Written Answers of 10 June 1992

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Offences
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of males reaching the age of 30 years in 1991, or in the latest year for which statistics are available, had at some time committed(a) a notifiable and (b) a summary offence.

  Mr. Jack
  The information is not available in the form requested. Of all males born in 1953, one third had been convicted of a standard list offence by the age of 30. The information has been produced from a series of Cohort studies of persons born in 1953, 1958 and 1963, published in Home Office statistical bulletin issue 32/89 "Criminal and custodial careers of those born in 1953, 1958 and 1963", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. Peter Lloyd
  Officials are aware of the need to consult the registrar about proposed legislation or other initiatives which might affect or be affected by the Data Protection Act 1984, and will consult him as necessary when planning the collection, use or disclosure of automated personal data.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will describe each separate index of personal data stored on the intelligence and investigation unit at Harmondsworth; how many items of data are stored under each index; how many entries are in each index; and what was the number of accesses to each index over the last year.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  There are two databases on the Immigration Service's intelligence and investigation unit's computer at Harmondsworth which contain personal data:the ISIIU index contains information considered to be of long term immigration interest;
  the United Kingdom passport abuse database contains information about United Kingdom passports which have been detected in fraudulent use.

  Individual records in the ISIIU database contain 11 fields of information. Those in the United Kingdom passport abuse database contain 15, of which 11 are the same as in the ISIIU index.

  The ISIIU database contains about 500,000 records; the United Kingdom passport abuse database about 3,500. No record is kept of the number of accesses to either database.
  166
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will describe, in a form that does not jeopardise the prevention of crime or national security, the circumstances when the security services or the Customs and Excise(a) have terminal access to police computers or (b) can receive information from police computers.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Access to police computer systems and the disclosure of information from these systems and from the police national computer are matters for chief constables.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect on privacy of freely available copies of the council tax valuation lists, in relation to the list's combination with(a) the electoral register, (b) the credit reference agencies and (c) vendors of databases derived from public sources; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  None. Any evidence of misuse of automated personal information will be investigated by the Data Protection Registrar, who has responsibility for enforcing the Data Protection Act 1984.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many meetings he has held with bodies representing the views of data subjects in relation to the European Commission's proposals for a data protection directive.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  None since taking up this post, but the then Minister of State had one such meeting on 21 February 1991. Ministers and officials are regularly informed of the views of all who have an interest in data protection, whether as data subjects or data users.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will describe each category of suspect index made available to officials at ports of entry; how many suspect persons are under each category; how many items of data are stored about each category; and what was the number of accesses made to each index over the last year.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  There is a single suspect index, the purpose of which is to alert the immigration officer to take action in respect of an individual who might not he identified in the course of routine examination. The index currently contains about 10,000 entries. No record is kept of the number of occasions on which it is consulted by immigration officers.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will describe each separate index of personal data stored on INDECS; how many items of data are stored on INDECS under each index; how many entries are in each index; and what was the number of accesses to each index over the last year.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Data are stored on INDECS according to a unique arrival number and relate to the immigration status of individuals given conditional leave to enter the United Kingdom on a non-permanent basis under the terms of the Immigration Act 1971. In each case, details entered on the landing card are recorded together with the expiry date of the leave to enter. The number of data elements linked to the arrival number will range from 20 to 40 according to the conditions applying and the
  167
  number of subsequent movements in and out of the United Kingdom. There were 2.8 million records on I NDECS at the beginning of June 1992. Information on the number of accesses to the system is not available.

  Police Officers (Attacks)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in respect of 1990 and 1991(a) how many police officers were attacked on duty, (b) how many of their assailants were charged and (c) how many were convicted.

  Mr. Jack
  Information collected by Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary shows that in England and Wales 17,568 police officers were assaulted on duty in 1990 and 18,372 in 1991. No information is collected centrally on how many assailants were charged or convicted. A survey covering the second half of 1991 showed that 2,500 offenders were sentenced for assaults against the police during that period. The results of this survey were published in Home Office Statistical Bulletin 3/92, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Trespass
  Mr. Hawksley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce a Bill to make trespass a criminal offence; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  We have no plans to extend the criminal law to all cases of trespass. However the Government

  Establishment

  Population 4 June 1991

  Certified normal accommodation 4 June 1991

  Population 4 June 1992

  Certified normal accommodation 4 June 1992

  Acklington

  514

  676

  626

  676

  Albany

  357

  389

  293

  309

  Aldington

  109

  127

  126

  127

  Ashwell

  385

  404

  395

  404

  Askham Grange1

  103

  134

  107

  129

  Aylesbury

  239

  296

  236

  241

  Bedford

  244

  171

  250

  170

  Belmarsh

  374

  360

  760

  841

  Birmingham

  993

  575

  959

  567

  Blantyre House

  87

  87

  95

  95

  Blundeston

  398

  410

  336

  410

  Brinsford

  —

  —

  339

  336

  Bristol

  394

  379

  415

  374

  Brixton

  1,061

  739

  773

  630

  Brockhill

  241

  161

  155

  160

  Bullingdon

  —

  —

  386

  635

  Bullwood Hall1

  95

  119

  104

  126

  Camp Hill

  453

  461

  422

  481

  Canterbury

  337

  230

  173

  207

  Cardiff

  457

  338

  425

  325

  Castington

  260

  300

  294

  300

  Channings Wood

  579

  594

  570

  594

  Chelmsford

  374

  244

  360

  244

  Coldingley

  246

  299

  220

  222

  Cookham Wood1

  119

  120

  117

  120

  Dartmoor

  526

  619

  521

  599

  Deerbolt

  354

  404

  383

  422

  Dorchester

  208

  152

  200

  139

  Dover

  220

  347

  265

  312

  Downview

  276

  286

  283

  286

  Drake Hall1

  189

  262

  186

  261

  Durham1

  880

  640

  805

  579

  East Sutton Park1

  75

  84

  87

  90

  Eastwood Park

  89

  134

  86

  134

  Elmley

  —

  —

  313

  635

  Erlestoke

  212

  218

  206

  218

  Everthorpe

  265

  304

  223

  228

  168
  recognise that the current law relating to squatting in premises is unsatisfactory and we have recently completed a consultation exercise which sought views on a range of possible options for improving the protection available to owners and legitimate occupiers. We are presently considering what action would be appropriate in the light of responses to that exercise.

  Prisons
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list, by prison establishment, the current number of inmates held; what is the recommended establishment per Her Majesty's prison; and what was the comparable figure 12 months ago;

  (2) if he will list by Her Majesty's prison establishment, the current number of inmates held per cell; what was the comparable figure 12 months ago; and if he will indicate those establishments where women are held.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The number of inmates held in each Prison Service establishment in England and Wales and the certified normal accommodation (CNA) for 4 June 1991 and 4 June 1992 for those establishments are shown in the table.

  Information on the number of inmates held per cell is not collected centrally. But on 10 May (the latest date for which figures are available) 9,392 inmates were being held two to a cell designed for one, 1,294 fewer than 12 months ago. The number of prisoners being held three to a cell designed for one was 1,038 which was 969 fewer than in May 1991.
  169

  Establishment

  Population 4 June 1991

  Certified normal accommodation 4 June 1991

  Population 4 June 1992

  Certified normal accommodation 4 June 1992

  Exeter

  403

  243

  430

  317

  Featherstone

  585

  599

  541

  599

  Feltham

  781

  874

  734

  874

  Finnamore Wood

  84

  116

  87

  112

  Ford

  518

  568

  518

  536

  Frankland

  421

  432

  327

  332

  Full Sutton

  424

  634

  463

  624

  Garth

  503

  512

  456

  512

  Gartree

  276

  320

  235

  245

  Glen Parva

  736

  854

  687

  854

  Gloucester

  254

  200

  169

  107

  Grendon

  196

  225

  190

  226

  Guys Marsh

  112

  180

  116

  240

  Haslar

  103

  105

  109

  110

  Hatfield

  151

  180

  175

  180

  Haverigg

  331

  351

  322

  351

  Hewell Grange

  109

  136

  137

  136

  Highpoint

  773

  824

  717

  747

  Hindley

  384

  323

  404

  323

  Hollesley Bay

  305

  569

  307

  569

  Holloway1

  504

  517

  461

  517

  Holme House

  —

  —

  193

  649

  Hull

  600

  402

  349

  277

  Huntercombe

  159

  166

  211

  225

  Kingston

  141

  150

  93

  96

  Kirkham

  569

  632

  516

  632

  Kirklevington

  75

  106

  —

  —

  Lancaster

  239

  186

  257

  186

  Latchmere House

  31

  127

  58

  131

  Leeds

  960

  627

  938

  591

  Leicester

  332

  205

  326

  200

  Lewes

  431

  230

  373

  301

  Leyhill

  409

  410

  403

  410

  Lincoln

  578

  391

  606

  389

  Lindholme

  752

  800

  723

  800

  Littlehey

  527

  593

  530

  543

  Liverpool

  1,158

  931

  1,192

  931

  Long Lartin

  417

  432

  352

  362

  Low Newton1

  229

  167

  305

  199

  Maidstone

  515

  549

  511

  517

  Manchester

  180

  185

  337

  350

  Moorland

  —

  —

  627

  620

  Morton Hall

  155

  168

  164

  168

  The Mount

  305

  484

  386

  484

  New Hall*

  101

  122

  146

  122

  North Sea Camp

  187

  202

  201

  204

  Northallerton

  186

  146

  192

  148

  Northeye

  225

  249

  206

  210

  Norwich

  467

  495

  466

  421

  Nottingham

  221

  218

  204

  218

  Onley

  419

  520

  409

  460

  Oxford

  157

  121

  161

  121

  Parkhurst

  220

  239

  225

  286

  Pentonville

  811

  754

  791

  756

  Portland

  465

  527

  421

  439

  Preston

  492

  408

  426

  331

  Pucklechurch*

  49

  56

  61

  56

  Ranby

  334

  363

  345

  347

  Reading

  253

  184

  114

  184

  Risley*

  399

  417

  370

  417

  Rochester

  313

  306

  256

  306

  Rudgate

  292

  300

  289

  300

  Send

  100

  101

  108

  113

  Shepton Mallet

  241

  175

  193

  158

  Shrewsbury

  293

  176

  251

  168

  Spring Hill

  214

  210

  201

  210

  Stafford

  742

  606

  733

  657

  Standford Hill

  366

  384

  361

  384

  Stocken

  394

  396

  387

  396

  Stoke Heath

  276

  360

  281

  300

  Styal

  170

  258

  201

  189

  Sudbury

  506

  523

  453

  523

  Swaleside

  498

  504

  496

  504

  Swansea

  315

  229

  281

  213

  Swinfen Hall

  178

  182

  170

  172

  Thorn Cross

  204

  300

  208

  300

  170 171

  Establishment

  Population 4 June 1991

  Certified normal accommodation 4 June 1991

  Population 4 June 1992

  Certified normal accommodation 4 June 1992

  Thorp Arch

  148

  150

  128

  163

  Usk

  192

  240

  198

  241

  The Verne

  590

  600

  564

  580

  Wakefield

  652

  753

  621

  638

  Wandsworth

  1,335

  1,275

  1,214

  965

  Wayland

  572

  580

  580

  580

  Wellingborough

  203

  344

  275

  314

  Werrington House

  95

  110

  109

  110

  Wetherby

  156

  196

  163

  196

  Whatton

  162

  161

  201

  204

  Whitemoor

  —

  —

  414

  518

  Winchester

  564

  530

  481

  458

  Wormwood Scrubs

  865

  743

  703

  472

  Wymott

  766

  816

  755

  768

  The Wolds

  —

  —

  113

  320

  1 Establishment holding females.

  Police (Absence from Duty)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instruct chief constables to maintain separate records in respect of absences from duty of police officers due to(a) injury on duty and (b) other sickness.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Upper Bann (Mr. Trimble) on 20 May, column 141. Separate records are already maintained on absences from duty of police officers due to sickness as a result of assault on duty, and other sickness. The recent issue of guidance about the recording of data will ensure that more accurate information is collected.

  Prevention of Terrorism
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by(a) year and (b) nationality for the last 10 years the number of people detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Acts.

  Mr. Jack
  Information on the number of people detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Acts in Great Britain is given in Home Office Statistical Bulletin 9/92 "Statistics on the operation of prevention of terrorism legislation—1992 first quarter". Table 1 contains annual information about detentions in connection with Northern Irish terrorism for the past ten years. The information for international terrorism is given in table 2 for the period since the introduction of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984 on 22 March 1984. A copy of this bulletin is in the Library. Information on the nationality of those detained under the legislation could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Automatic Fingerprint Systems
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has held with the Data Protection Registrar with respect to the standardisation of automatic fingerprint systems(a) within the United Kingdom and (b) as part of the Trevi arrangements.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  None. It is the responsibility of individual chief constables to register their local computer systems with the Data Protection Registrar. As for the national automatic fingerprint identification system being 172
  implemented by the Home Office, it is still too early in its development for useful discussions about it and its relationship to the Trevi arrangements to be held with the registrar.

  Boundary Commisioners
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the parliamentary boundary commissioners and assistant commissioners for the yorkshire and Humberside area, giving their period of office, and appropriate qualifications.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Madam Speaker is chairman of the Commission. The other members are:

  Appointed by

  Period of appointment

  Mr. Justice Knox

  Lord Chancellor

  1.1.91–31.12.951

  Miss Sheila Cameron QC

  The Home Secretary

  3.3.89–31.12.92

  Mr. David Macklin

  The Secretary of State for the Environment

  16.2.89–31.12.92

  1 Deputy Chairman. First appointed 1 January 1987.

  The deputy chairman is required to be a High Court judge. No other formal qualifications are prescribed.

  The Home Secretary has appointed the following assistant commissioners for the purpose of conducting local inquiries during the general review of constituencies currently being undertaken by the Commission:

  Miss Caroline Alton

  Michael Findlay Baker Esq, QC

  George Robert Bartlett Esq, QC

  Francis Martin Thomas Burkett Esq

  John Anthony Bush Esq

  James Charles Gibbs Esq

  David Thomas Hallchurch Esq

  Simon Tristram Hammond Esq

  Michael Guy Vicat Harrison Esq, QC

  Christopher Robert Jervis Esq

  William Martin Kingston Esq

  Brian Joseph Knight Esq, QC

  Michael Edward Lewer Esq, QC

  Humphrey John Lloyd Esq, QC

  Donald Alexander McConville Esq

  John Oliver Neligan Esq

  David Price Esq

  John Edward Anthony Samuels Esq, QC

  Paul Anthony Spencer Esq

  John Victor Williamson Esq

  173
  Additional assistant commissioners will be appointed in due course. Appointees are usually senior lawyers with extensive court experience, nominated by the Commission.

  Commisioners and assistant commissioners are appointed to consider proposals for constituencies across the whole of England. Where practicable, local inquiries are conducted by assistant commissioners from a nearby area.

  Vehicle Clamping
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received regarding the clamping operation being run by Nationwide Carpark Services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I have been asked to reply.

  I receive correspondence from time to time regarding the activities of wheelclamping companies on private land but have no record of receiving any representations concerning Nationwide Carpark Services. The issues concern the rights of private citizens on land off the highway. Unlike wheelclamping on-street, the activities of wheelclampers off-street are governed by common law, not by statute. We are keeping the matter under review.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Student Grants
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many full-time third level students(a) have had to withdraw from their course and (b) returned to their course after a period of absence due to illness, during the past five academic years.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested is as follows:

  Academic year

  Withdrawals due to illness

  Returned to course

  1986–87

  158

  135

  1987–88

  162

  136

  1988–89

  l48

  126

  1989–90

  148

  117

  1990–91

  159

  121

  Totals

  775

  635

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what current financial provisions exist to support full-time third level students during periods of absence from their course, as a result of illness; and if he will introduce appropriate regulations to provide for such students who do not as a result receive education grant or other benefits.

  Mr. Hanley
  Students retain their entitlement to grant under the Students Awards Regulations for periods of illness lasting not more than 28 days. Students can also apply for a student loan if they are still meeting course attendance requirements. Assistance from access funds may also be obtained.

  Income support and housing benefit are available throughout the year to prescribed groups of students, in particular, lone parents and disabled people. Any student who is ill for more than 28 weeks and has been submitting medical evidence can claim benefits available to disabled students.
  174
  There are no plans to change the current arrangements.

  Vehicle Licensing Authority
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average length of time taken to process an application for(a) a driver's licence, cars, (b) an HGV licence, (c) a PSV licence, (d) a provisional driving licence and (e) a driving test.

  Mr. Atkins
  The average processing times are as follows:

  —An ordinary driving licence (cars)—15 working days.

  —An IGV (formerly known as HGV) licence—16 working days.

  —A PCV (formerly known as PSV Bus) licence—16 working days.

  —A taxi driver licence (initial)—43 working days.

  (renewal)—6 working days.

  —A provisional driver licence—15 working days.

  —A driving test—43 working days.

  Applications for LGV and PCV licences which have to be referred to the medical authorities or the police for further advice on average take twice as long.

  Figures for taxi driver licences and driving tests were provided by the chief executive of the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average monthly number of(a) drivers licences, (b) HGV licences, (c) PSV licences, (d) provisional driving licences and (e) driving test applications processed by the Vehicle Licensing Authority in the most recent year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information requested is as follows (based on 1991–92 financial year):

  Number

  Driver licences

  6,900

  LGV (formerly known as HGV) licences

  910

  PCV (formerly known as PSV Bus) licences

  910

  Taxi driver licences

  123

  Provisional driver licences

  2,900

  Driving test applications

  4,175

  Figures for taxi driver licences and driving test applications were provided by the chief executive of the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency.

  Parole
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners were scheduled for parole in 1992; and of these how many have subsequently had their hearings postponed.

  Mr. Mates
  There is no system of parole for prisoners in Northern Ireland. However, there are schemes which allow for the temporary release of prisoners on compassionate grounds, summer and Christmas home leave for the longest serving prisoners, and pre-release leave.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners were scheduled to have their sentences reviewed by the Life Sentence Review Board in 1992; and how many of these have subsequently been informed that their reviews have been postponed.

  Mr. Mates
  A total of 80 indeterminate sentenced prisoners cases are scheduled for review by the Life
  175
  Sentence Review Board during 1992. Thirty seven of these have been reviewed to date, of these, the review board decided to defer 11 cases for further review.

  Police Complaints
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will lay before Parliament the annual report of the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  The report, which is the fourth annual report produced by the Commission since its inception in 1988, has been laid before Parliament today. It reflects the Commission's considerable efforts to maintain and build upon its relationship with both the public and the Police Service. It also continues the essential process of promoting wider understanding of what the Commission is required to do and how it does it by providing detailed and helpful explanations of a number of important aspects of its work. These include how the Commission supervises complaints against the police, its role in disciplinary proceedings following a complaint and the procedure by which relatively minor complaints are resolved informally. It makes clear that, as is right and proper, the police are accountable to the community they serve.

  I am grateful to the Commission for all its work. I have no doubt that it will continue to contribute significantly to the enhancement of public confidence in the police. I know it will continue to apply its own high standards of objectivity and impartiality thus ensuring that complaints against the police are thoroughly and fairly investigated. In doing so it will have my fullest support.

  Rathfriland Ward
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any representations have been made, directly or indirectly, through the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference or otherwise, to Her Majesty's Government or the Boundary Commissioner by the Government of the Republic of Ireland concerning the proposal to transfer the ward of Rathfriland from Newry and Mourne district council to Banbridge district council.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 2 June 1992]: Responsibility for reviewing local government boundaries and wards rests entirely with the Local Government Boundaries Commissioner who is independent of Government. At the inter-governmental conference meeting in November 1991 both Governments took note of the Commissioner's independence in drawing up his recommendations. At no time during the current review have representations been made by either the United Kingdom or the Irish Government, directly or indirectly, to the Commissioner about the Rathfriland ward.

DEFENCE

  Support Management Group
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much accommodation is required to house the support management group and related command units following his review, together with ancillary domestic accommodation for personnel.
  176
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Some 19,200 sq m of office accommodation; and 1,760 sq m of workshop and hangar space. The estimated requirement for domestic accommodation is some 350 married quarters, and some 270 mess spaces. The requirement for domestic accommodation for support staffs would vary according to location chosen, and the eventual provision of domestic accommodation would depend on the individual circumstances of those involved.

  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the sites examined as potential accommodation for the relocation of the support management group with or without the related logistics command units, in the vicinity of Harrogate.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Harrogate itself; the MOD site at Pennypot; RAF Church Fenton; and RAF Linton on Ouse. The latter two sites were assessed as homes for technical support services, with and without the support management group.

  Adjutant General's Headquarters
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made with the relocation of the Adjutant General's headquarters.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A study is now being undertaken to examine the efficiency and cost effectiveness of forming an integrated Army personnel centre outside London. In addition to the headquarters of the Adjutant General and the military secretary, the review will encompass the manning and record offices, regimental pay offices and the Army pay office (officers accounts). The study team is expected to report by the end of the year: no decisions will be taken before the study has been completed and all concerned (including the trade unions) have been fully consulted.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  COCOM
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future of COCOM.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newport. West (Mr. Flynn) on 5 June at column 673.

  Antarctica
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's policy on the United Kingdom's abandoned bases in Antarctica.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Government are fully committed to implementation of the environmental protocol to the Antarctic treaty.

  The British Antarctic survey is already implementing fully the provisions of the protocol. It has undertaken a survey of all accessible abandoned United Kingdom bases in Antarctica. A programme either to remove the bases, or to retain some as emergency refuges or historic sites is in preparation.
  177
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to support the new international instrument negotiated for conservation of Antarctica.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Government are fully committed to implementation of the environmental protocol to the Antarctic treaty.

  Boat People
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what latest discussions he has had with the Government of Vietnam and the Governor of Hong Kong about the plight of the boat people; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Most recently, I discussed the problem of Vietnamese migrants in Hong Kong and repatriation of non-refugees with the Vietnamese Foreign Minister, Nguyen Manh Cam, during his visit to London on 4 to 5 June. I also discussed this issue with the governor of Hong Kong during my visit to the territory from 25 to 29 May.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Vietnamese boat people remain in camps in Hong Kong; and what timescale is envisaged for their resettlement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  A total of 54,686 Vietnamese migrants were in the camps in Hong Kong on 4 June 1992. Those determined to be refugees will be resettled in third countries. Those who are not have no option but to return to Vietnam. At current rates of arrivals in Hong Kong and returns to Vietnam, it will take over three years to clear the camps.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the Vietnamese boat people have been resettled from Hong Kong(a) in individual countries and (b) in total.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Between 1979 and April 1992, a total of 129,607 Vietnamese boat people who were considered to be refugees were resettled from Hong Kong in the following countries:

  Number

  Argentina

  75

  Australia

  9,289

  Austria

  437

  Belgium

  196

  Bermuda

  7

  Canada

  24,872

  China

  37

  Denmark

  1,408

  Finland

  485

  France

  1,745

  Germany

  2,429

  Greece

  50

  Hong Kong

  554

  Iceland

  60

  Ireland

  110

  Israel

  38

  Italy

  112

  Ivory Coast

  1

  Japan

  554

  Luxembourg

  32

  Netherlands

  1,042

  New Caledonia

  80

  New Zealand

  877

  178

  Number

  Norway (direct)

  486

  Norway (via RPC1)

  547

  Spain

  251

  Sweden

  1,277

  Switzerland

  679

  United Kingdom

  14,296

  USA (direct)

  48,623

  USA (via RPC1)

  15,754

  Vanuatu

  12

  Others

  50

  In refugee transit centre at Bataan awaiting resettlement

  3,142

  1 RPC=the refugee processing centre at Bataan.

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

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have made various representations to the Russian authorities on behalf of Gersh Furman. In Moscow in March I raised human rights issues with the Russian first deputy Foreign Minister, including the case of Mr. Furman.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made on behalf of refusenik Pyotr Slutsky and his family of Primorsky Kray.

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

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

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

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made on behalf of refusenik Igor Gopp and his family of St. Petersburg.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have made various representations to the Russian authorities on behalf of Igor Gopp. In Moscow in March I raised human rights issues with the Russian first deputy Foreign Minister, including the case of Mr. Gopp.

  United Nations Centre for Transnational Corporations
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to make representations to the Secretary General of the United Nations for the restoration and strengthening of the United Nations centre for transnational corporations.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We welcome the recent restructuring of the United Nations secretariat and the Secretary-General's efforts in this respect, which include
  179
  the establishment of the new Department of Transnational Corporations and Management. The expectation is that this will lead to an improved focus on priority issues, which are increasingly multi-disciplinary, and a better use of resources and co-ordination of work between the various parts of the secretariat.

  EC President
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the period of office of the President of the EC Commission comes to an end; and if consideration has been given to extending this period beyond this date.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The period of office of the president of the EC Commission will end, along with that of the rest of the Commission, on 6 January 1993. A decision on the next Commission president is likely to be taken at the European Council in Lisbon on 26-27 June.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United Nations sanctions against Serbia preclude the provision of emergency relief aid by humanitarian organisations.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Foodstuffs and supplies intended strictly for medical purposes are exempt from the embargo imposed by United Nations Security Council resolution 757. Applications for the delivery of other humanitarian supplies will have to be considered by the Sanctions Committee established by SCR 724.

  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to secure the onward travel of the two vehicles owned by the charity Blythwood, which are being prevented by the German authorities from completing their journey to deliver blankets and bedding to the refugee centre in Belgrade.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  A request has been put to the United Nations Sanctions Committee for permission to deliver the consignment to Belgrade.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

  Transport Office
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission if he will outline the arrangements, including the period of franchise, under which Thomas Cook Ltd. provides the travel agency service within the Palace of Westminster.

  Mr. Beith
  The present arrangements under which the Transport Office is operated on behalf of both Houses by Thomas Cook Ltd. date from an agreement concluded in August 1985. They are set out in detail in the third report from the Services Committee of Session 1984–85 (HC 437); but have been subsequently amended and extended by resolutions of the Services and Administration Committees.

  Under the terms of the Services Committee's resolution of 15 May 1990 the 1985 agreement between the House
  180
  and Thomas Cook Ltd. for the operation of the Transport Office was extended beyond its original four years for an indefinite period; but it was a recommendation of that Committee that these arrangements should be fully reviewed within 12 months of the beginning of this Parliament (HC 100-iv). It is expected that the Administration Committee will be invited to initiate that review as an early priority.

  Thomas Cook Ltd. is required to report regularly to the Administration Committee and to the Transport Office consumers' panel whose chairman is a member of that Committee and which includes representatives of the Finance and Administration Department and the main user groups.

  Full details of the services provided by the Transport Office are contained in the Booker's reference guide issued by Thomas Cook Ltd. to all Members and in the Members' handbook.

WALES

  Hospital Incinerators
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the locations of hospital incinerators in Wales which have not been registered with the local authority.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  District health authorities in Wales have confirmed that applications for the authorisation of incineration processes have been submitted to local authorities for all incinerators currently in use.

  Environmental Care
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to develop community-based primary environmental care programmes in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The environmental programme for Wales encompasses a wide range of policies and initiatives, including measures to support environmental improvement at the community level. Support for locally based action includes the Environment Wales initiative, which provides assistance to voluntary groups; the community revival strategy for the south Wales valleys; as well as funding for the activities of the Groundwork trusts in Wales.

  Arsenic Contamination
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether his Department has investigated the levels of arsenic contamination in mining spoil used in concrete for house building in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  No.

  Aquatic Environment
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. Gwilym Jones
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Government's memorandum on this subject which was
  181
  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.

  Swansea Canal Society
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assistance his Department is currently providing to the Swansea Canal Society; and what further assistance is under consideration.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Department is not currently providing or considering any assistance to the Swansea Canal Society.

  Ramsar Sites
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to designate further Ramsar sites in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Department is currently processing two submissions for Ramsar site status, and the Countryside Council for Wales is considering further submissions.

  Plantings
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many hectares of non-native species and native broadleaf species have been planted in Wales in each year since 1984.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Information in this detail is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  National Trails
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to designate further national trails in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The responsibility for making proposals for designating long-distance routes in Wales rests with the Countryside Council for Wales, although these require my right hon. Friend's approval. There are no such proposals currently before the Department.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. David Hunt
  Officials are aware of the need to consult the registrar about proposed legislation or other initiatives which might affect or be affected by the Data Protection Act 1984, and will consult him as necessary when planning the collection, use or disclosure of automated personal data.

  Environment Programme
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which organisations have received grants to date under the Environment Wales programme; and how much has been allocated in each instance.
  182
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information requested is as follows:

  Name of organisation

  Total value of grants awarded to each organisation £

  Association of Welsh Wildlife Trusts

  16,000

  Amelia Trust Farm

  9,000

  British Trust for Nature Conservation

  21,333

  Cardiff City Farm

  5,110

  Centre for Alternative Technology

  15,000

  Community Service Volunteers

  21,333

  Friends of the Earth

  32,149

  Friends of Forest Farm and the Glamorgan Canal

  1,800

  Groundwork Trusts

  40,750

  Keep Wales Tidy Campaign

  31,333

  National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardners

  1,820

  National Trust

  5,000

  North Wales Wildlife Trust

  3,300

  Offa's Dyke Association

  2,385

  Open Spaces Society

  3,470

  South Glamorgan Play Resource Centre

  8,000

  Prince of Wales Committee

  60,000

  Prince of Wales Committee—Environmental Education Group

  16,536

  Rambler's Association

  8,320

  Royal Society for Nature Conservation

  21,333

  Wales Wildlife and Countryside Link

  12,480

  Welsh Historic Gardena Trust

  7,200

  Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust

  6,942

  Special Protection Areas
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the designated special protection areas currently developed in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Previously designated areas are Skoholm and Skomer, the Dee Estuary and Grassholm. I have today announced the designation of four more sites: Glannau Aberdaron/Yns Enlli; Ynys Feurig/Cemlyn bay/the Skerries; Glannau Ynys Gybi and Traeth Lafan.

  Conservation
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to designate new areas of heritage conservation and marine nature reserves in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Heritage coasts in Wales are defined by local authorities in consultation with the Countryside Council for Wales.

  My right hon. Friend is responsible for designating marine nature reserves in Wales following an application from the Countryside Council for Wales. There are no such applications currently before the Department.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date he hopes to announce his final proposals for local government reorganisation in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Later this year, in a White Paper.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date he hopes to introduce legislation to give effect to his proposals for local government reorganisation in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Legislation will be introduced at the appropriate time, following publication of a White Paper.
  183
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date he plans that elections will take place for the new shadow authorities consequent on local government reorganisation in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  In 1994.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date he plans that the new authorities established as a consequence of his plans for local government reorganisation shall take over responsibilities from the present district and county authorities in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  On 1 April 1995.

  Speech Therapy
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average amount of time spent awaiting an initial assessment by a speech therapist in each health authority area in Wales; and what is the average amount spent per week in dealing with each patient.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what efforts are currently being undertaken by his Department to encourage more applications for training places as speech therapists in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  There is currently no shortage of applicants for the training in speech therapy provided in Wales.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much is currently allocated by his Department to each individual health authority area in Wales for the training of speech therapists; and what plans he has to increase the allocation.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Welsh Office makes no specific allocation to health authorities for the purpose of training speech therapists. How much district health authorities choose to invest in speech therapy training services to meet the needs of their resident populations is a matter for determination in the light of local priorities and local circumstances.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Sports Grounds (Safety)
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he expects to publish the next edition of the "Guide to Safety of Sports Grounds", known as the green guide.

  Mr. Mellor
  I have no plans to publish a new edition of the "Guide to Safety of Sports Grounds".

  Football Supporters Association
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to hold discussions with the Football Supporters Association; and whether the association's views have been taken into account when considering the implementation of the Taylor report.

  Mr. Mellor
  I have no specific plans at present to meet the Football Supporter's Association but would be willing 184
  to meet both it and the National Federation of Football Supporters Clubs. The views of both organisations have been sought on the review of all seating at Football League grounds which I announced on 4 June.

  Aquatic Environment
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage 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. Key
  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. Since the preparation of the memorandum the responsibilities of the Department of the Environment for the heritage, including the protection of historic wrecks, and those of the Department of Education for sport and recreation have transferred to the Department of National Heritage.

  Works of Art
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he intends to proceed with the proposals to list works of art to prevent their export.

  Mr. Mellor
  I refer to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, North-West (Mr. Bellingham) on 5 June 1992 at columns 646-47.

TRANSPORT

  Bicyclists
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many bicyclists sustained serious head injuries in the United Kingdom in 1991, or the latest year for which statistics are available; what study he has made of the potential impact of a regulation requiring all bicyclists to wear crash helmets on this injury rate; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Provisional figures for 1991 indicate that 239 cyclists were reported killed and 3,939 seriously injured in road accidents in Great Britain. The standard report form does not provide information on the part of the body affected. However research by the Transport Research Laboratory suggests that 53 per cent. of cyclists reporting to a hospital had injuries to the head and that had helmets been worn some 11 per cent. of serious injuries would not have occurred whilst a further 18 per cent. would have been only slight injuries. The sales of helmets have increased in recent years, particularly for children following the Department's television campaign in 1991. We shall continue to encourage this trend but have no plans to introduce compulsion.

  Heavy Goods Vehicles
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the parking of heavy goods vehicles in residential and other unsuitable areas; and what proposals he has to assist local authorities to deal with this problem.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I receive correspondence from time to time on this issue. Local authorities have a wide range of powers under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to control or prohibit lorry parking. These are described in detail in the Department's publication "Lorries in the Community", produced in 1990 in conjunction with the Civic Trust and the County Surveyors' Society, and in the accompanying manual of guidance issued to all local authorities. Parking arrangements for heavy goods vehicles may also be controlled by the traffic commissioners under operator licensing.

  International Passenger Station, Kent
  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the latest position as regards the provision of an international passenger station at Ashford, Kent.

  Mr. Freeman
  British rail has announced that it is soon to submit an application for planning permission for the central Ashford proposal for an international passenger station. I welcome this move, which will help allow early progress.

  Shipping (Foreign Flags)
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the impact of the transfer of merchant shipping to foreign flags since 1979 on the balance of payments deficit.

  Year

  Provisional (Car)

  Full (Car)

  LGV

  PCV

  Total

  1989–90

  94,465

  447,538

  —

  —

  542,003

  1990–91

  80,010

  439,042

  —

  —

  519,052

  1991–92

  76,990

  453,176

  35,086

  7,186

  572,438

  Driving tests applications figures are available for England/Wales and Scotland.

  Year

  England and Wales

  Scotland

  Total

  1989–90

  165,223

  15,136

  180,359

  1990–91

  156,594

  14,740

  171,334

  1991–92

  137,373

  13,627

  151,000

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the number of railway staff employed per million train kilometres for each of the EC member states, Sweden, Norway and Finland for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 8 June 1992]: I have placed the information requested in the Library of the House and am writing to the hon. Member sending him a copy.
  186
  Mr. Norris
  For the calculation of the balance of payments, the sea transport account includes the international income and expenditure of all ships owned by United Kingdom residents, without reference to flag of registry. Thus the transfer of ships to foreign flags has no direct impact on the balance of payments.

  Licences
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average length of time taken to process an application for(a) a driver's licence, cars, (b) an HGV licence, (c) a PSV licence, (d) a provisional driving licence and (e) a driving test.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The average length of time currently taken to process a full and provisional car driving licence is nine days and eight days for a lorry and bus licence. This includes three days taken to return the licence to the customer. Driving test applications currently take seven days in total.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average monthly number of(a) drivers licences, (b) HGV licences, (c) PSV licences, (d) provisional driving licences and (e) driving test applications processed by the Vehicle Licensing Authority in the most recent year for which figures are available for (i) England, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Wales.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Driving licence information is available only in a national figure. LGV and PCV figures are not available for the years prior to 1991–92. Over the last three years the monthly average number of driving licences processed was:

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Marginal Tax Rates
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the numbers of (i) working heads, (ii) dependants and (iii) families with children facing marginal tax and benefit withdrawal rates in the manner of his answer to the hon. Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Squire) of 23 January 1991,Official Report, column 249; and if he will identify how many more families with children will face higher marginal tax rates as a result of the change in the hours rule from 24 to 16 per week for family credit.

  Mr. Burt
  The information requested is in the table. This is not directly comparable with previous answers, in that these related to the population of benefit recipients working 24 hours per week or more, whereas the current table adds in all those working 16 to 24 hours.
  187
  It is unlikely that any families with children will face higher deduction rates as a result of the change of hours rule. This is because those affected would have continued to receive income support if the rule had remained at 24 hours, and so would have faced marginal deduction rates of 100 per cent. (after taking into account the earnings disregard).

  Combined marginal tax and benefit withdrawal rates, 1992–93 for benefit units in receipt of in-work income-related benefits where at least one partner works more than 15 hours a week.

  Great Britain (thousands)

  Numbers facing combined rates of over 50 per cent.—in bands1

  Per cent.

  Families with children

  Couples and single people

  Total

  100

  0

  0

  0

  90 to 99

  75

  0

  75

  80 to 89

  130

  40

  170

  70 to 79

  180

  60

  245

  60 to 69

  5

  5

  10

  50 to 59

  0

  0

  0

  Notes:

  1 Figures are based on pooled Family Expenditure Survey Data, uprated 1992–93 prices, taxes and benefit levels.

  Figures are rounded to the nearest 5,000.

  Totals may not add due to rounding.

  Analysis does not take into account Transitional Protection.

  Figures do not take into account Disability Living Allowance and Disability Working Allowance.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security 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.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Officials are aware of the need to consult the registrar about proposed legislation or other initiatives which might affect or be affected by the Data Protection Act 1984, and will consult him as necessary when planning the collection, use or disclosure of automated personal data.

  Maastricht Treaty
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will make a statement on the implications of the Danish referendum on the Maastricht treaty for the Barber protocol and the rights of occupational pensioners;

  (2) if he will take steps to implement the Barber protocol before the remainder of the Maastricht treaty is ratified.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The protocol to article 119 of the treaty of Rome forms an integral part of the Maastricht agreement which has to be ratified as a whole.

ENVIRONMENT

  Building Temperatures
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many prosecutions have been undertaken to date to enforce statutory instrument No. 1013 188
  (1980) limiting temperatures in non-residential buildings to 19 deg C; and what proportion of these have ended in successful convictions.

  Mr. Baldry
  No prosecutions have been undertaken to date.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of properties sold by local authorities under the right-to-buy legislation in England in 1991; what was the average price paid after discount; and how many of these properties were flats.

  Mr. Baldry
  In 1991 about 51,900 dwellings were sold by local authorities in England under the right-to-buy legislation, approximately 13,900 of which were flats. The average price paid after discount for sitting-tenant sales, the vast majority of which are right-to-buy sales, is estimated to be £20,800 in 1991.

  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing, for each region in England, the number of local authority homes sold under the right-to-buy legislation since its introduction and that figure as a percentage of the total number of properties owned by local authorities in the region.

  Mr. Baldry
  The available information is given in the table.

  Region

  Right-to-buy sales to 31 December 1991

  Sales as a percentage of stock1

  North (excluding Cumbria)

  89,689

  21.2

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  116,450

  19.2

  East Midlands

  103,141

  24.1

  Eastern

  127,198

  22.8

  London Boroughs

  165,462

  18.0

  South East

  129,319

  22.7

  South West

  96,097

  24.8

  West Midlands

  128,915

  20.5

  North West (including Cumbria)

  126,922

  17.1

  England

  1,083,193

  20.6

  1 These percentages are based on estimates of stock at 1 April 1979, calculated by adding back sales since then to the latest estimate of stock, as at 1 April 1991.

  Gravel Extraction
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date the public inquiry into the application by Aylett Gravel Company for gravel extraction on land at East Tilbury, Essex closed; on what date he received the inspector's report; on what date he published his decision; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The information requested is as follows:Inquiry closed—21 December 1990.
  Inspector's report received by the Secretary of State—6 November 1991.
  Decision published—7 May 1992.

  I cannot comment on individual applications but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the inspector's report was considered very carefully before the Secretary of State made his decision.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the construction industry.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State keeps closely in touch with the construction industry and receives representations about it from time to time.

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he will take to improve the air quality at Tinsley, Sheffield, as measured by his air quality tests.

  Mr. Maclean
  The air quality measurements made at the Tinsley site suggest that motor traffic in the surrounding area is responsible for much of the oxides of nitrogen monitored there. From 31 December 1993, all new cars entering into service will have to comply with strict new European Community emission standards. This will result in a steady improvement in air quality at sites such as Tinsley.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue advice to residents of Tinsley, Sheffield, as to the health implications of the air quality tests conducted near to the M1 motorway.

  Mr. Maclean
  Advice on the health implications of air pollution episodes is available on a free telephone line (0800 556677) and from general practitioners. Daily air quality bulletins and forecasts are available on the same telephone line, on CEEFAX and in some newspapers.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the comparability of air quality measurements made at different types of sites.

  Mr. Maclean
  The comparability of air quality measurements of ozone and the oxides of nitrogen was examined for my Department by the photochemical oxidants review group in its first and second reports. Warren Spring laboratory has performed the same function for the smoke and sulphur dioxide surveys. The quality of urban air review group was asked in January to consider this issue for a wider range of urban pollutants.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria are used to determine the location at which checks for air quality are carried out.

  Mr. Maclean
  Air quality monitoring carried out on behalf of the Department of the Environment usually requires expensive instrumentation, operating over extended periods, so careful siting is imperative. The aim is to assess the general exposure of the public and the natural environment to a range of pollutants of policy concern. These considerations determine the general locality in which measurements are undertaken; specific locations are selected on the basis of access, cost and security.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has made to Sheffield city council to their representations about the equipment and procedures used by his Department to measure air quality; and if he will make a statement.
  190
  Mr. Maclean
  My hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry) visited Sheffield last autumn and was pleased to see the comprehensive urban air pollution monitoring network which has been established there. The city council has been in correspondence with my Department about a number of issues concerning instrumentation, the choice of monitoring sites and the air quality bulletin system.

  Planning Appeals
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to review the policy in his Department's circular 2/87 for the award of costs to parties in appeals under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and other legislation.

  Mr. Baldry
  We have today issued a consultative draft DOE and Welsh Office circular about awards of costs in planning and other similar proceedings, which would replace DOE circulars 2/87 and 23/91 (Welsh Office circular 5/87 and 77/91). A copy of the draft circular has been placed in the parliamentary Libraries.

  Noise Review
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is considering bringing forward legislative proposals to respond to recommendations made in the report of the noise review working party.

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department issued yesterday a public consultation document containing proposals which would extend the statutory nuisance procedures to include noise in the street; improve the control of loud speakers in the street; and provide adoptive powers for the local authorities to require the fitting of cut-out devices to burgler alarms. The consultation document also deals with some points of clarification in the existing statutory nuisance provisions in the Environmental Protection Act, 1990. Copies of this consultation paper have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Tenants Choice
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the regulation and administration of the tenants' choice scheme.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 9 June 1992]: It is encouraging that two transfers of housing stock have now taken place under the tenants choice provisions of the Housing Act 1988, and a further five formal applications have been made to acquire property under these provisions. Implementation of the tenants choice scheme is the responsibility of the Housing Corporation and I have, therefore, asked the corporation to reply to the hon. Member direct with more information about the scheme.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in assessing properties in the Easington district council area for the purpose of council tax.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have been asked to reply.

  Good progress is being made and the valuation banding work is on target for completion by the due date.

EDUCATION

  Residential Care
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to set up a higher education centre to lead research in residential care.

  Mr. Forman
  None. The setting up of such a centre, and its funding, would be a matter for consideration by the research funding bodies and individual higher education institutions, in response to demand from potential users of the research.

  School Leavers
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education for Great Britain and for each region and for each year since 1980, separately, for male and female and for 16 and 17 year olds, how many school leavers have(a) stayed in

  (a) Number of school leavers going to full-time education

  Thousands

  North

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  North West

  East Midlands

  West Midlands

  East Anglia

  Greater London

  Other South East

  South West

  Total England

  1989–90

  Aged 16

  Male

  1.89

  3.78

  5.86

  3.16

  4.50

  1.41

  4.63

  8.78

  5.41

  39.43

  Female

  3.82

  5.59

  8.70

  5.47

  7.44

  2.34

  6.27

  13.59

  8.05

  61.27

  Total

  5.71

  9.37

  14.56

  8.64

  11.94

  3.75

  10.91

  22.36

  13.46

  100.70

  Aged 17

  Male

  0.40

  1.10

  0.91

  0.64

  0.82

  0.35

  1.65

  1.95

  0.73

  8.55

  Female

  0.36

  1.02

  1.06

  0.69

  0.98

  0.34

  1.66

  2.42

  0.96

  9.49

  Total

  0.76

  2.12

  1.97

  1.33

  1.80

  0.69

  3.32

  4.37

  1.69

  18.04

  1988–89

  Aged 16

  Male

  2.12

  3.97

  6.38

  3.08

  5.14

  1.71

  4.74

  10.15

  5.53

  42.82

  Female

  3.24

  6.39

  9.29

  5.06

  7.75

  3.13

  6.59

  15.60

  6.85

  63.91

  Total

  5.36

  10.36

  15.68

  8.14

  12.89

  4.85

  11.33

  25.75

  12.38

  106.73

  Aged 17

  Male

  0.30

  0.86

  0.85

  0.54

  0.88

  0.26

  1.38

  2.43

  0.61

  8.13

  Female

  0.49

  0.90

  0.99

  0.55

  1.01

  0.18

  1.95

  2.72

  0.95

  9.73

  Total

  0.79

  1.75

  1.84

  1.10

  1.90

  0.45

  3.33

  5.15

  1.56

  17.87

  1987–88

  Aged 16

  Male

  1.74

  3.92

  5.91

  3.50

  5.08

  1.93

  5.04

  8.91

  5.28

  41.31

  Female

  3.16

  5.05

  8.83

  5.13

  7.93

  3.41

  6.74

  14.97

  7.95

  63.18

  Total

  4.90

  8.97

  14.75

  8.64

  13.01

  5.33

  11.79

  23.88

  13.23

  104.48

  Aged 17

  Male

  0.28

  0.67

  0.66

  0.69

  0.86

  0.42

  1.74

  2.05

  0.78

  8.14

  Female

  0.42

  1.07

  0.95

  0.66

  1.03

  0.49

  2.29

  2.27

  0.93

  10.11

  Total

  0.71

  1.74

  1.61

  1.35

  1.89

  0.91

  4.03

  4.32

  1.71

  18.25

  1986–87

  Aged 16

  Male

  1.72

  3.29

  6.47

  3.36

  5.57

  1.94

  5.07

  9.60

  5.00

  42.02

  Female

  3.51

  5.13

  10.42

  5.66

  7.84

  2.93

  6.76

  15.35

  8.24

  65.83

  Total

  5.23

  8.42

  16.88

  9.02

  13.41

  4.87

  11.84

  24.95

  13.25

  107.85

  Aged 17

  Male

  0.38

  0.77

  0.93

  0.55

  0.88

  0.29

  1.74

  2.31

  0.93

  8.79

  Female

  0.60

  1.03

  0.83

  0.74

  1.05

  0.39

  2.45

  2.91

  1.15

  11.16

  Total

  0.98

  1.81

  1.77

  1.30

  1.93

  0.68

  4.19

  5.22

  2.08

  19.95

  1985–86

  Aged 16

  Male

  1.61

  3.20

  5.89

  2.99

  4.75

  1.42

  4.63

  9.23

  5.02

  38.75

  192
  full-time education, (b) joined a youth opportunities scheme or youth training scheme or (c) entered a job; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forman
  The tables give details of the numbers of school leavers by age intending to(a) stay in full-time education other than school, (b) join YTS and (c) enter employment by individual regions in England since 1985. The year 1989–90 is the latest year for which the data are available.

  The numbers going to youth training schemes have been collected separately only since 1988–89; prior to this the figures would have been included in the employment category.

  Information prior to 1985 is not readily available in the format requested, that is, by age and region.

  The figures for Wales and Scotland are the responsibilities of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland respectively.
  193

  North

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  North West

  East Midlands

  West Midlands

  East Anglia

  Greater London

  Other South East

  South West

  Total England

  Female

  3.04

  5.42

  9.30

  5.73

  7.77

  2.86

  7.01

  15.43

  8.34

  64.90

  Total

  4.65

  8.62

  15.20

  8.72

  12.52

  4.27

  11.64

  24.67

  13.36

  103.66

  Aged 17

  Male

  0.27

  0.75

  1.01

  0.65

  0.99

  0.40

  2.10

  2.18

  1.08

  9.43

  Female

  0.41

  1.11

  1.22

  0.69

  1.40

  0.59

  2.41

  2.68

  1.22

  11.73

  Total

  0.68

  1.85

  2.23

  1.35

  2.39

  0.99

  4.50

  4.87

  2.30

  21.16

  1984–85

  Aged 16

  Male

  1.44

  2.86

  5.92

  3.36

  4.91

  1.47

  4.08

  8.54

  5.07

  37.66

  Female

  3.08

  5.43

  9.82

  5.58

  8.12

  3.07

  6.27

  16.12

  7.84

  65.34

  Total

  4.53

  8.29

  15.74

  8.94

  13.04

  4.55

  10.35

  24.66

  12.90

  103.00

  Aged 17

  Male

  0.26

  0.65

  0.80

  0.49

  1.02

  0.39

  2.11

  2.23

  0.85

  8.78

  Female

  0.65

  0.97

  0.99

  0.61

  1.15

  0.50

  2.42

  3.15

  1.44

  11.89

  Total

  0.90

  1.62

  1.78

  1.10

  2.17

  0.89

  4.54

  5.38

  2.29

  20.67

  (b) Number of school leavers entering YTS

  Thousands

  North

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  North West

  East Midlands

  West Midlands

  East Anglia

  Greater London

  Other South East

  South West

  Total England

  1989–90

  Aged 16 Male

  5.30

  5.19

  6.10

  3.42

  5.30

  0.97

  0.83

  2.25

  2.97

  32.33

  Female

  3.79

  3.44

  4.88

  2.43

  4.94

  0.85

  0.63

  2.08

  2.26

  25.30

  Total

  9.09

  8.63

  10.98

  5.84

  10.24

  1.82

  1.46

  4.33

  5.23

  57.63

  Aged 17

  Male

  0.16

  0.19

  0.18

  0.11

  0.15

  0.04

  0.07

  0.15

  0.13

  1.18

  Female

  0.23

  0.24

  0.29

  0.08

  0.20

  0.04

  0.14

  0.15

  0.06

  1.42

  Total

  0.39

  0.42

  0.46

  0.19

  0.35

  0.08

  0.21

  0.31

  0.18

  2.60

  1988–89

  Aged 16

  Male

  5.94

  7.61

  7.85

  5.25

  6.88

  1.78

  0.92

  4.26

  4.89

  45.38

  Female

  4.86

  5.65

  6.55

  3.92

  6.88

  1.33

  0.79

  3.55

  3.79

  37.31

  Total

  10.80

  13.26

  14.40

  9.18

  13.76

  3.11

  1.71

  7.81

  8.68

  82.69

  Aged 17

  Male

  0.15

  0.44

  0.41

  0.18

  0.34

  0.03

  0.10

  0.35

  0.22

  2.23

  Female

  0.38

  0.31

  0.52

  0.18

  0.45

  0.03

  0.17

  0.33

  0.14

  2.50

  Total

  0.53

  0.75

  0.94

  0.35

  0.79

  0.05

  0.27

  0.68

  0.37

  4.73

  Prior to 1988–89 school leavers entering YTS were included in Employment category.

  (c) Number of school leavers entering employment

  Thousands

  North

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  North West

  East Midlands

  West Midlands

  East Anglia

  Greater London

  Other South East

  South West

  Total England

  1989–90

  Aged 16

  Male

  3.85

  7.98

  10.44

  6.65

  9.00

  3.99

  7.92

  18.53

  7.07

  75.44

  Female

  2.18

  5.04

  6.11

  4.43

  5.74

  2.46

  5.91

  12.30

  4.59

  48.76

  Total

  6.03

  13.01

  16.55

  11.09

  14.74

  6.45

  13.82

  30.84

  11.66

  124.19

  Aged 17

  Male

  0.80

  1.54

  1.87

  1.02

  1.32

  0.39

  2.42

  3.67

  1.10

  14.12

  Female

  0.71

  1.51

  1.70

  0.93

  1.37

  0.52

  2.40

  4.30

  1.05

  14.50

  Total

  1.51

  3.05

  3.57

  1.94

  2.69

  0.92

  4.82

  7.97

  2.15

  28.62

  1988–89

  Aged 16

  Male

  2.90

  6.72

  8.95

  5.56

  8.51

  4.01

  7.91

  18.36

  7.19

  70.10

  Female

  1.56

  4.54

  5.46

  3.45

  4.62

  2.42

  6.49

  12.27

  4.42

  45.23

  194 195

  North

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  North West

  East Midlands

  West Midlands

  East Anglia

  Greater London

  Other South East

  South West

  Total England

  Total

  4.46

  11.26

  14.41

  9.01

  13.13

  6.43

  14.40

  30.63

  11.60

  115.33

  Aged 17

  Male

  0.75

  1.25

  1.35

  1.06

  1.42

  0.65

  2.29

  4.52

  1.18

  14.46

  Female

  0.77

  1.58

  1.36

  1.19

  1.24

  0.87

  2.69

  4.52

  1.13

  15.35

  Total

  1.52

  2.83

  2.71

  2.225

  2.66

  1.52

  4.98

  9.03

  2.31

  29.81

  1987–88

  Aged 16

  Male

  12.06

  19.34

  22.43

  14.75

  19.66

  6.97

  12.49

  29.28

  15.59

  152.56

  Female

  9.81

  14.97

  17.98

  10.96

  15.18

  5.31

  10.04

  22.58

  11.33

  118.17

  Total

  21.88

  34.31

  40.41

  25.71

  34.84

  12.28

  22.53

  51.86

  26.92

  270.74

  Aged 17

  Male

  1.02

  1.93

  1.85

  1.46

  1.58

  0.78

  3.39

  6.11

  1.67

  19.80

  Female

  1.26

  1.88

  2.25

  1.41

  1.79

  0.90

  4.13

  6.04

  1.38

  21.02

  Total

  2.28

  3.81

  4.10

  2.87

  3.37

  1.68

  7.52

  12.15

  3.05

  40.82

  1986–87

  Aged 16

  Male

  14.34

  22.72

  27.34

  16.62

  21.90

  7.04

  15.35

  34.05

  16.38

  175.74

  Female

  11.44

  18.61

  21.22

  13.09

  17.64

  5.81

  12.51

  27.27

  12.60

  140.18

  Total

  25.78

  41.33

  48.57

  29.71

  39.54

  12.84

  27.86

  61.32

  28.99

  315.93

  Aged 17

  Male

  1.23

  2.33

  2.14

  1.58

  2.02

  0.91

  3.76

  6.69

  2.02

  22.66

  Female

  1.02

  2.67

  2.60

  1.66

  2.08

  0.94

  4.17

  6.69

  2.16

  23.99

  Total

  2.25

  5.00

  4.74

  3.24

  4.10

  1.84

  7.93

  13.37

  4.18

  46.65

  1985–86

  Aged 16

  Male

  14.52

  22.34

  27.26

  16.83

  23.50

  7.79

  16.07

  34.34

  16.03

  178.67

  Female

  12.00

  18.34

  21.79

  12.96

  19.06

  6.20

  12.51

  26.43

  12.61

  141.90

  Total

  26.52

  40.68

  49.05

  29.79

  42.55

  13.99

  28.58

  60.77

  28.64

  320.57

  Aged 17

  Male

  1.20

  2.69

  2.49

  1.71

  2.37

  1.03

  4.28

  6.84

  1.83

  24.43

  Female

  1.69

  2.91

  2.72

  1.96

  2.11

  1.10

  5.16

  7.12

  2.19

  26.95

  Total

  2.89

  5.60

  5.20

  3.66

  4.48

  2.13

  9.44

  13.96

  4.02

  51.38

  1984–85

  Aged 16

  Male

  15.10

  23.10

  28.21

  16.93

  24.19

  7.98

  17.14

  35.87

  17.07

  185.57

  Female

  12.19

  18.71

  22.33

  13.88

  18.73

  6.00

  13.46

  26.91

  13.30

  145.52

  Total

  27.29

  41.81

  50.54

  30.81

  42.92

  13.98

  30.60

  62.77

  30.37

  331.10

  Aged 17

  Male

  1.47

  2.56

  2.33

  1.87

  2.15

  0.90

  4.63

  6.53

  1.89

  24.32

  Female

  1.60

  2.93

  2.67

  2.07

  2.19

  0.99

  5.66

  7.07

  2.10

  27.28

  Total

  3.07

  5.49

  5.00

  3.94

  4.34

  1.88

  10.29

  13.59

  3.99

  51.60

  Hearing-impaired Pupils
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to introduce regulations to require all teachers working with hearing-impaired pupils to obtain the additional qualification of teacher of the deaf.

  Mr. Forth
  Regulation 15 of the Education (Teachers) Regulations 1989 requires teachers of a class of pupils who are hearing impaired—but not including teachers of a craft, trade or domestic subject—to possess a qualification approved by my right hon. Friend.
  196
  The policy objective behind these regulations is to ensure a minimum standard of teaching expertise in handling such a class. There are no plans to extend the scope of the regulations.

PRIME MINISTER

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister 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.
  197
  Mr. Newton
  I have been asked to reply.

  When planning any project involving information technology, the standing instructions include a specific action to consider the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1984. In any case of doubt, the Data Protection Registrar is consulted. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is satisfied with the effectiveness of these arrangements.

  International Parliamentary Assemblies
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Prime Minister what is his policy on the appointment of non-elected persons to the United Kingdom delegations to those international parliamentary assemblies for which he makes appointments.

  Mr. Newton
  I have been asked to reply.

  Any appointments my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister makes to United Kingdom delegations to international parliamentary assemblies are made in accordance with the rules of the assembly concerned.

  Energy Tax
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government intend to support the EC energy tax proposal.

  Mr. Newton
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government will examine the European Commission's recent draft directive on a carbon/energy tax carefully, taking account of the outcome of the Rio summit, and the actions taken by other major countries to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

  Brazil
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss with the authorities in Brazil what bilateral action can be taken to provide for the(a) housing requirements, (b) education requirements and (c) medical requirements of street children in Brazil; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 8 June 1992]: I have been asked to reply.

  We provide assistance under the ODA joint funding scheme to programmes for street children and other groups carried out in Brazil by non-governmental organisations. We are open to requests for external professional advice under our bilateral technical cooperation programme to Brazil.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss with the authorities in Brazil what bilateral action can be taken to(a) tackle the plight of street children and (b) bring to justice their killers.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 8 June 1992]: 1 have been asked to reply.

  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister plans to raise the matter during his visit. While it is for the Brazilian authorities to take measures to resolve the problem, we are doing what we can to alleviate the plight of street children by assisting the non-governmental organisations which work with them.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he intends to make about the plight of assassinated street children in Brazil, during his visit to Rio de Janeiro; and if he will make a statement.
  198
  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 8 June 1992]: I have been asked to reply.

  The Government share the hon. Member's concern. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister plans to raise the matter in Rio de Janeiro.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Services Ombudsman
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when the legal services ombudsman intends to publish his annual report.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The legal services ombudsman has today published his first annual report, and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Statistics
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish his proposals to replace the trade statistics source provided by the single administrative document.

  Sir John Cope
  With the completion of the single market on 1 January 1993, single administrative documents will no longer be required for trade within the European Community. Trade statistics will be collected through the new Intrastat system which is provided for in EC Council regulation 3330/91, published in Official Journal L316/1 dated 16 November 1991. This is a framework regulation which leaves many points of detail to implementing regulations which have not yet been finalised. Customs have kept traders in the United Kingdom informed of progress on a regular basis and will issue a public notice in September.

  Statistics on trade in goods with non-EC countries will continue to be collected from single administrative documents.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish his proposals to introduce criminal penalties for failure to make statistical returns or discrepancies under the Intrastat regulations; and if he will detail those business organisations he has consulted on these proposals and indicate their concerns.

  Sir John Cope
  Customs has consulted the Institute of Directors and the Confederation of British Industry regarding proposals to introduce legislation. Concerns were expressed both about the nature of the proposed regime and the possibility of penalising innocent errors. These concerns are being taken into account in drawing up legislation analogous to the Statistics of Trade Act 1947. The legislation will he introduced as a regulation, made under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972, to be laid before Parliament this summer.

  VAT
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the special provisions to apply to the sale of new boats, aircraft and motor vehicles for intra-Community trade VAT returns from 1 January 1993.
  199
  Sir John Cope
  Intra-Community supplies of goods which qualify as new means of transport will always be subject to VAT in the EC member state of destination. United Kingdom VAT-registered sellers of such goods will therefore not account in their VAT returns for the VAT due on those which are removed to other member states. However, people who acquire new means of transport in the United Kingdom from suppliers in other member states will either account for VAT in their VAT return or pay VAT directly to Customs and Excise depending on whether they are registered.

  Drug Imports
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list by year for the last five years and the current year to date the value of counterfeit medicines being imported into the United Kingdom that have been discovered by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  There have been no importations of counterfeit medicines discovered by Customs and Excise in the past five years.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to the use of fiscal instruments to encourage energy efficiency investment.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for South Down (Mr. McGrady) on 4 June 1992 at column 634.

  Overseas Investment
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money from the United Kingdom is invested abroad; and what is the level of income generated as a result.

  Mr. Nelson
  The latest estimates of levels of overseas assets held by United Kingdom residents are contained in table 8.1 of the annual Pink Book 1991 "UK Balance of Payments", published by the CSO. Estimates of interest, profits and dividends received by United Kingdom residents from overseas assets are contained in table D of the quarterly balance of payments press notice, CSO(92)35. Copies of these publications are in the Library.

  Global Environment Facility
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action is being undertaken by his Department to ensure that Third world Governments are fully represented in the decision-making of the global environment facility.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I have been asked to reply. The Minister for Overseas Development is responsible for the global environment facility. The United Kingdom has pressed for global environment facility to evolve to ensure full and effective representation by developing countries. The GEF participants meeting on 29-30 April agreed that membership of the GEF should be open to all countries and that it would fund programmes and projects, with 200
  agreed global environmental benefits, which are country driven and are consistent with developing countries' national priorities.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Development Grants
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current level of grants paid by the Overseas Development Administration to non-governmental organisations working on overseas development projects.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  In 1992–93 the Overseas Development Administration has allocated £47 million to United Kingdom non-governmental organisations working on overseas development projects. Of this figure, £28 million is earmarked for the joint funding scheme, £17.8 million is allocated to the volunteer programme and £1.2 million is provided in miscellaneous grants to nongovernmental organisations. This excludes funds for disaster and refugee relief, food-aid and for projects which NGOs are implementing on our behalf.

  Cash Flows
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being undertaken by the Overseas Development Administration to explore ways of limiting cash flows from lower to upper income countries.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Cash flows from lower to upper income countries can be limited through debt relief and through pursuance of policies by lower income countries which attract investment and discourage capital flight.

  The Government have consistently taken the lead in promoting debt relief measures for the poorest countries. Agreement to begin implementing the Prime Minister's Trinidad terms initiative to relieve the burden of debt on these countries was achieved in December 1991. Five countries have already benefited from the terms, and we expect more to do so over the coming months. As these new arrangements take effect, we can expect a significant reduction in repayments due to Government creditors. In addition, the ODA has relieved developing countries of around £1,000 million of old aid loans since 1980.

  The United Kingdom has supported and provided its share of the finances needed to implement a 1989 agreement, known as the Brady plan, to help deal with the problems of a commercial bank debt. Under the Brady plan, the IMF and World bank set aside a part of their existing lending to indebted countries to support commercial debt reduction operations. They do this by financing debt buy-backs at a discount, or by providing collateral for reduced principal or interest payments. We are now seeing the fruits of this agreement and arrangements to cancel substantial proportions of commercial bank debt have been agreed, or are likely to be agreed soon, with most of the largest debtors.

  The pursuit of policies aimed at sustained economic growth is fundamental to overcoming the problem of outward financial flows. One of the main aims of our aid programme is to help developing countries do this as effectively as possible. Recent experience in Latin America shows that determined adjustment and policy reform

  201
  efforts can quickly attract considerable amounts of foreign direct investment. There has been progress also, particularly in Mexico and Chile, regarding the effective mobilisation of domestic resources, including substantial return of flight capital.

  Commodity Prices
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being undertaken by the Overseas Development Administration to support and stabilise commodity prices in lower income countries.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We participate as part of the European Community in Stabex and Sysmin, schemes under the Lomé convention for compensating African, Caribbean and Pacific countries for loss of commodity export earnings. We also participate in a number of international commodity agreements, the purpose of which is to assist the flow of commodity trade between producer and consumer countries. The overall trend of prices is of course determined by the state of global supply and demand for individual commodities.

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is currently granted by the Overseas Development Administration to help lower income signatory countries to implement action under(a) the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer and (b) the Geneva convention on long range transboundary air pollution.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  On(a) I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 9 June.

  On (b), the Government contribute about 5 per cent. to the United Nations budget which funds the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe which administers the long-range transboundary air pollution convention. In addition, the United Kingdom contributed about £63,000 direct to the convention trust fund in 1991. The United Kingdom also supports a number of research activities under the convention amounting to about £370,000 per annum.

  Drainage Basins
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts are being made by the Overseas Development Administration to encourage the use of drainage basins as units for land and water management; and what support is granted towards the evaluation of the economic value of each basin's ecosystem.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We recognise the importance of drainage basins as units for land and water management. Research on catchment protection is a component of the ODA's renewable natural resources research strategy. The importance of catchments is also recognised in the ODA "Manual of Environmental Appraisal". The 1990–91 annual report on the RNRR strategy and the revised and updated "Manual of Environmental Appraisal" have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  While no specific work has been undertaken by ODA on the economic value of drainage basin ecosystems, the
  202
  ODA commissioned work by the Overseas Development Institute, published in June 1991 as a book "Values for the Environment: A guide to Economic Appraisal" by J. T. Winpenny, which provides guidance on quantifying environmental costs and benefits of development projects. Copies of this book have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Development Programmes
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being undertaken by the Overseas Development Administration to improve planning integration of technical co-operation within overall and sectoral development programmes of recipient countries.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Technical co-operation, which comprises mainly the provision of British expertise overseas and the provision of training in the United Kingdom, is made available as an integral element of aid to projects, sector programmes and broader national development efforts. Effective integration of all forms of aid, including technical co-operation, from all donors is also sought by means of multi-donor co-ordination meetings with the authorities of individual recipient countries.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bass
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with his French counterpart about the conservation of bass stocks.

  Mr. Curry
  No specific discussions have been recently held with the French. However when the EC minimum landing size for bass, introduced in 1990, was being negotiated, the Government discussed the issue with other member states as well as with the European Commission.

  I am willing to take up any issue concerning fisheries conservation with any opposite numbers when there is clear evidence of cause for concern.

  Under-sized Fish
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with his French counterpart about the landing and sale of under-sized fish at channel ports and towns.

  Mr. Curry
  I raised this issue when we met earlier this month, and at the Council in Luxembourg on 9 June, when improving enforcement was a major item of discussion.

  Fisheries Council
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Fisheries Council held in Luxembourg on 9 June; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  I attended the Council of Fisheries Ministers in Luxembourg on 9 June 1992 together with my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office.

  The Council continued its consideration of the mid-term review of the common fisheries policy. The

  203
  Commission will now be preparing proposals for consideration during the next four months to implement improvements to the policy on better enforcement, measures to reduce discards and the development of fisheries management in the Mediterranean.

  The Council accepted the need for improved enforcement by member states, and at the EC level, and asked the Commission to make urgent proposals for strengthening the powers of the Community inspectorate. The Council also recognised the importance and complexity of the problem of discards and asked the Commission to press ahead with the examination of ways of reducing them.

  I urged the Council to follow the United Kingdom lead in introducing a one-net rule and announced that to achieve stronger co-operation between the national control authorities we have arranged a meeting for the principals of these authorities to take place in the United Kingdom during our presidency.

  The Commission undertook to study the position of sole and whiting in the North sea, the southern North sea fishery and the application of a one-net rule in Community waters.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Industrial Policy
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he next intends to meet representatives of the European Commission to discuss industrial policy.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I will attend the meeting of the Industry Council on 17 June at which representatives of the European Commission will be present.

  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will next meet representatives of the Yorkshire and Humberside regional CBI to discuss industrial policy.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I have no meetings planned with the Yorkshire and Humberside regional CBI in the immediate future.

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will next meet representatives of the south-east regional CBI to discuss industrial policy.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I have no meetings planned with the CBI's south-east regional council in the immediate future.

  Coal Privatisation
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with British Coal regarding the privatisation of the industry.

  Mr. Eggar
  I meet the chairman of British Coal on regular occasions and discuss a variety of issues.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to publish his proposals for the privatisation of the mining industry.

  Mr. Eggar
  No decision has yet been taken on the form or timing of the Government's policy announcement on coal privatisation.

  Privatisations (Competition)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any plans to increase competition in industries which have been privatised.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The Government are committed to promoting competition throughout the economy. The telecommunications market is already open, and plans have been announced to increase the scope for competition in the markets for gas, electricity and water services.

  Textile Industry
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from the textile industry in relation to the GATT talks; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  I and my officials are in regular contact with the textiles and clothing industry. We share its view that its best interests will be served by an early and successful conclusion to all aspects of the GATT Uruguay round, including the phase-out of the multi-fibre arrangement linked with strengthened rules and disciplines over international trading practices.

  Regional Policy
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his Department's plans for regional policy.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Government remain committed to an effective, well-focused regional policy. I announced to the House yesterday a review of the United Kingdom assisted areas map.

  Shark Products
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to ban the import of all shark products.

  Mr. Needham
  No. Sharks are not currently recognised as being endangered. If evidence were produced that any species of shark was becoming endangered, consideration could be given to controlling the trade under either the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) or the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976.

  Shipbuilding
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the state of the glass-reinforced plastic ship building industry in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Two United Kingdom yards have the capability of building glass-reinforced plastic ships. One yard put its facility on a care and maintenance basis in 1984.

  Due to reduced demand, the other yard is actively pursuing warship export orders and greater diversification into commercial activities.

  Manufacturing Output
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to boost manufacturing output.
  205
  Mr. Sainsbury
  Our policies of reducing barriers to trade and enterprise will help British companies.

  Cars
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on United Kingdom car production and new car sales.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  A total of 138,106 cars were sold in the United Kingdom in April, 9 per cent. more than in the same month last year. This is the first time since October 1989 that new car sales have been higher than the comparable month in the previous year, and clearly indicates that the market is recovering.

  Colliery Manpower
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he next expects to meet the chairman of British Coal concerning future levels of colliery manpower after the expiry of the long-term bulk coal purchase contracts with National Power and PowerGen in April 1993.

  Mr. Eggar
  I look forward to continuing to meet the chairman of British Coal regularly to discuss all aspects of the coal industry.

  Trade and Industrial Activity
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with the Confederation of British Industry on matters relating to trade and industry activity.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I met representatives of the CBI and its National Manufacturing Council on 29 April and at the CBI annual dinner on 19 May. On both occasions we had a wide-ranging discussion on trade and industry matters.

  Gas Turbine Generating Stations
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the number of applications before his Department for the construction of new combined-cycle gas turbine generating stations.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. Friend is currently considering 12 applications for his consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to construct new combined-cycle gas turbine generating stations.

  Traditional Industries
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to assist traditional industries in Leicester.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The DTI already has in place a number of schemes that are helping companies in Leicester and elsewhere.

  Consumer Credit
  Mr. Merchant
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made with his Department's consumer credit marketing proposals.

  Mr. Leigh
  The responses to the recent consultation have been examined and a number of possible modifications to the draft regulations are being considered.

  Coal Imports
  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he next proposes to meet the chairman of British Coal concerning the future level of coal imports.

  Mr. Eggar
  I meet the chairman of British Coal regularly to discuss all aspects of the coal industry.

  Regional Assistance
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has for ensuring that economic under-achievement criteria other than the present Department of Employment count or percentage unemployment rate are taken into account in reviewing assisted area status; and if he will list other appropriate criteria and the weight to be given to them.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the promised review of the assisted areas map will begin; and what criteria will be applied to judge each area's status.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Gentlemen to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Mr. Mitchell) on 9 June, at the column 127.

  Toxic Shock Syndrome
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to require manufacturers of tampons to publicise a warning about toxic shock syndrome on the outside of packets.

  Mr. Leigh
  I have no plans to require manufacturers to put a warning about toxic shock syndrome on the outside of the packet. At the request of Government, manufacturers of tampons have improved the warning label on the outside of the packet and advise women to read and retain the leaflet on safety included in the packet. The leaflet warns the user about the risk of toxic shock syndrome, describes the symptoms and advises her to consult a doctor if they occur.

  Fabric Safety
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what investigations his Department has made into the safety of the fabric known as ramie.

  Mr. Leigh
  Ramie is a natural fibre that has long been used in clothing fabrics. If it is used to give a fluffy effect to the surface of the fabric, loose fibres can catch fire. However, the flammability of a garment can be reduced when other fibres are introduced.

  My Department will be holding an early meeting with major clothing retailers to discuss what might be done about the marketing of potentially unsafe fashionwear.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many incidents of garments containing ramie catching fire have occurred in the past 18 months.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 8 June 1992]: Available statistics on clothing fires do not give information on the fibre content of the garments involved.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to introduce safety standards for flammable materials in garments.
  207
  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 8 June 1992]: My Department has commissioned an initial research project into the burning behaviour of fabrics, particularly those used in lightwear garments. This work will be presented to the British Standards Institution as a basis for the preparation of appropriate safety standards.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the plans he has to make progress on the draft directive on data protection and telecommunications in the period 1 July to 31 December; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Commission is at present considering its proposals in the light of the European Parliament's opinion, which was adopted on 13 March. The possibilities for progress on the directive will be considered once the Commission has submitted its revised proposal to the Council.

  Maxwell Pensions
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if investigators from his Department will contact Dr. Werner Keicher in connection with the recovery of monies due to the Maxwell pension funds and their trustee companies.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  As my hon. Friend will now know, on 8 June the President of the Board of Trade announced that he had appointed Mr. J. L. Thomas QC and Mr. R. T. Turner FCA as inspectors under section 432(2) and 442 of the Companies Act 1985 to investigate and report on the affairs and membership of Mirror Group Newspapers plc. The inspectors have been asked to look in particular at the offers for sale of the company's shares in early 1991. How inspectors conduct their inquiry and whom they contact is a matter for them.

  AAH Holdings plc
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when his interim order under section 74 of the Fair Trading Act 1973 concerning AAH Holdings plc is due to expire; and whether he will extend the order.

  Region

  Number of projects

  New jobs

  Safeguarded jobs

  Total jobs

  1990–91

  Scotland

  41

  9,799

  798

  10,595

  Wales

  70

  2,636

  7,166

  9,802

  Northern Ireland

  23

  1,248

  2,186

  3,434

  North East

  44

  2,714

  2,972

  5,686

  North West

  53

  1,810

  8,697

  10,507

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  26

  2,464

  2,091

  4,555

  East Midlands

  15

  820

  1,572

  2,392

  West Midlands

  73

  4,410

  6,815

  11,225

  East

  3

  135

  700

  835

  South East

  4

  475

  25

  500

  South West

  3

  580

  0

  580

  Other

  1

  0

  2,300

  2,300

  Total

  356

  27,181

  35,230

  62,411

  1989

  Scotland

  34

  4,551

  645

  5,198

  Wales

  42

  3,564

  2,050

  5,614

  Northern Ireland

  17

  1,187

  8,558

  9,745

  North East

  46

  4,495

  1,438

  5,933

  North West

  52

  2,646

  4,538

  7,184

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  11

  600

  1,100

  1,700

  208
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The Merger Situation (Medicopharma NV and AAH Holdings plc) (Interim Provision) Order 1992, which was made under section 89 of the Fair Trading Act 1973 on 7 May 1992, revoked the Merger Reference (Medicopharma NV and AAH Holdings plc) Order 1991 and the Merger Reference (Medicopharma NV and AAH Holdings plc) (Amendment) Order 1991, which had been made under section 74 of the Act. The effect of these earlier orders, limited to the Grampian and Highland regions, is reproduced in the new order. This new order has no expiry date.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) when he expects information about inward investment into the United Kingdom for 1991 to be made available;

  (2) what was the regional breakdown of inward investment into the United Kingdom in 1990;

  (3) what estimate he has made of the number of jobs safeguarded or created by inward investment in 1990;

  (4) how many inward investment projects were begun in the United Kingdom in 1990, 1989 and 1988.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Information about inward investment into the United Kingdom for the financial year 1991–92 has yet to be finalised and will be announced in my Department's Invest in Britain bureau's annual report.

  A regional breakdown showing the number of projects notified to the IBB and the number of jobs created and safeguarded for the period 1 January 1990 to 31 March 1991 is in the table, together with the same information for the calendar years 1988 and 1989.

  The decisions recorded include the establishment of new business, expansion or acquisition of an existing business and involvement in a joint venture. These figures are based on information provided by the companies themselves at the time of the investment and take no account of subsequent developments.
  209

  Region

  Number of projects

  New jobs

  Safeguarded jobs

  Total jobs

  East Midlands

  11

  4,073

  2,420

  6,493

  West Midlands

  87

  5,629

  7,035

  12,664

  East

  2

  0

  0

  0

  South East

  21

  2,163

  610

  2,773

  South West

  8

  1,848

  40

  1,888

  Other

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Total

  331

  30,756

  28,434

  59,190

  1988

  Scotland

  58

  5,429

  1,978

  7,407

  Wales

  56

  6,006

  2,085

  8,091

  Northern Ireland

  22

  2,610

  916

  3,526

  North East

  22

  2,041

  31

  2,072

  North West

  30

  1,763

  3,844

  5,607

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  23

  1,790

  380

  2,170

  East Midlands

  18

  1,139

  880

  2,019

  West Midlands

  69

  3,671

  7,840

  11,511

  East

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South East

  46

  2,400

  983

  3,383

  South West

  5

  479

  0

  479

  Other

  3

  325

  0

  325

  Total

  352

  27,653

  18,937

  46,590

  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much inward investment there was from the rest of the world into each EC member state in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The information is as follows:

  Direct investment into EC member states 1989

  £ million

  Belgium-Luxembourg

  4,304

  Denmark1

  5

  France

  6,274

  Germany

  4,001

  Greece

  459

  Ireland

  52

  Italy

  1,548

  Netherlands

  3,620

  Portugal

  989

  Spain

  5,140

  United Kingdom

  19,629

  1 1984 latest available data.

  Source: IMF Balance of Payments Statistics.

  Telecommunications
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which operators will he required to comply with the telecommunications provisions of the Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992 will apply only to those telecommunication operators which have been designated under the provisions of section 10. The power to designate can be exercised only it' the President is satisfied that the operator provides at least 25 per cent. of the voice telephony services supplied within the area in relation to which he is a public telecommunications operator. Only BT and Kingston Communications (Hull) plc meet that criterion and I have signed an order today so designating them.

  South Africa (Oil)
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if exports of crude oil from the United Kingdom continental shelf will be permited to South Africa 210
  following the EC's decision to lift its embargo; and whether United Kingdom companies can now ship oil of other origin to South Africa.

  Mr. Eggar
  Following the decision taken by EC Ministers on 6 April 1992 to lift the EC embargo on oil movements to South Africa there are no restrictions imposed by the Government on United Kingdom companies exporting oil to South Africa either from the United Kingdom continental shelf or elsewhere.

  Staff Salaries
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the cause of the corruption that occurred to hon. Members' staff salaries for the month of May.

  Mr. Newton
  The corruption of the Members' staff computer payroll records for the month of May was a direct result of operator procedural error at a time of extreme pressure. It did not originate from a computer virus nor from unauthorised access to the computer system or records held in the Fees Office.

  I am assured that all possible steps are being taken to prevent a repetition of the error.

SCOTLAND

  Hardy Nursery Stock
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the development of the hardy nursery stock industry in Scotland.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The Scottish Office agriculture and fisheries department provides general encouragement for the hardy nursery stock industry in Scotland which is demonstrating steady and welcome development as regards range and quality of products and market expansion.

  Population Statistics
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the population of(a) Orkney, (b) Shetland, (c) Islay, (d) Jura, (e) Colonsay and (f) Mull; how many people are considered to be economically active on each of these islands.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  Figures from the 1991 census of population are not yet available. The most recent figures are from the 1981 census and are given in the table.

  Area

  Residents

  Residents economically active

  Orkney

  18,425

  8,156

  Shetland

  22,768

  10,957

  Colonsay

  134

  57

  Islay

  3,792

  1,636

  Jura

  224

  97

  Mull

  2,196

  963

  Hospices
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the development of the hospice movement in Scotland: what plans he has to encourage this development; and what criteria he applies to the award of financial assistance to individual hospices.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The 13 voluntary hospices in Scotland have benefited over the past three years from the Government's scheme under which at least 50 per cent. of their running costs have been met by health hoards. This initiative, which runs until the end of the current financial year, was designed as a transitional measure to enable the hospices and health boards to work together to construct a sound basis for contractual relationships and future development. Its effectiveness and possible future arrangements arc now being assessed by the Scottish Office home and health department. Views have been sought from each voluntary hospice and each health board with a hospice in its area. We shall make known the outcome of this assessment when it has been completed.

  The main criteria which a hospice must satisfy in order to be eligible for assistance under the initiative are:
  —the hospice must be recognised as a charity by the Inland Revenue;—
  services must he provided to meet the needs of terminally ill patients (and their families) when those needs can no longer be met by curative treatments;
  —medical, nursing and paramedical stall' should be employed, who are skilled in the provision of palliative medicine for cancer patients, and for others who require such expert care for a span of time; and
  —no charge should he made to patients or their families.

  Homelessness
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet representatives of the Scottish Council for Single Homeless to discuss the homelessness crisis in Scotland; and it' he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I have no immediate plans for such a meeting, but my officials meet representatives of the council on a regular basis.

  Placentas
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the supply of placentas by the national health service to(a) national health service and university research departments and (b) private companies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  Arrangements for the supply of placentae from NHS hospitals to research departments of the NHS and universities or private companies are the responsibility of individual health hoards. Information on the disposal of placentae is not held centrally.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance he has given to health boards on the disposal of placentas after childbirth; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  Placentae are regarded as clinical waste. Guidance produced by the Health and Safety Commission and issued to health boards in June 1982 by the Scottish home and health department requires that placentae should be placed in a suitable bag or bin and incinerated.

  Arthritis Care
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet representatives of the Arhtritis Care organisation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  My right hon. and noble Friend, the Minister for Health in Scotland plans to attend the reception which Arthritis Care has arranged at the House of Commons for 26 November 1992.

  Local Government Services
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the future operation. management and organisation of(a) legal, (b) architecture and related services, (c) personnel, (d) administration, (e) planning and development and (f) general management services within Scottish local authorities.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The responses to the consultation paper "Competing for Quality: Competition in the Provision of Local Services" are being carefully considered. Announcements will he made in due course about the proposals for extending the list of activities subject to the compulsory competition provisions of the Local Government Act 1988, and on the timetable for implementation.

  Members of the European Parliament
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last formally and collectively met Members of the European Parliament representing Scottish constituencies; when he next plans to meet them: what matters he hopes to discuss; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The Secretary of State last formally and collectively met Members of the European Parliament representing Scottish constituencies on 9 July 1991. There are no immediate plans for a further such meeting.

  Population Statistics
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the most recent percentage of the population which is(a) under 16 years, (b) 16 to 24 years, (c) 25 to 34 years, (d) 35 to

  Residents 1981

  Percentage

  Age

  Paisley, South constituency

  Strathclyde

  Scotland

  Under 16

  23

  24

  23

  16-24

  16

  15

  15

  25-34

  13

  14

  14

  35-pensionable age

  33

  31

  31

  Pensionable age and over

  15

  16

  17

  Total =100 per cent.

  67,430

  2,375,410

  5,035,315

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a table showing the most up-to-date percentages of the population in each recognised socio-economic group in(a) the Paisley, South parliamentary constituency, (b) Strathclyde region and (c) Scotland.

  Residents age 16 or over in employment

  per cent.

  Socio-economic group

  Paisley South Constituency

  Strathclyde

  Scotland

  1. Employers and managers in central and local government, industry, commerce, etc.— large establishments

  5

  5

  5

  2. Employers and managers in industry, commerce, etc.—small establishments

  4

  4

  5

  3. Professional workers—self employed

  0

  1

  1

  4. Professional workers—employees

  3

  3

  3

  5.1 Ancillary workers and artists

  11

  10

  10

  5.2 Foreman and supervisors—non-manual

  1

  1

  1

  6. Junior non-manual worker

  23

  21

  21

  7. Personal service workers

  8

  6

  6

  8. Foreman and supervisors—manual

  3

  3

  3

  9. Skilled manual workers

  19

  20

  19

  10. Semi-skilled manual workers

  16

  13

  12

  11. Unskilled manual workers

  6

  7

  7

  12. Own account workers (other than professional)

  2

  2

  2

  13. Farmers—employers and managers

  0

  0

  1

  14. Farmers—own account

  0

  0

  1

  15. Agricultural workers

  0

  1

  1

  16. Members of armed forces

  0

  1

  1

  17. Inadequately described occupations

  1

  1

  1

  Total

  100

  100

  100

  Rape
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, in rank order for each police force, the number of females who have reported being raped during the last 12 months.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information is not collected centrally on the number of rapes reported to the police. The available information on the number of rapes recorded by the police is as follows:

  Number of rapes recorded by the police in Scotland in 1991

  Number

  Strathclyde

  138

  Lothian and Borders

  72

  Grampian

  42

  Dumfries and Galloway

  18

  Tayside

  17

  Central

  14

  214
  pensionable age and (e) pensionable age in (i) the Paisley, South parliamentary constituency, (ii) Strathclyde region and (iii) Scotland.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  Annual population estimates by age are not made for parliamentary constituencies. The most recent figures are from the 1981 census of population and are given in the table.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  Figures from the 1991 census of population are not yet available. The most recent figures are from the 1981 census and are given in the table.

  Number

  Fife

  11

  Northern

  8

  Scotland

  320

  Maedi Visna
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current incidence of Maedi Visna in Scotland; and what steps the Government intend to take to limit the spread of Maedi Visna.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Maedi Visna is not statutorily notifiable; but one outbreak has been reported, in a flock which was brought into Scotland in 1990. Under the sheep and goat health scheme flock owners may have their flocks tested annually for maedi visna, or may achieve and
  215
  maintain maedi visna accredited status. The scheme is regularly publicised at markets and shows; and following the recent outbreak the Scottish Agricultural college has advised veterinarians in private practice to be alert for evidence of the disease.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Government have plans to make Maedi Visna a statutorily notifiable disease within the terms of the Animal Health Act 1981.

  Sir Hector Monro
  No.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the findings of the Maedi Visna/Caprine arthritis-encephalitis programmes carried out by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department.

  Sir Hector Monro
  In the year ending 31 March 1992, 20,157 samples were taken from flocks in the sheep and goat health scheme in Scotland, and only one positive reactor was found.

  Waste Collection
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the provision of specific financial assistance to local authorities which wish to establish or develop efficient collection and recycling of industrial, commercial and domestic waste.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 9 June 1992]: I have no plans for specific grant to authorities for recycling nor to specify that elements of capital spending consents may be used only to finance recycling initiatives. To do so would constrain the freedom enjoyed by local authorities to determine their own spending priorities. Recycling projects identified in authorities' expenditure plans are taken into account when setting the capital expenditure allocations each year.

  Shellfish
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the forum on nephrops, to be convened by the chairman of the Sea Fish Industry Authority, is expected to meet before the summer recess.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 9 June 1992]: The arrangements for the nephrops forum are being made by the Sea Fish Industry Authority. I understand that the forum is to be held on Friday, 31 July.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what surveys of the quality of Scottish coastal waters in respect of meeting EC standard on shellfish production have been made by DAFS; and whether he will make the findings available.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 9 June 1992]: The classification of shellfish harvesting areas to meet the requirements of EC directive 91/492 is being undertaken by my Department's marine laboratory in Aberdeen. The exercise involves establishing the level of bacteriological contamination present in samples of shellfish flesh taken from harvesting areas.

  Decisions on classification will be taken later in the year but information on the results so far will be issued to interested parties this month. Thus far the results have
  216
  been encouraging with some 70 per cent. of results indicating category A, with 20 per cent. suggesting category B and the remainder in category C. But these are early days and some deterioration in the results over the coming months may occur linked to changing conditions.

  Environmental Issues
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the documents or projects produced by his Department to be used in schools to raise the awareness of pupils on environmental issues; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 8 June 1992]: The provision of material for use in schools is primarily a matter for education authorities. The following documents dealing with environmental education have recently been made available to education authorities by the Scottish Office.
  This Common Inheritance; A Summary of the White Paper on the Environment (Command 1200) (October 1990). Environmental Studies 5-14; SOED Working Paper No. 13 (December 1991).
  Environment in Trust: a series of leaflets covering: river quality; global atmosphere and air quality; radioactive waste management—A Safe Solution; pollution control systems; One World; Cleaner Seas; The Countryside; and Waste Management and Recycling (February 1992).

  The primary education development project has developed materials which it is intended to make available to support the delivery of environmental studies 5-14, and Scotland is currently participating in an OECD project on environmental education which will result in further materials for use in schools.

  In addition a working group under the chairmanship of Professor Smyth is currently reviewing the provision of environmental education generally in Scotland. Its findings are expected later this year.

  East Kilbride DC
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide details of the arrangements for the sale of individual assets held by East Kilbride development corporation in the value range £250,000 to £4 million.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 8 June 1992]: The arrangements for the disposal of the assets of the new town development corporations in Scotland are set out in guidance issued by The Scottish Office industry department in April. A copy of the guidance was sent to the hon. Member on 19 May 1992.

EMPLOYMENT

  Small Shops
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations she has received from OPEN, the small shops group about the consequences of the unamended working time directive for small convenience stores in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My predecessors received representations from OPEN about the proposed provisions in the draft directive on working time which would make Sunday a rest day in principle. At the Council of Social Ministers
  217
  on 30 April there was general acceptance that any provision in the draft directive on the principle of Sunday rest should not be obligatory in its effect on member states. Negotiations are continuing on these issues.

  Training
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment of every 100 people who join employment training, how many will be expected to obtain a job at the end of their training; and what is the figure for a similar number of people who do not join employment training but who are unemployed for the same period.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Currently, for every 100 people who join ET, 33 are in employment or self employment three months after leaving. Comparable figures are not available for the unemployed who do not enter ET.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if it is her policy that youth training and employment training trainees be issued with a copy of their individual training plan before they commence training or on request; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Under the terms of the training and enterprise councils' operating agreement, TECs must ensure that all persons entering YT or ET are given an individual training plan agreed between the training provider and the trainee, either immediately upon entry or within a week of such entry. The issued document must contain specified information about the trainee and the training programme. The plan plays a key role in defining training intentions and trainee rights. It is also a fundamental requirement in financial control that training providers should keep a properly completed and up-to-date copy of each plan to support claims for payment. The existence of such a plan is normally regarded as a test for a trainee being recognised as a YT or ET trainee.

  Technical and Vocational Education Initiative
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment for what reasons he decided to reduce the TVEI budget allocated to Staffordshire for 1992–93 from that allocated for 1991–92; what assessment he has made of the effects of this reduced allocation; and if he will now reinstate the 1992–93 allocation to the 1991–92 level.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Staffordshire's TVEI budget for 1992–93 has not been reduced. When Staffordshire started its TVEI extension programme in 1988 a phased allocation of the total available funds was agreed with the Department. This was weighted towards the early years when the major changes would be introduced. The planned budget for 1992–93 still applies, apart from the usual annual uprating of 2.5 per cent.

  Job Search Seminars
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the role, purpose and cost of job search seminars and which unemployed people are eligible for their assistance for Great Britain and for each region; how many job search seminars have been established; how many people have been helped by those seminars; how many people have been directly placed into jobs; how many have been directly placed in other outcomes; and if she will make a statement;
  218
  (2) what is the role, purpose and cost of job referral teams and which unemployed people are eligible for their assistance and for Great Britain and for each region (a) how many job referral teams have been established, (b) how many people have been helped by those teams, (c) how many people have been directly placed into jobs and (d) how many have been directly placed in other outcomes; and if she will make a statement;

  (3) what is the role, purpose and cost of job review workshops and which unemployed people are eligible for their assistance and for Great Britain and for each region (a) how many job review workshops have been established, (b) how many people have been helped by those workshops, (c) how many people have been directly placed into jobs and (d) how many have been directly placed in other outcomes; and if she will make a statement;

  (4) for Great Britain and for each region how many people have been called in to attend 13-week Employment Service counselling interviews; how many people have actually attended such interviews; and of those who attended (a) how many have been placed directly into jobs, (b) how many people have been placed in what other outcomes and (c) how many have had their benefit stopped or suspended and for what reasons; and if she will make a statement.

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

  Northgate Complex, Glasgow
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list by Department the number of working days that have been lost so far this year at the Northgate complex, Milton street, Glasgow, due to problems with the air conditioning system; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Health and Safety Executive has no knowledge of any working days lost this year at the Northgate complex, Milton street, Glasgow due to problems with the air conditioning systems.

  Sheep Dip
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list the recommended protective clothing to be worn when using organo-phosphorous sheep dip; what changes have been made to these recommendations in the last year; and what changes are planned.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Advice on protective clothing is given on the label and data sheet of individual products. General information is also available in the free leaflet "Sheep dipping: Protect your health" published by the Health and Safety Executive and available from their local offices.

  The leaflet advises that personal protective equipment should include rubber gloves, coverall and a face-shield when handling the concentrate and rubber boots, rubber gloves and waterproof coat or bib apron when handling the diluted liquid and freshly dipped sheep. Sheep dip manufacturers and personal protective equipment suppliers can provide more specific advice.

  There have been no changes in the last year to these recommendations, nor are any planned. The Veterinary

  219
  Products Committee is, however, reviewing the licences for sheep dip products and will be considering personal protective equipment requirements in formulating its advice to the licensing authority.

  I will arrange for copies of the leaflet to be placed in the Library.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of her 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 she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  In the Employment department group instructions have been issued that the Data Protection Registrar should be consulted on proposed legislation which might affect, or be affected by, the Data Protection Act. Such proposals and other planned initiatives are notified to the data protection co-ordinator who consults the Data Protection Registrar as appropriate.

HEALTH

  Bowel Complaints
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines are given to general practitioners about performing rectal examinations on patients with bowel complaints.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  It is for the profession to issue guidance on such clinical matters as appropriate.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State if she will list by regional health authority the average current delay between patients reporting(a) symptoms starting and (b) diagnosis of a patient with inflammatory bowel disorder.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not held centrally.

  Provisional waiting time figures—April 1992 In-patients and day cases combined

  Numbers waiting—April 1992

  Region

  Under one year

  One to two years

  Over two years

  Total

  Northern

  53,855

  4,005

  0

  57,860

  Yorkshire

  63,452

  6,658

  8

  70,118

  Trent

  75,816

  9,641

  20

  85,477

  East Anglian

  34,367

  4,108

  77

  38,552

  North West Thames

  46,233

  8,894

  44

  55,171

  North East Thames

  68,637

  8,690

  713

  78,040

  South East Thames

  67,360

  8,700

  175

  76,235

  South West Thames

  44,101

  2,576

  26

  46,703

  Wessex

  53,598

  4,177

  0

  57,775

  Oxford

  39,354

  5,695

  30

  45,079

  South Western

  62,933

  3,252

  94

  66,279

  West Midlands

  85,761

  5,787

  214

  91,762

  Mersey

  49,918

  803

  0

  50,721

  North Western

  78,017

  6,864

  64

  84,945

  All regions

  823,402

  79,850

  1,465

  904,717

  SHAs

  12,011

  1,397

  534

  13,942

  Total

  835,413

  81,247

  1,999

  918,659

  Note: Based on provisional figures obtained from regions.

  Tobacco Advertising
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the guidance which the Department of Health has received on the potential value of a ban on tobacco advertising.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Department has received guidance on the potential effect of a ban on tobacco advertising from a number of sources. The Department is currently undertaking a study on the effects of tobacco advertising on tobacco consumption. The contents of this study will be made available in an appropriate form when it is completed.

  Waiting Lists
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the Cambridge regional health authority are waiting more than six months for a first time referral to a consultant.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is not collected in the form requested. The hon. Member may wish to contact Sir Colin Walker, chairman of East Anglian regional health authority, or Richard King, chairman of Cambridge Health Authority, for details.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the change in the last year in the number of patients waiting over two years for hospital treatment.

  Mr. Sackville
  [pursuant to the reply, 12 May 1992, c. 489-92]: Provisional waiting time figures as at 30 April are given in the table. These show that the number of patients waiting more than two years for treatment increased in April by 399 to 1,999. This compares with 51,100 patients at 31 March 1991. Regional general managers have been told to take firm management action to ensure these patients are treated as soon as possible and that the rapid fall in waiting times achieved in 1991–92 is continued.

  Community Care
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if her Department's estimates of the cost of housing provision necessary to meet the requirements of the Government's community care plans and the implementation of the Children Act 1989, identify separately the respective costs of(a) the provision, management and maintenance of the accommodation, (b) services directly related to the provision of accommodation, (c) personal services, including the provision of food, heating, lighting and laundry services, (d) care and support services, including medical and social care, counselling, social work support, skills training and therapy and (e) any other requirements;

  (2) what are her Department's estimates of the cost of the housing requirements arising from the Government's community care plans and the implementation of the Children Act 1989 for each of (a) people with mental health problems, (b) people with learning difficulties, (c) young people leaving care or who are homeless, (d) elderly people, (e) people with drug or alcohol abuse problems, (f) people with physical disabilities including degenerative and debilitating illnesses and (g) other client groups falling within the statutory provisions of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 and the Children Act 1989 in each of the three years from 1993–94 onwards.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Government do not have estimates broken down in the way requested.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions she is making to fund care in the community in the county of Durham; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The personal social services standard spending assessment for county Durham in 1992–93 is £53.3 million. The county council is responsible for determining its social services priorities and how much is to be spent on community care. Similarly, the relevant health authorities are responsible for deciding how much should be spent on community health services from within their general allocations determined by the regional health authority. Announcements about the funding of community care in 1993–94 will be made in the context of this year's local government expenditure survey.

  Health Education
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current level of expenditure on health education; and what it was in 1979.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  It is not possible to calculate overall expenditure on health education because so much health service activity includes both explicit and implicit health education whose costs cannot be separately identified.

  The allocation made to the Health Education Authority for health education in England for 1992–93 is nearly £34 million. In 1979–80 the expenditure on health education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by the Health Education Council was £4.5 million.

  The Department also provides funding under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 to a large number of voluntary bodies, many of which undertake health education as part of their overall role.

  Childhood Asthma
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been carried out, or is currently being carried out, to see if gas ozone may be an integrated factor in childhood asthma; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  We attach particular importance to maintaining the improvements made in child health and are concerned by the increase in reported cases of childhood asthma.

  In 1990 an advisory group was convened by the chief medical officer to look at the short-term health effects of exposure to specific air pollutants. Its first report—"Ozone" (published by HMSO in August 1991)—found that there was no conclusive evidence to show that exposure to ozone or other air pollutants at levels occurring in the United Kingdom cause people to become asthmatic, but recommended that there should be further research. A copy of the report is available in the Library.

  The Department has raised this with the Medical Research Council; the main agency which supports biomedical and clinical research in the United Kingdom and which in 1990–91 —the latest year for which figures are available—spent £1 million on research into asthma. We have also set up a further advisory committee with a wider remit to co-ordinate work on the assessment of the effects of exposure to air pollutants on health.

  Investigation
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what limitations there are on where a medical general practitioner may send patients to hospitals for investigation and treatment.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We have always made clear that GPs are free to refer their patients to whichever hospital or other unit best meets the needs of the patient. We remain committed to this principle.

  Food Hygiene
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she proposes to issue new guidelines and regulations for hygiene training for food handlers arising from the Food Safety Act 1990; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Government are currently considering what the scope of the regulations should be and expect to bring forward proposals later this year.

  Patients Charter
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will arrange for an additional right to be added to the patients charter in respect of waitintg times for a first out-patient appointment.

  Mr. Sackville
  The patients charter already requires that local standards are set for waiting times for first out-patient appointments. We will consider looking at the possibility of extending these to a national level.

  Purchasing
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which district health authorities in England and Wales have entered into a purchasing consortium arrangement.
  223
  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not collected centrally. I understand that a number of district health authorities have entered into purchasing consortium arrangements. The latest information available, which reflects the situation up to May 1992, is set out in the table.
  The list does not include districts that have merged

  DHA Purchasing consorita (by region)

  District health authorities

  Name of consortium

  Yorkshire RHA

  Northallerton, Scarborough, York, Harrogate, Airedale (Part)

  North Yorkshire

  Hull, East Yorkshire

  North Humberside

  Scunthorpe, Grimsby

  South Humberside

  Calderdale, Huddersfield, Dewsbury

  West Yorkshire

  Bradford, Airedale (Part)

  (no name)

  North East Thames RHA

  West Essex, North East Essex, Mid Essex

  North Essex

  Barking, Havering and Brentwood, Southend, and Basildon and Thurrock

  (no name)

  South East Thames RHA

  Lewisham and North Southwark, Camberwell, West Lambeth

  South East London Commissioning Agency

  Dartford and Gravesham, Medway, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells

  West Kent Commissioning Agency

  South East Kent, Canterbury and Thanet

  East Kent Commissioning Agency

  Greenwich and Bexley

  (no name)

  Brighton, Eastbourne, Hastings

  East Sussex

  Oxford RHA

  Wycombe, Aylesbury Vale, Milton Keynes

  Buckingham Purchasing Agency

  South Western RHA

  Torbay, Plymouth, and North Devon

  Devon Management Consortium

  Mersey RHA

  Southport and Formby, South Sefton, St. Helen's and Knowsley, Liverpool

  North Mersey

  Wirral, Warrington, Halton, Chester, Crewe

  Wirral/Cheshire

  North Western RHA

  North, Central and South Manchester

  Manchester Purchasing Consortium

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble DHA with Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale DHA

  (no name)

  other RHAs

  None

  Incontinence Pads
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what circumstances incontinence Pads can be supplied against a Prescription.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Incontinence Pads are Provided by the hospital and community health services free of charge to NHS Patients. They may not be Prescribed by general Practitioners.

  Children's Homes, Staffordshire
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State For Health when she expects to the Publish the social services inspectorate's report of the inspection of children's homes in Staffordshire.

  Mr. Yeo
  The report is being Published today. Copies are available in the Library. The report is clear that some important improvements have been made in the quality of service and the management of children's homes. No evidence was found of Practices similar to "pindown". It is also clear, however, that some recommendations from the
  224
  Formally or those that have reached informal agreements to Purchase Particular services. For more up-to-date information the hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the regional health authorities concerned. The information relating to Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State For Wales.

  previous inspection in 1990 have not been implemented fully and some standards of care remain unacceptable. I have asked Staffordshire county council to produce a detailed action plan to deal with those matters requiring urgent attention and the social services inspectorate will continue to work closely with the council to ensure that the appropriate action is taken.

  Dentistry
  Dr. Liam Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what would be the average gross earnings from the national health service of a dentist if her proposals on dental fees submitted to the dental rates study group are implemented.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We estimate £89,300 per dentist.

  Dr. Liam Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of dentists earned a gross income of over £100,000 in 1991–92.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In 1991–92, 34.8 per cent. of dentists earned a gross NHS income of over £100,000.
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  Dr. Liam Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will state, in the last three years for which data are available,(a) the actual level of dentists' expenses and (b) the figure allowed for by the dental rates study group.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In 1987–88, 1988–89 and 1989–90, the last three years for which data are available, the dental rates study group forecast a level of practice expenses above the actual outturn by £1,851, or 5.5 per cent., £1,650, or 4.5 per cent., and £1,678, or 4.3 per cent. respectively.

  Dr. Liam Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of expenses she has proposed to the dental rates study group for dentists in 1992–93; and what was the figure in 1991–92.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The sum of £47,228 per dentist, an increase of 11.6 per cent. over that allowed for in 1991–92.

  Dr. Liam Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how average dentists' pay has changed since 1979.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Since 1979–80, the target average net income of dentists has increased from £11,128 to £35,815 in the current year, a real terms increase of nearly 33 per cent. Our latest proposals are likely to exceed £35,815 by about £5,000, which would mean a real terms increase of about 51 per cent.

  Dr. Liam Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the Doctors and Dentists Review Body recommendation for the increase in dentists' income in 1992–93 over 1991–92; and what were the corresponding awards to doctors and nurses.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Doctors and Dentists Review Body's recommendation, which the Government accepted in full, increases dentists' pay for 1992–93 by 8.5 per cent. This is the biggest increase for any large group of NHS staff. Doctors—general medical practitioners—were awarded 5.5 per cent. and nurses and midwives 5.8 per cent.

  Warrington General Hospital
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list(a) the amount of over or under spending in each of the last five years and (b) the throughput of patients over each of the last five years at Warrington general hospital.

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

  NHS Management Bonuses
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (I) what is the range of financial bonuses available to(a) general and (b) senior managers in the national health service;

  (2) if she will list the criteria used in deciding whether a general or senior manager in the national health service should receive a financial bonus;

  (3) under what circumstances general and senior managers within the national health service may earn financial bonuses in addition to their basic salaries.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Financial bonuses may be paid to individual general and senior managers in the national 226
  health service on the basis of good performance, depending upon the degree to which they meet agreed objectives decided and set locally by their employing authority. In general, payments are based on a proportion of basic salary and can be up to 8 per cent. per annum for general and 6 per cent. per annum for senior managers —subject to cumulative limits.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital consultants employed by the Northern regional health authority are members of ethnic minorities; and how many of these are holders of merits awards.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not held centrally.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether her Department records the ethnic origin of hospital consultants who hold merit awards; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No.

  Merit Awards
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she has taken towards publishing background information and material defining the basis upon which individual consultants are awarded merit.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The leaflet "Consultants' Distinction Awards" was issued in October 1990 to help consultants and managers understand how the National Health Service distinction and meritorious service award scheme works in England and Wales. A copy is available in the Library.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current value of merit awards to the national health service and to North West Durham health authority.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In 1990–91, the last year for which complete figures are available, £41,370,322 was paid in distinction awards to consultants in the national health service in England and £31,127 in North West Durham health authority.

  North Durham Hospital
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response she has made to the proposals for the siting of the new North Durham hospital; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  North Durham district health authority and Northern regional health authority are currently considering a number of options for replacing the general hospitals at Dryburn and Shotley Bridge. No formal approach has yet been made by the Northern regional health authority to seek the approval in principle of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for any particular proposal.

  Child Care
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she intends to publish the response to the European Council of Ministers' recommendation on child
  227
  care; and when she intends to draw the recommendation to the attention of local authorities, employers business interests, childcare providers and voluntary organisations.

  Mr. Yeo
  Article 7 of the Council recommendation requires a response by no later than March 1995. We will be discussing how to carry out this work with other Government Departments. It will be drawn to the attention of other interested parties during the coming months.

  Tomlinson Report
  Mrs. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she intends to publish the Tomlinson report on health services in London.
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  Dr. Mawhinney
  Sir Bernard Tomlinson and his team are due to report to my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Health and for Education in the autumn. The report will be published shortly afterwards.

  South East Thames RHA
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she will intervene under regulation 19(4)(b) of the Community Health Council Regulations 1974 (as amended) to require South East Thames regional health authority to carry out further consultations on its capital strategy, "Investing for Excellence in Health."

  Mr. Sackville
  No. I am satisfied that South East Thames regional health authority has acted properly in this matter.

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