Written Answers of 23 May 1991

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Howbury Grange School
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received on the future of Howbury Grange school.

  Mr. Fallon
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received two letters, both objecting to the proposed closure of Howbury Grange school.

  School Premises Regulations
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made in the review of the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981; and when he expects to publish the results of the review.

  Mr. Fallon
  Work is currently in progress on a range of topics as part of the review, the results of which are likely to be available towards the end of next year.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what upper limit he will place on the proportion of schools eligible to achieve grant-maintained status, provided each school complies with his current criteria.

  Mr. Eggar
  None. All maintained primary and secondary schools are eligible to apply for grant-maintained status. We will judge each application which comes before us on its individual merits.

  Edinburgh University
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a direct grant to the university of Edinburgh on condition that the Audobon bird manuscripts and editions are retained in perpetuity.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  No. Universities are responsible for managing their own financial affairs, including the acquisition and disposal of assets.

  Sport
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to publish the results of his review of Government policy on sport.

  Mr. Atkins
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to him on 30 November 1990 at columns 501–2, when I said that we aim to publish a statement of the Government's policies and priorities for sport in the summer.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Aid Budget
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a table showing for each of the past 25 years, the proportion of gross national product which the United Kingdom has given by way of overseas aid.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Net official development assistance as a percentage of gross national product was as follows:

  Per cent.

  1965

  0·46

  1966

  0·45

  1967

  0·43

  1968

  0·39

  1969

  0·38

  1970

  0·36

  1971

  0·40

  1972

  0·37

  1973

  0·33

  1974

  0·36

  1975

  0·38

  1976

  0·39

  1977

  0·44

  1978

  0·45

  1979

  0·51

  1980

  0·34

  1981

  0·42

  1982

  0·37

  1983

  0·35

  1984

  0·33

  1985

  0·33

  1986

  0·31

  1987

  0·28

  1988

  0·32

  1989

  0·31

  The figure for 1990 will be available in June.

  Kurds
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state what is the total value of the aid given by Her Majesty's Government to help the Kurds since the ending of the Gulf war; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Since 4 April, British humanitarian assistance for Iraqi refugees, including our share of the EC emergency programme, totals £61·5 million.

  Forests
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent the principles governing the management of Britain's own forests are applied to the management of forests overseas as criteria for determining eligibility of aid for specific projects.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The technical, environmental, social and economic issues involved in the management of tropical forests often differ from those involved in the management of British forests. In financing projects and programmes in developing countries in the forest sector, the ODA uses appraisal, design and management principles which it considers appropriate to issues involved. In doing so, the ODA draws on the expertise of its forestry advisers and, as appropriate, other expertise both in the United Kingdom and overseas.

ENVIRONMENT

  London Docklands
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the residential units completed in the London Docklands UDA since 1981 have been(a) built for sale, (b) built for rent by local authorities, (c) built for rent by housing associations and (d) built for other types of tenure; if he will specify them; and if he will provide similar figures for those residential units that have been built on London Docklands development corporation-owned land since 1981.

  Mr. Key
  Nearly a fifth of all new housing in the UDA is social housing of one sort or another, as shown in the table below.

  Total in UDA

  On LDDC land

  (a) For sale

  12,247

  6,498

  (b) Local authority rented

  804

  209

  (c) Housing association rented

  1,471

  985

  (d) Other—shared ownership

  560

  538

  —self build

  138

  137

  Total

  15,220

  8,367

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide for each year since 1981, the total expenditure by the London Docklands development corporation on(a) the provision of the new units of social housing and (b) housing improvements or refurbishment.

  Mr. Key
  [pursuant to his answer, 8 May 1991, Official Report, c. 519]: The information is provided in the tables:

  (a) New social housing units

  £ million

  1981–82

  0·0

  1982–83

  0·0

  1983–84

  3·3

  1984–85

  0·0

  1985–86

  0·0

  1986–87

  0·0

  1987–88

  0·0

  1988–89

  50·5

  1989–90

  43·7

  1990–91

  27·0

  Total

  1124·5

  (b) Housing improvement or refurbishment

  £ million

  1981–82

  0·0

  1982–83

  0·4

  1983–84

  0·4

  1984–85

  0·0

  1985–86

  0·2

  1986–87

  1·7

  1987–88

  2·3

  1988–89

  6·8

  1989–90

  1·4

  1990–91

  8·5

  Total

  21·7

  1Not including contributions made in form of land sold at social housing use values.

  Housing (Government Subsidies)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for Great Grimsby, Barrow in Furness, Wandsworth, Westminster and Elmbridge his estimate of (i) the average Government subsidy per council dwelling and (ii) the average amount of mortgage interest tax relief for other dwellings.

  Mr. Yeo
  The information is as follows:

  Average amount of housing revenue account subsidy claimed per dwelling for 1991–92

  £

  Great Grimsby

  897

  Barrow in Furness

  870

  Wandsworth

  1,518

  Westminster

  2,124

  Elmbridge

  769

  The estimated average cost of mortgage interest tax relief in 1990–91 for each owner occupier claiming mortgage tax relief in the United Kingdom was £830, equivalent to £531 for all owner occupiers. Information on the average amount mortgage tax relief claimed broken down by local authority area is not available.

  The capital cost of constructing council dwellings in 1990–91 was approximately £44,000 per dwelling in the north and £55,000 in the south-east and eastern regions, excluding the land cost element.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the value of the housing stock in England; and what effect a reduction in that figure to £1,200 billion would have on the council tax revenue yield overall and from households in each band.

  Mr. Key
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 10 May at column 622.

  The illustrative council tax bills published on 23 April were based on a yield of £6·8 billion. This would not have been different if the assumed value of the housing stock had been lower.

  Population Statistics
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish a table showing nationally, regionally and for each district, the population, total number of households, the total number of pensioners and children.

  Mr. Key
  Estimates of the population by broad age ranges for each local authority district are given in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys publication, "Key population and vital statistics, local and health authority areas". A copy of the latest edition giving 1989 estimates can be found in the House of Commons Library and further assistance may be obtained from the Library's statistical staff.

  Regarding information on households I refer the hon. Member to the answers that I gave him on 21 May 1991 at column 402, and on 20 May at columns 327–28.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish a table showing nationally, regionally and for each district, the number of two-adult households with three or more children.
  543
  Mr. Key
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 21 May 1991 at column 402.

  Air Pollution Monitoring
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the air pollution monitoring sites based in south Yorkshire for(a) ozone, (b) carbon monoxide, (c) nitrogen oxides, (d) acid deposition, (e) atmospheric chemistry, (f) atmospheric hydrocarbon. (g) trace germs, (h) smoke and sulphur dioxide directive, (i) other sulphur dioxide sites, (j) lead sites and (k) multi-element sites including lead.

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department is currently operating the following air pollution monitoring sites in south Yorkshire:

  (a) ozone, none

  (b) carbon monoxide, none

  (c) nitrogen oxides, none

  (d) acid deposition, none

  (e) atmospheric chemistry, none

  (f) atmospheric hydrocarbons, none

  (g) trace gases, none

  (h) smoke and sulphur dioxide directive,

  Askern 6

  Barnsley 8, 9, 12

  Brampton 1

  Cud worth 1

  Dinnington 4

  Doncaster 29, 33

  Goldthorpe 1

  Grimethorpe 2, 3

  Hoyland Nether, 6

  Lundwood 1

  Maltby 2

  Mexborough 19

  Moorends 1

  Rossington 1

  Sheffield 40, 82

  Stainforth 1

  Swinton 7

  Thorne 2

  Wath-upon-Dearne 6

  Wombwell 2

  Worsbrough Bridge 2

  (i) other sulphur dioxide sites, Barnsley

  (j) lead sites, Sandbeck Hall

  (k) multi-element sites including lead, Sandbeck Hall

  Local Government Review
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what use he plans to make of the university of Aston business school's report on the national survey of parish and town councils in his current review of local government.

  Mr. Key
  We shall take into account the results of the national survey of parish and town councils by the university of Aston business school in our local government review.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is yet able to give a definite date for when he expects to receive the university of Aston business school's report on the national survey of parish and town councils; what monetary assistance was given to the clerks to the councils for compiling this information; and what action he will be carrying out after studying the report.

  Mr. Key
  We expect to receive the first results of this survey shortly. The clerks to the councils completed the survey without financial assistance from the Department,544
  in accordance with the usual research practice. The results will be taken into account in our local government review and will inform the Department's work in relation to parishes.

  Thamesmead
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the Boundary Commission to report to him on Thamesmead; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The Local Government Boundary Commission's programme of work is for the commission to determine with the resources at its disposal. I understand that the commission is currently considering the responses it has received to its draft proposals for the boundary between the London boroughs of Bexley and Greenwich, affecting Thamesmead, and it is likely to be some time before this review is completed. I regret that I cannot give a firmer forecast.

  Yorkshire Water
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what target has been set for Yorkshire Water plc to achieve in terms of reducing water loss between reservoir and consumer as part of the efficiency component in price setting.

  Mr. Baldry
  The K factors set for Yorkshire Water Services Ltd. to run for 10 years from 1990 by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State assumed that there would be continuing efficiency gains across the full operations of the company. No specific target was set within price setting for reducing water loss. Questions on the continuing performance of Yorkshire Water should be addressed to the Director General of Water Services.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what reports have been made by Yorkshire Water plc on progress made in reducing the proportion of water lost between reservoir and consumer since privatisation.

  Mr. Baldry
  I am informed that Yorkshire Water plc has not published any reports on this topic. However, Yorkshire Water Services Ltd. (YWS) has a continuing programme to reduce leakage, which is monitored by the Director General of Water Services. YWS outlined its programme to the Yorkshire Customer Service Committee in July 1990.

  Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the first meeting of the Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment will take place; and what will be on the agenda.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment held its first meeting on 21 May. The committee discussed a wide range of current and longer-term environmental issues.

  Benzene
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the levels of airborne benzene in south Yorkshire.
  545
  Mr. Baldry
  My Department has no information on the levels of airborne benzene specifically in south Yorkshire.

  Chelmsford Borough Council
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement listing the amount of public money his Department has passed to Chelmsford borough council for all services since April 1979; and what are his forward plans for the next three years.

  Mr. Key
  The amounts paid in support of Chelmsford borough council's general services for these years—excluding figures for main housing subsidy for 1979–80 and 1980–81 which could be provided only at disproportionate cost—were:

  Rate support grant (£000)

  Main housing subsidy (£000)

  1979–80

  6,147

  —

  1980–81

  7,034

  —

  1981–82

  3,044

  590

  1982–83

  4,302

  0

  1983–84

  4,367

  0

  1984–85

  4,207

  0

  1985–86

  3,771

  0

  1986–87

  6,005

  0

  1987–88

  4,064

  0

  1988–89

  3,310

  0

  1989–90

  3,219

  0

  The amounts paid to Chelmsford borough council in respect of 1990–91 were:

  1990–91 (£ thousands)

  Revenue support grant

  11,894

  Non-domestic rates

  23,966

  Housing revenue account subsidy

  3,934

  The amounts which the Government propose to pay to the borough council in respect of 1991–92 are:

  £ thousands

  Community charge grant

  1 15,925

  Revenue support grant

  16,629

  National non-domestic rates

  39,795

  Housing revenue account subsidy

  2,930

  1 Estimated.

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

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

  Waste Storage
  Mr. David Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now issue new guidance to county councils in relation to the tipping and storage of waste into exhausted gravel pits and quarries.

  Mr. Trippier
  There is already extensive guidance. Guidance on using controlled wastes as landfill materials 546
  in the reclamation of surface mineral workings in general is contained in Minerals Planning Guidance Note 7, "The Reclamation of Mineral Workings" published in September 1989. Detailed advice on aspects of waste disposal is also given in my Department's series of waste management papers. No. 26 in this series, "Landfilling Wastes—a Technical Memorandum" was published in 1986; No. 4, "The Licensing of Waste Disposal Sites", which offers advice to local authorities responsible for waste disposal licensing, was revised in 1988.

  My Department will continue to update guidance to take account of technical developments, the results of research and legislative changes. Work has begun on the revision of waste management paper No. 4 to reflect the changes to be introduced under part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Under the Act, authorities will be obliged to have regard to guidance from the Secretary of State in exercising their licensing functions.

  Aggregates
  Mr. David Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now issue new guidance to county councils governing gravel extraction.

  Sir George Young
  The Government have recently announced their intention to prepare new guidance on the provision for aggregates in England and Wales to replace the current advice in MPG6. The publication of the new long-term forecasts of demand for aggregates on 7 May was the first step in this exercise. The Government will be considering any views which may be expressed about these forecasts, and have also asked the regional aggregates working parties for their views on how medium and long-term demand might be met. Draft guidance will be prepared in the light of these views and will be issued for public consultation in the usual way. It would be premature to issue any revised guidance until there has been a full and open debate about the guidance.

  Mr. David Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the Government's current initiatives and projects in response to the concern about the environmental consequences of meeting the national demand for aggregates.

  Sir George Young
  My Department has a comprehensive programme of research which is examining a variety of matters associated with the environmental consequences of the national demand for aggregates. The main initiatives and projects are as follows:

  A. Current Studies

  (i) study into the use of secondary and waste materials —including recycling—report due July 1991;

  (ii) study into potential supplies of aggregates from coastal superquarries to supply the South-East—final report due August 1992;

  (iii) study into potential supplies from marine sand and gravel off the Humber coast—interim report due September 1991;

  (iv) study into the specifications of aggregates used in the construction industry—final report due July 1991;

  (v) study into the overall environmental effects of surface mineral workings—report due July 1991;

  (vi) study into the effectiveness of restoration conditions for minerals workings and the need for bonds—final report due;

  (vii) study into amenity reclamation of mineral workings—final report due July 1991;

  547

  (viii) study into agricultural reclamation of mineral workings—report due July 1991;

  (ix) study into limestone landform replication—final report due March 1993.

  B. Work about to begin includes:

  (i) a pilot study to begin in July to put into effect the recommendations made in the Groundwork report published in April on the environmental performance of the minerals industry;

  (ii) a study on the environmental effects and control of dust from surface mineral workings;

  (iii) a study on the environmental effects of traffic associated with surface mineral workings;

  (iv) a study to identify the extent and quality of sand and gravel resources in England and Wales.

  In addition to this, my Department will shortly be issuing draft guidance for public consultation on the control of noise at minerals sites which follows on from research completed in 1990.

  Dog Registration
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received in support of the establishment of a national dog registration scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Out of 462 local authorities and those organisations known to represent them, 238 responded to our consultation paper, "Action on Dogs", which was issued in 1989. Two hundred and seven of those who responded supported a dog registration scheme. By last June, when the "Control of Dogs" consultation document was issued, of the 244 local authorities and their representative organisations who responded to part II of the paper for which we are responsible, only 135 supported registration.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward proposals to amend the Local Government Act 1988 to introduce a national dog registration scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  No. The Government intend to implement, from April 1992, the package of dog control measures contained in the Environmental Protection Act 1990. They include a duty on local authorities to enforce the requirement that dogs wear a collar and identification tag when in a public place and to ensure that stray dogs are collected up. We remain of the view that the package provides a practical and effective solution to the problems caused by irresponsible owners and that registration would be bureaucratic, expensive to operate and difficult to enforce. With regard to dogs which are bred especially for fighting, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has announced his intention to bring before the House as soon as possible this Session, legislation which will ban the breeding and ownership of such dogs.

  Barratt Houses, Illingworth
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Halifax concerning the sale of Barratt houses at Abbey Park, Illingworth.

  Mr. Key
  I have written today to the hon. Lady about this matter.

  Landfills
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to require compulsory insurance against pollution leaks and contamination from landfills.

  Mr. Baldry
  Part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, when it comes into force, will include a number of measures to ensure that pollution from landfills is prevented, or, if it occurs, that remedial action is taken. Under the Act, local authorities will impose pollution control conditions on licensees, who will be obliged to remedy any pollution from the site at their own expense. These conditions will remain binding even after closure for as long as the authority is not satisfied that the site is safe, and the licensee will not be permitted to surrender or transfer the licence without the consent of the authority.

  As part of their vetting of licence applicants, authorities will be able to refuse an applicant who has not made or is in no position to make adequate financial provision to discharge the provisions of the licence. The form this financial provision should take will be the subject of guidance from the Secretary of State. A working group including representatives of industry and local authorities is examining the subject of long-term financial provision, including insurance, for waste sites and is expected to report this summer.

  Integrated Pollution Control
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on companies' responses to the requirements of integrated pollution control under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Mr. Baldry
  Integrated pollution control, introduced by part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, requires operators of prescribed processes to obtain an authorisation from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. To date, 125 applications for authorisations have been received and are being considered.

  Environment Shows
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department will be making any contribution towards or have any presence at(a) the environmental business show at Alexandra Palace, London on 4 to 6 June or (b) the green show, at the national exhibition centre, Birmingham on 21 to 27 May.

  Mr. Trippier
  I have accepted an invitation to visit the green show on 23 May. The Department does not plan to participate in the show at Alexandra Palace.

  Ministerial Cars
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any ministerial car on official duty since 1979 has(a) been stopped by the police for breaking the speed limit and (b) been parked illegally resulting in the driver being issued with a parking ticket.

  Mr. Yeo
  Yes, to both parts of the question.

  Sewerage
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to introduce legislation to require the water and sewerage companies of England and Wales to adopt sewerage systems irrespective of their condition.

  Mr. Trippier
  No.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the arrangements for reimbursing local authorities for costs incurred in connection with the community charge reduction scheme.

  Mr. Key
  [pursuant to his answer, 18 March 1991, Official Report, c. 37]: The improvements to the community charge reduction scheme which we were able to make following the Budget will clearly impact on local authorities' preparation and administration costs. We are therefore proposing to make more grant available to ensure that authorities are reimbursed in full for all reasonable costs associated with operating the scheme. We also propose to simplify the arrangements for distributing the grant in order to ensure that local authorities receive payment as quickly as possible.

  Local authorities will no longer be required to submit initial claims in respect of preparation costs or administration costs. Instead authorities will receive an initial payment of their preparation costs based on last year's claims. Any adjustments necessary at the end of the financial year will be made on receipt of audited claims. In addition, general administration costs for the life of the scheme will be wrapped up in a one-off payment of a flat rate per charge-payer. The amounts which previously had to be claimed for applications for extra relief or revised bills will be reflected in a higher rate.

  On the basis of these proposals the cost of the community charge reduction scheme preparation and administration costs grant is expected to rise from £10 million to about £15 million.

  Urban Programme
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what resources will be available for local authorities under the urban programme in 1991–92 and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [pursuant to his answer, 29 January 1991, Official Report c.474]: The urban programme is one of many Government programmes which encourage local initiative in urban regeneration. Others include estate action and city grant in my Department, Task Forces in the Department of Trade and Industry and employment and training services supported by the Employment Department.

  We now intend to enhance the effectiveness of our expenditure in urban areas in England. We will be bringing together programmes in selected neighbourhoods so as to tackle problems comprehensively and on a significant scale. A new initiative, "city challenge", will achieve this and improve the quality of our cities. Local authorities will be invited to enter into partnerships with their local businesses and their community to draw together imaginative programmes for the regeneration of their areas. I will support
  550
  those authorities that create the most effective partnerships and prepare the best plans for the neighbourhoods that are critical to the health of their cities.

  Under city challenge, I will invite authorities to draw up programmes of action to tackle their key neighbourhoods. I will expect the authorities, in the preparation of these programmes, to draw upon the wealth of talent and expertise which exists in their cities; local people and the voluntary sector, the business and academic communities, the training and enterprise councils, and Government and other statutory agencies. I will expect them to attract private finance and involve the private sector thoroughly in managing the programme. The programmes should each be for a fixed period, normally not more than five years, and must include key targets and deadlines.

  I will be making available, from within my existing resources, £75 million in 1992–93 in order to pilot the approach in selected pacemaker authorities. The pacemakers will be chosen through competition. I am writing to the leaders of 15 authorities, listed below, asking them to come forward by 5 July with a bid to become a pacemaker. These authorities have been selected to include a variety of urban problems and opportunities. I then intend, in July, to make a selection of the 10 best proposals to be worked up into detailed action plans for final approval by the end of the year. I have asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key), to oversee the bidding stage. He, the Minister of State for Local Government and Inner Cities or I will be meeting the authorities to discuss their proposals over the next six weeks.

  Once the 10 authorities are chosen, the city action team Ministers will oversee the development of each action plan on behalf of the Government. Day-to-day liaison with the authorities will be the responsibility of the city action teams (CATs); they will provide the point of contact for Government and draw in and co-ordinate the programmes of other Departments. Where there is no CAT, I will ask a Minister to oversee the scheme and will consider whether new interdepartmental machinery is needed.

  Initial work on pacemakers will be monitored closely and provided the initiative shows signs of success, I intend the first full competition to take place in 1992, for spending to start in 1993–94.

  My objective is to see existing programmes pulled together in the most effective way in areas critical to the health of the city. I want to encourage those authorities which have the qualities of leadership and imagination necessary to rejuvenate their priority areas.

  Local authorities invited to submit proposals for pilot city challenge programmes

  Barnsley1

  Birmingham

  Bradford

  Bristol

  Lewisham

  Liverpool

  Manchester

  Middlesbrough

  Newcastle

  Nottingham

  Salford

  Sheffield

  Tower Hamlets

  Wirral

  Wolverhampton

  1 Invited to work together with Doncaster and Rotherham on a programme for the Dearne Valley. which straddles the areas of the three authorities.

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

  Mr. Baldry
  [pursuant to his answer, Tuesday 14 May 1991, Official Report, c. 65]: The feasibility of immediate privatisation for Ordnance Survey was considered and rejected immediately prior to the department becoming an executive agency on 1 May 1990. It cannot be ruled out, however, that after a period of years agencies, like other Government activities, may be suitable for privatisation. I shall continue to keep the status of Ordnance Survey under review.

  London Population
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment(a) what is the current level of population density per acre in London boroughs for planning purposes and (b) when it was last reviewed.

  Sir George Young
  [pursuant to his answer, 2 May 1991, c. 269]: The most recent estimates of population for each London borough are those prepared by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) for mid-1989. The population densities for each borough on that basis are given in column (A) of the table. The mid-year population estimates are revised annually by OPCS.

  The calculation of population densities for the urban areas of each London borough, excluding the main areas of open land and green belt, are available from the 1981 census. Figures on that basis are given in column (B).

  Borough

  Population density

  Persons/acre

  (A)

  (B)

  Barking and Dagenham

  17

  19

  Barnet

  14

  17

  Bcxley

  15

  18

  Brent

  23

  23

  Bromley

  8

  14

  Camden

  34

  30

  Croydon

  15

  17

  Ealing

  21

  20

  Enfield

  13

  19

  Greenwich

  18

  20

  Hackney

  40

  37

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  37

  36

  Haringey

  26

  27

  Harrow

  15

  19

  Havering

  8

  18

  Hillingdon

  9

  11

  Hounslow

  13

  14

  Islington

  46

  43

  Kensington and Chelsea

  44

  43

  Kingston

  15

  16

  Lambeth

  35

  36

  Lewisham

  26

  27

  Merton

  17

  17

  Newham

  23

  24

  Redbridge

  17

  20

  Richmond

  12

  11

  Southwark

  31

  30

  Sutton

  16

  17

  Tower Hamlets

  34

  29

  Waltham Forest

  21

  24

  Wandsworth

  30

  29

  Westminster

  32

  31

  City of London

  6

  7

  Source:

  (A) is 1989 mid-year estimate of borough population by OPCS
  552
  divided by the total area of the borough.

  (B) is the 1981 population density of the urban area, ie the "usually resident population" in 1981 divided by the area defined as urban by OPCS in the 1981 census.

  Cleaner Production Information Clearing house
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what involvement Her Majesty's Government have with the international cleaner production information clearing house based at the industry and environment office of the United Nations Environment Programme in Paris.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 22 May 1991]: Her Majesty's Government are closely involved with the development of the international cleaner production information clearing house. The ICPIC system has been available to users since 1990 and provides a wide range of information services promoting cleaner production. My Department provided substantial support towards the UNEP cleaner production seminar in Canterbury in September 1990 when the ICPIC system was demonstrated to a wide audience of seminar delegates. The Government are wholly supportive of the UNEP cleaner production programme, and will continue to contribute towards the development of the ICPIC database through the clean technology coordinator at Warren Spring laboratory.

  Assured Tenancies
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) from where tenants can obtain the correct form required to contest rises in the rent of assured tenancies, and at what cost; how many such outlets there are in the country; if he plans to make the form more freely available; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) from where tenants can obtain the explanatory booklet to assist in contesting a rise in the rent of their assured tenancy; how many such outlets there are; if he plans to increase them; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what requirements govern the practice of landlords in informing people in assured tenancies of the four weeks' grace they have between the announcement of a new rent and the date it becomes operative in which to challenge the rise; what requirement there is on landlords to inform such tenants of where to obtain the correct form and the explanatory booklet to facilitate contesting the change; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 22 May 1991]: Copies of the prescribed form which tenants may use in certain circumstances to refer a proposed new rent to a rent assessment committee are available free of charge from local rent assessment panel offices. There are 13 such offices in England and their addresses are listed in local telephone directories. Firms of legal stationers also produce their own versions of the prescribed forms which are widely available for sale.

  Explanatory booklet No. 19, "Assured Tenancies", is available through many outlets including local authorities, housing advice centres and citizens advice bureaux.

  The duties on landlords in respect of increasing rent in assured tenancies are set out in section 13 of the Housing Act 1988. Landlord and tenant have the right to agree a new rent between themselves without reference to a third party.

  If the contract does not contain a provision for rent changes, and the landlord wishes to increase the rent, he

  553
  must serve a notice in the prescribed form on the tenant proposing a new rent. The notice must specifiy the minimum period after the date of service of the notice before the new rent can take effect. In no circumstances can this be less than one month. Rent cannot be increased by this means more frequently than once a year. The prescribed form, "Landlord's Notice proposing a new rent under an assured periodic tenancy or agricultural occupancy" states that the tenant may refer the notice to a rent assessment committee before the beginning of the new period of the tenancy. It also advises tenants to seek advice from a citizens advice bureau, housing aid centre, law centre or a solicitor.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Simazine
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the use of the herbicide Simazine.

  Mr. Maclean
  Simazine is a pre-emergence triazine herbicide with selective and non-selective uses. It is the active ingredient of some 111 formulated products approved under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 for professional or amateur use on crops such as beans, apples, pears, currants, sweetcorn and maize, gooseberries, cane fruit, strawberries, hops, asparagus and grapevines. Some products are also approved for use in forestry and non-crop situations.

  Organic Farms
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many organic farms are registered in the United Kingdom currently and in each of the last five years; and if any farms have surrendered their organic status.

  Mr. Maclean
  There is currently no statutory requirement for organic farms to be registered in the United Kingdom. However, under a voluntary scheme administered by the United Kingdom Register of Organic Food Standards 135 farms are registered and 554 are in the process of registering.

  Further information on the structure of organic farming may be found on pages 73 to 76 of the 1991 edition of "Farm Incomes in the UK"—available in the Library.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many organic farms are currently registered in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) each of the other European Community nations.

  Mr. Maclean
  There is currently no statutory requirement for organic farms to be registered in the United Kingdom. However under a voluntary scheme administered by the United Kingdom Register of Organic Food Standards 135 farms are registered and 554 are in the process of registering.

  Further information on the structure of organic farming in Great Britain may be found on pages 73 to 76 of the 1991 edition of "Farm Incomes in the UK"—available in the Library.

  The information requested for other European Community nations is not available.
  554
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to encourage organic farming.

  Mr. Maclean
  The organic sector is eligible for the support given to all farmers under a number of general schemes. These include the farm and conservation grant scheme, the nitrate sensitive areas scheme, the set-aside scheme and the pilot extensification schemes for beef and sheep. Advice from the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service is also available. The processing and marketing of organic produce is being given priority for discretionary European Community grants under our national plans for implementing Community regulation 866/90. We are in addition making a very significant commitment to organic farming research and development. In 1991–92 we are spending over £500,000 on specific organic farming projects and over the next three years this is set to rise to £1 million. We have also commissioned an economic study of organic farming in Great Britain and the full report will be published later this year. We also provide grant aid to the United Kingdom Register of Organic Food Standards that is responsible for establishing standards and for their enforcement. Further support in the form of a specific organic conversion scheme is under consideration.

  Potato Crisps
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a list of additives presently used in the flavouring of British manufactured potato crisps which his Department considers a possible threat to the health of consumers.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have no reason to believe any other flavours used in potato crisps pose any hazard to health. If they did, we would ban them.

  Sheep (Radiation Checks)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many sheep there are in the United Kingdom at the latest date that have to have a radiation check before they can be moved; and how many farms this covers.

  Mr. Maclean
  The estimated number of animals—immediately post-lambing—is 583,000 on 738 holdings.

  EC Expenditure
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list(a) overall European Commission expenditure as a percentage of overall European Community gross domestic product, (b) net European Commission expenditure on agriculture as a percentage of overall European Community gross domestic product and (c) the net United Kingdom expenditure on agriculture, including net receipts from the European Commission, as a proportion of United Kingdom gross domestic product, for each year since 1973.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information is as follows:
  555

  (a) Total expenditure from the European Community budget as a percentage of European Community gross domestic product (by calendar year)

  Percentage

  1973

  0·45

  1974

  0·45

  1975

  0·54

  1976

  0·56

  1977

  0·62

  1978

  0·74

  1979

  0·79

  1980

  0·80

  1981

  0·78

  1982

  0·82

  1983

  0·91

  1984

  0·95

  1985

  0·91

  1986

  0·97

  1987

  0·95

  1988

  1·02

  1989

  0·94

  11990

  0·99

  1 Budget.

  (b)

  Expenditure from the European Community budget on agriculture as a percentage of European Community gross domestic product (by calendar year)

  Year

  Percentage

  1973

  0·43

  1974

  0·32

  1975

  0·41

  1976

  0·45

  1977

  0·49

  1978

  0·56

  1979

  0·60

  1980

  0·58

  1981

  0·51

  1982

  0·52

  1983

  0·62

  1984

  0·66

  1985

  0·66

  1986

  0·65

  1987

  0·64

  1988

  0·72

  1989

  0·62

  1 1990

  0·65

  1 Budget.

  (c)

  United Kingdom expenditure on agriculture, including expenditure funded by the European Community as a percentage of United Kingdom gross domestic product (by United Kingdom financial year)

  Year

  Percentage

  1973–74

  0·52

  1974–75

  0·55

  1975–76

  0·46

  1976–77

  0·29

  1977–78

  0·30

  1978–79

  0·31

  1979–80

  0·32

  1980–81

  0·43

  1981–82

  0·37

  1982–83

  0·50

  1983–84

  0·56

  1984–85

  0·52

  1985–86

  0·60

  1986–87

  0·37

  1987–88

  0·38

  1988–89

  0·29

  1989–90

  0·24

  1 1990–91

  0·36

  1 Forecast.

  556
  Sources:

  (a) and (b) EC expenditure: 1973–79—Annual Reports of the European Court of Auditors.

  1990—EC Budget.

  EC gdp—European Economy No. 46.

  (c) United Kingdom expenditure: 1973–74—1985–86—Annual Review White Papers.

  1986–87—1990–91—Agricul-ture in the United Kingdom.

  United Kingdom gdp: 1973–74—1989–90—CSO Economic Trends 1989–90.

  1990–91—Financial Statement and Budget Report 1991–92.

  Agencies
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those bodies currently with agency status within his Department under the next steps initiative; and whether he had identified any further candidates for agency status under the initiative within his Department.

  Mr. Maclean
  There are currently two executive agencies within the department, the Central Veterinary Laboratory and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. Two further candidates have been announced to be launched in April 1992, namely the Central Science Laboratory and the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service, which will be a joint MAFF and Welsh Office agency. Active consideration is being given to other departmental functions as potential agency candidates.

  Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what EC grants the owners of fishing vessels would be eligible to receive to build new fishing vessels, if the United Kingdom fully implemented a fishing vessel decommissioning scheme in line with EC proposals.

  Mr. Maclean
  The availability of EC grants for the construction and modernisation of fishing vessels under EC regulation 4028/86 is not dependent on the introduction of a decommissioning scheme. When the latest tranche of EC grant aid was decided last month, no applications for EC grant aid for new construction were successful in any member state.

  Beef and Sheep Farmers
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the maximum support for beef and sheep farmers in less-favoured areas, for severely disadvantaged areas and for disadvantaged areas— marginal land—respectively, allowable under EC regulations in terms of pounds per hectare; and what is the United Kingdom limit, in similar terms, for these categories.

  Mr. Maclean
  European Community Council regulation 797/85, as amended, sets a maximum compensatory allowance for cattle and ewes of 102 ecu per hectare of total forage area of the holding in the less-favoured areas. At current green rates, this is equivalent to £77·33.

  Under United Kingdom regulations, payments are limited to £62·48 per hectare in the severely disadvantaged areas and £46·86 per hectare in the disadvantaged areas.

  Total expenditure under the 1991 scheme is expected to be around £142 million, reflecting a 14 per cent. increase over the previous year.

  Beef Premium
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much of the beef premium payments were made(a) to primary producers in upland areas and (b) to those fattening steers on lowland farms, in the last financial year.

  Mr. Maclean
  The beef special premium scheme is operated in Great Britain at the point of slaughter and at live auction markets on sale with a view to slaughter. The premium would therefore be payable to any eligible primary producer finishing male cattle. In registering for the scheme, producers are not required to state whether their farms are in upland or in lowland areas. The statistics requested are therefore not available.

  Slaughterhouses
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many slaughterhouses there are in England currently up to the EC standard as defined(a) in regulation 355/77 and (b) in regulation 860/90.

  Mr. Maclean
  At present there are 53 red meat and 97 poultry meat slaughterhouses in England which are approved as complying with EC standards. The standards in question are defined in EC directives 64/433 and 71/118 respectively. Regulation 355/77 and its successor, regulation 866/90, relate to financing of investment aimed at improving the processing and marketing of agricultural products. It is a condition of grant aid under these regulations that the project complies with the relevant EC standard.

  Beef (Intervention Stores)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the tonnage of beef being held in intervention stores in the EC in each of the past 18 quarters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Tables showing EC and United Kingdom intervention stock levels have been deposited in the Library of the House at monthly intervals throughout the period in question.

  Fish Quotas
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has received for the Government to amend their present fish quota restrictions from a species base to an area base; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  None. Monthly quota restrictions relate to individual fish stocks, which are defined by species and area.

  Mink Farms
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the size and location of the two mink farms on Humberside listed in his answer of 22 February,Official Report, column 317.

  Mr. Maclean
  We do not publish this information.

  Agricultural and Horticultural Workers
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has about the average wage levels and hours worked for each category of agricultural and horticultural workers in Northumberland; and by how much they exceed the levels determined by the wages board.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is not available for Northumberland, however, the latest information for a sample of farms in the northern region is provided in the table.

  Earnings and hours of regular whole-time workers in agriculture and horticulture

  Northern region

  1990 Calendar year

  Average total hours worked

  Average earnings1

  Premium over wage prescribed by Wages Board

  per week

  £/week

  £/week

  General Farm Workers

  46·9

  176·61

  18·51

  Other Stockmen

  47·6

  192·76

  43·47

  Tractor Drivers

  48·7

  216·74

  18·57

  All hired men2

  47·2

  189·85

  24·00

  1 Includes allowances in kind and any bonus paid by employers as a contribution to employees' community charge.

  2 Includes information for foremen, dairy cowmen and horticultural workers for which samples are too small for figures to be shown separately.

  Source: Wages and Employment Enquiry: 1990.

  Agricultural Land (Ownership)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 9 May,Official Report, column 590, if he will make it his policy to collect information centrally in respect of agricultural land in England and Wales in overseas ownership.

  Mr. Maclean
  No. The costs and practical difficulties of adopting such a policy are excessive and outweigh the potential benefits.

  River Pollution
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those polluted stretches of rivers and estuaries from which the public should not eat fish.

  Mr. Gummer
  My Department has recently issued advice to anglers that it is inadvisable to eat fish caught in polluted waters. If anglers are in doubt about whether a particular stretch of water is polluted, they should seek advice locally from the National Rivers Authority which will be able to advise if the water is of poor quality on the basis of its rivers classification scheme.

  The Government's advice does not apply to commercial fisheries which take place in or near estuaries. My Department monitors commercial fisheries both in estuaries and at sea to protect public health and the results show the quality of the water in the areas of these fisheries causes no problems for the species sold.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many calves born since July 1988 have been found to have BSE.
  559
  Mr. Gummer
  BSE has been confirmed in one calf born since July 1988. Inquiries as to the source of the disease are still continuing.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields of 20 May,Official Report, column 398, why he is unable to give the number of confirmed cases of BSE in the United Kingdom for each month from January to April.

  Mr. Gummer
  The scientific calculation of the number of cases of BSE is based on the date of onset of clinical disease and there is a prolonged period of time between this and eventual confirmation of disease by post-mortem examination. This means that recent figures are necessarily incomplete and would therefore be misleading.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of cases of BSE in 1991 have been found in farms for the first time.

  Mr. Gummer
  Twenty-seven per cent. of the cases of BSE confirmed in Great Britain between January and April 1991 were on farms on which no previous case had been confirmed.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the total number of confirmed cases for BSE by county at the latest available date in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information up to 17 May 1991 is as follows:

  County

  Cases

  ENGLAND

  North

  Cleveland

  33

  Cumbria

  511

  Durham

  101

  Humberside

  116

  Northumberland

  114

  Tyne and Wear

  4

  Yorkshire, North

  1,075

  Yorkshire, South

  91

  Yorkshire, West

  127

  Total

  2,172

  Midlands and West

  Cheshire

  742

  Derbyshire

  417

  Hereford and Worcester

  521

  Lancashire

  605

  Leicestershire

  634

  Manchester

  28

  Merseyside

  14

  Nottinghamshire

  169

  Shropshire

  657

  Staffordshire

  510

  West Midlands

  17

  Warwickshire

  277

  Total

  4,591

  East

  Bedfordshire

  76

  Cambridgeshire

  100

  Essex

  115

  Hertfordshire

  126

  Lincolnshire

  228

  Norfolk

  419

  Northamptonshire

  225

  Suffolk

  338

  Total

  1,627

  560

  County

  Cases

  South-East

  Berkshire

  175

  Buckinghamshire

  246

  Hampshire

  1,023

  Isle of Wight

  207

  Kent

  580

  London

  15

  Oxfordshire

  416

  Surrey

  268

  Sussex East

  372

  Sussex West

  714

  Total

  4,016

  South-West

  Avon

  537

  Cornwall

  2,063

  Devon

  2,994

  Dorset

  2,354

  Gloucestershire

  844

  Somerset

  2,477

  Wiltshire

  1,712

  Total

  12,981

  WALES

  Clwyd

  311

  Dyfed

  1,136

  Glamorgan Mid

  69

  Glamorgan South

  68

  Glamorgan West

  14

  Gwent

  200

  Gwynedd

  76

  Powys

  252

  Total

  2,126

  SCOTLAND

  South

  Borders

  49

  Central

  29

  Dumfries

  190

  Lothian

  21

  Strathclyde

  256

  Total

  545

  North

  Fife

  55

  Grampian

  190

  Highland

  53

  Orkney

  9

  Shetland

  3

  Tayside

  76

  Western Isles

  1

  Total

  932

  NORTHERN IRELAND

  Antrim

  58

  Armagh

  16

  Down

  43

  Fermanagh

  19

  Londonderry

  19

  Tyrone

  38

  Total

  193

  Bovine Somatotropin
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Veterinary Products Committee discussed bovine somatotropin in 1991; what were the outcomes of these discussions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Committee has discussed BST twice in 1991.

  In April it advised that it remained unsatisfied on the animal safety and welfare aspects of certain BST products, and that this should be reflected in the line taken in discussions in the EC Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products. This advice was accepted.

  In May the committee considered an article published in the British Medical Journal on 2 March and reviewed relevant data. It considered it likely that it would be able to confirm its earlier advice that the products could be used without hazard to human health, but wished first to seek the opinions of independent advisors with special expertise in certain of the matters raised.

  The committee has also been informed of, but has not discussed, the extension of the Community moratorium on BST use, developments in the CVMP, and the hon. Member's parliamentary questions on the subject.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to review his decision to refuse a product licence for bovine somatotropin; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  I shall review the decisions in the light of advice from the Medicines Commission following its consideration of companies' appeals. I have no other plans to review them.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether there are any proposals from member states of the Commission for the EC to end its moratorium on the case of bovine somatotropin; what discussions he has had within the EC on this subject; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Commission has made no such proposals and I am aware of none from any member state.

  Sheep Dipping
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many forms, and what proportion, were returned from sheep farmers about sheep dipping last year; what measures he intends to take to ensure that all forms are received; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Local authority estimates suggest that approximately 70 per cent. of form R owner declarations of dipping were returned to local authorities. It is for local authorities to take action in those cases where forms are not returned but I have made it clear that I am looking for a much better response from farmers during this year's national dip.

  Ear Punching
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what comments he has received from the Farm Animal Welfare Council concerning the ear punching of cattle; and if he has any plans to discontinue the practice;562
  (2) what comments he has received from the Farm Animal Welfarm Council concerning the ear punching of sheep; and if he will take steps to halt this practice when the variable premium scheme ceases.

  Mr. Maclean
  In its report on the welfare of livestock at markets in 1986, the Farm Animal Welfare Council recommended that on welfare grounds methods should be found for certifying livestock under the premium schemes which did not involve ear punching.

  In their response, the Government noted that provided punches were kept sharp and used by properly trained staff, stress to the animals was kept to a minimum. The Government also stated their willingness to consider other methods which would meet the requirements of the Community schemes, but to date no satisfactory alternatives have been found. There are therefore no plans at present to discontinue this control mechanism in relation to cattle. For sheep, however, the need for ear punching under the variable premium scheme will no longer exist when the scheme ends in January 1992.

  Land Contamination
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice his Department has given to farmers whose land is contaminated by spills of inflammable liquids; and what such contaminations he is aware of having taken place since 1987.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Department investigates incidents involving the spillage of inflammable liquid on agricultural land in view of the possible food safety implications. In the light of the results of such investigations, advice would be provided to the farmer or other measures taken as appropriate. The only recent incident involving such a spillage of which the Department is aware concerned the derailment and fire on a train at Bradford-on-Tone, Taunton on 16 May this year.

PRIME MINISTER

  United Nations Register
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government will set up a register of arms, in line with his request for a United Nations register; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  We believe that, in order to be effective, the register should be set up under United Nations auspices on a universal and non-discriminatory basis. That is the approach which we are pursuing.

TRANSPORT

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on the timetable for consultation on, and implementation of, proposals for a channel tunnel rail link;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the consultation process which he will undertake on the options for the channel tunnel rail link route.

  Mr. Freeman
  We are considering British Rail's report on the rail link options. To publish details of all the routes
  563
  under consideration could cause needless worry and blight. Once the Government have announced a decision on the way forward it will be for British Rail to undertake wide consultation on the preferred route before embarking on the formal approval process.

  Vehicle Smoke
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action his Department will take in response to complaints from the public about smoke from cars, vans and other vehicles not subject to operator licensing.

  Mr. Chope
  Excessive smoke is usually emitted by diesel rather than petrol engines. As heavy goods vehicles and buses are likely to be the main offenders, and are also the ones against which sanctions are available under operator licensing, the Department has given priority to those larger vehicles. Instrumented checks of emissions from cars and light goods vehicles will, however, be part of MOT tests from 1 November.

  Motorways
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy towards the surfacing of future motorways in concrete rather than tarmac.

  Mr. Chope
  Current policy is to permit contractors as wide a choice of materials for road pavements as possible. This encourages competition between different suppliers and ensures the best value for money.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much traffic on the M1 had been reduced since the reopening of the M40 to Birmingham.

  Mr. Chope
  Traffic flows on the M1 south of M6 have been reduced by between 4,000 and 19,000 vehicles per weekday since the opening of M40 to Birmingham.

  Rail Tracks
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will direct British Rail to cease immediately the practice of installing DC single-rail track circuits on non-electrified lines; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail has already decided to cease the practice of installing DC single-rail track circuits on non-electrified lines. BR is also planning a programme of modifications to existing DC single-rail track circuits on non-electrified lines.

  Birmingham Western Orbital Route
  Mr. Andrew Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the outcome of his consultation exercise on his proposals for a privately funded Birmingham western orbital route.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Private sector firms have responded positively to my suggestion of a private finance competition for the western orbital route. I now propose to go ahead with a competition for the road on this basis. I look forward to seeing their proposals for designing, financing, constructing and operating this road.

  I share the concern of local interests about the need to protect the environment and avoid delay. I can give the
  564
  assurance that proposals for privately financed schemes will be subject to the same rigorous environmental appraisal as conventional roads. I will also keep the target for completion of this important facility as the late 1990s, as it had been for the public scheme.

  It is important to move quickly in setting up a competition. I will shortly be inviting prequalifying bids from the private sector, so that a full competition can be held as soon as possible.

  Taxi Fares (London)
  Mr. Bendall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about London taxi fares.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Secretary of State has made an order increasing London taxi fares by about 8·9 per cent. on average with effect from Saturday 8 June 1991. The new tariff will incorporate a minimum fare of £1·00—including an unchanged hire charge of 40p—for the first 940·5 yd or 3 minutes 13·5 seconds. The rate will then be 20p for every 313·5 yd or 1 minute 4·5 seconds up to 6 miles and 20p for each 209 yd or 43 seconds thereafter.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he received the letter dated 6 February from Nithsdale Road Link-up Group; and what reply he has sent.

  Mr. Chope
  The letter was received in my Department on 14 February. It made a number of helpful suggestions for raising public awareness about the law on rear seat belt wearing by children which came into force on 1 September 1989 and described what the group itself is doing locally to achieve this. The reply explained the publicity which the Department, and some commercial organisations, gave to introduction of the law and the arrangements for providing information about it subsequently. It also offered comments on the text of a publicity leaflet produced by the group.

  I have sent a copy of the reply to the hon. Member.

  Speed Limiters
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to ensure that speed limiter systems fitted to heavy goods vehicles are fitted only by authorised organisations trained in installation, calibration and sealing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The Government have tabled an amendment to the Road Traffic Bill to enable the Secretary of State to make regulations about speed limiter installation. The Department is considering with vehicle operators' associations and speed limiter manufacturers what, if any, regulations might be needed if this provision is enacted.

  Chelmsford
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement listing the money his Department has contributed to road schemes in the Chelmsford local authority area in each of the financial years since 1979–80; and what are his forward plans for the next three years.
  565
  Mr. Chope
  My Department pays 50 per cent. transport supplementary grant towards accepted expenditure on local authority road schemes.

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

  £ million

  1985–86

  5·279

  1986–87

  7·167

  1987–88

  6·335

  1988–89

  5·846

  1989–90

  5·835

  1990–91

  2·189

  A further £0·506 million expenditure on major schemes in the Chelmsford area has been accepted for TSG in 1991–92. This is less than in previous years because a number of schemes have been completed. Allocations for future years will be decided in the light of information in the county's annual transport policies and programme submissions and other competing bids.

  Block TSG allocations have also been given for expenditure on minor works in the county as a whole, but it is for the county council to decide how much to spend in each district council's area.

  In addition, the Department has spent over £36 million since 1979 on improving its own A12 trunk road through the district, including the following amounts on the Chelmsford bypass:

  £ million

  1984–85

  5·978

  1985–86

  15·457

  1986–87

  11·111

  1987–88

  1·804

  1988–89

  1·218

  1989–90

  0·489

  The next major trunk road schemes in the area will be the construction of part of the new M12 from the M25 and the widening of the Chelmsford bypass, but only relatively minor sums will be spent on the design and preparation of these proposals over the next two or three years.

  Vehicle Tax Discs
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many motor vehicle tax discs have been issued as replacements for stolen discs in each of the last three years for which such information is available.

  Mr. Chope
  The total number of duplicate licences issued for all reasons in each of the last three financial years was:

  Number

  1990–91

  146,720

  1989–90

  132,075

  1988–89

  135,649

  Separate records are not kept of the number of duplicate motor vehicle tax discs issued because the original has been stolen. Duplicate tax discs are also issued if the original has been lost, destroyed or mutilated so that it can no longer be used.

  Channel Tunnel
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the approximate cost of the works that have been carried out and are due to be carried out on the designated existing channel tunnel rail routes to enable continental through freight and passenger services to be run after opening; and what is the approximate breakdown between(a) the terminal at Waterloo, (b) the Redhill to Tonbridge electrification, (c) the installation of continuous welded rail and other improvements to existing track, (d) improved signalling, (e) bridge reconstruction, (f) construction of new passing loops and (g) other main heads of cost.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail currently expects to spend approximately £700 million, at 1990–91 prices, on infrastructure works to enable European passenger and freight services to operate when the channel tunnel opens. £142 million will be spent on building the international terminal at Waterloo, £21 million on electrifying the line between Tonbridge and Redhill, £9 million on bridge reconstruction and £250 million on new track, upgrading existing track and improving signalling. The remaining £278 million covers other projects, including the North Pole maintenance depot, freight inspection facilities and freight terminals in London and elsewhere.

  British Rail
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has approved the plan for re-organisation of British Rail entitled "Organisation for Quality"; and if he will place copies of relevant documents in the Library.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail has kept the Department in close touch with its planned reorganisation, which should improve management accountability and its focus on the customer. I shall place a summary of the proposals in the Library shortly.

  Motorway Speed Limits
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has commissioned any recent study to evaluate the effects of(a) traffic flow, (b) accident risk and (c) pollution of the environment arising from an increased speed limit on motorways of 90 mph.

  Mr. Chope
  No.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to increase the speed limit on motorways.

  Mr. Chope
  I have no such plans, but a review of speed limits is currently being undertaken.

  Road Accidents
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of road accidents causing one or more fatalities in which vehicles carrying inflammable liquids were involved for each year since 1985, giving the total number of dead and injured for each year.

  Mr. Chope
  I regret that I am unable to do this.

  The Department collects information only on road accidents involving personal injury. The standard report

  567
  form, STATS19, completed by the police for these accidents does not include information on cargoes carried by the vehicles involved.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the accident rates for equivalent lengths of contraflow for each of the past three years.

  Mr. Chope
  The information is not available in the form requested. Detailed studies into the safety of major motorway roadworks were carried out by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory on schemes carried out in 1982 and 1987. The studies concluded that rates were about 0·18 personal injury accidents per million vehicle kilometres or nearly 1·6 times the rate on motorways without roadworks, but even so only about a sixth of the rate on built-up A-class roads. Rates were found to be higher than the average in the contraflow section itself, slightly higher at the approach and lower beyond. A new study of safety at contraflows on all-purpose dual carriageways has begun and will report in December 1992. The TRRL will also be updating its earlier motorway studies.

  Driving Instructors
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with the Driving Standards Agency regarding the qualifications required for the disabled becoming driving instructors; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The Driving Standards Agency has circulated a discussion paper on this subject to officials within the Department and at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency at Swansea. A meeting to discuss the paper will be held shortly.

  Shale Fire, Midlothian
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the safety implications for rail travellers, of the underground shale fire at Newbridge, Midlothian.

  Mr. Freeman
  The fire on the embankment at Newbridge is being closely monitored by British Rail, which is taking remedial action and has meanwhile imposed a 5 mph speed limit on the affected line. I am assured that there is no risk to passengers.

  Syston Bypass
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to announce his decision on the inspector's report on the inquiry regarding the A607 Syston northern bypass; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  Early next month.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Dangerous Dogs
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will introduce legislation requiring those persons owning certain breeds of dogs to obtain third-party insurance; and if he will make a statement;
  568
  (2) if he will introduce legislation enabling American pit bull terriers to be humanely destroyed; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he will bring forward proposals to add American pit bull terriers and Japanese tosas to the list of dangerous animals specified under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) if he will bring forward proposals to amend the Dangerous Dogs Act 1989 to make owners liable to prosecution even if a dog is put down after an attack; and if he will make a statement;

  (5) if he will introduce legislation requiring owners of certain breeds of dogs to have their dogs on a short chain lead and muzzled whenever in a public place; and if he will make a statement;

  (6) if he will introduce legislation banning the breeding within the United Kingdom of fighting dogs, including American pit bull terriers; and if he will make a statement;

  (7) what legislation he proposes to introduce concerning dangerous dogs; and if he will make a statement;

  (8) if he will introduce a ban into the United Kingdom on the import and export of fighting dogs, including American pit bull terriers; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ban with immediate effect the import of pit bull terrier and tosa dogs.

  Ms. Rumbold
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement that my right hon. Friend made in the House on Wednesday 22 May at columns 945–46.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the arrangements for those attacked and injured by dogs to apply to the criminal injuries compensation scheme for compensation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The board can entertain applications from victims of attacks by dogs or other animals where a crime of violence has been committed, for example, where a dog has been deliberately set on the victim.

  Automatic Weapons
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence he has that fully automatic weapons, including the Uzi submachine gun, are illegally on sale in south Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I am aware of the allegations made in "The Cook Report" television programme broadcast on 20 May. The investigation of such matters is for local chief officers of police, to whom any relevant information should be passed.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will obtain for his departmental library a video recording of the Central Television programme "The Cook Report", broadcast on 20 May.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Department has a recording of this programme.

  Mr. Liwa Uddin
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he arranged for the British high commission in Islamabad to issue a visa to Mr. Liwa
  569
  Uddin following the dismissal by the immigration appeals tribunal of the Home Office appeal on 7 May; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The tribunal's written determination of 7 May was sent by facsimile to the entry clearance officer in Islamabad on 22 May. It is for him to pursue the case, taking account of the adjudicator's findings.

  Radio Authority
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will dismiss Lord Chalfont as head of the Radio Authority.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Crown Courts
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Attorney-General if he has any proposals to increase the staff numbers in Crown courts.

  The Attorney-General
  The Lord Chancellor presently intends to increase staff numbers in the Crown Court during 1991–92 by approximately 62 above those in post as at 1 April 1991. Staffing levels in the courts are fixed in relation to current and anticipated workload.

  General Pinochet
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Attorney-General if the Director of Public Prosecutions will consider whether any charges may be brought in the United Kingdom against General Pinochet in relation to offences of murder and torture in that country which may constitute crimes capable of proscecution in the United Kingdom.

  The Attorney-General
  The United Kingdom has no jurisdiction concerning any offence of murder committed by a foreign national in Chile. Since 29 September 1988 the offence of torture has been justiciable in this country wherever it might have taken place, by virtue of section 34 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. The Act has no retrospective effect.

  Court Procedures
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) what training is given to court staff to assist them in advising plaintiffs intending to make small claims for personal injury;

  (2) what training is given to court staff to help them advise plaintiffs in small claims procedures.

  The Attorney-General
  A range of training courses, covering the various steps of civil business procedures, are available to staff in the county courts. This enables staff to assist litigants with court procedure.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Attorney-General what advice is given to court staff about referral of personal injury case plaintiffs to specialist legal assistance.

  The Attorney-General
  Very few personal injury cases are presently commenced without professional help. Training given enables staff to assist litigants with procedural advice.
  570
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will bring forward proposals to extend to England and Wales the provision applicable in Northern Ireland for courts to obtain and pay for expert medical and other reports in small claims personal injury cases.

  The Attorney-General
  There is presently nothing which compels personal injury claimants to use the small claims procedure and therefore no need for such a provision. Should the policy change, this possibility would be considered.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Attorney-General how many court staff received training in(a) small claims procedures and (b) personal injury cases in each of the last five years.

  The Attorney-General
  This information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. As a matter of principle, all county court staff receive training which enables them to assist litigants with procedures in civil litigation.

  Ativan
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received from those engaged in legal action against Wyeth on account of the harmful effects of the drug Ativan about the availability of legal aid; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  Neither I nor my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor have received any representations about the availability of legal aid to pursue legal actions against Wyeth concerning the drug Ativan. The Legal Aid Board is responsible for the administration of legal aid in such cases and it is not aware of any difficulties over the legal aid arrangements.

  Repossessions
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Attorney-General how many court actions relating to mortgage repossessions there were in Doncaster county court in each year since 1979 to 1990 and for 1991 to date.

  The Attorney-General
  The number of mortgage actions for possession entered and orders made for possession in Doncaster county court in each year since 1986, the first year for which figures are available, and for the first four months of 1991 are shown in the table.

  Number of mortgage possession actions entered

  Number of mortgage possession orders made

  1986

  546

  159

  1987

  559

  242

  1988

  564

  313

  1989

  478

  335

  1990

  594

  415

  11991

  252

  169

  1 January to April.

WALES

  Housing Consultancy Costs
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the value of housing consultancy work given by him to Aldbourne Associates in(a) 1989, (b) 1990 and (c) the current year.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The value of the work done lies in the support given to improvements in housing management on PEP estates and elsewhere, for which expenditure totalled £228,514 in the financial year 1989–90, £249,161 in 1990–91, and £16,038 so far in 1991–92, the final year of the main contract. Work has been done on a cost-reimbursable basis.

  Cardiff Bay Barrage
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the. Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Cardiff Bay development corporation concerning the continuation of groundwater studies beyond 31 July related to the proposed barrage and the impact o r the raised water table on properties in central Cardiff.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have had no such consultations with the chairman of the development corporation. My officials are in touch with officers of the corporation about the progress of the groundwater studies as part of their routine liaison.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide comparable but extended figures for Wales to those put in the Library by the Secretary of State for the Environment on 4 April 1990, deposit 5906, showing, for each local authority area and giving the assumptions made about equalisation, what level of (i) capital value rates, (ii) council tax and (iii) local income tax would be required in order to raise the same amount of revenue as with(a) the 1991–92 community charge, both before and after community charge reduction grant, and (b) the 1991–92 community charge, both before and after community charge reduction grant, but on the basis that the community charge was fully operational without any transitional or related elements.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my statement to the House of Commons on 23 April, and to the material which was placed in the Library of the House on that day. This gives full information on the illustrative effect on household bills had the council tax been in place in Wales in 1991–92.

  Grey Seals
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the last survey of the population of grey seals along the Welsh coastline was undertaken; and if he has any plans to fund another survey.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I understand that the last comprehensive survey of the population of grey seals along the Welsh coastline was undertaken in 1974.

  The Countryside Council for Wales is currently considering an application for grant aid from a consortium
  572
  of agencies, led by the Dyfed Wildlife Trust, to undertake a census of seals in Cardigan bay. They are very interested and sympathetic but await further details of research methodology and technical details before decisions can be made.

  Tobacco
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans his Department has to mark World No Tobacco Day on 31 May; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  While recognising the importance of World No Tobacco Day, particularly in those countries with no national event, my Department concentrates its efforts on the United Kingdom's long-established and successful National No Smoking Day which was held this year on Wednesday 13 March.

  Mink Farms
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the size and location of each mink farm currently operating in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I am not aware of any mink farms currently operating in Wales.

  Right to Buy
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many local authorities in Wales have put forward schemes for Welsh Office approval under the provisions of the Housing Act 1988, whereby local authorities can provide council tenants with a cash grant to help them buy a home in the private sector; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  One authority undertook a scheme during 1990–91 and is currently evaluating the results. A second authority has recently indicated an interest in operating a similar scheme.

  University College, Swansea
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will outline the basis for his decision to subtract any European Community funding towards the innovation centre at University college, Swansea.

  Mr. David Hunt
  No application has yet been received for European regional development fund assistance for phase II of the innovation centre at University college Swansea.

  Manufacturing Output
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a list of figures showing the value of manufacturing output levels in Wales in each year since 1975 at constant 1975 prices.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Changes in the level of manufacturing output at constant prices are best measured by the index of industrial production and construction for Wales (1985 = 100). Annual averages from 1978 are given in the following table. Welsh figures for years prior to 1978 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  573

  Index of manufacturing output Wales

  1985 = 100

  1978

  101·0

  1979

  103·7

  1980

  91·4

  1981

  92·9

  1982

  91·7

  1983

  95·1

  1984

  100·0

  1985

  100·0

  1986

  104·7

  1987

  116·7

  1988

  128·1

  1989

  131·6

  1990

  133·8

  Information Division
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish details for the last three years showing(a) the overall budget of the Welsh Office information division, (b) the amount of money dispersed by the information division to outside advertising agencies and (c) the percentage of moneys dispersed to advertising agencies which has been accounted for by advertising companies based in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  For information on the Department's total publicity budget, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) on 25 April 1991.

  The overall budget of the Welsh Office information division for the past three years is: for 1988–89 £1,239,003; for 1989–90 £1,375,806; and for 1990–91 £729,647.

  The amount of money dispersed by the information division to outside advertising agencies for 1988–89 is available only at disproportionate costs; for 1989–90 £266,670; and for 1990–91 £265,956·18.

  The percentage of moneys dispersed to advertising agencies which has been accounted for by advertising agencies in Wales for 1988–89 is only available at disproportionate costs: for 1989–90 it is 58·14 per cent. and for 1990–91 it is 71·07 per cent.

  Newtown Bypass
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to be able to announce the starting date for the construction of the proposed Newtown bypass; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I shall be appointing consultants shortly to develop a scheme to bypass Newtown which we have recently added to the Department's long-term trunk road programme. It is too soon to indicate when construction might commence.

  Craft Initiative
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many craft business advisers are employed in Wales under the craft initiative; what is their job description; how many were so employed on 1 May 1988, 1989 and 1990, respectively; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  During the period of the craft initiative, which came to an end in March this year, three craft business advisers were employed and were in post on 574
  the dates in question. Two were employed by the Welsh Development Agency and one by the Development Board for Rural Wales. Their job description was to provide a first point of contact for access to the full range of services offered by Government agencies in Wales, the Wales Craft Council, local authorities and enterprise agencies. As experienced craft producers, they were also to offer advice on craft businesses.

  The WDA currently employs three craft advisers. I understand that the role of the DBRW's adviser will also be retained, as part of an expanded marketing department.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how Government money devoted to the craft initiative is spent; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The craft initiative came to an end on 31 March this year. An evaluation of the initiative has been placed in the Library of the House. New arrangements for support of the craft industry in Wales have been put in place.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what cash increase had been allowed to general practioners in Wales in their indicative dry budget in 1991 and 1992 as compared with their dry expenditure in 1990; and on what basis it is computed.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The indicative amounts which, in accordance with section 18 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990, family health services authorities specify for GP practices' prescribing are not cash budgets.

  In setting the indicative amounts for 1991–92, FHSAs have used as the starting point the basic price of drugs prescribed by and dispensed for each practice in 1989–90. This figure has been adjusted by a national—England and Wales—uplift factor to take account of changes such as those in the price of drugs. Each FHSA's medical adviser will then have considered whether the resultant figure for each practice appeared to be justifiable on clinical grounds and will have taken into account any new factors which might bear upon the prescribing of that practice. All GP practices will have been offered the opportunity to discuss their indicative amounts with the responsible FHSA's medical adviser.

  The assignment of an indicative amount will not prevent any GP from prescribing the drugs which their patients need.

  Training
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of trainees in Wales who will take advantage of the new training voucher scheme in each of the last three years of its availability.

  Mr. David Hunt
  In 1991–92 the North-East Wales training and enterprise council estimates that between 1,200 and 1,500 young people will take advantage of its training credit in its pilot scheme. Credits will be extended progressively throughout Great Britain year by year. Initially TECs and local enterprise companies will be invited to submit proposals for local schemes offering training credits in their localities to come into operation in April 1993. Schemes will be selected to cover another 10
  575
  per cent. of the national total of 16 to 17-year-olds leaving full-time education. We intend that within five years, every 16 to 17-year-old leaving full-time education will have the offer of a training credit.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much additional finance will be available for the new training voucher scheme in Wales in 1992–93, 1993–94 and 1994–95 respectively; and if he will also publish for each year the total finance available for these credit vouchers, taking into account all existing and new schemes.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The level of additional resources to be made available to the north-east Wales training credit pilot in 1992–93 has not yet been finalised. For subsequent years the total resources available for training credits in Wales will depend on the speed with which coverage is extended in the Principality.

  University Hospital of Wales
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has had concerning the future of the epilepsy unit at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  My right hon. Friend has received representations from hon. Members and from members of the public, including a petition.

  Health Authority Referrals
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairmen or women of the nine health authorities in Wales regarding the amounts to be set aside for extra-contractual referrals and the circumstances for its use.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This is a matter for individual health authorities to determine within the record resources made available to them for 1991–92.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  National Insurance
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out in tabular form for 1991–92(a) the projected income from employees' national insurance contributions, (b) the estimated current expenditure (i) of the national health service, (ii) on state retirement pension, (iii) on unemployment benefit and (iv) on all other social security payments and (c) the percentage (a) represents of (b).

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested on estimated income and expenditure in 1991–92 is in the table.

  £ billion

  (a) Employees national insurance contributions1

  13·7

  (b) Expenditure of the NHS

  31·8

  Expenditure on retirement pension2

  25·5

  Expenditure on unemployment benefit

  1·0

  Expenditure on all other social security payments3

  36·4

  (c) Percentage (a) represents of (b)

  14·5 per cent.

  1 Includes £1·9 billion contribution to the NHS.

  1 Excluding non-contributory retirement pension.

  576
  3 All other social security benefit spending including all local authority spending on housing benefit and community charge benefit.

  War Widow's Pensions
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he has on the level of war widow's pension or equivalent benefit in all EC countries which sustained casualties in the second world war.

  Mr. Jack
  Currently war widow's pensions administered by the Department range from a standard £67·60 a week to a possible £103·42 including age and rank additions. These pensions are payable to all widows whose husbands' death is attributable to service at any time. In addition second world war widows and all other pre-1973 war widows receive special payments of £44·36 a week from the Ministry of Defence. These sums are in addition to anything which may be payable under Ministry of Defence occupational schemes.

  The European Commission does not collect information on war widows' pensions payable in the member states. The table gives such information as we have been able to obtain on other countries' schemes. I am advised that rates vary widely depending on such factors as military rank or previous civilian occupation.

  Weekly rate

  Denmark

  Between £89·69 and £129·15.

  France

  Between £39·51 and £107·11.

  Italy

  £30·34 plus supplement of £5·96 if annual income less than £3,543.

  If husband died after the war, £14·21—£14·69.

  Belgium

  £97·94, if husband killed in service.

  Germany

  £38·10 (basic rate) plus supplements according to factors such as extent of injuries—up to a total weekly maximum pension of about £167·71.

  Notes:

  1. The rates have been changed into sterling using purchasing power parities.

  2. In France an additional allowance may be payable if the widow has no other pension.

  Payment Delays
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance manual, "Departmental Compensation Scheme for Delay in Payment of Benefit and Refund of Contributions".

  Miss Widdecombe
  I described the basic principles underlying the payment of compensation for delay in my reply of 13 May at column 30. It would not be appropriate to make public internal guidance notes.

  Motability
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) whether there is any financial disadvantage for a company selling a vehicle purchased through the motability scheme;

  (2) if there is any evidence of companies operating a differential charge for those purchasing vehicles with and without assistance from the motability scheme.

  Mr. Scott
  Motability is an independent charity. The terms and conditions under which companies provide vehicles under the scheme are a matter for Motability.
  577
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many, and what percentage, of people on mobility allowance have purchased a vehicle through the motability scheme.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of the motability scheme is a matter for Motability itself. However, as at 9 May 1991, mobility allowance was being paid direct to Motability Finance Ltd. on behalf of 79,997 people who have lease agreements with Motability and 17,042 with hire purchase agreements. The combined total represents 14·9 per cent. of all mobility allowance beneficiaries.

  Mr. Neil Farmer
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects the compensation recovery unit to resolve its position in respect of Mr. Neil Farmer of 7 Welton gardens, Bulwell, Nottingham, and to write to him.

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

  Farmer's Lung
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will now take steps to provide a scheme of no-fault compensation for those who have suffered farmer's lung after working in agriculture.

  Mr. Scott
  Employed workers in agriculture who suffer disablement as a result of farmer's lung are eligible for benefits under the industrial injuries scheme.

  Pensioner Couples
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list those benefits and their average value which are available to pensioner couples on basic pensions who are in receipt of income support.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [pursuant to her reply, 22 April 1991, c. 327]: I regret that some of the information given was incorrect. In the list of benefits, the entry "Industrial injury benefit" should read "Industrial injuries benefits". Also, the third foot-note should explain that invalidity benefit and sickness benefit can continue for up to five years after pensionable age in place of retirement pension. For invalidity benefit this will be paid at an equivalent rate, for sickness benefit there is a 5 per cent. abatement. One partner may elect to retain their invalidity or sickness benefit while the other may choose to receive retirement pension. However, a married woman, relying solely on her husband's contributions, cannot take her retirement pension until he has claimed his.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Hong Kong
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Hong Kong on the recent recommendations of the Electoral Reform Society on electoral reform in Hong Kong.
  578
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  This report deals with matters which are the responsibility of the Hong Kong Government. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has not discussed it with them.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 31 January,Official Report, column 599, regarding his proposed non-involvement relating to the new airport for Hong Kong, if he will give details of any action taken during and subsequent to his visit to the far east.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  As I said in my answer of 31 January at column 599, the provision of a rail link to Hong Kong's new airport is a matter for the Hong Kong Government.

  Antarctica
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to repeal the Antarctic Minerals Act 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  Not at present. We shall await the outcome of the next meeting of Antarctic treaty parties in Madrid next month before a decision is taken on what action is required.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to sign the draft protocol of the Antarctic treaty parties agreed at the Madrid summit.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The final text of the protocol has not yet been agreed by the Antarctic treaty parties. It would, therefore, be premature to speculate on a date for its signature.

  Arms Control
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the achievements and failures in international arms control involving his Department in the past year.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  In the course of the last 12 months, the CFE treaty has been signed, although problems remain over Soviet implementation of certain of its provisions. The treaty eliminating United States and Soviet intermediate nuclear forces has been implemented successfully. There is also the prospect of a START treaty reducing United States and Soviet strategic arsenals, and of reductions in short-range nuclear forces in Europe. We are working to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime; for the continued expansion of the missile technology control regime; and to make a success of United Nations Security Council resolution No. 687's requirements in relation to Iraq's nuclear, biological chemical and missile capabilities. We have welcomed President Bush's recent proposal for completion of a chemical weapons convention within 12 months, and are preparing for the third review conference of the biological weapons convention which will offer an opportunity to strengthen that regime.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what investigative groups have been established, pursuant to United Nations Security Council resolution 687 on verification and
  579
  destruction of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction; what involvement there is of United Kingdom experts in these groups; what offers of personnel and resource assistance were made by Her Majesty's Government to the United Nations in support of resolution 687; and what estimation of cost to the Exchequer has been made of United Kingdom participation in furtherance of resolution 687.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Pursuant to section C of Security Council resolution 687, the Secretary-General of the United Nations has established a special commission, and the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, with the assistance and co-operation of the special commission, has established an action team. They are making arrangements for inspections required by the resolution. The United Kingdom has given technical help and equipment to the International Atomic Energy Agency for its initial inspection in Iraq, which is already in progress. A senior United Kingdom expert in chemical and biological defence matters is the British member of the special commission and is playing a prominent part in its work. The United Kingdom has offered to make available other experts and analytical services. We are now considering what further assistance we can provide. The cost to the United Kingdom of these aspects of Security Council resolution 687 cannot yet be estimated because the scale of the required activities is still being assessed and no decision has yet been made on how they will be funded.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to extend to two hours the time the Minister of State with responsibility for arms control spends with non-governmental organisations at the next collective meeting held to discuss Government policy on arms control and disarmament matters.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I attend the meeting for as long as my other commitments permit, and allow ample time for discussion of the major issues. Additional questions are thereafter fielded by a team of officials.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting with non-governmental organisations with the Minister of State with responsibility for arms control on 14 May.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  At my meeting with non-Governmental organisations on 14 May a wide range of arms control and disarmament topics were discussed. The proceedings were held under Chatham house rules and were thus off the record.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will raise the issues of nuclear non-proliferation controls and a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty at the forthcoming North Atlantic Treaty Organisation summit meeting.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Preparations for the NATO summit are at an early stage; but we regularly discuss these matters with our allies and partners.

  EFTA
  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will endeavour to ensure that in the negotiations between European Free 580
  Trade Association countries and the EC, any reduction in tariff rates is matched by the restoration of access for EC fishermen to EFTA country waters.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The EC/EFTA negotiations on a European economic area are aimed at extending the Community single market to the EFTA countries. On fisheries, the Community is pressing for greater access to EFTA fishing grounds in exchange for some liberalisation of trade between the two sides. We are working to ensure that the final outcome satisfies the interests of the United Kingdom fisheries industry.

  South Atlantic Fisheries
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he has given to the Uruguay proposals for south Atlantic fisheries.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The proposed Uruguayan scientific conference in Montevideo in June to discuss South Atlantic fisheries has now been cancelled. As the Falklands fishery is one of the main fisheries in the region, we had arranged United Kingdom representation at the conference, and will always give due attention to any Uruguayan proposals on South Atlantic fisheries.

  UNESCO
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on what progress has been made in UNESCO towards reforms and as to what issues remain unresolved in the way of the return of the United Kingdom to UNESCO.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We recognise that progress towards reform has been made in UNESCO since we left in 1985. But before we are able to consider re-joining, we need to see real improvements to achieve programme concentration; progress towards greater decentralisation; implementation of management and administration reforms; and improvements in setting UNESCO's budget.

  Kuwait
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will direct Her Majesty's ambassador to Kuwait to lodge a formal protest with the Kuwaiti Government about the conduct of trials of alleged Iraqi collaborators.

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Government of Kuwait about the quality of justice dispensed to those charged with collaboration with the Iraqis.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have stressed to the Kuwaiti authorities on a number of occasions in the last few months our hope that trials of detainees for war crimes or collaboration would follow due processes of law and respect human rights. Her Majesty's ambassador has recently re-emphasised the Government's concern that proper arrangements for the presentation of evidence and the defence of those accused at such trials should be carefully observed. We understand that the courts in Kuwait have adjourned a number of cases to enable defence lawyers to study prosecution evidence and prepare their cases more thoroughly. We welcome this.

  President Mubarak
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with President Mubarak prior to the announcement on 8 May of the withdrawal of Egyptian troops from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs' discussions with President Mubarak in Cairo on 2 May covered bilateral and regional issues, including regional security.

  We have consistently made clear that it is for the states of the region to take the lead in devising arrangements for their security.

  Arab Security Force
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made towards the establishment of an Arab security force in the Gulf.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Gulf Co-operation Council, Egypt and Syria are developing regional security proposals based on the Damascus declaration. GCC countries have agreed in principle to establish a common deterrent force. We have said that we will help to underpin regionally agreed arrangements, if asked, but do not envisage troops in the region permanently.

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards challenge inspections to support a chemical weapons control regime.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We consider that a system of intrusive challenge inspection will be necessary to provide an effective verification regime for a future chemical weapons convention.

  Gas Fires
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the inside ambient temperature at his Department below which the gas fires are permitted to be used; and what steps have been taken at his Department to improve energy efficiency.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office aims to provide an inside ambient temperature of 16C (61F) in accordance with the Office, Shops and Railways Premises Act of 1963. With the objective of reducing energy consumption by 15 per cent. over a five-year period, heating management systems and energy efficient lighting are being installed in a rolling programme and as part of the refurbishment of the main building. A staff awareness campaign has been launched and is to be intensified.

  Chile
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he made to the Government of Chile concerning the visit on 18 May of General Pinochet; what information he has about the nature and purpose of the visit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  We made known to the Chilean Government our reservations about this visit which, they told us, would be a private one. On 18 May, at the invitation of Royal Ordnance, General Pinochet visited their premises at Hatfield and Aylesbury. Neither Ministers nor officials had contact with General Pinochet.

  Security Council Resolution 687
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the information gathered by the United Nations investigation commission in Iraq, established in pursuance of United Nations Security Council resolution 687, will be published by either the United Nations or member Governments involved in the operations to liberate Kuwait.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are not yet aware of any arrangements to publish information arising from inspections by the special commission or the International Atomic Energy Agency.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Gross Domestic Product
  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the GDP per head in(a) Scotland and (b) Yorkshire and Humberside.

  Mr. John Maples
  GDP per head in Scotland and in Yorkshire and Humberside in 1989 is provisionally estimated at £7,021 and £6,649 respectively.

  Local Authority Expenditure
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish an analysis, comparable with table 5.7 of Cm 1520, showing(a) that local authority expenditure in Wales which falls outside expenditure within the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Wales and (b) that local authority expenditure in Northern Ireland which falls outside expenditure within the responsibilty of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information requested for local authority expenditure in Wales, consistent with that given in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement (Cm 1520), is given in the table below. All local authority expenditure in Northern Ireland falls within the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
  583

  Local authority expenditure in Wales which falls outside the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Wales by economic category

  £ million

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Pay

  175

  189

  209

  222

  251

  329

  Other current expenditure on goods and services

  28

  29

  34

  42

  43

  Current grants to persons

  212

  229

  232

  254

  273

  301

  Net capital expenditure on assets

  10

  10

  13

  12

  17

  7

  Total

  426

  458

  488

  531

  585

  638

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish an analysis, comparable with table 5.8 of Cm 1520, showing that local authority expenditure in(a) Scotland which falls outside expenditure within the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Scotland, (b) Wales which falls outside the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Wales and (c) Northern Ireland which falls outside the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Local authority current expenditure in Scotland which falls outside the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Scotland by function

  £ million

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Agriculture, fisheries, food and forestry

  3

  4

  4

  3

  3

  8

  Trade, industry, energy and employment

  9

  9

  9

  15

  13

  15

  Social security

  299

  349

  404

  419

  476

  553

  Total

  311

  362

  417

  437

  492

  576

  Local authority current expenditure in Wales which falls outside the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Wales by function

  £ million

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Agriculture, fisheries, food and forestry

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Trade, industry, energy and employment

  7

  7

  8

  9

  9

  10

  Law, order and protective services

  189

  204

  225

  246

  275

  304

  Education

  45

  46

  49

  53

  60

  75

  Social security

  174

  190

  192

  209

  222

  239

  Total

  416

  448

  475

  518

  568

  631

  Incomes
  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average income in(a) Scotland and (b) Yorkshire and Humberside.

  Mr. Maples
  Household income per head in Scotland and Yorkshire and Humberside in 1989 is provisionally estimated at £6,890 and £6,583 respectively. Region and county income statistics are published today 23 May in the April issue of Economic Trends.

  Government Expenditure
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish tables showing, for the years since 1961, identifiable general Government expenditure by function in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, expressed(a) in cash terms, (b) as a percentage of United Kingdom total identifiable general Government expenditure, (c) as an amount per capita and (d) as an amount per capita expressed as an. index, United Kingdom identifiable general Government expenditure=G100.
  584
  Mr. Mellor
  The information requested for local authority current expenditure in Scotland and Wales, consistent with that given in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement (Cm 1520), is given in the tables. All local authority expenditure within Northern Ireland falls within the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Mellor
  Data on identifiable general Government expenditure by function and territory in the years 1985–86 to 1989–90 are given in appendix E of the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement (Cm. 1520). Corresponding data for earlier years are not readily available on a directly comparable basis with these figures.

  Manufacturing Output
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures showing the value of total manufacturing output in the United Kingdom in each year since 1975 at constant 1975 prices.

  Mr. Maples
  Changes in the level of output of manufacturing industry at constant prices are best measured by the index of manufacturing production based on 1985 prices. Annual figures from 1975 are given in the following table.

  Index of Manufacturing production (1985 = 100)

  Year

  Index

  1975

  101·6

  1976

  103·5

  1977

  105·5

  585

  Year

  Index

  1978

  106·1

  1979

  106·0

  1980

  96·8

  1981

  91·0

  1982

  91·2

  1983

  93·8

  1984

  97·4

  1985

  100·0

  1986

  101·3

  1987

  106·6

  1988

  114·2

  1989

  119·0

  1990

  118·3

  Inflation
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a list showing the latest available figures for the rate of inflation in each OECD member country.

  Mr. Maples
  The following table gives the information:

  Consumer price indices—annual percentage changes April 1991 unless stated

  Per cent

  Australia (Q1, 1991)

  4·9

  Austria (March)

  3·5

  Belgium

  2·9

  Canada

  6·3

  Denmark

  2·6

  Finland (March)

  4·8

  France

  3·2

  Germany (West)

  2·8

  Greece

  21·5

  Iceland (March)

  5·6

  Ireland (Q1, 1991)

  2·5

  Italy

  6·9

  Japan (March)

  4·0

  Luxembourg

  2·9

  Netherlands

  2·6

  New Zealand (Q1, 1991)

  4·5

  Norway (March)

  3·6

  Portugal

  11·8

  Spain

  5·9

  Sweden (March)

  10·7

  Switzerland (March)

  5·8

  Turkey (March)

  62·4

  United Kingdom

  6·4

  United States

  4·9

  Fishing Boats
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the net effect on taxation revenue by way of(a) corporation tax and (b) capital gains tax of the Government's proposed decommissioning scheme for fishing trawlers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have been asked to reply. There are no plans to introduce a Government-funded decommissioning scheme, but I have said that, if industry representatives could produce an industry funded scheme which offered long-term conservation benefits, the Government would consider it.

  Northern Ireland
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish a table summarising the results for 1989–90 of the annual exercise conducted according to the Northern Ireland (Share of United 586
  Kingdom Taxes) Regulations 1975, as amended, using, where relevant, the categories of tables 3.14 and 3.15 of Financial Statistics, identifying for each which of methods 3(1) and 3(2) have been used and separately identifying gross revenues and revenues net of collection costs;

  (2) if he will place in the Library (a) a technical explanation of the methodology adopted and of the difficulties encountered in its application, (b) a note indicating the number of years for which the exercise required by the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 and its predecessors has been undertaken in broadly comparable form and (c) a reconciliation, if necessary, between the figures provided above Northern Ireland's attributed share of United Kingdom taxes as published in Cm 1123.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 22 May 1991]: Payments into the Northern Ireland Consolidated Fund in 1989–90 in respect of Northern Ireland's attributed share of United Kingdom taxes comprised £2,578 million for taxes collected in 1989–90 and £105 million for adjustments to payments in previous years—as published in Cm 1123. Adjustments to the 1989–90 payment are not yet available. I have placed details of the breakdown and other information requested in the Library.

HEALTH

  Regional Health Authorities
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the sums which his Department will transmit to regional health authorities in the current financial year, if he will publish a table showing the increases and decreases in real terms in the allocation of such hospital and health service funding in each of the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The total amount available for net revenue spending on hospital, community health, family health and related services in 1991–92 is £17·96 billion. Of this, the main population based allocation for the 14 regional health authorities (RHAs) is £14·85 billion. RHAs will also receive special allocations such as the service increment for teaching, and increased support for centrally financed initiatives such as the AIDS programe, project 2000 and 100 consultants.

  The table shows the main population based allocations for the 14 RHAs over the past 10 years. These are given at current cash levels and at 1991–92 cash levels using the GDP deflator, and demonstrate a real term increase over the period of 23 per cent.

  Year

  Allocation cash

  Allocation 1990–91 cash levels

  1982–83

  7,281,698

  12,113,906

  1983–84

  8,166,250

  12,985,562

  1984–85

  8,454,184

  12,793,463

  1985–86

  9,049,056

  12,985,938

  1986–87

  9,615,451

  13,342,496

  1987–88

  10,215,098

  13,441,945

  1988–89

  11,276,275

  13,828,885

  1989–90

  12,330,178

  14,215,832

  1990–91

  13,377,893

  14,314,346

  1991–92

  14,853,676

  14,853,676

  Note: To allow for consistency of comparison the allocations shown above exclude additional allocations made in-year such as the cost of review body pay awards.

  Cottage Hospitals
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cottage hospitals have been closed in England in the last five years; and what provisions are made for the closure of these units and the disposal of hospital buildings and property.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Information is not held centrally in the form requested. The available information on acute, mainly acute and partly acute hospitals with fewer than 50 beds is given in the table.

  National Health Service acute, mainly acute and partly acute hospitals with less than 50 beds, England

  Year

  Number

  1985

  255

  1986

  246

  1987–88

  1n/a

  1988–89

  232

  1989–90

  221

  1 In 1987–88 the method of collecting statistics changed. The detailed analysis to provide these figures was not possible because of problems with data quality of some site-level returns.

  Cottage hospitals are subject to the same rules for consultation on closure as other hospitals. A copy of a guidance booklet, "Consultation and Involving the Consumer", giving advice on this was issued last year, and a copy has been placed in the Library.

  The disposal of hospital buildings and property is a matter for health authorities.

  Ativan
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for health if he will make a statement on the role of his Department in checking the drug Ativan for harmful side effects and addictiveness.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  When the licensing of medicinal products was introduced in the United Kingdom the drug Ativan was already on the market and was therefore given a licence of right. The quality, safety and efficacy was subsequently examined in order that a reviewed product licence might be granted.

  The Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) carefully monitors reports of adverse reactions to all licensed medicinal products and advises the Licensing Authority when action is required in relation to specific safety issues. The problem of addiction with benzodiazepines, the group of drugs with similar properties to Ativan, has been recognised for a number of years. This problem has been drawn to the attention of the medical profession on a number of occasions and the CSM has recommended restrictions in the use of these substances. The CSM continues to monitor this situation.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department first received evidence of the harmful side effects, including addictiveness, from the drug Ativan; and what action was taken to end its availability on prescription.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) operates a yellow card scheme for physicians to report suspected adverse reactions to drugs. Under the scheme, the CSM received the first report of a suspected reaction to Ativan in November 1973. The first 588
  report for drug dependence was received in May 1977. It is important to recognise that the report of a suspected adverse reaction does not necessarily imply a causal relationship. Ativan remains available on prescription in the NHS under its non-proprietary name.

  HIV (Irish Republic)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many citizens of the Irish Republic are receiving treatment in respect of HIV or AIDS within the national health service.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not collected centrally.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his statement of 14 May,Official Report, column 174, if he will arrange to place in the Library full information gathered as a result of the monitoring exercise of health trusts to which he referred.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No. As I made clear at the time, this preliminary information gathered as part of the routine monitoring of NHS trusts by the NHS management executive may well change from week to week. It is possible that the information about job prospects at Guy's and Lewisham NHS trust given to the Select Committee by its chief executive on 22 May means that it has already been overtaken, and it is more likely that there will be about as many jobs created as lost in the 57 first wave trusts.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department and the NHS management executive have to provide managerial and management development assistance to the Guy's and North Lewisham hospital trust.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Guy's and Lewisham hospitals national health service trust will continue to be eligible to apply for funding from central initiatives such as resource management. We have no plans to provide any other managerial or management development assistance to the NHS trust. Each NHS trust is responsible for its own management development.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the annual salary for 1990–91 for the district general manager of each of the predecessor district health authorities of NHS trusts.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Details of payments awarded to individual national health service employees are a confidential matter between employer and employee. District general managers are paid on performance-linked contracts. The rates payable from 1 September 1990 were within the ranges of:

  DGM 1 £43,940 to £63,470

  DGM 2 £41,500 to £59,950

  DGM 3 £37,980 to £55,060

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what upper limit he will place on the proportion of hospitals eligible to achieve trust status, provided each hospital complies with his current criteria for it.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There is no compulsion to apply for trust status: it is a decision to be taken by each
  589
  unit independently. We have no intention of limiting the numbers of units which can become trusts other than by rejecting applications where the selection criteria are not fulfilled.

  Mr. Hinchiliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the guidance which has been given to the chairmen and chief executives of NHS trusts with regard to their making political statements or comments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No such guidance has been issued.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will seek powers to prevent health service trusts from entering commercial activity other than those related to matters of direct relevance to health; and if any trusts have commenced engagement in such activity.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Powers, which are already available to health authorities, were extended to trusts to enable them to enter into commercial activities, for the purpose of generating additional income, provided that these activities do not adversely affect or reduce services to national health service patients; that profits are reinvested back into the health service and that the scheme does not conflict with national policy or cause ethical or legal problems.

  It is for the trusts themselves to determine how to use these powers to the benefit of patients.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what salaries or other emoluments are paid to the doctors of those NHS trusts which have been established within south Yorkshire.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not held centrally. The salaries of doctors of national health ervice trusts and those of other staff are a matter for the trust board. The hon. Member may wish to write to the chairman of the NHS trusts concerned for details.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish details of the originating debt, including its division between public dividend capital and interest bearing debt, of each of the national health service trusts.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 20 May 1991]: The originating capital debt for national health service trusts will be equal to the value of the net assets transferred to the trusts on 1 April 1991, which will be determined when the accounts of the relevant health authorities have been prepared and audited. At that stage an order will he made by statutory instrument under section 9 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 setting out the composition and terms of the originating capital debt.

  Census
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what instructions were given to census enumerators in Wales with regard to making freely available to each household a set of census forms in the Welsh language; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Census enumerators were instructed to offer all households in Wales the choice of a Welsh or English form as part of the form delivery procedure.590
  Regrettably, reports were received that some enumerators had not done so. Special instructions were therefore issued to ensure that when the enumerator called back to collect completed forms, anyone who had not been offered a Welsh form could obtain one from the enumerator who would call back later to collect it when completed. All English language household forms used in Wales contained a prominent note enabling people who wanted a Welsh language form to get one by telephoning the census inquiry number.

  I hope that these measures have ensured that everyone in Wales who wanted to use a Welsh form was able to do so.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the forms used at the recent census were printed in the Welsh language.

  Mr. Dorrell
  All public census forms for issue in Wales were available in both Welsh and English; 200,000 household forms, 90,000 individual forms, and 10,000 listing forms for use in communal establishments were printed in Welsh. Figures are not yet available on how many were used.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints he has received arising from the administration of the recent census, arising from(a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland, respectively; and if he will list the main grounds of complaint in each country.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We received 73 letters between 1 April and 21 May from right hon. and hon. Members in England and Wales conveying comments from constituents on aspects of the census. The Registrar General is replying to 69 other letters from right hon. and hon. Members who have written to him or whose letters have been forwarded to him from Ministers in other Departments. No analysis of the different aspects of the census mentioned in the correspondence is available yet.

  Information relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland, is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Northern Ireland.

  Resource Management Initiative
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the total level of expenditure on the resource management initiative.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  At 31 March 1991, the Department had made available £97·6 million of central funds to support the resource management initiative and the subsequent resource management programme. Regional and district health authorities and individual hospitals have provided some additional funding for individual projects.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in the joint evaluation of the resource management initiative by the NHS management executive and the joint consultants committee.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Discussions between the NHS management executive and the joint consultants committee in 1989 and 1990 concluded that a formal full-scale joint evaluation of the resource management initiative was
  591
  impracticable. The NHS management executive has taken account of evidence from the evaluation of resource management commissioned from Brunel university and other sources in reaching decisions to extend the resource management programme. The joint consultants committee issued its own guidance on hospital management arrangements in June 1990.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what work has been undertaken by his Department and by consultants retained by his Department on the effectiveness of the resource management initiative; and what have been the conclusions of this work.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Department commissioned Brunel university to undertake an evaluation of resource management as demonstrated at the six acute pilot sites included in the initial resource management initiative. The evaluation began in 1988 and was completed at the end of 1990. The final report, "The Brunel University evaluation of Resource Management", a copy of which will be placed in the Library, concluded that progress in implementing

  HCHS Capital since 1974–75

  Public expenditure

  Capital receipts (mainly land sales)

  Total Expenditure

  Total at 1990–91 prices adjusted:

  by the GDP deflator

  for the change in input unit costs

  A

  B

  A

  B

  A

  B

  A

  B

  A

  B

  1974–75

  —

  243

  —

  —

  —

  243

  —

  1,101

  —

  1,157

  1975–76

  —

  327

  —

  —

  —

  327

  —

  1,181

  —

  1,192

  1976–77

  —

  356

  —

  —

  —

  356

  —

  1,132

  —

  1,159

  1977–78

  —

  315

  —

  —

  —

  315

  —

  881

  —

  897

  1978–79

  —

  358

  —

  8

  —

  366

  —

  923

  —

  933

  1979–80

  —

  395

  —

  10

  —

  405

  —

  876

  —

  855

  1980–81

  —

  540

  —

  16

  —

  556

  —

  1,016

  —

  933

  1981–82

  —

  651

  —

  20

  —

  671

  —

  1,118

  —

  1,091

  1982–83

  —

  682

  —

  19

  —

  701

  —

  1,091

  —

  1,122

  1983–84

  —

  692

  —

  33

  —

  725

  —

  1,078

  —

  1,137

  1984–85

  —

  767

  —

  50

  —

  817

  —

  1,156

  —

  1,230

  1985–86

  899

  803

  85

  85

  985

  888

  1,322

  1,192

  1,400

  1,262

  1986–87

  915

  —

  149

  —

  1,064

  —

  1,380

  —

  1,441

  —

  1987–88

  914

  —

  201

  —

  1,115

  —

  1,373

  —

  1,436

  —

  1988–89

  922

  —

  279

  —

  1,201

  —

  1,377

  —

  1,462

  —

  1989–90

  1,206

  —

  232

  —

  1,438

  —

  1,549

  —

  1,603

  —

  1990–91

  1,458

  —

  220

  —

  1,678

  —

  1,678

  —

  1,678

  —

  Because of transfers between programmes it is not possible to produce a consistent run of figures over the whole period. Figures in Presentation A have been adjusted to reflect the transfer to HCHS of FHS Administration, Disablement Services Authority and FHS cash limited spending. The figures in Presentation B do not reflect these transfers and are therefore not comparable with those for later years.

  NHS (Waiting Times)
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information is kept by the NHS on the length of time NHS staff at(a) doctor level and (b) other levels wait for various types of operation.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information is not collected on waiting time by occupational group.

  Sign Language Interpreters
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 7 May,Official Report, column 423, to the hon. Member for Don Valley, if he will make it his policy to collect information centrally in respect of health authorities that provide British sign language interpreters for deaf and hard of hearing patients.

  Mr. Dorrell
  It is up to providers of health services to make arrangements locally to assist communication with 592
  resource management at the pilot sites has been slower than originally anticipated, but that substantial progress has been made and continues to be made at each of the sites. The report also suggested that the pilot sites have provided valuable lessons for the future development of resource management. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library.

  Hospital and Community Health Services
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total level of HCHS net capital expenditure in(a) cash, (b) constant prices adjusted by the gross domestic product deflator and (c) constant prices adjusted by the changes in input unit costs in the years (1) 1974–75 to 1978–79 and (2) 1979–80 to 1990–91.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The information requested is given in the table. In order to give a complete picture of capital investment in the national health service, spending financed through proceeds of land and property is also shown.

  patients with hearing impairment. We see no useful purpose in collecting information centrally on these arrangements.

  Dentists (Doncaster)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists to date in the Doncaster area have withdrawn from the national health service since the introduction of the new dental contracts.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Between 1 October 1990, the date the new dental contract was introduced, and 30 April 1991, the latest date for which figures are available, four dentists withdrew from Doncaster family health services authority's dental list, out of a total of 85. Two have joined dental lists in other areas. During the same period the names of 11 dentists have been added to Doncaster's dental list.

  Intestinal Cancer
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will fund the introduction of a national screening system for the early detection of intestinal cancer via occult foetal blood tests.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  It would be premature to consider this before we know the outcome of a study, which the Department and the Medical Research Council are currently funding, to evaluate screening for colorectal cancer.

  Discharged Patients
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for the last 12 months for each(a) regional health authority and (b) district health authority in England and Wales, the number of national health service patients who have been discharged from national health service hospitals, and who within three months required subsequent hospitalisation for (i) the same complaint or (ii) a different but related complaint.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not collected centrally.

  World No Tobacco Day
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to mark World No Tobacco Day on 31 May; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The main United Kingdom event in this field, on which efforts are concentrated, is our own long established and successful No Smoking Day. We recognise, however, the importance of World No Tobacco Day, particularly in those countries which do not organise their own national event and we try to give it suitable recognition.

  This year the Health Education Authority (HEA) will be supplying each health education unit and environmental health unit in England with question and answer booklets on passive smoking together with posters, stickers and ideas for action.

  The HEA is also co-operating with Taxi magazine in a promotion designed to encourage smoke-free cabs.

  Dental Technicians
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prosecutions were taken by the General Dental Council against dental technicians during the year 1990 for illegal practice of dentistry in the provision of dentures; and what was their outcome.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I understand from the General Dental Council that one dental technician was prosecuted during 1990 for practising dentistry illegally. The defendant pleaded guilty to three separate charges and was fined £750 on each count and ordered to pay costs of £200.

  Conisbrough Hospital, Doncaster
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response he has made to the notification by the chairman of Doncaster health authority of the intended closure of Conisbrough hospital.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I understand that Doncaster health authority is due to consult locally on the proposed closure 594
  of Conisbrough hospital at the end of May. If after full and public consultation the community health council contests the proposed closure, it will be put to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for a decision.

  Budgeting and Charging (Doncaster)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements he has made with the chairman of Doncaster health authority concerning a smoothing mechanism operating after 1 April in respect of the new budgeting system and the new charging system for cross-border flows of patients to hospitals and clinics.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  District health authorities as commissioners of health services consulted general practitioners in their areas before making contracts with hospital and other providers to reflect their views and existing referral patterns. They are also holding cash reserves for patients referred by general practitioners outside the contractual framework.

  Junior Hospital Doctors
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on what progress has been achieved in reducing the hours worked by junior hospital doctors.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The ministerial group on junior doctors' hours, which I chair, is making good progress in implementing the heads of agreement on junior doctors' hours signed in December last year, a copy of which is available in the Library. Task forces have been set up in every region and have already received guidance on the role they are to play in reducing the hours and improving the working conditions of doctors in training. Funding for an additional 200 consultant and 50 staff grade posts has been allocated to the regions, along with notice of 100 additional senior house officer posts to assist in the initiative. In conjunction with the profession, we hope to launch the full package of guidance outlined in the heads of agreement in the near future.

  Nurses
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give for the latest date he has available, for each health authority in England and Wales(a) the number of nurses employed as (i) nursing assistants, (ii) enrolled nurses, (iii) staff nurses and (iv) charge nurses and (b) the numbers in absolute and percentage terms at which nurses are employed in each category; and what were the comparable figures five and 10 years ago.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Buerger's Disease
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of Buerger's disease have been recorded in each of the last five years for which data are available; and in how many cases this has been given as the cause of death.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The only information held centrally which can be provided without incurring disproportionate cost is given in the table. This relates to the number of patients
  595
  treated in NHS hospitals in England where Thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger's disease) has been recorded as the primary diagnosis.

  Estimated numbers of discharges and deaths (1984–85) and ordinary and day case admissions (1987–88/ 1989–90) where main diagnosis was 1CD 443.1: thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger's disease) 443.1 Buerger's disease

  Year

  Number of inpatients

  1984

  93

  1985

  103

  1987–88

  143

  1988–89

  123

  1989–90

  114

  Source: HIPE 1984–85 and HES 1987–88/1989–90. Data compiled by SMI2A.

  These numbers are provisional estimates based on incomplete data and may he subject to revision.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been carried out into the link between smoking and Buerger's disease; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the publicity given to the dangers of Buerger's disease from smoking.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We are not aware of any current research in this area. Buerger's disease is a rare form of peripheral vascular disease, the cause of which remains unknown, although a close association with the habitual use of tobacco, particularly cigarette smoking, is indisputable. The Health Education Authority is aware of the association between smoking and Buerger's disease and seeks to publicise this as part of its anti-smoking programmes, although other smoking-related diseases result in far higher levels of mortality and morbidity.

  St. Charles Youth Treatment Centre
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish his Department's report on the St. Charles youth treatment centre in Brentwood, Essex; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Earlier this year, a young person made a number of serious complaints about aspects of treatment while at St. Charles youth treatment centre. These have been investigated on behalf of the Department by a team of independent experts. They have submitted their report. This contains confidential personal and medical information and cannot be made public. The Department is urgently considering the team's findings, and will make its conclusions public after the young person involved has been informed of the outcome. Any action required in the light of the team's findings will be taken with the utmost vigour.

  Diabetics
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether cassette needles used by diabetics will be made available free of charge on the same basis as existing needles and syringes supplied for their needs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  National health service supply arrangements for insulin pens and needles need to be considered together. Subject to our normal evaluation of individual brands, we would consider making pens and 596
  needles prescribable, as an alternative to syringes, provided that this can be done without additional cost. Discussions with suppliers are currently in progress.

  Incontinence Aids
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list(a) which regional health authorities have a policy of providing incontinence aids free to residents of private residential or nursing homes who have been referred by doctors or nurses and (b) which district health authorities do not provide incontinence aids free in the same circumstances.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not held centrally.

  Leeds General Infirmary
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will review the proposals made by the Leeds general infirmary hospital trust to increase the number of private beds at the Leeds general infirmary; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The provision of private beds at the Leeds general infirmary and associated hospitals national health service trust is a matter for the management board. I understand from the management of the trust that there are no plans to increase the number of private beds.

  Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date he received the report of the independent experts examining the possibility of a link between the release of toxic gases from certain cot mattresses and sudden infant death syndrome; if he will give a date for its publication; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The report was given to the chief medical officer on 5 February, publication is imminent and the Department will then respond to the recommendations of the expert group.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he intends to take to ensure that non-fund-holding general practices in the city of Sheffield are able to place patients in hospitals outside the authority area, where required for the most appropriate patient care and speediest treatment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  General practitioners remain free to refer patients to hospitals outside their district boundaries. Indeed, the reforms offer improved arrangements to giving practical effect to this freedom.

  Guidance, "Contracts for Health Services: Operational Principles", issued to the national health service on 29 September 1989, a copy of which is available in the Library, made it clear that district health authorities' objective should be to secure contracts which reflect the referral patterns local general practitioners prefer. There has been an unprecedented level of consultation between district health authorities and local general practitioners to achieve this. District health authorities are also holding reserves of funds for referrals where no contract has been secured in advance.
  597
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish general practitioner fund-holding contracts.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Guidance to the National Health Service (EL(90)M B24, a copy of which is available in the Library) has made it clear that contracts for health services with both public and private providers should be made publicly available once they are signed.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given on the relationship between general practitioner fund-holding practices and community health councils regarding their health purchasing policies of such general practitioners.

  Mr. Dorrell
  None. The community health council has a statutory relationship with the district health authority which retains overall planning responsibility for the provision of health services to all residents, including those on the lists of fund-holding general practitioners.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received concerning the Far Lane general practitioner fund-holding practice in Sheffield; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have received one such representation from the Sheffield local medical committee, whom I met on Wednesday 22 May.

  The Far Lane fund-holding practice in Sheffield has legitimately set up a company which is employing consultants to provide a range of services for patients. Regional health authorities are required to agree to such arrangements only where they constitute good value for money by comparison with the alternatives and meet the requisite quality standards for the provision of care. The Trent regional health authority has confirmed that it is content with the arrangements at this practice.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines he has issued concerning the use of general practitioner fund holders' premises for private practice; and if he will make a statement.
  598
  Mr. Dorrell
  No guidance has been issued specifically to fund holders. GPs, as independent contractors, are free to use as they like the premises which they own. The conditions for payments to GPs in respect of their surgery premises, are set out in the statement of fees and allowances.

  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the incidence for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease over the last 10 years in each standard cohort age range of onset of clinical symptoms; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested is not available centrally. Accurate information on current and previous cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease should be forthcoming from the study being conducted by Dr. R. G. Will supported by the Department of Health. In the 1970s, the last time this analysis was undertaken, the peak age-specific incidence was for the 65 to 69 year age group and was 1·7 cases per million per year. Copies of Dr. Will's publication on this analysis will be placed in the Library.

  Steroid Drugs
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health further to the written answer of 19 February,Official Report, column 87, to the hon. Member for Stalybridge and Hyde, what progress has been made on deciding the timetable, agency and funding of the Government's proposed survey into the prevalence of the misuse of steroid drugs.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We have identified a research facility with the relevant expertise to carry out this survey and, subject to final contract negotiations, plan to conduct the survey in the autumn. We estimate that the survey will take approximately one year to complete.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Millisle Tourist Project
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any information about foul sewage discharge from Ballycopeland outlet going into the lagoon at the new Millisle tourist development project when there is a north wind and an incoming tide; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  Sewage effluent is discharged from the Ballycopeland outlet only on the outgoing tide as soon after high tide as possible and is thus carried away from the lagoon.

  The Millisle tourist development project is the responsibility of Ards borough council and there have been no complaints from it or others about sewage entering the lagoon.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is satisfied with the condition of the beach near Drumfads road, Carrowdore, County Down; whether untreated raw sewage is being pumped out to the Irish sea near this location; whether an overspill flows down to Millisle; and if he will make a statement about foul sewage disposal at this location.

  Mr. Needham
  The bathing waters at Millisle are routinely monitored under, and comply with, the

  Date of increase

  President £

  Percentage increase

  Member £

  Percentage increase

  1 April 19821

  29,000

  —

  27,750

  —

  1 August 19831

  31,250

  7·2

  29,750

  7·2

  1 January 19841

  32,750

  4·8

  31,000

  4·2

  1 April 19841

  33,733

  3·0

  31,930

  3·0

  1 November 19841

  35,000

  3·76

  33,000

  3·35

  16 April 19862

  20,000

  —

  33,000

  —

  1 July 19862

  23,000

  15·0

  41,500

  25·76

  1 April 19872

  23,878

  3·82

  43,264

  4·25

  1 May 19871

  47,955

  —

  43,264

  —

  1 October 19871

  48,250

  0·61

  43,500

  0·55

  1 April 19881

  50,180

  4·0

  45,240

  4·0

  1 October 19881

  50,900

  1·44

  45,800

  1·24

  1 April 19891

  53,400

  4·9

  48,100

  5·02

  1 April 19901

  56,600

  4·12

  51,000

  6·24

  1 January 19911

  58,900

  4·06

  53,050

  4·02

  1 April 19911

  63,300

  7·47

  57,050

  7·54

  1 August 19911

  65,250

  3·08

  58,800

  3·07

  1 December 19911

  66,500

  1·92

  59,900

  1·87

  1 April 19921

  68,400

  2·86

  61,600

  2·84

  1 The salary quoted for the President is per annum. The President in his role of County Court Judge is paid by the Northern Ireland Court Service whereas time spent on Lands Tribunal work is paid out of the Consolidated Fund on a pro-rata basis in relation to days worked.

  2 The post was filled in 1986–87 on a part-time basis (hence: the reduced salary) but the postholder worked exclusively on Lands Tribunal work.

  Average wage increases Northern Ireland

  Male

  Female

  Average

  Retail price index Great Britain

  1982

  11·5

  7·7

  9·6

  9·4

  1983

  6·4

  11·0

  8·7

  4·0

  1984

  10·6

  5·6

  8·1

  5·2

  1985

  5·0

  8·8

  6·9

  6·8

  1986

  5·7

  4·8

  5·25

  3·0

  1987

  9·4

  7·2

  8·3

  4·4

  1988

  7·9

  7·6

  7·75

  3·9

  1989

  7·3

  13·3

  10·3

  8·0

  1990

  9·7

  7·8

  8·75

  9·4

  1991

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1992

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a = Not available.

  600
  mandatory standards of the EC bathing water directive. Sewage is held in a retention tank on the shore at Ballywhiskin where it is screened before discharge to the sea on the ebb tide. There is no overspill flowing to Millisle. Sewage discharges to the sea are being examined in the context of the recent EC directive on municipal waste water treatment.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has for a new sewage treatment plant for Millisle; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  Existing sewage treatment facilities at Millisle are being examined in the context of the recent EC directive on municipal waste water treatment.

  Lands Tribunals
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by how much the salaries of(a) the president and (b) the members of lands tribunals increased in the 10 years from 1 April 1982 to 1 April 1992 in cash and percentage terms; and what has been the percentage increase in the average industrial wage and in inflation during the same period.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is as follows:

  Local Government Staff Commission
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date the Secretary of the Local Government Staff Commission for Northern Ireland is leaving his post; and on what date his successor will take up the post.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Local Government Staff Commission for Northern Ireland. I am advised by its chairman that the secretary will be leaving his post on 11 June 1991, but no decisions have yet been taken regarding the appointment of his successor.
  601
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date a chief executive will be appointed to the Local Government Staff Commission for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Local Government Staff Commission for Northern Ireland. I am advised by its chairman that interviews for the appointment of a chief executive will take place on 28 May 1991. At this stage, therefore, it is not possible to say on what date a new chief executive will take up appointment.

  Ultach Trust
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the objectives that were laid down by the Northern Ireland Office as conditions for funding the Ultach trust; and whether these objectives define the relationship between the Ultach trust and Glor na nGael's.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The objectives of Government funding for the Ultach trust are to widen the appreciation of the contribution that the Irish language has made to the cultural heritage of Northern Ireland, to increase knowledge of the language throughout the community and to assist in the provision of written and oral material to promote the wider use of the language.

  All agreements between the Department of Finance and Personnel and the Ultach trust are subject to conditions designed to ensure that the funding provided is used in a manner and for the purposes agreed by the parties. This includes a standard provision which gives effect to the policy reflected in the parliamentary reply of 27 June 1985 by the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Official Report, Vol. 81, column 451.

  Glor na nGael
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what consideration he has given to the independent audit of Belfast Glor na nGael's accounts; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what are the procedures by which charitable street collections are authorised in Northern Ireland; and whether these procedures were fully complied with for the first Irish language collection undertaken by Glor na nGael in Belfast on 10 October 1990;

  (3) when the decision was made to withdraw funds from Glor na nGael.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  These matters are within the purview of current proceedings before the High Court in Northern Ireland and further comment by me at this stage would not be appropriate.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to ensure that the development of Irish language resources in the community will not suffer as a result of the withdrawal of funds from Glor Na nGael.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Government recognise the interest and importance which many people attach to the Irish language and culture, and have a policy of active support for Irish language projects through their cultural traditions programme and other programmes, such as the action for community employment scheme and the Belfast 602
  action teams initiative. Overall Government spending on the Irish language has increased from approximately £88,000 in 1985–86 to an expected level considerably in excess of £700,000 in 1991–92. This does not take into account the very substantial annual amount spent in schools and colleges of further education. The Government will continue to support efforts to increase awareness and appreciation of the language as part of the cultural heritage of Northern Ireland.

  Grants (Vetting)
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details as to which section of the Northern Ireland civil service is responsible for implementing the vetting policy for grants, announced on 27 June 1985.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Decisions under the policy announced on 27 June 1985 are taken by my right hon. Friend and are given effect through all Departments under his control.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the content and purpose of the instructions issued to Departments and public bodies with regard to organisations from whom funds have been withdrawn as a result of the vetting policy on grants announced on 27 June 1985.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Instructions on this matter are internal to Government, but the purpose is to ensure that decisions taken under the policy announced on 27 June 1985 are given effect.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of all instances where public funds have been withdrawn from Northern Ireland organisations under the vetting policy for grants announced on 27 June 1985; how many of the decisions were appealed; and what was the result of each appeal.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to his earlier question on 19 December 1990,Official Report, Vol. 183, c. 160.

  Western Health and Social Services Board
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in the new management structure of the Western health and social services board, how many who are deemed to be Protestants have been appointed.

  Mr. Hanley
  Under the Fair Employment (N.I.) Acts 1976 and 1989, the Western health and social services board, as a specified public authority, carries direct responsibility for providing equality of opportunity for all job applicants and for its employees. The board has an equal opportunity policy and submits monitoring returns to the Fair Employment Commission as required by the legislation.

  In view of the board's statutory responsibilities, I do not consider it appropriate to provide the information requested. However, the board is prepared to meet with the hon. Member on this matter.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action the Western health and social services board is taking under its fair employment policy to ensure a fair representation between Roman Catholics and Protestants on its psychiatric unit of management.
  603
  Mr. Hanley
  The Western health and social services board has an equal opportunity policy and has developed procedures for the implementation and monitoring of equality of opportunity which are in line with the recommendations in the code of practice on fair employment. The board seeks to ensure that vacancies are advertised in newspapers accessible by both communities, that shortlisting criteria are not unlawfully discriminatory and that appointments are made in accordance with the health and personal social services selection and appointment procedures which are the responsibility of the Department of Health and Social Services. It is the board's policy that all appointments should be made on the basis of merit and this policy is applied consistently in all areas including the board's area mental health unit.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total monthly budget allocated under the social fund to each district office of the Department of Health and Social Services in each month since April 1988.

  Mr. Hanley
  Social fund budgets are allocated to offices for a full year and not on a monthly basis. Information on the annual amounts allocated to each district office from 1 April 1991 and individual offices in previous years is available in the Library.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total expenditure from the social fund by each district office of the Department of Health and Social Services in each month since April 1988.

  Mr. Hanley
  Details of each month's expenditure for the district offices from 1 April 1991 and individual social security offices for previous years is available in the Library.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions the monthly social fund budgets of each district office of the Department of Health and Social Services were underspent at the end of each month since April 1988.

  Mr. Hanley
  Social fund budgets are allocated for a full year, April to March, therefore the question of an underspend does not arise until the end of the financial year. Details of amounts remaining in each office's budget at the year end are available in the Library.

  Community Care Grant
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many community care grant applications were processed by each district office of the Department of Health and Social Services in each month since April 1988; and how many applications were(a) successful, (b) successful on appeal and (c) rejected.

  Mr. Hanley
  Information about the number of community care grants processed each month by each of the district offices from 1 April 1991 and the individual social security offices is available in the Library. The number of applications refused can be obtained from those figures.

  Community care grants are discretionary awards and there is no right of appeal against these. Dissatisfied applicants can, however, apply for a review to the social
  604
  fund officer who made the original decision and if they are dissatisfied with the outcome of this review they can request a review by the social fund inspector. The SFI acts independently of the Department. Details of the number of decisions revised on review by each social security office for 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91 is shown in the table. Information about the number of cases substituted on review by the SFI is compiled each month by the Social Fund Commissioner's Office for Northern Ireland as a whole, and is available in the Library. It should he recognised that not all cases revised by the SSO or substituted by the SFI on review will be to the applicant's benefit.

  Community care grants—Decisions revised

  Social Security office

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Andersonstown

  22

  97

  185

  Antrim

  8

  65

  48

  Armagh

  10

  14

  29

  Ballymena

  7

  40

  38

  Ballymoney

  4

  17

  15

  Ballynahinch

  6

  28

  11

  Banbridge

  5

  14

  22

  Bangor

  6

  6

  16

  Carrickfergus

  3

  20

  26

  Coleraine

  6

  22

  56

  Cookstown

  24

  33

  31

  Corporation Street

  39

  139

  182

  Downpatrick

  14

  33

  42

  Dungannon

  14

  75

  55

  Enniskillen

  8

  42

  56

  Falls

  19

  126

  84

  Holywood Road

  22

  101

  67

  Kilkeel

  4

  3

  3

  Knockbreda

  24

  47

  44

  Larne

  7

  21

  34

  Limavady

  6

  21

  10

  Lisburn

  19

  57

  103

  Londonderry

  38

  352

  361

  Lurgan

  22

  100

  109

  Magherafelt

  12

  14

  12

  Newcastle

  3

  11

  15

  Newry

  19

  103

  144

  Newtownabbey

  9

  45

  39

  Newtownards

  0

  4

  7

  Omagh

  5

  34

  30

  Portadown

  3

  21

  15

  Shaftesbury Square

  33

  123

  100

  Shankill

  34

  115

  249

  Strabane

  8

  46

  102

  Total

  463

  1,989

  2,340

  Rual Development
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the progress that has been made since the establishment of the inter-departmental committee on rural development.

  Mr. Hanley
  Since taking on ministerial responsibility for rural development in Northern Ireland, I have set up within the Department of Agriculture a new rural development division to take forward the work of establishing the new structures announced at the time.

  I was pleased to be able to announce recently the appointment of Mr. Jimmy Armstrong as the executive chairman-designate for the proposed formation of the Rural Development Council and have asked him to prepare a draft constitution. I have also decided that a council of about 15 members could represent a wide range of rural and other relevant interests. I shall shortly be

  605
  seeking the assistance of appropriate organisations to help to identify potential members who might be able to make a personal contribution to the work of the council.

  Arrangements are also under way to select from the wider public service a small team of area co-ordinators who will establish local networks of statutory agencies to co-ordinate and integrate responses to locally developed community regeneration plans.

  I am aiming to have the next structures fully operational by the autumn.

  LEADER Programme
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the progress that has been made to date in the attraction of funds from the European Community's LEADER programme, and details of any future developments planned for LEADER-funded projects in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Hanley
  Northern Ireland, as the United Kingdom's only objective 1 region, has been accorded an indicative LEADER allocation of 2·8 million ecu. This is disappointingly low, given that the closest contact has been maintained with the Commission throughout the developmental stages of this initiative to ensure the greatest possible compatibility between LEADER and the new rural development structures being established in Northern Ireland.

  However, the Commission has confirmed that the indicative allocations may be revised to take account of the quality of the programmes presented. Accordingly I am considering with officials how best to maximise the Northern Ireland allocation under the initiative. I will be making a statement shortly about the arrangements for implementing the LEADER programme in Northern Ireland.

  Northern Ireland Electricity
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the chairman of the Northern Ireland electricity service concerning the salary increase proposed by the chief executive of the service.

  Mr. Needham
  None. This is a matter in the first instance for the chairman of NIE who is then required to seek the approval of the Department of Economic Development.

  Nationalists
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many nationalist people in the Six Counties have been arrested under the emergency powers Act and prevention of terrorism Act since 1973; how many were charged and how many of those charged were convicted.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 20 May 1991]: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Republic of Ireland (Government Talks)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what allowances and expenses will be paid to the representatives of the political parties participating in talks with the Government of the Republic of Ireland; and where these talks will be held.
  606
  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 14 May 1991]: On the days when meetings of the political parties participating in talks with the Government of the Republic of Ireland take place in the United Kingdom, allowances will continue to be payable on the basis detailed in the reply which I gave to the right hon. Gentleman's question on 14 May 1991, Official Report, Vol. 191, column 126. Other arrangements may be needed for the days on which the talks take place outside the United Kingdom.

  I expect that the opening meeting of this strand of talks will be held in London, that the bulk of substantive exchanges will take place in Northern Ireland with plenary meetings being held in Parliament buildings, and that there will be a meeting in Dublin towards the end of June.

DEFENCE

  Missiles and Nuclear Shells
  Mr. Richmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will withdraw(a) SCRAM-A air-launched missiles and (b) W79 nuclear artillery shells from bases in the United Kingdom and British bases in Europe.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not our practice to comment on the deployment of nuclear weapons.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Richmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when his Department received the United States military's final draft report of its inquiry into the friendly fire incident on 26 February in the Gulf; if a copy will be placed in the Library; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) when he expects to publish the report into the friendly fire incident of 26 February; and if a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have nothing to add to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Clackmannan (Mr. O'Neill) on 16 May at columns 272–74.

  Smoking
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the percentage of service personnel who smoke.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No service-wide assessment has been made, although a sample survey in 1989 among 4,000 adult male personnel found that 35 per cent. were cigarette smokers and a further 3.6 per cent. were cigar or pipe smokers.

  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to discourage smoking in the services.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Ministry of Defence gives wide publicity to the harmful effects of smoking, by way of publishing and displaying anti-smoking literature and posters in defence establishments. Furthermore, it is official policy to discourage smoking on Ministry of Defence premises. In addition, as my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr. Freeman) announced in the House on 5 December 1988, the price of "Blue Liners", the specially produced low-priced cigarettes and tobacco
  607
  available to Royal Navy personnel serving in United Kingdom shore establishments, has been increased progressively arid the concession will cease altogether in December 1991.

  Defence Expenditure
  Mr. French
  'To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's forecast of United Kingdom defence expenditure for the next three years.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Defence expenditure in 1991–92 is expected to be around £24·4 billion. This exceeds the supply estimates by some £1·5 billion. Supplementary estimates to provide for this additional Gulf-related expenditure will be presented in due course. Cash plans thereafter are for £23·35 billion in 1992–93 and £23·39 billion in 1993–94, as set out in Cm. 1501.

  Military Expenditure
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the impact of reduced military expenditure on the economy of south-west England.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is too early to say what effect the revised defence programme emerging from "Options for Change" will have on military expenditure in particular regions.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will obtain a copy of the conclusions of the Bristol polytechnic study on the impact of reduced military expenditure on the economy of south-west England for his departmental library.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Yes.

  Tornado Exercises, Alaska
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements have been made or are under discussion with the United States of America to enable Tornado aircraft to exercise in Alaska.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Tornado GR1 aircraft deployed to Alaska for a training exercise in June 1990, and the possibility of a further such exercise, is under discussion with the United States authorities.

  RAF Honington
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many married quarters and single men's quarters at present are occupied at RAF Honingtort; and how many airmen stationed there have their own houses in the community.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  At RAF Honington and its associated sites. 595 married quarters are occupied arid 780 single personnel are living on base. In addition, 393 married personnel own houses in the local area and some 113 single personnel live in private housing either as tenants or owner-occupiers.

  Agency Status
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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.
  608
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Defence organisations currently operating as "next steps" agencies are as follows:

  When launched

  Executive agencies

  Meteorological Office

  April 1990

  Defence Research Agency

  April 1991

  Defence support agencies

  Hydrographic Office

  April 1990

  Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment

  April 1991

  Directorate General Defence Accounts

  April 1991

  Military Survey

  April 1991

  RAF Maintenance Group

  April 1991

  Service Children's Schools (North West Europe)

  April 1991

  We plan to move ahead as quickly as possible with the identification and establishment of further agencies in the defence support area. This work will take into account developments in the structure and organisation of the services and the Ministry of Defence as a result of the continuing work on the broad proposals on "Options for Change" which were announced last July.

  Submarines, Irish Channel
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (I) whether the Royal Navy searched and investigated the reported siting of a Soviet Victor III class submarine off the east Antrim coast on 14 May;

  (2) if he will make a statement regarding the presence of a foreign submarine approximately two miles off the east Antrim coast on Tuesday 14 May at approximately 1.20 pm.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There were no submarines, United Kingdom or foreign, on the surface off the east Antrim coast at the time in question.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action has been taken to protect shipping and fishermen from risk of activity of foreign submarines between Northern Ireland and Scotland.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Royal Navy is investigating whether the successful firth of Clyde dived submarine movement notification scheme can be extended to other United Kingdom territorial waters. Additionally, work continues to assist with the development of net pinger devices to make fishing nets more easily detectable to dived submarines.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any British submarine surfaced off the east Antrim coast on 14 May.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No.

  RAF Training
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to awarding contracts to private firms for the provision of Royal Air Force maintenance training.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Some 300 Royal Air Force maintenance training courses have been put out to contract. We will continue to seek opportunities to extend this practice where it is cost-effective to do so.
  609
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to awarding contracts to private firms for the provision of basic Royal Air Force flying training.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The RAF has already embarked on major contractorisation at its flying training stations, at this stage concentrating on engineering, supply and domestic tasks which directly support flying training. A similar approach has been adopted with university air squadrons and air experience flights which provide a major source of trainee pilots for the RAF. We are currently examining the potential for contracting out the elementary flying task.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to awarding contracts to private firms for the provision of Royal Air Force apprentice training.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Following a fundamental review of training in 1989, it has been decided to discontinue Royal Air Force apprentice training and the last tranche of service apprentices will graduate in July 1993. This will not affect the training of civilian apprentices by the Royal Air Force civilian technical training schools (CTTS). Some 50 per cent. of their training will, as at present, continue to be provided through local technical colleges and colleges of further education.

  MOD Properties
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) the number of defence domestic properties there are throughout the United Kingdom and (b) the number unoccupied at the present time; indicating how many have been unoccupied for six months, one year, two years and for longer than two years.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Records are not maintained in the precise form requested. As at 31 March 1991, the latest date for which figures are available, the total stock of service married quarters in the United Kingdom was 73,462 of which 10,111 were vacant; 7,707 had been vacant for less than one year, 1,104 for one to two years and 1,300 for over two years. In addition, the Ministry of Defence owned 1,573 civilian houses, of which 170 were vacant; 57 had been vacant for under six months and 113 for six months or more.

  Many of these vacant properties were either undergoing or awaiting major maintenance work or modernisation, some were already attached to service families who were due to move in shortly and others were being considered for disposal. In addition 1,864 dwellings were in the process of being sold.

  Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the cost of repairing welding defects in the A91 building at the atomic weapons establishment at Aldermaston; and what effect this has had on training programmes.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The problem discovered during the early stages of commissioning in the A91 building is one of corrosion on pipework and vessels. A detailed technical investigation into the cause and extent of the 610
  problem has not yet been completed so we are not in a position to make decisions about what work is needed to rectify the problem. We do not expect this problem to have any adverse effect on the Trident warhead programme. The training schedules of a small number of the future A91 operators have been revised while the problem is being investigated.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to rectify the defect in the installation of supports to the Phoenix system for ductwork on systems other than zone 1 and in the roof spaces above the first floor laboratories in the A90 building at Aldermaston; what system was charged for by the contractors; what steps he is taking to recover moneys from the contractor; and whether he is instigating any criminal or civil proceedings for overcharging, for product substitution or for fraud.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The use of Phoenix supports in A90, in areas beyond zone 1, was approved by the design authority for the building wherever they were fit for the purpose specified. Subsequently none has been found to be defective or inappropriate and none has had to be removed. The supplier charged and was paid for the materials used in the construction. The question of recovery of moneys or the instigation of any criminal or civil proceedings for overcharging has not arisen.

  Royal Air Force Finningley
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of Royal Air Force Finningley.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Royal Air Force Finningley is principally a flying training station. No decisions have been taken to change that role.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by year for the past 10 years, the amount of night flying that has taken place at Royal Air Force Finningley for(a) training purposes and (b) other reasons; and how much has taken place to date for 1991.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The numbers of hours of night flying by aircraft normally based at RAF Finningley for the years in question were as follows:

  Hours

  1981

  1,189

  1982

  1,112

  1983

  847

  1984

  706

  1985

  480

  1986

  716

  1987

  850

  1988

  626

  1989

  870

  1990

  1,281

  Note: The figure for 1991, to date, is 461 hours.

  Most of this flying took place away from RAF Finningley. Nearly all was for training purposes.

  VIPER Microprocessor
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make it his policy to accept full responsibility for any damage, injury or death attributable to errors in
  611
  the design of the VIPER—verifiable integrated processor for enhanced reliability—microprocessor where it is used in safety-critical computer systems controlled by his Department;

  (2) what steps his Department has taken with regard to the use of the VIPER microprocessor in safety-critical computer systems controlled by his Department in response to questions as to its design and safety of operation raised in reports published by researchers employed by his Department at the university of Cambridge;

  (3) what assessment he has made of the consequences of his Department's premature announcements as to the reliability of the VIPER microprocessor and its premature market launch through commercial licensees appointed by his Department;

  (4) what steps his Department is taking to discourage the use of the VIPER microprocessor in civil safety-critical computer systems.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The VIPER microchip was designed to a formal mathematical specification. There is debate among theoreticians about the extent to which VIPER can be said to be "proved" in a formal mathematical sense, but this should not be allowed to undermine the importance of the VIPER achievement: it was the first microchip to be designed to a formal mathematical specification; it was verified by the best methods available; and its design has been more rigorously documented and tested than that of any other microprocessor currently available commercially.

  The comments made by the department of mathematics, university of Cambridge, were in the context of the continuing research programme being carried out by the electronics division, DRA, RSRE Malvern and related to the rigour of the mathematical proof process. To date, no errors have been found in the VIPER design.

  My Department remains convinced that VIPER represents the best currently available microprocessor design for use in both civil and defence safety critical applications. If, however, any question about responsibility for damage, injury or death were to arise, it would be dealt with in the light of the relevant legal considerations.

  VIPER is not currently used in any safety-critical computer systems controlled by MOD. Further comment at this stage would be inappropriate in view of current legal proceedings.

  The Gulf (Equipment and Units)
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report the complete list of equipment and units deployed to the Gulf after 2 August 1990, including territorial and reserve forces.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Details of the units and major equipments deployed to the Gulf are being collated and will be published in the statement on the defence estimates and the United Kingdom joint commander's despatch.

  Chieftain Tank
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he now expects to make a decision about the Chieftain replacement programme.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I have nothing to add to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Elmet (Mr. Batiste) on 19 March at column 90.

  Civil Service Appeal Board
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 16 May,Official Report, column 272, what was the date on which representatives of his Department were in private communication with the Civil Service Appeal Board; and whether this communication was written or oral.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have nothing to add to my letter of 13 September 1990 to my hon. Friend the Member for Arundel (Sir M. Marshall), a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Dockyards (Refitting)
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 16 May,Official Report, column 271, if he will make a statement on the nature of the information about his Department's expected refitting programme that has been provided to the management companies of Rosyth and Devonport dockyards.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The nature of the information provided by the Ministry of Defence to the management companies at Devonport and Rosyth in respect of their core programmes is a commercially confidential matter.

  Type 23 Frigates
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many type 23 frigates have been ordered from(a) Yarrow Shipbuilders and (b) Swan Hunter Shipbuilders.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Six type 23 frigates have been ordered from Yarrow Shipbuilders and four from Swan Hunter Shipbuilders.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he envisages placing any more orders for type 23 frigates; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I have nothing to add to my answer to the hon. and learned Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell) on 20 February at column 192.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the approximate dates on which he envisages accepting the nine type 23 frigates currently on order into service.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Following the acceptance of HMS Marlborough on 7 March and HMS Argyll on 17 April 1991, there are now seven type 23 frigates on order. We expect all the remaining ships to enter service by the end of 1994.

  Equipment Programmes
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will provide details of the effect that the temporary bar on new commitments that he described in the debate of 18 June 1990,Official Report, column 688, has had on the equipment programmes listed on pages 37, 39, 40 and 41 of volume 1 of the "Statement of Defence Estimates 1990".

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The temporary bar on new commitments was carefully managed to ensure that major equipment projects suffered no significant adverse effect.

  Defence Contractors
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with which of the defence contractors listed on page 15 of volume 2 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1990" he has discussed the "Options for Change" study.

  Mr. Carlisle
  Discussions between Ministers and defence contractors are conducted on a confidential basis.

  Calcutt Inquiry
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 16 May,Official Report, column 272, what was the amount of fees payable in connection with the Calcutt inquiry; and whether these fees are in addition to the compensation payment of £30,000 to Mr. Colin Wallace.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The sum of £30,000 paid in compensation to Mr. Wallace did not include legal costs. The sum paid to Mr. Wallace's solicitors is commercially confidential, as are the costs of Mr. Calcutt's work on behalf of the Department.

  "Options for Change"
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his assessment of the impact of the "Options for Change"study on service morale.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The need for the "Options for Change" study is well understood within the services.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what studies have taken place into the possible amalgamation of regiments as part of the "Options for Change" process;

  (2) what consideration has been given to (a) disbanding regiments and (b) converting regiments from Regular to Territorial status as part of the "Options for Change" study;

  (3) whether he is making an assessment of permanently stationing regiments at particular locations as part of the "Options for Change" study;

  (4) whether any consideration of posting individual service personnel from regiment to regiment is taking place as part of the "Options for Change" study;

  (5) whether he is reassessing the system of moving complete regiments to different locations as part of the "Options for Change" study.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We continue to study these and other matters as part of our work on "Options for Change"; but, as we have made clear on previous occasions, it is our intention to retain the regimental system.

  Dockyard Employees (Pensions)
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many employees at Rosyth and Devonport are currently contributing to Government-established pension schemes.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  In common with all other civil servants other than those who choose to make private arrangements, MOD employees at Rosyth and Devonport 614
  are covered by the principal civil service pension scheme. This is non-contributory except for a deduction of 1½1 per cent. of pay in respect of the spouses'/dependants' benefits element of the scheme.

  Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment Vessels
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which shipyards have won orders for auxiliary oiler replenishment vessels; whether he has plans to order more auxiliary oiler replenishment vessels; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Harland and Wolff, and Swan Hunter Shipbuilders each have an order for one auxiliary oiler replenishment vessel. We expect to order further vessels, but no decisions have yet been made on the size and timing of such orders.

  British Army of the Rhine
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will list the current number of BAOR infantry battalions and armoured regiments that constitute a BAOR division.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In peacetime, BAOR has three armoured divisions, the composition of each of which is as follows:

  1 Armoured Division—5 armoured regiments and 5 infantry battalions

  3 Armoured Division—4 armoured regiments and 5 infantry battalions

  4 Armoured Divisions—4 armoured regiments and 6 infantry battalions

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has made any detailed decisions about the future of individual BAOR units or their locations as part of the "Options for Change" study.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North (Mr. Thompson) on 24 January 1991 at column 319–20. No other decisions have been taken.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what communications he has had with his Dutch and Belgian counterparts regarding the future roles of the BAOR.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has been involved in regular meetings with his ministerial colleagues from the other NATO countries, including the Netherlands and Belgium, when discussions have taken place on a range of issues including the future roles of allied forces in Europe.

  Belgium
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assurances he has had from his Belgian counterpart regarding the supply of defence equipment and material for British armed forces in the event of a crisis.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Belgium provided valuable assistance in the form of medical and logistic support to the coalition (including British) forces during the recent crisis in the Gulf. As a member of the NATO alliance, Belgium is committed, like other members, to the concept
  615
  of collective defence. We have not sought any assurance from the Belgians about possible support for British forces in the event of a future crisis outside the NATO area.

  Type 42 Destroyers
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to order a replacement for the type 42 destroyer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Following withdrawal from NFR90, we have been considering the way forward for an anti-air warfare frigate to replace the type 42 from around the turn of the century. We hope to make an announcement on the next stage of this programme in the next few months.

  HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to extend the lives of HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Mr. Hamilton) on 20 May at column 391 to my hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Mr. Speed).

  Lynx Helicopters
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to(a) replace Royal Navy Lynx helicopters or (b) extend the lives of Royal Navy Lynx helicopters.

  Mr. Carlisle
  Royal Navy Lynx helicopters will be deployed on Royal Navy ships into the next century. A range of improvements is being introduced to sustain their capability during the remainder of their operational lives.

  General Service Respirator
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the speed of the delivery programme for the general service respirator S 10 has been changed in the past six months.

  Mr. Carlisle
  Contract deliveries of SIO respirator facepieces were increased in the last quarter of 1990 to support Gulf deployment requirements. Deliveries have now returned to the normal rate.

  Equipment Programmes
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will provide details of the effect that the "Options for Change" study has had on the equipment programmes listed on pages 37, 39, 40 and 41 of volume I of the "Statement of Defence Estimates 1990".

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I am not yet in a position to add to the answers given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 4 December 1990 at column 161 and by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement on 19 December at column 212.

  Thailand (Service Personnel)
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the allowances payable to those British service personnel working in Thailand who are not attached to the British embassy.
  616
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Entitlement to allowances and liability for charges for service personnel serving abroad depend on the location and the nature of the duties being carried out and vary in accordance with individual circumstances.

  Staff Training College, Dhaka
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Brimanetish armed forces are presently seconded to the staff training college, Dhaka, Bangladesh; and what is the nature of their secondment.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The two-man British military advisory team in Bangladesh assists with military staff courses for all three services at the Bangladesh defence services command and staff college.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards arming aircraft in low-flying exercises with live ammunition.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Our policy remains as set out in the reply that my hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Mr. Hamilton) gave the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. Wardell) on 25 April 1990 at col.208.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the categories of live ammunition and weapons recovered from the wreckage of aircraft that have crashed in low-flying exercises in Britain in the past four years.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No aircraft armed with live ammunition have crashed in low-flying exercises in Britain in the past four years. However, practice bombs using small spotting charges and practice ammunition are carried frequently. Some of the aircraft involved in accidents while low flying were carrying practice munitions.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any planes carrying or armed with live ammunition have crashed in Wales in the past three years from(a) low-flying exercises and (b) other flying
  exercises.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any live ammunition has been recovered from the wreckage of aircraft which have crashed in low-flying exercises in the Brecon and Radnor constituency.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No.

  Open Policy Documents
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all open policy documents published by his Department since 1980; and what plans he has to publish further open policy documents.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The principal document published by the Ministry of Defence which sets out defence policy is the annual statement on the defence estimates. In addition, the Department makes available a wide range of material dealing with policy issues, ranging from discussion papers to press releases. It would be
  617
  impractical to provide a list of all such materials published since 1980. The Ministry plans to continue its practice of issuing policy documents as appropriate.

  Defence Research Agency Videos
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the video shown by the Defence Research Agency at the defence components and equipment exhibition in Birmingham on 14 and 15 May, cost to make; how many copies are available for distribution; how much it costs to hire the video; and whether it is available to foreign military authorities on request.

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

  Scottish Power (Submarine Incident)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has about incidents involving a submarine and the boat Scottish Power between midnight on 18 May and 3 am on 19 May; if he will conduct an inquiry into the allegation by the skipper of Scottish Power that a submarine buzzed the vessel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The skipper of the yacht reported to the Clyde coastguard that between 2300 on 18 May and 0100 19 May, he had sighted lights close to his vessel on three occasions. In the final instance he reported that he also saw the conning tower of a surfaced submarine approximately half a mile away. Submarine movements at the time of this incident have been fully reviewed and I can confirm that there were no Royal Navy or NATO submarines within 60 miles of the location of the reported sighting.

  Cambodia
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has about the military training given to those military forces in Cambodia that are fighting against the Government of that country and are not part of the Khmer Rouge.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullins) on 30 October 1990 at c. 864.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his assessment of the effectiveness of those military forces in Cambodia that are fighting against the Government of that country and are not part of the Khmer Rouge.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We have no reliable information about the effectiveness of such forces.

SCOTLAND

  Housing
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what income Scottish Homes received in capital receipts from house sales in the fourth quarter of 1990–91 and in 618
  the first quarter of 1991–92, from (a) right to buy sales, (b) rents to mortgage sales, (c) sales under the portable discount scheme and (d) vacant possession sales.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information for the fourth quarter of 1990–91 financial year is set out in the table. Details for the first quarter of 1991–92 are not yet available.

  £ million

  Right to buy sales

  9·041

  Rent to mortgage sales

  0·129

  Portable discount scheme

  0·191

  Vacant possession sales

  1·032

  Total

  10·393

  The figures include receipts from miscellaneous items, such as building insurance and repair funds. Figures net of these items are not currently available for each type of sale.

  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Scottish Homes (ex-SSHA) dwellings were modernised in each calendar year, and in each financial year from 1979 to the nearest available date.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is available on a financial year basis only and is as follows:

  Number of houses comprehensively modernised

  Financial year1

  Number

  1975–76 to 1981–82

  8,22

  1982–83

  1,074

  1983–84

  1,122

  1984–85

  1,180

  1985–86

  1,246

  1986–87

  733

  1987–88

  1,223

  1988–89

  733

  1989–90

  2811

  1 Figures for individual financial years not readily available.

  2 Includes 278 units which were improved in estate based strategy areas.

  Local Museums
  Sir Nicholas Fairbairn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland by how much expenditure on local museums has increased since 1979, both in terms of Government grant-in-aid and expenditure by local authorities.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  Government support for local museums is channelled through the Scottish Museums Council, which works to improve the quality of local museums and gallery provision in Scotland. The council's grant-in-aid from Government has increased from £145,000 in 1979–80 to £665,000 in 1991–92, an increase in real terms of 98 per cent. Information on local authorities' expenditure on museums was not available separately until 1983–84. However, expenditure on museums and libraries has increased from £27·8 million in 1979–80 to £93·8 million in 1991–92, an increase in real terms of 46 per cent. On museums alone the increase in expenditure from 1983–84 to 1991–92 is 24·1 per cent. in real terms.

  Prison Catering
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the sum per prisoner, per day allocated for catering at Her Majesty's prison, Perth.
  619
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The cost of food for prisoners is determined by the weekly ration sheet based on an approved dietary scale. On that basis the average daily cost of food per prisoner in Her Majesty's prison, Perth is £1·15.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the standard of food provided to prisoners in Her Majesty's prison, Perth.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Prison dietary scales are designed to ensure that all prisoners are given balanced, nutritional and varied meals. The catering arrangements for prisoners in Her Majesty's prison, Perth are of a satisfactory and acceptable standard.

  Govan Initiative
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current year's budget for Govan Initiative; and what proportion of its funding comes from central and local government.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The total urban programme budget for Govan Initiative in the current year amounts to £795,254. Central Government grant meets 75 per cent. of the cost, with the balance being provided by local government.

  Mr. Siliars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if in the nursery schools to be provided by Govan Initiative the system for entry will be similar to the priority system operated by Strathclyde regional council.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  There will be some similarity with the system operated by Strathclyde regional council. However, to meet the objectives set in the application for funding under the urban programme, first priority will be given to the provision of child care resources to patents undertaking full-time training or education whose objective is to gain or return to employment.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received a request for additional funding from Govan Initiative.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  In response to an approach for additional funding, approval under the urban programme was given on 2 May 1991 to additional expenditure of £18,184 to meet increased capital costs relating to the provision of child care units in the area of the Govan Initiative.

  Locate in Scotland
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the budget for Locate in Scotland's activities in each year since 1986–87, at 1991–92 prices.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The cost of running Locate in Scotland from 1986–87 to 1991–92, taking account of salaries, administration expenses, travel, marketing and advertising is shown in cash terms and at constant 1991–92 prices in the table. The 1991–92 figures are provisional at this stage.

  Year

  Cash

  1991–92 price base

  £ million

  £ million

  1986–87

  3–8

  5·2

  1987–88

  3·9

  5·0

  1988–89

  4·0

  4·9

  620

  Year

  Cash

  1991–92 price base

  £ million

  £ million

  1989–90

  4·3

  4·9

  1990–91

  4·6

  4·9

  1991–92

  5·1

  5·1

  Forth Valley Health Board
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what assistance will be given to Forth Valley health board by way of additional investment and so on, to develop laboratory services, including virology within the board's area;

  (2) what consideration is being given to the rationalisation of laboratories at Falkirk royal infirmary and Stirling royal infirmary on one site; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) whether Forth Valley health board will be free to contract out laboratory work currently carried out at Falkirk royal infirmary to other health boards; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what discussions have taken place with privately owned hospitals regarding the future placement of laboratory work currently carried out at Falkirk royal infirmary; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Capital investment in laboratory services is a matter for the health board to consider in the context of its capital plan. Some £200,000 has been spent recently on improvements at Falkirk and district, and Stirling royal infirmaries. No proposals are being considered at present by the health board for rationalisation of the facilities on one site or to contract out laboratory work to other health boards. The improvements in the respective laboratories will enable the board to carry out a wider range of tests in the existing premises.

  There have been no discussions with privately owned hospitals about the future placement of laboratory work currently being carried out at the Falkirk and district royal infirmary.

  Audubon Bird Manuscripts
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will purchase Edinburgh university's Audubon bird manuscripts and first editions and return them to the university on permanent loan.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No.

  Assisted Places
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce the income scale which will apply to the assisted places scheme in Scotland in school session 1991–92.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  For school session 1991–92, I propose to lay regulations before the House in due course providing for progressive parental contributions for one assisted pupil in relation to family income as follows:
  621

  Part of relevant income to which the specified percentage applies

  Parental contribution (percentage)

  That part (if any) which exceeds £8,821 but does not exceed £9,591

  9·0

  That part (if any) which exceeds £9,591 but does not exceed £10,375

  12·0

  That part (if any) which exceeds £10,375 but does not exceed £11,930

  15·0

  That part (if any) which exceeds £11,930 but does not exceed £14,321

  21·0

  That part (if any) which exceeds £14,321 but does not exceed £17,442

  24·0

  That part (if any) which exceeds £17,442

  33·0

  The relevant income scale is open-ended, but the remission can of course be given only where the parental contribution is less than the school tuition fee.

  Postgraduate Grants
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many grants have been given for postgraduate qualifications in Scotland in each year since 1979, and for what qualifications in each year.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 22 April 1991]: The information is not available in the form requested.

  Overall figures for the number of awards offered to Scottish domiciled students in respect of vocational postgraduate and certain other second courses during each academic year from 1978–79 to 1987–88 are set out in table 1.

  Information on the breakdown of vocational postgraduate awards by broad subject area for each year since 1988–89, which has been compiled from a different source, is set out in table 2. Similar information for earlier years is not available.

  Table 1

  Number

  1978–79

  3,085

  1979–80

  3,521

  1980–81

  3,211

  1981–82

  2,943

  1982–83

  2,853

  1983–84

  2,785

  1984–85

  2,627

  1985–86

  2,739

  1986–87

  2,892

  1987–88

  2,787

  Table 2

  1988–89

  1989–90

  11990–91

  Legal qualifications

  380

  390

  431

  Secretarial studies

  90

  87

  21

  Art and design

  92

  107

  114

  Business studies

  248

  286

  288

  Accountancy

  109

  101

  90

  Information technology

  334

  353

  501

  Social work

  141

  159

  1

  Ministry

  25

  28

  27

  Librarianship

  54

  76

  66

  Engineering and technology

  91

  88

  85

  Teacher training

  858

  876

  1,391

  Others

  281

  288

  253

  2,703

  2,839

  3,267

  1 Responsibility transferred to the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work.

  Aberdeen Royal Infimary
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what amount of grant for capital expenditure has been paid to the Grampian health board in respect of Aberdeen royal infirmary in each year since 1979;

  (2) what applications he has received from Grampian health board for grants in respect of capital expenditure at Aberdeen royal infirmary for each year from 1987 to 1994.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 20 May 1991]: Each year, health boards submit capital expenditure plans detailing their known proposals for the next 10 years. Funding for capital projects is provided by means of an annual capital allocation to each board related to these plans. Boards have considerable freedom to deploy the sums allocated in accordance with their own priorities. Only in certain circumstances are sums earmarked for specific projects (at present mainly for projects costing more than £5 million in total and prior to 1987 for projects included in boards' major building programmes). From 1979–80 to 1990–91 no sums were earmarked within Grampian health board's capital allocations for expenditure on Aberdeen royal infirmary. Expenditure on minor projects was drawn from the main block allocated to the board.

  On 10 May I announced that I had given approval for the first phase of a major development at the infirmary. This phase of the development will cost £7·3 million and will provide 30 additional general surgery day patient beds, 30 additional in-patient surgical and gynaecology beds and 41 in-patient ophthalmology beds. In 1991–92, £1·676 million has been specifically earmarked in Grampian health board's capital allocation to fund the start of the development and further provision will be included in the allocations for later years to facilitate its completion. Sums included in the board's capital plans for expenditure on the infirmary during the period 1987 to 1994 were:

  £ million

  1987–88

  0·669

  1988–89

  0·585

  1989–90

  0·623

  1990–91

  0–829

  1991–92

  1·676

  1992–93

  4·357

  1993–94

  2·303

  Audiology
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the number of full and part-time physical measurement technicians in audiology employed by each health board currently and for each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will list the number of qualified physical measurement technicians in audiology in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 21 May 1991]: The available information regarding the number of qualified physiological measurement technicians working in audiology in Scotland is shown in the following table.
  623

  Audiological technicians by health board and whole-time 1 part-time at 30 September 1990

  Whole-time

  Part-time

  Argyll and Clyde

  6

  2

  Ayrshire

  0

  1

  Borders

  3

  0

  Dumfries

  3

  0

  Fife

  0

  0

  Forth Valley

  4

  3

  Grampian

  9

  1

  Greater Glasgow

  18

  8

  Highland

  0

  0

  Lanarkshire

  0

  0

  Lothian

  7

  1

  Orkney

  0

  0

  Shetland

  0

  0

  Tayside

  10

  1

  Western Isles

  0

  0

  Scotland

  60

  17

  The breakdown of physiological measurement technicians into specialties was not available before 1990. It is for individual health boards to determine, after taking account of the needs of the population in their areas, the number of physiological measurement technicians in audiology they employ.

ENERGY

  Electricity Generation
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has held with generators seeking to contract within the non-fossil fuel obligation regarding contract length; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My Department has frequent and regular contact with generators about non-fossil fuel generation, including contract length. I am confident that the regional electricity companies have the flexibilities they need to be able to offer acceptable contracts to generators wishing to contract within the proposed 1991 NEED Renewables Order.

  Hinkley Point C
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will obtain for his Department's library a copy of the study on the Hinkley Point C public inquiry, by Crispin Aubrey.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Department's library has on order a book entitled, "Meltdown: the collapse of the nuclear dream", by Crispin Aubrey, which includes a chapter on the Hinkley Point C public inquiry. If the author has produced a further study on the inquiry, a copy will be considered for purchase when details about publication are known.

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many times he has had to adjudicate on the propriety of real estate transactions involving estate agents who advised on electricity privatisation.

  Mr. Wakeham
  None. The privatised companies are responsible for commercial transactions pertaining to their property.

  Euratom Treaty (Safeguards)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether an application has ever been made to the president of the European Court of Justice under article 81 of chapter VII of the Euratom treaty to ensure safeguards inspections are conducted.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No such application has been made in respect of an installation in the United Kingdom.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Newport West of 12 March,Official Report, column 435, what forms of assurance were given by the United Kingdom to the countries of origin of the plutonium reprocessed prior to 1973 that their plutonium was kept separate and segregated from United Kingdom origin plutonium and military plutonium.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No such assurances for the reprocessing of civil spent fuel have either been requested or given. It has been the Government's policy since 1986 that civil and non-civil spent fuel should be reprocessed in separate campaigns.

  Photovoltaics
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether any Ministers or officials from his Department, or from the energy technology support unit, will be present at the special workshop on photovoltaics and their physics, technology and applications, to be held in Tripoli in Libya on 15 to 20 June.

  Mr. Moynihan
  No one from my Department or the energy technology support unit will be attending the workshop in Tripoli.

  Oil and Gas Exploration (Wales)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the latest developments relating to the exploration for oil and gas off the Welsh coast, and any guidance given by the Welsh Office to those involved in such work.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Exploration for oil and gas takes place under licences awarded by my Department. Approvals, consents and guidance associated with these licences are issued by my Department.

  Licensees also consult the Ministries of Defence and Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and the Department of Transport for guidance on defence, fishing and navigational matters in the licensed areas, the Nature Conservancy Council for guidance on environmental matters, and, in the case of blocks close to shore, local planning authorities. The Health and Safety Executive is now responsible for monitoring and providing advice on offshore safety.

  Evidence of oil and gas has been found in only one block to date. The block concerned, 110/13, lies in the Irish sea and was licensed in 1989. The oil and gas discovered in this block has yet to be appraised.

  Offshore Licensing
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is able to announce the results of the 12th and frontier offshore licensing rounds.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I am now able to inform the House about the offshore oil and gas licences that I propose to award in these two separate rounds.

  In the 12th round I received 115 applications for 81 of the 120 blocks on offer; 80 companies were involved. Following careful examination of these applications by my Department, I am now prepared to offer licences for 74 blocks.

  The number of applications received was satisfying in itself. In addition, the proportion of blocks applied for was the highest for 10 years and showed that the oil and gas industry maintains its very strong interest in obtaining licences on the United Kingdom continental shelf. The success of the round was confirmed by the quality of the proposals put to us by the successful applicant companies and the exploration which will flow from these awards. This will help ensure that the UKCS remains a major international oil and gas province well into the next century.

  The response to the first separate round of licensing for frontier areas was also very encouraging. I received 13 applications from groups involving 37 companies for six of the 11 tranches of blocks on offer. I am pleased to be able to offer licences for all these tranches. This will give a fresh impetus to exploration in these areas.

  The success of these two rounds demonstrates that the present form of licensing continues to offer the most effective means of releasing offshore acreage to the industry for exploration. The frontier round result especially also highlights the responsiveness of the licensing system to the particular circumstances of different areas. Both rounds demonstrate the importance my Department attaches to listening to the views of the oil and gas industry.

  For licences awarded in both rounds, special conditions will apply wherever appropriate to ensure that operations are carried out with due regard to the environment and to fishing, navigation, defence and other interests. These conditions are tailored specifically to the particular circumstances of individual blocks and were agreed with the organisations consulted during preparations for the licensing rounds.

  A copy of the list of awards has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Financial Services
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will make a statement on Government policy on multi-tied agencies, as outlined by the Securities and Investments Board;

  (2) if he will bring forward proposals to modify the rules of best advice, as embodied in the Financial Services Act.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Securities and Investments Board's current retail regulation review includes the present best advice and polarisation regime. The SIB review is at an early stage, but I understand the possibility of multi-tied agencies is one of the issues to be considered.
  626
  I look forward to there being a lively public debate on retail regulation. I hope that my hon. Friend and others will send their views to the SIB and let me know of their concerns.

  Clothing Industry
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures he proposes to take to assist the clothing manufacturing industry in the Blyth Valley constituency.

  Mr. Lilley
  Companies in Blyth Valley can take advantage of a range of existing schemes including regional selective assistance—a negotiable incentive to investment which can contribute to the capital costs of a project—and subsidised consultancy under the enterprise initiative.

  BAT Industries plc
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when the original BAT accounts for 1990 were lodged at Companies house; and if any queries were raised with the company about those accounts;

  (2) whether he will investigate BAT's revision of its 1990 accounts and ask the Institute of Chartered Accountants to investigate the effectiveness of the initial audit.

  Mr. Redwood
  I am pleased to note the prompt action taken by BAT Industries plc in voluntarily issuing a supplementary note under new section 245(1) of the Companies Act 1985, to correct an error in a note to the 1990 accounts which I understand are due to be laid before its shareholders in general meeting on 29 May. The accounts in question have not yet been delivered to the Registrar of Companies.

  Disciplinary Cases
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish an up-to-date list of the disciplinary cases which, following the publication of inspectors' reports, he has asked the Institute of Chartered Accountants to investigate.

  Mr. Redwood
  The following seven inspectors' reports have been passed to the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Of these reports, five were disclosed to the institute under the provisions of section 449(1) (1) of the Companies Act 1985 prior to their publication. I understand that the first three reports have been passed to the joint disciplinary scheme. The remaining four are under consideration by the institute itself.

  Milbury plc

  Westminster Property Group Limited

  Minet Holdings plc

  WMD Underwriting Agencies Limited

  Alexander Howden Holdings plc

  The Greenbank Trust plc

  Aldermanbury Trust plc

  Sound Diffusion plc

  The Animal Defence Society Limited

  Accountancy Bodies
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the president of any of the accountancy bodies applying for the recognised supervisory body status is directly elected by its membership.

  Mr. Redwood
  I understand that the presidents of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland are directly elected by the membership.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether, as a condition of recognition as a recognised supervisory body, he will make it his policy to require the applicants annually to state the number of their council members who are not directly elected by the membership;

  (2) whether he will make it his policy as a condition of recognition to require the accountancy bodies seeking the status of a qualifying body to ensure that its students will be required to learn at least one other European language;

  (3) whether he will make it his policy as a condition of recognition as a recognised supervisory body to require the applicants to annually publish the number of complaints which they receive against their members.

  Mr. Redwood
  Under the Companies Act 1989, the Secretary of State has no power to refuse recognition on these grounds.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will place in the Library a copy of the investigative and disciplinary arrangements offered by the applicants for the recognised supervisory body status.

  Mr. Redwood
  A copy of each application, which includes details of the applicant's arrangements for the investigation and disciplining of its members, has already been placed in the Library (Official Report, 19 December 1990, col.187).

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to propose legislation under which the standards of accountancy firms criticised in the inspectors' reports would be independently investigated.

  Mr. Redwood
  Part II of the Companies Act 1989 will introduce an effective system for monitoring and investigating professional standards.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the council of any of the applicants for the proposed recognised supervisory bodies is not entirely elected by its membership.

  Mr. Redwood
  I understand that the councils of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and the Association of Authorised Public Accountants may have co-opted members, although the power to appoint them has not been exercised in every case. Most of their councils are elected. The council of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants is wholly elected by the membership.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any of the accountancy 628
  bodies applying for the recognised supervisory body status encourage their members to give proxy votes for council elections to its president.

  Mr. Redwood
  So far as I am aware, none.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the deadline by which any member of the public may object to the granting of recognised supervisory body status to any of the applicants.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Department will consider representations made at any time. However, I asked that comments on the applications reach the Department by 15 May (Official Report, 18 April, column 222).

  Auditors (Disqualification)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether at any time since 1979 his Department has asked the Institute of Chartered Accountants to disqualify any individual from acting as an auditor.

  Mr. Redwood
  It is for the professional bodies to determine, in accordance with their disciplinary procedures, whether a member who is the subject of a complaint referred by my Department should lose his authorisation to audit company accounts. I would of course take appropriate action if there were reason to question the way the bodies exercised their responsibilities.

  Audit Qualifications
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will investigate the trend in going concern audit qualifications.

  Mr. Redwood
  The auditor's considerations in respect of whether a company is a going concern may be an issue which the auditing practices board will wish to address.

  Auditors (Disclaimers)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to investigate the disclaimers of opinion issued by auditors.

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department and the financial reporting review panel as appropriate are always willing to consider instances where it is alleged that a company's accounts do not comply with the statutory requirements.

  Hallmarking
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he intends to defend the action brought by J. Kohle GMBH & Co. KG against him, the British Hallmarking Council, and the Goldsmiths Company, challenging the basis of United Kingdom hallmarking of precious metals.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is considering the legal position. As my hon. Friend knows, the Government have made clear their view that the compulsory marking of precious metals is essential to protect the interests of the consumer and honest trader. The Government believe that this is best achieved through the United Kingdom hallmarking system.

  Coppernob Ltd.
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set up an inquiry under the Companies Act 1985 into the activities of Coppernob Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  I shall be replying soon to the hon. Member's letter of 14 May about the company.

  United Kingdom Production
  Dr. Dafydd Elis Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will publish figures showing the percentage of total United Kingdom production of(a) coal, (b) steel and (c) tinplate which has been produced in Wales.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The information for 1990 is as follows:

  Percentage of total United Kingdom production produced in Wales

  Commodity

  Per cent.

  Coal1

  6·5

  Crude steel2

  31·2

  Tinplate2

  100·0

  Sources:

  1 Department of Energy: figures relate to all deep-mined and opencast coal, financial year 1990–91.

  2Iron and Steel Statistics Bureau.

  Salesmen (Representations)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received concerning the effectiveness of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 in protecting limited companies from rental misrepresentations by salesmen leasing or selling fax machines and photocopiers.

  Mr. Redwood
  Limited companies that lease equipment or buy equipment under a credit agreement are not covered by the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will bring forward proposals to amend the Consumer Credit Act 1974 to ensure that leasing companies are made fully responsible for the representations made by salesmen acting on their behalf who are not employed by the leasing company.

  Mr. Redwood
  Consideration is being given to proposals that the rights of lessees should be extended in the circumstances provided.

  Environmental Management
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications have been received to date for support under(a) the environmental management options scheme, (b) the environmental technology innovation scheme and (c) the Euro-environ programme; and if he will indicate the sectors of industry from which applications have been received to date.

  Mr. Lilley
  I am pleased to say that, as at 1 May 1991 my Department has received 229 applications under the environmental management options scheme: 59 involving United Kingdom companies under the Euro-environ scheme and 170 under the environmental technology 630
  innovation scheme which is a joint DTI/DOE scheme. Applications have been received from over 20 different product sectors with some covering more than one sector, such as soil remediation, waste and water treatment, chemicals and domestic waste.

  Petroleum Coke
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answers to the hon. Member for Easington (Mr. Cummings) of 22 January,Official Report, column 118, what progress his Department has made in evaluating the hazards of petroleum coke used in domestic appliances and in discussing with the suppliers the instructions for use of this fuel in domestic appliances.

  Mr. Lilley
  My Department has found some evidence of problems when petroleum coke has been used in closed appliances or has not been blended before use. There is little evidence of problems experienced by consumers when the fuel is pre-blended and used only in open-grate fires. Such precautions form the basis of our recommendations to suppliers to provide instructions for consumers. The suppliers have undertaken to provide clear instructions on the safe use of this fuel.

  Director General of Telecommunications (Report)
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has yet received a report by the Director General of Telecommunications for the year 1990, as required under section 55 of the Telecommunications Act 1984.

  Mr. Lilley
  Yes. The seventh report by the Director General of Telecommunications is being published today. It covers the period 1 January to 31 December 1990. Copies of the report have been laid before each House of Parliament.

  Weapons of Mass Destruction
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he plans to strengthen export controls aimed at preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Government are committed to intensifying efforts to prevent proliferation in view of the heightened international concern. In the light of this, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has decided to extend controls to the remaining 13 precursors of concern identified by the Australia Group, in common with other member countries, in order to ensure the effectiveness of multilateral export controls. It has also been decided to extend the general end-use control which was introduced in December last year in the light of concerns relating to chemical and biological weapons, to cover materials and equipment of concern for nuclear weapons and missile purposes.

  Exporters (Advice Services)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any proposals for the improvement of information and advice services to United Kingdom exporters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 22 May 1991]: The Department of Trade and Industry and the Foreign and

  631
  Commonwealth Office overseas trade services provide a wide range of information and advice to United Kingdom exporters. We have made substantial improvements in our services over the past two years and our regular quality monitoring system reports high levels of satisfaction among our business customers.

  We keep our services constantly under review. The joint directorate, formed on 2 April this year by merging the export service management units of the DTI and the FCO, has as its priority task to ensure that our export services operate well throughout the world. The fact that some 90 per cent. of our customers say that they will use our services again demonstrates their value and quality.

  Mr. Mohinder Singh Bedi
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what applications have been (i) granted and (ii) refused since 1984 for financial assistance available to small businesses from(a) Mr. Mohinder Paul Singh Bedi, (b) West Middlesex Immigration Services Ltd., (c) Swordshine Ltd. and (d) Hammersmith Securities Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 22 May 1991]: This Department does not reveal details of applications for

  Employment training

  Destination of trainees 3 months after leaving in period December 1989 to November 1990

  Per cent.

  Full-time Job

  Part-time Job

  Full-time Education/training

  Self-Employed

  Jobclub

  Voluntary Work

  Unemployed Claiming Benefit

  Unemployed Not Claiming Benefit

  Something Else

  Work Exp. Employer

  Other Employer

  South East

  8

  17

  12

  2

  6

  3

  3

  35

  8

  5

  London

  6

  14

  6

  4

  7

  5

  3

  44

  7

  4

  South West

  9

  15

  8

  2

  11

  4

  4

  36

  6

  4

  West Midlands

  9

  15

  8

  3

  2

  4

  4

  46

  5

  4

  East Midlands and Anglia Yorkshire and Humberside

  8

  15

  8

  3

  5

  5

  4

  43

  6

  4

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  9

  16

  7

  2

  7

  4

  3

  44

  4

  4

  North West

  9

  16

  7

  2

  7

  5

  3

  44

  5

  4

  Northern

  10

  15

  6

  2

  3

  5

  3

  48

  5

  3

  Wales

  8

  14

  7

  2

  9

  4

  3

  42

  6

  4

  Scotland

  10

  14

  5

  3

  4

  4

  3

  48

  4

  3

  Great Britain1

  8

  15

  7

  3

  5

  5

  3

  45

  5

  4

  Source: Employment Training Follow-up Survey.

  Percentages may not total 100 due to independent rounding.

  1 Includes some trainees with nationally contracted training providers.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list, for each region and for Great Britain as a whole, the number and proportion of employment training leavers who obtained a vocational qualification.

  Mr. Jackson
  The following table gives the percentage of trainees leaving employment training between October 1989 and September 1990, the latest date for which information is available, who obtained a qualification or credit or who were awaiting results. Numbers of trainees achieving qualifications or credits towards qualifications are not available, because not all trainees respond to the follow-up survey.
  632
  support. These are confidential between the company and the Department. There is no trace of any financial assistance to these companies.

EMPLOYMENT

  Employment Training
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary off State for Employment if he will list, for each region and for Great Britain as a whole for the latest available period, the number and proportion of ET trainees who three weeks after leaving were(a) in a full-time job with their work experience provider, (b) in a full-time job with another employer, (c) in a part-time job, (d) in full-time education or on a training course, (e) employed in their own business, (f) in job clubs, (g) in voluntary work, (h) unemployed and claiming benefit and (i) unemployed and not claiming benefit.

  Mr. Jackson
  The destinations of trainees leaving employment training between December 1989 and November 1990, three months after leaving, are shown in the following table. Percentages only are provided, because not all trainees respond to the follow-up survey.

  Employment training

  Proportion gaining qualifications or credits

  All leavers between October 1989 to September 1990

  Region

  Obtained qualification or credit

  Awaiting results

  Percentage

  Percentage

  South East

  28

  4

  London

  20

  4

  South West

  27

  5

  West Midlands

  23

  5

  East Midlands and Anglia

  24

  5

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  23

  4

  North West

  22

  4

  Northern

  28

  5

  Wales

  26

  4

  Scotland

  27

  5

  Great Britain1

  25

  4

  Source: Employment Training Follow up Survey.

  1 Includes some trainees with nationally contracted training providers.
  633
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give, for each region and for Great Britain as a whole for the latest available date, the amounts paid to(a) ET providers and (b) YT providers in the form of ex-gratia payments to compensate them for hardship caused by recontracting; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  In the 1990–91 financial year, my Department operated a special ex-gratia compensation scheme for ET providers. Where a contract with a training provider was foreclosed or modified substantially, reducing contracted volumes or recruitment earlier than the last effective day of the contract, my Department undertook to make an ex-gratia payment. There was no similar arrangement for youth training.

  The table shows the provisional outturn expenditure to end March 1991 under the special employment training ex-gratia payments arrangements.

  Region

  Amount £

  South East

  97,000

  London

  74,000

  South West

  166,000

  West Midlands

  190,000

  East Midlands and Eastern

  Nil

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  19,000

  North West

  102,000

  Northern

  262,000

  Wales

  56,000

  Scotland

  47,000

  National providers

  302,000

  Total

  1,315,000

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the number of employment training trainees who were being paid their training allowance and/or training premium by the Employment Service in each month since April; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information requested is provided in the following table. I am glad that employment training continues to help so many unemployed people in their efforts to find employment.

  Employment training trainees receiving employment training allowances—May 1990 to April 1991

  Number

  May 1990

  202,795

  June

  194,459

  July

  187,196

  August

  180,916

  September

  179,955

  October

  185,988

  November

  190,041

  December

  194,045

  January 1991

  189,109

  February

  198,413

  March

  192,279

  April

  167,427

  Source: Employment Service records.Employment Service

  Employment Service
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress the Employment Service has made in meeting its targets outlined in the 1990–91 agency agreement; and if he will show for the latest possible date(a) total unemployed job placings and variance from target, (b) long-term unemployed job placings and variance from target, (c) people with disabilities job placings and variance from target, (d) inner-city job placings and variance from target, (e) number of claims not pursued following initial contact and variance from profiled annual reference level, (f) number of claimants moved from unemployment benefit to another benefit and variance from annual reference level and (g) number of people who withdrew their claim to benefit after contact with fraud investigators and variance from annual reference level.

  Mr. Jackson
  I am informed by the chief executive of the Employment Service that for the period April 1990 to March 1991, the agency's performance against target was as follows:

  Performance Achieved 1990–91

  Variance from target/ reference level

  Per cent.

  Total value of correct payments of unemployment benefit (target of 95 per cent.)

  95·7 per cent.

  1+0·7

  Percentage of new claims input to computer within six days of a claim being made (target 91 per cent.)

  86·8 per cent.

  -4·2

  Claims not pursued following initial contact

  448,000

  +12

  Claimants moved to an appropriate benefit other than unemployment benefit

  78,400

  -2

  Number of people who withdrew their claim after having contact with fraud investigators

  64,700

  -14

  Unemployed job placings

  1,396,900

  -15

  Long-term unemployed job placings

  208,100

  -24

  People with disabilities job placings

  34,200

  -20

  Inner city job placings

  471,000

  -9

  1 The Employment Service 1990–91 Annual Performance Agreement represents this target as the total value of incorrect payments. The figure used here is an inversion of this.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the establishment of the Employment Service executive agency; what is the annual salary for each employee; and what savings his Department will make in connection with this agency.

  Mr. Jackson
  The employees of the Employment Service are civil servants and as such receive salaries appropriate to their particular grade. The table shows the numbers employed in each grade and the minimum and maximum points of each salary scale.

  A total of £13·6 million, or 2·3 per cent., of running costs savings were achieved in the first year of operation as an agency—1990–91.
  635

  Grade

  Number in grade

  Minimum of salary scale

  Maximum of salary scale

  (£)

  (£)

  Grade 3

  2·

  47,090

  54,720

  Grade 4

  7·

  40,116

  43,307

  Grade 5

  16·

  32,551

  36,997

  Grade 6

  24·

  24,997

  32,551

  Grade 7

  157·6

  21,905

  26,121

  Senior Executive Officer (SEO)

  364·4

  15,156

  19,348

  Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

  2,013·7

  12,367

  15,786

  HEO (D)

  1·3

  14,141

  17,789

  Executive Officer (EO)

  9,791·7

  7,286

  12,621

  Management Trainee

  16·0

  8,931

  13,145

  Administrative Officer

  21,492·0

  4,561

  9,278

  Administrative Assistant

  3,130·6

  4,121

  7,574

  Senior Personal Secretary

  7·0

  10,623

  12,162

  Personal Secretary

  41·1

  7,834

  9,598

  Typing Manager

  8·9

  10,988

  12,580

  Typist

  256·4

  5,977

  7,834

  Support Grade Band 1

  134·2

  8,345

  8,862

  Support Grade Band 2

  194·9

  4,438

  7,942

  Graphics—Technical Grade

  6·0

  9,348

  12,704

  Senior Instructional Officer

  30·0

  16,441

  17,125

  Higher Instructional Officer

  57·0

  14,552

  15,468

  Instructional Officer 1

  216·0

  13,145

  13,691

  Senior Economic Assistant

  3·0

  14,141

  17,789

  Economic Assistant

  1·0

  11,117

  13,100

  Senior Information Officer

  1·o

  15,553

  20,467

  Accountant (Grade 7)

  1·0

  23,407

  26,121

  Accountant (SEO)

  2·0

  17,125

  21,862

  Accountant (EO)

  1·0

  9,302

  14,851

  Auditor (SEO)

  8·0

  15,786

  20,152

  Auditor (HEO)

  19·0

  12,880

  16,441

  Senior Assistant Statistician

  1·0

  14,141

  17,789

  Assistant Statistician

  2·0

  11,117

  13,100

  Senior Research Officer (Social Science)

  5·2

  13,821

  18,925

  Research Officer (Social Science)

  4·1

  9,348

  13,821

  Senior Psychologist

  26·0

  16,822

  20,467

  Higher Psychologist

  4·0

  13,262

  16,176

  Psychologist

  62·0

  11,026

  12,143

  Physiotherapist

  3·5

  13,465

  15,385

  Chief Nursing Consultant

  1·0

  31,158

  33,939

  Nursing Consultant

  4·0

  25,004

  26,835

  Senior Social Worker

  1·0

  16,822

  21,287

  Higher Social Worker

  30

  13,262

  16,822

  Social Worker

  27·5

  9,348

  14,381

  Hostel Manager

  2·0

  13,466

  17,831

  Hostel Steward

  2·0

  8,236

  9,725

  Hostel Orderly

  3·5

  5,599

  5,891

  Higher Professional and Technical Officer

  1·0

  12,704

  16,822

  Support Manager Grade 3

  1·0

  9,438

  11,222

  Industrials

  25·0

  6,755

  9,509

  TOTAL

  38,182·6

  Note: People employed in London in many of these grades may progress beyond the maximum of the National scales shown above. They also receive an additional London Weighting allowance.

  Virtually all our employees are covered by nationally negotiated Performance Pay Agreements which, subject to set criteria, allow additional pay to be earned.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many of the total staff of the Employment Service executive agency are on secondment from Government Departments and, in particular, from his Department.

  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.
  636

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the take-up figures of disabled persons into employment under the quota scheme operated by public sector employers for each of the years 1988, 1989 and 1990.

  Mr. Jackson
  As with all questions on Employment Service operational matters, I have referred this question to Mike Fodgen, the executive agency's chief executive, for reply. A copy of that response will be placed in the Library.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of permits issued
  637
  exempting employers from the quota obligations under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 for each of the past five years.

  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.

  Employment Rehabilitation Centres
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total amount spent on employment rehabilitation centres for each of the past five years, in cash and constant prices.

  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
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the allocated budget of each of the operational TECs for 1991–92, showing the amounts contracted for(a) youth training, (b) employment training and (c) the enterprise allowance scheme.

  Mr. Jackson
  Budgets for 1991–92 have been allocated by funding block rather than individual scheme. The allocated budgets for each of the 76 operational TECs for funding blocks 1 to 3 are set out in the table.

  Funding block 1 £ million

  Funding block 2 £ million

  Funding block 3 £ million

  South East

  Essex

  14·999

  5·835

  3·320

  Hampshire

  19·665

  4·800

  2·690

  Heart of England

  5·718

  1·483

  1·200

  Hertfordshire

  10·601

  2·877

  2·385

  Isle of Wight

  1·941

  0·577

  0·515

  Kent

  19·015

  5·338

  3·180

  Milton Keynes and North Buckinghamshire

  3·358

  1·012

  0·705

  Surrey

  6·715

  1·746

  1·680

  Sussex

  13·864

  4·636

  3·380

  Thames Valley Enterprise

  11·183

  2·314

  1·870

  London

  AZTEC

  3·390

  4·360

  1·430

  LETEC

  10·050

  17·750

  2·700

  SOLOTEC

  6·870

  7·170

  1·940

  STTEC1

  5070

  15·460

  3·510

  South West

  Avon

  14·918

  12·030

  3·491

  Devon and Cornwall

  29·581

  20·254

  6·070

  Dorset

  8·148

  3·921

  3·921

  Gloucester

  7·395

  3·568

  1·600

  Somerset

  7·350

  2·754

  1·530

  Wiltshire

  7·385

  2·936

  1·540

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  20·713

  28·101

  4·107

  Central England

  5·861

  4·936

  1·382

  Coventry

  13·939

  10·918

  2·588

  Dudley

  5·904

  6·169

  1·041

  Hereford and Worcester

  5·347

  4·130

  1·177

  Sandwell

  5·650

  6·261

  1·041

  Shropshire

  7·568

  5·912

  1·557

  Staffordshire

  21·250

  12·381

  2·898

  Walsall

  4·530

  6·268

  0·887

  Wolverhampton

  6·143

  6·819

  1·041

  638

  Funding block 1 £ million

  Funding block 2 £ million

  Funding block 3 £ million

  E. Midlands and Anglia

  Leicester

  13·715

  4·184

  2·695

  Northants

  5·460

  2·714

  1·415

  Lincolnshire

  10·867

  3·329

  1·808

  Greater Nottingham

  10·719

  4·549

  1·965

  North Nottinghamshire

  7·900

  5·516

  1·430

  South Derby

  8·889

  3·539

  1·799

  North Derby

  6·165

  2·238

  1·114

  Norfolk/Waverney

  11·446

  4·493

  2·213

  Suffolk

  8·777

  1·582

  1·294

  Bedfordshire

  5·920

  1·767

  0·895

  GPTEC

  4·005

  1·533

  0·568

  CAMBSTEC

  3·010

  0·476

  0·749

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  Leeds

  10·097

  20·492

  2·273

  North Yorshire

  8·091

  7·201

  2·047

  Bradford

  9·558

  9·315

  1·673

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  9·362

  10·460

  2·056

  Wakefield

  6·281

  6·077

  1·054

  Barnsley and Doncaster

  12·783

  13·867

  2·165

  Sheffield

  10·148

  14·455

  2·492

  Rotherham

  5·852

  6·266

  0·984

  North West

  Bolton/Bury

  6·200

  4·802

  1·555

  CEWTEC

  9·778

  13·633

  2·443

  Cumbria

  10·100

  6·863

  1·596

  ELTEC

  8·650

  6·000

  1·759

  LAWTEC

  11·935

  10·838

  2·764

  Manchester

  16·070

  19·007

  4·506

  Merseyside2

  25·618

  30·925

  4·480

  METROTEC

  4·901

  4·346

  1·043

  NORMID2

  7·950

  6·117

  1·357

  Oldham

  4·306

  3·218

  0·795

  QUALITEC

  4·976

  4·163

  0·608

  Rochdale

  2·700

  3·961

  0·775

  South and East Cheshire

  5·510

  2·422

  1·088

  Stockport HP

  4·670

  3·668

  1·528

  Northern

  Teesside

  16·012

  11·391

  2·557

  Tyneside

  22·027

  13·350

  3·750

  Wearside

  10·219

  6·998

  1·385

  Durham

  16·782

  10·517

  2·662

  Northumberland

  9·325

  3·352

  1·486

  Wales

  Gwent

  9·368

  5·232

  1·655

  North East Wales

  7012

  3·333

  1·384

  North West Wales

  6·978

  3·120

  1·631

  Mid Glamorgan

  11·135

  5·727

  1·719

  Powys

  2·029

  1·101

  0·590

  South Glamorgan

  6·007

  4·380

  1·461

  West Wales

  15·455

  8·877

  3·490

  1 Becomes operational 27 May 1991.

  2 Becomes operational 24 June 1991.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to require that each training and enterprise council includes representatives of small businesses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 22 May 1991]: The TEC prospectus stated that the private sector directors on training and enterprise councils should broadly reflect the mix of commerce and industry in their area and should include executives with first-hand experience of running small businesses as well as major employers. More generally, TECs are required to take account of the needs of small firms in their plans to bring about a dynamic and prosperous local economy.

  Disabled People (Special Schemes)
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications have been made, and how many grants have been awarded, for each of the past five years for(a) the personal reader service scheme, (b) the special aids to employment scheme, (c) the assistance with fares to work scheme and (d) the adaptations to premises and equipment scheme.

  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.

  Employment Statistics (Doncaster)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the percentage of total employment by industry and what was the percentage change in employment by industry, by year for the period 1979 to 1990 and 1991 to date, for the Doncaster area classified by: men, women, young persons and ethnic minorities.

  Employees in employment in coal mining and manufacturing in the Doncaster travel-to-work area

  September 1981

  September 1989

  Number (000's)

  Proportion1 (per cent.)

  Number (000's)

  Proportion1 (per cent.)

  Deep coal mines

  16·4

  17·8

  6·0

  6·9

  Manufacturing

  25·3

  27·5

  19·9

  22·8

  1Employees in Activity Heading 1113 (deep coal mines) and Divisions 2 to 4 (manufacturing industries) of the Standard Industrial Classification 1980, as a percentage of all employees in the travel-to-work area.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the levels of redundancies., by industry, in the Doncaster area by year for the period 1979 to 1990 and 1991 to date, classified by men, women, young persons and ethnic minorities.

  Mr. Forth
  Information on the number of redundancies confirmed as having occurred is given in the tables. Data

  Confirmed redundancies in Yorkshire and Humbcrside region (1979–83) and Doncaster area (1983)—SIC 1968

  Yorkshire and Humberside region

  Doncaster

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1983

  1. Agriculture, Forest and Fish

  0

  136

  26

  63

  103

  0

  2. Mining and Quarrying

  220

  191

  1,237

  1,477

  4,246

  632

  3. Food, Drink and Tobacco

  1,633

  2,310

  2,227

  2,691

  1,724

  207

  4. Coal and Petrol Products

  0

  126

  962

  106

  151

  0

  5. Chemicals and Allied

  173

  1,486

  2,588

  711

  714

  0

  6. Metal Manufacture

  1,736

  9,130

  14,405

  6,796

  5,841

  62

  7. Mechanical Engineering

  2,805

  4,717

  6,660

  6,240

  5,299

  317

  8. Instrument Engineering

  27

  256

  358

  123

  111

  0

  9. Electrical Engineering

  173

  1,931

  2,058

  893

  799

  114

  10. Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering

  342

  120

  198

  85

  326

  17

  11. Vehicles

  36

  3,129

  4,018

  3,601

  1,988

  601

  12. Metal Goods (N.E.S.)

  700

  3,856

  5,316

  2,714

  2,971

  187

  13. Textiles

  3,114

  9,254

  4,348

  5,883

  2,484

  232

  14. Leather and Fur etc.

  773

  16

  180

  137

  63

  0

  15. Clothing and Footwear

  1,436

  2,904

  3,374

  2,780

  499

  0

  16. Bricks, Pottery, etc.

  896

  2,430

  1,515

  981

  1,924

  201

  17. Timber, Furniture, etc.

  405

  992

  1,251

  1,452

  644

  0

  18. Paper, Printing, etc.

  321

  407

  1,356

  595

  785

  185

  19. Other Manufacturing Industries

  269

  949

  745

  687

  603

  70

  20. Construction

  1,130

  2,967

  3,460

  759

  1,073

  37

  21. Gas, Electricity, Water

  0

  9

  50

  527

  427

  15

  22. Transport and Communication

  358

  831

  1,577

  1,030

  885

  119

  23. Distributive Trades

  1,018

  1,680

  2,583

  2,826

  2,111

  27

  24. Insurance, Banking, etc.

  41

  83

  248

  300

  98

  0

  25. Professional and Scientific Services

  0

  72

  215

  497

  446

  99

  26. Miscellaneous Services

  198

  512

  1,729

  1,586

  1,228

  11

  27. Public Administration, Defence

  34

  385

  418

  417

  264

  59

  Total

  17,838

  50,879

  63,102

  45,957

  37,807

  3,192

  640
  Mr. Jackson
  Information for employees in employment according to industry by district and by travel-to-work area is available only from the censuses of employment for 1981, 1984, 1987 and 1989. This can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the House of Commons Library. Separate data for young persons and ethnic minorities are not available.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has of the number of people employed in(a) coal mining and (b) manufacturing in the Doncaster travel-to-work area; what percentage these are of the total employed; and what the comparable figures were in 1979.

  Mr. Jackson
  Information for employees in employment by travel-to-work area is available only from the periodic censuses of employment. The earliest and most recent estimates are from censuses taken in 1981 and 1989 and are given in the table.

  are available for Doncaster only for the period 1983 to date. Data given for 1979–82 are for the Yorkshire and Humberside region. Information is not available to identify separately men, women, young persons and ethnic minorities. I refer the hon. Gentleman to an article on official statistics on redundancies that appeared in the September 1990 edition of Employment Gazette.
  641

  Confirmed redundancies in the Doncaster area 1984–90

  SIC 1980

  Industry

  SIC

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Agriculture

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Energy and water

  1

  188

  5,181

  1,117

  1,008

  278

  271

  0

  Extraction of minerals

  2

  138

  191

  62

  10

  512

  25

  0

  Metal goods

  3

  36

  406

  335

  1,145

  262

  386

  69

  Other manufacturers

  4

  280

  124

  387

  195

  0

  77

  14

  Construction

  5

  9

  57

  166

  0

  14

  60

  10

  Distributive trades

  6

  56

  152

  138

  104

  53

  18

  0

  Transport and communications

  7

  140

  0

  18

  18

  29

  0

  29

  Insurance, banking etc.

  8

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Other services

  9

  0

  0

  25

  0

  22

  0

  52

  Total

  847

  6,111

  2,248

  2,480

  1,170

  837

  174

  Confirmed redundancies in the Doncaster area 1991

  Industry

  SIC

  January

  February

  March1

  April1

  Agriculture

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Energy and water

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Extraction of minerals

  2

  0

  298

  0

  0

  Metal goods

  3

  22

  18

  0

  0

  Other manufacturers

  4

  72

  0

  0

  0

  Construction

  5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Distributive trades

  6

  0

  0

  22

  0

  Transport and communications

  7

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Insurance, banking etc.

  8

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Other services

  9

  0

  0

  29

  0

  Total

  94

  316

  51

  0

  1 Provisional and subject to revision.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has, by year, on the number of individuals covered by the redundant mineworkers payments scheme who have left the Doncaster travel-to-work area unemployment register since the commencement of the scheme.

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

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number and percentages of(a) male unemployed and (b) female unemployed in the Doncaster area as at 1 April in each year from 1979 to 1991.

  Mr. Jackson
  The available information, for the Doncaster travel-to-work area, can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the House of Commons Library.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of persons employed by sex in each standard category of employment in the Doncaster area for 1 April in each year from 1979 to 1991.

  Mr. Jackson
  Information for employees in employment according to industry by district and by travel-to-work area is available only from the censuses of employment held in September of 1981, 1984, 1987 and 1989. This can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the House of Commons Library.

  Wages Councils
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many workers in the northern region and in each county within the region are covered by the 642
  various wages councils; how many have had their individual pay or conditions checked by the councils; and in how many cases underpayments were discovered.

  Mr. Forth
  There are no statistics of the total numbers of workers covered by wages councils in the northern region or in counties. The following table gives information about workers in each wages council industry in the northern division of the wages inspectorate whose pay was checked in 1990 and the numbers found to have been underpaid.

  Wages council

  Number of workers whose pay was checked

  Number of workers found to be underpaid

  Aerated waters

  32

  0

  Clothing

  291

  14

  General waste reclemation

  126

  4

  Hairdressing undertakings

  584

  49

  Retail (non-food) trades

  2,078

  123

  Retail food and allied trades

  2,445

  404

  Licensed non-residential establishments

  3,625

  280

  Licensed residential establishments and licensed restaurants

  1,177

  113

  Unlicensed place of refreshment

  399

  49

  All other councils

  83

  5

  Totals

  10,808

  1,040

  Ionising Radiation
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the common dose limits and radiation protection standards applied to those who work with ionising radiation in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) each of the other European Community countries.
  643
  Mr. Forth
  Common dose limits and radiation protection standards for work with ionising radiation apply throughout the European Community and are set out in European Community directive 80/836/Euratom (as amended by 84/467/Euratom). The United Kingdom legislation that implements the European Community directive is the ionising Radiations Regulations 1985 and the mirror Northern Ireland provisions, copies of which are held in the Library.

  A comprehensive picture of how member states have met their obligations under the directive is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Employment-related Agencies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list for each employment-related agency(a) those that have published their business plans for 1991–92 and (b) those that have not yet published them.

  Mr. Jackson
  The only executive agency within my Department is the Employment Service; its operational plan for 1991–92 was placed in the Library of the House on 9 May.

  Careers Service
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of responses about the future of the careers service has supported its retention under local education authority control.

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

  Labour Statistics
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a list showing the latest available figures for the rate of unemployment in each OECD member country.

  Mr. Jackson
  Following is a table which gives the latest available internationally comparable unemployment rates for the OECD countries.

  Comparisons of unemployment between OECD countries

  Standardised unemployment rates2 seasonally adjusted

  Percentage rate

  Latest month

  Spain

  15·8

  November

  Ireland

  15·1

  March

  Canada

  10·4

  March

  Italy

  9·8

  October

  New Zealand

  9·6

  February

  France

  9·2

  February

  Australia

  9·1

  March

  United Kingdom

  8·6

  March

  Belgium

  8·5

  March

  Netherlands

  7·5

  February

  United States

  6·8

  March

  Finland

  5·7

  February

  Norway

  5·0

  November

  Germany (FR)1

  4·5

  February

  Portugal

  4·5

  November

  Sweden

  2·3

  March

  Japan

  2·0

  February

  OECD Total2

  6·6

  February

  Major 73

  6·1

  February

  Source: OECD "Main Economic Indicators" and Press Releases.

  1 There are no reliable figures available as yet for a unified
  644
  Germany. The rate quoted is for what was formerly West Germany.

  2 Only the countries listed are included in the total.

  3 United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, USA, Japan and Canada.

  Piper Alpha
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on the number of victims of the Piper Alpha disaster who are still awaiting settlement of compensation claims against their employers.

  Mr. Forth
  Compensation payments are a matter between Occidental and the survivors or the families of victims.

  Paint
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to promote water-based paint products in the construction industry as a replacement for solvent-based products.

  Mr. Forth
  The Health and Safety Executive has produced industry-specific guidance including two leaflets, "Health Hazards to Painters" and "Solvents and You", setting out the risks attached to work with solvents and outlining the control and preventive measures to be taken. Exposure to solvents can be minimised by the use of low-solvent or solvent-free materials. However, such products may contain other toxic substances and employers must therefore assess the relative health risk of alternative products available.

  Service Industries (North-East)
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the variations in the rate of increase of the number of jobs created in the service industries in the regions of the north-east in the past two years.

  Mr. Jackson
  The latest estimates of employment for area within standard regions relate to the 1989 census of employment. More recent estimates of changes in the number of employees in service industries in the north standard region—Cumbria, Cleveland, Tyne and Wear, Durham and Northumberland—are as follows:

  Employees in the service industries in the North Region

  Actual change (thousands)

  Percentage change

  1989

  March

  6·0

  0·9

  June

  -3·2

  -0·5

  September

  8·2

  1·2

  December

  14·7

  2·1

  1990

  March

  -3·9

  -0·5

  June

  -2·5

  -0·3

  September

  1·4

  0·2

  December

  7·9

  1·1

  Careers Services
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received about his proposals to encourage local authorities and training
  645
  and enterprise councils to work in partnership to oversee the operation of careers services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Prior to the White Paper on "Education and Training for the 21st Century" (Cm 1536), I received a very wide response to my consultative document on the future of the careers service. Many of those responding supported LEAs and TECs working closely together. As announced in the White Paper we shall support LEAs and TECs which wish to work together, and we propose to legislate to open up options for the management of the careers service.

  Licensed Mines
  Mr. Ray Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many prosecutions against licensed mines proprietors were brought by Her Majesty's mines inspectorate in 1990–91.

  Mr. Forth
  As a result of informations laid by the Health and Safety Executive's mines inspectorate, there was one prosecution of a licensed mine proprietor in 1990–91.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many licensed mines were inspected in 1990–91 by Her Majesty's mines inspectorate; and if he will publish a list of each mine inspected.

  Mr. Forth
  In the 12-month period 1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991 a total of 150 licensed mines were inspected.

  Following is a list of the mines inspected:

  Licensed mines that have been inspected in 1990–91

  South western

  Abbey

  Alltwen Hill

  Blaencuffin

  Blaengrennig No. 2

  Blaenpergwm

  Blaentillery No. 2

  Blaentwina Drift

  Bodyst Uchaf

  Brawds Level

  Bryndulais No. 2

  Brynglas

  Bush New Level

  Brynant Varteg

  Bwlch

  Caeglas Level

  Cannop Drift

  Cannop Engine

  Carn Cornel No. 2

  Cefn Mawr No. 2

  Craig-y-Pant

  Crugau

  Crugau No. 2

  Cwm Glo

  Cwm yr Onnen

  Danygraig No. 3

  Darrell

  Dinas Rock

  Dynant Fach No. 1

  Dynant Fach No. 2

  Elwyn

  Evanwill

  Ffroch-y-Garran

  Ffynonau Duon No. 4

  Ffynonau Duon No. 2

  Ffynonau Duon No. 2

  Ffynonau Duon No. 3

  Forest No. 3

  646

  Garnwern

  Glanderi

  Gleison

  Glen

  Glo Mynydd

  Graig-y-Fforesr No. 2

  Graig-y-Llyn

  Graigddu No. 2

  Gwynfryn No. 2

  Hamblin Gale

  Hayners Bailey

  Heol Hen

  High Street

  Hirfynydd

  Hopewell in Wimberry

  Ivy Rock No. 3

  Ivyrock No. 2

  Little Cwm

  Llechart No. 2

  Lleti Philip No. 3

  Lyn

  March Hywel No. 2

  Morses Level

  Nant Gwrhyd No. 2

  Nant Merddog

  Nantmelyn

  Nant-y-Cafn

  Nant-y-Glo

  Nant-y-Mynydd No. 2

  Nantglas Newydd

  Nanthir

  Nantmelyn No. 2

  New Parc

  New Penrhiw

  Oak

  Old Park No. 2

  Old Unemployed

  Pantygasseg

  Pantygasseg No. 3

  Parc Level

  Pentwyn No. 3

  Penywaun No. 2

  Ponty

  Reddings Level No. 2

  Rhaeadr No. 2

  Rheola

  Rithan

  Sarn Helen

  Scranton

  Tai Level Lo

  Tan-y-Garn

  Tyn-y-Graig

  Tyn-y-Wern

  Upper-Rha-Bryn-Oer

  Venallt

  Waunhir No. 2

  Wem Tarw No. 2

  Winstone

  Ystrad Anthracite

  Western

  Acres Nook

  Apedale 1–4

  Apedale 5–6

  Apedale 7–8

  Bank Top No. 2

  Castle

  Coed Talon M2

  Draycott Cross

  Haying Wood No. 2

  Hulme Mine

  Little Sheriff

  Parklands No. 5

  Podmore Hall

  Quaker House

  North Midlands

  Amber Valley Mine

  Doe Lea Mine

  Moorside Mine

  647
  North Yorkshire

  Hay Royds Mine

  Mainband Mine

  Green Clough Mine

  Scotland

  Ayle East Drift Mine

  Backshot Mine

  Barhaugh Mine

  Barras Hill Mine

  Blagill Mine

  Blenkinsop Castle Mine

  Clrghyll Drift Mine

  Craigman Mine

  Drovers Drift

  Eldon Drift

  Falstone Mine

  Falstone No. 2 Mine

  Glenview Mine

  Greenland Drift Mine

  Harviestoun Mine

  Lassodie No. 2 Mine

  Lonnen Drift Mine

  Middridge Drift Mine

  648

  Osmond Croft Mine

  Park Drift Mine

  Rashiehill Mine

  Saline Mine

  Shadfen Park Drift

  Smithy Dene Mine

  Tows Bank Drift Mine

  Viaduct 'A'

  Viaduct 'B'

  Whittle Mine

  Woodside Drift Mine

  Woody Close Drift Mine

  Wrytree Farm Drift Mine

  Wem Tarw Mine
  Mr. Ray Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will institute a public inquiry into the fatality which occurred at the Wem Tarw licensed mine on 21 May.

  Mr. Forth
  No. The Health and Safety Executive's mines inspectorate is currently investigating the accident and will take any necessary consequential action.

  LIFE SENTENCE PRISONERS: NUMBERS
  LIFE SENTENCE PRISONERS: NUMBERS
  LIFE SENTENCE PRISONERS: CRIME
  LIFE SENTENCE PRISONERS: CRIME
  LIFE SENTENCE PRISONERS: RECALLS FROM LICENCE
  LIFE SENTENCE PRISONERS: RECALLS FROM LICENCE
  BRITISH CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS
  BRITISH CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS
  MORTGAGE INTEREST PAYMENTS FROM INCOME SUPPORT
  MORTGAGE INTEREST PAYMENTS FROM INCOME SUPPORT
  WANDSWORTH AND GREENWICH, REVENUE SUPPORT GRANT
  WANDSWORTH AND GREENWICH, REVENUE SUPPORT GRANT
  DIOCESE OF LEICESTER: SUNDAY SCHOOL PROVISION
  DIOCESE OF LEICESTER: SUNDAY SCHOOL PROVISION
  URBAN REGENERATION: CITY CHALLENGE PROJECT
  URBAN REGENERATION: CITY CHALLENGE PROJECT
  LOCAL AUTHORITIES INVITED TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS FOR PILOT "CITY CHALLENGE" PROGRAMMES
  LOCAL AUTHORITIES INVITED TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS FOR PILOT "CITY CHALLENGE" PROGRAMMES
  THE GULF WAR: DAMAGE TO VETERINARY AND AGRICULTURAL STORES
  THE GULF WAR: DAMAGE TO VETERINARY AND AGRICULTURAL STORES
  THE GULF WAR: DAMAGE TO NON-MILITARY TARGETS
  THE GULF WAR: DAMAGE TO NON-MILITARY TARGETS
  THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES: ILLEGAL SETTLEMENTS
  THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES: ILLEGAL SETTLEMENTS
  THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES: DEPORTATIONS
  THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES: DEPORTATIONS
  A.1 NORMAN CROSS JUNCTION IMPROVEMENT SCHEME
  A.1 NORMAN CROSS JUNCTION IMPROVEMENT SCHEME