Written Answers of 17 February 1992

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Parkhurst Prison
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the reasons for not implementing Judge Stephen Tumim's recommendations to install low-voltage electricity points in the cells of A and D wings at Parkhurst prison during refurbishment last August; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Work on the refurbishment of A and D wings at HM prison Parkhurst began in August 1990, ten months before Her Majesty's inspectorate of prisons made its visit, and too late to incorporate changes in the contract. I regret that, due to an oversight, my response to the report implied that the work began in August 1991. The inspectorate's recommendation will be implemented in future refurbishment work at the prison.

  Data Protection Act 1984
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many certificates have been issued under section 27 of the Data Protection Act 1984.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I am aware of none so far as the Home Office is concerned.

  Mr. Salman Rushdie
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now instruct the Metropolitan police to withdraw protection from Mr. Salman Rushdie.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  It is not for the Home Secretary to instruct the police on an operational policing matter.

  Elections
  Sir David Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines are issued to town and parish councils about the use of polling cards supplied by borough councils in elections and by-elections.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  We issue no such guidelines to town and parish councils.

  Sir David Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to require parish or town councils to display prominently, in more than one place, the notification of a by-election.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  We see no need to amend the existing requirements.

  Sir David Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by how much the expenses permitted to parliamentary candidates will rise for the 1992 general election over the amounts permitted at the general election of 1987.
  2
  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend hopes to lay proposals on this matter before Parliament shortly.

  Sir David Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to require parish and town councils to advertise an election or a by-election by issuing poll cards to each voter, where such poll cards are offered without a charge to the parish or town council concerned.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  It is for the parish council to decide whether it wishes to issue poll cards for an election or by-election when the poll is not combined with the poll at another election. We can see no reason for any change.

  Sir David Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines he has issued for town and parish councils on the publication of notices concerning by-elections.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  We issue no such guidelines. The requirements for giving public notice of a casual vacancy on a town or parish council and for giving notice of a by-election are set out in sections 87(2) and 232 of the Local Government Act 1972 and in the Representation of the People Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) Rules 1986.

  Children (Section 11 Funding)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to extend section 11 funding to cover children from other than new Commonwealth countries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  We accept the need to bring forward legislation on this point when there is a suitable opportunity.

  Royal National Institute for the Deaf
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what investigations the Charity Commission is undertaking into the sale by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf of equipment available free on the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Charity Commission is not undertaking any investigation into the alleged sale by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf of equipment provided by the national health service. The commission knows of nothing to suggest that the institute has carried out any such practice. The Charity Commission has received representations about the institute's subsidiary company Sound Advantage, which is not a charity, and the commission is considering the institute's investment in that company.

  Tadley Town Council
  Sir David Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the conduct of the recent by-election of Tadley town council, near Basingstoke.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  None.

  Credit Reference Agencies
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will launch an investigation into the use being made of credit reference agencies for purposes other than verification by a commercial organisation from which credit has been sought.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  No.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make it his policy to introduce tighter controls over the access to information held by credit reference agencies.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  No.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to increase penalties(a) for misuse of credit reference agencies and (b) for release of information by such agencies other than after strict verification of the identity and purpose of any inquirer.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  None.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Conference on the Human Dimension
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many requests have been made by countries involved in the CSCE process to initiate the involvement of independent experts as agreed at the Moscow conference on the human dimension; and if he will list the subject matter of the problem and the outcome.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  None. The mechanism evolved at the Moscow conference on the human dimension has not yet come into operation.

  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions when the United Kingdom has used the conference on the human dimension inquiry mechanisms agreed at the Vienna CSCE meeting in 1989, indicating the countries to which the inquiry was directed, the subject matter and the inquiry and the outcome.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The United Kingdom has made use of the CHD mechanism eight times. Prior to the fall of the communist regimes, the United Kingdom addressed the treatment of ethnic minorities in Bulgaria, the detention of human rights activists in Czechoslovakia—three times—and Romania—twice. The mechanism was also used to raise two family-reunion cases with the Soviet Union, which was subsequently resolved.

  Additionally, the United Kingdom has been associated with 14 uses of the mechanism by the member states of the European Community acting together.

  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reservations the United Kingdom entered concerning the independent expert procedure agreed at the Moscow meeting of the conference on the human dimension of the CSCE.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The United Kingdom made no reservations about the independent expert procedure, but 4
  did make an interpretative statement on the experts' access. A further interpretative statement on the use of this procedure was made jointly by Belgium, France, Spain and the United Kingdom. The text of both statements is attached to the copy of the concluding document of the Moscow conference, which is available in the Library of the House.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the success or failure of the arms embargo on(a) Serbia and (b) Croatia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There are widespread and disquieting press reports of breaches of the embargo. We do not so far have independent evidence to substantiate them.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 4 February,Official Report, column 117, to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North-West (Mr. Bellingham), whether he has had any success in establishing the identity and activities of the team in Yugoslavia which was reported in The Guardian on 17 January.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  No. There are various unsubstantiated reports but no clear evidence.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the criteria by which Her Majesty's Government decided to recognise the independence of Slovenia and Croatia and declined to recognise the independence of Macedonia and of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We and our EC partners recognised Croatia and Slovenia on the basis of the report of the arbitration commission attached to Lord Carrington's conference. As for Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia, there remain important matters which require further discussion among EC partners before a similar step is taken.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current position respecting the accreditation of representatives of Slovenia and Croatia to the United Kingdom; what is the position respecting United Kingdom representation in Ljubljana and Zagreb; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Governments of Slovenia and Croatia have made no approaches concerning the accreditation of diplomatic representatives. There is currently a British consulate in Zagreb, but no representation in Ljubljana.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has had discussions with representatives from Yugoslavia about the proposed referendum in Bosnia-Herzegovina on 28 February in respect of that republic's independence; what Her Majesty's Government's policy is on the issue; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We await the outcome of the referendum with interest and will discuss its implications with European Community partners before establishing a firm policy.

  Iran
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current human rights situation in Iran.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  As my hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State told the House on 5 February, we remain very concerned about the human rights situation in Iran. The reports of the United Nations special representative, Mr. Galindo Pohl, following his visits to Iran in 1990, contain ample evidence to justify these concerns. A further report, following his visit last December, is due to be presented to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva later this week. We shall study this report carefully together with the response made by the Iranian Government to the allegations contained in Mr. Pohl's earlier reports before deciding on further action.

  Westminster Foundation for Democracy
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the proposed Westminster Foundation for Democracy; and what funding is being made available by his Department.

  Mr. Hurd
  I have consulted the political parties represented in the House about establishing an independent foundation, to be known as the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, to help strengthen political parties and other pluralist democratic institutions in emergent democracies. The proposal has been generally welcomed and the body will be established under prerogative powers once the parties have all nominated governors.

  The foundation will receive £200,000 for the remainder of the financial year 1991–92, and £1 million in 1992–93.

  Lebanon (Arms Sales)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Government permitted the restart of arms sales to the Lebanon.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Sale of military equipment to Lebanon, as to other countries not covered by a specific embargo, has always been assessed on a strict case by case basis. We do not at present sell arms to Lebanon.

  Kuwait
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration was given to the human rights situation in Kuwait, prior to completing the bilateral military agreement with Kuwait under the defence co-operation memorandum of understanding of 10 February.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We keep a close watch on human rights issues worldwide. They are important considerations in our bilateral relations with all countries and we discuss them with other Governments, including that of Kuwait, on a regular basis. There have recently been welcome improvements in Kuwait in this regard.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes he proposes to make in his department's diplomatic wing cash limits and running costs limits for 1991–92.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 February 1992, c. 215]: With regard to changes to this Department's diplomatic wing cash limits and running costs limits for 1991–92, the details for the running costs limit decrease on vote 1 should be by £1,781,000 from £480,241,000 to £478,460,000.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Shareholders
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many shareholders there were in the United Kingdom in 1979; and what is his estimate of the equivalent figure today.

  Mr. Maples
  It is estimated that in 1979 fewer than 3 million adults in Great Britain owned shares. The latest Treasury-stock exchange survey showed that in 1991 share ownership had risen to more than 11 million adults in Great Britain. Information for the United Kingdom as a whole is not available.

  Home Income Plans
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what submissions he has received from the Building Societies Commission or building societies ombudsman on the subject of investment bond-related home income plans;

  (2) if he has any plans to review the regulation of lending by building societies for (a) investment bond-related home income plans or (b) other lending; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what action he proposes to take over the involvement of certain building societies in providing mortgage finance for investment bond-related home income plans.

  Mr. Maples
  The regulation of investment business, including investment bond-related home income plans, is a matter for the Securities and Investments Board and the relevant self-governing organisations. As regards the activities of building societies, the concern of the Building Societies Commission is to promote the protection of shareholders and depositors in societies. The prudential guidance to building societies on the subject of lending risks, and the corresponding capital adequacy requirements, were reviewed by the commission in consultation with the building societies during 1990 and set out in the prudential note on this subject in March 1991. Building societies have been required since March 1990 to provide additional capital to cover the risks associated with lending on a deferred interest basis, which is a feature of some equity release schemes. The commission has also recently required building societies to clarify and document their lending policies, which will assist in the maintenance of lending standards.

  Private Health Insurance
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people over 60 years have been told they will not receive tax relief on private health insurance premiums because they have claimed for treatment which the Government do not consider would have been available on the national health service.

  Mr. Maude
  I regret that I have no figures on the incidence of individuals losing relief because of their having claimed for treatments not allowed by the regulations. It is my understanding that such instances should be very rare, because, in order to be certified as eligible for relief, a private medical insurance contract must only offer such allowable treatments.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax relief has been paid to the over-60s who have taken out private health insurance during each of the past two years.

  Mr. Maude
  The relief has not yet been running for two full years. In 1990–91 the relief cost £55 million and I anticipate the cost for 1991–92 to be £60 million.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the treatments which the over-60s cannot use without losing tax relief on their private health insurance premiums; and how many people, having claimed tax relief on their premiums, have had to repay those premiums.

  Mr. Maude
  Broadly speaking, no treatments are permitted unless they are already predominantly provided free under the NHS and are performed by a registered medical or dental practitioner in the United Kingdom to the insured as an in or out-patient of a private or NHS hospital. In addition general practitioner performed surgery is also permitted, as are various services such as physiotherapy or home nursing provided they form part of, or are consequent upon, an allowable treatment.

  I regret that I have no figures on the number of claimants who have received unapproved benefits and who, as a consequence, have paid higher premiums because of a withdrawal of tax relief.

  Government Shares
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list what shares the Government hold in private sector companies and their market valuation on(a) 1 January and (b) 1 February.

  Mr. Maude
  The table shows the ordinary shares held by the Government in private sector companies with the market valuation of such holdings at the close of business on 1 January 1992 and 31 January 1992.

  Government ordinary shareholdings in private sector companies

  Company

  Number of shares (millions)

  Market Valuation (£millions)

  1 January

  31 January

  BAA

  14·8

  78·7

  83·7

  British Airways

  3·2

  7·4

  7·8

  British Gas

  0·1

  0·2

  0·2

  British Petroleum

  101·2

  296·6

  290·5

  British Steel

  1

  1

  1

  BT

  1,256·7

  4,122·1

  4,134·6

  8

  Company

  Number of shares (millions)

  Market Valuation (£ millions)

  1 January

  31 January

  Cable and Wireless

  1

  0·1

  0·1

  Mersey Docks and Harbour Company

  12·4

  24·6

  24·1

  Anglian Water

  4·8

  15·9

  17·2

  Northumbrian Water

  0·7

  2·2

  2·5

  North West Water

  5·3

  17·7

  19·4

  Severn Trent Water

  6·7

  20·9

  23·2

  Southern Water

  2·7

  8·3

  8·9

  South West Water

  0·7

  2·2

  2·3

  Thames Water

  7·7

  25·2

  28·5

  Welsh Water

  2·1

  7·4

  7·9

  Wessex Water

  1·5

  5·6

  6·0

  Yorkshire Water

  3·1

  10·8

  11·6

  Eastern Electricity

  4·3

  13·4

  13·0

  East Midlands Electricity

  2·3

  7·9

  7·5

  London Electricity

  2·3

  7·4

  7·9

  Manweb

  1·9

  7·7

  7·4

  Midlands Electricity

  2·9

  10·1

  9·8

  Northern Electric

  1·9

  6·4

  6·5

  Norweb

  2·6

  9·7

  9·5

  Seeboard

  2·4

  8·1

  8·1

  Southern Electric

  3·2

  11·2

  10·6

  South Wales Electricity

  1·1

  4·2

  4·2

  South Western Electricity

  2·3

  7·5

  8·0

  Yorkshire Electricity

  2·5

  9·7

  9·7

  National Power

  500·4

  1,100·9

  1,136·0

  PowerGen

  317·4

  730·1

  755·5

  Scottish Hydro-ectric

  13·3

  32·5

  32·5

  Scottish Power

  29·4

  71·5

  71·5

  1 Negligible.

  Company Debts
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list debts over £100 million owed to the Government by United Kingdom private sector companies on I January 1992, not including debts arising from as yet unpaid tax bills.

  Mr. Maples
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Merchant Shipping
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to meet representatives of the United Kingdom merchant fleet to discuss the effect of Her Majesty's Government's policies on the future prosperity of merchant shipowners registered in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maude
  I will be meeting Michael Everard, president of the Chamber of Shipping, on 19 February.

  Income Statistics
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing by what percentage the net take-home pay of a married man with two children on(a) half average earnings, (b) average earnings and (c) one and a half times average earnings has changed

  9
  (i) between 1974 and 1979, (ii) between 1979 and 1992, (iii) annually between 1974 and 1979 and (iv) annually between 1979 and 1992, giving (1) the average figure for each year between 1974 and 1979 and (2) the average figure for each year between 1979 and 1992.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 10 February 1992]: The figures requested are shown in the table.

  Growth in real take home pay at multiples of average earnings, 1973–74 to 1991–92

  Married couple with two children

  Financial year

  Multiples of average earnings

  0·5 per cent.

  1·50 per cent.

  1·5 per cent.

  1973–74 to 1974–75

  1·4

  0·1

  0·50

  1974–75 to 1975–76

  -3·7

  -3·9

  -3·5

  1975–76 to 1976–77

  -1·2

  -1·6

  -2·9

  1976–77 to 1977–78

  0·1

  -1·0

  -1·7

  1977–78 to 1978–79

  7·9

  7·6

  7·5

  1973–74 to 1978–79

  Total growth

  4·3

  0·7

  -1·1

  Average annual growth rate

  0·8

  0·1

  -0·2

  1978–79 to 1979–80

  2·8

  4·1

  5·1

  1979–80 to 1980–81

  -0·3

  1·0

  1·6

  1980–81 to 1981–82

  -3·0

  -2·6

  -3·0

  1981–82 to 1982–83

  1·2

  0·4

  -0·1

  1982–83 to 1983–84

  5·0

  4·4

  4·3

  1983–84 to 1984–85

  3·9

  3·5

  3·5

  1984–85 to 1985–86

  1·3

  1·3

  1·5

  1985–86 to 1986–87

  3·6

  4·5

  5·0

  1986–87 to 1987–88

  4·0

  5·8

  7·1

  1987–88 to 1988–89

  2·8

  4·4

  5·6

  1988–89 to 1989–90

  1·1

  1·2

  1·4

  1989–90 to 1990–91

  -0·3

  -0·2

  -0·1

  1990–91 to 1991–92

  3·1

  3·0

  2·6

  1978–79 to 1991–92

  Total growth

  27·9

  35·0

  40·1

  Average annual growth rate

  1·9

  2·3

  2·6

CIVIL SERVICE

  Working Methods
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what new proposals he has for changes in working methods in the civil service.

  Mr. Renton
  Under the "next steps" initiative, chief executives are given personnel management and financial flexibilities to enable them to deliver targets set by Ministers. "Next steps" is providing benefits to customers, taxpayers and staff.

THE ARTS

  British Library
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will retain the reading rooms and storage space at the Bloomsbury site of the British Library for the next 10 years for use by the library; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  No; it is not the intention that the British Library should continue to use the round reading room or other storage space, at the Bloomsbury site after 1996. The British museum is considering options for the use of all the space to be vacated by the Library. The return of this is eagerly awaited and central to the museum's future plans.

  Library Authorities
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts how many library authorities he has visited(a) since his appointment, separately specifying those he has visited (b) in the past six months and (c) in 1992.

  Mr. Renton
  I have visited six library authorities since I took office. In January 1992, I visited two libraries in Wiltshire and I am planning to go to Berkshire, Newham and Buckinghamshire libraries next month.

  South West Regional Arts Board
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what was the total budget of the South West regional arts board in each of the last three years; and what percentage of the total budget was spent in the South Hams parliamentary constituency in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Renton
  The information requested is as follows:

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  South West Arts Total Budget

  £2,166,134

  £2,280,090

  £2,514,120

  Direct expenditure in South Hams as percentage of total

  1·63

  1·43

  1·44

PRIME MINISTER

  Disability
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Prime Minister what percentage of the work force of the Cabinet Office are disabled.

  The Prime Minister
  The percentage of registered disabled persons employed by the Cabinet Office is 1–3 per cent. The Cabinet Office is an equal opportunities employer, and continually seeks to encourage the employment of people with disabilities.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Prime Minister what percentage of the work force of the Prime Minister's office are disabled.

  The Prime Minister
  None. For recruitment purposes, my office is part of the Cabinet Office which is an equal opportunities employer.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Director of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. concerning the transportation of radioactive waste for re-processing at Sellafield in Cumbria.

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Director of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. concerning the siting of the repository for radioactive and toxic waste at the Sellafield re-processing plant in Cumbria.

  The Prime Minister
  None. Proposals for developing a repository for intermediate and low-level radioactive
  11
  wastes are a matter for UK Nirex Limited. The Departments of Energy and of the Environment are in contact with Nirex from time to time.

  Pollution, Northern Ireland
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he had with the directors of industry concerning environmental pollution during his recent visit to Northern Ireland.

  The Prime Minister
  The subject did not arise.

  Scotland
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I hope to make another visit to Scotland in the near future.

HEALTH

  Hospital Eye Service
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has had regarding the feasibility of collecting information about and monitoring trends in referrals to the hospital eye service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Other than two parliamentary questions from my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham Edgbaston (Dame Jill Knight), on 20 December 1991 at column 356, we have received no representations.

  The Department collects information on the hospital eye service through regular statistical returns. This includes data from district health authorities on the number of glasses, contact lenses and low vision aids prescribed and the number of patients attending the hospital eye service in connection with these services.

  Erythropoieten Treatment
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated number of patients who need erythropoieten treatment who have been refused on the ground of cost(a) nationally and (b) regionally.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the total number of people who have(a) been removed from national health service hospital waiting lists and (b) been placed on pending waiting lists prior to being added to waiting lists, in the last 12 months.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  If a hospital doctor decides that someone needs treatment they are either treated immediately or put on a waiting list for non-urgent treatment. In the 12 months to September 1991 nearly 2.8 million patients were admitted to hospitals from waiting lists. The names of a further 334,118 were removed from lists for other reasons, for example, because they had already been treated or no longer needed treatment.

  HIV (Blood Transfusions)
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (I) how many non-haemophiliacs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland who have contracted HIV as a result of contaminated national health service blood/tissue transfers(a) remain alive, (b) have developed AIDS and remain alive and (c) developed AIDS and have since died;

  (2) how many non-haemophiliacs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have contracted HIV infection as a result of national health service transfers of (a) blood, (b) blood products and (c) tissue; and how many of each of these groups became infected before the introduction of screening of donations in October 1985.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There have been 61 reports in England, Wales and Northern Ireland of HIV infection in people who received blood in the United Kingdom. All of these reports related to the period prior to October 1985. In addition, there has been one report of HIV infection in a patient who received a tissue transfer after October 1985 from a donor who was subsequently found to be HIV positive.

  The total number of infected people thought to be alive is 30.

  The number of people reported with AIDS is 29, of whom 23 are known to have died.

  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total number of people who received national health service transfusions of blood contaminated with the HIV virus; how many have subsequently been diagnosed HIV positive; and how many have died.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [pursuant to the reply, 14 November 1991, c. 656]: I have decided that the special provision already made for those with haemophilia and HIV is to be extended to those who have been infected with HIV as a result of national health service blood transfusion or tissue transfer in the United Kingdom. The payments will also apply to any of their spouses partners and children to whom their infection may have been passed on. The rates of payments are shown in the table. Similar help will be available throughout the United Kingdom.

  The Government have never accepted the argument for a general scheme of no fault compensation for medical accidents, as such a scheme would be unworkable and unfair. That remains our position.

  We made special provision for those with haemophilia and HIV because of their very special circumstances. It has been argued that this special provision should be extended to include those who have become infected with HIV through blood or tissue transfer within the United Kingdom. I have considered very carefully all the circumstances and the arguments which have been put to us. I have concluded that it would be right to recognise that this group, who share the tragedy of those with haemophilia in becoming infected with HIV through medical treatment within the United Kingdom, is also a very special case.

  The circumstances of each infected transfusion or tissue recipient will need to be considered individually to establish that their treatment in the United Kingdom was the source of their infection.

  A small expert panel is being set up to consider cases where necessary. I am pleased that Mr. Benet Hytner QC

  13
  has agreed to chair this panel and I shall shortly appoint two medical assessors to assist in this work. Further detailed work needs to be done on the machinery for handling individual claims for these payments; but payments will be made as soon as possible.

  Parliamentary authority for making these payments will be sought through supply estimates and the confirming Appropriation Act. On the basis of the reported cases the estimated cost could be £12 million. However, I cannot be certain about the cost, as numbers of valid claims are not known.

  I share the great sympathy which is universally felt for the blood and tissue recipients who have tragically become infected through their treatment. Money cannot compen-sate for this, but I hope that the provision we are making will provide some measure of financial security for those affected and their families.

  Table

  The amounts of payments to be made to the HIV infected NHS blood and tissue transfer recipients are:

  £

  —Infant

  41,500 each

  —Single adult

  43,500 each

  —Married adult without dependant children

  52,000 each

  —Infected person with dependant children

  80,500 each

  and to the infected spouses and/or children of the above:

  Adult infected spouse or partner of the blood or tissue recipient

  23,500 each

  Infected child who is married

  23,500 each

  Unmarried infected child

  21,500 each

  These are the amounts paid to people with HIV and haemophilia.

  Tobacco
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the total amount paid by his Department to campaign against the use of tobacco products in the past year.

  Mr. Dorrell
  In 1991–92, the Health Education Authority, which is wholly funded for this purpose by the Department of Health, will have spent an estimated £6 million on smoking and health campaigns. In addition, health authorities mount local campaigns from within their own resources.

  NHS Executive Report
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost of producing the national health service management executive report on the performance of the national health service in the first six months of its reform; how many copies of the report were printed; what was the cost associated therewith; who approved the cost; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Ministers are accountable to the House for all their Department's expenditure. The estimated cost of producing, distributing and launching 35,000 copies of the booklet "NHS Reforms—The First Six Months.' is £34,000.

  Clinical Priorities
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account is taken of clinical priorities in respect of the treatment of individual patients in implementing(a) the waiting list initiative and (b) the patients charter.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  It is for clinicians to decide when a patient should be admitted for treatment having regard to the individual's clinical priority. However, because we believe that no patient should wait excessively for any treatment, under the patients charter, we are introducing a two-year waiting time guarantee from 1 April. We are also investing an additional £39 million through the waiting list fund next year to ensure that everyone is treated within a reasonable time.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Companies (Trade Aid)
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which 10 companies have been the leading indirect beneficiaries of spending within the aid trade provision since its inception in 1978; and what percentage of total aid and trade provision—ATP—spending each has attracted.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The ATP commitments since 1978 total £1,374 million. The 10 largest aggregate commitments by lead contractor were as follows:

  Percentage of total commitments

  Balfour Beatty

  21·7

  GEC

  8·1

  Davy

  6·3

  Biwater

  4·5

  AMEC International

  4·3

  Snamprogetti UK

  3·4

  NEI

  3·3

  JBE

  3·2

  Phillips Radio Communication Systems

  2·5

  Marconi

  2·0

  Project

  £ million

  Balfour Beatty

  Cameroon NW Electrification

  1·795

  Malawi Power Transmission

  2·590

  China Yueyang Transmission Line

  3·072

  Malaysia Pergau Hydro-electric

  234·000

  Burma Bridge Project

  0·090

  Colombia Bridges

  0·301

  Colombia Bridges Extension

  0·152

  Indonesia Bukit Asam Railway Bridges

  0·152

  Indonesia Mrica Hydro Project

  12·075

  Jordan HV Transmission Line

  3·611

  Malaysia Shungei Ahning Dam

  2·344

  Paraguay Power Transmission Scheme

  1·350

  Paraguay Power Transmission Scheme

  2·870

  Peru Mini Hydro Project

  4·852

  Philippines Wood Burning Power Station

  1·967

  Philippines Dendro Power Station Adviser

  0·040

  Sri Lanka Samanalawewa Hydro Project

  16·570

  Thailand Mini Hydros Pilot Plant

  2·500

  China Beijing Subway

  7·070

  Tunisia Railway Equipment

  0·500

  Total

  297·901

  15

  Project

  £million

  Marconi

  Indonesia Shortwave Transmitters

  25·911

  Project

  £million

  Phillips Radio Communications Systems

  Indonesia Forestry Communications

  34·111

  Project

  £ million

  John Brown Engineering

  Burma Gas Turbines Project

  3·201

  Burma Gas Turbines Project

  2·213

  Kenya Kipevu Power Station

  1·959

  Vietnam Haiphong Power Station

  2·888

  Panama Gas Turbines Power Station

  6·727

  China Chongquing Power Station

  6·500

  Morocco Gas Turbines

  7·276

  Philippines Gas Turbines

  13·125

  Total

  43·889

  Project

  £ million

  NEI

  Malaysia Sandakan Power Station

  0·929

  Botswana Moruple Power Station Turbines

  4·418

  Malaysia Connaught Bridge

  23·485

  Cyprus Dhekelia B Power Station

  0·366

  India Super Thermal Power Plant

  17034

  Total

  46·232

  Project

  £ million

  Snamprogetti

  China Dushanzi Ethylene Project

  47·179

  Project

  £ million

  Amec International Construction

  Turkey natural gas conversion

  58·700

  Project

  £ million

  Biwater

  Malaysia rural water supply scheme

  59·460

  Sri Lanka hill country water

  2·129

  TOTAL

  61·589

  Project

  £ million

  Davy

  Egypt brake block foundry

  0·884

  Mexico Sicartsa steel works

  34·943

  China Bohai I

  8·802

  Morocco Nador roll mill

  13·505

  China Danyang aluminium plant

  3·532

  Indonesia Cigading/Serpong railway rehabilitation

  24·690

  TOTAL

  86·356

  Project

  £ million

  GEC

  China Yueyang power station

  51·414

  China Yueyang power station training

  3·864

  16

  Project

  £ million

  Turkey circuit breakers

  0·940

  Indonesia scattered diesels

  5·891

  Yueyang additional training

  0·450

  Bangladesh combined cycle gas power station

  4·680

  Bolivia mineral concentrator project

  0·027

  Egypt electrical switchgear

  2·000

  India Balco power station

  33·066

  Malawi telecommunications

  0·052

  Malawi telecommunications

  0·026

  Malaysia viewdata project

  0·851

  Zimbabwe railway electrification

  8·068

  TOTAL

  111·329

  Brazil
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 4 December,Official Report, columns 149–50, what was the total proportion of each project budget for technical and scientific co-operation with Brazil earmarked for long-term consultancy inputs, including management charges, costs of technical co-operation officers and travel and subsistence costs for consultants.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The information requested is as follows:

  Project

  Per cent.

  1 Anglo-Brazilian Climate Observation Study

  53

  2 Caxiuana Research Station

  12

  3 Forestry Development of Aromatic Plants and Essential Oils

  17

  4 Recife Environmental Control Project

  30

  5 Tocantins Forestry and Rural Development Project

  18

  Demini Yanomami Health Care Project

  nil

  7 Floodplain Forest Ecology and Management Project

  11

  8 Tapajos Forest Management Project

  16

  9 Central Amazonia Flora and Vegetation Project

  29

  1 Includes short-term consultancy fees.

  Projects 8 and 9 were approved since the answer given on 4 December.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Criminal Trials
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Attorney-General how many criminal cases were brought to trial in(a) the magistrates courts and (b) the Crown courts in each of the past five years; how many of them resulted in pleas of guilty; and how many which involved not guilty pleas resulted in acquittal.

  The Attorney-General
  Tables 1 to 3 give the information that is currently available. Table 1 shows the number of defendants proceeded against at the magistrates courts from 1986 to 1990, the latest available. The figures for the number of pleas of guilty are not separately collected. Tables 2 and 3 give the information for cases and defendants dealt with at the Crown court in the years 1987 to 1991. The information provided comes from two different sources, each using different definitions and collection mechanisms. As a consequence, the figures in tables 2 and 3 are not directly comparable with those in table 1.
  17

  Table 1

  Defendants dealt with summarily at magistrates' courts in England and Wales1

  Thousands

  Summary offences

  Indictable offences triable either way

  2 Acquitted

  3 Convicted

  2 Acquitted

  3 Convicted

  Total

  1986

  183

  1,510

  54

  308

  2,052

  1987

  166

  1,168

  60

  300

  1,695

  1988

  175

  1,169

  65

  295

  1,705

  1989

  197

  1,192

  67

  256

  1,712

  19904

  222

  1,169

  74

  262

  1,727

  1 Source: Home Office.

  2 Charge withdrawn or dismissed (ie the court after hearing the evidence, decide the defendant is not guilty).

  3 Includes pleas of guilty.

  4 Provisional.

  Cases dealt with at the Crown court in England and Wales1

  Guilty plea

  Not guilty plea

  1Other

  Total

  1987

  59,218

  28,006

  8,973

  96,197

  1988

  68,389

  26,820

  9,564

  104,773

  1989

  64,570

  26,830

  9,832

  101,232

  1990

  63,588

  26,177

  10,240

  100,005

  31991

  62,319

  27,432

  11,632

  101,383

  Table 3

  Defendants dealt with at the Crown Court in England and Wales1

  Plea

  Not guilty to all counts

  Not guilty to some counts

  Guilty plea

  Acquitted2

  Convicted

  Acquitted2

  Convicted

  Other3

  Total

  1987

  86,555

  15,560

  15,475

  790

  2,233

  12,344

  132,957

  1988

  95,866

  17,542

  14,507

  792

  1,760

  13,004

  143,471

  1989

  89,361

  17,517

  13,827

  993

  2,202

  13,085

  136,985

  1990

  86,845

  17,241

  12,752

  1,012

  1,978

  13,862

  133,690

  41991

  82,305

  17,663

  12,701

  1,460

  2,595

  15,440

  132,164

  1 Source: Lord Chancellor's Department.

  2 Jury acquittals, descharges by the judge (not guilty to all those counts where not guilty plea entered only) and acquittals directed by the judge).

  3 Bench warrants issued, no plea recorded, indictment to lie on file, found unfit to plead and other results.

  4 Provisional and liable to revision in the future.

  Court of Appeal
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Attorney-General how many defendants in the Court of Appeal criminal division were(a) granted leave to appeal against conviction and (6) refused leave to appeal against conviction in each of the past five years; and how many cases where leave was granted resulted in the conviction being quashed.

  The Attorney-General
  The number of defendants granted leave to appeal against conviction in each of the past five years was:

  Number

  1987

  400

  1988

  429

  1989

  460

  1990

  561

  1991

  662

  These figures include a small number of referrals direct to the full court by a single judge.

  The numbers of defendants refused leave to appeal against conviction in each of the last five years were:

  Number

  1987

  964

  1988

  913

  1989

  960

  18

  1 Source: Lord Chancellor's Department.

  2 No plea recorded.

  3 Provisional and liable to revision in the future.

  Number

  1990

  891

  1991

  878

  The numbers of defendants granted leave and whose conviction was quashed were:

  Numbers

  1987

  192

  1988

  223

  1989,

  211

  1990

  256

  1991

  269

  Legal Services (Wales)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Attorney-General what further proposals he has to increase the provision of public legal services in Wales.

  The Attorney-General
  The Lord Chancellor has no specific proposals to increase the provision of public legal services in Wales.

  Mortgage Repossessions
  Mr. John P. Smith
  To ask the Attorney-General how many repossession orders were made at Barry county court in favour of building societies or other lending institutions between(a) 1979 and 1989 and (b)

  The Attorney-General
  The table gives the total number of mortgage possession actions entered and orders made in Barry county court for each year since 1987, the earliest year for which the information is available. 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.

  Mortgage possession—actions entered and orders made in Barry county court

  Year

  Actions entered

  Orders made

  1987

  184

  127

  1988

  188

  147

  1989

  170

  94

  1990

  225

  144

  1991

  286

  225

  Gulf War
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of the report, "Needless Deaths in the Gulf War", published by Middle East Watch last November.

  The Attorney-General
  No. Copies of the report are already held by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence.

  Immigration
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Attorney-General what is the average period between a visitor visa application being refused in Dhaka and an appeal against refusal to grant a visitor visa being heard before an immigration appeals tribunal in the United Kingdom.

  The Attorney-General
  The appeal process does not start until an appeal is lodged with the entry clearance officer at the post overseas. This is the responsibility of the appellant and it is not therefore possible to give the average sought. However, it currently takes between nine and 15 months to process an average case from the date notice of appeal is lodged to the issuing of the immigration adjudicators' determination. This depends largely on the time taken for the parties to prepare for the hearing, over which the immigration appellate authorities have no control. If leave is granted, an appeal against an adjudicator's determination to the immigration appeal tribunal takes on average between four and six months, again depending on the length of time taken for the parties to get ready for the hearing.

EMPLOYMENT

  Youth Training
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give for each region, and for Great Britain as a whole, the latest results of the youth training 20
  leavers survey, showing for male and female trainees and for each separate ethnic group and for those with a disability (a) those in full time work with the same employer, (b) those in full time work with a different employer, (c) those in part time work, (d) those on a full time course at a college/training centre, (e) those on another YTS, (f) those doing something else, (g) those who were unemployed and (h) those who had obtained a vocational qualification together with (i) the number of questionnaires issued, (ii) the usable percentage response rate and (iii) the percentage of respondents who were early leavers.

  Mr. Jackson
  As the information requested is contained in a number of tables, I will write to the hon. Member.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of(a) employees in employment and (b) self-employed in the Chelmsford constituency in June 1983, June 1987 and at the latest available date.

  Mr. Jackson
  Latest available constituency data for the self-employed relates to the population census for 1981. Information available for employees in employment is from the periodic censuses of employment and is given in the table. No census was taken in 1983.

  Employees in employment in the Chelmsford constituency

  September of each year

  Number of employees

  1984

  42,600

  1987

  49,700

  19891

  53,200

  1 Latest available.

  Hexagon Community Ltd.
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will visit Hexagon Community Ltd. in Liverpool in the near future to discuss the funding of the adult training programme.

  Mr. Forth
  Contractual and financial arrangements for adult training provision with Hexagon Community Ltd. are entirely a matter for the Merseyside training and enterprise council.

  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Wantage (Mr. Jackson) meet TEC chairmen on a regular basis to discuss the matters for which TECs are responsible.

  Training Contracts
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he intends to apply the White Paper, "Proposals for Training Contracts", to private education establishments; and if he will make it his policy to recover the costs of training teachers who have already left the state sector for private schools.

  Mr. Forth
  The effect of the change in the law that may be made, following the planned consultation on the clarification of the law relating to the enforceability of training contracts, will be determined in any particular case by the terms of the contracts of employment drawn up between the employers and employees concerned.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Price Waterhouse Reviews
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total cost of reviews of parts of his Department carried out by Price Waterhouse in the past year.

  Mr. Redwood
  This information is not readily available.

  British Telecom (Prices)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by how much British Telecom's regulated prices have changed in real terms since 1984.

  Mr. Redwood
  The prices of BT's main services, controlled by the "price cap" in its licence, have fallen by around 27 per cent. in real terms since privatisation. This control covers residential and business charges for domestic and international calls, exchange line rentals and directory enquiries, which represent over half of BT's turnover.

  Electricity Council Years ended 31 March HCA Convention

  £ millions

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Before tax1

  (592·6)

  1,444·9

  1,441·5

  1,1664

  2,117·9

  After tax1

  (592·6)

  1,444·9

  1,315·0

  810·2

  2,117·9

  Total borrowing as at 31 March1

  4,700·3

  4,208·2

  2,874·6

  1,597·3

  (181·5)

  Amershan International Years ended 31 March HCA Convention

  £ millions

  1977

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  Profit before tax2

  4·897

  6·656

  6·014

  4·011

  4·079

  Profit after tax2

  3·350

  4·562

  6·405

  2·777

  2·667

  Loans and investment grants1

  3·870

  3·918

  8·002

  8·935

  15·229

  British Gas Years ended 31 March HCA Convention

  £ millions

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Profit before tax3

  743

  1,106

  1,185

  992

  1,100

  Profit after tax3

  556

  875

  1,031

  804

  720

  Bank loans and short term borrowing— (increase)/decrease3

  (146)

  31

  (4)

  162

  (112)

  Britoil (incorporated 1 August 1982. Formerly part of the British National Oil Corporation) Years ended 31 March

  HCA Convention

  £ millions

  1977

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  Profit before tax4

  (43)

  (35)

  69

  256

  435

  Profit after tax4

  (31)

  (26)

  33

  67

  73

  Loans and deferred liabilities4

  18·1

  —

  55·6

  —

  —

  1 Information from published annual report and accounts

  2 Information from Amersham International plc Offer for Sale 1982

  3 Information from British Gas plc Offer for Sale 1986

  Industry Investment
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what investment has been made in industry in the Greater London area over the past five years; what were the comparable figures in real and money terms for the five years to May 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 12 February 1992]: Information on investment in industry for the Greater London area is not readily available. The CSO publication "Regional Trends", a copy of which is held in the House of Commons Library, gives details of investment in the south-east region.

ENERGY

  Privatisations
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give in respect of each privatisation since 1979(a) the loss or profit of each company in the five years prior to privatisation and (b) any grants or loans made over the same period.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The information is as follows:
  23
  4 Information from Britoil plc Offer for Sale 1982. Profit figures exclude amounts arising on the discharge of advance oil sale obligations. NB Loan figures are not necessarily on a comparable basis.

  Figures are not available for Enterprise Oil as this was not a distinct company in the years prior to privatisation.

  Radiation
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many people have made applications to British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. for compensation in respect of illnesses associated with exposure to radiation from 1 April 1981 to 31 March 1991 and from 1 April 1991 to 31 December 1991; and, of these, how many have been successful.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  This is a matter for British Nuclears Fuels plc.

  Closed Coal Mines
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy who he proposes will carry the legal responsibilities for existing abandoned coal mine workings in his plans for the privatisation of British Coal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We have made clear that no decisions on the form of the privatisation of British Coal, or on the timing, will be made until after the general election.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many abandonment plans for closed coal mines are held by his Department under the provisions of the Mining Act 1871; how many plans are missing; and how many have been obtained for coal mines closed prior to 1871.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Under the provisions of the Mines and Quarries Act 1954, plans, drawings and sections of abandoned mines are preserved by the Health and Safety Executive or by other persons under arrangements made or approved by it. The Health and Safety Executive has made arrangements for the British Coal Corporation to preserve such plans, drawings and sections in respect of coal mines. No plans are held by my Department.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list, for each of the past 10 years for which figures are available, recorded incidents of the leakage of methane gas from closed coal mines, giving the names of the abandoned coal mines from which the gas originated, the dates of closure of the mines and details of the nature of any buildings in which methane was entrapped.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will bring forward proposals to require the adequate ventilation of abandoned coal mines; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I have no proposals for such action.

  Electricity
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the market value of National Grid.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  At present, the market valuation of the National Grid Company could be of the order of £2 billion.
  24
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the number of shareholders in the 12 regional electricity companies.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  There are currently nearly 3·2 million shareholder accounts in the 12 regional electricity companies. It is likely that the majority of these accounts are held by individuals who own shares in only one company; although information on the precise number of such individuals cannot be produced from the 12 separate company registers.

  Nuclear Power Stations
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of "Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Stations", prepared by Fred Barker for the National Steering Committee of Nuclear Free Local Authorities published in January.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I understand that the Department will be receiving a copy of the report after its publication on 14 February.

  Domestic Gas Prices
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how much gas prices of domestic customers have changed in real terms since 1986.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Gas prices to domestic customers are estimated to have fallen by 13 per cent. in real terms between 1986 and 1991.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  National Minimum Stipend
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, if the Commissioners have any proposals to abolish the national minimum stipend.

  Mr. Allison
  No. It provides an important floor for stipend levels and also helps to determine pension levels.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the Government will consider using EC funds to provide pensions to farmers and farm workers who are affected by changes in the CAP.

  Mr. Curry
  The EC Commission has tabled proposals that require all member states to set up an early retirement scheme linked to the amalgamation of small farms. The Community would contribute to the cost of the pensions paid to farmers and farm workers under this scheme. The proposed scheme is not relevant to the United Kingdom conditions because it is primarily aimed at amalgamating the many very small farms prevalent on some other member states, and we are arguing that it should be optional.

  Set-aside Land
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the criteria on which funds are made available(a) for drainage of land and (b) for set-aside land; and whether land which is within an area with subsidised drainage can be eligible for set-aside funds.

  Mr. Curry
  The detailed rules and rates of payment of grant for replacement field drainage as part of an improvement plan under the farm and conservation grant scheme—F and CGS—and for set-aside schemes are set out in the relevent scheme literature, copies of which I have placed in the Library of the House. Expenditure on grants for the replacement of field drainage under the F and CGS and on set-aside payments in England in 1991 was £49,187 and £19,207,338 respectively. Land which is within an area with subsidised drainage could be set-aside provided it met the conditions for entry to the set-aside scheme.

  Beam Trawling
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received in favour of the introduction of a beam trawler licence in the North sea; and what action he proposes to take in response.

  Mr. Curry
  The Department has received representations from one producer organisation and from the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations. We are considering what action to take.

  Agricultural Wages
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which ILO convention is the basis for the establishment of the agricultural wages boards; when it expires; and if he will set out the conditions which govern the notice required to depart from the provisions of the convfention.

  Mr. Curry
  The United Kingdom is a signatory to two Conventions of the International Labour Organisation —(ILO)—the terms of which are satisfied by the existence of the Agricultural Wages Board—AWB. The ILO conventions do not give the AWB its powers which are provided under the provisions of the Agricultural Wages Act 1948. ILO convention 99 requires signatories to create or maintain adequate machinery whereby minimum rates of wages can be fixed for agricultural workers. This convention may be denounced only within a 12-month period of 'window' which occurs every 10 years. The next such window is open from 23 August 1993 to 22 August 1994. Convention 101 requires signatories to ensure workers employed in agriculture are granted annual holiday with pay. The window for denunciation for this convention is next open from 24 July 1994 to 23 July 1995. In both cases, ILO rules lay down that a denunciation would not take effect until one year after its registration with the ILO.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current and future role of the Agricultural Wages Board, with particular reference to its minimum wage setting functions.

  Mr. Curry
  The Agricultural Wages Board is set up under the provisions of the Agricultural Wages Act 1948 26
  and is responsible for prescribing the minimum rates of pay and conditions of service within the agriculture industry. As with all similar bodies, the role of the AWB is reviewed from time to time. There are presently no plans to alter the status of the board or its minimum wage fixing responsibilities.

  South West Regional Centre
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on the siting of the new south-west regional centre of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Ives (Mr. Harris) on 14 February,Official Report, column 645.

  Farmers (Regulations and Licences)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish his list of every requirement that the Ministry or the European Community places on farmers.

  Mr. Gummer
  The list is a working document and not intended for official publication. I have arranged for a copy to be made available in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the organisations with which he is having discussions about the regulations and licences imposed on farmers by his Ministry or the European Community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  I am currently having discussions with the National Farmers Union about the regulations and licences imposed on farmers by my Department or the European Community. I am also having discussions with national organisations representing agricultural producers who are subject to these legislative requirements.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cattle that have been confirmed with BSE until the end of January were born after July 1988.

  Mr. Gummer
  Up to the end of January, there have been 16 confirmed cases of BSE in cattle born after 18 July 1988 when the ban on feeding ruminant derived protein to ruminants was introduced. One of these, as previously announced, may have been a case of maternal transmission. Investigations are still continuing into some cases, while for others interpretation of data is incomplete, but it is already clear that most had probably received some ruminant protein largely by carry over of feed produced before the ban.

  MacSharry Proposals
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the manpower and resource implications for his Ministry of the implementation of the MacSharry proposals in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
  27
  Mr. Gummer
  The manpower and resource implications of reforming the CAP will depend on detailed decisions yet to be made. The Government are arguing for changes to CAP regimes that will minimise the administrative burden for both farmers and the Government.

  Organic Farming
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his meeting with organic farmers on 5 February.

  Mr. Curry
  My right hon. Friend the Minister met representatives of the Soil Association and British Organic Farmers/Organic Growers Association on 5 February. Support for organic farming was discussed in the context of proposals made within the agrienvironment part of the MacSharry proposals for reform of the common agricultural policy. My right hon. Friend reiterated his view that environmental measures should be a central feature of CAP reform and that support for organic farming could make a useful contribution to the reduction of surpluses.

  However, he stressed that support for organic farming was only one of many issues to be discussed in the CAP negotiations and that the eventual outcome of those negotiations is, inevitably, uncertain.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Scottish Affairs Committee
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what plans he has for hon. Members representing constituencies in England, Wales or Northern Ireland to be appointed to the Scottish Affairs Committee; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Since at present there is no such Committee the issue does not yet arise.

  Annunciators
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many annunciators there are in the House; what plans he has to add to this number; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The present annunciator system consists of about 1,500 black and white television monitors distributed throughout the parliamentary estate. In the phase 1 buildings—1 Parliament street and 1 Derby gate —modern television receivers provide both the annunciator service and a number of public service television channels, including teletext. It is expected that the existing annunciator sets in the remainder of the parliamentary estate will be replaced by early 1994, as part of the programme to instal a dual data and video network for Members, their staff and staff of the House.

  Procedure
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what comparative studies he has undertaken of parliamentary procedure in other legislatures.

  Mr. MacGregor
  My hon. Friend may know that during the last summer recess I paid an official visit to 28
  Australia and New Zealand where, amongst other engagements, I had discussions with the Speakers and other parliamentary leaders and officials from both the national and state legislatures.

  Office Security
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what recent discussions he has had in respect of improving security in Members' offices.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer to the reply that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon).

  Members' Allowances
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list(a) the different expenses and administrative allowances available to hon. Members and (b) the information he has on similar financial provisions in the parliamentary assemblies of (i) the United States of America, (ii) Germany, (iii) France, (iv) Spain and (v) the European Parliament, specifying the different cash amounts in pound sterling terms, on the latest available relevant statistics.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [holding answer 29 January 1992]:Information on the allowances for Members of the Spanish Congress of Deputies is not available. The other information requested is as follows:

  ALLOWANCES

  UNITED KINGDOM

  MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Subsistence and Constituency Costs
  Additional Costs Allowance of up to £10,786 for those with constituencies outside London for cost of maintaining second home. Local allowance of £1,222 for those with constituencies in London.

  Travel
  Free travel to and from House on Parliamentary business in United Kingdom and/or motor mileage allowance of up to 20,000 miles at following rates (in pence per mile):

  further mileage

  1,300 cc

  28·8

  15·1

  1,301cc-2,300 cc

  43·4

  19·9

  2,30 1 cc+

  68·2

  34·1

  One free trip per year to EC institution—return Business Class airfare and two nights subsistence.

  Office Secretarial Assistance
  Office Costs Allowance of up to £28,986 (+ 10 per cent. for pension contributions of any staff employed).

  Postage
  Free inland postage.

  Telephone Charges
  Free inland telephone charges.

  Allowance

  UNITED STATES

  MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

  Subsistence and Constituency Costs
  Covered by House Committee budgets.

  Travel
  Official Expenses Allowance covers domestic travel to and from constituency.

  29
  Travel on committee business is paid from committee budgets.

  Official and Secretarial Assistance
  Clerk Hire allowance of US $537,480 per annum (£295,725) to hire up to 18 permanent and 4 non-permanent staff.
  Base Official Expenses Allowances of US $122,500 (£67,400) but may be increased to reflect constituency distance from Washington. Covers district travel, district office lease, stationery, telecommunications, mass mailing, postage, computer services, and official expenses in general. Now incorporates up to US $35,000 (£19,257) for equipping district offices.
  An official Entertainment Allowance ranging between US $ 175,000 (£96,286) and US $275,000 (£151,307) is paid to most members.

  Postage
  Official Mail Allowance averaging US $175,000 (£96,286) per annum.

  Telephone Charges

  Allowance

  FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY

  MEMBER OF THE BUNDESTAG

  Subsistence and Constituency Costs
  Costs of maintaining a second home met from Office Allowance (see below).
  Hotel room bills paid when overnight stay is necessary —DM 39 (£14) per night basic.
  Accommodation and subsistence (variable depending on country visited) also paid on official trips abroad. Up to DM 334 (£116) maximum if bills are submitted.

  Travel
  Free first class season ticket for rail travel, including sleeper tickets.
  Free first class air travel for official internal flights.
  Free use of the Bundestag fleet of official cars for trips within 20 km around Bonn and to Bonn-Cologne airport.
  Free first class flight and local transport costs for official trips abroad.

  Office and Secretarial Assistance
  Secretarial and research costs of DM 12,296 (£4,284) per month for one secretary in Bonn, one in constituency and one researcher.
  Office equipment allowance provides DM 2,000 (£697) per year for running costs (DM 2,500 (£871) in first year for initial equipping of office).
  Free stationery.
  DM 5,765 (£2,009) per month, covering office costs, including constituency office.

  Postage
  Free postage from Bonn (constituency postage is met from constituency costs), 3 fax machines provided—up to DM 4,000 (£1,394) per year fax running costs.

  Telephone Charges
  Free telephone calls from Bonn (worldwide).

  ALLOWANCES

  FRANCE

  DEPUTY IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

  Subsistence and Constituency costs
  Between 3 and 10 percent of salary, depending upon distance of constituency from Paris. Current salary is FFr 29,113 (£2,977) per month.

  Travel
  Free railway pass for first class and sleeper Carriages.
  40 free internal return flights.
  All travel may be accompanied by spouse at half price.
  Toll charges between Paris and constituency are reimbursed but only on official business.

  Office and Secretarial costs
  Secretarial allowance of FFr 24,588 (£2,514) per month to
  30
  cover typist and other office expenses.
  Contribution towards cost of research assistants etc. FFr 24,788 (£2,535) per month.
  Free stationery.

  Postage
  Free postage. Subsidised fax for constituency.

  Telephone Charges
  Free inland calls from Assembly or constituency.

  Members' Allowances
    ALLOWANCE

      MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
      Subsistence and Constituency Costs
      Subsistence Allowance of ECU 180 (£128) per day for attending meetings within the EC territory plus cost of overnight accommodation etc. for attending meetings outside territory.
      Travel
      Flat rate travel allowance of ECU 0·70 (£0·50) per kilometre for the first 800km and ECU 0·35 (£0·25) for additional mileage for travel within the community to attend meetings.
      Reimbursement of the return air fare by the most direct route for travel outside EC territory to attend meetings.
      Travel Allowance of up to 2,500 (£1,779) per annum for travel in performance of duties other than to attend meetings.
      Office and Secretarial Assistance
      Secretarial Assistance Allowance of up to ECU 6,172 (£4,391) per month.
      General Expenditure Allowance of ECU 2,607 (£1,855) per month for office management costs, telephone, postage and travel within Member states.2
      Postage
      See General Expenditure Allowance.
      Telephone Charges
      See General Expenditure Allowance.
      Notes:
      1 The sterling figures were calculated using rates of exchange at the close of business on 6 February 1992.
      2 Halved in respect of Members who, for no valid reason, have failed to attend at least half the number of plenary sittings.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Elderly People (Benefits)
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will launch a major and continuing publicity and information exercise aimed at the elderly to encourage them in the take-up of their rights and entitlements to benefits.

  Miss Widdecombe
  We have no plans for a single campaign of the kind described, but we continue to consider the particular needs of elderly people.

  Recent initiatives include a new leaflet for older pensioners, linking benefits at significant life changes is being produced with the help of agencies.

  Advertising campaigns supported by leaflets and posters for cold weather payments are mounted whenever and wherever severe weather conditions occur.

  More general leaflets, for elderly people on low incomes and who are sick and disabled are distributed to post offices, including a leaflet on what to do when someone dies. We have also redesigned claim forms to benefit elderly people.
  31
  Agencies, such as citizens advice bureaux are kept informed through a mailing list. GPs, hospitals and clinics; day centres and homes, Age Concern; ministers of religion; chemists; libraries, also receive information.

  A new leaflet, "Caring for Someone?", FB31, was issued in November 1991 for long-term sick and disabled people.

  A new helpline—0253 858858—for war pensioners came into service last month, supported by a new leaflet to publicise the service.

  On 2 and 9 April 1992 special BBC/DSS programmes for the elderly will be screened by "Advice Shop".

  The BBC select—night-time service—will broadcast a 15-minute programme with information for carers of elderly people.

  The Department will continue to give specific attention to the ongoing information needs of elderly people.

  Community Care Grants
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Oldham, West of 17 January concerning high priority applications for community care grants to the Cambridge district office.

  Mr. Scott
  I replied to the hon. Member today.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, further to the answer of 13 December by the Prime Minister,Official Report, column 553, if he will give details of the examination which has taken place into the impact upon claimants in receipt of family credit and the new disability working allowance of increasing the taper for the proposed council tax rebates to 20 per cent.; and if he will show the results of that examination.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The proposed council tax benefit taper of 20 per cent. needs to be considered in the context of the introduction of 100 per cent. maximum rebates. There will be no minimum contribution to the council tax and income-related benefit levels will not be adjusted, despite the fact that people will no longer be expected to make a 20 per cent. contribution to the community charge.

  The effect of the higher taper on those people who receive family credit or disability working allowance, and housing benefit as well as council tax benefit, will be very small. Their marginal deduction rate will increase slightly from 96 to 97 per cent.

  Source: Modelled using data drawn from the 1987–88 family expenditure surveys at 1991–92 prices and estimated benefit levels.

  Single Mothers
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations he has received regarding officers of his Department threatening or actually cutting off income support from single mothers who refuse to name the father of their child, in advance of the operation of the Child Support Act 1991 in April.

  Mr. Jack
  We have received seven representations in which this allegation has been made. We take such allegations very seriously, and we have made clear at all times that, while our current policy is to encourage single mothers to co-operate with the Department in obtaining 32
  maintenance for their children, nothing must be said or done to suggest that income support can be reduced or not paid if they refuse to co-operate. Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, shares our concern that the current procedures must be followed in all cases and is happy to investigate any case referred through to him. Steps have been taken to ensure that the correct procedures are followed, and these include sending a bulletin to all offices which sets out again how officers should deal with these sensitive matters. While it is clearly wrong to give a misleading impression to single parents about the possible consequences of not providing information, nevertheless it is right to expect single mothers to co-operate in obtaining maintenance where there is no good reason not to do so, and liable relative officers are advised to proceed in that expectation.

  Pension Funds (Regulation)
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will introduce regulations to place restrictions on the investment of the assets of occupational pension schemes in employer-related investments.

  Mr. Newton
  I have today laid before Parliament regulations under schedule 4 to the Social Security Act 1990 which will restrict to 5 per cent. the proportion of their resources which occupational pension schemes may invest in the sponsoring company, or any other company associated or connected with it. The regulations will come into effect on 9 March 1992.

  The provision in the Act implemented a recommendation by the independent Occupational Pensions Board in its 1989 report entitled "Protecting Pensions" that self-investment should be restricted to 5 per cent.

  The regulations follow a period of consultation with the board and with industry about how this objective can be achieved without causing undue difficulties for companies whose schemes already involve significant self-investment. The regulations therefore include transitional provisions which will give schemes time to reduce any existing self-investment, but which will prohibit the acquisition of any new self-investment while the 5 per cent. limit is exceeded.

  Where self-investment exceeds 5 per cent. on 9 March 1992, transitional arrangements permit self-investment to continue to exceed 5 per cent., but only in the following restricted circumstances:—
  where a pension scheme has made a loan to the sponsoring employer which is current on 17 February 1992, the employer must repay the loan to the pension fund to reduce self-investment to 5 per cent. by 8 March 1994 or, if later, the earliest date on which repayment can be enforced;
  where a pension scheme has more than 5 per cent. of its assets invested in the sponsoring or associated company in the form of equity of that company listed on a recognised stock exchange, the scheme's holding must be reduced to 5 per cent. by 8 March 1994;
  where a pension scheme has more than 5 per cent. of its assets invested in the sponsoring or associated company in the form of equity traded on a second tier market of a recognised stock exchange, the scheme's holding must be reduced to 5 per cent. by 8 March 1997;
  a pension scheme may continue indefinitely to hold more than 5 per cent. of its assets in the sponsoring or associated company in the form of the equity of the company if a private company or in the form of property leased to the company. While however the self-investment exceeds 5 per cent. the pension scheme may not acquire any additional self-investment.
  33
  The self-investment restrictions do not apply to:—
  —the investments of small self-administered schemes where the number of members is fewer than 12, all the members are trustees and all the members have agreed in writing to the self-investment;
  —individual insurance arrangements where the member agrees in writing to the insurance company investing in the member's company;
  —employer-related investment held in bank or building society accounts;
  —employer-related investment derived from members' additional voluntary contributions.

  The regulations also impose an obligation on pension scheme trustees to disclose to scheme members, beneficiaries and trade union details of any self-investment, whether it exceeds 5 per cent., and whether, and if so how, they propose to reduce the percentage.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consideration is being given by his Department to any changes that may now be necessary to pension fund regulation; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 20 December 1991 at columns 374–75 and to my hon. Friend the Member for Spelthorne (Mr. Wilshire) today.

  Income Assessment
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will now consider changing the assumed level of weekly income of £1 for every £250 in savings which is taken into consideration when assessing community charge rebates and other social benefits; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central (Mr. Cousins) on 31 January 1992 at column 697.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  University College, Teesside
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many places will be available for students at the new University college in Teesside when it opens in September.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I understand from the university of Durham and Teesside polytechnic, the institutions managing the admissions to the college, that about 240 places will be available for students in the next academic year, increasing to 1,000 within five years.

  Speech Therapy
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what money has been allocated to local education authorities to enable them to fulfil their duty in relation to children who have a statemented need for speech therapy.

  Mr. Fallon
  The local authority grant settlement for English local education authorities for 1992–93 took account of the broad range of pressures facing them and the increase of 7·1 per cent. should enable them to meet all the duties placed upon them in respect of pupils whose statements of special educational needs specify speech therapy as special educational provision.

  Warwickshire
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he or his officials will meet senior education officers of Warwickshire to discuss the educational situation in that county.

  Mr. Fallon
  Officials at the Department are always ready to meet officers of Warwickshire education authority to discuss issues of concern to them.

  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessment he has made of the standard of education and the maintenance of school infrastructure in Warwickshire.

  Mr. Fallon
  My right hon. and learned Friend does not make assessments of the quality of education, or of the standards of school maintenance, in any particular education authority area. Statistics on levels of achievement in public examinations in different local education authorities are, however, kept by the Department and are publicly available. Reports by Her Majesty's inspectorate on individual schools are also published. The Education (Schools) Bill currently before Parliament will ensure that all schools in Warwickshire are regularly inspected on a four-year cycle with published reports of each inspection.

  Special Needs
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the amount allocated to each local education authority for expenditure on special educational needs provision for each year since 1985, at constant prices.

  Mr. Fallon
  The schools component of standard spending assessments—SSAs—does not separately identify an element for special educational needs. However it does include an allowance, equivalent to about 20 per cent. of standard spending for schools, for the additional cost of educating pupils in areas of relative deprivation which is distributed according to an index of additional educational needs. Authorities are not bound by SSAs, but are free to make their own decisions about total spending on education and the distribution of funding between the schools sectors. The amount of spending on special educational needs provision within mainstream schools with delegated budgets is a matter for the governors of those schools.

  Pupil Testing
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing for each local authority in England the proportion of its primary schools, and relevant age of pupils, which were included in its return to his Department and his aggregate results of the 1991 key stage 1 tests.

  Mr. Eggar
  A table showing for each local authority in England the proportion of primary schools used to compile the aggregate results of the 1991 key stage 1 tests, published on 19 December, was provided in a written answer to the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) on 15 January,Official Report, columns 580–82.

  The following table shows what proportion of the total cohort of pupils eligible for testing in each LEA is

  35
  represented by the pupils tested in these schools. There is no information about the precise distribution of the ages of pupils tested in each LEA, although all pupils tested completed key stage 1 of the national curriculum in the core subjects in the 1990–91 school year.

  Proportion of 7 year old pupils from maintained schools processed for the purposes of publication of 19 December Report

  Percentage of pupils in KSI results

  Camden

  94

  Greenwich

  74

  Hackney

  100

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  100

  Islington

  62

  Kensington and Chelsea

  100

  Lewisham

  90

  Southwark

  55

  Wandsworth

  85

  Westminster

  96

  Barking and Dagenham

  100

  Barnet

  91

  Bexley

  100

  Brent

  91

  Bromley

  97

  Croydon

  100

  Ealing

  72

  Enfield

  100

  Haringey

  100

  Harrow

  92

  Havering

  100

  Hillingdon

  78

  Hounslow

  49

  Kingston upon Thames

  100

  Merton

  100

  Newham

  46

  Redbridge

  95

  Richmond upon Thames

  86

  Sutton

  100

  Waltham Forest

  94

  Birmingham

  72

  Coventry

  100

  Dudley

  98

  Sandwell

  93

  Solihull

  99

  Walsall

  100

  Wolverhampton

  96

  Knowsley

  91

  Liverpool

  67

  St. Helens

  94

  Sefton

  98

  Wirral

  97

  Bolton

  68

  Bury

  100

  Manchester

  97

  Oldham

  86

  Rochdale

  94

  Salford

  63

  Stockport

  100

  Tameside

  99

  Trafford

  94

  Wigan

  73

  Barnsley

  93

  Doncaster

  87

  Rotherham

  97

  Sheffield

  87

  Bradford

  99

  Calderdale

  100

  Kirklees

  59

  Leeds

  96

  Wakefield

  100

  Gateshead

  97

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  96

  North Tyneside

  74

  South Tyneside

  96

  Sunderland

  98

  Avon

  100

  36

  Percentage of pupils in KSI results

  Bedfordshire

  89

  Berkshire

  99

  Buckinghamshire

  56

  Cambridgeshire

  98

  Cheshire

  88

  Cleveland

  100

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  99

  Cumbria

  93

  Derbyshire

  88

  Devon

  99

  Dorset

  89

  Durham

  91

  East Sussex

  62

  Essex

  100

  Gloucestershire

  93

  Hampshire

  78

  Hereford and Worcester

  99

  Hertfordshire

  93

  Humberside

  98

  Isle of Wight

  84

  Kent

  94

  Lancashire

  90

  Leicestershire

  85

  Lincolnshire

  100

  Norfolk

  60

  North Yorkshire

  100

  Northamptonshire

  100

  Northumberland

  100

  Nottinghamshire

  89

  Oxfordshire

  72

  Shropshire

  96

  Somerset

  95

  Staffordshire

  93

  Suffolk

  96

  Surrey

  97

  Warwickshire

  97

  West Sussex

  99

  Wiltshire

  92

  Total England

  89

  Music
  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration he gave to the curriculum requirements for music in Wales and Scotland when drawing up his plans for England.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend based his draft order for music in the national curriculum for pupils aged five to 14 on the advice of the National Curriculum Council, the statutory body which advises him on curriculum matters in respect of schools in England. The music curriculum for schools in Wales and Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland in the light of advice from their respective curriculum councils.

  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessment he has made of the impact his proposed curriculum requirements for teaching music in England will have on the structure of the GCSE; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The draft order on the music curriculum which is currently out for consultation covers five to 14-year-olds only. The implications of the final order for GCSEs in music will be considered by the School Assessment and Examinations Council, in consultation
  37

  with the National Curriculum Council, when they come to revise the criteria for new GCSE syllabuses for first examination in 1996.

  Research Expenditure
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the current level of research expenditure for the Universities Funding Council; and what is the projected expenditure for the next three years.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Universities Funding Council allocated £680 million on research-based criteria to universities in academic year 1991–92. This sum was not hypothecated for research. The council has allowed each institution to determine its own spending on teaching and research within the aggregate funds available to it from all sources. The level of funding is determined on an annual basis. The UFC's allocation for 1992–93 announced today represents an underlying increase of over 11 per cent. above the level for 1991–92.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the budget for

  £ million

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  AFRC—cash

  29·5

  37·5

  42·0

  43·6

  45·8

  46·7

  52·7

  1992–93 prices

  71·7

  77·0

  78·6

  76·2

  76·5

  74·3

  79·5

  ESRC—cash

  16·8

  20·2

  20·7

  20·7

  22·9

  22·0

  23·6

  1992–93 prices

  40·8

  41·5

  38·8

  36·2

  38·3

  35·0

  35·6

  M RC-cash

  572

  72·9

  101·5

  107·5

  113·7

  117·2

  122·3

  1992–93 prices

  130·1

  149·7

  190·1

  187·9

  189·9

  186·5

  184·4

  NERC—cash

  36·6

  46·7

  54·3

  58·0

  61·6

  65·3

  67·9

  1992–93 prices

  88·9

  95·9

  101·7

  101·4

  102·9

  103·9

  102·4

  SERC—cash

  175·6

  201·4

  216·8

  234·4

  254·3

  278·8

  298·4

  1992–93 prices

  426·7

  413·5

  405·9

  409·7

  424·8

  443·6

  449·9

  £ million

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  AFRC—cash

  57·1

  54·9

  61·1

  74·3

  88·4

  95·6

  101·6

  1992–93 prices

  83·4

  76·0

  78·9

  90·1

  98·9

  99·9

  101·6

  ESRC—cash

  23·8

  24·8

  27·0

  31·5

  36·6

  35·6

  40·7

  1992–93 prices

  34·7

  34·3

  34·9

  38·2

  40·9

  37·2

  40·7

  MRC—cash

  128·3

  139·8

  149·6

  176·3

  185·7

  202·9

  218·8

  1992–93 prices

  187·3

  193·5

  193·2

  213·9

  207·7

  212·0

  218·8

  NERC—cash

  70·3

  73·3

  91·9

  115·0

  135·2

  123·7

  126·8

  1992–93 prices

  102·6

  101·5

  118·7

  139·4

  151·2

  129·3

  126·8

  SERC—cash

  316·2

  357·5

  367·6

  406·2

  440·8

  456·4

  494·9

  1992–93 prices

  461·6

  494·9

  474·8

  492·7

  492·8

  477·0

  494·9

  Note:

  The 1992–93 figures were announced to the House on 16 December 1991 (Official Report, columns 33–35). They exclude the amounts in respect of dual support transfers totaling £48 million.

  In addition to the grant in aid from this Department, the councils also receive substantial income from other sources.
  38
  research of the Universities Funding Council and its predecessor body in real and constant price terms since 1979.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Neither the Universities Funding Council—UFC—nor its predecessor, the University Grants Committee—UGC—has hypothecated funding for research. Each institution has been free to determine its own spending on teaching and research within the aggregate funds available to it from all sources. Estimates of UFC-funded spending on research are set out in the "Annual Review of Government Funded Research and Development", copies of which arc in the Library. Estimated spending on scientific research funded by the UGC and UFC respectively increased by 9 per cent in real terms between 1979–80 and 1989–90.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the budget in real and constant price terms of each of the research councils since 1979.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Details of the grants in aid to the research councils since 1979–80 from this Department, in both cash terms and at 1992–93 prices are as follows.

  Undergraduates
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how amny full-time undergraduates there were at British universities in each year since 1979.

  Alan Howarth
  The information is given in the table.
  39

  Great Britain-Full-time undergraduate students

  Number

  1979

  245,093

  1980

  251,154

  1981

  253,371

  1982

  250,024

  1983

  244,249

  1984

  241,688

  1985

  242,922

  1986

  246,430

  1987

  250,710

  1988

  260,684

  1989

  275,320

  1990

  289,069

  Source: Universities Statistical Record.

  Teachers' Pay
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will state the allocation among local education authorities of the extra funding for teachers' pay which was recently announced;

  (2) what is the projected cost of the teachers' pay award in each local education authority; and what is the cost above the standard cost uplift implied by the revenue support grant settlement.

  Mr. Fallon
  The Government's proposal to implement the recommendations of the school teachers review body will add an estimated 7·8 per cent. to the teachers' pay bill of local education authorities in England and Wales in 1992–93. The pay bill of LEAs in inner and outer London and some authorities in the south-east will go up by slightly more than the average because of the additional cost of the review body's recommendations on non-discretionary London allowances. In order to help local authorities to cover the cost of the award the Government propose to pay additional grant to authorities in England and Wales totalling £60 million. The £60 million broadly represents the difference between the cost of an award consistent with the overall uplift in education standard spending allowed in the 1992–93 RSG settlements for England and Wales—7·2 per cent.—and the actual cost of the award—7·8 per cent. England's share of the £60 million is £56.5 million. The Government propose that, subject to the House of Commons approval, the additional grant in England should be distributed to local education authorities on the basis of the schools elements of their standard spending assessments. Illustrative allocations to individual LEAs on this basis are set out in the following table. Distribution of the Welsh share of £3·5 million is a matter for the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Table showing the distribution of additional grant for each local education authority in England in £s

  Local authority

  Additional grant

  GREATER LONDON

  City of London

  734

  Camden

  191,824

  Greenwich

  340,194

  Hackney

  344,129

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  166,063

  Islington

  255,946

  Kensington and Chelsea

  106,766

  Lambeth

  400,767

  Lewisham

  344,808

  Southwark

  337,366

  Tower Hamlets

  388,635

  40

  Local authority

  Additional grant

  Wandsworth

  283,150

  Westminster

  152,476

  Barking and Dagenham

  196,396

  Barnet

  345,836

  Bexley

  275,540

  Brent

  394,356

  Bromley

  302,405

  Croydon

  383,654

  Ealing

  391,396

  Enfield

  350,949

  Haringey

  304,639

  Harrow

  227,177

  Havering

  279,549

  Hillingdon

  274,867

  Hounslow

  279,894

  Kingston upon Thames

  140,044

  Merton

  177,791

  Newham

  405,011

  Redbridge

  287,167

  Richmond upon Thames

  120,937

  Sutton

  192,471

  Waltham Forest

  321,977

  Greater Manchester

  Bolton

  332,815

  Bury

  187,135

  Manchester

  624,614

  Oldham

  297,607

  Rochdale

  265,175

  Salford

  267,431

  Stockport

  307,183

  Tameside

  263,627

  Trafford

  238,630

  Wigan

  351,479

  Merseyside

  Knowsley

  243,683

  Liverpool

  667,301

  Sefton

  336,079

  St. Helens

  224,426

  Wirral

  428,119

  South Yorkshire

  Barnsley

  241,839

  Doncaster

  380,746

  Rotherham

  320,063

  Sheffield

  527,881

  Tyne and Wear

  Gateshead

  230,089

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  309,228

  North Tyneside

  231,081

  South Tyneside

  178,571

  Sunderland

  360,732

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  1,519,457

  Coventry

  378,100

  Dudley

  324,641

  Sandwell

  379,363

  Solihull

  224,404

  Walsall

  336,406

  Wolverhampton

  340,690

  West Yorkshire

  Bradford

  716,003

  Calderdale

  242,797

  Kirklees

  486,771

  Leeds

  811,248

  Wakefield

  354,339

  All Purpose Authority

  Isles of Scilly

  4,169

  41

  Local authority

  Additional grant

  Shire Counties

  Avon

  974,079

  Bedfordshire

  703,722

  Berkshire

  886,505

  Buckinghamshire

  818,998

  Cambridgeshire

  755,620

  Cheshire

  1,113,732

  Cleveland

  792,026

  Cornwall

  530,969

  Cumbria

  547,589

  Derbyshire

  1,007,005

  Devon

  1,043,418

  Dorset

  610,464

  Durham

  698,966

  East Sussex

  670,182

  Essex

  1,821,532

  Gloucestershire

  568,408

  Hampshire

  1,707,874

  Hereford and Worcester

  745,915

  Hertfordshire

  1,155,985

  Humberside

  1,075,491

  Isle of Wight

  144,030

  Kent

  1,777,478

  Lancashire

  1,647,414

  Leicestershire

  1,089,525

  Lincolnshire

  679,359

  Norfolk

  807,025

  Northamptonshire

  703,169

  Northumberland

  363,015

  North Yorkshire

  746,045

  Nottinghamshire

  1,180,252

  Oxfordshire

  575,576

  Shropshire

  478,931

  Somerset

  473,021

  Staffordshire

  1,164,795

  Suffolk

  677,208

  Surrey

  994,128

  Warwickshire

  524,822

  West Sussex

  732,529

  Wiltshire

  614,368

  University Lectures
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many Universities Funding Council funded full-time lecturing staff there were in 1979; and how many there were at the most recent count.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Universities derive their funds from a variety of sources including the Universities Funding Council, and before it the University Grants Committee. The total number of wholly-university funded full-time academic staff with teaching and research duties in United Kingdom universities was 33,173 in 1979–80 and 30.644 in 1990–91. UGC and UFC funds respectively will have provided partial support for virtually all of these posts.

DEFENCE

  Employment (Scotland)
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel are currently located in Scotland.
  42
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  At 1 January 1992, there were a total of 19,845 regular armed forces personnel located in Scotland. These comprised 9,876 Royal Naval personnel, including sea service personnel in home waters with Scottish home ports, 2,978 Army personnel and 6,991 Royal Air Force personnel.

  Gulf Trust
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money the public has donated to the Gulf Trust.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I understand from the trustee of the Gulf Trust that almost £2,900,000 has been donated.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answers,Official Report, 23 January, column 336, on what date the Gulf Trust will be formally wound up; and if he will, then provide information, about the amount of money allocated to each of the service benevolent funds.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The deed of trust for the Gulf Trust provides for the winding-up of the trust on 12 February 1993, or such longer period as the trustee may determine after consultation with the Secretary of State for Defence. The amount of money allocated to each of the service benevolent funds donated to the Gulf Trust will be announced when the Gulf Trust is wound up.

  Northern Ireland
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number in the forces who, while in service in Northern Ireland, have been(a) killed, (b) injured, (c) so seriously injured as to become disabled, (d) have suffered acknowledged mental distress and (e) have been discharged from the forces on medical grounds, including both physical and mental causes.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  From August 1969 until 31 December 1991, a total of 434 service men, excluding the Ulster Defence Regiment, were killed while on operations in Northern Ireland. Corresponding figures for injuries have been maintained centrally only from 1979. Since then, a total of 3,838 service men have been injured. Attributable figures for disablement, mental distress, and any consequential medical discharge are not available in the form requested.

  UN Conference, Rio de Janeiro
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution his Department is making to Her Majesty's Government's preparations for the United Nations conference on environment and development to be held in Rio de Janeiro in June.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  In common with other Government Departments, the Ministry of Defence is participating, as necessary, in the work required to develop and secure the Government's overall objectives for the UN conference on environment and development.

  Cold Weather Monitoring
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the minimum overnight temperatures recorded by the Meteorological Office in degrees
  43
  Fahrenheit for cold weather purposes for each of the nights of January 1991 and January 1992 at (a) Boulmer weather station and (b) Eskdalemuir weather station.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I have asked the chief executive of the Meteorological Office to write to the hon. Member.

SCOTLAND

  Project 2000
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial allocation has been made to each health board in 1991–92 and is proposed for 1992–93 in respect of Project 2000.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is as follows:

  Board

  1991–92 £million

  1992–93 £million

  Argyll and Clyde

  1·996

  2·235

  Ayrshire and Arran

  0·495

  0·535

  Borders

  0·534

  0·825

  Dumfries and Galloway

  0·458

  0·495

  Fife

  0·699

  1·089

  Forth Valley

  0·700

  0·756

  Grampian

  1·691

  1·828

  Greater Glasgow

  3·039

  3·286

  Highland

  0·534

  0·578

  Lanarkshire

  1·068

  1·155

  Lothian

  2·124

  2·350

  Orkney

  0·060

  0·065

  Shetland

  0·075

  0·080

  Tayside

  1·627

  1·777

  Western Isles

  0·120

  0·130

  Total

  15·220

  17·184

  HIV and AIDS
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many non-haemophiliacs in Scotland have contracted HIV infection as a result of national health service transfers of(a) blood, (b) blood products and (c) tissue; and how many of each of these groups became infected before the introduction of screening of donations in October 1985.

  Mr. Lang
  I refer to the reply that my hon. Friend gave on 6 November 1991,Official Report, at column 175. The total number of reported cases in Scotland as at 31 January was 12.

  I have announced today that the special financial help already made to those with haemophilia and HIV in Scotland is to be extended to those infected with HIV as a result of blood transfusion or tissue transfer in the United Kingdom.

  Fishing Boats (Repairs)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to ensure that in the application of the 135-day tie-up rule no account will be taken of trips by fishing boats to enable them to undergo repairs.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I can confirm that where a vessel is tied up for repairs this period can count towards the 135 days. Of course, by definition time spent at sea in reaching a yard is not time in port in terms of EC Regulation 3882/91.

  Forestry
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on progress achieved in development of United Kingdom forestry policy for the United Nations conference on environment and development to be held in Rio de Janeiro in June.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The United Nations conference on environment and development is expected to agree to a statement of principles for the sustainable management and development of forests, and to give a programme of action to conserve and to expand the world's forests. The Government fully support those initiatives.

  Sustainable, multi-purpose forestry is central to the Government's domestic forestry policy which I am sure will fully accord with the agreements that are signed at the United Nations conference.

  Cyclists
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cyclists have been(a) injured and (b) killed in road traffic accidents in each year since 1981.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 14 February 1992]: The information requested on pedal cycle casualties in Scotland is as follows:

  Number of pedal cycle casualties in Scotland

  Killed

  Injured (serious and slight)

  1981

  20

  1,458

  1982

  16

  1,440

  1983

  24

  1,647

  1984

  16

  1,834

  1985

  14

  1,567

  1986

  19

  1,443

  1987

  14

  1,534

  1988

  6

  1,401

  1989

  16

  1,534

  1990

  17

  1,407

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

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 14 February 1992]: One automatic camera has been introduced in Strathclyde region, where it will be used at six traffic-light-controlled junctions. A further six sites have been identified in the region at which an unmanned camera could usefully be installed. It is expected that these sites will come into operation this year.

  It is a matter for each chief constable, in consultation with his roads authority, to decide where and to what extent cameras might with advantage be installed in his area.

  Police Traffic Operations
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest available annual figures of(a) police traffic officers and (b) civilian staff working in police traffic departments, in each year since 1981.
  45
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 14 February 1992]: Details are given in the table. Information on civilian staff, other than traffic wardens, in traffic divisions is available only from 1988.

  As at 31 December

  Police

  Traffic wardens

  Other civilians

  1981

  1,047

  617

  1

  1982

  1,040

  573

  1

  1983

  1,023

  559

  1

  1984

  900

  531

  1

  1985

  894

  523

  1

  1986

  891

  546

  1

  1987

  899

  536

  1

  1988

  898

  533

  182

  1989

  916

  511

  169

  1990

  907

  538

  169

  1 Information is not available for these years.

  Persons proceeded against in Scottish courts

  Reckless driving (i)

  Illegal use of bus-lanes (ii)

  Contravention of pedestrian crossing regulations (iii)

  Speeding (iv)

  Neglect of traffic directions (v)

  Drunk driving (vi)

  1981

  492

  N/a

  2,492

  27,296

  4,105

  11,460

  1982

  474

  N/a

  1,493

  20,466

  2,953

  10,666

  19831

  575

  N/a

  1,654

  22,210

  2,959

  11,767

  1984

  575

  N/a

  514

  5,692

  1,609

  12,500

  1985

  537

  N/a

  409

  5,519

  935

  12,514

  1986

  658

  N/a

  434

  6,976

  812

  12,019

  1987

  590

  N/a

  407

  9,803

  1,011

  11,438

  1988

  676

  N/a

  648

  11,218

  1,567

  10,664

  1989

  722

  N/a

  773

  13,957

  1,655

  8,818

  1990

  783

  N/a

  909

  18,197

  2,227

  8,830

  N/a—Not available.

  1 Since mid 1983 many motor vehicle offences have been dealt with by procurator fiscal fixed penalties rather than by prosecution in the courts.

  Persons with charge proved in Scottish courts

  Reckless driving (i)

  Illegal use of bus-lanes (ii)

  Contravention of pedestrian crossing regulations (iii)

  Speeding (iv)

  Neglect of traffic-directions (v)

  Drunk driving (vi)

  1981

  457

  N/a

  2,376

  26,467

  3,884

  11,244

  1982

  436

  N/a

  1,451

  20,305

  2,834

  10,429

  1983'

  540

  N/a

  1,620

  22,024

  2,857

  11,556

  1984

  528

  N/a

  483

  5,570

  1,493

  12,213

  1985

  501

  N/a

  392

  5,432

  865

  12,269

  1986

  609

  N/a

  414

  6,882

  732

  11,780

  1987

  554

  N/a

  390

  9,695

  942

  11,199

  1988

  633

  > N/a

  617

  11,057

  1,444

  10,416

  1989

  652

  N/a

  743

  13,806

  1,525

  8,650

  1990

  694

  N/a

  865

  17,945

  2,063

  8,583

  N/a—Not available.

  1 Since mid 1983 many motor vehicle offences have been dealt with by procurator fiscal fixed penalties rather than by prosecution in the courts

TRANSPORT

  A19, Elwick
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the estimated lane rental cost of the road repairs to the Al9 at Elwick, County Durham.

  Mr. Chope
  The A 1 9 works at Elwick in Cleveland included an improvement scheme and was not considered suitable for lane rental.

  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 (i) reckless driving, (ii) illegal use of bus lanes, (iii) failure to accord precedence at zebra and pedestrian crossings, (iv) speeding (v) failure to stop at a red or amber traffic light and (vi) drunken driving, respectively, in each year since 1981.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 14 February 1992]: The available information is set out in the table.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the duration of road repairs to the A 19 at Elwick, County Durham.

  Mr. Chope
  There were two separate contracts for the Al9 improvement and resurfacing works between Elwick and Wolviston, in Cleveland. They were as follows:

  Elwick to Sheraton—12 October 1989 to 19 January 1990

  Wolviston to Elwick—14 January to 7 September 1991

  Both contracts were completed within the contract period.

  Bypasses
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what expenditure is taking place this financial year on the Thornaby and Middleton St. George bypasses.

  Mr. Chope
  These schemes are the responsibility of the local highway authorities Cleveland county council and Durham county council.

  Tees Viaduct
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated cost of repairs to the A 1 9 Tees viaduct carried out during 1991–92.

  Mr. Chope
  The estimated cost of work on the Al9 Tees viaduct in 1991–92 is £2.6 million.

  Air Safety
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the chairmen of the Civil Aviation Authority and the airlines about the installation of water sprinklers in the cabins of civil aircraft; what testing of this equipment has taken place; and what assessment has been made of the merits of such equipment with respect to the effects of aircraft fires and the avoidance of long-term risks of physical damage to the passenger.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My Department has kept in close touch on this matter with the Civil Aviation Authority, which has the statutory responsibility for matters of aviation safety. An extensive international programme of tests on water sprays has taken place with promising results so far. A further series of tests to study the effect of water sprays on passengers evacuating an aircraft will commence shortly; these will be conducted by the Cranfield Institute of Technology using the Fire Research Station's facility at Cardington and be sponsored by the CAA. The introduction into service of a water spray system would require international agreement and involve extensive consultation with the airline industry.

  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions are taking place with his European counterparts about introducing common air safety standards on all EC-based airlines; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  On 16 December 1991 the EC Council of Transport Ministers adopted Regulation (EEC) No. 3922–91 on the harmonisation of technical requirements and administrative procedures in the field of civil aviation. This will ensure common safety and technical standards for EC aviation.

  The United Kingdom continues to play a significant part in the work of the European Joint Aviation Authorities which is drawing up further safety standards with a view to their being adopted by the EC under the harmonization regulation.

  East London River Crossing
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many residential properties not physically affected by the east London river crossing have so far been purchased by his Department on compassionate grounds.
  48
  Mr. Chope
  Four properties have been purchased by the Department on the ground that conditions would be intolerable during construction of the scheme. The Department has agreed to buy one further property on those grounds, but the purchase has not yet been completed. All these purchases were agreed before the Secretary of State's powers of purchase were extended by the Planning and Compensation Act 1991. I announced the new guidelines which will be applied to such purchases in an answer to my right hon. Friend the Member for Tonbridge and Malling (Sir J. Stanley) on 21 November 1991,Official Report, column 237.

  M1/M62 Link
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department have had with Wakefield metropolitan district council and local parish or community councils within the Wakefield metropolitan distrtict with regard to the route of the proposed M 1/M62 link road.

  Mr. Chope
  No formal discussions have been held because the proposed scheme is at an early stage of development. We are about to consult representative bodies and the public about possible alternative routes.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce the proposed route for the Ml/M62 motorway link.

  Mr. Chope
  Public consultation into the options for a proposed link between the M I south west of Wakefield and the M62 east of Huddersfield will start on 27 February 1992. It is only after the responses from the public and representative bodies are fully assessed that we will be able to make an announcement about a preferred route.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Official Secrets
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at what level and within which public bodies in Northern Ireland members are required to comply with official secrets regulations.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  An offence under the Official Secrets Act 1989 may be committed by any person coming into possession of information of a class covered by that Act.

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary 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.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Crimes in Northern Ireland are considered statistically cleared only when a charge has been preferred or a summons issued in relation to a specific offence.

  Voluntary admissions by convicted criminals do not by themselves affect the clear up rate for crime. However, they are often received by detectives in the normal course of their investigations. No detectives are deployed solely to obtain such admissions.

  Electoral Registers
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons were on the electoral registers published(a) in February 1983 and (b) February 1992 for each parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is as follows:

  Register published in February 1983

  Parliamentary constituency

  Number

  Belfast East

  74,031

  Belfast North

  61,826

  Belfast South

  66,326

  Belfast West

  57,145

  North Antrim

  106,131

  South Antrim

  133,544

  Armagh

  96,550

  North Down

  105,942

  South Down

  95,220

  Londonderry

  102,635

  Mid Ulster

  86,104

  Fermanagh and South Tyrone

  75,731

  TOTAL

  1,061,185

  Register published in February 1992

  Constituency

  Number

  Belfast East

  53,375

  Belfast North

  55,587

  Belfast South

  52,556

  Belfast West

  55,280

  East Antrim

  63,739

  East Londonderry

  76,912

  Fermanagh and South Tyrone

  71,472

  Foyle

  75,970

  Lagan Valley

  73,688

  Mid Ulster

  70,410

  Newry and Armagh

  68,716

  North Antrim

  70,217

  North Down

  69,604

  Strangford

  69,855

  South Antrim

  68,292

  South Down

  77,371

  Upper Bann

  68,422

  TOTAL

  1,141,466

  Note: The parliamentary constituencies (Northern Ireland) Order, 1982, altered the number, names and boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies in Northern Ireland, and came into effect at the 1983 general election (June).

WALES

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the current level of inward investment to date in 1991–92.

  Mr. David Hunt
  1991 was a record year with 183 projects promising over 17,000 new or safeguarded jobs and £860 million capital investment.

  Receivership
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the number of companies that went into receivership in Wales between 1979 and 1983, between 1983 and 1989 and in 1990 and 1991.
  50
  Mr. David Hunt
  None. There are no such records.

  Mortgage Repossessions
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has concerning the number of mortgage repossessions in Wales during 1991.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  There was a significant and very welcome reduction in the number of repossession actions initiated in the last quarter of 1991. As the impact of the package of measures agreed with mortgage lenders in December begins to take effect, the level of repossessions will continue to fall.

  Tourism
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on tourism in Wales in 1991.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Although complete figures are not yet available the Wales tourist board expect that, despite a difficult year, tourism in Wales in 1991 will have maintained the impressive levels reached in 1990. Well-targeted investment in the Welsh tourist industry has taken place through a variety of schemes and very careful attention has been give to good quality customer care. My right hon. Friend was very pleased to launch the welcome host training initiative being run by the Wales Tourist board in conjunction with the Welsh training and enterprise councils.

  I am confident that the tourist industry in Wales will go from strength to strength and in particular I look forward to the national garden festival which will be held at Ebbw Vale this year.

  Health Service Staff
  Mr. Grist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of(a) physiotherapists, (b) occupational therapists, (c) speech therapists and (d) community psychiatric nurses in Wales in 1979 and at the latest available date.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information is as follows:

  Staff in post as at 30 September

  Whole-time equivalents

  1979

  1991

  (a)Physiotherapists

  354

  650

  (b)Occupational therapists

  122

  352

  (c)Speech therapists

  65

  154

  (d)Community psychiatric nurses Complete information is not held centrally

  EC Regional Policies
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next intends to meet EC Commissioner Millan to discuss the impact of EC regional policies on the economy of Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I hope to meet Commissioner Milian on 20 February when I visit Brussels to open the Wales European centre.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met leaders of local authorities in Wales to discuss local government finance.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  My right hon. Friend chaired a meeting of the Welsh Consultative Council for Local Government Finance on 13 January to discuss the local government revenue settlement for 1992–93.

  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from Powys county council concerning the rate support grant settlement for 1992–93.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  My right hon. Friend has not yet received any representations directly from Powys county council on the settlement for the coming year.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Ray Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what number of persons are now registered unemployed in Wales; and what was the number registered as unemployed in Wales in February 1979.

  Mr. David Hunt
  In January 1992, the seasonally adjusted unemployment figure for Wales was 123,600. The comparable figure for February 1979 was 70,500.

  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state the number of male unemployed in Newport, Gwent and Wales at the latest available date.

  Mr. David Hunt
  In January 1992, there were 5,712, 16,063 and 101,149 unemployed male claimants in the Newport district, Gwent and Wales respectively.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to alter the standard spending assessment criteria for counties in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The distribution formulae on which county authority's SSAs for 1992–93 are based have been agreed with the Assembly of Welsh Counties and ratified by the Welsh Consultative Council on Local Government Finance. The formulae for 1993–94 will be determined in the same way.

  Hospitals (South Glamorgan)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to meet the chairman of South Glamorgan health authority concerning hospital provision within the county.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so at present.

  Recession
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met local authority leaders in Wales to discuss the impact of the recession and job losses on their communities.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I regularly meet local authority leaders and discuss a wide range of issues with them.

  Water Charges
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will arrange to meet the chairman of Welsh Water plc to discuss the basis of water charging in Wales after the introduction of a new house value system for the purposes of the proposed council tax; and if he will consider in that context the need for changes in legislation to enable the water company to make rebates to single person households or those on low incomes.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  No. Under section 142 of the Water Industry Act 1991 it is for the water undertaker to determine how charges are calculated. Water charges pay for the provision of a service. It is for the social security system to provide allowances for general living expenses to those in need.

  Music Targets
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales why he decided to adopt three attainment targets for music in the national curriculum for Wales as published on 3 February; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The proposals for music in the national curriculum, including the proposals for three attainment targets, were issued for consultation in August last year. The consultation period ended on 1 November. The Curriculum Council for Wales, which has statutory responsibility for advising the Secretary of State on curriculum matters, and the majority of respondents in Wales endorsed a structure which included three attainments targets. The order will also provide opportunities for pupils in Wales to benefit from the Welsh musical heritage as well as other sources.

  Deprivation
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state the basis on which resources of the rural capital projects initiative will be distributed within Wales; whether it will be geared to the indices of the Welsh deprivation table; and what consideration he will give in this allocation of these funds to those areas, identified as qualifying in terms of deprivation, which have, over recent years, not attracted significant investment under the urban aid programme.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The main objective of the rural initiative competition is to identify those projects likely to be of most benefit to rural communities. Each application is considered on its individual merits and careful account is taken of the views of local authorities and the relevant agencies. The allocation of funds is not based on the ward index of deprivation, which was constructed for a different purpose.

  This is a new initiative which, assuming that good quality projects are submitted, will benefit rural communities throughout the Principality.

  Animal Carcases
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning the disposal of farm animal carcases; and if he will make a statement.
  53
  Mr. David Hunt
  Occasional correspondence on the subject of the disposal of farm animal carcases has been received.

  Intensive Poultry Units
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines are issued to local authority planning departments regarding the development of intensive poultry units; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Advice on planning controls over livestock units its given in planning policy guidance note No. 7 "The Countryside and the Rural Economy"—annex B, paragraphs B 3–1 to B 3–6—issued in January this year.

  Agriculture
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what effect his Department estimates the present proposals for a GATT settlement will have upon the agricultural industry in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Council of the European Communities has instructed the Commission to negotiate improvements in the draft text prepared by the GATT director general, Mr. Dunkel. It has noted that a final assessment will be possible only after such negotiations have taken place.

  Central Government capital and current expenditure on trunk roads and motorways

  £'000 per mile

  Year

  Clwyd

  Dyfed

  Gwent

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan

  Powys

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  1981–82

  199

  85

  262

  38

  125

  28

  168

  139

  1982–83

  363

  63

  58

  113

  170

  21

  139

  175

  1983–84

  434

  86

  46

  111

  402

  21

  226

  136

  1984–85

  268

  56

  52

  71

  343

  20

  194

  71

  1985–86

  217

  54

  131

  76

  203

  22

  97

  93

  1986–87

  222

  86

  95

  129

  168

  20

  146

  73

  1987–88

  156

  72

  63

  303

  151

  17

  177

  123

  1988–89

  237

  36

  63

  386

  139

  20

  211

  260

  1989–90

  191

  73

  80

  306

  104

  35

  57

  132

  1990–91

  172

  97

  96

  349

  80

  52

  385

  659

  Note: 1981–82 is the earliest year and 1990–91 the latest year for which information is available.

  Road Improvements, Fishguard
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will hold a public inquiry into the proposed road improvement schemes to be carried out in Fishguard; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I have yet to publish my proposals in the form of draft orders for the diversion at Lower Town and a route 6 western bypass of Fishguard. A decision to hold a public inquiry for either will be taken in the light of any objections received following publication of my proposals.

  Business Rates
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimates he has for the cost of allowing businesses in Wales to remain eligible for transitional relief from the uniform business rate although they move premises in 1992–93; and what would be the additional cost of

  Dairy Producers
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many dairy producers have left the industry in Wales during the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Information is not available in the form requested. However, the number of milk producers in Wales in 1981 and 1991 was as follows:

  Milk Producers (a)

  Number

  (b) 1981

  7,566

  (c) 1991

  5,539

  (a) From the register maintained under the Milk and Dairies (General) Regulations 1959

  (b) Figures at December

  (c) Figures at September

  This takes account of both new entrants and producers leaving the dairy industry.

  Trunk Roads
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent per mile on trunk roads in each of the Welsh counties during the last year for which figures are available; what were the corresponding figures for the previous 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information is as follows:

  returning eligibility for transitional relief in 1992–93 to those businesses who moved premises in 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Transitional relief does not attach to businesses but to the premises they occupy. The additional cost of returning transitional protection to properties where there was a change of occupier in 1990–91 or 1991–92 would be around £1 million. No estimate is possible for 1992–93.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the cost of increasing the thresholds at which Welsh businesses are eligible for the small business category of uniform business rate transitional relief, from a rateable value of £10,000 to £15,000 in the financial year 1992–93.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I estimate that the cost of increasing the small property threshold for uniform business rate transitional relief to £15,000 would be about £5 million in 1992–93.
  55
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has of the cost of cancelling the announced increase in the national non-domestic rate poundage for Wales in 1992–93; and what would be the cost of reducing that increase to(a) 3 per cent., (b) 2 per cent., and (c) 1 per cent.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I estimate the cost of underindexing the national non-domestic rate poundage for Wales in 1992–93 would be approximately £5 million for each one percentage point. Cancelling the increase of just over 4 per cent. on the 1991–92 multiplier would cost approximately £20 million.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the cost in 1992–93 of extending the transitional relief scheme for the uniform business rate in Wales so that all losses are suspended in the coming financial year, while all gains continue to be phased in according to the transitional arrangements.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I estimate that the cost of reducing the real terms transitional limits to 0 per cent. in 1992–93 would be around £15 million.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the cost of lowering the maximum permissible annual increase in uniform business rate bills for Welsh businesses in(a) nominal and (b) real terms (i) for small businesses from 15 per cent. to 10 per cent. and (ii) for larger businesses, from 20 per cent. to 15 per cent. in 1992–93.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The cost of lowering the maximum annual transition increase by 5 per cent. for (i) small businesses and (ii) larger businesses whether in nominal or real terms, would be about £5 million in each case, £10 million in total.

  Monmouth
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many inward investment projects have been attracted to Monmouth travel-to-work area since 1979; and if he will give details of those projects;

  (2) what proposals he has to attract business investment and quality jobs to the Monmouth travel-to-work area.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Comprehensive records are not available from 1979.

  Wales has, however, secured record levels of inward investment in recent years and continuing efforts are made to draw to the attention of investors the advantages of locations throughout Wales. This includes targeted campaigns such as IT Wales and the financial services initiative. A range of assistance and considerable expert advice to aid industrial development is available from the Welsh Office and the Welsh Development Agency and tourism developments are encouraged by schemes operated by the Wales tourist board.

  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what delegation he has agreed to meet concerning the application for assisted area status for the Monmouth travel-to-work area;

  (2) when he proposes to meet a delegation on behalf of Monmouth borough council, Monmouth town council, Gwent county council and Monmouth chamber of commerce concerning the application for assisted area status for the Monmouth travel-to-work area;
  56
  (3) when he next proposes to meet representatives of the business community in Monmouth to discuss business investment.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have agreed to meet a deputation to discuss business investment in the area, including assisted area status, but the details have not yet been finalised.

  Assisted Area Status
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the travel-to-work areas in south Wales which do not have assisted area status.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Taking the area south of that covered by the Development Board of Rural Wales, there are three travel-to-work areas which are not assisted areas. These are Carmarthen, Llandeilo and Monmouth.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the levels of debt that each district authority in Wales is required to redeem from capital receipts from the sale of council houses.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The table sets out for each authority the amount required to be set aside for credit liabilities from the sale of council houses up to 31 March 1991.

  Reserved part of receipts from council house sales up to 31 March 1991(1)

  £000

  Alyn and Deeside

  3,813

  Colwyn

  2,324

  Delyn

  1,332

  Glyndwr

  2,230

  Rhuddlan

  2,859

  Wrexham Maelor

  10,904

  Carmarthen

  4,318

  Ceredigion

  5,372

  Dinefwr

  1,267

  Llanelli

  2,336

  Preseli Pembs

  5,674

  South Pembrokeshire

  4,582

  Blaenau Gwent

  6,223

  Islwyn

  6,894

  Monmouth

  4,362

  Newport

  10,453

  Torfaen

  6,395

  Aberconwy

  5,317

  Arfon

  4,293

  Dwyfor

  834

  Meirionnydd

  1,527

  Ynys Mon

  4,966

  Cynon Valley

  2,744

  Merthyr Tydfil

  3,185

  Ogwr

  6,724

  Rhondda

  621

  Rhymney Valley

  7,056

  Taff-Ely

  8,174

  Brecknock

  6,346

  Montgomeryshire

  7,584

  Radnorshire

  3,160

  Cardiff

  7,028

  Vale of Glamorgan

  18,922

  Port Talbot

  4,400

  Lliw Valley

  5,083

  Neath

  3,038

  Swansea

  4,838

  Total Wales

  187,178

  1 Including the reserved part of (i) cash backed accumulated receipts at midnight 31 March 1990 and (ii) in-year receipts 1990–91.

  57
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has as to whether local authorities in Wales are investing their permitted level of capital receipts from the sale of council houses in new housing.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of 1990–91 capital receipts from the sale of council houses each local authority in Wales has actually spent on housing.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Authorities may apply the usable part of capital receipts to any capital purpose. The information requested is not held centrally.

  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many houses he estimates could be constructed in each local authority in Wales if those local authorities were permitted to spend(a) 50 per cent., (b) 75 per cent. and (c) 100 per cent. of their 1990–91 capital receipts from the sale of council houses.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  It is not possible to make such estimates in view of factor cost variations and other considerations, including those related to sound financial and resource management.

  Further Education
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make provision for special transitional arrangements, pending the setting up of the Further Education Funding Council for Wales, to enable suitable premises to be found for further education students and staff currently located at the Llandaf and Colchester avenue campuses of the Cardiff institute of higher education; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  My right hon. Friend the Minister of State has agreed to meet a deputation from South Glamorgan county council, South Glamorgan TEC and the Construction Industry training board to discuss the local authority's proposals.

  Listed Buildings
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment has been made by CADW of listed buildings in Monmouth.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has a duty to compile a list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest for the guidance of local planning authorities. A detailed survey of Monmouth was undertaken in 1974 which identified 169 buildings. Since then, in response to inquiries made to the Department a further six buildings have been added to the statutory list.

  Health Service
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the amount allocated by each district health authority in Wales to the extra-contractual budget.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Information relating to the reserves which each health authority in Wales has set aside in 1991–92 for extra contractual referrals is as follows:
  58

  Budget for extra contractual referrals 1991–92

  District health authority

  £ million

  Clwyd

  1·2

  East Dyfed

  1·2

  Gwent

  1·4

  Gwynedd

  1·2

  Mid Glamorgan

  1·3

  Pembrokeshire

  0·6

  Powys

  0·5

  South Glamorgan

  1·6

  West Glamorgan

  1·6

  Source: Health authorities in Wales.

  Sites of Archaeological Significance
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the duties of local authority planning departments with regard to development on sites of archaeological significance.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The desirability of preserving archaeological remains is a material consideration which local planning authorities are obliged to consider. To assist authorities we have made available guidance: planning policy guidance note 16 (Wales) archaeology and planning, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding Monmouth's archaeological significance; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  No general representations have been received about the archaeological significance of Monmouth although I, and the Department, fully appreciate the importance of the town's archaeology.

  Shared Ownership Accommodation
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of shared ownership houses and flats due to be completed by local authorities and housing associations in Wales in the current financial year.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Information about the intended tenure of local authority dwellings under construction is not available centrally. A total of 270 shared ownership dwellings are expected to be completed by housing associations in Wales in 1991–92. In addition it is estimated that 602 dwellings for flexible tenure for the elderly will be completed, many of which could be expected to be occupied on a shared equity basis.

  Chippenham Mead, Monmouth
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding proposed development of Chippenham Mead in Monmouth.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  My right hon. Friend has received four letters and a petition containing over 300 signatures, objecting to two proposed developments on, or adjacent to, Chippenham Mead village green, and asking for the two applications for planning permission to be called-in for his determination. These planning applications are for the proposed continuation of use of part of the village green for temporary periods for caravan rallies
  59
  and associated parking of motor vehicles and the proposed construction of a supermarket and customer car park on Monnow street, Monmouth. These call-in requests are being considered and decisions on them will be reached shortly.

  My right hon. Friend is also considering a request from Monmouth borough council for his consent under the Commons Act 1899 to set aside part of the village green for the temporary parking of vehicles. So far he has received 52 letters on the proposals, 48 of which are objections.

  Building Costs
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current average cost of building one unit of social housing in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The average cost of a housing association unit inclusive of private sector funding at tender approval stage this financial year, to mid-January, is £41,000.

ENVIRONMENT

  Derelict Land Grant
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been spent in derelict land grant in Darlington since 1979; and how many acres have been restored as a result

  Mr. Yeo
  Records for derelict land grant—DLG—payments towards reclamation schemes in Darlington, and the amount of land reclaimed, are not available for the full period covered by the question. However the expenditure incurred by Darlington borough council on DLG-supported reclamation, and the figures for the amount of land reclaimed are as follows:

  Darlington borough council: derelict land grant expenditure and land reclaimed

  £

  Acres

  1979–80

  n/a

  n/a

  1980–81

  213,864

  n/a

  1981–82

  187,611

  n/a

  1982–83

  582,334

  n/a

  1983–84

  319,094

  12·97

  1984–85

  254,514

  13·91

  1985–86

  589,788

  6·79

  1986–87

  536,772

  24·21

  1987–88

  269,442

  1·24

  1988–89

  284,697

  41·74

  1989–90

  563,164

  18·43

  1990–91

  529,567

  14·89

  Total

  4,330,847

  134·17

  A further £32,697 has been spent by Durham county council in reclaiming 10–03 acres of land in Darlington.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is(a) the total acreage of national parks in England and (b) the current total acreage of designated environmentally sensitive areas in England; and what will be the total acreage of environmentally sensitive areas in England when the further designations, recently announced, have been fully implemented.
  60
  Mr. Baldry
  The seven national parks in England cover 2,348,000 acres. The 10 existing ESAs in England cover some 956,300 acres. The total acreage of all ESAs is expected to be around 2,870,000 acres when the further designations, recently announced, have been fully implemented.

  Local Government Finance
  Sir David Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (I) what is the 1992–93 precept per community charge payer proposed by Tadley town council in the borough of Basingstoke;

  (2) how many parish or town councils have proposed a precept of £29–88 or more per community charge payer for 1992–93.

  Mr. Portillo
  This information is not available to me.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will state the basis of the sum of £2,469,200,000 ascribed to debt charges in annex B of the Revenue Support Grant Distribution (Amendment) (No. 2) Report (England) H.C. 190.91/92 and the estimated total of all relevant local authorities receiving grant consequent to the report;

  (2) if he will state the basis on which he determined the formulae concerning the global sum and distribution of standard spending assessments, respectively for repayment of and interest on approved capital expenditure by local authorities, together with references to documents where such statements and formulae were publicly available.

  Mr. Key
  Total standard spending for 1992–93 represents the Government's view of the appropriate amount of revenue spending by local authorities to provide all services. Within that, the total amount allowed for the revenue consequences of capital spending represents the relative priority to be afforded to this type of expenditure, bearing in mind relevant factors such as likely movements in interest rates.

  The method of distribution of the SSA element for debt charges is set out in the Revenue Support Grant Distribution (Amendment) Report (No. 2) (England). The basis of this approach is described in the publication by the Department of the Environment "SSAs Background and Underlying Methodology"; copies of both documents are in the Library.

  All 366 charging authorities receive revenue support grant.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from representative local authority organisations concerning the difference between the total of the standard spending assessments concerning capital charges and the amount they have, or are liable, to disperse in respect of their authorised borrowing requirements.

  Mr. Key
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment announced his proposals for the 1992–93 revenue support grant settlement to the House on 26 November 1991. During the consultation period following that announcement representations on the capital financing element of standard spending assessments—SSAs—were received from the Association of Metropolitan Authorities—AMA—and the Association of County Councils. Both associations commented on the
  61
  proposed total within SSAs for capital expenditure financed from the revenue account. The AMA also questioned the total available for debt charges and the link with falling interest rates.

  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, when he expects to announce the outcome of the consultation on the local government finance settlement for 1992–93; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [pursuant to his answer, 23 January 1992, c. 277]: Since the approval of the revenue support grant report, I have formed the view that fresh circumstances affecting the finances of local authorities have arisen. I have today laid before the House the "Additional Grant Report (England) 1992–93", which contains my determination of the total amount of grant to be paid to local authorities in England, and the basis on which it is to be distributed; and I have placed in the vote office copies of a letter and table, showing individual grant entitlements, that is being sent to all local authorities today.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in rank order the SSA per head for the English shire counties for the forthcoming year, and for 1991–92.

  Mr. Key
  The SSA figures in pounds per adult are as follows for 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  SSA per head of adult for English shire counties for 1991–92

  Local authority

  1991–92 Total SSA (£ adult)

  Cleveland

  964

  Bedfordshire

  851

  Lanchashire

  843

  Humberside

  839

  Leicestershire

  837

  Buckinghamshire

  833

  Northamptonshire

  813

  Berkshire

  805

  Nottinghamshire

  802

  Kent

  802

  Durham

  794

  Shropshire

  793

  Cornwall

  790

  Isle of Wight

  786

  Hertfordshire

  783

  Essex

  778

  Cheshire

  777

  Cumbria

  775

  Lincolnshire

  773

  Cambridgeshire

  772

  Hampshire

  763

  Somerset

  763

  Wiltshire

  753

  Suffolk

  752

  Staffordshire

  750

  Avon

  745

  Derbyshire

  743

  Gloucestershire

  743

  Oxfordshire Devon

  742

  Devon

  739

  North Yorkshire

  739

  Hereford and Worcester

  737

  Northumberland

  735

  East Sussex

  734

  Norfolk

  729

  Warwickshire

  728

  West Sussex

  718

  Surrey

  699

  Dorset

  680

  62

  SSA per head of adult for English shire counties for 1992–93

  Local authority

  1992–93 Total SSA (£ adult)

  Cleveland

  1,034

  Bedfordshire

  940

  Buckinghamshire

  912

  Lancashire

  912

  Humberside

  904

  Leicestershire

  902

  Berkshire

  889

  Northamptonshire

  881

  Nottinghamshire

  869

  Kent

  865

  Isle of Wight

  861

  Hertfordshire

  851

  Durham

  847

  Essex

  844

  Shropshire

  844

  Cambridgeshire

  842

  Cornwall

  840

  Cheshire

  837

  Lincolnshire

  830

  Hampshire

  829

  Cumbria

  828

  Wiltshire

  809

  Staffordshire

  807

  Somerset

  807

  Gloucestershire

  804

  Suffolk

  799

  Avon

  798

  East Sussex

  798

  Derbyshire

  795

  Oxfordshire

  794

  Devon

  792

  North Yorkshire

  789

  Northumberland

  787

  Hereford and Worcester

  785

  Warwickshire

  782

  Norfolk

  782

  West Sussex

  777

  Surrey

  759

  Dorset

  740

  Montreal Protocol
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will press for an emergency meeting of the Montreal protocol convention.

  Mr. Trippier
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, South (Mr. Sumberg) on 11 February 1992,Official Report column 430.

  Lead Pollution
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to reduce the amount of lead in the environment by reducing the proportion of lead that any product may contain.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Government's policy is to reduce man's exposure to lead wherever reasonably practicable. To this end, a number of measures have already been taken in the form of reductions in the amount of lead in petrol and encouragement in the use of unleaded petrol. Already in 1992 regulations to restrict the use of certain lead compounds in paints have been laid before Parliament. Further regulations to restrict the use of lead solders are currently being drafted. The Government are also continuing discussions with relevant bodies at both
  63
  national and international level with the aim of identifying where additional measures to reduce man's exposure to lead are viable.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sites of special scientific interest are currently designated.

  Mr. Baldry
  To date there are 3,559 sites of special scientific interest in England designated under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

  Housing, Stockton
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses have been(a) constructed and (b) repaired using funds from the Housing Corporation in the Stockton, South constituency in the current financial year.

  Mr. Yeo
  The distribution of resources among local authority areas is a matter for the Housing Corporation. I have, therefore, asked the corporation to reply direct to my hon. Friend with the information he has requested. A copy of the reply will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Animal Imports
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to implement the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species conference resolution 7.13, on welfare checks at the point of importation of all consignments of live animals.

  Mr. Baldry
  The steps the Government have taken to include requiring exporters of live specimens to transport the specimens in accordance with the International Air Transport Association live animals regulations, and the collection of information on the mortality of birds during transport. Compliance with the IATA regulations will become mandatory throughout the community from I January 1993 under EC directive 91/628 on the protection of animals during transport. We shall continue to press for further Community action. We are considering the need for other measures.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are taken to ensure the validity of declarations made by applicants for permits to import live animals to the effect that they have proper facilities for the accommodation of the species they wish to import and that the animals will be properly transported and cared for.

  Mr. Baldry
  It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false declaration or provide false information for the purposes of obtaining an import permit. In the event of any doubt about the facilities available for accommodating an imported specimen, or the ability of an importer to care for a specimen adequately, the Department would pursue the matter in consultation with its scientific advisers. Follow-up action could, if appropriate, include asking for further details from the applicant or arranging for an inspection of the premises. If we were not satisfied that the appropriate standards were met, we would refuse to issue a permit.
  64
  For certain species, the Department asks new traders and those who move premises to supply information about their facilities.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been spent by housing associations in the Chelmsford parliamentary constituency in each year since 1979; and how many units of housing this has provided.

  Mr. Yeo
  The distribution of resources among local authority areas is a matter for the Housing Corporation. I have therefore asked the corporation to reply direct to my hon. Friend with the information he has requested. A copy of the reply will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Housing, Liverpool
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to visit Liverpool in the near future; and if, on his next visit to the city, he will meet residents of the Norris Green and Dovecot housing estates to discuss housing and environment matters.

  Sir George Young
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to visit Liverpool in the near future. I am visiting Merseyside on 26 February and spending some time in Liverpool and Wirral, where I will be speaking at a seminar. Either I or my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State responsible for housing, will be happy to consider a visit to these estates on a future occasion, once the city council has started to develop options for tackling the problems.

  Travellers
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the twice-yearly count of gipsy caravans for each year since 1982 in(a) England, (b) Buckinghamshire, (c) south Buckinghamshire and (d) Wycombe.

  Mr. Yeo
  I am placing this information in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many gipsy caravans were shown as being in the county of Surrey in each of the twice-yearly counts carried out for his Department by local authorities in each of the past 10 years; and how many of these were in the Boroughs of Woking and Guildford, respectively.

  Sir George Young
  I am placing this information in the Library of the House.

  Business Rates
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates he has of(a) the yield from national non-domestic rates in England and Wales in (i) 1991–92 and (ii) 1992–93, (b) the yield from business rates in Scotland in (i) 1991–92 and (ii) 1992–93, (c) how the revenue between (a)(ii) and (a)(i), and (b)(ii) and (b)(i), respectively, breaks down in terms of the increases in poundage, changes in the commercial property base and changes in the valuations that have occurred.
  65
  Mr. Portillo
  The estimated amount which I expect to be paid by way of rates and contributions in aid of rates for Crown property in England in respect of 1991–92 and 1992–93 are shown in the table together with the detailed assumptions. These estimates of yield formed the bases of the distributable amount of non-domestic rates for 1992–93 announced by my right hon. Friend on 6 November 1991.

  1991–92 £million

  1992–93 £million

  Estimated gross rate yield (aggregate rateable value x multiplier)

  13,369

  13,923

  Additions to Gross rate yield

  Enterprise Zones coming into rating

  21

  56

  Buoyancy between 1991–92 and 1992–93 (new and improved properties net of demolitions etc.)

  —

  156

  Net effect of transitional arrangements

  49

  35

  Reductions to Gross rate yield

  Appeals in 1992–93 (gross of transitional arrangements)

  -176

  -168

  Reliefs, allowance for losses on collection etc.

  -1,226

  -1,218

  Net yield from ratepayers

  (on an accruals basis, excluding the effect of appeals determined in future years)

  12,037

  12,784

  The arrangements for non-domestic rates in Wales and Scotland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of cancelling the first monthly instalment of uniform business rate bills for businesses in England and Wales in 1992–93; and what would be the equivalent cost to Scottish local authorities as a whole with respect to business rate bills.

  Mr. Portillo
  The total amount which would be forgone as a result of cancelling the April 1992 instalment in England would be approximately f1.28 billion. This estimate includes contributions in aid of rates in respect of Crown property. Non-domestic rates contributions in Scotland and Wales are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales respectively.

  Local Councils (Survey)
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the survey carried out by the university of Aston business school on the work of parish and town councils.

  Mr. Key
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. King) on 13 February 1992,Official Report columns 572–73.

  Leeds Development Corporation
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out by standard industrial classification the numbers employed in the area covered by the Leeds Development Corporation at its inception, and the latest available figures.
  66
  Mr. Key
  The information requested is not available. Leeds development corporation does not analyse employment numbers within its areas by standard industrial classification.

  Water Companies
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many shareholders there are in the 10 water companies in England and Wales.

  Mr. Baldry
  The companies themselves would be able to give the latest figures. However 1,096,025 shareholders paid the final instalment for the shares in July last year.

  Poll Tax
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to have information in his Department on the level of the poll tax from most local authorities.

  Mr. Key
  Charging authorities are required to set their budgets for 1992–93 by 11 March and to set their community charges for 1992–93 on or before 1 April. We have asked them to report the community charges within seven days of setting them, or by 2 April 1992 at the latest.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment between which dates he estimates the majority of poll tax bills will be delivered by local authorities.

  Mr. Key
  An authority must set its community charge by 1 April and issue bills as soon as possible after the charge has been set.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has, at the latest convenient date, as to how much of the outstanding poll tax owed to local authorities is owed by people in receipt of poll tax rebate.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 14 February 1992]: This information is not available.

  Leigh Barton
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many workmen have been involved in the repair work preventing the historic monument Leigh Barton from being opened to the public since 1986, in each of the last five years; and in what crafts there is a shortage of skilled workmen to complete the repairs.

  Mr. Yeo
  A team of four general craftsmen have been working at Leigh Barton since 1986. There is no shortage of skilled workmen to complete the repairs.

  Road System, Leicester
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether a full environmental impact assessment has been carried out for the various suggested alternatives for the Leicester eastern district distributor road.

  Mr. Yeo
  I am advised that Leicestershire county council as the highway authority responsible is taking environmental considerations into account in examining a
  67
  number of alternatives for this road. When the route is finalised the county council, as planning authority, will consider the need for an environmental statement.

  Gulf War (Marine Pollution)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on the effect upon the breeding and feeding grounds for the Penaid shrimp in the Tanajib Manifa embayment system of oil spilled during the Gulf war;

  (2) what steps have been taken to restore the ecology for the wader and inter-tidal invertebrates in the Gulf following the Gulf war.

  Mr. Baldry
  The primary responsibility for such questions rests with other Governments. My reply to the hon. Member of 15 January Official Report, column 573, sets out the contribution that the United Kingdom has made.

  Urban Programme
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the level of grant per head of population for Blackburn, Burnley, Knowsley, Liverpool, Manchester, Preston, Rochdale, Salford, Middlesbrough, Birmingham, Coventry, Sandwell, Wolverhampton, Leicester, Nottingham, Bradford and Kingston upon Hull, respectively in the financial years 1980–81, 1983–84, 1986–87 and 1989–90, for the urban programme category of central Government revenue funding of local authorities;

  (2) if he will list the level of grant per head of population for each of the standard economic regions and in Greater London in the financial years 1980–81, 1983–84, 1986–87 and 1989–90 for the urban programme category of central Government revenue funding of local authorities;

  (3) if he will list the level of grant per head of population for Brent, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets and Wandsworth, respectively in the financial years 1980–81, 1983–84, 1986–87 and 1989–90, for the urban programme category of central Government revenue funding of local authorities.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 7 February 1992]: The tables provide total capital and revenue outturn figures for the urban programme for 1980–81, 1983–84, 1986–87 and 1989–90.

  Separate revenue figures are not readily available before 1988–89.

  Urban programme expenditure is targeted on the most deprived inner city areas within the local authorities' boundaries: population figures for these areas are not readily available.

  UP outturn by standard economic region and Greater London

  £ million

  Region

  1980–81

  1983–84

  1986–87

  1989–90

  Northern

  22·970

  37·900

  37·450

  40·628

  North West1

  22·930

  36·000

  37·470

  41·296

  Merseyside1

  20·420

  29·500

  30·500

  27·812

  West Midlands

  21·200

  34·800

  39·880

  42·837

  East Midlands

  7·240

  11·900

  10·020

  10·212

  Yorkshire & Humberside

  12·950

  20·300

  17·500

  27·210

  South West

  —

  —

  —

  2·431

  London

  55·110

  48·100

  47·600

  43·539

  68

  Notes:

  1 These two UP regions form one standard north-west region. None of the other standard regions received UP grant in these years. The number of UP authorities in the standard regions changed during the period covered.

  UP outturn by non-London UP authority

  £ million

  Authority

  1980–81

  1983–84

  1986–87

  1989–90

  Blackburn

  0·340

  1·600

  3·700

  4·093

  Burnley

  —

  —

  —

  1·954

  Knowsley

  0·150

  1·000

  3·610

  3·575

  Liverpool

  17·600

  25·000

  22·590

  16·473

  Manchester/Salford1

  17·500

  23·500

  22·660

  19·312

  Preston

  —

  —

  —

  2·577

  Rochdale

  0·550

  2·100

  3·620

  3·659

  Middlesbrough

  2·710

  5·600

  5·350

  5·073

  Birmingham

  17·300

  24·200

  25·940

  24·478

  Coventry

  0·140

  1·700

  3·750

  5·031

  Sandwell

  0·830

  3·100

  4·540

  4·689

  Wolverhampton

  2·930

  5·800

  5·650

  4·733

  Leicester

  3·830

  6·500

  4·710

  4·561

  Nottingham

  3·410

  5·400

  5·310

  4·522

  Bradford

  3·330

  5·900

  3·470

  4·502

  Kingston-upon-Hull

  2·620

  5·300

  4·530

  4·544

  1 Partnership authority.

  UP outturn by London UP authority

  £ million

  Authority

  1980–81

  1983–84

  1986–87

  1989–90

  Brent

  0·350

  1·400

  3·800

  2·413

  Greenwich

  —

  —

  —

  0·998

  Hackney

  115·400

  12·500

  10·550

  4·491

  Hammersmith & Fulham

  3·330

  5·600

  4·520

  2·871

  Haringey

  —

  —

  —

  2·252

  Islington

  1—

  9·900

  9·270

  7·782

  Kensington & Chelsea

  —

  —

  —

  1·720

  Lambeth

  9·000

  10·900

  11·320

  8·271

  Lewisham

  —

  —

  —

  1·450

  Newham

  —

  —

  —

  2·690

  Southwark

  —

  —

  —

  2·113

  Tower Hamlets

  0·350

  1·300

  3·910

  3·693

  Wandsworth

  0·480

  1·700

  4·230

  2·795

  Notes:

  1 Combined Hackney/Islington figure.

  Hong Kong (Ministerial Visit)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, on his visit to Hong Kong in December 1988, the then Secretary of State took part in party political activities in addition to official duties.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 13 February 1992]: I understand that my right hon. Friend undertook only official duties during his brief visit which came at the end of a visit to China to discuss environmental matters.

  Business Rates
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has of the cost of cancelling the increase in the national non-domestic rate poundage for England in 1992–93 which he announced in his answer to the hon. Member for Hyndburn (Mr. Hargreaves) of 6 November 1991 Official Report, column 158; and what would be the cost of reducing that increase to (a) 3 per cent., (b) 2 per cent. and (c) 1 per cent.

  Mr. Portillo
  I estimate that the cost of cancelling the increase of just over 4 per cent. on the 1991–92 uniform
  69
  business rate multiplier would be approximately £500 million. Under-indexing would cost approximately £125 million for each percentage point.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the cost of increasing the thresholds at which businesses are elegible for the small business category of uniform business rate transitional relief from a rateable value of £10,000 to £15,000 outside London, and from a rateable value of £15,000 to £25,000 within London for the financial year 1992–93.

  Mr. Portillo
  I estimate that the cost in England would be about £25 million.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the cost in 1992–93 of extending the transitional relief scheme for the uniform business rate in England so that all losses are suspended in the coming financial year, while all gains continue to be phased in according to the transitional arrangements.
  70
  Mr. Portillo
  I estimate that the cost of freezing rate increases in real terms, for 1992–93, for ratepayers subject to transitional arrangements would be around £300 million.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has of the cost of lowering the maximum permissible annual increase in uniform business rate bills in(a) nominal and (h) real terms, (i) for small businesses, from 15 to 10 per cent. and (ii) for larger businesses, from 20 to 15 per cent. in 1992–93.

  Mr. Portillo
  I estimate that the cost in 1992–93 of confining the maximum annual transitional increase to 10 per cent. for small properties and 15 per cent. for large ones would be about £140 million. The cost of confining the maximum increase to the same limits in real terms would be about £70 million.

  COUNCIL SCHEMES: ESTIMATES
  COUNCIL SCHEMES: ESTIMATES
  PRIMARY EDUCATION: REPORT
  PRIMARY EDUCATION: REPORT
  ANIMALS IN TRANSIT: WELFARE
  ANIMALS IN TRANSIT: WELFARE
  INTERVENTION BOARD: GUARANTEES
  INTERVENTION BOARD: GUARANTEES