Written Answers of 9 June 1992

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Rudolf Hess
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will now place in the Library a copy of the Jones report into the alleged irregularities surrounding the death of Rudolf Hess in Spandau gaol in August 1987.

  The Attorney-General
  No. The document which the hon. Member refers to as the Jones report is a report submitted by the Metropolitan police to the Director of Public Prosecutions setting out the result of a police investigation into an alleged criminal offence. Such reports are confidential.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Small Shops
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to meet OPEN, the small shops group.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I am considering whether it may be mutually helpful to meet representatives of OPEN later this year.

  Sunday Trading
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will undertake to set out the Government's proposed reforms of the Shops Act 1950 before the end of 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  (2) whether he has any plans to publish, in broad terms, the reforms he would favour in the Shops Act 1950; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We certainly hope to be able to fulfil before the end of this year our commitment to publishing proposals for reform of the Shops Act 1950 once the legal position is clear. Judgment by the European Court of Justice on the compatibility of the current law on Sunday trading in England and Wales with Community law is at present expected in the early autumn.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners and remand prisoners at Durham prison were transferred to the care of hospitals in each month of the last two years; how many of such prisoners required(a) physical restraint such as handcuffs and (b) constant supervision by local police; what recompense has been made by the prison authorities as a health care purchaser to the providing hospitals; and what is the scale of charges that forms the basis of recompense.
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  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The number of prisoners at Durham prison transferred to hospitals in each month of the year 1991–92 is as follows. Figures are not available for the previous year.

  1991–92

  Number

  April

  9

  May

  6

  June

  10

  July

  6

  August

  9

  September

  9

  October

  14

  November

  8

  December

  6

  January

  6

  February

  8

  March

  6

  Total

  97

  All such prisoners were handcuffed to staff on the journey to hospital except where the medical conditions precluded this. None of thse prisoners required constant supervision by the police. Where patient care is provided to prisoners in national health service facilities, the costs are a matter for the prisoner's district health authority of origin.

  Intelligence Data
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (I) if he will place the specification of the computer for the national criminal intelligence service in the Library;

  (2) if he will describe each separate index of personal data stored on the computer for the national criminal intelligence service; how many items of data are stored under each index; what is the number of entries in each index; and how many accesses to each index are expected over the coming year.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The computer system to support the national criminal intelligence service is still being developed and the functional specification has not yet been finalised.

  Nuclear Weapons Convoys (Accidents)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement as to how senior fire officers are being currently trained to deal with an accident involving a nuclear weapons road convoy; and what future training is being considered.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Training for senior officers of fire brigades in contingency planning and co-ordination of the emergency services' action continues to be provided by the Ministry of Defence and at the Fire Service college, which supplements the training in brigades to deal with incidents involving radioactivity.

  Attacks on Police
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to bring forward proposals to strengthen legislation to punish those who attack and injure policemen carrying out their duties.

  Mr. Jack
  No. The courts already have strong powers to deal with those who attack and injure police officers and
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  the Court of Appeal has made it clear that they should use them. The results of a survey of sentences imposed in the last six months of 1991 for assaults on the police demonstrated that the courts recognise that such assaults are despicable and deserve to be punished severely. Immediate custody was imposed for a significantly higher proportion of the assaults on the police covered in the survey than for assaults on all victims in 1990.

  Derek Bentley
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received from Mr. David Yallop concerning a posthumous pardon to Derek Bentley: and what reply he has sent.

  Mr. Jack
  Mr. Yallop wrote on 14 August 1991 referring to his book "To Encourage The Others" on the case of Derek Bentley and requesting an independent, public inquiry into the case. He was told that the contents of his book would be taken into account and that once inquiries were completed, the Secretary of State would be in a position to decide whether any further action on his part was necessary.

  Mr. Yallop wrote on 21 May inquiring when the outcome of our consideration of the case would be announced. He has been informed that, in addition to the contents of his book, careful consideration is being given to a great deal of other material, including a letter and dossier received on 1 June from solicitors acting for Miss Iris Bentley. He has been advised that an announcement will be made as soon as the Secretary of State is in a position to decide whether any action on his part is justified.

  County Council Elections
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received requesting the postponement or cancellation of county council elections due to be held in Wales in May 1993.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No such representations have been received by me. However, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has been approached by both local authority associations in Wales. Decisions on this matter have not yet been made.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is considering instituting the necessary parliamentary action to postpone or cancel the county council elections due to be held in Wales in May 1993.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No decisions have yet been taken in this matter.

  Urban Crime Fund
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will increase the level of funding provided to the Northumbria police force for the urban crime fund initiative.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  No.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the original level of funding indicated to the Northumbria police force for the urban crime fund initiative; and what was the figure finally approved.
  78
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  When the urban crime fund initiative was launched on 26 November, it was announced that the three police authorities to benefit would each be eligible for additional funding of up to £3.66 million.

  At the request of the three police authorities concerned, it has been agreed that £3.9 million, £1.3 million for each authority, of the total of £11 million revenue provision may be used for capital projects. The total Exchequer contribution remains unchanged at £11 million.

  Immigration Office, Glasgow
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Glasgow immigration office will be reopened.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Glasgow immigration public inquiry office will be reopened as soon as possible.

  Immigration
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to enable a more flexible transition from temporary immigration permission for the purpose of unpaid child minder for close relatives on compassionate grounds to working holiday visa and vice versa; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  A person who wishes to come to the United Kingdom for a short period to care for a sick or elderly relative may be admitted as a visitor under the Immigration Rules provided that the immigration officer is satisfied among other things that it will not constitute employment, paid or unpaid, and that the passenger is genuinely seeking entry for the period of the visit as stated. A person who has been admitted as a visitor may qualify to stay on in the United Kingdom as a working holidaymaker if he or she is a young Commonwealth citizen aged 17 to 27 inclusive and meets the other requirements of the rules relating to the working holidaymaker scheme, and vice versa.

  Correspondence
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter from Stuart Bower sent to his Department on 10 February.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  A reply to Mr. Bower's letter has now been sent by my officials. I apologise to Mr. Bower for the delay in replying.

  International Fraud
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will raise with his counterparts in other European Community and OECD countries the case for binding international agreements to allow investigation of bank accounts in the course of inquiries into international financial fraud.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 5 June 1992]: We already have arrangements to allow our investigators to pursue financial inquiries overseas. The Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990 enables us to provide full mutual legal assistance to other countries, including evidence concerning bank accounts, and to obtain such assistance from overseas. In addition, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the director

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  of the Serious Fraud Office have powers of their own to investigate international frauds. And we shall shortly be introducing new legislation to extend the jurisdiction of our courts in relation to fraud committed across national boundaries.

  We accept, both in principle and in practice, that bank secrecy should be lifted to allow the investigation of criminal offences. We have argued at the international level, most recently through our membership of the financial action task force on money laundering, against the use of hank secrecy to inhibit action against international criminal activity including money laundering and financial fraud.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Guinness Trials
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how much legal aid has been paid to the defendants in the Guinness trials.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To date, over £1.3 million has been paid out of legal aid towards the Crown court costs of the defence in the Guinness trials. However, not all of the expected claims for costs from legal aid or central funds have yet been received by the court and the final amount is yet to be determined.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if a defendant has disposed of the proceeds of the sale of his home, how this affects his eligibility for legal aid.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The legal aid regulations provide that if it appears that an applicant for legal aid has deprived himself of or converted any resources in order to reduce the amount of his disposable capital, whether to reduce his liability to pay a contribution towards legal aid or otherwise, these resources shall be treated as part of his resources. Consequently, the applicant may be found to be ineligible for legal aid on financial grounds or any contribution to be paid will he based on the total resources he is deemed to have.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Banks (Audits)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any proposals for legislation under which all banks operating in the United Kingdom would be required to have(a) independent audit committees and (b) internal audit departments.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Bank of England's "Banking Act Report 1987–88", laid before the House on 18 May 1988, and the bank's "Statement of Principles" make it clear that the bank is committed to United Kingdom-based banking groups having independent audit committees where this is feasible. The hank also reviews the value of internal audit arrangements when assessing a bank's control and management systems.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the domestic valuations submitted by estate agents for the new council tax have been rejected by the Inland Revenue Valuation Office.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Private contractors are required to value band domestic properties issued in batches and, as at 29 May 1992, 6.3 per cent. of all batches returned to the Valuation Office agency had been rejected.

  Passenger Transport (VAT)
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends to maintain the zero-rating of value added tax on passenger transport after 1997.

  Sir John Cope
  The Government have maintained, during the single market negotiations, our right to retain the coverage of our current zero rates including domestic passenger transport. The present agreement reached by Finance Ministers covers the period until 1997 without prejudice to what happens thereafter.

  Advance Corporation Tax
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will issue a statement on the recoverability of advance corporation tax; how many companies have sought clearance before the payment of a group dividend with advance corporation tax attaching; how many are awaiting clearance; and what is the average waiting time for clearance.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Advance corporation tax—ACT—paid by a company in respect of a dividend or other qualifying distribution made in an accounting period may, up to a limit, be set against the company's liability to corporation tax for the accounting period. Where a company has paid more ACT than it can set off in an accounting period, it may carry back the surplus to set against its liability to corporation tax in the previous six years, which may give rise to a repayment of corporation tax for those years. Surplus ACT may also be carried forward indefinitely against future liability to corporation tax.

  Special rules exist to counteract artificial tax advantages, including payment of a tax credit, or non-paymnent of ACT attaching to a dividend, when certain transactions in securities are involved. Companies can seek a clearance from the Inland Revenue that these rules do not apply. In the year to 31 March 1992, the Inland Revenue received about 3,500 such applications, of which less than 10 per cent. involved dividends paid within a group of companies. The average number of all cases awaiting clearance at any time in the six months to 31 March 1992 was 157, most of which did not involve dividends. All cases are processed within 30 days.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the reasons for treating the recovery of advance corporation tax by subsidiaries of group companies differently from the treatment of group companies as one taxpayer.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Companies paying dividends within a group may elect not to pay advance corporation tax on them. Where, however, a parent company pays a dividend,
  81
  it must account for ACT. The parent may either set that ACT against its own liability to corporation tax, or may surrender it to a subsidiary, to be set off against the subsidiary's liability. This may lead to a repayment of corporation tax. Companies within groups may also be entitled to a credit for ACT suffered on the dividend income they receive.

  Within a group, these provisions enable ACT to be paid only by the parent company and for that ACT to be set off against corporation tax within the group.

  Premium Bonds
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will increase the interest paid to premium bond holders over the next three years.

  Mr. Nelson
  The general level of interest rates has fallen substantially over the last 18 months. Against that background, I have no plans to increase the rate of interest used for the premium bond prize fund.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those business organisations he has consulted about the new aggregate sales listings for VAT and indicate their concerns.

  Sir John Cope
  Customs and Excise consulted businesses very widely. A list is currently being prepared and I shall write to my hon. Friend when it is complete.

  The concerns expressed related to compliance costs and burdens on businesses, and the potential for abuse of commercially sensitive information. These were taken fully into account in EC negotiations, where some significant simplifications were achieved; and in the measures to implement these arrangements in the United Kingdom.

  Intelligence Data
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the 22 Departments and non-departmental agencies that use the Government data network interchange personal data between themselves via the GDN; and how many of these interchanges are a consequence of using the GDN.

  Mr. Nelson
  Sixteen arrangements for interdepartmental transfer of personal data have been authorised. All are exchanges of staff pay and personnel information between Chessington computer centre and customer departments and use GDN as a means of meeting established requirements. Twenty-nine departments or non-departmental bodies now have access agreements with Racal Data Networks Limited to use GDN.

  Cheques Act 1992
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what publicity he is arranging on the effect of the Cheques Act 1992(a) generally, (b) in cattle auctions, (c) in furniture and art auctions and (d) in motor trade auctions.

  Mr. Nelson
  A press release explaining the effects of the Cheques Act 1992 will be issued on 16 June when the Act comes into effect three months after Royal Assent was given.

  Aquatic Environment
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the responsibilities and duties of his Department and the Crown Estate, in relation to inshore waters, intertidal areas and maritime land; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The Treasury has no such responsibilities or duties.

  Where the Crown Estate is the owner of the sea-bed or foreshore in inshore waters, intertidal areas and maritime land, it fulfils its responsibilities and duties set out in the Crown Estate Act 1961. It also has certain regulatory functions in respect of marine aggregate extraction and fish farming.

  BCCI
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government have yet received from Lord Justice Bingham a copy of or extracts from his report on BCCI.

  Mr. Nelson
  Lord Justice Bingham has not yet completed his report into the inquiry. Her Majesty's Treasury has received from the inquiry, in accordance with its stated procedures, draft factual passages which are relevant to the responsibilities of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

  Debtor Countries
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to set up a fund to retire debts owed to commercial banks by lower income countries.

  Mr. Nelson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and Lunesdale (Mr. Lennox-Boyd) on 15 May, at column 223.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's arrangements for consulting the Data Protection Registrar during the planning stage of any initiative involving the collection, use or disclosure of personal data; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  My Department has a data protection co-ordinator responsible for ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1984. That officer maintains appropriate contact with the office of the Data Protection Registrar in all matters relating to the Act.

  Mersey Tunnel
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax was rebated last year to self-employed people claiming against their use of the Mersey tunnel; and what plans there are to extend rebates to all people in employment.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I regret that this information is not available.

  Barlow Clowes
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much to date has been paid by Peter Clowes and Pamela Clowes on account of damages payable to his Department: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  A court order for interim payment of damages of £6 million was made on 13 April 1992 against Mr. and Mrs. Clowes. Enforcement has been stayed pending any appeal.

  Carbon Tax
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of a carbon tax upon employment prospects.

  Sir John Cope
  The impact of a carbon tax on employment prospects is highly uncertain and would depend on a range of factors. These include the precise nature of the tax and the use made of the additional revenues. However the net impact may well be small, with job losses in some energy-intensive industries offset by gains in other industries which use less energy.

  Valuation Office
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what targets will be set for the Valuation Office executive agency for the year 1992–93.

  Mr. Nelson
  1 have set the following key targets for the agency in 1992–93.

  Operational Targets
  Non-domestic rates: to clear 302,000 appeals against the 1990 List of rating valuations and to deal with 222,000 reassessment cases arising because properties have undergone physical changes.
  Council Tax: to complete the valuation banding of domestic properties. The Agency will undertake 4.3 million valuations directly and supervise private sector contractors in the valuation of a further 4.8 million properties.
  Direct Taxes: to undertake 120,000 valuation cases for the Inland Revenue concerning Inheritance and Capital Gains Taxes and Stamp Duty.
  Other: to undertake 135,000 property and land valuations for other Government Departments, public bodies and local authorities.

  Financial Performance and Cost Efficiency
  to limit the Agency's net expenditure to its Main Estimates figure of £1.365 million; to achieve efficiency savings of approximately 2.5 per cent. on its gross expenditure; and to rationalise the number of its local offices from 121 to 113.

  Citizens' Charter
  to reply to 90 per cent. of all correspondence within 28 days of receipt; to publish a supplement to the Taxpayers' Charter to cover all Valuation Office work; and by June 1992 to complete a trial extension of local office opening hours.

  Further details of the performance measures and targets are set out in the agency's business plan for 1992–93, a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House on publication.

  Relocation
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for the terms on which civil servants are moved in the public interest.
  84
  Mr. Dorrell
  At present civil servants moving home in the public interest are entitled to a wide range of financial assistance. This package will be improved for those small number of staff who find, as a result of their move, that the proceeds of the sale of their old property are not sufficient to repay their mortgage. Departments and agencies will have the freedom to offer such staff loans, at commercial rates of interest, repayable on the same terms as the existing scheme for making advances of salary for house purchases. Departments and agencies will also, in particularly difficult cases, be free to offer advances of salary to meet mortgage shortfalls, on the same terms as the advances of salary offered to meet bridging loan shortfalls.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

  Staff Salaries
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newham, North West (Mr. Banks) of 20 May,Official Report, column 143, what is the total monthly cost of the salaries and other costs to public funds of the staff in the Clerk's Department employed on duties principally related to departmental Select Committees.

  Mr. Beith
  The total monthly cost to public funds of the salaries and other expenses of staff in the Clerk's Department employed on duties principally related to departmental Select Committees is estimated to be £175,862. This figure includes superannuation and employer's national insurance contributions.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Earth Summit
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will list(a) the number of officials by rank and grade and (b) the number of consultants attending the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, giving details of their class of travel and the total budgeted cost of the delegation.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The United Kingdom delegation will consist of the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for the Environment, the Minister for Overseas Development, the Minister for the Environment and Countryside, and 25 officials from DOE, FCO, ODA, DTI, and the Forestry Commission. Official gradings are:

  Number

  Senior Grade

  8

  Counsellor/equivalent

  5

  First Secretary/equivalent

  11

  Third Secretary

  1

  In addition, there are five members of the delegation attached to our diplomatic posts in Brazil. Their gradings are:

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  Number

  Senior Grade

  1

  Counsellor

  1

  First Secretary

  1

  Second Secretary

  2

  Eight junior support staff will also attend the conference, as well as 12 non-governmental organisation—NGO—observers who will form part of the United Kingdom delegation.

  The staff involved will be needed to service not only the plenary sessions of the conference but the specialised sectoral working groups that will be set up and where much of the detailed negotiating will be done. So far, eight informal working groups have been convened and others will be assembled if necessary. Other staff are required to provide office support facilities and to liaise with the local authorities over such matters as transport and security.

  Ministers, their private secretaries and the ambassador to the United Nations will travel first class, all other delegates will travel club class. The estimated cost of the delegation's travel and subsistence, including hotel costs, will be about £190,000. NGOs will he responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses.

  The estimated total administrative cost of the conference, including office facilities, transport and communications, and so on will be about £500,000.

  Albania
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance he has given the Albanian Government with regard to setting up a legal system and the establishment of a legal profession.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office paid the travel costs and expenses for a delegation from the British Albanian Legal Association to visit Tirana in April 1992 to hold seminars on the theory and practice of running a legal profession.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will extend the know how fund to Albania.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  This is under active consideration.

  Abu Dhabi
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the entertainment budget of the British ambassador in Abu Dhabi.

  Mr. Goodlad
  A total of —12,628 per annum.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much annual expenditure is incurred in respect of the British embassy in Abu Dhabi.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The latest confirmed figure, for 1990–91, is £1,345,935.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the number of vehicles owned by Her Majesty's Government or hired by Her Majesty's Government situated at the British embassy in Abu Dhabi.
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  Mr. Goodlad
  There are five official vehicles at the British embassy in Abu Dhabi, three owned by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and two by the Ministry of Defence. Vehicles are hired to replace one of these only in the event of breakdown.

  Refuseniks
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made on behalf of refusenik David Aptecman and his family of Moscow.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We can consider raising with the Russian authorities the case of David Aptecman and his family, but to make effective representations we would need further details.

  Aquatic Environment
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the responsibilities and duties of his Department and any agency which reports to his Department in relation to inshore waters, intertidal areas and maritime land; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has no direct responsibility for United Kingdom coastal policy, but provides advice to other Government Departments on the international implications of Her Majesty's Government's maritime policy and monitors the policy of other governments, particularly in relation to the law of the sea.

  Antarctica
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to bring forward legislation to repeal the Antarctic Minerals Act 1989; and if he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards Antarctica.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Government are fully committed to implementation of the environmental protocol to the Antarctic treaty. Ratification of the protocol and repeal of the Antarctic Minerals Act 1989 will depend on the introduction of legislation to give effect to the provisions of the protocol.

  We shall introduce legislation when the business of the House permits.

  Croatia
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to establish diplomatic relations with Croatia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  This is under active consideration.

  Maastricht Treaty
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many copies of the Maastricht agreement have been made available to members of the public; and whether a charge was made for each copy.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  While the treaty on European union was being prepared for publication more than 1,000
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  copies of the text were made available to Parliament. Copies were also made available free of charge to members of the public on request from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Some 100 copies were sent out.

  The treaty was published as a Command Paper—Cm 1934—on 7 May and is available from HMSO at a cost of £13.30. A total of 2,500 copies have been printed, of which 400 were sent to Parliament.

  Yugoslav Assets
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he proposes to take to freeze assets of the former Republic of Yugoslavia, now controlled by Serbia, held in the United Kingom.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I have been asked to reply.

  Her Majesty's Treasury took action to block Serbian and Montenegran assets held in the United Kingdom with effect from 1 June. Directions were made under the Emergency Laws (Re-enactments and Repeals) Act 1964.

  An Order in Council was made on 4 June which implements the full range of sanctions under United Nations Security Council resolution 757 and includes provisions covering the assets freeze secured by the Treasury directions.

PRIME MINISTER

  Newham
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to the London borough of Newham.

  Mr. Newton
  I have been asked to reply.

  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will be making further visits to many parts of the country and hopes to include different parts of London among them.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 9 June.

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 9 June.

  Mr. Newton
  I have been asked to reply.

  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is visiting Colombia to have discussions with President Gavria on a wide range of issues. He will carry out other official duties including an inspection of an anti-narcotics police training school.

  Earth Summit
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Prime Minister what is his assessment of the likely outcome of the Earth summit in Rio.

  The Prime Minister
  I am committed to the success of the Earth summit and will attend the meeting with other world leaders.

  We shall sign the framework convention on climate change and have joined with other members of the European Community in urging all countries to sign and ratify it as soon as possible thereafter. This convention will be a significant first step in tackling the global problems of climate change.
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  We shall also sign the convention on biodiversity, which should provide an initial step in protecting natural habitats and the range of species throughout the world. This will be subject to satisfactory arrangements that take full account of our concern about financial commitments.

  We have already announced that we will provide new and additional financial resources through the global environment facility to assist developing countries in meeting the incremental costs of their commitments under the convention.

  We hope that an effective statement of principles on the sustainable development of the world's forests will be agreed and a process to follow the principles up.

  Agenda 21 provides a coherent framework for action by all to achieve more sustainable types of development and growth. We attach great importance to its agreement at the meeting. We hope that it will contain a declaration of basic principles and that stronger machinery will be established to carry forward work at a national and international level.

EDUCATION

  International Education Programme
  Ms. Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what information he has about the international educational programme which places students from abroad in United Kingdom schools.

  Mr. Forman
  The Intercultural Educational Programme—IEP—is a registered charity which promotes intercultural learning through exchange programmes for students, workers, teachers, families and youth groups throughout the world. IEP is the United Kingdom national office of AFS Intercultural Programs, an American based exchange organisation which has offices throughout the world.

  As part of its activities, IEP organises placements which enable 15 to 18-year-old pupils from abroad to spend a period, usually one academic year, living with a British family and attending a local school. Similar placements are also organised for United Kingdom pupils abroad.

  Dysentery
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement concerning the recent cases of dysentery at the school in Seaham in 1991 and the schools in Easington in 1992.

  Mr. Forth
  The matter is one for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health. I understand, however, that there is no evidence to suggest that the reported cases originated at the schools attended by the children.

  Ealing Schools
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects to announce his decision on the schools' reorganisation proposals put to him by Ealing council and the churches; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend proposes to reach a decision on the outstanding proposals in respect of the county and voluntary schools as soon as possible after his
  89
  decision on the statutory proposals from the grant-maintained secondary schools to change their age of admission from 12 to 11. He hopes that will be in the course of the summer.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will establish a quality audit of higher education; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forman
  The Government are committed to ensuring that effective quality assurance arrangements exist in higher education. One element, in line with the policy set out in Cm 1561, will be a United Kingdom-wide higher education quality council established by higher education institutions collectively. This will have three units, devoted to quality audit, quality enhancement and credit and access. The council has been developed in discussion with my Department. I am confident that it will do a good job.

  European Cultural Commissioner
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what draft directives affecting what may be taught in schools are being considered by the Cultural Commissioner of the EEC.

  Mr. Forman
  None.

  Further Education
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the aggregate number of students by full-time equivalent by college studying in further education colleges for the academic years 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Forman
  [holding answer 8 June 1992]: The table gives the full-time equivalent student numbers for further education colleges which responded to the "Further Education Statistical Record" at November 1990. This information is not yet available for the academic year 1991–92.

  Table showing full-time equivalent student numbers (FTEs) for each English further education college at November 1990

  Number

  Kingsway Princeton College

  1,969

  Woolwich College

  1,529

  Cordwainers College

  189

  Hackney College

  2,366

  Hammersmith and West London College

  2,893

  City and East London College

  1,903

  North London College

  1,446

  Brixton College of Further Education

  1,147

  Vauxhall College of Building and Further Education

  1,700

  South London College

  1,496

  Lewisham College

  3,072

  Southwark College

  1,963

  Tower Hamlets College

  1,175

  South Thames College

  2,378

  Westminster College

  2,699

  City of Westminster College

  2,371

  Barking College of Technology

  2,390

  Barnet College

  2,817

  Hendon College of Further Education

  2,064

  Erith College of Technology

  2,073

  Kilburn College of Further Education

  1,430

  Willesden College of Technology

  2,042

  Bromley College of Technology

  1,395

  90

  Number

  Orpington College of Further Education

  1,126

  Croydon College

  4,720

  Acton Technical College

  1,387

  Southall College of Technology

  1,428

  Norwood Hall Institute of Horticultural Education

  69

  Southgate College

  2,275

  Enfield College

  2,112

  Capel Manor Institute of Horticultural and Environmental Control

  148

  College of North East London

  2,701

  Elm Park Tertiary College

  1,698

  Green Hill Tertiary College

  2,127

  Weald Tertiary College

  2,025

  Havering Technical College

  3,196

  Uxbridge Technical College

  1,746

  Hounslow Borough College

  2,166

  Kingston College of Further Education

  2,723

  Merton College

  1,357

  Wimbledon School of Art

  489

  Newham Community College

  4,580

  Redbridge Technical College

  1,303

  Richmond Upon Thames College

  3,246

  Carshalton College of Further Education

  1,267

  Waltham Forest College

  3,157

  Bournville College of Further Education

  1,620

  Brooklyn College

  1,254

  Hall Green College

  2,075

  East Birmingham College

  1,559

  Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and C. S.

  2,070

  Matthew Boulton College

  2,858

  Handsworth College

  1,745

  Sutton Coldfield College of Further Education

  2,905

  Coventry Technical College

  2,302

  Henley College

  1,644

  Tile Hill College of Further Education

  1,860

  Dudley College of Technology

  4,335

  Halesowen College

  2,313

  Stourbridge College of Technology and Art

  1,846

  Sandwell College of Further and Higher Education

  5,743

  Solihull College of Technology

  3,491

  Walsall College of Technology

  2,594

  Walsall College of Art

  418

  Wulfrun College of Further Education

  1,822

  Bilston Community College

  2,253

  Knowsley Community College

  2,395

  Millbrook College

  2,535

  South Mersey College

  1,871

  Sandown College

  2,171

  City College of Further Education

  2,242

  The St. Helens College

  4,355

  Hugh Baird College of Technology

  2,269

  Southport College of Art and Technology

  2,594

  Wirral Metropolitan College

  5,859

  Bolton Metropolitan College

  3,066

  Bury Metropolitan College

  2,866

  Manchester College of Art and Technology

  5,539

  South Manchester College

  3,390

  Oldham College of Technology

  2,185

  Hopwood Hall Tertiary College

  3,444

  Salford College of Further Education

  4,477

  Stockport College of Technology

  4,059

  Tameside College of Technology

  3,630

  South Trafford College of Further Education

  1,998

  North Trafford College

  2,048

  Wigan College of Technology

  4,002

  Leigh College

  2,303

  Barnsley College

  3,683

  Doncaster College

  5,727

  Rotherham College of Arts and Technology

  2,450

  Rother Valley College of Further Education

  1,401

  Rockingham College of Further Education

  836

  Castle Tertiary College

  1,846

  Stradbroke Tertiary College

  1,659

  Parkwood Tertiary College

  2,000

  Loxley Tertiary College

  1,933

  Norton Tertiary College

  2,416

  Parson Cross Tertiary College

  1,542

  Keighley College

  1,120

  91

  Number

  Brafford and Ilkely Community College

  6,969

  Shipley College

  988

  Calderdale College

  2,640

  Dewsbury College

  2,568

  Huddersfield Technical College

  4,348

  Kitson College of Technology

  1,735

  Park Lane College

  3,253

  Leeds College of Building

  1,264

  Airedale and Wharfedale College

  1,386

  Thomas Danby College

  1,503

  City of Leeds College of Music

  477

  Joseph Priestley Institute of Further Education

  811

  Jacob Kramer College

  693

  Northern School of Contemporary Dance

  71

  Wakefield District College

  4,099

  Gateshead Technical College

  2,050

  Newcastle College

  4,563

  North Tyneside College of Further Education

  2,915

  South Tyneside College

  4,083

  Monkwearmouth College of Further Education

  2,602

  Wearside College of Further Education

  2,330

  Nursery Nurses College of Further Education

  392

  South Bristol Technical College

  2,041

  Brunel College of Technology

  3,167

  City of Bath College of Further Education

  2,660

  Filton Technical College

  2,330

  Soundell Technical College of Further Education

  1,456

  Weston-Super-Mare College of Further Education

  2,229

  Norton Radstock College of Further Education

  744

  Bedford College of Higher Education

  3,287

  Dunstable College

  1,611

  The Barnfield College

  2,039

  Reading College of Technology

  2,919

  Newbury College

  1,879

  Windsor and Maidenhead College

  2,400

  Bracknell College

  2,102

  Langley College of Further Education

  1,932

  Berkshire College of Art and Design

  644

  Berkshire College of Agriculture

  337

  Aylesbury College

  1,682

  Amersham College of Further Education, Art and Design

  2,314

  Milton Keynes College

  1,801

  Cambridge College of Further Education

  2,769

  Isle College

  1,209

  The Huntingdonshire College

  1,178

  Peterborough Regional College

  2,828

  Cambridgeshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture

  163

  North Cheshire College

  2,942

  West Cheshire College of Further Education

  3,032

  South Cheshire College of Further Education

  2,360

  Mid-Cheshire College of Further Education

  1,829

  Macclesfield College Further Education

  1,455

  Halton College of Further Education

  2,255

  Cheshire College of Agriculture

  606

  Hartlepool College of Further Education

  1,436

  Kirby College of Further Education

  1,766

  Longlands College of Further Education

  1,488

  Cleveland Technical College

  1,114

  Stockton-Billingham Technical College

  1,605

  Cleveland College of Art and Design

  809

  Guisborough Agricultural Centre

  111

  Cornwall College of Further and Higher Education

  3,191

  Mid-Cornwall College of Further Education

  2,025

  Penwith Sixth Form College

  706

  Kendal College of Further Education

  565

  West Cumbria College

  1,456

  Barrow-in-Furness College of Further Education

  1,436

  Carlisle Technical College

  1,588

  Cumbria College of Art and Design

  472

  Cumbria College of Agriculture and Forestry

  329

  Chesterfield College of Technology and Arts

  2,859

  North East Derbyshire College of Further Education

  1,589

  South East Derbyshire College

  2,301

  High Peak College of Further Education

  1,406

  Wilmorton Tertiary College

  2,967

  Mackworth Tertiary College

  2,076

  92

  Number

  Derbyshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture

  217

  Exeter College

  3,549

  North Devon College

  2,212

  East Devon College of Further Education

  1,062

  South Devon College of Art and Technology

  3,411

  Plymouth College of Further Education

  3,324

  Plymouth College of Art and Design

  490

  Bicton College of Agriculture

  633

  Bournemouth and Poole College of Further Education

  4,099

  Weymouth College

  2,069

  Bournemouth and Poole College of Art and Design

  992

  Dorset College of Agriculture and Horticulture

  318

  Darlington College of Technology

  2,132

  Bishop Auckland Technical College

  745

  Derwentside College

  1,089

  New College, Durham

  3,221

  Peterlee College

  1,155

  Durham College of Agriculture and Horticulture

  237

  Brighton College of Technology

  3,185

  Lewes College

  1,377

  Hastings College of Arts and Technology

  2,185

  Eastbourne College of Arts and Technology

  2,039

  Plumpton College

  364

  South East Essex College of Technology

  2,712

  Braintree College of Further Education

  964

  Colchester Institute

  3,587

  Thurrock Technical College

  2,051

  Harlow College

  2,891

  Loughto College of Further Education

  2,531

  Basildon College of Further Education

  1,217

  Chelmsford College of Further Education

  2,184

  Writtle Agricultural College

  554

  Gloucestershire College of Arts and Technology

  4,793

  Royal Forest of Dean College

  1,167

  Stroud College of Further Education

  1,854

  Hartpury College

  142

  Basingstoke Technical College

  2,050

  Farnborough College of Technology

  2,961

  Brockenhurst College

  1,348

  Alton College

  1,117

  Eastleigh College of Further Education

  1,887

  The Tertiary College, Fareham

  2,067

  Cricklade College

  1,260

  South Downs College of Further Education

  2,105

  Southampton Technical College

  2,622

  Highbury College of Technology

  3,214

  Portsmouth College of Art, Design and Further Education

  553

  Sparsholt College

  1,198

  Evesham College of Further Education

  782

  Herefordshire Technical College

  2,028

  Kidderminster College of Further Education

  1,354

  Worcester Technical College

  2,891

  North East Worcestershire College

  2,924

  Herefordshire College of Art and Design

  372

  Pershore College of Horticulture

  371

  Herefordshire College of Agriculture

  138

  Worcestershire College of Agriculture

  121

  Ware College

  1,653

  North Hertfordshire College

  2,656

  Cassio College

  2,240

  Watford College

  2,253

  de Havilland College

  2,278

  East Hertfordshire College

  1,315

  Stevenage College

  1,771

  Dacorum College

  707

  City College, St. Albans

  3,191

  Hertfordshire College Art and Design

  465

  Hertfordshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture

  295

  Hull College of Further Education

  5,398

  Grimsby College of Technology and Arts

  2,932

  Beverley College of Further Education

  793

  East Yorkshire College of Further Education

  1,315

  North Lindsey College of Technology

  2,204

  Bishop Burton College of Agriculture

  938

  Isle of Wight College of Art and Technology

  2,059

  North-West Kent College of Technology

  1,409

  Mid Kent College of Higher and Further Education

  3,557

  93

  Number

  West Kent College of Further Education

  3,413

  Thanet Technical College

  1,933

  Kent College Careers Service

  77

  South Kent College of Technology

  2,632

  Canterbury College of Technology

  2,327

  Hadlow College of Agriculture and Horticulture

  388

  Accrington and Rossendale College

  3,646

  Burnley College of Art and Technology

  2,254

  Blackburn College

  5,199

  Lancaster and Morecambe College of Further Education

  2,125

  Nelson and Colne College

  2,095

  Blackpool and Fylde College of Higher and Further Education

  6,445

  W. R. Tuson College

  4,971

  Runshaw College

  2,425

  Skelmersdale College

  2,053

  Lancashire College of Agriculture and Horticulture

  715

  Coalville Technical College

  985

  Hinckley College of Further Education

  863

  Loughborough College

  1,985

  Melton Mowbray College of Further Education

  885

  Wigston College of Further Education

  766

  Charles Keene College of Further Education

  2,289

  South Fields College of Further Education

  2,147

  Brooksby Agricultural College

  343

  Grantham College of Further Education

  1,211

  Stamford College

  983

  Boston College

  1,406

  North Lincolnshire College

  2,852

  Lincolnshire College of Art and Design

  637

  Lincolnshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture

  595

  Norfolk College of Art and Technology

  2,890

  Norwich City College of Further and Higher Education

  4,662

  Great Yarmouth College of Further Education

  1,260

  Norfolk Institute of Art and Design

  662

  Norfolk College of Agriculture and Horticulture

  233

  Scarborough Technical College

  1,928

  York College of Art and Technology

  3,516

  Harrogate College of Art and Technology

  1,794

  Craven College

  768

  Selby College

  1,085

  Askham Bryan College of Agriculture and Horticulture

  699

  Bedale Agriculture Centre

  138

  Pickering Agriculture Centre

  105

  Easingwood Agriculture Centre

  58

  Harrogate Agriculture Centre

  76

  Tresham College

  2,629

  The Wellingborough College

  959

  Northampton College

  2,178

  Daventry Tertiary College

  646

  Moulton College

  207

  Northumberland College of Art and Technology

  2,086

  Northumberland College of Agriculture

  65

  Broxtowe College of Further Education

  2,089

  Clarendon College of Further Education

  2,851

  West Nottinghamshire College of Further Education

  2,462

  Newark Technical College

  1,305

  North Nottinghamshire College of Further Education

  1,877

  People's College of Further Education

  1,947

  Arnold and Carlton College of Further Education

  1,792

  Basford Hall College of Further Education

  2,681

  South Nottinghamshire College of Further Education

  2,056

  Brackenhurst College

  299

  North Oxfordshire Technical College and School of Art

  1,259

  The Henley College

  1,726

  Rycotewood College

  291

  West Oxfordshire Technical College

  1,090

  Oxford College of Further Education

  3,243

  Abingdon College of Further Education

  1,202

  Telford College of Arts and Technology

  1,872

  Oswestry College

  1,340

  Shrewsbury College of Art and Technology

  2,469

  Bridgnorth and South Shropshire College of Further Education

  691

  Walford College of Agriculture

  242

  94

  Number

  Bridgwater College

  1,722

  Frome College

  279

  Somerset College of Art and Technology

  2,902

  Yeovil College

  2,534

  Strode College

  1,183

  Somerset College of Agriculture and Horticulture

  511

  Stoke-on-Trent Cauldon College of Further and Higher Education

  3,359

  Stoke-on-Trent Technical College

  1,188

  Burton on Trent Technical College

  2,442

  Cannock Chase Technical College

  1,331

  Leek College of Further Education and School of Art

  727

  Newcastle under Lyme College

  1,866

  Stafford College

  3,160

  Tamworth College

  1,174

  Staffordshire College of Agriculture

  402

  West Suffolk College of Further Education

  1,824

  Lowestoft College

  2,300

  Suffolk College of Higher and Further Education

  4,657

  Otley College of Agriculture and Horticulture

  388

  North East Surrey College of Technolgy

  3,130

  Guildford County College of Technology

  3,186

  East Surrey College

  1,850

  Brooklands Technical College

  2,375

  Epsom School of Art and Design

  567

  Merrist Wood Agriculture College

  421

  Mid-Warwickshire College of Further Education

  2,829

  North Warwickshire College of Technology and Art

  2,645

  South Warwickshire College of Further Education

  1,144

  East Warwickshire College of Further Education

  1,530

  Warwickshire College of Agriculture

  435

  Crawley College of Technology

  2,322

  Northbrook College of Design and Technology

  2,749

  Chichester College of Technology

  2,504

  West Sussex College of Agriculture and Horticulture

  405

  Chippenham Technical College

  1,541

  Salisbury College of Technology

  1,972

  Swindon College

  4,444

  Trowbridge Technical College

  1,951

  The New College, Swindon

  1,070

  Salisbury College of Art

  351

  Lackham College of Art

  354

  TOTAL FURTHER EDUCATION COLLEGES

  718,739

DEFENCE

  Navigational Markers
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those fairways, harbours and creeks in the United Kingdom which the Royal Navy administers or provides navigational markers where there is no Royal Naval presence or regular naval activity; and if he will set out the policy reasons for retaining these.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are four such areas other than those which lie within dockyard ports: the Thames estuary, Benbecula, St Kilda and Cope channel. Markers are maintained in these areas to indicate safe navigation or to mark hazards such as wrecks.

  Solent (Navy Administration)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out those creeks and harbours outside of Portsmouth harbour for which Her Majesty's harbour master has administrative responsibility in the Solent; and if he will set out the policy reasons for the Royal Navy's administration of each of them.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are three creeks and harbours in this category: Hillhead harbour, Ryde
  95
  Harbour and Wootton creek. We are considering whether it remains appropriate for the Queen's harbour master to exercise waterspace management and administration in these areas.

  Dredging
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those areas where the Royal Navy or Ministry of Defence procures dredging.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The three main geographical areas where the Royal Navy procures dredging are as follows:

  Scotland

  Rosyth

  RNAD Crombie

  Invergordon

  Greenock

  Faslane

  RNAD Coulport

  Portsmouth

  Main harbour

  HMS Nelson (Gunwharf) HMS Dolphin

  Gosport oil fuel depot RNAD

  Royal Clarence yard

  Harbour mooring areas Entrance channel

  Devonport

  Royal William yard basin

  Shallow dock entrance

  Ernesettle jetty

  Main approach channel

  Submarines (The Minches)
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number and duration of submarine exercises in the Minches since 1985.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost and effort.

  Military Bridging System
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the origins, purpose and state of progress of the bridging for the 1990s military bridging system; which elements of the system will be(a) wheeled or (b) tracked; which equipment it is proposed to replace; how much has been (i) spent and (ii) committed to date; which units, based in which country, will receive the proposed equipment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  "Bridging for the 90s" (BR90) is needed to replace in-service bridging as it comes to the end of its planned life. The purpose of BR90 is to enhance the mobility of armoured formations. The system will enable longer bridges to be built faster with less manpower.

  BR90 is a modular system. Most of its elements can be launched and recovered by bridge-laying and by wheeled bridge-laying vehicles. Some 60 per cent. of the bridges are intended to be tank launched. The tank launched bridges have completed contractor trials and are now undergoing user trials with a British Army unit. The truck launched system has commenced contractor trials.

  BR90 will replace the No 8 and 9 tank bridges and Crusader tank bridge transporters. Some medium girder bridges will also be replaced.
  96
  Payments to date total £26.4 million, and a further £7.9 million is committed to the completion of the development phase. We have recently committed £15.3 million to preparation for production.

  The BR90 system will be deployed with Royal Engineer units in both Germany and United Kingdom.

  European Fighter Aircraft
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his current estimate of the number of European fighter aircraft which will be required by the Royal Air Force.

  Mr. Aitken
  The current planning assumption is that the RAF will require 250 European fighter aircraft. Final EFA numbers are, however, still subject to study.

  Anti-air Warfare Radar
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to place an order for an anti-air warfare in-board radar simulator.

  Mr. Aitken
  Current plans are to place a contract at the end of 1992.

  Air Defence System
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to place an order for a very short range air defence system for surface ships.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department is currently considering a proposal for a collaborative feasibility study with Italy to provide an affordable autonomous ship-borne weapon system for very short range air defence. This would provide protection against future anti-surface ship missiles and would enter service early in the next decade. Subject to satisfactory progress in negotiations, we hope to place a contract for the study early next year, following a competition.

  Attack Helicopters
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline the programme for the procurement of the attack helicopter.

  Mr. Aitken
  Later this year we intend to issue to industry a request for proposals for the supply of an attack helicopter. Following assessment of the responses we receive, we intend to place a contract through a prime contractor which would allow the chosen aircraft to enter service with the British Army before the end of the decade.

  Local Area Missile System
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it is the intention of the United Kingdom to withdraw from the multinational programme for the development of the next generation local area missile system.

  Mr. Aitken
  No Sir.

  HMS Turbulent
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the report of the investigation of the fire aboard HMS Turbulent.
  97
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Mr. Jamieson) on 2 June,Official Report, column 540.

  Menwith Hill
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what part of the United States military operates from Menwith hill, north Yorkshire.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Personnel from all four United States armed services are employed at Menwith hill.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are employed at Menwith hill, north Yorkshire by(a) the National Security Agency and (b) the British Government.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Currently some 1,200 United States department of defence personnel and 560 United Kingdom nationals are employed at Menwith hill.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the past, present and future role of the base at Menwith hill, north Yorkshire;

  (2) what is the purpose of the underground operations at Menwith hill, north Yorkshire.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The United States communications facility at Menwith hill is located on a Ministry of Defence site made available to the United States department of defence. It is an integral part of the world wide department of defence communications network but I am not prepared to comment further on its operational role. It operates with the full knowledge and consent of Her Majesty's Government.

  Vigilante Forces
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to prevent former British service men from providing military expertise and support for extreme right vigilante forces in South Africa and other countries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Officers may require prior approval from the Ministry of Defence before taking up certain business appointments within two years of leaving the armed forces, but it would be impractical, and an undue restriction on the freedom of individuals, to impose wider restrictions on the employment taken up by former service personnel.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Malawi
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what extra provisions Her Majesty's Government have made for drought relief in Malawi.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Most recently we have allocated £4 million for drought-related activities in Malawi, these funds being derived from those parts of the regular aid which were suspended last month because of Malawi's human rights record. We are considering urgently with the relevant relief agencies and the Malawi authorities how 98
  best these funds might be used. This latest allocation is in addition to the 5,000 tonnes of cereals provided earlier this year for Mozambican refugees in Malawi; and the £1 million contribution to the World Food Programme's targeted feeding programme for vulnerable groups among Malawi's own population.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement outlining Her Majesty's Government's current policy on bilateral aid to Malawi.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) on 20 May, at column 166.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide details of measures being taken by Her Majesty's Government to monitor the distribution of humanitarian aid in Malawi.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  In accordance with our normal practice, primary responsibility for monitoring humanitarian aid provided by Her Majesty's Government will rest with those international organisations and nongovernmental organisations through which the aid is channelled. Reports on the utilisation of multilateral contributions through the World Food Programme will be made to its governing body, the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes, in due course.

  Promotion of Democracy
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will identify the budget authorisation within the current or past expenditure of the European Economic Community concerning the promotion of democracy or democratic systems or institutions; what past and current sums have been or are allocated in ECU at sterling equivalents; where lists of grants made can be obtained; what groups or organisations in the United Kingdom have obtained grants; and for what purposes.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  As a result of the November 1991 Development Council resolution on human rights, democracy and development, the promotion of democracy now forms an integral part of the aid relationship between the EC and developing countries. To consolidate Community action in this area two new budget lines were established in 1991; B7-5052 for the promotion of human rights and democracy in developing countries; and B7-5078 for the support of democratisation in Latin America, both with an allocation of 10 million ecu, about £7 million, for 1992. No projects have yet been fully implemented, but we would expect detailed information about lists of grants and recipients to be made available in due course. A 5 million ecu, £3.5 million, project for support of democracy in eastern Europe—B7-6000—has recently been approved under the PHARE programme.

  Climate Change
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken by his Department to assist countries to(a) assemble stocks of crop plants likely to be more suitable to possible climate changes, (b) review irrigation schemes in the light of climate changes and (c) develop guidance to farmers and village communities on the likely impact of climate change.
  99
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Overseas Development Administration is funding research to predict the influence of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide on the growth and yield of crops such as sorghum and groundnut. Through contributions to centres in the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research, Britain is a major contributor to the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources. Under its renewable natural resources research strategy the ODA supports research into crop physiology and the development of new species which will be better suited to changing environmental conditions, particularly the environmental stresses of drought and salinity.

  The ODA also provides support for genetic resources conservation of crop plants and their wild host relatives at international agricultural research centres and is funding research projects in the Sahel and in the middle east.

  The ODA is funding two studies on the impact of climate change for the Governments of Ghana and Kenya. This work includes specialist exploration of the potential effects of climate change on agricultural practices, including irrigation. The studies will present policy options for Governments and will address the institutional means by which these could be implemented, including the need for extension programmes to provide guidance to local communities.

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support is currently given by the Overseas Development Administration to assist with technology transfer for countries seeking regional conventions on the prevention of trans-boundary air pollution.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  No such projects, linked specifically to prospective regional conventions, are being supported currently from bilateral aid funds. We do not have available sufficiently detailed information to indicate whether aid made available through multilateral channels is used for the activities specified.

  Family Planning
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much money is allocated by his Department towards family planning services; and if he has any plans to increase the allocation.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Aid programme spending on direct population activities totalled over £26 million in 1991, which represents a 55 per cent. increase over the last two years. Population is a priority in the aid programme, and we hope to continue to increase our bilateral support to population programmes and reproductive health services in Africa and Asia, to the United Nations Population Fund, and to non-governmental organisations active in this area.

  Pollution
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he possesses on the financial commitments advocated by the 100
  World bank and the International Monetary Fund to ameliorate environmental degradation and pollution in developing countries.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The "World Development Report 1992", published by the World bank in May on development and the environment has been placed in the Library of the House. Chapter 9 of the report sets out the World bank's broad estimates of the costs for key sectors of implementing policies and programmes for accelerating environmentally responsible development.

  The International Monetary Fund provides resources to enable countries pursuing economic reform to cope with balance of payments problems. It does not produce information on the costs of environmental policy measures.

  Local Health Services
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much money is being allocated by his Department towards(a) the creation of facilities in villages and urban neighbourhoods using paramedical personnel, (b) expanding health outreach support to individual households and (c) encouraging health promotion through localised organisations.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Overseas Development Administration spent some £61 million in bilateral health sector assistance in 1990, the latest year for which figures are available. This amount includes support to projects, including non-governmental organisations, active in these three areas, but allocations are not broken down in a form that allows us to identify expenditure in this particular way.

  Aid Targeting
  Ms. Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of Overseas Development Agency funds are targeted(a) through non-governmental organisation projects and (b) through the International Monetary Fund and the World bank.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  In 1990–91, the latest statistics available, Overseas Development Administration funds administered through non-governmental organisations represented 5.2 per cent. of the gross aid programme, and the funds channelled through the International Monetary Fund and the World bank 10.2 per cent. of the gross aid programme.

  Climate Change
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much is currently allocated by his Department to protect vulnerable low-lying coastal areas from the possible effects of climate changes.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Overseas Development Administration is funding three studies of the impact of climate change, including sea level rise at a total cost of £362,500, three projects on coastal zone management at a cost of £1,850,000 and a research project on the use of artificial reef blocks costing £245,000. The details of these projects are as follows:
  101

  Country

  Project

  Value £

  Dates

  Kenya

  Study on the impacts of climate change

  175,000

  1991–92

  Ghana

  Study on the impacts of climate change

  175,000

  1991–92

  Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States

  Preliminary study of Sea Level Rise

  12,500

  1991

  Maldives

  Support for the development of coastal management and conservation strategies

  450,000

  1989–94

  Indonesia

  Coastal zone management and shrimp culture

  1,300,000

  1990–94

  British Virgin Islands

  Production of coastal zone atlas

  100,000

  1992

  Maldives

  Research into the rehabilitation of degraded reefs using artificial reef blocks

  245,000

  1989–93

  Climate change is one of the key areas for which funding is available for developing countries from the global environment facility—GEF. Britain has committed £40.3 million to the initial funding of the GEF.

  Vietnam
  Mr. Lester
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consider establishing a know-how fund for Vietnam.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have already made provision for a modest technical co-operation programme with Vietnam and have agreed with the Government of Vietnam that the priority for the transfer of know-how under this programme should be the management of economic reform. We are discussing a project that will provide training in this area to four or five key Vietnamese institutions.

  Rain Forests
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy of promoting the interests of biodiversity in rain forests.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The ODA publication "Biodiversity and Developing Countries—Issues and Options" explains the priority the ODA gives to promoting biodiversity conservation, including in rain forests. Bilateral aid projects, both on a country to country basis and through British NGOs, are supported. Research is supported through ODA's natural resources programmes including the forestry research programme managed by the Oxford Forestry Institute. The ODA contributes to a variety of multilateral agencies whose programmes also include biodiversity conservation. In addition biodiversity is one of the key areas for which funding to cover certain agreed costs is available for developing countries from the global environment facility. Britain has already committed £40.3 million to the initial financing of the GEF.

  Substances Abuse
  Mr. Donald Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held between the Government and representatives of the United Kingdom drinks industry relating to
  102
  the programme on substance abuse of the World Health Organisation, particularly as it affects alcohol advertising and marketing in third-world countries.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  No such discussions have been held.

  Mr. Donald Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the British financial contribution to the programme on substance abuse of the World Health Organisation in the current financial year; and what are the projected contributions for the next two years.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have contributed £200,000 since the programme was established in September 1990. Our financial contribution in the current financial year has not yet been finalised and projections for subsequent years are not available.

  Kenya
  Mr. Matthew Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response Her Majesty's Government have made to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refuges appeal for assistance to refugees in Kenya; and what aid Her Majesty's Government are providing for drought-stricken areas of Kenya.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  On 5 June my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development announced a pledge of £1 million to the UNHCR appeal. A further £1 million is being given to WFP and CARE to help supply, transport, distribute and monitor food for 500,000 Kenyans in the most seriously affected districts of northern Kenya.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Lobsters
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he is making to the EC about the proposals on lobster sizes.

  Mr. Curry
  With effect from 1 June 1992 the definition of minimum landing size of lobsters was revised to remove ambiguity in the legal text of the relevant EC Regulation in certain of the languages of the Community. The United
  103
  Kingdom industry was consulted about this change last June and informed of the Council's decision in October 1991. However, in response to very recently expressed concerns we are considering the matter urgently.

  Shellfish
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the number of(a) businesses, (b) employees and (c) self-employed persons who will be affected by the delay in making arrangements for the carrying out of sampling of shellfish in readiness for the necessity to comply with EEC directive 91/492/EEC and 91/493/EEC.

  Mr. Curry
  I expect to publish a preliminary classification this summer for comment, and to have the classification in operation from 1 January 1993 as required.

  Habitats
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to introduce new legislation as a result of the provisions relating to the marine environment in the EC habitats directive; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  We are still at an early stage in considering the implementation of the EC Habitats Directive, which was adopted on 21 May. We shall announce proposals in due course.

  Seismic Surveys
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out the compensation requirements for oil companies to pay(a) fishermen for (i) fixed gear and (ii) lobster pots and (b) net and line fishermen for damage to gear and for suspension of fishing during seismic surveys.

  Mr. Curry
  Any payment by oil companies to fishermen whose activities are affected by seismic surveys is entirely a matter for negotiation between the parties concerned.

  Mink
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice his Department gives to establishments, licensed under the Mink (Keeping) Order 1987, on the avoidance of spread of diseases of mink between establishments and to other wild species.

  Mr. Soames
  There are currently 22 establishments licensed under the Mink (Keeping) Order 1987 to keep mink for fur-bearing purposes in England, and over 38,000 individual mink are kept under these arrangements. In the last 12 months there have been no reports of escapes received by the Ministry. No mink farms currently operate in Wales.

  Sheep Dip
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the information sought by the Veterinary Products Committee from the manufacturers and distributors of organophosphorous sheep dips 104
  includes the results of tests on humans before the products were licensed; whether this data was verified by an independent assessor; and when he expects to publish this information.

  Mr. Soames
  Section 118 of the Medicines Act 1968 prohibits the disclosure of information received in support of an application for a product licence. However, the Veterinary Products Committee has noted, as part of its current review of sheep dip licences, that certain aspects of the products and conditions of use need further evaluation, including studies of farm operators, including blood tests and details of protective clothing worn as well as studies to show which areas of the bodies of operators are most exposed. The companies concerned have been asked to provide additional data by the end of 1992.

  The conclusions of the review will be published once it has been completed.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will suspend the use of organophosphorous sheep dips and the compulsory sheep scab eradication scheme until the Veterinary Products Committee's evaluation of the health side effects on operators is complete.

  Mr. Soames
  The independent Veterinary Products Committee (VPC) has recently advised that, at present, there is no clear evidence that licensed organophosphorous sheep dips cause any unacceptable level of health risk to humans when used in accordance with the label instructions. On the basis of this advice I do not propose to suspend the licences for these products.

  With regard to the compulsory sheep scab eradication scheme I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Bosworth (Mr. Tredinnick) on 8 June at col. 12.

  Pesticide Poisoning
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will indicate the number of pesticide poisoning incidents involving birds or animals for the years ended 31 March 1990, 1991 and 1992.

  Mr. Soames
  The number of confirmed incidents in England and Wales involving birds or animals were as follows:

  Number

  1989–90

  89

  1990–91

  100

  1991–92

  1111

  1Subject to some outstanding analyses.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those incidents of poisoning involving vertebrate wildlife in each of the last four years indicating the number of incidents investigated and the number in which pesticides were identified as the likely cause of death.

  Mr. Curry
  The numbers of incidents in Great Britain involving vertebrate wildlife were as follows:
  105

  Year

  Vertebrate wildlife incidents investigated

  Pesticides identified as likely cause of poisoning

  1988

  277

  72

  1989

  343

  96

  1990

  373

  82

  1991

  372

  72

  Further information is published in the annual "Pesticide Poisoning of Animals" report, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  Cereals
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the revised intervention prices for cereals for 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 recently decided by the Council of Ministers of £93, £86 and £80, respectively, will apply to feed-quality cereals.

  Mr. Curry
  The agreement reached by the Council of Ministers on 21 May 1992 included a request to the Commission to submit proposals to the Council on the standard qualities to which prices should apply.

  Irradiated Food
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made on the development of detection tests for irradiated food.

  Mr. Gummer
  My Department's food science laboratory today published a report in the "Food Analysis" series, a methodology for the detection of irradiated herbs and spices, using a technique called thermoluminescence.

  The test has been validated internationally and recently was the subject of a successful collaborative trial in European laboratories co-ordinated by the Community bureau of reference (BCR). A summary of the BCR results appears in the report.

  Seismic Surveys
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will suspend the licence to Elf to undertake a seismic survey until after the summer fishing and yachting season.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have been asked to reply.

  The licensee, now Elf Enterprise (Caledonia) Ltd, was granted a licence in 1991 to explore for and to produce oil and gas lying under block 98-112. No separate licence or permission is needed by the licensee to carry out the seismic survey. The company carried out consultations prior to beginning the survey, and I understand adjusted its plans as a consequence.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Housing Associations (Grants)
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list details of grants and loans made to each unregistered housing association in Northern Ireland by the Housing Executive from 1 April 1991 to 31 March 1992.
  106
  Mr. Atkins
  The Chairman of the Housing Executive has advised me that there were no loans made to unregistered housing associations between 1 April 1991 and 31 March 1992. However, the following grants were made during this period:

  £

  Glenall housing co-operative

  7,500

  Victoria estates

  405

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list details of grants and loans made to each housing association in Northern Ireland by the Housing Executive from 1 April 1991 to 31 March 1992.

  Mr. Atkins
  I am informed by the Chairman of the Housing Executive that no grants or loans were made to registered housing associations in this period. Government funding of registered housing associations is channelled through the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. The amount of capital funding provided by the Department to each association in this period is as follows:

  Housing association

  Capital funding £

  Abbeyfield

  449,240

  Ballymacarrett

  nil

  Ballynafeigh

  779,040

  Baptist Union of Ireland

  301,277

  Belfast Community

  37,679

  Belfast Improved Houses Ltd

  2,977,617

  Ben Madigan

  283,285

  Botanic

  72,010

  Broadway

  729,008

  James Butcher

  3,500,123

  Church of Ireland

  309,369

  Clonard

  217,483

  Coral Crescent

  nil

  Connswater

  120,461

  Covenanter

  8,712

  Craigavon and District

  578,586

  Craigowen

  28,829

  Derry

  2,210,788

  Donacloney

  58,379

  Down and Connor

  521,375

  Dungannon and District

  410,202

  Flax

  779,530

  Fold

  3,678,886

  Gosford

  64,596

  Grove

  52,361

  Habinteg

  1,366,561

  Hearth

  194,452

  Latharna

  438,105

  Lisnagarvey

  543,000

  Malone

  8,716

  Masonic

  309,453

  McGarel

  497

  Newington

  78,590

  NIH

  4,586,502

  Northern Ireland Co-ownership

  6,442,900

  North Belfast Mission

  8,356

  Open Door

  1,131,536

  Presbyterian

  559,265

  Royal British Legion

  1,410,188

  St. Matthews

  1,336

  Students

  2,033,656

  Tennent Street and District

  321,878

  Triangle

  808,867

  Ulidia

  270,962

  Willowfield

  31,825

  Woodvale and Shankhill

  1,563,505

  Hotel Inspections
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what inspections of hotels are carried out each year by the Northern Ireland tourist board.

  Mr. Atkins
  Under the Tourism (Northern Ireland) Order 1992, the board carries out an annual statutory inspection of hotels to ensure that premises meet minimum standards and, as necessary, in response to complaints. In addition, under a voluntary scheme annual inspections are carried out to determine the classification and grading of hotels.

  Teachers (Retirement)
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) pursuant to his answer of 2 June,Official Report, columns 440-41 whether he will publish the guidance issued by the education and library boards and the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools relating to the enhancement of pensions of teachers taking early retirement;

  (2) whether he will state the number of teachers in controlled schools that each of the education and library boards decided should be permitted to take early retirement and the number of teachers in Catholic maintained schools that the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools decided should be permitted to take early retirement in each of the last three financial years, showing in each case the number that were awarded pension enhancement.

  Mr. Hanley
  I will arrange for the guidance issued by the education and library boards and the Council for Catholic Schools to be placed in the Library.

  For the financial years 1989–90 and 1990–91, the education and library boards and the boards of governors of Catholic maintained schools decided on the number of teachers to be released under the premature retirement scheme in the controlled and Catholic maintained schools respectively; only cases relating to the efficient discharge of the employers' function being subject to Department of Education approval. These same bodies also decided on the level of enhancement.

  Under the arrangements introduced in the 1991–92 financial year, decisions on premature retirement, including enhancement, have been taken by the boards of governors of controlled and maintained schools which have fully delegated budgets. In the case of special schools and schools with partially delegated budgets, these decisions have been taken by the education and library boards in respect of the controlled school and by the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools in respect of Catholic maintained schools.

  The number of premature retirements on grounds of redundancy and of efficient discharge, and the number awarded enhancement in each of the last three financial years, are as follows:

  Board

  Controlled

  Maintained

  1989–901

  Belfast education and library board

  25

  17

  Western education and library board

  28

  15

  North Eastern education and library board

  47

  33

  South Eastern education and library board

  30

  17

  108

  Board

  Controlled

  Maintained

  Southern education and library board

  35

  18

  Total

  165

  100

  1990–91

  Belfast education and library board

  24

  23

  Western education and library board

  38

  25

  North Eastern education and library board

  252

  25

  South Eastern education and library board

  30

  10

  Southern education and library board

  48

  16

  Total

  192

  99

  1991–92

  Belfast education and library board

  218

  23

  Western education and library board

  228

  235

  North Eastern education and library board

  248

  22

  South Eastern education and library board

  233

  11

  Southern education and library board

  343

  36

  Total

  170

  127

  1 All with enhancement.

  2 One without enhancement.

  3 Five without enhancement.

  Rural Areas
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 2 June,Official Report, columns 441-42, if he will state the person or body by whom each member of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Council was first nominated or proposed.

  Mr. Hanley
  The members of the Rural Development Council for Northern Ireland were nominated by the following bodies:The Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland nominated Jimmy Armstrong, Pat Jess, John Kelly, Aideen McGinley, Patsy McShane and Malcom Woods.
  The Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside nominated Robert Hanna.
  The Rural Community Network nominated Mark Conway, John Donaghy, Paul McAllister and John McGrady.
  District Councils nominated John Fee, Warren Loane and Malachy McSparran.
  The Ulster Farmers' Union nominated Hugh Linehan.
  The Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers' Association nominated Wilfred Mitchell.

  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 2 June,Official Report, columns 441-42, (1) if he will list the wards and townlands in addition to those mentioned in his answer in which the Inter-Departmental Committee on Rural Development established that pockets of deprivation existed;

  (2) if he will state the other criteria in addition to geographic and social isolation, high unemployment, demographic imbalances, declining services and poor facilities that were used to select the most deprived rural areas for the purpose of the rural development initiative and give the definitions of geographic isolation and social isolation employed by the Inter-Departmental Committee on Rural Development;

  (3) if he will state (a) the precise level of unemployment employed by the Inter-Departmental Committee on Rural Development in selecting the most deprived rural areas for

  109
  the purpose of the rural development initiative and (b) what demographic imbalances and services and facilities were taken into account.

  Mr. Hanley
  My reply of 2 June,Official Report, columns 441-42, named five main areas which were identified by the Inter-Departmental Committee on Rural Development (IDCRD) as representing concentrations of the most deprived rural areas of Northern Ireland. The IDCRD also agreed that pockets of deprivation could be isolated in most rural areas on a ward or townland basis but that attempts to be too geographically definitive could be unnecessarily restrictive. Accordingly no list of such wards and townlands has been prepared. Rural community groups from outside the primary target areas are not excluded from applying to the Rural Development Council for advice and assistance.

  All the criteria used to select the most deprived rural areas can be subsumed within the list included in the question. Geographical isolation was defined on the basis of the absence of car ownership and the close conformity between areas of above average deprivation and the location of marginal or disadvantaged agricultural land.

  The principal measure of unemployment was derived from the 1981 census of population and was defined as the percentage of economically active males not in employment. This was used in combination with other measures of deprivation also taken from the census of population to develop an index of multiple deprivation.

  In its wide-ranging consultations with rural interests the IDCRD was advised of the problem of the emigration of young people from rural areas and that the elderly were forming an increasing proportion of rural populations. The IDCRD was made aware of limitations of public transport and of high levels of unfit dwellings in rural areas.

  Housing Grants
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 22 May,Official Report, column 286, under what statutory authority the Northern Ireland Housing Executive suspended the statutory scheme for housing grants; and when the scheme will be reinstated.

  Mr. Atkins
  The chairman of the Housing Executive has advised me that the statutory grants scheme has not been suspended.

  It is anticipated that a new renovation grants scheme will be introduced later this year and the executive decided to concentrate its efforts in completing all existing formal detailed applications, to enable processes to be completed before the new scheme comes into operation. In that context, the executive decided not to accept new preliminary applications after 28 February 1992. Applications for special grants and grants dealing with statutory notices such as public health orders continue to be accepted, and from 14 May, the Executive has been prepared again to accept preliminary applications for certain grants relating to the disabled.

TRANSPORT

  Shipping Registration
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Dutch trawlers were registered at British ports, by port, in 1989, 1990, 1991 and the latest available date.

  Mr. Norris
  Details of registered vessels are not kept by type of vessel. The following table is therefore not limited to trawlers but is in respect of all Dutch vessels on the British fishing vessel register.

  Port

  1989

  1990

  1991

  11992

  Total

  Aberdeen

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Brixham

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Fleetwood

  —

  —

  2

  1

  3

  Grimsby

  —

  1

  5

  2

  8

  Hull

  —

  —

  1

  1

  2

  Lerwick

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Rochester

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  15 June.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 14 May,Official Report, column 189, if he will list the numbers of (a) Spanish and (b) Dutch fishing vessels registered as British at each port where such vessels are registered.

  Mr. Norris
  The information as at 5 June for wholly or mainly Spanish or Dutch-owned vessels is as follows:

  Port

  Spanish

  Dutch

  Aberdeen

  7

  1

  Ayr

  1

  —

  Banff

  1

  —

  Brixham

  9

  1

  Buckie

  1

  —

  Falmouth

  6

  —

  Fleetwood

  1

  3

  Grimsby

  —

  8

  Hull

  2

  2

  Lerwick

  —

  1

  Lowestoft

  6

  —

  Milford Haven

  11

  —

  North Shields

  1

  —

  Penzance

  7

  —

  Plymouth

  3

  —

  Rochester

  —

  1

  Women Passengers (Safety)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines are currently provided by his Department to transport planners and providers concerning the provision of public transport which is safer for women passengers.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No such guidelines have been issued. However, the Department co-sponsored the passenger guidance leaflet published by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, "Travel Safely by Public Transport". The Department's working group on violence to road passenger transport staff has recommended, among other things, that bus operators install radios and video cameras in their vehicles to protect employees. These measures also help all passengers to travel more safely.

  Vehicle Towing
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what study he has made of the incidence of accidents on motorways arising from the presence of vehicles being towed by others which are not specifically designed for towing; and under what circumstances it is permissible for such vehicles to enter the motorway system.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  In 1990 there were 32 casualty accidents involving a vehicle towing another vehicle on a motorway. This is approximately 0.5 per cent. of motorway accidents and one in 8,000 of all accidents. Information is not collected on whether the towing vehicle was designed for the purpose.

  A vehicle being towed in such a manner constitutes a trailer and as such is prohibited from the right hand lane of three or more lane motorways.

  Distress Watch
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will set out the policy reasons for BT to provide distress watch arrangements on 2182 kHz but not channel 16;

  (2) if he will set out the policy reasons for coastguard stations to maintain a continuous listening watch on channel 16 but not on 2182 kHz.

  Mr. Norris
  Her Majesty's Coastguard keeps watch on VHF channel 16 because not only is it the designated VHF distress channel, it is also the normal calling channel for VHF traffic. It is essential for the Coastguard to monitor and use this channel for them to carry out their functions of maintaining an effective search and rescue organisation. It would make no sense for the distress watch on channel 16 to be separated from Her Majesty's Coastguard's other functions. VHF is used by most fishing and pleasure craft in United Kingdom waters, few of which have MF transmitters. Most radio distress calls requiring immediate response by the Coastguard are made on channel 16. Since 1978 Her Majesty's Coastguard has put in place 120 remote radio sites linked to its 21 rescue centres which are manned 24 hours a day. This is a more comprehensive VHF cover than is now provided by BT.

  The distress watch on 500 kHz and 2182 kHz has continued with BT because it has the necessary sites, equipment and, for morse on 500 kHz, trained operators; it would not be worthwhile duplicating these for Her Majesty's Coastguard, especially given the international plan to end the use of 500 kHz as a distress frequency by 1999.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies he has made of the contribution VHF direct calling could make to a cost reduction in the BT distress watch contract.

  Mr. Norris
  No such specific studies have been made. Use of VHF digital selective calling (VHF/DSC) would considerably increase the costs of distress watch since much new equipment would be required both at sea and ashore. The cost of this equipment would not be justified by gains in effectiveness.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the sources of his advice for the review on cost savings on the BT distress watch contract.
  112
  Mr. Norris
  The review into the cost of the provision of the BT distress watch service is an internal one to be undertaken by the Department's marine emergency organisation, of which HM Coastguard forms an integral part.

  A595
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give his latest traffic flow figures, including those for heavy goods vehicles, for the A595 road between Grizebeck service station and Broughton in Furness, together with those between Grizebeck service station and Soutergate.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Cumbria county council's transport policies and programme document for 1992–93 published in 1991 shows that on the trunk road between Grizebeck service station and Broughton in Furness the annual average daily traffic is 5,500 with 5 per cent. being heavy goods vehicles. Comparable figures for the local road between Grizebeck service station and Soutergate are 4,600 and 8 per cent.

  Clifton Bypass
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will announce the date upon which the A453 (Clifton bypass) public inquiry is to be held.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The draft orders for the A453 Clifton lane improvement are expected to be published next year and it is likely that public inquiries will then follow early in 1994.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the terms of reference for the A453 (Clifton bypass) inquiry will include(a) the need for a bypass around the Clifton estate, as opposed to through it, and (b) the wider traffic implications for the Nottingham transport infrastructure.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The public inquiries will consider all objections made to draft orders published under the Highways Act 1980 together with suggested alternative routes, and will be held by an independent inspector appointed on the nomination of the Lord Chancellor. The inspector, who is responsible for the conduct of the inquiries, will wish to hear all relevant evidence before preparing his report and recommendations for submission to my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Transport.

  M3 Extension
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce the letting of the main contract for construction of the M3 extension: what will be the process whereby tenders are invited; whether he intends to await the outcome of European Commission legal proceedings relating to the environmental impact assessment directive before inviting tenders for the construction contract; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Preparations for the implementation of this important scheme are proceeding. Tenders have been invited for the main works and are due for return towards the end of August. In accordance with usual practice, an announcement will be made when a contract is let.

  Traffic, Greenwich
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the number of traffic accidents, identifying separately accidents to pedestrians and accidents resulting in fatalities, occurring in the Greenwich town centre area in each of the last 10 years.

  Injury accidents, and casualties by road user type and severity: Greenwich town centre1: 1982 to 1990.

  Number

  Casualties

  Vehicle users

  Pedestrians

  Year

  Injury accidents

  killed

  injured

  killed

  injured

  1982

  21

  —

  19

  —

  5

  1983

  17

  1

  14

  —

  7

  1984

  20

  —

  16

  —

  10

  1985

  18

  —

  16

  —

  5

  1986

  17

  —

  15

  —

  7

  1987

  15

  —

  6

  —

  10

  1988

  25

  —

  16

  —

  10

  1989

  28

  —

  23

  —

  9

  1990

  25

  —

  18

  —

  8

  1 The one-way system where Creek road, Romney road and Greenwich high road meet, together with the adjacent section of Greenwich high road.

  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the volume of traffic, broken down between different categories of vehicles, passing through Greenwich town centre in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Norris
  The latest estimates are as follows:

  Estimated daily vehicle flows through Greenwich town centre1: 1990

  Number

  Pedal cycles

  550

  Motorcycles

  1,300

  Cars and taxis

  26,000

  Buses and coaches

  940

  Light goods

  3,500

  Heavy goods

  3,900

  Total

  36,000

  1 Flow through the one-way system from High road, Creek road and Romney road.

  The Department's surveys do not permit annual changes in traffic volume to be estimated for small areas.

  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information is available to his Department on the average speed of vehicles passing through the Greenwich town centre area at different times of the day, on weekdays and at weekends.

  Mr. Norris
  The latest available estimates are as follows:

  Average vehicle speeds, Greenwich town centre1: Weekdays

  1988 (mph)

  Morning peak

  11.3

  Day-time off-peak

  11.5

  Evening peak

  10.6

  1 The main one-way system and adjacent sections of High road, Creek road and Romney road.

  No information is available for weekends.
  114
  Mr. Norris
  The table shows the number of road traffic accidents involving personal injury in the Greenwich town centre area notified to the Department, and a breakdown of the resulting casualties. Data are shown for the years 1982 to 1990. Data for 1991 are not yet available.

  Trans-Pennine Motorways
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in connection with consideration of additional trans-Pennine motorway crossings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I hope to be in a position to be able to make a statement shortly about the findings and recommendations of the consultant's report on trans-Pennine road crossings.

  A19
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department intends to install emergency phones along the length of the A19 through the constituency of Easington.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  There are no proposals to install emergency telephones on the Al9 trunk road at present.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department intends to install roadway lighting alongside the section of the A19 which runs through Peterlee.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  There are no plans at present to light the section of the A19 at Peterlee.

  Train Doors
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the Health and Safety Executive will take action against the current and past chairmen and executive directors of British Rail in respect of causing the deaths of passengers by their neglect in respect of design and maintenance of carriage doors.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Health and Safety Executive has not yet completed its full report. I expect the Health and Safety Commission to submit the report to the Secretary of State with its advice later in the summer. It is for the executive to consider what further action may be appropriate.

  Heathrow Airport
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the projected route of the new motorway spur road that would link the M25 to the proposed fifth terminal at Heathrow airport.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The possible route of the spur road depends on enhancement of the M25 in this sector. We expect to show the Department's proposals for this to the public shortly. It will then be for British Airports Authority to come forward with proposals for the spur road.

  Aquatic Environment
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the responsibilities and duties of his Department and any agency which reports to his Department in relation to inshore waters, intertidal areas and maritime land; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  I refer the hon. Member to the Government's memorandum on this subject which was submitted to the Environment Committee of this House in the last session. It has now been published by HMSO as part of the Environment Committee's report on Coastal Zone Protection and Planning, Volume II, Minutes of Evidence and Appendices.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement concerning the privacy implications arising from the commercial use of personal data held by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and obtained via statute, and the disclosure to police computers of digitised photographs on the driving licence.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Consideration is being given to the eventual use of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's database for commercial purposes. The concerns of individuals receiving third party mail have been recognised. Any decision will take these and the requirements of the Data Protection Act into account.

  The police have access to the driver licensing records for law enforcement purposes under the terms of the Road Traffic Act 1988. This removes any data protection restriction on such statutory disclosure. Photographs of drivers will eventually form part of those records and the Data Protection Registrar will be consulted on the implications.

  Fuel Efficiency
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to the introduction of a mandatory minimum fuel efficiency standard for vehicles.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon) on 3 June at column 522.

  Bicycles
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice he gives to local authorities regarding the provision of secure parking places for cycles.
  116
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Advice on providing secure, safe and convenient cycle parking is contained in Chapter 6 of the Department's Local Transport Note 1/89 (HMSO), "Making Way for Cyclists". This is one in our series of local transport note publications which offer local authorities detailed guidance on providing for cyclists.

  Channel Tunnel
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to alter the route of the channel tunnel rail link as announced by his predecessor last October; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  No. The Government remain committed to their preferred route corridor announced last October, approaching London from the east along the lines proposed by Ove Arup, with a terminus at King's Cross. We have no intention of reconsidering other options rejected at that time. We have asked British Rail to define a route along our preferred corridor and expect firm proposals from them by the end of the year. Once we have considered the British Rail proposals, we will announce a detailed route for public consultation, and a full environmental impact assessment will be undertaken.

  Railway Electrification
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement concerning current progress of the Leeds/Bradford electrification scheme.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Government have given the West Yorkshire passenger transport authority credit approvals for the infrastructure. The Government has exceptionally agreed that the West Yorkshire passenger transport executive should acquire the rolling stock by means of an operating lease.

  Rail Services
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those services which British Rail may contract out to the private sector under existing legislation, the services which have been so contracted and the services which cannot be contracted out pending amendment to existing legislation.

  Mr. Freeman
  Under existing legislation, British Rail may contract out to the private sector any of its support services provided that, in so doing, it acts in a financially prudent manner and discharges adequately its statutory duties. BR has already made significant progress in contracting out of such activities, including: all manufacture and some heavy repair of locomotives and rolling stock; all train catering on Network SouthEast and regional railways; Red Star's road collection and delivery service for parcels; design and supply of signalling systems; track weedkilling and reballasting services; train cleaning and station maintenance; and station car park management. BR does not consider that it is empowered to contract out passenger train and track signalling operations under existing legislation, but I have asked BR to consider what further non-core activities might be contracted out.

  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what extent he expects officials of British Rail to consult local authorities about the provision of rail services.
  117
  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail regularly consults the transport users' consultative committees and, for the London area, the London regional passengers' committee which are the statutory bodies for representing consumer interests.

  Where services are supported by a passenger transport executive the level of service is specified by the constituent local authorities of the passenger transport authority. Elsewhere, the extent of consultation between BR and local authorities is for them to agree. However, I understand that BR consults a wide range of interested parties, including local authorities.

  Company Cars
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the aggregate level of subsidy to company car owners for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 8 June 1992]The benefit of the private use of a company car is taxed by reference to fixed scale charges. But the value of private use to any particular employee depends on a wide range of factors. Information about these is not available, so it is not possible to provide an estimate of the aggregate extent to which company car owners may be subsidised through the tax treatment of the benefit of a company car.

  Railway Costs
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the percentage to total railway costs, including capital costs, which is financed from(a) revenue and (b) investment for each of the EC member states, Sweden, Norway and Finland for each year since 1979.

  Grants paid to British Rail 1979—1991–92

  £ million at 1991–92 prices

  Year

  PSO Grant

  Level Crossing Grant

  PTE Grant

  Total

  Estimated Passenger Miles (Million)

  Subsidy/PM at 1991–92 prices (Pence)

  1979

  1,101.0

  31.8

  126.4

  1,259.2

  19.1

  7

  1980

  1,111.4

  32.0

  131.4

  1,274.8

  18.8

  7

  1981

  1,328.1

  32.8

  120.4

  1,481.3

  18.5

  8

  1982

  1,336.2

  32.8

  125.2

  1,494.2

  216.9

  9

  1983

  1,337.0

  32.4

  130.1

  1,499.5

  18.3

  8

  1984–851

  1,590.4

  36.0

  157.1

  1,783.5

  22.6

  8

  1985–86

  1,161.4

  29.2

  110.8

  1,301.4

  18.8

  7

  1986–87

  944.8

  27.5

  101.3

  1,073.6

  19.2

  6

  1987–88

  989.2

  30.0

  102.8

  1,122.0

  20.6

  5

  1988–89

  647.9

  27.9

  93.8

  769.6

  21.3

  4

  1989–90

  568.2

  29.8

  106.0

  704.0

  20.9

  3

  1990–91

  642.0

  30.9

  107.2

  780.1

  20.6

  4

  1991–92

  900.0

  29.2

  —

  929.2

  19.9

  5

  115 months ended March 1985.

  2Passenger miles affected by strikes.

WALES

  Income Support
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) male and (b) female pensioners were dependent on income support in Wales in each year since 1988.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Estimates of those aged 60 years and over and either in receipt of income support or partners of recipients are given in the following table:
  118
  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 8 June 1992]: I regret that the information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the level of Government financial support given to the railways expressed(a) in cash terms and (b) as a percentage of gross domestic product for each of the EC member states, Sweden, Norway and Finland for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 8 June 1992]: I regret that the information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the level of capital expenditure per train kilometre which is spent on railways in each of the EC member states, Sweden, Norway and Finland, for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 8 June 1992]: I regret that the information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Company Cars
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the level of subsidy provided per mile to(a) company car owners and (b) rail passengers for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 8 June 1992]: It is not possible to give an estimate of the subsidy per passenger mile to company car owners.

  For rail passengers, the following is the information on subsidy per passenger mile requested:

  Thousands

  In receipt of weekly payment on 31 May

  Claimants and partners

  11988

  1989

  1990

  (a) Male

  N/a

  24

  29

  (b) Female

  N/a

  79

  81

  TOTAL

  112

  103

  110

  1 in 1988 there were 28,000 male and 71,000 female claimants of income support in Wales. Separate figures for male and female partners are not available.

  119
  Source:

  Income Support Annual Statistical Enquiries, 1988, 1989, 1990.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what appointments he has made of chairmen for the training and enterprise councils in Wales; what indication he has given of the length of time to be served by these chairmen; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I set eligibility criteria for chairmen of training and enterprise councils, but I do not appoint them. The chairmen are elected by their respective boards for periods which they determine.

  Treatment Centres
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, for(a) the treatment centre for ophthalmology at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, (b) the treatment centre for ophthalmology at Bridgend general hospital, (c) the treatment centre for hernias and varicose veins at Bridgend general hospital and (d) the treatment centre for major joint surgery at the Prince of Wales hospital, Rhydlafar, Cardiff, (i) the number of operations contracted by the Welsh Office for the current financial year, (ii) the percentage of (i) that will come from outside the health authority in which the treatment centre is located, (iii) the numbers coming from each health authority where the patients have their residence, separately distinguishing referrals from general practitioners and consultants and (iv) the number of patients who have been referred to date to each centre.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The numbers of operations to be contracted by the Welsh Office in the current financial year are as follows:Surgical treatment centre Bridgend general hospital—1,000 hernias and varicose veins.
  Orthopaedic treatment centre Rhydlafar hospital—255 hip and knee Joint replacements and other orthopaedic operations
  Ophthalmic treatment centre Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor—300 cataracts
  Ophthalmic treatment centre Bridgend general hospital—850 cataracts
  Activity levels and associated funding at the Bangor treatment centre will be reviewed in November.

  The allocation of centrally funded capacity between district health authorities is currently being finalised, based on bids received from the authorities and their waiting list problems. I will write to the hon. Gentleman shortly and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House. The centres are free to negotiate additional contracts with district health authorities should any spare capacity remain.

  Comprehensive data on specific sources of referral is not currently available.

  The total number of patients treated at each treatment centre from their different start dates to 31 March 1992 is as follows:

  Surgical treatment centre

  Bridgend general—opened April 1990–1,980 (procedures)

  Ophthalmic treatment centre

  Bridgend general—opened October 1991–419

  Orthopaedic treatment centre

  Rhydlafar hospital—opened December 1989–647

  Ophthalmic treatment centre

  Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor—opened July 1990–692

  Local Plans
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what action he is intending to take against local authorities which have no local plan in place;

  (2) if he will publish those local authorities in Wales which have not yet produced local plans.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The White Paper, "This Common Inheritance", reaffirmed the Government's belief in an effective development plan system and set out proposals for its improvement.

  Section 36 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) makes preparation of statutory local plans for all areas mandatory and, as indicated in Planning Policy Guidance Note 12 'Development Plans and Strategic Planning Guidance in Wales' (February 1992), my right hon. Friend expects local plan coverage in Wales to be substantially complete within five years.

  The new arrangements came into operation on 10 February 1992. No authority has yet completed local plan procedures under the new system.

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make available in Welsh the 1992 DES leaflets, "How is Your Child Doing at School", and "A Parent's Guide to Tests and Reports for 7 and 14 year olds".

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Separate bilingual booklets for Wales have already been published by the Welsh Office. Parents can obtain copies through schools or directly from the Welsh Office Education Department. I have arranged for copies to be made available to all Members of Parliament in Wales.

  Physiotherapists
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the current numbers of physiotherapists in each health authority in Wales; and what steps are being taken to provide training places to increase those numbers.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The number of physiotherapists employed by health authorities in Wales as at 30 September 1991 was as follows:

  Number

  Whole-time equivalent

  Clwyd

  127

  94.4

  East Dyfed

  53

  44.0

  Gwent

  104

  85.3

  Gwynedd

  72

  54.1

  Mid Glamorgan

  102

  85.7

  Pembrokeshire

  24

  20.5

  Powys

  49

  29.7

  South Glamorgan

  198

  155.2

  West Glamorgan

  93

  81.2

  WALES

  822

  650.3

  Current staffing levels in this and other staff groups in the NHS in Wales are monitored annually under the manpower resource planning exercise which was initiated in 1987. Forecasts are also made of staffing requirements for the next five years. These data are used to inform decisions on funding training activity, etc., within the various professions.
  121
  Physiotherapy has been identified as one of four "shortage professions", along with occupational therapy, speech therapy and clinical psychology. Increased training in these professions has been funded through student sponsorships under arrangements which have operated since 1990–91. Over £100,000 has been allocated to train 12 student physiotherapists.

  Other initiatives for remedying these shortages are being examined, including possible overseas recruitment. More generally, recruitment and retention considerations also influenced the Government's decision to accept in full the review body's recommendation for an average 6.4 per cent. increase in the pay of professions allied to medicine from I April 1992.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to consult regularly with bodies representing physiotherapists to discuss matters affecting their profession.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Welsh Office enjoys close links with the various professional bodies which represent both physiotherapists and other health care professions. Consultation with these bodies is routinely undertaken as necessary.

  County Council Elections
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has taken such steps as are necessary to cancel or delay the county council elections due to be held in Wales in 1993 in the light of his proposed reorganisation of local government in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer that I gave on 5 June 1992 at col.662.

  Recycling
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to introduce a ring-fenced credit approved scheme for local authorities in Wales to encourage investment in waste re-cycling schemes.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  We have no proposals to alter the current formula based arrangements for the distribution of local authority capital resources, which are supported by the local authority associations.

  Cardiff Bay Barrage
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for the acquisition of alternative feeding grounds for wading birds displaced by the Cardiff bay barrage proposal; what progress he has made in negotiations; and when he expects a conclusion on(a) taking an option on and (b) acquisition of any such land area.

  Mr. David Hunt
  My officials are continuing constructive discussions with interested parties, including the Countryside Council for Wales and Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, about measures to compensate for the loss of the existing feeding grounds in Cardiff bay. However, it would be premature to estimate the timing of any land acquisition at this stage.

  Quarrying
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy that the strict control applied to sites of special scientific interest, including ancient woodland, will prevent any destruction by quarrying of Carmel woods in the Gwenlais valley, Dyfed.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Policy on planning controls over sites of special scientific interest was published most recently in Welsh Office circular 1/92. Any application for planning permission affecting the site mentioned must be determined on its own merits in the light of that policy. However, an application for registration of an old mining permission under schedule 2 to the Planning and Compensation Act 1991 is currently being considered by the Minerals Planning Authority.

  Redundancies
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state for Wales the number of redundancies by standard industrial classification for the latest available year.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The provisional figures for the period 1 May 1991 to 30 April 1992 are as follows:

  SIC

  Number

  0: Agriculture, forestry and fishing

  22

  1: Energy and water supply industries

  654

  2: Ore/mineral extraction (other than fuels); manufacture of metals, mineral products and chemicals

  942

  3: Metal goods, engineering and vehicle industries

  3,486

  4: Other manufacturing industries

  1,961

  5: Construction

  458

  6: Distribution, hotels and catering, repairs

  265

  7: Transport and communication

  410

  8: Banking, finance, insurance, business services, leasing

  183

  9: Other services

  1,538

  Total

  9,919

  Source: Department of Employment.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for consultation with the chairman of Tai Cymru to set up an advisory panel with representation from appropriate professional bodies, housing associations and tenant and resident associations to regulate the inflation-related annual increases in the level of service charges by Welsh housing associations.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  None.

  Garth Angharad Hospital
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the impact of the closure of Garth Angharad hospital on the whole of Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Initially, it is for health authorities to assess the implications of individual closure proposals in the light of prevailing circumstances and to consult on any such proposals.

  Gwynedd health authority is currently considering the future of Garth Angharad within the local as well as the all-Wales context.

  Training Schemes
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) men and (b) women in employment received employment training in Wales in the last year for which figures are available.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Information on numbers of people training under employment training (ET) who have employed status is available on a quarterly basis. The latest information available shows that on 29 March 1992, there were 1,367 people with employed status receiving training under ET in Wales. This information is not collected by gender.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the latest available figures showing the average duration of employment training courses for (a) women and (b) men in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The latest available figures cover the period from July 1990 to June 1991 and show that the average duration of employment training courses in Wales was 29.7 weeks. This information is not collected by gender.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state, by county and for Wales as a whole, the number of people covered by(a) employment training, (b) the enterprise allowance scheme and (c) the youth training scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information is not available in the exact form requested, as it is not collected on a county basis. Figures are compiled by training and enterprise councils (TECs) area, and those for 29 March 1992 are set out in the following table:

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  TEC

  In employment training

  In enterprise training

  In youth training

  Gwent

  1,883

  403

  2,974

  Mid Glamorgan

  2,419

  430

  3,600

  North East Wales

  769

  150

  1,417

  North West Wales

  951

  392

  2,090

  Powys

  556

  152

  620

  South Glamorgan

  1,111

  252

  1,787

  West Wales

  2,761

  977

  4,055

  WALES TOTALS

  10,450

  2,756

  16,543

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Departmental Responsibilities
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what responsibilities his Department has that apply in Scotland; and what responsibilities have been transferred to his Department from the Scottish Office.

  Mr. Key
  The responsibilities of the Secretary of State for National Heritage that apply in Scotland broadly follow the territorial division of responsibilities which existed before the creation of the Department of National Heritage. Responsibilities of the Secretary of State which extend to Scotland include: sponsorship of the national heritage memorial fund; the work of the advisory committee on historic wreck sites; the Great Britain Sports 124
  Council and the international promotion of British sport; British Screen Finance; European co-production fund; Audio Visual Eureka; film certification; the UK Film Commission; the MEDIA programme; the national film and television school; the British Film Institute; the work of the reviewing committee on the export of works of art; broadcasting; the British Library and the performing arts. He liaises closely with the Secretary of State for Scotland on these matters where appropriate.

  No responsibilities have been transferred to the Department of National Heritage from the Scottish Office.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of the employment implications of a national lottery, particularly in the Greater Liverpool area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The effect of a national lottery on overall levels of employment is one of the matters which the Government will be considering in the light of the views expressed in response to the White Paper, "A National Lottery, Raising Money for Good Causes", Cm 1861.

  Archaeology
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage whether the effectiveness of the guidance contained in the planning policy guidance note on archaeology and planning—PPG16—which was issued in November 1990 has been reviewed.

  Mr. Key
  Yes. English Heritage was invited to review the effectiveness of PPG 16 one year after it had been published and commissioned a firm of consultants, Pagoda Projects, to undertake the work. In order to assess the impact of the PPG, consultations were carried out with developers, archaeologists working for or advising planning authorities, archaeologists working for or advising developers and other interested bodies. The report of the review was submitted at the end of January 1992 and a copy has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  I am pleased to report that the consultants' main conclusions are encouraging. They indicate that the advice given in PPG 16 has been adopted by every local planning authority in England, and that the archaeological significance of planning applications is now much more fully considered. The PPG is also starting to produce a more consistent approach to archaeology in the planning process. This, and the greater certainty for developers which results from addressing archaeological issues at an early stage, is beneficial both for developers and for the heritage. In the light of the report's findings we are satisfied that the guidance is proving valuable to all parties who may become involved with archaeology and the planning system.

  However, the report indicated some matters which need to be kept under review, including ways of bringing the PPG to the attention of smaller developers. My Department and English Heritage will be following these up with the relevant bodies shortly.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Single Market
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the short title of each of the remaining Acts for which European Community member states must take national implementing measures to implement the completion of the single European market, and in each such case the Community member or members which must still take action.

  Mr. Needham
  Every six months the Commission produces a comprehensive report for the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament on the implementation of White Paper measures for completing the single market. This shows implementation by each member state. The sixth report covering up to 10 December 1991, published in February 1992, is the latest available; a copy is in the Library—document 4527/92 of 19 December 1991; explanatory memorandum 6 March 1992.

  BCCI
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 22 May,Official Report, column 332, if his officials have had any further meetings with the liquidators of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International concerning the convening of a creditors meeting.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  No.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 13 May,Official Report, column 138, what matters he is considering regarding the Renewable Energy Advisory Group; when he expects to complete his consideration; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. Friend and I are considering carefully how the work of the group can be best completed. I will announce our decision on this as soon as possible.

  Aquatic Environment
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the responsibilities and duties of his Department and any agency which reports to his Department in relation to inshore waters, intertidal areas and maritime land; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to the Government's memorandum on this subject which was submitted to the Environment Select Committee of this House in the last session. It has now been published by HMSO as part of the Environment Committee's report on coastal zone protection and planning, volume II, minutes of evidence and appendices.

  Following changes in Departmental responsibilities since the memorandum was written, the responsibilities and duties of the Department of Energy now fall to my Department.

  Coal
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the Government's intentions with respect to European Community moves towards a European reference price for coal and its implications for the coal industry.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Commission has put forward preliminary ideas on reference prices for coal as a device to restrain excessive levels of subsidies for coal mining in some member states. There is no suggestion that the Commission intend to subsidise Community coal production so that it is all sold at a reference price level. We support the Commission's aim of reducing unjustifiable subsidies.

  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list current levels of subsidy given to coal producers within European Community member states.

  Mr. Eggar
  The amount of subsidy for current coal production in 1990 for relevant European Community member states was as follows:

  £ per tonne

  Belgium

  55.19

  France

  10.99

  Germany

  39.23

  Spain

  18.83

  United Kingdom

  —

  Source: European Commission.

  European Community policy is to have subsidies for current production by all member states phased out, and the Government fully support this aim.

  Astra Holdings plc
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when his Department's report on Astra Holdings plc will be completed; and when he will publish it.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  I cannot say, although the inspectors are well advanced in their inquiries. A decision on publication will be taken when their report has been received and its contents considered. However, it is the normal practice to publish reports on public companies.

  Research
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total research budget of the Department of Energy for each of the past five years; and what is his Department's research budget for the next year on the energy potential of(a) fossil fuels, (b) nuclear fuels and (c) renewable sources of energy.

  Mr. Eggar
  Total research figures for each of the past five years are as follows:

  £ million

  1987–88

  172.3

  1988–89

  187.3

  1989–90

  140.3

  1990–91

  175.9

  1991–92

  124.2

  —1987–88 and 1988–89 figures are taken from the "Annual Review of Government Funded R&D". These figures relate essentially to

  127
  Frascati R&D and take no account of technology transfer expenditure.
  —1989–90 and 1990–91 are final outturn and do include technology transfer expenditure.
  —1991–92 figure is taken from Main Supply Estimates and also includes technology transfer expenditure.
  —The figures do not include energy efficiency research which is now the responsibility of the Department of the Environment.

  The 1992–93 research budget for each of the energy technologies is as follows:

  £ million

  (a) fossil fuels

  7.6

  (b) nuclear fuels

  84.3

  (c) renewables

  24.3

  Assisted Areas
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the Government will now undertake a review of the assisted areas map; and if there will be a period of public consultation.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The assisted areas map was last drawn in 1984. In consultation with the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales, my right hon. Friend and I have decided to review it. The revised map will in due course have to be cleared with the European Commission and I plan to put proposals to it later in the year.

  A consultation paper on the arrangements for the review and the criteria which will be taken into account in considering changes to the map has been prepared. I have placed copies in the Library and copies are also available from my Department and the Scottish and Welsh Offices.

  The problems and needs of all areas will be carefully considered in the review. There will be a period of public consultation. Local organisations and other bodies wishing to make representations should send these either to the appropriate DTI regional office for areas in England or to the Scottish or Welsh Offices before the end of September 1992.

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the Government will respond to the recommendations made by the Select Committee for Energy in its second report. 1991–92 on the consequences of electricity privatisation.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Government welcome the Committee's thorough and wide ranging investigation into the consequences of electricity privatisation. A memorandum, setting out the Government's response to the Committee's recommendations, has been placed in the Library of the House. A further memorandum, setting out the response of the Direct General of Electricity Supply, has also been placed in the Library.

  Landward Licensing Round
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will announce the results of the fifth landward licensing round.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have today announced the conditional award of 26 new exploration licences for blocks in England, Wales and Scotland. The licences allow companies to search and drill for petroleum, subject to the requirements of the planning system and the technical approval of my Department.
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  Details of the awards have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  I am encouraged by the interest shown in onshore petroleum operations which contributes both to our knowledge of our oil and gas reserves and to their development.

  This round was notable for the presence of companies new to the onshore petroleum exploration scene. Onshore exploration can offer significant opportunities to the smaller companies to gain experience in the petroleum business as well as contributing to the general development of the industry.

  In 13 of the new licences, the licensees are primarily interested in the potential for the exploitation of methane gas which occurs in and around coal seams. I am very encouraged by this continuing interest. This is a relatively new venture in Great Britain. The first licences to explore the potential for coal bed methane were awarded in the fourth round. Although it is early days yet to make any forecasts on the potential for the exploitation of this resource in the United Kingdom, we remain confident that it could represent a valuable addition to our future energy supplies.

  Japanese-owned Companies
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 19 May,Official Report, column 105, if he will give such information relating to the number of employees and the location of Japanese-owned companies as is available to him.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 8 June 1992]: The Department of Trade and Industry's invest in Britain bureau (IBB) has information only on Japanese companies manufacturing in the United Kingdom. Copies of the IBB's list of Japanese manufacturing companies in the United Kingdom has been placed in the Library. This gives information on the location of Japanese manufacturers in the United Kingdom and the employment created at the time of the announcement of the project.

  British Standards Institution
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the current legal and financial basis of the British Standards Institution; and what charges he expects to be made in it when the single market is complete.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 8 June 1992]: The British Standards Institution (BSI) is an independent body, incorporated by royal charter. It is not part of Government and its legal basis is therefore not a matter for the Government.

  The Government's financial involvement with BSI is limited to a grant contribution, to the income of BSI Standards. The institution also comprises two other operating divisions, BSI quality assurance and BSI testing, which are run on a purely commercial basis without Government grants.

  Generating Plants
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many applications have been received and are outstanding for the construction of gas-fired power generating plants.
  129
  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 8 June 1992]: Thirteen.

  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many applications have been received and are outstanding for the construction of non-fossil fuel power generating plants;

  (2) if he will make a statement on his Department's policy concerning the approval of new non-fossil fuel generating plants.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 8 June 1992]: One application is outstanding. Each application for consent is considered on its merits.

  DNA Sequencing
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consideration he is giving to the legal position of job and insurance applications, in relation to DNA sequencing; and what consideration he is giving to laws on codes of practice to prevent misuse of information.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  [holding answer 8 June 1992]: DNA screening should be carried out only with the consent of the individual concerned. The results of these tests are subject to the same degree of confidentiality as apply to other personal health information. Such information should not be provided for purposes other than those for which the individual has given consent. The Government are aware of the concern about the potential impact of information gained via genetic screening and are keeping a close watch on developments in human genetics.

  The United Kingdom insurance industry does not intend to seek mass screening for genetic information within the foreseeable future, but when individuals have had a specific genetic test as part of their medical treatment these tests may fall into the same category as other medical tests and will need to be declared on proposal forms. It is only by obtaining relevant information and by careful judgment by the underwriters that risks can he properly assessed and premiums appropriate to the risk charged.

  With regard to job applications, employers are free to attach whatever conditions they consider appropriate to an offer of employment, including conditions relating to health or medical capability, provided that they do not discriminate unlawfully, for example on grounds of sex or race. The terms on which employers offer jobs and on which applicants accept them are in general a matter for the parties concerned, and it would be neither desirable nor practicable for the Government to intervene.

  Hunterprint
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what printing contracts the company Hunterprint had, or has outstanding, for work associated with privatisations by the Department of Trade and Industry or the Department of Energy since 1979; and if he will give the dates and the privatisation in question for each contract.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 5 June 1992]: Hunterprint has not been the main contract printers for any privatisations by the Department of Trade and Industry or the former Department of Energy. Comprehensive information on minor printing contracts is not held centrally. However, Hunterprint did print two brochures which were part of the electricity privatisation marketing campaign: one on the offer of shares in the regional
  130
  electricity companies, issued in August 1990, and the second on the offer of shares in the generating companies, issued in November 1990.

  Anti-dumping Measures
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of current anti-dumping controls in shoe and other fast fashion industries.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 5 June 1992]: It is for the European Commission to assess the effectiveness of anti-dumping measures. In the shoe and fast fashion industries, espadrilles from China are the only goods on which EC anti-dumping remedies are currently in force.

  Footwear Industry
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will support the EC proposals to apply quotas in value terms on imports of footwear from China from 1 July and demand backing for this from other EC countries.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 5 June 1992]: In common with a number of other member states, the Government have pressed the Commission to present a proper economic case in support of their proposal for an EC-wide quota regime. We shall then weigh the evidence, taking into account not only the United Kingdom footwear industry's support for the measure but also the opposition to it from some United Kingdom importers and retailers.

  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he intends to take to prevent the unfair dumping of shoes from China into the United Kingdom and the European Community.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 5 June 1992]: It is for the industry concerned in the United Kingdom or elsewhere in the European Community to make a case to the European Commission about alleged dumping of goods from third countries and for the Commission to investigate it. I am not aware of any recent complaints about dumping of shoes from China.

  Defence Industry (Decline)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will be submitting an application for funds from the European Commission programme for areas affected by the decline of the defence industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 22 May 1992]: Applications for grants have been submitted under the European Community PERIFRA programme, which is intended, among other objectives, to aid regions facing major structural change because of arms industry conversion to civil production.

  PERIFRA is one of a number of programmes in the 1992 European Commuity budget for which there is no underlying legal authority for expenditure. We place considerable importance on ensuring that the requirements of budget discipline apply to all Community spending, in order to protect the interests of taxpayers.

  The United Kingdom intends to continue its dialogue with the Commission, Council colleagues and the

  131
  European Parliament with a view to ensuring that the treaty and budgetary decisions are respected. In the meantime, applications under PERIFRA will proceed.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Personal Files
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is his policy on increasing access by individuals to personal files kept on them by Government Departments.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  There is already extensive access to computer records under the Data Protection Act 1984 and the Government are willing in principle to extend individuals' access to personal information held on them by Departments where it is practicable and in the public interest to do so.

  Aquatic Environment
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what responsibilities and duties the Duchy has in relation to inshore waters, intertidal areas and maritime land; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Duchy of Lancaster owns areas of foreshore, tidal rivers and beds of creeks within the boundaries of the County Palatine. The Duchy also owns ponds, lakes and rivers which are not tidal.

  The Duchy manages and controls its interests in these areas in the same manner as any other landowner and it is Duchy practice to ensure that any statutory duties are observed.

  The Duchy has no responsibility for the sea bed on the seaward side of the line of low tide.

  Science (Advisory Structure)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on his consultations within the scientific community to see whether changes should be made to the advisory structure.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Following the establishment of the Office of Science and Technology, I shall be considering the full range of the office's responsibilities as well as the structures needed to discharge them effectively. I am always ready to listen to the views of the scientific community on the advisory structures as on all other relevant matters.

  Toxic Shock Syndrome
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what research is currently being carried out into toxic shock syndrome.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Medical Research Council is the main agency through which the Government support medical research in this country. While not at present supporting any research specifically into toxic shock syndrome, the Medical Research Council is supporting some basic research in staphylococcus which may have some relevance to it. The Medical Research Council is 132
  always willing to consider soundly based research proposals in competition with other applications. Information is not collected centrally on relevant publicly funded research which may be being carried out by universities, medical schools or health authorities, nor on research by charities.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what was the cost of funding public bodies in 1979, 1985, 1990 and currently; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will list the number of public bodies existing in 1979, 1985, 1990 and currently; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  These details are shown in "Public Bodies 1991", published in December 1991. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

SCOTLAND

  Sheriff Ewan Stewart
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he will take on the findings of the inquiry into the conduct of Sheriff Ewan Stewart carried out by the Lord President of the Court of Session and the Lord Justice Clerk.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Following initial consideration of the report submitted to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State by the Lord President of the Court of Session and the Lord Justice Clerk, Sheriff Ewan Stewart was invited to comment on its findings. The conclusions of the report and the sheriffs comments which have now been received are being carefully examined and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will announce his decision as soon as possible.

  Prescriptions
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the prescription of(a) evening primrose oil and (b) other homeopathic medicines by the national health service.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  One evening primrose oil product is licensed by the licensing authority for the treatment of atopic eczema and is prescribable on the NHS for that purpose. No evening primrose oil preparation has satisfied the licensing requirements of safety and efficacy for any other medical condition.

  The Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances advises the Health Departments as to the circumstances in which unlicensed products may be regarded as drugs and has considered the unlicensed evening primrose oil products, which are generally regarded as food supplements, but has not been satisfied that they have any therapeutic use. They have therefore been prohibited for prescription on the NHS. Evening primrose oil is not a homeopathic medicine.

  The use of homeopathic treatments is a matter for decision by individual doctors. Doctors in contract with the national health service can provide these treatments for their patients in the same way as with allopathic medicines.

  Argyll and Clyde Health Board
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the(a) name, (b) city, town or village of residence and (c) occupation of the chairman, vice-chairman and each member of Argyll and Clyde health board.

  Name

  Position

  Area of Residence

  Occupation

  Mr. R. R. Reid

  Chairman

  Rothesay

  Farmer

  Dr. J. Moffat

  Non-executive member (vice chairman)

  Greenock

  Retired consultant psychiatrist

  Mr. N. M. Faccenda

  Non-executive member

  Connel

  Business man

  Mrs. M. A. Foggie

  Non-executive member

  Greenock

  Housewife, former solicitor

  Mrs. E. S. Lander

  Non-executive member

  Kilmacolm

  Company director

  Mrs. J. C. Le Roux

  Non-executive member

  Dunoon

  Housewife

  Mr. C. H. Parker

  Non-executive member

  Kilmacolm

  Company managing director

  Mr. K. Brewer

  Executive member

  Paisley

  Director of finance

  Dr. A. A. Reid

  Executive member

  Glasgow

  Director of public health

  Mr. I. C. Smith

  Executive member

  Barrhead

  General manager

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to make appointments to or dismissals from the membership of Argyll and Clyde health board; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  My right hon. Friend expects to make appointments early in 1993 to fill vacancies which will arise on 31 March 1993 in the membership of Argyll and Clyde health board. Appropriate consultation will be carried out before the appointments are made.

  Credit Unions
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the, development of the credit union movement in Scotland.

  Mr. Nelson
  I have been asked to reply.

  Based on the annual returns from credit unions to the Registry of Friendly Societies, there were 57 credit unions in Scotland at the end of 1990 with aggregate assets of £5,051,000, equivalent to nearly 30 per cent. of the total assets of the movement in Great Britain. Those 57 unions together had over 19,000 members, representing 35 per cent. of the total in Great Britain. Currently, there are 70 Scottish unions on the register which represent 20 per cent. of the total number of credit unions in Great Britain.

  Woodlands
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about changes affecting the area of ancient semi-natural woodland since 1962.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 2 June 1992]: The Government's broadleaves policy and the changes introduced in 1984 to the criteria for granting felling licences and in 1985 to the volume of timber which may be felled without a licence have done much to slow the decline of ancient semi-natural woodland in Scotland. Further measures to remove the remaining causes of decline are being considered.
  134
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The latest information known to us is as follows:

  The Government have also introduced measures to encourage the management of existing ancient semi-natural woodlands and the creation of new native woodlands. Early indications are that these measures are proving a success.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to double the planting of native broadleaf species in those counties which have lost more than one third of their ancient woodland since 1930.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 8 June 1992]: The area of broadleaves planted in Britain has quadrupled over the last decade. Some 7,500 hectares of broadleaves have, on average, been planted each year during the last five years, as compared with an average of 1,800 hectares during the previous seven years. Nearly all the planting was carried out with native species.

  The Government's policy is that there should be a continuing expansion of the area of native woodland in Britain.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if, pursuant to his answer of 2 June,Official Report, column 369, he will make a statement about the number of hectares of non-native species and native broadleaf species that have been planted in each year since 1984.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 8 June 1992]: Information in this detail is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Local Enterprise Companies
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make extra money for out-of-school care available to LECs in Scotland on the same basis as to training and enterprise councils.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 8 June 1992]: Our manifesto made it clear that we would introduce a new grant to help employers, voluntary groups or schools to set up after-school care and holiday arrangements for the

  135
  children of working mothers and that this would be paid through local enterprise companies. We shall take the need to resource such grants into account in our planning of future public expenditure provision for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Appeal Tribunals
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what proportion of members of disability appeal tribunals are also members of social security appeal tribunals.

  Mr. Scott
  Responsibility for the recruitment of people to serve as members of disability appeal tribunals lies with the president of the Independent Tribunals Service, his honour Judge Holden, and the hon. Member may wish to contact his office direct to obtain this information.

  Young Persons (Benefit)
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what benefits are available to a young person with a permanent home who is not on a youth training scheme.

  Mr. Burt
  Young people may be entitled to the following benefits subject to meeting the qualifying conditions:

  Non-contributory Benefits

  Child Benefit

  Community Charge Benefit

  Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

  Disability Living Allowance

  Disability Working Allowance

  Family Credit

  Guardian's Allowance

  Housing Benefit

  Income Support

  Invalid Care Allowance

  One Parent Benefit

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  Social Fund payments

  Statutory Maternity Pay

  Statutory Sick Pay

  Contributory Benefits

  Invalidity Benefit

  Maternity Allowance

  Sickness Benefit

  Unemployment Benefit

  Widows Payment

  Widowed Mother's Allowance

  Resettlement
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he last met the chief executive of the Resettlement Agency; and what was the result of the meeting.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I have met the chief executive on many occasions to discuss the whole range of the agency's business. The last occasion was on 5 March 1992. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, expects to meet the chief executive in the near future.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what circumstances it may be necessary for persons in receipt of income support to pay class 3 national 136
  insurance contributions in order to protect their future pension rights; and whether he will amend the income support regulations to enable such contributions to he taken into account in assessing their benefit entitlement.

  Mr. Burt
  Many people receiving income support have national insurance contributions credited to their account in order to protect their future pension rights, for example, where they are receiving a contributory social security benefit or they are registered as unemployed. Others may have their pension rights protected by home responsibility protection (HRP) which applies to people who are unable to work regularly because they are required to stay at home to look after a child or sick or disabled person.

  Where there is no entitlement to credits or HRP and any earnings from part-time employment are below the lower earnings limit at which liability for class 1 contributions commences, people may choose to pay voluntary class 3 contributions to the level required to make a tax year a qualifying one for pension purposes.

  There are no plans to change the income support regulations to take such payments into account.

  Industrial Injuries Advisory Council
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he received the report of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on work-related upper limb disorders; and how soon he will act upon the findings.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Erewash (Mrs. Knight) on 21 May at column 241.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average length of time taken to determine an application for the disability living allowance.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Residential Care
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will distinguish the living support, housing and care elements in income support for residential care; what studies he has undertaken to distinguish these elements; and whether he will place the results of these studies in the Library.

  Mr. Burt
  The income support limits do not include separate amounts for specific items of expenditure.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the percentage of(a) budgeting loans and (b) community care grants which were awarded to each of the 15 client groups defined by his Department for the Doncaster area; and what were the comparable national figures for the financial years (i) 1989–90, (ii) 1990–91, (iii) 1991–92 and (iv) 1992–93 to date.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of the social fund is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the
  137
  Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Community Care Grants
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what revision of priorities he has undertaken in respect of those claiming social fund community care grants.

  Mr. Scott
  The Secretary of State's and local guidance on priorities regarding community care grants is kept under regular review; any necessary adjustments are published in the "Social Fund Officer's Guide"; up to date copies of the guide are available in the Library.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the 1991–92 allocation for social fund community care grants, benefit agency by benefit agency, and the allocation for 1992–93.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is available in the Library.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give as a percentage figure the budget increase for 1992–93 over 1991–92 for social fund community care grant allocations and the percentage increase in the number of claimants for the social fund community care grant for 1991–92.

  Mr. Scott
  Figures on social fund applicants are not available in the precise form requested; but information concerning budget allocations and the number of community care grant applications is available in the Library.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the social fund community care grant to meet the needs of claimants in Stoke on Trent; what targets have been set; and if he will give a breakdown of the levels of outstanding claims; and if he will make a statement.

  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.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for 1991-92 in respect of the Stoke on Trent benefits agency in percentage terms the numbers of (i) homeless and (ii) other categories of claimant who(a) qualified for social fund community care grants and (b) received social fund community care grants.

  Mr. Scott
  I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that the information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out the objectives which the social fund community care grants are required to meet and list those client groups entitled to social fund community care grants.

  Mr. Scott
  The objectives of community care grants are set out in the Secretary of State's directions, and guidance 138
  on their interpretation is set out in the "Social Fund Officer's Guide", copies of which are available in the Library. This includes details of client groups.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will assess the implications for those seeking a social fund community care grant of his decision to limit the budget; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Research into the operation of the fund, including community care grants, has already been commissioned from the social policy research unit of York university and is due to be published shortly. We will be looking at the results carefully.

  National Insurance Contributions
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the rate of interest to be charged on national insurance contributions underpaid under SI 1992 No. 632; and what publicity he has given to small businesses about these new penalties.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Interest on late paid national insurance contributions will be charged at the same rate as that charged by the Inland Revenue on late paid tax (currently 10 per cent.). The charges will apply from 19 April 1993 in respect of payments due in the 1992–93 tax year; they are being publicised by the Inland Revenue, and will be explained in DSS guidance to employers.

  Expatriate Pensioners
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to pay expatriate pensioners living in Commonwealth countries their full qualified and annually adjusted pensions, on the same basis as paid to expatriate pensioners living in European Community countries.

  Miss Widdecombe
  United Kingdom pensioners living in the following Commonwealth countries receive annual uprating increases to their state retirement and widows pensions: Barbados, Cyprus, Jamaica, Malta and Mauritius. We have no plans to extend payment of such increases to pensioners living in other Commonwealth countries.

  Children Act 1989
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to provide entitlement to additional income support for parents with children subject to residence orders under the Children Act 1989, comparable with the entitlement applying under care orders prior to the enactment of the Children Act 1989.

  Mr. Burt
  A parent who receives child benefit for a child who is the subject of a residence order, is already entitled to the child personal allowance in any calculation of income support.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the rights to claim income support and other benefits in addition to the basic single person's allowance, for those parents who are separated from their children by a residence order under the provisions of the Children Act 1989, but are subsequently given access rights to their children by court order for parts of the day or week, including(a) overnight stays and (b) shorter periods.
  139
  Mr. Burt
  Under the income support scheme child personal allowances are payable to the parent who is adjudged to have primary responsibility for the child. We have no plans for change.

  Students
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much was paid to students in the 1991 summer vacation following the decision to restore 10 per cent. of access funding to students facing hardship; what plans he has to take similar steps this year; how much was saved by his Department over the past year following the abolition of benefits previously paid to students; how much has been allocated in 1992 for access funds; how many claimants previously qualifed for and claimed benefits; and how many are in receipt of access funds.

  Mr. Burt
  Changes to the benefit arrangements for students were introduced alongside the enhanced support available through the educational maintenance system.

  The reduction in expenditure on income support and housing benefit was estimated to be £91 million for the 1990–91 academic year.

  There were some 135,000 claims for income support from students during the summer vacation in 1989, the most recent date for which information is available. Data for August 1990 indicate that 19,000 students were in receipt of housing benefit during the summer vacation immediately before the benefit changes were introduced.

  Matters relating to access funds are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and Science.
  Sources: Special Exercise to record all student claims for Income Support during the 1989 summer vacation.
  The Housing Benefit and Community Charge Benefit Management Information System quarterly stock count for August 1990.

EMPLOYMENT

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions she has had with TEC chairmen about adequate funding for TECs.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. Friend has already met TEC chairmen on a number of occasions and will do so on a regular basis. The purpose of those meetings is to ensure that TECs continue to play an effective part in meeting our training and enterprise objectives.

  Durham TEC
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what level of funding has been made available to Durham training and enterprise council this year compared to the last financial year for delivering employment training and youth training programmes.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  County Durham TEC's budgets for 1992–93 are £12,986,767 for YT and £16,731,143 for ET. This compares to £15,719,999 and £20,808,873 respectively for 1991–92.

  Unemployment
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when she next plans to meet her European counterparts to discuss unemployment in the EC.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I shall next be meeting European Community Employment Ministers at the Social Affairs Council later this month. Whenever I meet my counterparts I emphasise to them the importance of avoiding action which will cost jobs in the Community. The promotion of employment growth, enterprise and help for unemployed people will be a top priority for the United Kingdom Presidency.

  Essex TEC
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make a statement on the performance of the Essex TEC.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Last year Essex TEC provided a total of 4,585 places in youth training, 3,588 in employment training, and 424 people participated in the business start-up programme.

  Health and Safety Inspectors
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current number of health and safety inspectors currently employed; and what is the current number of vacancies.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  On I May 1992, there were 1,491 inspectors in post in the Health and Safety Executive. HSE aims to have a further 101 inspectors in post by 1 April 1993.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the increase in unemployment in the United Kingdom in the past 12 months.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  In the 12 months to April 1992, seasonally adjusted claimant unemployment in the United Kingdom, rose by 528,700 or 24 per cent.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is her current estimate of the total of people who are engaged in more than one job and thus counted more than once in the employment totals.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Precise information on the number of people with more than one job included in the published work force in employment estimates is not available.

  However, the labour force survey estimated that 737,000 people held a second job as an employee in the spring of 1991.

  Inner-city Unemployment
  Mr. Dickens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what help is offered to the unemployed in inner-city areas.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Department, through the Employment Service and the network of training and enterprise councils, currently offers unemployed people a
  141
  wider range of help than ever before in finding jobs or gaining the skills they need to compete for jobs. Many of our programmes are focused on long-term unemployed people and are, therefore, of particular benefit to inner city areas. We have sought to ensure that inner city residents and people from the ethnic minorities have access to these programmes by employing many specialists and outreach staff and by publishing literature in a number of minority languages. Training opportunities and jobs are one of the central features of the city challenge programme.

  Engineering Skills
  Ms. Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for employment what plans she has for increasing the number of training places available in Stockport for young people to learn engineering skills.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Government have given training and enterprise councils the responsibility and resources to plan and deliver training which is most appropriate to meet local needs.

  The Stockport area is covered by Stockport and High Peak training and enterprise council and we are satisfied that it has adequate training places available for the young people in its area who wish to enter the engineering industry.

  In addition the training and enterprise council plans to increase its engineering provision with the introduction of a new course leading to the achievement of a national vocational qualification level three in two years.

  Industrial Action
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many working days were lost due to industrial action in(a) 1979, (b) 1991 and (c) the last 12-month period for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  There were just 0.7 million working days lost through industrial action in the 12 months to March 1992, the latest available period, and 0.8 million working days lost in the whole of 1991. These compare with 29 million working days lost in 1979.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether she will make a statement on the Government's policy concerning achieving equality of outcome in employment for minority groups.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Government are fully committed to ensuring equality of opportunity in the labour market for all.

  The Department takes every opportunity to encourage employers to recognise the value—to themselves as well as to the community—of sound equal opportunities policies and practices in the workplace, and where necessary to provide practical help and advice. A recent example is the Department's 10-point plan pack for employers. Offering practical guidance on the developlment of appropriate policies, the pack underlines the message that the pursuit of equal opportunities is not only in the interests of minority groups. It also makes good business sense for employers to make the best possible use of all the human resources available to them.

  The Government's commitment to equal opportunities in employment is also applied through training and
  142
  enterprise councils and the Employment Service, in the delivery of their programmes and services and by the Government as an employer itself.

  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will name the members of the small high level working group which will advise her on issues relevant to women's opportunities in the workplace and beyond.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The first members are as follows:

  LADY HOWE

  Chairman

  Business in the Community's Women's Economic Development Team.

  Responsible for Opportunity 2000 (and former Deputy Chairman Equal Opportunities Commission).

  JOANNA FOSTER

  Chairman

  Equal Opportunities Commission

  SUE SLIPMAN

  Director

  National Council for One Parent Families

  BARONESS DENTON
  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Department of Trade and Industry and Government Co-chair, Women's National Commission

  SUE RORSTAD

  Chairman and Managing Director

  Poppies UK Ltd.

  PETER DAVIES

  Chief Executive

  Reed International Plc

  KAY COLEMAN

  Chief Executive

  Harveys & Co. (clothing) Ltd.

  GRAHAM MILLAR

  Managing Director

  Rowntree Mackintosh Confectionary Ltd.

  DR. SUSAN MCRAE

  Senior Fellow

  Policy Studies Institute

  SIR BRYAN NICHOLSON

  Chairman,
  Post Office
  Chairman,
  National Council for Vocational Qualifications; Former Chairman, Manpower Services Commission

  MARGARET SEYMOUR

  Managing Director

  Seymour Swimming Pool Engineers

  Working Time Directive
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress is being made on the matter of the working time directive; and if she will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I am determined through constructive discussions with our Community partners to continue to protect employers and employees in the United Kingdom against arbitrary and unnecessary restrictions.

  Training Schemes
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many 16 and 17-year-olds in the Sheffield area are not at present on youth training programmes.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Exact figures are not available, but I understand that the Sheffield TEC considers that the YT guarantee is being met.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment under what circumstances citizens from other European Community countries may participate in youth or employment training or in other employment and training schemes financed by the Employment Department; once having entered a programme whether they are entitled to complete it; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Non-United Kingdom European Community nationals are generally eligible to participate in the full range of employment and training services and

  Young people on Government sponsored schemes in Great Britain

  March 1979

  March 1982

  March 1987

  2March 1992

  Programme

  YOP

  YOP

  YTS

  YT

  On Scheme

  68,200

  197,800

  303,800

  295,800

  Receiving Training1

  8,900

  25,700

  ALL

  ALL

  Notes: 1 YOP was initially set up to provide work experience opportunities, training formed only a small part of some of the YOP programmes. The numbers are estimates only.

  2 Estimated figures.

  Sources of information: YOP: YOP Management Information System.

  YTS: 'Spectrum' YTS Management Information System.

  YT: OSMOSIS and Financial Management Information systems.

  Industrial Tribunals
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when she expects to be the earliest opportunity for the introduction of legislation to enable appropriate additional jurisdiction to be conferred on industrial tribunals.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment expects to make provision to extend the jurisdiction of industrial tribunals in a Bill that she will be presenting in the current session of Parliament.

  Teesside TEC
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list the firms and training organisations to which the Teesside TEC has overpaid grants in the last financial year.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Contracts between TECs and their training providers are confidential matters for the parties involved. I am unable, therefore, to disclose the information requested.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether she will introduce legislation to reduce or to remove Crown immunity against prosecutions for offences under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The citizens charter recognised that Government activities should not be immune from
  144
  programmes funded by the Employment Department through the Employment Service and training and enterprise councils. This is conditional, however, on their meeting the relevant eligibility criteria for the programmes and services in question which apply to United Kingdom nationals. Having entered a programme, non-United Kingdom European Community nationals have a full entitlement to complete it.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people are currently on youth training schemes; what were the numbers in comparable schemes five, 10 and 15 years ago; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The latest estimates for the number of young people on YT or receiving training credits is 295,800 at March 1992. Before 1978–79, Government-sponsored schemes were not aimed specifically at providing training for young people comparable with YTS/YT and thus there are no separate figures for 15 years ago. The table gives the number of young people for the other periods asked for.

  inspection and enforcement on matters such as health and safety regulations. The Crown is already required to comply with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and the relevant statutory provisions. Crown bodies are inspected to that end, and there is provision for a Crown notice procedure. The Crown remains immune from criminal prosecution and there are no plans to change that position. However, the adequacy of the current Crown notice procedure is under review, in line with the principles outlined in the citizens charter.

  EC Social Proposals
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list the experts her Department consults on European Community proposals pertaining to social matters.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment consults widely on European Community proposals in the employment and social field. Employers and their organisations, professional associations and other interested bodies, trades unions and specialists are consulted as appropriate. The precise list of consultees depends on the nature of the proposal in question. In matters relating to health and safety at work, the Secretary of State is advised by the Health and Safety Commission.

  Interwork Programme
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will give the allocation for 1991–92 and 1992–93 for the interwork programme; how many disabled
  145
  people were budgeted for under this programme in 1991–92 and for 1992–93; and of those how many disabled people are benefiting from the programme in Stoke on Trent.

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

  Social Charter
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when she expects to meet her EC colleagues to discuss developments relating to the social charter.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment will be meeting European Community ministers later this month at the Social Affairs Council when a number of proposals from the European Commission's social action programme are due to be discussed.

  Working Hours
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals she has for the introduction of maximum weekly working hours in compliance with the draft European Community directive; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Government see no justification for general and compulsory limits on the working week. Negotiations are continuing on the European Community proposals on working hours to seek to protect employers and employees in the United Kingdom from arbitrary and unnecessary restrictions.

  Women Workers
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether she has any plans to improve the treatment of women at work.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Within the new machinery of government changes that I announced on 20 May, I shall be seeking to identify particular areas where further action would be appropriate to help advance women's opportunities at work.

ENVIRONMENT

  New Policies
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, by date, any new policies he has announced since his appointment in either media interviews or at other public events.

  Mr. Howard
  Since my appointment, and before it became possible to make announcements to the House, I announced the following new policies by way of press announcements: the provision of up to SI million to help rescue the non-governmental organisations' Global Forum taking place in Rio this month—press notice 295, dated 3 May; a 25 per cent. increase in recycling investment-press notice 283, dated 27 April; the United Kingdom's signature of the agreement to protect small cetaceans in the North and Baltic seas-press notice 298, dated 5 May.

  Ozone Layer
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what support is currently offered by the Government to assist lower income countries to introduce substitutes for chemicals, eliminated by the revised Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I have been asked to reply. The Government have offered a contribution of up to $15 million to the Montreal protocol funding mechanism to assist developing country parties to the protocol comply with its controls.

  Building Design
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to offer guidelines to building designers to ensure that buildings designed for public use take women's safety needs fully into account.

  Mr. Baldry
  No. Where it is considered appropriate my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State can make regulations with respect to building design with the aim of securing the safety of persons in or about buildings.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take measures to ban the transportation of all toxic and radioactive waste to and from the United Kingdom: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Negotiations are in progress on a draft EC Regulation on the supervision and control of shipments of waste within, into and out of the European Community. The Regulation will enable the United Kingdom to ratify the UNEP Basel convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal. The Government believe that all developed countries should become self-sufficient in final disposal of waste, and is pressing for the regulation to include controls to that effect. The Government consider that imports of hazardous waste should continue from developing countries which are unable to deal safely with such waste. Under the current draft of the regulation no exports for final disposal would be allowed from the Community, except to EFTA countries. The Government also consider that international movements of waste for recovery should continue subject to appropriate environmental controls, such as those included in the recent OECD Decision on this subject.

  No radioactive waste is imported into the United Kingdom. Spent nuclear fuel is imported but this is a resource which can be reprocessed. Since 1976, British Nuclear Fuels Limited's contracts have contained options for the return of wastes arising from reprocessing nuclear fuel. The Government intend that reprocessing contracts with overseas customers should continue to contain such options, and that these options will be exercised and wastes returned.

  Earth Summit
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list(a) the number of officials by rank and grade and (b) the number of

  147
  consultants attending the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, giving details of their class of travel and the total budgeted cost of the delegation.

  Mr. Maclean
  The United Kingdom delegation will consist of the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for the Environment, the Minister for Overseas Development, myself, and 25 officials from DOE, FCO, ODA, DTI. and the Forestry Commission. Official gradings are:

  Number

  Senior grade

  8

  Counsellor/equivalent

  5

  First secretary/equivalent

  11

  Third secretary

  1

  In addition, there are five members of the delegation attached to our diplomatic posts in Brazil. Their gradings are:

  Number

  Senior grade

  1

  Counsellor

  1

  First secretary

  1

  Second secretary

  2

  Eight junior support staff will also attend the conference, as well as 12 NGO observers who will form part of the United Kingdom delegation.

  The staff involved will he needed to service not only the plenary sessions of the conference but also the specialised sectoral working groups that will be set up and where much of the detailed negotiating will be done. So far eight informal working groups have been convened and others will be assembled if' necessary. Other staff are required to provide office support facilities and to liaise wih the local authorities over such matters as transport and security.

  Ministers, their private secretaries and the ambassadors to the United Nations and to Brazil will travel first class; all other delegates will travel club class. The estimated cost of the delegation's travel and subsistence, including hotel costs will be about £190,000. NGOs will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses.

  The estimated total administrative cost of the
  conference, inlcuding office facilities, transport and communications will be about £500,000.

  Water Supplies
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the approximate percentage of potable public water supplies in England and Wales leaving service reservoirs which is used for(a) industrial or manufacturing processes, (b) non-domestic cleaning, (c) personal washing and domestic cleansing, including clothes, (d) domestic and public water closets, (e) garden watering, (f) wastage and (g) any other major category of use.

  Mr. Maclean
  We shall include the best obtainable information on the subject in the consultation paper on water conservation which my right hon. Friend has said he will publish shortly. The statistics readily available do not. use the same set of categories as the hon. Member has listed.

  Bathing Water
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the National Rivers Authority will continue its sampling for salmonella and viruses of designated bathing beaches during the current bathing season.

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand that the National Rivers Authority will monitor for salmonella at all identified bathing waters and for enteroviruses at bathing waters which failed the coliform standards last season.

  Environmental Education
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made by his Department in the implementation of the recommendations of the international environmental education programme.

  Mr. Maclean
  As non-members of UNESCO we have no plans to make a contribution to this programme. This Government's commitment to environmental education was set out in the Environment White Paper "This Common Inheritance" published in 1990 and in subsequent follow up reports.

  Mortgage Arrears
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many households are in arrears with mortgages by six months or more(a) now, (b) a year ago and (c) two years ago.

  Mr. Baldry
  Annual information on mortgage arrears for the years 1980–91 is published in the May issue of the Council of Mortgage Lenders' quarterly publication, "Housing Finance", which is held in the House of Commons Library.

  Relocation
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of requests from the different regions of the United Kingdom offering locations for redeployed civil servants from Marsham street.

  Mr. Howard
  Since the announcement by my predecessor on 6 February that No. 2 Marsham street was to be demolished, my Department has received representations on behalf of Nottinghamshire, Pembrokeshire, Plymouth, Sheffield, Tyne and Wear, York and the Wirral. The Department of Transport, who also occupy No. 2 Marsham street, have received approaches in respect of east Kent, Nottinghamshire and York.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the criteria on which he based the decision to relocate civil servants from his Department to Canary Wharf.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the criteria(a) previously used and (b) proposed to be used by his Department in assessing the value for money of alternative locations for the staff he proposes to move from Marsham street.

  Mr. Howard
  I have decided to move staff of my Department to Docklands; Canary Wharf is only one of
  149
  the properties being considered. The posts which are being relocated need to remain within London because they carry out work which requires regular contact with Ministers. I have decided on a move to Docklands because the advice I have received is that the best value for money which is currently available is to be found there. Some 2,000 posts will relocate to Docklands, provided that we secure fully commercial terms giving value for money to the taxpayer. In deciding between properties in Docklands I shall consider non-financial factors (such as the quality of the working environment; the efficiency, accessibility and environmental standards of the buildings; and the convenience and safety of staff) as well as financial ones.

  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future location of the 3,000 civil servants from his Department who are not to be transferred to Canary Wharf.

  Mr. Howard
  I have decided to move staff of my Department to docklands; Canary Wharf is only one of the properties being considered. Other staff will continue to be located elsewhere in London, including Westminster, or in their existing locations outside. A large number of posts have already been moved out of London over recent years, and some 40 per cent. of my staff now work outside London. Those who remain in the capital are those with a need for regular contact with Ministers.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to publish the full terms of any lease taken on premises in docklands to accommodate staff of his Department moved from Marsham street.

  Mr. Baldry
  No. Any lease taken for premises in docklands will be the result of a commercial negotiation and as such will be confidential to the Department and the developer concerned in accordance with long-established policy in these matters.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals to bus in staff relocated to docklands.

  Mr. Howard
  I have undertaken to put in place arrangements to help to minimise the effects of a move to docklands on the staff of my Department. The details have yet to be settled.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his current estimate of redundancies arising from the demolition of the Marsham street offices and the relocation in docklands.

  Mr. Howard
  Staff in non-mobile grades who choose not to move to docklands will be eligible for redundancy.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the office rentals available in docklands in the first(a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 20 years compared with those available in (i) Sheffield and (ii) elsewhere outside London.

  Mr. Baldry
  Current rents and terms now on offer in docklands compare favourably with other parts of the United Kingdom.

  The possibility of the large rental increases in the future has been foreseen and my officials are considering how
  150
  best that risk can be minimised in the negotiations referred to in the Secretary of State's statement of 2 June on this matter.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the alternative sites he considered as possible locations for staff to be transferred from Marsham street; and if he will give the reasons in each case why such sites have been rejected.

  Mr. Howard:
  My Department's advisers identified four locations as best meeting the Department's needs for relocation within London, all of them in docklands. I have ruled out one of those four, Thomas More square, Wapping, because it is very much more expensive than the other three. Three—Harbour Exchange, Canary Wharf and East India Dock—remain under consideration.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of office sites in Sheffield as a potential destination for staff relocated from Marsham street; and if he will list the criteria which caused a site in docklands to be preferred.

  Mr. Howard
  The staff of my Department who are to be relocated to docklands need to be in London because they need to have regular contacts with Ministers. The question of assessing sites in Sheffield does not arise.

  Drought
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to ensure the continuity of water supply in times of drought.

  Mr. Maclean
  Primary responsibility for maintaining public water supplies rests with the water companies. The National Rivers Authority (NRA) also have a general statutory responsibility for conserving, redistributing and augmenting water resources and securing their proper use. My Department has for some months been holding regular meetings with the NRA, the Office of Water Services and the water companies to ensure necessary liaison and that we are aware of action (such as the consideration of applications for drought orders) that will be needed by the Department.

  I have written to all Members of Parliament, including my hon. Friend, in the areas which may be affected by water shortages this summer to explain the situation in greater detail. My right hon. Friend proposes to issue a consultation paper on water conservation shortly.

  Methane
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much is currently being allocated by his Department to research institutions to develop ways of reducing methane emissions.

  Mr. Maclean
  My Department has responsibility for controlling methane emissions from landfill sites. Currently we are funding projects on the design of landfill gas flaring systems and on optimising methane oxidation in landfill cover soils. These projects have a total value of £200,000.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been allocated by his Department for the forthcoming year to undertake publicity campaigns to promote more efficient energy use in homes, offices, industry and transport.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Department has allocated £6.3 million for publicity and information promotion on energy efficiency during 1992–93.

  Enterprise Zones
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give a breakdown of sums allocated to cover the cost of enterprise zones(a) by individual enterprise zone. (b) in total for the United Kingdom and (c) including sums which would have accrued from changes in rateable values or increases in capital values over the period of the life of the enterprise zone.

  Mr. Redwood
  The table shows outturn costs for rate revenue forgone in United Kingdom enterprise zones up to 31 March 1990. No comparable figures are available for other enterprise zone allowances.

  Compensation for rates revenue forgone up to 31 March 1990

  Enterprise zone

  £ million

  England

  Allerdale

  2.721

  Corby

  20.964

  Dudley

  26.087

  Glanford

  1.124

  Hartlepool

  5.193

  Isle of Dogs

  37.593

  Middlesbrough

  4.264

  North East Lancashire

  6.370

  North West Kent

  14.046

  Rotherham

  8.135

  Salford/Trafford

  36.678

  Scunthorpe

  9.737

  Speke

  14.522

  Telford

  10.958

  Tyneside

  55.588

  Wakefield

  8.495

  Wellingborough

  7.131

  Wales

  Delyn

  3.549

  Milford Haven

  3.149

  Swansea

  15.817

  Scotland

  Clydebank

  120.381

  Inverclyde

  120.381

  Invergordon

  0.769

  Tayside

  5.454

  Northern Ireland

  Belfast

  9.899

  Londonderry

  4.240

  UNITED KINGDOM TOTAL

  332.865

  1 Not available separately.

  It is not possible to say how much of the above total has resulted from changes in rateable values.

  Water Meters
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on increasing the use of water meters.
  152
  Mr. Maclean
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave on 2 June 1992 to my hon. Friend the Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Field)Official Report, column 383.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information the Office of Water Services has on how many water meters are installed in each water authority area.

  Mr. Maclean
  About 0.5 million domestic properties and 1.1 million commercial and industrial properties in England and Wales receive water on a metered supply. Details of the number of metered properties in each water company area are contained in OFWAT publication entitled "The UK Water Industry—Charges for water services 1992–93", copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information OFWAT has on what changes in the consumption of water have been brought about where water meters have been installed.

  Mr. Maclean
  Information from the national water metering trials funded by DOE and the water industry indicates that in the large scale Isle of Wight trial the amount of water put into supply has fallen by 11.1 per cent., of which it is estimated that 5.9 per cent. was the result of reductions in leakage. In the small scale trials demand has reduced on average by 13.1 per cent. although the effect in individual trials ranged from - 29.6 per cent. to +2.3 per cent. In these trials, it is estimated that reductions in leakage accounted for 5.1 per cent. of the average reduction.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment OFWAT has made of whether average water bills have increased or decreased in areas where water meters have been introduced.

  Mr. Maclean
  Information from the national water metering trial areas indicates that about 65 per cent. of customers paid the same as or less than they would have paid on a rateable value basis. About 20 per cent. of customers paid over 20 per cent. more.

  National Water Grid
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has plans to establish a national water grid.

  Mr. Maclean
  Bulk supplies of water are already transferred over considerable distances in a number of cases. The National Rivers Authority (NRA) considers further possible schemes in its consultation paper "Water Resources Development Strategy" published in March. It will be for the National Rivers Authority and the water companies to decide whether they believe any such scheme should be promoted.

  Incinerators
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the current statutory regulations used by Her Majesty's inspectorate of Pollution in respect of waste or sewage incinerators both individually and severally; and what are the comparable standards adopted by France, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, respectively.
  153
  Mr. Maclean
  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution (HMIP) controls those processes involving the incineration of waste or sewage sludge which are described in "The Environmental Protection (Prescribed Processes and Substances) Regulations 1991 (SI 472) and The Environmental Protection (Prescribed Processes and Substances) (Amendment) Regulations 1991 (SI 614) issued under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. These require each process to be individually authorised and for the best available technologies not entailing excessive cost to be used by the operator to prevent or reduce emissions from the process.

  To provide guidance on the standards to be applied, Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution issues guidance notes to its inspectors relating to the processes it controls. These provide a sound framework within which Inspectors can assess applications for the authorisation of new processes and existing processes. The notes are also publicly available for the benefit of operators and other interested parties.

  I recently announced (Official Report, 21 May, column 197), the publication of those notes relating to processes in the waste disposal and recycling sector which includes these three incineration processes.

  I will write to the hon. Member about the question of how the standards applied in England and Wales compare with those of the four countries cited.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the incentives currently available to encourage the development of more energy-efficient processes and vehicles by industry.

  Mr. Maclean
  The energy efficiency office promotes detailed technical and economic advice to industry on energy efficient processes through its best practice. The EEO also supports consultancy help in the management of energy efficiency investments in smaller industrial companies.

  Energy efficiency in transport is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport to a question by the hon. Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon) on 2 June at column 522.

  Rents-to-Mortgages Scheme
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average value of properties sold to tenants under the pilot rents-to-mortgages schemes in Basildon and Milton Keynes; what was the average initial payment made by tenants under the schemes; and what proportion of sales have been flats.

  Mr. Baldry
  Most of the houses sold in Milton Keynes were worth £40,000 to £50,000; in Basildon, most were worth over £50,000. Information on the initial payment made is at present available only for Milton Keynes, where more than half the tenants paid between £15,000 and £20,000. Four out of the 103 properties sold have been flats.

  North Tyneside (Urban Programme)
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state for each year since its inception the amount of funding under the urban programme allocated to the North Tyneside area at(a) cash prices and (b) 1991–92 prices.

  Mr. Squire
  Figures for urban programme allocations to North Tyneside are only available in the Department from 1979–80 when the programme was transferred from the Home Office. The information is as follows:

  (a) At cash prices

  Year

  £ million

  1979–80

  1.400

  1980–81

  2.749

  1981–82

  2.335

  1982–83

  2.940

  1983–84

  3.437

  1984–85

  3.155

  1985–86

  3.245

  1986–87

  3.605

  1987–88

  3.555

  1988–89

  3.442

  1989–90

  3.400

  1990–91

  3.625

  1991–92

  3.560

  1992–93

  3.371

  (b) At 1991–92 prices

  Year

  £ million

  1979–80

  3.255

  1980–81

  5.401

  1981–82

  4.184

  1982–83

  4.918

  1983–84

  5.495

  1984–85

  4.803

  1985–86

  4.682

  1986–87

  5.036

  1987–88

  4.710

  1988–89

  4.255

  1989–90

  3.946

  1990–91

  3.879

  1991–92

  3.560

  1992–93

  3.233

  Traffic, Greenwich
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action is being taken by his Department to measure the extent of atomospheric pollution attributable to emissions from motor vehicles in the Greenwich area; and what information is available on this matter.

  Mr. Maclean
  My Department commissioned a study of nitrogen dioxide levels throughout the United Kingdom using diffusion tubes during 1991. As part of this survey, levels of this pollutant of which the major source is motor traffic were measured in the Greenwich area. The report of this study was published last month by Warren Spring laboratory and is available in the Library of the House.

  Black smoke concentrations have been rising over the last few years in the Greenwich area. This increase is thought to be due to increasing particulate emissions from diesel vehicles in the locality.

  Mineral Planning Authority
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of state for the Environment who are the members of the mineral planning authority covering the Kirklees area; when they were appointed to this authority; and by whom.

  Mr. Baldry
  I regret that this information is not held by the Department.

  Hunterprint
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what printing contracts the company Hunterprint had, or has outstanding with his Department related to(a) water privatisation and (b) any other matters; and if he will give the dates and details of the nature and the subject matter of the printed material for each contract.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 5 June 1992]: The company Hunterprint was contracted by my Department, following competitive tender, to print the flotation brochure included in the information pack for the launch of the sale of the water companies of England and Wales in 1989. Some 3 million copies were produced in English and 250,000 copies in Welsh.

  No other contracts with this firm are recorded.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent applications his Department has received from the Australian Government supporting the plans of the Australian companies Carpentaria and Brambles, Australia, respectively, to import toxic waste into the United Kingdom from Australia for treatment; and what response has been made.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 5 June 1992]: The Australian Department of the Arts, Sport, the Environment and Territories has written to my Department to seek a bilateral agreement under article 11 of the United Nations Environment Programme Basle convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal. This would allow Australia to ship such waste to the United Kingdom for disposal. I have decided not to agree to the request, and we are replying accordingly.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment pursuant to his answer of 2 June,Official Report, columns 369–70, whether sites of special scientific interest will, in future, be protected from any depradation by agriculture, quarrying or any other activity.

  G5

  G7

  SEO

  HEO

  E0

  AO

  AA

  Salary cost £

  FLT

  1

  3

  3

  4.5

  7

  8

  4

  604,000

  FLG

  1

  3

  —

  4

  7

  2

  1

  392,000

  FLGR

  1

  3

  —

  2

  3

  2

  —

  248,000

  FLER

  1

  4

  1

  3

  2

  3

  1

  191,000

  FLC

  1

  2

  —

  3

  1

  3

  1

  224,000

  FLAS

  1

  5

  3

  4

  8

  10

  1

  598,000

  PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL

  For the purposes of MINIS the Directorate's declared objectives and proposed tasks are compared with what has been achieved during the year, taking into account all relevant factors including the resources used.
  156
  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 9 June 1992:] Development proposals in or near sites of special scientific interest are strictly controlled either through the measures set out in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as amended, or the planning system.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each of the branches of the local government finance policy division of his Department(a) the total number of staff, analysed by grade, (b) the total salary costs, (c) the policy responsibilities and (d) the measurements of policy outcomes used to appraise the branch for the purposes of MINIS and the branch's achievements in the most recent MINIS report.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 8 June 1992]: The information is as follows:

  POLICY RESPONSIBILITIES

  Finance Local Taxation Division (FLT)
  Monitoring and operation of the Community Charge; monitoring and operation of non-domestic rates, including payments for Valuation Office Agency services and planning for the 1995 non-domestic revaluation; oversight of Valuation Tribunals; preparation for Council Tax.

  Finance Local Authority Grants Division (FLG)
  Annual local government finance settlement; collection and payment of non-domestic rates and grant; PES and Vote management; sponsorship of the Audit Commission; commutation.

  Finance Local Authority Grants and Revenue Division (FLGR)
  Standard Spending Assessments and Revenue Support Grant.

  Finance Local Authority Expenditure and Revenues Division (FLER)
  Local Authority accounting advice; council tax and community charge setting, precepting, levying, capping and funds.

  Finance Local Capital Division (FLC)
  Capital allocations to authorities; monitoring operation of capital finance system; local authority financial prudence.

  Finance Local Authority Statistics Division (FLAS)
  Collection and analysis of data; forecasting and briefing.

  STAFF AND SALARY COSTS

  Staff numbers at 31 March 1992.

  Salary costs for year ending 31 March 1992.

  157
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the regulations still to be made under the Local Government Finance Act 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 8 June 1992]: The following regulations arising from the Local Government Finance Act 1992 have still to be made for England:

  Appeals

  The Council Tax (Alteration of List) Regulations

  Valuation Tribunals Regulations

  Valuation

  The Domestic Property (Definition) Regulations

  Tax Setting, Precepting, Levying and Funds

  Collection Fund Regulations

  Levying Body Regulations

  Anticipation of Precepts Regulations

  Information for Tax Setting Purposes Regulations

  Council Tax Benefit and Transitional Arrangements

  Council Tax Benefit Regulations [to he made by the Department of Social Security]

  The Council Tax (Reduction Scheme) (England) Regulations

  Administration and Enforcement

  The Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rating (Demand Notices) (England) Regulations

  Miscellaneous

  Commencement Orders (Consequential Amendments and Repeals)

  Consequential Amendments. Repeals etc Order

  Netting Off Regulations

  National Non-Domestic Rate

  Duty to consult Ratepayers Regulations

  Non-Domestic Rating Contributions (Final Adjustments) Regulations

  Non-Domestic Rating Contributions (England) (Amendment) Regulations

  Non-Domestic Rating Interest (Amendment) Regulations

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how the capping criteria for Cheltenham borough council and Gloucester city council for 1992–93 were adjusted to take into account the misallocation of grant to these councils in 1991–92; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what account was taken of boundary changes in fixing grant allocations to local authorities in Gloucestershire for 1991–92; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he will visit Cheltenham to discuss his 1992–93 grant allocation with councillors and other residents' representatives.

  Mr. Squire
  [holding answer 8 June 1992]: The boundary changes affecting Gloucestershire districts occurred too late to be taken into account in 1991–92 standard spending assessments and hence in revenue support grant distribution. Instead, compensating payments were made between the authorities concerned.

  Allowance is made for these boundary changes in the 1992–93 SSAs in accordance with the procedure set out in paragraph 12 of the Revenue Support Grant Distribution (Amendment) (No. 2) Report (England), which was approved by the House of Commons on 4 February 1992. In the circumstances, I believe that it would not be appropriate to visit Cheltenham to discuss the 1992–93 RSG distribution.
  158
  SSAs are central to the capping criteria for 1992–93; hence we consider the criteria we have adopted make appropriate allowance for the effect of the boundary changes.

  Gloucester's total SSA for 1992–93 is 13.1 per cent. higher than for 1991–92. That of Cheltenham is 16.7 per cent. higher. These increases in large part reflect the boundary changes.

HEALTH

  Residential Care
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the Government's plans on implementation of the findings of(a) the Howe inquiry and (b) the report by Sir William Utting.

  Mr. Yeo
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave her on 5 June at column 670. Implementation of the recommendations in Sir William Utting's report is being coordinated by a group chaired by the Department and including local authority, professional, voluntary sector and other Government Department interests.

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on those recommendations of the Howe inquiry which give an emphasis on training; and what assessment she has made of the inclusion in the diploma in social work course of enhanced training specifically on residential care.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We shall he giving careful consideration to all the recommendations of the Howe inquiry which are relevant to our responsibilities.

  The Government are strongly committed to improving social work training; this commitment is embodied in the training strategy for the personal social services which we announced last year. Particularly, we are assisting local authorities to fulfil their responsibilities for training staff through the Department's training support programme, central grant for which has been increased from £24.8 million to £29 million in 1992–93. Approximately 140,000 local authority staff are expected to benefit from training under this programme this year, nearly half of whom work in residential care. Funds have been reserved from the grant this year specifically to boost the output of qualifying training for residential child care staff. Further funds have been provided to the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work to provide grants for qualifying training for heads of voluntary children's homes.

  The Department has also funded an expert group to look at the content of diploma in social work courses for residential child care staff. This report is expected very shortly.

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will provide extra funds to local authorities to cover extra training for staff working in residential care.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Department is already providing extra funds to local authorities for training through the training support programme specific grant. The grant was introduced in 1988–89 at a level of £7 million and has been increased year on year to its current level of £29 million. Approximately half of the 140,000 staff expected to benefit from training under the programme work in residential care.

  NHS Consultants
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the annual cost of distinction awards paid to national health service consultants in England over the period 1982–1992.

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

  Distinction awards: Analysis by type of award, specialty and percentage distribution at 31 December 1991 — England and Wales The Secretariat. Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards, Department of Health, 426 Portland Court, 158-176 Great Portland Street, London WIN 5TB

  Award holders

  Eligible practitioners

  Total

  A+

  A

  B

  C

  Non-award holders

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  All specialties: Total

  17,182

  100.0

  5,930

  34.5

  194

  1.1

  674

  3.9

  1,526

  8.9

  3,536

  20.6

  11,252

  65.5

  Accident and Emergency

  218

  1.3

  44

  20.2

  —

  —

  3

  1.4

  8

  3.7

  33

  15.1

  174

  79.8

  Anaesthetics

  2,217

  12.9

  644

  29.0

  23

  1.0

  40

  1.8

  156

  7.0

  425

  19.2

  1,573

  71.0

  Cardiology

  187

  1.1

  89

  47.6

  4

  2.1

  19

  10.2

  22

  11.8

  44

  23.5

  98

  52.4

  Cardio-thoracic surgery

  130

  0.8

  61

  46.9

  3

  2.3

  10

  7.7

  21

  16.2

  27

  20.8

  69

  53.1

  Clinical neurological physiology

  62

  0.4

  21

  33.9

  —

  —

  2

  3.2

  3

  4.8

  16

  25.8

  41

  66.1

  Oral surgery

  264

  1.5

  118

  44.7

  3

  1.1

  17

  6.4

  29

  11.0

  69

  26.1

  146

  55.3

  Orthodontics

  155

  0.9

  53

  34.2

  1

  0.6

  4

  2.6

  11

  7.1

  37

  23.9

  102

  65.8

  Restorative dentistry

  108

  0.6

  36

  33.3

  1

  0.9

  7

  6.5

  8

  7.4

  20

  18.5

  72

  66.7

  Public health dentistry

  7

  —

  2

  28.6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  28.6

  5

  71.4

  Dermatology

  253

  1.5

  84

  33.2

  —

  —

  14

  5.5

  20

  7.9

  50

  19.8

  169

  66.8

  Diseases of the chest

  116

  0.7

  61

  52.6

  1

  0.9

  7

  6.0

  12

  10.3

  41

  35.3

  55

  47.4

  General medicine

  1,534

  8.9

  742

  48.4

  28

  1.8

  114

  7.4

  201

  13.1

  399

  26.0

  792

  51.6

  General surgery

  1,241

  7.2

  566

  45.6

  24

  1.9

  70

  5.6

  149

  12.0

  323

  26.0

  675

  54.4

  Genito-urinary medicine

  170

  1.0

  34

  20.0

  —

  —

  4

  2.4

  5

  2.9

  25

  14.7

  136

  80.0

  Geriatric medicine

  576

  3.4

  130

  22.6

  1

  0.2

  10

  1.7

  26

  4.5

  93

  16.1

  446

  77.4

  Infectious diseases

  39

  0.2

  18

  46.2

  1

  2.6

  2

  5.1

  3

  7.7

  12

  30.8

  21

  53.8

  Mental illness

  1,298

  7.6

  371

  28.6

  11

  0.8

  36

  2.8

  93

  7.2

  231

  17.8

  927

  71.4

  Child and adolescent psychiatry

  370

  2.2

  79

  21.4

  3

  0.8

  4

  1.1

  17

  4.6

  55

  14.9

  291

  78.6

  Forensic psychiatry

  77

  0.4

  20

  26.0

  1

  1.3

  2

  2.6

  4

  5.2

  13

  16.9

  57

  74.0

  Mental handicap

  173

  1.0

  29

  16.8

  —

  —

  4

  2.3

  4

  2.3

  21

  12.1

  144

  83.2

  Psychotherapy

  102

  0.6

  22

  21.6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  8

  7.8

  14

  13.7

  80

  78.4

  Neurology

  208

  1.2

  107

  51.4

  4

  1.9

  19

  9.1

  39

  18.8

  45

  21.6

  101

  48.6

  Neurosurgery

  106

  0.6

  62

  58.5

  4

  3.8

  13

  12.3

  24

  22.6

  21

  19.8

  44

  41.5

  Nuclear medicine

  31

  0.2

  16

  51.6

  1

  3.2

  5

  16.1

  8

  25.8

  2

  6.5

  15

  48.4

  Obstetrics and gynaecology

  851

  5.0

  328

  38.5

  15

  1.8

  30

  3.5

  72

  8.5

  211

  24.8

  523

  61.5

  Occupational medicine

  25

  0.1

  3

  12.0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  4.0

  2

  8.0

  22

  88.0

  Ophthalmology

  453

  2.6

  156

  34.4

  3

  0.7

  19

  4.2

  42

  9.3

  92

  20.3

  297

  65.6

  Orthopaedic surgery

  790

  4.6

  284

  35.9

  8

  1.0

  23

  2.9

  61

  7.7

  192

  24.3

  506

  64.1

  Otolaryngology

  406

  2.4

  150

  36.9

  1

  0.2

  12

  3.0

  30

  7.4

  107

  26.4

  256

  63.1

  Paediatrics

  856

  5.0

  307

  35.9

  12

  1.4

  31

  3.6

  84

  9.8

  180

  21.0

  549

  64.1

  Paediatric surgery

  52

  0.3

  23

  44.2

  —

  —

  5

  9.6

  12

  23.1

  6

  11.5

  29

  55.8

  Pathology: general

  8

  —

  3

  37.5

  —

  —

  1

  12.5

  1

  12.5

  1

  12.5

  5

  62.5

  Blood transfusion

  32

  0.2

  11

  34.4

  1

  3.1

  2

  6.2

  4

  12.5

  4

  12.5

  21

  65.6

  Chemical pathology

  184

  1.1

  63

  34.2

  3

  1.6

  10

  5.4

  18

  9.8

  32

  17.4

  121

  65.8

  Haematology

  407

  2.4

  143

  35.1

  3

  0.7

  23

  5.7

  35

  8.6

  82

  20.1

  264

  64.9

  Histopathology

  645

  3.8

  199

  30.9

  7

  1.1

  22

  3.4

  61

  9.5

  109

  16.9

  446

  69.1

  Immunopathology

  46

  0.3

  27

  58.7

  2

  4.3

  7

  15.2

  12

  26.1

  6

  13.0

  19

  41.3

  Medical microbiology

  330

  1.9

  118

  35.8

  3

  0.9

  16

  4.8

  37

  11.2

  62

  18.8

  212

  64.2

  Neuro-pathology

  41

  0.2

  16

  39.0

  —

  —

  3

  7.3

  5

  12.2

  8

  19.5

  25

  61.0

  PHLS only

  32

  0.2

  11

  34.4

  —

  —

  3

  9.4

  3

  9.4

  5

  15.6

  21

  65.6

  Public health medicine

  535

  3.1

  157

  29.3

  8

  1.5

  16

  3.0

  41

  7.7

  92

  17.2

  378

  70.7

  Plastic surgery

  124

  0.7

  43

  34.7

  —

  —

  4

  3.2

  15

  12.1

  24

  19.4

  81

  65.3

  Radiology

  1,212

  7.1

  309

  25.5

  9

  0.7

  25

  2.1

  82

  6.8

  193

  15.9

  903

  74.5

  Radiotherapy

  223

  1.3

  84

  37.7

  4

  1.8

  8

  3.6

  18

  8.1

  54

  24.2

  139

  62.3

  Rheumatology and rehabilitation

  288

  1.7

  86

  29.9

  1

  0.3

  8

  2.8

  21

  7.3

  56

  19.4

  202

  70.1

  Toxic Shock Syndrome
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has on the number of cases over the last five years of tampon-related toxic shock syndrome; and how many of these have resulted in death.

  Mr. Sackville
  Statistics from the public health laboratory service indicate that in recent years cases of tampon-related toxic shock syndrome average around 15 per year with one or two deaths for the United Kingdom as a whole.
  160
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of national health service consultants in each specialty get distinction awards, A +, A, B and C; and of these what proportion do private practice.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The distribution of distinction awards for England including special health authorities and Wales by specialty at 31 December 1991, the latest date for which information is available, is set out in the table.

  Information is not held centrally on the number of award holders undertaking private practice.

  GP Lists
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the average number of patients per general practitioner in the Durham area in 1979 and 1991.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  At 1 October 1979, the average number of patients on general medical practitioner lists in the Durham family health services authority area was 2,461 and at 1 October 1991, this has reduced by 19 per cent. to 1,989.

  Community Care
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on community care assessments.

  Mr. Yeo
  From April 1993, when the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 is fully implemented, local authorities will take lead responsibility for assessing individuals' needs for care and arranging packages of care services whether in a person's own home or in a residential care or nursing home. Assessments and the provision of services will often require contributions from other agencies. Assessment of individuals' care needs underpins our proposals and will ensure services are tailored to need.

  Homeopathic Medicines
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the prescription of(a) evening primrose oil and (b) other homeopathic medicines by the national health service.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Two evening primrose oil preparations have been granted product licences by the Medicines Control Agency (MCA), and are available on national health service prescripton for the conditions for which they are licensed. A number of other preparations have been considered by the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances, but the committee considers that they have no therapeutic use in the treatment of disease in the community. They are therefore included in the list of products that cannot be prescribed on the national health service.

  General practitioners can prescribe any product which they consider necessary for the treatment of their national health service patients provided it is not included in that list, and provided that they are prepared to justify their prescribing, if challenged, to their family health services authority.

  National Health Service Consultants
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the annual regional distribution of distinction awards, A +, A, B and C, paid to national health service consultants by specialty over the period 1982 to 1992.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I am arranging for tables showing the distribution of distinction awards, by grade of award, within each specialty for each region, the special health authorities and Wales, for the years ended 31 December 1982 to 1991 inclusive to be placed in the Library.

  Volunteers
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health is she has any plans to arrange for volunteers to feed patients who cannot feed themselves; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  We welcome the valuable contribution that volunteers make in helping patients in hospital, including, where appropriate, helping those who cannot feed themselves. The extent to which volunteers are used is essentially a local issue which must be decided by the hospital, patient and volunteer concerned.

  Imigran
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the drug Imigran used for relief to migraine sufferers, is available on prescription in its(a) injection form and (b) tablet form; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Both Imigran tablets and injections have been licensed and are available as prescription-only medicines.

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will publish the latest figures available showing(a) the average charge for private sight tests and (b) the uptake of private sight tests by the over-60s since restrictions on NHS tests were introduced;

  (2) if she will conduct a survey to find out the total number of private sight tests carried out for each year since restrictions on national health service tests were introduced; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Department collects information on national health service sight tests only. Other sight tests are private transactions. The optical profession conducts regular surveys on the total number of sight tests, both national health service and private. Their findings indicate that the number of sight tests has returned to 1987 levels—the last typical year before changes in the sight-testing arrangements were announced.

  London Ambulance Service
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects the proceedings of the board of the London ambulance service to be made public.

  Mr. Sackville
  The proceedings of the London Ambulance Service Board are not made public. Accountability is exercised through the South West Thames regional health authority whose proceedings are subject to the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960.

  Royal Northern Hospital
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultation she is proposing on the loss of wards in the Royal Northern hospital in Islington and Bloomsbury health authority.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Bloomsbury and Islington health authority consulted interested parties on its proposals to centralise the acute services in Islington on the Archway and St. Mary's sites of the Whittington hospital. Following Islington community health council (CHC) opposition to those proposals the matter was referred to Ministers.

  The hon. Member, together with the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) and the CHC, met with my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 5 February to discuss those proposals.

  I subsequently wrote to the chairman of Bloomsbury and Islington health authority on 1 June, copying the letter to the hon. Member, stating that it would not be right in this case for Ministers to intervene to overturn the decision by local management.

  Chiropodists
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will reconsider allowing privately trained and qualified chiropodists to work within the national health service; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  All people employed as chiropodists in the national health service must be state registered, whether or not they were privately trained. There are no plans to change this arrangement.
  164
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will initiate a new comparison in the qualifications and working practices of private and national health service practising chiropodists; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No. This would be a matter for the profession.

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