Written Answers of 10 December 1992

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prison Officers' Quarters
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what fund the sums received from the selling of prison officers' quarters have been placed; and if he will make a statement as to the use made of these sums.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Receipts from the sale of prison officers' quarters are taken as appropriations in aid to defray the costs of the prison service. Any sums in excess of those authorised to be used in that way are paid into the Consolidated Fund.

  Terrorism
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will review the advice and financial assistance given in respect of public buildings damaged by terrorist action on mainland Britain following the IRA bombing of Shrewsbury castle.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Advice on the protective security of buildings is available from chief officers of police. In Great Britain, where insurance cover is available in respect of criminal damage to property, including damage caused by acts of terrorism, the Government do not provide any financial assistance.

  Metropolitan Police Commissioner
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what selection criteria are used in determining the appointment of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  When considering the suitability of senior police officers for the appointment, my right hon. and learned Friend had regard to the operational and managerial experience needed for leading the Metropolitan police service.

  Immigration Detention Centres
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) suicides and (b) attempted suicides have occured at Harmondsworth immigration detention centre in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  One suicide has occurred in Harmondsworth detention centre over this period. It occurred in 1990.

  Records of incidents of self-injury by detainees which might amount to attempted suicide have been maintained only since 1986. The number of such incidents is as follows:
  734

  Number

  1986

  Nil

  1987

  4

  1988

  2

  1989

  1

  1990

  Nil

  1991

  Nil

  11992

  Nil

  1 To date.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the weekly cost of holding an immigration detainee at(a) Harmondsworth immigration detention centre and (b) Her Majesty's prison, Haslar.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Harmondsworth detention centre is managed under contracts, and the costs involved are not disclosed on grounds of commercial confidentiality. The average net operating cost per inmate per week for all prison service establishments for the financial year to 31 March 1992 was £406, and it would be reasonable to assume that the cost of accommodating immigration detainees at Haslar is of a similar order.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deaths in custody have occurred at Harmondsworth immigration detention centre in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  One death has occurred at Harmondsworth detention centre over this period. It occurred in 1990. A fire at the centre in 1989 resulted in the subsequent death in hospital of one detainee.

  Illegal Immigrants
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate how many illegal immigrants are working in the London area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Comprehensive information on the number of persons working in breach of the conditions imposed on their leave to enter or to remain in the United Kingdom is not available. In many cases it is not possible to determine whether a person is working illegally until he/she has been traced and interviewed.

  President-elect Clinton
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what purpose and at whose request officials of his Department examined Home Office files to ascertain whether President-elect Clinton had applied for United Kingdom citizenship.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what information was passed on by his Department during 1992 to journalists in respect of Mr. Bill Clinton's period of temporary residence in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) when a search was authorised of Home Office records in respect of Mr. Bill Clinton's period of study in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the checking of Home Office files for information on Governor Bill Clinton.
  735
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the reasons for the examination undertaken into his Department's records as to whether Mr. Bill Clinton had applied for United Kingdom citizenship while studying in Britain; by whom the investigation was authorised; on what dates the research was undertaken; what were the total costs of the work involved; and what was the result of the investigation regarding Mr. Clinton.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Sedgefield (Mr. Blair) on 9 December, at columns 662–63, to which I have nothing to add.

  War Crimes
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) of 30 November,Official Report, column 8, how many of the few records relating to the wartime Nazi occupation of the Channel islands that have been held by the Home Office on extended closure relate in any way to allegations of war crimes atrocities that may have been committed by (a) United Kingdom citizens and (b) non-United Kingdom citizens on the island of Alderney; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Only seven files have been retained on extended closure under section 5(1) of the Public Records Act 1958. It has been the practice of successive Administrations not to disclose the contents of records which are so withheld from public release. The papers will, however, be made available to any official prosecuting authority investigating alleged war crimes.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Walsall North (Mr. Winnick) of 30 November,Official Report, columns 7–8, how many records from the few records relating to the wartime Nazi occupation of the Channel islands that have been held by the Home Office on extended closure have been passed to prosecuting authorities in the United Kingdom or in Germany; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  None; but none has been requested. It is the policy of the Home Office that such records—whether open or closed—may be made available to any official prosecuting authority which requests them for the purposes of investigations or prosecutions concerning alleged war crimes.

  Police (Firearms)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has held with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the policy of stop and search exercises involving armed police officers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The exercise by the Metropolitan police of their statutory powers to stop vehicles and, if necessary, to search them is an operational matter and as such falls within the discretion of the Commissioner. So, too, does the decision when, and in what manner, armed police should be deployed in support of such operations.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of persons currently held on remand in gaols in England and Wales; and if he will give a breakdown showing(a) the number of male and female remand prisoners, (b) the number in each over 18 years but under 21 years and (c) the number under the age of 18 years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 1 December 1992]:The latest readily available information which includes the age breakdown requested relates to 30 June 1992 and is given in table 1.

  Table 1

  Estimated population of unsentenced prisoners in prison service establishments in England and Wales on 30 June 1992: by type of prisoner, sex and age group

  Type of prisoner and age group

  Number of persons

  Males

  Females

  Persons

  Untried:

  Under 18 years

  460

  5

  465

  18 to 20 years

  1,463

  30

  1,493

  Total under 21 years

  1,923

  35

  1,958

  21 years and over

  5,369

  231

  5,600

  Total all ages

  7,292

  266

  7,558

  Convicted unsentenced:

  Under 18 years

  139

  4

  143

  18 to 20 years

  599

  24

  623

  Total under 21 years

  738

  28

  766

  21 years and over

  1,170

  65

  1,235

  Total all ages

  1,908

  93

  2,001

  All unsentenced prisoners

  19,200

  1359

  19,559

  1 A further 142 males aged under 21,684 males aged 21 and over and 19 females aged 21 and over were held in police cells.

  Information excluding the under-18/aged 18 and under-21 breakdown is available for 31 October 1992; this is shown in table 2.

  Table 2

  Estimated population of unsentenced prisoners in prison service establishments in England and Wales on 31 October 1992: by type of prisoner, sex and age group

  Type of prisoner and age group

  Number of persons

  Males

  Females

  Persons

  Untried:

  Total under 21 years

  1,654

  35

  1,689

  21 years and over

  5,081

  232

  5,313

  Total all ages

  6,735

  267

  7,002

  Convicted unsentenced:

  Total under 21 years

  633

  20

  653

  21 years and over

  1,437

  71

  1,508

  Total all ages

  2,070

  91

  2,161

  All unsentenced prisoners

  18,805

  358

  19,163

  1 A further 132 males aged under 21 and 310 males aged 21 and over were held in police cells.

  Ammonium Nitrate Fertilisers
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which ammonium nitrate fertilisers banned from sale in Northern Ireland are on the market in England; and what is the maximum percentage of ammonium nitrate in fertilisers on sale in England.

  Mr. Soames
  I have been asked to reply.

  Ammonium nitrate fertilisers containing more than 79 per cent. ammonium nitrate are banned in Northern Ireland. Such fertilisers on sale in England may contain up to approximately 99 per cent. ammonium nitrate.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Industrial Sites
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in obtaining land for industrial sites in Kilkeel in the constituency of South Down.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Industrial Development Board—IDB—has no plans to acquire land for industrial sites in Kilkeel, as industrially zoned land is already available in private ownership in the town.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in obtaining land for industrial sites on the Ballydugan road, Downpatrick; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The IDB is in negotiation with Dunleath Estates to acquire a six-acre site at Ballydugan road, Downpatrick. It is hoped that agreement can be reached soon.

  Housing (Funding)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which housing associations submitted applications for funding for the purchase of empty homes by the closing date for applications on 30 November; and how many homes each of these housing associations submitted for consideration.

  Mr. Atkins
  The following 28 registered housing associations in Northern Ireland made application to purchase properties to rent under the Government's housing initiative announced in the Chancellor's autumn statement:

  Housing Association

  Number of Properties

  Ballynafeigh

  21

  Belfast Community

  4

  BIH

  81

  Botanic

  16

  Church of Ireland

  25

  Clonard

  28

  Connswater

  4

  Craigavon and District

  78

  Craigowen

  10

  Derry

  49

  Dungannon

  37

  Flax

  47

  Fold

  33

  Gosford

  30

  Grove

  1

  738

  Housing Association

  Number of Properties

  Larne and District

  34

  Malone

  18

  Newington

  13

  Oaklee

  14

  Open Door

  85

  RBL

  6

  Rural

  34

  Students

  76

  Tennent Street and District

  40

  Triangle

  5

  Ulidia

  46

  Willowfield

  28

  Woodvale and Shankill

  38

  Total

  901

  Surveys and. Consultants' Reports
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish details of all surveys and consultants' reports commissioned by Northern Ireland Electricity and the Department of Economic Development since 1985 and the cost to Northern Ireland Electricity and the Department of Economic Development of each survey or consultant's report.

  Mr. Atkins
  Information on surveys and consultants' reports commissioned by Northern Ireland Electricity since 1985 is not readily available in the form requested and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

  Information is not available on surveys and consultants' reports commissioned by the Department of Economic Development prior to 1988. Details of surveys and consultants' reports commissioned since then are as follows:

  Consultant

  Title of Survey/Report

  N. M. Rothschild/Coopers and Lybrand

  Feasibility Study of Privatisation of NIE

  Coopers and Lybrand

  Competition and Interconnection Study

  Review of NIE Performance Aims 1989/90

  Review of NIE Performance Aims 1990/91

  P. J. R. Management Organisation Consultants

  NIE Organisational Capability Review

  Ewbank Preece Ltd.

  Inspection of Generating Plant at Belfast West and Coolkeeragh

  Development of Power Station Site

  Touche Ross

  Advance Long Form Report Supplementary Privatisation Study

  Review of NI Capital Expenditure

  Details of fees paid to consultants are commercially confidential.

  Conductive Education
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what financial or administrative support has been offered by the Department of Education or the education
  739
  and library boards to the Conductive Therapy Primary School established in Dungannon; and if he will undertake to ensure that all suitable students requiring conductive education will have an opportunity to attend this school.

  Mr. Hanley
  None. The Department of Education understands that the Buddy Bear Trust is proposing to establish an independent school in Dungannon for children with motor disorders. Independent schools do not receive assistance from public funds, though they are required to comply with statutory procedures regarding registration. To date, no such application has been received. Education and library boards are responsible for identifying, assessing and determining the special educational provision for children with special educational needs. If a board considers that provision should be made other than at a grant-aided school, it is obliged to seek the Department's approval. In considering such a placement, the board and the Department would seek to establish that this best meets the child's special educational needs.

  Local Government Elections
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will announce the composition of district electoral areas for the local government elections in May 1993.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I have today laid before Parliament the report of the District Electoral Areas Commissioner, Dr. Maurice Hayes, which contains his recommendations for the grouping of wards into district electoral areas for the purpose of local government elections in Northern Ireland. I have accepted the recommendations without modification and shall shortly bring forward for approval a draft Order in Council under section 38(1)(a) of the Northern Ireland Constitutional Act 1973 giving effect to the commissioner's recommendations.

ENVIRONMENT

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the council of the Association for the Conservation of Energy; and if he will make a statement concerning the value he places upon the role of the association in the development of policies concerning the energy efficiency industry.

  Mr. Howard
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 26 November,Official Report, column 827.

  Business Rates
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to use their powers to reduce the burden of business rates in cases of hardship.

  Mr. Redwood
  Local authorities are able to offset 75 per cent. of the cost of granting hardship relief against the non-domestic rates pool. Guidance on the relief was issued to authorities in 1990, but discretion as to when, and whether, to use the powers lies entirely with them having regard to the interests of their community charge payers.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to introduce an incentive 740
  for local authorities to notify the Valuation Office of new non-domestic property in their area to ensure that rating lists are kept properly up to date.

  Mr. Redwood
  We have today laid regulations that will allow billing authorities to retain until the end of the year the benefit of any additional rates they collect when non-domestic property is improved or first included in the rating list. The new arrangements will apply from 1 April 1993. This will, I am sure, be a welcome incentive to local authorities.

  Housing
  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received regarding increasing the stock of rented accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have received a number of representations from the National Federation of Housing Associations and others about the need to maintain output from the Housing Corporation's programme.

  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his autumn statement plans to allocate around £6 billion to the Housing Corporation over three years from 1992–93. Over these years, housing associations will be able to provide considerably more than the 153,000 new social homes forecast in our election manifesto. Over the four years to 1995–96, the Government plan to provide £7·5 billion in support of the corporation's capital expenditure. In addition, we hope that associations will be able to attract a further £3 billion from the private sector.

  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new housing association properties have been made available in(a) England and (b) Wales in each year since 1974.

  Mr. Baldry
  New housing for rent made available by housing associations in England and Wales since 1974–75, with subsidy from the Housing Corporation and Tai Cymru—from 1989–90—has been as follows:

  England

  Wales

  1974–75

  242

  4

  1975–76

  4,288

  105

  1976–77

  10,260

  355

  1977–78

  20,521

  644

  1978–79

  23,782

  1,057

  1979–80

  20,693

  1,534

  1980–81

  25,956

  1,173

  1981–82

  20,014

  2,328

  1982–83

  21,637

  2,115

  1983–84

  20,658

  1,535

  1984–85

  25,335

  1,487

  1985–86

  21,329

  1,520

  1986–87

  19,981

  1,424

  1987–88

  18,183

  1,767

  1988–89

  13,925

  1,662

  1989–90

  17,728

  2,442

  1990–91

  19,843

  3,060

  1991–92

  25,815

  3,548

  These figures include housing made newly available for rent when tenants take advantage of grants to help them to move into owner occupation.

  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many families were housed in
  741
  temporary bed-and-breakfast accommodation by local authorities in (a) England and (b) Wales in each year since 1985; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Estimates of the average number of households who were being dealt with under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1985 and were temporarily placed in bed-and-breakfast accommodation in England are as follows:

  Averages for years ending September

  Households in bed and breakfast

  1985

  4,250

  1986

  6,350

  1987

  9,970

  1988

  11,240

  1989

  11,550

  1990

  11,960

  1991

  12,470

  1992

  11,880

  For information about Wales I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was spent by local authorities in(a) England and (b) Wales in each year since 1985 on the provision of temporary bed-and-breakfast family accommodation.

  Mr. Baldry
  The net cost to local authorities since 1985 of providing bed-and-breakfast accommodation in England was as follows:

  Net expenditure (£ million)

  1985–86

  33·9

  1986–87

  75·5

  1987–88

  104·5

  1988–89

  90·2

  1989–90

  72·6

  1990–91

  66·3

  For information about Welsh authorities I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  London Residuary Body
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 3 December,Official Report, column 295, for what period Mr. Wallace Mackenzie, Mr. Michael Roberts, Mr. Jack Wolkind and Sir Godfrey Taylor have been reappointed to the board of the London residuary body.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Mr. Mackenzie, Mr. Roberts and Mr. Wolkind have not yet been reappointed. Sir Godfrey Taylor has been reappointed to serve until 31 March 1995 or until the winding up of the London residuary body, whichever is the sooner.

  Market-testing
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment to which of those of his Department's activities due to be market-tested by 30 September 1993 742
  the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 and the EC acquired rights directive 77/189/EEC will apply.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 9 December 1992]: It is too early to say whether the EC acquired rights directive 77/187 and the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981—TUPE—will apply to any of the Department's activities due to be market-tested before 30 September 1993. The nature, scope and terms and conditions for market-testing each activity will be carefully considered in a case-by-case basis by the Department's legal advisers to determine whether they amount simply to contracting-out, or involve the transfer of an undertaking or part of an undertaking to which the TUPE regulations will apply.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a timetable showing when he plans to market-test those activities listed for testing before 30 September 1993.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 9 December 1992]: Market-testing of the following activities, of which the main ones are listed under my Department in Cm 2101, is expected to have been completed by the end of September 1993:

  Accommodation Facilities Management

  Accountants

  Central Reprographics

  Conveyancing

  Design, Drawing and Print Services

  Economists

  Professional Property Services

  Registry Services

  Statistical Support Services

  Training

  Travel Services

  Workshops and Stores

  All these market-testing exercises are well under way and are proceeding as planned. The Department expects to invite tenders for these functions in the period February to June 1993 if they are shown to be viable areas for testing following the more detailed investigations into the scope for market-testing which are now under way.

  City Action
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the budget allocations made to each city action team by his Department for each year from 1989–90(a) at current prices and (b) at 1989–90 prices.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 9 December 1992]: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 23 June 1992, Official Report, column 132. The 1987–88 prices quoted can be converted into 1989–90 prices by multiplying by 1·143. For 1992–93 £4·0 million of the special budget was transferred to support city challenge round 1. Provisional allocation of the £4·4 million balance for 1992–93 is as follows:

  City Action Team

  Provisional Allocation £000

  Nottingham/Leicester/Derby

  500

  Liverpool

  500

  London

  900

  Tyne and Wear

  500

  Leeds/Bradford

  500

  743

  City Action Team

  Provisional Allocation £000

  Birmingham

  500

  Manchester/Salford

  500

  Cleveland

  500

  Total

  4,400

  Earth Summit
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has taken on the preparation of a national plan based on the forest principles agreed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 7 December]: I have been asked to reply.

  The guiding objective of the forest principles is to contribute to the management, conservation and sustainable development of forests and to provide for their multiple and complementary functions and uses. These principles already underlie the Government's forestry policy, the various elements of which were drawn together and published in a single statement in September 1991. This set the framework for the development of forestry in Britain.

  The Government have now started preparing their national plan for the implementation of the forest principles. This will be published before the end of 1993.

  Shrewsbury Castle (Bombing)
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice and assistance he has given to Shrewsbury and Atcham borough council following the IRA bombing in August of Shrewsbury castle.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have been asked to reply.

  Advice on the protective security of buildings is available from chief officers of police. In Great Britain, where insurance cover is available in respect of criminal damage to property, including damage caused by acts of terrorism, the Government do not provide any financial assistance.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  East Sussex
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assistance is available to stimulate economic development and attract investment to(a) the borough of Brighton, (b) the coastal area between Hove and Hastings in East Sussex and (c) the county of East Sussex.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Businesses in these areas have access to a wide range of assistance provided by my Department with the support of the Sussex training and enterprise council. DTI services include the enterprise initiative, offering expert advice on different aspects of business development, " Managing in the 90s" and other support providing grants for the development of innovative ideas and projects. Help for exporters is available from overseas trade services operated by the DTI. The Federation of 744
  Sussex Industries, local enterprise agencies and other local business support organizations deliver a wide range of business services to Sussex companies.

  My Department maintains regular contact with local authorities in East Sussex over economic development issues and inward investment opportunities.

  Wind-generated Electricity
  Mr. Alex Cathie
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has to increase the generation of wind-generated electricity in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Wind-generated electricity is being implemented in Wales with support from the non-fossil fuel obligation. Two wind farms have recently become operational with an installed capacity of 14·4 MW. A further five wind farms with an installed capacity of 46·4 MW are currently under construction and expected to be delivering electricity to the grid within the next six months.

  Post Office
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received on the future of Post Office services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  I have received a number of representations from interested parties and the general public on the future of Post Office services.

  I have held, or am due to hold, meetings with the following in connection with the review of the structure and organisation of the Post Office: the Post Office, the Post Office Users National Council, Union of Communication Workers, National Communications Union, Communications Managers Association, National Union of Civil and Public Servants, Post Office Unions Council, the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters, the Association of International Courier and Express Services, TNT Express (UK), DHL International (UK) Ltd., Securicor Omega Express, Britdoc, Mail Users Association, Direct Marketing Association, Periodical Publishers Association, British Printing Industries Federation, European Mail and Express Services Users Association.

  In addition, my officials and consultants appointed to advise the Government have met Business Post, Electronic Equipment Association, Mail Order Traders Association, BT, Girobank and other Government Departments.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to complete the review of the organisation and structure of the Post Office and to publish his recommendations.

  Mr. Leigh
  Work is continuing on the Post Office review. No date for completion has been set. The Government will announce their conclusions in due course.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received on the Green Paper on the development of the single market for postal services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Mr. French) on 18 November,Official Report, column 226.
  745
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what reasons underlie the increase in the Post Office's negative external financial limit from 1992–93 to 1993–94; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  At a time when there is very great pressure on the public sector borrowing requirement, it is reasonable that the Government should look for a higher level of return from the Post Office.

  Petroleum Engineering Directorate
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the independent consultants' report into the transfer of the petroleum engineering directorate from London to Aberdeen.

  Mr. Eggar
  Decisions on this report will be announced as soon as possible. It is certainly my intention to publish it.

  Mineral Rights
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what will become of British Coal's mineral rights upon privatisation.

  Mr. Eggar
  Decisions on privatisation will have to take account of the coal review and the debate on the White Paper in the new year.

  Export Controls
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to update the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1991.

  Mr. Needham
  A revised Export of Goods (Control) Order has been made and sent today to the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments and laid in the Library of both Houses. It will implement changes to export controls agreed in international forums and introduce a requirement for users of some open general export licences to register with the Department of Trade and Industry. It will come into force on 31 December 1992.

  Sales Promotions
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to safeguard consumers by ensuring that offers of free flights from retailers and manufacturers as part of sales promotions are genuine.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 2 December 1992]: Sales promotions involving the offer of free flights are already subject to a number of controls, both statutory and voluntary.

  My Department takes the view that a false statement as to the provision of free flights could constitute an offence under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 and a false statement that a service is free could constitute an offence under part III of the Consumer Protection Act 1987. Trading standards officers are responsible for enforcing the legislation.

  Under the voluntary system of controls in advertising and sales promotion, the codes of practice administered by the Advertising Standards Authority—ASA—require all sales promotion material to be legal, decent, honest and truthful. Where someone has reason to believe that a free-flight offer may not be genuine, he should take the matter up with the relevant authorities.
  746
  I do not consider that any additional controls over offers of free flights are necessary at the present time.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if his inspectors will investigate current offers of free flights and report to him on(a) the supply of flights meeting the demand generated by the purchase and (b) the financial security of the firms responsible for providing the flights.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 2 December 1992]: No. Under the British code of sales promotion practice, promoters are required to take all reasonable steps to avoid disappointing the consumer. This includes ensuring that a reasonable estimate of the likely response to a promotion is made before consumers are invited to participate. The ASA regularly reminds advertisers that consumers should be able to understand without difficulty what offers consist of and any restrictions imposed on them.

  British Steel
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has made to the American Government to secure the withdrawal of the anti-dumping tariff imposed on British Steel on 30 November.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 4 December 1992]: I am not aware of any anti-dumping tariff imposed on British Steel on 30 November.

  Motor Cycles
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the makes and models of motor cycles of over 100 bhp currently sold in the United Kingdom, indicating the numbers of each model sold and the value of sales in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 7 December 1992]: The data requested about makes and models of motor bikes over 100 bhp is not collected either by the Government or the Motor Cycle Industry Association.

  Shipbuilding Industry
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will seek European intervention fund assistance to resuscitate the British shipbuilding industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 9 December 1992]: The shipbuilding intervention fund is already available to merchant shipbuilders in the United Kingdom. Our agreement with the European Commission forbids the provision of subsidy to those companies which were privatised as warship builders.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Television Licence Fee
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Bradford, West on 19 November 1992,Official Report, column 316, if he will increase the value of the reduction in television licence fee available for all registered blind people.
  747
  Mr. Brooke
  No.

  Windsor Castle
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, if he will list and give details of the vehicles belonging to the Windsor Castle fire brigade over the past three years, with the date of each vehicle's disposal and date and details of replacement.

  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 3 December 1992]: In November 1989, the Windsor Castle fire brigade retained three vehicles, a "Firefly", custom-built fire fighting vehicle originally purchased by the Property Services Agency but now the property of the royal household, and two Land-Rovers. One Land-Rover was replaced in February 1991 with a Ford Transit personnel carrier which was itself replaced in March 1992 by a Leyland DAF Crewbus. The other Land-Rover was 12 years old and withdrawn from service in November 1991. The vehicles currently in use by the castle fire brigade are the Firefly and the Leyland DAF Crewbus.

PRIME MINISTER

  Energy Policies
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what progress has been made in the development of(a) coal policy, (b) renewable energy policy, (c) nuclear research and development policy and (d) energy conservation policy in the European Community during the United Kingdom presidency of the European Council.

  The Prime Minister
  The Energy Council discussed European coal issues on 30 November, during which the Commission presented its new proposals on subsidies for coal mines. The Council agreed on the text of a decision intended to foster the development of new and renewable energy sources. The Council noted the progress officials had made in discussing a proposed directive designed to increase energy efficiency in buildings, industry and road vehicles. The Council had earlier adopoted a directive on energy labelling of appliances. Progress on nuclear R and D was satisfactory.

  Exchange Rate Mechanism
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what progress has been made in consolidation of the exchange rate mechanism during the United Kingdom presidency of the European Council.

  The Prime Minister
  Following the severe financial turbulence which affected a number of ERM currencies in the autumn, I called the European Council in Birmingham on 16 October. This decided that the mechanism should be analysed in the light of developments in capital markets and in the European and world monetary systems. The work was remitted to ECOFIN. Further strains have recently confirmed the need for this work.

  Sees and Titles
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Eltham of 18 May,Official Report, column 5, whether the consultation of Church authorities includes the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales;
  748
  (2) what changes he proposes to official recognition of territorial sees of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland or, in so far as restrictions apply, in Northern Ireland;

  (3) when he expects to propose changes to official recognition of territorial sees and titles of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales.

  The Prime Minister
  Consultations with Church authorities and others about the official recognition of Roman Catholic territorial designations within the United Kingdom are making good progress but have not yet been completed. We shall be seeking the views of the relevant Roman Catholic authorities as part of that consultation.

  President de Klerk
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library the documents he received from President de Klerk during the President's recent visit to the United Kingdom.

  The Prime Minister
  No, as the correspondence involves matters of national security.

  Civil List
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the time-lag between the annual payments into the civil list and the reinvestment of specified annuities to the Consolidated Fund.

  The Prime Minister
  If the right hon. Member is referring to Her Majesty's reimbursement of the Consolidated Fund for the section 3 annuities, refunds are normally made each November, for payments made during the course of the calendar year. The timing follows that of the first voluntary reimbursement by Her Majesty in November 1975.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Prime Minister if interest on the early-years surpluses on the civil list under the current 10-year agreement is retained within the civil list.

  The Prime Minister
  Yes. Any surplus at the end of the 10-year period would be carried forward and taken account of in the settlement for the next period.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Prime Minister what investments the royal trustees consider appropriate for the early-year surpluses on the civil list.

  The Prime Minister
  The surpluses are prudently invested in the United Kingdom from within a range approved by the royal trustees.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the policy adopted by Ministers if hon. and right hon. Members request that replies to letters concerning constituents abroad come from Ministers and not from chief executives or departmental heads of agencies.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government's policy on dealing with letters from hon. and right hon. Members on agency matters was most recently set out in the Government's reply to the Treasury and Civil Service Committee's 1990 report on the next steps initiative, Cm 1263, which said:
  749
  "It is for Ministers responsible for particular Agencies to respond in the way they consider most helpful and appropriate to inquiries raised by Members. Ministers will normally ask the Chief Executive to reply to letters which concern day-to-day operational matters delegated to the Agency."

  The fact that a Member's inquiry was made on behalf of a constituent who lived abroad would not in itself provide a reason to change this approach.

  Alois Brunner
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss with his counterparts in the European Council a joint approach to the Syrian Government in support of Germany's request for the extradition of Alois Brunner for Nazi war crimes against humanity.

  The Prime Minister
  The case of Alois Brunner is not on the agenda for the European Council. Member states are aware of the continuing strength of feeling behind calls for his extradition. Most recently, Germany has made clear to Syria its own and wider European concerns on this matter.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensions Ombudsman
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what plans he has(a) to appoint additional pensions ombudsmen on a regional basis and (b) to increase the resources allocated to the present pensions ombudsman;

  (2) what plans he has to increase funding to the office of the pensions ombudsman.

  Miss Widdecombe
  We have no plans to appoint additional pensions ombudsmen. Resources are allocated to the pensions ombudsman taking account of projected workloads and costs. These are reviewed from time to time as part of the normal process of reviewing public expenditure.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) physically disabled and (b) sensorily disabled people are employed in his Department; and what percentage they are of the total work force.

  Mr. Burt
  On 1 July 1992 the number of registered disabled staff employed in this Department was 1,484, which represented 1·7 per cent. of the total number of staff in post.

  Notes:

  1. Figures are not available for non-registered disabled staff.

  2. Full details of the breakdown of figures between physically and sensorily disabled staff are not available.

  Benefits Statistics
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing total spending on single payments in each year since 1985 and community care grants since 1988 in cash and real terms.

  Mr. Burt
  Details of community care grant expenditure in both cash and real terms are in the Library.

  Single payment expenditure is in the table.
  750

  £ million

  Total expenditure

  Real terms expenditure

  1985–86

  335

  504

  1986–87

  330

  481

  1987–88

  214

  296

  Note:

  Real terms figures have been calculated using the GDP deflator and may alter.

  Occupational Social Security Schemes
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the implementation of schedule 5 to the Social Security Act 1989 and paragraph 7 of schedule 4 to the Social Security Act 1990.

  Miss Widdecombe
  These provisions were designed to give effect to EC directive 86/378 on equal treatment in occupational social security schemes which was due to be implemented by 1 January 1993. However the European Court of Justice held in the Barber case on 17 May 1990 that occupational pensions are pay and must be equal under article 119 of the EC treaty. This has left considerable areas of uncertainty, including questions as to the status of the directive and the validity of the derogations it would have allowed. We expect the Coloroll case, which is currently before the European Court of Justice, to begin to resolve some of these uncertainties. I have, therefore, decided not to bring schedule 5 to the 1989 Act into force with effect from 1 January 1993 but to introduce legislation, amended as necessary, when the uncertainties are resolved. I shall consider the implementsation of paragraph 7 of schedule 4 to the 1990 Act in the context of this legislation and of any consequential review of provisions relating to contracting out.

  Wages Councils
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimates his Department have made of the increased entitlements to benefits which will result from the abolition of wages councils.

  Mr. Burt
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) on 11 November, at column 817.

EDUCATION

  Primary Schools, Kent
  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many children(a) under eight years and (b) eight to 11 years of age are in (i) local authority schools, (ii) independent schools and (iii) grant-maintained schools in each local education area in Kent;

  (2) how many places are available at the present time and how many places will be available at 1 April 1993 for children (a) under eight years and (b) eight to 11 years of age in (i) local authority schools, (ii) independent schools and (iii) grant-maintained schools in each local education area in Kent.

  Mr. Forth
  This information is not available centrally.

  Thomas Becket School, Knowsley
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will undertake an investigation of the drawing of the pupils of Thomas Becket school, Knowsley, into the debate on that school's opting out; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has received no complaint about the drawing of pupils into the debate about grant-maintained status for Thomas Becket school.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will introduce guidance for the conduct of ballots in respect of applications for grant-maintained schools under which head teachers or staff would be prohibited from suggesting to parents or pupils that a vote against grant-maintained status would involve(a) the loss of particular teachers' jobs or (b) difficulty for certain pupils in completing their GCSE and A-level courses.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend issues, and from time to time updates, guidance on the overall conduct of ballots. In addition, the Department's letter of 3 November reminded local education authorities and other bodies, what in his view are the proper duties and responsibilities of the parties involved in the ballot process. We would expect representatives of LEAs and schools involved in ballots in respect of applications for grant-maintained status to act responsibly and professionally.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Commercial Court
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps are being taken to appoint an additional commercial judge to restore the full complement in the commercial court.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Mr. Justice Colman, who was yesterday appointed to the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court, has been nominated to be a judge of the commercial court.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances
  Mr. Liwyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the future of HLCA payments.

  Mr. Gummer
  United Kingdom Agriculture Ministers have completed the autumn review of economic conditions in the hills and uplands.

  The review has shown that the average net farm income of livestock producers in the United Kingdom's hill and upland areas is forecast to show a significant rise for the second year running. Specialist sheep farmers in Great Britain are seeing a large increase in their incomes as a result of the strong market for store lambs and increased returns from the ewe premium and the special supplement payable on ewes kept in the less-favoured areas—LFA.
  752
  Hill sheep farmers' receipts will be further boosted by an increase in the annual ewe premium of about £1·70 per ewe under the 1992 scheme as a consequence of the green pound devaluations which have already taken place. Although this will be partly offset by higher input costs, any further devaluations at the beginning of next year as a result of revised agrimonetary arrangements would provide an additional boost.

  As a consequence of these favourable developments, the rates of hill livestock compensatory allowances—HLCA—paid on sheep in the severely disadvantaged areas—SDA—of the LFA are considered to be greater than is necessary to compensate for the permanent natural handicaps of farming in those areas. These rates will accordingly be reduced by £2·25 to £6·50 per eligible ewe for hardy breed ewes and by £1·30 to £3·60 per ewe for other breeds in the SDA for the 1993 scheme.

  We will, however, be sustaining HLCA rates for breeding cows at their current levels of £63·30 per eligible cow in the SDA and £31·65 per cow in the disadvantaged areas. The rate payable on eligible ewes in those areas will be adjusted upwards to bring it into line with the EC rules. The precise rate will depend upon the value of the green pound on 1 January 1993 and we will announce it shortly thereafter.

  A statutory instrument giving effect to these new rates will be introduced early in the new year. Payments of claims will commence as quickly as possible thereafter.

  The environmental initiative for the LFA which I announced last February is being sustained. A new definition of overgrazing has been included in the HLCA regulations to enable problems of serious overgrazing to be tackled more effectively. We shall be seeking powers from Brussels during 1993 to apply similar rules to the ewe premium. All HLCA applicants have been sent a free copy of the code of good upland management. Thirteen new upland environmentally sensitive areas in the United Kingdom have been announced, a focus of which will be the protection and enhancement of heather moorland. In addition, I secured in the common agricultural policy reform package provision for a livestock extensification scheme which we would expect to use primarily to deal with overgrazing in the LFA.

  This series of measures is designed to tackle overgrazing in a cost-effective and equitable manner by focusing upon the areas where the problem occurs. The scaling of HLCAs remains a possible additional measure which we will keep under review.

  Milk
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures his Department proposes to implement EC requirements concerning standardised milk and milk imports.

  Mr. Curry
  Following consultation with interested parties, the Government have today laid before Parliament regulations that will permit the production and sale of both standardised milk in England and Wales. Similar regulations are being made in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Milk and Dairies (Standardisation and Importation) Regulations 1992, which will come into force on 1 January 1993, also implement single market measures relating to intra-Community trade in milk. They will remove the present requirement for checks to be made at the port of entry for milk entering England and Wales
  753
  from other member states and will allow such imports of raw and thermised milk provided they are heat treated before they are sold to consumers. Regulations to amend the milk marketing schemes in Great Britain to put standardised milk within the milk marketing board's monopoly buying powers have also been laid.

  Dietary Supplements
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he expects the forthcoming European directive on dietary supplements to include vitamin C in(a) tablet, (b) liquid or (c) powder form; and what steps are being taken by his Department to ensure that British consumers continue to have access to vitamin, mineral and other dietary supplements of their choice in those cases where no problems arising from self-overdosing have been recorded.

  Mr. Soames
  The discussion paper produced by the European Commission in advance of proposals for a directive did not deal in detail with individual vitamins. I have no further information on what the Commission may propose.

  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps have been taken by his Department to seek to identify other member Governments of the European Community which will agree to adopt his Department's position in respect of the forthcoming European directive on dietary supplements.

  Mr. Soames
  We have established the broad views of other member states in discussion in Brussels and through bilateral contacts. We will seek to persuade others of the merits of the United Kingdom case as negotiations proceed.

  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received concerning the conclusions of the Denner report; and what consideration he is giving to those representations.

  Mr. Soames
  I have received 63 representations on the Denner report in total. These have been considered and were taken into account in shaping our proposal submitted to the Commission earlier this year.

  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current state of progress on the Denner report commissioned by his Department on dietary supplements.

  Mr. Soames
  Action on most of the recommendations in the Denner report is dependent on the introduction of Community legislation on dietary supplements. We are awaiting Commission proposals in this area.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many(a) physically disabled and (b) sensorily disabled people are employed in his Department; and what percentage they are of the total work force.

  Mr. Curry
  Counting part-time staff as half units, MAFF and its agencies employ 138·5 registered disabled 754
  staff. These figures represent 1·4 per cent. of total staff but do not take into account staff with disabilities who have chosen not to register. Information to distinguish between staff with physical or sensory disabilities is not held centrally.

  Meat Inspections
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the extent of breakdown in hygiene in the food chain and the effect of replacing the current system of meat inspection by one of veterinary inspection.

  Mr. Soames
  The state veterinary service visits all licensed domestic slaughterhouses annually to check on compliance with existing meat hygiene legislation. Any hygiene problems noted during these visits are drawn to the attention of the local authority, which is currently responsible for enforcing the legislation.

  These monitoring visits demonstrate that standards of hygiene and inspection in the domestic slaughterhouses are in general lower than in export-approved abattoirs which are already operating to the EC standards and which handle about half the meat produced in this country. The Government therefore supported the single market fresh meat directive which requires all meat to be produced to common standards of hygiene and inspection. Most post-mortem inspection will continue to be done by qualified meat inspectors, working under the supervision of the Official Veterinary Surgeon. The Government consider that veterinary supervision of all slaughterhouses will lead to an improvement in the protection of human and animal health and animal welfare. In the longer term, the proposed national meat hygiene service will provide a consistent and cost-effective inspection service in this specialised sector of the food chain, to the benefit of consumers and of the meat industry.

  Sustainable Agriculture
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the standards and regulations which need to be defined for the United Kingdom and the EC in order to provide a basis for sustainable agriculture; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  "Promoting Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development" is the title of one chapter of "Agenda 21" which was agreed at the Earth Summit in June. The United Kingdom's response to "Agenda 21" will be covered in a report to the Sustainable Development Commission which will be submitted by the end of 1993. The Department will be contributing to this report as appropriate.

  Poultry
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effects of low-flying aircraft on poultry farming.

  Mr. Soames
  The Department has made no general assessment of the effects of low-flying aircraft on poultry farming. However, when requested we provide advice to the Ministry of Defence Claims Commission on the veterinary aspects of individual incidents.

  Tongues
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the job losses in the British ox tongue processing industry as a result of the EC ban on the importation into the Community of North American supplies.

  Mr. Curry
  There is no ban on the importation into the Community of North American ox tongues as such. The import into the European Community of products derived from animals which have been treated with growth promoting hormones is, however, banned. Accurate figures on the number of jobs lost in the British ox tongue processing industry directly as a result of the ban on the use of growth promoting hormones are not available. However, since the ban was introduced, the canning industry has reported a reduction of 280 jobs.

  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has made to the European Commission on the import of raw beef tongues from North America into the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Curry
  We strongly opposed the ban on growth promoting hormones throughout the Community when it was introduced in 1989. This included writing directly to the European Agriculture Commissioner on the impact that the ban would have on canners of tongues in the United Kingdom.

  General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effect the recent GATT agreement between the United States of America and the EC and the proposed reduction in export subsidies will have on cereal prices in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Curry
  None. As the EC Commission has made clear, the agreement on agricultural issues reached with the United States in the context of the current GATT round is consistent with the reforms to common agricultural policy regimes agreed earlier this year.

  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effect the recent GATT agreement between the United States of America and the EC will have on exports of British cereal crops to non-EC countries.

  Mr. Curry
  None. As the EC Commission has made clear, the agreement on agricultural issues reached with the United States in the context of the current GATT round is consistent with the reforms to CAP regimes agreed earlier this year.

  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effect the recent GATT agreement between the United States of America and the EC will have on the percentage of land compulsorily set aside under the CAP.

  Mr. Curry
  The recent agreements between the United States and the EC on GATT agriculture questions pave the way for an overall agreement which will include restrictions on subsidised exports of cereals. The Commission does not consider that these restrictions 756
  should in themselves lead to any increase in the percentage of land set aside under the new arable arrangements adopted earlier this year as part of the CAP reform package.

  The agreements also provide for a separate oilseeds base area for the 1994 and subsequent harvests. The set-aside percentage for this base area will continue to be the same as for other crops covered by the new arable arrangements, subject to a minimum set-aside requirement of 10 per cent. The current requirement under the arable regime is 15 per cent.

  Animal Transport
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what steps he plans to take to ensure that, as required by article 5·2 of the new EC directive on the protection of animals during transport (91/628/EEC), itineraries are drawn up for animal transport journeys exceeding 24 hours to ensure that the animals are rested and given food and water;

  (2) whether he will require his officials from 1 January 1993 to ensure that the animal welfare requirements of EC directive on the protection of animals during transport (91/628/EEC) have been taken into account before issuing health certificates under directive 90/425/EEC for animals being transported from the United Kingdom to other countries.

  Mr. Gummer
  [pursuant to the reply, 17 June 1992, c. 575]: EC directive 91/628 sets a framework of controls which are to be supplemented by additional Community rules. Commission proposals for these additional rules are still awaited and it is now clear that they will not be in place by 1 January 1993 when the directive is to be implemented. In this situation, the directive permits national measures to apply in the relevant areas pending implementation of the further Community rules.

  The draft order to implement the directive in Great Britain was circulated for consultation at a time when the prospects for further Community measures remained unclear. It will now be revised so that national measures in the relevant areas will continue to apply.

  The legislation will require animals beginning a journey in Great Britain to be rested, fed and watered after a maximum of 15 hours. Animals will also have to be fed and watered, as appropriate for the species, before the start of the journey. The current requirements for animals for export to be rested and inspected near the port will no longer apply, but there will be a requirement for inspection of export consignments at the place of origin by a veterinary surgeon. Where the directive lays down new requirements—for example, the requirement for the transport of animals and birds by air to comply with the International Air Transport Association live animals regulations—these will be applied. In areas where further Community rules are awaited, such as the design of vehicles, existing rules will continue to apply.

  The legislation will give powers to inspectors to prevent journeys if the requirements, including those relating to feeding and watering arrangements, are not met.

  Much concern has been expressed about further controls on animal transport. There have been fears that when the directive is implemented on 1 January 1993 much of our existing law could be removed. This will not happen. We will take full advantage of the provision in the directive for national rules to continue to apply pending

  757
  the adoption of further Community measures. I have discussed this matter in detail with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and am delighted to have its full support for the steps we will be taking.

  The Government will continue to press for the outstanding issues to be resolved in the Community as soon as possible. In the meantime, the arrangements in the United Kingdom will provide a comprehensive system of controls to safeguard the welfare of animals in transport.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  European Union Treaty
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a table showing in respect of each lettered article of the treaty on European union, the relevant international, Community or domestic court having final jurisdiction in respect of the matters contained in, and interpretation of, each article.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Article L of the treaty on European union indicates that the European Court of Justice--ECJ—shall only have jurisdiction in respect of those provisions amending the existing treaties, as set out in articles G to I, the final provisions—articles L to S—and any conventions concluded between states under article K.3(2)(c) which expressly give jurisdiction to the ECJ. Any questions concerning the interpretation of the common provisions—articles A to F—the provisions on a common foreign and security policy—article J—and the provisions on co-operation in the fields of justice and home affairs—article K—will be decided in accordance with the principles of international law. The high contracting parties may refer any dispute to the International Court of Justice—either by special agreement or where the states concerned have accepted the ICJ's compulsory jurisdiction—or to ad hoc arbitration.

  Mullai Marimuthu
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts are being made by his Department to ascertain the whereabouts and welfare of Mullai Marimuthu, off 67 Lund point, Stratford, E15, currently held against her will in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Mullai Marimuthu is staying at her uncle's house in Madurai. A consular officer had planned to visit Madurai on 10 December to meet the British community, including Marimuthu. However, all flights in Tamil Nadu have been cancelled because of current disturbances. A consular official will visit Madurai as soon as practicable.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has of injuries caused to penguins in the Falkland Islands from the explosion of mines left over from the war.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We are not aware of any such incidents.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what monitoring his 758
  Department undertakes of incidents of death and injury to wildlife in the Falklands caused by mines and other warlike devices left over from the war.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  None. Injuries to wildlife caused by mines and other warlike devices are minimal. Most wildlife is too light to set off mines.

  Gross Domestic Product
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the latest available information on the gross domestic product per head, as a proportion of the net European Community gross domestic product per head of(a) Poland, (b) Hungary and (c) Czechoslovakia, showing both the actual and proportional figures.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The latest published information for—1990—is as follows:

  Gross domestic product per head (in US$)

  As percentage of EC gross domestic product per head

  European Community

  16,373

  —

  Poland

  1,700

  10·4

  Hungary

  2,780

  17·0

  Czechoslovakia

  3,140

  19·2

  Source: World Bank Atlas.

  Foreign Affairs Council
  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council held on 7 December.

  Mr. Hurd
  My right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and I represented the United Kingdom at the Foreign Affairs Council on 7 December, with my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for the discussion of the Uruguay round.

  I briefed European Community ministerial colleagues on plans for handling the European Council in Edinburgh. The Council of Ministers had a further discussion on the future financing of the Community. They focused mainly on internal policies and administration issues, which had not been fully discussed at the conclave of Foreign and Finance Ministers on 27 November.

  The Council noted that the essential elements of the Community's general framework for enlargement negotiations with applicants from the European Free Trade Association had been established. The Council agreed to forward the Norwegian application to the Commission for its opinion.

  The Council discussed the European economic area in the light of the negative vote in the Swiss referendum. The Council noted that, without Switzerland, the agreement would require modifications. It invited the Commission to make early contact with the European Free Trade Association countries and to report to the Council on 21 December.

  The Council discussed recent progress in the GATT Uruguay round negotiations, particularly on agriculture. It agreed that substantial results would be needed in the Geneva negotiations in non-agricultural areas as well.
  759
  Ministers discussed Commission proposals on Community trade instruments and important restrictions. The Council expressed concern over the handling by the United States Government of anti-dumping and countervailing duty cases affecting Community steel producers and asked the Commission to raise the matter with the United States authorities.

  The Council discussed a report on European Community relations with the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia presented by Ambassador O'Neill, my personal representative on the question. Ministers issued a statement on Somalia, welcoming the adoption of United Nations Security Council resolution 794.

  In further preparation for the Edinburgh European Council, Ministers met separately on 8 December to discuss a possible solution to the Danish question, subsidiarity and openness. Ministers also discussed a Commission report on strengthening links with the countries of central and eastern Europe.

  Bosnia
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has of the use of chemical weapons in warfare in the current fighting in Bosnia.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on I December 1992, Official Report, column 164.

WALES

  Welsh Language
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in Wales(a) speak the Welsh language and (b) are learning Welsh; what sums of Government money were spent on (i) teaching the language and (ii) otherwise promoting it during the current financial year; how much this represents per capita in Wales; how much per Welsh speaker and student; what were the figures five and 10 years ago; and what are his projections for the next three years.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Information from the 1991 census on the numbers of Welsh speakers will be published shortly by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in a monitor for Wales. I will then write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House. Information on the number of Welsh speakers five years ago is not available. The 1981 census recorded that out of a total population of 2,749,600 there were 503,500 Welsh speakers in Wales.

  Direct Welsh Office financial support for the Welsh language in 1992–93 amounts to £7·6 million. Comparable figures for 1982–83 and 1987–88 were £1·8 and £2·8 million respectively. My right hon. Friend intends to announce shortly our direct support in 1993–94. Details of local education authorities' expenditure on the language, and the number of learners, are not held centrally.

  Young Offenders (Cardiff Prison)
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many section 53 young offenders aged 16 years and under are currently placed in Cardiff prison.
  760
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  None from Wales.

  Churches' National Homes Coalition
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has had from the Churches' National Homes Coalition; if he proposes to meet the Churches' National Homes Coalition; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  None, directly; and neither I nor my right hon. Friend have any plans to meet the Churches' National Homes Coalition.

  Secure Unit
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales where the proposed secure unit for young offenders in south Wales will be sited; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The joint local authority/Welsh Office working party, set up to take forward the development of the proposed secure unit, is progressing this work as quickly as possible.

  Careers Service
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has had concerning the careers service.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I have received three letters about the careers service in the past 18 months.

  House Building
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of houses to be built by(a) local authorities and (b) housing associations in Wales over the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend will be announcing the results of the current public expenditure survey in due course.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the training and enterprise councils in Wales which have fulfilled their obligation of granting guaranteed youth training placements for all 16 to I7-year-olds.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  It is not posssible to say that at a particular date all 16 and 17-year-olds have been allocated training placements because there is a stream of new entrants or re-entrants to the guarantee group. I am satisfied that all seven TECs in Wales are giving the highest priority to fulfilling their obligations under the youth training guarantee.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps are currently taken by his Department to monitor the availability and quality of youth training placements within each training and enterprise council area in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Officials in the Department regularly monitor management information provided by TECs on
  761
  the numbers of young people seeking youth training placements and the number of placements available. TECs are also obliged through their operating agreement to have effective quality assurance systems to ensure that all TEC providers of training obtain and maintain the status of approved training organisations under the Secretary of State's published criteria or an alternative system approved by the Secretary of State, which is of equivalent or greater assurance and effectiveness.

  Community Care
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps are being undertaken by his Department to monitor the consultation work with disabled people undertaken by local authorities in preparing their draft community care plans.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Department has been closely reviewing with each county planning team the draft social care plans. Part of this review has involved consideration of the consultation process with a variety of interested parties including disabled people. Other consultations have taken place with the voluntary sector and user and carer interests. It is proposed that such consultations will continue within an annual cycle.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the local authorities in Wales which have produced their community care plans in braille or on tape.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Social care plans are, by their nature, very bulky working documents and are not targeted at the general public. However, local authorities are required to produce information for the public on the key elements of their social care plans—the range of services available, how to gain access to them, how to make complaints or suggestions, and avenues of redress—in a range of formats including writing, tape and braille. Welsh Office guidance, issued September 1990, on the preparation of social care plans refers to this requirement.

  Aston Hill, Clwyd
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a statement on traffic blight on Aston hill, Clwyd;

  (2) if he will commission an urgent study of traffic queues on the A494 Aston hill, Clwyd.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  An extensive traffic study of the north-east Clwyd area, a summary of which was sent to the hon. Gentleman in February 1992, identified the need to improve a number of sections of trunk road in the area to accommodate anticipated increases in traffic growth. On this basis, an improvement scheme for the A494 from the River Dee to Ewloe, including Aston hill, was introduced into the roads programme for Wales to alleviate traffic problems along this route.

  At the present time, essential maintenance works are being carried out on this very busy length of trunk road and much thought has been given to traffic management measures so as to minimise delays.

  Housing Estates (Crime)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what measures his Department operates to combat car crime on housing estates; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what measures his Department operates to combat break-ins on housing estates; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Proposals for improving household security are eligible for consideration as crime prevention measures under the urban programme; any local authority in Wales may submit a bid. Projects which have received support recently include "Cardiff Safe and Secure" initiative, and improvements to the security of the communal areas of flats on the Sandfields estates in Port Talbot. Funds made available to victim support schemes have also on occasion been used to improve household security. In addition, under the Welsh Office elderly initiative scheme some £315,000 is being made available over a three-year period to support a project in Mid Glamorgan that is designed to improve the safety and well-being of senior citizens living in their own homes. In addition to providing improved door and window locks, and door viewers, the projects entails the provision of advice to the elderly on how to deal with bogus officials and confidence tricksters.

  In June last year my right hon. Friend was pleased to perform the launch of "Secured by Design" in Wales. This is a major initiative promoted by the police to encourage house builders to incorporate improved crime prevention features in houses when they are built.

  Security of council houses is a matter in the first instance for councils to address in assessing their priorities. It is open to tenants, subject to their landlords' permission, to make home security improvements.

  As concerns car crime, the Welsh Office has supported the introduction of vehicle watch, which is a major police initiative to combat theft of vehicles and articles from them. Also, consideration is currently being given to supporting projects under the urban programme which are designed to divert young people from becoming engaged in car crime.

  Urban Programme
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much assistance under the urban programme(a) Alyn and Deeside and (b) Wrexham Maelor councils have received in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Urban programme allocations to Alyn and Deeside district council and Wrexham Maelor borough council for the last five years were:

  Alyn and Deeside £

  Wrexham Maelor £

  1988–89

  279,627

  487,641

  1989–90

  275,225

  520,842

  1990–91

  225,225

  776,511

  1991–92

  267,613

  1,450,853

  1992–93

  100,000

  599,559

  Total

  1,147,690

  3,835,406

  NHS (Competitive Tendering)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what decisions he has taken in regard to contracting out national health service jobs in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Competitive tendering of ancillary services in the NHS in Wales has led to improvements in the quality and delivery of service and to financial savings in excess of £4 million, thus releasing resources for direct patient care. The market testing of a much wider range of non-clinical services is actively being pursued by authorities, units and NHS trusts in accordance with the "Competing for Quality" White Paper. Decisions on the award of contracts are for local management. The applicability of the Transfer of undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 to NHS contracts is a particular issue which has been raised and the Department is seeking legal advice on whether current guidance should now be revised.

  Hospitals
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total number of hospitals in Wales in 1979, 1991 and 1992.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  There were 173 hospitals open in Wales as at 31 December 1979 and 145 as at 31 December 1991. The number has not changed since. In the same period, the numbers of in-patients, out-patients and day patients treated have increased significantly.

  Disabled Persons (Training)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the training and enterprise councils in Wales which have appointed a board member with the specific remit of training provision for disabled people.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Appointments to the boards of TECs are made in line with guidelines issued by the Department. The particular responsibilities of individual directors is a matter, therefore, for the TEC concerned. This varies between TECs.

  All TECs in Wales have advisory groups that look at the training needs and provision for individuals with special training needs, including those with disabilities.

  Ambulance Service (Clwyd and Gwynedd)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his plans for the ambulance service in Clwyd and Gwynedd.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Arrangements for the statutory provision of ambulance services is a matter for the health authorities locally, which have recently decided to combine the existing Clwyd and Gwynedd ambulance services to form the North Wales ambulance service from 1 April 1993.

  My right hon. Friend has invited an application for NHS trust status from 1994 and the decision to so proceed is a matter for the service itself.

  Caravans
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what measures he will take to assist people affected by the illegal parking of itinerants' caravans; and if he will make a statement;
  764
  (2) when he expects to make a statement concerning permanent caravan sites for itinerants.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Government's proposals for reform of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 and measures to tackle illegal camping were detailed in the consultation paper issued on 18 August. A statement will be made once all responses have been considered.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) physically disabled and (b) sensorily disabled people are employed in his Department; and what percentage they are of the total work force.

  Mr. David Hunt
  As at 1 July 1992, 38 members of staff in my Department had registered as disabled, representing 1·6 per cent. of all staff. My Department also employs several unregistered disabled people.

  Number of Registered Disabled Staff

  Percentage of Departmental Total

  Physically Disabled

  25

  1·0

  Sensorily Disabled

  13

  0·5

  Note: Part-time staff count as one unit.

  Percentages do not add to the total because of rounding.

  Valleys Initiative
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give percentage and actual figures for adult males(a) registered unemployed, (b) receiving supplementary benefit or income support and (c) economically inactive for each of the areas covered by the valleys initiative programme in October 1988 and October 1992 showing the percentage changes.

  Mr. David Hunt
  In October 1988 there were 23,328 unemployed males in the programme for the valleys area claiming benefit—15·9 per cent. of the work force. The figure for October 1992 was 25,954–18·5 per cent. of the work force. This represents an increase of 11·3 per cent. or 2·6 percentage points since October 1988. Male unemployment figures for individual districts which are wholly or partly within the valleys programme area were provided in my answer to the hon. Gentleman on 24 November, at columns 628–30.

  Information on the total number of males in the valleys area in receipt of supplementary benefit or income support is not available.

  Provisional 1991 population census estimates of economically inactive males in those districts that fall, at least in part, within the valleys programme boundary are given in the table. There are no valleys figures for 1988 or 1992.

  Economically inactive population, 19911 males aged 16–64 years

  District2

  Number

  Percentage of population

  Dinefwr

  2,565

  21·7

  Llanelli

  5,057

  22·6

  Blaenau Gwent

  5,465

  22·9

  Islwyn

  4,355

  20·6

  Torfaen

  5,258

  18·5

  Cynon Valley

  4,760

  23·8

  Merthyr Tydfil

  4,297

  23·8

  Ogwr

  7,964

  19·3

  765

  District2

  Number

  Percentage of population

  Rhondda

  6,116

  25·4

  Rhymney Valley

  7,418

  22·8

  Taff Ely

  5,753

  18·6

  Brecknock

  2,296

  18·0

  Lliw Valley

  3,873

  20·1

  Neath

  4,358

  21·6

  Port Talbot

  3,903

  24·7

  Swansea

  11,522

  20·7

  Source: Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

  11991 data are extracted from the Census County Monitor Series CEN 91 CM.

  2District figures include areas outside the valleys programme boundary.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was regional policy expenditure in the South Wales valleys initiative area for each of the years 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92(a) in total and broken down into, (b) regional selective assistance, (c) regional development grant and (d) regional enterprise grant.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information requested is as follows:

  £million

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Regional Selective Assistance

  11·6

  8·2

  7·1

  13·0

  Regional Development Grants

  17·2

  7·7

  6·9

  2·8

  Regional Enterprise Grants

  0·1

  0·2

  0·5

  0·3

  Total

  28·9

  16·1

  14·5

  16·1

  Unemployment
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to alleviate unemployment in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Welsh Office, along with the development agencies and training and enterprise councils, already have in place very successful initiatives designed to encourage enterprise, create new jobs and safeguard existing ones. Regional selective assistance alone has been highly successful; with offers of assistance since 1979 forecast to safeguard over 53,000 jobs and to create almost 114,000 new jobs in Wales.

  Four Crosses Creamery
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement regarding the closing of the Four Crosses creamery in mid-Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The closure of the Four Crosses creamery was a matter for the commercial judgment of Dairy Crest. I shall continue to do whatever I can to attract new investment to all parts of Wales and to that end will make available financial support as appropriate to assist individual projects.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Working Mothers
  Mr.Clelland
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of his taxation policies on working mothers.

  Sir John Cope
  The reduction in income tax rates since has benefited all earners, male and female.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further action he intends to take to assist manufacturing industry.

  Mr. Portillo
  Manufacturing industry is best assisted by the conditions we have created of low inflation and low interest rates, as well as by a competitive exchange rate.

  Single Market
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the arrangements for recovering VAT on exports after the implementation of the single market.

  Sir John Cope
  There will be no change for exports to countries outside the Community. VAT registered traders can also zero-rate sales to VAT registered traders in other Community countries. In such cases, evidence will be required of removal to other member states such as carriers' consignment notes or shipping documents. If a VAT registered customer collects the goods, the seller should get the customer to sign for the goods, give his or her VAT number and various other particulars, such as destination address of the goods.

  Visitors from outside the EC will continue to be able to purchase goods from high street shops and reclaim VAT when they export them from the EC.

  Housing Expenditure
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the additional money allocated to housing expenditure in the autumn statement he estimates will have been spent by 1 January 1993.

  Mr. Portillo
  I am confident that the full £750 million, announced in the autumn statement as a boost to the housing market, will be spent by the end of this financial year. The amount that is spent by 1 January 1993 will depend, for example, on how quickly housing associations can complete the legal formalities on their purchases.

  Value Added Tax
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will exempt from value added tax all shoes and clothing bought for school children.

  Sir John Cope
  No. We agreed with other European partners in 1977 that, while we may retain those zero rates currently in force, subject to their being for clearly defined social reasons and for the benefit of the final consumer, we may neither widen their scope nor introduce new ones. Under the rates directive of 19 October 1992 the Government secured their retention.
  767
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many small businesses are not registered for VAT; and how many enterprises are registered.

  Sir John Cope
  Customs only has information concerning the number of businesses registered for VAT. At 30 November 1992 it was 1,643,679.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on value added tax on domiciliary care provision.

  Sir John Cope
  I cannot add to the answers I gave to the hon. Member on this subject on 18 November 1992, at columns 234–35.

  Consumer Debt
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present level of consumer debt; and what was the comparable level of debt in 1982.

  Mr. Nelson
  The level of consumer debt outstanding at 30 September this year was £53 billion. The best estimate for the end of 1982 is £16 billion in 1982 prices, although changes in coverage mean that the figures are not strictly comparable.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which measures in the autumn statement were designed to help small businesses.

  Mr. Portillo
  The measures in the autumn statement were designed to rebuild confidence and to strengthen the economy and small businesses will benefit from these measures.

  European Community (Contribution)
  Mr. Milligan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will apply for moneys in the proposed EC cohesion fund to reduce Britain's net contribution to the EC budget.

  Sir John Cope
  The cohesion fund envisaged in the Maastricht treaty will be a structural fund for member states with a per capita gross national product less than 90 per cent. of the Community average. Purchasing power parities are used to calculate the relative wealth for these funds. On that basis, the United Kingdom would not therefore qualify for any assistance from the cohesion fund.

  Capital Projects (Private Sector Investment)
  Mr. Thomason
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will make a further announcement about encouraging private sector involvement in capital projects.

  Mr. Portillo
  In order to encourage the private sector to bring forward proposals, we released our guidance provided to Government Departments on implementing the initiative announced in the autumn statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take further steps to promote private sector investments in public sector projects.
  768
  Mr. Lamont
  I announced some important changes in the use of privately raised finance in the autumn statement.

  Bloodstock Industry
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further representations he has received about the effect of value added tax rates on the bloodstock industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  A wide range of representations continue to be received about VAT and bloodstock and the introduction of the single market. We are working hard with industry representatives to ensure that they are fully aware of the new VAT arrangements so that no one is unnecessarily disadvantaged by them. Officials stand ready to consider any proposals from the industry to ease the potential problems they face.

  Economy
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from the CBI concerning the health of the British economy.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and I have frequent contact with representatives of industry, including the CBI, and pay close attention to their views on the economy. We have taken careful note of their concerns and proposals as well as the broad welcome given to the autumn statement.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current bank interest rate in each EC country.

  Mr. Nelson
  Three-month market interest rates in EC countries were as follows at close of business on 3 December.

  3 December (per cent.)

  United Kingdom

  7·2

  Germany

  8·9

  France

  10·8

  Italy

  14·7

  Spain

  16·0

  Netherlands

  8·9

  Belgium

  8·9

  Denmark

  18·8

  Ireland

  20·0

  Greece

  24·5

  Portugal

  19·1

  Wage Settlements
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Confederation of British Industry on the need for moderate and affordable wage settlements.

  Mr. Nelson
  My right hon. Friend has met representatives of the CBI on a number of occasions to discuss a variety of economic matters.

  Credit Card Debt
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the confidentiality of credit card debts and the rate of interest demanded.

  Mr. Nelson
  The legal principle that a banker owes a duty of confidentiality to his customer and should not disclose to any third party information about a customer's personal affairs—the "Tournier" rules—was established by a legal case in 1924. In addition, the Data Protection Act 1984 requires that data should be collected fairly and lawfully; held only for for specified purposes; not disclosed other than in accordance with those purposes; and held in conditions of appropriate security to prevent unauthorised access. The interest rates charged by credit card companies are a matter for their own commercial judgment.

  World Economy
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made on the effect of the world economy of the linking by certain countries in south-east Asia of their own currencies to the United States dollar; and what action he proposes to take.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Treasury makes regular assessments of recent developments and prospects for the world economy. A forecast of the world economy was published at the time of the autumn statement.

  VAT Collection Office
  Mr. French
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review customer service in the VAT collection office.

  Sir John Cope
  It is intended to conduct at least two customer surveys during 1993, one specially for the VAT central unit, and a more general one covering the VAT business including services provided by local VAT offices. Some local offices are carrying out separate surveys to review and improve the service they provide.

  In addition, quality service indicators define standards for customer service at all levels within Customs and Excise and they are reviewed regularly.

  Pools Industry
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much accrued in tax to the Treasury in 1991–92 from the pools industry.

  Sir John Cope
  Revenue from pools betting duty in 1991–92 was £319·5 million.

  VAT Returns
  Mr. French
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what formula is adopted when deciding the penalty for late payment of VAT returns.

  Sir John Cope
  Under the Finance Act 1985 liability to default surcharge arises where a taxpayer persistently fails to render a return or pay any VAT due on time. After two defaults have occurred within twelve months, a third default within 12 months of the second results in a liability to a surcharge of 5 per cent. of the unpaid tax. The level 770
  of surcharge increases for subsequent defaults, but cannot exceed 20 per cent. for defaults incurred after 1 April 1992. The maximum surcharge was previously 30 per cent.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was(a) the total cost of the valuation of properties in (i) Pendle and (ii) Lancashire for the purposes of introducing the council tax and ( b) the cost per property in (i) Pendle and (ii) Lancashire.

  Mr. Nelson
  The total cost of the valuation banding of domestic properties was £63,045 in Pendle and £1,105,833 in Lancashire. The average valuation banding cost per property was £1·76 in Pendle and £1·90 in Lancashire.

  Bank Accounts
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will investigate the qualifications laid down by the major banks regarding the ability of young people aged between 16 and 22 years to open bank accounts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  I have no plans to investigate this issue. The principles that banks will follow when allowing people to open accounts, and when providing credit to young people, are set out in the code of banking practice which was published in December 1991.

  Treasury Income
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total income to the Treasury since May 1979 from (a) privatisation and(b) North sea oil revenues.

  Mr. Nelson
  Between 1979–80 and 1992–93, privatisation proceeds are expected to amount to £50 billion, and North sea oil revenues to £72 billion.

  Bankruptcy
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to avoid placing small firms into bankruptcy for unpaid VAT or income tax, where the Government's legal and administrative costs of so doing are expected to be greater than the assessed likely recovery of moneys; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 4 December 1992]: In all cases, civil recovery through the courts is only taken as a last resort. Where a VAT registered taxpayer has ceased trading and the tax debt is not expected to increase, Customs policy is that legal action should only be taken where there is a prospect of recovering sufficient tax to make this action cost effective.

  However, for those VAT-registered taxpayers who continue in business but fail to meet their VAT liability and where all other options for payment have been explored without success, Customs has no recourse other than to take legal action in order to prevent the VAT debt from increasing.

  Inland Revenue policy is to take bankruptcy proceedings only as a last resort when all other attempts to encourage payment of tax debts have failed. The Revenue does, however, have to consider its duty to the Exchequer, employees who have had tax deducted from their wages and to the general body of taxpayers who pay their tax on time.

  House Prices
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage change in regional house price to earnings ratios in each region between the most recent quarter in 1992 for which information is available and the corresponding quarter of 1991.

  Mr. Nelson
  The latest published information on regional average earnings is for April 1992. The information requested, relating to the second quarter of 1992 and the corresponding quarter of 1991, is in the table:

  Average house price to earnings ratio

  Quarter 2 1991

  Quarter 2 1992

  Percentage change

  Region

  United Kingdom

  4·12

  3·87

  -6·1

  North

  3·28

  3·38

  + 3·0

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  3·92

  3·66

  -6·6

  East Midlands

  4·09

  3·76

  -8·1

  East Anglia

  4·23

  3·79

  -10·4

  South East

  Greater London

  4·50

  4·01

  -10·9

  Rest of South East

  5·02

  4·53

  -9·8

  South West

  4·53

  4·10

  -9·5

  West Midlands

  4·31

  3·95

  -8·4

  North West

  3·74

  3·77

  + 0·8

  England

  4·25

  3·95

  -7·1

  Wales

  3·49

  3·52

  + 0·9

  Scotland

  3·46

  3·36

  -2·9

  Northern Ireland

  2·59

  2·63

  + 1·5

  Mortgage Interest Tax Relief
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost of mortgage interest relief at source payments in each region in each year since 1979–80 and as a proportion of the total MIRAS payments for that year.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The available information is given in my 772
  reply to the hon. Member for Angus, East (Mr. Welsh) on 17 June 1992, Official Report, columns 537–38.

  Personal Debt
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of personal disposable income was made up of personal sector debt in each region in each year since 1987.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 9 December 1992]: The information is not available.

  Autumn Statement
  Mr. Hargreaves
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reaction he has received from business organisations to his autumn statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Tiverton (Mrs. Browning).

  Ministers (Personal Matters)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what guidelines the Treasury press office responds to inquiries about personal matters concerning Ministers; how many such inquiries were received by the Treasury press office on 13 April 1991; what action was taken; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Treasury press office responds to inquiries about personal matters concerning Ministers by seeking guidance from the Ministers in question, and then taking follow-up action as appropriate. A large number of such inquiries were received on 13 April 1991. As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has already explained, the nature of the allegations made on that evening made it necessary for him to issue an immediate press statement, based on legal advice, and for related inquiries to be handled by the solicitors.

HEALTH

  In-patient Waiting Lists
  Ms. Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish her plans for reducing in-patient waiting lists in London before implementation of the Tomlinson report.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The report notes that significant progress has been made in reducing waiting times in London. In the year to 31 March 1992, the total number of patients waiting in inner London fell by nearly 10 per cent.

  We shall ensure that the proposals arising from the report continue this trend.

  Travellers Abroad
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps Her Majesty's Government took to alert British travellers to Malta about the outbreak of gastro-enteritis in Malta between December 1991 and January 1992;

  (2) what is her policy with regard to alerting British holiday makers about epidemics in major overseas holiday destinations.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  When an outbreak of an infectious disease comes to the attention of the Department any action must take account of the nature of the disease, the number of cases, the certainty of the diagnosis and the strength of any connection with one site or area.

  In December 1991 the Department received a report of an outbreak of gastro-enteritis which affected individuals staying in a particular hotel in Malta. As we had no evidence of a more widespread or ongoing problem, it was not appropriate to issue specific advice to travellers to Malta at that time.

  General health advice to travellers is contained in a leaflet issued by the Department, T4 "Health Advice for Travellers", copies are available in the Library. If more specific advice is needed, action may include addition of a special message to the DH "Health Advice for Travellers" on the Prestel network, and similarly by the travel advice unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which is received by many travel agents; issuing a press statement; alerting the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) which will then relay the information to travel agents; or, in the case of a major outbreak which makes travel to a destination unwise, the Chief Medical Officer would consider issuing a public warning.

  Septic Arthritis
  Mr. Pope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many registered cases of septic arthritis there have been in the United Kingdom over the last five years broken down by district health authority; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information on registrations of this condition are not held centrally. The table shows the estimated number of cases of septic arthritis treated in national health service hospitals in each regional health authority in England for the last five available years. The numbers of treatments are too small to make reliable estimates at district level.
  774

  Septic arthritis—discharges and deaths/hospital episodes

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1989–90

  Northern

  100

  90

  160

  100

  96

  Yorkshire

  90

  110

  70

  110

  96

  Trent

  200

  180

  160

  190

  208

  East Anglia

  60

  130

  100

  30

  60

  North West Thames

  60

  40

  80

  60

  64

  North East Thames

  80

  50

  30

  110

  108

  South East Thames

  130

  140

  100

  90

  128

  South West Thames

  70

  80

  30

  60

  88

  Wessex

  60

  80

  100

  50

  100

  Oxford

  70

  40

  80

  100

  64

  South Western

  90

  70

  140

  80

  68

  West Midlands

  230

  280

  230

  120

  224

  Mersey

  90

  90

  110

  40

  64

  North Western

  80

  200

  110

  130

  164

  SHAs

  0

  0

  20

  10

  12

  Totals

  1,410

  1,580

  1,520

  1,280

  1,544

  Sources: 1982–85 Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE).

  1989–90 Hospital Episode System (HES).

  "Who Cares?"
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contribution her Department made to the "World in Action" programme, "Who Cares?" broadcast on 30 November.

  Mr. Yeo
  None.

  Care Leavers
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will now review local authority support for young care leavers.

  Mr. Yeo
  We are monitoring how local authorities are exercising their powers and duties under the Children Act 1989. A report will be presented to Parliament in the new year.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) physically disabled and (b) sensorily disabled people are employed in her Department; and what percentage they are of the total work force.

  Mr. Sackville
  At 7 December 1992, the latest figures available, the Department employed 74 people who were registered disabled, of whom 37–0·7 per cent. of the work force—are known to have physical disabilities and 13–0·3 per cent.—to have sensory disabilities. In addition, a number of staff have a disability but are not registered disabled.

  Child Care Facilities
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she will take to give further encouragement to employers to provide child care facilities for employees' children.

  Mr. Yeo
  It is for employers to consider the business case for providing a child care service, to help recruit, retain and support the career development of the work force.

  The new review duty, introduced by the Children Act 1989, provides a legislative framework for local child care

  775
  plans, which involve all local interests, including employers and parents, in looking at the existing child care services and identifying priorities for future expansion.

  The Department of Health is spending £1½ million over three years starting in 1992–93 to pump prime expansion of child care services for school age children. The Employment Department is planning to spend up to £45 million over three years starting in 1993–94 through training and enterprise councils in promoting child care for school age children.

  Community Care
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to ensure that users of community care provisions are enabled to have a genuine choice of services after April.

  Mr. Yeo
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State intends to issue a statutory direction requiring local authorities to place someone assessed as needing residential care into the accommodation of their choice, subject to practical conditions such as cost, availability and suitability. The statutory direction will also make it clear that authorities should use their discretion in a way which respects users' wishes when arranging the provision of any community care service.

  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when her Department will issue the guidance referred to in paragraph 3.31 of the policy guidance, "Community Care in the Next Decade and Beyond", on the power of local authorities to make discretionary charges for welfare services under section 17 of the Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983.

  Mr. Yeo
  We intend to issue guidance before April 1993.

  Private Ambulance Services
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations her Department has received in the last five years on the regulation of private ambulance services; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  We have, from time to time, received letters from hon. Members and from the public. In each case the response has been that private ambulance services and their staff are not subject to any specific statute or regulation. It is for the prospective purchaser of private ambulance services to satisfy themselves that operators are competent to provide the required service.

  Dr. Kypros Loucas
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans she has to investigate allegations of professional misconduct by Dr. Kypros Loucas while he was working at Horton hospital in Epson, Surrey, and the circumstances in which he was appointed to the post; and if she will make a statement;

  (2) what plans she has to review the powers available to the Mental Health Act Commission; and if she will make a statement;

  (3) when her Department first became aware of the Mental Health Act Commission's concerns over possible breaches of the Mental Health Act 1983 by Dr. Kypros
  776
  Loucas while he was employed at Broadmoor hospital; what representations her Department received from the commission on Dr. Loucas's activities at Broadmoor hospital; and if she will make a statement;

  (4) what plans she has to review the effectiveness of the Mental Health Act 1983 following reports by the Mental Health Act Commission on the treatment of patients at Broadmoor hospital.

  Ms. Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many past Secretaries of State were approached through their private offices about Dr. Kypros Loucas and his treatment of psychiatric patients;

  (2) if she will now set up an independent inquiry into the activities of Dr. Kypros Loucas with a view to publishing a report;

  (3) to how many internal Department of Health inquiries Dr. Kypros Loucas consultant psychiatrist has been subject;

  (4) what action has been taken against Dr. Kypros Loucas following the Mental Health Act Commission's reports to her Department.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Mental Health Act Commission first expressed concern to the Department about compliance by Dr. Loucas with part IV of the Mental Health Act in 1985. This and subsequent reports by the commission were followed up by the Department with local management at Broadmoor hospital and with the local hospital board. Ministers were involved as necessary and the commission was kept fully informed of the action being taken, which concluded with Dr. Loucas's early retirement from Broadmoor in 1989. In that year the commission stated in its third biennial report:"the Department of Health has remedied the situation in a way which fully satisfied the Commission's insistent call for official action".

  It is not clear that the reported events demonstrate an inadequacy in the Mental Health Act 1983 or in the powers of the Mental Health Act Commission, but we are ready to consider any proposals for changes in this area. We do not believe that a general inquiry into these matters would serve a useful purpose, but we are considering whether any steps need to be taken on particular issues raised.

  The decision to employ Dr. Loucas at Horton hospital was taken by the Riverside health authority. We have received a copy from the authority of the report of its internal inquiry into the death of a patient at Horton in 1990 and we are considering urgently whether this calls for any further action.

  Questions relating to the professional conduct and competence of doctors are for the General Medical Council to consider. We have drawn the council's attention to the allegations about Dr. Loucas and will do all that we can to assist any investigation that it may decide to undertake.

  Medical Manpower Standing Advisory Committee
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects the Medical Manpower Standing Advisory Committee to make its first report.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I am pleased to announce that the Medical Manpower Standing Advisory Committee has completed its first report. It is published today and copies have been placed in the Library.
  777
  Long-term manpower planning is an important issue for health care and it is not too soon to be thinking about the manpower requirements for the next century. We are grateful to Professor Campbell, the chairman, and to the members of the committee for their consideration of a wide range of issues. We will be studying their recommendations very carefully.

  Sunderland Health Authority
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) administrative, (b) nursing and (c) other staff were employed by Sunderland health authority in 1987 and 1991.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The figures, where available, are given in the table.

  Whole-lime equivalent

  1987

  1991

  Administrative and clerical

  618·4

  1—

  Nursing and midwifery

  2,609·4

  2,656·4

  Other professional

  449·5

  494·7

  Other non-professional

  1,103·9

  1—

  1 Not available (for DHA).

  Notes:

  1. Excludes medical and dental staff.

  2. Includes agency nurses.

  Source: Non-medical Manpower Census.

  4. 1991 figures for administrative and clerical and other nonprofessional staff are not available centrally for Sunderland district health authority.

  Bradford Hospitals Trust
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received from the Bradford hospitals trust to approve the closure of Bradford royal infirmary, Woodlands and Bierley hospitals; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I have received no such representations.

  Tobacco
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what will be the dimensions of the warning notices required by section 4 of the Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) Act 1991.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In the light of consultation on the draft regulations, we shall shortly be making regulations which will provide that the notice for display at premises where tobacco is sold is to be not less than 297 mm x 420 mm (A3), and the lettering is to be not less than 36 mm high. The notice to be affixed to cigarette vending machines is to be not less than 60 mm x 100 mm, and the lettering not less than 6 mm high.

TRANSPORT

  Transport Council
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the result of the Transport Council held in Brussels on 7 and 8 December.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The Transport Council met in Brussels on 7 and 8 December. There was constructive 778
  discussion of a very full agenda on aviation, maritime and inland transport issues. On the outstanding measures needed for completion of the single market in transport, full agreement was reached on the regulation on airport slot allocation, thus completing the single market in aviation; and good progress was made on the liberalisation of road haulage cabotage. This will be discussed further at an additional special Transport Council on 21 December. There was also unanimous agreement on a directive to ensure better information when dangerous and polluting goods are carried into and out of Community sea ports.

  Airport Slot Allocation

  The Council agreed a regulation on airport slot allocation to come into force early in 1993. It will put into place a fair and uniform system for allocating slots at Community airports. The regulation will provide preferential treatment for new entrants on intra-Community routes, and also introduces stricter penalties on airlines that fail to use their slots. The Council will review the operation of the regulation after three years. The completion of the single market in aviation will assist air travellers across Europe by promoting competition and choice.

  Aviation External Relations

  Useful preliminary discussions took place on the Commission's communication on aviation external relations. There was general agreement that a case-by-case examination will be needed before the Community negotiates collectively with any third country. The forthcoming Danish presidency agreed to take this forward.

  Air Traffic Control Issues

  The Council emphasised the importance of cooperation by the Commission with Eurocontrol and the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC). It called for the adoption as soon as possible of the Commission's proposal for a directive on standards for air traffic management (ATM) equipment and systems. It encouraged the Commission to ensure the continuation of the EU RET research programme and to make provisions for research to support the development of the future ATM system for Europe, in close co-operation with ECAC and Eurocontrol.

  State Aids Resolution

  The presidency proposed a draft resolution urging tighter control of state aids in the single market for transport, to which we have attached great importance. This is a matter which lies within the Commission's competence, and the resolution was supported by the Commission. There was support from most member states. But there were objections in principle from certain member states so it was not possible to adopt the resolution. I am hopeful that the matter will be pursued by the Danish presidency.

  Road haulage fiscal harmonisation and cabotage

  Further discussions took place on these linked and difficult issues. Good progress was made, but without conclusion. In view of the importance and urgency of these items the Council agreed to adjourn and resume discussions at a further meeting on 21 December, in order to reach agreement before the end of the year because the current transitional scheme runs out on 1 January 1993.

  Inland waterways

  Agreement was reached on a Commission mandate on the opening of negotiations with Danubian countries on inland waterways.
  779
  Transit wth Slovenia

  The Commission reported on the negotiations for a Community transit agreement with Slovenia. The Council was not satisfied that an agreement could yet be initialled.

  EC tranport infrastructure funding

  The draft regulation to succeed the current infrastructure funding regulation had already received political agreement at the October Council. The December Council confirmed this and agreed to re-consult the European Parliament given the considerable differences between this text and the Commission's original proposal.

  Dangerous goods at sea

  We succeeded in getting unanimous agreement, after three years of Council deliberation, for a directive concerning the carriage of dangerous or polluting goods at sea. This will allow the Community to set in hand a practical scheme compatible with international law, to achieve a better flow of information about the carriage of dangerous and polluting goods into and out of Community ports.

  Positive measures for shipping

  The Council discussed ways of improving the competitiveness of Community fleets to guide the Commission's future work in this area. Three points were made in particular: state aids should not be mandatory; and there was widespread concern that aids distort competition, especially in some countries which could not afford to grant them, and that manning arrangements should be kept as flexible as possible.

  Maritime external relations

  The Council agreed the presidency paper which encourages the Commission to produce a strategy and working arrangements for Community action on external relations for shipping.

  Maritime safety

  There was a useful general discussion on the Community's approach to maritime safety during which the United Kingdom emphasised the importance of achieving the right standards on ferry stability.

  Shipping liberalisation

  The Commission presented a report which shows that some member states are not complying fully with their obligations under the regulation liberalising shipping between member states and third countries.

  White Paper

  Commissioner Van Miert presented the wide-ranging Commission White Paper "The Future Development of the Common Transport Policy". The Danish presidency will take forward discussion of the paper.

  Rail Freight
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take the legislative or other steps necessary to place an immediate moratorium on the rates British Rail charges to its freight customers as part of the preparations for privatisation of British Rail's freight operations.

  Mr. Freeman
  The rates British Rail charges to freight customers are not matters that the Government can control. The Government intend to bring forward legislation under which a regulator would be appointed to supervise track charges to railway operators.

  Nuclear Material
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to introduce legislation to enforce the British Railways Board "List of Dangerous Goods Class 7: radioactive material", 1977 edition.

  Mr. Freeman
  This issue is under consideration by the Department as part of the safety regime to be put in place following the privatisation of British Rail.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent changes have been made to the Chicago convention to cover the air freight of nuclear material.

  Mr. Norris
  None. Annex 18 to the convention already lays down provisions for the safe transport by air of dangerous goods, including radioactive material.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department has regarding accidents involving(a) air transport, (b) sea or water course transport, (c) road transport and (d) rail transport of nuclear materials in the European Community since 1979.

  Mr. Norris
  Details of accidents in the United Kingdom and their radiological consequences are given in National Radiological Protection Board reports M206, M230 and M310, commissioned jointly by the Department of Transport and the Health and Safety Executive.

  The Department does not hold details of accidents in other member states of the European Community.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what petitions he has received in his position as President of the European Council of Transport Ministers relating to the risks associated with the transportation of radioactive materials; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  No such petitions have been received.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all published and unpublished reports, commissioned and retained by his Department on the safety and the security of the transport of nuclear materials, and place in the Library those not otherwise available.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The following safety studies have been commissioned by the Department:Radiation exposure from the normal movement of irradiated fuel elements by road and rail from Magnox power stations: March 1983
  Review of the radiological consequence resulting from accidents and incidents during transportation in and from the United Kingdom: December 1984
  Derived limits for surface contamination of transport packages: February 1987
  The radiological impact of releases from a Magnox fuel flask damages by a hypothetical fire in the summit tunnel: December 1988
  Review of the radiological consequences resulting from accidents and incidents involving the transport of radioactive materials in the United Kingdom from 1964 to 1988: March 1990
  Radiological impact of the normal transport of radioactive materials by air: March 1990
  Transport of radioactive materials between the United Kingdom mainland and gas and oil platforms in the North sea: March 1990
  Radiological consequences resulting from accidents and incidents involving the transport of radioactive materials in the United Kingdom—1989 review: July 1990

  781
  Radiological consequences resulting from accidents and incidents involving the transport of radioactive materials in the United Kingdom—1990 review: July 1991

  All the above studies were carried out by the National Radiological Protection Board.

  In addition, the Department of Energy commissioned a confidential security study in 1980 on the consequences of a terrorist attack on an irradiated fuel flask.

  I will place in the Library copies of the listed safety reports that are not already there.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those United Kingdom ports which have been used for the transportation of separated plutonium since January 1989.

  Mr. Norris
  Radioactive material transported in approved packages may be moved through any port. Consignors are under no regulatory obligation to give this information to the Department.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the research undertaken at his Department's Road Research Laboratory since its inception has been devoted to safety assessment of the transportation of nuclear materials by road.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  None: such research is the responsibility of the consignors.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information on the import and export of plutonium port authorities are required to provide to his Department.

  Mr. Norris
  None.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he or his officials have had with the European Transport Commissioner or his officials on the import and export of nuclear materials into(a) the European Community and (b) the United Kingdom.

  Mr. MacGregor
  None.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with his German counterparts in regard to the air freighting of plutonium fuel from Germany to Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  No discussions have taken place.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what categories of information relating to the transport of plutonium it is his Department's practice not to publish.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  It is a decision for the consignors whether or not to publish operational details of plutonium transport.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what occasions his Department has proposed a preference since June 1986 on the optimum mode of transport for plutonium.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No such preferences have been expressed.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration the Health and Safety Executive has given since 1991 over the transportation of(a) plutonium, (b) uranium, (c) spent nuclear fuel and (d) nuclear waste; and if he will make a statement.
  782
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The safe transport of radioactive material is a matter for the Department of Transport.

  Road Salting
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what monitoring and evaluation Her Majesty's Government have carried out of alternatives to the use of salt for de-icing of roads and pathways; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Department has commissioned the Transport Research Laboratory to conduct research into alternative de-icing chemicals—including salt with corrosion inhibitors.

  The research project has the objective of assessing he performance of alternative de-icing chemicals in relation to their effectiveness as a de-icer, corrosive effect on steels and concrete, skid resistance properties, contamination of the environment, handling and storage characteristics and cost effectiveness.

  The project has already assessed five principle alternative de-icers, comprising: calcium chloride, calcium magnesium acetate, urea, glycol and potassium acetate. The original project has been extended to allow completion of research on corrosion inhibitors following an American study on salt additives—commissioned by the United States strategic highways research program. An interim report is scheduled for the end of this month, with a final report due in June 1993.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department has on the affect of salt used during cold weather on(a) trees, (b) grass verges and (c) concrete; what research his Department has commissioned or carried out on these matters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The latest information available to the Department about the effects of de-icing salt on trees and other vegetation is contained in the Forestry Commission bulletin "De-icing Salt Damage to Trees and Shrubs", which was published in 1991. It was commissioned by the Department of the Environment and compiled in consultation with the Department of Transport's environment branch, with reference to earlier Transport and Road Research Laboratory studies on roadside vegetation and the DOT's winter maintenance statement of service and code of practice.

  The Forestry Commission is now following up with a survey of salt damage to roadside trees in London, which is partially sponsored by the Department of Transport. A preliminary report has been issued and the final report is due for publication later this month and will be considered by my Department.

  The Transport Research Laboratory is also currently carrying out research on alternative de-icing chemicals, as described in my reply to the hon. Member's earlier question today.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate for each of the next 10 years how much will be spent on repairing existing motorway carriages and bridges; if he will estimate what proportion of this expenditure he expects to be attributable partly or wholly to salt penetration; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The amounts to be spent on repairing trunk motorway carriageways and bridges will
  783
  depend on the funds available and the continuous reappraisal of priorities for maintenance, renewal and reconstruction in the light of the latest survey and inspection data.

  There is no evidence that carriageway repairs will be required as a consequence of salt penetration, but the Department currently estimates that about £700 million will need to be spent over the 10 years from 1993–94 onwards for preventive treatment and repair of concrete bridges on motorways and all-purpose trunk roads to deal with problems associated with salt penetration. This figure could vary depending on the solutions adopted.

  The work is being carried out as part of a strategic 15-year bridge rehabilitation programme which is being planned and programmed to ensure that work is carried out at the appropriate time to produce the most cost-effective solutions, and which includes assessment and strengthening of older bridges to current standards as well as work to safeguard bridges against deterioration.

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by grade, the number of staff employed by DVLA, Swansea.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The number of staff employed at DVLA, Swansea, on 30 November 1992 was as follows:

  Number

  Grade 3

  1

  Grade 5

  3

  Senior medical officer

  1

  Grade 6

  6

  Medical officer

  9

  Grade 7

  24

  Senior executive officer

  37

  Higher executive officer

  117

  Executive officer

  250

  Administrative officer

  797

  Administrative assistant

  1,548

  Support, secretarial and technical

  288

  Total

  3,081

  Red Route
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the change in the rate of accidents on the pilot red route since its inception; and what are the figures for comparable routes in adjacent London boroughs.

  Mr. Norris
  Casualties in the pilot corridor have fallen by some 17 per cent. in the 18 months since the start of the scheme, compared with the equivalent period leading up to the launch in January 1991. The latest figures for the boroughs through which the pilot route runs show an average reduction of about 7 per cent.

  Airports
  Mr. Haselhurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress made in the work of the RUCATSE—runway capacity in the south-east—working group on runway capacity in the south-east.

  Mr. Norris
  The RUCATSE working group has made good progress in its study of the wider implications of the 784
  provision of additional runway capacity to serve the south-east. Starting from the 10 sites identified by the Civil Aviation Authority in its report CAP570, four—Bristol/ Filton, Bristol/Lulsgate, Bournemouth and Southampton—were judged unlikely to make a substantial contribution to meeting demand and were therefore remitted for further consideration by the group's regional airports sub-group. Further work is being undertaken to assess the contribution that Lydd and Manston could make; and Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton and Stansted are now subject to a detailed examination, covering the notional runway alignments identified in CAP570 and others, environmental impacts, noise and surface access issues. In addition, the promoters of an off-shore airport in the Thames estuary—Marinair—have made a presentation to RUCATSE and have undertaken to do some further detailed work. It is intended that a report on Marinair will be submitted to me in parallel with the final RUCATSE report.

  RUCATSE hopes to complete its work by next summer in the form of a report which can be expected to set out the advantages and disadvantages of development at a number of sites. I intend to publish the report as soon as it is ready and at that stage there will be a full public consultation on the group's findings. It will ultimately be for promoters rather than Government to make specific proposals, which would in turn be subject to the normal planning processes.

  Ship Design
  Mr. Lidlington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Government expects to publish its response to the report "Safety Aspects of Ship Design" from the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology.

  Mr. Norris
  The Government response to the Select Committee on Science and Technology's report was published today. Copies of the response have been placed in the Libraries.

  Vehicle Testing Stations
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has about the current performance of vehicle testing stations; and what criteria he uses to evaluate their performance.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  My right hon. Friend monitors the performance of the vehicle inspectorate against financial and service quality targets quarterly. The performance of individual testing stations is a management matter for the chief executive.

  Minicabs
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to enforce registration and training upon minicabs in London; if he will set a national vocational qualification to achieve this; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  I am currently considering the future structure of the minicab trade in London in the light of a working party report on the safety of users of taxis and minicabs in London which was presented to me in July. In
  785
  the course of my review, I have met with a range of organisations whose views I am taking fully into account. I hope to make an announcement shortly.

  Severn Bridge
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many hours delay have been reported on the Severn bridge since 15 November due to repair work; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Emergency repairs to the anti-skid surfacing made it necessary to restrict westbound traffic to one lane only from the afternoon of 30 November until early morning on 4 December. Delays of up to two hours at peak times were reported. There were much shorter delays on 5 December when a lane was again closed for the work to be completed.

  There have been no other delays to traffic due to repair work during the period in question.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals whereby tolls on the Severn bridge will be suspended while travellers are delayed due to road closures because of repairs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Severn Bridges Act 1992 allows the concessionaire, at his discretion, to suspend tolls. We have no plans to seek amendments to the relevant provisions. Recent repairs to the bridge took less than one week to complete.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce proposals to amend the Severn Bridges Act 1992 in respect of the level of tolls.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No. The toll levels in the Act were fully debated in Parliament. The current tolls are contributing directly to the provision of the much needed second Severn bridge.

SCOTLAND

  School Inspections
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number and dates of Her Majesty's inspectorate school inspections in each primary and secondary school in Scotland over the last 10 years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is extensive. A copy of it has been placed in the Library. It refers only to inspections of primary and secondary schools which led to published reports since publication started in 1983. The lists do not include inspections of nursery, special or independent schools, colleges of further education or colleges of education which led to published reports within the same period; nor do they include the further inspections conducted 12 to 18 months after each full inspection to follow up the recommendations contained in the published report. In addition, visits have taken place on a regular basis to educational institutions for a range of other purposes including follow-up to specific inquiries, gathering evidence for published reports on various aspects of learning and teaching, monitoring implementation of curricular advice, and the incorporation of further education colleges.

  Cunninghame District Council
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will compensate Cunninghame district council because of the error in calculating the authority's non-domestic rate income for 1991–92.

  Mr. Lang
  Yes. I propose to make an ex-gratia payment of £250,000 to Cunninghame district council towards the additional interest costs which it has incurred, pending an adjustment of revenue support grant, as a result of the fact that, in estimating the council's non-domestic rate income in respect of 1991–92, my Department used incorrect rateable valuation data. The council has accepted my offer of this payment.

  Parliamentary approval to this new expenditure will be sought in a supplementary estimate for the revenue support grants, Scotland vote—class XV, vote 20. Pending that approval, this urgent expenditure will be met by a repayable advance from the Contingencies Fund.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce the 1993–94 grant-aided expenditure figures for each Scottish local authority.

  Mr. Lang
  The GAE figure for each local authority for 1993–94 is set out in the table. Each authority's allocation of the GAE total has been determined having regard to the client group methodology which is agreed with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities in the distribution committee of the working party on local government finance. The table excludes figures for urban programme GAE which is not allocated to individual authorities. The addition of this amount—£63·255 million brings—the GAE total to the previously announced sum of £5,086·4 million.

  Regions and Islands

  GAE 1993–94 (£000s)

  Borders

  94,642

  Central

  220,101

  Dumfries and Galloway

  131,903

  Fife

  279,251

  Grampian

  405,795

  Highland

  203,988

  Lothian

  575,445

  Strathclyde

  1,960,221

  Tayside

  331,039

  Orkney

  27,022

  Shetland

  26,237

  Western Isles

  43,041

  Total

  4,298,686

  GAE 1993–94

  Districts

  (£000s)

  Berwick

  2,135

  Ettrick and Lauderdale.

  3,809

  Roxburgh

  4,035

  Tweeddale

  1,692

  Clackmannan

  7,318

  Falkirk

  18,537

  Stirling

  12,845

  Annandale and Eskdale

  4,161

  Nithsdale

  6,763

  Stewartry

  2,772

  Wigtown

  3,669

  Dunfermline

  17,764

  787

  Districts

  (£000s)

  Kirkcaldy

  20,941

  North East Fife

  9,672

  Aberdeen

  28,435

  Banff and Buchan

  11,680

  Gordon

  10,543

  Kincardine and Deeside

  6,810

  Moray

  11,660

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  1,377

  Caithness

  3,123

  Inverness

  7,305

  Lochaber

  2,464

  Nairn

  1,173

  Ross and Cromarty

  6,598

  Skye and Lochalsh

  1,645

  Sutherland

  1,940

  East Lothian

  11,995

  Edinburgh

  62,245

  Midlothian

  10,876

  West Lothian

  20,574

  Argyll and Bute

  10,466

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  5,258

  Clydebank

  5,648

  Clydesdale

  8,363

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  8,373

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  5,883

  Cunninghame

  19,397

  Dumbarton

  10,233

  East Kilbride

  10,982

  Eastwood

  7,413

  Glasgow

  129,058

  Hamilton

  14,373

  Inverclyde

  12,355

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  10,857

  Kyle and Carrick

  15,688

  Monklands

  15,299

  Motherwell

  20,158

  Renfrew

  29,716

  Strathkelvin

  11,615

  Angus

  12,783

  Dundee

  26,153

  Perth and Kinross

  17,836

  Total

  724,459

  All Scotland Total

  5,023,145

  Conifers (River Pollution)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement regarding the recent finding of a committee of the Forestry Commission on a link between conifer trees and river acidification.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 7 December]: None of the Forestry Commission's committees has made a recent finding of this kind.

  An expert workshop jointly sponsored by the Forestry Commission and the Department of the Environment concluded in June 1990 that the primary cause of surface water acidification was the deposition of airborne sulphur and nitrogen pollutants, but that there was also an association between trees and acidification resulting from the effectiveness of trees in scavenging these airborne pollutants. Whether the latter phenomenon would result in increased surface water acidification depended, however, on the sensitivity of the geology and soil in any given catchment area.

  The members of the Forestry Commission's north Scotland regional advisory committee recently considered this and other scientific evidence presented to them in the course of considering planting grant applications over which objections had been raised on environmental
  788
  grounds. They advised the commissioners that, in their opinion, there was sufficient doubt about the effect that tree planting on the specific sites concerned would have on surface water acidification as to prevent their recommending that the applications should be approved at this stage. In the light of this advice, the Forestry Commissioners have decided to delay taking a decision on these applications pending further monitoring of the sensitivity of the sites to further acid inputs from the atmosphere.

  Health Spending
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much of the planned spending on health for 1993–94 will be spent on promotion of health.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 8 December]: The responsibility for allocating resources to health promotion rests with health boards.

  In addition, the Health Education Board for Scotland received resources totalling £6·441 million in 1992–93. The board will shortly be informed of its allocation for 1993–94.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much he expects to save on the 1993–94 health budget from the 1·5 per cent. ceiling on health workers' pay increases.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 8 December]: There will be no saving on the 1993–94 budget for the national health service in Scotland as a consequence of the ceiling of 1·5 per cent. on pay increases for national health service staff. The effect of this ceiling will be to free resources for direct patient services and investment in new hospitals and clinics.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much of the planned provision for health in 1993–94 will be spent on implementing the patients charter.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 8 December]: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made it clear on launching the citizens charter that charters would be taken forward within existing resources. Thus there is no earmarked budget within resources for health in 1993–94 for the continued implementation of the patients charter: all parts of the national health service in Scotland will deploy their allocated resources to develop services in accordance with charter principles.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a breakdown of the planned £744 per head spending on health in Scotland, showing how much will be allocated to(a) introduction of trust status for those units which have successfully applied, (b) management and administration of trusts, implementation of the patients charter and (c) promotion of health and illness prevention.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 8 December]: It is not possible to provide the analysis requested.

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for every health authority(a) the total number of hospital beds and (b) the number of acute hospital beds as at March 1991.
  789
  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 8 December]: The information requested is shown in the table. The table shows information on bed complement. This is the number of beds approved by health boards. Beds in day bed units, borrowed beds and temporary beds are excluded.

  NHS—bed complement; all and acute hospital beds; by health board of treatment; as at 31 March 1991

  Bed complement

  All specialties

  Acute specialties

  SCOTLAND

  52,738

  16,538

  Argyll and Clyde

  4,130

  1,282

  Ayrshire and Arran

  2,937

  1,104

  Borders

  939

  352

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1,407

  451

  Fife

  3,006

  806

  Forth Valley

  2,871

  641

  Grampian

  5,149

  1,419

  Greater Glasgow

  12,667

  3,978

  Highland

  1,885

  717

  Lanarkshire

  4,938

  1,578

  Lothian

  7,633

  2,374

  Orkney

  155

  61

  Shetland

  148

  51

  Tayside

  4,651

  1,636

  Western Isles

  222

  88

  Health Service Trusts
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much of the planned provision for health in 1993–94 will be spent on the introduction of trusts.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 8 December]: Spending in 1993–94 on the introduction of trusts will depend on the number of expressions of interest in trust status and the number of applications which are subsequently approved.

  Abortion
  Ms. Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many NHS hospitals in Scotland providing day-care abortion services are offering early medical abortion services in the first nine weeks of pregnancy with mifepristone and prostaglandin.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 9 December]: From April to December 1991, five hospitals performed early medical abortions in the first nine weeks of pregnancy with mifepristone, and with or without prostaglandin.

  Forestry Commission Land
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the Forestry Commission lands in Scotland already sold for which no access agreements have been concluded.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 25 November]: The information is as follows:

  Region

  Name of Woodland

  Area (Hectares)

  Strathclyde

  Carrick (part)

  68

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Springkell (part)

  19

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Dromore

  86

  This list does not include those woodlands which were sold before the arrangements for securing continued public
  790
  access to Forestry Commission woodlands after sale were introduced in October 1991, nor those sales which were too far advanced at that time to be included for consideration under those arrangements.

EMPLOYMENT

  Wages Councils
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will place in the Library a copy of the research commissioned by her Department on the effect of the abolition of wages councils.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There has been no recent research into the effects of abolition of wages councils. However, in the early 1980s the Department published research into six councils, five of which were abolished by Labour, and copies will be placed in the Library, as soon as this can be arranged.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations she has received from people in Wales regarding the abolition of wages councils; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There is no separate information available about representations received from people in different parts of Great Britain.

  Disabled Trainees
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make it her policy to ring-fence money for training and enterprise councils to secure specialist equipment to assist disabled trainees with their placements.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The funding arrangements between the Employment Department and TECs take into account the higher costs incurred in providing support arrangements, for example, specialist equipment.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to change these arrangements which give TECs the flexibility to meet the needs of individual providers and trainees as they arise.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make it her policy to instruct training and enterprise councils to give guaranteed training placements to all unemployed disabled people.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Under employment training, people with disabilities who are unemployed qualify for places regardless of the length of their unemployment and are included in the aim group. People with disabilities will have a priority for places in training for work, to be introduced in April 1993. Under youth training, the Government extend their guarantee of a place to those young people who are aged over 18 years who were not previously able to join the programme because of disability or ill-health, or who had to leave the programme for the same reasons and are seeking re-entry.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will instruct training and enterprise councils to undertake local needs surveys on an annual basis in order to ascertain numbers of disabled potential trainees.
  791
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Training and enterprise councils (TECs) are required to assess the training needs of their local area each year in consultation with other local interests including the Employmnent Service. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State ensures that, in particular, the needs of people with disabilities are taken into account before a TEC's annual business plan is agreed.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) physically disabled and (b) sensorily disabled people are employed in her Department; and what percentage they are of the total work force.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information is not available in the form requested, but 1,964 registered disabled people—3·3 per cent. of the total work force—were employed in July 1992, the latest date for which figures are available. The Department also employs other people with disabilities who have chosen not to register.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what unspent revenues TECs had at the end of 1991–92; and what percentage of their overall budget this represented.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is unable to respond on behalf of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales, who now have responsibility for the delivery of programmes in those areas.

  TECs in England are required, under the operating agreement, to produce audited accounts within four months of the end of the financial year.

  These accounts reveal the total operating surplus as at the end of the financial year and on a cumulative basis; however, this information is not published as a percentage of the overall budget.

  The accounts for the financial year ending 31 March 1992 are now in the public domain and available from individual TECs.

  The need for this information on an aggregated basis has been recognised and the format of the Employment Department appropriation account for 1993–94 onwards has been amended to take this into account.

  Trade Unions
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make a statement about the future of the schemes which subsidise trade union ballots and training for trade union officials.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I have reviewed the operation of the trade union ballot funding scheme, which allows unions to reclaim certain costs associated with secret postal ballots, and the trade union education and training grant, which supports training for trade union officials and representatives.

  The ballot funding scheme was set up in 1980 to encourage the voluntary practice of secret balloting at a time when there were no statutory requirements for unions to ballot their members before calling strikes or when electing their leaders. Since then, there have been major changes in industrial relations law and practice.
  792
  Secret ballots of union members on the major issues affecting their interests are now generally accepted and in the most important respects are required by law. The scheme now operates largely as a public subsidy for ballots which unions are required to carry out to meet their obligations under the law. The Government therefore believe that the time has come to bring the scheme to an end.

  The trade union education and training grant was first paid in 1976 and has subsequently been renewed on an annual basis. It was intended to provide training for union officials to ensure that they were well qualified to carry out their collective bargaining duties, with a view to improving industrial relations and reducing strikes. Industrial relations have improved greatly, and strikes are now at their lowest level since records began. At the same time, fewer than 50 per cent. of employees now have their pay determined, directly or indirectly, by negotiations between employers and trade unions. More and more employees negotiate their pay directly with their employer on an individual basis, taking account of performance and skills. In these circumstances, the Government believe that there is now no justification for continuing to support this training from public funds.

  However, I have decided against immediate abolition of these schemes. Funding for both schemes will therefore be phased out over three years to allow trade unions time to find alternative sources of finance for these activities.

  In 1993–94, the Government will meet the cost of 75 per cent. of each qualifying claim under the ballot funding scheme, and the trade union education and training grant will be set at 75 per cent. of the 1992–93 per capita figure. In 1994–95 these levels of support will be reduced to 50 per cent. and in 1995–96 they will be reduced to 25 per cent. Both schemes will cease to operate from 1 April 1996.

DEFENCE

  Used Tyres and Waste Oil
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those defence establishments which make a practice of disposing of used tyres and waste oil by burning into the atmosphere; what effect he estimates this practice has on the environment; and what steps he intends to take to eliminate this practice.

  Mr. Aitken
  Used tyres and work oil are disposed of not by burning but in accordance with the duty of core requirements relating to waste embodied in the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA), through contracts with appropriately qualified contractors. The only exceptions to this policy are small amounts of both materials which may be burnt during fire-fighting training. This is carried out under strictly controlled conditions and is permitted under the exemptions granted to my Department from the statutory nuisance provisions of the EPA.

  Reactor Cores
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen)Official Report, 27 November, column 895, he will set out the route used to transport the nuclear core from Rosyth to Sellafield.
  793
  Mr. Aitken
  For security reasons, it is not our practice to comment on the routes used in the movement of nuclear submarine reactor cores.

  Channel Islands (War Records)
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many records from the small number of files relating to the wartime Nazi occupation of the Channel islands that have been held by his Department on extended closure have been passed to prosecuting authorities in the United Kingdom or in Germany; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It has been the practice of the Ministry of Defence to make all papers, whether open or closed, available to any official prosecuting authority investigating alleged war crimes.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the small number of files relating to the wartime Nazi occupation of the Channel islands, that have been held by the Ministry of Defence on extended closure, relate in any way to allegations of war crimes or atrocities that may have been committed by(a) United Kingdom citizens and (b) non-United Kingdom citizens on the island of Alderney; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The small number of papers relating to the wartime Nazi occupation of the Channel islands still held by my Department remain properly closed under the provisions of section 5(1) of the Public Records Acts of 1958 and 1967.

  It has been the practice of successive Governments not to disclose the contents of records which are so withheld from public release, but the papers will be made available to any official prosecuting authority investigating alleged war crimes.

  Royal Naval Stores Depot, Eaglescliffe
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if a decision has been taken on the proposal to relocate 182 Ministry of Defence headquarters' posts from the royal naval stores depot at Eaglescliffe in Cleveland.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My Department has consulted very thoroughly on the proposal to colocate 182 headquarters posts currently at Eaglescliffe with the integrated headquarters of the new Naval Support Command in the Bath region. During the course of the consultation process I visited the establishment to see the facilities there and to hear the views of management, staff 794
  and trade unions. I have studied very carefully' the helpful comments and views expressed by them, hon. Members and others. I have concluded that the proposal to move these posts in 1995–96, which is expected to produce net savings around £12 million over 10 years, represents the best value for money for the taxpayer as well as producing real operational benefits. Discussions will now take place with the trades unions on implementation of the moves in 1995–96. The royal naval stores depot itself will not be affected.

  Redundancies
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current position on redundancies in the(a) Royal Navy, (b) Army and (c) Royal Air Force; and if he will make a further statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I announced the second phase of the Royal Navy's redundancy programme in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Wimbledon (Dr. Goodson-Wickes) on 3 June 1992,Official Report, columns 568–69. A total of 436 officers and 836 ratings have now been selected for redundancy. The vast majority are volunteers although, regrettably, it has been necessary to select 69 officers and 80 ratings who did not put their names forward. All individuals have been notified and will leave between 1 April and 30 November 1993. The need for a third phase is under careful consideration.

  For the Army, as foreshadowed in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Beckenham (Mr. Merchant) on 8 July 1992, Official Report, column 185, a total of 1,311 officers and 5,150 soldiers will he selected for redundancy in 1993–94. I am pleased to say that all the 5,150 soldiers to be selected have volunteered for redundancy. Almost 60 per cent. of the officers will also be volunteers, but it will unfortunately be necessary to select 623 officers for compulsory redundancy. All those declared redundant will be notified on 25 February 1993. The size of the third phase for 1994–95 will be considered in due course.

  The first tranche of the RAF redundancy scheme that I announced in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Spelthorne (Mr. Wilshire) on 22 May 1992, Official Report, column 292, was oversubscribed by applicants and no compulsory redundancies are necessary to meet the full target of 750 places in 1993–94. In addition, some 210 individuals who also volunteered for redundancy have indicated their willingness to leave before 31 March 1993. The size of the second tranche of the scheme in 1994–95 will be reviewed next year in the light of the latest manpower forecasts.

  TRANSPORT COUNCIL, 7th AND 8th DECEMBER
  TRANSPORT COUNCIL, 7th AND 8th DECEMBER
  SAFETY ASPECTS OF SHIP DESIGN: REPORT
  SAFETY ASPECTS OF SHIP DESIGN: REPORT
  RUNWAY CAPACITY
  RUNWAY CAPACITY
  ARMED FORCES: REDUNDANCIES
  ARMED FORCES: REDUNDANCIES
  CONTROL OF RESPIRATORY SENSITISERS: CODE OF PRACTICE
  CONTROL OF RESPIRATORY SENSITISERS: CODE OF PRACTICE