Written Answers of 14 May 1991

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what basis he calculated community charge for two adults at £901 in Lambeth in the illustrative tables published with his consultation paper in the council tax.

  Mr. Key
  The community charge for two adults is two times the personal community charge set for the area, after allowing for the £140 reduction announced in the Budget. The final amount set will be less to the extent that reductions are secured by capping. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will announce his decisions on capping as soon as possible.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the council tax payable for two people in a property valued at less than £26,800 as a proportion of the council tax payable by(a) two-person household in the central band and (b) in a household in the central band as a proportion of the council tax payable by a two-person household in the top band, (i) overall and (ii) in Grimsby.

  Mr. Key
  Under our proposals, in every area the council tax for a property with two adults valued at less than £26,800 would be two thirds of the bill for a property in the central band; and the bill for a property in the highest band would be two thirds more than the bill for a property in the central band.

  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will provide estimates of the numbers of tax units gaining and losing, and the amounts of their losses and gains, in pounds per week and as a percentage of net income (1) in the move from domestic rates to community charge, (2) in the move from community charge to council tax but retaining maximum rebates of 80 per cent. for council tax and (3) in the move from community charge to council tax, but with 100 per cent. rebates for council tax differentiating between single-pensioner tax units, one-parent family tax units, other single-adult tax units, tax unit couples with(a) no children, (b) one child, (c) two children and (d) three or more children, and all tax units;

  (2) if he will provide estimates of the number of households gaining and losing, and the amounts of their losses and gains, in pounds per week and as a percentage of net income (1) in the move from domestic rates to community charge, (2) in the move from community charge to council tax but retaining maximum rebates of 80 per cent. for council tax and (3) in the move from community charge to council tax, but with 100 per cent. rebates for council tax differentiating between single
  62
  pensioner households, other single-adult households, two-adult households, households of three or more adults and all households.

  Mr. Portillo
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report, on the same basis as his illustrative 1991–92 council tax exemplifications, for each authority the average amount per household (1) paid in community charge in 1991–92,(2) which would have been paid in council tax in 1991–92, (3) which would have been paid in community charge in 1991–92 for spending at standard spending assessment and (4) which would have been paid in council tax in 1991–92 for spending at standard spending assessment.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 29 April 1991 by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter), at column 12.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to a 14-band property tax as a means of financing local government.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 13 May 1991]: None.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what considerations underlay his decision to make a de minimis provision of £10,000 in his statement of 3 April on charge-capping; and if he will list the local authorities that would have been designated for capping had this provision not been included.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 13 May 1991]: Five authorities set budgets which exceeded the provisional criteria announced on 31 October 1990 by less than £10,000. In each case the maximum reduction in community charge bills secured by capping would have been less than 10p. The five authorities are: Brighton, Buckinghamshire, Enfield, Hammersmith and Fulham and the West Midlands police authority.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will publish his best estimates of the total amount of poll tax income that local authorities have been unable to collect in the financial year 1990–91;

  (2) what are his best estimates of unpaid non-domestic taxes at the end of the financial year 1990–91.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 13 May 1991]: On the basis of the returns received so far, we estimate that by 31 March 1991 local authorities in England had collected £8·6 billion in non-domestic rates, equivalent to 94 per cent. of the provisional contribution to the non-domestic rates pool.

  On the basis of the same returns, we also estimate that by 31 March 1991 local authorities in England had collected £9·4 billion in community charges, equivalent to 92 per cent. of the community charge income which they budgeted to receive.

  My Department does not yet have information about the amounts of non-domestic rates or community charges collectable by authorities and therefore about the amounts of rates or community charges outstanding.

  British Waterways (Property Auction)
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will arrange for a copy of the catalogue produced for the recent property auction held by British Waterways to be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Trippier
  This has been arranged.

  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proceeds were raised by the recent auction sale of property by British Waterways.

  Mr. Trippier
  The auction held on 27 March 1991 raised £2·9 million. Some of the properties originally included in the catalogue were sold separately and raised an additional £0·7 million.

  British Waterways
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his most recent estimate of the cost of the backlog of maintenance that needs to be carried out by British Waterways.

  Mr. Trippier
  The British Waterways board's latest estimate of the arrears of maintenance which need to be dealt with during the next five years is £47 million at 1990–91 prices. This figure does not include the cost of strengthening public road bridges under Operation Bridgeguard.

  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any adjustments have been made to the grant to British Waterways or its external finance limit in the wake of its recent sale of assets.

  Mr. Portillo
  No.

  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any adjustments have been made to the grant to British Waterways or its external finance limit in the wake of the recent slump in the property market.

  Mr. Trippier
  No.

  Red Squirrels
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his Department's policy for the conservation of the red squirrel.

  Mr. Trippier
  The red squirrel is fully protected against killing, injuring, taking and selling through its listing on schedule 5 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

  Housing Valuations
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the estimates available to his Department of the percentage of housing stock in each local authority in England falling into the valuation bands (a) £0–£15,000, (b) £15,001–£30,000, (c) £30,001–£45,000, (d) £45,001–£60,000, (e) £60,001–£80,000, (f) £80,001–£100,000, (g) £100,001–£125,000, (h) £125,001–£150,000, (i) £150,001–£175,000, (j) £175,001–£200,000, (k) £200,001–£250,000, (l) £250,001–£300,000, (m) £300,001–£500,000 and (n) £500,001 plus.
  64
  Mr. Portillo
  No. The Government published a range of data underlying their consultative paper "A New Tax for Local Government" on 23 April 1991.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will rework his published estimates of council tax on the basis of the valuation bands sought by the Valuation Office in circular VO53 and subsequently provided to his Department.

  Mr. Portillo
  No.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library copies of the background material used in preparation of his council tax exemplifications published on 23 April; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 13 May 1991]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 29 April 1991 by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter), at column 12.

  Building Regulations (Fire Safety)
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to harmonise the building regulations fire safety requirements in(a) England and Wales and (b) Scotland and Northern Ireland; what representations he has received from fire officers on the operation of the current requirements in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The current review of the building regulations aims to achieve a greater degree of technical consistency between the provisions for England and Wales, and the requirements for Scotland and Northern Ireland. Thirty-six fire authorities made representations about the operation of the current requirements in the course of a study commissioned by the Department of Trade and Industry, in conjunction with the Home Office and my Department last year.

  Genetically Modified Organisms
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on his efforts to secure international agreement on the environmental safety of genetically modified organisms.

  Mr. Trippier
  Further to my right hon. Friend's statement on 29 January, my Department made a contribution of $80,000—£44,700—to the secretariat of the United Nations conference on environment and development—UNCED—on 18 April. The secretariat will spend this money on mounting a conference, to be held in London between 17 and 18 June, at which representative international experts will be consulted on the development of guidelines on the risk assessment and management worldwide of activities involving genetically modified organisms. This work will inform consideration of the environmentally sound management of biotechnology, which is a priority topic for UNCED, to be held in Brazil in 1992.

  Ordnance Survey
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether Ordnance Survey is being examined as a candidate for privatisation;

  (2) what is the 1991–92 annual budget for Ordnance Survey; and what percentage of that is allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have asked the chief executive of the Ordnance Survey to write to the hon. Member with the details he requested.

  Historic Royal Palaces Agency
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Historic Royal Palaces Agency; and what percentage of that is allocated to staff costs.

  Sir George Young
  The chief executive of the Historic Royal Palaces Agency will write to the hon. Member with the information he requests. I will arrange for copies of the letter to be placed in the Library of this House.

  Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre; and what percentage of that is allocated to staff costs.

  Sir George Young
  I have asked the chief executive of the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre to write to the hon. Member with the details he requested.

  Building Research Establishment
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Building Research Establishment; and what percentage of that is allocated to staff costs.

  Sir George Young
  I have asked the chief executive of the Building Research Establishment to write to the hon. Member with the details he requested.

  National Environment Week
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contribution his Department will be making towards National Environment Week.

  Mr. Trippier
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 May 1991 to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes), at column 831.

  Waveney District Council
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement listing the amount of public money his Department has passed to Waveney district council for all services in each of the past 10 years; and what his plans are for the next three years.

  Mr. Key
  The amounts paid in support of Waveney district council's general services for these years were:

  Rate support grant (£000)

  Main housing subsidy (£000)

  1981–82

  4,063

  853

  1982–83

  4,176

  77

  1983–84

  4,246

  0

  66

  Rate support grant (£000)

  Main housing subsidy (£000)

  1984–85

  4,291

  0

  1985–86

  4,239

  131

  1986–87

  4,533

  0

  1987–88

  4,606

  0

  1988–89

  4,721

  0

  1989–90

  4,946

  0

  The amount paid to Waveney district council's collection fund, on which Suffolk county council precepts, in respect of 1990–91 were:

  1990–91 (£000)

  Revenue support grant

  11,894

  Non-domestic rates

  23,966

  Housing revenue account subsidy

  3,772

  The amounts that the Government propose to pay to the district council's collection fund in respect of 1991–92 are:

  (£000)

  Community charge grant

  111,285

  Revenue support grant

  11,298

  National non-domestic rates

  28,552

  Housing revenue account subsidy

  3,582

  1 Estimated.

  These figures exclude information on minor specific grants paid in respect of particular functions or services.

  It is not possible to give details of the amounts of external finance to be paid to the district council in 1992–93 and 1993–94 since this will depend on decisions which have yet to be taken on the amount and distribution of public expenditure in those years.

  Rural Housing
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what grants under the rural housing programme have been made in the south-west region; and how many home improvement agencies have been aided.

  Mr. Yeo
  A total of £7·9 million of supplementary credit approvals will be issued to local authorities for 1991–92 in respect of schemes under the rural housing programme. A schedule of allocations has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Five home improvement agency schemes in the south-west region have been aided for the same period.

  Pollution Taxes
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has made to the report on pollution taxes prepared by the state university of Leiden in the Netherlands for the environment directorate of the European Commission.

  Mr. Trippier
  This report has not yet been released by the Commission, nor have the views of member states' Governments been sought.

  "This Common Inheritance"
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made in implementing paragraph 18.31 of Cm. 1200, with regard to the establishment of a new discussion and advisory body with members drawn from a wide spectrum of business interests.

  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced on 7 May the appointment of the members of a new Advisory Committee on Business and the

  Advisory committee on business and the environment

  Name

  Position

  Company

  John Collins (Chairman)

  Chairman and Chief Executive

  Shell UK Ltd.

  A. B. Cleaver

  Chairman and Chief Executive

  IBM UK Ltd.

  Chris Hampson

  Director

  ICI

  John G. Speirs

  Managing Director

  Norsk Hydro (UK) Ltd.

  David Lyon

  Chief Executive

  Bowater plc.

  Rod Aspinwall

  Chairman

  Aspinwall and Company

  Robert Jones

  Coordinator, Conservation Projects

  British Gas

  Nicholas Hood CBE

  Chairman

  Wessex Water plc.

  Robin Paul

  Managing Director

  Albright and Wilson

  John Baker

  Chief Executive

  National Power

  P. J. Costain

  Group Chief Executive

  Costain Group plc.

  Dorothy MacKenzie

  Chief Executive

  Dragon International

  R. D. Yeomans

  Managing Director

  Wincanton Group Ltd.

  Christopher G. F. Harding

  Chairman

  British Nuclear Fuels plc.

  Derek Wanless

  Chief Executive, UK Financial Services

  National Westminster Group plc

  Norman Adsetts

  Chairman

  Sheffield Insulations Group plc.

  Peter A. M. Heath

  Chairman and Chief Executive

  Cleanaway

  A. P. Bird

  Managing Director

  Bird Group of Companies

  Cameron McLatchie

  Chairman and Chief Executive

  British Polythene Industries plc.

  Nigel Palmer

  Chief Executive

  C. W. Pittard and Co.

  Paul J. E. Rink

  Joint Managing Director

  Wolstenholme Rink plc.

  George Simpson

  Chief Executive

  Rover Group

  Sue Green

  Group Communications Director

  Legal and General Group plc.

  D. J. Challen

  Director

  J. Henry Schroder Wagg and Co. Ltd.

  The Gulf (Oil Pollution)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance has been offered by the United Kingdom to the Governments of Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to protect migrating pipers, plovers, redshanks and other birds from oil pollution in the Gulf during their return to the northern hemisphere this spring.

  Mr. Trippier
  The International Council for Bird Preservation, which is based in Cambridge, is currently undertaking, with the support of the Saudi national commission for wildlife conservation and development, a detailed study of the spring migration in the Gulf. This work, which involves ringing and colour marking of birds, will give an indication of how seriously migrating species are likely to be affected by pollution in the Gulf. My Department proposes to contribute £10,000 to the cost of this study which should be completed next month.

  Water Supplies
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the current status of United Kingdom water supplies and their adequacy to supply the demands of the next decade.
  68
  Environment. The committee is to be chaired by John Collins, chairman and chief executive of Shell UK Ltd. The other committee members are as listed.

  The committee is intended to have three central roles: to provide for a strategic level dialogue between Government and business on environmental issues, both of an immediate and topical interest and of a longer-term nature; in liaison with other appropriate organisations, to help mobilise the business community in demonstrating good environmental practice and management, building on existing initiatives and activities, and to provide a link with, and focus attention on, international business initiatives on the environment.

  Mr. Trippier
  We are informed that water resources are satisfactory and water undertakers expect to maintain normal supplies—except in parts of the south east and east of England. In these areas, groundwater levels are well below normal but water companies expect to maintain supplies with restrictions confined to less-essential uses. The position to 2011 is set out in the National Rivers Authority's report "Demands and Resources of Water Undertakers in England and Wales", copies of which are held in the Library.

  Environmental Business Opportunities
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a copy of his Shell lecture on environmental business opportunities given at the Royal Society of Arts on 7 May.

  Mr. Trippier
  I have today placed in the Library of the House a copy of the Shell lecture "The Environment Business" which my right hon. Friend delivered on 7 May.

  Planning Appeals
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment further to his answer of 2 May,Official Report, columns 273–74, to the hon. Member for Hendon,

  69
  North (Mr. Gorst) concerning planning appeals, how many of the appeals allowed, following a local authority decision to refuse planning permission, concerned cases in areas with current and properly constituted local plans approved by him.

  Mr. Yeo
  This information is not available.

  Sulphur Dioxide
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy with respect to the abatement of emissions of sulphur dioxide.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Government's policies for the abatement of air pollution were explained in chapter 11 of the White Paper "This Common Inheritance". The United Kingdom is committed, under European Community legislation, to cut emissions of sulphur dioxide from existing power stations and other large combustion plant by 60 per cent. by 2003, compared with 1980 levels. Under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, operators of industrial plant are being required to use best available techniques not entailing excessive cost to reduce harmful emissions, including sulphur dioxide. I am arranging to place in the Library copies of maps which illustrate the expected effects of these policies by 2005. They show that the areas in which our soils and freshwaters are subject to sulphur depositions in excess of "critical loads"—the levels which they can tolerate without adverse effects—should be very substantially reduced by that date: to around 8 per cent. of the United Kingdom surface area in respect of soils and around 4 per cent. of the surface area of Scotland in the case of freshwaters—freshwaters maps are not yet available for the remainder of the United Kingdom.

  The maps have been prepared to inform discussions in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, which are intended to lead to a new international agreement on sulphur dioxide by November 1992. My Department will also be issuing shortly a brochure to explain the basis of this mapping work.

  Local Authority Expenditure (Southampton)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Langbaurgh (Mr. Holt) of 27 March,Official Report, column 459, if he will (a) set out the precise basis of his calculation and (b) show the increase between 1988–89 and 1991–92 for Southampton district council using budget figures only.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 10 May 1991]: The components used to calculate the increase between 1988–89 and 1990–91 in the table to which the hon. Member refers were as follows:

  Expenditure in 1988–89 to compare with demand in 1990–91 was taken from information reported by the authority on form RS1B and comprises:

  Total expenditure 1988–89

  less Parish Precepts

  less Rate Fund Contribution to Housing Revenue Account

  less Rent Rebates

  plus Variation in balances

  Demand in 1990–91 was the figure returned by the authority.
  70
  Increase in spending levels 1988–89 to 1990–91 comprises:
  Demand 1990–91/Expenditure in 1988–89 to compare with demand

  Southampton district council's increase in spending from 1988–89 to 1991–92 based on the budget returns is 46 per cent.

  Margaret Thatcher House
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will reimburse Southend borough council for the cost of building Margaret Thatcher house.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 10 May 1991]: It is for local authorities to decide how to finance capital expenditure from the resources available to them. These resources include usable capital receipts, contributions from revenue and borrowing authorised by a credit approval. In the latter case, the capital financing charges are allowed for in revenue support grant.

  Listed Buildings
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all Government-owned listed buildings sold into private ownership since 1980, the purchaser and any covenant placed on future usage.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 13 May 1991]: I regret this information is not readily available and could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.

  Heveningham Hall
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now serve listed building repair notices on the owner of Heveningham hall.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 13 May 1991]: No. I have been advised by the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England that the restoration work at Heveningham hall is being carried out to a satisfactory standard.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received about the sale and present condition of Heveningham hall; and what response he has made.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 13 May 1991]: Since March of this year, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has received six letters regarding the sale and present condition of Heveningham hall. All six letters focus on his right of pre-emption in the event of the present owners wishing to sell Heveningham hall or part of it within 21 years from the date of the conveyance—November 1981. However, there is no reason to believe that the present owners will wish to sell the property in the foreseeable future. The owner's agents, Gulf Park Property management Ltd. have advised that the Al Ghazzi family intend to go on using the hall. This information has been passed on to the authors of the letters. In addition, two of the letters mention the poor condition of the gardens and car park and criticise the quality of interior furnishings. We have explained to the authors that these are subjective matters which do not affect the integrity of the property as a listed building. I understand that good progress is being made with the restoration of the building itself.
  71
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to serve a compulsory purchase order on Heveningham hall.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 13 May 1991]: No. There is no case for serving a compulsory purchase order on Heveningham hall.

  Listed Buildings (Owners)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to require that the name of the ultimate beneficial owner of a listed building is recorded with the address and category of listing of the building.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 13 May 1991]: No.

  Local Government Commission
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to establish the local government commission before the start of the summer recess.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 13 May 1991]: Our proposals for a new local government commission are set out in our consultation paper on the structure of local government in England published on 23 April. We have no plans to establish the commission before the summer recess.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  House Burglaries, Nottinghamshire
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the figures for house burglaries in the areas served by the police stations at(a) Retford, (b) Southwell and (c) Newark in (i) 1979 and (ii) 1990.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information is not collected centrally for the areas requested.

  Marine Distress Rockets
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of South Yorkshire indicating what inquiries have been instigated into the original ownership of the 20 marine distress rockets found by a builder in Station road, Keadby, near Doncaster, Yorkshire.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand from the chief constable of South Yorkshire that the rockets appear to have been buried for some time, and no inquiries into their original ownership are envisaged.

  Postal and Proxy Voting
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much he intends to spend in the lead-up to the next general election on promoting the use of postal and proxy voting among(a) the sick and disabled and (b) those whose occupation means that they are unable to vote in person.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  When the next general election is announced, we plan to run an advertising campaign to 72
  inform all electors of their right to an absent vote if they are unable to get to their polling stations to vote in person. The campaign will have a budget of £665,000.

  Police Manpower, Nottinghamshire
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the numbers of police attached to the police stations at(a) Retford, (b) Southwell and (c) Newark in (i) 1979 and (ii) 1990.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand from the chief constable that no reliable manpower figures for 1979 can be provided because of changes which have occurred to sub-divisional and section boundaries. The figures for December 1990 are given in the table:

  Area

  Police manpower

  Civilians

  Retford

  40

  3

  Southwell

  15

  2

  Newark

  76

  15

  Passport Agency
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the United Kingdom passport agency is being examined as a candidate for privatisation.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the United Kingdom passport agency; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  This has been passed to the chief executive of the passport agency who will be replying shortly. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

  Forensic Science Service
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the forensic science service; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  This has been passed to the director general of the forensic science service, who will be replying shortly. A copy of her reply will be placed in the Library.

  Home Office Spending (Suffolk)
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement listing his Department's contribution to police, prisons, fire and other services within Suffolk for each of the past 10 years; and what his forward plans are for the next three years.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The Home Office pays specific grant on a proportion of local authorities' expenditure on police, magistrates' courts, probation and civil defence. The proportion varies according to the service. My Department also pays grant under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 to enable local authorities to employ additional staff to meet the specific needs of local communities of Commonwealth origin. Details of some of these grants to individual authorities are not available for all of the last 10 years. The available information, and that on Home Office expenditure on prisons, in respect of
  73
  Suffolk is given in the table. No detailed forecasts are made of grant and other payments to individual local authorities for future years.

  Police1

  Magistrates' courts2

  Probation3

  Civil defence4

  Section 115

  Prisons6

  £'000s

  £'000s

  £'000s

  £'000s

  £'000s

  £'000s

  1981–82

  9,934

  —

  —

  —

  29

  —

  1982–83

  10,901

  —

  935

  —

  57

  —

  1983–84

  11,613

  —

  1,029

  —

  88

  18,932

  1984–85

  12,411

  1,184

  1,102

  —

  82

  19,331

  1985–86

  13,687

  1,301

  1,205

  223

  113

  19,924

  1986–87

  14,776

  1,448

  1,329

  241

  109

  20,629

  1987–88

  15,701

  1,563

  1,461

  286

  113

  23,164

  1988–89

  17,805

  1,997

  1,568

  356

  119

  22,481

  1989–90

  20,458

  2,485

  1,939

  367

  150

  23,860

  71990–91

  22,291

  2,707

  2,035

  362

  148

  26,263

  71991–92

  24,772

  2,933

  2,298

  324

  173

  28,101

  1 Rate of grant—51 per cent.

  2 Rate of grant—80 per cent.

  3 Rate of grant—Mainly 80 per cent.

  4 Rate of grant—Mainly 100 per cent.

  5 Rate of grant—75 per cent.

  5 Operating costs of the three prison establishments in Suffolk.

  7 Estimates of grant and expenditure.

  The Home Office makes no specific contribution to local authorities' expenditure on fire services. Government support for fire is provided through the revenue support grant system, and decisions on fire expenditure are the responsibility of individual local authorities.

  Foreign Prisoners
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many male and female foreign nationals are serving a sentence or are on remand in a prison establishment in England and Wales; and if he will list the countries from which they emanate;

  Sentenced prisoners on 30 June 1990 who were known to be foreign nationals by sex, nationality and whether sentenced for drugs offences.

  Nationality

  All offences

  Drugs offences

  Males

  Females

  Total

  Males

  Females

  Total

  India

  245

  14

  259

  79

  7

  86

  Pakistan

  252

  2

  254

  125

  —

  125

  Other Asian Commonwealth

  64

  1

  65

  14

  —

  14

  Nigeria

  423

  99

  527

  339

  55

  394

  Ghana

  42

  18

  60

  25

  13

  38

  Other African Commonwealth

  91

  9

  100

  33

  4

  37

  Jamaica

  432

  40

  472

  116

  18

  134

  Other Caribbean Commonwealth

  121

  15

  136

  29

  9

  38

  Cyprus

  54

  2

  56

  18

  2

  20

  Australia, Canada, New Zealand

  38

  3

  41

  9

  1

  10

  Ireland

  412

  10

  422

  24

  1

  25

  Other EC countries

  196

  14

  210

  87

  10

  97

  United States of America

  37

  16

  53

  13

  10

  23

  South America

  110

  29

  139

  90

  20

  110

  Other countries

  347

  31

  378

  85

  12

  97

  Total known foreign nationals

  2,869

  303

  3,172

  1,086

  162

  1,248

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for the latest year available, how many foreign nationals sentenced to a period of imprisonment in a gaols in England and Wales have been granted home leave and temporary accommodation to facilitate visiting arrangements.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  This information is not held centrally and could he obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  74
  (2) how many males and females convicted or charged with a drug-related offence are currently resident in gaols in England and Wales; and if he will list the countries from which they emanated.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  On 30 June 1990, the latest date for which information is readily available, an estimated 2,869 male and 303 female sentenced prisoners in prison service establishments in England and Wales were known to be foreign nationals; of these 1,086 males and 162 females had been sentenced for drugs offences. The nationalities of these prisoners are shown in the table. However, the recording of nationality is not always reliable. Information about nationality is not recorded centrally for the remand population.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals imprisoned in gaols in England and Wales have dependent children with them.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  On Friday 10 May, there were 12 foreign nationals in prison service establishments in England and Wales who had their babies with them in a mother and baby unit.
  75
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration the Parole Board gives in its deliberations to the specific difficulties faced by foreign nationals.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  It is a fundamental principle of the parole scheme that each case is considered on its merits. As far as possible, the cases of foreign nationals are considered on the same basis as domestic prisoners.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements exist for visits from relatives, particularly from children, to foreign nationals in gaols in England and Wales.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The arrangements for visits to prisoners —which apply equally to foreign nationals—are set out in standing order 5, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals in gaols in England and Wales have dependants resident in the United Kingdom.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information requested is not available.

  Sports Grounds (Safety)
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to implement the recommendation of Lord Justice Taylor's final report into the Hillsborough disaster by extending mandatory all-seated accommodation to sports grounds other than football grounds designated under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 as amended by the Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987.

  Mr. John Patten
  The question whether it may be necessary or appropriate to extend mandatory all-seated accommodation to sports grounds other than football grounds designated under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 is currently under active consideration, and the subject of consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers and other interested parties.

  Mr. John Patten
  Sports grounds designated under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 are as follows. No distinction is now made in designating sports grounds between those which are enclosed and and those which are not. The Act used to distinguish between a "sports stadium" and a "sports ground". The term "sports stadium" was used for a sports ground where the accommodation for spectators wholly or substantially surrounds the playing area, whereas the term "sports grounds" was used for any place where sports take place in the open air. The Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987 removed this distinction and replaced the term "sports stadium" with "sports ground". Information on which grounds would formerly have been defined as sports grounds or sports stadiums is not kept centrally.

THE SAFETY OF SPORTS GROUNDS (DESIGNATION) ORDERS

  Statutory Instrument
  1976 No. 1264 31 July 1976

  Rugby Union

  Twickenham

  National Stadium, Cardiff Arms Park

  Football

  Arsenal

  Aston Villa

  Birmingham City

  Bristol City

  Cardiff City

  Coventry City

  Derby County

  Everton

  Ipswich Town

  Leeds United

  Leicester City

  Liverpool

  Manchester City

  Manchester United

  Middlesbrough

  Newcastle United

  Norwich City

  Queen's Park Rangers

  Stoke City

  Sunderland

  Tottenham Hotspur

  West Bromwich Albion

  West Ham United

  Wrexham

  Wembley Stadium

  1977 No. 1323 29 July 1977

  Chelsea

  Nottingham Forest

  Wolverhampton Wanderers

  1978 No. 1091 28 July 1978

  Bolton Wanderers

  Sheffield Wednesday

  Southampton

  1979 No. 1022 7 August 1979

  Brighton and Hove Albion

  Bristol Rovers

  Burnley

  Cambridge United

  Charlton Athletic

  Crystal Palace

  Fulham

  Luton Town

  Notts Country

  Oldham Athletic

  Orient

  Preston North End

  Shrewsbury Town

  Swansea City

  Watford

  1980 No. 1021 18 July 1980

  Blackburn Rovers

  Grimsby Town

  1981 No. 949 2 July 1981

  Rotherham United

  Barnsley

  1982 No. 1052 27 July 1983

  Carlisle United

  1984 No. 962 4 July 1983

  Huddersfield Town

  Portsmouth

  1984 No. 942 3 July 1984

  Oxford United

  77

  Sheffield United

  Wimbledon

  1985 No. 1063 11 July 1985

  AFC Bournemouth

  Aldershot

  Blackpool

  Bradford City

  Brentford

  Bury

  Chester

  Chesterfield

  Colchester

  Crewe Alexandra

  Darlington

  Doncaster Rovers

  Exeter City

  Gillingham

  Halifax Town

  Hartlepool

  Hereford United

  Hull City

  Lincoln City

  Mansfield Town

  Millwall

  Newport County

  Northampton Town

  Peterborough United

  Plymouth Argyle

  Port Vale

  Reading

  Rochdale

  Scunthorpe1

  Southend

  Stockport County

  Swindon Town

  Tranmere Rovers

  Walsall

  Wigan Athletic

  York City

  1985 No. 1064 11 July 1985

  Rugby League

  Barrow

  Batley

  Bradford Northern

  Castleford

  Dewsbury

  Featherstone Rovers

  Halifax

  Huddersfield

  Hull

  Hull Kingston Rovers

  Keighley

  Leeds

  Leigh

  Oldham

  St. Helens

  Salford

  Swinton

  Wakefield Trinity

  Warrington

  Widnes

  Wigan

  Workington Town

  1986 No. 1296 24 July 1986
  Other association football, rugby and cricket grounds

  Barnet

  Bath

  Berwick-upon-Tweed

  Billingham

  Birmingham (Edgbaston)

  Blackpool

  Boston

  Bridgend

  Bristol (Rugby)

  Camborne

  Cardiff (Arms Park)

  Chelmsford

  78

  Chorley

  Cwmbran

  Dartford

  Ebbw Vale

  Exeter

  Gateshead (International Stadium)

  Gloucester

  High Wycombe

  Kettering

  Leeds

  Leicester

  Llanelli

  London Champion Hill

  The Oval

  Lords

  Manchester (County Ground)

  Mitcham

  Morecambe

  Neath

  Newport

  Northwich

  Nottingham (Trent Bridge)

  Nuneaton

  Pontypridd

  Poole

  Port Talbot

  Scarborough

  Sheffield (Owlerton)

  Southall

  Southport

  Sutton

  Swansea

  Telford

  Worcester

  Workington (Borough Park)

  Workington (Ellis Ground)

  Yeovil (Athletics Ground)

  York

  Redruth

  1987 No. 1689 24 September 1987

  Scarborough

  1988 No. 1975 11 November 1988

  Scunthorpe1

  Macclesfield

  1 Previous ground designated by S.I. 1985 No. 1063. New ground designated by S.I. 1988 No. 1975.
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many orders have been made, and on what dates, under section 15A of the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 as amended by the Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987; what plans there are to make any further orders; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he has any plans to make an order under section 15A of the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975, as amended by the Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987, to make mandatory in safety certificates those conditions specified in the original section 2(2) of the 1975 Act.

  Mr. John Patten
  No orders have yet been made under section 15A of the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975. The feasibility and appropriateness of proposing an order under section 15A to make mandatory in safety certificates those conditions specified in the original section 2(2) of the 1975 Act are under active consideration. No other possible orders under section 15A are currently under consideration.

  Mr. Liwa Uddin
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he arranged for instructions to be sent to the United Kingdom post in Islamabad for a visa
  79
  to be issued to Mr. Liwa Uddin (Ref: TH/14887/89) enabling him to join his wife in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Home Office exercised its right to apply for leave to appeal to the immigration appeal tribunal against the adjudicator's decision to allow Mr. Uddin's appeal. Although initially refused by the chairman of the tribunal on 28 February, this application is being reconsidered by the appellate authorities as the Home Office's amplified grounds of appeal had not been placed before the chairman when he reached his decision.

  Prison Suicides
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have died by their own hands, so far this year, in England and Wales; and if he will list the prisons, whether the prisoners were on remand or sentenced, their age and whether the inquest verdict is known.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Twelve prisoners have died at their own hand in England and Wales so far this year. The details requested are set out in the table.

  Deaths of prisoners at their own hand in England and Wales in 1990 (to 12 May)

  Establishment

  Inmate status

  Age

  Inquest verdict

  The Mount

  Sentenced

  19

  Killed himself

  Gloucester

  Sentenced

  42

  Killed himself

  Norwich

  Sentenced

  36

  Killed himself

  Wandsworth

  Sentenced

  29

  Killed himself while the balance of his mind was disturbed and in circumstances aggravated by lack of care

  Full Sutton

  Sentenced

  33

  Awaited

  Manchester

  Unconvicted

  22

  Awaited

  Cardiff

  Unconvicted

  23

  Killed himself

  Liverpool

  Unconvicted

  22

  Awaited

  Bristol

  Sentenced

  31

  Awaited

  Oxford

  Unconvicted

  29

  Awaited

  Garth

  Sentenced

  38

  Awaited

  Leeds

  Unconvicted

  31

  Awaited

  Prisoners (Police Cells)
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in England and Wales are being held in police cells for the latest date available.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  On Monday 13 May, there were 613 prisoners in police cells in England and Wales.

WALES

  Ysgol Pencae, Llandaff
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to announce his decision on the proposed Welsh medium primary school, Ysgol Pencae, Highfields, Llandaff.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 26 April 1991 his decision to approve the proposal to establish this school.

  Welsh School of Instrument Making
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the representations he has had in respect of the proposed closure of the Welsh school of instrument making at Abertridwr, a branch of the Ystrad Mynach college of further education; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  We have had six representations. The Welsh school of musical instrument making and repair is to close at the end of this academic year. The decision is one entirely for Mid Glamorgan local education authority which administers the school and for Ystrad Mynach college of further education.

  Compulsory Redundancies
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many compulsory redundancies have taken place in Wales during 1989 and 1990 and to date in 1991; and if he will publish figures for each secondary and primary school in Wales as well as the overall figures for each local education authority area.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Figures for all confirmed redundancies in all industries for each county are shown in the table. Separate figures for compulsory redundancies are not available. Comprehensive information on redundancies in individual schools or local education authority areas is not held centrally.

  Confirmed redundancies in all industries in Wales by local authority area 1989—March 1991

  1989

  1990

  To March 1991

  South Glamorgan

  825

  1,023

  222

  Mid Glamorgan

  2,945

  2,842

  729

  West Glamorgan

  1,902

  1,760

  269

  Gwent

  2,843

  1,710

  510

  Dyfed

  1,306

  819

  459

  Powys

  97

  92

  0

  Gwynedd

  449

  211

  99

  Clwyd

  1,132

  1,987

  927

  Totals

  11,499

  10,444

  3,215

  Note Figures for 1990 and 1991 are provisional.

  Cadw
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the 1991–92 annual budget for Cadw; and what percentage of that is allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The 1991–92 gross budget for Cadw is £13·71 million of which running costs account for 30 per cent. There are also certain minor running costs for Cadw which are funded centrally by my Department.

  Education Statistics
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many children were(a) taught outside normal schools and (b) given tuition in their parental homes in each local education authority area in Wales in each of the last five years.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Information is not available centrally on children educated other than in school.

  National Environment Week
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what contribution will be made by his Department to National Environment Week.

  Mr. David Hunt
  National Environment Week is run by the Civic Trust to promote environmental action at the local level. I wholly support this campaign, which is in line with the Government's aims as set out in the White Paper "This Common Inheritance". My hon. Friend the Minister of State will be participating in an event associated with the Conwy Valley civic society's contribution to National Environment Week on 17 May.

  Mr. O. J. Williams
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales in what capacity Mr. O. J. Williams accompanied him on his visits to Aberystwyth and Fishguard on 8 and 1 May; and on which other official visits he has been accompanied by Mr. O. J. Williams.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Mr. O. J. Williams has never been a member of my official party, although he has, of course, been in attendance at political engagements. At both Aberystwyth and Fishguard he attended as a guest of the respective hosts and not as a member of my official party.

  Gwynedd Health Authority
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will give details of the previous experience of all those appointed by Gwynedd health authority as senior managers at salaries in excess of £12,000 during the last 12 months;

  (2) if he will give the total number of senior management appointments made by Gwynedd health authority during the last 12 months where the salary levels exceeded £12,000 per annum in all disciplines;

  (3) if he will give the total sum allocated by Gwynedd health authority to the salaries of senior managers in the current year; and what were the comparable figures in 1990, 1989 and 1988.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  These are matters for the Gwynedd health authority.

  Traffic
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to announce the outcome of the South Wales area and the north east Clwyd traffic studies.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have today announced the addition of eight major schemes to the motorway and trunk road programme for Wales as a result of the conclusions of these studies. The schemes are as follows:

  Scheme

  Estimated cost at current prices £ million

  Planned timing

  M4 Relief Motorway around Newport

  215

  2000

  M4 Castleton-Coryton to three-lane dual carriageway

  35

  2000

  A465 Abergavenny to Hirwaun dualling

  95

  Late 1990s

  A550 Deeside Park to Drome Corner widening

  16

  Mid 1990s

  82

  Scheme

  Estimated cost at current prices £ million

  Planned timing

  A494 Drome Corner to Ewloe Improvement to three-lane dual carriageway

  36

  1

  A494/A55 Ewloe interchange major remodelling

  34

  1

  A494 Ewloe-Mold improvement

  12

  1

  A55 Ewloe-Northop widening to three-lane dual carriageway

  12

  1

  1 Phased from 1996–97 onwards.

  The preferred route for the A550 Deeside park to Drome corner scheme will be announced shortly. For the other schemes consultants will be appointed to carry out feasibility studies and to consider location and design.

  In addition the south Wales area traffic study has shown that relief is needed for the A470 between Pontypridd and M4 at Coryton. The alternatives of widening the A470 or building a relief road are not easy and I have decided to appoint consultants to carry out a transportation study to determine whether improving public transport could achieve traffic relief at a lower cost than road improvement.

  The south Wales study also indicates that there will be capacity problems on the M4 at Port Talbot early in the next century. My officials will be consulting West Glamorgan county council to determine whether its plans for a local distributor road can offer a solution.

  A copy of the summary of the south Wales area traffic study has been placed in the Library of the House. The north-east Clwyd traffic study report is not yet in final form. A summary will be placed in the Library of the House as it is available.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he intends to take to relieve traffic congestion in Newtown, Powys.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have today announced the addition of a bypass scheme to the long term trunk road improvement programme. Consultants will be appointed shortly to study the options and develop the scheme.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Land Registry
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Attorney-General what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Land Registry; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  The Attorney-General
  Questions on the day-to-day running of executive agencies are best answered by their chief executives. However, the gross expenditure provision for the Land Registry for 1991–92 is £236,067,000 of which 68·7 per cent. has been allocated to staff costs.

  The registry operates a "token" vote, since the whole of its expenditure provision is expected to be fully met by fees paid by applicants.

  Inquests (Legal Aid)
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Attorney-General whether legal aid will be available to relatives of the deceased at coroners' inquests.
  83
  The Attorney-General
  Legal aid is available to relatives of deceased at coroners' inquests for advice and assistance under the green form scheme. There are no plans to extend legal aid for representation at inquests.

  Law of Defamation
  Mr. Lord
  To ask the Attorney-General whether he has considered the responses to the consultation papers on the law of defamation in England and Wales.

  The Attorney-General
  The Lord Chancellor has given careful consideration to all the views expressed in the responses to the consultation papers. He has been persuaded by the overall response to the first paper, on the availability of the defence of innocent dissemination, that it would be right to allow printers, as well as distributors, to defend libel claims based on defamatory content of which they were not aware and could not reasonably have been expected to be aware. It is, therefore, his intention to provide that the defence of innocent dissemination should be extended to them as soon as a convenient legislative vehicle is available.

  The responses to the consultation paper on the death of a party to defamation proceedings have disclosed widely diverging views as to whether or not it would be fairer to allow proceedings to be started or continued in the absence of the party who has died, but the response has not persuaded the Lord Chancellor that the present rule ought to be changed.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Open University
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what financial support has been given to the Open university in Scotland and its students in each of the past eight years.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Grants from the Department are not given specifically to fund the Open university's activities in Scotland, but to support the university's provision in the United Kingdom as a whole.

  Open university expenditure is incurred both locally and centrally. It is not possible to determine accurately that portion of the university's centrally incurred costs which relates to its activities in Scotland.

  The table shows, in cash terms, the costs incurred by the Open university's regional office in Edinburgh in each of the last eight years. The Edinburgh office co-ordinates Open university activities throughout Scotland and the costs cover the staffing and overhead costs of the office and the university's study centres in Scotland.

  Year

  Amount £ million

  1983

  0·751

  1984

  0·776

  1985

  0·791

  1986

  0·889

  1987

  1·000

  1988

  1·011

  1989

  1·099

  1990

  1·205

  Education Spending, Suffolk
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement listing the money his Department has invested in education in Suffolk(a) on statutory age education and (b) post-16 education for each of the last 10 years; and what his plans are for the next three years.

  Mr. Fallon
  Spending on education in Suffolk is financed by a number of sources, including rates and the community charge, Government revenue support grant and specific grants, and fees and charges for services. Rates, community charge and revenue support grant are made available to fund all of the local authority's services, and are not hypothecated between individual services. Therefore, it is not possible to identify how much of the authority's spending on education is financed by each of these sources.

  Grant Allocations
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the total amount in grant allocation for(a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland and the percentage change for the period 1986–87 to the year for which most recent figures are available.

  Mr. Fallon
  The table sets out identifiable general Government expenditure on education and science from 1986–87 to 1989–90, the latest year for which data are available, by territorial area.

  Identifiable general government expenditure on education and science by area1 2

  £ million

  England

  Wales

  Scotland

  1986–87

  Education and science

  14,838·6

  924·6

  2,198·4

  1987–88

  Education and science

  16,234·5

  1,018·2

  2,386·5

  Percentage change on previous year

  9·4

  10·1

  8·6

  1988–89

  Education and science

  17,396·3

  1,083·3

  2,604·3

  Percentage change on previous year

  7·2

  6·4

  9·1

  1989–90

  Education and science

  19,153·9

  1,168·8

  2,825·4

  Percentage change on previous year

  10·1

  7·9

  8·5

  1Source: Public Expenditure Analyses to 1993–94: Statistical Supplement to the 1990 Autumn Statement (Cm. 1520), Annex E2a Tables Ea to E5b.

  2 Items included in general government expenditure but not included within total expenditure on programmes (privatisation proceeds, general government debt interest and other accounting adjustments) are treated as unidentifiable expenditure and are not allocated to territories.

  Teacher Schemes
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what central Government funds are allocated for(a) the licensed teacher scheme and (b) the articled teacher scheme in the current financial year, for 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Mr. Fallon
  In 1991–92 the Government are supporting expenditure by local education authorities of some £5·5
  85
  million on the licensed teacher scheme and £8·0 million on the articled teacher scheme through grants for education support and training—GEST. Grant is paid at a rate of 65 per cent. of expenditure. Funding for the articled teacher scheme is also provided for higher education institutions through the funding councils, but is not separately identified.

  The proposals which my right hon. and learned Friend announced on 3 May for GEST programme expenditure in 1992–93 include £10·1 million for the licensed teacher scheme and £11 million for the articled teacher scheme.

  No decisions have yet been reached on expenditure in support of the licensed and articled teacher schemes in 1993–94.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to issue a White Paper on higher education; and what its terms of reference will be.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I decline to speculate on such matters.

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the comparative studies of the effectiveness of different methods of teacher training the Government have commissioned since 1979.

  Mr. Fallon
  The following studies of the effectiveness of different methods of teacher training have been commissioned by the Department since 1979:

  Project title and principal investigator

  Contract period

  A Study of the Structure and Process of Initial Teacher Education within Universities. (Professor G. Bernbaum, University of Leicester).

  1979–83

  School-Based Training in the Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE). (Professor P. H. Hirst, University of Cambridge).

  1983–86

  Teacher Education in a Multi-cultural Society: Training the Trainers. (Professor M. Craft, University of Nottingham).

  1984–86

  Perspectives on the World of Work in Initial Teacher Training. (Professor P. Kelly, University of Southampton).

  1984–88

  Industry—Education Work in Initial Teacher Education Courses. (Dr. W. A. H. Scott, University of Bath).

  1988

  Study of Mature Entrants to the Teaching Profession. (Mr. G. F. Adamson, Sunderland Polytechnic).

  1990–91

  Evaluation of the Licensed Teacher Scheme. (Dr. S. Hegarty, National Foundation for Educational Research).

  1990–92

  Evaluation of the Articled Teacher Pilot Scheme. (Dr. S. M. Storey, National Foundation for Educational Research).

  1991

  Articled Teachers
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers are currently being trained on the articled teachers scheme.

  Mr. Fallon
  There are at present 403 students being trained on the articled teachers scheme.

  Universities and Colleges (Grants)
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list figures for the distribution of grant to each university and college for 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90 and the provisional figures for 1990–91 and 1991–92 and the percentage change in the period between 1986–87 and the year for which the most recent figures are available.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Universities' income from Exchequer grants for years up to the academic year 1988–89, the latest for which this information is available, is set out in successive annual editions of "University Statistics: Volume Three, Finance" published by the Universities Statistical Record. the main distribution figures for the academic years 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92 are set out in University Grants Committee circular letter 3/89 and Universities Funding Council circular letters 12/90 and 6/91 respectively. Copies of these documents are in the Library.

  Stratford Grant-maintained School
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied that Stratford GM school is meeting the requirements of the Education Reform Act 1988 in respect of the curriculum and related matters.

  Mr. Eggar
  It is the duty of the governing body and headteacher of Stratford school to secure that the relevant provisions of chapter 1 of part 1 of the Education Reform Act 1988 relating to the curriculum are implemented at the school.

ENERGY

  Windfarm Developments
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many plans for windfarm developments have been shelved following changes in the non-fossil fuel obligation contract terms from 20-year contracts to eight-year contracts.

  Mr. Moynihan
  No viable projects had to be excluded from contracting under the 1990 Renewables Order because of the limitation on the premium price until 1998. Amongst the projects that succeeded in gaining contracts under that order are five new wind projects.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to remove the 1998 deadline for premium payments for windfarm developments by a scheme to make payments over a fixed period commencing from the commissioning of each windfarm project.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The Government keep under review whether to seek the Commission's approval to extend the
  87
  fossil fuel levy beyond 1998. However, I am confident that the regional electricity companies will be able to offer generators acceptable contracts under the proposed 1991 Renewables Order. My Department's forthcoming renewables review will provide an opportunity to consider the longer-term implications.

  Renewable Energy Programmes
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many representations he has received concerning the implementation of the first non-fossil fuel obligation order for electricity generation from renewable sources.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My right hon. Friend received a number of representations. These were taken into account by my right hon. Friend in deciding to make the next Renewables Order in the autumn of 1991; and by the Non-Fossil Purchasing Agency Ltd., and the Office of Electricity Regulation in deciding the project selection procedure for that order.

  Quangos
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the individual appointments excluding casual vacancies he is scheduled to make to quasi autonomous non-governmental organisations in(a) 1991 and (b) 1992 indicating in each case the title of the post, the salary if any and the duration of the appointment.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The Secretary of State plans to make the following appointments in 1991 and 1992:

  1991

  1992

  Advisory Council on Research and Development

  2

  4

  Offshore Industry Advisory Board

  2

  0

  Renewable Energy Advisory Committee

  2

  2

  Coal Task Force

  2

  14

  Appointment to these advisory bodies is as a member and carries no title. Members are not paid; and the duration of their appointment varies from one to three years.

  Power Lines
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, further to the statement made on his behalf,Official Report, 29 April, column 150, he will state the results of past work relating to connections between power lines and health and the nature, purpose, cost and timetable of further work now proceeding in that regard.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Research into whether electromagnetic fields at power frequencies create a hazard to health has been going on worldwide for more than 10 years. Although there have been some claims which link exposure to these fields to the incidence of cancer and other health effects, to date the findings of such research have been inconclusive.

  The national or international bodies such as the World Health Organisation, the International Radiation Protection Association, the United States Office of Technology Assessment and the United Kingdom's National Radiological Protection Board have not concluded that these fields are a danger to human health, but recommend a continuation of research.
  88
  In the United Kingdom much of the research is funded by the National Grid Company which is spending about £1 million per year for this purpose. Most of the research work is being done by independent laboratories in various universities and a teaching hospital. Current research work is expected to last for several years.

  Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the progress of the home energy efficiency scheme.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  During 1991–92 there will be some £26 million available under the home energy efficiency scheme for low income households. We and the energy action grants agency are monitoring the initial operation of the scheme closely.

  Magnox Reactors
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the proposals of Nuclear Electric to extend the operating lives of its Magnox reactors.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  In his statement to the House on 9 November 1989, Official Report, column 1176 the Secretary of State for Energy stated:
  "In the light of their performance to date, it should be possible, subject to the views of the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate, for the lifetime of at least some of the Magnox stations to be extended. The Government will make available funds for any justifiable investment for this purpose."
  That remains the Government's policy.

  National Parks: Limestone Quarrying
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what undertakings he has received from PowerGen plc that limestone will not be quarried from national parks.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My right hon. Friend, when granting his consent for the installation of flue gas desulphurisation plant at PowerGen plc's Ratcliffe-on-Soar 2,000 MW coal-fired power station, included a condition that limestone extracted from a National Park or regional park cannot be used in the operation of the FGD plant. Any future consent which he may grant for the installation of FGD plant using the limestone/gypsum process will include a similar condition.

  Electricity Generation (Environmental Research)
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to use the Government's share holding in each of the generating companies to ensure that the environmental research programmes currently undertaken by these companies will be maintained at their present level over the next two years.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No. The Government do not intend to use their rights as an ordinary shareholder to intervene in the commercial decisions of National Power or PowerGen.

  PowerGen plc
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will propose a senior official from his Department for appointment as a non-executive director of PowerGen plc; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No.

  North Sea Gas
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his current estimate of the reserve life of British North sea gas fields.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The reserves in British North sea gas fields at present rates of production are expected to last in excess of 25 years.

  North Sea Oil and Gas
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement listing his Department's role and its spending on activities concerned with the North sea gas and oil industry in Suffolk and Norfolk for each of the past 10 years; and what his forward plans are for the next three years.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My Department's Report to Parliament of April this year on the "Development of the Oil and Gas Resources of the United Kingdom", also known as the "brown book", is available in the House of Commons Library. I was pleased to be able to record encouragingly high levels of activity. The breakdown of activity affecting Suffolk and Norfolk is not readily available, although, my Department's offshore supplies office has funded research and development projects with five different contractors in Suffolk and Norfolk in the past 10 years. Great Yarmouth is an important supply centre for the southern basin and Bacton is an important gas terminal, both producing economic and employment benefits to the region. Details of producing fields linked by pipeline to Bacton are included in table 11(b) of the report.

  Boiler Efficiency
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the EC directive on boiler efficiency; and what representations he has received from interested parties in the United Kingdom on this draft directive.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Government support the aim of improving boiler efficiency. However, we have substantial reservations about the draft directive, which, if implemented, would result in wasteful misallocation of resources; several other member states also have reservations and discussions are continuing in the Council. We are pressing for extensive changes to the draft directive, and this line also reflects representations received from several interested parties.

  Nuclear Power
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, pursuant to the statement he issued on 1 May in support of nuclear power, he will set out the criteria on which he based his conclusion that nuclear energy remains an important environmental insurance for the future of this planet.
  90
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Government policy on nuclear power is set out in the environment White Paper "This Common Inheritance" Cm. 1200.

  Kuwait (Ministerial Visit)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish a summary of the decisions taken during his visit to Kuwait at the end of April.

  Mr. Wakeham
  My visit to Kuwait emphasised the ability of United Kingdom companies to assist the Kuwaitis with the reconstruction of their energy and related industries. In particular, my group included a number of firms offering expertise to deal with the burning oilwells. One of the main outcomes was to secure the agreement in principle of the Kuwait Oil Company to a proposal from the Kuwaiti British Fire Group—KBFG—a joint venture of AMEC, Taylor Woodrow and Wimpey to undertake a damage assessment survey of a number of wells in northern Kuwait. It is hoped that a formal contract will be awarded to KBFG in the near future.

  Hinkley Point
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether his Department has begun the review of nuclear power indicated in his decision letter on the Hinkley Point C reactor.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My decison letter on the Hinkley Point C reactor referred to the statement I made to the House on 9 November 1989. In that statement I made clear that the Government will review the prospects of nuclear power in the United Kingdom in 1994. The precise remit of the review will be set nearer the time. The review will be wide ranging and will take account of all relevant factors.

  Belvedere Waste Disposal Plant
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received to date about the proposed waste disposal plant in Belvedere.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My right hon. Friend has directed Cory Environmental Limited to advertise its application for his consent to construct a waste-fired generating station at Belvedere and has allowed a period up to June 1991 in which objections can be made to him. To date, my Department has registered three objections to the application.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  CBI, Staffordshire
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met the CBI in north Staffordshire to discuss the state of the local economy.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Secretary of State last met representatives of the CBI (midlands) during his visit to the region on 30 April 1991, when a wide range of business matters was discussed.

  Laboratory of the Government Chemist
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Laboratory of the Government Chemist; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Laboratory of the Government Chemist budget for 1991–92 was published in estimates on 12 March 1991 and the gross total is £13·612 million. Of this sum the proportion allocated to staff costs, defined as salary, earnings-related NI contribution—ERNIC—superannuation and overtime costs for both permanent and casual staff, is around 53 per cent. The Laboratory of the Government Chemist is funded on a net running cost basis, so the final expenditure outturn will depend on income generated during the year. This in turn may slightly affect the proportion of total expenditure accounted for by staff costs.

  Patent Office
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Patent Office; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Patent Office budget for 1991–92 was published on 12 March 1991 and the gross total is £47·085 million. Of this sum the proportion allocated to staff costs, defined as salary, ERNIC, superannuation and overtime costs for both permanent and casual staff, is around 55 per cent. The Patent Office has, since 1 April 1991, been funded on a net running cost basis and the final expenditure outturn will thus depend on income generated during the year; this in turn may slightly affect the proportion of total expenditure accounted for by staff costs.

  Insolvency Service
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the insolvency service; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Department's estimates were published on 12 March. Within these the Insolvency Service executive agency has been allocated a budget of £45·1 million. Of this the proportion allocated to staff costs, defined as salary, ERNIC, superannuation and overtime for both permanent and casual staff, is about 65 per cent.

  National Weights and Measures Laboratory
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the National Weights and Measures Laboratory; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Department's estimates were published on 12 March. Within these the National Weights and Measures Laboratory executive agency has been allocated a budget of £1·942 million. Of this, the proportion allocated to staff costs, defined as salary, ERNIC, superannuation and overtime for both permanent and casual staff, is about 52 per cent.

  National Engineering Laboratory
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the National Engineering Laboratory; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Department's Estimates were published on 12 March. Within these the National Engineering Laboratory executive agency has been allocated a budget of £21·119 million. Of this, the proportion allocated to staff costs, defined as salary, ERNIC, superannuation and overtime for both permanent and casual staff, is about 41 per cent.

  Radiocommunications Agency
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Radiocommunications Agency; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Radiocommunications Agency budget for 1991–92 was published in estimates on 12 March 1991. The gross total is £30·587 million. Of this sum the proportion allocated to staff costs, defined as salary, ERNIC, superannuation and overtime costs for both permanent and casual staff is 42 per cent.

  The Radiocommunications Agency has, since 1 April 1990, been funded on a net running cost basis and the final expenditure outturn will thus depend on income generated during the year; this in turn may slightly affect the proportion of total expenditure accounted for by staff costs.

  Companies House
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the 1991–92 annual budget for Companies House; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Redwood
  Companies House's budget for 1991–92 was published in estimates on 12 March 1991 and the gross total is £35·811 million. Of this sum, the proportion allocated to staff costs, defined as salary, ERNIC, superannuation and overtime costs for both permanent and casual staff, is around 46 per cent. Companies House is funded on a net running cost basis and the final expenditure outturn will thus depend on income generated during the year; this in turn may slightly affect the proportion of total expenditure accounted for by staff costs.

  National Physical Laboratory
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the National Physical Laboratory; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Leigh
  The National Physical Laboratory expenditure budget for 1991–92 was published in estimates on 12 March 1991 and the gross total is £45·193 million. Of this sum, the proportion allocated to staff costs, defined as salary, ERNIC, superannuation and overtime costs for both permanent and temporary staff, is 43 per cent. The NPL has, since 1 April 1991, been funded on a net running
  93
  cost basis and the final outturn will therefore depend on income generated during the year. This may affect the proportion of total expenditure accounted for by staff costs.

  Warren Spring Laboratory
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Warren Spring Laboratory; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Warren Spring Laboratory budget for 1991–92 was published in estimates on 12 March 1991 and the gross total is £8·45 million. Of this sum, the proportion allocated to staff costs, defined as salary, ERNIC, superannuation and overtime costs for both permanent and casual staff is around 78 per cent. The Warren Spring Laboratory has, since 1 April 1990, been funded at a net running cost basis and the final expenditure outturn will thus depend on income generated during the year; this in turn may slightly affect the proportion of total expenditure accounted for by staff costs.

  National Environment Week
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contribution will be made by his Department towards National Environment Week.

  Mr. Leigh
  During National Environment Week my Department will be holding environment seminars for business at Birmingham and Slough in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Department of Energy and Business in the Environment. These seminars are part of a wider regional programme to fulfil the commitment in last autumn's environmental White Paper "This Common Inheritance" to explain developments on environmental regulation and other environmental issues affecting business and to encourage businesses to use help which Government Departments can offer them.

  Poland (Pollution Control)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what matters relating to the sale of United Kingdom environmental pollution control to Poland were agreed during the visit of the President of Poland.

  Mr. Leigh
  The sale of such equipment was not discussed during President Walesa's visit, but my Department will be exploring the opportunities in this sector with the Polish authorities on 23 May at the joint commission talks in Warsaw.

  Remote Sensing Satellite
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contribution Her Majesty's Government have made to the development and use of(a) the European remote sensing satellite and (b) the along-track scanning radiometer.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Government have contributed almost £69 million to the European Space Agency's first European remote sensing satellite, ERS-1, which is due to be launched shortly. The Science and Engineering Research Council has also spent some £6 million in developing and supplying the along-track scanning 94
  radiometer—ATSR—instrument which will be flown on this satellite. Through the British developed synthetic aperture radar instrument to be carried on ERS-1, we will gain the capability to observe the earth's surface through cloud and in darkness. The ATSR will provide unprecedently accurate measurement of sea surface temperature.

  Export Credits Guarantee Department
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson), on 2 May,Official Report, column 283, he will give an estimate for the total sum to be paid out in fees by the Export Credits Guarantee Department to management consultants in connection with the proposed privatisation of the short-term insurance business of ECGD.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 13 May 1991]: About £3·5 million has been paid out in fees by ECGD to professional advisers up to 31 March 1991. Expenditure in 1991–92 will depend on progress with the privatisation, but current indications are that further costs of between £2 million and £3 million will be incurred.

  The costs of the current privatisation of the short-term business of ECGD, including fees paid to advisers, will be reported to Parliament after the sale is completed.

  Export Credits (Soviet Union)
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the current review of medium-term export credits for the Soviet Union to be completed.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 13 May 1991]: Shortly.

  Exports (USSR)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what efforts he is making to improve the level of United Kingdom exports to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 13 May 1991]: Overseas Trade Services staff in the United Kingdom and Moscow provide a range of services to assist companies exporting to the USSR.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service which of the 50 executive agencies are run on a trading fund basis; which are subject to gross running costs control; and which are subject to net running costs control.

  Mr. Renton
  The information requested is as follows.

  Next Steps—Established Agencies

  Financial Regimes

  Building Research Establishment

  NRC

  Cadw (Welsh Historic Monuments)

  GRC

  Central Office of Information

  TF

  Central Veterinary Laboratory

  NRC

  Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment

  GRC

  95

  Next Steps—Established Agencies

  Financial Regimes

  Civil Service College

  NRC

  Companies House

  NRC

  Defence Research Agency

  GRC

  Directorate General of Defence Accounts

  GRC

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

  GRC

  Driving Standards Agency

  OVTB

  Employment Service

  GRC

  Forensic Science Service

  GRC

  Historic Royal Palaces

  NRC

  Historic Scotland

  GRC

  HMSO

  TF

  Hydrographic Office

  GRC

  Information Technology Services Agency

  GRC

  Insolvency Service

  GRC

  Intervention Board

  GRC

  Laboratory of the Government Chemist

  NRC

  Land Registry

  NRC

  Meteorological Office

  GRC

  Military Survey

  GRC

  National Engineering Laboratory

  GRC

  National Physical Laboratory

  NRC

  National Weights and Measures Laboratory

  GRC

  Natural Resources Institute

  NRC

  NHS Estates

  GRC

  Occupational Health Service

  GRC

  Ordnance Survey

  NRC

  Patent Office

  NRC

  Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

  NRC

  Radiocommunications Agency

  NRC

  RAF Maintenance

  GRC

  Rate Collection Agency (Northern Ireland)

  GRC

  Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency

  GRC

  Registers of Scotland

  NRC

  Resettlement Agency

  GRC

  Royal Mint

  TF

  Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency

  GRC

  Service Children's Schools (North West Europe)

  GRC

  Agency

  Chief Executive

  Civil Service Grade

  Method of Appointment

  Origin

  Building Research Establishment

  Dr. Roger Courtney

  3

  Internal appointment

  serving civil servant

  CADW (Welsh Historic Monuments)

  John Carr

  5

  open competition

  direct entrant

  Central Office of Information

  Michael Devereau

  4

  internal appointment

  serving civil servant

  Central Veterinary Laboratory

  Tony Little

  3

  open competition

  serving civil servant

  Chemical Biological Defence Establishment

  Dr. Graham Pearson CB

  3

  internal appointment

  serving civil servant

  Civil Service College

  Marianne Neville-Rolfe

  3

  internal appointment

  serving civil servant

  Companies House

  David Durham

  4

  open competition

  direct entrant

  Defence Research Agency

  Nigel Hughes

  2

  open competition

  serving civil servant

  Directorate General of Defence Accounts

  Michael Dymond

  4

  internal appointment

  serving civil servant

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

  Stephen Curtis

  3

  open competition

  serving civil servant

  Driving Standards Agency

  Dr. Christopher Woodman

  5

  internal appointment

  serving civil servant

  Employment Service

  Michael Fogden

  31

  internal appointment

  serving civil servant

  Forensic Science Service

  Dr. Janet Thompson

  4

  open competition

  serving civil servant

  Historic Royal Palaces

  David Beeton

  3

  open competition

  direct entrant

  Historic Scotland

  Graeme Munro

  3

  internal appointment

  serving civil servant

  HMSO

  Dr. Paul Freeman

  2

  open competition

  serving civil servant

  Hydrographic Office

  Rear Admiral John Myers

  —

  armed forces appointment

  armed forces

  Information Technology Services Agency

  John Kenworthy

  3

  internal appointment

  serving civil servant

  Insolvency Service

  Peter Joyce

  3

  open competition

  serving civil servant

  Intervention Board

  Guy Stapleton

  3

  internal appointment

  serving civil servant

  Laboratory of the Government Chemist

  Dr. Richard Worswick

  3

  open competition

  direct entrant

  Land Registry

  John Manthorpe

  2

  open competition

  serving civil servant

  Meteorological Office

  Dr. John Houghton CBE

  2

  open competition

  direct entrant

  Military Survey

  Major General Roy Wood

  —

  armed forces appointment

  armed forces

  National Engineering Laboratory

  William Edgar

  3

  open competition

  direct entrant

  National Weights and Measures Laboratory

  Dr. Seton Bennett

  5

  open competition

  serving civil servant

  National Physical Laboratory

  Dr. Peter Clapham

  3

  open competition

  serving civil servant

  Natural Resources Institute

  Anthony Beattie

  3

  internal appointment

  serving civil servant

  96

  Next Steps—Established Agencies

  Financial Regimes

  Social Security Benefits Agency

  GRC

  Social Security Contributions Agency

  GRC

  Training & Employment Agency (Northern Ireland)

  GRC

  United Kingdom Passport Agency

  GRC

  Vehicle Certification Agency

  NRC

  Vehicle Inspectorate

  TF

  Veterinary Medicines Directorate

  GRC

  Warren Spring Laboratory

  NRC

  50 in number

  Key:

  GRC—Gross Running Costs.

  NRC—Net Running Costs.

  TF—Trading Fund.

  OVTB—Driving Standards Agency is a non-statutory on-Vote trading body whose current expenses are not classified as public expenditure.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list all agency chief executives, and their grade stating whether they were appointed through open competition and whether they were serving civil servants or direct entrants.

  Mr. Renton
  The table provides the information requested in respect of the 50 existing "next steps" agency chief executives at 10 May 1991. The Government's objective is to secure the right person for each of these important jobs, and open competition is now the presumption in doing so. With the exception of the defence support agencies, chief executives are directly accountable to the appropriate Minister; and many chief executives have pay arrangements tailored to their particular employment.
  97

  Agency

  Chief Executive

  Civil Service Grade

  Method of Appointment

  Origin

  NHS Estates

  John Locke

  3

  open competition

  direct entrant

  Occupational Health Service

  Dr. George Sorrie

  3

  open competition

  serving civil servant

  Ordnance Survey

  Peter McMaster

  3

  open competition

  direct entrant

  Patent Office

  Paul Hartnack

  3

  open competition

  serving civil servant

  Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

  Roy Kendrick

  5

  open competition

  direct entrant

  Radiocommunications Agency

  John Michell

  3

  internal appointment

  serving civil servant

  RAF Maintenance

  Air Vice Marshall Don Campbell

  —

  armed forces appointment

  armed forces

  Rate Collection Agency (Northern Ireland)

  David Gallagher

  6

  open competition

  serving civil servant

  Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency

  Michael Geddes

  3

  open competition

  direct entrant

  Registers of Scotland

  James Barron

  4

  open competition

  serving civil servant

  Resettlement Agency

  Tony Ward

  6

  internal appointment

  serving civil servant

  Royal Mint

  Tony Garrett

  3

  open competition

  direct entrant

  Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency

  Andrew McLeod

  5

  internal appointment

  serving civil servant

  Service Childrens' Schools (North West Europe)

  Ian Mitchelson

  4

  open competition

  direct entrant

  Social Security Benefits Agency

  Michael Bichard

  2

  open competition

  direct entrant

  Social Security Contributions Agency

  Ann Chant

  5

  internal appointment

  serving civil servant

  Training and Employment Agency (Northern Ireland)

  Julian Crozier

  3

  open competition

  serving civil servant

  UK Passport Agency

  John Hayzelden

  5

  internal appointment

  serving civil servant

  Vehicle Certification Agency

  Derek Harvey

  5

  internal appointment

  serving civil servant

  Vehicle Inspectorate

  Ron Oliver

  4

  internal appointment

  serving civil servant

  Veterinary Medicines Directorate

  Dr. Michael Rutter

  4

  open competition

  direct entrant

  Warren Springs Laboratory

  Dr. John Reay

  3

  internal appointment

  serving civil servant

  1 Defence Support Agency

  Civil Service College
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Civil Service College; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Renton
  The management of the college's annual budget is a matter for the chief executive and I have asked her to write to the hon. Member direct.

  Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Renton
  The management of the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency annual budget is a matter for the chief executive and I have asked him to write to the hon. Member direct.

  Efficiency Scrutinies
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how many efficiency scrutinies there have been since 1979.

  Mr. Renton
  A total of 309 efficiency scrutinies have been completed by Government Departments, in association with the efficiency adviser and the efficiency unit, since 1979, Twenty interdepartmental studies have also been completed over the same period. A number of scrutinies have also been conducted by other public sector organisations according to full scrutiny disciplines and with guidance from the efficiency unit.

  Occupational Health Service
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Occupational Health Service; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Renton
  The management of the Occupational Health Service's annual budget is a matter for the chief executive and I have asked him to write to the hon. Member direct.

  Agency Staff
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will clarify the numbers included in the table of staff employed in existing executive agencies which appeared in the Official Report, 30 April 1991, columns 112–13.

  Mr. Renton
  I apologise for the fact that, owing to an administrative error, the final '0' was omitted from the numbers given in this table. The correct figures are included in the following table.

  Next Steps—Executive Agencies established as of April 1991

  Number

  Building Research Establishment

  690

  Cadw (Welsh Historic Monuments)

  220

  Central Office of Information1

  730

  Central Veterinary Laboratory

  580

  Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment2

  580

  Civil Service College

  210

  Companies House

  1,150

  Defence Research Agency

  11,700

  Directorate General of Defence Accounts2

  2,100

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

  5,450

  Driving Standards Agency

  2,050

  Employment Service

  35,600

  Forensic Science Service

  580

  99

  Number

  Historic Royal Palaces

  300

  Historic Scotland

  580

  HMSO1

  3,300

  Hydrographic Office2

  880

  Information Technology Services Agency

  3,350

  Insolvency Service

  1,450

  Intervention Board

  910

  Laboratory of the Government Chemist

  320

  Land Registry

  10,400

  Meteorological Office

  2,250

  Military Survey2

  850

  National Engineering Laboratory

  430

  National Physical Laboratory

  820

  National Weights and Measures Laboratory

  50

  Natural Resources Institute

  390

  NHS Estates

  120

  Occupational Health Service

  100

  Ordnance Survey

  2,500

  Patent Office

  1,150

  Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

  70

  Radiocommunications Agency

  500

  RAF Maintenance2

  5,700

  Rate Collection Agency (Northern Ireland)

  280

  Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency

  320

  Registers of Scotland

  1,100

  Resettlement Agency

  510

  Royal Mint1

  1,050

  Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency

  230

  Service Children's Schools (North West Europe) 2

  2,300

  Social Security Benefits Agency

  68,000

  Social Security Contributions Agency

  6,600

  Training and Employment Agency (Northern Ireland)

  1,700

  UK Passport Agency

  1,200

  Vehicle Certification Agency

  70

  Vehicle Inspectorate1

  1,650

  Veterinary Medicines Directorate

  70

  Warren Spring Laboratory

  320

  50 in number

  183,460

  Customs and Excise3 (30 Executive Units)

  26,800

  210,260

  1 Trading funds.

  2 Defence Support Agency. Figure does not include service personnel.

  3 Moving towards full operation on next steps lines following publication of framework documents.

  Staffing figures are based on staff in post 1 October 1990

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Natural Resources Institute
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Natural Resources Institute; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I have asked the chief executive of the Natural Resources Institute to write to the hon. Member.

  Iraq (Sanctions)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Overseas Development Administration has to contribute to the United Nations Security Council appeal issued on 29 April for assistance to the 21 countries with special economic problems arising from their compliance with sanctions imposed against Iraq.
  100
  Mrs. Chalker
  Many of the countries adversely affected by the Gulf crisis are recipients of substantial British aid. It is primarily for the international financial institutions to tackle additional financing needs arising from the crisis, in the context of each country's overall balance of payments situation and economic adjustment efforts. We have supported the provision of additional finance through the International Monetary Fund and the World bank and are accelerating our International Development Association contributions to help finance increased World bank lending to the poorest countries.

  Disaster Relief Appeals
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the Overseas Development Administration contributions made during 1991 to disaster relief appeals; and if he has any plans to contribute to any further appeals in the near future.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Since 1 January 1991, the Overseas Development Administration has made the following contributions to international agency and other appeals.

  US$1 million to UNDRO Gulf Contingency Planning appeal

  £2·5 million to ICRC Gulf appeal

  £5 million to UNHCR Africa appeals

  £3 million to UNHCR Mozambique Refugees appeal

  £3 million to ICRC for Horn of Africa appeals

  £2 million to ICRC for Iraqi refugees in Iran

  £10 million to 'Simple Truth' Appeal

  US$10 million to UN appeals for Iraqi refugees

  £0·25 million to LRCS for Bangladesh appeal

  £0·5 million to UNDRO for Bangladesh appeal

  The Government are considering further responses to appeals by the international agencies.

  Botswana
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what part the senior veterinary officers, funded by his Department in Botswana, have played in the development and implementation of that country's policy of veterinary cordon fencing.

  Mrs. Chalker
  These officers are employed by the Government of Botswana: the United Kingdom aid programme helps the Botswana Government meet part of their costs. They are engaged in a variety of duties relating to livestock production, including the provision of professional advice on issues such as cordon fencing where relevant to their duties.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding his Department provides in respect of the principal hydrological adviser for the southern Okavango integrated water development scheme in Botswana.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The salary of the principal hydrological adviser, who is an employee of the Government of Botswana, is part-funded under the aid programme at a cost of some £15,000 per annum.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if there has been an independent environmental impact assessment of the proposed southern Okavango integrated water development scheme which is receiving ODA funding.

  Mrs. Chalker
  A full environmental impact assessment was carried out in connection with the first phase of the
  101
  project in the mid-1980s. A further investigation has recently been undertaken by Greenpeace at the invitation of the Botswana Government and its report is now being considered. The ODA was not involved in the funding of either study.

  Environmental Assessments
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what level of environmental assessment is conducted for activities undertaken by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  All programme managers in the Overseas Development Administration are required to ensure the environmental soundness of projects. Some projects may only require an initial environmental screening, whilst others may require a full environmental impact assessment. A manual of environmental appraisal to help programme managers judge the level of environmental assessment required was issued in March 1989 and is accompanied by a mandatory training seminar. A copy of the manual is in the Library. The manual is currently being up-dated.

  Kurdistan and Bangladesh
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimates he has of the cost to the Overseas Development Administration of the use of Ministry of Defence forces in humanitarian relief in(a) Kurdistan and (b) Bangladesh.

  Contributions in 1979 and 1989 at current and constant prices

  £ thousands

  1979 (current prices)

  1979 (at constant 1989 prices)

  1989

  Percentage change in 1989 prices

  Percentage change in current prices

  UNDP

  28·533

  59·058

  26·001

  -55·9

  -8·9

  UNICEF1

  5·800

  12·005

  8·000

  -33·4

  +37·9

  UNDRO

  100

  207

  391

  +88·9

  +391·0

  UNHCR

  8·987

  18·601

  19·316

  +3·8

  +214·9

  WFP2

  7·017

  14·524

  15·674

  —

  —

  1 Contribution to core programme only.

  2 Figures for 1979 and 1989 for WFP are not comparable. Prior to 1987 some food aid through the world food programme was classified as bilateral aid and therefore is not included in the 1979 figure. It is not possible retrospectively to identify these amounts. Therefore the percentage change has not been calculated.

  Note: Information is based on 1989 prices, using 1989 expenditure figures. This is the most recent year for which firm figures are available.

PRIME MINISTER

  Turkey (British Journalists)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister whether Her Majesty's Government have made representations to Turkey over the detention and expulsion of Robert Fisk, a journalist working for The Independent, and the banning of all journalists of The Independent from working in Turkey.

  The Prime Minister
  The detention and expulsion of Mr. Fisk and the future of The Independent's representation in Turkey have been discussed by the British ambassador in Ankara with the Turkish authorities. We naturally wish for The Independent to have effective representation in Turkey.
  102
  Mrs. Chalker
  Under longstanding arrangements for cost-sharing, the Overseas Development Administration refunds to the Ministry of Defence only the additional costs incurred as a direct result of the armed forces' involvement in disaster relief operations overseas.

  The cost to the ODA of service participation in relief operations for Iraqi refugees up to and including 9 May is estimated at £5 million. Continuing costs thereafter, at present rates of activity, are estimated at £500,000 per week. The initial estimate of the total cost to ODA of the armed forces' contribution to cyclone relief in Bangladesh is £250,000.

  United Nations Organisations
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a chart showing the United Kingdom's contribution to the United Nations Development Programme, the UNICEF core programme, the United Nations disaster relief coordinator, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Food Programme, in 1979 and 1991, in current prices, and in constant 1991 prices, showing for each the percentage change between 1979 and 1991.

  Mrs. Chalker
  [holding answer 9 May 1991]: The information is as follows:

  Inaccurate Information
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list in the Official Report each instance of inadvertently inaccurate information given to Parliament since 1979 by Ministers of Her Majesty's Government which was subsequently corrected in the Official Report; and what steps he is taking to improve the accuracy of information given to Parliament by Her Majesty's Government.

  The Prime Minister
  Records are not maintained of corrections to the Official Report. Ministers seek the highest standards of accuracy in the information they give to Parliament.

  Occupied Territories (Education)
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations he has made to the Israeli Prime Minister about the continuing closure of Palestinian schools, colleges and universities in the territories occupied by Israel; and if he will make a statement.
  103
  The Prime Minister
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs made representations on education in the occupied territories when he saw the Israeli Foreign Minister last on 5 March. This issue was also raised by my hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State during his visit to Israel and the occupied territories from 6 to 9 May.

  Report:

  Department

  Title of scrutiny

  Completed

  Publicly available

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  Career Management

  Yes

  No

  Cabinet Office

  Ministerial Correspondence

  Yes

  Yes

  Her Majesty's Customs and Excise

  Inland Customs Activity

  Yes

  Yes

  Ministry of Defence

  Electronics Trades Training

  Yes

  No

  Equipment Policy Committee

  No

  —

  Department of Education and Science

  Research Councils' Support Services

  No

  —

  Department of Employment

  Communications within the ED Group

  Yes

  No

  Industrial Tribunal System

  No

  —

  Department of Environment

  Review of the Housing Defects Act

  No

  —

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  Training in Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  No

  —

  Department of Health

  Medical Divisions

  Yes

  No

  Home Office

  In-Service Probation Training

  Yes

  Yes

  National Collection of Criminal Records

  Yes

  No

  Inland Revenue

  Departmental Print Output

  Yes

  No

  Electronic Data Capture and Data Matching

  Yes

  No

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  Public Record Office

  Yes

  Yes

  Northern Ireland Civil Service

  Creditor Payments

  Yes

  No

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Fairs and Promotions Branch

  No

  —

  Department of Transport

  Relationship between Agencies and the Centre of the Department

  Yes

  Yes

  Welsh Office

  Land Procedures

  No

  —

  Decisions on the publication of scrutiny reports are taken by the Ministers responsible for the scrutinies concerned. In a number of cases where a scrutiny has been recently completed, no decision on publication has been made.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 14 May.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Church Urban Fund
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners if the Church Commissioners have changed their policy of contributing £1 million annually to the church urban fund.

  Mr. Alison
  The primary call on the Commissioners' income is the provision of clergy pensions and thereafter

  Scrutiny Programme
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Prime Minister what topics have been covered in the efficiency unit's central scrutiny programme in the last financial year; and which scrutiny reports have been published.

  The Prime Minister
  Twenty efficiency scrutinies have been undertaken by Departments in 1990–91 in association with the efficiency adviser and the efficiency unit. The programme of scrutinies, including those which are not yet completed, is as follows:

  clergy stipends and housing. Each year they may make grants for other purposes from any surplus income they may have. They have in each of the past four years, voted a grant of £1 million for the church urban fund; it is not, however, an automatically recurring "annual" grant.

  The Commissioners will, at their annual general meeting in June, carefully consider, in the light of their overall financial position and other demands on their income, whether they can make a contribution in 1991 and, if so, at what level.

  Their substantial administrative help to the fund, totalling around £300,000 a year, will, in any event, continue.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Building Societies
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what basis he has calculated that building societies would not be repaid £250 million if the House accepts his proposal, retrospectively, to reverse the House of Lords decision in the Woolwich case.

  Mr. Maples
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him on 22 April, at columns 300–1.
  105
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether building societies have agreed that the 1986 change in accounting for tax does not mean they have paid extra tax.

  Mr. Maples
  It would not be appropriate to comment on statements made by individual building societies about their tax affairs.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what response or acknowledgement has been given to the demand on 25 October 1990 for repayment of tax unlawfully demanded from a building society, following the judgment in the Woolwich case;

  (2) how much tax has been received each financial year and for each financial year from building societies since 1983–84; how much was paid with the qualification that the payment was made under protest; how much is now known to have been demanded unlawfully; and how much has been repaid.

  Mr. Maples
  It would not be appropriate to comment on the tax affairs of individual building societies.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the probable cost of acknowledging letters(a) directly and (b) via an hon. Member to each or any member of a building society adversely affected by clause 50 of the Finance Bill.

  Mr. Maples
  The cost of replying to letters, whether received directly, or through hon. Members, depends upon the complexity of the issues raised and the research necessary to deal with them.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which building societies did not challenge the double taxation damand under the 1986 legislation on building societies.

  Mr. Maples
  The 1986 building societies legislation did not involve double taxation. It would not be appropriate to comment on the tax affairs of individual building societies.

  Retrospective Legislation
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when, other than following the Woolwich case, the Treasury has proposed retrospective legislation to have the effect of reversing a granted application for judicial review or a successful appeal against assessment.

  Mr. Maples
  There have been two instances of such legislation in recent years: section 62 of the Finance Act 1987 and section 116 of the Finance Act 1989.

  Leeds Building Society
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions Treasury Ministers met representatives of the Leeds building society in 1985; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Maples
  There is no record of any such meeting. If my hon. Friend has a particular meeting in mind, perhaps he could let me know.

  Soft Drinks (VAT)
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an estimate of the revenue from value added tax on soft drinks at the rate of 17·5 per cent. for the 106
  current financial year; and what the comparable figures would be if the rate were to be (a) 4 per cent. and (b) 9 per cent.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The following are estimates of the value added tax receipts in 1991–92 assuming the rates apply to a full year's expenditure.

  VAT rate

  Revenue yield from soft drinks £ million

  17·5 per cent.

  520

  4·0 per cent.

  120

  9· per cent.

  270

  Beer Duty
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the comparable rates of beer duty in each country of the European Community at present; when it is proposed to harmonise these rates; and if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy and proposals in this matter.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Rates of excise duty on beer in other member states of the Community, according to the latest information available, are set out in the table. The Commission's revised excise duty rate proposals for alcoholic drinks envisage minimum rates of duty to be applied by 1 January 1993 with higher, target rates to be reached by an unspecified later date. The Government's view remains that centrally determined duty rates are neither necessary nor appropriate to achieve the single market.

  Country

  Beer at 3·65 per cent. alc. by vol. 1038° OG (p per pint)

  Belgium

  4

  Denmark

  31

  France

  1

  Germany

  2

  Greece

  2

  Ireland

  33

  Italy

  5

  Luxembourg

  2

  Netherlands

  7

  Portugal

  3

  Spain

  1

  United Kingdom

  23

  Rates of exchange as at 8 May 1991.

  Source: EC Inventory of Taxes.

  Research and Development
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the amounts of public funding allocated by his Department or through other Departments after Treasury sanction to United Kingdom companies for research and development projects and direct Government contracts in each of the fiscal years 1979–80 and 1989–90.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 13 May 1991]: The figures for total research and development, including development studies, spending by Her Majesty's Treasury are as follows:

  £'000s

  1983–84

  1,930

  1984–85

  4,122

  1985–86

  4,007

  107

  £'000s

  1986–87

  3,321

  1987–88

  4,038

  1988–89

  4,509

  1989–90

  2,578

  Figures for earlier years are unavailable and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The table does not include Treasury-sanctioned expenditure by other Government Departments. Information on Government spending as a whole is set out in the Cabinet Office publication "Annual Review of Government Funded Research and Development", published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

  Live Animals and Birds (Imports)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those United Kingdom ports of entry which received consignments of live animals or birds in each year since 1987.

  Mr. Maples
  [holding answer 13 May 1991]: Consignments of live animals or birds have been received at the following ports of entry in the years indicated.

  Table of ports receiving live animals and birds

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Ports

  Cardiff

  /

  /

  Dover

  /

  /

  /

  Felixstowe

  /

  /

  /

  Fishguard

  /

  /

  /

  Folkestone

  /

  Great Yarmouth

  /

  /

  /

  Grimsby

  /

  /

  /

  Harwich

  /

  /

  /

  Holyhead

  /

  /

  /

  Hull

  /

  /

  /

  Immingham

  /

  /

  /

  Ipswich

  /

  Liverpol

  /

  /

  /

  London

  /

  Londonderry

  /

  Medway

  /

  /

  /

  Middlesbrough

  /

  Milford Haven

  /

  /

  /

  Newhaven

  /

  Poole

  /

  /

  /

  Portsmouth

  /

  /

  /

  Plymouth

  /

  Ramsgate

  /

  /

  Sharpness

  /

  Silloth

  /

  Southampton

  /

  /

  /

  Swansea

  /

  /

  Tyne

  /

  /

  /

  Airports

  Belfast

  /

  /

  Birmingham

  /

  /

  Bristol

  /

  East Midlands

  /

  /

  /

  Glasgow

  /

  /

  /

  London Gatwick

  /

  /

  /

  London Heathrow

  /

  /

  /

  London Stansted

  /

  /

  /

  Luton

  /

  /

  /

  Manchester

  /

  /

  /

  Prestwick

  /

  /

  Southend

  /

  Other

  /

  /

  /

  Irish Land Boundary

  /

  /

  /

  108
  Note 1990 details are provisional

  Endangered Species
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish details of all endangered species products currently held by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise following seizures made(a) from 1979 to 1986 and (b) from 1986 to date.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 13 May 1991]: Records of endangered species products held by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise are not kept centrally and the information sought could be obtained only at disproportionate expense.

  Reptile Imports
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state(a) the total number of live reptiles confiscated or seized by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in 1990 (b) the number of prosecutions entered from such seizures and (c) the number of resulting convictions.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 13 May 1991]: A total of 1,567 live reptiles and amphibians were seized by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in 1990. There were no prosecutions entered from those seizures.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Turtles
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom intends to take out reservations under the specially protected areas and wildlife protocol of the Cartagena convention on any of the sea turtle species.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Decisions on the proposed listings of species on the annexes to the SPAW protocol of the Cartagena convention will be made at a meeting of the plenipotentiaries in Kingston in June.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the position of the sea turtle farm on the British dependent territory of the Cayman Islands in relation to the Annex II listing of green turtles under the specially protected areas and wildlife protocol of the Cartagena convention.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  In advance of the meeting of signatories to the SPAW protocol in Kingston next month we shall be discussing with our interested dependent territories the implications of the listing of species on the annexes to the protocol.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom will be supporting the listing of each of the(a) green turtle (Chelonia mydas), (b) Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), (c) Kemp's Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), (d) Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), (e) Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and (f) Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) on annex II of the specially protected areas and wildlife protocol of the Cartagena convention.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The United Kingdom delegation will be participating fully in the discussions at the
  109
  conference of plenipotentiaries for the adoption of annexes of the SPAW protocol of the Cartagena convention. The listing of the various species of turtle will be one of the issues under discussion.

  Turkey (British Journalists)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Turkish Government concerning the arrest of the British journalists Robert Fisk of The Independent and Robert Fox of The Daily Telegraph, and the declaration of The Independent staff Christopher Bellamy, Phil Reeves and Richard Wayman as persona non grata in Turkey.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The detention and expulsion of Mr. Fisk and the future of The Independent's representation in Turkey have been discussed by the British ambassador in Ankara with the Turkish authorities. We naturally wish for The Independent to have effective representation in Turkey.

  Kuwait (Human Rights)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has taken any steps to obtain independent verification of Kuwaiti observance of human rights.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are in close touch, both here and in Kuwait, with international humanitarian agencies and human rights organisations monitoring the position of vulnerable groups in that country.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Minister of State, the hon. and learned Member for Grantham (Mr. Hogg), raised Israeli membership of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty during his meeting with the Israeli Foreign Minister in Israel on 6 May.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I met the deputy Foreign Minister on 8 May. The issue was not raised on this occasion.

  Saudi Arabia
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters were raised during his recent meeting with his Saudi counterpart and other Ministers and officials of the Saudi Arabian Government.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Knapman) on 8 May,Official Report, column 473–75.

  Occupied Territories (Education)
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has recently made to his Israeli counterpart to open the Palestinian schools, colleges and universities of the occupied territories; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs made 110
  representations on education in the occupied territories when he saw the Israeli Foreign Minister last on 5 March. This issue was also raised by me during my visit to Israel and the occupied territories from 6 to 9 May.

  Hostages
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contact Her Majesty's Government has had with the Iranian Government on the question of hostages in the Lebanon.

  Mr. Hurd
  We are keeping in close touch with the Iranian Government on the hostage issue. As we have made clear, we wish to see the release of the hostages as soon as possible. The Iranian Government have said that they will continue to use their influence to achieve this. We obviously hope that they will be successful, and that we can finally close a sad chapter of hostage taking.

  South Africa
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place in the United Nations committee against apartheid regarding his planned visit to South Africa later this year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We are not aware of any discussions of this matter within the United Nations special committee against apartheid.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Library Facilities
  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Lord President of the Council when the Library facilities in I Derby Gate will be available for hon. Members and their staff; what services they will provide; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have been asked as Chairman of the Services Committee to inform Members that the new Library facilities established in 1 Derby Gate, at the northern end of the phase I building, will open on Monday 17 June at 10 am. Leaflets explaining the effects of the move and the facilities available thereafter are to be sent to every Member and will also be available in the Library.

  The move will begin during the spring recess. As a consequence service from the Norman Shaw branch library will cease at 4.30 pm on Friday 24 May. Because of the need to relocate equipment there will be no Library facilities available for Members' staff for a period of 14 working days thereafter, except for those with category 9B passes who will retain their usual right of access to the Members' Library.

  During the move, services in the Oriel and Reference Rooms will continue unaffected. Representatives from the international affairs and research sections will be available in room A, while representatives from the statistical section will attend in room C.

  The move will enable the research sections to be brought together in Derby Gate and will allow improvements to be made in the service provided in the Members' Library. From autumn 1991 the Library will also have its own video viewing room in the North Curtain area, which will contain facilities for individuals and groups.
  111
  Full details of the move and its consequences are contained in the Library's leaflet.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

  Clerk's Department
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will set out the educational qualifications of staff in the Clerk's Department of the House of Commons showing, for the graduates, degree subject and university or college attended.

  Mr. Beith
  Much of the information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The educational qualifications required of Clerk of the House Department staff on entry to the service are broadly in line with those required of analogous grades in other Departments of the House and in the civil service.

TRANSPORT

  Motor Vehicles (Crime Prevention)
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department are taking to achieve in-built motor vehicle crime prevention and to have part I and part VI of the relevant British standards made obligatory for manufacturers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  We presented proposals to the European Commission first in 1988 and in revised form in May 1990 to include in the EC directive on vehicle security requirements for mechanical locking systems based on part 1 of the British standard BS AU 209. These proposals have so far been resisted by some other member states; but with the co-operation of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders we intend to submit later this year further proposals and press for their early adoption. We are also preparing proposals for further amendment to the EC directive based on parts 5 and 6 of BS AU 209 covering central and dead locking systems. We are currently considering other possibilities for improving vehicle security but until we obtain agreement to an amended EC directive, our freedom to regulate is limited.

  Smoking
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what are the penalties attaching to the offence of(a) a passenger smoking on a London bus and (b) a London taxi driver refusing to allow smoking by a passenger;

  (2) under what powers London Regional Transport prohibits smoking; and what powers are available for London taxis to prohibit smoking.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  London Transport prohibit smoking on buses under section 6 of the Passenger Service Vehicles (Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors and Passengers) Regulations 1990 and a fine of up to £400 can be imposed for non-compliance with the ban. London taxi drivers have no powers to prohibit smoking in their vehicles; drivers who refuse to carry passengers without reasonable grounds may be fined up to £50 by the courts.
  112
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether airline, bus, cab or rail operators require any authorisation or parliamentary or police approval to prohibit smoking by passengers.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Airlines and bus operators have discretionary powers under statute to restrict or prohibit smoking by passengers. British Rail, London Underground and the Tyne and Wear Metro have powers under byelaws to do the same. Licensed taxi operators and drivers have no powers to prohibit or restrict smoking in their vehicles.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received asking him to maintain the regulation requiring London taxi drivers to allow passengers to smoke.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  None.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will introduce legislation to allow London taxi drivers to forbid smoking in cabs;

  (2) what regulations govern whether a London cab passenger can insist on smoking; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what information he has as to cities and towns in which the police can require taxi drivers to allow passengers to smoke;

  (4) what advice the Metropolitan police have given licensed London taxi drivers on allowing passengers to smoke in their cabs; and whether under current regulations the Metropolitan police have the discretion to change the rule.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  In law, taxi drivers throughout England and Wales must accept hirings for journeys of a prescribed distance within the licensing area unless they have reasonable grounds for refusing. Ultimately it is for the courts to decide what are reasonable grounds. To specify in law reasons for refusal runs the risk of undermining this vital rule of taxi operation. Taxi drivers can only request passengers to refrain from smoking in their cabs, which is the advice offered to London drivers by the Metropolitan police. There are at present no plans to legislate further in this area.

  Taxi Drivers
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the present restrictions upon continuous driving by taxi drivers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  There are no restrictions on the hours which taxi drivers may work. The nature of their operations is such that drivers are mostly employed on numerous short journeys between which there can often be long idle periods. However, consultation is currently being undertaken to gauge whether this is considered to be a problem which is posing a serious safety hazard. If it is, we shall have to identify appropriate remedial measures.

  Highway Reconstruction
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how much the Yorkshire Water Company has contributed during(a) the last 12 months and (b) the previous 12 months to costs of highway reconstruction for roads within his responsibility following water main bursts;
  113
  (2) how much the Yorkshire Electricity Company has contributed during (a) the last 12 months and (b) the previous 12 months to costs of highway reconstruction for roads within his responsibility, following cable repairs.

  Mr. Chope
  The information requested is not available except at disproportionate cost.

  Transport Privatisation
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett),Official Report, 23 April, columns 392–93, if he has received any further representations regarding the privatisation of municipal airports, ports, harbours and bus companies.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Not as far as I am aware.

  Train Deaths
  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement as to the steps he is taking both to investigate and to curb the number of movement accidents, involving 19 deaths, arising from intermittent faults on slam-shut doors on British Rail passenger coaches.

  Mr. Freeman
  I greatly regret the 19 deaths which occurred in 1990—the same number as in the previous two years—due to passengers falling from trains, but there is no direct evidence that faulty doors were responsible. We are concerned to find out the cause of the accidents. With the agreement of my right hon. and learned Friend, the Health and Safety Commission has asked the Health and Safety Executive to undertake an independent investigation into the pattern of falls from trains, and to see whether, or the extent to which, they could be attributable to the design of the doors or locks. The investigation will be led by Her Majesty's railway inspectorate.

  Driving Standards Agency
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Driving Standards Agency; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Chope
  The Driving Standards Agency plans ,to spend £50·4 million in 1991–92, 68 per cent. of which would be direct staff costs.

  Vehicle Inspectorate
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the vehicle inspectorate; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Chope
  The 1991–92 annual cash budget for the vehicle inspectorate is £41,202,000. Of this annual budget, 60 per cent. is allocated to staff costs.

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is being considered as a candidate for privatisation.
  114
  Mr. Chope
  No.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Chope
  The DVLA's gross voted provision for 1991–92 is £178·056 million of which £159·074 million is for running costs. Salaries are not ring fenced within running costs, but are expected to absorb about one third of the total budget.

  Vehicle Certification Agency
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Vehicle Certification Agency; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Chope
  The 1991–92 annual budget for the Vehicle Certification Agency is £2,625,000. Of that, approximately 63 per cent. is allocated to staff costs.

  Hazardous Chemicals (Shipment)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out all regulations in place to cover the shipment of toxic and hazardous chemicals, including wastes, in the English, Irish and Bristol channels.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The regulations covering the shipment of toxic and hazardous chemicals by sea are as follows:

  The Merchant Shipping (Tankers) (EEC Requirements) Regulations 1981.

  The Merchant Shipping (Tankers) (EEC Requirements) (Amendment) Regulations 1982.

  The Merchant Shipping (Gas Carriers) Regulations 1986.

  The Merchant Shipping (IBC Code) Regulations 1987.

  The Merchant Shipping (BCH Code) Regulations 1987.

  The Merchant Shipping (IBC Code) (Amendment) Regulations 1990.

  The Merchant Shipping (BCH Code) (Amendment) Regulations 1990.

  Road Schemes, Waveney
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement listing the money his Department has contributed to road schemes in Waveney for each of the past 10 years; and what are his forward plans on spending for the next three years.

  Mr. Chope
  My Department pays 50 per cent. transport supplementary grant—TSG—towards accepted expenditure on local authority road schemes.

  Before 1985–86 transport supplementary grant was a general grant and not linked to individual projects. Under the present system, expenditure on specified major road schemes may be accepted for grant. Since 1985–86 accepted expenditure for such schemes in the Waveney district council area has been as follows:

  £ million

  1985–86

  Nil

  1986–87

  Nil

  1987–88

  0·385

  1988–89

  3·360

  1989–90

  1·582

  1990–91

  1·532

  1991–92

  6·741

  115
  Block transport supplementary grant allocations are also given for expenditure on minor works in the county as a whole, but it is for the county council to decide how much to spend in each district council's area.

  I cannot say exactly how much expenditure in any county or district area will be accepted for transport supplementary grant in future years as this is decided in the light of information in highway authorities' annual transport policies and programme submissions. However on the basis of forecasts in Suffolk's last submission accepted expenditure on the Mutford Bridge scheme in Lowestoft, for which the works contract was recently let, will be £1·775 million in 1992–93 and £0·075 million in 1993–94.

  In addition, the Department has carried out a number of minor improvement schemes on the A12 in the Lowestoft area.

  Maritime Works, Waveney
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement listing the role of his Department and the money it has spent on maritime activities in the constituency of Waveney for each of the past 10 years; and what his forward plans are for the next three years.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The work undertaken by the Department of Transport's surveyor general's organisation in the constituency of Waveney includes the survey, certification and inspection of United Kingdom registered seagoing ships, fishing vessels and passenger craft; the inspection of foreign flag ships under the memorandum of understanding on port state control; the examination of candidates for the issue of statutory seagoing certification; and, as necessary, the investigation of ship accidents. The Department's marine pollution control unit is responsible for planning contingency arrangements and taking charge of operations to deal with pollution arising from shipping casualties. Her Majesty's coastguard is responsible for initiating and co-ordinating civil maritime search and rescue measures from two coastguard stations within the constituency, at Lowestoft and Southwold. The Department manages the general lighthouse fund, which finances Trinity House's expenditure on general navigational aids in the area. These comprise two lighthouses and 12 lighted buoys. Trinity House also regularly surveys the Holme channel approaches to Lowestoft and inspects some 219 local aids to navigation, including many on the River Waveney.

  All these activities form part of the Department's forward plans for the next three years. Information about expenditure on them in the constituency of Waveney could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, in 1990–91, £42,000 was spent on aquiring new premises for the coastguard station at Southwold and the Department paid £325,000 in 1989–90 and £14,000 in 1990–91 towards the cost of compensation of redundant dock workers at Lowestoft.

  Alitalia Near Miss
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the CAA to conclude its investigation of the near miss between an aircraft and a missile, reported by the captain of an Alitalia flight on 21 April; and if he will make a statement.
  116
  Mr. Patrick McLoughlin
  The statutory responsibility for the safety regulation of United Kingdom civil aviation rests with the Civil Aviation Authority.

  This incident was initially reported to the CAA under its mandatory occurrence reporting scheme and has not been reported by the pilot or the operating company as an "airmiss". The investigation is continuing but the technical facts which have been established indicate that the object sighted was almost certainly not a missile.

  I have drawn the hon. Member's question to the attention of the Civil Aviation Authority and will ask it to write to him direct when its investigations are concluded.

  Aircraft Accidents
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contingency plans exist to deal with the accidental downing of aircraft.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The responsibility for dealing with any accident that brings an aircraft to earth outside an airport lies with the local emergency services who will have appropriate contingency plans. The Department's air accidents investigation branch is responsible for investigating the cause of the accident.

  British Rail Investments
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all British Rail current investments approved by his Department which are being delayed or deferred due to falling British Rail revenue.

  Mr. Freeman
  The timing and implementation of investment schemes are matters for British Rail within the overall funds available to the board. But I am not aware of any schemes that we have previously approved which are currently being delayed for financial reasons.

  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state the number of investment proposals over £100,000 submitted to him by British Rail which await decision; and if he will give the date of submission of each proposal.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 13 May 1991]: In general, only certain British Rail investment projects costing over £10 million require specific approval of the Secretary of State. We have just approved 86 class 466 Networker electric vehicles for south-east London and north-west Kent services. We ate currently considering proposals for a further 188 class 465 Networkers and for Ashford international station, both originally submitted in January, in the light of subsequent information from British Rail.

  Local Improvement Schemes
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all current local improvement schemes approved by his Department which are being delayed or deferred due to the current economic climate.

  Mr. Chope
  The timing of expenditure on each of the 304 major local authority highway schemes currently accepted for transport supplementary grant support, is a matter for the individual authorities concerned. Like most major projects, such schemes may be delayed for a variety of reasons before and after the start of construction.
  117
  Around 150 new schemes were put forward for transport supplementary grant acceptance last year but, despite a 17 per cent. increase in the overall amount of grant available, it was possible to accept only 35 of them for grant.

  Radioactive Materials (Transport)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what incidents of radioactive contamination have occurred since 1979 involving the import of foreign spent fuel into British ports and subsequent road and rail transport to Sellafield or Dounreay.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 13 May 1991]: During the period 1979 to the present day there has been only one reported incident of radioactive contamination involving the import of foreign spent fuel. This occurred in January 1991 and involved a shipment of irradiated test reactor fuel from India to Dounreay. The level of contamination on both the spent fuel flask and the transport frame was found to be low but nevertheless, the frame was removed to the Atomic Energy Authority establishment at Harwell to be decontaminated. It has since been returned to use.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions each year since 1979 irradiated test reactor fuel from Harwell has been transported by road to Dounreay; what safeguards provisions covered the fuel in transit; and whether any accident has taken place in the road transport of nuclear materials from Harwell to Dounreay.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 13 May 1991]: During the period 1979 to the present day there have been 99 such movements as follows:

  Shipments per year

  Year

  Total

  1979

  8

  1980

  10

  1981

  12

  1982

  6

  1983

  9

  1984

  0

  1985

  10

  1986

  13

  1987

  4

  1988

  10

  1989

  7

  1990

  10

  1991

  0

  The fuel in transit was subject to Euratom safeguards and to the terms of the United Kingdom/International Atomic Energy Authority/Euratom safeguards agreement.

  There have been no accidents reportable under the Radioactive Substances (Carriage by Road) (Great Britain) Regulations 1974—SI No. 1735—during this period, but I am aware of two minor road traffic accidents, neither of which involved any injuries to people or damage to the flasks or their contents.

  British Rail (Capital Projects)
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the approvals for capital projects given by the Secretary of State for Transport to British Rail over the last three years and the principal contractors and consultants chosen to undertake the work.
  118
  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 13 April 1991]: Since May 1988 we have approved the following British Rail investment projects:

  100 Class 60 diesel locomotives for freight

  200 Class 319/321 electric multiple unit (EMU) coaches for NSE

  128 Class 158 Sprinter Express diesel multiple unit (DMU) coaches for Regional Railways

  77 Class 165 Networker DMU coaches for Chiltern line Cambridge-Kings Lynn electrification and 28 EMU coaches

  124 Class 321 EMU coaches for NSE

  31 additional Mk IV coaches for East Coast Main Line Manchester Airport rail Link and 6 DMU coaches

  400 class 465 Networker EMU coaches for SE London and NW Kent

  103 Class 165 Networker DMU coaches for Thames and Chiltern lines

  Intercapitals passenger trains for Channel Tunnel services

  Birmingham Cross city electrification

  700 container wagons for Railfreight Distribution

  30 Class 92 electric locomotives for Channel Tunnel freight

  Tonbridge-Redhill electrification

  Waterloo international terminal and North Pole maintenance depot

  Chislehurst-Folkestone resignalling

  69 Class 159 DMU coaches for Waterloo-Exeter Hooton-Chester-Ellesmere Port electrification

  65 Class 165 Networker DMU coaches for Paddington services

  86 Class 466 Networker EMU coaches for SE London and NW Kent

  The appointment of contractors and consultants for investment projects is a matter for BR.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Local Offices, Doncaster
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans there are to(a) reduce and (b) increase staffing levels in his Department's offices covering the Doncaster area; and if he will show in his answer the grades in both (a) and (b) that will be affected.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Staffing levels in the Department's offices covering the Doncaster area is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to alter the operations, or reduce workloads, of his Department's offices in the Doncaster area.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The operations and workloads of the Department's offices in the Doncaster area is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Agencies
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Information Technology Services Agency; and what percentage of that is allocated to staff costs;

  (2) what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Resettlement Agency; and what percentage of that is allocated to staff costs;
  119
  (3) what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Benefits Agency; and what percentage of that is allocated to staff costs;

  (4) what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Contributions Agency; and what percentage of that is allocated to staff costs.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The 1991–92 annual budgets initially allocated to the Department's four agencies are in the table. Allocations differentiate between capital and running costs but the latter are not split between staff and non-staff costs. It is for agency chief executives to determine, within the framework of Government accounting, how their administration budget is actually spent and this includes flexibility to vary the amounts spent on staff and other running costs.

  Agency

  Initial budget (£ million)

  Information Technology Services Agency

  406·566

  Resettlement Agency

  25·959

  Benefits Agency

  1,707·336

  Contributions Agency

  111·493

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the computer consultancy companies currently employed by the Information Technology Services Agency, together with the purpose of each contract, total cost of each contract and number of non-civil servants employed in each contract.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The administration of the Information Technology Services Agency is a matter for Mr. John Kenworthy, the agency chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answers of 1 May,Official Report, column 254, on the overpayments recovery guide and column 255, on deductions from income support, when the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East might expect replies from the Benefits Agency; whether it will be normal practice for the agency to reply on the same date for which a question was tabled for answer; whether the agency will contact Members to explain the delay in cases where a question is not answered on that date; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I understand from the chief executive of the Benefits Agency that replies were sent to the hon. Member on 8 and 10 May respectively. Replies should normally reach the hon. Member concerned within a day of the question being answered. The chief executive will be writing to the hon. Member about the delay which occurred in replying to the two questions to which he refers.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cold weather payments were claimed and made in each month from January to April 1991; and how many claims were outstanding at the end of each month.

  Mr. Scott
  The information will be placed in the Library as soon as it is available.

  Local Offices, Scotland
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to visit the local offices of his Department in Stranraer, Greenock and Port Glasgow to assess the effectiveness and efficiency with which the offices deal with claims; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has no plans to do so, but my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary has recently visited other offices in the Glasgow area. All three offices are meeting delivery and accuracy targets for benefits administered locally.

  Means-tested Benefits
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the present value of the adjustments to means-tested benefit levels referred to in paragraph 3.7 of the consultation paper entitled "A New Tax for Local Government".

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Oldham West (Mr. Meacher) on Friday 3 May 1991 at column 351.

  Personal Allowances
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost of(a) increasing the personal allowances for income support, housing benefit and community charge benefit by 60p for a single person over 18 years and £1·20 for a couple, (b) reducing the taper for rent rebates and allowances from 65 to 60 per cent. and (c) making both these changes.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The latest estimates suggest that these measures would cost(a) £210 million, (b) £90 million, and (c) £300 million in Great Britain in 1991–92.

  Source: Modelled using data drawn from the 1986/7/8 family expenditure surveys and the 1989 annual statistical survey.

  State Earnings-related Pension Scheme
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have now opted out of the state earnings-related pension scheme at the latest convenient date; what was his Department's main working assumption as to the numbers by that date; what has been the total cost of encouraging people to opt out of the scheme, at the latest convenient date; what was his Department's main working assumption of the cost by that date; what would be the implications for national insurance contributions from 1993 per person to meet the cost of these general incentives; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 6 March 1991 at columns 170–71. It was not possible to estimate in advance the numbers who would choose to opt out of SERPS or the revenue likely to be forgone by the NI fund. The cost of incentive payments has been absorbed by the NI fund and it is expected that this will continue to be the case until 1992–93, the last year for which incentive payments will be made under existing legislation.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the total cost to the national
  121
  insurance fund in the financial year 1991–92 and in a full year of the 2 per cent. banded earnings offered as an incentive to opt out of SERPs, giving figures for Great Britain and the United Kingdom.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [pursuant to the reply, 2 May 1991, c. 330]: The estimate of the reduction in gross public expenditure of £2 billion a year in 2010, rising to £14 billion a year in 2035 refers to estimates of the effects of the changes in SERPs contained in the 1986 Social Security Act, at 1990 prices, as given in reply to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 26 July 1990, column 486, and not to the effect of encouraging people to take out personal and occupational pensions.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what assumptions were made, for the purposes of his answers to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 2 May,Official Report, column 330, as to the future rates of contracted-out rebates, the ages at which members of personal and money-purchase occupational schemes would resume full contributions to the state scheme and the numbers who would do so;

  (2) what assumptions as to numbers contracted out and contributing to personal pension schemes in each year were made in arriving at the estimated reductions in gross public expenditure in 2010 and 2035 given in his answer to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 2 May, Official Report, column 330; how much of the reduction relates to personal pension schemes, money-purchase occupational schemes and other occupational schemes; what would be the net reduction, taking account of contributions forgone; and what would be the gross and net reductions if those assumed to commence contributing to personal and other money-purchase schemes after 1991–92 continued paying full contributions to the state scheme instead.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) today.

  Tax Withdrawal Rates
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing for 1991–92 (i) the number of working heads, (ii) dependants and (iii) families with children facing marginal tax and benefit withdrawal rates in excess of 40 per cent., in the manner of his answer to the hon. Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Squire) of 23 January,Official Report, column 249.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 30 April 1991]: The information is in the table:

  Combined marginal deduction rates 1991–92 benefit units where at least one parent works full time (000)

  Great Britain

  Per cent.

  Families with children

  Couples and single people

  Total

  100

  0

  0

  0

  90 to 99

  50

  0

  50

  80 to 89

  130

  20

  150

  70 to 79

  140

  50

  190

  60 to 69

  0

  5

  5

  50 to 59

  0

  0

  0

  40 to 49

  10

  20

  30

  Notes:

  Projection based on 1986, 1987 and 1988 family expenditure
  122
  surveys, uprated to 1991–92 prices, taxes and benefits.

  Figures are rounded to the nearest 5,000. Totals may not sum due to rounding.

  Benefits
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost in the financial year 1991–92 of reducing the deduction for tariff income under the housing benefit and community charge benefit schemes from £1 to 50p for every £250 or part thereof of capital, giving figures for Great Britain and the United Kingdom.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 30 April 1991]: The latest available estimates suggest that the cost in 1991–92 would be around £90 million for Great Britain. Information relating to Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Source: Modelled using data drawn from the 1986–87–88 family expenditure surveys.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) of 1 February,Official Report, column 663, regarding the current cost of exempting all those people on income support from paying 20 per cent. of the poll tax.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 8 May 1991]: To exempt all people on income support from paying 20 per cent. of the community charge, without changing the benefit position of people with incomes above income support levels, would now cost around an estimated £200 million in 1991–92. This estimate assumes that no reductions are made in the income-related benefit levels which were adjusted in April 1989 to include help towards the 20 per cent. contribution at an estimated cost of £500 million.

  Source: Modelled using data drawn from 1986, 1987 and 1988 family expenditure surveys.

EMPLOYMENT

  Repetitive Work
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many improvement notices and how many prohibition notices have been issued by health and safety inspectors in each year since 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989 in relation to workplace health and safety problems associated with repetitive work.

  Mr. Forth
  The information requested is not readily available centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are his plans to publicise the risks and remedies in relation to musculo-skeletal disorders which are associated with repetitive work.

  Mr. Forth
  The Health and Safety Executive is currently undertaking a major publicity initiative on musculo-skeletal disorders at work. It has recently published a booklet "Work Related Upper Limb Disorders—a guide to prevention" which gives advice on the prevention of
  123
  musculo-skeletal disorders caused by work activities, and in August this year will be launching a year long campaign aimed at raising the awareness of musculo-skeletal injuries and their prevention.

  Employment Statistics
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will show for(a) full-time workers, (b) part-time workers and (c) all workers (i) the number and

  April 1990

  Full lime employees on adult rates with weekly earnings excluding overtime less than £130

  Number in the sample

  Percentage of total

  Women

  Men

  Total

  Women

  Men

  Total

  Scotland

  1,205

  719

  1,924

  28·6

  9·7

  16·6

  Borders

  49

  16

  65

  59·8

  1—

  33·2

  Central

  74

  29

  103

  35·1

  7·6

  17·3

  Dumfries and Galloway

  39

  24

  63

  40·6

  11·4

  20·6

  Fife

  80

  39

  119

  32·3

  9·2

  17·8

  Grampian

  115

  72

  187

  31·3

  7·9

  14·6

  Highland

  48

  27

  75

  32·4

  11·0

  19·1

  Lothian

  175

  120

  295

  21·5

  9·2

  13·9

  Strathclyde

  497

  311

  808

  27·0

  9·8

  16·1

  Tayside

  118

  72

  190

  32·5

  12·8

  20·5

  Islands

  10

  9

  19

  1—

  11·7

  17·0

  Highland and Islands

  58

  36

  94

  31·7

  11·2

  18·6

  Great Britain

  10,056

  6,308

  16,364

  23·0

  7·6

  13·0

  1 Sampling error too large or numbers too small for reliable estimates.

  Part time employees on adult rates with weekly earnings excluding overtime less than £130

  Number in the sample

  Percentage of total

  Women

  Men

  Total

  Women

  Men

  Total

  Great Britain

  22,763

  3,117

  25,880

  89·8

  85·0

  89·2

  All employees on adult rates with weekly earnings excluding overtime less than £130

  Number in the sample

  Percentage of total

  Women

  Men

  Total

  Women

  Men

  Total

  Great Britain

  32,819

  9,425

  42,244

  47·6

  10·9

  27·2

  Source: New Earnings Survey 1990.

  Note:

  The survey excludes significant numbers of part-time employees with low weekly earnings.

  Footwear and Textile Industries
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were employed in the footwear and textile industries in each month since September 1990.

  Mr. Jackson
  The number of employees in employment in the footwear and textile industries in Great Britain was as follows:

  Thousands unadjusted for seasonal variations

  Footwear SIC Group 451

  Textile SIC Class 43

  1990

  September

  44·5

  190·4

  October

  44·6

  193·8

  November

  44·3

  193·3

  December

  44·1

  188·2

  1991

  January

  44·2

  185·0

  February

  44·1

  185·6

  124
  (ii) the percentage earning less than £130 for (1) women, (2) men and (3) all workers, excluding overtime pay in (x) Scotland, (y) the regions of Scotland and (z) Great Britain.

  Mr. Jackson
  For Scotland and the regions of Scotland, the information requested is available only for full-time employees. For Great Britain, figures are also available for part-time employees and all—full-time and part-time employees.

  The figures from the new earnings survey are given in the tables.

  Health and Safety Legislation
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce legislation covering health and safety in the agricultural industry for the(a) distance from private housing, (b) distance from public highways and footpaths and (c) size and height, of bales or wheels of straw and hay stored in open fields.

  Mr. Forth
  I have no current intentions of doing so. The Health and Safety Executive is responsible for enforcing the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 which applies to agricultural undertakings. The HSE recommends that stacks should always be placed at a reasonable distance from property and roads to minimise potential risks. The HSE has produced a guidance booklet "The Killing Fields" which deals with the siting and stacking of bales in relation to other fire hazards.

  Existing general duties and enforcement powers under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 are considered adequate to deal with any problems that may arise on this matter.

  Geomagnetic Survey
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the funding of the geomagnetic survey and its contribution to North sea safety.

  Mr. Forth
  The Health and Safety Executive is contributing up to a maximum of £475,000 over a five-year period towards the funding of the geomagnetic survey being undertaken by the British Geological Survey. This contribution will assist in enhancing the safety of offshore drilling.

  Employment Service
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Employment Service; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

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

  Factory Fire, Mansfield Woodhouse
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment the Health and Safety Executive has made of the dangers posed to the health of local people of Mansfield Woodhouse from the fumes from the fire at a plastics factory on 6 May.

  Mr. Forth
  As this fire was not reportable to the Health and Safety Executive under the Reporting of Incidents, diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985, the HSE is not carrying out an investigation. However based on its knowledge of the factory, the HSE has advised the emergency services and other official bodies involved that the health of the people of Mansfield Woodhouse is unlikely to have been put at risk by the fumes from the fire.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Heart Surgery
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients in Northern Ireland are at present awaiting heart surgery.

  Mr. Hanley
  A total of 901 as at 31 December 1990.

  Gynaecological Services, Belfast
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many admissions for gynaecology were recorded at(a) the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast, (b) the Mater hospital, Belfast and (c) the Belfast city hospital during 1989.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information is not held in precisely the format requested. The data held relate to discharges rather than admissions.

  The numbers of in-patient discharges (including deaths) in gynaecology were as follows:

  1989

  RVH

  1,604

  Mater Hospital

  795

  Belfast City Hospital

  2,435

  Rate Collection Agency
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Rate Collection Agency; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Needham
  The budget for the Rate Collection Agency for 1991–92 is £5·925 million of which £4·83 million—81·5 per cent.—relates to running costs of the agency.

  Training and Employment Agency
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Training and Employment Agency; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Needham
  The approved 1991–92 main estimates provision for the Training and Employment Agency is £172 million of which almost 15 per cent. is allocated to staff costs.

  Deaf People
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many deaf people are registered in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Hanley
  There is no statutory register of deaf people in Northern Ireland. The number of deaf people in contact with the health and social services boards during year ending 31 March 1990 was 1,120.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many deaf people in Northern Ireland are in receipt of attendance allowance in each age bracket(a) under 10 years, (b) 10 to 18 years, (c) 18 to 65 years and (d) over 65 years.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Inter-party Talks
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at what location will the third strand of the Northern Ireland talks relating to the British and Irish relationship be held.

  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 13 May 1991]: No decisions have yet been taken.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what facilities, travelling allowances, and daily allowances are paid to those participating in the inter-party talks at Parliament buildings, Stormont.

  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 13 May 1991]: Each party has been provided with a suite of three offices consisting of one for the party leader, one for delegates and a fully equipped office. Delegates are entitled to claim travel and subsistence allowances at normal civil service rates in respect of days when talks take place. A daily allowance of £78·50 is payable to those delegates who lose earnings or incur additional business overheads because of their attendance at the talks.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons from each political
  127
  party qualify for allowances and expenses in connection with the inter-party talks at Parliament buildings, Stormont.

  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 13 May 1991]: Each of the four parties has accredited a delegation of 10 persons who are entitled to claim allowances and expenses. In addition, up to three members of each party's support staff may claim travel and subsistence allowance at normal civil service rates.

HEALTH

  National Health Service Trusts
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further progress he can report on the establishment of self-governing hospital trusts.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Fifty-seven trusts became operational on 1 April this year. In total, 130 expressions of interest have been received for trust status for April 1992, of which 88, as at close 13 May, have so far submitted applications.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to name the chairmen or chairwomen-designate for the second wave of national health service trusts.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to appoint chairpersons-designate for the second wave of national health service trust hospitals.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No national health service chairpersons or non-executive directors can be formally appointed until an NHS trust is established. Our current programme for second wave NHS trusts envisages formal establishment in the autumn of this year, the names of the chairpersons will be provided around the same time.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has made any assessment of possible job losses as a result of national health service trust applications for 1991–92.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No. Trust applications discuss service developments and their consequences in broad terms only.

  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will instruct the management of the national health service to cease all progress towards the establishment of trust hospitals pending a full inquiry into the business plans of those trusts so far constituted; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no intention of stopping the establishment of national health service trusts. We are greatly encouraged that 57 trusts have already been established; and that we have received approximately 130 expressions of interest in the second wave.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assumptions he made about the future activity levels of national health service trusts in reaching his decisions on trust status.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  When reaching a decision about whether each hospital or unit was suitable for trust 128
  status my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State considered its application against four criteria. Each trust gained approval by demonstrating that: it would deliver benefits and quality of service to its patients; had effective leadership and management; key professional staff, especially clinicians, would be involved in management; and it would be financially viable.

  Sir David Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the hospitals within Wessex region which have applied for trust status under the first and second phases of the trust programme, respectively; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Applications in the first wave which were approved and became operational on 1 April 1991 are as follows:

  The Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases NHS Trust

  West Dorset Mental Health NHS Trust

  The West Dorset General Hospitals NHS Trust

  West Dorset Community Health NHS Trust

  Second wave expressions of interest have been received from:

  Bath and District (Mental Health Unit)

  Bournemouth and Christchurch Acute Unit

  Poole Acute Unit

  East Dorset Community Services

  Royal United Hospital, Bath

  Wiltshire Healthcare (Bath and Wiltshire Community Unit)

  Avon and Somerset Community Unit

  Formal applications for NHS trust status have now been submitted from all the above.

  Human Fertilisation and Embryology
  Dame Jill Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that hon. Members are given the opportunity to debate the draft code of practice to be adopted by the Human Fertilisation Embryology Authority before he takes a decision on whether to approve it.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The question of a debate at this stage is a matter for the Leader of the House. In any event, hon. Members have the opportunity to comment on the draft code of practice, copies of which are available in the Vote Office.

  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will add myalgic encephalomyelitis to the list of notifiable diseases; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  No. The main considerations for making an infectious disease notifiable are that it should be capable of clear diagnosis, and intervention to limit its spread should be feasible. At present, myalgic encephalomyelitis does not meet these criteria.

  GPs (Computers)
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been spent by general practitioners on computers over the last five years.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Information in the form requested is not available. However, a scheme to encourage the development of GP computing, by reimbursing GPs a
  129
  proportion of their costs, was introduced from 1 April 1989. An estimated £17 million was reimbursed in the period to 31 March 1991 and a further £19 million is available in 1991–92. In the period from January 1988 to March 1990 the number of computerised practices increased from 9·8 to 47·5 per cent.

  NHS Salaries
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of current national health service expenditure is accounted for by salaries and wages.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The summarised accounts of regional and district health authorities in England for 1989–90—the latest year available—shows that salaries and wages costs accounted for some 75·6 per cent. of the total revenue expenditure.

  NHS Funding
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on the national health service in 1979, and how much this year.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This year expenditure on the national health service in England is expected to be some £26·6 billion, a real-terms increase of 51 per cent. over the 1978–79 figure of £6·5 billion.

  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current proportion of gross domestic product that is being spent on health; and what the comparable figure was in 1979.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Total United Kingdom national health service spending as a proportion of GDP was 5·2 per cent. in 1989 compared with 4·7 per cent. in 1979.

  Nottingham Health Authority
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the expenditure of the Nottingham health authority in 1978–79 and in 1990–91 in real terms; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Nottingham health authority was established on 1 April 1982. Between 1982–83 and 1989–90, the latest year for which figures are available, revenue expenditure increased from £113·1 million—cash—to £184·3 million—cash—and capital expenditure from £6·6 million—cash—to £15·3 million—cash. These represent increases in real terms of 13 per cent. for revenue and 59–9 per cent. for capital, measured at 1989–90 prices.

  Day Care Centres
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many local authorities charge for attendance at day care centres.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  During the year 1988–89, the latest for which records are available, 84 local authorities were charging for attendance at day care centres. These centres include family centres, day centres, social clubs and adult training centres.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Lord
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the total annual savings for domestic cleaning, catering and laundry services, covered by the national competitive tendering initiative for the national health service since their inception.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Total annual savings achieved since the introduction of the Government's competitive tendering initiative for these three services is estimated to be in the order of £120 million.

  Health Inequalities
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce targets for the reduction of inequalities in health between social classes.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  A forthcoming consultation document will set out proposals for the development of health targets covering the whole population in England. The counties of the rest of the United Kingdom either have or are developing their own strategies, which include health targets.

  Bristol NHS Trust
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future funding of Bristol united hospital national health service trust.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The United Bristol Healthcare national health service trust, like all other trusts and directly managed units, obtains its income from contracts to provide health services to health authorities and GP fund holders who purchase such services on behalf of their residents.

  The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Thomas Durie, the chairman of the trust, for details.

  Children Act 1989
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken to ensure that there has been sufficient preparation for the implementation of the Children Act 1989.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Summerson) on 13 May at columns 33–35.

  South Yorkshire Ambulance Service
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current establishment by rank for the South Yorkshire ambulance service; what is the number of vacancies in each rank; and what were the comparable figures 10 years ago.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Sir Michael Carlisle, the chairman of Trent regional health authority for details.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current number of(a) emergency and (b) non-emergency ambulance vehicles in the ownership of the South Yorkshire ambulance service; and what were the figures for 10 years ago.
  131
  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not held centrally in exactly the form requested. The table shows the number of vehicles, by type, owned by the South Yorkshire metropolitan ambulance service in 1985–86 and 1988–89. These are the earliest and latest years for which this information is available.

  Ambulance service vehicles for Yorkshire ambulance service

  Year

  1985–86

  1988–89

  Ambulances

  Two-trolley Emergency

  131

  12

  Two-trolley Dual Purpose

  95

  187

  Sitting case seats only (under 14)

  102

  31

  Sitting case stretcher capacity

  —

  —

  Sitting case seats plus lift mechanism

  —

  128

  Car (with or without stretcher capacity)

  28

  23

  Bus—14 or more seats with or without stretcher or wheelchair capacity

  —

  —

  Total ambulance service vehicles used to transport patients

  356

  381

  Other Ambulance Services Vehicles

  Major incident vehicles—radio and/or equipment vehicles (trailers, caravans, etc.)

  3

  3

  Recovery vehicles (Land Rover type or converted ambulance)

  1

  3

  Other ambulance service vehicles

  18

  25

  Total other ambulance service vehicles

  22

  31

  Total ambulance service vehicles

  378

  412

  Source: National ambulance service surveys district finance department, York health authority.

  Doncaster Health Authority (Loans)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by each quarter for the financial year 1990–91, and for the first quarter 1991–92, the loans he has authorised or made to Doncaster health authority; and if he will state over what period.

  Mr. Dorrell
  No such loans have been made during the periods specified.

  World Health Organisation
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the matters discussed and decisions taken at the annual meeting of the World Health Organisation in Geneva.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The world health assembly closes on 17 May. I will write to the hon. Member soon afterwards.

  Children in Care
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for each year since 1979, how many children in England were in care where the specific cause was homelessness.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The number of children in voluntary care under section 2 of the Child Care Act 1980 in England for the years ending 31 March 1979 to 31 March 1989 where the specific cause was family homelessness is given in the table.
  132

  Children in care under section 2 of the Child Care Act 1980 where the specific cause was family homelessness England, 1979–19891

  At 31 March

  Number in care under S2 Child Care Act 1980 where family homelessness was the specific cause

  1979

  1,379

  1980

  1,308

  1981

  1,115

  1982

  981

  1983

  825

  1984

  713

  1985

  604

  1986

  519

  1987

  408

  1988

  346

  19891

  304

  1 1989 figures are provisional.

  Triazolam
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any plans to withdraw from sale in Britain the sleeping pill triazolam following recent studies on the drug and its side effects.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Committee on Safety of Medicines—CSM—has been asked to examine the new evidence in relation to the drug triazolam. This follows the recent publication of results from a study carried out in the United States of America involving higher doses than those recommended for use in the United Kingdom. The Committee on Safety of Medicines will advise the licensing authority if any action is required.

  Benzodiazepines
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the manufacturers of benzodiazepines about their addictive characteristics.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The problem of addiction with benzodiazepines has been recognised for a number of years. The Committee on Safety of Medicines recommended restrictions on the use of these substances in order to reduce the risk of dependence associated with their use. These recommendations have been communicated to manufacturers of licensed medicinal products containing a benzodiazepine and appropriate statements are incorporated in product particulars.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the labelling of benzodiazepines will be amended to include information on the side-effects and withdrawal symptoms caused by the drugs.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. and learned Freind the then Minister for Health gave him on 24 April 1989 at column 381.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the expenditure per head on benzodiapezines in each national health service region for the most recent available period within the prescribing analyses and costs data system.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 30 April 1991]: The information requested is as follows:

  133

  Cost (thousands) £

  List size

  Cost per head £

  Northern RHA

  339,342

  3,181,402

  0·11

  Yorkshire RHA

  387,335

  3,793,708

  0·10

  Trent RHA

  398,875

  4,875,982

  0·08

  East Anglia RHA

  152,008

  2,084,700

  0·07

  North West Thames RHA

  249,600

  4,137,667

  0·06

  North East Thames RHA

  248,703

  4,254,350

  0·06

  South East Thames RHA

  298,234

  4,052,797

  0·07

  South West Thames RHA

  258,328

  3,222,530

  0·08

  Wessex RHA

  252,943

  3,012,328

  0·08

  Oxford RHA

  174,731

  2,663,876

  0·07

  South Western RHA

  322,435

  3,587,414

  0·09

  West Midlands RHA

  402,830

  5,468,708

  0·07

  Mersey RHA

  255,100

  2,524,886

  0·10

  North Western RHA

  536,543

  4,157,513

  0·13

  Note:

  For PACT purposes every FHSA within each region is permanently allocated to one of three quarterly processing cycles. The information provided is based on data relating to the following PACT periods:

  *October 1990—December 1990

  *November 1990—January 1991

  *December 1990—February 1991

  NHS (Gulf War Costs)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional costs were incurred by the national health service in 1990–91 as a result of the Gulf war.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) on 23 April at column 397.

  Child Abuse
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the impact of the Children Act on the way in which child abuse cases are dealt with.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Cheadle (Mr. Day) earlier today.

  NHS Estates
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the 1991–92 annual budget for NHS Estates; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This is an operational matter and I have asked the chief executive of NHS Estates to write to the hon. Member.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what medical assistance has been sought by Kuwait and other nations in the Gulf regions to help people with asthma and other breathing disorders suffering from oil fire-polluted air from the burning Kuwait oil fields; and what assistance has been given.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We have received no direct request from any country in the Gulf region. The World Health Organisation, however, is co-ordinating advice and assistance from a number of countries including the United Kingdom in handling potential medical problems 134
  arising from oil fires in Kuwait. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Environment, is currently visiting Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State hopes to visit Kuwait at the end of this month. These visits will enable the Government to assess whether any additional assistance is required.

  Bexley Health Authority
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations he has received about the funding of Bexley health authority;

  (2) what representations he has received about the funding of Queen Mary's hospital, Sidcup.

  Mr. Dorrell
  My hon. Friend wrote to my right hon. and learned Friend the then Secretary of State on 7 November 1989 and a group of consultants at Queen Mary's hospital, Sidcup wrote to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 16 April 1991.

  Value Added Medical Products
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support he intends to give those doctors who are holding Value Added Medical Products to the contracts it signed with them; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The arrangements between general practitioners and Value Added Medical Products are private commercial transactions.

  Erith and District Hospital
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the future development of Erith and District general hospital.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Since the reply that my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend on 9 March 1990 at column 901, a letter has been received from Bexley community health council and I met the chairman of Bexley district health authority on 31 August 1990.

  Calcium Supplements
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a table, using PACT data, to show the average expenditure per head on general practitioner prescribed calcium supplements in each regional health authority area for the most recent available period.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 30 April 1991]: The information requested is as follows.

  Regional health authority

  Cost (£ thousands)

  List size

  Cost per head (£)

  Northern

  101,022

  3,181,402

  0·03

  Yorkshire

  88,777

  3,793,708

  0·02

  Trent

  137,619

  4,875,982

  0·03

  East Anglia

  47,045

  2,084,700

  0·02

  North West Thames

  102,037

  4,137,667

  0·02

  North East Thames

  85,277

  4,254,350

  0·02

  South East Thames

  87,379

  4,052,797

  0·02

  South West Thames

  88,080

  3,222,530

  0·03

  Wessex

  72,937

  3,012,328

  0·02

  Oxford

  50,556

  2,663,876

  0·02

  135

  Regional health authority

  Cost (£ thousands)

  List size

  Cost per head (£)

  South Western

  107,547

  3,587,414

  0·03

  West Midlands

  146,726

  5,468,708

  0·03

  Mersey

  78,575

  2,524,886

  0·03

  North Western

  123,458

  4,157,513

  0·03

  Note: For PACT purposes every FHSA within each Region is permanently allocated to one of three quarterly processing cycles. The information provided is based on data relating to the following PACT periods:

  October 1990 to December 1990

  November 1990 to January 1991

  December 1990 to February 1991

DEFENCE

  RAF Community Relations Officers
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will name the date when the appointment of an RAF community relations officer for the Highlands and Islands will take place.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  As the Government reply—HC 659/90—to the report on low flying by the Defence Committee last year made clear, it is planned to establish three RAF regional community relations officers in southern Scotland/the Borders, the Lake District and in Wales on a trial basis. If this scheme should prove to be a success, the affordability of extending it to other areas will be considered.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the duties assigned to RAF community relations officers in Wales, the Lake District and the Borders.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The introduction of RAF regional community relations officers in southern Scotland/the Borders, the Lake District and in Wales is intended to improve the presentation of low flying in areas remote from RAF stations; to improve liaison with members of the public and organisations such as Riding for the Disabled, schools, national parks, wildlife reserves, regional farmers organisations and other local bodies and to enable information on the low-flying system to be distributed more widely.

  Low Flying
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what means local authorities can have areas under their jurisdiction designated as avoidance areas for low-flying training purposes.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Requests that low-flying military aircraft should avoid a particular location should be made direct to my Department giving a full justification. Each case is considered on its merits, but bearing in mind the considerations set out in the Government's reply—HC 659/90 page v—to the Defence Committee's report on low flying last year.

  Rapid Reaction Force
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what support he has received within the European Community intergovernmental conference for his rapid reaction force proposals: and if he will make a statement,136
  (2) whether he will give further details of his concept of a rapid reaction force under the auspices of the Western European Union.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As part of moves towards a stronger European contribution to collective defence, which the United Kingdom supports, western European nations are discussing the idea of a European reaction force, able to operate autonomously outside the NATO area to complement the Atlantic alliance's role in defence of NATO territory. It would draw units from the NATO integrated military structure, and from national forces.

  Meteorological Office
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Meteorological Office is being examined as a candidate for privatisation.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  In line with Government policy on "next steps", the option of privatisation was considered before the Meteorological Office was established as an agency. It is the intention, as with other parts of the defence support area, to extend the market testing of Meteorological Office support services. There are no current plans to privatise the office.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Meterological Office; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  This is a matter for the Meteorological Office, under its framework document. have therefore asked the chief executive of the Meteorological Office, Dr. J. T. Houghton, to reply direct to the hon. Member.

  Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  This is a matter for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, CBDE, under its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive of the CBDE, Dr. G. S. Pearson to reply direct to the hon. Member.

  Defence Research Agency
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Defence Research Agency; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  This is a matter for the Defence Research Agency under its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive of the DRA, Mr. Nigel Hughes, to reply direct to the hon. Member.

  Directorate General of Defence Accounts
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Directorate General of Defence Accounts; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.
  137
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  This is a matter for the Directorate General of Defence Accounts, DGDA, under its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive of the DGDA, Mr. M. J. Dymond, to reply direct to the hon. Member.

  Hydrographic Office
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Hydrographic Office; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Hydrographic Office. I have asked him to write to the hon. Member.

  Military Survey
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the 1991–92 annual budget for Military Survey; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  This is a matter for the chief executive of Military Survey. I have asked him to write to the hon. Member.

  RAF Maintenance
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the 1991–92 annual budget for RAF Maintenance; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the RAF Maintenance Group. I have asked him to write to the hon. Member.

  Service Children's Schools (North-West Europe)
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the 1991–92 annual budget for Service Children's Schools (North-West Europe); and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  This is a matter for the chief executive of Service Children's Schools (North-West Europe). I have asked him to write to the hon. Member.

  Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Army explosive ordnance disposal team are currently working in(a) Kuwait, (b) southern Iraq and (c) Kurdish Iraq; and how long the team is expected to continue in the region.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are currently 10 explosive ordnance disposal—EOD—personnel in Kuwait, none in southern Iraq and nine in northern Iraq. In addition. there are two in Al Jubayl, Saudi Arabia. An advance party of 21 EOD squadron arrives in Saudi Arabia today with the remainder, up to a total of 200, arriving a week later. They will move to Kuwait after acclimatisation. These deployments are likely to be of varying lengths, but are not expected to exceed four months.

  Naval Procurement (Anglo-French Co-operation)
  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Anglo-French naval procurement co-operation.
  138
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  We place importance on Anglo-French equipment co-operation and continue to explore opportunities for collaboration. The United Kingdom is collaborating with France, Spain and Italy in the project definition phase of the family of anti-air missile systems to meet the air defence requirements of the replacement ship for the type 42 frigate. Joint discussions with France are currently taking place about the possibility of collaboration on the ship and its systems.

  Military Risks, Wales
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the risk posed to Welsh civilians and tourists from military training, testing and storage facilities in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  All reasonable measures are taken to ensure that the risk to the general public from every kind of military activity is kept to a minimum.

  Operation Safe Haven
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average flying time of one relief flight of(a) a Hercules and (b) Chinook involved in Operation Safe Haven.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The duration of both C-130 Hercules and Chinook sorties has varied considerably depending upon the location to which supplies are being delivered and the nature of the task being undertaken. Between 8 and 30 April, C-130 Hercules aircraft flew 58 airdrop sorties, accumulating about 240 flying hours—giving an average flight time of just over 4 hours. Up to 29 April, Chinook helicopters had flown 231 sorties on relief operations, accumulating over 400 flying hours—giving an average flight time of about one hour 45 minutes.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost so far of building and supplying camps for Kurdish refugees under Operation Safe Haven; and from what votes the cost is being funded.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Along with other allied troops, British Army engineers have been erecting tents, laying on water supplies and providing sanitation for camps, including at Zakho and Al Amadiyah. The cost will be shared between defence and ODA votes. An estimate of the cost is not yet available, but the additional costs involved are unlikely to be significant.

  Kurdistan and Bangladesh
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any of the costs of Ministry of Defence assistance in humanitarian relief in Kurdistan and Bangladesh will be attributed to the Ministry of Defence's training budget.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As the Department responsible for providing United Kingdom Government aid, the ODA refunds any additional costs which MOD incurs as a direct result of providing such assistance. All other costs lie where they normally fall on defence votes.

  Bangladesh
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimates he has of the cost of sending the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship, Fort Grange, and two Sea King helicopters to Bangladesh; and from what votes this is being funded.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The initial estimate of the additional cost of deploying RFA Fort Grange to Bangladesh, complete with four Sea King helicopters, is currently about £250,000. This cost will be met by the Overseas Development Administration.

  Rolls-Royce (Leavesden)
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what value was put on the Leavesden site by the district valuer before it was sold to Rolls-Royce;

  (2) whether his Department was aware that Rolls-Royce intended to close its Leavesden factory and redevelop the site before the factory and its site were sold to Rolls-Royce;

  (3) how much was paid by Rolls-Royce for the Leavesden site.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The details of the sale of the Leavesden site to Rolls-Royce are commercial-inconfidence. Although we did not know in advance that Rolls-Royce intended to close its Leavesden factory, we were aware that it wished to rationalise its operations on the site and our arrangements for sale took account of this.

SCOTLAND

  Agricultural Land (Ownership)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of agricultural land in Scotland is owned by overseas investors; and if he will list(a) the countries concerned and (b) the percentage of land owned by each.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Statistics on overseas ownership of agricultural land are not available.

  Seed Potatoes
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the two recent successful prosecutions under the Seed Potatoes Regulations 1984 and 1988 and 1989.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In December 1988 at Forfar sheriff court a firm of Scottish seed potato merchants admitted to a breach of regulation 6(1) of the Seed Potatoes Regulations 1984 after marketing seed potatoes which were neither basic nor certified seed potatoes. The firm was fined £1,000. In July 1989 at Perth sheriff court a Scottish seed potato producer was similarly prosecuted. The court found the firm guilty, but was unable to impose a penalty because of a legal technicality, the notice of penalty not having been served on the accused.

  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide figures of the production of seed potatoes in Scotland for(a) the estimated crop tonnage, (b) the actual crop tonnage, (c) the crop average under the seed potato classification and labelling schemes and (d) the number of labels printed and issued for each year over the past 10 years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The crop average under the seed potato classification and labelling schemes in each of the last 10 years is 25 to 30 tonnes per hectare.

  Producers are required to apply for labels against the volume of seed potatoes they expect to sell. The table sets out the total annual tonnage and the corresponding total number of labels printed and issued for individual consignments within the total tonnage.

  Expenditure within the Secretary of Slate's responsibility1

  £ million

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  Actual

  3,712

  4,552

  5,383

  5,839

  6,509

  6,845

  In 1989–90 prices2

  8,691

  9,134

  9,128

  9,029

  9,398

  9,446

  As percentage of Scottish GDP3

  29·12

  31·29

  32·31

  31·92

  32·56

  31·27

  £ million

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Actual

  6,994

  7,167

  7,513

  7,805

  8,458

  8,919

  9,725

  In 1989–90 prices2

  9,185

  8,928

  9,045

  8,921

  8,997

  8,919

  9,026

  As percentage of Scottish GDP3

  30·68

  28·71

  27·51

  26·52

  25·61

  24·96

  n.a.

  1 No direct comparison can he made with the years from 1978–79 to 1983–84 because of the changes in the definition of the Planning Total announced in Cm. 441. An estimate of expenditure for 1978–79 on the new planning total basis was given in the answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Maxton) on 30 October 1990. In addition, changes in my responsibility are not necessarily reflected in the figures.

  142

  000 tonnes

  Number of labels

  1981

  375

  —

  1982

  375

  —

  1983

  329

  —

  1984

  392

  —

  1985

  344

  —

  1986

  333

  6,674,055

  1987

  291

  4,819,952

  1988

  274

  4,507,481

  1989

  287

  4,675,456

  1990

  1227

  23,191,642

  1 Provisional.

  2 To date.

  Records in respect of labels for the period 1981–85 are no longer available. Figures relating to the estimated and actual crop tonnages are not held centrally.

  Rents-to-Mortgages Scheme
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many tenants have applied to join the rents-to-mortgages scheme; what has been the cost of the counselling arrangements for them; and who is paying for those arrangements.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  More than 20,000 tenants have expressed an interest in Scottish Homes' pilot rent-to-mortgage scheme. From the introduction of the limited pilot scheme in October 1989 until 31 March 1991 a total of 228 formal applications have been submitted by tenants of Scottish Homes and the new town development corporations. Since the extension of the pilot scheme to local authority tenants from 1 April 1991, a total of 119 formal applications have already been made. In the first instance, more than 1,400 tenants have received or will shortly receive counselling to help them to decide whether to proceed to make a formal application. The responsibility for the counselling arrangements and their cost rests with Scottish Homes.

  Expenditure
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the expenditure expressed (1) at 1989–90 prices and (2) as a percentage of the Scottish gross domestic product by him in each year since 1978.

  Mr. Lang
  The figures are in the table:
  143
  2Using the GDP deflator at market prices adjusted to remove the distortion caused by the abolition of domestic rates.

  3Estimates of the Scottish gross domestic product (GDP) are only available by calendar year. The figures are expenditure for the financial year as a proportion of the Scottish GDP for the calendar year of which it forms a major part. Scottish GDP figures for 1990 are not yet available.

  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table, comparable to that on page 231 of the "Commentary of the Scotland Programme 1992–93", on expenditure within the Secretary of State's responsibility in real terms,

  Expenditure within the Secretary of State's responsibility in real terms1

  £ million

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  185

  243

  261

  234

  219

  226

  240

  252

  Industry, Energy, Trade and Employment

  197

  201

  205

  193

  634

  407

  338

  354

  Tourism

  14

  14

  14

  14

  16

  15

  13

  11

  Transport

  705

  696

  660

  694

  693

  680

  335

  375

  Housing

  1,358

  1,473

  1,324

  1,110

  993

  989

  688

  645

  Other Environmental Services

  730

  791

  748

  722

  705

  734

  263

  255

  Law, Order and Protective Services

  454

  492

  521

  554

  576

  622

  370

  376

  Education

  2,283

  2,276

  2,350

  2,406

  2,366

  2,367

  359

  377

  Arts and Libraries

  80

  74

  93

  96

  92

  88

  26

  27

  Health

  2,402

  2,474

  2,642

  2,736

  2,762

  2,372

  2,420

  2,434

  Social Work2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  435

  43

  41

  Other Public Services

  126

  120

  125

  124

  113

  123

  121

  125

  Central Government Grants:

  Revenue Support Grant

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Rate Support Grant

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,179

  2,064

  Community Charge Transitional Relief

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Rate Rebates

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  24

  49

  Non-Domestic Rates

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,274

  1,274

  Nationalised Industries External Financing Limits

  155

  283

  185

  147

  230

  382

  494

  289

  Total

  8,691

  9,134

  9,128

  9,029

  9,398

  9,446

  9,185

  8,928

  £ million

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  213

  194

  194

  197

  210

  216

  220

  220

  Industry, Energy, Trade and Employment

  394

  280

  255

  224

  236

  457

  450

  420

  Tourism

  11

  10

  11

  11

  11

  11

  10

  10

  Transport

  343

  328

  241

  342

  357

  330

  320

  320

  Housing

  672

  741

  621

  609

  613

  619

  580

  590

  Other Environmental Services

  259

  273

  281

  289

  293

  316

  340

  350

  Law, Order and Protective Services

  397

  423

  441

  472

  486

  492

  480

  490

  Education

  392

  387

  390

  390

  429

  480

  490

  490

  Arts and Libraries

  31

  30

  30

  29

  32

  36

  40

  40

  Health

  2,493

  2,569

  2,660

  2,721

  2,775

  2,848

  2,860

  2,860

  Social Work2

  30

  31

  33

  37

  37

  49

  50

  50

  Other Public Services

  126

  127

  124

  126

  131

  138

  140

  140

  Central Government Grants:

  Revenue Support Grant

  —

  —

  —

  2,244

  2,316

  2,299

  3,430

  3,390

  Rate Support Grant

  2,062

  1,952

  2,135

  102

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Community Charge Transitional Relief

  —

  —

  —

  —

  41

  22

  40

  20

  Rates Rebates

  43

  37

  29

  25

  30

  27

  —

  —

  Non-Domestic Rates

  1,334

  1,415

  1,372

  1,219

  1,103

  1,205

  —

  —

  Nationalised Industries External Financing Limits

  283

  157

  135

  -103

  -83

  43

  40

  10

  Total

  9,045

  8,921

  8,997

  8,919

  9,026

  9,586

  9,510

  9,420

  1 Base year 1989–90 using the GDP deflator at market prices adjusted to remove the distortion caused by the abolition of domestic rates.

  2 Health and Social Work figures not held separately prior to 1983–84.

  Note: No direct comparison can be made with the years from 1978–79 to 1983–84 because of the changes in the definition of the Planning Total announced in Cm 441.

  An estimate of expenditure for 1978–79 on the new planning total basis was given to the hon. Member on 30 October 1990. In addition, changes in my responsibilities are not necessarily reflected in the figures.

  Quangos
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the individual appointments excluding casual vacancies he is scheduled to make to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations in(a) 1991 and (b) 1992 indicating in each case the title of the post, the salary if any and the duration of the appointment.
  144
  beginning in 1978–79 and taking account of the expenditure plans laid out in "Serving Scotland's Needs, "Cm. 1515

  Mr. Lang
  The information is shown in the table.

  Mr. Lang
  The tables show, as at 1 July 1990, appointments expiring in 1991—table 1—and 1992—table 2—for each executive and advisory body and tribunal for which I have responsibility, with the title of the post and the salary, if any. The duration of future appointments is decided at the time of the renewal. Since July I have
  145
  appointed a chairman and 11 members to the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland until 31 March 1992 when Scottish Natural Heritage is due to come into being.

  Table 1 Appointments expiring in 1991

  Rank

  Remuneration as at 1 July 1990 £

  Advisory Committee on Dental Establishments

  1 Member

  0

  Advisory Committee on Scotland's Travelling People

  Chairman

  0

  Deputy Chairman

  0

  10 Members

  0

  Ancient Monuments for Scotland

  Chairman

  0

  4 Members

  0

  Argyll and Clyde Health Board

  Chairman

  16,005

  Vice Chairman

  0

  14 Members

  0

  Ayrshire and Arran Health Board

  Vice Chairman

  0

  16 Members

  0

  Borders Health Board

  Vice Chairman

  0

  13 Members

  0

  Central Advisory Committee of Justices of the Peace (Scotland)

  17 Members

  0

  Childrens Panel Advisory Committee for Borders Region

  Chairman

  0

  1 Member

  0

  Childrens Panel Advisory Committee for Central Region

  1 Member

  0

  Childrens Panel Advisory Committee for Dumfries and Galloway Region

  Chairman

  0

  2 Members

  0

  Childrens Panel Advisory Committee for Fife Region

  Chairman

  0

  1 Member

  0

  Childrens Panel Advisory Committee for Grampian Region

  1 Member

  0

  Childrens Panel Advisory Committee for Highland Region

  1 Member

  0

  Childrens Panel Advisory Committee for Lothian Region

  1 Member

  0

  Childrens Panel Advisory Committee for Shetland Islands Area

  Chairman

  0

  1 Member

  0

  Childrens Panel Advisory Committee for Strathclyde Region

  3 Members

  0

  Childrens Panel Advisory Committee for the Tayside Region

  3 Members

  0

  Childrens Panel for the Dumfries and Galloway Region

  Deputy Chairman

  0

  Childrens Panel for the Fife Region

  Deputy Chairman

  0

  146

  Rank

  Remuneration as at 1 July 1990 £

  Childrens Panel for the Lothian Region

  Chairman

  0

  Childrens Panel for the Shetland Islands Area

  Chairman

  0

  Childrens Panel for the Strathclyde Region

  Chairman

  0

  Deputy Chairman

  0

  Childrens Panel for the Tayside Region

  Chairman

  0

  2 Deputy Chairmen

  0

  Commission for Local Authority Accounts in Scotland

  Chairman

  7,939

  Deputy Chairman

  5,030

  Commons Services Agency for the Scottish Health Service Management Committee

  Chairman

  12,355

  7 Members

  0

  Cumbernauld Development Corporation

  2 Members

  3,525

  Dumfries and Galloway Health Board

  Chairman

  10,810

  Vice Chairman

  0

  15 Members

  0

  East Kilbride Development Corporation

  2 Members

  3,525

  Edinburgh New Town Conservation Committee

  8 Members

  0

  Fife Health Board

  Chairman

  13,415

  Vice Chairman

  0

  16 Members

  0

  Forth Valley Health Board

  Vice Chairman

  0

  11 Members

  0

  General Teaching Council for Scotland

  4 Members

  0

  Glenrothes Development Corporation

  3 Members

  3,525

  Grampian Health Board

  Vice Chairman

  0

  16 Members

  0

  Greater Glasgow Health Board

  Chairman

  22,730

  Vice Chairman

  0

  17 Members

  0

  Highland Health Board

  Chairman

  13,415

  Vice Chairman

  0

  16 Members

  0

  Historic Buildings Council for Scotland

  Chairman

  0

  2 Members

  0

  Irvine Development Corporation

  2 Members

  3,735

  Jordanhill College of Education Governing Body

  Chairman

  0

  3 Members

  0

  147

  Rank

  Remuneration as at 1 July 1990 £

  Lanarkshire Health Board

  Chairman

  16,005

  Vice Chairman

  0

  17 Members

  0

  Livingston Development Corporation

  4 Members

  3,525

  Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland

  1 Member

  1,573

  Local Review Committee HM Prison Aberdeen

  Chairman

  0

  5 Members

  0

  Local Review Committee HM Prison Cornton Vale

  Chairman

  0

  5 Members

  0

  Local Review Committee HM Prison Dungavel

  Chairman

  0

  5 Members

  0

  Local Review Committee HM Prison Edinburgh

  Chairman

  0

  8 Members

  0

  Local Review Committee HM Prison Glenochil

  Chairman

  0

  7 Members

  0

  Local Review Committee Her Majesty's Prison Penninghame

  Chairman

  0

  3 Members

  0

  Local Review Committee Her Majesty's Prison Perth

  Chairman

  0

  6 Members

  0

  Local Review Committee Her Majesty's Prison Peterhead

  Chairman

  0

  4 Members

  0

  Local Review Committee Her Majesty's Prison Shotts

  Chairman

  0

  10 Members

  0

  Local Review Committee Her Majesty's YO Institution Dumfries

  Chairman

  0

  5 Members

  0

  Local Review Committee Her Majesty's YO Institution Polmont

  Chairman

  0

  5 Members

  0

  Local Review Committee Her Majesty's YO Institution Castle Huntly and Her Majesty's Prison Noranside

  Chairman

  0

  5 Members

  0

  Lothian Health Board

  Chairman

  20,490

  16 Members

  0

  Moray House College of Education Governing Body

  Chairman

  0

  3 Members

  0

  National Galleries of Scotland Board of Trustees

  2 Members

  0

  National Museums of Scotland—Board of Trustees

  8 Members

  0

  Northern College of Education—Governing Body

  Chairman

  0

  148

  Rank

  Remuneration as at 1 July 1990 £

  3 Members

  0

  Orkney Health Board

  Chairman

  6,510

  Vice Chairman

  0

  12 Members

  0

  Parole Board for Scotland

  Chairman

  0

  3 Members

  0

  Police Advisory Board for Scotland

  1 Member

  0

  Red Deer Commission

  1 Member

  0

  Scottish Agricultural Statistics Consultative Committee

  5 Members

  0

  Scottish Agricultural Wages Board

  Chairman

  0

  Scottish Committee for Staff Development in Education

  Chairman

  0

  14 Members

  0

  Scottish Community Education Council

  Chairman

  0

  7 Members

  0

  Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum

  17 Members

  0

  Scottish Dental Practice Board

  1 Member

  0

  Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Board

  Chairman

  0

  5 Members

  0

  Scottish Economic Council

  1 Member

  0

  1 Member

  0

  Scottish Health Service Advisory Council

  9 Members

  0

  Scottish Homes

  3 Members

  5,330

  Scottish Legal Aid Board

  Chairman

  17,170

  7 Members

  8,529

  Scottish Records Advisory Council

  Chairman

  0

  Scottish Sports Council

  Chairman

  0

  Scottish Tourist Board

  1 Member

  5,385

  Scottish Valuation Advisory Council

  Chairman

  0

  Deputy Chairman

  0

  10 Members

  0

  Scottish Vocational Educational Council

  Chairman

  0

  Vice Chairman

  0

  7 Members

  0

  Shetland Health Board

  Vice Chairman

  0

  149

  Rank

  Remuneration as at 1 July 1990 £

  12 Members

  0

  State Hospital Management Committee

  Chairman

  11,955

  3 Members

  0

  St. Andrew's College of Education Governing Body

  Chairman

  0

  2 Members

  0

  Tayside Health Board

  Chairman

  18,250

  17 Members

  0

  Western Isles Health Board

  Chairman

  6,510

  Vice Chairman

  0

  13 Members

  0

  Table 2

  Appointments expiring in 1992

  Rank

  Salary as at 1 July 1990

  Advisory Committee on Dental Establishments

  3 Members

  0

  Advisory Committee on Medical Establishments

  1 Member

  0

  Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland

  7 Members

  0

  Caledonian MacBrayne

  Chairman

  15,000

  2 Members

  4,500

  Childrens Panel Advisory Committee for Borders Region

  1 Member

  0

  Childrens Panel Advisory Committee for Central Region

  Chairman

  0

  3 Members

  0

  Childrens Panel Advisory Committee for Dumfries and Galloway Region

  3 Members

  0

  Childrens Panel Advisory Committee for Fife Region

  3 Members

  0

  Childrens Panel Advisory Committee for Grampian Region

  1 Member

  0

  Childrens Panel Advisory Committee for Highland Region

  1 Member

  0

  Childrens Panel Advisory Committee for Orkney Islands Area

  1 Member

  0

  Childrens Panel Advisory Committee for Shetland Islands Area

  1 Member

  0

  Childrens Panel Advisory Committee for Strathclyde Region

  1 Member

  0

  150

  Rank

  Salary as at 1 July 1990

  Childrens Panel Advisory Committee for the Tayside Region

  Chairman

  0

  1 Member

  0

  Childrens Panel Advisory Committee for Western Isles Islands Area

  Chairman

  0

  2 Members

  0

  Childrens Panel for the Borders Region

  Chairman

  0

  Childrens Panel for the Central Region

  Deputy Chairman

  0

  Childrens Panel for the Dumfries and Galloway Region

  Chairman

  0

  Childrens Panel for the Fife Region

  Chairman

  0

  Childrens Panel for the Grampian Region

  Chairman

  0

  Deputy Chairman

  0

  Childrens Panel for the Highland Region

  Chairman

  0

  Deputy Chairman

  0

  Childrens Panel for the Lothian Region

  Deputy Chairman

  0

  Childrens Panel for the Orkney Islands Area

  Chairman

  0

  Deputy Chairman

  0

  Childrens Panel for the Shetland Islands Area

  Deputy Chairman

  0

  Childrens Panel for the Strathclyde Region

  Deputy Chairman

  0

  Childrens Panel for The Western Isles Island Area

  Chairman

  0

  Deputy Chairman

  0

  Clyde River Purification Board

  8 Members

  0

  Commission for Local Authority Accounts in Scotland

  3 Members

  2,500

  Consultative Committee on Freshwater Fisheries

  Chairman

  0

  8 Members

  0

  Countryside Commission for Scotland

  Chairman

  15,365

  Deputy Chairman

  6,422

  12 Members

  0

  Crofters Commission

  Chairman

  36,848

  2 Members

  9,393

  Cumbernauld Development Corporation

  1 Member

  3,525

  Dumfries and Galloway Health Board

  Chairman

  10,810

  East Kilbride Development Corporation

  3 Members

  3,525

  Edinburgh New Town Conservation Committee

  1 Member

  0

  151

  Rank

  Salary as at 1 July 1990

  Forth River Purification Board

  6 Members

  0

  Hannah Research Institute—Governing Body

  1 Member

  0

  Highland River Purification Board

  4 Members

  0

  Highlands and Islands Development Board

  Chairman

  56,540

  1 Member

  46,695

  1 Member

  8,123

  Historic Buildings Council for Scotland

  5 Members

  0

  Irvine Development Corporation

  2 Members

  3,735

  Lay Observer for Scotland

  1 Member

  13,737

  Livingston Development Corporation

  Deputy Chairman

  8,272

  2 Members

  3,735

  Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland

  Vice Chairman

  11,122

  1 Member

  1,573

  Macaulay Land Use Research Institute

  7 Members

  0

  Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland

  Member

  69,745

  Member

  32,551

  Member

  1,348

  6 Members

  1,420

  National Galleries of Scotland Board of Trustees

  4 Members

  0

  National Museums of Scotland—Board of Trustees

  2 Members

  0

  National Panel of Specialists

  17 Members

  0

  North East River Purification Board

  3 Members

  0

  Parole Board for Scotland

  5 Members

  0

  Police (Scotland) Examinations Board

  Chairman

  0

  1 Member

  0

  Police Advisory Board For Scotland

  1 Member

  0

  Red Deer Commission

  Chairman

  15,173

  17 Members

  0

  Rowett Research Institute—Governing Body

  2 Members

  0

  Royal Botanic Garden—Board of Trustees

  4 Members

  0

  Scottish Advisory Committee on Top Grade Scientific Posts

  2 Members

  0

  Scottish Agricultural Wages Board

  152

  Rank

  Salary as at 1 July 1990

  1 Member

  0

  Scottish Council For Post Graduate Medical Education

  11 Members

  0

  Scottish Council For Research In Education

  Chairman

  0

  2 Members

  0

  Scottish Crop Research Institute—Governing Body

  Chairman

  0

  14 Members

  0

  Scottish Development Agency

  1 Member

  0

  1 Member

  60,500

  Scottish Economic Council

  1 Member

  0

  Scottish Examination Board

  14 Members

  0

  Scottish Film Council

  Chairman

  0

  1 Member

  0

  Scottish Homes

  1 Member

  5,385

  Scottish Hospital Endowments Research Trust

  3 Members

  0

  Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Board

  4 Members

  0

  Scottish Legal Aid Board

  7 Members

  8,528

  Scottish Medical Practices Committee

  1 Member

  0

  Scottish Record's Advisory Council

  5 Members

  0

  Scottish Sports Council

  Vice Chairman

  0

  Scottish Studentship Selection Committee

  Chairman

  0

  3 Members

  0

  Scottish Tourist Board

  1 Member

  0

  2 Members

  5,385

  Solway River Purification Board

  3 Members

  0

  State Hospital Management Committee

  7 Members

  0

  Tay River Purification Board

  3 Members

  0

  Tweed River Purification Board

  3 Members

  0

  Local History
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what initiatives he intends to take to encourage the teaching of local history in Scottish primary and secondary schools;
  153
  (2) what initiatives he intends to take to encourage primary and secondary schools to create awareness in the cultural heritage which is relevant to the localities in which the schools are located.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Local history and heritage form part of environmental studies in the curriculum for the five to 14 age group. Guidance to education authorities and schools will be issued later this year in a Scottish Office Education Department working paper.

  Disabled People
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the percentages of disabled staff employed within the health service in Scotland in each year since 1981; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is set out in the table. Health boards and the Common Services Agency are expected like other employers, to comply with the provisions of the disabled persons employment Acts.

  Percentage of disabled employees in the national health service in Scotland

  Year

  Percentage

  1981

  0·5

  1982

  0·5

  1983

  0·4

  1984

  0·4

  1985

  0·5

  1986

  0·4

  1987

  0·3

  1988

  0·3

  1989

  0·2

  1990

  0·2

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the number of adults with(a) mental handicap, (b) mental illness and (c) physical handicap in the format most convenient to his Department.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  It is not possible to give precise figures of the total number of people in these categories, since not all will have come into contact with the health service or social work authorities. However, in 1988 the number of disabled adults in Scotland was estimated as 611,000. It is also believed that a similar number of people in any one year might consult a general practitioner about some form of mental ill-health.

  Robert Burns
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what initiatives he intends to take to encourage the teaching of the works of Robert Burns in Scottish schools.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The advice to education authorities and schools contained in Scottish Office Education Department working paper No. 2 on the teaching of English language is that Scottish texts should be actively sought and used.

  Renfrew
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many burglaries there were in Renfrew district in each of the last three years; and what percentage those were of all reported crimes in the area.
  154
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The available information is given in the table.

  Recorded cases of housebreaking in Renfrew district

  1 Housebreaking as a percentage of all crimes recorded by the police in Renfrew district

  1988

  4,867

  22·4

  1989

  5,303

  22·5

  1990

  25,675

  221·8

  1 In Scotland, information is collected on "housebreaking", rather than "burglary".

  2 Source: Report of the Chief Constable of Strathclyde, 1990.

  Victim Support Schemes
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the applications for financial support received from victim support schemes during the current financial year which(a) have been approved, (b) have not been approved and (c) are still pending consideration.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Scottish Association of Victim Support Schemes—SAVSS—submits a single annual grant application to the Scottish Office to cover both its headquarters costs and the provision of aid for the appointment of co-ordinators, or towards running costs, in local schemes where demand warrants it. For the financial year 1991–92, the Scottish Office has awarded SAVSS a total grant of £405,000 made up of £320,000 for the development of local schemes and £85,000 for headquarters running costs.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the expenditure on each victim support scheme within Scotland in the current financial year.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Of the £405,000 awarded to the Scottish Association of Victim Support Schemes in the current financial year, £320,000 has been allocated for the development of local schemes. A funding panel, independent of the Scottish Office and the SAVSS, determines applications for grant submitted by local victim support schemes and may award grant aid either for the appointment of co-ordinators or towards running costs.

  Drinking Water
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all the places in Scotland where drinking water is or has recently been contaminated with cryptosporidium organisms.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The organism is widespread in the natural environment and small numbers may be present from time to time in drinking water without giving rise to outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis. Only two such outbreaks have been associated with drinking water supplies in Scotland in recent years. One occurred in the Saltcoats and Stevenston area of Ayrshire in 1988 and the other in parts of Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire and West Lothian in 1989. In the latter case, the evidence was not conclusive that the water supply was the source of the infection.

  Strathclyde
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the provision of special needs education in Strathclyde.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Strathclyde education authority is statutorily responsible for the provision of special educational needs for children in their area.

  Planning Policies
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he gives to those local authorities which wish to include planning gain policies in their local plans; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Development Department issued a circular to local authorities on planning gain in August 1984—circular 22/84. The circular provides authorities with guidance on the circumstances in which they might reasonably seek an agreement with a developer under section 50 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972 and on the inclusion in development plans of policies on the use of such agreements.

  Mental Patients
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give(a) the total number of patients discharged from psychiatric hospitals or mental health units in each year since 1979 and (b) the number of places in mental health units in the community in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The table shows the number of discharges from psychiatric hospitals or mental health units in each year since 1979. The number of places in mental health units in the community in each year since 1979 is not held centrally.

  Year

  Numbers of discharges from mental illness and psychiatric units in Scotland

  1979

  25,116

  1980

  26,258

  1981

  26,512

  1982

  24,008

  1983

  26,271

  1984

  26,989

  1985

  27,675

  1986

  27,817

  1987

  28,613

  1988

  29,758

  1989

  29,620

  1990

  29,189

  Sports Facilities
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many indoor and outdoor sports facilities were managed by local authorities in Scotland at 1 January.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The latest available information is set out in the table.
  156

  Management type

  Sport facility

  District council

  Regional council

  Total

  Athletic tracks1

  65

  46

  111

  Dry ski slopes

  4

  7

  11

  Golf courses

  69

  0

  69

  Ice rinks

  3

  0

  3

  Sports halls/leisure centres

  292

  928

  1,220

  Swimming pools

  120

  230

  350

  Playing pitches2

  1,004

  625

  1,629

  Indoor bowling halls

  19

  26

  45

  1 Including grass.

  2 Excluding synthetic pitches.

  Ministerial Visit
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to visit the Paisley, South constituency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I have no plans at present to visit the Paisley, South constituency.

  Drink Driving
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the number of drink-driving-related offences within(a) Scotland, (b) Strathclyde region and (c) Renfrew district in each year since 1980.

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

  Number of recorded drink driving related offences 1980–89

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  Scotland

  Strathclyde region

  Renfrew district

  1980

  15,876

  6,995

  507

  1981

  13,765

  6,193

  459

  1982

  13,982

  6,014

  516

  1983

  15,373

  6,701

  408

  1984

  14,976

  6,566

  510

  1985

  15,379

  6,657

  477

  1986

  14,623

  6,374

  475

  1987

  13,484

  5,926

  467

  1988

  11,353

  4,875

  368

  1989

  10,916

  4,763

  390

  1990

  n/a

  14,809

  1380

  n/a not available.

  1 Source: Report of the Chief Constable of Strathclyde, 1990.

  Green Belts
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans to introduce a scheme for classifying green belt sites according to their environmental and amenity value.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No. Such a scheme could imply that some parts of the green belt were less protected than others.

  Opticians
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many opticians in Scotland registered with the national health service for each year since 1974.
  157
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The number of opticians registered with health boards in Scotland to provide general ophthalmic services for each year since 1974 is set out in the table.

  Ophthalmic opticians

  Ophthalmic medical practitioners

  1974

  536

  69

  1975

  517

  69

  1976

  484

  65

  1977

  477

  73

  1978

  468

  69

  1979

  467

  69

  1980

  503

  80

  1981

  500

  74

  1982

  519

  79

  1983

  535

  90

  1984

  548

  107

  1985

  670

  106

  1986

  674

  119

  1987

  776

  115

  1988

  709

  122

  1989

  744

  114

  1990

  1—

  1—

  1 Not yet available.

  Judges (Appointment)
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the criteria used for the appointment of judges in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  For any judicial appointment, the best available candidate is selected from among those who meet the statutory requirements.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 26 April,Official Report, columns 614–16, if he will provide the same information in real terms.

  Mr. Lang
  The following figures are deflated to 1989–90 prices using the Central Statistical Office's GDP deflator, adjusted to remove the distortion caused by the abolition of domestic rates.

  In real terms, the figures for 1989–90 to 1990–91 were:

  1988–89 £

  1989–90 £

  1990–91 £

  TV advertising

  613,000

  974,000

  800,000

  Radio advertising

  42,500

  85,000

  203,000

  Newspaper advertising

  402,000

  1,022,000

  662,000

  Other promotional material

  992,500

  1,001,000

  1,186,000

  As indicated in the previous answer, an analysis in the form requested is not available for the years 1979–80 to 1987–88. However, total expenditure on information publicity at constant 1989–90 prices was:

  £

  1979–80

  527,000

  1980–81

  613,500

  1981–82

  607,000

  1982–83

  557,000

  1983–84

  496,500

  158

  £

  1984–85

  924,000

  1985–86

  843,000

  1986–87

  1,031,000

  1987–88

  1,249,000

  For 1991–92 the provision for expenditure is £2,519,000 in real terms, at 1989–90 prices.

  Historic Scotland
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the 1991–92 annual budget for Historic Scotland; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Total gross expenditure of £30,589,000 by Historic Scotland is provided for in the supply estimates 1991–92—Class XV vote 5. Running costs, which include salaries and wages, and allied costs such as travel and subsistence payments and general administrative expenditure, represent 31·9 per cent. of that expenditure.

  Registers of Scotland
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the department of the Registers of Scotland; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Total expenditure for Registers of Scotland in 1991–92 is estimated at £30,087,000 of which 70 per cent. is for total staff costs.

  Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Total expenditure for the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency in 1991–92 is estimated at £10·313 million of which 47 per cent. is for staff costs, which include salaries, wages and general administrative expenditure.

  Missing Persons
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any proposals to establish a national database of missing persons aged(a) under 18 years and (b) over 18 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Criminal Records Office holds, on behalf of the police, details of all reported missing persons in Scotland who have been missing for one month or longer. Age, where known, is among the information recorded.

  Marine Nature Reserves
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any proposals concerning the creation of marine nature reserves; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I have no such proposals. Marine nature reserves may be designated
  159
  under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 on recommendations from the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland. So far, no formal recommendations for designation have been put forward.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made concerning the proposed marine nature reserve at Loch Sween; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  The Nature Conservancy Council issued a discussion document on 4 October and meetings with interested parties were held locally. A number of concerns were expressed by local people, landowners and organisations. Further consultation will take place before any formal recommendation is made for designation of the loch.

  Parole
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prisoners serving custodial sentences were reviewed for parole in 1988, 1989 and 1990; how many were released under licence; and how many reviewed and/or released were serving sentences of(a) seven years or more and (b) 10 years or more.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The number of prisoners reviewed for parole in 1988 and 1989 and released under licence is set out in appendix A of the annual report of the Parole Board for Scotland for 1989, copies of which are available in the Library. The figures for 1990 will be published in the annual report of the Parole Board for Scotland for 1990, which will be available later this year. The other information is not readily available and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many recommendations by the Parole Board for the release of prisonerss under licence serving sentences of(a) less than seven years, (b) seven years and more and (c) 10 years or more have been rejected by the Secretary of State in each of the past five years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  None.

  Workers Educational Association
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any proposals concerning the development of further education involving the Workers Educational Association; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have no such proposals.

  Kvaerner-Kincaid plc
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received calling for action by his Department following the announcement of proposed job losses at Kvaerner-Kincaid plc of Greenock; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  I met a delegation led by the hon. Member today to discuss the situation at Kvaerner-Kincaid. The hon. Member was accompanied by representatives of the work force and Inverclyde district council.

  Demolition Control
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he proposes to introduce planning controls over the demolition of houses; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  We have today tabled amendments to the Planning and Compensation Bill that would enable the Government to bring the demolition of houses within planning control in Scotland.

  Until recently the Government believed that demolition did not usually constitute development and therefore did not fall within planning control. However, a recent High Court decision in England held that, in the particular circumstances of the case, the demolition of dwelling houses was development. That decision is subject to an appeal.

  For buildings listed as of historical or architectural importance and buildings in conservation areas, demolition is already covered by other controls. Most other demolitions of houses are not contentious and do not justify additional planning controls.

  However, the Government are aware of the concern that has been expressed in particular cases. For example, some potential developers have demolished perfectly sound houses before having the necessary planning permission to erect replacement buildings. Rather than leave a vacant site that may blight neighbouring properties, the local planning authority can feel pressured to grant planning permission for an out-of-character development for which planning permission should be refused.

  We do not believe that there is a widespread problem, but we have concluded that the time is now right to allow the selective introduction of controls on demolition where problems do exist.

  The proposed amendments would extend the definition of development to include the demolition of all buildings. They would also incorporate a direction-making power, which would enable the Secretary of State to provide that the demolition of particular types of building is not development and would not, therefore, be subject to planning control. Since the problem that these amendments are designed to tackle relates in particular to dwelling houses, our intention is to use this power to exclude from control all demolitions except demolitions of dwelling houses.

  Because most demolitions of dwelling houses would not justify the full application of the new controls, we propose amending the Town and Country Planning General Development (Scotland) Order 1981 to grant permitted development rights for the demolition of dwelling houses in most circumstances. This would mean that planning permission would not normally be required for such demolition.

  However, if a local planning authority wished to prevent demolition in a particular case or in a vulnerable area, it could use its power to give a direction which would require the developer to seek planning permission before proceeding with demolition. Such a direction would require the confirmation of the Secretary of State if it is to remain effective for longer than six months.

  By these measures we believe that it will be possible to control these undesirable cases of demolition without putting an undue burden either on developers or on local planning authorities.

  A82 (Accidents)
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a detailed list of accidents which have taken place on the A82 between the Fort William boundary and the Ballachulish bridge in each of the last three years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 3 May 1991]: The information requested is provided in the table. Figures for 1990 are provisional.

  Number of recorded injury accidents on the A82 between Fort William boundary and Ballachulish Bridge in the years 1988 to 1990

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Fatal

  1

  2

  1

  Serious

  5

  11

  4

  Slight

  12

  17

  10

  Total

  18

  30

  15

  Mentally Handicapped People (Health Services)
  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the guidance given by his Department in relation to the use which hospitals boards make of funds derived from the sale of capital assets which were specifically devoted to services for the mentally handicapped.

  Restricted farms in Scotland

  April 1990

  April 1991

  Region and District

  Holdings

  Sheep

  Hectares

  Acres

  Holdings

  Sheep

  Hectares

  Acres

  Central

  Stirling

  19

  48,200

  29,900

  73,900

  17

  39,300

  25,500

  63,000

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Total

  16

  25,600

  11,100

  27,400

  10

  19,100

  9,500

  23,500

  Nithsdale

  6

  3,500

  700

  1,700

  2

  1,900

  400

  1,000

  Stewarty

  5

  8,700

  2,500

  6,200

  3

  3,800

  1,200

  3,000

  Wigtown

  5

  13,400

  7,900

  19,500

  5

  13,400

  7,900

  19,500

  Strathclyde

  Total

  38

  59,500

  26,000

  64,200

  36

  57,900

  25,200

  62,200

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  5

  4,900

  2,600

  6,300

  5

  4,900

  2,600

  6,300

  Cumnock and Doun Valley

  19

  35,300

  15,800

  39,100

  18

  35,000

  15,100

  37,400

  Kyle and Carrick

  2

  5,600

  2,300

  5,700

  2

  5,600

  2,300

  5,700

  Cunninghame

  2

  2,000

  1,700

  4,200

  2

  2,000

  1,700

  4,200

  East Kilbride

  4

  4,900

  1,400

  3,400

  4

  4,900

  1,400

  3,400

  Eastwood

  6

  6,800

  2,200

  5,500

  5

  5,500

  2,100

  5,200

  Scotland

  Total

  73

  133,300

  67,000

  165,500

  63

  116,300

  60,200

  148,700

  Figures for sheep numbers and area are rounded.

  Lanarkshire Health Board
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many hospital patients residing within the Hamilton/East Kilbride unit area of the Lanarkshire health board were placed in a hospital in the Monklands/Cumbernauld unit over each of the last 12 months;

  (2) how many hospital patients residing within the Hamilton/East Kilbride unit area of the Lanarkshire
  162
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 7 May 1991]: The use which is to be made of the proceeds of sales of a particular category of property is not generally specified, but health boards are aware that they should give a high priority to the care of mentally handicapped and mentally ill patients.

  Individual health boards are able to retain proceeds from the disposals they achieve—currently at the rate of 80 per cent. with the balance of 20 per cent. being allocated by the management executive to benefit the NHS capital programme.

  Chernobyl
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, further to the answer to the hon. Member for South Shields on 25 April,Official Report, column 547, if he will list each region and district in Scotland giving the number of acres and hectares, numbers of sheep and numbers of farms under restriction following the Chernobyl accident as at (a) April 1990 and (b) April 1991; and if he will make a statement about the changes in the restrictions in each case.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 13 May 1991]: The information is set out in the table. In each case holdings, or part holdings, were released from restrictions only after extensive monitoring had shown that animals leaving these areas no longer posed a threat to the food chain.

  health board were placed in a hospital in the Motherwell/Clydesdale unit over each of the last 12 months.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 13 May 1991]: The following table sets out the number of patients resident within the Hamilton/East Kilbride unit area discharged from both the Monklands/Cumbernauld and Motherwell/Clydesdale units in 1990. The figures relate to discharges in the acute, maternity and geriatric sectors.
  163

  Number of Patients residing within the Hamilton East Kilbride unit area discharged from Monklands/Cumbernauld and Motherwell/Clydesdale in 1990

  Month

  Number of discharges Monklands/Cumbernauld

  Number of discharges Motherwell/Clydesdale

  January

  352

  203

  February

  323

  186

  March

  363

  232

  April

  360

  162

  May

  366

  204

  June

  375

  179

  July

  346

  148

  August

  391

  191

  September

  378

  176

  October

  395

  203

  November

  402

  186

  December

  356

  200

  Total

  4,407

  2,270

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients were placed in an acute medical bed within the Hamilton/East Kilbride unit from outwith the unit area in each of the last 12 months.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The table sets out the number of patients residing outwith the Hamilton/East Kilbride unit area discharged from acute beds within the unit in 1990.

  Month

  Number of discharges

  January

  68

  February

  72

  March

  85

  April

  74

  May

  73

  June

  79

  July

  68

  August

  78

  September

  57

  October

  87

  November

  67

  December

  50

  TOTAL

  858

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Agencies
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the intervention board; and what percentage is allocated to staff costs;

  (2) what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Veterinary Medicines Directorate; and what is the percentage allocated to staff costs;

  (3) what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Central Veterinary Laboratory; and what percentage is allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Curry
  These are operational matters for the chief executives who will write to the hon. Member.

  Farming and Livestock
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement listing the public money his Department has invested in all aspects of 164
  farming and livestock work in the constituency of Waveney in the past 10 years; and how much he expects to contribute over the next three years.

  Mr. Curry
  No. The range of schemes involved is extremely wide and information does not exist in a form enabling such a list to be compiled for individual constituencies.

  Fishing
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement listing the public money his Department has invested in all aspects of the fishing industry; and what range of services has been covered, in the constituency of Waveney for the past 10 years; and how much he expects to contribute over the next three years.

  Mr. Curry
  The Ministry's departmental report— Cm. 1503—shows that estimated expenditure on support for the fishing industry in 1990–91 was £19 million and that this is planned to increase to £20 million in 1993–94. In addition, the Department carries out research and other scientific work in relation to marine fisheries: this cost some £7 million in 1990–91. Details of expenditure in the fishing industry in individual constituencies are not available.

  Coastal Protection
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement listing the public money his Department has contributed to sea defence and coastal protection schemes in the constituency of Waveney during the past 10 years; and how much he expects to contribute over the next three years.

  Mr. Curry
  This Department has contributed nearly £2 million by way of direct grant to sea defence and coast protection schemes in the constituency of Waveney during the past 10 years. A further contribution of approximately £2·5 million is likely to he made over the next three years.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether any source of BSE other than scrapie has been identified by his Ministry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  No. The detailed epidemiological study continues to show that the most likely cause of BSE was the scrapie agent in cattle feed.

  Farm Animal Welfare Council
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department has considered an exhibition relating to the Farm Animal Welfare Council to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Services Committee, arrangements have been made with the authorities in the House for an exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 10 June to Friday 14 June. I hope that as many hon. Members as possible will avail themselves of the opportunity to see at first hand the excellent work the Farm Animal Welfare Council does.

  Agriculture Expenditure
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the amount spent in each of the last 10 years in supporting British agriculture both in(a) direct and (b) indirect expenditure, in both cash and real terms.

  Mr. Gummer
  Details of direct agriculture support, including national grants and subsidies, in the United Kingdom for the 10 years from 1980–81 are given in the table:

  Financial Year

  Cash terms (£ million)

  Real terms (£ million) (1989–90 baseline)

  1980–81

  1,012

  1,715

  1981–82

  972

  1,502

  1982–83

  1,433

  2,068

  1983–84

  1,729

  2,385

  1984–85

  1,712

  2,247

  1985–86

  2,165

  2,693

  1986–87

  1,449

  1,744

  1987–88

  1,630

  1,861

  1988–89

  1,380

  1,467

  1989–90

  1,258

  1,258

  11990–91

  1,958

  21,843

  166
  1 forecast

  2 using estimated deflator

  Sources: 1980–81 to 1985–86—Annual Review White Papers.

  1986–87 to 1990–91—Agriculture in the United Kingdom

  Over the period 1988–90, expenditure under the CAP fell due to favourable world and EC market conditions.

  Various items could be seen as offering indirect support. Details of all expenditure of each of the agriculture Departments appear in the supply estimate and appropriation accounts which are in the Library of the House. Those for this Department are published in class III.

  Food Additives
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all the food additives for which he has withdrawn approval since 1979, giving in each case the year when the additive was withdrawn; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 21 December 1989,Official Report, column 457. Since then, the approval for the use of potassium bromate as a flour treatment agent has been withdrawn.

  DEFAMATION: RESPONSES TO CONSULTATION PAPERS
  DEFAMATION: RESPONSES TO CONSULTATION PAPERS
  PEAT: ENCOURAGING THE USE OF SUBSTITUTES
  PEAT: ENCOURAGING THE USE OF SUBSTITUTES
  NON-FOOD AID HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
  NON-FOOD AID HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
  RAMSAR SITES AND SPECIAL PROTECTION AREAS
  RAMSAR SITES AND SPECIAL PROTECTION AREAS
  BST: MANUFACTURER'S LIABILITY
  BST: MANUFACTURER'S LIABILITY
  FEOGA GUIDANCE SECTION GRANTS
  FEOGA GUIDANCE SECTION GRANTS