Written Answers of 27 November 1991

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Political Campaign Expenditure
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will meet the Charity Commissioners to discuss the expenditure of the Foundation for Business Responsibilities on political campaigns; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The trustees of the Foundation for Business Responsibilities have been invited by the Charity Commissioners to supply them with information as to the activities of the charity, its expenditure and receipts. I have asked the Charity Commissioners to send me a copy of the findings resulting from their inquiries.

  Regina v. Amos
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will review the advice on the release of defendants on bail following the decision in Regina v. Amos, at Newport on 8 November.

  The Attorney-General
  The criteria for the grant of bail is contained in the Bail Act 1976 and its application to individual cases is a matter for judicial determination by the relevant court having heard representations from both prosecution and defence. In the case to which the hon. Member refers the Crown prosecution service made representations that bail should be withheld.

ENVIRONMENT

  Departmental Achievements
  Mr. Prescott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement of the achievements of his Department since October 1990.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The Government introduced legislation to cut all headline community charges for 1991–92 by £140, and made various improvements in the community charge reduction scheme. It used its powers to protect community charge payers from excessive charges by capping 14 authorities and twice extended those powers through primary legislation. Legislation was also enacted to exempt caravan owners from payment of the standard community charge. In April the Government issued a consultation paper "A New Tax for Local Government", proposing the introduction of a council tax to replace the community charge. The Government introduced the Local Government Finance Bill which provides for the new tax to be introduced from 1 April 1993. It is working closely with the local authority associations and others to ensure that the arrangements for the new tax operate efficiently. Contracts for the allocation of all dwellings in England to bands of value are presently being let, and work will begin next month.
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  The Government continue to promote the efficiency of local authorities through the encouragement of competition in the provision of local services. To this end I have, on a number of occasions, used my powers to restrict local authorities' ability to carry out certain services using their own work forces where it appears that the local authority concerned has acted anti-competitively, or has failed to meet the required financial objective. The Government have published a consultation document "Competing for Quality—Competition in the Provision of Local Services", which sets out proposals for developing compulsory competitive tendering for local authority services. It has introduced the Local Government Bill which contains enabling powers so that the outcome of that consultation can be reflected in secondary legislation.

  The Bill also provides for the establishment of a new local government commission to review the structure of local government in England area by area. It will consider the case for moving to a new structure involving unitary authorities outside London and the metropolitan areas. It will be required to have regard to the need to reflect the identities and interest of local communities. It will make recommendations to the Secretary of State who may implement them by order, subject to parliamentary approval. The Government have issued a consultation paper on the internal management of local authorities.

  Good progress is being made in regenerating inner city areas under the action for cities initiative. In partnership with the private sector, substantial investment is taking place in new factories, housing, shopping centres, roads and other infrastructure, all aimed at improving the quality of life, and creating new employment and training opportunities. Since October 1990, the Government have announced increased resources for inner city regeneration totalling over £180 million, for the period 1991–92 to 1993–94.

  The city challenge competition was launched in May with the aim of targeting priority areas to improve opportunity and the quality of regeneration. It offers local authorities, in partnership with businesses and the voluntary sector, the opportunity to tackle some of their worst economic, social and environmental conditions. The 11 successful city challenge pacemakers, announced on 31 July, will each receive £7·5 million a year for up to five years, from urban and housing programmes, to take forward their winning plans. These resources, together with the contributions by the local authorities and their private, voluntary and community partners, will be directed at achieving the comprehensive and lasting regeneration of the key localities.

  The Government are continuing with their housing reforms, including deregulation of new private lettings, new housing association financial arrangements, and tenants choice. A growing number of local authorities are transferring or considering the transfer of housing stock to housing associations, so opening up their management to the disciplines and opportunities which the private sector can provide. More local authority tenants are continuing to exercise their right to buy their own homes, while the Government's three year, £96 million initiative continues to provide accommodation for rough sleepers in central London.

  The Government also announced two new initiatives in July—a new approach to local authority housing capital allocations through competitive bidding which should improve the quality of public housing for tenants; and an

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  enhanced estate action programme for which an extra £350 million is to be made available over the next three years. The estate action initiative, together with housing action trusts, will increasingly concentrate resources on the most run-down local authority estates.

  Following the publication of the environment White Paper at the end of September 1990, the Government have carried forward its strategy for the environment at home and abroad. A full account of progress over the first year was published in "This Common Inheritance: The First Year Report" Cm 1655 on 25 September 1991. A major achievement has been the creation of new and unique mechanisms within government, including "green Ministers" in each Department; two standing committees of Ministers on the environment; guidance on policy appraisal and on green housekeeping; the Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment—whose first report was published in November 1991; and joint fora with the voluntary sector and local government.

  In environmental protection, public access to information has remained a priority. The drinking water inspectorate published its first annual report in July 1991 showing the high quality of much of Britain's water. In April 1991 my Department issued through major food retailers a free popular guide to action the individual can take to protect the environment, "Wake Up to What You can do for the Environment"; 3,500,000 copies have so far been distributed. Air quality information is now widely available on weather forecasts, teletext and helplines and the anniversary report on the White Paper contained proposals to strengthen the system of public registers of information on major industrial emissions by the creation of aggregate registers on types and sources of emission.

  In the two public expenditure rounds since the White Paper's publication, the Government have demonstrated their commitment to provide the resources needed to tackle environmental problems. Specific borrowing approvals have been available to local authorities for investment in new recycling plant and to clean up old tips. Staffing levels in the pollution inspectorate have increased by over 25 per cent. to meet the demands of integrated pollution control and my Department is supporting 41 projects under the new fund for the voluntary sector, the environmental grant fund, set up to promote White Paper objectives.

  International work continues to be a major Government priority. Following the commitments made in the White Paper, the Government reached EC agreement in March 1991 to earlier dates for the phasing out of ozone depleting substances, bringing forward the date for CFCs to July 1997. Britain is playing a leading part in work towards agreements on climate change and biodiversity and in preparations for the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development. In October 1991, on behalf of the Government, I signed the international protocol which provides for protection of Antarctica for the next half century.

  The Government are setting new standards in pollution control at home. Europe's first full system of integrated pollution control came into effect from 1 April 1991 under powers provided in the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The Act has also provided for tougher standards for waste disposal, increased fines for all types of pollution offenses and the creation of new expert groups to advise on standards. In October 1991, the Government published
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  their consultation paper with proposals for a new single environment agency, controlling pollution to land, air and water.

  The Rural Development Commission has continued its efforts to diversify the rural economy, concentrating on those rural development areas with the greatest needs and the rural coalfields of the east midlands. In October 1990 my Department announced agreement to the Countryside Commission's proposed initiative to create a new national Forest. A director has been appointed and a business plan is being prepared as the basis of considering how the proposal might best be carried forward. My Department also agreed in February this year to proposals by the Countryside Commission to prepare business plans for a further nine community forests near major towns and cities in England. A 39th area of outstanding natural beauty in England and Wales, the Blackdown hills, was established in June.

  In June, the countryside stewardship scheme was launched. It seeks to encourage the improvement and extension of habitats which are of wildlife and landscape importance and which contribute to public enjoyment of the countryside. The scheme closed for applications on 31 October, by which time almost 1,200 valid applications had been received, well in excess of the target for the first year of between 600 and 900.

  The Government have improved the delivery of nature conservation through the establishment of new country councils in place of the Nature Conservancy Council. English Nature, the successor body in England, will receive over £2 million of new money in the current year and a further increase of almost £4·2 million in 1992–93. In April, the protection given to wild birds under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 was enhanced by the introduction of amended regulations controlling the registration of captive birds of prey and the trade in dead birds. With the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, my Department launched a campaign to stamp out the illegal poisoning of birds of prey and other wildlife. In September an information package was introduced to deter the use of poison baits for predator control and to encourage the public to report instances of suspected abuse.

  Following consultation, my Department announced in September additional safeguards for sites of special scientific interest—SSSIs—in England and Wales: they will no longer be able to be used for war games, motor sports and clay pigeon shooting unless the local authority has granted planning permission; local authorities will be required to consult English Nature or the Countryside Council for Wales about planning applications in areas adjacent to SSSIs; there will be a clearer policy on calling-in planning applications for determination by the Secretary of State; and additional advice has been given on when environmental assessment may be required in sites of national and international importance.

  As a result of finalising the first quinquennial review of protected British wild animals and plants, three more species of animal have been given protection—the allis shad, the adder and the freshwater pearl mussel—bringing the total number of species of animal and plant given statutory protection to 207. My Department has given support to English Nature's "Recovery" programme which, in its first year, includes reintroduction, translocation, habitat management and research involving six endangered species. The Government took the lead in

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  preparing the text of an agreement to protect European bats under the Bonn convention on migratory species was finalised in Geneva in September 1991.

  The Government have made an important contribution to the protection of internationally important habitats including the designation of five wetlands under the Ramsar convention and two special protection areas under the EC birds directive. They have also taken an active role in negotiations on the proposed EC habitats directive and the EC regulation on the importation of certain furs which was formally adopted earlier this month.

  The Government have increased to £12 million a year the grant in aid to the National Heritage Memorial Fund, enabling it to build up investment funds in order to preserve historic properties, objects and collections for the nation. Within the past few weeks the fund has purchased Chastleton house in Oxfordshire and presented this 17th century mansion to the National Trust to preserve with its contents. The cathedral repair grant scheme, to be run by English Heritage, was launched in April, with funding of £11·5 million over three years.

  The Planning and Compensation Act 1991 made important and widely welcomed reforms to planning law. It reforms the development plan system, requiring the extension of local plans to cover all areas, simplifying the procedures for the preparation and adoption of plans, and emphasising the importance of plans in development control. It makes planning procedures more efficient and effective, and in particular strengthens enforcement provisions. It provides more generous compensation, especially for home owners subject to compulsory purchase. Much of the Act has already been implemented; the rest will follow in the early part of next year.

  The Government have continued to produce more accessible planning guidance to local authorities in the form of planning policy guidance notes and circulars on issues including planning and affordable housing, and sport and recreation. A conference on regional planning for the south-east was held in March.

  My Department has completed a substantial revision of the building regulations, which includes improvements to the provisions on structural and fire safety, on protection from radon and methane gas and for disabled people; extends the requirements for sound insulation to flat conversions; and introduces a new requirement for safe glazing. I will be laying revised regulations before Parliament next month. The United Kingdom has become one of the first EC member states to implement the provisions of the construction products directive; the regulations come into force on 27 December this year. This will open the way for free trade in construction products throughout the European Community.

  Solvents
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how the units of production will be defined to which the exemption limits for(a) degreasing solvent and (b) paint solvent will be applied.

  Mr. Baldry
  My hon. Friend is perhaps referring to industrial coating and printing processes which have been prescribed for pollution control under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Exemption limits, expressed in terms of specified levels of annual usage of certain substances by processes
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  concerned, are set out in section 6.5 of schedule I to the Environmental Protection (Prescribed Processes and Substances) Regulations 1991. These are to be interpreted in the light of rules set out in schedule 2 to the regulations.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what the community charge would be in the current year in each local government area if local authorities were required to raise 20 per cent. of their costs from community charge payers.

  Mr. Key
  After taking into account community charge benefit, the community charge reduction scheme, and the income support element relating to community charges, the average community charge actually paid in England for 1991–92 is estimated to be £172. The income from this charge represents 15 per cent. of English local authorities' budgeted gross revenue expenditure.

  If the proportion of income from community charges were to rise to 20 per cent., the average community charge for 1991–92 actually paid in England would increase to £229.

  Average charges for individual areas are not available on this basis.

  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the total administrative costs of the(a) community charge and (b) proposed council tax.

  Mr. Key
  Local authorities in England have budgeted to spend £489 million on community charge collection in 1991–92. I would expect the council tax to cost no more than half that amount to collect.

  Hertfordshire County Council
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out in tabular form the expenditure of Hertfordshire county council in 1978–79 and for the latest available year in(a) cash terms and (b) constant price terms.

  Mr. Key
  The available information is as follows:

  Hertfordshire County Council

  Expenditure1

  Outturn 1980–81 £ million

  Budget estimate 1991–92 £ million

  Cash terms

  266·8

  558·1

  Constant price terms (1991–92 prices)

  524·2

  558·1

  1 In 1980–81 expenditure is total expenditure, while in 1991–92 expenditure is net revenue expenditure. These derive from two different systems of local government finance and are therefore not directly comparable. Comparable information is not available for earlier years on an individual authority basis.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many individuals failed to pay all or some of their community charge in the Chelmsford local authority area in 1990–91; and what percentage this represents of the total number of charge payers in the Chelmsford local authority area;
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  (2) how many individuals failed to pay all or some of their community charge in the Chelmsford local authority area between (a) 1 April 1990 and 30 September 1990 and (b) 1 April 1991 and 30 September 1991; and what percentage these figures represent of the total number of charge payers in the Chelmsford local authority area;

  (3) what was the total percentage amount of community charge paid in the Chelmsford local authority area in 1990–91; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The number of individuals in Chelmsford who failed to make any payment of community charge in 1990–91 was 3,500—3 per cent.of all individuals liable in Chelmsford. Information on individuals making partial payments is not available.

  The authority reported the same figure—3,500—for the number of individuals who had failed to make any payment between 1 April 1990 and 30 September 1990. It should be noted that the number not making any payment can increase as well as decrease during the year, as it will include those who have recently become liable by moving into the area or becoming 18.

  The figure for the corresponding period in 1991 is 7,188 —6 per cent. of chargepayers.

  The authority had received 97 per cent. of its budgeted community charge income for 1990–91 by 30 March 1991.

  Wild Birds
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the EC has initiated proceedings against the United Kingdom Government concerning the rate of designation of special protection areas under the EC directive on the conservation of wild birds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Government officials have held meetings with representatives of the European Commission following the issue of a reasoned opinion concerning the rate of designation of special protection areas under the EC birds directive. The United Kingdom provided the commission with details of the protection afforded to SPAs and potential SPAs. The Government have identified a firm forward programme of sit designation, of which the recent designation of Rutland Water and the extension of Skokholm SPA to include the islands of Skomer and Middleholm is a part.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to designate the Humber estuary a special protection area under the EC directive on the conservation of wild birds.

  Mr. Baldry
  The former Nature Conservancy Council's proposal for the designation of the Humber estuary as a special protection area for birds is under consideration within government.

  Water Pollution
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to protect the water environment from pollution by dangerous substances; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Controls on discharges of dangerous substances to the water environment are exercised by the National Rivers Authority under the Water Act 1989 and 500
  by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Discharges must enable receiving waters to meet relevant environmental quality standards—EQSs. EQSs have already been set for 10 red list substances: proposals for EQSs for the remaining red list substances are set out in a consultation paper to be issued shortly, and copies of which I have placed in the Library today.

  Local Government Commission
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Government will announce the chairman or chairwoman of the proposed new local government commission.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I am delighted to announce that Mr. John Banham, currently the director general of the CBI, is to be the chairman of the new local government commission when, subject to Parliament, it is set up next year.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Bowls
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dwellings each local authority has sold under the right-to-buy legislation, or voluntarily, since 1979; and what percentage of the total local authority stock they represent.

  Mr. Yeo
  I have placed in the Library two tables giving available information on local authority sales up to June 1991. Table 1 shows year by year information for each local authority during the years 1979–80 to 1986–87. Table 2 shows year by year information for each local authority since 1886–87 together with cumulative figures since April 1979 and the proportion of their stock sold since April 1979.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what plans he has to extend to areas outside London the emergency measures for people sleeping rough in snow and extreme cold;

  (2) what extra measures he intends to take this winter to provide help for homeless people sleeping rough in Leicester in snow or extreme cold.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 26 November 1991]: In 1991–92, the Government are providing just under £6 million in grants to voluntary organisations outside central London for 122 practical projects to prevent and relieve homelessness. Among those being funded is the Leicester night shelter project which last winter provided additional facilities and medical care during the worst of the cold weather. I understand that it plans to provide the same services this winter.

  British Waterways
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a copy of the auction catalogue for the sale of property held by British Waterways on 21 November, together with a list of prices realised for any property sold.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 26 November 1991]: My Department does not have a copy of this catalogue. Nor will we receive details of the prices received until the board's annual accounts are submitted.

  Mortgage Arrears
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will bring forward proposals for a scheme to give owner-occupiers the option of converting from mortgage to rent to avoid home repossessions;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to introduce a scheme for owner-occupiers who fall behind on mortgage payments to enable them to transfer their mortgages to shared ownership with local authorities.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 26 November 1991]: Local authorities may already acquire property from a defaulting borrower where they are themselves the lender and, if they choose, leave the former owner in place as a tenant. Authorities may also acquire property with a view to disposal including disposal of a shared ownership lease. Authorities may further provide resources to housing associations to enable them to purchase property so that the previous owner remains on shared ownership terms or as a tenant. Details of these arrangements and procedures are currently set out in schedule 3 to the Housing Revenue Account Subsidy Determination 1990.

  Departmental Telephone Calls
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information is available on the number of calls made to directory inquiries from his Department since 1 April 1991.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 26 November 1991]: It is estimated that at present, around 2,000 calls a month are made to directory inquiries from DoE offices throughout the country.

  Home Repossessions
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has had with the Council of Mortgage Lenders over the number of repossessed houses.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 26 November 1991]: My hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning has been in frequent consultation with the Council of Mortgage Lenders. As a result of those continuing discussions, the CML has published statements of practice on the treatment of arrears, new arrangements have been announced on the payment of mortgage interest for borrowers eligible for income support and lenders, insurance companies and housing associations are arranging for empty property to be made available for families in need.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  EC (Visits)
  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for himself, and for each of the Ministers at his Department, details of (i) the number of visits made during the past month to destinations outside the United Kingdom but within the European Community on official business related to the European Community, (ii) the number of visits made to Brussels within the past month on official business related to the European Community 502
  and (iii) the number of nights spent over the past month away from the United Kingdom on official European Community business.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The information requested is as follows:

  (i)

  (ii)

  (iii)

  Chancellor

  2

  2

  2

  Chief Secretary

  0

  0

  0

  Financial Secretary

  1

  1

  0

  Minister of State

  0

  0

  0

  Economic Secretary

  0

  0

  0

  Magazines (VAT)
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson) of 5 November,Official Report, column 33, whether the zero-rating of magazines, in addition to books, is safeguarded until at least December 1996.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Yes.

  North Sea Oil and Gas
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any plans further to encourage investment in North sea oil and gas projects.

  Mr. Maples
  Some future North sea projects may involve the landing of gas outside the United Kingdom, or its initial treatment or storage outside the United Kingdom or the United Kingdom continental shelf. At present, the petroleum revenue tax—PRT—and "ring fence" corporation tax—CT—rules do not cater for these situations. To ensure that these tax rules do not distort the economics of such investments, we propose bringing forward legislation in the next Finance Bill to take account of new developments of this kind. In particular PRT relief, and CT relief within the "ring fence", will be given for the cost of transporting oil or gas to the nearest reasonable place of delivery outside the United Kingdom; and relief for initial treatment and storage costs will similarly be extended to costs incurred outside the United Kingdom or the United Kingdom continental shelf. Relevant expenditure already incurred will qualify for this new relief.

  A double charge to both PRT and gas levy could arise if gas were sold, under a new contract, from a reservoir which was previously exploited under a contract which pre-dated PRT and so was subject to gas levy instead. Although production under the new contract would be within the scope of PRT, gas levy would under the present law still be payable. To remove this unintended double charge, the proposed legislation will cancel gas levy when a PRT exempt gas contract which already contains a single fixed termination date comes to an end at that date, and gas from the reservoir begins to be sold under a new contract which is not exempt from PRT.

  These changes should encourage companies to proceed with worthwhile and substantial North sea investments.

  Public Services Survey
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 18 November,Official Report, column 26, when he intends to commission an opinion poll

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  to investigate public attitudes towards public services; and if he will indicate (a) how much he envisages the survey will cost, (b) how many members of the public are expected to be involved in the survey, (c) when he expects the questionnaire to be finalised, (d) when he expects the sampling and questioning to begin, (e) when he expects the survey to be completed and (f) when he expects the results to be published.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 26 November 1991]: I intend to commission an opinion survey before long. The details have not yet been finalised.

TRANSPORT

  Registrar-General of Shipping
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff have been engaged at the Registrar General of Shipping's office in Cardiff to operate the sea fishing register.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  In the year to date 12 staff have been engaged in the operation of the British fishing vessel register.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much expenditure has been incurred in centralising the register of fishing vessels at the Registrar General of Shipping's office in Cardiff.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The expenditure incurred in centralising the register of fishing vessels at the Registrar General of Shipping's office in Cardiff was £325,000.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the annual running costs of operating the sea fishing register at the Cardiff office of the Registrar General of Shipping.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The annual running costs of operating the British fishing vessel register at the Cardiff office of the Registrar General of Shipping in the year 1990–91 was £315,000.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the existing capacity on channel tunnel rail routes; and what estimates he has made of total domestic passenger traffic by the year 2005.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer my hon. Friend to British Rail's route comparison report, a copy of which is in the Library. Section 6.2.4 of the report presents details of capacity on existing lines between the channel tunnel and London. The report also describes BR's approach to forecasting domestic passenger demand and the conclusions it draws.

  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if it is still his intention that the whole easterly channel tunnel rail link route will be brought up to the same stage of detail and development as the southerly route by July 1992.

  Mr. Freeman
  No deadline has been set for developing the easterly route to the stage at which it can be published for public consultation and safeguarding. However, I confirm that British Rail still expects the work to take about nine months once the framework and the mapping base for it have been established.
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  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in full the details of the Ove Arup and Rail Europe channel tunnel high-speed rail route proposals.

  Mr. Freeman
  Details of the Ove Arup and Rail Europe proposals are included in the reports published by British Rail on the comparative appraisal of the route options; copies have been placed in the Library. British Rail does not intend publishing other material since this is based on commercially confidential information.

  Parking Control
  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance his Department has issued on the number of types of parking control that may apply in London boroughs.

  Mr. Chope
  A wide range of parking control systems is available to local authorities under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. The main systems and methods of payment are set out in a discussion document "Paying for Parking" issued by the Department last year and circulated to all local authorities in England.

  Guidance is also available in "Roads and Traffic in Urban Areas"—1987—and "Highways and Traffic Management in London"—1985—both of which are available from HMSO.

  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many separate types of parking control he has authorised in the London boroughs of(a) Camden and (b) Wandsworth; and what information he has on the types of parking control in operation in each of those boroughs.

  Mr. Chope
  London boroughs have direct responsibility for the parking schemes they introduce. There is no systematic collection of data by the Department on controls operating in the boroughs. In the last three years, special approvals of parking equipment have been given in connection with schemes in Camden and Wandsworth as follows:

  22 October 1990

  Special approval for electronic parking meters in London borough of Camden.

  22 November 1991

  Special approval for Hampstead parking vouchers (London borough of Camden)

  2 March 1990

  Special approval for electronic parking meter in London borough of Wandsworth.

  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what requests his Department has received from the London borough of Camden for approval of parking control schemes since January 1990; and what response his Department has made.

  Mr. Chope
  Generally, the Department's approval of parking control schemes is only required in respect of special approval for parking equipment, including vouchers, and any related special authorisation of non-prescribed traffic signs.

  The only special approvals for parking equipment issued to Camden in the last three years have been those referred to today in my previous answer to my hon. Friend.

  Motorway Service Areas
  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all motorway service areas located within primarily residential areas, those located within a radius of half a mile from residential areas and those within a radius of one mile.

  Mr. Chope
  This information is not readily available in the form requested. I will write to my hon. Friend.

  East Coast Line Electrification
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the faults that have occurred with the system since the introduction of the east coast main line electrification, the reason for each fault and the safety implications.

  Mr. Freeman
  Public services on the whole of the newly electrified east coast main line commenced on 8 July 1991. Since then, BR has formally reported one failure of the electrification equipment. This occurred at Portobello on 29 August, when a return conductor on the overhead line equipment—OLE—expanded in the heat, causing a short circuit. There was no danger to the public or to railway staff.

  There was another failure on 18 November, between Stevenage and Hitchin. I understand from the Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate that a part of the OLE broke, and the wire carrying the traction current was struck by a diesel train. Half a mile of the OLE was pulled down. The current was automatically cut off and again, there was no danger.

  Trust Ports
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the timetables for each of the trust ports seeking privatisation; whether he expects the timetables to be adhered to; what obstacles to privatisation remain; and if he will set them out in a deposited paper in the Library.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The proposed timetables for each of those trust port authorities at present seeking privatisation under the Ports Act 1991 are as follows:

  (i) Tees and Hartlepool Port Authority:

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  28 November 1991—closing date for final bids.

  (ii) Medway Ports Authority:

  20 December 1991—closing date for indicative bids.

  3 January 1992—shortlisting of final bidders.

  14 February 1992—closing date for final bids.

  (iii) Clyde Ports Authority:

  13 December 1991—closing date for representations on transfer scheme under section 9(6) of the Act.

  10 January 1992—closing date for indicative bids.

  17 January 1992—shortlisting of final bidders.

  14 February 1992—closing date for final bids.

  (iv) Port of London Authority (for Port of Tilbury):

  6 January 1992—closing date for indicative bids.

  13 January 1992—shortlisting of final bidders.

  17 February 1992—closing date for final bids.

  Except where the timing is shown as being dependent on section 9(6) of the Act, the above dates represent in each case the best estimate by the port authority concerned of the main stages in their privatisation process and may be subject to change due to unforeseen events.

  When each sale is finalised will depend on how quickly each port authority is able to make its recommendation to the Secretary of State as to the successful bidder and how quickly the Secretary of State is able to reach a decision on that recommendation.

  It will be necessary for an order approved by a resolution of the House providing for a levy on disposals of land under section 17(8) of the Act to become effective before an individual privatisation, other than that of the port of Tilbury, can be completed. A draft of this order will be laid before the House very shortly.

  Road Improvements (Southampton)
  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are to update the eastern dual carriageway to full motorway standards between the M27 and Eastern docks, Southampton; and what is the timescale.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 25 November 1991]: The approach roads from the M27 and M271 to the Eastern docks are roads for which Hampshire county council is the highway authority. I understand that the county council is planning some improvements but that these do not involve any upgrading to motorway standards.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Action for Community Employment
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the most recent information he has on the destination of people who leave Action for Community Employment and the job training programme; how many leavers(a) got jobs (b) became unemployed or (c) went on to further training; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  The most recent survey of the destinations of participants leaving the Action for Community Employment—ACE—programme was carried out for the year 1990. The survey was based upon a sample of 1,000 ACE leavers and revealed that: 31·4 per cent. of participants found work; 63·7 per cent. of participants became unemployed; and 4·9 per cent. of participants took up further training or entered further education.

  The most recent information available on the destination of participants leaving the job training programme is for the period 1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991 and is as follows:

  Destinations

  Number of People

  Found Work

  1,542

  Unemployed

  1,432

  Further Education

  54

  Further Training

  140

  Not Known

  574

  Restart
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many unemployed people have been referred to restart courses since January 1991; how many of them were unemployed for over two years; how many attended and completed the course; what were the outcomes of the participants; and how many had benefit penalties imposed for not attending or failing to complete their attendance at the restart course; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  Restart courses were discontinued in Northern Ireland in March 1989.

  Job Clubs
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) men and (b) women in 1990–91 and since April 1991 have joined job clubs; how many have left; how many leavers got jobs; and how many entered another positive outcome.

  Mr. Needham
  In 1990–91 a total of 3,674 people joined job clubs; 3,033 have left, 1,640 got jobs and there were 848 other positive outcomes. In the period April to October 1991 a total of 2,346 people joined job clubs; 1,914 have left, 1,034 got jobs and there were 563 other positive outcomes. Separate figures for men and women are not available.

  Housing Executive
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions in the financial year 1990–91 grant applications to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive were refused on the ground that the 508
  contractor proposed to carry out the work was not on the Executive's approved list of contractors; in how many cases the applicant was informed that an alternative contractor could qualify; and what was the average delay in processing claims using the new contractor.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but the chairman has advised me that information about such cases is not collected and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Since the introduction of the warranted builders scheme in August 1987 the number of refusals arising from proposed use of a non-warranted builder have been few. During the past year approximately 12 cases received exceptional approval for the use of non-warranted builders.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many applications for grant aid to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, which are still under consideration, were submitted to each office of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive prior to(a) 1 January 1991, (b) 1 October 1990, (c) 1 July 1991, (d) 1 April 1990 and (e) 1 January 1990, respectively;

  (2) how many grant applications were referred for an occupational therapist's report by each office of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, in each month since 1988.

  Mr. Needham
  These questions are for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but the chairman has advised me that the information sought is not recorded in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average time lapse between the referral of a grant application, by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, to an occupational therapist, and the receipt by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive of recommendations of the occupational therapist.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but the chairman has advised me that the average response time varies by region as follows:

  Belfast—11 months (although east and south Belfast average only 2 months)

  North East—2–3 months

  West—11 months (Derry substantially longer than Omagh and Enniskillen)

  South—4–5 months

  South East—3 months

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average time lapse between receipt of an application for grant aid by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the initial house inspection by a grants officer.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but the chairman has advised me that the average time lapse between receipt of an application and initial inspection is currently nine weeks.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications for(a) intermediate grant, (b) conversion grant, (c) repair grant and (d) improvement grant, respectively, were (i) received and (ii) approved by each office of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, in each month since 1988.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but the chairman has advised me that
  509
  in relation to the numbers of applications received this information is not available in the form requested and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Details of the numbers of applications approved have been placed in the Library.

  Water Pollution
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to protect the water environment from pollution by dangerous substances; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  Controls on discharge of dangerous substances to the water environment are exercised by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland under the Water Act (Northern Ireland) 1972. Discharges must enable receiving waters to meet relevant environmental quality standards—EQSs. Environmental quality standards for a number of red list substances are already in use in Northern Ireland: proposals for environmental quality standards for the remaining red list substances are set out in a consultation paper to be issued shortly, copies of which will be placed in the Library.

  Emergency Provisions Act
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements he has made to review the operation of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991.

  Mr. Brooke
  Viscount Colville of Culross, who has carried out an annual review of emergency legislation in previous years, has accepted my invitation to prepare a report on the operation of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991. As with the former reviews, the intention is that the report should enable both Houses of Parliament to discharge effectively their responsibility to scrutinise the operation of the Act on the occasion of the annual debates on the continuance orders, and to determine whether any of the Act's temporary provisions could be allowed to lapse.

  As the temporary provisions of the Act will lapse on 15 June 1992 unless continued in force by order, I have asked Viscount Colville to submit his report by the beginning of April next year.

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the allocation to individual programmes in Northern Ireland of the public expenditure totals announced on 6 November.

  Mr. Brooke
  In his autumn statement on 6 November, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced total public expenditure planning figures for the Northern Ireland programme. I have now decided on the allocations to individual programmes shown in the following table: copies of a more detailed statement have been placed in the Library. These allocations reflect my assessment of how best to distribute the Northern Ireland public expenditure totals in response to local needs and circumstances.
  510

  Programme

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Northern Ireland Office:

  Law, Order, Protective and Miscellaneous Services

  832

  880

  920

  Northern Ireland Departments:

  Northern Ireland Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Services and Support

  119

  120

  130

  Industry Trade and Employment

  445

  440

  440

  Energy

  5

  0

  10

  Transport

  173

  180

  190

  Housing

  249

  260

  270

  Environmental and Miscellaneous Services

  199

  230

  240

  Law, Order and Protective Services (Fire Service)

  37

  40

  40

  Education

  1,211

  1,270

  1,330

  Health and Personal Social Services

  1,242

  1,290

  1,340

  Social Security Administration

  150

  150

  150

  Other Public Services

  90

  90

  100

  Total Northern Ireland Block (excluding Social Security Benefits)

  4,754

  4,970

  5,150

  Social Security Benefits

  2,177

  2,350

  2,490

  Total Northern Ireland Block

  6,931

  7,320

  7,650

  National Agriculture and Fishery Support

  94

  90

  90

  Total Northern Ireland Programme

  7,025

  7,410

  7,740

  Notes:

  (1) Figures are rounded to nearest £1 million for 1992–93 and to the nearest £10 million for 1993–94 and 1994–95 (thus "£0 million" means "less than £5 million"). Figures may not sum to totals due to roundings.

  (2) The PE plans for 1992–93 onwards have been adjusted to reflect Government's intention that NIE should be privatised early in 1992.

  (3) The planning figures for 1992–93 form the basis for preparation by Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office of Main Estimates for the coming year. These will be presented to Parliament in due course.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  EC Regional Committee
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has made any estimate of the number of places Scotland will be allocated from the United Kingdom share of 24 seats on the proposed regional committee as part of the political union draft treaty terms.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The arrangements for selecting members of the proposed new committee of the regions will be for member states to decide. The distribution of United Kingdom places will be considered when the final outcome of the negotiations is known.

  Military Equipment Sales (Russia)
  Mr. Temple-Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next meets the President of the Russian Republic, if he will discuss the proposals to authorise individual defence equipment factories located within the Republic to sell weapons and other military equipment on the open market; and if he will make a statement.
  511
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no plans to meet President Yeltsin in the immediate future. The Russian republic has the right to export weapons. We should expect it to abide by the Soviet Union's international obligations and guidelines on conventional arms exports agreed by the permanent members of the Security Council at their meeting in London on 17–18 October. These guidelines include observance of restraint and assessment of recipient countries' needs for legitimate self-defence.

  European Community Meetings
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the EC ministerial council meetings at which his Department has or will be represented during November and December.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers have attended, or will be attending the following Council meetings:

  Foreign Affairs Councils on 4 November, 2 and 16 December;

  and European Council on 9 and 10 December.

  They are also attending the following additional ministerial meetings:

  Intergovernmental Conference on Political Union on 4 and 12 and 13 November;

  and 2 and 3 December;

  Ad hoc European political co-operation meeting on 8 November; and

  Inter-institutional meeting with the European Parliament on political union on 5 November.

  I make a written statement on the first working day of each month, forecasting all European Community Council meetings for that month and listing the items to be discussed. A copy of this statement is placed in the Library of the House.

  Baltic States
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he is having with the German Government on the establishment of joint embassies to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are not having discussions with the German Government on the establishment of joint embassies in the Baltic states. The possibility of co-locating premises with the Germans or other diplomatic missions will be examined on the basis of practical factors. Following the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with the Baltic states on 6 September, we established an embasssy in each Baltic state in early October. Germany has established its own embassies. Our embassies keep in touch with their EC counterparts and other diplomatic missions on administrative matters and have been co-operating closely.

  There are differing circumstances in each country. In Estonia, our embassy is currently renting temporary office space from the German embassy while both look for permanent premises. In Latvia there are former British and German embassy premises to which both Countries may return. In Lithuania, the British and German embassies are co-operating with each other and other missions in the difficult search for suitable accommodation.

  CSCE
  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent CSCE seminar in Oslo; and if he will place a copy of the concluding document in the Library.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The CSCE seminar of experts on democratic institutions, held in Oslo from 4 to 15 November, provided a useful opportunity to experts in this field to make contacts and to exchange views. The concluding document, a copy of which is being placed in the Library, contains suggestions made by the experts which will be considered at the Helsinki follow-up meeting. It also recognises the important role which has been played, and will continue to be played, by the Council of Europe in the provision of expertise on democratic institutions.

  British Citizens, Abu Dhabi
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the number of British citizens in Abu Dhabi who have had their passports confiscated in connection with BCCI; and if he will list their names.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Her Majesty's embassy at Abu Dhabi has been assured by the court receiver, most recently on 25 November 1991, that passports of all but a few British mationals have now been released and can be collected by their holders. The embassy has asked the court receiver for a list of names of those whose passports are not to be released.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations he has received from British citizens in Abu Dhabi.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have received no representations from British citizens in Abu Dhabi.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the British ambassador in the United Arab Emirates was first informed of the situation of the British citizens in Abu Dhabi whose passports are being withheld from them by the BCCI court receivers; what information was received; and what action was then taken.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  A small number of former BCCI employees approached Her Majesty's embassy in Abu Dhabi as early as September 1991. A few individuals asked in late October and November for advice on how to recover their passports. The embassy undertook to find out why the passports could not be released. On 18 November 1991 the court receiver gave instructions that passports should be released in all but a small number of cases. These relate to individuals who have major liabilities to the bank and whose situation is being studied on a case-by-case basis.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what protest has been made by the Foreign Office to the Abu Dhabi Government about British citizens detained in connection with BCCI; and what has been the response.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The matter of consular access was raised with the United Arab Emirates by Her Majesty's
  513
  embassy in Abu Dhabi on 9 September 1991, and various times thereafter. My hon. Friend, the Minister of State, raised the question of consular access to the detainees with the United Arab Emirates deputy Prime Minister on 28 October 1991. Consular access was granted on 31 October 1991.

  The embassy in Abu Dhabi has been seeking ways of overcoming administrative obstacles facing those who are not in detention but have not been able to leave. Passports and air tickets have now been made available to the majority of those who wish to leave, and arrangements made for the shipping of their personal effects.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions the British ambassador and his staff have visited those detained in Abu Dhabi; what representations were made by them; and what action is being taken to secure their release.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Following representations by Her Majesty's ambassador at Abu Dhabi and his staff, Her Majesty's consul was permitted to see the detainees on 31 October 1991. Their release will depend on the due process and practice of Abu Dhabi law.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what explanation has been given by the Abu Dhabi authorities as to why the passports of the British citizens detained in Abu Dhabi were taken from them.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  It is common practice in many countries for employers to hold passports. In the case of BCCI employees, the authorities kept employees' passports while they investigated their financial position. Instructions have now been given for all but a small number to be released.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Japanese Investment
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement about the United Kingdom's share of Japanese investment into the European Community.

  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement about the United Kingdom's share of Japanese investment into the European Community.

  Mr. Leigh
  According to information published by the Japanese Ministry of Finance, the United Kingdom has 39 per cent. of the stock of Japanese investment in the European Community.

  RECHAR Grants
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the European Commission's refusal to provide funds for RECHAR grants in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Commission's objection is an involved one about the "additionality" of the United Kingdom expenditure to match the RECHAR grants. Although under no obligation to do so, the United Kingdom has made provision for additional public expenditure. The Commission is misrepresenting the position.

  Government-Industry Contacts
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will meet regularly with business men, to enable his Department to maintain a two-way channel of communication between Government and industry.

  Mr. Lilley
  I have regular meetings with business people and will continue to do so.

  Social Charter
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from industrialists in support of the social charter.

  Mr. Lilley
  I have received none.

  Film Industry
  Sir Anthony Durant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he intends to propose any new initiatives to boost investment in the film industry.

  Mr. Leigh
  We are waiting for the report of the working party which is looking at ways of increasing private sector investment in film production.

  Business Taxation
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from industrialists about the level of taxation on business.

  Mr. Lilley
  I receive a wide range of representations from industrialists about business taxation. Industry welcomed the 2 per cent. cut in the main rate of corporation tax announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor in his Budget statement. And it welcomes the fact that we have the lowest rate of corporation tax in both the EC and the G7.

  Telecommunications
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the operation of public purchasing directives in the telecommunications sector.

  Mr. Redwood
  The directives on public purchasing are part of the Community's single market programme. The supplies directive requires Government Departments, local authorities and certain other public bodies to award contracts above a certain threshold in value terms—currently £132,000 for regional and local government and £88,500 for central Government—in accordance with procedures designed to secure the non-discriminatory treatment of suppliers, including those supplying telecommunications equipment.

  The utilities directive will apply from 1 January 1993 similar procedures to the procurement practices of entities, including those in the private sector, operating in the telecommunications, water, energy and transport sectors.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on the citizens charter as it relates to telecommunications customers.
  515
  Mr. Redwood
  I have received a number of representations warmly welcoming the Government's policy, as set out in the citizens charter, for enabling new standards of service to be set for the benefit of telecommunications customers.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Eadie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet the president of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss manufacturing industry.

  Mr. Lilley
  I meet the president and other representatives of the CBI regularly to discuss manufacturing industry and other issues of mutual interest.

  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to increase Government support to manufacturing industry.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Government support manufacturing industry by pursuing policies aimed at fostering a competitive environment, encouraging innovation, restoring incentives and, above all, defeating inflation.

  Securities and Investments Board
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet the chairman of the Securities and Investments Board to discuss its work and remit.

  Mr. Redwood
  I meet the chairman of the Securities and Investments Board from time to time to discuss a range of issues.

  Industrial Policy
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will next meet representatives of the east midlands regional Confederation of British Industry to discuss industrial policy.

  Mr. Lilley
  Ministers and officials of my Department keep in touch with the CBI on a wide range of business matters. I last met regional CBI representatives when I attended the CBI's national conference on 4 November 1991 and the Minister for Corporate Affairs met the vice-chairman of the east midlands regional CBI in Nottingham on Friday 22 November.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next plans to meet representatives of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss industrial policy.

  Mr. Lilley
  Ministers and officials of my Department keep in touch with the CBI on a wide range of business matters.

  Manufacturing Investment
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has recently received about manufacturing investment.

  Mr. Lilley
  I receive a great deal of correspondence relating to manufacturing investment. The latest figures show that the fall in manufacturing investment has halted.516
  In the third quarter of 1991, manufacturing investment was 2 per cent. higher than in the previous quarter, and over one third higher than 10 years earlier.

  Liquidations
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many United Kingdom firms have gone into liquidation during the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The numbers of company liquidations due to insolvency in the United Kingdom in the 12 months to June 1991 were:

  number

  England and Wales

  19,337

  Scotland

  574

  Northern Ireland

  211

  I will write to the hon. Gentleman to provide further information when the official insolvency statistics for the third quarter are published on 29 November.

  Trade Statistics
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the latest figures for trade between(a) Germany and the United Kingdom and (b) Japan and the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Information on United Kingdom visible trade is regularly published in "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom", which is available in the Library of the House.

  Eastern Europe
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on development of British trading links with eastern Europe.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  British trading links with eastern Europe have developed in a number of welcome ways. At Government level we took the lead in bringing about last week's initialling of association agreements between the EC and Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland; we have also opened three new diplomatic posts in the Baltic republics and are establishing consulates-general in Kiev and St. Petersburg.

  EC Competition Policy
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next plans to meet Commissioner Sir Leon Brittan to discuss European competition policy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  My right hon. Friend and I meet Sir Leon Brittan regularly, to discuss a wide range of issues.

  Export Credits Guarantee Department
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his plans for the future of the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Following the privatisation of its insurance services business, the ECGD will continue to provide credit insurance support and export finance facilities for project exporters.

  Auditor Monitoring
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will propose legislation under which the public would have access to the results of auditor monitoring as carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 1989.

  Mr. Redwood
  No. The recognised supervisory bodies are considering the publication of an annual report giving details of their monitoring of auditors. The bodies propose in any case to announce decisions to withdraw registration from a firm, whether resulting from monitoring activities or otherwise.

  Company Investigations
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will propose legislation under which the auditing firms criticised in his Department's inspectors' report would be required to meet a portion of the cost of the investigation.

  Mr. Redwood
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to introduce such legislation.

  Ernst and Young
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, since his Department's inspectors' criticisms of Ernst and Young in reports relating to Sound Diffusion, Milbury and Rotaprint, he has received any assurance that the firm has raised its standards.

  Mr. Redwood
  Copies of the reports to which the hon. Member refers have been forwarded to the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales as the relevant professional body. The institute has referred one of the reports to the joint disciplinary scheme as giving rise to a question of public concern. All the reports are still under consideration.

  Rotaprint
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to ask Ernst and Young to bear part of the costs of the inspectors' inquiry into Rotaprint.

  Mr. Redwood
  No. My right hon. Friend has no powers to do so.

  Auditors
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry further to his answer of 19 November,Official Report, column 115, on how many occasions the firm has been criticised in reports by Department of Trade and Industry inspectors.

  Mr. Redwood
  Five reports of Companies Act inspectors published since 1 January 1988 contain criticisms of the firms which now form Ernst and Young.

  Consumer Credit
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to review the licence fees for consumer credit and ancillary businesses.
  518
  Mr. Leigh
  No. The licence fees for consumer credit and ancillary credit business are kept under review by the Director General of Fair Trading.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to increase the upper limit for loans that fall within the scope of the Consumer Credit Act to £25,000.

  Mr. Leigh
  It is intended that the monetary limits in the Consumer Credit Act should be reviewed next year and it would not be appropriate to prejudge the outcome of that review.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to amend the Consumer Credit Act 1974 in order to place a duty on lenders to make a credit reference search for all loans or revolving credit limits of £500 or more.

  Mr. Leigh
  No. Lenders should be allowed to choose the method or methods of checking the creditworthiness of prospective borrowers.

  Competition and Services (Utilities) Bill
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received regarding the Competition and Services (Utilities) Bill.

  Mr. Redwood
  A number of representations have been received about the Competition and Services (Utilities) Bill, from organisations and individuals, and I am pleased by the interest, generally positive and constructive, which has been shown.

  Estate Agents
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list all the statutes and regulations which regulate the entitlement to the use of the description estate agent; and when they came into effect.

  Mr. Leigh
  There is no legislation regulating the use of the description estate agent. However, under the Estate Agents Act 1979 the Director General of Fair Trading can prohibit a person from doing estate agency work if that person appears unfit for such work and has engaged in certain types of misconduct.

  Economy
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment his Department has made of the decline in the economy of north Staffordshire.

  Mr. Leigh
  The economy of north Staffordshire will, like other parts of the country, benefit from the Government's success in reducing inflation and the ensuing resumption of economic growth. The latest CBI regional survey shows a sharp resurgence in business confidence in the west midlands region as a whole.

  EC Industry Council
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the discussions which took place in the EC Industry Council on 18 November.
  519
  Mr. Lilley
  The Industry Council meeting on 18 November adopted a resolution concerning electronics, information and communication technologies, and agreed to extend the steel aids code for five years. The Council considered Commission communications on biotechnology, textiles and maritime industries, and the Commission's 20th annual report on competition policy; and it discussed the financial arrangements for the European Coal and Steel Community, the position of the automobile industry, and industrial co-operation with eastern Europe.

  Operational Programmes
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the European Commission to approve funding for the operational programmes to cover the years 1992 and 1993.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 21 November 1991]: A number of United Kingdom operational programmes for "Objective 2" grants from the European Community structural funds in 1992 and 1993 are due for approval by the Commission at the end of this year.

  EC Structural Funds
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the implementation of article 9 of EC regulation 4253/88 about an additional economic impact within regions of the United Kingdom eligible to receive EC structural fund grants.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 21 November 1991]: Article 9 of Council Regulation (EEC) 4253/88 requires that
  "the increase in the appropriations for the Funds provided for in Article 12(2) of Regulation (EEC) No. 2052/88"
  should have
  "a genuine additional economic impact in the regions concerned"
  and result in
  "at least an equivalent increase in the total volume of official or similar (Community and national) structural aid in the Member State concerned".

  The increase in appropriations referred to relates to the doubling of the funds between 1987 and 1993. However United Kingdom receipts from the funds are not expected to increase in real terms over this period. In these circumstances, article 9 will not have any practical impact in the United Kingdom. The estimates available to me suggest that the United Kingdom is the only member state in this position.

  ECGD Insurance Services Group
  Mr. Morgan
  to ask the Secretary of state for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his reply of 18 November,Official Report, column 37, when he expects the final price for the sale of the Export credits Guarantee Department Insurance Services Group to NCM will be settled.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 21 November 1991]: The detailed terms of the sale are in the final stages of negotiation. As is normal practice, the sale price will be disclosed when the sale has been concluded.

  Raleigh Industries
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to reply to the letter from H. J. W. Knight, managing director of Raleigh Industries, regarding imports of mainland Chinese bicycles at GSP zero rating; and if he will make a statement on this problem.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 26 November 1991]: I replied to Mr. Knight's letter on 7 November. The Government's position remains as set out in my letter.

  Departmental Telephone Calls
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information is available on the number of calls made to directory inquiries from his Department since 1 April 1991.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 26 November 1991]: Accurate information is not currently available on the total number of calls made to directory inquiries by my Department. The Department uses CCTA logging equipment on our central Government telecommunications network but the data provided are not sufficient to give comprehensive information. Charging was introduced by BT for directory inquiries in April 1991 and the Department is currently in the process of advising staff of the most economic way of finding external telephone numbers.

PRIME MINISTER

  European Summit
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations in annex 7 of the Presidency report of the current year's European summit.

  The Prime Minister
  Following the Government's initiative at the Luxembourg European Council in April, the Twelve have tabled a resolution at the UN General Assembly aimed at the early establishment of a register of conventional arms transfers under UN auspices. The resolution was approved by a large majority in the first committee of the General Assembly on 15 November. We expect that the General Assembly as a whole will soon agree the establishment of such a register.

  The Twelve continue to discuss the application of the common criteria identified by the European Council as guidelines for their national policies on conventional arms exports. Similar guidelines were agreed by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, at a meeting in London on 17–18 October. United Kingdom arms exports are wholly consistent with these guidelines.

  Debt Relief
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Prime Minister how much will be written off the outstanding debts owed by the poorest and most indebted countries under the plan announced by him at the Commonwealth Heads of Government summit.

  The Prime Minister
  Debt relief of around two thirds will be granted to the poorest and most heavily indebted countries, subject to satisfactory performance under an IMF programme.
  521
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Prime Minister what progress he has made in persuading other creditor nations to offer debt relief under the plans announced at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.

  The Prime Minister
  Discussions continue in the Paris Club on the implementation of the Trinidad terms proposals for providing greater debt relief to the poorest and most heavily indebted countries. Our objective remains to secure maximum participation in a multilateral agreement to provide greater debt relief. However, as made clear at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, the United Kingdom, acting in concert with as many creditors as possible, will implement Trinidad terms in the very near future if the Paris Club is unable to reach agreement.

  Environmental Assessments
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister when Her Majesty's Government first received notification from the EC Environment Commissioner of the dissatisfaction of the European Commission with the implementation by the United Kingdom, following transposition into United Kingdom law, of the 1985 EEC directive on environmental assessment of major projects; what responses have been made to the Commission by Her Majesty's Government to date; and if he will place copies of correspondence on the matter in the Library.

  The Prime Minister
  The Commission's article 169 letter of 22 March 1990 alleged infraction of directive 85/337/EEC in connection with a proposed waste disposal installation at Outlands Head quarry, Derbyshire. Following the United Kingdom's reply of 21 May 1990, the Commission sent a reasoned opinion about that case on 28 February 1991, to which the United Kingdom replied on 30 April 1991.

  The only other formal complaint by the Commission about our application of this directive has been Commissioner Ripa di Meana's well-publicised article 169 letter of 17 October 1991. The Commission has asked for a reply by 17 December.

  Correspondence between the Commission and member states about alleged infractions of European law is generally conducted in confidence.

  Civil Service
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Prime Minister what are the conventions whereby civil service departments take steps to consult the opposition about their policies towards the end of a Parliament; and when such steps are planned to be taken before the end of the current Parliament.

  The Prime Minister
  The convention is that, by authority of the Prime Minister, in the last six months of a Parliament of when a general election has been called, Opposition parties may arrange, with the authority of their party leaders and through the head of the civil service, contacts with senior civil servants. These arrangements are designed to allow briefing on factual questions on departmental organisational changes which Opposition parties have in mind or which may result from Opposition 522
  party policies. Any exchanges would be confidential. I will be prepared to authorise such arrangements from the end of this year.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disabled People
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a further statement on the action he intends to take following the ruling of the European Court of Justice in relation to benefit payments to people with disabilities who move to other EC member states.

  Mr. Scott
  The European Court of Justice has ruled that, for European Community nationals who have been subject to United Kingdom legislation as employed or self-employed persons, mobility allowance is an invalidity benefit and may be exported when a beneficiary moves to another European Community country. The independent adjudicating authorities have interpreted the ruling as applying equally to attendance allowance, and are now giving effect to it.

  Social Security Appeals
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will give for each year since the Social Security Act 1975 came into effect the total number of inquiries held under section 93(3); if he will break down each year's total to give figures for each type of question listed in section 93(1); and if he will give for each year the number of inquiries where the Secretary of State accepted the recommendations in the report and the number where he did not;

  (2) what guidelines have been issued to persons appointed to hold inquiries under section 93(3) of the Social Security Act 1975; and if he will place the guidelines in the Library;

  (3) if he will list for each year since the Social Security Act 1975 came into effect the names and positions of the persons appointed to hold inquiries under section 93(3).

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 18 November 1991]: The function of an inquirer appointed under section 93(3) of the Social Security Act 1975 is to hear evidence, elicit the facts, and report to the Secretary of State who then gives his decision on the basis of the facts of the case and the law which applies to those facts.

  Inquirers are appointed from a pool of qualified lawyers with relevant experience who receive initial training, which includes attendance at inquiries as an observer.

  The appointment to hold an inquiry is limited to a particular case and a list of all those who have undertaken these appointments could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  I am placing in the Library a copy of form CF 100 "Notes regarding Inquiries held under the Social Security Acts" which is sent to all parties appearing at an inquiry.

  The total number of inquiries held and the breakdown into the types of question listed in section 93(1) for each year since that Act came into effect are as follows:

  523

  Financial year

  Total

  Categorisation of employment and liability for contributions

  Inquiries related to claims for contributory benefit

  Unclassified

  1975–76

  131

  104

  18

  9

  1976–77

  96

  67

  14

  15

  1977–78

  58

  42

  8

  8

  1978–79

  103

  89

  3

  11

  1979–80

  80

  72

  3

  5

  1980–81

  64

  61

  1

  2

  1981–82

  29

  27

  2

  —

  1982–83

  46

  40

  5

  1

  1983–84

  52

  40

  12

  —

  1984–85

  75

  64

  9

  2

  1985–86

  42

  40

  2

  —

  1986–87

  41

  39

  2

  —

  1987–88

  39

  36

  3

  —

  1988–89

  51

  50

  1

  —

  1989–90

  37

  36

  1

  —

  1990–91

  48

  45

  3

  —

  Total

  992

  852

  87

  53

  Note:

  Unclassified cases are those where the records now available do not specify the type of question.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Asylum seekers
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of state for the Home Department whether asylum applications from those fleeing persecution because they are lesbian or gay are considered on the basis as those from asylum seekers who have fled persecution for belonging to other social groups.

  Robbery offences involving a firearm: Metropolitan Police Districts 1988 to 1990

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Division

  Firearm fired

  Firearm not fired

  Total

  Firearm fired

  Firearm not fired

  Total

  Firearm fired

  Firearm not fired

  Total

  AB Belgravia

  0

  16

  16

  0

  11

  11

  0

  10

  10

  BC Chelsea

  2

  7

  9

  0

  12

  12

  0

  11

  11

  BD Kensington

  0

  8

  8

  0

  12

  12

  1

  14

  15

  BH Notting Hill

  0

  9

  9

  1

  24

  25

  0

  15

  15

  CD West End Central

  1

  22

  23

  0

  15

  15

  0

  20

  20

  CV Vine Street

  2

  10

  12

  1

  12

  13

  1

  18

  19

  CX Charing Cross

  0

  21

  21

  0

  17

  17

  0

  21

  21

  DD Paddington Green

  0

  24

  24

  1

  20

  21

  1

  33

  34

  DM Marylebone Lane

  1

  33

  34

  0

  25

  25

  0

  18

  18

  DR Harrow Road

  0

  18

  18

  1

  22

  23

  0

  11

  11

  EH Hampstead

  1

  28

  29

  0

  33

  33

  0

  41

  41

  EK Kentish Town

  2

  30

  32

  1

  33

  34

  1

  44

  45

  EO Holborn

  1

  48

  49

  0

  33

  33

  1

  41

  42

  FD Hammersmith

  1

  32

  33

  0

  29

  29

  0

  24

  24

  FF Fulham

  1

  7

  8

  0

  10

  10

  0

  13

  13

  GH Hackney

  5

  50

  55

  2

  44

  46

  1

  57

  58

  GN Stoke Newington

  2

  45

  47

  4

  64

  68

  1

  78

  79

  HB Bethnal Green

  2

  22

  24

  2

  24

  26

  0

  26

  26

  HD Leman Street

  1

  20

  21

  2

  24

  26

  0

  20

  20

  HH Limehouse

  2

  30

  32

  0

  25

  25

  1

  28

  29

  ID Heathrow

  0

  1

  1

  0

  1

  1

  0

  1

  1

  JB Barkingside

  0

  24

  24

  1

  21

  22

  2

  29

  31

  JC Chingford

  1

  24

  25

  0

  26

  26

  0

  38

  38

  JI Ilford

  1

  17

  18

  0

  18

  18

  0

  35

  35

  JL Leyton

  0

  36

  36

  1

  52

  53

  1

  52

  53

  KD Romford

  1

  18

  19

  1

  45

  46

  0

  29

  29

  KG Dagenham

  0

  22

  22

  1

  16

  17

  0

  24

  24

  KO Plaistow

  2

  33

  35

  2

  24

  26

  1

  14

  15

  KW West Ham

  2

  41

  43

  3

  43

  46

  0

  37

  37

  LD Brixton

  1

  37

  38

  0

  33

  33

  1

  40

  41

  524
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  All applications for asylum are considered in accordance with the criteria laid down in the 1951 United Nations convention on refugees.

  Armed Robbery
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many armed robberies have been committed in each of the Metropolitan police divisions for each of the last three years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I have received from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis the following information. The number of offences of robbery where a firearm was involved recorded in each of the divisions in 1988, 1989 and 1990 is as follows:
  525

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Division

  Firearm fired

  Firearm not fired

  Total

  Firearm fired

  Firearm not fired

  Total

  Firearm fired

  Firearm not fired

  Total

  LK Kennington Road

  1

  18

  19

  1

  20

  21

  2

  25

  27

  LM Clapham

  2

  21

  23

  2

  17

  19

  0

  18

  18

  LS Streatham

  0

  33

  33

  0

  35

  35

  0

  38

  38

  MD Southwark

  1

  47

  48

  2

  43

  45

  3

  34

  37

  MM Peckham

  0

  24

  24

  0

  38

  38

  0

  46

  46

  MS Carter Street

  3

  28

  31

  0

  34

  34

  2

  30

  32

  ND Kings Cross Road

  0

  50

  50

  1

  33

  34

  1

  52

  53

  NH Holloway

  2

  36

  38

  2

  47

  49

  2

  52

  54

  PD Catford

  1

  41

  42

  1

  41

  42

  1

  44

  45

  PL Lewisham

  3

  46

  49

  5

  36

  41

  1

  58

  59

  PN Orpington

  2

  17

  19

  1

  11

  12

  0

  21

  21

  PR Bromley

  0

  17

  17

  1

  28

  29

  2

  26

  28

  QA Harrow

  4

  23

  27

  3

  12

  15

  3

  40

  43

  QD Wembley

  8

  42

  50

  1

  45

  46

  2

  47

  49

  QK Kilburn

  6

  46

  52

  1

  53

  54

  3

  62

  65

  RA Woolwich

  1

  11

  12

  0

  23

  23

  2

  33

  35

  RG Greenwich

  2

  30

  32

  1

  39

  40

  1

  41

  42

  RY Bexleyheath

  0

  22

  22

  2

  31

  33

  0

  26

  26

  SA Barnet

  1

  11

  12

  0

  17

  17

  0

  22

  22

  SG Golders Green

  0

  20

  20

  0

  31

  31

  0

  53

  53

  SV West Hendon

  0

  12

  12

  0

  20

  20

  1

  20

  21

  TC Chiswick

  0

  5

  5

  0

  12

  12

  0

  10

  10

  TD Hounslow

  1

  9

  10

  0

  19

  19

  0

  18

  18

  TG Spelthorne

  3

  5

  8

  0

  12

  12

  0

  5

  5

  TW Twickenham

  3

  14

  17

  0

  8

  8

  0

  26

  26

  VK Kingston

  2

  8

  10

  2

  15

  17

  0

  29

  29

  VW Wimbledon

  0

  16

  16

  0

  28

  28

  2

  28

  30

  WA Battersea

  0

  12

  12

  1

  13

  14

  0

  18

  18

  WD Tooting

  0

  11

  11

  0

  29

  29

  1

  25

  26

  WW Wandsworth

  0

  7

  7

  1

  10

  11

  0

  14

  14

  XD Ealing

  2

  27

  29

  0

  27

  27

  1

  29

  30

  XS Southhall

  1

  14

  15

  3

  13

  16

  0

  19

  19

  XU Uxbridge

  0

  19

  19

  1

  18

  19

  1

  15

  16

  XY Hayes

  0

  8

  8

  2

  8

  10

  0

  8

  8

  YE Edmonton

  0

  20

  20

  0

  22

  22

  2

  44

  46

  YF Enfield

  1

  25

  26

  0

  23

  23

  2

  32

  34

  YR Hornsey

  1

  31

  32

  1

  46

  47

  2

  62

  64

  YT Tottenham

  1

  25

  26

  1

  43

  44

  0

  33

  33

  ZD Croydon

  0

  14

  14

  0

  25

  25

  0

  35

  35

  ZN South Norwood

  4

  34

  38

  1

  24

  25

  0

  31

  31

  ZP Epsom

  0

  14

  14

  2

  38

  40

  2

  28

  30

  Total

  88

  1,646

  1,734

  63

  1,855

  1,918

  52

  2,139

  2,191

  Belmarsh Prison
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women prison officers are employed at Belmarsh prison; and what rank they hold.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Fifty seven, of whom one is a principal officer and three are senior officers.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present prison officer staffing at Belmarsh prison as of 7 November; how many of these officers are newly recruited to the prison service; and how many have joined Belmarsh by prison transfer from other prisons.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  There are 464 officers in the ranks from prison officer to principal officer employed at Belmarsh, of whom 133 are newly recruited and 327 have transferred from other prisons.

  Begging
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were(a) charged just with begging and (b) convicted of just begging under the Operation Burlington and its successor, Operation Taurus.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that under Operations Burlington and Taurus, 718 people were charged only with begging and 534 people were convicted only of begging.

  Murder
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give figures for the convictions of suspects indicted for murder for each year from 1982 to 1989 for(a) men and (b) women broken down by category of conviction.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information in the table relates to homicides recorded in England and Wales from 1982 to 1989 inclusive. The convictions of suspects indicted for murder are given separately for men and women.
  527

  Convictions of suspects indicted for murder 1982–1989 Men

  England and Wales

  Number of persons

  Conviction

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Total

  Murder

  155

  145

  163

  162

  202

  210

  187

  195

  1,419

  Sec. 2 Manslaughter

  86

  61

  57

  60

  69

  63

  59

  57

  5122

  Other Manslaughter

  113

  111

  124

  143

  141

  158

  158

  116

  1,064

  Lesser offence

  2

  19

  8

  20

  30

  23

  23

  28

  153

  Acquitted/unfit to plead

  41

  32

  56

  60

  53

  51

  55

  61

  409

  TOTAL

  397

  368

  408

  445

  495

  505

  482

  457

  3,557

  Manslaughter as a percentage of murder plus manslaughter

  56

  54

  53

  56

  51

  51

  54

  47

  53

  Women

  England and Wales

  Number of persons

  Conviction

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Total

  Murder

  6

  8

  8

  11

  6

  12

  11

  9

  71

  Sec. 2 Manslaughter

  16

  19

  20

  14

  12

  14

  12

  15

  122

  Other Manslaughter

  12

  14

  18

  15

  17

  16

  32

  21

  145

  Infanticide

  2

  3

  0

  2

  1

  0

  1

  1

  10

  Lesser offence

  2

  1

  4

  0

  5

  3

  4

  5

  24

  Aquitted/unfit to plead

  5

  4

  6

  7

  5

  8

  9

  10

  54

  TOTAL

  43

  49

  65

  49

  46

  53

  69

  61

  426

  Manslaughter as a percentage of murder plus manslaughter

  82

  80

  83

  72

  83

  71

  80

  80

  79

  Life Sentence
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the number of(a) discretionary life-sentenced prisoners and (b) mandatory life-sentenced prisoners, excluding terrorist cases, who have been refused release on licence on the specific instructions of Home Office Ministers for each year since 1979.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Information in the form requested could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

  Animals Procedures Committee
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the names of the members of the Animals Procedures Committee with their qualifications for membership.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Section 19 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 requires that, of the members of the Animal Procedures Committee other than the chairman, at least two thirds shall be persons who hold full registration as medical practitioners, registration as veterinary surgeons or qualifications or experience in a biological subject approved by the Secretary of State as relevant to the work of the committee. The committee is also required to have one member who is a barrister, solicitor or advocate, and in making appointments to the committee my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is required to have regard to the desirability of ensuring that the interests of animal welfare are adequately represented. The Act also requires that at least half the members of the committee are persons who neither hold, nor within the previous six years have held, any licence under the 1986 528
  Act or under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876. Current members of the Animal Procedures Committee have been appointed in line with these requirements.

  The membership of the Animal Procedures Committee as at 22 November 1991 is as follows:

  Lord Nathan, MA Hon LLD (Chairman)

  Professor Michael Balls, MA DPhil, University of Nottingham, Chairman of the Trustees of the Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments (FRAME).

  Mr. Edward Bernard, FIAT, Chairman, Serotec Ltd.

  Professor Margaret Brazier, LLB, Professor of Law, University of Manchester

  Professor Barry Bridges, BSc MD, Professor of Histology, Queen's University, Belfast

  Dr. Roger Brimblecombe, PhD DSc FRCPath FIBiol, Consultant, Smith Kline and Beecham Laboratories Professor Fiona Broughton Pipkin, MA DPhil, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham

  Dr. Henry Carter, CBE MRCVS, Senior Vice President, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

  Professor Anthony Dayan, MD FRCP FRCPath FIBiol, Professor of Toxicology, St. Bartholomew's Hospital

  Mr. Roger Ewbank, OBE MVSc FIBiol MRCVS, Director of the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW)

  Mr. Clive Hollands, Secretary to the Committee for the Reform of Animal Experimentation (CRAE)

  Sir Andrew Huxley, OM FRS, Past President, Royal Society

  Dr. Susan Iversen, MA PhD, Director of Behavioural Pharmacology, Merck, Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories

  Professor John Ledingham, DM FRCP, Professor of Medicine, University of Oxford

  Dr. Brian Newbould, BPharm FPS PhD MCPP, Director International Research Affairs, ICI Corporate R &T

  Professor Onora O'Neill, MA PhD, Professor of Philosophy, University of Essex

  Professor Thomas Pilkington, MD FRCP, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, St. George's Hospital Medical School

  Professor Lord Soulsby, MA PhD DVSM AM DSc MRCVS, Professor of Animal Pathology, University of Cambridge

  529

  Professor Michael Spyer, BSc PhD DSc, Professor of Physiology, Royal Free Hospital Medical School

  Professor Peter Venables, BA PhD Hon DSc FBPsS, Emeritus Professor of Psychology, University of York

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the figure for the number of experiments on live animals conducted in the last year for which these are available; what was the figure for 10 years ago; and what was the percentage change.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The figures for experiments on living animals in 1980 and scientific procedures on living animals in 1990 are given in table 18 of "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals. Great Britain 1990" (Cm 1574), a copy of which is in the Library.

  The 1990 figure is 30 per cent. lower than that recorded for 1980, but the underlying fall is greater than this. During this period the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 was introduced which extended the controls on the use of living animals in research to some research work not previously controlled. As a result the 1990 figure includes procedures which would not have been counted as experiments in 1980.

  Magistrates Courts
  Mr. Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the possible closure of magistrates courts as a consequence of the new funding system: and if he will make it his policy to announce his support for the present structure and network of local courts.

  Mr. John Patten
  We have received a number of representations expressing concern about possible closure of magistrates' courthouses. We are committed to the principle of local summary justice and hence to the maintenance of a network of local courthouses. At the same time it is necessary for magistrates' courts committees, in consultation with their paying authorities, to keep under review the number an dlocation of courthouses in the light of all relevant circumstances, including for example the volume of proceedings heard there; the resources available to support and run them; the physical condition of the accommodation and the work required to achieve good standards of safety, security and facilities for court users; and the effect of closure in terms of cost and convenience for the community concerned and other criminal justice services. The balance between operational efficiency and other considerations has to be judged case by case by courts committees and, in the event of an appeal under section 56 of the Justices of the Peace Act 1979, by the Home Secretary.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Teacher Qualifications
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out the best available estimate of the cost to public funds of a teacher obtaining a teacher qualification through(a) the BEd-BA—qualified teacher status—(b) the post-graduate Certificate of Education—ordinary—and (c) the articled teachers scheme—PGCE—respectively.
  530
  Mr. Fallon
  The estimated average cost at 1991–92 prices of training a teacher in a higher education institution outside London through a four-year undergraduate course is about £25,000; through a one-year PGCE about £6,000; and through the two-year articled teacher scheme about £19,500. Costs for training teachers in London institutions are higher, as are costs of training teachers in shortage secondary subjects, due to the special bursaries they receive.

  Modern Languages
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science which institutions in the PCFC sector have received from Her Majesty's inspectorate the highest rating for the quality of teaching and learning in modern languages.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council award quality ratings, based on advice from Her Majesty's Inspectorate and others, to institutions in nine programme areas. Courses where modern foreign languages form the major element are in programme area 7. The following institutions have been judged as having outstanding quality in 50 per cent. or more of provision—full and part-time—in programme area 7.

  Bristol Polytechnic

  City of London Polytechnic

  Kingston Polytechnic

  Newcastle Polytechnic

  Nottingham Polytechnic

  Polytechnic South West

  King Alfred's College, Winchester

  EC Meetings
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the European Community ministerial council meetings at which his Department has, or will be, represented during November and December.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. and learned Friend attended the meeting of the Council and the Ministers for Education meeting within the Council on Monday 25 November.

  EC (Visits)
  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the number of visits made by officials in his Department during the past month to destinations outside the United Kingdom but within the European Community on official business related to the European Community, the number of visits made by officials in his Department to Brussels within the past month on official business related to the European Community and the number of nights spent by officials in his Department over the past month away from the United Kingdom on official European Community business.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Officials from this Department have made in total 14 visits to EC member states, of which 10 were visits to Brussels, and spent 23 nights away from the United Kingdom during the period from 1 November 1991 to the present time.

  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list for himself, and for each of the ministers at his Department, details of(a) the

  531
  number of visits made in the past month to destinations outside the United Kingdom but within the European Community on official business related to the European Community, (b) the number of visits made to Brussels within the past month on official business related to the European Community and (c) the number of nights spent over the past month away from the United Kingdom on official European Community business.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State has made one visit to Brussels in the past month, on official business related to the European Community. He spent one night away from the United Kingdom on this occasion. None of his ministerial colleagues have made any visits relating to European Community business in the past month.

  Further and Higher Education Bill
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received regarding the Further and Higher Education Bill[Lords].

  Mr. Eggar
  Representations have been received from a small number of organisations on various aspects of the further education clauses and from the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals and other interested organisations on various aspects of the higher education clauses.

  Education (Schools) Bill
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received regarding the Education (Schools) Bill.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Education (Schools) Bill gives effect to proposals outlined in the parents charter. Taking both

  Population 30 June 1989 All adults and children

  Continuing care and Capitation Registrations 30 September 1991

  Total Registrations per GDP

  Registrations as a percentage of population

  Child Registrations as a percentage of child population

  FHSA

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  (e)

  Northern

  Cleveland

  552,836

  269,396

  1,613

  49

  59

  Cumbria

  491,627

  235,067

  1,588

  48

  58

  Durham

  596,928

  260,364

  1,783

  44

  50

  Northumberland

  303,614

  126,858

  1,425

  42

  54

  Gateshead

  205,790

  84,457

  1,341

  41

  50

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  277,620

  115,451

  1,190

  42

  47

  North Tyneside

  192,715

  89,982

  1,551

  47

  56

  South Tyneside

  155,789

  64,071

  1,456

  41

  48

  Sunderland

  296,193

  111,608

  1,618

  38

  42

  Yorkshire

  Humberside

  856,250

  390,534

  1,972

  46

  54

  North Yorkshire

  722,305

  371,969

  1,531

  51

  60

  Bradford

  467,704

  218,337

  1,495

  47

  46

  Calderdale

  197,405

  97,669

  1,684

  49

  56

  Kirklees

  375,559

  179,113

  1,614

  48

  52

  Leeds

  711,739

  356,523

  1,398

  50

  57

  Wakefield

  314,202

  136,663

  1,687

  43

  52

  Trent

  Derbyshire

  929,401

  406,190

  1,625

  44

  53

  Leicestershire

  891,926

  421,574

  1,809

  47

  55

  Lincolnshire

  586,855

  278,690

  2,248

  47

  56

  Nottinghamshire

  1,014,822

  484,087

  1,813

  48

  57

  Barnsley

  221,739

  83,817

  1,552

  38

  49

  Doncaster

  293,262

  133,893

  1,522

  46

  60

  532
  documents together, we have to date received 806 items of correspondence concerning them: 105 through Members of Parliament, 128 from educational bodies and associations, and 573 from individuals. We have also held three meetings with interested bodies, at which these proposals were discussed.

  Children's Assessment
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research his department has funded by(a) Her Majesty's inspectorate, (b) the National Fund for Educational Research and (c) other bodies, into the validity of assessing children's IQ or other measurements of potential ability.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Department has not funded research into this question in recent years.

HEALTH

  Dental Practitioners
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish for each family health service authority area in England(a) its population, (b) the number of people registered with a general dental practitioner, (c) the ratio of general dental practitioners to the number of people registered, (d) (b) as a percentage of (a) and (e) the percentage of children under the age of 18 years registered with a general dental practitioner.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information is shown in the table. The new dental contract introduced in October last year provides for the first time, all-round continuing care. More than 21 million people in England have registered with a dentist under the new contract, a faster take-up than we or the dental profession expected.
  533

  Population 30 June 1989 All adults and children

  Continuing care and Capitation Registrations 30 September 1991

  Total Registrations per GDP

  Registrations as a percentage of population

  Child Registrations as a percentage of child population

  FHSA

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  (e)

  Rotherham

  253,632

  100,959

  1,530

  40

  52

  Sheffield

  526,558

  246,476

  1,408

  47

  57

  East Anglia

  Cambridgeshire

  655,047

  311,521

  1,702

  48

  55

  Norfolk

  748,501

  387,803

  1,731

  52

  71

  Suffolk

  641,029

  342,062

  1,736

  53

  58

  North West Thames

  Bedfordshire

  531,168

  181,933

  1,300

  34

  36

  Hertfordshire

  987,390

  475,563

  1,189

  48

  64

  Barnet

  310,411

  93,867

  647

  30

  45

  Brent and Harrow

  448,535

  174,630

  934

  39

  44

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  638,112

  217,524

  877

  34

  36

  Hillingdon

  235,270

  100,062

  1,300

  43

  43

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  303,996

  92,198

  386

  30

  27

  North East Thames

  Essex

  1,532,067

  635,028

  1,440

  41

  53

  Barking and Havering

  380,020

  135,611

  1,267

  36

  44

  Camden and Islington

  353,141

  128,359

  729

  36

  31

  City and East London

  566,946

  168,781

  976

  30

  28

  Enfield and Haringey

  452,039

  162,480

  903

  36

  46

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  443,908

  171,822

  1,185

  39

  50

  South East Thames

  East Sussex

  711,830

  354,838

  1,286

  50

  59

  Kent

  1,523,673

  642,795

  1,260

  42

  52

  Greenwich and Bexley

  433,458

  167,066

  1,137

  39

  48

  Bromley

  299,398

  92,018

  719

  31

  53

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  684,768

  271,662

  995

  40

  36

  South West Thames

  Surrey

  999,978

  460,362

  1,016

  46

  59

  West Sussex

  704,860

  361,120

  1,267

  51

  68

  Croydon

  317,362

  132,502

  1,086

  42

  48

  Kingston and Richmond

  299,856

  95,921

  685

  32

  56

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  589,180

  212,582

  878

  36

  42

  Wessex

  Dorset

  656,827

  358,565

  1,580

  55

  66

  Hampshire

  1,545,962

  776,403

  1,525

  50

  56

  Wiltshire

  558,395

  254,704

  1,612

  46

  54

  Isle of Wight

  130,450

  61,979

  1,377

  48

  58

  Oxford

  Berkshire

  749,452

  309,343

  1,208

  41

  52

  Buckinghamshire

  534,349

  284,277

  1,241

  45

  58

  Northamptonshire

  576,059

  248,627

  1,727

  43

  52

  Oxfordshire

  577,600

  245,632

  1,234

  43

  54

  South Western

  Avon

  952,850

  490,081

  1,365

  51

  61

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  464,084

  233,655

  1,657

  50

  61

  Devon

  1,029,886

  549,722

  1,482

  53

  63

  Gloucestershire

  529,494

  282,119

  1,454

  53

  61

  Somerset

  460,890

  248,092

  1,632

  54

  64

  West Midlands

  Hereford and Worcester

  675,236

  323,924

  1,604

  48

  58

  Salop

  403,265

  211,710

  1,654

  52

  60

  Staffordshire

  1,038,990

  440,568

  1,791

  42

  55

  Warwickshire

  483,060

  222,861

  1,701

  46

  56

  Birmingham

  992,477

  426,503

  1,461

  43

  45

  Coventry

  304,129

  136,981

  1,851

  45

  43

  Dudley

  305,383

  127,942

  1,706

  42

  49

  Sandwell

  295,544

  114,455

  1,659

  39

  38

  Solihull

  204,392

  79,544

  1,348

  39

  48

  Walsall

  263,557

  92,252

  1,591

  35

  44

  Wolverhampton

  249,927,

  98,067

  1,582

  39

  35

  Mersey

  Cheshire

  958,562

  468,405

  1,455

  49

  57

  534 535

  Population 30 June 1989 All adults and children

  Continuing care and Capitation Registrations 30 September 1991

  Total Registrations per GDP

  Registrations as a percentage of population

  Child Registrations as a percentage of child population

  FHSA

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  (e)

  Liverpool

  465,910

  196,477

  1,346

  42

  48

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  346,282

  140,613

  1,580

  41

  48

  Sefton

  299,623

  138,172

  1,535

  46

  59

  Wirral

  336,168

  153,849

  1,304

  46

  52

  North Western

  Lancashire

  1,390,794

  624,716

  1,509

  45

  55

  Bolton

  265,007

  116,997

  1,648

  44

  53

  Bury

  176,399

  80,324

  1,361

  46

  56

  Manchester

  443,626

  201,032

  1,129

  45

  51

  Oldham

  220,715

  93,587

  1,376

  42

  56

  Rochdale

  207,617

  90,356

  1,738

  44

  50

  Salford

  234,594

  109,848

  1,772

  47

  71

  Stockport

  291,270

  161,577

  1,524

  55

  66

  Tameside

  218,242

  92,859

  1,688

  43

  57

  Trafford

  215,291

  122,297

  1,491

  57

  70

  Wigan

  309,623

  138,715

  1,524

  45

  58

  Note: Population estimates for 1991 are not yet available. Population estimates as at June 1989 have been used to be consistent with the patient registration data published by the Dental Practice Board.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish for each family health service authority area in England, and for each year since 1970, the percentage of children over the age of five years in maintained schools inspected by the community dental service.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information is not held, in the form requested.

  Nurses, Medway
  Mr. Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total number of nursing staff currently employed by the Medway district health authority, relative to 1979.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information is given in the table.

  NHS nursing and midwifery staff (including agency) at 30 September each year Medway district health authority

  Years

  1Whole-time equivalents

  1979

  21,310

  1990

  1,710

  1 All figures independently rounded to the nearest ten (10) whole-time equivalents.

  2 Not adjusted for the reduction of nurses working hours during 1980–81 (from 40 to 37·5 hours per week).

  Source: Department of Health (SM13) annual census of NHS non-medical manpower.

  NHS Staff Statistics
  Mr. Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total number of general practitioners, nurses and midwives currently employed in the national health service relative to 1979.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information requested is given in the table.
  536

  NHS nursing and midwifery staff (including agency) and general practitioners

  England

  Year

  1 Nursing and midwifery Whole-time equivalents

  1 2General Practitioners Numbers (head count)

  1979

  3358,400

  36,000

  1990

  402,100

  43,800

  1 All figures are independently rounded to the nearest one hundred (100).

  2 Includes medical, dental and ophthalmic practitioners.

  3 Not adjusted for reduction in nurses working hours during 1980/81 (from 40 to 37·5 hours per week).

  Source: Department of Health (SM 13) annual census of NHS non-medical manpower; General Medical Services basic statistics; Dental Practice Board; and Family Health Services Authorities.

  Perinatal Mortality
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will have regard to the perinatal mortality figures for Staffordshire when determining his Department's priorities.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Executive letter, EL(91)103, "Priorities and planning guidance for the NHS for 1992/93" issued by the NHS management executive in July 1991, a copy of which is available in the Library, included guidance on NHS priorities. This specified that stillbirths and infant deaths are to be tackled as a priority by the NHS in 1992–93. This applies to Staffordshire as to all other health authorities.

  Anabolic Steroids
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department is contributing, and over what period, to the research project on anabolic steroids misuse being carried out by the centre for research on drugs and health behaviour.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This is a one-year research project with a total estimated cost of £70,000. The Department plans to contribute 90 per cent.—£63,000—of the total cost over
  537
  that period. The remaining 10 per cent.—£7,000—will be met by the Scottish Office Home and Health Department. Work on the project is expected to start in January 1992.

  Contraception
  Mrs. Heal
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines have been issued to general practitioners by his Department concerning leaflets for patients relating to the contraceptive services and abortion counselling provided by GP practices.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  GPs are required by their terms of service to compile a practice leaflet which should be made available to patients on their lists. The leaflet must indicate whether the doctor provides contraceptive services. It is left to the discretion of individual doctors as to whether information is included about abortion counselling.

  Mrs. Heal
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many centres in England and Wales offer professional training in contraception; how many general practitioners in England and Wales hold the certificate of the joint committee on contraception; and what percentage of the total number of general practitioners this represents.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The latest United Kingdom figures from the joint committee on contraception—JCC—for the number of premises approved for the training of doctors in the two JCC certificates are:

  Number

  Community and hospital clinics

  1,216

  GP premises

  89

  These are in addition to such training on contraception as takes place during vocational training for general practice.

  At 22 November 1991, some 30,636 JCC certificates had been issued to doctors. The percentage of practising GPs holding these certificates is not known.

  Mrs. Heal
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the components of the course leading to the joint committee on contraception certificate; and how long the course lasts.

  Consultant out-patient and GP maternity clinics in 1990–91 (provisional) NHS hospitals, England

  Referral attendances

  Consultant initiated attendances

  All attendances

  Regional Health Authority

  Seen

  Did not attend (DNA)

  Total

  DNA per cent. of total

  Seen

  Did not attend (DNA)

  Total

  DNA per cent. of total

  Seen

  Did not attend (DNA)

  Total

  DNA per cent, of total

  Northern

  601,556

  65,910

  667,466

  10

  1,925,757

  286,097

  2,211,854

  13

  2,527,313

  352,007

  2,879,320

  12

  Yorkshire

  622,341

  75,375

  697,716

  11

  2,143,758

  317,241

  2,460,999

  13

  2,766,099

  392,616

  3,158,715

  12

  Trent

  792,611

  89,454

  882,065

  10

  2,614,660

  372,723

  2,987,383

  12

  3,407,271

  462,177

  3,869,448

  12

  East Anglian

  346,553

  28,180

  374,733

  8

  1,088,532

  103,063

  1,191,595

  9

  1,435,085

  131,243

  1,566,328

  8

  North West Thames

  612,944

  96,052

  708,996

  14

  1,855,466

  317,434

  2,172,900

  15

  2,468,410

  413,486

  2,881,896

  14

  North East Thames

  771,875

  129,985

  901,860

  14

  2,514,048

  434,484

  2,948,532

  15

  3,285,923

  564,469

  3,850,392

  15

  South East Thames

  722,382

  106,784

  829,166

  13

  2,235,816

  337,209

  2,573,025

  13

  2,958,198

  443,993

  3,402,191

  13

  South West Thames

  501,402

  52,202

  553,604

  9

  1,487,099

  178,227

  1,665,326

  11

  1,988,501

  230,429

  2,218,930

  10

  Wessex

  464,852

  45,156

  510,008

  9

  1,411,722

  158,850

  1,570,572

  10

  1,876,574

  204,006

  2,080,580

  10

  Oxford

  385,120

  40,024

  425,144

  9

  1,139,783

  144,700

  1,284,483

  11

  1,524,903

  184,724

  1,709,627

  11

  South Western

  516,618

  47,067

  563,685

  8

  1,443,765

  164,700

  1,608,465

  10

  1,960,383

  211,767

  2,172,150

  10

  West Midlands

  835,586

  109,552

  945,138

  12

  2,931,012

  449,860

  3,380,872

  13

  3,766,598

  559,412

  4,326,010

  13

  Mersey

  444,906

  69,520

  514,426

  14

  1,519,594

  261,015

  1,780,609

  15

  1,964,500

  330,535

  2,295,035

  14

  North Western

  779,754

  120,796

  900,550

  13

  2,702,481

  452,390

  3,154,871

  14

  3,482,235

  573,186

  4,055,421

  14

  Special Health Authorities

  115,601

  18,854

  134,455

  14

  602,905

  94,184

  697,089

  14

  718,506

  113,038

  831,544

  14

  England

  8,514,101

  1.094,911

  9,609,012

  11

  27,616,398

  4,072,177

  31,688,575

  13

  36,130,499

  5,167,088

  41,297,587

  13

  538
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The course for the joint committee on contraception—JCC—general certificate in family planning involves acquisition of acceptable gynaecological experience, and attendance for theoretical training at least at four half-day sessions. This is followed by at least eight sessions involving practical training in barrier methods. Extended training for the JCC's advanced certificate includes IUD insertions. Further details can be obtained direct from the JCC, 27 Sussex place, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RG.

  Insulin Injector Pens
  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how long he has been considering making needles for insulin injector pens available upon prescription; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Negotiations with manufacturers of insulin injection pen systems, which include needles, are continuing. In the light of these discussions we aim to make these systems available on prescription as soon as resources will allow.

  Patient Statistics
  Sir Patrick McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will publish figures setting out the number of patients who failed to attend national health service hospitals after being granted firm appointments, as a percentage of all appointments made, for each region for the year to March 1991;

  (2) if he will publish figures setting out the number of patients who failed to attend national health service hospitals after being granted firm in-patient appointments for the year to March 1991, expressed as numerical totals and as percentages of all such appointments made for each region.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Information on numbers of people failing to attend for in-patient admissions is not collected centrally. The available information for out-patient departments is given in the table.

  Family Planning
  Mrs. Heal
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he received a copy of the South East Thames regional health authority review of family planning and abortion services, August 1991; what action the regional health authority is taking to meet its recommendations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  A copy of the region's report was received on 12 August. I understand the regional 540
  health authority considered the report at its meeting in July and agreed that it should be issued and commended to authorities in the region. The region will ensure that purchasing authorities and family health services authorities take the recommendations forward in their purchasing plans. The region is also planning to discuss some aspects of the report with its local education authorities.

WALES

  Hypothermia
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing how many people categorised by age died of hypothermia, or illnesses associated with hypothermia, in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Number of deaths, and rates per million population, for which hypothermia1 was stated as the underlying cause of death in Wales 1979–1984

  Age at death

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  Number

  Rate

  Number

  Rate

  Number

  Rate

  Number

  Rate

  Number

  Rate

  Number

  Rate

  All ages2

  31

  11·0

  16

  5·7

  26

  9·2

  25

  8·9

  12

  4·3

  17

  6·1

  Under 12

  —

  —

  1

  27·2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1–4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5–9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  10–14

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  15–19

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  20–24

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  25–29

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  30–34

  1

  5·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  5·2

  1

  5·4

  —

  —

  35–39

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  40–44

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  6·3

  1

  6·2

  —

  —

  45–49

  1

  6·4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  19·7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  50–54

  2

  12·0

  —

  —

  1

  6·3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  6·5

  55–59

  1

  5·4

  1

  5·6

  —

  —

  1

  6·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  60–64

  1

  6·9

  —

  —

  3

  19·0

  3

  18·5

  —

  —

  1

  5·8

  65–69

  1

  6·7

  1

  6·7

  1

  6·8

  1

  7·0

  3

  21·8

  2

  15·0

  70–74

  7

  56·7

  4

  32·1

  2

  16·0

  2

  16·0

  2

  16·0

  —

  —

  75–79

  4

  46·9

  4

  45·8

  5

  56·1

  3

  33·2

  1

  10·9

  1

  10·7

  80–84

  6

  133·3

  3

  63·6

  5

  100·2

  2

  38·9

  2

  37·5

  6

  108·7

  85 and over

  7

  244·8

  2

  67·8

  9

  307·2

  8

  261·4

  2

  63·3

  6

  182·9

  1985–1990

  Age at death

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Number

  Rate

  Number

  Rate

  Number

  Rate

  Number

  Rate

  Number

  Rate

  Number

  Rate

  All ages2

  33

  11·7

  24

  8·5

  19

  6·7

  12

  4·2

  10

  3·5

  8

  2·8

  Under l2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  l–4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5–9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  10–14

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  15–19

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  20–24

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  4·3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  25–29

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  30–34

  —

  —

  1

  5·7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  35–39

  —

  —

  1

  5·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  40–44

  —

  —

  1

  5·7

  —

  —

  1

  5·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  45–49

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  6·4

  1

  6·2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  50–54

  —

  —

  2

  13·3

  —

  —

  1

  6·5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  55–59

  —

  —

  2

  12·9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  60–64

  1

  6·0

  2

  12·2

  2

  12·5

  —

  —

  1

  6·4

  —

  —

  65–69

  2

  14·5

  1

  7·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  12·9

  70–74

  7

  55·9

  —

  —

  1

  8·3

  2

  17·1

  2

  17·6

  —

  —

  75–79

  5

  52·9

  5

  52·7

  4

  41·7

  1

  10·4

  1

  10·3

  2

  20·5

  80–84

  8

  139·4

  3

  51·3

  6

  99·7

  3

  48·7

  2

  31·5

  —

  —

  85 and over

  10

  295·0

  6

  168·0

  4

  103·4

  3

  73·8

  4

  94·1

  4

  89·9

  1 International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 9th revision codes 778.3 and 991.6.

  2 Excluding deaths at ages under 28 days for the years 1986–1990.

  Age Statistics
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state the numbers of persons in Wales aged over(a) 60, (b) 75, and (c) 100 years at the latest available date and in 1979, respectively.

  Mr. Nichollas Bennett
  The numbers of people in Wales aged over 60 and 75 in 1979 and 1990, as estimated
  542
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The following table gives numbers of deaths, and rates per million population, for which hypothermia was stated as the underlying cause of death in Wales in each year from 1979 to 1990.

  Recognising the risk of hypothermia for vulnerable people, especially, but not only, the elderly, the Welsh Office is distributing the "Keep Warm Keep Well" brochure in Welsh and English to all authorities and agencies with the request that they ensure that those who need to see it get a copy. This distribution will be complemented by Welsh Office financial support for advice lines run by voluntary organisations.

  by the Office of Population Censuses and surveys, are shown in the following table. These mid-year estimates are not available for centenarians. However, data from a 10 per cent. sample of the Department of Social Security records indicate that there were 100 centenarians in Wales in November 1979 and 210 in September 1990.
  543

  Residents in Wales aged:

  Mid year 1979

  Mid year 1990

  Over 60

  548,500

  603,100

  Over 75

  138,700

  184,000

  The figures are a tribute to the continuing improvements in health and general care and support since 1979.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the cost in the last full year for which figures are available of payments made, under environmentally sensitive area agreements, to farmers in each of the Welsh environmentally sensitive areas.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information for 1990–91 is as follows:

  £

  Cambrian Mountains ESA (Original Area)

  476,882

  Cambrian Mountains ESA (Extension)

  120,723

  Lleyn Peninsula ESA

  284,102

  Total

  881,707

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of farms eligible for entry into each of the Welsh environmentally sensitive areas.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information is as follows:

  Below 50 hectares

  50–100 hectares

  Above 100 hectares

  Total

  Cambrian Mountains ESA (Original and Extended Areas)

  57

  61

  214

  332

  Lleyn Peninsula ESA

  205

  91

  70

  366

  Total

  262

  152

  284

  698

  Some farms in the Cambrian Mountains ESA have more than one agreement, covering separate features.

  Hospital Statistics
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the numbers and percentages of treatments and procedures in Welsh hospitals for patients aged over(a) 60, (b) 75 and (c) 100 years at the latest available date and in 1979, respectively.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information given in the table relates to the number of deaths and discharges from all Welsh hospitals, including mental handicap and mental illness hospitals.

  Age of patient

  60 and over

  75 and over

  100 and over

  1979

  Deaths and discharges

  105,787

  41,174

  15

  Percentage1

  30·1

  11·7

  0·0

  1989

  Deaths and discharges

  194,223

  89,983

  41

  Percentage1

  36·9

  17·1

  0·0

  1 As percentage of total deaths and discharges.

  544

  number

  Cambrian Mountains ESA (Original Area)

  300

  Cambrian Mountains ESA (Extension)

  295

  Lleyn Peninsula ESA

  960

  Total

  1,555

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estitmate of the savings to the common agriculture policy resulting from reduced output in the designated Welsh environmentally sensitive areas.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The net budgetary effects of the designated Welsh environmentally sensitive areas form part of the wider socio-economic monitoring studies my Department has commissioned from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. The university's interim report "Environmentally Sensitive Areas, Wales—Socio Economic Aspects of Designation—Interim—Report—March 1991" was issued in June 1991 and a copy is available in the Library of the House. The final report is due to be submitted to my Department by the end of June A1992.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state the number of farms below 50 hectares, between 50 and 100 hectares and above 100 hectares which are covered by environmentally sensitive area agreements in each of the Welsh environmentally sensitive areas.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The number of farms in each size grouping is shown in the table:

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the numbers of hospitals and hospital beds in Wales in(a) 1974, (b) 1979 and (c) at the latest available date.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information is given in the table:

  11974

  11979

  2 Latest

  Number of Hospitals:

  NHS

  189

  173

  152

  Private

  n/a

  n/a

  6

  Beds

  NHS—staffed beds allocated

  24,972

  23,512

  19,534

  Private

  n/a

  n/a

  268

  1 As at 31 December.

  2 As at 31 March 1990 for private hospitals and 31 March 1991 for NHS hospitals.

  As my hon. Friend can see, the number of hospitals and beds has reduced over the lifetime of both Conservative and Labour Governments as new hospitals have replaced outdated health buildings and as new medical techniques and treatments including day cases have reduced the

  545
  demand for beds. While the number of out-patients in the NHS fell by 3 per cent. in the period 1974–79 it has since risen by 29 per cent. under this Government. Similarly the number of in-patients treated rose by 6 per cent. in 1974–79 and 38 per cent. between 1979 and 1990–91. Day cases are up by a record 233 per cent. since 1979.

  A483 Accidents
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many fatal accidents have occurred on the stretch of the A483 between Rhostyllen and Johnstown; and what is the national average for comparable stretches of road.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The last fatal road accident reported to the Welsh Office by the North Wales police authority on the stretch of the A483 between Rhostyllen and Johnstown was in June 1986. In August 1987 a new stretch of A483, south of Rhostyllen, was opened and since then there have been no fatal road accidents recorded on this road, between Rhostyllen and the junction with the B5426, near Johnstown.

  There have been two fatal road accidents on the old stretch of road between Rhostyllen and Johnstown, now the 85605, since August 1987: in June 1988 and November 1991.

  Between 1987 and 1989, the average fatal accident rate, per 100 million vehicle kilometres on Welsh trunk roads was 1·0 for built-up roads and 1·2 for non built-up roads.

  Fraud
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of fraud have been brought to the attention of the police by the Welsh Office in respect of misuse of the business improvement service scheme by region in each of the last five years.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Nine firms of consultants have been, or are being, investigated in connection with suspected fraud under the now closed business improvement services scheme which operated in steel closure areas. It would not be appropriate to disclose further details pending the outcome of these investigations and any subsequent legal proceedings.

  Hearing Impaired Children
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what review has he made of the needs of deaf and hearing impaired children as they pursue the examinations and coursework of the GCSE; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The responsibility for administering the examination process rests with individual examining boards. The Joint Council for the GCSE has issued guidance common to all examining groups to deal with pupils with disabilities such as deafness or a hearing impairment.

  Speech Therapy
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent by each local education authority on providing speech therapy during each of the last five years for(a) primary school pupils and (b) secondary school pupils.
  546
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Heart Specialists
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to increase the number of heart specialists working in national health service hospitals in Pembrokeshire, Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Bids for consultants to service new developments or to expand existing health services are made by health authorities to the Welsh medical and dental manpower committee for manpower approval. Currently there are no bids outstanding for heart specialists to work in Pembrokeshire, Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire.

  Cardigan Bay
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next expects to meet representatives of the Welsh fishing industry to discuss the conservation of fishing stocks in Cardigan bay; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  On 2 December Fisheries Departments will be holding the annual meeting with industry representatives to discuss the latest data on stock levels for fisheries around the United Kingdom coast including the Irish sea, which covers Cardigan bay. The next step will be a meeting of the EC Fisheries Council to determine 1992 fishing quotas.

  Defence-related Employment
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the level of defence-related employment in west Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Comprehensive information on the level of defence-related employment in west Wales is not available.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Aid and Trade Provision
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria determine whether money is allocated to United Kingdom companies under the aid and trade provision.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The criteria for decisions on aid and trade provision cases are set out in the ATP "Guidelines for Applicants" booklet. I have placed copies of the latest edition of the booklet in the Libraries of the House.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if aid and trade provision projects are appraised for their effects on low income groups.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Aid and trade provision projects are not selected according to their benefits to low income groups, but their appraisal may, if appropriate, cover their impact on particular social groups.

  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future size of the aid and trade programmes.
  547
  Mrs. Chalker
  The size of the aid and trade provision is under consideration in the light of the resources made available for the aid programme announced in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's autumn statement.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Broxtowe (Mr. Lester),Official Report, 20 November, column 267, if he will undertake to review bilateral aid to Indonesia.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The Government, in welcoming the Commission of Inquiry established by the President of Indonesia, have indicated that they wish to see the investigation carried out promptly, fully and fairly. We have urged that those members of the armed forces responsible for the shootings in East Timor earlier this month should be brought on trial. Together with our Community partners, we will consider the position, including that on aid, in the light of the written report of the commission of inquiry.

  Trinidad Terms
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries which would benefit from the implementation of the Trinidad terms; and for how much debt relief each of these countries would be eligible.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The poorest, most heavily indebted countries which are following IMF-sponsored programmes of economic reform and which have chronic balance of payment difficulties insoluble through normal rescheduling arrangements will benefit from Trinidad terms. Eligibility will be decided on a case-by-case basis, and exact criteria are still being refined.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much debt relief the poorest and most indebted countries would receive if all the Paris Club creditors fully implemented the Trinidad terms.

  Mrs. Chalker
  As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting at Harare in October, the full value of the Trinidad terms which is potentially available if all Paris Club creditors agree to implement them is approximately $17 billion.

  Aid
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the compound rate of growth of United Kingdom net aid to developing countries which would(a) halve the gap by which the United Kingdom falls below the United Nations target in five years and (b) meet the United Nations target in 10 years.

  Mrs. Chalker
  No. This would involve economic forecasting which is not a matter for me.

  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the criteria for the grant of overseas aid having regard to democracy and the human rights record of the recipient country.
  548
  Mrs. Chalker
  In allocating aid to individual countries we take into account a number of factors. These include the needs of the country concerned, and the effectiveness with which our aid can be used. We consider whether the country has adopted policies which will help combat poverty and promote economic growth and social progress. The quality of government in the country concerned is an integral part of our assessment. Good government includes sound economic policy, effective and accountable public institutions and respect for human rights and the rule of law.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the new Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development proposals on tied aid; and if he will make a statement on the progress made by his Department on further untying aid.

  Mrs. Chalker
  A package of reforms covering both export credits and tied aid credits has been accepted ad referendum by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development consensus participants. Her Majesty's Government support the package as a useful step forward in our continuing efforts to introduce greater transparency and discipline into these fields and to reduce trade distortions. We very much hope that the package will be ratified by mid-December. On untying of aid, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 20 November.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the total amount of aid offered to the developing world by his Department in each year since 1986.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Gross aid expenditure1 by calendar year was as follows:

  £ million

  1986

  1,217

  1987

  1,189

  1988

  1,536

  1989

  1,635

  1990

  1,578

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what level of priority is afforded to the African continent in determining the Government's policy on aid to the developing worlds.

  Mrs. Chalker
  African countries have a high priority in the overseas aid programme. In 1990, African countries received 46 per cent.—£389 million—of the United Kingdom's gross bilateral aid which is geographically allocable. For United Kingdom aid channelled through multilateral organisations—£683 million in 1990—we estimate about half went to African countries. We intend to maintain a substantial programme of assistance to those African countries where aid can be used effectively.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take the necessary steps to raise the proportion of gross national product applied to aid for the developing world to the level recommended by the United Nations.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The Government accept in principle the target set by the United Nations for overseas aid as a proportion of gross national product. However, we are not
  549
  in a position to set down a timetable for reaching the target. Future levels of aid will depend on our economic circumstances, and on other claims on public expenditure. Our aid programme is planned to grow in real terms, is of high quality and carefully targeted.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recommended targets for the proportion of gross national product to be applied for the developing world have been agreed within the United Nations.

  Mrs. Chalker
  There are three United Nations targets for resources transfers to the developing countries. These are:

  (i) combined private and official flows equal to 1 per cent. of GNP;

  (ii) net official development assistance (oda) to all developing countries equal to 0·7 per cent. of GNP; and

  (iii) net official development assistance to the least developed countries equal to 0·15 per cent. of GNP, or 0·20 per cent. of GNP for those countries who have already achieved 0·15 per cent.

  United Nations Contributions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial pledge was made by the United Kingdom in support of the United Nations development programme during the UNDP pledging conference for 1992 held in New York on 5 and 6 November: what was the total pledged to the UNDP; and if he will make a statement on the future of the United Nations development programme in the light of its funding base.

  Mrs. Chalker
  In common with many other major donors we have not yet announced our pledge for UNDP's 1992 programme. I expect to do so early next year. Over recent years UNDP has maintained its position at the centre of the UN development system and the current pattern seems likely to continue. But for the reasons given above the total amounts available in 1992 are not yet known.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial pledge was made by the United Kingdom in support of the United Nations fund for population activities at the New York pledging conference on 5 and 6 November; what proportion of the total funds available to UNFPA for 1992 will be provided by the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the future of the United Nations fund for population activities in the light of its funding base.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have not yet announced our pledge for the United Nations population fund's 1992 programme. I expect to do so early next year. Our 1991 contribution to UNFPA of £7·5 million represented a 25 per cent. increase on the previous year.

  Climate Change
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response has been sent by the Minister for Overseas Development to the letter dated 15 August sent by the co-ordinator of the Save the Forest-Save the Planet campaign regarding the Government's position on climate change; and if he will publish the correspondence.
  550
  Mrs. Chalker
  I set out my views on this campaign to the co-ordinator in a letter to him on 25 June, which my private secretary confirmed in reply to the letter of 15 August. I am sending the hon. Member copies of both letters.

EMPLOYMENT

  Sealink Stena
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out in detail the proposals he made to Sealink Stena covering redundancy arrangements following the announcement of impending redundancies.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State has made no proposals to Sealink Stena regarding redundancy arrangements. As Member of Parliament for Folkestone and Hythe, my right hon. and learned Friend, in consultation with others in the area, has established the Sealink Stena action group. The group is co-ordinating and providing practical assistance and guidance for employees whose jobs are being lost, with the aim of getting those affected back to work at the earliest possible opportunity. Other participants in the group include the hon. Member for Dover (Mr. Shaw), Kent training and enterprise council, the Employment Service, the Sealink Stena company, other local businesses, local enterprise agencies, and the county and district councils.

  Assistance being channelled through the group includes on-site job shops displaying vacancies in the local and surrounding areas; jobsearch workshops providing advice and guidance on such matters as job applications and interviews; advice on training and self-employment; and offers of office and workshop accommodation.

  The Employment Service and training and enterprise councils in other areas affected by these redundancies are all taking action within their normal range of responsibilities to alleviate the effect of these job losses.

  EC (Visits)
  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list for himself, and for each of the Ministers at his Department, details of (i) the number of visits made in the past month to destinations outside the United Kingdom but within the European Community on official business related to the European Community, (ii) the number of visits made to Brussels within the past month on official business related to the European Community and (iii) the number of nights spent over the past month away from the United Kingdom on official European Community business.

  Mr. Forth
  In the four weeks to 21 November, my right hon. and learned Friend made one visit to Germany, and I made one visit to Brussels to attend a Social Affairs Council. Neither of these visits involved an overnight stay.

  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of visits made by officials in his Department during the past month to destinations outside the United Kingdom but within the European Community on official business related to the European Community, the number of visits made by officials in his Department to Brussels within the past month on official business related to the European
  551
  Community and the number of nights spent by officials in his Department over the past month away from the United Kingdom on official European Community business.

  Mr. Forth
  Central records are not kept. The following information has been obtained by a telephone survey of the Employment Department group. In the four weeks to 21 November in connection with official EC business:

  37 officials visited destinations outside the United Kingdom but within the rest of the European Community;

  54 officials visited Brussels;

  officials spent 122 nights away from the United Kingdom.

  Self-catering Accommodation
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met representatives of the self-catering accommodation sector to discuss issues currently affecting the sector.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State and my noble Friend Viscount Ullswater, who is Minister responsible for tourism, frequently meet representatives of all sectors in the tourism industry on engagements around the country.

  Radiological Emergencies
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he will bring forward legislation to meet the requirements of European Community directive 89/618/Euratom on informing the general public about health protection measures to be applied and steps to be taken in the event of a radiological emergency.

  Mr. Forth
  Proposals for regulations to implement European Council directive 89/618/Euratom are contained in a Health and Safety Commission consultative document due to be published on 28 November 1991. I will arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library. The document will form the basis of a three-month period of public consultation. The commission is required to consider whether changes to the proposals are needed in the light of comments received, during the consultation period. Thereafter, under the terms of article 33 of the Euratom treaty, the European Commission must be given a three-month period within which to comment on the final proposals before legislation is brought forward.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Palace of Westminster (Access)
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he has any proposals to improve public access to the Palace of Westminster.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee keep under regular review arrangements for access, including improvements for speeding up entry for line of route visitors, access for the disabled and for providing them with protection from the weather. Any proposals for further improvements would have to be considered by the new Administration Committee when it is established.

  0898 Telephone Calls
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what progress has been made in introducing a permanent bar on 0898 calls from parliamentary buildings.
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  Mr. MacGregor
  An interim decision to bar such calls was taken by the Chairman of the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee of the Services Committee in July 1991 pending the formation of the new Administration Committee; it will now be for this Committee to consider this matter at an early meeting.

  Agencies (Replies to Members)
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how the Government propose to improve access to the replies given by agency chief executives in response to parliamentary questions.

  Mr. MacGregor
  In its recent White Paper—Cm 1761 —published in response to the seventh report of the Treasury and Civil Service Committee, "The Next Steps Initiative", the Government stated that they were considering how access to the replies given by agency chief executives to parliamentary questions could be improved.

  The arrangement whereby chief executives reply direct by letter to written questions on operational matters is intended to recognise their direct responsibility for matters which have been delegated to them by Ministers and to ensure that replies about the carrying out of Government business are full, prompt and as helpful as possible. The arrangement has worked well in those respects. However, it has become apparent that there have been some practical difficulties with the procedure—which my predecessor announced on 31 October 1990—of making the letters public by placing them in the House of Commons Library and its Public Information Office.

  The Government have therefore decided to propose to the House authorities that the House should publish all replies from chief executives which are placed in the Library. The Government consider that the replies should be published regularly and frequently, so that the information they contain is current and useful; that the publication should be available to individuals and organisations outside the House on a similar basis to the Official Report; but that the replies should not be published as ministerial written answers in the Official Report. A separate weekly publication for the replies would meet these criteria, although the precise form of publication and the resource implications will be a matter for the appropriate Committee of the House, to which the Government will put their proposal at the earliest opportunity. I very much hope that it will be possible to introduce new arrangements quickly to meet the concern which has been expressed. I shall inform the House as soon as a decision has been reached.

  Draft EC Treaties
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what study he has made of the likely impact of adoption of the two draft treaties on economic and monetary and political union on the powers, activity, and operations of the House.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [holding answer 15 November 1991]: The practical implications of the draft treaty provisions on economic and monetary and political union for the work of this House can only be assessed once the negotiations are complete. The Government have emphasised the essential role of national Parliaments in providing proper

  553
  democratic scrutiny of the Community's activities, and have tabled a draft conference declaration aimed at reinforcing the role of national Parliaments.

  Parking Spaces
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he has any plans to add to the number of parking spaces for hon. Members in the Palace of Westminster in the evenings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [holding answer 25 November 1991]: There are no plans to add to the overall number of car parking spaces available to Members, which are detailed in the Serjeant at Arms' leaflet "Car parking". Any changes in the allocation to Members will be a matter for the new Administration Committee when it is established.

  Works of Art
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what communications he has received from the chairman of the Advisory Committee on Works of Art in the House of Commons regarding the choice of more suitable positions on the Committee floor for the sculpture of Charles Stewart Parnell and the painting, "The men who made Home Rule"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [holding answer 25 November 1991]: The Advisory Committee on Works of Art, chaired by my hon. Friend the Member for Staffordshire South (Mr. Cormack), reports to Mr. Speaker and the Secretary of State for the Environment. I understand however that, following a previous question about the location of the bust, the advisory committee did not consider it necessary to recommend an alternative location. I understand also that the advisory committee has not been asked to consider a new location for the painting.

  Blue Peter Appeal
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will place an aluminium can collection point within the Palace precincts for the "Blue Peter" golden age Christmas appeal.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [holding answer 26 November 1991]: No. There is a well-established precedent that the House does not allow itself to be used in support of specific charities or organisations.

SCOTLAND

  Tranent-Macmerry Bypass
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will erect large yellow-backed signs indicating that the Tranent-Macmerry bypass is a single carriageway road, similar to the signs on the single carriageway sections of the road between Dundee and Aberdeen.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Following the tragic accident on the single carriageway section of the A1 Tranent bypass in July, I asked the A1 steering group to consider ways of increasing driver awareness of the transitions from dual to single carriageways on the A1.
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  One of the measures proposed by the steering group was to erect large yellow backed signs as part of a package of measures associated with Bankton roundabout. This was approved in September with a works start programmed for February 1992.

  Detainees
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland at what point after sentence someone detained during Her Majesty's pleasure can first be given a date on which he or she may be eligible for parole.

  Mr. Lang
  Persons sentenced under section 205 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (the 1975 Act) to detention without limit of time (formerly during Her Majesty's pleasure) are eligible for release on life licence under section 26 of the Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989. I have complete discretion as to the setting of a date for first formal review in such cases.

  Where, exceptionally, detention without limit of time is imposed by a court in exercise of its powers under section 206 of the 1975 Act, I may release the person on licence at any time on the recommendation of the Parole Board.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the average period in detention served by those detained during Her Majesty's pleasure and released in the last 10 years;

  (2) how many persons detained during Her Majesty's pleasure following conviction for murder were released in under five years, under eight years, under 10 years, under 12 years. under 15 years and over 15 years respectively in the last 10 years.

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

  Under 5

  number

  5 to under 8

  4

  8 to under 10

  13

  10 to under 12

  22

  12 to under 15

  8

  over 15

  2

  Total persons released

  49

  Average period in years

  10½

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many persons under 16 years were convicted of murder in Scotland and sentenced to detention during Her Majesty's pleasure in each of the last 10 years;

  (2) if he will list the ages of those under 16 years detained during Her Majesty's pleasure following conviction for murder during the last 10 years; and if he will indicate how many of the total number so convicted were male and how many female.

  Mr. Lang
  Under the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980 the sentence of detention during Her Majesty's pleasure was replaced by detention without limit of time. Four persons under 16 have been so sentenced since 1981, one each year in 1986, 1987, 1990 and 1991, to date. All were males aged 15, except the persons in 1991 who was a female aged 15.

  District Courts
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the statutory provisions relating to the requirement for local authorities to provide suitable and sufficient premises and facilities for the purposes of a district court.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Section 8 of the District Courts (Scotland) Act 1975 requires local authorities to provide suitable and sufficient premises and facilities for the purposes of the district court.

  Mentally Handicapped People
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when he received the National Medical Advisory Committee report on mentally handicapped people in Scottish hospitals from his advisory committee;

  (2) when he expects to publish the National Medical Advisory Committee report on mentally handicapped people in Scottish hospitals from his advisory committee;

  (3) if he will implement without delay the recommendations outlined in the National Medical Advisory Committee report on mentally handicapped people in Scottish hospitals from his advisory committee.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The report "Everybody Out?", produced by a working group of the National Medical Advisory Committee, was passed to the Scottish Office Home and Health Department by the Health Service Advisory Council in July 1990. The valuable work done by the working group has contributed significantly to the development within the Scottish Office of policy and guidance for care in the community for people with a mental handicap.

  Scottish Homes
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether Scottish Homes has sought statutory powers for the compulsory purchase of its former properties in the constituency of Leith; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Under section 2(2)(g) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988, Scottish Homes have the power to acquire land compulsorily but that power may be exercised only in accordance with arrangements made between the agency and the Secretary of State. My right hon. Friend has not been asked by Scottish Homes to consider arrangements for the compulsory purchase of properties in the hon. Member's constituency.

  Health Statistics
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the number of whole-time equivalent nurses, total and hospital figure for table 9.11 in "Scottish Health Statistics" updated for 1990–91.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is given in the table.

  Nursing staff in Scotland: whole-time equivalent

  30 September 1990

  All nursing staff

  63,687·2

  Hospital nursing staff

  56,180·7

  556
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the number of whole-time equivalent doctors, total and hospital figure for table 9.4 in "Scottish Health Statistics" updated for 1990–91.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is given in the table.

  Medical staff in Scotland: whole-time equivalent

  30 September 1990

  All medical staff

  9,909·0

  Hospital medical staff

  5,746·2

  Health Boards
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each health board the name of each nurse who is an executive member of that board.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is as follows:

  Executive member

  Health Board

  Mrs. M. Durie

  Ayrshire and Arran

  Miss E. Hastings OBE

  Lanarkshire

  Mrs. M. S. Henderson OBE

  Shetland

  Water Pollution
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to protect the water environment from pollution by dangerous substances; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In Scotland, controls on discharges of dangerous substances to the water environment are exercised by the river purification authorities under the Control of Pollution Act 1974.

  Discharges must enable receiving waters to meet relevant environmental quality standards—EQSs. EQSs have already been set for 10 red list substances: proposals for EQSs for the remaining red list substances are set out in a consultation paper to be issued shortly, and copies of which I have placed in the Library today.

  Caves
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to help the preservation of the Wemyss and other ancient caves, their carvings and paintings in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Government have contributed to the cost of a study commissioned by Fife region and Kirkcaldy district to examine the structural engineering problems in the environs of Wemyss caves, grant aided a design study on coastal protection measures and contributed to the cost of a comprehensive programme of casting the Pictish and other stone carvings within the caves. We have also undertaken to look sympathetically at an application for assistance, under the scheme of grants to owners of ancient monuments, towards the cost of protection works should any such application be made.

  The preservation of historically important caves in Scotland is ensured by taking them into the Secretary of State's guardianship, as is the case with St. Cormac's and

  557
  St. Ninian's, or by scheduling them, as is the case with Wemyss caves. In one instance, Covesea cave, we have funded the excavation of threatened archaeological deposits.

  Environmentally Sensitive areas
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what study he is making of United Kingdom international obligations in relation to the establishment of environmentally sensitive areas to protect species, such as the corncrake.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Government keep international obligations such as the EC wild birds directive and the Ramsar convention on wetlands of international importance under regular review. Potential special protection areas, which are designated under the wild birds directive, have been identified among the machair lands in the Western Isles which is the favoured habitat of the corncrake. Environmentally sensitive areas are designated by my right hon. Friend under the Agriculture Act 1986 and under the EC regulations on improving the efficiency of agricultural structures to encourage farmers and crofters to protect and enhance the conservation value of their land. The machair of the Uists, Benbecula, Barra and Vatersay was designated as an environmentally sensitive area in 1988.

  Anabolic Steroids
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department is contributing, and over what period, to the research project on anabolic steroids misuse being carried out by the centre for research on drugs and health behaviour.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Scottish Office Home and Health Department will contribute 10 per cent. of the overall cost of this research project which is expected to start in January 1992 and last for 12 months.

  Natural Heritage
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now announce the membership of Scottish Natural Heritage; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  On 15 January 1990 my predecessor, my right hon. and learned Friend, the Secretary of State for Transport, announced his intention to appoint Magnus Magnusson KBE as chairman of Scottish Natural Heritage. To serve as members with Magnus Magnusson I have appointed the following:

  Professor Christopher Smout (Deputy Chairman)

  Mr. Alan Blackshaw

  Mrs. Nan Burnett

  Mr. Bruce Cowe

  The Earl of Dalkeith

  Mr. Roy Dennis

  Professor George Dunnet

  Mr. David Laird

  Sir John Lister-Kaye

  Mr. Duncan McPherson

  Dr. Bill Mutch

  Scottish Natural Heritage will provide for the first time an integrated approach to the protection of our natural heritage. These appointments represent a wide variety of interests. Experience of day-to-day land management, of the use and enjoyment of the natural heritage and scientific
  558
  expertise of international repute are combined with the breadth of experience and diversity of expertise of the voluntary movement. I am certain the team they represent will help SNH to achieve a productive and progressive relationship with those who manage the natural resources of our land.

  A commencement order has been made which brings Scottish Natural Heritage into formal existence as a corporate body from today. SNH will assume its full powers and responsibilities from 1 April 1992. The interim period will allow SNH to undertake forward planning and to fulfil requirements in the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991 in relation to the employment of staff.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what use his Department makes of information about parental higher education experience and social class in predicting demand for higher education.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 15 November 1991]: Our reforms in education are geared to extending opportunity for all pupils and widening access to higher and further education. We have increased the proportion of young Scots going into higher education from one fifth to one quarter over the last 10 years, and we project that the proportion will rise to over 40 per cent. by the end of the decade.

  The model for projecting staying on rates takes account of parental education factors but the recent staying-on rate has been rising faster than can be explained by changes in parental education and this is allowed for in the projections.

  Inquiries
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set up an inquiry to investigate the composition, funding witnesses, duration and publication of findings of inquiries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 26 November 1991]: Following recent discussions about the costs of legal representation at the Orkney inquiry, we shall be considering future arrangements for investigating social work matters.

  Departmental Telephone Calls
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information is available on the number of calls made to directory inquiries from his Department since 1 April 1991.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 26 November 1991 : Between 1 April and 22 November, 6,081 calls to directory inquiries were made from the main Scottish Office buildings in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London which have in total some 5,000 telephone users. Information on the use of the service by users in the Department's small offices in other parts of the country is not available.

DEFENCE

  Defence Estate
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide details of all land scheduled for release from the defence estate that is currently in the hands of agents pending its sale.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The list of sites currently with private sector agents for disposal is as follows:

  Location

  Acreage

  Eskmeals, Cumbria

  9·000

  Eaglescliffe, Carter Moor Farm

  18·200

  Middleton St. George

  2·600

  Stoughton Bks, Guildford

  18·000

  Waltham Abbey, Essex

  200·000

  Peninsular Bks, Winchester

  15·000

  Beavers Lane Camp, Hounslow

  9·000

  Ludgershall Road, Tidworth

  0·470

  Bulford Village, Wiltshire

  0·170

  Old Budbrooke Road, Hampton Magna

  0·250

  Montgomery Ave, Hampton on the Hill, Warwickshire

  0·670

  Twyford House and Grounds, Shrewsbury

  2·130

  Harlescott, Shrewsbury

  2·000

  2 Bridge Lane, Stockton Heath

  0·900

  Sefton Drive, Wilmslow

  0·450

  Ernsettle, Devon

  29·000

  Renney Lentney, Cornwall

  59·000

  Stanford Fort, Plymouth

  3·400

  Swanvale, Plymouth

  8·400

  RN Harrowbeer

  2·140

  Various small plots, Plymouth area

  2·000

  RAF Northcoates

  800·000

  RNAD Milford Haven

  264·000

  E Camp Hendon

  32·540

  Chilwell Depot, Beeston

  53·470

  Acombe Yorkshire

  7·000

  RNAS Risley, Warrington

  22·000

  RAF Brampton

  1·750

  CVD Hilton, Derbyshire

  268·000

  Cove Radio Station, Hampshire

  17·000

  Arrow Road, Farnborough, Hampshire

  5·000

  Ronwer (S), Gosport

  20·000

  Harefield House, Middlesex

  10·000

  RM Barracks, Eastney

  29·000

  Rafborough, Farnborough

  4·000

  OSSD Ruddington, Nottingham

  35·000

  Red House Site, Gosport

  9·250

  Hawley Wood, Aldershot

  38·000

  Bordon, Hants

  17·200

  Priddys Hard, Gosport

  110·000

  Furse House, Kensington

  —

  ACIO 112 Springfield Road, Chelmsford

  —

  Former Officers Mess MCTC, Colchester

  1·600

  Gibraltar Bks, Northampton

  0·630

  The Orchard, Dartmouth

  3·200

  Small Plots, Liddymore area

  3·200

  Woodend Street, Helenburgh

  0·636

  Station Road, Garelochhead

  8·460

  Rosneath Road, Rosneath

  3·460

  Linn Walk, Garelochhead

  0·648

  Duncan Court, Kilmarnock

  0·180

  RAE West Freugh

  2·280

  Pumphouse and land, Invergordon

  —

  Gordon Barracks, Aberdeen

  4·000

  Kingask Farm and Hawklaw Former WT Station

  —

  Hilton Farm Steading, Rosyth

  —

  Dreghorn Garage Site, Edinburgh

  —

  Kirknewton Former NAAFI Site

  —

  In addition, as at 30 September 1991 there were 1,080 former service married quarters in the process of being sold.

  Defence Contracts
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements have been made by his Department for the review or audit of commissions payable to purchasing agents in connection with A1-Yamamah defence contracts.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  My Department has not employed business agents in connection with A1-Yamamah contracts.

  Accudyne Inc.
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date his Department became aware that Accudyne Inc., a subsidiary of Astra Holdings plc., was alleged to have been implicated in the supply of ammunition components to Iraq via South Africa.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  My Department has no knowledge of this allegation.

  Storage Depots
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether arrangements have been made for environmental clean-up at(a) the Royal Navy stores depot at Lathalmond before its closure and (b) the Ministry of Defence fuel storage depot at Portishead;

  (2) what arrangements have been made for the sale of the Ministry of Defence fuel storage depot at Portishead.

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

  Simulators
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to place increased emphasis on the use of simulators in military training.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. and learned Gentleman to the short essay entitled "The Use of Simulation Methods in Training" on page 43 of the 1991 "Statement on the Defence Estimates".

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects that the air defence training simulator at the RAF school of fighter control at RAF Bulmer will be fully operational.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  By mid-1992.

  Short Brothers
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the considerations which prompted him to authorise Short Brothers to offer to supply the Starburst missile to South Korea.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  It is not our normal practice to comment on matters relating to the overseas promotion or sale of particular items of defence equipment.

  Communications System
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the study of the communications system of the Royal Navy landing platform dock replacement to be completed.
  561
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The invitation to tender for the project definition of an integrated communications system for the landing platform dock replacement was issued in July 1991. Tenders are currently being assessed, and we hope to place a contract shortly.

  Defence Systems
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for defence what is his policy towards the United States global protection against limited strikes system.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In January of this year, President Bush announced the refocusing of the SDI programme towards global protection against limited strikes. The United Kingdom's approach to anti-ballistic missile defence research and associated matters remains based on the agreements reached between the then Prime Minister
  562
  and President Reagan at Camp David in 1984 and 1986. These are set out in paragraph 208 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1988".

  Military Custody
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers serving in Northern Ireland were taken into military custody in Northern Ireland since January 1991.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Three soldiers have been bailed on condition that they were held in military custody for alleged civil offences committed whilst serving in Northern Ireland.

  The statistics for the number of soldiers placed in military custody for military offences is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  NORTHERN IRELAND (EMERGENCY PROVISIONS) ACT 1991: REVIEW
  NORTHERN IRELAND (EMERGENCY PROVISIONS) ACT 1991: REVIEW
  HM PRISON, BELFAST: PRISONER MANAGEMENT INQUIRY
  HM PRISON, BELFAST: PRISONER MANAGEMENT INQUIRY
  FILEY AND BRIDLINGTON BAYS: PROSPECTING LICENCES
  FILEY AND BRIDLINGTON BAYS: PROSPECTING LICENCES
  INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR APPLIED SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
  INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR APPLIED SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
  ASYLUM-SEEKERS: BAIL REQUIREMENT
  ASYLUM-SEEKERS: BAIL REQUIREMENT
  ASYLUM-SEEKERS IN DETENTION
  ASYLUM-SEEKERS IN DETENTION
  LIFE GUARDS/BLUES AND ROYALS AMALGAMATION PROPOSAL
  LIFE GUARDS/BLUES AND ROYALS AMALGAMATION PROPOSAL
  CONTRACEPTION RESEARCH
  CONTRACEPTION RESEARCH
  LOCAL AUTHORITY HOUSING SALES
  LOCAL AUTHORITY HOUSING SALES
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION: CHAIRMAN
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION: CHAIRMAN
  THE WATER ENVIRONMENT: CONTROL OF DANGEROUS DISCHARGES
  THE WATER ENVIRONMENT: CONTROL OF DANGEROUS DISCHARGES
  WIN GREEN ANCIENT MONUMENT
  WIN GREEN ANCIENT MONUMENT