Written Answers of 26 March 1991

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to the number of people who have disappeared in Sri Lanka in the last three years; how many detainees are held by the Sri Lankan Government under emergency laws; what recent representations he has made to the Sri Lankan authorities on human rights abuses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Reliable information is not available on the number of people who have disappeared or the number of detainees. We continue regularly to raise with the Sri Lankan Government our concerns about their human rights performance and the conduct of their security forces in dealing with the serious terrorist challenge they face.

  Iraq (Humanitarian Assistance)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what humanitarian assistance Her Majesty's Government are giving to Iraq via the European Community, the International Committee of the Red Cross, United Nations agencies, and other relief agencies.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Kingdom supports the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations relief agencies in Iraq. This year we have already given £2·5 million to the ICRC's Gulf appeal and US $1 million to the United Nations appeal co-ordinated by UNDRO. 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. All these funds are available for use in Iraq.

  In the light of reports from the ICRC and United Nations Under-Secretary-General Ahtisaari, the United Nations sanctions committee, with full British support, has now made a general determination that humanitarian circumstances apply with respect to the entire civilian population of Iraq in all parts of Iraq's national territory and that the civilian and humanitarian imports identified in Mr. Ahtisaari's report, which are integrally related to the supply of foodstuffs and supplies intended for medical purposes, should be allowed with immediate effect.

TRANSPORT

  Motorway Lighting
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of motorway there are in England and Wales; and what proportion of these are lit.
  342
  Mr. Chope
  There are 1,640 miles of trunk motorway in England. About 30 per cent. of this length is lit. The Secretary of State for Wales is responsible for motorways in Wales.

  Air Traffic Distribution
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which British-owned airlines were consulted prior to his recent announcement about traffic distribution rights at Heathrow airport; what steps he took to ensure that airlines flying services from Britain's regional airports could continue to do so; if he has discussed the allocation of Air UK's original slots with the Heathrow airport scheduling committee; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The hon. Member will be able to obtain from the CAA the names of the 54 United Kingdom airlines it consulted prior to offering advice on the need for the London traffic distribution rules. My right hon. and learned Friend explained in his statement of 5 March that removal of the rules did not impose any requirement on the operators of regional services to give up operating at Heathrow, and noted the existence of safeguards against unreasonable discrimination in an airport's trade practice or pricing policy. My right hon. and learned Friend has not discussed with the Heathrow scheduling committee the allocation of slots previously used by Air UK, as the Government are not involved in the slot allocation process.

  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from British Northern Airlines about his Heathrow traffic distribution decisions and that airline's application to the Heathrow airport scheduling committee.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received no such representations from British Northern Airlines, although its concern to secure slots at Heathrow has been drawn to our attention by others. That is a matter for discussion between the airlines and the Heathrow scheduling committee.

  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review his decision on allocation of airlines to Heathrow in the light of the refusal by the Heathrow airport scheduling committee to allocate the slots previously used by Air UK to British Northern Airlines.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to review his decision to remove restrictions on access to Heathrow. The allocation of slots at the airport is the responsibility of the scheduling committee, which follows guidelines drawn up by the International Air Transport Association. The Government are not involved in the allocation process.

  Holidaymakers (Consumer Protection)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Association of British Travel Agents over extending consumer protection for all holidaymakers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Consumer protection matters in general, including package holidays, are for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry; I
  343
  understand that the Association of British Travel Agents has had discussions with Ministers in his Department recently.

  The Association of British Travel Agents has also written recently to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, supporting his request to the Civil Aviation Authority, as announced in his statement to the House on 11 March, for advice on possible arrangements to give financial protection to scheduled air passengers; air charter holidaymakers are already protected by the statutory bonding scheme for air travel organisers, and by the Air Travel Trust.

  Offshore Standby Vessels
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, further to his answer of 14 March,Official Report, column 639, when his Department's latest standard for standby vessels will be applied to all such vessels.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The latest standard is expected to be published in April. New ships will be required to comply in full, but in view of the significant changes that are to be made there will be a staged introduction for existing ships.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he proposes to change the record keeping by his Department to enable him to know when standby vessels are on station in the North sea.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Since early 1990 most owners have been providing on a weekly basis information on the locations and time their vessels are on station as a check on the periods of duty at offshore installations. When the revised code is published next month this information will be sought on a voluntary basis for all standby vessels. In his report on the Piper Alpha disaster Lord Cullen recommended that the owners of standby vessels should be required to notify the regulatory body weekly as to the locations and functions of their vessels in the ensuing week. This will of course be a matter for the Health and Safety Commission once responsibility has been transferred to it.

  Drivers (Working Hours)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he intends to introduce regulations to restrict the working of excessive hours by taxi and private hire drivers.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Government will be consulting trade organisations to establish whether the working of excessive hours is a widespread problem, posing a serious safety hazard. If it is, we shall have to identify appropriate remedial measures.

  Goole Port
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many registered dock workers there were at the port of Goole for each of the years from 1985 to 1990; and how many of those dock workers are currently employed following the abolition of the dock labour scheme.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The numbers of dockers registered at the port of Goole at the end of each year 1985 to 1988 and at 3 July 1989 when the dock labour scheme was abolished were as follows:
  344

  Numbers of registered dockworkers

  Year

  Numbers

  1985

  189

  1986

  169

  1987

  169

  1988

  165

  3 July 1989

  164

  I have no information about how many of these are currently employed following abolition of the dock labour scheme.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state the total tonnage of exports and imports handled by the port of Goole in each year since 1985.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Annual tonnages of foreign trade handled at the port of Goole since 1985 are as follows:

  Thousand tonnes

  Exports

  Imports

  Total

  1985

  478

  817

  1,295

  1986

  369

  909

  1,278

  1987

  432

  1,265

  1,697

  1988

  497

  1,603

  2,100

  1989

  407

  1,423

  1,829

  11990

  354

  1,242

  1,596

  1 Provisional.

  Highway Maintenance
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the long-term cost of financing highway structural maintenance on the primary route network through capital rather than revenue expenditure will be reduced or increased as a result of the changes proposed by his Department.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: The benefits of structural maintenance are primarily felt in future accounting periods. To compare the real cost of financing by means of borrowing and the cost of charging expenditure direct to revenue account, it is necessary to discount the nominal value of cash payments in future years to reflect the time intervals before they are made. The result of the comparison will depend on the rate of discount and the rate of interest.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Immigration
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances and for what reasons the Government record whether persons admitted to the United Kingdom are serving members of their armed forces.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Where relevant to the person's claim for admission, such information would be recorded on the landing card. However, landing cards are not completed for members of forces who are exempted from immigration control under section 8 of the Immigration Act 1971.

  Life Sentences
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is now in a position to make a statement about the Thynne, Wilson and Gunnell case following the European Court of Human Rights judgment.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The implications of the European Court's judgment require full and careful consideration; we will put our proposals to Parliament as soon as we are able to do so.

  Children Act 1989
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department is issuing to local authorities in connection with the Children Act 1989.

  Mr. John Patten
  None, but extensive guidance has been issued by the Department of Health which has responsibility for this Act.

  Sunday Trading
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to protect the rights of those who do not wish to work or open their place of work on a Sunday, to remove the anomalies of the present Sunday trading laws and to replace the present legislation with a formula which allows limited shopping.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The terms and timing of fresh legislation on Sunday trading remain to be determined, but our aim is that such legislation should be workable, enforceable and enjoy both popular and sufficient parliamentary support. Separate discussions to which I have invited the major groups interested in reform of the Sunday trading law may help to identify what particular provisions might satisfy these criteria.

  Plastic Explosives
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Montreal agreement on the chemical labelling of plastic explosives.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Esher (Mr. Taylor) on 20 March 1991 at columns 113–14.

  Security Firms
  Mr. Fry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans for the registration of security firms and the establishment of minimum training requirements.

  Mr. John Patten
  We are considering a range of options for improving the regulation of the private security industry.

  Immigration Rules
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to make changes in the immigration rules.
  346
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [pursuant to his reply, 25 January 1991, c. 354]: My right hon. Friend is laying before Parliament today an immigration rules change to introduce a visa requirement for all citizens of Uganda with effect from 2 April.

  Ugandans currently account for nearly one in 10 of all asylum applications in the United Kingdom and their numbers have risen sharply over a period in which there is general agreement that respect for human rights in Uganda has substantially improved. The introduction of a visa requirement should benefit all bona fide travellers who will be less likely to encounter delays on arrival in this country. Our entry clearance unit in Kampala is being strengthened to ensure an efficient service. Regular visitors to this country will be eligible for multiple entry visas.

ENVIRONMENT

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last issued guidance to owners and occupiers of sites of special scientific interest under the provisions of section 33 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; and whether such guidance reflects the changes in SSSI notification procedures introduced in the Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1985.

  Mr. Trippier
  A code of guidance for sites of special scientific interest was published in 1982 and we shall be revising it later this year. Advice is also given in departmental circulars and in the Nature Conservancy Council's publication "Sites of Special Scientific Interest".

  "This Common Inheritance"
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the timetable he has set for the implementation of the policy objectives set out in the White Paper, "This Common Inheritance".

  Mr. Trippier
  Our White Paper, "This Common Inheritance", published on 25 September last year, was the first comprehensive statement of environmental policies and objectives by any United Kingdom Government. Over the last six months we have worked hard, proving that the White Paper means action, not just words. Thanks to the drive and commitment of the Government across the whole range of their activities, getting on for 100 White Paper initiatives have borne fruit so far.

  In the field of investment, I announced last November an increase of 33 per cent., or £130 million, in planned expenditure for 1991–92 on protecting and improving the environment. This provided extra resources for purposes including environmental research, the countryside, the heritage, housing and urban initiatives, pollution control and waste disposal and recycling.

  The Government have set up new institutions, including a permanent committee of Cabinet Ministers to consider environmental policies and follow up and roll forward the initiative taken by the White Paper. Each Government Department has nominated a Minister to consider the environmental implications of all of its policies and programmes. The first round of new annual departmental reports, many reporting at length on environmental initiatives, has been published. The first meeting of a new local government environmental forum

  347
  has been held, and arrangements have been made to set up similar new fora involving business and the voluntary sector. In Europe, Britain has proposed amendments to the EC treaties to give the Community clearer competence on environmental matters and launched an initiative to promote the integration of the environment with other areas of Community policy.

  In the field of planning, a consultation paper has been issued on tighter controls over agricultural and forestry buildings. The Department of the Environment has published a report and consultation paper on the protection of hedgerows. The planning Bill has been introduced, with proposals which will implement many of the improvements described in the planning chapter of the White Paper. A consultation paper has been issued giving proposals for the application of environmental assessment to private Bills. New guidance has been published on subjects including archaeology and planning, the interaction of planning and transport and planning aspects of the extraction of cement.

  In the field of environmental technology, waste minimisation and recycling, the Department of Trade and Industry in conjunction with the Department of the Environment has launched the new £12 million environmental technology innovation scheme as well as its own environmental management options scheme. An extra £60 million over three years has been announced to upgrade and replace municipal incinerators. A further £31 million will be available over the same period to help authorities improve standards at landfill sites, transfer stations and civic amenity sites and £40 million of resources will be available to enable authorities to invest in effective recycling schemes. The derelict land programme for 1991–92 has been increased by £15 million.

  Research projects have been commissioned on recycling building waste and waste from quarries and mines. Studies to monitor the results of pilot recycling projects in a number of cities have been commissioned. The Department of the Environment and the Scottish Office have announced the introduction of a new system of registration for carriers of waste. At present, local authorities are responsible both for disposing of waste themselves and for regulating the way in which others do so. The DOE has issued draft circulars for local authorities on arrangements to separate these functions by the formation of new local authority waste disposal companies. In line with the United Kingdom's policy, a recommendation on international self-sufficiency in waste management has been adopted by the OECD. Extra resources have been announced by the Department of the Environment for improving local authority disposal and recycling facilities, and a code of practice has been issued on standards of cleanliness in public places and the best means of dealing with litter.

  In the fields of pollution control and air quality, a practical guide has been published to the system of integrated pollution control through which the Government have given a new push to the process of designing out pollution problems from the most potentially polluting processes. Detailed regulations have been laid to implement both these controls and the supplementary air pollution controls by local authorities. The Government have achieved agreement in the EC on standards for new large diesel engines. A new advisory group on medical aspects of air pollution episodes has been announced by the Department of Health. The
  348
  Department of the Environment has produced a model describing critical loads of air pollution—the loads that a particular environment can tolerate without adverse effects—and has also announced funding for an expanded air quality monitoring network and new arrangements to provide information on air pollution for weather bulletins. As from 1 April, 25 process guidance notes will be published covering processes for local authority pollution control.

  The Chancellor, in the Budget, raised the duty on petrol and dery by 15 per cent., substantially above inflation. With the VAT increase in April the tax differential between leaded and unleaded petrol will rise to 4p a litre, giving a further boost to unleaded, whose market share has risen from 30 to 39 per cent. over the last year. The Budget also put up employers' national insurance contributions on company cars and raised income tax on car sales by a further 20 per cent.

  Also in the field of transport, the agreement that the Government have been pressing for on a consolidated directive applying to emissions from cars of all sizes has been reached. From November this year an emissions check will be included in the MOT test. A Road Traffic Bill has been introduced by the Department of Transport which contains provisions to improve the enforcement of speed limits. The first pilot "red route" scheme has been introduced. Plans have been announced for six demonstration projects on the best way to integrate bypasses with traffic management schemes.

  As for the countryside, a start has been made on planting a new national forest in the midlands. Extra funds have been announced for national park authorities, the Countryside Commission and the Groundwork Trust. Proposals have been announced for additional planning control safeguards over sites of special scientific interest. Agriculture departments in England and Wales have gone out to consultation on a draft code embodying new advice on best practice to reduce agricultural water pollution. My right hon. Friend has announced that he proposes to revoke a deemed planning permission to develop housing on the edge of Canford heath, a site of acknowledged international importance for nature conservation.

  Internationally, the Government have continued to make a major contribution to efforts to agree a global convention on climate change and to work for a successful United Nations conference on environment and development in 1991. In the field of overseas assistance, the Government announced in November 1990 a new public expenditure sub-programme, separate from the budget for aid for developing countries, on global environmental assistance. For this, the Government have pledged £40 million to the global environment facility being established under the leadership of the World bank, UNDP and UNEP to help developing countries tackle global environmental problems.

  In the field of energy, the Government are drawing up plans for a major publicity campaign and extra research on domestic energy efficiency. The Department of Energy's new home energy efficiency scheme has been launched. The Department of the Environment has launched a pilot programme of energy efficiency measures in local authority housing. The Department of Energy has announced a £4 million increase in research into renewable energy. With the active participation of the United Kingdom, the second world climate conference in Geneva agreed the basic shape of a global strategy on climate

  349
  change. Thanks in no small part to the Department of Energy's efforts, obsolete EC rules that made it harder than it need be to switch to gas from more polluting fuels for generating electricity have been repealed, and a new ministerial committee has been established to oversee all aspects of energy efficiency.

  In the field of the heritage, state funds are to be available for the first time for the repair of historic cathedrals. The scheme will be launched on 3 April. A total of £ 11·5 million of new money has been set aside for grants for cathedrals over this and the next two years.

  In the field of water, to help reduce water pollution regulations have been introduced setting standards for farm waste facilities and oil stores. A total of £23 million extra grant in aid for the National Rivers Authority has been announced. The maximum fines for water pollution in magistrates courts have been increased tenfold to £20,000; the fines in Crown courts are unlimited.

  In the field of noise, the report of the Government's noise review working party has been issued for consultation.

  In the field of wider environmental knowledge, the Department of the Environment has issued its detailed consultation paper on its proposed new, more comprehensive environmental statistical report. Consultation with industry and consumer groups is continuing on the outlines of a new eco-labelling scheme. A new leaflet—"Wake Up To What You Can Do For The Environment"—has been published and widely distributed to tell individuals how they can help.

  In Scotland, legislation has been introduced establishing Scottish Natural Heritage. A project team has been appointed to bring the Government's new rural enterprise programme into operation. A fuller list of Scottish Office achievements is in its press notice also issued today.

  In Wales, £41 million funding was announced for the Welsh Development Agency's initiatives "Landscape Wales" and "Urban Development Wales" in 1991–92, with £7 million urban programme support for environmental improvements. An environmental competition for schools is being run with £5,000 cash prizes donated by Welsh Water plc.

  In Northern Ireland, work has started on a code to support the Government's new countryside management strategy. Core funding has been announced for the establishment of a regional Tidy Britain Group office in Belfast, and a consultation paper has been issued on energy efficiency in Northern Ireland. An Environment Week will also be held at the end of April.

  This is only a selection of the very wide range of action that the Government have in hand in order to push ahead with their environmental strategy. Vigorous action will continue, not only to fulfil the individual commitments made in the White Paper, but to roll forward the process of addressing tomorrow's environmental challenges. With co-operation from everyone—individuals, as well as local authorities, businesses, schools and voluntary organisations—I am confident that those challenges can be met with courage and success.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the individuals and organisations being consulted in the process of completion of the statistical report on the environment being prepared as a result of a commitment in "This Common Inheritance".
  350
  Mr. Trippier
  Around 250 organisations have been consulted and 94 written responses have been received by my Department. A list of consultees and those organisations from which written responses have been received has today been placed in the Library of the House.

  Doncaster (Grants)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the amount per head of revenue support grant, area protection grant, inner London education special grant and of all grants payable to Doncaster metropolitan borough council for 1991–92.

  Mr. Key
  The available information for Doncaster MBC for 1991–92 is as follows:

  £/Head of relevant population

  RSG

  226

  Area Protection Grant

  80

  In addition after the enactment of the Community Charges (General Reduction) Bill, Doncaster MBC will receive payment of £140 for each personal community charge paid or, in the case of standard or collective charges, equivalent.

  Information on the amounts of transitional relief grant, community charge benefit grant and specific grants payable to Doncaster MBC in 1991–92 is not available.

  "Wake Up To What You Can Do For The Environment"
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many copies of his departmental leaflet, "Wake Up To What You Can Do For The Environment" have been printed; what plans exist for additional print runs; how the leaflet is being distributed and to which target audiences; how much the printing and distribution has cost to date; and whether any external consultants were involved in the design and content of the leaflet.

  Mr. Baldry
  Five million copies of the leaflet have been printed; additional print runs will depend upon demand. The leaflet is being distributed through supermarkets with the generous assistance of Tesco, Sainsbury's, the Co-op, Safeway and Asda; and at the Department's stand at the ideal home exhibition. Local authorities have been invited to assist in distribution; and copies are available on request from the Department. The target audience for the leaflet is the general public. Printing and distribution have cost £180,000 to date. Consultants were commissioned to conduct market research on a pilot version of the leaflet, and the leaflet was designed by outside contractors.

  Common Land
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to bring forward new common land legislation in pursuance of the recommendations of the Common Land Forum in 1986 and the policy statement made by the Minister for the Environment and Countryside on 26 July 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  It remains our policy, as stated by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside
  351
  on 26 July 1990, to safeguard the status of common land and to strengthen the ways in which we protect and use it. We recognise that this requires legislation to implement it, and the importance of such legislation. I regret, however, that, given the pressures on the parliamentary timetable, we cannot see any opportunity to legislate comprehensively during the lifetime of this Parliament.

  We have also considered very carefully the proposal for a short Bill put to us by amenity bodies. We have concluded that this would not have sufficient advantages to be a priority candidate, in the light of the reservations expressed by other interested parties.

  Land Planning
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what use is made by his Department in developing land use planning policy of geographic information systems and digital terrain models.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Department of the Environment is involved in several applications of geographic information systems—GIS—and digital terrain models, mainly through its research programme. The inclusion of GIS along with other technologies is also being considered in the Department's information technology strategy.

  The following GIS applications are of most relevance to the development of land use planning policy:
  In 1990 the Department undertook a survey of the stock of vacant land in urban areas of England. A GIS was used to select the sample for the survey.
  A research project is being undertaken to explore the potential uses of GIS in the analysis of countryside data.
  A further research project using the Department's land use change statistics applied GIS technology to analyse the data and to report on ways in which the data can be used to monitor planning policies.
  In the Countryside 1990 survey GIS is being used to link together broad-brush census information from satellite remote sensing and data from ground surveys to provide valuable ecological information about plant species and habitats.

  Further information about some of these projects can be found in the article "Government in Action", written by my officials for inclusion in the 1991 yearbook of the Association for Geographic Information. A copy of the article has been placed in the Library.

  Council House Sales, Bolton
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much extra money Bolton council would receive in capital receipts if its sales of council houses were now brought into line with the national average for sales since 1981.

  Mr. Yeo
  A total of 2,200 extra sales would be needed to catch up with the average for England, or 1,000 to come in line with the rest of the region. The receipts cannot be predicted reliably, but in recent months the average discounted selling price for council houses in Bolton has been about £11,000.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent consideration he has given to the use of capital receipts by local authorities with a view to introducing more flexibility into the system in order to provide accommodation for homeless people.
  352
  Mr. Yeo
  We have already introduced a number of relaxations to the rules on the use of capital receipts by local authorities, in particular to encourage provision of low-cost housing. We intend to keep these rules under review to ensure that they are fully achieving our policy aims.

  Recycling Credits
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the report on recycling credits produced for his Department by Touche Ross management consultants; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridgeshire, South-East (Mr. Paice).

  EC Environment Council
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the outcome of the European Community Environment Council on 18 March; and what progress was made towards green labelling.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Esher (Mr. Taylor) on 20 March,Official Report, column 129. The discussion on eco-labelling revealed widespread general support for the Commission's proposal, but reservations from a number of member states, including the United Kingdom, about the structures and procedures for administering the scheme. We made clear our concern that the proposal should be agreed as soon as possible and look forward to significant progress at the next meeting of the Council.

  Radioactive Substances
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on cost recovery charges for regulation of radioactive substances.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Environmental Protection Act 1990 provides for the introduction of charges to cover the costs incurred by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution—HMIP—and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food—MAFF—in regulating the holding of radioactive material, and the accumulation and disposal of radioactive waste, under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960. With the agreement of the Treasury and the consent of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of State for Wales have now made a scheme of fees and charges, to take effect from 1 April 1991. I have placed a copy of the scheme in the Library.

  Last July, the Government published a consultation document inviting comments on proposed charging arrangements, with fees and charges based on a division of premises into four "bands" designed to relate the level of charges to the amount of regulatory effort involved. The Department received 17 responses on the proposals, a list of which has been placed in the Library. Copies of individual responses may be obtained through the Library.

  Respondents generally endorsed the banded structure, and the scheme now made operates on this basis. Band 1

  353
  and 2 premises—BNFL Sellafield and the 30 or so nuclear power stations and other premises subject to licensing under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965—will be charged individually on the basis of the actual regulatory time and costs incurred. Charges for band 3 and 4 operators will be on the basis of a series of flat-rate fees, for consideration of applications for authorisation or registration, for the subsequent variation of an authorisation or registration, and annual subsistence charges for holding each authorisation or registration to cover the on-going costs of inspection, monitoring and oversight.

  For band 3 operators—for example, major laboratories, major industrial users—the application and variation fees will be £800, and the annual subsistence charge £400. For band 4 operators—for example, smaller industrial users—the application and variation fees will be £300. The annual subsistence charge will be £75, but this will apply only to those holding larger closed sources. The majority of band 4 operators, holding smaller, closed sources, will not pay any annual charge, since these sources do not require routine inspection.

  HMIP and MAFF will closely monitor their regulatory expenditure, and at the end of the financial year accounts and information on charge income and regulatory costs will be published.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the latest appropriate figures for(a) rate support grant per head, (b) business rate income per head, (c) total aggregate extended finance per head, (d) spending per head, (e) total aggregate spending and (f) population for each local authority in England.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 20 March 1991]: I am arranging for the available information for 1991–92 to be placed in the Library of the House. Information on total aggregate finance and spending, which include specific grants, will not be available until authorities send in their detailed budget returns to the Department.

  Mr. Lawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the proportion of total local government spending accounted for by(a) education, (b) the police, (c) other services at present provided by county councils and (d) services provided by district councils.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 22 March 1991]: The information requested is as follows:

  Total Local Authority Net Current Expenditure

  Budget Estimates 1990–91

  Percentage

  Education (all authorities)

  46·3

  Police (all authorities)

  11·9

  Other services (county councils)

  13·4

  All services (non-metropolitan district councils)

  8·1

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what central grants were paid in 1990–91 and will be paid in 1991–92(a) in total to each of the councils of Wandsworth, Westminster and Coventry and (b) per capita to Coventry.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 22 March 1991]: Amounts of revenue support grant, adjusted for safety net, special grants and the community charge grant are as follows:
  354

  1990–91 £ Million

  1991–92 £ Million

  Wandsworth

  153·1

  192·8

  Westminster

  114·0

  162·8

  Coventry

  84·0

  111·8

  £/Head of relevant population

  Coventry

  385

  503

  In addition authorities receive transitional relief grant, community charge benefit grant and other specific grants. Information on the amounts payable for 1990–91 are as follows; information for 1991–92 will not be available until authorities send in their detailed budget returns to the Department.

  1990–91 £ Million

  Wandsworth

  11·1

  Westminster

  7·3

  Coventry

  32·4

  £/Head of relevant population

  Coventry

  148

  Service Personnel
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will exclude service men and women from any new charges in relation to local government finance.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: It is our intention that the proposed new local tax will take account of the number of adults in a household and the value of the property. We will be consulting on the various options, including the coverage of the new tax.

  United Nations Conference
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out in the Official Report the key points of his speech on environment and development given to the conference, "What On Earth Is To Be Done", on 19 March.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: Copies of my right hon. Friend's speech on this occasion have been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he met the Secretary General of the 1992 United Nations special conference on environment and development during his visit to London on 19 March.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: No, but my right hon. Friend has arranged to see Mr. Strong in London next month.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, during his visit to the conference, "What On Earth Is To Be Done", he discussed with the youth representative speakers the matters they raised in regard to the responsibilities of the developed nations to assist in environmental protection of the poorer nations.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: My right hon. Friend listened with interest to a number of speakers on such subjects.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Charles Stewart Parnell (Statue)
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will discuss with the appropriate authorities arrangements to move the statue of Charles Stewart Parnell to a more prominent location on the Committee Floor.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have arranged for the hon. Member's proposal to be brought to the attention of the Advisory Committee on Works of Art in the House of Commons chaired by my hon. Friend the Member for Staffordshire, South (Mr. Cormack).

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Pools Scheme
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the pools scheme to benefit the arts and sports will operate on a national or a regional basis.

  Mr. Mellor
  It will be for the trustees to determine the detailed method of operation of the foundation for sport and the arts once it has been established. However, I understand from the proposers that it is the intention that the foundation will operate throughout the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who will determine, and distribute to the arts, the sums raised by the pools scheme announced in his Budget statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  It will be for the trustees to determine in detail how funds will be distributed once the foundation is established.

  Cars up to 1000cc

  Cars 1001–1500cc

  Cars 1501–2000cc

  Cars over 2000cc

  Up to 4,000 business miles

  24·5p

  30p

  34p

  45·0p

  Over 4,000 business miles

  ll·0p

  13p

  16p

  20·5p

  An Inland Revenue press release is being issued today giving further details of the fixed-profit car scheme.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Climate Research
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the level of funding allocated in real terms over the next five years by the Natural Environment Research Council for climate research; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The science budget has been announced for the period up to 1993–94. Within its allocations, the Natural Environment Research Council is currently planning to spend the following on climate research in real terms:

  Interest (Taxation)
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements the Inland Revenue is making to handle the increase in repayment claims which will result from changes in the taxation of bank and building society interest.

  Mr. Maude
  The Inland Revenue has undertaken an extensive publicity campaign to encourage all those who are eligible to register for payment of bank and building society interest without deduction of tax and so avoid the need to claim a repayment. Nevertheless, in the year 1992–93, the Inland Revenue needs to plan for a substantial increase in claims to repayment of tax deducted at source from interest and other investment income. The numbers are inevitably very uncertain, but could be well over 10 times the present annual total of around 800,000 claims.

  It is likely that a high proportion of the claims will be made in the period from April to July each year. The Inland Revenue has had to look for a balance between the standards of service it can offer and the need to spread the work to some extent over the year, in order to keep costs down to a reasonable level. I have decided that the Inland Revenue should base its planning on the principle that the time taken to deal with any claim should not exceed three months. The Inland Revenue is setting up 24 new offices around the country to deal with the work. They will, of course, try to keep the time taken to process a claim to the minimum. But there may be occasions, especially in the period from April to July, when the volume of claims received makes it impossible to process them without delay.

  Fixed-profit Car Scheme
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the tax-free mileage rates which will be used under the fixed-profit car scheme by the Inland Revenue for 1991–92.

  Mr. Maude
  The rates which will apply for 1991–92 are as follows:—

  £ million at 1991–92 prices

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  31·0

  29·8

  27·5

  Playing Fields
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total number of secondary schools in England and Wales; how many of them intend to sell off playing fields over the next 18 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  The latest available figures show that there were 4,208 maintained secondary schools in England and Wales in January 1990. Information on any plans to dispose of playing fields, either in part or whole, at these schools is not available to the Department. Minimum standards for playing fields at maintained schools are set
  357
  out in the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981. The disposal of surplus playing fields is a matter for the local education authorities concerned. We expect authorities to review the long-term need for such facilities before taking decisions on disposals.

  Football Grounds
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about admission prices to football grounds for youngsters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have received two representations about admission prices to football grounds for youngsters attending away matches. The prices charged for admission to football matches are a matter for the football authorities and the individual clubs.

  In-service Training
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what increase or decrease there has been or is proposed in in-service training by local education authorities in 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92; and what assessment he has made of the amount of in-service training(a) necessary and (b) being delivered relating to the national history curriculum.

  Mr. Fallon
  No figures are collected for the total volume of in-service training undertaken by local education authorities. It is for schools and local education authorities to decide how much training is required by their teachers in respect of any particular subject.

  Single-sex Schools
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on single-sex educational provision in boroughs with multi-ethnic populations.

  Mr. Fallon
  There is no statutory duty on local education authorities to provide single-sex schools, and it is for them to decide how to respond to parental preferences for such schools. When considering new proposals from authorities either to establish or to close single-sex schools, my right hon. and learned Friend will consider each case on its merits, taking into account the extent of parental demand for this type of provision.

  National Curriculum (History)
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what account he took in setting out the standards to be achieved in the national history curriculum, of the difficulty of working-class children in getting access to museums; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The requirements of the national curriculum—including those of the order for history which my right hon. and learned Friend published yesterday—apply to all registered pupils of compulsory school age at maintained schools. It is for local education authorities, governing bodies and head teachers to exercise their functions under the Education Reform Act 1988 to make sure that those requirements are met, and they should ensure that all pupils are provided with all necessary learning opportunities. It is up to schools to decide how 358
  best to introduce their pupils to artefacts and historical sources. They may use their budgets to cover the cost of museum visits.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he has taken to assure himself that primary school teachers have sufficient expertise and training in history to teach the national history curriculum; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  It is for schools and local education authorities to assure themselves that their teachers are equipped to deliver the national curriculum. The Government are providing support through their programme of specific grants and the National Curriculum Council and School Examinations and Assessment Council are also producing and disseminating curriculum guidance and in-service training materials.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps have been taken to include the study of racial and sexual diversity in local, national and world links in the national history curriculum; and what specific steps have been taken to enable local education authorities and local museums to train teachers in this aspect of the curriculum.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to the order for national curriculum history published yesterday. This should enable pupils to develop knowledge arid understanding of British, European and world history. Local education authorities are encouraged to have due regard to multicultural and equal opportunities aspects in drawing up their training programmes in relation to national curriculum foundation subjects.

  Further Education Colleges
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list those further education colleges which he has visited between his appointment as Secretary of State and Thursday 21 March.

  Mr. Eggar
  As Minister responsible for further education, I have visited the following colleges:

  Enfield college

  South Tyneside college

  Manchester college of arts and technology

  Hammersmith and West London college

  Thomas Danby college

  Capel Manor college

  Bournville college

  Wirral metropolitan college

  North Tyneside college

  Milton Keynes college

  Tower Hamlets college

  Keighley college

  Solihull college of technology

  Suffolk college of higher and further education

  Tresham college

  Supply Teachers
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessment he has made of the effectiveness for the administrative and resource arrangements allowing for the appointment of supply teachers to cover for teachers undertaking in-service training in connection with the national curriculum.

  Mr. Fallon
  It is for schools and local education authorities to manage and assess their arrangements for
  359
  in-service training. The senior chief inspector's report for 1989–90 notes the problems they are facing and the ways in which they are tackling them. The Department has commissioned studies by the National Foundation for Educational Research and Sussex university on best practice in this area, which have been made available to local education authorities and will be placed in the Library.

  Polytechnics and Colleges (Land Disposal)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what conditions are attached to the disposal of Exchequer-funded land and buildings by polytechnics and colleges.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The conditions are the same as those which have applied to universities since 1985, and allow the retention of the proceeds of the sale of Exchequer-funded land and buildings, within specified limits, without reference to the annual appropriation procedures. These conditions are among those set out in financial memoranda between the Department and the Universities Funding Council and Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council, copies of which I am placing in the Library.

PRIME MINISTER

  Human Rights Abuse
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those occasions over the past year when Her Majesty's Government have made representations to Governments involved in the allied military coalition in the Gulf war concerning human rights abuses in their respective countries; and if he will indicate the criteria adopted by the Government in deciding why and when such representations are made.

  The Prime Minister
  No. Where allegations of abuse are well founded the Governments concerned are in no doubt of our concerns. Our criteria for representations are set out in the foreign policy document "Human Rights in Foreign Policy", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  Gulf War
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will establish an inquiry into the economic effects of the Gulf war upon the countries of sub-Saharan Africa, the Horn of Africa and Bangladesh, the Republic of the Philippines and the Indian sub-continent.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government have studied the analysis produced by the International Monetary Fund, World bank and others on the economic effects of the Gulf war. We have supported the rapid steps taken by the international institutions to adapt their facilities to assist affected countries. Fortunately, the fall in oil prices at the outbreak of war, and the rapid conclusion of hostilities mean that the adverse effects will not be as severe as initially feared.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations were received by Her Majesty's Government(a) from 2 August 1990 to 16 January 1991
  360
  and (b) from 17 January to 8 February concerning the negative ecological consequences of military action in the Gulf; from which organisations and individuals he received the representations; and what response he made to each.

  The Prime Minister
  Several thousand letters have been received on the subject of the illegal occupation of Kuwait by Iraq and its aftermath, including the ecological damage caused by deliberate release of oil into the Gulf and firing of the Kuwait oil fields.

  Oil
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will propose an international scheme to make available oil at a substantially reduced price to the least developed states to assist them to restore the damage to their economies resulting from the Gulf war.

  The Prime Minister
  The United Kingdom has provided through the European Community some £60 million to Jordan, Turkey and Egypt, the states whose economies were most directly affected by the Gulf conflict. Given the size of our military role in the Gulf conflict we consider that the United Kingdom should not make a further financial contribution; the burden should be shared by others. We have however encouraged the IMF and the World bank to make additional resources available on concessional terms to the poorest countries most affected. The IMF has made specific arrangements to compensate countries affected by higher oil prices. Where the international community is providing such assistance, it will enable those countries to maintain imports of oil at market prices. We believe that providing oil at reduced prices would lead to economic distortions and a wasteful use of energy.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Chicago Expo
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what fiscal incentives or grants are available to support British manufacturers wishing to exhibit at the Expo to be held on 8 April in Chicago.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Normal terms of support provided for groups of British firms in overseas trade fairs were made available for the environmental technology Expo and the design engineering and plant engineering exhibitions which are part of the "national manufacturing week" in Chicago from 8 April 1991. The support takes the form of a subsidy of 50 per cent. of space and stand costs, together with assistance towards travel costs, for eligible companies.

  A DTI-supported group will exhibit at the design engineering and plant engineering exhibitions, but there was insufficient demand from industry to justify support of a group at the environmental technology Expo.

  Namibia
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the value of trade between Namibia and the United Kingdom in 1990–91, broken down by sector;
  361
  (2) what has been the total value of exports from the United Kingdom to Namibia since that country IA, o n its independence;

  (3) what has been the total value of imports to the United Kingdom from Namibia since that country won its independence.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Information on trade with Namibia is published monthly in "Business Monitor MM20, Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom" which is in the Library of the House. Tables ii—imports—and v—exports—contain data for Namibia.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Ridley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total expenditure of the Department of Industry in 1979–80, and the total expenditure on the same votes in 1989–90, in real terms; and what was the one expressed as a percentage of the other.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: The information requested is shown in the following table, taking equivalent Department of Trade and Industry programmes in 1989–90. Running costs have been excluded because, owing to changes in departmental organisation, these cannot be presented on a comparable basis.

  £ million

  1979–80

  1989–90

  1989–90

  current prices

  constant prices

  Department of Industry expenditure (excluding running costs, nationalised industries and public corporations)

  942

  830

  409

  Nationalised industries

  1,108

  -13

  -6

  Public corporations

  70

  0

  0

  Total

  2,120

  817

  403

  The sum of £409 million is 43 per cent. of £942 million and £403 million is 19 per cent. of £2,120 million.

  Arms Control
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he intends to change the condition of United Kingdom arms control and licensing procedures as a result of the Single European Act.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: There are no plans to change the present controls on arms exports which reflect national and international security considerations. Such exports will continue to be subject to stringent export licensing procedures, consistent with our obligations under the treaty of Rome and the Single European Act. My officials are discussing with other Government Departments the possibilities for streamlining procedures relating to exports to our Community partners after 1992.

  Israel
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Export Credits Guarantee Department will reduce the premium it is currently charging on credit 362
  for British firms wishing to place contracts in Israel for housing of Soviet immigrants; and what information he has on the equivalent premium charged by Britain's main trading competitors.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 11 March 1991]: As part of its new portfolio management system, the Export Credits Guarantee Department is currently reviewing its premium rates for project business exports to a number of countries including Israel. The review should be completed shortly.

  The ECGD assesses premium rates after taking into account the risks involved. The rates generally charged by other export credit agencies are taken into account, but it is necessary to draw a balance which recognises the costs to the taxpayer which can be involved in supporting project business.

  Envirotech York Exhibition
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contribution his Department made to the recent Envirotech York exhibition held at the university of York; and if he will make a statement on his Department's policy towards regionally sponsored trade exhibitions for environmental technologies.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 21 March 1991]: My Department provided some financial support to the organisers of the Envirotech York exhibition through its regionally administered technology transfer scheme. In addition, the Minister for Industry officially opened the exhibition and my Department had a stand at it.

  The thrust of DTI technology policy is generally national. DTI regional offices can provide support where the aim of a trade exhibition or other local activity is to improve the competitiveness of small and medium-sized companies in the region by promoting the wider and better use of modern technology, including environmental technologies.

  Military Exhibitions
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list all licensing regulations that apply to the import of military technology and equipment for the purpose of display at military equipment and armament shows held in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 22 March 1991]: All products requiring an individual import licence by virtue of the Import of Goods (Control) Order 1954 as amended are listed in the open general import licence of 4 December 1987 as amended, which is published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Military technology and equipment which do not incorporate items listed under entry No. 365 do not require a specific import licence and may be imported under the authority of the open general import licence.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Recruitment
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement about changes in the arrangements for recruitment to the civil service.
  363
  Mr. Renton
  Responsibility for recruitment to junior grades in the civil service was transferred from the civil service commissioners to Departments on 1 January 1983. My right hon. Friend the Member for Shoreham (Sir R. Luce) the then Minister of State, announced on 13 April 1989 that it was proposed to extend further the area of recruitment which is the responsibility of Departments and agencies from 1 April 1991.

  To give effect to the new recruitment arrangements the Civil Service Order in Council 1991 and a separate Diplomatic Service Order in Council 1991 were made at a meeting of the Privy Council held on 5 February 1991. The orders, copies of which have been placed in the Library, revoke and re-enact with substantial amendments the Civil Service Order in Council 1982.

  From 1 April 1991, recruitment to all grades—except those at grade 7 level and above and their fast-stream feeder entries—will become the responsibility of Departments and agencies. This extends the area of recruitment for which Departments and agencies are responsible from the present 85 per cent. or so of all recruitment to over 95 per cent.

  It is important that recruitment into the civil service should continue to be uninfluenced by patronage or partiality. Selection on merit on the basis of fair and open competition has been the fundamental principle of civil service recruitment since the Northcote-Trevelyan reforms. This principle will be preserved both in selection undertaken by Departments and agencies—departmental recruitment—and in selection undertaken on the responsibility of the civil service commissioners—commissioners' recruitment. Certain exceptions to the general principle, which allow for flexibility in specific circumstances, are set out in schedules to the orders.

  The changes are an essential part of the process of modernising the civil service and of giving managers more autonomy in the use of resources. They reflect the current change in the role of the central departments, with the emphasis switching from regulation and control to advice, audit and the provision of cost-effective services.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Gulf War
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any assessment has been made of the economic consequences of the Gulf war on Commonwealth countries in Africa, central and south-east Asia and the Caribbean; when he next expects to meet the Secretary General of the Commonwealth to discuss these matters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have looked carefully into the economic consequences of the Gulf crisis on major recipients of British aid, taking into account the analytical work done by the IMF, World bank and others. The Secretary of State and I both meet the Secretary General of the Commonwealth from time to time to discuss matters of concern to Commonwealth members.

  Africa (Famine Relief)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all allocations of famine relief for Africa made between September 1984 and September 1985, in current and constant 1991 prices, and since September 1990 to date.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Allocations of British emergency aid to Ethiopia between September 1984 and September 1985 are listed on pages 66 and 67 of the Foreign Affairs Committee's first report in the 1987–88 Session on "Famine in the Horn of Africa".

  Allocations of famine relief made to African countries in 1990 were given in my reply to the hon. Member's question of 29 January at columns 462–63. In 1991 the following commitments have been made:

  United Kingdom Food Aid Committed in 1991

  tonnes

  Estimated cost

  £ million

  Ethiopia

  42,800

  8·036

  Malawi

  6,000

  1·2

  Mozambique

  10,000

  2·0

  Sudan

  20,000

  4·0

  Other United Kingdom Emergency Relief Committed in 1991

  £ million

  January

  Ethiopia

  2·000

  February

  Malawi

  0·090

  February

  Liberia

  0·017

  February

  Chad

  0·035

  February

  Burkina Faso

  0·010

  February

  Sudan

  0·002

  February

  Ethiopia

  0·250

  March

  Sudan

  0·400

  March

  Liberia

  0·038

  March

  Tanzania

  0·040

  March

  Sudan

  0·125

  March

  Ethiopia

  0·430

  March

  Kenya

  0·197

  The remaining information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Environmental Issues
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Government's response to the Environment Select Committee's report on environmental issues in Northern Ireland will be published; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  The Government's response is being published today and a copy has been placed in the Library. We are committed to safeguarding Northern Ireland's rich natural and man-made environment and we welcome the report as a constructive and opportune contribution towards achieving this end.

  The Government recognise the need to accelerate action to conserve and enhance the environment in Northern Ireland and are making available substantially increased resources to deal with the backlog of environmental legislation and to protect valuable habitats.

  Much has already been done. Some 20 per cent. of Northern Ireland currently lies within designated areas of

  365
  outstanding natural beauty. There are seven country parks, 44 national nature reserves and 26 areas of special scientific interest. The Giant's Causeway is a world heritage site and Lough Neagh and Lough Beg have together been designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar convention. Consultations are under way which will lead to the declaration of the internationally important Strangford Lough as a marine nature reserve. Some 167 historic monuments are in state care and almost 1,000 monuments have been scheduled for protection; 26 conservation areas have been designated and 7,800 buildings of architectural and historic importance listed.

  Progress has also been made in dealing with pollution. Significant advances have been made in reducing smoke and SO2 levels since the clean air legislation was introduced in 1964. Some 95 per cent. of rivers are classified as good or fair under the national river classification scheme. The large number of prosecutions for water pollution offences in Northern Ireland is evidence of the Government's determination to protect this asset.

  The Government are reviewing their rural planning policy. The review will take account of the duty to preserve, on the one hand the natural beauty of the countryside and on the other the needs of a strong rural society.

  The Government fully recognise the need to build on the progress which has already been made. They are committed to increasing the protection of habitats, for example, by accelerating the programme for the survey and declaration of areas of special scientific interest and to the preservation of scientific beauty by reviewing of areas of outstanding natural beauty. Secondly, we have undertaken to conserve the man-made heritage by completing the survey of all historic monuments by 1995 and the listing of all pre-1960 buildings of architectural and historic interest by 1994. Thirdly, we will continue to improve pollution control by greatly extending the water quality monitoring of all main rivers and estuaries and by enhancing sewage treatment. The Government will encourage the public to be more aware of Northern Ireland's heritage and emphasise the fact that the individual has a significant contribution to make to a good environment.

  The Government have already taken action, or are planning, to meet all but one of the Committee's recommendations. However, we have concluded that we would not be justified in accepting the recommendation that an independent environmental agency should be established.

  Firstly, the creation of an independent agency would conflict with the recommendations in the Balfour report. Secondly, decisions already taken, or planned, will resolve the problems which underlie the Committee's recommendation. The establishment of a Government-owned company to take over responsibility for water and sewerage services will separate these services from the Department of Environment for Northern Ireland. The Department will retain the regulatory functions. This division of responsibility will eliminate the "poacher-gamekeeper" factor in relation to water pollution control.

  In addition, resources are being increased; the status of conservation and other environmental policies has been enhanced by the creation of a directorate whose head is a member of the DOE(NI) top management team; and the
  366
  Government are committed to assuring the public that environmental factors will be a vital part of decision making.

  In the recent White Paper "This Common Inheritance", the Government confirmed their undertaking to protect Northern Ireland's environment and to bequeath to future generations an unspoiled countryside with clean air and unpolluted rivers and seas. In responding to the Committee's report, we reaffirm our commitment to implement positive environmental policies which will safeguard the natural and man-made heritage in Northern Ireland.

HEALTH

  Grandparents
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department is issuing to local authorities in connection with the Children Act 1989; and whether this guidance will include any details on grandparents' access to their grandchildren.

  Mr. Dorrell
  A number of documents have already been issued to local authorities including "An Introduction to the Children Act", a training curriculum produced by the London boroughs training committee, and "The Care of Children—Principles and Practice in Regulations and Guidance", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Earlier this month over 20,000 copies of the first volume of guidance and regulations, on court orders, were distributed free of charge. Some 16,000 free copies were sent to directors of social services, and copies were also sent to chief education officers and chief executives. Volume 2 "Family Support, Day Care and Educational Provision for Young Children" was launched last week and will be distributed shortly; copies of both volumes are available in the Library. Volume 3 on family placements is being prepared and will be launched next month, and further volumes will follow, copies of which will be placed in the Library.

  Volume 1 includes guidance on the new section 8 contact orders, which are available in private law proceedings and for which grandparents may apply provided that they have first obtained leave of court to do so. This volume also contains guidance on the new provisions as to contact with children who are the subject of a care order.

  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes to grandparents' access to their grandchildren will arise from the implementation of the Children Act 1989 on 14 October.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Children Act 1989 makes new provisions regarding contact with children who are the subject of a care order. The Act provides that any person who has obtained the leave of the court to do so may apply for an order determining the contact which is to be allowed between the child and that person.

  It is anticipated that this provision will enable people with whom the child has previously had a close relationship but who are not automatically entitled to reasonable contact with the child—such as, in many cases, grandparents—to keep in touch with that child while he is in the care of the local authority. If the grandparent was the beneficiary of a residence order made under section 8

  367
  of the Act immediately prior to the care order being made, he will be one of those automatically entitled to reasonable contact.

  Where a child is being looked after by a local authority on a voluntary basis, contact is a matter for agreement between parents, foster parents and the authority. The authority will have a duty to promote reasonable contact between the child and his relatives—including a grandparent—where this is consistent with the child's welfare.

  In addition, the Act makes changes to the private law. It introduces a range of orders under section 8 which will be available to the court in private law proceedings. One of these, the contact order, requires the person with whom a child is living to allow the child to visit or stay with the person named in the order, and for that person and the child to have contact with each other. Anyone who has the leave of the court to do so may apply for a contact order.

  Where grandparents have maintained a close relationship with the child, obtaining the permission of the court is unlikely to be much more than a formality.

  For a limited number of cases, grandparents still have the right to apply for a section 8 contact order without first obtaining the court's leave. Broadly, these are where the child has lived with the grandparents for three years or more, or the grandparent has the consent of the person in whose favour there is a residence order in force—or the local authority where the child is in care—or, in any other case, the consent of those having parental responsibility for the child.

  Health Authorities (Administration)
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new administrative posts have been created by English health authorities since 1 January 1990; what the reason for these new posts are; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Chiropody
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any new proposals for the recognition of the chiropody profession based on a recognised course of qualification; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Chiropody courses that lead to state registration are those recognised and approved by the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine. There are no plans to change that arrangement.

  Child Employment
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking in order to assess the effectiveness of regulations governing child employment; and if he has any plans to amend existing legislation.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to assess the effectiveness of regulations governing child employment; and if he has any plans to seek to amend existing legislation.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the report of the national child employment study on "Children at Work in the 1990s", a copy of which has been sent to him.
  368
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Eccles (Miss Lestor) on 25 March.

  Patents (Chemical Substances)
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will give the remaining patent life for each new chemical entity and new active substance licensed and marketed in each of the years 1987, 1988 and 1989–90, respectively;

  (2) how many products licensed in each of the years 1987, 1988 and 1989–90 had no effective patent life remaining at the point of marketing.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  It is not our practice to give information on the commercial position of the pharmaceutical companies covered by the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme.

  Health Service, Kuwait
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what help he is giving to the Kuwaiti Minister of Public Health to rebuild their health service.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I wrote to Dr. al Fouzan, Kuwait's Minister of Public Health, soon after the liberation of Kuwait offering our full support for the provision of emergency health services. I also commended to him, for the longer term, the services of a British health care-industry consortium, led by John Laing International. Through links with the Association of British Healthcare Industries, the consortium has access to providers of a wide range of British goods and services, including NHS expertise through NHS Overseas Enterprises. The consortium is now actively collaborating with the Kuwaiti Health Ministry to assess that country's needs.

  Hospitals
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response he has given to an application from the North Western regional health authority for a grant towards the cost of the approved move of the department of psychiatry for the deaf from Whittingham hospital, Preston, to Manchester; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  On the advice of the supra-regional services advisory group, we are making available in 1991–92 bridging finance to assist with the proposed move of the department of psychiatry for the deaf from Whittingham hospital to Prestwich. The loan would be repayable on the sale of property or land on the Whittingham site.

  The initial response of North Western regional health authority has been to decline the offer of bridging finance. The timing and funding of the relocation of the service is ultimately a matter for the health authority.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will make a statement on the future of the Vale of Catmose hospital, Oakham, following the visit last summer by the hon. Member for Loughborough (Mr. Dorrell), Under-Secretary of State for Health.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Leicestershire health authority approved the closure of Catmose Vale hospital on 8 February 1989.
  369
  The closure of Catmose Vale is part of the district's overall strategy for hospital services. A full public consultation exercise was carried out and the Leicestershire community health council agreed the closure. I understand the hospital will not close until facilities to reprovide services are complete at Rutland memorial hospital.

  Mr. Carr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many gynaecology beds will be available for(a) in-patients and (b) day care patients in Sharoe Green hospital on (i) 1 April 1991, (ii) 31 December 1991 and (iii) 1 April 1992; what percentage these are of beds available as at 1 April 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to write to Mr. W. I. Woolley, the chairman of Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley health authority, for details.

SOCIAL SECURITY

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

  Band of gross income

  Families receiving child benefit

  Number of children

  Child benefit expenditure

  000s

  per cent.

  000s

  per cent.

  £ million

  per cent.

  Under £5,000

  220

  (3·2)

  260

  (2·1)

  110

  (2·2)

  £5,000 to £10,000

  1,410

  (20·7)

  2,610

  (21·2)

  1,060

  (21·2)

  £10,000 to £15,000

  1,080

  (15·8)

  2,070

  (16·8)

  840

  (16·8)

  £15,000 to £20,000

  1,270

  (18·6)

  2,330

  (18·9)

  950

  (18·9)

  £20,000 to £25,000

  990

  (14·5)

  1,820

  (14·8)

  740

  (14·7)

  £25,000 to £50,000

  1,550

  (22·7)

  2,700

  (21·9)

  1,100

  (22·0)

  Above £50,000

  300

  (4·4)

  520

  (4·3)

  210

  (4·3)

  6,810

  (100·0)

  12,310

  (100·0)

  5,010

  (100·0)

  Notes:

  1. Estimates are based on the 1986, 1987, 1988 family expenditure survey, supplemented by the survey of personal incomes, and updated to 1991–92 levels of earnings and benefit rates excluding proposed changes to child benefit announced in the Budget.

  2. Income is measured on a gross basis and is the family's total income from all sources.

  3. Estimates take no account of any failure to claim income-related benefits.

  4. No detailed breakdown is possible for an income band above £50,000 because of sample sizes.

  5. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000.

  6. Figures may not sum due to rounding.

  Benefit Arrears
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give(a) for each social security office within Strathclyde region, the number of awards of supplementary benefit since April 1987, where regulation 72 of the adjudication regulations has operated to make the arrears payable to the claimant and (b) the number of these cases involving payment of arrears prior to November 1980.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is not available.

  Part-time Students
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his policy on paying benefit to part-time students who have courses to take, free of charge, but can obtain no grant or charitable funding.
  370
  Mr. Jack
  My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Lord Henley, has been given responsibility for energy use. His brief is to maximise energy efficiency in the Department's buildings and to take opportunities to assist in promoting energy efficiency awareness among our staff and clients.

  I refer my hon.Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (Mr. Pendry) on 28 January 1991 at column 434.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list, on the same basis as his reply to the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Bennett), 7 June 1988,Official Report, columns 521–22, the total amount of child benefit, together with the number of families a nd children in respect of which it is paid, and the percentage which each figure represents for the income bands (a) under £5,000, (b) £5,000 to £10,000, (c) £10,000 to £15,000, (d) £15,000 to £20,000, (e) £20,000 to £25,000, (f) £25,000 to £50,000, (g) £50,000 to £100,000 and (h) £100,000 and over.

  Mr. Jack
  Information about incomes of families receiving child benefit is not routinely collected. The following estimates of the gross incomes of recipient families in 1991–92 are therefore made on the basis of sample survey data which are subject to normal sampling and response variation.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Unemployed part-time students can receive income support provided they are prepared to terminate the course if a job vacancy arises, and they meet the basic conditions of entitlement to benefit. That is for a fit person of working age to e available for and actively seeking employment

  Local Offices
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his policy toward the provision of answerphones for local offices for use after hours; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Local offices can, at their discretion, use answerphones after hours to receive and impart information. Currently just under half do so.

  State Pensions
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) in which areas his Department has employed the services of market researchers to canvass pensioners over their preferred method for receiving payment of their state pension;

  (2) if his Department employs the services of market researchers to canvass pensioners over their preferred method for receiving payment of their state pensions in (a)urban areas and (b)rural areas.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Department has recently employed market researchers to conduct a survey of preferred methods for receiving payment of state benefits. It was conducted amongst a nationally representative sample of pensioners, people coming up to retirement and people receiving child benefit.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received concerning the payment of state pensions through post offices and sub-post offices.

  Miss Widdecombe
  We have received no recent representations.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his Department's policy on payment methods of state pensions; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Department's policy is to provide state retirement pensioners with the option of payment either by order book encashable at a post office or by automated credit transfer direct to a bank or building society account.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidance his Department has issued to pensioners who receive a state pension about methods of receiving that benefit.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Information about different methods of receiving retirement pension is contained in the pension claim form. In addition, in 1988, personal letters were sent to state retirement pensioners reminding them of the facility to receive their pension by automated credit transfer to a bank or building society account.

  Benefit Appeals, Scotland
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of appeals heard and decided by tribunals concerning(a) income support, (b) mobility allowance, (c) attendance allowance, (d) injury

  Applications received April 1990 to February 1991

  Number of refusals due to perceived inability to repay

  Percentage of refusals due to perceived inability to repay

  Coventry East

  3,633

  83

  2·29

  Coventry West

  1,430

  4

  0·28

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people in the last year who have attempted to claim a crisis loan from the social fund at the Coventry East Department of Social Security office as the only means by which serious damage or serious risk to their health or safety may be prevented have not been
  372
  and disablement benefit, (e) invalidity benefit and (f) non-income-related benefits in (i) Strathclyde and (ii) Scotland in the years 1988–89, 1989–90 and in the current year.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The latest available statistics relating to social security appeal tribunals are for the quarter ending 31 March 1990. National administrative statistics for appeal tribunals are not available for areas smaller than a social security region. The relevant information for Scotland is in the table.

  Total number of social security appeals heard and decided: Scotland

  Year ending December 1988

  Year ending 31 December 1989

  Quarter ending 31 March 1990

  Income Support

  733

  3,564

  841

  Mobility Allowance

  182

  209

  36

  Attendance Allowance

  13

  24

  3

  Disablement Benefit

  263

  278

  54

  Invalidity Benefit

  526

  674

  119

  Child Benefit

  216

  277

  65

  Invalid Care Allowance

  124

  92

  17

  Maternity Allowance

  2

  3

  1

  Retirement Pension

  63

  44

  5

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  25

  18

  3

  Unemployment Benefit

  3,510

  2,813

  551

  Widows Benefit

  46

  33

  15

  Social Fund
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many crisis loans were claimed and awarded by the Coventry East and West Department of Social Security offices last year.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is available in the Library.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in the last year who have claimed a crisis loan from the social fund at the Coventry East office of the Department of Social Security as the only means by which serious damage or serious risk to their health or safety may be prevented have been refused a loan because, in the opinion of the social fund officer, they could not afford to repay it; what is the number for the Coventry West office; and what percentage of all applications for crisis loans are refused for this reason at each office.

  Mr. Scott
  The table shows the number of crisis loan applications received together with the number of crisis loan refusals because of perceived inability to repay for the period 1 April 1990 to the end of February 1991.

  assessed on the day they have claimed but have been told to return the following day; and what are the figures for the Coventry West office;

  (2) how many people in the last year have been awarded a crisis loan from the social fund at the Department of Social Security Coventry East office as the only means by

  373
  which serious risk to their health or safety may be prevented and have been awarded a loan but told it would be posted to them instead of being paid to them on the day they were awarded it; and what are the figures for the Coventry West office.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is not available.

  Disabled Drivers
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, further to the 1991 Budget statement, whether he will make a statement about the measures designed to help disabled drivers.

  Mr. Scott
  There are two measures arising from the Chancellor's Budget statement which will be of particular help to disabled drivers. The first is an extension in relief from car tax to cover vehicles leased to disabled drivers who are unable to complete the three-year leasing agreement. The second is to increase to £40 the annual petrol tax allowance paid to those disabled drivers who still have a vehicle provided through the invalid vehicle scheme. This represents a 300 per cent. increase in the existing allowance. I am especially pleased to welcome these modest, but worthwhile concessions.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Agricultural Support
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total of moneys received from the European Economic Community, in connection with agricultural support, subsidies or intervention payments of any kind, in each year since accession; and what has been the net cost of agricultural support, both national and Community, after allowing for the moneys received from the European Economic Community.

  Mr. Curry
  The total of European Community receipts in relation to agriculture, and total United Kingdom expenditure on agricultural grants and subsidies, for the period requested is shown in the table.

  Financial year

  Expenditure on agriculture support

  Gross domestic product at current market prices (1989–90)

  (a) As a percentage of (c)

  Actual (a) £m

  Real terms (b) £m

  (c) £m

  1960–61

  263

  27

  26,277

  1·000

  1961–62

  343

  36

  27,686

  1·240

  1962–63

  310

  34

  29,067

  1·070

  1963–64

  294

  33

  31,358

  ·940

  1964–65

  264

  31

  34,200

  ·770

  1965–66

  237

  29

  36,605

  ·650

  1966–67

  229

  29

  38,852

  ·590

  1967–68

  262

  35

  41,196

  ·640

  1968–69

  269

  37

  44,647

  ·600

  1969–70

  281

  41

  47,962

  ·590

  1970–71

  273

  43

  53,180

  ·510

  1971–72

  323

  56

  59,276

  ·540

  1972–73

  267

  50

  67,589

  ·400

  1973–74

  392

  78

  75,006

  ·520

  1974–75

  495

  118

  89,376

  ·550

  1975–76

  512

  153

  111,210

  ·460

  1976–77

  378

  128

  130,070

  ·290

  1977–78

  460

  177

  151,431

  ·300

  1978–79

  538

  229

  173,762

  ·310

  1979–80

  677

  338

  208,644

  ·320

  1980–81

  1,012

  597

  237,798

  ·430

  374

  Year

  Total receipts from the EC in relation to agriculture

  Total Exchequer expenditure on agricultural grants and subsidies in the United Kingdom (EC and national)

  (£ million)

  1973–74

  80

  390

  1974–75

  170

  490

  1975–76

  260

  510

  1976–77

  180

  380

  1977–78

  190

  460

  1978–79

  330

  540

  1979–80

  410

  680

  1980–81

  610

  1,010

  1981–82

  740

  970

  1982–83

  810

  1,430

  1983–84

  1,200

  1,730

  1984–85

  1,200

  1,710

  1985–86

  1,280

  2,170

  1986–87

  1,480

  1,450

  1987–88

  1,130

  1,630

  1988–89

  1,600

  1,380

  1989–90

  1,230

  1,260

  1990–91

  1,620

  1,960

  It would be misleading to net these receipts off the expenditure because the United Kingdom is a large net contributor to the Community budget and the receipts are in effect fully funded by the Exchequer.

  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was(a) the overall cost and (b) the net cost to the Exchequer of support to United Kingdom agriculture in each year from 1960 to 1990 in actual and real terms; and if he will show each set of figures as a percentage of the gross domestic product.

  Mr. Curry
  The gross cost to the Exchequer of all agricultural support for each year from 1960–61 to 1989–90 is given in the table. The cost is also shown in real terms. It would be misleading to show the cost net of EC receipts because the United Kingdom is a large net contributor to the Community budget and the receipts are in effect fully funded by the Exchequer. The table also shows the cost of support as a percentage of gross domestic product.
  375

  Financial year

  Expenditure on agriculture support

  Gross domestic product at current market prices (1989–90)

  (a) As a percentage of (c)

  Actual (a) £m

  Real terms (b) £m

  (c) £m

  1981–82

  972

  629

  260,950

  ·370

  1982–83

  1,433

  993

  285,691

  ·500

  1983–84

  1,729

  1,253

  309,788

  ·560

  1984–85

  1,712

  1,304

  331,873

  ·520

  1985–86

  2,165

  1,741

  362,876

  ·600

  1986–87

  1,449

  1,204

  390,732

  ·370

  1987–88

  1,630

  1,428

  431,984

  ·380

  1988–89

  1,380

  1,299

  480,635

  ·290

  1989–90

  1,258

  1,258

  518,671

  ·240

  Sources: (a) and (b) 1960–61 to 1985–86 Annual Reviews of White Papers.

  1986–87 to 1989–90 Agriculture in the United Kingdom.

  (c) 1960–61 to 1989–90 CSO Economic Trends 1989–90.

  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing (a) the amount spent on agricultural support in the United Kingdom under the common agricultural policy and by national grants and subsidies

  £ million

  Amount spent on agricultural support in the United Kingdom under the CAP and by national grants and subsidies1

  Gross domestic product2

  Expenditure on agricultural support as a percentage of the gross domestic product

  1960–61

  260

  26,277

  0·99

  1970–71

  270

  53,180

  0·51

  1980–81

  1,010

  237,798

  0·43

  1981–82

  970

  260,950

  0·37

  1982–83

  1,430

  285,691

  0·50

  1983–84

  1,730

  309,788

  0·56

  1984–85

  1,710

  331,873

  0·51

  1985–86

  2,170

  362,876

  0·60

  1986–87

  1,450

  390,732

  0·37

  1987–88

  1,630

  431,984

  0·38

  1988–89

  1,380

  480,635

  0·29

  1989–90

  1,260

  518,671

  0·24

  1990–91 Forecast

  1,960

  547,000

  0·36

  Sources:

  11960–61 to 1986–87: Annual Review White Papers.

  1987–88 to 1990–91: Agriculture In The UK.

  21960–61 to 1984–85: C.S.O. Economic Trends Annual Supplement 1991 Edition.

  1985–86 to 1989–90: C.S.O. Press Notice—CSO (91) 37–15 March 1991.

  1990–91: Financial Statement of the Budget Report 1991.

  Cereal Substitutes
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the principal cereal substitutes with the prices paid by the compounders imported into(a) the United Kingdom and (b) the European Economic Community.

  Average unit values1 of principal cereal substitutes imported during January to October 1990 into:

  £ per tonne

  European Community

  United Kingdom

  From third countries

  From rest of EC

  From third countries

  All sources

  Manioc

  88·3

  neg

  neg

  neg

  Maize Gluten Feed

  87·1

  93·9

  89·5

  90·2

  Maize Germ Cake

  89·5

  neg

  neg

  neg

  Citrus Pulp

  88·9

  98·8

  102·0

  101·5

  Other Fruit Waste

  75·1

  neg

  neg

  neg

  Beet Pulp

  88·0

  90·5

  95·3

  93·5

  Sweet Potatoes

  104·7

  neg

  neg

  neg

  Brans

  64·5

  94·1

  86·0

  93·4

  376
  and (b) the expenditure on agricultural support as a percentage of the gross domestic product, for the years 1960–61, 1970–71 and each year from 1980–81 to 1990–91.

  Mr. Curry
  The information is as follows:

  Mr. Curry
  Information on the average unit values of imports of the principal cereal substitutes during the period January to October 1990 is shown in the table. Comparisons may be affected by many factors including variations in date of importation, transport and handling costs, origin and specification of the product.
  377

  European Community

  United Kingdom

  From third countries

  From rest of EC

  From third countries

  All sources

  Brewers/distillers waste

  94·9

  77·4

  92·2

  88·6

  Other starch residues

  95·3

  neg

  neg

  neg

  Source: based on Eurostat data.

  Notes:

  neg = negligible imports recorded.

  1 average unit value is the aggregate value of imports (cif) divided by quantity of imports. Import levies and duties (applicable only to brans and manioc) are not included in the valuations of imports direct from third countries but may be reflected in valuation of re-exports and transhipments.

  Sheep Scab
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further consideration he has given to the issue of sheep scab policy and public safety; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  A review of sheep scab policy is taking place and an announcement will be made when this is completed.

  All sheep dip products are licensed under the Medicines Act 1968 and are currently subject to a review to ensure the most up-to-date standards on safety—including safety to the environment. Any products which fail to meet these standards will be withdrawn from the market. The review will be completed by the end of the year.

  Estimated degree of self sufficiency1 per cent.

  1979–80

  1985–86

  1989–90

  Wheat

  2 Cereals

  Wheat

  2 Cereals

  Wheat

  2Cereals

  United Kingdom3

  76·0

  79·6

  105·5

  113·6

  122·5

  113·6

  European Community (EC12)4

  112·9

  92·8

  122·5

  114·2

  133·3

  119·3

  United States4

  272·8

  162·5

  231·2

  171·4

  205·2

  138·1

  Canada4

  312·7

  152·5

  433·9

  201·7

  450·0

  193·1

  Selected Cairns Group countries:

  Argentina4

  202·5

  231·1

  189·1

  209·8

  232·5

  188·8

  Australia4

  476·5

  366·1

  578·5

  398·4

  454·8

  265·4

  New Zealand5

  87·8

  99·8

  80·8

  116·8

  50·0

  100·0

  1 Self sufficiency is defined here as quantity produced divided by quantity consumed: this may differ from definition used nationally.

  2 Wheat and coarse grain excluding rice.

  3 Source: Home-Grown Cereals Authority, 'Cereal Statistics'. 1983, 1988 and 1990 editions.

  4 Source for wheat and coarse grains data: FAO 'Food Outlook', February 1991; FAO 'Food Outlook' Statistical Supplement 1989.

  5 Source is OECD: 1979–80 from 'National Policies and Agricultural Trade, Country Study: New Zealand'—cereals are wheat and barley only; 1985–86 and 1989–90 from 1988 and 1990 editions respectively of OECD 'Agricultural Policies, Markets and Trade, Monitoring and Outlook Report'.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the numbers of confirmed cases of BSE in the United Kingdom for each month since 1986 to the latest available date.

  Mr. Gummer
  The number of confirmed cases of BSE in the United Kingdom listed by month of onset of clinical signs is as follows:

  Month

  Number

  July 1986

  1

  August 1986

  1

  September 1986

  3

  October 1986

  3

  November 1986

  3

  December 1986

  1

  January 1987

  5

  Cereals
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the degree of self-sufficiency in the United Kingdom, and European Economic Community, United States, Canada and the Cairns group countries of(a) wheat, (b) all cereals, (c) all cereals and cereal substitutes for the years 1979, 1985 and the latest year available.

  Mr. Curry
  Estimates of self-sufficiency in wheat and in cereals are shown in the table for the countries specified and a selection of Cairns group members. Comprehensive information on cereals substitutes is not readily available. Broad estimates for the European Community suggest a self-sufficiency in cereals and substitutes combined of about 103 per cent. in 1985–86 and 105 per cent. in 1989–90: corresponding estimates for the United Kingdom are 109 and 110 per cent. respectively and around 80 per cent. in 1989–80.

  Month

  Number

  February1987

  5

  March 1987

  8

  April 1987

  15

  May 1987

  13

  June 1987

  29

  July 1987

  41

  August 1987

  35

  September 1987

  76

  October 1987

  71

  November 1987

  66

  December 1987

  98

  January 1988

  132

  February 1988

  94

  March 1988

  107

  April 1988

  142

  May 1988

  165

  June 1988

  253

  July 1988

  261

  August 1988

  280

  379

  Month

  Number

  September 1988

  357

  October 1988

  372

  November 1988

  422

  December 1988

  495

  January 1989

  524

  February 1989

  542

  March 1989

  530

  April 1989

  505

  May 1989

  516

  June 1989

  517

  July 1989

  588

  August 1989

  711

  September 1989

  696

  October 1989

  752

  November 1989

  795

  December 1989

  972

  January 1990

  1,182

  February 1990

  1,253

  March 1990

  1,135

  April 1990

  1,006

  May 1990

  1,000

  June 1990

  970

  July 1990

  1,071

  August 1990

  1,158

  September 1990

  1,199

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list, for each year since 1987, how many BSE cows have been identified(a) on the farm, (b) at the livestock market, (c) at the slaughterhouse and (d) at other locations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  For 1987 the information is not available. For 1988 onwards the information for Great Britain is as follows:

  Year

  Farm

  Market

  Slaughter-house

  Other locations

  1988

  2,140

  16

  27

  2

  1989

  7,004

  55

  73

  4

  1990

  13,767

  74

  97

  4

  EC Food Surpluses
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will assist with the distribution of surplus EC food by meeting the costs of distribution by charitable organisations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  Designated organisations will be entitled to reimbursement of the costs of each of the two stages of transport from store to processor and from processor to distribution point, up to certain maximum levels. Organisations participating in the distribution will also be able to reclaim justifiable and directly related administrative costs.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated value of EC surplus food to be distributed in the United Kingdom, in 1991; how this total will be divided between the regions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  The United Kingdom has been allocated some £17·62 million worth of butter and beef for distribution during 1991. The geographical spread of this distribution will depend solely on the voluntary participation of charitable and other non-profit-making organisations. Applications for designation are currently being considered and I will make a statement as soon as a decision has been made.
  380
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are being taken to enable homeless and destitute people to receive a share of the surplus EC food to be distributed in the near future where no charitable organisation is available to organise the distribution; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  The distribution of produce to all eligible groups depends entirely on the voluntary participation of suitable organisations and I have no plans to change this arrangement.

  Set-aside Scheme
  Mr. Warren
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many acres of farm land have been included in the set-aside scheme; what is the total sum paid to farmers to date; and what are the terms and conditions required of recipients to keep the said land in a reasonable condition.

  Mr. Curry
  Around 265,000 acres has been entered into the set-aside scheme in England in the first three years. Payments are made one year in arrears. A total of £8 million was paid in respect of the first scheme year and a further £17·5 million has been allocated in respect of the second.

  Details of the management obligations placed upon participants are included in the scheme literature, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  Tobacco
  Sir David Price
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps the Government are taking to persuade the Council of Ministers of the European Community to reduce the support to tobacco growing within the Community.

  Mr. Curry
  The Government have consistently campaigned for reductions in EC support levels for tobacco, and particularly for higher tar varieties. In the current annual price-fixing negotiations, the biggest price cuts proposed by the Commission are for tobacco. The proposals would cut prices by an average of 10 per cent. with a range of 4 to 17 per cent. depending on variety, with the biggest cuts falling on higher tar varieties. The Government fully support these proposals.

  The EC tobacco regime is to be completely reviewed later this year. The Government's object will be to secure the most radical reform negotiable.

  Veterinary Investigation Centres
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of man hours spent on(a) salmonella and (b) BSE at each of the veterinary investigation centres in 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The table lists the number of man hours of veterinary and scientific staff time in each of the veterinary investigation centres in England and Wales for the period 1 April to 31 December 1990.

  VI centre

  Salmonella man hours

  BSE man hours

  Aberystwyth

  1,006

  579

  Bangor

  1,259

  641

  Bristol

  3,379

  708

  381

  VI centre

  Salmonella man hours

  BSE man hours

  Cambridge

  3,056

  2,764

  Carmarthen

  953

  1,297

  Lincoln

  2,917

  630

  Newcastle

  1,686

  1,822

  Norwich

  5,936

  592

  Penrith

  614

  751

  Preston

  4,632

  1,504

  Reading

  1,952

  1,440

  Shrewsbury

  2,287

  2,368

  Starcross

  1,779

  1,333

  Sutton Bonington

  2,950

  2,354

  Truro

  724

  1,707

  Thirsk

  2,315

  1,773

  Worcester

  2,264

  2,528

  Winchester

  1,164

  555

  Wye

  1,875

  1,367

  It should be noted that since the veterinary investigation service is managed and operated on a national basis, certain activities within both the salmonella and BSE columns do not reflect activity arising locally—for example, all examinations of processed animal protein for salmonella under the relevant orders are rationalised in one centre and the final histopathological diagnosis of BSE is spread over a number of centres to ensure as rapid a diagnosis as possible.

  It should also be noted that the veterinary field service and not the veterinary investigation service is responsible for the field activities in relation to BSE and for certain field activities in relation to salmonella under the Zoonoses Order, the Poultry Laying Flocks and the Poultry Breeding Flocks and Hatcheries Order and the Processed Animal Protein Orders.

  Veterinary Laboratory, Lincoln
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the impact of the proposed closure of the veterinary laboratory at Lincoln on the efficiency of veterinary inspection in that area.

  Mr. Maclean
  In carrying out the review of the veterinary investigation service the review team carried out a full assessment of the impact of the closure of the Lincoln veterinary investigation centre on not only the Department's responsibilities in relation to statutory obligations, disease surveillance, public health and food safety matters, but on the maintenance of an effective and viable service to the local livestock industry. Final decisions were taken only after a very detailed consideration of the facts.

  Responsibility for the work carried out at Lincoln is being transferred to the Sutton Bonington centre where additional accommodation, veterinary and scientific staff and increased investment in new technology are being provided. The quality control unit which operates on a national basis and is currently located at Lincoln is being relocated in new purpose-built accommodation at another centre.

  As I indicated in my announcement of the outcome of the review, I am confident that the implementation of the recommendations of the review team will result in significant improvements in the quality, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the service provided. The veterinary
  382
  investigation service will be well equipped not only to meet our national needs over the years ahead but to continue to provide an efficient service to Lincolnshire.

  EC Slaughterhouse Regulations
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about derogations to EC slaughterhouse regulations in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Gummer
  At present, all slaughterhouses wishing to export to other member states must comply in full with EC slaughterhouse regulations; there are no derogations.

  However, the European Commission's single market proposals covering this sector include provision for (i) temporary derogations for businesses which will be unable to comply with the proposed rules before the end of 1992; and (ii) permanent derogations from the structural rules for small businesses. The precise nature and scope of these derogations remain to be resolved in the course of negotiations in Brussels.

  The Government fully support the proposal to introduce a single hygiene standard in the meat sector and consider that derogations should be available only where there is a genuine need for them. They should not be used as a means of delaying achievement of the single standard.

  Seafish Committees
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any plans to strengthen the powers of seafish committees to enable them to develop byelaws regulating the use of monofilament fixed gill nets; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  Under the terms of the Sea Fisheries Regulations Act 1966, sea fisheries committees already have powers to regulate netting within their areas of jurisdiction.

  Fishing Industry
  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether Fisheries Ministers have now completed their consultations with the United Kingdom fishing industry on the introduction of a 90 mm square mesh panel and related measures; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  As foreshadowed in the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wyre (Mr. Mans) on 14 January, Fisheries Ministers have now consulted the fishing industry about the unilateral introduction for United Kingdom fishing vessels of 90 mm square mesh panels in the North sea and west of Scotland demersal fisheries. The industry as a whole has acknowledged the need for improved conservation measures, but has drawn attention to various problems which the proposed measure would cause. While appreciating these difficulties, we have decided that, in the long-term interests of the industry itself, we do need to introduce the new requirement from 1 July. From this date, with the exception of beam trawlers, United Kingdom vessels fishing in the North sea and the west of Scotland north of 56 deg north and using nets of between 90 mm and 100 mm mesh size inclusive will be required to use a 90 mm square mesh panel of a specified size in either the cod end or extension piece. The
  383
  cod end will also have to meet certain requirements on construction; and the use of topside chafers and lifting bags will be prohibited. However, taking account of the points which the industry has raised the specific requirement to use a 90 mm square mesh panel will, initially at least, not apply to vessels whose maximum engine power does not exceed 298 kW—400 horse power: this derogation will not be available to vessels working as pairs if their combined engine power exceeds 298 kW. By 31 March next year we will review the arrangements in the light of experience and any developments, for example, in relation to EC technical conservation measures.

  We also sought industry views on the desirability of including square mesh panels in nephrops nets in order to reduce whitefish by catches. In the light of industry comments, we will introduce from 1 July a requirement that in areas IV and VI nets with a mesh size from 70mm to under 90mm, or in the case of area VI south of 56 deg north under 80mm, should include 80mm square mesh panels except in the case of beam trawlers. In the Irish sea, area VIIa, where different mesh size regulations apply, all nets of between 70mm and 85mm inclusive, including both nephrops and whitefish nets, should include a square mesh panel of 75mm, again with the exception of beam trawlers.

  Given the United Kingdom's major share of the North sea and west of Scotland cod and haddock stocks and the importance to our fleet of the Irish sea fisheries, we have a clear interest to improve the conservation of these stocks. I believe that these unilateral measures will not only make an important contribution to protecting juvenile whitefish, but should also make clear to the Community our determination to achieve improvements to technical conservation measures which are essential to conserving stocks. We will be laying the necessary statutory instrument before Parliament after the Easter recess.

  Potatoes
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has determined the market support prices for potatoes to apply in Great Britain for the 1991–92 crop year beginning 1 July.

  Mr. Gummer
  Agriculture Ministers have consulted the farmers' unions about the market support arrangements to apply for the 1991–92 crop year. Ministers have decided that the guaranteed price should remain £53 per tonne. They have, as in 1990–91, authorised the board to decide whether it wishes to support the market by entering into pre-season contracts with producers or by intervening directly, provided that total purchases do not exceed 500,000 tonnes. The target area for potato plantings by registered producers in Great Britain was fixed last August at 154,000 hectares.

WALES

  Uniform Business Rate
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which areas in Wales have benefited as a result of the business rate revaluation.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The non-domestic rate revaluation factor for each district in Wales is shown in the following table:
  384

  Rating authority

  Revaluation factor

  Torfaen

  6·6

  Alyn and Deeside

  6·9

  Newport

  7·1

  Wrexham Maelor

  7·3

  Islwyn

  7·5

  Blaenau

  7·6

  Rhymney valley

  7·6

  Port Talbot

  7·6

  Cynon Valley

  7·8

  Montgomeryshire

  7·8

  Rhondda

  7·9

  Taff Ely

  7·9

  Colwyn

  8·0

  Glyndwr

  8·0

  Rhuddlan

  8·0

  Ynys Mon—Anglesey

  8·2

  Meirionnydd

  8·3

  Ogwr

  8·3

  Lliw Valley

  8·3

  Llanelli

  8·6

  Merthyr Tydfil

  8·6

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  8·7

  Cardiff

  8·7

  Neath

  8·7

  Aberconwy

  9·0

  Vale of Glamorgan

  9·0

  Swansea

  9·0

  Ceredigion

  9·1

  Dwyfor

  9·1

  Delyn

  9·3

  South Pembrokeshire

  9·3

  Radnor

  9·4

  Monmouth

  9·7

  Arfon

  9·9

  Dinefwr

  10·4

  Brecknock

  10·4

  Carmarthen

  10·6

  WALES

  8·5

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of Welsh businesses will have to pay the maximum increase under the uniform business rate in 1991–92; what percentage will see their rates bills fall in real terms; and what percentage will see no increase in real terms.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The effect of transitional arrangements on non-domestic rate bills in Wales for 1991–92 is that 65 per cent. of businesses will have a reduction or no change in real terms.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what transitional protection he has arranged following the introduction of the uniform business rate in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  In moving to the new business rating system, the contribution made by businesses towards local government spending in Wales has been maintained at the same level in real terms as in 1989–90. We recognised that some businesses would need time to adjust to the rate increases they faced following the revaluation of non-domestic property and the introduction of the uniform business rate. We therefore introduced transitional arrangements under which no occupier should have a rate increase of more than 20 per cent. in real terms in any year. For businesses which have rateable values below £10,000, the maximum increase should be 15 per cent. in real terms.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage and number of Welsh mixed hereditament businesses will benefit as a result of the initial review of the community charge.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Following our initial review of the community charge and the associated consultation document entitled "The Standard Community Charge and other matters", a number of changes affecting composite hereditaments were brought into force by means of the Non-Domestic Rating (Transitional Period) (Amendment and Further Revision) Regulations 1990 (SI 1990/2329). This amended the transitional arrangements for non-domestic rates to reduce the maximum annual increase in rate bills from 15 to 10 per cent. in real terms for composite hereditaments with rateable values below £10,000 The chief valuer estimates that between 85 and 90 per cent. of mixed hereditaments in Wales will benefit.

  Audiological Services
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the area health authorities in Wales which have a comprehensive audiological service for babies and young children; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This information is not available centrally. It is for health authorities to determine the nature and level of audiological services provided within their districts, although I understand that the Welsh Medical Committee is currently reviewing the position in Wales for children who suffer from hearing loss.

  Nurses' Grading
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Welsh nursing clinical grading appeals are currently waiting to be heard at(a) district level. (b) national level and (c) United Kingdom level; and how many appeals have already been completed at each of those levels.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information requested in relation to nurse clinical grading appeals in Wales is as follows:

  Numbers of appeals

  Appeal level

  Completed

  Outstanding

  District Health Authority

  3,725

  1,733

  Wales Appeals Committee

  151

  1,188

  GB—Negotiating Council

  1

  80

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

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Many more appeals are expected to come through at the all-Wales and negotiating council levels and, in view of the cumbersome and resource-intensive procedures, it is quite impossible to predict when the appeals process will be fully completed. At employing authority level, appeals have been completed in four of the nine districts in Wales. At the all-Wales level, agreement has recently been reached between the Department, management and staff sides on ways and means of speeding up the mechanics and I expect speedier progress to be made.
  386
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give a breakdown 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. Nicholas Bennett
  Of the 151 appeals heard to date by the Welsh appeals committee the results have been as follows:

  Number

  Upheld

  34

  Unsuccessful

  4

  Failure to agree

  113

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

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This information is not available.

  Seven-year-olds (Testing)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what consultation he has had with teachers concerning the publication of national curriculum test results for seven-year-olds; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the publication of national curriculum test results for seven-year-olds in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the press announcement which I made on this issue on 20 February, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Primary schools will be required to inform parents of the individual results of the assessment of their children at the end of key stage 1—seven-year-old pupils. There will be no statutory requirement for schools to publish aggregate results more widely although they are encouraged to do so.

  Future requirements for the collection and publication of data arising from the national curriculum assessment arrangements are still being determined. I will consult with the Curriculum Council for Wales, the School Examinations and Assessment Council, local education authorities and others on any proposed regulations.

  Agricultural Tenancies
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the response to his consultation paper on the reform of agricultural tenancy law in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Consultees have until 13 May 1991 to put forward their views. Responses will then be considered carefully by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and me before any decisions are made.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes to make any further changes to his Department's 1990–91 cash limits.
  387
  Mr. David Hunt
  Yes. The cash limit for Welsh Office/local authorities' capital is to be reduced by £14,274,000 from £367,588,000 to £353,314,000. At the same time, the cash limit for Welsh Office/Housing for Wales will increase by £14,274,000 from £92,183,000 to £106,457,000. These variations arise from the decisions of local authorities to transfer resources to Housing for Wales to enable housing associations to provide additional housing units.

  These changes do not affect forecast outturn for the planning total published in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report".

SCOTLAND

  Fishing
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what directions have been given to fisheries officers with regard to any flexibility which might be permitted in the application of the eight-day tie-up rule, in circumstances where boats at sea are caught up in extreme weather conditions; and if he will make a statement.

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Persons aged 8–15 with a charge proved

  Dundee

  Crimes

  24

  38

  24

  13

  2

  Offences

  4

  12

  11

  4

  2

  Total

  28

  50

  35

  17

  4

  Tayside

  Crimes

  66

  73

  66

  29

  5

  Offences

  31

  21

  25

  7

  3

  Total

  97

  94

  91

  36

  8

  Scotland

  Crimes

  356

  265

  218

  251

  210

  Offences

  160

  127

  112

  129

  111

  Total

  516

  392

  330

  380

  321

  Persons aged 16–20 with a charge proved

  Dundee

  Crimes

  1,279

  1,252

  1,248

  1,044

  1,000

  Offences

  1,213

  1,222

  1,196

  1,038

  906

  Total

  2,492

  2,474

  2,444

  2,082

  1,906

  Tayside

  Crimes

  2,344

  2,286

  2,298

  1,889

  1,824

  Offences

  2,513

  2,364

  2,469

  2,167

  2,093

  Total

  4,857

  4,650

  4,767

  14,056

  23,917

  Scotland

  Crimes

  26,449

  25,592

  24,153

  22,379

  20,567

  Offences

  30,031

  28,908

  27,697

  25,581

  23,608

  Total

  56,480

  54,500

  51,850

  47,960

  44,175

  1 Includes four cases where the district of origin within Tayside region is not known.

  2 Includes five cases where the district of origin within Tayside region is not known.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the number of recorded offences involving crimes of(a) indecency, (b) violence, (c) dishonesty, (d) fire-raising and vandalism, (e) theft of motor vehicles, (f) theft by opening lockfast places and

  Number of crimes and offences recorded by the police for selected crime/offence groupings and their percentage of total crimes and offences recorded

  Number

  Percentage

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  (i) Dundee

  (a) Indecency

  269

  253

  268

  243

  315

  0·8

  0·7

  0·8

  0·7

  0·8

  (b) Violence

  590

  561

  580

  623

  600

  1·9

  1·6

  1·7

  1·8

  1·6

  388
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Fishery officers have simply been told that, as is always the case when enforcing fisheries, where there is an immediate safety hazard they should take this into account in administering the scheme. Particular examples might be where a vessel was forced to divert to another port because of bad weather or where bad weather meant that it was having to ride out a storm at sea and unable to make port at all. In such circumstances a fisherman should contact the relevant fishery office as soon as the problem becomes apparent.

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the numbers of children in age categories eight to 15 years and youths 16 to 20 years who have been convicted of offences in each of the last five years in(a) Dundee, (b) Tayside and (c) Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Figures for the last five years for which information is available are given in the table.

  (g) drugs, indicating their percentage of total recorded offences, in (i) Dundee, (ii) Tayside and (iii) Scotland, in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is given in the table.
  389

  Number

  Percentage

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  (c) Dishonesty

  13,082

  15,252

  15,888

  15,379

  16,540

  41·0

  44·3

  45·4

  44·0

  44·1

  (d) Fire-raising and vandalism

  3,300

  3,423

  3,278

  2,898

  3,623

  10·3

  9·9

  9·4

  8·3

  9·7

  (e) Theft of motor vehicles

  652

  605

  545

  563

  585

  2·0

  1·8

  1·6

  1·6

  1·6

  (f) Theft by opening lockfast places

  1,649

  2,185

  2,478

  2,977

  3,708

  5·2

  6·3

  7·1

  8·5

  9·9

  (g) Drugs

  160

  193

  265

  311

  420

  0·5

  0·6

  0·8

  0·9

  1·1

  (ii) Tayside

  (a) Indecency

  380

  387

  417

  424

  475

  0·6

  0·6

  0·6

  0·6

  0·7

  (b) Violence

  971

  949

  1,048

  1,095

  1,088

  1·6

  1·5

  1·6

  1·6

  1·5

  (c) Dishonesty

  22,441

  25,378

  25,996

  24,260

  25,982

  36·7

  39·2

  38·6

  35·2

  37·0

  (d) Fire-raising and vandalism

  6,547

  6,782

  6,601

  6,122

  7,021

  10·7

  10·5

  9·8

  8·9

  10·0

  (e) Theft of motor vehicles

  1,215

  1,122

  1,044

  958

  1,049

  2·0

  1·7

  1·5

  1·4

  1·5

  (f) Theft by opening lockfast places

  2,718

  3,369

  3,656

  4,207

  4,785

  4·4

  5·2

  5·4

  6·1

  6·8

  (g) Drugs

  319

  368

  470

  561

  646

  0·5

  0·6

  0·7

  0·8

  0·9

  (iii) Scotland

  (a) Indecency

  5,741

  5,354

  5,266

  5,057

  5,742

  0·7

  0·7

  0·6

  0·6

  0·6

  (b) Violence

  15,090

  15,705

  18,350

  17,871

  18,374

  1·9

  1·9

  2·1

  2·1

  2·0

  (c) Dishonesty

  342,349

  342,522

  356,527

  344,509

  355,525

  42·8

  41·7

  41·5

  40·3

  39·4

  (d) Fire-raising and vandalism

  79,545

  78,891

  76,444

  73,518

  79,062

  9·9

  9·6

  8·9

  8·6

  8·8

  (e) Theft of motor vehicles

  29,938

  28,036

  26,183

  26,395

  29,064

  3·7

  3·4

  3·1

  3·1

  3·2

  (f) Theft by opening lockfast places

  52,065

  61,402

  68,979

  77,503

  84,748

  6·5

  7·5

  8·0

  9·1

  9·4

  (g) Drugs

  5,078

  5,318

  4,736

  5,213

  7,024

  0·6

  0·6

  0·6

  0·6

  0·8

  Notes:

  1. Under violence are included all crimes in group 1 of The Scottish Office Home and Health Department (SOHHD) classification of crimes and offences.

  2. Under fire-raising and vandalism are included all crimes in group 4 of the SOHHD classification.

  3. Under theft by opening lockfast places are included opening lockfast places with intent to steal and attempted opening lockfast places with intent to steal.

  4. Crimes in (e) and (f) above are included with other crimes of dishonesty in (c).

  5. Details of the SOHHD classification are given in the SOHHD statistical bulletin "Recorded crime in Scotland 1989", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Motorways
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many miles of motorway there are in Scotland; and what proportion of these are lit.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Of a total of 161·5 miles of motorway in Scotland, 27 miles are lit, which equates to approximately 17 per cent.

  Miscarriages of Justice
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement concerning the effectiveness of the procedure for reviewing alleged miscarriages of justice.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Alleged miscarriages of justice in Scotland may be reviewed by the High Court of Justiciary either when an appeal is made from the court of first instance or when a case is referred to the High Court by the Secretary of State in terms of section 263(1) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975. In circumstances where such a reference might be inappropriate, the Secretary of State may make a recommendation to Her Majesty concerning exercise of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy.

  Any convicted person may petition the Secretary of State seeking review of his case. The validity, weight and
  390
  significance of any fresh evidence or any other issue raised is carefully assessed in every case and, where appropriate, consideration given to a reference to the High Court of Justiciary. Between 1984 and 1990 on average 50 persons petitioned the Secretary of State in each year; and three cases were referred to the High Court, the conviction being quashed in each case.

  Food Costs
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the amount of money allocated for food per prisoner per day in each prison in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The cost of food for prisoners is determined by the weekly ration sheet based on an approved dietary scale. On that basis, the average daily food cost per prisoner in Scotland is £1·19.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the amount of money allocated for food per hospital patient per day in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not available in the form requested.

  It is for each health board to decide on how much of its total revenue allocation it will spend on catering services, including food provisions. In arriving at that decision the

  391
  board will have regard to the advice of dietitians on the dietary requirements of patients in the different care groups.

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

  thousands

  Average

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1979 to 19811

  Ewes and gimmers2

  3,136·8

  3,377·2

  3,463·7

  3,569·2

  3,639·7

  3,686·5

  Dairy cows3

  283·1

  269·9

  263·8

  250·5

  246·5

  242·5

  Breeding sows and gilts4

  50·9

  42·0

  44·4

  47·5

  47·0

  50·7

  1 The figures in this column are not directly comparable with those for the later years. Between June 1986 and June 1987, 5,995 holdings were removed from the main census; at June 1986 there were 88 thousand ewes and gimmers kept for breeding, 147 dairy cows and 97 breeding sows and gilts on these holdings.

  2 Ewes and gimmers, at June of year stated, used for breeding in previous season.

  3 Dairy cows and heifers in milk and dairy cows in calf but not in milk.

  4 Sows and gilts in pig and other sows for breeding.

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

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: The information set out in the table shows the figures recorded in the June agricultural censuses of main holdings in Scotland.

  Thousand hectares

  Cereals2

  Potatoes3

  Average 1979 to 19811

  505·5

  34·2

  1986

  534·3

  29·9

  1987

  520·7

  29·0

  1988

  523·8

  28·3

  1989

  506·0

  27·7

  1990

  478·3

  27·2

  1 The figures in this column are not directly comparable with those for later years. Between June 1986 and June 1987, 5,995 holdings were removed from the main census; at June 1986 there were 1,013 hectares of cereals and 206 hectares of potatoes on these holdings.

  2 Includes wheat, triticale, barley, oats and mixed grain for threshing.

  3 Includes potatoes for seed and ware.

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

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: The number of holdings included in the June agricultural censuses of main holdings in Scotland were as follows:

  thousands

  1980

  31·4

  1985

  31·3

  11990

  27·2

  1 The figure for 1990 is not directly comparable with those for the earlier years. Between June 1986 and June 1987, 5,995 holdings were removed from the main census.

  392
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: The information set out in the table shows the figures recorded in the June agricultural censuses of main holdings in Scotland.

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

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: The information set out in the table shows the figures recorded in the June agricultural censuses of main holdings in Scotland.

  thousands

  1980

  1985

  1990

  Full-time occupiers

  14·1

  13·9

  12·9

  Part-time occupiers1

  9·0

  9·8

  8·6

  1 The figure for 1990 is not directly comparable with those for earlier years. Between June 1986 and June 1987, 5,995 holdings were removed from the main census; at June 1986 there were 3,480 part-time occupiers on these holdings.

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the level of investment by the agricultural industry in Scotland 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. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: Figures showing the levels of investment in Scottish agriculture are set out in the table, with the exception of separate figures for buildings and works, which are unavailable.

  £ million

  Plant and machinery

  Vehicles

  Buildings and works

  1979

  Current prices

  61·5

  3·8

  70·5

  Constant 1985 prices

  90·7

  5·9

  104·1

  1980

  Current prices

  53·5

  3·4

  98·7

  Constant 1985 prices

  67·4

  4·6

  110·3

  1985

  Current prices

  71·4

  7·4

  97·3

  Constant 1985 prices

  71·4

  7·4

  97·3

  393

  Plant and machinery

  Vehicles

  Buildings and works

  1989

  Current prices

  73·2

  8·7

  54·1

  Constant 1985 prices

  58·1

  6·6

  43·6

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

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: The information set out in the table shows the figures recorded in the June agricultural censuses of main holdings in Scotland.

  thousands

  1980

  1985

  1990

  Total workers1 2

  40·6

  34·0

  27·9

  Of which: full time

  28·9

  25·0

  20·0

  1The figure for 1990 is not directly comparable with those for the earlier years. Between June 1986 and June 1987, 5,995 holdings were removed from the main census; at June 1986 there were 463 workers on these holdings.

  £ million

  Roads and Transport

  Water and Sewerage

  Police

  Education

  Social Work

  General services

  Total

  Regions and Islands

  Districts

  1978–79

  217·740

  145·853

  13·138

  129·109

  19·249

  —

  185·002

  —

  710·091

  1979–80

  209·134

  170·729

  13·456

  106·132

  22·022

  —

  196·563

  —

  718·036

  1980–81

  160·659

  151·812

  14·382

  94·559

  20·181

  —

  159·629

  —

  601·222

  1981–82

  191·987

  145·530

  12·668

  99·345

  20·682

  —

  147·714

  —

  617·925

  1982–83

  189·892

  122·556

  13·539

  83·919

  20·577

  —

  166·987

  —

  597·471

  1983–84

  188·901

  133·626

  14·161

  72·423

  23·436

  —

  142·560

  —

  575·107

  1984–85

  185·981

  128·353

  13·660

  67·997

  28·248

  —

  143·760

  —

  568·001

  1985–86

  208·669

  119·362

  14·664

  73·902

  26·500

  —

  132·422

  —

  575·519

  1986–87

  193·311

  125·838

  15·737

  66·511

  20·030

  —

  130·369

  —

  551·795

  1987–88

  158·608

  113·540

  19·539

  70·574

  22·005

  76·190

  —

  90·834

  551·289

  1988–89

  151·353

  119·564

  20·313

  78·825

  24·796

  81·163

  —

  93·240

  569·255

  1989–90

  176·717

  128·988

  18·962

  81·593

  24·449

  60·352

  —

  109·800

  600·861

  Note:

  Figures are at constant 1989–90 prices, as measured by the GDP deflator. For general services, total district council expenditure is readily available only for the latest three years. General services expenditure up to 1986–87 is for regions, islands and districts.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the capital allocations, disaggregated into blocks, for 1991–92 for each local authority in Scotland.

  £'000

  Roads and transport

  Water and sewerage

  Police

  Education

  Social work

  General services

  Total

  Borders Region

  4,200

  4,500

  —

  3,453

  430

  1,200

  13,783

  Berwickshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  500

  500

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  500

  500

  Roxburgh

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  600

  600

  Tweeddale

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  200

  200

  Central Region

  4,400

  7,800

  326

  3,914

  1,340

  1,400

  19,180

  Clackmannan

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  500

  500

  Falkirk

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,000

  1,000

  Stirling

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  850

  850

  Dumfries and Galloway Region

  6,300

  7,000

  2,250

  3,010

  780

  1,200

  20,540

  Annandale and Eskdale

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  250

  250

  Nithsdale

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  350

  350

  Stewartry

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  250

  250

  Wigtown

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  700

  700

  Fife Region

  8,300

  11,500

  543

  5,530

  1,440

  2,300

  29,613

  394
  2Includes full-time and part-time regular staff, and casual and seasonal workers; excludes occupiers and spouses working on holdings.

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

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: Figures on the number of tractors acquired by the agriculture industry are not available.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the gross local authority capital expenditure on(a) all regional services, (b) education services, (c) roads and transport, (d) social work and (e) district council non-housing services at constant prices for each year from 1978–79 to 1991–92.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: The information at constant 1989–90 prices is set out in the table for each of local authorities' six main non-housing capital programmes. Information about 1990–91 and 1991–92 will be known only after the end of those financial years.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: The information is as follows:
  395

  Roads and transport

  Water and sewerage

  Police

  Education

  Social work

  General services

  Total

  Dunfermline

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,250

  1,250

  Kirkcaldy

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,200

  1,200

  North East Fife

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  400

  400

  Grampian Region

  12,000

  18,500

  196

  8,303

  2,065

  1,000

  42,064

  Aberdeen City

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,600

  1,600

  Banff and Buchan

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  550

  550

  Gordon

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  600

  600

  Kincardine and Deeside

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  360

  360

  Moray

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  450

  450

  Highland Region

  12,500

  10,000

  —

  3,849

  1,015

  3,270

  30,634

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  160

  160

  Caithness

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  350

  350

  Inverness

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  600

  600

  Lochaber

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  400

  400

  Nairn

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  260

  260

  Ross and Cromarty

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  750

  750

  Skye and Lochalsh

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  300

  300

  Sutherland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  350

  350

  Lothian Region

  14,400

  19,500

  —

  6,918

  2,935

  1,500

  45,253

  East Lothian

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  500

  500

  Edinburgh City

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,000

  1,000

  Midlothian

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  560

  560

  West Lothian

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,250

  1,250

  Strathclyde Region

  75,600

  65,000

  3,447

  28,561

  9,715

  9,000

  191,323

  Argyle and Bute

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  825

  825

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  350

  350

  Clydebank

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,000

  1,000

  Clydesdale

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  730

  730

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  600

  600

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  850

  850

  Cunninghame

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  950

  950

  Dunbarton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,100

  1,100

  East Kilbride

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  900

  900

  Eastwood

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  200

  200

  Glasgow City

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4,000

  4,000

  Hamilton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,000

  2,000

  Inverclyde

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,500

  1,500

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  700

  700

  Kyle and Carrick

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  800

  800

  Monklands

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,400

  1,400

  Motherwell

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3,600

  3,600

  Renfrew

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,200

  1,200

  Strathkelvin

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  950

  950

  Tayside Region

  9,500

  14,800

  1,202

  3,956

  1,840

  1,900

  33,198

  Angus

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  750

  750

  Dundee City

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,800

  1,800

  Perth and Kinross

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  800

  800

  Islands Areas

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Orkney

  3,600

  1,500

  —

  765

  100

  400

  6,365

  Shetland

  4,300

  —

  —

  1,754

  150

  750

  6,954

  Western Isles

  5,000

  2,100

  —

  3,278

  380

  1,100

  11,858

  Total

  160,100

  162,200

  7,964

  73,291

  22,190

  70,615

  496,360

  Green House Programme
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether a parallel programme to the Department of the Environment's green house programme for local authority housing will be implemented in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 11 February 1991]: I was pleased to announce on Monday 25 March that an additional £2 million is being made available in 1991–92 to promote an energy efficiency and savings initiative in the six local authorities with the largest number of houses suffering condensation and dampness.

  The main aims of the programme will be to promote the wider application of energy efficiency measures to provide affordable heating for tenants, as well as to reduce harmful emissions to the atmosphere through energy savings. My
  396
  intention under this initiative is that resources will be provided to support local authority projects which best meet these aims.

  The Scottish Office will shortly be exploring with Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen, Falkirk and Motherwell district councils the uses to which these extra resources can best be put. I shall announce the distribution of these new resources as soon as possible.

DEFENCE

  Dubai Defence Exhibition
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if. pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newport, West,Official Report, 28 February, column 615, he will set out (a) the purpose of his departmental representation at the Dubai 91 aerospace and defence exhibition, (b) the

  397
  projected cost and expected benefits of departmental representation and (c)the number and grades of departmental personnel planned to attend.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Representatives from my Department will provide marketing support to United Kingdom exhibitors, in accordance with Government policy. The direct costs of this representation will be approximately £18,000. The number and grade of staff attending have yet to be decided.

  Education and Training
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on recent initiatives by his Department in support of higher-level education and training.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  My Department has decided to create a chair in defence engineering. Following a competition among a number of universities, we have awarded the chair on the basis of a joint bid by University college London (UCL) and King's college London.

  The chair will have three objectives: to establish a centre of excellence in engineering and procurement matters relating to defence; to raise further the public profile and professional standards of civilian engineers in the Ministry of Defence; and to provide further education and training for MOD engineers.

  The chair will conduct research in engineering issues of particular interest to the MOD, and intends to provide, from October 1991, a one-year MSc course in the management of defence engineering. The MOD will send about 10 of its brightest young civilian engineers to attend the course, and it is hoped that additional students will be attracted from the United Kingdom and overseas. We also propose to take the opportunity to rationalise in due course the provision of training in naval architecture, which we have sponsored for many years at UCL, by placing this under the aegis of the new chair.

  Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about agency status for the chemical defence establishment at Porton Down.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The chemical defence establishment at Porton Down will become a defence support agency on 1 April. The director of the establishment, Dr. G. S. Pearson, has been appointed the chief executive and will be known as the director general.

  We are taking the opportunity of this new status to change the name of the establishment to the "chemical and biological defence establishment"—CBDE—to reflect more accurately its existing role in both chemical and biological defence.

  There will be no change in the role of the agency. Its aim will continue to be to ensure that the British armed forces are protected from any chemical and biological warfare agents that might be used against them by an aggressor. The establishment's expertise is used to support the Ministry of Defence and other Government Departments. In particular, the establishment provides scientific and technical advice in support of the arms control negotiations in the field of chemical and biological weapons. It will continue to contribute to the negotiations
  398
  at the conference on disarmament in Geneva aimed at achieving a comprehensive, effectively verifiable and global ban on chemical weapons. Research at CBDE also helps to improve health and safety in a wide range of civil activities—for example, the hazards from accidents in the chemical industry, detection of atmospheric pollutants, respiratory protection against toxic fumes and fire hazards and medical countermeasures applicable to the pesticide industry.

  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said to the House on 18 October 1989, at columns 154–55, defence support agencies will be run on "next steps" lines but will remain within the defence chain of command. Such agencies are established within the MOD's new management strategy, under which we aim to secure better value for money for the defence budget through closer alignment of financial accountability with line management responsibilities, and by a system of performance reviews.

  The establishment of the chemical and biological defence establishment as a defence support agency is another significant landmark in this process. The professional and internationally recognised standards which have contributed to the success of work at Porton Down for the last 75 years will continue to be upheld. The greater freedom and flexibility now granted to the director general will provide him with new opportunities to enhance the establishment's successful role.

  The move to agency status will build upon CBDE's international reputation as a centre of scientific excellence by further improving the efficiency, effectiveness and quality of the work carried out by the establishment. In order to bring about these improvements, the director general has accordingly been set a range of challenging key performance targets.

  These are as follows:

  (a) in 1991–92, to achieve, within agreed time scales, 80 per cent. of the chemical biological defence programme milestones required by the service chiefs of staff, and to seek progressive improvements in performance in future years;

  (b) in 1991–92, to achieve, to agreed cost, 80 per cent. of the chemical biological defence programme milestones required by the service chiefs of staff, and to seek progressive improvements in performance in future years;

  (c) to sustain the CBDE research programme and the capability of CBDE to respond effectively to operational emergencies by maintaining scientific and technical staff at least to the current proportion of 65 per cent. of the total planned manpower;

  (d) to increase the overall efficiency of CBDE by more than 1.5 per cent. over the financial year 1991–92;

  (e) to reduce progressively the full unit cost per scientific productive hour initially by 2 per cent. in the year ending 31 March 1993;

  (f) to continue and extend the programme of efficiency reviews and where appropriate market testing of support services and implement a programme for further studies so that more than 60 per cent. by cost of the support area has been reviewed by 31 March 1992 and thereby identify scope for programme cost reductions in future years;

  (g) to review and improve the existing resource allocation and cost attribution system by 31 March 1992 in order to identify and reduce unit costs;

  to develop the capacity of CBDE for corporate and business planning, and to produce revised plans and targets by 1 April 1992; and

  (j) to refine the customer/supplier objective setting procedures which set targets for timeliness and cost and to incorporate a mechanism for implementation in 1992 which will permit the customer to assess the quality of output in terms of research and of scientific and technical advice.

  399
  I wish the director general and his staff every success in the coming years.

  Non-nuclear Research Establishments
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress made towards establishing the defence non-nuclear research establishments as an executive agency.

  Mr. Tom King
  I am pleased to announce the creation of the Defence Research Agency which will be vested as an executive agency on 1 April this year. The agency will comprise the four main non-nuclear research establishments, the Admiralty Research Establishment, the Royal Aerospace Establishment, the Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment, and the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment.

  The Defence Research Agency—DRA—will provide the expert scientific and technical services required of it primarily by the MOD but also other Government Departments, in a way which is cost-effective and where necessary impartial; in support of this, the DRA is also encouraged to provide services to non-Exchequer customers. The DRA will continue to represent Her Majesty's Government in its participation in international and collaborative activities.

  An open competition has been mounted to select and appoint a chief executive for the next three to five years; the outcome should be determined by early May. Meanwhile Mr. Nigel Hughes, now chief executive (designate), will act as chief executive from 1 April.

  The chief executive will have the financial and personnel powers which are set out in the agency's published framework document, copies of which will be placed in the Library shortly. Where hon. or right hon. Members have queries on matters relating to the operation of the Defence Research Agency I hope they will write in the first instance to the chief executive. I will continue to deal with questions of policy.

  I will be setting the agency a range of targets to ensure that it delivers progressive improvements in the quality and efficiency of the services it supplies to its customers. The initial targets I have set for the Defence Research Agency during the period 1991–96 are:

  (a) to achieve efficiency improvements of an average of 2½ per cent. per annum over the next five years, by delivering a saving of £10 million in 1991–92 and a reduction of an average of 2½ per cent. per annum in terms of full cost per chargeable hour in the following four years;

  (b) to develop in 1991–92 a programme for asset rationalisation against which targets will be set for the following years;

  to improve asset utilisation, defined as the ratio of turnover to average fixed assets, including those leased; and

  to reduce the total value of fixed assets employed in the business in accordance with the programme by a combination of rationalisation and reduced leasing;

  (c) to keep within the budget agreed for the DRA;

  (d) to complete 80 per cent. of orders and contracts due for completion during the review period and valued at more than £5 million, within budget, taking account of any negotiated changes, and to increase this proportion to 90 per cent. by the end of 1995–96;

  (e) within orders and contracts, to achieve 50 per cent. of milestones within plus or minus one month, and increase this by 5 per cent. per annum over five years;

  400

  (f) to improve the perceived quality of service to customers, as indicated by annual customer satisfaction surveys;

  (g) to enhance existing management information systems, and to develop and implement an internal output and performance measurement system by October 1991;

  (h) to introduce a commercial accounting system by 1 October 1991, to train 70 per cent. of potential users of the system by the same date, and complete initial training of all staff who need to use it by 1 April 1992; and

  (j) to introduce arrangements from 1 October 1991 to give MOD customers information on the cost and quality of work done for them by the DRA to support a tautened customer/supplier relationship and to prepare progressively for subsequent trading fund operation.

  I wish the chief executive and his staff every success for the future in meeting their objectives of providing greater quality of service and better value for money.

  Directorate General of Defence Accounts
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the establishment of the Directorate General of Defence Accounts as a defence support agency.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Directorate General of Defence Accounts—DGDA—is to become a defence support agency on 1 April 1991.

  The chief executive will be the present incumbent, Mr. M. J. Dymond.

  The DGDA's role is to provide accountancy services to the MOD. It pays bills, civilian salaries and wages, makes superannuation awards, recovers moneys due, maintains the central ledger, produces the appropriation account and provides accounting advice and data. Its role is crucial to the successful implementation of new management strategy for defence. The DGDA's systems will provide much of the financial information which is needed to run the new devolved management structures.

  The DGDA provides a high-quality professional service. It will aim to achieve new standards of excellence in dealings between the agency and its customers. To this end, the chief executive has been set demanding targets covering all areas of performance.

  Agency status will give the DGDA the freedoms and flexibilities it needs to perform its role more effectively and efficiently, providing continuous improvements in the quality of the service it offers to users.

  The chief executive's targets for the early years are:

  (a) to develop and agree service level agreements for each of the DGDA's functions and tasks with customers by 31 July 1991 and thereafter to meet agreed time, cost and quality of service criteria as laid down in individual service level agreements;

  (b) to reduce the turnaround time of civilian travel claims from 15 to 10 working days by 31 March 1992;

  (c) to introduce a two-weekly billing timetable for bills by the end of 1991–92

  (d) to reduce throughput errors in DGDA in the following areas:

  —non-industrial pay to 3 per cent.; industrial pay by 1 per cent.; pensions to 2 per cent.; civilian travel claims to 2 per cent.; and bill payment by 2 per cent.

  (e) to carry out agreed tasks to time, standard and within budget;

  (f) to achieve a sustained improvement in overall efficiency reflected in the budgeted costs of the following indicators: cost per pay account, cost per travel claim, cost per bill, cost per receipt and cost per pensions award;

  401

  (g) to achieve efficiency improvements of at least £450,000 in 1991–92;

  (h) to produce a saving in the overall defence budget of £450,000 by the introduction of revised selective checking procedures in the D Acs (Bills) area;

  (j) to review existing internal management information systems and identify management requirements by 30 August 1991, and to develop and implement systems, including unit cost measurement, capable of measuring performance of the agency more effectively by 27 March 1992;

  (k) to review the systems and resources required to carry out the agreed tasks and meet targets set for MOD HQ in "Options for Change", with the aim of reducing the net cost of the agency to the MOD and of minimising spare capacity where possible. Where spare capacity cannot be eliminated, to seek to utilise it by expanding the customer base in accordance with the business development strategy.

  I wish the chief executive and his staff every success in their new status.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which items in a Territorial Army unit's budget for 1992 are to be included in cash terms.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The items which may be included in a unit's budget in cash terms are pay, earnings-related national insurance contributions, training expenses allowance, bounty, travel costs and subsistence.

  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what man training day allocations are to be made to Territorial Army units in 1992 by category.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I am unable to give the information requested as, due to the introduction of the new management strategy, man training day allocations are devolved to the chain of command and hence made unit by unit according to role and training need.

  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the principal units in the Territorial Army.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The principal units of the Territorial Army are:

  2 Army Reconnaissance Regiments

  3 Light Reconnaissance Regiments

  2 Field Artillery Regiments

  4 Air Defence Regiments

  8 Engineer Regiments

  41 Infantry Battalions

  2 Special Air Service Regiments

  1 Honourable Artillery Company

  11 Royal Signal Regiments

  12 Royal Corps Transport Regiments

  10 General Hospital (RAMC)

  3 Field Hospital (RAMC)

  1 Evacuation Hospital (RAMC)

  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many drill halls the Territorial Army has, by region.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The regional deployment of Territorial Army centres is as follows:

  Tavra Region

  Number of Territorial Army centres

  Highland

  42

  Lowland

  38

  North East

  41

  Yorkshire & Humberside

  50

  East Midlands

  53

  402

  Tavra Region

  Number of Territorial Army centres

  East Anglia

  28

  South East

  33

  Eastern Wessex

  31

  Western Wessex

  36

  North West

  54

  West Midlands

  47

  Northern Ireland

  30

  Wales

  39

  Greater London

  57

  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide the hon. Member for Canterbury with the most recent report of the Territorial Army national employers liaison committee.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will write to my hon. Friend.

  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the additional costs of a Territorial Army parachute battalion as against a non-parachute Territorial Army infantry battalion; and what are the principal items which incur these extra costs.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information is not held in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Gulf War
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what attempts have been made since 27 February by the United Kingdom, the allied military coalition, or the United Nations to establish the nationalities of those people killed by allied attacks on road convoys at Mutla hill, Kuwait and Umm Qasr road on 26–27 February.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Personal effects of bodies buried by British personnel have been passed to the International Committee of the Red Cross, in accordance with our obligations under the first Geneva convention. I understand that other members of the coalition followed the same practice.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any British prisoners of war released by Iraq were physically abused while under Iraqi custody.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Indications from initial debriefing of British prisoners of war released by Iraq are that their treatment in captivity was varied, ranging from serious beatings at some sites, in breach of Iraq's obligations under the third Geneva convention, to relatively good conditions and medical attention at others.

  Coldstream Guards
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the reason 20 selected recruits to the Coldstream Guards were advised that they could not join the regiment as planned in November 1990 and would have to wait until April 1991.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  As a result of pressures on the defence budget, restrictions on enlistments to the Army have meant that some regiments, including the Coldstream Guards, have had to defer the entry date of prospective recruits.

  Army Regiments
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Army regiments that have spent up to their financial quota imposed by his Department are now funding recruits out of regimental funds until the start of the new financial year.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  No regiments are using their regimental funds to fund recruits.

EMPLOYMENT

  Social Charter
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met Mrs. Papandreou to discuss the social charter.

  Mr. Howard
  I met Mrs. Papandreou on 14 January to discuss the Commission's social action programme and priorities for social affairs in the Community in 1991. I put to her some specific proposals for improving the procedures adopted by the Commission in the social affairs field which I am pleased to say she has now accepted.

  Port of Goole (Accidents)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of recorded accidents which have taken place at the port of Goole in the course of the employment of dockers, stevedores and dock workers for each year since 1985.

  Mr. Forth
  The table shows the number of injuries to employees in services supporting water transport in Boothferry and Scunthorpe, the local authority areas covering the port of Goole, reported to the Health and Safety Executive's factory and agricultural inspectorates under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 for the period requested:

  Year (1 April to 31 March)

  Fatal

  Major

  Over 3-day

  Total

  1986–87

  —

  1

  2

  3

  1987–88

  —

  —

  4

  4

  1988–89

  —

  1

  7

  8

  1989–90

  —

  1

  8

  9

  It is not possible to give separate injury statistics for dockers, stevedores and dock workers, as these are not individually identified within the reporting category. Nor can the number of separate accidents causing these injuries by identified.

  Advertising
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what his Department spent on advertising and promotional material in 1985–86 and what is the total budget for 1990–91.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Department's expenditure on advertising and promotional material in 1985–86 was £17·1 million. The total budget for 1990–91 is £29 million.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to increase the Government grant in aid of the Health and Safety Executive; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Estimates provide for grant in aid to the Health and Safety Commission in 1991–92 of £140 million; an increase of £20 million over the 1990–91 level. Full details of Health and Safety Commission and Executive plans for use of these resources will be published in the plan of work for 1991–92 and beyond in the spring.

  Career Development Loans
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much money has been made available under career development loans to individuals to assist them in training.

  Mr. Howard
  At the end of February 1991 the three participating banks had lent almost £40 million to more than 16,000 individuals.

  Wakefield TEC
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met the chairman of the Wakefield TEC to discuss training provision; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  I intend to meet the chairman of Wakefield TEC on 15 April to discuss a range of training and enterprise issues. Wakefield TEC has provided creative and imaginative plans. I am confident that these will substantially benefit the economy of the Wakefield area.

  Employment Rehabilitation Service
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the work of the employment rehabilitation service.

  Mr. Jackson
  The employment rehabilitation service offers specialist assessment and rehabilitation to help people with disabilities get back to work or to enter training. It is already very successful. Plans for further improvements were announced in the consultative document "Employment and Training for People with Disabilities" and comments made on how to implement them most effectively are being carefully considered.

  Government Training Schemes
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people under the age of 25 years secured full-time employment in 1990 as a result of Government-sponsored training schemes.

  Mr. Jackson
  Of those under 25 years, 63 per cent. of those leaving YT and 32 per cent. of those leaving ET went into full-time employment.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of people unemployed in the London borough of Wandsworth on 21 March.

  Mr. Jackson
  On the latest count date of 7 February 1991 there were 10,959 on the unadjusted basis.

  TEACHERS: INITIAL TRAINING COURSES
  TEACHERS: INITIAL TRAINING COURSES
  REGULATION OF RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES: CHARGES SCHEME
  REGULATION OF RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES: CHARGES SCHEME
  CCGT GENERATING CAPACITY: ESTIMATE
  CCGT GENERATING CAPACITY: ESTIMATE
  REAR SEAT BELTS: EC COUNTRIES
  REAR SEAT BELTS: EC COUNTRIES
  VEHICLE EXCISE DUTY EVASION: SURVEY
  VEHICLE EXCISE DUTY EVASION: SURVEY
  TAXIS REAR SEAT PASSENGERS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED—STATISTICS
  TAXIS REAR SEAT PASSENGERS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED—STATISTICS