Written Answers of 27 March 1991

ENERGY

  Energy Statistics
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy,Official Report, 26 February, column 448, when he expects the "Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 1991" to be published.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  It is expected that the 1991 edition of the "Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics" will be published at the end of July, as in previous years. A copy will be placed in the Library.

  Gas-fired Boilers
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to bring forward proposals to implement the EC directive on the energy efficiency of gas-fired domestic boilers.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The form and content of this draft directive are still under discussion and it is too early to say when a draft will be ready to be considered for adoption by the Community. If it is adopted, subsequent implementation in this country will proceed within the timetable which will be set in the directive.

  Coal
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has any proposals to amend the Coal Industry Act to put an obligation on British Coal to protect existing coal reserves.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Under the Coal Industry Acts 1946 to 1990, the British Coal Corporation has a statutory duty to secure the efficient development of the coal industry. The Government have announced their intention to privatise the coal industry after the next election, which will involve a change to the existing legislation.

  Rye House Power Station
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how long the Rye House power station in Hertfordshire has been decommissioned.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The decommissioning of the old Rye House power station was completed by the end of 1982.

  Offshore Safety
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what progress he has made in implementing the recommendation of the Cullen report into the Piper Alpha disaster that responsibility for the regulation of offshore safety should be transferred to the Health and Safety Executive.
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  Mr. Wakeham
  I announced on 12 November,Official Report, column 330, the Government's acceptance of all the recommendations for improving offshore safety made by Lord Cullen in his report on the Piper Alpha disaster. These included the establishment of a single regulatory body to deal with offshore safety which, on balance, he recommended should be part of the Health and Safety Executive. It follows that the Health and Safety Commission will be responsible for taking forward Lord Cullen's other recommendations. I also announced in November that ministerial responsibility for offshore safety matters in Great Britain would, with the approval of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, be transferred to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.

  I am pleased to announce that, following the completion of the necessary detailed preparatory work, and with the agreement of the Health and Safety Commission, the staff of the offshore safety division of the Department of Energy, together with certain staff from the Department of Transport, will, with effect from 1 April 1991, be transferred to the HSE. They will form the core of a new division, which will be considerably strengthened to enable it to continue to enforce the existing regime for the regulation of offshore safety and to carry forward the successful development and implementation of changes recommended by Lord Cullen.

  It is clear that a significant increase in the resources available to the HSE will be necessary to enable it to carry out its new responsibilities. Agreement has been reached on this with the HSC and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Employment, who will be assuming ministerial responsibility from the same date, will be seeking authority for the necessary additional resources by means of a supplementary estimate.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Community Charge
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Attorney-General whether he will bring forward proposals for ensuring that community charge non-payers are not recorded on the general register of county court judgments on debts.

  The Attorney-General
  The regulations that govern the operation of the Register of County Court Judgments do not at present provide for information about community charge non-payers to be recorded, since community charge is enforced through magistrates courts.

  Female Circumcision
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Attorney-General on how many cases relating to female circumcision the Director of Public Prosecutions has received papers since 1985; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  No papers have been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions in cases in which a prosecution under the Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985 has been sought.

  Cases concerning female circumcision may also be prosecuted as offences of causing grievous bodily harm contrary to the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. Information on whether any papers have been referred

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  seeking prosecutions under this Act in such circumstances is not, however, readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Public Record Office
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Attorney-General whether any changes have been made to the running costs limit for the Public Record Office.

  The Attorney-General
  The running cost limit for the Public Record Office will be decreased by £69,000 from £16,754,000 to £16,685,000 to compensate for a breach in the running cost limit in 1989–90. This follows the normal practice of reducing the limit for one financial year by the amount of any overspend in the previous year.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Retail Prices Index
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the year-on percentage change in the retail prices index(a) excluding the community charge and mortgage interest payments for each month since April 1989, (b) excluding rates and mortgage interest payments for each month between June 1987 and April 1989 and (c) excluding mortgage interest payments for each month since June 1987.

  Mr. Maples
  The following table gives the information:

  Retail prices index—percentage change over 12 months

  All items excluding mortgage interest payments and Community Charge/Rates

  All items excluding mortgage interest payments

  1987

  June

  3·4

  3·5

  July

  3·5

  3·7

  August

  3·5

  3·7

  September

  3·4

  3·5

  October

  3·7

  3·9

  November

  3·8

  4·0

  December

  3·8

  3·9

  1988

  January

  3·5

  3·7

  February

  3·5

  3·6

  March

  3·6

  3·8

  April

  4·0

  4·2

  May

  4·2

  4·4

  June

  4·5

  4·7

  July

  4·8

  5·0

  August

  4·9

  5·0

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Grants in Aggregate External Finance

  13,230

  14,130

  15,160

  15,560

  16,100

  Other grants

  6,570

  7,200

  7,510

  7,380

  9,200

  Rates (net of all rebates)

  13,860

  15,720

  17,140

  19,130

  20,780

  Trading surpluses, interest and dividend

  1,230

  1,330

  1,390

  1,680

  2,090

  Rents

  3,090

  3,040

  3,040

  3,190

  3,150

  Borrowing from central government (PWLB)

  5,750

  5,720

  4,090

  4,940

  2,260

  from other sources

  −4,080

  −5,570

  −2,740

  −4,600

  −940

  Other receipts

  −150

  510

  −600

  −150

  250

  Total income

  39,500

  42,080

  44,990

  47,130

  52,890

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  All items excluding mortgage interest payments and Community Charge/Rates

  All items excluding mortgage interest payments

  September

  5·0

  5·2

  October

  5·0

  5·1

  November

  5·0

  5·1

  December

  4·9

  5·1

  1989

  January

  5·4

  5·5

  February

  5·5

  5·7

  March

  5·6

  5·7

  April

  5·9

  5·9

  May

  5·8

  6·0

  June

  5·8

  5·9

  July

  5·7

  5·8

  August

  5·5

  5·7

  September

  5·7

  5·8

  October

  5·9

  6·1

  November

  5·9

  6·1

  December

  6·0

  6·1

  1990

  January

  5·9

  6·7

  February

  6·0

  6·2

  March

  6·2

  6·3

  April

  6·5

  7·9

  May

  7·0

  8·1

  June

  6·9

  8·2

  July

  7·0

  8·3

  August

  7·9

  9·1

  September

  8·3

  9·5

  October

  8·4

  9·5

  November

  8·0

  9·2

  December

  7·7

  9·0

  1991

  January

  7·4

  8·5

  February

  7·5

  8·6

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish tables for the financing of local authority expenditure in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, in a form comparable to table 5.13 of Cm 1520, but analysing the financing of local authority expenditure as defined in table 5·6 rather than the financing of local authority expenditure on a national accounts basis.

  Mr. Mellor
  The table shows the financing of local authority expenditure as defined in table 5.6 of the "Statistical Supplement to the 1990 Autumn Statement" —Cm 1520—for the United Kingdom.
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  The footnotes in table 5.13 of Cm 1520 still apply except that "other grants" excludes the repayment of VAT and "other receipts" excludes the imputed income from non-trading capital.

  Data are not held in a form which allows a disaggregation of the above table by territory, except at disproportionate cost.

  Denationalisation
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of jobs(a) in total and (b) as full-time equivalent that have been subject to denationalisation since 1979–80.

  Mr. Maude
  At least 910,000 jobs in total—at least 885,000 full-time equivalent—have been transferred to the private sector due to privatisation since 1979–80.

  Gross Domestic Product Deflators
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the derivation of the financial year gross domestic product market price deflators now used in Cm 1520, together with a similar derivation for the financial year gross domestic product market price deflator without adjustment for the effect of the introduction of the community charge.

  Mr. Mellor
  The GDP market price deflator for past years is calculated from the ratio of data on cash and constant price figures for GDP at market prices. Figures for the current year and future years are Treasury forecasts. Details of the method used to adjust the GDP deflator series to remove the discontinuity associated with the abolition of domestic rates, are given in paragraphs 7 to 12 of appendix A of the "Statistical Supplement to the 1990 Autumn Statement"—Cm 1520. The unadjusted GDP deflator series consistent with the adjusted figures published in Cm 1520 is:

  Unadjusted GDP deflator (1989–90 = 100)

  1963–64

  11·2

  1964–65

  11·7

  1965–66

  12·3

  1966–67

  12·8

  1967–68

  13·2

  1968–69

  13·8

  1969–70

  14·6

  1970–71

  15·8

  1971–72

  17·2

  1972–73

  18·6

  1973–74

  19·9

  1974–75

  23·8

  1975–76

  29·9

  1976–77

  33·9

  1977–78

  38·6

  1978–79

  42·8

  1979–80

  49·9

  1980–81

  59·1

  1981–82

  64·8

  1982–83

  69·4

  1983–84

  72·6

  1984–85

  76·3

  1985–86

  80·4

  1986–87

  83·2

  1987–88

  87·7

  1988–89

  94·1

  1989–90

  100·0

  1990–91

  106·0

  1991–92

  112·4

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  Unadjusted GDP deflator (1989–90 = 100)

  1992–93

  117·7

  1993–94

  121·8

  Balance of Payments
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in descending order of balance of payment performance(a) agriculture as a whole, (b) agriculture minus cereals, (c) the cereal sector, (d) coal, (e)steel, (f)electrical, (g)chemical and (h)invisibles.

  Mr. Mellor
  The balance of payments surplus on invisibles for 1990 is currently estimated at £5·1 billion. Visible trade information is not available for specific commodities on a balance of payments basis: the following table shows 1990 crude trade balances (1) for the nearest classes of goods on an overseas trade statistics basis.

  £ billion

  SITC2

  Crude Balance1

  5

  Chemicals

  +2·3

  67

  Iron and steel

  +0·4

  04

  Cereals and cereal preparations

  +0·3

  32

  Coal, coke and briquettes

  −0·5

  716, 75–77

  Electrical machinery

  −3·3

  Agriculture3

  −6·4

  Agriculture3 less cereals and cereal preparations

  −6·1

  1 Exports cif less imports fob.

  2 Standard International Trade Classification (Rev. 3).

  3 There is no generally accepted definition of agriculture in the SITC. The figures used cover food and live animals, feed, beverages and other agricultural products (SITC Sections 0, 1 and 4; Division 22 and parts of Divisions 21, 26, 29, 51, 53, 55 and 59).

  Finance Bill
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Finance Bill will be published.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Finance Bill will be published on Wednesday 17 April.

  Civil Service Catering Organisation
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the recommendation of the Treasury working party which has looked into the options for the future of the Civil Service Catering Organisation.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 26 March 1991]: Following an assessment of prospects for the Civil Service Catering Organisation—CISCO—in a study announced on 4 April 1990, Official Report, columns 608–09, I have decided that CISCO should be reorganised with the aim of its transfer to the private sector.

  Reorganisation will include developing CISCO's operations on more commercial lines and concentrating them upon its business activities. It will be for individual Departments and agencies to decide what catering facilities will be made available to staff. In consequence, certain administration-related work which CISCO has undertaken hitherto will pass elsewhere within government, some to Departments generally and some to the Treasury. The changes will give CISCO the opportunity to

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  improve the value for money which its services offer both to its Government Department clients and to the individual customers of the staff restaurants which it runs and manages. Competitive tendering of catering contracts will continue, and the free choices made by CISCO's clients and customers will eventually determine whether it will be viable for operation in the private sector or whether the needs of Departments and individual customers will best be met by other catering contractors. I expect the management of this process of change to finish by the end of March 1993.

  Consultations will take place with the Council of Civil Service Unions and the Joint Co-ordinating Committee for Government Industrial Establishments.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his answer to the right hon. Member for Worthing (Mr. Higgins) of 15 February,Official Report, column 624, if he will estimate the increase in the standard rate of income tax which would be required to yield the same revenue as his revised estimate of the yield of the community charge in 1991–92, following his Budget announcement on measures to reduce the amounts raised in community charge.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: Around 4p.

  Inflation
  Mr. Lawson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the fall in inflation between 1979 and 1990(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in the G7 as a whole, calculating United Kingdom inflation in terms of the underlying rate in each case.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: There are a number of ways of estimating underlying inflation. As measured by the RPI excluding mortgage interest payments and the community charge rates the 12-month rate fell from 12·5 per cent. in 1979 to 7·2 per cent. in 1990. Alternatively as measured by the RPI excluding mortgage interest payments the rate fell from 12·5 per cent. in 1979 to 8·1 per cent. in 1990.

  The average 12-month increase in consumer prices for G7 countries in 1990 was 5 per cent. A comparable figure for 1979 is not available.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Reading
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on the number of books included in the recommended reading lists for children in level 3 which are presently in print.

  Mr. Eggar
  Of the 24 titles on the booklist for the level 3 reading test, 10 are currently in print, four more will be in print by the end of this week and the remaining 10 will be reprinted over the next few weeks. The titles were chosen on the assumption that every school would have at least one in stock. There is no need for schools to obtain a copy of every title on the list in order to carry out the reading tests.

  National Association of Boys' Clubs
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the cost of HM inspectors' inspection of the National Association of Boys' Clubs carried out between September 1988 and June 1989.

  Mr. Atkins
  The approximate direct cost of the inspection was £15,000.

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to promote the discussion of environmental problems, within the geography national curriculum.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend laid earlier this week the order that contains the attainment targets and programmes of study for geography in the national curriculum. This includes a whole attainment target dealing with environmental geography. Environmental education is also a cross-curricular theme within the national curriculum and other subjects, notably science, will have their part to play in delivering this aspect of education.

  Mandatory Awards
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he intends to amend the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations 1990 for the current academic year.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. and learned Friend is laying before the House today the Education (Mandatory Awards) (Amendment) Regulations 1991. Subject to parliamentary approval, these will amend the regulations covering England and Wales for the current academic year in the following respects.

  First, they will give effect to the arrangements for architecture students announced by my right hon. and learned Friend on 6 February, Official Report, columns 145–46. Following the redesignation of architecture courses, they will provide for a mandatory award this year to any eligible student who has not already received a bursary under the temporary scheme established last autumn.

  Secondly, they will provide for fees-only or full mandatory awards as appropriate for certain students whose ordinary residence included periods spent in the territory of the former German Democratic Republic before unification. This is a technical change to put these students on the same footing as those whose residential qualifications were acquired elsewhere in EC territory.

  Thirdly, the amendments will dispense with the allowance which has hitherto been payable, at discretion, to students who would otherwise suffer undue hardship during the vacation. This allowance is no longer needed, now that the resources available to students have been substantially increased, notably with the introduction of loans. Its removal will ease local education authorities' administration of awards. Students will still be eligible for the extra weeks study allowance if they are required to attend their courses during the vacation.

  Finally, the amendments will correct some minor technical ambiguities in the provisions for termly payment

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  of fees, for certain exceptional entitlements to a mandatory award following previous award-supported study, and for the scope of the basic disabled student's allowance.

WALES

  Children's Hospital, Ely
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the relative costs of procedures and operations at the children's ear, nose and throat hospital, Ely, Cardiff relative to the costs of other hospitals for similar(a) outpatient and (b) inpatient cases.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information is not held centrally.

  Archaeological Explorations
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report the number of instances in Wales whereby landowners have been required to incur the costs of archaeological explorations and/or excavations; and if he will indicate the total cost of such work.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  There is no specific statutory provision to require landowners to meet the costs of archaeological explorations and/or excavations. However, the treatment of archaeological remains can be a material consideration in the determination of planning applications and local planning authorities can impose appropriate conditions to protect monuments or ensure access for archaeologists. In addition voluntary agreements can also be made under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to provide for archaeological works. Such local arrangements are matters for the interested parties and are notified to the Department.

  Sheep Farming
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with Welsh farmers about the future of the sheep industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The sheep industry is a regular subject of discussion in the frequent meetings I have with farmers and their representatives. The Government continue to support the industry and last year took full advantage of the European Commission's decision to bring forward the two advance payments of sheep annual premium. In 1991, sheep producers in the LFA will benefit from substantial increases in the rate of HLCA payments, and a supplement of 4 ecu to the sheep annual premium, which together will increase the support payments, to producers in Wales by some £18 million.

  Knacker Industry
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the Government's policy in Wales on the knacker industry; and what representations he has received.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I am aware of the concerns of the knacker industry. It is central to our waste disposal practice and for many years has provided a vital service. A414
  Community directive agreed last November lays down harmonised rules about the disposal of animal waste. We have secured, against the opposition of other member states, provision for the knacker trade to continue in its present form at least until 1995 and then the possibility of continuation after that date.

  Local Government
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines he intends to publish concerning his proposals for unitary authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have made no proposals for unitary authorities and the question of guidelines does not arise. I have received some representations that we should move towards such a system, but I do not intend to make any decisions until I have had the benefit of further discussions with the Welsh local authority associations.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future of community and town councils.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Community and town councils play an important role in many parts of Wales. In considering the merits of any proposals put to me for reorganisation of Welsh local government, I intend to take careful account of their implications for the continued effective operation of these councils.

  Historic Monuments Agency
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the performance targets he is setting for 1991–92 in relation to the establishment of CADW: the Welsh Historic Monuments executive agency.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  CADW: Welsh Historic Monuments will formally become an executive agency under the "next steps" initiative on 1 April this year. It is responsible for the discharge of the Secretary of State's statutory functions relating to the preservation, protection andmaintenance of ancient monuments, historic buildings and conservation areas within Wales.

  The chief executive will be personally responsible for achieving improvements in efficiency, effectiveness and in customer services. To enable him to exercise that responsibility, my right hon. Friend has made delegationsof authority to him, which are set out in the agency's framework document, which defines the respective rolesand responsibilities of the agency chief executive, the Welsh Office and the Secretary of State for Wales. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Each year we shall be setting demanding financial and service targets for CADW. The targets set for its first year of operation as an agency, financial year 1991–92, are as follows:

  A. Conservation/preservation

  (i) Completion to time and within cost of 85 per cent. of priority conservation projects identified in the quinquennial review of properties in care.

  (ii) Notification to applicants of decisions on Historic Buildings Council grant applications within 18 weeks of receipt in 85 per cent. of cases.

  (iii) Determination of 75 per cent. of scheduled monument consent cases within 90 days.

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  (vi) Determination of 75 per cent. of listed building consent referrals in 28 days; 90 per cent. within 60 days.

  (v) Complete 12 historic building listing re-surveys in the year, where each re-survey covers one or more community districts.

  (vi) Decide on 30 ancient monuments within the scheduling enhancement programme in the year. This programme is rationalising the existing schedule of ancient monuments and identifying representative samples of different monument classes for scheduling.

  B. Presentation

  (vii) Generate increase in receipts to £2·76 million from the 1990–91 forecast outturn of £2·4 million.

  (viii) Maintain overall market share of the top 20 heritage sites in Wales at 66·6 per cent., which represents about 1·4 million visitors to CADW sites.

  C. Administration

  (ix) Operate within allocated programme and running cost budgets.

  (x) Generate a 1·5 per cent. efficiency improvement against gross running costs covering all of the agency's operations.

  Performance against these targets will be assessed in the agency's annual report which we will lay before the House as soon as possible after the year end.

  CADW remains part of the Welsh Office, and my right hon. Friend will remain accountable to this House for CADW. Where hon. or right hon. Members have queries about matters relating to the operations of CADW I hope that they will write in the first instance to the chief executive at Brunel house, 2 Fitzalan road, Cardiff CF2 1UY. If Members remain dissatisfied after receiving a reply from CADW they will be able to raise the issue with my right hon. Friend. We will, of course, continue to deal with questions of policy and the provision of resources.

  The Secretary of State approved the appointment of Mr. John Carr, the current director of CADW, as the chief executive of the agency for the next three years. We wish the chief executive and his staff every success for the future. I am confident that the enhanced responsibilities which they have will enable them to meet their objectives in respect of the built heritage of Wales while giving better value for money.

  Welsh Assembly
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has any plans to establish a regional assembly for Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The local authorities association and others have pressed upon me the case for such an assembly to perform executive functions in the Principality. I have not reached a final decision on this question, but I have to say that the suggestions that have been put to me pose very considerable problems, not least because of the uncertainties and ambiguities about the respective responsibilities of the Secretary of State and of the assembly and about the powers of the assembly. I am not at present persuaded that the creation of an assembly along these lines would be in the best interests of the people of Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales in his review of the structure and function of local councils in Wales what consideration he has given to the likely cost of establishing a Welsh assembly.
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  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answer 26 March 1991]: The proposals for an assembly which have been put to me are not sufficiently precise to allow for an accurate costing, but the costs would certainly be considerable. Estimates made in the White Paper "Our Changing Democracy"—Cm 6348, 1975—increased to allow for inflation, suggest that the annual running costs of an assembly could be between £40 million and £50 million. The "Vote No" lobby issued a booklet in February 1979 which put the cumulative costs of an assembly over a 21-year period. That total, increased for inflation, would now be £1 billion.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Ethiopia
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he is making to the Ethiopian Government concerning the cutting off of the joint relief partnership supply route from Assab port to famine areas of northern Ethiopia since 17 March.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We made representations with the donor group in Addis Ababa on 22 March. On 25 March the Ethiopian Government announced that the southern line would reopen. We understand that convoys began moving again on 26 March, when 40 trucks left Dessie to travel north.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total amount of United Kingdom aid for cross-border relief into Tigray and Eritrea given since September 1990 to date; and what plans he has to give further assistance for cross-border operations.

  Mrs. Chalker
  About £6·3 million. We shall continue to provide humanitarian relief aid to Eritrea and Tigray using the most effective means available, including cross-border where appropriate.

  Thailand
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he intends to reduce or cut off bilateral aid to Thailand following the recent military coup.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We are following political developments closely and will take them into account in reaching decisions on new aid activities.

TRANSPORT

  Road Building
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the (i) areas of outstanding natural beauty and (ii) sites of special scientific interest which lie within the path of currently proposed routes for his Department's road building programme.

  Mr. Chope
  All trunk road schemes are designed to avoid unnecessary adverse impact on the environment and to maximise the environmental gains which result from new roads. Wherever possible roads are kept away from protected areas such as areas of outstanding natural
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  beauty and sites of special scientific interest, and when there is a risk that a proposed scheme will affect such an area it is examined with particular care to establish that a new road is needed and that the route has been chosen to do as little damage to the environment as practicable. The Nature Conservancy Council and the Countryside Commission are consulted from the earliest stages of route proposals, and measures to mitigate impact or to recreate habitats are agreed with them.

  Areas of outstanding natural beauty now cover more than 13 per cent. of the land area of England and Wales and existing trunk roads already run through many of them. Improvements to those routes may affect 12 of the38 areas of outstanding natural beauty. They are:

  Chilterns

  Cotswolds

  Cornwall

  Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs

  Dorset

  Kent Downs

  High Weald

  East Hampshire

  North Downs

  North Wessex Downs

  Surrey Hills

  Sussex Downs

  More than 5,300 sites of special scientific interest cover about 7 per cent. of the land area of Great Britain. Currently proposed routes for road improvements have some impact on 27 sites of special scientific interest—0·5per cent. of the total:

  Bingley South Bog

  Boilton Wood

  Chasewater Heath

  Clints Hill

  Coombe Haven (corridor for road reserved at designation)

  Duddon Sands

  Eashing Copse

  Fleam Dyke/Roman Road

  Folkestone and Etchinghill Escarpment

  Folkestone Warren

  Goss Moor

  Hampton Rock Cutting

  Hilton Gravel Pits

  Hindhead Common

  Hook Moor (road verge designated as SSSI)

  Hurcott and Podmore Pools

  New Forest

  Oxleas Wood

  Rainham Marshes

  River Wye

  Roughdown Common

  St. Catherine's Hill

  Snelsmore Common

  Swale

  The Roughs

  Winchester Meadows

  Woolston Eyes

  When construction of the A595 Egremont bypass is complete, it is proposed to designate a rocky outcrop exposed by the roadworks as an SSSI. There are other examples of road construction itself leading to the creation of scientifically valuable habitats.

  Road Maintenance
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on requirements for major maintenance on motorways and other trunk roads.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department has made good progress towards eliminating by 1992–93 the backlog of maintenance identified in the early 1980s. In the current financial 418
  year, renewal achieved has exceeded our target by some 10 per cent. and I expect the target again to be exceeded in the forthcoming financial year.

  Traffic growth, particularly in recent years, has greatly exceeded that forecast when much of the present network was built. Over the last six years extensive data on network conditions have been collected and these have now been analysed to provide comprehensive information on future maintenance needs. Results indicate that an effective programme of maintenance will require a level of activity significantly above 1991–92 level.

  The information from this work will be updated annually so that progress can be monitored and requirements reviewed.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much it will cost his Department to assess competing bids for transport supplementary grant for highway structural maintenance on the primary route network.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: The assessment of competing bids for TSG will not necessitate any increase in departmental staff.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Leisure Centres
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list by district council the leisure centres operated by each local government authority in Northern Ireland;

  (2) if he will list the community centres operated by district councils in Northern Ireland, stipulating the responsible council in each case.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested is as follows:

  Leisure Centres
    District Council Leisure and Community Centres

      ANTRIM BOROUGH COUNCIL
      Leisure Centres
      1. Antrim Forum
      Community Centres

      1. Neillsbrook

      2. Crumlin

      3. Rathenraw

      4. M uckamore

      5. Stiles

      6. Greystone

      7. Parkhall

      ARDS BOROUGH COUNCIL
      Leisure Centres

      1. Ards Leisure Centre

      2. Comber Leisure Centre

      3. Kiltonga Squash Centre

      4. NI Aquarium

      Community Centres

      1. Queen's Hall

      2. Glen

      3. Manor Court

      4. West Winds

      5. Donaghadee

      6. Ballywalter Village Hall

      7. Ballygowan Village Hall

      8. Portaferry Market House

      9. Town Hall, Arts Centre, Newtownards.

      ARMAGH DISTRICT COUNCIL
      Leisure Centres
      1. Orchard Leisure Centre
      Community Centres

      1. Armagh

      2. Keady

      3. Richhill Recreation Park (Pavilion)

      BALLYMENA BOROUGH COUNCIL
      Leisure Centres
      1. Seven Towers Leisure Centre
      Community Centres

      1. Ahoghill

      2. Bailee

      3. Ballykeel

      4. Broughshane

      5. Cullybackey

      6. Dunclug

      7. Galgorm

      8. Harryville

      9. Portglenone

      10. Sentry Hill

      11. Waveney

      BALLYMONEY BOROUGH COUNCIL
      Leisure Centres
      1. Riada Centre
      Community Centres

      1. Ballybogey Hall

      2. Carnanney Tenants Association

      3. Cloughmills Village Association

      4. Dervock and District Community Association

      BANBR/DGE DISTRICT COUNCIL
      Leisure Centres
      1. Downshire Leisure Centre/Swimming Pool

      BELFAST CITY COUNCIL
      Leisure Centres

      1. Andersonstown Leisure Centre

      2. Avoniel Leisure Centre

      3. Shankill Leisure Centre

      4. Maysfield Leisure Centre

      5. The Grove Leisure Centre

      6. Beechmount Leisure Centre

      7. Ballysillan Leisure Centre

      8. Olympia Leisure Centre

      9. Whiterock Leisure Centre

      10. Shaftesbury Recreation Centre

      11. Ballymacarratt Recreation Centre

      12. Ormeau Park

      13. Falls Swimming Centre

      14. Grosvenor Recreation Centre

      15. Loughside Recreation Centre

      Community Centres

      1. Ardoyne

      2. Concord

      3. Dee Street

      4. Divis

      5. Duncairn

      6. Finaghy

      7. Glen Road

      8. Hammer Community Complex

      9. Highfield

      10. Horn Drive

      11. Knocknagoney

      12. Ligoniel

      13. Markets

      14. Morton

      15. North Queen Street

      16. Olympia

      17. Suffolk

      18. Sandy Row

      19. Trinity Street

      20. Whiterock

      21. Woodvale

      CARRICKFERGUS BOROUGH COUNCIL
      Leisure Centres
      1. Carrickfergus Leisure Centre
      Community Centres

      1. Woodburn

      2. Sunnyland

      3. Greenisland

      4. Whitesand

      5. Castlemara

      CASTLEREAGH BOROUGH COUNCIL
      Leisure Centres

      1. Dundonald International Ice Bowl

      2. Robinson Centre

      3. Ballybeen Community/Leisure Centre

      Community Centres

      1. Bolvoir

      2. Braniel

      3. Dungoyne

      4. Tullycarnet

      5. Cregagh

      6. Castlereagh

      COLERAINE BOROUGH COUNCIL
      Leisure Centres

      1. Coleraine Leisure Centre

      2. Waterworld Complex

      Community Centres

      1. Millburn

      2. Harpers Hill

      3. Ballysally

      COOKSTOWN DISTRICT COUNCIL
      Leisure Centres
      1. Cookstown Recreation Centre

      CRAIGAVON BOROUGH COUNCIL
      Leisure Centres

      1. Craigavon Leisure Centre

      2. Cascades

      3. Lurgan Swimming Complex

      Community Centres

      1. Ashgrove Road

      2. Avenue Road

      3. Brownstown Park

      4. Corcrain

      5. Drumgor

      6. Killicomaine

      7. Monbrief

      8. Mourneview

      9. Moyraverty

      10. North Lurgan

      11. Pinebank House (Arts and Resource)

      12. Lurgan Town Hall (Arts and Resource)

      13. Portadown Town Hall (Arts and Resource)

      14. Harford Street Hall

      DERRY CITY COUNCIL
      Leisure Centres

      1. Templemore Sports Complex

      2. Lisnagelvin Leisure Centre

      3. Brooke Parke

      4. Brandywell

      Community Centres

      1. Shantallow

      2. Gobnascale

      3. Foyle Hill

      4. Glenview

      5. Lisnagelvin

      6. Creggan

      7. Liscoln Courts

      8. Cam Hill

      9. Clooney

      10. Rosemont

      421

      11. Gaol Turret

      12. Pilot's Row

      DOWN DISTRICT COUNCIL
      Leisure Centres

      1. Down Leisure Centre

      2. Newcastle Leisure Centre

      3. Ballynahinch Recreation Centre

      Community Centres

      1. Killough Road

      2 The Dan Rice Memorial Hall

      3 Down Arts Centre

      DUNGANNON DISTRICT COUNCIL
      Leisure Centres
      1. Swimming Pool, Circular Road
      Community Centres

      1. Public Service Building 'The Moy'

      2. Resource Centre

      FERMANAGH DISTRICT COUNCIL
      Leisure Centres

      1. Lakeland Forum

      2..Castle Park Centre

      3. Bawnacre Centre

      Community Centres

      1. Belcoo

      2. Belleek

      3. Ederney

      4. Kesh

      5. Newtownbutler

      6. Roslea

      LARNE BOROUGH COUNCIL
      Leisure Centres
      1. Tower Pools Complex
      Community Centres

      1. Ballycarry

      2. Glynn Village Hall

      3. Greenisland

      4. Islandmagee

      5. Kilwaughter Village Hall

      6. Lynn

      7. McGarel Town Hall

      8. Millbrook

      9. Seacourt

      LIMAVADY BOROUGH COUNCIL
      Leisure Centres

      1. Roe Valley Recreation Centre

      2. Dungiven Recreation Centre

      Community Centres

      1. Dromore

      2. Limavady

      3. Feeny

      4. Aghanloo

      5. Benone

      LISBURN BOROUGH COUNCIL
      Leisure Centres

      1. Lisburn Leisure Centre

      2. Lisburn Swimming Pool

      3. Grove Activity Centre

      4. Kilmakee Activity Centre

      5. Glenmore Activity Centre

      6. Brook Activity Centre

      Community Centres

      1. West Lisburn

      2. Bridge

      MAGHERAFELT DISTRICT COUNCIL
      Leisure Centres

      1. Greenvale Leisure Centre

      2. Maghera Recreation Centre

      Community Centres
      1. Draperstown Town Hall

      MOYLE DISTRICT COUNCIL
      Leisure Centres
      1. Sheskhurn House Recreation Centre
      Community Centres

      1. Bushmills

      2. Mosside

      3. Causeway Centre

      NEWRY & MOURNE DISTRICT COUNCIL
      Leisure Centres

      1. Newry Sports Centre

      2. Newry Swimming Pool

      3. Kilkeel Sports Centre

      Community Centres

      1. Cloughreagh

      2. Loanda House

      3. Dromalane

      4. Meadow/Armagh Road

      5. Cabra

      6. Meigh

      7. Cullyhanna

      8. Burren

      9. Barnmeen

      10. Mullaghbawn

      11. Dromintee

      12. Forkhill

      13. Crossmaglen

      14. Whitecross

      15. Lisnacree

      16. Longstone

      17. Saval

      18. Lislea

      19. Annalong

      20. Camlough

      21. Newtownhamilton

      22. Ballyholland

      23. Threeways

      24. Bessbrook

      25. Kingdom

      26. O'Neill Avenue

      27. Warrenpoint Town Hall

      28. Newry Town Hall

      NEWTOWNABBEY BOROUGH COUNCIL
      Leisure Centres

      1. The Valley

      2. Ballyearl

      Community Centres

      1. Rathfern

      2. Rushpark

      3. Ballyduff

      4. Monkstown

      NORTH DOWN BOROUGH COUNCIL
      Leisure Centre
      1. Bangor Leisure Centre
      Community Centres

      1. Skipperstone

      2. Kilcooley

      3. Breezemount

      4. Conlig

      5. Redburn

      6. Birdland Drop In

      7 Queen's Hall

      OMAGH DISTRICT COUNCIL
      Leisure Centres
      1. Omagh Leisure Centre
      Community Centres

      1. CKS

      2. Cloughfin

      3. Creggan

      4. Drumquin

      5. Eskra

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      6. Fintona

      7. Gardenville

      8. Gortin Village

      9. Greencastle

      10. Hospital Road

      11. Hunter Crescent

      12. Lisanelly Heights

      13. Loughmacrory

      14. Mountfield

      15. Mullaghmore/Castleview

      16. Omagh CDT

      17. Owenkillew

      18. Strathroy

      19. Termonmaquirc

      20. Trillick

      21. Drumduff/Drumnakilly

      STRABANE DISTRICT COUNCIL
      Leisure Centres

      1. Riversdale

      2. Derg Valley

      Community Centres

      1. Melvin Hall

      2. Fountain Street

      3. Clady Hall

  Tank and Bottled Gas
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will set up an inquiry into the price of tank and bottled gas in the Province.

  Mr. Needham
  The Director General of the Office of Fair Trading is already making inquiries into the operation of the liquefied petroleum gas market throughout the United Kingdom. I have alerted him to the impact recent price increases are having in Northern Ireland and the director general has undertaken to let me know the outcome of his inquiries.

  Civil Service
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when his Department last conducted a survey of the ethnic origins of its employees; when it next plans to do so; and whether he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer I gave him on 12 March 1991,Official Report, columns 466–67.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what percentage of officers in each of grades 1 to 7 and overall in his Department are(a) women and (b) from ethnic minorities, respectively.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer I gave him on 12 March 1991,Official Report, column 467.

  Dunover Road, Ballywalter
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to improve the roadway, known as Dunover road, Ballywalter, between Broadway and The Manse beyond the 30mph sign; whether a footway will be provided along this stretch of road; what information he has on the number of schoolchildren walking along this roadway; and whether any work will commence at this location in the current year.

  Mr. Needham
  A scheme to realign a section of Dunover road between Broadway and the existing length 424
  of footway has started; it will include the provision of a footway. There are no proposals for improving the remainder of Dunover road at present.

  No information is available on the number of schoolchildren who walk along the road in question.

  Boyd House, Ards Hospital
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many residents there are in Boyd house at Ards hospital; whether new residents are still being accepted; and if he will make a statement about the future of Boyd house.

  Mr. Hanley
  There are 43 residents in Boyd house, a 52-place unit for the elderly. There is no waiting list for admission and new residents are still being accepted. The organisation of services at local level is a matter for health and social services boards. I am not aware of any proposals by the Eastern board relating to the future of Boyd house.

  Police Complaints Commission
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will arrange for copies of the report of the triennial review by the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland to be laid before the House; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  The report has been laid today. It reviews the working of articles 4 to 16 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 during the period 1988 to 1991.

  This is the first such report from the commission, which was established in 1988. I am glad to note that in general terms it is satisfied with the statutory procedures in the order for the handling of complaints from the public against individual police officers. However, it has made nine recommendations which it considers will further enhance these procedures and, before reaching any decision on them, I intend consulting the various interested bodies. I shall report to the House further in due course.

  I am grateful to the commission for the considerable effort that has been put into the preparation of the report. It has now had three years' experience of the system for handling complaints and it is only right and proper that its views backed by operational experience should be the basis for a re-examination of the procedures. The commission, by its fair and thorough handling of individual complaints, has already done much to improve the relationship between the police and the public it serves. Its triennial review is further evidence that it is concerned to ensure that the complaints system operates efficiently, effectively and impartially for all the parties involved and, most importantly, that it is seen to do so.

  Rate Collection Agency
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in establishing the Rate Collection Agency.

  Mr. Needham
  I am pleased to announce that the Rate Collection Agency will be established as an executive agency of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland with effect from 1 April 1991. It is responsible for the collection of rates and administration
  425
  of the housing benefit scheme for owner-occupiers. I am confident that the new status as a "next steps" agency willlead to a significant and sustained improvement in the delivery of this important public service. I am delegating full managerial authority for the agency's day-to-day operations to the chief executive. The policy and resources framework for the agency is set out in the framework document, copies of which are being placed in the Library of the House. For 1991–92, the following targets have been set for the agency:

  (i) To reduce debt to below 2 per cent. of the gross collectable rate, excluding late assessments, by 31 March 1992.

  (ii) To achieve a reduction of 1·6 per cent. in the real value of the unit costs of collecting rates per hereditament.

  (iii) To generate refunds to 90 per cent. of ratepayers so entitled within 14 days of credits being identified.

  (iv) To process by 31 March 1992, 75 per cent. of applications in respect of the incoming year received from existing housing benefit recipients before 16 March 1992.

  (v) To achieve a 1·5 per cent. reduction in the real value of the unit costs of processing housing benefit applications.

  (vi) To achieve 96 per cent. of housing benefit assessments free of error.

  The Rate Collection Agency has also to achieve running costs cash efficiency savings of at least 1·5 per cent. in addition to projected non-cash efficiency savings.

PRIME MINISTER

  Council of Europe
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will announce the composition of the United Kingdom delegation for the 43rd session of the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe.

  The Prime Minister
  The 43rd session of the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe will be opened in Strasbourg on 22 April 1991. The delegation from the United Kingdom for the session will consist of 11 Members of the Conservative party, six Members of the Labour party and one Member of the Liberal Democrat party. I have also appointed a number of substitute delegates.

  The appointments of representatives and substitutes have been made on the basis of nominations by the leaders of those parties concerned.

  The same delegation will be representing the United Kingdom Parliament at the assembly of the Western European Union, which next meets in Paris on 3 June.

  Representatives from the Government Benches will be:

  My hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Sir G. Finsberg)—who will act as leader of both delegations.

  My hon. Friends the Members for:

  Warwick and Leamington (Sir D. Smith)

  Calder Valley(Mr. Thompson)

  Twickenham (Mr. Jessel)

  Northampton, South (Mr. Morris)

  Halesowen and Stourbridge (Sir J. Stokes)

  Poole (Mr. Ward)

  Ashford (Mr Speed)

  Streatham (Sir W Shelton)

  Medway (Dame P. Fenner) and

  The Earl of Kinnoull

  Representatives from the Labour party will be:

  The hon. Members for:

  Newport, East(Mr. Hughes)

  Wallsend (Mr.Garrett)

  426

  Wentworth (Mr. Hardy)

  Tooting (Mr Cox)

  Liverpool, Riverside (Mr Parry)

  Falkirk, East(Mr. Ewing)

  Representatives from the Liberal Democrats party will be:

  The hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber (Sir R. Johnston)

  The following substitutes have been appointed to act as o necessary on behalf of the delegates.

  From the Government benches

  My hon. Friends the Members for:

  Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson)

  Broxbourne (Mrs. Roe)

  Norfolk, North(Mr. Howell)

  Mid-Kent (Mr.Rowe)

  Lewes (Mr. Rathbone)

  Brighton, Kempton (Mr. Bowden)

  Suffolk, Central (Mr. Lord)

  Ravensbourne (Sir J. Hunt)

  Lord Newall and Lord Rodney

  From the Labour party:

  The hon. Members for:

  Wansbeck (Mr.Thompson)

  Manchester, Central (Mr. Litherland)

  Don Valley (Mr. Redmond)

  Warley, East (Mr. Faulds)

  Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks)

  Cunninghame, South (Mr. Lambie) and Lord Kirkhill

  From the Liberal Democrats party:

  The Lord Mackie of Benshie

  Former Prime Ministers
  Sir Anthony Durant
  To ask the Prime Minister whether he has any plans to assist former Prime Ministers with their office and secretarial expenses.

  The Prime Minister
  I propose to establish, with effect from 1 April 1991, a financial allowance to help former Prime Ministers to meet the continuing additional office costs which they are liable to incur because of their special position in public life. The new allowance, which will be equivalent in amount to the parliamentary office costs allowance, will be payable in respect of office and secretarial expenses incurred in connection with their public duties. It will be paid from the Cabinet Office vote. The allowance will not be payable to a former Prime Minister occupying the position of Leader of the Opposition and therefore in receipt of "Short" money.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government to the Yugoslav Government regarding recent violence against the Albanian minority in Kosova; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We and our western partners are continuing to urge the Serbian authorities to ensure the human and political rights of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo.

  Albania
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent proposals have been received by Her Majesty's Government from the Government of Albania regarding the restoration of full and formal diplomatic relations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  British and Albanian officials met in November and December of last year to discuss outstanding bilateral issues, including the possible resumption of diplomatic relations. We have not since then received any further proposals from the Albanians.

  Nuclear Tests
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response the United Kingdom delegates to the amendment conference for the partial nuclear test ban treaty in January made to the criticisms of United Kingdom policy of continued nuclear warhead testing put forward by the Mauritius, Brazilian and Pakistan delegations.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The head of the United Kingdom delegation to the conference made clear our position: because our security will depend for the foreseeable future on deterrence based in part on the possession of nuclear weapons, we have continuing need to test our nuclear weapons to ensure that they remain effective and up to date.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response was made by the United Kingdom delegation to the amendment conference for the partial nuclear test ban treaty held in January, to the proposals submitted in draft for a verification protocol II to the partial nuclear test ban treaty to assist in the completion of a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We made it clear at the conference that we do not believe that a comprehensive test ban could be properly verified. We believe that the conference on disarmament at Geneva provides the most appropriate forum for discussion of progress on nuclear testing issues.

  Thailand
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he is making to the Thai authorities to encourage a restoration of democracy and an end to repression.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have made clear, both to the National Peace Keeping Committee and the interim civilian Government, our great regret at the removal of a democratically elected civilian Government and the imposition of martial law; and our hope for the swift restoration of democracy.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Middle East
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many licences he has granted for the sale of conventional or non-conventional weapons to middle eastern states since the ending of the Gulf conflict.
  428
  Mr. Sainsbury
  In the period from 1 to 20 March 1991, 50 export licences have been granted for the supply of conventional weapons to the following middle eastern countries:

  UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Yemen. There were no export licences for non-conventional weapons.

  Cosmetics (Animal Testing)
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to end the testing of cosmetic products on animals: and what assessment he has made of the effect which the completion of the single market will have on such experimentation in Britain.

  Mr. Leigh
  No. The law requires cosmetic products to be safe for use by the public, and in some cases the only way of ensuring this is to test them on animals. We are, however, seeking to keep to the essential minimum the increased testing proposed by the European Commission.

  Baghdad Arms Exhibition
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what grounds BAe was given an export licence to exhibit a jet trainer aircraft at the Baghdad arms exhibition in 1989.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It has been the practice of successive Governments not to comment on individual export licence cases.

  Applications for export licences are considered on their merits. Licences for international exhibitions normally require the goods to remain under the control of the exporter and to be returned to the United Kingdom within a specified period.

  Trade Descriptions Act
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will complete his review of the Trade Descriptions Act.

  Mr. Leigh
  Consideration of the responses to the consultation document issued as part of the review is continuing and I shall announce my conclusions as soon as possible.

  Timeshare
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received during 1991 from companies selling and marketing timeshare properties.

  Mr. Leigh
  I have received one such representation.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to discuss in the European Council of Ministers the marketing of timeshare properties.

  Mr. Leigh
  It is for the presidency to arrange the timing and agenda of meetings of the Council of Ministers. No meeting of the Consumer Council has yet been arranged by the current presidency.

  Inward Investment, London
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a list of the figures for inward investment projects involving international firms for the London boroughs of Barnet, Enfield and Haringey, and for the constituencies of Tottenham, Hornsey and Wood Green, Edmonton, Enfield, North and Enfield, Southgate, for each year since 1979 in terms of the number of projects, new jobs and safeguarded jobs.

  Mr. Leigh
  I regret that the information requested is available only at disproportionate cost.

  Telephone Engineers (Line Tapping)
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will discuss with the chairman of British Telecom and the Director General of the Office of Telecommunications what evidence there is of telephone engineers tapping into private subscribers' lines to make 898 and other premium-rate or long-distance calls: and what steps are being taken to prevent this from occurring.

  Mr. Redwood
  My right hon. Friend has no plans for such a discussion. This is a matter for the Director General of Telecommunications, Sir Bryan Carsberg. I understand that he has instructed his staff to conduct a thorough and wide-ranging review of all premium-rate disputes. The investigation of allegations that telephone engineers have been tapping into private subscribers' lines to make illicit calls will form part of that review.

  South Africa
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will report on how British companies have complied with the European Community code of conduct for companies with interests in South Africa during the 12-month period to 30 June 1990.

  Mr. Lilley
  By 15 March 1991, 107 companies had submitted reports to the DTI under the code of conduct. Copies of the reports and of the Department's analysis and summary have, as in previous years, been placed in the Library of each House. These documents may also be inspected at the Department's export market information centre, at the British embassy in Pretoria, at the British consulate-general in Johannesburg, and at the British consulates in Cape Town and Durban.

  The analysis and summary is the fifth since the adoption of the revised code of conduct by EC Foreign Ministers in November 1985. Reports were received from all British companies, except one, whose interests are known or believed to warrant a full report under the code. The company which did not report was reminded of the existence of the code.

  The reporting period under review has seen a marginal increase in the number of black employees of British subsidiaries being paid below the code's recommended minimum level. This increase is due to one company having acquired two new subsidiaries during the reporting period. This particular company intends to raise the wage levels in these two subsidiaries to at least the code's minimum level.

  Companies' reports indicated that the level of their involvement with trade unions representing black workers increased, with the majority of companies reporting
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  formal involvement with the trade unions. Many companies have taken steps to alleviate the particular hardships experienced by their migrant workers.

  The number of companies providing training schemes has continued to increase, and as in previous years, all companies provided "on-the-job" training. In addition, companies continued to report impressive levels of involvement in projects benefiting not only their employees and their families but the wider communities from which their work force were drawn. Companies also continued to encourage the growth of black business.

  The report reflects the increasing level of unemployment in South Africa, with a number of companies reporting a contraction of their black work force. This disturbing trend has continued since the period covered by the report: the South African Chamber of Business now estimates that over 40 per cent. of the economically active population are unemployed. This illustrates the pressing need to restore growth to the South African economy.

  The Government are once more grateful to companies for their continued co-operation in providing reports and urge them to maintain this performance and to comply fully with the code.

  Professional Qualifications
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will lay regulations to implement EC directive 89/48/EEC on the recognition of professional qualifications.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I have today laid in Parliament the European Communities (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 1991 under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972. These regulations would implement into United Kingdom law Council directive 89/48/EEC on a general system for the recognition of higher education diplomas awarded on completion of professional education and training of a t least three years' duration.

  The directive represents a significant improvement in the opportunities that will be available to members of the professions throughout the Community. It will enable a professional to use his home state professional qualification to obtain access to the equivalent profession in other member states. He will not have to have to undergo the education and training required for the profession in the other member states. The directive will also benefit consumers who will gain from improved competition in professional services.

  The United Kingdom would be only the second member state, after Ireland, to have implemented the directive in full. I am anxious that consumers in the United Kingdom should enjoy the benefits of improved competition in the provision of professional services as soon as possible. This action maintains the excellent record of the United Kingdom on the implementation of Community directives.

  I will also be encouraging other member states to fulfil their Community obligations without delay so that United Kingdom professionals are able to take full advantage of the system of mutual recognition established by the directive.

  Tied Pubs
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has considered representations for a deferment of the date by which national brewers have to release pubs from ties.

  Mr. Lilley
  Yes. I have considered carefully representations both for and against the deferment of the November 1992 date by which major brewers are required by the Beer Orders to release pubs from ties. I have concluded after weighing up all these representations that amending the orders in this way could not be justified. Brewers will have had three years in which to make their dispositions by November 1992. Deferring the date would be unfair to those national and regional brewers who have already taken steps to comply with or take advantage of the order and would prolong uncertainty for tenants.

  The Beer Orders require brewers owning more than 2,000 pubs to free up from tie half they own in excess of 2,000 by 1 November 1992. There are at least four ways in which a brewer can free up a pub from tie: the pub can be leased to the sitting tenant free of any ties; sold to the sitting tenant; sold with sitting tenant to a third party; and sold with vacant possession. Only the last of these four options would involve the eviction of the tenant.

  I am naturally concerned about statements by certain brewers that they will issue "notices to quit" to large numbers of their tenants, even though the number issued is likely to be much lower than the figures that have been mentioned in the press. I understand that most of these notices will be issued by two national brewers in order to renegotiate the terms of their tenancy agreements and will not ultimately lead to evictions. I have urged the brewers concerned to keep the number of notices they send out to an absolute minimum and to make their purpose clear to tenants.

  Deferring the November 1992 date in the Beer Orders would not affect the date by which the brewers would have to send out "notices to quit" since this is determined by the fact that all tenancy agreements will be protected by the Landlord and Tenant Act by July 1992. It has been put to me that there would be no need to issue "notices to quit" if the date in the Beer Orders was deferred since this would allow pubs to be sold as they become available through natural wastage. However, brewers will have had three years by November 1992 in which to take action to comply with the order. This already represents a year more than was originally recommended by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in its report on the supply of beer. Four of the six major brewers have either already taken or announced steps to comply with the order by November 1992. It is not clear why these should be disadvantaged because the other two have been slower in taking action.

  Several national brewers who have already taken steps to comply with the orders have made it clear they do not wish to see any deferment of the November 1992 date. A large number of the regional brewers have expressed strong opposition to any change in the date as they are keen to strengthen their brewing base by acquiring further premises and selling to more "free outlets". They regard the present orders as a balance between the interests of brewers of different sizes which would be upset if there was a change in the date. A number have suggested that deferring the date in the order might lead to further regional brewers withdrawing altogether from brewing.
  432
  Tenants' representatives have also generally made it clear that deferring the date would be unwelcome as it would prolong uncertainty for their members.

  I recognise that the changes taking place are unsettling for many in the industry. But they also offer opportunities —to tenants to manage their own businesses and to brewers to compete in a larger free trade market. I believe that it would be wrong to change the timing now, given the way many national and regional brewers have already responded to the orders and given the further uncertainty that would be created for pub tenants if the implementation date were delayed.

  Beer
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the reasons for non-implementation of section 43 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 as it affects the head on a measure of beer.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: I have no plans to implement section 43 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 because there is little evidence that individual consumers are dissatisfied with how beer is served.

  ECGD Insurance Services Group
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 5 March to the hon. Member for Leeds, North-West (Dr. Hampson), if he will give the full corporate headquarters address of NCM, list its shareholders and their percentage shareholding, and give a brief summary of its experience in the field of export credit guarantee, insurance and reinsurance in(a) the Netherlands, (b) Benelux, (c) other EC member states and (d) other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries; and what links it has or has had with any state-backed export credit guarantee schemes in the Netherlands.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 8 March 1991]: The full name and address of NCM is as follows:

  Nederlandsche Credietverzekering M aatschappij N.V.

  Keizeresgracht 271–287

  1016 ED Amsterdam

  Netherlands

  NCM is Holland's largest credit risk insurance company. It was established in 1925 and its shareholders are 31 European banks, insurance companies and reinsurers. Details of NCM's shareholders and its activities can be obtained from NCM's annual report. I am arranging for the latest copy of this to be made available in the Library of the House. More detailed information on NCM, acquired by ECGD in the process of selling its short-term business, has been provided on a strict commercial in confidence basis and cannot, therefore, be disclosed.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 5 March to the hon. Member for Leeds, North-West (Dr. Hampson), if he will give the full company headquarters address of Assicurazioni Generali and a summary of its experience in export credit insurance in(a) Italy, (b) other EC member states and (c) other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries; and if he will

  433
  list its links with state-backed export credit insurance, guarantee or reinsurance schemes provided by the Italian Government.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [ holding answer 8 March 1991]: The full name and address of Assicurazioni Generali is as follows:

  Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A.

  Piazza Duca Degli Abruzzi 2

  34132 Trieste

  Italy

  Assicurazioni Generali is principally involved in the business of insurance and reinsurance. It has a large minority shareholding in SIAC, the Italian credit insurer. Details of Generali's activities can be obtained from its annual report. I am arranging for the latest copy of this to be made available in the Library of the House. More detailed information on Assicurazioni Generali, acquired by ECGD in the process of selling its short-term business, has been provided on a strict commercial in confidence basis and cannot, therefore, be disclosed.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 5 March, to the hon. Member for Leeds, North-West (Dr. Hampson),Official Report, columns 88–89, if he will provide the full address of the corporate headquarters of Cobac and a brief review of its experience in the field of export credit guarantee insurance or reinsurance in (a) Belgium, (b) Benelux, (c) other EC member states and (d)other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries; and what links it has had and now has with any state-backed export credit guarantee schemes in Belgium.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 8 March 1991]:The full name and address of COBAC is as follows:

  Compagnie Belge d'Assurance Credit

  Rue Montoyer, 15-

  B-1040 Brussels

  Belgium

  COBAC is active in credit insurance and related business. Details of COBAC's activities can be obtained from its annual report. I am arranging for the latest copy of this to be made available in the Library of the House. More detailed information on COBAC, acquired by ECGD in the process of selling its short-term business, has been provided on a strict commercial in confidence basis and cannot therefore, be disclosed.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 5 March, to the hon. Member for Leeds, North-West (Dr. Hampson),Official Report, columns 88–89, if he will give the full corporate headquarters address of Gerling and its parent company, and a summary of its experience in the field of export credit insurance, reinsurance or guarantee in (a)Germany, (b)other EC countries and (c) other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries; and what links it has or has had with any state-backed export credit guarantee scheme in Germany.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 8 March 1991]: The full name and address of Gerling is as follows:

  Gerling-Konzern Speziale Kreditversicherungs-AG

  Hohenzollernring 62

  D-5000 Cologne 1

  Germany

  Gerling is the second largest German credit insurer. It provides domestic and export credit insurance. Details of
  434
  Gerling's activities can be obtained from its annual report —English language versions are not available. I am arranging for the latest copy of this to be made available in the Library of the House. More detailed information on Gerling, acquired by ECGD in the process of selling its short term business, has been provided on a strict commercial in confidence basis and cannot, therefore, be disclosed.

  Kuwait Oil Fires
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what communications he has had from Ventron Technology Ltd. of Reddish, Stockport, about equipment to extinguish Kuwait well fires; and what steps his Department has taken to meet representatives of Ventron and to put forward their ideas for dealing with the problem to the Kuwait Government.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 26 March 1991]: My Department received a fax message from Ventron Technology on 7 March. I received a letter on its behalf from my hon. Friend the Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) on 14 March.

  My officials have since spoken to Ventron Technology about its proposals, and the company has been recorded on my Department's database of companies interested in working in Kuwait.

  British Shipbuilders
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Rochford (Dr. Clark), on 18 March,Official Report, column 20, if he will make a statement concerning the details of the settlement of the outstanding claim made by Trafalgar House against British Shipbuilders.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 22 March 1991]: The settlement was in respect of an action brought by Trafalgar House for which British Shipbuilders have not admitted liability. The claim was for alleged losses of £191 million plus interest from 1984 due to alleged misrepresentations by British Shipbuilders following the privatisation of the Scott Lithgow yard.

  The legal costs for each side were likely to run into tens of millions of pounds had the action come to court.

  The £17 million cash settlement, plus the forgoing by British Shipbuilders of a counterclaim for £8 million from Trafalgar House, therefore represents a considerable potential saving for the public purse.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide a table of expenditure showing the cost of running each regional office of his Department in 1989–90, excluding the funding programmes operated by the offices.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: The information is as follows:

  £ thousands

  North East

  3,412

  North West

  3,633

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  2,300

  435

  £ thousands

  East Midlands

  1,598

  West Midlands

  2,951

  South West

  1,461

  South East

  2,663

  East

  391

  Kuwait
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what role his Department has taken in assisting British companies to secure contracts to rebuild Kuwait.

  Mr. Lilley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 20 March to my hon. Friend the Member for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson), at column 157.

  Citizens Advice Bureaux
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on the impact of the poll tax on the demand for help and advice from citizens advice bureaux.

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

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

  Smoked Salmon
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on the duties placed on(a) fresh and (b) smoked salmon from (i) Norway and (ii) Canada, when imported into (1) EC countries and (2) the United States of America.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The duty payable under the common customs tariff—CTT—on imports into EC countries of fresh salmon from Norway and Canada is 2 per cent. The CTT duty rate on imports into EC countries of smoked salmon from Norway and Canada is 13 per cent.

  The duties payable on imports into the United States of America of smoked salmon from Norway and Canada are 5 and 2 per cent. respectively. All imports of fresh salmon into the United States of America are free of customs duty. However, as a result of a preliminary determination, fresh and chilled Atlantic salmon imported from Norway into the United States of America is currently subject to anti-dumping duties ranging from 15·65 to 31·81 per cent.

  Germany (Trade Balance)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will initiate inquiries into the reason for the adverse trade balance with Germany.
  436
  Mr. Sainsbury
  I have no plans to initiate inquiries. Last year our exports to Germany increased by 18·5 per cent. in value over 1989.

SCOTLAND

  Historic Buildings Council
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the commercial relationships between Mr. Marc Ellington and Mr. Richard Emerson of the Historic Buildings Council.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Mr. Marc Ellington is a member of the Historic Buildings Council for Scotland, a statutory advisory body appointed by my right hon. Friend. Mr. Richard Emerson is not a member of the council; he is a principal inspector of historic buildings in Historic Buildings and Monuments, Scotland, which is part of the Scottish Environment Department. Mr. Ellington and Mr. Emerson have had no commercial dealings in any official capacity.

  My right hon.Friend is aware that reference was made in a television programme broadcast on Channel 4 on 10 March to the purchase by Mr. Emerson from Mr. Ellington of a plot of land at Crovie in 1985. This was an entirely proper private transaction between two individuals. Their public duties did not overlap, and Mr. Emerson informed his senior officer of his intentions in 1985. Mr. Ellington and Mr. Emerson both retain the complete confidence of my right hon. Friend.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will obtain for his Department's library a copy of the "Scottish Eye" programme on Channel 4, broadcast on 10 March.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No.

  Psychiatric Patients
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what steps his Department is taking to monitor and evaluate the continuing care of patients discharged from psychiatric hospital into the community, further to paragraph 1.29 of "Community Care into the Next Decade and Beyond";

  (2) what steps he is taking to monitor and evaluate the continuing care of mentally ill people resident in the community.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 places a duty on local authorities and health boards jointly to prepare and publish, by 1 April 1992, in consultation with health boards, community care plans. We intend to monitor carefully the implementation of these plans, including the care of people with mental health problems discharged from psychiatric hospitals and resident in the community. The plans should define objectives and targets and include procedures for monitoring the achievement of effective community care.

  Health boards will shortly be consulted on draft guidance on the introduction of care programmes for people with a mental illness. The main purpose of care programmes is to ensure that no person who has been treated for long-term mental illness is discharged from hospital without proper arrangements being made for his

  437
  or her continuing care in the community. It will be for health boards and local authorities to satisfy themselves that there are relevant community-based health and social work services to allow each discharged person to live satisfactorily in the community.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, for each health board(a) the number of patients discharged from psychiatric hospitals and (b) the number of readmissions to psychiatric hospitals, for the last three years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is given in the table:

  Mental illness hospitals and psychiatric units

  Area of residence

  All discharges

  Re-admissions

  1987

  Argyll and Clyde

  2,569

  1,533

  Ayrshire and Arran

  1,629

  860

  Borders

  455

  273

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1,075

  840

  Fife

  1,796

  1,028

  Forth Valley

  1,237

  773

  Grampian

  2,453

  1,549

  Greater Glasgow

  6,245

  3,858

  Highlands

  1,203

  800

  Lanarkshire

  2,437

  1,388

  Lothian

  4,270

  2,682

  Orkney

  36

  12

  Shetland

  58

  20

  Tayside

  2,208

  1,309

  Western Isles

  78

  41

  Others

  644

  375

  All Areas

  28,393

  17,341

  1988

  Argyll and Clyde

  2,711

  1,596

  Ayrshire and Arran

  1,948

  1,053

  Borders

  503

  269

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1,020

  826

  Fife

  1,819

  992

  Forth Valley

  1,243

  752

  Grampian

  2,481

  1,430

  Greater Glasgow

  6,617

  3,818

  Highland

  1,086

  686

  Lanarkshire

  2,461

  1,434

  Lothian

  4,357

  2,812

  Orkney

  37

  17

  Shetland

  42

  25

  Tayside

  2,336

  1,365

  Western Isles

  85

  47

  Others

  661

  392

  All Areas

  29,407

  17,514

  1989

  Argyll and Clyde

  2,702

  1,600

  Ayrshire and Arran

  2,083

  1,159

  Borders

  492

  337

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1,016

  794

  Fife

  1,692

  1,049

  Forth Valley

  1,262

  811

  Grampian

  2,513

  1,461

  Greater Glasgow

  6,461

  3,879

  Highland

  954

  632

  Lanarkshire

  2,372

  1,398

  Lothian

  4,664

  3,047

  Orkney

  38

  17

  Shetland

  55

  34

  Tayside

  2,367

  1,425

  Western Isles

  97

  52

  Others

  719

  415

  All Areas

  29,487

  18,110

  Educational Visits
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his policy on educational visits for schoolchidren.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This is a matter for education authorities.

  Crime
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of(a) total crimes and (b) violent crimes in each police force area in Scotland in 1979 and 1990 or the most recently available date and the percentage increase, in each authority area.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  Number of crimes1, crimes and offences2 and violent crimes3 recorded in police force areas in 1979 and 1989 and the percentage change.

  Police Force Area

  1979

  1989

  Percent age change 1979–89

  Central

  Crimes

  13,844

  21,066

  52

  Crimes and offences

  28,398

  44,493

  57

  Violent crimes

  1,271

  3,006

  137

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Crimes

  4,835

  6,733

  39

  Crimes and offences

  17,934

  18,514

  3

  Violent crimes

  404

  1,037

  157

  Fife

  Crimes

  14,257

  27,690

  94

  Crimes and offences

  31,779

  53,411

  68

  Violent crimes

  1,580

  3,164

  100

  Grampian

  Crimes

  22,821

  34,034

  49

  Crimes and offences

  50,604

  76,538

  51

  Violent crimes

  3,088

  5,348

  73

  Lothian and Borders

  Crimes

  62,502

  78,301

  25

  Crimes and offences

  116,828

  141,039

  21

  Violent crimes

  4,757

  8,489

  78

  Northern

  Crimes

  8,711

  11,841

  36

  Crimes and offences

  27,104

  32,591

  20

  Violent crimes

  1,231

  1,896

  54

  Strathclyde

  Crimes

  195,485

  275,134

  41

  Crimes and offences

  351,269

  465,187

  32

  Violent crimes

  16,625

  31,018

  87

  Tayside

  Crimes

  24,225

  38,586

  59

  Crimes and offences

  50,039

  70,258

  40

  Violent crimes

  1,767

  3,574

  102

  Notes:

  1 Comprises groups 1–5 of the Scottish Office Home and Health Department (SOHHD) classification of crimes and offences.

  2 Comprises groups 1–7 of the SOHHD classification of crimes and offences.

  3 Comprises group 1 (non-sexual crimes of violence), the sexual assault category from group 2 (crimes of indecency) and the petty assault category from group 6 (miscellaneous offences) of the SOHHD classification of crimes and offences.
  439
  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.

  Homelessness
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will revise the code of guidance on homelessness legislation.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  We issued a revised draft of the code of guidance on the homelessness legislation for consultation in October 1990. A large number of responses were received; these have now been carefully considered and the revised code will be published soon.

  Fisheries Enforcement
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about his plans to establish the Scottish fisheries enforcement services as a "next steps" agency.

  Mr. Lang
  I informed the House on 28 February of my intention to establish the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency as an executive agency on 1 April 1991. My noble Friend will preside at a launch ceremony on 12 April.

  For the 1991–92 financial year I have set the agency the following targets:

  Targets

  Aerial surveillance—per cent, of hours flown on task

  78 per cent.

  Cost per aircraft sighting

  £137

  Marine surveillance—number of boardings at sea

  2,750

  Marine surveillance—cost per boarding

  £2,263

  Sea Fisheries Inspectorate—cost per £1 million of fish landed

  £4,838

  50 per cent, of cases for prosecution to be reported within 4 weeks of offence taking place and 90 per cent, within 6 weeks

  Number of cases where court proceedings are taken as percentage of offences reported for prosecution

  75 per cent.

  In order to ensure that the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency uses its resources efficiently, I have set it a target to achieve cash-releasing efficiency gains of at least 1·5 per cent. and its running cost limit for 1991–92 has been set on that basis.

  The agency chief executive will be directly accountable to me for the agency's achievements of these targets, which will be reported in the agency's published annual report.

  I will place a copy of the agency's framework document in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Historic Scotland
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about his plans to establish Historic Scotland as an executive agency.

  Mr. Lang
  I informed the House on 28 February of my intention to establish Historic Scotland as an executive agency on 1 April. I can now confirm that the agency will indeed be set up on that date and that I shall preside at a launch ceremony on 8 April.

  For 1991–92, the first year of operation, I have set the following key performance targets for Historic Scotland:
  440
  Number of monuments newly scheduled. The target is to schedule 280 monuments in 1991–92, in addition to the 4,800 already scheduled.

  Number of completed units of the resurvey of listed buildings. The target is to complete 200 survey units in 1991–92.

  Number of general historic building repair grant cases in payment. The target is to effect payment to 400 cases in 1991–92, giving priority to the most important buildings.

  Number of visitors to monuments in care where an admission charge is made. The target is to increase visitor numbers by 4·5 per cent. to 2·71 million in 1991–92.

  Total income. The target is to increase income to £6 million in 1991–92.

  Conservation backlog on monuments in care. The target is to contain, and if possible to reduce, the backlog of overdue maintenance.

  Value for money savings on maintenance of monuments in care. A target will be developed for 1992–93.

  Surplus on commercial activities. A target will be developed for 1992–93.

  Exchequer contribution to Historic Scotland's work. The target for 1991–92 is to keep the increase in the call on the Exchequer for net current expenditure at or below the level of inflation.

  In order to ensure that Historic Scotland uses its domestic resources efficiently, I have set it a target to achieve cash-releasing efficiency gains of 1·5 per cent. And its running cost limit for 1991–92 has been set on that basis.

  The director of Historic Scotland, as the agency's chief executive, will be directly accountable to me for the achievement of these targets, which will be reported in the agency's published annual report.

  I will place a copy of the agency's framework document in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Scottish Enterprise
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements he is making to publish the management statement for Scottish Enterprise.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The Scottish Enterprise management statement sets out the financial, managerial and operational framework within which Scottish Enterprise will operate.

  I am arranging for copies to be laid in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

  Community Health
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library the results of the research project "Community Health Promotion in a Deprived Area" funded by his Department.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: Copies of a report on a pilot project "Royston Wardieburn Community Health Project" and one on "Community Health Promotion in a Deprived Area" have been placed in the Library.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Single Parents
  Dame Jill Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what improvements Her Majesty's Government have introduced to help the single parent obtain maintenance payments.

  Mr. Jack
  The Government have taken a number of steps to help parents obtain maintenance for their
  441
  children. This Department has enhanced its action on recovery of maintenance for those claiming income support. For instance, we have improved our instructions on the interviewing of mothers who have never been married about the identity of the absent father. We have also introduced a number of measures that apply to all lone parents, whether divorced, separated or never married. We have strengthened the basis on which local social security offices assess absent parents' ability to pay maintenance. We have improved our ability to trace missing parents by reaching an agreement with the Inland Revenue to provide the address of an absent parent and the absent parent's employer. The Social Security Act 1990 gave the Department new powers to seek to include the costs of caring for children in orders obtained by the DSS for children, to transfer an order for a child obtained by the Department to a caring parent who leaves income support, and to enforce a caring parent's own private maintenance order. We have made clear the importance to be attached to this work in local offices and set targets to increase the amount recovered. In addition, the Home Office has introduced the Maintenance Enforcement Bill, which seeks to improve arrangements for paying maintenance under the current system.

  For the future, we have introduced the Child Support Bill, which aims to replace the present child maintenance system, which is fragmented, uncertain in its results, slow and ineffective, with a Child Support Agency which will use a formula to calculate child maintenance. This will be available to all seeking child maintenance and it is hoped that it will be fully operational by 1995.

  Single person (aged 25 or over)

  £ per week

  Assumed rent

  19·15

  Assumed community charge

  6·61

  Gross earnings

  Tax

  National insurance

  Take home pay

  Rent rebate

  Community charge benefit

  Total net income

  Net income after rent and community charge

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  60·00

  0·55

  2·18

  57·27

  9·03

  2·95

  69·25

  43·49

  80·00

  5·55

  3·98

  70·47

  0·00

  0·97

  71·44

  45·68

  100·00

  10·55

  5·78

  83·67

  0·00

  0·00

  83·67

  57·91

  120·00

  15·55

  7·58

  96·87

  0·00

  0·00

  96·87

  71·11

  140·00

  20·55

  9·38

  110·07

  0·00

  0·00

  110·07

  84·31

  160·00

  25·55

  11·18

  123·27

  0·00

  0·00

  123·27

  97·57

  180·00

  30·55

  12·98

  136·47

  0·00

  0·00

  136·47

  110·71

  200·00

  35·55

  14·78

  149·67

  0·00

  0·00

  149·67

  123·91

  Married couple

  £ per week

  Assumed rent

  19·15

  Assumed community charge

  13·22

  Gross earnings

  Tax

  National insurance

  Take home pay

  Rent rebate

  Community charge benefit

  Total net income

  Net income after rent and community charge

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  60·00

  0·00

  2·18

  57·82

  19·15

  10·58

  87·55

  55·18

  80·00

  0·00

  3·98

  76·02

  13·68

  9·31

  99·01

  66·64

  100·00

  2·28

  5·78

  91·94

  3·33

  6·93

  102·20

  69·83

  120·00

  7·28

  7·58

  105·14

  0·00

  4·95

  110·09

  77·72

  140·00

  12·28

  9·38

  118·34

  0·00

  2·97

  121·31

  88·94

  160·00

  17·28

  11·18

  131·54

  0·00

  0·99

  132·53

  100·16

  180·00

  22·28

  12·98

  144·74

  0·00

  0·00

  144·74

  112·37

  200·00

  27·28

  14·78

  157·94

  0·00

  0·00

  157·94

  125·57

  Incomes
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish tables similar to his Department's tax/benefit model table showing the net weekly spending power for each of(a) a single person, (b) a married couple with no children, (c) a couple with a child aged 11 years (d) a couple with two children aged eight and 11 years, (e) a couple with three children aged eight, 11 and 15 years, (f) a couple with four children aged three, eight, 11 and 15 years with weekly earnings of (i) £60, (ii) £80, (iii) £100, (iv) £120, (v) £140, (vi) £160, (vii) £180 and (viii) £200 under the existing tax and benefit system.

  Mr. Jack
  The information is set out in the tables. All assumptions are as set out in the published tax/benefit model tables. Each family is assumed to live in council property appropriate to its size and to pay estimated average rent and community charge.

  It should be noted that the results in the tables remain arbitrary. They cannot reflect, except by chance, the actual circumstances of particular people and cannot claim to be representative of the population at large. The tables use hypothetical rents, so they do not reflect the full range of housing costs which people can pay.

  The figures are for the system before the Budget proposals come into effect and do not reflect the effect of the Community Charges (General Reduction) Bill presently before Parliament.
  443

  Married couple with one child aged 11

  £ per week

  Child benefit

  7·25

  Assumed rent

  21·41

  Assumed community charge

  13·22

  Gross earnings

  Tax

  National insurance

  Take home pay

  Family credit

  Rent rebate

  Community charge benefit

  Total net income

  Net income after rent and community charge

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  60·00

  0·00

  2·18

  57·82

  50·35

  6·97

  7·24

  129·63

  95·00

  80·00

  0·00

  3·98

  76·02

  37·61

  3·42

  6·42

  130·72

  96·09

  100·00

  2·28

  5·78

  91·94

  26·46

  0·00

  5·71

  131·36

  96·73

  120·00

  7·28

  7·58

  105·14

  17·22

  0·00

  5·11

  134·72

  100·09

  140·00

  12·28

  9·38

  118·34

  7·98

  0·00

  4·52

  138·09

  103·46

  160·00

  17·28

  11·18

  131·54

  0·00

  0·00

  3·74

  142·53

  107·90

  180·00

  22·28

  12·98

  144·74

  0·00

  0·00

  1·76

  153·75

  119·12

  200·00

  27·28

  14·78

  157·94

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  165·19

  130·56

  Married couple with two children aged 8 and 11.

  £ per week

  Child Benefit

  14·50

  Assumed rent

  23·43

  Assumed community charge

  13·22

  Gross earnings Charge

  Tax

  National insurance

  Take home pay

  Family credit

  Rent rebate

  Community charge benefit

  Total net income

  Net income after rent and community charge

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  60·00

  0·00

  2·18

  57·82

  58·60

  6·94

  6·77

  144·63

  107·98

  80·00

  0·00

  3·98

  76·02

  45·86

  3·39

  5·95

  145·72

  109·07

  100·00

  2·28

  5·78

  91·94

  34·71

  0·00

  5·24

  146·39

  109·74

  120·00

  7·28

  7·58

  105·14

  25·47

  0·00

  4·64

  149·75

  113·10

  140·00

  12·28

  9·38

  118·34

  16·23

  0·00

  4·05

  153·12

  116·47

  160·00

  17·28

  11·18

  131·54

  6·99

  0·00

  3·45

  156·48

  119·83

  180·00

  22·28

  12·98

  144·74

  0·00

  0·00

  2·52

  161·76

  125·11

  200·00

  27·28

  14·78

  157·94

  0·00

  0·00

  0·54

  172·98

  136·33

  Married couple with three children aged 8,11 and 15

  £ per week

  Child Benefit

  21·75

  Assumed rent

  23·43

  Assumed community charge

  13·22

  Gross earnings

  Tax

  National insurance

  Take home pay

  Family Credit

  Rent rebate

  Community charge benefit

  Total net income

  Net income after rent and community charge

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  60·00

  0·00

  2·18

  57·82

  72·75

  4·89

  6·30

  163·51

  126·86

  80·00

  0·00

  3·98

  76·02

  60·01

  1·35

  5·48

  164·61

  127·96

  100·00

  2·28

  5·78

  91·94

  48·86

  0·00

  4·76

  167·31

  130·66

  120·00

  7·28

  7·58

  105·14

  39·62

  0·00

  4·17

  170·68

  134·03

  140·00

  12·28

  9·38

  118·34

  30·38

  0·00

  5·58

  174·05

  137·40

  160·00

  17·28

  11·18

  131·54

  21·14

  0·00

  2·98

  177·41

  140·76

  180·00

  22·28

  12·98

  144·74

  11·90

  0·00

  2·39

  180·78

  144·13

  200·00

  27·28

  14·78

  157·94

  2·66

  0·00

  1·79

  184·14

  147·49

  Married couple with four children aged 3, 8, 11 and 15

  £ per week

  Child benefit

  29·00

  Assumed rent

  23·43

  Assumed community charge

  13·22

  444 445

  Gross earnings

  Tax

  National insurance

  Take home pay

  Family credit

  Rent rebate

  Community charge benefit

  Total net income

  Net income after rent and community charge

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  £ per week

  60·00

  0·00

  2·18

  57·82

  81·00

  2·85

  5·83

  176·50

  139·85

  80·00

  0·00

  3·98

  76·02

  68·26

  0·00

  5·01

  178·29

  141·64

  100·00

  2·28

  5·78

  91·94

  57·11

  0·00

  4·29

  182·34

  145·69

  120·00

  7·28

  7·58

  105·14

  47·87

  0·

  3·70

  185·71

  149·06

  140·00

  12·28

  9·38

  118·34

  38·63

  0·00

  3·10

  189·07

  152·42

  160·00

  17·28

  11·18

  131·54

  29·39

  0·00

  2·51

  192·44

  155·79

  180·00

  22·28

  12·98

  144·74

  20·15

  0·00

  1·91

  195·80

  159·15

  200·00

  27·28

  14·78

  157·94

  10·91

  0·00

  1·32

  199·17

  162·52

  Widows' Benefits
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will identify the cost of extending widow's related benefits to widowers; and if he will provide the costing for extending each of these benefits.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The annual costs would be approximately as follows:

  £ million

  Widowers' £1,000 payment

  25

  Widowed father's allowance

  90

  Widowers pension (widowers aged 45–65)

  300

  Total

  415

  Fraud
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many social security claimants have been(a) prosecuted and (b) found guilty of claiming benefit while working and receiving wages during each year from 1978–79 to the latest available date in (i) England and Wales and (ii) Scotland.

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Supplementary Benefits
  Mr. Ralph Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total number of people, including children, dependent on supplementary benefit for 1979 and 1990; what is the projected number for 1991; and what was the number of supplementary benefit recipients for each of the years.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information for 1990 is not available. Figures are given for 1979 and 1989, together with those projected for 1991–92.

  Year

  Claimants plus dependants

  Claimants

  000s

  000s

  1979 Supplementary Benefit

  4,370

  2,855

  1989 Income Support

  7,023

  4,161

  1991–92 Income support

  7,157

  4,240

  Sources Annual Statistical Enquiries for 1979 and 1989. Estimates based on Departmental Report (Cm. 1514).

  Carers
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will give details of the social security benefits available to carers; and what steps his Department is taking to publicise the benefits;
  446
  (2) whether he will introduce a special payment for carers; and if he will make a statement on the financial position of carers.

  Mr. Scott
  All social security benefits are available to carers provided that they satisfy the relevant entitlement conditions. Invalid care allowance is the benefit specifically designed for carers. It is available to someone who has forgone the opportunity of full-time work in order to provide regular and substantial care to a severely disabled person. From 8 April 1991 the basic rate of invalid care allowance will be £31·25 each week. In addition, from October 1990, a carer premium of £10 a week, increasing to £10·80 in April 1991, was introduced in the income-related benefits, income support, housing benefit and community charge benefit for those receiving, or with an underlying entitlement to, invalid care allowance.

  Information about invalid care allowance is contained in leaflet NI212, a revised and improved version of which will be available shortly. A leaflet about the carer premium (IS7) is available for professional advisers and the Department is currently working on the production of a leaflet detailing all benefits for carers which will be published later this year.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the oral answer of 21 March,Official Report, column 422, if he will publish the number of people on full social security benefit who were reimbursed for (a) the full 20 per cent. and (b) part of the 20 per cent. poll tax minimum payment in the current financial year.

  Miss Widdecombe
  There is no specific amount for the community charge in any one individual's benefit. The amount originally included in income support rates towards the 20 per cent. contribution was based on the average amount claimants were expected to have to pay. This now forms an integral part of overall rates.

  Benefits and Contributions Agencies
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will make an announcement about the establishment of the benefits and contributions agencies.

  Mr. Newton
  These agencies will come into being from April 1991 and I shall be formally launching them on 10 April. I am arranging for framework documents and business plans for both agencies to be placed in the Library.

  Benefits
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people claim each benefit payable(a) at each of the Nottingham social security offices and (b) in the United Kingdom.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 18 March 1991]: Information for Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Information for the Nottingham area and for Great Britain is

  Nottingham area1

  Great Britain1

  Income support2

  51,490

  4,492,000

  Sickness benefit/Invalidity benefit

  14,960

  1,623,000

  Maternity allowance

  227

  19,590

  Severe disability allowance

  2,817

  382,600

  1All data relates to 30 November 1990 and are provisional and subject to amendment.

  2Derived from 100 per cent, count of cases in action, which include a number where payment has ceased but other action is continuing.

HEALTH

  The Gulf
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what immediate assistance is being offered by his Department to(a) Kuwait and (b) Iraq to combat the outbreak of infections arising from the damage done to water purification systems in the Gulf war.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The International Committee of the Red Cross sanitation teams are helping to restore the distribution of purified water in Iraq. On 14 March 1991 their first two water purification units began producing potable water in Baghdad. The United Kingdom supports the International Committee of the Red Cross work and has contributed £2·5 million to its Gulf appeal. The Government of Kuwait have made arrangements for the supply of purified water to the population in Kuwait. The United Kingdom Government have also contributed US$1 million to the United Nations and agencies through the United Nations Disaster Relief Organisation for their work in both these countries. We will be offering full collaboration to the United Nations and agencies for the supply of foodstuffs and medical supplies.

  Haemophilia
  Mr. Bellotti
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 19 February,Official Report, column 86, (1) from what date the imported unlicensed high purity product from Kabi will be available to the National Institute of Biological Standards and Control for testing; and what is the anticipated release date for patient treatment using this product;

  (2) on the Bio Products Laboratory, what assurances have been given by the Medicines Control Agency as to the safety of the unlicensed product due to be imported from Sweden relative to the licensed product available for the United Kingdom;

  (3) what assurance has been given that the Medicines Control Agency will be provided with full details of the
  448
  patients and doctors involved in the name-patient import of the unlicensed high purity factor VIII produce from Sweden.

  Mr. Dorrell
  In my reply to the hon. Member of 19 February at column 86, I explained that the Bio Products Laboratory's high purity product will be covered by arrangements leading to the removal of Crown immunity and is currently the subject of a full licensing application. The Medicines Control Agency will be considering this application. The product has already been tested by the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control and is now available to clinicians under these arrangements and not on a named patient basis.

  Mr. Bellotti
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what actions are in place to ensure that when Crown immunity ceases the Bio Products Laboratory will have to conform in all respects to the same controls of the Medicines Act and to the same fair trading and free competition practices as currently apply to the commercial plasma industry in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Officials of the Medicines Control Agency have for some months provided guidance and advice not only to Bio Products Laboratory, but to others in the NHS affected by the cessation of Crown immunity and the controls of the Medicines Act. This advice service will continue after Crown immunity ceases, and subject to the transitional arrangements for the removal of Crown immunity, the BPL will be treated under the Medicines Act in the same way as other pharmaceutical manufacturers.

  Mr. Bellotti
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 19 February,Official Report, column 86, on the Bio Products Laboratory if he will indicate which products and facilities are currently licenced under cover of the licensing requirements of the Medicines Act.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested in respect of Bio Products Laboratory is confidential by virtue of the restrictions on disclosure contained in section 118 of the Medicines Act 1968.

  In accordance with article 12 of the EC directive 65/65, the licensing authority publishes any grant of marketing authorisation in the Official Gazettes.

  South Lincolnshire Health Authority
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) doctors, (b) consultants and (c) nurses were employed by the South Lincolnshire health authority in March 1979 and in March 1991.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The table shows information up to the latest available date, which is 30 September 1989.

  South Lincolnshire Health Authority Staff in Post at 30 September each year.

  Nursing and Midwifery

  Junior Staff1

  1979

  l,7203

  2n/a

  1982

  1,8004

  61·1

  1989

  2,100

  80·0

  Junior Staff

  1Grades include Registrars, Senior House Officers, House Officers and Other Staff. Numbers of staff at Senior doctor level are available by region only since the contracts for these staff are held by their regional Headquarters.
  449
  21979 and 1991 figures are not available.

  3Figures not adjusted to take account of the reduction in nurses' working hours during 1980–81 (from 40 to 37·5 hours per week).

  4Reorganisation of District Health Authorities took place in 1982. Figures for 1979 are therefore not directly comparable.

  NHS Estate Directorate
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress establishing his Department's NHS estate directorate as an executive agency.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I am pleased to announce that the estates directorate will be established as the NHS estate management and health building agency on 1 April, the first executive agency in the Department of Health. The agency's roles are(a) to provide Ministers, the NHS management executive and the NHS with professional and technical policy advice and support in the fields of NHS estate management and health building, and (b) to develop and make available to NHS authorities, trusts and others a range of specialist guidance and other products and services which embody key national policies and standards and reflect current best NHS practice. The agency's detailed aims, objectives and functions are set out in a framework document, copies of which are available in the Library. In accordance with "next steps" principles the agency will be free to propose further adaptations to it if changing circumstances make this appropriate.

  The chief executive has been set the following key performance targets for 1991–92:
  To keep within the 1991–92 agreed public expenditure survey baseline.
  To make at least a 2 per cent. efficiency saving on the operating costs that are within this control.
  To deliver 80 per cent. of all contracts on time and within estimated costs, which will then act as the baseline for further improvements in succeeding years.
  To agree the business plan and key performance targets with Ministers by 30 June 1991.

  Over the next four years, in keeping with the spirit of the wider NHS reforms, I will be setting the agency a range of key performance targets to ensure that it delivers progressive improvements in the quality and efficiency of its services to the NHS.

  Census
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements are being made in the 1991 census to protect the confidentiality of forms for households where the enumerator is known to them.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Census officers have been given a general instruction not to place enumerators in enumeration districts where they are likely to be widely known. However, there are some places where—because of the geography of the area or the shortage of applicants—it is impossible to do otherwise. More particularly, in some remote rural areas it may be necessary to appoint an enumerator who lives in the locality.

  The Census Regulations 1990 provide a facility to cover such situations: the form filler may ask for an envelope in which the completed form may be sealed before it is collected; the enumerator is prohibited from opening it. Enumerators are instructed to offer a sealed return envelope if they come across anyone they know.

  The same facility is available under the Census (Scotland) Regulations 1990.
  450
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in deciding which small voluntary follow-up surveys will use the 1991 census as the sampling frame.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Initial proposals for such surveys were given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health in December 1989 during the debate on the draft Census Order, cols. 10–11, Report of Fourth Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments, &c. The state of progress on each of the surveys mentioned in these initial proposals is given later. No others are proposed.

  Plans are well advanced for surveys to check the accuracy of census information, the completeness of electoral registers and vacant accommodation in Scotland.

  A research proposal has been produced for the Department of Environment on the proposed surveys in England on households occupying privately rented accommodation and households sharing accommodation. If these surveys go ahead, the field work will be carried out in late 1991 and early 1992.

  Discussions are also being held with relevant departments on follow-up surveys of people with nursing qualifications and paramedical qualifications but not employed in these specialisms and of persons with social work and probation officer qualifications. Decisions on whether these surveys should go ahead will be made in early 1992. The census will not now be used as the sampling frame for a survey of out-of-service teachers.

  The information leaflet to be delivered to each household with the census form in the 10 days before the census on 21 April includes the following statement:
  "A very small sample of people and households will be asked to take part in one of several voluntary surveys. One survey will help the Census Offices check how well the Census itself worked. The other surveys will gather fuller information than it is possible to collect in a Census. Information gathered in any such survey will be handled entirely within the Census Offices. It will be treated in the same strict confidence as information given on the Census form."

  The confidentiality of information collected in these surveys will now be covered by the Census Act 1920, as amended by the Census (Confidentiality) Act 1991, which received Royal Assent on 7 March.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his statement of 4 December 1990,Official Report,columns 173–74, on expressions of interest in national health service trust status, whether he has received any further expressions of interest in proceeding to develop their plans for national health service trust status for April 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I have now agreed that Southampton University hospital, which has expressed an interest in trust status, can proceed to work up an application to become a trust on 1 April 1992.

  Hospital Beds (Children)
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds in district health authority hospitals in the North West region were set aside for children in(a)1979, (b)1986 and (c)

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested is provided in the following table. Before 1987–88, information collected
  451
  centrally on bed availability related to consultant department and did not show all beds set aside for children. Bed figures are now collected centrally by type of ward.

  Number of average daily available children's beds

  National health service hospitals

  North Western regional health authority

  1979

  1986

  1989–90

  Speciality/department

  Paediatrics

  723

  639

  —

  Special care baby unit

  385

  328

  —

  Psychiatry children

  53

  79

  —

  Paediatric surgery

  0

  93

  —

  TOTAL

  1,161

  1,139

  —

  Ward classification

  General patients

  —

  —

  1,256

  Neonates:

  Regionally designated intensive

  —

  —

  59

  Non-maternity

  —

  —

  275

  Maternity

  —

  —

  534

  Mental illness (short stay)

  —

  —

  76

  Mental handicap (short stay)

  —

  —

  3

  TOTAL

  2,203

  For more comprehensive information the hon. Member may wish to write to Mr. B. Martin, the chairman of the North Western regional health authority.

  Carers
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he proposes to take to monitor the effect on carers of the return of patients to the community; and if he will make a statement.

  Finished hospital stays and finished consultant episodes for patients with a mental illness after an ordinary admission

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Regional health authority

  Finished hospital stays

  Finished consultant episodes

  Finished hospital stays

  Finished consultant episodes

  Finished consultant episodes

  Northern

  13,796

  14,076

  14,064

  13,845

  14,257

  Yorkshire

  17,851

  19,285

  17,223

  17,933

  16,989

  Trent

  16,116

  16,432

  16,808

  16,958

  16,830

  East Anglian

  8,155

  7,990

  8,166

  8,102

  8,453

  North West Thames

  14,577

  13,474

  15,487

  15,316

  14,961

  North East Thames

  13,139

  14,432

  13,932

  15,968

  16,113

  South East Thames

  14,401

  15,253

  13,965

  14,986

  15,900

  South West Thames

  12,371

  11,269

  11,707

  14,563

  14,170

  Wessex

  13,928

  11,120

  13,450

  13,461

  13,703

  Oxford

  8,423

  8,091

  8,119

  8,347

  8,876

  South Western

  16,958

  17,435

  16,123

  17,591

  16,269

  West Midlands

  19,856

  20,905

  19,317

  20,284

  20,870

  Mersey

  12,979

  11,694

  12,823

  12,349

  13,623

  North Western

  19,673

  20,034

  19,744

  20,721

  21,754

  Special health authorities

  1,750

  1,989

  1,698

  1,781

  1,791

  England total

  203,973

  203,479

  202,626

  212,205

  214,559

  Source: SMI2C-SH3A and KP7O.

  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to monitor and evaluate the continuing care of patients discharged from psychiatric hospital into the community in accordance with paragraph 1.29 of "Community Care into the Next Decade and Beyond".
  452
  Mr. Dorrell
  Local authorities, health authorities and family health services authorities will be expected to assess the community care needs of their residents and to show, in their community care plans, how they intend meeting them. We will be monitoring the implementation of their plans, through the Department's social services inspectorate and the NHS regional review process.

  Psychiatric Hospitals
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, for each regional health authority(a) the number of patients discharged from psychiatric hospitals and (b) the number of readmissions to psychiatric hospitals for the last three years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information available on discharges, after an ordinary admission, from national health service hospitals and hospital units in England is contained in the table. All figures exclude day cases.

  Figures on hospital stays are available only for the years 1987–88 and 1988–89. A finished hospital stay is defined here as a discharge from a hospital, or death in hospital, or transfer to another hospital, after a period of care in one of the mental illness specialities.

  Figures for finished consultant episodes are also provided for 1989–90. A finished consultant episode is defined here as the period a patient is under the care of a particular consultant in one of the mental illness specialities. A consultant episode may finish when either a patient changes consultant, dies, is discharged into the community, or is transferred to another hospital outside the existing district health authority of treatment.

  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave concerning figures by admission status to the hon. Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) on 13 February at column 417.

  Mr. Dorrell
  New arrangements for the discharge of patients from psychiatric hospitals, known as the care programme approach, come into effect on 1 April. We have asked regional health authorities to confirm by 30 April that the new arrangements are in place. We also intend to commission research into the operation of the care programme approach.

  Baby Units
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of special care baby units available in hospitals in England and Wales and the total number of places, for each year that figures are available since 1979.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 11 December 1990]: The available information is given in the table. It should be noted that some health authorities provide intensive care facilities within maternity units. Information in respect of hospitals in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Special care baby units NHS hospitals, England

  Year

  Number of units (Provisional)

  Average daily number of cots

  1979

  237

  3,945

  1980

  236

  3,959

  1981

  231

  3,940

  1982

  227

  3,902

  1983

  230

  3,898

  1984

  228

  3,872

  1985

  225

  3,754

  1986

  221

  3,651

  1987–88

  206

  3,567

  1988–89

  219

  3,513

  1989–90

  213

  3,451

ENVIRONMENT

  Rents to Mortgages Scheme
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the pilot schemes to test the conversion of rents to mortgages for local authority tenants.

  Sir George Young
  Pilot schemes have been launched for new town tenants in Basildon and Milton Keynes. When the results are available, we will consider carefully whether to propose legislation extending rents to mortgages to local authority tenants.

  Rural Development Commission
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total expenditure planned by the Rural Development Commission for the Isle of Wight.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Rural Development Commission estimates that its main programme expenditure on the Isle of Wight during the financial year 1991–92 will be around £800,000. This will be spent on workspace provision and a range of projects likely to help the local economy and the local community. In addition, the Commission's redundant building grant scheme and its business advisory service are available on the island.

  Environmental Protection Act 1990
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions he has had with local authority associations on the implementation of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Mr. Trippier
  Implementation of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 was one of a number of topics 454
  discussed at the first meeting of the Local and Central Government Environment Forum which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State chaired on 4 March. All three associations were present. Many meetings at official level have been held with the associations on particular parts of the Act which affect local authorities.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the number of people who will benefit from the community charge reduction scheme(a) nationally and (b) in the area covered by Kirklees council.

  Mr. Key
  Our recent announcement means that every charge payer will first benefit from a cut in their bill of £140 after which community charge reductions and benefit are calculated. Our estimate of the number of people in England who will both get a £140 general reduction and a rates-related reduction is 8·2 million. Figures on the number of charge-payers in each area who will benefit from the community charge reduction scheme will be available once charging authorities have returned their grant claim forms to my Department.

  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the workings of the community charge reduction scheme in relation to properties which were not individually rated.

  Mr. Key
  For practical reasons the community charge reduction scheme works by reference to the formerly rateable property and if a considerable number of people occupy the property, they receive little or no relief. However, such charge payers will all benefit from the 140 general reduction announced last week.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to abolish the community charge by April 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Ashfield (Mr. Haynes).

  Bathing Water
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next plans to meet water industry chiefs to discuss progress on implementing the EC directive on bathing water quality.

  Mr. Baldry
  We are fully committed to meeting the standards set in the directive as soon as is practicable and we maintain regular contacts with water companies about progress on their compliance programmes.

  Estuaries
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Nature Conservancy Council regarding the impact of the Leybucht Bay judgment in the European Court of Justice on the conservation of Britain's estuaries.

  Mr. Trippier
  None.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to seek a form of local government taxation that costs the least amount to raise and to administer.

  Mr. Portillo
  As my right hon. Friend made clear in his statement to the House on 21 March, ease of collection is one of the principles underlying our proposals for a new local tax.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his study of reforms of the community charge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  I have nothing to add at this stage to my right hon. Friend's statement to the House on 21 March.

  Mr. Carr
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the Government's review of the poll tax.

  Government Grants to Local Authorities

  Additional grant needed to bring percentage to 1978–79 level

  Government grants1as a percentage of local authority expenditure

  Cash

  Real terms (1978–79 prices)

  Per cent.

  £ billion

  £ billion

  1978–792

  61

  0

  0

  1979–802

  59

  0·36

  0·31

  1980–812

  59

  0·54

  0·39

  1981–82

  55

  1·21

  0·80

  1982–83

  52

  1·96

  1·21

  1983–84

  52

  2·12

  1·25

  1984–85

  52

  2·15

  1·21

  1985–86

  51

  2·35

  1·25

  1986–87

  48

  3·51

  1·81

  1987–88

  46

  4·12

  2·01

  1988–89

  44

  5·13

  2·33

  1989–90

  42

  6·22

  2·66

  1990–91

  38

  8·10

  3·21

  1991–92

  51

  3·94

  1·46

  1For the years 1978–89 to 1989–90 Government grants comprises aggregate Exchequer grant and rate rebate grants (excluding domestic rate rebates). For 1990–91 Government grants include revenue support grant, special grants, specific grants in aggregate external finance and transitional relief grant, but excludes community charge benefits. Government grants for 1991–92 are the same as 1990–91 except for the addition of Community charge grant.

  2England and Wales—Community charge payers receive additional help through community charge benefit. In 1991–92 this is likely to be worth £1 billion (over £2·5 billions in 1978–79 prices).

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what he estimates will be the cost to local authorities of the delay in sending out community charge invoices in the current year.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer Tuesday 26 March 1991]: None. The profile of payments to local authorities from the distributable amount of the non-domestic rate will be changed to increase the amounts paid in the early months of 1991–92. This will compensate authorities for the temporary cash shortfall likely to result from the proposals in the Community Charges (General Reduction) Bill and related measures.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what actions he has taken to help alleviate Gulf oil slicks and oil well fires since 15 March.
  456
  Mr. Key
  My right hon. Friend has met representatives of the Social and Liberal Democratic party, the Scottish Nationalist party, Plaid Cymru and the Ulster Unionist party as well as the local authority associations. Further meetings will be arranged as appropriate. In addition, we continue to receive a large volume of correspondence from hon. and right hon. Members of this House, representations from various institutions and organisations, and letters from the general public.

  Mr. Shore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of total local government current expenditure, excluding grants for domestic rate rebates, was accounted for by central Government revenue grant in each year from 1978–79 to the current year 1991–92; and what additional amount of Government grant would have been necessary to bring the percentage of Government grant in total local authority current expenditure up to the 1978–79 level.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: The information for the English local authorities is as follows:

  Mr. Baldry
  We will endeavour to respond positively to requests we receive from the Gulf states wherever we are in a position to do so.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the Official Report, 15 March, column 1384, what response he has had from the Kuwaiti Government about Dr. Nigel Downing's proposals for protecting coral atolls.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 21 March 1991]: Dr. Downing's recommendations for minimising ecological damage to offshore coral reefs within the Gulf war zone have been passed both to the military authorities and, following the restoration of the Government of Kuwait, to them. I will write to the hon. Member when I have substantive news.
  457

  Local Authority Expenditure
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the highest, lowest and average increase in spending levels by local authorities over the three years 1988–89 to 1990–91; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  Comparing budgets in 1990–91 with comparable figures in 1988–89 for each local authority gives the highest increase as 320 per cent. in Labour controlled Southampton; and
  the lowest increase as minus 74 per cent. in Conservative controlled Runnymede.

  The average increase for England as a whole is 20 per cent.

  Homelessness
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any new proposals to deal with the shortage of hostel bed spaces for homeless people in major cities.

  Sir George Young
  Of the latest figures available, housing associations provide a total of 50,000 hostel bed spaces in England, of which some 20,000 are in London. The Government have allocated £96 million over three years to provide additional hostel and longer-term accommodation for single homeless people in London. We are considering how this programme might be extended to other major cities in the future.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the Government's initiative on homelessness.

  Sir George Young
  [pursuant to the reply of 22 January 1991, Official Report, column 155]: I have today approved additional allocations totalling £115 million to 106 authorities in London and the south-east. The schemes should provide more than 6,000 extra lettings for the homeless, reducing the need to use temporary bed-and-breakfast accommodation. Priority has been given to bringing empty properties back into use and cash incentive schemes. Today's announcement brings the total allocated to local authorities under the two year initiative to £227 million. Full details of individual allocations to local authorities are set out in a press release which has been placed in the Library.

  Defective Property
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to extend the numbers or types of property covered by the defects liability legislation.

  Mr. Yeo
  No. The Building Research Establishment's comprehensive study of all non-traditional house types has identified no further types which would merit designation under the housing defects legislation.

  London Boroughs (Statutory Burdens)
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will examine the scope for additional departmental assistance to outer London boroughs incurring unavoidable additional expenditure outlays from additional statutory burdens since 1987.
  458
  Mr. Portillo
  New responsibilities falling to local authorities are taken into account in the annual local authority finance settlement and are reflected in standard spending assessments for individual authorities.

  For 1991–92 total standard spending assessments for outer London boroughs will increase by 21·5 per cent. and total external support by an estimated 36 per cent. including an estimated 20 per cent. in respect of the new community charge grant announced by my right hon. Friend on 19 March.

  Lambeth Council
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will respond to a request to meet the hon. Member for Norwood to discuss the budget, poll tax and debt write-off of Lambeth council.

  Mr. Key
  I have replied to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what have been the housing investment programme allocations for Lambeth for each of the last five years; to what extent the approved programme has been achieved in Lambeth in each year; and what will be the programme for 1991–92.

  Mr. Yeo
  The total housing capital allocations made to the London borough of Lambeth by central Government for each of the last five years are set out below. Actual expenditure on the housing investment programme is also given; this includes reinvestment of capital receipts. Copies of the council's housing strategy statements, which set out in detail the extent to which expenditure on each element of the proposed programme accorded with the council's original plans, have been placed in the Library of the House. The housing investment programme allocation for the year 1991–92 is £33·2 million—the extent to which the council will incur expenditure above this level is likely to depend on its ability to generate receipts particularly from the right to buy.

  £ million

  Housing capital allocations—total

  Housing investment programme expenditure

  1986–87

  35·6

  56·2

  1987–88

  34·0

  56·6

  1988–89

  30·7

  37·1

  1989–90

  23·5

  68·3

  1990–91

  230·6

  144·7

  1Estimate

  2excludes further resources of approximately £7 million earmarked but not yet allocated

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the urban aid programme allocation for Lambeth for each of the last five years; to what extent it has been taken up by Lambeth in each year; and what will be the allocation for 1991–92.

  Mr. Key
  The following table gives full details of the London borough of Lambeth's urban programme allocation and outturn figures, excluding the DHA allocation, for the last five years, and the provisional allocation for 1991–92.

  £ million

  Year

  Allocation

  Outturn

  1986–87

  12·566

  10·930

  1987–88

  11·170

  6·421

  1988–89

  9·745

  7·640

  459

  Year

  Allocation

  Outturn

  1989–90

  8·825

  8·563

  1990–91

  8·648

  n/a

  1991–92

  8·434

  n/a

  Environmental Information
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to update Pollution Paper No. 23 (1986) on "Public Access to Environmental Information."

  Mr. Trippier
  No. The paper was the report of an interdepartmental working party. The Government accepted its broad thrust. It also fully supports the EC directive of 7 June 1990 on freedom of access to information on the environment.

  Millbank, London
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer given by the Lord President of the Council on 7 March,Official Report, columns 624–25, about the possible leasing of 7 Millbank, London SW1, for use as offices for hon. Members and staff, how many rooms are available; on what dates in 1991 the offices will become available; what rent is being requested; what length of lease is being sought; and whether any office furniture or catering facilities will be included in any deal.

  Mr. Yeo
  While No. 7 Millbank remains one of a number of properties under consideration there is nothing I can add usefully to the information given to the hon. Member by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Councils.

  Housing
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total expenditure by his Department on publicising the Homes scheme during the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available; what steps he has taken to ensure that the rate of expenditure is sufficient to communicate effectively with the section of the community at which it is aimed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  A major part of Homes activity is the general promotion and publicity, throughout the UK, of housing mobility and exchange schemes to local authorities and housing associations, and their tenants. Regular financial and monitoring reports on this work are submitted to the Department. In the current financial year Government funding of Homes is £1·55 million, of which £1·48 million is contributed by the Department of the Environment. £50,000 of this total budget relates specifically to the costs of publicity materials such as application forms, information leaflets and posters.

  Right To Buy
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council houses and flats were sold in Ealing in each of the past six years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  Tables giving the annual total of sales for each English local authority since 1979–80 are in the Library.
  460
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has yet made a decision in relation to the right to buy of residents of elderly persons' dwellings at Arden close in Weston-super-Mare referred to in letters from the hon. Member for Weston-super-Mare dated 6 September 1990, 4 December 1990 and 27 February 1991.

  Mr. Yeo
  A decision has now been made and I have written to my hon. Friend.

  Nitrogen Oxide
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to put in the Library the final report into evaluation of nitrogen oxide abatement technologies for large combustion plants which he anticipated receiving early in autumn 1990.

  Mr. Baldry
  A report on NOx abatement technologies was received by my Department late in 1990. It is still being considered.

  Wandsworth (Housing)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the London borough of Wandsworth to increase the provision of low-cost housing in the borough; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  My Department discusses housing policy issues each year with individual local authorities through the housing investment programme meetings. The London regional office maintains regular contact with the London borough of Wandsworth and other London authorities on all aspects of housing policy. The Housing Corporation also holds discussions about allocations under its approved development programme.

  Environmental Statistics
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the next digest of environmental protection and water statistics.

  Mr. Trippier
  The 13th annual digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics was published today and copies have been placed in the Library.

  Detergents
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the report of the study he has commissioned into the problems that may be caused by pollutants in detergents; and what further steps he intends to take.

  Mr. Trippier
  A report "Pollutants in Cleaning Agents" has now been received from Consultants in Environmental Sciences Ltd. and copies are being placed in the Library. We will now be consulting widely on the findings of that study.

  West Yorkshire Residuary Body
  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the West Yorkshire residuary body will be dissolved; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The West Yorkshire body will formally be dissolved on 31 March 1991 by an order made under
  461
  section 67 of the Local Government Act 1985. The order transfers the remainder of the residuary body's property, functions, rights and liabilities to successor authorities. The residuary body's final report and accounts will be laid before Parliament in due course.

  During the five years since abolition the record of the residuary body has been impressive. It inherited well over 25,000 property interests, as well as numerous other complex rights and liabilities from the former West Yorkshire metropolitan county council. In identifying property which was surplus and successfully bringing it on to the market it showed how unused and underused public assets can be released. As a result the body has been able to distribute to the West Yorkshire districts some £50 million from surplus property sales and revenue balances for the benefit of the local charge payers. This is a remarkable achievement and much credit goes to all concerned for a job well done. I wish to pay tribute to the chairman, Sir Tom McDonald, the board members and staff for the part they have played in this highly successful operation.

  All six metropolitan residuary bodies have now completed their work. This effectively draws to a close a chapter of local government re-organisation.

  West Midlands Residuary Body
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the West Midlands residuary body will be dissolved; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The West Midlands residuary body will formally be dissolved on 31 March 1991 by an order made under section 67 of the Local Government Act 1985. The order transfers the remainder of the residuary body's property, functions, rights and liabilities to successor authorities. The residuary body's final report and accounts will be laid before Parliament in due course.

  On abolition the residuary body inherited some 5,000 former county council property interests. Surplus properties of substantial value have been identified and successfully disposed of on the market while those needed for continuing functions have been transferred to the district councils. The residuary body has been able to distribute some £110 million to successors from property sales and revenue balances for the benefit of the local charge payers. It is a credit to all concerned that the residuary body's tasks have been successfully completed within the statutory timescale. I would like to pay tribute to the chairman, Sir Tom McDonald, his predecessor, Dr. Malcolm Skillcorn, the board members and the staff for their contribution to this achievement.

  Economically active and unemployed by social class

  Great Britain, Spring 1990

  Economically active2

  Unemployed3

  Thousands

  Per cent.

  Thousands

  Per cent.

  All persons1

  28,037

  100

  1,869

  100

  Professional and Intermediate Occupations

  8,283

  30

  187

  10

  Skilled Occupations

  13,117

  47

  604

  32

  Partly skilled Occupations

  4,315

  15

  300

  16

  Unskilled Occupations

  1,373

  5

  133

  7

  1Includes some who did not adequately describe their occupation or who were not asked.

  2Includes those in employment and the unemployed.

  462
  All six metropolitan residuary bodies have now completed their work. This effectively draws to a close a chapter of local government reorganisation.

  Business Rates
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to modify the transitional arrangements for non-domestic rates.

  Mr. Key
  We have today issued a consultation paper on proposals which would mean that private sector companies winning contracts to carry out defined activities would, when the previous occupier of the premises was the local authority, be eligible for transitional relief under the new non-domestic rating system.

  These proposals are intended to restore competitiveness for private sector companies bidding for local authority contracts under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988.

  Under the present rules, transitional relief is generally lost when there is a change of occupier of a building. This means that private sector firms tendering to take over work previously done by a local authority would have to include the higher costs of the full rates bill in their bid. The new rules would put them on an equal footing.

  It would not be necessary for an authority's direct services organisation to participate in the tendering process for a firm to qualify for relief, but relief would cease if there were any further change of occupation.

  We would propose to introduce the necessary regulations as soon as possible after consultation. I have placed a copy of the consultation paper in the Library.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales is carrying out a similar exercise and a copy of his consultation paper has also been placed in the Library.

EMPLOYMENT

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of(a) unskilled, (b) semi-skilled and (c) skilled persons (i) in the entire work force and (ii) classified as unemployed in Britain; and what information he has on conparable figures in other Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development countries, showing in each case the actual figure and percentage of the total work force.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Great Britain labour force survey provides estimates of people in skilled occupations. Preliminary results from the 1990 labour force survey are shown in the following table:
  463
  3The social class of the unemployed is based on their previous occupation, except for those who left their last job more than three years ago, or who have never had a job, who are not asked about their previous occupation.

  Source: 1990 Labour Force Survey, preliminary results.

  This does not exactly equate to skilled persons. For instance, skilled people working in unskilled occupations will be classified as unskilled. No reliable comparable figures are available for other OECD countries.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff are employed in all aspects of paying unemployment benefit and dealing with tribunals and fraud; and how many separate premises they occupy.

  Mr. Jackson
  Questions on operational matters in the Employment Service executive agency are the responsibility of Mike Fogden, the agency's chief executive, to whom I have referred this question for reply.

  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff are employed in(a) unemployment benefit offices, (b) job centres, (c) the Training Agency and (d) the remainder of his Department; and how many separate buildings are occupied for each.

  Mr. Jackson
  I regret that the information is not readily available in the form requested. As at 1 January 1991 there were 26,040 people employed in the Employment Service local office network which comprises unemployment benefit offices and jobcentres. There were 990 staff employed in the training, enterprise and education directorate, formerly the Training Agency headquarters, and 8,266 in the ED headquarters regions, formerly the Training Agency regions. There were 14,909 staff employed in the remainder of the ED group.

  There are 676 buildings occupied by unemployment benefit offices, 680 by jobcentres and 300 by integrated offices. There are 107 buildings occupied by TEED and ED headquarters regional offices. The remainder of the ED group occupies 282 buildings.

  Employment Training, Bradford
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to enable Bradford and District training and enterprise council to assist the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders employment training centre in Bradford to continue; how many trainees are currently receiving training at NACRO in Bradford; what training is available; what alternative training will be offered to NACRO trainees if the Bradford centre closes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The responsibility for identifying and meeting local training and enterprise needs in Bradford rests with Bradford and District training and enterprise council. It is for Bradford TEC to use its resources to decide which organisations it contracts with to ensure that these needs are met, and I cannot intervene in their contracting decisions.

  NACRO in Bradford provides employment training in clerical, secretarial and elementary occupations, and also initial training via a subcontractor. As at 1 March 1991, 79 ET trainees were in training.

  Bradford and District TEC has offered NACRO three contract closure options. NACRO has expressed a
  464
  preference for a residual contract to 30 June 1991 at new funding rates and are currently giving this further consideration. This would enable most trainees to complete their ET with NACRO.

  There are many other local training providers offering similar training to that provided by NACRO. Bradford and District TEC will seek to minimise any disruption caused to those trainees who are required to transfer to another training provider to complete their training.

  Youth Training Scheme
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the report by the Robens Institute at Surrey university into accidents in the youth training scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  I have placed a copy of the report in the Library of the House.

  We have recently been given further attention to the needs of trainees in the new training environment created by the advent of training and enterprise councils, and other initiatives such as the introduction of employment training, youth training and training credits.

  Our policy for the health and safety of trainees has been in place for a number of years, as the youth opportunities programme and youth training schemes followed by ET and YT, have evolved. The foundations of this policy are that the primary legal and moral responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of trainees rests with those who are providing the training, whether in a college or in the workplace. To this end we have provided in the Health and Safety (Training for Employment) Regulations 1990 for unemployed trainees in training with an employer to have the same legal protection under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act as they would if they were employees. The Government will use their best endeavours to ensure that those responsible for arranging and delivering training understand their obligations and are given appropriate help and support in carrying them out.

  It is our aim to promote quality training programmes which enjoy the full confidence of the public. This includes firm policies for accident prevention and occupational health protection. As part of the training objective we aim to provide each trainee with health and safety skills and knowledge which they can carry forward into their working life.

  Through their contracts with my Department TECs are contractually bound to have satisfactory systems to ensure their providers and their sub-contractors have adequate health and safety arrangements. My Department, through its regional offices, appraises TEC proposals in these respects and monitors performance when contracts are signed. To enhance the ability of the regional offices to perform this task their professional resources—regional safety advisers—are being strengthened overall.

  We are also embarking on a range of other new measures. The existing publications and training materials provided by the Department are being reviewed, evaluated and then revised to provide relevant and up-to-date support and guidance to trainers and trainees alike. Gaps in existing provision will be identified and new products developed.
  465
  For TECs we will be examining a targeted approach to their health and safety activities. Our aim is to establish standards to which they can work and by which their performance can be measured.

  With the Health and Safety Executive we will be looking at the consequences of coming European Community legislation for health and safety training and the health and safety content of national vocational qualifications.

  Finally, taking into account the recommendations of the Robens Institute report a working group including representative of TECs is looking at the need of accident data collection in relation to employment training and youth training in the TEC era.

  Altogether this represents a very considerable commitment of public resources to the health and safety of trainees.

  Regional Offices (Expenditure)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide a table of expenditure showing the cost of running each regional office of his Department and the cost of running sub-regional offices aggregated by region and with London shown separately, for 1989–90 and excluding the funding programmes operated by the offices.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: The information is as follows:

  Financial year 1989–90

  Outturn

  Region

  Regional office

  Area office

  Total

  £'000s

  £'000s

  £'000s

  South East

  2,985

  9,548

  12,534

  London

  4,586

  9,558

  14,144

  South West

  1,816

  5,919

  7,735

  West Midlands

  3,450

  7,624

  11,074

  East Midlands

  2,251

  7,680

  9,931

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  2,959

  6,759

  9,719

  North West

  2,866

  11,671

  14,537

  Northern

  2,322

  5,859

  8,181

  Wales

  1,975

  5,306

  7,282

  Scotland

  3,876

  8,469

  12,345

  TOTAL

  29,087

  78,393

  107,480

  Note: All figures are £'000s and show the cost of former Training Agency offices.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Overseas Electors Scheme
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total cost, broken down into all expenditure heads, of the implementation of the overseas electors scheme.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The main extra costs involved in implementing the provisions of the Representation of the People Act 1989 are set out in the table. The staffing costs were absorbed within existing provision and are not separately identifiable.
  466

  £

  Advertising campaign (Home Office)

  480,000

  Leaflets and posters (including distribution costs)

  63,000

  Application forms

  40,000

  Advertising campaign (Foreign and Commonwealth Office)

  250,000

  Administration costs (Foreign and Commonwealth Office)

  100,000

  Costs to local authorities (1990–91)

  '86,000

  Total

  1,019,000

  1Estimate.

  Volunteer Centre UK
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the Volunteer Centre UK to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. John Patten
  I am glad to lend my support to such an exhibition, which will encourage attention to the value of volunteering and to the contribution which the Volunteer Centre UK makes in promoting it. I understand that the exhibition will take place from 24 to 28 June and I look forward to visiting it.

  Legislation
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the differences between the legislation in force in(a) Northern Ireland and (b) England and Wales with respect to (i) the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989, (ii) the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and (iii) codes of practice made under these Acts, and similar legislation applying to Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 extends to the whole of the United Kingdom with the exception of the provisions listed in section 28(2) of the Act. The differences between the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 were set out in the explanatory document to the 1989 order, a copy of which was sent to the hon. Member in July 1988. The main difference between the four codes of practice issued under article 65 of the 1989 order and the four codes issued under section 66 of the 1984 Act which came into force in England and Wales on 1 January 1986 is that the Northern Ireland codes of practice do not apply to the exercise of powers conferred by or under the Prevention of Terrorism Act or to arrest or detention under that Act. In addition, the Northern Ireland code C for the detention, treatment and questioning of persons by police officers reflects the provisions of the Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 which has no equivalent in England and Wales.

  Business Corruption
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the statutory provisions that relate to the offer of corrupt inducements to employees.

  Mr. John Patten
  In England and Wales the principal legislative provisions relating to the bribery of employees
  467
  are the Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act 1889 and the Prevention of Corruption Acts 1906 and 1916. Bribery of a public official is also an offence at common law.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to seek to amend the law relating to business corruption.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No.

  Police Complaints Authority
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any new appointments have been made to the Police Complaints Authority.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Miss Beryl Wallis, who retired from a senior post in IBM United Kingdom Ltd. in February 1991, has accepted my invitation to serve as a member of the Police Complaints Authority. She will take up her post on 29 April 1991.

  Brigadier Anthony Vivian, who was until 4 March 1990 colonel of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, has accepted my invitation to serve as a member of the Police Complaints Authority. He will take up his post on 2 April 1991.

  Forensic Science Agency
  Sir Gerrard Neale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made towards establishing the forensic science service as an executive agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I am pleased to announce that the Forensic Science Service will be established on 1 April 1991 as an executive agency of the Home Office. The FSS plays a vital role in the administration of justice principally by providing scientific support in the investigation of crime and expert evidence to the courts.

  From 1 April the FSS will recover its full costs through charging its customers direct for the services it provides. In preparation for this the FSS last year made substantial changes in its organisation and style of operation. Agency status will give the FSS the managerial and financial freedom it needs to continue improving its efficiency and effectiveness thereby giving its customers better value for money. It will also enable the FSS to maintain its high standards of scientific work and quality. I have set the agency challenging performance targets including recovery of full costs, a unit cost of £579·50 and a unit cost productivity gain of 1·75 per cent. in 1991–92.

  I have appointed Dr. Janet Thompson, the director general of the FSS, as its first chief executive. Details of the

  Applications 12received for asylum in the United Kingdom, by location3of application and nationality: 1989–90

  1989

  1990

  Q3

  Q4

  Q1

  Q2

  Q3

  Made on Entry

  Made after entry

  Made on entry

  Made after entry

  Made on entry

  Made after entry

  Made on entry

  Made after entry

  Made on entry

  Made after entry

  Europe

  Czechoslovakia

  5

  30

  *

  5

  —

  *

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hungary

  —

  5

  *

  *

  —

  *

  —

  *

  —

  —

  Poland

  —

  15

  *

  10

  —

  5

  —

  5

  —

  *

  Romania

  —

  *

  —

  5

  —

  5

  —

  20

  *

  75

  Turkey

  10

  125

  20

  105

  10

  125

  40

  170

  170

  80

  Yugoslavia

  5

  5

  —

  *

  *

  *

  *

  5

  *

  *

  Others

  *

  25

  5

  15

  5

  20

  5

  30

  5

  60

  Total

  25

  210

  30

  145

  20

  155

  45

  230

  180

  220

  468
  principles by which the FSS will operate are set out in the framework document, copies of which will be placed in the Library.

  Passport Department
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made towards establishing the passport department as an executive agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I am pleased to announce that the passport department of the Home Office will be established as an executive agency on 2 April. The full title of the agency will be the United Kingdom Passport Agency. I shall be placing a copy of the agency's framework document in the Library.

  The main aim of the passport agency will be to provide passport services to British nationals promptly and economically. The agency will be starting from a sound base in fulfilling this aim. I am confident that the enhanced freedoms and responsibilities which the framework document grants to it will enable it to deliver further improvements in its service to customers while providing better value for money.

  The key targets which I have set the agency for its first year of operation are:

  (i) to reduce the time taken to process properly completed, straightforward applications to a maximum of 20 working days in the period of peak demand from January to July and to a maximum of 10 working days at other times.

  (ii) to reduce unit costs by at least 2.3 per cent. in real terms.

  The chief executive will be directly accountable to me for the performance of the passport agency. An advisory board including two private sector members with experience of delivering services to the public will help me to assess the agency's performance.

  Immigration
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum, by nationality, were made(a) on entry and (b) after entry to the United Kingdom in each month since June 1989.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: The readily available information is given in the following table. Some of the figures for 1990 will understate because of delays in recording. Reliable figures for the fourth quarter of 1990 are not yet available.
  469

  1989

  1990

  Q3

  Q4

  Q1

  Q2

  Q3

  Made on Entry

  Made after entry

  Made on entry

  Made after entry

  Made on entry

  Made after entry

  Made on entry

  Made after entry

  Made on entry

  Made after entry

  Americas

  Chile

  *

  5

  —

  5

  —

  *

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Colombia

  15

  10

  10

  15

  10

  10

  25

  25

  15

  15

  Others

  —

  5

  —

  5

  5

  10

  5

  10

  5

  10

  Total

  20

  20

  10

  25

  15

  20

  30

  35

  15

  20

  Africa

  Angola

  25

  65

  20

  70

  65

  75

  95

  135

  65

  100

  Ethiopia

  100

  125

  140

  105

  75

  120

  225

  160

  490

  460

  Ghana

  5

  85

  20

  120

  30

  190

  25

  140

  20

  385

  Libya

  —

  5

  —

  5

  —

  *

  *

  5

  —

  5

  Seychelles

  *

  10

  5

  10

  *

  10

  —

  5

  *

  *

  Somalia

  795

  205

  815

  110

  400

  75

  315

  195

  600

  505

  South Africa

  *

  5

  5

  *

  *

  10

  *

  5

  *

  *

  Sudan

  5

  45

  *

  60

  —

  60

  —

  40

  —

  40

  Uganda

  295

  195

  330

  215

  250

  210

  320

  230

  410

  540

  Zaire

  5

  190

  50

  275

  5

  420

  40

  400

  80

  1,140

  Others

  *

  35

  5

  25

  25

  60

  25

  35

  35

  35

  Total

  1,230

  960

  1,390

  990

  855

  1,235

  1,045

  1,350

  1,700

  3,215

  Middle East

  Iran

  35

  90

  50

  70

  65

  45

  40

  50

  60

  75

  Iraq

  65

  55

  75

  25

  135

  25

  145

  55

  395

  135

  Lebanon

  20

  35

  65

  35

  60

  40

  45

  15

  165

  115

  Syria

  —

  5

  —

  —

  —

  *

  5

  —

  *

  *

  Others

  *

  5

  —

  20

  *

  10

  5

  5

  *

  15

  Total

  120

  195

  190

  160

  260

  120

  240

  120

  625

  340

  Asia

  Afghanistan

  25

  5

  20

  5

  20

  5

  35

  20

  45

  30

  Bangladesh

  *

  —

  —

  *

  *

  5

  5

  10

  *

  5

  India

  *

  175

  *

  245

  5

  335

  —

  330

  5

  410

  Pakistan

  —

  70

  *

  135

  10

  185

  5

  165

  15

  415

  Sri Lanka

  270

  275

  760

  285

  560

  220

  510

  200

  540

  305

  Others

  5

  45

  5

  35

  10

  30

  —

  20

  —

  55

  Total

  300

  565

  785

  710

  600

  780

  555

  740

  605

  1,225

  Other and unknown nationality

  25

  40

  65

  25

  50

  25

  65

  20

  75

  25

  Grand Total

  1,715

  1,985

  2,470

  2,050

  1,800

  2,340

  1,980

  2,495

  3,200

  5,040

  1Provisional and estimated figures: some of those for 1990 will understate because of delays in recording. Figures rounded to nearest 5, with '*' = less than 3.

  2Including dependants applying with the principal applicant, and those, to date, arriving subsequently but before the principal application was decided. Figures are tabulated by the date and location of the principal application.

  3Excluding applications made from overseas.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a table showing how many cattle in the past three years have been certified as suffering from BSE; of these how many were(a) cows of generally recognised milk breeds and (b) cows of generally recognised beef breeds; how many of the cows in each case were (i) under three years old, (ii) between three and six years old, (iii) between six and nine years old and (iv) over nine years; and how many cattle so certified were (1) maiden heifers of milk breeds, (2) maiden heifers of beef breeds, (3) bulls (A) under and (B) over three years, (4) steers and (5) calves.

  Mr. Maclean
  From when the disease was first identified in November 1986 up to and including 18 M arch 1991 the total number of confirmed cases of BSE in the United Kingdom was 25,826. Out of these, 24 were in cattle whose dams were themselves affected and 23 of these were born before the introduction, in July 1988, of the ban on the feeding of ruminant protein to ruminants, and were 470
  exposed to a source of food-borne infection. The single remaining case was born in November 1988, after the imposition of the feed ban. This one animal should not have been fed on ruminant-derived protein and its feeding regime, and other possible sources of infection, are being investigated. The possibility of maternal transmission is one that will have to be examined.

  In a MAFF research project studying under controlled conditions 316 calves of cows affected with BSE, no animal has yet succumbed to BSE, even though 262 of them are older than the single case already mentioned. Even if this were a case of maternal transmission, it would have no significance for public health. The measures taken to deal with BSE (the slaughter and destruction of suspect animals, and a ban on the use for human or animal consumption of those tissues that might harbour the agent in pre-clinical cases) apply in all cases, regardless of how infection might have been acquired. The only significance for animal health might be that if maternal transmission were found to occur in some cases, eradication of BSE might take rather longer than would otherwise be the case. This was a point addressed by Dr. David Tyrell in his

  471
  advice to the Government. He concluded that no Government action was necessary to control the use for breeding of the offspring of cattle affected by BSE.

  The rest of the information requested is as follows (excluding unattributable cases):

  Dairy mixed herds

  Beef herds

  Calves

  0

  0

  Maiden heifers

  0

  0

  Under 3 years

  Cows

  101

  11

  Bulls

  0

  1

  3 to 5 years inclusive

  Cows

  17,542

  1,050

  Bulls

  32

  14

  Steers

  1

  0

  6 to 9 years inclusive

  Cows

  4,440

  334

  Bulls

  11

  3

  10 years and over

  Cows

  46

  13

  Bulls

  0

  0

  United Kingdom usage of:

  million tonnes

  Wheat

  All cereals (excluding rice)

  Human consumption

  Animal feed

  1Other processes

  Losses

  Human consumption

  Animal feed

  1Other processes

  Losses

  1979–80

  51·(1·2)

  3·9 (0·9)

  0·3 (0·0)

  0·1 (0·0)

  6·4 (0·5)

  11·6·(1·0)

  3·5(0·3)

  0·3(0·0)

  1980–81

  5·0(1·1)

  3·6(0·8)

  0·3(0·0)

  0·1(0·0)

  6·2(0·5)

  10·7(0·9)

  3·1(0·3)

  0·3(0·0)

  1981–82

  4·8 (1·0)

  3·-4(0·7)

  0·3(0·0)

  0·2(0·0)

  6·2(0·5)

  9·6(0·8)

  3·0(0·2)

  0·3(0·0)

  1982–83

  4·9(1·0)

  3·9(0·8)

  0·3(0·0)

  0·2(0·0)

  6·3(0·5)

  10·2(0·8)

  3·0(0·2)

  0·4(0·0)

  1983–84

  5·0(1·0)

  4·0(0·8)

  0·3(0·0)

  0·2(0·0)

  6·3(0·5)

  10·2(0·9)

  3·1(0·3)

  0·4(0·0)

  1984–85

  4·8(0·9)

  4·9(0·9)

  0·5(0·1)

  0·2(0·0)

  6·0(0·4)

  10·0(0·7)

  2·8(0·2)

  0·5(0·0)

  1985–86

  4·9(1·0)

  5·5(1·1)

  0·6(0·1)

  0·2(0·0)

  6·1(0·4)

  10·3(0·7)

  2·7(0·2)

  0·4(0·0)

  1986–87

  4·9(0·9)

  6·2(1·1)

  0·7(0·1)

  0·3(0·0)

  6·2(0·4)

  11·2(0·8)

  2·7(0·2)

  0·5(0·0)

  1987–88

  5·7(1·1)

  5·7(1·1)

  0·8(0·2)

  0·2(0·0)

  6·5(0·5)

  10·5(0·8)

  2·9(0·2)

  0·4(0·0)

  1988–89

  5·4(1·0)

  5·2(1·0)

  0·9(0· 2)

  0·2(0·0)

  6·5(0·5)

  10·0(0·8)

  3·0(0·2)

  0·4(0·0)

  1989–90

  5·1(0·9)

  5·4(1·0)

  0·9(0·2)

  0·3(0·0)

  6·5(0·5)

  10·0(0·7)

  3·4(0·2)

  0·4(0·0)

  1Industrial uses, including grains for malting, plus seeds.

  Notes:

  Figures in parenthesis are quantities used as percentage of world production. (0·0) Negligible.

  Source: MAFF.

  European Community1Usage of

  million tonnes

  Wheat (including durum)

  All Cereals (excluding rice)

  Human Consumption

  Animal Feed

  2Other Processes

  Losses

  Human Consumption

  Animal Feed

  2Other Processes

  Losses

  1979–80

  28·0 (6·5)

  12·4 (2·9)

  2·6 (0·6)

  0·6(0·1)

  30·7 (2·6)

  72·9 (6·2)

  15·0(1·3)

  1·7(0·1)

  1980–81

  32·2 (7·2)

  13·8(3·1)

  3·2 (0·7)

  0·6 (0·1)

  35·5 (3·0)

  86·5 (7·4)

  —

  1·9 (0·2)

  1981–82

  31·8 (7·0)

  14·2(3·1)

  3·2 (0·7)

  0·6(0·1)

  35·2 (2·8)

  85·7 (6·9)

  —

  1·8(0·1)

  1982–83

  30·7 (6·4)

  15·5 (3·2)

  3·4 (0·7)

  0·7 (0·1)

  35·4 (2·8)

  86·1 (6·7)

  —

  1·9(0·1)

  1983–84

  30·7 (6·2)

  21·2 (4·3)

  3·7 (0·7)

  0·8 (0·2)

  35·5 (3·0)

  87·4 (7·3)

  —

  1·8 (0·2)

  1984–85

  31·5 (6·1)

  23·0 (4·4)

  3·9 (0·8)

  0·9 (0·2)

  36·6 (2·7)

  90·3 (6·8)

  15·6 (1·2)

  2·2 (0·2)

  1985–86

  31·7 (6·3)

  22·5 (4·4)

  4·1 (0·8)

  0·9 (0·2)

  36·7 (2·7)

  87·8 (6·4)

  15·8 (1·2)

  2·1 (0·2)

  1986–87

  31·6 (5·9)

  23·5 (4·4)

  4·3 (0·8)

  0·9 (0·2)

  36·6 (2·6)

  84·8 (6·1)

  15·5 (1·1)

  2·1 (0·2)

  1987–88

  31·9 (6·2)

  21·1 (4·1)

  4·4 (0·9)

  0·9 (0·2)

  37·0 (2·8)

  80·3 (6·1)

  16·0 (1·2)

  2·0 (0·2)

  1988–89

  31·6 (6·2)

  21·2 (4·2)

  4·9 (1·0)

  0·9 (0·2)

  36·7 (2·9)

  80·7 (6·4)

  16·3 (1·3)

  2·1 (0·2)

  1989–90

  31·3 (5·8)

  21·6 (4·0)

  5·0 (0·9)

  0·4(0·1)

  35·6 (2·6)

  78·2 (5·7)

  16·6 (1·2)

  1·1 (0·1)

  1EC 10 for 1979–80; EC 12 from 1980–81 to 1989–90.

  2Industrial usage and seed.

  Notes:

  Figures in parenthesis are quantities used as percentage of world production. MAFF estimates using FAO data or world production. — Not available.

  Sources: Eurostat and Commission of the European Communities.

  Cereals
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what quantity of(a) wheat and (b) all cereals produced in (i) the United Kingdom, (ii) the EEC, (iii) north America, and (iv) the rest of the world has been used in each year since 1979 (1) for human consumption, (2) for animal feed, (3) for other processes, and (4) destroyed; and if he will give these figures as a percentage of world production in each case.

  Mr. Curry
  The information, where readily available, is shown in the tables, the coverage of which varies according to sources. No information is available on the destruction of grain, but data on losses are shown where recorded. Information on the rest of the world as a whole is not readily available in the form requested.
  473

  United States cereals usage

  million tonnes

  Wheat

  1All cereals

  2Food

  Seed

  Animal feed

  2Food, alcohol, seed

  Animal feed

  1979–80

  16·6 (3·9)

  2·7 (0·6)

  2·3 (0·5)

  39·8 (3·4)

  142·2 (12·1)

  1980–81

  16·6 (3·7)

  3·1 (0·7)

  1·6 (0·4)

  39·5 (3·4)

  125·6 (10·8)

  1981–82

  16·4 (3·6)

  2·9 (0·6)

  3·7 (0·8)

  41·1 (3·3)

  131·3 (10·6)

  1982–83

  16·7 (3·5)

  2·6 (0·5)

  5·3 (1·1)

  47·5 (3·7)

  144·6 (11·2)

  1983–84

  17·5 (3·5)

  2·7 (0·5)

  10·0 (2·0)

  50·3 (4·2)

  130·0 (10·9)

  1984–85

  17·7 (3·4)

  2·7 (0·5)

  11·0 (2·1)

  53·5 (4·0)

  141·6 (10·6)

  1985–86

  18·4 (3·6)

  2·5 (0·5)

  7·4 (1·5)

  56·2 (4·1)

  142·5 (10·4)

  1986–87

  19·7 (3·7)

  2·3 (0·4)

  10·5 (2·0)

  57·6 (4·2)

  155·9 (11·3)

  1987–88

  19·55 (3·8)

  2·3 (0·5)

  7·8 (1·5)

  58·9 (4·4)

  153·6 (11·6)

  1988–89

  22·25 (4·4)

  4·3 (0·8)

  60·0 (4·8)

  124·1 (9·9)

  1989–90

  22·63 (4·2)

  4·3 (0·8)

  61·6 (4·5)

  138·8 (10·1)

  1Covers wheat, maize, barley, oats, sorghum, rye but excludes
  rice.

  2No disaggregation between usage for direct human consumption and
  industrial processes available.

  Notes:

  Figures in parenthesis are quantities used as percentage of world production. MAFF estimates
  using FAO data on world production.

  Sources: USDA Agricultural Statistics 1989 and Agricultural Outlook, March 1991.

  Usage of cereals in Canada

  Million tonnes

  Wheat (including durum)

  All cereals

  Year

  Food and industrial use

  Animal feed

  Seed

  Food and industrial use

  Feed, seed and losses

  1979–80

  1·9 (0·4)

  2·7 (0·6)

  1·0 (0·2)

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1980–81

  1·8 (0·4)

  2·2 (0·5)

  1·1 (0·2)

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1981–82

  1·9 (0·4)

  2·1 (0·5)

  1·1 (0·2)

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1982–83

  2·0 (0·4)

  1·8 (0·4)

  1·2 (0·2)

  3·6 (0·3)

  20·0 (1·6)

  1983–84

  2·0 (0·4)

  2·3 (0·5)

  1·2 (0·2)

  3·7 (0·3)

  20·5 (1·7)

  1984–85

  2·0 (0·4)

  2·0 (0·4)

  1·3 (0·3)

  3·6 (0·3)

  20·1 (1·5)

  1985–86

  2·1 (0·4)

  2·1 (0·4)

  1·3 (0·3)

  3·9 (0·3)

  20·7 (1·5)

  1986–87

  2·0 (0·4)

  2·4 (0·4)

  1·1 (0·2)

  4·0 (0·3)

  21·4 (1· 5)

  1987–88

  2·2 (0·4)

  4·5 (0·9)

  1·2 (0·2)

  4·0 (0·3)

  23·9 (1·8)

  1988–89

  2·2 (0·4)

  2·0 (0·4)

  1·3 (0·3)

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1989–90

  2·3 (0·4)

  1·9 (0·4)

  1·3 (0·2)

  n.a.

  n.a.

  Notes:

  Figures in parenthesis are quantities used as percentage of world production. MAFF estimates using FAO data on world production. n.a. Not available.

  Sources:International Wheat Council and Agriculture Canada.

  Water Supplies, Kuwait
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assistance scientists from his Department are offering to Kuwait to(a) seal off chemicals from bombed chemical plants to prevent them from getting into the water table, (b) mitigate the effects of faecal-oral infection from damaged sewerage systems and (c) restore irrigation and water course systems damaged by military action in the Gulf war.

  Mr. Curry
  We have had no requests from Gulf states for assistance with these matters. The requests the Government have received have focused on the priority tasks of tackling oil and atmospheric pollution and we have of course responded urgently and positively by providing manpower, equipment and funds. The Government are also ready to help in identifying appropriate United Kingdom science expertise in relation to Gulf environmental problems.

  EC Food Surpluses
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to ensure that the EC food mountains are redistributed to those in need, particularly in the third world; and if he will make a statement.
  474
  Mr. Curry
  The European Community sends surplus food as short-term aid to famine areas, but it is often more cost effective to purchase food supplies from sources nearby. In the longer term, food aid is not an effective solution to food shortages, as it can hinder the development of local food production by depressing agricultural markets and increasing demand for imported products. The Government's policy is to supply cash, expertise, machinery and seeds to developing countries in order to improve their ability to feed themselves. The Government are also committed to securing overall reductions in the level of support and protection for Community agriculture, which would be of benefit to development countries.

  Manpower Statistics
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the changes in the manpower numbers and manpower costs that are expected for each of the directorate of fisheries research, the sea fisheries inspectorate and the marine environmental protection division, and the reasons for those changes, between 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Curry
  The information is as follows:
  475

  1989–90

  1990–911

  1991–922

  (a) Directorate of fisheries research

  (i) Average staff-in-post

  423·5

  417

  419

  (ii) Total pay costs £'000

  6,425

  7,032

  7,736

  (b) Sea fisheries inspectorate

  (i) Average staff-in-post

  92

  96

  99

  (ii) Total pay costs £'000

  1,228

  1,401

  1,636

  (c) Marine environmental protection division

  (i) Average staff-in-post

  20

  22·5

  23

  (ii) Total pay costs £'000

  327

  411

  439

  1Estimate.

  2Forecast.

  Variations in numbers of staff in post in the directorate and inspectorate reflect in the main difficulties in recruitment of staff to fill vacancies. Additional staff were appointed to the marine environmental protection division to ensure effective administration of licensing controls.

  Waste (Sea Disposal)
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what cost increase identified in his recent departmental audit will be reflected in increased fees charged for work connected with the licensing of the sea disposal of waste.

  Mr. Curry
  A departmental audit showed that departmental overhead expenditure had not hitherto been fully reflected in standard departmental costs used in the calculation of all its chargeable operations including licence fees for sea disposal. Necessary changes in central London accommodation also served to increase overheads.

  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reasons he has for assuming 8 per cent. inflation for the fiscal year 1991–92 when assessing fees charged for work connected with the licensing of the sea disposal of waste.

  Mr. Curry
  The 8 per cent. figure was not intended to be a forecast of the general rate of inflation over the coming year. It is a planning figure which the Department has used as a realistic estimate of the likely increase in the cost of certain elements, including pay costs, which are included in the calculations of our fees for sea disposal licences.

  Nobel House
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the reason for moving part of the Ministry from Great Westminster house to Nobel house, including the cost effects of that move.

  Mr. Curry
  The move of some 1,100 staff of this Ministry from Great Westminster house at the end of 1988 was necessary because the lease had expired and the building was to be demolished. For reasons of working efficiency it was decided that the displaced staff should be rehoused in central London reasonably close to our Whitehall offices. The only suitable accommodation which the PSA were able to provide was in Nobel house and part of the adjacent building, Ergon house.

  The costs falling to this Ministry for refurbishment, construction and fitting out of both buildings, which was
  476
  managed by the PSA, totalled approximately £14 million, with a further £484,000 for IT cabling and £97,000 for removals. Annual accommodation charges increased by some £5 million from the relatively low level the Ministry was paying for poor quality accommodation on a long lease. This is offset to a degree by a significant decrease in maintenance and fuel and utilities costs.

  Horticulture Research International
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields of 21 March, if he will list the sources and amounts of funding of Horticulture Research International; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Horticulture Research International is funded by its annual research commissions with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, grant in aid from the Agricultural and Food Research Council, and research contracts with a range of customers including the United Kingdom horticulture industry. In 1991–92 this funding is expected to amount to some £12·7 million, £3·0 million, and £2·9 million respectively.

  Sheep Variable Premium
  Sir Michael Shaw
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has reached a decision on the future of the sheep variable premium scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The reformed EC sheepmeat regime adopted in 1989 provided for sheep variable premium, which operates in Great Britain only, to be phased out by the end of the 1992 marketing year at the latest. In the negotiations on the review of the regime the United Kingdom secured the right to end the scheme before that date. Last summer, Ministers decided that variable premium should continue to operate in 1991 but that the arrangements for 1992 should be reviewed early in 1991.

  My right hon. Friend and I have now carried out that review, taking account of the views of interested parties. In the light of comments received and the experience of the phasing out process so far, we have concluded that the sheep variable premium should be terminated at the end of the 1991 marketing year.

  With the ending of variable premium, support to producers in Great Britain under the sheep regime will switch entirely to the sheep annual premium, which will no longer suffer a reduction to take account of variable premium. At the same time the clawback charge on exports of lamb from Great Britain to the rest of the Community will be abolished. From then on support in Great Britain will be on the same basis as in Northern Ireland and the rest of the European Community with a unified system for calculating sheep premium applying in all member states.

  The Government are announcing the end of variable premium well in advance of the effective date to remove uncertainty about the future arrangements and to allow all concerned time to adjust to the new circumstances that will apply from the beginning of the 1992 marketing year. Sheep producers will then have the opportunity and challenges of a more open market. I am sure they will respond with the quality produce which makes British lamb such an excellent product.

  Scrapie
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether there is a vaccine available for the prevention of scrapie; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  No.

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held on 25 and 26 March; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  I represented the United Kingdom at this meeting together with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my hon. Friend the Member for Skipton and Ripon (Mr. Curry), Parliamentary Secretary in my Department.

  Discussion concentrated on the Commission's proposals for the 1991 price fixing. Most member states argued that the agricultural guideline should be increased purportedly to take account of German unification. This would allow for a laxer settlement and temporarily enable the Council to avoid some of the difficult issues. I argued strongly, with support from my Netherlands colleague, that the major problems stemmed from market imbalance in several sectors and that these should be addressed as a matter of urgency, so that a decision fully compatible with the guideline could be reached. The Commission also remained firmly of this view.

  I also argued that substantial steps should be taken towards eliminating monetary compensatory amounts by adjusting green currencies, including the full alignment of the rate for the green pound. This is necessary to allow the single market to function effectively and to ensure fair competition between producers and traders in all member states.

  I also raised the continuing problem of low-priced imports of soft fruit from eastern Europe. Despite initial hesitations the Commission indicated that they would extend the present safeguard measures until 31 July.

DEFENCE

  The Gulf
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the outcome of his departmental investigations into friendly fire incidents between allied troops in the Gulf war.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Yes, when our investigations are complete.

  Northern Ireland
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the firms employed to transport by sea, ammunition, explosives and detonators to the Army in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  For reasons of operational security it is not the practice to disclose the arrangements for transporting ammunition and similar items to Northern Ireland.

  Rainfall
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the measurement of rainfall during the 24 hours at(a) Ballycastle district on 27–28 October 1990 and (b) Strangford lough area on 5–6 January.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  In the 24-hour period starting 0900 on 27 October 1990, 72·8mm of rainfall was recorded at Ballycastle Glenowen and 71·5mm at Ballycastle Magherintemple. In the 24-hour period starting 0900 on 5 January 1991, 12·8mm of rainfall was recorded at Hare island, in the Strangford area.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what powers commanding officers in Territorial Army units have(a) currently and (b) as envisaged under the new management strategy to appoint and dismiss civilian employees such as secretaries, clerks and storemen; and whether under NMS such commanding officers will be allowed to transfer funds between civilian posts and other options, such as buying secretarial services from an agency.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Currently, commanding officers of Territorial Army units may appoint industrial employees only within complement and funding limits. No powers of dismissal are delegated below rank of Colonel. No change in these personnel management arrangements is planned under NMS, but funds may be transferred by a budget holder between a range of resources to enable a service to be provided in the most efficient manner. Commanding officers of Territorial Army units will not be budget holders under NMS and will not, therefore, have powers to transfer funds.

  HMS Endurance
  Sir Geoffrey Finsherg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made with regard to the programming and design for the replacement of HMS Endurance; when the relevant studies commenced; and when is it expected that a definitive conclusion will be reached.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Studies into the requirement for replacing HMS Endurance commenced last year and are continuing.

  RAF Waddington
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what complaints have been received by the base commander at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire about noise; and what action has been taken.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Currently RAF Waddington does not house any operational squadrons and therefore receives only occasional noise complaints. Each complaint is dealt with as appropriate to the particular case.

  Plymouth (Empty Properties)
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's residential properties are empty within the city of Plymouth; for how long they have been empty; and whether he will transfer them to the local authority or housing association for local use.
  479
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As at 31 December 1990, the latest date for which figures are available, 406 married quarters and 11 Ministry of Defence civilian properties in the Plymouth area were vacant. Of the married quarters 29 had been vacant for over a year and 377 for under a year; of the civilian properties seven had been vacant for over six months and four for less than six months. In addition, 275 dwellings were in the process of being sold. Not all empty properties are surplus to requirements, many are either undergoing or awaiting major maintenance work or modernisation, some are already allotted to service families who are due to move in shortly and others are being considered for disposal. Surplus dwellings are normally offered for sale to service personnel through the services' discount scheme or sold by competitive tender. It is therefore not possible to transfer empty dwellings to local authorities or housing associations.

  Nuclear Tests
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department was informed of the leak of Zenon 133 from the nuclear test conducted by the United Kingdom in Nevada in November 1990; what reporting arrangements exist with the United States authorities to inform Her Majesty's Government of radioactive releases from British tests; and what health dangers were posed arising from the leak.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We have recently ascertained that there was an extremely minor leak of radioactive gas from the joint UK-US Houston nuclear test carried out at the Nevada test site in November 1990. All information which the MOD receives on such tests is channelled through the United States department of energy in Washington DC. The release posed no danger to the health of people either on or off the site.

  Directorate-General of Military Survey
  Mr. Ground
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the directorate-general of military survey is to become a defence support agency as foreshadowed in his statement to the House on 18 October 1989.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The military survey will become a defence support agency (DSA) on 1 April 1991. Its first chief executive will be Major-General R. Wood.

  Military survey is an integral part of the Ministry of Defence and will continue to act as the MOD's specialist authority on all geographic support matters, other than hydrographic aspects. Geographic support embraces the provision of maps, surveys and other geographical materials as well as direct support in the field, and technical services and advice, all of which are essential to the capability of the armed forces to plan, train and fight.

  The agency will seek to achieve progressive improvements in operational effectiveness, standards of service,
  480
  quality, cost effectiveness and efficiency. The chief executive has initially been set the following key performance objectives:

  Delivery of the programme

  1. To meet 95 per cent. of the agreed targets for geographic support commitments, production, development and training in 1991–92 to timescale, quantity and standard.

  2. To maintain the operational effectiveness of all military survey units to the required Army standards.

  3. To develop and introduce by 1 April 1992:

  (a) improved customer/supplier procedures;

  (b) improved procedures for costing products and services;

  and thereafter to meet progressively more demanding annual targets for geographic support, production, development and training for future years to timescale, quantity, standard and cost.

  Use of resources

  4. To achieve outturn within the agreed annual cash budget allocation, subject to agreed carry over flexibilities.

  5. To achieve a 1·5 per cent. increase in efficiency in 1991–92, and to develop plans to achieve future improvements in efficiency which meet targets set by the MOD.

  6. To develop and introduce progressively total quality practices designed to improve efficiency in all areas of DSA activity.

  Management systems

  7.To review the management structure of the agency and to implement appropriate changes by 1 April 1992.

  8. To review future requirements for management information and accounting systems and to prepare an implementation plan by 1 April 1992.

  9. To produce and develop a corporate plan, and to produce an annual management plan covering year 1 in detail and years 2–4 in outline.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the progress of the withdrawal of British forces from the Gulf.

  Mr. Tom King
  We do not intend to retain a permanent ground force capability in the area. The withdrawal of our forces is well under way, and by the end of this week some 28,000 out of 45,000 will have returned to the United Kingdom and Germany. We expect the main withdrawals to be completed by mid-April. Up to 5,000 personnel are being deployed to Saudi Arabia to manage the return of equipment and stores to the United Kingdom and Germany. This is likely to take a number of months to complete. The remaining elements of 4 Brigade are operating as a battlegroup. While their equipment is in the Gulf and we review progress towards a formal ceasefire, we shall deploy some 1,500 personnel to replace those in this battlegroup and take advantage of training opportunities. My expectation is that the battle group will not remain beyond June.

  A squadron of GR1 Tornados will also remain in Bahrain for the time being. The Armilla patrol will continue to provide a frigate/destroyer presence in the region; and a number of mine counter-measures vessels will also remain, to contribute to multinational mine clearance operations, for about six months.

  DEPENDENT TERRITORIES: VISA REQUIREMENTS
  DEPENDENT TERRITORIES: VISA REQUIREMENTS
  KUWAIT: TREATMENT OF FOREIGN NATIONALS
  KUWAIT: TREATMENT OF FOREIGN NATIONALS
  MENTALLY DISTURBED OFFENDERS IN PRISON: GUNN REPORT
  MENTALLY DISTURBED OFFENDERS IN PRISON: GUNN REPORT
  PASSPORT DEPARTMENT EXECUTIVE AGENCY
  PASSPORT DEPARTMENT EXECUTIVE AGENCY
  FORENSIC SCIENCE SERVICE EXECUTIVE AGENCY
  FORENSIC SCIENCE SERVICE EXECUTIVE AGENCY
  STANDARDS OF CROSS-MEDIA PROMOTION REPORT: COST
  STANDARDS OF CROSS-MEDIA PROMOTION REPORT: COST
  BEER SUPPLY: ACTION ON MMC RECOMMENDATIONS
  BEER SUPPLY: ACTION ON MMC RECOMMENDATIONS
  PUBLIC HOUSE TENANTS: PROTECTION
  PUBLIC HOUSE TENANTS: PROTECTION
  SHEEP VARIABLE PREMIUM
  SHEEP VARIABLE PREMIUM
  POTATOES: MARKET SUPPORT ARRANGEMENTS
  POTATOES: MARKET SUPPORT ARRANGEMENTS
  WINE ALCOHOL: EC SALES TO BRAZIL
  WINE ALCOHOL: EC SALES TO BRAZIL
  DISABLEMENT SERVICES AUTHORITY
  DISABLEMENT SERVICES AUTHORITY
  GREENWICH AND WANDSWORTH: REVENUE SUPPORT GRANT COMPARISONS
  GREENWICH AND WANDSWORTH: REVENUE SUPPORT GRANT COMPARISONS
  WEST YORKSHIRE RESIDUARY BODY
  WEST YORKSHIRE RESIDUARY BODY
  WEST MIDLANDS RESIDUARY BODY
  WEST MIDLANDS RESIDUARY BODY
  URBAN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION POWERS: MODIFICATION PROPOSAL
  URBAN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION POWERS: MODIFICATION PROPOSAL
  COMMON LAND: LEGISLATIVE SAFEGUARDS
  COMMON LAND: LEGISLATIVE SAFEGUARDS
  ANTI-BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENCE
  ANTI-BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENCE
  SOCIAL WORK (SCOTLAND) ACT and VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS
  SOCIAL WORK (SCOTLAND) ACT and VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS