Written Answers of 7 November 1991

ENVIRONMENT

  Drought Orders
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many drought orders his Department has granted in each year since 1979; and how many of these involved varying the conditions of abstraction.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Secretary of State for the Environment has made the following numbers of drought orders:

  Numbers

  1980

  2

  1981

  nil

  1982

  13

  1983

  5

  1984

  92

  1985

  nil

  1986

  nil

  1987

  nil

  1988

  1

  1989

  74

  1990

  65

  11991

  24

  1 To date.

  Most of these involve a temporary variation in the conditions governing the abstraction of water, but only a detailed review of all 276 statutory instruments could give a precise figure: this would involve disproportionate effort.

  Refugees
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to assist local authorities with the cost of housing refugees; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  The cost of housing refugees and other commitments are taken into account in authorities' housing investment programme allocations.

  The Asylum Bill, which was published on 1 November, contains measures which will modify the duties on local authorities and ease housing pressures.

  Council Housing (Unauthorised Occupation)
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has received about the extent of unauthorised occupation of local authority housing in Greater London; and what action he plans to take.

  Mr. Yeo
  Investigations into levels of unauthorised occupation are being undertaken by a number of London authorities, and my Department is taking a close interest in the findings as they emerge. The Government have taken a number of steps which encourage the reduction of unauthorised occupation. These include the financial 186
  discipline of the ring-fenced housing revenue account, t he incentive in HRA subsidy rules to minimise voids, and the requirement to publish performance indicators. My Department is also funding research which will provide authorities with models of good practice to prevent such activity in the first place. The primary responsibility for tackling the problem must rest, however, with the owners and managers of the housing—the local authorities themselves.

  Council Housing
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will authorise district councils to use funds accumulated from the sale of property to build houses and flats for sale or rent to the local community.

  Mr. Yeo
  Our general policy is to encourage the private sector, including housing associations, rather than local authorities to be the providers of new houses and flats. Local authorities are free to use 25 per cent. of the receipts from the sale of council dwellings to assist this process in various ways, including sponsoring housing association developments.

  Animals and Birds (Imports)
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what action he intends to take, following the advice of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, to reduce the number of ports of entry through which live animals and birds may enter the United Kingdom;

  (2) what action he intends to take in the light of recent advice from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee to introduce a levy on the import of wild birds and animals.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Joint Nature Conservation Committee's report on the wildlife trade makes a number of wide-ranging recommendations, including those concerning a levy and further restrictions on ports of entry. Because these are not issues which affect the United Kingdom alone, we have drawn the report to the attention of the European Commission and urged it to propose stricter controls throughout the European Community. We expect the Commission to publish proposals for a new regulation on the wildlife trade very soon. In subsequent discussions we shall take full account of the committee's advice.

  Water Quality
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to issue guidance to local authorities on the planning considerations associated with the water companies' investment to improve the quality of bathing and drinking water; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State and the Secretary of State for Wales have today published Circular 17/91—Department of the Environment—and Circular 62/91—Welsh Office. This gives guidance on the planning implications for local authorities of substantial investment by the water industry to improve the quality of bathing waters, to find alternative disposal means for sewage sludge at present disposed of at sea, and to improve the quality of drinking water.

  The circular stresses the strict deadlines for improving the quality of bathing and drinking waters, and emphasises

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  local planning authorities' responsibility to work with the water industry to find suitable sites for sewage treatment works and to handle planning applications without delay. It also reminds authorities of the need to allocate sites for sewage treatment works, where appropriate, when preparing or reviewing development plans. And it advises water companies to consider the need for environmental assessment of their proposals at the earliest possible stage.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what initiatives his Department has taken over the last six months to reduce the number of homeless people.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 6 November 1991]: On 5 June I announced that selected housing associations would be invited to bid for grants to run pilot schemes as managing agents for private owners, to encourage landlords to let their empty properties to homeless people. The first homes made available through this initiative were let in October. Also in October I announced a new scheme to bring empty flats over shops back into use. Local authorities will shortly be invited to bid for a share of the £25 million to be made available. Accommodation created through this initiative will help to relieve homelessness pressures in many hard-pressed urban areas.

  Under the Department's new initiative with the Council of Mortgage Lenders, announced on 5 November, repossessed properties will be passed to housing associations for temporary letting to homeless families nominated by local authorities. This will bring empty properties back into use, provide homes for families, restore confidence in the market and help mortgage lenders.

  These initiatives are additional to our £300 million homelessness allocation to local authorities and housing associations in London and the south-east, which will provide 16,000 permanent homes for homeless families. Work is also progressing on the Department's £96 million initiative to combat rough sleeping in central London. A total of 489 additional hostel places, 530 places in housing leased from private owners and 250 places in permanent housing have been made available this year for rough sleepers. By the end of 1993–94, the total of additional permanent housing generated by this initiative will reach 1,800 places.

  West Country (Development Restrictions)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the towns and villages in Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, at which the National Rivers Authority has asked for development restrictions; and if he will make a statement as to the reason for those restrictions.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 6 November 1991]: This detailed information is not held by the Department. We shall be in touch with the National Rivers Authority and I shall write to my hon. Friend.

TRANSPORT

  Antares
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the inspector's inquiry into the sinking of the Antares from Carradale has been completed; how much time is required under the Merchant Shipping (Accident Investigation) Regulations for consideration of the report; when the Secretary of State expects to publish the report; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The marine accident investigation branch inquiry is complete; the inspector has submitted his findings and recommendations to the chief inspector of marine accidents who is now preparing his report for submission to the Secretary of State for Transport. Before the chief inspector's report can be published, he is required by regulation 9 of the Merchant Shipping (Accident Investigation) Regulations 1989 to give persons whose reputations are likely to be adversely affected, time to consider the text and further time to provide alternative text if agreement cannot be reached. The duration of both prescribed periods are 28 days but experience has shown that the whole consultation period is likely to take a minimum of three months.

  In the light of these facts, and with the additional period being required for the printing of the final report, publication is not expected before April 1992.

  Transport Police, Scotland
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total number of British Transport Police officers on Scotland's railways for each of the last five years.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  Number of BTP officers

  1986

  177

  1987

  176

  1988

  172

  1989

  175

  1990

  191

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost to British Rail of funding the British Transport police in Scotland for each of the last five years, expressed in constant terms.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I do not have the information in the form requested but the British Transport police have been able to supply costs at 1989–90 prices for the following years:

  Year

  Cost

  (£000s)

  1990–91

  5,192

  1989–90

  5,241

  Disused Railway Lines
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport of which disused railway lines in Scotland, British Rail still owns,(a) the land and (b) the track bed.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I do not have the information in the form requested. British Rail owns some 155 miles of
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  disused railway in Scotland which in general comprise a large number of short isolated stretches of which only a very small proportion contains the trackbed.

  Rail Line, Cowlairs
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the railway inspectorate has given approval to the proposed single-line chord at Cowlairs to join the main Glasgow Queen street line with the line to Cumbernauld; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate gave provisional approval to the single line chord on 29 August 1991. This would enable British Rail to install and bring the new line into use pending an inspection. The works started in September on a new bridge, but work cannot commence on the track and signalling alterations until the bridge is finished, in February 1992. The inspectorate will discuss with BR what amendments may be needed to the scheme in the light of this forthcoming inquiry into the Newton accident.

  Buses, Wakefield
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many bus companies operate within the Wakefield district; and what is the proportion of tendered bus routes within the district operated by each of these companies.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Information about the number of bus companies operating within the Wakefield district could be produced only at disproportionate cost. Information about tendered bus routes within the district is a matter for the West Yorkshire passenger transport executive.

  Rail Electrification
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the proportion of(a) Scotland's and (b) the whole of Britain's network which is electrified.

  Mr. Freeman
  As at 31 March 1991, British Rail had some 1,705 route miles in Scotland, of which some 23 per cent. were electrified or in the process of being electrified by projects approved or under construction. BR had 10,305 route miles in Great Britain, 30 per cent of which were or will be electrified.

  Tendered Bus Services
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total public subsidy granted to private companies operating tendered services within west Yorkshire.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Subsidies for tendered bus services are a matter for the West Yorkshire passenger transport authority and executive. The executive has budgeted for expenditure of £15·1 million on tendered bus services including school services in 1991–92.

  Harbour Revision Orders
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many harbour revision orders have been applied for since 3 August 1988; and if he will give details of the environmental assessment.
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  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Department has received 35 applications for harbour revision orders since 3 August 1988, two of which were subsequently withdrawn. Of the remainder, only three involved the authorisationof specific works projects and all three fell within annex II to Council directive 85/337/EEC. In one of these cases—Harwich, Parkeston Quay—the Secretary of State decided after consultation that an environmental assessment was required. The environmental impact statement prepared by the applicant is still being considered, together with representations on the order.

  Motor Vehicles
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether he supports the CO standards proposed in the draft EC directive on technical inspection of motor vehicles;

  (2) whether he intends the 3·5 per cent. CO standard in the draft EC directive to be extended to roadside spot checks;

  (3) what steps he proposes to take to encourage agreement on the draft EC directive on technical inspection of motor vehicles;

  (4) what information he has regarding the exhaust emission standards proposed in the draft EC directive on technical inspection of motor vehicles.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer the hon. Member to the explanatory memorandum on the Commission proposal (7753/91, COM(91) 244), dated 23 September. The in-service CO testing standard proposed by the Commission is 3·5 per cent. for modern conventional petrol-engined cars and light goods vehicles, which is also the current EC prescribed design limit for new engines.

  The 4·5 per cent. CO standard which has just been introduced into the MOT test is based on the EC type approval limit, including the 1 per cent. manufacturing tolerance allowed for engines coming off the production line. That standard is realistic for vehicles in service, and brings about a significant reduction in pollution caused by excessive emissions from badly tuned engines. We shall be monitoring the results of emission-checking very closely to help us to make a more informed judgment on the merits of the proposal from the Commission, on which discussion in the EC has not yet started.

  The 4·5 per cent. standard applies to petrol-engined cars and light goods vehicles first used after 1 August 1983, and compliance can be enforced at roadside spot checks. There are no immediate plans to apply different standards, but the longer-term intention is to tighten standards further.

  Smokemeters
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to develop accurate smoke testing protocols for vehicle testing; if this will apply to roadside spot checks; what assessment he has made of the Bosch smokemeter and Lucas Hartridge diesel exhaust smokemeter for this purpose; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The Government are planning to introduce an instrumented smoke check into the annual roadworthiness test of heavy vehicles next summer. This will replace the current visual check for excessive smoke. Research is currently in progress to help determine the best form of
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  instrumentation and the best method of testing which can also be used for roadside checking. The two instruments to which the hon. Member refers are among those being considered.

  Heathrow Airport
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve directional signing at Heathrow airport particularly to the motorways.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Directional signing within the airport boundary is the responsibility of Heathrow Airport Limited, and is kept under review by the airport. If my hon. Friend has specific comments on signing at Heathrow, he might want to put them to the airport.

  South London Line
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has from British Rail on the safety implications of the cab design fault on the class 456 two-coach trains which do not meet operational requirements for service on the south London line; what action British Rail is taking to rectify the problems; and when the new trains are expected to enter service.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is imperative that drivers of driver-only-operated trains have a clear and unobstructed view of the TV monitors, or other visual aids, on station platforms. The driver's cab window on class 456 trains was too small for this equipment to be seen clearly from the driving position. The driver's seat was therefore modified to slide sideways to give an acceptable view of the platform equipment. Class 456 trains entered service on 30 September.

  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what temporary speed restrictions there are in force on the south London line to the west of Brixton for safety reasons; and when restrictions are expected to be lifted.

  Mr. Freeman
  Due to the installation of a new junction, a temporary speed restriction has been imposed in the Voltaire road area pending the completion of further track relaying work. The usual line speed of 45 mph has been reduced to 20 mph for a distance of approximately 220 yards. The restriction is expected to be in place until next spring. Also in the vicinity, there is a speed limit of 10 mph in connection with bridge renewal which will operate until 22 November.

  A1079 (Market Weighton Exit)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason his Department has authorised the reopening of the direct exit from Market Weighton on to the Beverley stretch of the A 1079; and what representations he has received concerning this matter.

  Mr. Chope
  The authorisation for a junction with the A1079 at the eastern end of the Market Weighton bypass is contained in the original orders for the scheme. Before the junction is open to traffic its layout will be improved. Written representations have been received from two members of the public in support of the opening of the junction.

  M1 (Lane Closures)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review the closure of lanes in the MI between junctions 41 and 43 to allow better traffic flow during the current resurfacing works.

  Mr. Chope
  No. The arrangements were carefully designed to maintain traffic flow in the area and allow work to proceed and, generally, have worked well.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements have been made to allow continued traffic flow during the current resurfacing work on the M1 motorway in West Yorkshire between junctions 41 and 43; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The work on the M1 between junctions 41 and 43 is being carried out in three separate lengths to minimise delays and disruption overall and especially the effect on the important M1/M62 interchange at Lofthouse.

  Tidal flow traffic management is in operation on the M1 to provide a minimum of two lanes for the dominant peak hour flows. In the morning this is northbound towards Leeds and in the afternoon southbound towards Wakefield.

  Closed-circuit television and recovery vehicles on permanent duty ensure that incidents are indentified and cleared quickly to keep traffic moving.

  Road and Rail Investment
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to publish the technical report

  by his Department on the methodology for appraising investments in road and rail schemes.

  Mr. Freeman
  I am pleased to say that the report is being published today and I am placing copies in the Library. Further copies are available from the Department's publications sales unit, Building 1, Victoria road, South Ruislip, HA4 ON2, at a price including postage of £2·75.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Mortgage Foreclosures
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Attorney-General what is the latest available annual figure for mortgage foreclosures in Northern Ireland.

  The Attorney-General
  In 1990, a total of 2,599 originating summonses for the collection of mortgage arrears were issued in the Chancery Division of the High Court for Northern Ireland. The total figure for all mortgage foreclosures in Northern Ireland is not collected centrally. It is not therefore possible to give figures for possession orders granted, cases where suspended possession orders were made, and those cases which did not proceed after the originating summons was issued.

  Commonhold
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Attorney-General when he intends to bring forward legislation on commonhold.

  The Attorney-General
  The Government will introduce legislation on commonhold and related matters as soon as parliamentary time for it can be found.

ENERGY

  Coal Industry Bill
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations he had with representatives of(a) miners and (b) underground supervisory staff when preparing the Coal Industry Bill.

  Mr. Wakeham
  My Department consulted British Coal.

  Mines Safety
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last consulted representatives of miners or underground supervisory staff on mines safety.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Safety in mines is the responsibility of the Health and Safety Commission and Executive which regularly consult representative organisations.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy to what factors he attributes the safety record of mines owned by the British Coal Corporation.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I pay tribute to the management and work force of the corporation for their impressive achievements in improving safety in recent years.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last discussed mines safety with the Health and Safety Commission and Health and Safety Executive respectively.

  Mr. Wakeham
  My Department maintains close contact with the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received over the last three years about the number of hours which can be worked underground in coal mines.

  Mr. Wakeham
  There have been discussions between my officials and British Coal about the number of hours worked by mineworkers.

  Electricity Supply
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many representations he has received about the charges being levied by electricity companies to connect electricity from(a) renewable sources or (b) combined heat and power projects to the electricity distribution system.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Connection charges are a matter for the parties concerned. Any dispute on the provision of a supply of electricity, including connection charges, may be referred by either party to the Director General of Electricity Supply for determination.

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will place an up-to-date copy of the note for guidance on Government publicity and advertising in the Library.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I assume that the hon. Gentleman is referring to the conventions on Government publicity and advertising.
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  As I said in my reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Wanstead and Woodford (Mr. Arbuthnot), on 28 June 1990, at column 311, a copy has already been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy which company has been retained for the energy and environment publicity campaign.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 5 November, at column 67.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many copies of the annual report of the ministerial group on energy efficiency have been distributed; and what percentage of them were distributed to the news media.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Virtually 2,000 copies of the report have been distributed to date. Further copies will be distributed at exhibitions in coming months. Just over 4 per cent. are being distributed to news media.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy which companies were invited to tender for the energy and environment publicity campaign; and how many submitted tenders.

  Mr. Wakeham
  A number of qualified organisations were invited to tender for the advertising element of the publicity campaign, and a separate group of qualified organisations to tender for the promotional element. All the companies invited made presentations in response, and the appointments were made on the basis of competitive tendering.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the reason for the rise in the estimated cost of the energy and environment publicity campaign.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Further resources are being made available for this new campaign in order to increase still further its effectiveness and impact. The scale of the resources now available demonstrates the Government's commitment to the campaign.

  British Coal
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) which organisations submitted tenders for the appointment as accounting advisers on the privatisation of British Coal;

  (2) which organisations submitted tenders for the appointment as financial advisers on the privatisation of British Coal;

  (3) which organisations were invited to tender for the appointment as accounting advisers on the privatisation of British Coal;

  (4) which organisations were invited to tender for the appointment as financial advisers on the privatisation of British Coal.

  Mr. Wakeham
  A number of qualified organisations were invited to tender for the positions of accounting and financial advisers in respect of the privatisation of British Coal. The appointments were made on the basis of competitive tendering.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will place in the Library the first and second interim reports on coal privatisation prepared for him by Rothschilds.
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  Mr. Wakeham
  No. The Government will come forward with detailed proposals on coal privatisation in due course.

  Power Companies (Shareholdings)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of shares in National Power and PowerGen, respectively, are owned by foreign shareholders.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Details of the current share registers are a matter for the companies and their registrars. I am advised, however, that it is not possible to identify shareholdings registered here and overseas according to the nationality of their beneficial owners.

  Mining
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what is the total of underground workers in coal mines owned(a) by British Coal and (b) others, in the current year and at the end of the two preceding years;

  (2) what is the total underground work force in private licensed mines.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I refer the hon. Member to British Coal's annual report and accounts and its annual reports on the licensed sector, copies of which are in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the total work force involved in opencast mining.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The Department does not keep details of the number of people involved in opencast mining.

  "The Government Information Officer"
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will place in the Library the current edition of the official booklet "The Government Information Officer".

  Mr. Wakeham
  I have today placed in the Library the current edition of the official booklet "The Government Information Officer" which has been in use since 1980.

  Trade Figures
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the changes made since October 1989 in the way fuel trade figures have been(a) collected, (b) analysed or (c) presented.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Fuel trade data are collected by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and there have been no changes in the method of collection since October 1989. The data are published each month in "Overseas Trade Statistics".

  The Central Statistical Office—CSO—uses the trade data collected by Customs and Excise to compile the balance of payments. The CSO make various adjustments to "Overseas Trade Statistics". From 1989 onwards these have included an estimate for any direct exports of crude oil from offshore fields reported late to Customs and Excise.

  The trade data collected by Customs and Excise record import values on a "c.i.f basis"—including insurance and freight—and export values on an "f.o.b basis"—free on
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  board. This is a standard convention used both in the United Kingdom and internationally. The CSO, in compiling the balance of payments, put imports and exports on a comparable basis—that is, both imports and exports are recorded on an f.o.b basis. Again this is an internationally accepted convention. Import data are therefore available on both a c.i.f basis and f.o.b basis and this has not been changed since October 1989. The data are published by the CSO each month in the balance of payments press notice.

  The Department of Energy reproduces fuel trade data in the annual "Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics" and the monthly statistical bulletin "Energy Trends". Prior to 1991 data on imports and exports of fuels by quantity were expressed in tonnes of coal, from 1991 onwards data are expressed in tonnes of oil. Also prior to 1991 these two publications included data on imports only on a c.i.f basis; they now, in addition, include imports data on an f.o.b basis. This follows the convention used by the CSO and means that data on the values of imports and exports are available on a similar basis.

  EC Energy Council
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the meeting of the Energy Council of the European Community Ministers on 29 October.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The Council, which was attended by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy, my hon. Friend the Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory), adopted the SAVE decision, which provides for improved co-ordination of work on promoting energy efficiency in the Community. A draft directive to harmonise energy efficiency requirements for new gas or liquid fired central heating boilers was agreed in principle; the United Kingdom secured the inclusion of cost-effective standards appropriate to the particular circumstances of its domestic heating market.

  The Commission explained the approach it proposed to take towards opening up, and increasing competition in, the gas and electricity markets. The Commission's objectives are supported in principle by the United Kingdom, which is in the lead on progress towards liberalising these markets. No decision was reached by the Council, but the way was paved for the Commission to enter into bilateral discussions with the member states.

  The Commission was invited to present revised proposals on oil crisis measures and to adjust its mandate for Community accession to the International Energy Agency.

  The Council held a detailed discussion on the Commission's communication on energy and the environment. There was widespread scepticism about unilateral Community action and most member states raised serious practical difficulties which remain to be addressed in connection with a carbon-energy tax.

  The Commission presented a report on the progress of the European Energy Charter for the creation of market-based energy co-operation in western, central and eastern Europe, the USSR and beyond.

WALES

  Gower Peninsula (Beaches)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he will take to ensure that beaches on the Gower peninsula will meet minimum bathing water quality standards; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  In 1990 all seven of the Gower peninsula's identified bathing waters met the mandatory standards for total and faecal coliforms set in the EC bathing waters directive—the standards by which the United Kingdom Government, and the EC, assesses compliance. As part of the investment programme agreed with Dwr Cymru to improve Welsh bathing waters, a sewage treatment works and a long sea outfall are to be built to serve Swansea. This £50 million investment will further improve the quality of all the waters in the area.

  River Quality
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he will take to ensure that current river stretches in Wales found to be of bad quality are improved; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The 1985 river quality survey indicated that only 0·6 per cent.—about 17 miles—of rivers in the National Rivers Authority Welsh region's area were placed in class 4—bad quality. The investment programmes agreed with Dwr Cymru; recent initiatives such as those to reduce pollution from farms; and the planned setting of statutory water quality objectives under the Water Act 1989 will result in further improvements to river quality.

  Conwy Road Tunnel
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the problems experienced with the Conwy road tunnel on the A55 road since its opening; what is the estimated cost of overcoming the problems; and what guarantee the contractors have given that there will be no recurrence of this problem.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The tunnel is equipped with failsafe safety systems and TV surveillance cameras which monitor all aspects of its operation.

  All systems are linked to the control computers and video display screens in the nearby tunnel monitoring building which is manned 24 hours a day.

  On 1 November a safety system installed to warn of a possible fire hazard or fuel spillage resulting from a traffic accident in the tunnel activated.

  The video screens clearly showed tunnel maintenance staff that an accident had not occurred. In order to ascertain the cause of the false alarm entry to the westbound bore was necessary The investigation which required the closure of this bore for about two hours established that a heat/gas detection sensor was defective.

  Systems were tested during the commissioning period prior to the tunnel being opened to traffic, but it Is not unusual for minor problems to develop during the early period of operation once equipment is in permanent use.

  The cost of replacing any defective electrical components will be met by the contractor responsible for their installation.
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  There can, of course, be no guarantee that individual electrical components will never fail, which is why the systems installed to ensure the safety of the travelling public are failsafe.

  Empty Industrial Premises
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he proposes to enable empty industrial premises to be occupied.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Welsh Development Agency, the Development Board for Rural Wales and the Welsh Office continue to work actively to attract the maximum amount possible of inward investment and to encourage indigenous Welsh companies to grow and prosper.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many industrial units stand empty in each of the industrial estate locations in each county in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  This information is not collected centrally by the Welsh Office. Information is, however, available on those units owned by the Welsh Development Agency and the Development Board for Rural Wales. The number of units vacant at the end of October 1991 were 438 and 120 respectively, representing vacancy rates of 12·5 per cent. and 17·4 per cent.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he proposes to hold with(a) the Welsh Development Agency and (b) Mid-Wales Development to take measures to attract occupants for empty industrial premises; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have regular discussions with the chairmen of the Welsh Development Agency and the Development Board for Rural Wales about a wide range of issues concerning the development of the Welsh economy.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to commute specific loan charge grants to local authorities.

  Mr. David Hunt
  We will commute specific loan charge grants for housing and urban programme expenditure in Wales on 1 October 1992. My Department will pay a lump sum equivalent to the present value of future grants for each local authority to the Public Works Loan Board or to the local authority itself if any authorities have insufficient Public Works Loan Board debt, though such payments are expected to be small. Annual loan charge grants will then cease. As the commuted sums will repay local authority debt, cancelling out the loss of annual grant, the effect on local authority resources will be neutral. The effect on general Government expenditure will be negligible, because virtually all the transfer payments involved are within general Government spending. Similarly, the effect on the central Government borrowing requirement, the public sector borrowing requirement and monetary aggregates will be negligible, since virtually all the commuted sums will return to the Public Works Loan Board. Within the public sector borrowing requirement, central Government borrowing on its own account will be increased and the local authority borrowing requirement will be reduced by the amount of debt repayment. There is
  199
  no effect on the planning total. The various transfer payments involved have been taken into account in my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's autumn statement.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Car Prices
  Mr. Warren
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is proposing to take in relation to the findings of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's review of United Kingdom car prices; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The MMC's report on the supply of new cars is currently being considered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. The report will be published as soon as is practicable.

  The contents of all MMC reports remain confidential until publication. If the MMC finds no adverse effects the Secretary of State has no power to act. If the MMC has reached any adverse findings he will decide what steps, if any, should be taken to remedy the situation. He will also consider whether to announce a period of consultation before reaching his conclusions.

  BA Engine Maintenance Plant
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date the reference was made to the Office of Fair Trading concerning the sale of British Airways engine maintenance plant at Nantgarw, South Wales to General Electric of America; and on what date he expects to receive the report from the Director General of Fair Trading.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Office of Fair Trading was first informed of the proposed acquisition by General Electric of the British Airways engine overhaul business on 3 September. I understand that the office's inquiries are nearing completion. We therefore expect to receive the advice of the Director General of Fair Trading in the near future.

  Apparel, Knitting and Textiles Alliance
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the Apparel, Knitting and Textiles Alliance about current EC negotiations with Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My Department has kept in close touch with the Apparel, Knitting and Textiles Alliance as these negotiations have proceeded. The AKT last wrote to me about them on 21 September.

  Office of Telecommunications
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any changes will be made to the Office of Telecommunications' cash limit and running cost limit for 1991–92.

  Mr. Lilley
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class IV vote 9, Office of Telecommunications, will be increased 200
  by £618,000 from £6,757,000 to £7,375,000. The running cost limit for the Office of Telecommunications will be increased by £254,000 from £6,037,000 to £6,291,000.

  End-year flexibility entitlement of £341,000 on capital expenditure announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July at columns 186–90, has been fully taken up. A £254,000 additional running cost provision is required for increased pay and associated other running costs mainly for 11 extra staff for new work stemming from the duopoly review. A £24,000 extra provision is required for the associated accruing superannuation liability charge. These increases are partly offset by an increase in appropriations in aid of £1,000.

  The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement yesterday.

  ECGD
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any changes will be made to the Export Credits Guarantee Department's cash limit and running cost limit for 1991–92.

  Mr. Lilley
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class IV vote 4—Export Credits Guarantee Department: administration—will be increased by £2,880,000 from £37,200,000 to £40,080,000 and the running cost limit by £4,257,000 from £30,221,000 to £34,478,000.

  The ECGD's running costs are not included in the planning total.

  The increase is necessary to meet additional costs which have arisen because of the later than expected date for the privatisation of the short-term credit insurance operation. The necessary legislation in the form of the Export and Investment Guarantees Act received Royal Assent on 22 October 1991.

  House of Fraser
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the takeover panel to conclude its inquiries into possible breaches of the takeover code in relation to the takeover of House of Fraser; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 6 November 1991]: This is a matter for the takeover panel. I am not responsible for the manner or duration of any inquiry which it carries out as the competent authority for takeover regulation.

PRIME MINISTER

  Correspondence
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the Departments which no longer ensure that a ministerial reply is sent to letters from hon. Members; and if he will ensure that letters from hon. Members receive a ministerial reply.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have been asked to reply.
  There has been no change in the existing practice.

  Cabinet Office (Costs)
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister if there are any proposals to change the 1991–92 cash limit or running costs limit for the Cabinet Office: other services vote.

  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Prime Minister if there are any proposals to change the 1991–92 cash limit or running costs limit for the Cabinet Office: other services vote.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have been asked to reply. Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for the Cabinet Office: other services—class XIX, vote 2—will be increased by £850,000 from £24,814,000 to £25,664,000. At the same time the running costs limit will be increased by £806,000 from £21,656,000 to £22,462,000. This reflects the setting up of the citizens charter unit within the Cabinet Office which will be responsible for seeing that the citizens charter programme of initiatives, which my right hon. Friend announced to the House on 22 July 1991 at column 765, is implemented and developed. The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement yesterday.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 7 November.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have been asked to reply. This morning my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister had a bilateral with President Bush in Rome. He is currently attending the NATO summit now under way there. That summit will set the future course for NATO to ensure that it remains, as it has been, a bedrock of stability in a still uncertain world.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  University Students
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many undergraduates from non-EC countries were attending universities in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The information is given in the table.

  Great Britain—Full-time undergraduate students—All years

  Year

  Total Non-EC students

  1986

  17,277

  1987

  18,301

  1988

  19,098

  1989

  20,370

  1990

  21,174

  Source: Universities Statistical Record

  Science Budget
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of his science budget is spent in Wales, Scotland and England, respectively.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  In 1989–90, the latest year for which figures are available, the proportions were 2·9, 7·9 and 77·9 per cent. respectively.
  202
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidance he has given the advisory board for the research councils in seeking its advice on the allocation of the science budget in 1992–93 to 1994–95; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have written to Sir David Phillips inviting the board's advice. The following is the text of my letter:

  Sir David Phillips KBE FRS

  Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils

  PROVISION FOR SCIENCE: 1992–93 TO 1994–95

  I was grateful for the Board's advice for this year's Public Expenditure Survey on the resource needs of the Research Councils, the Royal Society and the Fellowship of Engineering.

  I am pleased to tell you that the Government has decided that it is right to make a significant increase in the provision for Science, and that it is desirable to provide a planning framework for future years which provides a rising profile. In reaching these conclusions the Government has been heavily influenced by the array of evidence presented by the ABRC in the preparation for this year's survey.

  DES provision for science comprises receipts from European Community programmes which go direct to the Research Councils, and the balance which is the sum I distribute on the advice of the ABRC, known as the "science budget". The latter (net of the dual support transfer) has been increased by £29 million to £1,002·0 million in 1992–93, by £50 million to £1,056·1 million in 1993–94, and by £85 million to £1,116·3 million in 1994–95. I have summarised in the annexed table the additions and adjustments made to the total provision for science at the start of the Survey from which I arrive at these science budget figures.

  Next year's science budget is 2·5 per cent. higher in real terms than this year's. The figures for 1993–94 and 1994–95 are, respectively, 4 per cent. and 7 per cent. higher in real terms than in 1991–92. I am particularly pleased that the settlement produces this rising expenditure profile which gives the Board and the bodies funded from the science budget a sound basis for the forward planning and management of their basic and strategic research programmes.

  I would like to give some fuller explanations of the adjustments shown in the annexed table.

  Supercomputing

  You will see that the science budget for the next three years includes further adjustments of £0·185 million in 1992–93, £0·165 million in 1993–94, and £0·180 million in 1994–95 to support 80 per cent. of the supercomputing service.

  Dual Support

  At this time last year I announced my decision that there should be a change in the dual support boundary from 1 August 1992. Our public expenditure plans were adjusted to take account of the best estimate we could then make of the associated costs. I made clear in my letter of 8 November 1990 that these figures would be revised if that was proved necessary by the further work I was commissioning.

  In my further letter to you of 29 July, I accepted that further adjustments had indeed been shown to be necessary by the joint study undertaken by the Research Councils and the CVCP. I also announced the transitional arrangements which would apply to grants already in payment on 1 August 1992. I said that we would take account of the further adjustment and of the transitional arrangements in our public expenditure plans for 1992–93 and later years.

  The following sums have now been added to the science budget to provide for the full costs to the Research Councils and the Royal Society of the responsibilities to be transferred:

  £ million

  1992–93

  48

  1993–94

  125

  1994–95

  154

  203
  These figures represent the total additions to the Science Budget on this account, ie they replace the adjustments announced at this time last year. They take account of the transitional arrangements announced in my July letter.

  I have also made clear that the shift in the boundary of responsibilities should not lead to any change in the volume of research which Research Councils sponsor in higher education institutions. I will be looking for clear evidence that the sums transferred are being used by the Councils for the purpose for which they are intended. I should be grateful for the Board's assistance in achieving this objective.

  I should now be grateful for the Board's advice on the appropriate distribution of these sums between the funded bodies.

  Computing costs

  The further work undertaken earlier in the year did not resolve the question of how central computing costs should be treated. The CVCP have since conducted some further analysis, in consultation with the Research Councils, indentifying options for handling these costs. The CVCP argued that these costs should remain with the institutions because the move towards distributed computing systems means that they would be most appropriately treated with other forms of communications systems as part of general

  Des Science Provision 1991–92 to 1994–95

  £ million

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Previous plans

  Science provision

  927·1

  1,030·2

  1,122·8

  plus increase announced in June 1991

  +7·0

  less revised EC receipts estimates

  -2·6

  -3·0

  transfer to IPSR1

  -0·6

  -0·6

  Survey baseline

  934·1

  1,027·1

  1,109·1

  1,136·9

  New plans

  Survey increase

  +29·0

  +50·0

  +85·0

  Supercomputing adjustment

  +0·2

  +0·2

  +0·2

  Dual support transfers:

  from higher education

  -2·6

  +23·5

  +49·6

  from Dept. of Education, Northern Ireland

  +0·6

  +1·5

  +1·9

  New science provision

  1,054·3

  1,184·3

  1,273·5

  Science budget

  New science provision

  1,054·3

  1,184·3

  1,273·5

  Less EC receipts

  -4·2

  -3·2

  -3·3

  Science budget (ie sums distributed on advice of ABRC)

  1,050·0

  1,181·1

  1,270·3

  of which: dual support transfer from higher education funding

  -48·0

  -125·0

  -154·0

  Science budget net of dual support

  1,002·0

  1,056·1

  1,116·3

  Notes:

  Totals are based on unrounded figures and may not always equal the sum of the components.

  1 The funding of the Institute of Plant Science Research (IPSR) is now provided from the receipts from the sale for the Plant Breeding Institute.

  Mature Students
  Mr. Bowls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the basis for assessing maintenance needs of mature students(a) on higher education courses and (b) on further education courses, when such students are eligible for grants; and if he will consider extending the student loan system to mature students in the further education sector.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Mandatory grants are payable for full-time and sandwich courses leading to a first degree or
  204
  premises costs. Your letter of 8 October preferred a further transfer to the Research Councils to allow them to cover these costs as part of the percentage addition to the direct staffing costs of research projects.

  I have considered this issue carefully, and have decided that for the time being these costs should remain with the institutions. I noted the evidence that there is considerable diversity in the provision of computing services, with a tendency away from the main frame computing towards distributed systems. I would, however, like this particular issue to be looked at again in two years time as part of the first review of the percentage addition for indirect costs.

  Next Steps

  Although I am making no earmarked allocations this year, and will be grateful to receive the Board's advice on the allocation of the increased resources, I shall be looking to the scientific community to use the resources generally in accordance with the priorities that were identified in the evidence put to me earlier in the public spending round.

  Since science funding is a matter of considerable Parliamentary and public interest, I propose to follow precedent by publishing the text of this letter in the form of a Parliamentary Answer.

  a comparable qualification, to the HND and DipHE, and for courses of initial teacher training including part-time courses. Under the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations a student who is at least 25 before his course begins is treated as "independent" and no parental contribution is expected towards his maintenance. A student who is at least 26 at the beginning of his course and who, in the three immediately preceding years, had income of at least £12,000 is eligible to receive the older student's allowance of up to £935 a year. Various other allowances in respect of spouses and dependants are available to all students depending upon their personal circumstances.
  205
  The resources of the student, and, where applicable, of his spouse and dependants are taken into account in the calculation of the maintenance grant payable.

  For most courses not attracting a mandatory award, including further education courses, local education authorities have the power to make discretionary awards. It is for each authority to decide its own policies on the courses for which it will offer awards and on the amounts payable. Arrangements for mature students differ among the various postgraduate award schemes.

  We have no plans to extend the student loans scheme to further education students.

  Further Education
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to establish a further education council to prepare for the funding and guidance of further education colleges as they move to corporate status; when and how he intends to appoint the chief officers of such a council; and what timetable he proposes for its early operation.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Subject to the passage of the Further and Higher Education Bill introduced on 4 November, my right hon. and learned Friend intends to establish the Further Education Funding Council as soon as possible. The Bill provides for the appointment of the chairman and the chief executive by my right hon. and learned Friend. The Department will be preparing the ground for the Council by collecting information it will need, and carrying out programmes to help ensure that the colleges are ready for their new role.

  Student Grants
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what monitoring he undertakes of the time taken to make mandatory award payments to students.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My Department does not directly monitor the time taken by individual local education authorities to assess and pay mandatory awards to more than 500,000 students. We are investigating reports of delays in certain authorities, to ensure that they are taking whatever action is necessary to comply with their statutory duties in the interests of students.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will meet representatives of the local authority associations to discuss how the payment of student grants may be expedited.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My Department is in regular contact with the local authority associations on student grant matters. Improvements have already been made in 1990 and 1991 in the grant arrangements to help expedite payments. We have taken actions with individual authorities reported to be facing delays. All authorities have power to make provisional payments to students, pending completion of grant assessments. We will continue to keep the position under review.

  GCSE
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the consultations entered into with(a) parents, (b) teachers and (c) local
  206
  education authorities prior to his announcement of a reduction in the percentage of coursework in GCSE assessment.

  Mr. Fallon
  I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) on 21 October,Official Report, column 362.

  Schools Assessment Results
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to publish the national results of the 1991 assessments of seven-year-olds; and whether he will also publish the results in each local education authority in England.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I intend to publish both the aggregate national results and the aggregate results in each local education authority in England, as soon as outstanding information has been sent to the Department by local education authorities. The public is entitled to accurate national and local information about the 1991 assessments of seven-year-olds under the national curriculum. The results will provide for the first time both a national picture of the attainments of this age group in the core subjects of English, mathematics and science and a baseline against which to measure progress.

  Cot Deaths
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money the Government have put into cot death research in the last 20 years.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid through the Department of Education and Science, is the main Government agency for the funding of medical research. The MRC generally decides the research to support with the funds available to it. The table gives its expenditure on research into sudden infant death syndrome and respiratory distress syndrome for the financial years since 1979–80. Data on earlier years are not available, nor is there central information on relevant publicly funded research which may be undertaken by medical schools, university departments, the health Departments and the health authorities. We also welcome the contribution made in this field by medical research charities.

  £ thousands

  1979–80

  79

  1980–81

  134

  1981–82

  208

  1982–83

  207

  1983–84

  244

  1984–85

  242

  1985–86

  283

  1986–87

  476

  1987–88

  405

  1988–89

  434

  1989–90

  297

  1990–91

  798

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Income Tax
  Mr. Grylls
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate what the reduction in the income tax revenue would be for 1992–93 on a full-year basis and assuming no behavioural changes(a) if there were no higher rate of income tax for individuals and (b) if there were no additional rate for trusts.

  Mr. Maude
  The costs in a full year at 1992–93 levels of income are estimated to be(a) £5·1 billion and (b) £30 million. These estimates are based on a comparison with 1991–92 tax rates and an illustrative indexation of personal allowances and the basic rate limit by 4 per cent.

  No account is taken of possible behavioural changes or of any effect on receipts of capital gains tax.

  Government Deficits
  Mr. Siliars
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those member states of the European Community whose actual government deficit exceeded 3 per cent. of gross domestic product in each of the past five years; and how many in the current financial year plan a deficit of a higher level.

  Mr. Maples
  Data and forecasts of Government deficits of member states are published by the European Commission in "European Economy", supplement A,May 1991.

  House Prices
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a table showing the real increase in (i) house prices and (ii) average earnings in the United Kingdom: and in each of the six founder members of the EC between 1961 and 1973; 1973 and 1987 and 1987 to date: and if he will include an estimate of the amount of consumer debt in each case divided between housing and other goods and services.

  Mr. Maples
  Data for real average earnings growth are published by the OECD in "Historical Statistics 1960–1990". There is no central source of regularly collected data for house prices, or for consumer debt divided between housing and other goods and services.

  Import Penetration
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer why no figures for import penetration overall and by industry have been published in the "Monthly Digest" since June 1989; and if he will publish a provisional estimate of the figures for December 1989 and December 1990.

  Mr. Maples
  Import penetration figures published in the latest "Monthly Digest of Statistics", September 1991, table 15.10, are the most up to date available. As a result of recommendations in the 1989 review of Department of Trade and Industry statistics, which considered the arrangements for collection of economic statistics by DTI and the burdens placed on businesses, quarterly sales data for most manufacturing industries, which are used in the calculation of this ratio, are no longer collected. Data for 208
  1989 and 1990 are therefore not available. A footnote was added to the table earlier this year, to inform readers of the reason for the absence of new data.

  Fraudulent Tax Claims
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals were the subject of(a) civil penalties as provided in the Taxes Act and (b) other prosecutions for fraudulent tax claims over the last five years.

  Mr. Maude
  The numbers of individuals taxpayers and partnerships subject to civil penalties as provided in the Taxes Acts during the last two years were as follows:

  Number

  1989–90

  36,642

  1990–91

  34,327

  Comparable figures for earlier years are not available.

  The numbers of successful prosecutions for false accounts or returns of income, and false claims to personal allowances, deductions for expenses or repayments, during the last five years, were as follows:

  Number

  1986–87

  20

  1987–88

  15

  1988–89

  12

  1989–90

  14

  1990–91

  14

  Vocational Training (Tax Relief)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he intends to ensure that further education colleges will not lose financially as a result of the administration and cash flow costs of operating the system of tax relief for vocational training on behalf of the Inland Revenue.

  Mr. Maude
  The Government's aim in providing that the new tax relief for vocational training should be given at source is to ensure that it will be available to trainees as quickly and as widely as possible. The Government accept that administering the relief will mean some extra work for training organisations. Additional costs will be offset to the extent that the relief encourages more people to train, hence generating more income.

  The intention is, however, that the additional cost should be kept to a minimum and to that end the Inland Revenue is currently considering a number of important improvements to the original proposals in the light of responses to their recent consultative paper. The arrangements will be published in regulations later this year.

  Mr. Bowls
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether tax relief for vocational training applies(a) to payments made by an individual for his or her training, (b) to payments made by a parent or other person or organisation on behalf of an individual for his or her training and (c) to payments made by an individual for his or her training but paid to the individual by a parent or other person or organisation.

  Mr. Maude
  Tax relief for vocational training will apply to payments made by individuals in connection with their
  209
  own training. This will include the situation where an individual pays for the training out of funds provided by another person or organisation, but not where that other person or organisation makes the payment directly on behalf of the individual.

  Non-North Sea GDP
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish(a) the index number for non-North sea GDP, both annually and quarterly, back to 1970, and (b) an explanation of the methodology and component series which go to make up the series; and if he will ensure that the index on non-North sea, gross domestic product is included in the CSO database.

  Mr. Maples
  [holding answer 5 November 1991]: The information requested is given in the table. The series is derived by removing from the output estimate of gross domestic product—GDP(O)—the appropriately weighted contribution from "Extraction of mineral oil and natural gas"—class 13 of the 1980 Standard Industrial Classification. The weights reflect the importance of class 13 activity during various periods for which data are assembled on a given price base. On the final part of the question, the CSO is arranging for the quarterly seasonally adjusted series of GDP(O) less extraction of mineral oil and natural gas to be included on their database.

  GDP(O) less oil and gas extraction1

  Index 1985 = 100, seasonally adjusted

  Quarterly

  1970 Q1

  80·1

  1970 Q2

  80·8

  1970 Q3

  81·2

  1970 Q4

  81·3

  1971 Q1

  81·5

  1971 Q2

  82·2

  1971 Q3

  82·5

  1971 Q4

  83·3

  1972 Q1

  82·4

  1972 Q2

  85·4

  1972 Q3

  85·9

  1972 Q4

  87·7

  1973 Q1

  90·6

  1973 Q2

  90·4

  1973 Q3

  90·9

  1973 Q4

  90·8

  1974 Q1

  88·1

  1974 Q2

  90·8

  1974 Q3

  91·0

  1974 Q4

  89·6

  1975 Q1

  89·7

  1975 Q2

  88·8

  1975 Q3

  88·1

  1975 Q4

  87·7

  1976 Q1

  89·8

  1976 Q2

  89·6

  1976 Q3

  89·4

  1976 Q4

  91·3

  1977 Q1

  91·6

  1977 Q2

  91·0

  1977 Q3

  91·6

  1977 Q4

  92·1

  1978 Q1

  92·8

  1978 Q2

  94·4

  1978 Q3

  95·1

  210

  Quarterly

  1978 Q4

  94·9

  1979 Q1

  94·0

  1979 Q2

  97·4

  1979 Q3

  95·9

  1979 Q4

  96·7

  1980 Ql

  95·7

  1980 Q2

  94·0

  1980 Q3

  92·4

  1980 Q4

  90·4

  1981 Q1

  90·8

  1981 Q2

  90·6

  1981 Q3

  91·4

  1981 Q4

  91·3

  1982 Q1

  91·6

  1982 Q2

  91·7

  1982 Q3

  92·1

  1982 Q4

  92·3

  1983 Q1

  93·4

  1983 Q2

  93·7

  1983 Q3

  94·5

  1983 Q4

  95·6

  1984 Q1

  96·6

  1984 Q2

  96·2

  1984 Q3

  96·4

  1984 Q4

  97·2

  1985 Q1

  98·7

  1985 Q2

  100·3

  1985 Q3

  100·4

  1985 Q4

  100·6

  1986 Q1

  101·3

  1986 Q2

  102·9

  1986 Q3

  104·1

  1986 Q4

  105·5

  1987 Q1

  106·0

  1987 Q2

  107·9

  1987 Q3

  110·0

  1987 Q4

  110·9

  1988 Q1

  112·2

  1988 Q2

  113·2

  1988 Q3

  115·2

  1988 Q4

  116·3

  1989 Q1

  117·6

  1989 Q2

  118·0

  1989 Q3

  118·2

  1989 Q4

  118·6

  1990 Q1

  119·5

  1990 Q2

  120·0

  1990 Q3

  119·4

  1990 Q4

  117·9

  1991 Q1

  116·6

  1991 Q2

  116·2

  Annual

  1970

  80·9

  1971

  82·4

  1972

  85·4

  1973

  90·7

  1974

  89·9

  1975

  88·6

  1976

  90·0

  1977

  91·6

  1978

  94·3

  1979

  96·0

  1980

  93·1

  211

  Annual

  1981

  91·0

  1982

  91·9

  1983

  94·3

  1984

  96·6

  1985

  100·0

  1986

  103·5

  1987

  108·7

  1988

  114·2

  1989

  118·1

  1990

  119·2

  1Class 13 of the 1980 SIC.

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give separate figures for the spending by(a) the Central Office of Information, (b) Her Majesty's Treasury, (c) the Department of National Savings, (d) Customs and Excise, (e) the Inland Revenue and (f) Her Majesty's Stationery Office on (i) television advertising, (ii) radio advertising, (iii) newspaper advertising and (iv) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer on 5 November 1991]: The expenditure by these departments on advertising and other promotional material is as follows:

  For expenditure by the Central Office of Information, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by the Economic Secretary on 30 April 1991 at columns 144–45. The actual costs for 1990–91 were as follows: £51,360,000 on television advertising; £1,640,000 on radio advertising; £38,170,000 on press advertising; and £33,500,000 on other promotional material. The forecast for 1991–92 is as follows: £34,500,000 on television advertising; £1,000,000 on radio advertising; £32,600,000 on press advertising; and £34,200,000 on other promotional material.

  Detailed decisions on estimated expenditure on advertising through the COI on behalf of other Government Departments for 1992–93 are for departmental Ministers.

  For Her Majesty's Treasury, the expenditure for 1988–89 was £49,310, that for 1989–90 was £52,486, and that for 1990–91 was £43,581, none of which was on television or radio advertising. The latest estimate for 1991–92 is £84,193 none of which is likely to be spent on television or radio advertising. The advertising budget for 1992–93 has not yet been set. Comparable figures for earlier years are unavailable because of machinery of government changes and could be given only at disproportionate cost.

  Her Majesty's Treasury is also running the advertising campaign in connection with the BT share offer, which began on 1 October 1991. This includes television, press and poster advertising. It is planned to end just before the close of the offer, which is on 4 December. The costs of the BT sale, including total marketing costs, will be reported to Parliament after the sale, in the normal way.

  For expenditure by the Department of National Savings I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by the Economic Secretary on 8 May 1991, at column 458. The forecast for 1991–92 is now £6·1 million for television advertising and £2·9 million for press advertising, with the other figures unchanged. The advertising budget for 1992–93 has not yet been set.
  212
  Her Majesty's Customs and Excise have not used television, radio or newspaper advertising for promotional purposes. The available information on other promotional material is as follows: £21,000 in 1984–85; £29,000 in 1985–86; £28,000 in 1986–87; £29,000 in 1987–88; £47,000 in 1988–89; £31,000 in 1989–90; and £44,000 in 1990–91. The forecast for 1991–92 is £54,000. The advertising budgets for 1992–93 have not yet been set. These figures do not include recruitment advertising. Comparable figures for earlier years are unavailable.

  Expenditure by Inland Revenue is as follows: £15,000 for newspaper advertising and £300,000 for other advertising in 1986–87; £15,000 for newspaper advertising and £350,000 for other advertising in 1987–88; £20,000 for newspaper advertising and £250,000 for other advertising in 1988–89; £30,000 for newspaper advertising and £400,000 for other advertising in 1989–90; £4,376,000 for television advertising, £2,155,000 for newspaper advertising and £679,000 for other advertising in 1990–91; and £20,000 for newspaper advertising and £300,000 for other advertising in 1991–92. The figures for 1990–91 include expenditure of £6·95 million on an advertising campaign to increase public awareness of the new arrangements for non-taxpayers to register for payment of bank and building society interest without deduction of income tax. The advertising budget for 1992–93 has not yet been set. Comparable figures for earlier years are not readily available and could be given only at disproportionate cost.

  For expenditure by HMSO, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by the Economic Secretaryon 8 May 1991, at column 460. The forecast for 1991–92 is £539,000 for advertising in newspapers and journals and £589,000 for other promotional material. The budgets for 1992–93 have not yet been set.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total expenditure by(a) Her Majesty's Treasury, (b) the Central Office of Information, (c) Customs and Excise, (d) the Department of National Savings and (e) Her Majesty's Stationery Office on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 5 November 1991]: Expenditure on press and public relations is as follows:

  The expenditure for HM Treasury in 1988–89 was £548,264, that in 1989–90 was £564,691 and that in 1990–91 was £510,489. The forecast for 1991–92 is £547,104. The budgets for 1992–93 have not yet been set. Comparable figures from 1979–80 to 1987–88 are unavailable due to machinery of Government changes and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  For details of the expenditure by the Central Office of Information, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by the Economic Secretary on 29 April 1991, at columns 5–6. The actual costs for 1990–91 were £57,365; the forecast for 1991–92 is £66,919. The budgets for 1992–93 have not yet been set.

  The expenditure by Customs and Excise is as follows: £63,000 in 1984–85; £87,000 in 1985–86; £85,000 in 1986–87; £89,000 in 1987–88; £126,000 in 1988–89; £92,000 in 1989–90; £102,000 in 1990–91; and £86,000 in 1991–92. The budgets for 1992–93 have not yet been set. The figures for 1979 to 1984 are not available.
  213
  For details of the expenditure by the Department of National Savings I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by the Economic Secretary on 3 May, at column 354. The budget for 1992–93 has not yet been set.

  HMSO has not recorded any expenditure on press and public relations.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Treasury has sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 5 November 1991]: Yes. On both the 1987 BP secondary sale and the current BT secondary sale, unsolicited direct mail was sent to potential investors inviting anyone considering applying for shares in the offer to register with the share information office.

  Tax Exemption
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all the exemptions available from taxation for the agricultural industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 6 November 1991]: The following reliefs and allowances are available to the agricultural industry:
  The same general rules apply to the calculation of a farmer's business profits as apply to other traders. But in addition, a farmer may claim to average his business profits over two consecutive years of assessment where the difference between them is 30 per cent. or more.
  The Agricultural Buildings Allowance gives relief for capital expenditure on agricultural buildings and structures at a rate of 4 per cent. per annum straight-line.
  For inheritance tax provided certain conditions are met, agricultural property relief is available at two rates. The relief operates by reducing the value of the property bought into charge by 50 per cent. for land with vacant possession and 30 per cent. for let land.
  Working farmers can qualify for capital gains tax reliefs in the same way as other traders. These include rollover relief, retirement relief, and holdover relief on gifts of business assets or shares in unquoted trading companies. Holdover relief is also available on gifts of agricultural property which would attract 50 or 30 per cent. relief from inheritance tax.

  Independent Schools
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the financial value of the tax concessions given to independent schools by virtue of their charitable status.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 6 November 1991]: This information is not available.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Drugs (Caribbean)
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures are being taken to tackle the drugs trade in the Caribbean.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The United Kingdom is active in promoting effective measures to tackle the drugs trade in the Caribbean, especially in the dependent territories. We have provided practical help, training and technical advice 214
  to enable countries to address every aspect of the threat. We have also recently undertaken a survey of drug trafficking and abuse problems in the anglophone eastern Caribbean. The survey makes a number of recommendations including: the provision of specialist equipment to the Trinidad and Tobago drugs squad; the appointment of a regional customs adviser and training officer; and advisory visits by the United Kingdom demand reduction task force. The action we are taking to implement these recommendations is a demonstration of Her Majesty's Government's continuing commitment to help the countries of the region deal with the scourge of drugs.

  SCOTLAND Cot Deaths
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what research he has commissioned into the causes, epidemiology and cure of cot deaths in Scotland;

  (2) what research he has commissioned in Scotland on cot death syndrome.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  A variety of relevant research projects has been supported by the Scottish Office Home and Health Department throughout the 1980s at a cost of £230,000. In addition the Scottish Hospital Endowments Research trust has provided funding of £15,000 for one project.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what study he has made of New Zealand research into cot deaths and of the methods used in New Zealand to reduce the incidence of cot death.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  An expert group set up by the Chief Medical Officer for England and Wales has considered the New Zealand research along with other recent studies of cot death. Its recommendations were announced on 31 October 1991. The chief medical officer and the chief nursing officer in my Department will be writing to all doctors and other professionals in Scotland drawing attention to these recommendations.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice is issued by his Department on the way in which young babies should be laid to sleep to avoid cot death.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No specific guidance on the sleeping position of infants has been issued in Scotland. However, I am aware of recent expert advice that avoiding the prone sleeping position when laying a baby to sleep reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome and will ensure that this information, and advice on other associated factors, is widely publicised.

  Geriatric Provision
  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has undertaken any study of the future demographic trends in Lanarkshire in the light of proposed changes to geriatric provision in the area.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Demographic trends is one of many factors taken into acount in my consideration of proposals affecting the organisation of health care.

  Contraceptive Advice
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Scottish Office Home and Health Department maintains a register of centres providing specialist contraceptive advice for young people.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Such a register is not maintained centrally. Current guidance from the Scottish Office Home and Health Department about the provision of family planning services draws health boards' attention to the need for counselling facilities for young people.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which Scottish health boards provide a specialist contraceptive advice service for young people.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not available centrally. It is for individual health boards to determine the pattern of provision of these services and the extent to which designated facilities are provided.

  Respite Care
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will increase resources to allow health boards to increase respite care provision as an integral component of effective community care; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Although resources will not be separately identified for respite care, the Government recognise the importance of the development of respite care in the effective provision of community care, and health board allocations will reflect this.

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the number of people in Scotland who received eye tests during the 12 months ending October 1991 and the numbers receiving eye tests in the 12 months prior to the abolition of free tests; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information on the total number of sight tests carried out during the 12 months ending October 1991 is not available. In the 12 months prior to I April 1989 1,168,610 sight tests were conducted.

  Operations, Glasgow
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the numbers of patients in the Greater Glasgow health board area who, in the 12 months ending October 1991, have had to be admitted to NHS hospitals for similar operations to those which they have previously, within the same 12-month period, had performed at private hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not held centrally.

  Parents Charter
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what calculation has been made of the additional staffing needs for Her Majesty's inspectorate under the parents charter; and if he will make a statement.
  216
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 6 November 1991]: The proposals of the parents charter have implications for the work of Her Majesty's inspectorate. I am considering how these proposals are to be met in the context of the inspectorate's functions and responsibilities overall.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Custody Alternatives
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional funding he intends to make available to the probation service and voluntary organisations for alternatives to custody projects for young people convicted of burglary and driving away a motor vehicle.

  Mr. John Patten
  The increase in probation service expenditure announced yesterday will enable the service to strengthen its work with these offenders. So too will the extra £1 million a year for the voluntary sector projects.

  Bail Offenders
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the offending patterns of persons on bail.

  Mr. John Patten
  Home Office researchers have been reviewing recent studies by the police and others of offending on bail. The findings will be made available soon.

  Political Asylum
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultation with immigrant groups he has had in relation to his new rules on political asylum.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We made available a draft of new asylum rules when the Asylum Bill was published last Friday. We are in regular contact with interested organisations and will take account of whatever comments they may have.

  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on any proposals he has to control immigration by those claiming political asylum.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  An Asylum Bill was published last Friday. At the same time we made available draft asylum rules. My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor made available draft appeals procedure rules. These measures will allow us to reduce substantially the current misuse of asylum procedures, while protecting the position of genuine refugees.

  Dorset Police
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the level of police manpower for Dorset; and how his Department takes account of the additional resources needed for a county with a large number of seasonal visitors.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  At the end of August, there were 1,302 police officers in the Dorset Police, an increase of 14 per
  217
  cent. since the Government first took office. In allocating increases in establishments to forces, my right hon. Friend takes account of a wide range of factors which influence demands on the police, with the professional advice of Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary on circumstances peculiar to each force, such as the volume of seasonal visits.

  Television Franchises
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has made any assessment of the financial viability of the regional television companies following the acceptance of the new franchises.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No. The Broadcasting Act 1990 requires the ITC to be satisfied that the winning applicant would be able to maintain the licensed service throughout the period for which the licence would be in force. In reaching its decisions, the commission had access to confidential business plans submitted by the bidders.

  Confessions
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to introduce legislation to outlaw convictions based wholly or mainly on confessions in police custody.

  Mr. John Patten
  The use of uncorroborated confession evidence is within the remit of the Royal Commission on criminal justice announced to the House by my right hon. Friend on 14 March. We shall consider what changes may be needed in the light of the commission's findings.

  Industrial Estates (Security)
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning schemes for improving security on industrial estates.

  Mr. John Patten
  We have received no representations concerning schemes for improving security on industrial estates. I understand, however, that an increasing number of businesses are now developing such schemes, often in consultation with the local police, following the example of the first such scheme developed on the North Lynn industrial estate in 1985.

  Drug Dealers
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug dealers have been convicted in the past 12 months.

  Mr. John Patten
  A total of 2,001 people were convicted of the unlawful supply of controlled drugs in the United Kingdom during 1990 and 2,699 people were convicted of being unlawfully in possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply it to another.

  Asylum
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received about proposed changes in the methods of dealing with people who apply for asylum; and if he will make a statement.
  218
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn).

  Police Cells
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are currently being held in police cells.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  There were 1,787 prisoners in police cells last night who should properly have been detained in prisons.

  Security Forces (Murders)
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on his policy concerning the guideline sentences for persons convicted of the murder of members of the security forces.

  Mr. John Patten
  Life imprisonment is the mandatory sentence when a person has been convicted of murder.

  Channel Tunnel
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has received from the European Commission about the exercise of immigration control and passport checking procedures for channel tunnel journeys; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The European Commission has sent my right hon. Friend no advice of the kind to which my hon. Friend refers. Immigration controls and passport checking procedures will be applied to the channel tunnel in ways similar to those applied at the other major points of entry to the United Kingdom.

  Bail
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what conclusions he has reached following his Department's research into the working of the Bail Act 1976; and if he will make a r j 5–1statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  We shall consider urgently the results of the Home Office review of the recent studies of offending on bail and announce our conclusions as soon as we can.

  West Mercia Constabulary
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current strength of the West Mercia constabulary.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  At the end of August 1991 West Mercia constabulary was up to its establishment, with 2,029 officers, an increase of 277 officers, or 16 per cent., since the Government took office.

  Prisons (Education)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the prison population had gained formal educational qualifications before entering prison.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  A national prison survey was conducted earlier this year, based on a 10 per cent. sample of the male
  219
  and a 20 per cent. sample of the female prison population. Preliminary results indicate that 57 per cent. of the prisoners sampled had some education qualifications when they came into prison. Of these, 8 per cent. had a vocational qualification, 36 per cent. had the equivalent of what was a GCE O-level as their highest qualification, and 8 per cent. had a higher qualification.

  Population1 in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales on 30 June 1990: by ethnic origin and age.

  Number of Persons

  Age in years

  White

  West Indian Guyanese African

  Indian Pakistani Bangladeshi

  Chinese Arab Mixed origin

  Other, not recorded2

  All persons

  14–16

  326

  24

  9

  11

  12

  382

  17–20

  6,855

  636

  222

  225

  220

  8,158

  21–24

  8,215

  1,105

  198

  195

  199

  9,912

  25–29

  7,602

  1,465

  205

  182

  179

  9,633

  30–39

  7,726

  1,323

  368

  183

  223

  9,823

  40–49

  3,930

  304

  172

  75

  85

  4,566

  50–59

  1,378

  123

  83

  22

  26

  1,632

  60 and over

  368

  22

  18

  4

  5

  417

  All ages

  36,400

  5,002

  1,275

  897

  949

  44,523

  1 Provisional Figures

  2 Including refusals.

  Conservative Party Conference
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will request a report from the Chief Constable of Lancashire on the policing implications for Lancashire arising from the policing provision required at the 1991 Conservative party conference at Blackpool; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No. It is for the chief officer of the force concerned to decide how a party conference should be policed, as with any other police operation.

  Styal Prison
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes to the regime in the mother and baby unit at Her Majesty's prison Styal have been made following the transfer of two mothers whose babies are aged over nine months.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The following changes have been made:

  (i) Daily routines have been adjusted to ensure fewer household chores for the women in the unit thus allowing mothers more time with their babies.

  (ii) Accommodation has been temporarily adapted to increase creche space.

  (iii) Alternative accommodation has been found for pregnant women and this has increased space for the mothers and babies.

  (iv) Toys appropriate for babies in the nine months to 18 months age range have been purchased. A larger playpen is being introduced in the education department to cater for the older babies of mothers who decide to undertake classes.

  These are initial improvements. A steering committee, chaired by the area manager, will plan further developments ranging from regime enhancement to the expansion of accommodation.

  National Transcommunications Ltd
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by how many staff, by grade, the total complement at the former Independent Broadcasting Authority engineering division, has been reduced in the past two years; what has been the total cost of voluntary

  Prisons (Ethnic Groups)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the age profile of the prison population for each major ethnic group.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The latest readily available information is given in the table.

  redundancies and early retirements; and by how much these changes are expected to reduce the total annual wages and salary bill.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The IBA carried out a reorganisation programme during 1990 and reduced its staff by about 170. When NTL was sold on 24 October, its overall staffing complement, including contract staff, was 779, the same as it had been on 1 January 1991, when the company was vested in the Crown. In that period, 42 staff, including contract staff, left and the same number joined. NTL has assumed the IBA's liabilities for retirement and death benefits for those employees who transferred to NTL from the IBA. Information on the costs is not readily available in the form requested.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what price it has been agreed, subject to contract, to sell National Transcommunications Ltd. to Mercury Asset Management; how many other bids were received; and what assurances he has sought or been given about plans to float off the company.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The sale of National Transcommunications Ltd., which was completed on 24 October 1991, raised immediate proceeds of £70 million, with the possibility of further proceeds of up to £20 million under specified circumstances in the event of a successful flotation of the company after 1993. The sale and purchase agreement also includes comprehensive clawback provisions intended to ensure that the Government receive a share of unexpectedly large profits made from sales of the company's property and intellectual property. National Transcommunications Ltd. was purchased by Mercury Asset Management plc on behalf of its fund management clients. In its bid, Mercury Asset Management stated its intention to prepare the company for flotation when it has sufficient track record in the private sector.

  Following the sale launch in May this year, there were over 50 serious expressions of interest in the company, from a wide range of backgrounds, including manufacturers, banks, broadcasters, utilities and telecommunications companies. We shortlisted three indicative bidders who then had access to detailed information about

  221
  National Transcommunications Ltd.'s business. Two bidders, GEC and MAM, continued their preparations for bidding up until the final deadline. MAM's bid was made in the knowledge of that competition and we were entirely satisfied with it.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what amounts of money over what periods have been paid to Price Waterhouse and Deloittes in connection with the sale and restructuring of the former engineering division of the Independent Broadcasting Authority; and if he will detail by name and amount payments made to any other outside consultants with whom contracts were placed during this process.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Home Office placed contracts with the following outside consultants during the sale of NTL and preparations for the company to be sold:

  Price Waterhouse

  Norton Rose

  Ernst and Young

  Debenham, Tewson and Chinnocks

  Mercer Fraser

  Charles Barker

  My right hon. Friend will report to the House on the final cost of the sale as soon as possible, but information about individual contracts and amounts paid is commercially confidential.

  Prison Population
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State For the Home Department how many(a) remand and (b) convicted prisoners were unemployed before entering prison.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  In response to questions in the national prison survey, which was carried out at the beginning of this year,(a) 44 per cent. of remand and (b) 31 per cent. of convicted prisoners said that they were unemployed prior to imprisonment.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State For the Home Department how many prisoners are related to people who have also served a prison sentence.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  In response to questions in the national prison survey, which was carried out at the beginning of this year, 35 per cent. of convicted prisoners said that someone in their family had also served a prison sentence.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State For the Home Department how many(a) male and (b) female prisoners have dependent children; and what is known about who presently looks after them.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  In response to questions in the national prison survey, which was carried out at the beginning of this year,(a) 32 per cent. of male prisoners and (b) 47 per cent. of female prisoners said that they had dependent children living with them just before they came into prison.

  Ninety one per cent. of male prisoners with dependent children said that it was either their current or ex-wives or partners who were looking after them, while only 2 per cent. reported a dependent child with foster parents or in care. By contrast, just 23 per cent. of female prisoners said that at least one of their children was being looked after by current or ex-husbands or partners. Most female prisoners (52 per cent.) said that at least one of their children was being looked after by other relations. Twelve per cent. said that a dependent child was with foster parents or in care.
  222
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State For the Home Department how many prisoners are married or were living with a partner before entering prison.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  In response to questions in the national prison survey, which was carried out at the beginning of this year, 50 per cent. of prisoners said that just prior to their imprisonment they were married or living with a partner.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) remand and (b) convicted prisoners were homeless before entering prison.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  In response to questions in the national prison survey, which was carried out at the beginning of this year, 17 per cent. of remand prisoners and 12 per cent. of convicted prisoners said that they had no permanent accommodation at the time they were imprisoned.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of(a) young offenders and (b) adults in prison have previously been in the care of the local authority.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  In response to questions in the national prison suvey, which was carried out at the beginning of this year,(a) 38 per cent. of young prisoners and (b) 23 per cent. of adult prisoners said that they had had experience of local authority care before the age of 16.

  Court Hearings
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will ensure that in the period between making a statement and going into court a witness need not have his name declared to the defendant;

  (2) if he will ensure that in the period between making a statement and going into court a witness need not have his address declared to the defendant.

  Mr. John Patten
  Under the Magistrates' Courts (Advance Information) Rules 1985 the prosecution may withold information, including statements giving the names of witnesses, to which the defence would otherwise be entitled where there is considered to be a risk of intimidation of the witnesses concerned. Last year we amended the Magistrates' Courts Rules 1981 to prevent the routine disclosure of witnesses' addresses in advance of trial or full committal proceedings.

  Missing Persons
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the computerised national register for missing persons will start operating; what its staff complement will be; and what financial resources will be allocated to it.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The database which the missing persons bureau will use will be from part of the new police national computer. It is not possible at the moment to give a definite date for its introduction. The staffing and resources of the bureau are still under consideration.

  West Midlands Serious Crimes Squad
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now publish in full the report on the general practices of the former West
  223
  Midlands serious crimes squad submitted to him by the Police Complaints Authority under section 97(2) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  This report was laid before both Houses of Parliament on 31 October and was published on 1 November.

  Anti-racist Organisations
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what conditions are attached to grants from his Department to anti-racist organisations.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Home Office runs a number of grant programmes which aim to improve community relations by seeking to reduce racial discrimination and racial disadvantage. Section 11 grant and the new ethnic minority grant seek to assist the access of ethnic minorities to mainstream services. Grants made from the reduction of racial disadvantage grant budget mainly help business support agencies under the ethnic minority business initiative and projects working to build the capacity of the ethnic minority voluntary sector. Some funding for anti-harassment and anti-racial attack schemes is also provided under the safer cities programme. In addition, the Commission for Racial Equality, which is grant aided by the Home Office, is empowered under section 44 of the Race Relations Act 1976 to give financial or other assistance to any organisation that it deems to be concerned with the promotion of equality of opportunity and good relations between persons of different racial groups. Most race equality councils and a number of projects in various parts of the country are funded in this way.

  Funding under these programmes is subject to a range of conditions, some of which relate specifically to a particular project or scheme and others which are common to many grant regimes. These include conditions on progress towards targets and objectives, the provision of reports and financial information, and requirements that grants must not be used for party political purposes or for purposes for which they were not intended.

  Female Prisoners
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of time spent in custody by female life sentence prisoners released on licence in each of the last 10 years.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information requested is given in the table. The calculated averages exclude persons who have died in custody or have been discharged for other reasons. The information for all persons released on life licence is published annually in "Prison Statistics, England and Wales"—table 8.5 of the issue for 1989, Cm. 1221.

  Death of prisoners under 21 in Her Majesty's Prison Service establishments 1978–19911

  Name

  Age

  Sex

  Establishment

  Inquest Verdict

  2Status

  1978

  Anderson M. J.

  16

  M

  Hindley

  Suicide

  —

  Evans D. C.

  17

  M

  Risley

  Unlawful killing

  —

  Clark C. L.

  19

  M

  Gaynes Hall

  Open

  —

  1979

  Ramsey A. W.

  18

  M

  Liverpool

  Suicide

  —

  Forbes D.

  20

  M

  Lewes

  Killed himself while balance of mind disturbed

  —

  Ridehalgh S.

  17

  M

  Wetherby

  Natural causes

  —

  Redmond M.

  20

  M

  Haverigg

  Misadventure

  —

  224

  Average time served1 under sentence in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales by females first released on life licence 1980–90

  Year of release

  Average time served (years)

  Number of females released

  1980

  6·5

  1

  1981

  8·1

  3

  1982

  8·7

  1

  1983

  8·6

  2

  1984

  8·3

  5

  1985

  9·2

  5

  1986

  10·5

  2

  1987

  10·1

  3

  1988

  10·0

  4

  1989

  8·0

  4

  21990

  9·6

  3

  1 Excluding any time spent on remand in custody, in non-Prison Service establishments or following any subsequent recall.

  2 Provisional figure.

  Mature Women (Health Care)
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the ministerial group on women's issues last considered the issue of health care for mature women; what report was issued; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The ministerial group on women's issues examines issues of concern to women where they overlap more than one Government Department. The group has not considered the specific issue of health care for mature women separately, as this is the responsibility of the Department of Health, but it has addressed a number of wider health-related issues.

  Prison Deaths
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the deaths of all boys and girls under 21 years detained in Prison Department establishments in the last 30 years, or as early as records have been kept, stating in each case the names, ages and sex of the young person, whether he/she was sentenced or on remand, the establishment where he/she was detained and the cause of death.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The table lists the information requested for each year since 1978. Information for earlier years is not readily accessible and could not be given except at disproportionate costs.
  225

  Name

  Age

  Sex

  Establishment

  Inquest Verdict

  2Status

  Lehair P.

  20

  M

  Wormwood Scrubs

  Unlawful killing

  —

  Badger J. D.

  17

  M

  Brockhill

  Open

  —

  Tomkins M. S.

  20

  M

  Huntercombe

  Misadventure

  —

  Merry K.

  16

  M

  Latchmere House

  Natural causes

  —

  Powdrill V.

  16

  M

  Thorp Arch

  Natural causes

  —

  1980

  Grzybkowski R. Z.

  19

  M

  Brixton

  Suicide

  —

  Brown A. B.

  20

  M

  Ashford

  Self Neglect

  —

  Underwood R. J.

  18

  M

  Norwich

  Unlawful killing

  —

  Whittaker D. J.

  20

  M

  Buckley Hall

  Accidental death

  —

  Ratcliffe M. C.

  19

  M

  Swinfen Hall

  Suicide

  —

  1981

  Phillips L. M.

  18

  M

  Ashford

  Natural causes

  Remand

  Shackleton I. A.

  18

  M

  Medomsley

  Misadventure

  Sentenced

  Smith M. A.

  18

  M

  Aylesbury

  Misadventure

  Sentenced

  Wren G.

  16

  M

  Rochester

  Suicide

  Sentenced

  1982

  Caldwell D. V.

  17

  M

  Medomsley

  Natural causes

  Sentenced

  Heather-Hays J. P.

  18

  M

  Ashford

  Lack of care

  Sentenced

  Gallagher G.

  17

  M

  Thorp Arch

  Natural causes

  Remand

  Cooper M. R.

  17

  M

  Canterbury

  Natural causes

  Sentenced

  Walmsley S.

  19

  M

  Stoke Heath

  Suicide

  Remand

  Nagel J. S.

  20

  M

  Lowdham Grange

  No inquest held

  Sentenced

  Grosvenor C.

  18

  M

  Lewes

  Killed himself

  Sentenced

  Howells K.

  17

  M

  Usk

  Natural causes

  Sentenced

  Kurn, D. W.

  20

  M

  Canterbury

  Suicide

  Sentenced

  1983

  Markham D. T.

  19

  M

  Thorp Arch

  Misadventure

  Remand

  Bowley S. G.

  16

  M

  Manchester

  Suicide

  Sentenced

  Abbott M. G.

  20

  M

  Leeds

  Suicide

  Remand

  Overton R. C.

  20

  M

  Hull

  Natural causes aggravated by lack of care

  Sentenced

  1984

  Farrington K.

  18

  M

  Manchester

  Natural causes

  Sentenced

  Deck P. J.

  20

  M

  Winchester

  Misadventure

  Sentenced

  Cash P.

  17

  M

  Swansea

  Suicide

  Sentenced

  Chana S. S.

  19

  M

  Pentonville

  Suicide

  Sentenced

  McLauchlan

  19

  M

  Stoke Heath

  Natural causes

  Sentenced

  Sankey R. J.

  19

  M

  Swansea

  Misadventure

  Sentenced

  Khan L.

  17

  M

  Rochester

  Misadventure

  Sentenced

  Deacon A. K.

  20

  M

  Norwich

  Natural causes

  Sentenced

  Rapter P. C.

  19

  M

  Swansea

  Misadventure

  Sentenced

  1985

  Barrowcliffe I. P.

  18

  M

  Huntercombe

  Accidental

  Sentenced

  Jackson J.

  18

  M

  Wellingborough

  Natural causes

  Sentenced

  Joseph E.

  18

  M

  Hollesley Bay

  Natural causes

  Sentenced

  Ramsden R. J.

  20

  M

  Portland

  Open

  Sentenced

  Harrison F. J.

  18

  M

  Risley

  Suicide

  Remand

  1986

  Cumston A.

  19

  M

  Exeter

  Suicide

  Remand

  Ducatt P. M.

  19

  M

  Ashford

  Suicide

  Remand

  McCaffarey D. M.

  19

  M

  Liverpool

  Open

  Sentenced

  Evans K.

  19

  M

  Lewes

  Accidental

  Remand

  Thomas P. J.

  20

  M

  Risley

  Suicide

  Sentenced

  1987

  Baird A.

  20

  M

  Canterbury

  Suicide

  Remand

  Bailes R. J.

  20

  M

  Ashford

  Suicide

  Remand

  Taylor S. D.

  20

  M

  Stoke Heath

  Suicide

  Sentenced

  Jones G. S.

  17

  M

  Rochester

  Suicide

  Sentenced

  Armstrong J. S.

  18

  M

  Risley

  Suicide

  Sentenced

  Denny K. J.

  18

  M

  Onley

  Natural causes

  Sentenced

  Sturgess N. S.

  19

  M

  Stoke Heath

  Suicide

  Sentenced

  Smith A. I.

  19

  M

  Brockhill

  Natural causes

  Remand

  Marchelak P.

  20

  M

  Camp Hill

  Suicide

  Sentenced

  1988

  McMahon F. B.

  18

  M

  Rochester

  Open

  Remand

  Wood D. P.

  20

  M

  Risley

  Suicide

  Remand

  Skey A.

  17

  M

  Leeds

  Suicide

  Remand

  Elliott M. G.

  18

  M

  Leeds

  Suicide

  Remand

  226 227

  Name

  Age

  Sex

  Establishment

  Inquest Verdict

  2Status

  Ward M. P.

  20

  M

  Manchester

  Open

  Sentenced

  Marfleet D. T.

  20

  M

  Finnamore Wood

  Natural causes

  Sentenced

  Bromley C.

  19

  M

  Shrewsbury

  Suicide

  Remand

  Littlewood D. A.

  19

  M

  Leeds

  Suicide

  Remand

  Burt T. D.

  17

  M

  Glen Parva

  Suicide

  Sentenced

  Greechan C. K.

  19

  M

  Leeds

  Suicide

  Remand

  1989

  Greasby A.

  19

  M

  Castington

  Accidental

  Sentenced

  Barber W.

  19

  M

  Wellingborough

  Accidental

  Sentenced

  Beckett P.

  18

  M

  Leeds

  Suicide

  Remand

  Kewley L. J.

  19

  M

  Risley

  Open

  Remand

  Ellis R. J.

  19

  M

  Lewes

  Suicide

  Sentenced

  Dixon S. D.

  18

  M

  Manchester

  Suicide

  Remand

  Johal P.

  18

  M

  Rochester

  Suicide

  Remand

  McGowan J. P.

  19

  M

  Hindley

  Suicide

  Remand

  Larkman N. A.

  18

  M

  Swansea

  Suicide

  Remand

  Broome T.

  19

  M

  Manchester

  Suicide

  Sentenced

  Mason P. K.

  19

  M

  Glen Parva

  Suicide

  Sentenced

  1990

  Brook J.

  20

  M

  Durham

  Unlawful killing

  Sentenced

  Sullivan M.

  19

  M

  Winchester

  Open

  Remand

  Curry M.

  18

  M

  Hindley

  Suicide

  Remand

  McKinlay I. D.

  18

  M

  Hindley

  Suicide

  Remand

  Hook A. W.

  18

  M

  Hindley

  Suicide

  Remand

  Knight P. H.

  15

  M

  Swansea

  Open

  Remand

  Willerton S.

  17

  M

  Leeds

  Open

  Remand

  Simmonds L.

  20

  M

  Hull

  Suicide

  Remand

  Walsh C.

  15

  M

  Glen Parva

  Open

  Sentenced

  Smith L.

  18

  M

  Brixton

  Killed himself in circumstances brought about by lack of care

  Remand

  1991 (to 4 November)

  Clancy D. B.

  19

  M

  Portland

  Open

  Sentenced

  White L. M.

  19

  M

  Feltham

  Not yet held

  Remand

  Wright A.

  20

  M

  Glen Parva

  Not yet held

  Remand

  Horler J. L.

  15

  M

  Feltham

  Not yet held

  Sentenced

  1 The table lists deaths from all causes.

  2 Information on the status of prisoners who died before 1981 is not readily accessible. Prisoners described as on remand include those who were convicted but awaiting sentence.

  Football
  Mr. Bellotti
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the average costs of policing each English Football League club per spectator for the past three football seasons in order from the highest to the lowest.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is not available.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will arrange for a reply to be sent as soon as possible to the letter of the hon. Member for Worcestershire, South of 23 September concerning Statutory Instrument No. 1531.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A reply was sent to my hon. Friend on 5 November 1991.

  Merseyside Fire Authority
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, following the Merseyside fire risk review of 1990, he has given the Merseyside fire and civil defence authority permission to vary the approved establishment scheme; what assessment he has made of 228
  whether the Home Office minimum standards of fire cover can be met by the Merseyside fire authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  No proposals have so far been submitted by the Merseyside fire and civil defence authority. Any which entailed the closure of fire stations or reduction in the number of operational firefighters or appliances would require our approval to ensure that nationally recommended minimum standards of fire cover continued to be met.

  Extradition
  Mr. Stanbrook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress made to date in bringing into effect the Extradition Act 1989, and in the revised arrangements with other states which are parties to the European convention on extradition and its protocols.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Extradition Act 1989 came into effect on 27 September 1989 and the United Kingdom ratified the European convention on extradition on 13 February 1991. It came into effect in the United Kingdom on 14 May 1991. The protocols to the convention have not been ratified.

  Schools (Fire Standards)
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to bring fire safety standards in schools and colleges up to those required under the EC framework directive on the safety and health of workers at work; which organisations are to be consulted about the new draft regulations; when these are expected to come into force; and who will be responsible for enforcing them.

  Mr. John Patten
  We propose to implement the fire safety requirements of European Community directive 89/391/EEC on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work—known as the framework directive—and the related directive 89/654/EEC, known as the workplace directive, by making new regulations under section 12 of the Fire Precautions Act 1971. The new regulations will apply to places of work, including schools and colleges, to which the Fire Precautions Act applies. The regulations will come into force on 1 January 1993, and there will be a staged application in accordance with the directives.

  The regulations are being drafted in consultation with other Government Departments, which will include the Department of Education and Science; and with representatives of local authorities' associations and other interested bodies.

  In accordance with the directives, the regulations will place the primary responsibility for ensuring fire safety on employers. Regulations under the Fire Precautions Act are enforced by fire authorities and for crown premises by HM inspectorates of fire services. Detailed consideration is being given to how the regulations will be applied to places of work, including schools and colleges.

  It is expected that a consultative document will be available in the spring for an extensive public consultation exercise.

  Joyriding
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the number of deaths in(a) Liverpool and (b) Merseyside caused by joyriders in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The number of deaths of drivers or passengers of stolen vehicles was as follows:

  Year

  Liverpool

  Rest of Merseyside

  1986

  —

  4

  1987

  1

  2

  1988

  1

  —

  1989

  3

  1

  1990

  —(2)2

  —

  19911

  2 (3)2

  1

  1To date.

  2The figures in brackets show the numbers of pedestrians killed in incidents involving stolen vehicles.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has plans to take action against joyriders in the present Session of Parliament.

  Mr. John Patten
  We will be bringing forward a Bill in the present Session to introduce a new offence of aggravated taking.

  Essex Constabulary
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in the Essex constabulary in 1979 and at the last available date.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  At the end of August Essex police were within eight posts of their authorised establishment, with 2,881 police officers compared with 2,490 in December 1979—an increase of 16 per cent. As from I October, we have further increased the authorised establishment to 2,892.

  Concessionary Television Licences
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning pensioners paying the full television licence fee while living in the same block of flats as others paying the concessionary fee; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  In the last 12 months we have received correspondence on this subject from two councils and one firm of solicitors. Since 1 April 1991 it has been the statutory responsibility of the BBC to determine eligibility for the concessionary licence.

  Immigration
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration his Department has given to re-opening the possibility of applications from Commonwealth citizens who wish to seek British citizenship; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Commonwealth citizens may acquire British citizenship by naturalisation. I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the entitlements to registration as a British citizen that came to an end on 31 December 1987, in accordance with provisions of the British Nationality Act 1981. We see no reason to review those provisions.

  Metropolitan Police
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many uniformed officers are in posts in the Metropolitan police at the latest available date.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  On 4 November 1991 there were 23,873 uniformed officers in the Metropolitan police.

  Race Relations
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish details regarding the progress of race equality legislation within the EC; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Government are absolutely opposed to discrimination on grounds of race; and this position is reflected in all our discussions with our European partners on these matters.

  The Government do not, however, regard EC legislation as the appropriate means for taking action to enhance racial equality. The exact legislative position in member states varies, and is a matter for them, taking account of their particular circumstances.

  Magistrates Courts
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of magistrates courts that magistrates courts committees have decided to close in the last six months.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information about individual magistrates' courthouse closures has not been routinely collected by the Home Office which, under the Justices of the Peace Act 1979, has a responsibility in relation to closure proposals only if there is an appeal by the relevant paying local authority.

  Prisoners (Suicides)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners under 21 years old have committed suicide in custody in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold:
  [holding answer 6 November 1991]: The information requested is set out in the table:

  Deaths of prisoners aged under 21 at their own hand in Her Majesty's prison service establishment 1979–912

  Number

  1979

  5

  1980

  3

  1981

  3

  1982

  4

  1983

  3

  1984

  6

  1985

  3

  1986

  5

  1987

  7

  1988

  9

  1989

  11

  1990

  9

  19911

  31

  1 (to 4 November).

  2 Includes all deaths which appear to have been deliberately self-inflicted, whether or not a verdict of suicide was recorded at the inquest.

  3 Inquests have yet to be held on 3 other prisoners under 21 who have died in 1991.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Concessionary Fares
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he would provide financial support for concessionary fares on buses and trains for every pensioner when he or she reaches retirement age.

  Mr. Needham
  The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland is precluded by the provisions of the Sex Discrimination (NI) Order 1976 from making a distinction on age grounds between men and women. The qualifying age for concessionary half-fare travel by bus and rail in Northern Ireland is age 65 years for men and women and there are no plans to alter it.

  Civil Defence
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the maximum level of radiation which the 3,000 Radiac meters used in civil defence in Northern Ireland can quantify; what protection is 232
  available at the sites where these meters will be operated; and what steps he has taken to ensure there is sufficient protection for civil defence staff against radiation.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Radiac meters are capable of measuring up to 300 centigrays per hour. In the event of their use appropriate safety instructions are available for issue to personnel operating in the field.

  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the Northern Ireland civil defence regional Government headquarters has a fully trained staff; whether the building is fully furnished with display equipment to enable the trained staff to process the information received regarding the situation in the Province and throughout Europe; and whether the staff are supplied with radiation graphs to record the situation at each sampling site in Northern Ireland.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Staff have been designated and trained for the regional government headquarters building in Northern Ireland which is fully equipped with appropriate display and recording facilities for the purpose of monitoring information received from within the Province and elsewhere, including Europe.

  Bill of Rights
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration is being given to the introduction of a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Brooke
  Human rights and civil liberties are already well protected by existing legislation in Northern Ireland. I am always willing to consider proposals for strengthening the existing safeguards and I am examining carefully the recommendations in the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Right's second report on religious and political discrimination and equality of opportunity (Cm. 1107). I am not, however, convinced that a Bill of Rights is required.

  Industrial Development Board
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many employees of the Industrial Development Board are based overseas; and what are the total wages and expenses bills for these employees over the last financial year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Needham
  A total of 38 employees are based overseas. The total wages and expenses bills in 1990–91 was £980,067.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Industrial Development Board staff based in Northern Ireland travelled abroad on their duties during the last year for which figures are available; how many trips were involved; and what were the total costs and expenses involved.

  Mr. Needham
  The information does not exist in the precise form sought by the hon. Member. During 1990–91 however, 74 members of IDB staff based in Northern Ireland undertook 139 visits by air travel to destinations abroad at a cost of approximately £370,000.

  Debenham's, Belfast
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the nature and extent of financial assistance given to Debenham's store to operate from Castle Court centre in Belfast.

  Mr. Needham
  No financial assistance has been given.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list(a) the members and chief executives of non-departmental public bodies in Northern Ireland, (b) the period of their appointments, (c) their

  Organisation

  Date

  Volume

  Columns

  Northern Ireland Housing Executive

  16 January 1991

  183

  512–3

  Police Authority for Northern Ireland

  16 January 1991

  183

  513

  Northern Ireland Fire Authority

  17 January 1991

  183

  577–9

  Laganside Corporation

  17 January 1991

  183

  578

  Health and Social Services Boards

  17 January 1991

  183

  579–80

  Northern Ireland Sports Council

  18 January 1991

  183

  607–10

  General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland

  21 January 1991

  184

  30

  Drainage Council for Northern Ireland

  21 January 1991

  184

  30–31

  Education and Library Boards

  31 January 1991

  184

  586–88

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made towards the integration of nursery education.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Government are committed to encouraging and facilitating integrated education where there is sufficient demand for it from parents. In recent years, however, priority has been given to the needs of children of compulsory school age and only limited expansion of grant-aided nursery provision has been possible. A number of grant-aided nursery schools enrol both Protestant and Roman Catholic children and some grant-maintained integrated schools have non-grant-aided nursery classes. Statistics on the denominational breakdown of nursery pupils are not available.

  Personal Debt
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the latest per capita figure for personal debt, excluding mortgages, in Northern Ireland; and what was the equivalent figure in 1979.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available for Northern Ireland.

  New Homes
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the latest available annual figure for new home starts in Northern Ireland; and what was the figure in 1979.

  Mr. Needham
  In 1990 the number of new home starts in Northern Ireland was 7,527. In 1979 the figure was 6,467.
  234
  current salaries where these are paid posts and (d) how many periods of appointment each such person has served, together with the names of their immediate predecessors.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  To provide the information in the form requested could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.

  However, as I informed the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) on 20 June, Official Report column 253, information concerning appointments to non-departmental public bodies in Northern Ireland is given in "Public Bodies" and "Public Appointments: A Handbook for Women's Organizations", copies of which are available in the Library. Details of the historic membership of nine such bodies have also appeared in the Official Report as follows:

  Homelessness
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the latest available figure for homelessness in Northern Ireland; and what was the equivalent figure for 1979.

  Mr. Needham
  It is not possible to give a figure for the total number of homeless people in Northern Ireland at any specific point in time but I am advised by the chief executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive that at 1 November 1991 the number of households living in temporary accommodation secured for them under the homelessness provisions of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 was 205.

  Comparable figures for 1979 are not available.

  Drug Addiction
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the latest available figure for drug addiction in Northern Ireland; and what was the equivalent figure for 1979.

  Mr. Hanley
  At 31 October 1991, 51 people were registered as drug addicts in Northern Ireland. The equivalent figure at 31 December 1979 was 12.

  Benefits
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give the latest available figures for the number of people on(a) income support, (b) family credit and (c) disability benefit and the equivalent for 1979.

  Mr. Hanley
  Social Security operational matters are the responsibility of Mr. A. Wylie, chief executive of the Social Security Agency. He has written to the hon. Member and copies of his reply will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Terrorist-related Offences
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been sentenced to life imprisonment in Northern Ireland since 1970 on terrorist-related offences; and what were their paramilitary affiliations at the time of conviction.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Since 1970, 580 persons have been sentenced to life imprisonment for terrorist offences. At the time of conviction their paramilitary affiliation was as follows:

  Number

  PIRA

  223

  OIRA

  11

  INLA

  85

  UVF

  140

  UDA/UFF

  106

  Other Loyalists

  15

  Bed-and-Breakfast Accommodation
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the latest available figure for the number of people in bed-and-breakfast accommodation in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  I understand from the chief executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive that at 1 November 1991, 92 households were living in bed-and-breakfast accommodation secured for them under the homelessness provisions of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988.

  Devolved Government
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress towards devolved government in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Brooke
  The broad aim of Government policy is to seek to return greater responsibility for the affairs of Northern Ireland to locally elected representatives, on a widely acceptable basis and within a wider framework of stable relationships. With that aim in mind, I am at present engaged in discussions with the four main constitutional political parties in Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Ireland, to establish whether a basis can be found for fresh political talks.

EMPLOYMENT

  Skilled Labour
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his assessment of the effect on the recruitment of skilled labour of the change in the real average earnings of manual workers in manufacturing industry compared with non-manuals employed in the rest of the private sector.

  Mr. Jackson
  The real average earnings of non-manual employees in the private sector outside manufacturing have risen relative to those of manual employees in manufacturing over several years. This may have assisted the transfer of labour to sectors of the economy in which employment is growing more rapidly. There is no evidence that it has led to difficulties in the recruitment of skilled labour.

  Open-plan Offices
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment his Department has conducted of the success of open-plan Employment Service offices and the response of the staff and public; and if he will make a statement.

  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.

  Meals and Drinks Allowances
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what guidelines the wages inspectorate uses in determining what deductions are reasonable for meals and drinks; and what are the maximum amounts which employers can deduct for meals and drinks(a) when deductions for accommodation are also being made and (b) when no deductions for accommodation are being made.

  Mr. Jackson
  Wages inspectors aim to ensure that workers in wages council industries are paid at least minimum remuneration based on the hours they work, the minimum hourly rates determined by the councils and any limit on the amount which may be deducted for accommodation set by the council. They accept deductions for meals and drinks only if these are made by agreement. Workers are entitled to receive their minimum remuneration and not to take any meals or other goods provided by the employer unless they wish to do so. In any case, deductions will normally be accepted only if they do not exceed the cost to the employer of providing the meals and drinks in question.

  Working Hours
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will place in the Library the most up-to-date information held by his Department on the link between long working hours and accidents.

  Mr. Jackson
  The HSE has recently commissioned an update of the publication "Shift Work and Health—A critical review of the literature" by Professor J. M. Harrington. This update, by J. M. Waterhouse, S. Folkard and D. S. Minors and provisionally entitled "Shiftwork, Health and Safety—An overview of the scientific literature 1978–1990" will be published shortly. I will arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library as soon as it is available.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the Government's policy on the European Community directive on working time; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood),Official Report, 5 November 1991, columns 71–72.

  Mines Safety
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last discussed safety in mines with(a) the European Commission and (b) the Council of Ministers.
  237
  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State and my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Mr. Forth) have regular discussions with the European Commission and the Council of Ministers on matters concerning health and safety in industry as a whole, including mining. A European directive detailing minimum health and safety requirements for mines is being prepared by the European Commission which will give an opportunity for more specific discussion on mining safety.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total of fatal accidents and major injuries, respectively, in coal mines owned(a) by British Coal and (b) others, in the current year and in each of the preceding five years.

  Mr. Jackson
  The latest available information on accidents and injuries in coal mines is for 1990–91. The table gives the information for the period 1986–87 to 1990–91.

  Fatal

  Major injuries

  BCC

  Other coal mines

  BCC

  Other coal mines

  1986–87

  15

  3

  952

  30

  1987–88

  9

  3

  729

  27

  1988–89

  18

  2

  685

  25

  1989–90

  18

  1

  587

  23

  1990–911

  11

  1

  501

  13

  1 Provisional

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many safety investigations have been carried out in the current year and two preceding years into cases where people have been asleep underground.

  Mr. Jackson
  There is no record of a safety investigation being carried out by HM mines inspectorate in respect of a person being found asleep underground.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many housing benefit claimants in Liverpool are awaiting payment of outstanding housing benefit; what is the total sum involved; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The day-to-day administration of the housing benefit scheme is the responsibility of local authorities. The information requested is not therefore available.

  Homes (Repossessions)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many unemployed persons claiming income support were dispossessed of their homes each year since 1979.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is not collected. However, income support help with mortgage interest may be paid direct to the lender where the claimant has arrears and it is in the family's interests to do so. Lenders do not normally repossess where direct payment arrangements 238
  are made. On 5 November at columns 94–95 my right hon. Friend the Minister of State announced that we shall be strengthening these arrangements to improve their effectiveness.

  Nebulisers
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his most-up-to-date estimate of the number of cases and total cost of assistance by way of one-off payments for the purchase of nebulisers in the past five years.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is not available.

  Severe Weather Payments
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many more pensioners will be eligible for severe weather payments arising from the ability to claim income support arising from the uprating statement.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 5 November. All pensioners who receive income support are eligible for a cold weather payment.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total of severe weather payments paid by benefit offices covering Nottingham, North constituency for each of the last five years; if he will break down this figure by week or payment; and if he will estimate the number of claimants involved.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is in the Library.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the operation of he severe weather payments scheme proposed for the coming winter.

  Mr. Scott
  The cold weather payments scheme has been considerably improved for the coming winter. Payments of £6 for every period of cold weather will be paid automatically to eligible people as soon as a seven-day period of exceptionally cold weather is forecast by the Met Office or actually occurs. The capital rule has also been abolished, making approximately 400,000 more people eligible for payments.

  In addition some improvements have been made to weather station linkages.

  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current cost of the information received from the meteorological service for the purpose of calculating cold weather payments.

  Mr. Scott
  The Meteorological Office charged this Department £5,984·32 to provide the information necessary for the calculation of cold weather payments for the winter 1990–91.

  Income Support
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many income support claimants, according to the latest figures, are(a) single persons and (b) married

  239
  couples or living with partners, and in the case of (b), how many are childless, or where they have children, what is the average size of family.

  Miss Widdecombe
  There are 3·48 million single people in receipt of income support of which 810,000 have child dependents. There are 690,000 married couples or couples living together of which 330,000 have child dependents. The average number of children in couples' families is 2·22.

  Note:

  For the purposes of this reply, the term "child" is taken to include dependents aged 16–19.

  Source: ASE May 1990.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will supply the numbers for each client group claiming income support for each of the years since its introduction in Nottingham, North constituency.

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

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what plans he has to monitor the effects of the Income Support (General Amendment) Regulations, S.I., 1991, No. 1559, on new claimants who are not covered by transitional protection and not entitled to family credit;

  (2) how many people he estimates will lose entitlement to income support and not be entitled to family credit as a result of the Income Support (General Amendment) Regulations, S.I., 1991, No. 1559;

  (3) how many claimants currently receiving income support will need transitional protection as a result of the Income Support (General Amendment) Regulations, S.I., 1991, No. 1559; and what he anticipates the total cost of that transitional protection will be;

  (4) how much his Department will save on payments of income support as a result of the reduction from 24 to 16 hours in the number of hours claimants can work.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 5 November 1991]: The reduction in the remunerative work rule from 24 to 16 hours in the income-related benefits comes into effect from April 1992. It is part of a package of measures which will result in many working families with children being better-off through easier access to family credit. The estimated cost of the change across the benefits is expected to be around £50 million in the first year reducing to about £25 million in the longer term.

  Claimants who are working, or whose partners are working, between 16 and 24 hours a week and receiving income support at the point of change will not lose their entitlement to that benefit. Around 30,000 of them are likely to be families with children who will be entitled to more family credit than they would otherwise receive in income support. A similar number, about 30,000, will remain on income support under provisions giving them indefinite protection at an estimated cost of £30 million in the first year. It is expected that a further 35,000 parents, who are already working 16 hours or more and who are not yet on benefit, will come on to family credit in due course after April 1992, and that many more people will be attracted into work and on to family credit in the longer term and so become better off. However, because of likely behavioural changes it is not possible to forecast with any degree of accuracy what the net effect might be on claims
  240
  for income support made after April 1992. We will be carefully monitoring the effects of the change in the remunerative work rule in all the income-related benefits.

  Benefits
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to reduce the time between his uprating announcement and the first payment of the uprated benefits.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The uprating date was moved to April in 1986 to align changes in social security benefits as closely as possible with the tax year and the local authority financial year. In order to ensure that the new benefit rates are implemented smoothly and efficiently to all beneficiaries in April, it is still necessary to announce them the previous autumn.

  Mortgage Interest
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has for meeting mortgage interests costs through housing benefit.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Help with mortgage interest is currently given through income support. We have no plans to extend these arrangements.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many questions he has not answered in the last year because of disproportionate costs.

  Miss Widdecombe
  In the last year 70 questions were not answered because of disproportionate cost.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will investigate the case of Mr. Derek Merralls of 48 Worlingham road, London: and if he will review his Department's policy with regard to the payment of unemployment benefit to employees from whom national insurance payments have been deducted by an employer but not paid into the national insurance fund by an employer.

  Mr. Jack
  The case of Mr. Derek Merralls and the Department's policy on the effect on unemployment benefit of non-payment of national insurance contributions by employers is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive of the Contributions Agency. She will write to my right hon. Friend and a copy will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  War Disability Pensions
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much the Government spend anually on war disability pensions; and how many staff are employed in his Department on this.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Net expenditure on war disablement pensions in the financial year 1990–91 was about £570 million. About 1,050 staff are employed on all aspects of war pensions work, including the welfare service.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the cost to his Department of the 90 per
  241
  cent. rebates paid to local authorities by central Government by way of the standard rebate scheme for those on war disability pensions.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is not available. Overall figures for the amount of subsidy for housing benefit and community charge benefit are held, but it is not possible to obtain a breakdown within that of subsidy paid in respect of particular groups.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the local authorities in the south, south-east and south-west which use their discretionary powers to increase the rebates paid to those on war disability pension to above the 90 per cent. rebate refunded by central Government; and what is the total cost to the community charge payers of each local authority which uses its discretionary powers in this way.

  Miss Widdecombe
  In the year 1990–91, 277 of the 370 local authorities in England reported that they excercised their discretionary power to disregard more than the statutory £10 of a war disablement pension. These local authorities are listed in the table. The most up-to-date information held of the total cost to local authorities of operating local schemes in respect of war disablement and war widows' pensions is for the 1989–90 financial year. In that year the costs incurred in respect of rate rebates was in the order of £4·3 million and in the order of £10 million in respect of rent rebates and allowances. It is not possible to break down these figures between war disablement and war widows' pensions.

  Authorities in England operating a local scheme for war disablement pensions in 1990–91

  Adur

  Allerdale

  Amber Valley

  Arun

  Ashfield

  Ashford

  Aylesbury Vale

  Barking

  Barnet

  Basingstoke

  Bassetlaw

  Bath

  Beverley

  Birmingham

  Blaby

  Blackburn

  Blackpool

  Bolton

  Boston

  Bournemouth

  Bracknell

  Bradford

  Braintree

  Breckland

  Brent

  Brentwood

  Brighton

  Bromley

  Bromsgrove

  Broxbourne

  Broxtowe

  Burnley

  Bury

  Calderdale

  Cambridge

  Camden

  Canterbury

  Carlisle

  Carrick

  Castle Point

  Charnwood

  Chelmsford

  Cheltenham

  Cherwell

  Chesterfield

  Chichester

  Chiltern

  Chorley

  Christchurch

  Congleton

  Copeland

  Corby

  Cotswold

  Coventry

  Craven

  Crawley

  Crewe and Nantwich

  Dacorum

  Darlington

  Dartford

  Daventry

  Derby

  Derbyshire Dales

  Doncaster

  Dover

  Dudley

  Ealing

  East Cambridgeshire

  East Devon

  East Dorset

  East Hampshire

  East Hertfordshire

  Eastleigh

  East Staffordshire

  East Yorkshire

  Eden

  Ellesmere Port

  Elmbridge

  242

  Epping Forest

  Epsom and Ewell

  Erewash

  Exeter

  Fareham

  Fenland

  Forest Heath

  Forest of Dean

  Gedling

  Gillingham

  Glanford

  Gloucester

  Gosport

  Great Yarmouth

  Grimsby

  Guildford

  Hackney

  Halton

  Hambleton

  Hammersmith

  Harborough

  Harlow

  Harrow

  Hartlepool

  Hastings

  Havant

  Havering

  Hereford

  Hertsmere

  Hinckley and Bosworth

  Holderness

  Horsham

  Hounslow

  Hove

  Huntingdon

  Hyndburn

  Ipswich

  Isles of Scilly

  Islington

  Kennet

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Kingston upon Thames

  Kingswood

  Kirklees

  Knowsley

  Lambeth

  Lancaster

  Leicester

  Lewes

  Lewisham

  Lichfield

  Lincoln

  Liverpool

  Luton

  Macclesfield

  Maidstone

  Maldon

  Malvern Hills

  Mansfield

  Medina

  Melton

  Mendip

  Merton

  Mid Bedfordshire

  Middlesbrough

  Mid Suffolk

  Mid Sussex

  Milton Keynes

  Mole Valley

  Newark

  Newbury

  Newcastle under Lyme

  New Forest

  Northampton

  Northavon

  North Bedfordshire

  North Cornwall

  North Dorset

  North East Derby

  North Hertfordshire

  North Kesteven

  North Shropshire

  North Tyneside

  North Warwickshire

  North West Leicestershire

  North Wiltshire

  Nottingham

  Nuneaton

  Oldham

  Penwith

  Peterborough

  Poole

  Portsmouth

  Preston

  Purbeck

  Reading

  Redbridge

  Redditch

  Reigate Banstead

  Ribble Valley

  Richmondshire

  Richmond upon Thames

  Rochdale

  Rochester on Medway

  Rochford

  Rossendale

  Rother

  Rugby

  Rushcliffe

  Rushmoor

  Rutland

  Salford

  Salisbury

  Sandwell

  Scarborough

  Scunthorpe

  Sedgefield

  Sefton

  Sevenoaks

  Slough

  Solihull

  Southampton

  South Bedfordshire

  South Bucks

  South Cambridgeshire

  South Derbyshire

  Southend on Sea

  South Holland

  South Kesteven

  South Lakeland

  South Norfolk

  South Northants

  South Oxfordshire

  South Ribble

  South Shropshire

  South Somerset

  South Staffordshire

  South Tyneside

  Southwark

  South Wight

  Spelthorne

  Staffs Moorlands

  St Albans

  Stevenage

  St Helens

  Stockport

  Stockton on Tees

  Stoke on Trent

  Stratford on Avon

  Stroud

  Suffolk Coastal

  Sutton

  Swale

  Tameside

  Tamworth

  Tandridge

  Teignbridge

  Tendring

  Test Valley

  Tewesbury

  243

  Thamesdown

  Thanet

  The Wrekin

  Three Rivers

  Thurrock

  Tonbridge and Mailing

  Torbay

  Tower Hamlets

  Trafford

  Tunbridge Wells

  Vale of White Horse

  Vale Royal

  Wakefield

  Walsall

  Waltham Forest

  Wandsworth

  Wansbeck

  Wansdyke

  Watford

  Waverley

  Wealden

  Wellingborough

  West Devon

  Westminster

  West Norfolk

  West Oxfordshire

  West Wiltshire

  Wigan

  Winchester

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  Wirral

  Wokingham

  Wolverhampton

  Woodspring

  Worcester

  Worthing

  Wycombe

  Wyre Forest

  York

  Child Support
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the organisations which have been invited to comment upon his consultation document "The Proposed Contents of the Child Support Regulations" to be made under the Child Support Act 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The organisations which have so far been sent a copy of the consultation document are as follows:

  Action of Churches Together in Scotland (Law Department)

  Association for Payment & Clearing Services

  Association of British Chambers of Commerce

  Association of County Councils

  Association of Directors of Social Services

  Association of District Judges

  Association of District Councils

  Association of London Authorities

  Association of Magisterial Officers

  Association of Metropolitan Authorities

  Association of Scottish Chambers of Commerce

  Barnardos

  British Agencies for Adoption & Fostering

  British Bankers Association

  British Computer Society

  Building Societies Association

  Campaign for Justice in Divorce

  Campaign for Work

  Centre for Policy Studies

  Chief Adjudication Officer (Chief Child Support Officer Designate)

  Child Poverty Action Group

  Child Support Agency (Chief Executive Designate)

  Childrens Legal Centre

  Childrens Society

  Church Action on Poverty

  Citizens Advice, Scotland

  Commission for Racial Equality

  Committee of Scottish Clearing Bankers

  Confederation of British Industry

  Confederation of British Industry (Scottish Region)

  Convention of Scottish Local Authorities

  Council of Her Majesty's Circuit Judges

  Council on Tribunals

  Derbyshire County Council

  Disability Alliance

  Equal Opportunities Commission

  Faculty of Advocates

  Families Need Fathers

  Family Law Association of Scotland

  Family Law Bar Association

  Family Law Commission

  Family Policies Studies Centre

  Family Welfare Association

  General Bar Council of England and Wales

  Gingerbread

  Gingerbread Scotland

  244

  Independent Tribunal Service

  Inner London Magistrates' Courts Service

  Justices' Clerks' Society

  Law Society

  Law Society of Scotland

  Legal Action Group

  London Boroughs Association

  Lord President of the Court of Session

  Magistrates' Association

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Archway Road

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Ashton-under-Lyme

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Aylesbury

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Barking

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Barnet

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Barnsley

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Bedford

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Bexleyheath

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Birkenhead

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Birmingham

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Bishopsgate

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Blackpool

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Bolton

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Bootle

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Bradford

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Bridgend

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Bridgwater

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Bristol

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Bromley

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Bury

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Caernarvon

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Cambridge

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Cardiff

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Carlisle

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Chelmsford

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Cheshire

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Chesterfield

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Church End

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Coventry

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Croydon

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Doncaster

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Dudley

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Durham

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Ealing

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Esher

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Exeter

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Gateshead

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Gloucester

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Great Eastern Road

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Gwent

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Halifax

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Harrow

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Hastings

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Havant

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Haverford West

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Hebburn (Tyne & Wear)

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Herefordshire

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Hertford

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Huddersfield

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Huyton

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Ilford

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Isle of Wight

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Kingston upon Thames

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Leeds

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Leek

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Leicester

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Lincoln

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Liverpool

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Maidstone

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Manchester

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Middlesbrough

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Middlesex

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Mold

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Morpeth

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Newcastle upon Tyne

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Newtown (Powys)

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Northampton

  Magistrates' Court Committee, North Humberside

  Magistrates' Court Committee, North Shields

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Nottingham

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Oldham

  245

  Magistrates, Court Committee, Oxford

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Poole

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Preston

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Reading

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Richmond

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Rochdale

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Romford

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Rotherham

  Magistrates' Court Committee, St. Helens

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Sale

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Salford

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Sheffield

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Shrewsbury

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Skipton

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Solihull

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Stockport

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Suffolk

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Sunderland

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Swansea

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Tottenham

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Trowbridge

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Truro

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Uxbridge

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Wakefield

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Wallington

  Magistrates' Court Committee Walsall

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Walthamstow

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Warwick

  Magistrates' Court Committee, West Bromwich

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Wigan

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Wimbledon

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Worthing

  Magistrates' Court Committee, Wolverhampton

  Marriage Council in Scotland

  Mencap

  National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux

  National Children's Bureau

  National Children's Homes

  National Council for One Parent Families

  National Council for the Divorced & Separated

  National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations

  National Council of Women of Great Britain

  National Family Trust

  National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

  National Stepfamily Association

  New Towns Association

  Office of Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration

  Office of the Social Fund Inspector

  Office of the Social Security Commissioners

  One Plus One (Strathclyde)

  Policy Studies Institute

  President of the Family Division

  Relate (Marriage Guidance)

  Save The Children

  Scottish Association of Family Conciliation Services

  Scottish Child and Family Alliance

  Scottish Child Law Centre

  Scottish Churches Committee

  Scottish Committee of Council on Tribunals

  Scottish Consumer Council

  Scottish Council for Single Parents

  Scottish Law Commission

  Scottish Trades Union Congress

  Scottish Women's Aid

  Sheriffdom of Glasgow and Strathkelvin

  Sheriffdom of Grampian, Highland and Islands

  Sheriffdom of Lothian and Borders

  Sheriffdom of North Strathclyde

  Sheriffdom of South Strathclyde

  Sheriffdom of Tayside, Central and Fife

  Sheriffs' Association

  Single Parents Under Attack

  Social Security Advisory Committee

  Society of Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers

  Solicitors Family Law Association

  Spastics Society

  Trades Union Congress

  Wages for Housework Campaign

  Women's National Commission

  246
  Womens Aid Federation

  Copies have also gone to a number of individual representatives of employers' and banking organisations.

  A copy has been placed in the Library. Further copies are available in the Vote Office and from the Department of Social Security.

  A separate consultation exercise is being held in Northern Ireland. Copies of the document have been sent to the following organisations.

  Barnardos (Northern Ireland)

  Belfast Law Centre

  Building Societies Association

  Catholic Family Care

  Child Care (Northern Ireland)

  Child Poverty Action Group (Northern Ireland)

  Citizens Advice Bureau (Northern Ireland)

  Confederation of British Industry (Northern Ireland)

  Equal Opportunities Commission (Northern Ireland)

  Enforcement of Judgements Office

  Family Law Association (Northern Ireland)

  Gingerbread (Northern Ireland)

  Law Society (Northern Ireland)

  Northern Ireland Bankers' Association

  Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  Northern Ireland Court Service

  Northern Ireland Resident Maistrates Association

  Northern Ireland Office of Law Reform

  NSPCC (Northern Ireland)

  Relate (Northern Ireland)

  Save the Children (Northern Ireland)

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Water Protection
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to assess the impact of the code of good agricultural practice for the protection of water.

  Mr. Curry
  The main indications to date of the success of this recently published document have been the high demand for it and the warm welcome that it has received from the NRA and other interested organisations. Our officials will be discussing with these organisations how best to monitor its impact.

  Wild-caught Birds
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will discuss the trade in wild-caught birds at the next meeting of the Council of Ministers.

  Mr. Curry
  A new Community directive on the protection of animals, including birds, during transport was agreed in the Agricultural Council on 21–22 October. Following pressure from the United Kingdom the directive requires additional rules to be established to address the welfare problems in the trade in wild birds. We will be pressing for an early decision on this matter. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is also seeking to place the topic on the agenda for the Environment Council on 9 December 1991.

  Salmon
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he will list all the bodies and individuals from whom he received formal or informal representations about the east coast salmon fisheries between the date when the report on the fisheries was first
  247
  delivered to his Department and the date of its publication; and whether he will list any further bodies or individuals whom he consulted on the matter;

  (2) if he will list the changes made to the text of the report on east coast salmon fisheries between the day it was delivered to his Department and the day it was published.

  Mr. Curry
  We received very many representations on the matter of the statutory review of the east coast salmon net fisheries, dating from the undertaking to prepare a review which was given to Parliament during the passage of the Salmon Bill in 1986, until its presentation to Parliament in October 1991. There were, however, no consultations about the report or its contents which, as section 39 of the Act makes clear, are matters for my right hon. Friends the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Scotland to consider and present to Parliament. As the report itself describes, scientists from the Fisheries Department of MAFF and the Scottish Office prepared a very detailed background document for us. The only significant change made to it after its receipt involved revisions to the text to reflect the 1990 catch data which later became available for the review area. This updating was mentioned to the House by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House on 22 July.

  Common Agricultural Policy Products
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will bring up to date the information on sheepmeat and on common agricultural policy product sales in his written answers dated 28 April 1986,Official Report, columns 315–16.

  Mr. Curry
  The following figures show the amount by which the average market price of sheepmeat fell short of the guide price during the marketing years 1986 to 1990:

  Year

  Great Britain

  Northern Ireland

  p/kg

  P/kg

  1986

  42·2

  33·5

  1987

  43·1

  26·1

  1988

  69·7

  38·7

  1989

  62·2

  44·2

  1990

  83·7

  87·2

  The average market prices for sheepmeat for the week beginning 14 October are currently forecast as being below the seasonal guide price by 125p/kg for Great Britain and 89p/kg for Northern Ireland, but because of seasonal variations this is not an indication of the eventual figure for the marketing year.

  The following table gives updated details of exports of selected common agricultural policy commodities to non-EC countries in 1990. Expenditure on export refunds in 1990 was 7,722 million ecu.

  '000 tonnes

  EC12

  Wheat

  16,635

  Wheat flour

  2,907

  Barley

  9,655

  Malt

  1,350

  Rice

  370

  Sugar1

  5,035

  of which: raw sugar1

  35

  refined sugar

  5,000

  248

  '000 tonnes

  EC12

  Olive oil

  177

  Oilseeds

  59

  Whole milk powder

  502

  Skimmed milk powder

  324

  Condensed milk

  349

  Butter and buttermilk

  199

  Beef and veal

  647

  Sheepmeat

  6

  Pigmeat

  298

  Poultrymeat

  414

  Eggs

  100

  Wine

  1,168

  1 Includes raw sugar converted to white sugar equivalent: 1 tonne raw sugar=0·92 tonnes white sugar.

  Source: Eurostat.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish a table showing for the principal agricultural products regulated under the common agricultural policy the amount of levy payable on importation from non-EEC countries, the amount of the levy and any customs duties payable, the latest United Kingdom price, the intervention or threshold price, the target price and the world price.

  Mr. Curry
  Information on intervention, threshold and target prices was set out in the note deposited in the Library of the House giving details of the common agricultural policy prices settlement 1991–92. Details of customs duties are contained in the "Integrated Tariff of the United Kingdom", a copy of which is in the Library of the House. The remainder of the information requested is set out for the main commodities in tables 1 and 2. The world prices shown in table 1 are generally the lowest offer prices at the Community frontier underlying the Commission's calculation of variable import levies. I would remind the hon. Member that these are the lowest prices recorded and it is almost certain that higher prices on average would have to be paid for supplies if existing agricultural support policies were dismantled. The world prices shown do not necessarily relate to the same quality or presentation of products for which United Kingdom market prices are set out in table 2.

  Table 1

  Levy applicable in the United Kingdom and notional " World" price (a) on 26 October 1991 for the main traded agricultural commodities

  Levy (b) applicable in the UK

  Notional "world" price

  (£/tonne)

  (£/tonne)

  Common wheat

  119

  67

  Barley

  109

  61

  Maize

  95

  75

  Rice

  277

  157

  Sugar

  (c) 340

  170

  Olive oil

  468

  1,043

  Butter

  (d) 1,984

  637

  Skimmed milk powder

  920

  630

  Cheese (Cheddar)

  1,794

  956

  Beef and veal

  (e) 1,990

  1,079

  Pigmeat

  521

  754

  Sheepmeat

  (f) n/a

  n/a

  Poultrymeat

  281

  903

  Eggs

  274

  679

  Note:

  (a) "World" prices have been calculated by subtracting the levy applicable on 26 October from the threshold/guide price. The beef price is also adjusted for duty. In the case of pigmeat, poultrymeat

  249
  and eggs, the "world" price has been taken as the sluicegate price for the headings defined in (b) below. The resulting estimate has been converted from ECU/t at the appropriate market rate of exchange of £0·806057=1 ECU.

  (b) The rates of levy vary for different tariff headings. The rates quoted are: beef and veal—carcase; pigmeat—carcase; poultrymeat—70 per cent. chickens; rice—husked long grain; olive oil—virgin lampante: eggs—in shell.

  (c) In practice the United Kingdom's imports from third countries are normally covered by the Lome Convention and enter the Community levy-free.

  (d) A special lower rate of levy is applicable to imports of butter from New Zealand.

  (e) Most imports of beef from third countries are subject to special arrangements allowing entry at reduced levy rates.

  (f) Imports of lamb under voluntary restraint arrangements with principal suppliers and related agreements enter free of charge. Any imports outside these arrangements are subject to levies which cannot exceed the 20 per cent. tariff bound in the GATT.

  Table 2

  Selected average market/wholesale prices United Kingdom

  Prices are for week ending 26 October 1991 unless otherwise stated

  £/tonne

  Wheat (grower to merchant price, all purchases, England and Wales)

  1125

  Barley (grower to merchant price, all purchases, England and Wales)

  1117

  Maize (USA cif N. Europe)

  2117

  Rice (US long grain rice 10 per cent, maximum broken)

  3657

  Sugar (Refined bulk granulated)

  583

  Butter (Great Britain salted)

  2,123

  Skimmed Milk Powder

  41,450

  Cheddar Cheese (English mild white creamery)

  2,075

  Fat Cattle (Great Britain all clean cattle, liveweight)

  1,036

  Beef (Scotch killed sides, Smithfield)

  2,127

  Fat Sheep (Certified Great Britain, estimated dressed carcase weight)

  1,108

  Fat Pigs (All pigs, deadweight)

  963

  Poultry Meat (Broilers, liveweight)

  547

  Eggs (Size 3, packer to producer price)

  491

  Olive oil

  5—

  June 1990 England and Wales (excluding minor holdings)

  Table 1. Holdings by crops and grass size groups

  Hectares

  <50

  50–<100

  100–<200

  200 and over

  Total

  Holdings (thousands)

  115·4

  31·1

  17·1

  7·9

  171·5

  Crops and grass (thousands hectares)

  2,035·3

  2,197·9

  2,348·5

  2,707·6

  9,289·3

  Table 2. Holdings by beef cow size groups

  Head

  1–9

  10–39

  40–49

  50 and over

  Total

  Holdings (thousands)

  22·5

  £7·1

  2·0

  4·3

  45·8

  Beef cows (thousand head)

  87·7

  347·5

  86·8

  357·9

  879·9

  Table 3. Holdings by dairy cow size groups

  Head

  <50

  50–69

  70–99

  100 and over

  Total

  Holdings (thousand)

  15·8

  6·4

  6·3

  6·7

  35·1

  Dairy cows (thousand head)

  425·1

  373·1

  518·6

  1,007·6

  2,324·4

  Table 4. Holdings by total cereals (excluding maize) size groups

  Hectares

  <40

  40–<50

  50–<10

  100–<150

  150 and over

  Total

  Holdings (thousand)

  38·2

  3·9

  10·4

  4·3

  4·5

  61·3

  Total cereals (thousand ha.)

  571·1

  172·6

  739·8

  527·8

  1,116·5

  3,127·8

  250
  Note: A wide range of price quotations exists for individual commodities depending on quality, presentation, stage of marketing etc. Those shown are intended generally to be illustrative of prices paid by wholesalers or received by producers. Some prices are highly seasonal.

  1Week ending 24 October: prices are before deducting co-responsibility levy.

  2Prices unquoted since 14 September. Average price listed latest average levy as at 24 October.

  3Weeek ending 31 October.

  4Average price for month of October.

  5Prices range from £1,611–£3,683/tonne, with `Lampante' Spanish Origin at £2,141/tonne.

  Farms
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish a table showing the concentration of agricultural land holdings and the decline in the number of farmers since 1961 in the United Kingdom and other EC countries.

  Mr. Curry
  This information is not available in the form requested.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish a table showing the number of(a) holdings and (b) owners accounting for 25 per cent. and 50 per cent. of (i) farm land, excluding woodland and rough grazing, (ii) beef cattle, (iii) dairy cattle, (iv) cereals, (v) rapeseed and (vi) sugar beet.

  Mr. Curry
  The information requested is not readily available in the form requested. However, the following tables show for England and Wales, for 1990, the distribution of holdings by size in respect of each of items requested. Information on ownership is not available.
  251

  Table 5. Holdings by oilseed rape size groups

  Hectares

  <10

  10–<20

  20–<50

  50 and over

  Total

  Holdings (thousand)

  2·8

  4·1

  4·7

  1·5

  13·1

  Oilseed rape (thousand ha.)

  18·9

  58·5

  144·3

  121·5

  343·2

  Table 6. Holdings by sugar beet size groups

  Hectares

  <5

  5–<20

  20–<40

  40 and over

  Total

  Holdings (thousand)

  2·1

  5·4

  1·9

  1·1

  10·5

  Sugar beet (thousand ha.)

  6·3

  57·8

  51·7

  78·3

  194·1

  Meat
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the new regulations under the Food Safety Act 1990, to control illegal drug residues in meat, will be enforced.

  Mr. Maclean
  The new regulations will be enforced at slaughterhouses and on farm by members of the state veterinary service carrying out checks on meat and animals. Similarly, local authorities will be responsible for meat sold at retail outlets.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the proportion of costs of implementing the environmentally sensitive areas policy constituted by(a) administration, (b) monitoring, (c) payments to farmers and (d) other costs.

  Mr. Curry
  Over the period 1986–87 to 1990–91, the payments to farmers in England have accounted for approximately 75 per cent. of the total costs of the ESA scheme, the balance being taken up by administration which includes conservation advice to participating farmers and monitoring to assess the economic and environmental impacts of the scheme. It is not possible to provide a precise breakdown between the administrative and monitoring costs, but they have been broadly equal.

  Sheep and Goat Milk
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to announce standards for the commercial production of sheep and goat milk; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  The European Commission has proposed a new Community-wide milk hygiene framework covering milk and milk products from cows, goats, sheep and buffaloes. This is intended to come into force on 1 January 1993. The Government are pressing for effective progress to be made in negotiations so that realistic standards can be introduced by this date or as soon as possible thereafter. In the meantime, the production and sale of goat and sheep milk continues to be subject to the general provisions of the Food Safety Act 1990, general food hygiene and labelling regulations and specific codes of practice.

DEFENCE

  Sea Training Facilities
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sea training facilities are currently available at HMS Wessex, HMS Sussex and HMS Claverhouse; and what is their current usage rate.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  HMS Wessex, HMS Sussex and HMS Claverhouse have River class minesweepers; HMS Itchen, HMS Arun and HMS Spey respectively. The time spent at sea is approximately 20 per cent. of the time available when allowance is made for the ships to undergo essential maintenance and repair. In addition to training at sea other essential training activities are conducted alongside.

  Fishery Protection
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Royal Navy has been able to meet the requirement for fishery protection in 1991–92; which ships are currently committed to the coastal division of the fishery protection squadron; and what plans he has to fulfil the fishery protection requirement in 1992–93.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Royal Navy fishery protection squadron is on target to meet the level of patrolling for 1991–92 agreed with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department. HMS Blackwater, Soberton, Brinton, Kellington, Sheraton and Iveston are currently assigned to the coastal division of the fishery protection squadron. Plans for fishery protection in 1992–93 have not yet been decided.

  Minesweepers
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those River class minesweepers currently in service, together with their current squadron allocation and tasks.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The following River class minesweepers are in service:

  HMS Blackwater, HMS Arun, HMS Carron,

  HMS Dovey, HMS Helford, HMS Humber, HMS Orwell,

  HMS Spey, HMS Waveney, HMS Itchen.

  HMS Blackwater is employed on fishery protection duties with the fishery protection squadron, HMS Itchen is in refit and the remainder are allocated to the 10th mine counter-measures squadron and are used for sea training by the Royal Naval Reserve.

  HMS Humber and Helmsdale
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when HMS Humber and HMS Helmsdale were commissioned; what was their planned length of service; and why they are to be placed in reserve.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  HMS Humber was commissioned on 7 June 1985; HMS Helmsdale was commissioned on 1 March 1986. It is not our practice to disclose the planned length of service for vessels. Placing HMS Helmsdale and HMS Ribble, but not HMS Humber, in reserve enables reductions in running costs to be made while retaining the ships, which can be prepared for operations at short notice, as part of our MCM capability.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what date he replied to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall, North dated 5 August 1991 concerning a service medal for a constituent; on what date his Department wrote directly to the constituent; on what date a copy of his Department's letter to the constituent was sent to the hon. Member; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make it his practice to reply directly to the hon. Member when he receives a letter from an hon. Member dealing with a constituent's cases.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will write to the hon. Member.

HEALTH

  Ealing Health Authority
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the expenditure in real and cash terms by(a) Ealing health authority and (b) Ealing hospital since the inception of each; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Figures of total revenue expenditure recorded in the annual accounts of Ealing health authority since its establishment on 1 April 1982 are shown in the table. The information about Ealing hospital is not held centrally. My hon. Friend may wish to write to Lady Eccles of Moulton, the chairman of Ealing health authority, for details.

  £000 cash

  £000 at 1990–1991 prices

  1982–83

  34,522

  53,674

  1983–84

  36,235

  53,850

  1984–85

  39,602

  56,008

  1985–86

  40,265

  54,003

  1986–87

  44,131

  57,230

  1987–88

  46,772

  57,520

  1988–89

  53,102

  60,862

  1989–90

  58,157

  62,664

  1990–91

  62,729

  62,729

  Note: Figures for the earlier years have been expressed at 1990–91 prices by the use of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) deflator.

  Road Accidents
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many hospitals imposed the charges for emergency treatment after road accidents, as laid down in sections 157 and 158 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 in each year since 1988; and what are the average charges;

  (2) when (a) Guy's and (b) Lewisham hospitals introduced the charges for emergency treatment after road accidents, as laid down in sections 157 and 158 of the Road Traffic Act 1988; and what are the average charges for (a) Guy's and (b) Lewisham hospitals in each year since their introduction.

  Mr. Dorrell
  All health authorities and NHS trusts may collect an emergency treatment fee, at a flat rate of £19·30, for immediate medical attention required following a road traffic accident and they may also collect charges for any subsequent in or out-patient treatment, up to ceilings of £2,667 and £267 respectively. Provision for these charges was made in the Road Traffic Acts 1930, 1933 and 1934 and has been carried forward in later legislation by successive Governments. Motorists are legally required to insure against these charges and those for subsequent in and out-patient treatment are collected direct from insurance companies.

  Bio Products Laboratory
  Mr. Bellotti
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what measures the Bio Products Laboratory has introduced to conform to fair trading and fair competition practices as currently apply to the commercial plasma industry in the United Kingdom since 1 April;

  (2) from what date the Bio Products Laboratory will start charging for whole blood and plasma derivative products such as Albumin and Factor VIII at prices that accurately reflect the total costs including blood and plasma collection, Factor VIII BSM royalty and product licence application fee costs;

  (3) what measures are being taken to ensure the maintenance of a free market and free competition between the public and private plasma industry; and how clinical choice, pricing, research and development, investment and patient safety will be maintained.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  It has been the policy of successive Governments that this country should be self-sufficient in blood products derived from plasma donated by our unpaid voluntary donors. This position is consistent with the more recent decision by the European Community to promote a policy of Community self-sufficiency based on voluntary blood donation.

  We also recognise that doctors should be free to prescribe the most appropriate product for their patients in the light of the available clinical information. NHS clinicians may, therefore, prescribe blood products from commercial suppliers and not just those from the Bio Products Laboratory.

  Within the overall policy we intend that BPL should compete fairly in terms of the service, quality, and price of its blood products.

  For this reason we introduced cross-charging in 1989 and reversed the previous arrangements whereby BPL products were supplied free of charge in return for plasma. The removal of Crown immunity from 1 April 1991 brought the BPL products within the scope of the formal licensing arrangements under the Medicines Act.

  Nottingham DHA
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health by how much Nottingham district health authority overspent or underspent in each of the last five financial years; and what estimate he has of projected overspend in the current year.

  Mr. Dorrell
  District health authorities are financially accountable to their regional health authorities. The hon. Member may wish to contact Sir Michael Carlisle, the chairman of Trent regional health authority, for details.

  Health Benefits
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the certificates issued under the low income scheme for health benefits in 1990–91 were for(a) full exemption and (b) partial exemption.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  During the 1990–91 financial year the number of certificates issued totalled 887,722. Of these, 398,429 were for full exemption and 489,293 partial exemption.

  Income Generation
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance is given to the private health sector arising from the work of the income generation unit; and what fees are paid for such services.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The income generation unit promoted closer co-operation between the NHS and the private sector. This development contributed significantly to the estimated £50 million contribution to NHS resources which was made by the income generation initiative in 1990–91.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much income has been generated in the NHS for each of the financial years 1989–90 and 1990–91 both in total and in the following areas,(a) commercial concessions to retailers and other businesses, (b) advertising facilities, (c) catering services, (d) sale of services, including health screening, child minding, waste disposal and heating, (e) car parking facilities and (f) the sale of goods, equipment and materials.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Information is not collected centrally in the form requested. The net benefit to the NHS from income generation activity in 1989–90 was £25·8 million and reports for 1990–91 are expected to reveal a net benefit of around £50 million.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the income generation projects undertaken by the Trent regional health authority which were developed and implemented with the help of the income generation unit, together with the amounts of income generated from each project.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The role of the income generation unit was to promulgate advice generally and Trent in common with other regions benefited from that advice. But as was the case with all regions, it was open to Trent to seek advice from the central unit at any time and on any matter as the need arose.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what forms of advice the income generation unit provides to hospital trusts.
  256
  Mr. Dorrell
  The income generation unit gave advice to NHS trusts in the same way as it provided advice to all other authorities and units of the NHS.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give details of the national policy on income generation that has been formulated by the income generation unit.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The policy of the NHS is to promote the generation of secondary income from outside the NHS in any way feasible which is profitable, ethical and within the law, provided that the schemes are not in conflict with the broad aims of the NHS. The fundamental principle underpinning all income generation activity is that it should not adversely affect NHS patient care.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will arrange for the production and publication of an annual report on the work of the income generation unit.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The unit no longer exists.

  Contraceptive Advice
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Department of Health maintains a register of centres providing specialist contraceptive advice for young people.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No. It is for individual health authorities to determine and arrange provision of the family planning services appropriate to particular local needs. Health authorities have been asked to bear in mind the need for separate, less formal arrangements for young people.

  Hospital Trusts
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out the starting salary for each chief executive of a hospital trust and the latest salary in each case.

  Mr. Dorrell
  NHS trust chief executives are employed by their trust board; their terms and conditions of service are a matter for them.

  Incontinence Pads
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the average number of incontinence pads supplied daily free by local health authorities;

  (2) if he will list the local health authorities which have been charging for incontinence pads; and if such payments continue.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not held centrally.

  Liverpool Children's Hospital
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last visited the Royal Liverpool Children's hospital, Alder Hey; whom he met; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I visited the Royal Liverpool children's hospital, Alder Hey, on 21 June this year. During my visit I saw the recently upgraded oncology and haematology ward and the paediatric intensive care unit
  257
  and had the opportunity to meet many senior clinicians and members of the nursing staff, patients and parents to discuss the various methods of care and treatment.

  Hospital Trusts
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out the names of those who have been appointed chief executives of hospital trusts and their previous position prior to being appointed chief executive.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The names of the chief executives of the NHS trusts which became operational on 1 April 1991 are given in the table. Second wave trusts, which will become operational on 1 April 1992, are now in the process of appointing chief executives. Matters relating to the appointment and employment of NHS trust chief executives are for NHS trust boards; information regarding chief executives' previous employment is not held centraly.

  NHS Trust

  Chief Executive

  The Freeman Group of Hospitals

  Mr. L. Fenwick

  Newcastle Mental Health Services

  Mr. L. Joyce

  Northumbria Ambulance

  Mr. L. Caple

  United Leeds Teaching Hospitals

  Mr. S. Ingham

  St. James's University Hospital

  Mr. I. Donnachie

  Bradford Hospitals

  Dr. M. Baker

  Northern General Hospital

  Mr. N. McKay

  Lincolnshire Ambulance and Health Transport Service

  Mr. M. Ruffles

  Doncaster Royal Infirmary and the Montagu Hospital

  Mr. D. Nicholson

  Norfolk Ambulance

  Mr. M. Willis

  Anglian Harbours

  Mr. P. Harrison

  Southend Health Care

  Mr. Stout (acting)

  Mr. Brackenbury (designate)

  Royal London Hospital

  Mr. M. Fairey

  Royal Free, Hampstead

  Mr. J. Cooper

  Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear

  Mr. A. Ranzetta

  Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital

  Mr. M. McGreevy

  North Middlesex Hospital

  Dr. K. Hirst

  North Hertfordshire

  Mr. R. Ewings

  Mount Vernon Hospital

  Mr. S. Ramsden

  Hillingdon Hospital

  Mr. P. Brown

  Central Middlesex Hospital

  Mr. A. Black

  Guy's and Lewisham

  Mr. P. Griffiths

  Lifecare

  Mr. I. Semple

  Kingston Hospital

  Mr. J. Langan

  Homewood

  Ms. E. Richardson

  St. Hellier's

  Mr. N. Sewell

  Croydon Community

  Ms. J. Hargadon

  Epsom Health Care

  Dr. T. Thomas

  Royal Surrey County and St. Lukes

  Mr. M. Forrer

  Weston Area

  Mr. R. Tucker

  East Somerset

  Mr. G. Mitchell

  East Gloucestershire

  Mr. J. Hammond

  Cornwall Community Healthcare

  Mr. D. Green

  Cornwall and Isles of Scily Mental Handicap

  Mr. A. Sandry

  United Bristol Healthcare

  Dr. J. Roy lance

  Northern Devon Healthcare

  Mrs. J. Acred

  South Devon Healthcare

  Mr. A. Parr

  Taunton and Somerset Hospital

  Mr. E. McNally

  Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases

  Mr. C. Quinell

  West Dorset Mental Health

  Mr. D. Griffiths

  West Dorset General Hospitals

  Mr. N. Chapman

  West Dorset Community Health

  Mrs. V. White

  Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre

  Mr. C. Jones

  First Community

  Mrs. P. Tomlinson

  Mental Health Foundation of Mid-Staffordshire

  Mr. M. Murray

  Rugby

  Mr. P. Farenden

  Walsall Hospitals

  Mr. J. Roskill

  Wirral Hospitals

  Mr. F. Burns

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  The Royal Liverpool University

  Mr. Fitzpatrick (acting)

  Hospital

  Mr. M. Stamp (designate)

  St. Helens and Knowsley Hospital Services

  Mr. K. Sanderson

  Chester and Halton Community

  Mr. C. Griffiths

  The Cardiotheroracic Centre

  Mr. J. Meade

  Broadgreen Hospital

  Mr. T. Cleator

  Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital and Community Services

  Mr. J. Butler

  Mid Cheshire Hospitals

  Mr. D. Young

  Manchester Central Hospitals and Community Care

  Mr. M. Ruane

  Christie Hospital

  Mr. M. Fry

  Care Homes
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy towards the three-tier care standards arrangement proposed by the Hertfordshire county council for care homes being leased to the private sector.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I understand that Hertfordshire county council has made no such proposal. The council commissioned a study of options for the future management of its residential care homes and those options are currently under consideration by the council's social services committee.

  Local authority residential care homes should match the standards required of homes registered under the Residential Home Act. This standard should be available to all residents and is not linked to the ability of individual residents to meet the costs.

  Drugs Testing
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what independent monitoring or evaluation of the data submitted by general practitioners and hospital doctors concerning the testing of new drugs is carried out by his Department's Committee on Safety of Medicines prior to the licensing of such drugs.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  A company is required to certify the accuracy of all the results from clinical trial data, submitted in support of a product licence application for a new drug. The Committee on Safety of Medicines, comprising eminent experts in the fields of medicine, science and pharmacy, carefully evaluates these data and has to be satisfied as to the safety, quality and efficacy of the drug in question before advising the Licensing Authority on whether or not a product licence should be granted.

  Published guidelines require companies to establish procedures for the organisation, conduct, documentation and verification of clinical trials, and for the audit and archiving of clinical trial data.

  Health Service Staff
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each national health service region(a) the number of female district general managers and (b) the district health authorities they manage.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 5 November 1991]: As at 6 November 1991 there were 10 female district general managers. The table shows the breakdown by region and what district they manage.
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  Region

  District

  North West Thames RHA

  North Bedfordshire

  North East Thames RHA

  West Essex

  Hampstead

  East Anglian RHA

  Cambridge

  North Western RHA

  North Manchester

  Rochdale

  South East Thames RHA

  Hastings

  South West Thames RHA

  Croydon

  South Western RHA

  Frenchay

  Trent RHA

  Central Notts

  Total number of female DGM's: 10

  General Practioner Earnings
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the average current earning levels of general practitioners.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [pursuant to the reply, 5 November c. 101]: In 1990–91, the first year of the new contract, estimated gross payments to general practitioners averaged some £5,951 per GP in excess of the intended level. We shall not know how much of this sum falls to be recovered under the normal balancing arrangements for dealing with over and underpayments until autumn 1992, when we have full information on GPs' practice expenses in 1990–91. I can well understand the profession's concern at the prospect of an overpayment of this order hanging over successive pay rounds. Nor would I want difficulties with the workings of the remuneration system to obscure the undoubted achievements of the new GP contract and the benefits that it is bringing to patients. So I believe it right to begin to address the issues now.

  As a first step, I have considered carefully the different elements of the 1990–91 overpayment. The General Medical Services Committee has drawn attention to two factors—both concerning the handling of target payments in this first year of the contract—which they have suggested merit special treatment.

  First, it is now clear that the Government's decision to bring higher target payments within average net income for nine months, as part of the staging of the award, interacted with the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body's underestimate of the number of GPs who would achieve higher targets, to add a sum of £1,800 per GP to the overpayment. A separate decision to pay a "fifth target payment" to help maintain cash flow to individual GPs while the target payments system was being introduced added a further £300 to this. I have concluded that it would not be right for the Government to recover either of these sums. They result from special factors, unique to 1990–91, and can and should be excluded from the sum to be recovered, without prejudice to the normal principles of the balancing mechanism. So I have decided now to waive £2,100 of the 1990–91 overpayment as the profession has asked. This is equivalent to a sum of £63 million for Great Britain.

  We shall need to return to the handling of the outstanding sum in the autumn of 1992, when we have further information. But in the meantime there are other issues for Government and the profession to address together. The latest information suggests that the fee scale set for 1991–92 is continuing to deliver a higher level of
  260
  income than intended, although on a lesser scale than in 1990–91. Neither Government nor profession wishes to see the overpayment accumulate further, and we must therefore work together on evidence for the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body to help them ensure that arrangements are brought properly into balance in 1992–93, when they determine the new level of income for that year.

  We shall also need to take account of the experience of the first two years of the contract as we work together to develop it further. In looking to the future I shall wish to explore particularly the scope for developing the contract and remuneration system in ways that are more sensitive to local needs and circumstances. I also have in mind the further development of the performance-related elements of the contract, in the light of the Government's policy set out in the citizens charter. The profession may want to add other issues arising from their wide-ranging consultation on their document, "Building Your Own Future".

  I therefore propose to invite the GMSC to work with Department of Health officials to agree proposals in time to put evidence to the DDRB for the 1992 pay round—when recovery of the 1990–91 overpayment falls due and all the necessary information will be available—covering:

  (a) the handling of the overpayments already incurred—including the possibilities of accelerated repayment of the remaining amounts and of waiving an additional sum as part of a wider package; and

  (b) the best way of developing incentive fee scales within the remuneration system, in pursuit of the policy objectives I have outlined.

  I believe this represents a substantive response to the profession's understandable concerns. We have addressed those elements of the 1990–91 overpayment which clearly merit exceptional treatment and where we have enough evidence to act now. We have also set the framework for constructive discussion on the handling of the remaining pay issues in support of the GP contract through the 1992–93 pay round and beyond. I look to the profession for a similarly constructive response.

  Food Hygiene
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current position of food hygiene training requirements in relation to the Food Safety Act 1990; and on the relative operative date for these regulations.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have been asked to reply.

  Following comments made in response to our general consultative paper on food hygiene training, we have been considering what the scope of the regulations should be and will be announcing our conclusions in due course. No operative date has yet been fixed.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the registration of all food premises with local authorities in accordance with the Food Safety Act 1990 will become compulsory; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have been asked to reply.

  Draft regulations on registration of premises used for a food business have been issued for public consultation. We shall be laying the definitive regulations shortly.

  CARIBBEAN DRUGS TRADE
  CARIBBEAN DRUGS TRADE
  DISCRIMINATION: HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION REPORT
  DISCRIMINATION: HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION REPORT
  ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT: RESPONSE TO ECC REPORT
  ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT: RESPONSE TO ECC REPORT
  ROAD AND RAIL SCHEME INVESTMENT APPRAISAL
  ROAD AND RAIL SCHEME INVESTMENT APPRAISAL
  POLLUTION LIABILITY: ECC REPORT
  POLLUTION LIABILITY: ECC REPORT
  WATER SUPPLIES IMPROVEMENT: PLANNING IMPLICATIONS
  WATER SUPPLIES IMPROVEMENT: PLANNING IMPLICATIONS
  LOW FAT MILK: EC RULING
  LOW FAT MILK: EC RULING