Written Answers of 18 February 1992

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Life Sentences
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will ask the Law Commission to consider the matter of life sentences; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The Law Commission's work on the criminal code will, in time, encompass the whole of the criminal law and will therefore necessarily include all those offences which may attract a life sentence. My right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has, however, no plans to invite the Law Commission to embark upon a separate consideration of that penalty.

  Mortgage Repossessions
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Attorney-General how many orders of repossession of property in favour of building societies or other lending institutions were made(a) by the Cardiff county court and (b) by the Pontypridd magistrates court in 1979, 1990 and 1991.

  The Attorney-General
  Mortgage possession actions are dealt with in the county court only. The 1979 figures are not available. The total number of mortgage possession actions entered, suspended orders and orders made during 1990 and 1991 in each county court in England and Wales is contained in two lists which have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament. These figures do not indicate how many houses have been repossessed through the courts as not all 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.

  Mr. Anderson
  To ask the Attorney-General how many orders of repossession of property in favour of building societies or other lending institutions were made by the Swansea county court in 1979, 1990 and 1991.

  The Attorney-General
  The 1979 figures are not available. The total number of mortgage possession actions entered, suspended orders and orders made during 1990 and 1991 in each county court in England and Wales is contained in two lists which have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament. These figures do not indicate how many houses have been repossessed through the courts as not all 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.

  Next Steps
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Attorney-General if he has identified any candidates within his Department for agency status under the next steps initiative.
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  The Attorney-General
  Following a feasibility study, I have selected the Treasury Solicitor's Department's property division as a candidate for executive agency status.

  I am confident that a move to agency status will be beneficial, enabling the agency to operate with greater freedom and with more clearly defined responsibilities within an agreed framework of objectives, performance targets, and resources. The move will, I believe, lead to improvements in efficiency and effectiveness.

  Detailed discussions on an agency framework document have now been set in hand, and we will carry planning forward with a view to establishing the division as an executive agency on 1 April 1993.

THE ARTS

  Items in Lieu of Tax
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if there have been any items accepted in lieu of tax or allocated since the announcement was last made on the subject to the House.

  Mr. Renton
  I am pleased to inform the House that two offers in lieu of tax have been accepted since my announcement on 28 November 1991,Official Report, column 579.

  The offer of the painting "Poele de l'Atelier" by Cezanne will satisfy £750,562 tax. It is offered on condition that it he allocated to the national gallery and it has therefore been allocated to that institution.

  The offer of eight contemporary paintings will satisfy £108,920 tax. The contemporary paintings are:

  'Bomb Store' by David Romberg

  'Self-Portrait, recto and verso' by David Bomberg

  'Ghetto Theatre' by David Bomberg

  'Women and Goat' by Robert Colquhoun

  'Two Figures Monotype' by Robert Colquhoun

  'Man Hosing Metal Fish Boxes' by Prunella Clough

  'Pears' by William Scott

  An untitled work by Roger Hilton

  'Bomb Store' by David Bomberg and the Prunella Clough painting have been temporarily allocated to the Tate gallery and the remainder to the Wakefield city art gallery, pending a decision on the collection's permanent allocation.

ENVIRONMENT

  Housing, Leicester
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what extra cost Leicester city council is to be required to meet in relation to the cost of removing houses built by the council on the Goodwood road part of the distributor road network.

  Mr. Portillo
  Leicestershire county council has not yet determined its preferred route for the Leicester eastern district distributor road from the city boundary to the A47. Therefore it is not certain whether houses owned by Leicester city council on Goodwood road would be affected. However if demolition were necessary, the county, and not the city, would be responsible for meeting the costs and those of replacement.

  Local Government Finance
  Sir David Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list powers he has to control excessive expenditure by a parish or town council; and if he will exercise them in the case of Tadley town council in the borough of Basingstoke.

  Mr. Portillo
  We have no such powers. We expect parish and town councils to budget prudently. We have, however, included a provision in the Local Government Finance Bill, currently before Parliament, which would allow my right hon. Friend, by order, to bring parish precepts within the budgets of districts for the purposes of capping.

  Ultraviolet Light
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements exist for the monitoring of ultraviolet light in the United Kingdom and for making the data public; and what research is undertaken to relate the data to the environmental and health impacts.

  Mr. Baldry
  Ultraviolet radiation is monitored continuously in the United Kingdom by the National Radiological Protection Board—NRPB—at three locations—Chilton, Oxfordshire; Leeds; and Glasgow. The data are published annually in NRPB reports. The Department of the Environment is funding improved ultraviolet radiation monitoring methods at Reading university. The results are disseminated as research publications.

  The Department of the Environment funds research into the impact of increased ultraviolet radiation on vegetation. The NRPB advises the Department of Health on health effects of ultraviolet light and has established an advisory group which will review new studies and advise on the need for further research.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 6 December,Official Report, columns 235–36, why he has decided not to publish any analysis of the impact of the council tax using the tax-benefit model; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  Modelling the possible impact of the council tax requires a large number of assumptions. Because of this, the results of any such modelling would be subject to wide and unquantifiable margins of error.

  City Challenge
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made with the city challenge initiative.

  Mr. Key
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State launched the first round of city challenge in May 1991 and invited 15 local authorities to submit bids for resources for 1992–93. Bids for 11 areas were successful in the competition and, subject to satisfactory implementation of action plans and the availability of resources, each area will be allocated £37·5 million in city challenge resources over five years.

  The first of the 11 action plans, for the Sneinton and St Ann's area of Nottingham, was formally approved on
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  17 February. It is hoped that the remaining plans, for areas of Manchester, Liverpool, Wirral, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Wolverhampton, Bradford, Lewisham, Tower Hamlets and Dearne Valley, will receive final approval shortly.

  My right hon. Friend announced today that for the second round of city challenge, starting in 1993–94, all 57 local authorities currently in the urban programme will be invited to bid for city challenge resources.

  My right hon. Friend intends to make resources available for 20 winning areas. Again they should each benefit from funding for some £37·5 million over the five years of their action plan. These 20 winning areas will be in addition to the 11 which were successful in the first round of city challenge.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities he expects to be awarded city challenge money in the next round of competition; and on what date he will announce the winners.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key), to my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Brandon-Bravo).

  Ozone Depletion
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the rate of development of ozone-depletion problems; and if he proposes to take any further measures in response to such developments.

  Mr. Baldry
  Reports have been received from the European arctic stratospheric ozone experiment—EASOE—and the United States National Aeronautic and Space Agency—NASA—of low ozone levels over the mid-latitudes of the northern hemisphere and in the tropics. The answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, South (Mr. Sumberg) on 10 February,Official Report, column 430, sets out what further measures we have proposed.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list those local authorities which received such grants from central funds which, together with other income or contributions from balances, were able to determine that the community charge for the current year would be less than £100;

  (2) if he will list those authorities which have secured grants from central funds which together with other income and contributions from balances have been able to determine that the community charge for 1992–93 will be less than £100.

  Mr. Key
  The following authorities maintained a tight control over their expenditure and were able to determine a community charge in 1991–92 below £100:

  Rochester upon Medway

  Wandsworth

  Westminster

  Information about the levels of community charges in 1992–93 is not yet available.

  Housing Investment, Liverpool
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the level of the housing investment programme allocation awarded to Liverpool in each financial year since 1978–79; and what the changes amounted to, in real terms.

  Mr. Yeo
  Housing investment programme—HIP—allocation and gross capital expenditure figures are as follows:

  £ thousands

  HIP allocation

  Gross Expenditure1

  cash value

  at 1991–92 prices

  cash value

  at 1991–92 prices

  1978–79

  35,460

  96,195

  30,832

  83,640

  1979–80

  42,430

  98,651

  52,611

  122,322

  1980–81

  47,230

  92,798

  40,277

  79,137

  1981–82

  39,788

  71,293

  35,479

  63,572

  1982–83

  49,337

  82,524

  55,076

  92,123

  1983–84

  41,850

  66,901

  60,700

  97,034

  1984–85

  38,499

  58,612

  65,169

  99,214

  1985–86

  31,000

  44,727

  83,751

  120,837

  1986–87

  27,500

  38,414

  69,323

  96,835

  1987–88

  25,300

  33,518

  64,651

  85,652

  1988–89

  20,588

  25,448

  45,151

  55,810

  1989–90

  23,349

  27,103

  49,338

  57,271

  New Capital Finance System2

  1990–91

  38,037

  40,700

  55,194

  59,058

  31991–92

  31,620

  31,620

  4—

  4—

  Notes:

  1 Since 1981–82 local authorities have been able to augment the borrowing power of their HIP allocations by using the prescribed proportion of their capital receipts.

  2 From 1990–91, under the new capital finance system, the HIP allocation does not convey borrowing approval directly. The HIP allocation totals include supplementary credit approvals for housing projects.

  3 Provisional estimate of final allocation.

  4 Not available.

  An initial HIP allocation of £26·7 million—125·6 million at 1991–92 prices—has been issued for 1992–93 and additional resources—supplementary credit approvals—may be allocated later.

  Chorley Report
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action has been taken following the Government's response to the Chorley report on handling geographic information.

  Mr. Baldry
  Following the Chorley report and the Government's response, the Government established an inter-departmental working group on the tradeable information initiative. The working group, which is chaired by my Department, has collated a summary of actions taken by individual departments in response to the recommendations made by Lord Chorley's committee of inquiry. A copy of the summary has been placed in the Library of the House, and a copy given to the Association for Geographic Information—AGI—as part of the Government's contribution to the association's review of progress against the Chorley committee's recommendations. In addition, the working group has collected details about spatially referenced data sets held by Government Departments. These details have been given to the AGI which has used them to establish an information service to answer inquiries about the data sets. The information service went live in January 1992.

  Business Rates
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates he has for the cost of allowing businesses in England 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 returning eligibility for transitional relief in 1992–93 to those businesses that moved premises in 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 17 February 1992]: Transitional relief does not attach to businesses but to the property they occupy. The relief for the property is lost when the occupier changes. I estimate that the cost for the period 1990–91 to 1992–93 of returning transitional protection to property where there was a change of occupier in 1990–91 or 1991–92 would be around £90 million. The cost of allowing protection where there was a change of occupier in 1992–93 would be around £10 million.

  Local Authorities (Financial Difficulties)
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy towards centre funding of local authorities which have financial difficulties due to(a) the collapse of BCCI and (b) late rating appeals and (c) interest rate swaps; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  [pursuant to his reply, 17 December 1991, c. 108]: My right hon. Friend intends to issue directions permitting local authorities which have incurred losses in BCCI and the Chancery and Edington banks to treat those losses as capital expenditure, where these are substantial in relation to an authority's revenue budget and reserves. He does not propose to approve any of the applications he has received for supplementary credit approvals—SCAs—related to such losses.

  However, my right hon. Friend is now minded, out of resources which are available as a result of certain SCAs not being taken up to the anticipated extent, to issue SCAs to provide some assistance to those authorities most affected in 1991–92 by late rating adjustments of which they could not have been aware with certainty when setting their 1991–92 budgets. He has today invited authorities to provide him with information about their late rating adjustments, after receipt of which he intends to decide the level of assistance which in all the circumstances would be appropriate.

  Assisted and Development Areas
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those areas in receipt of assisted or development area status, together with their working population.

  Mr. Leigh
  1 have been asked to reply.

  The following is the information:

  Assisted Area Working Populations (April 1991)

  Assisted Area Status

  Travel-to-work Area

  Workforce

  South West

  IA

  Bodmin and Liskeard

  28,793

  IA

  Bude

  8,094

  IA

  Cinderford and Ross-on-Wye

  30,241

  77

  Assisted Area Status

  Travel-to-work Area

  Workforce

  DA

  Falmouth

  14,843

  DA

  Helston

  9,247

  DA

  Newquay

  12,946

  DA

  Penzance and St. Ives

  23,425

  IA

  Plymouth

  147,884

  DA

  Redruth and Camborne

  24,910

  West Midlands

  IA

  Birmingham

  803,305

  IA

  Coventry and Hinckley

  269,332

  IA

  Dudley and Sandwell

  299,360

  IA

  Kidderminster

  47,174

  IA

  Telford and Bridgnorth

  85,166

  IA

  Walsall

  172,542

  IA

  Wolverhampton

  151,975

  East Midlands

  DA

  Corby

  38,346

  IA

  Gainsborough

  14,460

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  IA

  Barnsley

  84,202

  IA

  Bradford

  252,381

  IA

  Doncaster

  115,628

  IA

  Grimsby

  88,763

  IA

  Hull

  222,670

  DA

  Rotherham and Mexborough

  112,095

  DA

  Scunthorpe

  68,932

  IA

  Sheffield

  295,726

  DA

  Whitby

  10,643

  North West

  IA

  Accrington and Rossendale

  60,224

  IA

  Blackburn

  73,490

  IA

  Bolton and Bury

  205,719

  DA

  Liverpool

  485,553

  IA

  Manchester

  823,726

  IA

  Oldham

  98,289

  IA

  Rochdale

  71,603

  DA

  Widnes and Runcorn

  63,752

  DA

  Wigan and St. Helens

  192,172

  DA

  Wirral and Chester

  229,477

  Northern

  DA

  Bishop Auckland

  46,281

  IA

  Darlington

  58,014

  IA

  Durham

  69,686

  DA

  Hartlepool

  40,488

  DA

  Middlesbrough

  140,241

  IA

  Morpeth and Ashington

  54,398

  DA

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  395,649

  DA

  South Tyneside

  56,603

  DA

  Stockton-on-Tees

  84,814

  DA

  Sunderland

  177,886

  DA

  Workington

  33,752

  Wales

  DA

  Aberdare

  23,428

  IA

  Bangor and Caernarfon

  35,256

  DA

  Blaenau Gwent and Abergavenny

  37,587

  IA

  Bridgend

  63,515

  IA

  Cardiff

  231,791

  DA

  Cardigan

  10,727

  IA

  Fishguard

  4,577

  IA

  Haverfordwest

  23,496

  DA

  Holyhead

  21,972

  DA

  Lampeter and Aberaeron

  8,254

  IA

  Llanelli

  36,218

  DA

  Merthyr and Rhymney

  58,740

  DA

  Neath and Port Talbot

  45,537

  IA

  Newport

  96,088

  IA

  Pontypool and Cwmbran

  46,019

  DA

  Pontypridd and Rhondda

  72,691

  IA

  Porthmadoc and Ffestiniog

  8,844

  IA

  Pwllheli

  8,493

  DA

  Shotton, Flint and Rhyl

  93,693

  78

  Assisted Area Status

  Travel-to-work Area

  Workforce

  DA

  South Pembrokeshire

  16,514

  IA

  Swansea

  119,563

  DA

  Wrexham

  60,645

  Scotland

  IA

  Alloa

  18,771

  DA

  Arbroath

  11,426

  IA

  Ayr

  55,447

  IA

  Badenoch

  5,623

  DA

  Bathgate

  53,122

  IA

  Campbeltown

  4,887

  DA

  Cumnock and Sanquhar

  15,570

  DA

  Dumbarton

  32,472

  DA

  Dundee

  100,479

  IA

  Dunfermline

  54,846

  IA

  Dunoon and Bute

  11,493

  IA

  Falkirk

  68,369

  IA

  Forres

  3,715

  IA

  Girvan

  4,549

  DA

  Glasgow

  664,038

  DA

  Greenock

  42,758

  IA

  Invergordon and Dingwall

  15,320

  DA

  Irvine

  60,260

  DA

  Kilmarnock

  35,135

  IA

  Kirkcaldy

  67,663

  DA

  Lanarkshire

  169,659

  IA

  Lochaber

  9,714

  IA

  Newton Stewart

  4,499

  IA

  Skye and Wester Ross

  9,091

  IA

  Stewartry

  9,563

  IA

  Stranraer

  9,139

  IA

  Sutherland

  5,545

  IA

  Western Isles

  12,867

  IA

  Wick

  5,440

  Notes:

  (1) The work force estimates are the sum of: estimated employees in employment; the unemployed; the self-employed; the armed forces; participants on work-related schemes.

  (2) There are two forms of assisted area status; a more intense form, development area (DA) and a less intense, intermediate area (IA).

  (3) The building block for the assisted areas map is the travel-to-work area (TTWA), which is the best approximation available to a self-contained labour market. TTWA boundaries do not always correspond to regional boundaries, so some of the TTWAs are listed above under one region, while in fact belonging to several regions.

  (4) Only half of the Manchester TTWA has assisted area status, but the work force reported above relates to the whole TTWA. This is because of the lack of availability of post-census work force data for areas smaller than TTWAs.

ENERGY

  Radiation
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what action will be taken to ensure that safety limits in relation to radiation exposure are lowered at nuclear establishments in Great Britain.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Dose limits and radiation protection standards apply to all workers across the European Community who work with ionising radiation, including those in the nuclear industry. The directive that sets these standards—European Community directive 80/836/EURATOM—as amended by 84/467/ EURATOM, is implemented in the United Kingdom by the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985—IRR 85—and
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  the mirror Northern Ireland legislation. These contain both statutory limits and requirements to carry out investigations at lower levels.

  Last year, the Health and Safety Commission published part 4 of the approved code of practice supporting IRR 85 which contains additional guidance on restriction of exposure, but no change of statutory dose limit, to take account of recent revisions of the risk estimates from exposure to ionising radiation. This is an interim measure, pending revision of the European Community directive and subsequent revision of IRR 85 over the next few years.

  Coal Production
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how much coal is mined per head of population in each Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development country and member state of the European Community.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The information is as follows:

  Tonnes of coal produced per head of population in 1990

  Australia

  9·09

  Austria

  0·12

  Belgium1

  0·15

  Canada

  2·03

  Denmark1

  Nil

  Finland

  Nil

  France1

  0·21

  Germany1

  1·62

  Greece1

  1·05

  Iceland

  Nil

  Ireland1

  Nil

  Italy1

  0·01

  Japan

  0·05

  Luxembourg1

  Nil

  Netherlands1

  Nil

  New Zealand

  0·59

  Norway

  0·07

  Portugal1

  0·02

  Spain1

  0·44

  Sweden

  Nil

  Switzerland

  Nil

  Turkey

  0·30

  United Kingdom1

  1·64

  United States

  3·08

  1 Member states of the European Community (NB Germany refers to the (former) Federal Republic of Germany).

  Source: Population—OECD Main Economic Indicators.

  Source: Coal data—International Energy Agency.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how much coal is mined per head of population in Wales; and what was the equivalent figure in 1976, 1981 and 1986.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Coal production per head of population in Wales in the years 1976, 1981, 1986 and 1990 was:

  tones

  1976

  4·1

  1981

  4·2

  1986

  3·8

  1990

  2·5

  Atomic Energy Authority, Harwell
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy which materials in use at the Atomic Energy Authority establishment at Harwell are covered by Euratom safeguards.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Uranium, thorium and plutonium are used at Harwell for civil purposes. In accordance with articles 77 and 197 of the Euratom treaty, all these materials are subject to Euratom safeguards.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy which buildings at the Atomic Energy Authority establishment at Harwell are covered by the tripartite International Atomic Energy Agency/Euratom/UK safeguards agreement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  For security reasons it is not our policy to disclose which buildings at nuclear establishments contain nuclear material. All civil nuclear material at Harwell and other establishments is subject to Euratom safeguards and to the terms of the UK-EuratomInternational Atomic Energy Agency tripartite agreement.

  Electricity Prices
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on his meeting with the Major Energy Users Council as regards(a) the agenda, (b) the alternatives reviewed and (c) the outcome; and what assessment he has made of the impact of electricity prices in the next financial year on the large electricity consumers.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Hunter) on Thursday 13 February 1992,Official Report, column 588.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Customs Allowances
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his most recent estimate of revenue losses the Treasury can expect from an increase in personal allowances from 300 duty-paid cigarettes to(a) 800 duty-paid cigarettes and (b) 800 duty-paid cigarettes and 1 km of hand-rolling tobacco and 400 cigars, following the relaxation of intra-Community customs barriers in 1993.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Travellers' allowances are due to be abolished from I January 1993 as part of the single market programme. The quantities referred to in the question are minimum indicative levels which have been agreed by the Council as part of a set of rules to enable member states to help distinguish commercial from private importations.

  Considerable uncertainty must surround any estimate of the revenue effect of such a large relaxation of constraints on duty paid shopping. We have no estimates for the likely revenue loss from individual tobacco products. However, on the basis of the little evidence that is available, we estimate an annual loss from cross border shopping for all excise products, including alcoholic drinks, to be in the region of £¼ billion. Most of this loss is associated with cigarettes.

  VAT Registrations
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for the past five years the number of new VAT registrations in south Derbyshire, taking into account changes in the VAT registration limit.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The local VAT office in Derbyshire covers, in addition to the constituency of Derbyshire, South, parts of Leicestershire and Staffordshire. The number of VAT registrations processed by that office in the last five years is as follows:

  Year

  New registrations

  1987

  2,043

  1988

  2,483

  1989

  2,847

  1990

  2,370

  1991

  1,869

  Foreign Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that owners and crews of foreign fishing vessels, registered in Britain and catching fish on British quotas, pay tax.

  Mr. Maude
  In general, tax is already payable by the owners and crews of foreign fishing vessels on the British register if they are resident in the United Kingdom for tax purposes or, in the case of the owners, if their profits arise through a permanent establishment in this country.

  The Inland Revenue has liaison arrangements with both the Registry of Shipping and Seamen and Companies House to ensure that, as far as possible, owners or crews pay any United Kingdom tax which may be due.

  Customs
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the security classification of Customs and Excise documents found in a desk bought from second-hand dealers in Scarborough in January; and what other Customs and Excise documents were found on the premises when officers from his Department inspected other desks that had been sent for disposal by the Customs and Excise; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The documents were not classified. All of the remaining furniture sold to the second-hand dealer was immediately examined at his premises. No further documents were found.

  Income Statistics
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in work and responsible for children will have earnings below the tax threshold in the current year.

  Mr. Maude
  It is estimated that approximately 0·5 million families with earned income and with children are not liable to income tax in 1991–92. These estimates are based on a projection of the 1990 family expenditure survey and are therefore provisional.

  Personal Wealth
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the current level of personal wealth per head of population in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Wales.

  Mr. Maude
  In 1989, the most recent year available, the average marketable wealth as defined in section 11 of "Inland Revenue Statistics 1991", for the adult population, was £35,800 for the United Kingdom. I regret that figures for Wales are not available.

  Car Boot Sales
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has of the annual turnover of car boot sales; and what representation he has received on their taxation.

  Mr. Maude
  Figures are not available, and I have not received any such representations.

  EC (Net Contributors)
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which countries were net contributors to the European Community in 1991, or the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Maude
  The latest information available is contained in the European Court of Auditors report for 1990. It gives information on member states' gross contributions and information on some 85 per cent. of receipts, with administration and research the main elements of internal expenditure excluded. The Court of Auditors report shows that in 1990 Germany, France and the United Kingdom were significant net contributors. Italy, Belgium and Luxembourg are also shown as net contributors, but none of them was likely to be in practice after taking account of expenditure excluded from the report. All other member states were net recipients.

  Duty-free Limits
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends to increase the duty-free limit for holidaymakers returning from outside the European Community.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The travellers' allowances for goods obtained outside the European Community are provided for under European Community legislation. There are quantitative allowances for tobacco products, wine, spirits, perfume and toilet water and a money allowance for all other goods which currently stands at £32. The Government have long been in favour of a substantial increase in the £32 allowance, but it has not so far been possible to obtain the necessary agreement of all member states. The Government will continue to press the point.

  Tax Rates
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average and marginal tax rate including income tax and statutory social insurance payments of a single person, a married couple, and a family consisting of a married couple plus two children earning in total(a) half,

  83
  (b) three quarters, (c) average earnings, (d) 1·5 times, (e) twice, (f) three times, (g) five times and (h) 10 times average earnings, in each of the 12 EC member states.

  Mr. Maude
  Information for 1991–92 relating to the United Kingdom is given in the table.

  Income tax and national insurance contributions at multiples of average earnings

  Multiple of average earnings1

  Amount of Tax and NIC2 £ per week

  Tax and NIC as percentage of gross earning

  Marginal tax and NIC rate

  Single person

  ¼

  36·61

  22·2

  34

  ¾

  64·64

  26·1

  34

  1

  92·68

  28·1

  34

  1¼

  139·33

  28·2

  25

  2

  201·67

  30·6

  40

  3

  333·63

  33·7

  40

  5

  597·55

  36·2

  40

  10

  1,257·35

  38·1

  40

  Married man (wife not earning)

  ¼

  28·34

  17·2

  34

  ¾

  56·38

  22·8

  34

  1

  84·41

  25·6

  34

  1¾

  131·06

  26·5

  25

  2

  188·44

  32·4

  40

  3

  320·40

  32·4

  40

  5

  584·32

  35·4

  40

  10

  1,244·12

  37·7

  40

  1 Average earnings are taken to be the average gross weekly earnings of full-time males on adult rates with pay unaffected by absence. These are estimated to be £329·90 per week in 1991–92 using the Government Actuary's Department assumption of 7·75 per cent. growth in whole economy underlying earnings over 1990–91 as published in the 1991 Autumn Statement.

  2 National insurance contributions are at the standard Class 1 rate for employees not contracted-out of the state additional (earnings related) pension scheme. The tax figures assume that no allowances or reliefs are available other than the standard allowances.

  Similar information on the other EC member states is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Some of the information requested is, however, obtainable from "The Tax/Benefit Posi lion of Production Workers 1987–1990" published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. A copy is available in the Library.

  EC Budget
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the financial contributions made by each member state in £ sterling to the European Community and their net receipts under European Community expenditure in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Maude
  Member states' gross contributions to the European Community budget for the last five years for which outturn information is available were as follows:

  £ billion

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Belgium

  1·0

  1·2

  1·2

  1·2

  1·3

  Denmark

  0·5

  0·6

  0·6

  0·6

  0·6

  Germany

  5·9

  6·6

  7·7

  7·5

  7·4

  Greece

  0·4

  0·2

  0·3

  0·4

  0·4

  Spain

  1·6

  1·2

  2·1

  2·1

  2·6

  France

  4·6

  5·2

  6·0

  5·8

  5·8

  Ireland

  0·2

  0·2

  0·2

  0·2

  0·3

  Italy

  3·2

  3·7

  4·4

  4·3

  4·4

  84

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Luxembourg

  1—

  0·1

  0·1

  1—

  0·1

  Netherlands

  1·5

  1·7

  1·9

  1·8

  1·9

  Portugal

  0·2

  0·2

  0·3

  0·3

  0·4

  United Kingdom

  3·2

  4·0

  3·5

  4·4

  4·7

  Source: European Court of Auditors' Report, converted to £ sterling at the annual average exchange rate for each year.

  Note: (1)1—signifies contribution of less than £0·05 billion.

  (2) The table gives contributions after allowing for the United Kingdom's abatement.

  Full details of member states' receipts are not published. However the 1990 Court of Auditors report allocates some 85 per cent. of budgetary payments, the main items of internal expenditure excluded are administration and research. It gives receipts over the last five years for which information is available as follows:

  £ billion

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Belgium

  0·8

  0·7

  0·6

  0·5

  0·7

  Denmark

  0·8

  0·8

  0·9

  0·7

  0·9

  Germany

  3·3

  3·2

  3·6

  3·1

  3·4

  Greece

  1·3

  1·3

  1·3

  1·7

  2·2

  Spain

  1·6

  1·4

  2·7

  3·3

  3·8

  France

  4·2

  4·8

  4·9

  3·8

  4·5

  Ireland

  1·1

  1·0

  1·0

  1·1

  1·6

  Italy

  3·0

  3·7

  3·7

  4·1

  4·1

  Luxembourg

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Netherlands

  1·6

  2·0

  2·6

  2·6

  2·1

  Portugal

  0·3

  0·5

  0·6

  0·7

  0·8

  United Kingdom

  2·3

  2·2

  2·2

  2·2

  2·2

  Note: 1 — signifies contribution of less than £0·05 billion.

  Cider
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to protect the interests of the British cider industry from proposals made by the European Commission.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 17 February 1992]: Current Commission proposals place cider with either still or sparkling wine for taxation purposes. The proposals have yet to come before the Council of Ministers and their adoption would require unanimity. The Government have already assured the United Kingdom cider industry that we will support their case for treating cider and perry as a separate tax category.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list(a) outstanding instalments from earlier flotations of nationalised industries or governmental holdings in privatised companies, (b) the market value of each such instalment on 1 January, (c) what revenue he currently expects to receive from each instalment and (d) when he expects to receive the revenue from each particular instalment.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 17 February 1992]: The table shows, for each outstanding instalment, the share offer, the month in which payment is due and the expected proceeds. No market value can be given for an outstanding instalment, as none exists until the share price listing is amended by the stock exchange to reflect the imminent payment of such an instalment.
  85

  Outstanding instalments from the sale of shares

  Share offer

  Month of receipt

  Expected proceeds (£ million)

  Scottish Electricity Companies—second instalment

  May 1992

  835

  BT—second instalment

  July 1992

  1,915

  Regional Electricity Companies—third instalment

  September 1992

  1,465

  BT—third instalment

  March 1993

  1,675

  Scottish Electricity Companies—third instalment

  April 1993

  835

  Research Funding
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the level of Government civil research and development funding as a percentage of total Government expenditure in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Maples
  [holding answer 17 February 1992]: The available information is as follows:

  Government civil research and development expenditure as a percentage of total central Government expenditure

  Year

  Per cent.

  1979–80

  2·5

  1980–81

  2·4

  1981–82

  2·5

  1982–83

  2·3

  1983–84

  2·3

  1984–85

  2·2

  1985–86

  2·2

  1986–87

  2·2

  1987–88

  2·2

  1988–89

  2·2

  1989–90

  2·1

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the level of research funding of every Government Department in real and constant prices in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Maples
  [holding answer 17 February 1992]: The available information from 1981 is given in tables 1.2.1 and 1.2.2 of the "Annual Review of Government Funded Research and Development 1991", a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Detailed departmental information on a comparable basis for earlier years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was Her Majesty's Government's contribution in cash and kind to the economy of Gibraltar in the current and previous financial years.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces on 14 February. In addition to the MOD's contribution, the ODA's expenditure in Gibraltar will be £950,000 in this financial year. For 1990–91 it was £948,000. The bulk is capital aid; the remainder, funds for technical co-operation, for example, consultants' expertise. During the two years in question the diplomatic wing provided £63,370 for various small projects, principally police and customs training courses and equipment. We are unable to put a precise figure on the value to Gibraltar's economy of our general administrative assistance and advice.

  Iran
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about the number of judicial executions carried out in Iran last year.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  According to Amnesty International's most recent information, there have been 775 executions in Iran in 1991.

  Montreal Protocol
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the states which have (i) signed, (ii) ratified or (iii) acceded to the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The following states have signed, ratified, acceded to or accepted the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer as indicated (s = signed; r = ratified; Ac = acceded; At = accepted; Ap = approved):

  Country

  Abbreviation

  Argentina

  (R)

  Australia

  (R)

  Austria

  (R)

  Bahrain

  (Ac)

  Bangladesh

  (Ac)

  Belgium

  (R)

  Brazil

  (Ac)

  Bulgaria

  (Ac)

  Burkina Faso

  (R)

  Belorussia

  (Ac)

  Cameroon

  (Ac)

  Canada

  (R)

  Chile

  (R)

  Congo

  (S)

  Costa Rica

  (Ac)

  Czechoslovakia

  (Ac)

  Denmark

  (R)

  Ecuador

  (Ac)

  Egypt

  (R)

  Fiji

  (Ac)

  Finland

  (R)

  France

  (Ap)

  Gambia

  (Ac)

  Germany, Federal Republic

  (Ac)

  Ghana

  (R)

  Greece

  (R)

  Guatemala

  (Ac)

  Hungary

  (Ac)

  Iceland

  (Ac)

  Indonesia

  (S)

  Iran

  (Ac)

  Ireland

  (R)

  Israel

  (S)

  Italy

  (R)

  Japan

  (R)

  Jordan

  (Ac)

  Kenya

  (R)

  Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

  (Ac)

  Liechtenstein

  (Ac)

  Luxembourg

  (R)

  87

  Country

  Abbreviation

  Malawi

  (Ac)

  Malaysia

  (Ac)

  Maldives

  (R)

  Malta

  (R)

  Mexico

  (Ac)

  Morocco

  (S)

  Netherlands

  (At)

  New Zealand

  (R)

  Nigeria

  (Ac)

  Norway

  (R)

  Panama

  (R)

  Philippines

  (R)

  Poland

  (Ac)

  Portugal

  (R)

  Russia

  (At)

  Senegal

  (S)

  Singapore

  (Ac)

  South Africa

  (Ac)

  Spain

  (R)

  Sri Lanka

  (Ac)

  Sweden

  (R)

  Switzerland

  (R)

  Syrian Arab Republic

  (Ac)

  Thailand

  (R)

  Trinidad and Tobago

  (Ac)

  Tunisia

  (Ac)

  Turkey

  (Ac)

  Uganda

  (R)

  Ukraine

  (At)

  United Arab Emirates

  (Ac)

  United Kingdom

  (R)

  Uruguay

  (Ac)

  United States of America

  (R)

  Venezuela

  (R)

  Yugoslavia

  (Ac)

  Zambia

  (Ac)

  EEC

  (Ap)

  The following 15 countries have also ratified the 1990 London amendment to the Montreal protocol.

  Canada

  China

  Denmark

  Finland

  Germany

  Ireland

  Japan

  Maldives

  Mexico

  Netherlands

  New Zealand

  Norway

  Sweden

  UK

  USA

  EEC

  EC Committee of the Regions
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the consultation procedures he proposes in order to establish the proper means of representation for the United Kingdom on the committee of the regions.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  We are considering the arrangements for appointing the United Kingdom members to the committee, which will be convened only after the treaty on political union enters into force.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom has signed the protocol on the committee of the regions annexed to the Maastricht treaty under article 198(a)-(c).
  88
  Mr. Garel-Jones
  Yes. This protocol forms in integral part of the European Community treaty and was therefore covered by the signatures of the treaty on European union by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury.

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what impact the Gulf war has had on his Department's monitoring of the export of weapons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  All export licence applications for the export of weapons to any destination have always been, and remain, subject to rigorous scrutiny.

  Vietnamese Migrants
  Sir William Shelton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Vietnamese migrants.

  Mr. Hurd
  On 12 February, 36 illegal immigrants were repatriated from Hong Kong on the third mandatory flight under the orderly repatriation programme of 29 October 1991. They had all been screened out under procedures approved by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees—UNHCR—and were returned to Vietnam in accordance with international practice. The operation went smoothly.

  The first phase of the orderly repatriation programme agreed with the Vietnamese Government on 29 October has succeeded in reducing the camp population in Hong Kong, encouraging migrants already there to return to Vietnam and stopping the flow of arrivals to Hong Kong. The camp population in Hong Kong has fallen from a peak on 5 October 1991 of 64,314 to 58,762 now. Whereas 20,163 Vietnamese arrived in Hong Kong in the first 10 months of 1991, only 45 arrived in November and December. Only four have arrived so far in 1992. In the first 10 months of 1991 an average of 500 Vietnamese per month returned voluntarily to Vietnam under UNHCR auspices. In contrast, 1,900 returned voluntarily in November and 1,800 in December. So far this year UNHCR has repatriated 1,191. This is substantial progress, though the pressures on Hong Kong are still severe.

  In total, more than 20,000 migrants have so far been repatriated to Vietnam under UNHCR auspices from countries of first asylum in the region. There has not been a single substantiated case of persecution. Only if migrants are returned to their country of origin can the genuine refugees be properly looked after and resettled in accordance with their international rights.

  Cambodia
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contributions the United Kingdom is making towards United Nations peacekeeping operations in Cambodia.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The UK's assessed contribution towards the United Nations advance mission in Cambodia is estimated to be £500,000.

  Parliamentary approval for this new service will be sought in the spring supplementary estimate for "Foreign

  89
  and Commonwealth Office: other external relations vote", class II, vote 2. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £500,000 will be met by a repayable advance from the Contingencies Fund.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Football (Arrests)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his review of the case of the Everton football fans arrested in the vicinity of Arsenal stadium, Highbury, on 19 December 1987.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Representations made about this case are still under consideration.

  Fire Services, Northumberland
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he has approved the Northumberland fire authority's proposal to close the Holy Island fire station; and what consideration he has given to the implications for this proposed closure of the authority's proposal to withdraw full-time firemen from Alnwick;

  (2) whether he has yet received the proposal from the Northumberland fire authority for approval of a change from full-time to a retained fire station in Alnwick.

  Mr. John Patten
  There is no proposal to close the Holy Island fire station, and the Northumberland county council's proposal to disband the island's volunteer fire crew remains subject to determination by the Home Secretary. No proposals for the future status of Alnwick fire station have been received. Should a change from wholetime to retained status be submitted, the implications for the provision of fire cover would be fully assessed before the Home Secretary decided whether to approve it.

  Life Sentence
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has received to amend the law to make the life sentence the maximum rather than the mandatory sentence for murder;

  (2) what action he intends to take in response to the House of Lords Select Committee report on murder and life imprisonment—House of Lords Paper 78 of Session 1988–89; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  My right hon. Friend keeps the mandatory life sentence for murder under review in the light of the representations which he receives from time to time. During the passage of the Criminal Justice Act 1991, Parliament endorsed the Government's view that the mandatory life sentence should remain to mark the particular heinousness of murder.

  Metropolitan Police
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the total cost to public funds of the Metropolitan police in 1992–93; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  As police authority for the metropolis, 1 have approved estimates which provide for 90
  net revenue expenditure of £1,523·043 million in 1992–93. There will be a cash limit on current expenditure of £1,478·764 million. Capital expenditure is subject to separate control.

  I have also approved the issue of a precept of £135·43 per head of relevant population of Metropolitan police purposes. This is not the sum levied on individual community charge payers, but will be levied on local authorities' collection funds which include income from revenue support grant and national non-domestic rates as well as the community charge.

  Compensation (Crime)
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the extent to which compensation has been awarded by the courts to victims during the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available in accordance with the powers conferred by the powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973 as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1988; and when he intends to evaluate the effectiveness of the legislation in assisting the victims of crime.

  Mr. John Patten
  The table gives information on the use of compensation orders by the criminal courts in 1989, the latest year for which final figures are available. Provisional figures for 1990 are given in brackets.

  19891

  1990

  Crown Court

  Indictable offences

  12,400

  (11,900)

  Summary offences2

  400

  (500)

  Magistrates courts

  Indictable offences

  70,500

  (73,600)

  Summary offences2

  43,000

  (43,600)

  Total

  3126,400

  (129,600)

  1 Source: Criminal Statistics 1989.

  2 The Criminal Statistics exclude summary motoring offences.

  3 All figures rounded to the nearest hundred.

  The Home Office research and planning unit has been studying the use of compensation orders in the magistrates courts, including the effect of changes introduced by the Criminal Justice Act 1988. It is hoped that a report of its findings will be published later this year.

  Police National Computer
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which indexes of police national computer 1 are still in use; and for how long they are to remain in use.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The following applications remain on the PNC1 equipment but are not in general use by police forces:

  Fingerprint checks for court appearances in the Metropolitan Police District.

  Major investigations.

  Extremist crime index.

  Crime pattern analysis.

  The fingerprint application will be transferred to PNC2 later this year and future arrangements for the other applications are being considered. The aim is to take PNC1 out of service as soon as it is practicable to do so.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has agreed a policy
  91
  with the Association of Chief Police Officers and Association of Chief Police Officers (Scotland) on the establishment of uniform criteria for the recording of HIV status on the police national computer.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  In deciding to include warning markers on health, disposition or likely behaviour in PNC records, the police must have regard to the principles underlying the Data Protection Act 1984 on the relevance and accuracy of the information. A working group is currently reviewing the existing guidance to the police about HIV.

  Interpol
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for the past five years (i) the United Kingdom's annual subscription to Interpol and (ii) any additional levies and their purpose.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The United Kingdom's annual subscription to Interpol for the last five years has been as follows:

  £

  1987–88

  440,487

  1988–89

  428,437

  1989–90

  433,579

  1990–91

  510,109

  1991–92

  497,593

  There are no additional levies.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans there are to enhance the facilities or services provided by the European liaison bureau of Interpol.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  It is planned to recruit as wide a representation as possible in order to ensure that the maximum number of European countries, including eastern Europe, are represented. Other ways of enhancing the service provided by the bureau are under consideration by Interpol.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary or State for the Home Department what is the budget and current level of staffing at the European liaison bureau at Interpol headquarters; what languages are covered within the bureau; and what is the formal brief of the bureau.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The salaries and related expenses of officers seconded to the bureau are paid for by the seconding countries. The remaining costs of the bureau —for example accommodation and equipment—come from the overall Interpol secretariat budget. It is not possible therefore readily to identify the total cost of the bureau. English, French, Spanish, Greek, Italian, German and Finnish are all covered within the bureau. The brief of the bureau is to resolve difficulties and improve co-operation, and to provide a liaison service to the European countries. The bureau also provides support to the Interpol European committee and the annual European regional conference.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, for the past five years (i) how many messages were handled by the United Kingdom national central bureau of Interpol per year and (ii) the annual maintenance costs of the United Kingdom national central bureau.
  92
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The number of messages handled by the United Kingdom national central bureau of Interpol in the last five years were:

  Number

  1987

  54,665

  1988

  59,081

  1989

  62,812

  1990

  63,483

  1991

  67,086

  The annual running costs for the United Kingdom national central bureau in the last five years were:

  £

  1987–88

  1,490,768

  1988–89

  1,538,949

  1989–90

  1,678,302

  1990–91

  1,836,588

  11991–92

  2,927,000

  1 The figure for 1991–92 is an estimate. It includes VAT for 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92 which had not been paid in earlier years.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans there are to establish computer linkages between the United Kingdom national central bureau and Interpol headquarters.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The automated search facility is being set up at Interpol headquarters in Lyon. This will have a selected data base of information of wanted persons and criminals of international importance which will be available to direct search from national central bureaux in member countries.

  Europol
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans there are to establish(a) a central computerised databank for Europol and (b) a data protection authority to monitor the use and collation of data by Europol.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Europol drugs unit will be the first element of Europol to be established and work is in hand to identify both the data requirements of the unit and any necessary equipment for the storage of data. The need for data protection is recognised and consideration is currently being given to the establishment of a data protection regime for the unit acceptable to the participating member states and capable of expansion to cover all aspects of Europol as the organisation develops.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if data held by Europol will be subject to the Council of Europe's recommendation R (87) 15 of 17 September 1987 relating to the use of personal data in the police sector.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The data protection regime for Europol is currently under consideration. The United Kingdom is fully involved in this work. We shall seek to ensure that the procedures adopted are consistent with the Data Protection Act 1984 and recommendation (87)15, subject only to the United Kingdom's reserves on articles 2.2 and 2.4 of that recommendation.

  Charities (Europe)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had and intends to have with representatives of voluntary organisations and the Charity Commission over the proposal by the European Commission for a statute for European associations.

  Mr. John Patten
  I understand that the Commission has approved proposals for a statute for European associations but that the texts have not yet been formally promulgated. My officials, and those of the Charity Commission, have had informal discussions on the draft proposals and we shall want to consult widely once we have the formal texts.

  Police Intelligence
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to establish a computer interface between the police national computer and the Schengen information system computer; when this will occur; and what elements of police intelligence will be exchanged between the systems.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  There are no such plans. The provision of a European information system was considered at the European Council at Maastricht in December 1991. The following extract from the conclusions of the European Council is relevant:"The European Council requests the Co-ordinators to examine what the structure of the European Information System should be and to take care that the technical and legal provisions—including the protection of personal privacy—are being taken to build the system. In view of the need for a speedy conclusion of these activities, it is desirable in the first place to establish whether the arrangements already existing between certain Member States may also apply to all the Member States."

  Motoring Fines
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total amount paid in fines in respect of motoring offences for the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available; and what was the amount paid in respect of fines for all other civil and criminal offences.

  Mr. John Patten
  The total income from fines, fees and fixed penalties collected by magistrates courts in England and Wales in 1990–91 was £269,088,000. Figures for motoring offences are not separately recorded.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes in the law he proposes to introduce to facilitate the consideration by magistrates courts of applications for liability orders in community charge proceeding.

  Mr. Portillo
  [pursuant to his answer, 28 January 1992 column 473]: To assist authorities further we are prepared to consider, in response to an application by an authority, granting an increase in its aggregate credit limit for 1992–93 to cover those unpaid 1990–91 community charges which it expects to collect during 1992–93. This is in recognition that some authorities may need a longer
  94
  period to recover uncollected 1990–91 charges, and will enable such an authority to continue to borrow to cover those debts until it collects them during the course of next year.

PRIME MINISTER

  Bromley
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Prime Minister if he has any plans to visit the London borough of Bromley.

  The Prime Minister
  I am making plans for a series of visits to all parts of the country and hope to include Kent among them.

  Underground Nuclear Explosions
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Prime Minister if a member of his foreign affairs staff attended the seminar on the detection and recognition of underground nuclear explosions held at the Geological Society, London, on 14 February; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Yes, along with experts from the Ministry of Defence seismological centre at Blacknest. We welcome opportunities for constructive discussion of these issues. The United Kingdom has, therefore, been participating actively in related work in the conference on disarmament in Geneva.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 18 February.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

  Constituencies
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the average constituency electorate in(a) Great Britain and (b) the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have been asked to reply.

  The United Kingdom constituencies with largest and smallest parliamentary electorates in 1991 were as follows:

  Number

  Largest

  Isle of Wight

  101,784

  Eastleigh

  91,871

  Huntingdon

  91,779

  East Hampshire

  91,519

  The Wrekin

  90,980

  Swindon

  90,343

  Smallest

  Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale

  39,608

  Glasgow Provan

  37,838

  Meirionnydd Nant Conwy

  32,754

  Orkney and Shetland

  31,355

  95

  Number

  Caithness and Sutherland

  31,120

  Western Isles

  23,073

  96
  The average parliamentary constituency electorates in 1991 were 66,908 in the United Kingdom and 66,915 in Great Britain (counting Milton Keynes as two constituencies in both cases). Corresponding information relating to the 1992 registers is not yet available.

TRANSPORT

  A40
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will install traffic lights on the A40 Green road roundabout, Headington, Oxford.

  Mr. Chope
  We intend to carry out during the 1992–93 financial year a substantial remodelling of the roundabout which should provide it with sufficient traffic capacity until our proposed major A40 Headington improvement scheme can be put in place. This does not involve the installation of traffic signals.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will hold a public inquiry with the A40 road proposals north of Headington.

  Mr. Chope
  A public inquiry for the proposed A40 Headington improvement will be held after publication of draft statutory orders if the draft orders are subject to objection.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish all environmental, financial and road traffic forecasts relevant to the A40 road proposals north of Oxford, including those relating to alternative options considered.

  Mr. Chope
  An environmental statement will be published for the A40 north of Oxford scheme when draft statutory orders are published. The statement will include reference to alternative options considered. Road traffic forecasts and estimated scheme costs will also be available at that stage.

  Road Planning
  Mr. Mudd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his Department's progress in reducing planning times for new roads, as recommended by the 15th report on road planning by the Committee of Public Accounts (Session 1988–89).

  Mr. Chope
  The Department has implemented several measures to reduce the planning time for new roads, including the streamlining of procedures and the introduction of new forms of contracts for consultants engaged in design. These have enabled the Department to meet its target, noted by the Committee of Public Accounts in 1989, of reaching public consultation within three years rather than five years of a decision to put a scheme into the road programme. The Department is now assessing ways in which the best project management practice of the private sector can be applied to further speed up progress on road schemes.

  Traffic Flows
  Mr. Mudd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the latest traffic flow figures for all links in the motorway network where the flows are in excess of 80,000 vehicles per day.

  Mr. Chope
  The latest figures from the national traffic census are as follows. Apart from the M25, these are approximate estimates derived from a single 12-hour count per link undertaken some time between 1985 and 1990.98

  Estimated daily flows for 1990(both directions combined)

  Road number

  Start junction

  End junction

  Daily flow thousands

  M1

  5

  6

  83

  M1

  7

  M25

  134

  M1

  8

  9

  131

  M1

  9

  10

  130

  M1

  10

  11

  106

  MI

  11

  12

  119

  M1

  12

  13

  104

  M1

  13

  14

  82

  M1

  16

  17

  95

  M 1

  17

  18

  81

  M1

  18

  19

  83

  M25

  2

  3

  87

  M25

  5

  6

  93

  M25

  6

  7

  99

  M25

  7

  8

  111

  M25

  8

  9

  106

  M25

  9

  10

  106

  M25

  10

  11

  128

  M25

  11

  12

  141

  M25

  12

  13

  143

  M25

  13

  14

  158

  M25

  14

  15

  147

  M25

  15

  16

  138

  M25

  16

  17

  122

  M25

  17

  18

  130

  M25

  18

  19

  129

  M25

  19

  20

  108

  M25

  20

  21

  115

  M25

  21

  22

  101

  M25

  22

  23

  109

  M25

  23

  24

  113

  M25

  24

  25

  104

  M25

  25

  26

  104

  M25

  26

  27

  96

  M25

  27

  28

  103

  M25

  28

  29

  86

  M27

  M275

  A27

  89

  M3

  2

  3

  94

  M3

  3

  4

  83

  M4

  2

  3

  94

  M4

  3

  4

  130

  M4

  4

  4B

  121

  M4

  4B

  5

  130

  M4

  5

  6

  120

  M4

  6

  7

  127

  M4

  7

  9

  106

  M4

  9

  10

  95

  M4

  10

  11

  95

  M4

  14

  15

  86

  M40

  1A

  2

  83

  M5

  1

  2

  81

  M5

  1

  M6

  87

  M56

  3

  4

  97

  M56

  4

  5

  112

  M56

  5

  6

  93

  M6

  2

  3

  92

  M6

  3

  4

  89

  M6

  4

  5

  85

  M6

  5

  6

  82

  M6

  6

  7

  117

  M6

  8

  9

  142

  M6

  10A

  11

  81

  M6

  13

  14

  86

  M6

  14

  15

  86

  M6

  16

  17

  98

  M6

  17

  18

  82

  M6

  18

  19

  80

  M6

  19

  20

  81

  M6

  20

  21

  99

  M6

  20

  M6/J9

  101

  M6

  21

  21A

  103

  M6

  22

  23

  80

  M6

  24

  25

  84

  M6

  31

  32

  84

  M62

  12

  13

  140

  99

  Road number

  Start junction

  End junction

  Daily flow thousands

  M62

  13

  14

  111

  M62

  15

  17

  118

  M62

  15

  M61

  105

  M62

  17

  18

  130

  M62

  18

  19

  99

  M62

  19

  20

  89

  M62

  26

  27

  90

  M63

  7

  8

  81

  M63

  10

  A560

  99

  M8

  11

  12

  81

  M8

  12

  15

  123

  M8

  15

  16

  134

  M8

  16

  18

  96

  M8

  18

  19

  83

  M8

  19

  20

  137

  M8

  22

  23

  101

  M8

  25

  26

  80

  A38M

  M6/J6

  Aston

  103

  A4OM

  M41

  A404

  87

  A6127

  A1058

  A187

  88

  Bridge, Portrack
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if it is his policy to maintain a high level bridge over the River Tees at Portrack following the permanent closing of the Cannon Park lifting bridge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  Yes we intend to maintain the trunk road high level bridge over the River Tees. The Cannon Park, Newport, lifting bridge is the responsibility of the local highway authority, Cleveland county council. It is our understanding that this bridge will remain open as a road bridge.

  Supplementary Grant Schemes
  Mr. Prescott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the expected level of expenditure on committed transport supplementary grant schemes in the years(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1995–96.

  Mr. Rifkind
  According to local highway authorities transport policies and programme submissions for 1992–93, the total figures forecast for major schemes accepted for transport supplementary grant are £466 million, £301 million and £136 million respectively.

  Diesel-powered Cars
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what initiatives his Department proposes to encourage greater use of diesel-powered cars.

  Mr. Chope
  There is less tax on diesel fuel than petrol. The greater fuel economy of diesel cars also acts as a considerable incentive to purchasers. The cost of adding catalysts to petrol cars will also reduce or remove their price advantage and provide a further incentive to the purchase of diesel cars.

  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the EC agreed standards of emissions of oxides of nitrogen from diesel-powered cars.

  Mr. Chope
  EC directive 91/441/EEC, which takes effect on all new cars sold from 31 December 1992, applies 100
  a single standard for the combined sum of hydrocarbons —HC—and oxides of nitrogen—NOx. The limit value for HC + NOx applicable to type-approval testing is 0·97g/km, and that for conformity of production testing is 1·13g/km. It does not differentiate between petrol and diesel cars in the application of this standard, except to allow a derogation up to 31 December 1994 for cars fitted with a diesel engine of the direct injection type, which may exceed the limit value by 40 per cent. The directive, which will mean that all new petrol-engined cars will have to be fitted with three-way catalysts, will make a substantial contribution to the Government's objective of improving local air quality.

  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice he has received concerning the role of the diesel-powered car in reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

  Mr. Chope
  The Government have been advised by the motor industry that a shift towards the greater use of diesel cars could offer immediate benefits in terms of carbon dioxide reduction in the order of 15 to 20 per cent. per vehicle. Diesel vehicles will, however, continue to produce higher emissions of particulates and are likely to offer less scope for reductions in NOx emissions than catalyst-equipped petrol cars.

  M3 Extension
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning the extension of the M3.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department has continued to receive representations both in support of and against the planned extension of the M3 around Winchester.

  "Buses Mean Business"
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what portion of the £10 million special funding from his Department for demonstration projects submitted in response to the "Buses Mean Business" report, announced on 16 December 1991, he intends to award to Scottish bus companies.

  Mr. Freeman
  The £10 million announced on 16 December 1991 is to fund specific English local authority bus priority schemes over the next two years. Bus priority schemes in Scotland are a matter for the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Traffic Flow, Leicestershire
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will supply traffic flow figures in both directions, and the dates for each census taken, for(a) the A47 between Houghton on the Hill and the beginning of Bushby, (b) the A47 between Bushby and Springfield lane, (c) Spencefield lane from the A47 to the Downing drive junction, (d) Spencefield lane from the Downing drive junction to Goodwood road/Marydene drive, (e) Spencefield lane from Marydene drive/Goodwood road junction to Church road, (f) High street/Evington lane to the Waterley road/Stoughton drive junction, (g) Stoughton drive from Evington lane to the roundabout on Gartree road, (h) Goodwood road from

  101
  the A47 to the junction of Spencefield lane, (i) Downing drive from the A47 to the junction at Spencefield lane and (j) Whitehall road from its junction at Spencefield lane to Ethel road.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 17 February 1992]: The traffic flows on the A47 trunk road between the city boundary and Houghton on the Hill are:

  (i) A47 at the junction with Downing drive on 12 June 1990—7 am to 7 pm

  6,950 vehicles travelling to Leicester

  6,724 vehicles travelling to Uppingham

  (ii) A47 near the junction with Station road on 26 June 1991—7 am to 7 pm

  6,122 vehicles travelling to Leicester

  6,772 vehicles travelling to Uppingham

  (iii) A47 at Bushby on 11 April 1991—7 am to 7 pm

  5,607 vehicles travelling to Leicester

  6,114 vehicles travelling to Uppingham

  (iv) A47 west of Bushby on 17 October 1991—7 am to 7 pm

  5,396 vehicles travelling to Leicester

  5,878 vehicles travelling to Uppingham

  The other traffic flow figures requested are on local roads for which Leicestershire county council, as the highway authority, is responsible.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the estimated increased traffic flow figures within the east of Leicester(a) upon completion of the Leicester western bypass, (b) one year after completion and (c) five years after completion.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 17 February 1992]: There is no forecast increase in traffic flows within the east of Leicester arising from the construction of the Leicester western bypass. Thereafter, traffic flows are expected to increase in line with national forecasts. However, in urban situations, other factors such as development proposals could influence future flows.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the estimated increased traffic flow figures along(a) the A47 towards Peterborough and (b) A6 Great Glen because of the completion of the Leicester western bypass.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 17 February 1992]: No increase in traffic flows along these roads is predicted as a rresult of Leicester western bypass.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will instruct Travers Morgan to extend its brief on the Leicester eastern bypass to include the Henwood proposals from the A46 north to the M1 south.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 17 February 1992]: No. The consultants' brief is to investigate possible routes to connect the A46 to the A6 to remove through traffic from the urban areas of Leicester. Traffic wishing to leave the A46 north of Leicester to join the M1 will use the Leicester western bypass when complete.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how predicted traffic flows on the Leicester eastern district distributor road would be affected if the Henwood proposals for a Leicester bypass were implemented.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 17 February 1992]: The prediction of traffic flows on the Leicester eastern district distributor road is a matter for the local highway authority, Leicestershire county council.
  102
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will carry out origin/destination surveys on traffic using(a) Spencefield lane, (b) Goodwood road, (c) Stoughton drive and (d) Stoughton drive south, in the city of Leicester.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 17 February 1992]: No. These roads are the responsibility of the local highway authority, Leicestershire county council.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will supply traffic flow figures in both directions and the dates for each census taken, for(a) the A6 between Stoughton road, Leicester and the race course, (b) the A6 between the race course and the traffic lights at New street, (c) the A6 between the traffic lights at New street and Great Glen, (d) Stoughton drive south, (e) from the traffic lights at New street on the A6 Oadby to Stoughton road/Gartree road junction and (f) Palmerston way between the race course roundabout and the Welford road.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 17 February 1992]: The traffic flows on the A6 trunk road between the city boundary and Great Glen are:

  (i) A6 with the junction of Victoria court, Oadby on 14 May 1991—(7 am to 7 pm)

  9,854 vehicles travelling to Great Glen

  9,981 vehicles travelling to Leicester

  (ii) A6 with the junction of New street, Oadby on 19 June 1990—(7 am to 7 pm)

  2,810 vehicles travelling to Great Glen

  4,235 vehicles travelling to Leicester

  (iii) A6 with the junction of Gorse lane on 27 June 1991 —(7 am to 7 pm)

  7,597 vehicles travelling to Great Glen

  7,943 vehicles travelling to Leicester

  The other traffic flow figures requested are on local roads for which Leicestershire county council, as the highway authority are responsible.

  Air Pollution, Oadby
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the present air pollution levels on the A6 at Oadby(a) at the race course roundabout and (b) at the Victoria Court flats; and by how much they are expected to increase if the Leicester eastern district distributor road is built.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 17 February 1992]: The information requested is not available.

  Tyres
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultation his Department had with the European Commission on tyre tread depth prior to the adoption of EC directive 89/459.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 11 February 1992]: The Department of Transport was consulted by the European Commission on tyre tread depth in 1986. The Department, which had recently carried out a review of the issue, reported that it was satisfied with the operation of the national laws then in force, and that the proposed change would not greatly benefit road safety while imposing an unacceptable increase in cost on the motorist.

  As my right hon. Friend the Member for Southend, West (Mr. Channon) reported to the House on 7 June 1989, Official Report, columns 142–43, the United

  103
  Kingdom voted against the measure, but it was adopted by other member states on the basis of qualified majority voting.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence he has on the effect of tyre tread depth on road safety and the number of accidents.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 11 February 1992]: Although it is recognised that an increase in legal tread depth brings about an all-round improvement in the condition of worn tyres on the road, research carried out to date has indicated that illegal tyre tread depth is a main contributory factor in less than 1 per cent. of accidents.

  Tyre tread depth differences in the range 1 to 2 mm would only make a significant difference to braking distances at speeds of 50 mph or more in wet weather on smooth surfaces. Only a very small proportion of accidents occur in these conditions.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Citizens Charter
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his Ministry's contribution to the citizens charter.

  Mr. Gummer
  Principles such as those in the citizens charter have particularly guided this Ministry's programme for the past two years. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the establishment of the food safety directorate, the consumer panel, regular meetings with consumer organisations, and the announcement of a review of flood defence and coastal protection with those concerned, including environmental organisations.

  As I indicated on appointment, this is a consumer Ministry. I have already announced the restructuring of our regional organisation to make it more effective in meeting the requirements of one important group of customers.

  The citizens charter principles will be taken forward in the Ministry and its agencies.

  Bananas
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what are the implications for African, Caribbean and Pacific countries' bananas of the compromise text on agriculture in the GATT negotiations put forward on 20 December 1991;

  (2) what account he took of the banana protocol of the Lomé convention in considering the draft compromise for the final agreement on the GATT-Uruguay round of negotiations put forward on 20 December 1991;

  (3) what changes have taken place in Government policy with regard to the United Kingdom's traditional banana suppliers in the Caribbean since the commitments made by the former Prime Minister in Jamaica in 1987.

  Mr. Curry
  The draft text circulated by the GATT Director General on 20 December 1991 covered all products. It remains under negotiation and it is at present not clear what final agreement may be reached, nor whether the Community will wish to deal with bananas on the same basis as other products. The impact of tariffication on ACP banana industries would depend on the size of any tariffs proposed and on the precise terms of 104
  any provisions for maintaining current access opportunities. We remain committed to fulfilling our obligations under the Lomé convention and to bringing the GATT round to an early and successful conclusion.

  Fish (Intervention Scheme)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on the withdrawal of the intervention scheme as it relates to fish.

  Mr. Curry
  The withdrawal arrangements are a permanent and integral feature of the basic Community marketing regime for fish.

  Water Quality
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 3 February,Official Report, column 80, regarding the implementation of EC directive 91/492/EC, if he will specify the date on which he expects the classification work to be completed.

  Mr. Curry
  Under EC directive 91/492/EEC, classification of shellfish harvesting areas must be operative by 1 January 1993. I appreciate that shellfish producers will need the longest possible warning of the likely classifications, and we will publish results at the earliest possible date.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Malawi
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all current bilateral aid contracts between the United Kingdom and Malawi.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Current bilateral aid agreements between Britain and Malawi are as follows:

  General Agreements (governing the provision of capital aid and technical co-operation):-

  1974 Technical Co-operation Memorandum of Understanding

  1983 Grant Agreement

  1986 Grant Agreement

  Specific Project Agreements (by sector):-

  Natural Resources

  Mulanje-Thalombe Fish Farm

  Traditional Fisheries

  Demersal Fisheries

  Likoma/Chizimuli Fisheries

  Forestry Research Institute

  Assistance to the Forestry Department

  Biological Control of Aphids

  Macadamia Nut Research

  Tea Research

  Estates Extension Service

  Water Hyacinth Control

  CTVM/DAHI Veterinary Project

  Livestock Disease Evaluation

  Education

  Technical Colleges

  Distance Education College

  Secondary School Teachers

  University of Malawi (Civil and Mechanical Engineering Faculties)

  105

  Computer Science

  Data Processing

  Health

  College of Medicine

  Onchocerciasis Research

  Contraceptive Commodities

  Transport

  Malawi Railways Phase II

  Nacala Emergency Support

  Lilongwe—Salima Road

  Chilumba/Dwongwa Porels

  Landrover Rehabilitation Phase III

  Water

  Blantyre Water Board

  Lilongwe Water Board

  Districts Water Appraisal

  Miscellaneous

  Malawi Law Reports

  Assistance to City Councils

  Ministry of Community Services

  Social Dimensions of Adjustment

  Programme Aid Agreements:-

  1989 Programme Aid Grant

  1990 Programme Aid Grant

  1991 Programme Aid Grant (pending signature)

  "World Rainforest Report"
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will obtain for the library of the Overseas Development Administration a subscription to the "World Rainforest Report", published by the World Rainforest Movement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The library of the Overseas Development Administration already subscribes to this publication.

  Environmental Appraisal
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many copies of the Overseas Development Administration's manual of environmental appraisal have been produced; and to which organisations the manual has been distributed.

  Mrs. Chalker
  [holding answer 14 February 1992]: More than 1,800 copies of the manual have been produced; a list of the organisations the manual has been distributed to has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Energy Grants
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what grants have been made by his Department's Overseas Development Administration since 1979 to support (i) energy efficiency, (ii) nuclear power and (iii) pollution abatement in industrially developing nations.

  Mrs. Chalker
  [holding answer 14 February 1992]: I have placed in the Libraries of the House lists of grants funded by the Overseas Development Administration from 1980 to 1990 in the fields of energy efficiency and pollution abatement. No grants in the nuclear power sector were made. Records available, which cover capital grants for the whole period and technical co-operation grants from 1988 only, show that during the period a total of approximately £26 million has been spent on pollution abatement projects and approximately £234 million on energy efficiency-related projects.

HEALTH

  Ear, Nose and Throat Operations
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in reducing the waiting time for ear, nose and throat operations in the past 12 months.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The latest information shows that in the year to March 1991 the number of patients waiting over two years for ENT treatments fell by 50 per cent. and the number waiting over one year by 24 per cent.

  Extra-contractual Referrals
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the system of extra-contractual referrals as a means of ensuring patient choice and general practitioner freedom of referral.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I am satisfied that extra contractual referrals are working effectively in dealing with smaller patient flows. Expenditure on extra contractual referrals is running in line with plan.

  Hilda Lewis House
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had about the proposed closure of Hilda Lewis house; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Bethlem Royal hospital and the Maudsley hospital special health authority has decided to restructure the services for children with both learning difficulties and behavioural problems which it currently provides at Hilda Lewis house. This will better enable the authority to fulfil its key role in postgraduate research and teaching. The authority is best placed to make this kind of decision about its strategic priorities, which it has also discussed with the NHS management executive.

  Bloomsbury and Islington Health Authority
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received concerning possible trust status for any part of the Bloomsbury and Islington health authority.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We have received an expression of interest in trust status from April 1993 from the Whittington and Royal Northern hospitals. We have received an application from the Royal London homoeopathic hospital, which is resubmitting from the second wave. We have also received an expression of interest from St. Peter's, St. Paul's, St. Philip's and the Shaftesbury hospitals, which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not approved to make an application.

  Patients Charter
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what waiting list targets have been set under the patients charter.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  From 1 April 1992, the patients charter guarantees that no patient will wait more
  107
  than two years for treatment. The charter also requires health authorities to set and publish clear local standards for waiting time for first out-patient appointments.

  National Health Service Trusts
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress by national health service hospital trusts.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Recently my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced that 99 hospitals and other units will be established in the second wave of national health service trusts in April 1992, while four London teaching hospitals will become operational as trusts in April 1993.

  To date, 153 hospitals and other units have indicated that they may apply to become trusts in April 1993. If all these were to be successful, two thirds of national health service hospitals and other units would be operating as national health service trusts.

  First-wave national health service trusts across the country have already made significant improvements in the care they can offer their patients.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in the first wave of trust hospitals how many executive directors were appointed following advertisements and competitive interviews and how many were appointed without competition; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not collected centrally. The appointment of executive directors is a matter for the National Health Service Trust Board in accordance with the National Health Service Trusts (Membership and Procedure) Regulations and the Department's guidance which states that the post of chief executive must be advertised except when the trust is first established.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been his Department's total expenditure to date on the introduction of national health service trusts.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Figures are not available, but the cost is not significant and will be more than offset by the improvements in efficiency in delivering the service.

  General Practitioner Contracts
  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the general practitioner contract.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The general practitioner contract has revolutionised primary health care. As a direct result of this initiative, general practitioners all over the country now offer patients a wider range of services than ever before and patient satisfaction levels are high.

  Surgeries now offer more preventive care and give special emphasis to vulnerable patients like young children and the elderly.

  These improvements amply illustrate the very positive impact of the general practitioner contract, and the Government's commitment to improving the health of the whole population.

  Pain Relief
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve and extend the relief of pain.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The provision of services for the diagnosis and relief of pain is a matter for individual health authorities to determine.

  Electoral Registration
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the total number of electors registered for England and Wales for 1992–93; and what is the equivalent relevant population of those who are entitled to register.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The size of the 1992 electoral register is not yet known. It is estimated that there were about 40.4 million residents of England and Wales at mid-1991 old enough to be included on this register.

  Mersey RHA
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he plans to meet the chairman of the Mersey regional health authority to discuss changes planned in national health service provision.

  Mr. Dorrell
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets regional chairmen on a regular basis. A wide range of topics on the national health service are discussed at these meetings.

  Social Services
  Mr. James Lamond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response he intends to make to the policy forum report on spending on social services.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Local authorities have a challenging job to provide services which are flexible, comprehensive and sensitive to the needs of users and carers. Our record which has seen personal social services spending increase by nearly 60 per cent. in real terms since 1978–79 shows that we are committed to providing local authorities with the resources to do so.

  NHS Charges
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued to health authorities regarding the imposition of charges on NHS patients.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  National health services must be free except where charging is expressly provided for by legislation. The chief executive reminded health service managers of this on 24 October 1991.

  GP Lists
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average number of patients on each general practitioner's list(a) in 1978 and (b) in 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The average list size fell from 2,312 in October 1978 to 1,942 in October 1990—a reduction of 16 per cent.

  The latest available information held centrally shows that the average list size at 1 April 1991 was 1,917, a further reduction of 1·3 per cent.

  GP Fund Holders
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what independent reports have been issued about the progress of general practitioner fund holding.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Kings Fund report on GP fund holding—"A Foothold for Fundholding"—was published on 11 February and a copy is available in the Library. We welcome this first piece of independent, academic research undertaken by Professor Howard Glennerster of the London School of Economics which shows that GP fund holding is proving to be a clear success and, most importantly, working to the benefit of patients.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 30 January,Official Report, column 668, what proportion of the general practitioner fund holders' budget for hospital services is spent outside the NHS.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Organ Retrievals
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the United Kingdom transplant authority and regional health authorities about improving organ retrieval rates.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We are constantly looking at ways to improve organ retrieval rates through our regular contacts with people from a wide range of interested bodies including health authorities and the United Kingdom Transplant Support Service Authority. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State discussed this issue during a recent visit to the UKTSSA.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what actions have been announced under the waiting list initiative.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I have made four announcements which have given fresh impetus to our continued drive to reduce long waiting time.

  First, at the start of the financial year, I announced a waiting list fund of £35 million to be used to help health authorities reduce long waiting times. A proportion of this money has been targeted at the 80 worst lists.

  Secondly, in October last year, I announced publication of the patients charter, which, for the first time, gives patients a guarantee that, from 1 April 1992, they will not wait more than two years for treatment.

  Thirdly, on 3 December, I announced the appointment of an experienced NHS general manager, backed by an additional £2 million, to help health authorities eliminate over two year waiters. Since then we have been able to provide a further £2 million, bringing the total waiting list fund this year to £39 million.

  Finally, on 10 February, I announced that we would be providing a further £39 million waiting list fund for next year, taking the total which the Government will have provided between 1987–88 and 1992–93 to nearly £200 million.

  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about hospital waiting lists in the northern area.
  110
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Waiting times in the northern region continue to fall. The latest provisional figures show that since March 1991 the number of patients waiting over two years has fallen by 60 per cent. and the number waiting over one year by 15 per cent. In line with the patients charter, the region expects to have no patient waiting over two years by 31 March 1992.

  Disabled People (Legislation)
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress in implementing the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Most of the major provisions of the Act have now been implemented, bringing substantial benefits to disabled people and their carers.

  Northern General Hospital (Red Alerts)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in how many cases during the month of January was there a red alert in the Northern general hospital.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not collected centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Beverley Stokes, the chairman of the Northern general hospital national health service trust, for details.

  National Health Service
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what are the existing requirements to provide evidence of entitlement to hospital treatment under the national health service to prevent fraudulent applications by foreign nationals and others who have not contributed financially by means of national health insurance payments; if he will review the effectiveness and fairness of the present arrangements; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what information is a prospective patient required to supply when seeking hospital treatment under the national health service to satisfy the admission staff that he or she is entitled to treatment free at the point of delivery.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Eligibility to free hospital treatment is based on residence in the United Kingdom, not on the payment of national insurance contributions or taxes. Anyone not ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom has to pay for national health service hospital treatment unless he or she is covered by one of a number of specific exemptions.

  Guidance issued by the Department makes it clear that, when there is doubt about eligibility, hospital staff should ask for evidence to support a claim to exemption from charging. The information prospective patients are required to supply will vary according to the type of exemption that applies.

  Health Authorities (Non-executive Directors)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many chairmen and non-executive directors of district health authorities and family health service authorities do not reside within the boundaries of the authorities to which they have been appointed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not held centrally. We seek to appoint all chairmen of district
  111
  health authorities and family health services authorities who live or work in the area covered by the authority to which they have been appointed.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what payments may be made to non-executive directors of health authorities, family health services authorities and hospital trusts in addition to the annual remuneration of £5,000; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The non-executives of NHS authorities and trusts are entitled to travelling and subsistence expenses in addition to annual remuneration of £5,000.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the differences between the responsibilities of the members of district health authorities and family health service authorities prior to appointment of the non-executive directors and those who currently hold office; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Non-executives of the new, streamlined authorities are part of a smaller management board which focuses on issues of overall strategy, policy and direction.

  Cervical Smears
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average time taken by laboratories to process cervical smears; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information is not available in the form requested. Health authorities must aim to return the results of cervical smear tests to the doctor who undertook them within one month. In December 1990 about two thirds of health authorities were meeting the one month target. As at December 1991, the latest available date, more than 96 per cent. of health authorities were meeting this target. The average processing time in those districts which were failing to meet this target was six weeks.

  Childhood Vaccination
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many yellow card reports of an adverse reaction to childhood vaccination or immunisation were received in the last year for which figures are available; and how many children died.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  In 1991 there were 483 reports of suspected adverse reactions in association with immunisation of children up to the age of 16. A report of a suspected adverse reaction does not necessarily imply a causal association between the reaction, the outcome and the vaccine. Nine of those reports were deaths: research from several recent studies has shown such deaths to be temporally but not causally related to immunisation.

  Cervical Cancer
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated annual cost of the cervical cancer screening programme.
  112
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There is no reliable current estimate of the annual cost of the cervical screening programme. The cervical screening programme is an integral part of NHS disease prevention activity and the time and resources used to take and process smears cannot be separately identified. Payments made to GPs in connection with the target payment scheme for cervical screening are provisionally estimated to be £48·9 million in England in 1990–91.

  Breast Cancer
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated annual cost of the breast screening programme.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Government allocated £55 million for England—£70 million for the United Kingdom—between 1987–88 and 1990–91 to establish the breast screening programme and to contribute towards ongoing costs. In 1990–91 running costs for the breast screening programme amounted to £24 million in England. In 1991–92 the running costs are estimated to be £24·5 million in England.

  NHS Expenditure
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish figures for each district health authority showing their revenue and capital allocations for NHS review expenditure in 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish table 3 of Cm 1913 adjusted for input unit costs.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested for the hospital and community health services—HCHS—family health services and for the health service as a whole for the years 1986–87 and 1990–91 is given in the table. Information is not available in this form for other parts of the programme or for later years.

  This information measures changes in total inputs at constant factor cost but ignores the continuing success of the national health service in increasing the efficiency with which it uses resources. Therefore, in order to give a complete picture, figures adjusted by the GDP deflator have also been included.

  Since it has not been possible to adjust these figures for certain review-related changes, figures for 1991–92 onwards are not directly comparable with those for earlier years. The main points are:

  i. Sums provided for trust debt remuneration are included in HCHS current in 1991–92 and 1992–93;

  ii. Trusts' capital financed via health authorities' payments for services is included in HCHS current for 1991–92 and 1992–93;

  iii. GP fund holders' expenditure on drugs is included in HCHS current in 1991–92 only.

  Further explanation is given in paragraph 3.4 of the departmental report and other tables, for example, table 9 which gives the full picture of HCHS capital spending.
  113

  Expenditure figures as they appear in table 3 of Cm 1913 adjusted for changes in input unit costs and by the GDP deflator (all at 1990–91 prices)

  £ million

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  NHS hospital, community health, family health (cash limited) and related services:

  Current expenditure

  Adjusted for change in input unit cost

  Gross

  14,977

  15,251

  15,311

  15,329

  16,081

  1—

  1—

  Net

  14,540

  14,818

  14,876

  14,873

  15,590

  1—

  1—

  Adjusted by GDP deflator

  Gross

  14,178

  14,857

  15,377

  15,483

  16,081

  17,098

  18,091

  Net

  13,764

  14,434

  14,940

  15,022

  15,590

  16,643

  17,678

  Capital expenditure

  Adjusted for change in input unit cost

  Gross

  1,423

  1,425

  1,450

  1,591

  1,555

  1—

  1—

  Net

  1,221

  1,166

  1,110

  1,332

  1,377

  1—

  1—

  Adjusted by the GDP deflator

  Gross

  1,372

  1,369

  1,376

  1,548

  1,555

  1,536

  1,368

  Net

  1,178

  1,121

  1,054

  1,296

  1,377

  1,338

  1,189

  NHS family health services (non cash limited) current/total expenditure

  Adjusted for change in input unit cost

  Gross

  5,146

  5,323

  5,489

  5,470

  5,304

  1—

  1—

  Net

  4,593

  4,763

  4,891

  4,807

  4,690

  1—

  1—

  Adjusted by the GDP deflator

  Gross

  4,740

  4,976

  5,261

  5,219

  5,304

  5,424

  5,567

  Net

  4,231

  4,452

  4,688

  4,587

  4,690

  4,805

  4,930

  Total health services

  Current expenditure

  Adjusted for change in input unit cost

  Gross

  20,777

  21,223

  21,400

  21,436

  22,017

  1—

  1—

  Net

  19,774

  20,218

  20,364

  20,317

  20,889

  1—

  1—

  Adjusted by the GDP deflator

  Gross

  19,524

  20,446

  21,216

  21,314

  22,017

  23,239

  24,395

  Net

  18,581

  19,477

  20,189

  20,201

  20,889

  22,136

  23,313

  Capital expenditure

  Adjusted for change in input unit cost

  Gross

  1,474

  1,454

  1,487

  1,621

  1,603

  1—

  1—

  Net

  1,273

  1,193

  1,121

  1,361

  1,425

  1—

  1—

  Adjusted by the GDP deflator

  Gross

  1,422

  1,398

  1,411

  1,577

  1,603

  1,621

  1,529

  Net

  1,227

  1,147

  1,064

  1,325

  1,425

  1,423

  1,350

  Total expenditure

  Adjusted for change in input unit cost

  Gross

  22,271

  22,696

  22,908

  23,064

  23,620

  1—

  1—

  Net

  21,061

  21,429

  21,517

  21,688

  22,314

  1—

  1—

  Adjusted by the GDP deflator

  Gross

  20,945

  21,843

  22,628

  22,891

  23,620

  24,860

  25,924

  Net

  19,808

  20,624

  21,253

  21,526

  22,314

  23,559

  24,663

  1— Estimates are not made for changes in input unit cost until the financial year has ended.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of courses of treatment for adults by the general dental services in each year since 1978–79.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Number of adult courses of treatment in the general dental services 1978 to 1991–921

  England

  Year

  Adult courses of treatment

  1978

  17,021,610

  1979

  17,351,250

  1980

  18,599,830

  1981

  18,975,130

  114

  Year

  Adult courses of treatment

  1982

  19,724,540

  1983

  20,316,210

  1984

  20,864,560

  1985–86

  21,338,100

  1986–87

  21,961,680

  1987–88

  22,394,600

  1988–89

  24,026,520

  1989–90

  22,809,160

  1990–91

  22,539,686

  1991–922

  23,400,000

  1 Prior to 1985–86 information was held by calendar year.

  2 Forecast for the year based on data up to the end of January 1992.

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase national health service prescription charges.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Mr. Evans) on 13 February, at columns 603–4.

  Private Care Homes
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what instructions were given to health authority inspection and registration officers with regard to their role in(a) monitoring whether residents in private nursing homes require such care and are also receiving it, and (b) liaison with Benefits Agency staff concerning the circumstances of those residents in receipt of income support payments towards their care home fee.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Under the Registered Homes Act 1984, health authorities have a general duty to ensure that the level of care provided is sufficient to meet the needs of individual patients.

  National Health Service health visitors1 4 as at 30 September for each year England by regional health authorities

  Whole-time equivalent2

  Region

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Northern Regional Health Authority

  690

  680

  700

  690

  690

  Yorkshire Regional Health Authority

  740

  800

  810

  840

  820

  Trent Regional Health Authority

  960

  960

  950

  990

  1,010

  East Anglia Regional Health Authority

  370

  380

  380

  390

  360

  North West Thames Regional Health Authority

  810

  810

  790

  800

  790

  North East Thames Regional Health Authority

  740

  770

  720

  740

  770

  South East Thames Regional Health Authority

  830

  760

  770

  3340

  750

  South West Thames Regional Health Authority

  640

  640

  650

  650

  650

  Wessex Regional Health Authority

  610

  590

  600

  610

  640

  Oxford Regional Health Authority

  560

  570

  560

  570

  560

  South Western Regional Health Authority

  680

  700

  680

  640

  690

  West Midlands Regional Health Authority

  1,120

  1,110

  1,070

  1,130

  1,100

  Mersey Regional Health Authority

  500

  500

  520

  550

  520

  North Western Regional Health Authority

  1,170

  1,100

  1,120

  1,120

  1,120

  ENGLAND TOTAL

  10,430

  10,360

  10,340

  310,050

  10,470

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

  1 Excludes senior nurses grades 1 to 8 in Health Visiting service, including Health Visitors, Health Visitor field work teachers, school Health Visitors, TB Visitors with Health Visitor certificates, Bank Health Visitors and dual/triple posts (HV/DN/MID). From 1989 includes clinical grades G to I in Health Visiting. Excludes Health Visitor students.

  2 All figures are independently rounded to the nearest ten (10) whole-time equivalent.

  3 Understated figures due to errors in occupation coding at South East Thames region.

  4 Health Visitors are defined by occupation code. Apparent changes in staffing levels may well be the result of changes in coding accuracy.

  National Health Service school nurses1 3 as at 30 September for each year England by regional health authorities

  Whole-time equivalent2

  Region

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Northern Regional Health Authority

  220

  220

  220

  210

  200

  Yorkshire Regional Health Authority

  190

  200

  200

  200

  190

  Trent Regional Health Authority

  340

  320

  300

  310

  290

  East Anglia Regional Health Authority

  70

  80

  80

  90

  90

  North West Thames Regional Health Authority

  200

  200

  210

  210

  210

  North East Thames Regional Health Authority

  170

  210

  230

  230

  230

  South East Thames Regional Health Authority

  210

  190

  140

  4120

  200

  South West Thames Regional Health Authority

  150

  140

  140

  130

  120

  Wessex Regional Health Authority

  120

  120

  120

  120

  120

  Oxford Regional Health Authority

  100

  110

  110

  120

  120

  South Western Regional Health Authority

  140

  150

  140

  120

  120

  West Midlands Regional Health Authority

  310

  320

  320

  330

  330

  Geriatric Patients
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the latest estimate for the average weekly cost per patient of geriatric in-patient care.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Financial returns submitted to the Department by district health authorities in England for 1990–91 indicate the average treatment cost per geriatric in-patient to be £53 per day. This figure excludes the cost of support services and accommodation, and is provisional at this stage.

  School Nurses and Health Visitors
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each of the last five years for each NHS region the number of(a) school nurses and (b) health visitors.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 7 February 1992]: The information requested is shown in the tables. The fluctuations in numbers reflects the substantial growth in family practitioner services. The number of general practitioners has increased by 20 per cent. since 1979. The wider range of primary care services available to children and their parents has led many health authorities to review the role of their community child health services and redirect resources towards children with special needs.
  117

  Region

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Mersey Regional Health Authority

  210

  210

  200

  190

  190

  North Western Regional Health Authority

  300

  250

  260

  230

  240

  ENGLAND TOTAL

  2,730

  2,720

  2,650

  42,590

  2,660

  Source: Department of Health (SM 13) annual census of National Health Service non-medical manpower.

  1 Excludes special school and school Health Visitors.

  2 All figures are independently rounded to the nearest ten (10) whole-time equivalent.

  3 School nurses are defined by occupation code. Apparent changes in staffing levels may well be the result of changes in coding accuracy.

  4 Understated figures due to errors in occupation coding at South East Thames region.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  HIV
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how payments for persons infected with HIV as a result of an NHS blood transfusion or tissue transfer will be treated for the purposes of social security benefits; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  They will be treated in the same way as payments made to haemophiliacs under the Macfarlane Trusts. That is to say, they will be fully disregarded in the income-related benefits and exempted from the scheme to recover sums equivalent to the value of social security benefits from compensation payments. The confidentiality of beneficiaries will also be protected by making it unnecessary for them to report the receipt of any payment to a social security office or a local authority.

  We will introduce the necessary amending regulations as soon as possible.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Assisted Places
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average annual cost of maintaining a pupil in a private school under the assisted places scheme.

  Mr. Fallon
  The average cost to the Exchequer of an assisted place in the school year 1990–91, the latest year for which complete information is available, was £2,691.

  Secondary Education
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the 1991–92 cost to public funds of the education of a pupil in a local authority secondary school and in a secondary school which has opted out of local authority control.

  Mr. Eggar
  The funding of grant-maintained schools comprises a number of elements. The largest element, annual maintenance grant (AMG), broadly reflects the recurrent funds which the former maintaining local education authority of the school would have deployed in support of the school had it remained local education authority-maintained. Other grants to grant-maintained schools reflect the types of provision which local education authority schools receive in cash or in kind.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will indicate the reasons for the variation in the provision for access funds in 1993–94 118
  and 1994–95, relative to 1992–93, in table 1 of his departmental report on the Government's expenditure plans, Cm 1911.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The figures in the departmental report are based on the initial planned GB provision for access funds of some £15 million each year. Provision for the years 1990–91 to 1992–93 was subsequently increased. Provision for 1993–94 and 1994–95 will be reviewed in this year's public expenditure survey.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the assumptions on which the projected expenditure on student loans for 1992–93, 1993–94 and 1994–95 are based in table 1 of his departmental report on the Government's expenditure plans, Cm 1911.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  As the departmental report makes clear, student loans will continue to be available for all eligible students who apply for them. The level of expenditure on loans will depend on the level of demand and the rates and conditions of loans prescribed in the statutory regulations for each year.

  Table 1 in Cm 1911 sets out planned public expenditure provision for the years 1992–93, 1993–94 and 1994–95. The plans for future years will be reviewed in successive public expenditure surveys. The assumptions underlying the figures in table 1 include the following:

  (i) Average student support from basic maintenance grant (disregarding any parental contribution) and loan will rise in line with the GDP deflator assumptions for the years in question;

  (ii) The number of students eligible for loans will rise in line with the projected increase in the number of mandatory award holders, as shown in table 20 of the departmental report;

  (iii) Take-up of the available loan facility will be 35 per cent. in each of the academic years 1991–92 and 1992–93, 45 per cent. in the academic year 1993–94 and 55 per cent. in the academic year 1994–95. Take-up in the academic year 1990–91 was some 28 per cent.;

  (iv) 10 per cent. of borrowers will not have to repay their loans, because their income will never reach the deferment threshold; and

  (v) 10 per cent. of the remaining 90 per cent. of borrowers will not repay their loans because they default or because their liability is cancelled on death. This is a cautious planning assumption. The Student Loans Company will pursue defaulters vigorously.

  Experience in the academic year 1990–91 demonstrated how difficult it is to predict exactly what the ultimate level of take-up will be. If the above assumptions over-estimate demand, any excess provision will be surrendered to the Consolidated Fund. If, on the other hand, demand exceeds the level of provision, additional funds will be provided from the reserve. The reserve is the amount within the planning total which provides a margin for uncertainties or—as in this case—for revised estimates of demand.

  Key Stage 1 Assessment
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the cost of the two-year evaluation of key stage 1 assessment, undertaken by the university of Leeds; and if he will publish the reports of the evaluation.

  Mr. Eggar
  The cost of this work has been £512,000 to December 1991. The School Examinations and Assessment Council will publish a final report shortly.

  Teachers' Pensions Agency
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has made a decision on the establishment of the teachers' pensions agency under the "next steps" initiative.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have decided to establish the teachers' pensions agency with effect from 1 April 1992. The agency will be located in Darlington.

  A framework document setting out the organisational, financial and management structure under which the agency will operate will be published at that time. The performance targets which I will set the agency will also be published.

  Circular 22/89
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he plans to issue the addendum to circular 22/89.

  Mr. Fallon
  My right hon. and learned Friend expects to issue the addendum to circular 22/89 in the near future.

  Teaching Staff, Northumberland
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of(a) teachers, (b) non-teaching and staff and (c) administrative staff employed in Northumberland county council.

  Mr. Fallon
  The number of teachers employed in nursery, primary and secondary schools in Northumberland education authority in January 1991 was 2,736. Data on education support staff and administrative staff employed in schools were collected for the first time in January 1991 but are not yet available for publication. Information on other categories of non-teaching staff in schools is not collected centrally. The Department does not collect data on administrative staff employed in Northumberland county council.

  Basic Need Criteria
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish the Department's criteria which(a) a secondary school and (b) a primary school has to meet in order to qualify as a basic need case.

  Mr. Fallon
  Basic need is defined as the net deficit of places after account is taken of demand for, and places available, in all maintained primary schools within two miles and all maintained secondary schools within three miles, of the school at which it is intended that new places be added.

  This was set out in full in my Department's letter of 30 May 1991, which invited LEAs to bid for annual capital
  120
  guidelines and voluntary school capital allocations. That letter and a subsequent letter of 19 August 1991 made clear that basic need bids in 1992–93 should be for deficits of places in 1994–95 in primary schools and 1995–96 in secondary schools. It was also made clear that in assessing the availability of places in neighbouring schools, LEAs' calculations should be based on whichever was the higher of the schools' capacity or their numbers on roll in September 1992.

  We are currently reviewing our basic need definitions, as we do each year in advance of the publication of the capital bidding letter. We shall take account of representations received on our methodology from LEAs and others. We have also announced that we are consulting local authority associations, voluntary bodies and grant-maintained schools on a change in our capital allocations methodology which would allow popular schools to expand notwithstanding the existence of spare places in other maintained schools in the area.

  DNA Research
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide not less than an extra £2 million per year for the Medical Research Council to cover the British contribution to the second stage of sequencing the DNA of the nematode Caenorhabditis Elegas.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. and learned Friend and I are in touch with the chairman and secretary of the council on this issue. In this financial year the allocation to the council from this Department's science budget will total almost £203 million. The 1992–93 allocations announced in December will raise that sum to almost £219 million, excluding money transferred from the universities following changes in the dual support arrangements. This represents a 4 per cent. real terms increase on this year's funding and a 32 per cent. increase since 1979–80. It is for the council to decide on the deployment of these funds.

EMPLOYMENT

  Unemployment
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were registered as unemployed on(a) 1 January 1987 and (b) 1 January in the current year.

  Mr. Jackson
  In January 1987, on the consistent seasonally adjusted basis, there were 3,042,600 unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom, compared with 2,604,100 in January 1992—a fall of 438,500, or 14 per cent.

  Training Costs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has(a) to extend his proposals for new employers to obtain redress in respect of training investment by employees' previous employers to situations where companies are purchased by companies owned by foreign governments and (b) to apply the proposals retrospectively.

  Mr. Jackson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Maryhill (Mrs. Fyfe) on 14 February 1992 at column 652–53.

  Jobs and Benefits Centre, Thornaby
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress is being made with the provision of a new integrated jobs and benefits centre in Thornaby; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Strikes
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average number of days lost through strikes each year between 1974 and 1979 and between 1986 and 1991.

  Mr. Forth
  There were an average of 12.2 million working days lost each year between 1974 and 1979. That is nearly five times higher than the annual average between 1986 and 1991, which was 2·7 million days lost.

  Training Allowances
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people are currently on youth training places; what are the current rates of allowances paid to 16 and 17-year-olds; when those rates were last increased; and what would be the value in 1992 prices of the original level of allowance paid in 1978.

  Mr. Jackson
  At 5 January 1992, the latest date for which information is available, it is estimated that there were 270,600 young people on youth training in England and Wales. The current minimum levels of the training allowance are £29·50 per week for 16-year-olds, and £35 per week for 17-year-olds. Those minimum levels of allowance were introduced in July 1988 and April 1986 respectively. Employers are strongly encouraged to supplement those allowances, and many of them do—and around one third of trainees are employed and receive a wage. The value of the original level of allowance payable in 1978 at 1992 prices is £52·89 per week.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to improve the level of training allowances for youth training.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Department has no plans at present to increase minimum levels of the youth training allowance. We believe that the existing minimum levels are sufficient to meet the normal requirements of a young person living in the parental home. Trainees living independently are free to apply for income support over and above youth training minimum allowances if they consider that their income is insufficient to meet their needs. Employers, as the beneficiaries of YT, are encouraged to supplement trainee incomes. Around one third of trainees are employed and receive a wage.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  BT Engineer's Responsibilities
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the chairman of the Administration Committee if he will list the responsibilities of the British Telecom engineer based at 3 Deans yard.
  122
  Mr. Orme
  I shall ask the Serjeant at Arms to write to the hon. Member.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Deregulation Initiative
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the progress of the deregulation initiative.

  Mr. Redwood
  The deregulation initiative ensures close scrutiny of new and existing regulation and of compliance costs for business. Minimising the cost of regulation for business remains central to the Government's programme to create the conditions to promote prosperity.

  In the past 12 months, Government Departments have targeted attention on certain outdated or burdensome requirements which business has identified as causing difficulty. This has yielded a number of improvements in the regulatory environment. Further requirements have been targeted for attention in the 12 months ahead.

  The central deregulation unit in my Department continues to support the initiative as a whole by taking the lead on certain general issues, and by continuing to work with business to identify regulatory burdens and to co-operate with Departments to achieve good deregulatory outcomes on particular issues.

  The programme of work includes action in the following areas:

  Continuing development and evaluation of disciplines and techniques for assessing compliance costs to business and securing good regulatory practice across Whitehall (Deregulation Unit, Department of Trade and Industry and other Government Departments)

  New

  — to prepare guidance and training on good regulatory practice for use in Departments of State (Deregulation Unit)

  —to begin a three year review programme of all existing Central Statistical Office enquiries (Central Statistical Office)

  Promotion of good regulatory practice in the European Community (Deregulation Unit, Department of Trade and Industry)

  Ongoing

  — to improve evaluation of EC legislation in compliance with the Maastricht declaration, including pressing for better compliance cost assessment and earlier and more comprehensive consultation of business (Deregulation Unit, Department of Trade and Industry and other Government Departments)

  — to mobilise business and official opinion in other Member States (Deregulation Unit, Department of Trade and Industry)

  Local authority regulation of business

  Ongoing

  — to evaluate local authority enforcement of regulation

  — to improve consistency of practice by local authority enforcement officers (Deregulation Unit, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Environment and other Departments)

  The administration of rules affecting the workplace, employment conditions, PAYE, national insurance

  Completed
  to implement the deregulation review of PAYE communications with employers (Inland Revenue)

  123
  to consider the need for new information on flexible working arrangements, make recommendations and present a draft leaflet to Ministers (Department of Employment and Other Government Departments)
  to prepare a booklet for employers on the benefits of a flexible approach to working arrangements, including information about setting up workplace creches (Department of Employment)
  to reduce the burden on employers of Community Charge Attachment of Earnings Orders (Department of Environment)

  Substantial progress
  to explore scope for eliminating some of the differences in definitions of earnings and expenses for PAYE and NIC purposes firstly by reviewing administrative solutions (Department of Social Security and Inland Revenue)
  to review procedures for allowing NI contributors who have proven need for NI exception in one or more (self) employments to renew their exception certificate every two or three years instead of annually (Department of Social Security)
  to continue implementation programme of recommendations arising from the deregulation review of P11 D procedures (Inland Revenue)

  New
  to simplify the payment system for the self-employed (NI Class 2) (Department of Social Security)
  to ensure that measures to implement the EC Framework Directive on health and safety in the workplace minimise the burden on business as far as possible (Health and Safety Executive and Deregulation Unit)

  The regime for small businesses

  Substantial progress
  to reduce reporting requirements for small company accounts (Department of Trade and Industry and Inland Revenue)

  Ongoing
  to complete study of new forms of incorporation (Department of Trade and Industry)

  New
  to review audit and accounting requirements for very small companies (Department of Trade and Industry, Inland Revenue, HM Treasury and Department of Employment)

  Investment & Financial Services

  Substantial progress
  to simplify requirements for company prospectuses (Department of Trade and Industry)
  to continue to simplify the operation of the Financial Services Act and, in particular, to seek ways of minimising the burden of regulation on professionals (Department of Trade and Industry)

  Indirect taxation

  Completed
  to examine the problems caused for business by the requirements of the VAT retail schemes and improve and simplify their operation (HM Customs and Excise)

  New
  to review registration/licensing requirements for those businesses controlled by HM Customs and Excise as excise and inland customs traders (HM Customs and Excise)
  to review HM Customs and Excise's public guidance for those businesses they control as excise and inland customs traders (HM Customs and Excise)

  Planning

  Ongoing
  to simplify the procedures for designating Simplified Planning Zones (Department of Environment)

  Data Protection

  Ongoing
  124
  to follow up inter-departmental working party report on the Data Protection Act to reduce in particular burdens of registration (Home Office)

  Trade Marks

  Ongoing
  to overhaul existing legislation and implement an EC directive on trade marks (Department of Trade and Industry)

  Specific controls affecting certain types of business

  Completed
  to exempt vehicles from national type approval requirements to permit use on public roads for testing and publicity purposes prior to the completion of the whole vehicle inspection (Department of Transport)
  to delegate to classification societies the approval of stability information for mobile offshore drilling units and ships which are mobile offshore support units (Department of Transport)
  to review the effectiveness of the system of on-shore petroleum licensing (Department of Energy)

  Substantial progress
  to rationalise the system of consents and licences from different authorities to work in tidal waters and designated areas of the Continental Shelf (Department of Transport)

  Ongoing
  to identify at least 20 business licences which should be abolished (Deregulation Unit and Government Departments)
  to review evening opening of betting offices (Home Office)
  to ensure food safety controls on food producers and retailers are proportionate to the problem (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and Department of Health)

  New
  to review licensing controls on taxis and passenger hire vehicles (Department of Transport)
  to simplify the system of HGV and PSV vehicle operator licensing (Department of Transport)
  to review fertiliser standards (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food)
  to review legislation for control of sheep scab (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food)
  to review feedingstuffs standards (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food)
  to increase the permitted size of large multidisciplinary partnerships in certain professions (Department of Trade and Industry)
  to reduce disclosure provisions for directors of investment trust savings schemes (Department of Trade and Industry)
  to exempt certain low power radio devices from licensing (Department of Trade and Industry)
  to clarify application procedures for DTI innovation assistance schemes (Department of Trade and Industry)

  International trade and exports

  Substantial progress
  to review procedures for issuing E101 certificates for people working abroad (Department of Social Security)

  Ongoing
  to improve immigration procedures at London airports to reduce delays to business people and other bona fide travellers (Home Office)
  to continue to streamline export licensing procedures (Department of Trade and Industry)

  New
  to streamline the implementation of controls on intra-Community trade in industrial dual-use and nuclear goods (Department of Trade and Industry)

  Fairs and Promotions
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what use has been made of his Department's ready reckoner for staff and related costs in considering proposed staff reductions in the fairs and promotions branch of his Department.
  125
  Mr. Sainsbury
  Ready reckoner data have been taken fully into account in considering staff reductions.

  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when he received a draft of the Price Waterhouse report on the future of the fairs and promotions branch in his Department; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will hold a period of consultation with affected staff in his Department after the publication of the Price Waterhouse report on the future of the fairs and promotions branch.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Price Waterhouse is not involved in reporting on the future of the fairs and promotions branch.

  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the number of reviews of the work of the fairs and promotions branch in his Department since 1979, the objectives of the reviews and their results.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Over the period there have been 13 reviews into different aspects of the schemes and operations of the fairs and promotions branch resulting in various changes in policy and procedures. These have been notified, as appropriate, to industry and commerce.

  Accounts Services Executive Agency
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the maximum salary payable to the chief executive of the Accounts Services executive agency, including peformance-related element, and the length of time of the chief executive's contract.

  Mr. Leigh
  The maximum salary payable to the chief executive is at present determined by reference to the standard grade 5 range on which he is paid. The range is £36,178 to £47,921, excluding London weighting, in London and £34,667 to £46,122 elsewhere. The term of the appointment is five years.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will list those new facilities for staff, including nurseries and health-care schemes, which have been introduced in the Accounts Services executive agency since its establishment;

  (2) if he will list the new forms of alternative working patterns introduced into the Accounts Services executive agency since its establishment; and if he will provide a breakdown by grade of the numbers of staff taking up each new working pattern.

  Mr. Leigh
  These are operational matters for the agency's chief executive. I have, therefore, asked him to write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was spent on events and publicity surrounding the launch of the Accounts Services executive agency; and whether the cost was borne by the parent department or the new agency.

  Mr. Leigh
  The launch of the agency was an operational matter for its chief executive. I have therefore asked him to write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the quality-of-service 126
  performance indicators adopted by the Accounts Services executive agency since its establishment; and if he will identify separately those quality-of-service performance indicators already operative prior to the agency status.

  Mr. Leigh
  The agency's chief executive and his managers set and monitor their own internal management targets for performance, including quality of service measures. However, a distinctive feature of next steps has been the setting by Ministers, and a formal announcement, of targets for agencies, and publication of details of their subsequent performance.

  For details of these ministerial targets for the Accounts Service executive agency I refer the hon. Member to the announcement made to the House by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 15 October 1991, Official Report, column 128.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the first degree obtained by the chief executive of the Accounts Services executive agency; and from which university or polytechnic it was awarded.

  Mr. Leigh
  This question seeks personal information about an individual. I have therefore drawn it to the attention of the chief executive of the agency.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will state the cash amount per person awarded in the last year for which figures were available, and the conditions attached to its award, of the group bonus scheme operated by the Accounts Services executive agency.

  Mr. Leigh
  The agency has not yet introduced a group bonus scheme.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the last annual report for the Accounts Services executive agency was published: and when the next one is due.

  Mr. Leigh
  The first annual report for the agency is expected to be published in summer 1992.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff were in post on the date that the Accounts Services executive agency was established; and how many are in post now.

  Mr. Leigh
  The numbers of staff in post on I October 1991, the date when the agency was established, and on 1 February 1992, were 91·5 and 89·5 respectively. These numbers represent permanent staff with part-timers counted as half. Casuals are excluded.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the post, grade and maximum salary payable, including performance-related elements, in each case where appointments have been made to the Accounts Services executive agency at grade 7 or above since its establishment.

  Mr. Leigh
  Of the four posts in the Accounts Services agency at grade 7 and above, one has been the subject of an appointment since its establishment. This is a grade 7 post filled by a transfer from within the Department. The maximum salary payable is determined by reference to the grade 7 pay scale, this is £24,379 to £34,667, excluding London weighting, in London and £23,329 to £33,175 elsewhere.

  Short Measure Beer
  Sir Charles Irving
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Chelmsford, (Mr. Burns) on 20 December 1991, at column 387, if he will list for each of the last three years (a) the number of complaints which his Department has received from members of the public regarding short measure beer and (b) the local authority trading standards departments which have submitted reports to his Department regarding short measure beer.

  Mr. Leigh
  My Department received three complaints from members of the public in 1989, six in 1990 and 23 in 1991. The trading standards departments which have submitted reports are Barnsley in 1989; Bedfordshire, Tayside and South Tyneside in 1990; and Surrey, Greater Manchester, St. Helens and North Yorkshire in 1991.

  Funeral Costs
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce proposals for legislation to require all funeral directors to publish an itemised price list of the different costs incurred in arranging a funeral.

  Mr. Leigh
  I agree that an itemised price list would be desirable, and am in touch with the National Association of Funeral Directors on the matter. However, my preference is always for self-regulation if this can be made effective.

  Steel
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much steel is made per head of population in each OECD and European Community country.

  Mr. Leigh
  The information is given in the table.

  Crude Steel Production in OECD Countries, 1990

  Crude steel production ('000 tonnes) (1)

  Population ('000s) (2)

  Production per 1,000 population (tonnes) (1)/(2)

  EC Countries:

  Luxembourg

  3,560

  381

  9,344

  Belgium

  11,360

  9,993

  1,137

  Germany1

  44,020

  79,565

  553

  Italy

  25,467

  57,647

  442

  Netherlands

  5,411

  14,944

  362

  France

  19,016

  56,437

  337

  Spain

  12,935

  38,966

  332

  United Kingdom

  17,902

  57,408

  312

  Denmark

  610

  5,140

  119

  Greece

  999

  10,140

  99

  Ireland

  326

  3,503

  93

  Portugal

  717

  10,369

  69

  EC total

  142,323

  344,493

  413

  Other OECD Countries:

  Japan

  110,339

  123,540

  893

  Finland

  2,860

  4,982

  574

  Austria

  4,291

  7,712

  556

  Sweden

  4,454

  8,566

  520

  Canada

  12,184

  26,620

  458

  Australia

  6,670

  17,086

  390

  USA

  89,726

  251,394

  357

  Turkey

  9,320

  57,163

  163

  Switzerland

  1,050

  6,796

  155

  128

  Crude steel production ('000 tonnes) (1)

  Population ('000s) (2)

  Production per 1,000 population (tonnes) (1)/(2)

  Norway

  376

  4,242

  89

  New Zealand

  3na

  3,379

  3na

  Iceland

  3na

  256

  3na

  OECD total2

  383,593

  852,594

  450

  1 Unified Germany (production data from International Iron and Steel Institute).

  2 Excludes New Zealand and Iceland.

  3 Not available. (However, estimates suggest production per head in New Zealand and Iceland is at the lower end of the OECD range).

  Notes:

  (1)Source: OECD

  (2) Source: OECD, mid-year estimates

  Post Office
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to introduce subsidies to maintain the current network of rural sub-post offices.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Government have no plans to introduce a subsidy to maintain the current network of rural post offices. This is because the Post Office is committed to maintaining a nationwide network of post offices adequate to enable it to fulfil its statutory duty to have regard to the social, commercial and industrial needs of the United Kingdom. We are content that the Post Office manages the network in full recognition of its commitment.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to bring forward legislation allowing Post Office Counters Ltd. to negotiate new business with banks, building societies and insurance companies.

  Mr. Leigh
  Post Office Counters' powers are set down in section 7 of the Post Office Act 1969, as amended by section 58 of the British Telecommunications Act 1981. There is provision for these powers to be extended, subject to specific ministerial consent.

  The Government recognise the desire of Post Office Counters to increase its efficiency by offering its customers additional services. But we continue to be reluctant to see any extension of the public sector not least because unfair competition may result. For this reason, despite careful consideration we have not been able to approve requests from Post Office Counters for extensions to its powers. We shall nevertheless continue to consider on their merits any specific requests.

  Sub-postmasters may and do offer a wide range of products in the non-post office parts of their premises, their main restriction being that these should not compete with those offered at the post office counter.

  Teesside Industrial Estate
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many units have been(a) constructed and (b) let by English Estates at the Teesside industrial estate, Thornaby, since June 1987.

  Mr. Leigh
  The information requested is as follows:
  129

  Let

  Sold

  Vacant

  Total Stock

  Units

  '000 m2

  Units

  '000 m2

  Units

  '0OO m2

  Units

  '000 m2

  Position June 1987

  83

  40

  12

  63

  15

  27

  110

  130

  Position January 1992

  74

  46

  31

  88

  18

  8

  123

  142

  In addition, terms have been agreed for lease or sale of a further five units.

  Bicycles
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will abolish the requirement that United Kingdom bicycle manufacturers pay duty on imported gear and brake components.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The duty payable on gear and brake components for bicycles is laid down in the European Community's common customs tariff. However, the Community's offer on tariffs in the current GATT Uruguay round negotiations does envisage a reduction in the duty paid on these products.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Chinese bicycles were imported into the United Kingdom in each of the years from 1979 to date; what percentage they were of the total sold in each such year; what level of Chinese importation penetration he expects between now and 1996: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The available information is given in the table. There are no estimates of future import penetration.

  Year

  Number of imported bicycles from China

  Percentage United Kingdom Sales

  1979

  327

  —

  1980

  7,025

  —

  1981

  2,203

  —

  1982

  150

  —

  1983

  1,279

  —

  1984

  7,215

  —

  1985

  1,463

  —

  1986

  36,004

  2

  1987

  109,011

  5

  1988

  57,426

  3

  1989

  309,900

  11

  1990

  454,811

  16

  Source: Bicycle Association of Great Britain, Her Majesty's Customs and Excise Trade Data.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will make a statement concerning the current EC anti-dumping investigation into the importation of Chinese bicycles into the Community;

  (2) if he will introduce measures to protect domestic bicycle manufacturers against the dumping of imported bicycles from the far east; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The European Commission, which is responsible for anti-dumping action, initiated an investigation into imports of bicycles from China and Taiwan on 12 October 1991 following a complaint lodged by the European Bicycle Manufacturers Association. The Government will be consulted by the Commission about its initial findings once the preliminary investigation has been completed.

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what impact the Gulf war has had on his Department's monitoring of the export of weapons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  All export licence applications for the export of weapons to any destination have always been, and remain, subject to rigorous scrutiny.

  Enterprise Measures
  Dame Janet Fookes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his Department has done to encourage enterprise and innovation in British industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  Since the publication of the White Paper "DTI—the department for Enterprise" in January 1988, my Department has spent over £800 million in a range of initiatives to encourage enterprise and innovation in British industry and a very large number of firms have benefited. Applications to the Department's consultancy scheme under the enterprise initiative are now approaching 100,000 and the 40,000th project under the scheme was completed last week. Forty thousand managers have attended seminars and other live events under the "Managing into the 90s" awareness programme which was launched in 1989. The small firms merit award for research and technology—SMART—scheme has grown steadily since its introduction on a pilot basis in 1986. The last three annual competitions attracted 3,663 applications and more than 500 awards were made with a total Government commitment of £29 million. The support for products under research—SPUR—scheme introduced last year has been a great success with industry: over £9 million of' Government support has already been committed and the 100th grant under the scheme was awarded this week. My Department has spent over £200 million in support of collaborative research programmes during the past three financial years. These achievements are part of my Department's continuing programme to stimulate innovation and to help companies to prepare for the challenges of the 1990s.

  I announced last week that I am stepping up support for innovation by increasing expenditure over the next three years. Total provision for the DTI's innovation budget which is aimed at supporting industrial R and D will be some £346 million over three years. The budget is set to rise from £101 million in 1991–92 to £126 million in 1994–95. This represents a 27 per cent. increase in real terms over the 1990–91 outturn figure of £83 million and a 12 per cent. real terms increase over the estimated outturn of £101 million in 1991–92.

  I am pleased to announce today extensions to the SMART scheme, subject to clearance with the European Commission, and the "Managing into the 90s" initiative, and a sister programme to the successful teaching company scheme which will encourage senior academics to

  131
  work in industry. My Department will also fund an extension of the Shell technology enterprise programme. We shall continue our commitment to the enterprise initiative and to support for collaborative research including the Link initiative. The following paragraphs give more detail.

  We shall be extending initiatives to help smaller firms. I am very pleased to announce a new three year programme of SMART competitions worth more than £40 million. This represents an increase of more than 40 per cent. over the corresponding budget during the last three years. SMART is open to individuals and organisations with fewer than 50 employees. Each year we shall be offering 180 stage I awards worth up to £45,000 each, for highly innovative projects with real commercial promise. Winners of the stage I awards are eligible to apply for stage II awards, each worth up to £60,000, towards further development work.

  The "Managing into the 90s" awareness campaign, which seeks to spread best management practice, has had real impact amongst small and medium-sized enterprises. Building on this success, the programme will be extended and updated in a new phase which I am announcing today. Starting this summer, the new phase will focus on management practices which can help business rise to the challenges of competitive markets, innovate successfully and manage effectively the resulting need for change. New topics will be introduced relating to this theme. Part of the programme will specifically address the needs of the manufacturing sector. Representatives of training and enterprise councils have indicated that they welcome the new phase and that they look forward to co-operating with DTI over it.

  The senior academics in industry programme which I am announcing today builds on the concept of the highly successful teaching company scheme. The programme, which will be run on a pilot basis for two years, will support the placement of senior academics in industry, for up to six months, to carry out a technology project which will benefit from their knowledge and research experience.

  My Department will also fund an expansion of the Shell technology enterprise programme—STEP. This programme puts undergraduates into small firms in order to encourage students to consider careers in industry and help small firms realise the benefits of employing graduates. My Department will be making a contribution of £500,000 over three years, which will enable Shell almost to double the number of placements.

  The Link initiative is proving a highly sucessful mechanism for encouraging collaborative research between industry and academia. Link is now firmly established as a process whereby large and small companies can co-operate with academia in high quality, industrially-relevant research. The Government are today publishing its response to the Segal Quince Wicksteed review of Link and I also warmly welcome the publication of the LINK steering group's first report. Today I am also announcing extensions of two particularly successful Link programmes for two further years with additional funding. The first of these is the Link nanotechnology programme, which is run jointly by DTI and the Science and Engineering Research Council. The programme will receive additional funding of £4 million from the Government. I am also announcing extension of the Link
  132
  food processing programme which will receive additional Government funding of £3 million, including £2 million from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

  Inmos Ltd.
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the value of money and shares(a) paid by the Government to set up Inmos Ltd., (b) received by the Government for the sale of Inmos to Thorn EMI and (c) the total paid to Inmos Ltd. and SGS Thomson in grants and loans from public funds.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 14 February 1992](a) The value of the Government shareholding in Inmos as at 31 December 1983 was £65·9 million, representing investment in ordinary and preference shares over a period of years; (b) the company was sold to Thorn EMI in 1984 at a profit of £29·6 million; (c) information on the amount of grant paid to individual companies is commercially confidential.

  Garment Imports
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what controls exist to monitor and prevent dumping of cashmere garments imported into the EC/United Kingdom from Mongolia;

  (2) what access Mongolia has to EC and United Kingdom domestic markets for importation of Mongolian cashmere garments.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 17 February 1992]At present 10 member states maintain an embargo on a range of Mongolian garments, including pullovers, under the European Community's autonomous regime for state trading countries. Portugal has no such restrictions and therefore does not monitor the imports, Germany has a quota of 23,000 pieces for pullovers, monitored by import licensing, under which 1,260 fine animal hair products were imported in the first 10 months of 1991. As regards dumping, as with all other industrial products it is open to the Community industry concerned to present a case for anti-dumping action to the European Commission.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what claims for compensation are available to the United Kingdom manufacturers of fine animal hair pullovers where overshipment occurs;

  (2) whether he will consider taking steps for the imposition of a complete embargo on Chinese cashmere garments (a) into the EC and (b) into the United Kingdom until agreed quota figures for previous years have been met;

  (3) what representations he proposes to make to the EC authorities and the GATT authorities to investigate and remedy overshipment of Chinese cashmere garments into the EC/United Kingdom markets; what steps he is taking to prepare a case for compensation for overshipment of such garments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 17 February 1992]Management of the EC/China multi-fibre arrangement textiles agreement is the responsibility of the European Commission and member states. In November last year we asked the Commission to investigate the apparent overshipment of the quota for Chinese fine animal hair pullovers in 1990 and 1991. There are no formal rules for
  133
  dealing with compensation in cases of this sort, but we have specifically asked the Commission to address this aspect. In the past, overshipments have been compensated for by deducting an equivalent amount from the quota for the following year for that product. The measures appropriate in the present case will have to be decided once the outcome of the Commission's investigation is known. In the meantime, the Commission has already accepted our proposal for a new quota anagement system to tighten up controls.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the customs returns showing the numbers of cashmere garments imported into the EC, and into the United Kingdom, from China for each of the last five years for which figures are available, together with the relevant numbers permitted under the GATT bilateral quotas for the same years.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 17 February 1992]Cashmere garments cannot be separately identified in customs import data. The quota in the EC/China MFA bilateral agreement which specifically applies to fine animal hair products is for pullovers and similar goods, whether made of cashmere, angora, mohair or other fine animal hairs.

  The quota levels and the EC and United Kingdom import levels for these goods in the past five years are as follows:

  Year

  EC quota

  EC imports1

  United Kingdom share of quota

  United Kingdom imports1

  1987

  55,680

  87,540

  12,400

  20,740

  1988

  57,910

  123,214

  12,900

  1,990

  1989

  90,000

  50,312

  20,000

  2,000

  1990

  94,000

  238,728

  21,000

  4,151

  1991

  97,000

  399,184

  22,000

  8,615

  1 Import figures may include traditional Chinese products which fall outside quota.

  Source: Eurostat.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Driving Licences
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table to show how many persons in Northern Ireland currently hold a driving licence, the type of licence and the percentage of the population aged 17 years and over which holds a licence to drive.

  Mr. Needham
  At 31 March 1991, the most recent date for which this information is currently available, the figures were as follows:

  Number

  Provisional Licence

  120,150

  Full Driving Licence

  785,975

  Large Goods Vehicle Licence

  26,472

  Large Passenger Carrying Vehicle Licence

  4,664

  Taxi Licence

  7,167

  The 912,125 licence holders represent some 80 per cent. of the population aged 17 years and over.

  Linfield Yarns
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultations have taken place with the management of Linfield Yarns concerning the temporary closure of its factory at Killyleagh, Co Down.

  Mr. Needham
  The international market for linen yarn has been in a depressed state for more than two years. During that time the Industrial Development Board has remained in close touch with all the firms in the sub-sector including the Linfield group who own Killyleagh Yarns. Most of Northern Ireland's flax spinners have found it necessary to operate some form of short-time working and in the case of Killyleagh Yarns the management decided to introduce a temporary stoppage during February 1992. This decision was fully discussed with IDB.

  In the event there has not been a complete closure of the factory as originally intended. Approximately one third of the work force has been retained in order to meet unexpected orders.

  Social Security Interviews
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make arrangements whereby all social security and benefit interviews will be conducted in private.

  Mr. Hanley
  Social security operational matters are the responsibility of Mr. Alec Wylie, chief executive of the Social Security Agency. He will write to the hon. Gentleman and copies of his reply will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Mobility Allowance
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action will be taken to reduce the time involved in relation to mobility allowance tribunal hearings.

  Mr. Hanley
  The preparation of submissions to appeal hearings is the responsibility of the Social Security Agency. I am advised by the chief executive that the average time taken from receipt of an appeal letter to its submission to the Independent Tribunal Service is approximately 27 days.

  Arrangements for the actual hearing of appeals are a matter for the president of the Independent Tribunal Service, Mr. MacLynn, and any request for information regarding such arrangements should be forwarded to him.

  Disabled People (Rights)
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce for Northern Ireland legislation which will provide equal rights for people with disabilities with rights to legal redress.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  None.

  Mourne Hospital, Kilkeel
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps will be taken to ensure that acute hospital services are provided at Mourne hospital, Kilkeel, on an on-going basis; and if he will make a statement.
  135
  Mr. Hanley
  The Mourne hospital, Kilkeel does not provide acute hospital services. Responsibility for the management of the hospital rests with the Southern health and social services board and I am not aware of any plans for developing acute services at the hospital.

  Orthodontics
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the outcome of the review into orthodontic provision within the health and social services boards in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Hanley
  The following action has been taken on the recommendations made in the review of orthodontic provision in Northern Ireland:—the vacant consultant orthodontic post in the Southern health and social services board is to be advertised next month;
  —the upgrading of consultant facilities at Altnagelvin has commenced;
  —Health and social services boards are encouraging general dental practitioners to use the community dental service when making reference to orthodontic specialists; and
  —a MOrth/MSc course is set to commence in October this year.

  Ambulance Response Times
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to reduce ambulance response times in the Newry and Mourne unit of management.

  Mr. Hanley
  Over the six months period to December 1991, between 55 and 60 per cent. of emergency calls in the Newry and Mourne area were responded to within eight minutes and almost 93 per cent. within 19 minutes. The nationally agreed ambulance service standards for these response times are 50 and 95 per cent. respectively. The situation in the Newry and Mourne unit is being closely monitored and every effort is being made by management to keep response times to a minimum.

  Downpatrick Hospital
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has taken place in relation to the building of the third phase of the new hospital for Downpatrick on the Downshire hospital site.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Eastern health and social services board has not made any proposals to the Department of Health and Social Services concerning the construction of a third phase of the new hospital.

  Downe Hospital, Downpatrick
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps will be taken to reduce the waiting lists for the out-patient clinics for dermatology, ophthalmology and ear, nose and throat at the Downe hospital, Downpatrick, Co. Down.

  Mr. Hanley
  Information about the numbers of people awaiting out-patient appointments is not collected centrally. However, I can assure you that 1 expect health and social services boards to take action to ensure that waiting times for out-patient clinics are kept to a minimum. The management of out-patient clinics at the 136
  Downe hospital, Downpatrick is primarily the responsibility of the Eastern board, and the hon. Gentleman may wish to contact Mr. Norman Ferguson, the chairman of the board.

  Nurse Clinical Grading Appeals
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many stage three appeals in respect of the nurse clinical grading appeal scheme have yet to be heard in the Southern health and social services board.

  Mr. Hanley
  A total of 283 at 10 February 1992.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what additional resources will be allocated to the nurse clinical grading appeal scheme in order to expedite outstanding cases within the Southern health and social services board.

  Mr. Hanley
  A total of £32 million was allocated to the boards in April 1988 to cover the full cost of implementation of the scheme including appeals. There are no plans to provide additional resources.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many appeals in respect of the nurse clinical grading appeal scheme have yet to be heard in the Down section of the Down and Lisburn unit of management.

  Mr. Hanley
  A total of 92 at 10 February 1992.

  Local Enterprise Development, South Down
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to establish a Local Enterprise Development Unit office in the constituency of South Down.

  Mr. Needham
  There are no plans to establish a LEDU office in the constituency of South Down. The area is covered by LEDU's southern regional office in Newry.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many young people under 25 years of age are currently unemployed; and if he will list the numbers by district council area.

  Mr. Needham
  At January 1992, the latest date for which information is available, there were 28,686 unemployed claimants under 25 years of age in Northern Ireland. Information on the numbers of unemployed young persons by district council area is available from the NOMIS database which can be accessed on-line by House of Commons Library staff.

  Colleges of Further Education
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the funding allocations to colleges of further education in each of the education and library boards since 1 April 1982 to 31 March 1992.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is as follows:

  £000s

  Belfast

  Western

  North-Eastern

  South-Eastern

  Southern

  1982–83

  3,683

  1,903

  2,878

  2,313

  3,347

  1983–84

  3,838

  1,961

  3,041

  2,300

  2,907

  1984–85

  3,904

  2,153

  2,963

  2,545

  2,866

  137

  Belfast

  Western

  North-Eastern

  South-Eastern

  Southern

  1985–86

  3,805

  2,381

  3,252

  2,786

  2,974

  1986–87

  4,018

  2,489

  3,270

  2,948

  3,443

  1987–88

  4,191

  2,820

  3,596

  3,137

  4,483

  1988–89

  5,678

  3,307

  3,975

  3,856

  5,662

  1989–90

  6,265

  3,806

  4,405

  4,162

  7,026

  1990–91

  6,472

  4,121

  4,896

  4,655

  8,620

  1991–92

  17,510

  11,513

  14,763

  13,292

  15,169

  Notes:

  1. The figures represent recurrent and capital expenditure, for the years 1982–83 to 1989–90 they are taken from the boards' audited accounts and for 1990–91 from the unaudited accounts.

  2. The figures for 1991–92 are the boards' further and higher education budgets as stated in their financial schemes. Following the introduction of local management of colleges on 1/4/91 these budgets include provision for full time teachers' salaries, which had previously been paid directly by the Department of Education for Northern Ireland.

  Registration of Clubs
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the organisations and individuals which have made representations regarding the provisions of the Registration of Clubs (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 and the regulations made thereunder.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested is as follows:

  Armagh City and District Arts Committee.

  Association of Local Authorities in Northern Ireland.

  Craigavon Borough Council.

  Environmental Health Department, Belfast City Council.

  Golfing Union of Ireland, Ulster Branch.

  Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.

  Irish Rugby Football Union, Ulster Branch.

  Law Society of Northern Ireland.

  Northern Ireland Bridge Union.

  Northern Ireland Federation of Clubs.

  Sports Council for Northern Ireland.

  The Workers Party.

  Ballyclare Rugby Football Club.

  Ballymoney Rugby Football Club.

  Collegians Club.

  Donaghadee Rugby Football Club.

  Dromore Rugby Football Club.

  Dungannon Football Club.

  Knock Golf Club.

  Lisburn Rugby Football Club.

  Malone Rugby Football Club.

  Omagh Academicals Rugby Football Club.

  Pearce Og GAA Club, Armagh.

  Portadown Rugby Football Club.

  Rainey Old Boys Rugby Football Club.

  Royal Ulster Yacht Club.

  Warrenpoint Commercial Club.

  Roy Beggs Esq. MP (Councillor) [for Whitehouse Working Men's Club].

  Dr. Joseph Hendron (Councillor).

  Seamus Mallon Esq MP [for GAA Clubs].

  Eddie McGrady Esq. MP [for Lecale Indoor Bowling League].

  Cecil Walker Esq. MP [for Northern Ireland Federation of Clubs].

  Three members of the public.

  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place in the Library a copy of the representations made to his predecessor on 7 June 1989 by the Golfing Union of Ireland (Ulster branch) on the subject of the Registration of Clubs (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 and the regulations made thereunder; and what response has been given to those representations.

  Mr. Hanley
  A copy of the representations, with the response, has been placed in the Library.
  138
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has yet considered the review, dated 4 April 1990, of the operation of the Registration of Clubs (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 by the licensing legislation and voluntary sports clubs joint working group; if he will place a copy of the review in the Library; and if he intends to take into account the recommendations made in that review.

  Mr. Hanley
  I have considered the review and a copy has been placed in the Library.I shall take its recommendations into account in considering the relevant legislation.

  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to complete his review of the Registration of Clubs (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 and the regulations made thereunder; and when he expects to introduce proposals for further legislation on this subject.

  Mr. Hanley
  The order and regulations are kept under continuous review. The Government have no plans at present to introduce proposals for further legislation in this field.

  Set-aside Schemes
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many set-aside schemes have been implemented in the constituency of South Down since 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1991 and from 1 April 1991 to 31 December 1991.

  Mr. Hanley
  Statistics are not available on a constituency basis, however, the numbers of farmers entering into set-aside agreements in the whole of County Down is as follows:

  1 April 1988–31 March 1991—

  1 April 1991 31 December 1991

  5 year scheme

  13

  8

  1 year scheme1

  n/a

  5

  Note:

  1 The 1 year set-aside scheme was introduced in September 1991 and will run to August 1992.

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

  Mr. Needham
  IDB is negotiating for the purchase of a six acre site at Down Race club, to be used for industrial purposes. While I hope that the negotiations will be successful, the outcome will not be known for some months.

  Blood Products
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many donations of blood were taken by the National Blood Transfusion Service in Northern Ireland in each year from 1978 to the latest year available.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 17 February 1992]The information requested is not immediately available. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of that letter in the Library.
  139
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many transfers of(a) blood and (b) blood products were performed by the national health service in Northern Ireland in each year from 1978 to the latest year available.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 17 February 1992]This information is not held centrally.

WALES

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to increase the level of grant rate for housing associations in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The level of housing association grant is linked to building society mortgage rates. It falls to Housing for Wales to adjust the grant rate accordingly.

  Compensation Claim
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning the claim for compensation on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Heselton, Runston farm, Shirenewton, Chepstow, Gwent; when he expects a resolution to the matter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  My Department wrote to Mr. and Mrs. Heselton's solicitors on 3 January 1991 in response to a claim for costs arising out of a planning application. No representations have been received since then, but I understand that the solicitors have approached the Ministry of Defence on this matter.

  Usk Barrage
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding the impact on fish on the River Usk and its tributaries of the proposed Usk barrage; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have received a number of representations about the impact of the proposed Uskbarrage on fish stocks.

  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning the proposed Usk barrage; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have received 53 representations concerning the proposed Usk barrage. Most of them refer to the environmental impact of the barrage.

  Sewage Treatment
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from Usk town council, Usk civic society and Usk action group regarding the application for a sewage treatment plant at the island picnic site near the River Usk; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  I understand that representations were made by Usk town council and Usk Civic Society in the context of a planning appeal for a sewage treatment plant. The appeal fell to be determined by a140
  planning inspector appointed by my right hon. Friend and, following a local inquiry, his decision to allow the appeal was issued on 30 January. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on the merits of the development.

  Elderly People
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the latest figures for the percentage of(a) elderly men and (h) elderly women living in homes for old and disabled elderly people in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  On 31 March 1990, 22·1 per cent. of residents in homes for the elderly were men aged 65 or over and 76·0 per cent. women over that age. The remainder were under 65. Residents aged 65 or over represent 15·7 per 1,000 population in that age group in the case of men, and 36·1 per 1,000 in that of women.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the latest available figures showing the incidence of dementia amongst the elderly population in Wales; and if he will give an overall breakdown according to type of dementia.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Studies suggest that approximately 10 per cent. of people in Wales aged 65 and over, and 25 per cent. of those over 80, show evidence of intellectual failure.

  County teams working to implement the all-Wales mental illness stategy are expected to assess local need and, over time, that should help to build up a clearer picture of the incidence of dementia.

  Disability
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures showing the severity and age distribution of disability by its various medical causes in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Information on the distribution of disability by medical cause is not held centrally.

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to announce decisions on HLCA payments for each forthcoming year no later than the end of December in the previous year.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I fully recognise the importance of the hill livestock compensatory allowance scheme to our livestock producers in less favoured areas, and always seek to ensure that decisions on the HLCA scheme arrangements are announced as quickly as possible.

  Coracle Fishermen
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will introduce legislation to safeguard the future interests of the coracle fishermen in west Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I am aware of the concern about the future of the coracle fishermen in west Wales and the cost of their fishing licences, and am considering the representations that have been made to me.

  Ewes
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many flocks of more than 1,000 breeding ewes there are in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  There were 898 main holdings with flocks of more than 1,000 breeding sheep in Wales in June 1991.

  Dyfed Health Authority
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was(a) the capital and (b) the revenue allocation of East Dyfed health authority for the financial year 1991–92; and what were the corresponding figures for each of the other health authorities in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information requested, relating to the latest notified discretionary capital and revenue allocations for 1991–92 for the East Dyfed health authority and for other district health authorities in Wales, is as follows:

  Discretionary Capital Allocation 1991–92 £ million

  Discretionary Revenue Allocation 1991–92 £ million

  Clwyd

  18·3

  147·8

  East Dyfed

  3·6

  91·4

  Gwent

  7·5

  159·1

  Gwynedd

  5·3

  89·5

  Mid Glamorgan

  10·6

  205·9

  Pembrokeshire

  3·9

  40·7

  Powys

  2·7

  53·1

  South Glamorgan

  11·4

  180·9

  West Glamorgan

  12·3

  134·2

  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the proposed(a) capital and (b) revenue allocation of East Dyfed health authority for the financial year 1992–93; and what are the corresponding figures for each of the other health authorities in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones) on 4 February, when he announced the allocation of resources for hospital, community health and related services in Wales for 1992–93.

  EC Committee of the Regions
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a consultation document on the most appropriate means for Wales to be represented among the 24 representatives from the United Kingdom on the European Community Committee of the Regions.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have no plans to do so. The Government will be considering in the course of 1992 how the 24 United Kingdom seats should be allocated and the candidates chosen.

  Charge Capping
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his statement of 12 February, Official Report, column 1053, if he will give figures for the numbers of civil
  142
  servants who have been allocated to the special unit he has set up to make the necessary arrangement for charge capping; how many of them are full time with no other duties; what is its total estimated establishment cost; and if he will make a statement on the main principles by which it will perform its duties.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The principles governing the charge capping of local authorities in Wales are set out in part VII of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, as amended by the Local Government Finance and Valuation Act 1991.

  The number of staff required for the special unit will depend on the number of authorities setting budgets above my expenditure plans as approved by Parliament on 12 February. The bulk of the work of the unit will involve individual scrutiny of such budgets, to enable me to decide whether they place an unacceptable burden on charge payers.

  Counties are required to set their budgets before 1 March, and districts before 11 March.

  Schools Inspectors
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which grant-maintained schools have been visited by Her Majesty's inspectors; in each case(a) by how many inspectors, (b) for how long and (c) at what cost; and whether it is proposed to publish any report arising from these visits.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  [holding answer 3 February 1992]Her Majesty's inspectors have made two visits to Cwmcarn comprehensive grant-maintained school. On both occasions, one inspector visited the school and stayed for the day. The cost of the visits was around £500. In addition, when I visited the school last December, I was accompanied by a member of the inspectorate.

  Visits of that nature do not result in published reports but contribute to more general reports, such as the HMI annual review of educational provision in Wales.

SCOTLAND

  Boundary Commission
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Boundary Commission for Scotland has yet decided when to start a general review of constituencies in Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  The Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 requires the Boundary Commission for Scotland to submit its next general report between February 1993 and February 1998 and within these limits the commission has discretion when to start a general review. The commission, in the exercise of its discretion, gave notice on 16 February 1992 of its intention to commence forthwith a general review of constituencies in Scotland.

  Constituencies
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the six largest and six smallest electorates in parliamentary constituencies and the average electorate for each constituency.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have been asked to reply.
  143
  The United Kingdom constituencies with largest and smallest parliamentary electorates in 1991 were as follows:

  Number

  Largest

  Isle of Wight

  101,784

  Eastleigh

  91,871

  Huntingdon

  91,779

  East Hampshire

  91,519

  The Wrekin

  90,980

  Swindon

  90,343

  Smallest

  Tweeddale. Ettrick and Lauderdale

  39,608

  Glasgow Provan

  37,838

  Meirionnydd Nant Conwy

  32,754

  Orkney and Shetland

  31,355

  Caithness and Sutherland

  31,120

  Western Isles

  23,073

  The average parliamentary constituency electorates in 1991 were 66,908 in the United Kingdom and 66,915 in Great Britain, counting Milton Keynes as two constituencies in both cases. Corresponding information relating to the 1992 registers is not yet available.

  Forestry Commission
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he is considering to dispose of the assets of the Forestry Commission or any part of them to the public sector; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 13 January 1992]I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon and learned Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) gave to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro) on 16 June 1989, Official Report, columns 542–43. This remains the Government's policy.

DEFENCE

  Employment (Scotland)
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian personnel are employed by the Ministry of Defence in Scotland.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  There were 12,125 as at 1 January 1992.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he plans any new construction to aid rapid dismantling of British nuclear weapons withdrawn from service.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications of the announced reduction in numbers of WE177 free-fall nuclear weapons held by the RAF for his Department's plans for the development of a tactical air-to-surface missile.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  There are none.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what differences exist between WE177s in(a) Royal Navy and (b) RAF service.
  144
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not our practice to discuss details of nuclear weapon design.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the composition of the special nuclear experts team sent to Russia on 10 February to evaluate the problems in dismantling and transporting the nuclear weapons being removed from deployment; what criteria were used in choosing these experts; and whether any specialist non-governmental organisations have been consulted as to the most appropriate technical approaches required.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The team was led by the Ministry of Defence's principal technical adviser on nuclear matters, and included experts on nuclear weapons and materials from Government and from industry. The composition of the team was decided in the light of advance contacts with the Russian authorities and information received from allies who had previously visited Russia.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to meet experts from Scientists for Global Responsibility to discuss its reports on the methods and risks of dismantling nuclear warheads.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No.

  Harrier
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to give the Harrier GR5 or GR7 a nuclear role.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No.

  Submarines, Irish Sea
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department next expects to meet representatives of the fishing industry in order to discuss submarine activity in the Irish sea.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Ministry of Defence officials will discuss this and other matters with representatives of the fishing industry in the sub-group of the Fishing Industry Safety Group set up to consider submarine operations and fishing vessel safety. The sub-group is chaired by the Department of Transport and officials there will shortly be making arrangements for a further meeting.

  Departmental Orders
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, by value, the orders placed by his Department with Scottish-based defence industry individual companies in the last 10 years.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only with disproportionate cost and effort.

  Arms Sales
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of British arms exports are sold to(a) third world countries and (b) to the middle east countries; how those proportions have varied in the past few years; and if he will make a statement.
  145
  Mr. Alan Clark
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1991, volume 2, table 2.7.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what impact the Gulf war has had on his Department's monitoring of the export of weapons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  All export licence applications for the export of weapons to any destination have always been subject to the most rigorous scrutiny.
  146
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department has on the proportion of world trade in arms sold to(i) third world countries and (ii) middle east countries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The proportion of world trade in arms sold to third world countries is 35 per cent. and to middle east countries 42 per cent. These figures represent an average based on 1986 to 1990 data.

  INFERTILITY SPECIALISTS: CONFIDENTIALITY CONSEQUENCES
  INFERTILITY SPECIALISTS: CONFIDENTIALITY CONSEQUENCES
  MPs: SALARIES AND PERFORMANCE PAY
  MPs: SALARIES AND PERFORMANCE PAY
  BUSINESS LEASES: STAMP DUTY AND VAT
  BUSINESS LEASES: STAMP DUTY AND VAT
  INTERNATIONAL LAW
  INTERNATIONAL LAW
  UN: COMMAND AND CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS
  UN: COMMAND AND CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS
  EAST TIMOR: DILI INCIDENT
  EAST TIMOR: DILI INCIDENT
  INDONESIA: MEETING, 5th FEBRUARY
  INDONESIA: MEETING, 5th FEBRUARY
  PRISONERS HELD IN POLICE CELLS BY EACH POLICE FORCE ON 4th FEBRUARY 1992
  PRISONERS HELD IN POLICE CELLS BY EACH POLICE FORCE ON 4th FEBRUARY 1992
  PRISONERS HELD IN POLICE CELLS: 7th OCTOBER-4th FEBRUARY 1992
  PRISONERS HELD IN POLICE CELLS: 7th OCTOBER-4th FEBRUARY 1992