Written Answers of 20 March 1991

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Birmingham Pub Bombings
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will place in the Library a transcript of the Birmingham pub bombings appeal hearing.

  The Attorney-General
  Arrangements are being made to have copies of the transcript placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Retail Prices
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the prices of one pint of milk, 11b of beef sirloin, one loaf of bread, 20 cigarettes, the average price of a three-bedroomed house and a medium-sized car, in 1970, 1980, 1985 and 1990 taking current prices as 100; and if he will show the percentage changes in each case.

  Mr. Maples
  Following is the available information.

  Index (January 1991 = 100)

  Percentage change in prices to January 1991

  Fresh milk

  January 1970

  13·1

  660·5

  January 1980

  46·5

  115·0

  January 1985

  68·2

  46·6

  January 1990

  92·5

  8·1

  January 1991

  100·0

  —

  Beef, sirloin

  January 1970

  10·6

  842·2

  January 1980

  54·3

  84·2

  January 1985

  75·5

  32·5

  January 1990

  98·9

  1·1

  January 1991

  100·0

  —

  Large white sliced loaf

  January 1970

  15·1

  561·1

  January 1980

  56·0

  78·4

  January 1985

  69·6

  43·6

  January 1990

  91·9

  8·8

  January 1991

  100·0

  —

  Cigarettes

  January 1970

  13·3

  653·6

  January 1980

  37·5

  166·8

  January 1985

  70·8

  41·3

  January 1990

  91·6

  9·2

  January 1991

  100·0

  —

  House prices1

  January 1970

  7·2

  1,288·9

  January 1980

  34·8

  187·4

  110

  Index (January 1991 = 100)

  Percentage change in prices to January 1991

  January 1985

  48·8

  104·9

  January 1990

  104·8

  -4·6

  January 1991

  100·0

  —

  Medium sized car2

  1 Based on national average price for all house types. Specific figures for a three-bedroomed house are not available.

  2 Information on new car prices is not available.

  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish estimates for the length of time a married man with two children on average male earnings had to work in 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, and for the latest date available, after taking into account income tax liability and national insurance contribution, to pay for each of one pint of fresh milk, one pint of beer, 20 cigarettes, the weekly rent of a three-bedroomed council house and the running costs of a medium-sized car.

  Mr. Maples
  The lengths of time necessary to work to pay for one pint of milk, one pint of beer, and 20 cigarettes are shown in the table. Data for 1960 and data for the weekly rent of a three-bedroomed council house and the running costs of a medium-sized car are not available.

  The lengths of time necessary to work to pay for selected commodities and services are published annually in "Social Trends". Copies are available in the Library.

  Length of time necessary to work to pay for selected commodities

  Great Britain

  Minutes

  Married couple with husband only working1

  19702 Minutes

  19802 Minutes

  19902 Minutes

  Pint of fresh milk

  5

  4

  3

  Pint of beer (draught bitter)

  16

  13

  11

  20 cigarettes (filter tipped)

  29

  15

  17

  1 Length of time necessary for a married man on average hourly male adult earnings for all industries and services, with a non-earning wife and two children under 11, to work so that his net income pays for the various goods.

  2 At April.

  EEC
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for each year since 1973 what were(a) the overall payments by the Treasury to the European Economic Community, (b) the overall payment made by the European Economic Community to Britain in refunds and all other payments, (c) the total payments and refunds made to the Treasury and (d) the net cost to the Treasury.

  Mr. Maude
  The information requested concerning public sector contributions and receipts to and from the Community budget for 1973–1989 is set out in the following table. The Commission does not provide member states with details of payments made directly to the private sector. The overall payment made by the EC to the UK is therefore not available.
  111

  £ million

  Year

  Gross payments to the EC

  Public sector receipts other than refunds and abatements

  Negotiated refunds

  VAT abatements

  Net contribution after refunds and abatements1

  1973

  181

  79

  —

  —

  102

  1974

  179

  150

  —

  —

  29

  1975

  342

  398

  —

  —

  -56

  1976

  463

  296

  —

  —

  167

  1977

  737

  368

  —

  —

  369

  1978

  1,348

  526

  —

  —

  822

  1979

  1,606

  659

  —

  —

  947

  1980

  1,767

  963

  98

  —

  706

  1981

  2,174

  1,084

  693

  —

  397

  1982

  2,863

  1,238

  1,019

  —

  606

  1983

  2,976

  1,522

  807

  —

  647

  1984

  3,204

  2,020

  528

  —

  656

  1985

  3,940

  1,905

  61

  166

  1,808

  1986

  4,493

  2,220

  —

  1,701

  572

  1987

  5,202

  2,328

  —

  1,153

  1,721

  1988

  5,138

  2,182

  —

  1,594

  1,362

  1989

  5,585

  2,116

  —

  1,154

  2,315

  1 Because of rounding the total with not necessarily equal the sum of the individual items.

  The information for 1990 is due to be published in April in the Statement on the 1991 Community Budget.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Polytechnics
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to make further polytechnic designations between now and 30 June 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  We have made clear that we see the designation of new polytechnics as a continuing process, and would be happy to receive advice from the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council at any time that an institution has met the criteria for designation as a polytechnic together with the supporting evidence.

  Universities and Polytechnics
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what plans he has to create a joint funding council for universities and polytechnics; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what plans he has to dissolve the binary line between universities and polytechnics; and if he will make a statment.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith) on 25 February 1991,(Official Report, columns 332–33)

  Kirklees Metropolitan Council
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many persons were employed in the Education department of Kirklees metropolitan council in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Fallon
  The figures in the table are taken from a table of joint staffing watch data, analysed by local education authority, which has previously been placed in the library.

  The total employees of Kirklees metropolitan council education department in March 1990 were as follows:
  112

  Number

  Full-time teachers and lecturers

  4,040

  Part-time teachers and lecturers

  1,520

  Full-time other employees

  1,350

  Part-time other employees

  4,750

  These figures include the nursery, primary and secondary schools sector, special and further education and central administration.

  Comparable figures for other years are not available.

  Education and Training Costs
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much in total, at constant prices, has been spent on the education and training of the average United Kingdom citizen by the time he or she reaches(a) 16 years, (b) 18 years, (c) 20 years, (d) 22 years and (e) 24 years; and if he will give equivalent figures for the main OECD countries.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  On the basis of 1988–89 unit costs for maintained schools in England, expenditure per pupil up to age 16 amounts to some £16,000. Information for the other ages requested, and for OECD countries, is not available in this form.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Fallon), last paid an official visit to a school in Stockton, South; and which county councillors he met.

  Mr. Fallon
  I visited Grangefield school in Stockton-on-Tees-on 25 February 1991 and met County Councillor D. C. McReddie, chairman of the education committee.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Mr. Crispin Rushworth-Lund
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to persuade the Dutch authorities to investigate the murder of Mr. Crispin Rushworth-Lund in St. Maarten.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  On 7 December 1990 the British consul-general in Amsterdam put to the Netherlands authorities the suggestion made by my hon. Friend that detectives from the Netherlands should investigate the murder in St. Maarten of Mr. Rushworth-Lund. He wrote again about the case on 18 December. We are still waiting for a reply. The consulate-general sent a reminder on 15 March.

  Virgin Islands
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings he has arranged during his visit to the British Virgin Islands; whom he will meet; and what is the purpose of his visit.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I hope to visit the British Virgin Islands—BVI—from 20 to 22 April: I hope to meet the governor, the chief minister and executive council and leading members of the community. In particular I hope to look at BVI's capabilities to combat drug trafficking and see and discuss developments in the offshore finance sector.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Ministers from the British Virgin Islands about combating drugs trafficking; what action he is now taking as a result; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  When I met the chief minister of the British Virgin Islands, the Hon. Lavity Stoutt, on 11 March we discussed the campaign to combat drugs trafficking through BVI. I informed the chief minister that the FCO had just purchased a drugs surveillance aircraft to be based in BVI and would fund a two man RAF team to operate it. I hope to be able to inspect anti-narcotics operations in the BVI during a visit from 20 to 22 April.

  Plastic Explosives
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in international initiatives to make plastic explosives detectable.

  Changes in rate bills by property type, England and Wales

  Reduction (-)/Increase (+) in rate bill, per cent.

  England

  Wales

  Property type

  Overall change

  Net change on UBR

  Net change on revaluation

  Overall change

  Net change on UBR

  Net change on revaluation

  Factories

  -31

  -9

  -22

  -26

  -1

  -26

  Warehouses

  -22

  -6

  -15

  -17

  +1

  -17

  Shops

  +18

  -1

  +19

  +21

  —

  +21

  Offices

  +12

  +20

  -8

  —

  +7

  -8

  Other properties

  +12

  -5

  +16

  +12

  —

  +12

  114
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  A new convention on the marking of plastic explosives for detection was opened for signature at the International Civil Aviation Organisation on 1 March. The United Kingdom, with 40 other countries, signed the convention. Among other things, the convention will require all plastic explosives manufactured by states parties to be "marked" through a chemical additive; prohibit the import and export of unmarked plastic explosives; and, subject to certain exceptions, require the destruction of commercial stocks of unmarked plastic explosives within three years, and certain military stocks within 15 years, after entry into force. The convention is the result of an Anglo-Czechoslovak initiative, launched after the Lockerbie bombing. We warmly welcome the rapid completion of the convention, in which British officials played a leading part. We hope to ratify the convention at an early date.

PRIME MINISTER

  Uniform Business Rate
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the impact of the operation of the uniform business rate on(a) offices, (b) factories, (c) warehouses and (d) shops in Wales relative to England.

  The Prime Minister
  The uniform business rate poundage for 1990–91 has been set at 36·8p in the pound in Wales in order to raise broadly the same amount in real terms from private business and nationalised industries as in 1989–90. The same principle has been adopted in England.

  The combined impact of the revaluation of non-domestic property and the introduction of the uniform business rate on the specified categories of property is shown in the tables:

  Changes in aggregate rate bills1 between 1989–90 and 1990–91

  Percentage change

  Property type

  Wales

  England

  Offices

  0

  12

  Factories

  -26

  -31

  Warehouses

  -17

  -22

  Shops

  21

  18

  1 After allowing for inflation as measured by the retail prices index and for appeals against valuation.

TRANSPORT

  Oil Spill Recovery Equipment
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much dispersant the marine pollution control unit keeps in stock expressed in(a) value in £ sterling, (b) weight and (c) volume; what were the stocks in each of the last five years; and what was the capital expenditure of the unit for each of the last five years.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The marine pollution control unit—MPCU—current dispersant stock expressed in(a) value (b) weight and (c) volume is as follows:

  (a) value

  £1·68 million

  (b) weight

  1,680 tonnes

  (c) volume

  1,680 cubic metres

  Further stocks are in the course of supply to maintain the level of about 1,800 tonnes which has been held for the last five years.

  Total capital expenditure by the MPCU, including the purchase of dispersant, for each of the last five years is as follows:

  Year

  £,000

  1986–87

  282

  1987–88

  130

  1988–89

  215

  1989–90

  333

  1990–91

  397

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the contingency fund(a) held and (b) expended for oil spill recovery for the last five years.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Department has Treasury approval to spend whatever it deems reasonable to deal with a major pollution threat and there are arrangements for calling on the contingencies reserve as necessary. This is represented by a token provision of £1,000 in the Department's annual estimates.

  Expenditure on dealing with oil spills in each of the last five years is as follows:

  £ thousands

  1986–87

  0

  1987–88

  10

  1988–89

  62

  1989–90

  168

  1990–91

  715

  The figures for 1989–90 and 1990–91 include £29,000 and £200,000 respectively for the deployment of MPCU oil recovery equipment and hire and deployment of supplementary oil spill recovery resources. Reimbursement of all of this expenditure has been obtained, or is being sought, from the polluters.

  Marine Pollution Control Unit
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total budget of the marine pollution control unit for the last five years.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The total budget of the marine pollution control unit for each of the last five years, excluding the cost of dealing with major oil spills, was as follows:116

  Year

  £,000

  1986–87

  3,076

  1987–88

  2,781

  1988–89

  2,805

  1989–90

  3,308

  1990–91

  5,974

  Buses
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to the statement of Monday 11 March,Official Report, column 722, he will indicate any information available to him on the maximum percentage reduction in scheduled bus mileage on any bus route in east London.

  Mr. Freeman
  London Transport expects scheduled bus mileage in 1990–91 to rise to 182 million miles—an increase of 4 per cent over last year. I have no information on the performance of individual London bus routes. That is a matter for London Transport.

  British Railways Board
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many British Railways Board members receive pay related to train punctuality; what percentage of the board's total remuneration such payments represent; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Under the terms of the British Railways Board members' bonus scheme, the six full-time executive members are eligible for bonus payments based on, among other things, train punctuality. Board members can earn payments of up to 4 per cent. of annual salary if British Rail meets the agreed train punctuality targets, and up to 7 per cent if the targets are exceeded. In 1989–90 board members earned a bonus of 1·5 per cent. for exceeding the punctuality target for the provincial sector.

  Coastguard Service
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to announce his decision on the future of the auxiliary coastguard service, arising from the recent review.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  After there has been time to consider the advice of regional controllers and the Chief Coastguard, following consultation that is now in progress. It is expected that this process will be concluded during the summer.

  Vehicle Inspectorate
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the vehicle inspectorate business plan for 1991–92 will be published.

  Mr. Chope
  The business plan has been published today. Copies are available in the House Libraries.

  Trains
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he received an investment submission from British Rail to place an order for 200 new Networker electric trains for Kent link services; when he will be in a position to reply to the application; and if he will make a statement.
  117
  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. and learned Friend received an investment submission for British Rail, requesting approval for 274 class 465 vehicles, in a letter dated 29 January. British Rail provided additional information on 26 February and 13 March. My right hon. and learned Friend will respond as soon as possible.

  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he received an investment submission from British Rail to place an order for 60 vehicles to be used on London Paddington/Oxford services; when he will be in a position to reply to the application; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. and learned Friend received an investment submission from British Rail, requesting approval for 59 class 165 vehicles, in a letter dated 29 January. British Rail provided additional information on 19 February. My right hon. and learned Friend will respond as soon as possible.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Badgers
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what advice he has given to private forestry companies to ensure against disturbance or destruction of active badger setts during forestry operations;

  (2) what steps he has taken to protect active badger setts from disturbance or destruction by planting, timber harvesting or other operations on Forestry Commission land.

  Mr. Curry
  Badger setts are not on the whole vulnerable to damage from forestry operations, since they are characteristically large, subterranean and in well-drained soils. The Forestry Commission nevertheless endeavours to locate all the badger setts on its land so that they can be protected from any possible damage. It has also published forest nature conservation guidelines, for use by its own forest managers and those in the private sector, which emphasise the importance of good management in protecting animal populations.

  Cereal Farmers
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average income of a cereal farmer in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Curry
  The information is not available in the form requested. About one third of the total area of cereals in England is on specialist cereal farms and over a half is on general cropping farms. The following table provides estimates of the net farm income from a sample of these types of farm in England as recorded by the farm business survey.

  Average net farm income of specialist cereal and general cropping farms in England

  £ per farm

  Specialist cereal farms

  General cropping farms

  1985–86

  3,800

  6,100

  1986–87

  9,700

  17,700

  1987–88

  1,600

  8,400

  1988–89

  2,100

  8,500

  1989–90

  8,700

  21,800

  118
  Note: The figures shown relate to samples of farms which change somewhat each year. The movement in incomes from year to year is more accurately measured by a comparison of the results from an identical sample for each year which are published annually in "Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom".

  Infant Formulae
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the recent adoption of the European Commission directive on infant formulae and follow-on formulae.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Government voted in favour of the adoption of this important directive. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health, and I warmly welcome the essential compositional and nutritional standards which this directive will provide for the first time to safeguard the health and safety of bottle-fed babies. During the negotiations in Brussels the United Kingdom succeeded in obtaining important changes that align the directive more closely with the principles and aims of the World Health Organisation international code on the marketing of breastmilk substitutes. In particular, improvements have been obtained in relation to the advertising controls on infant formulae and to the provisions covering the supply of these products to hospitals.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Virgin Islands
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what studies have been undertaken into the feasibility of extending the runway on the British Virgin Islands; what cost is involved; and what action he plans to take.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have not undertaken or commissioned any studies into the feasibility of extending the airport runway on the British Virgin Islands; nor have we been asked or have any plans to do so. We understand that consultants from Israel have undertaken preliminary feasibility studies at the request of and funded by the British Virgin Islands Government and that estimated costs of around US$30 million—£15 million to £20 million—have been mentioned.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recommendations were made in the report he commissioned on education in the British Virgin Islands; what plans he has to implement them; and what funds will be made available for this.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The 1988 education sector review recommended improved access to primary and secondary education through the reorganisation of existing infrastructure and management, with the quality of primary and secondary schooling to be assured through strengthening monitoring systems and increased budget allocations for instructional materials and in-service training. The Overseas Development Administration has assisted with quality improvement through the provision of additional school buildings and equipment linked with staff development for primary and secondary training in-country, in the region and in the United Kingdom.

  We have also assisted the British Virgin Islands Government in the formulation of its first five-year

  119
  development plan for education. Initial Government reaction to the plan has been favourable and we have indicated our willingness to continue to provide further technical assistance in its implementation when the Government have determined their priorities.

  India (Property Projects)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs over what period £175 million for property projects in India, referred to in the letter of 15 February from the Minister of Overseas Development, was committed; and on what basis the decision was made not to include reference to the period involved in the letter.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My letter gave the total value of the British bilateral contribution to poverty alleviation projects in India against which our aid funds are currently being disbursed. Of that total, £130 million was committed to specific projects in the calendar years 1988 to 1990.

  Aid Loans
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and ommonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 28 February,Official Report, column 564, what criteria were used to determine the eligibility of developing countries for old aid loans to be converted into grants; and whether these criteria remain the same in considering future conversions of aid loans to grants.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Britain decided to convert a numberr of outstanding aid loans into grants following a 1978 UNCTAD resolution. Eligibility was based on poverty

  Year

  Net Aid programme in cash terms

  Percentage change on 1978–79

  Net Aid programme in 1990–91 prices

  Percentage change on 1978–79

  £ million

  £ million

  1978–79

  715

  —

  1,807

  —

  Year

  Expenditure Plans

  Percentage change on 1978–79

  Expenditure Plans

  Percentage change on 1978–79

  £ million

  £ million

  1990–911

  1,587

  +121·9

  1,587

  -12·2

  1993–94

  1,860

  +160·1

  1,618

  -10·5

  1 Original planning figures. During 1990–91 the planned aid programme was increased to allow for additional expenditure on Zambia and the Commonwealth Development Corporation.

  Turkey (Natural Gas Project)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the developmental purpose of the aid and trade provision-supported natural gas conversion project in Turkey; what is the total value of the contract; over what period the ATP grant is expected to be paid; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The purpose of this project is to provide a cheaper alternative to other fuels for meeting Ankara's energy demands and to reduce the atmospheric pollution caused by the use of oil, coal and lignite as domestic fuels.

  The cost is $200·7 million of which $108·5 million is being financed by a long-term concessional loan to meet the costs of 85 per cent. of the British goods and services. Aid and trade provision grant funds, calculated on exchange rates applying at the date of implementation of
  120
  and a satisfactory human rights record. In addition we now also seek evidence of a commitment to economic reform so that the resources provided through debt relief can be used effectively.

  Low-income Countries
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of bilateral aid went to low-income countries, as defined by the World bank, in 1990; and what percentage went to least-developed countries, as defined by the United Nations in 1990.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The percentage of United Kingdom gross bilateral aid to low-income countries, as defined by the World bank, was 71·2 per cent. in 1989, the latest year for which figures are available. The proportion going to the least-developed countries, as defined by the UN, was 31·7 per cent. in 1989.

  Net Aid Programme
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a table showing the size of the net aid programme, in cash and constant 1990–91 financial year terms, for the financial years 1978–79, 1990–91 and planned figures for 1993–94, showing the percentage change in real terms for each period.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Following is the Information; figures for the net aid programme in 1990–91 will not be available until the autumn.

  the loan and estimated not to exceed £58·7 million, are being provided to support interest payments due on this loan. Repayments of principal will be made over a 20-year repayment period. Allowing for a five-year grace period the final payment will be made in 2013. Payments from the ATP grant to meet interest "make-up" and Export Credits Guarantee Department premium costs have amounted to £6·35 million to date.

  The hon. Member will be aware that the figure of £58·7 million differs from that given in my reply to the hon. Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Ms. Abbott) on 28 February at column 565. I have written separately to the hon. Member correcting this latter figure.

WALES

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

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  As Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales, I have responsibilities which include the use of energy. The publication of the Welsh Office energy efficiency plan was announced on 8 May 1989 by the then Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Worcester (Mr. Walker), and copies were placed in the Library of the House. The plan is currently being updated to reflect the increasing concern for energy efficiency exemplified by the recently instigated ministerial group on energy efficiency.

  Water Rates
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by district authority in Wales the numbers of council tenants evicted, or currently under threat of eviction, by district councils because they are in arrears with respect to payments of water rates, where those rates are charged inclusive of rent by the councils in 1990, and in the first two months of 1991.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This information is not available centrally.

  Cadw
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the future management arrangements for Cadw.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have concluded that Cadw should become an executive agency on 1 April 1991. I shall be announcing the objectives and targets that I have set for the agency shortly.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Moyle Hospital, Larne
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his assessment of the efficiency and effectiveness of Moyle hospital, Larne, in the delivery of acute hospital services.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Department of Health and Social Services has not yet assessed the efficiency and effectiveness of actue services in the Moyle hospital. This is primarily a matter for the Northern health and social services board.

  Fire Advisory Panel
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members serve on the Fire advisory panel for Northern Ireland; and how many of those members are also members of the Society of Fire Safety Engineers.

  Mr. Needham
  There are 30 members who serve on the fire advisory panel which in Northern Ireland is known as 122
  the Northern Ireland fire liaison panel. Of these, only one member is also a member of the Society of Fire Safety Engineers.

  Job Clubs
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which council districts in Northern Ireland currently have a job club.

  Mr. Needham
  The Training and Employment Agency provides support for job clubs in the following council districts:Antrim, Ards, Belfast, Larne, Newtownabbey, North Down, Coleraine, Craigavon, Dungannon, Derry, Newry and Mourne, Omagh.

  Fair Employment
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when was the last examination of the employment records of the Bank of Ireland under the provisions of fair employment legislation; and if there has been any progress towards eliminating the underemployment of Protestants in the Bank of Ireland since the first fair employment report on this bank.

  Mr. Needham
  A report by the Fair Employment Agency in March 1986 dealt with the employment patterns and practices of the five main banks in Northern Ireland, including the Bank of Ireland; a copy of that report is held in the Library. The Fair Employment Commission has decided to make available, upon request, monitoring information from individual concerns following receipt of their monitoring returns for 1991. The Bank of Ireland is required to make its monitoring return by 6 June 1991. This return will indicate the religious composition of its work force and applicants for jobs and will, therefore, enable a comparison to be made with the position as shown in the 1986 report.

  Nephrops
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the catch of nephrops in 1988, 1989 and 1990; and what is the projected catch in 1991 based upon the experiences of the first two months of the year.

  Mr. Hanley
  Landings of nephrops into Northern Ireland totalled 5,344 tonnes, 5,595 tonnes and 5,606 tonnes for the years 1988, 1989 and 1990 respectively. Landings in the first two months of 1988, 1989 and 1990 totalled 423 tonnes, 370 tonnes and 222 tonnes respectively compared with 397 tonnes for the same period in 1991. This does not give a statistically sound basis from which to project the total 1991 landings.

  Fish Marketing and Processing
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much of the £15 million in EC grants for the United Kingdom's fish marketing and processing industry for the period 1991 to 1993 will be allocated to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the implementation of this scheme in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Hanley
  Of the £15 million in EC grants, some 1·5 million has been separately allocated to Northern Ireland
  123
  The scheme is open for applicants, but is competitive and not all applicants can be guaranteed support. I hope that the Northern Ireland industry will make full use of the moneys available.

  Belfast Action Teams
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the expenditure in each of the Belfast action teams which were created and the projects on which the money was spent.

  Mr. Needham
  In view of the considerable number of projects involved, it will take some time to collate the information. I will write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as the information is available and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Disability
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many applications were made by employers for capital grants in each of the financial years since 1985 to enable them to adapt(a) premises, and (b) equipment, to employ disabled people in Northern Ireland;

  (2) what was the total amount of grant aid paid in each financial year since 1985 to employers to enable them to employ disabled people in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The number of applications approved and amount of grant aid paid to employers to adapt premises and equipment to enable them to employ disabled people is as follows:

  Number of approved applications

  Grant aid £

  1985–86

  3

  5,750

  1986–87

  4

  7,860

  1987–88

  3

  2,872

  1988–89

  7

  5,124

  1989–90

  6

  23,000

  11990–91

  3

  8,000

  1 To February 1991.

HEALTH

  Hospital Incinerators
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what date all hospital incinerators in the United Kingdom will be operating in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Department of the Environment.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 27 February 1991]: With the removal of Crown immunity, new incinerators will have to meet the requirements of environmental protection legislation from 1 April 1991. Health authorities and NHS trusts that currently operate incinerators which do not comply with the new standards will be required by 30 September 1991 to agree with the local authority pollution inspectorate a programme for ensuring that all incinerators meet the new standards in full. These agreed programmes will set interim standards which will have to be met.
  124
  Although there is a maximum transitional period of five years we have made clear that NHS incinerators must meet as quickly as possible the new standards laid down in environmental protection legislation. We are about to issue guidance on the different options which are available to health authorities and NHS trusts. They include the sharing of facilities across district and regional boundaries and the use of private sector waste management companies.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of people who will be eligible for the new lower rate of care component of the disability living allowance by virtue of(a) the requirement of attention for a significant portion of the day and (b) inability to prepare a cooked meal; what is his estimate of the take-up rate for each group; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  We expect 140,000 people to receive the lower rate care component of disability living allowance in 1993–94. It is not possible to give any reliable estimates of how many of the anticipated caseload will qualify by each of the alternative routes to entitlement.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe of 28 February, column 610, what is his estimate of the number and proportion of people who need special diets who will qualify for the new lower rate of care component of the disability living allowance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Something under 500,000 people below the age of 65 said that they needed a special diet in response to an Office of Population Censuses and Surveys question. Many of this group would be at the lower levels of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys severity scales. The comment in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys fourth report that"not all the problems included under this heading (eating, drinking, and digesting difficulties) were strictly speaking disabilities",
  applies even more strongly to this group. Nevertheless, even after allowing for overlaps between the different rates and components of disability living allowance, we estimate that nearly 200,000 of the people in this group would be in receipt of at least one of the rates of the new benefit.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe on 28 February,Official Report, column 610, if he will explain the basis for the increase in his estimate of the number of recipients of the new lower care component of the disability living allowance from paragraph 4.12 of "The Way Ahead"—Cm. 917—to the figure given in his answer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The figure of 240,000 given to the right hon. Member on 28 February 1991 represented the number of people whom we anticipate will be eligible for the new lower rate care component of the disability living allowance. The figure of 140,000 quoted in paragraph 4.12
  125
  of "The Way Ahead"—Cm. 917—represents our best estimate of the numbers who will be receiving the new lower rate care component in 1993–94.

  Alzheimer's Disease
  Sir Charles Morrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people suffering from Alzheimer's disease are in receipt of terminal grant(a) in nursing homes and (b) in residential homes.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Details of conditions suffered by claimants in receipt of the terminal illness limit of income support are not collected by the Department.

  Mobility Allowance
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress has been made on introducing regulations to guarantee the mobility allowance entitlement of double leg amputees.

  Mr. Scott
  I am extremely pleased to announce that regulations have been laid today which come into force on 10 April 1991. These will ensure the eligibility to mobility allowance of people who are without both legs for any reason, including amputation. I am also glad to state that the regulations will allow these claims to be fast tracked. That is, they could be decided without a medical examination if suitable evidence about the person's medical condition, such as a general practitioner's letter or previous medical report, is available.

  Claimants

  Dependants

  Children

  Total

  Income support1

  3,429,000

  599,000

  1,688,000

  5,716,000

  Family credit2

  264,000

  164,000

  569,000

  997,000

  1 Data derived from 1989 annual statistical inquiry.

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

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

  1Claimants

  1Dependants

  Children

  1Total

  Metropolitan Borough of Leeds

  63,700

  218,000

  Not available

  81,700

  West Yorkshire

  159,100

  244,800

  Not available

  163,900

  England

  3,153,000

  2902,000

  Not available

  4,055,000

  1 Data relate to August 1990 and is in respect of those receiving either rent rebate or rent allowance only.

  2 Partially estimated.

ENVIRONMENT

  Seals and Dolphins
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to prevent the disappearance of seals and dolphins from United Kingdom coastal waters.

  Mr. Trippier
  Preliminary indications are that our coastal waters continue to support a wide range of marine mammal species and regular surveys carried out for Government by the Natural Environment Research

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will indicate the savings to the Exchequer arising from the failure to increase unemployment benefit in line with average earnings since 1979; and if he will specify the saving in 1990 and the anticipated saving in 1991.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 13 March 1991]: Unemployment benefit is increased annually in line with the retail prices index. If the benefit had been uprated in line with average earnings from 1979 onwards the estimated net additional cost in the financial year 1990–91 would be £125 million and in 1991–92 £150 million. Estimates for earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

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

  Miss Widdecombe
  [pursuant to her reply, 6 March 1991, c. 72.]: I regret that information was omitted from my reply. The correct information is as follows:

  Income Support and Family Credit
  Information for Leeds, West, Leeds metropolitan district council area and West Yorkshire is unavailable and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The information in respect of England is as follows:
  Council's sea mammal research unit show that grey seal populations continue to increase. Common seal numbers are now stable following the 1988 viral epidemic, and we hope to see signs of recovery soon. As far as dolphins are concerned no reliable estimates of population are available.
  My Department has already commissioned a number of new research projects on marine mammals including the appointment of a co-ordinator to oversee the recording and sampling of marine mammal strandings in England and Wales, the carrying out of post mortem and

  127
  contaminant analysis for selected cetaceans, including dolphins, washed ashore and support for improved sighting schemes and population studies.
  More generally the initiatives we have taken to implement measures agreed at the third North sea conference, held in the Hague in March 1990, which apply to all our coastal waters, will do much to improve the quality of our seas. Marine mammals may be particularly at risk from PCBs which can accumulate in their fatty tissues and notable amongst the third conference measures is the agreement to phase out and destroy all remaining identifiable uses of PCBs by 1999.

  River Pollution
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to amend the criteria used to determine river quality so as to reflect pollutant levels in river life.

  Mr. Trippier
  We are currently reviewing with the National Rivers Authority the existing schemes for classifying river quality in conjunction with the work of developing the system of statutory quality objectives provided for in the Water Act 1989. The outcome of the review will be published for consultation in due course.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ask the district auditor to review the action of councils and councillors when a substantial proportion of the community charge has not been collected.

  Mr. Key
  All community chargepayers have a right to expect their local authority to collect the charge in a diligent and economic manner. The Audit Commission has published useful guidance to local authorities on improving collection performance. In general local authorities are seeking to collect the charge efficiently. I would expect that there are no cases where action by councillors is impeding effective collection, but if there were the auditor already has a duty to under section 20 of the Local Government Finance Act 1982 to certify, where a loss has been incurred or deficiency caused by wilful misconduct of any person, that the amount of that loss or deficiency is due from that person. The auditor may recover the amount for the benefit of the authority from that person concerned. Councillors may therefore be liable for uncollected community charges where the failure to collect results from their misconduct.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the various guidance circulars he has issued to local authorities concerning collection of the poll tax.

  Mr. Key
  My Department issued a practice note to local authorities covering all aspects of the collection of the community charge. A copy is in the Library. The note is currently being revised and updated by the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many households he expects to benefit from the new community charge reduction scheme in Berwick borough, Castle Morpeth borough and Alnwick district.
  128
  Mr. Key
  Information on the number of people expected to benefit from the community charge reduction scheme broken down by local authority areas will be available once authorities have returned their initial grant claim forms.

  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the year on year increase in standard spending assessment for 1991–92 in respect of(a) Westminster, (b) Salford, (c) Wigan and (d) Bolton.

  Mr. Key
  The percentage increases in SSA between 1990–91 and 1991–92 are as follows:(a) 22·1, (b) 16·3, (c) 18·6 and (d) 17·9.

  Pollution Inspectorate
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, in tabular form,(a) the establishment of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and (b) the number of staff employed for each year since 1987.

  Mr. Baldry
  The complement and number of staff in post in Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution from its formation in 1987 are set out in the table.

  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution staffing1

  Year (1 April)

  Complement

  Number of staff in post

  1987

  199

  133

  1988

  183

  158

  1989

  194

  165

  1990

  212

  172

  1991

  248

  2232

  Notes:1 All figures exclude the former radioactive waste policy and administrative division, (25 administrative, 2 professional staff) which transferred from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to the DOE directorate of pollution control and waste in November 1990.

  2 1 March.

  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution's complement has been authorised to expand to over 300 by 1 April 1992 and may require a further increase to around 400 when integrated pollution control is in full operation.

  A recruitment competition for pollution inspectors has recently been completed, and has produced 38 successful candidates to fill the remaining vacancies and authorised new posts.

  Beaches
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will detail the criteria used to assess the level of pollution on British beaches.

  Mr. Baldry
  Bathing water quality is assessed according to standards set out in directive 76/160/EEC.

  Environmental Action Guide
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the "Environmental Action Guide" was issued to Government Departments; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

  Mr. Baldry
  An initial working version of the "Environmental Action Guide" was circulated to all Government Departments immediately following publication of the environment White Paper last year. The guide
  129
  itself, together with the first of a continuing series of advisory notes on specific environmental topics such as CFCs and timber in buildings, will be published by HMSO shortly. Copies will be placed in the Library.

  Leeds Development Corporation
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out for 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990 to 28 February 1991, how many planning applications have been determined by Leeds development corporation(a) within one month of receipt, (b) between one and two months of receipt and (c) after more than two months of receipt.

  Mr. Key
  Information is not collected in the format requested. The available information shows that, for the year ending September 1989, 131 planning applications were decided by the Development Corporation of which 57 per cent. were determined within eight weeks of receipt. For the year ending September 1990, 179 applications were decided of which 58 per cent. were determined within eight weeks.

  Rural Development Commission
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to allow the Rural Development Commission to retain receipts from the sale of its portfolio; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  It is our policy that the Rural Development Commission should retain receipts from the sale of their workspace portfolio: up to the targets agreed for each year. The receipts are used to finance the commission's agreed expenditure.

  Environment Council
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Environment Council on 18 March.

  Mr. Heseltine
  My hon. Friend the Minister for Environment and Countryside and I represented the United Kingdom at this meeting.

  The Council agreed a common position on a directive to tighten up controls on emissions from lorries and buses. The United Kingdom took a lead in pressing for this measure, which will introduce strict new pollution standards for large diesel engined vehicles to match those set last year for cars. The controls, which will come into effect in 1995 and 1996, represent the toughest achievable standards. The motor industry will have a clear target and a manageable timetable for the substantial work which now needs to be done.

  Agreement was reached on a directive setting minimum standards for the collection and treatment of sewage. The so-called municipal waste water directive requires that all communities above a certain size should be provided with sewerage systems, and that sewage should in general receive full secondary treatment before it can be discharged. Additional treatment to remove nutrient substances is required where this is necessary to protect the water environment. The directive also allows for primary treatment only for certain coastal discharges where this can be demonstrated to he sufficient to protect the environment. Other provisions require treatment of
  130
  analagous industrial discharges, and an end to the disposal of sewage sludge at sea. This measure represents a major step forward in the protection of the water environment throughout the community. The Government's decision last year to introduce treatment for all remaining major coastal discharges, and the huge investment programme put in place at the time of water privatisation, means that the United Kingdom is well placed to comply with the directive.

  The Council agreed a common position on a directive amending for the seventh time directive 67/548/EEC on the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances. The amending directive updates requirements for manufacturers or importers of a new chemical substance to provide data on its hazardous properties. It introduces harmonised notification requirements for substances produced in small quantities, with exceptions in certain circumstances to encourage research and development.

  A directive on the content and disposal of batteries and a new framework directive on waste management, the substance of which had been agreed at previous meetings, were formally adopted by the Council.

  The Council had a useful discussion on aspects of a proposed regulation controlling the movement of waste within, into and out of the European Community. The United Kingdom, supported by other member states, stressed the importance of incorporating the principle of self-sufficiency in waste disposal, both within countries and for the Community as a whole.

  Proposals for a directive to protect fauna, flora and habitats, and for a Community ecological labelling scheme were briefly discussed. In both cases the United Kingdom called for the measures to be agreed as soon as possible, and the presidency said it would seek agreement at the next Environment Council.

  The Council had preliminary discussions on two new proposals on the evaluation and control of environmental risks from existing chemicals, and on a Community environment fund—LIFE.

  The Council also discussed action taken by member states and the Commission in response to environmental problems in the Gulf. Ministers were briefed by Mr. Al Arrayed, Health Minister of Bahrain, on the environmental situation in the Gulf states. Member states welcomed the efforts co-ordinated by the European Commission to complement initiatives by the International Maritime Organisation and the United Nations Environmental Programme. The Council agreed on the need to provide further assistance to the Gulf clean-up operations, and to develop proposals for responding to similar disasters in the future in collaboration with member states and other international organisations.

  Sea Bathing
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department expects to announce the results of the 1990 study into the health risks of sea bathing; and whether those studies are to continue.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Department is awarding a further contract to the Water Research Centre to manage large-scale studies into the health risks of sea bathing using the methodologies developed over the last two years. The
  131
  WRC will invite tenders from suitably qualified professional institutions and organisations to undertake these studies.

  The research will be jointly funded by my Department, the Department of Health, Welsh Office and the National Rivers Authority. It will be undertaken at selected bathing beaches where the waters are of different microbiological quality to allow a further investigation of the relationship between the levels of contamination and the incidence of illness.

  The results of the 1990 studies at Moreton (Wirral) and Ramsgate will be placed in the Library in early April.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish his latest estimate for each local authority in England of(a) the community charge for 1990–91, (b) the charge set for 1991–92 before the new grant announced on 19 March, (c) the charge for 1991–92 after the new grant, (d) the bill in 1991–92 after the community charge reduction scheme for a couple who had 75 per cent. of the average rateable value for their area and (e) the bill in 1991–92 for a couple who had 50 per cent. of the average rateable value for their area.

  Mr. Portillo
  The new grant announced yesterday will reduce charges set in England in 1991–92 by £140, or to zero where the local charge was below that figure. The details are as follows:

  Notes to table

  column 1: shows the headline community charge set on average in each authority for 1990–91;

  1991–92 Community Charges

  Bill for couple after charge reduction scheme

  1990–91 charge

  1991–92 charge set

  New 1991–92 charge

  at 75 per cent, average RV

  at 50 per cent, average RV

  (£ adult)

  (£ adult)

  (£ adult)

  (£ couple)

  (£ couple)

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  Total England

  357

  392

  252

  456

  356

  Total inner London boroughs including City

  352

  359

  219

  376

  307

  Total outer London boroughs

  356

  394

  254

  495

  405

  Total shire areas

  357

  390

  250

  449

  352

  Total Metropolitan areas

  360

  403

  263

  476

  358

  Greater London

  City of London

  288

  315

  175

  350

  350

  Camden

  500

  440

  300

  600

  461

  Greenwich

  350

  398

  258

  506

  372

  Hackney

  499

  462

  322

  514

  377

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  321

  387

  247

  494

  400

  Islington

  481

  516

  376

  613

  444

  Kensington and Chelsea

  379

  329

  189

  379

  379

  Lambeth

  522

  590

  450

  491

  362

  Lewisham

  297

  308

  168

  336

  336

  Southwark

  329

  328

  188

  377

  330

  Tower Hamlets

  297

  287

  147

  294

  294

  Wandsworth

  150

  137

  0

  0

  0

  Westminster

  199

  176

  36

  72

  72

  Barking and Dagenham

  280

  310

  170

  340

  328

  Barnet

  338

  387

  247

  494

  460

  Bexley

  280

  342

  202

  404

  333

  Brent

  470

  470

  330

  660

  588

  Bromley

  283

  330

  190

  380

  339

  Croydon

  287

  320

  180

  360

  354

  Ealing

  435

  395

  255

  510

  421

  Enfield

  329

  388

  248

  496

  399

  Haringey

  508

  560

  420

  782

  556

  Harrow

  322

  393

  253

  506

  411

  132
  Column 2: shows the latest information available to the Department of the Environment on community charges actually set in each authority for 1991–92. For most authorities the information is taken from returns to the Department; but in some cases the figures are taken from press reports or other sources;

  Column 3: shows what the 1991–92 charge in column 2 will be after the £140 reduction announced on 19 March;

  Column 4: shows the combined charge bill which will be paid by a couple living in a property with 75 per cent. of the average rateable value for their area, after any help they receive from the community charge reduction scheme;

  Column 5: is the same as column 4 but for a couple living in a property with 50 per cent. of the average rateable value for their area.

  The community charge paid by many people will be less than shown in column 3 of the table. Some will be helped by the community charge reduction scheme and people on low incomes may be entitled to a reduction of up to 80 per cent. through community charge benefit.

  The community charge reduction scheme helps those who have not moved since 1 April 1990 and who face an increase of more than £2 a week over their last rate bill, counting a maximum of two charges for their property. When first introduced, the Government published a "scheme charge" for each authority which was to be used to calculate the reduction to be given, unless the actual charge set were lower. This new grant means that actual charges set for 1991–92 will in every case be lower than the scheme charge and will thus form the basis for the reduction scheme. Therefore, one and two-adult households who have not moved should nowhere pay more than about £2 a week above what they paid in rates in 1989–90.
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  Bill for couple after charge reduction scheme

  1990–91 charge

  1991–92 charge set

  New 1991–92 charge

  at 75 per cent, average RV

  at 50 per cent, average RV

  (£ adult) 1

  (£ adult) 2

  (£ adult) 3

  (£ couple) 4

  (£ couple) 5

  Havering

  350

  369

  229

  458

  355

  Hillingdon

  290

  355

  215

  430

  405

  Hounslow

  396

  425

  285

  570

  431

  Kingston upon Thames

  345

  379

  239

  478

  395

  Merton

  280

  409

  269

  480

  354

  Newham

  449

  444

  304

  575

  418

  Redbridge

  290

  395

  255

  440

  328

  Richmond upon Thames

  395

  419

  279

  558

  417

  Sutton

  381

  400

  260

  519

  390

  Waltham Forest

  438

  437

  297

  541

  395

  Greater Manchester

  Bolton

  345

  406

  266

  439

  327

  Bury

  373

  436

  296

  527

  386

  Manchester

  425

  432

  292

  549

  401

  Oldham

  366

  409

  269

  433

  323

  Rochdale

  335

  389

  249

  459

  341

  Salford

  396

  440

  300

  499

  367

  Stockport

  399

  450

  310

  536

  392

  Tameside

  349

  410

  270

  456

  338

  Trafford

  298

  345

  205

  410

  381

  Wigan

  348

  408

  268

  485

  358

  Merseyside

  Knowsley

  370

  425

  285

  552

  402

  Liverpool

  449

  474

  334

  525

  385

  Sefton

  375

  423

  283

  534

  391

  St. Helens

  380

  401

  261

  504

  371

  Wirral

  341

  476

  336

  635

  458

  South Yorkshire

  Barnsley

  271

  325

  185

  369

  309

  Doncaster

  303

  343

  203

  406

  346

  Rotherham

  298

  372

  232

  450

  335

  Sheffield

  356

  360

  220

  441

  367

  Tyne and Wear

  Gateshead

  321

  367

  227

  419

  314

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  391

  456

  316

  490

  361

  North Tyneside

  354

  425

  285

  524

  384

  South Tyneside

  309

  360

  220

  430

  321

  Sunderland

  310

  355

  215

  413

  310

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  406

  406

  266

  498

  367

  Coventry

  394

  434

  294

  534

  391

  Dudley

  387

  415

  275

  529

  387

  Sandwell

  423

  459

  319

  495

  365

  Solihull

  393

  396

  256

  512

  402

  Walsall

  425

  425

  285

  563

  410

  Wolverhampton

  418

  415

  275

  544

  398

  West Yorkshire

  Bradford

  276

  363

  223

  409

  307

  Calderdale

  248

  318

  178

  355

  320

  Kirklees

  290

  380

  240

  396

  299

  Leeds

  351

  409

  269

  411

  308

  Wakefield

  313

  353

  213

  426

  325

  Avon

  Bath

  348

  385

  245

  457

  339

  Bristol

  425

  524

  384

  515

  378

  Kingswood

  357

  399

  259

  485

  358

  Northavon

  385

  407

  267

  530

  388

  Wansdyke

  361

  424

  284

  509

  374

  Woodspring

  394

  444

  304

  551

  402

  Bedfordshire

  Luton

  403

  390

  250

  500

  435

  Mid Bedfordshire

  397

  406

  266

  532

  421

  North Bedfordshire

  398

  404

  264

  527

  396

  South Bedfordshire

  414

  418

  278

  556

  456

  134 135

  Bill for couple after charge reduction scheme

  1990–91 charge

  1991–92 charge set

  New 1991–92 charge

  at 75 per cent, average RV

  at 50 per cent, average RV

  (£ adult) 1

  (£ adult) 2

  (£ adult) 3

  (£ couple) 4

  (£ couple) 5

  Berkshire

  Bracknell Forest

  393

  369

  229

  458

  375

  Newbury

  401

  386

  246

  491

  376

  Reading

  447

  474

  334

  491

  362

  Slough

  360

  331

  191

  382

  351

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  449

  428

  288

  575

  421

  Wokingham

  434

  404

  264

  527

  445

  Buckinghamshire

  Aylesbury Vale

  352

  351

  211

  422

  384

  Chiltern

  402

  391

  251

  502

  502

  Milton Keynes

  398

  455

  315

  513

  377

  South Buckinghamshire

  393

  361

  221

  442

  442

  Wycombe

  409

  408

  268

  536

  464

  Cambridgeshire

  Cambridge

  428

  469

  329

  569

  414

  East Cambridgeshire

  312

  355

  215

  414

  311

  Fenland

  293

  372

  232

  396

  299

  Huntingdonshire

  298

  336

  196

  393

  337

  Peterborough

  360

  407

  267

  460

  341

  South Cambridgeshire

  332

  345

  205

  409

  392

  Cheshire

  Chester

  401

  449

  309

  524

  384

  Congleton

  400

  433

  293

  516

  379

  Crewe and Nantwich

  417

  452

  312

  493

  363

  Ellesmere Port and Neston

  406

  449

  309

  523

  383

  Halton

  395

  465

  325

  456

  339

  Macclesfield

  430

  423

  283

  565

  427

  Vale Royal

  391

  432

  292

  485

  358

  Warrington

  394

  440

  300

  481

  355

  Cleveland

  Hartlepool

  385

  437

  297

  454

  337

  Langbaurgh-on-Tees

  421

  478

  338

  529

  387

  Middlesbrough

  429

  457

  317

  494

  364

  Stockton-on-Tees

  428

  440

  300

  533

  390

  Cornwall

  Caradon

  321

  376

  236

  389

  294

  Carrick

  318

  391

  251

  395

  298

  Kerrier

  329

  387

  247

  371

  282

  North Cornwall

  311

  354

  214

  394

  297

  Pen with

  317

  365

  225

  362

  276

  Restormel

  321

  365

  225

  389

  294

  Cumbria

  Allerdale

  289

  352

  212

  383

  290

  Barrow-in-Furness

  328

  416

  276

  368

  280

  Carlisle

  367

  439

  299

  410

  308

  Copeland

  328

  368

  228

  371

  282

  Eden

  297

  357

  217

  384

  291

  South Lakeland

  349

  414

  274

  442

  329

  Derbyshire

  Amber Valley

  342

  397

  257

  451

  335

  Bolsover

  296

  352

  212

  423

  317

  Chesterfield

  358

  405

  265

  451

  336

  Derby

  399

  410

  270

  509

  374

  Derbyshire Dales

  376

  417

  277

  494

  364

  Erewash

  363

  414

  274

  468

  347

  High Peak

  337

  401

  261

  457

  340

  North East Derbyshire

  364

  419

  279

  496

  365

  South Derbyshire

  384

  437

  297

  499

  367

  Devon

  East Devon

  345

  383

  243

  430

  321

  Exeter

  344

  377

  237

  404

  304

  Mid Devon

  338

  394

  254

  380

  288

  North Devon

  319

  384

  244

  363

  277

  136 137

  Bill for couple after charge reduction scheme

  1990–91 charge

  1991–92 charge set

  New 1991–92 charge

  at 75 per cent, average RV

  at 50 per cent, average RV

  (£ adult) 1

  (£ adult) 2

  (£ adult) 3

  (£ couple) 4

  (£ couple) 5

  Plymouth

  350

  380

  240

  432

  323

  South Hams

  334

  380

  240

  422

  316

  Teignbridge

  365

  405

  265

  422

  316

  Torbay

  395

  380

  240

  470

  348

  Torridge

  285

  346

  206

  333

  257

  West Devon

  340

  370

  230

  393

  296

  Dorset

  Bournemouth

  320

  348

  208

  416

  344

  Christchurch

  339

  356

  216

  432

  357

  East Dorset

  358

  386

  246

  492

  396

  North Dorset

  295

  340

  200

  399

  307

  Poole

  325

  340

  200

  400

  362

  Purbeck

  291

  318

  178

  355

  325

  West Dorset

  313

  355

  215

  388

  294

  Weymouth and Portland

  336

  380

  240

  407

  306

  Durham

  Chester-Le-Street

  343

  409

  269

  440

  328

  Darlington

  356

  416

  276

  462

  343

  Derwentside

  332

  416

  276

  405

  305

  Durham

  355

  419

  279

  449

  334

  Easington

  278

  350

  210

  377

  286

  Sedgefield

  303

  370

  230

  416

  312

  Teesdale

  245

  313

  173

  341

  262

  Wear Valley

  308

  337

  197

  383

  290

  East Sussex

  Brighton

  373

  396

  256

  507

  372

  Eastbourne

  385

  414

  274

  544

  398

  Hastings

  380

  414

  274

  453

  337

  Hove

  330

  337

  197

  394

  358

  Lewes

  351

  384

  244

  489

  393

  Rother

  359

  372

  232

  464

  390

  Wealden

  349

  387

  247

  493

  376

  Essex

  Basildon

  443

  495

  355

  689

  494

  Braintree

  348

  357

  217

  434

  376

  Brentwood

  375

  369

  229

  458

  458

  Castle Point

  377

  355

  215

  430

  423

  Chelmsford

  397

  368

  228

  456

  438

  Colchester

  335

  348

  208

  416

  381

  Epping Forest

  381

  388

  248

  497

  477

  Harlow

  425

  459

  319

  638

  478

  Maldon

  347

  343

  203

  406

  406

  Rochford

  388

  357

  217

  434

  434

  Southend-on-Sea

  378

  348

  208

  416

  416

  Tendring

  346

  346

  206

  411

  376

  Thurrock

  417

  408

  268

  536

  434

  Uttlesford

  357

  348

  208

  416

  416

  Gloucestershire

  Cheltenham

  364

  416

  276

  472

  349

  Cotswold

  389

  394

  254

  503

  370

  Forest of Dean

  342

  412

  272

  388

  293

  Gloucester

  354

  401

  261

  408

  307

  Stroud

  380

  445

  305

  452

  336

  Tewkesbury

  362

  385

  245

  477

  353

  Hampshire

  Basingstoke and Deane

  323

  327

  187

  374

  336

  East Hampshire

  368

  363

  223

  447

  381

  Eastleigh

  368

  385

  245

  474

  351

  Fareham

  360

  365

  225

  450

  374

  Gosport

  340

  386

  246

  431

  322

  Hart

  395

  365

  225

  451

  421

  Havant

  339

  369

  229

  459

  356

  New Forest

  328

  339

  199

  398

  341

  Portsmouth

  309

  319

  179

  358

  308

  Rushmoor

  325

  358

  218

  436

  357

  Southampton

  317

  395

  255

  405

  305

  138 139

  Bill for couple after charge reduction scheme

  1990–91 charge

  1991–92 charge set

  New 1991–92 charge

  at 75 per cent. average RV

  at 50 per cent. average RV

  (£ adult) 1

  (£ adult) 2

  (£ adult) 3

  (£ couple) 4

  (£ couple) 5

  Test Valley

  329

  320

  180

  361

  359

  Winchester

  359

  352

  212

  424

  379

  Hereford and Worcester

  Bromsgrove

  339

  362

  222

  444

  357

  Hereford

  289

  351

  211

  341

  262

  Leominster

  281

  341

  201

  357

  273

  Malvern Hills

  343

  379

  239

  463

  343

  Redditch

  345

  402

  262

  463

  343

  South Herefordshire

  279

  327

  187

  369

  281

  Worcester

  340

  397

  257

  452

  336

  Wychavon

  324

  358

  218

  435

  362

  Wyre Forest

  343

  393

  253

  440

  328

  Hertfordshire

  Broxbourne

  361

  361

  221

  441

  412

  Dacorum

  400

  367

  227

  454

  439

  East Hertfordshire

  379

  369

  229

  458

  428

  Hertsmere

  416

  369

  229

  457

  457

  North Hertfordshire

  399

  369

  229

  458

  440

  St. Albans

  396

  383

  243

  487

  471

  Stevenage

  435

  433

  293

  586

  452

  Three Rivers

  423

  415

  275

  551

  512

  Watford

  404

  434

  294

  574

  417

  Welwyn Hatfield

  445

  459

  319

  638

  478

  Humberside

  Beverley

  373

  426

  286

  564

  411

  Boothferry

  291

  360

  220

  416

  312

  Cleethorpes

  367

  434

  294

  476

  352

  East Yorkshire

  326

  387

  247

  437

  326

  Glanford

  361

  424

  284

  459

  341

  Great Grimsby

  384

  431

  291

  443

  330

  Holderness

  364

  427

  288

  467

  346

  Kingston upon Hull

  307

  370

  230

  402

  303

  Scunthorpe

  356

  409

  269

  480

  355

  Isle of Wight

  Medina

  342

  335

  195

  390

  328

  South Wight

  374

  378

  238

  476

  354

  Kent

  Ashford

  299

  316

  176

  352

  328

  Canterbury

  300

  334

  194

  388

  314

  Dartford

  330

  345

  205

  405

  305

  Dover

  298

  333

  193

  383

  290

  Gillingham

  285

  313

  173

  345

  299

  Gravesham

  294

  294

  154

  308

  308

  Maidstone

  330

  358

  218

  429

  320

  Rochester upon Medway

  249

  191

  51

  102

  102

  Sevenoaks

  308

  331

  191

  382

  341

  Shepway

  347

  343

  203

  407

  342

  Swale

  301

  334

  194

  359

  274

  Thanet

  300

  315

  175

  349

  316

  Tonbridge and Mailing

  320

  348

  208

  417

  323

  Tunbridge Wells

  315

  348

  208

  417

  321

  Lancashire

  Blackburn

  365

  427

  287

  354

  271

  Blackpool

  384

  434

  294

  451

  335

  Burnley

  299

  349

  209

  328

  253

  Chorley

  363

  434

  294

  424

  317

  Fylde

  388

  408

  268

  494

  364

  Hyndburn

  315

  383

  243

  338

  260

  Lancaster

  385

  419

  279

  408

  307

  Pendle

  299

  358

  218

  329

  254

  Preston

  384

  454

  314

  418

  313

  Ribble Valley

  358

  413

  273

  439

  327

  Rossendale

  338

  401

  261

  368

  280

  South Ribble

  367

  427

  287

  423

  317

  West Lancashire

  378

  400

  260

  497

  366

  Wyre

  376

  399

  259

  446

  332

  140 141

  Bill for couple after charge reduction scheme

  1990–91 charge

  1991–92 charge set

  New 1991–92 charge

  at 75 per cent, average RV

  at 50 per cent, average RV

  (£ adult) 1

  (£ adult) 2

  (£ adult) 3

  (£ couple) 4

  (£ couple) 5

  Leicestershire

  Blaby

  343

  368

  228

  456

  361

  Charnwood

  372

  397

  257

  481

  355

  Harborough

  367

  405

  265

  529

  387

  Hinckley and Bosworth

  347

  378

  238

  469

  347

  Leicester

  405

  459

  319

  427

  320

  Melton

  339

  390

  250

  457

  339

  North West Leicestershire

  366

  407

  267

  457

  339

  Oadby and Wigston

  370

  427

  287

  509

  374

  Rutland

  370

  394

  254

  508

  373

  Lincolnshire

  Boston

  280

  355

  215

  379

  288

  East Lindsey

  277

  358

  218

  371

  282

  Lincoln

  284

  364

  224

  359

  274

  North Kesteven

  282

  345

  205

  401

  302

  South Holland

  284

  357

  217

  392

  296

  South Kesteven

  279

  340

  200

  399

  301

  West Lindsey

  286

  350

  210

  387

  293

  Norfolk

  Breckland

  310

  375

  235

  404

  304

  Broadland

  320

  368

  228

  453

  337

  Great Yarmouth

  326

  400

  260

  386

  292

  King's Lynn and West Norfolk

  285

  344

  204

  381

  289

  North Norfolk

  291

  325

  185

  369

  296

  Norwich

  365

  433

  293

  424

  317

  South Norfolk

  313

  370

  230

  446

  332

  Northamptonshire

  Corby

  350

  390

  250

  445

  331

  Daventry

  354

  389

  249

  498

  386

  East Northamptonshire

  306

  360

  220

  425

  318

  Kettering

  323

  370

  230

  436

  325

  Northampton

  349

  366

  226

  453

  369

  South Northamptonshire

  358

  366

  226

  453

  372

  Wellingborough

  288

  269

  129

  258

  258

  Northumberland

  Alnwick

  347

  397

  257

  432

  323

  Berwick-upon-Tweed

  323

  360

  220

  396

  299

  Blyth Valley

  415

  440

  300

  474

  351

  Castle Morpeth

  437

  444

  304

  555

  404

  Tynedale

  389

  443

  303

  448

  333

  Wansbeck

  348

  395

  255

  426

  318

  North Yorkshire

  Craven

  256

  311

  171

  343

  280

  Hambleton

  312

  330

  190

  381

  330

  Harrogate

  362

  394

  254

  470

  348

  Richmondshire

  276

  329

  189

  379

  325

  Ryedale

  289

  347

  207

  396

  299

  Scarborough

  276

  324

  184

  368

  287

  Selby

  283

  345

  205

  401

  302

  York

  264

  324

  184

  345

  265

  Nottinghamshire

  Ashfield

  320

  385

  245

  394

  297

  Bassetlaw

  371

  436

  296

  431

  322

  Broxtowe

  380

  405

  265

  465

  345

  Gedling

  371

  407

  267

  481

  356

  Mansfield

  378

  435

  295

  421

  315

  Newark and Sherwood

  377

  413

  273

  437

  326

  Nottingham

  390

  435

  295

  432

  323

  Rushcliffe

  394

  405

  265

  525

  385

  Oxfordshire

  Cherwell

  385

  389

  249

  498

  370

  Oxford

  489

  484

  344

  590

  428

  South Oxfordshire

  456

  449

  309

  555

  405

  142 143

  Bill for couple after charge reduction scheme

  1990–91 charge

  1991–92 charge set

  New 1991–92 charge

  at 75 per cent, average RV

  at 50 per cent, average RV

  (£ adult) 1

  (£ adult) 2

  (£ adult) 3

  (£ couple) 4

  (£ couple) 5

  Vale of White Horse

  412

  405

  265

  531

  394

  West Oxfordshire

  412

  380

  240

  481

  370

  Shropshire

  Bridgnorth

  315

  351

  211

  421

  336

  North Shropshire

  317

  366

  226

  417

  313

  Oswestry

  329

  403

  263

  387

  293

  Shrewsbury and Atcham

  333

  403

  263

  442

  329

  South Shropshire

  310

  372

  232

  376

  286

  The Wrekin

  383

  428

  288

  458

  340

  Somerset

  Mendip

  361

  415

  275

  449

  334

  Sedgemoor

  353

  388

  248

  458

  340

  South Somerset

  363

  411

  271

  452

  336

  Taunton Deane

  351

  386

  246

  444

  331

  West Somerset

  335

  396

  256

  448

  333

  Staffordshire

  Cannock Chase

  356

  409

  269

  460

  342

  East Staffordshire

  338

  384

  244

  431

  322

  Lichfield

  349

  376

  236

  472

  401

  Newcastle-under-Lyme

  349

  409

  269

  440

  328

  South Staffordshire

  325

  349

  209

  418

  395

  Stafford

  339

  376

  236

  473

  354

  Staffordshire Moorlands

  323

  377

  237

  444

  331

  Stoke-on-Trent

  313

  412

  272

  391

  295

  Tamworth

  329

  386

  246

  467

  346

  Suffolk

  Babergh

  330

  375

  235

  453

  337

  Forest Heath

  372

  357

  217

  410

  308

  Ipswich

  440

  464

  324

  471

  349

  Mid Suffolk

  332

  370

  230

  440

  328

  St. Edmundsbury

  319

  379

  239

  429

  321

  Suffolk Coastal

  390

  370

  230

  461

  363

  Waveney

  350

  392

  252

  406

  305

  Surrey

  Elmbridge

  449

  479

  339

  677

  502

  Epsom and Ewell

  452

  467

  327

  654

  491

  Guildford

  400

  391

  251

  501

  406

  Mole Valley

  388

  395

  255

  510

  404

  Reigate and Banstead

  445

  411

  271

  542

  432

  Runnymede

  295

  338

  198

  396

  380

  Spelthorne

  368

  387

  247

  488

  360

  Surrey Heath

  401

  393

  253

  505

  448

  Tandridge

  373

  413

  273

  540

  395

  Waverley

  410

  396

  256

  512

  432

  Woking

  359

  400

  260

  519

  425

  Warwickshire

  North Warwickshire

  391

  459

  319

  544

  397

  Nuneaton and Bedworth

  386

  476

  336

  536

  392

  Rugby

  347

  428

  288

  536

  392

  Stratford-on-Avon

  381

  414

  274

  549

  447

  Warwick

  387

  409

  269

  538

  439

  West Sussex

  Adur

  351

  406

  266

  470

  348

  Arun

  314

  360

  220

  440

  336

  Chichester

  303

  310

  170

  341

  341

  Crawley

  345

  375

  235

  449

  334

  Horsham

  304

  329

  189

  378

  337

  Mid Sussex

  317

  345

  205

  410

  373

  Worthing

  296

  335

  195

  390

  326

  Wiltshire

  Kennet

  307

  353

  213

  425

  340

  North Wiltshire

  323

  379

  239

  438

  327

  Salisbury

  313

  348

  208

  417

  352

  Thamesdown

  337

  399

  259

  436

  325

  144 145

  Bill for couple after charge reduction scheme

  1990–91 charge

  1991–92 charge set

  New 1991–92 charge

  at 75 per cent, average RV

  at 50 per cent, average RV

  (£ adult) 1

  (£ adult) 2

  (£ adult) 3

  (£ couple) 4

  (£ couple) 5

  West Wiltshire

  333

  378

  238

  434

  324

  All Purpose Authority

  Isles of Scilly

  280

  245

  105

  210

  210

EMPLOYMENT

  Employment Training
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the latest information he has, for each region and for Great Britain as a whole, on the number of employment training participants who fall either within(a) the Guarantee group and (b) the Aim group; if he will give comparable data for one year ago;

  Employment training

  Aim and guarantee group entrants1

  April to September 1989

  April to September 1990

  Region

  Guarantee (per cent.)

  Aim (per cent.)

  Guarantee (per cent.)

  Aim (per cent.)

  South East

  8

  26

  9

  16

  London

  11

  32

  12

  21

  South West

  13

  25

  13

  16

  West Midlands

  13

  30

  13

  26

  East Midlands and Eastern

  15

  31

  15

  20

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  16

  27

  15

  21

  North West

  14

  31

  13

  23

  Northern

  18

  28

  16

  24

  Wales

  16

  26

  14

  21

  Scotland

  17

  33

  15

  28

  Great Britain

  15

  30

  14

  23

  1 Estimated.

  Note: Great Britain total includes a small number of trainees covered by national contracts and residential training colleges not included in regional totals. The table shows the latest information for this financial year and comparable data for the previous year.

  Source: ET management information system and ET starts database.

  Cathedral Employment Enterprises
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the grant to Cathedral Employment Enterprises for projects in Wandsworth for each of the last three years.

  Mr. Jackson
  Details of the grants to Cathedral Employment Enterprises for projects in Wandsworth are available only for the last two years. The amounts are:

  £

  1989–90

  564,355

  1990–91

  1478,822

  1 This figure includes an estimate for March 1991.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what discussion he has had with Cathedral Employment Enterprises on future funding of (i) the Earlsfield job club, (ii) English for Asian girls project, Earlsfield, (iii) general office skills training, Earlsfield, and (iv) Milan Asian Centre, Tooting; and if he will make a statement.
  146
  and if he will make a statement about how he intends to monitor participation by both groups when ET is delivered by training and enterprise councils.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Government's guarantee and aim covers a range of options to help unemployed people back to work: from employment training provided through TECs to others offered by the Employment Service. My Department monitors the provision offered by TECs in the light of the overall position.

  The information requested is provided in the following table.

  Mr. Jackson
  (i) The current contract with Earlsfield job club expires on 28 June 1991. The award of a contract beyond that date will be subject to competitive tendering during April/May.

  (ii)-(iv) These projects are currently subject to negotiation by AZTEC.

  Youth Training Scheme
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to review the guarantee that all 16-year-olds with special needs will be offered a place, if they so wish, on a youth training scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Government remain fully committed to the guarantee of the offer of a suitable YT place to all young people who are under 18, not in full-time education or in a job and who are seeking entry to YT.

  This applies to young people with special needs as well as to all other young people. Trainees with special training needs are identified by a process of endorsement, and

  147
  training and enterprise councils—and, where relevant, area offices of the Employment Department—are obliged to provide suitable high-quality training for them.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Female Circumcision
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures the Government are taking to curtail the activities of persons entering the country to perform circumcision operations on female children.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Female circumcision is a criminal offence. On convicting a person who does not have the right of abode of such an offence it would be open to a court to recommend deportation.

  Life Sentences
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted murderers are at present in prison serving life sentences; and what is the cost of keeping one such prisoner in prison for(a) 15, (b) 20 or (c) 25 years.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  On 31 December 1990, the latest date for which figures are readily available, it is estimated that 2,300 prisoners were serving life sentences for murder in prison establishments in England and Wales. Detainees during Her Majesty's pleasure and persons sentenced to custody for life are included. It is not possible to distinguish the costs of holding a particular class of prisoner; the average cost of holding a prisoner was £321 per week in the year ending 31 March 1990.

  Escapees
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners escaped from Spring Hall open prison in 1988, 1989 and 1990; how many were recaptured in each year; and how many of those not recaptured were drug offenders.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The number of prisoners who absconded from Spring Hill open prison in 1988, 1989 and 1990 was as follows:

  Number

  1988

  46

  1989

  49

  1990

  73

  In each of those years the number of prisoners unlawfully at large from Spring Hill open prison who were recaptured was as follows:

  Number

  1988

  45

  1989

  48

  1990

  57

  Of those who remain unlawfully at large, the number sentenced for drug-related offences is as follows for each of the three years.
  148

  Number

  1988

  1

  1989

  Nil

  1990

  7

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners escaped from North Sea Camp open prison in 1988, 1989 and 1990; how many were recaptured in each year; and how many of those not recaptured were drug offenders.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The number of prisoners who absconded from North Sea Camp open prison in 1988, 1989 and 1990 was as follows:

  Number

  1988

  5

  1989

  32

  1990

  22

  In each of those years the number of prisoners unlawfully at large from North Sea Camp open prison who were recaptured was as follows:

  Number

  1988

  5

  1989

  31

  1990

  20

  Of those who remain unlawfully at large, none was sentenced for drug-related offences.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners escaped from Morton Hall open prison in 1988, 1989 and 1990; how many were recaptured in each year; and how many of those not recaptured were drug offenders.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The number of prisoners who absconded from Morton Hall open prison in 1988, 1989 and 1990 was as follows:

  Number

  1988

  36

  1989

  34

  1990

  37

  In each of those years the number of prisoners unlawfully at large from Morton Hall open prison who were recaptured was as follows:

  Number

  1988

  35

  1989

  34

  1990

  36

  Of those who remain unlawfully at large, none was sentenced for drug-related offences.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners escaped from Standford Hill open prison in 1988, 1989 and 1990; how many were recaptured in each year; and how many of those not recaptured were drug offenders.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The number of prisoners who absconded from Standford Hill open prison in 1988, 1989 and 1990 was as follows:
  149

  Number

  1988

  79

  1989

  110

  1990

  122

  In each of those years the number of prisoners unlawfully at large from Standford Hill open prison who were recaptured was as follows:

  Number

  1988

  69

  1989

  105

  1990

  97

  Of those who remain unlawfully at large, the number sentenced for drug-related offences is as follows for each of the three years.

  Number

  1988

  2

  1989

  2

  1990

  2

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners escaped from Rudgate open prison in 1988, 1989 and 1990; how many were recaptured in each year; and how many of those not recaptured were drug offenders.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The number of prisoners who absconded from Rudgate open prison in 1988, 1989 and 1990 was as follows:

  Number

  1988

  98

  1989

  120

  1990

  107

  In each of those years the number of prisoners unlawfully at large from Rudgate open prison who were recaptured was as follows:

  Number

  1988

  96

  1989

  119

  1990

  102

  Of those who remain unlawfully at large, none was sentenced for drug-related offences.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners escaped from East Sutton Park open prison in 1988, 1989 and 1990; how many were recaptured in each year; and how many of those not recaptured were drug offenders.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The number of prisoners who absconded from East Sutton Park open prison in 1988, 1989 and 1990 was as follows:

  Number

  1988

  20

  1989

  19

  1990

  51

  In each of those years the number of prisoners unlawfully at large from East Sutton Park open prison who were recaptured was as follows:
  150

  Number

  1988

  15

  1989

  7

  1990

  23

  Of those who remain unlawfully at large, none was sentenced for drug-related offences is as follows for each of the three years.

  Number

  1988

  nil

  1989

  8

  1990

  25

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners escaped from Askham Grange open prison in 1988, 1989 and 1990; how many were recaptured in each year; and how many of those not recaptured were drug offenders.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The number of prisoners who absconded from Askham Grange open prison in 1988, 1989 and 1990 was as follows:

  Number

  1988

  13

  1989

  12

  1990

  7

  In each of those years the number of prisoners unlawfully at large from Askham Grange open prison who were recaptured was as follows:

  Number

  1988

  6

  1989

  11

  1990

  5

  Of those who remain unlawfully at large, the number sentenced for drug-related offences is as follows for each of the three years:

  Number

  1988

  1

  1989

  1

  1990

  Nil

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners escaped from Leyhill open prison in 1988, 1989 and 1990; how many were recaptured in each year; and how many of those not recaptured were drug offenders.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The number of prisoners who absconded from Leyhill open prison in 1988, 1989 and 1990 was as follows:

  Number

  1988

  32

  1989

  28

  1990

  16

  In each of those years the number of prisoners unlawfully at large from Leyhill open prison who were recaptured was as follows:

  151

  Number

  1988

  31

  1989

  28

  1990

  12

  Of those who remain unlawfully at large, none was sentenced for drug-related offences.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners escaped from Kirkham open prison in 1988, 1989 and 1990; how many were recaptured in each year; and how many of those not recaptured were drug offenders.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The number of prisoners who absconded from Kirkham open prison in 1988, 1989 and 1990 was as follows:

  Number

  1988

  167

  1989

  147

  1990

  145

  In each of those years the number of prisoners unlawfully at large from Kirkham open prison who were recaptured was as follows:

  Number

  1988

  162

  1989

  145

  1990

  133

  Of those who remain unlawfully at large, the number sentenced for drug-related offences is as follows for each of the three years.

  Number

  1988

  Nil

  1989

  Nil

  1990

  1

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners escaped from Highpoint open prison in 1988,1989 and 1990; how many were recaptured in each year; and how many of those not recaptured were drug offenders.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I regret that this prison's records for 1988 are not available. The number of prisoners who absconded from Highpoint open prison in 1989 and 1990 was as follows:

  Number

  1989

  1

  1990

  10

  In each of those years the number of prisoners unlawfully at large from Highpoint open prison who were recaptured was as follows:

  Number

  1989

  1

  1990

  5

  Of those who remain unlawfully at large, the number sentenced for drug-related offences is as follows for each year.
  152

  Number

  1989

  Nil

  1990

  1

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners escaped from Ford open prison in 1988, 1989 and 1990; how many were recaptured in each year; and how many of those not recaptured were drug offenders.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The number of prisoners who absconded from Ford open prison in 1988, 1989 and 1990 was as follows:

  Number

  1988

  79

  1989

  74

  1990

  71

  In each of those years the number of prisoners unlawfully at large from Ford open Prision who were recaptured was as follows:

  Number

  1988

  71

  1989

  64

  1990

  61

  Of those who remain unlawfully at large, the number sentenced for drug-related offences is as follows for each of the three year.

  Number

  1988

  1

  1989

  Nil

  1990

  1

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners escaped from Sudbury open prison in 1988, 1989 and 1990; how many were recaptured in each year; and how many of those not recaptured were drug offenders.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The number of prisoners who absconded from Sudbury open prison in 1988, 1989 and 1990 was as follows:

  Number

  1988

  111

  1989

  92

  1990

  90

  In each of those years the number of prisoners unlawfully at large from Sudbury open prison who were recaptured was as follows:

  Number

  1988

  106

  1989

  82

  1990

  75

  Of those who remain unlawfully at large none was sentenced for drug-related offences.

  Electoral Registration
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will consider bringing in legislation to enable women escaping domestic violence to register as electors without revealing their new addresses;

  (2) how many representations he has received asking for women fleeing domestic violence to be able to register as electors without revealing their new addresses.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Since September 1989 we have received four letters from hon. Members, five from local authorities and six from members of the public on this issue. I recognise that the hon. Member has raised a matter of genuine concern, but there are important democratic reasons for publishing the names and addresses of registered electors which make an amendment of the existing electoral law in the way proposed unacceptable.

  Hunting
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list Government funds made available to fox hunts in England and Wales since 1979.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Home Office has made no such funds available to fox hunts.

  Drug Offences
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions with prison sentences there have been in each of the last three years for drug-related offences.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information requested is contained in table 3.4 of the Home Office statistical bulletin "Statistics of the misuse of drugs: seizures and offenders dealt with, United Kingdom, 1989", a copy of which is in the Library.

SCOTLAND

  Eskbank Bypass
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date he expects the A7 Edinburgh to Galashiels trunk route bypass of Eskbank to be opened to traffic.

  Mr. Lang
  Construction work on the A7 Dalkeith western bypass is expected to be completed and the road opened to traffic this summer several months ahead of schedule.

  Historic Buildings Council
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those persons who have, directly or indirectly, been in receipt of grants from the Historic Buildings Council in each of the past 10 years, while serving as members of the council.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Historic building repair grants are awarded by my right hon. Friend, having first taken advice from the Historic Buildings Council for Scotland. In the past 10 years, one member of the council, Mr. Marc Ellington, has received historic building repair grant on one listed building while serving as a member of the council.
  154
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many grants have been authorised by the Historic Buildings Council in respect of Towie Barclay castle; what has been the value in each case; and in which years they were made.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The following historic building repair grants were approved for Towie Barclay castle and steadings:

  Amount of grant £

  Paid

  Towie Barclay castle

  Phase I

  8,800

  1972–74

  Phase II

  2,000

  1976–77

  Towie Barclay castle steadings

  36,684

  1987–89

  Tourism
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what level of financial support his Department has given to tourism in Scotland in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 14 March 1991]: The information is as follows:

  Financial year

  Expenditure £ million (cash)

  1985–86

  18·0

  1986–87

  21·5

  1987–88

  17·3

  1988–89

  18·7

  1989–90

  22·0

  Notes:

  1. The figures for 1985–89 are in respect of expenditure on the promotion of tourism by the Scottish Tourist Board, the Highlands and Islands Development Board and the Scottish Development Agency. The figure for 1989–90 is in respect of the Scottish Tourist Board and the Highlands and Islands Development Board only.

  2. Information in respect of the Scottish Development Agency for that year could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The Scottish Development Agency is involved in many projects with a tourism element, including training initiatives relevant to tourism, support for conferences held in Scotland, strategic studies, physical works, small business advice and environmental renewal.

  3. Provision by the Highlands and Islands Development Board is through its marketing and projects programmes and under its section 8 assistance scheme; the figures do not include salary and administration costs incurred by the Board.

  4. Total expenditure by the Scottish Tourist Board is provided. including salary and administration costs, in performing its statutory functions of promoting Scotland as a tourist destination, both within the United Kingdom and overseas, and encouraging investment in tourism infrastructure.

  Shackleton Crash (South Harris)
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons it was decided not to hold a fatal accident inquiry into the RAF Shackleton crash on South Harris in 1990.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 15 March 1991]: I have been asked to reply.

  On behalf of my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate, who has responsibility for fatal accident inquiries, I advise the hon. Member that the question

  155
  whether such an inquiry should be held received careful consideration. It is not the practice of the Lord Advocate, however, to divulge his reasons for deciding not to hold an inquiry.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Telephone Use
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement on proposals relating to low telephone users.

  Mr. Lilley
  British Telecom has agreed to introduce an improved and better targeted low user scheme this year. Low users will be able to opt to pay only half the standard rental, and get 30 free call units per quarter. The new scheme will be focused to benefit people who rely on the telephone as a lifeline. BT expects that more than 2 million people will be eligible for the new scheme.

  Telecommunications
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the growth in telecommunications since 1984.

  Mr. Lilley
  The United Kingdom has one of the fastest growing telecommunications markets in the world. The number of connections on the fixed network has grown by over 25 per cent. since 1984, and the volume of calls has increased by more than 60 per cent. in the same period. The growth in mobile services is even more spectacular, and there are now more than 1·1 million cellular radio subscribers. The United Kingdom equipment market has grown by over 60 per cent. since 1984, and the range of choice has increased substantially, and the United Kingdom has by far the largest value added services market in Europe.

  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement on the Government's telecommunications policies.

  Mr. Lilley
  I set out the Government's proposals for liberalising the United Kingdom telecommunications market in my statement to the House on 5 March. My aim is to build on the policies of competition, choice and private enterprise that have been so successful, and to create the most open and dynamic telecommunications market in the world. The White Paper, "Competition and Choice: Telecommunications Policy for the 1990s", is available in the Library for Members who may wish to study the proposals in more depth.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effect on consumer choice of the introduction of equal access, outlined in his Department's White Paper on telecommunications policy.

  Mr. Lilley
  The introduction of equal access will widen consumer choice substantially. It will make it simpler for consumers to select which operator carries their long-distance calls. They will be able to choose the operator providing the best or cheapest service.

  Trade Statistics
  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the balance of trade between the United Kingdom and(a) Poland, (b) Australia and (c) South Africa last year; and what were the principal elements for each.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  In 1990, the United Kingdom had a positive visible trade balance of £606·5 million with Australia and £34·9 million with South Africa accounted for mainly by machinery and transport equipment. The balance of trade deficit with Poland was £135·7 million, the main elements of which were iron and steel.

  Domestic Products (Labelling)
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with trading standards officers about misleading labelling of domestic products.

  Mr. Leigh
  While I have not met trading standards officers specifically to discuss the subject of misleading labelling the question of environmental claims in respect of goods was raised as part of a general discussion I had with representatives of the Institute of Trading Standards Administration, when I met them on 20 February.

  North Devon Manufacturers Association
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has received any adverse comments about the work of the North Devon Manufacturers Association.

  Mr. Lilley
  On the contrary. I have heard nothing but good of its efforts to represent and support industry in the north Devon area throughout its 20 years of existence, and I wish it well in the future.

  Exporters
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on the categories of companies that have performed best in export markets over the last four years; and what assessments he has made of the reason for their success.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The greatest success is achieved by companies that make a long-term commitment to export markets. We believe that the level and quality of management involvement is an important factor in success. Manufacturing exports increased by 70 per cent. in volume over the past 10 years.

  Bulgaria
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will meet the Bulgarian Ministers of Trade and Industry to discuss ways of increasing British assistance to Bulgaria; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Within the past few weeks I have met Mrs. Todorova and Mr. Daskalov, two of the three Bulgarian deputy Ministers of Foreign Economic Relations. The Government are providing assistance to Bulgaria through the IMF and the European Community and bilaterally via the know-how fund administered by my
  157
  right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. My Department will continue its efforts to stimulate trade and investment, supplemented by the support of the East European Trade Council whose chairman is visiting Bulgaria this week.

  Consumer Affairs
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met representatives of the local authorities trading standards officers to discuss consumer affairs.

  Mr. Leigh
  Although my right hon. Friend has not had any such meetings, I met representatives of the Institute of Trading Standards Administration last month to discuss consumer affairs.

  Advice Agencies
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further assessment his Department has made of the implications of the poll tax on the workload of citizens advice bureaux and other advice-giving agencies.

  Mr. Leigh
  Citizens advice bureaux have had to deal with a number of inquiries arising from the introduction of the community charge, just as they used to on rates. The number of inquiries on the community charge rose in 1989–90 compared to 1988–89, but there was no significant change in the total number of inquiries dealt with by bureaux in 1989–90 compared to 1988–89. Figures relating to the current financial year are not yet available.

  The Department of Environment has agreed to give the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux £36,000 this year to help with the costs of training bureaux workers to deal with these inquiries. The Scottish Office has also given Citizens Advice Scotland £36,000 over the last two years for the same purpose.

  Inward Investment (USA)
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on inward investment from the United States of America.

  Mr. Leigh
  The United Kingdom continues to be the preferred location for United States investment in Europe. United States Department of Commerce figures show that at end 1989 Britain's share of United States direct investment into the European Community stood at 41 per cent., representing a stock figure of over £30 billion.

  Kuwait
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his Department's role in helping British firms to play a part in the reconstruction of Kuwait.

  Mr. Lilley
  The Kuwait reconstruction co-ordination team in my Department is working closely with industry to help develop links with the Kuwaiti authorities responsible for planning and implementing reconstruction and to disseminate information about opportunities. A number of DTI/industry sectoral groups have been set up for this purpose to cover the areas most relevant to Kuwait's likely requirements. A prospectus setting out the experience and 158
  capabilities of United Kingdom industry and listing more than 160 companies was presented to the Government of Kuwait by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 9 February. The DTI has also helped set up a small team of business representatives in Kuwait to promote British industry's interests, and one of my officials accompanied a group of senior business men on a visit to Kuwait on 10 and 11 March. A list is being compiled of companies which have expressed an interest in reconstruction work.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the investment of United Kingdom firms in the reconstruction of Kuwait.

  Mr. Lilley
  Many British companies wish to take part in the reconstruction of Kuwait and have invested considerable time and resources in developing proposals and in responding to invitations to tender. The DTI is helping British firms to establish working relations with the Kuwaiti authorities which warmly welcome British interest in participating in the reconstruction process.

  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by when his Department hopes to have created a database of British companies interested in competing for contracts with the Government of Kuwait after the initial emergency programme; and if he will list the companies included, by category.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 14 March 1991]: About 2,500 companies are now registered on the data base. My Department is still receiving many inquries from companies wishing to register their interests. For reasons of commercial confidentiality, I cannot reveal their names.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his most recent estimate of the balance of trade in information technology with Japan.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  There is no statistically recognised definition of information technology. However, divisions 75 and 76 of the standard international trade classification include information technology products and the estimated crude deficit in these divisions in 1990 was £1·8 billion. Our exports to Japan in these categories in 1990 increased in value by 17 per cent. over 1989.

  Industrial Development (North of England)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will visit the north of England to meet representatives of industry to discuss matters relating to his Department's activities in industrial development.

  Mr. Leigh
  During recent visits to the north of England, my colleagues and I have met a broad spectrum of local business leaders and discussed matters relating to industrial development. In the near future the Secretary of State will be meeting representatives of the Manchester financial and professional forum and the Tyne and Wear chamber of commerce. I have two planned visits to the north-east, where I have a particular interest in view of my position as godparent Minister for the region.

  Eastern Europe
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the prospects for trade with the countries of eastern Europe.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The short-term prospects for trade with most of the countries of eastern Europe have worsened this year. However, the prospects of investment in and longer term trade with Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia, are continuing to improve as their governments press ahead with reform and establish a proper legal and fiscal framework for business.

  Steel Industry
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to meet the chairman of British Steel to discuss the future of the steel industry.

  Mr. Leigh
  My right hon. Friend meets the chairman of British Steel whenever appropriate. Their last meeting was on 7 September, and there are no plans for a further meeting at this stage.

  International Trade
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the development of simpler international trade procedures.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The development of simpler international trade procedures is largely the responsibility of the

  United Kingdom visible crude trade balances

  £ million2

  Division of SITC1

  1979

  1984

  1989

  04 Cereals and cereal preparations

  -404·0

  363·7

  229·4

  77 Electrical machinery etc.

  46·9

  -1,041·4

  -1,630·4

  78 Road vehicles

  -795·1

  -2,638·8

  -6,932·2

  1 Standard International Trade Classification (SITC), 1979 and 1984 = Revision 2; 1989 = Revision 3.

  2 At current prices.

  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the value of(a) imports and (b) exports in 1980, 1985 and 1990 at current prices of (i) cereals, (ii) all agricultural products, (iii) motor vehicles,

  Table 1—United Kingdom visible imports

  £ million1

  Section/Division of SITC2

  1980

  1985

  1990

  1990 less 1980

  Net change since 1980 (per cent.)

  0 Agricultural products3 of which

  5,478

  8,107

  10,409

  4,931

  90

  04 Cereals4

  603

  713

  785

  182

  30

  32 Coal, coke and briquettes

  239

  740

  655

  416

  174

  67 Iron and steel

  1,448

  1,716

  2,677

  1,229

  85

  77 Electrical machinery etc.

  1,519

  4,277

  6,924

  5,406

  356

  78 Road vehicles

  3,352

  6,801

  12,587

  9,235

  276

  160
  Simpler Trade Procedures Board—SITPRO—a non-departmental public body supported by the Department. SITPRO's central aims are the development of international standards for electronic data interchange where it has made a particularly significant contribution to what has become known as UN/EDIFACT—United Nations electronic data interchange for administration, commerce and transport. Secondly, they work for elimination of procedural barriers to trade with particular reference to measures associated with the creation of the single European market.

  Production Statistics
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the increase/decrease in the production of the principal import competing and exporting industries between 1973 and 1990.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  There is no officially recognised definition of"principal import competing and exporting industries".

  Imports and Exports
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will show the crude balance of imports and exports of(a) cereals and cereal preparations, (b) motor vehicles and (c) electrical goods in 1979, 1984 and 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The information requested is in the table.

  (iv) coal, (v) steel and (vi) electrical goods; and if he will show the net increase or decrease since 1980 in money and percentage terms.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The information available is shown in the tables.
  161

  Table 2—United Kingdom visible exports

  £ million1

  Section/Division of SITC2

  1980

  1985

  1990

  1990 less 1980

  Net change since 1980 (per cent.)

  0 Agricultural products3 of which

  2,051

  3,252

  4,325

  2,274

  111

  04 Cereals4

  456

  833

  1,046

  590

  129

  32 Coal, coke and briquettes

  180

  179

  122

  -58

  -32

  67 Iron and steel

  983

  1,856

  3,036

  2,053

  209

  77 Electrical machinery etc.

  1,799

  3,380

  5,649

  3,850

  214

  78 Road vehicles

  3,l58

  3,911

  7,301

  4,143

  131

  1 At current prices.

  2 Standard International Trade Classification (SITC), 1980 and 1985 = Revision 2; 1990 = Revision 3.

  3 Section 0 of the SITC is defined as Food and Live Animals. A definition of Agricultural Products does not exist in the SITC.

  3 Cereals and cereal preparations.

  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give comparative figures in money and percentage terms in exports of(a) cereals and

  Table—United Kingdom Visible Exports 1980 and 1990

  Section/Division of SITC (1)

  1980 £ million

  Per cent, of total trade

  1990 £ million

  Per cent, of total trade

  1980–90 per cent.

  0 Agricultural products (2)

  of which:

  2,051

  4·3

  4,325

  4·2

  110·9

  04 Cereals (3)

  456

  1·0

  1,046

  1·0

  129·4

  1 Beverages and tobacco

  1,206

  2·5

  2,770

  2·7

  129·7

  2 Inedible crude materials, except fuels

  1,379

  2·9

  2,163

  2·1

  56·9

  3 Mineral fuels, lubricants

  6,429

  13·6

  7,801

  7·5

  21·4

  4 Animal and vegetable oils etc.

  71

  0·1

  88

  0·1

  23·5

  5 Chemicals and related

  5,286

  11·2

  13,183

  12·7

  149·4

  6 Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material

  8,754

  18·5

  15,821

  15·2

  80·7

  7 Machinery and transport equipment

  16,267

  34·3

  42,155

  40·6

  159·1

  8 Miscellaneous manufactured articles

  4,504

  9·5

  13,347

  12·8

  196·4

  9 Other visible trade

  1,411

  3·0

  2,559

  2·5

  81·3

  Total United Kingdom visible exports

  47,364

  100·0

  103,911

  100·0

  119·4

  Total less agricultural products (2)

  45,313

  95·7

  99,586

  95·8

  119·8

  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom

  (1) Standard International Trade Classification (SITC), 1980 = Revision 2; 1990 = Revision 3.

  (2) Section 0 of the SITC is defined as Food & Live Animals. A definition of agricultural products does not exist in the SITC.

  (3) Cereals and cereal preparations.

  Shipbuilding
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the work of the shipbuilding task force within his Department.

  Mr. Leigh
  The objective of the shipbuilding task force is to reduce state involvement in the shipbuilding industry, working for the elimination of production and development aids internationally while encouraging United Kingdom shipbuilders and marine equipment manufacturers to operate competitively in international markets and in the defence sector.

  To that end, the task force is resolving any remaining problems arising from the disposal of British Shipbuilders; managing expenditure on the home shipbuilders credit guarantee scheme and the shipbuilding intervention fund; ensuring that the European Community seventh directive on aid to shipbuilding is operated in line with Ministers' objectives; attempting to ensure further progress in the European Community and the OECD in negotiating an agreement to end state aids for shipbuilding worldwide;
  162
  (b) all agricultural products and the percentage change in the remainder of British exports, broken down also into its principal sections between 1980 and 1990.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The information available is shown in the table.

  and maintaining appropriate liaison with the Ministry of Defence on the future naval shipbuilding programme and on projects likely to affect shipyard capacity utilisation.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the percentage of United Kingdom inward investment projects going to(a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) the north-east, both as a percentage of total projects and in terms of numbers of jobs promised in the periods (i) June 1987 to the most recently available date and (ii) January 1989 to the most recently available date.

  Mr. Leigh
  The table sets out the number of investment decisions known to the Invest in Britain Bureau from 1 July 1987 to 31 December 1990 and from 1 January 1989 to 31 December 1990 for Scotland, Wales and the north-east. The numbers of jobs expected to be created from such projects and the percentage share of both projects and jobs as part of the total for the United Kingdom as a whole is also given.
  163
  The decisions recorded include the establishment of new business, expansion or acquisition of an existing business and involvement in joint venture. The figures are

  Table showing numbers of inward investment projects and associated created jobs for certain regions over specified time periods, and their respective percentage share of the overall inward investment figures for the United Kingdom

  Region

  Number of projects

  Percentage of all United Kingdom projects

  Number of jobs created3

  Percentage of jobs created

  Scotland

  1987–901

  151

  12·9

  22,484

  22·9

  1989–902

  73

  10·8

  14,298

  24 ·8

  Wales

  1987–901

  192

  16·4

  14,114

  14·4

  1989–902

  114

  16·9

  6,330

  11·0

  North East

  1987–901

  120

  10·2

  11,320

  11·5

  1989–902

  88

  13·0

  7,049

  12·2

  11 July 1987 to 31 December 1990.

  21 January 1989 to 31 December 1990.

  3Created jobs are those jobs that the inward investor anticipates will be created by the project over the next three years.

  Bloodstock Sales
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the total worth of overseas earnings from the sale of bloodstock in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 18 March 1991]: Statistics in this area are not separately identified in "Overseas Trade Statistics"—standard international trade classification division 00.

  RECHAR
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from organisations seeking full additionality within the regions for the RECHAR programme.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 18 March 1991]: My right hon. Friends and I have received a number of representations from Members of Parliament, local authorities and the Coalfield Communities Campaign on various aspects of the proposed RECHAR programmes.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what allocations of RECHAR funds to the United Kingdom have been withheld by the Community on grounds of lack of additionality.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 18 March 1991]: European Commission decisions are awaited on applications made in July 1990 for RECHAR grants of £109 million from European Community funds to United Kingdom coalfield areas. As is usual with applications for grants from the European Community structural funds, discussions with the Commission are proceeding on various aspects of them.

  Structural Fund
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide a breakdown of the claims made, by year from 1987, for each EC structural fund operational programme area, compared with the allocation awarded to each programme within the United Kingdom.
  164
  based on information provided by the companies themselves at the time of the investment and take no account of subsequent developments.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 18 March 1991]: Fifty current operational programmes have to date been approved by the Commission for the United Kingdom. Details of the claims made for each of these could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what steps he has taken to ensure that EC structural fund support for the regions of the EC has an additional economic impact in those regions;

  (2) what steps he intends to take to ensure that local authority spending of EC structural funds is exempt from current United Kingdom capital and revenue controls to ensure that there is a net benefit to regions with severe economic structural problems in receiving EC support.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 18 March 1991]: Expected levels of receipts from the European Community structural funds, as of other receipts from the Community, are taken into account when the Government decide the size of United Kingdom public expenditure programmes. Structural fund grants to local authorities are paid in full to the authorities concerned.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide a detailed breakdown of how much of the EC structural fund support designated for programmes to take place in the eligible United Kingdom regions has been spent on United Kingdom Government Department schemes of assistance.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 18 March 1991]: The Community support frameworks agreed between the Government and the European Commission do not in general specify in detail the Departments and other authorities whose measures the European Community structural funds will support. Until each operational programme has been concluded it is not possible to say how the expenditure from it has been allocated.

  Regional Policy
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to review the effectiveness of United Kingdom regional policy.
  165
  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 18 March 1991]: My Department has an on-going programme for reviewing all schemes of support to industry, including regional policy instruments. A second-stage evaluation of regional enterprise grants was published earlier this month by HMSO, and a report on the evaluation of regional selective assistance covering the period 1980 to 1984 was published last year.

DEFENCE

  The Gulf
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the companies employed on behalf of his Department to give advice. or to undertake other work on public relations and similar matters, during the Gulf crisis; if he will indicate the amount of money spent on remuneration for the companies involved; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The only companies employed by the Ministry of Defence on work on public relations and similar matters during the Gulf crisis have been employed to provide administrative support services, such as transcription services and provision of press cuttings. Principal among these companies have been the Broadcast Monitoring Company and Lincoln Hannah Ltd.

  Details of payments to individual companies are generally a matter of commercial confidentiality.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any employees of British defence companies were sent to the Gulf region to provide assistance to the armed forces as part of Operation Granby.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Yes.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the approximate number of(a) combat and (b) non-combat sorties carried out by the Royal Air Force as a part of Operation Granby.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The RAF flew over 4,000 combat and 2,500 non-combat sorties from the commencement of the air campaign until the cessation of hostilities. Some 9,000 sorties were also flown in support of Operation Granby prior to 17 January 1991, 8,000 by combat aircraft and 1,000 by non-combat aircraft.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his assessment of the role of British industry in supporting Operation Granby.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The United Kingdom defence industry responded admirably to our requirements during all stages of Operation Granby.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the number of(a) British and (b) coalition casualities involved in Operation Granby; and if he will make a statement detailing the numbers killed or wounded and whether these casualties resulted from combat or non-combat operations.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Twenty-five service men are confirmed to have been killed and 43 injured in action. A further 19 have been killed in non-combat accidents in the Gulf since 2 August 1990. Her Majesty's Government are not in a position to provide information on casualties sustained by coalition partners.
  166
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the approximate amount and type of ordnance delivered by the Royal Air Force as part of Operation Granby.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The RAF delivered over 3,000 tonnes of ordnance during the air campaign in support of operations in the Gulf. This total comprised over 100 JP233 airfield denial weapons, some 6,000 bombs, of which over 1,000 were laser-guided, over 100 anti-radar missiles and nearly 700 air-to-ground rockets.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is his Department's assessment of the number of Kuwaiti civilians seized and taken to Iraq between 2 August 1990 and the cessation of hostilities;

  (2) what is his Department's assessment of the number of Kuwaitis seized by the Iraqi forces between 2 August 1990 and the cessation of hostilities that are still unaccounted for.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have been asked to reply.

  We understand that the total number of missing Kuwaitis is estimated at 33,000. This is made up of 6,000 prisoners of war, 5,000 Kuwaitis who are known to have been taken to Iraq, and 22,000 whose fate is still unknown. The Kuwaiti authorities have established registration centres to enable Kuwaiti families to give details of missing persons.

  Site Security
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of security at the sites of his Department's main contractors; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what level of security at the sites of his Department's main contractors, relative to that of his Department's sites, his Department requires; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  At defence contractors' sites the level of security required by the Ministry of Defence depends on the nature and classification of the contracts. Where appropriate, the MOD satisfied itself that its security requirements are met before work begins on the contract. Thereafter such contractors' sites are inspected regularly, the continuing adequacy of security arrangements is assessed and, where necessary, improvements are made.

  The MOD is directly responsible for all aspects of security at all its own establishments. These establishments are inspected regularly, security arrangements are assessed and, where necessary, improvements are made.

  Europe
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions his Department has been involved with regarding military confidence-building measures in Europe.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The continuing negotiations on confidence and security-building measures in Europe resumed in Vienna on 4 February. The Ministry of Defence is fully involved in these negotiations, although the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is the lead Department on these and other arms control matters.

  IRAQ: ASSISTANCE TO REFUGEES
  IRAQ: ASSISTANCE TO REFUGEES
  ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNALS: MODEL RULES OF PROCEDURE
  ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNALS: MODEL RULES OF PROCEDURE
  SUICIDE PREVENTION AT HARMONDSWORTH DETENTION CENTRE
  SUICIDE PREVENTION AT HARMONDSWORTH DETENTION CENTRE
  MR. KENNETH BROADBENT
  MR. KENNETH BROADBENT
  ST. THOMAS'S HOSPITAL
  ST. THOMAS'S HOSPITAL
  DISABLED PERSONS ACT 1986: PRESS STATEMENT
  DISABLED PERSONS ACT 1986: PRESS STATEMENT
  IRAQ: ATTACKS ON NUCLEAR FACILITIES
  IRAQ: ATTACKS ON NUCLEAR FACILITIES
  IRAQ: GULF WAR CASUALTIES
  IRAQ: GULF WAR CASUALTIES
  IRAQ: DAMAGE TO RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL SITES
  IRAQ: DAMAGE TO RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL SITES
  THE GULF WAR: DAMAGE AND CASUALTIES
  THE GULF WAR: DAMAGE AND CASUALTIES
  BRECON BEACONS NATIONAL PARK: PROPOSED RADIO MASTS
  BRECON BEACONS NATIONAL PARK: PROPOSED RADIO MASTS
  EMPLOYMENT APPEAL TRIBUNAL: WAITING PERIODS FOR APPEAL HEARINGS
  EMPLOYMENT APPEAL TRIBUNAL: WAITING PERIODS FOR APPEAL HEARINGS
  EMPLOYMENT APPEAL TRIBUNAL: APPEAL RESULTS
  EMPLOYMENT APPEAL TRIBUNAL: APPEAL RESULTS
  BREASTMILK SUBSTITUTES: EC DIRECTIVE
  BREASTMILK SUBSTITUTES: EC DIRECTIVE
  COMMUNITY CHARGES
  COMMUNITY CHARGES