Written Answers of 22 May 1991

TRANSPORT

  MV Derbyshire
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the full report produced by the marine accident investigation branch entitled, "Derbyshire: Review of New Material."

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The formal report submitted by the chief inspector of marine accidents and placed in the Library on 25 March set out all the reasons for the recommendation that the formal investigation should not be reopened.

  Wheel Clamping
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning activities of private wheel clamping firms in operations directed against vehicles allegedly parked on private land.

  Mr. Chope
  I have received several letters from hon. Members who have received complaints from constituents.

  Nuclear Fuel Transport
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions each year since 1979 nuclear reaction fuel has been transported to Sellafield via Leeds; and what safeguard provisions covered the fuel in transit.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The timing and routeing of such consignments are matters for British Rail. However, I am informed that irradiated nuclear fuel would not normally travel through Leeds.

  B5356, Stretton
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has agreed to special motorway signs on the M56 in order to direct heavy goods vehicles away from the B5356 in Stretton, near Warrington.

  Mr. Chope
  Yes. We are now considering approval of the signs which the local councils wish to erect on local roads.

  Freight
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what planning his Department is undertaking to achieve the objective of moving freight from roads to railways; whether he envisages any specific targets over the next decade; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  We are reviewing ways in which industry could be further encouraged to make more use of the rail systems, given in particular the advent of the channel tunnel and developments in combined transport. I do not have specific targets.
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  Bus Lanes, London
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total mileage of bus lanes in the Greater London area.

  Mr. Freeman
  I understand from London Transport that there are 47 miles of bus lane in the Greater London area.

ENERGY

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

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [pursuant to his reply, 14 May 1991, c. 87–88]: Experience with the first four months operation of the home energy efficiency scheme has confirmed that it meets a real need and is being well received. However, it has also shown that work must be closely monitored and controlled to maintain the high standards for which the scheme aims. I have today announced changes to the scheme designed further to protect those clients who make direct applications under the scheme.

  I have placed in the Library copies of a press release which gives details of these changes, which are designed to maintain the principle of customer choice whilst ensuring high standards.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing, for 1990–91 and 1991–92 separately for local authorities in England, Wales and Scotland (i) capital grants from central Government, (ii) other receipts, showing separately items of £0.5 billion or more, (iii) total receipts, (iv) current expenditure on goods and services, showing housing separately, (v) current grants and subsidies, showing housing separately, (vi) interest repayments, (vii) capital expenditure and net lending and (viii) total expenditure showing that on the basis of national accounts and public expenditure measurement.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information requested on capital grants from central government to local authorities on a public expenditure basis is given in table 5.5 of the "Statistical Supplement to the 1990 Autumn Statement"—Cm 1520. Data on capital grants on a national accounts basis cannot readily be split between terrritories. Data on local authority income from the community charge and non-domestic rates by territory are given in reply to a question from the hon. Member today. Detailed data on other local authority receipts in 1990–91 and 1991–92 are not yet available.

  The analysis of local authority expenditure requested is given, for 1990–91, in the table. The data are consistent with the economic category analysis of local authority expenditure given in table 5.7 of Cm 1520. Data on local authority debt interest cannot readily be split between

  469
  territories. Information on the public expenditure basis for 1991–92 and for both 1990–91 and 1991–92 on a national accounts basis is not yet available.

  Local authority expenditure1 in Great Britain by territory and economic category, 1990–91

  £ million

  England

  Scotland

  Wales

  Current expenditure on goods and services2

  33,255

  4,335

  2,057

  of which: housing

  309

  4

  13

  Current grants and subsidies

  5,981

  686

  340

  of which: housing3

  —

  2

  —

  Net capital expenditure4

  3,989

  816

  471

  TOTAL

  43,224

  5,837

  2,868

  1989–90

  Outturn

  £ billion

  England

  Wales

  Scotland

  Great Britain

  Northern Ireland

  Gross community charge/domestic rate income

  9·7

  0·4

  1·0

  11·1

  —

  Community charge benefit/domestic rate rebates

  1·3

  0·1

  0·2

  1·5

  —

  Net community charge/domestic rate income

  8·4

  0·3

  0·8

  9·6

  0·1

  Gross non-domestic rate payments

  9·8

  0·4

  1·2

  11·4

  Non-domestic rate rebates

  0·3

  —

  —

  0·3

  Net non-domestic rate rebates

  9·5

  0·4

  1·2

  11·1

  1990–91

  Estimated outturn

  £ billion

  England

  Wales

  Scotland

  Great Britain

  Northern Ireland

  Gross community charge income

  12·3

  0·5

  1·1

  13·9

  —

  Community charge benefit

  1·9

  0·1

  0·2

  2·2

  —

  Transitional relief

  0·3

  1—

  1—

  0·4

  —

  Net community charge income/domestic rate income

  10·2

  0·4

  0·9

  11·4

  0·1

  Non-domestic rate payments

  10·7

  0·4

  1·3

  12·5

  1 Less than £50 million.

  1991–92

  Forecast

  £ billion

  England

  Wales

  Scotland

  Great Britain

  Northern Ireland

  Gross community charge income

  8·5

  0·2

  0·9

  9·8

  —

  Community charge reduction scheme/transitional relief

  1·1

  0·1

  0·1

  1·4

  —

  Community charge benefit

  1·1

  1—

  0·1

  1·2

  —

  Net community charge income/domestic rate income

  6·4

  0·2

  0·7

  7·2

  0·1

  Non-domestic rate payments

  12·1

  0·5

  1·4

  14·1

  Note: community charge grant

  4·8

  0·3

  0·5

  5·6

  —

  470
  1 Excluding debt interest.

  2 Including pay.

  3 Excluding housing benefit.

  4 Including net lending.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish tables which reconcile to table 6.7 in the 1991 Financial Statement and Budget Report and which show separately for England, Wales, Scotland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom and for each of the years 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92 the following information on local authority transactions(a) gross income from community charge and domestic rates before deduction of (i) rate rebates, (ii) community charge benefit, (iii) transitional relief, (iv) community charge reduction scheme and (v) community charge grant, showing each item separately, (b) net income from community charge and domestic rates and (c) income from non-domestic rates.

  Mr.Mellor
  The following tables show the information requested:
  471
  1Less than £50million

  VAT
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table, comparable to table 3 of appendix 7 to HC 289 of Session 1990–91 but expressed to the nearest £1 per year, of VAT payments by income decile group, showing separately the results for(a) all households in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom and (b) retired households but continuing to attribute such retired households to income decile groups calculated on the basis of all households.

  Mr. Mellor
  The figures in the table referred to were derived from Central Statistical Office analysis of the family expenditure survey. Because the statistical adjustments made to the data for this analysis have been designed at the United Kingdom level, separate figures for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are not available. Moreover the sample sizes for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland would be too small to provide reliable results. Figures for the United Kingdom and retired households on the basis requested are set out in the table.

  Estimated increase in VAT payments in 1991–92 as a result of the rise in the VAT rate to 17·5 per cent.: average by decile group of households ranked by disposable income: £ per year.

  All United Kingdom households:

  Of which retired:

  Bottom

  40

  32

  2

  52

  42

  3

  78

  69

  4

  114

  123

  5

  140

  142

  6

  164

  143

  7

  200

  195

  8

  232

  253

  9

  279

  Top

  369

  Average

  167

  79

  Notes:

  1. Based on the 1.987 Family Expenditure Survey uprated to 1991. Figures do not take account of any changes in the pattern of household expenditure which might follow on from a change in the VAT rate.

  2. In order to provide an estimate for a reasonably large sample, the figures for the retired households in the top three decile groups have been combined.

  Next Steps
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those bodies currently with agency status within his department under the next steps initiative; and whether he has identified any further candidates for agency status under the initiative within his Department.

  Mr. David Mellor
  I refer my hon. Friend to the Minister for the Civil Service's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Kent (Mr. Rowe) on 30 April 1991, at columns 111–13. Within Her Majesty's Treasury the Chessington computer centre, which provides computerised payroll and other services to Government departments and other customers, is due to become an agency on 1 April 1993. Of the other Chancellor's Departments the Central Office of Information, Her Majesty's Stationery Office and the Royal Mint have been established as agencies. The Valuation Offices of the
  472
  Inland Revenue will be established as a single agency from 30 September 1991. The Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise are implementing announced programmes of action which will enable them to operate fully on next steps lines.

  Local Authority Expenditure
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table, consistent with table 2.1 of Cm 1520, showing for the years 1963–64 to 1990–91 and expressed to the nearest million,(a) local authority expenditure on a national accounts definition, (b) local authority expenditure on goods and services on a national accounts definition, (c) general Government expenditure excluding privatisation proceeds, (d) general Government expenditure on goods and services and (e) gross domestic product at market prices.

  Mr. Mellor
  Information up to the fourth quarter of 1990 is included on the CSO database in the following series—identified by their database code—and published in the "Statistical Supplement to Autumn Statement"—Cm 1520.

  (a)—ABAD:

  Local authority expenditure on a national accounts definition.

  (b)—GTEF:

  Local authority expenditure on goods and services on a national accounts definition

  (c)—Table 2.1 of Cm 1520:

  General government expenditure excluding privatisation proceeds.

  (d)—GTEG:

  General government expenditure on goods and services.

  (e)—CAOB:

  Gross domestic product (average estimates) at market prices.

  The CSO database is accessible in the Library of the House.

WALES

  Recycling
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what consultations he has had with the local authorities and their associations in Wales regarding the need for supplementary credit approvals specifically earmarked for the encouragement of recycling initiatives in Wales;

  (2) what provision he intends to make concerning supplementary credit approvals for local authorities and voluntary bodies in Wales for initiatives to encourage recycling.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Capital resources in Wales are distributed by means of unhypothecated formulae which have the support of the local authority associations. This method of distribution of resources was introduced so that local authorities can determine individually how the resources made available are spent.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has had from local authorities and voluntary bodies in Wales regarding the absence of any funds earmarked for the encouragement of recycling initiatives.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Two letters have been received as well as a number of telephone inquiries.
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  South Glamorgan Training and Enterprise Council
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent consultations he has had with the chairman of the South Glamorgan training and enterprise council concerning the provision of(a) new offices and (b) training facilities for the TEC, both in the immediate needs and for the medium term.

  Mr. David Hunt
  None.

  First Aid
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will introduce an education support grant specifically for the training of first-aiders in educational establishments;

  (2) if any specific financial support is made available by his Department to ensure that the guidance in the Welsh Office circular entitled "Arrangements for First Aid in Schools and Colleges", and advice in other publications is implemented in schools and colleges.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  First aid provision in educational establishments forms part of the normal responsibilities of local education authorities. Their expenditure on such provision is supported by revenue support grant and I have no plans for further support by way of education support grant. The 1991–92 local authority revenue support settlement allows for a 7·9 per cent. increase in education spending at an all-Wales level.

  Next Steps
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those bodies currently with agency status within his Department under the next steps initiative; and whether he has identified any further candidates for agency status under the initiative within his Department.

  Mr. David Hunt
  There is currently one executive agency within my Department, Cadw Welsh Historic Monuments executive agency. Work is proceeding in concert with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to establish the agricultural Development Advisory Service as a joint England and Wales Agency in April 1992. I am actively reviewing other functions discharged by my Department with a view to applying next steps principles to them.

  Welsh Language Bill
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date he received from the Welsh Language Board a copy of its final draft for a new Welsh Language Act; and on how many occasions since then he or an official of his Department, has met representatives of the Welsh Language Board to discuss that draft Bill.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend received a final draft copy of the Welsh Language Board's report on its legislative proposals on 9 January of this year. Welsh Office officials have subsequently been considering the board's proposals. We will be meeting the chairman of the board to discuss this matter on 23 May.

  Sheep and Beef Producers
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total payment made last year to sheep and beef producers in Wales under the EC scheme for 474
  less-favoured area support; and how much more would have been paid if the United Kingdom Government had allowed such payments to be made to the full EC maximum permitted level last year, and not limited by the United Kingdom restriction level.

  Mr. David Hunt
  A total of £33·3 million was paid out to 15,103 hill livestock compensatory allowance claimants in 1990. The United Kingdom financial limits led to payments to 529 claimants being reduced by a total of £220,949—0·66 per cent. of the total expenditure. The amount that would have been payable if the United Kingdom had adopted the EC maximum limits could be calculated only at disproportionate cost.

  Footpaths and Bridleways
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by year for the last 10 years, and for the current year to date, the number of(a) public footpaths and (b) public bridleways that have been (i) created and (ii) closed to the general public.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state on what date he received a letter posted by Gwynedd county council on 12 March, concerning the community charge transitional relief and alleged inconsistencies in this scheme within the county of Gwynedd; on what date a reply was sent; and if he will make a statement on the issues raised by this letter.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The letter from Gwynedd county council dated 12 March 1991 was not received. A copy of the letter was received from the county council on 14 May 1991. A reply has been sent.

  Towyn Floods
  Sir Anthony Meyer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he intends to make further grant payments under the Bellwin scheme to local authorities in north Wales which were involved in carrying out emergency works following the flood emergency at Towyn.

  Mr. David Hunt
  As my hon. Friend will know, I have already made payments under the Bellwin scheme, amounting to over £2 million, to local authorities in Wales which were directly affected by the severe weather during the Winter of 1989–90. In the case of the north Wales flooding, one of the ways in which I recognised the exceptional nature of the problems was by extending the deadline for receipt of authorities' final audited claim forms to 30 June 1991.

  Parliamentary approval to payment of grant in respect of these claims is being sought in a summer supplementary estimate on the "rate rebates, community charge reduction grants and flood and storm emergency services, Wales" vote—class XVI, vote 11. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure on meeting mature claims will be met by a repayable advance of £500,000 from the Contingencies Fund.

  Opencast Mining
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the planning appeals relating to opencast coalmining sites in Wales currently under consideration by his Department.

  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answer 20 May 1991]: The information is as follows:

  Llanilid West, Mid Glamorgan

  Brynhenllys, Powys

  Bannel Bridge, Clwyd

  Park Slip West, Mid Glamorgan

  Graweth Farm, Merthyr Tydfil, Mid Glamorgan

  In addition, the planning application for an opencast coal mine at Pwll Du has been called in for determination by the Secretary of State. The cases are at various stages in their determination.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Agency Status
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those bodies currently with agency status within his Department under the next steps initiative; and whether he has identified any further candidates for agency status under the initiative within his Department.

  Mr. Lilley
  The nine excutive agencies within the DTI are Companies House, the Insolvency Service, the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, the National Engineering Laboratory, the National Physical Laboratory, the National Weights and Measures Laboratory, Patent Office, Radiocommunications Agency and Warren Spring Laboratory.

  I continue to consider the possibility of establishing further agencies in the DTI but I have not at the moment identified any candidates.

  For ECGD, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 19 July 1990, Official Report column 677.

  Company Liquidations
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he takes where the liquidator of a company fails to file the statutory returns as required by section 595 of the Companies Act 1985.

  Mr. Redwood
  This is an operational matter for Companies House executive agency. I have asked the chief executive to write direct.

  Date of appointment

  Name of company

  Type of inquiry

  15 June 1990

  Atlantic Computer Systems plc

  Section 432

  15 June 1990

  Atlantic Computers plc

  Section 432

  16 August 1990

  Astra Holdings plc

  Section 431

  31 October 1990

  London United Investments plc

  Section 432

  7 January 1991

  Norton Group plc

  Section 432

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  Traders (Monitoring)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will provide a list of the number of traders monitored by each of the authorised bodies under the provisions of the Financial Services Act 1986.

  Mr. Redwood
  I understand from the Securities and Investments Board that the position on 8 May 1991, including interim authorisations, was as shown in the following table. Some authorised persons are members of more than one self-regulating organisation.

  Numbers

  Analysis of Authorised Persons

  Regulated directly by the Securities and Investments Board

  76

  Members of Self Regulating Organisations

  The Association of Futures Brokers and Dealers

  10

  The Financial Intermediaries, Managers and Brokers Regulatory Association

  7,126

  The Investment Management Regulatory Organisation

  1,249

  The Life Assurance and Unit Trust Regulatory Organisation

  663

  The Securities and Futures Authority

  1,391

  Certified by Recognised Professional Bodies

  The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

  6,047

  The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland

  536

  The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland

  183

  The Chartered Association of Certified Accountants

  1,050

  The Law Society of England and Wales

  6,967

  The Law Society of Scotland

  932

  The Law Society of Northern Ireland

  421

  Insurance Brokers Registration Council

  1,595

  Institute of Actuaries

  31

  Prudential Corporation
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will establish an inquiry into the manner in which Price Waterhouse acquired the audit of the Prudential Corporation.

  Mr. Redwood
  No.

  Companies Acts (Investigations)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will list the investigations carried out under various sections of the Companies Acts for the year to 31 March.

  Mr. Redwood
  During the year to 31 March 1991, a total of 178 such inquiries were commenced; one under section 431 of the Companies Act 1985, four under section 432, two under section 446 and 171 under section 447. The inquiries under sections 431 and 432 have been announced and are as follows:

  Companies (Suspended Shares)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any company whose shares are suspended has been investigated by his Department.

  Mr. Redwood
  Investigations under section 432 of the Companies Act 1985 into the affairs of James Ferguson Holdings plc, BOM Holdings plc and Norton Group plc are in progress and have been announced. The stock exchange has advised that the shares of these companies are suspended. Section 447 investigations are kept confidential.

  Insolvency Service
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was paid by the Insolvency Service to accountancy firms in each year since 1988.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Insolvency Service made the following payments in respect of additional work done by insolvency practitioners on disqualification applications made by the Secretary of State. Generally these payments are made to the accountancy firms in which the insolvency practitioners are partners or employees.

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  £7,814

  £25,429

  £29,021

  A payment of £23,500 was also made during the financial year 1990–91 in respect of consultancy work on computerised estate accounting.

  Bryanston
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received seeking the publication of the final report on Bryanston.

  Mr. Redwood
  The papers are being recovered from store. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Ernst and Young
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any staff or partner from Ernst and Young is currently seconded to his Department.

  Mr. Redwood
  Two Ernst and Young staff are currently on secondment to the Department.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his responsibilities under the Fireworks Act 1951 and on his discharging of them.

  Mr. Forth
  I have been asked to reply.

  Our responsibilities under this Act relate to sections 4 and 7 which deal with Health and Safety at work considerations under the terms of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974. Additionally, explosives inspectors appointed by the Health and Safety Executive during their visits to factories, magazines or stores have a power under section 1(1) of the Fireworks Act 1951 to take away for testing a sample of fireworks which they consider may present dangers when in the possession of the public. This power is enforced where appropriate and necessary.
  478
  The remainder of the provision in the Fireworks Act 1951 are properly the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to require licensing of all fireworks to be used only for properly organised firework displays, put on by trained people, and set up a national training scheme.

  Mr. Redwood
  The firework industry already has a training scheme for organisers of displays. Like the hon. Member, I want to see fireworks used properly so that there is pleasure rather than tragedy on bonfire night. Requiring licences would cut down the number of good organised displays open to people on bonfire night, but would not of itself guarantee safety.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent incidents have occurred involving category 4 fireworks; and if he will make a statement on his policy towards the control of such fireworks.

  Mr. Redwood
  I do not have a breakdown of accidents for different categories of fireworks. However, category 4—large display—fireworks should not be available in the shops. Most are imported and their import licence prohibits suppliers from selling them through the shops, while for their part United Kingdom manufacturers refrain from doing so.

  Defence Exports
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make it his policy to place before Parliament annually a list of defence exports including details of equipment supplied, contract values and recipients.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so. The hon. Member will be aware that following the Prime Minister's initiative for a United Nations register of arms transfers, urgent consideration is being given to such an international register.

  New Cars
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will review the pricing of new cars in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Monopolies and Mergers Commission is currently investigating the United Kingdom car market, including car prices in the United Kingdom. When the commission's report is available, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will need to consider whether there is scope for any action in the light of it.

  Accountancy Practice
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his policy towards accountancy practice, standards and forms, in relation to corporate bodies.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Government's policy on company accounting was debated at length during the passage of the
  479
  Companies Act 1989, which introduced a number of important changes. As regards accounting standards, the Government welcomed and support the new Financial Reporting Council and its subsidiaries, including the Accounting Standards Board.

  Shipbuilding
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the current operation and level of usage of the home shipbuilders credit guarantee scheme.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 21 May 1991]: The home shipbuilding credit guarantee scheme has been in operation since 1967. The scheme offer United Kingdom-based shipowners, placing orders with United Kingdom shipyards for the construction, completion or radical alteration of merchant vessels, financing terms comparable with officially supported export credit terms available for orders placed with overseas yards. Vessels which may qualify for support under the scheme conform with the definition in the OECD understanding of export credits for ships. The scheme provides two elements of support:

  (i) a Government guarantee of up to 80 per cent. of the loan arranged by the purchaser of the vessel and repayable by equal half yearly instalments over a maximum of eight and a half years;

  (ii) a fixed rate of interest for the duration of the loan with the Government paying the difference between the fixed and commercial loan interest rates. The Government support conforms to the OECD Understanding.

  In the year to 31 March 1991, payments of interest support grants totalled £52 million. As at 31 March 1991, the amount of loan principal guaranteed under the scheme totalled £924–6 million in respect of 305 vessels. In the year ended 31 March 1991, a total of 40 new guarantees were given.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Ukranian Doctors
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if there are any plans to fund training for Ukranian doctors on cancer-related illnesses.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have contributed, both bilaterally and multilaterally, to the international efforts to tackle the effects of the Chernobyl disaster, including by promoting specialist contacts with Ukranian doctors and scientists. We shall consider the possibility of further assistance in the light of the International Atomic Energy Agency report, due out on 21 May.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Child Employment Laws
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prosecutions there were in the last 12-month period for which figures are available for contraventions of the child employment law.

  Mr. John Patten
  In England and Wales in 1989, there were 35 prosecutions for offences against employment of children Acts. Data for 1990 are not yet available. This 480
  information is published annually in volume 1 of the "Criminal statistics, England and Wales, Supplementary tables" copies of which are in the Library.

  West Midlands Police
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were committed and detected in the Walsall H division of the West Midlands police authority for each year since 1978.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information is published in the annual reports of the chief constable of West Midlands police. Copies of these publications from 1980 are available in the Library.

  Parole
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of life sentence prisoners who were released each year since 1981; and what was the number in each year whose release was proposed by the Parole Board and turned down by him or his predecessors.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The numbers of persons released from prison service establishments on life licence in each of the years 1979–89 were published in table 8.5 of "Prison statistics England and Wales 1989"—Cm. 1221—a copy of which is in the Library. The figures exclude those re-released following a period in prison after recall from a previous licence. In 1990, the latest year for which information is available, 81 people were released on life licence.

  Information on the numbers of life sentence prisoners recommended as suitable for release by the Parole Board and the numbers of those recommendations not accepted by Home Secretaries is published in successive annual reports of the Parole Board. For convenience the figures for 1980–90, which include re-releases following a period in prison after recall from a previous licence, are set out in the table. Parole Board recommendations of "suitable for release" have been for dates ranging from the immediate future up to two and a half years ahead.

  Life sentence prisoners recommended for release by the Parole Board 1989–90

  Year of recommendation

  Recommended

  Not accepted by Home Secretary

  1980

  102

  6

  1981

  147

  4

  1982

  144

  5

  1983

  121

  16

  1984

  112

  10

  1985

  94

  16

  1986

  120

  14

  1987

  147

  23

  1988

  91

  13

  1989

  119

  15

  1990

  138

  135

  1 A further 30 cases were still under consideration by the Home Secretary at the end of 1990.

  British National Party
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what request he has received from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to ban the British National party march planned to take place in Thamesmead on Saturday 25 May.
  481
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what request he has received from the Metropolitan Police Commissioner to ban the proposed marches by the British National party on the Thamesmead estate.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No request has been made by the Commissioner for the Home Secretary's consent to an 482
  order under section 13 of the Public Order Act 1986 prohibiting the march by the British National party in Thamesmead on 25 May. The Commissioner is considering whether to exercise his power under section 12 of the Act to impose conditions on the route of the procession.

  Empty Housing
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list(a) the number of Home Office domestic properties there are throughout the United Kingdom and (b) the number unoccupied at the present moment, indicating how many have been unoccupied for six months, how many have been unoccupied for one year, how many have been unoccupied for two years and how many have been unoccupied for longer than two years.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The best estimate of the total number of domestic properties owned by the Home Office prison service in England and Wales is at present 2,825, of which 355 are unoccupied for the following reasons:

  Numbers

  Vacant for security reasons or redevelopment

  94

  Vacant for reallocation to designated staff

  56

  Awaiting demolition

  63

  On market for sale

  112

  Awaiting disposal

  30

  355

  In addition the Home Office directorate of telecommunications has 20 properties, of which nine are vacant and for sale; the Fire Service college at Moreton-in-Marsh has 36 properties, all occupied; and the Emergency Planning college at Easingwold has 11 properties, all occupied.

  Information on the length of time properties have been vacant is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Prisons
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners there are in Britain and in each prison as of 10 May; and what is the capacity of each prison.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  On 10 May there were a total of 45,302 prisoners in England and Wales, including 603 in police cells. The table shows the number of prisoners in each prison service establishment and the certified normal accommodation—the uncrowded capacity—of each establishment.

  Prison service establishments: certified normal accommodation (CNA) and population on 10 May 1991

  Establishment

  CNA

  Population

  Local prisons and remand centres

  Bedford

  171

  264

  Belmarsh

  360

  283

  Birmingham

  575

  972

  Bristol

  379

  381

  Brixton

  739

  1,072

  Camp Hill

  461

  456

  Canterbury

  230

  324

  Cardiff

  338

  474

  Chelmsford

  244

  402

  Dorchester

  152

  185

  Durham (male)

  601

  843

  Exeter

  243

  393

  Gloucester

  200

  356

  Haslar

  105

  103

  Latchmere House

  127

  28

  Leeds

  627

  965

  Leicester

  205

  343

  Lewes

  230

  416

  484

  Establishment

  CNA

  Population

  Lincoln

  391

  584

  Liverpool

  931

  1,165

  Manchester

  185

  175

  Norwich

  495

  486

  Oxford

  121

  165

  Pentonville

  754

  810

  Preston

  408

  479

  Reading

  184

  257

  Rochester

  306

  277

  Shrewsbury

  176

  286

  Swansea

  229

  287

  Wandsworth

  1,275

  1,351

  Winchester

  530

  521

  Wormwood Scrubs

  743

  837

  Brockhill

  161

  244

  Everthorpe

  304

  271

  Feltham

  874

  765

  Glen Parva

  854

  755

  Hindley

  323

  400

  Low Newton (male)

  131

  199

  Portland

  527

  446

  Stoke Heath

  360

  240

  Closed male training prisons

  Albany

  389

  362

  Blundeston

  410

  392

  Coldingley

  299

  288

  Dartmoor

  619

  546

  Frankland

  432

  433

  Full Sutton

  634

  417

  Garth

  512

  508

  Gartree

  320

  285

  Grendon

  225

  197

  Kingston

  150

  141

  Long Lartin

  432

  425

  Maidstone

  549

  518

  Nottingham

  218

  221

  Parkhurst

  239

  215

  Swaleside

  504

  500

  Wakefield

  753

  669

  Acklington

  676

  508

  Aldington

  127

  112

  Ashwell

  404

  396

  Blantyre House

  87

  87

  Channings Wood

  594

  577

  Downview

  286

  280

  Erlestoke

  218

  210

  Featherstone

  599

  580

  Haverigg

  351

  342

  Highpoint

  824

  768

  Lancaster

  186

  242

  Lindholme

  800

  771

  Littlehey

  593

  517

  Northeye

  249

  222

  Randby

  363

  320

  Risley

  326

  311

  Send

  101

  98

  Shepton Mallet

  175

  241

  Stafford

  606

  723

  Stocken

  393

  392

  The Mount

  484

  222

  The Verne

  600

  585

  Thorp Arch

  150

  148

  Usk

  240

  191

  Wayland

  580

  576

  Wellingborough

  344

  188

  Whatton

  161

  159

  Wymott

  816

  747

  Open male training prisons

  Ford

  568

  525

  Foston Hall

  98

  88

  Kirkham

  632

  583

  Leyhill

  410

  412

  Morton Hall

  168

  162

  North Sea Camp

  202

  177

  Rudgate

  300

  281

  Spring Hill

  210

  206

  485

  Establishment

  CNA

  Population

  Standford Hill

  384

  374

  Sudbury

  425

  423

  Male young offender institutions

  Aylesbury

  296

  238

  Castington

  300

  253

  Deerbolt

  404

  395

  Dover

  347

  221

  Eastwood Park

  134

  99

  Finnamore Wood

  116

  84

  Guys Marsh

  180

  113

  Hollesley Bay

  569

  309

  Hatfield

  180

  162

  Hewell Grange

  136

  112

  Huntercombe

  166

  161

  Kirklevington

  106

  86

  Northallerton

  146

  188

  Onley

  520

  454

  Swinfen Hall

  182

  182

  Thorn Cross

  300

  207

  Werrington

  110

  106

  Wetherby

  196

  174

  Female establishments

  Askham Grange

  134

  95

  Bullwood Hall

  119

  102

  Cookham Wood

  120

  120

  Drake Hall

  262

  189

  Durham

  39

  27

  East Sutton Park

  84

  75

  Holloway

  517

  489

  Low Newton

  36

  27

  New Hall

  122

  103

  Pucklechurch

  56

  51

  Risley

  91

  80

  Styal

  258

  186

  Total

  44,295

  44,699

  Police cells:

  —

  603

  Total population

  —

  45,302

  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he proposes to change the present ratio of prison officers to inmates in centres for young offenders.

  Findings of guilt for failing to observe limits on hours of driving and duty, or rest requirements at magistrates' courts

  England and Wales 1980 to 1989

  Number of offences

  Sentence or order

  Year

  Total findings of guilt

  Absolute or conditional discharge or recognizance

  Probation or supervision order

  Fine

  Other1

  1980

  2,471

  221

  —

  2,250

  —

  1981

  2,143

  218

  —

  1,925

  —

  1982

  3,104

  97

  —

  3,006

  1

  1983

  5,030

  240

  —

  4,781

  9

  1984

  5,990

  354

  —

  5,617

  19

  1985

  6,778

  572

  1

  6,184

  21

  1986

  6,314

  446

  —

  5,828

  40

  1987

  3,910

  368

  —

  3,527

  15

  1988

  5,199

  320

  2

  4,844

  33

  1989

  8,304

  505

  —

  7,586

  213

  1 Includes a few cases committed to the Crown Court for sentence.

  Source: Offences relating to motor vehicles, England and Wales, Supplementary tables, Issues 1980 to 1989.

  Poland (Visas)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to end the requirement of visas for visitors from Poland; and if he will make a statement.
  486
  Mrs. Rumbold
  Between 1 April 1987 and 1 April this year, the ratio of prison officers to inmates in young offender establishments rose from 0·37 to 0·46 officers per inmate. Depending on changes in the prison population during the year, a further improvement in this ratio is likely to occur by April 1992 as a result of the recruitment of staff for new young offender establishments during 1991–92.

  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any proposals to improve the ratio of prison officers to inmates in the prison service.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Between 1 April 1987 and 1 April this year, the ratio of prison officers to inmates increased from 0·35 to 0·48 officers per inmate. Depending on changes in the prison population during the year, there is likely to be a further small improvement in the ratio of officers to inmates by April 1992 as a result of the recruitment of around 1,500 officers to staff new prisons.

  Lorry Drivers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by year for the last 10 years and for the current year to date(a) how many lorry drivers have been convicted of a motoring offence on the evidence alone of a tachograph fitted in the driving cab,(b) what was the offence committed and (c) what penalty was imposed on (i) the driver and (ii) the operator.

  Mr. John Patten
  The only offence for which the evidence of a tachograph alone is used is "Failing to observe limits on hours of driving and duty, or rest requirements" under sections 96(11) and 96(11A) of the Transport Act 1968. This applies only to drivers or operators of heavy goods vehicles.

  The table gives the information available for this offence. The latest statistics are for 1989; the table also includes data for the previous nine years. No breakdown is available centrally between drivers and operators.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to his recent question on this subject on 8 May at column 477.
  487

  Mr. Mohinder Paul Singh Bedi
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions Mr. Mohinder Paul Singh Bedi or his wife, Kuldip, have been retained as interpreters by (i) the immigration and nationality department or (ii) the Metropolitan police since 1984; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Records of this kind are not held centrally and the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, I understand that Mr. Bedi and his wife have worked as casual interpreters on occasions for the immigration service and the police since 1968.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many official invitations have been issued to Mr. Mohinder Paul Singh Bedi to attend official functions organised by his Department since 1983; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Records of invitations issued to individuals are not held centrally and the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost, if at all.

  War Crimes
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when investigations into alleged war crimes will begin.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The War Crimes Act received Royal Assent on 9 May and the war crimes investigation unit established by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis will begin their investigations immediately. Parliamentary approval of this new expenditure is being sought in the supply estimates for the Home Office Vote for "administration, etc." for 1991–92—class IX, vote 3. Pending this approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £300,000 will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.

  Trespass
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has completed his evaluation of section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  We have now completed the thorough review of section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986 which was announced by my right hon. Friend the then Home Secretary on 26 October 1989. I am grateful to all those individuals and organisations who contributed their views, including members of this House.

  After considering carefully all the representations received, I have concluded that more needs to be done to secure a better understanding by all interested parties of the way in which the law should operate, but that no change to the law is necessary.

  I have therefore decided, after consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers, to issue guidance to the police on the application of section 39. Whilst the decision whether or not to use the powers available under section 39 is an operational matter entirely within the discretion of the senior police officer present at the scene of
  488
  a trespass, the guidance aims to assist forces in coming to a more consistent application of these powers across the country in dealing with aggravated trespass. A copy of this guidance has been placed in the Library.

  I believe that it would be helpful to the interested parties to have available a simple guide to the law in relation to trespass on land. My Department is therefore publishing today, in consultation with the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Department of the Environment, a leaflet setting out the main provisions of the law. It covers, as well as section 39, the civil remedies open to landowners and the requirements in respect of the provision of official sites for travellers under the Caravan Sites Act 1968. A copy of the leaflet has also been placed in the Library.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will continue to encourage local authorities to fulfil their duty under the Caravan Sites Act 1968 to provide adequate numbers of sites for gipsies.

  I believe that these measures should do much to reduce uncertainty about the proper application of section 39 and will assist landowners in finding the most suitable remedy for trespass on land in the circumstances of each particular case.

PRIME MINISTER

  Iraq (Economic Sanctions)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister how many representations he has received concerning the United Nations Security Council appeal issued on 29 April for assistance to the 21 countries with special economic problems arising from their compliance with sanctions imposed against Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  None. Our policy on assistance for these countries was set out in the answer given to the hon. Member by the Minister for Overseas Development on 14 May at column 99.

  Medical and Dental Officers (Pay)
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the pay of medical and dental officers in the armed forces.

  The Prime Minister
  The Armed Forces Pay Review Body has submitted to me a supplementary report on the pay of medical and dental officers in the armed forces which recommends increases of between 7·5 and 11·4 per cent., with an average increase of 11·2 per cent. The Government have decided to accept the recommendations in full, though, in common with the pay awards announced on 31 January for the national health service doctors and dentists, with whom the pay of service medical and dental officers is closely linked, implementation will be staged, with 7·5 per cent. payable from 1 April 1991 and the balance of the award payable from 1 December 1991.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Social Services Committees
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will announce the composition of the four new social services committees which will replace the district committees disbanded on 1 April.
  489
  Mr. Hanley
  I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Upper Bann (Mr. Trimble) on 20 May,Official Report, column 379.

  Prescriptions
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list, over the last five years for which figures are available, the loss to the health service by improper prescription claims; and if he will make a statement in response to the complaints of the Comptroller and Auditor-General for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Hanley
  It is not possible to state accurately the loss to the health service by improper claims for exemption from prescription charges. Estimates based on sample surveys which began in 1986–87 are:

  £

  1986–87

  1,345,564

  1987–88

  2,220,000

  1988–89

  2,123,446

  1989–90

  2,323,736

  Improper prescription claims have been the subject of consideration by the Department of Health and Social Services and the Central Services Agency in the light of previous Comptroller and Auditor-General Reports. Arising out of this consideration the medical and pharmaceutical professions will shortly be consulted about a range of measures designed to counteract this problem without imposing undue restrictions on patients requiring medication. The specific criticisms made by the Comptroller and Auditor-General about weaknesses within the pharmaceutical branch of the agency are not directly linked with the improper claiming. The Department will consider with the agency the action which should now be taken on this aspect of the Comptroller and Auditor-General's 1988–89 report.

  Police Complaints Commission
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will arrange for copies of the 1990 annual report of the independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland to be laid in the House; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  The report has been laid today. It is the third annual report from the commission which was established in 1988 by the Police (Northern Ireland) Order 1987.

  Detailed recommendations about the workings of articles 4 to 16 of the 1987 order, which provide for the handling of complaints from the public about individual police officers, were made by the commission in its comprehensive triennial review which was presented in a report to the House on 27 March 1991. In view of this the annual report is mainly a factual account of the commission's work during the year and an exposition of its role and functions. Nevertheless, it provides a valuable contribution to the important process of increasing public awareness of the police complaints system in Northern Ireland. I commend it to those interested in these matters and I am certain that this account of the commission's work will prove to be another important step in increasing the public's confidence in the police complaints system and in the commission's role.

  Goodman Meat
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the gifts given to staff within the Department of Agriculture from interests associated with the Goodman Meat firm; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 21 May 1991]: Under the Northern Ireland civil service pay and conditions of service code only gifts of
  "a trivial or inexpensive seasonal nature"
  may be accepted by civil servants. To my knowledge only gifts in this category have been accepted by staff in the Department of Agriculture.

  At Christmas 1989 and 1990 some staff in HQ divisions of the Department of Agriculture received unsolicited gifts of alcohol from the Goodman Group. The group was contacted and told that staff could not accept such gifts but the group refused to accept their return. Accordingly, 10 bottles of spirits—nine in 1989 and one in 1990—were donated to the NSPCC which acknowledged their receipt to the Goodman Group.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list by year for the last 10 years the number of individuals who have qualified for legal aid; and what percentage of the population this represents.

  The Attorney-General
  Calculations are not made as a matter of course of the number of individuals falling within the eligibility limits for legal aid. It is estimated that in 1990 approximately 36 million people or 66 per cent. of the population were eligible on income grounds for non-matrimonial civil legal aid. For personal injury claims it is estimated that 38 million people or 69 per cent. of the population were eligible. No estimates are available of the percentage of the population eligible for matrimonial or criminal legal aid. The numbers of individuals obtaining legal aid are detailed in tables published in legal aid annual reports to 1988–89 the Legal Aid Board annual report for 1989–90 and "Judicial Statistics".

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list by year for the last 10 years the number of households eligible for legal aid in court proceedings and the percentage of those entitled who had to make a contribution to the costs.

  The Attorney-General
  Calculations are not made as a matter of course of the number of households falling within the eligibility limits for legal aid. In 1990 it is estimated that 18·5 million households were eligible on income grounds for civil non-matrimonial legal aid—19·5 million in personal injury cases. About 60 per cent. are estimated to have been eligible with a contribution.

  Free Legal Services
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement in respect of access to free legal services.

  The Attorney-General
  Those legal services, that are paid for under the legal aid schemes are available free of
  491
  charge to all those who satisfy the relevant merits test and whose means are such that they are not required to make a financial contribution towards their legal costs. Free legal advice and assistance is also available irrespective of means through the duty solicitor schemes at magistrates' courts and police stations.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list by year for the last 10 years the number of people entitled to free legal advice.

  The Attorney-General
  Calculations are not made as a matter of course of the numbers of individuals falling within the eligibility limits for free legal advice and assistance. In 1989–90, nil contributions were assessed in 917,882 of the 1,029,018 bills paid for legal advice and assistance. Figures for earlier years are contained in the legal aid annual reports.

  Mr. Mohinder Singh Bedi
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Attorney-General on how many occasions Mr. Mohinder Paul Singh Bedi or his wife, Kuldip, were retained as interpreters by the immigration appellate authorities since 1984; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The immigration appellate authorities—IAA— have no record since 1984 of Mr. Mohinder Paul Singh Bedi or his wife Kuldip being included on the panel of casual interpreters used by the IAA.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Attorney-General on how many occasions since 1984 Mr. Mohinder Paul Singh Bedi has appeared as a representative before the immigration appellate authorities to represent(a) appellants and (b) respondents; and if he will make a statement.

  1990–91 prices

  (a) NIACE £

  (b) UDACE £

  (c) NEGI £

  (d) REPLAN £

  1979–80

  95,134

  —

  —

  —

  1980–81

  98,507

  —

  —

  —

  1981–82

  104,003

  —

  —

  —

  1982–83

  144,036

  —

  —

  —

  1983–84

  118,810

  —

  —

  —

  1984–85

  114,625

  70,756

  —

  523,617

  1985–86

  122,325

  267,807

  —

  1,538,397

  1986–87

  125,831

  267,228

  —

  1,653,915

  1987–88

  124,384

  272,352

  —

  1,632,997

  1988–89

  170,693

  273,934

  57,308

  1,601,196

  1989–90

  161,553

  281,766

  53,875

  1,549,445

  1990–91

  195,280

  293,000

  53,000

  1,473,000

  The figures in the table result from adjusting the cash outturn figures for past years using the deflator for gross domestic product at market prices. The grant to UDACE excludes that to NEGI, which is shown separately.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of young people over the age of 18 years are in higher education in each of the 12 member states of the European Community.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The figures in the following table represent participation at all ages, generally 18 and over.
  492
  The Attorney-General
  The information requested is not readily available because the immigration appellate authorities—IAA—do not record statistics of the number of occasions unqualified representatives are granted leave to appear before them. The granting of leave to appear before them is a matter for the IAA judiciary.

  Ashworth Covenant
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Attorney-General what has been the cost to public funds of the relator action on the Ashworth covenant at Birtenshaw Farm, Sylvia Scotland v Barratt Manchester and what further relator actions he anticipates being brought.

  The Attorney-General
  Any assessment of the cost to public funds occasioned by Attorney-General ex rel. Sylvia Scotland v Barratt Manchester Limited and Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council must await the conclusion of those proceedings. No other applications have been received for consent to commence a relator action in respect of the Ashworth covenant.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Adult Education
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what financial contribution he has made to(a) the National Institute of Adult and Continuing Education, (b) the unit for the development of adult and continuing education, (c) the national educational guidance initiative and (d) REPLAN since 1979, at 1990–91 prices.

  Mr. Eggar
  The information requested is given in the table.

  New entrants1 to higher education

  Country2 (main ages on entry)

  Latest year

  Participation rate3 Percentage

  Belgium (18–19)

  1987

  49

  Denmark (18–20)

  1987

  43

  France (18–20)

  1987

  34

  Germany, West4 (19–21)

  1987

  30

  Greece5

  1986

  33

  Ireland5 6

  1986

  29

  493

  Country2 (main ages on entry)

  Latest year

  Participation rate3 Percentage

  Italy (19–21)

  1987

  27

  Netherlands (18–20)

  1987

  39

  Portugal5 7

  1984

  14

  Spain (18–20)

  1987

  35

  United Kingdom7 (18–21)

  1988

  36

  1 Includes full-time and part-time students entering higher education for the first time, i.e. excluding postgraduate students and others already having a qualification in higher education. Not all other countries may adhere to this general definition.

  2 Compatible information is not available for Luxembourg since most higher education is undertaken abroad. Ireland figures partly estimated.

  3 To aid comparison and overcome the problem of the varying lengths of courses in different countries the participation rate is the percentage of all new entrants (defined above) related to a derived relevant single year group. The latter is calculated by taking the total populations for the ages providing at least 70 per cent, of the new entrants and dividing by the number of ages involved. For the United Kingdom this is the population of ages 18 to 21 divided by 4. OECD recommend this procedure.

  4 Partly estimated.

  5 Main ages on entry unavailable.

  6 Full-time only.

  7 Latest data available.

  8 Excludes the private sector and students from abroad. Includes nursing and paramedical students at Health Department establishments.

  Vacancy1 rates in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools by region: 1988–912

  England

  Vacancies as a percentage of teachers in post3

  Number of vacancies

  1988

  1989

  1990

  21991

  21991

  All vacancies

  1·2

  1·5

  1·8

  1·6

  5,584

  By region:

  North

  0·2

  0·6

  0·6

  0·7

  178

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  0·8

  0·9

  1·1

  1·2

  489

  North West

  0·8

  1·0

  1·0

  1·0

  546

  East Midlands

  0·8

  0·9

  0·9

  0·9

  285

  West Midlands

  1·1

  1·1

  1·3

  1·3

  552

  East Anglia

  0·6

  0·7

  1·0

  1·2

  170

  Greater London

  3·2

  3·7

  5·3

  43·6

  1,686

  Other South East

  1·1

  1·6

  1·8

  1·7

  1,216

  South West

  1·0

  1·1

  1·8

  1·5

  462

  England excluding Greater London

  0·9

  1·1

  1·3

  1·3

  3,898

  Total vacancies (numbers)

  4,395

  5,540

  6,494

  5,584

  —

  1 Advertised vacancies for full-time permanent appointments (or appointments of at least one term's duration). Includes vacancies being filled on a temporary basis.

  2 Figures for 1991 are provisional.

  3 Teachers in post include full-time regular teachers in (or on secondment from) maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools, plus full-time regular divided service, peripatetic, advisory, remedial centre and miscellaneous teachers.

  4 The 1991 percentage vacancy rates for the inner and outer London weighting areas are 4·7 per cent, and 2·4 per cent, respectively.

  Capital Allocations
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing(a) the capital bid for 1991–92, (b) the capital allocation for 1991–92 and (c) the percentage that (b) represents (a) for each local education authority in England.

  Standard Assessment Tasks
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total cost of designing, printing and implementing the standard assessment tasks for seven-year-olds, including the cost of the teachers' time involved.

  Mr. Eggar
  Up to 31 March 1991 the cost to the School Examinations and Assessment Council of securing the design, printing, distribution and evaluation of the standard assessment tasks for seven-year-olds was £5,661,755. The standard assessment tasks have been designed to be delivered by a single teacher using existing resources, and—apart from the individual reading test—to take no more than 30 hours, although the exact time will vary according to the circumstances of each class.

  Teacher Vacancies
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list by(a) region and (b) for each local education authority the number of teacher vacancies in January 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991; and if he will show this figure also as a percentage of the total teaching force in each area.

  Mr. Fallon
  Provisional vacancy figures for 1991 were published on 17 May and are summarised in the table.

  The 1991 figures are provisional and a breakdown by local education authority is not yet available. I am arranging for a copy of the numbers of vacancies by local education authority for 1988 to 1990 to be placed in the Library. Comparable figures for 1991 will be placed in the Library when available.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Details of local education authority capital expenditure bids and education annual capital guidelines—ACGs—for 1991–92 are set out in the table, together with bids and allocations for work at voluntary aided and special agreement schools. No local education authority has ever expected to receive its ACG bid in full, and authorities bid on the basis that they will receive an ACG or allocation to the extent that the bid
  495
  matches national priority criteria. There is therefore no direct connection between the size of the bid and the level of the ACG or allocation distributed. The percentage figures in the last column are therefore devoid of any real significance.

  Annual capital guidelines are not the only source of capital funding available to local education authorities.

  Local education authority bids and ACGs for 1991–92 county and voluntary controlled schools and FE colleges

  LEA

  Total bid £000s

  Total1 ACG £000s

  ACG as percentage of bid

  Barking

  5,449

  573

  11

  Barnet

  5,884

  803

  14

  Bexley

  6,976

  1,891

  27

  Brent

  9,208

  1,233

  13

  Bromley

  8,564

  3,656

  43

  Croydon

  23,427

  1,996

  9

  Ealing

  12,634

  1,362

  11

  Enfield

  19,437

  1,971

  10

  Haringey

  8,045

  1,018

  13

  Harrow

  3,934

  1,057

  27

  Havering

  4,558

  1,945

  43

  Hillingdon

  10,218

  1,005

  10

  Hounslow

  5,128

  1,516

  30

  Kingston

  5,346

  1,303

  24

  Merton

  8,305

  1,304

  16

  Newham

  15,546

  8,587

  55

  Redbridge

  4,484

  752

  17

  Richmond

  5,269

  954

  18

  Sutton

  10,812

  3,364

  31

  Waltham

  10,818

  3,386

  31

  City

  0

  2

  n/a

  Camden

  4,133

  885

  21

  Westminster

  7,441

  624

  8

  Greenwich

  2,310

  676

  29

  Hackney

  8,206

  1,992

  24

  Hammersmith

  6,697

  1,235

  18

  Islington

  6,166

  1,010

  16

  Kensington

  7,995

  1,846

  23

  Lambeth

  9,067

  1,152

  13

  Lewisham

  10,318

  2,512

  24

  Southwark

  6,061

  1,258

  21

  Wandsworth

  15,632

  1,374

  9

  Tower Hamlets2

  34,963

  14,619

  42

  Birmingham

  23,060

  11,083

  48

  Coventry

  8,962

  2,180

  24

  Dudley

  12,969

  9,508

  73

  Sandwell

  9,498

  1,313

  14

  Solihull

  5,198

  1,883

  36

  Walsall

  4,414

  1,410

  32

  Wolverhampton

  6,714

  2,067

  31

  Knowsley

  6,249

  1,173

  19

  Liverpool

  18,286

  5,763

  32

  St. Helens

  8,522

  2,823

  33

  Sefton

  6,465

  4,208

  65

  Wirral

  6,057

  3,379

  56

  Bolton

  3,925

  899

  23

  Bury

  2,598

  1,254

  48

  Manchester

  29,609

  4,697

  16

  Oldham

  14,498

  8,522

  59

  Rochdale

  14,718

  8,071

  55

  Salford

  8,198

  3,433

  42

  Stockport

  3,048

  1,919

  63

  Tameside

  2,871

  1,744

  61

  Trafford

  6,786

  3,683

  54

  Wigan

  11,797

  7,462

  63

  Barnsley

  2,383

  806

  34

  Doncaster

  1,686

  375

  22

  Rotherham

  4,433

  1,039

  23

  Sheffield

  5,123

  1,371

  27

  Bradford

  28,244

  9,355

  33

  Calderdale

  2,720

  1,661

  61

  Kirklees

  7,170

  3,797

  53

  Leeds

  46,141

  16,372

  35

  Wakefield

  12,479

  2,275

  18

  Gateshead

  10,582

  2,840

  27

  496

  LEA

  Total bid £000s

  Total1 ACG £000s

  ACG as percentage of bid

  Newcastle

  10,634

  2,332

  22

  North Tyneside

  4,759

  729

  15

  South Tyneside

  8,228

  1,988

  24

  Sunderland

  9,854

  3,072

  31

  Isles of Scilly

  215

  16

  8

  Avon

  22,096

  4,945

  22

  Bedfordshire

  9,812

  1,974

  20

  Berkshire

  10,312

  3,282

  32

  Buckinghamshire

  15,555

  7,124

  46

  Cambridgeshire

  32,006

  8,536

  27

  Cheshire

  12,008

  5,257

  44

  Cleveland

  12,555

  2,979

  24

  Cornwall

  20,719

  6,828

  33

  Cumbria

  19,610

  9,629

  49

  Derbyshire

  29,640

  21,330

  72

  Devon

  25,298

  7,715

  30

  Dorset

  13,915

  2,605

  19

  Durham

  24,188

  6,911

  29

  East Sussex

  32,015

  16,761

  52

  Essex

  75,926

  22,210

  29

  Gloucestershire

  16,106

  6,442

  40

  Hampshire

  42,960

  16,517

  38

  Hereford and Worcester

  14,373

  6,774

  47

  Hertfordshire

  16,162

  6,524

  40

  Humberside

  25,167

  8,371

  33

  Isle of Wight

  7,006

  2,263

  32

  Kent

  51,039

  23,773

  47

  Lancashire

  36,626

  22,789

  62

  Leicestershire

  15,209

  6,922

  46

  Lincolnshire

  26,069

  10,016

  38

  Norfolk

  11,444

  2,779

  24

  North Yorkshire

  6,903

  4,575

  66

  Northamptonshire

  13,987

  8,641

  62

  Northumberland

  5,565

  3,545

  64

  Nottinghamshire

  12,741

  5,167

  41

  Oxfordshire

  24,896

  6,601

  27

  Shropshire

  17,455

  6,582

  38

  Somerset

  12,397

  4,979

  40

  Staffordshire

  12,391

  8,644

  70

  Suffolk

  20,681

  9,989

  48

  Surrey

  13,332

  5,538

  42

  Warwickshire

  6,696

  1,644

  25

  West Sussex

  14,956

  3,508

  23

  Wiltshire

  16,446

  4,973

  30

  1 This column represents the ACGs announced in December 1990. Some supplementary credit approvals have been and will be issued during the course of the year.

  2 The ACG for Tower Hamlets includes £3·7 million which will be issued as an SCA during the course of the year.

  Voluntary aided and special agreement schools 1991–92 total capital bids and allocations

  LEA

  Total bid (£000) 1991–92

  Total allocation (£000) 1991–92

  Allocation as per cent age of bid

  City of London

  97

  —

  —

  Camden

  1,055

  226

  21

  Greenwich

  201

  36

  18

  Hackney

  442

  195

  44

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  1,357

  1,295

  95

  Islington

  181

  173

  96

  Kensington

  3,580

  2,640

  74

  Lambeth

  937

  70

  7

  Lewisham

  329

  65

  20

  Southwark

  1,616

  861

  53

  Tower Hamlets

  597

  334

  56

  Wandsworth

  203

  49

  24

  Westminster

  346

  324

  94

  Barking

  1,955

  1,955

  100

  Barnet

  3,605

  718

  20

  Bexley

  2,341

  305

  13

  497

  LEA

  Total bid (£000) 1991–92

  Total allocation (£000) 1991–92

  Allocation as per cent age of bid

  Brent

  196

  35

  18

  Bromley

  429

  198

  46

  Croyden

  3,051

  1,814

  59

  Ealing

  315

  —

  —

  Enfield

  812

  302

  37

  Haringey

  1,412

  1,163

  82

  Harrow

  172

  —

  —

  Havering

  311

  147

  47

  Hillingdon

  405

  20

  5

  Hounslow

  236

  53

  22

  Kingston

  646

  —

  —

  Merton

  228

  98

  43

  Newham

  284

  134

  47

  Redbridge

  3,399

  116

  3

  Richmond

  902

  195

  22

  Sutton

  3,374

  2,354

  70

  Waltham Forest

  1,800

  300

  17

  Birmingham

  3,539

  1,113

  31

  Coventry

  1,570

  1,369

  87

  Dudley

  2,385

  2,006

  84

  Sandwell

  351

  7

  2

  Solihull

  687

  55

  8

  Walsall

  400

  —

  —

  Wolverhampton

  614

  61

  10

  Knowsley

  1,288

  571

  44

  Liverpool

  6,120

  4,493

  73

  St. Helens

  2,299

  2,149

  93

  Sefton

  2,233

  1,750

  78

  Wirral

  1,037

  631

  61

  Bolton

  984

  436

  44

  Bury

  830

  574

  69

  Manchester

  1,305

  827

  63

  Oldham

  609

  174

  29

  Rochdale

  756

  436

  58

  Salford

  567

  343

  60

  Stockport

  341

  291

  85

  Tameside

  136

  35

  26

  Trafford

  781

  715

  92

  Wigan

  2,126

  1,108

  52

  Barnsley

  25

  25

  100

  Doncaster

  145

  145

  100

  Rotherham

  385

  158

  41

  Sheffield

  945

  127

  13

  Bradford

  1,002

  873

  87

  Calderdale

  634

  444

  70

  Kirklees

  326

  218

  67

  Leeds

  12,628

  12,288

  97

  Wakefield

  346

  180

  52

  Gateshead

  449

  64

  14

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  1,050

  847

  81

  North Tyneside

  454

  203

  45

  South Tyneside

  59

  21

  36

  Sunderland

  523

  116

  22

  Avon

  1,342

  619

  46

  Bedfordshire

  1,127

  600

  53

  Berkshire

  723

  358

  50

  Buckinghamshire

  2,401

  2,207

  92

  Cambridgeshire

  825

  79

  10

  Cheshire

  3,324

  1,997

  60

  Cleveland

  884

  398

  45

  Cornwall

  508

  369

  73

  Cumbria

  1,464

  869

  59

  Derbyshire

  1,106

  889

  80

  Devon

  2,951

  567

  19

  Dorset

  6,734

  3,985

  59

  Durham

  1,103

  718

  65

  East Sussex

  1,319

  1,065

  81

  Essex

  1,264

  1,010

  80

  Gloucestershire

  1,694

  1,229

  73

  Hampshire

  2,994

  1,926

  64

  498

  LEA

  Total bid (£000) 1991–92

  Total allocation (£000) 1991–92

  Allocation as per cent age of bid

  Hereford and Worcester

  2,580

  1,356

  53

  Hertfordshire

  2,302

  1,656

  72

  Humberside

  1,400

  46

  3

  Isle of Wight

  260

  210

  81

  Isles of Scilly

  —

  —

  —

  Kent

  7,737

  2,837

  37

  Lancashire

  6,534

  4,051

  62

  Leicestershire

  967

  598

  62

  Lincolnshire

  1,753

  276

  16

  Norfolk

  587

  13

  2

  North Yorkshire

  2,005

  775

  39

  Northamptonshire

  400

  27

  7

  Northumberland

  1,175

  747

  64

  Nottinghamshire

  1,359

  135

  10

  Oxfordshire

  2,952

  2,526

  86

  Shropshire

  423

  238

  56

  Somerset

  2,135

  2,041

  96

  Staffordshire

  2,001

  979

  49

  Suffolk

  890

  345

  39

  Surrey

  2,965

  839

  28

  Warwickshire

  3,112

  788

  25

  West Sussex

  2,129

  1,875

  88

  Wiltshire

  1,677

  1,068

  64

  South West London College
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what discussions he has had with the governors of South West London college as to their views on the future of this college; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what discussions he has had with the director of education of the London borough of Wandsworth as to the views of the council on the future of South West London college in Tooting; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he will meet the hon. Member for Tooting and representatives of staff and students of South West London college, Tooting, before any decision is taken as to the possible closure of this college.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The governors of South West London college wrote to the Department on 10 May 1991 about the future of the college. The director of education of the London borough of Wandsworth wrote on 15 May about its further education provision. I am meeting the hon. Member. My right hon. and learned Friend will be considering all the views expressed before reaching his decision.

  Brighton CTC
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science at what price the site of Brighton city technology college, referred to in the answer to the hon. Member for Blackburn of 3 May 1990,Official Report, column 627, is now being offered for sale; what is the difference between that price and the total cost of purchase including agents' and legal fees; and what will be the total anticipated loss to the public purse, after taking account of interest forgone on the moneys used to make the purchase.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The site that was purchased for use as a city technology college in Brighton is being offered for sale with a guide price of £2 million on the advice of agents. The original cost of purchase was £2·3 milion net, in addition to which £54,000 was spent on legal fees. As no
  499
  sale has yet been agreed for the site, it is not possible to calculate the loss or gain to the public purse as a result of its purchase and resale.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether Mr. Revere was required to repay any interest earned by him, or forgone by the public purse, in respect of the commission charged by him in respect of the purchase of the site of the then proposed Brighton city technology college, referred to in the answer to the hon. Member for Blackburn of 3 May 1990,Official Report, column 627.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  No. The commission was repaid in full upon its discovery.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department has been involved in any discussions with the East Sussex police about the charging by Mr. Ivor Revere of commission on the purchase of the site of the then proposed Brighton city technology college; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  My right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State referred the handling of the purchase of the property to the appropriate authorities for investigation. The investigation has been completed and I have been advised that no further action is contemplated by these authorities.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps have been taken to improve the financial control of the city technology college programme following the discovery of financial improprieties in respect of the then proposed Brighton city technology college.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The financial procedures of the CTC programme are subject to continual review and improvement by my Department.

  Students (Maintenance)
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what support will be given from public funds towards students' maintenance in the academic year 1991–92.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary regulations, the maximum rates of loan for the academic year 1991–92 in the United Kingdom will be as follows:

  Full year rate £

  Final year rate £

  Students living away from home:

  In London

  660

  480

  Elsewhere

  580

  425

  Students living at home

  460

  335

  As already announced, the main rates of maintenance grant for mandatory award holders from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and their equivalents in Scotland, will be the same as in the current academic year. The rates for England, Wales and Northern Ireland are shown in the table; Scottish rates are slightly different.
  500

  £

  Students living away from home:

  In London

  2,845

  Elsewhere

  2,265

  Students living at home

  1,795

  These grant and loan rates will enbable full year student support in the United Kingdom to increase by 6 per cent next year.

  Science Budget
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the distribution to the research councils, the Royal Society and the Fellowship of Engineering, of the sums that were left unallocated when the science budget planning figures for 1992–93 and 1993 were indicatively distributed.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I have received further advice on the distribution of these unallocated sums from the Advisory Board for the Research Councils, and have decided to accept the board's recommendation that, subject to approval by Parliament of the estimates in due course, the following additions should be made to the indicative allocations already announced for 1992–93 and 1993–94:

  £million

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Agricultural and Food Research Council

  3·1

  3·5

  Economic and Social Research Council

  2·1

  2·7

  Medical Research Council

  5·6

  6·2

  Natural Environment Research Council

  3·8

  4·4

  Science and Engineering Research Council

  120·8

  122·5

  Royal Society

  0·9

  1·1

  Fellowship of Engineering

  0·2

  0·2

  Total

  36·5

  240·6

  1 SERC's figures includes £5 million in each year for enhanced supercomputing facilities for use by research councils and institutions of higher education.

  2 The ABRC has not yet considered the distribution of £17·3 million of the unallocated sum for 1993–94.

EMPLOYMENT

  Job Clubs
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) for each region and for Great Britain as a whole, how many people(a) were members of job clubs on 1 April 1990, (b) have joined job clubs, from 1 April 1990 to the latest possible date and (c) have left job clubs, from 1 April 1990 to the latest possible date; and what were the destinations of those job club leavers, showing how many entered jobs;

  (2) if he will give the destination, ethnic backgrounds and numbers of people who have left job clubs since 1 April 1990, broken down to show (a) the results for each region and for Great Britain as a whole and (b) the results for people leaving either external or internal job clubs.

  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 these questions for reply.

  Restart
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have attended a restart interview since 1 April 1990, to the latest available date, for each region and for Great Britain as a whole; and what were the results of those interviews, broken down in the manner of the answer to the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Lee) of 18 December 1990,Official Report, column 148.

  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.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were refused unemployment benefit in the Blyth Valley area under the actively seeking work rules since 1990.

  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.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any proposals to enable or encourage greater co-operation between chambers of commerce and training and enterprise councils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  My Department is keen to encourage the greatest possible degree of co-operation between training and enterprise councils (TECs) and all the key players in the local business support network. Working closely together in concert avoids wasteful duplication of effort, and makes the best use of both public and private sector funding. I am pleased to report that many TEC plans make working with their local chamber of commerce a leading priority. In many cases, TEC board members are directors of their local chamber of commerce, and vice versa.

  Pneumoconiosis
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now undertake to review the working of the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers'

  Table 1

  Numbers of reported occupational injuries1 in the East Midlands region 1986–87 to 1989–90 (provisional)

  Standard industrial classification 1980 sector

  Fatal

  Non-fatal major2

  Over 3 day3

  Total reported

  1986–87

  Agriculture

  5n.a.

  41

  148

  189

  Energy4

  1

  53

  632

  686

  Manufacturing

  6

  677

  5,427

  6,110

  Construction

  8

  138

  909

  1,055

  Services

  7

  2,019

  3,967

  5,993

  All industries6

  22

  2,928

  11,083

  14,033

  1987–88

  Agriculture

  5n.a.

  72

  182

  254

  Energy4

  1

  228

  1,829

  2,058

  502
  Compensation) Act 1979 with a view to establishing whether certain categories of claimants have failed to secure reasonable compensation under the terms of this Act; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The Government have no current plans to review the working of the compensation scheme which this Act provides. It considers that the Act has well served, and continues to serve, the original purpose intended by Parliament in providing a measure of compensation to sufferers from certain dust diseases who have little chance of obtaining compensation through the courts because the relevant employer is no longer in business. The Government has fully met its commitment to Parliament to review the compensation paid with the aim of maintaining its value.

  Sick Building Syndrome
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what research the Health and Safety Executive has carried out into sick building syndrome; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is to commission a comprehensive and critical review of current published literature on sick building syndrome to enable it to consider the production of a guidance leaflet. The results of this review are expected to be available by the end of the year.

  The HSE is also evaluating a proposal from an external research unit concerning possible epidemiological studies on this subject.

  Work Accidents
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the total number of injuries as a result of work activities reported to enforcement authorities in the five counties of the east midlands region for each year since 1986–87 in the categories (i) fatal, (ii) non-fatal major, (iii) over three days and (iv) total reported in(a) agriculture, (b) energy, (c) manufacturing, (d) construction and (e) services.

  Mr. Forth
  The available information for the whole of the east midlands region is provided in table 1. Analysis by individual counties could be provided only at disproportionate cost for all injury severities. However, table 2 provides such analysis for the reported fatalities which have been aggregated for the four years since 1986–87 in view of the small numbers involved.
  503

  Standard industrial classification 1980 sector

  Fatal

  Non-fatal major1

  Over 3 day3

  Total reported

  Manufacturing

  6

  714

  4,822

  5,542

  Construction

  9

  148

  884

  1,041

  Services

  11

  1,806

  4,129

  5,946

  All industries6

  27

  2,968

  11,846

  14,841

  1988–89

  Agriculture

  1

  73

  193

  267

  Energy4

  5

  242

  2,672

  2,919

  Manufacturing

  9

  680

  5,409

  6,098

  Construction

  7

  171

  954

  1,132

  Services

  7

  1,852

  4,166

  6,025

  All industries6

  29

  3,018

  13,394

  16,441

  1989–907

  Agriculture

  4

  58

  165

  227

  Energy4

  8

  208

  2,128

  2,344

  Manufacturing

  9

  607

  5,886

  6,502

  Construction

  5

  199

  1,235

  1,439

  Services

  19

  2,027

  4,332

  6,378

  All industries6

  45

  3,106

  13,762

  16,913

  Table 2

  Numbers of reported fatal injuries (a) in the East Midlands region 1986–87 to 1989–90 (provisional)

  Standard Industrial Classification 1980

  County

  Derbyshire

  Leicestershire

  Lincolnshire

  Northamptonshire

  Nottinghamshire

  Sector

  Agriculture5

  1

  —

  —

  —

  4

  Energy

  3

  2

  —

  —

  10

  Manufacturing

  6

  3

  4

  4

  13

  Construction

  5

  6

  10

  1

  7

  Services

  6

  8

  9

  9

  12

  All Industries

  21

  19

  23

  14

  46

  1 Injuries to employees, self-employed persons and non-employed persons injured in a working environment, reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1985 (RIDDOR), to all enforcement authorities excluding HSE's Railway Inspectorate.

  2 As defined under RIDDOR

  3 Injuries causing incapacity for work for more than three days.

  4 Excludes injuries reported to HSE's inspectorate of mines and quarries.

  5 Analysis by county of fatal injuries reported to HSE's agricultural inspectorate in 1986–87 and 1987–88 not available.

  6 Including a small number of injuries not classified by industry.

  7 provisional.

  n.a. not available.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress has been made on the proposed new airport development in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Haynes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation as regards the proposed airport development plan in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Hurd
  Talks with the Chinese Government on Hong Kong's airport project resumed on 18 May. We and the Chinese Government agree that Hong Kong needs a new airport and we are making intensive efforts to secure Chinese support for the project.
  504

  Antarctica
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent meeting of Antarctic treaty parties in Madrid.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Madrid conference on the future of Antarctica.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 10 May to my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridgeshire, South-East (Mr. Paice) in which he stated that the Government warmly welcome the outcome of the Madrid meeting and hope that the draft protocol tabled there will provide the basis for comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment.
  505
  Further, the Prime Minister indicated that of particular importance are the provisions for a ban on mineral activity for 50 years, and mechanisms for review of the ban after 50 years, or before if everyone agrees.

  The results of these provisions would be that there can never be mining in Antarctica unless all the present consultative parties agree.

  Weapons Control
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to control the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

  Mr. Hurd
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gosport (Mr. Viggers) on 24 April at column 1072.

  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to clarify the Soviet disarmament figures.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We and our NATO partners are continuing to press the Soviet Union to ensure the full and early implementation of the CFE treaty.

  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made in controlling the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are working to strengthen existing regimes of restriction and control. We have already reinforced and widened the scope of our export controls on chemical weapons precursors. We are considering urgently how to improve the regimes to prevent the export of technology and materials for biological weapons.

  We shall also be working:

  for further accessions to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty

  to strengthen the international safeguards administered by the International Atomic Energy Agency

  to harmonise and improve existing export controls through the Zangger committee, nuclear suppliers group and Australia group

  to secure a commitment to the early negotiation of a chemical weapons convention and the strengthening of the biological weapons convention at its review conference in September

  and to strengthen the missile technology control regime.

  Albania
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about relations with Albania.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Her Majesty's Government have decided in principle to re-establish diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and Albania, in response to the offer made when the Albanian Foreign Minister called on me on 13 May. We are in touch with the Albanian authorities about the form and timing of an announcement.

  Taiwan
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has plans to make an official visit to Taiwan.
  506
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to do so.

  Bangladesh
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom-Bangladesh relations.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have very good relations with the newly elected democratic Government of Bangladesh and are working closely with them in the relief effort following the recent cyclone.

  Poland
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to visit Poland to discuss its entry into the European Community.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no present plans to visit Poland. We believe that the option of full membership of the European Community should be available to Poland when she is able to meet the political and economic obligations it entails.

  Iraq
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of relief operations in northern Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The relief operation is going well. Refugees are coming down from the mountains in increasing numbers. With the assistance of allied forces, many are returning to their homes. United Nations staff are now also working in the area.

  Israel
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last visited Israel and the occupied territories; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Israel and the occupied territories.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend last visited Israel and the occupied territories in October 1990. Since then we have stayed in regular contact with the Israeli Foreign Minister. I visited Israel and the occupied territories from 6 to 9 May. I had detailed discussions with leading Israelis and Palestinians on the peace process. I urged both sides to show the flexibility necessary for Mr. Baker's initiative to succeed.

  Middle East
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the middle east peace process.

  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in the middle east.
  507
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We welcome continuing American efforts to restart the middle east peace process. With our EC partners, we have given them our full support. There has been some progress towards acceptance of the idea of a peace conference. Important differences remain but there is enough encouragement to all of us to wear down those differences in order to get a conference under way.

  Cuba
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to visit Cuba to discuss restrictions on British trade with Cuba.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no such plans. We have normal trade relations with Cuba.

  South Africa
  Mr. John Carlisle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to visit South Africa.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs plans to visit South Africa during the summer.

  China
  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what attempts the British Government are making to improve relations with the People's Republic of China.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We want to have a full and constructive relationship with the People's Republic of China. We are seeking to intensify our co-operation over Hong Kong in order to bring about the full implementation of the joint declaration. Since the October Foreign Affairs Council's decision to relax most of the EC Twelve's measures against China, we have restored a number of areas of contact and cooperation. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs' visit to Peking in April was a further step in this process.

  Kuwait
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his visit to Kuwait.

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

  Third World
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent meetings he has had with other Foreign Ministers to discuss third world matters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs regularly discusses third world matters with other foreign ministers.

  President Aylwin
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the visit to the United Kingdom in April of President Aylwin of Chile.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  President Aylwin visited the United Kingdom from 10–15 April. Among others, he met Her Majesty the Queen and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. His Foreign Minister, Mr. Silva Cimma, signed a memorandum of understanding with me on co-operation against drugs. The visit served to underline Chile's return to democratic government.

  Agency Status
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those bodies currently with agency status within his Department under the next steps initiative; and whether he has identified any further candidates for agency status under the initiative within his Department.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The diplomatic wing of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not so far set up any "next steps" agencies. However, it has been agreed that the Wilton Park conference centre will be established as an agency. Our aim is to launch it on 1 September.

  The Overseas Development Administration (ODA) has one agency—the National Resources Institute. The ODA has no further candidates under consideration at present.

  Visas (Bombay)
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that applicants attending for interview for visas do not have to queue for long periods of time in the main road outside the British high commission in Bombay.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The British Deputy High Commission in Bombay is moving to new accommodation on 23 May which will provide better facilities for applicants waiting to apply for visas. An improved lay-out and a larger waiting area inside the building should ensure that applications are processed more quickly.

  The new address is:

  Maker Chambers IV

  222 Jamnalal Bajaj Road

  (PO Box) 11714

  Nariman Point

  Bombay 400 021

  Egypt (Christians)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representation has been made to the Egyptian Government regarding the treatment of Moustaffa Mohammed Said al Sharkawi, Mohammed Hussein Sallam and Hassan Muhammed Ismael Muhammed and others who have embraced the Christian religion.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs raised the matter with the then Egyptian Foreign Minister in Cairo on 1 May. He told Dr. Abdel Meguid of the widespread concern in Britain at the detention of the three Christians.

  Miss Valerie Howell
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why Mr. H. C. Barnes, a constituent of the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds, has received no replies to his inquiries of 28 February and 7 April concerning the death of Miss Valerie Howell in Zimbabwe; and what disposition has been, or is being, made of the late Miss Howell's effects.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  As the inquiries to which my hon. Friend refers were addressed to the authorities of another sovereign state, of which Miss Howell was a citizen, I am not in a position to explain the absence of replies.

  I have no information about the disposition of her effects. This could best be pursued through legal channels in Zimbabwe and details of local lawyers have been sent to Mr. Barnes.

  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received from the high commission in Zimbabwe about the murder in October 1990 of a British citizen, Valerie Howell, in the area of Northwood, Harare; and if Her Majesty's consul in Harare has been in contact with the Zimbabwean CID in respect of its investigations and undertaking to report via the Zimbabwean high commission in London to the late Miss Howell's relative Mr. H. C. Barnes, a constituent of the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  As a Zimbabwe/British dual national who had made a form of renunciation of British nationality to the Zimbabwe authorities, in Zimbabwe law the late Miss Howell was a Zimbabwe citizen only. Under international convention Her Majesty's consul in Harare has no standing to receive or request information about matters relating to her.

  The High Commission in Harare is aware only that Miss Howell died at her home in Zimbabwe on 27 October 1990 and that murder was suspected.

  Iraq
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the leaders of the Kurdish people in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I last met representatives of Iraqi opposition groups on 22 April 1991. These included three representatives from Kurdish organisations. The delegation expressed their gratitude for Britain's support for Iraqi refugees.

  European Community
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards increasing the number of countries in membership of the EC.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The Community has agreed that there should be no decisions on enlargement until 1993. We support enlargement thereafter to include those countries which are qualified to join and able to take on all the obligations of membership.

  Turkey
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Turkey concerning article 39 of the treaty of Lausanne and the Kurdish language.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  We have not made representations to the Government of Turkey regarding article 39 of the treaty of Lausanne. We have noted the recent decision of the Turkish Cabinet to ease restrictions on the use of the Kurdish language.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Government of Turkey, concerning the theft of emergency supplies from Kurdish refugee camps in Turkey by members of the Turkish army; and to what extent such incidents have occurred.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  No representations have been made to the Turkish authorities, who have formally denied press allegations of the theft of emergency supplies by members of the Turkish army. We are not aware of any other reports of any looting of relief aid.

  Mr. Mohinder Singh Bedi
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many invitations have been issued to Mr. Mohinder Paul Singh Bedi since 1979 to attend official functions organised by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have checked records available to us and can find no trace of a recent invitation. However, information as far back as 1979 is not readily available and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the United States of America and the European Community about the creation of comprehensive multilateral arms export control regimes.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are in discussion with them on how to promote a more responsible multilateral approach to arms sales, and we are pursuing with them my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's proposal, launched at the European Council in Luxembourg on 8 April, for a United Nations arms register.

  Angola
  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the situation in Angola and Her Majesty's Government's policy towards achieving a political settlement there.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We congratulate the Government of Angola and UNITA on reaching a ceasefire agreement and hope that this will formally enter into force on 31 May. We have strongly supported the peace process and will play our part in helping Angola find her feet again.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing (i) for each of the years 1970–71 to 1991–92 an analysis by class of authority within standard region of non-domestic rateable values, average poundages, actual payments, and uncollected non-domestic rate revenues and (ii) for each of the years 1970–71 to 1989–90 by class of authority within standard region of domestic rateable values, gross rates, rates net of rebates, and uncollected domestic rate revenue.

  Mr. Portillo
  I have arranged for the available information to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Homelessness
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing for each local authority in. England the number of persons accepted as homeless in each year since 1979 inclusive.

  Sir George Young
  I have today placed in the Library a table giving the numbers of households for whom local authorities accepted responsibility for securing accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 and the Housing Act 1985, for each year from 1981 to 1990.

  In a majority of cases, the main immediate reasons for acceptance by local authorities were that their relations or friends were no longer willing or able to house them or as a result of the breakdown of a relationship. Those accepted will either have been rehoused directly, found temporary accommodation, or enabled to stay in existing accommodation until suitable permanent housing was found.

  Information for the years 1979 and 1980 is available in edition No. 54—table 14—edition No. 61—table 11—and edition No. 62—table 13—of "Local Housing Statistics: England and Wales", copies of which are in the Library.

  A new reporting system was introduced for non-metropolitan districts in the fourth quarter of 1980 and for metropolitan districts and the London boroughs in the third quarter of 1982, so that the figures are not directly comparable over the whole period.

  Refuse Collection
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to issue new guidelines to local authorities for the collection of refuse from composite premises.

  Mr. Baldry
  My predecessor and I have both issued clear guidelines on this matter. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hazel Grove (Sir T. Arnold) on 15 January this year. We intend to amend the Collection and Disposal of Waste Regulations 1988 to reinforce this guidance as soon as is practicable.

  County Hall, London
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what use is currently being made of county hall.

  Mr. Key
  County hall is currently unoccupied pending its intended disposal by the London residuary body.

  Thurrock Borough Council
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make an order declaring Thurrock borough council to be in default of its duties in respect of public health by its decision to end its service of emptying cesspools in part of its area, and ordering it to resume these functions within one month.

  Mr. Baldry
  No: my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no powers to do so. It is acceptable for local authorities to nominate private contractors, by means of competitive tender, to empty cesspools on their behalf. I understand that Thurrock borough council is merely mainatining a list of contractors willing to provide a service: this would not in my Department's view be sufficient to discharge the council's legal obligations to provide a service on request on payment of a reasonable fee. My officials have drawn these views to the council's attention.

  Uniform Business Rate
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals against the uniform business rate have been lodged in the areas covering the parliamentary constituency of Blyth Valley.

  Mr. Key
  By 31 March 1991, the valuation office had received 836 proposals to alter the 1990 rating list in respect of the area of the parliamentary constituency of Blyth Valley.

  Chromium Compound Emissions
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of industrial sites known to his Department which emit chromium compounds into the atmosphere; and what is the damage to public health from these substances.

  Mr. Baldry
  The major potential sources of chromium emissions must be registered on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Environment by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution under the Alkali etc. Works Regulation Act 1906.

  Certificates of registration have been issued for the following such works.

  Name of discharger and Location

  Ferro-Alloys and Metals Limited—Glossop, Derbyshire

  Murex Limited—Rainham, Essex

  Harcros Chemicals UK Limited—Eaglescliffe, Cleveland

  London & Scandinavia Metallurgical Co. Limited—

  Rotherham, South Yorkshire

  Additionally a number of industrial processes may emit small quantities of chromium. Such processes will be progressively controlled, under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, during the next five years.

  The effect of airborne emissions of chromium compounds on public health is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

  Fire Regulations
  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration has been given to the concern fire officers, insurers and others expressed for the safety of life and property in response to the original consultation paper of March 1990 in preparing the revised England and Wales Building Regulations (Fire).
  513
  Mr. Yeo
  Officials will shortly be meeting representatives of the chief fire officers to discuss their concerns about the proposals which have been put forward for the revision of part B—safety in fire—of the Building Regulations 1985. Similar meetings have already been held with other representatives of the fire service, with fire insurers, and with a considerable number of other bodies who have commented on the proposals. Together with the written comments, the views expressed at these meetings will be fully taken into account when final decisions on these proposals come to be taken.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the results of consultation on the England and Wales Building Regulations (Fire) will be announced.

  Mr. Yeo
  The detailed outcome of the review of part B—safety in fire—of the Building Regulations 1985 is likely to be anounced in the autumn.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he intends to take to ensure that the introduction of any new England and Wales Building Regulations (Fire) does not result in higher costs due to higher insurance premiums.

  Mr. Yeo
  There have been discussions with fire insurers about the proposals for the revision of part B—safety in fire—of the Building Regulations 1985. Their views will be fully taken into account when final decisions on these proposals come to be taken. However, the primary purpose of the regulations is to protect the health and safety of people, while fire insurers are also concerned with the protection of property. The regulations represent minimum requirements. There is no reason however why buildings should not be constructed to higher standards to meet any insurance requirements related to the protection of property.

  Common Land
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Hyndburn (Mr. Hargreaves),Official Report, 26 March, columns 352–53, if he will set out the reservations expressed by each interested party on common land legislation; if he will place copies of written representations from each interested party in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  In the discussions held with all major interests following the Government statement of 26 July 1990, views were sought both on the content of prospective comprehensive common land legislation and on the alternative of a short Bill to prevent deregistration. Apart from the national access bodies, the majority of the interests consulted indicated opposition, in varying degrees, to the latter.

  After various amenity bodies wrote to Ministers in October 1990 suggesting that the Government introduce a short Bill, the Countryside Commission, the Government's statutory adviser on this matter, confirmed in writing its continued lack of support for this proposal, and the National Farmers Union wrote confirming their opposition. We have no authority from these bodies to place their representations in the Library.

  Society of Fire Protection Engineers
  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representation there is on the committee advising him on the England and Wales Building Regulations (Fire) from the Society of Fire Protection Engineers.

  Mr. Yeo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hyndburn (Mr. Hargreaves) on 21 February,Official Report, column 201.

  EC Labelling Scheme
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) of 26 March,Official Report, column 354, whether there has been any progress on development of an eco-labelling scheme for the United Kingdom; whether he has received any notification from the European Commission on the development of a Community-wide labelling scheme; what is his policy on whether such a scheme should be voluntary; and when he considers implementation of such a scheme might commence.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Government have made it clear they support the introduction of a voluntary eco-labelling scheme, and that they would prefer this to be part of an arrangement covering the whole of the European Community. However, if there is undue delay in agreeing a Community scheme we will go ahead with introducing a national scheme. We want an official eco-labelling scheme to be in place as soon as possible, and expect the first labels to be awarded during 1992.

  House Values
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing by fifths, sevenths and tenths the value of dwellings and of households incomes before tax.

  Mr. Key
  The information requested is not available.

  Right to Buy
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local housing authorities in England who have put forward schemes under the Housing Act 1988 to provide council tenants with a cash grant to help them buy a home in the private sector; how many houses have been purchased to date under the provisions in each of those district council areas; what was the minimum and maximum level of grants paid to each area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  Local authority cash incentive schemes can be a valuable means of helping tenants into home ownership while releasing vacancies for reletting to homeless people. Table 1 lists schemes approved to date and gives the maximum grant payable under each scheme. Further schemes for 1991–92 are under consideration.

  Authorities report annually on the outturn of their schemes. Table 2 gives the number of properties bought with assistance under 1989–90 schemes and average grants paid: information on maximum and minimum grants paid is not readily available. Reports on 1990–91 schemes are still being received.
  515

  Table 1

  £ thousands

  Local authority

  1989–90 Maximum grant available

  1990–91 Maximum grant available

  1991–92 Maximum grant available

  Eastern

  Aylesbury Vale

  11·000

  20·000

  24·000

  Broxbourne

  —

  —

  28·000

  Colchester

  10·000

  20·000

  20·000

  Dacorum

  —

  —

  25·000

  East Hertfordshire

  —

  —

  27·500

  Harlow

  10·000

  10·000

  —

  Huntingdon

  —

  13·000

  —

  North Hertfordshire

  —

  —

  14·000

  Luton

  13·000

  13·000

  15·000

  Maldon

  —

  12·500

  —

  Peterborough

  —

  5·000

  5·000

  Rochford

  11·250

  11·250

  26·700

  St. Albans

  13·000

  25·000

  25·000

  South Buckinghamshire

  11·000

  11·000

  —

  Southend

  —

  15·000

  15·000

  South Norfolk

  —

  —

  13·000

  Stevenage

  —

  —

  15·000

  Three Rivers

  —

  7·000

  7·000

  Watford

  12·000

  13·500

  15·000

  East Midlands

  Amber Valley

  —

  5·000

  —

  Charnwood

  —

  10·000

  —

  Daventry

  —

  10000

  —

  East Northants.

  —

  6·000

  6·000

  South Kesteven

  8·000

  8·000

  —

  London

  Barnet

  —

  20·000

  20·000

  Brent

  —

  20·000

  20·000

  Bromley

  13·000

  13·000

  13·000

  Camden

  —

  20·000

  25·000

  Croydon

  13·000

  22·000

  22·500

  Ealing

  13·000

  15·000

  22·000

  Enfield

  —

  20·000

  20·000

  Hackney

  —

  20·000

  20·000

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  —

  18·000

  20·000

  Haringey

  —

  20·000

  20·000

  Harrow

  12·500

  25·000

  25·000

  Havering

  13·000

  16·000

  16·000

  Hillingdon

  —

  26·554

  26·554

  Hounslow

  —

  15·000

  20·000

  Islington

  —

  25·000

  25–000

  Kensington and Chelsea

  —

  25·000

  33·000

  Kingston upon Thames

  —

  —

  20·000

  Lambeth

  —

  20·000

  20·000

  Lewisham

  —

  15·000

  15·000

  London

  Merton

  —

  27·000

  28·000

  Redbridge

  —

  28·000

  28·000

  Richmond

  —

  25·000

  20·000

  Southwark

  —

  10·000

  15·000

  Sutton

  —

  —

  18·000

  Tower Hamlets

  —

  —

  21·000

  Waltham Forest

  —

  —

  25·000

  Wandsworth

  13·000

  22·000

  22·000

  Westminster

  13·000

  20·000

  20·000

  South East

  Adur

  10·000

  10·000

  16·000

  Arun

  10·000

  10·000

  10·000

  Basingstoke and Deane

  —

  25·000

  —

  Bracknell

  —

  —

  22·500

  Brighton

  —

  20·000

  20·000

  Canterbury

  —

  22·500

  24·500

  Cherwell

  —

  12·500

  10·000

  Chichester

  —

  —

  24·000

  Dartford

  —

  —

  24·000

  Dover

  —

  22·000

  22·000

  Eastbourne

  —

  —

  20·000

  516

  Local authority

  1989–90 Maximum grant available

  1990–91 Maximum grant available

  1991–92 Maximum grant available

  East Hampshire

  —

  10·000

  25·000

  Eastleigh

  —

  —

  21·600

  Elmbridge

  —

  20·000

  20·000

  Fareham

  —

  21·495

  21·000

  Gillingham

  8·000

  15·000

  15·000

  Guildford

  —

  —

  28·800

  Gosport

  —

  —

  18·000

  Gravesham

  10·000

  10·000

  10·000

  Hart

  8·000

  25·000

  25·000

  Hastings

  —

  10·000

  10·000

  Havant

  —

  15·000

  15·000

  Horsham

  —

  17·000

  17·000

  Hove

  —

  20·000

  20·000

  Lewes

  —

  10·000

  —

  Maidstone

  —

  25·000

  25·000

  Mole Valley

  —

  —

  25·000

  New Forest

  10·000

  17·000

  15·000

  Oxford

  —

  15·000

  15·000

  Portsmouth

  —

  20·000

  15·000

  Reading

  —

  20·000

  25·000

  Reigate and Banstead

  —

  20·000

  20·000

  Rochester

  8·000

  —

  —

  Rother

  —

  23·000

  23·000

  Runnymede

  —

  14·000

  20·000

  Rushmoor

  8·000

  12·000

  15·000

  Shepway

  13·000

  21·600

  20·800

  Slough

  13·000

  13·000

  12·5000

  Southampton

  —

  15·000

  15·000

  South East

  Spelthorne

  12·000

  24·000

  24·000

  Tandridge

  12·000

  12·000

  12·000

  Test Valley

  10·000

  10·000

  10·000

  Thanet

  —

  —

  20·000

  Tonbridge and Mailing

  —

  25·000

  —

  Tunbridge Wells

  12·000

  24·000

  22·000

  Vale of White Horse

  —

  15·000

  15–000

  Wealden

  6·000

  20·000

  20·000

  West Oxfordshire

  —

  20–000

  —

  Woking

  —

  13·500

  25·000

  Wokingham

  —

  —

  25·000

  Worthing

  —

  15·000

  15·000

  South West

  Bournemouth

  —

  10·000

  —

  Carrick

  5·000

  10·000

  —

  Exeter

  —

  10·000

  10·000

  Kennet

  10·000

  10·000

  10·000

  Mendip

  10·000

  10·000

  10·000

  North Cornwall

  7·500

  7·500

  —

  North Wiltshire

  —

  10·000

  —

  Poole

  7·500

  7·500

  8·500

  Purbeck

  —

  10·000

  —

  Salisbury

  —

  10·000

  —

  South Somerset

  —

  10·000

  —

  Stroud

  —

  —

  10·000

  Taunton Deane

  10·000

  10·000

  —

  Teignbridge

  7·500

  7·500

  —

  Woodspring

  —

  —

  10·000

  West Midlands

  Malvern Hills

  —

  —

  10·000

  Solihull

  —

  8·000

  —

  Stafford

  —

  10·000

  —

  Wyre Forest

  —

  —

  10·000

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  Hambleton

  —

  10·000

  10·000

  517

  Table 2

  Local Authority

  1989–90 Schemes

  Average grant paid (£)

  Properties purchased

  Eastern

  Aylesbury Vale

  11·0

  1 (1)

  Colchester

  8·3

  9 (9)

  Harlow

  8·3

  3 (1)

  Luton

  0·0

  0 (0)

  Rochford

  10·0

  1 (1)

  St. Albans

  13·0

  1 (0)

  South Buckingham

  9·0

  1 (1)

  Watford

  0·0

  0 (0)

  East Midlands

  South Kesteven

  6·6

  8 (8)

  London

  Bromley

  10·5

  92 (52)

  Croydon

  13·0

  1 (0)

  Ealing

  10·8

  39 (19)

  Harrow

  12·5

  16 (8)

  Havering

  11·5

  20 (8)

  Wandsworth

  11·4

  29 (5)

  Westminster

  12·8

  55 (0)

  South East

  Adur

  10·0

  12 (12)

  Arun

  10·0

  1 (0)

  Gillingham

  8·0

  2 (1)

  Gravesham

  10·0

  1 (0)

  Hart

  8·0

  1 (1)

  New Forest

  7·4

  9 (7)

  Rochester

  6·2

  5 (1)

  Rushmoor

  7·0

  2 (0)

  Shepway

  10·4

  4 (3)

  Slough

  12·0

  2 (0)

  Spelthorne

  0·0

  0 (0)

  Tandridge

  12·0

  12 (2)

  Test Valley

  10·0

  3 (1)

  Tunbridge Wells

  11·0

  2 (2)

  Wealden

  6·0

  4 (2)

  South West

  Kennet

  10·0

  3 (3)

  Mendip

  10·0

  12 (7)

  North Cornwall

  7·5

  2 (2)

  Poole

  5·5

  4 (3)

  Taunton Deane

  8·8

  24 (20)

  Teignbridge

  7·5

  1 (0)

  Note: Numbers in parentheses relate to properties purchased within the boundary of the local authority.

  East London River Crossing
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects to recieve the report of the second public inquiry on the east London river crossing; and when he will announce his decision.

  Mr. Yeo
  When the inspector has completed his report and when my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State and the Secretary of State for Transport have considered it.

  Environmental Protection
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress achieved with the European Community programme preventative environmental protection approaches in Europe since 1990.

  Mr. Baldry
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Global Warming
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of the research programme of the International Council of Scientific Unions on global warming and climate change.

  Mr. Baldry
  The scientific staff of the global atmosphere division of the Department of the Environment already have a set of reports from the International Council of Scientific Unions published as "The International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme: a Study of Global Change", and another set is on order for the department's library.

  West end Scheme, Bradford
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether any city grant has been approved for 3Ds Ltd., for the west end scheme in Bradford; whether all the published criteria have been met for the application; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether any second application for city grant has been made or is pending from 3Ds Ltd. for any further extension of the west end scheme in Bradford.

  Mr. Key
  No city grant has yet been approved. The first phase of the development is still under discussion with 3D Ltd., and further details have been requested from it prior to proceeding to full appraisal. No details are available about further applications arising from this current proposal.

  UN Environment Conference
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any British civil servants have been seconded to work at the secretariat of the United Nations conference on environment and development Rio 92 office in Conches, Switzerland.

  Mr. Baldry
  In January my Department seconded an official to the United Nations conference on environment and development secretariat and he has been appointed senior programme officer. We are also supporting a British United Nations volunteer who will be working for the secretariat later this year.

  Ministers' Cars
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether particular cars or cars from a pool are allocated to Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  For security reasons, it would not be appropriate to provide information about the use by Ministers of Government car service vehicles.

  Planning Permission
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to amend article 18 of the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988 so as to require local planning authorities to consult the National Rivers Authority on the availability of adequate water resources before granting planning permission for any development that is assessed as being likely to lead to a significant increase in water consumption in the area concerned.

  Sir George Young
  My right hon. Friend has no present plans to do so, but he keeps the General Development Order under constant review and pays close attention to any comments or proposals which the National Rivers Authority may make to him.

  In addition to the existing statutory consultation requirements in article 18 of the General Development Order, the National Rivers Authority is already a consultee under the environmental assessment regulations. Local planning authorities also consult the National Rivers Authority on a non-statutory basis in preparing development plans and about planning applications which have implications for flood defence and land drainage; the Department's circular 17/82, which deals with these matters, is under review.

  Local Government (Standing Orders)
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce his conclusions as a result of the consultation exercise on the implementation of sections 8 and 20 of the Local Government and Ho using Act 1989.

  Mr. Portillo
  My Department and the Welsh Office have very carefully considered the comments received on the report produced by the joint local/central government working group on the implementation of sections 8 and 20 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, which provides powers for the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Secretary of State for Wales to require local authorities to adopt standing orders regulating the appointment and discipline of staff and various procedural matters. The Government have decided to implement only standing orders which will serve to underpin the independence of local authority chief officers. The consideration of any further action must await the conclusions of the general review of local government.

  My Department will, therefore, be consulting the English and Welsh local authority associations on the content of draft regulations and the timing of their implementation, which would provide for compulsory standing orders on the appointment and dismissal of chief officers.

  The proposals would require procedural safeguards on appointment, including a certificate from the monitoring officer, appointed under section 5 ,of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, and discipline, including the introduction of an independent person to ensure that unreasonable disciplinary action is not taken. These measures are essential to enable chief officers to continue to serve local authorities with maximum effectiveness.

  On the procedural questions which were proposed to be covered by the compulsory standing orders we have also
  520
  concluded that, in present circumstances, we should not impose new rules. The local authority associations will however also be consulted on a number of minor matters concerning procedural standing orders with a view to addressing certain ambiguities in the existing legislation on council procedures.

  Wath Recycling
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information has been reported to him of the results of visits paid to the premises of Wath Recycling by officials of the South Yorkshire hazardous waste unit since June 1989.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 21 May 1991]: I have received regular progress reports about the Department's liaison with the South Yorkshire hazardous waste unit over that unit's monitoring of the site and about various options for dealing with the waste. But this has not required detailed reports on specific visits by the unit which has the regulatory responsibility.

  Drinking Water (Lead Levels)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the lead levels in drinking water supplied by each undertaking in the Northumbrian Water Authority area; what action is being taken to reduce lead levels in drinking water in the Northumbrian Water Authority area; and how many tests on lead levels in drinking water of the Northumbrian Water Authority area have been made and how many are proposed to be made in 1991–92.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 21 May 1991]: The public registers kept by all water companies contain details of lead levels in drinking water and the number of samples taken. The number of samples to be taken is set by the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989 and depends on the results of previous analysis of samples, and either the volume of water distributed for domestic purposes in a water supply zone or the population supplied in the zone. All water companies in England and Wales are carrying out surveys to establish whether there is a risk that lead levels in drinking water will exceed the standard set in the regulations of 50 micrograms per litre after it has left the company's pipes. The surveys should be completed in June and companies will then decide what measures, if any, they need to take.

  Unleaded Petrol
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the report on his Department's survey into motorists' attitudes to the use of unleaded petrol will become available.

  Mr. Baldry
  The report, entitled "Survey of barriers against further uptake of unleaded petrol", was published today and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House. The findings of the report are being considered by my Department.

SCOTLAND

  AIDS
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the Government's financial assistance to voluntary bodies dealing with AIDS in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In respect of 1991–92 The Scottish Office has so far offered financial assistance to AIDS voluntary bodies in Scotland totalling approximately £108,000. Health boards may also provide assistance to such bodies in respect of services provided in their areas from their AIDS allocations, which total over £17 million in 1991–92.

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the AIDS unit allocations made to each of the three host health boards in(a) cash and (b) constant prices for 1990–91 and 1991–92, respectively.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 10 May 1991]: The following table shows, at cash prices, the allocations made in 1990–91 to Lothian, Greater Glasgow and Tayside health boards in respect of their AIDS units. It also shows these amounts adjusted to 1991–92 prices using the GDP deflator.

  Allocations made in 1991–92 in respect of the revenue costs of the units have been subsumed in the general AIDS allocations made to the boards concerned. A capital allocation of £542,000 has been made to Lothian health board in 1991–92 in respect of its unit.

  £ thousands

  Health board

  Cash prices 1990–91

  Adjusted to 1991–92 prices

  Lothian

  Capital

  1,310

  Revenue

  2,560

  3,870

  4,141

  Greater Glasgow

  Capital

  260

  Revenue

  1,550

  1,810

  1,937

  Tayside

  Capital

  —

  Revenue

  1,380

  1,380

  1,477

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the allocations for HIV-AIDS treatment care and prevention to each of the Scottish health boards in(a) cash and (b) constant prices for 1990–91 and 1991–92 respectively.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 10 May 1991]: The table shows AIDS allocations made to health boards in respect of 1990–91 and 1991–92 at cash prices and adjusted to 1991–92 prices using the GDP deflator.

  A revised method has been applied for the allocation of AIDS resources in 1991–92. It is based mainly on the estimated care and treatment costs of people with HIV and AIDS in each health board area; but it also makes provision for expenditure on non-care and non-treatment activities (eg local HIV prevention initiatives); and it provides that the estimated revenue and, where appropriate, capital costs of the AIDS special units
  522
  operated by Greater Glasgow, Lothian and Tayside health boards are met in full. It has the effect of directing the bulk of available resources to those health boards which are carrying the heaviest burdens arising from HIV and AIDS.

  Health board

  Cash prices

  Adjusted to 1991–92 prices

  £ thousands

  £ thousands

  Argyll and Clyde

  1990–91

  565

  605

  1991–92

  503

  503

  Ayrshire and Arran

  1990–91

  445

  476

  1991–92

  424

  424

  Borders

  1990–91

  131

  140

  1991–92

  134

  134

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1990–91

  216

  231

  1991–92

  203

  203

  Fife

  1990–91

  412

  441

  1991–92

  418

  418

  Forth Valley

  1990–91

  387

  414

  1991–92

  402

  402

  Grampian

  1990–91

  731

  782

  1991–92

  598

  598

  Greater Glasgow

  1990–911

  3,757

  4,020

  1991–92

  3,959

  3,959

  Highland

  1990–91

  310

  332

  1991–92

  262

  262

  Lanarkshire

  1990–91

  657

  703

  1991–92

  595

  595

  Lothian

  1990–911

  5,096

  5,453

  1991–921

  7,706

  7,706

  Orkney

  1990–91

  24

  26

  1991–92

  25

  25

  Shetland

  1990–91

  28

  30

  1991–92

  29

  29

  Tayside

  1990–91

  2,101

  2,248

  1991–92

  2,361

  2,361

  Western Isles

  1990–91

  42

  45

  1991–92

  42

  42

  1 Includes capital provision in respect of AIDS unit.

  Legionnaire's Disease
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when his Department first learnt of the outbreak of Legionella resulting from contaminated water supplies in Greater Glasgow health board premises.
  523
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Legionellosis became a notifiable disease in Scotland on 1 October 1988. Since that date Greater Glasgow health board have informed the Scottish Office Home and Health Department on the occasion of any outbreak.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which hospitals have been affected by the Legionella outbreak in the Greater Glasgow area.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  During 1990 the Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the Glasgow Western Infirmary both recorded cases of Legionnaire's disease. There are currently no outbreaks in the Greater Glasgow health board area.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps have been taken to avoid further outbreaks of Legionella in Glasgow health board premises.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There is an ongoing programme of water systems disinfection, maintenance and upgrading throughout Greater Glasgow health board's premises along with a programme of reserch into the proliferation of the legionellae becterium. Over the past two years £0·25 million has been spent on these measures and an allocation of £0·5 million has been made for 1991–92 to continue the programme.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many isolates of Legionella species have been found in the water supplies of Greater Glasgow health board premises.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Since 1 October 1988 Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1 and 6 have been isolated from the water systems in Greater Glasgow health board's premises.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when was the last case of water contaminated by Legionella species detected in the greater Glasgow area.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Legionellaceae, the family of Legionella bacteria survive and multiply in water. It is widespread in natural fresh water including rivers and ponds, and may also be found in wet soil. There is a strong likelihood of very low concentrations of the bacterium existing in all open water systems, including hospital water systems, at almost any time.

  In the main, through the control of water temperature, appropriate disinfection and avoidance of water stagnation, the proliferation of the bacterium can be satisfactorily contained.

  Currently, there is no outbreak of legionnaire's disease in health board premises in the Greater Glasgow area.

  Scottish Institute of Adult and Continuing Education
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial contribution he has made to the Scottish Institute of Adult and Continuing Education in each year since 1979, at 1990–91 prices.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  Grant (at 1990–91 prices) £

  1979–80

  18,075

  1980–81

  17,796

  1981–82

  25,494

  524

  Year

  Grant (at 1990–91 prices) £

  1982–83

  30,462

  1983–84

  36,519

  1984–85

  36,821

  1985–86

  37,568

  1986–87

  35,414

  1987–88

  33,621

  1988–89

  32,070

  1989–90

  30,148

  1990–91

  41,000

  1991–92

  39,253

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Forestry Commission will adopt a policy of offering sites of special scientific interest in its ownership which are considered for privatisation on a first refusal basis to nature conservation or heritage organisations.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Forestry Commission has had such a policy since its programme of land sales began in 1981. Details of the arrangements followed are set out in appendix IX, paragraphs 15–17, of the Commission's 1989–90 annual report.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the Forestry Commission's policy towards land which is designated as a site of special scientific interest.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  It has long been the Forestry Commission's policy to agree plans with the Nature Conservancy Council and its successor bodies for the management of sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) on commission land and to consult with them over all grant-aid and felling applications affecting SSSIs on privately-owned land.

  Nurses (Appeals)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many nurses in(a) the Argyll and Clyde health board, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole had regrading appeals outstanding at 31 March.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 21 May 1991]: Information on the number of nurse clinical grading appeals outstanding at 31 March at health board level is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The information at Scottish appeals committee level and at negotiating council level is given in the following table.

  Scottish appeals committee

  Negotiating council

  Argyll and Clyde health board

  148

  17

  Strathclyde1

  684

  43

  Scotland

  1,861

  83

  1 Argyll and Clyde, Ayrshire and Arran, Greater Glasgow and Lanarkshire health boards and Glasgow and West of Scotland blood transfusion service.

  Audiology
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what training programmes exist for physical measurement technicians in audiology; how many places are annually available; what budget is provided for the training currently and for each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 21 May 1991]: The training of physiological measurement technicians in audiology involves mainly in-service training, with further education colleges providing the necessary external input. The trainees are salaried. Information on individual health boards' training programmes, and their current and previous budgets since 1979 is not held centrally.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the average waiting list for(a) children under 16 years, (b) adults and (c) pensioners to obtain hearing assessments; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what is the average waiting time for the supply of hearing aids to (a) children under 16 years, (b) adults and (c) pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 21 May 1991]: The information requested is not held centrally.

DEFENCE

  Polaris
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will obtain a copy of the report published by Greenpeace entitled "Bring Polaris Home" for his Department's library;

  (2) if he will make a statement on his response to the report by Greenpeace entitled "Bring Polaris Home", a copy of which has been sent to him.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Ministry of Defence has received a number of copies of the report by Greenpeace entitled "Bring Polaris Home", one of which has been passed to the Department's library. Our resolution class Polaris submarines, like all our other nuclear-powered submarines, have been subject to a programme of inspections, set in hand as a prudent precautionary measure following the discovery of a technical defect in one of the Royal Navy's hunter-killer submarines. As I have indicated to the House before—Official Report, 8 February 1991, columns 264–65, our nuclear submarines operate, and are maintained, in accordance with rigorous safety standards and with the endorsement of the nuclear-powered warships safety committee. The Ministry of Defence attaches the greatest importance to nuclear safety and we would not allow any submarine to go to sea if we considered it unsafe to do so. Our intention remains to keep resolution class submarines in operation until they are replaced by the Vanguard class Trident force.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the repair and maintenance programme for Polaris nuclear submarines; and whether work is proceeding on developing remedial work on the nuclear reactors which will avoid radiation dosages to workers.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Details of the repair and maintenance programme for Polaris nuclear submarines 526
  are classified. Radiation exposures are authorised only to the extent that they are justified, that they are within departmental and statutory limits, and that they are as low as reasonably practicable. They are kept under continuous review.

  Radiation Exposure
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures are being taken to ensure that radiation exposure of personnel undertaking nuclear safety inspections and repairs to operational Resolution class submarines at the Clyde submarine base have been as low as is reasonably possible.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  All practicable measures are being taken to ensure that occupational exposure to ionising radiation throughout the Ministry of Defence, including Clyde submarine base, is as low as reasonably practicable. In the case of those so exposed as a result of tasks being carried out on nuclear submarines, such measures may include decontamination, shielding, work sharing and modification to procedures, as appropriate and depending upon the particular tasks involved.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many additional personnel have been employed to carry out nuclear safety inspections and repairs to operational Resolution class submarines over the last 18 months;

  (2) what has been the cost of repairs to operational Resolution class submarines over the last 18 months;

  (3) what has been the cost of nuclear safety inspections to operational Resolution class submarines over the last 18 months.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not our practice to comment on details of submarine refit, repair or maintenance programmes.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 1 May,Official Report, column 256, if he will make a statement on the factors underlying the higher figures for the Clyde submarine base, as set out in his letter to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The increase in radiation dose figures for the Clyde submarine base for 1990 over those for previous years is due to a fluctuation in the workload. Although levels of individual dose are higher, all doses are within the statutory limits.

  Air Crash, Cardigan Bay
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish details of the incident involving a pilotless aircraft which crashed on land near his Department's range on Cardigan bay at about 1800 hours on 14 May; whether his Department has launched an inquiry into the cause of the incident; and if he will publish its results.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  A Jindivik unmanned aircraft crashed on its approach to the Defence Research Agency's Llanbedr airfield following a routine operational sortie. Debris resulting from the crash hit a car occupied by two people, one of whom sustained superficial injuries. A local board of inquiry has been set up by the aerospace division of the Defence Research Agency, the results of which will be published in the form of a military aircraft accident summary in due course.

  RAF Training
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what differences exist between the first stage of training for a Royal Air Force fast jet pilot and the first stage of training for a civil pilot.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There is no single, standard route for training for either civil or RAF fast jet pilots. However, a typical civil trainee may expect to be awarded his commercial pilot's licence after approximately 170 to 200 hours of flying training, normally on a light piston engined aircraft. An RAF fast jet trainee will carry out around 147 hours of basic flying training on the Tucano before going on to the Hawk. During this training, both will have carried out general flying, including circuit work, stalling, instrument flying and navigation. However, the civil training will have concentrated on instrument flying and navigation in airways, whereas the RAF pilot, although carrying out some airways training, will have concentrated on low-level navigation. It would also be very rare for a civil trainee to do aerobatics or formation flying, whereas these disciplines form very major elements of RAF training.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will provide a declassified summary of the programme of training for(a) fast jet pilots, (b) helicopter pilots and (c) transport aircraft pilots.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Due to the different flying backgrounds of personnel entering the RAF for training, it is not possible to give a single definitive programme. Some pilot recruits will have no previous flying experience whereas some may have received flying training at one of the university air squadrons, or may have considerable previous civilian experience, including commercial licences. Their training pattern will depend to some extent on this previous experience. For an entrant holding a private pilot's licence, his training up to the award of wings, and following completion of initial officer training, for the three specialisations mentioned would typically be:

  a. Fast jet

  147 hours on the Tucano, taking 46 weeks.

  75 hours on the Hawk, taking 22 weeks.

  b. Helicopter

  64 hours on the Tucano, taking 26 weeks.

  80 hours on the Gazelle, taking 18 weeks.

  63 hours on the Wessex, taking 14 weeks.

  c.Multi-engine

  140 hours on the Tucano, taking 40 weeks.

  50 hours on the Jetstream, taking 20 weeks.

  After award of wings, pilots will go on to complete specialised training for the specific type of aircraft they will fly operationally, which in the longest case will be a further 40 weeks. During the whole of this period, their flying training will be integrated with ground instruction in specialist and general service training.

  Type 23 Frigates
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next expects to place orders for Type 23 frigates.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I have nothing to add to my answer of 20 February,Official Report, column 192.

  Missiles
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards Dutch participation in the local area missile system study.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No aproach has been received from the Netherlands about joining the local area missile system study. Any approach would require discussion among the collaborative partners in the family of anti-air missile systems programme, the United Kingdom, France, Spain and Italy.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the successful bidder in the advanced short-range air-to-air missile contract.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I hope to be in a position to make an announcement next year.

  Over-the-Horizon Radar
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the considerations which influenced the cancellation of the plans to base relocatable over-the-horizon radar transmitters at St. David's airfield and at Blakehill.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The decision was taken in the light of competing calls on the defence budget and various representations made to me over the last 12 months.

  Airborne Stand-off Radar
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to receive the results of the airborne stand-off radar demonstration programme; and what factors he will take into account in deciding whether the programme will be further developed.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The results of the technology demonstrator programme will be considered towards the end of this year. Decisions on the future of the programme will take account of all relevant factors including the results of the demonstrator programme, operational requirements and affordability.

  Hunt Class Minehunters
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the updating of Hunt class minehunters will commence; what improvements will be made; when the updating is expected to be concluded; and what effect there will be on the capability of the vessels.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Hunt class minehunters are modern and capable ships. The most recent of the class, HMS Quorn, entered service in 1989. We are considering whether, as with other ships, they should eventually be updated as technology develops. No decisions are required for some time.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will commission a study into the contribution made to successful United Kingdom operations in the Gulf war by logistical support.
  529
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  All aspects of the Gulf conflict are currently being considered.

  Nuclear Submarines
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards Anglo-French co-operation in the development of a new generation SSN.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No decisions have yet been made concerning a new generation SSN for the Royal Navy. The scope for Anglo-French co-operation will continue to be kept under review.

  Search and Rescue Services
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the terms of the unsolicited offer received by his Department for the contractorisation of part of the search and rescue services presently provided by the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No. This information is commercially confidential.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to have completed consideration of the unsolicited offer received by his Department for the contractorisation of parts of the search and rescue operations presently provided by the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The provision of military search and rescue cover around the United Kingdom is being reviewed as part of the MOD's work on the "Options for Change" proposals. It will not be possible to consider the potential for contractorisation until the outcome of this work is clearer.

  Coastal Patrol Boats
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many fast coastal patrol boats are in service with the Royal Navy; and when he expects to place orders for additional vessels.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Royal Navy does not operate a type of craft known as a "fast coastal patrol boat". It does, however, have a number of patrol craft, among them the Peacock class Hong Kong patrol craft, Bird class large patrol craft, the Attacker and Archer class training craft. There are no current plans to place orders for patrol craft.

  British Marines, Turkey
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has made to the Government of Turkey concerning members of the British Marines, following a dispute with a Turkish provincial governor at a refugee camp in Yesilova, Turkey.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There is regular contact with the Government of Turkey on all aspects of the coalition humanitarian operation. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence visited Turkey last week and met President Ozal for discussions on mutual co-operation.

  Occasional misunderstandings between the different forces and authorities involved in the operation, such as
  530
  the minor incident at Yelisova, are almost inevitable in the difficult circumstances of the refugee camps, but relations between British and Turkish forces and officials on the ground have been and remain good.

HEALTH

  NHS Low Income Scheme
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the responsibility for the NHS low income scheme.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Since 10 April 1991, responsibility for the national health service low income scheme has been consolidated within the Department of Health. Claims for charge remission will continue to be dealt with by the health benefits unit—previously the agency benefits unit—at Newcastle but with the unit working directly to the Department of Health on the basis of a service agreement.

  During 1991, the Department of Health will undertake a review of the administration of the low income scheme. The review will aim to produce proposals by the end of 1991 for simplifying the claim form AG1 and other administrative procedures.

  Thalidomide
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether the pharmaceutical drug Thalidomide still has a product licence; for what purposes its use is recommended; and what safeguards there are to ensure that it is not taken by pregnant women;

  (2) if any drug trials are currently taking place involving the pharmaceutical drug Thalidomide.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Thre are no current product licences for Thalidomide in the United Kingdom.

  The medicines control agency of the Department of Health has been notified under the doctors and dentists exemption scheme of one clinical trial involving the use of the drug Thalidomide in the United Kingdom.

  Clinical trials with Thalidomide may be approved which do not involve women of child-bearing potential. There is interest in testing it for use in severe orogenital ulceration—Behcet's syndrome—and serious skin conditions—actinic prurigo and skin disease of leprosy.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the projects in Yorkshire and Trent regions studying the extension of general practitioner fundholding to the community care services; when he expects the project to be complete; and what other extensions of the general practitioner fundholding concept are under consideration.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Yorkshire project is exploring the benefits to patients of co-locating health and social care services in a fundholding practice. The Trent project will consider the options for including within the general practice funding scheme community health services, some aspects of social care and other hospital services. The second year of this project will pilot some of the options developed in the first year.
  531
  Both projects are expected to be complete in spring 1993. We are also piloting the extension of the fundholding scheme to practices with a list size of less than 9,000 patients.

  Health Spending
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the level of expenditure on(a) the national health service and (b) the hospital and

  NHS expenditure (gross)

  HCHS expenditure (gross)

  Year

  Adjusted by the GDP 1990–91 prices

  Adjusted for input unit costs 1990–91 prices

  Adjusted by the GDP 1990–91 prices

  Adjusted for input unit costs 1990–91 prices

  A

  B

  A

  B

  1973–74

  14,074

  —

  —

  8,992

  —

  —

  1974–75

  15,526

  18,045

  —

  10,663

  —

  12,594

  1975–76

  16,285

  18,447

  —

  11,126

  —

  12,807

  1976–77

  16,373

  18,617

  —

  11,187

  —

  12,846

  1977–78

  15,912

  18,889

  —

  11,009

  —

  13,235

  1978–79

  16,460

  19,606

  —

  11,407

  —

  13,873

  1979–80

  16,766

  19,418

  —

  11,644

  —

  13,736

  1980–81

  18,459

  19,699

  —

  12,966

  —

  14,116

  1981–82

  18,875

  20,635

  —

  13,054

  —

  14,403

  1982–83

  19,217

  21,107

  —

  13,128

  —

  14,567

  1983–84

  19,550

  21,361

  —

  13,207

  —

  14,587

  1984–85

  19,955

  21,650

  —

  13,282

  —

  14,570

  1985–86

  20,029

  21,778

  13,592

  13,274

  14,943

  14,594

  1986–87

  20,826

  22,041

  14,125

  —

  15,031

  —

  1987–88

  21,741

  22,462

  14,816

  —

  15,306

  —

  1988–89

  22,464

  22,671

  15,294

  —

  15,363

  —

  1989–90

  22,747

  22,821

  15,414

  —

  15,378

  —

  1990–91

  23,751

  23,751

  16,114

  —

  16,114

  —

  NHS expenditure (net)

  HCHS current (net)

  Year

  Adjusted by the GDP 1990–91 prices

  Adjusted for input unit costs 1990–91 prices

  Adjusted by the GDP 1990–91 prices

  Adjusted for input unit costs 1990–91 prices

  A

  B

  A

  B

  1973–74

  13,603

  —

  —

  8,889

  —

  —

  1974–75

  15,123

  17,577

  —

  10,568

  —

  12,482

  1975–76

  15,932

  18,047

  —

  11,040

  —

  12,708

  1976–77

  16,001

  18,194

  —

  11,091

  —

  12,737

  1977–78

  15,537

  18,444

  —

  10,914

  —

  13,120

  1978–79

  15,824

  18,849

  —

  11,064

  —

  13,456

  1979–80

  16,100

  18,647

  —

  11,324

  —

  13,336

  1980–81

  17,722

  19,170

  —

  12,623

  —

  13,742

  1981–82

  18,084

  19,770

  —

  12,701

  —

  14,014

  1982–83

  18,386

  20,195

  —

  12,773

  —

  14,173

  1983–84

  18,578

  20,351

  —

  12,829

  —

  14,170

  1984–85

  18,972

  20,583

  —

  12,905

  —

  14,157

  1985–86

  19,027

  20,688

  13,200

  12,898

  14,512

  14,180

  1986–87

  19,694

  20,843

  13,715

  —

  14,594

  —

  1987–88

  20,526

  21,206

  14,397

  —

  14,872

  —

  1988–89

  21,098

  21,292

  14,860

  —

  14,927

  —

  1989–90

  21,389

  21,459

  14,955

  —

  14,920

  —

  1990–91

  22,403

  22,403

  15,629

  —

  15,629

  —

  Note: Figures in column A have been adjusted to reflect the transfer of the Family Health Service Administration, Disablement Services Authority and the Family Health Services cash-limited spending to the HCHS (and also take account of changes since publication of the Departmental Report, CM 1513). Figures in column B do not reflect these transfers and are therefore not comparable with those for later years.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Payment Delays
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for SDcial Security what is the delay in the processing of claims relating to disability benefit payments and backdated reduced earnings allowance, made by citizens resident in
  532
  community health services current budget, for each year since 1973–74, expressed in 1990–91 prices, adjusted by (a) the gross domestic product deflator and (b) changes in input unit costs;

  (2) what was the level of net hospital and community health services current and net NHS expenditure adjusted by changes in input unit costs in each year since 1973–74.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 21 May 1991]: The information requested is given in the table.

  the parliamentary constituency of Greenock and Port Glasgow; and what are the reasons for the differences in the levels of payments that have been made to such people in different areas.

  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.

  Low Incomes
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 24 April,Official Report, columns 467–68, if he will now provide similar information regarding those living on incomes less than 50 per cent. of the national average in each of the same years.

  Mr. Jack
  Information in precisely the form requested is available only for the years for which "Households Below Average Income"—HBAI—has been published. Other information is available for earlier years, but the methodologies and definitions used differ substantially and it is therefore not appropriate to make direct comparisons throughout the whole period.

  It is also important to remember that real personal disposable income per head in the United Kingdom has risen substantially during this period. Consequently, the percentage of the population who were living on incomes below any constant threshold will show a very different picture. Thus, for example, the numbers of people living below 50 per cent. of the 1979 national average equivalised

  Source:

  HBAI

  RoI

  RoI

  FES Report

  Income:

  Equivalised

  Household

  Household

  Household

  Measure:

  Household disposable

  Disposable

  Final

  Gross

  Unit analysed:

  Persons

  Household

  Household

  Household

  Coverage:

  Great Britain

  United Kingdom

  United Kingdom

  United Kingdom

  Percentage with less than 50 per cent. mean income

  1988

  116·8

  —

  —

  —

  1987

  14·3

  —

  —

  —

  1985

  9·2

  25

  —

  —

  1980

  27·7

  23

  —

  —

  1975

  —

  22

  20

  —

  1970

  —

  —

  21

  23

  1965–66

  —

  —

  —

  20

  1960–61

  —

  —

  —

  20

  1 Source: Select Committee HBAI

  2 Average of figures for 1979 and 1981

  Means-tested Benefits
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list, for each means-tested benefit, each of those other benefits which are taken into account in assessing its value.

  Benefits to be taken into account

  Benefit being assessed

  Income support

  Family credit

  Housing benefit

  Community Charge benefit

  Income support

  —

  Yes

  No

  No

  Family credit

  No

  —

  No

  No

  Housing benefit

  No

  Yes

  —

  No

  Community charge benefit

  No

  Yes

  No

  —

  Generally attendance allowance—other than for those in residential care or nursing homes—and mobility allowance are fully disregarded in all the income related benefits, as is the first £10 of war widows pension, war disablement pension and other analogous payments. Child benefit, including one-parent benefit, is disregarded in the assessment of family credit. Most other social security benefits are taken fully into account in calculating entitlement to the income-related benefits.

  Full lists of items which are disregarded in whole or in part are contained in regulation 40(2) of, and schedule 9
  534
  income—before housing costs—fell from 3.8 million in 1979 to 2·5 million in 1987 and remained at 2·5 million in 1988.

  Sources are the Central Statistical Office's annual redistribution of income articles and the published family expenditure survey reports; the estimates listed in the table are made from the most appropriate published source for each year. All the pre-HBAI analyses are in terms of numbers of households rather than population, and none of them used equivalisation to adjust for differing household sizes and compositions. This makes a considerable difference to the percentage shown as having below half average income. The pre-HBAI household income distributions show many households with relatively low incomes merely because there are few people—perhaps only one person—living in these households. The HBAI figures in the first column use equivalisation to adjust for this, and thus give a meaningful indication of the income distribution and of relative living standards.

  Various different definitions of income have been used, and the one from the FES reports in 1960–61 and 1965–66 is a pre-tax gross income measure.

  All the figures are derived from the family expenditure survey and thus cover only the household population.

  Mr. Jack
  There are four income-related benefits. These are income support, family credit, housing benefit and community charge benefit. The treatment of these benefits in assessing entitlement to each of the others is set out in the table.

  to, the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987; regulation 24(2) of, and schedule 2 to the Family Credit (General) Regulations 1987; 29(2), 31(2), 33(2), 36(3) and 38(2) of, and schedules 3, 4 and 5 to, the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987 and regulations 23(2) of, and schedule 3 to, the Community Charge Benefits (General) Regulations 1989.

  Family credit is paid at the same rate for a fixed period of 26 weeks. If a claim for income support is made within

  535
  this period, family credit is taken into account in the calculation of the income support for the remainder of the 26-week period.

  Press and Public Relations
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total expenditure by his Department on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1990–91 and budget for 1991–92.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 30 April 1991]: The Department has no separate public relations section. Functions commonly associated with public relations are carried out by information officers as part of their duties in the Department's information division.

  I refer the hon. Member to the replies, given to him on 19 November 1986 at column 794, on 4 November 1987 at columns 785–87, on 14 January 1988 at column 402, on 13 March 1989 at columns 30–31, for information for 1979–80 to 1989–90.

  Estimated total expenditure by the information division in 1990–91 is as follows:

  £ million

  Publicity

  12·843

  Staff

  1·354

  Running costs

  0·603

  The 1991–92 budgets for the information division in the Department of Social Security headquarters and the Benefits Agency are as follows.

  £ million

  DSSHQ

  Benefits agency

  Publicity

  12·992

  8·70

  Staff

  0·658

  0·54

  Running costs

  0·550

  0·05

  Care Homes
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the maximum rates of benefit for each category of residential care and nursing home in April 1987 and 1991, both in cash and real terms.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 8 May 1991]: The table shows the national limits for April 1987 and 1991 in cash and real terms, using April 1991 as the base and applying movements in the retail prices index to convert the April 1987 limit into 1991 terms. The comparison should be treated with caution because the RPI is only a measure of price movements generally.

  April 1987

  April 1991

  (cash)

  (real)

  (cash and real)

  £

  £

  £

  Residential care homes

  Elderly

  130

  170

  160

  Very dependent elderly

  145

  190

  185

  Mentally ill

  130

  170

  170

  Drug/alcohol dependent

  130

  170

  170

  Mentally handicapped

  150

  196

  195

  Physically disabled under pension age

  190

  248

  230

  536

  April 1987

  April 1991

  (cash)

  (real)

  (cash and real)

  £

  £

  £

  Others

  130

  170

  160

  Nursing Homes

  Elderly and others

  175

  229

  255

  Mentally ill

  180

  235

  255

  Drug/alcohol dependent

  180

  235

  255

  Mentally handicapped

  200

  261

  260

  Physically disabled under pension age

  230

  301

  290

  Terminally ill

  230

  301

  275

  Greater London Extension

  Residential care homes

  17·5

  23

  23

  Nursing homes

  17·5

  23

  33

  Claimants, Blyth Valley
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many tenants in Blyth Valley are in receipt of rent rebates and poll tax rebates.

  Mr. Scott
  At February 1991, the latest date for which information is available, the housing benefit caseload in the Blyth Valley borough council area was 6,994. Of this total, 5,358 households were in receipt of a rent rebate and 1,636 households were in receipt of a rent allowance. At the same date, approximately 18,000 individuals, including tenants, were in receipt of community charge benefit.

  Benefits Agency
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will outline the duties and responsibilities of the Under-Secretaries of State in his Department following the creation of the Benefits Agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  The duties and responsibilities of Under-Secretaries of State are contained in the list of ministerial responsibilities, a copy of which is available in the Library. Ministers remain fully accountable to Parliament for the work of the Department, including its executive agencies.

  Family Support
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes are intended in support for less well-off families in 1991–92.

  Mr. Scott
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced last October, child benefit rose by £1 a week for the eldest eligible child in each family this April. In addition, as my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer anounced in his Budget statement, child benefit will rise by a further E1 a week for the eldest eligible child in each family in October, with an extra 25p a week for other children. The Government are taking all steps necessary to make sure that families at all income levels will gain from the October increase.

  The income support personal allowances for single people under 25 who claim independently will also be increased in line with the children's rates.

  These October increases will be in addition to the April uprating of all the income-related benefits.
  537
  As my right hon. Friend said in his Budget statement, Government are committed to increasing the new rates of child benefit in line with the movement in the retail price index each year, starting in April 1992. We will announce
  538
  in the uprating statement the allocation of the individual the amounts between the eldest eligible child and other children.

  THE ANTI-BALLISTIC MISSILE TREATY
  THE ANTI-BALLISTIC MISSILE TREATY
  ARAB BOYCOTT OF ISRAELI GOODS
  ARAB BOYCOTT OF ISRAELI GOODS
  WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATIONS
  WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATIONS
  PUBLIC ORDER ACT 1986, S. 39: TRESPASS ON LAND
  PUBLIC ORDER ACT 1986, S. 39: TRESPASS ON LAND
  VAGRANCY ACT 1824: USE OF POWERS
  VAGRANCY ACT 1824: USE OF POWERS
  VAGRANCY ACT 1924: PROSECUTIONS
  VAGRANCY ACT 1924: PROSECUTIONS
  MAGISTRATES' COURT REGISTERS
  MAGISTRATES' COURT REGISTERS
  BARKESTONE CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOL
  BARKESTONE CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOL
  PRISONERS HELD IN POLICE CELLS
  PRISONERS HELD IN POLICE CELLS
  DRUG TRAFFICKING: NUMBERS OF INVESTIGATIONS
  DRUG TRAFFICKING: NUMBERS OF INVESTIGATIONS
  CHANNEL TUNNEL RAIL LINK ROUTE PROPOSALS
  CHANNEL TUNNEL RAIL LINK ROUTE PROPOSALS
  ROAD TRAFFIC LAW: REVISED HIGHWAY CODE
  ROAD TRAFFIC LAW: REVISED HIGHWAY CODE
  KUWAIT: INJURY TO SERVICEMEN CLEARING MINEFIELDS
  KUWAIT: INJURY TO SERVICEMEN CLEARING MINEFIELDS