Written Answers of 25 March 1991

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Iraqi Nationals
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes have been made in regard to Her Majesty's Government's policy on applications by Iraqi nationals applying for(a) leave to remain in and (b) entry to the United Kingdom since 15 January.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  On 18 January my right hon. Friend introduced an immigration rules change (HC 160) under which applications for visas, leave to enter or extensions of stay by Iraqi nationals fall to be refused. These restrictions were introduced as an exceptional measure following the outbreak of hostilities in the Gulf. We are keeping them under review and will relax them as soon as my right hon. Friend is satisfied that it is safe and consistent with the national interest to do so. In the meantime, discretion to grant applications outside the rules is being exercised in compassionate circumstances where we are satisfied no threat to national security is involved.

  National Security Detainees.
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many national security detainees were released from(a) Her Majesty's prison Wormwood Scrubs, (b) Her Majesty's prison Full Sutton and (c) any other prison establishments on 8 March 1991.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  On 8 March 1991 nine Immigration Act detainees, held pending deportation on grounds of national security, were released from Her Majesty's prison Wormwood Scrubs and 24 from Her Majesty's prison Full Sutton. No other prison service establishments were holding these detainees.

  Immigration
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken following the recommendation of the Home Affairs Committee in its fifth report of Session 1989–90 that applicants for naturalisation should be kept informed of the stage that their application has reached.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Government undertook in their reply to the report (Cmnd 1368) to issue regularly bulletins on the progress of nationality work. The first such bulletin will issue shortly.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines are issued to immigration officers at ports of entry to the United Kingdom for the questioning of visitors from(a) Poland, (b) USSR, (c) India, (d) Chile, (e) Tanzania and (f) Taiwan.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Instructions are not issued on the basis of nationality.
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  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) naturalisation and (b) registration applications awaiting decision were made (i) before 1 January 1988, (ii) before 1 January 1989 and (iii) before 1 January 1990.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  On 20 March 1991 the number of outstanding applications by date of application was as follows:

  Application date

  Naturalisation

  Registration

  Before 1 January 1988

  16,351

  11,155

  Between 1 January 1988 and 31 December 1988

  12,912

  1,915

  Between 1 January 1989 and 31 December 1989

  16,756

  2,441

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time taken to deal with applications for variation of licence to stay in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The estimated average length of time between the receipt of an application for variation of leave to remain in the United Kingdom and the decision, for cases decided in caseworking groups and in the public inquiry offices in the fourth quarter of 1990, was a little under two months.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time taken to issue explanatory statements by the immigration and nationality department.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Records are not kept of individual processing times for all explanatory statements but it is estimated that at present the average time taken to prepare and despatch an explanatory statement to the immigration appellate authorities is about six months.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what are the current and projected processing times for applications for(a) registration and (b) naturalisation;

  (2) how long the immigration and nationality department takes to determine applications for naturalisation as at 1 March;

  (3) if he has set targets for the time that his Department should take to deal with applications for naturalisation.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The average time taken for certificates of registration issued in February 1991 was 24 months and for certificates of naturalisation 36 months. Our objective is to reduce both the level of outstanding cases and waiting time as quickly as possible. The level of arrears is reducing considerably, but I cannot predict when precise waiting times will be achieved.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications on behalf of over-age dependants who have established relationship by means of DNA tests have been(a) considered, (b) granted, (c) refused and (d) are pending under his discretionary policy.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A total of 466 applications involving over-age reapplicants have been reviewed under the terms of the concession announced by my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Hurd) on 14 June 1989 at
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  column 461. A total of 108 of these applications have been granted and 358 refused. A total of 159 applications are currently awaiting review under the terms of the 1989 concession.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what changes have been made to the length of tiime for which an invitation/sponsorship form approval is valid; when the period of validity dates from; and whether there are variations, by country, in the length of time such approvals are valid;

  (2) if he will list the countries from which visitors to the United Kingdom have to fill in an invitation/sponsorship form for approval before being allowed entry into the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  It is open to an entry clearance officer to seek up-to-date confirmation from a United Kingdom sponsor if he wishes to satisfy himself that the immigration rules as to maintenance and accommodation will be met in respect of any national seeking entry to the United Kingdom.

  Deportation
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nationals issued with notices of intention to deport on national security grounds(a) in November/December 1990 and (b) in January 1991, (i) left the United Kingdom voluntarily, (ii) were handed over to the Ministry of Defence as prisoners of war and (iii) appeared before the national security panel.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The answer is as follows:

  (a) (i) three; (ii) none; and (iii) three.

  (b) (i) 56; (ii) 35; and (iii) 48.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nationals of(a) Iraq and (b) other middle eastern countries have been issued with notices of intention to deport on national security grounds since November 1990; and how many in total were detained.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Since November 1990, 144 Iraqis and 11 other nationals of middle eastern countries have been served with notices of intention to deport for reasons of national security, of whom 110 were detained.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nationals issued with notices of intention to deport on national security grounds(a) in November/December 1990 and (b) January 1991 and who appeared before the national security panel were, prior to 8 March 1991, (i) released with notices of intention to deport withdrawn, (ii) released on restrictions pending further investigation into the deportation decision, (iii) released pending the making of a deportation order, (iv) held in detention pending further investigation into the deportation decision and (v) held in detention pending the making of a deportation order.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The answer is as follows:

  (a) (i) one; (ii) none; (iii) two; (iv) none; (v) none.

  (b) (i) 14; (ii) seven; (iii) one; (iv) 25; (v) six.

  Mr. Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will grant a visitor's permit to the spouse of a British citizen to enable that person to visit an hon. Member at his invitation, for discussions relating to the 270
  refusal of an entry certificate by an entry clearance officer in the Indian sub-continent so that that hon. Member, in whose constituency the spouse is resident, can determine how and whether to represent that person at an appeal against refusal of entry; and if he will confirm that, as the appellant will already have launched his appeal, the provisions of section 13(3) of the Immigration Act 1971 will not apply.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 14 March 1991 at column 656. All visa nationals who wish to visit the United Kingdom, whatever the purpose of the journey, must apply for an entry clearance at a British diplomatic post overseas. The entry clearance officer would consider such an application under the relevant requirements of the immigration rules (paragraph 22 of HC 251).

  By virtue of section 13(3) of the Immigration Act 1971, an applicant who holds a current entry clearance has a right of appeal in the United Kingdom against a decision to refuse him leave to enter the United Kingdom. However, a person has no right to enter or remain in the United Kingdom because there is an appeal outstanding against a previous refusal of an entry clearance.

  Family Law
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list each Government grant to organisations active in relation to family and divorce law and its operation in the past year.

  Mr. John Patten
  A list of all voluntary organisations funded by Government Departments was placed in the Library when details of grants made in 1988–89 were announced on 11 May last year at columns 254–55. Similar details of grants made in 1989–90 are planned to be announced shortly in the same way.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Immigration
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Attorney-General what is the average time between the lodging of an appeal and its determination by an immigration appeal tribunal.

  The Attorney-General
  It is estimated that in those cases where leave to appeal is granted the average time between the lodging of an appeal and its determination by the immigration appeal tribunal is four to six months, depending on the length of time it takes the parties to prepare for the hearing.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Attorney-General how many cases were pending hearing before the immigration appeal tribunals on(a) 1 March 1989, (b) 1 March 1990 and (c) 1 March 1991, respectively; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The information required is set out in the table:

  Number of cases pending before the immigration appeal tribunal

  Number

  (a) 1 March 1989

  262

  (b) 1 March 1990

  177

  (c) 1 March 1991

  360

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  The immigration appeal tribunal received 35 per cent. more cases in 1990 than in 1989, which accounts for the rise in the number of cases pending as at 1 March 1991. Additional resources have been made available to the IAT to cope with the increased work load, and the Lord Chancellor's Department will keep the IAT's work load under close review to ensure that the number of outstanding cases is kept as low as possible.

  Mr. Gorst
  To ask the Attorney-General how soon Ramesh Kumar's appeal against refusal of entry clearance to the United Kingdom on 22 January will be heard; and whether any regard will be taken of compassionate circumstances surrounding the case when the date for hearing is fixed.

  The Attorney-General
  Mr. Kumar's appeal papers were received at the immigration appellate authorities (IAA) in London on 13 March 1991. On 15 March 1991 the IAA despatched the case papers to Mr. Kumar in India requesting that he nominate a representative by 15 May 1991. Once Mr. Kumar nominates a representative in the United Kingdom, and the representative has prepared for the hearing, the IAA will aim to list the case within two to three months. The listing of immigration appeal hearings is a matter for the IAA which gives full consideration to all requests made to it from either party for the early hearing of an appeal.

  Mr. Gorst
  To ask the Attorney-General whether, under the provisions of section 22 of the Immigration Act 1971, an appellant against the refusal of entry into the United Kingdom as the spouse of a British citizen, has the right to be represented al: an adjudication or before a tribunal by an hon. Member.

  The Attorney-General
  The Immigration Appeals (Procedure) Rules 1984 (SI 1984/2041) made under section 22 of the Immigration Act 1971 state that in proceedings before the immigration appellate authorities (IAA) the appellant, with the leave of the IAA, may be represented by any person appearing to the IAA to be acting on the appellant's behalf.

  Birmingham Pub Bombings
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Attorney-General when his Department first became aware of the existence of documents relating to forensic tests carried out on 21 November 1974 on other ferry passengers besides the men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings.

  The Attorney-General
  The DPP first became aware of such a document on or shortly after 8 October 1987 when he received a written statement by a scientist dated 5 October 1987.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Attorney-General for what reason the statement taken by West Midlands police officers from the forensic scientist who conducted tests on passengers on the Liverpool to Belfast ferry was not made available to representatives of the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings before their appeal in November 1987.

  The Attorney-General
  The Director of Public Prosecutions has asked for a report covering the handling of this statement. I will write to the hon. Member in the light of that report.
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  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Attorney-General for what reason the results of forensic tests carried out on passengers on the Liverpool to Belfast ferry on 21 November 1974 were not made available to the defence at the trial of the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings.

  The Attorney-General
  The Director of Public Prosecutions was not aware at the time of the trial that such tests had been carried out.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Attorney-General when the statement taken from the forensic scientist who tested the hands of passengers on the Liverpool to Belfast ferry, which has recently come to light, was taken by West Midlands police force officers; and what other statements were taken in 1987 by West Midlands police officers in relation to the Birmingham pub bombings case.

  The Attorney-General
  The first statement by the scientist was taken on 5 October 1987. A further statement was taken from him on 19 October 1987. As to other statements taken in 1987, I will write to the hon. Member giving him such particulars as I am able to provide having regard to the practice whereby the names of persons who have given written statements to the police in the course of their inquiries are held in confidence and are disclosed only to the parties to legal proceedings, unless the makers of the statements consent to wider disclosure.

  Child Care Law
  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Attorney-General what further steps have been taken to name the judiciary who will deal with child care cases in the higher courts under the Children Act 1989.

  The Attorney-General
  The Children Act 1989 is due to be implemented on 14 October 1991. Central to the philosophy of the Act is the principle that children's cases in the higher courts should be heard by judiciary who, by reason of their experience and training, are specialists in family work.

  Under the Courts and Legal Services Act the Lord Chancellor has the power to nominate such judiciary with the concurrence of the president of the family division. The nomination process will extend over a period of months and began on 22 November 1990 with the announcement of the names of 47 circuit judges who are to be known as "designated family judges". As a second step in the process the Lord Chancellor has today, with the approval of the right honourable Sir Stephen Brown, president of the family division, named two further groups of specialist judges.

  The first group comprises 49 circuit judges who will he known as "nominated care judges" and the second group consists of 127 district judges who will be responsible for the allocation of care cases, in the higher courts. Both groups will sit at the network of county court "care centres", the locations of which were announced on 22 November 1990.

  The "nominated care judges" will deal with substantive hearings and emergency protection orders arising in child care cases transferred up from the magistrates courts. They will also have jurisdiction in family proceedings.

  As their title suggests, the district judges responsible for the allocation of care cases will deal primarily with the allocation and timetabling of child care cases transferred

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  from the magistrates courts. They will also be able to deal with emergency protection orders and interlocutory matters within transferred cases.

  As announced on 4 May 1990, an extensive programme of judicial training is already under way. The nominated care judges and the district judges responsible for the allocation of care cases will receive training in the new procedures established by the Act. Special jurisdictional arrangements will operate in London where the district judges of the family division will have the same jurisdiction as the nominated care judges while also performing the role of district judges responsible for the allocation of care cases.

  Lists showing the "care centre" locations together with the names of the nominated care judges and of the district judges responsible for the allocation of care cases have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Children Act Central Advisory Committee
  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Attorney-General who is to chair the Children Act central advisory committee announced by the Lord Chancellor on 9 July 1990.

  The Attorney-General
  Mrs. Justice Booth will chair this committee, now to be known as the Children Act advisory committee. The appointment will be for a two-year term.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Nuclear Structure Facility
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last met the chairman of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils; and whether he discussed the funding of the nuclear structure facility at Daresbury.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. and learned Friend last met the chairman of the ABRC on 15 January. At that meeting the board's advice on allocation of the science budget and other scientific matters were discussed. The future of the Science and Engineering Research Council's nuclear structure facility was not specifically mentioned.

  Museums
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measures he has taken to assist museums to be able to respond to the demands to be made on them from classroom teachers who will be implementing the history national curriculum in terms of staff and other resources; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Responsibility for funding staff at national museums rests with my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Arts. Aside from independent museums, funding for local museums is in the main provided by local authorities. The Government will be providing some £170 million in specific grants in the 1991–92 financial year to help schools with the implementation of the national curriculum. It is up to each LEA to decide how to deploy the funds allocated to it, according to local needs and priorities.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what evidence he has of the effect 274
  of his Department's circular regarding parents' financial support for school visits on the number of such visits to museums; and what action he plans to take.

  Mr. Fallon
  My right hon. and learned Friend has recently completed a review of the evidence of the effects of the charging provisions of the Education Reform Act 1988 and circular 2/89 on school activities and concluded that the evidence does not point to a need to change the law. Evidence was received from a range of sources and included a survey of a sample of schools and all local education authorities commissioned from the National Foundation for Educational Research. The evidence suggests that there has not been a significant change in the number of visits to museums since 1988.

  Teachers
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the numbers of teachers employed by each education authority.

  Mr. Fallon
  The information requested for January 1990 is contained in the DES statistical bulletin 5/91, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Non-teaching Staff
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the number of(a) non-teaching staff and (b) administrative staff employed centrally by each local education authority.

  Mr. Fallon
  Information on the number of full-time and part-time non-teaching staff employed by each local education authority has been placed in the Library. No information is available on the number of centrally employed administrative staff.

  University Staff
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science why he has decided to delay ratification of the agreement of committee A of the negotiating machinery for university academic and academic-related staff to increase London weighting with effect from 1 July 1990, through the committee B stage of the machinery.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  No decision has been taken to delay: committee B is considering the proposal made to it by committee A on 13 February 1991 and will respond to it as soon as possible.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what funding arrangements were agreed between his Department, the Universities Funding Council and the CVCP, prior to the offer made by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals to the Association of University Teachers to increase the London allowance for university academic and academic-related staff, with effect from 1 July 1990.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  None. Funding is a matter for the Universities Funding Council.

  Administration
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the amount of money held for the administration element of central services for each local education authority.
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  Mr. Fallon
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies of 21 February and 22 March to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West, (Mr. Hughes) at columns 235–38 and column 236.

  More detailed figures are set out in part 1 of the authorities' LMS budget statements for 1990–91, prepared and published under section 42 of the Education Reform Act, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Vacation Hardship Allowance
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) in 1989–90 how much was paid out in vacation hardship allowance in(a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland;

  (2) how many students received vacation hardship allowance in 1989–90 in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave in respect of England and Wales to the hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith) on 13 March 1991, at column 516. Student support in Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to publish orders to introduce geography and history in the national curriculum.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have published today documents setting out attainment targets and programmes of study for geography and history in the national curriculum and have laid orders which will bring these documents into effect from the beginning of the next school year for pupils starting key stages 1, 2 and 3 (those aged five, seven and 11 in September).

  The publication of these curriculum documents will ensure that pupils follow sensible and comprehensive courses of study in history and geography. The introduction of national curriculum requirements for these subjects will lead to high academic standards and worthwhile levels of achievement by pupils.

  The documents which I am publishing today do not include a reduced course in geography for pupils at key stage 4 who are not taking a course leading to GCSE. I intend to publish shortly for consultation a further draft order concerning the reduced course.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales is making separate orders to introduce geography and history arrangements in Welsh schools.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Pharmaceuticals
  Dame Peggy Fenner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has concluded his deliberations on the European Commission's proposed regulation on patent term restoration for pharmaceuticals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Government are still considering the Commission's proposal and intend to announce a position shortly.

  Argentine Ballistic Missiles
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if during his recent visit he discussed with the Argentine Government the Argentine Condor II ballistic missile project and the export controls required for such technology being developed by private industry.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 22 March 1991]: No.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Arms Spending
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to collate information on the percentage of gross domestic product spent on arms by countries which are recipients of aid from the United Kingdom.

  Mrs. Chalker
  As I indicated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) on 13 March at column 517 we consider that there is room for improvement in such data, which are also included by the World bank in its "World Development Report" published annually. Such information is best collected on an international basis, and we are exploring how best this might be done.

  Starvation
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the number of persons in the world who were starving, assessed on the basis of the OECD reports in 1961, 1971 and 1981.

  Mrs. Chalker
  According to the OECD no such assessments have been made. The most recent report available to us is the latest assessment by the World Food Programme that up to 29 million people may be at risk of starvation in 25 sub-Saharan African countries.

ENERGY

  Electricity Generation
  Mr. John P. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received concerning the impact of the transitional contract for supplies by British Coal to the electricity generators on the future of coal-fired power stations capacity in South Wales.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  None.

  Coal Industry Ownership
  Mr. Thorne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next plans to meet the chairman of British Coal to discuss future ownership of the industry.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I meet the chairman of the British Coal Corporation regularly to discuss all aspects of the coal industry.

  Coal Imports
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations he has had with the chairman of British Coal regarding the level of coal imports after 1 April 1993.
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  Mr. Wakeham
  I have regular consultations with the chairman of British Coal on all aspects of the coal industry, including the remarkable efforts that the corporation has been making to improve its competitiveness and fight for a major share of the United Kingdom coal market over future years.

  Offshore Oil Platforms
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the installation of emergency shut down valves on offshore oil platforms.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Of the 193 valves required to be fitted as a result of the Offshore Installations (Emergency Pipe-line Valve) Regulations 1989, 164 have now been fitted. In a further 13 cases, work is either in hand on the installation of the valves or the pipelines are shut down until the work can be performed. In 16 cases temporary exemptions have been granted until 31 March 1991 only, with stringent safety conditions attached, after which time these pipelines will also be shut down for the valves to be installed.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of United Kingdom energy production was state owned(a) in 1979 and (b) since the privatisation of National Power and PowerGen; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wakeham
  In 1979 about 45 per cent. of United Kingdom production of primary fuels was by nationalised industries. It is estimated that the proportion now is about 32 per cent.

  In terms of the proportion of final energy consumption in the United Kingdom supplied by nationalised industries, this represents a change from 59 per cent. in 1979 to about 8 per cent. now.

  Loft Insulation
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the Government's estimate of the percentage of Britain's housing that does not have loft insulation up to the standard of 1990 building regulations.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The higher requirements for the thermal insulation of the roofs of dwellings in England and Wales, introduced in the 1990 building regulations, can effectively be met by 6 in. of loft insulation. Information currently available on levels of loft insulation in existing homes does not enable identification of specific levels of insulation over 4 in. in homes in England and Wales.

  Landfill Gas
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many landfill gas schemes are currently in operation.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My Department is aware of 32 landfill gas schemes currently in operation.

  Electricity Prices
  Mr. Rost
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to change the formula applied by OFFER for proposed price adjustments by the regional electricity companies to the domestic tariffs.
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  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. Morgan) on 22 February at columns 280–81.

  Oil Supplies
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will estimate the effect of the Gulf war on oil supplies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait last year, and the cessation of its oil exports, other countries—mainly Saudia Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela—increased their production levels and made up the shortfall. Oil stocks have been at high levels throughout the period.

  Offshore Supply Industry
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the share of the United Kingdom offshore supply industry in the world market for offshore work.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My Department's best estimate is that the United Kingdom offshore supplies industry's share of the available market for offshore work was in excess of £6·5 billion in 1990 of which about a third—or approximately £2 billion—was exports.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the average annual level of expenditure on energy efficiency between 1974 and 1979, 1980 and 1984 and between 1985 and 1990.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Average annual expenditure by my Department on energy efficiency programmes in the five years ended 1984–85 was £9·9 million and in the five years ended 1989–90 was £19·8 million. This compares with expenditure in 1979–80 of £2·4 million; previous expenditure is not separately identifiable.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Arms Control
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the steps currently being taken to strengthen the arms control regimes.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There are a number of arms control fora: further measures to supplement the conventional armed forces in Europe (CFE) treaty and the Vienna package of confidence and security building measures (CSBMs) are under consideration in NATO and among the participants in the Vienna negotiations.

  Negotiations continue between the United States and the Soviet Union on a START agreement which we hope can be concluded later this year.

  NATO is currently considering its approach to negotiations on short-range nuclear forces in Europe.

  An early and successful conclusion is being pursued in the conference on disarmament in Geneva for a chemical weapons convention.

  The third review conference of the 1972 bacteriological (biological) and toxin weapons convention in September

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  will provide an opportunity to strengthen the convention by improving its confidence-building measures regime and reviewing the scope for verification.

  Closer co-ordination is being sought in the Australia group on contacts on CW precursors and dual-use equipment.

  Discussions continue in the United Nations, the co-ordinating committee for multilateral export control, the missile technology control regime and groups of nuclear suppliers on strengthening other arms control regimes.

  Military Attaché, Baghdad
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what periods since 1979 the United Kingdom retained a military attaché at the British embassy in Baghdad.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Kingdom had a succession of defence attaches at the British embassy at Baghdad from 1979 until the last incumbent departed on 27 September 1990.

  Nuclear and Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, pursuant to his oral answer to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, (Mr. Kaufman)Official Report, 13 March, column 929, he will set out the specific loopholes and weaknesses in the agreements and control regimes for nuclear, chemical and biological weapons to which he makes reference.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We work constantly to strengthen the control of all weapons of mass destruction through the co-ordinating committee for multilateral export controls, the missile technology control regime, groupings of nuclear suppliers and the Australia group. We are also working to achieve an effective global ban on chemical weapons through an international convention.

  Iraq
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Ministers from his Department last visited Iraq, and what was the purpose and outcome of the visits.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the then Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office visited Iraq in February 1989 to discuss bilateral and commercial issues; to appeal for the release of Mr. Ian Richter; to encourage an early peace settlement with Iran; and to raise Iraq's use of chemical weapons and her human rights record. The policies of the Iraqi Government have prevented progress on any of these issues.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations were made by Her Majesty's Government since 1985 to other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council in regard to their sales of military equipment and technology for Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Our policy on sales of defence equipment to Iraq since 1984 was to refuse the sale of any equipment which would significantly enhance Iraq's ability to prolong or exacerbate its conflict with Iran. Since 280
  1980 we had refused to allow the export of lethal equipment to either side. This policy was well known to the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

  Israel
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters were discussed during his meeting with his Israeli counterpart in London on 5 March.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Discussions focused on regional security and the prospects for relaunching the Arab-Israel peace process following the ceasefire in the Gulf. There was also some discussion of bilateral issues.

  International Atomic Energy Agency
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to instruct the United Kingdom ambassador to the Board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency to seek to put on the agenda of the next IAEA governors' meeting the issues of(a) strengthening international nuclear safeguards and (b) the effects on the IAEA safeguards regime of the bombing of safeguarded nuclear facilities in Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The director general of the IAEA raised a number of safeguards issues in his statement to the board of governors meeting in February.

  The UK governor agreed that these were important matters to which the board would need to return at its next meeting.

  Conferences
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the invitations his Department received to participate in or send an observer to conferences to be held in March.

  Mr. Lennox-Boy
  d The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Baltic States
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to his Soviet counterpart on the recommencement of the negotiations on self-determination for the Baltic states; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Ho
  gg My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs discussed the situation in the Baltic Republics with his Soviet counterpart, Mr. Bessmertnykh and with President Gorbachev in Moscow on 21 March. In both meetings he stressed our belief that constructive negotiations between Moscow and the republican authorities should begin as soon as possible.

  CFE Treaty
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the implementation of the CFE treaty to date.
  281
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The signatory states have taken certain steps (data exchange and corrections, notification of inspectors' names, active inspection quotas and other details required by the inspection protocol) under those provisions of the CFE treaty which were provisionally applied from the time of signature. Further steps in the implementation of the treaty (including the destruction/ conversion of excess equipment and the establishment of the verification regime) will take place after the treaty has entered into force, which happens only afterall 22 signatories have deposited instruments of ratification. To date, no signatory has done so.

  Legislative Competence
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to produce a guide to hon. Members on the areas of competence of EC legislation and the United Kingdom Parliament.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The areas of Community competence are defined by the Community treaties, as interpreted by the ECJ. Through the European Communities Act 1972 and other legislation, Parliament has given the necessary effect to the United Kingdom's obligations under the treaties. In addition, scrutiny procedures enable Parliament to review thoroughly all proposals for Community legislation, and where appropriate to call for debates.

  Missile Technology Control
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his current information on the nations that are now members of missile technology control regime; and when they joined.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer to him of 1 February. Since then Austria has announced her adherence to the missile technology control regime.

  Children
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to seek implementation of the articles of the United Nations convention on the rights of the child regarding children in conflict situations in Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Iraq has not ratified or acceded to the United Nations convention on the rights of the child and is not therefore bound by its provisions. We remain deeply concerned about the general human rights situation in Iraq.

  Sharks
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Governments of the United States of America, Taiwan, Malaysia, China, Japan and Indonesia in respect of the slaughter of sharks for their fins; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We do not intend to do so.

EMPLOYMENT

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 6 March,Official Report, column 167, what was the position of William Cowlins and Son with respect to the involvement of E. C. Harris in the proposed South Glamorgan TEC headquarters before 24 September 1990.

  Mr. Jackson
  I am not in a position to comment on any relationship that may have existed between William Cowlins and Son and E. C. Harris before 24 September 1990.

  Training
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the reasons for the delay in updating the quarterly findings from the YT leavers survey; when he next plans to update the results of the survey; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Administrative systems used to collect information about YT leavers were changed last year. It has taken some time for the new systems to settle down. When I am satisfied that the YT follow-up system is producing good quality reliable data I will resume the release of results.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what effect the move to delivery of training provision through TECs has had on the collection, processing and presentation of data from both the ET and YT leavers survey; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  There has been no change to the system for collecting, processing and presenting ET follow-up information as a result of the move towards TEC delivery of programmes. The YT system has been changed to bring it into line with ET.

  Training, Brixton
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will place in the Library copies of the letters sent out in March 1991 by his training enterprise and education directorate inner London south area office to trainers in the Brixton area about funding levels for training in 1991–92; and if he will make it his policy to maintain current funding levels for training in the Brixton area.

  Mr. Jackson
  The letters sent to trainers in the Brixton area by the inner London south area office are confidential between the Department and the contractor and should not be publicised. It is not possible to give a guarantee that current funding levels in the Brixton area will be maintained.

  Children's Rights
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the implementation of article 32 of the United Nations convention on the rights of the child.

  Mr. Forth
  I refer the hon. Lady to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and
  283
  Lunesdale (Mr. Lennox-Boyd) on 21 March at columns 192–93. Article 32 of the convention seeks to regulate hours and conditions of employment and, under the convention's definition of a child, would apply to young people aged 16 to 18. We believe that terms and conditions of employment of young people, as of other employees, are matters for negotiation between employers and employees or their representatives. We have therefore made it clear that when we ratify the convention we will enter a reservation on this article.

PRIME MINISTER

  Kashmir
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government will urge the United Nations to implement its resolutions that the people of Kashmir should be given the right of self-determination.

  The Prime Minister
  United Nations resolutions on Kashmir over 40 years ago were concerned with the accession to India or Pakistan of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Government consider that any proposal to resolve the continuing dispute over the status of Kashmir needs to take account of subsequent developments, and to be mutually agreed between the Governments of India and Pakistan.

  President Gorbachev
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister what matters were discussed at his meeting with President Gorbachev.

  The Prime Minister
  The main subjects we discussed were the middle east, arms control, the Baltic states, the progress of political and economic reform in the Soviet Union and bilateral relations.

  Kuwait
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will consult the United Kingdom Institute of Waste Management on the methods of reclamation of building rubble for the reconstruction of Kuwait.

  The Prime Minister
  The institute would be advised to register with the Department of Trade and Industry's Kuwait reconstruction database so that United Kingdom expertise in this field can be made available to the Kuwaiti authorities.

  Nuclear and Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 14 March,Official Report, column 1094, to the hon. Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Ross), if he will list in the Official Report those forums and institutions at which he intends to take up the matter of the export of chemical, nuclear and biological weapons.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply my hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office gave to the hon. Member for Clackmannan (Mr. O'Neill) on 6 March 1991.

  Moscow
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister which organisations he met during his recent visit to Moscow.

  The Prime Minister
  During my visit to the Soviet Union I held meetings with President Gorbachev, Prime Minister Pavlov, Defence Minister Yazov and representatives of the armed forces, representatives of the Baltic states, and leading liberals.

  Child benefit
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister further to his oral answer of 7 March,Official Report, column 456, if he will make a further statement on the uprating of child benefit.

  The Prime Minister
  I welcome the uprating of child benefit announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget statement on 19 March 1991.

  Research and Development
  Dr. Bray
  To ask the Prime Minister, further to his answer of 12 March,Official Report, column 472, what is the estimate of total Government expenditure on research and development in enterprises with fewer than 200 employees; and what proportion of it is estimated to be for defence purposes.

  The Prime Minister
  The 1989 survey of expenditure and employment on research and development (R and D) in United Kingdom industry was largely restricted to enterprises with 200 or more employees.

  A provisional estimate for civil and defence research and development expenditure in enterprises with fewer than 200 employees has been made of £255 million. Details are given in the notes of the Central Statistical Office's "Business Bulletin" issue 14/91, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  The nearest grouping for which firm data, disaggregated into civil and defence R and D, exists is that with 200 to 499 employees for which the proportion of expenditure for defence purposes is 2·4 per cent.

  President Bush
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the matters discussed during his meeting with President Bush in Bermuda on 16 March.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 21 March at column 193.

  Prime Minister, Tuvalu
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister if he met the Prime Minister of Tuvalu during his visit to London on 19 March.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what response he is making to the request for assistance in the establishment of a South Pacific disaster relief programme to respond to natural catastrophes, set out by the Prime Minister of Tuvalu.

  The Prime Minister
  This issue was not raised by the Prime Minister of Tuvalu when he saw the Minister for
  285
  Overseas Development on 18 March. However, we are always ready to respond to the need for disaster relief assistance whether in the Pacific or elsewhere.

  Gulf War
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Prime Minister what information he has concerning the extent of damage to sewerage systems, water purification plants, hospitals and medical centres in(a) Iraq and (b) Kuwait arising from military action in the Gulf war; and what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to provide humanitarian aid to each country to alleviate hardship and disease caused by military action.

  The Prime Minister
  The United Nations Secretary-General reported to the Security Council on 21 March on Under Secretary-General Ahtisaari's findings following his mission to Iraq.

  Ahtisaari reported that sewage systems, water purification plants, hospitals and medical centres are largely undamaged but are not functioning fully due to a lack of electricity and fuel. The United Nations sanctions committee is considering how to respond urgently.

  Although Kuwait suffered widespread damage and sabotage to its infrastructure as a result of the Iraqi invasion and occupation, the Government of Kuwait have already started to organise repairs and have made arrangements to provide purified drinking water. Medical facilities were relatively undamaged and are continuing to operate.

  The United Kingdom supports the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations relief agencies in Iraq and Kuwait. This year we have already given £2·5 million to the ICRC's Gulf appeal (the largest single cash donation) and US$1 million to the United Nations appeal co-ordinated by United Nations Disaster Relief Organisation. In addition, the EC Commission has given £8·75 million to support the relief activities in the Gulf region. The share of this attributable to the United Kingdom's aid budget is £1·75 million.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Prime Minister what initiatives have been taken by Her Majesty's Government's representatives to(a) the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, (b) the United Nations environment programme, (c) the International Atomic Energy Agency, (d) the International Energy Agency, (e) the World Health Organisation, (f) the International Labour Organisation, (g) the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, (h) the European Commission and (i) the United Nations, respectively, to alleviate hardship caused to civilians in Iraq and Kuwait caused by the Gulf war.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 22 March 1991]: The International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations relief agencies are the main international organisations providing assistance to civilians in Iraq and Kuwait. A multi-agency UN mission has just returned from Iraq where it has assessed the needs of the civilian population and will shortly be visiting Kuwait. Representatives of British non-governmental organisations, Oxfam and Save the Children Fund, just back from Baghdad, are also planning relief activities. UNEP is helping to tackle the effects of oil pollution in the Gulf. The
  286
  EC Commission has given £8·75 million to support relief activities in the Gulf region. The share of this attributable to the United Kingdom's aid budget is £1·75 million.

  We are not aware that the other organisations mentioned are currently providing assistance to civilians in Iraq and Kuwait.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Prime Minister what communications he has had with the director of the World Health Organisation concerning disease and epidemics in Iraqi cities arising from destruction of sewage and water purification plants, and electricity generating stations, by allied bombing in the Gulf war.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 22 March 1991]: We are in close touch with United Nations agencies including the World Health Organisation and the International Committee of the Red Cross about requirements for humanitarian assistance in Iraq.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Prime Minister if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) of 12 March,Official Report, column 472, he will make it his policy to make a one-off extra donation to the United Nations children's organisation, UNICEF, from the United Kingdom to help children in Iraq suffering as a result of the destruction of the economic infrastructure in Iraq from allied bombings.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 22 March 1991]: A multi-agency United Nations mission has recently been in Iraq to assess humanitarian needs. It will make recommendations to the Secretary-General on emergency actions the United Nations might take. In the light of the mission's report we will consider what response to make to any appeal for funding launched by the Secretary-General, including what would be the most appropriate channel.

  Middle East
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the United States Government on the prospective role of the Palestine Liberation Organisation in a peace settlement in the middle east.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 22 March 1991]: We are in regular contact with the United States Administration on all aspects of the Arab/Israel dispute, including the position of the Palestine Liberation Organisation. The PLO has done little to enhance its role in recent months.

  Iraq
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will obtain for 10 Downing street library a copy of the Simon Wiesenthal Foundation report on trade with Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 22 March 1991]: No.

  Food Chain
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will establish a single department of state to supervise matters relating to the food chain from farm to plate.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 21 March 1991]: No. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food already performs this function, sharing responsibility for food safety with the Department of Health.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioners
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the annual change in living standards since 1979 of(a) non-pensioner couples with children, (b) non-pensioner couples without children, (c) non-pensioner single people, (d) non-pensioner single people with children, (e) single pensioners and (f) pensioner couples up to the latest available date.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths) on 26 July 1990 at columns 501–6.

  Disability
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to reply to the letter on severely disabled children the hon. Member for Birkenhead sent to him on 19 November 1990.

  Mr. Scott
  I apologise for the delay in replying but we will do so as soon as possible.

  Social Fund Loans
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his policy towards allowing local offices to recycle social fund loans; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Loan recoveries are returned to the national budget and any recycling of the money is made centrally. This enables us to focus the additional funds on those offices whose budgets are under most pressure. There are no plans to change these arrangements.

  Local Offices
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are receiving income support in the areas covered by the Poplar, Stepney and Shoreditch Department of Social Security offices, respectively; and how many people in Tower Hamlets as a whole are receiving income support.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Information for the London borough of Tower Hamlets is unavailable and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The information in respect of the Department of Social Security local offices is as follows:

  Total income support claimants

  Department of Social Security office

  Number

  Poplar

  13,829

  Stepney

  9,486

  Shoreditch

  10,025

  Note:

  Data derived from 28 February 1991 count of cases in action, which include a number of cases where payment has ceased but other action is continuing. Data are provisional and subject to amendment.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are receiving income support in the areas covered by the Poplar DSS office.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The total number of people receiving income support in the area covered by the Poplar 288
  DSS office is 13,829. Information in respect of areas within the local office boundary is unavailable and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Note: Data derived from 28 February 1991 count of cases in action, which include a number of cases where payment has ceased but other action is continuing. Data are provisional and subject to amendment.

  Over-60s Card
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress has been made in discussions on the European Community over-60s card.

  Mr. Jack
  The United Kingdom welcomes the proposal for an over-60s card and has responded positively to the idea. However, we, like other EC member states, are not yet in a position to reply finally to the Commission about implementation. Departmental officials are having further discussions with their European counterparts to seek to resolve various problems associated with the introduction of such a card.

  I recently wrote to Members of the European Parliament about this matter and I will send the hon. Member a copy of the letter.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to publish the study of the standards of examining medical practitioners for attendance allowance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  We plan to publish the report in the summer.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what monitoring his Department has undertaken of the operation of guidelines for visiting doctors introduced last April to allow disabled children under two years of age to qualify for attendance allowance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Guidance was issued by the attendance allowance board to its delegated doctors on those factors which should be taken into account when deciding whether the medical conditions for an award are met in children with disabilities who are aged less than two years and for whom a claim has been made for attendance allowance. At the same time, the board also advised visiting doctors (examining medical practitioners) on the special needs of disabled infants which should be reflected in the reports of medical examinations. The examining doctors are routinely monitored by the Department's regional senior medical officers. We are not aware that any particular problems have emerged during the process of such monitoring following the extension of attendance allowance to children aged less than two years.

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to publish the research study on lone parents conducted for his Department by Professor Bradshaw and Dr. Millar, which is referred to in the White Paper, "Children Come First".

  Mr. Jack
  The Department has now received the final report of the research study. It is expected it will be published by HMSO by the summer.

  Income Support
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was, on the same basis as the tax/benefit tables (i) the total income support of an employed married man with children aged four and six, in December 1990, whose income was(a) £70 per week, (b) £120 per week and (c) £140 per week, and (ii) the total income support of an employed married man with children aged three, eight and eleven, in December 1990, whose income was (a) £70 per week, (b) £120 per week and (c) £140 per week.

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is contained in the tax/benefit model tables, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Low Wages
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families rely on means-tested benefits to top up low wages.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 11 March 1991]: The table sets out the latest available information on the number of families in receipt of income-related benefits who were also in receipt of income from employment (either part time or full time). There is no agreed definition of what constitutes "low wages", and as indicated in the published DSS tax/benefit model tables, entitlement to income-related benefits can extend some considerable distance up the income scales depending on family circumstances and composition. The contribution made by income-related benefit to overall household income will similarly vary between families—clearly, some of the families listed will be entitled to larger amounts, whereas for others the benefit may form only a very small proportion of overall household income. Figures for income support and housing benefit are derived from the 1989 annual statistical inquiry and show the position at May 1989. The figure for family credit is an estimate of case load as at July 1990.

  Number

  Income support

  112,000

  Housing benefit1

  150,000

  Family credit

  325,820

  1 The total includes those in receipt of rent rebate, rent allowance and or rate rebate in England and Wales and recipients of rent rebate/allowance and community charge rebate in Scotland. This therefore excludes cases in Scotland who were in receipt of community charge rebate only.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Schoolchildren (Part-time Work)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated number of children of compulsory school age who work part-time; and if he will make a statement on the survey recently carried out by the North-Eastern education and library board on pupils working part-time.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested is not available. It would be premature to comment on the survey undertaken by the North-Eastern education and library board until that board has completed its own consideration of the matter and submitted its views to the Department of Education.

  Gas Pipelines
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will seek estimates for the provision of a gas pipeline from Morecambe bay or elsewhere to Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  The proposal being considered is for a pipeline between Scotland and Northern Ireland and estimates of the capital costs of the pipeline will form part of the economic assessment of the project.

  Second-hand Cars
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many second-hand cars have been imported into Northern Ireland and how many exported in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and in each year how many came from and were sent to(a) Great Britain and (b) the Irish Republic.

  Mr. Needham
  The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland holds statistical information on the total number of vehicles removed from the vehicle register as a result of having been permanently exported or scrapped but does not have separate figures on the number of exported vehicles. The information set out in the table relates to used vehicles registered for the first time in Northern Ireland having previously been used in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

  Origin

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Great Britain

  9,255

  11,077

  16,675

  Republic of Ireland

  2,085

  3,203

  1,552

  Total

  11,340

  14,280

  18,227

  Dumping
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he is taking to increase efforts to ensure(a) that the environment is protected from illegal dumping and (b) that existing sites where dumping has occurred are cleared.

  Mr. Needham
  In Northern Ireland district councils are responsible for controlling the disposal of waste, including illegal dumping and the clearance of sites. The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland is currently reviewing the problem of illegal dumping, in light of provisions introduced in the rest of the United Kingdom by the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many individuals, companies, or organisations have been prosecuted for unlawful dumping in each district council area, in each of the past seven years; and in how many cases prosecutions were successful.

  Mr. Needham
  In Northern Ireland, each district council is responsible for enforcing in its area the legislation on the disposal of waste. Records of prosecutions are not held centrally. However, the information which the hon. Gentleman requires will be sought from the various councils and I shall write to him as soon as possible.

  Agriculture
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of workers engaged in agriculture in Northern Ireland in 1980, 1985 and 1990(a) in total and (b) whole time.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information is as follows:

  1980

  1985

  1990

  Total agricultural labour force

  63,500

  60,600

  58,400

  Of whom whole time on farms

  35,500

  31,500

  27,800

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many agricultural holdings there were in Northern Ireland in 1980, 1985 and 1990, respectively.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  Agricultural holdings

  1980

  35,256

  1985

  32,426

  1990

  29,850

  Current prices £ millions

  Constant prices £ millions (1985 Base)

  1979

  1980

  1985

  1990

  1979

  1980

  1985

  1990

  Plant and Machinery

  40·94

  27·59

  45·22

  43·46

  56·24

  34·19

  45·22

  33·69

  Vehicles

  8·68

  5·39

  9·38

  15·50

  13·56

  7·41

  9·38

  10·64

  Buildings and Works

  50·93

  76·92

  110·40

  82·38

  72·45

  83·34

  110·40

  58·43

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) ewes and shearlings, (b) dairy cows and (c) breeding sows and gilts there were in Northern Ireland (i) in each of the five years from 1986 to 1990 and (ii) on average for the years between 1979 and 1981, inclusive.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information is as follows:

  Ewes

  Dairy cows

  Sows and gilts

  ('000)

  ('000)

  ('000)

  1979–811

  542

  268

  71

  1986

  819

  292

  62

  1987

  886

  289

  60

  1988

  980

  279

  62

  1989

  1,085

  277

  58

  1990

  1,168

  278

  59

  1Average.

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Ireland how many tractors were acquired by the agriculture industry in Northern Ireland(a) in total and (b) of 40 kW and over, in 1979, 1985 and the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Hanley
  The numbers of agricultural tractors first registered in Northern Ireland in 1979, 1985 and 1990 were as follows:

  Number

  1979

  1,882

  1985

  2,257

  1990

  1,312

  292
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) whole-time and (b) part-time farmers there were in Northern Ireland in 1980, 1985 and 1990, respectively.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information is as follows:

  1980

  1985

  1990

  Farmers:

  —whole time

  27,600

  25,300

  22,700

  —part time

  10,900

  10,700

  11,900

  —total

  38,500

  36,100

  34,600

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the level of investment by the agriculture industry in Northern Ireland in(a) plant and machinery, (b) vehicles, (c) buildings and (d) works in 1979, 1980, 1985, and the latest year for which figures are available (i) in cash terms and (ii) at fixed prices.

  Mr. Hanley
  Investment by the agricultural industry in Northern Ireland in plant and machinery, vehicles and buildings and works in 1979, 1980, 1985, and 1990 is given in the table (i) in current prices and (ii) in constant (1985) prices. Separate figures for investment in buildings and works are not available.

  The information is not available by the tractor's kilowatt power rating

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many hectares of(a) cereals and (b) potatoes were grown in Northern Ireland (a) in each of the five years for 1986 to 1990 and (b) on average for the years between 1979 and 1981, inclusive.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information is as follows:

  Cereals

  Potatoes

  ('000 ha)

  ('000 ha)

  1979–811

  57·3

  14·0

  1986

  53·9

  11·8

  1987

  52·3

  12·4

  1988

  50·1

  12·0

  1989

  47·9

  10·3

  1990

  45·3

  10·8

  1Average.

WALES

  Children Act
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what element was included in his revenue support grant to cover statutory provisions relating to the Children Act 1989.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Revenue support grant is paid in support of expenditure on services generally and is not earmarked for particular services. In setting the level of
  293
  total standard spending for Wales for 1991–92 account was taken of the local authority associations' view that the introduction of measures under the Children Act 1989 would cost £1·5 million in that financial year.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the standard spending assessment for(a)education and (b) social services, for each local authority in Wales in 1991–92.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Welsh revenue support grant formulae do not form a basis for calculating standard spending assessments for individual services.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what have been the relative rates of increase in Wales of(a) council spending, (b) inflation and (c) the uniform business rate and locally determined rate poundage, over the preceding 10 years.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Information available is shown in the following table:

  Percentage change on year earlier

  Revenue spending1

  Retail prices index2

  Average general rate poundage

  1981–82

  N/A

  11·4

  14·2

  1982–83

  5·8

  7·3

  3·1

  1983–84

  5·0

  5·1

  0·7

  1984–85

  2·9

  4·7

  8·1

  1985–86

  3·7

  5·9

  7·8

  1986–87

  8·2

  3·0

  12·5

  1987–88

  7·1

  4·2

  7·2

  1988–89

  9·2

  5·9

  8·8

  1989–90

  38·1

  7·6

  10·1

  1990–91

  311·7

  10·9

  4N/A

  1 Revenue expenditure net of specific Government grants, sales, fees and charges. Because definitional changes in 1990–91, the percentage change shown for that year is on a slightly different basis to those shown for the earlier years.

  2 Using September of each year as the reference point.

  3 Provisional.

  4 Due to the change to the uniform business rate in 1990–91, no comparison with the preceding year is available.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether specific grants were ring-fenced for social service expenditure in the settlement for 1991–92.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The following specific grants in respect of the Government's social services training support programme for local authority social services staff in Wales were included in the Welsh revenue support grant settlement for 1991–92:

  £ (000s)

  Child care

  453

  Children Act 1989

  240

  Community care

  465

  Post qualifying level training for staff in management and training posts

  300

  1,458

  Uniform Business Rate
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the basis per adult for redistribution of the uniform business rate to local councils in Wales for(a) 1990–91 and (b) 1991–92.
  294
  Mr. David Hunt
  Non-domestic rates income is distributed to local authorities in accordance with the Distribution of Non-Domestic Rates (Relevant Population) Report for Wales and paragraphs 12 and 13 of schedule 8 to the Local Government Finance Act 1988.

  The figures per head of relevant population are as follows:

  Districts

  Counties

  £

  £

  1990–91

  32

  171

  1991–92

  40

  200

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what share of the total uniform business rate is being paid by(a) factories and (b) warehouses in Wales; and what were their relevant shares before the introduction of the uniform business rate.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The relevant shares of the total uniform business rate being paid by(a) factories and (b) warehouses in Wales and their relevant shares before the introduction of the uniform business rate are shown in the following table:

  Percentage share of total non-domestic rates

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1990–91

  before transition

  after transition

  (a) Factories

  26

  19

  26

  (b) Warehouses

  6

  5

  6

  Community Charge
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to ensure that employees who are required, for short periods of the year, to live in at their place of work are not required to pay community charge in respect of both their permanent abode and their temporary residence at their place of work.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Following our initial review of the community charge last year and associated consultation on the document entitled "The Standard Community Charge and Other Matters", a number of changes to the structure of the standard charge were brought into force by means of the Community Charges (Administration and Enforcement) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 1990 (S.I. 1990/2475). Among the new prescribed classes that will apply from 1 April 1991 is a class of unoccupied property (class M), with a maximum standard charge multiplier of 0·5 where the person subject to the standard community charge occupies another property which is job-related. In addition, local authorities already possess considerable discretion to specify their own standard community charge classes, and they may do so by reference to a number of factors, including the circumstances—other than financial circumstances—of persons subject to a standard charge.

  Damage to Highways
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance he is now giving to local highway authorities in Wales with regard to the payment for damage done to highways in Wales by the fracturing of water mains and the consequential costs of repairs.
  295
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Public Utilities Street Works Act 1950 contains provisions on the liability of water authorities and other undertakers to highway authorities for damage caused to the property of the highway authority. However, the current provisions have led to a number of disputes over the apportionment of costs of repairing roads following the fracturing of water mains. The New Roads and Street Works Bill now before Parliament would replace the 1950 Act provisions with a straightforward duty on undertakers to compensate the highway authority in respect of any damage or loss suffered by the authority as a result of the execution of street works or an event such as burst main.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has any plans to sell off investments currently held by the Welsh Development Agency in Welsh companies.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Under guidelines issued by my Department, the Welsh Development Agency seeks to dispose of shares at the earliest practicable time consistent with its statutory purposes.

  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total estimated value of investments currently held by the Welsh Development Agency in 'Welsh companies.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Latest available estimate of the gross value of the Welsh Development Agency's equity investment portfolio is £8 million.

  Development Assistance
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for 'Wales whether he has taken steps with the European Commission to press for an extension to the programme timetable for the Dyfed-Gwynedd-Powys national programme of Community interest for a further two years; and if he will make a statement on the expenditure pattern of the programme to date.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The European Commission has already agreed funds to enable the Dyfed Gwynedd Powys programme to continue until the end of 1993. Out of a total ERDF commitment of £79·4 million for 1987 to 1991, £51·2 million has already been committed and I anticipate that the remaining funds available for allocation in 1991 will be taken up.

  Salmon and Sea Trout
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the most up-to-date estimate of the number of(a) salmon and (b) sea trout making spawning runs in the waters and Rivers (i) Taff and (ii) Ely or their estuarial waters for each year since 1987.

  Mr. David Hunt
  There are no means of recording the number of salmon and sea trout entering to spawn on the rivers Taff and Ely or their esturial waters. However, records are kept by the Welsh region of the National Rivers Authority of the number of these fish reported by anglers, captured by the NRA, or found dead. These records provide minimum estimates of the runs of salmon and sea trout into the two rivers, and are as follows:
  296

  Salmon

  Sea Trout

  River Taff

  1987

  58

  409

  1988

  124

  322

  1989

  37

  101

  11990

  163

  141

  River Ely

  No salmon or sea trout recorded prior to 1989

  1989

  13

  23

  1990

  51

  73

  1 Incomplete.

  M4
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state the dates on which the two motorway signs on the westbound carriageway of the M4 motorway at junction 48 were damaged; and by when he proposes to have them repaired.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Superficial damage occurred during the storms of Janaury 1990, but the more substantial damage occurred in February 1991. Both signs will be repaired by mid-April.

  Elderly People
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the Government's current policy towards the elderly in Wales; if he will comment on funding arrangements of organisations connected with the elderly; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Our aim is to ensure that, wherever possible, elderly people are able to live with comfort and dignity in their own homes and communities. To secure this we have a wide range of co-ordinated policies and initiatives covering personal social services, health, housing and other matters. Organisations connected with the elderly benefit from a wide range of funds made available by the Department for a number of purposes. In addition to the general financial support provided to statutory authorities, we have just announced, for instance, special grants in 1991–92 totalling more than £750,000 to promote more flexible forms of community care for elderly people provided by a wide range of statutory and voluntary bodies. We shall also continue to contribute to the funding of 56 projects that are under-way throughout Wales under the Elderly Initiative at a planned cost of £2·3 million in 1991–92. We expect shortly to announce the allocation of resources in 1991–92 to voluntary bodies in this field operating at the all-Wales level.

  Agriculture
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) ewes and shearlings, (b) breeding sows and gilts and (c) dairy cows there were in Wales (i) in each of the five years from 1986 to 1990 and (ii) on average for the years between 1979 and 1981, inclusive.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information requested is shown in the following table:
  297

  At June

  Ewes and shearlings

  Breeding sows and gilts

  Dairy cows

  1990

  5,234,964

  12,036

  327,009

  1989

  5,111,490

  12,680

  329,890

  1988

  4,893,276

  14,551

  336,798

  1987

  4,700,960

  15,530

  352,820

  1986

  4,566,884

  16,153

  364,942

  Average

  1979–81

  inclusive

  3,903,031

  16,548

  355,641

  Figures include estimates for minor holdings.

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many agricultural holdings there were in Wales in 1980, 1985 and 1990, respectively.

  Mr. David Hunt
  There were 37,098 in 1980, 36,137 in 1985 and 36,487 in 1990. These totals include minor holdings.

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) whole-time and (b) part-time farmers there were in Wales in 1980, 1985 and 1990, respectively.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information requested in respect of farmers, partners and directors working on agricultural holdings is shown in the following table:

  At June

  Whole-time

  Part-time

  1980

  24,872

  9,388

  1985

  24,461

  11,852

  1990

  23,404

  11,642

  Figures include estimates for minor holdings.

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of workers engaged in agriculture in Wales in 1980, 1985 and 1990, respectively,(a) in total and (b) whole time.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information on the number of workers on agricultural holdings is shown in the following table:

  At June

  Total

  Whole-time

  1980

  21,513

  8,779

  1985

  20,672

  7,640

  1990

  18,343

  6,164

  Included as workers are family workers, other than spouses, hired, seasonal and casual workers, and salaried managers. Figures include estimates for minor holdings.

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many hectares of(a) cereals and (b) potatoes were grown in Wales (i) in each of the five years from 1986 to 1990 and (ii) on average for the years between 1979 and 1981, inclusive.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information requested is shown in the following table:

  Hectares under

  At June

  Cereals

  Potatoes

  1990

  56,016

  4,329

  1989

  61,621

  4,241

  1988

  66,700

  4,759

  1987

  67,367

  5,109

  1986

  66,497

  5,424

  298
  The average area under cereals and potatoes in 1979–81, inclusive, was 73,718 and 6,172 hectares respectively.

  The figures include estimates for minor holdings.

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many tractors were acquired by the agriculture industry(a) in total and (b) of 40 kW and over, in Wales in 1979, 1985 and the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Information on acquisitions of tractors is not collected.

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the level of investment by the agricultural industry in(a) plant and machinery, (b) vehicles, (c) buildings and (d) works in Wales, in 1979, 1980, 1985 and the latest year for which figures are available (i) in cash terms (ii) at fixed prices.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Gross fixed capital formation in the Welsh agricultural industry as follows:

  Current prices

  Constant 1985 prices

  Plant and machinery

  1979

  29·0

  39·8

  1980

  23·0

  28·5

  1985

  30·0

  30·0

  21989

  25·8

  20·9

  Buildings and works1

  1979

  29·0

  41·3

  1980

  44·0

  47·7

  1985

  69·0

  69·0

  21989

  50·6

  39·3

  Vehicles

  1979

  7·7

  12·0

  1980

  9·1

  12·5

  1985

  15·4

  15·4

  21989

  12·8

  9·5

  1 Figures are not available separately for works.

  2 (provisional)

  Note

  Constant prices have been calculated from implicit price indices for agricultural investment (1985 = 100)

  History and Geography
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to lay before the House the statutory orders in relation to history and geography in the national curriculum.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have today laid before the House the statutory orders with associated documents setting out attainment targets and programmes of study for history and geography in the national curriculum for pupils from age five to 16 in schools in Wales. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

DEFENCE

  The Gulf
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what discussions took place between his Department and the United States Department of Defense concening the decision to attack the withdrawing Iraqi forces at the Al-Muttla gap;
  299
  (2) what opportunities to surrender were offered to the withdrawing Iraqi forces on the road to Basra while they were in transit;

  (3) what discussions took place between the Allied military commanders in the Gulf and the Kuwaiti Government in exile concerning the decision to bomb the withdrawing Iraqi forces at the Al-Muttla gap;

  (4) whether he has any information as to whether there were any Kuwaiti captives travelling down the Basra road in the columns of withdrawing Iraqi forces that were subject to Allied air attack in the final days of the Gulf conflict; and if he will make a statement;

  (5) what were the nationalities of the Allied aircraft involved in the bombing of withdrawing Iraqi forces at the Al-Muttla gap; and what role RAF planes played in this;

  (6) what is his Department's assessment of the number of Iraqi vehicles destroyed at the Al-Muttla gap; and how many of these were specifically military vehicles.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Allied attacks during the night of 26–27 February on Iraqi units moving north with their equipment ahead of the allied advance on Kuwait city were part of the military operation to liberate Kuwait and to restore the legitimate Government, and were directed by coalition commanders in the same way as other military actions during the campaign. Fighting was in progress throughout the theatre and it was allied policy to attack Iraqi units which could continue to pose a threat. RAF aircraft were not involved in the attacks between Kuwait city and the Matla ridge as this was outside the area of operations of British forces, and I am therefore not able to comment in detail on the attacks. We have no precise information on the number of vehicles destroyed, although many were military, including a large number of tanks. Civilian vehicles were also being used by the Iraqi military. We have no information on whether any Kuwaiti detainees were in the vehicles. Any civilian casualties are greatly regretted but responsibility for the deaths of any Kuwaitis being taken to Iraq against their will lies with Saddam Hussein.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's assessment as to the means by which Kuwaiti captives were returned to Iraq during the Gulf conflict.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We do not know how and when Kuwaiti detainees were moved to Iraq.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department was aware of the locations of Kuwaiti captives held in Iraq between 2 August 1990 and the cessation of hostilities.

  Region

  Married quarters vacant

  MOD civilian houses vacant

  Under one year

  Over one year

  Under six months

  Over six months

  Northern

  67

  12

  1

  2

  Yorkshire

  573

  177

  —

  —

  East Midlands

  390

  430

  —

  —

  East Anglia

  488

  132

  —

  —

  South East

  3,121

  795

  29

  17

  South West

  1,409

  154

  12

  23

  West Midlands

  278

  63

  —

  —

  North West

  134

  —

  —

  —

  Wales

  347

  71

  2

  5

  Scotland

  910

  423

  31

  46

  Northern Ireland

  510

  108

  —

  —

  Total

  8,227

  2,365

  75

  93

  300
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No.

  Nuclear Warheads
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what review his Department has made of the safety of the existing designs and designs currently under development of nuclear warheads; what application of three-dimensional modelling has been used; and what reconsideration has resulted of the safety case for an actual nuclear explosion which might be accidentally or unintentionally initiated leading to the dispersal of radioactivity and/or a nuclear yield.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  All of the United Kingdom's nuclear warheads are designed to meet stringent safety requirements. Before entering operational service, the designs are subject to a comprehensive series of trials and assessments, encompassing normal and credible abnormal environments of in-service life, and to formal safety approvals procedures, which are assessed independently. In addition, the United Kingdom conducts a continuous safety review of all operationally deployed designs by way of routine examination and sophisticated modelling.

  Radiofrequency Radiation Weapons
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the British Army has any radiofrequency radiation weapon capability.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The British Army keeps abreast of developments in the military use of the electro-magnetic spectrum.

  Housing
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many properties, owned and administered by his Department, have stood vacant(a) for over six months or (b) for over one year; and what is the regional distribution of these properties.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Records are not maintained in the precise form requested. As at 31 December 1990, the latest date for which figures are available, 8,227 service married quarters in the United Kingdom had been vacant for under one year and 2,365 for one year and over. In addition, 75 Ministry of Defence civilian houses and flats in the United Kingdom had been vacant for under six months and 93 for six months and over. The regional breakdown is as follows:
  301
  Many of these properties were either undergoing or awaiting major maintenance work or modernisation, some were already allotted to service families who were due to move in shortly and others were being considered for disposal. A total of 1,701 of the dwellings were already in the process of being sold.

  Research and Development
  Dr. Bray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department obliges defence contractors to declare to him the nature and value of any sub-contracts for research and development that they place with other companies.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  On major contracts the Ministry of Defence requires the presentation of "make or buy" plans detailing each work package valued at £50,000 or more. These indicate whether work is intended to be carried out in-house or to be sub-contracted. In addition, contractors are required to notify the Ministry in advance of any sub-contract which they intend to place which includes design or development work. In appropriate cases the Ministry will then enter into a design rights agreement direct with the sub-contractor concerned.

  Dr. Bray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department is making in its work with the Central Statistical Office in relation to the interpretation of Frascati definitions as they apply to defence research and development; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Statisticians in MOD and CSO have had a number of preliminary discussions about the interpretation of Frascati definitions as they apply to defence R and D and will shortly be commencing consultation with representatives of industry.

  Dr. Bray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average percentage profit element included in research and development contracts placed by his Department in private industry.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  In the case of a contract awarded by competition the element included in the price in respect of profit is a mater for the commercial judgment of the tenderer.

  In respect of non-competitive contracts the Government profit formula does not draw any distinction between research and development contracts and other types of contract. For the average contractor the target rates of return on cost, on the basis of historic cost accounting, are:

  Per cent.

  Risk contracts (for example, those priced on the basis of forward estimates of cost)

  11·08

  Non-risk contracts (for example, cost plus percentage fee)

  8·52

  In the case of risk contracts the profit which the contractor actually earns will depend on the efficiency with which he performs the contract.

  Dr. Bray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the amount of his Department's research and development expenditure in private industry which is further sub-contracted to other companies.
  302
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  There is no departmental requirement to hold such information and disproportionate cost would be incurred in seeking to prepare an estimate.

  HMS Endurance
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when HMS Endurance was built; what is her expected future life in service; and what steps are being taken to design a replacement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  HMS Endurance was completed as the MV Anita Dan in 1956. She was subsequently purchased by the Ministry of Defence and converted to an ice patrol ship in 1967–68. HMS Endurance is capable of operating until the mid-1990s. The requirement for a replacement is being studied.

  Medication
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will examine the contracts of service men and women in respect of the provision of non-prescribed medication;

  (2) if he will consider changing the system whereby service men and women are expected to pay for non-prescribed medication.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The conditions of service for the armed forces allow non-prescribed medication issued to service personnel through military facilities to be provided free of charge. There are no plans to change this system.

  Army Equipment Exhibition
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what countries were represented at the 1990 British Army equipment exhibition and at the previous exhibition.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 28 March 1990 at column 237.

  Prisoners of War
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many nationals held as prisoners of war were(a) released following hearings before an Army board of inquiry and (b) released on 6 March 1991 following the cessation of hostilities in the Gulf.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Three Iraqi nationals held as prisoners of war were released from Rollestone camp following hearings before Army boards of inquiry; the remaining 32 were released on 6 March.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Dairy Cows
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many dairy cows there were in England and the European Community, respectively(a) in each of the five years from 1986 to 1990 and (b) on average for the years between 1979 and 1981, inclusive.

  Mr. Curry: The information requested is in the table:
  303

  Dairy cow numbers in European Community and England at December each year

  Source: Eurostat

  ('000 head)

  1979–81

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  England

  2,380

  2,292

  2,150

  2,098

  2,072

  2,043

  European Community

  224,947

  25,719

  124,680

  24,166

  23,780

  13,209

  1 Provisional as at 1 March 1991.

  2 Excluding, Portugal, Spain and Greece.

  Note: These figures are not directly compatible with those published in the table 5017 of Agriculture in the united kingdom 1990 which refers to populations in June, because for European Community purposes populations are normally measured at December of each year.

  Sharks
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what shark products have been imported into the United Kingdom in each of the last three years.

  Imports of shark products to United Kingdom

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Volume

  Value

  Volume

  Value

  Volume

  Value

  (tonnes)

  (£000)

  (tonnes)

  (£000)

  (tonnes)

  (£000)

  Fresh or chilled:

  Dogfish1

  3,377

  1,367

  1,085

  615

  236

  193

  Other sharks

  109

  67

  34

  30

  923

  553

  Frozen:

  Dogfish1

  917

  908

  1,284

  1,471

  1,549

  1,874

  Other sharks

  124

  160

  184

  191

  335

  366

  Frozen fillets

  Dogfish1

  1

  1

  31

  12

  30

  29

  Other sharks

  14

  24

  6

  21

  7

  11

  1Comprising the species squalus acathias and scyliorhinus spp.

  Source: Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

  EC Surplus Food
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when decisions will be made on the designation of applicant organisations under the EC surplus food scheme; and whether groups of parish councils will be eligible for appointment.

  Mr. Curry
  The closing date for applications under the EC surplus food scheme was 22 March. All applications received by then are currently being considered arid an announcement will be made as soon as possible. Applicant parish councils meeting the requirements of the scheme will be designated.

  Cereals
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many hectares of cereals are grown in England and the European Community, respectively(a) in each of the five years from 1986 to 1990 and (b) on average for the years between 1979 and 1981, inclusive.

  Mr. Curry
  The information requested by the hon. Member is set out in the table. The figures for the European Community are all for the Community as at present constituted minus the former German Democratic Republic, which joined after the 1990 cereals harvest.

  '000 hectares

  England1

  European Community2

  1979–81 average

  3,296

  36,652

  1986

  3,368

  35,560

  1987

  3,296

  35,053

  304
  Mr. Curry
  The volumes and values of imports of products of dogfish and other sharks are given in the table. Information on fresh fillets, minced fish, livers and rose and other products are available.

  England1

  European Community2

  1988

  3,256

  34,956

  1989

  3,257

  35,178

  1990

  3,076

  33,405

  1Source: MAFF

  2Source: 1979 to 1989, Eurostat. 1990, European Commission.

  Agricultural Holdings
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many agricultural holdings there were in England and the European Community, respectively, in 1980, 1985 and 1990.

  Mr. Curry
  The available information is as follows:

  1980

  1985

  11990

  England2

  155,688

  153,766

  150,652

  EC3

  6,820,287

  6,359,133

  —

  1 EC figure for 1990 not yet available.

  2 For comparability, the figures for England exclude minor holdings.

  3 EC10

  Farmers
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many(a) whole-time and (b) part-time farmers there were in England and the European Community, respectively, in 1980, 1985 and 1990.

  Mr. Curry
  The information requested for England is provided in the table. Information on the numbers of farmers in the European Community in 1980, 1985 and
  305
  1987 is set out on pages T/102 and T/103 of the Commission's publication, "The Agricultural Situation in the Community, 1980 Report", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Farmers, partners and directors in England

  as at June

  Whole time

  Part time

  '000

  '000

  1980

  136·6

  59·8

  1985

  129·8

  58·0

  1990

  119·0

  63·0

  Source: June Agricultural Census.

  New investment in England

  (£ million)

  Plant and machinery

  Vehicles

  Buildings and works

  (i)

  (ii)

  (i)

  (ii)

  (i)

  (ii)

  1979

  369

  501

  80

  125

  247

  347

  1980

  321

  396

  64

  88

  338

  362

  1985

  449

  449

  84

  84

  279

  279

  1989

  347

  281

  125

  92

  291

  224

  (i) Cash terms.

  (ii) Fixed 1985 prices.

  Potatoes
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many hectares of potatoes were grown in England and the European Community, respectively,(a) in each of the five years from 1986 to 1990 and (b) on average for the years between 1979 and 1981, inclusive.

  Mr. Curry
  Following are the figures:

  England

  EC-12

  (a)

  1986

  130,400

  1,476,400

  1987

  131,000

  1,463,100

  1988

  134,700

  1,392,800

  1989

  132,200

  1,389,500

  1990

  134,600

  1—

  (b)Average for years between 1979 and 1981 inclusive

  Total

  145,800

  1,676,900

  1 Not yet available.

  Agricultural Workers
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number of workers engaged in agriculture in England and the European Community, respectively in 1980, 1985 and 1990,(a) in total and (b) whole time.

  Mr. Curry
  The information requested for England is provided in the table. For the European Community farm structure surveys recorded the total number of family and regularly employed non-family workers in the EC 10 as follows (millions): 1983, 6·9; 1985, 6·7 and 1987, 6·2; the corresponding figure for EC12 in 1987 was 8·8 million. No reliable analysis of this series distinguishing between full and part-time workers has yet been published, but some details are contained in the Eurostat publication, "Farm Structure, 1987 Survey: main results", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
  306

  Agriculture Industry (Investment)
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the level of investment by the agriculture industry in(a) plant and machinery, (b) vehicles, (c) buildings and (d) works in England in 1979, 1980, 1985 and the latest year for which figures are available (i) in cash terms and (ii) at fixed prices.

  Mr. Curry
  Estimates of the level of new investment for each of the years requested is shown in the table for the categories of investment for which figures are available.

  Regular Family and Hired workers engaged1 in agriculture in England

  as at June

  Total

  Whole time

  1980

  189·7

  140·7

  1985

  172·1

  124·7

  1990

  145·7

  100·0

  1 Excluding salaried managers and seasonal and casual.

  Source: June Agricultural Census.

  Breeding Sows and Gilts
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many breeding sows and gilts there were in England and the European Community, respectively(a) in each of the five years from 1986 to 1990 and (b) on average for the years between 1979 and 1981, inclusive.

  Mr. Curry
  Figures requested are as follows:

  Breeding sow number in EC and England at December each year

  ('000 head)

  Year

  England

  European Community

  1979–81

  766

  8,924

  1986

  776

  11,086

  1987

  769

  11,298

  1988

  704

  10,655

  1989

  701

  10,887

  1990

  728

  110,892

  1 Provisional as at 1 March 1991.

  EC figures are the most complete available but exclude Portugal and Spain for 1979–81. Data from the ex-GDR have been excluded.

  Source: Eurostat.

  Ewes and Shearlings
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many ewes and shearlings there were in England and the European Community, respectively(a) in each of the five years from 1986 to 1990 and (b) on average for the years between 1979 and 1981, inclusive.

  Mr. Curry
  Ewe and shearling numbers in England and the European Community are as follows:
  307

  ('000 head)

  Year

  England

  European Community

  1979–81

  6,380

  n.a.

  1986

  8,306

  60,914

  1987

  8,905

  65,536

  1988

  9,312

  170,224

  1989

  9,530

  72,790

  1990

  9,497

  172,205

  1 Provisional as at 1 March 1991.

  Source: Eurostat.

  Notes:

  1. Figures are measured at December each year.

  2. Data do not include animals in the former GDR.

  Bananas
  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) of 13 March,Official report, column 567, what percentage of the fruit referred to relates to plantains and what percentage to bananas.

  Mr. Curry
  The United Kingdom trade statistics do not differentiate between banana and plantain imports.

  Farm Capital Grant Schemes
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to consult interested bodies on changes to the farm capital grant schemes.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Government have today issued a consultation paper proposing the merger of the farm diversification grant scheme and the farm and conservation grant scheme. Copies are available in the Library of the House. As a result of the merger, the maximum investment on which grant would be claimable for diversification projects would be increased to £40,000 from £35,000 and under the farm and conservation grant scheme, to £85,000 from £74,000. However, the combined investment ceiling under both would not be allowed to exceed £85,000.

  Subsidies and capital grants to nationalised industries1

  £ million

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  21990–91

  BAA plc

  1

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  British Aerospace

  50

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  British Airways

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  British Coal

  171

  244

  244

  335

  693

  731

  1,538

  907

  825

  917

  480

  3,586

  1,806

  British Gas Corporation

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  British National Oil Corporation

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  67

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  British Rail

  494

  641

  610

  814

  846

  870

  843

  849

  755

  795

  556

  479

  621

  British Shipbuilders

  11

  31

  40

  46

  44

  33

  17

  23

  13

  10

  26

  14

  3

  British Steel Corporation

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  British Telecom

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  British Transport Docks Board

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  British Waterways Board

  20

  23

  26

  28

  38

  40

  42

  43

  44

  44

  46

  48

  49

  308
  In reviewing the scheme I have decided to ask Parliament to abolish the rule that work started without formal acknowledgement of prior notification may not qualify for grant under the farm and conservation grant scheme. A number of farmers who have been penalised for ignoring this rule in their eagerness to deal with pollution problems will now be able to submit fresh claims as soon as the new rules are in force. However, the rule will not be abolished until Parliament has approved the necessary legislation and will remain in force for work carried out under an improvement plan. Farmers are therefore advised to consult the appropriate agriculture department if they are in any doubt as to their eligibility for grant.

  Tractors
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tractors were acquired by the agriculture industry(a) in total and (b) of 40 kW and over, in England, in 1979, 1985 and the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Curry
  The information is not available.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Nationalised Industries
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report, the total contribution by or to the Exchequer to or from each of the then nationalised industries for each year since 1973.

  Mr. Mellor
  Information is not available in exactly the form requested. Data on central Government subsidies and capital grants to nationalised industries since 1978–79 and on net lending to nationalised industries since 1984–85 are set out in the tables. The tables are consistent with the analyses set out out in the nationalised industries section of the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement (Cm 1520). Corresponding data for earlier years are not readily available.
  309

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  21990–91

  Civil Aviation Authority

  14

  25

  36

  10

  4

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  4

  3

  3

  Electricity (England and Wales)

  5

  6

  5

  9

  28

  11

  8

  5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Electricity (Scotland)

  7

  11

  16

  -4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Enterprise Oil

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Girobank

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  London Transport

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  323

  295

  239

  190

  287

  473

  National Bus Company

  19

  23

  24

  16

  6

  5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  National Freight Company

  14

  7

  5

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Post Office

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Scottish Transport Group3

  9

  10

  11

  12

  8

  8

  7

  8

  7

  6

  5

  6

  5

  Water (England and Wales)

  46

  62

  58

  56

  64

  49

  38

  29

  31

  69

  24

  9

  —

  Total

  860

  1,083

  1,076

  1,326

  1,731

  1,750

  2,563

  2,189

  1,972

  2,083

  1,331

  4,431

  2,961

  1 The figures exclude subsidies and capital grants from local authorities and subsidies and capital grants from central Government which are generally available to the private sector.

  2 Estimated.

  3 Includes Caledonian MacBrayne and the Scottish Bus Group.

  Net lending to nationalised industries1

  £ million

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  21990–91

  BAA plc.

  -5

  -5

  —

  -39

  —

  —

  —

  British Airways

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  British Coal

  261

  -400

  188

  154

  447

  -2,360

  -712

  British Gas Corp.

  —

  —

  8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  British National Oil Corp.

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  British Rail

  -21

  -23

  -22

  -106

  -22

  -30

  117

  British Shipbuilders

  203

  66

  284

  108

  118

  4

  4

  British Steel Corp.

  667

  556

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  British Telecom

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  British Transport Docks Board

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  British Waterways Board

  1

  —

  1

  1

  -1

  -1

  —

  Civil Aviation Authority

  -10

  19

  -1

  -9

  24

  50

  70

  Electricity (England and Wales)

  -698

  697

  -658

  -919

  -363

  -1,335

  —

  Electricity (Scotland)

  -96

  -105

  -78

  294

  338

  1,059

  -133

  Enterprise Oil

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Girobank

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  London Transport

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  National Bus Company

  -15

  -32

  -17

  -56

  23

  —

  —

  National Freight Company

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Post Office

  -57

  -2

  —

  —

  -170

  —

  -22

  Scottish Transport Group3

  -1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Water (England and Wales)

  -130

  -122

  387

  758

  664

  396

  —

  Total

  101

  650

  23

  186

  1,058

  -2,216

  -676

  1 Includes issues of public dividend capital.

  2 Estimated.

  3 Includes Caledonian MacBrayne and the Scottish Bus Group.

  Building Societies
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what monitoring is being undertaken of the commercial lending exposure of building societies under the Building Societies Act 1986.

  Mr. Maples
  The Building Societies Commission collects systematic information from building societies and this includes what are known as class 2 assets, which cannot exceed 20 per cent. of all lending. Class 2 covers all mortgage lending except that secured on owner-occupied residential property.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all official documents that are available as guidance for civil service managers considering competitive tendering and contracting out, including guidance on how to compare in-house costs with contractors' bids.

  Mr. Mellor
  A list of all documents on guidance associated with competitive tendering and contracting out is not held centrally. Detailed guidance on the various aspects of competitive tendering and contracting out, including in-house costs, is contained in CUP guidance
  311
  No. 2, issued by the Central Unit on Purchasing (Her Majesty's Treasury). But Departments have the option of enhancing this guidance by issuing their own material. Departments also have access to "Fees and Charges: A Guide for Government Departments" and "Investment Appraisal in the Public Sector: A technical guide for Government Departments", both documents issued by Her Majesty's Treasury.

  Taxpayers
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many(a) basic rate and (b) higher rate taxpayers reside within Derwentside district; and what proportion they are of the post-18 years population;

  (2) how many (a) basic rate and (b) higher rate taxpayers reside within Wear Valley district; and what proportion they are of the post-18 years population.

  Mr. Maude
  I regret that estimates of numbers of taxpayers are not available at district level.

  Visible Trade Deficit
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the visible trade deficits for each quarter of 1990; and what effect he expects recent reductions in interest rates to have on the United Kingdom balance of trade during the current year.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 21 March 1991]: The information requested is as follows:

  Visible trade balance

  £ billion

  1990

  Quarter 1

  -5·9

  Quarter 2

  -5·3

  Quarter 3

  -3·7

  Quarter 4

  -3·0

  Total

  -17·9

  The FSBR forecast is for the visible deficit to fall further this year, to £12 billion.

TRANSPORT

  Severn Bridge
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what date, at present rates of toll, payment for the Severn bridge will be completed; what that date would be if tolls increased each year at 3 per cent.; and what the annual income would be estimated to be in the final year(a) at present toll rates and (b) at 3 per cent. compound increases in toll rates.

  Mr. Chope
  At present rates of toll it is estimated, making a range of assumptions about future traffic growth and inflation, that the debt of the Severn bridge could be paid off between the years 2008 and 2016 with income in the final year of between £27 million and £29 million. An assumed 3 per cent. per annum increase in tolls would be entirely hypothetical.

  London Underground (Overcrowding)
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the London Transport report on overcrowding on underground trains.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have no knowledge of a London Transport report on overcrowding on underground trains. If the hon. Lady is referring to the report on congestion at stations, which was undertaken by independent consultants in 1989, she should address her request to London Transport.

  Road Lighting
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will identify any environmental considerations which prevent the lighting of the Swanley-Sevenoaks section of the M25.

  Mr. Chope
  The decision whether to light the section of M25 motorway between Swanley and Sevenoaks will be based on a comprehensive appraisal of all relevant factors, including a full assessment of the environmental impacts. These will include the appearance of lighting by day and by night and its impact on the quality of the environment in the vicinity. The road safety and economic cost/benefit assessments will also be included.

  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to light the unlit section of the M4 motorway; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  We have no plans at present to light unlit sections of the M4. The provision of additional lighting will be considered in conjunction with current planning for widening the M4.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales is responsible for the M4 motorway in Wales.

  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has plans to light the unlit sections of the M40 motorway; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  It is planned to light the M40 motorway between junctions 4 and 5 by the end of 1991. The provision of additional lighting will be considered in conjunction with planning for widening the M40, at present in hand.

  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will monitor the volume of traffic on the Swanley-Sevenoaks section of the M25 motorway with a view to installing lighting to improve safety.

  Mr. Chope
  The traffic volume and night-time accident records are already monitored on the Swanley to Sevenoaks section of M25 motorway so that the case for the installation of lighting can be properly assessed.

  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the effect of lighting of roads on night-time accidents; and what is his policy on the accident prevention value of lighting of roads.

  Mr. Chope
  Research in this country and elsewhere has shown that the average reduction in night-time accidents attributable to road lighting is about 30 per cent. There is, however, substantial variation between locations, depending on the type of road and other features. The figure of 30
  313
  per cent. is used by the Department for economic assessment of proposed road lighting schemes for motorways and trunk roads.

  Traffic Calming
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to extend traffic-calming measures; what are his Department's spending plans for 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93 for such measures; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department is actively promoting a number of traffic-calming measures including road humps and 20 mph zones. The responsibility for funding and installing these measures is primarily for local highway authorities. We shall continue to provide advice, guidance and research back-up.

  M62
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 21 February,Official Report, column 195, what were the reasons for rejection of the alternative solutions to the problems of congestion on the M62 motorway.

  Mr. Chope
  Widening of the existing motorway is only an interim measure as it will not increase capacity sufficiently to meet projections in traffic growth. Limiting access to the motorway for local traffic would severely increase congestion on local roads. Although public transport—including rail—makes an important contribution it cannot fulfil the needs of more than a small proportion of private and business road users.

  MV Breydon (Explosives)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Antrim, East (Mr. Beggs) on 5 March,Official report, column 90, what was the ultimate destination of the cargo of explosives carried on MV Breydon; whether there are regular shipments of explosives and ammunition to the Army through Drogheda port; and when the marine accident investigation branch investigation will be completed.

  Mr. Mcloughlin
  The greater part of the cargo was consigned to two commercial concerns, dealing in industrial explosives, in Dublin. The rest was for the Irish Ministry of Defence. The ultimate destination of the consignments is not known; there are regular shipments of explosives through Drogheda. On occasions these include consignments for the Irish. Ministry of Defence, and the marine accident investigation branch expects to complete its investigation next month.

  Dock Labour Scheme
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, in relation to the dock labour scheme, he will list, by individual port,(a) the estimated number of registered dockers who were expected to leave the industry, given also as a percentatge of the total of registered dockers, (b) the estimated contribution from the Government to the redundancy compensation scheme, (c) the actual number of registered dockers who have left the industry to date, given also as a percentage of the total of registered dockers and (d) the actual contribution from the government to the redundancy compensation scheme.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Government made no estimate before the compensation scheme was introduced either of the likely number of registered dock workers who would be made redundant or of the Government's contribution to their compensation on a port-by-port basis. the number of former registered dock workers at each scheme port who had been made redundant or had been given notice of redundancy by 22 March 1991, and the Government's contribution towards their compensation, are in the table:

  Ports

  Number of RDWs made redundant

  Percentage of RDWs in Port

  Government contribution

  Aberdeen

  149

  100

  4,921,500

  Ardrossan

  15

  100

  250,500

  Ayr

  14

  100

  215,250

  Barrow

  1

  12

  12,500

  Barry

  65

  100

  1,131,500

  Blyth

  35

  67

  498,000

  Boston

  58

  67

  1,015,000

  Bristol

  442

  91

  7,408,500

  Cardiff

  160

  96

  2,784,000

  Charlestown

  1

  100

  12,500

  Clyde

  113

  89

  1,938,500

  Dundee

  95

  100

  3,063,500

  Falmouth

  7

  100

  114,500

  Fleetwood

  44

  100

  741,000

  Forth

  152

  57

  2,560,750

  Fowey

  44

  100

  770,000

  Garston

  108

  100

  2,170,500

  Goole

  135

  82

  2,359,000

  Great Yarmouth

  101

  100

  2,937,000

  Grimsby and Immingham

  542

  75

  14,326,750

  316

  Ports

  Number of RDWs made redundant

  Percentage of RDWs in Port

  Government contribution

  Hull

  572

  84

  9,762,500

  Ipswich

  58

  48

  1,007,000

  Kings Lynn

  42

  79

  735,000

  Liverpool

  741

  58

  15,015,000

  London

  1,158

  66

  20,526,300

  Lowestoft

  30

  100

  340,000

  Manchester

  162

  100

  3,435,000

  Medway

  137

  23

  2,360,000

  Newport

  171

  84

  2,534,500

  Par

  28

  100

  484,000

  Penzance

  8

  100

  129,000

  Plymouth

  17

  57

  297,500

  Port Talbot

  6

  14

  105,000

  Seaham

  10

  63

  130,750

  Sharpness

  9

  19

  157,500

  Silloth

  1

  33

  5,500

  Southampton

  468

  69

  8,114,500

  Sunderland

  31

  100

  524,500

  Swansea

  81

  83

  1,335,000

  Tees and Hartlepool

  490

  88

  7,551,125

  Tyne

  81

  70

  1,383,250

  Weymouth

  11

  100

  168,500

  Wisbech

  11

  92

  332,500

  Workington

  10

  63

  143,000

  Highway Maintenance
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what additional resources, other than those transferred from revenue budgets, he intends to make available for highway structural maintenance on the primary route network.

  Mr. Chope
  We intend to provide £100 million a year from 1992–93 by way of transport supplementary grant and credit approvals for structural maintenance on the primary route network. The control total for the highways maintenance standard spending assessment for 1992–93 has yet to be decided.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with local authorities about increasing investment in highway structural maintenance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  I met representatives of the local authority associations on 18 February. Officials have also had meetings with the associations, most recently on 22 March.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what representations he has received in favour of his plans to reclassify expenditure on highway structural maintenance on the primary route network as capital expenditure;

  (2) what representations he has had from local authority associations on his decision to reclassify expenditure on highway structural maintenance on the primary route network as capital expenditure.

  Mr. Chope
  Expenditure by local authorities on structural maintenance of roads is expenditure for capital purposes within the meaning of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and, under section 42 of that Act, does not need to be charged to revenue account if credit approvals are used as authority to capitalise it or it is reimbursed out of transport supplementary grant. The local authority associations have criticised our plans to make grant and credit approvals available towards such expenditure. No other representations have been received.
  317
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the criteria will be for assessing competing bids for transport supplementary grant for highway structural maintenance on the primary route network.

  Mr. Chope
  The criteria will take into account the length and structural condition of the roads concerned.

  Air Fares
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the percentage increase in air fares likely to arise on routes between the United Kingdom and other European Community countries as a result of higher airport charges and lower income for airlines if the current duty free allowances are withdrawn from such services.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The EC has yet to make a decision on whether or not to abolish duty free allowances after 1992. If they were to be abolished, there would be an effect on the income of airport operators and airlines. The time scale of any abolition, the competitive conditions in the market and the commercial response of airport operators and airlines are among the variables which make it impossible to give accurate estimates of any possible effect on air fares.

  M27 (Noise Pollution)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will order a survey of noise pollution caused by traffic on the bridge on the M27 over the River Hamble and undertake appropriate noise reduction measures.

  Mr. Chope
  No; when the secton of the M27 which includes the Hamble bridge was built in the 1970s, all the eligible properties were offered noise insulation in accordance with the provisions of the Land Compensation Act 1973 and the related Noise Insulation Regulations. Part I of the 1973 Act also enabled eligible residents subsequently to claim compensation for depreciation in value of their property due to physical factors, including noise, attributable to the motorway.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made by Eurotunnel in meeting its obligations under section 19(3) of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987; and what steps he intends to take to ensure that these obligations are fully met by 15 June 1993.

  Mr. Freeman
  I understand that Eurotunnel is working on plans for the carriage of pedal bicycles and motorcycles through the channel tunnel. Its plans will be subject to operating rules which require the approval of the intergovernmental commission in accordance with clause 13 of the concession agreement.

  MV Derbyshire
  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether, in the light of apparent new material relating to the loss of the Derbyshire, if he will reopen the formal investigation into the loss; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The material, which included a paper written by the late Professor Bishop and his colleagues and 318
  an underwater film of the Kowloon Bridge, has been examined by the marine accident investigation branch. I have now received the chief inspector's conclusion. He advises, and I have accepted his advice, that the material does not warrant the reopening of the court of formal investigation into the loss of the Derbyshire. The chief inspector has set out his conclusions and the reasons for them in a letter to me, and I am placing a copy in the Library.

  I do appreciate the concerns expressed in some quarters about bulk carrier safety. There is currently work going on at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) on this topic. The Department of Transport is making a contribution to that work, particularly in the area of investigation into cargo liquefaction. The attention of the International Maritime Organisation will also be drawn to the theories of Professor Bishop and his team.

  Driving Licence
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to make further changes to the Great Britain driving licence.

  Mr. Chope
  We have considered this very carefully. We have concluded that there would be considerable benefits in including photographs on driving licences. Technological developments will make the inclusion of photographs on driving licences feasible in a few years at a modest additional cost. Accordingly, we are issuing a consultation document inviting views on the proposals today.

  Motorway Distance Limits
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what were the factors that caused him to extend the distance limit for safeguarding purposes beyond 67m from the centre line of the motorway in the case of the two-mile section of the M6 between junction 4 of the M6 and its junction with the M1;

  (2) what were the factors that caused him to extend the distance limit for safeguarding purposes beyond 67m from the centre line of the motorway in the case of the 80-mile section of the M1 between junctions 6A and 33.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 18 March 1991]: In the particular local circumstances where the existing external boundary of the motorway land is more than 67m from the centre line due to the hilly terrain with the inevitable wide embankments and cuttings, and in view of the uncertainty as to how the widening would be carried out, the Department concluded that it needed to be aware of development proposals affecting land within 30m of that boundary.

  East Norton Bypass
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department intends to reply to correspondence from Mr. Robert Curnock of Hallaton road, East Norton, Leicestershire and Mr. Edwin de Lisle of Great Easton, Market Harborough, Leicestershire relating to the A47 East Norton bypass, details of which have been sent to his Department.
  319
  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 22 March 1991]: An acknowledgement letter was sent to Mr. de Lisle on 1 March. We hope to be able to send a full reply to Mr. de Lisle and Mr. Curnock before the end of March.

  M6 (Thornbridge Viaduct)
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how long work is expected to continue on the Thornbridge viaduct of the M6 motorway; what are the reasons for continuing work; and if he has made any arrangements for his contractors to consult and inform nearby local residents regarding the disturbance from the works.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 22 March 1991]: Work currently under way for the installation of cathodic protection systems on the viaduct substructure between Beeches road and Thornbridge avenue should be finished by May 1991. A further similar contract south of Thornbridge avenue is expected to start in April 1991 and will last approximately 11 months.

  The work is part of the strategy for maintaining the midland links viaducts. In the interests of local residents, work on these contracts is limited to daytime hours.

HEALTH

  Fluoridation
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what public funding is used to promote fluoridation; and if he will publish a statement detailing the nature and extent of that funding over the last five years.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Regional health authorities are generally responsible for local schemes for water fluoridation. Information on the total cost of these schemes is not available. Some financial assistance is, however, provided from central funds. This amounted to:

  £

  1986–87

  262,000

  1987–88

  433,000

  1988–89

  1,168,000

  1989–90

  430,000

  1990–91

  257,784

  In addition a grant under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 has been made each year to the British Fluoridation Society as follows:

  £

  1986–87

  20,000

  1987–88

  20,000

  1988–89

  30,000

  1989–90

  30,000

  1990–91

  33,000

  GP Budgets
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what safeguards there are for general practitioners who submit claims for cash-limited budgets in good time where the FHSAs are unable to process payments before the end of the financial year.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Reimbursements from family health services authorities (FHSAs) cash limited budgets for 320
  practice staff and premises improvements are made quarterly in arrears although advances equal to an estimated 30 per cent. of the total due are made each month. The full entitlement, less the advance on account, is then paid during the first month of the quarter following that to which the reimbursement relates. The effect is that approximately 10 per cent. of reimbursements due for the final quarter of each financial year are actually paid during the first month of the following financial year. FHSAs should not commit themselves to making payments For practice staff and premises improvements to a value greater than the cash limit available for the year.

  Doncaster Health Authority
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children have received hearing aids in the Doncaster health authority area in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to write to Mr. J. G. S. Smith, chairman of Doncaster health authority, for details.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the Doncaster health authority received lithotripsy treatment in the last 12 months; and how many are still awaiting such treatment.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not held centrally. Waiting lists are maintained according to the intended specialty of treatment, not by diagnosis or intended method of treatment. The hon. Member may wish to write to Mr. J. G. S. Smith, chairman of Doncaster health authority, for details.

  Female Circumcision
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about female circumcision since 21 February; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We have received a number of letters expressing concern about the practice of female circumcision, particularly following a recent BBC 2 programme on the subject.

  My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State held a meeting on the subject on 4 March 1991. Those present at the meeting were my hon. Friend the Member for Broxbourne (Mrs. Roe), Lord Kennet, Mrs. Efua Dorkenoo of FORWARD (Foundation for Women's Health Research and Development) and officials of the Department.

  The Department is to re-issue inter-departmental guidance on inter-agency working in cases of child protection. The new version is being revised to take account of the implementation of the Children Act 1989 and will draw attention to the Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985. Consideration will also be given as to how this guidance can be supported with more detailed advice.

  Nurses' Grading
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for each regional health authority area how many nursing clinical grading appeals have been heard so far at regional level, breaking down the total according to their outcome.
  321
  Mr. Dorrell
  The information available at 28 February 1991 is given in the table:

  Regions

  Allowed

  Disallowed

  Failure to agree

  Total

  England

  Northern

  11

  7

  42

  60

  Yorkshire

  19

  16

  20

  55

  Trent

  6

  1

  17

  24

  East Anglian

  7

  —

  2

  9

  North West Thames

  13

  2

  47

  62

  North East Thames

  28

  3

  51

  82

  South East Thames

  14

  2

  53

  69

  South West Thames

  34

  2

  23

  59

  Wessex

  27

  —

  28

  55

  Oxford

  11

  12

  141

  164

  South Western

  35

  14

  72

  121

  West Midlands

  11

  2

  36

  49

  Mersey

  2

  —

  29

  31

  North Western

  21

  1

  42

  64

  Total

  239

  62

  603

  904

  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the average cost associated with a single nursing clinical grading appeal hearing at(a) district level, (b) regional level and (c) United Kingdom level.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he expects nursing clinical grading appeals will be completed; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many nursing clinical grading appeals are currently waiting to be heard at (a) district level, (b) regional level and (c) United Kingdom level; and how many appeals have already been completed at each of those levels.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for health when he expects the appeal on grading by nursing auxiliaries at the Alfred Norris unit, Musgrove park hospital, Taunton, to be heard at national level; and to what he attributes the delay in processing this appeal since it was lodged in January 1990.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many clinical grading appeals are outstanding; how many appeals are currently being held on a monthly basis; when he expects the outstanding clinical grading appeals to be completed; how many appointments he has made to the panels dealing with clinical grading appeals; how many panels there are; and what is the remuneration and/or expenses paid to each;

  (2) if he will appoint more national appeals panels on clinical grading; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Appeals against clinical grading decisions are heard under a complicated and time-consuming procedure agreed by the general Whitley council. When the clinical grading structure was negotiated, we offered to discuss a streamlined procedure for clinical grading appeals, but the nursing trades unions chose not to pursue this possibility.

  Under the agreed procedure the management and staff sides of the nursing and midwifery staffs negotiating council are both required to appoint members for each appeal hearing at national level. We are making every effort to process appeals as quickly as possible but future progress will depend on a number of factors, particularly
  322
  the availability of people who are suitably qualified to hear appeals. Both parties to the dispute meet their own expenses: management side members can claim expenses under normal rules.

  There is no information held centrally on district level appeals. The information available on appeals at regional and national level at 28 February is as follows:

  Numbers of appeals received (England)

  Number of appeals heard (England)

  Regional

  1,515

  904

  National

  504

  27

  Information relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  The appeals by nursing auxiliaries at the Alfred Norris unit, Musgrove Park hospital, are likely to be heard at the end of April.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for implementing the recommendations of the 1988 report on "Information Needs of Disabled People, Their Carers and Service Providers," prepared by Coopers and Lybrand.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This report, which has been widely welcomed, highlighted the importance of improving information services for disabled people and those who care for them. It recommended a three stage strategy:

  —the development of a national framework for the provision of information services to disabled people

  —the creation of local "federations" of information providers, responsive to the needs of the community

  —specific initiatives to develop improved common information services within the context of a national framework sensitive to local needs

  In 1990, we commissioned a study by PE International to identify the managerial and resource requirements of implementing such a strategy. Following PEI's conclusions, we now intend to commit ·3 million, subject to Parliamentary approval over three years (1991–1994) for a pilot initiative, known as the National Disability Information Projects, with the following objectives:
  323

  —Nationally, to promote closer working between organisations which collect and disseminate information of national relevance, with clear objectives to reduce duplication and improve the relevance and accuracy of information.

  —Locally, to encourage the development of federations of information providers, in order to achieve greater co-ordination at the local level and to widen access to information.

  The national disability information project will build on the achievements of a number of local federations already in existence, including those developed as part of the Oxford regional health authority information project which is supported by the Department of Health.

  Dentists
  Sir John Hunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is(a) the number of courses of treatment provided by dentists within the Bromley family health service authority and (b) the total monthly sums of money paid to them in respect of January and February; and what were the corresponding figures for the months of January 1990 and February 1990.

  Mr. Dorrell
  It is not possible to compare on a like-for-like basis the total numbers of courses of treatment in the two years requested. Under the new dental contract introduced in October 1990, national health service treatment of children is provided under a capitation system and does not involve "courses of treatment". The information requested about total fees payable to dentists is provided in the table:

  Bromley family health services authority

  Total fees scheduled for payment to national health service dentists for the months of January and February in 1990 and 1991

  1990

  1991

  £

  £

  January

  516,466

  484,425

  February

  443,311

  413,103

  Blood
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on charging for blood and blood products using blood donated through the blood transfusion service; what is the income from charges for 1990 nationally and in each NHS region; what is the level of charges imposed currently, in 1990, and in 1989; and what was the source of the income from charges, whether inside the NHS, or from private hospitals or from disposals to commercial organisations.

  Mr. Dorrell
  There are no charges made for blood which is freely donated in this country. The costs of collection, testing, processing, handling and transport, which are incurred in supplying non-NHS hospitals with blood and blood derivatives, are recovered by regional transfusion centres (RTCs). The handling charges for 1989–90 and 1990–91 and the income from the charges for the latest year available are shown in the table. Blood is not supplied to commercial organisations.

  The regional health authorities have traditionally allocated funds direct to the RTCs to cover their operating costs. However, from April 1991 those funds will be devolved to the district health authorities and the RTCs will recover their operating costs in proportion to the
  324
  hospital users demands on the RTC for blood supplies. The reimbursement will not include any element for the freely donated blood itself.

  1989–90

  1990–91

  (per unit)

  (per unit)

  £

  £

  Buffy coats

  16·75

  17·50

  Cryoprecipitate

  11·00

  11·50

  Filtered blood

  32·75

  34·50

  Fresh frozen plasma for clinical use

  13·50

  14·25

  Fresh frozen plasma for paediatric use

  11·25

  11·75

  Frozen/recovered red cells

  22·00

  186·00

  Leukocyte-poor red cells

  19·25

  20·25

  Paediatric whole blood

  31·00

  32·50

  Plasma reduced blood

  17·00

  18·00

  Concentrated red cells

  16·75

  18·00

  Platelet concentrate

  14·50

  15·25

  Platelet concentrate (Apheresis)

  —

  46·00

  Platelet-rich plasma

  11·50

  12·00

  Red cell compatible blood cells

  31·25

  32·75

  SAG(M) red cells

  19·25

  20·25

  Saline-washed blood red cells

  33·25

  35·00

  Whole blood

  29·25

  30·75

  1 Note—more accurate costing for this product resulted in an exceptional increase.

  Table

  Income from handling charges for 1989–90

  £

  Northern

  21,679

  Yorkshire

  125,693

  Trent

  82,111

  East Anglia

  77,465

  North West Thames

  631,752

  North East Thames

  155,634

  South East Thames

  129,947

  South West Thames

  463,022

  Wessex

  383,224

  Oxford

  104,136

  South Western

  123,726

  West Midlands

  208,099

  Mersey

  27,243

  North Western

  171,745

  TOTAL

  2,705,476

  Confidentiality
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department will issue draft guidance on the confidentiality of personal health information in the national health service.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Yes. The Department is currently working on draft guidance on the confidentiality of personal health information in the NHS. This will be issued for consultation shortly.

  Children (Employment)
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether he has received fresh evidence of illegal employment of children supplied by the child employment study carried out by the low pay unit and Birmingham city council; and if he has any plans to issue new guidelines to the Health and Safety Executive to enforce legislation relating to the employment of children;

  (2) if he will now seek to implement the Employment of Children Act 1973;

  (3) if he has any plans to review the minimum age above which a child may be legally employed;
  325
  (4) if he will initiate a review of all legislation affecting the employment of children.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We are studying the report published by the low pay unit and Birmingham city council in consultation with colleagues in other Departments with responsibility for enforcing current legislation on the employment of children. We shall then consider whether any further action is required to safeguard the welfare of such children.

  Drugs (Costs)
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will list the actual cost of drugs provided under the national health service per family for each of the years 1980 to 1990; and what each of these costs would have been if there had been no inflation since 1980.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information is not available in the precise form requested. The following table sets out the annual cost of drugs in the national health service in England per head of population(a) in cash terms and (b) at 1980–81 prices, for the financial years 1980–81 to 1989–90.

  Financial year

  In cash terms

  At 1980–81 prices (based on GDP deflator)

  £

  £

  1980–81

  20·48

  20·48

  1981–82

  23·29

  21·24

  1982–83

  26·79

  22·81

  1983–84

  29·81

  24·27

  1984–85

  31·31

  24·26

  1985–86

  33·35

  24·50

  1986–87

  35·89

  25·49

  1987–88

  39·83

  26·83

  1988–89

  44·68

  28·05

  1989–90

  49·40

  29·15

  Care Homes
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the number of private residential or nursing homes in each registration authority area which have closed within the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Information is not available centrally for nursing homes. Information about residential homes could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each local authority the number of directly provided care homes for the elderly which have either closed or transferred out of the local authority sector during each year since 1978.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information that is available centrally could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Community Care
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the continuing care of the mentally ill in the community after the three years' allocation of the specific grant for the mentally ill has elapsed.
  326
  Mr. Dorrell
  Consideration will be given to whether the specific grant needs to continue beyond 1993–94 in future public expenditure rounds; in the light of judgments about the adequacy of community care provision for people with a mental illness.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he plans to monitor the use local authorities make of funds allocated for community care to ensure that the money is not used to fund other local authority functions.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Where resources are specifically allocated to support aspects of community care, the Audit Commission ensures through its audit of local authority accounts that those resources have been used for the purposes for which they were allocated. Additionally, the Department generally calls for reports from authorities on the use that has been made of such resources. For the most part, however, Government support for community care is distributed through the revenue support grant, leaving local authorities free to determine their own expenditure priorities, though the Department receives information from authorities which enables it to monitor expenditure on community care.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to assist local authorities unable to fund the 30 per cent. necessary to claim their entitlement to the specific grant for the mentally ill.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Local authorities' need to make a 30 per cent. contribution has already been taken into account in their standard spending assessment figure for the personal social services.

SCOTLAND

  Salmon
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what evidence he has of the effect of the North East England licensed net fishery upon Scottish salmon stocks returning to spawn in Scottish rivers.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  As required by section 39 of the Salmon Act 1986, the report to be presented to Parliament reviewing salmon net fisheries from the Humber to the Ugie will address the issue of adequacy of spawning escapement of salmon in the review area. A good deal of scientific information has been collated on this and other aspects of the review.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish the report on East coast salmon netting, as reviewed under section 39(1) of the Salmon Act 1986.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  It is hoped to present the report to Parliament shortly.

  Health Boards
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the occupation of each health board member and the original nominating body of each member not included in his answer of 28 February,Official Report, columns 574–75.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is as set out in the table:
  327

  Board

  Member

  Occupation

  Original nominating body, if any

  Argyll and Clyde

  Mr. N. M. Faccenda

  Self Employed, Businessman

  Scottish Conservative Party

  Mrs. M. A. Foggie

  Housewife, formerly Solicitor

  Inverclyde Local Health Council

  Mrs. E. S. Lander

  Company Director

  CBI

  Mrs. J. C. Le Roux

  Housewife

  Cancer Research Committee

  Dr. J. Moffat

  Consultant Psychiatrist

  Royal College of Psychiatrists

  Mr. C. H. Parker

  Company Managing Director

  CBI

  Ayrshire and Arran

  Mr. J. Cahill

  Maintenance Painter

  Cunninghame District Council

  Mr. J. W. G. Donaldson

  Self Employed Electrical Engineer

  Health Board

  Mrs. A. Dunbar

  Teaching Auxiliary

  Cunninghame District Council

  Dr. K. G. Fegan

  General Medical Practitioner

  Health Board

  Mr. W. M. Ritchie

  Retired, Managing Director

  Health Board

  Mr. I. B. Valentine

  Chartered Accountant

  Ayr Constituency Conservative Association

  Borders

  Dr. D. W. Cameron, MBE

  General Medical Practitioner

  BMA

  Mr. D. A. G. Kilshaw

  Solicitor

  Health Board

  Miss M. Marshall

  Self Employed Businesswoman

  Scottish Association for Mental Health

  Mr. J. P. Metcalfe

  Retired Company Divisional Chief Executive

  Mr. A. C. Purves

  Lady Sanderson

  Housewife

  Borders Local Health Council

  Mr. R. A. Stewart, MBE

  Self Employed Development Officer

  BMA: STUC: Health Board

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Mrs. V. M. I. Jardine-Paterson

  Housewife

  Sir Hector Monro, MP

  Mr. H. S. McFadzean

  Farmer

  Health Board

  Mr. W. Seright

  Consultant Surgeon

  Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh

  Mrs. J. D. Tulloch

  Company Director

  Health Board: Western Joint Opthalmic Committee

  Dr. A. P. D. Wilkinson

  General Medical Practitioner

  BMA

  Mr. W. I. Wilson

  Chartered Accountant

  BMA: Wigtown District Council

  Fife

  Mrs. S. L. Aitken

  Housewife

  Mr. Barry Henderson

  Dr. A. C. A. Alexander

  General Medical Practitioner

  Dr. J. B. Gallacher

  Mr. F. J. R. Craig

  Company Director

  Self

  Dr. C. J. Ingram

  University Lecturer

  University of St. Andrews

  Mrs. M. Steedman, CBE

  Retired Headmistress

  Self

  Mr. G. M. Thomson

  Company Financial Director

  Health Board

  Forth Valley

  Mr. E. T. M. Bell-Scott

  Solicitor

  Health Board

  Mr. K. Harding

  Self Employed Newsagent

  Mr. Michael Forsyth

  Dr. G. B. Hastings

  University Academic

  Strathclyde University

  Mr. P. A. Joynson

  Chartered Surveyor

  Scottish Branch British Red Cross Society

  Mrs. K. A. Smith

  Vice Chairman Scotland/Emergency Services Organiser, WRVS

  Womens Royal Voluntary Service

  Mr. C. S. R. Stroyan

  Solicitor

  Self

  Grampian

  Mr. A. B. Broomfield

  Company Director/Managing Director

  Health Board

  Dr. C. A. Macleod

  Company Chairman

  Self

  Prof. D. Ogston

  Professor of Clinical Medicine

  University of Aberdeen

  Mr. J. A. Snedden

  Retired Managing Director

  Lord Sanderson

  Mr. N. Thornton-Kemsley CBE

  Farmer

  Lord Sanderson

  Mrs. J. G. A. Wisely, JP

  District Councillor

  Women into Public Life Campaign

  Greater Glasgow

  Rev. R. D. M. Campbell

  Minister of Religion

  Mrs. A. Gilchrist

  Company Director

  Lady Goold

  Housewife

  British Dental Association

  Mr. P. W. Hoist

  Insulation Contractor

  BMA: Western Joint Ophthalmic Committee

  Prof. R. M. Mackie

  Professor of Dermatology

  University of Glasgow

  Mr. A. Scobbie

  Company Managing Director

  Self

  Highland

  Mr. J. G. Ligertwood

  Retired Bank Manager

  Health Board

  Mr. D. J. Mackay

  Company Chief Executive

  CBI

  Mrs. A. MacPherson

  Housewife

  Ross and Cromarty Council of Voluntary Service

  Mr. C. Neilson, JP

  Self Employed Businessman

  Health Board: Lochaber District Council: Lochaber Local Health Council

  Mrs. S. G. H. Stone

  Company Managing Director

  Ross and Cromarty District Council

  Mrs. C. Thomson

  Housewife

  Ross and Cromarty Local Health Council

  Lanarkshire

  Dr. W. Criggie

  General Medical Practitioner

  Health Board

  Mrs. A. S. Hinshalwood

  Housewife

  Health Board

  Mr. I. L. Livingstone

  Company Consultant

  Health Board

  328 329

  Board

  Member

  Occupation

  Original nominating body, if any

  Mr. R. J. Logan, MBE, JP

  Farmer

  Health Board

  Mr. J. P. Robinson, JP

  Retired Regional Councillor

  Strathclyde Regional Council

  Mr. J. Thomson, MBE

  Assistant Head Teacher

  Voluntary Association for Mental Health

  Lothian

  Prof. R. C. B. Aitken

  Professor of Rehabilitation Studies

  University of Edinburgh

  Mrs. G. Barton

  Former Nurse and District Councillor

  Lothian Regional Council: Edinburgh District Council

  Mr. J. A. Campbell

  Company Scottish Manager

  Mr. R. Findlay

  Company Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive

  Self

  Cllr. Mrs. M. B. M. Knox

  District Councillor

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

  Mr. G. S. Millar

  Community Pharmacist

  Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

  Orkney

  Mr. J. Flett

  Solicitor

  Health Board

  Mr. E. M. Gibson, MBE

  Retired Assistant Headmaster

  Health Board

  Captain M. Gunn

  Ships Master

  CBI

  Mrs. E. B. Kerr

  Housewife

  Orkney Local Health Council

  Mr. J. Rendall

  Sub Postmaster/Postman

  Voluntary Services Orkney

  Dr. J. S. Walker

  General Medical Practitioner

  BME

  Shetland

  Mr. R. R. Bentley

  Airport Fire Service

  Health Board: Joint Ophthalmic Committee

  Mrs. M. U. Colligan

  Retired Teacher

  Shetland Islands Council

  Sqd. Ldr. B. P. Gregson

  Squadron Leader, RAF

  Health Board

  Dr. M. D. Hunter

  General Medical Practitioner

  BMA

  Mr. R. L. Johnston

  Retired Businessman

  Health Board

  Miss A. I. Manson

  Retail Business Proprietrix

  Shetland Islands Council

  Tayside

  Rev. K. Campbell

  Minister of Religion

  Health Board

  Mr. D.W.M. Davidson JP

  Pharmacist

  Area Pharmaceutical Committee

  Mrs. S. H. Fallon

  Housewife

  Self

  Mr. R. J. Jarvis

  Company Group Chief Executive

  Self

  Rev. L. E. Luscombe

  Primus of Scottish Episcopal Church

  Lord Sanderson

  Prof. R. E. Olver

  Hon. Consultant Paediatrician

  University of Dundee

  Western Isles

  Mr. J. H. Downie

  Retired Market Gardener/Fisherman

  Lewis and Harris Local Health Council

  Mr. W. A. Hay

  Retired Sales Director

  CBI

  Mrs. C. R. MacAskill

  Housewife/Seasonal Tourist Officer

  Health Board

  Rev. J. A. MacDonald

  Parish Priest

  Health Board

  Mr. I. D. Maclver

  Bank Manager

  Health Board

  Mr. A. Matheson

  Pharmacist

  Western Isles Island's Council

  Steel Industry
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the total job losses in the steel indulstry in Scotland in each financial year since 1978–79.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The information is not available in the form requested. The table shows total annual average employment in the Scottish steel industry, in plants with 11 or more employees, for each year between 1979 and 1989 (the latest year for which data are available).

  Employment in steel industry in Scotland 1979–1989

  Year

  Thousands

  1979

  20·0

  1980

  18·3

  1981

  14·9

  1982

  13·4

  1983

  10·7

  1984

  9·5

  1985

  9·3

  1986

  8·1

  1987

  7·4

  1988

  7·4

  1989

  7·4

  Source: Scottish Office Industry Department.

  Regional Data System.

  Nurses' Grading
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a breakdwon of the total number of nursing clinical grading appeals already heard at national level, stating how many resulted in an appeal being upheld, rejected or a failure to agree.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In Scotland 461 appeals have been heard at Scottish appeals committee level; 150 have been upheld, 167 rejected and in 144 cases the committee failed to reach agreement. In Great Britain 71 appeals from Scotland have been lodged with the Nursing and Midwifery Staffs Negotiating Council and appropriate arrangements for determining their outcome are being made.

  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the average cost associated with a single nursing clinical grading appeal hearing at(a) board level, (b) national level and (c) United Kingdom level.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information on the average cost of a clinical grading appeal at board, national and United Kingdom level is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Scottish nursing clinical grading appeals are currently waiting to be heard at(a) board level, (b)

  331
  national level and (c) United Kingdom level; and how many appeals have already been completed at each of those levels.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information on the number of nurse clinical grading appeals currently waiting to be heard and the number of appeals completed at board level is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. At Scottish appeals committee level 1,925 appeals were waiting to be heard and 461 had been completed at 1 March. No information is held on the total number of appeals lodged at United Kingdom level but in Great Britain as at 28 February, 602 appeals were lodged (71 from Scotland) of which eight have been heard (none from Scotland) and 589 are currently waiting to be heard.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Appeals against clinical grading decisions are heard under a complicated and time-consuming procedure agreed by the General Whitley Council and future progress will depend on a number of factors, particularly the availability of people who are suitably qualified to hear appeals. Consequently it is not possible to estimate when nurse grading appeals will be completed.

  There is no information held centrally on board level appeals. The information available on appeals at Scottish appeals committee level and national (Great Britain) level is as follows:

  Number of Appeals Received (Scotland)

  Number of Appeals heard (Scotland)

  Scottish Appeals Committee

  nearly 2,500

  461

  Great Britain

  71

  None

  Secure Unit

  Region

  Number of Places

  Rossie School Montrose

  Tayside

  25

  St. Mary's Kenmure School Glasgow

  Strathclyde

  24

  Kerelaw School Stevenston

  Strathclyde

  24

  Howdenhall Children's Unit Edinburgh

  Lothian

  5

  Rimbleton House Glenrothes

  Fife

  2

  Weedingshall Youth Care Centre, Polmont

  Central

  2

  Closeburn Assessment Centre, Closeburn

  Dumfries and Galloway

  2

  List D Schools
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the numbers of places available in list D schools in Scotland in each of the past 10 years for which figures are available; and if he will indicate the average occupancy rate of these places in each year.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The list D category was abolished from 1 April 1986. The relevant information up to 1986 is as follows:

  Year

  Available places

  Occupancy rate

  (Per cent.)

  1980

  1,509

  86

  1981

  1,514

  80

  1982

  1,349

  77

  Liver Transplants
  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to establish a liver transplant facility in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Our priority has been to establish a heart transplant unit in Scotland and we expect the first operations to be carried out at the end of this year in Glasgow royal infirmary.

  Social Work Supervision Orders
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons aged under 16 years were placed on social work supervision orders in(a) Dundee, (b) Tayside and (c) Scotland in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The numbers of children aged 0–17 years, who were under supervision requirements at 31 March each year, are set out in the table:

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Dundee

  237

  260

  307

  357

  322

  Tayside

  453

  476

  521

  549

  525

  Scotland

  8,099

  8,582

  8,333

  8,387

  8,533

  Secure Accommodation
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many places in secure accommodation there are for persons aged under 16 years in Scotland; and where they are located.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  Available places

  Occupancy rate

  (Per cent.)

  1983

  1,203

  79

  1984

  1,099

  78

  1985

  1,107

  65

  1986

  857

  75

  The latest information on establishments used by local authorities for residential care after 1986 (including former list D schools) is set out in the statistical bulletin R6/1989 on "Residential Accommodation 1988", a copy of which is in the Library.
  333
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the names and locations of list D schools in Scotland which are(a) currently operating and (b) have closed down during the past 10 years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The list D category was abolished from 1 April 1986, when local authorities assumed full funding responsibility for young people placed in residential care. Such establishments are required to be registered by local authorities. The following former list D schools are still operating:

  Kibble, Paisley

  Wellington, Penicuik

  Geilsland, Beith

  Oakbank, Aberdeen

  Kerelaw, Stevenston

  Snowdon, Stirling

  St. Mary's Kenmure, Glasgow

  Ballikinrain, Glasgow

  Balrossie, Kilmacolm

  St. Joseph's, Tranent

  St. Philip's, Airdrie

  St. John's, Glasgow

  Balnacraig, Perth

  Rossie, Montrose

  The following establishments closed since March 1980:

  Loaningdale, Biggar

  St. Andrew's, Shandon

  Dr. Guthrie's Boys, Edinburgh

  Dr. Guthrie's Girls, Edinburgh

  Langlands Park, Port Glasgow

  Dale, Arbroath

  Thornly Park, Paisley

  Tynepark, Haddington

  St. Ninian's, Gartmore

  St. John Bosco's Aberdour

  Balgowan, Dundee

  Balgay, Dundee

  Therapy in Schools
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has given to local education authorities concerning the provision of speech therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and the teaching of dyslexic children in schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Speech therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy may be special educational needs of children for which education authorities have responsibility under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980. In such cases authorities usually make arrangements for health boards to make the necessary provision. Guidance on the identification, assessment and recording of special educational needs was given in circular 1087 issued on 9 December 1982.

  The hon. Gentleman will be aware from the answer I gave him on 27 June 1990 that my Department has commissioned a research study which will offer guidance to teachers about the needs of children with specific learning difficulties. A report is expected in early 1992.

  Cancer Screening Unit
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in supplying a mobile breast cancer screening unit at Woodside place, Glasgow to cover the Argyll and Clyde and Western Isles health boards; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The first mobile unit, operating from Woodside place, Glasgow, began screening women 334
  in the Argyll and Clyde health board area on 15 August 1990. Several districts have been completed and screening will begin in Oban on 22 April 1991, with the mobile unit subsequently moving to Mull and Lochgilphead. The opportunity will be available to women from nearby islands to be screened at that time.

  Screening is expected to take place in the Western Isles during autumn 1992.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in supplying a mobile breast cancer screening unit in Inverness to cover the Highland health board area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The mobile unit will operate from the static screening and assessment centre at Raigmore, Inverness and is currently undergoing final maintenance and equipment checks.

  The intention is for the static and mobile screening service to begin screening in early summer.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many women on average are screened at a mobile breast cancer screening unit in one year; and what is the cost of running one such unit and the number of units currently operational, by health board area in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There are six mobile breast cancer screening units currently operating in Scotland. The information on costs and numbers screened is not available as the service is not yet fully operational.

  Industrial Sites
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on trends in the supply of fully serviced industrial sites in the past two years.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 28 January 1991]: The information is not available in the form requested. The nearest equivalent information, available from the industrial sites register (the joint annual register of industrial land) is on sites which are immediately available or could be made available within one year. The data for 1985 to 1989 are as follows:

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Area (hectares)

  2,567

  2,814

  3,337

  2,743

  2,821

  Number of sites

  535

  534

  549

  567

  629

  The 1989 survey is still being analysed, and figures may be liable to adjustment. The 1990 survey is under way.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much provision of fully serviced industrial sites has been made available by (i) Scottish new towns, (ii) Scottish Development Agency, (iii) Highland and Islands Development Board and (iv) Scottish local authorities, in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 28 January 1991]: The information is not available in the form requested, but the following table may be helpful:
  335

  Provision for industrial sites in Scotland

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  New town development corporations1 £'000s

  Not available

  3,300

  2,400

  3,300

  3,500

  3,400

  4,400

  Land owned3

  569

  540

  540

  538

  557

  NYA

  SDA2 £'000s

  Not available

  2,677

  2,044

  1,969

  3,796

  4,802

  Site numbers

  29

  18

  21

  19

  14

  Land owned3

  410

  397

  366

  463

  483

  NYA

  HIDB £'000s

  4,600

  4,800

  7,200

  5,300

  6,300

  4,200

  2,800

  4,100

  6,600

  7,400

  Site numbers

  6

  9

  8

  4

  7

  8

  6

  6

  7

  8

  Land owned3

  39

  35

  36

  44

  57

  NYA

  Local authorities2 £ '000s

  8,225

  9,243

  11,511

  9,887

  13,077

  15,437

  15,488

  17,091

  17,738

  17,415

  Land owned3

  1,741

  1,988

  2,046

  41,305

  1,803

  NYA

  1 These figures relate to site development work only.

  2 These figures relate to total expenditure on factory building and industrial sites. Returns do not allow for site only information to be supplied.

  3 These figures (in hectares) are for land owned by the agencies and bodies shown and identified for industrial purposes. It includes both fully serviced and unserviced sites. The data is as published in the Industrial Sites Register. The data is as at 31 March for the year concerned, thus the 1,741 hectares shown for local authorities in the 1984–85 column shows the picture at 31 March 1985.

  4 The drop in the local authority entry for 1988 is explained by the introduction of new marketability criteria, as detailed in the published Commentary on the Industrial Sites Register 1988.

  NYA—Not yet available.

  High-technology Premises
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what high-technology premises are being planned or supplied for Scotland and by when.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 28 January 1991]: The supply of premises for high-technology companies is not monitored. The industrial sites register does not specifically record sites suitable for high-technology companies, and it would not be feasible to do so. Existing premises may often be sufficient to meet the needs of many such companies.

ENVIRONMENT

  Audit Commission
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who is responsible for auditing the work of the Audit Commission.

  Mr. Key
  Paragraph 12 of schedule 3 to the Local Government Finance Act 1982 requires the Commission to keep proper accounts and other records; to prepare a statement of account in respect of each financial year in the form directed by the Secretary of State; and submit the statement to him by the date he directs. The Secretary of State is required, on or before 30 November in each year, to transmit the statement of account to the Comptroller and Auditor-General who is required to examine and certify the statement of account and lay copies before Parliament with his report on it.

  Leisure Centres
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has plans to ensure that local authorities who run leisure and entertainment complexes shall be required to publish at one and the same time capital and revenue accounts for each undertaking.

  Mr. Key
  My right hon. Friend has no such plans.

  Local Authorities (Tendering)
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what safeguards there are in the local authority competitive tendering process to ensure that the terms and conditions of the tender are not subsequently varied by mutual consent.

  Mr. Key
  Under part I of the Local Government Act 1988, local authorities must comply with a number of tendering requirements if they wish to use their own work-forces to carry out defined activities after dates set out in subordinate legislation. One of these requirements is that, in carrying out the work, they must comply with the detailed specification which was prepared as the basis for competitive tendering, although this will normally provide limited scope for some variation in the work to be done. The Secretary of State has sanction powers under the 1988 Act which he may use if he considers that an authority has failed to comply with the statutory requirements.

  Urban Programme
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for the city of Sheffield the number of projects which were not given approval for 1991–92 under the urban programme, indicating the nature of the projects rejected and giving a percentage figure, and a cash value figure, which related to the ethnic minority community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Sheffield urban programme for 1991–92 includes 105 new projects, of which 83 were approved on 1 March. The 22 projects which could not be approved have a total value of £1,035,000 and include five projects relating to the ethnic minority community costing £530,000.

  My Department met Sheffield city council on 20 March and the council is now working up information on most of the 22 rejected projects in order to resubmit them. Any attempt to assess the number of projects finally rejected would therefore be premature.

  Industrial Waste
  Mr. Bendall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to make available to the public information concerning the nature of industrial waste being dumped in any given local authority area.

  Mr. Baldry
  Waste disposal plans drawn up and published by waste disposal authorities should give a picture of the industrial waste arising and where it goes for disposal within each authority's area.

  The deposit of industrial waste is illegal unless authorised by a licence from the waste disposal authority under part I of the Control of Pollution Act 1974. Waste disposal authorities must keep registers of all such licences open to the public. Each licence shows the types of waste permitted at each site. Under section 64 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the information to be kept on public registers will be greatly expanded. The extent of this information will be prescribed in regulations on which my Department will be consulting publicly before the implementation of section 64.

  Individual records are kept of the transport and disposal of the most difficult and harmful wastes, designated as special waste under the Control of Pollution Act 1974. These records are copied to waste disposal authorities. In a consultation paper ("Control of Pollution Act 1974, the Special Waste Regulations 1980, a Consultation Paper, Special Waste and the Control of its Disposal") issued by my Department and the Welsh Office last year, the Government proposed that registers of special waste records should be open for public inspection.

  Climate Convention
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the inclusion of a commitment to the precautionary principle in the climate convention currently under inter-governmental negotiation.

  Mr. Baldry
  Negotiations for a framework convention on climate change are taking place under an inter-governmental negotiating committee established by the United Nations General Assembly. The United Kingdom is playing an active role in the negotiations and we hope that the convention will include an expression of the need for precautionary action in the face of serious or irreversible threats of environmental degradation.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the specific grant received by each local authority in respect of(a) community charge rebate and (b) transitional relief for the year 1990–91.

  Mr. Key
  I am arranging for the available information for 1990–91 to be placed in the Library of the House. I shall be in a position to publish a final figure for the amount of transitional relief given when local authorities submit their final grant claims later this year.

  Water Pollution
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those rivers in England where prosecutions have been undertaken because of pollution;338
  who were the polluters; what fines were levied; and what remedial measures were ordered in each case to prevent a recurrence of the pollution.

  Mr. Baldry
  This information is not held centrally. The National Rivers Authority is responsible for enforcing water pollution controls, and is empowered to carry out operations to prevent or remedy pollution where appropriate.

  I understand that the authority brought a total of 370 prosecutions for water pollution offences in England and Wales during its first year of operation to 31 August 1990.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy towards control of the dumping of rubbish and other pollutants from private boats in estuaries and inshore waters.

  Mr. Baldry
  Under the provisions of the 1989 Water Act it is an offence to cause or knowingly permit the entry of polluting or solid waste matter to "controlled waters", (which include estuaries and inshore waters), although the discharge of trade or sewage effluent from a vessel is excluded from these controls. The Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution by Garbage) Regulations 1988, which extend to private boats, impose restrictions on the disposal of garbage, defined as all kinds of victual, domestic and operational waste, into the sea. The Merchant Shipping (Reception Facilities for Garbage) Regulations 1988 require every harbour authority in the United Kingdom to provide facilities for receiving garbage from ships.

  The Gulf (Birds)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he is giving to the International Council for Bird Preservation and RSPB reports on the Gulf birds.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 21 March 1991]: As I indicated to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) on 15 March at column 1392, I very much welcome the initiative taken by the International Council for Bird Preservation (ICBP) in sending two experts to the Gulf earlier this month.

  The ICBP has now prepared a proposal for further work to survey the spring migration in the Gulf in April and May. We have been interested to see this and will consider it carefully and I understand that ICBP has discussed the proposal with the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development in Saudi Arabia.

  Oil-skimming Equipment, Bahrain
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who supplied and manufactured the oil skimming equipment handed over by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in Bahrain last week.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 22 March 1991]: The equipment was supplied by DESMI Ltd. from its factory in Newcastle, Staffordshire. These particular items were manufactured in Denmark by DESMI's parent company, A/S De Smithske, and use major United Kingdom components, particularly engines made by Lister Diesels, hydraulic equipment from Hamworthy Ltd. of Poole, Dorset, and valves manufactured by Chalwyn Valves Ltd.

  Recycling Credits
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress in the introduction of recycling credits.

  Mr. Baldry
  [pursuant to the answer, 30 January 1991, c. 537]: The Touche Ross report on recycling credits
  340
  commissioned by my Department has been published today. Copies have been placed in the Library. We will publish draft regulations and guidance on the calculation and payment of recycling credits for consultation with local authorities in due course, taking account of the advice we have received.

  RIGHTS OF THE CHILD: UN CONVENTION
  RIGHTS OF THE CHILD: UN CONVENTION
  CHILD CARE CASES IN THE HIGHER COURTS: JUDICIARY
  CHILD CARE CASES IN THE HIGHER COURTS: JUDICIARY
  CHILDREN ACT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
  CHILDREN ACT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
  PRISON STAFFING LEVELS DISPUTE: UNUSED CELLS
  PRISON STAFFING LEVELS DISPUTE: UNUSED CELLS
  DISABLED PEOPLE: INFORMATION SERVICES
  DISABLED PEOPLE: INFORMATION SERVICES
  NHS CLINICAL STANDARDS ADVISORY GROUP
  NHS CLINICAL STANDARDS ADVISORY GROUP
  NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE AND COMMUNITY CARE ACT: PAYMENTS TO VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS
  NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE AND COMMUNITY CARE ACT: PAYMENTS TO VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS
  THE GULF WAR: UNUSED HOSPITAL PROVISION
  THE GULF WAR: UNUSED HOSPITAL PROVISION
  D NOTICES
  D NOTICES