Written Answers of 12 November 1991

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Sir Allan Green
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Attorney-General what financial arrangements were made with the previous Director of Public Prosecutions as to compensation for his years of service.

  The Attorney-General
  The previous Director of Public Prosecutions has a pension entitlement, not payable until August 1997. He will receive now an ex-gratia payment of three months salary.

  McKenzies Friend
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Attorney-General what was the cost to public funds of the Treasury Solicitor contesting the case in the Appeal Court in July on McKenzie's friend, what fees were paid to the barrister who acted as amicus curiae; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  Treasury counsel was instructed by the Treasury Solicitor to appear as an amicus curiae in the case of Rv. Leicester City Justices ex parte Barrow at the request of the Court of Appeal. Counsel did not appear in order to "contest" the appeal, but in order to assist the court on matters of law. The cost to public funds of such assistance to the Court of Appeal was £2,412·45. The amount of the fee paid to counsel is a matter of professional confidence between solicitor and counsel.

TRANSPORT

  Stoke-Derby Link Road
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he can report progress on the Stoke-Derby link road and the Derby southern spur.

  Mr. Chope
  Good progress is being made and the link road between Stoke and Derby is on target for completion in 1996.

  I hope to be able to announce a decision on the route of the Derby southern bypass and spur by Christmas and to publish the remaining statutory orders for side road alterations and the compulsory purchase of the necessary land in the spring of 1992.

  Tyre Tread Depths
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will publish in full the new requirements on tyre tread depth regulations;
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  (2) if he will publish the date of making and the date of implementation of the new construction and use regulations concerning tyre tread depths; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  From 1 January 1992 the grooves of the tread pattern of every tyre fitted to the wheels of cars, light vans and their trailers must be of a depth of at least 1·6nirn throughout a continuous band situated in the central three-quarters of the breadth of tread and round the entire circumference of the tyre. They will replace the current standard of lmm of tread across three quarters of the tread pattern and visible tread in the remaining quarter. Vehicles first used before 3 January 1933 are exempt from these new requirements, because in many cases they have resilient, rather than pneumatic, tyres. The new standards on tyre tread depths of cars, light vans and their trailers are covered by the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment No. 4) Regulations 1990 (SI 1990 No. 1981) which were made on 28 September 1990.

  Ipswich—Cambridge Rail Service
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report a list of the public service grants he has made to British Rail for the purpose of keeping open rail services between Ispwich and Cambridge over each of the past five years; whether those train services are meeting the performance targets and obligations laid down by his Department; if he will list those targets and obligations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Public service obligation (PSO) grant is a block grant paid towards the cost of maintaining all supported services. In 1990–91 British Rail received £699.9 million in PSO grant.

  The quality of service standards applicable to services of this type are that 90 per cent. of trains should arrive within five minutes of the scheduled time and no more than 1 per cent. of trains should be cancelled. Performance against these standards is not monitored by the Department on a line by line basis. However, for the Anglia sub-sector, of which the Ipswich-Cambridge route is part, 86·9 per cent. of trains arrived within five minutes of their scheduled time and 2 per cent. of trains were cancelled in the year to September 1991.

  A45, Bury St. Edmunds
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what portions of the A45 at Risby near Bury St. Edmunds are or have been closed over the past four weeks; and if he will publish a list of previous closures of this trunk road within five miles to the east and west of Bury St. Edmunds in each of the past five years, indicating in each case for how long portions of this highway were closed and how much public money was spent in each case, and in total for repairs or other purposes.

  Mr. Chope
  The westbound carriageway at Risby is currently being reconstructed and resurfaced.

  Previous closures are attached. These do not include emergency works, routine maintenance or works for public utilities.
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  Year

  Location

  Scheme

  Cost £000s

  Duration

  Traffic management

  1985–86

  Rougham-Moreton Hall

  Carriageway maintenance and widening

  1,200

  12 weeks

  Contraflow and lane closures

  1987–88

  Risby westbound on slip road

  Repairs/resurfacing

  40

  2 weeks

  Lane closures

  1988–89

  Beyton-Bury bypass

  Carriageway maintenance and overlay

  1,000

  22 weeks

  Contraflow and lane closures

  1988–89

  Risby-Westley

  Safety fence works

  100

  19 weeks

  Lane closures

  1989–90

  Risby westbound carriageway

  Resurfacing

  75

  2 weeks

  Lane closure

  1989–90

  Risby-Rougham

  Surface dressing

  50

  2 days

  Lane closure

  1990–91

  Bury St. Edmunds

  Reconstruction-overlay

  4,000

  20 weeks

  Contraflow

  1990–91

  Various sites

  Surface dressing

  50

  2–3 days

  Lane closures

  1990–91

  Risby-Kentford

  Safety fencing

  130

  6 weeks

  Lane closures

  1990–91

  Rougham

  Closure of gap

  50

  3 weeks

  Lane closures

  1990–91

  Various sites

  French drain renewal

  70

  4 weeks

  Lane closures

  Car Pooling
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has carried out into congestion reduction from incentives for car pooling; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  An extensive programme of research was conducted following the Transport Act 1978 which liberalised the rules governing car sharing. It was apparent from this work and subsequent initiatives that it is particularly difficult to organise formal car pooling schemes and that when successful they can have the effect of reducing public transport patronage. We continue to keep the matter under review.

  Shipping (Toxic Substances)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the Government are taking to secure changes to United Nations shipping regulations in respect of classification of the toxicity of transported substances according to the results of LD50 tests.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The United Kingdom Government have been actively involved in discussion within OECD of an alternative to the LD50 methodology. If an alternative is agreed, the appropriate United Nations Committee on the Transport of Dangerous Goods will consider the effect on transport regulations generally.

  Lighthouses
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what borrowing limits apply to each general lighthouse authority;

  for each of the last five years, what is the amount of money allocated from the reserves of the General Lighthouse Fund to supplement light due costs;

  if he will give the current level of liquid reserves available to the General Lighthouse Fund; and what is his current estimate of the level expected in March 1992.

  (4) Mr. McLoughlin
  Under section 662A of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 (as inserted by the Merchant Shipping Act 1988) the borrowing limit applying to the General Lighthouse Fund is £100 million. This is not disaggregated to each general lighthouse authority. In the last five years the GLF reserves have met the following shortfalls of the income required to meet total operating costs plus depreciation:

  Year

  £ million

  1986–87

  3·2

  1987–88

  1·9

  1988–89

  5·9

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  Year

  £ million

  1989–90

  8·9

  1990–91

  111·8

  1 Provisional.

  The liquid reserves stood at £22·1 million at the end of October and are expected to be around or below £20 million by March 1992.

  A4
  Sir Barney Hayhoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies or plans are in hand for alterations at the junctions on the A4 road between Brentford and Hammersmith.

  Mr. Chope
  The report of the M4-A4 corridor study by Howard Humphreys and Partners was published on 3 October. It recommends a new link between the M4 and the A4 to relieve congestion on the elevated dual two-lane section of the motorway between junctions 1 and 2 and also recommends various improvements to A4 junctions. The report is now the subject of consultation. The improvement of the A4 junction with the A316 at Hogarth roundabout has been investigated by Sir William Halcrow and Partners Limited, as has the A4 junction with the A406/A205 at Chiswick roundabout. These reports are being considered. Frank Graham Consulting Engineers Ltd, the Department's agent for this part of the A4, is investigating right-of-way priorities at Hogarth roundabout and the provision of signals at Chiswick roundabout to cater for traffic from the Chiswick Park development in Chiswick High road. Their work is still at an early stage.

  Dock Workers
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many hours dock workers have worked per week on average in each of the last five years in each of the major ports.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Weekly average hours worked within the dock labour scheme as a whole were published in the annual reports of the National Dock Labour Board and were as follows (including overtime but excluding "under-employed" hours):

  1986

  1987

  1988

  39·5

  41·0

  42·0

  I have no information on ports outside the scheme, or for the period from 1989 when it was abolished.

  Ports (Operational Leases)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to give effect to section 17 of the Ports Act; and what particular regard his plans have for operational leases.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  It is intended that the affirmative order provided for in section 17(8) of the Act shall be laid before Parliament shortly. At the present time, the draft proposals for the provisions of the order, including provisions for leases of operational land, are the subject of consultation with the trust ports. It is too early therefore to say what the precise nature of those provisions will be.

  Rural Bus Routes
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the total number of rural bus service routes in 1980 and the total number in 1990 in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Between 1982 (the earliest year for which statistics are available) and 1990–91, vehicle mileage in the English shire counties increased by 19 per cent. But no breakdown between rural and urban mileage is available within this total; nor is information available on numbers of routes.

  Rail Electrification
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the proportion of(a) Wales's and (b) Britain's railway network which is electrified; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  There are no electrified lines in Wales; as at 31 March 1991, 30 per cent. of British Rail's network was electrified or in the process of being electrified as a result of projects approved or under construction.

  RNIB Needs Survey
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to the report "Blind and Partially Sighted Adults in Britain—The RNIB Needs Survey"; what action he will be taking in relation to its findings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Department of Transport has not yet received a copy of the report. We have asked the RNIB to send us one urgently so that we can consider it fully.

  Nuclear Transport Routes
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he possesses in regard to the reasons for the diversion of the Pacific Teal away from its planned route from Japan to Barrow in Furness via the Panama canal during its voyage in December 1989 to February 1990; and what was the effect on the safe operation of the ship.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The ships of Pacific Nuclear Transport Limited are capable of taking any of a number of different non-stop routes from Japan to Europe and have done so on a number of occasions. In this instance, because of uncertainties relating to transit of the Panama canal at that time, the decision was taken to use another route.

  Departmental Restructuring
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the recent restructuring of his Department and its implications for shipping and ports policy; if he will give details of the establishment in his Department as it relates to shipping and ports related posts; and if he will indicate which posts are currently unfilled or vacant.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Some changes were made with effect from 2 September to the responsibilities of a number of directorates in the Department, but these had no implications for shipping and ports policy. There are some 1,020 shipping and ports related posts in the Department including 483 coastguard grades. As at 8 November there were five administrative vacancies, 13 specialist vacancies and 29 vacancies in coastguard grades.

  Trust Ports
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the liquid assets currently held by each trust port on 31 July 1991.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Port authorities produce annual accounts, but I have no information on their mid-year financial positions.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how he plans to ensure that the objectives set out in the transfer schemes for trust ports are made binding on the successful bidder; and what safeguards exist to ensure that memoranda and articles agreed by him in respect of the new company will not be changed following the completion of the sale to the successful bidder.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The purpose of a transfer scheme is to effect the transfer of a trust port's existing undertaking to a successor company with a view to the subsequent disposal of that company's securities: such schemes do not contain operational objectives for the successor company. However, in cases where a port is to be sold to a single buyer, objectives of sale are agreed between the authority concerned and the Government. Prospective purchasers will then be required to demonstrate to the authority in the bidding process how they intend to meet those objectives, and this information will be taken into account by an authority in their assessment of competing bids.

  Such objectives cannot by their nature be legally binding. In determining the company's business objectives, and in deciding whether to make alterations to its memorandum and articles however, the new owner of the port will need to take account of the plans on which his bid has been based, and the statutory powers and duties of the company. The relevant provisions of the Companies Act 1985 relating to alterations to the memorandum and articles will of course apply in the same way as they do to any other company.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how amendments made by him to the proposed transfer schemes of trust ports are to be incorporated into competing bids.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Before finalising their bids, prospective purchasers of a trust port will have the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the provisions of any order made
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  under section 9 of the Ports Act 1991, confirming that port's transfer scheme with or without modifications. They will therefore be able to determine their final bid in the light of any modification which may have been made.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of those trust ports which have to date submitted proposals to privatise under the provisions of the Ports Act 1991; and if he will give in respect of each the timetable for(a) the deadline by which representations have to be received, (b) the completion date of the transfer of the trust port to the newly established company, and for (c) the date when it is expected to name the successful bidder.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  To date, four ports have formally submitted schemes of transfer: Tees and Hartlepool port authority, Medway ports authority, the Port of London authority for the port of Tilbury, and Clyde ports authority. The deadline for the end of the representations period in each case is as follows: for Tees, 24 September; for Medway, 2 October; for Clyde, 13 December. There is under the Act no representations period for the Port of Tilbury. The dates for completion of the transfer schemes and the naming of the successful bidder in each case are not yet known. The former will depend on the extent and nature of the modifications to any particular scheme that appears necessary in the light of representations and other factors and after consulting the relevant authority. The latter will depend on the date on which each authority recommends a bidder and the timing of the decision on whether to accept that recommendation.

  Driving Licences
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the name of the marketing company that advised DVLC (Swansea) on its use of the drivers' licence computer base for the purpose of test-marketing the potential for commercial firms to advertise their services to applicants for driving licences.

  Mr. Chope
  The company advising the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency on the market research necessary to establish the potential of its database and dispatch equipment is Marketing Triangle Ltd.

  Promotional Leaflets
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the driver and vehicle licensing centre intends to continue to send out promotional leaflets for the British School of Motoring with provisional driving licences.

  Mr. Chope
  The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency concluded the test mailing on 4 October. No new mailing will take place until the results of the market research have been fully evaluated. In deciding future policy in this area, account will be taken of representations received.

  Docklands Light Railway
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the management of the Docklands light railway; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  We intend that there should be new management arrangements for the DLR. The railway has 432
  a vital role in the regeneration of Docklands, and there is a strong case for uniting it with the London Docklands development corporation, whose prime objective that regeneration is. Subject to the outcome of any necessary consultations, I therefore intend asking the chairman of London Regional Transport to transfer responsibility for the DLR to the LDDC. The effective date of the transfer will be announced when the necessary procedures and detailed arrangements are completed.

  Civil Aviation Authority
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what objectives he has set for the new chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I sent the following letter recently to Mr. Christopher Chataway:This letter sets out the objectives which the Government wishes you to pursue as Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority in fulfilment of the statutory functions of the Board. In the case of conflict between these objectives and the Authority's statutory duties, the statutory duties must prevail.

  General Objectives
  Safety. Your overriding objective must be to ensure that the CAA continues to promote, in an efficient and cost-effective way, high standards of safety in all aspects of civil aviation. I have made it clear that safety is the responsibility of the CAA and it is not my intention to interfere in the discharge of its duties.
  Regulation. Subject to your responsibility for safety, and to other explicit statutory requirements, the Authority should impose as few burdens as possible on those whose activities it regulates. The United Kingdom civil aviation industry had to bear the full costs of regulation and the Authority must therefore continually strive to ensure that regulation is no greater than necessary.
  I would expect your charges in relation to the services of the Economic Regulation and Safety Regulation Groups to cover their costs and to provide the required rate of return on investment without rising faster than the rate of inflation, taking one year with another, unless there were very good reasons for them to do so, and in all events to be as low as is compatible with the proper discharge of their responsibilities.
  Costs and Quality of Service. The Authority should keep its costs under constant review and, where appropriate, should devise formal cost reduction programmes. Quality of service should also be carefully monitored. In the light of these considerations and or your overriding safety objective, in the course of your first year of appointment you should review all performance targets and indicators (including the development of appropriate unit cost indicators) for the Authority, and put to me proposals for the future, with a view to our agreeing them in time for inclusion of the targets in the 1992 Corporate Plan. You should continue to keep under review your arrangements for consulting users about the Authority's charges and I would be glad if you would cover this point in particular in your first annual report to me.
  The Environment. While I have primary responsibility for regulating environmental disturbance attributable to civil aviation, in planning and providing its air traffic control services, the Authority should assess the possible effects of any changes on the environment, including the effects of noise. The Department should be notified in any cases where the Authority considers that adverse effects are likely to be significant. The Authority should also maintain its capacity to provide expert technical advice on environmental problems.
  External Relations. The Authority must continue to seek to maintain good communications with Parliament, industry and the public so that each properly understands the CAA's various roles. It will be your continuing responsibility to deal, in correspondence and otherwise, with the concerns of Members of both Houses of Parliament as they affect the Authority's activities.
  The Authority is both a regulator of the industry and a monopoly supplier of many air traffic control services, and you should ensure that the industry is kept in close touch with your plans, and has full opportunities to tell you of their

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  views. The Safety Regulation Group Finance Advisory Committee is an example of a valuable consultation mechanism, and you should ensure that it is continued effectively.
  Public Sector Financial Disciplines. The Authority should continue to stay within its External Financing Limit each year and the associated investment approvals limits. It should also continue to provide the Government with regular, timely flows of information so that the Authority's performance can be monitored both generally and more specifically against agreed strategies and targets and the External Financing Limit.
  Over the three year period ending in 1991–92, the Authority has been working to a target annual average rate of return on average capital employed of 8 per cent. on a current cost basis; this target has applied to all the Authority's activities, except UK airspace air traffic services and Highland and Islands Airports Ltd. You should plan on the basis that this target will be maintained for the next three-year period, beginning in 1992–93, but it will be subject to review in the autumn of this year.
  Corporate Planning. The Authority should prepare Corporate Plans reflecting the objectives in this letter (and the outcome of the previous annual Investment and Financing Review), including the External Financing Limit. Each year's plan should be submitted to me no later than April each year.
  Organisation. You should ensure that an appropriate structure and management systems are in place to provide a cost-effective and commercial approach within the Authority, with effective control of both capital and current expenditure, so that the Authority can take a corporate view of its priorities, set targets for parts of the business and ensure that they are achieved.
  The recent Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on National Air Traffic Services (NATS) made a number of recommendations, almost all of which were accepted by the Authority. These recommendations should be implemented in a timely fashion. I attach particular importance to those recommendations concerning manpower planning, for which appropriate systems need to be developed without delay.

  Objectives for Economic Regulation
  Within the relevant statutory requirements, and working with the Department in the international arena, the Authority should act to ensure that as far as possible, the United Kingdom travelling public is served by a healthy competitive multi-airline industry. Further steps towards liberalisation and the creation of a single market within the European Community will bring important changes in the next few years (on matters such as route licensing, the approval of fares, and probably the allocation of airport slots). The Authority should continue to be ready to advise the Government on necessary changes to policy and to legislation, and to revise its Statement of Policies on air transport licensing appropriately in response to changes in both.
  It is important that the Economic Regulation Group's costs remain under effective control, so that increases in charges are kept to a minimum.

  Objectives for National Air Traffic Services
  The National Air Traffic Services (NATS) is run jointly between the Authority and the Ministry of Defence with staff provided by each. You should be aware of the Ministerial Directions to NATS which I shall soon be revising with the Secretary of State for Defence. The Directions will continue to require NATS to provide airspace capacity, on a cost effective and timely basis, to meet the needs of airspace users both civil and military but, recognising the increasing demand from aircraft operations, they will invite you—in consultation as necessary with the Secretary of State for Defence—to advise me on appropriate action in the event of demand for airspace exceeding capacity.
  To this end it is essential that NATS' capital programme is implemented in a thorough and effective way, with due attention paid to project appraisal and to the delivery of projects (notably the New En-Route Centre and the Central Control Function) punctually and to budget. This will be a key responsibility for the new Chief Executive of NATS. The Authority have already made significant changes in NATS'
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  project management arrangements, but it is important that these are maintained and followed through, and that the possible need for further changes is kept always in mind.
  I also attach great importance to effective international working on air traffic control (ATC) matters; I look to the Authority for full support in helping to implement the plan endorsed by the European Civil Aviation Conference Ministers for harmonising and progressively integrating their ATC systems. Together with the Chief Executive of NATS, I should like you in due course to consider with your Board whether the new NATS organisational structure is proving to be appropriate to the ever-increasing international dimension of ATC work.
  There have been long-running negotiations with BAA on the provision of aerodrome navigation services. I hope it will be possible to bring these to a conclusion soon, to put this important relationship on a firm footing.

  Objectives for Safety Regulation
  The Authority has its own safety responsibilities, but ie is important that recommendations by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) which are accepted should be followed up with all due promptness. I should like you to continue to send me a report annually on the way in which this is being done.
  My predecessor was concerned at last year's increases in the charges made by the Authority's Safety Regulation Group. Since then a review of the Group's operation has been conducted and recommendations have been made. I would be grateful for a report by the end of the financial year as to what has been done in the light of the consultants' report.
  The Group's future staffing levels and the level of charges to industry should reflect improvements in efficiency and working practices without of course compromising the effectiveness of the Group's safety functions. Progress on achieving this should be included in your annual reports on the achievement of your objectives.
  The Safety Regulation Group is already playing a prominent role in international organisations such as the European Joint Aviation Authorities and should continue to do so. However, I would ask you to ensure that, as the role of such bodies grows, there should he as little duplication as possible between their work and that of the Group.

  Objectives for Scottish Aerodromes
  The primary objective for the Authority's Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd. (HIAL) subsidiary should be to seek to break even on its non-oil related operations after grant, consistent with ensuring that the aerodromes continue to meet the social needs of the communities which they serve. I would also be glad if you would examine the scope for unit cost indicators for HIAL.

  General
  The CAA is established as a nationalised industry separate from Government, and as such it should be free to pursue objectives and responsibilities, within the Corporate Plan accepted by the Government and the Internal Financing Review provision agreed for the next three years. You and your Board are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Authority and can expect to carry this out without interference from Government. At the same time, I am accountable to Parliament for the overall performance of the Authority and I have specific functions in relation to a variety of matters affecting the Authority. It is therefore important that I and my officials have access to the information that bears on my responsibilities, and you should ensure that there continues to be close relationship between my Department and the Authority on all matters of mutual concern.
  I expect from time to time to review these objectives with you. I attach importance to receiving regular reports at the end of each financial year on your progress in implementing these objectives.

  Vehicle Registration Numbers
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a progress report on the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's scheme to sell attractive registration numbers.

  Mr. Chope
  This highly successful and innovative scheme has proved to be very popular with the British motoring public. Since sales began in December 1989 over 100,000 numbers have been sold providing total receipts of over £55 million. Particular interest has been shown in the latest range of numbers to be made available taken from the 'A' prefix series which went on sale from 19 August this year. So far over 33,000 have been sold and they allow motorists who have vehicles registered on or after 1 August 1983 to obtain personalised numbers at a reasonable price. Numbers taken from the current issue 'J' prefix series are also available specifically for new car buyers. I have placed copies of the latest sales information leaflets in the Library.

  Roadside Tests
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set an annual target for the number of roadside tests of emissions from heavy goods vehicles undertaken by his vehicles inspectorate.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 11 November 1991]: A total of 113,000 HGV's were inspected at the roadside during 1990–91, and a similar number will be inspected this financial year. All these vehicles are checked for excessive smoke. Wherever possible vehicles are selected for roadside checking where they appear to be emitting a high level of smoke.

  Annual remuneration with effect from 1 April 1991

  Chairman

  Marmaduke Hussey, Esq.

  £54,145

  On the basis of four days per week.

  Vice-chairman

  On the basis if one and half days per week.

  The Rt. Hon. Lord Barnett, PC

  £13,890

  National Governor for Northern Ireland

  Sir Kenneth Bloomfield, KCB

  £13,890

  National Governor for Wales

  John Parry, Esq, CBE,

  £13,890

  National Governor for Scotland

  Professor Sir Graham Hills

  £13,890

  Governors:

  Dr. John Roberts

  £6,945

  On the basis of one day per week.

  Baroness James of Holland Park, OBE

  £6,945

  Bill Jordan, Esq.

  £6,945

  Keith Oates, Esq.

  £6,945

  Dr. Jane Glover

  £6,945

  Mrs. Shahwar Sadeque

  £6,945

  Lord Nicholas Gordon-Lennox, KCMG, KCVO

  £6,945

  The annual remuneration was increased by 7·5 per cent. from 1 April 1991 and is due to be increased by a further 1.9 per cent. from 1 December 1991. The increases are in line with those approved for groups covered by the Top Salaries Review Body.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement as to the outcome

THE ARTS

  British Library
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what discussions are taking place between himself, the PSA, the main contractor and the Dutch supplier of the equipment for the basement book store at the British Library to ensure that the equipment fully meets its specification and that, if any modifications cause its in-service date to be delayed, proper compensation will be paid.

  Mr. Renton
  Both PSA Services and the construction manager have been in detailed contractual discussions since July with the Dutch supplier to ensure that the product meets its specification and is fit for its purpose. A number of technical shortcomings have already been rectified. The payment of compensation for demonstrated damage is part of the discussions. I am being kept fully informed.

  The British Library is shorty to recommence testing to determine the extent of movement, if any, of books on the shelves, during book retrieval operations.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  BBC
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the members of the BBC governing body and their current salaries.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The membership of the BBC Board of Governors and their annual remuneration is as follows:

  of the meeting between the Parliamentary Under-Secretary and the Trade Association of Television Retailers, held on 29 October, concerning the BBC's commercial use of the licence database.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I informed the RETRA representatives that I understood that the Director General of Fair Trading considered the BBC's Telecover promotion likely to promote competition; and that the Data Protection
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  Registrar did not believe the BBC's use of licensing data for other purposes contravened the Data Protection Act 1984 provided the data protection principles were observed. I said also that the BBC had said that they would not promote Telecover in using future licensing data.

  I invited the RETRA representatives to contribute to the forthcoming debate preceding the expiry of the BBC's charter in 1996, and to discussion of the draft EC directive on data protection.

  Prisoners (Police Cells)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average weekly cost of keeping a prisoner(a) in prison and (b) in a police cell.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  During the financial year 1990–91 the average weekly cost of keeping a prisoner in prison was £384 and in a police cell £1,400.

  Animals (Scientific Procedures)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of the work of the Animal Procedures Committee in 1990.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The cost of the work of the Animal Procedures Committee and its research sub-committee during 1990, which includes the fee paid to the chairman, the travelling and subsistence costs of its members and a notional amount to cover the servicing of the committee, was in the region of £29,000.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the amounts of revenue raised under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in 1990 in fees for certificates of designation of scientific procedures establishments, in fees for personal licences and in fees for certificates of designation of breeding and supplying establishments.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Some £1·7 million was collected in respect of certificates of designation and personal licences in force during 1990.

  Nationality Applications
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of applications waiting for consideration for British nationality on 1 November.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  As at 31 October 1991, the number of applications for British citizenship awaiting determination was 54,897, of which more than 30,000 were at various stages of consideration.

  Door Supervisors
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to control the activity of door supervisors on licensed premises.

  Mr. John Patten
  As a result of a meeting in September 1990 with representatives of organisations using and providing door supervisors, a survey of police forces was conducted earlier this year to provide information on the nature and extent of problems associated with door supervisors and on any schemes which had been set up to tackle these problems on licensed premises where identified.
  438
  The survey revealed that most parts of the country are experiencing some problems with door supervisors, including incidents of violent behaviour. Most of the local registration schemes in existence or planned focus on 1.he need for identification, and to a lesser extent training, of door supervisors. In many cases, registration of door supervisors is a condition of the issue or renewal of a public entertainments licence. In some cases it is required that the employment of individual door supervisors be approved by a local committee, comprising representatives of the police and local authorities.

  It is not possible at this stage to evaluate the effectiveness of these schemes since most of them are of relatively recent origin. The operation of a representative sample is, however, currently being monitored. We aim to have the interim results of this exercise next spring, to consult with interested parties and to publish a final report before the end of 1992. Our intention is then to issue guidelines to all police forces on the most effective means by which conduct of door supervisors may be controlled. In the meantime the Home Office will maintain close contact with interested parties.

  National Crime Intelligence Service
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the date on which the new Welsh regional office of the national criminal intelligence service will be set up in Cardiff.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The location of branch offices of the national criminal intelligence service is being determined by a balance of operational and financial considerations. Current plans are that the branch office covering the police forces in south Wales and south-west England will be sited in Bristol.

  Press Complaints Commission
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the chairman of the Press Complaints Commission; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. Friend and I met the chairman of the Press Complaints Commission on 14 March. The Home Office keeps in touch with the commission, and I met the chairman on 30 October.

  Firearms
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all those hunts that hold(a) firearms licences and (b) shotgun licences and the people whose names appear on the licences.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Responsibility for the grant of firearm and shot gun certificates lies with local chief officers of police. Details of certificates on issue are not held centrally.

  Police Science and Technology Group
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what goods or services are to be supplied by the successful tenderer to the Home Office Police Department science and technology group tender 87/91; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The successful tenderer, British Telecom plc, will provide cardphone facilities at prison service establishments in England and Wales.

  Chief Constables (Salaries)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the names and salaries of each of the chief constables in Britain.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Chief constables' current rates of pay are set out in Home Office Circular 70/1991. The names of all chief constables can be found in the Police and Constabulary Almanac. Copies of both documents are in the Library.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the total cost that was incurred in 1990–91 in pursuing poll tax enforcement procedures through the courts.

  Mr. John Patten
  About £3·4 million.

  Niggers with Attitude Case
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the light of the judgment in the NWA—Niggers with Attitude—case at Redbridge on 7 November, he will bring forward proposals to amend the Obscene Publications Act 1959.

  Mr. John Patten
  I cannot comment on the decision of a court in a particular case. The Government recognise that there is concern about the effectiveness of the Obscene Publications Act 1959. This is traditionally an area for Private Members and the Government are prepared to support any suitable proposals for amendments which would make the law more effective and which appear likely to command sufficient public and parliamentary support.

  Magistrates Courts
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average cost per sitting hour of a magistrates court.

  Mr. John Patten
  The average hourly running cost of magistrates courts in 1990/91 was £216·85.

  Drug Traffickers
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made towards further bilateral treaties to provide for the confiscation of the assets of drug traffickers.

  Mr. John Patten
  The United Kingdom has now concluded 23 such agreements or arrangements: 20 in respect of the proceeds of drug trafficking and three concerning the proceeds of all serious crimes. Ten of these agreements or arrangements are in force. In addition, the United Kingdom is able to assist 28 further countries in tracing, freezing and confiscating drug trafficking proceeds by virtue of our recent ratification of the 1988 United Nations convention against illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances (the Vienna convention). Details are as follows:

  (i) Bilateral agreements or arrangements to trace, freeze and confiscate the proceeds of drug trafficking have been concluded with:

  Anguilla

  Argentina

  440

  Australia

  Bahamas

  Bahrain

  Barbados

  Bermuda

  Canada

  Cayman Islands

  Germany

  Gibraltar

  Guyana

  Hong Kong

  Malaysia

  Mexico

  Montserrat

  Saudi Arabia

  Spain

  Switzerland

  United States of America

  (ii) Bilateral agreements to trace, freeze and confiscate the proceeds of all serious crimes have been concluded with:

  Italy

  Nigeria

  Sweden

  (iii) The following agreements or arrangements are in force:

  Australia

  Bahamas

  Canada

  Cayman Islands

  Gibraltar

  Hong Kong

  Mexico

  Spain

  Switzerland

  United States of America

  (iv) Countries which we are able to assist by virtue of the Vienna convention:

  Bangladesh

  Bhutan

  Bolivia

  Chile

  China

  Costa Rica

  Cyprus

  Ecuador

  Egypt

  France

  Ghana

  Grenada

  Guatemala

  Guinea

  India

  Jordan

  Madagascar

  Nicaragua

  Oman

  Paraguay

  Qatar

  Senegal

  Togo

  Tunisia

  Uganda

  USSR

  UAE

  Yugoslavia

  Asylum
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the country of origin of those who applied for asylum in each quarter of 1990 and 1991, as listed in his answer of 21 October,Official Report, column 338.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 5 November 1991]: The information requested is given in the table. The figures

  441
  are for principal applicants excluding dependants. The 1990 figures for some nationalities understate because of delays in recording, particularly for the fourth quarter.

  Applications1 2 received for asylum in the United Kingdom, by nationality, 1990–91.

  19903

  Quarter 1

  Quarter 2

  Quarter 3

  Quarter 4

  Europe and Americas

  Bulgaria

  20

  15

  40

  55

  Colombia

  20

  50

  30

  80

  Romania

  5

  20

  80

  190

  Turkey

  100

  160

  235

  565

  USSR

  15

  15

  25

  40

  Others

  25

  30

  25

  65

  TOTAL

  190

  290

  440

  1,000

  Africa

  Angola

  95

  195

  460

  365

  Congo

  5

  10

  30

  20

  Ethiopia

  165

  300

  935

  505

  Ghana

  225

  175

  290

  200

  Somalia

  380

  325

  665

  485

  Sudan

  50

  45

  70

  85

  Togo/Ivory Coast

  5

  10

  25

  45

  Uganda

  355

  405

  565

  565

  Zaire

  240

  245

  640

  485

  Others

  80

  100

  240

  185

  TOTAL

  1,600

  1,810

  3,920

  2,945

  Middle East

  Iran

  75

  60

  95

  100

  Iraq

  95

  115

  335

  350

  Lebanon

  80

  50

  275

  590

  Others

  15

  10

  10

  25

  TOTAL

  260

  230

  715

  1,065

  Asia

  China

  35

  60

  60

  75

  India

  300

  305

  350

  450

  Pakistan

  170

  165

  360

  600

  Sri Lanka

  700

  630

  785

  1,095

  Others

  50

  70

  80

  175

  TOTAL

  1,255

  1,225

  1,640

  2,400

  Other and unknown nationality

  55

  55

  90

  135

  GRAND TOTAL

  3,360

  3,615

  6,800

  7,545

  Applications1 2 received for asylum in the United Kingdom, by nationality, 1990–91.

  1991

  Quarter 1

  Quarter 2

  Quarter 3

  Quarter 4

  Europe and Americas

  Bulgaria

  100

  140

  80

  —

  Colombia

  50

  25

  30

  —

  Romania

  170

  110

  170

  —

  Turkey

  750

  510

  510

  —

  USSR

  55

  60

  60

  —

  Others

  25

  45

  90

  —

  TOTAL

  1,150

  895

  920

  —

  Africa

  Angola

  1,390

  1,910

  1,240

  —

  Congo

  70

  60

  110

  —

  Ethiopia

  525

  510

  420

  —

  Ghana

  665

  930

  520

  —

  Somalia

  595

  630

  450

  —

  Sudan

  145

  115

  450

  —

  Togo/Ivory Coast

  200

  425

  560

  —

  Uganda

  805

  305

  120

  —

  Zaire

  1,430

  2,220

  1,600

  —

  Others

  200

  810

  1,200

  —

  442 443

  1991

  Quarter 1

  Quarter 2

  Quarter 3

  Quarter 4

  TOTAL

  6,015

  7,915

  6,680

  —

  Middle East

  Iran

  155

  135

  120

  —

  Iraq

  310

  155

  180

  —

  Lebanon

  505

  85

  70

  —

  Others

  25

  95

  110

  —

  TOTAL

  995

  465

  480

  —

  Asia

  China

  115

  155

  130

  —

  India

  575

  510

  480

  —

  Pakistan

  915

  915

  720

  —

  Sri Lanka

  1,420

  990

  750

  —

  Others

  85

  230

  430

  —

  TOTAL

  3,105

  2,800

  2,500

  —

  Other and unknown nationality

  4435

  —

  —

  —

  GRAND TOTAL

  11,700

  12,075

  10,590

  —

  1 Excluding dependants.

  2 Provisional figures, rounded to the nearest 5.

  3 1990 figures are estimates which understate for some nationalities, particularly for the fourth quarter. In total applications in 1990, excluding dependants, are estimated at over 22,000 (over 30,000 including dependants).

  4 Includes applications in January and February 1991 from nationalities not specifically identified above. From March 1991 these are included in the "others" category for the relevant geographical area.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many grants of(a) asylum and (b) exceptional leave to remain were made in each month of 1988 to 1991 or the nearest available date.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 5 November 1991]: The information requested is given in the table. Comprehensive monthly figures from January 1991 are not yet available.

  Grants1 2 of asylum or exceptional leave to applicants for asylum in the United Kingdom, 1988–90

  Grants of asylum

  Grants of exceptional leave

  1988

  January

  20

  55

  February

  35

  90

  March

  25

  70

  April

  35

  55

  May

  30

  190

  June

  35

  115

  July

  20

  145

  August

  20

  130

  September

  35

  120

  October

  80

  220

  November

  235

  245

  December

  55

  155

  1989

  January

  105

  225

  February

  85

  260

  March

  90

  365

  April

  170

  415

  May

  270

  440

  June

  385

  450

  July

  90

  275

  August

  115

  380

  September

  265

  335

  October

  290

  255

  November

  245

  290

  December

  110

  205

  444

  Grants of asylum

  Grants of exceptional leave

  19903

  January

  160

  320

  February

  115

  240

  March

  95

  210

  April

  65

  235

  May

  55

  210

  June

  60

  130

  July

  75

  165

  August

  55

  135

  September

  75

  265

  October

  110

  200

  November

  75

  230

  December

  55

  90

  1 Excluding dependants.

  2 Figures rounded to the nearest 5.

  3 1990 figures are provisional.

ENERGY

  Miners' Coal Entitlement
  Mr. Eadie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has on British Coal's plans with regard to the buy-out of mineworkers', former mineworkers' and their widows' coal entitlement at the end of the 1991–92 financial year.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  This is a matter for British Coal.

  Mr. Eadie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will ensure that provision is made in any future measures to privatise the coal mining industry to protect the concessionary fuel entitlement of mineworkers, former mineworkers and their widows.
  445
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Government will ensure that existing concessionary fuel entitlements from British Coal will be safeguarded following privatisation of the industry.

  Nuclear Electric plc
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the objectives he has set for Nuclear Electric plc.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Yes. The Government wish to preserve the nuclear option in order to maintain adequate diversity and security of electricity supply and obtain the benefits of this environmentally clean source of energy.

  To secure the future of the nuclear option the company must demonstrate to the public that nuclear power is safe, clean and economic and that it should continue to have a major role in electricity supply in the longer term. I have therefore set the following objectives for Nuclear Electric plc:

  (i) to increase profit and reduce total and unit costs;

  (ii) to achieve a continued increase in electricity generation, provided that this is economically justified;

  (iii) to achieve a progressive reduction in the company's dependence on the levy;

  (iv) to complete Sizewell B to time and cost;

  (v) to achieve a reduction in the costs of re-processing, de-commissioning and waste disposal and greater certainty about these costs;

  All these objectives should be achieved whilst maintaining the company's excellent safety record.

PRIME MINISTER

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the cost to the Exchequer of his visits abroad in 1990.

  The Prime Minister
  The cost of my visits abroad as Prime Minister in 1990 was £93,830.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister how many days he has spent abroad since assuming office.

  The Prime Minister
  I have spent 41 days abroad on official duties.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 12 November.

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

  BCCI
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister how many letters he has received from Gibraltar concerning the closure of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International.

  The Prime Minister
  I have received many representations concerning BCCI.

  Indonesia
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Prime Minister when he last met representatives of the Indonesian Government; and what was the purpose of that meeting.
  446
  The Prime Minister
  I met Dr. Habibie, the Indonesian Minister for Research and Technology on 19 June. We discussed a number of issues including commercial co-operation, particularly in the aerospace sector.

  East Timor
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has had regarding the Indonesian occupation of East Timor; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  We receive frequent representations on the subject of East Timor. We support the efforts of the United Nations Secretary General to promote a settlement acceptable to all parties.

  No. 10 Downing Street
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what recent assessment he has made of the current standards of horticulture in the gardens of 10 Downing street;

  (2) what consideration he has given to the security implications of the proposed contracting out of the management of the Downing street gardens.

  The Prime Minister
  The security implications of a contractor maintaining gardens in Downing street are considered in the same way as they are when other contractors' staff undertake work in Downing street or its gardens. The standards of gardening in 10 Downing street are high. Those standards will be maintained or improved when the work is bought in from the private sector.

WALES

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state the number of patients waiting for non-urgent in-patient treatment waiting(a) more than one year, (b) more than 18 months and (c) 24 months or more, in Wales as a whole and by health authority in 1979. 1987 and the present.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Information concerning patients waiting for non-urgent in-patient treatment in Wales is collected centrally only on the basis of those waiting more than one year and became available for the first time in 1981. The available information is given in the following table:

  Non-urgent cases waiting more than one year for admission as an in-patient as at 31 March

  District health authority

  1981

  1987

  1991

  Clwyd

  701

  533

  1,091

  East Dyfed

  49

  363

  939

  Gwent

  1,665

  1,825

  2,567

  Gwynedd

  422

  175

  719

  Mid Glamorgan

  3,386

  2,761

  2,306

  Pembrokeshire

  653

  1,328

  634

  Powys

  —

  —

  —

  South Glamorgan

  2,501

  1,696

  1,884

  West Glamorgan

  749

  458

  1,882

  Wales

  10,126

  9,139

  12,022

  In March 1974 there was a total of 72,904 patients on hospital waiting lists in Wales; by March 1979 the figure had risen to 97,359 an increase of 24,455.
  447
  The number of patients treated in 1974, 1979 and 1990 was:

  1974

  1979

  1990–91

  In-patient

  328,793

  349,695

  482,445

  New out-patient

  444,032

  428,739

  551,464

  The overall percentage increase/decrease in number of patients treated is as follows:

  1974–79 Per cent.

  1979–90 to 1991 Per cent.

  In-patients

  Up 6

  Up 38

  New Out-patients

  Down 3

  Up 29

  The latest information for 1990 also shows that 92 per cent. of patients admitted from a waiting list in that year had waited less than 12 months.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he plans to meet(a) health authorities, (b) county health councils and (c) leaders of the health service unions to discuss waiting lists.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  My right hon. Friend is to meet the chairmen of Welsh health authorities on 20 November when waiting lists and the length of time patients have to wait for treatment will be discussed. He has no plans at present to meet community health councils or leaders of health service unions. I am always happy to receive constructive comments in writing at any time.

  Renal Patients
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list his initiatives to assist renal patients; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Dialysis facilities for patients suffering from end-stage renal failure have been provided at the following locations:

  Dialysis stations

  North Wales

  Main Renal Unit—Rhyl

  7

  Subsidiary Renal Unit—Bangor

  6

  Subsidiary Renal Unit—Wrexham

  6

  South West Wales

  Main Renal Unit—Swansea

  15

  Subsidiary Renal Unit—Carmarthen

  9

  South East Wales

  Main Renal Unit—Cardiff

  11

  Subsidiary Renal Unit—Cardiff

  6

  Subsidiary Renal Unit—Merthyr Tydfil

  6

  Proposals for a unit at Newport have been invited from Gwent health authority. We have also established a kidney transplant unit at the Cardiff royal infirmary. The treatment of most renal patients, however, is in the hands of district health authorities.

  Lithotripters
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to install lithotripters in(a) north Wales and (b) south Wales.
  448
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The final report of the all-Wales project group on lithotripsy, which is considering the need for and specification of lithotripter facilities for Wales and appraising location options, is expected to be submitted early in the new year.

  Roads and Public Transport
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what financial support he has given to each of the counties of Wales in the last three years for capital and revenue expenditure on(a) roads and (b) public transport; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  By agreement with the local authority associations, the bulk of revenue and capital funding to individual local authorities is provided through revenue support grant and basic credit approvals. These are not hypothecated to particular services. As an exception to this rule, transport schemes costing over £5 million attract transport grant; total support in the last three financial years is as follows:

  County

  1989–90 (£000s)

  1990–91 (£000s)

  1991–92 (£000s)

  Clwyd

  558

  1,207

  938

  Dyfed

  3,982

  1,463

  2,704

  Gwent

  8,349

  6,966

  14,708

  Gwynedd

  —

  —

  281

  Mid Glamorgan

  8,031

  9,737

  14,536

  Powys

  —

  —

  —

  South Glamorgan

  6,760

  8,757

  22,973

  West Glamorgan

  11,738

  22,780

  10,780

  Total

  39,418

  50,910

  66,920

  RNIB Needs Survey
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consideration he has given to the report "Blind and Partially Sighted Adults in Britain—The RNIB Needs Survey"; what action he will be taking in relation to its findings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The Department has secured a copy of this report within the last week and we are studying it with interest. It is the result of a survey carried out in 1986–87, complementary to the wider disability surveys carried out by OPCS, whose reports were published in 1989–90.

  We already have a programme of action in hand to improve services for people with visual impairments. In 1990 the Welsh Office issued a working group report "Co-ordinating Services for Visually Handicapped People" and in May of that year published a major guidance circular on best practice in the provision of support and care to people with physical or sensory disabilities.

  That advice has been followed up by full guidance on the implementation in Wales of our comprehensive programme to improve community care for all groups which is set out in chapter 11 of the "Caring for People" White Paper [Cm 849]. In addition, the Welsh Office will publish shortly the report of the social services inspectorate inspection of services for people with visual impairment in Gwynedd. This was carried out with RNIB assistance and will be used with the RNIB national survey findings as the basis of a seminar on further guidance early next year.

  GP Budget Holders
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many GPs in Wales are budget holders; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Seven GP practices in Wales, comprising a total of 46 GPs, have been recognised as fund-holders from 1 April 1991.

  Parents Charter
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State, for Wales (1) what is his estimate of the cost of distributing details of the charter for parents to each of the headteachers of Wales;

  (2) how many copies of charter for parents he has distributed; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he proposes to make moneys available to local education authorities to enable their headteachers to inform parents of the contents of the charter for parents.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The charter for parents in Wales sets out in a single document the rights of parents with respect to the education of their children, the choices they can exercise, the information they can obtain about schools' performance and the influence they can have on the way schools are run. As such it is an invaluable reference document to which all parents should have access. I therefore sought the co-operation of the chairmen of governors and headteachers of all schools in Wales to have the document delivered to parents through pupils at their schools. The cost of distributing supplies to schools for that purpose is £11,911.20 and is being met by my Department. I am also making arrangements for copies of the charter to be made available to parents whose children are not yet at school through playgroup and nursery schools associations. Copies of the charter have also been made available to others on request. So far a total of 486,761 copies of the charter have been distributed.

  Marginal Hill Farms
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to visit a marginal hill farm in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have visited many hill farms throughout Wales and will continue to do so in the future.

  School Transport
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the practice of local education authorities in interpreting the statutory walking distance for school transport in the rural areas of Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have no reason to believe that LEAs are not properly observing the statutory provisions in the Education Act 1944 relating to walking distances in determining eligibility for transport from home to the nearest appropriate school for attendance. It is for the LEAs themselves to determine what constitutes an appropriate school.

  Housing Revenue Account Subsidy
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will consult local authorities and other appropriate bodies regarding his proposals for housing revenue account subsidy in Wales in 1992–93.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The Welsh Office is today consulting local authorities, the Council of Welsh Districts and other interested bodies on proposals for determining each authority's entitlement to subsidy in 1992–93. Comments on the proposals are invited by 9 December. I am placing copies of the consultation proposals in the Library of the House together with estimates of the rent guidelines and management and maintenance allowances for each authority.

  For rent guidelines we propose an average increase of £2·14 per week with increases for individual authorities ranging from £1·13 to £3·40 per week over the guideline rent which applies in the current year. This will continue the process of encouraging sensible levels of rent which better reflect the value of the properties concerned.

  For management and maintenance allowances, we propose to increase the average allowance per dwelling from £712 to £766. The increase in the allowances for individual authorities will be based on the targeting system introduced in the current year which takes into account the condition of each local authority's stock.

  The rent guidelines and the management and maintenance allowances are the assumptions the Government make in calculating each authority's entitlement to subsidy. It is for each council to set its own rent levels and to decide how much to spend on managing and maintaining its stock within its obligations under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  CAP Products
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will bring up to date the information on surplus common agricultural policy products in his answer dated 12 May 1986,Official Report, column 367; and if he will add corresponding information for other common agricultural policy products.

  Mr. Curry
  The information, which covers all products on which there was relevant expenditure, is as follows:

  Mecu

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Export refunds

  Cereals

  1,652

  3,071

  2,925

  2,597

  2,444

  Rice

  60

  95

  61

  45

  29

  Sugar

  1,238

  1,516

  1,566

  1,451

  926

  Olive Oil

  29

  23

  64

  93

  135

  Oilseeds

  2

  64

  25

  6

  1

  Fruit and Vegetables

  77

  67

  64

  79

  81

  Wine

  11

  20

  44

  45

  55

  Tobacco

  32

  43

  43

  62

  62

  Milk and Milk Products

  1,982

  2,258

  3,014

  2,869

  1,931

  Beef

  1,214

  878

  769

  1,343

  1,110

  Pigmeat

  75

  112

  172

  199

  174

  Eggs and Poultry

  98

  152

  194

  234

  179

  Non-Annex II Products

  503

  590

  602

  552

  512

  MCA's

  170

  227

  143

  57

  76

  451

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Food Aid

  264

  259

  243

  133

  86

  Total

  7,407

  9,375

  9,929

  9,765

  7,801

  Public storage

  Cereals

  559

  346

  2,022

  804

  1,440

  Rice

  0

  0

  0

  0

  36

  Sugar

  1

  2

  -1

  -1

  0

  Olive Oil

  50

  53

  86

  47

  42

  Oilseeds

  0

  0

  2

  7

  4

  Wine

  5

  6

  592

  369

  202

  Tobacco

  11

  18

  28

  122

  116

  Milk and Milk Products

  447

  409

  931

  460

  959

  Beef

  282

  213

  1,372

  790

  982

  Pigmeat

  5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Total

  1,359

  1,046

  5,032

  2,598

  3,780

  Notes:

  (i) The figures for public storage costs since 1988 are not compatible with earlier costs as stock is now depreciated on entry into intervention. Furthermore the cost of depreciation of 1988 stock is being reimbursed over the 5 years 1988–92.

  (ii) 1987 expenditure was for 10 months only and 1988 expenditure was for 11½ months only.

  Sources: EAGGF Guarantee Financial Reports.

  Finance Statistics
  Mr. Biffen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the total value of national aids to agriculture paid by each European Community country over the latest available 12 month period and the corresponding value of common agricultural policy payments.

  Mr. Curry
  The Government do not keep comprehensive details of the national subsidies and other state aids available to farmers in other member states, since to do so would not be a cost effective use of resources. All state aids are, however, subject to the provisions of articles 92 to 94 of the treaty of Rome, and member states are required to obtain the Commission's approval in advance for new state aids and modifications to existing aids and to send an inventory of all state aids to the Commission annually. The Government monitor, through their embassies in member states, the introduction of new state aids and modifications to existing aids, and draws any that seem to be of doubtful legality to the attention of the Commission.

  Departmental Staffing
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the departments within his Ministry where he intends to increase staffing levels, indicating the numbers involved in each case, and when he expects the increases to take effect; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  I intend to increase staffing levels in the financial year 1992–93 as a result of the outcome of the recent public expenditure survey round. Additional staff will be placed primarily within divisions dealing with environmental issues and with work arising from the movement towards a single market. The funds allocated will pay for about 275 posts, but the precise total, and the breakdown between divisions will depend on decisions on the grade and mix of staff chosen.

  Humming Birds
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with European Commission officials regarding the transportation of wild-caught humming birds and other nectar-feeding birds in the context of the proposed EC directive on transport of live animals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Thanet, North (Mr. Gale) on 7 November at col.246.

  Suckler Cow Premium
  Mr. Robert Hicks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to authorise payments of the suckler cow premium; and if he will pay this at the maximum rate allowed.

  Mr. Curry
  As I announced on 4 November, Agriculture Ministers have fixed the rates of suckler cow premium for the 1991–92 scheme year at the same rates which applied last year, viz £51·69 per head in the less favoured areas and £47·43 per head elsewhere. A statutory instrument putting these rates into effect is expected to be laid before Parliament later this week and payments to those who have already submitted their applications for premium will be made as soon as possible thereafter.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in which sectors he expects to increase his Ministry's spending in 1991–92 for the intervention board and other aspects of the common agricultural policy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  Based on latest forecasts of production, market and trade conditions, it is likely there will be increased CAP market support expenditure (class III, vote 1) in the beef, sheepmeat and sugar sectors, offset by reductions in the cereals, milk products and oilseed sectors. Expenditure on this non-cash limited vote, which is largely reimbursed by the Community, is sensitive to a variety of unpredictable changes. If necessary increased provision will be sought at the time of the Spring Supplementary Estimates. My reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis) on 6 November at column 163 gives expected changes on Intervention Board Administration expenditure (class III, vote 2).

  Agricultural Produce Marketing
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields on 5 November,Official Report, column 78, if he will give the amount he intends to fund the organisations that promote the marketing of agricultural produce in (a) 1991–92 and (b) 1992–93; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  I have made provision for the following amounts:
  453

  1991–92 (£000s)

  1992–93 (£000s)

  Food From Britain

  4,500,000

  4,800,000

  Meat and Livestock Commission

  249,000

  264,000

  Home-Grown Cereals Authority

  120,000

  120,000

  Potato Marketing Board

  300,000

  300,000

  Fishing Vessels
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions have taken place with European Governments and the Government of the United States of America to ensure that fishing vessles which use the Irish sea will be protected from submarine activity.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I have been asked to reply.

  Discussions took place at the recent 17th assembly of the International Maritime Organisation which resulted in an assembly resolution concerning the avoidance by submerged submarines of fishing vessels and their gear.

EMPLOYMENT

  Claimants
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployed claimants aged between 18 and 25 years have been unemployed for six months or more.

  Mr. Jackson
  Unemployment figures by age and duration are calculated on a quarterly basis. In July 1991, the latest available date, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom aged 18 to 24 years who had been unemployed for six months or more was 263,274.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by how many the unemployment claimant count has risen since October 1990.

  Mr. Jackson
  Between October 1990 and September 1991, (the latest date for which figures are available), United Kingdom seasonally adjusted unemployment rose by 755,800.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to computerise the matching of claimant details with job vacancy detail.

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

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage increase in the number of unemployed claimants over the last 12 months; and what has been the percentage increase in claimant advisers during the same period.

  Mr. Jackson
  In the 12 months to September 1991, the total number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom, on the unadjusted basis, has increased by 46 per cent. Over the same period the number of claimant advisers, whose main function is to help longer term unemployed people, has increased by almost 24 per cent.

  Local Offices
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many of the new integrated offices are located in what were previously unemployment benefit office premises; and what percentage this is of the newly converted offices.

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

  Training
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the annual performance target for employment training places for 1991–92; and what has been the attainment in the first six months of the current year.

  Mr. Jackson
  Plans are to provide an average of 149,000 trainees in training on employment training (ET) in Great Britain in 1991–92. By 12 September an estimated 130,000 trainees were in training.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy to provide for the training of those with special needs.

  Mr. Jackson
  It is the Government's policy to provide training for people with special needs through its arrangements with training and enterprise councils and through specialist residential training colleges. Many people with special needs will of course be covered by the Government's guarantees and aim.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the annual performance target for employment training places for 1990–91; and what was the outturn.

  Mr. Jackson
  An average of 215,000 trainees in training on employment training (ET) was planned in Great Britain in 1990–91. An average number in training of 196,000 was achieved.

  Workers' Hours
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many British workers work more than (i) 40 hours a week, (ii) 50 hours a week and (iii) 60 hours a week, including overtime.

  Mr. Jackson
  The following table gives the estimates requested.

  Usual hours1 of work of employee and self-employed—Great Britain Spring 1990

  Hours per week

  Thousands

  More than 40

  11,015

  More than 50

  3,687

  More than 60

  1,314

  Source: Labour Force Survey, Spring 1990

  1Usual hours of work including overtime

  Claimant Adviser Interviews
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average duration of claimant adviser interviews 12 months ago; and what it is now.
  455
  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.

  Skills Analysis
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to analyse the skills of those registering as unemployed and available for work.

  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.

  Rehabilitation Courses
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are undergoing a course of rehabilitation (i) at employment rehabilitation centres and (ii) with outside agencies funded by the Employment Service; and what is the average weekly cost of these courses.

  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.

  Unemployed, Newham
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish details of the occupational breakdown of the unemployed register in the London borough of Newham.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information requested is not available.

  Vacancy Statistics
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many vacancies were notified to employment offices and jobcentres in each of the past 10 years; and if he will publish a table showing (i) the actual number, (ii) the percentage of the total and (iii) the split between part-time and full-time.

  Mr. Jackson
  Following is the available information.

  (i) The table shows the total number of vacancies in the United Kingdom, on the seasonally adjusted basis, notified to jobcentres for each year from 1981 to 1990.

  (ii) Vacancies notified to jobcentres do not represent the total number of vacancies in the economy. The latest research indicates that nationally only about a third of all vacancies are notified to jobcentres.

  (iii) Information on the number of vacancies notified to jobcentres split between part-time and full-time is only available for Great Britain, and on the unadjusted basis, from July 1986 onwards. The table shows the number of vacancies notified to jobcentres in Great Britain for each year from 1987 to 1990 and the split between full-time and part-time jobs.

  456

  (i) Vacancies notified to jobcentres in the United Kingdom (seasonally adjusted annual total)

  Year

  Vacancies

  1981

  1,799,300

  1982

  1,989,500

  1983

  2,180,300

  1984

  2,327,000

  1985

  2,419,400

  1986

  2,546,300

  1987

  2,716,700

  1988

  2,773,900

  1989

  2,712,500

  1990

  2,413,300

  (iii) Vacancies notified to jobcentres in Great Britain (unadjusted annual total)

  Year

  Vacancies

  Of which full-time vacancies

  Of which part-time vacancies

  1987

  2,668,597

  2,033,699

  634,898

  1988

  2,725,832

  2,035,023

  690,809

  1989

  2,702,549

  1,949,953

  752,596

  1990

  2,372,129

  1,667,182

  704,947

  Office Staff Statistics
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff were employed in (i) jobcentres and (ii) unemployment benefit offices in each of the past 10 years.

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

  Labour and Social Affairs Council
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the outcome of the meeting of the Labour and Social Affairs Council held in Brussels on 6 November; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  The Council addressed only one item—the proposed directive on pregnant workers. Agreement was reached on the two most important remaining provisions of the proposal, concerned with dismissal and in particular with the level of maternity pay and benefits.

  On maternity benefits, the Council rejected the approach proposed by the European Commission of a quantified link with previous earnings. Instead, the Council agreed the principle that member states must at a minimum set the level of maternity benefit at the level of benefits that are paid when people have to be absent from work for reasons of health.

  The Council also agreed a number of important protections for the health and safety at work of women who are pregnant or who have recently given birth.

  The United Kingdom and all but one of the other member states supported this agreement.

  The United Kingdom in addition recorded its concern at the proposed legal basis for this directive under the Treaty of Rome. The United Kingdom does not agree that such matters as leave, pay and other employment rights fall under article 118A of the Treaty, which is explicitly concerned with health and safety at work. The United Kingdom therefore registered its abstention in the voting on this directive. The Social Affairs Council is likely to adopt its formal common position at its next meeting.
  457
  The United Kingdom was represented by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment, my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Mr. Forth).

  Training Schemes
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the cost of running training schemes through each of the previous methods; what is the cost of running training schemes through training and enterprise councils and local enterprise companies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Prior to the introduction of TECs and local enterprise companies in 1990–91 training schemes were run from the Department's area offices. Area office running costs were not separately identified from those of regional and head office.

  During 1990–91 expenditure on TEC management fee in England and Wales was £36·195 million.

  For 1991–92 the published estimate shows expenditure of £124·342 million on TEC management fee and residual area office running costs for England and Wales.

  Running costs for programmes in Scotland are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  RNIB Needs Survey
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration he has given to the report "Blind and Partially Sighted Adults in Britain—The RNIB Needs Survey"; what action he will be taking in relation to its findings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Department already provides considerable help for visually impaired people, but we take seriously any indication that more needs to be done. We are therefore considering the recent RNIB report very carefully.

  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Employment will be meeting the RNIB in the near future to discuss this Department's services for people with disabilities in the light of the survey evidence.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Gulf States (Ministerial Visit)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the recent visit of the Minister of Trade to the Gulf states.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I visited Kuwait and Bahrain between 29 October and 3 November.

  In Kuwait I met the Amir, Crown Prince, six Ministers, the Governor of the Central Bank and senior Kuwaiti officials. In Bahrain I met the Crown Prince, the Prime Minister and two senior Ministers. In Kuwait I was accompanied by seven senior British business men. In Bahrain I visited the "Rebuild Kuwait 91" exhibition at which 150 British companies were represented, the largest national group.

  My visit strengthened the already excellent bilateral commercial relations with Bahrain and Kuwait and enabled me and the business team accompanying me to pursue various export opportunities.

  Bankruptcy
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many bankruptcy petitions have been presented in Wales(a) in 1990 and (b) in the current year.

  Mr. Redwood
  During 1990 there were 855 bankruptcy petitions presented to the county courts in Wales. From January to September 1991 there have been 1,081.

  Dressed Leather, Japan
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he intends to make to Japan to abolish the quota system that they place on imports of dressed leather; and what other action he proposes to take in this area.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 11 November 1991]: Following a complaint to the GATT by the EC Commission and the USA, the Japanese Government replaced their quotas on imports of dressed leather and leather footwear with a 60 per cent. rate of import duty with effect from 1 April 1986. Lower rates, between 20 per cent. and 27 per cent. are applied to limited quantities of these products.

  The British Government and the European Commission have taken every opportunity to press the Japanese Government to reduce these unacceptably high levels of import duty and substantially increase the quantities admitted at the lower rates. They will continue to do so, both bilaterally and in the GATT Uruguay round negotiations. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will certainly raise this problem with the newly-appointed MITI Minister, as he did with his predecessor.

  Exploited Labour
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what representations he has made and plans to make to countries which export goods to Britain manufactured using children or adults who are not paid a living wage;

  (2) what plans he has to deal with the threat faced by the British textile and footwear industry from unfair competition from imports produced with cheap and exploited labour;

  (3) what plans he has to determine which imports into Britain have been produced using forced child labour and to take steps to ban such imports.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 11 November 1991]: The Government urge all states who have ratified international instruments covering slavery, servitude, forced labour and similar institutions and practices to meet their obligations under those instruments, and also urges those states who have not done so to ratify at the earliest opportunity. This is carried out by the Government at all levels.

  I am not aware of any specific cases which would justify making representations of the sort that the hon. Member mentions. Moreover, there would be severe practical difficulties in trying to identify goods which had been produced with allegedly forced or sweated labour, given the varied and complex channels of production and distribution in the textile and footwear industries. Customers can, of course, determine for themselves the acceptability of buying any particular product which may otherwise be lawfully supplied.
  459
  More generally, it is highly doubtful whether social conditions can be improved by restricting trade; indeed, opening up trade is more likely to contribute to economic growth in the developing world, which is a prime objective of the current GATT Uruguay round negotiations, and thus help to improve social conditions in those countries. Labour costs do not of themselves create unfair competition. Where competition is genuinely unfair, appropriate trade policy measures will remain available. The export interests of UK industry, including the textile and footwear sector, which has a meritorious record in this respect, also have to be borne in mind in striking the final balance.

  Multi-fibre Arrangement
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the current position of the multi-fibre arrangement and bilateral agreements resulting from it.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 11 November 1991]: Our latest information is that 27 signatories of the multi-fibre arrangement (MFA) including the Community have accepted or provisionally accepted the protocol extending the MFA until the end of 1992. With the guidance of member states the Commission is now negotiating the necessary extensions to the bilateral agreements with individual exporting countries.

  Israel
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the level of imports and exports between Israel and the United Kingdom each year since 1970(a) as a percentage of all United Kingdom exports and imports and (b) at 1990 prices.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 11 November 1991]: The available information is published in table 1B of the annual editions of "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom" (HMSO), available in the Library of the House. Statistics on United Kingdom trade with individual countries, in 1990 prices, are not available.

  Negative Certificates
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to introduce legislation which prohibits the use of negative certificates for companies who trade with Arab companies and who wish to trade with Israel.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 11 November 1991]: None.

  Textile and Clothing Markets
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to ensure that increased access to the United Kingdom textile and clothing markets is linked to reciprocal access and adoption by the relevant countries of market principles.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 11 November 1991]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Lee) on 6 November at column 126.

  Care Home Proprietors
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why his investigations division is currently examining the affairs of the British Federation of Care Home Proprietors; when he expects these investigations to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 11 November 1991]: I cannot comment on the affairs of individual companies. I am prepared to consider any information the hon. Member may provide which might warrant an inquiry. Investigations under the Companies Act are confined to limited companies.

ENVIRONMENT

  Property Valuation
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he has any plans to amend the Domestic Property (Valuation) Regulations 1991 to enable a garage or carport to be disregarded if it is required for meeting the needs of the disabled occupant;

  (2) if he has any plans to amend the Domestic Property (Valuation) Regulations 1991 to enable an additional room to be disregarded if it is predominantly used by or required for meeting the needs of the disabled occupant.

  Mr. Portillo
  We are discussing with organisations representing disabled people their representations that other rooms and features should be disregarded within the valuation arrangements.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department has any plans to amend the Domestic Property (Valuation) Regulations 1991 to enable the extra space within a property which is required by a wheelchair user to be disregarded.

  Mr. Portillo
  Under the regulations extra space required by a wheelchair user may be disregarded if it is a feature of a specially adapted additional bathroom, kitchen or lavatory. We are discussing with organisations representing disabled people their representations that other rooms and features should be disregarded within the valuation arrangements.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations his Department has received from organisations of and for disabled people with regard to the Domestic Property (Valuation) Regulations 1991.

  Mr. Portillo
  We have received representations about these regulations from the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR), the Association of Disabled Professionals, and the Disablement Income Group.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if it remains his policy to restore the benefits of the Rating (Disabled Persons) Act 1978.

  Mr. Portillo
  Our policy was stated in the consultation paper, "A New Tax for Local Government". It is that necessary adaptions to the homes of disabled people should be disregarded in assessing the band into which the property should fall for the purposes of the council tax.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take against those local authorities, up to and including Bristol, which are least effective at collecting the community charge to prevent their continuing to create greater community charge in 1992 than they did in the current year.

  Mr. Key
  We have provided local authorities with stronger powers to collect the community charge than were available for domestic rates. These include attachment of earnings and deductions from income support. If authorities use the powers vigorously this should achieve a high collection rate. We have made it clear that there will be no amnesty for non-payers.

  SSSIs
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will identify all the sites of special scientific interest suffering partial loss or long-term damage from April 1990 to March 1991.

  Mr. Baldry
  I shall write to the hon. Member shortly with the details requested.

  Voluntary Sector Forum
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many meetings of the voluntary sector environment forum have been held.

  Mr. Baldry
  There has been one meeting of the full forum. The working group set up at that meeting to consider DOE funding for Environmental work by the voluntary sector has met four times. The next meeting of the forum will be on 14 November.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the voluntary sector environment forum has produced any reports to Ministers on its work to date.

  Mr. Baldry
  The forum has a joint departmental and voluntary sector membership. A number of position papers have been produced by the members, and the forum's working group on DOE funding for environmental work by the voluntary sector has produced an interim report, which will be considered by the forum at its meeting on 14 November.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress made by the voluntary sector environment forum; and if he will set out the terms of reference of both the voluntary sector environment forum and the Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment.

  Mr. Baldry
  The forum has made useful progress in its discussions, particularly through the work of its working group on DOE funding for environmental work by the voluntary sector, which has helped to inform decisions on the second year of the operation of the environmental grant fund.

  The terms of reference of the Forum as agreed at the first meeting are:
  To provide a national forum for discussion between Government and environmental voluntary organisations on
  462
  generic questions relating to the role of the voluntary sector in environmental protection, enhancement and related issues, and problems facing them in pursuing environmental goals, including:

  —increasing the contribution of voluntary organisations (particularly non-environmental bodies) to environmental work;

  —how the Government and voluntary sector can work together;

  —Government support for the voluntary sector;

  —helping the voluntary sector develop partnerships with other agencies; and

  —how voluntary organisations could use their experience in environmental work to contribute to the Government's environmental policies.

  The terms of reference of the Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment are:

  —to provide for a strategic level dialogue between Government and business on environmental issues, both of an immediate and topical interest and of a longer term nature.

  —in liaison with other appropriate organisations, to help mobilise the business community in demonstrating good environmental practice and management, building on existing initiatives and activities.

  —to provide a link with, and focus attention on, international business initiatives on the environment.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions Ministers or officials of his Department have met the voluntary sector environment forum.

  Mr. Baldry
  My hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside chairs the main Forum, which has met once. The working group on DOE funding for environmental work by the voluntary sector has a joint membership of voluntary sector and departmental officials and has met four times.

  Shellfish
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he will take to protect the United Kingdom marine environment from hazards associated with the introduction of non-native shellfish.

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department received a recommendation from the former Nature Conservancy Council that a number of non-native species should be added to schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, including the following species of non-native shellfish: American hard shell clam; noble crayfish; signal crayfish; Turkish crayfish and Pacific oyster. The effect of such changes would be to make it illegal to release specimens of these species into the wild in Great Britain. We have consulted widely on the recommendations and expect to make an announcement shortly.

  Smoking
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether Her Majesty's Government intend to ban smoking from all public places.

  Mr. Baldry
  We have no plans at present to legislate against smoking in public places. We intend instead to publish guidance later this year in the form of a code of practice, encouraging the voluntary implementation of smoking policies by owners and managers of all places visited by the public. Our policy is that non-smoking should be the norm in all public places, with separate facilities for smoking where appropriate.
  463
  The Government are committed to achieving the goal of a smoke-free environment and will monitor the effects of this initiative closely.

  Zoos
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of dispensations granted under section 14(2) of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 in each year since 1981.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Zoo Licensing Act 1981 came into force in April 1984. The number of dispensations issued under section 14(2) of the Act in each calendar year is as follows:

  Number

  1984

  29

  1985

  43

  1986

  8

  1987

  15

  1988

  7

  1989

  15

  1990

  12

  11991

  11

  1 To date.

  Wild-caught Birds
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list those species of wild-caught birds which are traded and where doubt exists as to the sustainability of such trade, as recommended by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.

  Mr. Baldry
  In section 5 of its report on the wildlife trade, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee listed 47 species about which it was concerned. Copies of the report—which indicated that the European Community has already taken action to restrict or prohibit trade in most of the species listed—were placed in the Library of the House last month.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what response he has made to the proposal of the Association of Metropolitan Authorities that the "other services" standard spending assessment should include an indicator of economic deprivation taking into account the extent of unemployment;

  (2) what response he has made to the London Boroughs Association's proposal to alter the standard spending assessment by removing the need for the London Regional Transport adjustment.

  Mr. Key
  My right hon. Friend is considering all the representations which he has received from local authority representatives on standard spending assessments and will announce his proposals for 1992–93 shortly.

  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the "social services (children)" standard spending assessments for the London boroughs of Greenwich, Woolwich and Lewisham with the child population of each of those boroughs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  There is no London borough of Woolwich. The information for Greenwich and Lewisham, as requested, is shown in the following table.
  464

  SSA for children's social services 1991–92 £ million

  Children aged 0 to 17 years

  Greenwich

  14·070

  51,746

  Lewisham

  22·890

  52,352

  The children's social services SSA is not simply based on the number of children in an area but takes account of a number of other factors which reflect the cost of providing a standard level of service.

  Infant Mortality (Greenwich)
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the London borough of Greenwich about the impact of the borough's infant mortality rates on its social services spending; and what has been his response.

  Mr. Key
  The London borough of Greenwich has made several representations that the children's social services standard spending assessment should include an indicator based on infant mortality rates. They have not tried to quantify the possible impact of the borough's infant mortality rates on its social services spending. My right hon. Friend is considering all representations received from local authorities on standard spending assessments and will announce his proposals for 1992–93 shortly.

  Non-domestic Rates
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish an estimate of the actual total yield from the national non-domestic rate for the financial year 1990–91 and of the expected total yield for 1991–92.

  Mr. Portillo
  We estimate the total rate yield in England for 1990–91 to be £10,737 million and for 1991–92, £12,066 million.

  Bank of Credit and Commerce International
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the total local authority funds at risk following the closure of the BCCI.

  Mr. Key
  My Department wrote on 27 September to local authorities in the United Kingdom asking them about deposits with BCCI. Returns were due to be submitted by 7 November. The information we have received to date is listed below.

  Authorities with deposits with BCCI

  Local Authority

  Deposit £000s

  Western Isles

  23,062

  Bury

  6,500

  Harlow

  4,000

  Rochester on Medway

  4,000

  Westminster

  3,575

  Lisburn

  3,000

  Southwark

  3,000

  Mansfield

  2,400

  Wigan

  2,150

  Three Rivers

  2,000

  Banff and Buchan

  2,000

  Ross and Cromarty

  1,800

  Greater Manchester

  465

  Local Authority

  Deposit £000s

  Fire and Civil Defence

  1,783

  South Bedfordshire

  1,350

  York

  1,300

  Barrow in Furness

  1,200

  Stockport

  1,150

  Allerdale

  1,050

  Alnwick

  1,050

  Selby

  1,000

  Mid Bedfordshire

  1,000

  Rother

  850

  Dover

  750

  Clackmannan

  700

  Bristol

  600

  Guildford

  600

  Fareham

  500

  Durham, City

  300

  Landfill Sites, Leicestershire
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many landfill sites he has discovered in Leicestershire; and how much has been given in supplemental credit allowance to pay for surveys.

  Mr. Baldry
  The discovery of landfill sites is a matter for local authorities, not the Secretary of State. Since the initiation in 1990–91 of the supplementary credit approval (SCA) programme for landfill gas works at closed landfill sites, the Department has approved SCAs for 13 sites in the Leicestershire county area. The number of the sites and the amounts for which SCAs have been approved for each authority (which may include both surveys and remedial works) are listed in the following table:

  Sites

  £

  Leicestershire county council

  6

  598,237

  Blaby district council

  1

  230,000

  Hinckley and Bosworth borough council

  2

  40,000

  Leicester city council

  3

  155,000

  North West Leicestershire district council

  1

  108,759

  Total

  1,131,996

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a list for each local authority showing the proposed basic credits approvals for 1992–93 broken down by service block as appropriate.

  Mr. Portillo
  Basic credit approvals for 1992–93 for individual local authorities will be announced in due course. I will arrange for a copy of this information to be placed in the Library of the House of Commons when it is available.

  Bathing Water
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will announce the results of the survey of bathing water quality in 1991; and if he will make a statement.
  466
  Mr. Trippier
  Results from the survey carried out during the 1991 bathing season showed that 76 per cent. of the 453 identified bathing waters in the United Kingdom met the mandatory coliform bacteria standards of the EC Bathing Water Directive. This compares with 77 per cent. in 1990 and 76 per cent. in 1989.

  These results are encouraging because overall compliance has remained steady in spite of the worse summer weather this year.

  Completion of improvement schemes for some 20 bathing waters in the £2 billion clean up programme has helped to offset the effects of the poor weather and it is clear that the programme, which was expanded and accelerated last year, is beginning to deliver tangible environmental improvements. Many more schemes are due to be completed in the next few years so that by 1995 virtually all our bathing waters will be up to the required standard.

  The 1991 results for the United Kingdom are set out in summary form. I shall arrange for a more detailed summary of results to be placed in the Library and we shall also be sending the detailed results to the Commission of the European Communities.

  Bathing Waters survey—1991 Results for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. (Compliance with Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC): Coliform Standards).

  Pass

  Fail

  Total

  England And Wales

  NRA Regions

  Northumbrian

  21(21)

  12(11)

  33(32)

  Yorkshire

  19(17)

  3(5)

  22(22)

  Anglian

  29(27)

  4(2)

  33(29)

  Thames

  2(3)

  1(0)

  3(3)

  Southern

  45(48)

  22(18)

  67(66)

  Wessex

  36(39)

  3(0)

  39(39)

  South West

  105(118)

  28(15)

  133(133)

  North West

  10(10)

  23(23)

  33(33)

  Welsh

  45(35)

  6(15)

  51(50)

  Total

  312(318)

  102(89)

  414(407)

  Scotland

  15(12)

  8(11)

  23(23)

  Northern Ireland

  16(15)

  0(1)

  16(16)

  Grand Total

  343(345)

  110(101)

  453(446)

  (Results for 1990 are in brackets).

  Urban Programmes
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what resources he is providing for his Department's urban group of programmes following the autumn statement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Government are making available an extra £100 million over the next two financial years to regenerate our inner cities and reclaim derelict land. The details for each programme are set out in the tables. These extra resources will ensure we capitalise on the progress we are already making in tackling run-down parts of our urban areas.

  The urban development corporations (UDCs) are currently responsible for regenerating nearly 16,000 hectares of underused inner city land. We are proposing additional resources totalling £47 million, bringing the total Government input to over £650 million over the next two years. These will enable the UDCs to make further and faster headway revitalising these areas.
  467
  The further resources of £30 million for derelict land grant will bring the total available to over £220 million over the next two years, including over £20 million of forecast receipts ploughed back into the programme. These further resources will accelerate progress in reclaiming land for economic and environmental purposes, with a particular emphasis on badly contaminated land, reflecting the Government's continuing commitment to environmental policies.

  The city grant programme, which encourages developers to bring derelict land and buildings back into

  Department of Environment Urban Block

  £ million (rounded to nearest £ million)

  1991–92 Provision

  1992–93 Previous plan

  1992–93 New plan

  1993–94 Previous plan

  1993–94 New plan

  1994–95 New plan

  City Grant1

  51

  76

  84

  79

  89

  91

  UDCs

  2502

  305

  2332

  303

  323

  305

  Derelict Land Grant1

  Gross

  88

  94

  109

  98

  113

  115

  Receipts

  -12

  -11

  -11

  -11

  -11

  -11

  Net

  76

  83

  98

  87

  102

  104

  Urban Programme1

  242

  244

  249

  246

  246

  252

  City Action Teams1

  8

  8

  8

  9

  9

  9

  Research

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Total Urban Block

  880

  717

  772

  724

  769

  762

  1 The city challenge pacemakers will receive £82·5 million resources each year, from 1992–93 for up to five years, drawn from these and Housing programmes.

  2 Figures reflect completion of LDDC transport infrastructure projects e.g. Limehouse Link.

  Individual UDC allocations

  (£ million rounded)

  1991–92 current provision

  1992–93 previous plan

  1992–93 new plan

  1993–94 previous plan

  1993–94 new plan

  1994–95 new plan

  LDDC

  248·7

  96·0

  101·0

  98·4

  101·4

  99·9

  MDC

  28·8

  30·0

  32·0

  28·0

  29·0

  28·5

  BCDC

  36·4

  35·0

  36·5

  36·0

  36·0

  36·3

  TDC

  53·1

  36·0

  38·5

  35·0

  36·0

  35·0

  TPDC

  28·1

  30·1

  31·6

  30·1

  30·6

  30·0

  TWDC

  37·5

  37·0

  40·5

  36·0

  37·5

  36·0

  BDC

  27·1

  9·3

  9·3

  8·3

  9·3

  8·0

  CMDC

  16·0

  17·0

  17·0

  17·0

  17·0

  7·5

  LDC

  12·6

  3·0

  5·0

  1·0

  4·0

  3·2

  SDC

  13·3

  12·0

  13·0

  13·0

  13·0

  12·0

  Uncommitted

  —

  —

  8·0

  —

  9·0

  9·0

  Total

  501·5

  305·4

  332·4

  302·8

  322·8

  305·4

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Traffic, Donaghadee
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the change in traffic volume on the Newtownards road, Donaghadee near Cottown school over the past 10 years.

  Mr. Needham
  Figures for the past 10 years are not available. Between 1981 and 1988 traffic volume increased by approximately 21 per cent. from 2,518 vehicles per day to 3,050.

  Work Forces
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what percentage of the economically active population of Northern Ireland are Protestant; and what percentages of the work forces of the Bank of Ireland were Protestant in the most recent figures available;
  468
  productive use, will be boosted by an additional £18 million over previously planned levels, bringing the total grant available to £173 million over the next two years.

  We have already announced that the eleven city challenge pacemakers will receive a total of £82·5 million each year for up to five years, from urban and housing programmes, to take forward their winning plans. These resources, together with the input by the local authorities and their private, voluntary and community partners, will be directed at achieving the comprehensive and lasting regeneration of those key localities.

  (2) what percentage of the economically active population of Northern Ireland are Protestant; and what percentage of the work force of Allied Irish Banks Plc were Protestant in the last available survey;

  (3) what percentage of the economically active population is Protestant; and what percentage of the work force in the public sector is Protestant.

  Mr. Needham
  It is estimated from the 1990 labour force survey1 that 60 per cent of the economically active population in Northern Ireland are Protestant.

  The Fair Employment Commission's report "A Profile of the Workforce in Northern Ireland: A Summary of the 1990 Monitoring Returns" published in April this year, indicates that 65 per cent of the public sector work force are Protestant.

  A report by the Fair Employment Agency published in March 1986 indicated that 42 per cent of the workforce of the Bank of Ireland and 28 per cent of that of Allied Irish

  469
  Banks were Protestant. More recent information derived from statutory monitoring returns has not yet been published by the FEC.
  1 The labour force survey is based on a random sample of approximately 1 per cent of domestic properties and estimates produced from it are subject to sampling error.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the economically active population within the area of the Eastern health and social services board are Protestant; and what percentage of the board's work force are Protestant.

  Mr. Hanley
  It is estimated from the 1990 labour force survey1 that 68 per cent. of the economically active population within the area of the Eastern health and social services board is Protestant.

  The board has indicated that at 1 January 1991 54 per cent. of its work force was Protestant.
  1 The labour force survey is based on a random sample of approximately 1 per cent. of domestic properties and estimates produced from it are subject to sampling error.

  Milk Marketing Board
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the monopoly powers of the Northern Ireland Milk Marketing Board; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Under Community law the United Kingdom is authorised to grant the milk marketing boards the exclusive right to buy from producers in their area the milk which they produce and market without processing, provided it satisfies certain minimum requirements. This right is coupled with an obligation on the boards to purchase the milk in question.

  CRISP Programme
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much public money has been committed to the CRISP—community regeneration initiative special project—programme and to urban development grants; and how much money from other sources is committed to those programmes.

  Mr. Hanley
  Public expenditure under the urban development grant scheme is shown in the following table:

  Urban development grant

  £ million

  1982–83

  Nil

  1983–84

  1·055

  1984–85

  1·0595

  1985–86

  3·789

  1986–87

  8·009

  1987–88

  13·443

  1988–89

  9·424

  1989–90

  5·845

  1990–91

  6·499

  1991–92

  18·300

  1 Estimate.

  No funds from any other source have been committed to this scheme. The Government have allocated £8 million to the CRISP programme which, in addition, receives funding from the International Fund for Ireland. The international fund also provides finance for the urban development programme in towns outside Belfast and Londonderry.
  470
  I have asked the chairman of the fund to write to the hon. Gentleman and will place a copy of his letter in the Library.

  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under what authority public money has been committed to urban development grant and CRISP—community regeneration initiative special project—programme.

  Mr. Needham
  The Social Need (Northern Ireland) Order 1986.

  Fair Employment
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many consultants have been appointed by the Fair Employment Commission to advise small firms on the implementation of fair employment practices; and if he will publish their names and addresses.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Fair Employment Commission. I understand from the chairman that 76 consultants have been appointed and I have asked him to write to the right hon. Gentleman. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

  Low Fat Milk
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether it is intended to retain low fat milk within the milk marketing scheme operated by the Northern Ireland Milk Marketing Board.

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food gave to the hon. Member for Stamford and Spalding (Mr. Davies) on 6 November at columns 165–66.

  Road Deaths
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been killed in road accidents in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years; how many road accident deaths in Northern Ireland have been associated with excess alcohol consumption; how many due solely to exceeding the speed limit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  The information requested is as follows:

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Total killed in road accidents

  236

  214

  178

  181

  185

  Alcohol-associated road deaths1

  48

  48

  27

  41

  53

  Road deaths due to excessive speed2

  52

  63

  51

  53

  35

  1 These figures include both drivers and pedestrians killed with alcohol in their blood.

  2 It is not possible to say how many road deaths in Northern Ireland were due solely to exceeding the speed limit, the figures given refer to deaths caused by excessive speed for the road traffic or weather conditions.

  Schools
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many schools in Northern Ireland have applied for local management of schools; and if he will make a statement.
  471
  Dr. Mawhinney
  Schools in Northern Ireland do not apply for local management of schools. From 1 April 1991, all controlled and maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools but excluding special schools have been funded on the basis of a formula. All secondary schools and colleges of further education have fully delegated budgets.

  Inter-party Talks
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reason the Conservative party in Northern Ireland has been excluded from the inter-party talks on the future government of Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Conservative party in Northern Ireland is no different from the Conservative party nationally. The Conservative party nationally has been represented by my hon. Friend the Minister of State and myself.

  RNIB Needs Survey
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration he has given to the report "Blind and Partially Sighted Adults in Britain—The RNIB Needs Survey"; what action he will be taking in relation to its findings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Although the report was based on a survey confined to Great Britain, its findings will be given careful consideration by Northern Ireland Departments and appropriate lessons drawn.

  Security Forces (Live Rounds)
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many live rounds have been fired by the security forces since 1970.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 7 November 1991]: I understand that army records show that approximately 150,800 rounds have been fired by the police and army since 1970.

  Plastic Bullets
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have died as a result of the use of plastic bullets since 1970.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 7 November 1991]: Since 1970, 14 people have died as a result of being struck by plastic baton rounds, a further two people have also died as a result of being struck by rubber rounds, the use of which was phased out in 1975.

  Supplementary benefit/Income support

  Unemployed claimants

  Lone parent claimants

  Year

  Number with mortgage

  As a percentage of all unemployed claimants

  Number with mortgage

  As a percentage of all lone parent claimants

  As a percentage of total lone parents

  1979

  23,000

  4

  17,000

  6

  2

  1980

  50,000

  6

  19,000

  6

  2

  1981

  98,000

  8

  27,000

  7

  3

  1982

  135,000

  8

  28,000

  7

  3

  1983

  131,000

  8

  35,000

  8

  4

  1984

  151,000

  8

  38,000

  8

  4

DEFENCE

  Nuclear Safety
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now make it his policy to publish details of the membership of the nuclear-powered warships safety committee.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No.

  Perisher Exercise
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy not to proceed with the Perisher exercise in the Firth of Clyde later this month.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Indonesia
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met representatives of the Indonesian Government; and what was the purpose of that meeting.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State last met representatives of the Indonesian Government when he visited that country in September. A wide range of issues of mutual interest was discussed.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Income Support
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many individuals came off income support because last year's social security uprating took the standard retirement pension above the income support level.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 1 May 1991 at column 249. The latest available information gives us no reason to change the estimate then given.

  Benefits
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the number of unemployed claimants and lone parents on supplementary benefit or income support receiving financial help with mortgage interest each year since 1979; and what each of these numbers was as a percentage of total unemployed claimants and of total lone parents.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Estimates are given in the table.
  473

  Unemployed claimants

  Lone parent claimants

  Year

  Number with mortgage

  As a percentage of all unemployed claimants

  Number with mortgage

  As a percentage of all lone parent claimants

  As a percentage of total lone parents

  1986

  200,000

  10

  50,000

  9

  5

  1987

  160,000

  9

  58,000

  9

  6

  1988

  114,000

  8

  62,000

  9

  6

  1989

  88,000

  8

  67,000

  9

  16

  1990

  88,000

  9

  77,000

  10

  —

  1 Based on a provisional estimate of total lone parents.

  Notes:

  (1) No Enquiry was undertaken in 1985.

  (2) Figures for numbers of claimants are rounded to the nearest 1,000.

  (3) Figures from 1983 onwards are not comparable with earlier figures because Enquiry data was collected on a different basis.

  (4) Supplementary benefit was replaced by income support in 1988.

  (5) No estimate of the number of lone parents is available for 1990.

  Source: Income Support Annual Statistical Enquiries.

  Population Trends 65.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what administrative costs are expected as a result of the introduction of a higher amount of child benefit for the oldest child.

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

  Pensioners' Savings
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what pensioners' average real income from savings was(a) in 1979 and (b) in the most recent year for which figures are available; and if he will estimate the figure for 1992;

  (2) what proportion of newly-retired pensioners had income from savings, other than their second or more pension, at retirement in (a) 1979 and (b) the most recent year for which figures are available; and if he will estimate the figure for 1992;

  (3) what proportion of newly-retired pensioners had two or more pensions at retirement in (a) 1979 and (b) the most recent year for which figures are available; and if he will estimate the figure for 1992.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The average real income of single pensioners and pensioner couples from savings is estimated at £9·50 per week in 1979 and £19·90 in 1988 (both figures are at 1988 prices).

  In 1979, 68 per cent. of newly-retired single pensioners and pensioner couples received income from savings, the corresponding figure for 1988 was 78 per cent.

  In 1979, 50 per cent. of newly-retired pensioners and pensioner couples received income from both state benefits and an occupational pension; the corresponding figure for 1988 was 62 per cent.

  Source: Family Expenditure Survey.

  Note: Newly-retired pensioners are defined as single women aged 60–64, single men aged 65–69 and couples in which the man is aged 65–69. Single pensioners are defined as being aged 60 or over for women and 65 or over for men; pensioner couples are those where the man is aged 65 or over. No estimates of these figures are available for 1992.

  Policies
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what policies he is bringing forward in the current parliamentary session to develop and enhance the social security system.

  Mr. Jack
  We intend to continue this Government's programme of developing the social security system in line with our priorities and of ensuring that it is effectively delivered.

  In addition to the measures that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced to the House on 21 October, we expect to publish a discussion paper on the options for the equalisation of state pension age; to establish a new child support unit and to introduce, after the consultation now under way, detailed regulations under the Child Support Act passed in the last Session; to bring into operation the two new benefits for disabled people; to implement the changes to income-related benefits already announced which will help families with children, and particularly lone parents, to work if they wish to do so; to implement the citizens charter and, in particular, to introduce a charter for the customers of the Benefits Agency; and to improve further the quality and effectiveness of the delivery of services to customers through the development of the Department's executive agencies.

  Mobility Allowance
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will make a statement about the entitlement to mobility allowance payments of claimants where cases fall within the scope of the European Court of Justice judgment in respect of Mr. R. Newton.

  Mr. Scott
  The effect of this judgment is that mobility allowance beneficiaries falling within its scope will continue to receive payment even though they have taken up residence in another European Community member state. The independent adjudicating authorities are already dealing with such cases in this way.

  Income Support
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, further to his answer of 5 November,Official Report, column 93, on what date he will (a) issue a circular to local authorities about notifying those newly eligible for

  475
  income support as a result of the uprating statement and (b) announce the results of his consideration of further steps.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The circular was issued to local authorities on 8 November. Any announcement about other steps, which will be taken in good time for the uprating, will be made as and when appropriate.

  Local Offices
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many benefit claim offices in Nottingham have been closed to the public at any time during the past year during official opening hours because they were becoming overcrowded or because staff were over-pressed; which offices closed; and for how many days.

  Miss Widdecombe
  No Nottingham offices have closed during the last year because they were becoming overcrowded or because staff were over-pressed.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out, for each of his Department's offices in the country, the number of hours in each month of the last year that they were closed during normal daily opening hours of 9 am to 5.30 pm.

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

  Disability
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the moneys available from the European Community for helping people with disabilities in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) other member states.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is not held centrally. However, according to information received from the European Commission the total figures are as follows:

  Specific measures for disabled people

  HELIOS (1988–1991) 33 million ecu over 4 years

  TIDE (1992–1994) 100 million ecu over 3 years

  HORIZON (1991–1993) 180 million ecu over 3 years

  Other Community programmes, actions and initiatives focusing on disabled people

  European Social Fund (ESF)

  European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

  (These form part of the Structural Funds for which a total of 2,607 million ecu were allocated for 1989–1993–350 million ecu in respect of the United Kingdom).

  ERASMUS (1990–1992) 100 million ecu over 3 years

  LINGUA (1989–1993) 200 million ecu over 5 years

  ARION (1990–1991) 420 thousand ecu over 2 years

  Youth for Europe (1988–1991) 18·5 million ecu over 4 years.

  In most cases it is not possible to say how much of the sums involved were paid to recipients in the United Kingdom or in any other member state, payments being dependent on applications received or projects undertaken.

  Departmental Circulars
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the circulars issued by his Department since 1 January 1991(a) to local authorities and (b) to other organisations or individuals.
  476
  Miss Widdecombe
  Housing benefit and community charge benefit circulars issued by the Department to local authorities are available in the Library. The other information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  RNIB Needs Survey
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consideration he has given to the report "Blind and Partially Sighted Adults in Britain—The RNIB Needs Survey"; what action he will be taking in relation to its findings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  I shall be meeting RNIB soon to discuss the implications of the survey.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will be meeting the organisations of and for blind people to respond to the findings of the report "Blind and Partially Sighted Adults in Britain—The RNIB Needs Survey".

  Mr. Scott
  I have written to the Director General of the RNIB, accepting his invitation to meet to discuss the report. A date has yet to be arranged.

  Occupational Deafness
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans there are to include deafness suffered as a result of working in turbine halls of nuclear power stations as an occupational deafness qualifying for industrial injuries disablement benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council advises the Secretary of State on the prescription of occupations under the industrial injuries scheme. The council issued a report "Occupational Deafness" (Cm. 1245) in October 1990 which recommended certain changes to ease the administrative problems in processing claims for occupational deafness. Some new procedures were introduced in April this year and subject to these being satisfactory further improvements are planned. The results will be monitored and when we are satisfied that the new procedures are working well we can then consider what scope there is for extending the present list of prescribed occupations.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the cost of administering the policy of withdrawing pension entitlement from pensioners resident in hospital for six weeks or more;

  (2) what is the saving to the national insurance fund of not paying the state pension to persons resident in hospital for more than six weeks;

  (3) if he has any plans to change the practice of withdrawing pension entitlement from those resident in hospital for more than six weeks in a year.

  Miss Widdecombe
  As with most social security benefits, the amount of retirement pension payable is reduced after the beneficiary has been in hospital for more than six weeks. A further reduction is made after 52 weeks.

  These arrangements are based on the view that state funds should not make double provision for the same needs. As the national health service provides free

  477
  maintenance as well as free treatment, it has always been the policy that maintenance benefits, also paid out of state funds, should not continue to be paid in full indefinitely. We have no plans to change this policy.

  Information on the total saving to the national insurance fund and the administration costs involved is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if social fund inspectors' review decisions are binding on local offices; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  A determination made by a social fund inspector, under section 34(4)(b) of the Social Security Act 1986, must be implemented by a social fund officer.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish his estimates of(a) the amount included in his departmental budget to cover the 20 per cent. poll tax concessions required from those on income support and (b) the amount to be actually paid in poll tax by all those on income support.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Income-related benefit levels were adjusted in April 1989 to include help towards the 20 per cent. contribution that beneficiaries have to pay. That help is now an integral part of benefit levels which were uprated in April 1990 and April 1991. The estimated cost of the adjustment for 1991–92 is £580 million for all income-related benefits. These benefit levels will be uprated further from April 1992. The total cost of community charge due to be paid by people on income support in the current year is estimated to be £200 million.

  Source: Modelling using data drawn from the 1986/7/8 Family Expenditure Surveys at 1991–92 prices and benefit.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give an estimate of the total amount of poll tax collected in 1990–91 from direct deductions from benefit.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide an up-to-date list of each television advertising campaign carried out, or to be carried out, by his Department during 1991–92, and of each other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000, giving for each(a) the topic, (b) the commencement date, (c) the duration and (d) the advertising, promotional and public relations companies involved.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 5 November 1991]: One television campaign has been carried out by the Department in 1991–92 for family credit. A television campaign explaining the new disability benefits being introduced next April is still at the planning stage. Budget provision exists for a further campaign on family credit but no detailed plans have been made.

  The following campaigns will cost more than £100,000:
  478

  Topic

  Commencement date

  Duration

  Family credit

  2 September 1991

  Five weeks

  Disability

  to be confirmed

  to be confirmed

  The Department's agency, appointed through COI, is BMP DDB Needham.

  The Benefits Agency has carried out no television campaigns, and has no plans to run any publicity campaigns costing more than £100,000 in the period in question.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether his Department has sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 5 November 1991]: The Department has not sent out unsolicited direct mail to individuals as part of the distribution of publicity material.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) 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.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 5 November 1991]: For information from 1979–80 to 1980–91, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 25 April 1991 at columns 540–41.

  For 1991–92 and 1992–93 the information is as follows:

  The total estimated outturn for publicity in 1991–92 is £12·27 million. Of this £4·4 million has been allocated to advertising.

  Department of Social Security (other than Benefits Agency) 1991–92

  £ million

  Television, radio and press (final allocation between media has not yet been made).

  4·4

  Other materials

  7·87

  The estimated provision for the 1992–93 social security publicity budget is £11·51 million. Decisions on media have not yet been made.

  Benefits Agency 1991–92

  £ million

  Television, radio and newspaper advertising

  None planned

  Information material (such as leaflets and posters)

  4·8

  1992–93: bids are currently being formulated and no figures are yet available.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total expenditure by his Department on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 5 November 1991]: Functions commonly associated with press and public relations are carried out by the Department's information division and the Benefits Agency information services branch.

  For information for the years 1979–91, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 22 May 1991 at column 535.
  479
  Discussions on the proposed 1992–93 budgets are not yet complete. The estimated expenditure for 1991–92 is in the tables:

  £ million

  Headquarters and agencies other than Benefits Agency

  Publicity

  12·270

  Staff

  0·653

  Running costs

  0·451

  Benefits Agency

  Publicity

  7·829

  Staff

  1·070

  Running costs

  0·226

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Indonesia
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what food and health aid is being given to East Timor by Her Majesty's Government in response to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe's standing committee resolution passed in Helsinki on 28 June 1991.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Her Majesty's Government are currently considering how humanitarian aid might be provided to the people of East Timor.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Priestly Functions
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, in the last recorded period of 12 months, what total sum was received in respect of each of the following(a) the reading of banns of marriage, (b) wedding services, (c) burial services and (d) any other fees for performance of priestly functions in Church of England churches.

  Mr. Alison
  It is estimated that fees paid to incumbents and parochial church councils for the year to 31 March 1991 totalled £13 million. Of this total it is estimated that £8·1 million related to statutory church and churchyard parochial fees including those for marriages and funerals, £4·6 million to cemetery and crematorium fees and £0·3 million to surrogate fees. I regret that more detailed information is not held centrally.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  European Property Purchases
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has to ensure full legal protection for United Kingdom citizens purchasing property elsewhere in the European Community.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  Housing policy is a matter for member states, not the Community. A United Kingdom national purchasing property elsewhere in the Community is therefore subject to local legal requirements, in which Her Majesty's Government have no locus to intervene.

  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has 480
  received about United Kingdom residents who have purchased apartments in Los Alisios in Los Caniallos, Tenerife; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Representations on behalf of British nationals who have purchased private property overseas are not recorded by property name.

  I have however received a letter dated 17 October 1991 from my hon. Friend, on behalf of a constituent who purchased property at the Los Alisios complex in Los Cristianos, Tenerife. I replied to him on 11 November 1991.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with what countries, other than Vietnam, his Department has discussed the removal of Vietnamese boat people from Hong Kong.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The steering committee set up under the comprehensive plan of action adopted by the 1989 Geneva international conference on Indochinese refugees last met on 30 April 1991. Since then, the British and Hong Kong Governments have discussed the return of screened-out migrants from Hong Kong bilaterally with a number of Governments, and international organisations apart from Vietnam, notably the ASEAN member countries, Japan, Australia, United States, Canada, UNHCR and IOM.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Hong Kong officials have been dismissed for corruption during each of the last three years.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The statistics are as follows:

  Year

  Dismissal

  Compulsory retirement

  1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989

  11

  1

  1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990

  4

  1

  1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991

  10

  0

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if independent observers will be allowed to witness the removal of Vietnamese boat people from Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Independent observers and the media were invited to witness the repatriation of the so-called double-backers from Hong Kong to Vietnam on 8–9 November.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what have been the results to date of discussions by Her Majesty's Government over negotiations with the Argentine Government about their wish to carry out exploration of the seabed around the Falklands Islands to search for oil and minerals; how much revenue this is expected to bring in; and if he will make a statement.
  481
  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The Argentine Government have recently announced a plan to permit exploration for oil covering a large part of the Argentine mainland and off-shore waters; but they have not proposed to us that they should carry out exploration of the seabed around the Falklands Islands.

  Wilton Park
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the level of funding provided by his Department to Wilton Park in each of the past three years; and which other countries provide financial support to the institution.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The net cash funding provided by the FCO was as follows:

  £

  1988–89

  282,709

  1989–90

  206,945

  1990–91

  293,674

  No other country provides regular direct financial support for Wilton Park conferences. Governments and institutions in other countries help recruit conference participants and often meet their travel costs and conference fees.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which British hon. Members have participated in Wilton Park conferences in the last two years.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The hon. and right hon. Members who have participated in these conferences are:

  1990

  Bruce George

  Hon. Tim Sainsbury

  Rt. Hon. William Waldegrave

  Virginia Bottomley

  Rt. Hon. David Howell

  1991

  Joan Lestor

  Ted Rowlands

  Bruce George

  Kashmir
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's position concerning the situation in Kashmir.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Government's position on Kashmir remains as set out in my reply to the Adjournment debate on 25 July at cols. 1359–60.

  Indonesia
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to implement an arms embargo in respect of Indonesia in response to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe's standing committee resolution passed in Helsinki on 28 June 1991.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  None. An embargo would be neither appropriate nor effective.
  482
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met representatives of the Indonesian Government; and what was the purpose of that meeting.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  On 31 May 1991, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met the Indonesian Foreign Minister, Mr. Ali Alatas, in the margins of the EC/ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting in Luxembourg. The purpose of the meeting was to exchange views on matters of regional and international interest.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long the meeting with Jose Ramos-Horta of the National Council of Maubere Resistance on 7 November lasted; and what items were discussed.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Mr. Ramos-Horta called on officials for about an hour on 7 November when he outlined the current situation in East Timor.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has had regarding the Indonesian occupation of East Timor; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We receive frequent representations on the subject of East Timor. We support the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General to promote a settlement acceptable to all parties.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Indonesian Government regarding attacks by the Indonesian military on East Timorese churches; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We regularly draw the attention of the Indonesian authorities to our concern about reports of human rights abuses in East Timor. We will continue to do

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts have been made by Her Majesty's Government to secure the implementation of United Nations General Assemby resolution 35/27/1980.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The United Kingdom abstained on resolution 35/27/1980 in the belief that this would best assist the proccess of reconciliation and the search for a diplomatic solution to the East Timor question. The United Kingdom fully supports the United Nations Secretary General's efforts to promote a solution acceptable to both sides and has encouraged Indonesia and Portugal to co-operate to this end.

SCOTLAND

  Roads (Spending)
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will outline the forecasts of road traffic growth which he has used to determine the grant received in respect of roads spending by Scottish local authorities.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No account is taken of forecasts of road traffic growth in the grant aided
  483
  expenditure assessment of road maintenance which is used in the distribution of aggregate external finance to authorities. The assessment (which is agreed with COSLA in the distribution committee of the working party on local government finance) is based primarily on the lane length of non-trunk roads in each authority with a secondary indicator adjustment for estimated traffic volume in prior years.

  Rents-to-mortgages Scheme
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of his rents-to-mortgages scheme.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The pilot rent-to-mortgage scheme, open to tenants of Scottish Homes and the new town development corporations in Scotland from October 1989, was extended to tenants of Scottish local authorities from 1 April 1991. Information on sales and applications in process, based on returns to 31 October 1991, is shown in the table. Experience of the pilot scheme to date is encouraging. More than 1,000 tenants have already bought their homes under the scheme or are in the process of doing so. The scheme will continue to be closely monitored.

  Sales

  Applications in process

  Scottish Homes

  198

  104

  New town development corporations

  51

  17

  Local authorities

  —

  637

  TOTAL

  249

  758

  Strathclyde Regional Council
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial support his Department has given to Strathclyde regional council in the last five years in respect of(a) capital and (b) revenue expenditure on (i) roads and (ii) public transport, and if he will outline projected support for each of the next three years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Capital allocations for roads and transport are issued as one amount. The total allocations issued to Strathclyde regional council for the last five years and the provisional allocations for the next two years are as follows:

  £ million

  1987–88

  63·5

  1988–89

  57·1

  1989–90

  76·7

  1990–91

  75·0

  1991–92

  75·6

  11992–93

  74·3

  11993–94

  74·6

  1 Provisional.

  No decisions have yet been taken on allocations for 1994–95.

  These allocations took account of the overall amounts available nationally and of the detailed expenditure proposals in Strathclyde's transport policies and programmes documents and financial plans.

  In addition, capital grant towards expenditure on rail rolling stock contained within those allocations has been paid to Strathclyde as follows:
  484

  £ million

  1987–88

  0·7

  1988–89

  1·6

  1989–90

  17·2

  1990–91

  8·0

  1991–92

  2·5

  A further £0·6 million is available for 1991–92.

  Funding for all aspects of revenue expenditure on both roads and public transport is a matter for the regional council. Central Government support to local authorities through revenue support grant and non-domestic rate income is given on an unhypothecated basis and support for individual services cannot be separately identified.

  Raspberry Producers
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of measures introduced by the Government within the last three years to assist Scotland's raspberry producers to offset the effect of Eastern European dumping in EC markets.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Action to prevent low-priced imports of soft fruit from disrupting the Community market is the responsibility of the EC Commission. The United Kingdom Government have taken the lead in the Council of Ministers in calling upon the Commission to exercise its responsibilities in this respect.

  As for other sectors of agriculture, soft fruit producers are eligible for aid under general support schemes, not related to the production of a specific commodity. Schemes introduced or revised since 1988 are the farm and conservation grant scheme 1991 (superseding the farm diversification grant scheme 1988 and the EC element of the farm and conservation grant scheme 1989); and a scheme to support investments in marketing and processing which offer lasting economic benefit to producers under Council Regulation (EEC) No. 866/90. In addition, a special scheme was introduced in 1988 to assist raspberry growers to replace plantations of Glen Clova canes with more viable varieties.

  The EC Commission is understood to be considering possible structural measures specifically to help the Community soft fruit industry adjust to competition from third countries.

  Ferry Services
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of profits made by Caledonian MacBrayne for the Kyle to Kyleakin ferry service in each of the last 15 years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Details of operating deficits and surpluses analysed by area of operation are given in Caledonian MacBrayne's annual report and accounts which are presented annually to Parliament and are available in the Library. For reasons of commercial confidentiality the company does not disclose information about operating deficits and surpluses achieved on specific routes.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what subsidy is paid for the year 1991–92 to Caledonian MacBrayne to operate the Islay ferry service; what specific aspects of this service are in receipt of subsidy; and if he will make a statement.
  485
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 11 November 1991]: Under the terms of the undertaking between my right hon. Friend and Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd., deficit subsidy is paid to the company in support of services considered to be necessary to maintain or improve economic or social conditions in the Highlands and Islands. Deficit subsidy is therefore intended to eliminate the overall deficit incurred by the company in operating a network of approved services, and is not related to deficits incurred on specific routes. The company's annual report and accounts, which are presented to Parliament, identify the operating deficit incurred by Caledonian MacBrayne in providing ferry services in different areas, including Islay/Gigha. For reasons of commercial confidentiality, however, the company does not disclose detailed information about profits or losses incurred on individual routes.

  RNIB Needs Survey
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to the report "Blind and Partially Sighted Adults in Britain—The RNIB Needs Survey"; what action he will be taking in relation to its findings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. Friend has not yet received a copy of the report. Once that is to hand, he will consider the implications for blind people in Scotland.

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was(a) the number of private beds in NHS hospitals and (b) the number of beds in private hospitals in Scotland for each year since 1 January 1979.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  As at 31 December each year, the number of private beds in NHS hospitals in Scotland was as follows:

  Allocations for hospital and community health services

  Resources for preparation of trust proposals

  Board

  1990–91 £ million

  1991–92 £ million

  1990–91 £ million

  1991–92 £ million

  Argyll and Clyde

  148·525

  163·304

  —

  0·072

  Ayrshire and Arran

  114·917

  127·044

  —

  —

  Borders

  34·374

  38·172

  —

  —

  Dumfries and Galloway

  55·920

  62·586

  —

  —

  Fife

  105·540

  118·283

  —

  —

  Forth Valley

  99·296

  110·820

  0·065

  —

  Grampian

  188·383

  208·194

  0·100

  0·070

  Greater Glasgow

  519·285

  539·365

  —

  0·042

  Highland

  81·664

  88·576

  —

  —

  Lanarkshire

  168·511

  185·057

  —

  —

  Lothian

  327·277

  352·533

  —

  0·050

  Orkney

  6·298

  7·293

  —

  —

  Shetland

  7·533

  8·341

  —

  —

  Tayside

  189·667

  204·414

  —

  —

  Western Isles

  10·812

  12·727

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  2,058·002

  2,226·709

  0·165

  0·234

  Goose Damage, Islay
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all claims for compensation submitted to the Nature Conservancy Council from the Island of Islay for goose damage to land outwith sites of
  486

  Number

  1978

  149

  1979

  114

  1980

  94

  1981

  94

  1982

  105

  1983

  108

  1984

  109

  1985

  110

  1986

  111

  1987

  112

  1988

  113

  1989

  113

  1990

  113

  Following is the estimated number of beds in private hospitals, excluding nursing homes, as at 31 March each year since 1987:

  Number

  1987

  334

  1988

  355

  1989

  353

  1990

  376

  1991

  376

  This information, which is based on returns from health boards, was not collected centrally before 1987.

  National Health Service Trusts
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central of 6 November, if he will list those moneys apportioned to the allocation provided to health boards for patient care and which was for the purpose of assisting in the preparation and proposals to establish each proposed national health service trust in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is as follows:

  special scientific interest; the sum of each claim; when he expects a decision to be reached; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No claims for compensation have been made. An application for grant was made to the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland
  487
  (NCCS) on 11 October 1991 towards the cost of supporting the Greenland populations of barnacle and white fronted geese outwith sites of special scientific interest this winter. The application was made by the secretary of the Islay, Jura, Colonsay and Gigha branch of the National Farmers Union of Scotland on behalf of 60 farmers under section 134 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. In total it amounts to £762,450, including an administrative charge of £99,450. Section 134 empowers NCCS to give financial assistance in respect of expenditure incurred in doing anything which in the opinion of the NCCS is conducive to nature conservation.

  The application is being considered by NCCS in the light of their review of the problems for agricultural land outwith the sites of special scientific interest posed by the feeding habits of migratory Greenland geese and of how those problems might best be handled in the shorter and longer term.

  Birds of Prey
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many birds of prey were found poisoned(a) in Tayside region and (b) broken down by estate boundary within Tayside region, for 1990–91 and so far in the current year.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 8 November 1991]: The wildlife incident investigation scheme of the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department received reports of two birds of prey which were found poisoned in Tayside in 1990–91. The site of one of these incidents was identified as part of Dunanean estate. No reports of poisonings have been received in the current year.

  Scottish Natural Heritage
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated budget for Scottish Natural Heritage in 1991–93.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 8 November 1991]: My right hon. Friend will shortly announce the resources to be allocated to Scottish Natural Heritage.

  Nature Conservancy Council (Compensation Claims)
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many claims are currently pending against the Nature Conservancy Council Scotland under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for compensation of profit forgone; if he will list the location and landowner concerned in each of these cases; how many involve proposals to afforest sites of special scientific interest; how

  NHS hospitals in Lothian health board—(a) day case waiting lists and time spent on day case waiting list: by specialty; (b) average wait

  (a) Day case waiting list at 30 June 1991

  (b) Average (median) wait in year ending 31 December 1990 (days)

  Number

  Percentage waiting 6 months and over

  Percentage waiting 12 months and over

  Percentage waiting 24 months and over

  All Specialties1

  3,619

  18·6

  7·3

  2·6

  25·4

  Acute Specialties

  2,878

  14·5

  4·2

  0·6

  23·0

  General surgery

  986

  17·7

  7·6

  1·0

  28·9

  488
  many cases will be going before the Lands Tribunal; and how much has been budgeted for by Nature Conservancy Council Scotland in 1991–92 to meet such compensation claims.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 8 November 1991]: The information is not held by the Scottish Office Environment Department. I shall ask the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland to write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total cost to the Nature Conservancy Council, of the recent Lands Tribunal award made to Mr. John Cameron in compensation of profit forgone when interest and legal charges are taken into account.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 8 November 1991]: The total payment to be made to Mr. John Cameron has not yet been determined. I understand from the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland that Mr. Cameron has yet to submit his claim for legal fees.

  Further Education Colleges
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what he estimates to be the costs to the further education colleges under the provisions of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Bill of providing for themselves support such as architectural, legal and financial services previously provided by local authorities.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 11 November 1991]: Expenditure by education authorities on administration and support services for further education colleges will be included in the funds transferred to the Secretary of State's budget for funding the colleges. An element for these services will be included in the grant to colleges who will be free to purchase them from the most cost-effective source.

  Day-patient Waiting Lists, Lothian
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each specialty, the current day-patient waiting list figures in the Lothian health board area, and the average day-patient waiting times; and indicate for each specialty(a) the number and (b) the percentage awaiting day-patient treatment for (i) over six months, (ii) over 12 months, (iii) over 18 months, (iv) over 24 months and (v) over 36 months.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 11 November 1991]: The information available is contained in the tables. Information on patients waiting over 18 months and over 36 months is not at present collected centrally.
  489

  (a) Day case waiting list at 30 June 1991

  (b) Average (median) wait in year ending 31 December 1990 (days)

  Number

  Percentage waiting 6 months and over

  Percentage waiting 12 months and over

  Percentage waiting 24 months and over

  Orthopaedic surgery

  135

  1·5

  0·7

  —

  27·5

  ENT surgery

  285

  9·1

  5·6

  1·4

  59·5

  Ophthalmology

  223

  13·0

  0·4

  —

  88·5

  Urology

  439

  17·5

  0·2

  0·2

  34·5

  Oral surgery and oral medicine

  6

  16·7

  —

  —

  3·9

  General medicine

  172

  11·6

  —

  —

  13·5

  Paediatric surgery

  307

  11·7

  2·3

  0·3

  35·8

  Paediatric medicine

  6

  —

  —

  —

  14·8

  Gynaecology

  318

  16·4

  6·3

  0·6

  12·7

  Other acute

  1

  —

  —

  —

  27·7

  Supra-Area Specialties

  741

  34·4

  19·4

  10·3

  77·2

  Neurosurgery

  2

  —

  —

  —

  10·5

  Plastic surgery

  739

  34·5

  1975

  10·3

  79·6

  1The following specialties have no waiting list at 30 June: Orthodontics and paediatric dentistry; restorative dentistry; dermatology; rehabilitation medicine; respiratory medicine; general practice; acute mixed; cardiothoracic surgery; neurology; radiotherapy; spinal paralysis; obstetric specialties; long stay specialties; psychiatric specialties; mental handicap; special categories.

  Drinking Water
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those water sources which have yet to be chemically dosed to reduce absorption of lead into drinking water supplies; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 11 November 1991]:There are over 600 water treatment works in Scotland, of which about two-thirds do not have chemical dosing which could affect levels of lead in tap water. Not all supplies require such dosing and those currently without it are mainly small supplies or are from
  490
  borehole sources. Around 90 per cent. of the population are served by supplies which do not receive this form of treatment.

  Only one scheme designed to meet the requirements of the EC Drinking Water Directive as regards lead remains to be completed next year; this is part of a major treatment works reconstruction. The Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations 1990 set a stricter standard for lead than the directive and all water authorities are now assessing their water supply zones to identify any where this standard may be exceeded. These assessments will determine zones in which further treatment will be considered.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Assisted Places
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any proposals to phase out the assisted places scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  There are no plans to phase out the assisted places scheme. The scheme remains a key part of this Government's policy to provide wider choice in education for parents and we are committed to it.

  Adult Education
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what increase or decrease in student numbers he forecasts for non-vocational adult education in the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department does not make forecasts on the basis requested. However, we anticipate a steady increase over the next five years in the number of full-time equivalent students studying at further education colleges.

  Sport
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on funding for sport.

  Mr. Atkins
  Local authority gross revenue spending in England and Wales on sport and recreation has risen from £720 million in 1985–86 to £1,028 million in 1989–90, the latest available figure.

  Subject to the approval of Parliament, the Sports Council's grant in aid next year will be £48·7 million, over £2 million up on this year.

  The newly established Foundation for Sport and the Arts will draw about £20 million a year from the further cut of 2·5 per cent. in pool betting duty included in this year's Finance Act, and about £40 million a year from the pools themselves. Some two-thirds will be used for athletic sports or athletic games. The Football Trust has also benefited from a cut in the pool betting duty by an additional £20 million since 1990.

  Private sector sponsors provide some £200 million per annum for sport.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the relocation of the Sports Council to Nottingham.

  Mr. Atkins
  Relocation is a matter for the Sports Council. I understand that at present it has no plans to relocate its headquarters out of London.

  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to publish his Ministry's review of sport.

  Mr. Atkins
  When it is completed.

  Further and Higher Education
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any new proposals to increase the number of thos0e participating in further and higher education courses.
  492
  Mr. Eggar
  Participation in further and higher education is at record levels. Our education reforms of the past few years and the new measures announced in the recent White Papers will promote continuing expansion through the 1990s and beyond. This House can play a major part in that expansion by supporting the Further and Higher Education Bill, which was introduced in another place on 4 November.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how his Department is ensuring that sixth-form colleges, schools and higher education colleges are receiving sufficient funds to cope with the number of students aged over 16 years.

  Mr. Eggar
  In fixing education's share of each year's local authority grant settlement, the Government take account of a range of new developments and the scope for savings. One of those developments is the projected national trend, based on the latest data available at the time, in the number of students aged over 16 in schools and colleges.

  City Technology Colleges
  Mr. Grylls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the operation of the city technology college programme.

  Mr. Eggar
  The CTC programme is forging ahead. We now have thirteen CTCs open and running with a further two due to open in the next two years. Our expenditure plans provide for a start to be made on extending the benefits of the programme more widely through the education service.

  Education Funding (Nottinghamshire)
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science by how much funding towards education in Nottinghamshire provided by the Government has increased since 1979.

  Mr. Fallon
  Net recurrent spending on education in Nottinghamshire increased from some £138 million in 1979–80 to some £338 million in 1989–90, the latest year for which information on actual spending is available. That represents a real terms increase of some 22 per cent. These figures exclude spending on Nottingham Polytechnic, which transferred to the PCFC sector in 1989.

  Parental Choice
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the progress of the Government's policies for parental choice in central London.

  Mr. Fallon
  Parents in central London—like parents everywhere else in the country—have had the right since 1980 to choose which school their child should attend—provided places are available. More recently they have benefited from both the introduction of more open enrolment and the option of pursuing grant-maintained status for their children's school. And they will benefit in the same way as other parents from the proposals in our parents charter.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Barry Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the average number of applications for places at grant-maintained schools in the current and in the last year.

  Mr. Eggar
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what changes he is planning to make in the funding of grant-maintained schools.

  Mr. Eggar
  We are currently consulting about proposed changes for 1992–93, including the calculation of the amount of grant which grant-maintained schools receive in recompense for the money which LEAs spend centrally on items such as administration.

  School Buildings
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much was spent on school buildings in 1981 and at the present time; and what the change is in real terms.

  Mr. Fallon
  Gross capital expenditure on local authority, voluntary, and grant-maintained schools in 1989–90 is some £755 million which compares with expenditure of £391 million in 1980–81—an increase in real terms of some 14 per cent. Over the same period capital expenditure per pupil has risen from £49 to £112—a 34 per cent. rise in real terms. Between 1980–81 and 1989–90 recurrent spending on repairs and maintenance rose by some 25 per cent. per pupil in real terms.

  SERC Chairman
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will dismiss the chairman of SERC.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  No.

  Education Spending and Exam Results
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the relationship between spending by local education authorities and examination results.

  Mr. Fallon
  The available data show no direct relationship between spending by local education authorities and the examination results their pupils achieve. Appropriate spending levels are bound to be affected to some extent by each authority's circumstances; some authorities obtain good results at much lower cost than others.

  NUT (Advertising Campaign)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about the advertising campaign by the National Union of Teachers.

  Mr. Fallon
  None.

  Special Needs Education
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what criteria are used to allocate funds for children with disadvantages and special needs in primary schools in Liverpool.
  494
  Mr. Fallon
  It is for Liverpool local education authority to decide what criteria to use in its local management of schools formula to allocate funds to schools.

  Liverpool uses a social disadvantage factor based on the number of pupils entitled to free school meals, and a special needs factor based on a system of monitoring reading standards at ages seven and 11. The tests currently used to assess reading standards are the primary reading test for seven-year-olds, and Young's Cloze procedure for 11-year-olds.

  Local Management of Schools
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report in descending order the proportion of each English shire county's education budget which is allocated to schools under the local management of schools scheme.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Mr. Norris) on 14 October at columns 67–73.

  Capital Funding
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in tabular form the amount of the capital bids for(a) county and voluntary controlled schools, (b) voluntary aided schools and (c) further education, for each local education authority that has submitted its application for 1992–93.

  Mr. Eggar
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  Capital Expenditure bids 1992–93

  Bids for annual capital guidelines (ACGs) for county and controlled schools and further and higher education colleges and bids for capital allocations for voluntary aided and special agreement schools

  (£000s)

  County and Controlled Schools

  Further and Higher Education Colleges

  VA and SA Schools

  LEA

  Barking

  6,032

  0

  467

  Barnet

  8,022

  2,422

  1,201

  Bexley

  11,413

  305

  1,918

  Brent

  15,884

  1,209

  71

  Bromley

  6,702

  350

  71

  Croydon

  15,120

  2,003

  1,000

  Ealing

  27,633

  2,245

  798

  Enfield

  13,460

  1,753

  1,927

  Haringey

  5,256

  575

  214

  Harrow

  16,865

  983

  95

  Havering

  6,434

  426

  50

  Hillingdon

  8,937

  39

  100

  Hounslow

  16,540

  55

  847

  Kingston

  1,946

  678

  99

  Merton

  8,804

  150

  174

  Newham

  13,017

  1,651

  390

  Redbridge

  6,271

  141

  66

  Richmond

  3,968

  815

  *388

  Sutton

  8,205

  110

  1,821

  Waltham Forest

  19,505

  1,180

  0

  City of London

  0

  43

  0

  Camden

  3,292

  262

  1,160

  Westminster

  18,767

  0

  3,146

  Greenwich

  5,334

  400

  340

  Hackney

  8,041

  600

  193

  Hammersmith

  5,329

  144

  1,712

  Islington

  9,718

  1,796

  2,256

  Kensington

  5,976

  70

  1,677

  Lambeth

  6,773

  2,502

  1,141

  495

  (£000s)

  County and Controlled Schools

  Further and Higher Education Colleges

  VA and SA Schools

  Lewisham

  13,287

  1,107

  815

  Southwark

  3,244

  304

  826

  Tower Hamlets

  14,484

  6,443

  1,520

  Wandsworth

  31,477

  2,385

  120

  Birmingham

  29,760

  5,018

  4,550

  Coventry

  8,816

  163

  2,849

  Dudley

  7,058

  200

  1,377

  Sandwell

  6,056

  533

  409

  Solihull

  1,766

  411

  910

  Walsall

  3,769

  1,350

  20

  Wolverhampton

  14,281

  1,306

  760

  Knowsley

  5,718

  1,000

  235

  Liverpool

  14,995

  3,515

  4,972

  St. Helens

  4,406

  1,680

  1,040

  Sefton

  4,665

  464

  1,879

  Wirral

  6,854

  200

  230

  Bolton

  3,349

  720

  6,307

  Bury

  2,807

  795

  330

  Manchester

  29,020

  8,645

  1,538

  Oldham

  8,235

  482

  1,138

  Rochdale

  12,757

  1,439

  474

  Salford

  9,228

  961

  707

  Stockport

  2,643

  345

  34

  Tameside

  3,697

  450

  336

  Trafford

  3,223

  550

  1,656

  Wigan

  8,266

  1,269

  1,567

  Barnsley

  7,233

  1,027

  100

  Doncaster

  1,071

  395

  10

  Rotherham

  5,770

  1,344

  64

  Sheffield

  19,386

  537

  1,124

  Bradford

  27,433

  4,315

  1,219

  Calderdale

  3,220

  557

  46

  Kirklees

  5,795

  2,280

  798

  Leeds

  39,449

  3,698

  5,570

  Wakefield

  10,295

  730

  206

  Gateshead

  8,599

  2,545

  757

  Newcastle

  24,804

  3,855

  1,171

  North Tyneside

  7,954

  150

  454

  South Tyneside

  6,738

  953

  84

  Sunderland

  8,637

  903

  1,384

  Avon

  8,904

  3,880

  568

  Bedfordshire

  7,860

  187

  865

  Berkshire

  21,703

  957

  350

  Buckinghamshire

  12,412

  2,846

  957

  Cambridgeshire

  27,817

  7,793

  1,809

  Cheshire

  26,912

  1,487

  3,012

  Cleveland

  6,357

  471

  392

  Cornwall

  18,476

  3,467

  344

  Cumbria

  19,402

  2,014

  1,989

  Derbyshire

  41,748

  2,315

  657

  Devon

  19,165

  2,885

  2,578

  Dorset

  20,581

  1,002

  2,900

  Durham

  27,604

  4,771

  1,562

  East Sussex

  51,921

  2,170

  586

  Essex

  58,584

  3,462

  163

  Gloucester

  16,294

  2,199

  2,277

  Hampshire

  21,795

  5,620

  534

  Hereford & Worcester

  11,168

  1,880

  1,156

  Hertfordshire

  23,519

  1,000

  509

  Humberside

  22,411

  1,791

  947

  Isle of Wight

  6,425

  278

  0

  Isles of Scilly

  96

  0

  0

  Kent

  39,215

  5,568

  3,403

  Lancashire

  31,020

  12,708

  5,279

  Leicestershire

  25,923

  1,449

  890

  Lincolnshire

  26,435

  5,267

  794

  Norfolk

  9,347

  1,363

  628

  496

  (£000s)

  County and Controlled Schools

  Further and Higher Education Colleges

  VA and SA Schools

  North Yorkshire

  10,160

  240

  733

  Northampton

  8,087

  729

  489

  Northumberland

  7,343

  250

  857

  Nottingham

  20,549

  3,974

  1,353

  Oxfordshire

  20,179

  833

  2,315

  Shropshire

  10,403

  920

  12

  Somerset

  9,071

  987

  2,866

  Staffordshire

  18,048

  1,958

  2,364

  Suffolk

  18,343

  2,897

  569

  Surrey

  19,319

  2,045

  *3,077

  Warwickshire

  10,802

  47

  1,058

  West Sussex

  11,093

  471

  759

  Wiltshire

  12,175

  2,045

  708

  Total

  1,492,401

  184,158

  125,247

  Notes:

  1. The figures should be treated with caution. They represent the initial bids made by local education authorities and take no account of subsequent amendments to those bids.

  2. All figures are in thousands.

  3. The above information includes bids for FE major building projects which, for procedural reasons, it is not possible to consider. Time constraints preclude their deletion at the time of writing.

  4. The information does not include bids for FE major building projects which LEAs have started without Departmental approval.

  5. The bids for capital allocations at voluntary aided (VA) and special agreement (SA) schools do not include bids for Minor Improvement Projects. Grants for minor works will be allocated to LEAs by formula.

  6. VA and SA schools bids marked "*" include an estimate for committed projects (i.e., based on 1991–92 submissions) since LEA bids for such expenditure have not yet been received.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a list for each local authority comparing the capital allocations for the education service in 1989–90 with the latest available outturn information.

  Mr. Eggar
  The table shows capital allocations to each local education authority in 1989–90, together with final outturn expenditure on education capital in that year.

  Capital spending and allocations on education by LEAs, 1989–90

  (£ million cash)

  LEA

  Gross expenditure Final outturn

  Allocation

  Barking

  1·765

  ·245

  Barnet

  2·343

  ·996

  Bexley

  3·870

  ·864

  Brent

  10·644

  ·463

  Bromley

  6·280

  ·663

  Croydon

  15·947

  1·008

  Ealing

  5·947

  ·540

  Enfield

  7·740

  1·153

  Haringey

  5·020

  2·275

  Harrow

  5·408

  ·650

  Havering

  5·398

  1·341

  Hillingdon

  15·324

  ·991

  Hounslow

  10·260

  ·529

  Kingston

  2·973

  ·316

  Merton

  9·273

  5·243

  Newham

  10·188

  3·590

  Redbridge

  5·900

  2·028

  Richmond

  2·476

  ·540

  Sutton

  5·443

  ·649

  Waltham Forest

  11·853

  8·013

  ILEA

  50·780

  11·957

  Birmingham

  10·663

  5·327

  Coventry

  19·705

  2·670

  Dudley

  5·549

  2·531

  Sandwell

  5·703

  2·080

  Solihull

  4·191

  ·744

  497

  LEA

  Gross expenditure Final outturn

  Allocation

  Walsall

  5·712

  ·921

  Wolverhampton

  3·551

  ·985

  Knowsley

  2·869

  2·366

  Liverpool

  4·163

  ·907

  St. Helens

  2·244

  1·851

  Sefton

  3·362

  2·471

  Wirral

  3·629

  2·469

  Bolton

  4·645

  1·286

  Bury

  1·832

  ·605

  Manchester

  14·385

  5·271

  Oldham

  3·932

  2·272

  Rochdale

  4·003

  2·475

  Salford

  6·579

  3·806

  Stockport

  5·464

  1·519

  Tameside

  2·591

  ·746

  Trafford

  6·795

  5·171

  Wigan

  2·369

  1·364

  Barnsley

  2·733

  ·276

  Doncaster

  1·651

  ·684

  Rotherham

  3·020

  ·840

  Sheffield

  13·393

  5·211

  Bradford

  14·388

  8·584

  Calderdale

  4·845

  2·607

  Kirklees

  4·752

  ·808

  Leeds

  16·468

  3·464

  Wakefield

  6·237

  3·212

  Gateshead

  5·753

  1·052

  Newcastle

  6·086

  1·566

  North Tyne

  1·783

  1·577

  South Tyne

  5·912

  3·372

  Sunderland

  6·512

  3·859

  Isles of Scilly

  ·143

  ·149

  Avon

  11·049

  3·877

  Bedfordshire

  7·556

  2·022

  Berkshire

  20·203

  5·876

  Bucks

  12·274

  7·780

  Cambridgeshire

  22·488

  6·594

  Cheshire

  24·159

  3·487

  Cleveland

  6·812

  5·324

  Cornwall

  9·021

  6·279

  Cumbria

  9·005

  6·753

  Derbyshire

  20·754

  11·909

  Devon

  20·154

  14·177

  Dorset

  6·547

  3·667

  Durham

  6·233

  2·133

  East Sussex

  16·542

  9·171

  Essex

  26·260

  17·305

  Gloucs

  10·030

  6·089

  Hampshire

  30·552

  8·453

  Hereford and Worcester

  9·450

  2·534

  Hertfordshire

  14·989

  4·832

  Humberside

  11·427

  7·601

  Isle of Wight

  2·021

  1·628

  Kent

  19·446

  8·610

  Lancashire

  19·272

  15·057

  Leicestershire

  12·998

  7·533

  Lincolnshire

  7·375

  3·010

  Norfolk

  7·982

  3·788

  North Yorks

  8·193

  2·209

  Northants

  9·484

  4·034

  Northumberland

  3·102

  ·901

  Nottinghamshire

  8·563

  3·215

  Oxfordshire

  11·085

  3·758

  Shropshire

  5·565

  5·045

  Somerset

  8·70

  3·088

  Staffordshire

  .11·104

  4·927

  Suffolk

  10·511

  6·086

  Surrey

  26·536

  5·735

  Warwickshire

  5·339

  1·729

  West Sussex

  11·882

  1·966

  Wiltshire

  7·607

  2·866

  Note: Expenditure is given in cash terms; it includes provision form within the Department of the Enviroment's urban programme, and covers schools, further education, youth and other educational services.

  Nuclear Structure Facility
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the increase in science spending announced in the autumn statement will allow the continuation of the nuclear structure facility beyond its intended closure date.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The research councils will be considering any changes to their forward programmes when the increases to the science budget announced in the autumn statement have been allocated. Mr right hon. and learned Friend has invited the views of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils on this allocation and he will be making a statement in due course.

  I understand that the Science and Engineering Research Council has yet to decide the precise date during 1992–93 when the nuclear structure facility would close.

  Teacher Vacancies
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has received the Association of London Authorities' survey on teacher vacancies in London.

  Mr. Fallon
  Yes, we were particularly pleased to note the improvements reported in teacher vacancies. The association found that London boroughs had succeeded in filling all but a handful of vacancies for the new school year. Our own survey came to much the same conclusion.

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the total numbers of (a) men and (b) women commencing teacher training courses in each year from 1988 to the present year.

  Mr. Eggar
  The figures requested are as follows:

  Enrolments of first-year home students on initial teacher training courses in England and Wales: by gender

  1988–89

  1989–90

  11990–91

  England

  Male

  5,426

  5,337

  6,209

  Female

  13,016

  14,359

  16,928

  Total

  18,442

  19,696

  23.137

  Wales

  Male

  486

  540

  516

  Female

  1,060

  1,190

  1,172

  Total

  1,546

  1,730

  1,688

  England and Wales

  Male

  5,912

  5,877

  6,725

  Female

  14,076

  15,549

  18,100

  Total

  19,988

  21,426

  24,825

  1Provisional figures

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Manufactures
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the proportion of imported (i) semi-manufactures, (ii) finished intermediate and (iii) finished capital good consumed/used by United Kingdom manufacturers in 1970, 1979, 1984 and 1989.

  Mr. Mellor
  No estimates are available.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a table showing the Japanese and United Kingdom figures for the increase in consumer prices and export unit values for manufactures between 1979 and 1990 together with those of France, Germany, Italy and the USA.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information requested can be obtained from data published in "OECD, Main Economic Indicators" for consumer prices, and in "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics", its annual supplement and "International Financial Statistics" for export unit values, copies of which are in the Library.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the current visible and invisible import content of United Kingdom manufactures, excluding oil, relative to 1979 and 1970.

  Mr. Mellor
  No current estimates exist, the latest available analysis is for 1985. The CSO's published input-output tables for that year and the two earlier years' show the imported and domestic content of manufactures. These Publications are available in the Library.1"Input-Output Tables for the United Kingdom, 1985" table four, "Input-Output Tables for the United Kingdom, 1979" table K, "Input-Output Tables for the United Kingdom, 1970" table K.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of United Kingdom imports of manufactures are re-exported (i) in the same form and (ii) after further processing in the United Kingdom: and what the corresponding figures were in 1970, 1979 and 1984.

  Mr. Mellor
  No estimates are available.

  Trade Statistics
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the figures for the volume of gross domestic product and of United Kingdom exports of goods and services as shown in tables 25 and 29 of part 6 of the OECD National Accounts 1960–1989, less oil and gas.

  Mr. Mellor
  The estimates given in tables 25 and 29 of the OECD: publication cannot be readily adapted to remove oil and gas. Series can, however, be derived from data available here in the UK.

  Gross domestic product at constant factor cost excluding the contribution of the oil and gas extraction industry given in the usual index number formal (1985 = 100):

  Year

  1960

  60·9

  1961

  62·2

  1962

  63·2

  500

  Year

  1963

  65·4

  1964

  69·6

  1965

  71·6

  1966

  73·0

  1967

  74·4

  1968

  77·7

  1969

  79·4

  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

  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

  The volume of exports of oil and oil products at 1985 prices is available from 1983 on the Central Statistical Office's database as series BOWX and exports of goods and services at 1985 prices is available as series DJCV. From these series it is possible to calculate an index of goods and services less oil on UK definitions.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a table showing for EC countries, the United States of America and Japan for 1970 to 1973, 1973 to 1979, 1979 to 1989 and 1985 to 1989, the percentage increase in (i) gross domestic product less oil and gas, (ii) manufacturing output, (iii) real incomes as well as the increase in the number of, (iv) employed and (v) unemployed persons, together with the balance of trade in manufactures as a percentage of gross domestic product together with a table showing the increase in gross domestic product and manufacturing output in per capita terms.

  Mr. Mellor
  Such information as is readily available on comparable bases can be obtained from the following international publications:

  (i) gross domestic product less oil and gas

  Table R1 in "National Accounts ESA Aggregates 1970–1989 Theme 2 Series C" published by Eurostat gives annual growth rates for gross domestic product at market prices. Data on a comparable basis are not available for gross domestic product excluding oil and gas;

  (ii) manufacturing output

  Page 16 of the US Department of Labour publication "International comparisons of manufacturing productivity and unit labour cost trends 1990".

  (iii) real incomes

  Information on compensation of employees which includes all payments in cash and in kind made by employers in remuneration for the work done by their employees is given in Table J in "National Accounts ESA Aggregates 1970–1989 Theme 2 Series C" published by Eurostat;

  (iv) employment
  501
  Information on occupied population is given in Table O in "National Accounts ESA Aggregates 1970–1989 Theme 2 Series C" published by Eurostat;

  (v) unemployed persons

  Separate tables are given for each country in "Main Economic Indicators Historical Statistics 1969–1988" published by OECD. Later data are available in the monthly "Main Economic Indicators" also published by OECD;

  (vi) balance of trade in manufactures as a percentage of gross domestic product

  The balance of trade in manufactures can be calculated from data in "Foreign Trade by Commodities: Series C" published by OECD and gross domestic product can be obtained from Table 1 for each country in "National Accounts ESA Aggregates 1970–1989 Theme 2 Series C" published by Eurostat;

  (vii) gross domestic product per capita

  Information on gross domestic product at market prices per head of total population can be found in Table B2 in "National Accounts ESA Aggregates 1979–1989 Theme 2 Series C" published by Eurostat;

  (viii) manufacturing output per head

  Page 15 of the US Department of Labour publication "International comparisons of manufacturing productivity and unit labour cost trends 1990".

  Copies of all these publications are available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the changes made since October 1989 in the way trade figures have been collected, analysed or presented.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 7 November 1991]: Following are the main changes:

  (a)Adjustments to statistics of oil exports. Since October 1989 better methods have been used to measure direct exports of crude oil from offshore fields, including adjustments for any such trade reported late to Customs and Excise.

  (b)Improved seasonal adjustments. Since January 1990 seasonal factors for the current month and the preceding month have been estimated afresh each month using all the latest available information. This replaced the previous method of calculating factors at the beginning of each year for all of the following twelve months.

  (c)Progressive development of detailed methodology. Various small refinements have been made to the statistics, such as more elaborate adjustments for differences in the length of a month and improved deflators for some high-value commodities.

  Farms
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a table showing the increase in incomes of farmers in terms of constant prices in 1979 and in the latest available year compared with the average of 1967 to 1971 together with the increase in the direct and indirect cost of agricultural support to the consumer/taxpayer.

  Mr. Mellor
  The table shows United Kingdom aggregate farm income, and public expenditure in support of agriculture in the United Kingdom. Agricultural market support through the CAP means that EC consumers pay more for their food than they would do in a free market. The estimated cost to United Kingdom consumer, based on work by the OECD, is given in the table. All figures are in constant 1985 prices.
  502

  Year

  Farm income (£mittion)

  Public expenditure (£million)

  Estimated consumer cost (£million)

  11967–71

  2,555

  1,481

  nil

  1979

  1,956

  1,130

  3,000

  1989

  1,242

  1,033

  4,600

  21990

  972

  1,469

  5,400

  Notes:

  1Average.

  2 Forecast.

  Figures for public expenditure relate to the financial year beginning in the year shown.

  Consumer cost is based on OECD estimates of the cost to EC consumers scaled down to relect the United Kingdom share of consumption.

  Aggregate farm income is defined in chapter 6 of Agriculture in the United Kingdom 1990, HMSO, 1991.

  Public expenditure in support of agriculture is defined in chapter 9 of Agriculture in the United Kingdom 1990. It includes the cost of market support reimbursed by the EC; and excludes indirect support for agriculture such as free or subsidised advisory services and research and development.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a table showing for the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, the United States of America and Japan for each year since 1970 the percentage, to one place of decimals, of gross domestic product invested in manufacturing industry, together with the amount invested in terms of dollars per person employed in manufacturing at current prices and exchange rates.

  Mr. Mellor
  The latest readily available information in respect of gross fixed capital formation by the manufacturing industry, of gross domestic product at current prices in national currencies and of the numbers employed in the manufacturing industries can be obtained from tables 3,1 and 15 respectively for most of these countries in "National Accounts Detailed Tables Volume II 1976–1988" published by the OECD. Exchange rates to convert the national currencies into dollars are given in table 3 in the Appendix to "National Accounts Main Aggregates Volume I 1960–1988" also published by OECD.

  Copies of these publications are available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table for each quarter since 1967 of indices of(a) the wholesale price of materials and fuels purchased by manufacturing industry other than food, drink and tobacco, (b) the wholesale price of home sales of manufacturing industry other than food, drink and tobacco and (c) the unit value of imports of basic materials, as defined in the overseas trade statistics, with 1975 as 100.

  Mr. Mellor
  I have placed tables showing the first two series in the Library of the House. Unit value indices for recent years are not available on a 1975 base but the indices for imports of basic materials on a 1985 base can be found in table C15 of the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics" and its annual supplement, available from the Library of the House, or on the Central Statistical Office database which may be accessed through the Library. No information is available for years prior to 1970.
  503

  Producer Price Index Materials and fuel purchased by manufacturing industry other than the food, drink and tobacco manufacturing industries 1975 = 100

  Quarterly averages

  Q1

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  1967

  30·9

  30·4

  31·0

  33·1

  1968

  35·4

  34·7

  34·7

  34·7

  1969

  34·4

  36·0

  36·6

  37·3

  1970

  37·9

  38·0

  37·7

  37·7

  1971

  38·8

  39·6

  39·6

  39·0

  1972

  39·3

  39·7

  41·0

  43·0

  1973

  46·3

  49·4

  55·5

  62·4

  1974

  83·1

  85·8

  87·2

  91·0

  1975

  92·6

  96·3

  101·7

  109·4

  1976

  113·3

  126·2

  129·9

  137·6

  1977

  140·7

  143·5

  143·6

  139·1

  1978

  134·2

  137·8

  138·5

  145·4

  1979

  153·8

  158·3

  163·4

  174·9

  1980

  185·1

  180·0

  178·4

  180·7

  1981

  186·9

  192·0

  200·7

  209·0

  1982

  212·3

  295·7

  207·5

  217·0

  1983

  228·4

  222·8

  226·9

  231·1

  1984

  240·5

  240·9

  246·7

  260·4

  1985

  275·8

  257·2

  249·6

  247·0

  1986

  243·0

  225·3

  217·0

  233·3

  1987

  238·9

  235·6

  244·9

  246·8

  1988

  250·5

  253·3

  255·7

  260·6

  1989

  268·1

  269·1

  265·0

  272·2

  1990

  271·7

  262·1

  263·4

  268·3

  1991

  261·3

  260·3

  259·0

  Note: This table reflects the changes over three base years (i.e., 1975/80/85) and the effects of reclassification from 1968 SIC to 1980 SIC from 1983.

  Producer Price Index Products and manufacturing industries other than food, drink and tobacco manufacturing industries—home sales 1975 = 100

  Quarterly averages

  Q1

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  1967

  45·0

  45·0

  45·3

  45·6

  1968

  46·5

  46·9

  47·1

  47·3

  1969

  47·8

  48·1

  48·6

  49·2

  1970

  50·4

  51·8

  52·8

  54·2

  1971

  56·1

  57·5

  58·4

  58·8

  1972

  59·5

  60·5

  61·6

  63·0

  1973

  63·5

  64·7

  66·6

  69·1

  1974

  75·0

  80·8

  84·5

  88·6

  1975

  94·5

  98·6

  101·8

  105·1

  1976

  110·1

  114·3

  119·1

  124·3

  1977

  130·9

  137·0

  140·6

  143·3

  1978

  146·6

  149·7

  152·9

  155·8

  1979

  160·5

  166·1

  172·4

  178·5

  1980

  187·3

  193·7

  198·8

  201·9

  1981

  204·8

  208·8

  211·5

  215·0

  1982

  220·5

  223·8

  226·0

  228·1

  1983

  231·6

  235·7

  238·3

  241·0

  1984

  244·9

  248·8

  251·4

  254·7

  1985

  260·6

  264·9

  267·6

  269·7

  1986

  273·7

  276·2

  278·3

  280·5

  1987

  285·0

  288·5

  291·2

  294·0

  1988

  298·7

  302·4

  305·6

  308·8

  1989

  314·7

  318·7

  322·2

  325·9

  1990

  332·6

  338·2

  341·9

  346·5

  1991

  353·7

  356·9

  358·7

  Note: This table reflects the changes over three base years (i.e., 1975/80/85) and the effects of reclassification from 1968 SIC to 1980 SIC from 1983.

  Economic Policies
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the long-term objective of the Government's economic policies.
  504
  Mr. Maples
  The Government's central objective is to create the basis for improved living standards and public services by promoting sustainable, non-inflationary economic growth.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will bring up to date the information given in his written answer of 20 February 1990,Official Report, column 696, concerning the amount of mortgage interest payable each year as a percentage of (a) disposable income and (b) consumers' expenditure; and if he will (c) add figures (i) for the percentage of gross domestic product and (ii) the years 1970–78.

  Mr. Mellor
  The latest estimates are as follows:

  Mortgage interest payable as a percentage of

  Personal disposable income

  Consumers' expenditure

  Gross domestic product

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  1970

  2·6

  2·8

  2·1

  1971

  2·7

  2·9

  2·1

  1972

  2·7

  2·9

  2·1

  1973

  3·2

  3·6

  2·5

  1974

  3·7

  4·1

  2·9

  1975

  3·4

  3·8

  2·6

  1976

  3·4

  3·8

  2·6

  1977

  3·5

  3·8

  2·6

  1978

  3·0

  3·3

  2·3

  1979

  3·5

  4·0

  2·8

  1980

  4·4

  5·1

  3·5

  1981

  4·5

  5·1

  3·6

  1982

  4·8

  5·4

  3·8

  1983

  4·5

  5·0

  3·6

  1984

  5·3

  5·9

  4·2

  1985

  6·6

  7·3

  5·2

  1986

  6·4

  7·0

  5·2

  1987

  6·8

  7·3

  5·4

  1988

  7·2

  7·6

  5·7

  1989

  9·4

  10·2

  7·6

  11990

  10·6

  11·7

  8·6

  1 Figures affected by introduction of the community charge in England and Wales.

  In the first half of 1991 mortgage interest accounted for 10·0 per cent. of disposable income and for 11·5 per cent. of consumers' expenditure. It is not possible to give the corresponding percentage of GDP because the interest figures are not available in seasonally adjusted form whereas money GDP exists as a seasonally adjusted series only.

  Sports Council
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions Her Majesty's Treasury has had with the Sports Council about funding the relocation of the Sports Council and associated jobs to Nottingham; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has not discussed this question with the Sports Council.

  EC Budget
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the reasons why United Kingdom contributions to the EC budget are expected to increase from £0·9 billion in 1991–92 to £2·2 billion in 1992–93.

  Mr. Maude
  The autumn statement provided a forecast of the UK's net payments to EC institutions of £0·9 billion
  505
  in 1991–92 and £2·5 billion in 1992–93. The uneven profile results from the timing of adjustments to UK contributions, mainly because contributions are paid on the basis of agreed estimates and adjusted in the light of outturn, and from subsequent correction to the UK's abatement. The net contribution in 1991–92 is unusually low as the result of a refund in 1991 of contributions overpaid in 1990 and higher than usual abatement in 1991, reflecting adjustments paid in 1990 to make good underpayments in the previous year.

  VAT
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average penalty imposed in Yorkshire on those who submit value added tax returns late by(a) one week, (b) two weeks, (c) three weeks and (d) four weeks.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Customs do not maintain statistics for individual counties or regions. The penalties imposed for late submission or payment of VAT returns do not vary with the length of the period between due date and receipt by Customs. Nationwide, the average penalty imposed on defaulting traders (including those who may have received more than one penalty) over the current and preceding financial year is:

  Average penalty £

  Financial year ending 31 March 1989

  266.24

  Financial year ending 31 March 1990

  375.42

  Financial year ending 31 March 1991

  429.39

  1 April 1991 to 30 September 1991

  441.41

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many appeals against penalties imposed for incorrect and late payment of value added tax have been upheld in the current year, to date, by value added tax tribunals in Yorkshire.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Customs do not maintain statistics for individual counties or regions. Nationwide in the current calendar year to 31 October a total of 50 appeals were upheld or partly upheld against penalties for incorrect declaration of value added tax. For the same period, the total number of appeals upheld or partly upheld against penalties for late payment of value added tax is 94.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received calling for the time required to elapse form date of supply for bad debt to obtain value added tax relief to be reduced from 24 months to 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Between March 1990 and March 1991 about 150 representations were received seeking a reduction in the two-year waiting period for bad debt relief,which was part of the comprehensive scheme for bad debt relief enacted in the Finance Act 1990. In response, my right hon. Friend announced in his Budget statement that the waiting period would be halved to one year.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will empower value added tax tribunals to take mitigating circumstances into account when determining penalties on incorrect and late value added tax returns.
  506
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Consideration of this matter is currently forming part of the thorough review of value added tax penalties announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget statement. As my right hon. Friend said, the aim is to bring forward proposals for any changes required to the penalty regime in the 1992 Finance Bill.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value added tax threshold in the United Kingdom and in each of the other EC countries.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The VAT registration threshold in the United Kingdom is £35,000 annual turnover.

  Belgium, Spain and Italy have no minimum VAT registration threshold.

  For other member states of the EC the thresholds are as follows:

  Threshold based on annual turnover

  Denmark

  DKr 10,000 (£888·49)

  France

  FF 70,000 (£7061·79)

  Germany

  DM 20,000 (£6872·85)

  Greece

  DR 1,000,000 (£3113·32) (Supply of goods)

  DR 250,000 (778·33) (Supply of services)

  Ireland

  IR £32,000 (£29384·75) (Supply of goods)

  IR £15,000 (£13774·10) (Supply of services)

  Luxembourg

  LFrs 200,000 (£3330·55)

  Portugal

  Esc 800,000 (£3205·12) (Industry)

  Esc 500,000 (£2003·20) (Professions)

  Threshold based on annual VAT payable after input tax deduction

  Netherlands

  DF1 2174 (£3717·19)

  Sources: VAT Monitor

  Tax News Service

  Rates of exchange: as at 31 October 1991.

  EC (National Incomes)
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the national income, 3 per cent. of that figure and the budget deficit of each member state in the EC indicating the differences in accounting treatment where relevant.

  Mr. Maples
  Following is the information, for the latest year1 available:

  GDP

  3 per cent. of GDP

  2GGFD

  UK (£ billion)

  550·6

  16·5

  3·6

  Belgium (BF billion)

  6,027·9

  180·8

  402·1

  Denmark (Kr billion)

  776·0

  23·3

  3·7

  France (FF billion)

  6,113·1

  183·4

  86·3

  Germany (DM billion)

  2,235·6

  67·1

  -5·5

  Greece (Dr billion)

  8,798·4

  294·0

  n.a.

  Ireland (IrP billion)

  20·0

  0·6

  1·8

  Italy (Lit trillion)

  1,188·0

  35·6

  121·1

  Luxembourg (BF billion)

  223·3

  6·7

  -6·9

  Netherlands (Fl billion)

  474·4

  14·2

  24·5

  Portugal (Esc billion)

  4,420·4

  132·6

  281·5

  Spain (Pta trillion)

  40·2

  1·2

  1·3

  Source: OECD National Accounts volume II, 1977–89, except for UK figures from Financial Statistics.

  1 Latest year is 1989 except for UK (1990); Spain (1988); Ireland (1987); Luxembourg and Portugal (1986).
  507
  2 General government financial deficit, positive number indicates government borrowing.

  The Dutch presidency text defines the budget deficit as "the net balance to be financed on a cash basis". However, data for this concept are available. Data for general Government financial deficits are not available for most countries, and are therefore generally used to make international comparisons of budget deficits. Most countries, however, focus on other aggregates in their national budgets. The main differences between the net balance to be financed on a cash basis and the GGFD are that the former is measured on a cash basis, the latter on an accruals basis; and the GGFD excludes privatisation proceeds.

  Figures for the United Kingdom are based on the national accounts. Figures for other countries are standardised to conform to the United Nations system of national accounts. No figures are available for the general Government financial deficit of Greece. More recent data and forecasts of Government deficits of member states are published by the European Commission in "European Economy", Supplement A, May 1991.

  Employees' Benefits (Taxation)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any proposals to modify the restrictive rules in section 80 of the Finance Act 1988 concerning the tax charge on special benefits for employees; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  Where employees or directors acquire shares as a result of their employment, and because of their ownership of those shares they subsequently receive a "special benefit", that "special benefit" is currently taxable in some circumstances. For example, such "special benefit" might flow from an entitlement to subscribe to a "rights" issue, or from a right to shareholder priority in a public offer. The Government do not think it is right to charge tax on a benefit that is available to all or substantially all shareholders, where a majority of the shares in relation to which the benefit is actually received are held otherwise than by people who acquired them as employees. We therefore propose that exemption from the charge should apply to any benefit received in these circumstances on or after today. Legislation to this effect, which will include some minor consequential changes, will be introduced in the Finance Bill 1992.

  Employees' Expenses and Benefits
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much overtime has been agreed in the Inland Revenue to clear the outstanding PHD forms; and when he expects this work to be up to date.

  Mr. Maude
  The bulk of P11D forms are received in the first part of the tax year and dealt with in a targeted programme finishing in December. That programme is proceeding to target. No overtime has been centrally allocated to this specific task. However, the Inland Revenue's regional controllers can use part of their budgets for overtime, and some work on P11D forms may have been done during locally arranged overtime.

  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many P11D forms on hand on 13 June 1991 had been outstanding for more than three months.
  508
  Mr. Maude
  None was reported as having been outstanding for more than three months.

  Deep Gain Securities
  Mr Hind
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he plans to change the tax treatment of deep gain securities.

  Mr. Maude
  The deep gain legislation provides a tax regime for bonds which are issued at a discount to par but which cannot be taxed according to the deep discount rules. The deep gain rules charge all of an investor's return to income tax. However, it has recently been brought to our attention that many ordinary bonds, carrying a full coupon, and issued at a small discount to par, but not containing the characteristics of true deep gain securities are, in strictness, so classified if they contain standard event of default or event risk clauses.

  We have therefore decided to restore the position to what everyone previously believed it to be: bonds already in issue which are deep gain securities solely by virtue of the inclusion of standard event of default or event risk clauses will be treated as not being deep gain securities. We intend to introduce legislation in the next Finance Bill to take these bonds out of the deep gains legislation.

  In the meantime, and with my agreement, the Inland Revenue will not treat securities issued on or before 12 November 1991 as deep gain securities where they fall to be so treated only by reason of a redemption which may be made before maturity, and that redemption is
  —outside the scope of paragraph 1(3A), Schedule 11, Finance Act 1989, or of paragraph 2(13) of that Schedule, as the case may be; and
  —occasioned by the happening of an event (other than the exercise of a put option) prescribed in the terms of issue of the security as an event on the happening of which the security will or may be redeemed.

  This concession may not be applied if the terms of the security as respects the events occasioning such redemptions before maturity are materially amended after 12 November 1991.

  For tranche issues, securities issued after 12 November 1991 will be treated as not being deep gain securities if they fall to be so treated only by reason of a redemption which may be made before maturity if they are issued under the same prospectus as a security described above or on terms such as to make them fungible, either immediately or after the first payment of interest in respect of the security, with a security described above.

  The Government also intend to set in place a new tax regime for bonds issued after today. The precise terms of the legislation covering these bonds will depend on the outcome of consultations which the Inland Revenue will be undertaking with interested parties. But the Government's intention is that securities issued after today will not fall to be treated as deep gain securities only by reason of a redemption which may be made before maturity in pursuance of a term of issue of the security and
  —the term provides that the security will or may be redeemed on the happening, before maturity, of an event which is not at the time of issue certain or likely to occur;
  —if the security provides for early redemption on the happening of more than one such event, it is not at the time of issue certain or likely that any one or more of them will occur;
  —the term is such as to protect the holders of the security against the consequences of the event prescribed; and

  509
  —a reduction in tax liability is not a main benefit to be expected from the inclusion of the term and in particular, is not an arrangement, or part of an arrangement to facilitate early redemption of the security.

  The Government propose that this amendment should not operate to remove any transfer or redemption of a security from the charge on deep gains when
  —the security would be a deep gain security but for the proposals described above;
  —the security is redeemed before maturity on the happening of an event described above; and
  —the security is held on redemption by a person connected with the issuer, or as the case may be the transfer is by such a person within 12 months before the redemption.

  In the meantime, in anticipation of such legislation, and with my agreement, the Inland Revenue will, by concession, not enforce liabilities in respect of transactions in securities which are strictly deep gain securities under current law, but would not be were legislation on these lines in effect.

  Public Expenditure
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish the figures in table 2.2 in Cm 1520, including the latest estimated outturn for 1990–91, as a percentage of gross domestic product;

  (2) if he will publish in (a) cash, (b) 1990–91 prices and (c) as a proportion of gross domestic product, the figures as used in table 2·3 in Cm 1520, including the latest estimated outturn for 1990–91 and with the series extended back as far as is possible;

  Planning total by department in real terms1

  £ billion

  1984–85 outturn

  1985–86 outturn

  1986–87 outturn

  1987–88 outturn

  1988–89 outturn

  1989–90 outturn

  1990–91 outturn

  1991–92 estimated outturn

  1992–93 new plans

  1993–94 new plans

  1994–95 new plans

  Defence

  24,468

  24,225

  23,703

  23,347

  22,040

  22,522

  21,800

  21,360

  21,630

  21,130

  20,760

  Foreign Office

  843

  820

  847

  851

  854

  943

  936

  990

  1,000

  1,020

  1,000

  Overseas Development

  1,732

  1,678

  1,691

  1,598

  1,780

  1,811

  1,743

  1,880

  1,920

  1,950

  1,950

  Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  2,633

  3,087

  2,095

  2,237

  1,823

  1,587

  2,107

  2,140

  1,960

  1,910

  1,910

  Trade and Industry

  2,228

  1,971

  2,570

  826

  1,553

  1,400

  1,118

  900

  840

  780

  780

  ECGD

  757

  468

  381

  190

  134

  388

  372

  230

  100

  60

  30

  Energy

  3,632

  882

  -278

  244

  -494

  503

  1,189

  880

  540

  440

  380

  Employment

  4,391

  4,441

  5,014

  4,833

  4,451

  4,101

  3,778

  3,400

  3,460

  3,340

  3,280

  Transport

  3,982

  3,769

  3,532

  3,275

  3,154

  3,849

  4,721

  5,270

  6,220

  5,680

  5,110

  DOE—Housing

  4,873

  4,158

  3,913

  3,689

  3,359

  3,371

  6,899

  7,130

  6,950

  6,860

  6,870

  DOE—Environment

  1,835

  1,644

  1,288

  1,181

  774

  1,208

  1,263

  1,280

  1,150

  1,100

  1,050

  DOE—PSA

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  114

  90

  60

  30

  10

  DOE—Local Government

  21,771

  21,156

  22,260

  22,582

  21,744

  21,188

  20,392

  26,420

  27,740

  28,020

  28,450

  Home Office

  3,957

  3,726

  3,969

  4,224

  4,261

  4,585

  5,045

  5,370

  5,370

  5,520

  5,590

  Legal departments

  727

  767

  850

  957

  1,042

  1,221

  1,308

  1,560

  1,580

  1,590

  1,600

  Education and Science

  4,690

  4,596

  4,656

  4,901

  4,971

  6,258

  6,643

  6,840

  7,110

  7,220

  7,330

  Arts and Libraries

  384

  388

  448

  456

  478

  484

  496

  520

  550

  520

  520

  Health

  19,248

  19,267

  19,984

  20,782

  21,338

  21,685

  22,509

  24,020

  25,180

  25,870

  26,520

  Social Security

  56,536

  58,328

  60,850

  60,387

  57,089

  56,609

  56,075

  60,800

  63,100

  65,600

  66,800

  Scotland

  10,032

  9,734

  9,875

  9,730

  9,833

  9,733

  9,690

  10,950

  11,210

  11,270

  11,390

  Wales

  3,772

  3,733

  3,952

  4,046

  4,130

  4,119

  4,436

  4,920

  5,190

  5,220

  5,270

  Northern Ireland

  5,750

  5,764

  5,873

  5,977

  6,279

  6,210

  5,871

  6,050

  6,280

  6,390

  6,470

  Chancellor's departments

  3,713

  3,846

  4,189

  4,256

  4,277

  4,548

  4,597

  4,490

  4,500

  4,500

  4,550

  Cabinet office, etc.

  288

  296

  298

  310

  316

  325

  349

  370

  410

  410

  410

  European Communities

  1,390

  1,104

  1,403

  2,057

  1,162

  2,512

  2,013

  850

  2,200

  2,210

  2,440

  Reserve

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3,580

  6,900

  10,040

  Privatisation proceeds

  -2,916

  -3,649

  -5,820

  -6,364

  -8,166

  -4,577

  -5,345

  -7,480

  -7,150

  -4,740

  -4,600

  Adjustment

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  300

  —

  —

  —

  Planning total

  180,717

  176,199

  177,543

  176,573

  168,181

  176,581

  180,119

  191,500

  202,700

  210,800

  215,900

  1 Cash figures adjusted to 1990–91 price levels by excluding the effect of general inflation. The deflator series used is that for GDP at market prices adjusted to remove the distortion caused by the abolition of domestic rates.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish an update of table 2.5 in Cm 1520, including the latest estimated outturn for 1990–91, with a back series to 1978–79;
  510
  (3) if he will publish in 1990–91 prices, an update of table 2·3 in Cm 1520, including the latest estimated outturn for 1990–91;

  (4) if he will publish an update of table 2·2 in Cm 1520, including the latest estimated outturn for 1990–91.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 5 November 1991]: Information on general Government expenditure by function in the period 1978–79 to 1990–91 in cash, real terms (1990–91 prices) and as a percentage of GDP has been placed in the Library of the House. The figures given are consistent with those published in the autumn statement press notice. Corresponding data for earlier years are not available on a consistent basis.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish an extended version of table 3·5 of the "Autumn Statement Statistical Supplement", including departmental planning totals for each year back to 1978–79, on as consistent a basis as possible and in 1990–91 prices.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 5 November 1991]: Information on the planning total by department in real terms (1990–91 prices), in the period 1984–85 to 1994–95 is given in the following table. The figures given are consistent with those published in the autumn statement. Corresponding data for earlier years are not available on a consistent basis.

  (2) if he will publish the figures in table 2.5 in Cm 1520, including the latest estimated outturn for 1990–91, with a back series to 1978–79 (a) in cash prices, (b) in 1990–91 prices and (c) as a percentage of gross domestic product.
  511
  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 5 November 1991]: I am arranging for copies of tables setting out information on general Government expenditure by detailed function in the period 1986–87 to 1990–91 in cash, real terms (1990–91 prices) and as a percentage of GDP to be placed in the Library of the House. The figures are consistent with those published in the autumn statement press notice. Corresponding data for earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Public Investment
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the level of public investment as a proportion of gross national product for(a) all EC countries, (b) Japan and (c) the United States of America in the period 1970 to 1991.

  Mr Maples
  [holding answer 11 November 1991]: Data for gross domestic product and public investment for the period 1977 to 1989 are published by the OECD in "National Accounts 1977–89".

  Civilian Employees
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when an announcement will be made on the issue of additional payment for civilians in Ministry of Defence employment in Northern Ireland.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 11 November 1991]: The matter is under discussion with the Ministry of Defence.

HEALTH

  Ealing Health District
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were treated in(a) Ealing health district and (b) Ealing hospital since the inception of each; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested for Ealing health authority is given in the table. The information for 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.

  NHS hospital activity—Ealing district health authority

  Year

  In-patient1 cases treated

  Day case attendances

  Total outpatient attendances

  1982

  17,597

  3,332

  106,481

  1983

  18,449

  3,357

  111,113

  1984

  19,733

  3,733

  104,799

  1985

  20,092

  3,703

  108,128

  1986

  19,644

  3,530

  104,678

  1987–88

  19,341

  2,512

  98,013

  1988–89

  24,741

  3,821

  91,417

  1988–89

  25,196

  3,821

  91,417

  1989–90

  23,024

  3,734

  95,098

  21990–91

  23,354

  4,040

  105,593

  1 Hospital discharges and deaths 1982 to 1988–89; Finished consultant episodes 1988–89 to 1990–91.

  2 Provisional.

  NHS Statistics
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of(a) heart transplant, (b) kidney replacement, (c) hip replacement and (d) eye cataract operations carried out in the national health service in (i) 1979 and (ii) the most recent year for which the figures are available; and if he will estimate the figures for 1991–92.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The table gives the number of operations for 1979 and for the latest year available. The rate of heart and kidney transplant operations is dependent on the availability of suitable organ donors. Future numbers cannot therefore be reliably estimated. Information on the projected number of hip replacement and cataract operations is not held centrally.

  Latest year

  Operation

  1979

  1990

  1990–91

  Heart transplant1

  3

  329

  Kidney transplant1

  842

  1,870

  Hip replacement

  228,800

  344,477

  Eye cataract

  239,700

  394,739

  1 Figures supplied by the United Kingdom Transplant Support Service Authority—collected by calendar year.

  2 Estimate from Hospital In-Patient Enquiry.

  3 Figures from 1990–91 Regional Outturn Reports—collected by financial year.

  Hospitals
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total investment in hospitals in each of the past three years; how many entirely new hospitals are now under construction; and how many hospitals were closed down in each of the past three years.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Health authority capital expenditure in the last three years has been as follows:

  £million

  1988–89

  1,082

  1989–90

  1,306

  1990–91

  1,514

  There are 106 building schemes each costing over £1 million under construction. These include extensions and adaptations to existing hospitals as well as new schemes. There is no central record of the number of building schemes which are entirely new hospitals.

  Figures for hospital closures are no longer routinely collected centrally as changes in the use of buildings are not a good measure of services to patients provided by the NHS.

  Dental Checks
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has concerning the extent to which children at school are currently having a regular dental check through the school dental service; and if he will publish in tabular form the percentage of children who had a check-up in the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available in respect of each local authority in England and Wales.

  Mr. Dorrell
  District health authorities have responsibility for the screening of the teeth of children in state
  513
  funded schools at least three times in each child's school life. The percentage of school children inspected in each district health authority in England and Wales during the year ended 31 March 1990 is shown in the table.

  District health authority

  Percentage of school children inspected1

  Northern RHA

  62·8

  Hartlepool2

  71·3

  North Tees

  85·8

  South Tees

  50·1

  East Cumbria

  72·0

  South Cumbria

  66·2

  West Cumbria

  88·7

  Darlington

  58·5

  Durham

  21·8

  North West Durham

  49·8

  South West Durham

  73·8

  Northumberland

  77·5

  Gateshead

  66·9

  Newcastle

  61·7

  North Tyneside

  78·1

  South Tyneside

  58·3

  Sunderland

  48·7

  Yorkshire RHA

  60·9

  Hull

  39·1

  East Yorkshire

  60·3

  Grimsby

  64·1

  Scunthorpe

  61·9

  Northallerton

  64·9

  York

  46·4

  Scarborough

  55·9

  Harrogate

  57·1

  Bradford

  70·8

  Airedale2

  92·6

  Calderdale

  49·6

  Huddersfield

  65·6

  Dewsbury

  70·2

  Leeds Western

  57·2

  Leeds Eastern

  57·4

  Wakefield

  69·7

  Pontefract

  72·2

  Trent RHA

  60·7

  North Derbyshire

  63·3

  South Derbyshire

  73·7

  Leicestershire

  59·3

  North Lincolnshire

  70·0

  South Lincolnshire

  74·1

  Bassetlaw

  25·8

  Central Nottinghamshire

  44·4

  Nottingham

  41·2

  Barnsley

  53·5

  Doncaster

  62·8

  Rotherham

  50·8

  Sheffield

  83·7

  East Anglia RHA

  54·7

  Cambridge

  26·8

  Peterborough

  63·5

  West Suffolk

  69·0

  East Suffolk

  67·5

  Norwich

  60·2

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney

  35·9

  West Norfolk and Wisbech _.

  47·6

  Huntingdon

  56·9

  North West Thames RHA

  55·8

  North Bedfordshire

  48·6

  South Bedfordshire

  51·0

  North Hertfordshire

  50·0

  East Hertfordshire

  49·3

  North West Hertfordshire

  45·3

  South West Hertfordshire

  40·2

  Barnet

  78·5

  Harrow

  55·5

  Hillingdon

  58·3

  514

  District health authority

  Percentage of school children inspected1

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  82·3

  Ealing

  60·0

  Parkside

  53·2

  Riverside

  46·3

  North East Thames RHA

  52·3

  Basildon and Thurrock

  76·8

  Mid Essex

  36·0

  North East Essex

  49·0

  West Essex

  47·1

  Southend

  33·4

  Barking/Havering/Brentwood

  60·9

  Hampstead

  40·7

  Bloomsbury

  46·8

  Islington

  35·1

  City and Hackney

  53·2

  Newham

  89·3

  Tower Hamlets

  50·1

  Enfield

  52·9

  Haringey

  82·1

  Redbridge

  38·0

  Waltham Forest

  32·2

  South East Thames RHA

  61·8

  Brighton

  76·2

  Eastbourne

  68·2

  Hastings

  59·6

  South East Kent

  50·4

  Canterbury and Thanet

  51·2

  Dartford and Gravesham

  72·7

  Maidstone

  70·8

  Medway

  62·4

  Tunbridge Wells

  60·3

  Bexley

  43·6

  Greenwich

  19·0

  Bromley

  56·2

  West Lambeth (2)

  76·2

  Camberwell

  62·0

  Lewisham and North Southwark

  95·4

  South West Thames RHA

  48·7

  North West Surrey

  29·7

  West Surrey and NE Hants

  40·8

  South West Surrey

  47·7

  Mid-Surrey

  58·3

  East Surrey

  91·7

  Chichester

  47·5

  Mid Downs

  46·1

  Worthing

  50·7

  Croydon

  63·3

  Kingston and Esher

  11·4

  Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton

  18·9

  Wandsworth

  73·3

  Merton and Sutton

  51·3

  Wessex RHA

  58·1

  East Dorset (2)

  61·1

  West Dorset

  67·1

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  79·1

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  50·5

  Winchester

  53·5

  Basingstoke and North Hampshire

  39·6

  Salisbury

  84·7

  Swindon

  22·2

  Bath

  60·9

  Isle of Wight

  51·7

  Oxford RHA

  49·6

  East Berkshire

  66·9

  West Berkshire

  66·9

  Aylesbury Vale

  47·5

  Wycombe

  56·0

  Milton Keynes

  16·4

  Kettering

  25·1

  Northampton

  44·9

  Oxfordshire

  48·4

  515

  District health authority

  Percentage of school children inspected1

  South Western RHA

  60·0

  Bristol and Weston

  55·6

  Frenchay

  61·3

  Southmead

  35·5

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  63·1

  Exeter

  51·2

  North Devon

  75·2

  Plymouth

  91·0

  Torbay

  55·7

  Cheltenham

  41·5

  Gloucester

  66·7

  Somerset

  55·6

  West Midlands RHA

  64·0

  Bromsgrove and Redditch

  43·1

  Herefordshire

  70·4

  Kidderminster and District

  67·8

  Worcester and District

  36·6

  Shropshire (Salop)

  50·2

  Mid-Staffordshire

  62·7

  North Staffordshire

  66·9

  South East Staffordshire

  57·5

  Rugby

  66·8

  North Warwickshire

  87·5

  South Warwickshire

  88·0

  Central Birmingham

  58·0

  East Birmingham

  42·8

  North Birmingham

  36·6

  South Birmingham

  74·1

  West Birmingham

  53·0

  Coventry

  90·9

  Dudley

  53·1

  Sandwell

  86·5

  Solihull

  72·6

  Walsall

  77·1

  Wolverhampton

  61·0

  Mersey RHA

  64·0

  Chester

  77·4

  Crewe

  54·0

  Halton

  75·2

  Macclesfield

  54·1

  Warrington

  58·5

  Liverpool

  57·1

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  72·5

  Southport and Formby

  36·3

  South Sefton

  81·2

  Wirral

  67·8

  North Western RHA

  61·3

  Lancaster

  25·0

  Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde

  33·8

  Preston

  34·0

  Blackburn, Hynburn and Ribble Valley

  58·6

  Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

  49·4

  West Lancashire

  27·4

  Chorley and South Ribble

  26·1

  Bolton

  75·7

  Bury

  84·4

  North Manchester

  83·0

  Central Manchester (2)

  99·7

  South Manchester

  54·9

  Oldham

  84·5

  Rochdale

  73·3

  Salford

  35·8

  Stockport

  73·4

  Tameside and Glossop

  72·9

  Trafford

  69·0

  Wigan

  79·5

  Total England

  58·7

  Wales

  57·3

  Clwyd

  43·2

  East Dyfed

  40·4

  Gwent

  44·6

  516

  District health authority

  Percentage of school children inspected1

  Gwynedd

  45·1

  Mid Glamorgan

  59·8

  Powys

  67·8

  South Glamorgan

  63·4

  West Glamorgan

  84·8

  Pembrokeshire

  87·9

  Total England and Wales

  58·6

  (l) The 1989–90 data on inspections are available for all school children only. The percentage of children who had a dental check up have been calculated using the June 1989 population estimates for children aged 5 to 16.

  (2) 1988–89 data.

  Amputees
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to ensure that at all artificial limb fitting centres there is adequate provision for professional counselling of amputees.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We know that some centres do employ professional staff specifically for counselling of limbless disabled people. It is not, however, a subject on which we have given central guidance and is a matter for individual health authorities.

  Tobacco Advertising
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what assessment he has made of the evidence from New Zealand on the effects of tobacco consumption of the ban on tobacco advertising imposed in December 1990.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Changes in New Zealand's attitude to smoking led to a decline in tobacco consumption before the imposition of the ban and this decline has continued. At the same time, economic factors such as a fall in incomes have had an impact on consumption. The available data refer to a short time period, during which the "transitory shock" of the publicity surrounding the ban would have been operating. We have asked officials to keep us up to date on the evidence as it becomes available.

  South London Hospital for Woman
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has for the future use of the closed South London hospital for women.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The management of the national health service estate is normally delegated to the appropriate regional health authority which can best assess requirements so far as individual properties are concerned.

  Northern Devon Hospital Trust
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints he has received about the Northern Devon hospital trust since it was established.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not held centrally. Such operational matters are the responsibility of the NHS trust board. The hon. Member may wish to contact Sir Michael Knight, the chairman of the Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, for details.

  Organ Transplants
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals take part in providing organ removal facilities for the transplant programme; and if he will list the number of organs provided by hospitals in the various regions, either on a hospital-by-hospital basis or regionally during the past 12 months.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Information on human organ removal facilities is not collected centrally. The table gives the numbers of centres providing organs and the numbers of organs retrieved by English regions in 1990, the latest year for which information is available.

  Region

  Number of centres providing organs

  Number of organs provided1

  Northern

  20

  179

  Yorks and Humberside

  12

  126

  Trent

  13

  149

  East Anglia

  12

  97

  North West Thames

  13

  147

  North East Thames

  21

  196

  South East and South West Thames

  33

  279

  Wessex

  13

  140

  Oxford

  11

  125

  South Western

  12

  128

  West Midlands

  27

  270

  Mersey

  14

  106

  North Western

  22

  222

  Total

  221

  2,164

  1 Based on information provided by the United Kingdom Transplant Support Service Authority for 1990.

  Cardiologists
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cardiologists per million population there are in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) the United States of America and (c) Germany.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There are 1.17 cardiologists per million population in the United Kingdom. Similar information in respect of the United States and Germany is not collected centrally.

  Qa Business Services
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the West Midlands regional health authority will re-establish a computer bureau and re-employ ex-Qa Business Services staff; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This is a matter for the West Midlands regional health authority. However, I understand that AT and T ISTEL has acquired some of the assets of Qa Business Services and will ensure the continuity of information technology services to the group of West Midlands health authorities.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions have taken place between the West Midlands regional health authority, the inter-regional collaboration co-ordinators, Praxis, and the computer firm ICL regarding the transfer of support contracts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr Dorrell
  The West Midlands regional health authority has been working closely with the administrative 518
  receivers of Qa Business Services to ensure the continuity of computer services contracts with NHS authorities; the responsibility for a successful transfer of contracts and hence a successful sale of Qa Business Services is a matter for the administrative receiver. I understand that AT and T ISTEL has acquired some of the business assets which will ensure the continuity of information technology services.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what lessons his Department has drawn for the NHS staff and services, of the recent collapse of Qa Business Services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Management buy-outs are one of the range of options for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of local services which have been successfully implemented in many parts of the NHS. In the case of the administrative receivership of Qa Business Services, the Department is keeping in close touch with West Midlands regional health authority and will ensure that any wider lessons are shared throughout the NHS.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will call for a report from the chairman of the West Midlands regional health authority as to the effects on the regional national health service of the collapse of Qa Business Services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Health services in the west midlands have not been adversely affected by Qa Business Services going into administrative receivership.

  West Midlands RHA
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the financial terms involved in the management buy-out of the management services division of the West Midlands regional health authority; what was the surplus generated by the management services division for the national health service in the last financial year it was within the regional health authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The financial and other contractual terms of the management buy-out of the management services division of the West Midlands regional health authority are matters of commercial confidentiality.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guarantees were given to the former employees of the management services division of the West Midlands regional health authority as to their continuity of employment for redundancy and other purposes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  One of the conditions of the management buy-out of the management services division of the West Midlands regional health authority was that regional health authority employees transferring to the new consultancy would transfer with continuous service and on terms and conditions no less favourable than those in their contracts of employment with the regional health authority.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the transfer of undertaking regulations which governed the 1989 privatisation of the former management services division of the West Midlands regional health authority; and if he will make a statement.
  519
  Mr. Dorrell
  The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 (SI No. 1794) is available in the Library. The management buy-out of the management services division of the West Midlands regional health authority was regarded as a transfer within the terms of those regulations.

  GP Fundholders
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the numbers and the size of budgets of the GP fundholders in London.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not held centrally.

  Legionnaire's Disease
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how long elapsed before the Liverpool patients diagnosed as having legionnaire's disease were notified of the nature of their illness; and what guidelines and advice his Department issues to hospitals about patients' rights in these matters.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The timing and nature of the information that patients receive about their medical condition involves the exercise of professional judgment by the individual clinician responsible for those patients' care. The Department does not issue guidance in these matters.

  Cot Deaths
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department was informed about the New Zealand research and the factors associated with cot deaths; what steps he then took to assess that research; and what other action was taken.

  Mr. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 5 November 1991]: The Department was first informed about the findings of New Zealand research through letters published in The Lancet in July this year. This correspondence indicated that a change in certain of the factors associated with cot death had been accompanied by a reduction in the incidence of cot death. Over the next few months, further information was sought. Four reports, including one from this country not yet published, showed that a reduction in the prone sleeping position of infants had been accompanied by a fall in the incidence of cot death.

  I announced on 21 October at column 423 the setting up of an expert group to report to the chief medical officer its findings and recommendations about this latest available evidence. The group's advice was published on 31 October.

  DRUG TRAFFICKERS: CONFISCATION OF ASSETS
  DRUG TRAFFICKERS: CONFISCATION OF ASSETS
  CATEGORY A PRISONERS
  CATEGORY A PRISONERS
  ROYAL GROUP OF HOSPITALS, BELFAST
  ROYAL GROUP OF HOSPITALS, BELFAST
  MINERS' UNIONS: MEMBERSHIP
  MINERS' UNIONS: MEMBERSHIP
  "THE PARENT'S CHARTER"
  "THE PARENT'S CHARTER"
  BARKESTONE CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOL
  BARKESTONE CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOL
  VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBERS: SALE SCHEME
  VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBERS: SALE SCHEME