Written Answers of 18 October 1991

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Science and Technology
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department has yet made an evaluation of the 1991 report by the OECD, "Choosing Priorities in Science and Technology", in so far as it applies to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I was interested to read this report which summarises the experiences of 10 OECD countries, including the United Kingdom. The report rightly acknowledges the complexity of choosing priorities and emphasises that each country should have regard to its own traditions and political, economic, social and cultural characteristics. The report usefully contributes to the wider debate on these important questions.

  Marine Science and Technology
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what current contracts have been awarded to United Kingdom organisations under the EC marine science and technology (MAST) research and develop-ment programme 1989–92; and what benefits have accrued to the United Kingdom from participation in MAST.

  Mr. Eggar
  United Kingdom organisations are participating in 29 of the 46 contracts awarded under the EC MAST programme (1982–92), and are acting as co-ordinators in 11. Although it is too early to assess the scientific and technical outcomes, this reflects the value which the researchers themselves expect to derive. It is also consistent with the Government's efforts to involve themselves as fully as possible in decisions about the scope and content of EC research programmes, so that UK researchers can achieve the maximum return from the available funds.

  Sports Development Officers
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the total number of sports development officers in England for each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  School Inspections
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the initiatives taken by his Department since 1987 to support or expand the inspection services of local education authorities, with a table for each year of grants made available under the education support grant schemes, or other schemes.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  My Department has supported the appointment of additional local authority inspectors 252
  through education support grants since 1989–90. The local education authority expenditure supported by grant and grant payable for each year since then is shown in the table:

  £ million

  Year

  LEA expenditure supported by grant

  Grant

  1989–90

  1·90

  1·33

  1990–91

  5·50

  3·30

  1991–92

  8·10

  4·86

  School Meals
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out the recent representations he has received about the nutritional content of school meals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  The Department has received a small number of letters in recent months about the nutritional content of school meals; this is a matter for those who organise school meals in schools and for local authorities.

TRANSPORT

  Channel Tunnel Freight
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the number of daily journeys on the south London line of channel tunnel freight(a) between 8 am and 10 pm and (b) between 10 pm and 8 am in (i) 1993, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 2003, respectively.

  Mr. Freeman
  The only figures available were published by British Rail in March 1991. They envisage that by 1995 about half the channel tunnel freight trains (28 per day, taking both directions together) will use the south London line between Factory junction, Battersea and the Nunhead junction. Fourteen are expected to run between 0700 and 2300 hours and 14 between 2300 and 0700 hours.

  North Downs Link
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to upgrade the North Downs link, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail is currently refurbishing the trains on the North Downs line. The section between Tonbridge to Redhill is being electrified and BR plans to electrify the remainder in 1993.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures will be taken to minimise the impact of the international trains using existing track in south London during the period between the opening of the channel tunnel and completion of the rail link.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail is replacing sections of jointed rail by continuously welded rail, eliminating the familiar wheel-on-joint noise of the traditional railway, and will use electric traction for all international trains. Both the passenger and freight trains will be powered by electric traction built to the latest noise specification applicable at the time the tenders were invited, and the new
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  international wagons will also have to meet stringent noise specifications. In addition, as I announced on 19 June, British Rail and Kent county council are discussing what can be done to implement the council's proposals for protecting against noise the homes likely to be worst affected along the Kent stretches of the lines. British Rail is willing to hold talks on a corresponding basis with any other local authority whose area is likely to be similarly affected.

  Nuclear Waste Transport
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any special safety provisions were made for the transport by road from Dover to Dounreay in Caithness of highly enriched spent research reactor fuel, imported from Braunschweig in Germany at the end of September.

  Mr. Chope
  No special provisions were necessary as the flask was certified as fully complying with national and international transport safety regulations.

  Train Doors
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent research has been undertaken by his Department into ways of improving safety in passenger train doors.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  With the agreement of my right hon. and learned Friend, the Health and Safety Commission has asked the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to undertake an independent investigation into the causes of falls from trains. The investigation, which is now well under way, is being led by Her Majesty's railway inspectorate and also involves HSE's scientific, technical and statistical resources. The results will he published.

  Highway Authorities (Agreements)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provisions he intends to make to ensure that agreements between highway authorities and statutory undertakers are adhered to.

  Mr. Chope
  I shall be happy to respond to the hon. Member if he lets me know which agreements he has in mind.

  Eurofreight Rail Terminal
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects a decision to be announced on the location of a Eurofreight rail terminal in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I expect British Rail to make an announcement very shortly.

  Bournemouth Station
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on current and anticipated grant for, and levels of, investment in Network SouthEast, to include the financing of the restoration of Bournemouth station.

  Mr. Freeman
  In 1990–91 the British Railways Board received £600 million of public service obligation (PSO)254
  grant for the supported sectors, of which £143 million was for Network SouthEast. In 1990–91, investment in Network SouthEast was £349 million. Total PSO grant provision in 1991–92 will be at least £743 million. Planned investment by the British Railways Board in 1991–92 totals £1,095 million. It is too early at this stage to forecast the share of grant or investment for Network SouthEast. I understand from British Rail that it hopes to start restoration work on Bournemouth station in 1993–94.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Human Rights
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what ways the criteria of good government and human rights are being applied in determining aid to individual countries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Individual aid programmes are kept under regular review to ensure appropriate and effective use of resources. We take into account a number of factors which contribute to good government in the country concerned including respect for human rights. The Government announced in June a target of £50 million in new bilateral commitments for direct assistance on good government in the coming year.

  Rain Forests
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards controls on the trade in rain forest timber; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The Government do not support unilateral bans or restrictions in the import of tropical timber. However, they do support and adhere to trade restrictions which have been agreed in international fora—such as appendix I of the CITES lists of endangered species.

  The Government believe that bans would be counterproductive and would serve only to speed up the rate of deforestation. They would only rob forests of the value which presently affords them some protection against needless conversion to alternative land uses.

  The Government aim to persuade and help tropical timber-producing countries to manage their forests on a sustainable basis.

  The International Tropical Timber Organisation also has an important role in helping to promote national policies aimed at sustainable utilisation and conservation of tropical forests and their genetic resources. The Government are helping to strengthen ITTO to ensure that it works more effectively.

  The Government are working towards the agreement of a declaration of principles for the sustainable management of the world's forest resources for endorsement by world leaders at the United Nations conference on environment and development 1992.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if new logging activities in primary rain forest are currently funded under the bilateral aid programme; and if he will make a statement.
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  Mrs. Chalker
  The Government do not finance commercial logging projects in primary rain forests. However, some timber extraction may be allowed in projects with wider objectives—for example, in studies of forest regeneration or in helping to promote sustainable management systems.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Pet Owners (VAT)
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to amend the rate of value added tax on veterinary services and veterinary supplies, for pet owners.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  None. VAT is intended to fall on a wide range of consumer expenditure. Moreover, our obligations under European Community VAT law preclude our introducing any new relief.

  RNLI (VAT)
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to remove value added tax from boatway and slipway refurbishments needed for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Such refurbishments have been zero-rated for VAT since 1984. My right hon. Friend has no plans to vary the position.

  Industrial Loans
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the proportion of loans given to industry by Britain's main clearing banks which had repayment periods longer than four years for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Maples
  Figures are not collected centrally by the Government. However, according to figures published by the British Bankers Association, the proportion of advances to United Kingdom residents (excluding persons) with a maturity of five years and over since 1982 are as follows:

  Per cent

  1982

  12

  1983

  13

  1984

  12

  1985

  12

  1986

  13

  1987

  15

  1988

  15

  1989

  15

  1990

  14

  Gulf War
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost so far to the Exchequer of the recent Gulf war; and how much of this has been offset by cash contributions from other countries.

  Mr. Mellor
  The additional defence costs of the Gulf conflict are currently estimated to be around £2½ billion, spread over several years. The bulk of the costs, some £2 billion, will be covered by the cash contributions generously pledged by other Governments, of which £1·93 billion has so far been paid to the United Kingdom.

  Income Tax Avoidance
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his most recent estimate of income tax avoidance for the financial year 1990–91; and the Government resources allocated to identifying individuals in that category.

  Mr. Maude
  It is not possible to make reliable extimates of income tax avoidance. Work on investigating avoidance schemes is continuous and widespread.

  Civil Service Transfers
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if there are any proposals to transfer certain civil service functions and jobs from London to areas within Strathclyde; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Departmental Ministers announce their own decisions on relocation venues once the essential processes of assessment and consultation have been completed. However, I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) on 24 July at columns 603–5 which listed civil service posts located or relocated to Strathclyde since 1979; and identified future plans including a new PAYE office for East Kilbride.

  Public Sector
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those industries, businesses and enterprises remaining in the public sector; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  The following enterprises are currently in the public sector:

  Audit Commission

  Bank of England Banking Department

  British Broadcasting Corporation

  British Coal

  British Railways Board

  British Technology Group

  British Waterways Board

  The Buying Agency

  Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd.

  Central Office of Information

  Channel 4

  Civil Aviation Authority

  Commonwealth Development Corporation

  Companies House

  Covent Garden Market Authority

  Crown Agents and Crown Agents Holding and Realisation Board

  Crown Estate Office

  Development Board for Rural Wales

  Driver Testing and Training Organisation

  English Industrial Estates Corporation

  Export Credits Guarantee Department

  Forestry Enterprise

  Her Majesty's Stationery Office

  Highlands and Islands Enterprise

  Horserace Totalisator Board

  Housing Action Trusts

  Housing Corporation

  Housing for Wales

  Industrial Training Boards

  Land Authority for Wales

  Local authority airports

  Local authority Bus companies

  London Regional Transport

  National Health Service Trusts

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  New Town Development Corporations and Commission

  Northern Ireland Electricity Service

  Northern Ireland Housing Executive

  Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company

  Northern Ireland Trust Ports

  Nuclear Electric plc

  Oil and Pipelines Agency

  Passenger Transport Executives

  Patent Office

  Pilotage Commission

  Post Office

  Remploy Ltd.

  Royal Mint

  Scottish Enterprise

  Scottish Homes

  Scottish Nuclear Ltd.

  Scottish Transport Group

  United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

  Urban Development Corporations

  Vehicles Inspectorate

  Welsh Development Agency

  Welsh Fourth Channel Authority

  Also included in the public sector are local authority enterprises, other than those above, for which no comprehensive list exists centrally.

  Overseas Investment
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the current estimated level of British overseas investment; and what it was in 1979;

  (2) what is the estimated level of dividends received from Britain's overseas investment.

  Mr. Mellor
  The estimated level of overseas direct and portfolio investment by United Kingdom residents at the end of 1990 was £312 billion, compared with £44 billion at the end of 1979. The interest, profits and dividends received by United Kingdom residents from direct and portfolio investment overseas in 1990 were £25·9 billion.

  Soviet Union
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what benefits to the United Kingdom economy have accrued from his recent visit to the Soviet Union.

  Mr. Maples
  During my right hon. Friend's visit he had discussions with a wide range of contacts in the public and private sector. My right hon. Friend received several requests for assistance. A number of these projects are being organised through the know-how fund for the Soviet Union, and will be of direct benefit to United Kingdom businesses. These contacts should also open up opportunities for United Kingdom companies in the Soviet Union in the years to come. More generally, my right hon. Friend's visit served to strengthen contacts between the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union.

  Inheritance Tax
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions since 1980 any agreement for inheritance tax exemptions for national heritage land of outstanding scenic, historic or scientific interest has been broken; if he will indicate the location of the land and the undertakings that were broken in each case; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Francis Maude
  [holding answer 17 October 1991]: This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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  If a landowner breaks an undertaking given in respect of conditionally exempt land inheritance tax is chargeable on the current value of the property. This provides a powerful incentive to honour the terms of the undertaking.

THE ARTS

  Yorkshire and Humberside Arts
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister for the Arts who are the current chairman and officers of Yorkshire and Humberside Arts; what are their terms of office; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  The information requested is as follows:

  Ernest Hall (Chairman)

  Councillor Chris Heinitz (Deputy Chairman)

  Board Members:

  Abha Adams

  Norman Adsetts

  Paul Allen

  Councillor Bernard Atha

  Michael Blackburn

  Roger Bush

  Councillor John Considine

  Graham Devlin

  Dorothy Dickson Barrow

  Councillor Mrs. E. Edwards

  Tessa Gordziejko

  Duncan Graham

  Jo Habib

  Lord Harewood

  Councillor Trevor Larsen

  Councillor John Marshall

  Lynda Murdin

  Ruth Pitt

  Griselda Pollock

  Nima Poovaya-Smith

  Councillor Bob Preston

  Councillor Mike Pye.

  The chairman is appointed for a three-year period. All members of the board are initially appointed for one year.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Mr. John Cairncross
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Attorney-General whether Her Majesty's Government has any plans to seek the extradition of Mr. John Cairncross, former Foreign Office civil servant, from France.

  The Attorney-General
  No.

EMPLOYMENT

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how long the Health and Safety Executive staff who investigated the accident of Mr. Randall at Maxwell house, Chadderton on 31 August 1989 had been in post; what qualifications they had; and what disciplinary action has been taken against them.

  Mr. Forth
  The inspector who conducted the investigation into the circumstances of Mr. Randall's accident joined the Health and Safety Executive in 1978 and holds an honours degree in engineering. The Health
  259
  and Safety Executive considers that the inspector undertook the inquiry in an appropriate manner. The question of disciplinary action does not therefore arise.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many times in each of the last five years accidents occurred on sites where Vanguard Engineering was a sub-contractor which were not reported to the Health and Safety Executive in the correct manner, or in the correct time.

  Mr. Forth
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many notifiable accidents involving Vanguard Engineering (Northern) Ltd. happened during each of the last five years; and what action the Health and Safety Executive has taken to bring prosecutions against Vanguard.

  Mr. Forth
  The Health and Safety Executive is aware of two incidents in the last five years reportable to the appropriate enforcing authority under the Reporting of Incidents, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1984 involving Vanguard Engineering (Northern) Ltd. Legal proceedings were not instituted by the Health and Safety Executive following the investigation of either incident.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the cause of the accident to Mr. Randall of Reddish, at Maxwell house, Chadderton on 31 August 1989; and what consideration was given by the Health and Safety Executive to prosecuting(a) MCP in respect of reporting the accident and (b) Vanguard Engineering in respect of supervising the job.

  Mr. Forth
  The accident to Mr. Randall occurred when a lifting gantry frame fell over when a load was lifted through a floor opening and swung clear. It appears that brackets intended to secure the frame to the floor had not been fitted. Having investigated the incident the Health and Safety Executive decided that the prosecution of MCP was not appropriate and that of Vanguard Engineering could not be sustained.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether the Health and Safety Executive interviewed all those persons working with Mr. Randall at Maxwell house on 31 August 1989 when an accident occurred to Mr. Randall to ascertain whether verbal instructions as to how the work was to be carried out had been correctly given; and what steps the Health and Safety Executive is taking to see that all witnesses to accidents are interviewed.

  Mr. Forth
  In the course of the investigation into the cause of Mr. Randall's accident, the Health and Safety Executive did not interview all those persons who were working with Mr. Randall at the time. Inspectors are not required to question every witness to an accident and may decide to curtail an investigation if, in their opinion, further inquiries are unlikely to be productive for their purposes. There are no proposals to change this procedure.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many accidents in 1989 were not reported to the Health and Safety Executive in the correct 260
  manner and were only subsequently found out about by the Health and Safety Executive; and in how many cases employers were prosecuted for their failure to report an accident.

  Mr. Forth
  The Health and Safety Executive's records do not distinguish between accidents reported voluntarily by employers and those reported following inquiries by HSE. In 1989–90, HSE inspectors obtained 89 convictions for non-reporting under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985.

  Low Pay
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what guidance is issued by his Department to the Employment Service to ensure that the service(a) does not advertise jobs which are paying below the legal wage council minimum and (b) reports to the wages inspectorate any such offence in order that prosecution can take place; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Disability
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to review provisions to assist people with disabilities in training or employment, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Following a review of the Department's services and schemes for people with disabilities, we invited comments last year from a wide range of interested parties on a number of proposals to make our provision more effective. Since these consultations, we have announced a number of changes to existing measures or action which we are taking to consider issues further. We will make further announcements as appropriate. We will continue to keep our employment and training provision for people with disabilities under review.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to review the registration rules for people with disabilities who are seeking employment or vocational training; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Since its introduction, the main purpose of the disabled persons register, established under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944, has been connected with the operation of the scheme under which employers with 20 or more employees are required to employ a "quota" of registered disabled people.

  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Employment announced on 17 September that he has decided to make no changes to the quota system and to keep the position under review. We will, therefore, continue to look at the operation of the scheme and reassess its effectiveness in due course.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which organisations he normally consults on matters relating to employment and/or training of people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Ministers and officials from this Department and Training and Enterprise Council
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  personnel are frequently in contact with a wide variety of organisations involved with people with disabilities to discuss matters affecting our employment and training services and schemes. Particular organisations are consulted on specific issues as appropriate.

  The National Advisory Council on Employment of People with Disabilities provides Ministers with advice at national level and committees for the employment of people with disabilities fulfil a similar function locally.

  Last year we issued two consultative documents on issues connected with the employment and training of people with disabilities, which together attracted comments from several hundred organisations and individuals.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing his estimate of the number of apprenticeships in the construction industry, by trade, in each year since 1975; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The available estimates from the Labour Force Survey are given in the following table. I will write to the hon. Member about his request for figures by trade.

  Apprenticeships in the construction industry

  Year

  Thousands

  1979

  56

  1983

  75

  1984

  64

  1985

  67

  1986

  54

  1987

  64

  1988

  64

  1989

  81

  1990

  77

  Ports (Accidents)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list for each port in England and Wales, and for each year since 1985, the number of recorded accidents which have taken place in the course of the employment of dockers, stevedores and dock workers.

  Mr. Forth
  The information is not readily available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The table shows the total number of injuries to employees occurring in the sea transport and port and inland water transport industries in Great Britain between 1985 and 1989–90. Injuries involving dockers, stevedores and dock workers cannot be separately distinguished.

  Date of accident

  Number of reported1 injuries

  Fatal

  Major2

  Over 3days3

  Total

  1985

  12

  120

  n/a

  n/a

  1986–874

  6

  144

  694

  844

  1987–884

  13

  136

  672

  821

  1988–894

  9

  123

  655

  787

  1989–904

  11

  94

  514

  619

  n/a Not available.

  1 As reported to the Health and Safety Executive's Factory and Agricultural Inspectorates under the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1980 (NADOR) for 1985 and the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences

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  Regulations 1985 (RIDDOR) for subsequent years.

  2 The definition of a major injury was widened under RIDDOR.

  3 Injuries causing incapacity for work for more than three consecutive days.

  4 Year beginning 1 April.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what initiatives have been taken by his Department since July to improve health and safety in motor vehicle repair.

  Mr. Forth
  Since July 1991, the Health and Safety Executive has published and publicised a booklet and a video entitled "Health and Safety in Motor Vehicle Repair" aimed at improving health and safety in the motor vehicle repair industry. Inspectors have continued to undertake visits to motor vehicle repair premises for inspection and other purposes and to seek compliance with the health and safety regulations that apply. Additionally inspectors from the Heath and Safety Executive's engineering national interest group have met the National Tyre Distributors Association to discuss problems relevant to that sector of the industry.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish figures to the latest date available of health, safety and accident incidence in(a) the brewery industry, (b) the soft drinks industry and (c) the wine and cider industries in each of the past four years.

  Mr. Forth
  Reported injury statistics for these specific industries have been separately available only since 1989–90 and are provided in the table.

  Information concerning occupational ill-health is not available for these industries.

  Numbers of reported1 injuries to employees in specified drinks manfacturing industries, 1989–90 2Great Britain

  Injury Severity

  Brewing and Malting3

  Soft Drinks4

  Wines, Cider and Perry5

  Fatal

  —

  —

  —

  Major6

  88

  38

  12

  Over 3 Day7

  1,555

  396

  98

  All Reported

  1,643

  434

  110

  Rate per 100,000 employees

  Fatal and Major

  215·7

  226·2

  315·8

  All Reported

  4,027·0

  2,583·3

  2,894·7

  1 Reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 (RIDDOR) to HSC/E.

  2 Year beginning 1 April.

  3 Defined as Standard Industrial Classification 1980 (SIC) activity heading 4270.

  4 Defined as SIC 1980 activity heading 4283.

  5 Defined as SIC 1980 activity heading 4261.

  6 As defined under RIDDOR.

  7 Injuries causing incapacity for work for more than three consecutive days.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what contributions Her Majesty's Government currently plan to make to the European Year of Health, Safety and Hygiene at Work.

  Mr. Forth
  The Government welcome this European initiative and hope that it will give a new thrust to the improvement of occupational health and safety throughout the Community. In the United Kingdom, a national liaison committee has been set up by the Health and Safety Commission to co-ordinate activities for the year. It is
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  composed of employer, trade union, voluntary sector and Government representatives. The national committee is working with the Health and Safety Executive to develop a full programme of events and activities throughout the year. Some EC funding is available. Applications have been invited from a wide range of private, public and voluntary sector bodies to take forward projects during the year. In addition, many employers, workers and voluntary organisations are planning their own initiatives for the year. The success of the year clearly depends on the widest possible involvement at all levels.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what new measures to enhance health and safety in clinical laboratories have been recently introduced.

  Mr. Forth
  On 17 September the Health and Safety Commission published new guidance entitled "Safety in Health Service Laboratories" on safe working and the prevention of infection in clinical laboratories and post-mortem rooms. This was accompanied by model rules for staff and visitors.

  The guidance which has been made available to the Health Departments aims to help employers in the health care sector to comply with their duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, in particular in the context of risk assessment. A copy has been placed in the House Library.

  Noise
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what recent studies have been undertaken by his Department on the environmental effects of noise in the workplace.

  Mr. Forth
  The Health and Safety Executive has a continuing programme of research into the effects of noise on employees in the workplace. Recent studies include a review of the non-auditory effects of noise which examined the effect of noise on, among other things, employees' performance, efficiency and health. Health and Safety Executive is to publish shortly a report by Professor Douglas Robinson on occupational hearing loss which provides tables to assist with the estimation of hearing loss caused by the combined effects of noise exposure and ageing.

  Studies on the effects of workplace noise on the external environment are also being undertaken by the Department of the Environment. The Building Research Establishment is examining the factors which affect the insulation of buildings. This will help to contain noise at source and minimise the transmission of noise from one work environment to another. In addition, research is under way into the degree of acceptability to the public of industrial noise.

  Rough Terrain Vehicles
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether Her Majesty's Government have taken any recent initiative to improve the safety of rough terrain agricultural and forestry vehicles.

  Mr. Forth
  The Health and Safety Executive has recently instigated two research projects on the safety of all-terrain vehicles. In one, funded jointly by the Health 264
  and Safety Executive and industry, the Scottish Centre of Agricultural Engineering is assessing the braking performance and stability of ATVs primarily with mounted or towed equipment. In the other, Health and Safety Executive's research and laboratory services division is investigating the stability of ATV when used as a means of transport over different terrains.

  Health and Safety Executive is also supporting a further initiative, jointly sponsored by the British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association and the Agricultural Training Board, to improve the training given to drivers of ATVs.

  Training Credits
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department is making any assessment of the impact of training credits upon the provision of training opportunities for young people with special needs.

  Mr. Jackson
  Within training credits schemes, suitable high quality training must be made available to all eligible young people, including those with special needs. The impact of the initiative upon young people with special needs will be addressed in the rigorous evaluation the Department is undertaking of the pilot schemes.

  Heart of England Tourist Board
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many domestic tourists, overseas visitors and day trips there have been to the Heart of England tourist board area for each year from 1979 to 1991.

  Mr. Jackson
  The available estimates of the numbers of visits by domestic tourists and by overseas residents to the Heart of England tourist board area for each year from 1979 to 1990 are contained in the following table. There were also 70 million same-day visits by residents of Great Britain in the 12 months between March 1988 and April 1989.

  Millions

  Year

  Visits by domestic tourists

  Visits by overseas residents

  1979

  9

  0·8

  1980

  8

  0·8

  1981

  10

  0·7

  1982

  9

  0·7

  1983

  9

  0·8

  1984

  11

  0·9

  1985

  10

  1·0

  1986

  11

  1·0

  1987

  11

  1·0

  1988

  10

  1·1

  1989

  19

  1·3

  1990

  17

  1·2

  1 Based on the United Kingdom Tourist Survey and not wholly comparable with the figures prior to 1989 which were based on the British Tourism Survey Monthly.

  Labour and Social Affairs Council
  Mr. Donald Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the outcome of the meeting of the Labour and Social Affairs Council held in Luxembourg on 14 October; and if he will make a statement.
  265
  Mr. Howard
  The Council reached unanimous agreement on the draft directive concerned with health and safety on temporary and mobile construction worksites. The Council formally adopted a common position on the directive concerning written statements of employment conditions (proof of contract), on which the United Kingdom abstained in the vote.

  There was lengthy discussion of the provisions in the proposed directive on pregnant workers concerned with dismissal and maternity pay. However, agreement was not reached on actual texts, which were referred back to COREPER for further examination.

  There was agreement to take forward my proposal that the Social Affairs Council should launch an employment initiative, based on the principle that unemployed people should be provided with the help they need to return to work as quickly as possible, and on a commitment by the Council to devote more of its time at future meetings to identifying and disseminating information on effective practice. As the first practical step in this initiative, the Council took note of a paper which I presented on the comprehensive range of help and advice available in the United Kingdom to people without a job.

  The EC Ministers discussed implications of the European Court of Justice decision on the Barber case. Industrial action on the part of the interpreters prevented any discussion of the proposed directive on working time.

  This Council demonstrated yet again that the United Kingdom is far from isolated in its approach to EC social affairs. A wide range of member states have substantial concerns about the more difficult legislative proposals made by the Commission under its social action programme. In contrast, the Council was able to make progress on matters of genuine relevance to health and safety at work and agreed that high priority should be given to creating and sustaining employment.

  Prior to the Council, there was a meeting between members of the Council and representatives of the European Parliament to discuss the state of progress on EC social affairs.

HEALTH

  NHS Reform
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what new opportunities exist for health authorities and fund-holding general practitioners to obtain complemen-tary and alternative medical treatment for their patients under the national health service as a result of his reforms.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Fundholding general practitioners may directly employ complementary therapists within their practice staff. Non-fundholding general practitioners may employ such therapists subject to their family health service authority's agreement to pay for the service.

  Doncaster Family Health Service
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the current figures available on the average general practitioner list size for the Doncaster family health services authority.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  At 1 April 1991, the latest date for which figures are available, the average list size for the Doncaster family health service authority was 1,984.

  Health Authority Boundaries
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to compile and distribute to all hon. Members a map of health authorities and their boundaries in England and Wales.

  Mr. Dorrell
  No. Maps of health authority boundaries are available from the Health Services Journal price £2·95.

  Free Prescriptions
  Mr. Carr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any plans to enable sufferers of inflammatory bowel disease to receive free prescriptions.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The extensive exemption arrangements already in operation and the prescription prepayment scheme protect those who might otherwise have difficulty in paying prescription charges.

  Rehabilitation Medicine
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of consultants in rehabilitation medicine in post in England in December(a) 1980, (b) 1985, (c) 1990 and (d) July 1991, respectively.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The latest data available show that there were 11 consultants in rehabilitation medicine in post in England at 30 September 1990. No data prior to 1990 are held centrally as staff in this specialty were included in the figures for rheumatology.

  Psychotropic Drugs
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make it his policy to tighten monitoring procedures on psychotropic drugs, in the light of the withdrawal of triazolam;

  (2) if he will establish an inquiry into the conduct of the Committee on Safety of Medicines with respect to triazolam; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if, following the withdrawal of triazolam, he will now undertake a study into the safety of the other benzodiazepines; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) for how many years triazolam was available in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Evidence of quality, safety and efficacy is required before any product is licensed. The Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) continually monitors the safety of all such licensed medicinal products including drugs of the benzodiazepine group.

  Where new evidence emerges which suggests that a safety problem may exist for a particular drug or group of drugs, all available evidence is reviewed and the drugs placed under intensive surveillance. The existing pro-cedures allow for tightened monitoring whenever appropriate.

  Triazolam was first licensed for marketing as a medicinal product in the United Kingdom in 1978. The CSM has frequently reviewed its safety, but hitherto there was insufficient evidence to associate triazolam with any significant safety hazard at the doses employed in the United Kingdom. After careful consideration of the evidence which only recently became available, the committee recommended that the product be withdrawn from clinical use.
  267
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of prescriptions issued by community pharmacists in Great Britain in 1990 for each individual benzodiazepine.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information requested is as follows:

  Benzodiazepines—Great Britain 1990

  Drug group

  Prescriptions (millions)

  Temazepam

  5·3

  Diazepam

  3·9

  Nitrazepam

  3·8

  Triazolam

  2·1

  Lorazepam

  1·4

  Chlordiazepoxide

  0·7

  Oxazepam

  0·5

  Loprazolam

  0·1

  Lormetazepam

  0·1

  Clonazepam

  0·1

  Clobazam

  0·06

  These figures are estimates based on a sample of prescriptions of approximately one in 200 in England and Wales and one in 100 in Scotland which were dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what responsibility will be assumed by his Department for the dependence on triazolam of patients prescribed the drug;

  (2) what will be done to assist those currently dependent on triazolam to come off these drugs.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The clinical care of a patient, including that of dependence, is the responsibility of the physician in charge of the patient. The problem of dependence following prolonged treatment with triazolam and other benzodiazepines has been recognised for a number of years. The Committee on Safety of Medicines has recommended restrictions on the use of benzodiazepi-nes in order to reduce the risk of dependence. In the case of patients taking triazolam prior to its withdrawal, the Committee has recommended re-assessment of their therapeutic needs.

  The provision of treatment services for drug misusers, including those dependent on prescribed drugs, is the responsibility of local health authorities. The Government have made available to health authorities nearly £16·5 million in the current year for use in developing and expanding services for all drug users.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current estimate of the number of people in Great Britain taking benzodiazepines on a regular basis; and if he will take steps to discourage such use.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To discourage the improper use of benzodiazepines, these products are licensed only for short-term use in patients with severe anxiety or insomnia. Guidance from the Committee on Safety of Medicines on the correct use of benzodiazepines has been issued to all prescribers. Information on numbers of people in Great Britain taking benzodiazepines on a regular basis is not held centrally.

  Children's Homes (Abuse)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he intends to take to protect children in local authority homes from abuse by members of staff.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The measures that came into effect on 14 October with the implementation of the Children Act 1989 and its associated regulations and guidance, and the guidance published in the recently revised edition of "Working Together (Working Together —Under the Children Act 1989)" should ensure protection for children from abuse in whatever setting they are being looked after.

  The Children Act 1989—Guidance and Regulations —Volume 4—Residential Care contains specific guidance relating to abuse in children's homes, including the prevention of such abuse wherever possible and the action that must be taken to protect the child involved and deal appropriately with the perpetrator of any abuse.

  The Department also operates a consultancy service, which holds details of people whose fitness to care for children is in doubt. Local authorities and other organisations involved in the residential care of children are expected to carry out thorough checks on the suitability of staff, including using the consultancy service, prior to their appointment.

  In addition the Act and the regulations and guidance provide, for the first time, for local authorities to carry out regular and detailed inspections of children living away from home in a wide variety of settings, to ensure that their welfare is being adequately safeguarded and promoted. This would include inspections of the authority's own children's homes provisions, wherever possible by the authority's own arms length inspection unit.

  Each authority is also required to have a comprehensive and accessible complaints procedure in place for children they are looking after. Children in residential care should also have access to someone independent of the home whom they can contact to discuss any worries. Copies of the publications are available in the Library.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department is planning to issue operational guidance on how the Criminal Justice Act should be administered by social services departments in order to accommodate young people who would previously have been maintained within the prison system.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  A national steering group, comprising representatives of all the relevant Government Departments and local agencies, has been established to take this work forward. Its remit will be to bring forward an action plan and timetable for the development of services and facilities to ensure that adequate arrangements are in place to enable the practice of remanding juveniles to penal custody to be abolished.

  National Health Service Trusts
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what commitments his Department has given to Leeds Healthcare to cover any budget deficit in the current financial year of the Leeds General Infirmary Self Governing Trust and St. James' Self Governing Trust; and when he varied the instruction that all national health service trust budgets must be independently balanced;
  269
  (2) what commitments his Department has given to Leeds Healthcare to fund budget deficits of the LGI trust and St. James' trust in the current financial year and 1992–93 and 1993–94, respectively.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department makes allocations to regional health authorities and it is for them to allocate to individual district purchasers. It is a statutory requirement that all NHS trusts must break even one year taken with another.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the annual remuneration figures for salaries and all benefits of all national health trust board members and senior managers will appear in the annual report of trust hospitals.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to the hon. Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) on 21 May at column 443.

  Community Care
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to notify every social services department about the level of social security moneys to be transferred to their authority for community care funding.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Decisions about the amount to be transferred from the social security system to local authorities for community care funding will be taken as part of the 1992 public expenditure survey. Individual local authorities will be informed next autumn of their proposed standard spending assessment for personal social services for 1993–94.

  Disability
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he intends to review the way in which grants are made available by social services departments for adaptations to the homes of disabled people.

  Mr. Dorrell
  There are no plans to change the duty of social services departments under section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 to make arrangements for adaptations to the homes of disabled people. In many instances this responsibility is discharged by housing authorities using their powers under part VIII of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, which introduced disabled facilities grants. Responsibility for the disabled facilities grants system lies with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. I understand that a review of the new system is under way. Officials from a number of Government Departments, including the Department of Health, are involved in consultations on the exercise. The results should be available early next year.

  Residential Social Workers
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he expects to receive an interim report from the committee on conditions of service for residential social workers chaired by Lady Howe.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The committee reports to the National Joint Council for Local Authorities'270
  Administrative, Professional, Technical and Clerical Services. The hon. Member may wish to contact the national joint council for details.

WALES

  Family Practitioner Committees
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the numbers of staff employed by each of the family practitioner committees in Wales in 1980 and in 1983 and those engaged by the successor FHAs in 1990 and in 1991.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information for 1980 and 1983 is not available centrally. The numbers employed by FHSAs in 1990 and 1991 are shown in the table:

  FHSA

  Number of staff employed1

  1990

  1991

  Clwyd

  47

  54

  Dyfed

  43

  46

  Gwent

  49

  51

  Gwynedd

  45

  46

  Mid Glamorgan

  67

  70

  Powys

  20

  25

  South Glamorgan

  56

  60

  West Glamorgan

  39

  44

  TOTALS

  366

  396

  1 September each year.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he received a copy of the 12th radioactive waste management advisory committee's annual report; and what plans he has to take action on issues raised in the report referring to radioactive waste management in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  A copy of the radioactive waste management advisory committee's 12th annual report was sent to me in August by the chairman of the committee.

  Along with the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Scotland, my right hon. Friend is currently considering the issues raised in the report.

  Sheep Dipping
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether his Department has taken any initiatives to improve the hygiene and safety of sheep dipping since July.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Agriculturel Departments have recently issued advisory notes and an accompanying wallchart to farmers on the safe use and disposal of sheep dip. This information has also been sent to the National Rivers Authority and agricultural merchants who sell sheep dip. The publications give practical advice to farmers and others engaged in the dipping of sheep on the siting of sheep dip baths and the safe use and disposal of the chemicals involved.

  All sheep dip products are licensed under the Medicines Act 1968 and are currently subject to a review to ensure the most up-to-date standards on safety—including safety to the environment. Any products which fail to meet these standards will be withdrawn from the market. The review will be completed by the end of the year.

  Wind Power, Cemmaes
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what decisions he has made on the recommendations of the inspector's report on the public inquiry into the application to build a wind power farm in Cemmaes in Powys; and if he will make a statement on the future of wind-generated power in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  My right hon. Friend granted planning permission for the wind farm at Mynydd y Cemmaes on 19 September 1991. Other wind farm proposals in Wales will need to be considered on their own planning merits. The Government's general policy is to stimulate the development and application of all forms of renewable energy, including wind energy, wherever they have prospects of being economically competitive and environmentally acceptable. The Department of Energy has invested more than £180 million on renewable energy programmes in the United Kingdom, and expenditure this year is at a record level.

  Rehabilitation Medicine
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the number of consultants in rehabilitation medicine in post in Wales in December(a) 1980, (b) 1985, (c) 1990 and (d) July 1991, respectively.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Detailed information concerning medical staff in post, as at 30 September, is collected by means of an annual census. Rehabilitation medicine was not recognised as a speciality for this purpose until the 1990 census and at that date no consultants were formally recognised as working in rehabilitation medicine. This does not mean, however, that no consultants work in this area of medicine, only that they cannot, as yet, be recognised separately. I will write to the hon. Gentleman about how this will happen in future.

  Sports Development Officers
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the total number of sports development officers in Wales for each of the past 10 years.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  This information is not held centrally.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Road Safety
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to improve road safety on the roadway between Portavogie and Cloughey in the townland of Ratallagh; if he will arrange for the erection of 30 mph speed limit signs; if he will provide a footway at this location; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  There are at present no proposals to improve the section of road in question, to introduce a 30 mph speed limit or to provide a footway.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list works carried out since his reply of 19 November 1990,Official Report, columns 37–38; and what further proposals he has to improve road safety at Saltwater bridge, Kircubbin.
  272
  Mr. Needham
  No works have been carried out at Saltwater bridge, Kircubbin since November 1990. A scheme to realign the carriageway and improve forward sight distances is due to start, subject to the availability of the necessary finance, early next year.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to widen the Harbour road, Ballyhalbert, and to provide a footway in those stretches of the road where no footway presently exists.

  Mr. Needham
  There are present no proposals to widen Harbour road, Ballyhalbert or to provide additional lengths of footway on it.

  Strangford Lough
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether land owners around Strangford lough require his approval to impose mooring charges in the lough.

  Mr. Needham
  No.

  Buses
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the distances between(a) Kircubbin and Newtownards, and (b) Newtownards and Belfast; what is the price of a single adult bus ticket on each of these two routes; and if he would provide for private bus firms to provide scheduled bus services on these routes.

  Mr. Needham
  The distance between Kircubbin and Newtownards is 10·7 miles and between Newtownards and Belfast 10·1 miles. The adult single fare charged by Ulsterbus between Kircubbin and Newtownards is £1·65 and between Newtownards and Belfast is £1·20. The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland, as licensing authority, will consider any stage carriage application which it receives, giving due regard to the interests of both the travelling public and existing licensed operators.

  Coastal Erosion, Ballyhalbert
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that the wooden fence at Shore road, Ballyhalbert, near the Gospel hall, is adequate to combat coastal erosion; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  The wooden fence in question was erected solely for road safety purposes. Protection against coastal erosion is provided by the rocks placed behind the fence.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the success of the provision of rocks at Ballyhalbert to combat coastal erosion; how many complaints he has received about rats dwelling among these rocks; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  The provision of rocks is a recognised method of preventing coastal erosion and regular inspections indicate that it has proved successful at Ballyhalbert.
  273
  Six complaints about rats dwelling among the rocks have been received by the Department. I understand that Ards borough council is taking action to exterminate them.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioners
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Riddick) of 23 July,Official

  Table 1

  Pensioners income components by quintile—£ (1988 prices)

  (1) Total SS

  (2) OCC

  (3) Invest

  (4) Earns

  (5) Total

  (6) Total

  (7) Median equivalent

  Benefits

  Pensions

  Income

  Gross

  Net

  Net

  1st Quintile

  1974

  41·5

  1·3

  1·4

  1·2

  45·3

  45·1

  62·8

  1979

  49·6

  1·2

  1·5

  0·4

  52·7

  52·2

  69·8

  1988

  54·8

  2·2

  3·8

  0·5

  61·2

  59·5

  80·3

  Increase 1974–79 (Per cent.)

  20

  -7

  8

  -64

  16

  16

  11

  Increase 1979–88 (Per cent.)

  10

  82

  149

  19

  16

  14

  15

  2nd Quintile

  1974

  48·3

  2·8

  2·1

  1·1

  54·4

  54·1

  74·5

  1979

  55·7

  3·6

  2·2

  0·6

  62·0

  61·5

  81·7

  1988

  62·1

  5·7

  4·5

  0·7

  73·0

  71·7

  97·7

  Increase 1974–79 (Per cent.)

  15

  27

  5

  -51

  14

  14

  10

  Increase 1979–88 (Per cent.)

  11

  59

  108

  29

  18

  17

  19

  3rd Quintile

  1974

  52·7

  6·2

  3·8

  3·2

  66·0

  64·7

  87·2

  1979

  53·1

  5·3

  2·5

  2·3

  63·1

  62·2

  91·4

  1988

  63·4

  9·9

  4·9

  1·1

  79·3

  77·2

  111·5

  Increase 1974–79 (Per cent.)

  1

  -14

  -34

  -30

  -4

  -4

  5

  Increase 1979–88 (Per cent.)

  20

  87

  92

  -51

  26

  24

  22

  4th Quintile

  1974

  51·6

  11·9

  6·8

  11·5

  81·8

  76·8

  103·8

  1979

  55·1

  13·3

  6·8

  8·2

  83·4

  79·3

  108·1

  1988

  64·1

  28·1

  14·6

  6·8

  113·6

  105·7

  139·1

  Increase 1974–79 (Per cent.)

  7

  11

  -0

  -29

  2

  3

  4

  Increase 1979–88 (Per cent.)

  16

  111

  114

  -17

  36

  33

  29

  5th Quintile

  1974

  41·9

  39·6

  42·5

  54·4

  178·4

  146·6

  159·8

  1979

  51·7

  46·2

  34·5

  40·7

  173·1

  143·1

  157·9

  1988

  59·2

  92·6

  72·1

  39·7

  263·6

  217·8

  225·6

  Increase 1974–79 (Per cent.)

  24

  17

  -19

  -25

  -3

  -2

  -1

  Increase 1979–88 (Per cent.)

  14

  100

  109

  -2

  52

  52

  43

  Source: Family Expenditure Survey.

  2. £s per week at 1988 prices.

  3. Quintile boundaries used are of net equivalised income.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of those persons in receipt of the state pension are also in receipt of state earnings-related pension(a) in total and (b) in each of the bands of £1 additional pension from state earnings-related pension upwards.

  Miss Widdecombe
  As at September 1990, there were3,066,050 people in receipt of additional pension. Of these 23,760 received additional pension only.

  The numbers of people in receipt of additional pension with the amounts shown in £1 bands is as follows:

  Amount £

  Numbers

  Less than £1

  581,550

  1– 1·99

  524,380

  2– 2·99

  468,200

  274
  Report, columns 541–43, on pensioners' incomes, if he will make the same analysis for each quintile of pensioners' incomes.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is in the table. The figures in columns 1–6 are subject to sampling error and to possible distortion by any switch in the composition of the pensioner population. The median equivalised incomes, being subject to generally smaller sampling errors and free from distortion by compositional changes, therefore give a more accurate indication of overall income changes by quintile. However, these figures cannot be broken down by income component.

  Amount £

  Numbers

  3– 3·99

  345,030

  4– 4·99

  234,720

  5– 5·99

  166,640

  6– 6·99

  109,760

  7– 7·99

  87,710

  8– 8·99

  74,150

  9– 9·99

  63,680

  10– 10·99

  53,970

  11– 11·99

  44,850

  12– 12·99

  39,540

  13– 13·99

  35,320

  14– 14·99

  29,920

  15– 15·99

  26,570

  16– 16·99

  24,260

  17– 17·99

  19,720

  18– 18·99

  16,770

  275

  Amount £

  Numbers

  19– 19·99

  15,650

  20– 20·99

  14,440

  21–21·99

  11,130

  22– 22·99

  9,880

  23– 23·99

  8,230

  24– 24·99

  7,770

  25– 25·99

  7,730

  26– 26·99

  5,760

  27– 27·99

  5,170

  28– 28·99

  5,360

  29 or more

  28,190

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are currently in receipt of the state pension; and how many of these are also in receipt of income support.

  Miss Widdecombe
  In September 1990, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 10 million people in receipt of state retirement pension. In May 1990, the latest date for which these figures are available, there were 1·38 million people in receipt of both retirement pension and income support. A further 0·15 million people in receipt of retirement pension were partners of people in receipt of income support.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has of the cost of paying the care component of the disability living allowance at all three levels to people who become disabled after the age of 65 years net of savings in the administration costs and payment of attendance allowance.

  Mr. Scott
  It is very difficult to estimate with any degree of certainty whether paying the three rates of the care component of disability living allowance to people who become disabled after the age of 65, rather than the two rates of attendance allowance currently available to them, would result in administrative savings or costs. The benefit cost of introducing such a change, net of anticipated expenditure on attendance allowance, would be in the region of £165 million in the first full year.

  Unclaimed Benefits
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the latest annual figures for unclaimed supplementary benefit or income support, housing benefit, and other benefit categories; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The latest available information on the take-up of income-related benefits is for 1987 and is contained in the published estimates of take-up, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Benefits
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost of(a) extending invalid care allowance to people caring for someone on lower rate care component, (b) abolishing the waiting period in disability living allowance or reducing it to two months, (c) extending the linking rule in disability working allowance from eight months to two years for all long-term
  276
  incapacity benefit recipients, (d) abolishing the qualifying benefit rules, (e) increasing disability working allowance threshhold levels to £50 per week for single claimants and £75 per week for couples, (f) reducing the disability working allowance taper to 15 per cent. and (g) aligning severe disablement allowance with IVB.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) We estimate that the cost of extending invalid care allowance to people caring for someone on the lowest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance would be about £20 million a year;

  (b) I refer the hon. Member to the answers that I gave to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 6 December at column 191;

  (c) We estimate that the cost of extending the invalidity benefit and severe disablement allowance linking rules from the present eight weeks to two years for all claimants would be around £30 million a year;

  (d) We estimate that the cost of removing the qualifying benefit test for disability working allowance would be about £150 million a year once the benefit is established;

  (e) We estimate that the cost of increasing the disability working allowance threshold levels to £50 per week for single claimants and £75 per week for couples would be approximately £22·5 million a year once the benefit is established;

  (f) It is impossible to estimate with confidence what would be the cost of reducing the disability working allowance taper to 15 per cent. but it would probably be well over £100 million a year once the benefit is established;

  (g) I refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) on 24 July at column 673.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost of(a) making the lower rate mobility component of disability living allowance. available to people aged over 65 years who also qualify for the care component, (b) making the lower rate care component of disability living allowance available to people who qualify aged over 65 years, (c) making the higher rate mobility component available to those aged over 65 years, (d) removing the lower age bar of disability living allowance, (e) reducing the age limit of disability living allowance to age two or three respectively, and (f) introducing a new higher rate at the same level as the higher rate care for people with locomotor difficulties in OPCS categories 9 and 10.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is as follows:

  (a) The estimated cost of making the lower rate only of the mobility component available to people over the age of 65 who also qualify for the care component would be in the region of £15 million. The cost of making both the rates of the mobility component available to such people would he up to £100 million.

  Estimates of the other costs which have been asked for are (b) £165 million, (c) £2 billion, (d) £35 million, (e) £30 million for an age limit of 2 or £25 million for an age limit of 3.

  (f) There are particular difficulties with attempting to estimate the cost of introducing a new higher rate of the mobility component at the same level as the higher rate care for people with locomotor difficulties in OPCS categories 9 and 10. OPCS severity categories refer to overall levels of disability and a very severe level of overall disability may not necessarily equate with appreciable mobility needs. If a higher rate mobility component was to be paid in the way suggested in the question it would be necessary to decide the overall level of a person's disability before going on to determine whether there were any locomotion difficulties; and benefit would be awarded regardless of the severity of those locomotion

  277

  disabilities. The Government does not believe that such an approach would be either sensible or workable. The cost, assuming the normal age conditions for the mobility component, might be around £140 million, but this cannot be assessed with any certainty.

  Incomes
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security between 1979 and 1987, what increase or decrease in incomes, after housing costs, occurred(a) for the poorest 100 of the population and (b) for the richest 100 of the population.

  Mr. Jack
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 23 July at columns 535–37.

  Cold Weather Credits
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received from the Campaign for Cold Weather Credits; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Yesterday we received one representation concerning this campaign, to which we will reply separately. The Government have recently announced substantial improvements to the cold weather payments scheme. From this winter, payments will be made automatically to those who are entitled; a forecast trigger has been introduced; and the capital limit has been abolished bringing a further 400,000 people into the scheme.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what basis the adult population of Lambeth is calculated to be 172,411 for poll tax reduction grant instead of Lambeth council's estimated population of 181,000; and what difference the lower figure makes to the reduction given to Lambeth overall and on individual terms.

  Mr. Portillo
  Instalments of community charge grant, which compensates authorities for the £140 general reduction in community charges in 1991–92, are currently based on the amount which each council had budgeted to collect in community charges for the year. After the year end further payments will be made to bring the total amount of grant up to 100 per cent. of the actual income forgone. Actual population is incidental to these calculations.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many queries have been raised about the correctness of assessments of domestic properties since 1 April 1990 following the change of domestic rates after the introduction of poll tax; and what action he proposes to take to deal with the question of identically built and serviced properties erected prior to 1 April 1990 whose owners are now in dispute over incorrect assessments and which cannot be reviewed retrospectively by the district valuation offices.

  Mr. Portillo
  Information on queries to local valuation offices about 1973 valuation list entries is not kept 278
  centrally. We do not propose to re-open the right to appeal against the assessments of domestic properties for general rates. All ratepayers had full rights to challenge their rateable values during the life of the previous system.

  Public Rights of Way
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions have taken place between Government Departments, and agencies such as English Nature, and local authorities about possible conflicts between local authorities' duties to protect and maintain public rights of way and the duty under section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to protect sites of special scientific interest.

  Mr. Baldry
  No such discussions have taken place, although my Department is aware of correspondence between English Nature and highway authorities. Such authorities have a duty of care when operating within sites of special scientific interest and are advised to consult English Nature informally before undertaking operations in sensitive areas such as this.

  Wild Birds
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to restrict trade in wild birds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bosworth (Mr. Tredinnick) on 14 October 1991,Official Report, column 13.

  Eco-Labelling
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent meetings have been held with the national advisory group on eco-labelling; and what publications on eco-labelling were released by his Department between the end of July and 14 October.

  Mr. Baldry
  The national advisory group on eco-labelling last met as a body on 16 July; further meetings of its sub-groups, examining product categories, promotion and the administration of the scheme have been held since then.

  The national advisory group on eco-labelling published a report on its work, "Giving Guidance to the Green Consumer—Progress on an Eco-Labelling scheme for the UK", on 22 August. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

  Environmental Conferences
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department was represented at or participated in the conference on disasters, pollution and the environment, held at the university of Bradford on 10 to 12 September.

  Mr. Baldry
  My hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside spoke at the conference on 11 September.

  Household Waste
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to meet officials of the Association of Municipal Engineers to discuss its report "Recycling Household Waste—The Way Ahead", a copy of which was sent to his Department in August.

  Mr. Baldry
  Officials in the Department of Trade and Industry have already discussed the ideas in the report with its authors. We consider it a useful contribution to the current debate on the future of household waste recycling in this country.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department published its 1991–92 environmental protection research newsletter; from where and at what cost it can be obtained; and how many copies were printed on the initial print run.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Department released its 1991–92 environmental protection research newsletter in June 1991; 500 copies were printed on the initial print run. The newsletter is available from the chief scientist group of the Department.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department published its report "Environmental Action Guide for Building and Purchasing Managers"; how many copies were printed on the initial print run; and what has been the cost of production of the report.

  Mr. Baldry
  The "Environmental Action Guide for Building and Purchasing Managers" was published by HMSO on 9 August 1991, price £5·50.

  The intial print was 4,000. The cost of copies supplied to DOE for official distribution was £4,400. Staff costs incurred in producing the guide are estimated at approximately £30,000.

  Water Quality
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any scientists from his Department are members of the technical sub-committee on water analysis (CEN/TC230) of the European Committee for Standardisation.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Department has not attended meetings of the Technical Committee on Water Analysis (CEN/TC230) but participates in its work through the appropriate committee of the British Standards Institution.

  Landfill
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to respond to the seventh report of the Environment Select Committee (HC-263) on the EC draft directive on the landfill of waste.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Environment Select Committee's report is a useful contribution, both to the discussion of the draft landfill directive in Brussels, and to the ongoing task of raising the standards of United Kingdom waste management generally.

  I am currently considering all the issues raised in the report and will be responding in due course.

  Environmental Protection Act
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance notes for prescribed processes, pursuant to the Environmental Protection Act 1990, part I, have been published to date; and if he will make it his policy periodically to update Parliament on the publication of further guidance notes.

  Mr. Baldry
  Details of the first 25 progress guidance notes for local authority air pollution controls were given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Environment and Countryside on 26 February, column 422, in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Dulwich (Mr. Bowden); and details of five general guidance notes on the operation of these controls were given on 25 April, column 493, in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, South (Mr. Sumberg).

  An additional 25 local authority guidance notes were published in July. These were as follows:

  PG2/2 (91)—Hot dip galvanising processes.

  PG2/3 (91)—Electrical and rotary furnaces.

  PG2/4 (91)—Iron, steel and non-ferrous mental foundry processes.

  PG2/5 (91)—Hot and cold blast cupolas.

  PG2/6 (91)—Aluminium and aluminium alloy processes.

  PG2/7 (91)—Zinc and zinc alloy processes.

  PG2/8 (91)—Copper and copper alloy processes.

  PG2/9 (91)—Metal decontamination processes.

  PG3/5 (91)—Coal, coke and coal product processes.

  PG3/7 (91)—Exfoliation of vermiculite and expansion of perlite.

  PG3/8 (91)—Quarry processes including roadstone plants and the size reduction of bricks, tiles and concrete.

  PG3/9 (91)—Sand drying and cooling.

  PG3/10 (91)—China and ball clay.

  PG3/11 (91)—Spray drying of ceramic materials.

  PG3/12 (91)—Plaster processes.

  PG3/13 (91)—Asbestos processes.

  PG3/14 (91)—Lime slaking processes.

  PG6/l (91)—Animal by product rendering.

  PG6/7 (91)—Printing and coating of metal packaging.

  PG6/8 (91)—Textile and fabric coating and finishing processes.

  PG6/9 (91)—Manufacture of coating powder.

  PG6/12 (91)—Production of natural sausage casings, tripe, chitterlings and other boiled green offal.

  PG6/13 (91)—Coal coating processes.

  PG6/14 (91)—Film coating processes.

  PG6/15 (91)—Coating in drum manufacturing and reconditioning processes.

  The following guidance notes have been issued by the chief inspector of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution on integrated pollution control:

  IPR 1—Fuel and Power Industry Sector Guidance Note.

  IPR 2—Metal Industry Sector Guidance Note.

  IPR 3—Mineral Industry Sector Guidance Note.

  IPR 4—Chemical Industry Sector Guidance Note.

  IPR 5—Waste Disposal Sector Guidance Note.

  IPR 1/1—Process Guidance Note: Combustion Processes, Large Boilers and Furnaces 50MWth and Over.

  We will ensure that Parliament is kept informed periodically as more guidance notes are produced.

  Marine Conservation
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department expects to complete and publish its review of options for increasing marine conservation.

  Mr. Baldry
  The first year report on "This Common Inheritance" (Cmnd 1655) says in paragraph 5.28:
  281
  "The Government will publish on a consultative basis by early 1992 a first list of proposed Marine Consultation Areas in England and Wales and draft Government guidelines addressed to regulatory agencies".

  Radioactive Water Management Advisory Committee
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he received a copy of the radioactive water management advisory committee's 12th annual report; and whether he has yet taken any steps to strengthen RWMAC's environmental membership and amend its terms of reference as referred to in that report.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend received a copy of the radioactive waste management advisory committee's 12th annual report on 23 August. As I announced on 18 July, the committee's new terms of reference are:"To advise the Secretaries of State for the Environment. Scotland and Wales on the technical and environmental implications of major issues concerning the development and implementation of an overall policy for all aspects of the management of civil radioactive waste, including research and development; and on any such matters referred to it by the Secretaries of State."

  An announcement about new members will be made shortly.

  Halons
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department has had any communication with manufacturers over its sale of halons to states that have not signed the Montreal protocol to protect the ozone layer.

  Mr. Baldry
  Officials from my Department have discussed this issue with a number of halon manufacturers based in the United Kingdom and abroad.

  Water Pollution
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on measures taken to reduce the pollution of drinking water sources from nitrates and pesticides since July 1987.

  Mr. Baldry
  Good progress has been made towards reducing pollution from nitrates and pesticides and further action is being planned. The Government have introduced 10 pilot nitrate-sensitive areas and nine pilot nitrate advisory areas in England, and these will provide a practical test of the effectiveness of measures to reduce nitrate leaching. The European Commission has also adopted the urban waste treatment directive and agreed the nitrate directive, which together will control nitrate leaching and the levels of nitrate in sewage discharges across the Community. My Department has set up groups to oversee the implementation of both directives in the United Kingdom.

  The advisory committee on pesticides is urgently reviewing the environmental fate and behaviour of atrazine and simazine, the herbicides most frequently found in drinking water. Following this review the Government will consider the options available. In addition, my Department is discussing with major non-agricultural users of pesticides ways of combining effective weed control with minimising the presence of residues in the environment generally and in water in particular.

  RECHAR
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will meet members of the Coalfield Communities Campaign representing the local authorities which qualify for support from the RECHAR programme.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Government are fully aware of the Coalfield Communities Campaign's view on the issues arising on the United Kingdom's application to the European Commission under the RECHAR programme. Although the Commission has not yet approved the application everything is being done to permit a satisfactory outcome and no useful purpose would be served by a meeting with members of the campaign at the present time.

  Gipsies
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on the definition of gipsy in the Caravan Sites Act 1986.

  Sir George Young
  Section 16 of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 defines gipsies as"persons of nomadic habit of life, whatever their race or origin, but does not include members of an organised group of travelling showmen, or of persons engaged in travelling circuses, travelling together as such."

  It is the responsibility of a local authority to decide whether any person qualifies, under the statutory definition, for accommodation on a gipsy site. The essential test is whether, as a matter of fact and degree, someone claiming to be a gipsy is of a nomadic habit of life.

  Mobile Homes
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations, including names on petitions, he has received from mobile home owners who are concerned about the 10 per cent. commission payable to the site owner on the sale of each mobile home and about other aspects of the Mobile Home Act 1983.

  Mr. Yeo
  We have received nine representations, including seven petitions totalling 337 signatures, in support of the hon. Member's early-day motions on mobile homes and 22 representations, including two petitions totalling 57 signatures, relating specifically to the issue of commission so far this year.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish the final report of the research programme on the mobile homes sector in England and Wales conducted by his Department.

  Mr. Yeo
  The results are currently being finalised and I hope to publish this report early next year.

  Leeds Development Corporation
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the total number of people employed in the area covered by the Leeds development corporation at the time of its inception and on the latest available figures.
  283
  Mr. Portillo
  A total of 31,871 people were employed in the Leeds development corporation's area at the time of inception. The latest available figure is 37,733, as at March 1991.

  Bank of Credit and Commerce International
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities which had deposits in BCCI have applied for directions from him concerning their losses; how these should be dealt with; and if he will list them.

  Mr. Portillo
  We have received applications for directions under section 62(2) of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 to increase the authority's aggregate credit limit from Alnwick, Mansfield and Southwark. We have also received an application from Three Rivers for a direction under section 40(6) of that Act to permit the authority to treat expenditure in meeting potential losses as expenditure for capital purposes. In addition, Bury has asked for a supplementary credit approval. We are considering all these applications.

  Agricultural Land
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the hectarage and percentage of agricultural land in the United Kingdom which is owned by(a) Government Departments, specifying which Department, (b) local government, (c) the Crown Estates and (d) other bodies in 1970 and 1990.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 17 October 1991]: This information is not held centrally and can be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

SCOTLAND

  Smoke Alarms
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been spent by his Department on public safety campaigns encouraging the use of domestic smoke alarms in each of the last three years; how much is budgeted for the current year; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Office Home and Health Department has spent the following amounts in connection with these campaigns:

  £

  1988–89

  89,000

  1989–90

  51,000

  1990–91

  88,000

  1991–921

  100,000

  1 Estimate.

  The Department continues to encourage the installation of smoke alarms in domestic premises in Scotland through media advertising and the provision of publicity material to the eight Scottish fire brigades.

  Nuclear Fuel Transport
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from local authorities, non-governmental organisations and individuals over the transport to the nuclear reprocessing 284
  facility at Dounreay by road across Scotland of highly enriched spent research reactor fuel from Braunschweig in Germany in early October.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Office has received four representations, all of which are from individuals. Responsibility for transport safety issues throughout Great Britain rests with my right hon. arid learned Friend the Secretary of State for Transport.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he received a copy of the radioactive waste management advisory committee's 12th annual report; and what plans he has to take action on issues raised in the report referring to radioactive waste management in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  A copy of the report was submitted to my right hon. Friend on 23 August. He is considering the issues raised in the report with his ministerial colleagues.

  COSLA
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has had any recent meetings with representatives from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to discuss(a) plans to dispose of nuclear waste in Scotland and (b) the plans for an environmental protection agency.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No such meetings have taken place. The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities will be among the bodies to be consulted in the consultations on the Government's proposals for a Scottish environmental protection agency.

  Rehabilitation Medicine
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the number of consultants in rehabilitation medicine in post in Scotland in December(a) 1980, (b) 1985, (c) 1990 and (d) July 1991, respectively.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The numbers requested are:

  Number

  December 1980

  8

  December 1985

  7

  December 1990

  7

  July 1991

  1

  1 Not yet available.

  Sports Development Officers
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total number of sports development officers in Scotland for each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not held centrally.

  Perth Sheriff Court
  Sir Nicholas Fairbairn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated cost and latest figures for the work being undertaken on the Perth sheriff court building; and what was the estimate.
  285
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The present estimate of the cost of the work being undertaken on the Perth sheriff court building is £1,199,450. £619,786 has been spent to date. The pre-tender estimate was £1,178,750.

  Training Schemes
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what evidence he has on the financial contribution of private employers to the Government's youth training and employment training programmes since the programmes were introduced.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 14 October 1991]: My right hon. Friend has no detailed evidence about financial contributions made by private employers, either in money or in kind, to the youth training and employment training programmes. It is in the interest of employers to contribute towards training costs, and they are encouraged to do so.

  Boxing
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to see that the incidence of brain stem injuries as a result of boxing accidents in Scotland is monitored.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 16 October 1991]: It is for the boxing authorities to consider what specific information on boxing it is appropriate to collect and monitor.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Iraq
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will initiate a further review of all nuclear materials, exports and nuclear technology, or nuclear-related technology, exported under licence to Iraq, subsequent to the report made available to the Select Committee on Trade and Industry in early August following the findings made public by the special United Nations inspection team following visits to Iraq in mid-August and in September.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The finding of the United Nations Inspection team have not been made public. Details of all goods licensed for export to Iraq for the period 1987 to the introduction of sanctions in August 1990 have already been given to the Select Committee on Trade and Industry.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the current availability of medium-term cover to Iraq from the Export Credits Guarantee Department for the use of British exporters.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Following the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq ECGD withdrew all forms of export credit support for Iraq. There are no current plans to restore cover.

  Paper Industry
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any Minister or official of his Department expects to attend the conference on the paper industry and the environmental challenge, to be held in London on 21 October.
  286
  Mr. Leigh
  A deputy director of my Department's enviroinment unit will attend the conference and give a presentation on ecolabelling, including the latest develop-ments on the proposed European Community scheme.

  BCF Halon Chemicals
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what restrictions exist on the export of BCF halon 1211 chemicals.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  There are no current restrictions on the export of halon 1211. However, in accordance with EC Regulation 594/91 on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, the export of virgin, recycled or used halon 1211 to a state not party to the Montreal protocol w ill be prohibited from 1 January 1993.

  "Markets for Environmental Monitoring Instrumentation"
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has made available to interested parties and businesses in central and eastern Europe his Department's report on "Markets for Environmental Monitoring Instrumentation,- published in June.

  Mr. Leigh
  The DTI has no responsibility for the distribution of the report. It has been published by HMSO and is available through its network of bookshops and officially accredited agents in the United Kingdom. International supply of publications is arranged through an overseas network of stockists and agents. The publication is priced at £22 net.

  GATT
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals have been put forward by the United Kingdom to the Uruguay round of discussions within the general agreement on tariffs and trade to ensure environmental protection considerations are included in the trade agreements reached; and what existing mechanisms and programmes exist within GATT to take into account the environment.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The European Commission negotiates on behalf of the Community in international trade negotiations and the United Kingdom contributes to the formation of Community policy.

  GATT already provides for exceptions from the standard rules which permit member countries to take action for the purposes. among others, of environmental protection. A GATT working party on trade and the environment has been reactivated and will start work shortly.

  In the Uruguay round of multilateral trade negotiations consideration is being given to permitting agricultural subsidies for environmental purposes. Separately from the round, a GATT working party is close to agreement on criteria for regulating the export of goods which are prohibited in the exporter's home market.

  Visible Trade
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will update the information provided to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan in his answer of 4 July
  287
  1988, Official Report, column 417–18, on the variations of the crude balance of visible trade for Belgium, Luxembourg, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy. the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the USA and the United Kingdom, for each year since 1988.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 14 October 1991]: The information is available from the OECD's Monthly Statistics on Foreign Trade and the CSO's Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics, which are kept in the House of Commons Library.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what additional funding he will make available to the United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service to enable it to provide expert and independent advice to those refused their claim to asylum;

  (2) what action he is proposing to take to provide independent and expert advice on appeal to those refused asylum in the event that the United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service declines to provide full advice.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The UKIAS refugee unit is available to provide advice and representation before the immigration appellate authorities to those refused a claim to asylum. Discussions have been continuing between Home Office officials and representatives of UKIAS on the enhancements needed to the unit to enable it to respond to the increased workload that will result from the measures announced in the Home Secretary's statement of 2 July. An initial payment of £200,000 has been made by the Home Office to UKIAS for this purpose and further amounts will be made available as they become needed. I am confident that the proposed enhancements will allow the refugee unit to handle the extra demands which will fall upon it as a result of the Government's plans to deal expeditiously with aslyum applicants.

  Carl Bridgewater
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on examination of evidence presented to him concerning the safety of the conviction of those men accused of the murder of Carl Bridgewater; when he expects to make a decision; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The representations made on behalf of the convicted men are under consideration. A decision whether the representations call for further inquiries or other action will be made as soon as possible.

  Racist Attacks
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will raise with his counterpart in the EC steps to be taken in member countries to deal effectively with racist attacks and particularly those directed against immigrants and visitors.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Government strongly support a rigorous response to racial attacks across the EC, and will take every suitable opportunity to ensure effective, co-ordinated action.

  Magistrates Courts
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will announce financial provision for magistrates courts committees for 1992–93; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  It will not be possible to assign cash limits for 1992–93 to individual committees until after the Chancellor of the Exchequer's autumn statement on public expenditure.

  However, to enable courts to make an early start on preparing budgets for the coming year. I have today circulated to magistrates courts committees illustrative tables showing the share of grant for the present financial year they would have been allocated had 1991–92 been the first year of cash limits. This is illustrated by comparison with 1989–90 spending, the most recent year for which confirmed outturn figures are available. Copes have been placed in the Library.

  Actual grant allocation for 1992–93 will be based on the cash limiting formula, taking into account the Chancellor's autumn statement provision, and the most recent performance and expenditure data from courts.

  A number of modifications to the grant allocation arrangements proposed in January 1991 have been made following extensive consultation with the committees. Individual committees' cash limits will reflect local conditions by taking into account a number of local requirements and measuring work load and performance on the following basis:

  Per cent.

  Weighted case load

  60

  Effectiveness in collecting fines and compensation

  25

  Time taken to complete cases

  10

  Quality of service to the public

  5

  The revised formula will apply from next April to be phased in over five years, while kept under close review.

  To assist committees' preparation of longer-term strategies, the figures include provisional outlines for illustrative purposes of the possible implications for funding over the five-year transitional implementation period of the cash-limiting arrangements, assuming no change in local courts' circumstances.

  I wish to make it clear that these are exemplary figures based on recent past expenditure and performance data available and that actual provision in future years will become increasingly based on work load and performance.

  Allocation by formula will provide a strong incentive for all committees to find ways of improving the quality and efficiency of their service, while of course maintaining the judicial independence of the courts.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Radioactive Pollution (Russia)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to offer assistance to the Russian Federation to monitor the extent of radioactive pollution in the Barents and Kara seas arising from the Soviet nuclear-powered fleet.

  Mr. Curry
  This Department has sophisticated monitoring expertise which we readily provided when the
  289
  USSR sought assistance with monitoring at Chernobyl. The Government have received no such request for monitoring radioactive pollution in the Barents or Kara seas.

  Fishing Vessels
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what share of the costs of a decommissioning scheme for fishing vessels is provided by the European Community; if he will now introduce a decommissioning scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  The Community's contribution to the cost of decommissioning is 70 per cent. or 50 per cent. depending on whether vessels are scrapped or disposed of in other ways. However the rules governing our payments to the EC budget mean that 73 per cent. of the Community contribution to any United Kingdom scheme would have to be met from public expenditure, which would also have to bear 30 per cent. or 50 per cent. of the cost. In the light of these figures I am concerned that a decommissioning scheme might not offer value for money, but I am ready to consider industry proposals provided they form part of a wider conservation package which will deliver effective curbs on effort directed against the stocks.

  Grant Applications
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many man hours on average are required for applications for each type of grant and subsidy to be processed by his regional offices.

  Mr. Gummer
  Information is not available in the form requested. The table below sets out the numbers of applications and claims processed under the principal grant and subsidy schemes in 1990–91, together with the man years devoted to the overall administration of these schemes in my regional organisation. Technical input by ADAS staff is not included.

  Scheme

  Applications/Claims

  Man-Years

  Farm and Conservation Grant Scheme

  6,721

  49·25

  Farm Diversification Grant Scheme

  1,387

  17·53

  Set Aside

  4,109

  41·12

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas

  5,587

  20·05

  Farm Woodlands Scheme

  1,264

  11·76

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances

  12,975

  56·33

  Suckler Cow Premium Scheme

  24,026

  49·43

  Sheep Annual Premium Scheme

  35,252

  71·42

  Badgers
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the progress on the development of a live test for tuberculosis in badgers, including the location of such trials and the implications for his Department's badger control strategy.

  Mr. Gummer
  Field trials of the live diagnostic test started in March of this year, in conjunction with routine badger investigations in parts of Cornwall, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire; 134 badgers have been examined to date.
  290
  Trials are expected to continue for some months to come. It is too early, at this stage, to say how the live test will be used within a revised badger control strategy. I intend to take the views of the consultative panel on badgers and tuberculosis into full consideration before introducing any revision of the present strategy.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost of the badger control strategy as part of the tuberculosis eradication scheme in 1990; what are his estimates for the current year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  For the cost of the badger control strategy in 1990, I refer the hon. Member my answer to the hon. Member for Newport, East (Mr. Hughes) on 17 October 1991. The estimate of expenditure for 1991 is £461,000.

  Tuberculosis
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cattle that have been tested for tuberculosis have been found to be positive in(a) slaughterhouses, (b) knackers yards and (c) hunt kennels in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The number of cattle found to be positive for tuberculosis in slaughterhouses from 1986 to 1990 was as follows:

  Number

  1986

  7

  1987

  15

  1988

  13

  1989

  16

  1990

  16

  Knackers yards and hunt kennels have not reported any tuberculosis affected cattle. Meat from knackers yards and hunt kennels is, of course, wholly excluded from the human food chain.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the tuberculosis eradication policy; and what change there has been in the evidence of the disease since the policy was introduced.

  Mr. Gummer
  The present programme began in 1935 with the introduction of the attested herd scheme. At that time an estimated 40 per cent. of cattle in Great Britain were affected; the 1990 figure is 0·0038 per cent.

  Drift Nets
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to discuss the ban on the use of drift nets above 2·5 km at the EC Fisheries Council meeting on 28 October; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Yes. We have already supported the Commission's proposed restriction on the length of drift nets and will be pressing for its early adoption when the Fisheries Council considers the large package of technical conservation measures on 28 October.

  Enzootic Bovine Leucosis
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the results of his investigations into the presence of enzootic bovine leucosis in Great Britain.

  Mr. Gummer
  An investigation of milk samples from over 15,000 dairy herds and of blood samples from over 600 beef herds confirms the belief that the prevalence of this disease, which has no implication for human health, is very low.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Visas
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long it takes for cases to be processed from the results of DNA testing being received to visas being issued.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  If no considerations apply other than the question of relationship, applicants are called in to collect their visas within 14 days of positive DNA test results being received. Posts endeavour to process maintenance and accommodation requirements, where necessary, on the papers submitted. Applicants previously refused entry clearance on relationship grounds and now over the qualifying age limit for settlement, are invited for interview within three months. These cases are then referred to the Home Office for consideration under the Home Secretary's concession announced to Parliament on 14 June 1989.

  BCCI
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he was told that the restructuring plans for the Bank of Commerce and Credit International would not go ahead.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  FCO officials were informed of the content of the press statement issued by the majority shareholders on 3 October shortly before it was released.

  Soviet Visas
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise with the Soviet authorities their failure to grant an exit visa to Vladislava Shtibina of St. Petersburg who wishes to emigrate to Israel.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Details of the exit visa application of Vladislava Shtibina of St. Petersburg were included in a list of cases handed over by the British embassy in Moscow to the Soviet authorities on 29 August. We continue to urge the Soviet authorities to implement freedom of travel for all Soviet citizens.

  Baltic States
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with the new Baltic Governments on the Baltic gold issue, and other matters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I discussed the question of Baltic gold with Baltic leaders when I visited Latvia, Lithuania 292
  and Estonia from 3–6 September. President Landsbergis of Lithuania raised the subject of Lithuania's gold when my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met him in Blackpool on 8 October. We have invited each Baltic Government to send a representative to London in the next few weeks for a first round of negotiations on the gold and other financial issues.

  United Arab Emirates
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs last met Mr. Rashid Abdullah on 25 September in New York, in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly. They agreed that relations between Britain and the United Arab Emirates remained excellent.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to visit the United Arab Emirates and Abu Dhabi.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend has no present plans to visit the United Arab Emirates and Abu Dhabi, but I plan to visit the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar from 28 to 31 October.

  Conference on the Human Dimension
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent CSCE conference on the human dimension in Moscow.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Moscow meeting of the conference on the human dimension (10 September to 4 October) provided an opportunity to review human rights observance in the 38 participating states.

  We welcome the fact that the meeting agreed to expand the existing CSCE mechanism for raising human rights questions, to allow the involvement of the services of impartial experts. The body of CSCE commitments in the human dimension was further extended.

  The United Kingdom delegation took a constructive part in the work of the conference, both nationally and in concert with other EC member states.

  Human Rights, Tibet
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Chinese Government on the denial of human rights and the right to self-determination in Tibet.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have frequently reminded the Chinese authorities of our concern about reports of human rights abuses in Tibet. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister specifically referred to Tibet when discussing human rights with Premier Li Peng in Peking in September. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs also raised the issue with Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen. We continue to urge the Chinese Government to enter into dialogue with the Dalai Lama.
  293
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's reasons for not recognising the Republic of China (Taiwan).

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  As was set out in the 1972 Joint Communiqué with the People's Republic of China, the British Government recognise the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, and acknowledges the position of the Chinese Government that Taiwan is a province of the People's Republic of China.

  Neville Norton
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the British business man Neville Norton has yet been allowed to leave Saudi Arabia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Mr. Norton left Saudi Arabia on 13 August 1991.

  Iraq
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has of the number of deaths and injuries to Kurds in northern Iraq as a result of Turkish aircraft bombing; what representations he has made to both sides; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have no authoritative figures for casualties resulting from Turkish military action in northern Iraq. We have condemned terrorist activities, including those of the PKK, on many occasions. We regret any casualties amongst innocent civilians as a result of the military operations and have made our concerns clear both to the Turkish Government and to the leadership of the Iraqi Kurdish Front.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information Her Majesty's Government possess on the nuclear activities undertaken at the An Walid site in Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Information derived from inspections in Iraq is confidential to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and to the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM). It is for them to determine the extent to which such information is made public. The only publicly available information about this site is contained in paragraphs 17 and 18 of United Nations Security Council document S/22986 of 28 August, a copy of which is already in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have been informed by the United Nations of any discovery of United Kingdom origin technology, technical blueprints, equipment, chemicals or materials, by the special United Nations inspection commission at any of the sites or facilities it has inspected in Iraq, pursuant to United Nations Security Council resolution 687.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Yes. The details have been passed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
  294
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government received the second consolidated report of the United Nations special inspection team visit to Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The consolidated report of the first two International Atomic Energy Agency inspections in Iraq under United Nations Security Council resolution 687 was transmitted to Security Council members on 12 July, and was circulated formally as a Security Council document (S/22788) on 15 July. A copy is available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations were made by Her Majesty's ambassador to the United Nations to his Iraqi counterpart over the detention in Iraq in September of three United Kingdom citizens as part of the United Nations special inspection team in Iraq, pursuant to United Nations Security Council resolution 687.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Nations Secretary General and the President of the Security Council, speaking on behalf of the Council, protested to the Iraqi Foreign Minister and the Iraqi Permanent Representative in New York about the detention of the United Nations/International Atomic Energy Agency staff in Baghdad, including the three United Kingdom nationals. The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency also took the issue up with the Iraqi Permanent Representative in Vienna. The inspection team were released on 28 September.

  Jonathan Moyle
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent communications Her Majesty's Government have had with the Chilean Government over the death of Jonathan Moyle.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Her Majesty's ambassador in Santiago called on the director general of political relations at the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 16 September 1991 to ask that the Chilean authorities consider urgently what further steps can be taken to identify and bring to justice those responsible for the murder of Mr. Jonathan Moyle. On 9 October 1991 the ambassador raised the matter again with the Chilean authorities.

  On 3 October 1991, my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, received an assurance from the visiting Chilean Minister of Defence that the Chilean authorities would ensure that the incident was properly investigated.

  Foreign Affairs Council
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the European Foreign Affairs Council held on 30 September in Brussels.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 16 October at column 157 to my hon. Friend the Member for Littleborough and Saddleworth (Mr. Dickens).

  Nuclear Non-proliferation
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the discussions Her Majesty's Government have held with other member states of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty on the enforcement of full-scope nuclear safeguards since his answer to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) of 18 October 1990,Official Report, column 900.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Since 18 October 1990 we have discussed the question of full-scope safeguards with various states parties to the non-proliferation treaty. On 24 September 1991 we announced that we were adopting a policy of full-scope safeguards as a condition of nuclear supply.

  North Korea
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations were made by Her Majesty's Government at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York to Ministers or diplomats from North Korea in regard to the refusal of the Government of North Korea to conclude their mandatory nuclear safeguards agreement within the requisite time period.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have not raised the question of the North Korean representatives at the current session of the United Nations General Assembly so far. However, we take every appropriate opportunity in New York and elsewhere to remind the North Koreans of the importance we attach to the effective implementation of their safeguards agreement.

  Isotope Separation
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information Her Majesty's Government possess on the location of electromagnetic isotope separation technique technology for nuclear materials worldwide.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The technology of electromagnetic isotope separation is not classified and is widely available throughout the world.

ENERGY

  Business Invoices
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his Department's policy on the payment of invoices to small and medium-sized businesses.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The Department follows Government policy to pay invoices when they fall due. In recognition of the particular difficulties caused to small and medium-sized firms if payment is delayed, the Department is among those participating in a survey of payment performance which is taking place in the current financial year.

  Hospitality Costs
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the latest annual figure for the cost of hospitality provided by the Department of Energy; and if he will make a statement.
  296
  Mr. John Wakeham
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) on 17 June at column 49.

  "Energy and the Environment"
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when Her Majesty's Government expect to reply to the 13th report of the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Communities report on "Energy and the Environment" (H.L. 62) of 25 June.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Government have submitted their observations to the Committee.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has received any communication from or had any meeting with the chairman of Scottish Nuclear since July on the matter of the long-term managment of spent nuclear fuel in dry storage facilities at reactor sites in Scotland.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  A number of communications have been received from Scottish Nuclear Ltd. on the dry storage of spent nuclear fuel. These are being considered.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether Nuclear Electric sought any increase in its external financing limit controlled by his Department to underwrite the agreement made with British Nuclear Fuels on 4 September to reprocess Magnox and AGR fuel at Sellafield.

  Mr. Healthcoat-Amory
  No.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the volume of(a) low-level radioactive waste, (b) intermediate-level radioactive waste and (c) high-level radioactive waste arising from the reprocessing of imported spent nuclear fuel at (i) Sellafield and (ii) Dounreay; and how much of each category of waste, respectively, has been returned to the country of origin under contractual obligations since July 1987.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Imported spent nuclear fuel reprocessed to date will give rise to the following approximate volumes of radioactive waste:

  cm

  (a) Sellafield

  high-level waste

  30

  intermediate-level waste

  2,500

  low-level waste

  50,000

  (b) Dounreay

  intermediate-level waste

  200

  Arrangements for the contractual return of wastes are being developed.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he had any meetings with the chairman of Nuclear Electric(a) between 1 August to 3 September and (b) from 4 September to the present to discuss the long-term plans for the management, storage and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel from Nuclear Electric's power stations.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My right hon. Friend regularly meets the chairman of Nuclear Electric plc to discuss a range of matters relating to the company's business.

  Nuclear Material (Safeguards)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many withdrawals of nuclear materials from safeguards under article 14 of the United Kingdom-Euratom-IAEA tripartite treaty (Cmnd. 6730) of 1978 have taken place subsequently to the reply to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central (Mr. Cousins)Official Report, 12 February 1988, column 393, and whether any of these were permanent.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I have nothing further to add to the answer given to the hon. Member by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy, the hon. Member for Worcestershire, South (Mr. Spicer), on 15 June 1989 at column 486.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when his Department will publish its annual data on civil plutonium production stocks and exports.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The information requested was published yesterday and copies of the press release placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his answer of 8 July,Official Report, column 246, how many exports of plutonium in quantities less than a gramme have taken place in each year since 1979; to which countries the exports were made; for what purposes; and whether all exports were covered by nuclear safeguards.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Owing to the volume of licence applications submitted for exports of plutonium in less than gramme quantities since 1979, this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Information on precise quantities of plutonium supplied to individual countries is commercially confidential.

  EC Central Bureau for Nuclear Measurements
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what contribution has been made by British scientists to the annual report 90 of the European Communities central bureau for nuclear measurements [EUR 13456].

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No direct input has been made by British scientists from outside the establishment to the Central Bureau of Nuclear Measurements Annual Report 90 [EUR 13456]. British nationals are employed within the institute and their efforts are of course recognised, but not as an identifiable national contribution. Two mentions are made in the report with respect to collaborative programmes involving work also carried out at British laboratories. These refer to free neutron lifetime measurements with the universities of Sussex and Glasgow, and of publication of work carried out in 1989 but published in 1990 on the oc emission probabilities of237Np with AERE Harwell.

  Hinkley Point A
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he received the long-term safety review report on Hinkley Point A nuclear plant from the Health and Safety Executive; and what decisions have been taken regarding the future operation of the station as a result of the report.
  298
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I received a copy of the Health and Safety Executive's report on the nuclear installations inspectorate's (NII) findings on Nuclear Electric plc's (NE) long-term safety review (LTSR) of Hinkley Point A nuclear power station on 11 September 1991. It is for NE to decide how to react to requirements listed in the report, and to evaluate any implications for the future operation of the station.

  The NII concluded that there was no reason why the station should not continue in safe operation and the report lists key requirements defining a programme of work to be completed to specified timescales if operation of the station is to continue to the LTSR's target life of thirty years. I am informed that NE is making satisfactory progress on the programme of work. One of the NII's requirements is the need for further evaluation of the weld material in the reactor pressure vessels (RPVs) in order to provide confidence in the safe operation of the reactors beyond the end of 1991. This requirement was made to take account of recently available additional data on radiation-induced embrittlement of the weld material. Prior to publication of the report NE had already amended the operating procedures of the RPVs at Hinkley Point A. They have now submitted a new safety case to the NII for the continued operation of the RPVs beyond the end of 1991, and this is currently being assessed by the NII.

  Nuclear Safeguards
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether the proposals put forward by the Netherlands to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) annual general conference in Vienna in September, on the need for an emergency overhaul of nuclear safeguards inspections, was supported by the United Kingdom delegation to the conference; what discussions took place between European Communities member state Governments on the Dutch statement before its presentation; and whether any costing of the Dutch proposals was worked out in advance of their presentation in Vienna;

  (2) if he will print a summary in the Official Report of the policy proposals on nuclear safeguards which were (a) supported and (b) not supported by the United Kingdom ambassador on the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency when it met in September;

  (3) what specific proposals to strengthen international nuclear safeguards were put forward by (a) Her Majesty's Government and (b) other member states to the International Atomic Energy Agency's most recent annual general conference held in Vienna.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The statement by the Dutch ambassador on measures to strengthen safeguards was made on behalf of all European Community countries. The United Kingdom thus fully supported the proposals contained in the statement which had been discussed in advance with our European partners. I am arranging for copies of the relevant statement to be placed in the Libraries of the House. The proposals provide for a full analysis of costs to be undertaken before a decision is taken on implementation. It will be for the IAEA to work out the costings of any proposed changes in the safeguards system.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether Her Majesty's Government have made any new
  299
  proposals to the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency to strengthen international safeguards against diversion of nuclear technology and materials to military use, by amending International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards documents INFCIRC/209 and INFCIRC/254, respectively.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No new proposals to amend these documents have been made by the United Kingdom to the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

  Wind Power
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will place in the Library a copy of his speech on wind power made at Sudbury house on 11 September to launch national wind power.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I have today placed a copy of my right hon. Friend's speech in the Library of the House.

  "The IAEA File"
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what response his Department is making to the Greenpeace International report, "The IAEA File", released in September, a copy of which has been sent to him.

  Mr. David Heathcoat-Amory
  My right hon. Friend received this report a couple of days ago. My Department is considering it and will respond in due course.

DEFENCE

  Royal Artillery Regiments
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present level of recruitment and the establishment in each of the Royal Artillery Volunteer air defences regiments.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not the practice to provide establishments and strengths of individual regiments.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the comparable rate of resignation or wastage by members in each of the Royal Artillery Volunteer air defence regiments.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The total number of officers and soldiers in each of the TA Air Defence Regiments of the Royal Artillery who left Her Majesty's forces in 1990–91 is as follows:

  Number

  102 AD Regt (V)

  43

  103 AD Regt (V)

  83

  104 AD Regt (V)

  98

  105 AD Regt (V)

  138

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Artillery Volunteer air defence regiments there are; and where they are located.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are four TA Air Defence Regiments of the Royal Artillery. They are located as follows:300

  102 AD Regiment (V)

  Coleraine

  Newtownards

  103 AD Regiment (V)

  Bolton

  Liverpool

  Manchester

  St. Helens

  Widnes

  104 AD Regiment (V)

  Cardiff

  Cwmbran

  Ebbw Vale

  Newport

  Redditch

  Wolverhampton

  Worcester

  Malvern

  105 AD Regiment (V)

  Arbroath

  Dundee

  Edinburgh

  Glasgow

  Glenrothes

  Livingston

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which is the most senior Air Defence Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers) regiment in the Army.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Within the Territorial Army Air Defence Regiments of the Royal Artillery, precedence is determined by the regimental number. On that basis No. 102 (Ulster) Air Defence Regiment (Volunteers) ranks highest in the order of precedence.

  Bristol Channel (Ditching)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals there are to amend the ditching instructions in the Bristol channel area for RAF pilots on flying and training exercises at the onset of imminent aircraft failure to take account of the occasional presence of bomb-boats being unloaded at or off Newport docks.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  My noble Friend the Earl of Arran, Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces, wrote to the hon. Member on 14 October. I have nothing to add to that letter, but I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Nuclear Submarines
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the typical levels of radiation emitted from the reactors of British nuclear submarines.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The levels of radiation vary according to the power level at which the submarine is operating, its power history, and the location of the observer with respect to the reactor. Radiation shielding is provided to ensure that at all times the radiation exposure of the crew is as low as reasonably practicable and well below both statutory dose limits and voluntary MOD limits. Radiation levels outside the hull are very low and pose no risk to members of the public. Personnel are allowed to work inside the reactor compartment only when the reactor is shut down: entry and working practices are strictly controlled to ensure that doses to maintenance workers are in accordance with statutory and voluntary limits and as low as reasonably practicable.

  Seaborne Craft (Scandinavia)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what seaborne craft his Department intends to provide for the reinforcement of(a) Norway and (b) Denmark.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement has already made clear our intention to sustain our amphibious capability. To that end we plan to replace the assault ships, Fearless and Intrepid, and their landing craft towards the end of the decade, and to provide an aviation support ship. In addition, we will also maintain the five landing ships logistic.

  Aircraft
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the type of RAF aircraft that are equipped to use the Hunting BL755 bomb.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The BL755 can be used by the strike version of the Tornado, Harrier and Jaguar aircraft.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance was afforded by his Department to the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee in terms of(a) visits to defence establishments handling radioactive wastes, including dates of visit and costs to his Department, (b) provision of classified information to the committee on radioactive waste production and inventories and (c) explanation of plans to store or dispose of radioactive submarine reactor compartments.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Ministry of Defence provided full assistance to the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee in its review of waste management in MOD.

  Gulf War
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assistance has been afforded to the Kuwaiti authorities to decontaminate the desert from the radioactive debris arising from the use of anti-tank armour-piercing shells made with depleted uranium casing;

  (2) whether Her Majesty's armed forces used any depleted uranium anti-tank shells during Operation Granby.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No such assistance has been requested by the Kuwait authorities. As I said on 28 March at column 566, only a small proportion of the ammunition used by British forces in the Gulf contained depleted uranium (all of this ammunition comprised anti-tank rounds). The Ministry of Defence has, of course, provided assistance in the clearance of unexploded ordnance in the aftermath of the Gulf conflict and commercial mine clearance operations continue in Kuwait.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether during Operation Granby in Kuwait and Iraq any British tanks were involved in burying alive Iraqi soldiers in trenches in a similar manner to the burial of living soldiers admitted by the United States forces.
  302
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Hunting BL755 cluster bombs were dropped by the Royal Air Force during hostilities in Operation Granby; and whether he has made any assessments of the effect on Iraqi military forces of their use.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Cluster bombs were used against unhardened Iraqi military installations such as radar and SAM sites. Most of these attacks were from medium level using CBU-87 cluster bombs. Only eight BL755 bombs were used; the performance of this system is being assessed as part of our detailed assessment of the operation.

  Nuclear Disarmament
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department's atomic weapons establishment will offer technical and operational assistance to the United States Departments of Energy and Defence in the dismantling of the nuclear weapons withdrawn from deployment as a result of President Bush's initiative on 27 September.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No.

  Rosyth (Radiation Exposure)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received from the Rosyth dockyard workers on the matter of health and safety for workers detailed to work in areas of high radiation exposure.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The matter of radiation exposure levels for service men and MOD civilians is one that I keep closely under review. Workers at Rosyth dockyard are not MOD employees; the management of radiological protection at Rosyth dockyard is the responsibility of the dockyard company, Babcock Thorne Ltd.

  Royal Irish Regiment
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to ensure that the commanding officers of each of the new battalions in the Royal Irish Regiment will be drawn from officers currently serving in the existing battalions of the Royal Irish Rangers and the Ulster Defence Regiment; and if he will ensure that promotion from the rank of lieutenant colonel will be the same in the Royal Irish Regiment as from any other regiment in the Army.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Following the merger of the Royal Irish Rangers and the Ulster Defence Regiment members of the general service and home service battalions will have the opportunity to acquire the qualifications necessary for appointment to command battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and other units of the Regular and Territorial Armies. Promotion beyond the rank of lieutenant colonel will be on the same basis as in the rest of the Army.

  Iraq
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any nuclear materials recovered from Iraq under provisions of the United Nations Security Council
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  resolution 687 by the United Nations special inspection team have been sent to the United Kingdom for analysis; and what plans exist for the long-term future of such recovered nuclear materials from Iraq.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  To date, no nuclear material recovered from Iraq has been sent to the United Kingdom for analysis. A small number of centrifuge components have, however, been passed by the International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to the United Kingdom for analysis.

  Security Council resolution 687 requires the destruction, removal or rendering harmless under international supervision of all Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, nuclear weapons-usable material and related items. The nuclear materials recovered from Iraq will be under the exclusive control of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and it will be for the agency to decide on the final disposal of the material.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reduction in low flying is planned for each tactical training area following his announcement on Monday 14 October; and if he will give the figure for the reduction in ultra low flying below 250 ft planned globally and for each tactical training area.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Overall, we expect a decrease in operational low flying training (below 250 ft) over the next three years broadly in line with the reductions in front line squadrons flowing from our plans in "Britain's Defence for the '90s". It is not possible to say how this will affect the usage of individual tactical training areas.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a written statement to explain the reasons for reducing the level of tactical low flying over the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I have nothing to add to the statement that I made to the House on 14 October at columns 114–15.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what aircraft will be involved in his decision to reduce the incidence of low flying.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  As I explained in my statement to the House on 14 October at columns 114–15}, the planned net reductions in low flying take account of the phasing out of Buccaneer, Phantom and Jet Provost aircraft; the introduction of the Tucano; reductions in the number of Tornado squadrons; and the withdrawal of USAF F-111 and A-10 aircraft from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his decision to reduce the incidence of tactical low flying training will include a reduction in flights undertaken at night.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Changes in the total requirement for night flying are still under consideration, taking account of factors such as the introduction of the Harrier 304
  GR7, for which night training is required, and possible changes in helicopter deployments. However, night flying will continue to be kept to an absolute minimum and organised so as to limit its impact on the public as far as possible.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many US air force aircraft and aircraft of other countries will now be allowed to practise tactical low flying across the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The United Kingdom low flying system is primarily for low flying training by British military and United Kingdom-based United States air force aircraft. Low flying by other aircraft accounts for less than 2 per cent. of total low flying in the United Kingdom and is normally associated with exercises or exchange programmes where there is reciprocal benefit to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will initiate a public discussion about the merits and disadvantages of continuing to rely on low flying as a valid tactical manoeuvre.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  There are already many ways in which these issues can be raised in public.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the reasons why his decision to reduce tactical low flying will take three years to implement in full.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The planned time scale for reducing the amount of low flying training reflects the reductions and changes flowing from our plans in "Britain's Defence for the 90s", the reductions proposed in United States air force aircraft based in this country and changes in aircraft used for training purposes.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the reduction in the amount of low flying will be spread evenly across the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The planned reductions in low flying will not affect our policy of spreading this training as widely as possible.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his German counterparts about the impact made on the German air force's effectiveness following the German ban on low flying.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  None.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many letters of complaint he has received as a result of tactical low flying in the United Kingdom during the last six months.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The number of inquiries or complaints relating to military low flying training which my Department received over the six-month period 1 April to 30 September 1991 was 3,596.