Written Answers of 14 February 1992

ENVIRONMENT

  Dewsbury Rugby League Club
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to make an announcement on the planning application by Dewsbury rugby league club at Owl lane, Dewsbury, Ref. GO/62/04666/82.

  Sir George Young
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment expects to announce his decision about the planning application shortly.

  Toxic Wastes
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to the proposals put forward by the International Chetek Corporation to destroy toxic wastes through vaporisation by underground nuclear explosions.

  Mr. Baldry
  We have seen reports of the proposals but no approach has been made to us by the company about them and we do not know the details. However, we would expect to take a very cautious approach to the use of peaceful nuclear technology for waste disposal.

  Nuclear Waste Repository
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) of 7 February,Official Report, column 303, he will set out those organisations and individuals with whom UK Nirex Ltd. is consulting over its current proposals for an underground nuclear waste repository.

  Mr. Baldry
  This is a matter for UK Nirex Ltd.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Community Charge (Liverpool)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Attorney-General what action he intends to take to initiate proceedings to have Liverpool city council's city treasurer declared a vexatious litigant.

  The Attorney-General
  I have no plans to initiate proceedings of this kind.

  Housing Repossessions
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Attorney-General how many orders for repossession were granted in favour of building societies, banks or the mortgage lenders by the county court covering Neath in 1979, 1990 and 1991.

  The Attorney-General
  The 1979 figures are not available. The total number of mortgage possession 646
  actions entered, suspended orders and orders made during 1990 and 1991 in each county court in England and Wales is contained in two lists which have been placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament. These figures do not indicate how many houses have been repossessed through the courts as not all of the orders made will have resulted in the issue and execution of warrants of possession. At this stage the 1991 figures are provisional and therefore liable to revision in the future.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Circaprint NI Ltd
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total cost to public funds of grants paid towards site acquisition and construction of the former Circaprint NI complex at Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim.

  Mr. Needham
  The total grant paid by the Industrial Development Board to Circaprint (NI) Ltd towards the purchase of, and improvements to, the factory buildings at Monkstown amounted to £219,378.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Industrial Development Board or Department of Economic Development will receive any repayment of grants as a result of the sale of Circaprint NI Ltd. including all grant aided plant and equipment.

  Mr. Needham
  The Industrial Development Board has claimed sums repayable by Circaprint (NI) Ltd. To date no repayments have been made.

  Belfast Airport
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 28 January,Official Report, column 521, which political parties have used the facilities now available at Belfast international airport.

  Mr. Needham
  The management of Belfast international airport is a matter for Northern Ireland Airports Ltd. However, I am advised by them that facilities at the airport have been hired by the Conservative party.

  Scientific Procedure Establishments
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number of inspectors employed to monitor scientific procedure establishments in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Hanley
  Three.

  Traffic Cameras
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many automatic cameras have been installed at traffic-light-controlled junctions; and how many more are planned this year.

  Mr. Needham
  Seventeen closed circuit television cameras have been installed for traffic signal control purposes. No additional cameras are planned this year.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Regional Service Centre (Devon and Cornwall)
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has reached a decision on the location of his Ministry's regional service centre for Devon and Cornwall.

  Mr. Gummer
  Following a further study, I have concluded that Devon and Cornwall will be served by two centres. The regional service centre, with 72 regional administrative posts, will be at Exeter; and the region's capital grant work will be carried out by a unit of 20 posts at Truro. The decision to keep a unit in Cornwall reflects my conclusion that the Ministry's responsibilities for agriculture and the general health of the rural economy are best served by maintaining an administrative presence in this isolated and remote part of the country.

  This decision means that in total there will be 99 posts in Truro when account is taken of the ADAS state veterinary service and other MAFF posts which continue to be located there. The overall impact on jobs in the Truro office is minimal.

  Mink Farming
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent information he has received about the decline in mink farming.

  Mr. Curry
  The number of mink farms in England and Wales has halved over the last three years.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what date he received from the Council for Accreditation of Teachers in Education its report on the review of the training of teachers to teach reading; and when he proposes to make the report publicly available.

  Mr. Fallon
  My right hon. and learned Friend received the report on 31 December. It will be issued in due course.

  Schools (Finance)
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his announcement of 11 February, "More Capital for Popular Schools", if he will identify(a) any additional sums of money for this purpose and (b) the rule whereby voluntary-aided schools could be allowed to expand only where there were no spare places in county schools nearby.

  Mr. Fallon
  The decision on the additional resources to be set aside each year to enable popular schools to expand will be taken in the light of next year's public expenditure.

  It has hitherto been the policy of successive Governments not normally to make capital available to allow voluntary-aided schools to expand their capacity where there are spare school places in other maintained schools in the area.

  Adult Education
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state, in relation to his Department's survey of local education authority expenditure on adult education(a) how many authorities were contacted, (b) the names of the authorities, (c) the level of expenditure on further and adult education in each case, with the averages for the sample, (d) the level of expenditure identifiable as relating to adult education, with the average for the sample and (e) the definition of further and adult education employed; and if he will deposit the survey in the Library.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Department's survey related to all expenditure on further education colleges and adult education centres in the financial year 1989–90. It asked LEAs to divide this expenditure between education of the type set out in schedule 2 to the Further and Higher Education Bill[Lords] and other education. It was addressed to all LEAs in England except those in Inner London, which were not in existence in 1989–90, but were sent a copy of the survey for information. Responses have been received from over 70 LEAs but a consultant has been employed to seek out further responses and to examine the position in Inner London. The consultant's report is expected towards the end of this month and I will deposit a copy in the Library. However, it is not the practice to disclose individual responses to Government surveys.

  Business Sponsorship Scheme for Sport
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the business sponsorship scheme for sport.

  Mr. Atkins
  I am happy to announce today further details of how the business sponsorship scheme for sport is to operate in England. We aim to start the scheme as soon as possible in the coming financial year. Its initial funding in England, where it will be run by the Institute of Sports Sponsorship, will be £3 million.

  The scheme will provide a much needed boost to business sponsorship of sport at the grass roots level, ensure that business gets better value for its sponsorship and promote partnership between sport and business at the local level. It will be aimed particularly at the inner cities and at promoting opportunities for young people. Since it is targeted at the grass roots, national events in the sporting calendar will be excluded and it will not cover sponsorship of individuals.

  Subject to the discretion of an indpendent panel, the awards will match first time sponsors pound for pound with a minimum of £1,000 and a maximum of £75,000. Existing sponsors seeking to renew their sponsorship of a grass roots event or project will also be eligible for pound for pound matching of any increase in their sponsorship.

  It will be open to either the sponsoring company or the sports body to apply for the award of matching finance. Each award will be used by the sports body to enhance the value of the sponsorship and offer the sponsor an even better deal. The award will be paid to the sports body once the sponsor had made his own contribution.

  There is no limit to the number of awards a business can receive. The scheme will be open to applicants throughout the year for any eligible sports events or projects, whatever the size of the sports body.
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  The scheme will be available throughout Great Britain. Details of how it will operate in Scotland and Wales will be announced later.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Hungary
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid the United Kingdom has provided to Hungary to help her deal with refugees from the conflict in the former Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The European Community has so far contributed some 2 million ECU to the refugee problem in neighbour countries of the former Yugoslavia, mainly via UNHCR and ICRC. UNHCR has itself recently carried out a mission in Hungary and is now preparing a budget for this year's activities. This will enable it to continue helping the Hungarian authorities provide basic assistance and secure conditions in anticipation of early repatriation. We are major contributors in both the EC and UNHCR.

  Joint Funding Scheme
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide details of how the joint funding scheme of the Overseas Development Administration is monitored.

  Mrs. Chalker
  All agencies receiving funds through the joint funding scheme are required to provide annual audited accounts which separately identify the joint funding scheme grant.

  Five agencies to which we provide block grants to finance a number of projects are required to provide a project description for all new projects and, each quarter, to submit a statement of project expenditure showing the duration of the project and the total financial commitment. Each agency provides an annual report on all continuing projects. All other agencies supported under the scheme are required to submit financial reports on their projects at least every six months. Progress reports are required annually and a final report is called for on the completion of each project.

  Review visits to selected projects are carried out at least twice a year by advisers and officials. Evaluations of specific projects are carried out by professional advisers on an ad hoc basis.

  Overall expenditure is monitored throughout the year to ensure that the scheme's financial targets are met.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide a full list of countries in which joint funding scheme projects were implemented, for the most recent year.

  Mrs. Chalker
  A full list of countries in which the joint funding scheme projects were implemented in the last financial year is as follows:

  Afghanistan

  Angola

  Bangladesh

  Belize

  Benin

  Bhutan

  Bolivia

  Botswana

  650

  Brazil

  Burkina Faso

  Burundi

  Cambodia

  Cameroon

  Chad

  Chile

  China

  Colombia

  Dominica

  Dominican Republic

  Ecuador

  Egypt

  El Salvador

  Ethiopia

  Fiji

  Gambia

  Ghana

  Grenada

  Guinea Bissau

  Haiti

  Honduras

  India

  Indonesia

  Jamaica

  Jordan

  Kenya

  Laos

  Lebanon

  Lesotho

  Madagascar

  Malawi

  Malaysia

  Maldives

  Mali

  Mauritania

  Mexico

  Morocco

  Mozambique

  Namibia

  Nepal

  Nicaragua

  Niger

  Nigeria

  Pakistan

  Panama

  Papua New Guinea

  Paraguay

  Peru

  Philippines

  Rwanda

  Senegal

  Sierra Leone

  Solomon Islands

  Somalia

  South Africa

  Sri Lanka

  St. Lucia

  Sudan

  Swaziland

  Tanzania

  Thailand

  Togo

  Uganda

  Uruguay

  Vanuatu

  Vietnam

  West Bank

  Yemen Arab Republic

  Zaire

  Zambia

  Zimbabwe

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much Government assistance was provided to voluntary agencies through the joint funding scheme in each year from 1985 to 1990, in cash and real terms.
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  Mrs. Chalker
  The amount of Government assistance provided to voluntary agencies through the joint funding scheme in each year from 1985 to 1990 was as follows:

  Cash terms

  £ actual

  1985

  4,765,068

  1986

  5,367,279

  1987

  6,410,954

  1988

  9,790,591

  1989

  15,050,146

  1990

  19,786,309

  Real terms (1990–91 prices)

  £ actual

  1985

  6,382,427

  1986

  6,946,604

  1987

  7,904,414

  1988

  11,330,125

  1989

  16,285,327

  1990

  19,786,309

  Malawi
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all United Kingdom overseas aid which directly benefits Malawi in the current year; and if he will provide details of his present plans for 1992–93.

  Mrs. Chalker
  In 1990 (the latest year for which comprehensive figures are available), British bilateral aid to Malawi comprised the following:

  £ million

  Project aid

  12·0

  Technical co-operation

  6·6

  Programme aid (balance of payments support)

  9·6

  Aid and trade provision

  0·2

  Debt relief

  1·7

  Investments by the Commonwwealth Development Corporation

  7·1

  Total gross bilateral aid

  37·2

  In 1992–93, we shall continue our efforts to reorient the programme away from large-scale infrastructure projects and towards projects in the social sectors of more direct benefit to the most vulnerable social groups. We have meanwhile made clear to the Malawi Government that future levels of programme aid in particular will take account of performance on human rights issues.

  Renewable Natural Resources
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the implementation of the renewable natural resources research strategy since April 1990.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Esher (Mr. Taylor) on 19 December 1991 at column 232.

EMPLOYMENT

  Work Permits
  Mr. Dicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those countries where nationals need a work permit to gain employment in Britain.

  Mr. Forth
  Nationals of all countries, except member states of the European Community and Gibraltar, need a work permit to gain employment in Britain, unless the individual is covered by another provision of the immigration rules.

  Mr. Dicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many work permits have been issued over the past five years; and if he will list the countries of origin of those to whom permits have been granted.

  Mr. Forth
  The number of work permits issued over the past five years to 31 December 1991 is 111,478; the countries of origin of those to whom permits have been granted are as follows:

  Afghanistan

  Albania

  Algeria

  Andorra

  Angola

  Antigua and Barbuda

  Argentina

  Australia

  Austria

  Bahamas

  Bahrain

  Bangladesh

  Barbados

  Belize

  Benin

  Bermuda

  Bolivia

  Botswana

  Brazil

  Brunei

  Bulgaria

  Burkina Faso

  Burma

  Burundi

  Cambodia

  Cameroon

  Canada

  Cape Verde

  Cayman Islands

  Chile

  Colombia

  Commonwealth of Dominica

  Congo

  Costa Rica

  Cuba

  Cyprus

  Czechoslovakia

  Dominican Republic

  Ecuador

  Egypt

  El Salvador

  Estonia

  Esthiopia

  Fiji

  Finland

  Gabon

  Gambia

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  German Democratic Republic

  Ghana

  Greece

  Grenada

  Guatemala

  Guinea

  Guyana

  Haiti

  Hungary

  Iceland

  India

  Indonesia

  Iran

  Iraq

  Israel

  Ivory Coast

  Jamaica

  Japan

  Jordan

  Kenya

  Kuwait

  Latvia

  Lebanon

  Lesotho

  Liberia

  Libyan Arab Republic

  Liechtenstein

  Madagascar

  Malawi

  Malaysia

  Maldives

  Mali

  Malta

  Mauritania

  Mauritius

  Mexico

  Monaco

  Mongolia

  Montserrat

  Morocco

  Mozambique

  Namibia

  Nepal

  New Zealand

  Nicaragua

  Niger

  Nigeria

  North Korea

  Norway

  Oman

  Other Commonwealth

  Pakistan

  Panama

  Papua and New Guinea

  Paraquay

  Peoples Republic of China

  Peru

  Philippines

  Poland

  Portugal

  Puerta Rica

  Qatar

  Romania

  Rwanda

  San Marino

  Sao Tome and Prinicipe

  Saudi Arabia

  Senegal

  654

  Seychelles

  Sierra Leone

  Singapore

  Somalia

  South Africa

  South Korea

  Spain

  Sri Lanka

  St Helena

  St Kitts and Nevis

  St Lucia

  St Vincent

  Sudan

  Suriname

  Swaziland

  Sweden

  Switzerland

  Syrian Arab Republic

  Taiwan

  Tanzania

  Thailand

  Tibet

  Tonga

  Trinidad and Tobago

  Tunisia

  Turkey

  Turks and Caicos Islands

  Uganda

  United Arab Emirates

  United States of America

  Uruguay

  USSR

  Venezuela

  Vietnam

  Virgin Islands

  Western Samoa

  Yemen Arab Republics

  Yugoslavia

  Zaire

  Zambia

  Zimbabwe

  Note:

  In addition, a number of permits were issued to stateless people.

  Industrial Tribunals
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether it is his intention to provide more industrial tribunal members and premises to cope with the increased workload following changes to training contracts to permit employers to recover training costs from employees who leave their employment.

  Mr. Forth
  Industrial tribunal membership and premises are always kept under review in the light of the tribunals' work load.

  Training Costs
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether it is his intention that employees who leave their employment prematurely because they feel they(a) are not being given enough responsibility or (b) are being denied promotion unfairly will have to pay their employer a proportion of their training costs;

  (2) whether it is his intention that employees who leave their employment prematurely because (a) their new job is

  655
  closer to home or (b) the hours in the new job are more convenient will have to pay the first employer a proportion of their training costs;

  (3) whether it is his intention that employees who leave their employment prematurely because they dislike the boss will have to pay a proportion of their training costs;

  (4) whether it is his intention that employees who leave their employment prematurely because (a) of sexual harassment, (b) they are being treated unfairly by a supervisor or (c) they are being denied equal pay for work of equal value in the first job will have to pay their employer a proportion of their training costs;

  (5) whether it is his intention that employees who leave their employment prematurely because (a) they prefer a workplace that is organised by a trade union or (b) they realise they will never find the particular job congenial will have to pay their employer a proportion of their training costs.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Government's White Paper, "People Jobs and Opportunity" (cm. 1810) invited views on how the law relating to the enforceability of training contracts might be clarified, and the procedure for enforcing such contracts simplified. Such contracts between employer and employee are voluntarily entered into, and their terms a matter for the parties not for Government. We are not proposing to alter that position. The Government will take a decision on how to proceed on clarifying the law relating to their enforceability only when it has had the chance to consider the results of its consultation.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what arrangements he proposes to make to ensure that the public sector compensates the NHS for the employment of staff trained by the NHS.

  Mr. Jackson
  None. The White Paper "People, Jobs and Opportunity" invites comments on how to clarify the law on the enforceability of training contracts. The terms of any such contracts are a matter for negotiation between individual employers and their employees.

  Foreign Nationals
  Mr. Dicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many foreign nationals are in full-time employment in the United Kingdom.

  Total revenue expenditure on services for persons with a learning disability (mental handicap)

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Region

  £000 (cash)

  £000 (at 1990–91 prices)

  £000 (cash)

  £000 (at 1990–91 prices)

  £000 (cash)

  £000 (at 1990–91 prices)

  £000 (cash)

  Northern

  23,148

  28,659

  27,332

  31,573

  28,474

  30,888

  30,281

  Yorkshire

  22,913

  28,369

  27,158

  31,373

  28,360

  30,765

  29,400

  Trent

  35,107

  43,466

  41,144

  47,530

  43,638

  47,339

  47,843

  East Anglian

  14,420

  17,854

  17,467

  20,178

  20,052

  21,752

  21,429

  North West Thames

  28,592

  35,400

  33,964

  39,236

  37,316

  40,481

  40,215

  North East Thames

  26,702

  33,060

  31,750

  36,678

  34,386

  37,302

  35,831

  South East Thames

  24,516

  30,354

  25,701

  29,690

  25,858

  28,051

  29,077

  South West Thames

  39,607

  49,038

  45,509

  52,572

  48,143

  52,226

  50,636

  Wessex

  21,686

  26,850

  27,132

  31,343

  29,312

  31,798

  31,669

  Oxford

  16,395

  20,299

  20,205

  23,340

  23,144

  25,107

  25,519

  South Western

  34,983

  43,313

  38,395

  44,354

  38,088

  41,317

  37,164

  West Midlands

  37,200

  46,057

  43,595

  50,361

  46,684

  50,643

  49,252

  Mersey

  16,530

  20,465

  18,302

  21,142

  18,826

  20,422

  19,137

  North Western

  32,203

  39,871

  37,140

  42,905

  38,666

  41,944

  41,444

  656
  Mr. Forth
  The available estimates from the Labour Force Survey show that in the spring of 1990 there were 768,000 foreign nationals in full-time employment in the United Kingdom.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many representations he has received requesting the age limit to be raised in employment training programmes.

  Mr. Jackson
  We receive representations from time to time about the age limit in ET. The requirement that trainees enter training before their 60th birthday reflects our concern to ensure that participants are returning to the labour market for the longer, rather than the shorter term, and will justify the public expenditure incurred on their behalf.

HEALTH

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) doctors' surgeries, (b) hospitals and (c) clinics he has visited in the last 12 months.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My Ministers and I regularly visit doctors' surgeries, hospitals and clinics in the course of our official duties.

  Mental Handicap
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the revenue expenditure of each regional health authority on health service facilities for patients with a mental handicap for each year since 1981, in cash terms and at 1991 prices.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Prior to the adoption of the recommendations of the Sixth report of the Steering Group on Health Service Information (the Korner Committee) in 1987–88, the information collected for England was incomplete and unrepresentative of the total expenditure provision for people with a learning disability (ie mental handicap). Information derived from Korner annual financial returns for the years since 1987–88 is shown in the table. Those financial returns provide a more complete indication of total expenditure but exclude general services costs and do not capture all relevant direct costs incurred within community health services.
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  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Region

  £000 (cash)

  £000 (at 1990–91 prices)

  £000 (cash)

  £000 (at 1990–91 prices)

  £000 (cash)

  £000 (at 1990–91 prices)

  £000 (cash)

  374,005

  463,056

  434,794

  502,274

  460,946

  500,034

  488,897

  Source: Annual financial returns of district health authorities in England.

  Notes:

  1. The figures for 1987–88 (the inaugural year for the Korner returns) need to be interpreted with caution and those for 1990–91 are provisional at this stage. The figures for prior years have been expressed at 1990–91 prices by the use of GDP deflators.

  2. The figures relate to hospital services revenue expenditure on the mental handicap specialty and to the cost of nursing services provided for persons with a learning disability within community health services (CHS). The hospital figures cover direct clinical and diagnostic costs only (i.e. they exclude expenditure on support and hotel services etc.). Additional pay and non-pay costs incurred within CHS which are not separately identifiable are similarly excluded.

  Cholesterol Testing
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for health what conclusions he has reached on the need for cholesterol testing of high risk patients; what requirements he makes for statistics to be kept on such tests either by hospitals or general practitioners; and what pilot screening programmes on patients at high risk of coronary heart disease are under way.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Standing Medical Advisory Committee has reported on the cost-effectiveness of opportunistic cholesterol testing. The committee's report, issued for consultation, attracted a large number of wide-ranging responses. We have received further comment about this and related issues concerning the prevention of coronary heart disease as part of the consultation on the Green Paper "The Health of the Nation" (Cm. 1523), on which we hope to respond with a Government statement in the spring. No data are held or stipulated centrally concerning such testing or on any pilot screening programmes of patients at high risk of coronary heart disease.

  Population Statistics
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current estimated number of 16 to 24-year-old males in Staffordshire and the west midlands.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Estimates of the number of males aged between 16 and 24 years inclusive at mid-1990 are given in the table:

  Thousands

  Staffordshire

  69·0

  West Midlands county

  182·5

  West Midlands standard region

  358·6

  GPs (Night Visits)
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by family health services authority the amount paid to the general practice with the highest claim for night visit payments in the most recent available period.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not held centrally.

  Foreign Nationals (NHS Treatment)
  Mr. Dicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many foreign nationals have received free treatment under the national health service over the past three years; and what has been the cost to the NHS of this provision.

  Mrs Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not held centrally.

  Anyone not ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom has to pay for NHS hospital treatment unless he or she is covered by one of a number of specific exemptions.

  Traffic Accidents (Hospital Treatments)
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is given by his Department to hospitals with regard to charging patients for treatment following road traffic accidents.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department issued full guidance to health authorities in 1980 in a Health Notice (HN(80)7), a copy of which is available in the Library, about the basis for recovery charges under the the Road Traffic Act. This is still extant. Health authorities are notified periodically of increases in the charges.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total amount charged by each health authority for treatment given to patients following road traffic accidents for each of the last 10 years; and if he will give the comparable figures for NHS trusts.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I shall let the hon. Member have such information as is available as soon as possible.

  Tobacco Advertising
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action will be taken following the failure of European Standing Committee B to support the Government's policy on a ban on Tobacco advertising.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Government will put a motion to the House shortly.

  Cervical Cancer
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state for(a) each regional health authority and (b) each district health authority the number of women who died of cervical cancer for the most recent year available.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 10 February 1992]: The information requested is shown in the table.
  659
  The total number of deaths from cervical cancer in England and Wales in 1990 was 1,781. This represents a decrease in mortality of around 13 per cent. since 1980, when the total number of deaths was 2,068.

  Number of deaths from cancer of the cervix1 by regional and district health authority of usual residence for 1990

  Number

  England and Wales

  1,781

  Northern RHA

  119

  Hartlepool

  3

  North Tees

  7

  South Tees

  7

  East Cumbria

  10

  South Cumbria

  5

  West Cumbria

  9

  Darlington

  4

  Durham

  9

  North West Durham

  5

  South West Durham

  7

  Northumberland

  10

  Gateshead

  5

  Newcastle

  10

  North Tyneside

  12

  South Tyneside

  9

  Sunderland

  7

  Yorkshire RHA

  135

  Hull

  11

  East Yorks

  5

  Grimsby

  7

  Scunthorpe

  7

  Northallerton

  5

  York

  10

  Scarborough

  7

  Harrogate

  3

  Bradford

  20

  Airedale

  4

  Calderdale

  10

  Huddersfield

  4

  Dewsbury

  8

  Leeds Western

  11

  Leeds Eastern

  13

  Wakefield

  3

  Pontefract

  7

  Trent RHA

  160

  North Derbyshire

  14

  Southern Derbyshire

  17

  Leicestershire

  26

  North Lincolnshire

  6

  South Lincolnshire

  8

  Bassetlaw

  1

  Central Nottinghamshire

  13

  Nottingham

  25

  Barnsley

  11

  Doncaster

  14

  Rotherham

  13

  Sheffield

  12

  East Anglian RHA

  72

  Cambridge

  9

  Peterborough

  9

  West Suffolk

  8

  East Suffolk

  10

  Norwich

  18

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney

  10

  West Norfolk and Wisbech

  7

  Huntingdon

  1

  North West Thames RHA

  97

  North Bedfordshire

  8

  South Bedfordshire

  9

  North Hertfordshire

  3

  East Hertfordshire

  9

  North West Hertfordshire

  9

  South West Hertfordshire

  2

  Barnet

  5

  660

  Number

  Harrow

  8

  Hillingdon

  1

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  11

  Ealing

  6

  Parkside

  16

  Riverside

  10

  North East Thames RHA

  97

  Basildon and Thurrock

  12

  Mid Essex

  5

  North East Essex

  8

  West Essex

  7

  Southend

  10

  Barking, Havering and Brentwood

  6

  Hampstead

  5

  Bloomsbury

  4

  Islington

  6

  City and Hackney

  8

  Newham

  5

  Tower Hamlets

  8

  Enfield

  8

  Haringey

  0

  Redbridge

  4

  Waltham Forest

  1

  South East Thames RHA

  117

  Brighton

  10

  Eastbourne

  10

  Hastings

  6

  South East Kent

  10

  Canterbury and Thanet

  8

  Dartford and Gravesham

  6

  Maidstone

  4

  Medway

  13

  Tunbridge Wells

  2

  Bexley

  7

  Greenwich

  5

  Bromley

  14

  West Lambeth

  5

  Camberwell

  7

  Lewisham and North Southwark

  10

  South West Thames RHA

  81

  North West Surrey

  6

  West Surrey and North East Hampshire

  8

  South West Surrey

  5

  Mid Surrey

  8

  East Surrey

  2

  Chichester

  3

  Mid Downs

  4

  Worthing

  8

  Croydon

  10

  Kingston and Esher

  5

  Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton

  6

  Wandsworth

  6

  Merton and Sutton

  10

  Wessex RHA

  99

  East Dorset

  14

  West Dorset

  3

  Portsmouth and south east Hampshire

  26

  Southampton and south west Hampshire

  16

  Winchester

  1

  Basingstoke and North Hampshire

  5

  Salisbury

  5

  Swindon

  7

  Bath

  17

  Isle of Wight

  5

  Oxford RHA

  56

  East Berkshire

  12

  West Berkshire

  12

  661

  Number

  Aylesbury Vale

  3

  Wycombe

  6

  Milton Keynes

  0

  Kettering

  7

  Northampton

  4

  Oxfordshire

  12

  South Western RHA

  114

  Bristol and Weston

  12

  Frenchay

  5

  Southmead

  7

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  19

  Exeter

  14

  North Devon

  8

  Plymouth

  16

  Torbay

  6

  Cheltenham and District

  5

  Gloucester

  11

  Somerset

  11

  West Midlands RHA

  186

  Bromsgrove and Redditch

  3

  Herefordshire

  12

  Kidderminster and District

  1

  Worcester and District

  8

  Shropshire

  9

  Mid Staffordshire

  6

  North Staffordshire

  22

  South East Staffordshire

  9

  Rugby

  1

  North Warwickshire

  4

  South Warwickshire

  9

  Central Birmingham

  4

  East Birmingham

  4

  North Birmingham

  4

  South Birmingham

  13

  West Birmingham

  10

  Coventry

  16

  Dudley

  15

  Sandwell

  12

  Solihull

  11

  Walsall

  8

  Wolverhampton

  5

  Mersey RHA

  123

  Chester

  11

  Crewe

  10

  Halton

  9

  Macclesfield

  5

  Warrington

  12

  Liverpool

  28

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  20

  Southport and Formby

  4

  South Sefton

  7

  Wirral

  17

  North Western RHA

  197

  Lancaster

  5

  Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde

  22

  Preston

  8

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble

  13

  Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

  12

  West Lancashire

  7

  Chorley and South Ribble

  7

  Bolton

  11

  Bury

  6

  North Manchester

  11

  Central Manchester

  6

  South Manchester

  8

  Oldham

  15

  Rochdale

  8

  Salford

  11

  Stockport

  12

  Tameside and Glossop

  19

  Trafford

  9

  Wigan

  7

  662

  Number

  Wales

  124

  Clwyd

  22

  East Dyfed

  12

  Pembrokeshire

  4

  Gwent

  16

  Gwynedd

  7

  Mid Glamorgan

  24

  Powys

  8

  South Glamorgan

  15

  West Glamorgan

  16

  1 International classification of disease code 180 ninth revision.

  Dental and Sight Checks
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates he has for the cost in 1992–93 of abolishing charges for dental check-ups and sight tests; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 11 February 1992]: £65 million is a provisional estimate of the full cost in 1992–93 of abolishing dental examination charges. No corresponding estimate exists for sight tests; there are no charges for NHS sight tests, which are available to approximately 40 per cent. of the population.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Foreign Nationals (Benefits)
  Mr. Dicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many foreign nationals and their dependants are in receipt of social security benefits; and what is the cost to the public purse.

  Mr. Jack
  Nationality is not one of the determining factors in deciding upon entitlement to social security benefits. Consequently the information requested is not available.

  Social Fund Inspectors
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many applications for review by a social fund inspector were outstanding for more than one month on 31 January;

  (2) how many social fund inspectors were employed on 31 January.

  Mr. Scott
  I am informed by the Social Fund Commisioner that on 31 January 1992, there were 69 social fund inspectors employed and 3,246 review applications outstanding for more than one month.

  Correspondence
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow can expect to receive a reply to his letter of 23 December 1991, to the Minister of State, concerning a constituent's referral to a regional medical officer for examination.

  Mr. Scott
  I replied to the hon. Member on 27 January 1992 and will arrange for a copy of that reply to be sent to the hon. Gentleman today.

  Select Committee Report
  Mr. Grist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to publish his response to the Social Security Committee's First Report of this session, HC 18, on public expenditure.

  Mr. Newton
  Yesterday we laid as Cm 1822, "Public Expenditure: Response by the Government to the First report from the Select Committee on Social Security Session 1991–92."

  Care Expenditure
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate for likely expenditure on income support payments towards the cost of private or voluntary nursing or residential care during the current financial year.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 6 February 1992]: The latest estimate for the 1991–92 financial year is £1,950 million.

PRIME MINISTER

  GATT Negotiations
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what response he has made to the proposals made by the Vice-President of the United States of America on 9 February to link the outcome of the negotiations on the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and European security commitments by the United States of America.

  The Prime Minister
  Vice President Quayle has confirmed publicly that he sees no link between GATT and the United States commitment to European security. Vice President Quayle and I agreed that the success of the Uruguay round was of vital importance to the world economy and that the European Community and the United States must work urgently for a successful agreement.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister if he discussed the implementation of safeguards arrangements arising from South Africa's membership of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty during the recent visit of President de Klerk to the United Kingdom.

  The Prime Minister
  No. South Africa has signed an exemplary safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency and preliminary IAEA inspections are already taking place.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Motor Vehicle Crime
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences of(a) taking a vehicle without the owner's consent and (b) theft of a motor vehicle were reported to the police for the years 1980 to 1991.

  Mr. John Patten
  Notifiable offences of theft of a motor vehicle include taking a vehicle without the owner's664
  consent. Figures for 1980–89 are published in table 2.12 of "Criminal statistics, England and Wales, 1989" and figures for 1990 are published in Home Office statistical bulletin 13/91; copies of both publications are available in the Library. Figures for 1991 are not yet available.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list his proposals to reduce the incidence of car crimes.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Government are proposing a six-point action plan to tackle car crime.

  First, the prevention of car crime will be the central feature of our crime prevention campaign in 1992, which we have designated 'Car Crime Prevention Year'. The campaign, which was launched by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 11 February, seeks to engage the whole community in a co-ordinated effort to tackle car crime. It comprises a broad programme of national and regional activities and is supported by an extensive Home Office funded advertising and promotional campaign that aims to increase public awareness of the cost of crime, the importance of individual and community action in combating this crime and the steps that should be taken to reduce vehicle risk.

  Secondly, the motor vehicle manufacturers have a most important role to play in reducing the opportunities for car crime. My right hon. Friend and I met the manufacturers three times last year to stress the importance of improved vehicle security. The progress being made is encouraging, but much more could be done. In particular, we have stressed the need for the general introduction of effective and safe vehicle immobilisation systems, dead locks, and visible vehicle identification numbers. We are to meet again with the manufacturers next month for a report on progress.

  Thirdly, it is also important that motorists should be encouraged to take vehicle security seriously, and rewarded when they do so—not just being penalised when they do not. My right hon. Friend has therefore asked the Association of British Insurers to consider further providing incentives, including reduced premiums, for owners who improve the security of their cars, and take care of them.

  Fourthly, we are active on the European front. Trevi, the body which represents EC Ministers responsible for policing, has accepted our suggestion that car theft should be added to its agenda. Experts from across the Community are to meet in London on 25 February to discuss cross-border aspects of car crime. We are also pressing for the British Standard on vehicle security to be adopted as a compulsory EC directive.

  Fifthly, the Government have already taken swift action to tackle the criminals who take cars. The Aggravated Vehicle-Taking Bill, which is being considered by the House of Lords, shows our determination to deal with the menace of those who take cars and cause damage, injury or death.

  Finally, the police have the Government's full support in their fight against car crime. Provision has been agreed for up to a further 1,000 police posts in 1992–93. The police cannot, however, be expected to take on the task of detecting criminals, maintaining order and protecting the public on their own. They need the full support of the whole community.
  665
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has received from chief officers of police for an extension of the vehicle watch scheme as pioneered in Newport, Gwent, to other parts of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. John Patten
  There are now more than 20 vehicle watch schemes in operation in England and Wales. Some cover whole force areas, while others are limited to police divisions or sub-divisions.

  The chief officers of the Welsh forces agreed last year to extend the Gwent scheme, which had been operating for one year, to cover the whole of Wales; this was launched on 11 September 1991.

  My right hon. Friend has received no representations about the further extension of vehicle watch. That is a matter for chief officers to decide. Arrangements are, however, in train for vehicle watch to be evaluated during this year, with a view to it being encouraged throughout England, if it is shown to be succesful in reducing vehicle theft.

  Brixton Prison
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were received into Brixton prison in the last week for which figures are available; and for what offences they were remanded.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The readily available information, which is given in the table, is based on the three weeks commencing 1 December 1991.

  Average number of prisoners received into Brixton prison per week on initial committal as a remand prisoner1: by offence

  Offence

  Number2

  Violence against the person

  8

  Rape

  —

  Other sexual offences

  —

  Burglary

  4

  Robbery

  3

  Theft and handling

  6

  Fraud and forgery

  1

  Drugs offences

  2

  Other offences

  3

  Not recorded

  12

  All offences

  39

  1 Untried or convicted unsentenced.

  2 Rounded figures.

  Crime
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of notifiable crimes committed in 1991; and what were the comparable figures for 1978.

  Mr. John Patten
  Notifiable offence statistics for 1978 are published in table 2.2 of "Criminal statistics, England and Wales, 1989". Figures for 1990 are published in Home Office statistical bulletin 13/91; copies of both publications are available in the Library. Figures for 1991 are not yet available.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the figures for the percentage change in reported crime between 1979 and 1991 in(a) Neath, (b) south Wales and (c) the United Kingdom.
  666
  Mr. John Patten
  The available information shows that between 1979 and 1990 recorded crime increased by 94 per cent. in south Wales and 79 per cent. in England and Wales as a whole. Statistics are not collected centrally for Neath.

  The British crime survey provides a measure of reported crime as experienced by adults in England and Wales. The most recent available results show that there was a 30 per cent. increase in offences measured by the survey between 1981 and 1987, as against a 41 per cent. increase in comparable recorded offences. Estimates are not available for the change in Neath or south Wales.

  Figures for Scotland are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State of Scotland, and figures for Northern Ireland are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of each police force in England as to what proportion of the clear-up rate for crime in his area in 1990–91 is accounted for by voluntary admissions by convicted criminals; how many detectives are employed to obtain these admissions; and when the practice ceased.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Information for police forces in England on the number of offences cleared up by an interview of convicted offenders in custody is contained in the table below. Further information is not readily available.

  Offences cleared up by interview of a convicted prisoner in custody as a percentage of all offences cleared up

  England

  1989

  Force

  Percentage cleared up by interview of convicted prisoner

  Avon and Somerset

  9

  Bedfordshire

  —

  Cambridgeshire

  6

  Cheshire

  25

  Cleveland

  9

  Cumbria

  10

  Derbyshire

  3

  Devon and Cornwall

  7

  Dorset

  13

  Durham

  8

  Essex

  5

  Gloucestershire

  17

  Greater Manchester

  33

  Hampshire

  7

  Hertfordshire

  —

  Humberside

  8

  Kent

  4

  Lancashire

  10

  Leicestershire

  11

  Lincolnshire

  10

  London, City of

  6

  Merseyside

  44

  Metropolitan Police District

  1

  Norfolk

  19

  Northamptonshire

  19

  Northumbria

  29

  North Yorkshire

  23

  Nottinghamshire

  —

  South Yorkshire

  22

  Staffordshire

  18

  667

  Force

  Percentage cleared up by interview of convicted prisoner

  Suffolk

  1

  Surrey

  1

  Sussex

  1

  Thames Valley

  3

  Warwickshire

  15

  West Mercia

  18

  West Midlands

  34

  West Yorkshire

  20

  Wiltshire

  3

  ENGLAND

  16

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the clear-up rates for every police force in England and Wales during the most recent year for which figures are available.

  Mr. John Patten
  The latest available figures, for 1990, are published in Home Office statistical bulletin 4/91, which is available in the Library. They are annotated as provisional in the bulletin, but only south Wales's figure has since been revised, to 36 per cent. Figures for 1991 are not yet available.

  HM Chief Inspector of Prisons
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will extend the powers of Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons so that he can inspect police and court cells holding prisoners.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I do not believe that it would be right to seek to extend the functions of Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons to include inspections of police and court cells. I am satisfied with the existing arrangements under which Her Majesty's chief inspector of constabulary, in the course of his inspections of individual police forces, will take account of the standard of accommodation provided for prisoners and the general conditions in which they are held.

  Young Prisoners
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many 15-year-olds remanded into prison in each year since 1981 were subsequently found not guilty.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The readily available information is given in the table. Data for 1991 are not yet available.

  Persons aged 15 on initial reception on remand into a Prison Service establishment in England and Wales who were not found guilty1: by year of initial remand and sex

  Male

  Female

  1981

  3

  —

  1982

  7

  —

  1983

  11

  —

  1984

  6

  —

  1985

  8

  —

  1986

  14

  —

  1987

  20

  —

  1988

  17

  —

  1989

  15

  1

  1990

  3

  —

  668
  1 Charge withdrawn or dismissed, no evidence offered on prisoner acquitted or not tried. Separate figures are not available. The data are under recorded to some extent.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many 15-year-old prisoners were put into strip conditions either as suicide prevention or as a punishment in 1990 and in 1991; and in which prisons.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  An inmate who is violent or refractory may be termporarily confined in a special cell or an unfurnished cell if this is necessary to prevent him from injuring himself or others, damaging property or creating, a serious disturbance. No inmates may be placed in such accommodation as a punishment.

  In 1990, six prisoners aged 15 were confined in special cells; none was for the prevention of suicide. Information on the use of unfurnished cells was not collected centrally. Data for 1991 are not yet available.

  An inmate may be deprived of his clothing only if this essential to prevent him from injuring himself of others. In such cases, the inmate must be provided with a suit of protective clothing so that he can be decently dressed. No information on prisoners deprived of their clothing in this way is collected centrally.

  Feltham Young Offenders Institution
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been received into Feltham young offenders institution in the last week for which figures are available; and for what offences they were remanded or convicted.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The readily available information, which is given in the table, is based on the three weeks commencing 1 December 1991.

  Average number of prisoners received into Feltham remand centre per week on initial committal as a remand prisoner1 :by offence

  Offence

  Number2

  Violence against the person

  6

  Rape

  —

  Other sexual offences

  —

  Burglary

  15

  Robbery

  3

  Theft and handling

  14

  Fraud and forgery

  1

  Drugs offences

  —

  Other offences

  8

  Not recorded

  4

  ALL OFFENCES

  53

  1 Untried or convicted unsentenced.

  2 Rounded figures.

  Average number of prisoners received into Feltham remand centre or young offender institution per week on initial committal as a sentenced prisoner: by offence

  Number of prisoners1

  Offence

  Remand centre

  Young offender institution

  Violence against the person

  1

  1

  Rape

  —

  —

  Other sexual offences

  —

  —

  Burglary

  4

  1

  Robbery

  1

  2

  Theft and handling

  6

  2

  Fraud and forgery

  —

  —

  669

  Offence

  Remand centre

  Young offender institution

  Drugs offences

  —

  —

  Other offences

  5

  1

  Not recorded

  2

  —

  ALL OFFENCES

  20

  7

  1 Rounded figures.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new project licences assessed as being of substantial severity were issued under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in each year since the Act came into force.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Project licences assessed as being of substantial severity account for a very small proportion of all project licences issued. More detailed information is contained in the annual reports of the animal procedures committee, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new project licences authorising scientific procedures on primates were issued under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in each year since the Act came into force.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Non-human primates receive special protection under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and may be used only where no other suitable species is available. Records held centrally on project licences issued do not identify those which authorise the use of non-human primates. Non-human primates accounted for 0·2 per cent. of animals used in scientific procedures started in 1990.

  Credit Reference Agencies
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the relevant statutory provisions relating to the circumstances in which credit reference agencies may be used; and what uses are regarded by his Department as acceptable or worthy of encouragement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The relevant provisions are sections 157 to 160 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and various provisions of the Data Protection Act 1984. The Government consider that the use of credit reference agencies for inquiring into creditworthiness and ability to repay, and thus to promote responsible lending, is to be encouraged.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what safeguards are available to protect individuals(a) in regard to information held about them by credit reference agencies and (b) the way in which any such information is released by such agencies to third parties.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Sections 158 and 159 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 give right of access and correction and various provisions of the Data Protection Act 1984 give rights to data subjects. Various provisions of the Data Protection Act regulate disclosure; and the expectation of 670
  the office of Fair Trading, which licenses credit reference agencies, is that they will require subscribers not to make information available to third parties.

  Poll Tax
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many regulation 41 poll tax committal hearings—means inquiries—have been held; and of these how many resulted in a suspended prison sentence.

  Mr. John Patten
  During the period 1 April 1990 to 31 December 1991, 11,259 means enquiries were held. No information is available on how many of these resulted in a suspended committal warrant.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information is available as to the number of poll tax liability orders granted by magistrates courts against people in receipt of poll tax rebates.

  Mr. John Patten
  This information is not separately collected.

  Sipho Mbete
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will be in a position to take a decision on the application by the UNHCR for asylum in the United Kingdom for Sipho Mbete before 14 February when the Zambian authorities have said that they will repatriate him to South Africa.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand that Mr. Mbete has decided to withdraw his application and to return to South Africa. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is assisting in his return and has confirmed that his decision was made voluntarily.

  Hillsborough Family Support Group
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will be in a position to reply to the letter from the Hillsborough family support group dated 22 October 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter sent to him on 22 October 1991 from the Hillsborough family support group in Liverpool; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A reply was sent to the Hillsborough family support group on 12 February 1992.

  Gwent Police
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out his reasons for deciding to increase the establishment of the Gwent police force by one uniformed policeman.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State takes advice from Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary on increases in police establishments generally. A range of factors are taken into account in assessing a force's need for additional officers, such as police to population ratio, the incidence of crime, civilianisation and the effectiveness with which a force is
  671
  utilising its existing resources. These factors indicated that, for 1992–93, Gwent's need for manpower is not as great as other forces, but my right hon. Friend decided that there was a case for a modest increase in its police establishment.

  Tobacco Advertisements
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to seek changes in legislation to require that, when advertisements for tobacco products are seen on television at sporting and other events, a health warning is also given in vision and sound.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  None. The broadcast coverage of tobacco company sponsored events, or events at which there is advertising for any tobacco company, is subject to a voluntary agreement reached between the Minister for Sport and the Tobacco Advisory Council in 1987.

  Receivership
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the rules regarding the level of legal costs which may be granted out of company funds to directors of companies in administration or receivership.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have been asked to reply.

  There are no such rules in the insolvency legislation. The receiver or administrator has discretion over which legal costs he should incur in the interests of carrying out his duties. Company directors in failed companies usually have to meet their own costs if legal action is taken against them.

  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the advice issued to liquidators and administrators in relation to finance allowed to directors of companies in administration/ liquidation or receivership.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have been asked to reply.

  This is a matter for the liquidator's or administrator's professional judgment and is not the subject of advice issued by my Department.

  In formal insolvency proceedings, a creditors committee may be established and may require information on those and other matters.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Credit and Home Owners
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the increase in the amount of credit in each year since 1985; and how much of this was provided in the form of mortgages to home-owners for spending for other purposes.

  Mr. Maples
  Full information is not available in the form requested. However, figures for the increase in the amount of credit supplied each year since 1985 including loans for house purchase are contained in Financial Statistics table 9.3.

  North West Pensioners Liaison Forum
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has had from the chairman of the North West Pensioners' Liaison Forum; what reply he is sending; if there is any action that he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The chairman of the forum wrote to me last month. My right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary replied on 12 February.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the lower income tax threshold; and what is the marginal rate of income tax at that threshold, in each of the EC member states.

  Mr. Maude
  Estimates based on the latest available information are given in the table. Unless otherwise stated the figures relate to 1991.

  The threshold is the amount of gross income below which no tax is payable; the mariginal rate is the rate of tax charged on the first unit of taxable income.

  Rates and thresholds relate to a single person, and to income from employment only. Standard deductions available to all employees have been taken into account.

  Thresholds have been converted from local currencies into £ sterling using the latest available OECD purchasing power parities.

  Country

  Threshold

  Marginal tax rate at threshold

  £

  Per cent.

  Belgium

  3,477

  125

  Denmark

  1,980

  152·8

  France

  5,339

  19

  Germany

  2,512

  19·7

  Greece

  2,502

  18

  Ireland (1991–92)

  2,438

  29

  Italy

  2,935

  10

  Luxembourg

  5,035

  10

  Netherlands

  1,173

  13

  Portugal

  2,836

  15

  Spain

  4,407

  25

  United Kingdom (1991–92)

  3,295

  25

  1 Includes local income tax.

  Married Couple's Allowance
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how many tax payers with gross earnings of £33,000 and above in 1992–93 will be entitled to a married couple's allowance.

  Mr. Maude
  It is estimated that 760,000 tax payers with earnings from employment or self-employment over £33,000 will be entitled to the married couple's allowance in 1992£93 assuming statutory indexation.

  Tax Exemption Certificates
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many income tax exemption certificates were in force in each year since 1980(a) in total and (b) by industrial sector.

  Mr. Maude
  The numbers of Inland Revenue certificates in force at each year-end for self-employed
  673
  subcontractors, enabling them to receive payment from contractors without any deduction on accout of tax, are shown in the table. The scheme applies only in the construction industry.

  At 31 December

  Number

  1980

  234,180

  1981

  245,335

  1982

  269,460

  1983

  310,964

  1984

  348,083

  1985

  375,981

  1986

  413,268

  1987

  443,447

  1988

  487,765

  1989

  519,242

  1990

  520,715

  1991

  501,836

  Exchange Rates
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the effect of nominal exchange rate changes to date since the first quarter of 1991 on the trade-weighted Department of Trade and Industry and International Monetary Fund indices of relative export unit values for the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 12 February 1992]: Competitiveness depends on a number of factors, in particular the effectiveness of United Kingdom producers in controlling their costs.

  Manufacturers
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is his estimate of the elasticity of demand for United Kingdom exports and imports of manufactures in terms of price in 1973, 1979, 1986 and currently; and what is the implied effect in each case, in terms of the subsequent growth in the volume of imports and exports, of the increase in the real exchange rate measured in terms of(a) relative export prices and (b) of the terms of trade which has since taken place;

  (2) what is his current estimate of the elasticity of demand for United Kingdom imports and exports of manufacturers; and what is his estimate of the likely effect on the volume of imports and exports in each of the years 1993–95 of an increase in the rate of growth in each of those years (a) 1·5 per cent., (b) 2 per cent. and (c) 2·5 per cent. and of the effect on the balance of payments as a percentage of gross domestic product, and on output and employment.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 13 February 1992]: Precise estimates of the kind requested are not available.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the effect on the numbers employed in manufacturing of the increase in the trade-weighted relative price of United Kingdom exports to imports of finished manufactures between the second half of 1973 and first quarter of 1991; and if he will give figures for the number and the percentage loss of jobs in manufacturing since 1973 in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) Germany and (c) Japan.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 13 February 1992]: Precise estimates of the effect of such relative price changes on
  674
  numbers employed in manufacturing are not available. Comparable figures for changes in manufacturing employment in the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan are published in OECD Labour Force Statistics, which is available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the effect on the numbers employed in manufacturing industry of the change in the trade-weighted relative price of United Kingdom exports of manufactures between the second half of 1973 and the first quarter of 1991; and if he will publish a table showing the change over the same period in the sterling price of exports of manufactures with (i) the United Kingdom ex-factory price of manufactured goods other than food, drink, tobacco, printing and publishing and (ii) the weighted average increase in the retail price of such goods compared to that of other components in the retail prices index.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 13 February 1992]: Reliable estimates of the kind requested in the first part of the question are not available. The figures requested in the second part of the question could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

TRANSPORT

  Pedestrian Crossings
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the specific measures taken by his Department to enforce motorists' respect for pedestrian rights at zebra and pelican crossings.

  Mr. Chope
  Enforcement of the law is a matter for the police. It is the responsibility of individual motorists to comply with the law on pedestrian crossings, which is set out in the highway code. The Department issues publicity to improve drivers' compliance with the crossing regulations.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to complete his review of pedestrian crossing facilities.

  Mr. Chope
  I intend to make an announcement later this month; I shall write to the hon. Member then.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give annual figures for injuries for the last 10 years for which figures are available, including the number of(a) children and (b) adults who have been hit by cars on or near pedestrian crossings in (i) the Metropolitan police area of London and (ii) England and Wales.

  Mr. Chope
  The information requested is as follows:

  Child and adult pedestrians injured when hit by cars on or near pedestrian crossings in the Metropolitan police area of London, and England and Wales: 1981–1990

  London1

  England and Wales

  Child2

  Adult

  Child

  Adult

  1981

  On Crossing

  324

  808

  1,100

  1,928

  Within zig-zag lines3

  347

  773

  422

  878

  Elsewhere within 50 metres of crossing

  —

  —

  643

  980

  675

  London1

  England and Wales

  Child2

  Adult

  Child

  Adult

  Total

  671

  1,581

  2,165

  3,786

  1982

  On Crossing

  381

  907

  1,198

  2,197

  Within zig-zag lines

  31

  66

  107

  184

  Elsewhere within 50 metres of crossing

  349

  782

  1,023

  1,768

  Total

  761

  1,755

  2,328

  4,149

  1983

  On Crossing

  321

  953

  1,132

  2,263

  Within zig-zag lines

  38

  58

  119

  149

  Elsewhere within 50 metres of crossing

  424

  1,000

  1,188

  2,222

  Total

  783

  2,011

  2,439

  4,634

  1984

  On Crossing

  383

  987

  1,270

  2,411

  Within zig-zag lines

  33

  54

  100

  144

  Elsewhere within 50 metres of crossing

  461

  1,032

  1,192

  2,334

  Total

  877

  2,073

  2,562

  4,889

  1985

  On Crossing

  324

  904

  1,165

  2,368

  Within zig-zag lines

  27

  56

  100

  173

  Elsewhere within 50 metres of crossing

  332

  1,077

  1,148

  2,334

  Total

  683

  2,037

  2,413

  4,875

  1986

  On Crossing

  340

  977

  1,150

  2,633

  Within zig-zag lines

  18

  57

  94

  163

  Elsewhere within 50 metres of crossing

  344

  1,059

  1,144

  2,487

  Total

  702

  2,093

  2,388

  5,283

  1987

  On Crossing

  267

  909

  995

  2,374

  Within zig-zag lines

  13

  51

  83

  169

  Elsewhere within 50 metres of crossing

  308

  996

  962

  2,452

  Total

  588

  1,956

  2,040

  4,995

  1988

  On Crossing

  270

  958

  1,048

  2,588

  Within zig-zag lines

  26

  41

  101

  239

  Elsewhere within 50 metres of crossing

  301

  939

  988

  2,395

  Total

  597

  1,938

  2,137

  5,222

  1989

  On Crossing

  310

  967

  1,111

  2,610

  Within zig-zag lines

  17

  41

  151

  281

  Elsewhere within 50 metres of crossing

  330

  973

  999

  2,482

  Total

  657

  1,981

  2,261

  5,373

  1990

  On Crossing

  333

  926

  1,122

  2,602

  Within zig-zag lines

  13

  44

  156

  285

  Elsewhere within 50 metres of crossing

  346

  851

  1,046

  2,272

  Total

  692

  1,821

  2,324

  5,159

  1 Metropolitan Police area

  2 Defined as aged 0 to 15

  3 These figures for the Metropolitan and some other areas include `elsewhere within 50 metres of crossing'.

  Traffic Cameras
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 20 January,Official Report, column 63, how many automatic cameras have been installed at traffic-light-controlled junctions; and how many more are planned this year.

  Mr. Chope
  Installation of camera sites and deployment of traffic light cameras are primarily matters for highway authorities in conjunction with the police. Complete information is therefore not available centrally, but it is known that by the end of 1991, traffic light cameras were in use at over 100 sites in England and Wales.

  M25
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what consultations his Department had with representatives from local authorities over the decision to widen the M25;

  (2) what representations he has received concerning the proposals to widen the M25;

  (3) what environmental considerations his Department took into account in the decision to widen the M25;

  (4) if he has met representatives of the London Boroughs Association over Government plans to widen the M25.

  Mr. Chope
  My Department has consulted widely with local authorities about the proposals for the M25 and will continue to do so. Many representations have been received from the public and representative bodies and will be carefully considered. The full range of environmental considerations have been taken into account and environmental assessments will take place for every scheme. The London Boroughs Association has not been a formal consultee but representatives of some of its member authorities have participated in the discussions.

  Manchester Relief Road
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which agencies are contributing to the environmental impact assessment into the Greater Manchester western and northern relief road; and when this work commenced.

  Mr. Chope
  Consulting engineers and their associated landscape sub-consultants are carrying out environmental appraisals as part of the initial investigation of options. Representative environmental bodies have been consulted in confidence. The work began with the appointment of consultants in 1990.

  Mr. A. D. Lawrie
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he first received correspondence relating to Mr. A. D. Lawrie of 79 Ninian road, Hemel Hempstead on the subject of the sale of car insurance by telephone; and when he expects to give a definitive answer to the points raised.

  Mr. Chope
  My Department first received correspondence from Mr. Lawrie on this subject on 19 February 1990. A substantive reply was sent on 20 April 1990. There has been later correspondence and I last wrote to my hon. Friend on the subject last September. I hope to send a further letter on outstanding points before the end of this month.

  Roads, Leicester
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those dual carriageway sections of the eastern district distributor road that have been completed in Leicester and not used; the total unused carriageway and the reason it has not been brought fully into use.

  Mr. Chope
  This is not a matter for my Department. The eastern district distributor is a local road for which Leicestershire county council, as the highway authority, is responsible.

  However, I understand that none of the eastern district distributor road has yet been completed, but that 0·4 miles of the contiguous single carriageway A46/A47 link have ben completed but are unused at present.

  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the cost to public funds so far of the non-usage of city sections of the eastern district distributor road in Leicester; and what additional cost city ratepayers are to be required to meet in this respect.

  Mr. Chope
  This is not a matter for my Department. The eastern district distributor road is a local road for which Leicestershire county council, as the highway authority, is responsible.

  However, I understand that none of the eastern district distributor road has yet been constructed, but that the total cost of the unused section of the contiguous A46/A47 link to be of the order of £0·5 million of which the Department has provided 50 per cent through transport supplementary grant.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the pollution levels from the eastern district distribution roads that will affect the residents of Victoria Court flats, Oadby.

  Mr. Chope
  This is not a matter for my Department. The eastern district distributor road is a local road for which Leicestershire county council, as the highway authority, is responsible.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the eastern district distribution road will qualify for transport subsidy grant if it is a single carriageway throughout its length.

  Mr. Chope
  It is for Leicestershire county council to seek transport supplementary grant for this scheme. It would be assessed, in competition nationally, with schemes from other county councils irrespective of the proposed standard of the road.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will cost the Henwood proposals for the Leicester bypass.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department's concern is with the strategic trunk road network and, in particular around Leicester, to provide continuity of this network for long-distance traffic by connecting the A46 north and the city with the A6 to the south-west. Various options are being considered within a broad corridor to the east of Leicester. The Henwood proposals go beyond this objective and would provide a southern bypass of the city. We will not, therefore, be costing the Henwood proposals.

  Air Traffic Control
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on funding research and development of air traffic control systems last year; and how much is planned for the next four years.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Research and development of such systems is carried out by the Civil Aviation Authority, as the United Kingdom body directly concerned with air traffic control matters. In 1990–91 the authority's budgeted expenditure on air traffic services research and development was £9·7 million, and the budget for 1991–92 is £11·0 million. The budget for future years has not been finalised.

  In addition, the United Kingdom contributes to the expenditure of Eurocontrol, of which it is a member, and which has a substantial programme of research and development of air traffic control systems.

  School Crossing Patrols
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review his policy of disregarding parked cars in the vicinity as a criterion for deciding priority for school crossing patrols.

  Mr. Chope
  My Department has not issued advice on criteria for deciding priority for school crossing patrols. This is a matter for local authorities other than in the Metropolitan police district of London where the responsibility falls to the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. I understand that local authority road safety officers have developed guidance on the establishment of school crossing patrol sites through the national school crossing patrol working party and that this guidance is used widely by local authorities.

  Skeffington Bypass
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy that the new Skeffington bypass, Leicestershire will be constructed to dual carriageway specification.

  Mr. Chope
  In common with all other trunk road improvement schemes the appropriate carriageway standard will be determined in accordance with our normal criteria which takes into account a number of factors including cost, value for money, traffic flow and environmental impact.

  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will extend the Skeffington bypass proposed on the A47, Leicester to cover the whole length of road from the end of the Billesdon bypass to Tugby.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department has no proposals at present to extend the Skeffington scheme which is planned to route traffic away from the village and improve the alignment of the A47 in that vicinity.

  A47, Leicestershire
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have been killed on the A47 between Houghton-on-the-Hill and Tugby in Leicestershire in the past six months.

  Mr. Chope
  Five. Two were killed on the Billesdon bypass in August 1991, one near Houghton-on-the-Hill in November 1991 and two near Skeffington in January 1992.
  679
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy that all future improvements on the A47 should be of dual carriageway construction.

  Mr. Chope
  In common with all other trunk road improvement schemes, the appropriate carriageway standard will be determined in accordance with our normal criteria which takes into account a number of factors including cost, value for money, traffic flow and environmental impact.

  Traffic Flow Statistics
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will supply estimated traffic flow figures, in both directions, for the following sections of the Henwood proposals(a) the southern section from the Everards roundabout at the beginning of Soar Valley way to the A6 at Oadby, (b) from the A6 to the A47 and (c) from the A47 to the A46 Newark/Nottingham road.

  Mr. Chope
  These proposals have not been promoted or examined by my Department and I have no information on traffic flows along their length. We are assessing traffic flows generally in connection with the Leicester eastern bypass scheme. This assessment will take account of the effect of other roads in the area.

  Norsea
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why his Department's officials at Hull docks, supervising the trial of new lifeboat equipment on the passenger ferry Norsea on 5 February did not insist that the crewsmen testing the equipment wore life-jackets; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The marine accident investigation bureau is investigating the incident referred to. Its report will address the use of life-jackets and it is not appropriate for me to comment any further at this stage except to state that the officials did not take a supervisory role.

  Merchant Shipping
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who are the members of his team reviewing the strategic and defence needs for British merchant shipping; when he expects this review to be completed; and if he will place copies of the review when complete in the Library.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have been asked to reply.

  The defence need for merchant shipping is kept under regular review as part of normal planning. The ability of British merchant shipping to meet those needs is being considered inter Departmentally and a statement will be made in due course. There will not be a published report.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Ambassadorial Limousines
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the original purchase price paid and the eventual disposal price obtained in the last three transactions involving Rolls-Royce motor cars belonging to Her Majesty's embassies sold out of service.
  680
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  For commercial reasons the terms of sale between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars are confidential.

  The proceeds of the last three sales of Rolls-Royce cars by missions overseas were:

  Date and Mission

  Price realised £

  12 May 1989

  British Embassy, Bonn

  37,931·08

  20 April 1990

  British High Commission, Canberra

  67,370·89

  27 June 1990

  United Kingdom Mission to United Nations, New York

  34,292·34

  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the number, location and all relevant criteria considered in deciding which of Her Majesty's embassies warrant the use of a Rolls-Royce motor car.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Eight Rolls-Royce motor cars have been provided in recent years for the use of our representatives in Bonn, Canberra, Moscow, United Nations (New York), Paris, Pretoria, Tokyo and Washington. The criteria considered includes the importance of these capitals to British interests generally and to Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in particular, operational requirements, initial purchase price, availability of servicing facilities, local conditions, running costs and potential re-sale value.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning migrant workers in Gibraltar; what representations he has made to the administration of Gibraltar about migrant workers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The Transport and General Workers Union has recently written to me drawing to my attention the report on the position of Moroccan workers in Gibraltar produced by the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants. We are considering the report with the Gibraltar Government. We have not received any other representations about migrant workers in Gibraltar.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will obtain a copy of the report by the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, entitled "Between a Rock and a Hard Place," for his departmental library.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  A copy will be obtained as required.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Government of Morocco to Her Majesty's Government and to the Gibraltar Administration about the treatment of its nationals in Gibraltar; and what response has been made.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  I have not received any such representations from the Government of Morocco, nor so far as I am aware have the Gibraltar Government.

  Israel
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United Kingdom and the European Community arms embargoes on Israel, introduced after the invasion of the Lebanon in 1982, remain in force.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Our restrictions on the sale of defence equipment to Israel remains in place. There was never a formal EC arms embargo on Israel.

  CFE Treaty
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress made to date in the implementation of the conventional forces in Europe treaty in Hungary, the Cezech and Slovak republics, Poland, Ukraine, Belarus and Russia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The 22 states of the North Atlantic Alliance and the Warsaw Pact signed the conventional forces in Europe treaty on 19 November 1990. The United Kingdom ratified the treaty on 19 November 1991. Thirteen other states have also ratified, including the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, the Republic of Hungary and the Republic of Poland.

  The treaty will not enter into force until all signatory states have ratified. The main obstacle to entry into force is uncertainty over the application to the armed forces of the former Soviet Union of treaty provisions on equipment holdings.

  NATO and other CFE signatories have together established a high level working group to address these problems. The British Government are committed to early entry into force of the CFE treaty, which we regard as a cornerstone of stability in the new Europe.

  Pakistan (Nuclear Development)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government have made any representations to the Government of Pakistan following Pakistan's announcement that it has the know-how and technology to explode a nuclear warhead.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Yes. We have noted the Pakistani Government's subsequent assurances of their commitment to non-proliferation and have urged them once again to formalise this by accession to the NPT.

  Singapore
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will invite the Prime Minister of Japan to attend a commemorative service on the 50th anniversary of the Japanese invasion of Singapore; if he will seek compensation for allied military and civil prisoners of war; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There are no plans to extend such an invitation. Nevertheless, we recognise the poignancy of the anniversary and honour the sacrifice of those who fought and died in south east Asia during the second world war. We shall never forget that great debt, nor the terrible sufferings of so many in Japanese prison camps. We consider, however, that the question of compensation was settled in the 1951 peace treaty.

  Soviet Nuclear Exports
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of the study "Controlling Soviet Nuclear Exports; The New Proliferation Challenge".

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Yes.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Indonesia's occupation of East Timor was discussed during the recent visit of his Indonesian counterpart to London; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  East Timor was discussed during the visit. We welcomed the interest of the United Nations Secretary-General. The Indonesians are well aware that the United Kingdom does not recognise de jure the annexation and occupation of East Timor.

  UN Human Rights Commission
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals will be made by Her Majesty's Government to the annual conference of the United Nations Human Rights Commission this month.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  In my speech to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on 30 January, I reaffirmed the British Government's commitment to human rights, and urged the Commission to focus on the issue of holding human rights abusers accountable for their actions. Our delegation to the Commission will also support the extension of the mandates of the Special Rapporteurs and work towards resolutions on several country situations including Burma and Iraq.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Cross-Solent Ferry Services
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to publish the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report into the cross-Solent ferry services.

  Mr. Redwood
  My right hon. Friend published the report on 12 February.

  Red Mercury
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what security controls are in place to monitor the international sales of red mercury.

  Mr. Redwood
  I am advised that the substance known as red mercury has long been incorrectly associated with capabilities in nuclear weapons development. Neither mercury oxide nor mercury sulphide, whether or not in the form which gives them their red colour, are subject to export control from the United Kingdom. If "red mercury" is a code name for enriched uranium, then controls apply.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what investment credits have been made available to Indonesia in each year since 1979; and if he will give details in each case.

  Mr. Redwood
  It has been the policy of successive Governments not to publish the details of the Export Credits Guarantee Departments support for business transacted on individual markets for reasons of commercial confidentiality.

SCOTLAND

  Traffic Offences
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many motorists have been(a) charged with and (b) convicted of assault against (i) pedestrians, (ii) cyclists and (iii) other motorists, in each year since 1981.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of the existing Scottish work force has vocational qualifications.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 11 February 1992]: Information relating to the qualifications held by those who are of working age, and economically active, is available from the labour force survey. In 1990, the proportion of this group holding one or more qualifications was 72 per cent. It is not possible to distinguish academic and vocational qualifications because only the highest qualification held is recorded.

  Health Service Staff
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance he has given to the trust hospitals concerning the appointment of senior staff, advertising of posts, equal opportunities and salary levels.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 13 February 1992]: Terms and conditions of trust employees are essentially matters for the trust board but as "NHS Trusts: A Working Guide" makes clear trusts will be required to follow proper procedures as set out in employment legislation; to demonstrate a positive commitment to equal opportunities; and to ensure that there is no unfair discrimination. Trusts are also aware of the need to ensure that salaries are set at levels which properly reflect the responsibilities involved and secure value for money.

WALES

  Farm Incomes
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the percentage change in the value of farming incomes in Wales after taking inflation into account in each year since 1987.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information is as follows:684

  Current prices £000

  Real terms (1986=100)£000

  Percentage change

  1986

  46,957

  46,957

  51·6

  1987

  55,482

  53,297

  13·5

  1988

  73,380

  67,167

  26·0

  1989

  61,455

  52,178

  -22·3

  1990

  40,045

  31,055

  -40·5

  1991

  46,018

  33,715

  8·6

  Crickhowell-Abergavenny Bypass
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding the Crickhowell-Abergavenny bypass; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  There are two separate bypass proposals—the A40 Crickhowell bypass and the A40/ A465 Abergavenny western bypass.

  Over 700 representations have been received on proposals for Crickhowell. Careful consideration is being given to the views expressed before a decision is made about any bypass for the town.

  The preferred route for the Abergavenny western bypass was announced in 1988. Draft orders for the proposed scheme are expected to be published later this year.

  Vehicle Watch Scheme
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will detail his reason for rejecting an application for urban aid to support the vehicle watch scheme pioneered in Newport.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The urban programme is a competitive scheme. In the 1992–93 programme, priority was given to strategy-based projects and projects targeted at the most deprived wards in Wales, as identified under the 1991 ward-based index of deprivation. Beyond this, we continue to give the highest priority to major economic and environmental projects and to voluntary sector inspired schemes.

  The vehicle watch project was not successful because, in urban programme terms, other projects were regarded as having a higher priority under the above criteria.

  I was, however, pleased to support the launch of Vehicle Watch Wales with a grant of £7,000 towards the cost of producing bilingual literature.

  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from Gwent police authority concerning the financing of its vehicle watch scheme; what response he has made; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The clerk of Gwent police authority wrote to the Department on 11 February. The letter is under consideration and a reply will be issued shortly. I was pleased to support the launch of Vehicle Watch Wales with a grant of £7,000 towards the cost of producing bilingual literature.

  Tobacco Advertisements
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what response he intends to make to the decision of European Standing Committee B on 5 February and the observation of Heartbeat Wales on the desirability of banning tobacco advertisements.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The Government continue to believe that the best way to control tobacco advertising is by means of a voluntary agreement. Since 1971, there has been a system of voluntary agreements with the tobacco industry which provides control over the advertising and promotion of cigarettes. A new, tougher voluntary agreement with the tobacco industry has recently come into force and strong new health warnings are now appearing on advertisements.

  Data are emerging from those countries which have advertising laws and the Government are studying the figures with interest.

  Gwent Health Authority
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the implications for the funding of the NHS of the decision by Gwent area health authority not to employ 10 midwives who completed their training this week at the Royal Gwent hospital.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  I understand that offers of employment will be made by the authority to those of the group who have qualified and wish to remain in Gwent.

  Expenditure on education and training is of course a long-term investment and there is invariably a certain amount of mobility among newly qualified staff. Staffing levels are set in the light of local working practices and changing needs and priorities and employing authorities have never been able to give guarantees that posts will be offered to all nurses and midwives on completion of their training.

  It is a measure of the success of the new grading structure for clinical nurses and midwives and the attractiveness of the salaries paid to qualified staff that

  District Health Authority

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  £

  £

  £

  £

  At outturn prices

  Clwyd

  1,150,026

  1,326,628

  1,296,447

  1,407,373

  East Dyfed

  583,854

  834,948

  1,001,426

  1,154,741

  Gwent

  3,403,610

  3,879,016

  3,645,650

  3,840,020

  Gwynedd

  2,686,428

  3,166,632

  3,398,161

  3,492,023

  Mid Glamorgan

  5,815,668

  6,436,055

  6,494,660

  6,897,613

  Pembrokeshire

  428,257

  435,605

  459,992

  551,486

  Powys

  2,496,041

  2,799,763

  3,026,368

  3,394,234

  South Glamorgan

  3,766,849

  4,610,337

  5,207,693

  5,456,161

  West Glamorgan

  857,899

  1,211,904

  1,061,263

  1,075,431

  Total

  21,188,632

  24,700,888

  25,591,590

  27,269,082

  At 1990–91 prices

  Clwyd

  1,423,916

  1,532,522

  1,406,445

  1,407,373

  East Dyfed

  722,905

  964,533

  1,086,393

  1,154,741

  Gwent

  4,214,214

  4,481,044

  3,954,968

  3,840,020

  Gwynedd

  3,326,228

  3,658,098

  3,686,481

  3,492,023

  Mid Glamorgan

  7,200,728

  7,434,939

  7,045,704

  6,897,613

  Pembrokeshire

  530,251

  503,212

  498,944

  551,486

  Powys

  3,090,498

  3,234,290

  3,283,143

  3,394,234

  South Glamorgan

  4,663,962

  5,325,867

  5,649,544

  5,456,161

  West Glamorgan

  1,062,216

  1,399,993

  1,151,307

  1,075,431

  Total

  26,234,918

  28,534,498

  27,762,929

  27,269,082

  686
  there has been a general improvement in retention rates throughout Wales, particularly in the more senior grades. In Gwent, the turn-over rate for midwives has reduced very significantly over the past two years and projected vacancies have not materialised. The NHS in Wales has made considerable progress in the area of manpower planning and the Department is working closely with the service—through the manpower resource group—to monitor and strengthen the planning process to ensure that the training and supply of professional staff correlates closely to predicted staffing requirements.

  Mental Handicap
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the revenue expenditure of each regional health authority on health service facilities for patients with a mental handicap for each year since 1981, in cash terms and at 1991 prices.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  [holding answer 7 February 1992]: Planning and expenditure on mental handicap services in Wales is done jointly by health and social services authorities in county joint planning teams. The latest total expenditure figures, at outturn prices, are as follows:

  Year

  £

  1987–88

  47,779,730

  1988–89

  57,290,027

  1989–90

  65,737,589

  Welsh Office additional funds are included in these figures and have grown from £9·6 million in 1987–88 to £34·5 million in 1991–92.

  Prior to 1987–88, the expenditure data which were collected on hospital and community health services in Wales for patients with a mental handicap were incomplete and therefore unrepresentative of total provision. Spending on these service since 1987–88 has been as follows:
  687
  Notes:

  1. The figures presented for 1990–91 are provisional at this stage.

  2. The figures relate to hospital services' expenditure and community health services' expenditure, where this can be separately identified. The hospital services' figures relate only to direct clinical and diagnostic services to patients and therefore do not include any attribution of expenditure in respect of general services such as administration, transport, hotel services or estate management. Similarly, the community health services' figures relate only to the nursing element of community services for those with a mental handicap.

  Source:

  District Health Authorities.

  Financial Returns.

  All Wales Mental Handicap Strategy Annual Report 1988–89—1989–90.

  Community Care
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what policy initiatives he proposes to advance community care in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  [holding answer 13 February 1992]: We continue our programme of wide-ranging measures to imlement the reforms set out in the "Caring for People" White Paper (Cm 849) which will improve community care.

  This includes:
  Comprehensive guidance on assessment and care management, and centrally financed pilot projects in each county.
  Guidance on the preparation of fully joint social care plans, which are being prepared under the leadership of social services authorities working with health, family health service and housing authorities, and in full consultation with user and carer interests. These are to be published by 1 April.
  A requirement that social services authorities and their partners should publish readily understandable guides for users and carers setting out arrangements for assessment and care management, standards of services, and for complaints and other representations if services do not live up to those published standards.
  A unique central funding scheme to encourage the development of more flexible forms of community care for elderly people and people with physical or sensory disabilities, under which 46 projects are already being supported, with more to follow next year.
  Central funding for a training support programme to help prepare front-line staff. Further resources will be available in the coming year.

  In introducing these measures, we have built upon the experience gained in Wales from our unique mental handicap and mental illness strategies which continue. My right hon. Friend will announce shortly his proposals for the development of the mental handicap strategy from April 1993.

  On top of the record levels of resources we are providing to health and social services authorities for their discretionary use within our policies and programmes, we are providing nearly £43 million of direct grant for community care. We will announce soon additional resources for 1992–93.

  Rail Crossings
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications he estimates will be made in Wales in the five years following the coming into operation of the provisions in schedule 2 of the Transport and Works Bill for(a) rail crossing diversion orders in respect of bridleways, (b) rail crossing extinguishment orders in respect of bridleways, (c) rail crossing diversion orders in respect of footpaths and (d) rail crossing extinguishment orders in respect of footpaths.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have been asked to reply.

  This is a matter for railway operators, primarily British Rail, but I understand that no comprehensive forecasts are currently available.

DEFENCE

  Procurement Executive
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many senior officials in the Ministry of Defence Procurement Executive have had previous long-term experience of working in the defence industry or any other manufacturing industry.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Nineteen.

  RAF Raynham
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to transfer the land and/or buildings at RAF Raynham to local authorities, or any other organisation, for housing or community purposes.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are no plans to do so at present.

  RAF Coltishall
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to close RAF Coltishall.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We are continuing to examine the scope for further rationalisation in RAF support. Any decisions will be announced as they are made.

  Earthmoving Equipment (Iraq)
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence his Department has received that earthmoving equipment supplied by United Kingdom companies was used by Iraqi forces in military operations during the period 1989 to 1991.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We have no evidence that earth-moving equipment supplied by the United Kingdom was used for military operations by Iraq.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what types of aircraft will be deployed to Goose bay, Canada, for low flying training in 1992; what are the planned dates of deployment; and how many sorties the RAF expects to fly from Goose bay during 1992.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  It is planned that nine Tornado GR1 and eight Tornado F3 aircraft will be deployed to Goose bay in 1992. Tornado GR1s will be deployed initially between 2 and 7 April and thereafter from 22 May to 25 September. It is planned that they will carry out some 1,350 low level training sorties. Tornado F3s will be deployed from 26 May to 7 July and will carry out some 350 sorties, each of which will include an element at low
  689
  level. C130 Hercules aircraft undertaking routine resupply tasks to Goose bay will also carry out a small number of low-level training sorties.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what enhancements of existing facilities have been made since 1989 in order to achieve a more even distribution of low flying throughout the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Government's policy of spreading low flying as widely as possible has been pursued through a continuous review of the low-flying system. We expect the distribution of low flying to be further improved in future by a fast-jet turn round facility which is being established at RAF Leuchars.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints about low flying in each of the years 1986 to 1990 came from addresses located within Low Flying Area 18.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The numbers of inquiries or complaints about low-flying training which my Department received in each of the years 1986 to 1990 from addresses located within low-flying area 18 are as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1986

  374

  1987

  237

  1988

  276

  1989

  264

  1990

  184

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was his Department's contribution to the economy of Gibraltar, in cash and kind, in the current and previous financial years.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We do not make any assessment of this Department's contribution to the economy of Gibraltar. In the current financial year my Department expects to spend approximately £60 million in maintaining our interests in Gibraltar. Figures for previous financial years are not readily available.

  Military Equipment Sales
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total value in pounds sterling of all military equipment sold by the United Kingdom to overseas Governments in 1990 and 1991; and how much was allocated to Third world countries.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1991, volume 2, table 2.7, for the information for 1990. Figures for 1991 are not yet available.

  Guard Service
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans exist to provide the MOD guard service with constabulary powers.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  None.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans exist to equip the MOD guard service with firearms.
  690
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  None.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the MOD police complementing criteria will be affected by the introduction of the MOD guard service.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No.

  Nuclear Submarines
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 29 November,Official Report, columns 683-84, in which year he intends to place an order for the design and build of the first of class of a further class of nuclear-powered fleet submarines.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  There is nothing further I can add to the reply my right hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Mr. Clark) gave the hon. Gentleman on 29 November 1991,Official Report, columns 683-84.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has told the management of VSEL in which year he intends to place an order for the design and build of the first of class of a further class of nuclear-powered fleet submarines.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The company has been provided with the planning information required to conduct the design studies contract without commitment to further orders. No decisions on the order date have yet been taken.

  Housing Task Force
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many announcements have been made regarding the work of the housing task force since it was established.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The work of the housing task force has been referred to in the defence debate of 15 October and in response to parliamentary questions. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence hopes to make a further announcement shortly.

  Air-to-Air Missile
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he is now in a position to state the date on which he will make a decision about the tender evaluation for the advanced short-range air-to-air missile; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 January,Official Report, column 32.

  Missiles
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many batteries of Rapier field standard C missile systems he intends to bring into service in(a) 1992–93, (b) 1993–94, and (c) 1994–95.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  We currently plan to deploy by the mid-1990s two batteries of Rapier field standard C with the Army and three squadrons with the RAF.

  European Fighter Aircraft
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which year he envisages the European fighter aircraft will complete its development programme.
  691
  Mr. Alan Clark
  The industrial programme for the development of the European fighter aircraft has a completion date of 1999.

  C130 Transport Aircraft
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which years he envisages that(a) the development programme and (b) the production programme of the replacement for the current C130 transport aircraft will begin.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  It is our intention to procure replacement aircraft for the RAF transport fleet around the turn of the century. We have no plans to participate in a development programme for such an aircraft.

  MOD Police
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans exist to expand the MOD police.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  We expect there to he a small increase in the short term. In the long term the numbers will reflect the size of the defence estate and the ability of the MOD guard service to perform some tasks which do not require police powers or the use of firearms. No final figure for the size of the force can be given at this stage.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans exist to provide the proposed MOD guard service with similar training to the MOD police.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The two-week MOD guard service basic course is designed to provide the necessary skills and knowledge for their security-oriented duties; it is dissimilar from the MOD police recruit course which lasts 13 weeks based on the standard police training given to recruits to Home Department police forces.

  Military Training
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now make it his practice to provide information on military assistance or training given to named countries by the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Details of training provided for overseas military personnel are not normally disclosed as they are confidential between Her Majesty's Government and the Governments concerned. There are no plans to change this practice.

  Regiment Establishments
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the number of serving officers and other ranks in(a) the 2 Battalion, the Queen's Regiment, (b) the King's Own Royal Border Regiment, (c) the 1 Battalion, the Royal Anglian Regiment and (d) the Royal Hampshire Regiment, expressed as a percentage increase or deficit above or below their respective peacetime establishments;

  (2) what is the projected number of serving officers and other ranks in the 1 Battalion, the Staffordshire Regiment on 1 May, expressed as a percentage increase or deficit above or below its peacetime establishment;

  (3) what was the number of serving officers and other ranks in the 1 Battalion, the Staffordshire Regiment on 11 February, expressed as a percentage increase or deficit above or below its peacetime establishment.
  692
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Recruitment
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current estimated number of 16 to 24-year-old males in the recruiting areas of(a) the Queen's Regiment, (b) the King's Own Royal Border Regiment, (c) the Royal Anglian Regiment and (d) the Royal Hampshire Regiment.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Information is not available in the precise form requested, as no regiment recruits exclusively within a particular geographical area. The table shows the total population in the 16 to 24-year-old age group in the following Army districts in 1990:

  Population in the 16 to 24-year-old group

  Army district

  1 1990

  South East

  538·5

  London

  456·5

  North West

  461·3

  Eastern

  624·9

  1Population (thousands).

  Departmental Property
  Mr. Menzies-Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what heritable property his Department(a) acquired and (b) leased in Scotland in each year since 1986;

  (2) if he will list by region the heritable property other than that owned or leased over which his Department has the right to carry out military training in Scotland.

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

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors determine whether his Department acquires or obtains the lease of land in Scotland for military training purposes.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The military requirement for short or long-term use, cost and the commercial preference of the owner.

  Military Estate
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether, as part of "Options for Change", a review has been carried out of the military estate in Scotland;

  (2) if he will conduct a review of the land presently owned or leased by his Department in Scotland for military training purposes with a view to disposing of any that is surplus to requirements.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The size of the defence estate is kept under constant review.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions and on what dates in the last five years for which information is available military training has taken place in Tentsmuir forest.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will write to the hon. Member.
  693
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether, when his Department leases land from the Forestry Commission in Scotland, a market value rent is paid.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Yes.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the terms of the agreement between his Department and the Forestry Commission for the use of Tentsmuir forest for military training purposes.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No formal agreement exists. Tentsmuir forest is used on an occasional basis and terms are negotiated for each period of use.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by region the heritable property(a) owned or (b) leased by his Department in Scotland.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As at 1 April 1991, the total area, in hectares, of land and foreshore owned or leased by the Ministry of Defence in Scotland by region was:

  Hectares

  Highland

  5,210

  Strathclyde

  5,200

  Dumfries and Galloway

  4,209

  Grampian

  2,207

  Tayside

  1,454

  Western Isles

  1,339

  Fife

  1,328

  Lothian

  1,160

  Central

  80

  Shetland Islands

  46

  694

  Hectares

  Orkney Islands

  5

  Borders

  —

  All areas of leased land included in the totals are subject to leases of three years or more; those of shorter duration are regarded as temporary and not recorded centrally. Totals exclude areas over which the Ministry of Defence has occasional training rights.

  Local Area Missile System
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Spanish Government gave notice of their intention to withdraw from the local area missile system programme; what are the implications for the future of the programme; and how much has been spent by his Department to date on the programme.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Spain gave notice of its intention to withdraw on 4 December 1991. The project definition phase of this programme will continue. To date, my Department has spent £700,000.

  Soviet Nuclear Brain Drain
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of the report "Coping with the Soviet Nuclear Brain Drain: An Environmental Approach".

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Ministry of Defence library has a copy of this report on order.

  SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE RECORDS: RETENTION
  SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE RECORDS: RETENTION