Written Answers of 16 July 1992

TRANSPORT

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the achievements of his Department and his policies in helping small businesses over the last 12 months relative to the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.

  Mr. Norris
  The Government continue to place a high priority on helping small businesses through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and through specific programmes of support and assistance. One of the aims of our transport policy is to provide the right infrastructure so that large and small businesses can operate effectively. Specific measures by my Department which have helped small business include the deregulation of local bus services. We expect the completion of the single market in aviation, agreed last month, to extend the benefits of a liberal aviation market, such as lower fares and a choice of services, already enjoyed by consumers in the United Kingdom, to the whole of the EC. This will benefit businesses as users of air services as well as offering increased opportunities to enter EC markets as operators. The abolition of the dock labour scheme has increased competition between ports and in many of them productivity has grown considerably.

  A65 Ilkley Bypass
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make a further announcement about the proposed A65 Ilkley bypass.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I hope to be in a position to make a further announcement on the development of this scheme before the end of year.

  Noise
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what legislation, regulations or guidelines exist to limit the impact of(a) aircraft noise, (b) vehicle noise or (c) other noise pollution.

  Mr. Norris
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans he has to introduce regulations to control aircraft noise;

  (2) what responses he has received from Northern Ireland-based individuals or organisations in response to the consultation paper "Control of Aircraft Noise".

  Mr. Norris
  The consultation paper "Control of Aircraft Noise" was published last August. More than 550 860
  responses have been received including one from Northern Ireland. The responses are being carefully considered and an announcement of conclusions will be made in due course.

  The United Kingdom has supported international agreements to phase out of operation older, noisier subsonic civil jet aircraft certificated to "chapter 2" standards. These aircraft will be phased out between 1995 and 2002 and regulations to that effect will be introduced in due course.

  Civil Servants (Shareholdings)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance, other than the "Civil Service Pay and Conditions of Service Code" and the "Establishment Officers' Guide", his Department provides relating to civil servants' shareholdings; if he will list the number of occasions within the last five years on which civil servants have reported shareholdings to establishment officers in his Department; what regulations apply to the staff of the next steps agencies within his Department; what mechanisms are in place to prevent potential conflicts of interest; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  Guidance for members of the Department and its executive agencies is in the departmental staff handbook. Staff are asked to consult with the Department's personnel management directorate if they are in any doubt about the propriety of holding shares.

  In the last five years eight members of staff have reported that they have shareholdings.

  Departmental Objectives
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the objectives of each division and branch of his Department.

  Mr. Norris
  This information is set out in the Department's management plan for 1992–95.

  Transpennine Roads Study
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 13 July,Official Report, column 413, about the transpennine roads study, when he intends to make a substantive reply to the second part of that question relating to publication of the study.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  As soon as possible.

  Marchioness-Bowbelle Collision
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the action he has taken on each of the recommendations contained in the marine accident investigation report of July 1990 into the collision between the Marchioness and the Bowbelle.

  Mr. Norris
  One of the recommendations in the Hayes report on river safety, announced by the Secretary of State for Transport on 7 July, was that the Department should publish annually an account of the progress made on the implementation of recommendations made after all major disasters. The Department accepted this recommendation.

  There were 27 recommendations in the MAIB final report on the collision between the Marchioness and the Bowebelle. Action has been completed in respect of

  861
  recommendations 1, 2, 3, 4(b), 6–14 inclusive, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26 and 27. Action will be completed this year in respect of recommendations 4(a), 5, 15, 17, 20 and 24. Further consideration is being given to recommendation 22. Full details have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Motorway Sound Barriers
  Sir Michael Grylls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to provide effective modern sound barriers to reduce the noise of the new feeder roads off the M25 between the M3 and M4 junctions.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Noise barriers are proposed at a number of locations adjacent to the proposed new link roads between junctions 12 and 15 of the M25. The type of' barrier to be used has not yet been decided. A number of possible options are being considered.

  Air Accidents
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what figures his Department has relating to the number of accident reports submitted involving(a) helicopters and (b) fixed wing aircrafts in British airspace over the last 10 years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  In the past 10 years the Department's air accidents investigation branch has submitted a total of 73 formal investigation reports to the Secretary of State. Forty-seven of those reports were investigations into accidents to fixed-wing aircraft; 26 related to helicopter accidents.

  North Devon Link Road
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will authorise 60 mph speed restriction signs to be painted on the surface of the A361 north Devon link road.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No, but I am proposing other steps to encourage compliance with the speed limit. I will write to the hon. Member.

  Trailers
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provisions are laid down regarding the separate registration of towing vehicles and their trailers; and what exceptions exist for nuclear weapons convoys.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Motor vehicles for civilian use are registered by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency under the Vehicles (Excise) Act 1971. This does not extend to trailers. Military vehicles are registered by the Ministry of Defence. I am not aware of any exceptions applying to military vehicles in nuclear weapons convoys.

  Cross-Thames Rail Link
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the north-south rail link across the River Thames in south-east London.

  Mr. Norris
  The report on the east London rail study phase 2, commissioned by London Transport and the 862
  London Docklands development corporation and pubblished earlier this year, identified a number of possible extensions to the rail network including some that would cross the Thames. I understand that further work is being undertaken on certain of the options identified.

  East London River Crossing
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contribution he is seeking from the private sector for construction of the east London river crossing.

  Mr. Norris
  It is not our policy to seek contributions to the construction of strategic trunk road schemes in my Department's programme except in cases where additional traffic generated by new private development would cause us to provide facilities which are more extensive, or earlier, than otherwise needed.

  The east London river crossing was included in the national programme in 1979, to complete the extension of the north circular road to the A2 as part of a coherent network for longer distance traffic within London. No additional facilities have been included in the plans since then to deal with specific development proposals and so no contributions are currently being sought from the private sector.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current estimated cost of building the east London river crossing.

  Mr. Norris
  The total estimated cost at 1989 prices is about £300 million.

  London Ring Rail
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from S. B. Tietz and Partners on proposals for the London ring rail: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. Friend has just received a copy of the proposals for a London ring rail from S. B. Tietz and Partners and we shall reply to them shortly.

  Jubilee Line
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the contribution to decongestion in central London that the Jubilee line extension will make.

  Mr. Norris
  In net present value terms, at mid-1991 discounted to 1991, the road and rail decongestion benefits of the Jubilee line extension would be around £230 million and £275 million respectively.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the estimated cost of extending further the proposed Jubilee line extension to Woolwich and Thamesmead.

  Mr. Norris
  London Transport has recently estimated that it would cost around £300 million or £330 million to extend the Jubilee line to Woolwich Arsenal taking a route north of the Royal Victoria dock, or £370 million taking a route south of the Royal Victoria dock. Extending beyond Woolwich Arsenal to Thamesmead would cost an estimated £160 million more. All estimates are in mid-1990 prices.
  863
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish details of the cost benefit analysis carried out on the proposals to extend the Jubilee line(a) to docklands and Greenwich peninsula and (b) further to Woolwich and Thamesmead.

  Mr. Norris
  (a) The results, in present value terms, of a recent cost benefit analysis of the proposed Jubilee line extension from Green Park to Stratford, taking into account the quantifiable benefits conventionally used in the appraisal of rail transport schemes, are given in the table.

  Mid 1991 prices discounted to 1991

  £ million

  Capital costs

  -1,505

  Operating cost

  -180

  Additional revenue

  340

  Funding gap

  -1,345

  Public transport user benefits

  1,025

  Road user benefits

  230

  Net benefit

  -90

  Benefit:cost ratio

  0·95:1

  (b) No recent cost-benefit analysis has been carried out in respect of possible further extensions of the Jubilee line to Woolwich and Thamesmead. At the time of the east London rail study, published July 1989, however, it was clear that the costs of such extensions would far exceed the benefits.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Detling to Mailing section of British Rail's previous southerly route for the channel tunnel rail link from which safeguarding has now been withdrawn is outside the preferred corridor referred to in his answer to the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Mailing of 9 June,Official Report, column 116.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Detling to Hailing section of the originally safeguarded route was withdrawn on 5 November 1991 by the then Secretary of State because there was no common agreement to the west of Detling between the Ove Arup preferred route and that of British Rail. The Government preferred the Ove Arup approach which involves crossing the Thames near Dartford and arriving at King's Cross via Stratford. The Government have stated that the route indicated on the maps circulated last year was on the line of that put forward by Ove Arup, but have never suggested that the precise Ove Arup alignment could or should be definitive. West of Detling tal,the Government are committed to a preferred route corridor and not a specific safeguardable line. British Rail are considering carefully the cost, environmental and engineering implications of the route and will present to Ministers later this year any proposed diversions from this base reference. Any such diversions would have to be justified and in due course, if accepted, be subject to public consultations and planning approval.

  Railway Pensions
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give an assurance that when employees of British Rail transfer with their jobs to a new owner on privatisation their future pension entitlements will be no less than had they stayed as employees of British Rail.

  Mr. Freeman
  An assurance on pensions is given at paragraph 87 of the White Paper "New Opportunities for the Railways", Cm 2012, which was published on 14 July.

  London Underground
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the inner London parliamentary constituencies which do not have a London Underground station; and what plans he has to remedy this.

  Mr. Norris
  Of the 30 inner London parliamentary constituencies, nine do not contain a London Underground station. These are:

  Greenwich

  Lewisham, East

  Woolwich

  Lewisham, West

  Eltham

  Dulwich

  Hackney, South and Shoreditch Streatham

  Peckham

  The location of parliamentary boundaries is not a factor taken into account by London Underground when putting together their investment programme. However, there are several schemes under consideration by LUL which would have the effect of increasing the number of parliamentary constituencies served by the underground.

  Lorry Weights
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether, under the Maastricht treaty, decisions to increase maximum lorry weights would be taken by unanimous decision or by qualified majority voting.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The existing legal provision for decisions relating to a common transport policy normally to be taken by qualified majority voting is not affected by the Maastricht treaty.

  River Safety
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, following the public reaction to the report of the Hayes committee on river safety and any representations made to him, he will consider publishing a Green Paper reviewing safety on rivers and waterways, other than the tidal Thames, and the ways in which safety can be improved thereon, including consideration that the statutory duty for co-ordinating the safety requirements become the specific responsibility of the relevant navigation authority.

  Mr. Norris
  As my right hon. Friend announced on 7 July, he is setting up district marine safety committees to review in each of their areas the way in which responsibilities for safety, rescue and accident prevention are currently distributed. Their remit includes safety on rivers and waterways. They will consider ways in which safety can be improved and ensure that improvements are implemented and sustained. It would not be appropriate to prescribe particular solutions at this stage; we intend that the proposals should come from the individual committees and therefore reflect the circumstances of their area.

  "Going Round in Circles"
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement concerning his Department's response to the proposals contained in the publication, "Going Round in Circles", published by the Association of London Authorities in December 1991.

  Mr. Norris
  I have just received the publication to which the hon. Member refers, and I will be considering its contents.

  Plutonium (Road Transport)
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the procedures for informing the local public of possible health risks associated with the accidental dispersal of radioactive plutonium in the event of a road transportation accident.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Information will be given by the local authorities on advice from the emergency services.

  Crown Estate
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the Crown Estate Commissioners in order to discuss those matters over which they control rights of public access and which affect movements of commercial vehicles and public transport.

  Mr. Norris
  My right hon. Friend has had no such meetings.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider introducing legislation to remove ancient rights of ferry from the Crown Estate Commissioners where this affects any public ferry service.

  Mr. Norris
  No.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will seek the agreement of the Crown Estate Commissioners to consult his Department and the relevant local authorities prior to them ordering a cessation of any ferry service over which they exercise ancient rights of ferry.

  Mr. Norris
  The terms under which the Crown Estate Commissioners grant or withdraw rights to operate ferry services are commercial matters between the commissioners and the ferry operators concerned. This Department has no locus to intervene.

  Disability
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking during the Government's presidency of the Council of Ministers to promote EC legislation on making public transport accessible to disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  My Department is committed to promoting and encouraging improved access to public transport for people with disabilities. We are working closely with disabled people as consumers and with the transport industries on the most effective way forward.

  The scope for EC action is limited by the subsidiarity principle, in so far as this does not apply, the Government will take forward measures to assist disabled people during the United Kingdom presidency.

  Road Maintenance
  Mr. Fry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what records his Department keeps of the cost of maintenance and repairs for individual sections of motorway and trunk road.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  My Department keeps extensive records of the cost of maintenance and repairs; these costs are being progressively entered into, and retained on, a number of computerised systems, so that information can be extracted for individual sections as required.

  Mr. Fry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what records his Department keeps of the historic maintenance requirements of different forms of motorway and trunk road construction.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  My Department keeps extensive maintenance records. These are used, inter alia, to ensure that the standards required of new construction reflect current needs and accord with minimum whole-life costs.

  It is a requirement under all major new construction and maintenance schemes for records of construction known as "as built drawings" to be recorded. Steps are under way to computerise these records.

  Rail White Paper
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received since the publication of his White Paper on British Rail.

  Mr. Freeman
  None.

  Train Failures
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what claims British Rail has against the manufacturers of the 225 trains for technical failure while in service.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail is ensuring that the manufacturer of the InterCity 225 trains complies with the terms of the contracts, which include warranty protections.

  MoT Tests
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what instructions he issues as to whether an MoT rejection arising from a particular vehicle component can be reissued for different reasons once the rectification work has been undertaken.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 15 July 1992]: If a vehicle fails its test on what are classed minor items—for example, horn, indicators, headlamp aim, lamps, rear reflectors, seat belts, but not anchorages, windscreen washers and wipers, emissions—and providing the vehicle is brought back repaired to the station by the end of the next working day only the failure items are retested. However, if the vehicle is failed for other reasons and is brought back repaired regardless of when it is represented the vehicle must undergo another complete MoT test. It is possible that other defects may have occurred in the interim and would subsequently merit another refusal being issued. It is also possible that a retested vehicle may fail if a repaired component still does not meet the required standard.

  A565-M57 Link Road
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will confirm the date of the public inquiry into Sefton borough council's proposal to build a link road between the A565 trunk road at Ince Blundell and the M57 motorway at Switch Island.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have been asked to reply.

  I will write to my hon. Friend.

PRIME MINISTER

  EC Expenditure
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the level of expenditure of the EC.

  The Prime Minister
  Yes. It was agreed by the European Council at Lisbon on 26 and 27 June 1992 that when the Council met again at Edinburgh it would address the Community's finances for 1993 and subsequent years.

  Whaling
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Prime Minister, further to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields on 13 July, what response he received when he discussed the hunting of minke whales and the International Whaling Commission with the Prime Minister of Japan; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The Japanese Prime Minister noted the concerns that I expressed to him. Mr. Miyazawa and the Japanese Government are well aware of the considerable opposition in this country to whaling.

  Poland
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister when the ratification process of the association agreement between the European Communities and the Republic of Poland will be completed; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The association agreement will be concluded between the Republic of Poland, the European Community and its member states. It therefore requires ratification by the Parliaments of member states and the Polish Parliament. The European Parliament must also give its assent. I hope that these procedures can be completed quickly.

  Crown Estate
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will introduce legislation to bring the administration of the Crown estate within a Government Department and subject to Ministerial responsibility.

  The Prime Minister
  No. The Crown estate is administered by the Crown Estate Commissioners under the terms of the Crown Estate Act 1961.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister if he is consulted on the appointment of the Crown Estate Commissioners.

  The Prime Minister
  Yes.
  868
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister when a Government Minister last met the chairman or members of the Crown Estate Commission in order to discuss the administration of the Crown estate.

  The Prime Minister
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer met Lord Mansfield, the First Crown Estate Commissioner, to discuss the Crown estate's performance and long-term plans, on Wednesday 10 July 1991.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister in what circumstances the Crown Estate Commission is liable to pay the uniform business rate on property and estates it administers.

  The Prime Minister
  Commercial tenants of the Crown Estate Commissioners are liable to pay the uniform business rate in the usual way. Where the Crown estate occupies buildings for its own employees, the commissioners make a contribution in lieu of business rates to the Inland Revenue Crown property unit. The level of the rate is determined by the valuation office.

  Voluntary Bodies
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the total amount paid in grants by Government Departments to voluntary bodies during the financial year 1990–91: and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Government funding to voluntary organisations in 1990–91 amounted to £2,680 million. Of this, £2,058 million was payments to voluntary housing associations; £150 million was payments under major employment and training schemes; and £472 million went to support provision of services and a wide range ofactivities and projects by a variety of voluntary organisations. This last figure, which represents the amount paid directly by Government funding to voluntary organisations, shows that direct Government funding of the voluntary sector increased in cash terms by 26·5 per cent.—16·6 per cent. in real terms—over the level of provision in 1989–90. In the period between 1979–80 and 1990–91, the level of the Government's support for voluntary bodies rose in real terms by 149·5 per cent., an increase in cash terms of 542·25 per cent.

  The amount spent under individual departmental programmes was as follows:

  £

  Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  179,037

  Defence

  9,688,730

  Education and Science

  5,725,346

  Sports Council

  13,454,000

  Employment Training programmes

  177,199,203

  Energy

  725,462

  Environment

  Direct grants

  15,965,568

  Urban programme

  51,300,000

  Housing corporation

  1,682,000,000

  Countryside Commission

  1,600,000

  Nature Conservancy Council

  1,469,000

  Rural Development Commission

  5,089,000

  UK 2000 project grant fund

  360,000

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  1,453,658

  Overseas Development Administration

  87,799,667

  Health

  Direct grants

  36,498,099

  Health Education Authority

  1,108,405

  Home Office

  869

  £

  Direct grants

  33,856,000

  Equal Opportunities Commission

  19,814

  Commission for Racial Equality

  508,887

  Northern Ireland Office

  Direct grants

  17,673,816

  Housing associations and societies

  36,872,587

  Sports Council for Northern Ireland

  495,696

  Economic Development Grants

  Action for Community Employment

  49,230,056

  Community workshops

  17,739,038

  Community volunteering schemes

  890,000

  Youth community projects

  831,479

  Young help

  1,148,681

  Scottish Office

  Direct grants

  18,909,379

  Urban programme

  35,671,000

  Housing associations

  208,000,000

  Countryside Commission for Scotland

  1,004,341

  Highlands and Islands Enterprise (formerly Highlands and Islands Development Board)

  1,197,977

  Sports Council for Scotland

  1,451,561

  Social Security

  5,717,883

  Trade and Industry

  11,604,172

  Transport

  541,000

  Welsh Office

  Direct grants

  8,767,755

  Urban programme

  3,060,000

  Joint finance/care in the community

  336,000

  Development Board for Rural Wales

  420,664

  Housing for Wales

  (Tai Cymru)—Grants to housing associations

  131,387,947

  Sports Council for Wales and Play Wales Management Committee

  1,099,155

  GRAND TOTAL

  2,680,050,063

  I am placing in the Library of the House a list of voluntary bodies funded by the Government in 1990–91 other than those funded under youth training and employment training, housing programmes and the urban programme or via non-departmental public bodies. Other recent publications about the relationship between Government and the voluntary sector already placed in the Library include "The Individual and the Community: The Role of the Voluntary Sector", and a leaflet entitled "Government and Voluntary Organisations Support and Partnership". Copies of these publications can be obtained from the voluntary services unit, Home Office, Room 1373, 50 Queen Anne's gate, London SW 1 H 9AT.

EDUCATION

  Civil Servants' Shareholdings
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance, other than the civil service pay and conditions of service code and the establishment officers' guide, his Department provides relating to civil servants' shareholdings; if he will list the number of occasions within the last five years on which civil servants have reported shareholdings to establishment officers in his Department; what regulations apply to the staff of the next steps agencies within his Department; what mechanisms are in place to prevent potential conflicts of interest; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forman
  No special guidance is provided. Civil servants in the Department and its agency are expected to 870
  report shareholdings where a conflict of interest might arise. There is no record of any having done so over the past five years: the nature of most of the Department's business makes conflicts of interest inherently unlikely.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what visits she has made to his EC counterparts in each member state to discuss deregulation matters since 18 April; what agreements came out of such meetings; and what plans she has for making further progress in deregulation matters during the United Kingdom presidency of the EC.

  Mr. Forman
  Education is not regulated at the level of the EC.

  Theatres
  Ms. Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what jurisdiction his Department has over those theatres currently controlled by colleges in the further education sector; and if he has had talks with the Further Education Funding Council to guarantee their future survival.

  Mr. Forman
  My right hon. Friend has no jurisdiction over theatres currently controlled by further education colleges hut, under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, his consent would he required for the disposal of such an asset prior to 1 April 1993. It will be for the Further Education Funding Council, when it is formed, to decide how to treat theatres for the purposes of its funding methodology.

  Voluntary-aided Primary Schools, Rossendale
  Ms. Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) if he will approve the application for capital grant in respect of an extension to St. Veronica's voluntary-aided primary school, Haslingden, Rossendale;

  (2) if he will approve the application for capital grant in respect of developments at St. Mary's voluntary-aided primary school, Haslingden, Rossendale.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend approved a proposal to enlarge significantly the premises of St. Veronica's on 6 February 1992 together with the associated project at St. Mary's. This approval means that he will be prepared to pay maintenance contribution on governors' approved net building expenditure subject to a maximum cash limit based on 85 per cent. of the governors' share of the scheme which estimated total capital costs of £580,000.

  English
  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many(a) higher education students and (b) female students were reading English in the years 1979, 1985 and 1991.

  Mr. Foreman
  The information is given in the table:

  Higher education students studying English (Great Britain)

  Male

  Female

  Total

  1979

  3,981

  7,857

  11,838

  1985

  3,513

  7,897

  11,410

  1990

  4,314

  11,773

  16,087

  Note: Subject classification changed between 1985 and 1990.

  Student Fees
  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the cost to the Exchequer of student fees was in the years 1979, 1985, and 1991.

  Mr. Foreman
  In financial year 1991–92 the cost to the Exchequer of fees for mandatory student award holders domiciled in England and Wales, and of fees paid on behalf of students from the European Community, was some £1,173,084,000. This figure excludes discretionary award holders and the holders of postgraduate awards, for whom the fee element cannot be separately identified. For financial years 1979–80 and 1985–86, only combined fee and maintenance figures are available.

  Standard Assessment Tasks
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations have been received against publication of SATs results and how many for publication during the past 12 months.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has not yet issued for consultation proposals for the publication of national curriculum assessment results at school level. It is not, therefore, possible to provide a tabulation of representations for and against publication.

  However, over the past 12 months the Department for Education has received many letters about the general issue of the publication of national curriculum assessment results at national, LEA and school level. Precise figures on the numbers for and against publication at the various different levels are not, however, available.

  School Budgets
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish figures to show for each local education authority in English in the latest year for which such figures are available what was(a) the potential schools budget, (b) the amount of subsidy spent on school meals and milk and (c) (b) expressed as a percentage of (a).

  Mr. Forth
  The figures in the following table show planned expenditure for 1991–92, and were taken from local authorities' 1991–92 budget statements, published under section 42 of the Education Reform Act 1988.

  School meals expenditure 1991–92

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  Local education authority

  Potential schools budget (PSB)

  School meals expenditure not delegated

  School meals expenditure as a percentage of PSB

  (£ million)

  (£ million)

  Avon

  222·7

  14·0

  6·3

  Barking

  42·5

  2·1

  4·9

  Barnet

  75·4

  4·3

  5·7

  Barnsley

  50·7

  4·4

  8·7

  Bedfordshire

  150·4

  9·6

  6·4

  Berkshire

  168·3

  0·9

  0·5

  Bexley

  56·5

  2·6

  4·5

  Birmingham

  271·1

  18·8

  6·9

  Bolton

  71·0

  5·7

  8·0

  Bradford

  141·9

  8·5

  6·0

  Brent

  68·9

  4·4

  6·3

  Bromley

  64·1

  2·9

  4·5

  Buckinghamshire

  148·9

  1·4

  0·9

  Bury

  44·2

  3·4

  7·7

  Calderdale

  49·8

  3·3

  6·6

  872

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  Local education authority

  Potential schools budget (PSB)

  School meals expenditure not delegated

  School meals expenditure as a percentage of PSB

  (£ million)

  (£ million)

  Cambridgeshire

  158·6

  3·3

  2·1

  Cheshire

  243·6

  10·6

  4·4

  Cleveland

  164·9

  13·8

  8·4

  Cornwall

  102·1

  5·6

  5·5

  Coventry

  81·1

  4·4

  5·4

  Croydon

  81·2

  1·6

  1·9

  Cumbria

  122·6

  4·9

  4·0

  Derbyshire

  235·6

  21·6

  9·2

  Devon

  209·3

  8·2

  3·9

  oncaster

  83·6

  7·0

  8·4

  Dorset

  132·0

  0·5

  0·3

  Dudley

  72·4

  2·7

  3·7

  Durham

  157·0

  10·5

  6·7

  Ealing

  74·2

  2·7

  3·6

  East Sussex

  135·8

  9·7

  7·1

  Enfield

  71·7

  2·4

  3·4

  Essex

  372·7

  5·1

  1·4

  Gateshead

  50·8

  3·3

  6·4

  Gloucestershire

  115·4

  2·0

  1·7

  Hampshire

  367·1

  17·3

  4·7

  Haringey

  55·8

  3·9

  6·9

  Harrow

  48·7

  1·4

  2·8

  Havering

  65·3

  1·5

  2·3

  Hereford/Worcester

  156·4

  1·4

  0·9

  Hertfordshire

  246·8

  14·3

  5·8

  Hillingdon

  60·8

  0·3

  0·5

  Hounslow

  60·6

  3·6

  6·0

  Humberside

  238·2

  13·5

  5·7

  Isle of Wight

  29·8

  1·0

  3·3

  Isles of Scilly

  0·9

  0·0

  2·6

  Kent

  343·8

  3·8

  1·1

  Kingston

  33·1

  1·3

  3·9

  Kirklees

  98·5

  7·5

  7·6

  Knowsley

  46·4

  2·9

  6·3

  Lancashire

  349·2

  19·3

  5·5

  Leeds

  188·0

  13·2

  7·0

  Leicestershire

  242·9

  12·3

  5·1

  Lincolnshire

  134·4

  0·6

  0·5

  Liverpool

  141·6

  7·9

  5·6

  Manchester

  123·3

  13·0

  10·5

  Merton

  40·6

  0·6

  1·6

  Newcastle

  70·8

  4·3

  6·1

  Newham

  73·6

  3·1

  4·2

  Norfolk

  177·0

  10·5

  6·0

  North Tyneside

  53·2

  4·1

  7·7

  North Yorkshire

  168·2

  9·9

  5·9

  Northamptonshire

  155·8

  2·2

  1·4

  Northumberland

  71·1

  6·2

  8·7

  Nottinghamshire

  267·3

  18·1

  6·8

  Oldham

  65·6

  4·6

  7·1

  Oxfordshire

  131·9

  5·3

  4·0

  Redbridge

  51·6

  1·1

  2·2

  Richmond

  32·2

  0·9

  2·8

  Rochdale

  52·2

  4·2

  8·1

  Rotherham

  70·7

  4·4

  6·2

  Salford

  59·2

  3·1

  5·3

  Sandwell

  90·8

  5·8

  6·4

  Sefton

  76·7

  4·3

  5·6

  Sheffield

  118·5

  8·0

  6·8

  Shropshire

  108·6

  6·3

  5·8

  Solihull

  54·6

  3·2

  5·9

  Somerset

  108·4

  1·9

  1·8

  South Tyneside

  38·3

  3·3

  8·7

  Staffordshire

  253·5

  13·3

  5·2

  St. Helens

  49·0

  3·1

  6·3

  Stockport

  71·6

  2·3

  3·2

  Suffolk

  152·3

  1·9

  1·3

  Sunderland

  76·6

  4·8

  6·2

  Surrey

  203·5

  12·1

  5·9

  Sutton

  37·7

  1·2

  3·2

  Tameside

  56·6

  4·4

  7·8

  Trafford

  46·4

  3·2

  6·9

  Wakefield

  80·8

  7·4

  9·1

  Walsall

  77·6

  5·4

  6·9

  873

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  Local education authority

  Potential schools budget (PSB)

  School meals expenditure not delegated

  School meals expenditure as a percentage of PSB

  (£ million)

  (£ million)

  Waltham Forest

  61·4

  4·8

  7·8

  Warwickshire

  110·5

  5·6

  5·1

  Westminster

  40·4

  3·0

  7·4

  West Sussex

  142·2

  3·0

  2·1

  Wigan

  86·7

  4·5

  5·2

  Wiltshire

  131·8

  4·4

  3·3

  Wirral

  83·8

  4·1

  4·9

  Wolverhampton

  73·7

  4·3

  5·8

  Totals and National averages

  13,230·3

  554·2

  4·9

  Notes:

  1. The table lists each local education authority (LEA) which had a local management scheme in operation in 1991–92. Apart from Westminster, the LEAs in inner London are not included. LEAs are not required to operate a full school meals service, but they are obliged to offer free meals to pupils of families in receipt of income support. Charges may be levied in respect of meals for other pupils.

  2. The potential schools budget—column (a)—is defined as the general schools budget less expenditure on certain excepted items: capital expenditure; expenditure supported by central government grants; and expenditure on school meals, home to school transport and transitional exceptions (eg grounds maintenance).

  3. The figure for school meals expenditure in each authority—column (b)—is taken from the list of items excepted from delegation shown in each authority's section 42 budget statement for 1991–92. The figures may not be directly comparable for two reasons:

  (i) some authorities have separately identified school milk expenditure as a different excepted item, in which case the figure for milk expenditure is not included, and other authorities have included milk expenditure in the same item without disaggregating the costs, in which case milk expenditure is included; and

  (ii) the extent to which income from charges is taken into account varies considerably between authorities. For example, in some authorities gross expenditure on school meals is offset by income, in other authorities where the meals service is contracted out the income may be retained by the contractor and the gross expenditure by the authority is reduced accordingly.

  4. Figures for 1992–93 are not yet complete.

  Young Musicians
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will take steps to ensure that the Centre for Young Musicians can continue to provide tuition to musically gifted children from all parts of inner London.

  Mr. Forth
  The work of the Centre for Young Musicians is widely regarded, not least by my Department which is providing funding over the three years 1990–93 of more than £330,000. I very much welcome the support which inner London boroughs give to the Centre for Young Musicians and hope that London children will continue to benefit from the tuition offered.

  Food and Home Economics
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the future of the subject of food and home economics in the national curriculum.
  874
  Mr. Forth
  Aspects of home economics are covered in a number of national curriculum subjects, including technology and science. While the revision of the programmes of study and statements of attainment of the national curriculum technology order is still in progress, it would be inappropriate to comment further.

  Post-16 Students
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proposals he has for the assessment of the Government's financial contributions to the provision under section 12 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 providing for schools to admit, from 1993, persons over compulsory school age to courses suitable to their requirements on a full or part-time basis and to charge fees for this service; and if these additional students will be accounted for in the methodology of the post-16 block of education standard spending assessment or otherwise.

  Mr. Forman
  Funding arrangements in 1993–94 will reflect LEAs' changed duties under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. In calculating the transfer of funds from local authorities to the new further education sector, the Government will leave within local authority standard spending the resources attributable to those courses which fall within LEAs' responsibilities. The Government will announce in due course their proposals for the education elements of standard spending assessments as part of the local authority finance settlement for 1993–94.

  Performing Arts
  Ms. Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what grants have been made to Oulder Hill community school, Rochdale, to fund the Business and Technician Education Council course in performing arts.

  Mr. Forman
  The Government are committed to increasing take-up of vocational qualifications in schools. In 1992–93, my Department allocated Rochdale LEA funds to support expenditure of £13,400 to help schools and sixth form colleges to introduce new vocational qualifications under the grants for education support and training—GEST—programme. Figures on the grants made to individual schools under this element of the GEST programme are not available centrally.

  Discretionary Awards
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many students eligible for local authority discretionary awards under sections 1(6) and 2 of the Education Act 1962 were offered places on further education courses at educational institutions in 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991;

  (2) how many students received local authority discretionary awards under sections 1(6) and 2 of the Education Act 1962 on further education courses in 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991.

  Mr. Forman
  Section 1(6) of the Act covers higher education only.

  Under section 2 of the Education Act 1962, LEAs have a discretionary power to bestow awards on persons over compulsory school age attending any course of full-time or part-time further education. LEAs must meet the cost for these awards from their own resources.
  875
  The numbers of further education students receiving discretionary awards under section 2 of the Education Act 1962 are as follows:

  Thousands

  1988–89

  1989–90

  11990–91

  130·9

  130·5

  128·5

  1 (Provisional).

  Data for 1991–92 are not yet available.

  Expansion Funds
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether grant-maintained school and Church schools will he eligible for the expansion funds going to oversubscribed popular schools in 1993–94 on the same basis as local authority-maintained schools.

  Mr. Forth
  Yes.

  Student Support
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans his Department has to conduct investigations into levels of higher education student support, the relationship between income and estimated expenditure and the levels of student hardship and debt; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forman
  By this autumn, we shall have increased the level of full-year student support by nearly 40 per cent. since 1989–90. We shall commission surveys of students' income and expenditure as and when appropriate.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the number of(a) special needs students who have been statemented and attend (i) special day schools, (ii) special needs residential schools and (iii) mainstream schools each year since 1981, (b) statemented pupils for each year since 1981, (c) those waiting to be statemented for each year since 1981 and (d) the number of appeals.

  Mr. Forth
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Mature Students
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make provision for mandatory awards to be made by local authorities to mature students admitted directly for higher degrees without first doing first degrees; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forman
  No.

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what arrangements he intends to make for national curriculum assessments in 1993, in the light of recent consultations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Patten
  In the light of consultation and of the advice of the School Examinations and Assessment Council under its chairman. Lord Griffiths, I shall be making later this month orders to govern the assessment 876
  under the national curriculum in 1993 of seven-year-olds in the core subjects—English, mathematics and science—and technology, history and geography, and of 14-year-olds in the core subjects and technology. I shall place copies of the orders and accompanying circulars in the Library.

  Next year's assessments of seven-year-olds will build on the experience of this year's successful tests. They will consist of:
  mandatory tests in the core subjects of English, mathematics and science, focusing on the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic;
  teachers' assessments of pupils' attainments in technology, and for the first time in history and geography, supported by non-mandatory tests;
  strengthened arrangements to ensure consistency of assessment standards within and between schools.
  I have decided to give teachers greater flexibility over the timing of the tests of seven-year-olds in the core subjects which, in 1993, will be able to be delivered from the mid-point of the spring term to four weeks before the end of the summer term. This means that:
  teachers will have longer to deliver the programmes of study if they so choose; and
  those children whose seventh birthday falls in the summer term can be tested later, if teachers wish.
  Next year's assessment of 14-year-olds will he the first under statutory arrangements. They will apply to all maintained secondary schools, city technology colleges and such independent schools as choose to participate. The key features will be:
  short, written papers in science, mathematics. English and technology, taken simultaneously by all pupils under examination conditions;
  a practical test of pupils' manufacturing skills in technology;
  teachers' assessments of each pupil's classroom work to provide a detailed diagnosis of strengths and weaknesses which will inform GCSE option choices and future teaching;
  provision for subject score consisting of test results, in attainment targets covered by tests, and teacher assessments in other attainment targets;
  a rigorous audit by independent examining bodies of each school's test marking and teacher assessments before results are reported to parents or published.
  In response to concerns that test dates for 14-year-olds in 1993 should not clash with those for high entry GCSEs, and that testing should not be concentrated within a single week, I have decided that the tests in 1993 will be spread over the two weeks beginning 7 and 14 June. A detailed timetable setting out which tests will be on which days will be distributed to schools early in September.

  These measures are a further step in the Government's programme to ensure that pupils' attainments are assessed according to rigorous standards. They will provide parents and teachers with valuable information on each pupil's strengths and weaknesses, and will be a valuable tool in raising further standards in our schools.

  Surplus Places
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) if he will estimate the cost of keeping surplus places in primary and secondary schools in each academic year since 1987–88 in 1991–92 prices;

  (2) if he will estimate the number of surplus places in primary and secondary schools in each academic year since 1987–88.
  877
  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 9 July 1992]: The table records the estimated number of surplus places over the last four calendar—not academic—years.

  Year

  Primary

  Secondary

  1987

  900,000

  770,000

  1988

  860,000

  890,000

  1989

  830,000

  950,000

  1990

  780,000

  1,000,000

  These figures derive from an assessment of school capacity carried out in 1981 which has been adjusted annually to reflect accommodation brought into and taken out of use. We have recently completed an initial survey of school capacity. On the basis of this survey we estimate that in 1991 there were up to 1·5 million surplus places in England—approximately 800,000 in the primary sector and 700,000 in the secondary sector. Further work needs to be done to establish the reliability of these figures for each LEA.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which non-departmental public bodies are sponsored by his Department; which of these are audited by the National Audit Office; which firms of private accountants audits each of the others; by what method of tendering contracts to such firms are awarded; and for what duration.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Non-departmental public bodies which are sponsored by the LCD are listed in the HMSO publication "Public Bodies 1991 "—ISBN No. 011 4300 64X. Normal National Audit Office arrangements apply for all the LCD's non-departmental public bodies except in the following cases where the statutory provisions governing the body allow for external auditors to be appointed: the Legal Aid Board, which has appointed Messrs. Chantrey Vellacott for an initial period of two years following a competitive tender; the Authorised Conveyancing Practitioners Board, which is audited by Messrs. Finnie & Co., who were chosen in preference to one other firm and where the contract between the board and Finnies is for no specific duration; and the Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct, where the appointment of auditors is currently the subject of competitive tendering.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary. Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the achievements of his Department and his policies in helping small businesses over the last 12 months relative to the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Government continue to place a high priority on helping small businesses, through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and through specific programmes of support and assistance.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to the answer of the Secretary of State for Social Security of 13 July, about the appeal of the constituent of the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough, Ref. YR691179C, against a disability living allowance decision, if he will make a statement on the delay in arranging a hearing.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Secretary of State's submission in the appeal Ref. YR691179C—Commissioner's ref. CA/016/92—of the hon. Member's constituent was received in the office of the Social Security Commissioner on 20 February 1992. Following the normal procedure, a copy of that submission was sent on 21 February 1992 to the constituent's authorised representative. His written observations were requested and are still awaited.

  The constituent lodged a separate appeal—Commissioner's ref. CA/310/92—against the same decision in a different regional office using a different representative. The two appeals are being dealt with together to ensure that they are resolved at the same time.

  Distraint
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellors Department if he will review the basis of distraint by bailiffs on goods and chattels of debtors and further limit the range of such articles which can be distrained upon.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The goods and chattels which are exempt from levy and seizure following a judgment of a county court or the High Court were revised by section 15 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 which came into effect on 1 July 1991. This exemption also applies to distress for rent. I have no plans to amend those exemptions further.

  I understand however that my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is consulting local authority associations and other interested bodies about introducing restrictions which mirror these in cases of non-payment of the community charge and rates.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what guidance is available to criminal legal aid; and whether the same guidance is followed by the area offices of the Legal Aid Board when dealing with cases coming to them on review from refusals by the courts.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Justices Clerks Society issued guidance to its members in 1990 and 1991. The Lord Chancellor's Department issued a circular in April 1992 which included advice and guidance for use when considering applications for criminal legal aid. The Legal Aid Board is aware of the guidance which has been made available. However, it remains for the court, or the legal aid area committee in the case of a review, to decide whether legal aid should be granted in any particular case in accordance with the criteria set down in the Legal Aid Act 1988.

  Magistrates, Sunderland
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the names of those responsible for choosing magistrates for the borough of Sunderland and their lengths of service in each case.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The members of the advisory committee responsible for recommending candidates for the magistracy for the Sunderland petty sessional division and their dates of appointment are as follows:

  Chairman:

  G. P. Suffield Esq. JP—Appointed 1982

  Members:

  Mrs. C. K. Wood JP—Appointed 1982

  A. P. Greenshields Esq. JP—Appointed 1982

  J. Hall Esq. JP—Appointed 1988

  Dodds Esq. JP—Appointed 1991

  J. Jones Esq. JP—Appointed 1991

  Mrs. S. K. Whiteman JP—Appointed 1988

  Mrs. C. P. M. Clarke JP—Appointed 1991

  J. J. Gardiner Esq. MBE—Appointed 1991

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list magistrates in the borough of Sunderland by the wards in which they live.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The question cannot be answered without disproportionate cost. When seeking suitable candidates for appointment the Lord Chancellor expects all advisory committees to achieve a bench which is representative of the community it serves. To this end, he expects them to take into account geographical as well as other factors.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will give the political balance of magistrates for the borough of Sunderland.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The political balance of magistrates for the Sunderland petty sessional division is as follows:

  Numbers

  Conservative

  65

  Labour

  48

  Liberal Democrat

  17

  Independent

  2

  132

  Legal Proceedings
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he proposes to implement provision allowing no-win-no-fee arrangements for legal proceedings.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor and I are now considering the matters which should be included in an order to be made under the provisions of section 58 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990. We hope to issue a draft order for consultation in the autumn.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that the returns which make up the community charge enforcement statement are an accurate report of the number of people jailed for non-payment of community charge; and if he will make a statement.
  880
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The information about community charge enforcement proceedings in the magistrates' courts which is collected by the Lord Chancellor's Department includes the number of warrants issued each quarter committing non-payers to prison. These statistics are based on returns by justices' clerks. They are not routinely checked for accuracy although queries are followed up with the justices clerk concerned on an individual basis. The information collected does not purport to show the number of non-payers received into prison since in some cases payment is made following issue of a warrant.

  Magistrates, Walthamstow
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the number of magistrates at the Walthamstow magistrates court resident in each electoral ward of the London borough of Waltham Forest and the number resident outside the borough.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The question cannot be answered without disproportionate cost.

  When seeking suitable candidates for appointment the Lord Chancellor expects all advisory committees to achieve a bench which is representative of the community it serves. To this end, he expects them to take into account geographical as well as other factors.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the names of the members of the committee responsible for the selection of magistrates for the Walthamstow magistrates court.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The members of the advisory committee responsible for recommending candidates for the magistracy for north-east London are as follows:

  Chairman:

  E. J. Huxtable Esq. OBE JP

  Members:

  M. P. V. Leigh Esq JP

  Mrs. J. C. Barnett JP

  R. C. Jeffries Esq JP

  A. S. Dowley Esq JP

  R. Bryant Esq JP

  Dr. J. P. Barker JP

  His Honour Judge Owen Stable QC

  Mrs. M. Froud JP

  Mrs. D. M. Everitt JP

  Miss M. D. Churchill JP

  Miss C. M. Mather JP

  Mrs. D. J. Carradice JP

  Top Salaries Review Body
  Mr. Head
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what decisions the Government have made about the Top Salaries Review Body recommendations concerning the regrouping of senior circuit judges and others in group 5.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Government have accepted the TRSB's recommendations for regrouping. Some of the posts in the existing group 5 will be moved to a new group 5, at the same level as official referees; others will be reclassified in group 6 with a salary lead, although existing incumbents will be paid the new group 5 rate. As announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 10 July 1992,Official Report, column 288, the Government have not accepted the other recommendations affecting the judiciary.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Deregulation
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what visits he has made to his EC counterparts in each member state to discuss deregulation matters since 18 April; what agreements came out of such meetings; and what plans he has for making further progress in deregulation matters during the United Kingdom's presidency of the EC.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Deregulation is primarily the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. However, the aims of the citizens charter are relevant to deregulation. During the United Kingdom presidency, our European partners will have an opportunity to learn how the charter is helping to raise standards of public service in this country. In particular, on 3 and 4 December there will be a major conference in London on service for the citizen.

  Departmental Objectives
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will set out the objectives of each division and branch of his Department.

  Mr. Jackson
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess. I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Treaties
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make it his policy to include in his plans for developing the citizens charter a right for citizens to be informed of the effect of the more important treaties.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Researchers
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what consideration he is giving to taking steps to help British researchers, who have recently completed PhDs, to stay in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Government provide substantial funding to maintain a healthy science base in this country and to ensure continuing opportunities for our scientists. We are consulting on our longer-term strategy for science and technology, including the career structures available to scientists.

  Framework Research Programme
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what new ground rules he is proposing for the £4 billion framework research programme.

  Mr. Jackson
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Benevolent Fund
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) of 15 June,Official Report, column 359, if he will list the total amount transferred to the Duchy of Lancaster benevolent fund in each year since 1981–82; and what proportion transferred in each year resulted from the value of intestate estates.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Amounts transferred to the Duchy of Lancaster benevolent fund in each year since 1981–82 were:

  £

  1981–82

  NIL

  1982–83

  150,000

  1983–84

  150,000

  1984–85

  150,000

  1985–86

  200,000

  1986–87

  250,000

  1987–88

  400,000

  1988–89

  494,701

  1989–90

  335,981

  1990–91

  531,715

  Amounts paid to the duchy of Lancaster by the duchy solicitor, which are represented by devolutions in the duchy's accounts, include accrued interest and unclaimed assets of dissolved companies. The greatest single element is represented by intestate estates.

  From these sums deductions are made to cover the duchy's palatinate and special costs. The balance is then paid over to the benevolent fund. It is not possible to calculate the proportion attributable to intestate estates which is transferred to the fund.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Dioxin
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his Department intends to analyse garden soil in the area surrounding the Coalite plant in Derbyshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The results of analyses of soil samples taken by the Department on farms near to the Coalite plant have been published. In addition, the results of a soil survey conducted by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in the Bolsover area are expected to be published in due course. These analyses will give a comprehensive picture of dioxing levels in soils in the area and therefore it is not necessary to analyse garden soils.

  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his Department intends to carry out analyses of the garden vegetables in the areas surrounding the Coalite plant in Derbyshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply to him on 15 July 1992. The Department has no plans to analyse garden vegetables.

  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will release the full analyses done on the soil samples from the farms near the Coalite plant in Derbyshire, including the concentrations of individual dioxin and furan congeners;
  883
  (2) if he will release the full analyses done on milk and animal tissues taken from farms near the Coalite plant in Derbyshire, including the concentrations of individual dioxin and furan congeners.

  Mr. Soames
  Yes. The data are voluminous and I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library of the House when these have been compiled into a suitable form.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the results of the dioxin analyses of herbage samples from Woodhouse farm, Bolsover including toxic and dioxin furan isomers, as well as the total toxic equivalents; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Further samples are being obtained and the full results published along with other data derived from the research work carried out on the farm.

  Feedstuffs
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will report on progress on the review of animal feeding stuffs regulations being carried out by the expert group on animal feeding stuffs.

  Mr. Gummer
  The expert group on animal feedingstuffs started its review of animal feedingstuffs legislation in February 1991. I am pleased to be able to say that it has completed this task and that the report is published today together with the Government's response. Copies of both are being placed in the Library of the House.

  EC Policies
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reforms he will propose to the trade and agricultural policies of the European Community in order to conform with the objectives established in proposed articles 130u(1) and 130v of the treaty of Rome.

  Mr. Curry
  Suggestions for changes to existing policies should follow ratification of the treaty on European union by all member states. However, the Government, in determining their approach to European Community proposals, already take account of the implications for developing countries.

  Moorings, Kingswear
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now confirm the approval in principle given by his Department on 13 February to the Dart harbour and navigation authority and subsequently submitted by it on form FHG2 with updated tender prices and site investigation and design supervision fees for the upgrading of the commercial fleet moorings at Kingswear, south Devon.

  Mr. Curry
  Officials from this Department wrote to the consulting engineers co-ordinating the grant application for the Dart harbour and navigation authority on 10 July, seeking further information on the terms of the proposed leasing agreement and on the anticipated level of fisheries use. Once these queries have been resolved, a final decision on the grant application will be made.

  Rabies
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals have been agreed or are due to be agreed with regard to rabies controls on pet animals being imported into the United Kingdom other than those which are commercially traded; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Commission is understood to he considering a proposal for rabies controls on pet animals. The Commission and the Council have agreed that any arrangements for pet animals must provide at least the same level of protection as have been agreed for commercially traded cats and dogs.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the current status of the agreement reached on rabies control; and if he will outline the steps to be taken before it can be implemented.

  Mr. Gummer
  The directive covering commercial trade in rabies-susceptible animals was adopted formally at the Council of Ministers on 13 July. Detailed implementing rules need to be decided by standing veterinary committee procedure before the necessary amendments to national regulations can be made.

  Organic Food
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food what analysis has been carried out as to the effect of the introduction of the United Kingdom register of organic food standards on the sale of(a) organic fruit and vegetables and (b) organic bread; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The United Kingdom register of organic food standards was established in 1987. Since then, UKROFS has been defining organic standards and establishing mechanisms for enforcement. A proper record of the sales of organic produce is only now possible because UKROFS has created standards that define organic produce. UKROFS standards provides an assurance to consumers as to the reliability of the organic produce that is being purchased. This can only be good for the sales of organic produce, such as organic fruit and vegetables and organic bread.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his reasons for deciding that trading standards officers should not be involved in the monitoring, certification and enforcement of organic food standards.

  Mr. Gummer
  Trading standards officers are involved in the enforcement of organic food standards at retail level. Monitoring and certification at production level is the task of the United Kingdom register of organic food standards together with the various private sector organic bodies. A trading standards officer is a member of the board of UKROFS.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the producers of organic food stuffs about the introduction of the United Kingdom register of organic food standards; and if he will make a statement.
  885
  Mr. Gummer
  The United Kingdom register of organic food standards was established in 1987. Its board includes members of the major organic sector bodies in the United Kingdom as well as consumer, trading standards, food processing and retail interests. I have received no recent representations from producers regarding the introduction of UK ROFS standards.

  Bovine Tissues
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has concerning experiments with bovine tissues from which the infectious agent has not been capable of experimental transfer to test animals: which tissues are used; which test animals were challenged and how many; what were the ages of these animals; and what was the length of the experiment.

  Mr. Soames
  Transmission studies of a variety of tissues from confirmed BSE cases are in progress. The information in respect of terminated experiments in which no signs of a scrapie-like disease have been observed are as follows:

  Mice challenged by feeding at 4–6 weeks of age

  Tissue

  Number of mice

  Duration of experiment (days)

  C57B11

  CRH1

  RIII

  Udder and milk

  19

  571

  (689)

  —

  Supramammary LN

  10

  667

  —

  —

  Placenta (A)

  18

  673

  (699)

  —

  Placenta (B)

  24

  —

  —

  754

  Spleen (A)

  20

  690

  —

  —

  Spleen (B)

  24

  —

  —

  841

  Carcase and mesenteric LN

  18

  680

  (683)

  —

  Brain and CSF

  8

  —

  (678)

  —

  1 C57B1, CRH and RIII are different strains of laboratory mice

  LN = Lymph node.

  Mice challenged parenterally at 4–8 weeks of age

  Tissue

  Number of mice

  Duration of experiment (days)

  Muscle semitendinosus

  24

  870

  Muscle diaphragma

  24

  888

  Placenta

  24

  774

  Buffy coat (of blood)

  24

  916

  Semen

  24

  925

  Bone marrow

  24

  793

  Spleen

  235

  918

  More than 50 other tissues are currently being tested by parenteral challenge of susceptible mice, but none of these experiments has yet reached its end point.

  Farm Woodland Scheme
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether farmers are entitled to a free visit when applying for a grant under the farm woodland scheme; whether approval from the Forestry Commission is necessary before grants under this scheme are paid out, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  General advice about woodland establishment and management, and detailed advice on the grant aid available for these activities, is available to farmers free of charge from ADAS in England and Wales and from the Scottish agricultural colleges in Scotland. Entry into the farm woodland premium scheme, which 886
  offers annual payments to farmers to offset income forgone when trees are planted on agricultural land, is conditional upon the proposed planting having been approved by the forestry authority for establishment grants under the woodland grant scheme.

  Whales
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to raise the issue of the protection of whales through international forums other than the International Whaling Commission.

  Mr. Gummer
  It is the policy of this Government to work for effective measures for the conservation and protection of whales and other cetaceans through the International Whaling Commission and other relevant international forums.

  Small Cetaceans
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 24 June,Official Report, column 241, whether the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development discussed the International Whaling Commission's report on small cetaceans.

  Mr. Gummer
  The report on significant direct and incidental catches of small cetaceans by the scientific committee of the International Whaling Commission was submitted by the IWC to the UNCED secretariat in July 1991. The report was not discussed at the UNCED conference. However, papers before the conference recognised the work of the International Whaling Commission in conserving and managing whale stocks, its studies on other cetaceans and the role of other relevant organisations—for example, those established under the Bonn convention.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Finance Bill
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what extra costs were incurred by his Department as a result of the Standing Committee considering the Finance Bill sitting after the House adjourned on 16 June, 23 June and 30 June.

  Mr. Dorrell
  It is not possible to give a precise figure for the extra costs involved to Her Majesty's Treasury as a result of the Finance Bill Standing Committee sitting after the House adjourned on 16, 23 and 30 June. However, the total overtime and allowances entitlement for staffing costs would be in the region of £1,000 if they were claimed.

  Inland Revenue Investigations
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review the powers of the Inland Revenue when conducting investigations into the tax affairs of private individuals and small businesses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have no plans to review the powers used by inspectors of taxes in their normal investigation work. I would, however, refer my hon. Friend to my remarks during Standing Committee B's consideration of the Finance Bill, at columns 431–32.

  Treaty of Rome
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what degree of convergence of economic performance among the member states of the European Community Her Majesty's Government plan to seek under the terms of the proposed amendment to article 2 of the treaty of Rome.

  Mr. Nelson
  The United Kingdom believes that all member states should take the necessary steps to achieve sound public finances, price stability and flexible labour markets. These are the necessary conditions for non-inflationary growth and the reduction of unemployment.

  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the power granted to the Council to enforce its recommendations for broad guidelines of the economic policy of member states as defined by the proposed article 103(2) of the treaty of Rome.

  Mr. Nelson
  Under article 103, the Council may formulate a draft for the broad guidelines of the economic policies of the member states and the Community. The Council's action towards member states deemed not to be complying with the guidelines is, however, limited to non-binding recommendations.

  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the requirement that the economic policies of member states be regarded as a matter of common concern in the proposed article 103(1) of the treaty of Rome will affect the management of the Government's economic policy.

  Mr. Nelson
  Article 103 develops existing procedures for multilateral surveillance of member states' economic policies. It provides for economic policy guidelines to be recommended by the Council, but these guidelines will not be binding upon member states. The Government do not expect the management of the United Kingdom's economic policy will be affected as they are already committed to sound fiscal and monetary policies and to achieving permanently low inflation.

  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arc the criteria for convergence of economic performance among the member states of the European Community as required by the proposed amendment to article 2 of the treaty of Rome.

  Mr. Nelson
  The criteria are set down in article 109j of the Maastricht treaty. They include a high degree of price stability, convergence of long-term interest rates, no "excessive" budget deficit and membership of the narrow band of the exchange rate mechanism.

  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures the Government propose to take in order to achieve(a) the high level of social protection, and (b) the high level of employment required by the proposed amendment to article 2 of the treaty of Rome.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Government's policies are directed to the achievement of sustained non-inflationary growth. This is the best means of promoting employment growth and social protection.

  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Government have to alter its policies of indirect taxation as part of the harmonisation of legislation in this area under the proposed article 99 of the treaty of Rome.
  888
  Sir John Cope
  The Government have no plans to alter their policies on indirect taxation in the context of the provisions of article 99 of the treaty of Rome. This article, as the legal base for fiscal matters, provides for unanimity in decision making, and is not materially altered by the draft Maastricht treaty.

  Pension Plans
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to bring deposit-based insurance and pension plans within the scope of the Financial Services Act 1986.

  Mr. Nelson
  I have no plans to bring deposit-based personal pension plans within the Financial Services Act 1986. Personal pension plans constructed as long-term insurance contracts already fall within the definition of investments under the Financial Services Act.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what visits he has made to his EC counterparts in each member state to discuss deregulation matters since 18 April; what agreements came out of such meetings; and what plans he has for making further progress in deregulation matters during the United Kingdom's presidency of the EC.

  Mr. Dorrell
  My ministerial colleagues have met their EC counterparts and European Commissioners on a number of occasions since 18 April. The importance of minimising the burdens on business of Community legislation is well understood by this Government. During the United Kingdom presidency, the Government will continue to press the case for minimising burdens on business.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what studies have been undertaken as to the effect of economic and monetary union.

  Mr. Nelson
  Studies include the European Commission report "One market, one money: An evaluation of the potential benefits and costs of forming an economic and monetary union", which is available in the Library. An account of the agreement at Maastricht was published in the Treasury bulletin for winter 1991–92, which is also available in the Library.

  Benefits
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the gain to public funds if(a) all social security benefits and welfare payments and (b) all social security benefits and welfare payments other than child benefit were made inclusive in the taxable income of recipients.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The estimated direct revenue yield in 1992–93 from making all social security benefits and welfare payments liable to tax is about £2 billion. Excluding child benefit and one-parent benefit would reduce the yield to about £1 billion.

  Joint Nature Conservation Committee
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the main recommendations and conclusions of the Treasury's staff review of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for North Cornwall (Mr. Tyler) on 13 July 1992,Official Report, column 418.

  VAT
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, under the Maastricht treaty, decisions to establish uniform rates of value added tax and uniform VAT exemptions would be taken by unanimous decision or by qualified majority voting.

  Mr. Lamont
  European Community decisions relating to the rates and structure of VAT are covered by the provisions of article 99 of the treaty of Rome, and as such are subject to a unanimous decision by member states.

  This position is not affected by the draft Maastricht treaty.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all grants and subsidies received by farmers upon which VAT is chargeable; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 10 July 1992]Some grants to farmers can be regarded as consideration for a supply of services and hence taxable because the recipient undertakes to refrain from doing something such as producing milk. Farmers receive grants and subsidies from a number of Government Departments, but no central list is maintained by any one Department and such information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Capital Expenditure
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has anything to add to the statement made by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 7 May,Official Report, column 168, in respect of capital expenditure by local borough and district councils which has not been authorised in some manner by Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Portillo
  No.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants in grades 7 and principal and above were employed at 1 October 1981 and 1 October 1991.

  Mr. Nelson
  The information readily available relates to 1 January 1981 and 1 April 1991 and is published in "Civil Service Statistics", copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.

  With the introduction of unified grading between 1984 and 1986 principal grade and equivalents were replaced by grade 7, senior principal by grade 6. Data comparable to unified grades are not available for years before 1986.

  Iraqi Funds
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the total value of Iraqi funds blocked in the United Kingdom;

  (2) what steps he is taking so that the claims of creditors who carried out legitimate trade with Iraq prior to the invasion of Kuwait can be met from Iraqi funds frozen in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Nelson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Antrim, East (Mr. Beggs) on 13 July,Official Report, column 422.

  EC Budget Control
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the total cost of fraudulent practices involving EC finances in the Community as a whole and in the United Kingdom; and what action he is taking to ensure that the budgetary control committee's efforts in the European Parliament are made worth while.

  Sir John Cope
  Because of the nature of fraud, it is impossible to estimate the total cost of fraud against the European Community budget. However, in its annual report on the fight against fraud in 1991, the Commission has provided the following figures of irregularities notified to the Commission for the European Commission as a whole and for the United Kingdom:

  Own resources notifications: 2nd half 1990 to 1st half 1991

  Mecu

  £ million1

  Total

  59·4

  41·4

  of which United Kingdom

  13·1

  9·1

  European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund, guarantee section notifications: 1991

  Mecu

  £ million1

  Total

  67·2

  46·8

  of which United Kingdom

  5·1

  3·6

  Structural funds notifications: 1 November 1990- to 31 December 1991

  Mecu

  £ million1

  Total

  1·5

  1·0

  of which United Kingdom

  0·2

  0·15

  1 Converted at the central rate in the ERM of £1 = 1·435 ecu.

  In part, these figures reflect the success of detection and efficiency of notification.

  I shall meet the European Parliament's budgetary control committee in the autumn. This will be an opportunity to discuss fully the Parliament's concern to make sure that the Community makes every effort to combat irregularity including fraud. The Government are determined to ensure that further progress is made to reduce the scope for irregularity including fraud and will carefully consider any suggestions which the European Parliament may have.

  Computer Organisation (Transfer)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the transfer of Chessington computer centre and the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency to the Minister for the Civil Service will take place.
  891
  Mr. Lamont
  The transfer of responsibility for the Chessington computer centre will take place today. A transfer of functions order in respect of the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency is being laid today and the transfer will take place on 6 August. A supplementary estimate to reflect these changes will be presented in due course.

  Death Benefits
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if provision has been made for the payment of improved death gratuities and dependants' benefits to beneficiaries under the European Parliament (United Kingdom representatives) pension scheme.

  Mr. Portillo
  The European Parliament (United Kingdom representatives) pension scheme—EP (UKR) PS—follows the parliamentary contributory pension fund—PCPF—in its provisions. The Parliamentary Pensions (Amendment) Regulations 1991 made changes to the death gratuities and dependants' benefits payable with effect from 2 April 1991 under the PCPF in respect of members who died on or after 6 April 1988. An order amending the provisions of the EP (UKR) PS will be made as soon as possible. Payment will, however, be made in the meantime to those who will be eligible to benefit from the new provisions.

  Parliamentary approval will be sought later this year in an order under the European Parliament (Pay and Pensions) Act 1979. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £50,000 will be met from repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund. Once the order has been approved, the Contingencies Fund will be repaid upon approval of the Contingencies Fund repayment vote in 1993–94.

  Government Holdings
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he proposes to examine options for the sale or redemption in 1992–93 of part of the Government's holding of privatised companies' debt or loan stock.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Government are considering options for the redemption or sale of part of their holding in privatised companies' debt and loan stock. No decisions have been taken about the timing of the debt or loan stock which will be realised, although it is likely that about £1 billion will be involved. We have begun to appoint advisers to examine the options.

  Expenses incurred in connection with the redemption or sale of part of the Government's holding will be met from receipts. Parliamentary approval for this new service will be sought in a winter supplementary estimate for Her Majesty's Treasury's sale of shares in British Telecommunications plc vote—class XVIII, vote 19. Pending that approval, expenses will be met from advances from the Contingencies Fund.

  Once the realisation exercise is complete, and the final costs are known, a supplementary estimate will be presented to provide substantive provision for expenses and compensating provision for appropriations-in-aid. The balance of the receipts will be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

  Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any amendments are proposed to the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970 contains a provision under which, if certain conditions are satisfied, assets transferred from one company to another as part of a company reconstruction or amalgamation are deemed to have been disposed of for an amount that gives rise to neither a gain nor a loss. This provision enables the rationalisation and reorganisation of businesses to take place without the immediate tax charge that would ordinarily arise when assets are transferred from one company to another.

  When the original legislation was consolidated in the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, there was an error in a cross-reference involving the measures relating to transfers of life assurance business. If not corrected, this would exclude a transfer of insurance business to or from the United Kingdom branch of an overseas life assurance company from the relief conferred by the original legislation.

  No transfers of insurance business have been affected by the legislation in the consolidated act so far, and the Chancellor proposes to introduce legislation in next year's Finance Bill to correct the error in the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992. The legislation will apply to transfers of insurance business which take place after today.

  Civil Servants' Shareholdings
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance, other than the civil service pay and conditions of service code and the establishment officers' guide, his Department provides relating to civil servants' shareholdings; if he will list the number of occasions within the last five years on which civil servants have reported shareholdings to establishment officers in his Department; what regulations apply to the staff of the next steps agencies within his Department; what mechanisms are in place to prevent potential conflicts of interest; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Building Societies
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Income Tax (Building Societies) Regulations 1986 on composite tax rate for building societies raised additional taxation on(a) cash flow or (b) accruals.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The regulations changed the way in which building societies accounted for composite rate tax. They included provision to ensure that accrued interest taken into account under the old system did not come into account again, when paid, under the new system. The Inland Revenue estimates that tax due in 1986–87, the first year of payment under the new rules, plus instalments of transitional tax due later, was about £100 million less than would have been due in that year had the old system
  893
  continued. This difference is a little greater than the figure of £76 million given to my hon. Friend in response to an earlier question—Official Report, 15 July 1992, column 40 the Inland Revenue has corrected some errors in entering

  Accounting periods ending

  Number of societies

  Amount of tax that would have been due in 1986–87 if old system had continued

  Amount of tax due in 1986–87 under new system plus instalments of transitional tax not due till later

  Increase or decrease in tax payable under new system

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  as percentage of old

  April 6 to 30 August (end of first complete quarter)

  6

  8

  14

  +6

  +75

  September to November

  7

  340

  409

  +69

  +20

  December to 5 April

  131

  2,596

  2,421

  -175

  -7

  Total

  144

  2,944

  2,844

  -100

  -3

  of which instalments due after 1986–87

  35

  Mortgage Lenders
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will outline the present system for regulating the activities of centralised mortgage lenders; and whether he will specify the total amount of mortgage lending undertaken by such bodies in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Nelson
  Because they do not carry on a deposit-taking business, centralised mortgage lenders are not subject to regulation under the Banking Act 1987 or the Building Societies Act 1986. However, the Consumer Credit Act 1974—for which responsibility lies with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade—and the subordinate legislation made under it provide a system of licensing and other control of traders concerned with the provision of credit. It is likely that centralised mortgage lenders will require consumer credit licences and be subject to the controls on licensing administered by the Director General of Fair Trading.

  Table L9.4 in the June 1992 edition of "Financial Statistics" gives details of loans for house purchase by "miscellaneous financial institutions", the bulk of which is believed to be accounted for by centralised mortgage lenders. At end-1991, the stock of loans for house purchase by miscellaneous financial institutions totalled £25·9 billion.

  Crown Estate Commissioners
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many fishing ports are owned or managed by the Crown Estate Commissioners.

  Mr. Lamont
  None. Where the commissioners own land required for a port, it may be leased to the operators of the individual ports.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many miles of the coastline of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland are owned or managed by the Crown Estate Commissioners.

  Mr. Lamont
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.
  894
  the data underlying that earlier reply. The full information for societies grouped by reference to their accounting date is shown in the table:

  Ministerial Staff
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff were employed in all ministers' private offices in May 1979; and how many are employed today.

  Mr. Nelson
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Tilbury Ferry
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will institute proceedings against the Crown Estate Commissioners for failure to provide a ferry service between Tilbury and Gravesend.

  The Attorney-General
  No.

  Social Security Tribunals
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received from the Independent Tribunal Service regarding the payment of fees to members of social security appeal tribunals; and how he has responded to those representations.

  The Attorney-General
  I have received no such representations.

  South African Security Personnel
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Attorney-General what consideration has been given to launching prosecutions arising out of the activities of Captain Pamela du Randt and Mr. Leon Flores under the Prevention of Terrorism Acts.

  The Attorney-General
  This matter has not been the subject of consideration by the Crown prosecution service. The investigation of alleged criminal offences is a matter for the police who are responsible for the initial decision whether to charge. In appropriate cases the police may consult the CPS.

HEALTH

  London Health Services Inquiry
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress Professor Sir Bernard Tomlinson is making in his inquiry into London's health services.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Tomlinson inquiry is making good progress and is on course to report in the early autumn. To ensure that our decisions on its recommendations are acted upon decisively and rapidly, I will, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education, establish a special unit to implement our decisions and to help manage the process of change. The special unit will be part of the National Health Service Management Executive. I will give further details when the Tomlinson inquiry reports.

  Maternity Services
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women have elected for(a) hospital birth and (b) home birth for each year since 1990; and if she will provide an estimate of the number of birth complications at each location.

  Mr. Sackville
  The figures relating to place of confinement for births in 1990 and 1991 are shown in the table.

  Information is collected centrally on the method of delivery, including caesarian sections and instrumental deliveries, but this is not available in terms of the location of the delivery.

  Maternities 1990–91 England—Place of confinement

  1990

  1991

  Hospital

  654,594

  647,710

  Home

  6,953

  7,439

  Elsewhere1

  503

  554

  Total

  662,050

  655,703

  1 Elsewhere includes:

  All psychiatric institutions.

  Homes for unmarried mothers.

  Remand Homes

  Reception Centres.

  Private Houses (other than the mother's usual residence).

  Source:OPCS Birth Statistics Table produced by SD2B June 1992.

  Hospital medical

  CHS

  Total

  Number

  Whole-lime equivalent

  Number

  Whole-time equivalent

  Number

  Whole-time equivalent

  Northern

  708

  632·0

  95

  45·1

  803

  677·1

  Yorkshire

  892

  684·1

  80

  46·9

  972

  731·0

  Trent

  800

  670·8

  107

  59·5

  907

  730·3

  East Anglia

  314

  278·9

  26

  20·5

  340

  299·4

  North West Thames

  869

  729·7

  178

  82·3

  1,047

  812·0

  North East Thames

  1,011

  814·0

  187

  90·4

  1,198

  904·4

  South East Thames

  897

  741·3

  145

  77·1

  1,042

  818·4

  South West Thames

  528

  436·4

  87

  54·0

  615

  490·4

  Wessex

  372

  325·7

  37

  24·3

  409

  350·0

  Oxford

  456

  378·4

  30

  17·7

  486

  396·1

  South Western

  396

  351·6

  15

  10·5

  411

  362·1

  West Midlands

  1,150

  962·9

  173

  87·8

  1,323

  1,050·7

  Mersey

  522

  430·7

  85

  43·6

  607

  474·3

  North Western

  1,228

  1007·1

  241

  116·0

  1,469

  1,123·1

  London Post-Grad Teaching Hospitals

  295

  209·2

  0

  0·0

  295

  209·2

  Wales

  728

  603·8

  44

  33·6

  772

  637·4

  Paediatric Pathologists
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the health regions of England which currently have paediatric pathologists in post; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not held centrally. Information on doctors' specialties is held with varying degrees of disaggregation in the Department of Health's medical manpower census. Doctors with responsibilities in paediatric pathology are often recorded either as paediatricians or pathologists and the regional count of paediatric pathologists is therefore incomplete. A recent ad hoc inquiry relating to perinatal pathology found that every region had at least one perinatal or paediatric pathologist in post.

  Abortion
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the numbers of national health service abortions under 13 weeks since the last menstrual period, and the numbers of these operations involving admission and discharge on the same date, performed on women resident in each regional health authority and in each district health authority area in England and Wales in the latest available year.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Overseas-qualified Doctors
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish an estimate of the number of overseas-qualified doctors currently working in the United Kingdom according to each standard United Kingdom region.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The table gives the number and whole-time equivalent figures for hospital and community health service medical staff who qualified overseas, by region, in England and Wales, as at 30 September 1990, the latest date for which figures are available.

  Information relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
  897

  Hospital medical

  CHS

  Total

  Number

  Whole-time equivalent

  Number

  Whole-time equivalent

  Number

  Whole-time equivalent

  Special Hospitals

  21

  21·0

  0

  0·0

  21

  21·0

  Total

  11,187

  9,277·8

  1,530

  809·1

  12,717

  10,086·9

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the achievements of her Department and her policies in helping small businesses over the last 12 months relative to the previous 12 months; and if she will publish the performance indicators by which her Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Government continue to place a high priority on helping small businesses, through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and through specific programmes of support and assistance.

  Chronic Illness
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list all chronic illnesses which are readily indentifiable and require life-long medication.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The definition of which illnesses are chronic and which require lifelong medication are matters of clinical judgment, depending in part on the individual patient's condition.

  There are a small number of conditions for which lifelong medication is recognised as essential and for which there is exemption from prescription charges. The limited list of these specific medical conditions was drawn up in 1968 with representatives of the profession and updated in 1983.

  The conditions are as follows:

  a permanent fistula which requires continuous surgical dressing or an appliance;

  Diabetes mellitus;

  Myxoedema;

  Hypoparathyroidism;

  Diabetes insipidus or other form of hypopituitarism;

  Addison's disease or other form of hypoadrenalism;

  Myasthenia gravis

  Epilepsy for which one requires continuous anti-convulsive therapy;

  a continuing physical disability which prevents one from leaving home without the help of another person.

  Continence Services
  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will make a statement on the progress being made by the task force established to oversee implementation of the agenda for action on continence services;

  (2) what action her Department is taking to collect models of good practice for the delivery of continence services and supplies; and how these are being disseminated to the relevant authorities;

  (3) if she will make a statement on whether her Department will be carrying out a public awareness initiative of incontinence;

  (4) what progress her Department has made on the improvement in training and education of all people providing continence services as recommended in the agenda for action on continence services;
  898
  (5) how provision for incontinence services is being addressed by local authorities and health authorities under the new community care and health arrangements; and what advice her Department is giving to those authorities on the need for joint planning in this field.

  Mr. Yeo
  The task force is taking forward the recommendations on cost effectiveness, GP, nurse and other professional training, and publicity. Research is being commissioned on the effectiveness of different service models, with a view to helping health authorities adopt best practices. The Department is making a one year grant of £35,000 towards setting up a resource centre to he known as the Continence Foundation. In the spring of next year, the Royal College of Physicians plans to hold a conference on continence services with the Department's support. The results will be published and practical service needs emphasised. A public awareness campaign is planned for 1993–94 to encourage people to come forward for advice and assessment. Discussions on professional training continue with the professional bodies responsible for curricula and training delivery including the English National Board, on nursing. Material is being considered for distribution to GPs and GP trainers later in the year. The National Health Service Management Executive continues to keep local NHS services under review.

  Health Authority Appointments, Doncaster
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of chairmen and non-executive directors of health authorities and trusts in Doncaster neither live nor work within the Doncaster metropolitan borough council; and if she will make it her policy to take account of residential qualifications in making future appointments.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not held centrally. Chairmen and non-executives are normally expected to live or work in the area served by the health authority or trust.

  Legionnaire's Disease
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what inquiries and written reports from relevant agencies are required following an outbreak of legionnaire's disease in a hospital.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  A case of legionnaire's disease in a hospital would be investigated by the hospital's control of infection doctor, and his colleagues, who may seek advice from external sources, including the local consultant in communicable disease control, if he considers this necessary. In the event of an outbreak an infection control action group would be established, the local consultant in communicable disease control would be involved, and the group would prepare a report for the health authority and/or local authority. In addition the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1988 impose a duty on the local authority proper officer, who in many cases is the
  899
  consultant in communicable disease control, to immediately inform the Chief Medical Officer of any serious outbreak of any disease. A voluntary system of reporting of cases or outbreaks of communicable disease to the PHLS communicable disease surveillance centre also exists in England and Wales.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the numbers of hospital-acquired cases of infection from legionnaire's disease nationally in 1990 and 1991; and in which hospitals they occurred.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  A total of 187 cases of legionnaire's disease were reported in England and Wales to the national surveillance scheme for legionnaire's disease at the PHLS communicable disease surveillance centre in 1990. Three of these cases were associated with hospitals and four other cases may possibly have been associated with a hospital stay.

  In 1991 there were 111 cases—provisional—of legionnaire's disease in residents of England and Wales. Three of these cases were associated with a hospital and a further 10 cases may possibly have been associated with a hospital stay.

  Cases are reported under a voluntary national surveillance scheme and identification of individual hospitals would jeopardise national infectious desease control.

  Geriatric Patients
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines her Department has issued to health authorities about moving geriatric patients without relatives outside their home district for continuing care.

  Mr. Yeo
  The guidance on discharge procedures, HC(89)5, a copy of which is available in the Library, makes it clear that patients and, with their agreement, carers and relatives, are fully consulted at all stages on the arrangements made for their future care needs. This is also one of the nine national standards set out in the patients charter. A thorough assessment of the health and social care needs of each patient should be carried out, prior to discharge, to ensure that any services required are provided in the most appropriate way.

  Disability
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will discuss with regional health authorities the training of informal care providers in the prevention and treatment of pressure sores and incontinence for the physically disabled;

  (2) what plans she has to help local health authorities to set realistic objectives and targets for services for physically disabled people;

  (3) what plans she has to encourage the funding of rehabilitation programmes under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990;

  (4) what plans she has to discuss establishing new methods of measuring the performance of services for the disabled.

  Mr. Yeo
  Rehabilitation spans the responsibilities of health authorities, social services departments and a number of other agencies including the employment 900
  services. Health authorities fund rehabilitation services out of their general allocations and existing guidance sets out the range of services we would typically expect to see.

  The professions involved have done much to promote rehabilitation in recent years, and we are considering what further action is needed to develop services to meet the needs of people with disability or chronic illness and to identify and disseminate good practice including methods of measuring the performance of services, the setting of realistic but challenging targets and the provision of training.

  Health authorities are responsible for purchasing services to meet the health care needs of their populations. The assessment of needs for rehabilitation services is a complex matter. Special co-ordination is needed in the case of young people leaving full-time education and seeking to live as independently as possible. The Department will shortly make available to health authorities an epidemiologically-based assessment of the needs of young adults with physical disabilities to assist in deciding what services to purchase.

  We will encourage the development of good practice in the prevention and management of complications which often impede rehabilitation. We reaffirm the view expressed in our consultative document on the Health of the Nation, Cm 1523, that an annual reduction of at least 5 to 10 per cent. in the incidence of pressure sores is a reasonable target for health authorities and will initiate steps to identify and disseminate the best ways of achieving this. In July 1991 we published the agenda for action on continence services, which commended to health authorities the elements of an effective local service. We shall be taking further steps to keep key professions well informed and adequately trained on good practice, and to identify the prevention and treatment services which are most effective, taking account of the role of informal care providers.

  We will also be taking action to encourage the development of clinical protocols, standards of good practice, targets and performance indicators for services used by the people with impaired hearing or vision.

  We are providing £ 1 million to improve rehabilitation services following brain injury, and we are also funding a major research study of the 12 sites around the country receiving these funds to evaluate their services.

  There is insufficient knowledge about appropriate performance targets to make rehabilitation one of the key areas in our White Paper on the health of the nation but the Department will work with relevant experts to ensure that rehabilitation can become a national key area in due course. In the meantime we will pursue with regional health authorities where developments have progressed sufficiently the possibility of its adoption as a key area in those regions.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to discuss the dissemination to the physically disabled of the services available to them under the national health service.

  Mr. Yeo
  From 1 April 1992, the patients charter requires regional health authorities to set up general information services for the public. This will empower the patient to make more informed choices about health care, with improved access to information about the range of treatments available, greater knowledge of their condition and detailed information on waiting times.
  901
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to improve respite care for the physically disabled.

  Mr. Yeo
  We are looking to health and local authorities to develop respite care services as part of the implementation of the White Paper, "Caring for People". We recognise the contribution which such services can make to providing practical support for carers.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she intends to implement sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986.

  Mr. Yeo
  The requirements of these sections are now, to a very large extent, reflected in our new and wide-ranging reforms of community care, which demonstrate our commitment to high quality care and which are responsive to the needs and wishes of service users and carers. The need to implement these sections of the Act will be reviewed in the light of several years' experience of the community care arrangements.

  £ million

  1991–92

  1990–91

  1989–90

  Regional health authority

  Revenue

  Capital

  Revenue

  Capital

  Revenue

  Capital

  Northern

  3·377

  1·885

  2·541

  1·648

  1·677

  1·350

  Yorkshire

  4·145

  1·079

  2·992

  4·748

  2·106

  1·849

  Trent

  3·352

  2·157

  2·768

  2·229

  1·434

  2·786

  East Anglian

  1·735

  1·889

  1·345

  0·706

  0·300

  0·440

  North West Thames

  3·277

  2·351

  2·382

  3·527

  0·022

  —

  North East Thames

  4·249

  3·677

  2·895

  2·789

  —

  —

  South East Thames

  3·148

  2·128

  2·364

  2·848

  1·414

  0·822

  South West Thames

  2·543

  0·638

  1·496

  0·242

  —

  —

  Wessex

  2·125

  2·431

  1·786

  0·549

  0·448

  0·050

  Oxford

  2·418

  1·461

  1·819

  2·766

  0·970

  0·470

  South Western

  2·245

  1·183

  1·566

  2·810

  0·005

  —

  West Midlands

  5·100

  4·998

  3·606

  4·600

  0·865

  0·050

  Mersey

  2·219

  0·076

  2·206

  1·924

  1·178

  1·363

  North Western SHAs

  4·358

  4·719

  2·835

  3·414

  1·045

  0·060

  National Heart and Lung

  0·165

  0·475

  0·211

  0·011

  —

  —

  Hammersmith

  0·165

  0·181

  0·094

  0·171

  —

  0·110

  Hospitals for Sick Children

  0·165

  —

  0·186

  0·461

  0·025

  —

  Total1

  44·786

  231·286

  33·092

  35·433

  11·489

  9·350

  1 Expenditure incurred by the Department of Health centrally is not included in the totals.

  2 Excludes £10·616 million made available to 30 NHS trusts via external financing limits.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will now issue guidance on the criteria to he used by family health service authorities in measuring cross-infection rates in dental surgeries.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We have no plans to do so.

  Ms. Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on her plans to recruit salaried dentists in the event of large numbers of dentists leaving the national health service.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Health service guidance contained in HSG(92)27, a copy of which is in the Library, was issued to family health services authorities in June 1992 and advises on the action to take if they wish to employ a salaried dentist. It is for the FHSA to decide, in the light of the circumstances in its locality, whether it should seek to employ a salaried dentist. Any application made to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for approval of

  Resource Management
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what expenditure was incurred on developing resource management in England by each health authority in each year since 1988–89; and what financial benefits have been identified and evaluated to date.

  Mr. Sackville
  The sums made available by the Department to regional and special health authorities to develop resource management in the years 1989–90 to 1991–92 are shown in the table. Regional and district health authorities and individual hospitals have provided some additional funding for individual projects. In 1988–89, the Department contributed £2·3 million to projects in six acute resource management pilot sites.

  The resource management programme aims to secure improvements in patient care through better management of resources at hospital level, and is not concerned solely with financial benefits. Assessment of benefits is an integral part of resource management projects in individual hospitals, but there has been no comprehensive national survey of those assessments.

  such employment will be dealt with speedily. There is no reason to believe that large numbers of dentists intend to leave the national health service.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date the new schedule of dental fees which she announced on 25 June was sent to the Government's printers with instructions to print it; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Tuesday 23 June 1992; this being the date on which, pursuant to regulation 19(3) of the National Health Service (General Dental Services) Regulations 1992, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State amended the statement of dental remuneration.

  Ms. Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give an estimate of the anticipated delay in treating national health service patients requiring orthodontic treatment costing in excess of £200, as a result of the new regulations requiring prior approval to be
  903
  sought from the Dental Practice Board for patients (a) under 18 years of age, (b) 18 to 25 years of age and (c) 25 years of age and older.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe) on 13 July at columns 517–18. The age of the patient is irrelevant to this process.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will negotiate a new system of dental remuneration.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Brigg and Cleethorpes (M r. Brown) on 9 July at column 337.

  Ms. Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many orthodontic national health service patients required treatment costing in excess of £200 in each year since 1987 for patients(a) under 18 years of age, (b) 18 to 25 years of age and (c) 25 years of age and older.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Ms. Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will consider raising the limit of £200 per patient on orthodontic treatment not requiring prior approval from the Dental Practice Board; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We see no reason to raise the prior approval limit in respect of orthodontic treatment. The changes to regulations and the scale of fees which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 23 June took account of concerns raised by orthodontists, in ways which will significantly reduce the effects on orthodontists of lowering the prior approval limit. The Dental Practice Board has estimated that some 70 per cent of all orthodontic treatment will be able to proceed without the need for prior approval.

  Ms. Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff have been employed by the Dental Practice Board in each year since 1987; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested is as follows:

  Year ending 31 March

  Staff 1

  1986–87

  1,631

  1987–88

  1,497

  1988–89

  1,369

  1989–90

  1,268

  1990–91

  1,220

  1991–92

  1,126

  1 Full-time equivalent of permanent and temporary staff including allowance for overtime employed on average during the year.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will instruct the Staffordshire family health services authority to employ a salaried dentist as a matter of urgency.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  It is for family health services authorities to decide whether they should apply for authority to appoint a salaried dentist.

  Departmental Objectives
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will set out the objectives of each division and branch of her Department.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department of Health's objectives for 1992–93 and beyond are set out in a statement of aims, goals and priorities, publication of which was announced by my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State, in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Mr. Mitchell) on 10 March at column 434. Each part of the Department has its own more detailed objectives flowing from the statement.

  GP Fund Holding
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she has issued on the scope of community health services to be covered by general practitioner fund holding from April; and whether health visitors, district nursing, occupational therapy, speech therapy, physiotherapy or community psychiatric nursing services are to be included in general practitioner fund holding financed services.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Guidance is to be issued soon. Occupational therapy, speech therapy and physiotherapy are already included in the fund holding scheme. Health visiting, district nursing, community psychiatric nursing as well as community mental handicap nursing are to he added from April 1993.

  Mental Illness Hospitals
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the specialist mental illness hospitals planned for closure by 1997, by district health authority concerned, together with the total number of beds currently in each and the number of beds currently occupied by patients.

  Mr. Yeo
  It is planned that the following mental illness hospitals should close by 1997:

  Hospital

  District health authority

  Number of beds

  St. Mary's Morpeth

  Gateshead

  389

  Clifton

  York

  97

  De La Pole

  East Yorkshire

  390

  Scalbor Park

  Airedale

  140

  Highroyds

  Leeds

  36

  Stanley Royd

  Wakefield

  359

  Pastures

  South Derbyshire

  326

  Carlton Hayes

  Leicestershire

  394

  Mapperley

  Nottingham

  259

  Middlewood

  Sheffield

  298

  Whittingham

  Preston

  400

  Barnsley Hall

  Bromsgrove and Redditch

  42

  St. Mary's

  Hereford

  30

  St. Matthews

  South East Staffs

  180

  Central

  South Warwicks

  215

  Ruberry Hill

  South Birmingham

  200

  Hollymoor

  Solihull

  100

  St. Crispin's

  Northants

  294

  Littlemoor

  Oxfordshire

  270

  Old Manor

  Salisbury

  216

  Coney Hill

  Gloucester

  304

  Tone Vale

  Somerset

  355

  St. Lawrence

  Cornwall

  373

  Horton

  Riverside

  620

  Friern

  Hampslead

  350

  Hellingly

  Eastbourne

  119

  St. Augustine's

  Canterbury and Thanet

  282

  905

  Hospital

  District health authority

  Number of beds

  Tooting Bee

  West Lambeth

  600

  Maidstone (Psychiatric wing)

  Maidstone

  390

  The number of beds in each hospital currently occupied by patients is not held centrally.

  Clinical Standards Advisory Group
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the membership of her Clinical Standards Advisory Group; and what is the scope of its work on hospital-acquired infection.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Clinical Standards Advisory Group is as follows:

  Sir Gordon Higginson (Chairman)

  Professor June Clark

  Professor Rhys Davies

  Sir Terence English

  Miss Pam Hibbs

  Miss Jennifer Hunt

  Mrs. Rosemary Jenkins

  Miss Elizabeth McLean

  Professor John Murray

  Professor John Richmond

  Professor Michael Rosen

  Mr. Derek Seel

  Professor Andrew Sims

  Dr. Nuala Sterling

  Professor Victor Tindall

  Dr. Colin Waine

  Professor Sir Dillwyn Williams

  The group has been giving preliminary consideration to the possibility of a study on hospital-acquired infections. We look forward to receiving in the near future the group's specific suggestions on the scope of any such study.

  Computers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the value for money of the expenditure on computers by health authorities in England over the last five years; and what action has been taken by the chief executive to ensure such purchases of systems and hardware are adequately evaluated.

  Mr. Sackville
  The implementation of computer systems is a local responsibility. Local managers take investment decisions in line with their business requirements, and in doing this are expected to obtain value for money. They are expected to identify the potential benefits of any investment before decisions are taken and to assess whether those benefits are actually realised.

  The National Health Service Management Executive is responsible for providing leadership and advice and establishing a strategic framework for computer developments. In particular the executive has been developing national standards within which local managers can evaluate commercial systems. The aim is to publish revised guidance on procurement, investment appraisal and benefits realisation later this year. Further support is being provided through a national training strategy for managers which will develop the skills required to choose, implement and manage information systems.

  Regional Health Authority Members
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the present remuneration and expiry of term of office of each member of each regional health authority.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  All regional health authority non-executive members receive remuneration of £5,000 per annum. The names and terms of office of non-executive members of regional health authorities are as follows:

  Regional health authority/ Name of member

  Term of appointment

  Northern

  Mr. A. G. Brown

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Professor M. D. Rawlins

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mr. P. H. Reay

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mr. R. C. Spoor

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Yorkshire

  Mr. J. A. Ferguson

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1992

  Professor S. B. Brown

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1992

  Cllr. W. Kilgallon

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mrs. J. A. Barden

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mr. M. A. J. Morgan

  27 May 1991 to 31 October 1993

  Trent

  Mr. M. Dassau

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Dr. K. J. R. Edwards

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mrs. P. B. Wildgoose

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mr. G. R. H. demons

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mr. D. Bertram

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  East Anglian

  Mrs. J. L. Hopwood

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Professor D. K. Peters

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mr. J. B. Mowson

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mr. L. Rice

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mrs. S. E. Sida-Lockett

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  North West Thames

  Mr. D. Bucks

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mrs. J. B. Hanham

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mr. M. G. Storey

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mrs. E. J. Davies

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Professor S. Sutherland

  1 May 1992 to 31 October 1994

  North East Thames

  Maj. Gen. R. P. W. Wall

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1992

  Mr. P. Holwell

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1992

  Baroness Gardner of Parkes

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1992

  Dr. J. F. Moorhead

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1992

  South East Thames

  Mr. A. J. L. Barnes

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mr. I. D. Gainsford

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Professor P. M. Higgins

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mr. R. F. Holland

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mrs. W. Mitchell

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  South West Thames

  Dr. G. S. Spathis

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mr. J. R. Harris

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mr. G. J. Howe

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mrs. J. K. Pearman

  1 January 1992 to 31 December 1994

  Mrs. M. McNaughton

  1 January 1992 to 31 December 1994

  Wessex

  Mrs. J. Perons

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Professor J. M. Higgins

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mr. R. C. Donnelly

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mr. A. S. D. Service

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mr. P. A. Waring

  1 April 1992 to 31 October 1994

  Oxford

  Mr. P. D. M. Gell

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Professor H. Harris

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mr. C. J. N. Ward

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mrs. V. Rubenstein

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mr. W. A. Rooke

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  907

  Regional health authority/ Name of member

  Term of appointment

  South Western

  Mr. D. F. Strachan

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Sir John Kingman

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1992

  Mr. C. Spence

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1992

  Mr. L. M. Urquhart

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1992

  Dame Margaret Fry

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1992

  West Midlands

  Cllr. B. Stoten

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Professor Sir Michael Thompson

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mr. E. M. Worley

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mr. T. D. Morris

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mrs. S. M. Beesley

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mersey

  Mrs. R. H. Hawley

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Professor A. M. Breckenridge

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mr. J. F. Kane

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mr. N. L. Banner

  18 March 1991 to 31 October 1993

  Mr. B. Jenkins

  1 November 1991 to 31 October 1993

  North Western

  Mr. E. Parker

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Professor R. D. H. Boyd

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Mrs. J. A. Hytner

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Dr. A. K. Banerjee

  26 July 1990 to 31 October 1993

  Wheelchairs and Artificial Limbs
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to discuss the timely provision of wheelchairs and artificial limbs.

  Mr. Yeo
  The purchase of appropriate services for the provision of wheelchairs and artificial limbs is a matter for district health authorities. The quality of service is monitored by regional health authorities and the NHS Management Executive keeps it under review.

  Sexual Health
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what performance indicators she now requires from the annual reports of directors of public health in national health service districts on activities promoting sexual health.

  Mr. Sackville
  In July 1991 regional health authorities were asked to undertake a comprehensive review of their family planning services. Regions were asked to report by the end of June 1992 on the criteria they have set purchasing authorities for securing more effective family planning services and the specific targets that will be set for district health authorities and family health services authorities for 1993–94. Criteria and targets will depend on the priorities set as a result of assessment of local needs. Careful consideration will be given to the reports from regions and, in the light of these, to the future development of family planning service provision.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what visits she has made to her EC counterparts in each member state to discuss deregulation matters since 18 April; what agreements came out of such meetings; and what plans she has for making further progress in deregulation matters during the United Kingdom presidency of the EC.
  908
  Dr. Mawhinney
  We have had no such meetings. We expect to meet a number of the Health Ministers of other member states during the presidency to discuss matters on the agenda of the Health Ministers Council.

  Civil Servants' Shareholdings
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance, other than the civil service pay and conditions of service code and the establishment officers' guide, her Department provides relating to civil servants' shareholdings; if she will list the number of occasions within the last five years on which civil servants have reported shareholdings to establishment officers in her Department; what regulations apply to the staff of the next steps agencies within her Department; what mechanisms are in place to prevent potential conflicts of interest; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department's staff rules place a duty on every member of staff who comes into contact with a matter concerning a business organisation in which he or she has an interest, including shareholdings, to disclose that interest to his or her senior manager and to ask that some other official deal with the matter. Staff rules are given to and apply to all civil servants working in the Department, including its agencies. Individuals and their managers are expected to consult the Department's establishment officer about the desirability of acquiring or retaining shares where this might give rise to a potential conflict of interest. The Department's establishment officer has been consulted on such matters on two occasions since the Department separated from the former Department of Health and Social Security.

  Wheelchair Access
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will hold discussions about providing access for people in wheelchairs to national health service buildings which they need to enter.

  Mr. Yeo
  Health authorities should ensure compliance with the patients charter standard that buildings can be used by people in wheelchairs. The Department has issued guidance to health authorities on the design of premises to take account of the special needs of physically disabled people.

  Hospital Accounts
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to collect information on the number of firms refusing to supply, or delaying supplies, to health authorities or trusts because of delays in settling accounts.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No.

  Medical Practitioners
  Ms. Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the expected costs of compensation for individual medical practitioners whose legal status is not recognised by the current United Kingdom system of accreditation, as a result of EC directives 75/362 and 75/363 and of the Frankovitch case in the European Court of Justice.
  909
  Dr. Mawhinney
  It is not possible to make such an estimate.

  Hospital Trusts
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will set out her reserve powers to override the decisions of hospital trust management.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The powers of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to make directions to national health service trusts are laid down in the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990, schedule 2, paragraph 6.(1) and 6.(2). These powers will not be used routinely, and only under the most exceptional circumstances will there be any intervention in trusts' affairs.

  Dog Bites
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been treated for dog bites in national health service hospitals in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Sackville
  There were 1,134 hospital admissions for dog bites in 1989–90. Information about dog bites treated in accident and emergency departments is not collected centrally.

  Census
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will consider bringing forward the publication of the 1991 census data for Staffordshire to make it available for submissions by local authorities in the county to the Local Government Commission.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) on 14 July. All county monitors will be published by October, and corresponding small area statistics will be available this year.

  Heart Disease
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the waiting period for examinations for heart complaints(a) on Merseyside and (b) in Liverpool at the most recent date; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not collected centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Sir Donald Wilson, chairman of Mersey regional health authority, for details.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths have occurred(a) in Liverpool and (b) on Merseyside in each of the past five years from heart disease; and if she will make a statement.

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

  Deaths in Liverpool and Merseyside from heart disease (ICD 390–429), 1987 to 1991

  Year

  Liverpool

  Merseyside

  1987

  2,120

  5,913

  1988

  1,975

  5,778

  1989

  2,010

  5,949

  1990

  1,844

  5,542

  1991

  1,838

  5,588

  Residential Homes
  Ms. Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will be giving guidance to local authorities about the legal implications that will arise after I April 1993 from residential homes having contracts with both local authorities and residents.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Department issued guidance last year to local authorities about contracting with residential homes in "Purchase of Service—Practice Guidance and Practice Material for Social Services Departments and Other Agencies", a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Baseline Statistics
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the baselines referred to in the "Health of the Nation" White Paper for(a) the death rates for coronary heart disease and stroke in 1990, (b) the death rate for CHD for those aged 65 to 74 years in 1990, (c) the death rate for stroke for those aged 65 to 74 years in 1990, (d) the death rate for breast cancer in those invited for screening in 1990, (e) the incidence of invasive cervical cancer in 1986, (f) the death rate for lung cancer under the age of 75 years in 1990, (g) the suicide rate in 1990, (h) the suicide rate of the severely mentally ill in 1990, (i) the incidence of gonorrhoea in 1990, (j) the rate of conceptions amongst under 16-year-olds in 1990, (k) the death rate for accidents among children under 15 years in 1990, (l) the death rate from accidents among children aged 15 to 24 years in 1990 and (m) the death rate from accidents among people over 65 years in 1990, for each national health service region and each health district.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information relating to coronary heart disease, stroke, breast cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer. suicide and road traffic accidents is available in the public health common data set for 1991, published by the Department of Health. Copies are available in the Library.

  Information at regional and district level about the severely mentally ill, incidence of gonorrhoea, under-16 conceptions and all accidents is currently not available in the form requested. The Department will be working with regional health authorities to develop baseline data for these areas.

  Tuberculosis
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will make a statement on the number of people contracting tuberculosis(a) in each of the last five years and (b) in each of the last six months;

  (2) what evidence her Department has of any causal link between poverty, poor housing and tuberculosis;

  (3) if she will make a statement about the incidence of tuberculosis in the United Kingdom;

  (4) what plans she has to reduce the incidence of tuberculosis.

  Mr. Sackville
  For notifications of tuberculosis in England and Wales for the last five years I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Carlile) on 7 July at column 150. The breakdown for the first six months of 1992 is:
  911

  Number

  January

  508

  February

  453

  March

  460

  April

  574

  May

  462

  June

  494

  Notifications of TB fell progressively from 1948 to 1987, since when the numbers have levelled out. Rates are higher in inner cities, to which several factors contribute. Discussions are proceeding between the Department and the national health service on how TB can be reduced in those areas.

  The national schools' BCG immunisation programme is to continue at least until 1995–96, when the results will be known of a Public Health Laboratory Service survey of tuberculosis in the general population. Immunisation will continue to be offered also to other high-risk groups as set out in the HMSO publication "Immunisation Against Infectious Diseases". A copy of the 1992 edition will be placed in the Library as soon as it is available.

  Royal London Hospital
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will request the board of the Royal London hospital trust to inform her how and in what manner its plans for reduction of staff and services will(a) affect the level of services provided by the hospital to future in and out-patients resident in the borough of Newham, (b) the operation of Newham district hospital and the support available to it and (c) medical education; and if she will publish their reply.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The provision of hospital and community health services for the residents of the borough of Newham is a matter for Newham health authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of Newham health authority, Mrs. R. Walters, for further information.

  Weight Loss
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if her Department will carry out an investigation into the prescription of fenfluramine hydrochlorides, and in particular, duromine, as an aid to weight loss.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We have no plans to do so.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will investigate the use of prescribed drugs for the prime purpose of weight loss.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No. Guidelines on the prescribing of these drugs are contained in the British National Formulary which is sent to all doctors.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she has any plans to issue guidance to doctors in private practice on the question of prescribed drugs being made available for the prime purpose of weight loss.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No. The British National Formulary already contains guidance on this point.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to review NHS contracts so as to 912
  restrict the involvement of doctors in the commercial activities of slimming clinics, in particular their power to prescribe drugs in such circumstances.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  None.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has on the number of qualified NHS doctors who are involved in the commercial activities of organisations calling themselves slimming clinics.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not held centrally.

  Community Care
  Ms. Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has(a) to evaluate local authorities' community care plans, (b) to provide local authorities with her Department's comments on their plans and (c) to intervene should a local authority be found to have failed to follow guidelines in consulting other agencies in the preparation of its community care plans; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  Local authorities' final draft community care plans were evaluated during the course of the April round of regional health authorities/social services inspectorate monitoring, and comments were made to authorities on their overall progress towards implementation. The Social Services Inspectorate is undertaking a further analysis of the final plans and, where serious gaps in the planning process have been identified SSI is notifying the authorities concerned and seeking remedial action.

  Ms. Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many local authorities met the deadline of 1 April for submitting their community care plans to her Department.

  Mr. Yeo
  Only a very small number of authorities failed to meet the deadline for publication of community care plans. Of these, one has not yet published its plan but all the others did so soon after 1 April.

  Southmead Health Care Trust
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will make a statement on the level of staffing of junior doctors at Southmead health care trust, Bristol and the current number of hours they are required to work;

  (2) if she will take action to ensure that full houseman cover is available at Southmead health care trust.

  Mr. Sackville
  The appropriate level of medical staffing is a matter for the trust to determine, having regard to the ceilings set in "Achieving a Balance" and the advice given in "The New Deal on Junior Doctors' Hours".

  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the proposed closure of the paediatric renal unit at Southmead health care trust, Bristol.

  Mr. Sackville
  I understand that in the light of representations which have been made about the proposed closure of the unit, the Southmead health services trust has decided to re-examine the decision to close it. A further review of the options for the future of the unit will now be carried out and it will stay open, at least until the review is complete.
  913
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will call for a full report from the Southmead health care trust, Bristol on representations made to the trust management by doctors on emergency medical cover in the hospital.

  Mr. Sackville
  I understand that the chief executive of the Southmead trust has asked the acting director of operations to undertake an immediate inquiry into the allegations about patient deaths. I am confident that the trust board will take whatever further action is necessary.

  Mr. Mike Shannon
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the issues considered when deciding the redundancy pay of Mr. Mike Shannon, former chief executive of Warrington district general hospital; and what was the payment paid to him.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. D. Hannah, the chairman of Warrington health authority, for details.

  Nurses (Grading)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to promote a fast track approach to dealing with the outstanding number of nurse clinical grading review appeals.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Nursing and Midwifery Staffs Negotiating Council has recently reached agreement on streamlining the appeals process including a facility for referring appeals direct from the employing authority to national level. The National Health Service Management Executive's director of personnel wrote to regional general managers and chief executives of NHS trusts on 31 March 1992 urging them to adopt the new procedures.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Radioactivity Monitoring
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what seashore monitoring for radioactivity is carried out by his environment department.

  Mr. Atkins
  The environment service of the Department of Environment for Northern Ireland monitors the gamma dose rate in the air over intertidal sediments around the coastline of the Province. The results are consistent with normal background levels of radioactivity.

  The environment service also arranges for analyses of sea water, seaweed, fish, nephrops and winkles on a quarterly basis. These results are published annually and indicate that the radioactivity is of negligible radiological significance to the Northern Ireland public.

  Ferry Links
  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to improve ferry links between Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Atkins
  In recent years, there has been considerable investment in infrastructural improvements to the ports of 914
  Belfast and Lame supported by grants from the European regional development fund. This has enabled a continuing improvement to the ferry services operating between Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  Rural Housing
  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to improve rural housing in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Atkins
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but the chief executive has advised me that following extensive consultations the Housing Executive completed a review of its rural policy and in June 1991 published a revised policy statement titled "The Way Ahead". This sets out a strategy for improving rural housing in the short, medium and long term. The executive, as part of its short-term strategy, has already designated 67 rural priority areas in which grants are actively targeted and where an enhanced grants package is available for the provision of mains water, sewerage and electricity services. Allied to this, the demolition criterion has been relaxed and the provision of amenity blocks introduced which will allow a greater number of properties to qualify for grant aid. The scope of the improvement grant scheme has also been widened to include a replacement option where this is shown to be more feasible on technical grounds than improvement.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are employed in(a) the shipbuilding industry and (b) the tourist industry in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Atkins
  At present, there are approximately 2,100 workers employed in the shipbuilding industry in Northern Ireland. The information requested on the tourism industry is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current level of unemployment in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Atkins
  At 14 May 1992, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 103,796 unemployed claimants in Northern Ireland, representing 14·2 per cent. of the work force.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the achievements of his Department and his policies in helping small businesses over the last 12 months relative to the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government continue to place a high priority on helping small businesses in Northern Ireland, through improvements to the business climate, deregulation and specific programmes of support and assistance. Direct comparisons between 1990–91 and 1991–92 are not possible as the Northern Ireland industrial development agencies concentrated on implementing the Government's
  915
  new economic development strategy for Northern Ireland in 1991–92. This focuses on assisting companies to develop their growth potential and competitiveness. Measures operated in 1991–92 by the Department of Economic Development through the Industrial Development Board and the Local Enterprise Development Unit, to assist small business include:

  Activity

  Performance

  Sectoral activity

  Examination of competitive performance begun in 20 sectors (new programme) 6 sectoral task forces established (new programme)

  Strategic development planning scheme

  21 companies assisted (new programme)

  Growth opportunities

  40 companies assisted (new programme)

  Marketing, quality, research and development, product development support

  805 companies supported

  Exhibitions, trade missions

  396 companies participated

  Moneyrea
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total electorate of Moneyrea ward in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Hanley
  The parliamentary electorates taken from the electoral register published on 15 February each year are as follows:

  Electoral Register

  Electorate

  1982

  1,796

  1983

  1,827

  1984

  1,818

  1 1985

  2,049

  1986

  2,087

  1987

  2,114

  1988

  2,110

  1989

  2,138

  1990

  2,241

  1991

  2,337

  1992

  2,336

  1The Local Government (Boundaries) Order (NI) 1984 gave effect to the recommendations of the Local Government Boundaries Commissioner altering ward boundaries.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the enrolment at Moneyrea primary school in each of the past 10 years; and how many children were refused places in this school in each of those 10 years.

  Mr. Hanley
  The number of pupils enrolled at Moneyrea primary school in January in each of the last 10 years was as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1983

  145

  1984

  138

  1985

  132

  1986

  134

  1987

  139

  1988

  134

  1989

  136

  1990

  133

  916

  Year

  Number

  1991

  129

  1992

  136

  I will write to the right hon. Gentleman about the number of children refused places once the school has reopened after the summer break.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the estimated population of Moneyrea ward in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Hanley
  I shall write to the right hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

  Vehicle Inspectors
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many spot inspections, as distinct from annual inspections, were carried out by the Department of the Environment from 1 April 1991 to 31 March 1992 on vehicles belonging to private operators; and if he will publish the results of such inspections.

  Mr. Atkins
  From 1 April 1991 to 31 March 1992, the Department of the Environment carried out roadside examinations on 1,203 vehicles, including lorries, buses and private cars. As a result of these examinations, 241 minor defects were drawn to the operators'/owners' attention. Seventy-four delayed prohibitions and 18 immediate prohibitions were issued in respect of more serious defects.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many spot inspections, as distinct from annual inspections, were carried out by the Department of the Environment from 1 April 1991 to 31 March 1992 on vehicles belonging to Ulsterbus; and if he will publish the results of such inspections.

  Mr. Atkins
  My Department does not record the roadside examination of vehicles by the names of the operators.

  Pharmacies
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at what locations new pharmacy retail outlets have been approved by the pharmacy practices committees of the Eastern health and social services board in each year since 1989; and in 1992 up to 30 June; and how many applications were refused for each of those periods.

  Mr. Hanley
  I shall write to the right hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

  Aircraft Noise
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce regulations to control aircraft noise.

  Mr. Atkins
  Aircraft noise at airports is subject to control under the provision of section 12 of the Aerodromes Act (Northern Ireland) 1971. There are no present plans to invoke these provisions.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will undertake a review of the machanisms for controlling aircraft noise.
  917
  Mr. Atkins
  I have plans to do so as part of a general review of current airport legislation.

  Departmental Objectives
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will set out the objectives of each division and branch of his Department.

  Mr. Mates
  I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

  Civil Servants (Shares)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what guidance, other than the civil service pay and conditions of service code and the establishment officers' guide, his Department provides relating to civil servants' shareholdings; if he will list the number of occasions within the last five years on which civil servants have reported shareholdings to establishment officers in his Department; what regulations apply to the staff of the next steps agencies within his Department; what mechanisms are in place to prevent potential conflicts of interest; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mates
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Police Stations (Lay Visitors)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the value of lay visitors to police stations in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Mates
  The lay visiting scheme was established by the Police Authority for Northern Ireland in April 1991. It is non-statutory and was set up to enable members of the community to observe, comment and report upon the welfare of persons in police custody and the operation by the police of the rules under the police and criminal evidence legislation governing the welfare of those held in custody in police stations. The scheme constitutes an important and effective element in promoting community confidence in the police and has demonstrably been a success.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the cost of the lay visitor system in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Mates
  I understand from the Police Authority for Northern Ireland that during the financial year 1991–92 the approximate cost of administering the lay visiting scheme was £27,000.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many visits were made by lay visitors to police stations in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Mates
  I understand from the Police Authority for Northern Ireland that from April 1991, when the lay visiting scheme was established, to 31 March 1992, 230 visits were made to designated police stations.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many lay visitors have attended police holding centres in Northern Ireland; and what is the number of lay visitors in Northern Ireland.
  918
  Mr. Mates
  The Police Authority for Northern Ireland currently has 46 lay visitors, none of whom has visited the holding centres since their terms of reference apply only to police stations designated under the police and criminal evidence legislation.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number of youth training trainees in Northern Ireland who left schemes without receiving any recognised qualifications for the previous five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Atkins
  The number of youth training trainees in Northern Ireland who left schemes without receiving any recognised qualifications was 6,541 in 1990–91—66 per cent. and 7,893 in 1991–92—47 per cent. Data on recognised qualifications gained were not collected prior to April 1990.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total amount spent on higher education excluding student awards for the last five years in current and real terms and the percentage that is of total Government spending.

  Mr. Hanley
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Student Entitlements
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated cost of restoring student entitlement to(a) income support, (b) housing benefit and (c) unemployment benefit in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Hanley
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Water Disconnections
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list by district office the number of water consumers disconnected from the mains water supply because of arrears in each year since 1987 and the number reconnected after arrears were paid.

  Mr. Atkins
  The table shows the number of consumers disconnected in each water service division since 1987. Figures for the number of reconnections after payment of arrears are not available.

  Division

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Northern

  78

  76

  31

  22

  99

  Southern

  120

  139

  69

  40

  100

  Eastern

  79

  132

  125

  163

  96

  Western

  41

  61

  67

  33

  90

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which non-departmental public bodies are sponsored by his Department; which of these are audited by the National Audit Office; which firms of
  919
  private accountants audits each of the others; by what method of tendering contracts to such firms are awarded; and for what duration.

  Mr. Mates
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Questions
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what calculation has been made of the savings that might be achieved if Ministers were to make available to the proposed data network for Parliament, standard replies, with appropriate updates, to routine inquiries made by hon. Members on behalf of their constituents.

  Mr. Newton
  No calculation has, as yet, been made of any potential savings but the Information Committee will be considering the potential advantages of a data network for Parliament and the possible uses to which it might be put. I understand that it hopes to report to the House later in the Session. Any decision to install such a network would need the agreement of the House and of the Finance and Services Committee.

  Office Cost Allowance
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what plans he has to implement the report of the Top Salaries Review Body in respect of the office cost allowance.

  Mr. Newton
  I set out the Government's plans in a written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, South-West (Mr. Page) on Thursday 9 July,Official Report, column 284 and in the debate on Tuesday 14 July.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  European Year of the Elderly
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what plans he has for his Department to celebrate in 1993 the European Year of the Elderly; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  The Privy Council Office has no plans to mark this occasion.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the achievements of the Privy Council office in helping small businesses over the last 12 months relative to the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.

  Mr. Newton
  The functions of the Privy Council Office do not include the provision of assistance to small businesses.

EMPLOYMENT

  Deregulation
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what visits he has made to his EC counterparts in each member state to discuss deregulation matters since 18 April; what agreements came out of such meetings; and what plans he has for making further progress in deregulation matters during the United Kingdom presidency of the EC.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Local Office Stourbridge
  Mr. Hawksley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (I) when her Department first considered building a new jobcentre and benefits office in Coventry street, Stourbridge; when it was decided not to go ahead with the scheme; what was the estimate of the cost of the scheme; how much had been spent by her Department and the Property Services Agency in preparing the scheme; and what was the proposed date of opening of the centre;

  (2) when her Department considered building a new jobcentre and benefits office at Scotland house, Stourbridge, how much it will cost; how much area it will take up; and when it will be ready to open.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  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.

  Civil Servants (Shares)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what guidance, other than the civil service pay and conditions of service code and the establishment officers' guide, her Department provides relating to civil servants' shareholdings; if she will list the number of occasions within the last five years on which civil servants have reported shareholdings to establishment officers in her Department; what regulations apply to the staff of the next steps agencies within her Department; what mechanisms are in place to prevent potential conflicts of interest; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Department of Employment group personnel handbook and the Employment Service personnel handbook give the following specific and identical guidance on dealings in securities and other assets. Staff must not use or appear to use their official position for personal gain. They must not buy or sell something when, as a civil servant, they have information concerning its value which is not publicly known. They should also avoid dealing in an asset at a time when their official activities involve them in giving advice, or taking decisions which may affect its value.

  Comprehensive information is not readily available on the number of occasions on which staff have reported shareholdings to established officers.

  Departmental Objectives
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will set out the objectives of each division and branch of her Department.
  921
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Inspectors
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the ratio of field inspectors to registered premises for(a) the factory inspectorate, (b) the agricultural inspectorate, (c) the quarries inspectorate, (d) the nuclear inspectorate and (e) the mines inspectorate in (i) 1980, (ii) 1985 and (iii) 1990.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The ratios of field inspectors in the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)1 to registered premises were:

  1980

  1985

  1990

  (1 January)

  (1 April)

  (1 April)

  (a) Factories

  1:466

  1:695

  1:690

  (b) Agricultural2

  —

  1:2,116

  1:1,619

  (c and e) Mines and quarries3

  1:98

  1:117

  —

  (c) Quarries

  —

  —

  1:667

  (e) Mines

  —

  —

  1:21

  1 The register of premises maintained by HSE is thought to be seriously incomplete because of the rapid turnover in businesses and because a number fail to notify as required by the Factories Act 1961. Moreover at least 100 inspectors inspect transient sites—mainly in construction—rather than fixed premises. The ratio has to be considered in that light. Informed estimates of the total number of premises subject to HSE inspection suggest total numbers in excess of 1 million.

  2 Agricultural inspectors joined the Health and Safety Executive from Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and Food (MAFF) in 1976. The register of workplaces was held by MAFF until after the beginning of 1980.

  3 Combined figures for mines and quarries (quarries inspectorate joined the factory and agricultural inspectorate division on 1 November 1989).

  (d) Nuclear installations inspectors in the Health and Safety Executive are all based in headquarters. The numbers of inspectors in the nuclear safety division and the number of relevant sites were as follows:

  1980

  1985

  1990

  (1 January)

  (1 April)

  (1 April)

  Inspectors

  99

  105

  160

  Sites

  28

  29

  30

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many mines inspectors are due to retire in each year between 1992 and 1996.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The numbers of mines inspectors currently employed by the Health and Safety Executive who will have reached retirement age in each calendar year between 1992 and 1996 are as follows:

  Number

  11992

  1

  1993

  3

  1994

  2

  1995

  1

  1996

  1

  1 From 1 July.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the ratio of qualified factory inspectors to trainees on 1 April in each year between 1987 and 1992.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The ratios of qualified factory inspectors to trainee factory inspectors at 1 April were:922

  Ratio

  1987

  6·7

  1988

  8·1

  1989

  7·1

  1990

  4·7

  1991

  3·5

  1992

  3·4

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) factory inspectors, (b) agricultural inspectors, (c) quarries inspectors, (d) nuclear inspectors, (e) mines inspectors and (f) factories inspectors resigned between 1987 and 1990, inclusively; and how many years of experience had they between them, in total.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The number of inspectors who resigned from 1 January 1987 to 31 December 1990 were:

  Number

  Factory inspectors

  42

  Agricultural inspectors

  5

  Quarries inspectors

  1

  Nuclear inspectors

  3

  Mines inspectors

  0

  These inspectors had, in aggregate, 416 years of civil service employment.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the labour costs associated with(a) the factory inspectorate, (b) the agricultural inspectorate, (c) the specialist inspectorate, (d) the quarries inspectorate, (e) the nuclear inspectorate and (f) the mines inspectorate; and for (i) clerical and administrative staff and (ii) inspectors under each category both in actual amounts and as a percentage of the Health and Safety Executive's total labour costs in each year from 1987 to 1991.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Information is not available in the form requested. The table gives payroll budgets for the divisions of the Health and Safety Executive, in which inspectors are principally employed. Separate figures for inspector grade and other staff are not available.

  Payroll Budgets—HSE Divisions1

  £000s

  Percentage of HSE total

  1987–88

  Field operations division

  22,019

  36·2

  Mines inspectorate

  3,836

  6·3

  Nuclear safety division

  4,821

  7·9

  Technology division

  6,236

  10·3

  1988–89

  Field operations division

  24,414

  36·5

  Mines inspectorate

  3,722

  5·6

  Nuclear safety division

  5,815

  8·7

  Technology division

  6,875

  10·3

  1989–90

  Field operations division

  25,673

  35·9

  Mines inspectorate

  3,373

  4·7

  Nuclear safety division

  7,377

  10·3

  Technology division

  7,004

  9·8

  1990–91

  Field operations division

  37,308

  44·4

  Mines inspectorate

  3,085

  3·7

  923

  £000s

  Percentage of HSE total

  Nuclear safety division

  9,394

  11·2

  Technology division

  5,500

  6·5

  1991–92

  Field operations division

  41,368

  40·2

  Mines inspectorate

  3,218

  3·1

  Nuclear safety division

  10,446

  10·1

  Technology and health sciences division

  8,631

  8·4

  1 Because of reorganisations of HSE's divisional structure, figures for different years are not directly comparable.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many factories there are which are liable for visits from the factories inspectorate.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  On 31 March 1992, the latest date for which information is available centrally, 417,316 fixed premises—which include all registered factories—were registered with HSE's factory inspectorate. There are no reliable estimates of the number of unregistered factory premises. All fixed premises, whether registered or not, are liable to a visit by HSE inspectors.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the last new mines inspector was recruited.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The last mines inspector was recruited in November 1988.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many trainee(a) factory inspectors, (b) agricultural inspectors, (c) quarry inspectors,(d) nuclear inspectors, (e) mines inspectors and (f) factories inspectors were employed, giving the number for each year from 1987 to 1991.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Only two grades of staff in the Health and Safety Executive are designated as training grades: factory inspectors class II—for the first two years—and assistant agricultural inspectors—for the first three years. The numbers employed were:

  Trainee factory inspectors

  Assistant agricultural inspectors

  1 April 1987

  81·0

  36

  1 April 1988

  65·0

  25

  1 April 1989

  75·0

  23

  1 April 1990

  111·0

  26

  1 April 1991

  144·5

  43

  A wide range of training, both internal and external, is provided both for new recruits and for more experienced staff in the various occupational groups employed by HSE.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many premises were registered with(a) the factory inspectorate, (b) the agricultural inspectorate, (c) the quarries inspectorate, (d) the nuclear inspectorate and (e) the mines inspectorate in (i) 1980, (ii) 1985 and (iii) 1990.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The table shows the available information on the number of workplaces registered with the factory, agricultural, quarries, nuclear installations and mines inspectorate in 1980, 1985 and 1990.
  924

  Number of workplaces registered

  19801

  19851

  19901

  Factory inspectorate

  309,915

  395,860

  386,144

  Agricultural inspectorate

  —

  319,567

  239,632

  Quarries inspectorate

  29,021

  28,800

  6,000

  Nuclear inspectorate

  28

  29

  30

  Mines inspectorate

  —

  —

  729

  1 Figures for 1 January 1980 and 31 March 1985 and 1990.

  2 Combined figure for mines and quarries—quarries inspectorate joined the factory and agricultural inspectorate division on 1 November 1989.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current number of factory inspectors.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  On 1 July 1992, the Health and Safety Executive employed 705 factory inspectors.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many Health and Safety Executive inspectors with over(a) 10 years, (b) 15 years and (c) 20 years experience have left the Health and Safety Executive since 1 January 1987.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Since 1 January 1987, the following numbers of inspectors have resigned:

  (a) 28 with 11 to 15 years experience,

  (b) 10 with 15 to 20 years experience,

  (c) 3 with over 20 years experience.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many premises registered with the Health and Safety Executive have not been inspected since 1 January 1986.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Information about the number of fixed premises registered with the Health and Safety Executive that have not been inspected since 1 January 1986 is not readily available. I will write to the hon. Member.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the Health and Safety Executive's expenditure was provided directly from the Government in grant aid for the years(a) 1975–76 and (b) 1990–91.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The proportions of the Health and Safety Executive's expenditure provided by grant in aid for the years 1975–76 and 1990–91 were 98 per cent. and 75 per cent.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what specific resources have been allocated to the Health and Safety Executive to ensure that employers will comply with regulations enacting(a) the framework directive—89/391/EEC—(b) the workplace directive—89/654/EEC—(c) the manual handling of loads directive—90/269/EEC—(d) the use of personal protective equipment directive—89/655/EEC—(e) the display screen equipment directive—90/270/EEC—(f) the carcinogens directive—90/394/EEC—and (g) the biological agents directive—90/679/EEC.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  In recent years, the Government have provided the Health and Safety Commission—HSC—with the resources it has sought for the Health and Safety Executive in public expenditure survey bids. HSE's staffing is now at its highest level ever.
  925
  In the course of its inspection, advice and enforcement activities, the HSE promotes compliance with all relevant health and safety legislation. HSE's plans for implementing the large number of new EC requirements are set out in the HSC's plan of work for 1992–93 and beyond.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) doctors and (b) occupational nurses were employed by the Health and Safety Executive in (a) 1979 and (b)

  Mr. McLoughlin
  On 1 April 1979, HSE employed 86·5 doctors and 91 nurses. Corresponding figures for 1991 were 56·5 and 53·5 respectively.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans the Government have to increase the staffing levels of the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  On 1 July 1992, the Health and Safety Executive's staffing was at its highest level ever, at 4,404 including 1,499 inspectors. As set out on pages 42 and 43 of the Health and Safety Commission's plan of work for 1992–93 and beyond, published in March this year and available in the Library, it is planned to increase total staffing to 4,523, including 1,592 inspectors, by 1 April 1993.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many complaints in total from employees concerning health and safety at work were dealt with by Health and Safety Executive area offices in the years 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The table shows the information which is available on the total number of complaints received and dealt with by the agricultural, factory and quarries inspectorates—AI, FI, QI—in the Health and Safety Executive area offices for the years 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91:

  Year (1 April—31 March)

  Number of complaints

  1988–89

  1 15,217

  1989–90

  2 19,591

  1990–91

  18,625

  1 AI and FI only.

  2 Includes QI figures from 1 November 1989 when the inspectorate joined the factory and agricultural inspectorate division.

  Information is not separately available on the number of complaints received from employees about health and safety at work.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will publish the Health and Safety Executive report entitled report of the working group on improving the impact of the division's work; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many telephone inquiries the Health and Safety Executive public inquiry points dealt with in total in the years 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The number of telephone inquiries dealt with by the public inquiry points are as follows:
  926

  Number

  1988–89

  67,664

  1989–90

  92,537

  1990–91

  92,134

  Pregnant Employees
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment ( I) what plans she has to amend the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 so that an employee can claim unfair dismissal because of a pregnancy without qualifying condition;

  (2) what plans she has to seek to amend the law, to make the dismissal of pregnant women unlawful without qualifying condition, and to introduce 14 weeks' maternity leave, without qualifying condition.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Government's election manifesto undertook to give effect to the provisions of the EC directive on pregnant workers which gives the right to 14 weeks' maternity leave and protection against dismissal on grounds of pregnancy. The Government will, of course, honour their manifesto commitment. However, the directive has yet to be adopted.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what recent representations she has received regarding the employment rights of pregnant women; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Since the general election my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment has received 12 letters from Members of Parliament and Members of the European Parliament about the pregnant workers directive, including one passed to this Department from the Prime Minister's office. My right hon. Friend has also received three letters from MPs about other aspects of maternity rights. In addition, my right hon. Friend has received a number of letters from trade unions and others.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps her Department is taking to publicise to employers and employees their obligations and rights with regard to pregnant women.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Department has published a booklet which sets out the maternity rights available to employees and the obligations of employers. The booklet is widely available at Employment Service offices. There is also a simple fact sheet on the same subject mainly intended for employers.

  Unfair Dismissal
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will amend the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 to abolish the necessity to have a qualifying period of two years' continuous employment to claim unfair dismissal, where an employee alleges that the reason for the dismissal was an attempt to enforce a statutory right.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many complaints were made to industrial tribunals in each of the last five years for which
  927
  records are available for unfair dismissal because of pregnancy; how many and what percentage were settled before hearing; how many and what percentage reached a hearing; and how many and what percentage were successful.

  Year

  All cases

  Settled before hearing

  Reached full hearing

  Successful at full hearing

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  1990–91

  47

  36

  (76·6)

  11

  (23·4)

  4

  (8·5)

  1989–90

  44

  34

  (77·3)

  10

  (22·7)

  5

  (11·4)

  1988–89

  92

  60

  (65·2)

  28

  (30·4)

  12

  (13)

  1987–88

  115

  85

  (73·9)

  28

  (24·4)

  12

  (10·4)

  1986–87

  169

  126

  (74·6)

  43

  (25·4)

  25

  (14·8)

  Child Care
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps she is taking to encourage the improvement of child care after school and during holidays.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Government have announced their intention to pay grants through training and enterprise councils for the establishment of after-school and school holiday child care schemes. The Department is consulting relevant organisations about implementation of this grant programme. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment has had discussions with the working group which advises her on women's issues and expects to announce further details of the programme later this year.

  Qualifications (Recognition)
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which diplomas, certificates and other formal qualifications will be subject to directives for mutual recognition under article 57 of the treaty on European union.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The treaty on European union—Maastricht—does not directly affect the principles of mutual recognition. It changes the procedure for agreement on any new directives, which might be proposed in future.

  There are already two directives which cover this area under the Single European Act which is based on articles in the treaty of Rome.

  The first general directive for mutual recognition came into force on 4 January 1991 for degree level qualifications—although as yet not all member states have implemented it.

  The second general directive has been agreed and will be in force in June 1994. It extends the system for recognition to include qualifications awarded on completion of higher education courses of one to three years and equivalents including national and Scottish vocational qualifications.

  Ratification of the European economic area agreement will extend mutual recognition to the European Free Trade Association countries.

  Training
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what steps she intends to take to ensure that the United Kingdom provides national retraining
  928
  Mr. McLoughlin
  The table sets out the information on claims to industrial tribunals of unfair dismissal on the grounds of pregnancy under section 60 of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 in the five financial years to 31 March 1991.

  programmes and professional child care for women at the workplace, on an equal basis with other EC member countries;

  (2) what steps she intends to take to bring the level of investment in training for women in the United Kingdom to a level comparable with that in other EC countries.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  We already have substantial arrangements for training for women, in particular within the employment training programme. There are flexibilities within the programme which allow women to reconcile their training with their domestic commitments and which offer support towards the cost of child care.

  Investment in training provision is further encouraged by the investors in people initiative, which rewards employers who develop all their employees, and by a new national training award for the training of women.

  I will also be introducing a grant to help set up out-of-school child care provision, which I hope will have the involvement of employers. My Department will continue to encourage employers to provide workplace child care facilities for all employees with children.

  Against this background, I have written to all training and enterprise council chairmen specifically asking them to help by devising local strategies to take forward action on women's issues. Training will have a key role in these.

  At a European level, the United Kingdom is an active member of the IRIS network of training schemes for women which promotes interchange of ideas and good practice, and through which good United Kingdom practice is widely shared with our European partners.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will provide tables showing the latest results from the youth training leavers survey for each TEC—training and enterprise council—area in England and Wales and each LEC—local enterprise company—area in Scotland broken down to show the number and proportion of youth training leavers who(a) had worked towards a vocational qualification or credit, (b) had gained a vocational qualification or credit, (c) had not gained a vocational qualification or credit, (d) were awaiting results and (e) had completed their training.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment on what occasions the European Commission has refused to pay grants from the social fund to the United Kingdom to assist industrial training; and what were the reasons for each refusal.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Commission has yet to make certain 1992 payments in respect of the fund's objectives 2
  929
  and 5b—areas of industrial and rural decline—and has provided no reasons for this delay. The Commission has now agreed to release all 1992 advances in respect of objectives 3 and 4—long-term unemployment and young people.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will provide tables showing the latest results from the youth training leavers survey for each TEC area in England and Wales and each LEC area in Scotland broken down to show the number and proportion of youth training leavers who were(a) in a full-time job with their work experience employer, (b) in a full-time job with another employer, (c) employed in their own business, (d) in a part-time job, (e) in voluntary work, (f) on a full-time course at a college or training centre, (g) on another youth training scheme. (h) doing something else or (i) unemployed.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she plans to publish(a) the monthly reports of supply and demand of youth training places in each TEC area which are required from 7 July and (b) the quarterly statistical stock takes by her Department of the youth training supply and demand position on the guarantee in each TEC area.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Information on the numbers of young people covered by the YT guarantee will be subject to the new monitoring arrangements which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment announced in the House on 7 July. Information gathered in the quarterly stock takes is in the form of estimates that are not sufficiently reliable to merit publication.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list the number of young persons in the Durham constituency who have gained full-time employment after completing the youth training scheme.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  It is estimated from the latest available information that 60 per cent. of youth training trainees who completed their agreed training in the Durham training and enterprise council area during April to September 1991 were in full-time employment six months after leaving.

  Severe Hardship Payments
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many cases were referred to a training and enterprise council guarantee liaison officer after a young person had been on severe hardship payments for eight weeks; and of these how many young people were found a youth training place by the guarantee liaison officer, in(a) January, (b) April and (c) July.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The following information has been provided by the Benefits Agency:

  (a) January 258 referrals;

  (b) April 579 referrals;

  (c) July (information not yet available).

  The information relates to referrals to TECs in England and Wales and local enterprise companies in Scotland.

  Information on the numbers of young people who were found a YT place by a guarantee liaison officer as a result of the referral is not available.

  Travel-to-Interview Scheme
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when she expects to announce the results of the review of the travel-to-interview scheme; if she will introduce provision for assistance for multiple job search expenses within the daily travelling distance; what changes to the eligibility rules and total resources allocated to the scheme are being considered; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin:
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Neil Mulberry
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the date on which she will provide redundancy payment to Mr. Neil Mulberry.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I have written to my hon. Friend, giving full details of this case.

  Noise at Work Regulations 1989
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate has been made of the cost to employers of complying with the Noise at Work Regulations 1989 in 1990 and 1991.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Health and Safety Commission published a consultative document in 1987 on the draft Noise at Work Regulations. This included an assessment of the costs and benefits of the proposed regulations, which estimated their total cost to be between £240 million to £320 million, spread over a working lifetime. The main costs were likely to arise from the requirement for noise assessments—£20 million—personal protection programmes for those exposed to noise above 85 dB(A)—£127 million—and those for noise reduction measures for exposures above 90dB(A)—£85 million to £175 million.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations she intends to make over delays in processing European social fund payments for voluntary sector projects.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Following vigorous representations by the Department, the European Commission has now agreed to release all ESF moneys due to the United Kingdom in respect of first advances for projects operating in 1992 under objectives 3 and 4 of the fund—long-term unemployment and young people. Representations continue over the Commission's inexcusable and unexplained delay in releasing 1992 advances in respect of certain programmes under objectives 5 and 2b—areas of industrial and rural decline.

  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the proposed budget of the European social fund.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The European Commission has proposed that the total European social fund budget for 1993 should be some £4,185 million—at the current exchange rate.

  Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what amendments have been made to SI 1991 No. 2431 on the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988, in regard to item II in schedule 2, following the fifth report of the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments, 1991–92, HC 14-v.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Employment Service
  Mr. Merchant
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Employment what were the main achievements of the Employment Service as a next steps agency in 1991–92; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I am delighted to announce that the Employment Service met or exceeded the great majority of its performance targets in 1991–92. It helped 1·332 million unemployed people back into work; and exceeded its targets for paying benefit accurately and on time. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment has received the ES annual report and accounts for 1991–92 from the chief executive.

  As a next steps agency, the ES operates under a published framework document agreed with my right hon. Friend. The start of the review of the current ES framework document, due for completion by the end of March 1993, was delayed by the general election. My right hon. Friend has, therefore. extended the life of the current ES framework document by six months. At the same time, she has extended the contract of employment of the current ES chief executive, Mr. Mike Fogden, by six months, to March 1993. My right hon. Friend has also agreed a number of technical amendments to the current ES framework document, which take effect immediately.

  I have arranged for copies of the ES annual report and accounts for 1991–92 and the full textual changes to the ES framework document to be placed in the Library.

DEFENCE

  Radioactive Materials
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 6 July,Official Report, column 45, if he will list each of the sites that exceed the threshold for exemptions from the Radioactive Substances Act 1960.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department is reviewing holdings of radioactive substances which exceed statutory exemption limits. The review is expected to be complete by the end of this year. It would be premature to provide the list the hon. Gentleman requests until that time.

  Polaris
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what studies have been carried out into methods of disposal of Polaris missiles;

  (2) by what means Polaris missiles will be disposed of.

  Mr. Aitken
  Disposal of Polaris missiles will be undertaken as the force is phased out and progressively replaced by Trident. Various methods for the disposal of the missiles are currently under consideration.

  Trident
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to fit global positioning system units on British Trident missiles.

  Mr. Aitken
  None. However, global positioning system units will be fitted to each of the four Vanguard class Trident missile submarines, and will act as a check system for the submarines' primary inertial navigation system.

  HMS Vanguard
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will define the terms "in-service date" and "formally operational" as used by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the difference between the in-service date of HMS Vanguard and the date upon which it will be fully operational.

  Mr. Aitken
  The in-service date is defined normally as the date by which the equipment will contribute to the operational capability of the service concerned. For Royal Navy vessels other than strategic ballistic nuclear submarines, the in-service date represents the date of acceptance from the contractor of the first of class; such vessels become formally operational after a series of trials. For Vanguard class submarines, trials will precede the in-service date, at which point they are expected to become fully operational.

  Weapons (Soviet Union)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the purchase and subsequent dismantling of weapons of the former Soviet Union in order to prevent these weapons from being sold on the open market.

  Mr. Aitken
  This option has been rejected. It would not deal with the problem of the huge size of the military industries of the former Soviet Union, and could act as an incentive to further arms production.

  Porton Down
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the establishment of an ethics committee to oversee scientific procedures on animals at the chemical and biological defence establishment, Porton Down.

  Mr. Aitken
  All scientific procedures carried out on animals at this establishment are undertaken within the provisions of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. This imposes strict controls on the use of living animals in research and requires each programme of work to be justified in advance. The Act also established an Animals Procedures Committee which advises the Home Secretary on such matters as the legitimate requirements of science and industry and the protection of animals against avoidable suffering and unnecessary use in scientific procedures. I see no need to establish an ethics committee.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the defence implications of United Kingdom participation in a multilateral, verifiable fissile materials cut-off.
  933
  Mr. Aitken
  Unlike the nuclear super powers, the United Kingdom does not have large stocks of surplus fissile material upon which to draw. United Kingdom production will continue to be kept at the minimum level necessary to satisfy our nuclear deterent and naval reactor needs.

  Civil Servants' Shareholdings
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance, other than the civil service pay and conditions of service code and the establishment officers' guide, his Department provides relating to civil servants' shareholdings; if he will list the number of occasions within the last five years on which civil servants have reported shareholdings to establishment officers in his Department; what regulations apply to the staff of the next steps agencies within his Department; what mechanisms are in place to prevent potential conflicts of interest; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  The rules of conduct governing share ownership are set out in departmental standing instructions available to both industrial and non-industrial staff. These make it clear that there is to be no conflict of interest between private and official interests.

  My Department's next steps agencies are subject to these same rules.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what visits he has made too his EC counterparts in each member state to discuss deregulation matters since 18 April; what agreements came out of such meetings; and what plans he has for making further progress in deregulation matters during the United Kingdom's presidency of the EC.

  Mr. Aitken
  My right hon. and learned Friend has made no such visits. However, as the Minister with responsibility for deregulation matters within the MOD, I can confirm that this Department will play its full part in taking forward the Government's commitment to deregulation and competition.

  Type 23 Frigates
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when it is expected the Royal Navy will take delivery of the Ferranti data link stimulator for the type 23 frigate.

  Mr. Aitken
  The data link stimulator is scheduled to he delivered to the type 23 shore integration facility early in 1993.

  Minesweepers
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what have been the consequences for the training of reservists of the withdrawal from service of two Royal Navy River class minesweepers.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There have been no consequences for the training of reservists as such following the withdrawal from service of two River class minesweepers, although some reservists now have to travel to other units for their sea training.
  934
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many River class minesweepers are in service with the Royal Navy; and where they are based.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are a total of 12 River class minesweepers. Two—HMS Ribble and HMS Helmsdale—are maintained in reserve at Portsmouth. HMS Blackwater is deployed operationally as part of the fishery protection squadron and is based at Rosyth. The nine remaining vessels are used by the RNR and are based as follows:

  HMS Waverney

  South Wales

  HMS Helford

  Ulster

  HMS Orwell

  Tyne

  HMS Carron

  Severn

  HMS Humber

  Mersey

  HMS Spey

  Forth

  HMS Dovey

  Clyde

  HMS Itchen

  Solent

  HMS Arun

  Sussex

  Army Recruitment
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total cost of the present recruitment campaign for the Army running in national cinemas.

  Mr. Aitken
  The cost is £255,000.

  Army Redundancies
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimate of the costs of the present programme of redundancies in the Army.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The cost to the Army in 1992–93 of the first tranche of redundancies is in the order of £210 million. As I said in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Beckenham (Mr. Merchant) on 8 July 1992,Official Report, column 185, details of the criteria of phase 2 of the redundancy programme will be announced shortly but it is likely that it will affect some 6,500 personnel. Final decisions on the size and make-up of this tranche, and of any further measures, have not yet been made.

  Nuclear Storage Bases
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the purpose of the convoy which arrived at Coulport nuclear storage base on 10 July.

  Mr. Aitken
  It is not our practice to comment on operational matters.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what obligations the EC directive 89/618/Euratom places upon the United Kingdom Government in relation to the transportation of convoys to nuclear storage bases; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  The United Kingdom Health and Safety Commission has issued a Consultative Document—CD37—setting out its proposals for the adoption of EC directive 89/618/Euratom within United Kingdom regulations. The Ministry of Defence will of course comply with the proposed United Kingdom regulations in the form in which they are finally implemented.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what obligations and procedures exist to provide advance notice to(a) the public and (b) relevant local authorities of convoys destined for nuclear storage bases;
  935
  (2) what discussions took place with the appropriate local authori concerning the convoy which went through their districts on the way to the Coulport nuclear weapons storage base on 10 July.

  Mr. Aitken
  Any arrangements for liaison in connection with military convoys depend on the nature of the cargo being carried.

  Gurkhas
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it remains his policy to reduce the brigade of Gurkhas to around 2,500 men after the withdrawal from Hong Kong in 1997.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Yes.

  Menwith Hill
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 10 July,Official Report, column 364, what communications are leased exclusively for defence purposes; and what are the indirect links between Menwith Hill station and Hunterstones tower.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Various communications links are leased exclusively for defence purposes, but I am unable to comment further on their precise nature for reasons of national security.

  Chemical and Biological Weapons
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) under what defence agreement information from the defence microbiology division at the chemical and biological defence establishment, Porton Down, is passed to the United States Department of Defence;

  (2) how many personnel from the United States Department of Defence are stationed either permanently or temporarily at the chemical and biological defence establishment at Porton Down; and for what purpose;

  (3) what quantity of VX nerve gas is currently stocked by his Department;

  (4) in what years CS gas was produced at his Department's establishment at Nancekuke, Cornwall; and in what quantities it was manufactured each year;

  (5) pursuant to his answer of 26 June, Official Report, column 359, what other uses have been made of shellfish toxins by his Department; and whether his Department has collaborated with the United States Department of Defence in the studies and tests involving shellfish toxins;

  (6) how many times personnel from the United States Department of Defence have visited the chemical and biological defence establishment, Porton Down, in each year since 1979; and what was the purpose of these visits;

  (7) in which years his Department's scientists carried out studies and tests on quantities of VX nerve gas prepared by the United States of America; what was the purpose of these tests and studies; and how many British service personnel have been subjected to tests involving VX nerve gas;

  (8) what use the chemical and biological defence establishment Porton Down, has made of the protein saxitoxin;

  (9) how many tests have been carried out since 1967 involving the incapacitating agent BZ and British service
  936
  personnel; when these tests were carried out; whether all the personnel were volunteers; and whether BZ is currently stocked by any of his Department's establishments;

  (10) what information about its research into CR gas the United Kingdom has passed onto the United States of America; under which defence agreement this information was exchanged; and when the information was transferred.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  These matters are for the chemical and biological defence establishment under its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what tests and studies his Department has conducted on the chemical agents picloram and cacodylic acid; when these tests and studies were carried out; whether they were carried out on humans; and whether the results of these tests and studies have been passed on to the United States Department of Defence.

  Mr. Aitken
  The substances picloram and cacodylic acid are herbicides. No work has been carried out on these materials by my Department.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Ministry of Defence scientists first conducted research into CR gas; and in which Ministry of Defence establishment these scientists were working.

  Mr. Aitken
  This is a matter for the chemical and biological defence establishment under its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive of CBDE to write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy on the use of CR gas(a) within the United Kingdom and (b) outside the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The MOD's policy for the use of CR gas is in accordance with the draft text of the chemical weapons convention currently being negotiated in Geneva.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Britain and the United States exchanged technical and scientific information on(a) binary nerve gas technology and (b) VX nerve gas; and under which defence agreements these exchanges took place.

  Mr. Aitken
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 21 May 1992,Official Report, column 255–56, concerning international agreements on chemical and biological defence.

  Under the agreements relating to research information has been exchanged on a continuing basis on the potential hazard from chemical and biological agents including VX nerve gas and possible binary gases with the aim of ensuring that the protective measures for the United Kingdom armed forces are as effective as possible.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 29 June,Official Report, column 411, at which establishment in Australia the environmental testing of the S10 respirator took place in the 1980s; and whether any other British equipment related to chemical and biological warfare has been tested in Australia or New Zealand since 1962.
  937
  Mr. Aitken
  Environmental testing of the S10 respirator was carried out by the Australian materials research laboratory.

  I understand that the Australian Government carried out tests of United Kingdom agent monitoring equipment in the mid-1980s in support of Australian defence requirements.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many research projects at the chemical and biological defence establishment at Porton Down have been funded by the United States Department of Defence since 1979; and what is the total worth of these projects.

  Mr. Aitken
  This is a matter for the chemical and biological defence establishment under its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive of CBDE to write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much CR gas is stocked by his Department; and how much stock has been purchased from external sources or produced internally by his Department.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It would not be in the national interest to disclose the size of our stockpile or its source.

  Dr. Liam Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key performance targets have been set for 1992–93 for the chief executive of the chemical and biological defence establishment.

  Mr. Aitken
  The chief executive of the chemical and biological defence establishment at Porton Down is responsible for research to ensure that the United Kingdom Armed Forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical and biological weapons may be used against them. He has been set the following challenging key performance targets for 1992–93:

  Improved Delivery of the Programme

  1. In 1992–93 to achieve, within agreed timescales, 85 per cent. of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment programme milestones required by the service chiefs of staff and other customers.

  2. In 1992–93 to achieve 80 per cent. of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment programme milestones required by service chiefs of staff and other customers to agreed cost and to seek progressive improvements in performance in future years.

  3. To sustain the CB research programme and the capability of CBDE to respond effectively to operational emergencies by maintaining scientific and technical staff to at least 66 per cent. of the total planned manpower.

  More Efficient Use of Resources

  4. To increase the overall efficiency of CBDE by more than 2·5 per cent. over the financial year 1992–93 with emphasis on improving output efficiency.

  5. To establish a database by 31 March 1993 to enable the percentage of indirect to direct costs to be determined more accurately with a view to improving value for money for MoD by reducing the percentage of indirect costs in subsequent years.

  6. To complete the programme of efficiency reviews of the remainder of the support services by 31 March 1993 and initiate market testing, where appropriate, and to implement the recommendations which would lead to greater efficiency.

  Development of Management Systems

  To extend the improved resource allocation and cost attribution system by inclusion of major and minor works and maintenance costs by March 1993.
  938
  Quality and the Customer

  8. To improve the means of assessing the quality of the scientific and technical outputs by March 1993 and to apply this to the outputs for MoD and other key customers by March 1994.

  Members of Parliament (Consultation)
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, further to his reply to the hon. Member for South Antrim on 14 July, what facilities are extended to the relevant hon. Member when consultation is decided upon.

  Mr. Aitken
  My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon. Member.

  Crown Estate Commissioners
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much property is leased by his Department that is owned or managed by the Crown Estate Commissioners; and how much was paid in rent, leases or fees to the Crown Estate Commissioners for such property for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Aitken
  My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon. Member.

  Bullying
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the reason Private Patrick Callaghan and Private Bryson Dart of the I Battalion Worcester and Sherwood Foresters have been kept in custody in Cyprus; for how long they have been kept in custody; when they can be expected to face an inquiry after their allegation of bullying; what promises were made to them and their families that there would be no retribution following their allegations; and why they are not allowed to carry on with their normal duties while awaiting the investigation.

  Mr. Aitken
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he will take following Private Anthony Evans's case to ensure ethnic minorities in the British Army are not subjected to bullying or racism in the future.

  Mr. Aitken
  It has been made clear throughout the services that bullying and racism will not be tolerated. Measures have been introduced to eradicate this form of unacceptable behaviour.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what compensation Private Anthony Evans, formerly of the Royal Regiment of Wales, will receive for the loss of his Army career and the mental and physical injury he suffered during his service in the Army.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Army Board is awaiting comments from Anthony Evans's solicitors on the findings of the board of inquiry held to consider his allegations. Once those comments have been received the Army Board will consider the question of compensation.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the extent of bullying and racism in the British Army; and what steps have been taken to eradicate them.
  939
  Mr. Aitken
  The Army takes a serious view of all forms of bullying and racism; all service personnel are aware that behaviour of this kind will not be tolerated. Any allegations or complaints of ill-treatment are investigated. Depending on the strength of the evidence, disciplinary action will be taken against the perpetrators.

  A range of measures to combat bullying and racism have been introduced, including the banning of initiation ceremonies. These measures include the establishment of additional posts in the training organisation to allow officers and NCOs to devote more time to their supervisory role. Posts have also been established for the Women's Royal Voluntary Service to help combat bullying.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what disciplinary action will be taken against Army personnel involved in Private Anthony Evans's case; and when it will be made public.

  Mr. Aitken
  Disciplinary action was taken in 1991 by the commanding officer against those held to be responsible. The disciplinary action taken is a private matter between those individuals concerned and their commanding officer.

  Defence Structure
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes are planned to the defence structure of the United Kingdom in order to support the European union as a cohesive force in international affairs in accordance with article J1(4) of the treaty on European union.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We plan no such changes. The Maastricht agreements make clear that the Western European Union will"elaborate and implement decisions and actions of the Union which have defence implications"—(article J.4.2.),

  and that the union's common foreign and security policy
  "shall respect the obligations of certain Member States under the North Atlantic Treaty and be compatible with the common security and defence policy established within that framework"—(article J.4.4.).

  Troops (Sunderland Polling Station)
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why troops were posted at Dykelands road polling station in the Sunderland, North constituency on 9 April.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Dykelands road polling station is situated within a Territorial Army centre occupied by 251 Field Ambulance (V). For security reasons it was necessary to position TA soldiers at the entrance in order to search the bags of those entering and to escort them to the room which was being used as a polling booth. Both male and female soldiers carried out these duties and they were unarmed.

  Antares
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Commander in Chief Fleet has completed his consideration of any further disciplinary action following the court martial arising from the sinking of the Antares; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No. The Commander in Chief Fleet is considering the matter.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instruction non-commissioned officers and soldiers have in the provisions of the Race Relations Act 1976.

  Mr. Aitken
  During basic training, soldiers receive instruction on a wide range of interpersonal skills, which includes the avoidance of all forms of discrimination and stresses their unacceptability in the armed forces.

  Nuclear Proliferation
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the policy underlying the omission of mention of United Kingdom obligations under article VI of the nuclear proliferation treaty in the preparation of paragraphs 135–137, on nuclear proliferation, on page 22 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1992", Cm 1981.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The United Kingdom's obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty are a matter of public record.

  Nuclear Warheads (Expenditure)
  Mr. Liew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under which top level budget holder, as set out in figure 13 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1992", Cm 1981, is the expenditure included on(a) nuclear warhead testing and (b) nuclear warhead design and development.

  Mr. Aitken
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, further to paragraphs 342–348 on defence and the environment, in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1992", Cm 1981, if he will set out the present programmes managed by his Department for the minimisation and disposal of toxic and radioactive wastes and details of future plans developed by his Department to deal with these wastes, respectively.

  Mr. Aitken
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

  Members (Identification)
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what arrangements have been made to help police officers at the entrance to the Palace of Westminster and its outbuildings to recognise and identify recently elected hon. Members; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  While the Administration Committee has general oversight of arrangements for access to that part of the Palace under the control of the House, day to day responsibility rests with the Serjeant at Arms. I shall ask him to write to the hon. Member.

  Executive Agencies' Answers
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what plans he has to change the arrangements for publishing answers to hon. Members' questions received from the next steps agencies.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  At its meeting on 8 July the Committee resolved that, from the first sitting day after the summer recess, letters sent to Members by agency chief executives in response to parliamentary questions should be printed among the written answers in the daily Official Report, beneath a standard form of reply given by the Minister with responsibility. The Cabinet Office has been advised of this decision and is understood to be considering its implications.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Sport
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he expects to make a further announcement about the business sponsorship incentive scheme for sport.

  Mr. Mellor
  The scheme is due to be launched in September this year. All those likely to have an interest will be sent detailed guidance on the scheme and the application procedure.

  Sports and Arts
  Ms. Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the pursuits his Department has classified as(a) sports and (b) arts within the remit of his Department.

  Mr. Mellor
  My Department makes no such classifications. We are concerned with the promotion of all sport and active recreation and with the encouragement of artistic activities generally which bring pleasure to many.

  Departmental Objectives
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will set out the objectives of each division and branch of his Department.

  Mr. Mellor
  Divisions and branches within my Department pursue objectives in support of my responsibilities, which cover the arts, the Government art collection, broadcasting, film, tourism, heritage and sport. The spread of responsibilities between divisions is as follows:

  Arts Division

  Arts Council. Crafts Council. Business sponsorship of the arts. Local authority arts funding issues and arts taxation. EC and Council of Europe cultural policy.

  Museums and Galleries Division

  National and local museums and galleries in England.

  Libraries and Information Division

  Libraries and information services. British Library, public libraries in England.

  British Library St. Pancras Project

  Management of British Library's St. Pancras Project.

  Works of Art Unit

  The mobile heritage; export licensing of antiques.

  Broadcasting Policy Division

  Broadcasting constitutional matters, review of BBC charter, Broadcasting Act 1990, radio, satellite and cable policy.
  942
  Media Division

  International and financial aspects of broadcasting policy programme standards, television licensing, press freedom and regulation, films policy, including British Screen Finance, European Co-operation Fund, Audio Visual Eureka, film certification, United Kingdom Film Commission and MEDIA programme.

  Sports and Recreation Division

  Sport and recreation policy; sponsorship of Sports Council and Football Licensing Authority; safety in sports grounds; local authority and private funding of sport; children's play; international matters including Manchester Olympic bid.

  Heritage Division

  Financial aspects of heritage policy. Sponsorship of English Heritage, the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England and other heritage bodies. Policy on the conservation and use of historic buildings and monuments. European and International Liaison on the built heritage.

  Royal Estate Division

  Contracting out work in the Royal Parks. Establishment of Royal Parks Agency. Regents Park Zoo. Sponsorship of the Royal Armouries, Historic Royal Palaces Agency, Royal Fine Arts Commission and Royal Household Works Programme. Ceremonials.

  Royal Parks Division

  Management of the Royal Parks.

  Tourism Division

  Development of tourism's contribution to economic and employment growth, ensures the Tourist Boards cost effectively fulfil their objectives, and represents the industry's concerns to Whitehall, outside organisations and the European Communities.

  Finance Division

  Financial Management; accounting systems; Estimates; Public Expenditure Survey forecasts; additional responsibility for National Lottery Bill.

  Implementation and Review Division

  Implementation of the new Department; project management; information technology; provision of internal services; review/co-ordination of Department-wide matters.

  Personnel Division

  Personnel management; equal opportunities; welfare; pay; superannuation; conditions of service.

  Historic. Rural Palaces Agency

  An Executive Agency set up 1 October 1989. Responsible for managing the Historic Royal Palaces open to the public.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what visits he has made to his EC counterparts in each member state to discuss deregulation matters since 18 April; what agreements came out of such meetings; and what plans he has for making further progress in deregulation matters during the United Kingdom's Presidency of the EC.

  Mr. Mellor
  I have made no such visits since 18 April. However, I can confirm that this Department will play its full part in taking forward Her Majesty's Government's commitment to deregulation.

  Barcelona Olympics
  Mr. Liew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what ministerial and other representation Her Majesty's Government will have at the Barcelona Olympics.

  Mr. Mellor
  I shall be attending the Olympic games in Barcelona as will my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister,
  943
  my right and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities and my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for National Heritage. Her Majesty's ambassador in Spain will also be attending.

  European Arts Festival
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many copies of the guide to the European arts festival have been printed; what are the actual costs of its preparation, printing and distribution, respectively; and what steps were taken by Her Majesty's Government to encourage or assist in promoting the events listed therein.

  Mr. Mellor
  More than I million copies of the festival programme have been printed and are being distributed throughout the country. Design and other preparatory costs were £14,000; printing, £98,000; and distribution, £41,000.

  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, ministerial colleagues and I were present at the launch of the festival on 1 July. We look forward to attending a number of events during the festival. We will take every opportunity to draw attention to this rich and varied programme that should appeal to everyone. I have written to all Members of both Houses enclosing a copy of the programme.

  My Department continues to work closely with the festival director in promoting the festival overall. The promotion of individual events rests mainly with the local organisers, with the full support of the festival team.

  Civil Servants (Shareholdings)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what guidance, other than the civil service pay and conditions of service code and the establishment officers' guide, his Department provides relating to civil servants' shareholdings; if he will list the number of occasions since April on which civil servants have reported shareholdings to establishment officers in his Department; what regulations apply to the staff of the Next Steps agencies within his Department; what mechanisms are in place to prevent potential conflicts of interest; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science on 7 July,Official Report, column 101. My Department has not issued any further guidance to staff; nor have any shareholdings been reported to our establishment officer.

  Historic Royal Palaces
  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what targets he has set for the Historic Royal Palaces agency.

  Mr. Key
  The following targets have been set for the Historic Royal Palaces agency for the financial year 1992–93:

  Target

  Financial Targets:

  Commercial surplus

  £ 3·8 million

  Call on taxpayer

  £10·0 million

  944

  Target

  Visitor Rating Targets:1

  Value for money

  0·7 to 1

  Enjoyment

  1·3 to 1·7

  Helpful and friendly staff

  1·3 to 1·7

  Efficiency Target:

  2 per cent, saving on running costs

  Conservation Target:

  Complete surveys and draw up programme of works for:

  Contents by March 1993

  Buildings by November 1993

  Citizen's Charter:

  To implement its provisions within the Agency

  Contracting Out:

  To complete the studies agreed by Ministers last December

  1 Visitor ratings are assessed from market research interviews with 900 visitors, undertaken by independent consultants each summer. 2·0 is Extremely Good; 1·5 is Very Good; 1·0 is Quite Good; 0 is OK;—1·0 is Quite Poor;—2·0 is Very Poor.

  Tourism Council
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the outcome of the Tourism Council meeting in Luxembourg on 4 June.

  Mr. Key
  I represented the United Kingdom. Ministers agreed on a decision for a Community action plan to assist tourism for a three-year period, commencing on 1 January next year. Ministers also noted two factual Commission documents which outline Community policies and measures affecting tourism and the Community resources available for tourism.

  Crown Jewels
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the ownership of the Crown jewels.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Crown jewels are owned by the sovereign in right of the Crown.

  Welsh Television
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has had concerning renegotiation of the television franchise for Wales and the west; what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Independent Broadcasting Authority on the future status of undertakings made in the course of successful franchise applications; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  None. These are matters for the Independent Television Commission.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has had concerning the maintenance of a Welsh identity in the commercial television franchise for Wales after 1 January 1993(a) in the Welsh language and (b) in the English language.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have received no such representations in either Welsh or English.

  Football (Safety)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what consultations he has had with the Football Licensing Authority concerning amendments to the model safety certificates for(a) premier and first division, (b) second and third division English League clubs and (c) Scottish Football League clubs.

  Mr. Mellor
  None.

  Maastricht Treaty
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage on what grounds Her Majesty's Government agreed to the proposed article 128 of the treaty of Rome under the Maastricht treaty.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Community has increasingly become involved in cultural activity. Article 128 of the Maastricht treaty establishes this for the first time on a clear legal basis. The text underlines the importance of respect for national and regional cultural diversity and the fact that Community action will support and supplement action by the member states. At United Kingdom insistence, action can be taken only on the basis of unanimity.

  Imperial War Museum
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what progress he is making in completing the redevelopment plans at the imperial war museum, Lambeth road; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 15 July 1992]: I commend the success of the first development phase at the museum, which was completed in 1989. I have received the imperial war museum's 1992 corporate plan which indicates the programme and objectives for the next stage of development at the Lambeth road building, and this will be assessed against all other spending priorities on museums and galleries. It is hoped that an announcement on the Government's spending plans will be made in November this year.

  DTI Inspections
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) if he will list any advisers retained by his Department since 1987 who have been criticised in published reports by DTI inspectors;

  (2) if he will list any public appointments by his Department since 1987 which have involved people from organisations criticised in published reports by DTI inspectors.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information is not held centrally in the form requested. My Department takes all the relevant factors into account when considering such appointments.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which non-departmental public bodies are sponsored by his Department; which of these are audited by the National Audit Office; which firms of private accountants audits each of the others; by what method of tendering contracts to such firms are awarded; and for what duration.
  946
  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 10 July 1992]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the table, which lists the executive non-departmental public bodies directly funded by the Department of National Heritage and gives details of their audit certification arrangements. The method of selecting auditors, including competitive tendering, varies between institutions. Reviews of appointments may be held annually or at other periods up to five years.

  Executive non-departmental bodies audited by the National Audit Office:

  Arts Council of Great Britain

  Board of Trustees for the Royal Armouries

  British Library

  British Museum

  British Tourist Authority

  Broadcasting Standards Council

  English Tourist Board

  Imperial War Museum

  Museums and Galleries Commission

  National Gallery

  National Heritage Memorial Fund

  National Maritime Museum

  National Museum of Science and Industry

  National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside

  National Portrait Gallery

  Natural History Museum

  Registrar of Public Lending Right

  Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts

  Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England)

  Sports Council

  Tate Gallery

  Victoria and Albert Museum

  Wallace Collection

  Executive non-departmental bodies audited by private firms

  Body

  Auditor

  British Film Institute

  Stoy Hayward

  Broadcasting Complaints Commission

  BDO Binder Hamlyn

  Crafts Council

  Stoy Hayward

  Football Licensing Authority

  To be appointed imminently

  Greater Manchester Museum of Science and Industry

  BDO Binder Hamlyn

  Historical Buildings and Monuments Commission for England (English Heritage)

  Price Waterhouse

  Museum of London

  KPMG Peat Marwick McClintock

  National Film and Television School

  Stoy Hayward

  Redundant Churches Fund

  DM Vaughan & Co.

  Sir John Soane's Museum

  Pannel Kerr and Foster

  South Bank Theatre Board

  Pannel Kerr and Foster

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disposable Income
  Ms. Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average disposable income of households, and of adults and children, within households, at 1989 prices, for each year from 1979 to 1989, inclusive, for the poorest and for the richest 20 per cent. of households, before and after equivalisation, based on the data collected for the households-below-average-income analysis.

  Mr. Burt
  The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost. The information that is available is in the table. HBAI presents figures in a, standard format: only for years 1979, 1981, 1987 and 1988–89—that is, 1988 combined with 1989—before and after housing costs;
  947
  equivalised for household size and composition; using the median as the average measure for subdivisions of the income distribution; and at April 1992 prices. This is in line with the recommendations made in the stocktaking report produced last year after consultation with independient external analysts.

  It is not our practice to produce unequivalised information.

  Average equivalised income at April 1992 prices
  Before housing costs:

  1979

  1981

  1987

  1988–89

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Bottom 20 per cent.

  96

  94

  100

  100

  Top 20 per cent.

  289

  298

  376

  402

  After housing costs:

  1979

  1981

  1987

  1988–89

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Bottom 20 per cent.

  81

  78

  80

  81

  Top 20 per cent.

  253

  262

  329

  355

  Ms. Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the mean net disposable income, at 1989 prices, of the poorest 10 per cent. and 20 per cent. of United Kingdom households combined for each year 1979 to 1989, inclusive, before and after equivalisation and before and after taking housing costs into account, when ranked respectively(a) without adding the full value of free and subsidised school meals (b) adding that value and(c) adding that value and also the value in kind of services and other goods specifying the services involved.

  Mr. Burt
  The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost. The information that is available is in the table. HBAI presents figures in a standard format: only for years 1979, 1981, 1987 and 1988–89—that is, 1988 combined with 1989—before and after housing costs; equivalised for household size and composition; using the median as the average measure for subdivisions of the income distribution; and at April 1992 prices. This is in line with the recommendations made in the stocktaking report produced last year after consultation with independent external analysts.

  It is not our practice to produce unequivalised information, nor to present mean averages for sub-divisions of the income distribution.

  Average equivalised income at April 1992 prices
  (a) income excluding free school meals
  Before housing costs:

  1979

  1981

  1987

  1988–89

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Bottom 20 per cent.

  95

  93

  99

  100

  Bottom 10 per cent.

  83

  82

  87

  85

  After housing costs:

  1979

  1981

  1987

  1988–89

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Bottom 20 per cent.

  80

  77

  78

  80

  Bottom 10 per cent.

  68

  65

  67

  65

  (b) income including free school meals
  Before housing costs:

  1979

  1981

  1987

  1988–89

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Bottom 20 per cent.

  96

  94

  100

  100

  Bottom 10 per cent.

  84

  83

  88

  86

  After housing costs:

  1979

  1981

  1987

  1988–89

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Bottom 20 per cent.

  81

  78

  80

  81

  Bottom 10 per cent.

  70

  67

  67

  66

  (c) other incomes in kind included in the HBAI income measure are:

  free meals and food provided by employers

  free coal and coke

  luncheon vouchers

  free school milk

  free welfare milk

  These are included in the figures provided at (a) and (b) above.
  Ms. Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was for each type of household in the family expenditure survey, the average disposable income at 1989 prices, including the value of free and subsidised school meals, of the poorest 10 per cent. and poorest 20 per cent. of households, after taking account of housing costs, for each year 1979 to 1989, inclusive, for each of the principal regions of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Burt
  The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost. The information that is available is in the table. HBAI: presents figures in a standard format: only for years 1979, 1981, 1987 and 1988–89—that is, 1988 combined with 1989—before and after housing costs; equivalised for household size and composition; using the median as the average measure for subdivisions of the income distribution; and at April 1992 prices. This is in line with the recommendations made in the stocktaking report produced last year after consultation with independent external analysts.

  Due to the small sample sizes figures for the bottom 10 per cent., split by family type cannot be reliably estimated—HBAI presents detailed breakdowns only for the bottom 20 per cent. For similar reasons, regional breakdowns of HBAI are not produced.

  Average equivalised income at April 1992 prices for the bottom 20 per cent, by household family type

  Before housing costs:

  1979

  1981

  1987

  1988–89

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Pensioner couple

  87

  91

  99

  98

  Single pensioner

  87

  92

  95

  92

  Couple with children

  101

  90

  98

  100

  Couple without children

  125

  127

  118

  129

  Single with children

  85

  89

  93

  93

  Single without children

  109

  107

  107

  107

  After housing costs:

  1979

  1981

  1987

  1988–89

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Pensioner Couple

  73

  77

  83

  83

  Single pensioner

  78

  82

  83

  81

  Couple with children

  84

  73

  76

  78

  Couple without children

  107

  105

  94

  105

  Single with children

  69

  72

  75

  70

  Ms. Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the numbers of children of different
  949
  ages in the poorest 20 per cent. and richest 80 per cent. of households, ranked according to the net disposable income of the households in which they live, before and after equivalisation, for 1979 and for 1989, on the basis of households below average income data drawn from the family expenditure survey.

  Mr. Burt
  Information for the years 1979 and 1988–89—that is, 1988 combined with 1989—before and after housing costs, and equivalised for household size and composition is in the table. It is not our practice to produce unequivalised information.

  Numbers of children of different ages in the bottom 20 per cent. of the income distribution

  (In millions)

  Before housing costs

  After housing costs

  Ages

  1979

  1988–89

  1979

  1988–89

  0–4

  0·8

  1·0

  0·8

  1·1

  5–9

  1·0

  0·9

  1·0

  0·9

  10–14

  0·9

  0·8

  0·8

  0·7

  15–18

  0·3

  0·3

  0·3

  0·3

  Total

  2·9

  3·0

  2·9

  3·0

  Numbers of children of different ages in the top 80 per cent. of the income distribution

  (In millions)

  Before housing costs

  After housing costs

  Ages

  1979

  1988–89

  1979

  1988–89

  0–4

  3·0

  3·0

  3·0

  2·9

  5–9

  3·2

  2·6

  3·3

  2·6

  10–14

  3·2

  2·7

  3·3

  2·7

  15–18

  1·4

  1·3

  1·4

  1·3

  Total

  10·9

  9·5

  10·9

  9·5

  Correspondence
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the disability living allowance unit in Blackpool intends to reply to the letters of 15 March, 10 May and 21 June from the hon. Member for Glasgow, Shettleston regarding his constituent Mrs Mary Muir.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of disability living allowance 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.

  Pension Age
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how his Department publicised the consultation period for the discussion paper "Options for Equality in State Pension Age";

  (2) if he will list the organisation and individuals to whom his Department circulated the discussion paper "Options for Equality in State Pension Ages" and those who responded to the paper.

  Miss Widdecombe
  A period of public discussion was announced in the statement of my right hon. Friend on 26 June 1991 and press releases were issued in the usual way. When the discussion paper was published on 18 December 1991, publicity was by means of a written answer on 17 December to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North 950
  (Mr. Allen) column 145. Two press releases were also issued, the first on 18 December and the second on 17 June 1992. The latter was a reminder of the deadline for responses, 30 June. Both press releases inspired a large number of reports in the press, both national and local, and on radio and television.

  The paper was circulated to pension industry organisations, the Confederation of British Industry, the Trades Union Congress, the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Occupational Pensions Board and the Pension Ombudsman. Copies were also sent to the Social Security Select Committee and Members of Parliament. The publicity surrounding the publication of the paper resulted in inquiries from a number of interested organisations, to which copies were sent.

  To date, more than 3,700 responses have been received from both organisations and individuals.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will delay any decision on the equalisation of the pension age to allow time for(a) a further period of consultation with organisations affecting women in the United Kingdom on the financial consequences for women which would result from raising the pension age to 63 or 65 years and (b) a wider consideration of other aspects of the pension systems which would discriminate against women or men.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The discussion period on state pension age ended on 30 June, and over 3,700 responses have been received. We now intend to examine those responses in detail and we will also be taking the opportunity of meeting the representatives of various organisations with an interest, including those concerned with the position of women. We will be announcing the Government's proposals on this complex and important issue in due course after consideration of the views expressed.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the achievements of his Department and his policies in helping small businesses over the last 12 months relative to the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Government continue to place a high priority on helping small businesses, through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and through specific programmes of support and assistance.

  Measures operated by the Department specifically to assist small business include increasing, from April 1992, the qualifying threshold for small employer's relief—SER—for statutory sick pay from £15,000 to £16,000.

  Other measures aimed at business in general, which includes small business, include:
  (i) Establishing a group of employers and employers' representatives specifically to consider the impact on employers of a combined Autumn and Budget statement in December. Small businesses are recognised as an important group to be consulted and are represented on the group.
  (ii) Increasing the level below which deductions under pay-as-you-earn—PAYE—and national insurance contributions—NIC—can be paid to Inland Revenue quarterly rather than monthly to £450 for deductions made in periods

  951
  beginning after 5 April 1992. Twenty-five thousand businesses should benefit from this increase, bringing the total number of businesses who could he helped by this measure to 725,000—more than half of all employers.

  The Department has a system to monitor proposals which have an impact on business, to ensure that the needs of small businesses arc taken into account, although there are no performance indicators specifically for monitoring achievements in this area. However, we attach particular importance to action taken to help small firms and will continue to explore further ways of doing so.

  Pension Premiums
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to review any provision for the extended refund of pension premiums.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Department, within its responsibilities for the regulation of occupational pension schemes, has no provision for the extended refund of pension premiums and therefore we have no plans to review.

  Disability Allowances
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether a person in receipt of either(a) severe disablement allowance, (b) invalidity benefit, (c) income support with the disability premium, (d) community charge benefit with the disability premium or (e) housing benefit with the disability premium, who subsequently receives disability working allowance and who is then off work sick for over 10 weeks at the time of renewal claim for disability working allowance, will lose the right to renew their claim.

  Mr. Scott
  People who qualify initially for disability working allowance—DWA—by virtue of one of these benefits can claim again using the same qualifying benefit during the six weeks before and the eight weeks after their award expires—14 weeks in all. They also have to satisfy the remunerative work test in order to qualify for DWA and cannot do so in any weeks when off work sick. To satisfy this test, they must work 16 hours or more either in the week they claim or in one of the two weeks before or they must be expected by the employer to work 16 hours or more in the week after the week in which they claim. The effect of this is that depending on when illness begins, they would have to be absent from work for the whole of a period of 17 weeks spanning the date their award falls to be renewed to lose the right of renewal using one of these benefits.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to amend the disability living allowance to ensure that the criteria for award of the higher mobility component do not exclude people with dementia and other progressive neurological conditions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  New help is available to people suffering from dementia through the new, lower rates of both components of disability living allowance. We have no plans to amend the criteria for awarding the higher rate of the mobility component of disability living allowance.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Godsiff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many households in Birmingham, Small Heath 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. Godsiff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what dates cold weather payments were made in Birmingham, Small Heath in response to a forecast of a qualifying period; and if he will indicate the period taken for payments to be made once the system had been triggered.

  Mr. Scott
  Such information as is available is in the Library.

  War Pensions
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 19 June,Official Report, column 704, on payment of war pensions in cases of post-traumatic stress, what is the reason for the different treatment of payment of arrears of war pension in relation to schizophrenia as compared with other conditions.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Until relatively recently, most cases of schizophrenia were regarded as being causally unrelated to service. When medical opinion changed it became possible to make awards of war pension. The discretionary powers of the war pension scheme were used to award arrears of pension, in appropriate cases, from February 1980, the date chosen to reflect the change in medical opinion. This date is under review following a recent High Court judgment.

  Authoritative medical opinion has always accepted that the clinical entity now known as post-traumatic stress disorder could arise as the result of service. An award of war pension would therefore normally have been made from the date of claim.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 19 June,Offical Report, column 703, on statistics relating to war pensions, what estimate was made of the cost of answering the question tabled.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The cost was estimated as being as least £1 million.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what visits he has made to his EC counterparts in each member state to discuss deregulation matters since 18 April; what agreements came out of such meetings; and what plans he has for making further progress in deregulation matters during the United Kingdom's presidency of the EC.

  Mr. Scott
  No such meetings have taken place. We have no plans to initiate special action in this area during the presidency. We will, however, continue to resist any EC initiatives affecting the Department which would impose undue burdens on business.

  Departmental Objectives
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out the objectives of each division and branch of his Department.

  Mr. Scott
  All parts of the Department, including its executive agencies and the divisions and branches of its central headquarters, share the purpose and aims set out in the department report "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1992–93 to 1994–95", Cm 1914.

  The Department's purpose is to serve Ministers in the development and implementation of social security policy, pay social security benefits, arrange for the collection of national insurance contributions and carry out other services in accordance with the law.

  The underlying aims are to:
  provide a good service to customers, one which is professional, efficient, responsive and fair;
  support ministers in the development and implementation of policy, and in the preparations and passage of legislation;
  manage the Department and its agencies efficiently, providing good value for money and maintaining the highest standards of propriety in the conduct of public affairs;
  provide relevant information about social security to individuals, groups and the community at large in a clear and comprehensible form;
  ensure correct payments are made—that benefit recipients are paid their correct entitlement and the scope for fraud and abuse is minimised;
  ensure compliance with the law relating to national insurance contributions by employers, employed earners and the self-employed;
  meet the needs of all staff as regards training and career and personal development, recognising and properly rewarding them for their contribution, and encouraging them to play a full part in the Department's work.

  In addition, the objectives of the individual executive agencies are laid out in their business plans for 1992–93, copies of which are in the Library.

  Civil Servants (Shares)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidance, other than the civil service pay and conditions of service code and the establishment officers' guide, his Department provides relating to civil servants' shareholdings; if he will list the number of occasions within the last fives years on which civil servants have reported shareholdings to establishment officers in his Department; what regulations apply to the staff in the next steps agencies within his Department; what mechanisms are in place to prevent potential conflicts of interest; and if he will make a statement.

  National insurance widows and invalidity pensioners

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  Uprating date

  Rate of child benefit plus child dependency increase

  Equivalent value of column B amounts at April 1992 prices

  Gross male weekly average earnings, with amounts in column B as percentage

  Equivalent weekly earnings net of income tax and national insurance contributions, with amounts in column B as percentage

  Single person

  Married couple

  (£)

  (£)

  (£)

  (per cent.)

  (£)

  (per cent.)

  (£)

  (per cent.)

  November 1979

  11·10

  25·57

  114·10

  9·7

  79·90

  13·9

  83·60

  13·3

  November 1980

  12·25

  24·47

  135·10

  9·1

  93·40

  13·1

  97·80

  12·5

  November 1981

  12·95

  23·11

  149·50

  8·7

  101·00

  12·8

  105·40

  12·3

  November 1982

  13·80

  23·17

  160·60

  8·6

  107·40

  12·8

  112·59

  12·3

  November 1983

  14·10

  22·58

  172·40

  8·2

  115·50

  12·2

  121·30

  11·6

  November 1984

  14·50

  22·13

  187·40

  7·7

  125·90

  11·5

  132·50

  10·9

  November 1985

  15·05

  21·78

  199·50

  7·5

  134·40

  11·2

  141·60

  10·6

  954
  Mr. Burt
  All staff in DSS and its next steps agencies are made aware of the guidance given in the civil service pay and conditions of service code relating to civil servants' shareholdings. The provisions apply to all staff equally. Staff are required to report shareholdings which may present a potential conflict of interest but no records are kept centrally of such reports.

  Children
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to equalise benefits for men and women with dependent children on the death of their spouse.

  Miss Widdecombe
  This is one of the issues which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be addressing in his consideration of the equalisation of state pension age.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total number of dependent children aged under 16 years who are living in families receiving regular weekly payment of income support in April 1991 and April 1992; and how many of these dependent children were living in(a) one-parent families and (b) unemployed families.

  Mr. Burt
  The latest available figures are for May 1991. There were 2·37 million dependent children under 16 in families receiving income support, 1·49 million were in lone parent families and 0·64 million were in the families of claimants who were receiving income support on the grounds that they were unemployed.

  Source: income support statistics, annual inquiry 1991.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will make it his policy to ensure that the value of benefits for children of war widows, other widows and invalidity pensioners, is increased in real terms in the 1993 benefit uprating.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The policy of successive Governments has been to take account of child benefit when setting the rates of benefits for children. We have no plans to alter this long-standing principle.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will publish tables similar to those in his answer of 11 May,Official Report, columns 43–44, showing the combined value of child benefit and child dependency increases, including figures for April 1992 and showing equivalent values at April 1992 instead of 1991 prices.

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the tables.
  955

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  Uprating date

  Rate of child benefit plus child dependency increase

  Equivalent value of column B amounts at April 1992 prices

  Cross male weekly average earnings, with amounts in column B as percentage

  Equivalent weekly earnings net of income tax and national insurance contributions, with amounts in column B as percentage

  Single person

  Married couple

  (£)

  (£)

  (£)

  (per cent.)

  (£)

  (per cent.)

  (£)

  (per cent.)

  July 1986

  15·15

  21·56

  210·90

  7·2

  143·80

  10·5

  151·20

  10·0

  April 1987

  15·30

  20·86

  224·00

  6·8

  155·90

  9·8

  163·00

  9·4

  April 1988

  15·65

  20·53

  245·80

  6·4

  174·80

  9·0

  182·00

  8·6

  April 1989

  16·20

  19·67

  269·50

  6·0

  191·30

  8·5

  198·90

  8·1

  April 1990

  16·90

  18·75

  295·60

  5·7

  212·80

  7·9

  221·10

  7·6

  April 1991

  118·95

  19·76

  318·90

  5·9

  230·00

  8·2

  238·30

  8·00

  April 1991

  217·95

  18·72

  318·90

  5·6

  230·00

  7·8

  238·30

  7·5

  October 1991

  119·95

  20·50

  330·00

  6·0

  237·20

  8·4

  245·50

  8·1

  October 1991

  21820

  18·70

  330·00

  5·5

  237·20

  7·7

  245·50

  7·4

  April 1992

  120·50

  20·50

  337·50

  6·1

  235·30

  8·7

  301·30

  6·8

  April 1992

  218·65

  18·65

  337·50

  5·5

  235·30

  7·9

  301·30

  6·2

  1 Rate for the eldest or only child.

  2 Rate for each other child.

  War widows

  A

  B

  C

  D

  £

  Uprating date

  Rate of child benefit plus war widow's child's allowance

  Equivalent value of column B amounts at April 1992 prices

  Gross male weekly average earnings, with amounts in column B as percentage

  Equivalent weekly earnings of income tax and national insurance contributions, with amounts in column B as percentage

  Single person

  Married couple

  (£)

  (£)

  (£)

  (per cent.)

  (£)

  (per cent.)

  (£)

  (per cent.)

  November 1979

  14·00

  32·25

  114·10

  12·3

  79·90

  17·5

  83·60

  16·7

  November 1980

  15·35

  30·66

  135·10

  11·4

  93·40

  16·4

  97·80

  15·7

  November 1981

  16·10

  28·73

  149·50

  10·8

  101·00

  15·9

  105·40

  15·3

  November 1982

  17·10

  28·71

  160·60

  10·6

  107·40

  15·9

  112·50

  15·2

  November 1983

  17·45

  27·95

  172·40

  10·1

  115·50

  15·1

  121·30

  14·4

  November 1984

  17·90

  27·32

  187·40

  9·6

  125·90

  14·2

  132·50

  13·5

  November 1985

  18·55

  26·84

  199·50

  9·3

  134·40

  13·8

  141·60

  13·1

  July 1986

  18·65

  26·55

  210·90

  8·8

  143·80

  13·0

  151·20

  12·3

  April 1987

  18·85

  25·70

  224·00

  8·4

  155·90

  12·1

  163·00

  11·6

  April 1988

  19·25

  25·25

  245·80

  7·8

  174·80

  11·0

  182·00

  10·6

  April 1989

  19·85

  24·10

  269·50

  7·4

  191·30

  10·4

  198·90

  10·0

  April 1990

  20·65

  22·91

  295·60

  7·0

  212·80

  9·7

  221·10

  9·3

  April 1991

  121·90

  22·84

  318·90

  6·9

  230·00

  9·5

  238·30

  9·2

  October 1991

  2 22·90

  23·53

  330·00

  6·9

  237·20

  9·7

  245·50

  9·3

  October 1991

  322·15

  22·76

  333·00

  6·7

  237·20

  9·3

  245·50

  9·0

  April 1992

  2 23·40

  23·40

  337·50

  6·9

  235·30

  9·9

  301·30

  7·8

  April 1992

  3 22·65

  22·65

  337·50

  6·7

  235·30

  9·6

  301·30

  7·5

  1 Where the new higher rate of child benefit for the eldest qualifying child applied, the war widow's child's allowance was adjusted so that the total level of support remained the same for all children.

  2 Rate for the eldest or only child.

  3 Rate for each other child.

  Young People (Hardship Payments)
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many severe hardship claims were submitted by 16 and 17-year-olds in Scotland, Wales and each region of England in the last full year for which figures are available; and what percentage were successful.

  Scotland

  North East

  North West

  Midlands

  Wales and South West

  London North

  London South

  Success Rate

  Per cent

  1991

  July

  1,263

  1,008

  673

  687

  730

  576

  624

  80

  August

  1,320

  979

  625

  684

  609

  528

  553

  80

  September

  1,189

  932

  671

  695

  685

  579

  657

  80

  October

  1,349

  1,044

  710

  697

  687

  617

  677

  80

  November

  1,153

  936

  640

  700

  710

  542

  608

  82

  December

  927

  709

  497

  579

  512

  420

  449

  84

  1992

  January

  1,656

  1,434

  1,100

  1,158

  1,007

  823

  958

  85

  February

  1,593

  1,283

  956

  1,030

  927

  797

  882

  83

  March

  1,676

  1,231

  1,125

  1,094

  967

  875

  964

  83

  April

  1,988

  1,292

  1,082

  1,093

  1,000

  877

  888

  82

  956
  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
  957

  Scotland

  North East

  North West

  Midlands

  Wales and South West

  London North

  London South

  Success Rate

  Per cent

  May

  1,905

  1,222

  1,132

  1,088

  954

  824

  901

  82

  June

  2,157

  1,404

  1,265

  1,126

  1,077

  991

  974

  81

  Source: Severe hardship clamis unit statistics.

  Occupational Pensions
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when provisions in the Social Security Act 1990—section 11 and schedule 2—on inflation-proofing of occupational pensions will come into force; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The implementation of limited price indexation for occupational pensions was postponed because of the financial uncertainties for schemes caused by the Barber judgment. This has still to be clarified.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of grants made and the number of loans provided, together with the number refused since the social fund was introduced.

  Mr. Scott
  The information was published on 8 July in the Secretary of State's annual report on the social fund—Cm 1992—which is available in the Library.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what increase in social fund allocations for 1992–1993 would be needed to enable monthly average expenditure to reach the levels of expenditure in March 1992.

  Mr. Scott
  Annual social fund allocations enable expenditure to be managed flexibly and effectively throughout the year. An increase of £37·6 million would be required if the initial annual allocation for 1992–93 had been based solely on expenditure levels for the single month of March 1992. For a variety of reasons, expenditure in March has traditionally been heavy. Over 10 per cent. of last year's annual expenditure was made in March 1992.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 8 July,Official Report, column 224, to the hon. Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr. Wells), when he received the university of York report on the social fund; when examination of the report by Ministers started and was completed; and for what reasons it was decided that such examination was necessary before publication.

  Mr. Scott
  Research reports commissioned by the Department are routinely submitted for ministerial clearance prior to publication, as required by the Department's standard research contract. We received the final draft of the report in April.

  Income Support
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the scale rate for supplementary benefit and income support for a couple with two children aged under 11 years for each year from 1979 to 1992 at(a) constant prices and (b) as a proportion of the median disposable income of a couple with two children.
  958
  Mr. Burt
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what assumption he bases the viability of income support for a husband and wife with two children at primary school.

  Mr. Burt
  I refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 2.1 to 2.5 of the memorandum on benefit levels and a minimum income, dated 18 October 1989, and submitted to the House of Commons Social Services Committee. A copy of the complete memorandum is in the Library. Income support has been uprated each year by the retail prices index less housing costs.

  Resettlement Units
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give further details on the plans to transfer Camden and Newbury resettlement units.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Resettlement Agency is taking forward the plans announced on 5 February 1992 at column 210 to transfer two resettlement units.

  A number of well-established housing associations and voluntary bodies have expressed an interest and will be submitting detailed proposals to the Resettlement Agency.

  These will be evaluated and a final decision will be made on 29 September 1992 and the successful organisations will be informed shortly thereafter. Negotiations with these organisations for the handover of operations on 31 March 1993 will commence immediately.

  Research
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list all the research currently in progress which is being undertaken by, or has been commissioned by, his Department; if he will indicate in each case when he expects to receive the report and whether it is his intention to publish it; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  A list of all research currently in progress, with the expected timing of the first draft report, is in the table. Reports about pieces of research are normally published, either in the Department's own research series or by the contractor.

  Project

  Anticipated timing of first draft report

  Study of invalidity benefit (IVB)

  Early 1994

  Study of statutory sick pay (SSP)

  Summer 1993

  Comparative study of financial provision for carers

  End of 1992

  Survey of the impact of family credit (FC)

  Received

  959

  Project

  Anticipated timing of first draft report

  Family credit and the self employed

  Spring 1993

  The use of Department of Social Security (DSS) administrative records to produce panel data

  End of 1992

  Comparative study of child support in the European Community

  Spring 1993

  Further econometric analysis of data from the survey of incomes in and out of work

  Summer 1992

  Impact of family credit—lone parent extension project

  Summer 1993

  "Relate" information database

  End of 1992

  Study of persons abroad legislation

  Early 1993

  Econometric analysis of the OPCS retirement survey

  Spring 1993

  Pensioners' assets

  Received

  Personal pensions survey

  Received

  The effects of benefits on housing decisions

  Early 1993

  Study of direct payments

  Early 1994

  Staff attitudes survey (DSS and agencies)

  Summer 1992

  Staff exit survey (DSS and agencies)

  Early 1993

  Modelling the potential yield of national insurance contributions

  Spring 1993

  Research to test the language and design of forms and integrated leaflets

  Autumn 1992

  Hard to place residents of resettlement units (phase II)

  Autumn 1992

  Customer opinion of resettlement units Survey of admissions to resettlement units Access to service and information needs of people with disabilities

  Received Received Autumn 1992

  Access to service and information needs of minority ethnic groups

  Summer 1992

  Information needs of informal advisers

  Received

  Benefits Agency 1992 national customer survey

  Early 1993

  Preliminary research into the information and advice needs of local offices and advice agencies

  Received

  Information needs of lone parents (consultancy work)

  Interim report received

  Investigation of alternative campaign strategies (for Child Support Agency launch publicity)

  Summer 1992

  National Insurance>
  Mrs. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the amount of national insurance contributions outstanding from self-employed individuals;

  (2) what is the amount of national insurance contributions outstanding from companies with more than five employees;

  (3) if he will list the staffing levels for the departments concerned with collecting outstanding national insurance contributions for each of the past five years.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The amount of unpaid national insurance contributions due for self-employed individuals is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive of the Contributions Agency. She will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Mrs. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the effect on employees' pension rights of non-payment of national insurance contributions by their employers.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Regulations provide that where a primary class 1 contribution payable by a secondary contributor on an employee's behalf is not paid, the contribution can nevertheless be treated as paid on the due date so as not to affect the employee's pension rights, providing certain conditions are met. It must be shown to the Secretary of State's satisfaction that the failure to pay the contribution has not been with the consent or connivance of the employee, nor attributable to any negligence on his part.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the expected saving at 1992 prices, in total and per 100,000 claimants, from the extension of the unemployment disqualification period to 13 weeks in 1986 and 26 weeks in 1988, respectively, and the cumulative saving from the two extensions; and what are his latest estimates of the actual savings.

  Mr. Burt
  I will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available as soon as possible.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will update the estimate of the cost of reducing the unemployment disqualification period to six weeks, given in his reply to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 21 January,Official Report, column 180; whether that estimate took into account the resulting savings in income support and housing benefit; what would be the net cost, taking these savings into account; on what assumption about the proportion of disqualified unemployment benefit claimants receiving income support his estimates are based; and what would be the net cost if that proportion fell to its May 1986 and November 1987 levels, respectively.

  Mr. Burt
  The estimate given in my reply to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North on 21 January remains at £35 million per annum at 1992 prices. This takes account of the resulting savings in income support and housing benefit.
  961
  The estimate is based on the assumption that 75 per cent. of those disqualified due to their misconduct or voluntarily leaving their employment without just cause receive income support.

  The net costs, assuming May 1986 and November 1987 levels of disqualification, would be £40 million and £35 million respectively.

  Appeal Tribunals
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received from the Independent Tribunal Service regarding the payment of fees to members of social security appeal tribunals; and how he has responded to those representations.

  Mr. Scott
  The President of the Independent Tribunal Service, His Honour Judge Holden, has made representations to the department about payment of fees to members of social security appeal tribunals. Our policy on fees for tribunal members is to pay a fee where membership requires specialist skills or knowledge. This is not the case for SSAT members.

  Maxwell Pensions
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to obtain donations to the trust headed by Sir John Cuckney to compensate Maxwell pensioners; and what success he has had.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I understand from Sir John Cuckney that he and his fellow trustees will sign the trust deed on 17 July and that they have formally launched their appeal for contributions to the Maxwell pensioners trust. Pending the formal establishment of the trust, £170,000 has been paid into the holding account opened by the Department. This will be transferred to the trust's account when it is open. Donations to the trust are, of course, completely separate to any funds or assets recovered.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total sum of money so far recovered by the trust fund set up within his Department, headed by Sir John Cuckney, to recover assets lost by the Maxwell pension funds; if he will give a breakdown of the various sums recovered by source and amount of income.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) on 6 July at columns 88–89 and to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr Leighton) today.

  Claimants (Relocation)
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) whether he will review the rights of benefits claimants to relocate to areas of high unemployment without forgoing entitlements;

  (2) if he will monitor the migration of benefits claimants to seaside resorts over the summer.

  Mr. Burt
  The Employment Service checks that unemployed people, including itinerants, are entitled to benefits in respect of unemployment, in accordance with social security legislation; in particular that they are available for work and actively seek it. Every effort is made to ensure that benefit is paid only where the conditions of 962
  entitlement are satisfied. The Government have no plans to restrict the movement of unemployed people: mobility of labour is essential for the efficient operation of the labour market and job creation.

  Students
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will seek to amend legislation so as to enable students to claim benefits during the summer vacation if prevented by ill health from seeking work.

  Mr. Burt
  We have no such plans; the educational maintenance system is designed to provide for the needs of students. Vulnerable students, including those who are disabled or who are long-term sick, retain eligibility for housing benefit and income support throughout their course and may qualify for those benefits during the summer vacation if they are unable to work.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will review the obligation on local authorities to meet their share of the costs of housing benefits for unemployed persons moving in from other areas, where benefits are already being paid by relevant local authorities.

  Mr. Burt
  We have no plans to review the current arrangements which allow housing benefit to meet the commercial rent liability on a property occupied as the main home, providing the level of rent is reasonable. Local authorities are reimbursed for their benefit expenditure through subsidy arrangments.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Raoul Wallenberg
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to request the authorities of the former Soviet Union to publish their records relating to Raoul Wallenberg.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We understand that a Swedish-Russian commission has been set up to investigate the disappearance of Raoul Wallenberg: and that Russia has granted Sweden access to Soviet MFA and KGB files. We assume that the Swedish Government will publish any further details about Wallenberg's fate which are uncovered.

  European Union
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy that no notification shall be given that the United Kingdom assents to the amendment of any part of any protocol annexed to the treaty on European union unless a draft of the notification has first been approved by an Act of Parliament.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  All the protocols associated with the treaty on European union will be annexed to the treaty of Rome and would form an integral part of that treaty. The protocols—and any later amendments—therefore require ratification by member states. In the United Kingdom
  963
  ratification does not require approval by an Act of Parliament but would only occur once any necessary domestic legislation was in place.

  Maastricht
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the position of the United Kingdom as a signatory of the North Atlantic treaty will be affected by the implementation of a common foreign security and defence policy, pursuant to article B, title I of the Maastricht treaty.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The position of the United Kingdom as a signatory of the North Atlantic treaty will not be affected by a common foreign and security policy.

  The Maastricht treaty—article J. 4.4—makes it clear that the foreign and security policy
  "shall respect the obligations of certain member States under the North Atlantic Treaty and be compatible with the common security and defence policy established within that framework".

  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will lay before Parliament a consolidated text of the treaties establishing the European Economic Community, the ECSC and Euratom, as amended by the treaty of Maastricht.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  There will be no official Community publication of this nature until after the treaty on European union has been ratified by all 12 member states and has entered into force.

  However, in view of the interest expressed in this House and elsewhere, the Government will be producing their own consolidated text of the treaty establishing the European Economic Community as amended by the treaty on European union. This text will be laid before the House in the normal way in good time for the consideration in Committee of the European Communities (Amendment) Bill.

  The text will inevitably be informal at this stage and may differ in some minor respects from that produced by the European Community official publications office in due course.

  Fissile Materials
  Mr. Cohen
  T'o ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards a multilateral, verifiable fissile materials cut-off.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Her Majesty's Government welcome the US decision on 13 July to end production of weapons grade fissile materials. It is in response to a bilateral initiative from the Russians and does not depend on United Kingdom agreement. United Kingdom production will continue to be kept at the minimum level necessary to satisfy our deterrent and naval reactor requirements.

  EC Decision-making
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to undertake a study into the decision-making structure of the European Community with reference to economic convergence and allocation of resources.
  964
  Mr. Garel-Jones
  There are no plans to undertake any such study. Under the convergence decision of 1990, individual member states are putting forward convergence programmes for discussion within the Council of Ministers as part of the regular process of multilateral surveillance. The Maastricht treaty would carry forward that process of multilateral surveillance, but economic policy would remain, as now, a responsibility of member states.

  European Community
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what circumstances Her Majesty's Government are prepared to apply to the European Court of Justice for a ruling on the validity of a Commission proposal before it has been referred for deliberation by the Council of Ministers or other Community institutions.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  There is no legal basis to challenge a Commission proposal for Community legislation before the court until that proposal has been adopted as a formal act.

  Treaty of Rome
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent the proposed article 8c of the treaty of Rome will require a harmonisation of diplomatic practices among member states of the Community.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Consular protection services offered by the member states of the European Community to their respective nationals do not differ greatly. Some administrative changes will be necessary to give formal effect to article 8c of the treaty of Maastricht, and procedures need to be established. The details are being worked on at the regular meetings of the EC consular affairs working group.

  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the effect on the personnel, work load, organisation and financing of Her Majesty's foreign service in respect of obligations imposed by the proposed article 8c of the treaty of Rome.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  An informal arrangement made in 1985 provides for the diplomatic missions of EC member states to give consular protection to the nationals of unrepresented EC states in non-Community countries. Article 8c of the Maastricht treaty is a move towards formalisation of this arrangement. We do not expect it to cause significant extra work for our posts.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance, other than the civil service pay and conditions of service code and the establishment officers' guide, his Department provides relating to civil servants' shareholdings; if he will list the number of occasions within the last five years on which civil servants have reported shareholdings to establishment officers in his Department; what regulations apply to the staff of the next steps agencies within his Department; what mechanisms are in place to prevent potential conflicts of interest; and if he will make a statement.
  965
  Mr. Goodlad
  The conduct of staff in the diplomatic wing of the Foreign and Commonwealth office is governed by diplomatic service and home service regulations. The latter also apply to staff at Wilton park, the diplomatic wing's next steps agency. They require staff to disclose in writing to the Department's administration full details of any personal business interests which might conflict with the Department's interests or general principles of conduct. The diplomatic wing does not maintain a central record of staff who have reported shareholdings. The conduct of staff in the aid wing is governed by the code and guide. In addition staff rules are issued individually to all members of staff in the ODA headquarters and its next steps agency, the Natural Resources Institute. The rules require individual officers to consult the principal establishment officer about the desirability of acquiring and retaining any shareholding which might raise a question of possible conflict with the interests of the Department. No such conflicts of interest are recorded in the last five years.

  Departmental Objectives
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the objectives of each division and branch of his Department.

  Mr. Goodlad
  All the individual departments of the diplomatic and aid wings of the Foreign and Commonwealth office, and all our posts abroad—more than 200—set objectives annually. These objectives are framed in the light of the overall objectives for both wings, which are set out in the annual departmental report on the Government's expenditure plans. The report also contains more detailed objectives on the various FCO functions. A copy of the report is available in the Library of the House.

  European Union (Public Information)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state his policy in respect of the proposals in each substantive clause of the European Union (Public Information) Bill.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The Government have made information on the Maastricht treaty readily available to the public. The treaty was published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office on 7 May. Before publication, copies were supplied to Parliament in large numbers, and to the public on demand from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Memoranda were produced by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Her Majesty's Treasury outlining the content of the treaty. These are also available from Her Majesty's Stationery office. The Government are considering whether to issue additional information about the treaty and its benefits.

  Shipbuilding
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on the Government's attitude to the Commission's proposal for a Council directive providing for changes to the seventh Council directive on aid to shipbuilding of 2 December 1990 SEC 92 (991)—final;

  (2) if he has given consideration to designating as an agenda B point at the Council meeting scheduled for 20 July the Commission's proposal for a Council directive
  966
  providing for changes to the seventh Council directive on aid to shipbuilding of 2 December 1990, SEC (92) 991—final;

  (3) what evaluation his Department has made of the effect of the United Kingdom and EC shipbuilding industries of the Commission proposal for a Council directive providing for changes to the seventh Council directive on aid to shipbuilding of 2 December 1990, SEC (92) 991—final;

  (4)what account he has taken of the European Parliament's view on current EC proposals to aid shipyards in east Germany; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The Government support the Commission proposal which will help alleviate the severe economic difficulties facing eastern Germany. The proposal contains safeguards which should ensure that the United Kingdom and other EC shipbuilding industries are not adversely affected. The European Parliament opinion on the Commission proposal will be discussed at a meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives today. The dossier would then normally go to a Council meeting for final adoption.

  British Diplomatic Spouses Association
  Mr. George Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what is the employment status of the chairman of the British Diplomatic Spouses Association; and if he will publish the job description as agreed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and specify the duties that are laid down towards the trustees of the association;

  (2) what is his policy on charging organisations to which public employees are seconded, including ones which are wholly funded by Government, the full staff costs of the seconded employees; and what policy is followed in respect of the British Diplomatic Spouses Association;

  (3) for what reasons his Department advertised the job of family welfare officer in its medical and welfare unit as carrying ex officio membership of the executive committee of the British Diplomatic Spouses Association;

  (4) what is the value of support given by his Department to the British Diplomatic Spouses Association in (a)contributions to salaries, (b)staff secondments, (c)office and other facilities and (d)other support.

  Mr. Goodlad
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Serbia
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to ensure that the sanctions on Serbia do not affect supplies of food and medicines.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  United Nations Security Council resolution 757 specifically exempts from the sanctions regime foodstuffs and supplies intended strictly for medical purposes. Exports of both categories have to be notified to the sanctions committee. To date approximately 70 per cent. of all applications received by the committee have been for foodstuffs and medicines and all have been passed without objection.

  South African Security Personnel
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what protests Her Majesty's Government have made to the South African Government on the activities of South African security personnel Captain Pamela du Randt and Mr. Leon Flores.

  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what protests Her Majesty's Government have made to the South African Government about the activities of South African security personnel Captain Pamela du Randt and Mr Leon Flores.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The South African Government were informed of the suspected activities of these individuals in this country and we received the full co-operation of the SAG in our pursuit of this matter.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff his Department currently employs; what are the total personnel costs; and what were the staffing levels and personnel costs in 1970.

  Mr. Goodlad
  [holding answer 14 July 1992]: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office expects to employ an average of 10,085·5 staff in 1992–93 at an estimated total personnel cost of £369·877 million. In 1970–71, 12,421 staff were employed; a comparable figure for total personnel costs for that year is not available. Actual salary costs for 1970–71 were £52·592 million and £186·6 million in 1992–93.

  Subsidiarity
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what visits he has made to his EC counterparts in each member state to discuss deregulation matters since 18 April; what agreements came out of such meetings; and what plans he has for making further progress in deregulation matters during the United Kingdom presidency of the EC;

  (2) what representations have been made by British embassies in the member states of the EC about the removal of unnecessary regulations affecting United Kingdom interests at a national and Community level in the last year;

  (3) whether, during the United Kingdom presidency of the EC, he will arrange for a European Council of Ministers meeting to consider how the European Commission's deregulation efforts can be improved.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The Lisbon European Council noted the importance of the principle of subsidiarity and invited the Commission and the Council to undertake urgent work on procedural and practical steps to implement the principle. It also called for a re-examination of existing legislation in order to adapt it where necessary to the principle of subsidiarity. We intend to take this work forward during the United Kingdom presidency. There will be an initial discussion in the Foreign Affairs Council on 20 July. The Government intend to ensure that the principle of subsidiarity is respected in all its aspects, including its presumption against over-regulation.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Kurdistan
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures have been taken to ensure the safety and security of non-governmental officers in Iraqi Kurdistan.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The safety of NGO officers is of great concern to us. They are working in Iraq under the inter-agency programme of the United Nations and we have raised with the UN the importance of arrangements for their safety. In addition, coalition forces are stationed in Turkey.

  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what attempts have been made to ensure that humanitarian aid administered in Iraqi Kurdistan is reaching the targeted groups; if he will give assurance that current levels of assistance will he maintained; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We monitor progress with the United Nations and British non-governmental organisations to ensure the inter-agency programme of humanitarian relief is properly targeted. We continue to respond to requests for support and are keeping the situation under close review.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funds have been budgeted to directly support British based non-governmental organisations operating in Iraqi Kurdistan from I April 1992 to 31 March 1993; and what funding has been set aside to support the activities of British based non-governmental organisations indirectly through support for the United Nations in the area in the same period.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We shall continue to consider on their merits requests from British non-governmental organisations to fund specific projects in northern Iraq, while taking account of other priority calls on available resources. We do not earmark for non-governmental organisations any specific part of our contribution to the United Nations programme.

  International Decade of National Disaster Reduction
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution the United Kingdom is making to the International Decade of National Disaster Reduction and the discussions he has held with colleagues in the United Nations on this.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  In the last financial year the Government spent nearly £600,000 for disaster preparedness projects under the International Decade of Natural Disaster Reduction. Commitments since April this year total over £250,000 so far. This is in addition to our continuing support for the Royal Society/Royal Academy of Engineering IDNDR committee. We are working closely with that committee, with other interested groups in Britain and through our embassies and high commissions overseas to see what more we can do. We are also in close contact with the United Nations IDNDR Secretariat in Geneva and with the disaster mitigation branch of the United Nations department of humanitarian affairs.
  969
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received from the Royal Society as a result of his request to it to consider scientic options and proposals for the International Decade of National Disaster Reduction.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We continue to work very closely with the Royal Society on the British contribution to the International Decade of Natural Disaster Reduction, primarily through the joint Royal Society/Royal Academy of Engineering IDNDR committee. With that committee, we mounted a one-day IDNDR forum at the Royal Society on 27 March this year, bringing together key players from Britain and the United Nations to discuss disaster reduction. A report of the workshop is being produced and should be available soon.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Civil Service Shareholdings
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance, other than the civil service pay and conditions of service code and the establishment officers' guide, his Department provides relating to civil servants' shareholdings; if he will list the number of occasions within the last five years on which civil servants have reported shareholdings to establishment officers in his Department; what regulations apply to the staff of the next steps agencies within his Department; what mechanisms are in place to prevent potential conflicts of interest; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The Home Office staff handbook includes specific advice on shareholdings by staff, covering the issues of potential conflict of interest and the provisions of the Companies Securities (Insider Dealing) Act 1985 and the Financial Securities Act 1986. Further advice on the general principles of conduct and the need to avoid any conflicts between official duty and private interests is also included in the handbook. The handbook is issued to all non-industrial staff, and its provisions apply equally to staff in Home Office agencies. No cases have been recorded in the past five years of staff reporting shareholdings to personnel management units in the Home Office.

  Departmental Objectives
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out the objectives of each division and branch of his Department.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Objectives are set for each division and branch of the Home Office, but because of the breadth and diversity of the Department's activities, listing them would involve disproportionate cost. The principle objections for Home Office divisions are contained within the "Home Office" Annual Report 1992—Cm 1909,—12 copies of which are in the Library.

  Primates
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will prohibit the use in British laboratories of primates that have been caught in the wild.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  No. Where the use of primates in research is justified under the Animals (Scientific 970
  Procedures) Act 1986, there may be no alternative to the use of wild-caught primates if purpose-bred animals are not available. Inspectors do, however, encourage the use of propose-bred primates where such animals are available.

  Immigration Controls
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the implications of article 8a of the Maastricht treaty for Britain's current immigration controls.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I refer my hon. Friend to the explanatory memorandum on the European Commission communication on abolition of border controls—6497/92—which was submitted to the EC scrutiny committees on 19 June and in which the Government's position on this matter is fully set out.

  Camp Hill Prison
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether medication at Her Majesty's prison Camp Hill is being administered by the qualified hospital officers, and taken by prisoners in the sight of hospital officers.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Health care staff supervise the taking of medication during the day. At night some prisoners are entrusted to take their medication unsupervised; in other cases supervision is undertaken by discipline staff. These arrangements are under review.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the monthly cost of medication at Her Majesty's prison Camp Hill.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The cost of drugs and dressings dispensed in the four weeks ended 26 June 1992 was £2,049·91.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were on medication at Her Majesty's prison Camp Hill for the last date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  On 29 June 1992, 92 prisoners received some form of medication.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were in the hospital at Her Majesty's prison Camp Hill on the last day for which figures are available.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The health care centre at this establishment no longer provides facilities for in-patient care. Patients in need of such care are transferred to the prison hospital at HM prison Parkhurst.

  Security Companies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take action to make it a criminal offence for convicted criminals(a) to own or be directors of, (b) to be employed by or (c) to seek employment by a security company.

  Mr. Jack
  No.

  Maastricht Treaty
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the implications of article 8a of the Maastricht treaty referring to freedom of residence.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Article 8 confers on nationals of European Community countries the new status of citizen of the union. Article 8a provides that such citizens shall have the right to move and reside freely in the Community. This right will, however, be subject to the limitations and conditions set out in existing EC directives and regulations, under which, for example, residence may be refused on grounds of public policy.

  Electoral Law
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to bring forward proposals to amend the electoral law, consequent to the Maastricht treaty.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Detailed arrangements for the provisions contained in the treaty to extend the right to vote and to stand as a candidate in European Parliamentary and local government elections to EC nationals in their country of residence have to be adopted unanimously by the Council of Ministers by 31 December 1993 and 31 December 1994 respectively. Until those arrangements have been agreed, we have no proposals for amending electoral law.

  Police and Criminal Evidence
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish an inquiry into the ways in which the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 is operated by the police services in England and Wales.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Royal Commission on criminal justice is already considering this issue.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish an inquiry into the ways in which the Police arid Criminal Evidence Act 1984 is operated by the West Midlands police service.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  No.

  Gambian Nationals
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nationals of The Gambia have been(a) admitted to the United Kingdom as visitors in each year from 1988 and (b) how many have been refused entrance at the point of entry.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is not available; citizens of The Gambia are not separately identified in the immigration statistics.

  Bailiffs
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislative proposals to make it illegal to operate as(a) a security business and (b) a bailiff's business unless registered as a plc.
  972
  Mr. Jack
  We have no plans to do so.

  Cruel Tethering
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been under the Protection Against Cruel Tethering Act 1988.

  Mr. Jack
  Section 1 of the Protection against Cruel Tethering Act 1988 amended the Protection of Animals Act 1911. It is not possible from the information held centrally to identify separately such offences under the Protection of Animals Act 1911. However, our statistics show that in 1989 and 1990 there were 1,050 and 1,167 prosecutions, respectively, under the Protection of Animals Act 1911, as amended.

  Immigration
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision is being made by the Government to bring into force EC Council directives 90/364/EEC, 90/365/EEC and 90/366/EEC which require member states to bring into force laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the directives not later than 30 June; and whether, under those directives, the third country national family members in the ascending or descending line seeking to enter or remain in the United Kingdom with the EC national family member will be permitted to take employment.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The directives are being implemented administratively. It is planned to lay an order under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 before Parliament later this year to incorporate into United Kingdom law all the EC regulations and directives dealing with rights of free movement and residence, including the three referred to in the question. Directive 90/366, on the right of residence of vocational students, entitles the EC national to be joined by his or her spouse and children under 21. The other two directives, on the right of residence of retired persons and of persons not covered by other EC measures, make provision for spouses, children under 21 and other dependent relatives in the ascending and descending line. Under the directives the spouse and dependent children of the main beneficiary are, irrespective of nationality, entitled to take employment or self-employment. Non-EC national dependent relatives in the ascending line who wish to take employment or self-employment have to meet the relevant requirements of the immigration rules.

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisions are made for the grant of indefinite leave to remain to the third country national spouses of EC nationals exercising treaty rights in the United Kingdom in the event that the EC national does not apply for indefinite leave to remain or there is marriage breakdown.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Indefinite leave is normally granted to a non-EC spouse only if the EC national has acquired it or if the spouse qualifies for it in his or her own right under the immigration rules. A non-EC national cannot qualify for indefinite leave under the immigration rules on the basis of a marriage which has been dissolved. However, where such a person has been living in the United Kingdom for a substantial period as the spouse of
  973
  an EC national, any application to remain following a divorce would be considered in the light of any compassionate circumstances.

  Electoral Procedures
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend relevant legislation so as to bring the availability of marked registers after parliamentary elections into line with local and European elections.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The marked copies of the electoral register used at parliamentary elections are retained by the Clerk of the Crown and are available for inspection for one year after the election. The marked registers used at European parliamentary elections are retained by the returning officer for the constituency and are also available for inspection for one year. For local government elections, the marked registers are held by the proper officer of the relevant council, and can be inspected for a period of six months following the election. In all cases copies of the marked registers may also be purchased. In consultation with the political parties and the local authority associations we are conducting a review of electoral law in the light of experience at the recent general election, and this will be one of the issues considered.

  Disabled People's Parking Spaces
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions were undertaken in 1991 against able-bodied motorists misusing spaces reserved for disabled people.

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is not available.

  Crime (Unidentified Vehicle Keepers)
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the use in the furtherance of crime of vehicles used by a group of individuals in circumstances where the identity of the individual keeper is concealed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  We have found no record of recent representations on this subject. The targeting of offences involving the use of such vehicles is an operational matter and is therefore the responsibility of chief officers of police.

  Wolds Prison
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contingency plans have been made to deal with circumstances resulting in the loss of control by Group 4 of the Wolds prison.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  For security reasons it is not our practice to publish contingency plans for any prison.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether circular instructions and standing orders issued by the Prison Department are applied to the Wolds prison.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No. Group 4 Remand Services Limited is required to deliver standards of performance which are specified in the contract for the management of 974
  Wolds prison. Within that framework the company has freedom to decide on the best procedures for achieving the desired results.

  Prison Mothers
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances mothers in prison are separated from their babies six hours after birth.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The circumstances in which a mother in prison would be separated from her baby within hours of the birth are the same as in the community. Immediate separation would take place where the local social service department had obtained a care order because the child was considered to be at risk.

  EC Visas
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on the mutual recognition of visas within the EC.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Mutual recognition of short-stay visas is provided for in the draft external frontiers convention, signature of which remains stalled because of an objection by the Spanish Government to the convention's application to Gibraltar.

  Prisoners, Northern Ireland
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the transfer of Northern Irish prisoners in English prisons to complete their sentence in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  As I stated in my reply to a question by the hon. Member for Newry and Armagh (Mr. Mallon) on 12 June 1992,Official Report, columns 330–31, my right hon. and learned Friend is considering a report of the interdepartmental review on the transfer of sentenced prisoners with colleagues in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  Prisoners (Remission)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the reasons why persons imprisoned for non-payment of community charge are not entitled to remission.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  To qualify for remission a person has to be serving a term of imprisonment which under section 104(1) of the Criminal Justice act 1967 does not include "a committal in default to payment of any sum of money". Nor is the royal prerogative of mercy used to grant special remission in respect of civil cases.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds criminals in prison are given remission; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Remission of sentence is governed by the prison rules 1964. In general terms remission is granted on the grounds of a prisoner's industry and good conduct. The royal prerogative of mercy may also be used to grant special remission on exceptional grounds, including the recognition of assistance given to the authorities or for urgent compassionate reasons.

  Speeding
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police authority forces now possess the technology to identify speeding motorists using photographic techniques.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I understand that a recent survey by the Association of Chief Police Officers traffic committee indicated that 18 forces in England and Wales were actively considering acquiring speed cameras or traffic light cameras or both and that a further three police forces expected to be equipped with speed cameras from 1 July. Nineteen forces already operate in-car video systems which can be used to identify speeding offences.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average cost of the equipment necessary to gather evidence of speeding using speed camera technology.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on 14 July,Official Report, column 531.

  Polling Stations (Access)
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will review the criteria for grants in respect of access to polling stations by disabled people;

  (2) what steps he proposes to take to promote improved access to polling stations for disabled people.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Councils have a statutory obligation to place polling stations only in buildings which are accessible to disabled people, wherever this is practicable. We have provided guidance for acting returning officers to remind them of their obligations, and shall continue to do so. Where it is not possible to use a building affording easy access, we will provide grants towards half the cost of a temporary ramp, provided the local authority will meet the other half. We consider it reasonable to expect the local authority to contribute to the cost since the ramps may also be used at local elections and for other local activities. We will consider as part of our post-election review of electoral practice whether more needs to be done to help disabled people to exercise their right to vote.

  Fire Services
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what correspondence his Department has had with the Northumberland fire authority about the level of provision within the county's fire service; and what indication has been given in the correspondence as to whether(a) day manning, (b) other systems involving full-time personnel or (c) wholly retained status would be regarded as acceptable for the stations concerned.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My officials have received correspondence from the chief fire officer of the Northumberland fire and rescue service drawing attention to financial issues affecting the service's budget and to plans for addressing identified over-provision in the service. My right hon. and learned Friend has recently approved the fire authority's proposal to replace the whole time crew at Alnwick fire station by a retained crew with the result that both 976
  firefighting appliances based at Alnwick are now crewed by retained firefighters. The chief fire officer has made clear the fire authority's intention to seek the approval of my right hon. and learned Friend, under section 19 of the Fire Services Act 1947, to the removal from the services establishment of the whole-time crews at Berwick and Hexham fire stations, subject to their replacement by retained crews. My right hon. and learned Friend would not approve such an application unless he was satisfied that the authority would be able to maintain the nationally recommended minimum standards of fire cover.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fire service personnel of sub-officer grade and below have been(a) made redundant or (b) given early retirement other than on health grounds in the most recent period for which figures are available.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The available figures, from annual establishment returns submitted to the Home Office by fire authorities each year, relate to discharges for other than medical reasons and dismissals after disciplinary proceedings. The establishment returns for fire authorities in England and Wales for the year to 31 December 1991 show that 36 whole-time fire fighters of the rank of sub-officer and below, and 118 retained or volunteer fire fighters, were discharged for other than medical reasons, and that seven whole-time fire fighters of the rank of sub-officer and below, and three retained or volunteer fire fighters, were dismissed following disciplinary proceedings.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, following Northumberland county council's refusal to accept that he is entitled to withhold permission for the closure of the Holy Island fire brigade, and following the Local Government Commissioner's finding that this constituted maladministration, he will arrange for a special inspection of the brigade's arrangements for fire cover on Holy Island.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Northumberland fire and rescue service was inspected by Her Majesty's inspector of fire services between 17 and 21 February 1992. In the course of the inspection, Her Majesty's inspector examined the fire cover arrangements on Holy Island. My right hon. and learned Friend does not propose to commission any further inspection of the fire cover arrangements on HolyIsland.He hopes to reach a decision shortly on the Northumberland fire authorities application for approval to the removal from its establishment scheme of the volunteer fire-fighting crew on Holy Island.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what provisions exist in national conditions of service governing the terms of redundancy for firemen; what requests for advice he has received from fire authorities about redundancy terms; and what advice he has given;

  (2) what provisions exist in national conditions of service relating to the pension entitlements of firemen who accept early retirement on other than health grounds, or are made redundant.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  National conditions of service for fire-fighters are a matter for the National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Fire Brigades and not for the Home Office. I understand that the council's scheme of conditions of service contains no provisions governing the
  977
  terms of redundancy for fire-fighters. My officials have received a request from the chief fire officer of the Northumberland fire and rescue service for advice on the pensions implications of any redundancies, and are to discuss this with the chief fire officer at a meeting on 5 August. The pension entitlements of whole-time firefighters are governed by the Firemen's Pension Scheme Order 1992. Rule Al4 of the scheme provides for the early retirement on efficiency grounds of a fire-fighter aged 50 or over who has completed 25 years' pensionable service.

  Telephone Tapping
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 8 July,Official Report, column 199, if he will list the organisations which carry out telephone interceptions which have been authorised by warrant.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have nothing to add to my reply of 8 July.

  Urban Areas (Crime)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) who draws up the list of urban areas and housing estates regarded as at risk of serious disorder;

  (2) if he will provide additional resources to find measures to tackle youth crime in the 16 urban areas or estates regarded as likely to be at risk of serious disorder.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  There is no central list of areas regarded as at risk of serious disorder though local police forces naturally monitor areas of particular tension. The Government already provides funding for many initiatives aimed at tackling youth crime. In particular, the safer cities programme tackles crime in the inner cities through projects in 20 areas with high crime rates and other social problems.

  British Diplomatic Spouses Association
  Mr. George Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the British Diplomatic Spouses Association is a registered charity.

  Mr. Jack
  The British Diplomatic Spouses Association is registered with the Charity Commission as a charity.

  Commercial Premises
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend legislation so as to make occupation of commercial premises without the owner's permission a criminal offence.

  Mr. Jack
  The Government are committed to strengthening the law against squatting and we issued a consultation paper examining possible options. The responses have raised a number of issues which are receiving careful consideration. Our aim is to ensure that any new measures are fair, easy to administer and effective.

  Police Evidence
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive reports from the relevant police forces into the safety of the evidence used to convict Sam Kulasingham and Prem Sivalingham; and if he will make a statement.
  978
  Mr. Jack
  The inquiry by the Essex police into this case is still continuing, but at this stage it is not possible to give any indication as to when it will be completed and a report submitted.

  European Year of Civil Protection
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has held with his EC colleagues on the United Kingdom's and the Community's plans for the European Year of Civil Protection beginning on 1 July 1993.

  Mr. Jack
  At a meeting of the Council of Ministers held in November 1990 to discuss civil protection, my right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Ferrers and his ministerial colleagues endorsed a resolution, agreeing in principle that July 1993 to July 1994 should be designated the European Year of Civil Protection. Officials from member states are now working to produce a revised draft resolution.

  New Age Travellers
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many hours of police overtime were worked by Avon and Somerset constabulary and Devon and Cornwall constabulary between 20 June and 11 July, as a result of the movements of new age travellers and rave parties;

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 3 July, Official Report, columns 739–40, what further estimates he has of the costs of extra policing required by the movements of new age travellers and various rave parties between 20 June and 11 July in the counties of Avon, Somerset, Devon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire; and whether he will specify these by police authority.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Police and Fire Services
  Mr. Thomason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will specify the change in the cost of providing police and fire services within the metropolitan county areas as compared with non-metropolitan areas during the financial years preceding, including and succeeding the abolition of the metropolitan county councils.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Durham Prison
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average number of hours per day inmates of Durham prison spend outside cells.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The estimated number of hours per day inmates of Durham prison spend outsde cells is 7·5 hours for convicted male inmates, 3·25 hours for male remand inmates and 9·5 hours for convicted female inmates.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average number of hours spent on education for each year since 1981 in Durham prison.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The total student hours spent on education for each year since 1985 in Durham prison are shown in the table. No figures are available for the years 1981–82 to 1984–85.
  979

  Year

  Total student hours

  1985–86

  35,796

  1986–87

  48,284

  1987–88

  62,902

  1988–89

  70,245

  1989–90

  58,893

  1990–91

  57,818

  1991–92

  70,251

  European Union
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the current requirements for the acquisition of a visa for entry into the United Kingdom will be affected by the proposed article 100c (1) of the treaty of Rome.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Article 100c ( 1 ) will transfer into the competence of the European Community the determination of the third countries whose nationals are to be subject to a visa requirement for the crossing of external frontiers of member states. Decisions under the article, which will be taken by unanimity until the end of 1995 and by qualified majority voting thereafter, will depend on the outcome of discussions within the Community and cannot be predicted at this stage. The United Kingdom, like all member states, will be under an obligation to align its national visa requirements with such decisions.

  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what alterations he proposes to(a) asylum policy and (b) immigration policy in the light of article K I of the treaty on European union.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The chapter of the treaty dealing with co-operation in the fields of justice and home affairs, of which Article K1 forms part, will provide a new framework for intergovernmental discussions on these subjects but leave them within national competence. Of itself, therefore, the article does not entail alterations to the United Kingdom's policies on immigration and asylum.

  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what forms of co-operation he will propose in the area of combating international fraud under article K1 (5) of the treaty on European union.

  Mr. Jack
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Wrongful Convictions
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many allegations of wrongful conviction upon indictment have been received during the last six months by C3 division of the Home Office with a view to a possible reference to the Court of Appeal under section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968; and how many allegations have been dealt with.

  Mr. Jack
  During the six months ending 31 March 1992, the most recent period for which figures are readily available, 301 allegations of wrongful conviction on indictment were received and reviews of 283 cases were completed.

  Maastricht Treaty
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost of implementing title VI of the Maastricht treaty in so far as it relates to justice and home affairs.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Title VI brings together into a more coherent framework existing intergovernmental work in justice and home affairs matters. Additional support services may be needed, which will be negotiated in the usual way through the Community budget procedures. Otherwise, costs will arise only on a case-by-case basis from actions agreed between the member states and will he borne by the member states themselves.

  Bail Statistics
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of(a) all defendants and (b) defendants charged with violent offences, sexual offences, drug offences, robbery, burglary, theft, fraud and criminal damage respectively were granted hail in England and Wales in the years 1980, 1985 and 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The percentages of all defendants granted bail in England and Wales in the years 1980, 1985 and 1990 are given in the following table:

  All offences

  1980

  1985

  1990

  Summonsed

  73

  70

  61

  Arrested and bailed

  23

  25

  34

  Arrested and held in custody

  4

  5

  6

  These figures are published in chapter 8 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales". Reliable information on the breakdown of remands into bail and custody according to offence groups is not available centrally.

  Police (Contracting Out)
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to contract out police functions relating to the issuing of firearms licences and the escorting of heavy loads.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  My right hon. and learned Friend is considering the responses to the recently concluded public consultation on Home Office proposals to establish a new civilian firearms licensing body. No decisions have yet been taken.

  As to police escorts for heavy loads, my Department is considering the issues with the police service and local authority associations. No firm decisions have yet been taken.

  Wheel Clamping
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to regulate unauthorised clamping of motor cars on private land and the charging of large sums for their release.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  In the light of recent public concern about the activities of firms and individuals offering wheel clamping services on private property, the Government are considering whether any action on their part would be appropriate.

  Mr. T. S. Gill
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce his decision in respect to inquiries being made about Mr. T. S. Gill, No. C42698, of Featherstone prison, since March 1991.

  Mr. Jack
  My right hon. and learned Friend has decided to refer Mr. Gill's case to the Court of Appeal under section 17(1)(a) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968. I will write to the hon. Member.

  European Parliamentarians
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes the Government plans in the way Members of the European Parliament are elected in Great Britain or in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We have at present no plans to change the way in which Members of the European Parliament are elected in Great Britain or in Northern Ireland.

  Refugees
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Bosnian and Croatian refugees have been accepted in the United Kingdom to date.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  About 1,100 citizens of the former state of Yugoslavia have sought asylum in the United Kingdom between December 1991 and the end of June this year on the basis of claims associated with the various conflicts in that area. The large majority of these applications are still under consideration. Separate figures for the numbers from Bosnia or Croatia are not readily available.

  Race Relations
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made with the Commission for Racial Equality's investigation into treatment of psychiatric patients of different racial groups; what measures her Department has taken to support the CRE in its investigation; and whether she has been asked to authorise a notice under section 50 of the Race Relations Act 1976.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The CRE will be running a pilot study this month in a London psychiatric hospital to test the questionnaire and methodology for the former investigation.

  In September, 10 psychiatric hospitals nationwide will form the basis of the CRE's general formal investigation into the treatment of ethnic minority psychiatric patients.

  I have agreed to the appointment of an additional commissioner, Dr. Suman Fernando, a practising consultant psychiatrist, to assist in this general formal investigation.

  I have not been asked to authorise a notice under section 50 of the Race Relations Act 1976 in connection with this investigation.

  Dangerous Driving
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to increase the maximum penalty for causing death by dangerous driving and by careless driving while under the influence of drink and drugs.
  982
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Those whose dangerous or drunk driving has resulted in the tragic waste of another human life deserve to be punished accordingly. We are aware of public concern about the gravity of driving in a manner which causes fatal accidents and believe that the current maximum penalty of five years for these offences does not allow the courts adequately to reflect the seriousness of the worst cases. We intend, when parliamentary time permits, to increase the maximum penalty to 10 years.

  Prisoners (Early Release)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what directions he has given to the Parole Board as to the matters it should take into account when discharging its functions regarding the early release and recall of determinate sentenced prisoners under the Criminal Justice Act 1991.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have written to the chairman of the Parole Board to give him directions which the board should apply when considering the release and recall of prisoners. The directions are based on the need to protect the public from serious harm from offenders, the desirability of preventing further offending and of securing the offenders' rehabilitation. They will be applied to all parole-elegible prisoners from 1 October this year when part II of the Criminal Justice Act comes into effect.

  Copies of the letter and the directions will be made available in the Libraries of both the Houses.

  Feltham Remand Centre
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take to improve the regime in Feltham remand centre following the recent report from the Chief Inspector of Prisons on Feltham.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  In addition to the work already under way to tackle the issues raised by the chief inspector in his report on Feltham, I have decided to set up a working group with the following terms of reference:"To support and facilitate the enhancement of the regime at Feltham Remand Centre; to consider and plan for its long term future; and to make recommendations".

  The group will act to help the governor put into effect as quickly as possible his plans to enhance the regime at the remand centre. It will also look at wider issues such as experience and good practice elsewhere in relation to young remands; the remanding practices of courts in the Feltham catchment area; and the long-term future of the remand centre.

  Detainees
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were detained under Immigration Act powers(a) overnight, (b) between one night and one month and (c) for a period of more than one month in (i) Harmondsworth detention centre, (ii) the Queen's building Heathrow, (iii) terminal 4 Heathrow, (iv) The Beehive, Gatwick, (v) HM prison, Haslar and (vi) and other establishments, by name, during (1) 1991 and (2) 1992 to the latest convenient date; and of these people, how many in each category were (A) women, (B) children under 18 years of age and (C) men.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  [holding answer 3 July 1992]: The information readily available relates to the total number of

  983
  persons whose detention spanned at least one night. and is given in the table. Information on the length of the period of detention, the numbers of persons detained at locations other than those listed, and the numbers of women, children and men detained, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Persons detained overnight or longer at certain locations1

  Location

  1991 (year)

  1992 (January to May)

  Harmondsworth2

  1,119

  192

  Queen's Building, Heathrow

  2,253

  928

  Terminal 4, Heathrow

  2,058

  653

  The Beehive, Gatwick

  2,897

  1,557

  Haslar

  519

  143

  1 Unless otherwise stated, the data include persons initially detained elsewhere prior to being detained at the location given.

  2 Data mainly exclude persons initially detained elsewhere, and exclude illegal entrants and deportees detained.

  Asylum
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will provide a breakdown by nationality of the number of passengers seeking political asylum who were detained under Immigration Act powers in 1991 in(a) prison department establishments arid (b) immigration detention accommodation.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave on 7 July,Official Report, columns 133–34.

  Water Pistols
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to ban the import and sale of high-powered water pistols; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  I have been asked to reply.

  There is no reason to believe that the high-powered water pistols currently on sale pose any undue safety hazards when used as intended. I do not propose to introduce a ban on their import or sale.

  Bailiffs
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take the necessary action to make it a criminal offence for convicted criminals(a) to own, (b) to be directors of, (c) to be employed by or (d) to seek employment by a business operating as bailiffs.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government has no plans to introduce a series of such offences. The Lord Chancellor's Department requires high standards of those who are recruited as county court bailiffs. Applicants are required to give information about previous convictions. The Department's policy is not to recruit or retain as a baliff any person with a criminal conviction which could conflict with his or her role as officer of the court. Applicants for certification under the distress for rent rules are required to disclose any convictions. The circuit judge dealing with the application would take this into account when considering whet her to grant a certificate.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Departmental Objectives
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the President of The Board of Trade if he will set out the objectives of each division and branch of his Department.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The current objectives of the various parts of the Department are set out in the HMSO publications "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1992–93 to 1994–95" for Trade and Industry—Cm 1904—and for Energy—Cm 1905. I announced on 3 July my plans for reorganising the combined Department. These plans include the introduction of the management information system for Ministers—MINIS—system of objective-setting and resource allocation. The first MINIS round will be completed by next spring, and the results—which will show the objectives of each division—will be placed in the Library.

  Whales
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he proposes to introduce a labelling scheme identifying products which contain material derived from whales.

  Mr. Leigh
  No.

  Pyramid Selling
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many breaches of pyramid selling regulations were prosecuted during 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 15 July 1992]: None.

  Post Office
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what performance standards his Department has set for the Post Office in the past 12 months.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 15 July 1992]: The Post Office at present sets its own performance standards having consulted the Post Office Users National Council. For 1991–92, for example, Royal Mail successfully delivered 89·8 per cent. of first-class letters the next day, against a target of 87·2 per cent. For 1992–93, the target is 90·5 per cent. The Government proposed, however, in the citizens charter White Paper that performance standards should in future be set by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, who will be advised by the proposed new, independent, advisory regulator. The regulator will also monitor Post Office performance against these targets. These changes will require legislation.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what new information has been provided about compensation and redress when Post Office service falls below standard; and how this information has been made available to the public;

  (2) when he last reviewed the Post Office compensation arrangements; and how frequently he intends to review them in the future.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 15 July 1992]: In line with the citizens charter, the Post Office was ked to carry out

  985
  an urgent review of its redress schemes in consultation with the Post Office Users National Council. The Post Office, together with POUNC, reported in February this year. They agreed to a number of improvements which are now being implemented. The then Secretary of State, in a reply to a question from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield, (Mr. Burden) welcomed the reports—20 February 1992, Official Report, columns 262–63. In future, the Government also intend to introduce legislation to take powers for the Secretary of State to approve the Post Office's arrangements for compensation and redress, on advice on the proposed new independent advisory regulator. In the meantime, the Government will continue to review the Post Office's redress schemes from time to time as necessary.

  Information on compensation and redress is provided to the public in a number of different ways. The Post Office's commitment to consumer care and details of contact points etcetra were set out in its leaflet "Putting the Customer First", of which 750,000 leaflets were distributed, mainly through post offices, in spring this year. Information on compensation and redress is also set out in the new "Post Guide", which is now being distributed to every household in the country on a rolling basis during the course of this year. The detailed rules are set out in codes of practice for the three Post Office businesses—Royal Mail, Counters and Parcelforce. The codes are all available at post offices.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to introduce a new independent regulator to advise him on issues affecting the interests of Post Office customers.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 15 July 1992]: Legislation to give effect to the Government's proposed reforms of the structure of postal services, including the appointment of an independent advisory regulator, will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time allows.

  British Goods and Services
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are his Department's objectives in promoting the sale of British goods and services.

  Mr. Leigh
  At home, my Department's objective is to help British businesses to produce competitive goods and services. Overseas, my Department's export promotion activities are aimed at increasing the United Kingdom's earnings, thus strengthening the United Kingdom's economic base.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans his Department has to extend the buy British goods campaign.

  Mr. Leigh
  My Department has no buy British goods campaign. Such a campaign would be in conflict with the Government's free market policies. However, Ministers often point out the advantages of buying British goods and services where they are competitive in design, quality and price.

  Animal Testing
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will seek to persuade his EC partners to agree to phase out testing of cosmetics on animals; and if he will make a statement.
  986
  Mr. Leigh
  The United Kingdom has called upon the European Community to set 1998 as a target date for the replacement of all skin and eye irritancy tests subject to there being validated non-animal alternatives. The Government is sympathetic to phasing out all animal testing for cosmetics where suitable validated alternatives are available.

  Export Controls
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals the Trade Council expects to receive from the Commission on the harmonisation of extra-European Community export controls during the United Kingdom presidency.

  Mr. Needham
  I expect to receive proposals shortly from the European Commission on the harmonisation of export controls on dual-use goods.

  Compliance Costs
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the subjects of compliance cost assessments carried out since the publication of the White Paper, "Building Businesses Not Barriers".

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  Compliance cost assessments—CCAs—are prepared for all policy proposals likely to affect business. A central list of CCAs going back to 1986 does not exist, and would require disproportionate time and effort to produce. Since 1989, details of new CCAs prepared by Departments have been published every six months. Currently the list appears in "Business Briefing", the weekly magazine of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce. CCAs are currently being produced by the Government at a rate of over 50 per annum. The deregulation unit is planning to set up a computerised database of CCAs.

  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will institute a review of the effectiveness of the compliance cost assessment system operated by his deregulation unit.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The effectiveness of the compliance cost assessment system is kept under continuous review by the unit.

  Civil Servants (Shares)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what guidance, other than the civil service pay and conditions of service code and the establishment officers' guide, his Department provides relating to civil servants' shareholdings; if he will list the number of occasions within the last five years on which civil servants have reported shareholdings to establishment officers in his Department; what regulations apply to the staff of the next steps agencies within his Department; what mechanisms are in place to prevent potential conflicts of interest; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department provides standing guidance supplemented from time to time by internal notices to all staff. The latest notice on shareholdings was issued in February 1991. Staff, including those in the Department's agencies, are required to report any possible conflict of interest to their senior line managers. Separate
  987
  arrangements exist for the full disclosure of the financial interests of the most senior grades. In addition, all heads of management units are required to consider the potential for conflicts of interest within their area of responsibility, to provide, if necessary, specific guidance, with detailed reporting requirements and to take action in response to any disclosure of shareholdings by staff, to ensure that conflicts of interest do not occur.

  Trade Marks
  Dame Angela Rumbold
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the effect on British industry of the application of the registration of trade marks in Germany.

  Mr. Leigh
  My Department is not aware of any general problem for British industry in respect of the registration of trade marks in Germany.

  Dame Angela Rumbold
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to ensure harmonisation across the Community countries for registration of trade marks during the United Kingdom presidency.

  Mr. Leigh
  An EC directive to harmonise substantive provisions of trade marks laws was adopted in 1988. It requires member states to bring their laws into line with its provisions by the end of 1992. In the United Kingdom, we have prepared the necessary legislation, but the Bill is still awaiting a place in the parliamentary timetable. Implementation by other member states is a matter for them, and not the presidency; we understand that. by the end of last year, three of them—Denmark, France and Spain—had passed new legislation in order to implement the directive.

  Dame Angela Rumbold
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the Community Trade Marks Office will be established.

  Mr. Leigh
  Progress on the regulation to establish the Community Trade Marks Office—CTMO—has been held up for some years, primarily because of the difficulty of securing agreement on the location of the office. This question has become linked with that of the seats of other EC bodies, and any decision will almost certainly be on a package of such seats. We will, however, be pushing hard during the United Kingdom presidency to try to reach agreement on all the other outstanding issues on the regulation, so that the regulation can come into force as soon as a decision is reached on location. The Commission has said that it expects the CTMO to come into operation around two years after the regulation comes into force.

  European Space Agency
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the British contribution to the European Space Agency, the Hermes spaceplane and the Columbus project, in each of the last five financial years, together with the projection for the current year; if he will express these figures as a percentage of the total expenditure and of the German contribution; and if he will also express the annual British contribution in standard prices.

  Mr. Leigh
  United Kingdom contributions in each of the last five financial years and projected contribution in 1992–93 are:
  988

  ESA

  £ million

  Historic prices

  1992–93 prices

  Hermes

  Columbus

  1987–88

  81

  112

  0

  5

  1988–89

  90

  116

  0

  8

  1989–90

  88

  106

  0

  6

  1990–91

  94

  105

  0

  7

  1991–92

  100

  105

  0

  11

  1992–93

  100

  100

  0

  13

  ESA accounts on a calendar year basis. The following percentages are therefore on that basis:

  United Kingdom contribution as a percentage of:

  ESA total expenditure

  German contribution

  1987

  12

  49

  1988

  8

  37

  1989

  7

  31

  1990

  6

  23

  1991

  6

  27

  Net Book Agreement
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the European Court's decision on the net book agreement.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  Until I have seen the text of the court's ruling, I cannot comment on it.

  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will now refer the net book agreement to the Office of Fair Trading.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The net book agreement falls within the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976 and as such is a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading to consider.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are his plans during the United Kingdom presidency of the EC for promoting deregulation both at a Community level and in member states' implementation of EC directives.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  During the United Kingdom presidency of the Community, the Government plan to introduce a resolution at the Industrial Affairs Council aimed at strengthening the Commission's fiche d'impact system of assessing the costs to business of Community legislation and encouraging the Commission to consult business more fully before proposing legislation. We will continue to attach importance to prompt implementation of Community directives by member states. In the United Kingdom, we will continue to press the Departments responsible to implement Community directives on time and with the minimum possible burden to business.

  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how he proposes to ensure that the work of the deregulation liaison Minister in each Department is monitored and that an overall view of the Government's achievements in the field of deregulation is brought together; and if he will publish an annual report of those achievements.
  989
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  Progress under the deregulation initiative in all regulatory departments is co-ordinated and monitored by the deregulation unit in the Department of Trade and Industry. As the Minister with particular responsibility for the initiative, I take an active lead in liaising with deregulation Ministers in other Departments. Reports of progress and announcements are made regularly; the most recent such announcement was on 18 February,Official Report, columns 122–25. As stated by the Prime Minister on 19 May, Official Report, column 113, there is a ministerial committee on industrial, commercial and consumer affairs whose terms of reference are
  "to consider industrial, commercial and consumer issues, including questions of competition and deregulation".

  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what visits he has made to his EC counterparts in each member state to discuss deregulation matters since 18. April; what agreements came out of such meetings; and what plans he has for making further progress in deregulation matters during the United Kingdom's presidency of the EC.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  I and my ministerial colleagues have met our EC counterparts and European Commissioners on a number of occasions since 18 April. The importance of minimising the burdens on business of community legislation was emphasised in relevant meetings. During the United Kingdom presidency, I and my colleagues will attach great importance to making progress on minimising burdens on business.

  European Atomic Energy Agency
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to bring forward proposals during the United Kingdom presidency of the European Council to reduce the secrecy stipulations in article 194 of the treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Agency.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Commission has the exclusive right to bring forward proposals in the fields covered by the treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community. We are not aware that the Commission has any plans to make proposals in respect of article 194.

  Hospital Radio
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what conclusions his Department has drawn from recent tests concerning hospital radio receiving its own frequency;

  (2) what progress has been made in securing an individual frequency for hospital radio.

  Mr. Leigh
  My Department—the Radiocommunications Agency—and the Radio Authority have recently completed the pilot experiment at East Surrey hospital. Redhill. The Radiocommunications Agency and the Radio Authority are meeting shortly to reach conclusions on the results of the experiment and discuss future plans for hospital radio.

  Property Misdescriptions Act 1991
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the progress which has been made in drafting the orders which arise under the 990
  terms of the Property Misdescriptions Act 1991; if he will indicate when he expects the drafts of the proposed orders to be published; and when he intends to lay the proposed orders before the House.

  Mr. Leigh
  My Department circulated a draft Property Misdescriptions (Specified Matters) Order for public consultation last December. The proposed order is being redrafted in the light of responses to the consultation, and my hon. and noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Consumer Affairs and Small Firms intends to lay it before Parliament as soon as possible.

  European Year of the Elderly
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for his Department to celebrate the European Year of the Elderly in 1993; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Prime Minister on 13 July,Official Report, columns 430–31.

  Shipbuilding
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with representatives of the United Kingdom shipbuilding industry on the current EC proposals to aid shipyards in east Germany; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I discussed the EC proposals to aid the east German shipbuilding industry during a meeting with a delegation from the Shipbuilders and Shiprepairers Association on 24 June.

  RECHAR
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what payment has been received this year under the RECHAR programme; and when arrangements will be completed to allow RECHAR grants to be paid.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  For the RECHAR programmes, the United Kingdom has so far this year received payments of £33,793,000 from the European regional development fund.

  The approval of projects is the responsibility of the programme monitoring committees, which are now meeting. Arrangements are in place for RECHAR grants to be paid in respect of approved projects once the normal conditions for payment have been met.

  Bicycles
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on circumvention of the generalised system of preferences tariff by Asian bicycle companies.

  Mr. Needham
  Although this is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Paymaster General, I have agreed to reply.

  A number of investigations have been carried out by Customs and Excise to verify that bicycles coming from Asian countries have been manufactured in accordance with the rules of origin of the generalised system of preferences. No evidence has been found of circumvention. Customs continues to monitor imports to ensure that correct rates of duty are imposed.
  991
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has any plans to review the European Community policy whereby Chinese bicycles enjoyed generalised system of preferences duty free status; if he has any plans to impose anti-dumping duties on Chinese and Taiwanese bicycles; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  The operation of the European Community's generalised system of preferences scheme is due for review this year. The concerns of the bicycle manufacturers, along with those of other sectors of industry, will be considered during discussions in the Community. I have no plans to impose anti-dumping duties on Chinese and Taiwanese bicycles, since such action is a matter of Community competence. The European Commission is currently carrying out an anti-dumping investigation into imports of these bicycles.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many bicycles were imported from(a) China and (b) Taiwan in (i) 1990 and (ii) 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  The number of bicycles imported into the United Kingdom from China and Taiwan in 1990 and 1991 were as follows:

  1990

  1991

  China

  100,983

  141,874

  Taiwan

  694,032

  657,738

  I have nothing to add to my earlier replies on this subject.

  European Funds
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the United Kingdom's contribution to(a) the EC European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund, guidance section, (b) the European social fund and (c) the European regional development fund; and what was the United Kingdom receipt, by region, of these funds for the current year.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Member states contribute to the EC budget as a whole rather than individual parts of it. The United Kingdom's share of contributions in 1992 is forecast to be around 17 per cent. before abatement. Forecast structural funds receipts in 1992 for the EC as a whole and for the United Kingdom are shown in the table. Figures showing receipts by regions of the United Kingdom are not readily available.

  Forecast Structural Funds Receipts for 1992

  £ million

  Total EC

  United Kingdom

  (A) European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund Guidance Section

  1,874

  80

  (B) European Social Fund

  3,370

  411

  (C) European Regional Development Fund

  5,302

  458

  Total Structural Funds

  10,546

  949

  Agencies
  Mr. Milligan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what targets he has set the National Engineering Laboratory agency for 1992–93.
  992
  Mr. Heseltine
  When the National Engineering Laboratory was launched as an executive agency in October 1990, it was set the longer-term target of recovering its full economic costs through arm's length contracts from customers by 1994–95. I congratulate the chief executive and his staff on the excellent progress they have made towards meeting this target.

  In addition to building on the position reached in respect of the above target, the agency has been set the following targets for 1992–93:
  Non-Department of Trade and Industry income as a proportion of full economic costs to grow by 10 per cent. compared with the results for 1991–92—as published in the agency's annual report 1991.
  Fee earning hours on "arm's length" contracts, as a proportion of all hours, to increase by 10 per cent. compared with the published results for 1991–92.
  Fee earning hours on "arm's length" contracts, as a proportion of available engineer hours to increase by 7 per cent. compared with the published results for 1991–92. Per capita office space to reduce by 10 per cent. compared with 1991–92.
  By 1 October 1992 to introduce a concise contract-completion questionnaire, to provide systematic feedback from all clients of all technical centres as part of NEL's commitment to deliver to its clients the standard of service they require.
  To train at least 60 per cent. of staff in six of the basic competences they will require for operating in a commercial environment.

  Mr. Milligan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what targets he has set the National Weights and Measures Laboratory agency for 1992–93.

  Mr. Leigh
  The agency has been set the following key targets for 1992–93:

  to operate within its current expenditure budget;

  to achieve the specific objectives set out in its 1992–93 to 1995–96 corporate plan, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House in April this year;

  to reduce the unit cost of a programme-hour by 1·5 per cent. in real terms.

  The agency is also required to meet a number of other targets, including quality of service targets. Its achievements against these last year will appear in its annual report 1991–92, which is due to be published shortly.

  These targets will be subject to annual review.

  Mr. Milligan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what targets he has set the Insolvency Service executive agency for 1992–93.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The Insolvency Service expects to deal with about 36,000 new insolvencies in 1992–93 and against this background I look to it to preserve the very considerably efficiency gains it has already achieved. The service will continue to bring proceedings for the disqualification of directors of failed companies where these are in the public interest, and to submit prosecution reports where there is evidence of criminal behaviour.

  The quality of service targets for 1992–93 are:

  to report to creditors on assets and liabilities within nine weeks in at least 75 per cent. of all cases.

  to hold the initial meeting of creditors within 12 weeks in at least 80 per cent. of all cases.

  to check and action at least 95 per cent. of payment requisitions within 10 days or by the due date.

  to submit reports within 10 months in at least 80 per cent. of cases where there is evidence of criminality.

  to submit disqualification reports within 15 months in at least 80 per cent. of cases where there is evidence of unfit conduct by directors.

  I have set it a target of completing the administration of at least 24,000 cases in 1992–93.
  993
  I would like to congratulate the chief executive and his staff on their success last year in handling a considerably increased workload whilst managing to achieve most of their targets. For 1992–93, I have asked the chief executive to ensure a consolidation of the productivity gains already made. At the same time I have raised the target for a reduction in real terms of the average unit cost of the initial stage for bankruptcies and liquidations to 45 per cent. over the period 1990–91 to 1992–93.

  Mr. Milligan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what targets have been set for the Companies House executive agency for 1992–93.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The chief executive of Companies House has been set the following quality of service and financial performance targets:

  to make all documents available for public inspection within a maximum of five working days of receipt in Companies House;

  to provide a two-hour search service for all customers, and to provide a one hour search service to all customers by April 1994;

  to achieve a compliance rate for companies filing accounts and annual returns of 86 per cent. by June 1993 and 90 per cent. by June 1994;

  to reduce real unit costs by 2 per cent. in 1992–93;

  to achieve a 6 per cent. average annual return in the form of an operating surplus expressed as a percentage of average net assets employed at current values.

  Executive agency status has led to significant improvements in efficiency and in the standard of service provided to Companies House's customers. The adoption of trading fund status last October has further increased the quality and flexibility of the agency's financial management, placing its finances on a more commercial footing.

  The targets which I have set are designed to ensure that Companies House builds on these improvements in its performance, by requiring further increases in efficiency and improvements in the rate of compliance.

  Urban Regeneration Agency
  Mr. Milligan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what will be the relationship between English Estates and the proposed new Urban Regeneration Agency.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I greatly value the work English Estates does in the assisted areas and elsewhere to ensure the provision of premises and sites for new and growing businesses. I see great advantage in bringing this role within the remit of the new Urban Regeneration Agency.My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and I have, therefore, agreed that the activities of English Estates should be subsumed within the new agency when it is set up.

  Counterfeit Goods
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in dealing with the problems of counterfeit consumer goods; and if he will give the latest estimate of the cost to the manufacturing industry of this illicit trade.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Government's role in combating counterfeiting is limited to providing the necessary legislative framework. Around three years ago, provisions 994
  came into force making the counterfeiting of a trade mark a criminal offence carrying heavy penalties. The enforcement of the law is the responsibility of local trading standard officers, who may act either on their own initiative or on intelligence from industry. There is also the possibility for industry to take civil action against counterfeiting. The Government have no figures of their own as to the extent of the trade in counterfeit consumer goods.

  Electricity
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many people were employed in the electricity division of the Department of Energy on 1 July 1990.

  Mr. Eggar
  One hundred and thirteen people were employed in the Department's electricity divisions as at 1 July 1990.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will seek to amend legislation so as to allow electricity companies to establish that premises are lawfully occupied before being compelled to connect supply.

  Mr. Eggar
  The obligation to supply electricity derives from section 16 of the Electricity Act 1989. Any dispute arising under that section may be referred to the Director General of Electricity Supply. The Government have no plans to amend this legislation.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consultations he has had with the Director General of Electricity Supply concerning his decision of 7 July on the target real rate of return on assets and annual maximum price change formula on domestic electricity prices via the cost passed through mechanism.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 13 July 1992]: I have consultations with the Director General of Electricity Supply from time to time on a range of issues. Licence conditions, including the price controls, are a matter for the director general.

  Nuclear Power
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the impact of the coal privatisation programme on the competitive position of Sizewell B with regard to the merit order; what further consultations he has had with the EC competition directorate general concerning the applicability of(a) the existing nuclear operating agreement and (b) the nuclear levy payments to Sizewell B in the period 1994 to 1998, (c) extension of life of the Magnox stations and (d) extension of life of the nuclear levy beyond 1998; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The capacity and output from Sizewell B is included in Nuclear Electric's contract with the regional electricity companies, which expires on 31 March 1998. The treatment of Sizewell B by the appropriate regulatory authorities will be no different from that of Nuclear Electric's existing stations. The commercial arrangements relating to Nuclear Electric's operations up to 1998, including Sizewell B, were notified to the European Commission in March 1990 under state aid notification procedures.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what assessment he has made of the impact on
  995
  eastern bloc and European nuclear safety of the $100 million fund set up at the Group of Seven to cover retrofitting Soviet-designed nuclear power stations;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the conclusions of the G7 summit meeting on Soviet-designed eastern bloc nuclear reactor safety problems and Group of 24 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development retrofit safety programmes and the British nuclear industry contribution to those programmes.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 13 July 1992]: I welcome these important conclusions, which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister referred to in his statement to the House on 13 July 1992. As he explained, the G7 countries have given support to a multilateral programme of action to improve the safety of Soviet-designed nuclear power plants in the former Soviet Union and central and eastern Europe. The programme aims to achieve significant improvements in the short-term in operational safety and in strengthening regulatory regimes in those countries. A supplementary multilateral mechanism, details of which have still to he settled, will be set up to fund necessary short-term safety improvements which are not adequately covered by bilateral programmes of assistance.

  At the same time, the programme lays the foundation for longer-term safety improvements by setting in train energy studies covering replacement sources of energy and the scope for, and cost implications of, upgrading nuclear plants of more recent design.

  The G7 countries have urged other interested states to contribute to the programme. The group of 24 OECD countries—G24—will co-ordinate this assistance through existing but strengthened procedures. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will assist in the administration of the multilateral fund in close liaison with the G24 and will report on the potential financial requirements for future energy supplies.

  The British nuclear industry is already playing an active part in bilateral and international assistance programmes and I expect it to make an enhanced contribution within the framework of the multilateral programme which has now been agreed.

  EC Structural Funds
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 6 July,Official Report, column 27, about the future of the EC structural funds, how he defines "appropriate" priority.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The first priority for the European regional development fund is clearly objective 1. The Government consider that objective 2 comes next and should be given clear priority over other operations by this fund.

  Multi-level Marketing
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will bring forward proposals to require all multi-level marketing associations to belong to an organisation enforcing the standards of the Fair Trading Act 1973.

  Mr. Leigh
  No. I have not seen any evidence of the need for such a requirement.

  Offshore Licensing
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will make it his policy to withdraw from the 14 round of offshore licences those blocks of the Pembrokeshire coast that are likely to impact on the Skomer marine nature reserve;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to withdraw from the 14 round of offshore licences those blocks in Cardigan bay which are likely to have impact on those areas which qualify for designation as special protection areas under the EC directive on the conservation of wild birds.

  Mr. Eggar
  Blocks to be offered in the second stage of the 14th round at the end of July are still under consideration. Potential impact on the environment will be taken into account before any blocks are released for licensing.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what environmental conditions are to be attached to exploration licences issued under the 14 offshore licensing round;

  (2) what consideration will be given to the likely effect on the marine environment in assessing licence applications during the 14 offshore licensing round;

  (3) whether he will withdraw from the 14 offshore licensing round those blocks which include marine sites of international nature conservation importance.

  Mr. Eggar
  My officials are currently finalising consultations with other Departments and interested parties to see which blocks can be offered for licence in the second stage of the round at the end of July. The Department of the Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department, fishing organisations, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds are among those consulted. Where blocks covering areas of environmental importance are offered, the offers will be subject to conditions. These conditions, as in 12th round awards, will reflect the nature and degree of concerns at issue on each block. In the 14th round companies will be asked to provide an environmental statement covering the proposed operators' policy towards environmental protection and this will form part of the criteria by which applications are judged.

  Economic Advice
  Mr. Milligan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what arrangements he is making for economic advice in his Department.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Dr. Walter Eltis, director general of the National Economic Development Office will be assisting me as my chief economic adviser on a part-time basis until his appointment as director general comes to an end on 31 December 1992 and thereafter on a full-time basis.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Milligan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will respond to the fourth report from the Energy Select Committee of Session 1991–92, on renewable energy.
  997
  Mr. Eggar
  I have today placed a copy of the Government's response to the Energy Select Committee report on renewable energy in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 14 May,Official Report, column 169, if he will break down the figures provided by (a) private sector, (b) generating boards and (c) the European Commission.

  Mr. Eggar
  The answer can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Fine Animal Hair Goods
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what specific steps he proposes to take to ensure that all member states honour the terms of the China/EC bilateral treaty, as it relates to the shipment of fine animal hair goods against agreed quotas; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make it his policy that any proven over-shipment of fine animal hair goods from China in the last five years will be compensated for in the round of negotiations leading to a new bilateral EC/China treaty to take effect in January 1993;

  (3) if he will create a separate sub-limit exclusive to cashmere fibre within the next agreement with China on fine animal hair goods;

  (4) what steps he is taking to address difficulties relating to trade in fine animal hair goods from the Republic of Mongolia.

  Mr. Needham
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

  Libya (Sanctions)
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, in relation to the application by Leppid Ace International Ltd., of King street, Twickenham, to export 5,000 handcuffs, and 1,000 wooden truncheons, helmets, anti-riot shields and field suits to Libya for use by the Libyan police, such exports are consistent with the United Nations resolutions on sanctions; what advice has been given by the United Nations as to whether the Libyan police are paramilitary in this context; whether the United Nations resolution is mandatory or discretionary; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what measures the Government are taking to change the small firms loan guarantee scheme to meet their needs in 1992;

  (2) what discussions he has had with external organisations regarding the future of the small firms loan guarantee scheme since 9 April;

  (3) for each year of the operation of the small firms loan guarantee scheme what is (a) the number of companies assisted in that year which had by April gone into receivership and (b) the sum paid out to the lending banks under that scheme;

  (4) how many firms have received money through the small firms loan guarantee scheme each financial year since its inception in 1981;
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  (5) what was the total sum guaranteed through the small firms loan guarantee scheme in each financial year from its inception in 1981.

  Mr. Leigh
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

  Export Licence Fraud
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) of 6 July,Official Report, column 28, what plans he has to pursue further the issue of fraudulent export control licence documentation with Mr. Tim Kelsey.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 14 July 1992]: As I informed the House on 8 July, I had already asked Mr. Kelsey, through his editor, to supply any evidence he had about the fraudulent use of end-user certificates so that my Department might follow up his allegations. He has not done so.

  Thermal Measurement Ltd.
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he received the letter from the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth dated 27 April about Thermal Measurement Ltd.; when it was transferred to the Department of the Environment; when he notified the hon. Member of the transfer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 14 July 1992]: My hon. Friend wrote to me on 27 April. The letter was received on 29 April. Following advice from officials, the case was transferred to the Department of the Environment since it fell within their areas of responsibility. My hon. Friend was informed of this in a letter of 7 July. I understand that my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State replied to my hon. Friend on 14 July. I regret the delay in dealing with this case.

  Orimulsion
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much orimulsion was imported in each year since 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 15 July 1992]: Imports of orimulsion in each year were:

  thousand tonnes

  1989

  47

  1990

  156

  1991

  465

  Relocation
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the number of civil servants in his Department who could be relocated to provincial centres as part of the policy of devolving and decentralising Government Departments.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 13 July 1992]: I am currently reviewing the location of London-based DTI staff, but I expect there to be only limited potential for further relocation. Over 50 per cent. of DTI staff are already located outside London.

  Cashmere
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will urge all member states to(a) honour the China-EC bilateral treaty negotiated in their name as members of the European Community, (b) provide compensation by reduction of units equivalent to the ownership of cashmere from the next round of negotiations with China due to commence in September this year for the implementation in January 1993, (c) create a separate sub-limit exclusive to cashmere within the agreement, and (d) recognise that the same problems apply to future negotiations with Mongolia.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 15 July 1992]: I will write to the right hon. Gentleman.

  Environment Awards
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the countries and projects, respectively, that won the European better environment awards for industry this year.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have been asked to reply.

  First prizes this year went to:
  Good environmental management category—Techagri M, Srl, of Italy, for an integrated scheme, involving farmers and other sections of food production, that makes use of recycled by-products, to reduce greatly any need for chemical fertilisers.
  Clean technology category—Shell International Chemie Maatschappij BV, the Netherlands, for a catalytic system to clean up poisonous gaseous oxides of nitrogen (NOx) from industrial exhausts.
  Eco product category—Papeteries MatussiCre et Forest, of Lyon, for a technological breakthrough in recycled paper.
  Recovery of waste category—Hovione Socieda Quimica, of Portugal, for a treatment plant at an antibiotics factory to recover solvent waste chemicals. Highly recommended award winners were:
  Good environmental management—BP Exploration, UK, for the good management of its on-shore Southern England oil-field—Wytch Farm, Dorset.
  Clean technology category—A combined British entry from the University of York and Contract Chemicals Ltd. for a new form of catalyst based on clay that has large potential to improve, environmentally, a range of chemical processes.
  Eco product category—BP Chemicals, UK, for a new airfield runway de-icer that does no harm to fish or other life when it runs off into water-courses.
  Recovery of waste category-a process for recycling scrap motor car tyres into useful material, from the Dutch firm, Vredestein Icopro BV.
  Technology transfer category, for technologies that can be transferred to third world countries—the French operation, GPS Salt Producers and Organisation/Univers-Sel, that enables villagers in west Africa to recover salt without the need to burn timber.

  Human Rights Ethics
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy for the human rights ethics of a country to be taken into consideration prior to permitting trade between that country and Britain.

  Mr. Needham
  I will write to the hon. Lady.

  Disclosure of Information
  Mr. Duncan-Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to end unnecessary secrecy and to promote openness in his Department.
  1000
  Mr. Heseltine
  My officials are taking part in an interdepartmental review of restrictions on disclosure of information and will consider the scope for any relaxation in the present arrangements.

WALES

  European Year of the Elderly
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for his Department to celebrate in 1993, the European Year of the Elderly; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Welsh Office will, of course, participate in events being organised at the UK level and we will also consider proposals for events in Wales as appropriate.

  Ozone-Depleting Chemicals
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many times the Government have utilised the powers to prevent emissions of ozone-depleting substances from industrial processes since the passing into law of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Environment on 15 July.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to introduce a mandatory recovery scheme for the recycling of CFCs.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to him today by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside.

  Local Government
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received which advocate the maintenance of each district council in Mid-Glamorgan in their present form; and if he will break the figures down according to current district council areas.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend has received no representations advocating the maintenance of each district council in Mid-Glamorgan in their present form. There is widespread support, in Mid-Glamorgan as elsewhere, for replacement of the present district councils and county councils by unitary authorities.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will extend the role of community dentists to include patients who are currently denied access to general dental practitioners who refuse to treat national health service patients.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The community dental service is obliged to provide facilities for a full range of treatment to patients who have experienced difficulty in obtaining treatment in the general dental service.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a list of those family health services
  1001
  authorities in Wales that have contacted his Department to express concern as to their inability to provide national health service dental services due to the shortage of dentists willing to be employed on family health services authority pay scales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  No family health services authority in Wales has, to date, expressed concern to the Department that it would be unable to recruit salaried dentists.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the effect of the current dispute on the time taken for people to obtain dental treatment.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The time taken for people to obtain dental treatment will vary from area to area according to local circumstances. If patients are unable to obtain treatment within a reasonable period they should approach their family health services authority for assistance.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library the criteria each family health services authority in Wales uses to measure cross-infection rates in dental surgeries.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The measuring of cross-infection rates is a matter for each family health services authority. Information on techniques used by individual authorities is not held centrally. However, guidance on cross-infection control is issued by the Department from time to time and I refer to the answer which was given to the hon. Gentleman on 10 July 1991,Official Report, column 388.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of dentists in Wales in the national health service and that number as a percentage of dentists in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Provisional figures as at 30 September 1991 show that there were 832 dentists in the general dental service in Wales. This represented 4·5 per cent. of the United Kingdom figure of 18,621.

  As at 30 September 1990, the latest information available, there were 292—207·9 whole-time equivalent—dentists in the hospital and community dental services. This represented 6·2 per cent. of the United Kingdom figure of 4,676, or 6·5 per cent. of the whole-time equivalent of 3,182·2.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps towards the withdrawal of the consultation document, "Improving the Effectiveness of Housing Association Development and Management".

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  No.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will continue to encourage housing associations to discuss with potential tenants their housing designs before commencing new build;

  (2) if he intends to permit housing associations to continue to place contracts with builders for (a)10 units, (b)10 to 20 units, (c)20 to 30 units, (d)30 to 40 units and (e)40 to 50 units;
  1002
  (3) if he has any plans to reduce the provision of housing association new build in rural areas by introducing a minimum threshold number of new units to be contracted for in a limited geographical area;

  (4) if he has any plans to introduce changes in the operation of housing associations that would reduce the percentage of new build provided by small builders.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  These are matters for Housing for Wales to consider in the first instance. The board has just issued a relevant consultation document entitled, "Improving the Effectiveness of Housing Association Development and Management.

  Oystermouth Bus Station
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales for what reason he decided to call in the planning application for the Oystermouth bus station, Swansea.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The application raises matters of more than local significance.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has visited the site of the proposed development at the Oystermouth bus station, Swansea.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  No.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the way in which his Department has dealt with the two planning applications for the development of land at the Oystermouth bus station, Swansea.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Both applications have been dealt with in accordance with the statutory procedures.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many times he has agreed to an extension of time for the applicant to negotiate with Swansea city council on the proposed development at Oystermouth bus station, Swansea, after he had first called in the application.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Twice.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will announce a date by which he will decide whether to order a public inquiry into the current planning application to develop the Oystermouth bus station, Swansea.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  A decision on whether to hold a public inquiry will be made in the near future.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will indicate in relation to the current application before Swansea city council for planning consent at the Oystermouth bus station(a) the dates of any meetings he has had with any objectors, (b) those present at the meetings, (c) the dates of any meetings his officials have had with any objectors, (d) those present at the meetings with officials and (e) the number of representations he has had for the application to be called in; if he will place copies of the representations in (e) the Library; and when he made the decision to call in the application.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Several representations have been made including 15 in writing. It is not normal practice to
  1003
  place copies of representations on call-in references in the Library of the House. A decision to call in the application was made on 9 July 1992.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions his officials have had on the current planning application regarding the Oystermouth bus station, Swansea with officials of Swansea city council.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  None apart from a response to a request from officers of Swansea city council on 10 July 1992 about any additional information required as a result of the call-in direction.

  Environmental Protection Act 1990
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many industrial process operators have yet to apply for Environmental Protection Act 1990 authorisation in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The responsibility for implementing the provisions of part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in Wales is split between Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and district councils. HMIP is responsible for dealing with applications for integrated pollution control from those industrial processes with generally a greater potential for pollution while district councils administer air pollution control over the less polluting processes.

  These new controls are being phased in over a period of time—applications may be made up to September 1992 for local authority processes and to January 1996 for HMIP processes—and it would not be possible to estimate at this stage how many outstanding applications have yet to be made.

  Any process operator who does not apply for authorisation within the allocated time is liable to prosecution.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what visits he has made to his EC counterparts in each member state to discuss deregulation matters since 18April; what agreements came out of such meetings; and what plans he has for making further progress in deregulation matters during the United Kingdom presidency of the EC.

  Mr. David Hunt
  My Department is committed to easing, wherever appropriate, the regulatory burdens on

  Applications called-in 1989–90 (1 April 1989–March 1990)

  Proposed Development

  Call-in Date

  Subsequent Result

  Proposed Porthcawl Marina Grid Reference—SS 8200 7680

  24 April 1989

  Not yet determined

  Proposed Deeside Waterfront—SJ 2865 7112 to SJ 3092 7220

  17 April 1989

  Application withdrawn 15 June 1989

  Proposed Dwellings, Iand Adjacent to Eshowe, Wiston, Dvfed—SN0217 1807

  28 April 1989

  Permission refused 20 January 1989

  Proposed Tourism and Leisure Development, Glyn Rhonwy, Llanberis, Gwynedd—SH 5685 6080

  28 July 1989

  Application not received

  Proposed Flint By-Pass—SJ 2700—716

  16 Augudy 1989

  Permission refused 17 September 1990

  1004
  small businesses, especially through the deregulation initiative co-ordinated by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. I have made no visits to discuss deregulation with EC counterparts since 18 April.

  Unwanted Medicine
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he is planning to allow pharmacists to continue to make arrangements for the collection and disposal of unwanted medicines without having to complete consignment notes giving a description of the waste, its chemical constituents and their concentrations and total quantity and source.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Pharmacists receiving unwanted medicines are subject to a wide range of waste management controls including a requirement to complete consignment notes. Representations from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain on the controls that apply to the disposal of unwanted medicines are being considered in the context of the review of the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980.

  Housing for Wales
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a list of any new appointments he has made during the last 12 months to the board of Housing for Wales, together with the name of the persons or bodies that made the nomination, a summary of the experience of the nominees in housing matters and the date of appointment.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Planning Applications
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for each of the last three years in relation to every planning application he has called in for his own determination(a) the date he called them in, (b) the Ordnance Survey grid reference squares of the sites, (c) the precise reasons underlying his decisions to call them in and (d) the subsequent result of the decision.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is as follows. Decisions relating to applications for listed building consent are not included. All the applications were called in because it was considered that they raised matters of more than local significance.
  1005

  Proposed Development

  Call-in Date

  Subsequent Result

  Proposed Residential Development and Golf Course, Tymawr and Bailea Farms, Gilwern, Gwent—SO 2550- 1570

  23 February 1990

  Application not received

  Proposed conversion of Redundant Farm Buildings, into a residence, Runston Farm, Shirenewton, Gwent—ST 4943 9180

  4 December 1989

  Permission granted 20 December 1990

  Departure Applications

  Called-In

  Present Position

  1989–90

  Land adjoining Gilwern Park Roads and other side works for Industrial and commercial development—ST2580 1500

  26 May 1989

  Not yet determined

  Residential Development at Loo Choo Farm, Haverfordwest—SM 9415 1645

  27 July 1989

  Permission refused 1 August 1990

  Applications called-in 1990–91 (1 April 1990–31 March 1991)

  Proposed Development

  Call-in Date

  Subsequent Result

  Proposed Opencast Mining, Pwll Du, Blaenavon, Gwent

  7 June 1990

  Not yet determined

  Proposed Retail Park, Rhuddlan Road, Rhyl, Clwyd—SJ 0227 7952

  25 April 1990

  Permission granted 10 June 1991

  Proposed River Protection Work, Morfordian, Llanidloes, Powys—SN 9647 8557

  4 October 1990

  Not yet determined

  Proposed Wind Farm, Mynydd Cemaes, Cemaes, Powys SH 8700 0800

  22 November 1990

  Permission granted 19 September 1991

  Proposed Landfill Site, Pen-y-Bont, Chirk, Wrexham, Clwyd—SJ 2925 4165

  1 March 1991

  Application withdrawn 15 March 1991

  Proposed Diversion and Upgrading in parts of B4248 between Brynmawr and Blaenavon, Gwent

  6 December 1990

  Not yet determined

  Proposed Riverside Development, Caerleon, Newport, Gwent—ST 3450 9075

  6 February 1991

  Application withdrawn 15 May 1992

  Proposed Mixed Development, Oystermouth Bus Station, Mumbles, Swansea—SS 6160 8825

  25 March 1991

  Application withdrawn 12 March 1992

  Applications called-in 1991–92 (1 April 1991–31 March 1992)

  Proposed Development

  Call-in Date

  Subsequent Result

  Proposed Coal Storage and Screening Plant, Iand West of Griffin Valley, Pwll Du, Gwent—SO 2325 1150

  23 April 1991

  Not yet determined

  Proposed Refuse Disposal Site, Blaen Pig Void, Pwll Du Gwent—SO 2400 1150

  23 April 1991

  Not yet determined

  Proposed Extension, Masonic Hall, Tower Hill, Denbigh. Clwyd—SJ 6514 6602

  11 July 1991

  Application withdrawn 28 October 1991

  Proposed Extraction and Processing of Limestone, Cilyrychen, Quarry and Glangwenlais Quarry, Llandybie, Ammanford, Dyfed—SN6100 1650

  23 October 1991

  Application withdrawn 10 June 1992

  Proposed Oil and Gas Terminal, Point of Ayr, Talacre, Clwyd—SJ 1235 8390

  16 December 1991

  Not yet determined

  Proposed Workshop Unit and Car Track, Iand South of Newton Road, Wentloog, Cardiff—ST 2365 7833

  2 January 1992

  Application withdrawn 21 January 1992

  Proposed Conversion of former Coach House into 6 Self Contained Dwellings, Garthmyl Hall, Garthmyl, Welshpool. Powys—SO 1895 9890

  20 December 1991

  Not yet determined

  Departure Applications

  Called-In

  Present Position

  Croes Bleddyn Farm Itton Chepstow Golf Course and associated access road and Car Parking—ST 4915 9625

  7 February 1992

  Application withdrawn 31 March 1992

  P33/1482 Porthcasseg Farm St. Arvans, Chepstow 18 hole golf course—ST 5250 9770

  7 February 1992

  Application withdrawn 21 May 1992

  Clinical Waste
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the landfill waste disposal sites in Wales licensed to accept clinical waste.
  1006
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This information is not held centrally. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the district councils, which are responsible for licensing such sites.

  Environmental Protection Act
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many additional posts have been created by local authorities in Wales to undertake work under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The number of full-time equivalent manual and non-manual staff employed on environmental health by Welsh councils was 1,460 on March 1992, an increase of some 8 per cent. on the March 1991 figures.

  The Department does not have details of how this increase was distributed between the various environmental health functions.

  Departmental Objectives
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set out the objectives of each division and branch of his Department.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Welsh Office's broad objectives are set out in "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1992–93 to 1994–96: Departmental Report by the Welsh Office", Cm. 1916.

  Civil Servants (Shareholdings)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance, other than the civil service pay and conditions of service code and the establishment officers' guide, his Department provides relating to civil servants' shareholdings; if he will list the number of occasions within the last five years on which civil servants have reported shareholdings to establishment officers in his Department; what regulations apply to the staff of the next steps agencies within his Department; what mechanisms are in place to prevent potential conflicts of interest; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Guidance based on the civil service pay and conditions of service code covering the personal interests and conduct of civil servants, including the use of official knowledge for private gain, is contained in the Welsh Office handbook which is available to all staff. This instructs staff on the procedures to be followed when a potential conflict of interest arises. Staff are reminded of the guidance from time to time.

  Any self-reported or otherwise reported private interest, including shareholding, of a member of staff is considered and recorded in order to highlight a potential conflict of interest. If there is potential conflict, appropriate action is taken to avoid it. No record is kept of the number of such reports.

  The same arrangements apply to Cadw, the only next steps agency within the Welsh Office.

  Skin Cancer
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of deaths in each year from 1988 to 1991 attributable to skin cancer in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The number of registered deaths to residents of Wales in each year from 1988 to 1991 where the underlying cause of death was skin cancer are shown in the following table:1008

  Malignant melanoma of skin (ICD 172)

  Other malignant neoplasm of skin (ICD 173)

  1988

  47

  36

  1989

  65

  29

  1990

  75

  30

  1991

  75

  29

  Source: Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

  Farming Accidents
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of deaths in farm accidents in Wales in 1991; what was the number as a percentage of farming fatalities overall in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) the European Community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  There were five fatal injuries in the agricultural sector in Wales reported to Health and Safety Commission enforcing authorities in 1990–91, representing 7 per cent. of the United Kingdom figure of 71 fatal injuries for the same year. Provisional estimates for Wales and Great Britain for 1991–92 are 10 and 57 respectively. Comparable figures for the European Community are not available.

  Teachers
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) advisers and (b) advisory teachers have been employed in each local education authority area in Wales in each year since 1987.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Information on(a) the number of advisers in each local education authority in Wales is not collected on a formal basis.

  Information on (b) the number of advisory teachers has only been collected as a separate category since 1990 and this is shown in the following table:

  (b) Advisory Teachers1

  Authority

  1991

  1990

  Clwyd

  0

  0

  Dyfed

  10

  10

  Gwent

  22

  17

  Gwynedd

  12

  10

  Mid Glamorgan

  66

  44

  Powys

  23

  16

  South Glamorgan

  27

  26

  West Glamorgan

  76

  83

  WALES

  236

  206

  1 The source of this information is the Department of Education Form 618G which states:

  "Advisory teachers are defined as qualified teachers paid under the terms of the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document but employed for purposes other than teaching. Does not include advisers or inspectors paid on other scales".

  Schools Inspection
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what estimate he has made of the number of people from Wales qualified to inspect schools in Wales;

  (2) when he expects to appoint the Chief Education Inspector for Wales;

  (3) how many inspectorate teams will be required (a)to inspect 25 per cent. of secondary schools in 1993–94, (b)to inspect 50 per cent. of secondary schools in 1994–95, (c)

  1009
  to inspect 25 per cent. of primary schools in 1994–95 and (d)to complete a full inspection of all secondary and primary schools by 1997.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Clwyd, North-West (Mr. Richards) on 15 July, in which I announced the appointment of the chief inspector for Wales from September 1992. Inspections by teams headed by a registered inspector will be carried out every five years and will start for secondary schools from September 1993 and for primary and special schools from September 1994. It will be for the chief inspector to decide which inspectors should be registered in the light of their qualifications, experience and following training by Her Majesty's inspector.

  When the new system is fully in force in 1995–96, there will be inspections of some 45 secondary schools and some 360 primary, special and nursery schools a year.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made in his explorations with Welsh TV concerning how the energy efficiency message can be promoted through popular television programmes in relation to the 1990–91 annual report of the ministerial group on energy efficiency.

  Mr. David Hunt
  My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary has responsibility for energy efficiency in my Department a task, which he has inherited from his predecessor. He will continue to explore with Welsh TV ways in which the benefits of energy efficiency can be promoted in their popular programme.

  A494
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes a public inquiry on the A494 road widening project at Queensferry in Ewloe; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  It is too early to comment on whether I will hold a public inquiry in respect of the proposed improvement of the A494 between River Dee and Ewloe. Once the public consultation exercise is completed I shall consider the comments received and decide whether to protect a route for planning purposes. Should I do so, draft statutory orders, as required by the Highways Act 1980, will be published in due course. Anyone wishing to comment or object to the orders will have the opportunity to do so at that time and depending on the objections received a decision will be made on whether to hold a public inquiry.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has so far received from residents concerning the A494 road widening scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  My Department is currently undertaking a public consultation exercise in respect of proposals to improve a section of the A494 between the River Dee and Ewloe; 463 representations have been received to date.

  National Curriculum Tests
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements he intends to make for the national curriculum tests in Wales in 1993; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The arrangements for the assessment of seven and 14-year-olds in schools in Wales will parallel those for schools in England as announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education. Additionally for schools teaching the subject of Welsh pupils will be assessed in their language skills in this subject where it is taught either as a first or as a second language.

  The assessment of seven-year-olds will, in 1993, be extended to include the subjects of history and geography. Additionally provison is being made to extend the period in which teachers will be required to administer the tests until four weeks before the end of the summer term.

  Next year's assessment of 14-year-olds will be the first under the statutory arrangements. They will cover the core subjects of English, Welsh, mathematics and science together with technology and Welsh second language. The key features will include:
  assessment by means of a combination of teachers' own assessment and short, unseen written examinations. Pupils' oral skills in Welsh and their designing and making skills in technology will be tested by longer standardised tasks.
  all results, which will be reported to parents, will be subject to a rigorous audit by independent examining bodies.
  test results will be preferred to teacher assessments in determining overall subject scores but both are available in relation to the same attainment target with teacher assessments used in relation to those attainment targets which are not tested.
  the tests will be conducted over a two-week period beginning 7 and 14 June so as to provide organisational flexibility for schools and to minimise the clash with the GCSE timetable in Wales.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Borrowings
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, if he will give a breakdown of how much has been borrowed by the Commissioners for each year since 1989; and if he will set out the name of the lender and the rates of interest charged for each loan.

  Mr. Michael Alison
  As shown in their annual reports and accounts the additional net amount borrowed by the Church Commissioners in 1989 amounted to £133 million and in 1990 to £70 million. The total outstanding at the end of 1990 amounted to £518 million which was reduced to £383 million in the course of 1991 by net repayments of £135 million.

  I will write to the hon. Member with further information.

SCOTLAND

  European Year for Older People
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for his Department to celebrate in 1993, the European Year for Older People; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 13 July, which covered the United Kingdom position.

  Scotland is represented at the United Kingdom advisory group and Scottish Office officials are working closely with those of the Department of Health in the preparations for the year. All the task groups include members from Scotland who are actively involved in the development of a United Kingdom programme which will include a range of Scottish events.

  The Government have acknowledged the importance of the concerns of older people by including in the programme for the United Kingdom presidency of the EC

  Regional assistance in Scotland 1991–92

  Regional selective assistance

  Regional development grants1

  Regional enterprise grants

  Gross expenditure2

  Number of offers accepted

  Forecast new jobs3

  Forecast safeguarded jobs3

  Gross expenditure2

  Gross expenditure2

  Number of offers accepted

  Travel-to-work-area

  £ Thousands

  £ Thousands

  £ Thousands

  Alloa

  641·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Arbroath

  11,260·0

  3

  70

  80

  29·2

  18·6

  —

  Ayr

  30,050·

  1

  30

  0

  154·8

  —

  —

  Badenoch

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Bathgate

  11,929·5

  13

  950

  250

  3,746·0

  265·6

  23

  Campbeltown

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cumnock and Sanquhar

  246·0

  7

  260

  0

  3·0

  29·1

  5

  Dumbarton

  716·0

  2

  30

  0

  9·0

  56·6

  4

  Dundee

  2,866·6

  11

  340

  120

  944·7

  192·6

  17

  Dunfermline

  719·0

  3

  70

  0

  —

  41·9

  12

  Dunoon and Bute

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Forres

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Falkirk

  2,334·0

  3

  20

  70

  —

  —

  —

  Girvan

  19·0

  1

  10

  0

  —

  —

  —

  Glasgow

  21,319·7

  62

  2,460

  720

  2,912·6

  1,262·2

  155

  Greenock

  4,717·5

  3

  220

  0

  1,119·7

  19·5

  2

  Invergordon and Dingwall

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Irvine

  3,978·7

  7

  470

  30

  2,095·2

  130·5

  18

  Kilmarnock

  454·0

  5

  110

  30

  49·6

  84·2

  10

  Kirkcaldy

  2,294·0

  8

  640

  130

  —

  25·0

  17

  Lanarkshire

  6,065·9

  30

  810

  420

  1,128·3

  545·6

  69

  Lochaber

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Newton Stewart

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Skye and Wester Ross

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  St. Andrews

  224·0

  1

  30

  30

  —

  —

  —

  Stewartry

  400·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Stirling

  170·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Stranraer

  430·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sutherland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Western Isles

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Wick

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1 Includes expenditure on original and revised Regional Development Grant schemes. The Regional Development Grant scheme was closed to new applications on 31 March 1988.

  2 Includes payments on offers accepted in previous years.

  3 Forecast at time of offer.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list each recipient company and the level of grant provided through regional assistance since 1984–85 in each of the assisted travel-to-work areas 1012
  a major international conference "The Social Integration of the Older Person", which will take place in St. Andrews on 30 September to 2 October 1992 and which will serve as a prelude to the European Year for Older People.

  Assisted Places
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was(a) the expenditure on regional assistance, (b) the number of offers and (c) the associated numbers of (i) new jobs and (ii) safeguarded jobs for each assisted area in Scotland for the most recent available year;

  (2) if he will give the expenditure on regional development grants in each of the assisted travel-to-work areas in Scotland for the latest available year

  (3) if he will give (a)the expenditure on regional enterprise grants and (b)the number of offers in each assisted travel-to-work area in Scotland for the latest available year.

  Mr. Stewart
  Information is given in the table.

  Mr. Stewart
  Information in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. In the period 1 April 1984 to 30 June 1992, over 11,000 projects in Scotland have benefited from regional assistance grant offers. Details, including the level of grant, the company name and the location of the project, of projects assisted
  1013
  by regional development grant or regional selective assistance, where the grant exceeds certain values, are published quarterly in "Department of Employment Gazette"—tables 9.6 and 9.8. Similar details were published in "British Business" until this publication ceased in September 1989. Copies of both publications are in the Library. Details of projects receiving regional enterprise grants are not published.

  Fishing Industry
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many fishing vessels from Scotland have been registered in the United Kingdom fishing vessel register for each year for the last 20 years.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The fishing vessel register held by the Department of Transport does not identify where the United Kingdom vessels are based. However, table 1 in the publication "The Scottish Fishing Fleet at 31 December 1990"—ISBN No. 0748 006060—shows the number of fishing vessels based in Scotland each year from 1965 onwards and is available from the House of Commons Library. A similar publication for 1991 is due out shortly.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the fishing industry in Scotland.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Given the poor state of a number of our main fish stocks, improved conservation has been a major priority of the Government over recent years. The need to reduce fishing effort is now paramount and our recent package, which includes a substantial financial commitment from the Government for vessel decommissioning is intended to achieve that. I am determined to do all I can to secure a good long-term future for the industry.

  Sheltered Housing
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a table showing the amount of very sheltered housing for the elderly provided by(a) district councils, (b) housing associations and (c) other public agencies, for each district council area in Scotland as at 31 March 1991 or the latest date available.

  Mr. Lang
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Parliamentary Constituencies
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the possible implications of future changes in the structure of local government on the shape of parliamentary boundaries.

  Mr. Stewart
  My right hon. Friend has received no such representations. The Boundary Commissions Bill, which is now before Parliament, requires that the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for Scotland, in carrying out its current review of parliamentary boundaries, has regard to local government areas which are in operation at whichever is the earlier of the date of its report or 1 June 1994.

  Speeding
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many police forces in Scotland are fully equipped with remote red light cameras and speed camera technology to meet the requirements, introduced on 1 July, of the Road Traffic Act 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Peebles High School
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how he intends to respond to Peebles high school board's response to consultation paper by Scottish Office Education Department "School Management: The Way Ahead"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I am at present giving careful consideration to the response from the Peebles high school board and to the other responses to the consultation paper on school management issued by the Scottish Office Education Department earlier this year. I intend shortly to bring forward firm proposals.

  Road Safety
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to improve road safety education in schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Housing Organisations
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what initiatives he intends to take in support of the work of housing associations and co-operatives; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I shall write to the right hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Scottish Homes
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will review the time scale which projects such as Maryhill housing association's Barnes road renewal are required to accept due to Scottish Homes's uncertainty over its own funding from year to year.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The allocation of funds to individual housing association projects is entirely a matter for Scottish Homes and, as such, the hon. Member may wish to pursue her particular constituency interest direct with the chief executive of Scottish Homes. Scottish Homes is allowed to pre-commit up to 80 per cent. of any year's expenditure programme into the next year; this should minimise uncertainty for individual projects.

  Electoral Registration
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to encourage and improve electoral registration in Scotland; what additional resources he intends to provide for this purpose; and if he will make a statement.
  1015
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Road Junctions
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the average cost to his Department of a trunk road junction alteration feasibility study; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The cost of a trunk road scheme feasibility study may vary considerably depending on factors such as the scale and complexity of the proposals and topographical constraints. To calculate an "average cost" for junction alterations would serve little practical purpose and could not be taken as an indicative figure.

  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland is he will state the total cost involved in preparing, printing and delivering his Department's publication, "A9 Trunk Road: North Kessock Junction"; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Potato Storage
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to reveal the successful applicants for the grant aid provided under the EC processing and marketing scheme towards the provision of potato storage facilities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  It is for the European Commission to decide which projects should receive grant aid. Final decisions on the current round were taken earlier this month and I expect to be able to announce the outcome shortly. The next round should be decided by the end of December.

  Housing Associations
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give consideration to the difficulties caused to housing associations when they are expected to start work on projects based on agreement in principle, but with no guarantee of funding until completion.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I am not aware of any such difficulties. The grant procedures operated by Scottish Homes do not allow housing associations to start site works until the scheme has been approved, and a formal commitment to funding has been given. Grant is paid out, thereafter, in tranches, as the works proceed.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the achievements of his Department and his policies in helping small businesses over the last 12 months relative to the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.

  Mr. Stewart
  The Government continue to place a high priority on helping small businesses, through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and through specific programmes of support and assistance.
  1016
  Small businesses are of crucial importance to the Scottish economy and are continuing to benefit from the comprehensive schemes of support which the Government have introduced. My Department has overall responsibility for assisting small firms in Scotland while specific schemes are delivered mainly through Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the network of 22 local enterprise companies. In addition to providing services specific to Scotland, these bodies also have responsibility for the delivery and monitoring in Scotland of United Kingdom services on behalf of other Departments including the Department of Trade and Industry. Measures operated directly by my Department to assist small business includes the regional enterprise grant for investment, regional enterprise grant for innovation and regional selective assistance. For the period 1991–92 my Department made 106 offers of regional selective assistance to the value of over £14·5 million to small companies—those employing fewer than 200. This contributed to the creation of 2,120 planned new jobs and the safeguarding of 310 existing jobs. Under both the investment and innovation elements of the regional enterprise grants scheme, 360 offers to the value of £3·9 million were made in Scotland in 1991–92 to companies employing fewer than 25 people, contributing to the creation of 1,450 planned new jobs and the safeguarding of 1,210 existing jobs.

  The success of these and other Government policies is demonstrated by statistics for VAT registration. A total of 9,800 additional companies registered for VAT in 1980. In 1990 the comparable figure was 14,900, an increase of 52 per cent. At the end of 1990 the total number of VAT-registered businesses in Scotland was 115,100, an increase of 21,700 or 23 per cent. on the comparable figure for 1979.

  Electoral Registration
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the fee paid to each of the returning officers in Scotland for general election duties in March and April in the current year.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Anglers
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how he intends to respond to the representations made by the Scottish Anglers National Association; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  Officials from my Department will be meeting the Scottish Anglers National Association to discuss their representations shortly.

  ReChem
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has as to the amount and type of toxic materials deposited by ReChem in the City of Glasgow; if he will list all such sites; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  This information is not available centrally. The City of Glasgow district council is responsible for monitoring records of wastes consigned
  1017
  under the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980 for disposal in the city of Glasgow. I understand that the council has no record of such wastes being deposited by ReChem.

  Civil Servants (Shareholdings)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance, other than the civil service pay and conditions of service code and the establishment officers' guide, his Department provides relating to civil servants' shareholdings; if he will list the number of occasions within the last five years on which civil servants have reported shareholdings to establishment officers in his Department; what regulations apply to the staff of the next steps agencies within his Department; what mechanisms are in place to prevent potential conflicts of interest; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I shall reply to the hon. Member in writing as soon as the information is available.

  Departmental Objectives
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set out the objectives of each division and branch of his Department.

  Mr. Lang
  I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

  Women's Refuges
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation making it a statutory requirement on local authorities to provide refuges for women.

  Mr. Lang
  I shall write to the right hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Housing Capital Receipts
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the results of his review of housing capital receipts will be made known to the public; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I shall write to the right hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Homelessness
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of(a) registered homeless and (b) unregistered homeless, in Scotland in each year since 1981; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I shall write to the right hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision is made in central Scotland for sites of special scientific interest of value to the migratory bean goose.

  Sir Hector Monro
  No sites of special scientific interest have been notified in central Scotland in respect of bean 1018
  geese. Scottish Natural Heritage is investigating how the habitat used by the small number of bean geese which winter in the area might most effectively be protected.

  Rescue Archaeology
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the Government's policy with regard to rescue archaeology in Scotland.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Our policy is to ensure that rescue excavations are carried out whenever possible, to record archaeological sites which would otherwise be lost. Where the threat is from development we look to the developer to meet the costs of the excavation.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance his Department has issued to planning authorities in respect of rescue archaeological excavations where the urgency has been caused by(a) natural causes and (b) a development project.

  Sir Hector Monro
  In the case of(a), none; in the case of (b) archaeological desk assessment guidelines.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money has been spent on or allocated to the work of the central excavation unit in 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93 in(a) Orkney, (b) Shetland and (c) Scotland.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The central excavation unit has not existed for a number of years. The amount of money spent by Historic Scotland and its predecessor body on rescue excavations in the years in question, with an estimate for 1992–93, was a follows:

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  11992–93

  Orkney

  0·098

  0·108

  0·151

  0·102

  Shetland

  0·041

  0·005

  0·028

  0·105

  Scotland

  0·996

  1·373

  1·605

  1·016

  1 Estimated.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the annual budget of the central excavation unit was allocated in each of the last five years to rescue excavation in(a) Orkney, (b) Shetland and (c) Scotland: and what sum has been earmarked for each of these areas in the 1992–93 budget for rescue digs.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The central excavation unit has not existed for a number of years. The percentage of the annual budget for rescue archaeology in Scotland spent by Historic Scotland and its predecessor body in each of the last five years in Orkney and Shetland was a follows:

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Orkney

  16

  13

  10

  8

  9

  Shetland

  5

  7

  4

  4

  2

  The percentage of the total archaeological budget for Scotland spent by Historic Scotland and its predecessor body on rescue archaeology was as follows:

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  94

  86

  81

  85

  87

  Resources are not earmarked for particular areas but for projects. The amounts allocated for rescue projects in these areas in 1992–93 are as follows:

  1019

  £ million

  Orkney

  0·102

  Shetland

  0·105

  Scotland

  1·016

  Conservation
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will request advice from Scottish Natural Heritage on the likely environmental effects of the ending of the conservation management agreements made under the Scottish island agricultural development programme, in March 1993.

  Sir Hector Monro
  There have been mutual benefits for farmers and crofters and the environment from the measures introduced on the Scottish islands under the agricultural development programme, and I have no reason to believe that these will not continue once the programme is completed next year. If necessary I will of course look to Scottish Natural Heritage for advice on this matter, but do not propose to do so at this time.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to provide continuing support for farmers and crofters in receipt of conservation management agreements under the Scottish islands agricultural development programme beyond March 1993.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Support for farmers and crofters to continue or to commence environmentally friendly farming practices is available to those who operate in environmentally sensitive areas. In the Scottish islands, part of the Western Isles is presently so designated, and the Shetland islands and the Argyll islands will be given this status on 1 April next year. Other sources of assistance are available to farmers who carry out works which bring environmental benefits, for example, through the farm and conservation grant scheme. More generally, support for conservation management is now inherent under the agreement to revise the common agricultural policy. It is now incumbent on all member states to bring forward further programmes to encourage environmentally sensitive farming.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the actual or planned expenditure, as part of the Scottish islands agricultural development programme, on conservation management agreements for(a) Shetland, (b) Orkney and (c) the inner Hebrides, for each of the five years of the programme.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Expenditure on environmental management measures in each of the five years of the agricultural development programme is as follows:

  Orkney

  Shetland

  Other ADP islands

  £

  £

  £

  1988–89

  22,082

  4,147

  117,874

  1989–90

  139,433

  22,193

  1126,717

  1990–91

  259,117

  44,673

  1297,408

  1991–92

  133,336

  65,250

  1241,838

  1992–93

  185,000

  55,650

  2260,000

  TOTAL

  738,968

  191,913

  943,837

  1 Actual.

  2 Committed.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what basis the then Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland made its selection of areas appropriate for designation as environmentally sensitive areas.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The then Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland put forward its list of priority areas for designation in a third round of environmentally sensitive areas in response to a request from the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department in terms of section 18(1) and (2) of the Agriculture Act 1986. The selection of areas for inclusion in the list was a matter for the council in the light of the guidance issued by the Department.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria his Department has set for the former Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland for application when it is considering areas in Scotland appropriate for designation as environmentally sensitive areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  When the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department asked the former Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland and the Countryside Commission for Scotland to consider areas in Scotland appropriate for designation in a third round of environmentally sensitive areas, it suggested that the areas should be of high conservation interest; that the conservation interest of the areas should, to a considerable extent, depend on maintaining or adopting particular farming practices; and that the areas should be relatively homogeneous in agricultural terms. In addition, the Department asked the council and commission to consider areas suitable for designation in order to protect or enhance heather or other upland vegetation.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what areas were recommended to him for designation as environmentally sensitive areas by the former Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland prior to the announcement in March 1992 of a further five areas in Scotland.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland's list of priority areas for designation in a third round of environmentally sensitive areas contained the following areas:The Inner Hebrides (Islay, Jura, Colonsay, the west coast of Mull, Coll, the Firth of Lorn, Skye, Lochalsh and the Small Isles), the Cairngorms, Shetland, Orkney, South Lochaber, Deeside, and the Outer Hebrides.
  The council also recommended the southern uplands as an area suitable for designation in order to enhance and restore upland plant communities. In putting forward these recommendations the council indicated that in its view a larger part of Scotland would also benefit from environmentally sensitive area designation.

  West Lothian College
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set out the latest position on funding the development of West Lothian college.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  New Towns
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the number and details of European regional development fund assisted projects within each of the Scottish new towns; and which will be subject to disposal on the dissolution of each of the development corporations.

  Mr. Stewart
  The European regional development fund—ERDF—has assisted or is assisting a range of projects in the Scottish new towns as follows:

  Number of projects

  Eligible expenditure

  ERDF Grant

  £ million

  £ million

  Cumbernauld Development Corporation

  15

  12·7

  5·8

  East Kilbride Development Corporation

  8

  17·0

  7·5

  Glenrothes Development Corporation

  15

  2·6

  0·9

  Irvine Development Corporation

  15

  12·5

  3·3

  Livingston Development Corporation

  51

  26·4

  9·9

  Plans for the transfer and disposal of new town assets are currently being formulated in consultation with the development corporations and will take account of the conditions attached to ERDF grants.

  Historic Monuments
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when staff at Historic Scotland commenced work for the paper on alternatives to scheduling to provide protection of monuments in Scotland; when it will be completed; and what its findings were.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Officials in Historic Scotland began an investigation of possible alternatives to scheduling last year. Their findings will be presented to the next meeting of the Ancient Monuments Board, in October.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when the consultants Peat Marwick McLintock commenced their review into the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments (Scotland); how long the review took; when it was completed; how much it cost; and what its findings were:

  (2) if he will instruct the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments (Scotland) to inform Historic Scotland of all cases on damage to scheduled monuments caused by trees and vegetation; and if he will review the liaison mechanisms between the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments (Scotland) and Historic Scotland to secure greater efficiency in the preservation of historic monuments.

  Sir Hector Monro
  I shall write to the hon. Member about these matters.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has made additional resources available for 1992–93 to Historic Scotland in line with the recommendations of the Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Resources have been redeployed within Historic Scotland to enable additional staff time to 1022
  be devoted to scheduling in the current financial year, consistent with recommendation two in the Ancient Monuments Board's report for 1991.

  Meeting, St. Andrews House
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he hopes to make a statement on the outcome of the meeting on 13 July at St. Andrews house, Edinburgh between the Minister and the hon. Members for Livingston (Mr. Cook) and for Linlithgow.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Balmoral Estate
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what grants have been given from(a) Scottish Natural Heritage or its predecessor bodies and (b) the Forestry Commission to the owners of the Balmoral estate, in each of the past 20 years.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Grants have been paid to the present owners and their predecessors, in respect of what now forms the Balmoral estate, under the following provisions:

  Countryside Commission for Scotland:

  The Countryside (Scotland) Act 1967.

  Forestry Commission:

  Dedication Schemes Basis II and III (planting, restocking and management grants).

  Woodland Grant Scheme (planting grant).

  Water
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what(a) consultations and (b) meetings have taken place between representatives of (i) OFWAT, (ii) the National Rivers Authority and (iii) other bodies relevant to water and his Department in 1992; and if he will list the dates and locations of the discussions.

  Sir Hector Monro
  No departmental meetings have taken place with representatives of OFWAT during 1992. Many circulars and reports prepared by OFWAT are sent for information to the Scottish Office and contact with officials is sometimes necessary to seek clarification or further information on these. Consultations and meetings with N RA officials and the many other bodies concerned with water take place frequently in the course of normal business. It is not practicable to list dates and locations of all such contacts.

  Mental Health
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing(a) the allocations made to local authorities as mental health specific grant in each year since 1985 in cash and constant terms and (b) the proportion of these allocations to projects helping people with dementia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  The information required is not currently available, but I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce policies which will impact upon the provision of respite care in hospitals for
  1023
  people with dementia; what operational aspects of this provision are and will be subjected to compulsory competitive tendering; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to improve information collection systems in health services and local authorities so that accurate statistics can be collected on the numbers of people with dementia who receive services.

  Mr. Stewart
  Accurate statistics on those people with dementia receiving hospital treatment are already available.

  A multi-disciplinary standing group on community care information requirements is currently being established by social work services group to ensure that local social work, health and housing information systems yield a common minimum set of data for use at local and national level. The group will consist of representatives of policy and statistical interests from social work, health and housing branches in the Scottish Office, and representatives from local authority social work, local authority housing and Scottish Homes and health boards.

  At local level these matters are being addressed through joint planning mechanisms.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make a statement on the results of arrangements to monitor the priority that dementia services are given in health board expenditure; how these compare with the recommendations contained in the SHARPEN report of 1988; and what plans he has to change these arrangements;

  (2) if he will list those health boards and local authorities which have treated dementia as a separate special needs category in their community care plans; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what duties and responsibilities Scottish health boards have in relation to the development of preventative services in the community for people with dementia ; how these are co-ordinated with other agencies; what plans he has to improve joint planning arrangements with agencies including local government; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what plans he has to increase the level of privatisation of long-term care for people with dementia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Housing
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make the sale of Scottish Homes stock in Glasgow open to competitive tender;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to suspend the Scottish Homes transfer process in Glasgow while the National Audit Office is investigating the financial position of the Borders region transfer to Waverley Housing;

  (3) what is Government policy towards the provision of additional inducements to non-profit-making businesses bidding for Scottish Homes stock;

  (4) if he will separate the independent advice role in public sector stock transfer from the disposal agency, Scottish Homes;
  1024
  (5) whether he is prepared to make finance available for independent advice for tenants targeted for change of landlords by Scottish Homes and various housing associations in Glasgow;

  (6) if he will make it his policy to offer choices in stock transfer to tenants of Scottish Homes in Scotland in line with those available to new town tenants;

  (7) what is the district valuers assessment of the current tenanted market value of Scottish Homes stock in north west Glasgow within the area being considered for sale to Cube housing association.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Law Commission
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to reply to the question from the hon. Member for Glasgow, Central of 18 June, relating to the Scottish Law Commission.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I shall write to the hon. Member shortly and will arrange for a copy of my letter to be placed in the Library.

  Young People (Hardship Payments)
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he intends to take to reduce the number of 16 and 17-year-olds applying for severe hardship payments due to their inability to secure a place on a youth training scheme.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  I am assured by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise that there are sufficient youth training places available throughout Scotland for those young people who want one.

  Liaison arrangements exist between the Benefits Agency's severe hardship claims unit based in Glasgow and these organisations and their networks of local enterprise companies, to provide additional help where required to young people claiming a severe hardship allowance while seeking a youth training place. I understand that these arrangements are working satisfactorily.

  Elderly People
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the number of national health service beds for the long-term care of elderly people provided through contract arrangements with the private sector for each Scottish health board in each year since 1981; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Dangerous Driving
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to increase the maximum penalty for causing death by dangerous driving or by careless driving while under the influence of drink and drugs.

  Mr. Lang
  The Government recognise understandable public concern about deaths caused by dangerous or careless driving. We propose to increase from five to 10
  1025
  years the current maximum penalty for such offences at the earliest legislative opportunity. This will allow the courts to deal adequately with the worst offenders.

  Parliament House Extension
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the extension to Parliament House to be completed; and what other plans he has for the provision of accommodation for the Supreme court in Edinburgh.

  Mr. Lang
  The extension to Parliament House will be completed and ready for use by September 1992. Following the completion of the new Edinburgh sheriff court house in 1994 it is proposed that the Lawnmarket building in Edinburgh, suitably refurbished, will be made available for use by the High Court of Justiciary and a phased programme of major repair and refurbishment work undertaken in the accommodation used by the supreme courts in Parliament House. I am inviting interested parties to comment on these proposals which are directed to ensure that the supreme courts in Edinburgh will have fully adequate accommodation well into the next century.

  Fisheries Protection Agency
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish the annual report and accounts of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency for 1991–92.

  Mr. Lang
  I have today published the report, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Historic Scotland
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the annual report and accounts of Historic Scotland for 1991–92.

  Mr. Lang
  I have today laid in the Libraries of both Houses copies of Historic Scotland's annual report and accounts for 1991–92.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when he last met representatives of Scottish chambers of commerce; and what matters were discussed;

  (2) when he last met representatives of the Confederation of British Industry (Scotland); and what matters were discussed;

  (3) when he last met representatives of the Scottish Trades Union Congress; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 9 June 1992]: My colleagues and I frequently meet representatives of these bodies, both formally and informally. Recent subjects discussed include the Scottish economy; the implications of European Community policies; business rates; local government reform; and other matters of interest to business and industry in Scotland. We place a high value on these contacts and look forward to a continuing exchange of views.

  Islands Agricultural Development Programme
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the actual or planned expenditure on the Scottish islands agricultural development programme for(a) Shetland, (b) Orkney and (c) the inner Hebrides, for each of the five years of the programme.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Expenditure under the agricultural development programme for each of the five years is as follows:

  Orkney

  Shetland

  Other ADP Islands

  £

  £

  £

  1988–89

  1,129,404

  419,402

  11,351,562

  1989–90

  2,322,411

  816,581

  12,619,463

  1990–91

  3,000,206

  1,009,961

  13,002,429

  1991–92

  2,713,556

  981,007

  12,865,758

  1992–93

  2,083,209

  1,537,811

  22,279,363

  Total

  11,248,786

  4,764,762

  12,118,575

  1 Actual.

  2 Committed.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to ensure that all lists of candidates for public appointments in Scotland contain equal numbers of men and women.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 9 June 1992]: All public appointments must be made on the basis of aptitude and merit. It is, however, Government policy to ensure that the names of women are included on the shortlist of candidates for public appointments prepared for Ministers' consideration. Good reasons must be given for the absence of women's names.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list any public appointments by his Department since 1987 which have involved people from organisations criticised in published reports by Department of Trade and Industry inspectors.

  Mr. Lang
  Information on public appointments which is held centrally by my Department is not sufficiently comprehensive to enable me to provide the information requested. However, my Department takes all relevant factors into account when considering public appointments.

  Spastics Centre, Elderslie
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he plans to visit the Scottish Council for Spastics' Wallace Court residential centre in Elderslie; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 11 June 1992]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans at present to visit the Scottish Council for Spastics' Wallace Court residential centre in Elderslie.

  I fully recognise the valuable services which the council provides. My right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State maintains regular contact with the council through my Department's representatives on the council's professional advisory committee.

  Renfrew District
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has recently given to giving enterprise zone status to any part of Renfrew district; and what criteria he applied in reaching his conclusions.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 11 June 1992]: Approval has recently been secured for an enterprise zone in Lanarkshire because of the sudden and severe worsening of the economic situation there. This reflects Government policy for enterprise zones which is that no new zones will be created except in very exceptional circumstances. Such circumstances do not bear upon Renfrew district which has the benefit of development area status and the full range of development incentives available from my Department and from Renfrewshire Enterprise.

  Publicity
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the total spent on publicity, public relations, publications and press by the Scottish Office in each year since 1982 and the planned expenditure for the financial years 1992–93, 1993–94 and 1994–95; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 11 June 1992]: The figures are:

  £

  1982–83

  541,000

  1983–84

  506,000

  1984–85

  746,000

  1985–86

  895,000

  1986–87

  1,101,000

  1987–88

  1,704,000

  1988–89

  1,927,000

  1989–90

  3,082,000

  1990–91

  2,640,000

  1991–92

  2,349,000

  Estimated expenditure for 1992–93, 1993–94 and 1994–95 is £3·6 million, £2·9 million and £3 million respectively.

  Elderly Forum
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the development of the Elderly Forum movement in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 11 June 1992]: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Sports Facilities
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet representatives of the Scottish Sports Council to discuss the development of community sports facilities; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 11 June 1992]: I met the chairman and chief executive of the Scottish Sports Council on Wednesday 3 June. We discussed a number of initiatives which the council is currently promoting, including those which are related to the development of
  1028
  community sports facilities. The council will be keeping me closely in touch with the range of sports matters within its interest. I look forward to further meetings with council representatives from time to time.

  Environment Protection Agency
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the CBI in Scotland regarding the proposed Scottish environment protection agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 4th June 1992]: The Confederation of British Industry submitted on 8 April 1992 its response to the consultation paper on the proposals to create a Scottish environment protection agency. The confederation generally welcomed the proposals and offered helpful and constructive comments in a number of areas. A copy of its response has been placed today in the House Library.

  More than 160 responses were received as a result of the consultation exercise and they are currently being considered. An announcement about the final shape of my right hon. Friend's proposals will be made later in the summer.

  Official Functions
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list each official function(a) he has hosted in his position as Secretary of State or (b) hosted by the other Scottish Office Ministers or civil servants, since he was appointed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 11 June 1992]: The information requested is as follows:

  (a) Functions hosted by the Secretary of Slate

  23 November 1990

  Dinner for representatives of Scandinavian Companies in Scotland.

  27 November 1990

  Buffet lunch to mark the visit to London of the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

  3 December 1991

  Reception for Members of the Board of the Scottish Development Agency.

  15January 1991

  Reception for the Parliamentary Lobby and Gallery Correspondents.

  8 April 1991

  Reception to mark the launch of Historic Scotland as an Executive Agency.

  8 April 1991

  Reception to mark the Japan Festival.

  28 April 1991

  Reception to mark the Diamond Jubilee of the National Trust for Scotland.

  24 May 1991

  Reception to mark the visit to Scotland of o the Rev. Billy Graham.

  12 June 1991

  Reception for Scottish Parliamentarians.

  21 Sepetember 1991

  Dinner in honour of His Excellency Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan.

  24 Sepetember 1991

  Buffet lunch to mark the launch of NHS in Scotland "Charter for Health".

  7 October 1991

  Reception to honour citizens who have assisted the Police.

  26 November 1991

  Buffet lunch to mark the visit to London of the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

  7 December 1991

  Dinner in honour of His Excellency President Masire of Botswana.

  7 January 1992

  Reception for delegates attending the conference of the University Association for Contemporary European Studies.

  20 January 1992

  Reception for a delegation of Russian Business and Political Leaders.

  22 January 1992

  Reception for the Parliamentary Lobby and Gallery Correspondents.

  19 February 1992

  Dinner in honour of the President of Bavaria.

  1029

  9 March 1992

  Reception to mark the launch of the Community Investment Charter.

  9 June 1992

  Reception for Scottish Parliamentarians.

  (b)(i) Official functions hosted by Mr. Michael Forsyth MP

  17 December 1990

  Christmas Party for disabled and disadvantaged children.

  8 February 1991

  Reception for participants in the World Schools Debating Championship.

  28 February 1991

  Reception to mark the introduction of management reforms in Scottish Further Education Colleges.

  11 March 1991

  Reception to mark the launch of Scottish Further Education Week.

  25 March 1991

  Reception to mark the Centenary of the Scottish Football league.

  23 April 1991

  Reception for delegates to the EC Seed Congress.

  8 July 1991

  Dinner to mark the visit to Scotland by an Australian Commonwealth Parliamentary Association delegation.

  2 September 1991

  Lunch in honour of the New Zealand Education Minister, Dr. Lockwood-Smith.

  3September 1991

  Reception for delegates to a conference of the International Federation of Social Workers.

  20 Sepyember 1991

  Reception to mark the 20th Anniversary of the Children's Hearing System.

  25 September 1991

  Reception for NHS staff in the Greater Glasgow Health Board area.

  30 September 1991

  Reception for the Japanese Rugby World Cup Team.

  1 October 1991

  Reception for members of the Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum.

  8 November 1991

  Lunch in honour of the Danish Minister for Education.

  2 December 1991

  Reception to mark 1991: Year of Sport.

  6 December1991

  Reception for drugs and AIDS workers.

  9 December 1991

  Christmas Party for disabled and disadvantaged children.

  (b)(ii) Official functions hosted by Lord James Douglas-Hamilton MP

  14 December 1990

  Reception to recognise the work of the Voluntary Housing Movement.

  15 February 1991

  Reception to launch the publication "Civilising the City".

  10 May 1991

  Reception for the Scout Movement in Scotland.

  12 July 1991

  Reception for the members of the Butler Trust.

  11 November 1991

  Buffet lunch to launch the "Scottish Housing Opportunities" booklet.

  17 January 1992

  Reception for the Business Sponsors of the Arts Incentive Scheme.

  (b)(iii) Official functions hosted bv Mr. Allan Stewart MP

  14 January 1992

  Reception for Japanese Inward Investment companies.

  22 February 1991

  Reception for Enterprise and Education advisers.

  14 March 1991

  Dinner to promote the Industrial De-regulation Initiative.

  28 June 1991

  Reception to mark the Silver Jubilee of the General Teaching Council.

  25 November 1991

  Dinner on the occasion of the visit to Scotland of a European "Quartiers en Crise" delegation.

  13 December 1991

  Reception to recognise Enterprising Scottish companies.

  31 January 1992

  Reception for Japanese Inward Investment companies.

  (b) (iv) Official functions hosted by Lord Slrathclyde

  20 March 1991

  Reception for the Scottish Travel Trade.

  17 May 1991

  Dinner on the occasion of the visit to Edinburgh of the European Monetary Committee.

  1030

  21 June 1991

  Reception for agricultural interests. Royal Highland Show.

  19 August 1991

  Reception for Highlands and Islands interests.

  (b) (v) Official functions hosted by Lord Fraser

  28 May 1992

  Reception to mark the meeting of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the American College of Surgeons.

  (b)(vi) Official functions hosted by Sir Hector Monro, MP

  8 May 1992

  Reception for the Scottish Tour of Agricultural Attaches.

  1 June 1992

  Reception to mark the launch of Scottish Natural Heritage.

  (b)(vii) Official functions hosted by Scottish Office officials

  15 February 1991

  Reception to mark the "Carrying Stream" exhibition prepared by the School of Scottish Studies, Edinburgh University—hosted by the Permanent Secretary.

  17 May 1991

  Lunch on the occasion of the visit to Edinburgh by His Excellency the Russian Ambassador—hosted by the Permanent Secretary.

  18 September 1991

  Reception for members of the Alcohol Education Research Council—hosted by the Secretary of The Scottish Office Home and Health Department.

  17 October 1991

  Reception to mark the 150th Anniversary of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain—hosted by the Secretary of The Scottish Office Home and Health Department.

  In addition, hospitality was provided on a number of less formal occasions, including working lunches and dinners.

  Sunday Trading
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set out the arrangements in Scotland for the retail trade to open for business on a Sunday; and what representations he has received in favour of bringing the law in Scotland in line with that of England and Wales as set out in the Shops Act 1950.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 22 June 1992]: The restrictions on Sunday trading contained in the Shops Act 1950 do not apply in Scotland, other than to hairdressers and barbers. Since the start of this year, my right hon. Friend has received two representations advocating the imposition of restrictions on Sunday trading in Scotland.

  Earnings Statistics
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the increase in average male manual earnings in real and constant price terms in Scotland since 1979.

  Mr. Stewart
  The average earnings of full-time male manual employees on adult rates in Scotland increased by two and a half times between 1979 and 1991, which is equivalent to an increase of about one tenth in constant price terms.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many places were available in Scotland on employment training in April in each of the years since it started.
  1031
  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 16 June 1992]: The information is not available in the form requested. However, the numbers of employment training places filled in April of each year since the programme started are set out in the table.

  Employment Training filled places in Scotland

  Numbers

  1989

  22,200

  1990

  126,380

  1991

  20,693

  1992

  216,840

  1 March 1990 figure—April 1990 figure not available.

  2 Estimated by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (returns from local enterprise companies not yet complete).

  School Playing Fields
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will earmark cash in the Sports Council grant aid to enable the Sports Council to list the current stock of school playing fields land.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 18 June 1992]: School playing fields in the public sector are the responsibility of education authorities and the Scottish Sports Council has no role in their provision, maintenance, or use. I am aware that the Sports Council of Great Britain has been commissioned to compile a register of recreational land, including school playing fields, for England. I am keeping the need for such a register in Scotland under review.

  Water Privatisation
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions his Department has had about the privatisation of the Scottish water industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 25 June 1992]: In the course of normal business over the last few months, officials in the Scottish Office Environment Department has been contacted by a small number of organisations to express their views about Scottish water services and investment needs.

  Electronics Industry
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total number of jobs in the electronics industry in each of the years 1979 to 1991.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 22 June 1992]: The estimated numbers of employees in employment in electronics, which have been derived from the Scottish register of employment, in each of the years 1979 to 1991 are as follows:—

  Electronics employment in Scotland—1979–1990

  Year

  Gross employment

  1979

  42,500

  1980

  42,100

  1981

  39,100

  1982

  38,700

  1983

  41,500

  1984

  43,500

  1985

  42,800

  1032

  Year

  Gross employment

  1986

  42,200

  1987

  43,600

  1988

  44,800

  1989

  46,600

  1990

  146,500

  1991

  145,500

  1 Provisional.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of part-time and full-time employees in employment for each of the years December 1979 to December 1991, inclusive.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 22 June 1992]: Information at the level of detail required is only available from the censuses of employment conducted by the Employment Department. Within the period of time for which data are requested, information is available for the following years: 1981, 1984, 1987 and 1989. The table shows the figures requested.

  Employees in employment

  September

  Full-time

  Part-time

  1981

  1,593,000

  397,000

  1984

  1,497,000

  407,000

  1987

  1,448,000

  433,000

  1989

  1,502,000

  465,000

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was(a) the total number, (b) the number of males, and (c) the number of females, of employees in employment and self-employed for each year since December 1979.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 22 June 1992]: The information requested is shown in the table. It has been derived by the Employment Department and is from a series of quarterly estimates of the civilian work force in employment.

  Employees in employment

  Self-employed

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  December

  Total

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Male

  Female

  1979

  2,094

  1,197

  897

  157

  127

  30

  1980

  2,037

  1,158

  879

  152

  124

  28

  1981

  1,958

  1,095

  864

  157

  126

  31

  1982

  1,903

  1,067

  836

  172

  133

  39

  1983

  1,891

  1,045

  846

  182

  141

  41

  1984

  1,901

  1,045

  856

  193

  148

  45

  1985

  1,891

  1,031

  860

  203

  158

  45

  1986

  1,863

  1,005

  858

  200

  159

  41

  1987

  1,896

  1,014

  883

  204

  160

  44

  1988

  1,943

  1,016

  927

  226

  173

  53

  1989

  1,971

  1,033

  938

  235

  182

  53

  1990

  1,992

  1,043

  949

  244

  190

  54

  1991

  1,985

  1,031

  954

  264

  207

  56

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total number of employees in employment in services industries and manufacturing for each of the years December 1979 to December 1991, inclusive.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 22 June 1992]: The figures showing the total number of employees in employment in

  1033
  service and manufacturing industries are taken from the civilian work force in employment estimates compiled by the Employment Department. The figures are shown in the table.

  Total employees in employment

  Thousands

  December

  Services industries

  Manufacturing industries

  1979

  1,221

  596

  1980

  1,237

  532

  1981

  1,217

  497

  1982

  1,199

  460

  1983

  1,215

  437

  1984

  1,231

  434

  1985

  1,242

  427

  1986

  1,243

  412

  1987

  1,280

  407

  1988

  1,319

  415

  1989

  1,350

  402

  1990

  1,376

  403

  1991

  1,407

  383

  Forestry Commission Land
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all the different methods and categories for the disposal of Forestry Commission land and give a definition for each type of disposal; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 29 June 1992]: This information is given in paragraph 18 of appendix IX to the Forestry Commission's 1989–90 annual report and accounts, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all the Forestry Commission land which has been disposed of since July 1981 on an offer-back basis, giving the county or region, name of estate, area in hectares, name of purchaser, book value, sale price, and year sold.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 2 July 1992]: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Disability
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action is being taken to ensure that rural areas are not discriminated against in the proposed changes in funding for employment rehabilitation for visually impaired people in Scotland.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 30 June 1992]: The provision of all employment rehabilitation services will be subject to competitive tender with effect from 1 April 1993. Guidelines for tendering are still under consideration, but it is likely that tenders will be assessed and contracts awarded against criteria of need, provision of a high-quality service, accessibility and value for money. This process should ensure that all areas of Scotland are covered by provision appropriate to their circumstances.

  Forests
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total amount of forest as a proportion of total land mass in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) each of the other EC nations in (i) 1980 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.
  1034
  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 8 July 1992]: The United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation—FAO—publishes a production yearbook which includes this information. The latest edition is the 1990 yearbook, which includes information for 1989 and 1979. but not 1980. This is given in the table.

  The FAO states that great care should be taken in making comparisons between countries or over time. This is because the definition of forest land may vary between countries, which may also use different definitions in different years.

  Percentage of Land Area Covered by Forest

  Country

  1979

  1989

  Belgium/Luxembourg

  21

  21

  Denmark

  12

  12

  France

  26

  27

  Germany

  29

  30

  Greece

  20

  20

  Ireland

  5

  5

  Italy

  22

  23

  Netherlands

  9

  9

  Portugal

  32

  32

  Spain

  31

  31

  United Kingdom

  9

  10

  Councillors' Allowances
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total cost of all councillors' allowances claimed in return for council duties for the last year for which figures are available shown as a percentage of total local government expenditure in Scotland for the same year; and what are the corresponding percentages for 10 and 15 years earlier.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]: Councillors' allowances were reviewed following the Widdecombe committee of inquiry and the new scheme was introduced in 1991. Current expenditure figures for those allowances which were subsequently replaced by the new scheme were collected for 1987–88. The total expenditure for that year was £4·5 million—0·13 per cent. of total local government expenditure for that year; this expenditure did not include allowances outwith the scope of the new scheme.

  Corresponding figures are not available for earlier years as such information is not routinely collected.

  Quarrying
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the applications for quarrying operations in Scotland since January 1991, including(a) the exact location, (b) the estimated number of jobs created if each application is successful and (c) the type of stone to be quarried; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 6 July 1992]: The information requested is not held centrally. Such applications are considered by planning authorities in the first instance. Only those that raise defined issues of national importance require to be notified to my right hon. Friend, and only where the authority is minded to approve them. Since January 1991 only one quarrying application has been so notified. This relates to a hard rock quarry at Hill of Gibblestone, Shetland which may generate about six jobs. No decision has yet been reached on this application. In addition, a direction has been issued requiring Western Isles islands council to notify my right

  1035
  hon. Friend if it is minded to approve an application for a hard rock superquarry at Rodel, South Harris. It is estimated that the Rodel application could create 20 to 80 jobs if it is successful.

  Since January 1991 a number of appeals relating to quarrying applications have come before my right hon. Friend. The table summarises the information. Details of the potential number of jobs involved are not held centrally.

  Quarrying application appeals received since January 1991

  Location

  Mineral

  Collace Quarry, Kinross, Fife

  Limestone

  Land of Bellmuir Methlick, Grampian

  Sand and Gravel

  Rothens, Monymusk. Grampian

  Sand and Gravel

  Crutherland, Farm, East Kilbride, Strathclyde

  Brick, Clay, Coal

  Watson Farm, Stonehouse, Hamilton, Strathclyde

  Coal

  Cocklicks Farm/Summerfield Farm, Cummertrees, Annan, Dumfries and Galloway

  Sand and Gravel

  Eastcraigs by Blackridge, West Lothian

  Quartz/Dolomite

  Craigie Hill Quarry, Kyle and Carrick, Strathclyde

  Whinstone

  Townhead Farm, Rigside, Clydesdale, Strathclyde

  Brick/Clay

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when his Department received a copy of the Environment Statement in support of the low-level solid waste pit extension proposal put forward by AEA Technology for the Dounreay nuclear facility; and what public outlets exist in Scotland for interested parties to examine the report, reference JM/MRC/PF06788.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 15 July 1992]: Highland regional council submitted a copy of this environmental statement to my right hon. Friend on 29 May. Comments on its content, in particular issues relating to the disposal of low level radioactive waste and the radiological impact, were passed to the council by Her Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate on 26 June. I understand that the statement was sent to a number of public bodies and was advertised, along with AEA Technology's application for planning permission for the proposed extension, in the local press and in the Edinburgh Gazette. Objections to the proposal could be lodged during the period 29 May to 26 June.

  The environmental statement, and accompanying planning application, were made available for public scrutiny at the council's offices, in Wick, Thurso and Inverness. I understand that the statement may still be inspected by the public at these offices and that copies can be purchased from AEA Technology.

  Travellers
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what planning policy guidance he gives to local authorities over the provision of sites for travelling people.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 15 July 1992]: Guidance notes on site provision were issued in February 1990 by the Secretary of State's advisory committee on Scotland's travelling people. The notes offer advice to local authorities on such aspects as planning, site selection, the grant scheme and design including construction and layout.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which non-departmental public bodies are sponsored by his Department; which of these are audited by the National Audit Office; which firms of private accountants audits each of the others; by what method of tendering contracts to such firms are awarded; and for what duration.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 10 July 1992]: Those non-departmental public bodies which are sponsored by the Scottish Office are listed in "Public Bodies 1991", a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library. That publication also shows which bodies are subject to audit by the National Audit Office. As there are a number of bodies whose accounts are audited by private companies, and the tendering methods vary, I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible with this information and will arrange for a copy of the letter to be deposited in the House Library.

  Child Care, Fife
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he received the report of the inquiry into child care in Fife; if he will publish it; what was the total cost of the inquiry; and whether Fife regional council will be asked to make a contribution to the costs.

  Mr. Stewart
  [pursuant to his reply, 26 June 1992, c. 363–64]: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland, has now decided that the report of Sheriff Kearney's inquiry into children's services in Fife should be published as a return to an order to the House when the House reassembles. This will provide the necessary time for proof reading and printing the report, which is lengthy.

  Doctors
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the non-doctored islands in Scotland and the number of patients in each.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 2 July 1992]: I shall write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

  Football Matches (Arrests)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the numbers of those arrested and ejected at football matches in Scotland as a percentage of attendance in the last five years for which information is available.

  Sir Hector Monro
  This information cannot be assembled in the time available. I will write to the hon. and learned Member as soon as possible.

  Speech Therapy
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the estimated cost of speech therapy provision for children with records of needs in each of the regional council areas; and how many such children there are in each;

  (2) how much of the speech therapy provision announced on 24 February is to be distributed to (a)under-fives, (b)children in mainstream education and (c)children with mental handicaps.
  1037
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  As soon as the information is available I will reply to the hon. Member in writing.

ENVIRONMENT

  Cremer and Warner Ltd.
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list any contracts Cremer and Warner Ltd. has been awarded by his Department within the past three years, stating whether the contracts were let by single or competitive tender action; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  The contracts are as follows. All were let by competitive tender.

  Pollution control of hospital incinerators;

  Pollution control for processes involving the manufacture or use of phosphorous;

  Pollution control for inorganic halogen processes;

  Pollution control for metal carbonyl processes and the manufacture of compounds of chromium, magnesium etc.

  Rents Guidance
  Mr. Fishburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish the paper inviting submissions on the review of the guidance given to rent officers and rent assessment committees when determining the rents of statutory tenants in London.

  Sir George Young
  A paper seeking views on the issue of the increase in fair rents assessed by rent officers and rent assessment committees is being published today. A copy of the paper is being placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Water Supply (Mecoprop)
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the current levels of the weed killer Mecoprop in Anglian Water's boreholes; and what evidence the National Rivers Authority has of Mecoprop in Cheshire's groundwater supply.

  Mr. Maclean
  Groundwater used for public supplies is regularly monitored by Anglian Water for Mecoprop. Concentrations greater than 0·1µg/1 have been detected at only two borehole sites. At one of these sites an alternative borehole source is available which contains less than 0·1µg/1; nevertheless, granular activated carbon treatment has been installed to reduce contamination. At the other site Anglian Water installed granular activated carbon treatment which has ensured that the water entering supply now meets the standard of 0·1 µg/1 set in the water quality regulations.

  Similarly, North West Water monitors boreholes in Cheshire, where there is no evidence of contamination.

  Birds (Control)
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce proposals to amend the law relating to the control of pest birds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have announced today proposals to amend the law relating to the killing or taking of "pest" species of birds such as crows, starlings and pigeons, and to introduce a licensing system for pest control.
  1038
  At present, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 enables farmers, Iandowners and local authorities and other authorised persons to carry out year-round control of 13 species of bird which cause agricultural damage or which endanger public health or air safety. But the European Commission does not consider that the 1981 Act fully complies with the EC birds directive which requires member states to protect all wild birds.

  A consultation paper issued today by the Department of the Environment contains proposals to remove all 13 species from the list in part II of schedule 2 and to move to a system of annual general licences to permit their control. These proposals would meet the requirement of the directive while enabling pest control to continue unchanged.

  Farmers and landowners must be able to continue unhindered with their existing programmes of pest control which have served the country well for a long time. We believe we have found a non-bureaucratic solution that would not create the burdensome problems that caused us to withdraw proposals for a licensing scheme in 1990, and puts it beyond doubt that the Government are meeting their obligations under the directive.

  Only a handful of annual licences would be needed, covering broad geographical areas, one or more species and specifying in general terms the nature of the damage caused. No one would have to apply for a licence, justify control or account for numbers of birds killed or taken. Everyone involved in the year-round control of pest birds would be able to carry on with his or her traditional practices exactly as he or she does now.

  Licences would be considered for renewal each year following advice from the Government's statutory scientific advisers, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, which would monitor the status of the species and alert the Department if populations of any fell to levels where care was needed to maintain a satisfactory conservation status. At the moment, populations of the species are stable or increasing and we do not think that pest control would have any detrimental effect on population levels in the foreseeable future.

  Energy Proposals, London
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the implications for power generation proposals in the east London corridor upon domestic water usage; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The implications of any power generation proposals for water resources will depend on the particular form of the proposals, and will have to be taken into account in any necessary abstraction or discharge authorisations. Abstractions from tidal waters are, however, very unlikely to have significant implication for domestic water usage.

  Planning Applications
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his planning appeal inspectorate's policy towards a planning application refused by local planning authorities because of the cumulative effect of the relevant proposal when considered with other similar proposals not the subject of the isolated application; and if he will make a statement.
  1039
  Mr. Baldry
  In dealing with any appeal, a planning inspector examines the merits of the case, having regard to all material considerations including those raised by the appellant, the planning authority and other parties.

  In an area where there have been significant developments of a particular type, the question of whether the locality is suitable for further development of that nature may be material. In such circumstances, an assessment or the proposal would need to take into account the likely additional impact the individual proposal would have on the locality as well as the cumulative effect of those similar proposals taken together.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from Stoke-on-Trent city council and local authority associations concerning the draft notices implying that an individual notice for all major planning applications should be inserted in the local press; what is his estimate of the cost of such individual notices; what provision he has made to ensure local authorities can meet these additional cost implications; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  A number of representations have been received from local authorities and their associations about the costs of compulsory publicity for planning applications. My Department has recently commissioned research into local authority development control costs which will, among other things, investigate the costs of implementing the new publicity arrangements. The Government are committed to taking these extra costs into account when planning application fees are next reviewed.

  Hide Processors
  Mr. Fry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that British hide and skin processors are not more adversely affected than their Community competitors under the implementation of EC directive 76/464/EC.

  Mr. Maclean
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Mr. Dafis
  'To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward proposals to treat chlorofluorocarbons as noxious and offensive gases under the terms of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974, and to instruct Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to proceed to require the installation of emission statement equipment under the terms of the Act for companies that continue to release CFCs in the production of their products.

  Mr. Maclean
  The production of chlorofluorocarbons is regulated under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974. There is a duty on the operator to use best practicable means to prevent the emission of noxious or offensive emissions to air. This control regime is being superseded by the new integrated pollution controls established under part 1 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Operators will be required to apply for authorisation on the timetable laid down in the Environmental Protection (Prescribed Processes and Substances) Regulations 1991.
  1040
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to ban the use of hydrochlorofluorocarhon 1342 as a substitute for chlorofluorocarbons.

  Mr. Maclean
  We are not aware of the existence of this chemical and, therefore, have no plans to ban it.

  Municipal Incinerators
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those municipal incinerators which do not meet European standards; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Integrated Pollution Control
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present status of the programme of implementation of integrated pollution control under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Mr. Maclean
  The programme of implementation of integrated pollution control is proceeding as set out in paragraph 4 of schedule 3 to the Environmental Protection (Prescribed Processes and Substances) Regulations 1991.

  Recycling
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those posts within his Department designated to deal with local authority recycling plans.

  Mr. Howard
  Two officials in the Department of the Environment's headquarters and one in each of the Department's 10 regional offices have been given responsibility for dealing with local authority recycling plans.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the achievements of his Department and his policies in helping small businesses over the last 12 months relative to the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.

  Mr. Howard
  My Department places a high priority on removing unnecessary burdens from small businesses, particularly in inner cities, where a key aim is to encourage new employment. We have already tackled bureaucracy in our main inner city programmes. For city challenge, we have abolished 80 pages of forms, in streamlining the provision of Government grant and increased the Government contribution on revenue projects from 75 to 90 per cent. I have today announced the 20 city challenge areas which will each receive £37·5 million over five years to support integrated programmes of urban renewal. These will include projects which directly help small business, such as the provision of premises and infrastructure.

  In April 1992, the Planning Inspectorate executive agency instituted performance targets for prompt handling of planning appeals, including those from small

  1041
  businesses. This autumn the existing procedures for simplified planning zones are to be streamlined when the relevant provisions in the Planning and Compensation Act 1991 come into force.

  In partnership with the Department of Industry, my Department is exploring how local authorities can assist industry to comply with regulation, by improving consistency in enforcement. On 30 June, the Government launched a pilot project to establish partnerships between local authorities and local businesses in nine areas across the country, improving communications and clarifying the role of the regulatory authority.

  Eutrophication
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the most recent evidence he has on the extent of eutrophication and algal blooms in the estuarial and coastal waters of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  Observational evidence suggests that there is no increase in the frequency of, and no areas with significant problems from, algal blooms caused by eutrophication in the estuarial and coastal waters of the United Kingdom. However, to obtain more systematic evidence, the National Rivers Authority is gathering data on a regular basis. This will be reviewed in conjunction with my Department at the end of the year, together with the other research which my Department is sponsoring on the subject of algal blooms and nutrients in the North sea.

  Departmental Objectives
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the objectives of each division and branch of his Department.

  Mr. Howard
  The aims, objectives and targets of my Department are set out each year in the management information system for Ministers documents which are published. I have placed in the Library of the House copies of the MINIS 13 returns, which provide this information for 1992–93.

  Civil Servants (Shares)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance, other than the civil service pay and conditions of service code and the establishment officers' guide, his Department provides relating to civil servants' shareholdings; if he will list the number of occasions within the last five years on which civil servants have reported shareholdings to establishment officers in his Department; what regulations apply to the staff of the next steps agencies within his Department; what mechanisms are in place to prevent potential conflicts of interest; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  Guidance is given in the Department's staff handbook, which also applies to staff in its next steps agencies. Notices giving specific guidance have also been issued in relation to the sale of the water services industry and the proposed sale of businesses within PSA Services. This guidance instructs staff on how to avoid actual or potential conflicts of interest. Two members of staff have sought advice on their shareholdings since 1987.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Sproat
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what visits he has made to her EC counterparts in each member state to discuss deregulation matters since 18 April; what agreements came out of such meetings; and what plans he has for making further progress in deregulation matters during the United Kingdom presidency of the EC.

  Mr. Howard
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has of the number of local authorities affected by the error in the COMCIS computer programme for community charge collection; what is his assessment of the implications of this; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I am not aware of the problem to which the hon. Member refers.

  Business Rate
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what indication he has of local authorities including uniform business rate arrears in the figure they give as the additional amounts charged for sums not collected; whether all local authorities are acting consistently on this matter; whether he has issued any guidance to local authorities on this point; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The amounts taken into account as "other adjustments" for the purposes of setting community charges is a matter for each individual charging authority.

  Under the statutory arrangements for the national non-domestic rate it is not necessary for authorities when setting their community charges to make provision in their "other adjustments" for non collection of rates due from non-domestic ratepayers.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to amend legislation so as to reduce the business rate liability of empty shop premises using a charitable or non-commercial information display in their windows as a device to improve security and the environment.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  No.

  Joint Nature Conservation Committee
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to reduce the number of staff of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  None. We await proposals from English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Countryside Council for Wales, in consultation with the JNCC, for a formal staff complement for the committee.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of funding and manpower of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.
  1043
  Mr. Maclean
  No. The future level of funding for the committee will be determined in the normal way as part of the current public expenditure round. We await proposals from the county councils, in consultation with the J NCC, for a formal staff complement for the committee.

  Listed Buildings
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all applications to demolish listed buildings in each of the last 12 months; and if lie will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  This information is not readily available.

  Private applications for listed building consent are made to local planning authorities, which refer them to the Secretary of State only if they are minded to grant consent. All applications for listed building consent by local planning authorities are submitted to the Secretary of State for his determination.

  In the financial year 1990–91, 79 private applications for consent totally to demolish listed buildings were referred to the Secretary of State and 33 such local planning authority applications were determined by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State left local authorities to decide 72 of the private applications and called in the remaining seven for his own decision. Of the called-in applications, consent was refused in three cases and granted in four cases. Of the local authority applications, the Secretary of State refused consent in six cases and granted consent in 27 cases.

  Housing Associations
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the housing authorities that have transferred most or all of their housing stock to housing associations stating in each case the year of the transfer and the number of dwellings transferred.

  Sir George Young
  The information is as follows:

  Local authority

  Year of transfer

  Number of dwellings

  Chiltern

  1988

  4,650

  Sevenoaks

  1989

  6,526

  Newbury

  1989

  7,053

  Swale

  1990

  7,352

  Broadland

  1990

  3,721

  North Bedfordshire

  1990

  7,472

  Medina

  1990

  2,825

  Rochester

  1990

  8,029

  South Wight

  1990

  2,119

  Mid Sussex

  1990

  4,426

  East Dorset

  1990

  2,245

  Tonbridge and Mailing

  1991

  6,382

  Ryedale

  1991

  3,353

  South Bucks

  1991

  3,319

  Christchurch

  1991

  1,542

  Suffolk Coastal

  1991

  5,272

  Tunbridge Wells

  1992

  5,519

  Bromley

  1992

  12,393

  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, what(a) evidence and (b) reports he has received from the Housing Corporation on the affordability of new homes provided by housing associations in England.
  1044
  Mr. Baldry
  The Housing Corporation has made available to the Department the work it has done so far in monitoring the rents set for new housing association homes.

  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what(a) evidence and (b) reports he has received from the Housing Corporation on the affordability of new homes provided by housing associations in England.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Housing Corporation has made available to the Department the work it has been done so far in monitoring the rents set for new housing association homes.

  Rural Development
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, with the figures shown as a per capita figure, for each local authority which contains a rural development area the level of(a) rural development programme, (b) rural housing programme and (c) rural transport development fund for each year from 1987–88 at current prices and at 1987–88 prices.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him yesterday.

  Land Compensation Act 1973
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why he decided to seek to remove the words "passed the resolution" from section 29(1) of the Land Compensation Act 1973 by schedule 15, part II of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991.

  Mr. Baldry
  The words referred to had been redundant since enactment of the Land Compensation (Scotland) Act 1973, under which Scottish provisions on land compensation were separated from those applying to England and Wales. Removal of the words thus involved no substantive change in the law.

  Zoos
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to treat the proposed EC directive laying down minimum standards for keeping animals in zoos as a priority during the United Kingdom presidency of the European Community.

  Mr. Maclean
  After taking informal soundings within the Community, we announced our support in principle for the proposed zoos directive earlier this year. More recently however, it has become clear that a number of other member states would not support the current proposals, not least because of concerns about subsidiarity. In view of this, and the pressures on our programme for the United Kingdom presidency, we have concluded that the directive should not be one of our priorities.

  Rents-to-Mortgages
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the tenants of housing authorities whose homes have been transferred to housing associations will be able to participate in the rents-tomortgages scheme.
  1045
  Sir George Young
  We will be consulting shortly on the proposition that entitlement to a statutory rents-tomortgages scheme should extend to former secure tenants whose homes have been transferred to private landlords.

  Urban Development Corporations
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his plans for the urban development corporations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The urban development corporations will continue their task of securing the regeneration of their areas until the end of their lifetimes.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of budgets of each urban development corporation is allocated to community development work or similar grant aid to local community projects; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 15 July 1992]: The percentage of each urban development corporation's 1991–92 budget which was specifically allocated to community development is shown. Further expenditure related to community development may be charged to individual UDC projects.

  Percentage of total budget specifically allocated to community development.

  per cent.

  Black Country

  1·27

  Bristol

  1·44

  Central Manchester

  2·31

  Leeds

  1·69

  London Docklands

  4·50

  Merseyside

  1·66

  Sheffield

  2·00

  Teesside

  0·71

  Trafford Park

  3·06

  Tyne and Wear

  1·98

  Urban Development Areas
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment pursuant to his answer of 9 July,Official Report, columns 307–10, if he will display the figures shown as a per capita figure.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The per capita figure can be arrived at by dividing the figures in the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 9 July Official Report, columns 307–10, by the population estimates given below.

  Population estimates

  (000s)

  Authority

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Sandwell

  298·4

  296·3

  295·5

  295·0

  Walsall

  281·8

  262·3

  263·6

  263·9

  Wolverhampton

  250·5

  249·4

  249·9

  249·4

  Bristol

  384·4

  377·7

  372·6

  374·3

  Manchester

  450·1

  445·9

  443·6

  446·7

  Newham

  206·5

  207·0

  207·0

  208·6

  South wark

  216·8

  217·0

  219·8

  225·5

  Tower Hamlets

  159·0

  161·8

  163·9

  166·9

  1046

  Authority

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Leeds

  709·0

  709·6

  711·7

  712·2

  Liverpool

  476·0

  469·6

  465·9

  462·9

  Sefton

  297·3

  297·6

  299·6

  299·6

  Wirral

  334·8

  334·8

  336·2

  335·3

  Sheffield

  532·3

  528·3

  526·6

  525·8

  Hartlepool

  89·8

  88·4

  88·7

  89·9

  Langbaurgh

  145·6

  144·8

  144·5

  144·0

  Stockton

  175·9

  176·8

  176·9

  176·6

  Middlesbrough

  143·3

  143·2

  142·7

  141·6

  Trafford

  216·1

  215·8

  215·3

  214·8

  Salford

  237·7

  235·6

  234·6

  234·1

  Newcastle

  282·7

  279·6

  277·6

  277·8

  North Tyneside

  192·9

  192·9

  192·7

  191·7

  South Tyneside

  156·3

  155·7

  155·8

  156·0

  Sunderland

  297·1

  296·1

  296·2

  296·1

  Note: Figures are not yet available for 1991.

  Source: OPCS Mid-Year Population Estimates.

  Council Tenants
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he intends to take to ensure that council tenants are given the same protection and rights under the Housing Act 1985 and the Land Compensation Act 1973 as private sector tenants; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  The Land Compensation Act 1973, together with other relevant legislation. lays down the basis on which compensation is available to those who are adversely affected by action taken under statutory powers. There is in general no difference in the position of public and private tenants under the compensation code.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish an update of the league tables on departmental performance of Whitehall-type buildings, and departmental expenditure on energy and energy efficiency measures.

  Mr. Maclean
  Data on the progress of the energy efficiency campaign on the Government estate will be included in the second-year report on the environment to be published in the autumn.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will initiate a study into the impact of the client contribution in the home energy efficiency scheme on the level of take-up.

  Mr. Maclean
  The home energy efficiency scheme is cash limited, and there has been no difficulty in meeting its targets. Abolishing the client contribution, far from increasing the numbers who could benefit, would reduce the number of jobs which could be done by increasing the cost of grant for each job.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made on the establishment of an independent working party to monitor the progress of Departments of state in implementing the energy efficiency improvements following the annual report, 1990–91, of the ministerial group on energy efficiency.
  1047
  Mr. Maclean
  A working party was set up in 1991 comprising of officials, with outside consultancy support, to monitor and advise on the progress of Departments towards achieving the 15 per cent. energy savings target; it has met three times since December 1991.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of Slate for the Environment how much revenue savings from local authority energy efficiency investments have been recycled into energy efficiency capital programmes and into designated energy funds since April 1990.

  Mr. Maclean
  This information is not collected centrally; it is for local authorities to decide their own expenditure priorities.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the 1991–92 annual report of the ministerial group on energy efficiency.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have decided that the responsibilities of the ministerial group on energy efficiency should be taken over by the green Ministers, who co-ordinate environmental initiatives across Government. The second-year report on the environment will include an update on developments in the energy efficiency field and data on the campaign to improve energy efficiency on the Government estate.

  House Renovation Grants
  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the outcome of his Department's review of the house renovation grant system.

  Sir George Young
  Last July, I announced our intention to review the new renovation grant system to establish how well it is working, and to consider what changes might be needed further to improve its operation. More than 200 responses from local authorities and others were received.

  The review has shown widespread support for the main principles of the new system, particularly the improved targeting of resources on the worst housing and of those least able to pay for repairs. Concerns included the harshness of the means test for grant applicants on lower incomes, the scope for the system still to pay out large grants to those on relatively high incomes, and the resources available to meet demand for grants.

  The question of resources is a matter for the public expenditure survey. In response to the other concerns, I propose making the following adjustments to the system:
  to introduce a limit of £50,000 on mandatory grants to owner-occupiers, tenants and landlords;
  to adjust the grant premium and taper in the means test for owner-occupiers and tenants to give more help to those just above income support level and less to the better off; to uprate the allowances and premiums in the means test to reflect new housing benefit and community charge benefit rates;
  to remove the capital value element of the landlords' test of resources which has proved difficult to work effectively; to increase the limit on minor works assistance to £1,080 per year and to £3,240 over three years;
  to remove some of the obstacles to group repair schemes by adjusting the qualifying criteria both inside and outside renewal areas and by increasing average cost limits per dwelling to £16,000 in London and £13,000 elsewhere.

  I also plan to make a number of minor adjustments to improve the working of the system. Full details of all proposed changes are contained in the Library.
  1048
  These changes will help make the system more effective, by improving targeting of resources on those least able to afford essential repairs. I have decided that it would further complicate an already necessarily complex system to seek to make specific allowance for mortgage costs in the means test, as some authorities have suggested. However, the changes I propose will go a considerable way towards recognising the housing and other costs of lower-income households. All these changes can be introduced under existing legislation or by adjustments to secondary legislation, on which we will consult in the usual way. We aim to implement changes early next year.

  We plan to consult further on two longer-term changes: the introduction of possible target times for local authorities handling inquiries on grants prior to formal application, and extending minor works assistance to mobile home owners for small repairs. These changes could require primary legislation. We shall continue to keep the grant system under review and will consider any further long-term changes that appear desirable.

  Mortgage Arrears
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homes are expected to become vacant in 1992 as a consequence of abandonment by their former occupiers, generally as a consequence of mortgage arrears.

  Mr. Baldry
  Statistics of mortgage arrears and possessions are collected by the Council of Mortgage Lenders. The figures for the first half of 1992, to be published shortly, will incorporate details of "voluntary possessions", which include those arising as a consequence of abandonment by their former occupiers.

  Unitary Authorities
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what powers he has to ensure localities neighbouring shire counties are included in the review by the Local Government Commission for consideration of the granting of unitary authority status.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Under section 13 of the Local Government Act 1992, the Secretary of State may direct the commission to conduct reviews of specified areas, and he may vary his direction to the commission to include areas adjacent to those so specified.

  Greater London Council
  Mr. Thomason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the resources released through disposal of surplus assets consequent upon the abolition of the Greater London council.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Since its inception in 1986 the London residuary body has distributed £522·16 million in capital receipts to the London boroughs.

  Atmosphere
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the relative proportions of(a) water vapour, (b) methane and (c) sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere.

  Mr. Maclean
  The concentrations in the lower atmosphere of water vapour and methane relative to
  1049
  sulphur dioxide are on average approximately 10 million and 1,000 respectively. Both water vapour and sulphur dioxide concentrations vary considerably with geographical location, altitude and meteorological conditions.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Thomason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will indicate the change in cost for the provision of local government services in the former

  Local authority revenue expenditure 1984–85 to 1986–87

  Total Expenditure

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Change 1984–85 to 1985–86

  Change 1985–86 to 1986–87

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Metropolitan Areas

  10,332

  10,218

  11,297

  —1·1

  10·6

  Non-metropolitan areas

  10,979

  11,443

  12,463

  4·2

  8·9

  All England

  21,312

  21,661

  23,760

  1·6

  9·7

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities which benefit from the area cost adjustment, and by how much, in the years 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 13 July 1992]: I will write to the hon. Member.

  Jubilee Line
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his Department's assessment of the effect of the Jubilee line extension on economic regeneration in the east Thames corridor.

  Mr. Baldry
  The proposed Jubilee line extension is one factor being taken into account in the study of development capacity and potential offered by the east Thames corridor, which is being undertaken for this Department by consultants.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when, and in what manner, he proposes to utilise information for the 1991 census in calculating the standard spending assessment of local authorities.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Sheffield Development Corporation
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many jobs, excluding those at Meadowhall, the Sheffield development corporation has created to date;

  (2) how much land Sheffield development corporation has made ready for development to date, excluding Meadowhall;

  (3) how much money the Sheffield development corporation has spent to date;

  (4) what plans he has to extend the life span of Sheffield development corporation;

  (5) what plans he has to extend the boundaries of Sheffield development corporation;

  (6) when he expects the Sheffield development corporation to be wound up.
  1050
  metropolitan county areas as compared with non-metropolitan areas in the financial years preceding, including and succeeding the abolition of the metropolitan county councils.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested is as follows:

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Environment Council
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to meet the director of environmental affairs at the Confederation of British Industry before 19 October, to discuss the implementation of the United Kingdom priorities for the presidency of the European Environment Council.

  Mr. Maclean
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Environmental Organisations
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress made with(a) the Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment, (b) the Central and Local Government Environment Forum and (c) the Voluntary Sector Environmental Forum since each was established last year.

  Mr. Maclean
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Cryptosporidosis Outbreak, Hull
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, following the outbreak of cryptosporidosis in Hull, he has decided to prosecute Yorkshire Water Services Ltd. for supplying water unfit for human consumption.

  Mr. Howard
  I have now received the recommendation of the chief drinking water inspector following his investigation of the outbreak of cryptosporidosis in the Hull area in December 1989 and January 1990.

  Section 54 of the Water Act 1989—now replaced by section 70 of the Water Industry Act 1991—made it a criminal offence for a water undertaker to supply water unfit for human consumption. It is, however, a defence under the Act for the undertaker to show that all reasonable steps were taken and all due diligence exercised to secure that the water was fit for human consumption.

  The inspectorate's investigation was based on the report of the outbreak control group—made up of representatives of the health authorities, the local

  1051
  authorities, the water company and the Public Health Laboratory Service—which was completed and made available to the public in March 1991. The inspectorate then sought advice from the Government's Chief Medical Officer, from independent experts on epidemiology and water treatment, and from leading counsel.

  The inspectorate's investigation of the Hull case has been extensive and thorough, and carried out in a professional manner. I have accepted the chief inspector's recommendation that, in the light of best expert advice available, the evidence is not sufficient to form the basis for a successful prosecution. I have asked the inspectorate to prepare a report on any lessons to be learned from the incident and for the report to be made public.

  There are a number of gaps to be filled in scientific knowledge about cryptosporidium and, in accordance with the recommendations of the expert group chaired by Sir John Badenoch, a collaborative research programme co-ordinated by the inspectorate is seeking to do that.

  The inspectorate is continuing its investigations of certain other incidents, and in some of these cases is considering the possibility of prosecution.

  City Challenge
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, which local authorities have been successful in the city challenge round two competition.

  Mr. Howard
  My ministerial colleagues and I have carefully considered the 54 bids submitted by local authorities and their partners for the round two city challenge competition. We came to the conclusion that the following local authorities should, with their partners, be invited to prepare five-year action plans to start in April 1993:Barnsley, Birmingham, Blackburn, Bolton, Brent, Derby, Hackney, Hartlepool, Kensington and Chelsea, Kirklees, Lambeth, Leicester, Newham, North Tyneside, Sandwell, Sefton, Stockton, Sunderland, Walsall and Wigan.

  It is intended that these 20 inner-city areas will, subject to agreement of their individual action plans and satisfactory performance, share £750 million in Government city challenge funding over five years to support major regeneration programmes.

  Since city challenge was launched by the then Secretary of State for the Environment in May 1991, it has created an unprecedented partnership between local authorities, businesses and local people. At the same time, it has brought together Government Departments and all the other agencies involved to identify needs and promote opportunity. City challenge confirms the value of competition, already demonstrated in other initiatives such as housing investment programmes and training credits.

  Last year, 11 areas were successful in the first—'pacemaker'—round of city challenge. The 20 new winners will be able to draw on this experience and example of the pacemakers whose programmes started last April.

  Unsuccessful authorities will naturally be disappointed. But the proposals they have drawn up will provide a focus for future development of their area, and may be used as a basis to make progress through private and public funding of some initiatives.

  In the meantime, Government Departments will continue to co-operate with all inner-city local authorities and other interested parties to assist urban renewal efforts. These areas will continue to be eligible for support from
  1052
  the range of targeted programmes including city grant, derelict land grant and estate action. Outside London, most inner-city areas are also eligible for regional enterprise grants for innovation.

  Alongside city challenge this year, we also invited local authorities to make a case for an inner-city task force. We received 15 bids. Most of the bids identified areas of high deprivation which task forces are intended to address.

  I am announcing today the opening of new task forces in Birmingham, Haringey, Plymouth and Stockton. Two of these, Birmingham and Stockton, will link with new city challenge areas to reinforce those initiatives directed at disadvantaged local residents. But two of the strongest cases came from areas which were not successful in city challenge round two. I believe that task forces in Haringey and Plymouth will of themselves be able to achieve significant benefits for local people.

  The task force initiative is a rolling programme and we will in the course of the coining months be closing the task forces in Bristol, Coventry, Middlesbrough and west London whose work is nearing completion.

  Urban Regulation Agency
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has developed his proposals for an urban regulation agency.

  Mr. Redwood
  I shall shortly issue a consultation paper which will set out my proposals for the agency.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the implications for future imports of toxic waste into the United Kingdom of the European Court of Justice ruling on 9 July on the case of the appeal against the government of Wallonia in Belgium over its banning the import of toxic and hazardous wastes.

  Mr. Maclean
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Domestic Fuels (Sulphur Content)
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to regulate the sulphur content of domestic solid fuels.

  Mr. Maclean
  My Department has today issued a consultation document proposing a prohibition on the supply for domestic use of solid fuel with a sulphur content greater than 2 per cent. by weight. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House. The Government are firmly committed to controlling emissions of sulphur dioxide—SO2—a national and local level in order to protect human health and the environment. The proposed measure will help to contain SO2emissions, particularly in areas where extensive use is made of solid fuel. It will reinforce our work on improving air quality through the clean air Acts and contribute to our compliance with the mandatory European air quality standards.

  The proposal has been endorsed by the statutory committee on hazardous substances as required under section 140 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Consultees have until 18 September to submit comments.

  United Nations Environment Fund
  Mr. Merchant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the level of the Government's contribution to the United Nations Environment Fund in 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The United Kingdom gave £4·5 millionߞUS$7·7 million-to the United Nations Environment Fund this year, £0·5 million more than our contribution in 1991. This is the second successive annual increase in the United Kingdom's contribution and makes the United Kingdom the largest single contributor to the environment fund. I would urge other countries to make similarly generous contributions to this important work.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list any public appointments by his Department since 1987 which have involved people from organisations criticised in published reports by DTI inspectors.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 14 July 1992]: Such information is not available centrally, but in making appointments full account is taken of all relevant factors.

  Departmental Advisers
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list any advisers retained by his Department since 1987 who have been criticised in published reports by Department of Trade and Industry inspectors.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 14 July 1992]: I am aware of none.

  Noise
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will include rights, within the citizen's charter, for those living alongside, or underneath, the creators of environmentally damaging noise.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 13 July 1992]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram) on 7 July, Official Report, column 154, on the proposed charter for local authority environmental services. We would expect such a charter to include rights for people who are disturbed by certain noisy activities.

  Cities
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria are used in determining city status for local authorities.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I have been asked to reply.

  In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the title of city is an honour conferred by the Sovereign, by letters patent; it is not a right, which can be claimed by the fulfilment of specific conditions.

  Southport
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he received the report of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England on a review under schedule 9 to the Local Government Act 1972 initial review of counties in relation to Southport.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I have been asked to reply. I will write to the hon. Member.

  Secret Intelligence Service
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the capital cost of the Secret Intelligence Service headquarters building that is currently under construction at Vauxhall.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have been asked to reply.

  The cost of the Vauxhall site and office construction is in the region of £150 million. The cost of adaptation, which will be borne out of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office vote, is estimated to be of the order of £90 million.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the reasons why the Secret Intelligence Service is moving from its existing office accommodation to a new building at Vauxhall.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have been asked to reply.

  The new building at Vauxhall will provide SIS with the facilities it needs to undertake its important work.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what alternative sites were considered for the relocation of the Secret Intelligence Service headquarters building.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have been asked to reply.

  As is normal Government practice in projects of this type, a large number of sites were considered.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost per square foot of the office space currently used by the Secret Intelligence Service; and what will be the corresponding cost in the new headquarters building at Vauxhall.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have been asked to reply.

  The contractual rent of the present headquarters of SIS is some £9 per square foot. Since the Government own the freehold of the building at Vauxhall, there is no directly comparable rent. But the value used as the basis for acquisition in 1989 was £29 per square foot.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning security arrangements at the new Secret Intelligence Service headquarters building.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have been asked to reply.

  It has been the policy of successive Governments not to comment on matters of this nature.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the safety of the current storage of corroded radioactive metal canisters
  1055
  arising from the reprocessing of Magnox fuel at Sellafield; and what discussions he has had with British Nuclear Fuels Ltd., over the future management of this radioactive waste.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have been asked to reply.

  Before 1991, metal cladding from the reprocessing of Magnox spent fuel at Sellafield was placed by British Nuclear Fuels plc under water in storage silos at the site.
  1056
  This intermediate-level waste is subject to continuous surveillance and monitoring to ensure its safe storage pending retrieval and treatment.

  As part of the company's ongoing programme to improve its storage and handling of radioactive wastes, BN FL has built new facilities for the safe encapsulation of' this material. The Magnox encapsulation plant for solid waste started operation in 1991 and a second facility, which includes the capability for sludges, is expected to come on stream early next year.

  JUDICIAL SITTINGS OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS
  JUDICIAL SITTINGS OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS
  MAASTRICHT TREATY: PROTOCOL AND AGREEMENT ON SOCIAL POLICY
  MAASTRICHT TREATY: PROTOCOL AND AGREEMENT ON SOCIAL POLICY
  CHARITY COMMISSION 1988 REPORT
  CHARITY COMMISSION 1988 REPORT
  PAROLE: DIRECTIONS TO BOARD
  PAROLE: DIRECTIONS TO BOARD
  DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: ACCESS TO EUROPEAN MARKET
  DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: ACCESS TO EUROPEAN MARKET
  GATT NEGOTIATIONS and DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
  GATT NEGOTIATIONS and DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
  EC SINGLE MARKET and DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
  EC SINGLE MARKET and DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
  PLUTONIUM REPROCESSING
  PLUTONIUM REPROCESSING
  PLUTONIUM PRODUCTION AND EXPORT BY UK
  PLUTONIUM PRODUCTION AND EXPORT BY UK
  BNFL: FUTURE OF THORP
  BNFL: FUTURE OF THORP
  SCOTLAND: RESPONSIBILITIES OF SECRETARY OF STATE FOR NATIONAL HERITAGE
  SCOTLAND: RESPONSIBILITIES OF SECRETARY OF STATE FOR NATIONAL HERITAGE
  ROYAL PARKS: EMPLOYEES
  ROYAL PARKS: EMPLOYEES
  ADISHAM, KENT, RAILWAY STATION
  ADISHAM, KENT, RAILWAY STATION
  ASSISTED AREAS: EXPENDITURE OF GRANTS ON TRANSPORT FACILITIES
  ASSISTED AREAS: EXPENDITURE OF GRANTS ON TRANSPORT FACILITIES
  "MARCHIONESS"/"BOWBELLE" COLLISION REPORT: ACTION ON RECOMMENDATIONS
  "MARCHIONESS"/"BOWBELLE" COLLISION REPORT: ACTION ON RECOMMENDATIONS
  BANANAS: SINGLE MARKET
  BANANAS: SINGLE MARKET
  AGRICULTURE COUNCIL,13th AND 14th JULY
  AGRICULTURE COUNCIL,13th AND 14th JULY
  TOBACCO: REFORM OF EC REGIME
  TOBACCO: REFORM OF EC REGIME
  CAP REFORM: REDUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT
  CAP REFORM: REDUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT
  FAMILY PLANNING ADVICE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
  FAMILY PLANNING ADVICE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
  SALARIED DENTISTS
  SALARIED DENTISTS
  DEEP SLEEP TREATMENT
  DEEP SLEEP TREATMENT
  HOSPITAL AT HOME SCHEMES
  HOSPITAL AT HOME SCHEMES
  EC BILATERAL AID PROGRAMMES
  EC BILATERAL AID PROGRAMMES
  EC DEVELOPMENT POLICY: OBJECTIVES
  EC DEVELOPMENT POLICY: OBJECTIVES
  INDONESIA: EDUCATION ASSISTANCE
  INDONESIA: EDUCATION ASSISTANCE
  EAST TIMOR: UN ACTION
  EAST TIMOR: UN ACTION
  RUSSIAN NUCLEAR MISSILES
  RUSSIAN NUCLEAR MISSILES
  NORTHERN IRELAND: GRANTS TO VOLUNTARY BODIES
  NORTHERN IRELAND: GRANTS TO VOLUNTARY BODIES
  NORTHERN IRELAND: STATUTORY RULES
  NORTHERN IRELAND: STATUTORY RULES