.

  Public Bodies (Appointments)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to which posts in public bodies he appoints individuals where the posts are(a) part-time and (b) remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The chairman of the Independent Television Commission is the only post in a public body to which I have appointed someone who is part-time and remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

  Homicide
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recorded cases of homicide remain unsolved since 1960; whether these files remain open; and what guidance his Department is giving to police forces on whether to pursue investigations of unsolved homicides.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No central record is kept of the number of recorded cases of homicide which remain unsolved since 1960. Figures for recorded homicides where no subject was charged during the year in question are set out in the table; figures for years prior to 1979 are not available. The police are always ready to investigate unsolved murders further. Decisions about whether to pursue such investigations are operational matters for chief officers of police. The clear-up rate for homicide cases is high; in 1989 it was 92 per cent.

  Recorded offences of homicide where no suspects are charged

  Number

  1979

  32

  1980

  19

  1981

  24

  1982

  50

  1983

  31

  1984

  38

  1985

  34

  1986

  36

  1987

  35

  158

  Number

  1988

  35

  1989

  57

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of those employed in his Department are disabled.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The Home Office currently employs 138 registered disabled persons, which represents 0·32 per cent. of the total number of staff. No record is kept of staff with disabilities who have chosen not to register.

  Data Protection Act 1984
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to review the registration fee payable under the Data Protection Act 1984.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The triennial registration fee is intended to recover the costs of the Office of the Data Protection Registrar. Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary order, the Government propose to increase it from £56 to £75 from 1 June 1991.

  Prison Escapes
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Mojisola Soetan, Gena Aina and Aderinjola Absosede Agbabiaka who escaped from East Sutton Park on 5 April 1990 and 22 April 1990 have since been recaptured.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  No. These three women are still unlawfully at large.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Bernadette Ambrose, Mavis mary Sasu and Kudi Balogun who escaped from Drake Hall on 4 February 1990 and 25 February 1990 have since been recaptured.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Bernadette Ambrose has been recaptured. The other two women remain unlawfully at large.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many absconders from open prison were recaptured in 1990.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  A new system of recording data on the recapture or surrender of absconders was introduced in November 1990. From that date until the end of 1990, a total of 190 prisoners unlawfully at large from open prisons were recaptured or surrendered. This figure includes prisoners who had failed to return to prison having been granted temporary release. The information requested prior to November 1990 is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners absconded from open prisons in 1990.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  During 1990 1,148 prisoners absconded from open prisons.

  Iraqi Citizens (Entry Visas)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if entry visas have been granted to the Iraqi citizens M. Ibrahim Hammadi and Qahman Al Azzawi since January 1986.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We have been unable to trace any record of the issue of a visa or of the entry to the United Kingdom of a Mr. Hammadi or a Mr. Al-Azzawi from the information provided.

  Police
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the 700 extra police posts approved by him have been taken up by the local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. Friend announced on 20 December 1990 the allocation in 1991–92 of 564 police posts for the provincial forces, 100 for the Metropolitan police and 36 for the regional crime squads. Of the 564 extra posts that have been allocated to 34 provincial forces 26 have not yet been taken up, by two police authorities which have so far been unable to confirm that they will be able to meet their share of the additional cost.

  Private Medical Treatment
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who entered Britain on a visa, in the last year for which figures are available, did so for the purposes of receiving private medical treatment; what proportion were required to produce medical records; and what is the procedure if their medical records are not available.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Those coming for medical treatment are not distinguished in statistical records from visitors arriving for other purposes. Under paragraph 23 of the published immigration rules passengers may be required to produce evidence that arrangements have been made for consultation or treatment but production of medical records would not normally be a matter for the immigration officer.

  Crime, Leicestershire
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what percentage reported crime has increased in Leicestershire since 1979; and what proportion of that increase was in crimes of violence.

  Mr. John Patten
  In the 12 months to the end of September 1990, the number of recorded crimes in Leicestershire was 122 per cent. higher than in 1979. Six per cent. of the increase was attributable to crimes of violence.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received concerning the location of premises selected for the European bank for reconstruction and development; and if he will make a statement.
  160
  Mrs. Chalker
  The choice of a permanent headquarters building will be made by the European bank for reconstruction and development. Meanwhile the Government have provided transitional accommodation for the bank in the City. I refer the hon. Member to the Overseas Development Administration departmental minute laid before the House on 17 December 1990.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many United Kingdom citizens are to be employed by the European bank for reconstruction and development; and what roles they will perform.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The president-designate of the bank is responsible for staff recruitment from among member states of the bank and he will make his choices on merit. I am pleased to note the bank has selected Mr. John Flemming, previously with the Bank of England, for the senior position of chief economist.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the cost to Her Majesty's Government of the establishment of the European bank for reconstruction and development in London.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Fulham (Mr. Carrington) on 17 December 1990. In addition, we are meeting transitional accommodation and office support costs estimated at £2 million to enable the bank to prepare for operations.

THE ARTS

  Public Bodies (Appointments)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Minister for the Arts to which posts in public bodies he appoints individuals where the posts are(a) part-time and (b) remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

  Mr. Renton
  The appointments which I make of trustees, board members, etc., to posts in public bodies, are part-time. None is remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum; most are unpaid.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Mortgage Interest Relief
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount of mortgage interest relief that would be withdrawn per £1 billion existing relief per year if the relief percentage were reduced by (i) 1 per cent., (ii) 5 per cent. and (iii) 10 per cent. in England and in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maude
  Available estimates for the United Kingdom in 1990–91 are given in the following table.

  Reduction in the rate of mortgage interest relief

  Reduction in mortgage interest relief per £1 billion of relief

  Percentage points

  £ million

  1

  40

  5

  190

  10

  370

  161
  Separate estimates in respect of England are not available.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the exchequer what is the total amount of mortgage interest relief that would be saved per £1 billion existing relief per annum if the eligible loan ceiling for such relief for standard rate payers were reduced to (i) £29,000, (ii) £25,000, (iii) £20,000 and (iv) £15,000 in England, the United Kingdom and London and the south-east.

  Mr. Maude
  Available estimates for the United Kingdom in 1990–91 are given in the table. They relate to all mortgagors and exclude behavioural effects. Estimates for England, London and the south-east are not separately available.

  Limit on Mortgage interest relief £

  Direct revenue yield per £1 billion of relief £ million

  29,000

  10

  25,000

  90

  20,000

  190

  15,000

  330

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the amount of mortgage interest tax relief going to each economic planning region of the United Kingdom in 1990–91; and what is the average amount of subsidy per person in each region with a mortgage.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 25 February 1991]: Broad estimates, based on the regional distribution of mortgage interest relief recorded in the family expenditure survey for 1988 and 1989, are as follows:

  United Kingdom manufacturing investment (including leased assets) £ million 1985 prices

  Year

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Actual Investment (a)

  10,264

  9,656

  10,185

  11,505

  12,421

  11,738

  Difference from 1978–79 average (a)—£10,937

  -673

  -1,281

  -752

  + 568

  + 1,484

  + 801

  1979 Investment Projected at 1974–79 average rate of change (2·1 per cent.) (b)

  12,639

  12,905

  13,176

  13,453

  13,735

  14,023

  Difference from actual level (a)—(b)

  -2,375

  -3,249

  -2,991

  -1,948

  -1,314

  -2,285

  1979 Investment projected at year on year per cent, changes11for:

  Japan

  not available

  not available

  not available

  not available

  not available

  not available

  France

  11,365

  11,801

  12,449

  13,838

  —

  —

  USA

  11,103

  9,905

  9,980

  10,897

  —

  —

  West Germany

  11,680

  12,589

  13,293

  —

  —

  —

  OECD2

  not available

  not available

  not available

  not available

  not available

  not available

  Source:

  1 OECD National Accounts Volume 2 1976–88. The percentage changes are based on figures, at 1980 prices, of gross fixed capital formation by owners engaged in manufacturing. The coverage is therefore not exactly comparable to the United Kingdom figures which differ, in particular, by the inclusion of leased assets.

  2 Figures of gross fixed capital formation in manufacturing are not available for a number of OECD countries. It is not possible to produce average change figures covering the group of countries for which figures are available because all figures are expressed in national currencies.

  Inflation
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the annual rate of inflation for the fiscal years 1989–90 and 1990–91; and what is his estimate of the rate of inflation for fiscal year 1991–92.
  162

  Mortgage interest relief 1990–91

  Total cost £ million

  Average cost per mortgagor £

  Northern

  360

  680

  Yorkshire

  530

  670

  North West

  770

  680

  East Midlands

  490

  720

  West Midlands

  620

  710

  East Anglia

  310

  890

  Greater London

  1,130

  1,090

  Other South East

  1,960

  1,000

  South West

  750

  870

  Wales

  260

  670

  Scotland

  530

  810

  Northern Ireland

  90

  750

  United Kingdom

  7,800

  830

  Public Bodies (Appointments)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to which posts in public bodies he appoints individuals where the posts are(a) part-time and (b) remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  My right hon. Friend does not make any appointments to posts which are both part-time and remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

  Manufacturing Investment
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will provide the information on United Kingdom manufacturing investment given in his answer to the hon. Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams) on 5 June 1990,Official Report, column 406, at constant prices for the latest year available.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 5 March 1991]: The table provides revised and updated information for the years from 1985.

  Mr. Maples
  [holding answer 5 March 1991]: All items RPI inflation averaged 7·8 per cent. in the financial year 1989–90. The comparable figure for the market price GDP deflator was 6¼ per cent. (adjusted for the distortion caused by the abolition of domestic rates). Complete data for 1990–91 are not yet available. The autumn statement forecast was for an increase in the GDP deflator of 8 per

  163
  cent. in 1990–91 and 6 per cent. in 1991–92; no such forecast is published for the RPI. A new forecast will be published with the Budget.

  Research and Development
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list, for each year since 1979, for each of the G7 countries, the amount of(a) civil research and development expenditure undertaken by private firms, (b) civil research and development expenditure undertaken by governments and (c) each of the above as a percentage of gross domestic product.

  Mr. Maples
  [holding answer 5 March 1991]: In 1989 civil research and development undertaken by industry in the United Kingdom was £5,730 million which represents 1·1 per cent. of GDP. Prior to 1989 information collected did not distinguish between civil and defence R and D. Comparable information for other countries is not readily available.

  The available information on Government civil R and D in G7 countries (except Canada) is given in tables 6.8 and 6.9 of the 1990 edition of the "Annual Review of Government Funded Research and Development", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Mortgage Rates
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of(a) annual and (b) six-monthly changes in mortgage rates set by building societies on fluctuation in the monthly figures for the retail prices index.

  Companies Receiving BES Investments

  Industry

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Number of companies

  Amount of investment £ million

  Number of companies

  Amount of investment £ million

  Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry

  21

  9

  13

  1

  Fishing

  20

  6

  11

  1

  Manufacture of Metals, Minerals and Chemicals

  32

  3

  21

  1

  Mechanical Engineering

  26

  2

  7

  1

  Electrical and Electronic Engineering

  51

  5

  26

  1

  Manufacture of Transport Equipment

  20

  7

  11

  4

  Instrument Engineering

  20

  2

  7

  1

  Food and Drink Industry

  30

  2

  12

  —

  Textile, Clothing and Footwear Industry

  24

  1

  7

  —

  Manufacture of Paper and Paper Products

  40

  3

  33

  3

  Other Manufacturing Industries

  49

  4

  40

  3

  Construction and Real Estate

  50

  34

  30

  3

  Wholesale Distribution

  41

  7

  42

  4

  Retail Distribution

  88

  27

  51

  3

  Distribution and Repair of Motor Vehicles

  24

  3

  11

  1

  Hotels and Catering

  74

  43

  42

  4

  Transport and Storage Services

  28

  1

  21

  9

  Business, Professional and Technical Services

  69

  6

  64

  4

  Medical, Educational and Social Services

  38

  30

  26

  1

  Recreational, Hairdressing and Personal Services

  59

  4

  38

  2

  Private Rented Housing

  —

  —

  1,948

  365

  Others

  14

  2

  15

  2

  Total

  818

  200

  2,476

  416

  The average size of investment per company is as follows:
  164
  Mr. Maples
  [holding answer 5 March 1991]: The mortgage interest payments component of the RPI is calculated using the current rates of interest charged by building societies and banks in order to reflect the changes in liabilities as they accrue for typical mortgage payers. The RPI is an index of prices rather than payments and it is not appropriate to reflect the various arrangements where payments are fixed for set periods.

  North Sea Oil
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total revenues to the Exchequer from North sea oil since May 1979, expressed in 1990 prices.

  Mr. Maples
  [holding answer 5 March 1991]: The total over the period since 1979–80 is estimated at around £98 billion at 1990 prices.

  Business Expansion Scheme
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for each of the years of the existence of the business expansion scheme, what was(a) the regional distribution of BES funds and the associated cost to the Exchequer, (b) the distribution of BES investments by two-digit SIC and (c) the average size of investment.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 25 February 1991]: Information on the companies receiving investments through the business expansion scheme is published in chapter 7 of "Inland Revenue Statistics 1990". Further information that is readily available is as follows:

  £ thousand

  1983–84

  147

  1984–85

  183

  1985–86

  224

  1986–87

  222

  1987–88

  245

  165

  £ thousand

  1988–89

  168

  11989–90

  240

  1 Provisional.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual reduction in income tax for a person on an annual income of(a) £10,000, (b) £20,000, (c) £30,000, (d) £40,000, (e) £70,000 and (f) £150,000 as a result of income tax changes since the 1988 Budget.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 25 February 1991]: The information is in the table, which compares the income tax liability in 1990–91 with liability under 1988–89 rates of tax with allowances and thresholds indexed to 1990–91 levels by reference to movements in the RPI. The calculations are for a single, non-aged person with no reliefs or allowances apart from the personal allowance.

  Annual income £

  Increase in tax liability £

  10,000

  0

  20,000

  0

  30,000

  225

  40,000

  225

  70,000

  225

  150,000

  225

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average individual cumulative gain(a) in current prices and (b) in 1990–91 prices to those earning £5,000, £10,000, £15,000, £20,000, £25,000, £30,000, £40,000, £50,000, £60,000 and £70,000 a year as a result of changes in income tax since 1979.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 25 February 1991]: Latest estimates of the annual change in income tax liability resulting from the changes in tax rates, allowances and thresholds are in the table. The 1978–79 income tax regime has been indexed to 1990–91 levels of reference to the statutory formula, and allowing for independent taxation.

  For the purposes of these calculations the indexed regime of 1978–79 is applied directly to the income base of 1990–91. In practice, retention of the regime, indexed as appropriate, for the intervening years would have led to changes in the income base.

  1989–901

  1990–912

  Group of income taxpayers

  Total earned income

  Average earned income

  Total investment income

  Average investment income

  Total earned income

  Average earned income

  Total investment income

  Average investment income

  £ billion

  £ per annum

  £ billion

  £ per annum

  £ billion

  £ per annum

  £ billion

  £ per annum

  Top 1 per cent.

  17·8

  82,800

  6·9

  32,200

  20·6

  78,800

  7·4

  28,200

  Top 5 per cent.

  49·7

  46,000

  12·2

  11,300

  55·4

  42,200

  13·0

  10,000

  Top 10 per cent.

  78·5

  36,300

  15·6

  7,300

  85·6

  32,500

  16·7

  6,500

  Bottom 70 per cent.

  134·2

  8,900

  11·6

  880

  150·1

  8,200

  13·5

  870

  Bottom 50 per cent.

  79·4

  7,400

  7·5

  820

  88·7

  6,800

  8·9

  830

  Bottom 10 per cent.

  10·2

  4,800

  n/a

  n/a

  11·2

  4,300

  n/a

  n/a

  All taxpayer

  292·3

  13,500

  33·6

  1,700

  321·7

  12,200

  37·1

  1,600

  1 Counting married couples as one unit.

  2 Counting husbands and wives as separate individuals under independent taxation.

  n/a Estimates not available.

  166

  Average reduction in income tax per individual1 in 1990–91 compared with 1978–79 indexed regime

  Range of individual's income in 1990–91 (£)

  Average reduction at 1990–91 prices (£)

  Under 5,000

  130

  5,000 to 10,000

  360

  10,000 to 15,000

  650

  15,000 to 20,000

  930

  20,000 to 25,000

  1,250

  25,000 to 30,000

  1,680

  30,000 to 40,000

  2,340

  40,000 to 50,000

  4,000

  50,000 to 60,000

  6,830

  60,000 to 70,000

  9,980

  Over 70,000

  36,430

  Total

  910

  1 Individuals paying income tax under the 1978–79 indexed regime.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax units and individuals had(a) earned income and (b) total income in the top (1) 1 per cent., (2) 5 per cent. and (3) 10 per cent., and the bottom (i) 10 per cent. and (ii) 50 per cent. of the earnings and income distribution, respectively.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 27 February 1991]: In 1990–91 it is estimated that there are 26·5 million individuals liable to income tax of whom 26·3 million have earned income. Information is accordingly as follows:

  Thousands

  Number of individual taxpayers in 1990–91

  Earned income distribution

  Total income distribution

  Top 1 per cent.

  300

  300

  Top 5 per cent.

  1,300

  1,300

  Top 10 per cent.

  2,600

  2,600

  Bottom 10 per cent.

  2,500

  2,600

  Bottom 50 per cent.

  13,100

  13,200

  Incomes
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total and average investment income and earned income in 1989–90 and 1990–91 of(a) the top 1 per cent., (b) the top 5 per cent., (c) the top 10 per cent., (d) the bottom 70 per cent., (e) the bottom 50 per cent., (f) the bottom 10 per cent., of taxpayers and (g) all taxpayers.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 25 February 1991]: Estimates are in the table.
  167
  All estimates are provisional and subject to a wide margin of error since they are based on a projection of the 1988–89 survey of personal incomes and the coverage of investment income in the survey is incomplete. In some cases investment income on which basic rate liability is satisfied by deduction at source is not reflected in the survey. Information on the investment income of the bottom 10 per cent. of taxpayers is not available.

  European Regional Support
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to ensure that moneys provided by the European Community in support of regional need are neither classed as items of United Kingdom public expenditure nor limited because of any curb on public spending imposed by Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Mellor
  The estimated moneys provided by the European Community in support of regional need, as with other receipts from the European Community, are taken into account in setting our public expenditure programmes, which are thus higher than they would otherwise be.

EMPLOYMENT

  South Glamorgan TEC
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether, pursuant to his answer of 26 February,Official Report, column 480, his Department was aware of the involvement of E C Harris, quantity surveyors, in the proposed new South Glamorgan TEC headquarters building project prior to 24 September 1990.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Department was aware before 24 September that E C Harris has been commissioned by South Glamorgan TEC to undertake some preliminary work which preceded the tendering process.

  Public Bodies (Appointments)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment to which posts in public bodies he appoints individuals where the posts are(a) part-time and (b) remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

  Mr. Howard
  The public bodies sponsored by the Employment Department Group are listed on pages 18 to 22 of the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies 1990" which is available in the House of Commons Library. The list shows the appointments and the salaries paid. Part-time appointments are printed in light type and bold type denotes full-time appointments.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of those employed in his Department are disabled.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Employment Department Group employed 3·2 per cent. registered disabled staff at 1 June 1990, which is the latest available figure. The group also employs people with disabilities who have chosen not to register. The group complies with the code of practice on the employment of people with disabilities issued by the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service, and aims to 168
  increase the representation of those with disabilities especially at higher grades. The group as an employer has adopted the disability symbol it recently launched.

  Nursery Courses
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will restore funding to the nursery nurses course at Basford Hall college of further education, Nottingham to enable those students currently on the course to complete their studies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  My Department's Greater Nottingham area office is seeking ways to support the continuation of training for trainees currently undertaking NNEB courses in nursery nursing at Basford Hall college of further education.

  All trainees will be given the opportunity to complete their period on employment training.

  Gulf Casualties
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans have been made to provide suitable jobs for service personnel permanently disabled in the Gulf.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 5 March 1991]: It is too soon to say how many United Kingdom service personnel who sustained injuries in the Gulf crisis might be discharged on medical grounds.

  Service personnel who are medically discharged because retention in the relevant service is not a possible option are helped by the resettlement officers of each service both before and after discharge. These officers work in close liaison with disablement resettlement officers (DROs) from the employment service, and with a variety of other organisations which can provide resettlement, rehabilitation and training assistance, to ensure that the needs of the service personnel when re-entering civilian life are met most effectively.

  In particular, DROs are invited to resettlement panels run by the services and can offer advice and guidance there. Anyone who requires further help, perhaps in their home area, in identifying, gaining and retaining suitable work can obtain it from the employment rehabilitation service and from DROs and other employment service staff.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy to issue guidance on conflicts of interest to the chairmen or women and all board members of all training and enterprise councils.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 5 March 1991]: The revised TEC operating agreement which will come into force from April this year includes new clauses on conflicts of interest.

ENERGY

  Natural Gas
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the location and estimated reserves of natural gas in Scotland.
  169
  Mr. Moynihan
  Exploration and appraisal to date indicate only minor amounts of natural gas in onshore oil and gas discoveries in Scotland.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of those employed in his Department are disabled.

  Mr. Wakeham
  At 1 June 1990, 1·18 per cent. of my Department's staff were registered disabled persons.

  My Department's staff also included at this date other people with disabilities who had chosen not to register. No separate records are kept of unregistered disabled people.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Manufactured Trade Balance
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the balance of manufactured trade between(a) Britain and the United States of America and (b) Germany and the United States of America in 1980, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989 and 1990.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The information is in the table. Figures for 1990 are not available for Germany's trade with the United States of America.

  Crude trade balance1 in manufactures2 with United States of America

  US$ billion

  Federal Republic of Germany

  United Kingdom

  1980

  2·6

  -2·4

  1983

  4·9

  -1·7

  1986

  15·0

  1·6

  1988

  12·6

  -0·4

  1989

  8·1

  -1·3

  1990

  n./a.

  -3·7

  1 The crude trade balance is exports (fob) less imports (cif).

  2 Manufactures = SITC divisions 5 to 8.

  Source: OECD Series C.

  Iraq
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what was the value of goods and services supplied to Iraq last year; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what was the value of goods and services supplied to Libya last year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  This information is available in Business Monitor MM20: Overseas Trade Statistics for the United Kingdom (December 1990) Table 1b. A copy is available in the Library.

  Data on United Kingdom trade in services are not available by partner country.

  Public Bodies (Appointments)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to which posts in public bodies he appoints individuals where the posts are(a) part-time and (b) remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

  Mr. Leigh
  The chairmanship of British Shipbuilders.

  Rechar
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what expenditure has been undertaken under the terms of the European Rechar programme in the United Kingdom and in each of the other EC member states.

  Mr. Leigh
  The question does not arise, since implementation of most Rechar programmes, including those in the United Kingdom, has yet to begin. Decisions from the European Commission are awaited.

  Argentina
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what subjects the Minister for Trade raised with the Argentine Government on his recent visit.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 1 March 1991]: Among the subjects discussed were the improvement in relations between Britain and Argentina, the increase in our bilateral trade, the progress of the Uruguay round, opportunities for British investors and exporters, the Argentine economy and the country's plans for privatisation.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensions
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much was paid out as(a) incentive bonuses and (b) rebates to persons opting out of (i) SERPS and (ii) occupational pension schemes for each year since 1986; and how many persons opted out in each case during each of these years.

  Mr. Jack
  The main objective of the pensions reforms was to reduce the long-term costs of SERPS by encouraging the growth of alternative forms of pension provision.

  The Government Actuary estimates that the numbers opting out of SERPS (either in contracted-out occupational schemes or with personal pensions) are as follows:

  Great Britain, Millions

  Number in contracted-out schemes

  Number with personal pensions

  Total contracted-out

  1987–88

  9·1

  3·1

  12·2

  1988–89

  9·3

  3·1

  12·4

  1989–90

  9·4

  4·0

  13·4

  The revenue forgone in respect of rebates and incentives is estimated to be as follows:

  Great Britain, £ billions

  Rebates to schemes

  Rebates to personal pensions

  Rebates Total

  Incentives to schemes and personal pensions

  1987–88

  4·7

  1·0

  5·7

  0·3

  1988–89

  4·8

  1·0

  5·8

  0·4

  1989–90

  5·3

  1·5

  6·8

  0·6

  The amounts paid are shown against the year to which they relate rather than the year in which payment was made.

  Maternity Pay
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the average amount of maternity leave taken, in weeks, by women in receipt of statutory maternity pay;

  (2) if he will estimate the proportion of women in receipt of statutory maternity pay who receive the lower rate only throughout the maternity pay period;

  (3) if he will publish figures showing the number and proportion of women in receipt of statutory maternity pay who receive less than the maximum 18 weeks' statutory maternity pay entitlement.

  Mr. Jack
  Detailed statistics about statutory maternity pay are not collected centrally from employers. It is not possible, therefore, to provide sufficiently accurate estimates of the information requested at this time. It is hoped that the information will be available to allow such estimates to be made when a survey of maternity rights being carried out by the Policy Studies Institute is published later this year.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate how many women lost entitlement to the earnings-related element of statutory maternity pay as a result of the 1987 changes which changed the qualifying week to the 15th week before expected confinement.

  Mr. Jack
  Information is not available of the numbers of women who either gained or lost the earnings element of statutory maternity pay (SMP) as a result of the 1987 change in the qualifying week.

  Residential Care Homes
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what guidance he will issue to local adjudicating officers on arrangements for care for claimants in former local authority homes who(a) are existing residents in a former local authority home, (b) are new residents nominated by the local authority entering the home after transfer, (c) are new residents not nominated by the local authority and (d) live in homes where (i) staff employment remains the local authority's responsibility, but the new provider manages the scheme, (ii) property is leased to fall-back provisions and (iii) a fund is made available by the local authority to cover necessary top-ups of fees;

  (2) what guidance he will issue to local adjudicating officers to assist them in determining the eligibility of individual claimants to enhanced levels of income support when local authorities have transferred elderly residents' homes to independent trusts or voluntary bodies.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Eligibility for income support is defined by regulation. Decisions regarding claims to benefit will be made at local level by the independent adjudication officers, who are provided with guidance on the interpretation of the regulations by the chief adjudication officer in the published adjudication officers' guide.

  No special arrangements have been made for when homes are transferred out of local authority control. The existing guidance issued to adjudication officers is available to assist in determining eligibility for income support in such cases.
  172
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidance he will give to local adjudication officers about eligibility of claimants to income support when they are in nursing homes where arrangements made by health authorities rely on patients claiming income support and where(a) premises are transferred from health authorities to independent providers, (b) beds are reserved through health authority contracts, (c) health authorities have arranged with a third party for sums of money to be available for top-up of income support and (d) health authorities retain rights, or continue to employ staff directly.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Eligibility for income support is defined by regulation. Independent adjudication officers are provided with guidance on the interpretation of the regulations by the chief adjudication officer (rather than my right hon. Friend) in the published adjudication officers guide.

  The NHS has a responsibility for providing medical and nursing care. This is mainly provided in NHS accommodation. Health authorities (HAs) can enter into contractual arrangements with independent nursing homes for the treatment of NHS patients. They cannot charge people when they do so. Patients in private homes under these arrangements are NHS in-patients and cannot be charged and therefore cannot receive income support as that benefit is designed to provide help with actual charges. HAs cannot make topping-up payments.

  Property Identification
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether it is the policy of his Department to mark property with an indelible mark or similar means of identification.

  Miss Widdecombe
  General guidance on security matters recommends that portable equipment should be given an identification mark. In addition, standards laid down for the housing of IT equipment emphasise the need for it to be kept in secure accommodation.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the annual total saving to his Department derived from reducing the level of income support payment granted to asylum seekers.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Asylum seekers are entitled to 90 per cent. of the appropriate personal allowance. If the full allowances were paid, the estimated additional cost would be around £2·5 million per year.

  Income Support
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people, excluding asylum seekers, are granted less than 100 per cent. of the normal rate of income support payments since the change in social security legislation in April 1988; and if he will outline the reason for not granting the full rate of income support in such cases.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Income support urgent cases payments are available to certain people from abroad, including asylum seekers, and to people who have not
  173
  received income which they are due and who would, in consequence, suffer hardship. The personal allowance for adults is reduced by 10 per cent. because recipients are not entitled to (or are entitled to less) income support under the normal rules. Allowances in respect of any children together with any premiums are paid in full. No information is available about the number of people receiving urgent cases payments.

  State Earnings-related Pension Scheme
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average state earnings-related pension scheme payment for people retiring in the April of each year since 1979 who are in receipt of SERPS.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is not available in the precise form requested. The available figures are as follows:

  People retiring in

  Gross additional pension payable1 £

  8 months ending 30 November 1979

  0·70

  6 months ending 31 May 1980

  0·83

  13 months ending 30 June 1981

  1·54

  6 months ending 31 May 1982

  2·43

  6 months ending 31 March 1983

  3·52

  6 months ending 31 March 1984

  4·47

  12 months ending 31 March 1985

  5·65

  6 months ending 31 March 1986

  7·37

  12 months ending 30 September 1987

  9·32

  6 months ending 31 March 1988

  10·43

  6 months ending 31 March 1989

  12·10

  1 Includes a notional amount which would have been paid to those who were contracted out of the state earnings related scheme.

  Public Bodies (Appointments)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security to which posts in public bodies he appoints individuals where the posts are(a) part-time and (b) remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

  Miss Widdecombe
  My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State makes the following part-time appointments to public bodies:

  Public Body

  Number of appointments

  Attendance Allowance Board

  8

  Industrial Injuries Advisory Council

  17

  Occupational Pensions Board

  13

  Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions

  25

  Social Security Research Policy Committee

  8

  Total

  71

  My right hon. Friend does not make any part-time appointments where remuneration is in excess of £50,000 per annum.

  Local Offices
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received about the level of funding of community care loans and grants at his Department's offices in Greenock and Port Glasgow; what has been his response; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  No representations have been received concerning either office. However, following a recent 174
  exercise to identify offices whose budgets were under severe pressure, an additional allocation of £30,000 for the loans budget at Greenock was made on 22 February.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what change there has been in the numbers of claims and the time involved in(a) the assessment of a claim and (b) the notification of the assessment to the claimant in Greenock and Port Glasgow, following the installation of computer systems.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The installation of the computer systems in Greenock and Port Glasgow local offices to assess and pay claims for income support and retirement pension was completed in August 1990.

  From the latest information available, in January 1991, Port Glasgow local office received 341 claims for income support which were cleared in an average of 0·7 days. Prior to computerisation, in May 1989, the office received 327 claims for income support which were processed in an average of 1·7 days. In January 1991, the office also received 21 claims for retirement pension which were dealt with in five days. In May 1989, 25 claims for retirement pension were received which were also cleared in five days.

  In January 1991, Greenock local office received 850 claims for income support which were cleared in an average of 0·7 days. Prior to computerisation, in March 1990, the office received 626 claims for income support which were processed in an average of 1·3 days. In January 1991, the office received 113 claims for retirement pension which were dealt with in 9·7 days. In October 1989, 112 claims for retirement pension were received which were cleared in 19·4 days.

  In general, the time taken to receive notification of entitlement depends on the type of payment. If payment is due within three days a girocheque is issued automatically by the computer system and sent by first-class post, with the entitlement notice enclosed. Alternatively, if payment is by order book, the book is issued to the Post Office by first-class post, and the pick-up notice, with entitlement information are sent second class direct to the recipient.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to alter the operations, or relocate workloads, from or to his Department's offices in Greenock and Port Glasgow; what plans he has to reduce staffing levels in these two offices; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The management of the Department's local office network is being restructured because changes as a result of the operational strategy project and the setting up of the Contributions Agency meant that the existing offices no longer formed viable management units. This restructuring will result in a modest overall staff saving at managerial level, but there are no plans to reduce the number of offices open to the public. A voluntary redundancy scheme is in place for staff.

  District managers will be responsible for drawing up detailed plans to provide the best possible service to local customers in the most effective way. These plans will be drawn up in consultation with interested parties, including constituency Members.

  Medical Appeal Tribunals
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the total number of consultants to medical appeal tribunals in Scotland who are aged(a) under 40 years, (b) 40 to 50 years, (c) 50 to 65 years and (d) over 65 years;

  (2) how many female consultants have been appointed to medical appeal tribunals in Scotland in each year since 1979.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The administration of medical appeal tribunals is the responsibility of the president of social security and medical appeal tribunals, His Honour Judge Derek Holden. The hon. Member may care to contact his office direct to obtain this information.

  Child Benefit
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many children are expected to be in receipt of the higher-rate child benefit from 1 April in the parliamentary constituency of Greenock and Port Glasgow.

  Mr. Jack
  Information relating to child benefit is available only on a national basis and cannot be given for particular areas.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of those employed in his Department are disabled.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 22 November 1990 at column 214.

  Care Home Trusts
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has now made of the likely financial implications for his Department of the creation of local authority care home trusts.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 29 January 1991]: Decisions on eligibility for income support are made individually for each case by local adjudication officers, and data on these decisions is not collated centrally.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what guidance he has issued to local adjudication officers with regard to the payment of income support to residents in local authority care home trusts;

  (2) what guidance he has issued to local adjudication officers regarding the eligibility for income support of individuals suffering from senile dementia who are unable to exercise personal choice and are placed by a local authority in a care home trust.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answers 29 and 31 January 1991]: Eligibility for income support is defined by regulation and is available in respect of fees, up to certain limits, to residents of registered residential care homes and
  176
  in certain other types of homes. Independent adjudication officers are provided with guidance on the interpretation of the regulations by the chief adjudication officer (rather than my right hon. Friend) in the published adjudication officers guide. Where an individual suffering from senile dementia is unable to act for himself a suitable person would be appointed to act on his behalf and eligibility for income support would be determined in the usual way, taking account of all the relevant circumstances.

  Income Support
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people claim income support at the local offices of his Department in(a) Leeds, West, (b) Leeds metropolitan district council area, (c) West Yorkshire and (d) England both as a figure and as a percentage of total population.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 4 March 1991]: Data are not available for the total adult population on the date and for the precise geographical areas to which the information relates. The number of claimants receiving income support is as follows:

  Number

  Leeds West

  10,830

  Leeds Area

  62,244

  West, Yorkshire

  181,528

  England

  3,693,297

  Note:

  All data derived from 30 November 1990 count of cases in action, which include a number of cases where payment has ceased but other action is continuing. Data are provisional and subject to amendment.

  Claimants
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are dependent on(a) income support, (b) family credit and (c) housing benefit broken down into claimants, dependants and children for (i) Leeds, West, (ii) Leeds metropolitan district council area, (iii) West Yorkshire and (iv) England.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 4 March 1991]: Information for Leeds, West, Leeds metropolitan district council area and West Yorkshire is unavailable and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The information in respect of England is as follows:

  Income Support1

  Family Credit2

  Claimants

  3,429,000

  264,000

  Dependants

  599,000

  164,000

  Children

  1,688,000

  569,000

  Total

  5,716,000

  997,000

  1 Data derived from 1989 Annual Statistical Enquiry

  2 Data derived from 5 per cent, sample of Family Credit caseload at 31 July 1990.

  Information for Leeds, West is unavailable and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The information in respect of the metropolitan borough of Leeds, West Yorkshire and England is as follows:

  177

  Claimants1

  Dependants1

  Children

  Total1

  Metropolitan Borough of Leeds

  63,700

  18,0002

  n/a

  81,700

  West Yorkshire

  159,100

  44,8002

  n/a

  163,900

  England

  3,153,000

  902,0002

  n/a

  4,055,000

  Income Support, Leeds
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many income support claims in the Leeds metropolitan district council area are from (i) pensioners, (ii) families, (iii) single parents and (iv) people with disabilities as a figure and as a percentage of all income support claims.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 4 March 1991]: The information is not available in the form requested. It is, however, possible to identify the number of current claims from pensioners and lone parents aged less than 60 in the five local offices in the Leeds metropolitan area. This information is in the table.

  Total number of claims

  Percentage of claims in the Leeds area per cent.

  Pensioners

  23,198

  38·5

  Lone Parents

  11,016

  18·3

  Note:

  Data derived from 30 November 1990 count of cases in action, which include a number of cases where payment has ceased but other action is continuing. Data are provisional and subject to amendment.

WALES

  Common Land
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make a statement on the progress made with the designation of common land in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  I assume that the hon. Gentleman is referring to the registration of common land in Wales.

  Current information on the progress of registration is not held centrally as statutory responsibility for this function lies with local authorities.

  The Arts
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on the number of people attending events associated with the arts in Wales in each of the past five years; what was the total amount spent by the general public on arts events during the same period; what has been the total turnover of the arts in Wales over the past five years; and what are the total figures for employment in the arts over the past five years.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  This information is not held centrally.

  Local Authority Complaints
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for each year since the establishment of the Commission for Local Administration in Wales (i) the number of complaints submitted against each local authority, (ii) the number of complaints investigated, (iii) the number of complaints of maladministration upheld and (iv) the number of (iii) as a ratio of the electorate of the local authority area.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The investigation of maladministration by local authorities in Wales is a matter for the Commissioner for Local Administration in Wales. Much of the information the hon. Gentleman requires can be obtained from a study of the annual reports of the Commissioner published each year since 1975.

  Secure Accommodation (Juveniles)
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consideration he has given to the requirement for secure establishments in Wales for juveniles awaiting trial to be provided and operated by commercial companies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  None. Private provision of secure accommodation for young people was ruled out during the passage of the then Children Bill; the Secure Accommodation Regulations 1991, to be made under the resulting Children Act 1989, will specifically prohibit the provision of secure accommodation in voluntary or registered children's homes.

  Administrators
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report, for each local authority in Wales, the number of administrators employed in (a) education departments and (b) social services departments.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Information on the numbers of administrators employed in local authority education departments is not held centrally. The following staff, who are not directly employed in the delivery of services, were employed in local authority social service departments at 30 September 1990.

  Number

  Whole time equivalent

  Clwyd

  167

  156·0

  Dyfed

  139

  127·9

  Gwent

  203

  190·0

  Gwynedd

  111

  105·0

  Mid Glamorgan

  339

  319·0

  Powys

  52

  48·5

  South Glamorgan

  240

  225·6

  West Glamorgan

  183

  178·1

  Wales

  1,434

  1,350·1

  Note: The following staff groups are included:

  Senior directing, managing, professional and advisory staff who carry a high level of responsibility for particular areas of work (eg consultants, advisors, inspectors, etc.), senior staff concerned with administration, finance or resources and also telephonists and other administrative, clerical and secretarial staff based at headquarters, area offices and hospitals.

  Multi-disabled Young People
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many multi-disabled, visually impaired young people under the age of 20 years there are in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This information is not held centrally.

  Public Bodies (Appointments)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales to which posts in public bodies he appoints individuals where the posts are(a) part-time and (b) remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The chairmanship of the Welsh Development Agency—four days per week at a salary of £58,750.

  Amputees
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the secretary of State for Wales if he will review the national health service contract with Vessa Ltd. for the supply of artificial limbs and appliances for amputees in Wales in the light of the proposed 30 per cent. rundown in local supply, fitting and manufacture at the ALAC centre at Rookwood hospital, Cardiff.

  Industry

  Capital1 investment

  Profitability1

  Manpower2

  Output/man shift

  Output

  £ million

  £ million

  ('000 tonnes)

  ('000 tonnes)

  1979

  Steel

  8—

  8—

  355,274

  6—

  6,935·7

  British Coal (Deep Mines)

  35·9

  -15·9

  428,581

  1·46

  8,560

  British Coal (Opencast)

  1·5

  10·2

  5310

  6—

  156·822

  180
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The terms of the contract with Vessa Ltd. and any issue of contract compliance are matters for the Welsh Health Common Services Authority.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from ex-service men's organisations and others regarding the artificial limb and appliance services available to amputees in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  None. Nor would I expect to since management and operational responsibility for the artificial limb and appliance service was transferred to the Welsh Health Common Services Authority on 1 April 1988.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make it his policy to restore the standard supply of one spare artificial limb to amputees requiring artificial limbs.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Decisions on such matters are for the management of the service taking account of the specialist clinical advice available to it. I understand that there has been no change of policy on the supply of spare artificial limbs.

  Libraries and Information Services Council
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the reports produced by the Libraries and Information Services Council for Wales in each year from 1986 to 1990.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  [holding answer 27 February 1991]: Year and publication.

  1986

  Annual Report 1985–86.

  1987

  Annual Report 1986–87.

  1988

  Annual Report 1987–88.

  The Report of a Working Party on Public Library Services.

  1989

  Annual Report 1988–89.

  A survey of Information Technology in Academic Libraries in Wales.

  Into the 21st Century: A Plan for the Development of Library and Information Sevices in Wales.

  1990

  Annual Report 1989–90.

  The Report of a Working Group on Libraries in Maintained Secondary Schools in Wales.

  Coal and Steel
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the level of investment profitability and manpower in the coal and steel industries in Wales in 1990 and in 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answer 4 March 1991]: The information is given in the following table:

  181

  Industry

  Capital1 investment

  Profitability1

  Manpower2

  Output/man shift

  Output

  £ million

  £ million

  ('000 tonnes)

  ('000 tonnes)

  1990

  Steel

  8—

  8—

  318,000

  6—

  75,792·6

  British Coal (Deep Mines)

  12·4

  -7·09

  43,000

  3·17

  4,040

  British Coal (Opencast)

  4·2

  20·5

  5213

  6—

  92·862

  1 Details relate to the financial year 1978–79 and 1989–90.

  2 Details as at 31 December 1979 and 1990.

  3 Source: Iron and Steel Statistics Bureau.

  4 Figures relate to men on colliery books.

  5 Figures only include employees of British Coal Opencast Executive.

  6 Information on output/man shift not available.

  7 Latest figures from the Iron and Steel Statistics Bureau.

  8 The information on the level of investment and profitability of the steel industry in Wales is not separately available from that for the whole of the United Kingdom.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when his Department last conducted a survey of the ethnic origins of its employees; when it next plans to do so; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  After a number of regional pilot studies in the early 1980s the Department completed its survey in 1987 of the ethnic origins of staff by means of voluntary questionnaires. The database is kept up to date with the addition of information on new staff and leavers.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many and what percentage of officers in each grade (1–7) and overall in the Ministry are(a) women and (b) from ethnic minorities, respectively.

  Mr. Curry
  The information requested, as at 1 April 1990, is set out in the table. Ethnic origin figures derive from a voluntary questionnaire which about 90 per cent. of staff completed. Programmes of action to achieve equality of opportunity for women and people of ethnic minority origin in the civil service are in place in the Department.

  By grade and grade equivalent

  Number of women

  Women as percentage of total staff

  Ethnic minority respondents to ethnic origin questionnaire

  Ethnic minority respondents as percentage of total respondents

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  1

  4·2

  —

  —

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  10

  9·0

  1

  0·93

  6

  10

  7·6

  1

  0·79

  7

  121

  12·5

  9

  0·99

  All staff

  4,624

  44·7

  399

  4·10

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to recruit members of ethnic minorities in top grades of employment at his Ministry.

  Mr. Curry
  The Department is committed to a policy of equal opportunities. Senior grades are recruited on the Department's behalf by the Civil Service Commission following the principles of fair and open competition. The Commission has taken a series of measures to aid recruitment of members of the ethnic minorities including action on publicity, training and selection policy.

  Illegal Poisoning
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of reported incidents of poisoning of(a) birds, (b) wild animals and (c) household pets by illegal baits in the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The current figures for England and Wales for 1990 are as follows:

  Total number of incidents of suspected poisoning reported was 343

  Numbers reported

  Confirmed involvement of pesticides

  Illegal poisonings by pesticides

  Birds

  132

  50

  37

  Wild animals

  102

  15

  11

  Household pets

  96

  40

  31

  Note: Animals from more than one category may be involved in a single incident.

  In addition, there were 16 suspected illegal poison baits reported. Of these, nine were confirmed as illegal baits.

  The hon. Member will be pleased to know that a long-term campaign against the illegal poisoning of wildlife has been launched today. It is a joint initiative by this Department together with the other Agriculture Departments, the Department of Environment, and many non-government organisations which have interests in farming, gamekeeping and conservation. It will give a clear message—that the practice is cruel, dangerous, a threat to wildlife, and unnecessary.

  To back up the campaign we will be co-ordinating the efforts of enforcement agencies; ensuring that those landowners, gamekeepers and farmers with genuine pest control problems know where to go for advice; and keeping a careful check on the present statutory controls on those substances most abused.

  The campaign is a long-term one aimed at changing permanently the attitudes of the minority who abuse pesticides, thereby safeguarding our wildlife against cruel and unnecessary suffering.

  Public Bodies (Appointments)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to which posts in public bodies he appoints individuals where the posts are(a) part-time and (b) remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

  Mr. Curry
  All ministerial appointments to public bodies are listed in "Public Bodies" published annually by
  183
  the Cabinet Office (OMCS), a copy of which is in the Library of the House. All such appointments by MAFF are part-time, but none is remunerated at more than £50,000 per annum.

  Fruit Juices
  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department has been carrying out quality and sample tests of fruit juices for domestic consumption; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  As stated in the reply of 8 February to my hon. Friend the Member for Ryedale (Mr. Greenway), a report from the food safety directorate on "Comparison of Methods for the Detection of Added Substances in Orange Juice" indicated that a large proportion of samples of orange juice on retail sale did not fully match the description on the packaging. Ministry officials are now carrying out further investigations into the sources of these wrongly described products.

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 4 and 5 March.

  Mr. Gummer
  I represented the United Kingdom at this meeting of the Council accompanied by my hon. Friend the Member for Skipton and Ripon, the Parliamentary Secretary in my Department.

  There was a first debate on the Commission's proposals for 1991–92 farm prices. I offered broad support for the Commission's proposals, but suggested a number of detailed ways in which they might be improved. I stressed in particular the need to adapt policies so that expenditure can be contained within the guideline in 1991 and the following years. I emphasised that proposals must be consistent with the need to increase agricultural efficiency and avoid discrimination between producers or member states.

  The lack of realism among many member states in the face of the mounting budget overrun was particularly disappointing.

  Veterinary Investigation Service
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the review of the veterinary investigation service.

  Mr. Gummer
  I set up a review team, led by Dr. P. S. Dawson, the assistant chief veterinary officer with responsibility for the veterinary investigation service (VIS), to examine ways of improving the quality, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the services provided by the VI centres. My concern was to ensure that the VIS is organised and equipped to provide the highest quality of diagnostic, advisory and consultancy services to Government and to the livestock industry generally.

  I have now received the report of the review team and I have accepted its main conclusions.

  The report recommends that the work of the VI service should be concentrated on a smaller number of centres where the facilities available and the level of expertise should be upgraded. The recommendation is that we
  184
  should move from the present structure of 19 centres in England and Wales to one based on 13 centres. The centres at Wye, Truro, Bangor and Lincoln will, therefore, be closed. The VIS quality control unit at the Lincoln VIC will be relocated in new purpose-built facilities at another centre.

  The statutory and policy work carried out at the centres to be closed will be transferred to one of the remaining centres. The work from Wye will go to the Winchester VIC, that from Truro to the Starcross VIC, that from Bangor to the Aberystwyth VIC and the Lincoln work to Sutton Bonington VIC. Private veterinary surgeons will be asked to submit samples for examination to these alternative centres.

  The Cambridge and Norwich centres, both of which are inadequate for present-day needs, will close and their work will be amalgamated at a new purpose-built centre near Bury St. Edmonds. The existing centre at Worcester, which again is unsatisfactory, will be relocated at another new purpose-built centre in Warwickshire. This relocation and the enhancement of the facilities at the Winchester VIC will enable the Reading VIC to be closed.

  The closures at Wye, Truro, Bangor and Lincoln will go ahead as soon as possible. The other changes, including the construction of the new centres at Bury St. Edmonds and in Warwickshire, will be completed over the next three to four years.

  A programme of investment in new capital equipment and up-to-date technology is being carried forward to enable the VIS to achieve the highest quality standards as laid down in "The Principles of Good Laboratory Practice". Staffing levels will be increased in some centres to enable additional workloads to be handled. The reorganisation will involve the loss of some posts. Everything possible will be done to help staff find alternative jobs and to keep redundancies to a minimum.

  I believe that the implementation of these recommendations from the review team will result in significant improvements in the quality, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the VI service. This is important if we are to have a VI service which is well equipped to meet our national needs over the years ahead.

  I am placing a copy of the findings of the review team in the Library of the House.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Public Bodies (Appointments)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to which posts in public bodies he appoints individuals where the posts are(a) part-time and (b) remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I make appointments to part-time posts in the magistracy and shrievalty of Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside and to various educational bodies. None of the individuals appointed is remunerated.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Spelling and Grammar
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessment his Department has made of the degree to which changed requirements for accuracy of spelling and grammar in the 1991 examination syllabuses may act as a discouragement for some children.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend's intention is to encourage pupils and teachers to pay greater attention to spelling. He sees no reason why this should discourage them from entering for GCSE examinations. The only significant group of pupils who might reasonably be discouraged are those suffering from dyslexia. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State has therefore invited the three main dyslexia organisations to suggest what concessions might fairly be adopted to enable dyslexic candidates to compete on an equal basis with their peers when the change is introduced.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations took place between his Department and(a) the examination boards and (b) local education authorities concerning the policy of setting aside a proportion of examination grading for spelling and grammar before this policy was introduced.

  Mr. Eggar
  We have not considered it necessary, in view of the widespread public concern, to conduct formal consultations on the desirability of using GCSE examinations to improve spelling standards. The School Examinations and Assessment Council has, however, consulted the GCSE examining groups on the various policy options for effecting change in this area and is currently consulting the groups on the specific proposal, subsequently put to them by my right hon. and learned Friend, that up to 5 per cent. of marks should be deducted for poor spelling. The local education authorities have not been specifically consulted.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research his Department proposes to undertake or commission into fundamental causes of spelling difficulties in children.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Department is supporting a £250,000, three-year research project to study the problems of dyslexic children and how schools can tackle them, based at the Harris city technology college in Croydon. There are no immediate plans to commission research into causes of spelling difficulties unrelated to dyslexia. Teachers already have expertise in using a range of techniques for tackling spelling difficulties.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations his Department has received concerning the timing, relative to the 1991 examination cycle, of the introduction of the policy to set aside a proportion of examination grades for spelling and grammar from(a) parents, (b) examination boards and (c) local education authorities; and what response he has made.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend and I have received about 250 representations, concerned primarily with the timing of the introduction of this policy,186
  from parents and pupils. None has been received from examination boards or local education authorities. We have responded by saying that we see no unfairness in introducing this change at an early date since what is proposed does not differ greatly from what the groups do at the moment, and examination candidates can hardly be unaware that they need to spell correctly in their GCSEs, just as they need to write legibly and present their work well generally.

  Student Teachers
  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what the average A-level scores of teacher recruits were in 1980, 1985 and 1990.

  Mr. Fallon
  Information is given in the table.

  Initial teacher training in England

  United Kingdom domiciled first-year undergraduate students with A-level entry qualifications

  Academic year

  1980–81

  1985–86

  11989–90

  Total number2

  4,220

  6,005

  6,201

  Average A-level points score3

  5·4

  5·4

  5·7

  1 Data for academic year 1990–91 are not yet available.

  2 Covers students studying BEd., Cert. ED and other undergraduate ITT with qualified teacher status.

  3 Refers to the average A-level points score of those recorded on USR and FESR as having A-level entry qualifications. A-level points scores have been calculated in the customary way, by allocating 5 points for an A grade, 4 points for a B grade, etc.

  Source:

  University Statistical Record for University Departments of Education.

  Further Education Statistical Record for Polytechnics and Colleges.

  Haberdashers' Aske's CTC
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) on what date the funding agreement for Haberdashers' Aske's city technology college was signed and executed on his behalf;

  (2) what security will be provided by the Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham college trust to guarantee its capacity to make any repayments of capital grants that may fall due under the provisions of section 105(5) of the Education Reform Act 1988;

  (3) whether the terms under which the land and buildings of the existing Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham schools will be leased for the purposes of establishing the Haberdashers' Aske's city technology college have been agreed and approved by the Charity Commissioners.

  Mr. Eggar
  A funding agreement with the Haberdashers' Aske's city technology college trust was signed on 21 December 1990. The entry into force of this agreement is conditional on the granting of a lease of the schools and their premises to the trust in a form agreed with the Secretary of State. Discussions on this subject between all concerned, including the Charity Commissioners, are currently taking place. Paragraph 24(A)iv of the funding agreement describes how repayment would have to be made.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the items of works and supplies on which he has determined the total amount of his contribution towards the capital costs of establishing
  187
  the Haberdashers' Aske's city technology college, including his current estimate of the cost of each item; and in respect of the building works, whether they are planned to be carried out on the boys' or the girls' site of the city technology college.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend has agreed to make available £5·5 million towards the capital costs of establishment of the Haberdashers' Aske's city technology college, which may be apportioned as follows:

  £K

  New Build

  2,090

  Repairs/refurbishment

  1,420

  External works

  330

  Furniture and Equipment

  700

  Fees

  460

  VAT

  500

  Total

  5,500

  An approximately equivalent amount is to be spent on refurbishment of both sites, although some additional 15,000 sq ft of new build is to be provided at the girls' site, but this will be for shared use.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of any overrun on initial capital costs of establishing the Haberdashers' Aske's city technology college he has agreed to meet under the equivalent of paragraph 8(iv)(a) of the model CTC/CCTA funding agreement placed in the Library on 31 October 1990.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend has agreed to meet up to 80 per cent. of any overrun of initial capital costs which, in accordance with paragraph 8(iv)(a) of the model funding agreement are deemed necessary and could not have been foreseen at the time the cash limit was set.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) under the funding agreement for the Haberdashers' Aske's city technology college, what is the total cash limit that has been agreed for the capital expenditure necessary to establish the college; and how much of this capital expenditure will be borne by him and how much by the private sponsors of the city technology college;

  (2) what account he has taken of the availability of cash in private sponsorship towards the Haberdashers' Aske's city technology college in determining the amount of capital funding required from public sources to establish the college; and what part of this will be contributed toward the initial capital costs of the college;

  (3) how the private contribution towards the capital costs of establishing the Haberdashers' Aske's city technology college will be divided between (a) the value of the land and buildings of the existing Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham schools and (b) other capital costs of establishing the college; and on what basis the value attributed to the private sponsors under (a) has been varied from the earlier assessment of the district valuer referred to in his reply of the 13 November 1990, Official Report, column 101.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend has agreed a total cash limit for the project of £8·945 million, of which he will provide £5·5 million and the sponsors a188
  99-year lease of the sites and premises of the schools, currently valued at £3·445 million, for educational purposes. No further valuation has been sought from the district valuer since my reply of 13 November 1990, Official Report, col. 101. In addition, the Haberdashers' Company has agreed to underwrite sponsorship of £1 million, which may be contributed towards capital costs.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements have been written into the funding agreement for the Haberdashers' Aske's city technology college relating to the payment, including the timing of the payments, of capital costs for establishing the college.

  Mr. Eggar
  As stated in paragraph 8(iv) of the funding agreement, the arrangements, including the timing of capital payments, will be in accordance with annex 2 of the agreement.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has included any variations from the terms of paragraph 9 of the model CTC/CCTA funding agreement placed in the Library on 31 October 1990 in the funding agreement for the Haberdashers' Aske's city technology college.

  Mr. Eggar
  There are several small amendments to the funding agreement to take account of the circumstances relating to this particular project.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total number of pupils(a) under and (b) over school leaving age that he has agreed to fund at the Haberdashers' Aske's city technology college from September 1991; and what is the total number of pupils in each age group that is planned for the college once it has reached its full capacity.

  Mr. Eggar
  It is intended that the college will open at capacity with 900 pupils under school leaving age and 200 pupils over school leaving age on roll. Actual numbers may vary slightly from these figures.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of those employed in his Department are disabled.

  Mr. Eggar
  Of the Department's staff, 2·7 per cent. are registered as disabled. There are other staff in the Department with disabilities who have chosen not to register and who are not included in this figure.

ENVIRONMENT

  Labelling
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he will be making at the EC Environment Council on 18 March in respect of a Community-wide labelling scheme for environmentally friendly products.

  Mr Baldry
  My right hon. Friend will be welcoming the fact that the Commission has now tabled a draft proposal and will be calling for rapid progress. He will, however, be making a number of comments on the detail of the scheme designed to make it more effective and less bureaucratic.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he will be making at the EC Environment Council on 18 March in respect of an international operation to alleviate the environmental effects of the Gulf conflict.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27 February to the hon. and learned Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell) at column 531.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contribution Her Majesty's Government are making towards rescuing the natural environment in the Gulf region; what representations he will be making to allied coalition partners in respect of the clean-up operation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 5 March 1991]: The actions taken as part of our initial response to the oil spillages in the Gulf were set out in my letter of 6 February to hon. Members, a copy of which is in the Library. I will continue to assess urgently any specific requests we receive from the Gulf states. The International Maritime Organisation has continued to co-ordinate offers of assistance from member states, including coalition members, and I welcome their establishment of a trust fund to facilitate further clean-up action in the Gulf.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further progress he has to report on combating oil pollution in the Gulf.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I set out some of the initial steps we have taken in response to oil spills in the Gulf in my letter to hon. Members of 6 February, copies of which are in the Library. Since then we have continued to look closely at how we can respond further to requests from the Gulf states and the international organisations seeking to co-ordinate assistance. These include the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the specialised agency of the UN concerned with shipping and oil pollution issues, which has co-ordinated offers of assistance of expertise and equipment from Governments of member states.

  Recently it has become clear that while deflection operations and protective booms have been successfully deployed, extensive damage has occurred and substantial quantities of oil remain at sea. On 1 March the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation called for establishment of a trust fund to facilitate provision of equipment and services to tackle oil pollution in the Gulf. Reports available to me indicate that there is now an urgent need to begin oil recovery operations if further damage to ecologically sensitive sites is to be minimised.

  In order to assist the Governments of the Gulf states my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport and I are together contributing £1 million to the International Maritime Organisation Gulf oil pollution disaster fund. Each Department is contributing £0·5 million.

  With other contributions which the International Maritime Organisation is seeking from its members and
  190
  the resources of the Gulf states this should enable those on the spot to put into operation the plans now being developed by the responsible national agencies assisted by international experts, including those from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is his Department's latest estimate of the area of water in the Gulf that is currently affected by oil slicks;

  (2) what is his Department's latest estimate of the length of coastline around the Gulf that is currently affected by oil slicks.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The reports available to us indicate that oil has affected most of the Saudi Arabian coastline between Khafji and the island of Abu Ali. This includes 400 km of coastline, with the worst damage occurring in the heavily indented southern part of the coast. Around 50,000 tonnes of oil in this area are estimated to remain at sea. In addition areas of light oil or sheen have been observed up to 70 miles offshore and up to 50˚ 20' east and 29˚ 5' north. No detailed information is yet available on coastal or offshore pollution within the former war zone in the northern Gulf.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department last conducted a survey of the ethnic origins of its employees; when it next plans to do so; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The Department undertook a voluntary survey of the ethnic origins of staff in post in 1987. This was supplemented by a series of follow-up surveys in 1990. A final survey is about to be carried out, in addition to a continuous survey of job applicants.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to recruit members of ethnic minorities in top grades of employment at his Department.

  Mr. Heseltine
  There are few top grade posts filled by direct recruitment. Where necessary, it is carried out through the Civil Service Commission; posts are advertised in the national press and relevant specialist publications on the basis of fair and open competition. Advertisements state that the Department is an equal opportunities employer.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many and what percentage of officers in each grade (1–7) and overall in the Department are(a) women and (b) from ethnic minorities, respectively.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The latest available information on the numbers of(a) women and (b) ethnic minorities in grades 1 to 7 in my Department is:
  191

  (a) Women at 1 March 1991

  (b) Ethnic minorities2 at 1 February 1991

  Grade

  Number of Women

  Percentage of Women

  Grade

  Number of ethnic minorities

  Percentage of ethnic minorities

  1

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0·0

  2

  1

  13

  2

  0

  0·0

  (two from 30

  (25 from 30

  April 1991)

  April 1991

  3

  15

  113

  3

  0

  0·0

  4

  0

  0

  4

  0

  0·0

  5

  24

  16

  5

  2

  1·4

  6

  19

  7

  6

  2

  0·7

  7

  122

  16

  7

  5

  0·7

  Total

  170

  13

  Total

  9

  0·8

  All Grades

  3,210

  43

  All Grades

  450

  7·1

  1 Changes at Grade 3 level consequent on promotion to Grade 2 not yet determined.

  2 Based on information gained from voluntary surveys of staff; non-respondents not included.

  Antarctic
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what members of his Department were represented at the special consultative meeting of the Antarctic treaty parties in Chile, and if his Department will be represented at the April meeting of the Antarctic treaty parties which will discuss environmental protection for the Antarctic.

  Mr. Heseltine
  One official from my Department was a member of the United Kingdom delegation for the special consultative meeting in Chile. United Kingdom representation for the April meeting has not yet been decided.

  Rent Arrears
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on(a) the reasons why individual council tenants fell into arrears with rent, (b) the number in arrears who are in receipt of housing rebate, (c) the level of income per household of tenants in arrears, and (d) the number of children per household of tenants in arrears; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The most recent available information on the characteristics of tenants in rent arrears asked about in the question was given in my Department's report "Preventing Rent Arrears", which was published by HMSO in 1983, when copies were placed in the Library. My Department is currently planning a repeat of this large-scale study, the results of which will be available towards the end of 1992.

  Public Bodies (Appointments)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment to which posts in public bodies he appoints individuals where the posts are(a) part-time and (b) remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

  Mr. Heseltine
  This information is contained in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies 1990", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. Responsibility for appointments to the Sports Council and the regional councils for sport and recreation was transferred to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science on 29 November 1990.

  None of the appointments to public bodies created since 1 July 1990 for which I am responsible attracts
  192
  remuneration of more than £50,000 per annum. The bodies are the Nature Conservancy Council for England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. All the appointments to these bodies are part-time.

  Rechar
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those projects which have been or will be directly assisted by European moneys under the Rechar programme; and whether these payments have been classed as public expenditure as far as United Kingdom financial monitoring is concerned.

  Mr. Yeo
  No projects have been aided by the European Commission Rechar programme as the Commission has not yet approved the United Kingdom's proposals which are currently being considered, nor do we know, at this stage, which projects will be aided as they will have to be submitted to and approved by the relevant programme co-ordinating committee, once the programme itself has been approved.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those projects within South Yorkshire which have been assisted by the European Rechar programme.

  Mr. Yeo
  None, as the Rechar programme for South Yorkshire has not yet been approved by the European Commission.

  Dearne Valley
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made in his assessment of funding levels for the local authorities of the annual cost which will be incurred by the current plan for regeneration of the Dearne valley; how many years he expects this project to take; and what central support he expects to provide during this period.

  Mr. Key
  We are today announcing a package of additional Government assistance for the Dearne valley including increased derelict land grant and urban programme allocations to the local authorities of Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham and two city grants to the private sector to stimulate economic regeneration in the area. Revenue support for local authorities is assessed
  193
  annually. This is based on a broad set of principles which take account of the social, demographic and physical characteristics of each area.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the toxic waste held at Wath upon Dearne, Rotherham which arrived in the summer of 1989 to be removed; and if he maintains contact with the appropriate agencies and Rotherham borough council in regard to the problem.

  Mr. Baldry
  There is no immediate prospect of the waste being removed by agreement, for the reasons we have explained in correspondence. The Department is no longer in contact with those previously involved in discusssions about the waste but we are, of course, prepared to consider any further initiatives that they and the local authorities might wish to offer.

  Leeds Development Corporation
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many compulsory purchase orders have been issued by Leeds development corporation in each financial year of its existence.

  Mr. Portillo
  Sixteen compulsory purchase orders have been promoted by Leeds development corporation; three in 1988–89, seven in 1989–90, and six in 1990–91. Of these, decisions have been issued on six of the orders, five orders were withdrawn by the development corporation prior to determination and five orders are currently proceeding to inquiry.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment of the sites affected by compulsory purchase orders issued by Leeds development corporation; how many have been subject to redevelopment; and if he will list them.

  Mr. Portillo
  Land at Lowfold, South has been redeveloped. Work on three sites at Skelton Grange road, Goodman street and Sardinia street is currently under way and work will shortly be commencing on two sites at Knostrop and at Beza road.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those firms which have been relocated by Leeds development corporation and the sites to which they have been moved.

  Mr. Portillo
  Some of this information was provided to the Leeds development corporation on a commercial-inconfidence basis. I advise the hon. Member to discuss with the chairman of the development corporation what information he is free to divulge.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those firms, and the numbers employed, which have been moved since the inception of the Leeds development corporation because of development plans initiated by that corporation.

  Mr. Portillo
  The list of the relevant firms is as follows:

  LIST OF FIRMS RELOCATED

  Name of Firm

  Relocated to:

  Flight 451

  13/15 Hunslet Road, Leeds

  J. Ingham

  Lower Briggate, Leeds

  194

  Waldene Card Co

  Canal Wharf, Wyther Lane, Leeds

  E. Farrell trading as Highgate Motors

  Goodman Street, Leeds

  WP Design for Print

  Stourton, Leeds

  Leeds Graphic Press

  Balm Road, Leeds

  Moore Signs Ltd

  Harrogate

  Crosby Windows

  Hampshire

  Impact Insulation (UK) Ltd

  Castleford

  The Beetle People

  Morley, Leeds

  Mr. A. Sellers

  Goodman Street, Leeds

  L. Bainbridge and Sons

  Swinnow View, Leeds

  D. Cherrington Slates Ltd

  Cross Green, Leeds

  Leeds Trailers

  Snaith

  Tudorgrade

  Stourton, Leeds

  Stanton Roofing

  Rotherwell, Leeds.

  Local Authority Dwellings
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many local authority dwellings (a) were vacant and available for letting on 1 April 1989 and (b) became available for letting between 1 April 1989 and 31 March 1990 (i) through new build, (ii) through acquisition, modernisation or conversion and (iii) through other means in (1) inner London, (2) outer London, (3) non-metropolitan areas of the south-east, (4) non-metropolitan areas outside the south-east, (5) metropolitan areas outside London and (6) England as a whole;

  (2) how many households local authorities accepted between 1 April 1989 and 31 March 1990 (a) as homeless and (b) as homeless and in priority need, in (1) inner London, (2) outer London, (3) non-metropolitan areas of the south-east, (4) non-metropolitan areas outside the south-east, (5) metropolitan areas outside London and (6) England as a whole;

  (3) how many households were registered on the local authority housing waiting lists on 1 April 1990 in (a) inner London, (b) outer London, (c) non-metropolitan areas of the south-east, (d) non-metropolitan areas outside the south-east, (e) metropolitan areas outside London and (f) England as a whole;

  (4) how many dwellings were let by local authorities between 1 April 1989 and 31 March 1990 (a) to new secure tenants and (b) to new secure tenants who were homeless households in (1) inner London, (2) outer London, (3) non-metropolitan areas of the south-east, (4) non-metropolitan areas outside the south-east, (5) metropolitan areas outside London and (6) England as a whole;

  (5) how many dwellings were let by local authorities between 1 April 1989 and 31 March 1990 (a) to new non-secure tenants and (b) to new non-secure tenants who were homeless households in (1) inner London, (2) outer London, (3) non-metropolitan areas of the south-east, (4) non-metropolitan areas outside the south-east, (5) metropolitan areas outside London and (6) England as a a whole;

  (6) how many households and how many homeless households took up nominations by local authorities to housing association dwellings between 1 April 1989 and 31 March 1990 in (a) inner London, (b) outer London, (c) non-metropolitan areas of the south-east, (d) non-metropolitan areas outside the south-east, (e) metropolitan areas outside London and (f) England as a whole;

  (7) how many dwellings were let between 1 April 1989 and 31 March 1990 (a) in total and (b) to homeless

  195
  households (i) through the national mobility scheme, (ii) through HALO and (iii) through other mobility schemes in (1) inner London, (2) outer London, (3) non-metropolitan areas of the south-east, (4) non-metropolitan areas outside the south-east, (5) metropolitan areas outside London and (6) England as a whole.

  Local authority lettings 1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990

  Inner London

  Outer London

  Non-metropolitan areas in South East

  Non-metropolitan areas outside South East

  Metropolitan areas outside London

  England

  Dwellings let to:

  New secure tenants

  13,500

  11,500

  23,700

  73,100

  85,000

  206,800

  of which homeless households

  8,300

  7,200

  7,400

  20,200

  20,500

  63,600

  New non-secure tenants1

  5,500

  4,200

  4,600

  4,000

  2,400

  20,700

  of which homeless households2

  5,200

  2,100

  4,000

  3,200

  1,300

  15,800

  Dwellings let through:

  National mobility or local authority mobility scheme (NMS/LAMS)

  2,500

  1,000

  1,100

  1,900

  1,800

  8,300

  of which homeless households

  1,000

  100

  —

  —

  —

  1,200

  Housing association liaison office (HALO)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  100

  of which homeless households

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other mobility schemes

  100

  100

  200

  200

  100

  500

  of which homeless households

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Dwellings let to homeless households referred by other local authorities under section 68, Housing Act 1985 between 1 April 1989 and 31 March 1990

  400

  100

  100

  200

  100

  1,000

  Nominations to housing associations

  2,800

  1,400

  2,000

  7,200

  7,500

  21,000

  of which homeless households

  1,200

  600

  500

  800

  1,200

  4,300

  Total households accepted as homeless3 1989–90

  21,600

  12,800

  17,900

  37,900

  42,700

  153,000

  of which in priority need

  19,200

  12,500

  17,300

  36,600

  35,300

  120,900

  Households on waiting lists at 1 April 1990

  136,900

  92,200

  192,500

  494,000

  340,000

  1,255,500

  Dwellings vacant and available for letting on 1 April 1989

  2,900

  1,500

  3,500

  7,200

  9,700

  24,800

  Dwellings coming into management during 1989–90 which were:

  (a) Newly built

  1,100

  900

  4,900

  6,300

  1,200

  14,300

  (b) Acquisition etc.

  1,900

  700

  1,700

  4,000

  4,400

  12,700

  (c) Acquired on short leases

  3,400

  2,700

  1,000

  400

  —

  7,500

  Other dwellings which became available for letting

  26,600

  23,300

  53,600

  130,000

  147,200

  380,600

  Total dwellings available for letting 1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990

  35,900

  29,100

  64,600

  147,800

  162,400

  440,000

  Note: = less than 50.

  1 Many of these are lettings of dwellings held on short-term leases.

  2 Mainly accommodated temporarily.

  3 For whom local authorities accepted the duty to secure accommodation.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of those employed in his Department are disabled.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The Department employs 68 staff who are known to be registered disabled and a further 86 who are known to have a disability without being registered. The total represents some 2·5 per cent. of the DOE work force.

  Waste
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish advice to local authorities on the separation of their functions as waste regulators and as waste disposers under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Mr. Trippier
  We have today issued a draft circular which gives guidance on the new arrangements under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for the separation of
  196
  Mr. Yeo
  Following are estimates from local authorities' annual housing investment programme returns (HIP1) for April 1990:

  waste disposal and waste regulation functions in local authorities which are both waste regulation authorities and waste disposal authorities under the Act.

  The draft circular gives guidance on the functions assigned to waste regulation and waste disposal authorities under the Act and on the extent of separation that will be required.

  From May this year, local authorities will have to arrange for the administrative separation of the two functions so that the waste regulation authority can set the highest practicable environmental standards free from pressures arising from the local authority's role as a waste disposer. It is vital that waste regulation decisions are fair to all waste disposers and seen to be fair.

  These changes with other provisions of the Act, particularly those on the transfer of local authority waste disposal operations to arm's length companies or to the private sector announced on 22 February, will help provide the basis for higher standards and fair competition.

  Wrecks
  Sir Gerrard Neale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the payment of commission to receivers of wreck in respect of historic material recovered from wrecks.

  Sir George Young
  I am pleased to be able to announce that further to the measures announced in the Government's response to the "Heritage at Sea" report on 20 December, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has agreed that receivers of wreck will no longer charge a commission of 7·5 per cent. of the value of any property delivered to them. It has also been decided that museums purchasing coins over 100 years old from receivers will not be required to pay that proportion of the price which has until now been retained by the Crown. Both these changes will be introduced for items recovered from wreck sites on or after 1 April next.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what grant per poll tax payer is received by(a) Salford, (b) Wigan and (c) Westminster.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 5 March 1991]: Government grants in 1990–91 consist of revenue support grant, special grants, specific grants in aggregate external finance, community charge benefit grant and transitional relief grant. Government grants per head of relevant population in 1990–91 are £565 in Salford, £306 in Wigan and £980 in Westminster.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  COCOM
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals were put by the United Kingdom delegation to the most recent COCOM meeting; and what decisions were agreed at the meeting.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The main United Kingdom objective for the COCOM meeting held at executive committee level on 27 to 28 February was to achieve as much progress as possible in the exercise to reform the COCOM controls by drawing up a new "core list" of industrial dual-use equipment and technologies.

  Much progress was made. Agreement was reached on new control parameters in most sectors. Work continues to solve remaining issues so that the next COCOM high-level meeting can establish the core list.

  The executive committee meeting also agreed to extend to Poland the provisions of a procedure under which greater access to dual-use items is allowed on the basis of safeguards against diversion. Hungary and the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic have already had the procedure extended to them.

  The Gulf
  Sir Richard Luce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Hong Kong Government have agreed to make a contribution to Her Majesty's Government for the purpose of general work in the Gulf following the liberation of Kuwait; and if he will make a statement.
  198
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Hong Kong Government announced on 8 February 1991 a contribution to the United Kingdom of approximately £15 million towards the cost of the Gulf operation. We very much appreciate this generous gesture.

  News Department
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the number of staff working in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's news department and the expenditure on that department for each year since 1983.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Staffing levels, including administration, clerical and secretarial support, in, and expenditure for, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office diplomatic wing news department and the aid wing press office are as follows:

  Year

  Staff

  Running costs £ million

  1983–84

  26

  ·43

  1984–85

  26

  ·43

  1985–86

  26–5

  ·53

  1986–87

  25–5

  ·53

  1987–88

  19

  ·45

  1988–89

  18

  ·45

  1989–90

  18

  ·56

  1990–91

  18

  ·56

  Cyprus
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussion he has had with the Secretary General of the United Nations on the ongoing occupation by the Turkish army of northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  We maintain regular high-level contacts with the UN Secretary-General and all parties involved in the intercommunal dispute and actively support the Secretary-General's efforts to promote a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement.

  Soviet Union
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made in respect of Mikhail Lidsky of Kiev who has been unsuccessfully applying to leave the Soviet Union.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We can certainly raise Mr. Lidsky's case with the Soviet authorities, but to make our representations most effective we shall need further details.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made in respect of Iosef Meerson who has been unsuccessfully applying to leave the Soviet Union.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We can certainly raise Mr. Meerson's case with the Soviet authorities, but to make our representations most effective we shall need further details.

  Press and Public Relations
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's expenditure on(a) advertising and (b) press and public relations for each year from 1979.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Total expenditure by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on advertising from 1979–80 to 1989–90 and estimates for 1990–91 are:

  FCO (Dip Wing)

  FCO (ODA Wing)

  1979–80

  110,226

  214,739

  1980–81

  116,532

  145,697

  1981–82

  162,988

  207,964

  £ million

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Payments to Central Office of Information for Overseas information material and related activities

  17·4

  18·8

  18·3

  18·7

  19·2

  18·3

  18·1

  15·6

  Other information services

  0·9

  0·8

  0·9

  0·7

  0·9

  0·9

  3·3

  6·4

  Running costs of Diplomatic Wing Information/News Department

  1·8

  1·4

  1·9

  1·9

  2·0

  1·8

  2·4

  3·6

  Running costs of ODA Wing Information Department

  0·3

  0·3

  0·3

  0·2

  0·2

  0·3

  0·4

  0·4

  Costs of information staff at overseas posts

  12·4

  12·8

  13·6

  14·6

  17·6

  17·5

  18·8

  20·7

  Total

  32·8

  34·1

  35·0

  36·1

  39·9

  38·8

  43·0

  46·7

  Figures for the period before 1983–84 are not available on a comparable basis.

  Kuwait
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the British Government will be taking to protect Palestinians who are currently in Kuwait; and if he will discuss in the United Nations the future of Palestinian workers who fled Kuwait during the invasion and who now wish to return.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are seriously concerned at these reports. We have urged the Kuwait authorities at a high level to ensure that law and order is restored in Kuwait as quickly as possible and at all costs to avoid a witch-hunt against suspected collaborators.

  Information Department
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the number of staff working in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's information department and the expenditure of the information department for each year since 1983; and if he will break down these figures into (i) guidance and

  £ million

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–912

  Publications

  2·5

  2·4

  2·2

  2·1

  2·2

  2·7

  2·9

  Overseas Press including Guidance and Verbatims

  5·4

  5·3

  4·2

  3·9

  3·5

  3·2

  3·5

  Information Policy and Administration

  2·3

  2·4

  2·2

  2·9

  2·6

  2·3

  2·3

  Overseas Visitors and London Correspondents' Service

  4·1

  4·3

  4·9

  5·1

  4·8

  5·3

  5·6

  Wilton Park

  0·1

  0·1

  0·1

  0·1

  30·6

  30·6

  30·4

  Exhibitions

  2·0

  1·9

  1·8

  2·0

  1·8

  2·8

  3·2

  Films, Television and Radio

  3·2

  2·8

  4·0

  4·0

  3·7

  4·5

  4·1

  Sub Total

  19·6

  19·2

  19·4

  20·1

  19·2

  21·4

  22·0

  BBC World Service

  81·0

  90·0

  102·4

  102·0

  121·1

  126·0

  147·3

  Total

  100·6

  109·2

  121·8

  122·1

  140·3

  147·4

  169·3

  200

  FCO (Dip Wing)

  FCO (ODA Wing)

  1982–83

  229,711

  135,506

  1983–84

  205,247

  252,691

  1984–85

  149,932

  234,050

  1985–86

  160,535

  271,084

  1986–87

  335,754

  228,347

  1987–88

  195,000

  351,000

  1988–89

  289,184

  714,000

  1989–90

  395,782

  1,048,000

  1990–91

  948,000

  972,000

  Expenditure on press and public relations from 1983–84 to 1989–90 and the estimate for the current year are as follows:

  verbatims, (ii) publications, (iii) overseas press, (iv) information policy and administration, (v) overseas visitors and London correspondents' service (vi) BBC World Service and Wilton Park (vii) exhibitions and (viii) films, television and radio.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The number of staff working in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's information department since 1983 have been:

  Year

  Number

  1983

  66

  1984

  59

  1985

  59

  1986

  57

  1987

  58

  1988

  55

  1989

  52½

  1990

  52½

  1991

  1 128

  Information Department expenditure since 1984–85 has been:
  201
  1Includes Overseas Visitors and London Correspondents' Service staff transferred from COI to Information Department on 1 October 1990.

  2Forecast Outturn.

  3Includes expenditure on major refurbishment programme.

  Research Department
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the number of staff working in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's research department and the expenditure on the research department; and if he will list the functions of the research department, for each year since 1983.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Staffing levels, including administration, clerical and secretarial support, and expenditure for research and analysis department are as follows:

  Year

  Staff

  Running costs £ million

  1983–84

  89

  1·8

  1984–85

  89

  1·8

  1985–86

  89

  2·0

  1986–87

  90

  2·1

  1987–88

  91

  2·3

  1988–89

  93

  2·5

  1989–90

  92

  3·1

  1990–91

  90

  3·4

  The function of the department is to contribute to the formulation of overseas policy through the provision of assessments and advice based on specialist experience.

  Kashmir
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Indian and Pakistan Governments concerning the situation in Kashmir.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  As I told the House on 14 February, in our regular contacts with the Indian and Pakistani Governments, we have made clear our belief that their dispute over Kashmir should be settled by peaceful agreement between them. At the same time we have condemned the use of violence for political ends and emphasised our concern that human rights must be respected.

  Public Bodies Appointments)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to which posts in public bodies he appoints individuals where the posts are(a) part-time and (b) remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The most recent information available for part-time public appointments for which the diplomatic and aid wings of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are responsible is as follows:

  Public body

  Number of appointments

  Imperial War Museum (Board of Trustees)

  2

  British Council Board

  2

  Imperial College of Science and Technology (Governing Body)

  1

  Great Britain China Centre

  1

  Great Britain East Europe Centre

  1

  Great Britain USSR Association

  1

  Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission

  10

  202

  Public body

  Number of appointments

  Universities China Committee

  1

  School of Oriental and African Studies (Governing Body)

  3

  Advisory Board to the Wilson Chair of International Politics, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth

  1

  Irish Pensions Appeal Tribunal

  2

  Commonwealth Institute:

  Chairman of the Scottish Committee

  1

  Commonwealth Institute:

  Board of Governors

  12

  Sightsavers

  2

  Commonwealth Foundation

  1

  Diplomatic Service Appeal Boards

  8

  Wilton Park Academic Council

  17

  Commonwealth Institute:

  Chairman of the Board of Governors

  1

  Lloyd Foundation

  1

  Advisory Committee on Economic and Social Resources Overseas

  18

  Commonwealth Scholarship Commission

  15

  Bureau of Hygiene and Tropical Diseases

  6

  Overseas Service Pension Scheme

  4

  Indian Family Pension Scheme

  8

  Institute of Development Studies

  21

  Commonwealth Development Corporation

  8

  Crown Agents

  7

  Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine

  2

  No part-time appointments are remunerated at more than £50,000 a year. This figure applies to only one full-time appointment—the managing director of the Crown Agents, who in 1989 received a salary of £63,000.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of those employed in his Department are disabled.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The proportion of registered disabled staff currently employed in the diplomatic wing of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is 0·38 per cent. The proportion in the aid wing is 1·4 per cent.

  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also employs a number of non-registered disabled staff but holds no statistics on them.

  Global Technical and Management Services International
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department has on the activities of the firm Global Technical and Management Services International in Iraq prior to 29 March 1990.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It is not—and never has been—the practice to reveal details of our contacts with individual companies.

  Military Equipment Experts
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which international forum the export of lethal and non-lethal military equipment is discussed.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There are several forums including the co-ordinating committee for multilateral export controls, the missile technology control regime, groupings of nuclear suppliers and the Australia group, whose aim is to strengthen export controls on chemical and biological weapons. The subject is also discussed in the United Nations.

  EC Political Union
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement on the outcome of the ministerial meeting of the intergovernmental conference on political union on 4 March.

  Mr. Hurd
  The ministerial meeting of the intergovernmental conference on political union on 4 March, which my hon. Friend the Minister of State and I attended, discussed democratic legitimacy and the powers of the European Parliament. Both democratic legitimacy and a common foreign and security policy were also discussed at an inter-institutional conference between the European Parliament and the member states on 5 March.

  At the IGC, my hon. Friend the Minister of State took the opportunity to emphasise the importance we attach to the role of national Parliaments. Following consultation on both sides of this House and in another place, he outlined ideas for recognising the role played by national Parliaments and reinforcing the links between them and the European Parliament.

  The Minister of State suggested a recognition of the importance of national scrutiny procedures for EC legislation and the desirability of encouraging their application in all member states; an undertaking that Council procedures should provide adequate opportunity for national scrutiny in advance of final decisions; improving the flow of Information about Community business to national Parliaments; encouraging closer contacts between European and national Parliaments.

  Foreign Ministers will consider common foreign and security policy in detail later this month. The United Kingdom has put forward proposals on this, building on the success of European political co-operation and the provisions of title III of the Single European Act. Our proposals would strengthen the obligation on the Twelve to formulate and implement a common foreign and security policy.

  In the increasing number of areas where our interests converge, the Twelve should play a more active role on the international scene, but member states should not be obliged to accept policies contrary to their national interests. We are therefore insisting on retention of the principle of consensus.

  Our proposals also set out the Twelve's relationship with NATO and the Western European Union. We favour intensifying discussion among the Twelve on security issues such as non-proliferation. We also think it right that Europe should take on greater responsibility for its own defence, but without in any way undermining the collective
  204
  security provided by NATO and the WEU. The mutual defence commitments undertaken in these organisations will continue to make an essential contribution to Europe's security. We believe the right way forward to be through strengthening the WEU which, by developing links with the Twelve, can act as a bridge between the Twelve and NATO. We do not envisage the Twelve taking on a defence role.

  Finally, our proposals would improve the efficiency and speed of the machinery by which the Twelve conduct foreign and security policy.

  Foreign Affairs Council
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council on 4 March.

  Mr. Hurd
  A meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council took place in Brussels on 4 March. My hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and I represented the United Kingdom.

  Ministers reviewed the situation in the Soviet Union and approved in principle measures to provide some £177 million food assistance and £350 million as a credit for food purchases for the Soviet Union, subject to strict monitoring to ensure that the food went to those in need. The Council asked the Commission to resume preparatory work for a proposal to give technical assistance to the Soviet Union. A decision on whether to implement this proposal will be taken by the Council later in the light of the prevailing political and economic situation. Ministers also approved in principle £70 million food and medical assistance for Romania and Bulgaria.

  Ministers discussed EC assistance to Israel and the occupied territories to counter the effects of the Gulf war. They agreed in principle that the Community should guarantee a loan of some £110 million to Israel, to be raised commercially with £19 million interest rate subsidy from the Community budget, and should provide the occupied territories with £42 million in grants.

  The Commission reported progress in the GATT Uruguay round. The United Kingdom and most other member states welcomed the resumption of negotiations and called for an early and successful outcome.

  The Commission reported on the negotiations with EFTA and identified the outstanding issues. It was agreed that work on this dossier should be intensified.

  Over lunch, Ministers discussed the need to strengthen EC-Turkey relations. They also discussed Yugoslavia and agreed that the presidency would appeal to all Yugoslav parties to continue their dialogue.

  Ministers discussed the situation in the Gulf and middle east following the suspension of hostilities. Ministers agreed to a Commission proposal to remove Kuwait from the scope of the EC embargo. They confirmed their support for the efforts of the countries of the region to ensure its future stability.

  They agreed on the importance of maintaining close contact with those countries and with the United States and the Soviet Union. In this connection, the presidency is arranging ministerial troika visits to the middle east. Ministers confirmed their support for an international peace conference at an appropriate time, but agreed that

  205
  the present situation called for urgent, quick diplomatic efforts within a visible framework of contacts and discussions.

  Ministers discussed the situation in the Baltic states. They noted that the results of the referendums held in these states could not be ignored and their satisfaction that they had taken place in peace and without interference. They called for an early opening of a serious and constructive dialogue between the Soviet and Baltic authorities.

SCOTLAND

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much is public expenditure per head in Scotland in the current year.

  Mr. Lang
  In 1989–90, the latest year for which a figure is available, identifiable public expenditure per head in Scotland was £2,962.

  M8 Motorway
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has made any assessment of the environmental impact of increased usage of the M8 motorway.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  An assessment of future traffic growth on the M8 motorway is being carried out as part of the trunk and key principal road network review. Should plans for any major improvement schemes on the M8 be adopted in the light of the review's findings these would be the subject of detailed environmental assessments in the usual way.

  Drinking Water
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when all Scottish drinking water sources will conform to European Community safety standards for aluminium.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The EC standard for aluminium in drinking water is based on aesthetic considerations and is not a safety standard. Most of the 129 supply zones for which improvement undertakings have been given by water authorities are programmed to meet the standard before the end of 1994.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy not to approve applications for national health service trust status which are not supported by the majority of the relevant medical staff.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Neither this nor previous Governments have made decisions on major changes in the national health service dependent on this criterion.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which hospitals in Scotland have now expressed an interest in trust status.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Six expressions of interest have been received from South Ayrshire, Foresterhill (Aberdeen), RSNH (Larbert), Forfar, Victoria Infirmary (Glasgow) and the west Grampian group of hospitals.

  A77
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will outline the progress being made in upgrading the A77.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Considerable progress is being made in upgrading the A77. The Balsalloch-Balcreuchan realignment scheme was completed in December 1990 and the adjoining Benane Hill bypass is at present under construction. Extensive safety fencing work has been undertaken on central reserves. Six further major schemes are in preparation. My right hon. Friend has recently allocated Strathclyde regional council an additional £1·4 million capital consent, to enable the council to make early progress on advance earth works on the local road section of the Ayr road route between the M77 and the Glasgow city boundary.

  Right to Buy
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the number of homes sold under the right-to-buy legislation.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Almost 205,000 homes in Scotland were sold under the right-to-buy legislation from October 1980 to end December 1990. Some of the Scottish Homes properties were sold under voluntary arrangements. The total level of sales demonstrates clearly the success of the Government's policy of extending the level of home-ownership in response to the aspirations of a large percentage of the population in Scotland.

  Scottish Homes
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends meeting the chairman of Scottish Homes to discuss its budget.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I met the chairman of Scottish Homes on 4 March to discuss Scottish Homes budget.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will approve the regional allocation of the budget for Scottish Homes for 1990–91.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In approving Scottish Homes programme for any year, my right hon. Friend agrees the amounts which Scottish Homes proposes should be spent on particular functions. The allocation of funds to specific areas is then a matter for Scottish Homes.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what proportion of Scottish Homes grant-in-aid allocations has been spent in Dundee in 1989–90 and 1990–91, giving both the percentage figure and the actual cash sums spent.

  (2) if he will publish in the Official Report Tayside district's share of the allocation to the north region of grant-in-aid to Scottish Homes for 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92, where those figures are available;

  (3) if he will publish in the Official Report the bids made by north region for its share of the grant-in-aid allocations to Scottish Homes in 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92, and the actual allocations to north region in each of those years for which figures are available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 5 March 1991]: The information sought is not held by the Scottish

  207
  Office Environment Department as allocations to Scottish Homes regions or districts are a matter for Scottish Homes itself.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider giving Scottish Homes grant-in-aid allocations for three years to enable longer-term planning between Scottish Homes, local authorities, housing associations and communities in peripheral estates.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 5 March 1991]: No. The present system permits sufficient flexibility. In preparing its strategic plan, Scottish Homes is given planning indicators of Government funding for the forward year. This itself gives an indication of the future funding levels since Scottish Homes has the ability to forward commit up to 80 per cent. of its current year programme into the next. This enables the agency to plan for future years, but allows sufficient funding for new priorities or projects emerging in the following year.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the grant-in-aid to Scottish Homes in 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92; and what was the allocation to north region in each of those years for which figures are available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 5 March 1991]: The grant-in-aid for Scottish Homes is set out in the table:

  £ million

  1989–90 (Actual; including £36 million National Loans Fund repayments)

  229·1

  1990–91 (Estimates Provision; including £7·7 million National Loans Fund repayments)

  266·4

  1991–92 (Estimates Provision; including £169 million National Loans Fund repayments)

  443·2

  The allocation of these totals to Scottish Homes regions is a matter for Scottish Homes.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the estimated figures for capital receipts in the capital allocations to Scottish Homes in 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92; and what were the actual outturn capital receipts in those years for which figures are available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 5 March 1991]: The information requested is set out the the table:

  Estimated £ million

  Outturn £ million

  1989–90

  110

  115

  1990–91

  110

  1

  1991–92

  100

  —

  1 Not yet available.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the capital allocations to Scottish Homes in 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92, showing both budget and outturn figures where those are available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 5 March 1991]: The information in relation to Scottish Homes total gross expenditure is set out in the table:
  208

  Planned £ million

  Outturn £ million

  1989–90

  349

  348

  1990–91

  357

  1

  1991–92

  543

  —

  1 Not yet available.

  Tourism
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Scottish tourist board on joint promotions with the Northern Ireland tourist board of both regions.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  I have had no such discussions.

  Steel Industry
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans to meet the chairman of British Steel to discuss future steel investment in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  My right hon. Friend has, at present, no plans to meet the chairman of British Steel. My right hon. Friend met the company's chief executive on 21 February, when he was informed of the decision to reduce Ravenscraig to single furnace working. The Scottish Development Agency's study of the prospects for the steel industry in Scotland has identified two potential opportunities and these will be discussed further with British Steel.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of the poll tax review.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is continuing to discuss with colleagues a wide range of options concerned with the financing and structure of local government.

  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the representations he has received on the case for abolishing or reviewing the community charge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations about different aspects of the community charge arrangements. These are being considered carefully as part of the current review of the community charge.

  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the qualifying date relating to residence in a property for eligibility for the community charge reduction scheme in Scotland in 1991–92.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The community charge reduction scheme will operate with backdated effect from 1 April 1990. Reductions to personal community charge liabilities will be calculated on the basis of the difference between a person's or a household's former rates liability and their actual personal community charge (not including water) at 1 April 1989. One of the criteria for eligibility, therefore, will be that the charge payer is resident in the same
  209
  property as he or she was solely or mainly resident on 1 April 1989. If the person moves after 1 April 1990, the date from which the new scheme is effective, entitlement will normally cease on the day of moving.

  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the maximum number of assumed poll tax charges that will be used per household for the purposes of calculating help under the community charge reduction scheme in Scotland in 1991–92.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The community charge reduction scheme is to be based on actual community charges (less water charges) set by local authorities in 1989–90 and will operate with backdated effect to 1 April 1990. A maximum of two charges per household will be used for calculating entitlement. Additional assistance is available for the elderly and the disabled who were not former ratepayers.

  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people benefited from the poll tax transitional relief scheme in Scotland; and what was the average annual payment to each person who qualified.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  Regional and islands councils are required to provide information on the numbers of people who have received relief under the original and the enhanced transitional relief schemes together with information on the total amounts of relief disbursed when making their claims for reimbursement to the Department. Final claims have not yet been received from all local authorities and the information requested is therefore not yet available centrally.

  Red Deer
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to increase the number of red deer in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have no proposals to increase the number of red deer in Scotland. The Red Deer Commission has the general function of furthering the control and conservation of red deer. The Commission has recommended that the hind population of around 160,000 should be reduced by approximately 50,000 to achieve a hind/stag ratio of no more than 1·3 to 1.

  Erythropoetin
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many renal patients in Ninewells hospital, Dundee, receiving treatment with erythropoetin, had the drug withdrawn because of lack of funds.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  None. Everyone involved recognises that clinical judgments about which drugs to prescribe for patients should not be inhibited by financial considerations. That has always been the case and has not changed. Of course, health boards are entitled to debate with clinicians whether the treatments that they propose to offer patients are the most cost-effective or whether there are better and more economical alternatives that could be considered. And many hospitals have drug and therapeutic committees and subject prescription practices to peer review. But, if ultimately a clinician's judgment is that a particular drug is the only suitable treatment for a patient, the board's responsibility then becomes finding the resources necessary to enable that treatment to be offered.
  210
  The drug erythropoetin (EPO) was the subject of trials being conducted in Tayside health board. Those trials have now been completed. However, Tayside health board has confirmed that it is to find the resources to provide EPO when prescribed to all who require it.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to reduce unemployment in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  There has been a fall of 6,600 in seasonally adjusted unemployment in Scotland over the past year. The Government will continue to pursue sound monetary, fiscal and exchange rate policies to reduce inflation, and to promote investment, enterprise and the recovery of economic growth. This is the best means of reducing unemployment. Moreover, for those without a job, there is a wide range of employment and training measures available, particularly for the young and long-term unemployed, to help them back into employment.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the number of job losses in the period 1 June 1990 to 1 February 1991 in(a) the Greenock travel-to-work area, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  Information in the form requested is not available. There are no comprehensive statistics on redundancies. The following table shows the number of confirmed redundancies involving 10 or more workers notified to the Employment Department from June 1990 to January 1991 for the areas requested.

  Confirmed redundancies1 2 June 1990 to January 1991

  Greenock TTWA

  Strathclyde region

  Scotland

  1990

  June

  Nil

  383

  1,007

  July

  Nil

  533

  981

  August

  Nil

  111

  560

  September

  Nil

  281

  683

  October

  Nil

  615

  1,115

  November

  Nil

  326

  1,439

  December

  Nil

  244

  1,086

  1991

  January

  Nil

  113

  370

  Total

  Nil

  2,606

  7,241

  1 All figures are provisional.

  2 For a variety of reasons, not all redundancies are notified to the Employment Department, and not all those that are notified are eventually confirmed.

  Job losses, however, should not be viewed in isolation: in any dynamic economy, jobs are also being continually created. Over the latest year for which figures are available (to September 1990), the civilian work force in employment in Scotland increased by 48,000, or by over 900 per week.

  Representative Office, Brussels
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had calling for his Department to establish a representative office in Brussels.
  211
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  I am aware of the views that some hon. Members and others have expressed. The Scottish Office is already represented very effectively in Brussels by the United Kingdom permanent representation and we have no proposals for change.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the impact of the Government's interest rate policy on the levels of unemployment in Scotland.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The reduction in United Kingdom inflation seen over the last few months is the result of the Government's firm commitment to a prudent interest rate policy.

  Reducing inflation is the best means of promoting investment, enterprise and economic growth in Scotland. Only in this way can Scottish unemployment be set on a sustainable downward trend.

  Personal Disposable Incomes
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the trends of personal disposable incomes in Scotland over the past 15-years.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  Over the 15-year period between 1973 and 1988, personal disposable income per head in Scotland increased by over a third in real terms, to £5,236 per head by 1988. Personal disposable income per head in Scotland grew slightly faster than in the United Kingdom as a whole—from 94·6 per cent. of the United Kingdom average in 1973 to 97·3 per cent. in 1988. In 1988, personal disposable income per head in Scotland was higher than in all parts of the United Kingdom except the south-east and south-west.

  Property Identification
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether it is the policy of his Department to mark property with an indelible mark or similar means of identification.

  Mr. Lang
  The methods used to protect official property are kept under constant review and measures are taken as appropriate.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether it is the policy of the Lord Advocate's departments to mark property with an indelible mark or similar means of identification.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  It is not the policy of the Lord Advocate's departments to mark property with an indelible mark. Where appropriate, property is identified with a discreet security marking.

  Disabled People
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how statistical data are collated in respect of the employment and training of people with disabilities in Scotland by his Department or other Government offices or agencies; and if he will publish the most recent statistics.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  Statistics on the employment and training of people with disabilities in Scotland are 212
  available in a number of different formats from various sources. The main sources of information on the employment and training of disabled people in Scotland are described as follows.

  Data on those on Government training programmes who have disabilities are based on information supplied by the training provider about each trainee starting a training programme. Providers are asked to identify disabled trainees on the basis of
  "those who on account of injury, disease or congenital deformity are substantially handicapped in obtaining or keeping employment or undertaking work on their own account of a kind which apart from that injury, disease or deformity would be suited to their age, experience and qualifications".

  The latest information for Scotland is that, between April and December 1990, some 1·2 per cent. of those who started on YT and 5·6 per cent. of those who started on. ET were recorded as disabled by their training provider.

  Some data are collected about registration as disabled under the terms of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Acts 1944 and 1958, and on the extent to which employers are complying with the provisions of the quota scheme —which was established by the 1944 Act.

  This Act places a duty on employers who have 20 or more workers to employ a quota of registered disabled people. The standard quota is at present 3 per cent. of an employer's total work force. It is not an offence to be below quota. However, when in this situation an employer has a further duty, under the Act, to engage suitable registered disabled people if any are available when vacancies arise. An employer who is below quota must not engage anyone other than a registered disabled person without first obtaining a permit to do so from the employment service's local disablement resettlement officer, and must not discharge a registered disabled worker without reasonable cause. The provisions of the Act are not legally binding on the Crown, but Government Departments and the national health service have undertaken to accept the same responsibilities as other employers.

  The disabled persons register is kept at the employment service's local offices and local education authority careers offices. The numbers registered are counted annually in April to provide local, regional and national totals.

  The employment service's local offices, which also monitor compliance with the provisions of the quota scheme, conduct an annual inquiry, which takes place in May and is concluded on 1 June, into the extent to which employers in their areas who are subject to quota are employing registered disabled people.

  In April 1990 there were 34,082 registered disabled people in Scotland; and on 1 June that year, the average percentage of registered disabled people in the work forces of Scottish-based employers subject to the quota provisions was 0·7 per cent. This latter figure compares with 0·8 per cent. for Great Britain as a whole.

  However, data about registered disabled people and their employment under the quota scheme do not provide an accurate picture of the employment position of people with disabilities. Registration as disabled is voluntary, and it has been established by recent research commissioned by the employment service—"Employment and Handicap", SCPR 1990, a copy of which is in the Library—that the majority of people with disabilities who would be eligible

  213
  to register choose not to so so. Data on compliance with the quota relates only to registered disabled people and to employers with 20 or more workers.

  There is a further complication, in that the quota responsibilities are placed on employers in respect of their total work forces, not separately for individual branches or establishments. In the case of employers with more than one branch, compliance is monitored by the employment service's local office in which the employer's headquarters is located. As a consequence, statistics provided from local office records in Scotland do not take account of registered disabled people working in Scotland for employers whose headquarters is elsewhere in Great Britain, but will include data in respect of those working elsewhere in Great Britain for employers based in Scotland.

  In the spring of each year, the Department of Employment publishes an article in the Employment Gazette showing the number and proportion of registered disabled people employed by a range of public sector employers. Information is given for the main central and local government employers including those in Scotland. The latest article, which gives information for May 1990, was published in the February 1991 edition.

  Until January 1990, the employment service maintained information on the number of disabled people registered for work at jobcentres and careers offices. However, this information needs to be treated with considerable caution because, from October 1982, it has not been compulsory to register for employment as a condition for the receipt of unemployment benefit. Because of their limited value, the collection of these figures was discontinued in January 1990. At that date, there were 1,928 unemployed registered disabled also registered for work at jobcentres and careers offices in Scotland, and an additional 4,521 unemployed people with disabilities registered at jobcentres and careers offices who were not also registered as disabled.

  The annual "Labour Force Survey" collects a wide range of information about the United Kingdom labour market. This is a sample survey of households which can provide analyses for the Scottish labour market. Some information is collected in the survey about those with health problems or disabilities in response to the question
  "Do you have any health problems or disabilities which limit the kind of paid work you can do?"

  This covers a much wider range of people than those recorded as disabled on Government training programmes and than those registered as disabled under the 1944 Act. It should also be noted that, since the "Labour Force Survey" is a household survey, disabled people living in hostel or institutional accommodation will not be included in the survey.

  The latest information from this survey is that of an estimated 444,000 people of working age in Scotland in spring 1989 with health problems or disabilities which limit the kind of paid work they can do, 34 per cent. were in employment, 10 per cent. were unemployed and 56 per cent. were economically inactive.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many assisted places pupils attended each of the schools involved in the assisted places scheme.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is as follows:214

  School

  Number of assisted pupils in 1989–90 school year1

  Aberlour House School, Moray

  5

  Albyn School for Girls, Aberdeen

  20

  Ardvreck School, Crieff

  1

  Beaconhurst Grange School, Bridge of Allan

  3

  Belhaven Hill School, Dunbar

  4

  Belmont House School, Newton Mearns

  21

  Blairmore School, Huntly

  2

  Butterstone House School, Dunkeld

  2

  Cargilfield School, Edinburgh

  3

  Clifton Hall School, Midlothian

  6

  Craigclowan Preparatory School, Perth

  6

  Craigholme School for Girls, Glasgow

  38

  Crawfordton House School, Dumfriesshire

  8

  Croftinloan School, Pitlochry

  4

  Daniel Stewart's and Melville College, Edinburgh

  288

  The Mary Erskine School, Edinburgh

  Dollar Academy

  63

  Drumley House School, Ayrshire

  6

  Edinburgh Academy

  46

  Fernhill School, Glasgow

  28

  Fettes College, Edinburgh

  31

  Fort Augustus Abbey School

  34

  George Heriot's School, Edinburgh

  237

  George Watson's College, Edinburgh

  240

  Glasgow Academy

  42

  Glenalmond College, Perthshire

  34

  Gordonstoun School, Morayshire

  24

  Hamilton College

  11

  The High School of Dundee

  177

  The High School of Glasgow

  40

  Hutchesons' Grammar School, Glasgow

  135

  Keil School, Dumbarton

  71

  Kelvinside Academy, Glasgow

  58

  Kilgraston School, Perthshire

  52

  Kilquhanity House School, Castle Douglas

  18

  Lathallan School, Montrose

  6

  Laurel Bank School, Glasgow

  58

  Lomond School, Helensburgh

  43

  Loretto School, Musselburgh

  29

  Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh

  56

  Morrison's Academy Crieff

  179

  New Park School, St. Andrews

  3

  Oxenfoord Castle School, Midlothian

  5

  Park School, Glasgow

  59

  Park Lodge School, Helensburgh

  1

  Rannoch School, Perthshire

  27

  Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen

  59

  Rudolf Steiner School of Edinburgh

  61

  St. Aloysius' College, Glasgow

  154

  St. Columba's School, Kilmacolm

  40

  St. Denis and Cranley School, Edinburgh

  28

  St. George's School for Girls, Edinburgh

  17

  St. Leonard's School, St. Andrews

  24

  St. Margaret's School for Girls, Aberdeen

  18

  St. Margaret's School for Girls, Edinburgh

  65

  St. Mary's School, Melrose

  2

  Strathallan School, Forgandenny, Perthshire

  41

  Wellington School, Ayr

  47

  Westbourne School, Glasgow

  54

  1 provisional figures

  Public Bodies (Appointments)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland to which posts in public bodies he appoints individuals where the posts are(a) part-time and (b) remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

  Mr. Lang
  The posts in public bodies to which I appointed individuals as at 1 July 1990 are set out in pages 77 to 88 and 113 of the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies 1990", a copy of which is available in the Library.
  215
  The majority of these appointments are on a part-time basis, none of which is remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

  Strathclyde Police
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many additional uniformed police officers have been authorised to be added to the strength of the Strathclyde police force in each year from 1975 to 1990.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  None. Strathclyde regional council made only one application—in 1983—during this period for the Secretary of State's consent to an increase in the authorised police establishment of Strathclyde police. Consent was withheld on the ground that the force was being required by the council to operate substantially below its existing authorised establishment.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many crimes were(a) recorded and (b) detected by the Strathclyde police force in each year from 1975 to 1990.

  Deaths from cervical cancer in each health board area in Scotland 1980 to 1989

  Health board area

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  SCOTLAND

  187

  201

  208

  213

  227

  214

  199

  188

  191

  205

  Borders

  1

  2

  0

  3

  4

  8

  10

  3

  4

  4

  Forth Valley

  13

  8

  6

  8

  14

  17

  8

  12

  11

  6

  Dumfries and Galloway

  10

  2

  6

  8

  6

  5

  11

  10

  6

  4

  Fife

  17

  15

  19

  23

  22

  18

  12

  11

  12

  17

  Grampian

  16

  19

  12

  14

  21

  16

  15

  13

  12

  20

  Highland

  5

  8

  6

  10

  10

  3

  10

  8

  7

  10

  Lothian

  17

  37

  29

  30

  31

  28

  25

  25

  31

  27

  Tayside

  15

  16

  13

  10

  13

  19

  12

  17

  13

  12

  Orkney

  2

  3

  1

  2

  0

  1

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Shetland

  0

  I

  2

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Western Isles

  1

  0

  2

  0

  2

  0

  4

  2

  0

  1

  Argyll and Clyde

  17

  15

  19

  19

  19

  19

  17

  14

  27

  24

  Ayshire and Arran

  15

  13

  25

  10

  20

  13

  20

  13

  18

  21

  Greater Glasgow

  44

  45

  43

  43

  49

  34

  33

  42

  37

  37

  Lanarkshire

  14

  17

  25

  33

  16

  32

  22

  15

  13

  22

  1 International Classification of Diseases, Ninth revision.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cervical smear tests have been carried out on women for each year since 1980 in each of the health board areas; and by health board area how many have yet to be dealt with by the appropriate medical agencies.

  Number of cervical smears examined in each health board in Scotland: 1980–89

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Scotland

  282,510

  1293,105

  285,105

  315,044

  322,484

  356,747

  361,626

  420,361

  448,752

  2441,287

  Argyll and Clyde

  25,243

  25,990

  23,829

  27,151

  28,946

  35,195

  33,554

  33,180

  40,985

  38,517

  Ayrshire and Arran

  19,946

  19,753

  18,497

  21,218

  22,827

  29,219

  30,098

  31,139

  34,452

  34,359

  Borders

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Dumfries and Galloway

  11,250

  11,653

  11,710

  12,235

  12,164

  13,661

  14,331

  15,015

  15,019

  14,300

  Fife

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  16,327

  18,050

  Forth Valley

  12,316

  14,002

  12,784

  15,074

  15,925

  19,509

  19,353

  19,600

  21,904

  23,863

  Grampian

  30,603

  33,014

  32,726

  35,164

  37,783

  43,539

  45,077

  53,603

  51,146

  53,708

  Greater Glasgow

  51,860

  53,143

  49,752

  54,276

  51,916

  59,990

  56,068

  84,460

  80,682

  268,749

  Highland

  16,585

  16,656

  17,094

  19,174

  18,671

  21,577

  21,016

  22,127

  21,720

  22,256

  Lanarkshire

  23,631

  125,766

  25,949

  28,423

  27,174

  34,250

  33,966

  35,820

  38,981

  40,672

  Lothian

  63,857

  65,070

  64,408

  70,713

  74,668

  63,272

  72,122

  88,922

  90,032

  87,927

  Shetland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tayside

  28,219

  28,823

  28,356

  31,616

  32,310

  36,535

  36,041

  36,495

  37,504

  38,886

  Western Isles

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1 Estimated.

  2 Provisional.

  Notes:

  These figures relate to smears analysed by laboratories in each health board area.

  Smears taken from women in one health board area may be analysed in laboratories in other health board areas.
  216
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Statistics of crimes and offences recorded and cleared up in each police force area are published annually in the reports of Her Majesty's chief inspector of constabulary for Scotland, copies of which are available in the Library. Figures for 1990 are not yet available.

  Cervical Cancer
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many women have died from cervical cancer in each of the past 10 years; and if he will give the figures by health board area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The number of deaths in each health board area with malignant neoplasm of the cervix uteri (ICD1 180) recorded as the underlying cause of death is shown in the following table.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The number of tests carried out from 1980 to 1989, the latest available year, is shown in the table. Information is not collected centrally about the number of smears outstanding. Since December 1990 health boards have been set a target of 14 days maximum for reporting of test results, which is to be achieved no later than 31 May 1991.

  Bankruptcies
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many companies have gone into liquidation or have declared bankruptcy in(a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland as a whole in each of the past three years; and in which areas of economic activity they were to be found.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The table gives the available information on Scottish registered companies for the past three years. There is no information on company liquidations for areas within Scotland. The term bankruptcy does not apply to companies.

  Notified liquidations of Scottish registered companies:

  Year

  Number

  1988

  651

  1989

  674

  1990

  689

  Industrial analysis1

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Agriculture and horticulture

  3

  7

  2

  Manufacturing

  103

  95

  116

  Construction

  72

  75

  75

  Transport and communication

  15

  19

  16

  Wholesaling

  17

  11

  12

  Retailing

  90

  73

  79

  Financial institutions

  1

  5

  6

  Business services

  42

  38

  41

  Hotels and catering

  17

  17

  22

  All other industries and businesses

  85

  69

  51

  Total

  445

  409

  420

  Source: Register of companies

  1 Compulsory liquidations and creditors' voluntary liquidations only. Members' liquidations are excluded from the analysis.

  Surplus School Places
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the current level of surplus places in each education authority in both primary and secondary schools.

  Specialty

  Total

  In-patient waiting list, waiting for 1 to 2 years

  More than 2 years

  Total

  Day case waiting list, waiting for 1 to 2 years

  More than 2 years

  Argyl and Clyde Health Board

  General surgery

  1,232

  131

  60

  705

  7

  13

  Orthopaedic surgery

  547

  103

  58

  83

  10

  4

  ENT surgery

  977

  83

  34

  21

  —

  —

  Ophthalmology

  533

  1

  —

  31

  —

  —

  Oral surgery and oral medicine

  48

  1

  —

  17

  1

  —

  General medicine

  —

  —

  —

  9

  —

  —

  Dermatology

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gynaecology

  489

  20

  10

  91

  4

  1

  Plastic surgery

  2

  —

  —

  84

  —

  —

  Geriatric assessment

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Geriatric long stay

  13

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Young chronic sick

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Geriatric psychiatry

  13

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  3,863

  339

  162

  1,041

  22

  18

  Greater Glasgow Health Board

  General surgery

  2,128

  126

  8

  836

  25

  1

  Orthopaedic surgery

  2,023

  214

  9

  124

  14

  3

  ENT surgery

  1,782

  109

  1

  72

  3

  —

  Ophthalmology

  1,832

  125

  5

  133

  4

  —

  Urology

  1,287

  170

  22

  508

  12

  2

  218
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The current level of surplus places in schools in Scotland is substantial. It is for education authorities to assess the scale of the problems in their area and to seek to achieve rationalisation of their school provision accordingly.

  Community Charge
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has held recent discussions with local authorities concerning the subject of the reimbursement of poll tax income forgone by those service men and service women serving in the Gulf war; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment announced on 19 February in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Aldershot (Mr. Critchley) a special scheme to compensate local authorities for community charge income forgone where service personnel normally resident in their area have been posted to the Gulf. The announcement made it clear that the scheme would apply in Scotland and my Department wrote to all Scottish authorities about the matter on 26 February. I am arranging for a copy of their letter to be placed in the House Library.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the current waiting list for each specialty in(a) the catchment area for the Argyll and Clyde health board and (b) the Greater Glasgow health board; and what is the number of people in each area who have waited (i) for one year and (ii) for more than two years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Figures are currently available as at 31 March 1990. These are set out in the tables. The figures relate to each health board area and not to area of residence of patient.
  219

  Specialty

  Total

  In-patient waiting list, waiting for 1 to 2 years

  More than 2 years

  Total

  Day case waiting list, waiting for 1 to 2 years

  More than 2 years

  Oral surgery and oral medicine

  1,015

  148

  125

  68

  1

  1

  General medicine

  494

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Dermatology

  22

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Respiratory medicine

  4

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Surgical paediatrics

  335

  17

  —

  115

  —

  —

  Gynaecology

  1,386

  31

  1

  137

  3

  —

  Neurosurgery

  114

  18

  10

  —

  —

  —

  Cardiothoracic surgery

  792

  79

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Plastic surgery

  1,708

  373

  685

  2,311

  509

  1,126

  Neurology

  40

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Radiotherapy (consultive)

  9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Geriatric long stay

  135

  11

  10

  —

  —

  —

  Young chronic sick

  5

  3

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Mental illness

  143

  30

  5

  —

  —

  —

  Geriatric psychiatry

  181

  43

  16

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  15,435

  1,498

  899

  4,305

  571

  1,133

  Inverclyde
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his most up-to-date estimate of the number of jobs that have been created by the Inverclyde initiative; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The latest information available shows that the total number of jobs created by projects which have been assisted by the Inverclyde initiative between March 1985 and May 1990 is approximately 3,840. The initiative's period of operation officially expired in March 1990.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his most up-to-date estimate of the jobs that have been created by the Inverclyde enterprise zone; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The latest information available on jobs in the Inverclyde enterprise zone shows that at September 1990, 356 new jobs had been created with 362 existing jobs secured. In addition, 1,083 new jobs were forecast in companies locating in the zone.

  Private Care Homes
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what provisions are made to recompense social work departments for the cost implications of administering private care homes which are struck off the register.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There are no specific statutory provisions relating to these circumstances. Local authority functions relating to the registration and inspection of such homes are financed by a combination of charges on owners of homes and provision in aggregate external finance.

  Ambulance Service
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the present established strength of officer, control assistant grades and ambulance crews of the ambulance service; and what plans there are for changes.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The current establishment is 149 officers, 79 control assistants, 1,347 accident and emergency and 587 non-emergency crew staff. From the 220
  additional £8 million which I have made available to the ambulance service for 1991–92, plans are being formulated to improve the service by increasing double manning and the number of staff with extended training skills.

  Industrial Development
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next expects to meet the chief executive of the Scottish Development Agency to discuss industrial development.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans to meet the chief executive of the Scottish Development Agency; but he did meet the chairman of the agency informally last week to discuss a range of matters of mutual interest.

  Forestry
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans the Government have to improve the delivery of their forestry policies and to reorganise the Forestry Commission.

  Mr. Lang
  The Government's forestry policies have been developed and refined over recent years. We are encouraging more planting on better quality land than hitherto and the creation of forests close to major centres of population. As noted in the Environment White Paper, the Government have also taken steps to build environmental objectives into forestry policy. A much greater emphasis is being placed, for instance, on the planting of broadleaves and on the conservation of existing forests and woodlands. At the same time, the value of forestry output is increasing in line with the steady rise in timber production and processing. We are committed to the concept of multi-purpose forests, with all that they can offer in economic, social and environmental terms.

  Against that background, we have been concerned to ensure that the Forestry Commission is organised to take full advantage of the new opportunities now opening up for forestry. This will require a strong and flexible Commission, which can focus its resources to deliver our policies for the development of forestry as cost-effectively as possible. To this end, we see advantage in changes being made to the Commission's management structure to

  221
  achieve a clearer administrative distinction between those staff concerned with its regulatory and advisory duties as a Government Department and those engaged in the management of its forests. We have therefore endorsed a proposal by the Forestry Commissioners that the commission should be reorganised along these lines.

  The commission's staff will be given more precisely defined responsibilities and goals. This will improve the effectiveness of the authority, which will have a responsibility to oversee the work of the enterprise as well as the private sector. Enterprise managers will be free to concentrate on the efficient management of the commission's forest estate, with clear commercial, environmental and social objectives.

  I emphasise that this will be an internal reorganisation. Last year, in responding to its report "Land Use and Forestry", we rejected a recommendation by the Agriculture Committee that the commission should be split up. This reorganisation fully accords with that decision.

  The implementation of the reorganisation will now be put in hand by the Forestry Commissioners.

  Residential Properties
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what is the estimate of the number of empty residential properties in the private sector; and what is the estimate of the percentage this represents of the total number of residential properties in the private sector.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 28 February 1991]: Information is not collected on the private sector alone. It is estimated that at 30 June 1990, some 99,000 dwellings in Scotland were vacant: this represented 4·7 per cent. of the total housing stock. In addition, it is estimated that there are about 29,000 second or holiday homes; a total of some 127,500 houses may be vacant all or part of the time.

DEFENCE

  The Gulf
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received about the postal service to troops serving in the Gulf; and what further measures his Department has taken to ensure the provision of a low-cost and efficient postal service.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A number of representations have been received about the postal service to troops serving in the Gulf.

  Forces concessionary rate mail, in addition to the forces free airletter facility, provides a low-cost and efficient postal service to the Gulf. I also welcome the initiative by United Parcels in helping to deliver parcels at low cost or free of charge to the defence postal and courier service depot in London. All forces mail to the Gulf is being carried by RAF aircraft which depart daily.

  Over 1 million kilograms of mail has been moved to the Gulf from the United Kingdom, as well as over 100,000 kilograms from Germany. I believe that the postal service has performed well, often in difficult circumstances. The situation is regularly monitored, but at present I have no plans to introduce any change to current arrangements.
  222
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the United States armed forces contingency hospitals based at RAF Feltwell, Bicester, Little Rissington, Nocton Hall, Upwood, Kemble, Bordan, Newton and Waterbeach will be available for the treatment of United Kingdom armed forces casualties returning from the Gulf.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The United States armed forces have activated their contingency hospitals at RAF Little Rissington, Bicester and Nocton Hall. Although these contingency hospitals are primarily designed for the treatment of United States military personnel, casualties from any allied nation would be admitted in an emergency.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops there are in the Gulf from each allied country; and how many tanks and armed personnel carriers from each allied country are in the Gulf.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Nellist) on 25 February at column 389. The United Kingdom committed about 43,000 personnel to the operation in the Gulf.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the targets of British aircraft during each of the last three days of the war.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  RAF aircraft continued to attack military targets and facilities supporting Iraq's occupation of Kuwait, particularly in support of coalition ground forces.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Her Majesty's Government will offer United Kingdom medical facilities in the Gulf to Iraqi non-prisoner wounded where capacity is available.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No injured or wounded person of any nationality would be refused emergency medical treatment in United Kingdom medical facilities in the Gulf.

  Nuclear Tests
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if studies undertaken by the National Radiological Protection Board on the morbidity rate of service personnel involved in nuclear tests on Christmas Island have been subject to independent review; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The NRPB/Imperial Cancer Research Fund study covered mortality and cancer incidence in United Kingdom participants in nuclear tests in both Australia and Christmas Island. It was based on mortality rather than morbidity rates, though incomplete data on cancer incidence (morbidity plus mortality) for the limited period over which United Kingdom records exist were not at variance with the main conclusions. The report was subject to stringent peer review before it was accepted for publication in the British Medical Journal.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make available to hon. Members the records of the environmental monitoring studies relating to British nuclear tests.
  223
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Ministry of Defence holds extensive records of raw environmental monitoring data. Some records of environmental monitoring were published in 1985 by the Australian royal commission into United Kingdom nuclear tests in Australia. Further monitoring around Maralinga was carried out by the Australian technical advisory group (TAG) which reported in November 1990. We have no plans to prepare and publish a compilation of these extensive data.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what unpublished records of nuclear tests are held by his Department; and what plans he has to publish them.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The MOD holds a very large amount of unpublished, classified information on the United Kingdom nuclear tests. This is reviewed for possible release to the Public Record Office 30 years after creation, as is the practice for all other classified MOD reports. Decisions on publication are based soley on consideration of national security.

  There are no plans to review and publish all these reports though all available information on exposures of test participants to ionising radiation has been released to NRPB and was analysed in their report published in 1985.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements have existed for veterans of British nuclear tests to undergo medical examination.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  During their service, test participants would have had access to medical examination whenever it was required. Civilian test veterans, including ex-service personnel, would no doubt seek advice from their general practitioner when appropriate.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what published records for which his Department is responsible are available of previous nuclear tests; where they are held; and when were they published.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Records of previous nuclear tests, compiled for the Australian royal commission into United Kingdom nuclear tests in 1985, are at the Public Record Office at Kew, class description DEFE 16. Other documents are lodged in the British Library. A comprehensive list of such documents could not be compiled without disproportionate cost.

  Mr McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to arrange for the medical examination of the children and grandchildren of British nuclear test veterans; whether such tests have been carried out; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are no current plans to arrange for the medical examination of the children and grandchildren of British participants in the nuclear test programme, nor have such tests been carried out in the past.

  Property Marking
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is the policy of his Department to mark property with an indelible mark or similar means of identification.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  It would not be practicable or necessary to mark every item of MOD property, but many are readily identifiable. Stores and equipment are protected by a range of security measures.

  HMS Endurance
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what duties are performed in the south Atlantic by HMS Endurance.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  HMS Endurance undertakes a range of representational, scientific and support duties, including assistance and support to the British Antarctic survey on an ad hoc basis.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to withdraw HMS Endurance from her station in the south Atlantic.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer of 19 February at col. 138 to my hon. Friend the Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Field).

  RAF Fairford
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures are taken to inform the local fire brigade when bomb-laden aircraft take off from RAF Fairford.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A close working relationship exists between the local fire brigade and the United States Air Force fire department at RAF Fairford, but advance notification of operations is not given to civil agencies for operational security reasons.

  Public Bodies (Appointments)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to which posts in public bodies he appoints individuals where the posts are(a) part-time and (b) remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  None. I refer the hon. Member to "Public Bodies 1990" issued by the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service; pages 12 to 14 list Ministry of Defence appointments.

  Walter Somers Ltd.
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will now state the nature of the two telephone conversations between Walter Somers Ltd. and a Ministry of Defence metallurgical expert in 1988, referred to in his reply of 2 May 1990,Official Report, column 601.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The conversations were concerned with technical aspects of the steel tubes which Walter Somers Ltd. proposed to export to Iraq.

  Equipment
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts regarding the distinction between lethal and non-lethal defence equipment.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  None.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his assessment of the financial effect on his equipment procurement budget of the export of British defence equipment.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  It is not possible accurately to quantify the full effect.
  225
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the activities of the Space Research Corporation that relate to the actual or possible export of non-lethal or lethal defence equipment, referred to in his answer of 2 May 1990,Official Report, column 602.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The assessment of my Department is that SRC was not directly involved in the production and export of the equipment referred to. This was undertaken by another firm, ATI, which was controlled by SRC's founder, Dr. G. V. Bull. It is believed that the equipment consisted of large calibre gun parts destined for Iraq.

  Arms Sales
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is his policy to discuss arms sales to non-NATO countries with other NATO countries.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  As the need arises, I discuss the sale to non-NATO countries of collaboratively developed defence equipment with participating NATO partners. Defence officials are involved in discussions with appropriate NATO and other countries, bilaterally and multilaterally, on matters relating to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, missile technology control regime and measures to prevent chemical and biological weapon proliferation.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the conference of national armaments directors has discussed arms sales to non-NATO countries; and whether there are any plans for the conference of national armaments directors to discuss arms sales to non-NATO countries.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  No substantive discussion of this subject has taken place in the conference of national armaments directors and we have no plans to raise the subject in this forum.

  Iraq
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is his assessment of the effect that the activities of the Matrix Churchill Company have had on the development of the Iraqi defence industry;

  (2) what is his assessment of the effect that the activities of the Ali Arabi Trading Co. have had on the development of the Iraqi defence industry.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Ali Arabi Trading Company was the ultimate holding company for the British Company, Matrix Churchill. In the light of charges laid against individuals and continuing investigations being carried out by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise it would not be appropriate to comment further.
  226
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his assessment of the source of the technology used by the Iraqi defence industry to manufacture 155mm artillery shells.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Iraq has acquired technology for its defence industry from a large number of countries.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information was supplied to the commanders of British forces in the Gulf region relating to British exports of non-lethal defence equipment to Iraq.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The commander of the British forces in the Gulf region was fully briefed on the known composition of enemy forces.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information has been supplied to his Department by foreign Governments regarding their exports to Iraq of defence equipment.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Her Majesty's Government have been in contact with allied and other Governments about their past defence exports to Iraq. Details of any information received remain confidential.

  Middle East
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts regarding the development of defence industries in the middle east region.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of those employed in his Department are disabled.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Some 0·9 per cent. of staff in the MOD are registered disabled. In addition, there are a number of staff with disabilities working in the MOD who have not formally registered themselves as disabled.

  Defence Quality Assurance
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will consider 14MU RAF Carlisle for the relocation of the directorate general of defence quality assurance.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  We are considering a number of options for the relocation of DGDQA and will come to a decision as soon as possible.

  THE AUTHORISED CONVEYANCING PRACTITIONERS BOARD
  THE AUTHORISED CONVEYANCING PRACTITIONERS BOARD
  THE LORD CHANCELLOR'S ADVISORY COMMITIEE ON LEGAL EDUCATION AND CONDUCT
  THE LORD CHANCELLOR'S ADVISORY COMMITIEE ON LEGAL EDUCATION AND CONDUCT
  NORTHERN IRELAND: FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING
  NORTHERN IRELAND: FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING
  IRAQI, ETC. DETAINEES
  IRAQI, ETC. DETAINEES
  BARKESTONE CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOL
  BARKESTONE CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOL
  NATIONAL CURRICULUM: ASSESSMENT OF SEVEN YEAR-OLDS
  NATIONAL CURRICULUM: ASSESSMENT OF SEVEN YEAR-OLDS
  NATIONAL CURRICULUM ASSESSMENTS: REPORTING ARRANGEMENTS
  NATIONAL CURRICULUM ASSESSMENTS: REPORTING ARRANGEMENTS
  WASTE REGULATION AND WASTE DISPOSAL FUNCTIONS: SEPARATION
  WASTE REGULATION AND WASTE DISPOSAL FUNCTIONS: SEPARATION
  WRECKS: ABOLITION OF COMMISSION PAYMENTS TO RECEIVERS
  WRECKS: ABOLITION OF COMMISSION PAYMENTS TO RECEIVERS
  VETERINARY INVESTIGATION SERVICE: REVIEW
  VETERINARY INVESTIGATION SERVICE: REVIEW