Written Answers of 15 May 1991

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  War Crimes Investigations
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Attorney-General what has been the cost to the Director of Public Prosecutions office of inquiries into alleged Nazi war criminals living in the United Kingdom so far; what is the estimated cost of further investigations during the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The investigation of alleged criminal offences, including those made justiciable by the War Crimes Act 1991, is a police function. The role of the Director of Public Prosecutions will be to provide advice and guidance on legal issues arising in the investigation. No expenditure has yet been incurred in this respect. The DPP has, however, incurred expenditure of £600 in obtaining consultancy advice in the planning of arrangements for handling war crimes cases. The additional running costs of the Crown Prosecutions service attributable to war crimes cases during the current financial year is estimated to be in the range of £300,000 to £500,000.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Maternity Services, Belfast
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many maternity beds were provided at the Royal Victoria hospital, the Mater hospital and the Belfast city hospital during 1988, 1989 and 1990; and what is the current level of provision at each of these hospitals.

  Mr. Hanley
  The average number of available maternity beds was as follows:

  1988

  1989

  1990

  RVH (Maternity)

  94·5

  91·1

  86·5

  Mater

  24

  24

  24

  Belfast City

  66·4

  64

  64

  Figures for the current level of provision are not available.

  Factory (Castlewellan)
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what efforts the Industrial Development Board have made to try and secure a new owner for the factory located at Moss lane, Castlewellan, County Down, currently occupied by Castlewellan Yarns; and if he will make a statement about employment levels in the textile industry in South Down.

  Mr. Needham
  Castlewellan Yarns is a division of Linfield Group Ltd. which is the owner of the factory 168
  premises at Moss lane, Castlewellan. The group is not expected to vacate the premises for some months, but it has expressed its willingness to co-operate with the Industrial Development Board if an early purchaser is found. The IDB is making the factory's forthcoming availability known to potential investors and will be actively encouraging them to consider Castlewellan as a manufacturing location.

  The IDB has eight client companies in the textiles sector in South Down. These companies operate at 10 locations and employ over 800 people. The IDB is maintaining close contact with the companies in order to encourage growth and increased competitiveness.

  Chiropody
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures will be taken to reduce the waiting lists in respect of the chiropody services in the Down section of the Down and Lisburn unit of management.

  Mr. Hanley
  The management and delivery of services at local level are the responsibility of each health and social services board. I understand that the Eastern health and social services board is currently taking steps to reduce the waiting lists for chiropody services in the Down section of the Down and Lisburn unit of management by providing additional assessment and treatment sessions.

  Agricultural Development Operations Programme
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many farmers have made application to the agricultural development operations scheme; and how many of these have been successful

  Mr. Hanley
  Up to Friday 3 May 1991, a total of 1,280 applications had been received under capital grant elements of the agricultural development operations programme. Of that number, there were 144 under the North Antrim flood damage recovery scheme, 1,122 under the capital grant scheme and 14 under the farm innovation scheme. The majority of these applications are currently under consideration and it is not possible, therefore, to provide details of the numbers that will be successful.

  Environmental Policies
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what level of financial and other resources will be available to the Department of the Environment in order to implement its environmental policies in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  The provision, including programme expenditure and staff costs, for the implementation of environmental policies by the environment service of the Department of Environment for Northern Ireland is £14·372 million in 1991–92. The activities of other services within the Department, for example, the water service, and of other Northern Ireland Departments, for example, the Department of Agriculture and Department of Economic Development, also contribute towards the achievement of a better environment.

  Health and Social Services Councils
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 25 April,Official Report, column 528, when he will be able to list the names of the members of the four new health and social services councils, excepting those nominated by district councils.

  Mr. Hanley
  I hope to be able to announce the names of the members of the councils in the next few weeks.

  Housing Executive
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total value of (a) domestic rates and (b) commercial rates, which were collected from Northern Ireland Housing Executive tenants remitted to the Department of Environment (NI) in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Needham
  Rates remitted to the Department of Environment for Northern Ireland by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in 1988–89 amounted to £31,812,820·89; in 1989–90, £35,140,698·20; and in 1990–91, £36,759,847·23.

  Information on the breakdown of domestic and non-domestic rates payable by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive is not readily available and could be obtain only at disproportionate cost.

  Northern Ireland Electricity Service
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the board of the Northern Ireland Electricity Service following its decision not to renew the contract of its chief executive.

  Mr. Needham
  I last met the chairman on 9 April. The board is required to carry out a triennial review of the chief executive's contract. I understand that the board is currently considering this and that the chairman will make a statement shortly.

  Domestic Rates
  Mr Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the reduction in domestic rate bills in Northern Ireland as a result of the Budget.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The reduction announced in the Budget is a good outcome for the Province's domestic ratepayers. As a result, they will contribute, on average, 36 per cent. less towards the cost of local authority-type services. This is in line with the switch to central funding of 36 per cent. of the amount charge payers contribute to local authority expenditure in Great Britain.

  Although it should be noted that there is no precise analogy between the community charge which is a per capita charge and the Province's domestic rates which are property based, given that the associated Budget increase in VAT applies fully in Northern Ireland, it is entirely appropriate that ratepayers in Northern Ireland should receive this benefit. Northern Ireland receives its share of all United Kingdom taxation including VAT which, as an unhypothecated tax, is applied towards balancing the Northern Ireland Exchequer rather than being applied to
  170
  particular purposes. Furthermore, the reduction, when seen in the light of the higher level of exchequer support for the rates in Northern Ireland, represents a very good settlement for domestic ratepayers in the Province.

  Political Talks
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement about progress in the talks with political parties.

  Mr. Brooke
  [pursuant to the reply, 2 May 1991, c. 426]: On 26 March I informed the House that a basis for formal political talks concerning political development had been established. It was accepted by all the potential participants—the British and Irish Governments and the four main constitutional political parties in Northern Ireland—that the talks would take place in three strands corresponding to the three principal relationships: those within Northern Ireland; those among the people of Ireland; and those between the British and Irish Governments.

  Since the political talks began on 30 April there have been a number of bilateral exchanges between me and the political parties involved about a range of practical and procedural issues raised by the participants, concerning strands two and three. In addressing these issues I have maintained close contact with the Government of the Republic of Ireland which is, of course, a participant in both those strands.

  Yesterday afternoon, I circulated to the parties a paper which indicated how these practical and procedural issues would be handled, and invited the parties to let me have their responses by 10 o'clock this morning. The text of that paper follows this reply.

  The Alliance party of Northern Ireland and the Social and Democratic Labour party informed me that they were content without qualification that we should now proceed to plenary sessions on the basis that the relevant practical and procedural matters would be dealt with as indicated in this paper. The Irish Government were also content that matters should proceed on this basis.

  I had a number of exchanges with the leaders of the two Unionist parties both before and after 10 o'clock this morning. They sought a meeting with the Prime Minister on the basis that this might provide sufficient clarification and reassurance to enable them to proceed with talks on the basis suggested.

  There was a full discussion of the issues and in the light of the Unionist parties' agreement in principle to work the procedure on the basis of my paper, subject to clarification of detailed points with them as well as the other participants, I plan to consult the other participants to see if they are able to proceed on this basis.

  Following is the text of the paper:

  POLITICAL TALKS

  Practical Issues Concerning Strands Two and Three

  1. There has been extensive discussion of the venue for strand two, and other related practical questions, over the last two weeks.

  2. In the light of that, with the benefit of the views expressed, and after close consultation with the Irish Government, I have decided to indicate the basis on which these talks would be held.

  Strand Two

  3. All meetings of strand two will have an independent chairman whose identity will be announced by the two governments after consultation with other participating parties.

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  4. Opening plenary meeting of strand two to be held in London.

  5. Bulk of substantive exchanges in strand two to be held in Northern Ireland in a location to be determined. (It will of course also be open to the Chairman and the participants to hold non-plenary meetings wherever suits their mutual convenience.)

  6. A plenary meeting of the strand two discussions to be held in Dublin towards the end of June.

  Strand Three

  7. While participating parties remain free to discuss strand three issues with the governments, strand three discussions will be concerned with the relationship between the two governments, and will take place between the two governments:

  —other participating parties will be kept in touch with progress during strand three by regular liaison

  —the two governments will meet other participating parties at their request for further discussion of strand three issues while strand three is taking place

  —the outcome of strand three will be considered by all the participants alongside the outcome of the other two strands and nothing will be finally agreed in any strand until everything is agreed in the talks as a whole.

  £ thousands

  Great Grimsby

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  South East and London

  1989

  1990

  1989

  1990

  1989

  1990

  Terraced house1

  n/a

  n/a

  32·7

  37·1

  77·4

  72·6

  Council houses2

  21·3

  27·3

  20·8

  26·8

  59·5

  60·2

  1 Average price (excluding sales to sitting tenants) from the Department's 5 per cent, sample survey of Building Society mortgage completions.

  2 Average undiscounted price of dwellings sold to sitting tenants.

  The available information on distribution of stock is as follows:

  Per cent. of total stock

  Terraced houses (owner occupied)1

  Great Grimsby

  n/a

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  18

  South East and London

  19

  Council houses2

  Great Grimsby

  21

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  25

  South East and London

  19

  1 Data from the 1986 English House Condition Survey.

  2 Data on all council houses at 1 April 1990 from the Housing Investment Programme (HIP) return.

  HIP (Doncaster)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the amounts allocated to Doncaster Metropolitan borough council's housing investment programme in each year from 1979 to-date, indicating the change as a percentage each year in real terms.

  Mr. Yeo
  The information requested is listed in the table. Since 1981–82 authorities have been able to augment the borrowing power of their HIP allocations by drawing on a proportion of their capital receipts. For 1990–91 and 1991–92, under the new capital finance system, the HIP allocation does not convey borrowing approval directly.172
  8. The strand one formation or the strand two formation, as appropriate, may consider issues further in the light of progress in strand three.

ENVIRONMENT

  House Prices
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information he has on the average price of(a) a terraced house, (b) a privately owned council house re-sold on the market and (c) other council houses in (i) Grimsby, (ii) Yorkshire and Humberside and (iii) the south-east and London in (x) 1989 and (y) 1990; and what is the percentage of each type in each area;

  (2) what is his estimate of the average price of (a) terraced houses and (b) council houses in Grimsby.

  Mr. Key
  The available information on average prices is set out in the table:

  Housing Investment Programme Allocations and Expenditure for Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council

  (£ thousands)

  Allocations

  Gross expenditure outturn

  Cash

  Percentage change1

  Cash

  Percentage change1

  1978–79

  14,367

  —

  14,089

  —

  1979–80

  16,270

  -3

  18,496

  +13

  1980–81

  14,260

  -26

  13,796

  -37

  1981–82

  11,170

  -29

  8,966

  -41

  1982–83

  13,553

  +13

  13,523

  +41

  1983–84

  14,405

  +2

  23,789

  +68

  1984–85

  10,020

  -34

  12,353

  -51

  1985–86

  8,202

  -22

  14,073

  +8

  1986–87

  6,599

  -22

  14,774

  +1

  1987–88

  6,808

  -2

  22,807

  +47

  1988–89

  6,019

  -18

  22,950

  -6

  1989–90

  4,767

  -26

  22,442

  -8

  New Capital Finance System

  1990–91

  8,810

  n/a

  1991–92

  27,950

  -16

  n/a

  Notes:

  1 Percentage change over previous year in real terms (using GDP deflator): except 1990–91 because of change to capital finance system.

  2 The allocation shown here is the initial allocation only. Additional supplementary credit approvals are expected to be issued in the course of the year.

  n/a not available.

  Household Incomes
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for Barrow in Furness, Great Grimsby, Westminster, Wandsworth and Elmbridge, the amount of central Government contribution to income under the relevant headings in terms of cash per household together with the reasons for any difference.
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  Mr. Key
  The available information for 1991–92 is as follows:

  £ per domestic hereditament

  Revenue support grant

  Special grants

  Community charge grant

  Barrow in Furness

  293

  211

  251

  Great Grimsby

  453

  38

  256

  Wandsworth

  1,263

  234

  229

  Westminster

  1,347

  52

  219

  Elmbridge

  198

  0

  268

  Information is not yet available about the amounts of community charge benefit subsidy, community charge reduction scheme grant, and other specific grants expected to be paid to these authorities.

  The reason for the differences in the total amounts of revenue support grant and special grants are set out in the Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England), the Revenue Support Grant Distribution (Amendment) Report (England) and the Special Grant Report (No. 2). Differences in the amount of community charge grant per domestic hereditament are the result of differences in the numbers of charge payers per domestic hereditament in each area.

  Disposable Income
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report the increase in the real disposable income since 1979 of the average council tenant not on income support after payment of income tax, national insurance, council rents and rates/poll tax, school meals, school travel, medical prescription and other medical charges.

  Mr. Key
  The information requested is not available.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide the basis for his estimate set out in paragraph 2 of his illustrative tables for

  Number of transactions thousands

  Average price £ thousands

  Number sold as per cent. of total housing stock per cent.

  1989

  1990

  1989

  1990

  1989

  1990

  (i) Council dwellings sold to sitting tenants1

  Northern

  12·9

  11·0

  20·3

  24·0

  1

  1

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  19·3

  13·0

  20·8

  26·8

  1

  1

  East Midlands

  12·9

  5·4

  31·0

  37·5

  1

  —

  East Anglia

  3·8

  1·7

  48·9

  49·6

  —

  —

  Greater London

  24·3

  20·7

  62·5

  60·3

  1

  1

  South East (ex Greater London)

  22·4

  11·4

  56·2

  60·0

  1

  —

  South West

  11·6

  4·9

  45·2

  46·0

  1

  —

  West Midlands

  18·9

  11·8

  28·4

  33·9

  1

  1

  North West

  14·3

  14·9

  21·7

  22·1

  1

  1

  England

  140·5

  94·7

  38·4

  40·0

  1

  —

  (ii) Other dwellings sold by individuals2

  Northern

  53·5

  43·7

  40·9

  47·3

  4

  3

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  92·7

  78·9

  45·3

  50·4

  5

  4

  East Midlands

  57·6

  60·6

  53·2

  54·4

  4

  4

  East Anglia

  25·2

  35·2

  68·7

  62·2

  3

  4

  Greater London

  64·5

  70·0

  90·5

  90·6

  2

  2

  South East (ex Greater London)

  153·7

  184·9

  86·7

  82·5

  4

  4

  South West

  64·6

  79·7

  71·2

  66·6

  3

  4

  West Midlands

  71·2

  74·7

  55·5

  58·2

  3

  4

  North West

  123·6

  97·3

  44·6

  52·9

  5

  4

  England

  706·5

  725·0

  62·8

  66·1

  4

  4

  174
  the council tax of £80,000 for an average property value for England; whether it includes (i) leasehold and (ii) rented dwellings at their freehold value with vacant possession; whether it is on the same basis as the survey of property transactions in England and Wales given in chapter 14 of the 1990 "Inland Revenue Statistics"; and if he will publish in the Official Report tables showing the figures he is using on (i) his basis and (ii) the same basis as in tables 14.1, 14.2, 14.3 and 14.4.

  Mr. Key
  As explained in paragraph 2 of the notes covering the tables of illustrative council tax bills issued on 23 April, the estimates are for all domestic properties and use the same definition of value whatever the tenure of the property. They were produced on a basis different from the survey of property transactions in England and Wales given in chapter 14 of Inland Revenue Statistics 1990.

  The data underlying the illustrative council tax bills cannot be presented in the form used in Inland Revenue Statistics; and the data underlying the tables in chapter 14 of "Inland Revenue Statistics" cannot directly provide the information needed to estimate the number of properties in each local authority area falling in each of the seven council tax bands.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish a table showing by range of consideration nationally and regionally the number and average value of transactions in 1989 and 1990 in (i) council dwellings sold to sitting tenants and (ii) other dwellings sold by individuals, together with the numbers as a percentage of the national and regional housing stock.

  Mr. Yeo
  The available information is in the table:
  175
  1 Average undiscounted price of dwellings sold to sitting tenants.

  2 Estimates from the Department's 5 per cent. sample survey of Building Society mortgage completions. —less than 0·5 per cent.

  Property Services Agency
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on the future of the Property Services Agency as it relates to Scotland;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the future of the Property Services Agency.

  Sir George Young
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin) on 24 April,Official Report, column 434.

  Rufford Hospital, Lancashire
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has made a decision on calling in the development in the green belt of the former Rufford hospital, Lancashire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  My right hon. Friend has not yet made a decision on this case. I will write to my hon. Friend when the decision is made.

  Value for Money
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will have discussions with the Audit Commission about ways of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of relevant activities which fall within the responsibility of his Department with a view to securing better value for money; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  I am confident that the commission continues to fulfil its remit, which extends to England and Wales, in promoting value for money across the range of services.

  Dangerous Chemicals, Norfolk
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the washing ashore at Salthouse, Weybourne and Kelling in Norfolk of dangerous chemicals.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 14 May 1991]: On Friday 3 May, the marine pollution control unit of the Department of Transport received a report from the Humber coastguard that the Swedish flag container ship Nordic Pride had lost four tank containers of chemicals overboard during bad weather 20 miles north of Blakeney.

  In accordance with contingency plans for such incidents, MPCU immediately mounted a comprehensive air search for the containers. At the same time, MPCU scientific staff assessed the threat posed to the marine environment by the chemical—two tanks contained ethyl acrylate, with the others holding CHC feedstock and triethylenetetramine respectively—in consultation with colleagues from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and English Nature. The air search proved negative and since the conclusion of the joint assessment was that the tanks posed minimal threat to the marine environment, recovery was not deemed necessary. Local authorities were advised of the incident, the content of the tanks, and of the possibility of their coming ashore on the north Norfolk
  176
  coast. The two tanks of ethyl acrylate were found washed ashore at Weybourne on the morning of Monday 6 May. The other tanks remain at sea.

  Coastal local authorities are responsible for dealing with incidents of this sort where chemical containers are washed ashore and North Norfolk district council, in conjunction with the police, carried out these duties in this incident. I understand that the containers washed ashore and their contents were cleared from the area for safe disposal by the afternoon of Wednesday 8 May.

  Industrialists (Environment Advisory Committee)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his advisory committee of industrialists on the environment will consider(a) Kuwait oil fires and (b) rain forest problems.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 13 May 1991]: The Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment has not yet held its first meeting. It is therefore premature to say which topics it will address, but it is unlikely that it will consider Kuwait oil fires.

  Oil Spills
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 25 March,Official Report, column 341–42, on what date and by what process the tenders were offered for the supply of oil-skimming equipment to Bahrain; and if any further contracts have recently been awarded to Desmi Ltd.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 7 May 1991]: Two contracts—total cost £282,924—for the supply of six heavy-duty oil pollution skimmers to assist the Government of Bahrain in dealing with the Gulf oil spill were awarded to Desmi Ltd. of Stoke-on-Trent on 28 February and 18 March. The selection of Desmi was made on the basis of an earlier tender exercise for the procurement of heavy-duty oil recovery skimmers for their own stocks carried out by the marine pollution control unit of the Department of Transport in January. This was supplemented by further inquiries made by MPCU in the course of advising my Department on the most appropriate equipment for the needs of Bahrain. No further contracts have been placed by my Department for pollution control equipment.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if Innoval Europe Ltd, of Fraserburgh, is on his Department's tender list to supply equipment for dealing with oil spills; if he has information on the company's capabilities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 7 May 1991]: The hon. Member has written to me to draw attention to the features of oil recovery equipment manufactured by Innovac Europe Ltd. and I have passed on this information to the marine pollution control unit of the Department of Transport, which has the professional and operational responsibility for dealing with pollution incidents at sea. I can confirm that the properties of the Innovac systems will be taken into account in any future consideration of Government requirements for this type of equipment.

  Police Forces (Grants)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial provision has been made in Government grants for police forces in England and Wales in 1991–92; and what was the comparable figure for 1990–91.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I have been asked to reply.

  Subject to parliamentary approval, provision of £2,615·7 million has been made for the payment of specific grants and special grants to police authorities in 1991–92. This compares with a provision of £2,269·7 million in supply estimates, and a total provision of £2,366·9 million after supplementary estimates, for 1990–91. In addition to these grants, expenditure on police forces is supported by central Government through revenue support grant and redistributed business rates, but these are not hypothecated to particular services.

TRANSPORT

  Catalytic Converters
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cars in the United Kingdom are currently fitted with catalytic converters; and what proportion of new cars being sold are fitted with catalytic converters.

  Mr. Chope
  At the end of March 1991 over 180,000 cars registered in the United Kingdom were fitted with catalytic converters. In the first three months of this year, approximately 16 per cent. of all new petrol-engined cars being sold were fitted with these devices. These numbers are expected to increase sharply following planned changes in European Community requirements.

  Leicester Eastern Bypass
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations he has received concerning the possibility of an eastern bypass being constructed in Leicester; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The A46/A6 Leicester eastern bypass was added to the national roads programme in the 1989 White Paper "Roads for Prosperity". This would be an outer bypass for through trunk road traffic. Routes have yet to be identified and no representations have been received.

  Thirteen representations have been received about the route options currently being considered by Leicestershire county council for its Leicester eastern district distributer road. This road is not, however, a bypass as it is estimated that 90 per cent. of the traffic expected to use it would have origins and/or destinations within the city of Leicester. It is a local road proposal and will be fully examined at the local level as part of the statutory processes required for the construction of new roads.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Links
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to give full consideration to all the proposed rail link routes to the channel tunnel, with a view to making a decision which will maximise private sector involvement.
  178
  Mr. Freeman
  There are many issues including the prospects for commercial viability which the Government will consider very carefully before reaching decisions on British Rail's recommendations for the rail link.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the number of vehicle journeys on the A9 between Perth and Drumochter involving the transport of medium and high-level nuclear waste in the last three years; and if he will list the statutory regulations governing the transport of such waste.

  Mr. Chope
  My Department does not collect data of the kind requested.

  Movements of radioactive materials by road are governed by the Radioactive Substances (Carriage by Road) (Great Britain) Regulations 1974 (SI 1974 No. 1735) and amendment Regulations 1985 (SI 1985 No. 1729).

  Thurleigh Airport
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what restraints are likely to be placed on development and use of Thurleigh airport, in accordance with Her Majesty's Government business aviation policy; and what effect further developments at Luton and Stansted will have on such limitation.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Bedford (Thurleigh) airfield is not one of the airports round London identified by the Government as suitable to provide alternative facilities for business aircraft no longer able to use Heathrow or Gatwick. So business aviation policy will not govern Thurleigh's future. How much scope there might be for handling other air traffic from Thurleigh in addition to that from Luton and Stansted would depend on the nature, volume and timing of that traffic.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Non-departmental Public Bodies
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service when it was decided not to publish in the Official Report information requested on total expenditure by non-departmental public bodies; and what were the reasons for this decision.

  Mr. Renton
  Details of total expenditure by non-departmental public bodies is set out in "Public Bodies 1990" whose publication was announced in the Official Report on 19 December 1990, at column 176 and copies of which are available in the Library of the House. This is the usual method of publicising this information.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  HMSO
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the 1991–92 annual budget for Her Majesty's Stationery Office is; and what percentage of that is allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Maples
  [holding answer 14 May 1991]: This question falls within the scope of the policy announced in

  179
  Cm. 1263: arrangements have therefore been made for the controller and chief executive of HMSO to respond direct. Copies of the letter will be placed in the House Library and with the Public Information Office.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Her Majesty's Stationery Office is being examined as a candidate for privatisation.

  Mr. Maples
  [holding answer 14 May 1991]: The future of Her Majesty's Stationery Office is reviewed from time to time. There are, however, no current plans to privatise it.

  Central Office of Information
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Central Office of Information; and what percentage of that is allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Maples
  [holding answer 14 May 1991]: This question falls within the scope of the policy announced in Cm. 1263: arrangements have therefore been made for the chief executive of the COI to respond direct. Copies of the letter will be placed in the House Library and with the Public Information Office.

  Royal Mint
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Royal Mint; and what percentage of that is allocated to staff costs.

  Mr. Maples
  [holding answer 14 May 1991]: This question falls within the scope of the policy announced in Cm. 1263: arrangements have therefore been made for the deputy master and chief executive of the Royal Mint to respond direct. Copies of the letter will be placed in the House Library and with the Public Information Office.

WALES

  Dental Services
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the Official Report those district health authorities in Wales which have implemented his Department's recommendation in the circular on community dental services issued on 6 April 1989 that an annual reminder should be sent to parents about the benefits of regular dental examinations for their children.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This information is not available centrally. Responsibility for the issue of annual reminders rests with district health authorities.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the procedures his Department has adopted to enable him to assess whether district health authorities have provided the necessary annual screening of the teeth of children in state-funded schools in areas of poor dental health and where availability of general dental services is poor.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Health authorities are required annually to provide the Department with statistical returns, including information on the screening of the teeth of school children. This information is published annually in "Health and Personal Social Services Statistics 180
  for Wales", copies of which are available in the Library of the House. The level and frequency of screening is a matter for local determination by health authorities.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance on the development of the new management information system referred to in paragraph 4 of his departmental circular on community dental services issued on 6 April 1989.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Since the publication of WHC(89)28 "The Future Development of Community Health Services" and following consultation with the national health service in Wales, a management information system providing an improved level of information has now been successfully piloted. Its introduction throughout Wales is currently under consideration.

  Value for Money
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will have discussions with the Audit Commission about ways of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of relevant activities which fall within the responsibility of his Department with a view to securing better value for money; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  From my examination of Audit Commission reports, and from the variety of contacts which I and my Department have with the commission, I am satisfied that the commission is making a real impression on the way local and health authorities deliver the services for which they are responsible.

  Singleton Hospital, Swansea
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State discussed trust status on his visit to Singleton hospital, Swansea.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  No.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Agricultural Chemicals
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether patentable agricultural chemicals which are required to pass safety tests before they receive marketing approval will be eligible for supplementary protection certificates of the type proposed by the EC Commission for medicinal products.

  Mr. Leigh
  My colleagues and I accept that the patent term erosion in the agrochemical industry is similar to that for pharmaceuticals and that agrochemical patents should have similar supplementary protection. We intend therefore to seek either amendment of the Commission's proposal to cover agrochemicals or the introduction of a new proposal to that effect.

  Offshore Oil and Gas (Standby Vessels)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the number of emergency and standby vessels which have been ordered in each of the last
  181
  three years for service in the United Kingdom's offshore oil and gas industry from shipyards located in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 14 May 1991]: None has been ordered.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  St. Margaret Ward High School
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the grounds on which he based his decision not to select the extension project for St. Margaret Ward Roman Catholic (aided) high school in the form approved by Staffordshire county council and the Diocesan Schools Commission.

  Mr. Fallon
  In determining capital allocations for improvement work at voluntary aided schools for 1991–92, my right hon. and learned Friend had sufficient resources to allocate for a proportion of improvement projects rated as top priority by their LEAs. The project at St. Margaret Ward school was not Staffordshire LEA's top priority.

  Stratford Grant-maintained School
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements exist at Stratford grant-maintained school for the application of the curriculum complaints procedure, as agreed by him and the London borough of Newham.

  Mr. Eggar
  The governing body of Stratford school is required to make arrangements for the consideration and disposal of complaints relating to the curriculum and to agree those arrangements with my right hon. and learned Friend.

  Value for Money
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will have discussions with the Audit Commission about ways of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of relevant activities which fall within the responsibility of his Department with a view to securing better value for money; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Audit Commission has produced reports exploring efficiency and effectiveness in various aspects of the education service, including the provision of primary and secondary schools, further education, and inspectorate and advisory services. The Department will continue to hold discussions as and when appropriate with the commission about its work in relation to the education service.

  South West London College
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessment has been made of the effect of the closure of the South West London college on the provision of higher and further education in the south-west London area.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council has advised my right hon. and learned Friend that the South West London College Higher 182
  Education Corporation should be dissolved and that, following consultations with the students, the college's provision should be transferred to other institutions. We are consulting the college and other institutions on this advice. The final decision will take account of all the responses received.

  Boarding Schools
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further steps he has taken to secure the safety and welfare of pupils in independent boarding schools.

  Mr. Fallon
  I refer my hon. Friend to the replies I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Sir M. McNair-Wilson) on 22 January,Official Report, columns 121–23 and 18 February, Official Report, column 24. Following consultations with interested bodies, regulations were laid on 24 April, coming into operation today, which require proprietors of independent schools to report where any member of staff is dismissed for misconduct, or would have been dismissed or considered for dismissal had he not resigned. Proprietors will also be required to provide particulars of all staff, not just teaching staff, on application for registration and annually.

  My Department is writing to the proprietors and heads of all independent schools bringing these requirements to their attention. Conscientious reporting by schools will enable us usefully to extend the coverage of our list of people barred from employment in maintained schools —DES List 99—which is itself an essential resource for those responsible for the employment of staff in the independent sector.

  At the same time, we shall provide each school with a copy of the guidance and regulations on the implementation of section 63 of the Children Act 1989. Section 87 places new duties on proprietors of independent boarding schools, and on local authority social services departments, to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils. The guidance, which is published jointly by the Department of Health, the Department of Education and Science and the Welsh Office, has also been sent to social service departments and local education authorities and will, I believe, provide a sounder basis for securing all aspects of the welfare of pupils in boarding schools, including strengthening the arrangements for protecting them from sexual and physical abuse.

PRIME MINISTER

  Bay of Bengal
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister whether Her Majesty's Government made any offer to the Bangladeshi authorities to provide technical assistance in predicting storm surges in the Bay of Bengal.

  The Prime Minister
  No. This is an area where the United States of America is the principal donor. Bangladesh's cyclone early warning system was established in the 1970s when a satellite ground station was installed in Dhaka by a Bangladeshi organisation, the Space Research and Remote Sensing Organisation. The ground station has subsequently been upgraded through a project funded by the Office of the United States Foreign Disaster Assistance and implemented by the National
  183
  Aeronautics and Space Administration. United States aid assistance has continued for this activity and now totals excess of US$6 million.

  The Bangladesh authorities issued warning of the cyclone two days before it struck and an estimated 350,000 people were evacuated to anti-cyclone shelters.

  Iraq
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Iraqi representations concerning their need to use helicopters for internal security which led the coalition representatives to concede that point during the ceasefire talks.

  The Prime Minister
  The Iraqi use of helicopters was considered at a meeting between General Schwarzkopf and the Iraqi military authorities on the suspension of hostilities at Safwan on 3 March. An Iraqi request to permit helicopter flights for transportation was agreed, without limitations of their use.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Fire Brigade
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the total costs of fire brigades will be met from all central sources of funding, direct and indirect, in the current financial year; and what percentage will be paid locally.

  Mr. John Patten
  Support for the expenditure of fire authorities in England and Wales is provided by central Government through revenue support grant, redistributed

  Establishment

  Strength

  Vacancies

  1. Wholetime operational ranks: 1 January 19811

  Chief Fire Officer

  1

  1

  —

  Assistant Chief Officer

  4

  3

  1

  Senior Divisional Officer

  —

  —

  —

  Divisional Officer I

  8

  7

  1

  Divisional Officer II

  —

  —

  —

  Divisional Officer III

  19

  18

  1

  Assistant Divisional Officer

  27

  27

  —

  Station Officer

  130

  113

  17

  Sub Officer

  102

  91

  11

  Leading Firefighter

  136

  120

  16

  Firefighter

  714

  689

  25

  Total

  1,141

  1,069

  72

  2. Wholetime operational ranks: 1 January 19911

  Chief Fire Officer

  1

  1

  —

  Assistant Chief Officer

  4

  4

  —

  Senior Divisional Officer

  4

  3

  1

  Divisional Officer I

  2

  1

  1

  Divisional Officer II

  6

  5

  1

  Divisional Officer III

  11

  11

  —

  Assistant Divisional Officer

  28

  26

  2

  Station Officer

  131

  108

  23

  Sub Officer

  102

  100

  2

  Leading Firefighter

  136

  125

  11

  Firefighter

  659

  683

  224

  Total

  1,084

  1,067

  317

  3. Retained operational ranks: 1 January 1981

  Station Officer

  8

  8

  —

  Sub Officer

  18

  16

  2

  Leading Firefighter

  27

  23

  4

  Firefighter

  198

  114

  84

  Total

  251

  161

  90

  184
  business rates and community charge grant. This support is not hypothecated to particular services, and decisions on what portion should go to meet fire expenditure are at the discretion of the local authority concerned. For England and Wales as a whole, central Government meet about 85 per cent. of the budgeted revenue expenditure of local authorities.

  Mr. Martin Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current establishment by rank for the South Yorkshire fire service; what is the number of vacancies in each rank; and what were the comparable figures for 10 years ago.

  Mr. John Patten
  The most recent centrally available figures relate to the establishment of the South Yorkshire county fire service on 1 January 1991. The establishments on this date and on 1 January 1981 are shown, by rank in the table, in comparison with figures showing the strength and the number of vacancies on each of those dates.

  Police Forces (Budget)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what budget has been set for police forces in England and Wales in 1991–92; and what were the comparable figures for 1990–91.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The Government do not set a budget for police expenditure, but the police share of total standard spending—TSS—is an indication of what we would expect police authorities to spend to provide an acceptable level of service. For 1991–92 the police share of TSS for England and Wales is £4,900 million. The comparable figure for 1990–91 was £4,384 million.
  185

  Establishment

  Strength

  Vacancies

  4. Retained operational ranks: 1 January 1991

  Station Officer

  7

  7

  —

  Sub Officer

  17

  10

  7

  Leading Firefighter

  24

  19

  5

  Firefighter

  144

  93

  51

  Total

  192

  129

  63

  5. Control Room staff: 1 January 1981

  Principal Fire Control Officer

  1

  1

  —

  Fire Control Officer

  4

  4

  —

  Senior Fire Control Operator

  4

  4

  —

  Leading Fire Control Operator

  8

  8

  —

  Fire Control Operator

  20

  19

  1

  Total

  37

  36

  1

  6. Control Room staff: 1 January 1991

  Principal Fire Control Officer

  1

  1

  —

  Fire Control Officer

  4

  4

  —

  Senior Fire Control Operator

  4

  4

  —

  Leading Fire Control Operator

  8

  8

  —

  Fire Control Operator

  20

  20

  —

  Total

  37

  37

  —

  1 Includes fire prevention staff.

  2 Denotes surplus in strength relative to establishment.

  3 Net figure.

  Police National Network
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his review of the police national network will be completed and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Work is in hand on establishing a detailed user requirement for a network to handle both voice and data communications between police forces and also between forces and other agencies within the criminal justice system. This work is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

  South Yorkshire Police Force
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current establishment by rank for the South Yorkshire police force; and what are the number of vacancies in each rank.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information is given in the table.

  Establishment

  Vacancies held

  1

  Chief Constable

  —

  1

  Deputy Chief Constable

  —

  3

  Assistant Chief Constables

  —

  11

  Chief Superintendents

  —

  38

  Superintendents

  —

  47

  Chief Inspectors

  1

  159

  Inspectors

  —

  456

  Sergeants

  2

  2,282

  Constables

  9

  Total 2,998

  12

  Lollipop Ladies, Cheshire
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many lollipop ladies will be made redundant in Cheshire.
  186
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Under the provisions of section 26 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, authority for providing school crossing patrols in Cheshire is vested in Cheshire county council. I understand from the chief constable of Cheshire, who administers the scheme by local agreement, that it is expected that by the end of June some 60 or 70 school crossing patrol posts will have been withdrawn. Some further posts are to be reviewed.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements have been made to ensure safety for children leaving school grounds once the services of lollipop ladies are discontinued.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Authority for providing school crossing patrols outside London is vested in individual local authorities who may make provision for them where they consider it necessary. The safety of children travelling to and from school is the responsibility of their parents.

  Police Station, Leicester
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Government plans for a new police station at Hamilton, Leicester.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Proposals by the Leicestershire police authority for a new sub-divisional police headquarters at Hamilton have been approved for planning purposes and I understand that a site has now been purchased.

  Provision for the police building programme is fully committed up to 1993–94. We shall decide later this year which schemes on the planning list should be authorised to start in 1994–95. The Hamilton police station is one of the schemes which will be considered, but there can be no guarantee that it will be given a start date.

  Fire Authorities
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions have taken place with the Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers Association concerning consideration of the future of fire authorities under the review of local government.

  Mr. John Patten
  Home Office officials attended the annual general meeting of the Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers Association on 4 May, at which the future structure of local government was one of the items discussed. Representatives of the association, together with those of other organisations representing fire service employers and employees, will have a further opportunity to discuss the Government's proposals at a meeting of the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council on 21 May 1991.

  Parole Board
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the cases dealt with by the Parole Board (i) in 1990 and (ii) so far in the current year, were considered by the local review committee(a) six to 12 months previously, (b) three to six months previously and (c) up to three months previously.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  These statistics are not recorded centrally in this form and could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases were dealt with by the Parole Board (i) in 1990 and (ii) so far in the current year; what percentage of prisoners had passed their parole eligibility date at the time of the deliberations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  In 1990 the Parole Board considered some 7,400 determinate sentence cases; so far this year it has dealt with about 2,700. The detailed statistics sought on the timeliness of board deliberations are not available. There are not any general delays, but occasionally cases are held up for reasons beyond our control, such as late changes in inmates' circumstances.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners who were dealt with by the Parole Board in 1990 received their decision after their earliest date of release; what was the average delay; and what percentages of the decisions were positive.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  These statistics could not be provided without incurring disproportionate costs. However, it is rare for a parole decision to be delayed until after an inmate's earliest date of release.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department of all cases dealt with by the Parole Board (i) in 1990 and (ii) so far in the current year, how many have had the home circumstances report completed(a) over 12 months previously, (b) six to 12 months previously and (c) three to six months previously; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  This information is not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The probation service is under standing instructions to provide updates on any changes to inmates's domestic 188
  circumstances or release plans. A letter has been circulated to all chief probation officers reminding them of the crucial importance of timely home circumstances reports to the parole process.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many instances of alleged maladministration or other complaints about parole dossiers have been reported by the Parole Board during the last two years.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Parole Board has not raised any specific cases with me.

  Value for Money
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will have discussions with the Audit Commission about ways of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of relevant activities which fall within the responsibility of his Department with a view to securing better value for money; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I met the chairman and the controller of the Audit Commission on 11 March and had a valuable exchange of views on the commission's work on the police and other Home Office services provided by local authorities.

  War Crimes Investigations
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost so far to(a) the Metropolitan police and (b) his Department of the inquiries into alleged Nazi war criminals living in the United Kingdom; what is the estimated cost of further investigations during the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The cost of the war crime inquiry, which was set up by the Home Office to investigate allegations that war criminals were resident in this country, was in the region of £460,000. It is estimated that police inquiries are likely to cost in the order of £700,000 in this financial year.

  Royal Commission on Criminal Justice
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce the names of the members of the Royal Commission on criminal justice.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The Queen has been pleased to approve a recommendation that the following be appointed members of the Royal Commission on criminal justice under the chairmanship of Viscount Runciman of Doxford: Mr. Robert Bunyard, Professor Sir John Cadogan, Professor John Gunn, Sir John May, Mrs. Yve Newbold, Ms Usha Prashar, Miss Anne Rafferty QC, Sir John Wickerson, Sir Phillip Woodfield and Professor Michael Zander.

  Probation Service
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the report of the scrutiny of in-service training for the probation service.

  Mr. John Patten
  My right hon. Friend received the report on 18 April and I am today placing copies of it in the Library.
  189
  I am grateful to the scrutiny team for its work and for its clear and comprehensive report. Its findings and recommendations will make a vital contribution to improving the training that the probation service will need to support its future work as a major criminal justice agency.

  We are consulting the probation service and others with a view to its implementation as soon as practicable.

  Family Conciliation Services
  Mrs. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he will protect family conciliation services by taking responsibility for their funding.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 9 May 1991]: The Government are reviewing the future of and funding for conciliation services as part of their consideration of proposals for divorce law reform.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Institute of Horticulture
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next plans to meet representatives of the Institute of Horticulture; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  At present I have no plans to do so.

  Lindane
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Advisory Committee on Pesticides is expected to report on the safety of lindane.

  Mr. Maclean
  Data on lindane are currently being evaluated by the Health and Safety Executive. It is expected to be referred to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides by the end of the year.

  Offal and Fallen Stock Disposal
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the amount of assistance given to agriculture for the disposal of offal and fallen stock.

  Mr. Maclean
  Government assistance to help the livestock industry overcome its problems on the disposal of fallen stock and animal carcase waste includes: practical advice from the state veterinary service and ADAS on alternative methods of carcase disposal including safe burial and incineration; funding of research with industry and the European Community into the type of rendering systems which will destroy certain pathogens; advising planning and regulatory authorities about the importance of adequate disposal facilities especially where planning permission is sought for incinerators; exempting small incinerators designed for animal waste from the inspection and authorisation requirements of the Environmental Protection Act 1990; helping the rendering industry's examination of useful alternatives to landfilling for meat and bonemeal derived from specified bovine offal; and identifying investment in the by-products sector as one of the priority areas for aid under the EC grant scheme for marketing and processing agricultural products.

  Milk Marketing Board
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the future structure of the Milk Marketing Board.

  Mr. Curry
  The Milk Marketing Board for England and Wales has decided to press forward with specific proposals for transforming itself into co-operative status. We hope that the board will shortly bring the dairy trade and other interested parties into its discussions. We welcome the decision to open the way to changes enabling our milk industry to operate with the same competitive flexibility as in the rest of the European market. This must be in the best interests of milk producers, dairies, processors and consumers.

  Environmental Research and Development
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research and development on environmental issues is currently funded by his Department.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is spending about £50 million a year on research and development related to environmental issues; that is almost half of the Department's total expenditure on research and development of about £120 million. This is a very significant level and underlines the Department's commitment to the soundest science on which to base our policies now and in the future.

  I am pleased to announce the publication today of a brochure describing the wide range of environmental research and development that the Department has commissioned on such issues as conservation; water, air and soil protection; pests and pesticides; climate change; farm woodlands and set-aside; flood and coastal defence; genetic conservation and modification; and protection of fisheries and the marine environment. This brochure has been placed in the Library and the Vote Office of the House.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Donor Nations
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in rank order the donor nations of the United Nations showing the proportion of GDP donated, for the most recent year available, and the amounts in sterling.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The latest information is as follows; GDP figures are not available.

  Official development assistance by United Nations member countries in 1988 in ODA/GNP percentage order

  Country

  Per cent of GNP 1988

  Amount £ million

  Saudi Arabia

  2·64

  1,150

  Norway

  1·04

  553

  Netherlands

  0·98

  1,252

  Denmark

  0·89

  518

  Sweden

  0·86

  861

  France

  0·72

  3,854

  Finland

  0·59

  341

  Libya

  0·52

  72

  Canada

  0·50

  1,318

  191

  Country

  Per cent of GNP 1988

  Amount £ million

  Australia

  0·46

  618

  Belgium

  0·41

  337

  Kuwait

  0·40

  61

  Germany

  0·39

  2,656

  Italy

  0·39

  1,793

  Japan

  0·32

  5,128

  United Kingdom

  0·32

  1,489

  Luxembourg

  0·29

  10

  New Zealand

  0·27

  58

  Austria

  0·24

  169

  United States

  0·21

  5,693

  Ireland

  0·20

  32

  Portugal

  0·20

  147

  Qatar

  0·08

  2

  Venezuela

  0·08

  31

  Spain

  0·07

  135

  Greece

  0·07

  121

  UAE

  0·07

  10

  Nigeria

  0·05

  8

  China

  0·03

  72

  India

  0·03

  46

  Algeria

  0·02

  17

  Iceland

  0·02

  1

  USSR

  2—

  2,361

  Israel

  2—

  10

  Yugoslavia

  2—

  3

  Other Central and Eastern Europe

  2—

  292

  Source: OECD.

  1Estimate by DAC Secretariat whole or in part.

  2GNP figures not available.

  Colonial Civil Servants' Pensions
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to protect from erosion the pensions of former colonial civil servants who served in Zimbabwe before independence.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Responsibility for the payment and protection of the pensions of former Zimbabwe—Southern Rhodesia—civil servants rests with the Government of Zimbabwe. Our obligation towards the pensions of former colonial officers is confined to those for whom the British Government acknowledge a special responsibility by virtue of their having been recruited by, or on behalf of, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, for employment on expatriate terms in the central government of a colony. Zimbabwe pensioners do not come into this category. Southern Rhodesia was a self-governing colony from 1923; recruitment to its public service was made directly by that Government, and staff served on local, as opposed to expatriate, terms of service. There are large numbers of overseas pensioners whose pensions are being eroded in value by falling exchange rates and, indeed, many who receive no payment at all. I could not justify helping Zimbabwe pensioners in isolation, and the financial consequences of assisting all overseas pensioners who face such problems would be prohibitive.

  Agency

  Date

  Aircraft

  Tonnage

  Destination

  ODA

  25 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  37·3

  Incerlik, Turkey

  ODA

  26 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  23·8

  Incerlik, Turkey

  ODA

  27 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  27·5

  Incerlik, Turkey

  ODA

  28 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  28·7

  Incerlik, Turkey

  ODA

  28 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  25·9

  Orumiyeh, Iran

  ODA

  29 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  32·4

  Orumiyeh, Iran

  ODA

  30 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  32·4

  Orumiyeh, Iran

  Family Planning
  Sir Charles Morrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contributions for 1991 are being made to the International Planned Parenthood Federation, the United Nations Population Fund and the World Health Organisation's special programme on human reproduction.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The United Kingdom has pledged the following contributions for 1991:

  £ million

  IPPF

  7·5

  UNFPA

  7·5

  WHO/HRP

  2·55

  Population
  Sir Charles Morrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total expenditure on population activities for 1991; and what percentage this represents of total gross public expenditure on aid for 1991.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Figures for 1991 will not be available until 1992 and details of total United Kingdom aid expenditure in 1990 are still being finalised. In 1990 ODA spent over £21 million on activities directly related to population concerns, a 21 per cent. increase on 1989 expenditure. In addition, most maternal and child health and women's education programmes contribute to reducing population growth. We shall continue to use all possibilities to extend the availability of family planning advice and assistance.

  Kurds
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) pursuant to his written answers to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East on 25 April,Official Report, columns 507–8, and 2 May, Official Report, column 288, if he will (a) update the information given and (b) provide details of those supplies (i) obtained from and (ii) despatched on behalf of the voluntary organisation British Aid for the Kurds;

  (2) pursuant to his written answers to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East on 25 April, Official Report, columns 507–8, and 2 May, Official Report, column 288, if he will provide comparable details for materials despatched as aid for the Kurds by means other than air transport.

  Mrs. Chalker
  (a) Since 24 April, an estimated total of 541·9 tonnes of further relief supplies have been sent by the Overseas Development Administration, and an estimated total of 124·2 tonnes have been sent by non-government sources. The details of which the Department are aware are as follows:
  193

  Agency

  Date

  Aircraft

  Tonnage

  Destination

  ODA

  1 May

  1 x Boeing 707

  40·7

  Tabriz, Iran

  ODA

  1 May

  1 x Boeing 707

  140·0

  Tabriz, Iran

  ODA

  2 May

  1 x Boeing 707

  140·0

  Tabriz, Iran

  ODA

  5 May

  1 x Boeing 707

  140·0

  Tabriz, Iran

  ODA

  8 May

  1 x Boeing 707

  140·0

  Tabriz, Iran

  ODA

  9 May

  1 x Boeing 707

  32·4

  Orumiyeh, Iran

  ODA

  10 May

  1 x Boeing 707

  35·8

  Orumiyeh, Iran

  OXFAM

  26 April

  Not known

  31·7

  Iran

  SCF

  3 May

  Not known

  30·0

  Tabriz, Iran

  OXFAM

  4 May

  Not known

  42·5

  Iran

  OXFAM/SCF

  13 May

  1 x Antonov 12

  15·0

  Dyabakir, Turkey

  SCF

  13 May

  Not known

  5·0

  Dyabakir, Turkey

  1 Denotes estimate.

  In addition to supplies procured by the ODA, spare capacity on aircraft chartered by the ODA has been filled by goods including

  Supplies

  Donor

  Flour

  Spillers

  High protein biscuits

  United Biscuits

  High protein biscuits

  Feed the Children

  Panadol tablets

  Sterling Pharmaceuticals

  Various products

  Mars

  The ODA provided a Boeing 707 on 25 April to carry approximately 33 tonnes of supplies, and road transport for approximately 35 tonnes of further supplies collected by the Northern Ireland voluntary organisation Impossible Probable. The ODA also chartered an Iran Air Boeing 747 on 10 May, carrying approximately 65 tonnes of goods donated to the Iranian embassy in London.

  A number of voluntary organisations have sent further supplies on Iran Air's weekly commercial flight.

  (b) The ODA has neither obtained supplies from British aid for the Kurds, nor dispatched any supplies on their behalf.

  Aid (Africa)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Minister for Overseas Development will urge her counterparts on the European Council of Ministers to consider an emergency decision to provide an additional 750,000 tonnes of food aid to Africa.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The members of the European Community have promised to provide an additional 600,000 tonnes of emergency food aid for Africa; 400,000 tonnes will be financed from the EC budget and 200,000 tonnes bilaterally. We shall continue to stress the importance of getting this additional food aid to those in need very quickly. The situation will be reviewed at the Development Council on 27 May.

  European Bank for Reconstruction and development
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests he has received from governments in eastern and central European countries for assistance with the training of social workers and the establishment of social services departments; if 194
  these will be eligible for financial assistance from the European bank for reconstruction and development; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We are providing help from the know-how fund to employment services to eastern and central Europe. Restructuring of existing industry will be an important task for the European bank for reconstruction and development, and it will need to take account of the social and employment implications. No specific investment proposals have yet been put to the bank's board of directors for approval.

  Publications
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the European bank for reconstruction and development will provide financial assistance to groups to publish newspapers and periodicals in countries in central and eastern Europe; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The European bank for reconstruction and development is working to identify investments in central and eastern Europe to help promote development of the private sector. Initial operational priorities include restructuring of financial institutions, the environment, infrastructure and help with small businesses. No specific investment proposals have yet been put to the bank's board of directors for approval.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for how long the housing benefit claim from the Isle of Wight county council has been outstanding.

  Miss Widdecombe
  In the Isle of Wight the housing authorities are the two district councils, Medina and South Wight. Both authorities have outstanding subsidy claims in respect of housing benefit paid to people in local authority residential homes in the financial years 1985–86 and 1986–87. Payment of these claims is subject to reaching agreement with the Department on the amount of benefit for which subsidy is payable.

  Payments of general housing benefit subsidy to Medina are up to date. The settlement for South Wight for 1988–89

  195
  has not been finalised because its claim has yet to satisfy fully the requirements of the district auditor and the Department. However, as is customary, the council received monthly payments on account throughout 1988–89, based upon its own estimates of housing benefit expenditure.

  Disablement Benefit
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims were made for Department of Social Security disablement benefit and how many disability assessments were made in each of the categories 1 to 4 per cent., 5 to 8 per cent., 9 to 13 per cent., 14 to 17 per cent., and above, for each of the prescribed industrial diseases A4, A7, and A8 and for each of the years 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is not available.

  Repetitive Work
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are his plans to publicise the benefits available for sufferers in relation to musculo-skeletal disorders which are associated with repetitive work.

  Mr. Scott
  There are no plans to publicise the benefits available to sufferers of musculo-skeletal disorders specifically. However the Department does produce a number of comprehensive leaflets for people who suffer injury at work to inform them of the benefits they are entitled to: FB 28—Sick or Disabled; NI 2—If you have an Industrial Disease; NI 6—Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit; NI 16—Sickness Benefit.

  Due to the wide variety of illnesses which can be work-related it would be impractical to produce separate literature for individual diseases, but every effort will be made in future to publicise this type of disorder specifically in benefits leaflets.

  Poll Tax
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people will receive full rebate on poll tax payments in 1991–92.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The latest available estimates are in the table.

  Community Charge Benefit recipients also in receipt of Income Support, 1991–92

  Millions (Individuals

  England

  3·5

  Scotland

  0·5

  Wales

  0·25

  Great Britain

  4·25

  Source: Modelled using data drawn from 1987–88 Family Expenditure Survey and 1990–91 Management Information System.

  Additionally, there will be some charge payers not in receipt of income support who will receive maximum community charge benefit in 1991–92.

  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to improve the poll tax rebate system.

  Miss Widdecombe
  We have no plans to change the basic structure of the community charge benefit scheme.

  Community Care Grants
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table indicating(a) the number of applications for community care grants received, (b) the number of community care grants paid and (c) the cash value of community care grants paid by the offices in Greenock and Port Glasgow in each month of 1990 for each of (i) the elderly, (ii) mentally ill, (iii) handicapped, disabled/chronically sick, (iv) young persons leaving care, (v) persons who have abused/misused alcohol/drugs, (vi) ex-offenders, (vii) persons without a settled way of life, (viii) families under exceptional pressure and (ix) those suffering threats of physical violence.

  Mr. Scott
  Information is not available in the client groups requested, but information relating to the total number of community care grants received, paid and the cash value of those paid, is in the Library.

  Greenock and Port Glasgow Local Offices
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for social fund loans from his Department's two local offices in Greenock and Port Glasgow were refused on the grounds of inability to repay such loans; and if he will show this figure as a percentage of all applications for loans from these two offices in 1988–89, 1989–90, and 1990–91 to date.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of the social fund is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies of his letter will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were claiming income support or supplementary benefit in (i) residential care and (ii) nursing homes for each year since 1979 at his Department's offices in Greenock and Port Glasgow.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that the information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the latest figures for the number of persons on income support in Greenock and Port Glasgow who have (i) poll tax arrears for which they are subject to a liability order, (ii) social fund loan repayments, (iii) directed repayments for fuel and lighting arrears, (iv) rent arrears and (v) other debts.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The administration of income support is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and copies of his letter will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

HEALTH

  Speech Therapists
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) full-time and (b) part-time speech therapists are currently employed by each health district authority in England; and if he will make a statement.
  197
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Renal Services
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the comparative coverage and quality of renal services within the health services of European Community countries.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Information on the comparative coverage and quality of renal services within the EC is not collected centrally. Data from renal units in this country and abroad are collected by the European Dialysis and Transplant Association. This is published annually and a copy of its latest report will be placed in the Library.

  Student Nurses (Bursary)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the bursary for student nurses set under Project 2000 was last increased; by how much it was increased; and what is its current value.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Project 2000 bursaries were introduced in September 1989, and range from £4,000, for a student who is under 26 at the start of the course and studying outside London, to £5,200 for a student who is 26 and over at the start of his or her course and is studying in London. These levels are currently under review.

  NHS Reforms (Letters to Employees)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost to the national health service of the national circulation to each NHS employee of letters on developments under the Government's NHS reforms in the last six months.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The only letter sent out to all national health service employees in the last six months was one from the NHS chief executive, marking the implementation of the NHS reforms on 1 April. The cost of printing and distributing this letter to health authorities was met by the Department. There was no additional expense to the NHS other than that of distributing the letter to employees through health authorities' normal channels of communication.

  Value for Money
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will have discussions with the Audit Commission about ways of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of relevant activities which fall within the responsibility of his Department with a view to securing better value for money; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We meet the commission from time to time to discuss its work on value for money in the national health service and personal social services. We are confident that the commission continues to fulfil its remit in promoting value for money.

SCOTLAND

  Arts
  Sir Nicholas Fairbairn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the contributions made by Her Majesty's Government to the buildings, services and 198
  finance of the arts in Scotland since 1979; and if he will make a statement on his plans for government funding for the arts.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Government have provided recurrent funding for the arts in Scotland amounting to £162·4 million since 1979; a real terms increase over the 1979–80 figure of 67·5 per cent. My Department has also provided £39·9 million for building works since 1988.

  For the future, I have already committed major expenditure on the new Museum of Scotland and on the extension of the National Library of Scotland.

  Scottish Council (Development and Industry)
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the Scottish Council (Development and Industry); and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  My hon. Friend met the chief executive of the Scottish Council (Development and Industry) on 20 February to discuss current industrial issues. My hon. Friend and I look forward to a continuing exchange of views with the council.

  Council Tax
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he received in favour of retaining the 20 per cent. minimum contribution of the poll tax prior to the introduction of the council tax.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  My right hon. Friend continues to receive a number of representations in support of the present community charge arrangements generally. The comparatively small number of representations he has received on the specific issue of the 20 per cent. minimum contribution have favoured its removal.

  Mar Lodge Estate
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will purchase the Mar Lodge estate.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Government are well aware of the importance of Mar Lodge estate to the longer term management of the Cairngorms. For most of Scotland environmentally sensitive management is secured through private ownership. But we would of course consider, without commitment, any proposition put to us.

  Local Taxation
  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on representations which he has received in relation to the reform of local taxation in Scotland.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  My right hon. Friend has already received a number of comments on the new proposals and expects to receive many more before the end of the consultation period. All representations will be carefully considered.

  Tourism
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the numbers employed in tourism in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
  199
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The Department of Employment estimated that in 1989 there were 154,000 employees in tourism and leisure-related industries in Scotland. This represents about 8 per cent. of Scottish employment.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what information he has regarding the operation of a tourist tax in any other EC country, Japan or the United States of America;

  (2) whether he has any plans to introduce a tourist tax in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The consultation paper on the new council tax mentions a tourist tax only in the context of discussing possible sources of local finance which might be used to supplement council tax revenue in particular circumstances. The Government have no specific proposals in this area and no detailed research has been done. The Government will, however, be happy to consider suggestions which may emerge from the consultation exercise.

  Dounreay
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of Highland and Grampian regional councils to discuss proposals for the drilling of test boreholes at Dounreay.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend has not met representatives of Highland and Grampian regional councils to discuss proposals for the drilling of test bore-holes at Dounreay. In view of his role in determining planning appeals relating to the site, it would have been inappropriate for my right hon. Friend to do so.

  Scottish Homes
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will meet representatives of Scottish Homes' tenants to discuss the future of metal-framed houses in the Fraser and Findlay areas of Leith.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No. This is a matter for Scottish Homes itself to consider.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends to review the role of Scottish Homes as a landlord.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend gives Scottish Homes annual targets for each of its main areas of activity including its landlord role. Its performance, set against these targets, is reviewed regularly.

  Farming (North-Fast Fife)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to encourage farming in north-east Fife.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Farmers in north-east Fife stand to benefit from various national schemes which support agriculture; apart from support through the intervention system, over £100 million a year is now spent in Scotland through livestock subsidies. Other schemes aim to assist farmers adjust their business in the face of prospective changes in agricultural support and of increasing interest 200
  in the countryside: for example the set-aside and farm woodland schemes, and schemes for farm diversification and conservation. In particular, I welcome the north-west Fife rural initiative, which receives public support through Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish Agricultural College and the local authorities.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received any representations seeking reconsideration of his decision not to appoint an independent commissioner to investigate options for reorganisation of local government in Scotland.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations requesting that the review of local government in Scotland should be conducted by an independent commission. In his reply of 29 April to the right hon. Member for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale (Sir D. Steel) he gave a full explanation of his reasons for concluding that this was not the best or most appropriate way forward for Scotland.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to discuss the reorganisation of local government.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  My right hon. Friend and I last met the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on 8 April 1991 when we discussed, among other things, our proposals for the reorganisation of local government in Scotland. A further meeting with representatives of the sub-committee established by the convention on the future of local government in Scotland will be held shortly.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received concerning the structure of local government; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave earlier today to the right hon. Member for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale (Sir D. Steel).

  Manufacturing Jobs
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of manufacturing jobs which will be lost in Scotland for the current year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  In keeping with the practice of previous Governments, the Government do not publish forecasts of Scottish employment.

  Health Building Projects
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many major new health building projects have been completed during the last five years; how many are under construction; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  Since 1 April 1986, 30 projects with a building cost in excess of £1 million have been completed at a total cost of £210 million, and a further 22 projects are currently under construction or are being commissioned at an expected cost of £220 million.
  201
  I am pleased to state that this record represents part of the largest building programme in the history of the national health service in Scotland, with more than 70 major building projects now completed since 1979. Over £185 million of new capital investment is planned in 1991–92 alone.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications from national health service hospitals for self-governing status he expects to receive in 1991–92; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have no idea as the initiative to apply for NHS trust status comes from the hospitals themselves. So far, there have been seven expressions of interest, one of which I have indicated cannot go ahead. Two applications for trust status have been received. NHS trusts offer an opportunity for hospitals to be returned to the communities they serve while remaining part of the NHS but with decisions being taken at hospital level.

  Lanarkshire Working Party
  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to be able to report on the conclusions of the Lanarkshire working party established by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The final meeting of the Lanarkshire working group took place on Friday 10 May. The group's conclusions and recommendations are being finalised in the light of members' comments at that meeting; I expect to receive its report shortly, and to publish it as soon as possible thereafter.

  NHS Funding
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends meeting chairs of health boards in Scotland to discuss funding and organisation of the national health service.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I met the chairmen of health boards on 3 May and do so regularly. I will be meeting with them again on 28 June.

  Industrial Estates
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans to increase investment in the refurbishing of industrial estates.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  One of the principal functions of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise is to encourage the provision of suitable property to meet the needs of industry in Scotland. The refurbishment of property is primarily a matter for the property owners; but Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and the local enterprise companies, may assist with refurbishment costs where a failure in the market is creating an obstacle to the private sector investment and in order to promote the normal functioning of the market. The Government have made substantial resources available to them for this purpose.

  Employment
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he makes of the likely implications for employment of the recession in Scotland.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  In keeping with the practice of previous Governments, no forecasts of Scottish employment are published.

  Public Sector Housing
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the capital debt faced by Scottish public sector housing.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The outstanding capital debt associated with public sector housing in Scotland at 31 March 1991 amounted to £4·7 billion, or about £5,700 per house. The Government provide subsidy to those public sector housing authorities with relatively high levels of capital debt.

  Dr. Gray's Hospital, Elgin
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the approval in principle of the establishment of(a) a specialist maternity gynaecology and obstetrics unit and (b) a specialist orthapaedic unit at Dr. Gray's hospital, Elgin, have now been fully funded; what progress is being made, and when he expects the work to be completed.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Approval in principle for the redevelopment of Dr. Gray's at a cost of £16·1 million has now been given to Grampian health board. The development will include the full range of maternity, gynaecology, obstetrics and orthopaedic services. Work on the redevelopment is expected to be phased starting in August 1992 and being completed by early 1997.

  Grampian Health Board
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what money has been allocated by Grampian health board or the Scottish Home and Health Department for the exploration by Grampian West unit of the possibility of establishing trust status.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Scottish Office Home and Health Department and Grampian health board have made available £90,000 to help the West Grampian unit to implement a number of White Paper initiatives including preparing an NHS trust plan, following an expression of interest in acquiring trust status from the unit.

  Day-care Places
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many day-care places for adults who are(a) mentally handicapped, (b) mentally ill or recovering from mental illness and (c) physically handicapped are provided by (i) local authorities and (ii) health authorities in Scotland in each regional council and health board area in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The latest figures, based on annual statistics provided by local authorities and information obtained from recent inquiries of the health boards, are shown in the following tables:
  203

  Persons attending local authority day centres at 31 March 1989

  Client group

  Region

  Mentally handicapped

  Mentally ill

  Physically handicapped

  Multiply handicapped

  Total persons

  Total places1

  Borders

  121

  0

  57

  27

  205

  169

  Central

  313

  0

  100

  61

  474

  492

  Dumfries/Galloway

  213

  4

  10

  37

  264

  274

  Fife

  430

  1

  93

  136

  660

  565

  Grampian

  603

  2

  178

  81

  867

  873

  Highland

  161

  3

  13

  13

  190

  205

  Lothian

  786

  300

  392

  230

  1,708

  1,424

  Strathclyde

  2,906

  117

  662

  376

  4,061

  3,997

  Tayside

  447

  1

  11

  7

  466

  466

  Orkney

  31

  5

  9

  0

  45

  54

  Shetland

  27

  0

  3

  0

  30

  55

  Western Isles

  30

  0

  34

  4

  68

  40

  Total Scotland

  6,068

  433

  1,562

  975

  9,038

  8,614

  1 Places in local authority day centres relate to the capacity of the centre. Places can be occupied by more than one client during a week. Places available cannot be classified as they are not designated to any group in the centres which provide for several client groups. However, centres specifically for the elderly have been excluded.

  Current number of day hospital places provided by health boards in Scotland1

  Health board

  Mentally handicapped

  Mentally ill

  Physically handicapped

  Total

  Borders

  3

  33

  —

  36

  Forth Valley

  —

  90

  —

  90

  Dumfries and Galloway

  4

  70

  —

  74

  Fife

  46

  243

  12

  301

  Grampian

  53

  220

  10

  283

  Highland

  —

  207

  —

  207

  Lothian

  31

  643

  30

  704

  Greater Glasgow

  —

  441

  —

  287

  Lanarkshire

  12

  63

  —

  75

  Argyll and Clyde

  5

  201

  —

  206

  Ayrshire and Arran

  9

  75

  —

  84

  Tayside

  30

  244

  13

  287

  Orkney

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Shetland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Western Isles

  —

  4

  —

  4

  Total

  193

  2,534

  65

  2,792

  1 Adult places in some areas may be used by children from time to time. These "joint use" places have been included in the total.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many day-care places for children who are(a) mentally handicapped, (b) mentally ill or recovering from mental illness and (c) physically handicapped are provided by (i) local authorites and (ii) health authorities in Scotland in each regional council and health board area in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The latest available information which relates to children attending local authority services at 31 March 1990 is given in table A. Table B gives information about places provided by health boards at 31 March 1991.

  Table A

  Children attending local authority day services

  Mentally handicapped

  Physically handicapped

  Multiple handicapped (mental and physical)

  Borders

  7

  2

  2

  Central

  0

  0

  0

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1

  0

  0

  Fife

  12

  19

  8

  Grampian

  0

  1

  3

  Highland

  0

  0

  1

  Lothian

  47

  111

  27

  Strathclyde

  38

  39

  22

  Tayside

  14

  11

  3

  204

  Mentally handicapped

  Physically handicapped

  Multiple handicapped (mental and physical)

  Orkney

  0

  0

  0

  Shetland

  0

  0

  0

  Western Isles

  0

  0

  0

  In addition, local authorities make use of facilities provided by voluntary and private establishments.

  Table B

  Day hospital places for children provided by health boards

  Mentally handicapped

  Mentally ill

  Physically handicapped

  Borders

  0

  0

  0

  Forth Valley

  0

  0

  0

  Dunfries and Galloway

  0

  10

  0

  Fife

  0

  0

  0

  Grampian

  0

  8

  0

  Highland

  0

  0

  0

  Lothian

  0

  0

  0

  Greater Glasgow

  0

  13

  0

  Lanarkshire

  0

  0

  0

  Argyll and Clyde

  0

  44

  0

  Ayrshire and Arran

  0

  0

  0

  Tayside

  27

  0

  0

  Orkney

  0

  0

  0

  205

  Mentally handicapped

  Mentally ill

  Physically handicapped

  Shetland

  0

  0

  0

  Western Isles

  0

  0

  0

  Strathclyde
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to meet the leader of Strathclyde regional council to discuss central Government funding for the region; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The leader of Strathclyde district council was among representatives of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities who met my right hon. Friend and I on 8 April 1991 to discuss local authority finance.

  Truancy
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the amount of truancies affecting the education authorities in(a) Scotland, (b) Strathclyde region and (c) Renfrew division in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not available. However, on 9 May I announced that I had commissioned the biggest survey of truancy in Scotland ever undertaken. Results from the survey will be available in early summer.

  Renfrew District Council
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to meet the leader of Renfrew district council to discuss central Government funding for the district; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  I last met the leader of Renfrew district council on 13 May when he and a delegation discussed economic issues relating to Barrhead and Neilston.

  Horticulture
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he has had with the horticultural industry in Scotland in the last year; and when he next plans to consult the industry on contemporary matters.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In the last year the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department has had consultations with the industry on a number of issues such as research and development, the impact of imports from eastern Europe on the soft fruit sector and the introduction of a statutory certification scheme for raspberry canes. My right hon. Friend has no plans at present for further consultations but regular contact with the industry will be maintained.

  Health Boards
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the remuneration for each health board chairman for the financial year 1989–90.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The levels of remuneration paid to health board chairmen reflect their heavy burden of 206
  responsibility and time commitment, and take into account the variations in the size of boards. For the financial year 1989–90 they were:

  Health board

  Remuneration £ per annum

  Greater Glasgow

  18,594

  Lothian

  16,724

  Grampian; Tayside

  14,855

  Lanarkshire; Argyll and Clyde

  12,986

  Ayr and Arran; Fife; Forth Valley; Highland

  10,826

  Borders; Dumfries and Galloway

  8,655

  Orkney; Shetland; Western Isles

  5,299

  Secondary Schools
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many secondary schools there are in each local education authority in Scotland; and how many are served by officially appointed school nurses.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information on the numbers of education authority secondary schools in Scotland is given in the table. Current guidance to health boards is that there should be a named nurse for each school.

  Number of education authority secondary schools

  Number

  Borders

  9

  Central

  19

  Dumfries and Galloway

  16

  Fife

  19

  Grampian

  38

  Highland

  27

  Lothian

  51

  Strathclyde

  181

  Tayside

  32

  Orkney

  6

  Shetland

  9

  Western Isles

  16

  School Library Books
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what average amount per pupil has been spent on school library books by Strathclyde regional council in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is not available centrally in the form requested. The hon. Gentleman may wish to take up the matter with Strathclyde regional council.

  Refugees
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which local authorities have applied, under section 210 of the Education Reform Act 1988, for a grant to(a) finance existing provision for refugees or displaced persons living in camps or reception centres and (b) to finance provision for 1991–92; how many of (a) and (b) have received a grant; what is the amount of grant allocated to each local authority; and if he will review the grant available for these purposes in the light of the increased number of asylum seekers entering the United Kingdom in 1990.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  These provisions do not apply in Scotland.

  David Elder Buildings
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has issued any guidelines to Greater Glasgow health board about preferential disposal of the David Elder buildings to non-profit making community groups.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No. My right hon. Friend has not yet confirmed closure of the David Elder hospital, and no guidelines on disposal have been issued.

  Speech Therapy
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) full-time and (b) part-time speech therapists are employed in each health board in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Part-time

  Whole-time

  Whole-time equivalent

  Number

  Argyll and Clyde

  24

  8·0

  16

  Ayrshire and Arran

  24

  3·2

  7

  Borders

  10

  1·7

  4

  Dumfries and Galloway

  13

  4·1

  6

  Fife

  25

  2·8

  7

  Forth Valley

  14

  4·9

  10

  Grampian

  36

  10·2

  22

  Greater Glasgow

  50

  10·8

  28

  Highland

  14

  4·0

  7

  Lanarkshire

  24

  3·9

  9

  Lothian

  41

  15·3

  27

  Orkney

  2

  0·0

  0

  Shetland

  1

  0·0

  0

  Tayside

  24

  7·3

  16

  Western Isles

  3

  1·1

  2

  Scotland

  310

  77·3

  161

  It is for individual health boards to determine the number of speech therapists they require to employ after taking account of the needs of the population within their area.

  Mentally Handicapped Children
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department compiles information about the support service needs, or provision. of profoundly mentally handicapped children.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Mortgage Repossessions
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many actions for re-possession as a result of mortgage arrears there have been in(a) the parliamentary constituency of Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole, during each of the past 12 months for which records are available; and what were the average figures for each of the past 10 years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not available in the form requested. The Council of Mortgage Lenders publishes statistics in its regular newsletters on various aspects of mortgage lending by building societies but this is on a GB basis and no corresponding information is available for Scotland only. No information about other mortgage lenders is held centrally.

  Social Services
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received any requests from the Governments of central and eastern European countries concerning(a) the enactment of legislation concerning the provision of personal social services, (b) the setting-up of departments of social work and (c) the training and employment of social workers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  There have been no requests of the kind referred to.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any proposals to extend the period of training undertaken by those seeking to become registered social workers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There is no procedure or requirement for the registration of social workers in the United Kingdom. I do not currently propose to extend the period for basic social work training.

  Renaval Programme
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received a substantive response from the European Commission to his submission of a programme under the terms of the European Community's Renaval programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The Commission has written requesting further information. This is at present being prepared.

  Primary School Testing
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions in the last six months Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools addressed meetings of parents on the subject of primary school testing.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools has addressed three meetings of parents in the last six months on the subject of primary school testing.

  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many school parent meetings in the Stirling parliamentary constituency were addressed in the last six months by Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools; and what was the cost of these visits.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools has addressed one meeting of parents within the Stirling parliamentary constituency on the subject of primary school testing; it lasted for two hours in an evening and the only costs incurred were £32 for travel and subsistence.

  Renewable Electricity
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what encouragement is being given to small Scottish-based renewables generators of electricity; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  Under the Energy Act 1983, the Scottish electricity boards were obliged to purchase the output from independent generators in Scotland, at a price based
  209
  on the avoided cost to them of their marginal generation. The Electricity Act 1989 did not contain such an obligation; instead, both electricity boards agreed with the Secretary of State that they would continue to pay independent generators in Scotland in accordance with the Energy Act until five years after vesting, ie until 31 March 1995.

  Following discussion with me and subject to any necessary competition clearance, ScottishPower (SP) and Scottish Hydro-Electric (HE) have offered to extend these arrangements. Under this extension, the companies have offered to buy the output from existing small Scottish renewables generators or those whose planning is far advanced at a price of 5·3p per unit. The companies have offered to buy a set amount of electricity each year—24 GWh per annum in the case of SP and 34 GWh in the case of HE. Payment will be made for each generator's net production of electricity. The rate payable will be gross, ie before use of system or any other such charges. The contracts will run from 1 July 1991 to 31 December 1998 and the price will be escalated by RP! during that period. More details about the arrangements will be made available by the two companies.

  I welcome the decision made by the companies. The proposed scheme is consistent with the Government's wider environmental polices and will offer greater security to those covered by current contracts with SP and HE.

  For the future the White Paper on the Environment announced that the Government would review its renewables programmes in 1991. The Government confirm that this review will consider the position of renewables in Scotland. The Government expect to make a further announcement about the review shortly, including the administrative arrangements for taking it forward. Scottish interests will be included in the associated consultative arrangements.

  Inverclyde Enterprise Zone
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what figure was added to the revenue support grant in respect of the exemption from rates of properties in the Inverclyde enterprise zone for 1990–91 and 1991–92; how the figure was calculated; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 14 May 1991]: No addition is made to revenue support grant in respect of the exemption from rates enjoyed by properties in enterprise zones. Rating authorities are compensated separately and in full for losses of rate revenue in respect of properties in enterprise zones on the basis of audited returns from the authorities. Strathclyde regional council received advance payment of grant of £206,840 in respect of losses of rate revenue in the Inverclyde enterprise zone for 1990–91. A final claim in respect of 1990–91 and an advance claim in respect of 1991–92 have yet to be made.

  Scottish Hydro-Electric plc
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he has had with Scottish Hydro-Electric plc on measures to secure economic development and social improvement in the hydro catchment area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 14 May 1991]: Scottish Hydro-Electric plc, alone among the Great Britain public electricity suppliers, has a condition in its
  210
  licence—issued by the Secretary of State for Scotland on 28 March 1990—specifically requiring it to charge uniform tariffs throughout its area irrespective of remoteness. This very significant commitment is possible because the company has retained the bulk of the low cost hydro generation capacity and can use this to offset the higher unit transmission and distribution costs associated with the dispersed nature of the electricity supply system in the north of Scotland.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will direct Scottish Hydro-Electric plc to cease current accounting practices which exempt dams, tunnels, roads, associated stone buildings and other assets from depreciation; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what representations he has made to Scottish Hydro-Electric plc regarding its current accounting practices; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 14 May 1991]: The types of asset to which the hon. Member refers have, for accounting purposes, infinite lives. They are expected, with appropriate maintenance, to last for as long as they are required. In addition, they are mainly capital investments dating from many years in the past. I have no intention of directing any change in the accounting policy which was explained in the company's annual reports and accounts for 1989–90, copies of which are in the House Library.

  Local Authority Borrowing
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has in train in respect of borrowing by Scottish local authorities following the recent judgment by the House of Lords in the case of Hazell v. the council of the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 14 May 1991]: The Government's position was made clear by the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 7 May at columns 402–3. Consequently I have no proposals to take any action on this issue.

  Housing Improvements
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if any funds from European community sources have gone to Glasgow district council for repairs or improvements to district council or private sector dwellings.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 17 April 1991]: No.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  British Hostages
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in his efforts to secure the release of the British hostages in Lebanon.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Lancashire, West (Mr. Hind) on 24 April and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs' reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Fulham (Mr. Carrington) on 14 May.

  EC Security Role
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will outline the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards a security role for the European Community.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  As part of the process of political union we envisage intensified co-operation of national positions among the Twelve on a range of security issues. We believe that defence issues should continue to be dealt with in the Western European Union and in NATO.

  Mercenaries
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the international convention against the recruitment, use, financing and training of mercenaries.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We decided not to sign the convention.

EMPLOYMENT

  Offshore Installations
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether the Health and Safety Executive now requires all individuals on board an offshore installation to be issued with(a) a personal survival suit, (b) a smoke hood, (c) a life jacket, (d) a torch and (e) fireproof gloves;

  (2) what steps he has taken since. 1 April to satisfy himself as to the application and implementation of improvement and prohibition notices issued by the Health and Safety Executive;

  (3) whether those offshore installations that had not had an evacuation, escape and rescue analysis carried out, as detailed in recommendation 76 of the Cullen report, have been instructed to do so;

  (4) what steps have been taken since 1 April to ensure the application and implementation of improvement notices requiring offshore operators to complete evacuation, escape and rescue analyses:

  (5) if he will make a statement on the application and implementation of improvement notices issued requiring the completion of smoke or gas ingress assessments as detailed in recommendation 60 of the Cullen report:

  (6) what steps have been taken since 1 April to ensure the application and implementation of improvement notices issued to offshore operators requiring them to undertake fire risk analysis as detailed in recommendation 54 of the Cullen report;

  (7) whether the Health and Safety Executive requires in writing offshore oil operators to carry out a smoke or gas ingress assessment as detailed in recommendation 60 of the Cullen report.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. and learned Friend attaches the highest priority to implementing the recommendations of the Cullen report. Accordingly, the Government have given the Health and Safety Commission the resources to achieve this and the necessary legislation and regulations will be presented to Parliament as soon as possible.

  In addition, the representative bodies and companies in the offshore industry have been tasked with taking action
  212
  on those of the recommendations which were primarily addressed to them. Since the transfer of offshore safety responsibilities to the Health and Safety Executive on 1 April it has been monitoring progress at regular meetings with the main industry associations and trade unions to ensure the earliest practicable implementation of the report.

  Inspectors have had the power to serve improvement and prohibition notices offshore since 1977.

  Pottery/Ceramic Industry
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many workers in the pottery/ceramic and allied industries are currently working a four-day and three-day week.

  Mr. Jackson
  There is no information available on the number of people working a four-day and three-day week. In the week ended 14 December 1990—the latest date for which reliable information is available—there were 29,000 operatives working short-time in the non-metallic mineral products industry in Great Britain. Separate figures for the pottery/ceramic and allied industries are not available.

  Redundancies, North Staffordshire
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of notified redundancies for north Staffordshire since October 1990.

  Mr. Jackson
  Data are not available for north Staffordshire. The number of advance notifications of redundancies received since October 1990 for the west midlands region, which includes north Staffordshire, are given in the table:

  Advance notifications of redundancies

  Number

  1990

  October

  4,317

  November

  3,805

  December

  2,877

  1991

  January

  5,576

  February

  5,645

  March

  7,242

  April

  4,247

  Textile Industries
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have lost their jobs in the textile industries in(a) Blyth valley, (b) Northumberland and (c) the north-east in 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The number of employees in the textile industries in the north—Cleveland, Cumbria, Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear—fell by 731 over the three months to December 1990. Estimates for areas within standard regions are available only from the census of employment and relate to September 1989.

  Disability
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how he intends to ensure that residential assessment and rehabilitation are available to those
  213
  disabled people requiring these services, following the recent announcements on the closure of the majority of the employment rehabilitation centres.

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

  Careers Service
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the organisations to which he circulated his Department's consultative paper on the future of the careers service.

  Mr. Jackson
  I have consulted with training and enterprise councils, local education authorities, the Association of County Councils, the Association of Metropolitan Authorities, the Confederation of British Industry, the Trades Union Congress and various other careers education and guidance organisations about the future of the careers service.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many organisations representing people with disabilities and learning difficulties were sent copies of his Department's consultative document on the future of the careers service.

  Mr. Jackson
  I have consulted with training and enterprise councils, local education authorities, the Association of County Councils, the Association of Metropolitan Authorities, the Confederation of British Industry, the Trades Union Congress and other relevant organisations about the future of the careers service. These are organisations which provide services for people with disabilities and learning difficulties.

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Notes

  Planned for 1991–92

  (1) Youth Training (YT)

  6,434

  5,998

  4,802

  Based on the average number in training, 1990–91 includes an estimate for national schemes

  4,601

  (2) Adult Training (AT)

  5,694

  2,761

  1,927

  Based on the average number in training

  1,995

  (3) Enterprise Allowance Scheme (EAS)

  1,416

  1,102

  919

  Based on actual numbers joining

  600

  Note: Changes in all of the programmes makes it impossible to make direct comparisons.

  (1)YT:—One-year YT in 1988–89

  —introduction of two-year YT in 1989–90

  —national programmes influencing local provision

  —increase in employer participation

  —demographic downturn.

  In 1991–92 eligibility has changed along with the length of the programme. TECs are contracted to guarantee places for all young people. People can enter YT up to 25 years of age.

  (2) AT—In 1988–89 there were seven different programmes, with CP making up 3,357 places.

  —All other years include ET and HTNT.

  Eligibility has changed for ET in 1991–92 with a longer duration programme being possible, and the introduction of employed status. TECs are contracted to deliver for the long term unemployed.

  (3) EAS:—programmes have changed, (ie, duration, and differential funding).

DEFENCE

  Nuclear Weapons (Safety)
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make it his policy that the safety standard required for any United Kingdom nuclear warhead design, under any circumstances, involved in an accidental nuclear explosion with a yield equivalent of 41b of TNT, should be less than one in a million;
  214
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to make an announcement on the future of the quota system and the need for anti-discrimination legislation to improve the employment prospects of people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Consultative Document "Employment and Training for People with Disabilities" discussed the role of legislation in improving the prospects of people with disabilities, including the future of the quota scheme and other approaches, such as anti-discrimination legislation. I am currently considering the many responses I have had on this issue.

  Training Programmes
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the main training programmes and numbers involved for each of the last three years on offer to people in Coventry; how that is planned to change in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 14 May 1991]: It is not possible to provide information solely for the Coventry area.

  The table shows the main training programmes on offer in the Coventry and Warwickshire area for each of the last three years and the numbers involved.

  Coventry and Warwickshire training and enterprise council (TEC) have funds available to take forward initiatives that will provide a full range of training opportunities for both employed and unemployed, including those seeking to enter self-employment in the Coventry and Warwickshire area.

  (2) what proportion of United Kingdom operationally deployed nuclear weapons are equipped with enhanced nuclear detonation safety devices;

  (3) what proportion of United Kingdom operationally deployed nuclear weapons are equipped with fire-resistant pits.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy that the safety standard required for any United Kingdom nuclear
  215
  warhead design, under any circumstances, involved in an accidental nuclear explosion with a yield equivalent to 41b of TNT, should be less than one-in-a-million.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It has been the policy of successive Governments not to disclose information relating to United Kingdom nuclear weapon design.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration the Nuclear Weapons Safety Panel has given to the United States House of Representatives December 1990 "Report of the Panel on Nuclear Weapons Safety of the Committee on the Armed Services".

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what consideration he has given to the implications for United Kingdom operationally deployed nuclear weapons of the United States House of Representatives December 1990 "Report of the Panel on Nuclear Weapons Safety of the Committee on Armed Services";

  (2) what consideration the Nuclear Weapons Safety Panel has given to the United States House of Representatives December 1990 "Report of the Panel on Nuclear Weapons Safety of the Committee on the Armed Services".

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Ministry of Defence officials and members of the Nuclear Weapons Safety Committee have studied this report.

  Trident D5
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had regarding United States plans for a redesign of the Trident D5 missile system.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the United States navy concerning potential redesign of the Trident D5 missile system.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The United Kingdom maintains a close and continuous dialogue with the United States authorities regarding the Trident D5 missile system. I am not aware of any current plans by the United States to redesign this system.

  Nuclear Weapons (Safety)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many individuals comprise the Nuclear Weapons Safety Panel; and whether any of these individuals are external to his Department.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many individuals comprise the Nuclear Weapons Safety Panel; and whether any of these individuals are external to his Department.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are 20 permanent members of the Nuclear Weapons Safety Committee, 13 of whom are external to the Department.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 25 March,Official Report, column 302, whether the continuous safety review has led to a revision in the estimated risk of unintended nuclear detonation of any weapon in the United Kingdom nuclear stockpile.
  216
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The United Kingdom's nuclear weapons continue to meet stringent safety standards endorsed by independent experts.

  Submarines
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has recently held discussions with representatives of the Clyde Fishermen's Association and the United States navy concerning the movement of submarines through traditional fishing grounds in and around the Firth of Clyde; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I met representatives of the Clyde Fishermen's Association on 5 December 1990 to discuss their concerns about submarine operations in the Clyde area. In addition, the Royal Navy authorities on the Clyde, who maintain very close relations with the United States Navy with regard to operational matters, hold regular meetings with local fishermen and their representatives to discuss matters of mutual interest.

  Thurleigh Airfield
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what price has been placed on the airfield at Thurleigh; when the site will be offered for sale; and what rate of return he expects to secure from its disposal.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  It is not our normal practice to disclose commercially sensitive information about valuations and prospective returns from the disposal of surplus defence land. Our aim is to offer the RAE Bedford airfield site for disposal as soon as possible.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what time will be required to complete the removal of facilities and equipment from Thurleigh airfield to Boscombe Down.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The precise timetable for the relocation of facilities and equipment from the RAE Bedford airfield site will emerge only from the detailed planning now being set in hand. Our aim is to move expeditiously; but this will still take a number of years to complete.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence of the totality of land held at Thurleigh airfield, Bedfordshire, what acreage will continue to be held by his Department and agencies and what will be available for disposal, following his recent decision on the future of the airfield.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  We intend to offer for disposal the RAE Bedford airfield site in its entirety save for a small enclave which we envisage will be retained to house a simulator facility.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he intends to retain the freehold of Thurleigh airfield and grant leases to potential buyers.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  It is our normal practice to dispose of the freehold of sites for which we no longer have a defence requirement.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how he proposes to balance the return on investment at the Thurleigh airfield with the environmental considerations of the residents of north Bedfordshire.
  217
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  We intend to follow the normal planning procedures in disposing of the RAE Bedford airfield. In so doing, the intention would be to agree an appropriate planning brief with the local planning authorities concerned. This will take due account of relevant environmental issues.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what scale of development of a commercial, non-passenger airfield is envisaged in his preliminary assessment for Thurleigh airfield.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  It would be premature at this stage to speculate about the possible scale of any development of the RAE Bedford airfield site as a commercial (non-passenger) airfield. This will emerge from the detailed work now being set in hand, including consultation with the local planning authorities concerned.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current written down value of Thurleigh airfield.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Our valuation of the RAE Bedford airfield site is commercial-in-confidence.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he proposes to dispose of any part of the Thurleigh airfield(a) for agricultural purposes, (b) for industrial and commercial use, (c) for housing and (d) as a recreational park.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No decisions have been made on future uses for the RAE Bedford airfield site. We have already indicated our preliminary assessment of a commercial flying option; we now intend to explore this and other possible uses in more detail with the local planning authorities concerned.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he proposes to dispose of the Thurleigh airfield site as a single operation or in a number of separate parcels.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The precise nature of the disposal will emerge from the detailed work now being put in hand, including consultation with the local planning authorities concerned but our current view is that a fragmented disposal should be avoided if possible.

  Middle East
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he is holding with his United States counterparts on preventing the export of ballistic missile technology to the middle east.
  218
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Ministers and senior officials from interested Whitehall departments are fully engaged with their United States counterparts on this important subject.

  NATO
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role he envisages for the Royal Air Force in the proposed NATO ready-deployment structure.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Following the changes now under way, the RAF—though smaller—will retain the full range of capabilities currently committed to NATO. Work on NATO's strategy review is continuing, but aircraft are intrinsically capable of rapid deployment.

  RAF Leeming
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the main works undertaken at RAF Leeming to enable the deployment of Tornado aircraft to take place there; and whether they included any extension to the main runway.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The main works undertaken at RAF Leeming were associated with the upgrading of the station's utilities, the enhancement of technical accommodation, married quarter developments and the construction of airfield survival measures, which included hardened aircraft shelters and command and control centres. The runway was resurfaced and re-profiled, but no extension work was undertaken.

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the main uses of Royal Air Force Leeming in the 10 years prior to the deployment of Tornado aircraft there; and what were the principal types of aircraft that were based there or used at the air station regularly during that period.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Tornado aircraft were deployed to RAF Leeming in 1988. From 1978 until 1984 RAF Leeming's main role was as a flying training station operating Bulldog and Jet Provost aircraft. Jetstream aircraft operated there between 1978 and 1979. Throughout the period an air experience flight of Chipmunk aircraft and a university air squadron of Bulldogs also operated from the station—and continue to do so—except for a break during 1987 and 1988 while the runway was being rebuilt.

  HOSTAGES IN THE LEBANON: IRANIAN INTERVENTION
  HOSTAGES IN THE LEBANON: IRANIAN INTERVENTION
  HELICOPTER SALES TO BURMA
  HELICOPTER SALES TO BURMA
  ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN: DISPUTE
  ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN: DISPUTE
  MERCENARIES: UN CONVENTION
  MERCENARIES: UN CONVENTION
  ROYAL COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE
  ROYAL COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE
  LONDON UNDERGROUND: CRIME STATISTICS
  LONDON UNDERGROUND: CRIME STATISTICS
  AGROCHEMICALS: EXTENSION OF PATENT PROTECTION
  AGROCHEMICALS: EXTENSION OF PATENT PROTECTION
  BRITISH TECHNOLOGY GROUP: COOPERS & LYBRAND REPORT
  BRITISH TECHNOLOGY GROUP: COOPERS & LYBRAND REPORT
  ECDG INSURANCE SERVICES GROUP: SALE PARTICULARS
  ECDG INSURANCE SERVICES GROUP: SALE PARTICULARS
  ENVIRONMENTAL R&D BY MAFF
  ENVIRONMENTAL R&D BY MAFF