Written Answers of 8 July 1992

DEFENCE

  Low Flying
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the speed limits for each aircraft type while low-flying over the United Kingdom at(a) 100 ft and (b) 250 ft; and if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which these speeds may be exceeded during interceptions or the run-up of simulated targets.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  For military aircraft flying at 250ft in the United Kingdom low-flying system the normal maximum cruising speed is 450 knots, except for F-111s which, for aircraft handling reasons, are allowed to fly at speeds up to 480 knots. At this height aircraft may increase their speed to maxima ranging from 480 knots to 550 knots, depending on aircraft type, in special circumstances such as the run-up to simulated targets or during mock interceptions. The maximum speeds for aircraft flying at 100 ft above ground level are as follows:

  Knots

  Jaguar

  520

  Tornado

  500

  Hawk

  480

  Harrier GR 5/7

  420

  Household Cavalry
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Household Cavalry will receive from Anglia TV for the assistance it is giving to that company's forthcoming television production "Riders"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Costs are still being collated and formal charges will be raised by MoD in due course.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of maintaining British armed forces in the Falkland islands in each of the last 10 years; and what is the estimated cost for the current year.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The cost of maintaining British armed forces in the Falkland islands in each of the last 10 years (at outturn prices) was as follows:

  £ million

  1982–83

  780

  1983–84

  637

  1984–85

  644

  1985–86

  572

  1986–87

  402

  1987–88

  229

  1988–89

  102

  1989–90

  68

  182

  £ million

  1990–91

  66

  1991–92

  72

  The estimated costs for 1992–93 are £67 million at 1992–93 prices.

  USAF Bombing, Golspie
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he received a report from the United States Air Force into an incident on 5 June, when a practice bomb was dropped 8 miles off target by a United States Air Force jet into a site of special scientific interest near Golspie, Sutherland, Scotland; what compensation is being negotiated for the damage by fire to the rare lichen moss destroyed in this incident; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The incident referred to took place on 4 June. A written report detailing the cause was received from the United States Air Force by the Ministry of Defence on 12 June. Full details of claims for compensation have not yet been received.

  Defence Facilities
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to make available to interested United Kingdom citizens and organisations, aerial photographs of such United Kingdom defence facilities as are permitted to the Russian military forces under the Helsinki "Open Skies" treaty of 24 March.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The purpose of the "Open Skies" treaty is to establish a reciprocal confidence-building regime which will help us build trust with other parties to the treaty. Under the treaty, information gathered during "Open Skies" flights may be used only for treaty-related purposes. We would not want to see this provision waived, not least because aerial photographs from "Open Skies" flights could be of use to terrorist organisations.

  Nuclear Test Veterans
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met representatives of the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association to discuss compensation; when he next plans to meet them; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have discussed this matter with a number of hon. Members. I have not met and have not received any request to meet representatives of the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association. The position on compensation remains as set out by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in his answer of 5 June,Official Report, column 655.

  Accommodation
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many units of personnel accommodation are vacant in each county in England and Wales, and in each region in Scotland.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Records are not maintained by counties in England, but at 31 March 1992, the latest date
  183
  for which figures are available, there were 9,002 MoD-owned service married quarters and civilian residential dwellings vacant in England, Wales and Scotland out of a total stock of 69,841. This excludes barrack and mess accommodation.

  Region

  Vacant

  England

  Yorkshire

  596

  Northern

  88

  North West

  126

  South East

  3,715

  South West

  1,617

  East Anglia

  566

  East Midlands

  700

  West Midlands

  322

  Wales

  Clwyd

  45

  Dyfed

  19

  Gwent

  17

  Gwynedd

  31

  Powys

  17

  South Glamorgan

  105

  Scotland

  Borders

  19

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1

  Fife

  117

  Grampian

  277

  Highlands

  15

  Western Isles

  48

  Shetlands

  6

  Lothian

  174

  Strathclyde

  318

  Tayside

  63

  Total

  9,002

  Many of these properties were undergoing major works or modernisation, some were already allotted to service families who were due to move in shortly, and others were being considered for disposal. In addition, some 1,850 properties were in the process of being sold.

  Army Redundancies
  Mr. Merchant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement about redundancies in the Army.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A total of 3,338 Army personnel, comprising 838 officers and 2,500 soldiers, were selected in February 1992 for the first phase of redundancy. Of the total, all but 143 officers were volunteers.

  As foreshadowed in my answer to the hon. Member for Clackmannan (Mr. O'Neil) on 8 November 1991, Official Report, column 296, we shall shortly be promulgating details of the next phase of redundancy in the Army. This will follow the pattern of the first phase with the timetable and plans to be published at the end of July, and individuals informed during the first quarter of 1993. It is likely that the number of personnel to be made redundant in the second phase in 1993–94 will be in the region 6,500. Individuals will receive up to 12 months' notice and full resettlement assistance.

TRANSPORT

  Scotland
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the extent of his responsibilities in Scotland.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have general responsibility for transport policy throughout Great Britain, which I exercise in association with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales. My specific responsibilities for Scotland cover matters other than those for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is directly responsible. These are Scottish roads policy and legislation, including the construction, maintenance and management of motorways and trunk roads; capital allocations and grants to local authorities for local roads and public transport; some aspects of bus policy; subsidies to some local ferry, airport and air services; Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd; transport piers and harbours other than ports, freight facilities grants; toll bridge regulation; and civil emergencies planning. There is very close consultation between my Department and the Scottish Office over all aspects of transport policy affecting Scotland.

  Traffic Flows
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what was the average daily vehicular flow on the A420 between Swindon and Oxford in(a) 1980, (b) 1985 and (c) the latest year for which figures are available;

  (2) what was the average daily vehicular flow on the A417 between Cirencester and Gloucester in (a)(b) 1985 and (c) the latest year for which figures are available;

  (3) what was the average daily vehicular flow on the A419 between Swindon and Cirencester in (a) 1980, (b) 1985 and (c) the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The latest available estimates are for 1990 when the average daily traffic flow was 17,000 vehicles on the A417 between Gloucester and Cirencester, 25,000 on the A419 between Swindon and Cirencester and 14,000 on the A420 between Swindon and Oxford. The Department's national traffic surveys do not allow changes in traffic levels between years to be estimated for particular roads.

  Airport Directors
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those directors of airports, operated on behalf of municipal authorities by companies, who are also councillors on the authority or subject to appointment by them and give the percentage of the non-independent directors in each case.

  Mr. Norris
  The information relating to airports owned by public airport companies is as follows:

  Airport

  Local authority members

  1 Other non-executive directors

  Executive directors

  Total

  Birmingham

  9

  1

  4

  14

  Blackpool

  5

  1

  2

  8

  Bournemouth

  6

  —

  2

  8

  Bristol

  5

  —

  2

  7

  185

  Airport

  Local authority members

  1 Other non-executive directors

  Executive directors

  Total

  Cardiff-Wales

  9

  3

  3

  15

  East Midlands

  18

  —

  3

  21

  Exeter

  5

  1

  2

  8

  Humberside

  12

  1

  3

  16

  Leeds Bradford

  15

  —

  3

  18

  Luton

  6

  4

  3

  13

  Manchester

  18

  —

  3

  21

  Newcastle

  24

  —

  3

  27

  Norwich

  6

  2

  3

  11

  Southend

  8

  —

  1

  9

  Teesside

  11

  1

  3

  15

  1 Includes former local authority member, local authority officers, businessmen and worker directors.

  Under section 17(1) of the Airports Act 1986 it is the duty of the controlling authority of a public airport company to exercise its control over the company so as to ensure that at least three of the directors of the company, or at least one quarter of their number—whichever is the less—are full time employees of the company with experience in airport management. Southend airport, which is managed on behalf of its owners by a management company, is currently exempted from this duty (under section 17(2) of the 1986 Act).

  M4
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to provide lighting on any section of the M4 between junctions 7/8 and 15 which is not presently lit.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Work is currently taking place to light the M4 between junctions 10 and 11. We have no plans at present to light any other unlit sections of the motorway between junctions 7 and 15. The provision of lighting along these sections will be considered in conjunction with planning for widening the M4 presently in hand.

  Lighthouse Authorities
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was paid by the general lighthouse authorities to the Commissioners for Irish Lights in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Norris
  Nothing.

  Roads
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, following the publication of the British Rail annual report, he will prepare and publish an equivalent document for British roads, listing all the costs and benefits.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Department of Transport report, published annually in February, includes details of the Government's expenditure on trunk roads and on transport supplementary grant for local authority roads in England. It also outlines expenditure plans for the next three years. Schemes in the road programme were last set out comprehensively in "Trunk Roads, England—into the 1990s" published in February 1990. Trunk roads in Wales and Scotland are the responsibility of the respective Secretaries of State.

  Aircraft Seating
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to bring civil air transport seating up to the most up-to-date safety and fire precaution standards.

  Mr. Norris
  The Civil Aviation Authority has the statutory responsibility for the safety regulation of civil aviation in the United Kingdom. I have drawn the hon. Member's question to the attention of the authority and asked it to write to him direct to inform him of the latest position on the safety of air transport seating.

  Trust Ports
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to replace those directors of trust ports appointed by him whose port authority has refused to make its annual report and accounts available to the public.

  Mr. Norris
  So far as I am aware, this situation has not arisen at any of the small number of trust ports where the Secretary of State appoints some or all members of the authority.

  Working Group
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will announce the remit and membership of the transport working group; and how it will contribute to the development of the Government's policies for transport in London.

  Mr. Norris
  I will be chairing the transport working group whose broad remit will be to advise me on issues affecting public transport in London and to help improve transport co-ordination. The membership, selected for its practical experience, will be the managing directors of London Underground Ltd., Network SouthEast and London Buses Ltd.; the chief executive of the LDDC; the South East and Metropolitan traffic commissioner; the chairman of the London Regional Passengers' Committee; and representatives of the private sector bus operators, the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the London tourist board and the London planning advisory committee. Sir George Young from the Department of the Environment will also be joining the group. I will be calling a first meeting in early autumn.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Tourism
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he expects to publish his input into the conference on tourism in November.

  Mr. Mellor
  The English tourist board plans to publish the proceedings of the conference towards the end of the year.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of the impact on tourism of the EC proposals for VAT on ferry fares, train tickets and air fares in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Mellor
  I have made no assessment of any such impact. An agreement reached by Finance Ministers enables us to maintain our existing zero rates.
  187
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to visit those educational establishments offering courses in tourism-related subjects.

  Mr. Mellor
  I have no engagements of this kind planned at the moment, but I look forward to seeing tourism-related courses in action in the future.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he last met the chairmen of the regional tourist boards.

  Mr. Mellor
  My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State frequently meets representatives of all sectors of the tourism industry on engagements around the country. My noble Friend Lord Astor attended the annual meeting of the regional tourist board chairmen held at the Belton Woods hotel near Grantham, on 1 July.

WALES

  Cardiff Bay Barrage
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made in setting up a trust fund for the transfer of assets from the Cardiff Bay development corporation for the purpose of accumulation of capital assets.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Cardiff Bay development corporation has considered a number of options for meeting the costs of operating the barrage and the inland bay after its dissolution. A trust fund was one of the options considered by the corporation but the Government have not yet taken a final decision on the preferred choice.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his most up-to-date estimate of the cost of the mitigation works for the provision of alternative feeding grounds for wading birds on the south Wales foreshore on an out-turn cost on the comparable timing of construction basis to the £167·4 million cost of the barrage in his answer of 26 June,Official Report, column 340.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The out-turn cost of the mitigation works will depend on the method and phasing of construction, which will not be known before the feasibility study is completed in the autumn.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is the level of unemployment among 16 and 17-year-olds in Wales and by county; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many persons aged 16 and 17 years who are not in employment or education are not currently on youth training programmes in each county in Wales and in total; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The 1988 Social Security Act changed the benefit entitlement of under 18-year-olds. It coincided with the guaranteed offer of a place on a youth training programme. Information is not centrally available on the numbers of 16 and 17-year-olds who are neither employed nor in education and who have chosen not to take a place on a youth training programme. However, among these 188
  are some who, due to exceptional social or domestic circumstances, are entitled to claim income support and are therefore included in the unemployment count. The numbers of these are shown in the following table:

  Number as at April 1992

  Number

  Clwyd

  73

  Dyfed

  28

  Gwent

  47

  Gwynedd

  46

  Mid Glamorgan

  158

  Powys

  15

  South Glamorgan

  31

  West Glamorgan

  26

  Wales

  424

  Source: Department of Employment.

  Regional Assistance
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the expenditure on regional assistance in each assisted area in Wales for the most recent available year.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information is as follows:

  Regional assistance: Estimated payments 1991–92

  TTWA

  Forecast outturn1 (£ thousands)

  Aberdare

  515

  Bangor and Caernarfon

  681

  Blaenau Gwent and Abergavenny

  5,014

  Bridgend

  10,795

  Cardiff

  3,133

  Cardigan

  352

  Haverfordwest

  78

  Holyhead

  311

  Lampeter and Aberaeron

  66

  Llanelli

  730

  Merthyr and Rhymney

  4,619

  Neath and Port Talbot

  4,501

  Newport

  4,830

  Pontypool and Cwmbran

  926

  Pontypridd and Rhondda

  16,842

  Porthmadog and Ffestiniog

  76

  Shotton, Flint and Rhyl

  8,773

  South Pembrokeshire

  104

  Swansea

  1,736

  Wrexham

  6,454

  Old-style regional development grant2

  836

  Total

  71,372

  1 Comprises regional selective assistance, old-style and revised regional development grants and regional enterprise grants.

  2 Expenditure on the basis of individual TTWAs is not available.

  Fire Services
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what changes in the management of the fire services in Wales he envisages will follow the introduction of unitary authorities.

  Mr. David Hunt
  This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

  Green Minister
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will outline the priorities for future action of the green Minister in his Department(a) over the next year and (b) over this Parliament: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Over the next 12 months I will continue to progress the commitments made in respect of Wales in the Environment White Paper "This Common Inheritance" (Cm. 1200) and in the follow-up report—"The Environment in Wales" published by the Welsh Office last September. I will also be publishing a further report in the autumn on our environmental programme in Wales and future plans. This will include an account of progress made by the Welsh Office in integrating environmental concerns into policies and programmes, including internal housekeeping practices, which will be developed further in the future.

  Home Care Service
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy concerning the home care service in Wales; what extra resources he plans to allocate concerning this service; if he will meet directors of social services from each of the counties in Wales to consider this service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Government attach great importance to the development of all forms of care, including home care services, which will help enable people to be cared for in their own homes and communities, rather than in institutions.

  The management of the home care service is the responsibility of social services authorities. It is a matter for those authorities to decide on a level of provision within the resources available to them. The proper assessment of need to make sure that services are optimally targeted to meet the needs of individuals is clearly essential, and indeed is required by Government policy on commumity care provision. It is for each authority to determine how best to go about this, but the Welsh Office has issued clear guidance on assessment and the provision of social and community care to help them. The "Caring for People" White Paper sets out our commitment to provide adequate resources for local authorities in the exercise of their wider responsibilities from April 1993. I have no present plans to meet directors of social services to discuss their management of the home care service.

  Water-borne Viruses
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the spread of water-borne viruses in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Government are funding an ongoing epidemiological study to assess the minor risks to health of sea bathing. The first two interim reports of the study are available in the Library of the House and I look forward to receiving the final report and recommendations next year.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases there are of swimmers contracting water-borne viruses in Wales since April; what were the comparable figures for 1990 and 1989; and if he will make a statement.
  190
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This information is not available.

  Hydatidosis
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of hydatidosis were reported in Wales in 1991; how many related diseases in children were reported; what were the comparable figures for each year since 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, the number of deaths and discharges from NHS hospitals in Wales for which a diagnosis of hydatidosis—ICD9 code 122—was recorded, in each of the years 1987–90, is given in the following table:

  The figures show:

  a. deaths and discharges for patients of all ages; and

  b. deaths and discharges in which the patient was under 16 years of age.

  Year

  All ages

  Under 16

  1987

  25

  3

  1988

  11

  0

  1989

  15

  1

  1990

  18

  0

  The figures may understate the true position in that not all hospitals provide complete clinical details relating to patient discharges and deaths.

  Corresponding data for 1991 are not available centrally at present.

  Teachers
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of first-year teachers in(a) Wales and (b) the United Kingdom in 1991; what were the comparable figures for the previous two years; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The number of full-time, qualified teachers in their first year of service is given in the following table:

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Wales1

  516

  575

  861

  England1

  12,857

  13,790

  14,449

  Northern Ireland2

  407

  331

  343

  Total

  13,780

  14,696

  15,653

  Scotland3

  —

  719

  —

  1 Source: Form 618G.

  2 Source: Teachers Payroll and Personnel System, Department of Education.

  3 Source: Scottish School Census, this is a biannual return therefore figures for 1989 and 1991 are not available.

  Regional Development Grants
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the expenditure on regional development grants in each assisted area in Wales, for the latest available year.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information is as follows:
  191

  Regional development grants: Estimated payments 1991–92 Revised regional development grants

  TTWA

  Forecast outturn (£ thousands)

  Aberdare

  182

  Blaenau Gwent and Abergavenny

  1,117

  Cardigan

  18

  Holyhead

  95

  Lampeter and Aberaeron

  17

  Merthyr and Rhymney

  1,588

  Neath and Port Talbot

  753

  Pontypridd and Rhondda

  2,642

  Shotton, Flint and Rhyl

  6,404

  South Pembrokeshire

  18

  Wrexham

  1,171

  Total

  14,005

  Old-style regional development grants1

  836

  Total

  14,841

  1 Expenditure on the basis of individual TTWAs is not available.

  Regional Enterprise Grants
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was(a) the expenditure on regional enterprise grants and (b) the number of offers, in each assisted area in Wales for the latest available year.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information is as follows:

  Regional selective assistance—1991–92

  TTWA

  Forecast outturn 1(£000's)

  Number of offers

  Forecast number of new jobs

  Forecast number of safeguarded jobs

  Aberdare

  296

  2

  10

  19

  Bangor and Caernarfon

  681

  7

  165

  267

  Blaenau Gwent and Abergavenny

  3,792

  17

  553

  97

  Bridgend

  10,795

  18

  2,331

  712

  Cardiff

  3,133

  30

  712

  484

  Cardigan

  275

  1

  9

  0

  Haverfordwest

  78

  2

  12

  0

  Holyhead

  112

  5

  301

  25

  Lampeter and Aberaeron

  15

  —

  —

  —

  Llanelli

  730

  16

  316

  102

  Merthyr and Rhymney

  2,889

  20

  602

  717

  Neath and Port Talbot

  3,643

  12

  396

  248

  Newport

  4,830

  9

  372

  683

  Pontypool and Cwbran

  926

  13

  796

  735

  Pontypridd and Rhondda

  14,099

  23

  637

  387

  Porthmadog and Ffestiniog

  76

  2

  22

  0

  Shotton, Flint and Rhyl

  1,897

  18

  701

  308

  South Pembrokeshire

  44

  3

  104

  0

  Swansea

  1,736

  14

  660

  443

  Wrexham

  5,053

  13

  619

  490

  Total

  55,100

  225

  9,318

  5,717

  1 Expenditure does not relate to offers of assistance made in 1991–92 but to offers made in previous years.

  Auditing
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether the accounts of each of the non-departmental public bodies under his responsibility are audited by(a) the National Audit Office, (b) private accountants or (c) another body; if he will name the private accountants or other bodies used: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Comptroller and Auditor General audits the accounts of all but two of the executive 192

  Regional enterprise grants estimated payments and offers made 1991–92

  TTWA

  Forecast Outturn (£ 000s)

  Number of offers

  Aberdare

  37

  6

  Blaenau Gwent and Abergavenny

  105

  12

  Cardigan

  59

  9

  Holyhead

  104

  4

  Lampeter and Aberaeron

  34

  4

  Merthyr and Rhymney

  142

  13

  Neath and Port Talbot

  105

  20

  Pontypridd and Rhondda

  101

  23

  Shotton, Flint and Rhyl

  472

  41

  South Pembrokeshire

  42

  7

  Wrexham

  230

  30

  Total

  1,431

  169

  Assisted Areas
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was(a) the expenditure on regional selective assistance, (b) the number of offers and (c) the associated number of (i) new jobs (ii) safeguarded jobs, for each assisted area in Wales for the most recent available year.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information is as follows:

  non-departmental public bodies in Wales in existence at 31 March 1992, either certifying separate accounts or as part of the Welsh Office appropriation accounts.

  The Cardiff Bay development corporation's accounts are audited by Ernst and Young and those of Housing for Wales by KPMG Peat Marwick.

  The accounts of the Welsh National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting are audited and laid before Parliament by the Comptroller and Auditor General, but a primary audit is carried out by Touche Ross and Company.

  "Getting in on the Act"
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his Department's response to the recommendations of the Audit Commission report "Getting in on the Act" on provision for pupils with special educational needs.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I welcome the publication of this report which will help to stimulate valuable discussion about educational provision for children with special educational needs. The Government have already promised legislation in this area later in the year.

  Commonwealth Games
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he supports the initiative taken by the Assembly of Welsh Counties to bring together the Sports Council for Wales and the Commonwealth Games Council for Wales to seek agreement on the future organisation and funding of participation in the games in Canada and beyond.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Sports Council for Wales is responsible for ensuring that public funds made available to it are used effectively. I understand that the Sports Council for Wales has indicated its willingness to participate in the meeting proposed by the Assembly of Welsh Counties and I hope that this will be helpful in resolving the matter.

  Unitary Authority, Cardiff
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether it is his intention that the new unitary authority based on Cardiff will have an eastern boundary based on the current boundary between the present Cardiff—south Glamorgan area and the present Newport—Gwent area.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him 6 July 1992 at columns 7–8.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Famine Aid
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list by country what aid his Department is currently giving to countries suffering from famine; and what was the position 12 months ago.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Commitments of aid to relieve famine (in some cases compounded by civil strife) are:

  Bilateral Assistance

  £ million 1992 to date

  £ million 1991

  Horn of Africa (Regional)

  9·00

  4·l

  Ethiopia/Eritrea

  14·00

  24·5

  Somalia

  2·00

  5·4

  Sudan

  9·00

  23·4

  Kenya

  2·00

  0·2

  36·00

  57·6

  Southern Africa Drought (Regional)1

  2·72

  —

  Lesotho

  0·03

  —

  Malawi

  9·56

  —

  194

  Bilateral Assistance

  £ million 1992 to date

  £ million 1991

  Mozambique2

  11·40

  —

  Republic of South Africa

  0·10

  —

  Swaziland

  0·04

  —

  Zambia

  10·27

  —

  Zimbabwe

  10·28

  —

  UNICEF/WFP Operations (Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Namibia)

  1·50

  —

  Reallocations from Country Programmes to Drought Relief (Uncommitted)

  2·30

  —

  48·20

  —

  TOTAL (Horn + southern Africa

  84·20

  57·6

  1 For technical assistance and NGO activities in the region—remains to be allocated.

  2 Includes food aid for Mozambique refugees in Malawi (£3·9 million) and food aid intended mainly for Mozambique (£5 million).

  Multilateral Assistance

  In addition, our share of the cost of food aid allocated to the southern Africa region in 1992 under the EC special food aid programme is estimated at £11·3 million. Our share of EC allocations to the Horn of Africa is £.12·4 million. Figures for other 1992 EC emergency aid programmes are not yet available.

  Green Minister
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will outline the priorities for future action of the green Minister in his Department(a) over the next year and (b) over this Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Over the next 12 months my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development will continue to follow up commitments made in the White Paper Cm 1200—"This Common Inheritance"—and its successor Cm 1655—"The First Year Report". She will also contribute to the second anniversary White Paper in the autumn. The ODA will continue to examine the environmental implications of all the activities it finances for developing countries, and to finance a wide range of measures which directly help tackle environmental problems in developing countries.

  A particular priority for the ODA for the next year and beyond will be helping developing countries implement the agreements reached at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.

  International Development Association
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much Britain's contribution to the earth increment to the International Development Association will be; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The question of an earth increment, which was proposed by the president of the World bank at UNCED, is one of the issues being discussed in the context of the 10th replenishment of the resources of the International Development Association (IDA). The negotiations on the replenishment are likely to be completed sometime this coming winter.

  Family Planning
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to improve world-wide access to family planning and education; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We are continuing to increase our support to population programmes in developing countries, focusing particularly on strengthening family planning services and support for the purchase of contraceptives. We are on course to achieve the goal which we announced in August 1991 of establishing at least 15 new bilateral population projects over the following two years. New contraceptive supply projects have been initiated in four African countries.

  We are also looking for opportunities to increase our support for adult education, particularly in women's literacy which has a close relationship with the demand for family planning advice.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Iran
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Iran concerning the well-being of the 3,000 members of the People's Mujahedin who were arrested at a protest in Mashad on 30 May.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  As I told the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 3 July at column 758, we continue to make clear to the Iranian Government our serious concern at their human rights record, both bilaterally and together with our EC partners.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has received from Amnesty International concerning mass executions carried out throughout Iran; and what response he has made;

  (2) what representations he has made to the Government of Iran concerning the practice of carrying out mass executions in the country.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We receive reports from Amnesty International on the situation in Iran on a regular basis. We continue to make clear to the Iranian Government our serious concern at their human rights record, both bilaterally and with our EC partners.

  Tibet
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the British diplomats who visited Lhasa and Shigatse in the Tibetan autonomous region from 16 to 25 May had about the proposed special economic zone in Lhasa; what discussion there was about British participation; and what results were achieved.

  Mr. Goodlad
  During their visit to Tibet in May the two British diplomats called on the local authorities, including the Economic Planning Commission. They were told of plans to establish a light industrial development zone and a high technology development zone in Lhasa, both intended to increase foreign trade and investment.

  Western Sahara
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ask the United Nations Secretary-General to intervene personally to solve the current stalemate in holding a referendum in western Sahara by talking directly with the Moroccan and Saharawi leaders.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Secretary-General's special representative, Mr. Yaqub Khan, has been pursuing talks with all parties to the western Sahara dispute. The Secretary-General hopes that substantial progress will have been made by the end of August.

  Spanish Fishermen
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his office has made to the Spanish Government regarding the instances of Spanish nationals being charged and convicted of fishing illegally in Scottish waters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  My Department has made no representations to the Spanish Government on this matter.

  Earth Summit
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he holds on which nation's delegations to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development were comprised only of Government representatives.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Our information is incomplete. A copy of the final list of delegates to UNCED will be placed in the Library as soon as it is available.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Knives
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for a new knives campaign; how he proposes to publicise it; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  It is for chief officers of police to consider whether publicising facilities for the disposal of knives would be a worthwhile crime prevention initiative in their force area. I understand that the Metropolitan police have recently launched a publicity campaign, which will run until 16 August, and that a similar campaign is planned for Greater Manchester in September.

  Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Information is not yet available on the number of prosecutions under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, which did not come into force until August 1991.

  Telephone Interception
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the organisations authorised to carry out telephone interception since 1986.
  197
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Warrants authorising the interception of communications may be issued following application by the police, HM Customs and Excise and the security and intelligence agencies.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many claims of unauthorised interception of telephones were investigated since 1985; and how many have been prosecuted.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Information held centrally shows that there were four prosecutions under section 1 of the Interception of Communications Act 1985 in England and Wales in 1988 and one in 1990. There are no centrally held records of the number of investigations.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will propose amendments to the Interception of Communications Act 1985 to make explicit that it is illegal to monitor or eavesdrop on domestic and industrial telecommunications unless a warrant is authorised, notwithstanding that a physical tap has not been put on the line.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Under the Interception of Communications Act 1985 the intentional interception of communications in the course of transmission by means of a public telecommunications system is an offence unless carried out under the authority of a warrant issued by the Secretary of State or there are reasonable grounds for believing that one of the parties to the communication has consented to the interception. I have no proposals to amend the Act.

  Wolds Remand Centre
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking over the disturbance at Wolds remand centre, Everthorpe on 27 to 28 June; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I have received a report on the incident from the Home Office controller based in the prison. I am satisfied that it was handled in a calm and professional way by the contractor.

  Gambling
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with his EC counterparts on the harmonisation of gambling policy within the EC; and what is the position of each member state on this subject in the context of the European single market.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  This subject has not yet been discussed at ministerial level. As part of its consideration of gambling in the single market, officials of the European Commission met officials from all member states on 2 and 3 April to discuss the issues. We understand that there is wide support amongst other member states for our view that gambling policy should remain a matter for national authorities.

  Green Minister
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will outline the priorities for future action of the green Minister in his Department(a) over the next year and (b) over this Parliament; and if he will make a statement.
  198
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  My hon. Friend the Minister of State will continue to ensure that the policy and work of my Department take full account of environmental concerns, in accordance with the principles set out in the White Paper "This Common Inheritance" Cm 1200 and the first year report, Cm 1655. Current initiatives include the reclamation and development as wildlife conservation areas of land adjoining new and existing prisons; a wide range of measures to reduce pollution arising from the activities of prison service industries and farms; the cessation of incineration in the disposal of waste at prison establishments; a review of departmental policy on the purchase and use of ozone-depleting chemicals; and a continuing programme of energy efficiency measures in Home Office buildings.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statistics his Department holds on the incidence of injury to animals from fireworks; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I have been asked to reply.

  No information is collected on the incidence of injury to animals from fireworks.

  Recorded Offences
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of offences recorded in each police authority area in 1991–92; what was the percentage change compared with the preceding year; how many offences were notified for each uniformed officer in each police authority area for 1991–92; and what was the percentage change compared with the preceding year.

  Mr. Jack
  The requested information on notifiable offences recorded by the police is published in table 2 of Home Office statistical bulletin 14/92, a copy of which is in the Library. The figures for the number of notifiable offences recorded by the police per police officer and the percentage change are contained in the following table:

  Notifiable offences recorded by the police per police officer

  Police force area

  Notifiable offences per officer in 12 months to March 1992

  Percentage change from previous 12 months

  Avon and Somerset

  49

  10

  Bedfordshire

  53

  -5

  Cambridgeshire

  49

  25

  Cheshire

  37

  22

  Cleveland

  55

  9

  Cumbria

  39

  25

  Derbyshire

  47

  30

  Devon and Cornwall

  37

  10

  Dorset

  39

  1

  Durham

  48

  15

  Essex

  39

  13

  Gloucestershire

  50

  31

  Greater Manchester

  56

  12

  Hampshire

  47

  18

  Hertfordshire

  34

  16

  Humberside

  60

  12

  Kent

  49

  33

  Lancashire

  40

  17

  Leicestershire

  50

  17

  Lincolnshire

  38

  11

  London, City of

  9

  -1

  Merseyside

  33

  9

  199

  Police force area

  Notifiable offences per officer in 12 months to March 1992

  Percentage change from previous 12 months

  Metropolitan Police

  34

  11

  Norfolk

  47

  16

  Northamptonshire

  52

  15

  Northumbria

  65

  11

  North Yorkshire

  38

  12

  Nottinghamshire

  67

  13

  South Yorkshire

  43

  16

  Staffordshire

  40

  19

  Suffolk

  35

  10

  Surrey

  31

  13

  Sussex

  38

  13

  Thames Valley

  52

  24

  Warwickshire

  41

  20

  West Mercia

  37

  14

  West Midlands

  45

  15

  West Yorkshire

  59

  25

  Wiltshire

  33

  6

  Dyfed-Powys

  30

  26

  Gwent

  40

  20

  North Wales

  34

  15

  South Wales

  52

  12

  Prisoners' Home Leave
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have been released on home leave in 1992; and how many of these prisoners failed to return to custody.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information required is not held centrally at present but arrangements are being made for its future collection and publication.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long he normally expects to take to respond to letters from hon. Members.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The aim is to reply to letters from hon. Members as quickly as possible. The time required in each case is influenced by factors such as the need to search records or to make inquiries outside the Department. Work is presently in hand to further improve the service to hon. Members.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be in a position to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Stretford of 18 May regarding Mr. R. H. (Reference R 303898/2).

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I replied to the hon. Member on 24 June.

  Police Recruitment
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were recruited in 1991; what were the comparable figures for the previous two years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  During 1991, 5,338 police officers were recruited in England and Wales. The figures for 1989 and 1990 are 7,364 and 5,560 respectively. Recruitment figures for 1991 reflect the fact that establishment increases did not come into effect until October.

  Prisoners' Children
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any proposals to enable mothers of young children who are serving prison sentences to keep their children with them; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Facilities already exist in three prisons for mothers to keep their young children with them. At present there are a total of 37 places in mother and baby units; 15 places are at Askham Grange, 12 are at Holloway and 10 are at Styal. At Askham Grange and Styal children may remain until the age of 18 months, while at Holloway the age limit is nine months.

  Plans have already been drawn up to extend the number of places. Ten more places will be provided at Styal by the end of the year, and work will start on a purpose-built unit at New Hall during the winter months, to provide a further nine places.

  EC Border Controls
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will immediately make available the draft European Community regulation relating to European Community border controls.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to a question from the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Darling) on 7 July 1992 at column 132.

  Immigrants Advisory Service
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans for the future funding of the United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  My hon. Friend the Member for Fareham (Mr. Lloyd) announced on 29 January at column 566 that although the Government had a high regard for the service which UKIAS staff provided to its clients we were not satisfied with the manner in which the general council and executive committee oversaw the organisation.

  The Government and the London representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees have since transferred the funds available for refugee work from UKIAS to the new refugee unit. This unit was formerly part of UKIAS. It is, however, now a separate independent voluntary body supervised on an interim basis by a board chaired by Mrs. Usha Prashar which is devising proposals for a long-term constitution for the unit.

  My hon. Friend also gave UKIAS notice in January that continued payment of the grant for the service's general immigration work depended on its making changes to meet the standards expected of an organisation receiving grant-in-aid. The necessary changes have not been made and the Government have now decided to terminate the grant to UKIAS.

  The Government attach importance to the provision of satisfactory counselling services and representation for people with rights of appeal under immigration legislation. We wish to apply the funds which have hitherto been applied to UKIAS under section 23 of the Immigration

  201
  Act 1971 to a new voluntary body which will take over the general immigration work of UKIAS. My right hon. and learned Friend has invited Mr. Humfrey Malins to lead a small planning group, outside Government, whose task will be to draw up proposals for such an organisation. Others will be invited to be members of the group, which will be encouraged to complete its work as soon as possible.

  In drawing up its proposals, the planning group has been asked by my right hon. and learned Friend to have particular regard to the need for the trustees of the new body to be able to meet their responsibilities under charity law and to satisfy the Home Office that there will be proper accountability for the grant paid. Provided these criteria are met, I hope that the group will then take steps to implement its proposals and establish the new body.

  In the meantime, the Government hope that it will prove possible for advice and representation to continue to be available to appellants. We are, however, not prepared to provide any further funds for UKIAS while it is overseen by the present executive committee. We have today written to members of UKIAS's general council explaining that we would be prepared to fund UKIAS to provide legal advice and representation during this interim period only if the executive committee were replaced by a new, separate administration acceptable to the Home Office. We hope that the general council will respond positively, so that the service to UKIAS's clients can continue while plans for the new body are being made.

  Bail Hostels
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for each police authority area in Yorkshire and Humberside and for England as a whole(a) how many bail hostel places were provided by the probation service at 31 December 1991, (b) what the average number of residents in these bail hostels was in 1991 and (c) how many convictions were recorded in 1991 of people who were resident in a bail hostel at the time of the offence for which they were convicted.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 7 July 1992]: As at 31 December 1991 there were 26 bail and 82 probation/bail hostels in England as a whole, providing 559 bail and 1,782 probation/bail places. Of these, 19 probation/bail places were provided by Humberside, 22 bail and 122 probation/bail places by south Yorkshire, and 45 bail and 95 probation/bail places by west Yorkshire. There are currently no hostels in north Yorkshire.

  Statistics on the average number of residents are collected in terms of percentage occupancy. The 1991 figures, against 74·6 per cent. for England as a whole, are Humberside 64·3 per cent.; south Yorkshire 76·5 per cent.: west Yorkshire 83·0 per cent.

  Information on the addresses of offenders at the time their offences were committed is not collected centrally.

  Prisons, Wales
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prisons in Wales that are overcrowded, the maximum number of prisoners allowed at these institutions, and the current number of inmates; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 7 July 1992]: Two Welsh prisons, Cardiff and Swansea, are overcrowded. In
  202
  common with most other local prisons the operational capacity of these establishments—that is, the normal working capacity—is higher than the certified normal accommodation (that is, the uncrowded capacity). The figures for 24 June were as follows:

  CNA

  Operational capacity

  Population

  Cardiff

  325

  447

  437

  Swansea

  213

  285

  283

EDUCATION

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether experiments on live animals are included in the national curriculum.

  Mr. Forth
  No.

  Public School Teachers
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many public school teachers were trained at a cost to public funds; and what is the current cost of a three-year teacher training course.

  Mr. Forth
  Data on the number of teachers in public schools who were trained at a cost to public funds are not held centrally. The estimated average cost at 1991–92 prices of training a teacher in a higher education institution outside London through a three-year under-graduate course is about £19,000. The majority of undergraduate initial teacher training courses arc of four years' duration.

  White Paper
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what will be the title of his proposed White Paper on the organisation of education; and when it will be published.

  Mr. Forth
  As announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, we will publish the White Paper, complete with title, by the end of the summer.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will indicate the scope and purpose of his projected White Paper on education; and if he will list any consultative paper, speech or departmental circular of relevance to its contents, either at the present time, or after its publication.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has already announced the Government's intention to publish a White Paper by the end of the summer. Its scope and purpose will be made public then. The speech given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the Adam Smith Institute on 16 June made it clear that the White Paper will include proposals for new types of schools to develop, and proposals to tackle the worst inner city schools.

  Special Needs
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the average length of time that children with special needs have to wait before being assessed; and if he will make a statement.
  203
  Mr. Forth
  Information for each local education authority is not available centrally. However, there is recent evidence that some authorities are failing to meet the Government's guidelines that the procedures for assessment and the issue of a statement should not exceed six months. The Government have now decided that there should be comprehensive provisions for regulating the time and way in which the assessment and statementing procedures are carried out. My right hon. Friend is about to consult widely on the form and content of the regulations which will be required.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the Audit Commission's report on the assessment of children with special needs.

  Mr. Forth
  A press statement welcoming the publication of the report was issued on 25 June, and was placed in the Library.

  University Students
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the average cost per student per year of educating a university student in(a) Wales and (b) the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forman
  The Universities Funding Council provides the same level of funding for teaching for funded student places in each subject in all universities, irrespective of location. Allocations for research and other factors are made separately. Details of the UFC's allocations for all universities in 1992–93 are set out in UFC circular letter 4/92, a copy of which is in the Library.

  New Schools
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many new schools opened in 1991; and what were the comparable figures for the previous two years.

  Mr. Forth
  Thirty-one new schools opened in 1991. This compares with 74 in 1990 and 47 in 1989.

  Retired Teachers
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many teachers retired in 1991; what were the comparable figures for 1982 and 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The number of members of the teachers' superannuation scheme for England and Wales who were awarded retirement benefits during the periods in question is as follows:

  Financial year ended 31st March

  Total

  1982

  16,462

  1986

  17,336

  1991

  21,318

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Machine Tool Industry
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he next expects to meet representatives of the Machine Tool Technologies Association to discuss the effects of the recession on the machine tool industry.

  Mr. Heseltine
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Industry met the Machine Tool Technologies Association on 8 June. I plan to meet the association later in the year.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many of the professional institutions associated with manufacturing he has met since taking up his appointment.

  Mr. Heseltine
  To date, I have had no formal meetings with the professional institutes. I have, however, had the pleasure of meeting many of the institutes' representatives during my business engagements.

  Manufacturing Output
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent representations he has received about manufacturing output.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Department receives considerable correspondence about the state of manufacturing industry.

  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the level of output of manufacturing industry(a) in the north-west and (b) in Lancashire.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  In 1989, the latest year for which data are available, manufacturing output in the north-west was £14 billion. The figure for Lancashire will be published in "Regional Trends 27" on 9 July, a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has recently received about manufacturing output.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Department receives considerable correspondence about the state of manufacturing industry.

  RECHAR
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the operation of RECHAR.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  RECHAR programmes are now ready to proceed and I look forward to their making a useful contribution to the economies of coal field areas.

  Assisted Areas
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if his Department will be introducing any changes to the criteria for assisted area status.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Measures of unemployment will continue to be the main criteria in the assisted areas map
  205
  review now under way. The consultation paper recently issued makes clear, however, that other factors will also he considered, including future job demand, other perfor-mance measures, activity rates, urban problems, peripherality and the incidence of known major closures or rundowns.

  Shipbuilding
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent discussions he has had with representatives of management and employees of the United Kingdom merchant shipyards on matters relating to the European Community's seventh directive on the shipbuilding intervention fund; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and I have had a number of discussions with management and employee representatives of the shipbuilding industry during the last few weeks.

  Consumer Protection
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the implementation of European consumer protection legislation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hoon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to ensure the effective implementation of European consumer protection law.

  Mr. Leigh
  Implementation of European Community consumer protection legislation into the national legislation of a member state is the responsibility of that member state. My Department has not made an assessment of the effectiveness of such implementation by other member states. If the hon. Member has information that they are failing to implement Community legislation effectively, he should send it to me.

  Trade Deficit
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the visible trade deficit for the latest available month; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  The United Kingdom had a visible trade deficit of £0·8 billion in May 1992.

  EC Directives
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 17 June,Official Report, columns 500–51, what assessment he has made of the effect of recent community directives on the profitability of small businesses.

  Mr. Leigh
  My Department's deregulation unit monitors proposals for legislation from the European Commission and identifies those which are likely to impose significant burdens on business. In conjunction with other Departments, we seek to ensure that the costs of those directives are properly assessed and taken into account by the Commission through its fiche d'impact system. Departments also take account of compliance costs when they consult business and interested parties on proposals both during negotiations and at implementation stage.
  206
  The views of small business organisations are sought and taken into account in this process. The directives listed in the reply referred to are under consideration, and have been or will be subject to appropriate assessment and consultation.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will ban the import of all animals purchased for the purpose of experimentation.

  Mr. Needham
  No. Imposition of an import ban was rejected by Parliament during the passage of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

  Industrial Policy
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will next meet representatives of the northern region CBI to discuss industrial policy.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I shall be meeting representatives of the northern region CBI on 18 September.

  Industrial Investment
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the level of industrial investment in the west midlands.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  In 1989, the latest year for which data are available, manufacturing investment in the west midlands amounted to £1·6 billion.

  Trading Standards Officers
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the number of trading standards officers in post and the number required.

  Mr. Leigh
  According to returns submitted by local weights and measures authorities in England, Wales and Scotland, the number of qualified trading standards officers in post on 31 March 1991 was just over 1,500 against a complement of just under 1,800.

  Telephone Charges
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the ranking of the United Kingdom in terms of local telephone charges compared to other countries in the OECD.

  Mr. Leigh
  Comparisons of individual telephone call prices can be misleading. Factors such as duration of call, time of day, distance and charging structure all have to be taken into account. Oftel publishes annually a comparison of the prices in the United Kingdom for typical residential and business customers. The most recent produced the following comparisons.

  Country

  Residential Basket

  Business Basket

  United Kingdom (BT)

  100

  100

  France

  78

  92

  Germany (DB)

  99

  99

  Italy

  105

  133

  Notes:

  United Kingdom = 100; conversion of currencies by means of

  207
  purchasing power parities (PPPs).

  United Kingdom tariff for local calls have fallen by between 14 and 19 per cent. since privatisation.

  Industry Links
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to improve the links between industry and his Department in the northern region.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I announced on 3 July my plans for reorganising my Department so as to relate more closely to individual sectors of industry throughout the United Kingdom. These plans include the creation of a new industrial competitiveness division, a number of new divisions to cover key sectors not dealt with at present, and the assigning to all sectoral divisions of an explicit role to sponsor their industries. My Department's regional offices will continue to be the first point of contact for many firms. The offices based in Newcastle and Manchester will continue their work of building closer and more effective links with industry in the northern region.

  Exports
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of United Kingdom exports in each of the past three years to(a) the United States of America and (b) the 11 countries of the European Community.

  Mr. Needham
  United Kingdom exports to the United States of America were £12·2 billion, £13·0 billion and £11·3 billion in 1989, 1990 and 1991 respectively. Exports to the EC countries were £47·4 billion, £54·9 billion and £59·3 billion in the same three years.

  Post Office
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he next intends to meet the chairman of the Post Office to discuss Post Office reorganisation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  My right hon. Friend last met the chairman of the Post Office, Sir Bryan Nicholson, on 20 May and will continue to meet him on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues of mutual concern.

  National Grid
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the changes necessary to the national grid for electricity consequent on the current text of the treaty on European union, articles 129 b, c and d.

  Mr. Eggar
  None.

  Recession
  Mr. Cunliffe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the long-term effects of the recession in industry.

  Mr. Heseltine
  British industry is well placed to grow as we recover from recession.

  Insolvencies
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many recent representations he has received about companies with debts which declare themselves insolvent 208
  and are replaced by new companies with similar names run by the same people; what plans he has to take action; what general advice he issues to the creditors of such companies: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  A few representations have been made to my Department recently on directors of failed companies starting new companies with similar names. Provisions contained in the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 and, more specifically, section 216 of the Insolvency Act 1986 address these concerns where companies go into insolvent liquidation. Creditors are advised to report any breaches of the provisions to the liquidator, or my officials at the Insolvency Service.

  Beer Orders
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate has been made of the effect of the Beer orders in the United Kingdom upon(a) the number of public houses, (b) the number of brewery companies brewing beer and (c) the number of tenants leaving the brewery trade; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The Beer orders do not come fully into force until 1 November 1992. The Director General of Fair Trading will he reviewing them next year when their effects on the beer market can be assessed.

  UN International Conventional Arms Transfer Register
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on how Her Majesty's Government believe the United Nations international conventional arms transfer register will play an important role in safeguarding against diversion of significant military material.

  Mr. Needham
  The United Nations register will show each year member states' exports to and imports from individual countries in certain major categories of arms, for example missiles and missile systems. One of the register's main purposes is to provide transparency in the trading of such items. The availability of this information to all member states will make it possible to trace the movement of significant military material, and to compare declared exports against declared imports. It is hoped therefore that the need to report transfers will act as a deterrent to those who would otherwise divert supplies of such equipment.

  PERIFRA Programme
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will set out the rules and guidelines governing applications under the PERIFRA defence industry conversion programme; whether local authorities and training and enterprise councils may apply; and what is the number and regional distribution of applications so far received.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  In a letter dated 25 March 1992, the European Commission set out the conditions for grants under the PERIFRA programme, and invited Governments to send applications. A copy of this letter has been placed in the Library.

  The closing date for applications was subsequently extended to 5 June 1992. Over 25 applications were

  209
  received from all parts of the United Kingdom, of which 12 have been forwarded to the Commission. We await its decision as to the projects to be awarded grant.

  Nuclear Power
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many papers concerning the development of civil nuclear energy his Department requested be withheld under section 5(1) of the Public Records Act in regard to the release of papers for(a) 1958, (b) 1959, (c) 1960 or (d)

  Mr. Eggar
  Information on the numbers of my Department's files which are closed or retained under the Public Records Acts is shown in the class lists which are open for inspection at the Public Record Office, Kew. Where individual papers have been withheld, this can be ascertained from dummy documents which are inserted in the relevant files.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much has been allocated by his Department in each of the last five years to the International Atomic Energy Authority to undertake monitoring work in relation to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Eggar
  Monitoring work is carried out under safeguards agreements including those concluded pursuant to the non-proliferation treaty. The cost of safeguards forms part of the agency's regular budget. The United Kingdom has contributed the following amounts to the regular budget in the past five years:

  £ million

  1987–88

  3·5

  1988–89

  3·7

  1989–90

  4·0

  1990–91

  4·7

  1991–92

  4·9

  Computer Programs (Patents)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his policy towards proposals under the general agreement on tariffs and trade to allow patenting Of the general techniques underlying computer programs, and the patenting of software-related inventions.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 7 July 1992]: We welcome the proposals under the GATT agreement to protect computer programs as literary works under the Berne convention, 1971. Copyright protection extends to expressions and not to ideas, procedures, methods of operation or mathematical concepts as such. Since computer programs are treated as literary works in the United Kingdom and they are protected by copy right there is no conflict between the GATT agreement and United Kingdom law and practice. The United Kingdom Patent Office will continue to be able to exclude computer software from patentability.

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list each recipient company and the level of grant provided through regional selective assistance since 1984–85 in the Darlington area.
  210
  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]: Details of offers of regional selective assistance are normally made public only after the company has made a claim and has been paid. Since 1984–85 there are 72 companies in the Darlington travel-to-work-area who have benefited from regional selective assistance. The firms and the offers made and accepted (excluding details of three cases where the amounts offered and accepted was less than £5,000) are as follows:

  Name of company

  Offer value (£)

  Alan Tinley T. A. ATV Productions

  5,000

  Amdega Ltd.

  220,000

  Amech Eng. Ltd.

  22,000

  Areena Shoe Components Ltd.

  50,000

  Aycliffe Paper Winding Co.

  5,000

  A5 Hydraulics Ltd.

  5,000

  Baydale Architectural Metalwork Ltd.

  75,000

  Baydale Eng. (Peter Lanagan T. A.)

  8,000

  BSA Foundaries Ltd.

  175,000

  C. Harvey TA Shildon Manufacturing

  15,000

  C. P. Offset Ltd.

  50,000

  Cummins Engine Co. Ltd.

  215,000

  D. B. Harrison

  12,000

  D. Fenwick

  10,000

  Darchem Ltd.

  65,000

  Darlington Pattern Making Co.

  6,500

  Darlington Timber Supplies Ltd.

  15,000

  David A. C. Royle and Co. Ltd.

  14,000

  Direct Signs (Northern) Ltd.

  15,000

  Dunhouse Quarry Co. Ltd.

  25,000

  E. F. Shepherd

  25,000

  Edgeworth Electronics Ltd.

  75,000

  Epcot Leisure Ltd.

  15,000

  Ernest Bennett and Co (Darlington) Ltd.

  25,000

  F. W. Alderson (C. R. Lowe T. A.)

  5,000

  Faverdale Training and Adventure Ltd.

  25,000

  Forge Diesel Services Ltd.

  5,000

  Forge House Group

  20,000

  G. K. Tindal and Son

  5,000

  Glassfibre Flagpoles Ltd.

  20,000

  Granada Aluminium Co. Ltd.

  37,500

  Gregory and Blackburn

  7,500

  Harvey Plating Ltd.

  75,000

  Henry Williams Darlington Ltd.

  20,000

  Henry Williams Ltd.

  45,000

  Indescon Ltd.

  35,000

  J. Dyson & Co. Ltd.

  10,000

  J. J. Eng. (Durham) Ltd.

  100,000

  J. L. Moore & Sons

  75,000

  K. Stewart Eng. Ltd.

  10,000

  Kingsway Adventure Centre

  44,000

  Kohlangaz Fire Co. Ltd.

  45,000

  Malcolm Engineering Co. (Darlington)

  25,000

  Management Services (Northern) Ltd.

  9,000

  Mech-Tool Eng. Ltd.

  70,000

  Milicom Information Service Ltd.

  450,000

  Milicom Cellular (U.K.) Ltd.

  450,000

  Miniprints (North East) Ltd.

  15,000

  Mitre Plastics Ltd.

  75,000

  211

  Name of company

  Offer value (£)

  Mitre Tooling Co.

  35,000

  Pharmapac (Barnard Castle) Ltd.

  18,000

  Priestgate Services (No, 29) Ltd.

  30,000

  Prolog Timber Ltd.

  60,000

  Rallbar Ltd, (Bowhill Construction)

  10,000

  Rene Friedlin Ltd.

  25,000

  Renham & Wade

  31,500

  Rennyco Ltd,

  5,000

  S. & A. Fabrications

  35,000

  S. R. (Steel) Ltd.

  5,000

  212

  Name of company

  Offer value (£)

  Star Satellite Systems Ltd.

  5,000

  Stenga Ltd.

  90,000

  Teesdale Conservatories Ltd.

  25,000

  Teesside Training & Technology Centre

  45,000

  Thrivewell Ltd.

  7,500

  Turnbridgc Project Services Ltd.

  5,000

  Vector Electronics

  10,000

  Wm. Smith & Sons (Barnard Castle) Ltd.

  40,000

  Yeoman Furniture Ltd.

  25,000

  3D Fibres Ltd.

  20,000

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Commercial and Industrial Tenants
  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate he has made of the effect on tenants of commercial and industrial property as a result of delays in implementing the proposals in the Law Commission consultation paper of 1986 "Landlord and Tenant: Privity of Contract and Estate". Law Commission paper No. 95; and if he will now take steps to implement the proposals.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor has received a number of representations from those affected by the rules of privity of contract and estate. He is well aware of the difficulties faced by some tenants and has recently met representatives of both tenants and landlords. He is now considering their representations and hopes to make a statement about the Law Commission's proposals before long.

  Porthmadog County Court
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the future of Porthmadog county court.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Department is currently examining the court services provided in Gwynned, where Porthmadog county court is situated.

  No moves will be made to close Porthmadog county court or any other office without consulting users who have an interest in its future.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Police National Computer
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many accesses were made to each index of the new police national computer over the last year; and if he will include in these statistics an indication of the number of access requests that could search more than one index.

  Mr. Mates
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 7 July at columns 128–29 by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department.

  Health Promotion Agency
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland where the first report of the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland was printed.

  Mr. Hanley
  The report was printed in Northern Ireland.

  1990

  1991

  Board

  Protestant

  Catholic

  Not known

  Protestant

  Catholic

  Not known

  Eastern

  71

  54

  12

  63

  52

  14

  Northern

  112

  33

  9

  53

  28

  5

  Southern

  23

  10

  2

  33

  11

  2

  Western

  23

  61

  8

  24

  37

  7

  It would not be appropriate to break these down by directorate or grade. Information for 1989 is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Green Minister
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will outline the priorities for future action of the green Minister in his Department(a) over the next year and (b) over this Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Over the next 12 months I shall continue to follow up commitments in the White Paper "This Common Inheritance" (Cm 1200) and its successor "The First Year Report" (Cm 1655) and I shall also be providing a Northern Ireland contribution for a second year report in the autumn. Over the next year and beyond I shall continue to ensure that environmental concerns shape the policy and work of the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments, whenever appropriate.

  Rate Collection Agency
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what performance targets have been set for the Rate Collection Agency in 1992–93.

  Mr. Atkins
  For 1992–93 the following performance targets have been set for the Agency:

  1. To reduce rating debt to 1.95 per cent. of the gross collectable rate (excluding late assessments) by 31 March 1993.

  2. To achieve a reduction of 2 per cent. in the real value of the unit costs of collecting rates per hereditament.

  3. To generate refunds to 96 per cent. of ratepayers so entitled within 14 days of credits being identified.

  4. To process by 31 March 1993 94 per cent. of applications in respect of the incoming year received from existing housing benefit recipients before 15 March 1993.

  5. To achieve a reduction of 1·6 per cent. in the real value of the unit costs of processing housing benefit cases.

  6. To achieve at least 96 per cent. of housing benefit assessments free of error.

  Health and Social Services Boards
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the perceived religious affiliation of persons appointed to permanent posts in each of the health and social services board headquarters in Northern Ireland, by director, section and grade, over the past three years.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 30 June 1992]: The perceived religious affiliation of persons appointed to permanent posts in each of the health and social services board headquarters in 1990 and 1991 is as follows:

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Privy Purse
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will set out for each year since 1987 the heads of expenditure of the privy purse of the Duchy of Lancaster, stating in each case whether the payments were made for a charitable purpose.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The accounts of the Duchy of Lancaster are placed in the Library of the House each year. It can be seen from these accounts that there is no such item as "the Privy Purse of the Duchy of Lancaster".

  Greater Manchester Sheriff
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he will be attending the ceremony of pricking the nomination of the sheriff for the county of Greater Manchester; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster normally attends when Her Majesty the Queen picks the names of the three high sheriffs for the county of Greater Manchester.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Scotch Whisky
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer on 21 May,Official Report, column 203, to the hon. Member for Moray (Mrs. Ewing), what progress has been made in talks with his European partners at the ECOFIN meetings on the EC excise tax issue as it affects Scotch whisky.

  Sir John Cope
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave on 3 July 1992 at columns 755–56.

  Green Minister
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will outline the priorities for future action of the green Minister in his Department(a) over the next year and (b) over this Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  I consider the environmental implications of Treasury policies as necessary.

  VAT
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the annual gain to the Exchequer of imposing VAT at the standard rate on(a) books, (b) magazines, (c) newspapers, or (d) all currently non-rated or zero-rated goods and services other than fresh food and children's clothes.

  Sir John Cope
  The extra revenue accruing, in a full year, from applying the standard rate of VAT to the zero-rated items listed is approximately estimated, for the last financial year, at:

  Revenue effect1 1991–92 (£ billion)

  (a) Books

  0·3

  (b) Magazines

  0·2

  (c) Newspapers

  0·5

  216

  Revenue effect1 1991–92 (£ billion)

  (d) Goods and Services other than Food and Children's Clothing

  Domestic Fuel and Power

  2·5

  Construction of New Dwellings

  23·4

  Passenger Transport

  2·3

  Water and Sewerage Services

  0·5

  Drugs and Medicines on Prescription

  0·4

  1 These estimates make no allowance for the fact that changes in taxation may cause people to change their behaviour. These estimates cannot be added together to give a meaningful total. Not all expenditure under these headings is zero-rated.

  2 Includes zero-rated expenditure on land purchased for construction of new dwellings.

  These figures are based on information provided in table 4B. 1 in the 1992–93 "Financial Statement and Budget Report".

  Goods and services which are not standard-rated or zero-rated are either exempt from VAT or out of scope. No estimates are available for these.

  Public Sector Pay
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his target for the rate of increase of public sector pay in real terms.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Government set no such target.

  Business Rate
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many appeals are outstanding against uniform business rate valuations on the Isle of Wight; and how many appeals have been heard.

  Mr. Dorrell
  For the Isle of Wight 202 appeals against uniform business rate valuations have been heard and 863 remain outstanding.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the appeals of the Isle of Wight against uniform business rate valuations resulted in(a) a reduction and (b) an increase.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested is not available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Petroleum Revenue Tax
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what has been the total annual revenue raised through corporation tax paid by companies also liable for petroleum revenues tax for each of the years since petroleum revenue tax was introduced;

  (2) what has been the total annual revenue raised through petroleum revenue tax in each year since its introduction; and what is his estimated yield for the current financial year.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Revenues raised from United Kingdom oil and gas production by petroleum revenue tax and corporation tax are as follows:

  £ million

  Petroleum revenue tax1

  Corporation tax2

  1975–76

  0

  5

  1976–77

  0

  10

  1977–78

  0

  10

  217

  Petroleum revenue tax1

  Corporation tax2

  1978–79

  183

  93

  1979–80

  1,435

  250

  1980–81

  2,410

  341

  1981–82

  4,415

  681

  1982–83

  5,669

  521

  1983–84

  6,017

  877

  1984–85

  7,177

  2,432

  1985–86

  6,375

  2,916

  1986–87

  1,188

  2,676

  1987–88

  2,296

  1,318

  1988–89

  1,371

  1,230

  1989–90

  1,050

  743

  1990–91

  860

  971

  1991–92

  -214

  647

  31992–93

  100

  600

  1 Including Supplementary Petroleum Duty in and 1982–83.

  2 Before ACT set-off.

  3 1992–93 Financial Statement and Budget Report forecast.

  Pensions
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those EC member states who pay their national government employees index linked inflation proofed pensions.

  Mr. Portillo
  I regret that this information is not held centrally.

  Bank of Credit and Commerce International
  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Bank of England will respond to the fourth report of the Treasury and Civil Service Committee of Session 1991–92, "Banking Supervision and BCCI: international and national supervision".

  Mr. Lamont
  I understand that the Bank of England has now responded to the fourth report of the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee in Session 1991–92 "Banking Supervision and BCCI: international and national supervision". A copy of this response has been placed in the Library, together with a paper on minimum standards for the supervision of banking groups recently agreed by the Basle committee of G10 banking supervisors, to accompany and reinforce the 1983 Basle concordat.

  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is yet in a position to reply to the fourth report of the Treasury and Civil Service Committee of Session 1991–92, "Banking Supervision and BCCI: international and national supervision".

  Mr. Lamont
  As the former Economic Secretary told the House on 12 March 1992 at column 603, the Government will await Lord Justice Bingham's report on BCCI before reaching any conclusions on the Committee's recommendations.

  Money Laundering
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the work of the financial action task force on money laundering.

  Mr. Nelson
  The financial action task force on money laundering (FATF) published its third annual report on 25 218
  June. The FATF has focused on three key areas of work over the last year. It has reviewed the 40 recommendations that were drawn up in 1990 in the light of recent experience and developments in money laundering techniques. It has produced interpretative notes on matters such as unlawful use of shell companies and the use of lawyers as nominees for illegal entities. The FATF has also begun a study of ways to make it easier to track the movement of suspect funds through electronic payment systems.

  The external relations working group of the FATF, chaired by the United Kingdom, has continued to encourage world wide action against money laundering, and has drawn up a detailed action programme for future work. Over the past year FATF members, including the United Kingdom, have taken part in a number of regional meetings to discuss money laundering including the Caribbean financial action task force in Kingston, Jamaica and the South East Asia Central bank board of governors in Jakarta. Links with other international organisations, such as the United Nations international drugs control programme and the Council of Europe are being developed.

  Finally, the FATF has established an effective mutual evaluation programme to assess progress among its members in implementing the anti-money laundering measures that it has developed. Four of these in-depth country examinations have so far taken place. Australia, France, Sweden and the United Kingdom have been examined. The FATF report includes summaries of these assessments.

  The report on the United Kingdom is very complimentary. It notes the scale and international nature of the United Kingdom financial sector and the importance we attach to its remaining clean. The report commends the co-operative nature of the United Kingdom response to the threat of money laundering, and the good relations between the financial institutions, the regulators and the law enforcement community. The report concludes that the United Kingdom approach to combating money laundering could serve as a model for other countries.

  I have arranged for copies of the report to be placed in the Library.

  Banknotes
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all the banknotes issued in(a) England, (b) Northern Ireland and (c) Scotland, indicating which notes are legal tender in each jurisdiction.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 7 July 1992]: In England, the Bank of England is the sole note-issuing authority and notes are currently issued in the denominations of £5, £10, £20 and £50. In Northern Ireland, four commercial banks (Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish banks, Northern hank and Ulster bank) issue notes of £5, £10, £20, and £100, with Northern bank and Ulster bank also issuing £50 notes. In Scotland, three commercial banks (Royal Bank of Scotland, Bank of Scotland and Clydesdale bank) issue £5, £10, £20 and £100 notes, with Clydesdale bank also issuing a £50 note and Royal Bank of Scotland a £1 note.

  Bank of England notes are legal tender in England and Wales only. Notes issued by banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland are not legal tender anywhere. Notes

  219
  that are not legal tender may be used—anywhere in the United Kingdom—so long as both parties to a transaction agree that they are acceptable.

  Financial Services (Regulation)
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will publish the full report of the review by the Securities and Investments Board of the Investment Management Regulatory Organisation's regulatory responsibilities for Bishopsgate Investment Managers and London and Bishopsgate Investment.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]: I am advised that publication of IMRO's review in full, whether by the Government or the Securities and Investments Board (SIB), might be severely prejudicial to criminal proceedings. SIB has announced it will be making a statement on SIB's assessment of IMRO's and its own performance together with the conclusions and decisions about resulting action from the IMRO review.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Claim Processing Times
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what rights to compensation or redress claimants have whose claims or review applications have not been processed within the Government's target periods.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of social security benefits is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Ms. Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many households in Rochdale qualify for payments under the cold weather payments scheme.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of the social fund is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many households in Glasgow, Central qualify for payments under the cold weather payments scheme.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of the social fund is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) on what dates the cold weather payments system was triggered in Glasgow, Central during the winter of 1991–92; and how many households received payment on each occasion;

  (2) on what dates cold weather payments were made in Glasgow, Central in response to a forecast of a qualifying period; and how long it took for these payments to be made.
  220
  Mr. Scott
  Such information as is available is in the Library.

  Attendance Allowance
  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the date of the longest outstanding new claim for attendance allowance;

  (2) how many new claims for attendance allowance, made before April 1992, are outstanding; and when it is expected that they will be decided;

  (3) how many applications for review of attendance allowance, made before April 1992, are outstanding; and what is the date of the longest outstanding application for review.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of attendance allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend and copies will be placed in the Library and Public Information Office.

  Maxwell Pensions
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what contributions he has received into the fund set up for Maxwell pensioners.

  Miss Widdecombe
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 28 June further details about the Maxwell pensioners trust. Work on the trust deed is being taken forward quickly and Sir John Cuckney and his fellow trustees hope to launch their formal appeal shortly.

  Pending the formal establishment of the trust, the Department has opened a holding account to receive contributions in advance of Sir John's appeal and I am pleased to report that £120,000 has already been paid into this account.

  Pension Rights
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 25 June,Official Report, column 307, if he will ask the Government Actuary to place in the Library the detailed calculation of his estimate of the cost of full retrospective equalisation of pension rights; and how much of this estimate derives from recalculations of existing benefits in payment and the enhancement of pension payments to existing male occupational pensioners.

  Miss Widdecombe
  A copy of a detailed calculation of the Government Actuary's estimate has been placed in the Library. This was given in response to an inquiry from the European Commission. A copy of the Commission's inquiry has also been placed in the Library.

  Disability Working Allowance
  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for disability working allowance have been received; how this compares with the anticipated take-up; what is the success rate; and how long it is taking for new claims to be decided.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of disability working allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Income Entitlement
  Ms. Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will specify the annual income entitlement (supplementary benefit or income support), excluding housing benefit, for(a) a single unemployed person aged 24 and (b) a man and a woman both aged 34 with two children aged 12 and 11 years respectively for each of the years 1979 to 1989 inclusive, at 1989 prices.

  Mr. Burt
  The information requested is in the table.

  Part of our policy in replacing supplementary benefit was to target benefit on those groups most in need, and we succeeded. Since 1988 we have given extra help, over and above normal upratings, to families with children. The income support rates for single people aged 18 to 24 take account of the fact that the vast majority live as members of someone else's household.

  A Financial year

  B Annual entitlement at April 1989 prices £

  C Annual entitlement at April 1989 prices £

  1979–80

  1,542·25

  3,802·38

  1980–81

  1,572·16

  4,002·40

  1981–82

  1,612·82

  4,270·16

  1982–83

  1,654·58

  4,379·18

  1983–84

  1,704·56

  4,509·83

  1984–85

  1,706·86

  4,516·65

  1985–86

  1,709·09

  4,523·13

  1986–87

  1,725·19

  4,571·23

  1987–88

  1,707·39

  4,524·02

  1988–89

  1,398·44

  4,820·73

  1989–90

  1,394·52

  4,885·92

  Notes:

  Col. B—shows for 1979–88 the annual Supplementary Benefit entitlement, at 1989 prices, for a single householder. From April 1988 the figures are the annual entitlement to Income Support, at 1989 prices, for a single unemployed person age 18–24. No additions which might have been payable within Supplementary Benefit or Income Support premiums for special needs have been included.

  Col. C—shows for 1979–88 the annual Supplementary Benefit entitlement, at 1989 prices, for a couple (aged 18 or over) with two children aged I I and 12. From April 1988 the figures are the annual Income Support entitlement, at 1989 prices, for the same family composition. No additions which might have been payable within Supplementary Benefit have been included. The Income Support figures include the family premium which is paid automatically.

  The Rossi Index (ie, the Retail Prices Index less housing costs) has been used to revalue at 1989 prices because there is no housing element in the entitlement amount.

  Green Minister
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will outline the priorities for future action of the green Minister in his Department(a) over the next year and (b) over this Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The main priority for environmental issues over the next year will be to finalise an environmental strategy for the Department and to ensure that there is an action plan to implement it. In the longer term, the aim will be to ensure that, as far as possible, the Department's activities take environmental consideration fully into account. This will include cutting down our production of carbon dioxide by reducing our energy consumption by 15 per cent. by 1996.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to publish his annual report on the social fund; and when he will publish the social fund commissioner's annual report.

  Mr. Scott
  The Secretary of State's annual report (Cm 1992) has been published today and I have laid it before Parliament. This report records that in 1991–92 more than 1·5 million discretionary payments amounting to £276 million were made from the fund; and that the total paid out from the fund, including the regulated maternity, funeral and cold weather payments was £361 million.

  The social fund commissioner's annual report has also been published today and copies placed in the Library.

  The findings of research on the social fund which we commissioned from the social policy research unit at the University of York have also been published today. This research—based on two years of fieldwork carried out in 1990 and 1991—provides a considerable amount of information and will require careful study.

  The research unit acknowledges that the social fund budget is a small, but important, part of social security spending. It represents around 0·5 per cent. of the total DSS budget, now approaching £70 billion a year. The fund's discretionary budget alone has been increased to £302 million for 1992–93, an increase of 32 per cent. from April 1991.

  I am pleased to note that the findings confirm the message of the Secretary of State's annual report that the fund has provided cash assistance for exceptional needs to millions of people; and also recognise the excellent job being performed by social fund officers.

  Stadex Industries Pension Fund
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will make a statement concerning the Stadex Industries Limited retirement savings plan;

  (2) when he expects that members' benefit entitlement can be determined consequent upon continuing investigations into Stadex Industries Limited retirement savings plan;

  (3) how many individuals are involved in the Stadex Industries retirement savings plan; and what is his estimate of the arrears under the insurance content concerning the Stadex retirement savings plan;

  (4) for how long employee contributions were continuing to be deducted from the salary of members of the Stadex retirement savings plan and placed on deposit in a trustee bank account before members were contracted back into the state earnings-related pension scheme.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is not collected by the Department. The Stadex Industries Limited retirement savings plan is a contracted out, salary-related pension scheme first contracted out on 1 June 1988. The Occupational Pensions Board, an independent statutory body, is currently considering the position of the scheme and its ability to meet its guaranteed minimum pension commitment.

  Mortgage Payments
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of households receiving income support have no record of being in arrears in their
  223
  morgage interest payments to banks or building societies; what consideration he has given to concerns that the introduction of automatic direct payments would remove from them a responsibility that they have hitherto discharged reliably and could be perceived as a slur on their willingness to pay; and if he will make it possible for people in such circumstances to continue to make their own mortgage interest payments.

  Mr. Burt
  Information on mortgagees receiving income support who are, or have ever been, in arrears with mortgage payments is not collected.

  The new direct payment scheme is part of a package of measures agreed with mortgage lenders, aimed at reducing the number of repossessions. The previous selective scheme did not readily identify all arrears cases and therefore did not provide an adequate reassurance against the risk of repossession for claimants and their families. The new scheme does not suffer from this defect and ensures that benefit provided specifically for mortgage interest payments reaches the lender. There is no question of any such slur on any benefit recipients, the majority of whom discharged their liability towards mortgage lenders faithfully.

  We have no plans to revise the new scheme.

  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the estimated total additional administrative costs associated with introducing automatic direct payments to mortgage lenders of income support in respect of mortgage interest in 1992–93; and what contribution to these additional administrative costs have been made, or are likely to he made by mortgage lenders in 1992–93.

  Mr. Burt
  The scheme will result in extra administrative costs of about £15 million for each year beginning 1992–93. In addition there were start-up costs of about £2·5 million. Mortgage lenders are expected to contribute £10 million towards these costs.

  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what arrangements are being made to meet the administrative costs of automatic direct payments to mortgage lenders of income support in respect of mortgage interest in 1993–94; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  A review of the fees payable by qualifying lenders will take place later this year in consultation with appropriate lender organisations.

  Young People
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated cost of implementing each of the recommendations in the eighth report of the Social Security Advisory Committee regarding young people's benefit entitlements.

  Mr. Burt
  On the recommendation regarding removing the general exclusion of 16 and 17-year-olds from benefit, information about the cost of restoring entitlement to income support is not available.

  On the recommendation that young people under 25 living away from home should be paid the full rate of income support, the information is in the table.
  224

  Benefit

  Cost (£ million)

  Income support

  80

  Community charge benefit

  5

  Housing benefit

  25

  Total

  110

  Source: Modelled at 1992–93 prices and benefit levels using data drawn from the 1987–88–89 Family Expenditure Surveys. People living away from home have been defined as those who are classified in the Family Expenditure Survey as (a) heads of household or (b) not related to the head of household.

  Overpayment
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the amount of money which the Government have recovered from overpayments of social security benefits not involving fraud under section 20 of the Supplementary Benefits Act 1976, and as amended by section 53 of the Social Security Act 1986, in each of the years since 1 April 1979, the maximum amount in any individual case claimed in each year, the average amount claimed, and the proportion that the total represents of all claims for overpayment.

  Mr. Burt
  The information requested is not available.

  Social Fund
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the number and percentage of total applications which were refused for(a) community care grants, (b) budgeting loans and (c) crisis loans for each of the years of the social fund's operation; and if he will provide a breakdown by (i) region and (ii) local DSS office.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 17 June 1992]: Information for 1988–89 and 1989–90 in respect of local offices is not available. Regional summaries for those years and for 1990–91 are in the tables.

  The 1990–91 information for DSS local offices and 1991–92 information for Benefits Agency districts is in the tables.

  Region

  Number of applications

  Number of refusals

  Percentage

  1988–89

  BUDGETING LOANS

  Wales and South West

  103,186

  38,938

  37

  Scotland

  182,328

  62,785

  34

  Midlands

  130,227

  43,188

  33

  North East

  188,241

  69,419

  36

  North West

  172,817

  62,632

  36

  London South

  69,447

  22,233

  32

  London North

  80,062

  27,187

  33

  CRISIS LOANS

  Wales and South West

  62,450

  4,705

  8

  Scotland

  83,198

  8,299

  10

  Midlands

  69,485

  6,967

  10

  North East

  79,745

  6,083

  8

  North West

  79,519

  5,077

  6

  London South

  57,342

  7,538

  13

  London North

  64,621

  5,981

  9

  COMMUNITY CARE GRANTS

  Wales and South West

  35,640

  14,511

  40

  Scotland

  54,959

  26,978

  49

  225

  Region

  Number of applications

  Number of refusals

  Percentage

  Midlands

  45,907

  21,559

  47

  North East

  35,640

  26,010

  46

  North West

  56,003

  23,906

  46

  London South

  29,176

  12,770

  44

  London North

  38,327

  18,557

  48

  Region

  Number of applications

  Number of refusals

  Percentage

  1989–90

  BUDGETING LOANS

  Wales and SW

  122,268

  51,581

  42

  Scotland

  205,029

  83,243

  41

  Midlands

  165,181

  63,119

  38

  North East

  237,620

  94,043

  40

  North West

  194,822

  80,518

  41

  London South

  98,238

  37,804

  38

  London North

  109,290

  44,491

  41

  CRISIS LOANS

  Wales and SW

  81,770

  5,835

  7

  Scotland

  106,320

  8,969

  8

  Midlands

  83,265

  6,146

  7

  North East

  103,977

  6,950

  7

  North West

  103,660

  5,943

  6

  London South

  81,446

  6,333

  8

  London North

  84,374

  5,677

  7

  COMMUNITY CARE GRANTS

  Wales and SW

  57,858

  29,294

  51

  Scotland

  98,652

  54,024

  55

  Midlands

  77,354

  41,351

  53

  North East

  94,711

  51,693

  55

  North West

  88,102

  47,798

  54

  London South

  47,123

  23,759

  50

  London North

  60,484

  32,409

  54

  Region

  Number of Applications

  Number of Refusals

  Percentage

  BUDGETING LOANS

  1990–91

  Wales and SW

  121,461

  55,360

  46

  Scotland

  207,146

  83,855

  40

  Midlands

  158,457

  62,090

  39

  North East

  210,160

  88,980

  42

  North West

  179,092

  71,740

  40

  London South

  99,660

  41,609

  42

  London North

  116,419

  48,872

  42

  CRISIS LOANS

  Wales and SW

  78,315

  8,328

  11

  Scotland

  101,473

  10,467

  10

  Midlands

  72,608

  6,317

  9

  North East

  93,662

  6,406

  7

  North West

  93,832

  6,372

  7

  London South

  78,290

  5,795

  7

  London North

  77,750

  6,155

  8

  COMMUNITY CARE GRANTS

  Wales and SW

  69,928

  39,941

  57

  Scotland

  122,831

  78,093

  64

  Midlands

  90,970

  56,058

  62

  North East

  111,314

  68,196

  61

  North West

  100,896

  62,614

  62

  London South

  58,947

  34,843

  59

  London North

  74,430

  47,428

  64

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 25 June,Official Report, columns 311–13, whether he will give figures
  226
  calculated on the same basis as tables 2 and 7 of the departmental survey "An Analysis of Voluntarily Unemployed Claimants" published in 1989, showing the proportion of unemployment benefit claims disqualified in each quarter from 1989 to 1991 and the proportion of disqualified claimants receiving income support from May 1980 to November 1991, with an explanation of the difference between these figures and those given in his answer of 25 June.

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the tables. The figures in table 2 of "An Analysis of Voluntary Unemployed Claimants" were limited to disqualifications under section 20 of the Social Security Act 1975, whereas the figure given in table 1 of the answer of 25 June included some disallowances on other grounds. Table 2 of the answer of 25 June differs from table 7 of "An Analysis of Voluntary Unemployed Claimants" in that table 2 contains numbers for all disqualifications and, as footnote 1 explains, some disallowances. Table 7 was based upon the "Half-yearly Analysis of Unemployed Claimants" which is limited to disqualifications on the grounds of misconduct and leaving voluntarily without just cause.

  Table 1

  Percentage of claims to Unemployment Benefit disqualified by Adjudication Officers under Section 20(1) of the Social Security Act 1975, from 1989 to 1991.

  Quarter

  Percentage disqualified by Adjudication Officers

  1989

  Q1

  8·7

  Q2

  9·1

  Q3

  6·4

  Q4

  8·3

  1990

  Q1

  6·6

  Q2

  7·3

  Q3

  5·4

  Q4

  5·9

  1991

  Q1

  4·7

  Q2

  5·0

  Q3

  3·8

  Q4

  4·6

  1. Numbers of disqualifications are based on quarter years derived from three calendar months, while numbers of claims are derived from whole weeks.

  2. In any particular quarter, a number of disqualifications could relate to a claim made in a previous quarter.

  Source: Departmental Statistics.

  Sample: 100 per cent.

  Table 2

  Percentage of unemployed claims disqualified because of misconduct and leaving voluntarily and in receipt of Supplementary Allowance/Income Support 1980–91.

  Percentage in receipt of Supplementary Allowance/Income Support

  May 1980

  42·4

  November 1980

  44·2

  May 1981

  —

  November 1981

  —

  February 1982

  42·2

  227

  Percentage in receipt of Supplementary Allowance/Income Support

  May 1982

  47·1

  November 1982

  41·9

  May 1983

  44·8

  November 1983

  44·2

  May 1984

  —

  November 1984

  42·0

  May 1985

  38·4

  November 1985

  42·4

  May 1986

  46·9

  November 1986

  45·4

  May 1987

  58·9

  November 1987

  56·2

  May 1988

  51·5

  November 1988

  57·1

  May 1989

  65·7

  November 1989

  64·5

  May 1990

  68·8

  November 1990

  66·4

  May 1991

  72·0

  November 1991

  72·5

  Source: Half yearly Analysis of Unemployed Claimants, Sample Size 5 per cent.

  Notes:

  1. Figures for May 1981, November 1981 and May 1984 are not available due to industrial action.

  2. Income Support replaced Supplementary Allowance from April 1988.

HEALTH

  Leeds General Infirmary
  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will review the need for the proposed redevelopment of Leeds general infirmary; and if she will make a statement on(a) the cost implications and (b) the effect on the various hospital trusts in surrounding districts.

  Mr. Sackville
  I announced on 7 July that the Government have given approval in principle to the proposed redevelopment of the general infirmary at Leeds. In reaching this decision, careful consideration was given to the affordability of the likely capital and revenue costs and consistency with purchasers' strategies for the future health services for Leeds.

  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how it is intended to fund the capital cost of the Leeds general infirmary redevelopment; what are the expected capital costs and if she will break these down by financial year; and if she will give the details and timings of capital receipts which will be allocated to fund this development.

  Mr. Sackville
  The scheme will be funded through the United Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS trust's external financing limit. The outturn capital cost is estimated around £88 million. Capital expenditure is likely to be of the order of £15 million per year for five years.

  Hip Replacement Operations
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the waiting list for hip replacement operations in the North East Thames region and each of its component district health authority areas for(a) up to six months, (b) six months to one year, (c) one year to 18 months,
  228
  (d) 18 months to two years and (e) more than two years on 1 April 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and the latest figures available.

  Mr. Sackville
  Waiting time information is collected centrally by specialty not by procedure. Waiting times for trauma and orthopaedics, which includes hip replacements, are published in the six-monthly publication "Hospital In-patient Waiting Lists", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Fostering
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases she is aware of where children from ethnic minorities in care have been removed from white foster parents during the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Metabolic Disease
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding is currently allocated to each health region in England towards the provision of services for the detection of inherited metabolic disease; and if she will make it her policy to ensure adequate funding is granted to existing schemes for a two-year period to allow successor arrangements to be fully evaluated.

  Mr. Sackville
  Services for the detection of inherited metabolic disease are funded out of general allocations to regional health authorities. Such allocations are made on the basis of the size, age and relative health of their resident populations. In turn regional health authorities fund their districts broadly on the same basis. District health authorities are responsible for purchasing health services for their populations including national health service genetic services which are provided by regional genetic centres, the supraregional assay service and in certain NHS trusts and directly managed units.

  Solvent Abuse
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans her Department has to monitor the incidence of solvent and volatile substance misuse;

  (2) what are the Government's targets for the reductions of mortalities and incidence of solvent and volatile substance misuse; and how her Department intends to achieve them.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs is currently looking at the whole area of solvent and volatile substance misuse. We will consider in the light of its recommendations, what further steps need to be taken with the aim of reducing the incidence of and mortalities from solvent misuse. We hope that increased parental awareness of the problem following the Government's recent publicity campaign will help to play a part in reducing incidence.

  Green Minister
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will outline the priorities for future action of the green Minister in her Department(a) over the next year and (b) over this Parliament; and if she will make a statement.
  229
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Over the coming year, I shall continue to follow-up the commitments expressed in the White Paper Cm 1200 ('This Common Inheritance') and its successor Cm 1655 ('The First Year Report'); a second anniversary White Paper will be published in the autumn. My Department is developing an environmental house-keeping strategy for the management of its accommodation and purchasing and this will be in place by the end of the year. I shall continue to ensure that the policy and work of my Department reflect environmental concerns and their potential impact on the public health.

  Census
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when all the population information of the 1991 census in Wales will be published.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Sherwood (Mr. Tipping) on 18 June at column 672. County monitors for Powys, West Glamorgan and Gwent have been published. The timetable for publication for the remaining Welsh counties will be included in the next "Census Newsletter", issue 22, a copy of which will be placed in the Library.

  Asthma
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the mortality rates for asthma for each of the last 20 years(a) among the whole population and (b) among under 16-year-olds; and if she will make a statement.

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

  Asthma Deaths. England and Wales, 1972–1991 ICD 493

  Persons

  0–14

  All ages

  1972

  Rate

  4·4

  25·3

  SMR

  100·0

  1973

  Rate

  4·7

  24·5

  SMR

  94·1

  1974

  Rate

  3·7

  22·0

  SMR

  84·1

  1975

  Rate

  3·3

  24·0

  SMR

  91·2

  1976

  Rate

  3·5

  21·2

  SMR

  80·3

  1977

  Rate

  4·8

  22·1

  SMR

  83·1

  1978

  Rate

  4·0

  23·3

  SMR

  87·5

  1979

  Rate

  3·5

  30·0

  SMR

  112·4

  1980

  Rate

  3·9

  30·0

  SMR

  111·9

  1981

  Rate

  4·8

  32·3

  SMR

  119·1

  1982

  Rate

  4·4

  31·8

  SMR

  121·8

  1983

  Rate

  4·3

  31·8

  SMR

  117·2

  1984

  Rate

  4·1

  35·4

  SMR

  130·0

  1985

  Rate

  3·4

  39·5

  SMR

  144·7

  1986

  Rate

  2·8

  39·7

  SMR

  145·6

  1987

  Rate

  4·2

  37·8

  SMR

  138·6

  1988

  Rate

  4·0

  39·8

  SMR

  145·9

  230

  Persons

  0–14

  All ages

  1989

  Rate

  2·6

  38·7

  SMR

  142·0

  1990

  Rate

  3·9

  36·7

  SMR

  134·5

  1991

  Rate

  3·3

  37·1

  SMR

  136·0

  Note. Population figures for 1991 not yet available, therefore rates for 1991 have been calculated using 1990 population. Deaths for 1986 onwards exclude neonatal deaths, (aged under 28 days). Populations are in thousands. Death rates are per million populations.

  The standard mortality rate shows the number of deaths registered each year as a percentage of those which would have occurred had the age/sex mortality conformed to the year (1972) being taken as the standard. Expected deaths are calculated by sex/age mortality rates for the standard to the sex/age population for the year for which the SMR is being worked.

  SMRs have only been calculated for all ages as SMRs require calculations based on the summation of age specific data. Please note that figures are not readily available for under 16 year olds.

  In 1979 there was a change in the rules of assignment and therefore data before and after this date are not necessarily comparable.

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the criteria by which a medical condition carries exemption from prescription charges for all sufferers, regardless of age.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Exemption from prescription charges on medical grounds alone is granted for specified readily identifiable chronic illnesses calling for lifelong medication.

  Abortion
  Mr. Michael Allison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the total number of abortions performed in the Yorkshire regional health authority under the Abortion Act 1967 since its implementation; and how many and what proportion of these abortions were performed in an emergency to save the mother's life.

  Mr. Sackville
  Yorkshire regional health authority (RHA) was constituted on 1 April 1974 and data on this basis are calculated from 1 January 1975 to 30 September 1991 (the latest date for which figures are available). During this period a total of 139,602 abortions have been performed under the Abortion Act 1967 in the Yorkshire RHA. Of these, two (0·001 per cent.) were performed in an emergency "to save the life of the pregnant woman" (ground 5).

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been spent on producing and printing trust application forms in each health authority region.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Child Care
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what information he holds on the provision of day nurseries and other child care facilities and assistance in the legislative assemblies of European Community member states; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  This information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

CATERING COMMITTEE

  Animal Welfare
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee, if the Committee will make it its policy to recommend that the Refreshment Department take animal welfare into account in its food purchasing policy.

  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  It is understood that the Director of Catering Services, who has formal responsibility for these matters, already takes account of animal welfare in respect of their rearing, capture and slaughter when putting into practice the Department's food-purchasing policy. I shall, nevertheless, arrange for this issue to be considered by the Catering Committee in order that it may be discussed and, if necessary, further guidance given.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Dietary Supplements
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Neath (Mr. Hain) of 2 June,Official Report, column 430, what position the Government have adopted on the Commission's consultation paper on dietary supplement as in respect of the suggestion that vitamin supplements should only be available on prescription; and when he expects the European Community scientific committee on food to complete its consideration.

  Mr. Soames
  The Commission consultation paper on dietary supplements contains no suggestion that vitamin supplements should be available only on prescription. The Government's general position is that consumers should be able to choose for themselves whether to buy dietary supplements that are safe. The Commission expects the EC scientific committee for food to reach conclusions about acceptable upper levels for vitamins and minerals in the autumn.

  Intervention Stores
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the commodities held by the European Commission in intervention, the quantity of each in store on the latest date for which information is available, and the percentage of each that is committed to use for emergency food aid.

  Mr. Curry
  Tables listing the commodities held by the European Community in intervention, and the most recent levels of each such commodity held in store, are deposited in the Library of the House each month.
  232
  Information on the percentage of each that is committed to use for emergency food aid cannot be provided within the time available, but I shall write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as the information requested is available from the European Commission.

  Agricultural Development Advisory Service
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library the written statement of the health and safety at work of those employed by Agricultural Development Advisory Service, as required by the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974.

  Mr. Gummer
  The written statement of the health and safety at work of those employed by MAFF, including ADAS, as required by the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974, is contained in section F8 of the MAFF staff manual handbook. I am arranging for copies of the relevant sections to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Vitamins
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what figure he has for the value of(a) multi-vitamin preparations and (b) single vitamins sold over the counter in Britain each year.

  Mr. Soames
  The value of multi-vitamins and single vitamins sold in 1991, estimated, at retail selling price, was £60 million and £25 million respectively, according to the market research magazine. "Market Intelligence", June 1991.

  Long Mynd
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publicise the results of his Department's study into moorland grazing pressure on the Long Mynd, Shropshire, "An Assessment of Heather Utilisation by Sheep on the Long Mynd, 1990"; and if he will make a statement on its findings.

  Mr. Curry
  This report was produced to aid discussions between the Department, English Nature and the National Trust—as landlords—on the measures to be taken for the conservation of the Long Mynd. All three parties have now received copies of the report which will be of particular value in formulating the proposals for the Shropshire hills environmentally sensitive area on which I shall be seeking views in 1993.

EMPLOYMENT

  Employment Agency
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list for the last 12 months, the fact-finding visits the chief executive of the Employment Agency has made; what were his findings; if she will place a copy of his findings in the Library; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what criteria will be used to establish which agencies can provide rehabilitation of a suitable quality for people with disabilities after April 1993; and if she will make a statement;
  233
  (2) how funding will be allocated to placing, assessment and counselling teams to enable them to purchase such assessment and rehabilitation services as are needed by people with severe disabilities requiring specialist provision;

  (3) what steps she is taking to establish quality standards for providers of rehabilitation training to people with severe visual impairments; and what consultation she is having for this purpose;

  (4) what was the average total cost per week for each client attending an employment rehabilitation course at a Government-run employment rehabilitation centre in (a) 1990–91 and (b) 1991–92.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Questions on operational matters in the Employment Service executive agency are the responsibility of the agency's chief executive, to whom I have referred these questions for reply.

  Green Minister
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will outline the priorities for future action of the green Minister in her Department(a) over the next year and (b) over this Parliament; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Over the next 12 months we shall continue to follow up commitments in the White Paper Cm 12000 "This Common Inheritance" and its successor Cm 1655 "The First Year Report". We shall also be contributing to a second anniversary White Paper in the autumn.

  The Health and Safety Executive has already developed an environmental housekeeping strategy for the management of its accommodation and purchasing. The Employment Department and the Employment Service will have their strategies in place by the end of 1992.

  Over the next year and beyond, we shall continue to monitor the impact of the Department's policies and activities on the environment; and to ensure that environmental concerns shape our policies and work wherever possible.

  Rehabilitation
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will publish the list of external organisations providing counselling and rehabilitation services under contract to her Department with an indication of the amount of work carried out by each organisation.

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

  Training
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if she will publish details, for the nine standard economic regions, of the total numbers of entrants, excluding community programme transfers, to employment training by sex, ethnic origin and disability, for each year since the start of the scheme;

  (2) if she will publish the 100 per cent. youth training scheme leavers survey for each training and enterprise
  234
  council in the north-west, showing the destinations of trainees by ethnic origin, sex and disability and by scheme type, for each year since the start of the scheme;

  (3) if she will publish details for each training and enterprise council in the north-west region of the destinations of employment training trainees, by ethnic origin, sex and disability, for each year since the start of the scheme;

  (4) if she will publish details of the numbers and percentages of youth training trainees in the north-west who have employed or trainee status, and the breakdown by sex, ethnic origin and disability, for each year in the period 1990–92 inclusive.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  As the information requested is contained within a number of tables I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what advice is given to young people for whom suitable youth training places are not available.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Careers Service gives vocational advice and guidance to young people. In addition to the training route, the service encourages young people to explore all the other options and their suitability for them; for example, further education and employment, to enable them to make informed careers decisions. For those young people they identify as having potential eligibility for benefits or allowances, general advice is given such as how and where to make a claim.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment she has made of whether there are enough suitable youth training places available in all parts of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Department's contracts with TECs call for regular monitoring and review at local level of the numbers of young people covered by the YT guarantee who are seeking a place. This local monitoring is carried out by our officials, training and enterprise councils and other interested parties such as the Careers Service. Following discussion with representatives of TECs and the Careers Service we are putting into place new measures to establish a national system of monitoring in England. We believe that these arrangements safeguard the interests of young people seeking training.

  Matters in the rest of the United Kingdom are for my right hon. Friends, the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list those areas in which the youth training guarantee is being delivered in full.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Information on the extent of demand for YT from young people covered by the YT guarantee is available only in the form of estimates which are not sufficiently reliable for publication. The Government remain fully committed to ensuring that the YT guarantee will be met everywhere.

  Wages Councils
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will estimate the number of workers covered by the wages councils in(a) Wales, (b) south

  235
  Wales and the south-west and (c) north Wales and the north-west; and if she will sub-divide the figures for full-time, part-time and male and female workers.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information as requested is not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Wages Councils
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment for each existing wages council(a) what is the current minimum rate of pay, (b) how many employees are covered, (c) what is the administrative cost, (d) how many establishments are covered, (e) how many inspectors are employed, (f) how many inspections have taken place and in each of the last five years, (g) how many establishments have been contacted other than by visit, (h) how many establishments have been found to be paying less than the minimum and (i) how many prosecutions have taken place.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  There is no record kept of the administrative cost for each individual wages council and wages inspectors are not employed for individual wages councils. Other information requested is set out in the following tables:

  Table 1

  Current wages council minimum hourly rates

  Wages councils

  Basic hourly rate £

  Aerated Waters

  2·9400

  Clothing Manufacturing

  2·6375

  Boot and Shoe Repairing

  2·9100

  Button Manufacturing

  2·5850

  Coffin Furniture and Cerement Making

  3·0500

  Cotton Waste Reclamation

  2·6800

  Flax and Hemp

  1—

  Fur

  2·7200

  General Waste Materials Reclamation

  2·5000

  Hairdressing Undertaking

  2·7800

  Hat, Cap and Millinery

  2·6667

  Lace Finishing

  1—

  Laundry

  2·9100

  Linen and Cotton Handkerchief and Household Goods and Linen Piece Goods

  2·6000

  Made-up Textiles

  2·5700

  Ostrich and Fancy Feather and Artificial Flower

  2·6600

  Perambulator and Invalid Carriage

  3·0400

  Retail Bespoke Tailoring

  3·1000

  Rope Twine and Net

  2·6700

  Sack and Bag

  2·6550

  Toy Manufacturing

  2·5200

  Retail Trades (Non-Food)

  3·0650

  Retail Food and Allied Trades

  3·0800

  Licensed Non-Residential Establishment

  2·9100

  Licensed Residential Establishment and Licensed Restaurant

  2·8000

  Unlicensed Place of Refreshment

  2·9200

  1 Council adjourned indefinitely—the two sides negotiate voluntary agreements.

  Table 4

  Number of inspections 1987 to 1991

  Wages councils

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Aerated waters

  26

  31

  22

  14

  7

  Clothing manufacturing

  967

  603

  486

  390

  402

  Boot and shoe repairing

  224

  245

  216

  59

  335

  Button manufacturing

  3

  7

  5

  3

  2

  Coffin furniture and cerement making

  2

  3

  3

  4

  1

  Cotton waste reclamation

  5

  4

  3

  0

  3

  236

  Table 2

  Number of workers covered by wages councils

  Wages councils

  Workers covered

  Aerated Waters

  5,500

  Clothing Manufacturing

  14,700

  Boot and Shoe Repairing

  5,000

  Button Manufacturing

  1,000

  Coffin Furniture and Cerement Making

  200

  Cotton Waste Reclamation

  300

  Flax and Hemp

  500

  Fur

  1,500

  General Waste Materials Reclamation

  13,000

  Hairdressing Undertaking

  64,000

  Hat, Cap and Millinery

  4,000

  Lace Finishing

  900

  Laundry

  26,000

  Linen and Cotton Handkerchief and Household Goods and Linen Piece Goods

  2,500

  Made-up Textiles

  3,000

  Ostrich and Fancy Feather and Artificial Flower

  500

  Perambulator and Invalid Carriage

  2,000

  Retail Bespoke Tailoring

  4,000

  Rope Twine and Net

  2,500

  Sack and Bag

  1,000

  Toy Manufacturing

  11,000

  Retail Trades (Non-Food)

  745,000

  Retail Food and Allied Trades

  465,000

  Licensed Non-Residential Establishment

  492,000

  Licensed Residential Establishment and Licensed Restaurant

  379,000

  Unlicensed Place of Refreshment

  96,000

  Table 3

  Number of establishments covered by wages councils

  Wages councils

  Establishments covered

  Aerated Waters

  262

  Clothing Manufacturing

  6,399

  Boot and Shoe Repairing

  2,993

  Button Manufacturing

  47

  Coffin Furniture and Cerement Making

  21

  Cotton Waste Reclamation

  23

  Flax and Hemp

  10

  Fur

  187

  General Waste Materials Reclamation

  1,419

  Hairdressing Undertaking

  33,772

  Hat, Cap and Millinery

  124

  Lace Finishing

  62

  Laundry

  1,195

  Linen and Cotton Handkerchief and Household Goods and Linen Piece Goods

  133

  Made-up Textiles

  281

  Ostrich and Fancy Feather and Artificial Flower

  36

  Perambulator and Invalid Carriage

  30

  Retail Bespoke Tailoring

  479

  Rope Twine and Net

  91

  Sack and Bag

  63

  Toy Manufacturing

  216

  Retail Trades (Non-Food)

  116,498

  Retail Food and Allied Trades

  112,079

  Licensed Non-Residential Establishment

  68,223

  Licensed Residential Establishment and Licensed Restaurant

  34,589

  Unlicensed Place of Refreshment

  18,884

  237

  Wages councils

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Flax and hemp

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Fur

  21

  18

  12

  4

  6

  General waste materials reclamation

  116

  150

  100

  87

  70

  Hairdressing

  2,200

  2,392

  2,633

  2,281

  2,730

  Hat, cap and millinery

  8

  26

  11

  6

  3

  Lace finishing

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Laundry

  107

  125

  95

  45

  74

  Linen and cotton handkerchief and household goods and linen piece goods

  17

  12

  14

  7

  10

  Made-up textiles

  27

  32

  27

  28

  8

  Ostrich and fancy feather and artificial flower

  3

  3

  6

  3

  3

  Perambulator and invalid carriage

  3

  2

  3

  0

  3

  Retail bespoke tailoring

  37

  43

  40

  21

  14

  Rope, twine and net

  7

  8

  11

  12

  4

  Sack and bag

  7

  12

  6

  4

  2

  Toy manufacturing

  20

  24

  18

  16

  15

  Retail trades (non-food)

  8,354

  9,649

  9,551

  8,081

  9,542

  Retail food and allied trades

  7,171

  9,860

  10,111

  9,331

  8,278

  Licensed non-residential establishments

  6,475

  5,063

  5,310

  5,005

  5,819

  Licensed residential establishments and licensed restaurants

  3,213

  2,613

  2,781

  2,910

  3,084

  Unlicensed place of refreshment

  1,509

  1,530

  2,164

  2,369

  2,171

  Table 5

  Establishments checkd other than by visit 1987 to 1991

  Wages councils

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Aerated waters

  2

  10

  5

  4

  1

  Clothing manufacturing

  84

  44

  50

  31

  35

  Boot and shoe repairing

  121

  79

  125

  12

  270

  Button manufacturing

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Coffin furniture and cerement making

  0

  1

  0

  1

  0

  Cotton waste reclamation

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Flax and hemp

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Fur

  2

  0

  1

  0

  0

  General waste materials reclamation

  20

  39

  41

  33

  29

  Hairdressing

  1,068

  738

  1,116

  928

  841

  Hat, cap and millinery

  0

  3

  5

  1

  0

  Lace finishing

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Laundry

  23

  28

  29

  2

  8

  Linen and cotton handkerchief and household goods and linen piece goods

  2

  1

  0

  0

  3

  Made-up textiles

  4

  7

  3

  4

  0

  Ostrich and fancy feather and artificial flower

  0

  1

  2

  0

  0

  Perambulator and invalid carriage

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  Retail bespoke tailoring

  4

  6

  7

  4

  3

  Rope, twine and net

  0

  2

  1

  2

  0

  Sack and bag

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  Toy manufacturing

  3

  1

  2

  7

  0

  Retail trades (non-food)

  4,650

  5,430

  5,558

  4,116

  5,413

  Retail food and allied trades

  3,651

  4,147

  3,883

  3,953

  2,746

  Licensed non-residential establishments

  2,198

  1,560

  3,347

  2,230

  2,705

  Licensed residential establishments and licensed restaurants

  593

  488

  899

  1,087

  1,039

  Unlicensed place of refreshment

  163

  312

  1,114

  1,290

  1,067

  Table 6

  Number of establishments found to be paying less than the minimum 1987 to 1991

  Wages councils

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Aerated waters

  2

  2

  1

  0

  0

  Clothing manufacturing

  191

  128

  111

  90

  97

  Boot and shoe repairing

  7

  18

  11

  12

  9

  Button manufacturing

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  Coffin furniture and cerement making

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Cotton waste reclamation

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Flax and hemp

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  238

  239

  Wages councils

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Fur

  0

  2

  3

  0

  1

  General waste materials reclamation

  5

  11

  2

  3

  3

  Hairdressing

  290

  330

  319

  307

  368

  Hat, cap and millinery

  3

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Lace finishing

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Laundry

  10

  20

  16

  12

  19

  Linen and cotton handkerchief and household goods and linen piece goods

  2

  4

  3

  2

  2

  Made-up textiles

  1

  2

  5

  6

  1

  Ostrich and fancy feather and artificial flower

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Perambulator and invalid carriage

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Retail bespoke tailoring

  3

  6

  3

  3

  0

  Rope, twine and net

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Sack and bag

  1

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Toy manufacturing

  1

  2

  3

  2

  6

  Retail trades (non-food)

  854

  1,130

  1,108

  1,101

  1,336

  Retail food and allied trades

  1,399

  2,143

  2,289

  2,078

  2,240

  Licensed non-residential establishments

  843

  1,016

  847

  723

  916

  Licensed residential establishments and licensed restaurants

  516

  405

  475

  458

  578

  Unlicensed place of refreshment

  313

  378

  331

  404

  390

  Table 7

  Number of prosecutions 1987 to 1991 Paying less than the minimum

  Wages councils

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Aerated waters

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Clothing manufacturing

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Boot and shoe repairing

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Button manufacturing

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Coffin furniture and cerement making

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cotton waste reclamation

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Flax and hemp

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Fur

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  General waste materials reclamation

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Hairdressing

  1

  2

  0

  1

  2

  Hat, cap and millinery

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Lace finishing

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Laundry

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Linen and cotton handkerchief and household goods and linen piece goods

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Made-up textiles

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Ostrich and fancy feather and artificial flower

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Perambulator and invalid carriage

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Retail bespoke tailoring

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rope, twine and net

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Sack and bag

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Toy manufacturing

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Retail trades (non-food)

  1

  0

  2

  0

  2

  Retail food and allied trades

  2

  8

  5

  5

  7

  Licensed non-residential establishments

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Licensed residential establishments and licensed restaurants

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Unlicensed place of refreshment

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  Table 8

  Number of prosecutions 1987 to 1991 All

  Wages councils

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Aerated waters

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Clothing manufacturing

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Boot and shoe repairing

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Button manufacturing

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Coffin furniture and cerement making

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cotton waste reclamation

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  240

  241

  Wages councils

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Flax and hemp

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Fur

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  General waste materials reclamation

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Hairdressing

  2

  2

  0

  1

  2

  Hat, cap and millinery

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Lace finishing

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Laundry

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Linen and cotton handkerchief and household goods and linen piece goods

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Made-up textiles

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Ostrich and fancy feather and artificial flower

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Perambulator and invalid carriage

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Retail bespoke tailoring

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rope, twine and net

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Sack and bag

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Toy manufacturing

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Retail trades (non-food)

  1

  0

  2

  0

  4

  Retail food and allied trades

  2

  8

  6

  6

  7

  Licensed non-residential establishments

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  Licensed residential establishments and licensed restaurants

  1

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Unlicensed place of refreshment

  1

  1

  1

  1

  0

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to her answer of 29 June,Official Report, columns 418–26, when she expects to be in a position to give the corresponding information for 1992–93.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 3 July 1992]: For the present, the 1992–93 information remains subject to commercial confidentiality. The information will be made available in due course.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to her answer of 29 June,Official Report, columns 418–26, if she will indicate for which training and enterprise councils in England the 1992–93 information is available; and if she will now publish it for each of the relevant training and enterprise councils.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]: For the present, the 1992–93 information remains subject to commercial confidentiality. The information will be made available in due course.

ENVIRONMENT

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for South Down (Mr. McGrady) on 9 June,Official Report, column 146, he will set out the procedures by which the Government will judge whether developing countries are unable to deal safely with toxic wastes prior to giving permission for their import into the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  Under the current draft of the waste shipments regulation, developing countries would have to present a duly motivated request on the basis that they did not have and could not acquire the technical capacity and the necessary facilities in order to dispose of the waste in an environmentally sound manner.

  Countryside Employment Practice
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in which areas the pilot scheme for the countryside employment programme will take place.

  Mr. Maclean
  The countryside employment programme is being piloted in three areas. These are: Lincolnshire (east and west Lindsey districts), the Marches (south Herefordshire, Leominster and south Shropshire districts) and the Cotswold (Cotswold and west Oxfordshire districts).

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount of money paid out in management agreements relating to sites of special scientific interest in 1991; how many individual agreements are currently in force in England, Scotland and Wales; what is the average payment per agreement, and what are the top 10 highest individual payments.

  Mr. Maclean
  Management agreements within Wales and Scotland are a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and Scotland.

  I am advised by English Nature that the amount they paid for management agreements under section 15 of the Countryside Act 1968 relating SSSIs in 1991–92 was £5,735,359; those still active at 31 March 1992 total 1,584 (including some awaiting renewal). The average payment is £875 lump sum plus an ongoing annual payment of £2,176.

  Details of management agreement payments are confidential to the parties concerned. The 10 highest individual payments are as follows:

  £322,983

  £109,600

  £108,000

  £ 79,000

  £ 69,134

  £ 49,500

  £ 48,194

  £ 42,004

  243

  £ 36,091

  £ 36,000

  Nature Reserves
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much his Department has paid in grants in total to United Kingdom conservation bodies to assist them to buy land for nature reserves in each year between 1989 and the present time; how many applications for grant aid were(a) received in 1991 and (b) accepted; and if he will give details of each grant over £10,000.

  Mr. Maclean
  The following is the information:

  Land purchase grants over £10,000 given by English nature in 1991–92

  Site

  Applicant

  SSSI land purchased (hectares)

  Grant given £

  Hazelwood Marshes Suffolk

  Suffolk Wildlife Trust

  3·29

  21,000

  Hoe Hill and Clayford Pits South Humbersidc

  Lincolnshire and South Humberside Trusts for Nature Conservation

  24·5

  10,000

  West Sedgemoor Somerset

  RSPB

  26

  32,000

  Irlams Beach Saltings (Hamford Water)

  Little Oakley and District Wildflowers Assocation

  50

  10,000

  Bowling Green Marsh Exe Estuary Devon

  RSPB

  8·1

  10,000

  Roydon Common Norfolk

  Norfolk Naturalists' Trust

  81·28

  10,000

  Fortescue Estate Somerset

  Exmoor National Park (Somerset CC)

  485·22

  20,000

  Ham Brook Marshes Kent

  Kent Trust for Nature Conservation

  29·2

  19,000

  Lower Raypitts Farm Essex

  Essex Wildlife Trust

  69·29

  20,000

  Decon Hill Bedfordshire

  The Wildlife Trusts of Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire

  25·1

  19,000

  Lower Wood, Ashwellthorpe Norfolk

  Norfolk Naturalists Trust

  36

  23,750

  Ouse Washes Cambridgeshire

  RSPB

  5·47

  10,132·50p

  Ouse Washes Cambridgeshire

  RSPB

  13·11

  20,250

  Nuclear Contamination
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent decisions have been taken by the European Commission to support research into nuclear contamination in Russia. Belarus and the Ukraine.

  Mr. Maclean
  I am informed that the Commission of the European Communities entered on 23 June 1992 into an agreement at non-governmental level with institutions in the three republics of the Commonwealth of independent States most closely concerned with the accident six years ago at the Chernobyl nuclear plant: Russia, Byelorussia and Ukraine. The agreement is for collaboration in studying the nature of the radioactive contamination arising from the Chernobyl accident, to broaden the technical skills needed to control such accidents, and to improve emergency management procedures. The collaboration will be between institutes in European Community member states and in Russia, Byelorussia and Ukraine.

  Desalination
  Ms. Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to investigate desalination in the United Kingdom on(a) a large scale or (b) a small scale.

  Mr. Maclean
  None. The recent discussion paper by the National Rivers Authority, which has a statutory responsibility for water resources, suggests that desalination is unlikely to offer a cost-effective general means of increasing United Kingdom water supplies. In specific 244

  Land purchase grants

  £

  1989–90

  504,269

  1990–91

  502,958

  1991–921

  238,632·50

  1992-to date1

  6,420

  1 England only.

  English Nature received 42 land purchase grant applications in 1991–92, of these 19 were given grants towards the purchase of land.

  limited circumstances water suppliers may find it worth pursuing: I understand that the Council of the Isles of Scilly has recently commissioned a desalination plant.

  Landowners (Compensation)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how much in total was paid out in compensation to landowners under the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, in 1991; how many individual payments were made; and if he will give details of individual payments over £10,000;

  (2) how much compensation to landowners under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 has been paid in the current year; what is the number of applications still waiting a decision and their location; and what is the amount being asked for in compensation by the landowners concerned.

  Mr. Maclean
  No payments were made in 1991 by English Nature under the provisions of section 30 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

  Emissions
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, for each of the EC nations, the targets they have adopted for stabilising or reducing(a) carbon dioxide, (b) sulphur dioxide, (c) nitrogen oxide and (d) hydrocarbons/volatile organic compounds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  A number of EC countries have declared targets on different bases and at different times for carbon dioxide emissions. All EC member states have now signed
  245
  the United Nations framework convention on climate change. This will commit all developed country parties to take measures aimed at returning emissions of each greenhouse gas, including carbon dioxide, to their 1990 levels by 2000.

  The EC Large Combustion Plant Directive (88/609) requires member states to make specified reductions in their annual emissions of sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen from existing plant. The targets vary country by country, but range from 29 per cent. to 70 per cent. reductions in sulphur dioxide emissions by 2003, and from 0 per cent. to 40 per cent. reductions in nitrogen oxides emissions by 1988—in all cases over 1980 emissions. The targets are listed in annex I to the directive, available in the Library of the House.

  All EC member states are parties to the convention on long-range transboundary air pollution within the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Seven of the12—Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands—are all parties to the sulphur protocol to the convention, which requires a reduction of at least 30 per cent. in national annual emissions of sulphur by 1993, from 1980 levels. All member states except Portugal have signed the nitrogen oxides protocol to the convention, which requires national annual emissions to be stabilised at 1987 levels by 1994. All member states except Ireland have also signed the latest protocol to the convention, requiring national emissions of volatile organic compounds, including hydrocarbons, to be reduced by at least 30 per cent. by 1999, in most cases from 1988 levels.

  In 1984 the United Kingdom Government adopted the aim of reducing annual sulphur dioxide emissions from all existing sources by 30 per cent. on 1980 levels by the year 2000. We are on target to meet this objective, and more. In 1984 we also set ourselves the ambitious aim of achieving a 30 per cent. reduction from 1980 levels of nitrogen oxides emissions by the end of the 1990s. This has been made even more difficult by the recent growth in road traffic, but it remains an aim for which we strive.

  Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library details of the recipients of any management or compensation payment under the terms of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

  Mr. Maclean
  No, this information is confidential to the parties concerned.

  Home Insulation
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the proportion of the existing United Kingdom stock of dwellings that lack(a) draught stripping to doors and windows, (b) insulation to hot water cylinder, (c) roof insulation, (d) cavity wall or solid wall insulation, (e) floor insulation and (f) double glazing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Latest estimates for Great Britain are as follows:

  Proportion of households lacking

  Per cent.

  (a) Draught stripping to doors and windows (includes only those households without double glazing)

  35·0

  (b) Insulation to hot water cylinder

  6·0

  (c) Roof insulation

  11·0

  246

  Proportion of households lacking

  Per cent.

  (d) Cavity wall or solid wall insulation

  75·0

  (e) Floor insulation

  n/a

  (f) Double glazing

  54·0

  Recycled Materials
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for the last available year, the amount of(a) paper and cardboard, (b) ferrous metals, (c) glass and (d) non-ferrous metals, including aluminium recovered as a percentage of consumption in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) each of the other EC nations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  In 1990 the use of recycled materials as a percentage of consumption in the United Kingdom was as follows:

  Percentage

  Glass

  21

  Paper and board

  31

  Aluminium1

  12

  Copper

  47

  Lead2

  62

  Tin3

  57

  Zinc

  22

  Ferrous metal

  46

  1 Excludes aluminium scrap which moves directly from the aluminium metal industry to other industries.

  2 Relates to the actual quantity recovered, not the recycled scrap used in manufacture.

  3 Includes in-house recycling of waste but excludes exports.

  Comparable figures for other EC countries are not readily available.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy for the eco-labelling scheme to require a minimum requirement of recycled material content.

  Mr. Maclean
  Criteria for the award of a European eco-label will be decided by the EC Regulatory Committee, which comprises representatives of the Commission and member states, after consultation with interested groups. The proposal for criteria put to the committee will be based on a full cradle to grave analysis of all the environmental impacts of the product group and will, where appropriate, take account of the potential for requiring a proportion of recycled material.

  Eco-Labels
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made on a system of bands of fees on the basis of the applicants revenues in order to encourage small companies to apply for the eco-label.

  Mr. Maclean
  The European Commission is drawing up proposals for indicative fee guidelines as they are required to do by the EC regulation. The draft proposals envisage an application fee, to meet the costs of processing the application, and an annual licence fee for the use of the label which would be related to the annual value of sales in the Community of the product awarded the eco-label.

  Consumer Services (Environmental Impact)
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what environmental evaluation is being undertaken of consumer services with high environmental impact, with particular reference to dry cleaning.

  Mr. Maclean
  My Department is not aware of any environmental evaluation which is being undertaken of consumer services.

  In the early stages of development the focus of the European eco-labelling scheme will be on consumer products. Consumer services, such as dry cleaning, may well be covered later once the scheme is established.

  Grants, London
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken to assist projects whose grants from the London boroughs grants unit have been stopped; and whether he will consider extending Government financial support to the library at the Institute for Race Relations.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The award of grants under the London borough grant scheme is a matter for decision by the London boroughs, all of whom participate in the operation of the scheme. The Government have no plans to provide alternative funding where this has been refused under the London boroughs grant scheme.

  Planning Decisions
  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what obligations he imposes on those to whom he has delegated responsibility for planning decisions to hear oral evidence.

  Mr. Baldry
  The procedures to be followed by inspectors holding inquiries are set out in the Town and Country Planning Appeals (Determination by Inspectors) (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 1988. The rules give certain parties, such as the local planning authority, the appellant and the owner of the appeal site, a statutory right to appear at the inquiry. Any other persons wishing to appear, for example local residents, may do so at the inspector's discretion.

  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals against planning decisions by the Worthing borough council have been allowed by him or the planning inspectorate in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Baldry
  The information requested is as follows:

  Planning appeals decided: Worthing borough council

  Year

  Appeals decided

  Appeals allowed

  Percentage allowed Worthing

  Percentage allowed England

  1987–88

  34

  14

  41·2

  37·6

  1988–89

  56

  20

  35·7

  36·7

  1989–90

  64

  19

  29·7

  33·4

  1990–91

  75

  22

  29·3

  33·6

  1991–92

  50

  13

  26·0

  33·7

  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what criteria he delegates decisions on planning appeals to the planning inspectorate.
  248
  Mr. Baldry
  All planning appeals, except for a few exceptions, are transferred to planning inspectors for decision. However I do have the power to "recover" jurisdiction. Normally this power is only exercised in cases involving large scale development and where issues of more than local importance are likely to be raised. The criteria for recovery are published in the 1986 White Paper "Planning: Appeals, Call-In and Major Public Inquiries" (Cm 43).

  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why the planning inspector dealing with the appeal against the granting of planning permission for the Homebase store on land at Littlehampton and Yeomans road, Worthing, failed to take oral evidence from those opposed to the last-minute change of plans put forward by the applicants.

  Mr. Baldry
  The question of an alternative layout for the proposed development arose towards the end of the four-day public inquiry. As a result it was not possible for the inspector to hear further evidence from all those who had already appeared at the inquiry without an adjournment. This would have prolonged the time before the appeal was determined. However, to ensure that local objectors views about the alternative layout were taken into account, the inspector arranged for them to be given an opportunity to make written representations to him before he made his decision.

  Travellers
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects that the consultation paper being compiled by his Department. concerning the problems caused by hippies and new age travellers, will be issued.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my right hon. Friend the Member for Woking (Mr. Onslow) on 19 June 1992 at column 693.

  Research Animals
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to use the United Kingdom presidency of the EC to press for an end to the import of wild-caught and captive-bred primates throughout the EC for research purposes.

  Mr. Maclean
  The import of primates into the EC is already controlled under existing regulations governing the wildlife trade. These are conservation measures, intended primarily to ensure that wild populations are not seriously depleted. They are not concerned with the purposes of import, except for endangered species. During our presidency, we shall be giving priority to the negotiation of a new European Community regulation to tighten these controls significantly, but we have no plans to see a general ban on the import of animals for use in research, which is primarily a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next intends to meet representatives of the Governments of the Philippines and Indonesia to urge them to end their trade in primates for research.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have no plans to do so. The Government of Indonesia are already well aware of
  249
  concern in the European Community about the effects of wildlife exports. This has led to a suspension of imports of Indonesian specimens of many species, including primates, into the EC. We are prepared to take similar action on conservation grounds whenever trade is judged likely to pose a threat to species. The use of primates in research is, however, primarily a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary.

  New Housing
  Sir Paul Beresford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how he proposes to determine the provision for new housing to be made in new regional planning guidance for London and the south-east.

  Mr. Howard
  I have today placed in the Library of the House a copy of a letter which I have sent to the chairman of SERPLAN—the London and south east regional planning conference. SERPLAN is invited to put forward proposals for the allocation of future provision for new housing between London and the counties of the south east. These proposals should be based on a regional total rate of 57,000 additional dwellings per year, over the period 1991 to 2011. I will take account of SERPLAN's proposals, together with any other views on these matters which are put to my Department, in deciding the regional housing provision to be included in draft new regional planning guidance for the south east. The draft will then be published for consultation in due course.

  Coastal Zones
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Government will publish their response to the Environment Select Committee's second report of Session 1991–92, on coastal zone protection and planning; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government are today publishing their response to the Environment Select Committee's report on coastal zone protection and planning. We welcome the Committee's report as a valuable contribution to the debate on the effective management of our coast.

  This country has a record of success in protecting the coast. Two thirds of the coastline of England and Wales is undeveloped arable land, woodland, scrub, pasture or natural habitat. The planning system provides a tried mechanism for the effective resolution of conflict on land which faces pressures from a variety of uses.

  It is important that we build on these achievements, to tackle the new issues that are emerging on our coast and to ensure an effective response to the challenges of the next century including pressures of economic growth and increased recreation, the impact of global warming, and demands to respond to our growing knowledge and awareness of the value of the coastal environment.

  We already have a substantial programme of work underway to achieve this including:
  —planning guidance for the coast and a recent policy statement on Heritage coasts;
  —guidance on responding to sea level rise, and a commitment to develop a national flood and coastal defence strategy;
  —requirements for environmental assessment of a wide range of coastal developments on land and at sea, and new procedures (under the Transport and Works Act 1992) to control many types of development in inshore waters;
  —action to reduce coastal pollutants and develop Statutory Water Quality objectives for estuarine and coastal waters;
  250
  —a commitment to implement the EC Habitats Directive for marine as well as land-based habitats.

  Our response to the Committee's report now proposes:
  —support for multi-agency management plans for estuaries and inshore waters, aimed particularly at coastal recreation activities, and at nature conservation, and a review of local authority powers to control water sports and pleasure boats in inshore waters.
  —a review of the effectiveness of present regulatory systems controlling construction and development below the low water mark;

  The Government will bring forward a discussion paper examining both these issues more fully.

  The Government response also includes commitments to maintaining national co-ordination arrangements for coastal policy; reviewing controls over marine aggregates dredging; promoting regional coastal defence strategies; furthering environmentally acceptable coastal defence solutions and developing policies for controlled retreat to create new habitats; and promoting clear agreement on responsibilities for pollution control.

  Copies of the Government response are being laid before the House and will be available in the Library.

  Social Housing
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing his Department's forecasts for all social housing completions, and the actual number of completions, for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Department does not prepare forecasts of housebuilding completions. Estimates of actual new housebuilding completions by housing associations and by local authorities are published in "Housing and Construction Statistics". Figures for 1979 are in table 6.1 of the annual publication "Housing and Construction Statistics 1979–1989: Great Britain"; figures for each year from 1980 to 1990 are in the 1980–1990 edition. Provisional estimates for 1991 are shown in table 1.2 of the December quarter 1991 edition (Number 48) of the publication "Housing and Construction Statistics; Part 1". Copies of these publications are in the Library.

  County Council Elections
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if it is his intention that the county council elections, in counties included in the first tranche of authorities for review by the Local Government Commission, will take place as scheduled in May 1993; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Secretary of State may not use his powers under the Local Government Act 1992 to postpone elections or order fresh ones until the Commission has finished reviewing an area and he has decided on the changes to local government structure that he will recommend to Parliament. We therefore expect all county council elections to go ahead in May 1993.

  Urban Development Corporations
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current value of land held by each urban development corporation.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The value at 31 March 1992 of land held by urban development corporations is set out in the table. Land held for roads and other public utilities has a nil disposal value.
  251

  Value of Land held by Urban Development Corporations

  £ million

  Black Country

  38·786

  Bristol

  11·492

  Central Manchester

  3·980

  Leeds

  12·284

  London Docklands

  54·392

  Merseyside

  26·846

  Sheffield

  15·340

  Teesside

  64·680

  Trafford Park

  22·293

  Tyne and Wear

  30·323

  Jet Skis
  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the dates on which his Department has received representations from Worthing borough council and the right hon. Member for Worthing regarding providing seaside councils with further byelaw powers to control the use of jet skis in designated areas of the sea; for what reasons he has decided not to take any action; and if he will now give these powers to local authorities.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I have been asked to reply.

  We received representations about the provision of additional byelaw-making powers to control jet skis from my right hon. Friend on behalf of Worthing borough council in February 1992. A reply was sent on 2 March 1992. This matter has now been considered further and I refer my right hon. Friend to the Government's response to the second report from the House of Commons Select Committee on the Environment on coastal zone protection and planning (CM 2011), which is published today. This states that the Government intend to issue a discussion paper which will include consideration of
  "the scope for improving local authority powers to control water sports and pleasure boats in inshore waters, making it easier to implement zoning in different activities which may be incompatible for safety, nature conservation or other reasons, and to control behaviour which causes a public or environmental nuisance" (paragraph 49).

  Forests
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he intends to take during the United Kingdom presidency of the EC Council of Ministers to establish an international review process for the forest and desertification principles outlined at the Earth summit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I have been asked to reply.

  On forests I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 6 July at column 17. On desertification, we expect the UN General Assembly this autumn to establish an intergovernmental negotiating committee to elaborate an international convention on desertification. We will be co-ordinating the position of the EC during the General Assembly as part of our presidency responsibilities.

SCOTLAND

  Approved Training Organisations
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the standards used to award the status of approved training organisations.
  252
  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 3 July 1992]: There are seven functions for each of which aims must be met and a number of criteria satisfied for the award of approved training organisation status. These functions, which are common to both employment training and youth training, are set out:

  identification of training needs;

  training designed and delivered to national standards;

  effective quality management;

  recruitment, selection and competence of staff;

  equal opportunities policy;

  health, safety and suitability of premises and equipment;

  financial viability.

  The aims and criteria are detailed in a document entitled "Approved Training Organisation" published by the Training Agency, a copy of which is in the House Library.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many approved training organisations there have been in Scotland in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 3 July 1992]: As at 30 April 1990, 18 training agents and 157 training managers for employment training in Scotland had achieved approved training organisation stage 1. Corresponding information for youth training was not held centrally. In subsequent years, responsibility for monitoring the standards achieved by training providers has rested with local enterprise companies which maintain their own records on the training providers with which they contract.

  Salmon
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether salmon imported into Britain from Ireland and Norway is subject to routine testing for ivermectin residues; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if testing for ivermectin residues in Scottish produced farmed salmon has been introduced on a routine basis; and what information he has on the residues detected.

  Mr. Lang
  Samples of farmed salmon will be obtained from retail outlets throughout the United Kingdom in 1992 under the retail animal products survey, as part of the Government's food surveillance programme. Samples will be as representative of the national food supply as possible, and some 10 per cent. of the salmon samples analysed will have been imported from Norway and the Republic of Ireland. These samples will be analysed for residues of ivermectin.

  A 12-month programme of residue testing in farmed fish is also being conducted in the United Kingdom in response to a request for information from the EC Commission. This programme includes the analysis of 50 samples of farmed salmon, obtained either directly from fish farms or United Kingdom wholesalers, for ivermectin. These analyses have been completed and ivermectin was not detected in any samples.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what progress has been made in the case of the alleged use of ivermectin for the treatment of sea lice in farmed salmon by(a) Glencoe Salmon in June 1991 and (b) Wester Ross Salmon in January;

  (2) how many cases of the use of ivermectin for the treatment of sea lice in farmed salmonids in Scotland have been reported.
  253
  Mr. Lang
  A report on the alleged use of ivermectin at Glencoe Salmon Ltd. was made to the procurator fiscal at Fort William, who decided to take no criminal proceedings. A report concerning Wester Ross Salmon has been made to the procurator fiscal at Dornoch.

  There is no requirement to report allegations about the use of ivermectin to my Department. Such reports should be made to the appropriate river purification authority or to the veterinary medicines directorate.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement concerning the decision to support continuing the minimum import price for Norwegian salmon after 30 May; what measures he plans to introduce to safeguard the future of the Scottish salmon farming industry; and if he will estimate the decrease in production since that decision came into effect.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]: The minimum import price was introduced last November for a three-month period in response to a specific threat to the European Community market of a surge in supply arising from substantial quantities of frozen salmon stored in Norway. It was subsequently extended for a further three-month period until the end of May. In the light of Norwegian action to dispose of the frozen stocks, it was decided that yet a further extension of the minimum import price could not be justified.

  The Government are considering proposals to help stabilise the salmon market in the longer term through the establishment of producer organisations. The production and growth cycle for salmon is such that production will not have changed since the end of May. Rates of harvesting are for individual commercial decision and will be based on many considerations.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made by the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department in developing analytical techniques for testing for residues of ivermectin in the flesh of farmed salmon.

  Mr. Lang
  An analytical method for detection of ivermectin residues in salmon muscle has been developed and validated at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's Torry research station in Aberdeen.

  Prisoners
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements are in place for the post-release supervision and support of discharged prisoners with mental illness; what further initiatives he plans to improve these services; what plans he has to ensure the proper co-ordination of service delivery; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  Psychiatric and social work supervision may, where appropriate, be the subject of conditions in the licences on which life sentence prisoners and some determinate sentence prisoners are released. In addition, community-based psychiatric and social work services are available to all former prisoners as to any other person who requires such services.

  "The National Objectives and Standards for Social Work Services in the Criminal Justice System", issued by the Scottish Office in February 1991, identified in paragraphs 108 and 109 the special needs of offenders who
  254
  are mentally handicapped or disturbed and stressed that it is a vital part of the prison-based social work task to encourage and assist such prisoners to make contact with the relevant helping agencies prior to release. In such situations, the role of the community-based social worker is to facilitate the provision of necessary rehabilitation programmes or accommodation.

  Disabled People
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his proposals to promote the development of arts for disabled people in Scotland.

  Sir Hector Monro
  My right hon. Friend's responsibilities for the arts exclude the live and performing arts which are the responsibility of the Secretary of State for National Heritage. In relation to museums and galleries, it is for the management of each organisation to consider how its buildings and its collections can be made accessible to disabled people. Such consideration is encouraged by the Scottish Museums Council whose grants to local museums are dependent to a large extent on the provision for disabled people made or planned by the applicants.

  The Scottish Film Council has already successfully encouraged the seven regional film theatres which it part-funds to improve access for people with disabilities and is considering how access can be further enhanced.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what new initiatives he proposes to enhance the right of disabled people to have free and adequate access to(a) health services, (b) life-long education, (c) suitably adapted housing, (d) transport, (e) training and employment, (f) arts, leisure, recreation and cultural services and (g) care in the community.

  Mr. Stewart
  The Government's policy is to enable people with disabilities to live as independently as possible, in their own homes and in the community, and to be as mobile as possible, so that they can enjoy to the fullest extent all opportunities in education, employment, leisure and recreation. The following initiatives are currently in prospect:

  (i) Amendments are being prepared to the Buildings Standards (Scotland) Regulations 1990 to extend the current requirement of access for disabled people to ground floors, to upper floors of all buildings except dwellings and warehouses.

  (ii) Electrically powered wheelchairs, which can be used both indoors and outdoors, will begin to be issued in the autumn to disabled people for whom they are appropriate.

  (iii) From 1 April 1993 the duty to secure adequate and efficient further education will transfer from education authorities to the Secretary of State. In exercising that duty he will have regard to the position of people over school age with learning difficulties. Boards of management of further education colleges will be given guidance on the exercise of their responsibilities for students with learning difficulties. Regard will also be had to this in funding the colleges.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which disability organisations he has met in the past 12 months to discuss the provision of services to disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend has not met any of the disability organisations formally in
  255
  the past year, but he did open the Margaret Blackwood housing association development at Uddingston which provides 33 houses and flats, mainly for disabled people. On 20 September, I had the pleasure of opening the Scottish mobility roadshow 1991, which was organised by Disability Scotland. It was the first of its kind in Scotland and the Government contributed £20,000 to its costs.

  Scottish Office officials are in regular contact with many of the organisations representing people with disabilities.

  Co-operatives
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to encourage the development of industrial and commercial co-operatives in(a) Scotland, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Renfrew district; what assistance he will make available for such initiatives; what criteria he will use to assess applications for assistance; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  About £200,000 is paid currently from the urban programme to five workers' co-operative development projects in deprived urban areas in Scotland. Four of these are located in Strathclyde, including the Renfrew district co-operative development project with annual running costs of £42,300. Under the new urban programme guidelines issued in February, applications for funding other such projects can still be made.

  Index of Production and Construction in Scotland: 1990Q1 to 1991Q4

  1985 = 100

  Production and construction (less oil and gas)

  Production industries

  Manufacturing

  Construction

  1990

  Q1

  117·0

  118·0

  121·1

  109·8

  Q2

  115·5

  117·5

  119·3

  104·9

  Q3

  110·4

  111·3

  111·5

  105·2

  Q4

  109·7

  109·8

  110·1

  108·2

  1991

  Q1

  109·0

  109·7

  109·2

  105·5

  Q2

  109·4

  109·8

  109·4

  107·5

  Q3

  110·9

  111·2

  111·9

  109·2

  Q4

  110·6

  111·0

  110·7

  108·7

  Percentage change

  1991 on 1990

  -2·8

  -3·3

  -4·5

  0·7

  Source: Scottish Office Industry Department.

  The 1991Q4 figure is the latest available for Scotland; the 1992Q1 figure will be published on 12 August.

  The best sources of more up-to-date information on Scottish industry are the business surveys. The April 1992 CBI industrial trends survey reported that, in manufacturing, output had continued to fall in the first four months of 1992, but that the rate of decline had been slower than at any time since the end of 1990. Business confidence had improved marginally over the previous four months. The CBI survey also found that export order books had strengthened considerably since the previous survey in January and that investment in innovation and training was expected to increase over the coming year.
  256
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the Scottish Co-operative Development Company to discuss the promotion and development of workers' co-operatives in industry, commerce and public services; when he next plans to meet them; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  My right hon. Friend has not met representatives of the Scottish Co-operatives Development Company, but I have agreed to meet them on a mutually convenient date. The company already has close contact with officials in my Department.

  Industry
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the impact that the recession has had on industry in Scotland during the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  The table shows the index of production and construction—less oil and gas—for Scotland, by quarter, from the first quarter of 1990 to the fourth quarter of 1991. The table also shows, separately, the indices for production industries—standard industrial classification divisions 1 to 4—manufacturing—standard industrial classification divisions 2 to 4—and construction—stan-dard industrial classification division 5.

  Electricity
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if Scottish Power will be required to submit a full environmental impact assessment statement in support of its plans to create an interconnection of the Scottish and Irish electricity grids.

  Mr. Stewart
  Yes. Scottish Power is required to submit an environmental assessment for any proposals it may have to erect high-voltage overhead lines.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had from conservation and environmental groups in regard to the announcement by Scottish Power of its plans to build an interconnector cable between the Scottish grid in Ayrshire and the Northern Ireland electricity grid in County Antrim; and if he has had any recent discussions with Scottish Power over the need to construct additional overground pylons to service the interconnector.
  257
  Mr. Stewart
  No application has yet been made to the Secretary of State by Scottish Power in respect of an overhead power line as part of its plans for a link with Northern Ireland. Several representations expressing concern about these plans have been received from a number of groups and individuals. Some preliminary discussions have taken place between Scottish Power and Historic Scotland.

  Johnstone West Sports Pavilion
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total estimated capital cost of the development formerly known as the Johnstone west sports pavilion; what was the amount financed by(a) urban funding and (b) local authority funding; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The total estimated capital cost is £396,117. The full cost will be met by the urban programme, involving contributions of 75 per cent. and 25 per cent. from the Scottish Office and Renfrew district council, respectively.

  Further Education
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of the new arrangements for the management of further education colleges; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Good progress is being made in preparing the colleges for incorporation on 1 April 1993. Colleges are responding positively and constructively to this process and we have allocated £2·3 million to assist them. An order was recently made listing the colleges to transfer and setting 1 September 1992 as the beginning of the transitional period. A recurrent funding discussion paper issued in June and a strategy for college management information systems is at an advanced stage. In addition, a wide range of activities, including a seminar programme and the preparation of training materials, is underway.

  Housing
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will visit the Paisley, South constituency to evaluate the need for investment in public sector housing; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to visit Paisley, South. Renfrew district council's relative housing needs and its plans for tackling these needs were taken fully into account when making decisions about final housing capital allocations for 1992–93. Renfrew's gross final housing revenue account capital allocation for investment in its own housing stock in 1992–93 totals £18·439 million. It is for the council to decide how best to deploy these considerable resources to meet local housing needs. The council should include its plans for future housing investment in its housing capital programme when this is submitted to the Scottish Office Environment Department later this year.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will extend the consultation period on compulsory competitive tendering for housing management in Scotland until the end of the year; and if he will make a statement.
  258
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]: We have allowed over three months for the receipt of responses to the consultation paper on compulsory competitive tendering for housing management. I consider this to he a reasonable period in which interested parties can respond, although if particular bodies face difficulty in responding by the 18 September deadline they should contact the Scottish Office Environment Department at the address given in the consultation paper to discuss whether a short extension can be granted. Our proposals on CCT for housing management form an integral part of the programme of action set out in the tenants charter for Scotland, designed to improve the quality and efficiency of the housing service available to council tenants.

  Deer
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has in relation to his consultation paper on deer legislation ill Scotland dated December 1991; and what plans he has to deal with responses to this paper.

  Mr. Lang
  There were some 80 responses to the consultation on deer legislation in Scotland. These are now receiving careful consideration and follow-up meetings have been held, at official level, with a number of respondents. I shall reach a view on how best to take matters forward once I have completed a full assessment of the many wide-ranging views expressed.

  Paisley Pattern Goods
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will commission a feasibility study into the commercial viability of manufacturing paisley pattern goods in the town of Paisley; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to commission a feasibility study into the commercial viability of manufacturing paisley pattern goods in Paisley.

  Following earlier representations by the hon. Member on the same subject, I passed the suggestion of a feasibility study on to the local enterprise company. It is for the local enterprise company to decide how to pursue the issue.

  Local Authority Members
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to review the payments made to elected members of local authorities; what criteria he will use to evaluate the adequacy of payments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  The new system of councillors' allowances which was introduced in April 1991 is currently under review. The review will not include travel and subsistence or other allowances payable outside the scheme. My right hon. Friend will continue to review the levels and limits within the scheme on a regular basis.

  Town Twinning
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on town twinning between Scottish local authorities and their counterparts in Europe.
  259
  Mr. Stewart
  It is for individual local authorities to determine what twinning arrangements, if any, they have with their European neighbours.

  Ravenscraig
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what new assessments have been made of the social and economic impact of the closure of Ravenscraig on the economy of(a) Scotland, (b) Lanarkshire and (c) Motherwell district;

  (2) what discussions he has had with (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) other interested parties on the likely social and economic impact of the closure of Ravenscraig.

  Mr. Stewart
  We would not expect to be aware of all assessments of these matters, some of which could be carried out by a wide range of individuals and organisations with no direct connection with the Government. The economic needs of Lanarkshire were investigated in depth by the Lanarkshire working group last year; and the Scottish Office Industry Department, Scottish Enterprise and the Lanarkshire development agency, in collaboration, continue to keep under review the social and economic impact of the contraction of the steel industry in Lanarkshire. This work has informed the putting in place of a substantial package of measures to promote the economic development of Lanarkshire and continues to inform the process of developing and adding to that package. This process involves discussions with the local authorities in Lanarkshire and a range of other bodies. I and my right hon. Friend have discussed various aspects of this subject with the chairman of Scottish Enterprise and a wide range of other interested parties on various occasions.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what practical assistance he is providing to existing businesses in Lanarkshire which are directly and indirectly dependent on Ravenscraig for employment to assist them in diversifying their activities; and what level of expenditure is involved.

  Mr. Stewart
  The full range of Government programmes to assist industry in various ways is available to companies in Lanarkshire, which benefits from assisted area status. In addition, businesses in Lanarkshire which need to diversify will benefit from the assistance available from Lanarkshire development agency, which has received substantial additional resources in the current and past years as a result of the Government's commitment to fund additional activity to add impetus to the economic and physical development of Lanarkshire. The precise level of expenditure on assisting the general class of companies which the hon. Member describes will depend substantially on the level of demand for assistance from these companies.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest estimates he has made of the potential costs of reclamation of former steel sites at Ravenscraig; and what proportion of the cost is likely to be met by(a) British Steel and (b) public expenditure.

  Mr. Stewart
  Estimates of the potential costs of reclamation are a matter for consideration in the first instance by Scottish Enterprise and the Lanarkshire development agency. I am aware that additional 260
  information necessary to the production of any reliable estimate is being obtained in collaboration with British Steel. It is for British Steel to consider the level of expenditure relevant to reclamation which will fall to it. The size of any input from public expenditure will depend partly on that consideration and partly on the form which action in relation to the future use of the sites takes.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with(a) British Steel, (b) Scottish Enterprise and (e) other interested parties on the reclamation of former steel sites at Ravenscraig.

  Mr. Stewart
  This is a matter for consideration in the first instance by Scottish Enterprise and the Lanarkshire development agency, which are in discussion with British Steel. The Scottish Office is kept in touch with progress.

  Hunterston
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress he has made in discussions with British Steel in relation to industrial development at Hunterston.

  Mr. Stewart
  The Government and Scottish Enterprise continue to investigate the possibility of industrial development at Hunterston in consultation with various interested parties.

  Forestry
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the amount of Forestry Commission land, in acres, held in 1980 and the amount sold off in each year since 1980; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The Forestry Commission managed 1,263,400 hectares on 31 March 1980. The amount of land, in hectares, disposed by the Forestry Commission in each year since 1980 is shown below.

  Year ending 31 March

  Area disposed (hectares)

  1981

  2,240

  1982

  10,423

  1983

  12,108

  1984

  44,570

  1985

  28,857

  1986

  16,573

  1987

  10,956

  1988

  8,929

  1989

  7,675

  1990

  7,851

  1991

  7,428

  11992

  6,684

  1 (provisional).

  One hectare = 2·471 acres).

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking against infestation by aphids attacking Scottish forests.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 7 July 1992]: The only species of aphid which is causing significant damage to forests in Scotland is the green spruce aphid—Elatobium abietinum—populations of which increase following mild winters and springs of the kind experienced

  261
  in Scotland this year. This aphid feeds on the older needles of spruce trees causing discolouration and loss of needles. In severe infestations, the current year's foliage can also be affected. Although the aphid reduces the rate of growth of the trees it does not cause permanent damage or death.

  There is no practical means of controlling the aphid over large areas, although Christmas trees are regularly sprayed against it. The Forestry Commission's research division is seeking to develop strains of spruce which will he more resistant to attack by the aphid.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what public consultation procedures were undertaken, prior to the granting of financial assistance in respect of afforestation in Strath Cuileannach, Sutherland; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 30 June 1992]: Before the Forestry Commission approved the woodland grant scheme application in this case, it consulted the then Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland, the Countryside Commission for Scotland, the Red Deer Commission, the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department and Highland regional council. This involved consideration of an environmental statement provided by the applicants under the terms of the Environmental Assessment (Afforestation) Regulations 1988, which was also advertised in local newspapers for public comment. Planting has only just started and no grants have been paid to date.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to respond to the report from Dr. Tim Hunter on the investment of £2 million of public money in the Forest Farm afforestation scheme in Sutherland; how many long-term jobs he expects to be created as a result of this investment; how many long-term jobs are expected to be lost as a result of this scheme; and whether he will urgently review the criteria governing public investment in private forestry as a result of Dr. Hunter's report.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 30 June 1992]: I am studying Dr. Hunter's report, which I received last week, and a response will he sent to him soon.

  The Forest Farm afforestation scheme is expected to create 10 jobs in the long term. The present owners acquired the land with vacant possession, so the scheme has not, in itself, resulted in any job losses; in the region of 1,500 hectares will continue to be used for sheep grazing which will provide continuing employment for at least one person.

  The planting proposals were subject to environmental assessment and involved widespread consultation as described in the answer I have given today to a question from the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson). I am satisfied that the criteria governing the payment of forestry grant were properly followed in this case and I can see no need to review them.

  Fisheries Protection
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment his office has made of the effectiveness of fisheries protection in Scottish waters; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency will shortly publish its first annual report. This will 262
  analyse performance and the effectiveness of fisheries enforcement in Scottish waters. A key indicator of the effectiveness of fisheries protection is the number of hoardings achieved. The number of hoardings of fishing vessels in Scottish waters has increased from 1,406 in 1985–86 to 2,513 in 1991–92.

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about performance targets for the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency for 1992–93.

  Mr. Lang
  For the financial year 1992–93 I have set the following targets:

  Target

  Aerial surveillance—percentage of hours flown on task

  85

  Aerial surveillance—cost per aircraft sighting

  £95

  Marine surveillance—number of boardings at sea

  2,500

  Marine surveillance—cost per boarding

  £2,600

  Sea fisheries inspectorate— cost per log sheet check

  £40·71

  50 per cent. of cases for prosecution to be reported within six weeks of offence being detected and 90 per cent. within eight weeks.

  Number of cases where court proceedings are taken as percentage of offences reported to prosecuting authorities

  75

  In order to ensure that the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency uses its resources efficiently, I have set it a target to achieve cash releasing efficiency gains of 6 per cent. over 1991–92.

  The chief executive will be directly accountable to me for the achievement of these targets, which will be reported in the agency's annual report.

  Ferry Statistics
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of foot passengers and vehicles carried by each of the ferry routes to the Scottish islands for the last five years in full.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is contained in table 10.9 of Scottish transport statistics, No. 12, 1990–91, published by the Government Statistical Service on 12 June, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the ferry fares charged for island and non-island resident passengers and vehicles for those routes which receive deficit funding from his Department.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Deficit subsidy is paid in the case of services operated by Caledonian MacBrayne to eliminate the overall deficit incurred by the company in operating a network of approved services. The subsidy is not related to deficits incurred on specific routes. Information on fares is available from the company. The company does not discriminate between island and non-island residents in its fares structure.

  Local Enterprise Companies
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list for each local enterprise company the budget made available by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise for the provision of youth training places in 1991–92 and 1992–93(a) at current prices and (b) at 1992–93 prices, indicating in both cases the percentage difference;

  (2) if he will list for each local enterprise company the budget made available by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise for 1991–92 and 1992–93 (a) at current prices and (b) at 1992–93 prices, indicating in both cases the percentage difference;

  (3) if he will list for each local enterprise company the budget made available by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise for the provision of employment training places for 1991–92 and 1992–93 (a) at current prices and (b) at 1992–93 prices, indicating in both cases the percentage difference.

  Mr. Stewart
  The allocation of resources to local enterprise companies is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I have asked the chairmen of these bodies to write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list for each local enterprise company the number of training weeks contracted for under youth training(a) in 1991–92 and (b) in 1992–93 and if he will give the percentage difference;

  (2) if he will list for each local enterprise company the number of training weeks contracted for under employment training (a) in 1991–92 and (b) in 1992–93; and if he will give the percentage difference.

  Mr. Stewart
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) on 3 July,Official Report, column 751, and have asked the chairman of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to write to the hon. Member.

  Health
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to seek to improve the health of the people of Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  We are today publishing "Scotland's Health —A Challenge To Us All". This new policy statement, which updates the policy statement "Health Education in Scotland" published a year ago, announces a range of measures which the Government propose to take in Scotland in relation to smoking and diet, to develop action on accidents, to promote health in schools and at the workplace and otherwise to seek to improve the health of the people of Scotland. I and all my ministerial colleagues in the Scottish Office will be actively involved in pushing these initiatives forward.

  Last year, we set targets, and defined priority areas, for seeking to improve health in Scotland, and we also set up the Health Education Board for Scotland, with an increased budget, to lead the health education effort. This further statement builds on those developments.

  The Government and the NHS have important roles to play in improving Scotland's health record, and that
  264
  objective is high on our agenda. But others also have important parts to play, including the local authorities, the voluntary sector, employers, the food industry and the media. Above all, individual members of the public can help to safeguard their own health by adopting healthy lifestyles. This new policy statement, of which a copy is being placed in the Library, provides a framework within which we can all work to ensure that the Scottish people live longer and healthier lives.

  Water and Sewerage
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to make an announcement about the future of the water and sewerage services in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I have not yet decided on the future structure of these services. The consultation paper on local government reform last year indicated that water and sewerage services might best be handled by bodies separate from the proposed new unitary authorities.

  The Government have set high standards for the quality of water supply and the reduction of water pollution. To achieve these, very substantial sums will have to be invested to improve the water and sewerage infrastructure.

  I have now decided to appoint consultants to advise me on alternative forms of organisation for water and sewerage services in Scotland, including ways in which the private sector might contribute enterprise and investment to this vital public service.

  The consultancy will help to assess these issues.

  I shall ask the consultants to report quickly. I then intend to consult on proposals for the future of these services in the autumn in parallel with consultations on the reform of local government.

  Historic Scotland
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the key performance targets he has set for Historic Scotland for 1992–93.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The table shows the key performance targets for 1992–93 which I have set for Historic Scotland, with the 1991–92 outturn figures given for comparison.

  1991–92 outturn

  1992–93 target

  Protecting the built heritage

  i. Number of ancient monuments of national importance to be scheduled

  307

  300

  ii. Number of listed building resurvey units to be completed

  153

  160

  iii. Number of historic building repair grants accepted

  122

  120

  iv Conservation of monuments in care

  contain maintenance backlog

  Promoting and presenting the built heritage

  i Number of visitors to monuments in care

  2·37m

  2·49m

  ii Total income

  £6·1m

  £7·1m

  265

  1991–92 outturn

  1992–93 target

  Management

  i. Value for money savings on maintenance of monuments in care

  —

  1·5 per cent.

  ii. Exchequer contribution for net current expenditure

  below inflation

  at or below inflation

  Registers of Scotland
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what targets have been set for the Registers of Scotland executive agency for 1992–93.

  Mr. Lang
  When the agency was launched in April 1990, my predecessor set its performance targets for its first three years. These were announced in a written answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Eastwood (Mr. Stewart) on 5 April 1990,Official Report, column 829.

  The targets are revised annually, and the annual targets for 1992–93, which I have recently approved, are to reduce average turnround times on the agency's four main categories of work as follows:

  (i) for recording writs on the sasine register, a reduction to 10 weeks;

  (ii) for registration of dealings in the land register, a reduction to 16 weeks;

  (iii) for first registrations in the land register, a reduction to 37 weeks; and

  (iv) for registration in the land register of transfers of parts of previously registered interests, a reduction to 68 weeks.

  The agency was also set a target of achieving a reduction in unit costs of at least 5 per cent. in real terms

  Table 1

  Gross expenditure on regional financial assistance to industry in Scotland at current prices1 2

  £ million

  1984–853

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Travel-to-work-areas

  Alloa

  0·5

  0·6

  0·3

  0·6

  0·4

  0·7

  0·4

  0·6

  Arbroath

  0·1

  0·4

  0·8

  0·6

  0·7

  1·3

  1·0

  1·2

  Ayr

  0·2

  1·6

  2·1

  3·1

  1·7

  1·2

  2·9

  3·0

  Bathgate

  1·6

  5·1

  5·9

  5·6

  9·7

  14·6

  18·0

  13·2

  Campbeltown

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cumnock and Sanquhar

  0·1

  0·3

  0·5

  1·3

  1·1

  1·1

  0·4

  0·3

  Dumbarton

  0·1

  0·6

  1·3

  0·7

  1·3

  0·5

  0·6

  0·8

  Dundee

  1·4

  2·5

  5·4

  5·3

  5·5

  4·6

  8·6

  4·0

  Dunfermline

  0·1

  1·0

  1·3

  1·4

  0·7

  1·3

  1·7

  0·8

  Dunoon and Bute

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Falkirk

  0·3

  1·4

  0·3

  0·5

  1·0

  3·1

  2·1

  2·3

  Forres

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Girvan

  —

  —

  0·2

  0·5

  0·4

  0·4

  0·4

  —

  Glasgow

  5·7

  19·1

  27·9

  29·3

  32·4

  36·7

  31·8

  25·0

  Greenock

  0·3

  3·9

  1·6

  5·2

  5·1

  3·7

  13·1

  5·0

  Invergordon and Dingwall

  0·3

  0·3

  0·3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Irvine

  1·6

  8·3

  8·1

  9·8

  11·6

  7·5

  7·5

  5·5

  Kilmarnock

  —

  0·6

  1·3

  2·2

  1·8

  1·8

  2·0

  0·6

  Kirkcaldy

  0·9

  3·8

  4·7

  4·6

  2·9

  2·9

  4·2

  2·3

  Lanarkshire

  1·6

  5·3

  8·0

  8·9

  9·9

  9·3

  7·4

  7·7

  Lochaber

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·2

  0·2

  —

  —

  Newton Stewart

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1 Excludes original regional development grant.

  2 Actual cash expenditure incurred.

  3 From 29 November 1984.

  266
  for each of its main categories of work during 1992–93. In addition, the agency will continue to ensure that its expenditure is covered by fees and other income.

  The agency's chief executive, the keeper of the registers, is accountable to me for the achievement of these targets. and the agency's record of performance against its targets is reported in the keeper's annual report.

  Scottish National Heritage
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the names and emoluments of the members of the north-western regional board of Scottish Natural Heritage.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 26 June 1992]: It is for Scottish Natural Heritage to appoint the members of its committees. I have asked SNH to write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

  Regional Assistance
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a table of expenditure on regional financial assistance since the 1984 revision of the assisted areas at(a) current prices and (b) 1984 prices in the travel-to-work areas of Arbroath, Bathgate, Cumnock and Sanquhar, Dumbarton, Dundee, Glasgow, Greenock, Irvine, Kilmarnock, Lanarkshire, Alloa, Ayr, Campbeltown, Dunfermline, Dunoon and Bute, Falkirk, Forres, Girvan, Invergordon/Dingwall, Kirkcaldy, Lochaber and Newton Stewart.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 29 June 1992]: The available information, which relates to regional selective assistance, regional enterprise grants and revised regional development grant, is given in the tables. Corresponding information on original regional development grant could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  267

  Table 2

  Gross expenditure on regional financial assistance to industry in Scotland at 1984–85 prices1 2

  £ million

  1984–853

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Travel-to-work areas

  Alloa

  0·5

  0·6

  0·2

  0·5

  0·3

  0·6

  0·3

  0·4

  Arbroath

  0·1

  0·4

  0·7

  0·5

  0·5

  1·0

  0·7

  0·8

  Ayr

  0·2

  1·5

  2·0

  2·7

  1·4

  0·9

  2·0

  2·0

  Bathgate

  1·6

  4·9

  5·4

  4·9

  7·8

  11·1

  12·7

  8·7

  Campbeltown

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cumnock and Sanquhar

  0·1

  0·3

  0·4

  1·1

  0·9

  0·8

  0·3

  0·2

  Dumbarton

  0·1

  0·6

  1·2

  0·6

  1·0

  0·4

  0·4

  0·5

  Dundee

  1·4

  2·3

  5·0

  4·6

  4·5

  3·5

  6·1

  2·6

  Dunfermline

  0·1

  0·9

  1·2

  1·2

  0·5

  1·0

  1·2

  0·5

  Dunoon and Bute

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Falkirk

  0·3

  1·3

  0·3

  0·4

  0·8

  2·3

  1·5

  1·5

  Forres

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Girvan

  —

  —

  0·2

  0·4

  0·3

  0·3

  0·3

  —

  Glasgow

  5·7

  18·1

  25·6

  25·5

  26·3

  27·0

  22·4

  16·4

  Greenock

  0·3

  3·7

  1·5

  4·5

  4·2

  2·9

  9·2

  3·3

  Invergordon and Dingwall

  0·3

  0·3

  0·3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Irvine

  1·6

  7·9

  7·4

  8·6

  9·4

  5·7

  5·3

  3·6

  Kilmarnock

  —

  0·6

  1·2

  1·9

  1·5

  1·3

  1·4

  0·4

  Kirkcaldy

  0·9

  3·6

  4·3

  4·0

  2·4

  2·2

  3·0

  1·5

  Lanarkshire

  1·6

  5·0

  7·3

  7·8

  8·0

  7·1

  5·2

  5·1

  Lochaber

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·2

  0·2

  —

  —

  Newton Stewart

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1Excludes original regional development grant.

  2Adjusted by GDP deflator.

  3From 29 November 1984.

  European Community Bathing Standards
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to assist financially the local authorities adjacent to the River Clyde to clean up the foreshore and meet EC bathing standards.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 3 July 1992]: The aggregate external finance settlement takes full account of district councils' responsibility for clearing litter, including that from areas of foreshore to which the public have access.

  Bathing water improvement depends on investment in effluent treatment by sewerage authorities and others. For 1992–93 Strathclyde regional council's capital allocation of £83 million for its water and sewerage programme fully meets its planned expenditure and is more than double the level for 1988–89. In addition, over £17 million has already been offered to the council under the Government's sewerage improvement grant scheme which provides assistance towards approved programmes of works to reduce pollution and improve environmental standards.

  Mortgage Defaults
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many former Scottish Special Housing Association tenants, now Scottish Homes tenants, have had their homes repossessed because of mortgage default.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 3 July 1992]: This information is not held by the Scottish Office.

  Free Tuition (Vocational Courses)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what rights a 16 or 17-year-old school leaver has to free tuition on a vocational course in a college of further education.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 3 July 1992]: The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities
  268
  recommends fee levels for courses in further education colleges. No fees are charged for under-18s on full-time non-advanced courses. After 1 April 1993, when the colleges are incorporated, it will be a condition of funding that this policy shall continue for courses falling within the Secretary of State's duty for further edcuation.

  Woodlands
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what publicity has been given to the community woodland supplement which he introduced in April; and what take-up there has been.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]: "The Community Woodland Supplement" was launched by my right hon. Friend in September 1991 and a press release was issued at the same time. Baroness Trumpington, the then Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, also publicised the supplement in January at the launch of the Forestry Commission's "Community Woodland Design Guidelines". Further publicity was given at the forestry expansion conference organised by the Forestry Commission in March, and in speeches by Ministers and by Forestry Commissioners on several other occasions. The supplement has been promoted in the technical press and Forestry Commission staff have publicised it at seminars with local authorities, farmers and landowners. Information about the supplement is included in the applicant's pack for the woodland grant scheme.

  The Forestry Commission has received 63 applications for the supplement, of which 10 have so far been approved.

  Badgers
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what plans he has to discuss the problem of badger baiting with the law enforcement authorities;
  269
  (2) what plans he has to improve surveillance of cross-border activity in badger baiting;

  (3) what evidence he has of badger baiting being practised in the borders; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what powers are currently available in Scotland to prosecute and sentence those convicted of badger baiting; and what plans he has to review the sentences available;

  (5) what current resources are devoted to the prevention of badger baiting; and what plans he has to increase the amount of money available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]: Badgers receive a level of protection in law which is unique for an unendangered animal. The baiting of any animal, including badgers, is prohibited in Scotland under the Protection of Animals (Scotland) Act 1912. The maximum penalty for an offence is six months' imprisonment and/or a level 4 fine—currently £1,000, but to be increased to £2,500 on 1 October 1992. It is proposed to increase the maximum fine at the next suitable legislative opportunity to level 5 on the standard scale—currently £2,000, but set to rise to £5,000 on 1 October 1992.

  Badgers are also protected under the Badgers Act 1973, as amended by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it an offence to ill-treat, kill, injure, or take—or attempt to kill, injure or take—or to dig for any badger except in certain specified circumstances. The Badgers Act 1991, which amends the 1973 Act and came into force on 25 October 1991, also makes it an offence intentionally or recklessly to damage, destroy or obstruct access to or any entrance of a badger sett; to cause a dog to enter a sett; or to disturb a badger which is in a sett. Such offences apply in Scotland and attract a maximum penalty of a level 5 fine—£5,000 with effect from 1 October 1992. A maximum custodial sentence of six months' imprisonment was introduced for offences under section 1 or 2 of the Badgers Act 1973 by the Criminal Justice Act 1991 on 9 December 1991.

  The Badgers (Further Protection) Act 1991, which came into force on 25 September 1991, provides courts with new powers in dealing with the above offences. The courts may order the destruction of other disposal of a dog used in the commission of such offences and disqualify an offender from keeping a dog for such time as it considers fit. A Bill to consolidate badgers legislation is currently before the House of Commons.

  Detailed information on the incidence of offences involving cruelty to badgers in Scotland is not separately identifiable within the Scottish Office Home and Health Department's classification of crimes and offences, but I am not aware of any evidence to suggest that badger baiting is widespread in the borders or that cross-border activity has developed. The allocation of police resources for animal protection purposes is a matter for the chief constable to decide in the light of local priorities.

  Capital expenditure per pupil on local authority schools

  (£ at out-turn prices)

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Borders

  31

  60

  54

  39

  44

  58

  69

  57

  64

  72

  109

  215

  Central

  61

  52

  48

  28

  22

  23

  31

  53

  64

  102

  118

  112

  Dumfries and Galloway

  56

  60

  65

  82

  99

  100

  105

  92

  29

  75

  82

  63

  Fife

  35

  39

  39

  38

  28

  49

  73

  80

  37

  86

  106

  156

  Grampian

  79

  102

  140

  103

  80

  72

  103

  101

  29

  44

  52

  76

  Tree Preservation
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the statutes and regulations governing tree presevation orders in Scotland and when they took effect.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]: The principal provisions are contained in part IV of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972—C. 52— sections 57 to 60, and in part V, sections 98 and 99. These provisions have been amended in minor detail. This Act came into force on 27 August 1972, but sections 58(5) and 59(1) to (3) came into force on 17 July 1975. The powers of enforcement are extended and amended by section 54 of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991. which came into force on 26 March 1992.

  The relevant regulations are:

  The Town and Country Planning (Tree Preservation Order and Trees in Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Regulations 1975,

  SI 1975 No. 1,204 (S.183), which came into operation on 1 September 1975.

  The Town and Country Planning (Tree Preservation Order and Trees in Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1981,

  SI 1981 No. 1,385 (S.134), which came into operation on 27 October 1981.

  The Town and Country Planning (Tree Preservation Order and Trees in Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1984,

  SI 1984 No. 329 (S.36), which came into operation on 11 April 1984.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the rights available to members of the public who seek to protect trees by means of a tree preservation order.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]: Under sections 57 to 60 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972, it is the duty of planning authorities, in the interests of amenity, to make such provision as may to them appear expedient, for the preservation of trees or woodlands in their district.

  These powers have been used effectively by local authorities but if the hon. Member has any particular case in mind, I should be happy for him to write to me.

  Pupils (Expenditure)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the actual capital expenditure per pupil and per capita for every Scottish region since 1979.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]: The tables provide information about capital expenditure (a) per pupil, and (b) per head of population on local authority schools. They have been derived from local authority capital expenditure returns, the annual school census of pupil numbers and annual estimates of population.
  271

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Highland

  60

  69

  86

  77

  46

  23

  38

  32

  73

  107

  116

  92

  Lothian

  60

  69

  58

  68

  52

  54

  58

  36

  80

  79

  117

  96

  Strathclyde

  36

  41

  53

  44

  48

  50

  52

  46

  54

  69

  74

  66

  Tayside

  31

  25

  27

  31

  23

  35

  46

  34

  57

  64

  70

  56

  Orkney

  44

  27

  175

  353

  263

  388

  370

  282

  310

  327

  314

  406

  Shetland

  663

  703

  800

  624

  579

  436

  252

  121

  131

  230

  183

  211

  Western Isles

  76

  98

  225

  263

  150

  165

  204

  579

  712

  421

  306

  447

  Capital expenditure per pupil on local authority schools

  (£ at out-turn prices)

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Borders

  5

  11

  9

  6

  7

  9

  10

  9

  9

  10

  16

  31

  Central

  12

  10

  9

  5

  4

  4

  5

  9

  10

  16

  18

  17

  Dumfries and Galloway

  11

  11

  11

  14

  16

  16

  17

  14

  4

  11

  12

  9

  Fife

  7

  7

  7

  7

  5

  8

  12

  13

  6

  14

  17

  25

  Grampian

  15

  18

  24

  18

  13

  12

  16

  16

  4

  7

  8

  11

  Highland

  12

  14

  16

  14

  8

  4

  7

  6

  13

  18

  19

  15

  Lothian

  10

  12

  9

  11

  8

  8

  8

  5

  11

  11

  16

  13

  Strathclyde

  7

  8

  10

  8

  8

  8

  9

  7

  8

  11

  11

  10

  Tayside

  6

  4

  5

  5

  4

  5

  7

  5

  8

  9

  10

  8

  Orkney

  9

  5

  31

  63

  47

  65

  63

  47

  51

  53

  51

  66

  Shetland

  136

  139

  135

  112

  107

  78

  45

  21

  24

  42

  33

  37

  Western Isles

  16

  21

  45

  52

  29

  31

  38

  103

  125

  71

  52

  74

  The figures in both tables relate to expenditure on nursery, primary, secondary and special schools.

  Schools (Noise)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what sums he has made available, to which regional councils and for which schools, for noise insulation in the last 10 years for which information is available;

  (2) if he will request Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools to make an assessment of the current effects on education in the primary schools at Balmullo, Guardbridge and Leuchars of noise nuisance from aircraft operating from RAF Leuchars;

  (3) what steps he intends to take to see that Fife regional council complies with the School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 1967 to 1979 in relation to accoustic conditions and insulation in the primary schools at Balmullo, Guardbridge and Leuchars respectively;

  (4) what sanctions are available to him in the event that a regional authority declines to comply with the School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 1967 to 1979.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]: Substantial resources are available to local authorities for capital expenditure on their educational building stock. Authorities are free to determine their own spending priorities within the total resources available to them.

  As regards the schools in question, I understand that monitoring of the situation is taking place and I have asked my officials to keep in touch with developments.

  My right hon. Friend has powers, after consultation with the authority, to issue a direction under section 19(3) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 requiring that premises be brought into conformity with the appropriate standards or requirements of the regulations.

  Community Enterprises
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the contracts of local enterprise companies require them to show that they have developed community enterprises.

  Mr. Stewart
  holding answer 6 July 1992]: Local enterprise companies' contracts are with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the detailed contents of these contracts, and their interpretation, are operational matters for these two bodies. I have asked the chairmen of the two bodies to write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what evidence he has that Scottish Enterprise and local enterprise companies are fulfilling their responsibility to develop community enterprises.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]: Scottish Enterprise has no specific statutory responsibility for developing community enterprise; and it is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise whether it chooses to impose any specific contractual responsibilities in relation to community enterprise on local enterprise companies. I do not seek information from Scottish Enterprise, which distinguishes its support for community enterprise from its activities to encourage enterprise in general.

  Quarrying
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures are taken to assess the likely environmental impact of quarrying operations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]: For individual quarrying applications, planning authorities should take account of the likely environmental impact of a particular operation. To assist in this process, we will shortly be issuing for consultation additional guidance covering the assessment and control of quarrying's

  273
  environmental effects. Regulations already provide that, in coming to their decisions on planning applications, planning authorities should seek from the applicant a formal environmental assessment if there are likely to be significant environmental effects. The results of the environmental assessment will be an important consideration in the determination of an application. Where an application is granted permission, planning authorities have a statutory duty to review periodically the operation of mining sites, including quarrying. We are currently consulting on possible options for strengthening this review procedure.

  More generally, research into the environmental impact of quarrying operations has been commissioned by the Government. A research report entitled "Environmental Effects of Surface Mineral Workings" was published earlier this year and will inform the guidance to be issued.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many civil servants in his Department are paid at a rate exceeding that of a Cabinet Minister.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 7 July 1992]: The total annual salary—including reduced parliamentary salary —of most Cabinet Ministers is £63,047. The number of civil servants in the Scottish Office whose pay currently exceeds this figure is two.

  Contaminated Land
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has prepared a timetable for the introduction and establishment of a register of potentially contaminated land in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 7 July 1992]: It was originally proposed that the duty for local authorities to compile registers of land which is, or has been, subject to contaminative use would commence in April 1992. The registers would have been available to the public in April 1993. Regulations together with guidance on various aspects of the registers were to have been published in early 1992. In the light of representations received from local authorities, further consideration will be given to the detail of the proposals and further consultation to he undertaken. An announcement on the revised timetable will be made in due course.

  Employers and Careers Service Partnerships
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library the response from each local education authority in Scotland to the invitation of his Department to them to consider how they might promote partnerships in their areas between employers and the local education authority careers service; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 7 July 1992]: Seven bids have been received for financial assistance towards the establishment of careers service partnerships. These are currently being evaluated and decisions will be announced shortly. Disclosure of information about bids is a matter for those who submitted them and it would not be appropriate to place copies in the Library.

  Water Disconnections
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the number of water disconnections in Scotland in each year since 1979.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 7 July 1992]: Water supplies to domestic consumers in Scotland may be disconnected only for short-term operational reasons—for example, to undertake repairs, make connections or plumbing alterations. Supplies to non-domestic consumers may also be disconnected for other reasons, including those arising from non-payment of water charges. Information on the number of disconnections is not held centrally.

  Cockle Surveys
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will publish the 1991 Solway cockle survey by the Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen, referred to in the consultation paper on Inshore Fishing (Scotland) Act 1984, "Proposals for the Amendment of the Existing Prohibitions on Fishing in Scottish Inshore Waters"; and if he will indicate how a member of the public can obtain a copy of the cockle survey report.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 7 July 1992]: A copy of the conclusions of the 1991 Solway cockle survey has been placed in the House of Commons Library. Copies are also available on request from my Department.

  A fuller report of the survey will be published later in the year.

  ASYLUM-SEEKERS: 1991 ESTIMATE
  ASYLUM-SEEKERS: 1991 ESTIMATE
  PAROLE PROCEDURE CHANGES: PRISONERS LIABLE TO REMOVAL FROM UK
  PAROLE PROCEDURE CHANGES: PRISONERS LIABLE TO REMOVAL FROM UK
  CHARITY COMMISSION 1988 REPORT: LETTER OF 23rd MARCH
  CHARITY COMMISSION 1988 REPORT: LETTER OF 23rd MARCH
  UKIAS:FUNDING
  UKIAS:FUNDING
  SEWAGE SLUDGE DUMPING OFF WEST COAST OF SCOTLAND
  SEWAGE SLUDGE DUMPING OFF WEST COAST OF SCOTLAND
  SOCIAL FUND: ANNUAL REPORTS
  SOCIAL FUND: ANNUAL REPORTS
  DoT PERFORMANCE TARGETS
  DoT PERFORMANCE TARGETS
  ROADWORKS AND THE CITIZEN'S CHARTER
  ROADWORKS AND THE CITIZEN'S CHARTER
  TRANSPORT WORKING GROUP
  TRANSPORT WORKING GROUP
  COASTAL ZONE PROTECTION AND PLANNING
  COASTAL ZONE PROTECTION AND PLANNING