Written Answers of 18 March 1991

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which of his Ministers has been given responsibility for energy use by his Department; and what is his or her brief regarding energy efficiency.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I am responsible for energy matters in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. My brief is to promote awareness of the Government's energy efficiency campaign and raise the profile of energy efficiency and energy-saving technology in the FCO estate both at home and overseas.

  There is a policy of saving 15 per cent. on energy consumption/costs over five years on the home estate. Overseas, the FCO is providing information material to posts to target local industry, commerce and Government decision makers in an attempt to stimulate commercial/ technological spin-offs for United Kingdom energy efficiency/saving measures. The FCO is also carrying out other initiatives under the overseas aid programme to help developing countries.

  Soviet Union
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the status of the recognition and diplomatic representation currently accorded to each of the Soviet republics.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We do not recognise the individual Soviet republics as states. The question of diplomatic relations, therefore, does not arise.

  Sudan
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts Her Majesty's Government are supporting to bring the warring parties in Sudan to the negotiating table; and if he will raise during the visit of John Garang, leader of the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement, in April the case for initiating round-table talks.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have urged on both sides in the civil war the need for a ceasefire and the early discussion and settlement of all outstanding problems, but neither the Government of Sudan nor their opponents appear ready to bring this long-running, tragic and wasteful conflict to an end.

  War Crimes Tribunal
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will meet his counterparts in the coalition countries to discuss the 2
  establishment of a war crimes tribunal to try the activities of Saddam Hussein in the Gulf war; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Various mechanisms already exist under the Geneva conventions for prosecuting grave breaches of the conventions. It is too early to say what machinery might be applied in this case.

PRIME MINISTER

  Shops Act
  Mr. Duffy
  To ask the Prime Minister what proposals he has to provide additional support for local authorities to improve the enforcement of the Shops Act 1950; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Local authorities have a wide range of functions and duties of which enforcement under the 1950 Act is but one. Local authorities receive a substantial contribution towards their total spending of some £40 billion through external grants. The amount provided in external support is being increased by nearly £3 billion this coming year. It is for local authorities to decide how they allocate their resources to provide services and meet their duties.

  Pensioners (Heating and Lighting)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Prime Minister what figures the Government have for the average weekly cost to pensioners for heating and lighting in(a) Northern Ireland, (b) Peterborough, (c) north Wiltshire and (d) Richmond and Barnes.

  The Prime Minister
  The information requested is available only at regional levels. For data on the average weekly expenditure on heating and lighting by pensioners in Northern Ireland I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond) on 13 March at columns 540–41.

  North-west London
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Prime Minister if he intends to make any official visit to constituencies in the north-west London area.

  The Prime Minister
  I am making a series of visits to all parts of the country and very much hope to include constituencies in London.

  Agricultural and Industrial Support
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish in the Official Report, an updated version of the table that was given in his answer to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Howell) on 17 March 1988, Official Report, columns 636–37.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chief Secretary on 18 February 1991 at column 13.

  East Timor
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Prime Minister, further to his oral answer of 28 February,Official Report, column 1116, if he is now in a position to make a statement about East Timor.
  3
  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 15 March 1991]Through our embassy in Jakarta, we keep a close watch on developments in East Timor and have made clear to the Indonesians our concern about infringements of human rights, such as those described in the Amnesty report. We will continue to do so.

  All countries have a sovereign right under the United Nations charter to secure the means of their own self-defence. Applications to export defence equipment are carefully scrutinised on a case-by-case basis. We do not allow the export of arms and equipment likely to be used against civil populations. In the case of Indonesia this criterion extends to possible use against the civilian population of East Timor.

  Soviet Union
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Prime Minister from which Government Departments United Kingdom contributions to the cost of EC technical assistance to the Soviet Union will be paid; and what proportion from each Department.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 15 March 1991]The Commission is continuing its exploratory discussions with the Soviet Union and will soon table a proposal on technical assistance to the Soviet Union. The Government will react in due course to that proposal.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Famine
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the latest assessment of the level of famine in sub-Saharan Africa.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The World Food Programme estimates that 29 million people may be at risk of starvation in 25 sub-Saharan African countries. Populations within Ethiopia, Sudan, Mozambique, Angola and Liberia are the most seriously affected with more than 20 million people at risk. I have placed the World Food Programme's most recent table of estimates for Africa in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's latest estimate of the number of people facing famine in Africa; and what is the Government's total commitment to emergency relief during this financial year.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The World Food Programme estimates that 29 million people may be at risk of starvation in 25 sub-Saharan African countries. The total provision this financial year for humanitarian assistance is £74 million.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by how much the budget to tackle famine in Africa has been increased for every year since 1987 at 1991 prices.

  Mrs. Chalker
  There is no separate allocation for famine relief in Africa within the overall humanitarian assistance provison. This provision is enhanced as required during each financial year in order to respond quickly and appropriately to developing countries' needs.

  Tropical Forests
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on the subject of tropical forests; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I receive numerous letters from hon. Members and members of the public who are rightly concerned about tropical deforestation. Many are also interested in the emerging World bank forestry policy paper due for publication in July. My postbag also includes letters from environmental NGOs such as the World Wide Fund for Nature and representatives of the trade.

  In addition I have recently received over 25,000 postcards from Friends of the Earth members who are calling for limitations on tropical timber imports and greater attention to environmental and social safeguards in projects carried out by the International Tropical Timber Organisation—ITTO.

  The United Kingdom Government believe that import restrictions would be counterproductive and would almost certainly tempt some tropical forest countries to accelerate conversion of forest to agricultural or ranch land. Restrictions or outright bans may also encourage loggers to speed up their rate of timber extraction to recoup investments in machinery and infrastructure. The positive way forward is to encourage Governments to manage and use their forest resources sustainably and to help provide them with the capacity to do this.

  The ODA is already at the forefront of initiatives to ensure that ITTO works as an effective organisation. We supported work to produce ITTO guidelines on best management practice of natural tropical forests and will continue to encourage countries to adopt them. We pressed for the establishment of an expert panel to review ITTO project proposals which has now been set up. We are also financing two independent experts to help ITTO review how it handles projects generally including the appraisal of their environmental and social impacts.

  Burma
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the level of development aid to Burma in each of the financial years from 1986–87 to the present; and what is the planned level for 1991–92.

  Mrs. Chalker
  British aid to Burma since 1986–87 has comprised:

  £'000

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Technical Co-operation

  889

  1,157

  1,037

  131

  Aid and Trade Provision

  3,119

  3,005

  305

  17

  Disaster Relief

  10

  —

  91

  4

  Other

  51

  85

  23

  46

  Total

  4,069

  4,247

  1,456

  198

  Since the aid programme was suspended in late 1988 due to human rights concerns, expenditure has been limited to residual contract payments under the aid and trade provision—all now complete—completion of training awards for Burmese students already in the United Kingdom, pensions, and humanitarian assistance.
  5
  Figures for expenditure in 1990–91 are not yet available. No aid is planned in 1991–92 apart from possible limited humanitarian assistance to refugees.

  Sudan
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much food aid has been delivered to Sudan since March 1990; and how much of this food has reached rebel-controlled southern Sudan.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The precise figures requested are not available from the World Food Programme. However, its statistics show that 282,000 tonnes of food aid was delivered to Sudan from January to December 1990. Of this, 33,300 tonnes was supplied to the south.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of officers in grades 1 to 7 in the Overseas Development Administration are women.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The number and percentage of women at G7 and above in the ODA is as follows:

  Per cent.

  Grades 1 to 3

  none

  Grade 5

  5–11·40

  Grade 6

  9–13·40

  Grade 7

  22–10·95

  These figures include eight women who are on secondment to other aid organisations.

  Iraq
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what resources and facilities Her Majesty's Government are prepared to make available by way of medical and technical assistance to Iraq following the report of the United Nations investigative team; if a decision has been made in principle to provide such assistance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have already provided £2·5 million in humanitarian assistance through the International Committee of the Red Cross. When the UN mission's report on emergency needs is available, we shall respond to any UN appeal for humanitarian assistance.

  Cambodia
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he is making to the United Nations on the provision of development aid towards(a) mine removal and (b) provision of clean water supplies in Cambodia.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Britain is currently supporting the humanitarian aid programmes of United Nations agencies

  ODA grants to NGOs 1989–90

  Agency

  JFS

  Emergencies (Disasters, Refugees Food Aid)

  Others

  Total

  Acord

  450,074

  610,000

  50,000

  1,110,074

  Action Aid

  499,801

  —

  735,449

  1,235,250

  Action on Disability and Development

  134,326

  —

  —

  134,326

  Action Water

  10,000

  —

  —

  10,000

  6
  in Cambodia, including UNICEF, which provides assistance for the improvement of water supplies and sanitation. Provision for mine clearance to be undertaken with the assistance of the UN transitional authority for Cambodia as part of a comprehensive political settlement, was included in the draft document agreed by the permanent five, including Britain, the co-chairman of the Paris conference and the UN permanent representative at their meeting in Paris from 23 to 26 November 1990.

  Education Projects
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of overseas aid is being spent on educational projects; in what main areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  In 1989, the latest year for which final figures are available, £180·4 million was spent bilaterally on education projects out of a total bilateral expenditure of £1,113 million. Main areas of expenditure were:

  £ million

  Training Support Schemes

  110·5

  British Council

  43·2

  English Language Teachers

  13·0

  Capital projects

  6·9

  Books, seminars and research

  6·8

  180·4

  A number of technical co-operation staff working overseas are also in education, but they are not designated by sector.

  Much money made available from the aid programme to multilateral organisations such as the World bank, is committed to education. Our bilateral efforts complement this investment.

  Future expenditure plans will take into account the priority which overseas Governments give to the call made at the world conference on education for all in Thailand in 1990 for a greater emphasis on basic education and adult literacy.

  Non-governmental Organisations
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the non-governmental organisations associated with overseas development which received financial support from his Department in 1989–90, the total sum received by each organisation in that year and the breakdown of the total sum received by each organisation to show separately the sums received(a) under the joint funding scheme, (b) for emergency relief and (c) other.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The information requested is as follows:
  7

  Agency

  JFS

  Emergencies (Disasters, Refugees Food Aid)

  Others

  Total

  Afghan Aid

  —

  1,700,000

  —

  1,700,000

  Africa Now

  9,960

  —

  —

  9,960

  African Medical and Research Foundation

  201,179

  —

  —

  201,179

  Aga Khan Foundation

  312,957

  —

  1,205,808

  1,518,765

  AHRTAG

  129,133

  —

  12,730

  141,863

  Aid Armenia

  —

  12,261

  —

  12,261

  Aid for India

  35,960

  —

  —

  35,960

  Alternative for India Development

  51,857

  —

  —

  51,857

  Anti Slavery Society

  34,361

  —

  —

  34,361

  Association of Commonwealth Universities

  —

  —

  415,443

  415,443

  Boys Brigade

  13,219

  —

  —

  13,219

  British Executive Services Overseas

  —

  —

  360,000

  360,000

  British Red Cross Society

  75,000

  196,763

  —

  271,763

  Busoga Trust

  33,333

  —

  —

  33,333

  Care

  797,250

  4,859,455

  1,489,789

  7,146,494

  Catholic Fund for Overseas Development

  1,000,000

  4,391,797

  188,905

  5,580,702

  Catholic Institute for International Relations

  92,195

  —

  1,160,000

  1,252,195

  Centre for International Briefing

  —

  —

  139,000

  139,000

  Centre for World Development Education

  —

  —

  129,200

  129,200

  Child To Child

  8,000

  —

  —

  8,000

  Christian Aid

  1,706,901

  3,891,704

  594,900

  6,193,505

  Christian Outreach

  —

  267,000

  —

  267,000

  Christians Abroad

  —

  —

  18,000

  18,000

  Commonwealth Human Ecology Council

  22,659

  —

  —

  22,659

  Commonwealth Trade Union Council

  118,612

  —

  —

  118,612

  Concern

  129,956

  801,738

  190,673

  1,122,367

  Conservation Foundation

  123,790

  —

  —

  123,790

  Cooperation for Development

  111,872

  —

  385,312

  497,184

  Council for Education in World Citizenship

  —

  —

  4,000

  4,000

  Cusichaca Project

  37,000

  —

  —

  37,000

  DPCCN

  —

  —

  400,000

  400,000

  Duke of Edinburgh Award

  77,000

  —

  —

  77,000

  Equipment to Charity Hospitals Overseas

  24,850

  10,234

  —

  35,084

  Farm Africa

  —

  —

  55,000

  55,000

  Feed the Minds

  8,330

  —

  —

  8,330

  Goal

  —

  50,000

  —

  50,000

  Hand In Hand

  7,397

  —

  —

  7,397

  Harvest Help

  40,076

  —

  —

  40,076

  Health Unlimited

  175,893

  —

  —

  175,893

  Help The Aged

  75,104

  207,591

  —

  282,695

  Homeless International

  12,771

  —

  —

  12,771

  Impact Foundation

  7,096

  —

  —

  7,096

  India Development Group

  33,325

  —

  —

  33,325

  Institute of Development Studies

  —

  —

  2,145,000

  2,145,000

  Intercare

  30,487

  —

  —

  30,487

  Intermediate Technology Development Group

  184,050

  —

  93,713

  277,763

  International Agricultural Training Programme

  37,950

  —

  —

  37,950

  International Bee Research Association

  —

  —

  32,000

  32,000

  International Boys Town Trust

  33,180

  —

  —

  33,180

  International Committee for Red Cross

  —

  —

  100,000

  100,000

  International Council for Bird Preservation

  33,943

  —

  —

  33,943

  International Extension College

  —

  249,796

  —

  249,796

  International Institute for Environment and Development

  —

  —

  63,000

  63,000

  International Medical Relief

  —

  80,600

  —

  80,600

  International Rescue

  —

  23,816

  —

  23,816

  International Trust for Nature Conservation

  3,898

  —

  —

  3,898

  Jalchatra Project

  8,250

  —

  —

  8,250

  King Mahendra Trust

  14,750

  —

  —

  14,750

  Leonard Cheshire Foundation

  83,923

  —

  —

  83,923

  Living Earth

  61,400

  —

  —

  61,400

  Lutheran World Federation

  —

  7,559

  —

  7,559

  Marie Stopes International

  484,842

  —

  35,678

  520,520

  Medical Aid for Palestinians

  —

  —

  70,975

  70,975

  Money for Madagascar

  3,600

  —

  —

  3,600

  National Childrens Home

  —

  —

  15,406

  15,406

  New Age Access

  13,500

  —

  —

  13,500

  Ockenden Venture

  —

  248,536

  —

  248,536

  Opportunities for Women

  55,490

  —

  —

  55,490

  Order of St. John

  —

  —

  125,000

  125,000

  Overseas Development Institute

  —

  —

  570,000

  570,000

  OXFAM

  3,100,000

  1,763,473

  946,881

  5,810,354

  Passe Partout

  10,675

  —

  —

  10,675

  Plan

  209,608

  —

  —

  209,608

  Population Concern

  272,392

  —

  —

  272,392

  Ranfurly Library Service

  —

  —

  115,000

  115,000

  89

  Agency

  JFS

  Emergencies (Disasters, Refugees Food Aid)

  Others

  Total

  Reed Charities

  117,969

  —

  —

  117,969

  Regional Conference on International Voluntary Service

  —

  —

  5,000

  5,000

  Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind

  36,393

  —

  —

  36,393

  Ryder Cheshire Mission

  —

  30,000

  —

  30,000

  Sandy Galls Afghanistan Appeal

  —

  134,000

  —

  134,000

  Save the Children Fund

  2,400,000

  1,464,238

  2,337,720

  6,201,958

  Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund

  74,515

  —

  —

  74,515

  Scottish Education and Action for Development

  —

  7,000

  7,000

  Semi Arid Lands Training Livestock Improvement Centres

  25,272

  —

  —

  25,272

  Send A Cow

  10,120

  —

  —

  10,120

  Sheffield Health Authority

  53,020

  —

  —

  53,020

  Skillshare Africa

  68,666

  —

  980,000

  1,048,666

  SOS Sahel

  76,846

  —

  100,000

  176,846

  Special Projects in Christian Missionary Areas

  54,094

  61,123

  115,217

  Tear Fund

  46,943

  11,806

  —

  58,749

  Traidcraft Exchange

  22,341

  —

  —

  22,341

  Trax

  31,943

  —

  —

  31,943

  Trust for Education and Development

  —

  2,000

  2,000

  Uganda Society for Disabled Children

  212,743

  —

  —

  212,743

  UK Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific

  79,360

  —

  —

  79,360

  UNICEF Appeal

  —

  —

  200,000

  200,000

  UNIPAL

  —

  12,000

  2,322

  14,322

  United Nations Association International Service

  —

  —

  611,904

  611,904

  Urban Aid

  15,000

  —

  —

  15,000

  Vetaid

  5,053

  —

  70,000

  75,053

  Voluntary Services Overseas

  9,000

  —

  10,375,155

  10,384,155

  War on Want

  —

  —

  56,179

  56,179

  Water Aid

  628,873

  —

  230,608

  859,481

  Womens Corona Society

  —

  —

  4,320

  4,320

  World University Service

  14,861

  100,775

  420,000

  535,636

  World Vision

  198,399

  —

  100,000

  298,399

  World Wide Fund for Nature

  1,000,000

  —

  —

  1,000,000

  Y Care International

  64,729

  80,000

  —

  144,729

  You and Me

  —

  21,000

  —

  21,000

  Young Womens Christian Association

  —

  7,127

  —

  7,127

  Zimbabwe Trust

  31,350

  —

  —

  31,350

  TOTAL

  16,466,571

  21,287,363

  27,410,193

  65,164,127

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Office Costs Allowance
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what is the amount of the office costs allowance per Member for each of the last 10 years; what percentage of the total allowance has been spent in each of the last 10 years; and, of the amount of the allowance which has been spent in each of the last 10 years, what proportions have been spent on(a) secretarial salaries, (b) research expenses and salaries, (c) miscellaneous office expenses and (d) other secretarial services.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The amount of the office costs allowance and the percentage of total estimates provision spent in each of the last 10 years is in the table. Information on the proportions spent on secretarial salaries, research expenses and salaries, miscellaneous expenses and other secretarial services is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The Office Costs Allowance

  Financial Year

  OCA Maximum per Member

  Percentage of total Estimates provision spent1

  £

  1980–81

  7,859

  92

  1981–82

  8,384

  96

  1982–83

  8,752

  98

  10

  Financial Year

  OCA Maximum per Member

  Percentage of total Estimates provision spent1

  £

  1983–84

  11,364

  93

  1984–85

  12,437

  100

  1985–86

  13,211

  99

  1986–87

  20,140

  89

  1987–88

  20,302

  97

  1988–89

  22,588

  99

  1989–90

  24,903

  101

  1990–91

  27,166

  1 Including Supplementary Estimates where appropriate.

  War Crimes Bill
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to his answer of 6 December to the hon. Member for Northampton, North, (Mr. Marlow)Official Report, column 463, what are his reasons for deciding not to bring forward or proceed with any Government amendments to the War Crimes Bill.

  Mr. MacGregor
  To preserve the possibility of the use of the Parliament Acts in the event of disagreement between the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the Bill should be returned to the House of Lords in precisely the same form as it went to it last year, apart from purely technical changes necessary to reflect the passage of time. It has been presented to the House of Commons in
  11
  that form. The Government have decided not to propose suggested amendments under the procedure provided in the Parliament Acts because the Bill as it stands meets the Government's objectives of implementing the recommendations of the war crimes inquiry, ensuring that any prosecutions are well founded and well prepared and that any defendants have proper and effective safeguards. If the House of Lords wishes to propose amendments in a spirit of seeking to secure the support of both Houses, the Commons will be able to consider these and decide on a free vote.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Lord President of the Council when the Government last proposed a motion excluding the Committee stage or amendment of a Bill similar to the motion on the War Crimes Bill.

  Mr. MacGregor
  A motion to similar effect was last made by the Government on 1 December 1976, relating to the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Bill.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the differences between men and women in respect of invalidity benefit when they reach normal retirement age.

  Mr. Scott
  There are no differences in the way invalidity benefit entitlement is determined or paid between men and women when they reach normal retirement age.

  Payment of invalidity benefit can continue after normal retirement age 60—women—or 65—men—only if there is entitlement to retirement pension. Invalidity benefit is then payable until retirement pension is claimed or age 65—women or 70—men—is reached.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which of his Ministers has been given responsibility for energy use by his Department; and what is his brief regarding energy efficiency.

  Mr. Curry
  I have given the Minister of State, Baroness Trumpington, special responsibility for energy use within my Department. I attach great importance to the efficient use of energy both within the Department and the industries with which my Department has contact. In line with the Government's objectives, our aim is to save 15 per cent. of departmental energy costs over the next five years. I have asked the Minister of State to encourage the practice of energy efficiency in our policies and pronouncements.

  Veterinary Services
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list the numbers of veterinarians that have been lost from each location where they are employed since 1979; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) further to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields of 12 March, Official Report, column 442, if he will
  12
  list the veterinary investigation centres; and how many (a) veterinarian, (b) scientific, (c) administrative and (d) laboratory posts will be lost as a result of his decision to close these centres.

  Mr. Gummer
  It is not possible or meaningful to list the number of veterinary posts that have been lost from each individual location where they are employed since 1979 because where individual locations have been closed, amalgamated or relocated, additional veterinary posts have been allocated to other locations to cope with the additional work load.

  The number of veterinary posts located at veterinary investigation centres was 87 in 1979, is 84 in 1991 and it is expected that there will be 72 such veterinary posts in 1995. The numbers of veterinary posts in those central laboratories which comprise the central veterinary laboratories was 97 in 1979, is 73 in 1991 and it is expected that there will be 73 veterinary posts in 1995.

  For the same reasons it is not possible or meaningful to list the (a) veterinarian, (b) scientific, (c) administrative and (d) laboratory posts that will be lost in relation to specific individual veterinary investigation centres. I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 12 March, Official Report, column 442, which gives this information in relation to these posts when the reorganisation of the VI service is completed in three or four years' time. One of the 13 veterinary post losses referred to in that reply is accounted for by a post in the national management team located at the state veterinary service headquarters at Tolworth.

  As I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member of 14 March 1991, at column 680, the changes in the structure of the veterinary investigation service are designed to produce significant improvements in the quality, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the service and I consider it important that we have an efficient VI service which is well equipped to meet our national needs over the years ahead.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report the results of the test for the presence of BSE undertaken by Dr. Harash Narang, at the public health laboratory, Newcastle, on the bovine brains supplied by his Department.

  Mr. Gummer
  Publication of the results of the research being undertaken by Dr. Narang is a matter for him. All the material and data requested by him as a part of this study have been supplied by my Department.

  Food Safety
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has issued guidelines to local authority environmental health departments on recommended levels of staffing for implementation of the Food Safety Act and the registration of food premises in particular.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have been asked to reply.

  Staffing levels are a matter for local authorities to determine locally.

EMPLOYMENT

  Training Agency
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the accounts for the Training Agency for 1989–90 and 1990–91 will be laid before Parliament.

  Mr. Jackson
  It had been planned to lay the White Paper accounts for the Training Agency for 1989–90 before Parliament in December 1990, but their preparation has been delayed and they will now be published in May 1991. The Training Agency has now ceased to exist as a separate operation entirely and no further White Paper accounts will be prepared.

  Racehorse Breeding
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are estimated to work in the racehorse breeding industry.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information requested is included in the estimates for agriculture and horticulture, which do not separately identify the racehorse breeding industry. In September 1990, the latest date for which information is available, there were 307,000 employees in employment in agriculture and horticulture in the United Kingdom.

  Rathbone Society
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from the Rathbone Society about the precautionary notices of redundancy it has issued to its staff in England and 'Wales and the imminent closure of the training and employment service it provides for people with learning difficulties; what reply he is sending; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 15 March 1991]The chief executive of the Rathbone Society wrote to my right hon. and learned Friend on 1 March and the chairman wrote on 10 March. I shall be replying shortly.

  On 26 February my right hon. and learned Friend announced we were making available an additional £120 million for employment training in 1991–92 bringing our total expenditure on the programme to £877 million.

  Training and enterprise councils will be able to use this additional money to provide training in line with the priorities set out in their plans including training for those with learning difficulties and other special needs. It is for individual TECs to decide, in the light of local circumstances, with whom they will contract to provide the necessary training.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what the unemployment figures for Hendon, North have been during each of the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will state what factors have affected any changes in them.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 15 March 1991]The information requested can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the House of Commons Library. The figures available are on the unadjusted basis and are therefore affected by seasonal influences.

  TECs (Advertising)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total budget for television, newspaper and other advertising for the launch of training and enterprise councils; what is the total budget for advertising for each TEC so far established; what is the cost of such advertising nationally and locally, expressed in terms of each person now undertaking training; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 15 March 1991]: The total budget for television, newspaper and other advertising for the launch of training and enterprise councils is £10 million.

  The overall budget for local publicity and marketing by TECs in 1990–91 is £4 million. The amount allocated to individual TECs is adjusted during each financial year according to changing requirements.

  The figures on the cost of TECs advertising nationally and locally, expressed in terms of training can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

HEALTH

  Ashworth Hospital
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the complaints procedure at Ashworth hospital is one that the patients can have complete confidence in.

  Mr. Dorrell
  One of the Special Hospitals Service Authority's tasks in its current action plan, agreed in last year's ministerial review of the authority's performance, is to design and implement a revised complaints procedure. The authority has informed me that a formal policy and statement of principles have now been agreed and that the detailed procedures are being finalised. It intends to implement the new procedures from 1 June 1991. Apart from these internal arrangements, the Mental Health Act Commission has statutory responsibilities under section 120 (1) of the Mental Health Act 1983 for investigating complaints made by, or in respect of, patients detained under the Act. Commissioners make regular visits, as the Act requires, to Ashworth and other hospitals where patients are detained.

  Patient Statistics
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will give the number of in-patients, out-patients and day-patients treated in the northern region in 1980, 1985 and 1990, together with the percentage change.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information available is given in the table. It is not possible to make a direct comparison of in-patient treatments between 1989–90 and earlier years. Following implementation of the Korner reports on health service information, the basis of counting in-patient treatments was changed in 1988–89 to reflect the number of individual episodes of care under a consultant. The old and new methods of counting in-patients were both used during 1988–89 in order to provide continuity in time series comparisons.
  15

  Northern Regional Health Authority

  Year

  In-patients

  Out-patients

  Day cases

  1980

  393,788

  2,338,383

  54,023

  1985

  433,131

  2,543,549

  75,473

  1989–90

  504,743

  2,522,192

  96,243

  Notes:

  The 1980 and 1985 in-patient figures are discharges and deaths.

  The 1989–90 figures are finished consultant episodes.

  For 1988–89 the information on in-patients was collected under both headings: there were

  461,033 discharges and deaths and

  496,617 finished consultant episodes.

  Source:

  SH3 for 1980 and 1985.

  KP70 for in-patients and day cases 1989–90.

  KHO9 for out-patients 1989–90.

  Percentage change

  In-patients

  Out-patients

  Day cases

  1980–85

  10

  9

  40

  1985–1989–90

  8

  -1

  28

  1980–1989–90

  19

  8

  78

  Note:

  The in-patient changes have been calculated to take account of the definitional change from discharges and deaths to finished consultant episodes.

  Insulin
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding insulin supplies to national health service patients; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Representations have been received on the safety of human insulin. While at present there is no evidence of a problem associated specifically with human insulins, the Committee on the Safety of Medicines will continue to liaise with the British Diabetic Association in closely monitoring the situation. Representation has also been received on the supply of free needles for insulin manufacturers proprietary syringes. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Mr. Davis) on 11 March at column 353.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which of his Ministers has been given responsibility for energy use by his Department; and what is his or her brief regarding energy efficiency.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have this responsibility. My brief is to contribute to the target saving in energy of 15 per cent. over the next five years for all Government Departments. In addition, we are aiming to achieve the same target saving for the national health service. This is against a background of savings in the order of 30 per cent. made since 1977–78.

  Cancer Screening
  Sir David Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has made any arrangements to monitor the effectiveness of the national screening programme for breast and cervical cancer, measured both in health terms and cost-effectiveness; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 21 February at columns 241–42. We
  16
  are collecting information which will monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of the computerised call and recall for breast and cervical screening programmes. As these are new programmes it will be a number of years before their effect in health terms or cost-effectiveness can be fully assessed.

  Doncaster Royal Infirmary
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide the hon. Member for Don Valley with a full copy of the financial data submitted by Doncaster royal infirmary during consultations on self-governing trust status.

  Mr. Dorrell
  No. The supporting financial statements through applications for national health service trust status are confidential documents submitted to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

  Community Care
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the method by which his Department will calculate the amount to be transferred from his Department to local authorities when community care is implemented.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The White Paper "Caring for People"—Cm. 849—set out the factors which will be taken into account in calculating the sums to be transferred from the social security system to local authorities. The amount to be transferred will be determined in the 1992 public expenditure survey following discussions with the local authority associations.

  Intensive Therapy Units
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people die in intensive therapy units annually; whether he can break the number down according to age groups; and what percentage are likely to be considered as organ donors.

  Mr. Dorrell
  According to information provided by the national audit of potential donors, initiated by the Government in 1989, just over 1,000 patients per month died in intensive therapy units in England during 1989 and their average age was 57 years. Some 8·4 per cent. were considered to be potential cadaveric organ donors on the basis that they were confirmed brain stem dead and there were no general medical contraindications to organ donation.

  British Pregnancy Advisory Service
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what Government funding is given to the British Pregnancy Advisory Service; what licences or other Government approvals are required for the activities of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service; and what official contacts he has had with the British Pregnancy Advisory Service in the past year.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The British Pregnancy Advisory Service—BPAS—does not receive central funding though some of its income will come from its contracts with health authorities. BPAS nursing homes, like all hospitals, homes and clinics within part II of the
  17
  Registered Homes Act 1984 must be registered by the relevant health authority and inspected at least twice a year by that authority. In addition, BPAS and other private sector clinics providing abortion treatment must be approved by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State under the Abortion Act 1967. BPAS also operates a number of pregnancy advice bureaux which are registered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. All approved places and pregnancy advice bureaux are subject to periodic unannounced inspections by the Department's staff. BPAS premises have therefore received a number of official visits by departmental and NHS staff over the past year.

  From 1 August BPAS will be obliged to comply with licence conditions contained in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, and any extra conditions which are imposed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority—HFEA—if it wishes to continue to provide assisted conception services which are subject to regulation by that Act. If it is licensed it will also be expected to follow the guidelines in the code of practice that the HFEA will produce.

  Virgin Births
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce legislation to prohibit the use of artificial fertility techniques by women who are virgins; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The provision of treatment to single women was debated in both Houses of Parliament during the passage of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill last year. The results of these debates are

  Appeal Successful

  Appeal Unsuccessful

  Total

  Income Support

  123

  368

  491

  Allowed

  Disallowed

  Adjourned

  Total

  Family Credit

  43

  93

  56

  192

  Social Fund (Funeral Benefit)

  2

  4

  —

  6

  Unemployment Benefit

  51

  140

  55

  246

  Sickness Benefit

  55

  50

  58

  163

  Invalidity Benefit

  677

  378

  645

  1,700

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  22

  14

  20

  56

  Maternity Benefit

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Statutory Sick Pay

  4

  10

  9

  23

  Guardian's Allowance

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Child Benefit

  23

  72

  46

  141

  Mobility Allowance

  1

  36

  10

  47

  Injury and Disablement Benefit

  31

  26

  56

  113

  Reduced Earnings Allowance

  54

  32

  80

  166

  Pensions

  6

  31

  20

  57

  Attendance Allowance

  6

  6

  7

  19

  Invalid Care Allowance

  10

  17

  31

  58

  Voluntary Organisations
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the main funding headings which are used in providing grants to voluntary organisations and the changes that have taken place over the last five years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  On 4 April last year my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced the publication of 18
  reflected in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. The Act makes no reference to a woman's marital or other status as a condition for receiving treatment.

  In accordance with section 13(5) of the Act, a woman shall not be given treatment services unless account has been taken of the welfare of any child who may be born as a result of the treatment, including the need of that child for a father. Treatment services involving donated gametes or the creation of embryos in vitro may not be provided to a woman unless a suitable opportunity has been given to receive proper counselling about the implications of the proposed steps.

  As required by the Act, a code of practice will be produced by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority which will include guidance to treatment centres on counselling and the welfare of the child. Such centres will need to comply with the provisions of the Act and will be expected to follow the code of practice guidelines. The final draft of the code of practice must be approved by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and laid before Parliament.

  These and other provisions of the Act are expected to come into force on 1 August 1991.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Social Security
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of appeals heard and decided by tribunals concerning(a) income support, (b) family credit, (c) social fund funeral benefit and (d) non-income-related benefits during the year 1989–90.

  Mr. Hanley
  The number of appeals heard and decided during the 1989–90 year is as follows:

  the report of the efficiency scrutiny of Government funding of the voluntary sector. Annex D of that report, a copy of which is in the Library of the House, contains a list of grant schemes through which voluntary organisations were funded in 1987–88 and 1988–89. Details of changes which have taken place over the last five years are not available centrally.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish in a table under the
  19
  relevant headings all funding given to voluntary organisations in the most recent year for which figures are available and for the previous four years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Details of the total grants made to voluntary organisations by Government Departments are announced each year by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. Details for 1988–89 were announced on 11 May last year, at columns 254–55. Similar announcements covering total grants made in 1987–88, 1986–87 and 1985–86 were made respectively on 16 May 1989, Official Report, columns 120–21, 14 April 1988, Official Report columns 217–19, and 2 March 1987, Official Report columns 464–65. A further announcement in respect of total grants made in 1989–90 is expected to be made shortly.

  A list of all voluntary organisations funded by Government Departments was placed in the Library of the House when details of grants made in 1988–89 were announced last May.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Financial Services
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will bring forward proposals to make companies providing financial services liable for losses resulting from poor or misleading advice given by independent intermediaries who market the products of a small range of companies.

  Mr. Redwood
  Independent advisers are responsible for the advice they give, and their conduct of business is subject to rules made under the Financial Services Act.

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what discussions he has had with the regulatory bodies about the classing of the sale of home income schemes to elderly people as best practice under the terms of the Financial Services Act;

  (2) if he will issue advice directly to elderly persons to draw their attention to the risks associated with entering into home income schemes;

  (3) what consideration he has given to introducing controls on the sale of home income schemes to elderly people.

  Mr. Redwood
  These are matters for the regulatory bodies. I understand that the Financial Intermediaries, Managers and Brokers Regulatory Assocation and the Life Assurance and Unit Trust Regulatory Organisation have issued guidance to their members.

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he proposes to take to ensure that sufficient information is available to the public to clearly explain the distinction between tied and independent agents.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Securities and Investments Board and the self-regulating organisations, such as LAUTRO 20
  and FIMBRA, are responsible for making and enforcing rules on these matters under the Financial Services Act. The distinction between tied agents and independent financial advisers is important and I refer to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Riddick) on 7 December 1990, at columns 223–24.

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will bring forward proposals to require tied agents to disclose commission on products in the same way as independent agents.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Securities and Investments Board and the self-regulating organisations, such as LAUTRO and FIMBRA, are responsible for making and enforcing rules on such matters under the Financial Services Act. On the general issue of disclosure, I refer to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Colne Valley on 7 December 1990, at columns 223–24.

  Shipbuilding
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what expenditure is expected in 1990–91 on the residual obligations of British Shipbuilders.

  Mr. Leigh
  Arising out of settlement of an outstanding claim by Trafalgar House, British Shipbuilders now has a liability of £17 million not covered by the provision in the 1990–91 supply estimates. Parliamentary approval for the necessary payment to BS will be sought through a supplementary supply estimate on class IV vote 2 in 1991–92. Pending that approval, this expenditure, which is urgent, will be met by a repayable advance from the Contingencies Fund.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the figures of injuries caused by fireworks in 1990.

  Mr. Leigh
  According to reports from hospitals in England, Wales and Scotland, 805 people required treatment for injuries caused by fireworks during the three weeks leading up to 5 November 1990 and the few days after, an increase of less than 1 per cent. However, serious injuries fell by 7 per cent. There was an increase in injuries to young adults, but a fall of 12 per cent. in injuries to 13 to 15-year-olds, the group most at risk. There was an increase of 16 per cent. in injuries from bangers and of 10 per cent. for rockets, and sadly, of 12 per cent. from sparklers. Injuries from other fireworks went down. Injuries from incidents in the street were up 7 per cent., but injuries from family firework parties were down 4 per cent. and from small public displays down 17 per cent. There were 110 million fireworks let off in 1989 and we estimate that there were 12 to 15 per cent. more let off in 1990. The detailed breakdown for 1990 and the preceding four years is as follows:
  21

  Firework injuries in Great Britain

  (4-week period in October-November)

  Year

  1990

  1989

  1988

  1987

  1986

  TOTAL

  805

  800

  877

  960

  846

  Place of accident

  1. Family or private party

  269

  280

  300

  260

  286

  2. Semi-public display (e.g. scouts, cricket club)

  59

  71

  69

  88

  72

  3. Large public display

  135

  135

  123

  155

  119

  4. Casual incident in street, etc.

  264

  247

  298

  364

  299

  5. Other place

  64

  46

  65

  73

  52

  6. Indoors

  14

  21

  22

  20

  18

  Type of firework

  1. Banger

  158

  136

  162

  163

  161

  2. Rocket

  144

  131

  164

  174

  159

  3. Roman candle, coloured fire, etc.

  66

  89

  83

  96

  88

  4. Home-made or extracted powder

  7

  18

  17

  24

  14

  5. Other proprietary fireworks

  73

  125

  86

  109

  118

  6. Sparklers

  93

  83

  102

  95

  80

  7. Unspecified type

  264

  218

  263

  299

  226

  Severity of injury

  1. Fatal injury

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2. Detained more than one night

  38

  46

  69

  60

  48

  3. Sufficient to cause absence from work or equivalent

  138

  142

  167

  158

  160

  4. Minor injury

  590

  551

  587

  661

  582

  5. Unspecified injury

  39

  61

  54

  81

  56

  Eye injuries (included in 2–5)

  269

  275

  269

  312

  291

  Age group of injured persons

  1. Over 20

  269

  251

  280

  252

  235

  2. 16–20

  142

  135

  151

  168

  145

  3. 13–15

  134

  152

  166

  220

  207

  4. Under 13

  260

  262

  280

  320

  259

  Climate Change
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department has made any contribution to the second preparatory meeting for the 1992 United Nations conference on environment and development.

  Mr. Lilley
  I have today published a report entitled "Global Climate Change: The Role for Technology Transfer". The report was prepared for UNCED by Touche Ross and financed jointly by my Department and the Overseas Development Administration.

  The report has been distributed widely to those delegates attending the preparatory meeting for UNCED starting today in Geneva. I hope the report will offer a constructive contribution to their further discussions on technology transfer in the context of climate change and help future work move forward in a positive way. It establishes a working background on technology transfer which should assist both developing and developed countries to identify the scope for mutual partnership and assistance which will contribute to the international response to climate change.

  I have arranged for copies of the report to be made available to the Libraries in each House.

  Northern Region
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will list the amounts spent by his Department in support of new technologies, technology transfer and innovative research and development in the northern region since 1983.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Department does not have reliable regional innovation spend figures because its innovation 22
  budget is not allocated on a regional basis. The amount spent in specific areas is dependent on the number of companies that come forward with good projects. Any figures would thus be a reflection of industry activity rather than Government policy. However, for the special reason that we are looking to attract European structural funds, there has been an allocation made for SPUR, which supports product development. The northern region (the north west, north east, and Yorkshire and Humberside) has so far been allocated nearly one third of the SPUR budget.

  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will list the major investment projects attracted from overseas to the northern region since 1983, together with the capital cost of each project and the amount of grant offered.

  Mr. Leigh
  The table lists details of major inward investments known to have located in the northern region since 1 January 1983. These are projects where known capital costs were over £5 million, and the table details the amount of regional selective assistance offered to each company.

  Major inward investments in the Northern region since 1983

  Company

  Project costs

  RSA grant

  £ million

  £'000

  Kodak Ltd.

  6·4

  2,000

  British Alcan Aluminium plc

  7·0

  2,000

  Transfer-All Purpose Foils Ltd.

  5·3

  819

  Forbo-Mayfair Ltd.

  6·5

  700

  Black and Decker

  9·9

  2,000

  THC Fabricators (UK) Ltd.

  6·2

  575

  Philips Components Ltd.

  9·9

  900

  Black and Decker

  22·0

  2,450

  Komatsu Ltd.

  16·4

  1,200

  23

  Company

  Project costs

  RSA grant

  £ million

  £'000

  NSK Bearings Europe Ltd.

  32·0

  1,600

  TC Industries of Europe Ltd.

  6·0

  1,295

  Tolaram Polymers Ltd.

  14·4

  350

  Nissan UK Ltd.

  349·9

  35,000

  NSK Bearings Europe Ltd.

  15·1

  450

  Black and Decker

  9·8

  1,000

  Sterling-Winthrop Group Ltd.

  15·1

  3,382

  Key-Tech (Europe) Ltd.

  11·3

  1,200

  Uponor ltd.

  16·0

  330

  Swaddlers Ltd.

  8·8

  950

  Newcastle Chronicle and Journal Ltd.

  5·4

  700

  Fujitsu Microelectronics Ltd.

  400·0

  30,000

  Goldstar Electric Ltd.

  8·0

  Nil

  BASF Chemicals

  6·0

  Nil

  Swilynn (UK) Ltd.

  14·1

  2,950

  Nissan UK Manufacturing Ltd.

  216·0

  14,400

  Cookson Fukuda Ltd.

  24·3

  650

  Hashimoto Forming Industry Co. Ltd.

  9·9

  1,500

  3M UK Ltd.

  11·9

  1,700

  Notes:

  1. Major inward investment projects have been defined as those first time investments, or expansions of existing investments, by foreign owned companies which involve project costs of over £5 million.

  2. Details of grant are for offers of regional selective assistance (RSA) accepted by foreign-owned companies since 1 January 1983. Comparable information on other forms of assistance is not readily available. (Not all inward investments receive RSA).

  3. The Northern region is the North East region plus Cumbria.

  Aircraft Manufacturing
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to secure the future of the commercial aircraft manufacturing industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  It is for industry to safeguard its future by remaining competitive while Government create a climate in which enterprise can flourish. In the particular case of the commercial aircraft industry, Government have provided substantial launch aid and support pre-competitive research through the CARAD programme.

  Equipment Maintenance Contracts
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received alleging unfair terms in maintenance contracts for office and industrial equipment.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 12 March 1991]: I have received a number of complaints about photocopier leasing agreements where the lessee felt that he had been misled as to the length of the agreement, the overall cost of the agreement, or in some cases, as to the nature of the agreement itself.

  The code of practice of the Equipment Leasing Association requires members to "behave with integrity" and not to
  "misinterpret facts to a lessee concerning any aspect of a leasing transaction".
  This is the standard the Government would expect of the industry and is the only way for the industry to retain the confidence of its customers.

  However, potential lessees also have responsibilities. Anyone in business who signs a leasing agreement should make sure that he has fully understood the terms and the
  24
  overall cost. An agreement for instance, which looks like a bargain for the first 18 months may be substantially more expensive when looked at over the full term.

  Companies should also make sure that such agreements can be signed only by someone of sufficient authority to ensure that the terms have been fully considered. This should be standard practice even where a document appears to be only an amendment to an earlier agreement.

  If misrepresentation has occurred then there are remedies in law. In certain circumstances fraudulent misrepresentation may amount to a criminal offence. Whether any particular company has been guilty of misrepresentation would be a matter for the courts.

  A licence under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 is required by any person or company wishing to carry on a consumer hire business. A company may have its licence suspended or revoked by the Director General of Fair Trading if he believes that the company is not fit to engage in the activities covered by the licence.

  Anyone with information relevant to a person's suitability to hold such a licence should send it to the DGFT.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will ask the Director General of Fair Trading to prepare a report on the terms and conditions to be found in maintenance contracts for office and industrial equipment;

  (2) if he will ask the Director General of Fair Trading to investigate the pricing and supply of parts and labour for the maintenance and repair of office and industrial machinery.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 12 March 1991]: I am aware of no justification for doing so.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Child Care
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost to the Exchequer in a full tax year of introducing a child care tax allowance on the first(a) £1,000, (b) £2,000 and (c) £5,000 of taxable income for (i) working single parents and (ii) couples where both spouses are working.

  Mr. Maude
  Estimates are given in the table. They are based on projections from the 1988 and 1989 family expenditure surveys and are therefore provisional.

  Cost (£ billion)

  Allowance per year of

  (a) £1,000

  (b) £2,000

  (c) £5,000

  (i) Lone parents

  0·1

  0·1

  0·3

  (ii) Married couples

  0·5

  1·0

  2·0

  Friendly Societies
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will announce the outcome of consultation on the Green Paper, "Friendly Societies: A New Framework"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maples
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Mr. Powell) on 19 December 1990 at column 177.

  Customs Service, Lowestoft
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the future of the Customs service at Lowestoft with effect from 1 January 1992.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Customs office at Lowestoft is a sub-office of Great Yarmouth Customs office. It is staffed by three officers whose main duties involve anti-smuggling controls.

  Following a departmental strategic review by Customs on its approach to anti-smuggling work the emphasis is now on deploying resources in a more versatile way with the creation of flexible anti-smuggling teams. It is the intention, therefore, to close the Lowestoft office at about the end of 1992 and cover the work from Great Yarmouth which is 10 miles away.

  Before the transfer of the small amount of work which is not anti-smuggling takes place, Customs will consult the Lowestoft port users to discuss alternative arrangements required after the office closes.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to modify the present arrangements for customs clearance at Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth after 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I refer my hon. Friend to my replies to his questions on the future of the Customs service at Lowestoft and studies by Customs with particular reference to Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on studies his Department has carried out on the Customs service between Grimsby and Felixstowe, with particular reference to Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  No studies have been carried out which are solely concerned with the Customs service between Grimsby and Felixstowe.

  A nationwide study, which includes East Anglia, is being undertaken as part of a current review of the Customs control of non-EC freight traffic after 1993. This study is not yet concluded.

  I also refer my hon. Friend to my reply to his question on the proposed closure of the Lowestoft Customs office following a strategic review by Customs of its approach to anti-smuggling work.

  Bloodstock
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the rates for value added tax on bloodstock in, respectively, Ireland, France and the United Kingdom; and if he has any plans for harmonisation.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The VAT rates for bloodstock in Ireland, France and the United Kingdom are respectively 2·3 per cent., 5·5 per cent. and 15 per cent. The Government do not consider that centrally determined tax rate harmonisation is either necessary or appropriate for the completion of the single market.

  London Docklands Development Corporation
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what capital allowance subsidies the London Docklands development corporation will have received as a result of enjoying enterprise zone status.

  Mr. Maude
  Because of the rules of confidentiality, I am unable to give information about the tax affairs of any particular business or corporation.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science which of his Ministers has been given responsibility for energy use by his Department; and what is his brief regarding energy efficiency.

  Mr. Atkins
  I am the Minister responsible for energy efficiency policy in the Department. The Department has a strategy to achieve energy savings totalling 15 per cent. in its offices which form part of the public estate, over a five-year period up to 1995. Savings will be achieved through various initiatives such as the installation of automatic sensors to reduce the amount of energy used, more effective monitoring of consumption, regular maintenance of plant, good housekeeping techniques, and poster, sticker and publicity campaigns. A building management system is being installed at the Department's new premises in Westminster.

  Active encouragement has also been provided to conserve energy in educational buildings. Savings have been achieved by supporting development projects, dissemination of guidance on good practice, and commissioned research. LEAs are currently spending £43 million a year less in real terms on energy than they did in 1978–79.

  Current initiatives include support for work being undertaken by the building research energy conservation support unit in connection with its four-year £1 million programme to save energy in schools. DES publications offering advice on how to make energy savings are also currently being prepared.

  Nursery Schools, Kent
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what funds have been allocated by Kent county council for the provision of nursery school places in Kent for the last 10 years that figures are available.

  Mr. Eggar
  The readily available information on school-based recurrent spending on nursery schools by Kent county council, taken from the authority's spending returns to Government, is as follows:

  Year

  Net institutional expenditure

  £000

  1978–79

  11

  1979–80

  11

  1980–81

  20

  1981–82

  41

  1982–83

  38

  27

  Year

  Net institutional expenditure

  £000

  1983–84

  46

  1984–85

  59

  1985–86

  60

  1986–87

  63

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what grant has been made available to Kent education authority for the provision of nursery school places in Kent for the last 10 years that figures are available.

  Mr. Eggar
  Support for nursery provision is given primarily through unhypothecated block grant by central Government in support of all local authority services. Until 31 March 1990, the distribution of block grant was dependent on the grant-related expenditure assessment (GREA) which had a nursery component. From 1 April 1990 the distribution of block grant has been made by reference to the standard spending assessment (SSA) which has a component for pupils under the age of five.

  From 1981–82 to 1989–90 the figures for the nursery component of Kent's GREA were as follows:

  £ million

  1981–82

  4·16

  1982–83

  3·42

  1983–84

  3·82

  1984–85

  4·28

  1985–86

  4·16

  1986–87

  4·30

  1987–88

  4·76

  1988–89

  5·88

  1989–90

  6·97

  For 1990–91, the under-five block of the education element of Kent's SSA, which allows for the education of its pupils under the age of five (including nursery pupils), was £16·83 million.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many nursery school places have been made available in Kent by Kent education authority for the last 10 years that figures are available.

  Mr. Eggar
  Information on the number of nursery school places is not available centrally.

  The numbers of pupils in maintained nursery schools in Kent for the last 10 years are as follows:

  January each year

  Pupils on roll

  1981

  82

  1982

  85

  1983

  88

  1984

  79

  1985

  90

  1986

  84

  1987

  78

  1988

  81

  1989

  82

  1990

  80

  Primary Schools (Library Service)
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to publish the report by Her Majesty's inspectorate on the state of school libraries and school library services in primary schools.

  Mr. Fallon
  The HMI report on 42 primary school libraries in 20 LEAs is not yet completed. When it is, the senior chief inspector will send it to the Secretary of State and it will be published in the usual way.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the report by Her Majesty's inspectorate on the state of school libraries in primary schools and school library services for primary schools has been completed.

  Mr. Fallon
  HMI is conducting an inspection of 42 primary school libraries in 20 LEAs. HMI has no remit to inspect school library services. The report on school libraries is not yet completed and has not therefore been sent to the Secretary of State by the senior chief inspector.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total cost, in staff and resources, of the report by Her Majesty's inspectorate on school libraries in primary schools.

  Mr. Fallon
  As the HMI exercise inspecting 42 primary school libraries in 20 LEAs is not yet completed, it is not possible to provide the information asked for. Such information can be provided when the exercise and the resulting report are completed.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Tracey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his plans for the operation of the assisted places scheme operating for parents of pupils in independent schools in the next academic year.

  Mr. Fallon
  The assisted places scheme, which has operated every year since 1981, will operate again in the academic year 1991–92 when a total of 33,450 places will be available. A statement about the annual adjustment of the parental contribution scales for the scheme will be made shortly.

  Special Needs
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidelines he has issued to local education authorities in England with regard to the provision of speech therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy in schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  The Department issued circular 22/89 on "Assessments and Statements of Special Educational Needs: Procedures within the Education, Health and Social Services" in September 1989. This contains guidance on the need for authorities to work closely with district health authorities and social services departments on the provision of non-educational services.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will ensure that all statements of educational needs undertaken in England under the
  29
  provisions of the Education Act 1981 specify the need for therapies such as speech therapy, where such provision is relevant to the educational needs of the child.

  Mr. Fallon
  The form of statements of special educational needs is set out in the Education (Special Educational Needs) Regulations 1983, as amended. These provide that statements shall specify the special educational provision which the education authority considers appropriate to meet a child's special educational needs. The preparation and maintenance of such statements is the responsibility of local education authorities.

TRANSPORT

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority to publish its second annual report.

  Mr. Freeman
  I understand that the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority published its second annual report on 15 March. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on direct access from Manchester to the channel tunnel.

  Mr. Freeman
  There will be road access via the M6, M1 or M40, M25 and M20. British Rail plans to operate direct daytime rail passenger services from 1994 and is looking into the possibility of running some services from north of London to connect with the inter-capital trains at Waterloo from the opening of the tunnel. It hopes to announce the location of the international freight terminal in the Manchester area later this year.

  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the statutory limit laid down on the amount British Rail may borrow under the terms of the Transport (Finance) Act 1982; by how much this has increased since then; what the original limit is, uprated for inflation ; and if he will now bring forward proposals to amend the Act both in line with inflation and the special circumstances of the channel tunnel.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail's borrowing limit remains as set out in the Transport (Finance) Act 1982, at £1,100 million, extendable by order to £1,300 million. These figures have not been increased to take account of inflation. At 31 March 1990 BR's capital liabilities to the Secretary of State were £202·8 million. The need for increased borrowing limits for BR is kept under regular review.

  Ferries
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the International Maritime Organisation to consider the recommendation of its specialist sub-committee that a higher standard of residual stability should be applied to all existing roll-on roll-off passenger ships.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  During the fortnight commencing 12 May 1991.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Isle of Man
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what help has been requested of the United Kingdom Government by the Isle of Man legislature or judiciary within the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Government regularly receive, and respond to, a wide range of requests from the Isle of Man legislature and judiciary for information, advice and services, in some instances under reciprocal arrangements between the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man. A central, chronological record of the number and exact nature of such requests is not kept.

  Miscarriages of Justice
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the machinery for reviewing alleged miscarriages of justice.

  Mr. John Patten
  This will be among the matters to be considered by the Royal Commission on criminal justice, which was announced by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 14 March.

  Escaped Prisoners
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer on 25 February,Official Report, column 398, on recaptures of escaped prisoners, what sentence the escapers had been given; and how much had been served in each case.

  Mrs Rumbold
  Iketa Margarita Jackson was serving a sentence of four years' imprisonment and had served one year three months and 15 days, including time spent on remand, when she absconded.

  Salamat Oluwag-Bemigun was serving a sentence of four years six months' imprisonment and had served two years three months and three days, including time spent on remand, when she absconded.

  Florence Amawuage Asore was serving a sentence of five years' imprisonment and had served two years and five months and one day, including time spent on remand, when she absconded.

  Molly Donalds was serving a sentence of five years' imprisonment and had served one year and two days, including time spent on remand, when she absconded.

  Karen Rhoden was serving a sentence of eight years' imprisonment and had served one year and 13 days, including time spent on remand, when she absconded.

  Patricia Weir was serving a sentence of six years' imprisonment and had served one year two months and 22 days, including time spent on remand, when she absconded.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answers of 6 March,Official Report, column 158, on recaptures of escaped prisoners, what sentence the escapers had been given; and how much had been served in each case.
  31
  Mrs. Rumbold
  Mavis Mary Sasu was sentenced to five years' imprisonment and had served nine months and 14 days, including time spent on remand, when she absconded.

  Mojisola-Ishodi Soetan was sentenced to six years' imprisonment and had served one year six months and 19 days, including time spent on remand, when she absconded.

  Regina Morays Aina was sentenced to five years' imprisonment and had served two years and 15 days, including time spent on remand, when she absconded.

  Aderinsola Abosede Agbabiaka was sentenced to four years' imprisonment and had served 10 months and 25 days, including time spent on remand, when she absconded.

  Bernadette Ambrose was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment and had served one year eight months and 27 days, including time spent on remand, when she absconded.

  Kudi Balogun was sentenced to two years and six months' imprisonment and had served one year and eight months, including time spent on remand, when she absconded.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the differences in the methods before November 1990 and thereafter of recording recaptured or surrendered prisoners who absconded from open prisons.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  [holding answer 15 March 1991]The essential difference is that information is now collected centrally direct from prisons and stored on a computer. Previously it was collected and processed manually by each of the now defunct regional offices.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of his Ministers has been given responsibility for energy use by his Department; and what is his or her brief regarding energy efficiency.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Mitcham and Morden (Mrs. Rumbold) represents the Department on the ministerial group on energy efficiency, and is responsible for encouraging energy efficiency in the Department.

WALES

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about local government reorganisation in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations about this, and we are considering them as part of the review of local government structure, functions and finance.

  Secondary Schools
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent per pupil in secondary schools in Wales in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what was the comparable figure for 1978–79, at constant prices.
  32
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  In 1988–89 current expenditure per pupil in secondary schools in Wales was £1,656. The equivalent constant price figure for 1978–79 was £1,168.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on the distribution of transitional community charge rebates.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To date, my right hon. Friend has received 81 letters about the community charge reduction scheme for 1991–92.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met leaders of Welsh district councils to discuss local government finance.

  Mr. David Hunt
  On 7 January.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the average level of poll tax set, to date, by councils in(a) Mid Glamorgan and (b) Wales in respect of the financial year 1991–92.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Local authorities are required to submit details of their proposed budgets and community charge for the year to my Department but only some of this information has been received to date. Authorities have until close of play today to submit details of their budgets. They are required to submit details of their community charge by 31 March. I am aware of estimates suggesting that the average community charge for 1991–92 will be around £263. Such an outcome would be a disappointing response by local authorities in Wales to the excellent revenue support grant settlement for 1991–92 that I announced to the House on 17 January. If local authorities had budgeted to spend in line with my plans the average community charge level in Wales should not exceed £228; around £190 for counties and around £38 for districts.

  Charge payers will know that the responsibility for decisions leading to an average community charge of more than £228 falls squarely on those authorities that have failed to spend in line with the realistic and achievable plans I have announced for the coming financial year.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest unemployment figures(a) in numbers and (b) in percentage terms, for men and women in Wales; and what were the figures in February 1990.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The seasonally adjusted numbers of male and female unemployed claimants in Wales are 78,200 and 21,900. The rates are 10·3 per cent. and 4·1 per cent. respectively. Comparable figures in February 1990 for men were 63,000 and 8·3 per cent. and for women 21,000 and 3·9 per cent.

  Housing
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the rural housing situation in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  On 20 February my right hon. Friend announced that £3 million would be available in
  33
  1991–92 to assist in meeting the special needs of rural housing authorities. Additionally, Housing for Wales expects to spend almost £32 million providing 900 new units in rural areas. All this is in addition to the substantial amounts available for repair and maintenance of stock in the public and private sectors.

  Mr. Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what policy initiatives he proposes to alleviate the Welsh housing crisis.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Housing in Wales will continue to benefit from the vigorous measures that we have applied consistently and successfully to increase home ownership in the Principality; to improve stock condition; to enhance partnership between the public and private sectors; to upgrade local authority management in the interests of tenants; and to increase the provision of social housing by housing associations. With these initiatives in place I do not accept the premise of the hon. Gentleman's question.

  Universities Funding Council
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the chair of the Universities Funding Council to discuss the allocation of funds to institutions in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The statutory responsibility for deciding allocations to the constituent colleges of the university of Wales rests with the Universities Funding Council, taking into account advice from its Welsh committee. It would not therefore be appropriate for my right hon. Friend to seek to interfere in the Universities Funding Council's deliberations on this matter.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps have been taken to encourage inward investment into Wales over the last 12 months.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Welsh Development International has continued to strengthen its activities. This has been reflected in record results for last year when 142 projects were secured promising some 16,000 jobs and capital investment of almost £640 million. I led an inward investment mission to Japan in November during which three new projects were announced.

  Health Service
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales for how long and for what reason the operating theatre of Machynlleth hospital has been closed.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This is a matter for Powys health authority which advises that the theatre has been closed since September 1988. Theatre sessions were cancelled to meet the request of medical staff of neighbouring East Dyfed health authority, who had been undertaking the operations at Machynlleth for a number of years, for theatre equipment to be upgraded. This work has been carried out and following the appointment of a consultant anaesthetist the two authorities are in discussion about recommencing theatre sessions.

  Under the waiting times initiative, Powys health authority was allocated funds in 1990–91 to enable patients who would otherwise have been seen at Machynlleth to receive treatment at Bronglais hospital, Aberystwyth.

  Loft Insulation
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of how many homes in Wales have loft insulation of 150 mm thickness.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information is not available.

  Energy Conservation
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will introduce for Wales a scheme similar to the greenhouse scheme in England to provide specific funds for local authorities for energy conservation.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) on 25 January.

  Secretary of State (Flat)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the expenditure on the Secretary of State's flat at the Crown buildings, Cathays park, in the current financial year and, on the same accounting basis, for each of the previous four financial years.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Annual recurring costs of rent, rates, utilities, cleaning and laundry, are subsumed in the Department's overall accommodation charges for the Cathays park building. The only separately identifiable expenditure since 1985–86 occurred in the current financial year and amounts to £1,531·16.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the principal items of consumer durables and kitchen equipment acquired for the Secretary of State's flat at Crown buildings, Cathays park, in the present financial year.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Bed linen, a microwave oven, a television receiver and a video recorder.

  Video Recordings
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the titles of the video recordings purchased out of the Welsh Office hospitality fund in the financial year 1990–91.

  Mr. David Hunt
  None.

  Hospitality Fund
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the main categories of expenditure covered by the Welsh Office's hospitality fund; and how much has been spent under each heading(a) in 1989–90 and (b) 1990–91 so far.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Welsh Office's hospitality fund is not divided into separate categories of expenditure. The total amounts spent have been:

  (a) £38,397·87 in 1989–90; and

  (b) £40,998·96 in 1990–91 (to 11 March 1991).

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Government Finance
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the total amounts paid by central Government as rate rebates, community charge
  35
  rebates and transitional relief for every year since 1975, including an estimate for 1990–91, in cash and real terms and as a proportion of total local government spending.

  Mr. Key
  The information available is as follows:

  Domestic rate rebates paid by central government

  Cash (£ million)

  In 1989–90 prices (£ million)

  Per cent, of local authority gross revenue expenditure

  England and Wales

  1975–76

  106

  355

  1

  1976–77

  114

  336

  1

  1977–78

  125

  324

  1

  1978–79

  134

  314

  1

  1979–80

  158

  317

  1

  1980–81

  219

  371

  1

  England

  1981–82

  304

  470

  2

  1982–83

  433

  625

  2

  1983–84

  1,009

  1,392

  4

  1984–85

  1,126

  1,478

  5

  1985–86

  1,219

  1,517

  5

  1986–87

  1,349

  1,624

  5

  1987–88

  1,391

  1,588

  5

  1988–89

  1,129

  1,201

  4

  1989–90

  1,210

  1,210

  4

  Initial claims from local authorities for community charge rebate subsidy and transitional relief grant in 1990–91 total £1,828 million and £260 million (£1,693 million and £241 million in 1989–90 prices) respectively. These figures represent 4 per cent. and 1 per cent. of the estimated local authority gross revenue expenditure in the year though due to changes in the system of local government finance these percentages are not comparable to the earlier years.

  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out in cash per head of population for each local authority, the amounts allocated by central Government in(a) grants, (b) community charge rebates and (c) transitional relief for 1990–91, with an estimate for 1991–92, ranked in order of the community charge levied by each authority.

  Mr. Key
  I am arranging for the available information for 1990–91 to be placed in the Library of the House. Information on community charge rebates and transitional relief grant for local authorities in 1991–92 is not

  Illustrative impact of capital value based domestic rates and local income tax

  Local income tax

  Capital value based domestic rates bill per property valued

  Rate in the pound

  Bill with taxable income of

  £50,000

  £80,000

  £120,000

  Pence

  £8,000

  £12,800

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Cornwall

  Caradon

  483

  773

  1,160

  6·7

  536

  858

  Carrick

  500

  800

  1,200

  6·9

  552

  883

  Kerrier

  488

  781

  1,172

  6·7

  536

  858

  North Cornwall

  474

  758

  1,137

  6·5

  520

  832

  Penwith

  454

  727

  1,090

  6·2

  496

  794

  Restormel

  469

  750

  1,125

  6·4

  512

  819

  Devon

  East Devon

  485

  776

  1,164

  6·7

  536

  858

  Exeter

  497

  795

  1,193

  6·9

  552

  883

  Mid Devon

  512

  820

  1,230

  7·1

  568

  909

  North Devon

  493

  789

  1,184

  6·8

  544

  870

  Plymouth

  481

  769

  1,154

  6·6

  528

  845

  South Hams

  481

  769

  1,153

  6·6

  528

  845

  36
  available while authorities are now in the process of informing the Department of their average community charge.

  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he intends to take against councils that fail to pursue individuals who have not paid the community charge.

  Mr. Key
  Charging authorities are required by regulations made under the Local Government Finance Act 1988 to bill all chargeable persons in their area. They have extensive powers to enforce payment. If an authority decides not to enforce an outstanding charge and writes off the amount it will have to justify its decision to the auditor. Any amount properly deemed uncollectable must be taken into account when setting charges for future years. Failure to take effective enforcement action will only add to the amount that charge payers are required to pay in subsequent years.

  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what grant per poll tax payer is received by St. Helens metropolitan borough council.

  Mr. Key
  Government grants, consisting of revenue support grant, special grants, specific grants in aggregate external finance, community charge benefit grant and transitional relief grant, per head of relevant population in 1990–91 are £448 in St. Helens metropolitan borough council.

  Mr. Robert Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, for 1990–91 and 1991–92, he will list for each local authority in Cornwall and Devon the estimated capital domestic rates for properties with a property value of £50,000, £80,000 and £120,000 and rates of local income tax required, together with the resultant tax bill for a person with a taxable income of £8,000 and £12,800 implied by levels of local authority income requirements.

  Mr. Key
  The level of bills in a particular local authority area with a capital value-based property tax, or a local income tax, would depend on the precise way in which such a system was introduced.

  Illustrative figures showing possible bills in 1990–91 were placed in the Library on 4 April 1990. The table provides the information requested based on these figures. Comparable information for 1991–92 is not available.
  37

  Local income tax

  Capital value based domestic rates bill per property valued

  Rate in the pound

  Bill with taxable income of

  £50,000

  £80,000

  £120,000

  Pence

  £8,000

  £12,800

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Teignbridge

  527

  843

  1,265

  7·4

  592

  947

  Torbay

  594

  950

  1,425

  8·5

  680

  1,088

  Torridge

  497

  796

  1,194

  6·9

  552

  883

  West Devon

  484

  774

  1,161

  6·7

  536

  858

  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the arrangements for reimbursing local authorities for costs incurred in connection with the community charge reduction scheme.

  Mr. Portillo
  The community charge reduction scheme which replaces transitional relief will reduce personal community charges for about 18 million people in 1991–92. Local authorities will be reimbursed in full for the income forgone as a result of the scheme. In addition they will receive grant in respect of all reasonable preparation and administration costs.

  The proposals which I am announcing today are based on the framework of the current grant arrangements for the transitional relief scheme. This approach has been discussed and agreed with the local authority associations.

  Preparation costs will be reimbursed in full on the basis of the actual expenditure incurred, as confirmed by the authority's auditor. This will largely cover the modification of existing transitional relief computer software and related expenditure.

  General administrative costs, in particular dealing with inquiries, will be reimbursed at a flat rate of 15p per charge payer, with an allowance for higher costs in London.

  In addition to the flat rate per charge payer, local authorities will be reimbursed for the costs of administering the reduction scheme for residents of sheltered accommodation on the basis of a flat rate of 50p per resident of sheltered accommodation, with an allowance for higher costs in London.

  Applications for extra reductions will be reimbursed at the same rate as under the transitional relief scheme of £3 per charge payer, plus an allowance for London, for each application made, including the cost of dealing with unsuccessful applications.

  Where authorities send out bills without taking reductions into account and second bills have to be issued, the cost of printing and postage will be reimbursed at the rate of 50p each. This will not apply where the second bill relates to a substitute charge.

  Initial claims from local authorities indicate that preparation and administration costs for the transitional relief scheme will be close to provision of £21 million. On the basis of the proposals which I have announced today, the additional preparation and administrative costs grant for the implementation of the new reductions scheme would be about £10 million in total.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give figures for(a) rate support grant per head, (b) business rate income per head, (c) total aggregate external finance and (d) spending per head for each county council in England.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 14 March 1991]: Community charges, revenue support grant and receipts from the non-domestic rate pool are not paid directly to individual authorities but rather into a collection fund operated by,
  38
  but separate from, the charging authority in each area. Shire counties precept upon this collection fund for their income. It is not possible to determine how much of their income is from each particular source.

  Budgeted expenditure in 1990–91 per head of relevant population for each of the shire counties

  £

  Avon

  787

  Bedfordshire

  851

  Berkshire

  797

  Buckinghamshire

  812

  Cambridgeshire

  768

  Cheshire

  802

  Cleveland

  987

  Cornwall

  778

  Cumbria

  802

  Derbyshire

  812

  Devon

  748

  Dorset

  673

  Durham

  783

  East Sussex

  686

  Essex

  742

  Gloucestershire

  756

  Hampshire

  713

  Hereford and Worcester

  697

  Hertfordshire

  748

  Humberside

  867

  Isle of Wight

  754

  Kent

  725

  Lancashire

  853

  Leicestershire

  830

  Lincolnshire

  730

  Norfolk

  704

  Northamptonshire

  814

  Northumberland

  743

  North Yorkshire

  725

  Nottinghamshire

  841

  Oxfordshire

  784

  Shropshire

  789

  Somerset

  780

  Staffordshire

  730

  Suffolk

  740

  Surrey

  668

  Warwickshire

  763

  West Sussex

  642

  Wiltshire

  744

  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the percentage of community charge payers who have so far paid their bills for each district in Kent.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 15 March 1991]: The available information, returned by the local authorities is as follows:

  Percentage of personal community charge payers making a payment by 31 December 1990

  Per cent.

  Ashford

  95·8

  Canterbury

  97·0

  Dartford

  95·2

  Gillingham

  95·0

  39

  Per cent.

  Gravesham

  95·1

  Maidstone

  95·0

  Rochester upon Medway

  86·6

  Sevenoaks

  89·9

  Swale

  88·2

  Thanet

  83·2

  Tonbridge and Malling

  93·8

  Tunbridge Wells

  90·2

  In Dover and Shepway 87 per cent. and 85 per cent. of personal community charge payers had made a payment by 30 September 1990, respectively.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account is taken of the receipt of unemployability supplement in the calculation of entitlement to transitional relief and community charge benefit.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 15 March 1991]: Broadly, the calculation of transitional relief is based on the difference between the domestic rates in 1989–90 and the community charge, although disabled people who are not former ratepayers and whose partner is not a former ratepayer may be entitled to extra transitional relief if on 1 April 1990 they met one or more of the conditions conferring the right to a community charge benefit disability premium. These conditions do not include unemployability supplement but a person in receipt of the supplement may meet the conditions, for example through receipt of attendance allowance. Community charge benefit takes into account unemployability supplement in the calculation of a claimant's net earnings.

  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the community charge figures declared by each district in England for the forthcoming year in ascending values.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 15 March 1991]: I am arranging for the information for those local authorities that have, to date, made returns to the Department to be placed in the Library of the House. Until results are reported by all authorities it is inappropriate to place them in rank order.

  Chemical Incinerators
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he gives local authorities about when it would be appropriate for planning committees to grant planning permission to build chemical incinerators; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  Planning applications to build chemical incinerators will, like all development proposals, need to be considered on their individual planning merits taking account of relevant material considerations. The Government have not issued planning guidance relating specifically to chemical incinerators. However, work is in hand on the preparation of a planning policy guidance note on pollution and waste management which we plan to issue in draft for public consultation later this year. One of the issues on which we shall be consulting is the need for planning guidance on the location and siting of incinerators.

  St. Edmundsbury Council
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the figures available to his Manpower Watch Office for the staff of all grades employed by the St. Edmundsbury council in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Portillo
  The information is as follows:

  Staff employed by St. Edmundsbury district council (at June of each year)

  Year

  Full-lime

  Part-time

  Total staff

  1985

  558

  157

  715

  1986

  567

  173

  740

  1987

  580

  188

  768

  1988

  616

  185

  801

  1989

  656

  196

  852

  1990

  678

  200

  878

  Leybucht Bay
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to the European Court of Justice judgment on the Leybucht bay case; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 12 March. I am unable to give the judgment formal consideration until I have received the official English translation.

  Bloodstock Breeding
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many acres of land are used in the business of bloodstock breeding.

  Mr. Yeo
  No official statistics are available, but the industry itself has estimated that approximately 151,000 acres are in use for this purpose.

  World Wide Fund for Nature
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the 30th anniversary of the World Wide Fund for Nature to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Trippier
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Services Committee, arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 15 April to 19 April.

  Planning Circulars
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list, by date and title, all planning circulars published by his Department since 1979.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Department of the Environment/Welsh Office index of current planning guidance (May 1990) includes a chronological list of planning circulars extant at 30 April 1990. The following Department of the Environment planning circulars have since been issued:

  9/90 (W.O. 28/90), Crime Prevention: The Success of the Partnership Approach;

  41

  14/90 (W.O. 20/90), Electricity Generating Stations and Overhead Lines;

  15/90 (W.O. 36/90), Consolidation of the Town and Country Planning Legislation;

  22/90 (W.O. 55/90), Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications and Deemed Applications) (Amendment) Regulations 1990.

DEFENCE

  Nuclear-powered Submarines
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether HMS Resolution, HMS Revenge and HMS Repulse have undergone full detailed inspection of their nuclear reactors and primary cooling circuits.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In common with all Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarines, the nuclear propulsion systems of the Polaris submarine fleet are subject to continuous monitoring procedures and rigorous safety checks, and are inspected regularly in the course of the fleet's routine maintenance programme.

  Cadet Forces, Scotland
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what organisational or financial links his Department has with cadet forces in private schools in Scotland.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The MOD administers the combined cadet force (CCF) as a voluntary part-time force organised in schools and colleges and part of the national youth movement in the United Kingdom.

  Control of the CCF is exercised by the Defence Council through the three service departments which are responsible for the organisation, training and administration of the Royal Navy, Army and RAF sections of the CCF respectively. The MOD consults with representatives from the headmasters' associations and the CCF via the Defence Schools and Universities Policy Committee, the Inter-Services Cadet Committee and the Combined Cadet Force Association.

  The MOD provides grants to CCF contingents to cover general administration, training and travel costs.

  There are 14 CCF contingents in independent schools in Scotland, with a total strength of 2,600 cadets.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which of his Ministers has been given responsibility for energy use by his Department; and what is his brief regarding energy efficiency.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces has responsibility for energy efficiency within the Ministry of Defence.

  He chairs the steering group for defence energy efficiency, which determines overall energy efficiency policies and sets and monitors energy savings targets. He represents the Department on the ministerial group on energy efficiency, which oversees the Government-wide 15 per cent. saving campaign. The Ministry of Defence has a long-standing record of energy saving achievement and we are determined that this should continue.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to allocate a rateable value to Ministry of Defence houses in order to provide a base level upon which community charge reduction scheme rebates can be calculated.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No. Eligibility for the community charge reduction scheme depends on the entry in the property valuation list for 1989–90.

  Tanks
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he now proposes to announce the placing of an order to replace the Chieftain tank.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) on 7 March at columns 290–91.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his evaluation of the Challenger 2 tank is complete.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter) on 4 December 1990 at column 158.

SCOTLAND

  Housing
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation making it unlawful for a person who buys a council house to subsequently sell that house, retain the profit, then take a new tenancy of a local authority house.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  We do not believe that the type of case referred to arises on a significant scale and we have no plans to amend the legislation governing either the right to buy or the allocation of council houses.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many households were registered on the local authority housing waiting lists in(a) Inverclyde district council, (b) Renfrew district council, (c) Strathclyde and (d) Scotland as a whole at the latest date for which figures are available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Reliable information is not held centrally.

  Foxes
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will outline the procedure for registration of a fox destruction society with his Department; and through which agency moneys allocated to such societies are disbursed.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  To qualify for registration a fox destruction society must satisfy the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department that there is a need for systematic control of foxes within a clearly defined area and that the society will undertake this control in a responsible manner. Payment of 50 per cent. of the approved expenditure of the society is made by the Department following scrutiny of audited accounts.

  Government Assistance
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all central Government assistance to Govan Initiative Ltd. since its inception, showing where possible specific allocations to specific purposes.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  Central Government support for the Govan initiative is set out in the tables:

  Scottish Development Agency support

  Core funding

  £

  1 October 1987 to 31 March 1988

  16,250

  1988–89

  80,000

  1989–90

  80,000

  1990–91

  95,000

  Urban programme support for projects:

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  £

  £

  £

  Govan initiative training shop

  148,834

  143,627

  143,627

  Central Govan safe neighbourhood Project

  99,484

  182,109

  209,989

  Business and the arts Govan

  32,149

  36,710

  97,363

  Enterprise theatre—Govan

  —

  67,900

  785

  Training outreach bus for the unemployed

  —

  23,000

  —

  New technology training for the unemployed

  —

  19,850

  —

  Industrial development—Helen street

  —

  234,000

  —

  Business support unit

  —

  —

  45,894

  Security assistance for small businesses

  —

  —

  165,467

  Total

  280,467

  707,196

  663,125

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what conclusions his Department has reached following evaluation of reports submitted by Govan Age Concern; and what his policy is towards continuing support to this and similar organisations.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  In 1986 the urban renewal unit considered a report by Strathclyde regional council on the work of Govan Age Concern as part of the regional council's application for extension of urban programme funding for the project. The report was sufficiently favourable to warrant approval of the extension application. The maximum period of urban programme support for Govan Age Concern ended in 1989. Since then the question of continued public sector support for the project has been primarily a matter for Strathclyde regional council. The question of public support for similar organisations is in the first instance a matter for social work authorities.

  EC Assistance
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what economic assistance Dumbarton constituency has received from the European Economic Community since 1985.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Education Standards
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what responsibilities Government have to ensure that schools in the private sector meet standards of education at least equivalent to those in state schools.
  44
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Independent schools are required by law to register with my right hon. Friend who must be satisfied that efficient and suitable instruction is being provided. For this purpose, independent schools are subject to inspection by Her Majesty's inspectors of schools before receiving final registration. Thereafter, they are subject to inspection on a continuing basis in the same way as schools managed by an education authority.

  Argyll and Clyde Health Board
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many beds in hospitals there were in the Argyll and Clyde health board in(a) 1979, (b) 1986 and (c)

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The average number of available staffed beds in Argyll and Clyde for the years ending 31 March is set out in the table:

  Number

  1979

  4,623

  1986

  4,386

  1990

  4,103

  ScotRail Land
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what land he has purchased from ScotRail within the past three years in(a) Inverclyde, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information as to the sellers of land purchased by the Secretary of State for Scotland is not always included in records maintained of land purchase transactions. Accordingly, to discover which land purchased by the Secretary of State within the past three years was so purchased from ScotRail, it would be necessary to examine individual case transaction files. As there are many hundreds of transactions involving the Secretary of State as purchaser, the relevant information in answer to the question could be obtained and provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Land Regeneration
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what programmes have been prepared by his Department to assist local authorities that have schemes to regenerate decaying areas of land and properties in their areas commencing in the year 1991–92; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  Local authorities in Scotland receive support for their land and property renewal activities through Scottish Office general services allocations.

  In addition, there is a wide range of other bodies able to undertake or assist environmental renewal projects.

  The Government's main instrument for land and property renewal in Scotland is the Scottish Development Agency, which is able to allocate its own priorities and resources to undertake or assist environmental improvement and land reclamation projects. The work of the agency in this area will be continued, from 1 April this year, under Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, mainly through the local enterprise companies.

  The Countryside Commission for Scotland also undertakes projects for environmental renewal of decaying

  45
  areas of land, most notably through its countryside around towns programme, which is undertaken in conjunction with local authorities, the SDA, local voluntary bodies and UK 2000 Scotland. Detailed plans for the implementation of the central Scotland woodlands initiative, which aims to bring about substantial improvements to degraded landscapes in central Scotland, are currently under consideration by the Government.

  Historic Buildings and Monuments assists with work to repair buildings in outstanding conservation areas, both directly and with local authorities through its town scheme programme. Assistance for environmental improvement works is also available in certain circumstances from Scottish Homes, the urban programme and the European regional development fund to assist land and property renewal projects.

  There therefore exists a comprehensive package of support for environmental renewal in Scotland.

  Dentists
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many dentists have left the national health service since the introduction of the new contract.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Between 1 October 1990, when the new contract was introduced in Scotland, and 28 February 1991, 75 general dental practitioners have resigned from the NHS; 13 have retired and 106 have been admitted to health board dental lists. The net effect is an increase of 18 general dental practitioners providing NHS general dental services in Scotland.

  Tree Planting
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will be publishing the Firn, Crichton, Roberts report on the woodland grant scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Her Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate

  Grade

  Scale minimum

  Scale maximum

  Salary maximum including performance pay

  £

  £

  £

  Unified grade 5 (Chief IPI)

  32,551

  36,997

  43,307

  Unified grade 6 (Senior IPI)

  24,997

  32,551

  38,610

  Unified grade 7 (IPI)

  21,905

  26,121

  31,150

  Higher executive officer

  12,367

  15,786

  17,835

  Executive officer

  7,286

  12,621

  14,259

  Administrative officer

  4,561

  9,278

  9,928

  Administrative assistant

  4,121

  7,574

  8,104

  Personal secretary

  7,834

  9,598

  10,270

  Part of the remit of a current staffing review of the inspectorate is to establish whether or not staff numbers
  46
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The report is now available and I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library.

  Water Grants
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what applications have been received from local water authorities in Scotland for water grants to enable them to meet EC water and sewerage requirements.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 15 March 1991]: Central Government grants are not specifically directed at EC water and sewerage requirements. From 1 April 1990, however, 90 applications have been received from Scottish water authorities for grant under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Acts 1944–70 which can include items for meeting EC standards. In addition, an application for sewerage improvement grant under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 has been received from each regional and islands council in respect of its 1991–92 capital expenditure programme for sewerage, including EC-related works.

  Pollution Inspectorate
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will publish in the Official Report the staff complement that is considered necessary to discharge the duties of the Scottish pollution inspectorate; and how many vacancies currently exist;

  (2) if he will publish in the Official Report the grades and salary scales of officers in the Scottish pollution inspectorate.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 15 March 1991]: There are currently 13 professional and eight administrative staff in post in Her Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate in Scotland. There is one vacancy at unified grade 7 (industrial pollution inspector) level which we would anticipate filling shortly. The table shows grades and salary scales.

  are adequate to carry out its necessary work including that associated with new legislation. The salary scales of the inspectorate professional officers are also under review.

  ANGOLA: UN SPECIAL RELIEF PROGRAMME
  ANGOLA: UN SPECIAL RELIEF PROGRAMME
  ANGOLA: FREE PASSAGE OF AID
  ANGOLA: FREE PASSAGE OF AID
  HYDE PARK CORNER: TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
  HYDE PARK CORNER: TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
  SEWAGE SLUDGE: ENDING OF SEA DISPOSAL
  SEWAGE SLUDGE: ENDING OF SEA DISPOSAL
  BARKESTONE CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOL
  BARKESTONE CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOL