Written Answers of 19 November 1991

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Serious Fraud Office
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Attorney-General how many staff, both police or civilian, are employed by the Serious Fraud Office; and how many there have been in each year since its creation.

  The Attorney-General
  The Serious Fraud Office currently employs 116 permanent civil servants. The figures for previous years are as follows:

  Sixty-two in 1988–89, 83 in 1989–90 and 101 in 1990–91. The permanent civil servants employed are supplemented by temporary staff whose number varies with operational requirements. The number of temporary staff so employed is currently 57. The Serious Fraud Office does not employ police officers. Police officers work in conjunction with the Serious Fraud Office and are attached to cases under the control of the Serious Fraud Office by agreement with the appropriate police force.

TRANSPORT

  Locomotives
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when he gave financial approval for expenditure on the electric locomotives used on the Stoke on Trent-Euston service; and how many(a) class 90 electrics and (b) class 86–2 electrics (i) were approved and (ii) are currently in use;

  (2) how many 1987–88 InterCity new 110 mph class 90 electric locomotives were (a) approved and (b) delivered to InterCity for use on the west coast main line out of Euston, and of those how many are used on (a) the InterCity sector (b) Railfreight and (c) parcels;

  (3) how many class 90 locomotives built between 1988 and 1990 were allocated from InterCity to Railfreight; and what impact this reallocation has had on InterCity's capacity to meet its quality of service objectives.

  Mr. Freeman
  Approval for 50 class 90 locomotives was given in 1984. Fifteen were allocated by BR for use on InterCity services on the west coast main line, of which the Stoke-Euston route is a part. All are currently in use on that line.

  The remaining 35 class 90 locomotives were allocated to what are now the freight and parcels sectors.

  Approval for class 86/2 locomotives was given in the mid–1960s. Information on their original deployment is no longer available. Twenty-two class 86/2 locomotives remain in service on the west coast main line.

  Freight Operations
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he plans to commission a study on the implications of continental-gauge freight operations into the United Kingdom and the effect upon existing freight operations to and from the existing regions;

  (2) when he last discussed with the chairman of British Rail the implications of building a continental-gauge freight route to London.

  Mr. Freeman
  BR is confident that it has sufficient capacity on its existing lines to cope with forecast increases in international freight and its limited programme of structure gauge enhancements on specific route sections will enable some 95 per cent. of swap bodies and containers used on the continent to travel to the BR network of regional channel tunnel freight terminals. Operating continental gauge freight wagons in the United Kingdom would require either the construction of new lines or very costly modifications to existing lines and rolling stock. It is envisaged that the new channel tunnel rail link to London would be built to continental gauge. My Department is considering with British Rail the revenue and cost implications of designing this link to accommodate freight as well as passenger trains, compared with alternative ways of providing additional capacity for freight movements.

  King's Cross
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provision is included in his Department's expenditure plans for 1991 to 1994 published in February 1991 and adjusted in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's autumn statement for the construction of the proposed new terminal at King's Cross.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is for British Rail to decide its investment programme and priorities within the resources available.

  High-speed Rail Link
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice he has received from British Rail about the amounts of revenue income from high-speed rail link services along the Ove Arup route that will be attributable, respectively, to the financing of the proposed new terminal at King's Cross and that of the planned station at Stratford East.

  Mr. Freeman
  For each of the routes studied, the forecast revenues associated with proposed stations were treated as an integral part of the route and not individually identified.

  Goods Vehicle Instructors
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to introduce minimum standards for large goods vehicle instructors; and how this will be implemented and monitored.

  Mr. Chope
  I have no plans at present to do so.

  Road Safety Schemes
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the average typical first-year costs and rates of return for local road safety schemes.

  Mr. Chope
  A report published by the Transport and Road Research laboratory in 1989 showed that the average local safety scheme cost about £7,000 and saved just over one casualty accident per year, valued at £16,690, where both figures are in 1987 prices.

  Splash and Spray Suppression
  Mr. Enright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the British standard for splash and spray suppression to be upgraded to the higher European directive standard.

  Mr. Chope
  I hope that a revised standard will be available by the middle of next year.

  Lorry Overloads
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the number of lorries stopped and checked for possible overloading expressed as a percentage of total lorry journeys.

  Mr. Chope
  It is estimated that in 1990 about 0·06 per cent. of all HGV journeys were checked for excessive weight.

  This statistic relates to vehicles weighed by Department of Transport and local authority trading standards enforcement staff. The police also weigh vehicles, but no information on the numbers they weigh is available.

  Highways (Damage)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the damage and wear inflicted on highways by private cars.

  Mr. Chope
  The damage and wear inflicted on highways by private cars is very small in relation to that caused by lorries.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the annual cost over the past five years of the damage caused to(a) highways and (b) under-road services by lorries.

  Mr. Chope
  The road track costs of vehicles in the United Kingdom, and the amounts allocated to large goods vehicles are given in the Department's annual publication "The allocation of road track costs", copies of which are available from the House Library. Technical investigation has failed to establish any direct causal link between heavy lorry traffic and damage to underground services.

  Speed Limits
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will give details of any time limits which have been set within his Department within which statutory procedures for the introduction or alteration of speed limits on principal roads must be completed; and whether he will make a statement.
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  Mr. Chope
  No statutory time limits are set for my Department to deal with speed limits on principal roads. They are dealt with as quickly as possible. I intend to set target times within which this work should be done in future.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current number of formal applications submitted by local highway authorities to his east midlands regional office seeking to introduce new or revised speed limits on principal roads; how long ago the earliest submission which remains undetermined was made to his Department; and how many full-time staff are deployed on this work.

  Mr. Chope
  There are currently seven applications still undetermined. The earliest was submitted on 8 February 1991. No staff work exclusively on speed limit orders. Resources are deployed as and when necessary and target times within which this work should be completed are to be set to avoid such long delays.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement, with specific dates, on the involvement of his Department in approving the 40 mph speed limit on the A6003 road through Preston, Rutland; and what action he intends to take to prevent any repetition in Leicestershire or Rutland of the incident by which the signs were erected but remained covered and inoperative between January and October 1991.

  Mr. Chope
  The formal application from Leicestershire county council was received on 21 March 1991 and after due consideration consent was notified to the county council on 20 September 1991. The erection of the necessary signs is a matter entirely for Leicestershire county council as the local highway authority. I am unable to comment on why the council chose to erect the signs in advance of the order being sent to my Department. The signs were uncovered shortly after consent was granted.

  Tube Trains (Capacity)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what consultations he has had with London Underground over the standing capacity limits in tube carriages;

  (2) what representations he has received over the capacity limits of London Underground trains.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  We have received only one representation in the last three years about the capacity limits of London underground trains, although I understand the Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate has received a few letters.

  The inspectorate has discussed with London Underground on the Secretary of State's behalf plans for refurbishing existing trains and proposals for new stock. It has been an objective of these discussions to maximise passenger-carrying capacity while maintaining safety.

  Filton Airfield
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he has had with councillors from Avon county council over proposals to develop Filton airfield into a commercial airport.
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  Mr. McLoughlin
  Filton is one of the 10 locations being considered by a working group, chaired by my Department, in terms of their ability to help meet air traffic demand after the turn of the century. The local authority input to the group's work, including that from Avon county council in respect of Filton and Bristol Lulsgate, is being coordinated by Serplan.

  Yachts
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the estimated cost to an average yacht owner of installing the necessary safety equipment and crew required by the proposed Merchant Shipping (Pleasure Yacht) Regulations; and when he plans to bring these regulations into force.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  There will be no cost to the average yacht owner. The proposed regulations will apply only to commercially operated yachts. It is intended that the regulations come into force on 1 April 1992.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which yachts will be subject to the proposed Merchant Shipping (Pleasure Yacht) Regulations; and how many such yachts he estimates there are in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Only commercially operated yachts will be subject to the proposed regulations. Yachts used solely for the sport or pleasure of the owner are excluded from the regulations. Information on the numbers and use of yachts is not held by the Department.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on similar regulations to the proposed Merchant Shipping (Pleasure Yacht) Regulations in force in each of the other EC countries; and if he will report when such legislation was enacted.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Scandinavian standards, which detail extensive requirements, for commercially operated pleasure craft are being implemented in 1992 by Denmark. The Netherlands are incorporating similar regulations next year and Belgium in 1993. No information on the requirements of other EC countries is available at present.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many surveyors from his Department will be employed, and at what cost to the Exchequer, to enforce the proposed Merchant Shipping (Pleasure Yacht) Regulations; and what he will charge yacht owners to have their vessels surveyed.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Application of the regulations will require no additional surveyors or cost to the Exchequer. Any survey required on commercially operated yachts will be charged for surveys in accordance with the Merchant Shipping (Fees) Regulations 1991, SI 1991/784.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) angling boats, (b) charter yachts, (c) cruising yachts, (d) diving boats and (e) sailing schools, respectively, will be affected by the proposed Merchant Shipping (Pleasure Yacht) Regulations.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Information on the various types of craft, used commercially, is not held by the Department. Sailing schools can operate under the terms of the code of practice for sail training ships. Compliance with the code,94
  which was developed with the industry, gives exemption from the requirements of legislation. If agreement can be reached with those concerned it is proposed to introduce further codes of practice to cover other categories of pleasure craft used commercially.

  Train Accidents
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the total cost of the single track train accidents at Bellgrove, Hyde and Newton, including loss, damage, repair, replacement of rolling stock, other assets and equipment, related staff, resource and disruption costs, legal fees and all forms of compensatory payments made to passengers, British Rail's staff and relatives.

  Mr. Freeman
  Details of these costs are matters for British Rail.

  Trains (Servicing)
  Sir David Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress in securing the introduction and servicing of the class 159 DMU trains due to operate on the Waterloo-Andover-Exeter service from October 1992, to which he referred to his answer of 19 November 1990,Official Report, columns 35–6.

  Mr. Freeman
  I understand that BR expect the new class 159 DMU trains to be delivered during the summer of 1992 and to enter service from September 1992. I can confirm that British Rail are now able to go ahead with the construction of the new depot at Salisbury to service and maintain these trains, within the finance available to them within the autumn statement. The Government's decision to provide a substantial increase in funding for investment in the railways has enabled BR to allocate money to this project.

ENERGY

  Wave Energy
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when the report of the wave energy review being carried out by his Department will be published.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The interim report on the wave energy review is published today and I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of the House. The report explains the methodology being used in the review. All interested parties are being consulted in this work as it progresses. The final report containing the results of the review will be published early next year.

  Joint European Torus Laboratory.
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the amount of energy recently produced by the joint European torus laboratory at Culham.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  In the experiment on 9 November, the JET device is reported to have produced an energy release equivalent to 1 MW for two seconds. Many times this amount of energy was required to operate the device.
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  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the cost to date of the JET programme at Culham.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The cost of the JET programme to the European Community and associated partners Sweden and Switzerland has been about £750 million to the end of 1990.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  State Benefits
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families were dependent on state benefits in 1961; and how many families are dependent on state benefits in the current year.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Provisional figures show that 353,000 families were receiving family credit in August 1991. In 1990, the latest yar for which figures are available, there were 1.15 million families receiving income support. Figures are not available for 1961.

  Sources: Family credit statistical sample and annual statistical inquiry 1990.

PRIME MINISTER

  Executive Agencies (Disabled Workers)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 11 November,Official Report, column 356, if he will list the six Departments and agencies which exceeded a 3 per cent. level of staff registered as disabled in 1990.

  The Prime Minister
  In 1990 more than 3 per cent. of employees were registered disabled in each of the following departments and agencies: Crown Estate Office; Department of Employment Group; Land Registry; National Investment and Loans Office; Paymaster General's Office; Registers of Scotland.

  Departmental Annual Report
  Sir Gerard Vaughan
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will arrange for the common core memorandum on departmental annual reports issued by Her Majesty's Treasury in July to be further revised to include in section D research and development undertaken by or sponsored by the Department;

  (2) if he will make it the practice for all departmental annual reports to include as part of their common core information a statement of research and development activity sponsored by or undertaken by the Department.

  The Prime Minister
  All departments with significant levels of spending on research and development already include relevant material in their departmental annual reports. Past and planned spending by departments on research and development was set out in table 4.13 of the "Statistical Supplement to the 1990 Autumn Statement", Cm. 1520. Up-to-date information will be published early next year in the "Statistical Supplement to the 1991 Autumn Statement". Extensive additional information is published by the Cabinet Office in the annual review of Government-funded research and development. The 96
  requirements for the 1993 departmental reports will be reviewed in the light of comments on the 1992 reports from Select Committees and others.

  Health Promotion
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to co-ordinate the activities of the Departments of Health and of Education and Science on including health promotion and self health care into the national curriculum; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  It is already the policy of both Departments to work together closely in order to secure that young people are equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to promote their immediate and long-term good health. To that end, aspects of health education are already included, wherever relevant, in several national curriculum foundation subjects.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 19 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.

ENVIRONMENT

  Right-to-buy Legislation
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to enable local authorities to introduce identical service charges for people's properties purchased under the right-to-buy legislation, where the properties are similar and receive the same services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  There are no plans to amend the legislation, which provides that a tenant exercising the right to buy a flat may be required to bear a reasonable part of the costs of repair and other services provided by the landlord.

  The protections of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 apply to purchases of local authority flats under right to buy as well as to purchases in the private sector. Leaseholders have the right to information on how their service charges have been made up and may challenge unreasonable demands in court.

  UN Environment Conference
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what matters were discussed and decisions taken at the third preparatory committee meeting for the United Nations conference on environment and develop-ment in August; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The preparatory committee for the United Nations conference on environment and development-UNCED—held its third session at the United Nations Office in Geneva from 12 August to 4 September 1991.

  The preparatory committee considered reports on the activities of the conference secretariat and of other intergovernmental bodies. In its plenary sessions, the preparatory committee considered the structure and

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  organisation of the UNCED action programme and cross-sectoral issues such as finance and technology. The preparatory comittee also considered the arrangements for UNCED, which will take place in Rio de Janeiro from 1 to 12 June 1992.

  Working group I of the preparatory committee considered proposals relating to the atmosphere, land resources, biological diversity and biotechnology. It also began work on a statement of principles on the management, conservation and development of all types of forests. Working group II considered proposals relating to the oceans and seas, freshwater resources, wastes and chemicals, while Working group III discussed legal and institutional matters, including proposals for a declaration of principles on general rights and obligations in the field of environment and development.

  Many of the decisions the preparatory committee adopted requested the UNCED secretariat to prepare revised proposals for the preparatory committee at its fourth session, which will take place in New York from 9 March to 3 April 1992.

  The United Kingdom presented reports by consultants on the role of technology transfer in the conservation of biological diversity and in tackling global climate change, and a discussion paper on the linkage between population, environmental degradation and development. These documents will be laid before the House.

  River Quality
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the National Rivers Authority report on river quality.

  Mr. Baldry
  I understand that the National Rivers Authority expects to publish its report of the 1990 river quality survey in December.

  Local Government Finance Bill
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account was taken of the ideas submitted to him by the Liberal Democrats in the preparation of the Local Government Finance Bill.

  Mr. Key
  We welcomed the Liberal Democrats' decision to take up our offer of discussions on the future of local government finance. We do not, however, believe that a local income tax is the way forward.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will quantify the net value of transfers—gross transfers minus reverse transfers from housing revenue accounts to general funds—from local authority general funds to their housing revenue accounts for each calendar year between 1980 to 1990 both on an England and Great Britain basis.

  Mr. Yeo
  The information requested for English local housing authorities for the financial years 1980–81 to 1989–90 is shown in the table.98

  Year

  Net Value of Transfers to Housing Revenue Accounts £

  1980–81

  308,697,811

  1981–82

  327,383,247

  1982–83

  251,723,321

  1983–84

  291,333,242

  1984–85

  287,590,281

  1985–86

  257,615,638

  1986–87

  276,691,862

  1987–88

  279,016,885

  1988–89

  308,841,920

  1989–90

  82,580,313

  The figures are taken from housing subsidy claim forms and are not audited.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities in(a) Great Britain and (b) England made transfers from their housing revenue accounts to their general funds during 1990–91 and 1991–92; what is the estimated total value of such transfers; and if he will provide similar information on a projected basis for 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Mr. Yeo
  Schedule IV to the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 requires a local housing authority to make a transfer from its housing revenue account to some other revenue account if its housing revenue account subsidy calculation results in a negative amount. The transfer must be equal to that amount. An authority not entitled to housing revenue account subsidy may also transfer any end-of-year surplus on its housing revenue account to some other revenue account. In 1990–91, a total of 19 English authorities transferred an estimated total of £23,227,569 from their housing revenue accounts. In 1991–92, a total of 14 authorities are expected to transfer an estimated total of £21,741,658 from their housing revenue accounts.

  The level of transfers from housing revenue accounts in 1992–93 and 1993–94 will depend largely on annual decisions about rent guidelines and management and maintenance allowances for those years and the amount of rent rebate expenditure incurred.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many local authorities in England failed to attract a positive housing borrowing capital account during 1990–91 and 1991–92 and the total aggregate value of the annual housing capital guideline allocations to such authorities;

  (2) how many local authorities would continue not to attract a positive borrowing capital account if total gross capital housing allocations to local authorities in England were raised to (a) £5 billion, (b) £7 billion and (c) £10 billion, assuming that the pattern of distribution of that allocation prevailing during 1991–92 between authorities remained unchanged and both their RTIAs and the capital grants provided to them for housing purposes did not change; and what would be the aggregate value of their annual housing capital guideline allocations.

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

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will update the information given in his answer of 28 March 1991,Official Report, column 533, on how much the estimated cost of housing revenue account

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  rent rebate subsidy for years 1990–91 and 1991–92, and its planned provision for years 1991–93 and 1993–94 would be were it not for the assumed transfer of rental income from the tenants of some councils.

  Mr. Yeo
  The total contributions to rent rebates which local authorities made from their housing revenue accounts in 1990–91 is estimated to be £195 million. It is estimated that authorities will make contributions of £302 million in 1991–92 and £530 million in 1992–93. The estimate for 1992–93 is subject to the outcome of the current consultation exercise on proposals for rent guidelines and management and maintenance allowances for that year. No decision has been made for 1993–94.

  Local Authority Notices
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a complete list of all those local authorities that have been issued with(a) section 13 notices, (b) section 14 notices, both under the Local Government Act 1988, (c) section 19a notices and (d) section 19b notices, both under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, giving dates of issue in each case, and indicating for each case the reason for issuing the notice.

  Mr. Portillo
  Following is the information:

  Notices issued under section 13 of the Local Government Act 1988 where

  (a) the authority appeared to have acted in an anti-competitive manner

  Birmingham City C—10 May 1990

  Braintree DC—29 March 1990

  Bristol City C—4 September 1989

  Bury MBC—1 June 1990

  Camden LB—3 July 1990

  Charnwood BC—21 December 1989

  Doncaster MBC—21 September 1990

  East Lindsey DC—9 April 1990

  Eden DC—29 March 1990

  Halton BC—9 October 1991

  Haringey LB—12 November 1991

  Hillingdon LB—4 September 1989

  Knowsley MBC—7 December 1989

  Leicester City C—11 September 1990

  Liverpool City C—31 May 1990

  Redditch BC—18 January 1991

  Thurrock DC—3 October 1990

  Wakefield MBC—6 March 1991

  Warrington DC—2 August 1991

  Waveney DC—24 July 1991

  Wolverhampton MBC—3 January 1990

  Woodspring DC—6 September 1990

  York City C—10 May 1990

  (b) the authority appeared to have failed to achieve the prescribed financial objective

  Breckland DC—19 September 1991

  Camden LB—3 July 1990

  Crawley BC—29 July 1991

  Crawley BC (2 notices)—9 October 1991

  Eastleigh BC—18 December 1990

  Epsom and Ewell BC—1 July 1991

  Gloucester City C—28 October 1991

  Gosport BC—29 July 1991

  Harrogate BC—1 July 1991

  Haringey LB—12 December 1990

  Humberside CC—8 June 1990

  Lewes DC—28 October 1991

  North Tyneside MBC—1 July 1991

  Redbridge LB—1 July 1991

  Shropshire CC—28 October 1991

  Surrey CC—28 October 1991

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  Waverley DC–28 October 1991

  West Devon DC–1 July 1991

  and

  (c) the authority appeared to have failed to comply with the detailed specification for the work

  Camden LB—3 July 1990

  Directions served under section 14 of the Local Government Act 1988 where

  (a) the authority appeared to have acted in an anti-competitive manner

  Doncaster MBC—11 December 1990 (replacement direction issued 28 March 1991)

  Hillingdon LB—13 March 1990 (replacement direction issued 1 August 1990)

  East Lindsey DC—6 July 1990 (replacement direction issued 31 July 1990)

  Knowsley MBC—6 July 1990 (replacement direction issued 3 August 1990)

  Leicester City C—19 December 1990 (replacement direction issued 29 January 1991)

  Liverpool City C—6 August 1990 (replacement direction issued 24 June 1991)

  Redditch BC—5 March 1991

  Thurrock DC—19 December 1990 (replacement direction issued 5 March 1991)

  Wakefield MBC—15 August 1991

  Woodspring DC—8 November 1990

  York City C—9 August 1990 (replacement direction issued 13 September 1990).

  (b) the authority appeared to have failed to achieve the prescribed financial objective

  Camden LB—31 October 1990

  Eastleigh BC—9 April 1991

  Haringey LB—20 June 1991

  Harrogate BC—15 November 1991

  Humberside CC—30 July 1990

  and

  (c) the authority appeared to have failed to comply with the detailed specification for the work

  Camden LB–31 October 1990.

  Notices issued under section 19A of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 where

  (a) the authority appeared to have acted in an anti-competitive manner

  Wirral MBC—28 March 1989

  Liverpool City—30 May 1991

  Salford City C—1 July

  and

  (b) where the authority appeared to have failed to achieve the prescribed financial objective

  Barrow in Furness DC—1 July 1991

  Brent LB—20 December 1989

  Bromley LB—29 July 1991

  Camden LB—1 July 1991

  Copeland BC—9 July 1991

  Eastleigh BC (2 notices)—18 December 1990

  Greenwich LB—10 April 1991

  Harrogate BC (2 notices)—1 July 1991

  Kingston Upon Thames LB—29 July 1991

  Milton Keynes BC—15 October 1991

  Portsmouth City C—29 July 1991

  Rochdale MBC—7 February 1991

  Salford MBC—1 July 1991

  Shepway DC—1 July 1991

  Stroud DC—10 April 1991

  Tonbridge & Malting BC—10 October 1990

  Tower Hamlets LB —1 July 1991

  Waltham Forest LB—29 July 1991

  Warrington DC—29 July 1991

  Worthing BC—29 July 1991

  Wychavon DC—29 July 1991

  Wycombe DC—12 December 1990

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  Directions served under section 19B of the Local Government planning Act 1980 where

  (a) the authority appeared to have acted in an anti-competitive manner

  Wirral MBC–23 October 1989

  and

  (b) where the authority appeared to have failed to achieve the prescribed financial objective

  Brent LB—24 July 1990

  Barrow-in-Furness DC—15 November 1991

  Greenwich LB—25 September 1991

  Harrogate BC (2 notices)—15 November 1991

  Shepway DC—15 November 1991

  Tonbridge & Mailing BC—28 February 1991

  Directions served under section 19B of the Local Government Planning Act 1980 where

  the authority appeared to have acted in an anti-competitive manner

  Wirral MBC—23 October 1989

  and

  (b) where the authority appeared to have failed to achieve the prescribed financial objective

  Brent LB—24 July 1990

  Barrow-in-Furness DC—15 November 1991

  Greenwich LB-—25 September 1991

  Harrogate BC (2 notices)-I5 November 1991

  Shepway DC—15 November 1991

  Tonbridge & Mailing BC—28 February 1991

  Air Pollution
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the EC directive of 28 June 1984 on the combating of air pollution from industrial plants (84/360/EEC) has been transposed into United Kingdom law.

  Mr. Baldry
  Implementation of the air framework directive in Great Britain has been by means of the Alkali &c. Works Regulation Act 1906, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and regulations made thereunder. This will be reinforced by the new controls introduced under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Implementation in Northern Ireland is also by means of the Alkali Act. The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland intends to make regulations to bring into effect the residual requirements of the directive relating to public access next spring.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review government classification of ozone levels so that they are in line with World Health Organisation guidelines and report exceeding of eight hour guidance values.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) on 11 November 1991,Official Report, column 394.

  Lincolnshire
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether Lincolnshire will be in the first batch of local authorities that will be recommended for consideration by the local government commission when it is established.

  Mr. Portillo
  We are still considering what would be the most balanced and manageable programme of reviews for the Local Government Commission.

  Parish and Town Councils
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the university of Aston business school to report on the national survey of parish and town councils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  We have received the results of this survey. The university of Aston business school is preparing its final report which we hope to publish in the new year.

  Volatile Organic Compounds
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environmnent what progress has been made in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe on a protocol controlling emissions of volatile organic compounds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Negotiation of a protocol to the 1979 convention on long-range transboundary air pollution, which would control the emissions of volatile organic compounds—VOCs—or their transboundary fluxes, has now been successfully completed and the United Kingdom today became one of the first signatories to the protocol.

  VOCs are major precursors of ground level azone, a pollutant which can affect human health and damage crops and trees. Ground level ozone is an international problem, and some of the worst ozone episodes in the United Kingdom have significant contributions of continental origin. It therefore needs to be tackled by international agreement.

  The new protocol is the first international commitment to VOC abatement across the board. It obliges most parties to secure a 30 per cent. overall reduction in their VOC emissions between 1988 and 1999. Other basic obligations include requirements, two years after the protocol enters into force, to apply national or international emission standards to new sources of VOCs, taking account of guidance on control technologies given in the protocol; to apply national or international measures to products that contain solvents and promote the use of products with low or nil content; and to foster public participation in VOC emission control.

  The United Kingdom is already taking a number of steps which will help it to comply with the protocol, which represents an important step forward in international action to improve the quality of our environment. I am arranging for a copy of the protocol to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will be meeting members of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee.

  Mr. Trippier
  I am meeting members of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee today following the inaugural meeting of the reconstituted committee. I have asked members of the new committee to look at the three particular subjects. First, I have asked them to review the radioactive waste disposal issues which are likely to arise over the next 20 years. Secondly, I have asked them to review the overall national radiation monitoring programme following the installation of phase 2 of the radioactive incident monitoring network and to make recommendations. Thirdly, I have asked them to
  103
  consider and advise on the extent and nature of the Department's radioactive substances research pro-gramme.

  The members of the reconstituted committee are:

  Members of the reconstituted RWMAC Chairman: Professor John Knill—Chairman of NERC

  *Dr. Jack I. Abernethy-Member of the Institute of Professional Managers and Specialists (BNFL)

  *Professor Kathleen J. Anderson OBE-Depute Principal, Napier Polytechnic of Edinburgh, Biologist

  Dr. Helen ApSimon—Imperial College, Senior Lecturer-Atmospheric Modelling

  Professor Andrew Blowers—Professor of Social Services, Open University

  *Professor Keith Boddy OBE—Head of Regional Medical Physics Department, Newcastle General Hospital, Northern Region Health Authority

  Professor Charles Brown—Heriot-Watt University (Marine Biologist)

  Mr. Wilf Cassidy—Scientific Advisor and County Analyst Somerset CC

  Dr. Roger H. Clarke—Director, National Radiological Protection Board

  Dr. Martin Courtis—Director of Environmental Services Environmental Health, Carlisle DC

  *Professor H. John Evans—Director of the MRC Human Genetics Unit at Western General Hospital, Edinburgh

  *Dr. Ron H. Flowers—Chief Technologist (Nuclear), AEA Technology

  Mr. Michael Folger—Managing Director, UK Nirex Ltd

  Dr. Eleanor James-Lecturer Mathematics, University of Aberystwyth, Member of Executive Committee of the Council for the Protection of Rural Wales

  South Western Region1 Discounted value of all sales (£ '000)

  Local authority

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Bath

  2,491

  2,197

  1,769

  2,013

  1,835

  1,416

  2,359

  4,993

  7,430

  3,177

  1,888

  Bristol

  0

  14,263

  19,236

  11,870

  12,537

  9,339

  9,307

  13,229

  23,430

  25,019

  11,579

  Kingswood

  316

  4,155

  4,847

  2,093

  1,658

  1,389

  1,264

  2,487

  5,591

  2,955

  1,069

  Northavon

  1,906

  2,538

  3,699

  3,039

  2,315

  1,395

  1,931

  2,379

  6,558

  n/a

  1,922

  Wansdyke

  3,359

  3,066

  2,317

  1,581

  1,685

  1,633

  2,335

  3,336

  6,651

  3,019

  1,063

  Woodspring

  335

  6,520

  n/a

  6,358

  4,625

  n/a

  5,325

  5,553

  10,268

  7,983

  3,914

  Caradon

  0

  985

  2,052

  1,462

  1,657

  1,125

  1,468

  1,823

  4,978

  n/a

  n/a

  Carrick

  894

  2,445

  1,722

  673

  n/a

  1,510

  n/a

  n/a

  2,945

  n/a

  1,378

  Kerrier

  0

  2,456

  1,072

  850

  770

  730

  663

  829

  2,098

  1,370

  653

  North Cornwall

  0

  1,926

  2,118

  1,946

  1,564

  1,154

  1,271

  1,621

  4,788

  4,613

  1,816

  Penwith

  838

  848

  1,172

  1,355

  815

  824

  n/a

  1,621

  2,678

  2,686

  852

  Restormel

  45

  2,429

  1,889

  1,382

  1,056

  933

  1,227

  1,657

  4,066

  1,533

  937

  Isles of Scilly

  0

  0

  60

  60

  16

  35

  27

  143

  77

  n/a

  32

  East Devon

  1,519

  1,285

  1,843

  3,154

  2,268

  1,742

  2,181

  4,181

  6,316

  3,748

  1,585

  Exeter

  1,133

  1,958

  2,340

  2,520

  2,294

  2,635

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  5,075

  1,834

  Mid Devon

  0

  1,685

  3,444

  2,124

  1,675

  1,304

  1,894

  3,363

  4,290

  1,857

  1,083

  North Devon

  0

  2,369

  3,409

  1,800

  n/a

  n/a

  1,789

  2,521

  4,396

  2,750

  1,180

  Plymouth

  5,296

  5,539

  9,420

  8,021

  4,763

  n/a

  6,309

  7,612

  15,991

  19,310

  7,426

  South Hams

  732

  1,380

  2,030

  1,840

  1,765

  1,981

  1,468

  2,236

  3,181

  3,294

  1,443

  Teignbridge

  n/a

  2,632

  2,359

  1,922

  1,780

  2,252

  2,055

  2,424

  7,265

  5,362

  1,406

  Torbay

  622

  915

  1,360

  1,948

  2,154

  1,983

  2,320

  n/a

  11,619

  4,713

  1,692

  Torridge

  18

  2,776

  1,245

  928

  723

  677

  1,052

  1,481

  2,924

  1,596

  775

  West Devon

  860

  1,244

  1,031

  1,272

  1,220

  1,091

  846

  n/a

  2,010

  1,524

  n/a

  Bournemouth

  1,088

  3,199

  2,870

  5,599

  3,861

  3,060

  3,959

  5,214

  9,340

  5,311

  2,730

  Christchurch

  768

  960

  902

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1,422

  n/a

  1,144

  n/a

  East Dorset

  865

  924

  1,091

  n/a

  1,602

  1,252

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  North Dorset

  597

  1,386

  1,912

  1,441

  1,379

  1,309

  1,374

  2,571

  3,646

  2,335

  1,181

  Poole

  1,087

  963

  4,217

  5,790

  4,484

  3,195

  4,113

  n/a

  6,241

  8,937

  2,583

  Purbeck

  844

  1,583

  1,182

  1,237

  1,650

  908

  1,236

  1,382

  2,768

  3,250

  n/a

  West Dorset

  10

  2,469

  3,933

  2,623

  2,390

  2,566

  4,691

  3,166

  5,462

  2,950

  1,839

  Weymouth and Portland

  789

  1,401

  2,590

  6,317

  2,014

  1,326

  1,992

  2,711

  3,910

  2,803

  898

  Cheltenham

  1,197

  3,672

  3,394

  2,905

  1,161

  1,793

  1,684

  2,777

  7,441

  4,709

  1,820

  Cotswold

  0

  3,318

  3,566

  2,018

  1,904

  1,489

  1,549

  2,235

  3,371

  1,853

  1,589

  Forest of Dean

  0

  n/a

  2,901

  1,831

  1,617

  1,218

  1,279

  2,276

  5,526

  1,961

  929

  Gloucester

  942

  2,533

  2,805

  1,744

  1,661

  1,207

  1,841

  3,125

  4,436

  n/a

  1,573

  Stroud

  1,527

  2,666

  3,232

  2,491

  2,129

  2,046

  2,643

  2,116

  5,702

  4,594

  1,425

  Tewkesbury

  454

  4,241

  2,536

  1,768

  1,191

  1,026

  1,024

  2,057

  3,682

  2,046

  1,234

  Mendip

  1,601

  3,287

  2,392

  2,587

  2,587

  2,823

  3,489

  3,614

  7,797

  n/a

  1,999

  Sedgemoor

  1,260

  3,805

  4,253

  2,552

  1,486

  2,140

  2,434

  3,610

  4,770

  4,965

  2,272

  South Somerset

  1,829

  2,872

  3,237

  2,882

  3,193

  2,588

  3,521

  6,016

  12,007

  6,321

  3,337

  104

  *Professor Gilbert Kelling—Professor of Geology and Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University of Keele

  Miss Angela M. Killick—Chairman, Hampstead District Health Authority

  Dr. John McKeown—Director of Safety, Scottish Nuclear Mr. George J. Medley OBE-Director World Wide Fund for Nature UK

  Dr. Les A. Mitchell Director of Technology, Nuclear Electric PLC

  *Dr. William L. Wilkinson CBE—Deputy Chief Executive, BNFL

  *Professor David R. Williams—Professor of Applied Chemistry, University of Wales

  Those names marked with an asterisk are members who have previously served on RWMAC.

  Council House Sales
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by district authorities in the south-west region all capital receipts from the sale of council houses received each year since the introduction of right to buy.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 18 November 1991]: The total discounted value of all sales of houses and flats for each year from 1980–81, as reported by local authorities, are in the table. Actual cash receipts in any year will depend on the extent to which the sales were financed by loans from the authorities.
  105

  Local authority

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Taunton Deane

  1,877

  2,596

  1,997

  1,935

  2,200

  2,306

  2,581

  3,889

  6,370

  4,338

  2,042

  West Somerset

  83

  1,507

  2,170

  1,040

  624

  561

  421

  982

  1,692

  999

  516

  Kennet

  642

  832

  2,291

  3,363

  1,575

  1,556

  1,762

  2,835

  5,686

  n/a

  2,086

  North Wiltshire

  680

  2,683

  2,812

  2,585

  2,619

  2,791

  2,691

  3,660

  6,749

  4,473

  1,783

  Salisbury

  0

  2,979

  3,456

  2,524

  2,475

  2,225

  3,041

  3,877

  6,081

  6,720

  n/a

  Thamesdown

  0

  n/a

  9,519

  5,664

  4,586

  4,888

  n/a

  n/a

  12,858

  10,936

  3,706

  West Wiltshire

  2,878

  2,514

  3,042

  n/a

  1,629

  2,863

  4,113

  3,551

  6,296

  3,550

  1,285

  1 Figures shown are as reported by individual authorities.

  Cats
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice his Department offers to land owners and others concerning the control of straying domestic or feral cats.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I have been asked to reply.

  None. I am not aware of any demand for such advice.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Baltic Gold
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the negotiations with the Baltic states on the Baltic gold.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  Talks were held with an Estonian delegation on 7 November; a Latvian delegation on 8 November; and a Lithuanian delegation on 13 November. The discussions were friendly and useful progress was made. In each case it was agreed that a further round of discussions be held soon.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his meetings with representatives of Lithuania concerning repayment of the Baltic gold.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs discussed the question of the gold when he met President Landsbergis in Blackpool on 8 October. Subsequently talks on the gold and other financial issues were held in London on 13 November with a Lithuanian delegation led by the Lithuanian deputy Foreign Minister. It was agreed that a further meeting be held soon.

  Libya
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if there are any plans to reopen diplomatic relations with Libya; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  There are no such plans.

  Yugoslavia
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about the number of refugees fleeing Yugoslavia and going into Italy, Hungary and Austria.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  A total of 35,000 Yugoslav refugees have registered in Hungary. Between 5,000 and 8,000 106
  refugees are believed to have arrived in Austria. Since there is no visa requirement for Yugoslays travelling to Italy, no figures are available for refugees there.

  Libya
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the numbers of British citizens employed in Libya during the past five years to the latest available date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  Figures are available only for 1988, 1989 and 1990. We estimate that 5,000 British nationals, including dependants, were living and working in Libya in 1988 and 1989 and around 5,500 in 1990.

  EC Competence
  Mr. Grylls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will veto the extension of EC competence into any areas not directly related to the establishment of the single market.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  A number of proposals have been put forward in the intergovernmental conference on political union for extensions of EC competence. We consider them on their merits, but the Government have made clear that a significant increase in competence would be undesirable.

  Media Funding
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, further to his answer of 13 November,Official Report, column 525, if he will place copies of the papers concerning the Morning Star and Pergamon Press in the Library.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  We will do so when they have been translated.

  Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards the negotiation of a comprehensive test ban treaty; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  We are committed to a comprehensive test ban within the context of general and complete disarmament. Because our security will depend for the foreseeable future on deterrence based in part on the possession of nuclear weapons, we have a continuing need to carry out nuclear tests to maintain the effectiveness and safety of our deterrent.

  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the United Kingdom delegate
  107
  voted on the draft resolution on a comprehensive test ban treaty (Document A/C. 1/46/L.4) at the United Nations on 11 November.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The United Kingdom abstained on the resolution in the first committee.

  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy towards a moratorium on United Kingdom nuclear tests.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  We have a continuing need to carry out tests to maintain the effectiveness and safety of our nuclear deterrent.

  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy towards a negotiated gradual reduction in the number of nuclear tests worldwide.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  This is primarily a matter for the United States and Soviet Union. The United Kingdom has only a limited test programme.

  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's assessment of the potential impact of a comprehensive test ban treaty on the futher proliferation of nuclear weapons.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The 1968 non-proliferation treaty—NPT—is the cornerstone of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. A comprehensive test ban would not change the policies of those states not parties to the NPT, or prevent certain countries like Iraq who are parties to the treaty from seeking a nuclear capability.

  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's assessment of the potential impact of a comprehensive test ban treaty on the United Kingdom's nuclear weapons arsenal.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  For as long as the United Kingdom's security and that or our allies relies on our possession of a minimal nuclear deterrent, the United Kingdom will have a requirement to carry out tests from time to time.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Drugs (Foreign Prisoners)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of(a) men and (b) women who are foreign nationals and are at present serving prison sentences in prisons in England and Wales for conviction for seeking to import illegal drugs into the United Kingdom.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information readily available does not distinguish the different types of drugs offence.

  On 30 June 1990, the latest date for which information is available, about 1,090 males and 160 females recorded as foreign nationals were held in prison service establish-ments in England and Wales under sentences for drugs offences.

  Prisoners in Police Accommodation
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total cost(a) to his Department and (b) to police authorities, of holding
  108
  prisoners in police accommodation during the action by prison officers to limit numbers at Cardiff prison (i) as a total to date and (ii) in each month to date.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Separate information on the cost of holding Cardiff prisoners in police cells is not collected centrally. It could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Car Theft (Guidance to Magistrates)
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued to magistrates on passing those convicted of taking away a motor vehicle without consent to a higher court for sentencing.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The power to commit for sentence does not apply to the current offence of taking a vehicle without consent, which is triable summarily only. We shall shortly bring forward proposals for a new offence of aggravated taking carrying more severe punishment in the Crown court. Magistrates would be able to commit an offender convicted of the new offence to the Crown court for sentence.

  Bail Offenders
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the number of crimes committed by individuals granted bail during the last 12 months;

  (2) how many police officers have been injured or assaulted by persons who were on bail at the time of the offence during the last 12 months.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information on the number of recorded offences committed by persons who were on bail is not available separately.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Parole Board was informed about the case of a prisoner about whom the hon. Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill wrote to the Minister of State in the Home Office on 17 September; and when he expects to receive a reply from the Parole Board.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The case was referred to the Parole Board on 28 October 1991 and is scheduled for consideration on 27 November. I will write to the hon. Member once the outcome is known.

  Immigration
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average cost of putting a potential immigrant through a test to determine whether he or she has sufficient knowledge of the English, Welsh, or Gaelic languages.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  There is no language test for potential immigrants. In a small number of cases, it may be necessary to make special inquiries to establish that applicants for naturalisation meet the statutory require-ment to have a sufficient knowledge of the English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic language. The cost of these inquiries cannot be separately identified from the cost of other inquiries that are made in particular applications.

  Prisoners (Police Cells)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning convicted and remand prisoners being kept in police stations because prisons are full; whether he has any immediate plans to reduce the number of prisoners being held in police cells in Leicester; and whether he has any timetable for ending the holding of convicted and remand prisoners in police stations nationwide.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I have received a large number of representations from hon. Members and others about this problem. As my hon. Friend has made clear, he has taken a number of steps to reduce the numbers held in police cells, by converting young offender establishments to adult use, deferring the closure of wings, and retaining in use establishments which would otherwise have closed.

  Because the arrangements for holding prisoners in police cells are co-ordinated nationally through the police mutual aid co-ordination centre, it is not possible to predict the effect of these measures on police cells in particular areas. While not being able to predict accurately when the problem will be solved, I can say that I believe the measures taken, together with new prisons opening, will relieve the pressure in the foreseeable future.

  Sunday Trading
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on which Acts of Parliament are in force governing which shops and markets may open and what goods may legally be sold on Sundays in England; and who has responsibility for enforcing such Acts.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Part IV of the Shops Act 1950 contains the general prohibition on Sunday trading in England and Wales. It also contains provisions for partial exemption from, and modification to, that general prohibition, and for there to be, in schedules 5, 6 and 7 to the Act, lists of exempted transactions. Special exemptions from the general prohibition are also made in the Tyne and Wear Act 1976 for the Quayside market in Newcastle upon Tyne; in the West Midlands County Council Act 1980 for the national exhibition centre in Birmingham; and in the Greater London Council (General Powers) Acts 1981 and 1983 for exhibitions, trade fairs and conferences held at certain specified premises in Greater London.

  Local authorities are responsible for enforcing this area of the law.

  Street Lighting
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence he has on the link between the level of crime and poor street lighting.

  Mr. John Patten
  Recent independent research for the Home Office ("The Influence of Street Lighting on Crime and Fear of Crime", Crime Prevention Unit paper 28 and "The Effect of Better Street Lighting on Crime and Fear: a Reveiw", Crime Prevention Unit paper 29, both papers published in August 1991 and copies available in the Library) has shown that good street lighting is helpful in reducing the fear of crime but has little effect on crime itself, except perhaps in small localised spots where 110
  lighting is particularly inadequate. Other research has shown that it can also, in some cases, reduce the incidence of anti-social behaviour.

  Personation
  Mr. Brando-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the guidelines to presiding officers at polling stations in order to minimise the risk of personation.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  No. Revised and updated Home Office guidance for acting returning officers was issued in September of this year. If my hon. Friend is aware of a particular problem with regard to personation, perhaps he would consider writing to me about it.

  Retailers (Crime)
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the percentage of annual retail turnover lost through unauthorised entry to premises by retailers in the United Kingdom; and what information he has on the percentage lost by similar crime from retailers in other EC countries.

  Mr. John Patten
  It is estimated that retailers lose some 2 per cent. of turnover annually through the disappearance of stock. This loss includes thefts of all descriptions; the proportion attributable to unauthorised entry is not known and cannot be ascertained.

  Information about losses elsewhere in the EC is not available.

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give separate figures for spending by the Metropolitan police 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.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 5 November 1991]: I understand from the Commissioner that expenditure by the Metropolitan police on all forms of recruitment and other advertising, and other promotional material in each financial year since 1979–80 is as follows (it is not possible to give separate spending figures for the years before 1987–88):

  £

  1979–80

  759,000

  1980–81

  967,000

  1981–82

  1,062,000

  1982–83

  1,028,000

  1983–84

  1,675,000

  1984–85

  1,747,000

  1985–86

  1,868,000

  1986–87

  2,269,000

  Television advertising £

  Radio advertising £

  Newspaper advertising £

  Other promotional literature £

  1987–88

  —

  3,000

  1,,722,000

  1,111,000

  1988–89

  —

  6,000

  1,881,000

  1,258,000

  1989–90

  472,000

  15,000

  1,660,000

  663,000

  111

  Television advertising £

  Radio advertising £

  Newspaper advertising £

  Other promotional literature £

  1990–91

  683,000

  59,000

  1,065,000

  1,322,000

  11991–92

  200,000

  66,000

  1,110,000

  1,852,000

  1 Estimated out-turn.

  Decisions on expenditure for 1992–93 have yet to be settled.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total expenditure by the Metropolitan police 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.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding 5 November 1991]: I understand from the Commissioner that expenditure on staff and accommodation costs of the directorate of public affairs, and on recruitment and other advertising and other promotional literature, in each financial year since 1985–86 and estimate expenditure for 1991–92 are as follows:

  £

  1985–86

  3,622,861

  1986–87

  4,444,103

  1987–88

  4,555,000

  1988–89

  5,475,000

  1989–90

  5,366,000

  1990–91

  5,921,000

  11991–92

  6,274,000

  1 Estimated out-turn.

  Information for the years prior to 1985–86 is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Decisions on expenditure for 1992–93 have yet to be settled.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Local Education Expenditure
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the percentage element of central Government support in local education authority expenditure for each financial year since 1979–80.

  Mr. Eggar
  The bulk of central Government support for local authority expenditure is channelled through revenue support grant, which is not hypothecated to individual services. Latest available published data suggest that specific and special grants to local authorities falling within the Department of Education and Science programme have accounted for the following percentages of local authority recurrent education spending:

  Per cent.

  1979–80

  6

  1980–81

  7

  1981–82

  7

  1982–83

  6

  1983–84

  6

  1984–85

  6

  1985–86

  6

  1986–87

  5

  1987–88

  6

  1988–89

  6

  112

  Per cent.

  1989–90

  17

  1990–91

  19

  1 estimated

  Expenditure by local authorities on education is also supported by grants within the programmes of a range of other Government departments, including grants made under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966, the urban programme, the technical and vocational education initiative, and the work-related further education programme.

  Health Care
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science is he will make it his policy to include individual self health care in the national curriculum; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  My Department's policy is to secure that young people are equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to promote their immediate and long-term good health. To that end, aspects of health education are already included, wherever relevant, in a number of national curriculum foundation subjects.

  Computer Board for Universities and Research Councils
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will publish the final report of the Computer Board for Universities and Research Councils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The final report of the Computer Board for Universities and Research Councils is published today, covering the period 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1991. The board's responsibilities were transferred to the Universities Funding Council and the Advisory Board for the Research Councils on 1 April this year.

  The computer board's remit was to:

  —assist United Kingdom universities in keeping at the forefront of information systems (IS) developments in support of their academic research;

  —promote innovation, sound practice and value for money in the provision and use of information systems; and

  —foster universities' interaction on IS matters with the wider academic and research community.

  I pay tribute to the computer board's achievements over the past 25 years. Thanks to the board, the use of computers in the universities is now spread extensively over all subject areas. Before it began its work it was the preserve of only a few specialists.

  The board's vital contribution to this process was in helping and encouraging the universities to develop information systems strategies while also taking account of the rapid pace of technological change, initiating developments and promoting sound procurement procedures.

  Agricultural and Food Research Council
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to lay before parliament the annual report of the Agricultural and Food Research Council for 1990–91; and if he will make a statement.
  113
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The annual report of the Agricultural and Food Research Council—AFRC—has been submitted to my right hon. and learned Friend as required by the Science and Technology Act 1965. A copy is being placed in the House today.

  During the period covered by the report a new chairman, Mr. Alistair Grant, and a new director general, Professor Thomas Blundell FRS, have been appointed to the council.

  I am pleased that the AFRC has continued to make notable achievements under their leadership. For example, scientists at its Institute of Plant Science Research have identified and isolated a single plant gene which controls the development of flowers—the most productive part of the plant and also the source of grain, fruit and seed for propagation. Research on seed oils is providing new options for industry, including use of enzymes to upgrade low value oils and expansion of the industrial use of oilseed crops in the manufacture of plastics, lubricants and pharmaceuticals.

  In 1990–91, the AFRC launched a new £9 million programme over four years on the biology of spongiform encephalopathies, involving seven universities, including an award to the AFRC centre for genome research in Edinburgh, the AFRC institute of animal health and the joint AFRC/M RC neuropathogenesis unit. A FRC scientists are also co-ordinating a 1·2 million ecu programme, involving 16 laboratories in eight European countries, to produce a genetic map of the pig. This will allow breeders to identify genes that determine commercially important traits, such as temperament, litter size and meat quality, and will greatly advance livestock breeding programmes. AFRC's scientists are participating in more than 50 EC co-ordinated programmes and the council has signed a five-year memorandum of understanding with its Dutch counterpart and has commenced a programme of joint research fellowships with its French counterpart.

  I congratulate the council on these and numerous other achievements.

  Science Budget
  Sir Gerard Vaughan
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Education and Science what rates of inflation he has applied in estimating the real increases in the science budget over the three years 1992–93 to 1994–95.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. and learned Friend used the forecast Treasury GDP deflators of 4·5 per cent. for 1992–93, 3·75 per cent. for 1993–94 and 3 per cent. for 1994–95 announced in the 1991 autumn statement.

  Women's Institutes
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from women's institutes concerning their responses to the White Paper on education and training for the 21st century; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received a large number of such representations. I met representatives of the National Federation of Women's Institutes on 31 October.

  Science Policy
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what preparations have been made by his Department to make an input on science policy for the 21st century, to the United Nations conference on environment and development in June 1992.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Department and the research councils are providing input to the Department of the Environment, which is responsible for co-ordinating the Government's preparation for the United Nations conference on environment and development.

  Global Science Conference
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department will be represented at the ASCEND 21 global science conference organised in Vienna on 24 to 29 November by the International Council of Scientific Unions.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The ASCEND 21 global science conference in Vienna, attendance at which is by personal invitation to scientific experts, will be attended by 12 scientists from the United Kingdom, including a member of the Natural Environment Research Council and three members of its staff.

  Higher Education
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how he proposes to ensure parity of treatment for students in higher education.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The higher education funding councils, set up under the Further and Higher Education Bill now before Parliament, will be required to eliminate unjustified differences in funding methodologies between universities, polytechnics and colleges, while safeguarding the best of the distinctive missions of individual institutions.

  Pupil Numbers
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list all local education authorities in rank order by percentage change of total pupil numbers for each of the last three years giving in each instance the percentage change for each authority in(a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) 16 to 18 years age groups.

  Mr. Fallon
  Information on the percentage change of full-time equivalent pupil numbers, in each of the age groups requested, within each local education authority and the rank order of each local education authority in England for the years 1989, 1990 and 1991—provisional—has been placed in the Library.

WALES

  Local Government Finance Bill
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what effect he estimates the proposals in the Local Government Finance Bill will have on inward migration into Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I do not expect that the Local Government Finance Bill will have any material effect on the pattern of migration.

  New Dwellings
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total number of new dwellings constructed in Wales in each of the past 10 years by(a) councils and (b) housing associations.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Annual data from 1975 to 1990 were published in table 2.3 of "Welsh Housing Statistics No. 11, 1991", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  TECs
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to meet the chairmen of training and enterprise councils to discuss their budget plans; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have regular meetings with the TEC chairmen in Wales and arrangements are being made for our next meeting at which a range of issues will be discussed.

  Employment Initiatives
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will propose initiatives amongst the young males in Wales who are unemployed.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Government are providing a wide range of employment and training programmes focused on both young men and women. All those under 18 not in full-time education or training are guaranteed the offer of a training place, recruitment into employment training affords priority to those aged 18 to 24 who have been unemployed for between six and 12 months, and the employment action scheme enables the unemployed to contribute their skills and efforts to work of value for their area while at the same time gaining work experience. The training and enterprise councils are tailoring these schemes to local labour market and are also able to introduce their own initiatives to meet the needs of young people in their areas. In addition the Employment Service has a range of measures to help young people into work.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Auditors
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, since 1988, any auditing firms have been criticised in more than two DTI inspectors' reports.

  Mr. Redwood
  Yes. Once such firm has been criticised in more than two inspectors' reports published since 1988.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has plans to propose legislation under which companies would be required to publish the fees paid to auditors for recruitment of company executives.

  Mr. Redwood
  No.

  Accountants
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any staff from accountancy firms criticised by his Department's inspectors are currently seconded to his Department.
  116
  Mr. Redwood
  The Department currently has one secondee who is a staff member of an accountancy firm which has been criticised in a published inspector's report during the period since June 1979. A further two secondees are from an accountancy firm, the predecessors of which have been criticised.

  Political Donations
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to propose legislation under which all political donations by any company would require a specific resolution at the annual general meeting.

  Mr. Redwood
  No. There is a general requirement in the Companies Acts for directors' reports to disclose the amount and beneficiary of any money given for political purposes exceeding in aggregate £200. This report must be circulated to all shareholders before the annual general meeting. Shareholders may then comment on the donations and put down resolutions on them in the same way as they can for other aspects of the management of the company's funds. In the Government's view this gives shareholders sufficient protection.

  AGIP (Africa)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the inquiries he has conducted into the AGIP (Africa) affair.

  Mr. Redwood
  It is not our practice to confirm or deny the existence of Companies Act inquiries in relation to a particular case unless there has been an announcement of an investigation.

  Supervisory Bodies
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what rights the public has under the terms under which he has given recognition to the supervisory bodies(a) to know the findings of the bodies' monitoring activities and (b) to require the bodies to investigate complaints against auditing firms.

  Mr. Redwood
  The recognised supervisory bodies' monitoring reports on individual auditing firms are intended to be internal documents. However, I understand that the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants proposes to include in its annual report a report of its monitoring unit, and the other bodies are considering what information to publish. It was a precondition for recognition that the supervisory bodies had effective arrangements for the investigation of complaints, details of which are readily available from the bodies.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to propose legislation under which any member of the public will have a right to know shortcomings in auditing firms discovered by the recognised supervisory bodies.

  Mr. Redwood
  No.

  Accounting Standards Board
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will propose legislation under which the Accounting Standards Board will be required to open all its meetings to the public.
  117
  Mr. Redwood
  No.

  Fraud, Tenerife
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make representations to the Spanish Government over the alleged fraud which has led to the forthcoming foreclosure of 101 apartments on the Parque Don Jose, Costa Del Sileneis, Tenerife; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  I sympathise with the owners of the apartments at Parque Don Jose, but I believe that the applicable contracts are subject to Spanish law in which case neither the United Kingdom Government nor English law has any jurisdiction. Even if the contract was subject to English law. in so far as this is a civil dispute between purchasers and the developers, it would be for the civil courts to resolve. If an allegation of fraud or other criminal activity is involved it would be a matter for the police. It would not therefore be appropriate for me to make representations to the Spanish Government.

  Hostile Bids
  Mr. Haselhurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what period he will allow for negotiation of undertakings relating to a hostile bid under section 75G of the Fair Trading Act 1973 as amended in 1989 to protect the public need for relevant information.

  Mr. Redwood
  The timetable established for negotiating undertakings under section 75G of the Fair Trading Act 1973 will depend on the circumstances of each particular case. The Secretary of State will wish to secure undertakings as soon as practicable while ensuring that third parties are given a reasonable opportunity to comment on what might be appropriate to remedy the adverse effects expected to arise from the merger situation.

  Mr. Haselhurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the degree of proof a hostile bidder under section 75G of the Fair Trading Act 1973 as amended in 1989 must provide to satisfy him that assets acquired in a hostile bid will be sold to avoid a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

  Mr. Redwood
  Undertakings given by a company under section 75G of the Fair Trading Act 1973 to divest or separate part of a merged business in lieu of a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission are enforceable in the courts. Alternatively, the Secretary of State may make an order to remedy the expected adverse effects of the merger when it appears to him that an undertaking has not been or will not be fulfilled.

  Footwear
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken and intends to take to discourage foreign manufacturers producing fraudulent imitations of United Kingdom manufacturers' footwear products.

  Mr. Redwood
  Our legislation provides effective remedies against the sale of counterfeit goods in the United Kingdom. The Government also recognise the importance of discouraging international trade in counterfeit goods. One of their chief objectives in the 118
  current GATT Uruguay round negotiations on trade-related aspects of intellectual property is to achieve strengthened multilateral rules for combating trade in counterfeit goods, which should be of benefit to all sectors of United Kingdom manufacturing.

  Political Risk Insurance
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure that political risk insurance is readily available to British exporters on terms which enable them to compete on equal terms with their overseas competitors.

  Mr. Lilley
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade during the debate on the Lords Amendments to the Export and Investment Guarantees Bill on 22 October,Official Report columns 815–17, in which he described the two forms of reinsurance which the Government, through ECGD, will provide to the insurance services business after the latter's privatisation.

  Export Credits Guarantee Department
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the resignation of the chief executive of the Export Credits Guarantee Department, Mr. Malcolm Stephens.

  Mr. Lilley
  Mr. Stephens will be leaving ECGD later this year to take up the post of chief executive of the London Chamber of Commerce. I should like to record my gratitude for his effective and professional leadership of ECGD over the last four and a half years. I wish him well in his new career in the chamber movement, to which the Government attach great importance.

  Astra plc
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date, on what grounds, and by reference to which section of legislation he referred problems at Astra plc to his inspectors; if he will name the inspectors involved in this investigation; and when he expects the inspectors to report.

  Mr. Redwood
  Following an application by the company, Colin Percy Farquharson Rimer QC and John White FCA, were appointed inspectors on 16 August 1990 under section 431(2)(c) of the Companies Act 1985 to investigate and report on the affairs of the company. My right hon. Friend has asked them to look in particular at the events surrounding the rights issue by the company in July 1989. The inspectors are making good progress, but I cannot say when they will complete their report.

  Film Industry
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any proposals to help stimulate investment in films; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  A working party, chaired by my Department, is looking at ways of increasing private sector investment in film production in the United Kingdom. It will report to me when it has completed its work.

  Industrial Policy
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will next meet representatives of the Yorkshire and Humberside regional CBI to discuss industrial policy.

  Mr. Lilley
  I have no plans at present to meet representatives of the Yorkshire and Humberside regional CBI, but officials of my Department keep in touch with them on a wide range of business matters. I met a large number of CBI representatives when I attended their national conference on 4 November 1991.

  Relocation Assistance
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he carries out of the financial viability of companies before providing them with relocation assistance.

  Mr. Redwood
  Grants are not normally made available by my Department solely for the purposes of relocation. Where such a case may qualify for regional selective assistance, a financial appraisal of the commercial prospects of the company would be undertaken to enable a judgment to be made about the viability of the business, before any offer of grant is considered. A simplified appraisal is used for smaller value cases.

  Copenhagen Conference
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his Department was invited to participate in the conference on ecologically sustainable industrial development in Copenhagen on 14 to 18 October 1991.

  Mr. Lilley
  Yes, my Department was represented. I will place a copy of the conference's report in the House Library as soon as possible.

  UN Environment Conference
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will make it his policy to put forward proposals for the promotion of hand tools as part of a strategy for appropriate technological support to the United Nations conference on environment and develop-ment to be held in June 1992;

  (2) what preparations have been made by his Department to make an input on business, trade and technology issues for the United Nations conference on environment and development in June 1992.

  Mr. Lilley
  I draw the hon. Member's attention to the report "Global Climate Change: the Role of Technology Transfer" which was prepared for UNCED by Touche Ross and funded jointly by my Department and the Overseas Development Administration. A copy is available in the Library of the House.

  This report aimed to offer a constructive contribution to UNCED's discussions on technology transfer in the context of climate change. I am pleased to say it has been well received by delegates to the preparatory meetings for UNCED and has helped focus on this subject in a positive way.
  120
  One of the findings of the report emphasises the importance of appropriate technologies reflecting the different technological needs, abilities and circumstances of developing countries.

  Officials in my Department have also established contact with the Business Council for Sustainable Development—BCSD—the body set up by Mr. Maurice Strong, secretary-general to UNCED, to provide the business input to UNCED. Links have also been established between BCSD and the Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment set up by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Environment, and myself.

  Post Offices
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, further to his answer of 5 November,Official Report, column 61, how many Post Office Crown branch offices in (a) Great Britain and (b) South Wales are currently in each of the three categories A, B and C specified by Post Office Counters.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding 18 November 1991]: The numbers of Crown post offices currently in categories A, B and C in (a) Britain and (b) South Wales Counters district are as follows:

  A

  B

  C

  Britain

  484

  430

  161

  South Wales

  20

  12

  The categories A, B and C referred to represent very broad sizing guidelines indicating large, medium-sized and small offices respectively. As such, the number in each category should not be regarded as hard and fast.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Single European Act
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will arrange for copies of the Single European Act to be available at the Vote Office ahead of the debate on 20 November.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Copies of the Single European Act were placed in the House Library on a Command Paper basis—Cm 372—in 1988.

  I understand that copies will also be placed in the Vote Office in advance of the debate. Members can, of course, also order a copy from HMSO on a "green form" basis.

  Empty Offices
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many offices are currently empty in the Palace of Westminster.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Thirteen.

  Members' Offices
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many hon. and right hon. Members now have a single office; and when he expects that all hon. and right hon. Members will be so provided for.
  121
  Mr. MacGregor
  As a result of the occupation of No. 1 Parliament street, 334 Members now have single offices either in the Palace of Westminster or one of the parliamentary outbuildings. A small number of additional offices will become available next year following the conversion of accommodation in Speaker's Court. The objective of providing a single office for each Member who wants one will be fulfilled on completion of phase 2 of the new parliamentary building. It is impossible to predict with any accuracy at this stage when this will be achieved, since to a large extent progress on this building is dependent on progress in the construction of London Underground's new Westminster station. The new parliamentary building will certainly not be ready for occupation before 1996.

  Contracts of Employment
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make it his policy to publish the names of those hon. Members who have not issued a contract of employment to any of their staff paid from the office costs allowance.

  Mr. MacGregor
  No.

  Medical Facilities
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what plans he has to increase medical facilities within Parliament for the benefit of hon. Members and their staffs.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [holding 18 November 1991]: The Houses of Parliament occupational health service was established on 1 March 1991. It is being run by a full-time occupational health manager with assistance from a full-time nurse. The manager is qualified in occupational health and St. Thomas's hospital are providing medical back-up and the services of a part-time occupational health physician.

  The aim of the service is to provide general health care and to promote and maintain the highest attainable standards of occupational health in the two Houses. The Members' medical surveillance scheme, which has operated for a number of years, continues unchanged.

  There are at present no plans to increase on these arrangements, which have only recently been introduced.

EMPLOYMENT

  Skills Training
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what meetings he has had with staff of the former skills training agencies sold to TICC Ltd. and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  I met representatives of the staff and trade unions on 30 September 1991.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action his Department proposes to take with regard to the former employees of TICC Skill Centres Ltd. and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  With the completion of the sale of the Skills Training Agency in May 1990, all the operating 122
  businesses passed to the private sector and their subsequent activities have not been a matter for the Government. However, we are aware of the position of former civil servants employed by TICC Ltd. and am currently considering the representations made to the Department by TICC's staff and their trade union.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the 10 constituencies with the lowest level of unemployment in England, Scotland and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  For areas with different sized work forces, such as parliamentary constituencies, the only meaningful comparisons are based on unemployment rates. These are not available at the level of parliamentary constituencies.

  Health and Safety Inspectors
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the up-to-date figures of recruitment of health and safety inspectors over the last 12 months.

  Mr. Jackson
  In the year ended 1 November 1991 a total of 171 inspectors were recruited by the Health and Safety Executive. A further 63 joined the organisation with the transfers of responsibility for offshore and railway safety.

  Job Losses
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment has been made of the number of jobs lost to the United Kingdom by outward divestment or the export of British jobs to overseas countries, in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Jackson
  I am not aware of any such assessment.

  Co-operatives (Aid)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the organisations which have received or are to receive pump-priming cash or other grant aid from his Department in order to help develop co-operatives.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Department has agreed to provide pump priming support for the United Kingdom Co-operative Council. A number of other proposals are under consideration at present for development funding.

  Co-operative ventures and other organisations in-volved with the co-operative sector can also receive assistance indirectly from the Department through the training and enterprise councils or local enterprise companies, bodies such as the Prince's Youth Business Trust and a range of Government initiatives available for small businesses.

  Tourism
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy to reintroduce section 4 grants in England to fund tourism-related projects; how many representations he has had over the withdrawal of section 4 grants; what consultations he has had with the British Tourist Authority regarding section 4 grants; and if he will make a statement.
  123
  Mr. Jackson
  No. Funding for the section 4 scheme in England was withdrawn in 1989 because of doubts about its value and effectiveness. Nothing since the scheme's suspension has given cause to believe that its reintroduction in England would be justified.

  The Department has on occasions, received representa-tions in support of reintroducing some form of financial assistance for tourism projects. The British Tourist Authority has not offered any comment on the withdrawal of funding for the section 4 scheme in England.

  Shoe Repairing
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to provide and encourage improved training provision for the shoe repairing industry.

  Mr. Jackson
  Provision of training is primarily the responsibility of employers, but Employment Department funding is being provided to support youth training and employment training in the shoe repairing industry. The Department is also helping the industry to define and meet its training needs by promoting more effective industry training organisation arrangements. Funding is also being provided for the development of vocational qualifications in shoe repair.

  Wages Inspectorate
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will expand the wages inspectorate.

  Mr. Jackson
  No. The wages inspectorate has adequate resources to enforce wages council orders effectively.

THE ARTS

  Items in Lieu of Tax
  Mr. Wolfson
  To ask the Minister for the Arts, whether any items have been accepted in lieu of tax and allocated so far in the present Session.

  Mr. Renton
  Since my announcement on 25 July, at column 794, in response to a question from the hon. Member for Warley, East (Mr. Faulds), I am pleased to inform the House that an offer of English porcelain has been accepted in lieu of £77,000 tax. The porcelain was offered on condition that it be allocated to the Fitzwilliam museum, Cambridge and it has, therefore, been allocated to that institution.

HEALTH

  AIDS
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what funds are currently being paid to the Health Education Authority for AIDS awareness campaigns;

  (2) how much expenditure on AIDS awareness is targeted at ethnic minorities;

  (3) how much money is paid yearly by the Health Education Authority to the National AIDS Trust and upon what conditions as to the following of an equal opportunities policy by the National AIDS Trust.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  In the current financial year the Health Education Authority (HEA) has been allocated 124
  £9·5 million to carry forward AIDS mass media campaigns in the United Kingdom and for supporting AIDS educational work in England.

  Of this sum £640,000 has been allocated to media, project and research work directed at ethnic minorities. In addition, health authorities have been asked to give priority attention to the HIV educational needs of ethnic minorities in developing local HIV prevention work.

  Funding to the National AIDS Trust (NAT) is for specific projects, as follows:

  £

  1990–92 NAT young people's initiative and 46,000 publication of a report

  46,000

  1991–93 Funding over three years for the NAT HIV/AIDS women's project

  105,000

  The HEA has also provided £3,139 in the current year to assist the NAT in co-ordinating the United Kingdom response to world AIDS day on 1 December.

  The hon. Member may wish to contact the HEA direct for information about equal opportunities policy.

  Manual Lifting Injuries
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many employees in the NHS suffered manual lifting injuries in 1988–89; and how many suffered manual lifting injuries in 1989–90.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not held centrally by the Department.

  Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1986, all employers, including the national health service, are required to report certain types of industrial injuries to the Health and Safety Executive. Data of a limited and broadly classified nature are maintained by the executive in respect of those manual handling injuries reported to them.

  Census
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many breaches of security occurred in collecting the 1991 census data; how many of these were by individual census numerators; how many were after the individual enumerator had passed on this information to the district co-ordinators; and how many individuals' census files were subject to security failures.

  Mr. Dorrell
  In the 109,700 enumeration districts in England and Wales, in which some 20 million forms were collected, 24 incidents have been reported where there were actual or potential breaches of confidentiality of census documents. In eight of these incidents forms were stolen from enumerators or collected by people impersonating enumerators. Fourteen incidents were due to errors made by field staff. One incident occurred as forms were in transit between the local census officer and the census office, as a result of which two forms are missing, believed destroyed. In the remaining incident one enumeration record book containing addresses for an enumeration district was lost in the post. The total number of census forms involved was 253, of which 121 were recovered. Of the remainder, 117 were stolen or fraudulently collected and 15 are unaccounted for.
  125
  There have been no breaches of confidentiality of census documents since the forms were delivered to the census office.

  Two further incidents are under investigation, involving the alleged passing by census staff of details on other census staff to third parties.

  Disablement Services Authorities
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if his Department will reimburse health authorities for their expenditure in meeting the unpaid bills passed to them from the Disablement Services Authority when it was disbanded in April 1991;

  (2) how much of its unspent budget for the year 1990–91 the Disablement Services Authority returned for the year 1990–91 to the Department; when the Disablement Services Authority requested the money to be returned; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Disablement Services Authority notified the Department in February 1991 of a forecast cash underspend of some £5 million on its income and expenditure account for 1990–91. That sum was transferred from class XIII, vote 3—Department of Health, administration, miscellaneous health services and personal social services, England—which included provision for the authority, to class XIII, vote 1—hospital and community health services, family health services (part) and other services (England)—in the revised spring supplementary estimates presented on 28 February 1991.

  In late March 1991, the authority notified the Department that it had received invoices which it wished to settle prior to its dissolution. The sum of £1 million was made available to the authority to assist it to settle some of those accounts.

  In August 1991 health authorities were allocated some £3 million to meet unpaid bills inherited from the authority that extended beyond the normal period of credit. This is in addition to the £111 million revenue resources allocated to health authorities in 1991–92 for disablement services.

  Kidney Dialysis
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many national health service patients were receiving kidney dialysis at the latest date for which figures are available; what proportion of these are aged 70 years or over; and what are the comparable figures for the private sector.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Information in the form requested is not collected centrally. According to information provided by the European Dialysis and Transplant Association the total number of people receiving dialysis in the United Kingdom as at 31 December 1990 was 8,857. At the end of 1989 there was one such patient over the age of 70 years for every 13 under that age.

  Back Pain and Injury
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the number of working days lost to the national health service each year through back pain or back injury;

  (2) what is the total amount paid out in terms of damages by the national health service to staff who have suffered back pain or back injury;
  126
  (3) what are the sickness absence costs to the national health service of back pain or back injury to staff in terms of (a) sick pay and (b) additional staffing costs to cover for sickness absence;

  (4) what percentage of sickness absence in the national health service is due to back pain or back injury;

  (5) what is the cost to the national health service of treating national health service staff who are off work temporarily or permanently due to back pain or back injury.

  (6) how many staff leave the national health service each year due to back pain or back injury.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not held centrally.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking to reduce the incidence of cross-infection in general dental surgeries.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department has issued guidance on various occasions since the publication of the report of the Expert Advisory Group on Hepatitis in Dentistry in 1979. The chief dental officer wrote to all general dental practitioners on the subject in April 1986 and May 1988. In addition, the general principles of cross-infection control have been outlined in the publication "Guidance for Clinical Health Care Workers", a copy of which is available in the Library. The Department also contributed to the British Dental Association's revised guidance on cross-infection control. The Department regularly considers the question of further guidance on cross-infection control in the light of circumstances prevailing at the time.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that the regulation to empower family health service authorities to inspect general dental surgeries will include the provision for financial penalties and disciplinary action when such surgeries expose their patients to unacceptable risks from cross-infection.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The terms of service under which dental practitioners provide general dental services under the NHS already make it clear that they must employ proper skill and attention, provide suitable equipment, and provide treatment with suitable instruments for their patients. A dentist found to have acted in breach of his terms of service is vulnerable to sanctions which may be imposed by the family health service authority.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a list of those hospitals providing paediatric emergency dental services staffed by the community dental service.

  Mr. Dorrell: This information is not held centrally.

  Fluoridation
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been carried out by his Department into the effect of the fluoridation of drinking water on the level of morbidity in human populations.

  Mr. Dorrell
  A number of studies have been undertaken on behalf of the Department into major causes of morbidity in relation to fluoridation of drinking water.
  127
  These include tuberculosis, cancers, cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary diseases, peptic ulcers, renal disease, congenital malformations, thyroid disease and musculo-skeletal disorders. These, and other authoritative reviews of the extensive worldwide scientific literature, have found no evidence to show that fluoridation has any adverse effect on health.

  St. Paul's Eye Hospital
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the number of patients from Wales treated at Liverpool's St. Paul's eye hospital in each of the last four years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Michael Emberton, the chairman of Liverpool health authority, for details.

  Rehabilitation Consultants
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultants in rehabilitation medicine were appointed, and salaries ring-fenced, by the Disablement Services Authority; how many are still in post; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The latest figures available show that, by 30 September 1990, 11 consultants in rehabilitation medicine had been appointed and are still in post. The remainder of these 40 newly created posts were expected to be filled by the middle of 1991, mainly by medical officers working within disablement services. Resources for disablement services are ring-fenced within total health authority cash limits for the two years, 1991–92 to 1992–93; salary costs for consultants in rehabilitation medicine are included within these ring-fenced allocations.

  Hospital Social Work
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will issue guidelines to local authorities about appropriate levels of service for hospital social work.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Responsibility for providing social work services to hospitals rests with local authorities under arrangements established in 1974. Local authority circular LAC(91)14 and NHS executive letter EL(91)122 issued in October clarified the position. Copies are available in the Library.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the progress of the social services inspectorate's inspection of social care to NHS patients.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The inspection process is underway. Fieldwork in five local authorities in England is due to be completed in February 1992 and a report subsequently prepared.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he is making on establishing agreements about funding hospital social work services in London.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department has completed a pilot exercise to provide information about the provision of health-related social work services by local authorities to non-residents. The outcome will be discussed with the Local Authority Associations at the end of November.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that high-quality hospital social work services are part of the community care plans currently being drawn up by local authorities.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  An integral part of local authorities community care plans will be their plans for health-related social work. This was made clear in local authority circular LAC(91)14, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Hospital Appointments
  Sir Patrick McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish figures setting out the number of patients who failed to attend national health service hospitals after being granted firm appointments region by region for the year to March 1991.
  130
  Mr. Dorrell
  The available information is given in the table.

  Number of patients who did not attend for appointment at consultant out-patient and general practitioner maternity clinics in 1990–91 (provisional), national health service hospitals England

  Regional health authority

  Referral attendances

  Consultant initiated attendances

  Total

  Northern

  65,910

  286,097

  352,007

  Yorkshire

  75,375

  317,241

  392,616

  Trent

  89,454

  372,723

  462,177

  East Anglian

  28,180

  103,063

  131,243

  North West Thames

  96,052

  317,434

  413,486

  North East Thames

  129,985

  434,484

  564,469

  South East Thames

  106,784

  337,209

  443,993

  South West Thames

  52,202

  178,227

  230,429

  Wessex

  45,156

  158,850

  204,006

  Oxford

  40,024

  144,700

  184,724

  South Western

  47,067

  164,700

  211,767

  West Midlands

  109,552

  449,860

  559,412

  Mersey

  69,520

  261,015

  330,535

  North Western

  120,796

  452,390

  573,186

  Special health authorities

  18,854

  94,184

  113,038

  Total

  1,094,911

  4,072,177

  5,167,088

  Radiotherapy
  Mr. Ted Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the length of time that patients have to wait for radiotherapy at(a) Newcastle general hospital and (b) other parts of the United Kingdom; and if he will outline the steps he intends to take to improve the position for patients who urgently need treatment in the area served by this hospital.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information on waiting times for individual hospitals is not held centrally. Information for regional health authorities can be obtained from the "Hospital In-patient Waiting Lists England at 31 March 1991", a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Mentally Ill People
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimate for community care services provided jointly by the health authorities and local authorities for 1991–92 to attend to the needs of the mentally handicapped and the mentally disabled transferred into the community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Information about joint funding by health and local authorities of community care services is not collected centrally. We do however have figures for joint finance and dowry expenditure for 1989–90. In that year, health and local authority joint finance expenditure on services for people with learning disabilities and for people with mental illness was £60·4 million and £14·5 million respectively on revenue and £9·4 million and £0·8 million respectively on capital (England only; no capital figures for eight local authorities). Health authority dowry payments to local authorities for people with learning disabilities and for people with mental illness were £1·2 million and £12·3 million respectively (England only). Joint finance and dowry arrangements are described in HC(83)6, HC(84)9 and HN(86)11 copies of which are available in the Library.

  Cot Deaths
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what advice is now given to parents on the avoidance of cot deaths; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what progress is being made in reducing the incidence of cot deaths.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [pursuant to her reply, 15 November 1991, c. 681–82]: To reinforce the advice on reducing the risk of cot deaths which has already been sent to all doctors, midwives, health visitors and other professionals concerned with the care of young babies, the Government are arranging an information campaign aimed directly at mothers and others who care for young babies. This will be led by advertising next month in the national and specialist press which invites people to obtain a leaflet setting out the main steps to be taken to reduce the risk of cot deaths. This leaflet—also available in ethnic languages—will in addition be widely distributed, for instance to doctors' surgeries, maternity units and public libraries. The intention is that the leaflet can be retained for reference by families with young babies.

  Racial Equality
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many decisions have been taken by industrial tribunals that health authorities have discriminated against black employees or job applicants.

  Mr. Jackson
  I have been asked to reply.

  Since 1 April this year, 38 decisions have been promulgated for cases brought under the Race Relations Act 1976 against health authorities. There were no successful applications amongst them.

SCOTLAND

  Foresterhill Hospital
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Foresterhill hospital's trust application.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is presently considering the application and expects to make an announcement soon.

  Violent Crime
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to tackle the problem of violent crime in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The detection and prevention of violent crime is given a high priority by police forces throughout Scotland. The Government continue to provide substantial resources to assist the police in maintaining law and order: since 1979 police expenditure has risen by more than 50 per cent. in real terms. The Government will also continue to ensure that an adequate range of penalties is available to the courts to deal with all crimes and offences, including those involving violence.

  Hospital Services, Skye
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the future of Gesto hospital, Edinbane, Isle of Skye.
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  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This is a matter for Highland health board.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many beds are available for the care of the elderly in Skye; and what is their occupancy.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In the year ended 30 June 1991 there were, on average, 28 staffed national health service beds available for the care of the elderly. The occupancy rate was 60·7 per cent.

  Incinerator (Granton)
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received from community groups or individuals about the proposed erection of an incinerator by the Lothian Chemical Company at Granton foreshore, Edinburgh; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In the last three months, representations about the proposed incinerator have been received from six individuals. Over the same period, none has been received from community groups.

  An application by Lothian Chemical Company for the registration of an incinerator at its Granton works is currently being considered by Her Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate. In determining the application, account will be taken not only of the steps to be taken by the company to control emissions from the proposed plant, but of the representations made by members of the public about the application.

  Careers Service
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what new money will be made available to education authorities in Scotland to promote partnerships between the careers service and local employers.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. Friend expects to issue shortly further details about the development of partnerships between the Careers Service and local enterprise companies in Scotland.

  Civil Actions
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he hopes to provide a substantive response to the letter of the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow to the Lord Advocate, dated 30 October, concerning the legal right of an individual to raise a civil action in the High Court; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate has today written to the hon. Member in response to his letter dated 30 October.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the sites of special scientific interest in Scotland for which management agreements are currently being negotiated, giving details of the damage threatened in each case; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  [holding 18 November]: The information requested is confidential to the parties.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Norwich Office (Closure)
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has had regarding the closure of his Department's office in Norwich; and if he will make it his policy to review the closure decision.

  Mr. Curry
  The Department has received representations, principally from staff representatives, about the future of the Norwich office. It sees no cause to review its decision to transfer grant and subsidy processing and other services from Norwich to a new regional service centre at Cambridge. The Norwich office will continue to provide a base for Ministry field officers and ADAS staff, as well as serving as an animal health office.

  Stilton Cheese
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the implications for the naming of Stilton cheese if the Council of Ministers accepts the Borgo report.

  Mr. Gummer
  The report of the European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development on the Commission's proposal for a council regulation on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs (the Borgo report) has not yet been considered by the plenary session of the European Parliament. It remains unclear whether the Commission's original proposal or the recommendations of the Borgo report, if acceptable, would have any effect on the naming of Stilton or whether Stilton producers would be able to seek protection for the name Stilton under the terms of the proposed regulation, since Stilton cheese is not produced in Stilton.

  However, Stilton is already protected by a registered trade mark belonging to the Stilton Cheesemakers' Association, and can be used to describe only a product made in the three counties of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, which do not encompass the village of Stilton. Under the Commission proposals as they now stand, it would not be possible to register a geographical name which conflicts with a registered trade mark.

  Poultry Farms
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the reports by departmental veterinary officers on matters relating to hygiene on poultry farms.

  Mr. Maclean
  Reports prepared by my Department's veterinary officers about hygiene on individual poultry farms are confidential and the details are not published. Information about diseases in animals including poultry are contained in such publications as the report of the chief veterinary officer, "Animal Health 1990".

  Milk
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much he expects the United Kingdom's national milk quota for the current year to be exceeded; and if he will make a statement.
  134
  Mr. Curry
  Experience of previous years suggests that production is likely to exceed quota by a small margin.

  Slaughterhouses
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish hygiene-related reports on slaughterhouses within the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  Local authorities—district councils—are responsible for the enforcement of hygiene standards in slaughterhouses and it is for individual authorities to decide whether or not to publish related reports.

  As announced on 3 April this year, agriculture departments will take over responsibility for licensing all slaughterhouses in Great Britain when new EC rules come into force on 1 January 1993. My ministerial colleagues and I are considering what information should be made publicly available when we assume this responsibility.

  Clenbuterol
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the use of clenbuterol; and if he will make it his policy to press for a Community ban on this product.

  Mr. Maclean
  Clenbuterol is the active ingredient within three veterinary products licensed in the United Kingdom for use on prescription to treat respiratory and calving disorders in cattle and horses. I have no plans to press for a Community ban as this would unreasonably put a stop to such legitimate use.

  I am aware of reports from other member states of the illegal use of this substance as a repartitioning agent but we have no evidence of unauthorised use of clenbuterol in Great Britain at present. Nevertheless tighter controls on such substances will be introduced within the next few weeks. Interested parties have already been consulted about these measures, which amongst other things will enable animals and carcases found to contain residues of illegally administered beta agonists, including clenbuterol, to be condemned as unfit for human consumption.

  Salmonella
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when and by what mechanism he proposes to implement Council directives 71/118 on trade in fresh poultrymeat and 89/662 concerning veterinary checks in intra-Community trade.

  Mr. Maclean
  EC directive 71/118, on trade in fresh poultry meat, was implemented in England and Wales by the Poultry Meat (Hygiene) Regulations 1976 (as amended). Similar regulations were introduced in Scotland (also in 1976) and in Northern Ireland (in 1977). Detailed discussions on a range of issues arising out of the directives on veterinary checks are still on-going in Brussels. As a result mechanisms for implementation in this country of directive 89/662, which comes into force on 1 July 1992, are still under consideration.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what advice he has received from the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment regarding the use of canthaxanthin; and if he will make it his policy to ban canthaxanthin in commercial egg production.
  135
  Mr. Maclean
  The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment has advised that the use of canthaxanthin in animal feeds should be discontinued. The United Kingdom has urged a prohibition on its use in feed in the EC. The Commission's export committees have advised that a decision should be made when further test data are available late next year.

  I have accepted this position given that any effects on consumers from intake of canthaxanthin would only occur over a long period of time and are not of an acute toxicological nature. I also understand that the use of canthaxanthin in poultry feed has declined recently.

  Pesticides
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many evaluations of pesticides under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 have been published; how many products await evaluation; and whether he intends to publish all evaluations of pesticide products.

  Mr. Maclean
  Since the introduction of the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986, a total of 41 evaluation documents have been published for new and reviewed pesticides. There are at present 54 new pesticide active ingredients that are awaiting approval, 19 of which are currently under evaluation. Evaluations will be published for each of these as and when approvals are granted. Evaluations will also be published on further pesticides considered by the independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides as part of the reviews programme. When an evaluation is issued the data underlying the published evaluation are available for public scrutiny on application to the registration authorities.

  Farm Woodland Scheme
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his review of the farm woodland scheme.

  Mr. Gummer
  On 23 July I announced that the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and I were undertaking a comprehensive review of the farm woodland scheme and that pending the outcome of the review we would continue to accept applications under the existing rules of the scheme until 31 March 1992. We have now completed the review and we announced on 6 November, in the context of the Government's public expenditure plans, that a successor to the farm woodland scheme, to be called the farm woodland premium scheme, will be introduced on 1 April 1992.

  The new arrangements will offer increased grants for planning woodland and higher incentives to encourage farmers to convert land now in agricultural use to woodland. The aim is to enhance the farmed landscape and environment and provide a productive land use alternative to agriculture. It will also be very much easier for farmers to understand and simpler to operate than the current scheme. Detailed proposals for the new scheme have been drawn up and are being sent to the main interested organisations for comment. A copy of these proposals has been placed in the Library of the House, and they contain the following main elements:
  The administration of establishment grants will be separated from that of annual incentives.
  The Forestry Commission will pay the grants for planting and managing trees under the woodland grant scheme, including
  136
  the better land supplement and community woodland supplement where appropriate, and Agriculture departments will pay the annual incentives under the farm woodland premium scheme. The Department of Agriculture will pay all the grants in Northern Ireland, where the enclosed land supplement is paid instead of the better land supplement.
  Annual incentives of up to £250 per hectare will be paid for either 10 or 15 years, depending on the type of woodland created on arable or improved grassland. Annual incentives of £60 per hectare will be paid for trees planted on unimproved grassland in the less favoured areas only.
  There will be no limit on the number of applications that can be made, but planting must not, in aggregate, exceed more than 50 per cent. of any individual agricultural unit. In addition, planting of unimproved grassland must not exceed 40 hectares of any individual agricultural unit.
  The definition of "improved grassland" will now be based on the content of "productive" species. This has the advantage of being easily checked by a physical inspection and puts no restriction on the method of grassland improvement.
  No quotas or targets will be set for the scheme but it will be subject to cash limits.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  VAT
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount received, in each of the past three years, from penalties imposed on those late in paying value added tax; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The total amounts received from penalties for late submission or payment of value added tax returns, in each of the past three and current financial years are as follows:

  Total revenue £ million

  Financial year ending 31 March 1989

  79·1

  Financial year ending 31 March 1990

  82·1

  Financial year ending 31 March 1991

  83·1

  1 April 1991 to 30 September 1991

  42·7

  Frozen Assets
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of the assets of other countries currently frozen in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maples
  The Bank of England issued a notice on 7 August 1990 drawing attention to the Treasury directions issued under the Emergency Laws (Re-enactments and Repeals) Act 1964, which have the effect of freezing certain Iraqi assets held in the United Kingdom. The assets of no other countries are currently frozen in the United Kingdom.

  Planning Estimates
  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table which provides an analysis by economic category of the 1991–92 estimated outturn for the planning total as announced in the 1991 autumn statement, on definitions consistent with those of table 3.6 of Cm. 1520.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Data for the autumn statement forecast of outturn in the current year are collected for each Department, by spending sector and in total. No economic category analysis of spending by Departments is collected at this time of the year.
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  It is possible, however, to provide an approximate analysis by economic category of forecast outturn in 1991–92 on the definitions used in table 3.6 of Cm. 1520, taking broad account of the nature of spending by individual Departments. This is set out in the following table. An economic category analysis of forecast outturn for 1991–92 based on Departments' assessments of the economic category composition of their spending will be provided in the supplement to the 1991 autumn statement to be published around the end of January 1992.

  Planning total forecast outturn 1991–92

  Economic category

  (£ billion)

  Current expenditure on goods and services

  72·1

  Subsidies

  5·8

  Current grants to persons1

  66·3

  Current grants abroad1

  2·1

  Current grants to local authorities

  33·3

  Distribution of non-domestic rate revenue

  14·3

  Net capital expenditure on assets

  7·2

  Capital grants to local authorities

  1·4

  Other capital grants

  5·4

  Credit approvals

  4·3

  Lending and other financial transactions

  0·5

  Privatisation proceeds

  -8·0

  Adjustment

  0·3

  Planning total

  204·9

  1 These categories were combined in Cm. 1520. The figure for current grants abroad is net of other governments' contributions to the cost of the Gulf conflict.

  National Heritage Land
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements are imposed upon a landowner for the payment of tax if the agreement for inheritance tax exemptions on national heritage land of outstanding scenic, historic or scientific interest has been broken; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  If a landowner breaks an undertaking given in respect of conditionally exempt land, inheritance tax is chargeable on the current value of the property.

  Wildlife Trade
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the level of resources allocated in 1992–93 for wildlife trade control by officers of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Customs involvement in wildlife controls extends over a wide area, embracing both health and conservation aspects. It also covers a diverse range of activities, from checks on the validity of import and export licences to investigation, as the need arises, of suspected fraud. All those activities take place within the broad framework of Customs enforcement generally, with no individual officers specialising in wildlife controls. It is therefore impracticable to identify separately those resources which are, or will be, allocated specifically to those controls.

  Tobacco
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the total tax burden on the leading United Kingdom cigarette brands has increased since May 1979.
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  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The total tax burden on the leading five cigarette brands has increased on average from 69 per cent. in May 1979 to 76 per cent. in November 1991.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the proportion of income tax paid by the top 10 per cent. of taxpayers(a) now and (b) in 1979–80.

  Mr. Maude
  It is estimated that in 1991–92 the top 10 per cent. of taxpayers will be liable to pay about 42 per cent. of the total yield of income tax. The corresponding figure for 1979–80 is 34 per cent.

  VAT Returns
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average penalty imposed in Leicestershire on those who submit value added tax returns late by(a) one week, (b) two weeks and (c) four weeks, respectively.

  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 years 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

  Period from 1 April to 30 September 1991

  441·41

  Inheritance Tax (Business Relief)
  Mr. Grylls
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the Exchequer of increasing the present business relief on inheritance tax from 50 per cent. and 30 per cent. to 100 per cent.(a) if the increased relief included agricultural property and (b) if the increased relief excluded agricultural property.

  Mr. Maude
  The full-year costs of increasing these inheritance tax reliefs are estimated to be: £40 million if relief for business and agricultural property is increased to 100 per cent.; and £15 million if relief for business property only is increased to 100 per cent.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action has been taken regarding the second paragraph of article 8 of the European Community Council decision dated 12 March 1990, on multilateral surveillance and on the attainment of progressive convergence of economic policies and performance during stage one of economic and monetary union.

  Mr. Maude
  In accordance with the requirement in article 8 of the Council decision of 12 March 1990 to which the hon. Member refers, I have drawn the results of multilateral surveillance discussions in the Council of
  139
  Economic and Finance Ministers to the attention of the House when reporting the outcome of Council meetings in answer to questions. The annual economic report has also been deposited in the Library of the House and considered by the Select Committee on European Legislation.

  EC Budget Council
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent meeting of the European Community's Budget Council.

  Mr. Maude
  The Budget Council met in Brussels on 12 November. I represented the United Kingdom. The Council established a second reading draft Budget for 1992 totalling 65,634 million ecu—£45,738 million—in commitment appropriations, compared with the total after the first reading of 65,606 million ecu—£45,718 million.

  Financial Perspective

  Draft Budget1

  mecu

  £ million2

  mecu

  £ million

  Commitment appropriations

  1. Agricultural guarantee

  35,039

  24,417

  35,008

  24,396

  2. Structural operations

  18,009

  12,550

  18,009

  12,500

  3. Multi-annual programmes

  3,115

  2,171

  2,687

  1,872

  4. Other policies

  5,224

  3,640

  5,135

  3,578

  5. Reimbursements and administration

  4,205

  2,930

  3,795

  2,645

  6. Monetary reserve

  1,000

  697

  1,000

  697

  Total: Commitment appropriations of which:

  66,592

  46,406

  65,634

  45,738

  compulsory

  38,729

  26,989

  38,548

  26,862

  non-compulsory

  27,863

  19,417

  27,086

  18,875

  Total: Payment appropriations3 of which:

  63,241

  44,070

  62,417

  43,496

  compulsory

  38,669

  29,947

  38,475

  26,812

  non-compulsory

  24,572

  17,123

  23,942

  16,684

  1 Council's second reading draft budget established on 12 November.

  2 The ERM central rate of £1 = 1·435 ecu is used throughout this reply.

  3 There is only a global ceiling for payments.

  The European Parliament will consider the draft budget at its plenary in December. The 1992 draft budget is expected to be adopted by the Parliament on 12 December.

  Economic Statistics
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken to improve the quality of economic statistics.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  On 17 May 1990 my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister then Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced steps to improve the quality of economic statistics, particularly on services, companies and the balance of payments. The measures are now leading to more reliable statistics in these areas and will yield additional improvements over the next year. But if we are to have economic statistics which are sufficiently up to date and reliable, we need to build on those measures and to strengthen some of the key components not covered by them. I have therefore asked the Central Statistical Office to undertake a further programme to strengthen the reliability of statistics on retail sales, consumers' expenditure, industrial and service sector output, producer prices, stockbuilding, the balance of payments, companies' finances and the transactions of financial institutions.

  Like the first initiative, these measures are designed to make the early estimates more reliable, thus reducing the
  140
  Payment appropriations represent 1·14 per cent. of Community GNP, compared with a ceiling of 1·2 per cent. in the own resources decision, leaving a cash margin of around 3–5 billion ecu-£2·4 billion.

  The Budget Council rejected most of the European Parliament's amendments and modifications to the Council's first reading draft Budget, adopting a draft Budget broadly in line with its first reading in July, respecting the existing financial perspective ceilings. In rejecting most of the Parliament's proposals the Council was able to put back into the draft Budget a provisional figure of 400 million ecu—£279 million—for technical assistance to the Soviet Union, and a total of 160 million ecu—£111 million—for emergency food and humanitarian aid. The following table summarises the second reading draft Budget, with reference to the financial perspective ceilings:

  need for subsequent revisions, and to reduce both discrepancies between the different measures of gross domestic product and the balancing items in the sector accounts. The first improvements in the CSO's statistics resulting from these measures are expected during 1992.

  The new measures take account of recommendations from a detailed review of the way balance of payments statistics are collected and compiled. The review, carried out by Mr. Richard Eason, was commissioned as part of the initiative launched by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in May 1990. A copy of Mr. Eason's report and the CSO action plan in response to his recommendations have been deposited in the Library of the House.

  The new measures, like some of those announced in May 1990, involve the wider use of existing statutory powers to secure full response and a more evenly shared burden on businesses. They include transfer to the CSO of some data collection previously undertaken mainly for national accounts purposes by the Bank of England.

  In implementing the measures the CSO will consult the appropriate bodies and special efforts will be made to ensure that the burdens on businesses are kept to a minimum. A significant part of the extra burden will fall on businesses that currently have few statistical demands made of them, while some reductions will be made to other surveys.

  These measures, combined with the CSO's launch today as an executive agency, demonstrate the

  141
  Government's commitment to bringing about a significant and lasting improvement in the quality of the nation's economic statistics and minimising the burden imposed on business by their collection.

  Central Statistical Office
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made towards establishing the Central Statistical Office as an executive agency.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I am pleased to announce that the Central Statistical Office became an executive agency today. Copies of the framework document are being placed in the Library of the House. This sets out the functions and objectives of the CSO, defines clearly the basis of accountability and the division of responsibilities between the director of the CSO and Ministers, and sets out the CSO's commitment to minimising the burden imposed on business by the collection of economic statistics. It also restates the arrangements to ensure the integrity and validity of United Kingdom official statistics.

  I have set challenging targets for the agency focusing in particular on the need, both within government and outside, for reliable and timely macro-economic statistics. Since the establishment of the enlarged CSO as a separate department in July 1989, significant progress has been made in improving the quality of these statistics. Agency status will give added impetus to this process.

  Sir Jack Hibbert, the director of the CSO and head of the Government statistical service since 1985, will be the agency's first chief executive until his retirement at the end of February 1992. A successor to Sir Jack is currently being recruited through open competition.

  Civil Service Relocation
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to decentralise civil service offices to the south-west of England.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 11 November 1991]: Since 1988, Departments have decided to relocate or locate around 5,000 civil service posts to the south-west region. These include around 3,000 Ministry of Defence procurement executive's land, air and sea systems controllerates posts which will move to Bristol and Bath in 1994–95, and 500 Department of Social Security Child Support Agency posts due to move to Plymouth in 1993.

  Duty-free Goods
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the revenue lost in granting duty-free status facilities for people travelling to and from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he calculates will be the loss of revenue to the Treasury of the proposals to extend for a further 15 years the duty-free concession currently available at United Kingdom ports and airports.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answers 7 and 8 November 1991]: It is very difficult to provide an estimate because there is no information available on the amount of expenditure on duty-free goods purchased abroad by travellers entering the United Kingdom.
  142
  A certain amount of rather dated information is available from independent surveys by the Economist Intelligence Unit and the Netherlands Economic Institute on purchases of duty-free goods by travellers leaving the United Kingdom. Using that data, it is estimated very roughly that the loss of revenue to the United Kingdom from duty-free purchases by travellers entering the United Kingdom from the EC may be between £25 million and £50 million a year.

  Inland Revenue (Structure Reviews)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will identify the number and designation of jobs which he expects to be lost following the structure reviews within the Inland Revenue department; what consultation has taken place with the appropriate trade unions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding 18 November 1991]: The team reviewing the Inland revenue's organisation and structure has yet to report. The review team is consulting a wide range of staff within the Department, has invited representations from the appropriate trade unions and has had discussions with trade union representatives.

  Inland Revenue
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the details of the timetable he expects to implement in respect of converting Inland Revenue departments to agency status.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding 18 November 1991]: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 7 February 1991—Official Report, c. 205–6—a wide-ranging action plan, prepared by the chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue, to introduce changes by April 1992 which would enable the Department to operate fully on "next steps" lines and improve its service to the public. This action plan is being implemented on schedule.

  The valuation offices for England and Wales and for Scotland were launched as a single Valuation Office Agency within the Inland Revenue on 30 September. Copies of the agency's framework document have been placed in the Library. The agency's objectives and targets for 1991–92, as agreed by Ministers for the valuation offices at the start of the year, are reproduced in the table.

  For the rest of the department, as already announced 33 executive offices are being set up within the Inland Revenue to deal with the work of assessing and collecting the taxes and duties for which it is responsible, and for support services. The head of each office will have significant delegated responsibilities for managing the people and the resources in the office and will be personally accountable for its performance. All 33 executive offices will be set up by April 1992. Framework documents setting out their responsibilities and delegated authorities, and describing their accounting and financial systems and performance measures, will be published at that time.

  The action plan also noted that the future organisation of the Inland Revenue's information technology division was under consideration. It has now been decided that the division will also become an Inland Revenue executive office in April 1992. As with the other 33 executive offices, a framework document will set out the authorities to be delegated to the director of technology and the enhanced responsibilities and accountability the director will have

  143
  for providing the best quality of service and value for money. The question of an agency for IT services will be reconsidered in 1994, in the light of the department's IT needs at the time and its experience of operating on "next steps" lines.

  These changes will mean that over 95 per cent. of the Inland Revenue's staff will be working in the Valuation Office Agency or one of the 34 executive offices by April 1992.

  The "next steps" initiative is making good progress in the Inland Revenue and I am confident that it will enable the department to improve its efficiency and quality of service in the interest both of taxpayers and the staff of the department.

  Valuation Office Agency: 1991–92 objectives and targets The Valuation Office Agency's objectives and targets for the current year, as agreed by Ministers and published in the Inland Revenue's operating plan, include financial, efficiency, effectiveness and quality elements. They are:

  —to clear 834,300 cases relating to rating work, valuations for Inland Revenue taxes and other work.

  —to maintain gross expenditure within a ceiling of £125 million (excluding superannuation and capital) and to match the forecast of £126·5 million receipts from charges.

  —to reduce the number of local offices from 124 to 120

  —to achieve the improvements in productivity and efficiency targeted below.

  Detailed targets:

  1991–92 target

  1990–91 actual

  Valuer productivity (weighted work outputs per valuer)

  324

  312

  Overall local office productivity (weighted outputs per staff year)

  121

  119

  Unit costs (full cost, constant 1990–91 prices)

  —Rating work £

  185

  229

  —Revenue work £

  154

  153

  —Other work £

  138

  137

  Clearance of rating work on 1990 rating list: pre-October 1990 appeals outstanding at year end

  362,000

  623,000

  Timeliness (per cent, of work completed to external and internal time limits)

  82

  80

  Valuations accurancy (per cent, valuations settled within ± 10 per cent, of initial valuation when facts settled)

  80

  78·8

  Targets for work in connection with the proposed council tax will be set in due course.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of the organisation and structure reviews within the Inland Revenue department.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding 18 November 1991]: A review of the Inland Revenue's organisation and structure was commissioned in April 1991 as part of the department's response to the "next steps" programme.

  The review is being undertaken by a team of Inland Revenue officials and consultants from Andersen Consulting and Kinsley Lord with experience of other large organisations in the public and private sectors. They will be reporting to the board by the end of December.

  Schools Inspectorate
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the inquiry led by his Department into Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding 18 November 1991]: There has been no Treasury-led inquiry into the inspectorate.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Terrorist Murders
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of persons convicted of terrorist murder in each of the last five years indicating how many were actual triggermen or bombers and how many were lookouts, drivers or other accessories to the persons who directly executed the murder.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The number of persons convicted of the scheduled offence of murder in each of the last five years is as follows:

  Number

  1986

  24

  1987

  10

  1988

  12

  1989

  11

  1990

  8

  I regret that information on the extent of each individual's involvement in the murder for which he-she was convicted is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Drinking Water
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many drinking water supplies in Northern Ireland do not meet the EC water directive 1980.

  Mr. Needham
  In Northern Ireland all persons supplied receive water which complies with the overwhelming majority of the EC drinking water directive—80/778/EEC—standards. There is the potential for non-compliance with the aluminium standard in 39 of the Province's 123 supply zones and a general potential for non-compliance with the iron standard and related turbidity standard in all zones, because of the number of iron mains still in service. A programme of works to ensure full compliance with the directive standards is underway.

  Cannabis and Crack
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give the latest quantities of cannabis and crack seized in Northern Ireland.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I am informed by the Chief Constable that the latest significant seizure of cannabis in Northern Ireland was in Belfast on 9 November 1991, when 1.5 kg was seized by the Royal Ulster Constabulary. There has been no seizure of crack.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which overseas countries he visited or were visited by the Northern Ireland Minister for Economic Development during the past 12 months for the purpose of seeking investment in Northern Ireland and the creation of more jobs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  Since 1 November 1990, the Secretary of State has visited Belgium, the Netherlands, the United States—twice—Canada, the Republic of Korea, France and Germany. I have visited the United States—twice—Canada, the Republic of Korea, Japan—twice—Indonesia and Germany.

  Drink-drive Offences
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been convicted of drink-drive offences in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested is:

  Persons convicted of drink-driving offences in Northern Ireland1

  Number

  1986

  2,985

  1987

  2,990

  1988

  2,750

  1989

  2,432

  1990

  2,711

  1 These figures refer to convictions where the drink-drive offence was the primary offence.

  The Government are fully committed to continuing their campaign against drinking and driving.

  Handicapped People
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what additional resources he is making available to health boards in Northern Ireland to ensure that the needs of handicapped people are provided for in the community.

  Mr. Hanley
  Health and social services boards in Northern Ireland have resources of £837 million available to them in 1991–92, an increase of almost £71 million over 1990–91. Within these additional resources, the following sums of money have been earmarked for a number of initiatives which will directly benefit people with a handicap living in the community:

  (i) £2·6 million towards part implementation of the Disabled Persons (Northern Ireland) Act 1989, to meet the costs of additional assessments and services;

  (ii) £2·847 million to provide community support for long-stay patients discharged from psychiatric and mental handicap hospitals;

  (iii) £2·95 million for implementation of "People First" particularly to enable boards to establish inspection units and a complaints procedure and to improve social work training.

  Alcohol Abuse
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to deal with alcohol abuse by youngsters under the age of 18 years.

  Mr. Hanley
  Alcohol misuse is covered in health education programmes in many schools, and seminars on this topic are organised regularly by the youth service. Coverage in schools will increase when health education becomes a compulsory cross-curricular theme next year. In addition, the licensing laws prohibit the sale or supply of alcohol to persons under 18 and its consumption by such persons in any place other than a private residence.

  Owen and James Carragher
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date the firm of Robins AHW Ltd., loss adjusters, was appointed to deal with compensation claim ASC 24337/45 submitted on behalf of Owen and James Carragher.
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  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave on 15 November 1991,Official Report, column 673.

  Paramilitary Organisations
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total number of terrorist incidents there have been since 1970; and which paramilitary organisations have either claimed respon-sibility for them or have been attributed responsibility.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding 7 November 1991]: It is not known precisely how many terrorist incidents there have been since 1970, nor is it always known which paramilitary organisation was responsible. I refer the hon. Member to the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary's annual reports, which gave details of some of the information requested.

  Terrorism Risks
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what facilities and resources are made available to both elected representatives and other public figures at risk from terrorist organisations; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding 7 November 1991]: I do not consider it appropriate to disclose information about security arrangements for individuals.

  Scheduled Offences
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been convicted of scheduled offences since 1970; and what were their paramilitary affiliations at the time of conviction.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding 7 November 1991]: Statistics on convictions for scheduled offences were riot recorded prior to 1975. From that year until the end of September 1991, a total of 11,095 people were convicted of scheduled offences. Information on their paramilitary affiliations is not available.

  Terrorism
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of the security forces have been killed by terrorists since 1969; how many were members of the armed forces including the Ulster Defence Regiment; how many members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve; and if will give figures for those in the two categories who have been wounded.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding 14 November 1991]: The following table details the number of members of the security forces who have died or who have been injured as a result of the security situation in Northern Ireland since 1969:

  1969 to 31 October 1991

  Deaths

  Injuries

  Regular Army

  432

  4,669

  UDR

  195

  439

  RUC

  187

  16,855

  RUC Reserve

  97

  —

  147
  1 Statistics on injuries of RUC and RUC Reserve officers are not recorded separately.

DEFENCE

  Soviet Union (Military Threat)
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the Government's current assessment of the military threat from the Soviet Union.

  Mr. Tom King
  It is clear that the Soviet Union as we have known it no longer exists. Much of the old Soviet system has effectively collapsed and power is increasingly transferring to the republics. The most recent decision, if sustained, by Russia, the Ukraine, Byelorussia and Kazakhstan, that the Soviet Union is no longer authorised to represent their economic interests, will have the most profound economic effects and will further complicate the question of paying for their armed forces. At the same time, if the present forces are split up between the republics, Russia alone would still have conventional forces larger than any other European state, and would remain a nulcear superpower. NATO's new strategic concept agreed at the Rome summit two weeks ago takes prudent account of these continuing capabilities.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Thorne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role he has in mind for the Territorial Army of the future.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement setting forth the rationale for the proposed reduction of the Territorial Army units in Northern Ireland, particularly the RAYC and artillery units.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is in a position to announce the future shape of the Territorial Army.

  Mr. Tom King
  As I have made clear on several occasions the reserves, of which the Territorial Army is an integral part, will continue to make a vital contribution to our defence effort.

  In the future, the TA will provide a wide range of capabilities, including participation in the ACE rapid reaction corps and in military home defence. I hope to make further announcements on the way ahead for the TA before the end of the year.

  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the future role, strength and composition of the Territorial Army.

  Mr. Tom King
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Thorne). I envisage that the long-term future strength of the Territorial Army will settle at between 60,000 and 65,000.

  European Fighter Aircraft
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of his plans for Tornado updates and the European fighter aircraft.
  148
  Mr. Alan Clark
  On Tornado, work is currently proceeding on the development and production planning phases of a mid-life update for the IDS aircraft, with a planned deployment date of the mid–1990s.

  On European fighter aircraft, I have nothing to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 15 October.

  Trident
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the first Trident missile submarine to be effectively in service.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  It is not our practice to make public the exact date upon which Royal Navy warships become operational, but I can tell my hon. Friend that Trident remains on course to enter service from the mid–1990s onwards.

  NATO
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any further plans to initiate changes to the remit of NATO; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Tom King
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made to the House on 12 November. The NATO summit meeting in Rome on 7 and 8 November completed the fundamental review of NATO strategy put in hand at the London summit in July 1990. The Government welcome the success of this review which has adapted NATO's role to the changed political circumstances in the new Europe.

  European Defence Co-operation
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next plans to meet the Secretary-General of the Western European Union to discuss the joint British-Italian proposals for European defence co-operation.

  Mr. Tom King
  I attended a meeting of the WEU Ministerial Council in Bonn yesterday, at which a range of issues concerning the future role of the WEU were discussed.

  Submarines
  Sir Patrick Duffy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what approaches have been made to potential overseas buyers with a view to the disposal of the conventional submarine fleet.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Whenever naval vessels are to be disposed of, an investigation is made of possible overseas interest in purchase. Details of approaches to particular countries are matters of confidence between Governments.

  Experimental Ranges
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department intends to take to ensure that proof and experimental ranges are more environmentally aware.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  In line with our policy to increase environmental awareness within the Ministry of Defence, focal points have been established at the headquarters of
  149
  the proof and experimental establishments and at all ranges under is control, to ensure that such issues are accorded due attention.

  South-east Asia (Personnel Training)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which countries in south-east Asia have in the past 12 months sent personnel to the United Kingdom for training at MoD establishments.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In the 12 months to 1 November 1991 the following countries in south-east Asia have sent personnel to the United Kingdom for training at MoD establishments:

  Brunei

  Hong Kong

  Indonesia

  Malaysia

  Philippines

  Singapore

  Thailand

  "Options for Change"
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the "Options for Change" implications for MoD and related employment in south Dorset.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Decisions taken to date on "Options for Change" are likely to involve relatively little change to defence-related employment in south Dorset. Other decisions remain to be taken and full consideration will be given to employment aspects where appropriate. Employment in the Defence industry is a matter for the companies concerned.

  Nuclear Test Veterans
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has recently received from the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association on compensation.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have received no recent representations from the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association on compensation.

  Senior Officers (Newspaper Interviews)
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, further to his answers of 14 November,Official Report, columns 667–68, relating to HMS Vanguard and Admiral Sir Julian Oswald's interview with The Times of 29 October 1991, if he will make it his practice to give in reply to parliamentary questions any information which may properly be given by senior serving officers and officials in interviews with newspapers.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is the practice of the Ministry of Defence to give appropriate information in response to questions asked by hon. Members, taking account of security and confidentiality constraints.

  Musgrove Park Hospital (Bombing)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there was a breach of Army security at the military wing of the Musgrove Park hospital on 150
  Saturday 2 November; and if he will make a statement on security at hospitals in Northern Ireland for army personnel.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The military wing of Musgrove Park hospital is not a military base but part of a national health service hospital. The terrorists who perpetrated this disgusting attack deliberately chose to carry a bomb through a civilian wing of the hospital and place it adjacent to the military wing. Appropriate security arrangements are taken to protect service personnel but, regrettably, total security cannot be achieved.

  Guards Regiments
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many horses and troops will be available compared to the current position if his proposals to amalgamate the Blues and Royals and Life Guards are implemented; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Household Cavalry mounted regiment will consist, as at present, of two mounted squadrons, one from the Life Guards and one from the Blues and Royals, as well as a joint headquarters squadron. Each regiment will also contribute two squadrons to the Household Cavalry reconnaissance regiment. This regiment, which will be one of the two regular reconnaissance regiments, will also have a joint headquarters squadron.

  Training Exercises (Deaths)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what are the criteria for establishing a board of inquiry for accidents to service personnel during training; and if such inquiries are set up in every case of death or serious disablement;

  (2) if he will appoint a military ombudsman with responsibility for investigating complaints of Ministry of Defence secrecy from families of service personnel who die on training exercises.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The rules governing the convening and conduct of boards of inquiry are contained in Queen's regulations for the three services. While it is not mandatory to convene a formal board of inquiry in every case, all deaths or serious accidents in service are subject to an internal investigation either by a formal service inquiry or by the service police. We have no plans to appoint a military ombudsman.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) in how many cases of death of service personnel during training in each of the past five years have(a) families requested a full report of the board of inquiry and (b) his Ministry have not complied with this request;

  (2) how many complaints have been received in the last five years from the families of service personnel, who died during training, about inadequate information concerning the deaths.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will issue new policy guidelines to commanding officers requiring them to provide maximum information with the minimum of delay to families of service personnel who die during training exercises.
  151
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The services have detailed regulations, governing the action to be taken in the event of injury or death to service personnel.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have(a) died and (b) been injured during training in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The number of deaths and injuries attributable to training or exercises in the three services in each of the last five years is set out in the table.

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Deaths

  19

  14

  15

  22

  7

  Injuries

  1,219

  1,131

  1,140

  896

  779

  Notes:

  1. The figures for injuries relate to episodes of bedded sickness of 48 hours or more.

  2. The figures include sports injuries sustained by personnel while specifically training or on exercises.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what authority his Ministry declines to disclose to families details of the deaths of service personnel during peacetime training.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Ministry of Defence has always provided details of the deaths of service personnel killed during training in response to a request from the bereaved family. This information takes the form of a specially prepared statement giving an accurate and objective summary of the service investigation.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that families of service personnel who die on training exercises are provided on request with full medical records of a deceased person, including the autopsy report.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Requests for the release of medical records will be considered on their merits in accordance with the Access to Health Records Act 1990.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance is given to commanding officers regarding providing information to the families of service personnel who die in training exercises.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Procedures for the notification and assistance of next-of-kin on the death of service personnel are laid down in the regulations of each service.

  Unoccupied Homes
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ministry of Defence homes are currently unoccupied; and what percentage they are of the total stock.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As at 30 September 1991, the latest date for which figures are available, 9,966 Ministry of Defence owned houses and flats were vacant. Of these 9,834 were service married quarters and 132 Ministry of Defence civilian houses, representing 13·4 per cent. and 9·5 per cent. of the stock respectively. Many of these properties were either undergoing or awaiting major maintenance work or modernisation, some were already allotted to service families who were due to move in shortly and others were being considered for disposal.
  152
  In addition, some 1,700 dwellings were in the process of being sold.

  Regiments
  Mrs. Heal
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will detail the assessment he has made on the number of service and ancillary redundancies that will result from an amalgamation of the Staffordshire Regiment and the Cheshire Regiment.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Redundancies will be spread across the Army, and will not be concentrated in Regiments that are due to be amalgamated. Until the applications for redundancy have been assessed it is not possible to provide the detail requested.

  Mrs. Heal
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why he decided not to consult or warn the colonel of the Staffordshire Regiment of the likelihood of amalgama-tion; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  All regimental colonels were invited to express their views about how the reductions were to be achieved, but none were told of the Army Board's decisions before the day of the announcement.

  Mrs. Heal
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will detail the assessment he has made of the extra burden on local authority housing provision in Staffordshire and the west midlands resulting from the service job losses created by an amalgamation of the Staffordshire Regiment and the Cheshire Regiment.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I am not able to make such an assessment. Redundancies will be spread across the Army and not confined to those units which are to be amalgamated or disbanded. It is not possible to state at this time how many members of the Staffordshire Regiment or the Cheshire Regiment will be made redundant. Nor do we have any information on the proportion of those made redundant who will wish to settle in Staffordshire and the west midlands and who will be seeking local authority housing. We believe that the majority will be in a position to make other arrangements for their housing.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the inquiry to be carried out into the safety and security of Britain's nuclear weapons led by his Department's chief scientific adviser will address issues identified by the Drell report to the United States Congress in December 1990.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The terms of reference of the group are:"To review, in the light of any relevant aspects of the report of the Drell panel in the United States, the safety of the present and prospective UK nuclear armoury."

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether all transportation of United Kingdom nuclear weapons will be stopped pending the outcome of his Department's inquiry into the safety and security of British nuclear weapons in the light of the Drell report to the United States Congress in December 1990.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No.
  153
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the inquiry into the safety and security of British nuclear weapons will use the same computer modelling techniques as those employed on United States weapons for the Drell report to the United States Congress.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The working group is free to conduct the review as it sees fit.

  Gulf War
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the total number of civilian deaths caused by bombing during the Gulf war in Iraq, Kuwait and Israel, respectively.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We have no authoritative information on civilian casualties sustained in Iraq or Kuwait during the coalition bombing campaign. In the middle of February, an Israeli Minister said that 13 people had died during Iraqi Scud missile attacks and 1,305 were injured.

  Greek Campaign (Commemorative Medal)
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met his counterpart in the Greek Government to discuss the issue of a commemorative medal for participants in the Greek campaign.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Secretary of State maintains regular contact with his NATO colleagues on issues of mutual interest.

  Defence Industry (Job Losses)
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on plans to promote alternative jobs to offset losses in the defence industry in the foreseeable future.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding 18 November 1991]: The promotion, creation and sustenance of jobs are matters for industry.

  AFGHANISTAN: ARMS SUPPLY MONITORING PROPOSAL
  AFGHANISTAN: ARMS SUPPLY MONITORING PROPOSAL
  NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY: NORTH KOREA
  NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY: NORTH KOREA
  AMATEUR ATHLETES: TRUST FUNDS
  AMATEUR ATHLETES: TRUST FUNDS
  CENTRAL STATISTICAL OFFICE
  CENTRAL STATISTICAL OFFICE
  ECONOMIC STATISTICS: QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
  ECONOMIC STATISTICS: QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
  ASYLUM RULES: CONSULTATION
  ASYLUM RULES: CONSULTATION
  NORTHERN IRELAND: TERMINATION OF POLICE INTERROGATIONS
  NORTHERN IRELAND: TERMINATION OF POLICE INTERROGATIONS
  GOVERNMENT DEFEATS IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS
  GOVERNMENT DEFEATS IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS