Written Answers of 22 March 1991

NORTHERN IRELAND

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

  Mr. Needham
  I am responsible to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State both for energy matters, including energy efficiency, and for the environment.

  My specific brief on energy efficiency is to promote the continuous implementation of effective energy efficiency measures throughout the Northern Ireland economy. To that end I published an important consultative paper on energy efficiency last December. It promotes energy efficiency in the context of environmental conservation; calls for committed action now by all interested parties; and sets out—by way of example—an extensive range of initiatives being taken by Government including increased financial support for both low-income families and the industrial and commercial sectors. A copy of the consultative paper has been placed in the Library. Responses to the consultative paper are now being analysed and will be reflected in an energy strategy paper to be published later this year.

  In the public sector Northern Ireland has had its own inter departmental committee on energy efficiency since 1984. It promotes and co-ordinates public sector initiatives, reports annually to my right hon. Friend and sets targets for continuous improvement. In addition, I represent Northern Ireland on the United Kingdom-wide ministerial group on energy efficiency chaired by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy.

  On 6 March my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland issued a personal message to all public sector employees in Northern Ireland exhorting them to practise energy efficiency not only at work but at home, in their leisure, social and recreational pursuits. My right hon. Friend wishes to be kept informed of progress.

  Job Clubs
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will establish a job club in Carrickfergus; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  No. There are job clubs in nearby Larne, Newtownabbey and Belfast. Unemployed people who have to travel to make use of job clubs have their fares reimbursed and so are not out of pocket.

  Housing
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give the number of persons on the waiting list of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive for accommodation in Belfast districts 2 and 7 and each housing area in Castlereagh in both 1979 and 1991.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and I am advised by its chief executive that the information requested is not available before 1981. However, at the end of February 1981 and February 1991 the number of persons on the waiting list was as follows:

  District

  February 1981

  February 1991

  Belfast 2

  1,463

  1,036

  Belfast 7

  1,308

  1,184

  Castlereagh 1

  570

  289

  Castlereagh 2

  1,178

  518

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Local Management of Schools
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the budget allocation per unit for local management of schools in(a) Wigston, (b) South Wigston and (c) Oadby; what is the average budget allocation per unit for schools in the city of Leicester; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  The information requested is not available for Leicestershire as the authority did not operate a scheme for the local management of its schools in the 1990–91 financial year. We do not yet have a copy of the authority's budget statement for 1991–92; it is under a duty to publish that statement by 31 March.

  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the proportion of children at schools in Oadby, Wigston and South Wigston that come from out of the catchment area; and what consideration he has given to the implications of this on LMS funding to these schools.

  Mr. Fallon
  The Department has no information on the sources of pupils attending schools in these districts. Under local management of schools, pupils of the same age are funded on the same basis irrespective of their source. If they come from a neighbouring authority, that authority will pay a recoupment charge to the providing authority.

  Capital Grants
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from Cleveland county councillors about capital grants for schools.

  Mr. Fallon
  I met Cleveland's education committee chairman and the chief education officer on 11 March to discuss their ACG allocation for 1991–92.

  European Integration
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list(a) the new teaching activities in European integration with effect from the

  233
  beginning of the 1991–92 academic year and (b) the new European chairs financed and supported under the terms of the Jean Monnet project 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The EC has awarded grants under the Jean Monnet project to United Kingdom higher education institutions in support of the following activities:

  (a) Permanent courses

  1. Bristol Polytechnic; Europe: The Single Market and Beyond;

  2. University of Essex; History of European Integration;

  3. University of Essex; The External Relations of the Community;

  4. University of Ulster; European Integration;

  5. University of Ulster; History of European Integration;

  6. University of Dundee; The Structure and Operations of the Community;

  7. University of Durham; The European Community: an interdisciplinary introduction;

  8. University of Glasgow; The impact of European integration on Social Policy;

  9. University of Glasgow; Transport, Public Policy and European Integration;

  10. Huddersfield Polytechnic; The Economics of European Integration;

  11. Liverpool Polytechnic; European Integration;

  12. Goldsmith's College, University of London; Economics of the EC;

  13. Goldsmith's College, University of London; The Government and Politics of the European Community;

  14. Polytechnic of East London; European Integration—from World War II to 1992;

  15. University of Manchester; The Economics of European Integration;

  16. Nottingham Polytechnic; Economics of the European Community;

  17. University of Nottingham; Harmonisation of Law in Europe;

  18. University of Oxford; European Social Policy;

  19. University of Keele; Prospects for Europe;

  European Modules

  1. Queen's University of Belfast; The European Community;

  2. Anglia Higher Education College; European Integration;

  3. North East Wales Institute; Introduction to EC studies;

  4. Coventry Polytechnic; Introduction to the EC;

  5. Napier Polytechnic; European Studies;

  6. Huddersfield Polytechnic; European Community Institutions;

  7. University of Hull; European Community Environmental Law;

  8. University of Leicester; The Economics of the EC;

  9. Polytechnic of Central London; European Studies;

  10. Manchester Polytechnic; European Integration—the legal dimension;

  11. Staffordshire Polytechnic; European Studies;

  (b) European Chairs

  1. University College of Wales; Monnet Lectureship in European Integration;

  2. University of Birmingham; Lecturer in European Economics;

  3. University of Bristol; The Monnet Chair/Lectureship for European Community Studies;

  4. University of Hull; "Chair" in European Integration;

  5. University of Leicester; Jean Monnet Lecturer in European Community Law;

  6. Ealing College of Higher Education; The Jean Monnet Principal Lectureship in Community Studies;

  7. University College London; "Chair" in European Economics and Integration;

  8. Newcastle-upon-Tyne Polytechnic; "Chair" in the Law and Policy of the European Community;

  9. University of Salford; Lectureship in the History, Politics and Culture of the EC;

  10. University of York; Jean Monnet Senior Lecturer in
  234
  European Economics;

  11. University of Strathclyde; Jean Monnet Chair of European Law.

  Teacher Appraisal
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to publish(a) the draft regulations on teacher appraisal and (b) the draft circular of guidance on teacher appraisal; if he will list those interested bodies which he intends to consult on both the draft regulations and the draft circular; and if he will indicate how much time will be allowed for such consultations.

  Mr. Fallon
  My right hon. and learned Friend intends to initiate consultations shortly on draft regulations and a draft circular on school teacher appraisal. He intends to allow some four weeks for such consultations and to consult the following bodies.

  Association of County Councils

  Association of Metropolitan Authorities

  Welsh Joint Education Council

  Assistant Masters' and Mistresses' Association

  National Association of Head Teachers

  National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers

  National Union of Teachers

  Professional Association of Teachers

  Secondary Heads Association

  Undeb Cenedlaethol Athrawon Cymru (National Association of Teachers of Wales)

  Catholic Education Council

  Free Church Federal Council

  General Synod of the Church of England Board of Education

  London Board of Jewish Religious Education

  Methodist Division of Education and Youth

  Grant Maintained Schools

  Grant Maintained Schools Trust

  National Association of Governors and Managers

  Institute Laue-Langevin
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the future of United Kingdom funding of the Institute Laue-Langevin in Grenoble.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  As part of its review of forward commitments, the Science and Engineering Research Council announced on 7 February that it could not continue to support both the Institut Laue-Langevin and the ISIS (RAL) neutron facility at the current levels. To help it take the matter further the council has established a review panel to assess the United Kingdom's requirements for neutrons over the coming years and the most effective way of providing them.

  Education Resources
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measures he is taking to ensure that more resources are delegated to schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  [pursuant to his reply, 21 February 1991, Official Report, c. 235–39]: The national average of responses retained by LEAs on central administration in 1990–91 as a percentage of the potential schools budget should read 4·06 per cent., rather than 5·26 per cent. as quoted in the table at column 238. The individual LEA figures quoted in the table remain correct.

PRIME MINISTER

  Voluntary Bodies
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the total amount paid in grants by Government Departments to voluntary bodies during the financial year 1989–90; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Government funding to voluntary organisations in 1989–90 amounted to £2·36 billion. Of this, £1,681 million was payments to housing associations; £204 million was payments under major employment and training schemes; £373 million went to support provision of services and a wide range of activities and projects by a variety of voluntary organisations. The amount spent under individual departmental programmes is as follows:

  £

  Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  120,170

  Defence

  8,148,082

  Education and Science

  4,751,901

  Employment

  Youth training scheme

  100,000,000

  Employment training

  104,000,000

  Other programmes

  58,078,798

  Energy

  722,218

  Environment

  Direct grants

  11,132,402

  Urban programme

  61,400,000

  Housing corporation

  1,347,690,000

  Countryside Commission

  2,107,000

  Nature Conservancy Council

  1,528,000

  Rural Development Commission

  4,816,000

  Sports Council

  15,543,000

  UK 2000 project grant fund

  336,000

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  1,532,000

  Overseas Development Administration

  65,164,127

  Health

  Direct grants

  39,589,458

  Health Education Authority

  728,043

  Home Office

  Direct grants

  28,545,000

  Equal Opportunities Commission

  7,043

  Commission for Racial Equality

  1,178,722

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  768,000

  Northern Ireland Office

  Direct grants

  16,158,488

  Housing associations and societies

  38,192,981

  Economic Development Grants:

  Action for community employment

  48,547,471

  Community workshops

  19,008,115

  Community volunteer schemes

  868,000

  Youth Community project

  868,658

  Youth Help

  793,318

  Sports Council for Northern Ireland

  507,835

  Scottish Office

  Direct grants

  16,339,277

  Urban programme

  34,251,000

  Housing associations

  202,000,000

  Countryside Commission for Scotland

  709,798

  Highlands and Island Development Board

  1,075,485

  Sports Council for Scotland

  1,386,562

  Social Security

  3,997,784

  236

  £

  Trade and Industry

  10,222,771

  Transport

  576,000

  Welsh Office

  Direct grants

  7,227,156

  Urban programme

  4,125,000

  Joint Finance/Care in the Community

  305,000

  Housing associations and societies

  93,180,000

  Development Board for Rural Wales

  372,000

  Sports Council for Wales

  1,775,600

  GRAND TOTAL

  2,360,374,263

  Excluding payments under major employment and training schemes and to housing association and societies funding has increased in cash terms by 8·3 per cent. over the level of provision in 1988–89. In the period between 1979–80 and 1989–90 the level of this Government's support for voluntary bodies has risen by 114 per cent. in real terms.

  I am placing in the Library of the House a list of voluntary bodies funded by Government in 1989–90, other than those funded under the youth training scheme and employment training, housing programmes and the urban programme or via non-departmental public bodies.

  Security Commissioner (Report)
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Prime Minister when the Commissioner appointed under the Security Service Act 1989 will present his first annual report; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  A copy of Lord Justice Stuart-Smith's first annual report, for 1990, has been laid before the House today in accordance with section 4(6) of the Security Service Act 1989. The confidential appendix to the report has been excluded from that copy in accordance with section 4(7) of the 1989 Act. I am grateful to the commissioner for his work in reviewing the issue of warrants and note that he is satisfied that the Secretaries of State have properly exercised their powers under the Act.

  Troops (Homecoming)
  Mr. Mates
  To ask the Prime Minister how the Government intend(a) to mark the safe homecoming of British troops who contributed to the liberation of Kuwait, (b) to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in that cause and (c) to honour those who gave gallant and meritorious service.

  The Prime Minister
  A service of remembrance and thanksgiving will be held in Glasgow cathedral in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen on Saturday 4 May.

  The Lord Mayor and the Corporation of London will host a reception at Guildhall on Friday 21 June for members of British forces. It will be preceded by a march through the City at which Her Majesty the Queen will take the salute.

  Her Majesty the Queen has approved the award of a Gulf medal for those who served in the region. She has also agreed that there should be a Gulf honours list, to be published at the end of June, for those who displayed gallantry and gave meritorious service.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Carers
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he will take to ensure that all full-time carers are granted the right to regular breaks, and that those carers wishing to take up such breaks in the company of their clients are given additional resources.

  Mr. Scott
  The main social security benefit available to carers is invalid care allowance (ICA). ICA is payable to people who give up the opportunity for full-time work to provide regular and substantial care for a severely disabled person receiving attendance allowance. ICA can remain in payment for up to four weeks in any period of 26 weeks while the carer or the person cared for is on holiday, or the caring role is temporarily suspended for some other reason. Breaks in caring can total as much as 12 weeks in a 26-week period, if the breaks are due to the carer or the disabled person undergoing medical or other treatment as an in-patient in a hospital or similar institution.

  Social Security Spending
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total amount spent on social security in the United Kingdom, in actual and at 1990 prices, for each year since 1978–79; and what was the percentage increase or decrease for each year.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Details of social security spending in Great Britain are given in the table. Information about social security spending in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Grand total social security spending

  £ million

  Year (outturn)

  Cash

  At 1990–91 prices

  Real terms percentage increase over preceding year

  1978–79

  16,602

  41,953

  —

  1979–80

  19,616

  42,483

  1·3

  1980–81

  23,751

  43,469

  2·3

  1981–82

  28,963

  48,341

  11·2

  1982–83

  33,000

  51,426

  6·4

  1983–84

  36,881

  54,933

  6·8

  1984–85

  39,949

  56,627

  3·1

  1985–86

  43,488

  58,460

  3·2

  1986–87

  46,841

  60,886

  4·2

  1987–88

  48,939

  60,327

  −0·9

  1988–89

  49,721

  57,121

  −5·3

  1989–90

  52,661

  56,874

  −0·4

  1990–91 (estimated)

  59,001

  59,001

  3·7

  1991–92 (plans)

  66,167

  62,422

  5·8

  Note: Reduction in real terms expenditure for the years 1987–88 and 1989–90 was due to the effect of reduced levels of unemployment.

  Unemployment Costs
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the total current cost of unemployment to the Exchequer, including benefits, redundancy fund payments, administrative costs, lost revenue and any other identifiable costs.

  Mr. Jack
  Benefit expenditure on the unemployed is expected to be £4,850 million in 1990–91. The cost of administering unemployment benefit in 1989–90, the latest 238
  year for which figures are available, was £176 million. For other benefits it is not possible to identify separately the administration costs attributable to the unemployed.

  Redundancy fund payments are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment, who advises that in 1990–91 redundancy fund payments totalled £141 million. Estimates of tax revenue forgone are not available.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the number of people in receipt of cold weather payments in each of the Scottish and English regions and Wales for each of the last five years; and what was the cost of these, by regions.

  Mr. Scott
  Information on the number of people in receipt of cold weather payments, together with their costs, for the period 1985–89 is available in the Library.

  Information for 1989–90 and 1990–91 will be placed in the Library as soon as it is available.

  Water Rates
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will introduce legislation to provide a water rate rebate system for those on low incomes;

  (2) if he will introduce an additional element into the income support system to give extra payments to all persons who have water bills in excess of £50 per adult person in that household.

  Mr. Scott
  We have no plans to do so. Income-related benefits are intended to cover all normal living expenses, including those for utilities such as water and fuel.

  Residential Homes
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what length of lease is required in the establishment of a care home trust to satisfy his Department that the home is truly independent.

  Mr. Scott
  In determining entitlement to income support, the adjudication officer has no regard to the length of lease under which the independent home was established.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for income support by residents of care home trusts have so far been refused by his Department; and what were the main reasons for refusal.

  Mr. Scott
  This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether residents of local authority care homes which have been redesignated under schedule 8 of the National Health Service Act 1977 are entitled to claim housing benefit and income support.

  Mr Scott
  People whose accommodation is provided under this legislation may claim income support up to an amount equivalent to the current basic rate of retirement pension to meet the minimum charge for the accommodation. They are not entitled to housing benefit.

ENERGY

  Radioactive Material (Storage)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his present policy in respect of the dry storage of radioactive material.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Other than on licensed nuclear sites, no person shall keep, use or cause or permit to be kept or used, radioactive material unless he is registered under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 or exempted from being so. The storage of all radioactive material on licensed nuclear sites must be approved by the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate under the terms of the site licences.

ENVIRONMENT

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

  Mr. Baldry
  I have responsibility for energy efficiency within the Department of the Environment.

  My aim is to reduce the Department's own energy consumption by 15 per cent. in real terms over the next five years, in line with the target adopted generally for the Government estate. To this end I am encouraging the Department to implement all practicable energy efficiency schemes and to promote staff awareness of the benefits of saving energy.

  As part of the Secretary of State's responsibility for environmental policy we aim to increase public awareness of the link between energy efficiency and the threat of climate change due to the greenhouse effect. The Department's leaflet, "Wake up to what you can do for the Environment", published on 4 March, gives advice on improving energy efficiency in the home and on the road.

  We are taking specific measures to increase the energy efficiency of the housing stock. Amendments to the Building Regulations which came into effect on 1 April 1990 should achieve a 20 per cent. improvement in the energy efficiency of new houses, and we will monitor them to see how they can be further improved. We will consider how best to develop and encourage the application of energy labelling schemes for buildings, with the intention of incorporating labelling into the Building Regulations. A model developed by DOE's Building Research Establishment is already in use for assessing the energy requirements of housing.

  My Department is running the greenhouse demonstration programme to provide examples of effective energy efficiency in local authority housing. General local authority housing repair and maintenance programmes are supplemented by our estate action programme, targeting particularly rundown council estates. Around a quarter of the money spent is on heating and insulation measures. In private sector housing the new home renovation grants regime enables local authorities to help less well-off people in housing which is not energy efficient. A substantial new programme of research will be undertaken into the barriers to increased energy efficiency in the housing stock.
  240
  We are also encouraging local authorities to improve the energy efficiency of their own buildings. During May my hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside and I will be addressing a series of seminars organised with the energy efficiency office for local government on the environmental and financial benefits of energy efficiency.

  Carbon Dioxide Emissions
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the measures he is taking in order to reduce or stabilise carbon dioxide emissions by the year 2000.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Government announced last May that, if other countries take similar action, we will stabilise United Kingdom emissions of carbon dioxide at 1990 levels by 2005. Taking account of our policies on other greenhouse gases, achieving this target would reduce the global warming potential of Britain's emissions to some 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2005. The Environment White Paper "This Common Inheritance" published last September set out the first tranche of measures that the Government proposed to take to achieve this.

  Empty Properties
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many properties owned by local authorities have stood empty(a) for over six months or (b) for over one year; how many properties owned and administered by his Department have been vacant (i) for over six months or (ii) for over one year; and what is the regional distribution of these properties.

  Mr. Yeo
  Local authorities report the number of their dwellings vacant for between six and 12 months and over a year in their annual housing investment programme returns (HIP1). The latest figures are published in columns A178 (six to 12 months) and col. A188 (over a year) of "1990 HIP1-Regional Grossing", a copy of which is in the Library.

  The regional breakdown of Crown freehold properties on the common user estate with at least 90 per cent. vacancy are given below:

  Outstation

  Properties vacant for 6 to 12 months

  Properties vacant for more than a year

  Scotland

  —

  10

  North East

  —

  1

  North West

  —

  3

  Midlands

  2

  2

  Thames North

  —

  —

  Thames South

  1

  3

  Central London

  —

  1

  South West/Wales

  4

  7

  TOTAL

  7

  27

  Housing
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the 30 local authorities with the highest generalised needs index private stock indicator scores, giving in each case their respective scores on this indicator and the allocation which each received for specified capital grants in 1991–92.
  241
  Mr. Yeo
  Following are the 30 authorities with the highest total of private sector stock condition and private defective dwellings generalised needs index scores:

  Private sector stock condition score

  Defective dwellings score

  Total

  Allocation for specified capital grant(£000)

  Birmingham

  164·0

  82·3

  246·4

  21,973

  Liverpool

  66·0

  59·7

  125·6

  7,320

  Bristol

  68·2

  42·8

  111·0

  10,991

  Leeds

  72·0

  15·3

  87·3

  7,350

  Bradford

  65·5

  3·3

  68·9

  3,200

  Sheffield

  59·7

  4·8

  64·5

  7,400

  Manchester

  56·8

  0·0

  56·8

  3,405

  Sandwell

  35·0

  20·1

  55·1

  4,575

  Kirklees

  54·2

  0·3

  54·6

  4,200

  Brent

  32·2

  17·2

  49·4

  2,938

  Wirral

  43·6

  4·0

  47·6

  4,866

  Plymouth

  32·5

  14·2

  46·6

  3,306

  Coventry

  43·4

  1·2

  44·5

  3,210

  Ealing

  37·7

  6·1

  43·8

  3,917

  Wolverhampton

  28·8

  11·9

  40·7

  3,100

  Wakefield

  30·4

  9·5

  40·0

  5,117

  Sefton

  36·5

  2·2

  38·8

  2,000

  Stoke-on-Trent

  37·9

  0·5

  38·3

  5,135

  Calderdale

  34·4

  1·6

  35·9

  1,500

  Waltham Forest

  32·6

  2·6

  35·2

  1,787

  Dudley

  27·0

  6·9

  33·9

  2,740

  Newcastle-under-Lyme

  16·3

  17·6

  33·9

  2,814

  Walsall

  27·0

  6·1

  33·1

  2,891

  Kingston upon Hull

  29·7

  2·4

  32·1

  4,970

  Wigan

  27·7

  2·6

  30·2

  1,865

  Bolton

  30·2

  0·0

  30·2

  3,311

  Bournemouth

  29·9

  0·0

  29·9

  1,359

  Southampton

  12·2

  17·6

  29·8

  3,112

  Staffordshire Moorlands

  13·9

  15·7

  29·6

  2,748

  Bromley

  21·8

  7·6

  29·4

  2,137

  The allocation of resources for specified capital grants is neither a limit nor a target for the level of grants which an authority may receive. It is made partly in relation to needs index scores, but also reflects local authorities' individual needs and circumstances which are taken into account by the Department's regional controllers in recommending the allocation.

  District Auditors
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions in each of the last three years district auditors have drawn attention in their reports to the costs incurred in answering community charge payers' or ratepayers' questions.

  Mr. Key
  Such information is not held centrally by either the Department or the Audit Commission.

  Urban Programme
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will break down the number of urban programme projects not approved for the 1991–92 financial year by local authority(a) numerically and (b) by cash value; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will indicate the percentage of projects not approved for the urban programme 1991–92 relating to (a) ethnic minority projects, (b) projects relating to disability, (c) economic development and (d) the environment; and if he will make a statement.
  242
  Mr. Portillo
  This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Northampton Employment and Training Unit
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to ensure that the district auditor of Northampton borough council makes public his report into the Northampton employment and training unit.

  Mr. Key
  Except in certain specified circumstances, the appointed auditor is prohibited by section 30 of the Local Government Finance Act 1982 from disclosing information obtained pursuant to his duties, and the Secretary of State has no powers to set aside that prohibition. However, when such a report comes to be formally considered by the authority it will, in effect, be made public under the provisions of section 18(5) of that Act. If the Local Government Finance (Publicity for Auditors' Reports) Bill were to be enacted, auditors' immediate reports in the public interest would be made public immediately upon receipt by the authority.

  Mr. Ashby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council homes have been sold in the constituency of Leicestershire, North-West including Shepshed.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 21 March 1991]: Information is not available for sales by parliamentary constituency. A table showing the available information on sales for each

  243
  English local authority since April 1979 was recently placed in the Library (Official Report, volume 184, column 542).

  Gulf Marine Environment
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the interference to(a) the feeding habits and (b) the breeding patterns of dugongs in the northern Gulf waters arising from (i) the oil slicks discharged from Kuwaiti oil terminals and (ii) the explosion of sea mines.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 21 March 1991]: The assessments available to me indicate that dugongs are vulnerable to damage which oil pollution can cause to the seagrass beds on which they feed in the shallow waters of the western Gulf. I have no information on particular risks to dugongs posed by explosion of mines, but no mortalities have yet been reported. The current location of the spill is to the north of the main dugong habitats.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the work of the Plymouth marine laboratory of the Natural Environment Research Council in relation to the Gulf.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 21 March 1991]: The Plymouth marine laboratory of NERC has compiled an assessment of the likely biological effects of the Gulf oil spill, copies of which are available in the Library. We are continuing to seek its advice on this topic and to make its expertise and that of other United Kingdom marine environment science bodies known to the Gulf states.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which countries have donated defensive booms for work in the Gulf.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 21 March 1991]: According to the list provided by the International Maritime Organisation, equipment donated to the Gulf states for preventing oil pollution, recovering oil, or clean-up has so far been provided by Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest information from the International Maritime Organisation on the movement of oil slicks in the Gulf.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 21 March 1991]: The latest reports from the International Maritime Organisation indicate that a large slick remains positioned along the Saudi coast north of Abu Ali island with further patches of light oil between 10 and 60 miles offshore. Small amounts of oil continue to leak into the northern Gulf in Kuwaiti waters.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action is being taken to protect the sea grass in the Gulf.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 21 March 1991 ]: The best prospect for protecting sea grass beds from the effects of the Gulf oil slick is likely to come from rapid recovery operations directed at the remaining oil floating on the surface before it breaks up and sinks. I described to the hon. Member on 15 March at column 1385–86 the UK's contribution to counter-pollution measures in the region.
  244
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what requests he has had from Gulf states for monitoring equipment for oil slick-related problems.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 21 March 1991]: The UK has had no direct requests from the Gulf states for equipment of this type.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research he is doing to establish the presence of dioxins in the Gulf; and whether the crude oil contains hydrogens.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 21 March 1991]: None directly, but the Meteorological Office research aircraft may be able to obtain relevant data on the composition of the plumes from the oil fires.

  Blue Asbestos Dust
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the dangers posed to human health of blue asbestos dust particles distributed in smoke from the fire at the railway carriage storage yard in Leicester on 10 March.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 21 March 1991]: An extensive monitoring programme was initiated by Leicester city council soon after the onset of the fire at the railway storage yard. No asbestos fibres were detected in any of the samples taken. It was concluded therefore that the risk to the general public from this incident was very low. It is recognised, however, that such fires involving asbestos cause concern and therefore the Department has sponsored research on this subject for some years. Updated advice on asbestos in fires has just been published by the Department in the revised edition of "Asbestos Materials in Buildings", a free copy of which was sent to all local authorities in England and Wales.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the work of the world conservation monitoring centre in Cambridge in relation to the Gulf.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 21 March 1991]: As I indicated to the honourable Member on 15 March at column 1384 I pay tribute to the work of the world conservation monitoring centre in Cambridge, who have carried out regular assessments of the ecological resources of the Gulf states and how the oil slick and smoke plumes are likely to affect them.

  Birds (The Gulf)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what funding has been given to the RSPCA team to train local volunteers in the cleaning of oiled birds in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 21 March 1991]: As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs indicated in his answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Squire) on 15 February 1991 at column 609, his Department provided the transport costs for the RSPCA team.

  Care Home Trusts
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account is taken of the establishment of local authority care home trusts in the calculation of social services departments' standard spending assessments.

  Mr. Key
  The standard spending assessment (SSA) for social services for the elderly includes as an indicator the proportion of elderly people in each social services authority resident in an independent, registered home. An increase in this proportion reduces an authority's SSA. This is because residents of independent homes do not receive financial assistance from local authorities. Where a care home trust is established the number of residents will be included in the independent homes indicator.

  Credit Approvals
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if it is his practice to issue supplementary credit approvals only to those local authorities which have received European regional development fund support.

  Mr. Key
  My Department issues supplementary credit approvals (SCAs) to local authorities for a variety of purposes. Authorities in receipt of European regional development fund support for projects falling within the other services block and the urban programme are eligible for SCAs associated with such projects. But SCAs are also available to all authorities undertaking certain types of project. For 1991–92, these include housing special programmes (such as estate action), urban initiatives and, within other services, a variety of initiatives concerned with waste disposal and environmental quality.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account he took of the level of European regional development fund receipts when calculating the credit levels within the other services block for local authorities.

  Mr. Key
  The Government take anticipated European Community receipts into account at the national level when setting the level of public expenditure programmes, with the result that these programmes are higher than they would otherwise be.

  The majority of capital resources on the other services block are distributed between individual local authorities in the form of block allocations on the basis of formulae recommended by the local authority associations. No explicit account is taken in this distribution of whether expenditure may be financed in part through grant from the European Community. However, in addition, the Government are distributing £25 million of credit approvals within the other services block in 1990–91 to authorities in receipt of European regional development fund grant on projects falling within this block. For 1991–92, it is planned to distribute £45 million for such projects.

  Gipsies, Middlejoy
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about delays in announcing his decision about the proposed gipsy site at Middlejoy, Somerset; what are the reasons for those delays; and if he will make a statement.
  246
  Mr. Yeo
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received representations from six persons or bodies including the hon. Member. He will issue the decision on this difficult and controversial case as soon as possible.

  Royal Arsenal, Woolwich
  Mr. John Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total value of work carried out for the Property Services Agency at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich by CITEC Electric Ltd.; and when the company will receive payment.

  Mr. Yeo
  [pursuant to the answer, 8 March 1991, Official Report, column 299]: The total value of work carried out for the Property Services Agency at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich by CITEC Electric Ltd. is £20,029·29 inclusive of VAT, which has been paid to the company in full.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Aid Expenditure
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what basis the Overseas Development Administration uses planned aid expenditure for 1990–91 rather than actual expenditure when calculating planned increases between the current financial year and future financial years.

  Mrs. Chalker
  As I explained to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley on 20 March at column 120, figures for actual expenditure in 1990–91 will not be available until autumn 1991.

SCOTLAND

  RENAVAL Programme
  Dr Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Govan (Mr. Sillars) on 15 March,Official Report, column 713, if he will place in the Library a copy of the programme of measures under the terms of the RENAVAL community programme which was submitted to the European Commission on 18 December 1990.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The programme is still the subject of discussion with the European Commission. I should be happy to send the hon. Member a copy of the programme when it has been approved.

  Nuclear Energy Agreement
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he made of the likely impact on the Scottish electricity industry of being bound to the nuclear energy agreement for a period of 15 years.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The nuclear energy agreement is central to the privatisation of the two Scottish electricity companies, securing abundant supplies of baseload nuclear power at stable market-related prices for the next 15 years.

  Private Electricity Generation
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek to provide for private generators of electricity from renewable energy sources in Scotland that are unable to take advantage of the non-fossil fuel obligation which applies in England.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  My right hon. Friend has no current plans to do so.

  Crime Prevention Week
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what financial and other resources are being given to local authorities in order to promote crime prevention initiatives for Crime Prevention Week;

  (2) what financial and other resources are to be given to local voluntary groups for Crime Prevention Week; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what financial and other resources are to be given to (a) local authorities and (b) local voluntary groups to build upon the work and activities of Crime Prevention Week.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 21 March 1991]: The Crime Prevention Week is a Home Office initiative which does not extend to Scotland. Crime prevention publicity is undertaken in Scotland through the Secretary of State's crime prevention committee. The committee has recently developed a new national publicity campaign with a distinctly Scottish flavour. The first phase of the campaign, which ran for the whole of February, involved a new Scottish television commercial and extensive press advertising at national and local level to highlight the level of opportunistic crime and to promote the merits of domestic and vehicle security measures. Associated with the campaign is also a new Scottish version of the crime prevention handbook—"The Family Guide"—which is being widely distributed.

TRANSPORT

  Wing Mirrors
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies his Department has made on the effectiveness of the design of wing mirrors in the avoidance of accidents.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department has commissioned the Transport and Road Research Laboratory to investigate the effectiveness of wing mirrors as part of a wider research project.

  M11 Link, Leyton
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many advance works have been undertaken, are being undertaken and are planned to be undertaken on property along, and adjacent to, the route of the Government's proposed Mll motorway link in Leyton.

  Mr. Chope
  In addition to those referred to in my answer on 16 November (Vol. 180, column 233), work is to start shortly on modifications to the London Underground structures, Gainsborough road bridge and Whipps Cross tunnel. Noise insulation has been carried 248
  out on residential properties close to the bridge and tunnel works, and further homes will be offered secondary double glazing prior to the start of the main works. The advance diversion of services is almost complete.

  Internal work is being carried out in Leytonstone House hospital so that areas which will be adjacent to the road works can be vacated before construction begins on the Al2 link road between M11 and Hackney Wick.

  M3 Extension, Winchester
  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will seek funding from the private sector, to be repaid from tolls, in order to meet the incremental cost of building a tunnel to accommodate the proposed extension to the M3 between Bar End arid Hockley Cross roads at Winchester.

  Mr. Chope
  No. We have no intention of reopening the joint decision by the Secretaries of State on this much-needed scheme which followed 20 years of debate and four public inquiries.

  London Regional Transport
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provision he makes in assessing grant levels to London Regional Transport of the cost of promoting private Bills.

  Mr. Freeman
  No separate provision is made for the cost of the promotion of private Bills when setting levels of grant for London Transport. These costs are included by London Transport in the total investment expenditure proposals which it puts forward in support of its requests for Government grant.

  Holloway Road (Accident)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has concerning the accident, in which one person died, on the Holloway road in Islington on 8 March; and if he will make a statement on road safety on red routes.

  Mr. Chope
  The Metropolitan police are still investigating the circumstances of a fatal accident which occurred on a pedestrian crossing in Holloway road, south of Landseer road, in the afternoon of 8 March.

  Road safety will be included in the monitoring exercise for the red route pilot scheme to be carried out during 1991.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Zeebrugge Ferry Disaster
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will seek a review of the judge's ruling in the case relating to the Zeebrugge ferry disaster; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  On 11 December 1990 I informed the legal representatives of all parties to the proceedings that I had decided, with the advice of leading counsel, that no point of law of general application arose warranting reference to the Court of Appeal under section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1972.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Immigration
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-British citizens of New Commonwealth origin, including British overseas citizens and British dependent territory citizens, are currently settled in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Information is available only on the number of citizens of New Commonwealth countries usually resident in Great Britain, excluding British overseas citizens and British dependent territories citizens. According to the labour force surveys there were about 540,000 such citizens in 1987–89, including students. Not all these persons will have settlement in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 6 February,Official Report, column 142, to the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz), if he will list those categories of foreign nationals from countries from where immigrant arrivals in the United Kingdom normally need a visa for entry who are exempt; and on how many occasions a waiver dispensation has been instituted since 1979.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Details of the visa exemption scheme and the 10 nationalities to which it applies are set out in the document referred to in the answer of 6 February. Visa regimes incorporating the scheme have been introduced on five occasions. There is in addition a long-standing transit without visa concession for airline passengers booked on an onward flight within 24 hours. The concession does not, however, apply to nationals of Sri Lanka and Iraq, or to nationals of Iran, Lebanon, Libya, Syria, Turkey and Somalia if they seek to pass through immigration control.

  London Fire Services
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if the London Fire and Civil Defence Authority has any proposals for the reinstatement of the pump appliance at Woodford fire station, temporarily withdrawn on 31 March 1979;

  (2) if he will provide details of the current disposition of reserve fire appliances in the London Fire Brigade;

  (3) if his Department envisages any reduction in the London Fire and Civil Defence Authority's budgets for the financial year 1992–93; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) if he has received any proposal from the London Fire and Civil Defence Authority for the reinstatement of a second operational fireboat in the London Fire Brigade.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  It is for the London Fire and Civil Defence Authority, in the light of its statutory and fiscal responsibilities, to determine its budget for any financial year and the disposition of appliances and other resources consistent with the need to conform to the minimum nationally recommended standards of fire cover. It is not required to seek the Home Secretary's approval to reinstatement or increases in the number of appliances, reserves of which are currently understood to be 85 fire pumps (including 18 for training purposes) and 17 special appliances.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what action has been taken by the 250
  LFCDA to implement recommendations Nos. 26, 30 and 109 of the Fennell inquiry report on the London Fire Brigade;

  (2) what action has been taken by the London Fire and Civil Defence Authority to implement a review of sub-ground radio communications in the London Fire Brigade in line with the recommendation of the Fennell report.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The London Fire and Civil Defence Authority has updated its procedures and related training for handing over and assuming command during major incidents. A scheme to train operational personnel in fire prevention has been developed and is being implemented. The authority has also been working with London Underground Ltd. to improve sub-surface radio communications for firefighters. A programme of improvements includes the provision of a radio base station and associated work initially at 44 sub-surface railway stations and then to all others.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the London Fire and Civil Defence Authority has any proposals to implement a trial of a warbling mobilising system at fire stations in the London Fire Brigade.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  It is understood that the London Fire and Civil Defence Authority, following a trial, has decided to replace electro-mechanical bells at fire stations with a system which produces a similar sound electronically.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the London Fire and Civil Defence Authority has any proposals to equip fire rescue unit appliances with geiger counters for use at incidents involving radiation.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Each of the six rescue tenders in the London Fire Brigade is equipped with three survey meters and one contamination meter. All front-line appliances are equipped with one dosimeter per firefighter.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a list of fire stations in the London Fire Brigade, showing the establishment of(a) black and (b) female operational firefighters based at each fire station.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Information about ethnic minority and women operational firefighters in the London Fire Brigade is not collected in the form requested. The following information is contained in the brigade's establishment scheme in force on 1 January 1991, as notified to the Home Office by the chief fire officer:

  London Fire Brigade: ethnic minority and women wholetime operational staff in post on 1 January 1991

  Number

  Ethnic minorities

  (a) Afro-Caribbean

  1144

  (b) Asian (Indian sub-continent)

  30

  (c) Other

  54

  Women

  247

  Notes:

  1 Includes 5 women.

  2 Includes 5 Afro-Caribbean.

  Female Circumcision
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will establish a nationwide police squad to co-ordinate the prevention and suppression of female circumcision; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We have no plans to do so. The police will continue to make every effort to enforce the law against this practice.

  Wakefield Prison
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he is making under the terms of his Department's authorised disputes procedures for his trans-Pennine area manager for prisons to meet representatives of the Prison Officers Association before 1 April to discuss staffing levels at Her Majesty's prison, Wakefield.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  A meeting under the national disputes procedure has been arranged for Tuesday 9 April. The Trans-Pennine area manager will attend this meeting along with national representatives of prison service management and the prison officers associations.

  Stuart Bower
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when there will be a decision on the case of Stuart Bower, the former West Yorkshire police officer.

  Mr. John Patten
  My right hon. Friend hopes to reach a decision on the case shortly. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as a decision has been reached.

  Devon (Petty Sessional Divisions)
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will announce his decision regarding mergers of petty sessional divisions in the county of Devon; and if he will treat this as a matter of urgency.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I hope to make an announcement very shortly.

HEALTH

  National Health Service Trusts
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether national health service trusts will report directly to their regional health authority rather than his Department.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  National health service trusts will be accountable to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and Parliament via the national health service management executive. They will not report directly to their regional health authority.

  Doncaster Health Authority
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will provide additional funding to Doncaster health authority to enable paediatric wards to be kept open.
  252
  Mr. Dorrell
  Trent regional health authority is responsible for the allocation of funds to districts in its region. I understand that in 1991–92 Doncaster health authority will receive an initial cash allocation for its resident population which is 10·8 per cent. higher than it would have been in 1990–91 on a similar basis.

  Bath Health Authority Houses
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether tenancy agreements have now been entered into by the residents of the Bath health authority houses which were the subject of legal action brought by C. and G. Homes Ltd.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I understand that Bath district health authority hopes to complete the tenancy agreements in the week commencing 25 March 1991. There has been some delay because of the need to appoint signatories for several of the residents.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about implementation of sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986.

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement concerning the implementation of sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Disabled Persons Act 1986 has been implemented with the exception of sections 1, 2 and 3 and sections 7, 8(2) and (3).

  Sections 1 and 2 would provide for the setting up of a formal system of authorised representatives to be appointed either by the disabled person himself or, if he is unable to do so due to physical or mental incapacity, by the local authority. Section 3 would require local authorities to give a disabled person or his authorised representative the right to make representations about the need for services, to be given on request a statement of the assessed needs and services to be provided, and to make representations about any such statement.

  Consultations with the local authority associations on what it would cost to implement these sections have been completed recently. The associations estimate these costs at about £28 million a year in England at November 1989 prices, including £18 million to establish and run a formal system of authorised representatives under all three sections.

  The objectives of these sections are to give disabled people a greater say in decisions affecting their ability to live independent lives in the community. We fully endorse those objectives and have taken great care to see that they are fully reflected in the provisions of the Children Act 1989 and the new arrangements for community care under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 and associated policy guidance.

  Under the provisions of the 1989 Children Act from 14 October 1991 disabled children will have the same protection which they enjoy currently only if they are taken into care. One of its key features is the emphasis on the need for parents, the child and others connected with the child to participate fully in decisions about service

  253
  provision in partnership with local authorities. The Act also provides for a representations procedure with an independent element to consider complaints and other representations from parents, the child and others connected with the child.

  The new community care arrangements, which will be fully implemented by April 1993, have a wider scope than the Disabled Persons Act 1986 in that they cover all people affected by ageing or disability and give greater recognition to the needs of carers. They reflect and amplify sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Disabled Persons Act in a number of specific ways. From 1 April 1991 local authorities are required by directions under section 50 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act to have procedures for considering representations about needs and services. Anyone acting on behalf of a disabled person can make representations, including complaints, about needs and services, and local authorities are obliged to consider them.

  When the community care arrangements are fully implemented, local authorities will need to have in place assessment arrangements covering all community care needs. For people with communication difficulties arising from sensory impairment, mental incapacity or other disabilities local authorities have been advised that they will need to take positive steps to ensure that they can participate fully in the assessment process and in the determination of service provision. Written statements of the results of assessments and any services to be provided will be supplied on request. These requirements have been set out by the Department in the document "Community Care in the Next Decade and Beyond: Policy Guidance" (HMSO, 1990).

  The Department is preparing good practice information and material designed to assist authorities to give effect to the community care policy guidance. This will include material on representation and advocacy including the development of local advocacy schemes. In addition, we are giving financial support to a number of voluntary organisations which assist disabled people to make representations about needs or services either through peer support or the provision of advocates or companions.

  Disabled people within the meaning of the 1986 Act will retain their right under section 4 of that Act to an assessment of needs and a decision on services and where a need for services under section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 has been established to have those services provided.

  In the context of these substantial and wide-ranging provisions which provide protection for disabled people, to impose on local authorities the additional requirements of sections 1, 2 and 3 could carry the danger of diverting resources into complex administrative arrangements at the expense of services. We have therefore decided not to implement these sections, but we will review the situation again in the light of experience of the new arrangements.

  Care Homes
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the number of local authority care homes which currently fail to meet the requirements of the Registered Homes Act 1984.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Registered Homes Act does not apply to local authority residential care homes. Information about standards in local authority homes 254
  compared with those expected of registered homes is not collected by the Department. From April this year local authorities are required to have arms length inspection units charged with inspecting and reporting on both local authority and registrable independent residential care homes.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the capital expenditure required by local authorities to bring their care homes up to the physical standards required by his Department.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 24 January at column 294.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to make a statement on his policy towards care home trusts.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Further guidance to local authorities planning to transfer their residential care homes to trusts or other agencies will be issued soon.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list each local authority or health authority which has a policy of not sponsoring elderly persons resident in care or nursing homes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Returns submitted by local authorities to the Department indicate that all local authorities sponsor elderly people in independent sector residential care homes.

  We are not aware of any health authority which has a policy of not sponsoring elderly persons resident in nursing homes.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his latest estimate of the average unit cost of bed spaces in(a) local authority residential homes, (b) private care homes, (c) private nursing homes and (d) voluntary homes for elderly persons.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information requested is not available. The gross cost per place filled (excluding capital charges) for local authorities' own residential care homes for elderly people is given in table F17 of "Key Indicators of Local Authority Social Services" publication. The latest available information is for 1988–89; a copy of which is in the Library.

  King's College Hospital
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reasons have been given to him by King's college hospital for the late notification to his Department of the abortion of the King's college baby in September 1989.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The legal responsibility for notifying a termination of pregnancy to the Chief Medical Officer lies with the doctor who performed the termination and not with the hospital. Several terminations were performed at King's college hospital during September 1989.

  North Middlesex Hospital Trust
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the names, addresses and qualifications of the directors of the North Middlesex hospital trust.
  255
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The names of the chairmen and non-executives of the North Middlesex National Health Service trust are available from the Library.

  Non-executive directors are chosen for the personal contribution they can make to the effective management of the trust rather than for particular formal qualifications they hold. The chief executive is appointed by the chairman and non-executive directors. Other executive directors are appointed by the chairman, the non-executive directors and the chief executive and the appointments are thus a matter for the trust itself. The qualifications for executive directors are laid down in the National Health Service Trusts (Membership and Procedure) Regulations 1990 paragraph 4. (S.I. 1990, No. 2024).

  Information about the chief executive and other executive directors can be obtained from the chairman.

  Expenditure by Regional and District Health Authorities 1989–90

  Expenditure on headquarters administration

  Region

  Regional health authorities

  District health authorities

  Region totals

  Region total expenditure (current and capital)

  Total regional expenditure on headquarters administration as a proportion of region total expenditure

  £000 (cash)

  £000 (cash)

  £000 (cash)

  £000 (cash)

  per cent.

  Northern

  7,475

  30,429

  37,904

  930,953

  4·07

  Yorkshire

  10,706

  35,213

  45,919

  1,057,434

  4·34

  Trent

  11,498

  35,111

  46,609

  1,317,573

  3·54

  East Anglian

  8,140

  16,761

  24,901

  570,319

  4·37

  North West Thames

  9,119

  38,050

  47,169

  1,152,671

  4·09

  North East Thames

  13,065

  47,480

  60,545

  1,396,890

  4·33

  South East Thames

  15,044

  42,846

  57,890

  1,220,095

  4·74

  South West Thames

  13,720

  30,713

  44,433

  998,521

  4·45

  Wessex

  6,244

  26,586

  32,830

  824,042

  3·98

  Oxford

  4,704

  22,511

  27,215

  645,267

  4·22

  South Western

  8,000

  30,223

  38,223

  952,665

  4·01

  West Midlands

  18,019

  46,946

  64,965

  1,504,619

  4·32

  Mersey

  6,044

  25,640

  31,684

  751,098

  4·22

  North Western

  12,356

  41,094

  53,450

  1,253,376

  4·26

  Notes:

  1. Expenditure on headquarters administration includes all current expenditure on the pay and pay related costs of staff of all disciplines (including general managers) employed at headquarters levels and their office costs and overheads. It excludes the cost of clerical and secretarial support staff employed in departments at hospital and local levels: such costs are regarded as operational.

  2. The expenditure by each region will be influenced by a number of factors such as the size of the total budgets managed, the population served and the number of health authorities involved all of which differ between regions.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  The Gulf
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will request the United Nations Security Council to authorise an emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly under the provisions of United Nations resolution 377A(V) to deal with the diplomatic resolution of the Gulf war.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There is no need for an emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly to discuss the Gulf crisis. Nor is there any basis under the United Nations Charter for General Assembly action. The Security Council has fully exercised its charter responsibility for international peace and security throughout the crisis, and remains actively seized of the matter.

  Regional Health Authorities
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the administrative costs of running the headquarters of each regional health authority in England including staffing and maintenance costs but excluding service delivery functions such as ambulance and blood transfusion services.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 5 February 1991]: Figures derived from the 1989–90 annual accounts of the regional and district health authorities in England are shown in the table. Regions are managed in an integrated way and it would be misleading to interpret regional health authority data in isolation from that for the districts they manage. The region totals provide a more valid picture.

  With the variety of management and support functions provided by regional and district health authorities it is not practicable to exclude those costs at headquarters levels which are more directly concerned with the operational management of service delivery.

  Egypt
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made to exchange civil prisoners with Egypt.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We are negotiating a prison transfer agreement with Egypt that would enable prisoners to serve the remainder of their sentences in their home country.

  The Egyptians are still considering the matter. We shall continue to press them for an agreement.

  United Nations Association
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if her Majesty's Government will increase its grant to the United Kingdom United Nations Association.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  After careful consideration of all the applications for grants-in-aid, against the background of
  257
  available resources, a further sum of £24,000 was agreed for the UNA for the financial year 1991–92, subject to parliamentary approval. We have no plans to increase this.

  Middle East Oil
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Strathkelvin and Bearsden (Mr. Galbraith) of 13 November 1990,Official Report, columns 115–16, if he will update the capacity figures for Iraqi and Kuwaiti oil refineries following the Gulf war.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The total refining capacities for Iraqi and Kuwaiti oil refineries, which I gave the hon. Member for Strathkelvin and Bearsden (Mr. Galbraith) in my answer of 13 November 1990 at col.115, remain unchanged following the Gulf war. We do not yet know, however, to what extent the operational capabilities of the refineries in Kuwait may have been damaged during hostilities.

  Arms Control
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet non-governmental organisations on arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation issues.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I plan to host a meeting with non-governmental organisations on arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation issues on 14 May.

  Mrs. Maureen Paleschi
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communication Her Majesty's ambassador in Cairo has had recently with Mrs. Maureen Paleschi, currently in prison.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Consular officers from the embassy at Cairo visit Mrs. Paleschi regularly, most recently on 5 March 1991 when the consul found her well and in good spirits.

  Middle East
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy in respect of the case for elections to determine the representatives of the Palestinians; and what estimate has been made of the effect of such elections on creating delay in the holding of an international conference on the middle east.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We support proposals for a dialogue between Israel and representative Palestinians. They could discuss among other things possible arrangements for elections in the occupied territories. This could be a useful step in preparing for an international conference which we think will be needed at the appropriate time.

  Seal Culling
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Canadian Government expressing opposition to any increase in seal culling.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have no plans to do so as we are not aware of any Canadian plans for seal culling outside accepted international conservation practices.

  Iraq
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 15 March,Official Report, column 716, to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours) on contacts with opposition groups in Iraq, what information he has on opposition groups' proposals for the franchise as part of proposed democratic reforms.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Iraqi opposition envisage free and fair multi-party elections under universal adult suffrage.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has for giving practical assistance to the Kurdish population of Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are co-operating closely with the International Committee of the Red Cross in its admirable efforts to provide humanitarian assistance throughout Iraq, including in areas not controlled by Saddam Hussein's regime.

  Soviet Union
  Mr. David Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent meetings he has had with Ministers and other high officials from the autonomous Soviet Socialist Republics.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  None, although we are keen to expand our links with all authorities in the Soviet Union where this would bring practical benefit.

  Correspondence
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Office's East African Department will acknowledge or reply to letters sent on 4 December 1990, 10 December 1990, and 26 February 1991, by Messrs. Owston and Co. Solicitors, 44 Long street, Wigston, Leicestershire, in relation to the case of Mr. A. C. Patel of Westfield avenue, Wigston Fields, Leicestershire.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Messrs Owston & Co. were sent a reply to their letters on 20 March. The issues raised in the correspondence are not straightforward and involve consultation with a number of others both inside and outside the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

EMPLOYMENT

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information his Department maintains on the size of work forces of different employers, or of the largest work forces, in individual travel-to-work areas or constituencies.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information held by my Department reflects the PAYE arrangements of employers. Large employers provide separate returns on numbers of employees covered by each PAYE scheme. We have no means of aggregating returns in respect of different PAYE schemes for a particular employer.
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  The information is provided in confidence to the Department. Details of the largest work forces in a travel-to-work area or constituency would risk revealing the identity of individual employers and could not be released without their express permission.

  Training
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Employment whether there are any age limits on entry into the employment training scheme; and whether he has any plans to introduce an age limit.

  Mr. Jackson
  People aged 18–59 inclusive are eligible to enter ET if they meet the qualifying conditions set out in the contract between the Secretary of State and training and enterprise councils.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many training places funded or partly funded by his Department were available, and how many filled, in the parliamentary constituency of Tottenham in January 1989, January 1990 and January 1991.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information requested is not available for the parliamentary constituency of Tottenham.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how he intends to ensure that Government Departments pay small business suppliers promptly.

  Mr. Howard
  All Government Departments are committed to ensuring that the timing of payment is normally stipulated in all contracts. If, however, there is no contractual provision or other understanding or accepted practice governing the timing of payment, departments' practice is to pay within 30 days of receipt of goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice or similar demand for payment, whichever is the later.

  I also draw attention to the recent CBI/Cork Gully survey which found that national public sector bodies cause less significant problems than large private sector firms. Indeed, of those who deal with such bodies, a significant proportion of respondents said they cause no problem.

  However, we are not complacent about this record. During the 1991–92 financial year major spending Departments will be monitoring their payment performance and will make an annual return to my Department. The results will he published.

  Cobalt UK
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received concerning the proposed closure of Cobalt UK in Liverpool.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 21 March 1991]: My right hon. and learned Friend and I have received representations from the chief executive and from trainees with Cobalt (UK), Liverpool about this matter. The decision not to offer Cobalt (UK) an employment training contract in Liverpool for 1991–92 was reached locally by my Department's training, enterprise and education directorate's, Merseyside area office in full consultation with
  260
  the chief executive of the Merseyside training and enterprise council which is scheduled to become operational from 24 June 1991.

  Cobalt UK Ltd. has, however, been offered an extension to its current ET contract which was due to terminate on 31 March 1991 in order that the managing down of their provision in Liverpool can be handled sensitively and individual trainees' entitlements honoured with the minimum disruption to their training.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has made any estimate of the effect of the proposed closure of Cobalt UK on the unemployment situation in Liverpool.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 21 March 1991]: The proposed closure of Cobalt UK should not have an adverse effect on the unemployment situation in Liverpool. Other training providers in the area, who have achieved a better ratio of trainees into jobs, are able to offer similar provision in locations presently covered by Cobalt UK.

  TECs are required to use their best endeavours to secure alternative training places for trainees affected by possible closures.

  Labour Statistics, Leicestershire
  Mr. Ashby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what the unemployment figure was in North-West Leicestershire(a) in June 1983 and (b) at the latest available date.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 21 March 1991]: In February 1991 there were 2,024 unemployed claimants in the North-West Leicestershire parliamentary constituency. This compares with 3,410 in June 1983. Comparisons at the level of parliamentary constituencies are affected by the changes in the coverage of the count that have occurred over the period; this particular comparison is also affected by seasonal influences.

  Mr. Ashby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many new jobs have been created in North-West Leicestershire since 1979.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 21 March 1991]: Estimates of changes in employment for parliamentary constituencies are available only from the censuses of employment. The latest available figures are for September 1987; the earliest are for September 1981. Between these two dates, the number of employees in employment in the North-West Leicestershire constituency increased by 600 or 1·8 per cent. The figures exclude the self-employed and members of Her Majesty's forces.

DEFENCE

  "Options for Change"
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department will make a further statement on "Options for Change".

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence gave on 19 March at column 149 to my hon. Friend the Member for Beverley (Mr. Cran).

  British Legion
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will next meet representatives from the Royal British Legion to discuss the rehabilitation of injured service men.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have no plans at present to meet representatives from the Royal British Legion. However, Ministry of Defence officials are in regular contact with them about the rehabilitation and resettlement of injured service personnel.

  HMS Challenger
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, further to his answer of 4 February,Official Report, column 70, on what date in January he invited further bids for HMS Challenger; on what criteria he selected those to whom letters were sent inviting further bids; what were the terms of this renewed invitation to tender; what stage evaluation of the original bids has now reached; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I have nothing to add to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend on 4 February at column 70.

  Airports (Armed Personnel)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if MOD personnel on duty at Heathrow airport have been involved in any incidents since their regular deployment.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There were no incidents involving military personnel during their recent deployment at Heathrow airport.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what instructions are issued to military personnel regarding their authority in respect of civilians at Heathrow airport;

  (2) if armed troops currently deployed in terminals at Heathrow airport have the power of arrest of civilians.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Army units deployed at Heathrow airport operate under the instructions of the Metropolitan police, and all military patrols are accompanied by at least one police officer. Service men involved have no legal powers beyond those of any other citizen.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list all British airports where armed military personnel have been on regular duty during 1991.

  (2) who requested the presence of armed military personnel in the terminals at Heathrow airport and when; and how much longer they will remain on duty.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Army units have been deployed in 1991 at Heathrow and Gatwick airports at the request of the Metropolitan and Sussex police forces respectively. The deployment at Heathrow airport, which began on 16 January 1991, was terminated on 10 March, and that at Gatwick on 20 January 1991, 48 hours after it commenced.

  ASRAAM
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to prohibit the sale abroad of the advanced short-range air-to-air missile once it has been completed by the British missile production industry.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Present Government policy will continue. Applications for the export of any defence equipment will be considered in the light of circumstances prevailing at the time.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken by British forces and their coalition allies to recover destroyed Iraqi military equipment abandoned in Kuwait for(a) scrap metal recycling and (b) rebuilding for civilian uses; and if he has made an estimate of the monetary scrap value of all destroyed military equipment left over from the Gulf war.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We are considering arrangements for the disposal of Iraqi equipment captured by British forces. These may include recovery for use as hard targets or display exhibits, and disposal for recycling. We have no information on the monetary scrap value of all destroyed military equipment resulting from the Gulf conflict.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British, United States and other coalition forces are in Iraq; and if he will make a statement on their withdrawal.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are no British forces in Iraq. Coalition forces will withdraw from Iraq as soon as appropriate.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to recycling the materials of defunct and irreparably damaged vehicles and other British military equipment presently in Kuwait, southern Iraq or Saudi Arabia.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The small number of British vehicles which were seriously damaged during operations are being recovered to our logistic base in Saudi Arabia. Those that can be economically repaired will be returned to the United Kingdom or Germany. The remainder will be stripped of any useful items and arrangements will be made for the disposal of the residue, including recycling where appropriate.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service women are deployed in the Gulf; and how many were involved in combat.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  [holding answer 15 March 1991]: As at 28 February 1991 there were over 1,200 British service women deployed in the Gulf. No British service women were involved in combat.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Balance of Payments
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the non-oil balance of payments in each year since 1979 at 1990 prices.
  263
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Information from which the balance of trade in non-oil goods at 1990 prices may be derived can be found in table A7 of the Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics and its mid-year supplement, available in the Library of the House, or on the Central Statistical Office database which may also be accessed through the Library.

  Civil Service (Pay Additions)
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of the cost to the Exchequer of special London pay points and of local pay additions in London, the south-east and south-west of England, for civil servants in each of the last five years; if he will break these costs down by Department; and if he will list the number of civil servants, by Department, who are in receipt of these additional payments.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  A breakdown of the information by Department could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. London spine points were first introduced in October 1988 for some groups of staff and by January 1990 had been extended to about 100,000 staff within the London weighting area—a radius of 18 miles from Charing Cross. The annual estimated cost is now £66 million. Local pay additions were first introduced in June 1988 and are now paid to about 63,000 staff with an annual estimated cost of £32·2 million, broken down as follows:

  £ million

  London

  21·3

  Rest of the South East

  8·9

  South West

  0·3

  Rest of the United Kingdom

  1·7

  32·2

  Sports Ground Improvements
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the funding to be raised by the proposed new foundation for sport and arts he proposes to be spent on the ground improvements required as a result of the Safety at Sports Grounds Act 1987 and the Taylor report.

  Mr. Mellor
  It will be for the trustees, not for me, to propose in detail how funds are allocated once the foundation is established. However, I understand from the proposers that it is not the intention to make funds available to clubs in the Football or Scottish Football Leagues, or to any of our national football stadia. They already benefit from the arrangements announced in last year's Budget for spending on safety improvements to grounds.

  European Regional Development Fund
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the reasons for the revision downwards of his calculation of European regional development fund receipts for the years 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94 between the 1989 autumn statement and the 1990 autumn statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  Figures for European regional development fund receipts are not published in the autumn 264
  statement. However the downward revision in the estimates published in the 1991 Government expenditure plans compared to those in the 1990 plans are attributable to a number of factors, including Departments' estimates of the timing of receipts from the Commission and of the expected level of allocations to the United Kingdom of structural funds under the various structural fund objectives and Community support frameworks.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest meeting of the European Community's Economic and Finance Council and the meeting of the intergovernmental conference on economic and monetary union.

  Mr. Maude
  The ECOFIN Council met in Brussels on 18 March. The intergovernmental conference on economic and monetary union met later the same day. The Minister of State and I represented the United Kingdom at ECOFIN and I attended the IGC.

  Progress was made towards a final agreement on special schemes for charging VAT in the country of destination on the following intra-EC transactions—private purchases of new vehicles; goods bought by mail order and other distance selling; and purchases by exempt or non taxable bodies.

  The scope of reduced and zero VAT rates was also discussed. The Minister of State reiterated the importance for the United Kingdom of retaining our ability to continue to apply our present zero rates. The Council agreed to express a view on the approximation of VAT rates by 30 June.

  Agreement was reached on an EC-wide increase in travellers' allowances for goods not subject to excise duty from 390 to 600 ecus (approximately £273 to £420) from 1 July 1991. Discussions continue on increases for excisable goods such as alcohol and tobacco.

  It was agreed that the Commission's draft annual economic report was not out of date and that a revised version should be submitted to the Council for discussion and adoption in July.

  The Council agreed in principle that a loan guaranteed by the Community budget could be offered to Bulgaria subject to certain conditions. The loan will be of an amount equal to the facilities offered by non-EC members of the G24 up to a maximum of $400 million dollars. The Commission was also invited to prepare a proposal for a similar facility for Romania.

  The Council also adopted an opinion on the discharge of the 1989 EC budget following a presentation by the president of the European Court of Auditors. I stressed the importance of the court's work to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Community's expenditure and drew attention to the United Kingdom's ideas for increasing financial management and accountability in the Community which we have put forward in the intergovernmental conference on political union.

  The ministerial meeting of the intergovernmental conference on EMU focused on monetary and institutional arrangements in any possible stage 3 of EMU, in particular the allocation of responsibility for external monetary policy and the organisational structure of any European system of central banks (ESCB). The United Kingdom, while taking an active part in these discussions,

  265
  maintains its general reserve on the subject of stage 3, and in particular on any move to a single currency and single monetary policy.

  There was broad agreement that, if there were a single currency and monetary policy, ECOFIN should be responsible for determining the exchange rate system, and that the proposed ESCB should be responsible for day-to-day intervention. Differences persisted between member states in the exact delineation of responsibilities. On the organisational structure of the ESCB, I argued that national central banks should be given the greatest possible degree of autonomy.

  Exchange Rates
  Mr. Lawson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the change in the real £ sterling/ Deutschmark exchange rate, in purchasing power parity terms, between(a) the beginning of March 1988 and entry into the ERM in October 1990 and (b) entry into the ERM and the present.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 19 March 1991]: Following is the available information.

  Real Deutschmark/ sterling exchange rate

  1990 1st quarter

  2·70

  1990 3rd quarter

  2·96

  1990 4th quarter

  2·98

  Inward direct and portfolio investment1 in European Community (EC) countries

  In billions of dollars

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  United Kingdom

  7·6

  1·5

  11·0

  17·0

  35·1

  36·3

  49·2

  All other EC countries2

  26·9

  27·0

  36·4

  30·4

  36·4

  71·8

  128·4

  United Kingdom as percentage of all EC countries1

  22·0

  5·1

  23·3

  35·8

  49·1

  33·6

  27·2

  Source: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments, Volume 41, Yearbook, Part 2, 1990, tables C.14 and C.15.

  1 Not included elsewhere in IMF returns (See page 5 of Source).

  2 Excluding Denmark.
  266
  These figures are on a comparable basis to the historical series given in my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary's reply to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) on 22 October 1990 at columns 10–11.

  Overseas Investment
  Mr. Lawson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing, for each year from 1979 to 1990 inclusive,(a) overseas investment in the United Kingdom, (b) overseas investment in the rest of the European Community taken together and (c) overseas investment in the United Kingdom as a percentage of overseas investment in the European Community as a whole, all figures to be based on OECD statistics, adjusted as necessary.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 19 March 1991]: The following table sets out the latest readily available comprehensive figures published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on direct investment in, and transactions in the portfolio investment liabilities of, the countries of the European Community. There are differences in definition which mean that the figures must be used with caution. In particular, there is a global discrepancy in the reporting of overseas capital flows to the IMF which is currently under investigation. Inward investment includes total investment into each country, both from other EC countries and from outside the EC.