Written Answers of 12 June 1992

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Compensation Claims
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will outline the specific training undertaken by staff of his Department in relation to compensation claims; and what steps are taken to ensure the fair treatment of claimants.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Department issued guidance to its officials in 1990 on the principles to be taken into account when checking claims for compensation. Decisions are taken at a senior level, with legal advice being sought where appropriate.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what are his Department's criteria and guidelines in dealing with compensation claims.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Department is prepared to consider claims for compensation where loss is sustained through maladministration by court officials in matters for which the Lord Chancellor is responsible.

  Staff dealing with the justification for and assessment of compensation claims are required to apply guidelines, the broad principles of which were reproduced in the Law Society Gazette in August 1990. Each claim is assessed on its individual merits.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department whether(a) the remuneration levels claimed and paid to solicitors and the Treasury Solicitor undertaking work for his Department in relation to compensation claims, (b) the work undertaken by claimants' solicitors to secure financial redress satisfactory to claimants and (c) delays between lodging and resolving claims reflect in compensation and costs paid.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Claims for compensation are considered on the individual merits of the case. The Department will consider payment of a solicitor's reasonable costs in pursuing a claim but inevitably the process of assessing the validity of claims takes time, particularly where it involves communication with other offices within the Department or, on occasions, with the Treasury.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects to take decisions on the publication of guidelines as to the principles upon which his Department assesses ex gratia payments for compensation.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The broad principles upon which the Department assesses claims for ex gratia compensatory payments were outlined in an article in the Law Society Gazette in August 1990. Consideration is being given to further publication of these principles.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Maxwell Companies
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Attorney-General if the Serious Fraud Office will take steps to contact Dr. Werner Keicher of Vaduz with a view to obtaining his assistance in the investigations into the Maxwell group of companies.

  The Attorney-General
  It is the policy of the Serious Fraud Office not to divulge operational details relating to the proposed handling of its investigations. I am satisfied that all steps currently necessary properly to investigate the Maxwell group of companies are being taken.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will provide additional resources and instructions to the Serious Fraud Office in order that they can assist in the recovery of moneys belonging to the Maxwell pension funds.

  The Attorney-General
  The role of the Serious Fraud Office is to investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute alleged offences involving serious or complex fraud. Primary responsibility for the recovery of assets rests with the trustees of the Maxwell pension funds, the administrators and liquidators. The Serious Fraud Office assists those so engaged to the extent that it is lawfully able to do so and that such assistance does not detract from the discharge of its own duties.

  I am satisfied that the SFO is properly resourced for the discharge of its duties.

TRANSPORT

  Air Misses
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the aircraft near-miss involving a Caledonian Airways Tristar and a glider at a height of 2,500 feet at approximately 14.10 hours on 1 June eight miles south-west of Newcastle-upon-Tyne over Currock hill gliding site.

  Mr. Norris
  The responsibility for the safety regulation of United Kingdom civil aviation rests with the Civil Aviation Authority.

  All air miss reports in United Kingdom airspace, involving civil or military aircraft, are investigated initially by the joint air miss section of the National Air Traffic Services, which is a joint CAA/Ministry of Defence organisation.

  They are then examined by the joint air miss working group (JAWG), an independent committee drawn from a wide cross-section of responsible civil and aviation bodies. The JAWG investigation is not a disciplinary procedure; its purpose is to serve the interests of flight safety by establishing the cause of the air miss in order to try to devise ways of preventing a similar occurrence.

  I have drawn the hon. Member's question to the attention of the Civil Aviation Authority and have asked it to write to him direct when the investigation into the air miss which is the subject of the question is complete.

  Highway Code
  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce his proposals for the revision of the highway code.
  299
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  My right hon. Friend has laid before Parliament a document setting out his proposed alterations to the highway code. These take into account the many responses received to the Department's consultation document issued last October.

  This has been the first major review of the highway code since 1978. The proposals contain forty two new rules and many other rules have been amended to reflect recent changes in the law and best road safety practice. We are taking the opportunity also to improve the format of the code in order to make it more attractive to the reader and so encourage further its regular use by all road users.

  Hazardous Chemicals
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he intends to take to ensure that EC arrangements will not prevent the use of emergency action codes for the transportation and storage of hazardous chemicals.

  Mr. Norris
  My Department is working closely with the Home Office to promote the benefits of the emergency action codes in Europe with a view to incorporating them in the United Nations road transport agreement, "ADR", that is likely to form the basis of future commission proposals concerning the transport of dangerous goods. Commission officials have been involved in preliminary discussions.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  International Conventions
  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 Ramsar convention for the conservation of wetlands of international importance, (b) the convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage, (c) the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora and (d) the convention of the conservation of migratory species of wild animals.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The ODA funds a number of projects to support wildlife (biodiversity) and habitat conservation in developing countries which would assist them to implement action under the wildlife conventions mentioned. Since 1990 the ODA has committed over £20 million to such projects. Lists of projects are available in the Library of the House.

  In addition, the Government:

  (a) contributed about £34,000 in 1992 to the Ramsar Convention Trust Fund and gave a grant of £5,700 to support a Ramsar-related workshop for developing countries of south and west Asia;

  (b) contributed about £90,000 in 1992 towards the World Heritage Fund;

  (c) makes an annual contribution of about £85,000 to the CITES Trust Fund; has given an extra £40,000 to improve the international enforcement of CITES; makes an annual contribution of £10,000 to assist developing country delegates to attend CITES meetings, and has pledged £600,000 to support African elephant conservation projects, and

  (d) contributed about £45,000 in 1992 to the Bonn Convention Trust Fund.

  International Social Statistics
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to encourage the improvement in the coverage, reliability, breakdown of data by sex, income group and area, and availability of international social statistics.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  It will continue to be our policy when considering the work programmes of those organisations of which we are members to encourage, as far as resources permit, improvements in the coverage, reliability, breakdown of data by sex, income group and area, and availability of international social statistics.

  Overseas Aid
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will indicate the total United Kingdom expenditure upon overseas aid in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available from(a) Government sources, (b) other public sector sources and (c) private and charitable sources; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 11 June 1992]: Gross public expenditure on overseas aid (£ million) in 1981 to 1990 was as follows:

  Total

  of which CDC 1 project aid

  1981

  1,184

  68

  1982

  1,085

  51

  1983

  1,174

  56

  1984

  1,316

  108

  1985

  1,324

  79

  1986

  1,350

  64

  1987

  1,295

  63

  1988

  1,667

  112

  1989

  1,793

  151

  1990

  1,725

  137

  1 Commonwealth Development Corporation resources include Government loans and income from investments in developing countries.

  Grants by voluntary agencies (£ million) in 1981–1990 to developing countries, net of the grants given to these agencies by the Government, was as follows:

  £ million

  1981

  47

  1982

  58

  1983

  67

  1984

  105

  1985

  132

  1986

  119

  1987

  126

  1988

  132

  1989

  150

  1990

  184

  Ngamiland
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been contributed by Her Majesty's Government to the construction of a buffalo fence in Ngamiland; and what estimate he has made of the damage it will cause to wildlife in the area.
  301
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 11 June 1992]: The British Government have made no contribution to the cost of this fence, nor have they been involved in any assessment of its likely impact.

  United Nations Aid
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the European Community's timetable for meeting the United Nations aid target by the year 2000.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 11 June 1992]: The European Community has not set a timetable for reaching the United Nations aid target. The Government's aid programme has been increasing in real terms and is planned to continue to do so.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Inheritance Tax
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many landowners have benefited in respect of inheritance tax in return for public access to their estates; and if he will list footpaths to which public access has resulted from conditional exemption.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 2 June 1992,Official Report, column 399. Information about individual cases is covered by the normal rules of taxpayer confidentiality. However, heritage bodies are able to supply information about public access to heritage land including conditionally exempt land (although the land will not be identified as conditionally exempt). The main such bodies in England and Scotland are the Countryside Commission and the Countryside Commission for Scotland, and for land of scientific interest the respective Nature Conservancy Councils. In Wales and Northern Ireland the relevant bodies are the Countryside Council for Wales and the Environment Service of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost to the Exchequer of inheritance tax benefit to landowners in return for public access to their estates.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 2 June 1992,Official Report, column 399.

  Environmental Costs
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to include environmental cost in measures used by his Department to measure economic performance.

  Sir John Cope
  Exploratory work on environmental accounts and indicators is under way at the Department of Environment and the Central Statistical Office. This work is still in its early stages.

  Employee Share Ownership
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees have received shares under case law employee share ownership plans; and what is the current total value of shares in such schemes.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I regret that the information is not available centrally.

  Lodgers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he hopes to bring in legislation under which home owners will be able to let rooms to lodgers without liability to tax on the rent that they receive; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Members for Greenwich (Mr. Raynsford) and for Cheltenham (Mr. Jones) on 2 June 1992,Official Report, column 366.

  VAT Harmonisation
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the outcome of the meeting of the Council of Finance Ministers on 9 June; and if consideration was given to the harmonisation of value added tax levels.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 10 June 1992]: The Economic and Finance Council of the European Community met in Luxembourg on 9 June and I represented the United Kingdom.

  The Council discussed the Spanish programme for economic convergence as part of its regular multilateral surveillance exercises. We welcomed the programme's objective of non-inflationary growth via macroeconomic stabilisation, including a tightened fiscal stance, and the undertaking of significant structural reforms. Particular attention was drawn to the importance of the Spanish regional governments in achieving fiscal consolidation.

  The removal of rigidities, particularly in the markets for labour and services, combined with a stable nominal exchange rate were welcomed as policies to reduce inflation and encourage wage moderation. The scale of Spanish proposals to improve the functioning of their labour market and to deregulate services was acknowledged. The Council urged the rapid introduction of these measures while stressing their importance to achieving sustainable non-inflationary growth. It was also agreed that the Council's multilateral surveillance exercises should be strengthened by paying more attention to structural measures in promoting economic convergence.

  Over lunch there was a brief discussion of Commission proposals for further loans to Bulgaria and Romania but no decisions were reached.

  The Council also discussed the Commission's future financing proposals. I argued that the Commission's proposals to increase Community spending in real terms between 1992 and 1997 by about 21 billion ecu (£14½ billion)—an increase of over 30 per cent.—were unacceptable and I was strongly supported by a majority of other member states. I pointed to the findings of the European Court of Auditors, demonstrating the poor value for money from Community spending. I argued against any increase in the own resources ceiling, stressing

  303
  that the Community had to live within its means and that taxpayers should not be asked to accept substantial increases in Community spending at a time when there was a need for national budgetary restraint.

  On indirect taxes, the presidency tabled a global compromise covering the eight draft directives on excise duty rates and structures for tobacco products, mineral oils and alcoholic beverages and VAT.

  There was little substantive discussion on these issues. I recorded the various problems the current text posed. On the minimum rate for spirits, although the proposed figure of 600 ecu per hectolitre of pure alcohol was an improvement on its predecessor (1,000 ecu), it would still require at least one member state to increase its duty rate. I could see no case in logic for the minimum rate for wine to be set at zero, but for a high positive rate for spirits. I said that there would also need to be a commitment to review the rates in the light of a proper study on competition in the alcoholic drinks market.

  On alcohol structures, I argued that the revised text for intermediate products was still unacceptable since it would require products of 10 per cent. alcohol by volume to be taxed at a higher rate than a wine of 17 per cent. alcohol by volume. I noted that there were also a number of important technical points to be resolved including the treatment of strong wines, denatured alcohol and alcohol in foodstuffs.

  On tobacco rates, I stressed the importance the United Kingdom attaches to an underpinning cash minimum for cigarettes and other tobacco products.

  On VAT issues, I stated that the United Kingdom view had not changed, particularly on the minimum standard rate of VAT, our concerns with the proposed treatment of works of art and the need to safeguard our present exemption at import; and to ensure protection for donated goods sold in charity shops. I expect ECOFIN to return to this dossier on 29 June.

  A satisfactory political agreement was reached on a Presidency package consisting of the most contentious points in the draft Capital Adequacy Directive (which will provide a harmonized framework of capital requirements on banks' and securities firms' trading portfolios in support of the Second Banking Coordination Directive and the draft Investment Services Directive). This opens the way to further technical work on the rest of the Directive. An array of important points remain to be addressed before further discussion at ECOFIN on 29 June.

  I ensured that the draft directive would allow securities firms to continue to take on large tradeable positions ("large exposures"), that it should provide an appropriate treatment of reverse repurchase agreements, stock borrowing and similar arrangments, and that it should have a mechanism for convergence with wider international standards currently under development. I successfully secured all these objectives, which I made clear were vital to the international competitiveness of the United Kingdom financial services sector.

EDUCATION

  Mature Students
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has of the number of mature students who have paid national insurance contributions and who are not entitled to claim social security benefits.

  Mr. Forman
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill (Mr. Alton) on 9 June 1992,Official Report, columns 88-89.

  Student-Staff Ratios
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what change has taken place in the average student-staff ratio in universities in the United Kingdom between 1979–80 and 1992–93.

  Mr. Forman
  Data for student-staff ratios in universities in Great Britain are shown below for 1979–80 to 1990–91:

  Universities

  1979–80

  9.3

  1984–85

  10.3

  1989–90

  11.8

  1990–911

  12.3

  1 Provisional.

  Source: Universities' Statistical Record.

  Adult Students, Islington
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how he envisages provision being made within the London borough of Islington after 1 April 1993, for adult students with learning difficulties, for basic literacy and English, and for basic mathematics.

  Mr. Forman
  Under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, the duty to secure provision of all kinds of further education for adults, including those with learning difficulties, will from 1 April 1993 be divided between the new further education funding councils and local education authorities. Responsibility for securing adequate provision of literacy and numeracy teaching for adults will pass to the further education funding councils. Both the councils and local education authorities will have a duty to have regard to the requirements of adults with learning difficulties in respect of the types of education for which they will be responsible.

  Section 6(5) of the Act provides that colleges and centres which do not transfer to the new further education sector should be able to apply through FE colleges within the new sector for funds to support that part of their work which falls within the funding councils' remit. The FE college will forward the application to the funding council if facilities for the kind of courses in question are not adequate in the locality. If the FE college does not forward the application, its decision will be subject to review by the Secretary of State.

  My right hon. Friend will be making clear in guidance to the councils that he does not expect to see precipitate changes in the pattern of educational provision for adults. Such provision should make the best use of whatever facilities and expertise are available and should be readily accessible to local communities.

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what provision will be made in the Liverpool area for teacher training; what schools will be used as training bases; what assessment he is making of the existing private studies in Liverpool developing between the Liverpool institute of higher education, Liverpool university and local comprehensive schools; if it is his intention to maintain those arrangements; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether new teacher training arrangements will be based entirely on opted-out schools.

  Mr. Forth
  Courses of initial teacher training are approved by my right hon. Friend against criteria laid down by him. The Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (CATE) advises him on whether courses meet these criteria.

  Following consultation earlier this year my right hon. Friend announced that changes would be made in the criteria and procedures for the accreditation of training for secondary school teachers. Details of the new criteria and procedures will be issued shortly.

  Under the new procedures it will be a matter for individual schools and higher education institutions in Liverpool, as elsewhere, to work together. Participating schools will be expected to meet explicit criteria, including performance indicators. All maintained and independent secondary schools will be eligible to be considered for selection as partner schools and it will be for the higher education institutions to justify their selection of schools, in the first instance to CATE.

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

  The extent of LEAs' delegation to schools (1991–92)

  (1)

  (2)

  (3)

  Local education authority

  PSB delegated to schools

  Central administration as proportion of PSB

  1991–92 (per cent.)

  (1990–91) (per cent.)

  1991–92 (per cent.)

  (1990–91) (per cent.)

  1. Stockport

  88.69

  (—)

  3.15

  (—)

  2. Rochdale

  88.46

  (85.74)

  2.37

  (2.55)

  3. Sunderland

  88.40

  (86.86)

  2.15

  (3.10)

  4. Bolton

  88.31

  (89.10)

  2.06

  (2.02)

  5. Northumberland

  88.16

  (86.54)

  2.37

  (3.10)

  6. Manchester

  88.03

  (—)

  3.54

  (—)

  7. Sefton

  87.86

  (87.44)

  2.71

  (4.45)

  8. Berkshire

  87.68

  (87.68)

  2.78

  (2.71)

  9. West Sussex

  87.67

  (87.49)

  2.09

  (1.95)

  10. Suffolk

  87.56

  (85.66)

  .78

  (2.75)

  11. Cambridgeshire

  87.45

  (80.75)

  2.03

  (4.82)

  12. Cheshire

  87.35

  (84.31)

  1.71

  (5.15)

  13. Devon

  87.14

  (83.11)

  2.53

  (3.06)

  14. Warwickshire

  86.72

  (85.24)

  3.19

  (3.90)

  15. Bradford

  86.68

  (86.04)

  3.55

  (3.87)

  16. Buckinghamshire

  86.58

  (84.88)

  3.55

  (4.58)

  17. Leeds

  86.26

  (86.12)

  4.22

  (3.87)

  18. Hertfordshire

  86.19

  (—)

  3.81

  (—)

  19. Hampshire

  86.11

  (85.78)

  3.16

  (3.34)

  20. Shropshire

  86.09

  (84.60)

  2.00

  (2.48)

  306
  Mr. Forman
  The Department has in the past consulted the Data Protection Registrar on guidelines for the holding of personal data on computer systems in educational establishments and agencies, about the student loans scheme, and in relation to the Department's internal systems.

  The Department's procedures are reviewed annually and I am satisfied that they are effective in safeguarding personal data and in ensuring subject access.

  Officials will continue to consult the Registrar where appropriate.

  Engineering Graduates
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he received a copy of the Engineering Council's recent report on international comparisons of engineering graduate manpower output; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forman
  Engineering has a vital part to play in our economy. Higher education institutions are important providers of qualified manpower, and our policies are aimed at increasing their ability to respond to the needs of industry and students. Those needs are usefully informed by a knowledge of the position in competitor countries. I welcome the Engineering Council's report, which I received on 4 June, as a contribution to such knowledge.

  Budget
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will set out the proportion of the education budget retained centrally by each local education authority.

  Mr. Forth
  Information is not available in the form requested. The proportion of each LEA's potential schools budget (PSB) delegated to schools in 1990–91 and 1991–92 is contained in the table below, together with each LEA's central administration costs as a proportion of its PSB. Figures for 1992–93 are not yet available, but I will write to my hon. Friend when they are.
  307

  (1)

  (2)

  (3)

  Local education authority

  PSB delegated to schools

  Central administration as proportion of PSB

  1991–92 (per cent.)

  (1990–91)(per cent)

  1991–92(percent)

  (1990–91)(per cent.)

  21. Salford

  86.03

  (84.37)

  2.64

  (3.19)

  22. Northamptonshire

  86.01

  (84.74)

  2.23

  (3.69)

  23. South Tyneside

  85.94

  (83.76)

  2.06

  (4.20)

  24. Sheffield

  85.92

  (82.61

  3.26

  (3.49)

  25. Barnsley

  85.91

  (83.38)

  2.88

  (2.86)

  26. Kent

  85.84

  (84.87)

  4.61

  (3.79)

  27. Wirral

  85.73

  ( — )

  2.59

  ( — )

  28. Solihull

  85.59

  (85.31)

  1.93

  (2.49)

  29. Walsall

  85.50

  (85.72)

  3.40

  (3.37)

  30. Somerset

  85.48

  (82.91)

  2.69

  (3.58)

  31. Calderdale

  85.46

  (81.86)

  2.39

  (4.84)

  32. Lincolnshire

  85.46

  (85.13)

  2.21

  (2.68)

  33. Rotherham

  85.43

  (86.13)

  3.76

  (3.74)

  34. Cumbria

  85.41

  (82.53)

  3.02

  (4.04)

  35. East Sussex

  85.37

  (84.09)

  2.20

  (2.42)

  36. Bury

  85.31

  (81.92)

  2.00

  (4.70)

  37. Barking

  85.20

  (87.01)

  3.27

  (3.34)

  38. Dorset

  85.16

  (81.85)

  3.72

  (4.71)

  39. Sutton

  85.15

  (83.44)

  3.84

  (4.05)

  40. Havering

  85.09

  (83.87)

  1.93

  (2.28)

  41. Essex

  85.08

  (84.03)

  3.52

  (4.11)

  see Footnote 2

  42. Kirklees

  84.96

  (83.38)

  3.65

  (3.98)

  43. Bromley

  84.88

  (80.70)

  5.70

  (4.49)

  44. Westminster

  84.88

  (77.96)

  5.59

  (8.20)

  45. Merton

  84.86

  (79.79)

  3.33

  (7.86)

  46. Staffordshire

  84.84

  (84.61)

  4.10

  (4.51)

  47. Enfield

  84.68

  (81.50)

  3.69

  (5.56)

  48. Oxfordshire

  84.68

  (81.37)

  2.85

  (5.46)

  49. Surrey

  84.61

  (85.57)

  4.85

  (6.17)

  50. Humberside

  84.60

  (81.71)

  3.01

  (3.57)

  51. North Tyneside

  84.55

  (82.30)

  3.99

  (5.03)

  52. St. Helens

  84.53

  (83.27)

  3.65

  (3.69)

  53. Gloucestershire

  84.47

  (86.78)

  3.37

  (3.65)

  54. Dudley

  84.47

  (83.98)

  3.64

  (3.62)

  55. Norfolk

  84.37

  (83.62)

  3.35

  (4.05)

  56. Kingston

  84.35

  (78.46)

  4.11

  (7.09)

  57. Wakefield

  84.28

  (82.87)

  1.49

  (2.98)

  58. Leicestershire

  84.28

  ( — )

  2.89

  ( — )

  59. North Yorkshire

  84.16

  (82.62)

  2.37

  (4.15)

  60. Doncaster

  84.00

  (85.45)

  2.29

  (2.29)

  61. Hereford and Worcester

  83.99

  ( — )

  3.l8

  ( — )

  62. Derbyshire

  83.97

  (83.37)

  3.04

  (2.96)

  63. Nottinghamshire

  82.96

  (82.72)

  3.41

  (5.24)

  64. Cornwall

  83.95

  (83.57)

  3.52

  (3.72)

  65. Trafford

  83.94

  (84.38)

  3.68

  (3.49)

  66. Gateshead

  83.92

  (83.29)

  2.99

  (3.01)

  67. Hillingdon

  83.91

  ( — )

  6.17

  ( — )

  68. Tameside

  83.80

  (84.40)

  2.16

  (2.47)

  69. Haringey

  83.77

  (79.36)

  4.78

  (6.04)

  70. Isle of Wight

  83.75

  (82.48)

  1.92

  (4.68)

  71. Barnet

  83.68

  (84.36)

  4.96

  (5.07)

  72. Brent

  83.51

  (83.63)

  4.26

  (4.82)

  73. Birmingham

  83.41

  (83.04)

  3.85

  (4.36)

  74. Cleveland

  83.37

  (83.63)

  4.64

  (5.56)

  75. Bedfordshire

  83.29

  (84.02)

  3.66

  (3.91)

  76. Wiltshire

  83.26

  (82.35)

  3.18

  (3.92)

  77. Hounslow

  83.26

  (81.59)

  4.46

  (5.19)

  78. Knowlsey

  83.24

  (81.91)

  4.99

  (5.07)

  79. Isles of Scilly

  83.17

  ( — )

  6.41

  ( — )

  80. Oldham

  83.14

  (81.64)

  4.53

  (4.98)

  81. Redbridge

  83.13

  (82.71)

  5.10

  (4.91)

  82. Wigan

  83.03

  (83.28)

  4.18

  (3.70)

  83. Ealing

  82.92

  (81.66)

  5.86

  (6.33)

  84. Liverpool

  82.92

  (84.91)

  4.65

  (4.07)

  85. Avon

  82.78

  (82.30)

  3.87

  (3.40)

  86. Coventry

  82.76

  (80.93)

  4.37

  (6.00)

  87. Sandwell

  82.74

  (83.24)

  4.51

  (3.75)

  88. Lancashire

  82.74

  (82.66)

  3.46

  (3.65)

  89. Richmond

  82.58

  (79.98)

  4.82

  (6.91)

  90. Harrow

  82.45

  (81.52)

  5.05

  (5.76)

  91. Newcastle

  82.38

  (79.76)

  5.09

  (6.12)

  308 309

  (1)

  (2)

  (3)

  Local education authority

  PSB delegated to schools

  Central administration as proportion of PSB

  1991–92 (per cent.)

  (1990–91) (per cent)

  1991–92(per cent.)

  (1990–91) (Per cent)

  92. Durham

  82.16

  (83.13)

  4.79

  (4.35)

  93. Wolverhampton

  81.55

  (81.77)

  5.33

  (5.26)

  94. Bexley

  81.32

  (81.33)

  5.06

  (4.61)

  95. Croydon

  81.00

  ( — )

  4.15

  ( — )

  96. Waltham Forest

  80.22

  (79.65)

  6.60

  (7.02)

  97. Newham

  79.46

  ( — )

  5.94

  ( — )

  National Averages

  84.89

  (83.76)

  3.44

  (4.06)

  Footnotes to table showing the extent of delegation

  1. Ninety seven local education authorities (LEAs) had LMS schemes in operation in 1991–92, and were required to publish budget statements under section 42 of the Education Reform Act. The LEAs are ranked according to the percentage of funds delegated to schools, with those delegating more at the top of the ranking order. Schemes for the 12 inner London LEAs other than Westminster did not come into operation until 1 April 1992.

  2. The potential schools budget (PSB) consists of the major part of the general schools budget (GSB)— ie the GSB less expenditure on certain excepted items: capital expenditure; expenditure supported by central government grants; and expenditure on school meals, home to school transport and transitional exceptions (eg grounds maintenance). The amount which the schools themselves decide how to spend, as a proportion of the PSB, is a percentage used as an indicator of the extent to which LEAs have delegated resources to their schools. A new requirement from 1993 (1995 for inner London authorities) is that this percentage should be a minimum of 85 per cent. The percentage for the previous year 1990–91 is given in brackets. Where a figure is not given in brackets the LMS scheme was not in operation during that year.

  3. Expenditure on central administration — one of the discretionary exceptions included in the PSB — expressed as a percentage of the PSB. The previous yearCEs percentage is given in brackets.

  NB The percentages stated may differ from the percentages calculated by individual LEAs because of the effects of rounding.

  School Places
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what powers an education authority has to prevent the governing body of a school increasing the number of places at that school above the standard number set by the education authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Under the Education Reform Act 1988, schools now have to plan to admit to at least a number which reflects the capacity of the school—the standard number. Where the LEA controls admissions, a school governing body may propose that the admissions limit be raised beyond the standard number. If the proposal is rejected by the LEA, the governing body may apply to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for an increase in the school's standard number.

  Advertising
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answer of 2 June,Official Report, column 446, if he will make a statement on the reasons for his Department's spending on advertising and promotion being expected to fall between 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  Mr. Forman
  Expenditure in 1991–92 includes spending on the teacher recruitment campaign and the parents charter. The reduction in 1992–93 is because there will not be a teacher recruitment campaign this year and there are no plans at present further to publicise the parents charter.

EMPLOYMENT

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many partnerships have been established between the training and enterprise councils and the careers services.
  310
  Mr. McLoughlin
  Pump priming funding has been made available enabling the establishment in 1992–93 of 56 careers service partnerships between training and enterprise councils and local education authorities.

  Health and Safety Inspectors
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many health and safety inspectors were employed in the northern region in each year since 1987.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) field inspectors are based in a network of area offices, with the exception of mines inspectors who are organised by districts. The available information for the 1 April each year is given in the following tables:

  Inspectors based in the Health and Safety Executive's north east area Office

  Year

  Number

  1987

  35

  1988

  28.5

  1989

  28.5

  1990

  34.5

  1991

  38

  1992

  37.5

  Notes:

  1. Figures include factory and agricultural inspectors for all years.

  2. 1990, 1991 and 1992 figures include field-based quarries inspectors who transferred to the factory and agricultural division in October 1989.

  3. 1991 and 1992 figures include field-based railway inspectors following the transfer of the railway inspectorate from the Department of Transport in December 1990.

  311

  Inspectors based at Health and Safety Executive's mines district offices

  District

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Scottish and

  7

  10

  10

  2

  2

  2

  North Eastern

  6

  10

  10

  2

  2

  2

  Notes:

  1. Pre 1990 figures are for mines and quarries inspectors. Figures for 1990, 1991 and 1992 are for mines inspectors only, following the transfer of the quarries inspectorate to the factory and agricultural division in October 1989.

  2. The table shows that the Scottish and North Eastern district offices amalgamated in 1988. District boundaries were also changed.

  3. The figure given for 1992 are for mines inspectors based at the Health and Safety Executive's north east area office.

  Electrical Equipment Certification Service
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans her Department has for the future status and role of the electrical equipment certification service with the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  There are at present no plans to change the existing role and status of the electrical equipment certification service. However, the Health and Safety Executive recently commissioned consultants to review the role and status of the service. The executive is currently consulting staff and other interested parties before considering whether to make any recommendation to the Health and Safety Commission and Ministers, in the light of the conclusions of the consultants, concerning the service's future role and status.

WALES

  Local Government
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the statutory responsibilities currently placed on local authorities in Wales(a) at district council level and (b) at county council level;

  (2) if he will list the non-statutory and permissive powers available to local authorities in Wales (a) at district council level and (b) at county council level.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

  Pembrey Country Park
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what financial assistance his Department or the Welsh Development Agency have provided to Llanelli borough council for the purpose of transforming the land of the former Royal Ordnance factory, Pembrey, Llanelli, into the Pembrey country park.

  Mr. David Hunt
  My Department made no direct contribution; but the Welsh Development Agency provided some £750,000 to Llanelli borough council under the derelict land programme for the reclamation of the former Royal Ordnance factory site at Pembrey.

  Cancer
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the average cancer mortality rates in each of the past 10 years.
  312
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information given in the following table to death rates per million population from malignant cancer (ICD140-208):

  Cancer Death Rate per Million Population1

  Year

  Males

  Females

  Persons

  1981

  2,850.5

  2,401.8

  2,619.5

  1982

  2,882.8

  2,459.2

  2,664.4

  1983

  2,978.3

  2,495.0

  2,729.2

  1984

  3,066.9

  2,588.9

  2,820.6

  1985

  3,094.0

  2,706.8

  2,894.6

  1986

  3,170.0

  2,609.0

  2,881.3

  1987

  3,147.9

  2,684.4

  2,909.5

  1988

  3,189.4

  2,810.5

  2,994.4

  1989

  3,197.0

  2,769.0

  2,976.6

  1990

  3,199.5

  2,673.8

  2,928.7

  1 Death rates unadjusted for changes in the age-sex structure of the population.

  Dredging
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy for the material dredged from south Wales ports and their fairways to be used in place of the sand and gravel dredged off the south Wales coast for use in the building industry, instead of being dumped at sea.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The majority of material dredged from harbours and ports is not suitable for use in the building industry and it would not, therefore be appropriate for Government policy to require it to be used in place of sand and gravel dredged off the coast.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy for the material dredged from south Wales's ports and fairways to be used for combating coastal erosion on certain beaches and mudflats.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, issues licences under the Food and Environment Act 1985 for the disposal of dredged material at sea around the Welsh and English coastlines. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given today by my right hon. Friend, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. For my part, I am encouraging bodies with coastal defence responsibilities to liaise with port authorities to see whether acceptable arrangements can be made to use such dredged material for combating coastal erosion.

  Water Rates
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing average water rates in Wales in each year since 1979 in cash and constant prices.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The most comprehensive information on water prices historically, including those in Wales, is contained in the Water Services Association's publication, "Water Facts", copies of which are available for inspection in the Library of the House.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Roger Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications have been submitted by health service units in Wales to become NHS trusts in April 1993; and if he will make a statement.
  313
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To date, formal applications have been received from 13 health service units seeking NHS trust status in 1993. In addition, a proposal to establish the South and East Wales Ambulance NHS Trust will be made formally within the next few days.

  Details on the applications, together with the date of commencement of three months public consultation are for each health authority:

  12 June 1992

  CLWYD

  Acute Unit North (Ysbyty Glan Clwyd)

  Acute Unit South (Wrexham Maelor hospital, Wrexham)

  Community and mental health unit

  GWENT

  South Gwent acute unit (Royal Gwent hospital, Newport)

  WEST GLAMORGAN

  West unit (Singleton hospital, Swansea)

  19 June 1992

  EAST DYFED

  Carmarthen/Dinefwr health unit

  (West Wales general hospital, Carmarthen)

  Ceredigion health unit

  (Bronglais hospital, Aberystwyth)

  Llanelli/Dinefwr health unit

  (Prince Philip hospital, Llanelli)

  MID GLAMORGAN

  Ogwr health unit

  (Princess of Wales hospital. Bridgend)

  WEST GLAMORGAN

  East Unit (Neath and Port Talbot hospitals)

  26 June 1992

  SOUTH GLAMORGAN

  Llandough health unit (Llandough hospital)

  POWYS

  Powys health unit

  GWENT

  Community and mental health unit

  Gwent, Powys and South Glamorgan ambulance services

  No views have been reached on any of the applications. The purpose of the consultative exercise is to provide the fullest opportunity for local people and community interests, including staff at the hospitals and services concerned, to put forward their views on the specific proposals contained in the applications. Copies of the applications will be placed in the Library of the House in accordance with the consultative timetable.

  I expect decisions on the application to be announced in the autumn. The outcome will reflect the representations received, taken alongside the individual merits of the applications themselves. Ministers are already on record with their commitment that no application will be approved unless they are personally convinced of the benefits to patients which will be derived from NHS trust status. This remains the position.

SCOTLAND

  Saw-billed Ducks
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what licences to control the numbers of saw-billed ducks have been issued in Scotland this year; and for what reasons.
  314
  Sir Hector Monro
  Thirty four licences have been issued this year for the purpose of preventing serious damage to fisheries.

PRIME MINISTER

  Ministerial Advisers
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 8 June,Official Report, column 10, to which Minister each adviser is attached.

  The Prime Minister
  The information is as follows:

  Name

  Minister(s) served

  K. Adams

  Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  E. Bickham

  Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

  T. Burke

  Secretary of State for the Environment

  J. Caine

  Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

  D. W. D. Cameron

  Financial Secretary

  Dr. E. Cottrell

  Secretary of State for Employment

  Sir P. Cradock

  Prime Minister

  M. Fraser

  Minister of State for Overseas Development

  Sir C. Foster

  Secretary of State for Transport

  C. M. Grantham

  Secretary of State for Education

  J. Gray

  Jointly to the Ministers for

  Local Government and Inner Cities;

  Environment and Countryside; and

  Housing and Planning

  D. Green

  Prime Minister

  Ms. S. Hole

  Chief Whip

  Mrs. S. Hogg

  Prime Minister

  C. Hopson

  Secretary of State for National Heritage

  A. Kemp

  President of the Board of Trade

  Mrs. T. Keswick

  Home Secretary

  Mrs. E. Laing

  Secretary of State for Transport

  G. Mackay

  Secretary of State for Scotland

  R. Marsh

  Secretary of State for Health

  J. Mayhew

  Secretary of State for Social Security

  M. McManus

  Secretary of State for Wales

  P. J. E. Miller

  Secretary of State for Defence

  D. Poole

  Prime Minister

  Mrs. K. Ramsey

  Prime Minister

  Dr. W. Robinson

  Chancellor of the Exchequer

  P. Rock

  Secretary of State for the Environment

  A. Rosling

  Prime Minister

  D. Ruffley

  Jointly to the three Ministers of State and the Under Secretary of State in the Home Office

  I. Stewart

  Lord President

  Lady Strathnaver

  President of the Board of Trade

  N. True

  Prime Minister

  I. R. Wilton

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  A. Young

  Secretary of State for Scotland

  Notes:

  Mr. J. Bercow was included in error in the answer for 8 June. He has not been appointed as a special adviser in this Parliament.

  Mr. Gray has since been appointed as a special adviser.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for disability living allowance have been made by people covered by the Seaham and Peterlee DSS offices; how many have been(a) allowed and (b) disallowed; and how many are yet to be determined.

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

  Tax
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the cost to public funds of merging the social security and tax systems; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  There are many different options for merging the social security and tax systems; for example through a basic income guarantee, tax/credits and negative income tax schemes.

  We have made no assessment of the cost of detailed options, but it is clear that such schemes could be very expensive. For example, a basic income guarantee around the level of retirement pension, could easily cost in the region of £200 billion per annum and yet still be unlikely to eliminate all need for income-related benefits.

  Occupational Pension Funds
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what requirement there is on occupational pension funds to include pensioners of such funds on the board of trustees; and in what proportion.

  Miss Widdecombe
  There is no requirement in trust law that occupational pension schemes include pensioners on the board of trustees. The trust deed or scheme rules lays down who is eligible to be a trustee. The Occupational Pension Board considered the inclusion of pensioners in their 1989 report, "Protecting Pensions". They concluded that although this would be desirable, the statutory requirement of a pensioner from a scheme would not provide the most simple or effective means of ensuring that the interests of pensioners are considered.

  The committee to review pension law, announced on 8 June, includes in its terms of reference the consideration of the role of trustees and will be taking into account the rights and interests of pensioners, as well as scheme members and employers.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the latest information available on the number of people in occupational pension schemes whose pensions are threatened because the assets of these schemes are not able to meet the pension payments and future commitments; how many schemes are involved; and what examination has been made of how far problems have arisen because of ineffective management, improper management or some other reason.

  Miss Widdecombe
  There are more than 17 million current members and pensioners of occupational pension schemes. We are satisfied that the vast majority of pensioners belong to schemes which are properly and securely operated. We are currently in close touch with the trustees of Maxwell pension schemes. At present, 240 Maxwell pensioners have not received payments for May and June, and a further 4,000 may face a reduction in their pensions in July. As part of an investigation of Maxwell companies, the Serious Fraud Office is looking into the reasons for the shortfall in their pension funds. However, it is too early to say exactly what happened.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients of attendance allowance there are from the Seaham and Peterlee offices at the present time and for the years since 1988–89.
  316
  Mr. Scott
  I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that information is not held about the number of such recipients for the years since 1988–89. Information about the number of current recipients is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners are receiving the state pension from the Seaham and Peterlee offices at the present time and in the years from 1988–89.

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

  Community Care
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what account will be taken of the incidence of rural areas in transfer of DSS funds to local authorities under community care proposals;

  (2) what account will be taken of levels of poverty in transfer of DSS funds to local authorities under community care proposals;

  (3) what account will be taken of the proportionately larger long-term hospital population in Scotland in transfer of DSS funds to local authorities under the Government's community care proposals;

  (4) whether, under the Government's community care proposals, the transfer of DSS funds to English, Welsh and Scottish local authorities will be arranged under the Barnett formula.

  Mr. Burt
  The funds which are to be transferred to the Department of Health for distribution to local authorities for community care purposes are those which the Department would otherwise have expended from April 1993 on the higher levels of social security entitlement for people newly entering residential care and nursing homes.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when higher education students were entitled to receive housing benefit; and what was the maximum weekly rent for 37 weeks within one year, that a student receiving full grant and claiming the full student loan but with no additional income needed to pay before starting to receive housing benefit.

  Mr. Burt
  Before 1 September 1990 housing benefit was available on a limited basis to full-time higher education students provided they did not pay rent to their educational establishment. Full-time students have not generally been entitled to claim housing benefit since that date, although partners of students and students in vulnerable groups have retained eligibility.

  A student under age 25 in receipt of the standard maintenance grant and able to claim benefit in April 1990, may have received some help through housing benefits in respect of rent above a level of around £28.30 a week in London, and £17.80 a week outside London. Student loans were not available before 1 September 1990.

  Students (Income)
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the difference in guaranteed income per week between(a) non-final year student, under the age of 25 years receiving full grant and claiming full student loan but with no additional income and (b) a similarly aged unemployed person claiming income support and housing benefit and paying an annual rent of £1,480; and what would be the difference in the case of a person aged 25 years.

  Mr. Burt
  It is not possible to make the comparisons requested. The level of income support and housing benefit payable to a person satisfying the qualifying conditions for receipt of these benefits will vary according to the circumstances of the case.

DEFENCE

  Nuclear Weapons (Transport)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make public the conclusions of the recent review of nuclear weapon safety carried out by his Department's scientists, with particular reference to accidents involving nuclear weapons road convoys;

  (2) if he will publish the conclusions of the review carried out by his Department's scientists into the safety of nuclear warheads in the wake of the US Drell report.

  Mr. Aitken
  Yes, a statement of the review's conclusions will be made public at the appropriate time.

  Weapon Sales
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the items of information that are intended to be included in the United Kingdom's contribution to the United Nations register of weapons sales; and if he will make a statement describing public access to the register.

  Mr. Aitken
  The United Nations register of conventional arms transfers requires all participant states to record their imports and exports each year of tanks, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, armoured combat vehicles, large calibre artillery, missiles and missile systems. The register came into effect in January 1992. The United Nations has not yet decided how the register will be published but a copy of the British contribution will be placed in the Library of the House in the early part of next year.

  RAF Aircraft
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by aircraft type, the number of aircraft in the Royal Air Force that are currently surplus to requirements and their value.

  Mr. Aitken
  The following aircraft have been declared to the Ministry of Defence disposal sales organisation as being surplus to RAF requirements, and are currently awaiting disposal.

  Fixed-wing aircraft

  Number

  Andover C1

  1

  Buccaneer S2B

  4

  Buccaneer S2A

  2

  318

  Fixed-wing aircraft

  Number

  Canberra TT18

  1

  Canberra B2

  1

  Gnat T1

  1

  Jet Provost T Mk 3A

  3

  Jet Provost T3

  2

  Jet Provost T4

  6

  Jet Provost T Mk 5A

  11

  Jaguar GR1

  4

  Jaguar T2

  1

  Lightning F3

  1

  Meteor NF(T)14

  2

  Meteor T7

  1

  Meteor F8

  1

  Phantom FGR2

  10

  Sea Harrier FRS1

  1

  Vampire T11

  1

  Venture Glider

  3

  Helicopters

  Lynx WG13

  1

  Scout AH1

  1

  Wasp HAS1

  1

  The condition of the aircraft varies from scrap hulks to complete aircraft.

  Sales of surplus equipment are conducted on a competitive basis to maximise receipts. Information concerning prices achieved or anticipated is commercially confidential and cannot be released.

  Exercise Allegiance Exchange
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by(a) aircraft type and (b) participating country, the number of estimated hours of low flying that will take place during the NATO exercise Allegiance Exchange.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The aircraft type, participating country and hours flown at low level during the NATO exercise Allegiance Exchange/Ardent Ground, which ended on 6 June 1992, were as follows:

  Aircraft type

  Country

  Number of hours flown at low level

  A-10

  USA

  22

  Alpha-Jet

  Germany

  72

  F 16

  Belgium

  28

  F 16

  Netherlands

  26

  G 91

  Italy

  76

  Jaguar

  United Kingdom

  16

  Tornado F3

  United Kingdom

  15

  Model Tanks (Theft)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement in respect of the theft of two model Army tanks from a training area at Llanbister, near Llandrindod Wells, Powys; and what was their total value.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  During the period 11 to 22 May 1992, 88 inflatable tanks were deployed in mid-Wales to add realism to exercises involving units of the Royal Air Force, the United States Air Force and the Royal Netherlands Air Force. Of these three were not recovered from locations at Tregaron, Llanidloes and Crossgates, and are presumed to have been stolen. Local civil police are investigating. The total replacement value of the three items is £26,682.

  Drugs Theft
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how potentially fatal drugs used to combat the effects of chemical and biological weapons, stolen from the home of an airman at Carterton near RAF Brize Norton, came to be on the airman's property.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The stolen items were issued to all personnel who went to the Gulf during the Gulf conflict and were retained by the individual concerned as a training aid in support of his normal duties as an instructor.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the military jet aircraft that overflew the village of Clayton, South Yorkshire at approximately 15.15 hours on 26 May at below permitted height.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We have no reason to believe any aircraft were flying below the permitted height of 1,000 ft at the time but if the hon. Member would care to write to my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence with further details he will consider them.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. Archie Hamilton
  The Ministry of Defence is aware of its responsibilities under the Data Protection Act 1984 and will ensure that it continues to consult the Data Protection Registrar where necessary.

  ROF Pembrey
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what action was taken by his Department to ensure that the land of the former royal ordnance factory at Pembrey, Llanelli, was before it was sold, free from any contamination caused by the production and testing of explosives and caused by the disposal of unused explosives;

  (2) what restrictions were placed by his Department upon the purchaser of the land of the former royal ordnance factory at Pembrey, Llanelli. regarding the use or the further disposal of that land;

  (3) when he disposed of the land and buildings of the former royal ordnance factory of Pembrey, Llanelli; and to whom;

  (4) when the manufacture and production of explosives and all other related activities ceased at the former royal ordnance factory at Pembrey, Llanelli;

  (5) when his Department was consulted by Llanelli borough council as to the procedures to be adopted for the removal of any contamination from the land of the former royal ordnance factory, Pembrey, Llanelli.

  Mr. Aitken
  The production of explosives at the Royal Ordnance factory at Pembrey ceased upon its closure towards the end of 1964. On 10 June 1965, 96.682 acres of 320
  freehold land there were sold to Westcol Construction. In the same year a further 516.5 acres of leasehold land reverted to the lessors, the Forestry Commission. We have no record that any restrictions were placed on the purchaser regarding the use of future disposal of the land. Due to the considerable lapse in time since the disposal of this site, we no longer have detailed records of the extent of clearance and decontamination work which was carried out on the land prior to its sale. However, our records indicate that action was taken, and that responsibility for clearance of the freehold site passed to Westcol Construction upon sale, in line with our normal policy. Following the site's sale, clearance of unexploded ordnance was carried out on two occasions: the first in 1977, the second in the period 1983–85, on each occasion following written approaches from the Llanelli borough council. We have no record of any approach from the council regarding procedures to be adopted for the removal of any chemical contamination. Responsibility for the land now rests with Llanelli borough council which I understand, has recently commissioned a contamination survey to be carried out on the site.

  RAF Contracts
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the numbers of companies which now hold contracts for engineering, mechanical and communications work in the Royal Air Force and of those the number which have made significant training provision to ensure that adequate levels of skill will continue to be available.

  Mr. Aitken
  There are currently in excess of 3,000 companies holding contracts for work in aid of the Royal Air Force, a high proportion of which companies are likely to be involved in engineering, mechanical and communications work. To isolate these would not be possible without disproportionate cost and effort. All companies are required to possess and to have demonstrated adequate levels of skills for the work in question before my Department is prepared to place contracts with them. The training provisions necessary are a matter for the companies concerned.

  Naval Support Command
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce his decision on the location of the Naval Support Command.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We expect the new Naval Support Command to be located in the Bath area. A final decision should be announced before the end of the year.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Dolphins
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to support a ban on deliberate dolphin encirclement by EC nationals and within EC waters.

  Mr. Curry
  The deliberate encirclement of dolphins in order to catch the yellow fin tuna with which they shoal is a practice carried out by purse-seine fishermen in the eastern tropical Pacific. This method is not used by the
  321
  United Kingdom fleet or, as far as is known, by the fleets of other member states, none of which fish for yellow fin tuna in that area.

  Milk Products
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will detail the difference between MAFF News release 177/92, "Imports of Milk and Milk Products by the Milk Marketing Boards", and 177/92 (amended version) both issued on 29 May 1992; and how many copies of each were issued.

  Mr. Curry
  MAFF news release 177/92 of 29 May 1992 stated in Notes to Editors that"regulations have been issued for consultation"
  etc. In MAFF news release 177/92 (amended version) of 29 May 1992 this phrase was replaced by
  "regulations will be issued for consultation".
  The first version was based on an early draft and issued inadvertently.

  In order to ensure that the correct position was widely understood the amended version was issued to the same list of recipients. This list consisted of 335 addressees on the MAFF press office specialist "milk" list and 337 addresses on the Maff press office general list. Both versions were also transmitted electronically to 200 media outlets.

  Sea Mammals
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to review the system to monitor incidental catches of cetaceans and other mammal wildlife in United Kingdom fishing nets.

  Mr. Curry
  We are keeping the system under review.

  Caseous Lymphadenitis
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if caseous lymphadenitis of sheep and goats is a notifiable disease; and what is the number of cases recorded in the most recent year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Soames
  Since caseous lymphadenitis is not a notifiable disease, comprehensive data are not maintained.

  The disease was confirmed in six goat herds in 1990 and eight sheep flocks in 1991. Movement controls were applied on 28 March 1990 to the goat herds and in June and July 1991 to the sheep flocks under the Movement of Animals (Restrictions) Order 1990. Policy on caseous lymphadenitis was subsequently reviewed and in September 1991 all restrictions were lifted.

  Swine Influenza
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 21 May,Official Report, column 254, whether he intends to make swine influenza a notifiable disease.

  Mr. Soames
  I have no plans to do so.

  Fraud
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect the reforms of the common agricultural policy will have on the level of criminal fraud in the EC agricultural sector.
  322
  Mr. Curry
  CAP reform will significantly reduce expenditure on export refunds and intervention and which will reduce the scope for fraud in these areas. The reform package will, however, introduce new measures. We will need to examine all the legislative proposals carefully to ensure that they contain control measures to minimise the risk of fraud. The United Kingdom will continue to keep up the pressure for action to reduce fraud in the EC agricultural sector.

  Peak National Park
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what contact he has had with the Peak national park or local farmers and moorland owners following the recent fires which have destroyed hundreds of acres of environmentally sensitive areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  My officials have been in discussion with the owners and tenants to assess the effects of the fires on land under management agreements in the North Peak ESA.

  Dredging
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy for the material dredged from ports and fairways in England to be used for combating coastal erosion on certain beaches and mudflats.

  Mr. Curry
  It is already the Government's policy to encourage such use wherever practicable.

  MacSharry Proposals
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the increase in staff required in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) the European Commission to implement and monitor the MacSharry proposals.

  Mr. Curry
  The staff numbers required to implement the CAP reform measures will depend on the precise terms of the detailed EC regulations which have yet to be agreed.

  Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 18 May,Official Report, column 26, if he will state (a) the numbers of mice, marmosets, goats, cattle, sheep and pigs that were infected, (b) the number that developed spongiform encephalopathy subsequently, (c) the ages of the animals at infection, (d) the ages of the animals at death, (e) the source of the infection material and its likely infective potency and (f) the mode of infection.

  Mr. Soames
  I shall write to the hon. Member shortly.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  School Playing Fields
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much of the Sports Council's grant aid has been earmarked for the purposes of identifying and listing the current stock of school playing fields.
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  Mr. Key
  The Sports Council's grant-in-aid for 1991–92 included a specific sum of £0.5 million to cover the cost of preparing a national register of all playing fields in England, including schools.

HEALTH

  Dentistry
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of dental practices in the constituency of Crewe and Nantwich accepting all patients under the NHS.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested is not available. A survey in September 1991 of a 20 per cent. sample of dentists on Cheshire family health services authority's dental list suggested that some 87 per cent. of dentists were accepting all NHS patients and 92 per cent. were accepting particular groups of NHS patients.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dental practices in the constituency of Crewe and Nantwich were treating NHS patients only in the years(a) 1985–86, (b) 1990–91 and (c) 1992–93.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested is not available. Dentists are free to practise privately and are not required to inform any authority about the number of their private patients.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give the number, total income generated and average cost of revenue generating courses of dental treatment(a) nationally and (b) in each National Health Service region for the years 1988 to 1991.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested is not available on a regional basis.

  The table shows for England the number of courses of adult dental treatment which generated charge revenue, the charge revenue obtained and the average cost per course of adult treatment for the years 1988–89 and 1989–90. This information is not available for 1990–91 or 1991–92.

  Number of courses

  Charge revenue

  Average cost per course of adult treatment

  1988–89

  20,410,940

  £295,991,730

  £28.74

  1989–90

  19,033,840

  £369,811,560

  £30.49

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dental practices there are in the constituency of Crewe and Nantwich.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information is not collected in the form requested. There are currently 350 dentists on Cheshire family health services authority's dental list.

  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of dentists received a gross income of over £140,000 in 1991–92.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Some 10 per cent. of dentists in England and Wales received a gross NHS income of over £140,000 in 1991–92.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists have left the NHS since the introduction of the new dental contract.
  324
  Dr. Mawhinney
  Since the introduction of the new dental contract in October 1990, there has been a net increase of 52 dentists practising in the general dental services in England. At 31 March 1992 there were 15,532 dentists, 29 per cent. more than in 1979.

  Residential Care
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to set up a forum of organisations with an interest in residential care.

  Mr. Yeo
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Lewisham, East (Ms. Prentice) on 5 June at column 670.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to develop a post-qualifying award geared to residential care.

  Mr. Yeo
  Responsibility for promoting training in social work lies with the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work (CCETSW). CCETSW is currently developing a post-qualifying framework for social work staff, with funding from the Department, and from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Within the framework, CCETSW will offer post-qualifying and advanced awards to social workers, including residential social workers, who meet the required standards.

  We shall be considering the qualification and training needs of staff working in residential care, in consultation with CCETSW, as part of our response to Sir William Utting's report, "Children in Public Care" published last year and to the recently published report of the residential staffs inquiry chaired by Lady Howe.

  Continuing Care Beds
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received on the provision of continuing care beds within the national health service.

  Mr. Yeo
  The issue has been raised in a number of parliamentary questions, in letters from hon. Members and members of the public, and in correspondence and discussion with several organisations concerned with the care of elderly people.

  Plymouth Community Services Trust
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she intends to take following the resignation of the director of finance and dismissal of the chief executive of the Plymouth community services trust after six weeks of operation.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  It is not necessary for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to take any action. The appointment of the executive directors is the responsibility of the trust board.

  NHS Trusts (Pensions)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what safeguards are in place to protect the pensions of NHS staff employed by NHS trusts; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Membership of the NHS pension scheme is open to all NHS staff, including those employed
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  by NHS trusts. Pensions paid by the scheme, which is notionally funded, are guaranteed under statutory provisions.

  Cancer
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the average cancer mortality rates in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Sackville
  The figures are as follows:

  Age-standardised death rates per million population from malignant cancer (LCD's 140-208) by sex, 1981 to 1990, England and Wales.

  Year

  Males All ages

  Females All ages

  1981

  2,863

  2,393

  1982

  2,861

  2,414

  1983

  2,934

  2,436

  1984

  3,008

  2,563

  1985

  3,020

  2,592

  1986

  2,895

  2,524

  1987

  2,871

  2,541

  1988

  2,879

  2,554

  1989

  2,840

  2,570

  1990

  2,827

  2,527

  Note: For 1986 onwards the death rates exclude deaths under 28 days.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Land Tenure
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the method of land tenure of each dependent territory.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The methods of land tenure in all the United Kingdom's Dependent Territories with a resident population, apart from the St. Helena dependencies of Ascension Islands and Tristan da Cunha, are freehold, leasehold and Crown land. No formal system of land tenure exists in Tristan da Cunha and all land belongs to the Crown. Occupation and use of land depends on local custom and practice. Ascension Island has Crown land only.

  Yasin Gulamnbi Ravat
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the British High Commission in Bombay will issue a visit visa to Yasin Gulamnbi Ravat, whose date of birth is 1 June 1968, to enter the United Kingdom as a professional cricketer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  In the absence of any information about this case, I have asked the deputy high commission in Bombay for a full report. I shall arrange for the hon. Member to receive a substantive reply from the migration and visa correspondence unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as soon as possible.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek support for a United Nations intervention if the Serbian Government continue with their arms build-up threatening Kosovo; and if he will support the principle of self-determination of the people of Kosovo.
  326
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  A recent CSCE mission found no evidence of increased military tension in Kosovo. We are committed to the ten principles of the Helsinki Final Act, including those of equal rights and self determination of peoples, and we condemn the Serbian Government's oppression in Kosovo. This problem, and others in the former Yugoslavia are being addressed not in the United Nations but in Lord Carrington's conference. We fully support Lord Carrington's efforts. All parties must negotiate in his conference in good faith.

  Kuwait
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures are being undertaken by Her Majesty's Government to persuade the Kuwaiti Government to speed up the democratisation of Kuwait.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  During his visit to Kuwait on 15 and 16 May my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs discussed with the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister, Sheikh Salem, the elections due in October. Preparations are well in hand, and we wish them well.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what emergency evacuation plans exist for Kowloon, the New Territories and the inhabited islands of the Crown territories of Hong Kong in the event of a major breach of container accident at the proposed Daya bay nuclear plant in Guangdong; what practice exercises have been carried out for the emergency plans; and what insurance provisions exist for property and land owners in Hong Kong against any loss posed by such radioactive release.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Hong Kong has a full contingency plan in case of an accident at the Daya bay plant. The only inhabited area within 20 kilometers of the plant is Ping Chau island. In accordance with general international practice, Hong Kong is therefore planning for the possible evacuation only of this island and surrounding waters. The contingency plan was thoroughly tested in November 1990 with IAEA observers. In the event of a radioactive release, anyone whose land or property in Hong Kong was affected would be entitled to claim compensation from the plant's operator under arrangements approved by the Chinese Government.

  Sinai
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current United Kingdom contribution to the United Nations observer force in Sinai; if he has any plans to change the level of contributions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The British contingent to the multinational force and observers (MFO) in Sinai is 32 men. We have told signatories of the 1981 protocol establishing the MFO that we aim to end our present commitment in October 1992.

  Maastricht Treaty
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the maximum period of time that could be allowed for Danish ratification of the Maastricht treaty before the need for re-negotiation arose.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Treaty of European Union does not provide for any time limit on ratification. Article R states:"This Treaty shall enter into force on 1 January 1993, provided that all the instruments of ratification have been deposited, or, failing that, on the first day of the month following the deposit of the instrument of ratification by the last signatory State to take this step."

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to seek a re-negotiation of the Maastricht treaty if the Danish Government have not been able to proceed with ratification within one year.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The conclusions issued by European Community Foreign Ministers after their meeting in Oslo on 4 June stated:"Ministers noted that all eleven member states expressed their wish to see the European Union established by all member states. They exclude any reopening of the text signed at Maastricht."

  We agreed that the door should be left open for Denmark. No time limit was set.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what circumstances he would seek a re-negotiation of the Maastricht treaty.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The conclusions issued by European Community Foreign Ministers after their meeting in Oslo on 4 June stated:"Ministers noted that all eleven member states expressed their wish to see the European Union established by all member states. They exclude any reopening of the text signed at Maastricht."

  Advertising
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 2 June,Official Report, column 358, if he will give the expenditure by his Department on press and public relations for the United Kingdom audience in each year from 1983–84 to 1992–93, budget provision.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Total expenditure by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on press and public relations for the United Kingdom audience in 1990–91, latest estimates for 1991–92 and budget provisions for 1992–93 are in £ thousands:

  United Kingdom information material and related activities

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Diplomatic wing

  377

  430

  645

  ODA wing

  380

  501

  710

  Total

  757

  931

  1,355

  Figures for the years preceding 1990–91 are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  World Summit for Children
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Government intend to publish their follow-up report to the World Summit for Children.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Kingdom's national follow-up report to the World Summit for Children will be published as a Command paper on 24 June 1992. A copy will be placed in the House of Commons Library and it will be generally available through HMSO.

  A copy of the report was sent to the UNICEF secretariat in New York at the end of February 1992; we were among the first countries to present a national report.

  Footwear Imports
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will be supporting the EC proposals for controls on footwear imports from China.

  Mr. Needham
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 2 June to the hon. Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Ms. Anderson), Official Report, column 491. As regards representations, my Department have received a large number which divide basically between United Kingdom footwear manufacturers who support the Commission's proposal and United Kingdom importers and retailers who oppose it. The Government will take into account these conflicting views when deciding their attitude to the proposal, the economic justification for which has yet to be properly explained by the Commission.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Karamjit Singh Chahal
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement as to why Karamjit Singh Chahal is held in Her Majesty's prison, Bedford; and why he is under threat of deportation.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The decision to deport Mr. Chahal was taken in August 1990 on the grounds that his deportation was conducive to the public good for reasons of national security and other reasons of a political nature, namely the international fight against terrorism. These grounds arise from Mr. Chahal's involvement in terrorism in this country and abroad. My right hon. and learned Friend recently reviewed the case and has confirmed that the deportation order should stand and that in view of the reasons for his deportation Mr. Chahal should continue to be detained pending the implementation of the order or his voluntary departure from the United Kingdom.

  Asylum Seekers
  Ms. Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers(a) were placed in detention in 1991 and (b) were in detention in each month from January to May 1992, by country of origin, by length of detention and by application at port or in country.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information is not available in the form requested, but the table shows a breakdown, as
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  at 31 May 1992, of the number of asylum seekers who had

  Political asylum applicants detained 31 May 1992

  Nationality

  1-2 months

  2-6 months

  6-12 months

  Over 12 months

  Totals

  Angola

  3

  (1)

  7

  (2)

  —

  —

  10

  (3)

  Algeria

  —

  2

  —

  1

  —

  —

  3

  —

  Bangladesh

  —

  —

  1

  (1)

  —

  1

  (1)

  Chile

  —

  1

  (1)

  —

  —

  1

  (1)

  Colombia

  2

  (1)

  1

  (1)

  1

  —

  —

  4

  (2)

  Cyprus

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Ethiopia

  1

  (1)

  —

  —

  —

  1

  (1)

  Gabon

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Ghana

  5

  (5)

  5

  (4)

  4

  (3)

  1

  (1)

  15

  (13)

  Haiti

  —

  1

  (1)

  —

  —

  1

  (1)

  India

  16

  —

  19

  (1)

  7

  (1)

  —

  42

  (2)

  Iran

  —

  3

  (3)

  —

  —

  3

  (3)

  Ivory Coast

  —

  —

  2

  (2)

  —

  2

  (2)

  Jamaica

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  Jordan

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Kenya

  1

  (1)

  —

  —

  —

  1

  (1)

  Lebanon

  5

  (5)

  —

  —

  —

  5

  (5)

  Mauritius

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Morocco

  1

  (1)

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  3

  (1)

  Namibia

  —

  1

  (1)

  —

  —

  1

  (1)

  Nigeria

  2

  (2)

  17

  (7)

  3

  (2)

  3

  (1)

  25

  (12)

  Pakistan

  3

  —

  3

  —

  1

  —

  —

  7

  —

  Peru

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Sierra Leone

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  Sri Lanka

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  2

  —

  Turkey

  6

  (1)

  3

  (1)

  1

  —

  —

  10

  (2)

  Uganda

  —

  3

  (2)

  1

  (1)

  —

  4

  (3)

  Zaire

  8

  (8)

  24

  (6)

  8

  (6)

  1

  —

  41

  (20)

  Zimbabwe

  —

  —

  1

  (1)

  —

  1

  (1)

  TOTALS

  54

  (26)

  95

  (30)

  35

  (17)

  7

  (2)

  191

  (75)

  Prisoners
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of prisoners released in each of the last 20 years from prisons in the United Kingdom has subsequently received further custodial sentences; what proportion of those starting a prison term in 1991, or the latest year for which statistics are available, had previously served a custodial sentence; and whether he will give consideration to including recidivism rates in future issues of criminal statistics.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The readily available information on further custodial sentences relates to the proportion of prisoners (excluding fine defaulters and non-criminal prisoners) released from prison service establishments in England and Wales who are committed to custody under sentence within two years of discharge. It is published annually in Prison statistics, England and Wales. Tables 9.3, 9.7 and 9.10 of the 1989 issue (Cm. 1221) provide information for those prisoners discharged in 1976–86, and tables 8.2, 8.4 and 8.6 of the 1978 issue (Cm. 7626) provide information for those prisoners discharged in 1971–75 (Cm. 7626).

  Provisional figures show that 21 per cent. of those received into prison service establishments in 1991 under an immediate custodial sentence were known to have served a previous custodial sentence. However, this represents 46 per cent. of such prisoners for whom information about previous custodial sentences was available.
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  been detained for one month or more. Figures in brackets relate to in-country applications. The remainder will have claimed asylum on arrival.

  The offenders index yields information on criminal careers; more general reconviction rates can be found in Home Office Statistical Bulletins 35/87 Criminal careers of those born in 1953: persistent offenders and desistance (tables 2, 3, 9 and 10), 32/89 Criminal and custodial careers of those born in 1953, 1958 and 1963 (tables 2, 4, 5 and 7) and 21/91 Life licensees and restricted offenders reconvictions: England and Wales 1989 (tables 1 and 2) copies of which are in the Library.

  Trespass
  Mr. Hawksley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986, to allow it to be used against trespassing on common land.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The primary purpose of section 39 is to restore to an occupier the use of land of which he has been temporarily deprived by trespassers. It is applicable to all land, other than a highway. Given its purpose, it would not be appropriate to extend sections 39 to cover common land where there is no deprived occupier.

  Review Group
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when the inter-departmental review group on the transfer of sentenced prisoners was set up; and what were its terms of reference;

  (2) when the inter-departmental review group on the transfer of sentenced prisoners is expected to conclude its report.
  331
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My noble Friend Lord Ferrers announced the review in another place on 4 June 1991. Its terms of reference were:

  (1) To consider the operation of the statutory and other provisions governing the transfer of prisoners between United Kingdom jurisdictions; to identify difficulties and relevant considerations; and to recommend possible ways in which practice might be changed or the provisions amended to overcome or minimise these difficulties.

  (2) To consider possible improvements to the procedures for agreeing and effecting transfers of prisoners between United Kingdom jurisdictions.

  (3) To consider any improvements that could be made to assist families in visiting prisoners in other United Kingdom jurisdictions.

  My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary is considering a report of the review with colleagues in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average length of time spent in police cells by remand prisoners within the Merseyside police authority area; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will list the number of remand prisoners held in police cells within the Merseyside police authority area for each of the last three years; what is the total number of transfers between police stations of such remand prisoners for each of those years; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he will list the total number of prisoners held in police cells within the Merseyside police authority area for each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Information about the length of time individual remand prisoners are held in police cells and the transfer of those prisoners between police stations is not collected centrally. Data on the number of prisoners held by the Merseyside police were available centrally only from October 1990 and the table shows the' total number of prisoners held on the last Friday of each month since then. The information does not enable remand prisoners to be distinguished from sentenced prisoners, but most would have been held on remand.

  Date

  Number of prisoners

  25 October 1990

  56

  21 November 1990

  61

  21 December 1990

  34

  25 January 1991

  53

  22 February 1991

  59

  28 March 1991

  39

  26 April 1991

  49

  31 May 1991

  36

  28 June 1991

  25

  26 July 1991

  43

  30 August 1991

  49

  27 September 1991

  79

  25 October 1991

  70

  29 November 1991

  75

  20 December 1991

  72

  31 January 1992

  74

  28 February 1992

  89

  27 March 1992

  97

  24 April 1992

  85

  29 May 1992

  63

  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received 332
  about the number of remand prisoners held in police cells; how many such prisoners are currently being held in the police cells of the Merseyside police authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I have received a number of representations about the use of police cells to hold both remand and newly sentenced prisoners in Merseyside and elsewhere. On Wednesday 10 June, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 76 prisoners in police cells in Merseyside, of whom nine were convicted and 67 unconvicted. As I have made clear on a number of occasions, I regard the resolution of this problem as a matter of priority for the Prison Service, but I have no control over the number of people remanded in or sentenced to custody.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will outline the steps he is taking to ensure that remand prisoners being held in police cells are provided with(a) adequate exercise, (b) educational facilities, (c) visiting facilities, (d) regular contact with legal representatives and (e) segregation from convicted prisoners.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The facilities available to prisoners, and the conditions under which they are held in police cell accommodation are matters for the chief officer of the force concerned. The prison service provides for each force an experienced liaison prison governor to give advice to the police on the regulations and conditions which apply in prisons so that these can be reflected in the management of prisoners in police cells.

  It is inevitable, given the size and complexity of the present operation, that facilities and conditions will vary from place to place. Police cells are not designed to hold prisoners for long periods, but I have been impressed by the efforts made by police officers to adapt practices and local conditions to suit the needs of prisoners.

  Police Numbers
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the increase in police establishment numbers and the increase in actual numbers of police officers for each county since 1979.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is given in the table, which includes combined county forces and joint metropolitan areas, as well as single shire county forces. The establishment figures include the increases approved with effect from 1 April 1992. The strength figures as between May 1979 and 31 March 1992 are:

  Increase in establishment 1979 to 1992

  Increase in strength 1979 to 1992

  Avon and Somerset

  234

  252

  Bedfordshire

  231

  193

  Cambridgeshire

  149

  179

  Cheshire

  115

  87

  Cleveland

  91

  130

  Cumbria

  99

  115

  Derbyshire

  141

  119

  Devon and Cornwall

  255

  231

  Dorset

  138

  149

  Durham

  40

  77

  Dyfed-Powys

  35

  34

  Essex

  425

  408

  Gloucestershire

  68

  93

  333

  Increase in establishment 1979 to 1992

  Increase in strength 1979 to 1992

  Greater Manchester

  342

  621

  Gwent

  35

  38

  Hampshire

  315

  256

  Hertfordshire

  151

  240

  Humberside

  95

  165

  Kent

  316

  344

  Lancashire

  111

  105

  Leicestershire

  147

  144

  Lincolnshire

  24

  21

  Merseyside

  255

  180

  Norfolk

  181

  185

  Northamptonshire

  240

  249

  Northumbria

  288

  179

  North Wales

  90

  78

  North Yorkshire

  90

  61

  Nottinghamshire

  199

  211

  South Wales

  99

  223

  South Yorkshire

  279

  448

  Staffordshire

  149

  196

  Suffolk

  145

  141

  Surrey

  74

  264

  Sussex

  212

  225

  Thames Valley

  815

  1,119

  Warwickshire

  144

  147

  West Mercia

  219

  282

  West Midlands

  468

  910

  West Yorkshire

  191

  348

  Wiltshire

  159

  220

  City of London

  1 -224

  -24

  Metropolitan Police

  1,733

  5,974

  1 The authorised establishment was reduced at request of the City of London Police in 1983.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the grades of the staff employed in C3 division of the Home Office.

  Mr. Jack
  On 1 June 1992 the grades of the staff employed in C3 division was as follows:

  Number

  Grade 5

  1

  Grade 7

  8

  Higher executive officer

  19

  Executive officer

  12

  Administrative officer

  9

  Administrative assistant

  3

  Personal secretary

  3

  Prosecution Failures
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases failed to be prosecuted in the last year on record because of a failure to do so within six months.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Marianela Gonzales
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to a letter dated 20 April from the hon. Member for Barrow and Furness concerning the health of Marianela Gonzales, a prisoner in Her Majesty's prison, Styal.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 5 June 1992]: A reply has been sent to the hon. Member.

  Car Theft
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that all teenagers convicted of car theft are compelled to undertake community work and not excused from this due to age.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 5 June 1992]: Within the limits imposed by Parliament, it is for the courts to decide on the appropriate sentence in the light of the information available to them. The Criminal Justice Act 1991 strengthens the community sentences, including community service, available to the court, and reinforces the principle that courts should be able to choose the sentence that is most suitable for the offender having regard to the seriousness of the offence.

  In the light of the wide range of sentencing options available for people convicted of car theft, including custody, community sentences and financial penalties, we have no plans to curtail courts' discretion by introducing a mandatory sentence for this type of offence.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Berkshire Plants, Newtownards
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 26 February,Official Report, column 505, what plant has been transferred to England from the Berkshire plants in Newtownards; how much of this plant and machinery was grant aided; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Although I cannot give information on details of plant which belongs to the company, I am aware that some of the equipment involved has been transferred from the site. I can confirm that cessation of production of hosiery at Newtownards has given rise to possible repayment of grant and discussions are continuing with the company.

  I am encouraged that although it has ceased hosiery manufacture in Northern Ireland, the company has made very positive proposals for the future development in Newtownards.

  Aquatic Environment
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. Atkins
  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.

  Environmental Protection
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what additional resources will be made available to district councils to offset the increased cost of applying the new environmental protection legislation.
  335
  Mr. Atkins
  There has not been any recent environmental protection legislation which would impose additional financial burdens on district councils. However, the Government proposes to introduce legislation as soon as possible on new powers to control litter. At that time, consideration will be given to whether any additional resources should be made available.

  Empty Housing
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of the public housing stock, in each Housing Executive district in Northern Ireland, is lying vacant.

  Mr. Atkins
  The chairman of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive has advised me that at 31 March 1992 the proportion of public housing stock lying vacant in each Housing Executive district was as follows:

  District

  Vacant stock

  Gross stock

  Per cent.

  Antrim

  271

  5,129

  5.28

  Armagh

  73

  3,992

  1.83

  Ballycastle

  7

  1,544

  0.46

  Ballymena

  136

  5,550

  2.45

  Ballymoney

  38

  2,851

  1.34

  Banbridge

  46

  3,151

  1.46

  Bangor

  23

  4,174

  0.56

  Belfast 1

  209

  3,996

  5.23

  Belfast 2

  199

  5,701

  3.49

  Belfast 3

  202

  5,180

  3.90

  Belfast 4

  547

  5,194

  0.54

  Belfast 5

  431

  5,906

  7.30

  Belfast 6

  282

  5,210

  5.42

  Belfast 7

  176

  6,379

  2.76

  Carrickfergus

  124

  3,680

  3.37

  Castlereagh 1

  30

  3,766

  0.80

  Castlereagh 2

  11

  2,726

  0.41

  Coleraine

  212

  5,628

  3.77

  Cookstown

  28

  2,134

  1.32

  Craigavon

  187

  2,138

  8.75

  Downpatrick

  121

  4,545

  2.67

  Dungannon

  64

  3,547

  1.81

  Fermanagh

  65

  4,073

  1.60

  Larne

  65

  2,730

  7.38

  Limavady

  16

  2,884

  0.56

  Lisburn 1

  88

  4,948

  1.78

  Lisburn 2

  46

  2,681

  1.72

  Lisburn 3

  36

  3,099

  1.17

  DOE (NI) Road service division

  Class 1 (A category) Kms

  Class 2 (B category) Kms

  Class 3 (C category) Kms

  Unclassified Kms

  Totals

  Ballymena

  401.4

  446.8

  663.5

  1,764.1

  3,275.8

  Belfast

  157.2

  112.0

  114.4

  1,287.4

  1,681.0

  Coleraine

  374.9

  522.1

  550.3

  1,832.8

  3,280.1

  Craigavon

  445.5

  564.7

  1,030.3

  3,034.5

  5,075.0

  Downpatrick

  419.3

  330.7

  597.8

  1,822.5

  3,170.3

  Omagh

  525.0

  888.6

  1,762.0

  4,507.7

  7,683.3

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has for a comprehensive review of the state of the rural roads network in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Atkins
  Comprehensive inspections, assessment and procedure in respect of rural roads are already in place.
  336

  District

  Vacant stock

  Gross stock

  Per cent.

  Londonderry 1

  67

  4,237

  1.59

  Londonderry 2

  82

  4,291

  1.91

  Londonderry 3

  15

  3,933

  0.39

  Lurgan

  102

  3,027

  3.37

  Magherafelt

  4

  2,733

  0.15

  Newry 1

  43

  3,365

  1.28

  Newry 2

  46

  3,940

  1.17

  Newtownabbey 1

  180

  4,061

  4.43

  Newtownabbey 2

  144

  3,842

  3.74

  Newtownards 1

  72

  3,940

  1.83

  Newtownards 2

  19

  2,073

  0.92

  Omagh

  52

  3,474

  1.50

  Portadown

  137

  2,864

  4.79

  Strabane

  25

  4,055

  0.62

  Northern Ireland total

  4,721

  162,371

  2.91

  Cancer
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the average cancer mortality rate in Northern Ireland for each year over the past 10 years.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested is as follows:

  Rate per 100,000 of population

  Year

  1982

  192

  1983

  198

  1984

  203

  1985

  201

  1986

  201

  1987

  208

  1988

  212

  1989

  221

  1990

  117

  Figures for 1991 are not yet available.

  Roads
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total length of roadway maintained by each district office of the Department of Environment roads service: and if he will give details for each category of roadway.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information requested is as follows:

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total budget allocated to each district office of the Department of the Environment roads service for(a) minor works, (b) major works, (c) maintenance and (d) other expenses in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Atkins
  Budget allocations are made primarily on a divisional basis. The allocations in each of the last five years were as follows:
  337

  £ thousand

  1Roads Service Headquarters

  Ballymena

  2Belfast

  Coleraine

  Craigavon

  Downpatrick

  Omagh

  1987–88

  Minor works

  —

  1,341

  1,480

  1,271

  1,174

  1,401

  1,382

  Major works

  690

  1,071

  3,169

  1,821

  1,784

  890

  793

  Maintenance

  1,032

  7,715

  13,398

  7,494

  10,124

  11,167

  10,653

  Other expenses

  19,908

  855

  4,504

  1,653

  1,789

  2,057

  2,002

  1988–89

  Minor works

  —

  1,078

  1,399

  1,147

  1,057

  1,307

  1,306

  Major works

  1,755

  3,063

  1,999

  986

  1,844

  1,827

  694

  Maintenance

  186

  7,796

  13,867

  8,069

  10,300

  11,443

  11,380

  Other expenses

  22,663

  909

  4,630

  1,216

  1,726

  2,513

  1,720

  1989–90

  Minor works

  —

  1,403

  1,696

  1,481

  1,455

  1,371

  1,578

  Major works

  100

  1,895

  6,652

  1,298

  1,233

  2,217

  3,144

  Maintenance

  1,345

  8,897

  15,285

  9,599

  11,087

  12,919

  13,092

  Other expenses

  22,610

  855

  4,419

  1,695

  1,749

  2,693

  1,773

  1990–91

  Minor works

  —

  1,476

  1,922

  1,483

  1,833

  1,588

  1,691

  Major works

  35

  1,533

  5,041

  1,102

  1,326

  2,810

  3,412

  Maintenance

  598

  10,070

  17,056

  10,194

  12,455

  13,638

  14,563

  Other expenses

  23,627

  973

  3,676

  1,999

  1,708

  2,613

  1,802

  1991–92

  Minor works

  —

  1,328

  1,552

  1,320

  1,469

  1,317

  1,327

  Major works

  —

  2,316

  8,807

  1,819

  2,817

  2,993

  1,606

  Maintenance

  512

  9,494

  15,855

  9,920

  11,459

  12,542

  13,050

  Other expenses

  26,533

  1,178

  3,699

  1,157

  2,124

  2,652

  1,637

  Notes: 1 Roads Service Headquarters handles a number of budget matters centrally. including specific major works and maintenance functions.

  2 The major works allocation for Belfast Division for the years 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92 includes expenditure on the Belfast Cross Harbour Road Bridge.

  European Community Funding
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all EC funding initiatives indicating those for which Northern Ireland is eligible and those which Northern Ireland avails of.

  Mr. Mates
  The European Commission has adopted the following initiatives financed by the structural funds, in accordance with article II of regulations (EEC) 4253/88.

  INTEREREG—(assistance to border areas)

  STRIDE—(research and technological development)

  ENVIREG—(environmental improvement)

  PRISMA—(assistance to firms)

  TELEMATIQUE—(promotion of telecommunications service)

  EUROFORM—(qualifications for women)

  HORIZON—(handicapped and certain disadvantaged groups)

  LEADER—(rural development)

  RETEX—(diversification of textile areas)

  REGEN—(energy networks)

  RECHAR—(coal areas)

  REGIS—(remote regions)

  As an objective 1 area, Northern Ireland is eligible for assistance under the first 10 of these initiatives and has been allocated funding under 9; funding under RETEX is not due to commence until 1993 and decisions on which areas will benefit have still to be taken.

  Community Organisations
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which community organisations, providing facilities or services for the disabled and handicapped, received grant aid from each health and social service hoard: and how much grant is available in each case.
  338
  Mr. Hanley
  The table sets out the grant aid given in 1990–91 by the health and social services boards to those voluntary organisations whose help and services arc specifically directed at people with disabilities. It does not include grant-aided schemes which are not specifically targeted but which may nevertheless benefit some disabled people.

  Grant aid for community organisations from health and social services boards

  Organisation

  Amount

  EASTERN HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BOARD

  Age Concern (Carers Relief Scheme)

  1,050

  Arthritis Care (North Belfast)

  100

  Arthritis Care (West Belfast)

  420

  Arthritis Care (West Belfast)

  300

  Avondale

  19,859

  Ballymurphy Handicapped Association

  900

  Beech Hall Carers Group

  178

  Beech hall Night Hall for Disabled

  1,309

  Blind Centre (NI)

  6,000

  Blind Centre (NI)

  9,000

  British Epilepsy Association

  10,000

  Brook Children Together Handicapped Club

  550

  Carers National Association

  231

  Chest Heart and Stroke Association

  5,748

  Christian Concern (Mental Handicap)

  82,000

  Croft Community

  13,500

  Crossroads Care Attendant Scheme (CCAS)

  21,125

  CCAS

  39, 564

  CCAS (Down)

  2,200

  CCAS (EB&C)

  15,014

  CCAS (Lisburn)

  14,928

  CCAS (Lisburn)

  18,072

  CCAS (ND&A)

  12,653

  CCAS (ND&A)

  21,843

  CCAS (N&W Belfast)

  23,556

  CCAS (N&W Belfast) EIA House

  33,294

  CCAS (South Belfast)

  18,302

  Deaf Club (Down/Lisburn)

  270

  339

  Organisation

  Amount

  Dympna House

  15,000

  East Belfast Talking Newspaper

  150

  Eating Disorders Association

  1,202

  Everton Parents

  200

  Extra Care

  40,000

  Extra Care Dementia

  134,305

  Extra Care Night Nursing Service

  197,200

  Fold Carers Relief Scheme

  12,875

  Friends of Clinbrook Home

  1,250

  Friends of Hillhall

  2,000

  Gateway (Turf Lodge)

  400

  Gateway (Ballydownfine)

  50

  Gateway (Lisburn)

  3,000

  Gateway (North Belfast)

  350

  Glencraig Village Community

  43,850

  Grosvenor Hard of Hearing

  1,291

  Harmony Handicapped Group

  330

  Industrial Therapy Organisation

  341,232

  Leonard Cheshire Foundation

  32,000

  Lisburn Carers Group

  330

  Lower Falls Handicapped Association

  18,875

  Mencap

  125,202

  Mencap—Downpatrick Society

  10,000

  Muckamore Abbey Hospital Therapy

  1,635

  Multiple Sclerosis Society

  26,900

  Multiple Sclerosis Society

  9,115

  National Schizophrenia Fellowship

  29,060

  Newington Day Centre

  55,000

  NI Association for Mental Health

  383,249

  NI Institute for the Disabled

  20,000

  NI Music Therapy Trust

  5,670

  NI Music Therapy Trust

  2,820

  NI Music Therapy Trust

  8,000

  NICOD

  69,390

  North Belfast Hard of Hearing

  45

  Northern Ireland Council on disability

  50

  Northern Ireland Council on disability

  46,000

  Orchardville Society

  35,622

  Orchardville Work Scheme

  53,494

  Parkview Visually Handicapped Bowling Club

  240

  PHAB

  20,000

  PHAB Club (Shankill)

  300

  PHAB Saltshaker Club

  745

  Physically Disabled Advice Centre

  28,508

  PRAXIS

  50,493

  Richmond Fellowship

  124,975

  Ruby House

  22,150

  South Belfast Club for Visually Handicapped

  125

  South Belfast Taling Newspaper

  262

  Segal House Mothers & Toddlers

  350

  Shankill Parents & Friends

  150

  St. Hoseph's Centre for the Deaf

  240

  St. Katherine's Visually Handicapped

  120

  St. Patrick's Handicapped Association

  1,110

  St. Paul's Handicapped Care

  624

  Ulster Institute for the Deaf

  7,500

  Woodlands Visually Handicapped

  70

  Woodlands Hard of Hearing

  110

  Young Handicapped

  109

  NORTHERN HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BOARD

  Barnardos—Home from Home

  59,888

  Blind Centre (N.I.)

  18,000

  Bridge Association

  79,612

  Catholic Institute for the Deaf

  1,205

  Charm Trust

  79,430

  Chest Heart and Stroke Association

  12,150

  Crossroads Care Attendant Scheme

  87,250

  Garryduff House

  14,500

  Industrial Therapy Organisation

  38,363

  Kilcreggan Homes

  15,000

  Lerwill House

  2,000

  Martin Residential Trust

  30,000

  National Schizophrenia Fellowship

  56,000

  N.I. Association for Mental Health

  140,055

  NICOD

  96,104

  PRAXIS

  79,534

  Rehability

  37,500

  340

  Organisation

  Amount

  Richmond Fellowship

  22,000

  Riding for the Disabled

  1,000

  Special Olympics

  2,970

  SOUTHERN HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BOARD

  Armagh and District Association

  571

  Barnados "Willowgrove"

  10,218

  Barnados—Profoundly Handicapped

  83,414

  Coach House Restaurant

  4,059

  Crossroads Care Attendant Scheme (Banbridge)

  19,375

  CCAS (Craigavon)

  13,125

  CCAS (Dungannon)

  3,500

  CCAS (Dungannon)

  10,000

  Dungannon Access Group

  104

  Dungannon and District Association for the Handicapped

  5,000

  Dungannon and District Association for the Handicapped

  14,329

  Dungannon and District Talking Newspapers

  50

  Eating Disorders Association

  567

  Gateway (Mourne Stimulus)

  686

  Gateway (Newry)

  1,882

  Gateway (Newry)

  6,300

  Industrial Therapy Organisation

  88,000

  Keady and District Society

  746

  Lurgan and Brownlow M S

  296

  Mourne Grange Village Community

  47,000

  National Schizophrenia Fellowship

  9,459

  NI Association for Mental Health

  104,000

  Northern Ireland Council on Disability

  7,698

  On the Move

  300

  Out of Sight Club, Dungannon

  70

  PRAXIS

  13,500

  Richmond Fellowship

  114,896

  WESTERN HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BOARD

  Cheshire Home

  20,000

  Chest Heart and Stroke Association

  5,830

  Disabled Peoples Community Transport

  9,275

  Eating Disorders Association

  610

  Gateway Club (Shantallow)

  2,000

  Industrial Therapy Organisation

  74,000

  National Schizophrenia Fellowship

  9,475

  Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health

  69,900

  PHAB

  2,000

  PRAXIS

  49,750

  Roe Valley Disability Action Group

  1,500

  Special Olympics

  2,000

  Talking Newspapers

  650

  Waterside Gateway Club

  1,300

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which community organisations, providing facilities or services for the disabled and handicapped, received free health board transport; and what level of transport is available in each case.

  Mr. Hanley
  This information is not collected in the form requested. However, I understand that health and social services boards provide free transport to some 170 local voluntary groups throughout Northern Ireland whose main activity is the care of disabled or handicapped people but may also include elderly or mentally ill people. The level of assistance provided ranges from ad hoc arrangements to cover special trips and outings to regular provision of an agreed number of vehicles on set days each week. In some cases boards give cash grants to enable voluntary organisations to provide their own transport.

  Water Rates
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table showing average water rates in Northern Ireland in each year since 1979 in cash and constant prices.

  Mr. Mates
  The provision of water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland is a function of central government and expenditure on these services is an element of the regional rate struck by the Department of Finance and Personnel. The regional rate is an unhypothecated tax and there is, therefore, no separate water rate for the years in question. However, since 1991–92 arrangements have been made to appropriate in aid of the water service vote the relevant share of regional rate income. This change has been made to facilitate transition to commercial accounting procedures. In 1991–92, the share of the regional rate appropriated in aid of the water service was £107 million equivalent to a poundage of 64.38 pence in the pound while for 1992–93 the figures are £114 million and 65.63 pence in the pound.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Footwear
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what representations he has received with regard to the proposal to impose EC quotas on imports from China of footwear;

  (2) what steps he is taking effectively to control imports of footwear from China.

  Mr. Needham
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 2 June to the hon. Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Ms. Anderson),Official Report, column 491. As regards representations, my Department have received a large number which divide basically between United Kingdom footwear manufacturers who support the Commission's proposal and United Kingdom importers and retailers who oppose it. The Government will take into account these conflicting views when deciding their attitude to the proposals, the economic justification for which has yet to be properly explained by the Commission.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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. Eggar
  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.

  Non-fossil Fuel Obligation
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to announce the next non-fossil fuel obligation.
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  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Rochford (Dr. Clark),Official Report, 18 May 1992, column 21.

  Advertising
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 2 June,Official Report, column 497, if he will give his Department's total 1992–93 budget for spending on advertising and other promotional material.

  Mr. Eggar
  Publicity budgets form part of the programmes to which they relate. Allocations for advertising and promotional material, as for other publicity expenditure, will be made as needed during the year.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 2 June,Official Report, column 497, if he will make a statement on the reasons for the fall in his Department's spending on advertising and promotional material between 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Eggar
  I am pleased to say that the continued interest firms have shown in the Department's Enterprise Initiative consultancy scheme has been such that since the spring of 1991 further national advertising support has not been needed. As a result, the Department's publicity expenditure has been reduced. More than 100,000 applications for the consultancy scheme have now been received, and some 44,000 projects have been completed.

  Cumbrian Economy
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to publish the report by Cambridge Economic Consultants into the future of the south and west Cumbrian economy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Squire
  I have been asked to reply.

  We are considering the consultants' report on the feasibility of setting up enterprise zones at Barrow and Whitehaven, in the light of the wider needs of the area. It is not the Department's practice to publish such reports. There is a statutory consultation procedure before any zones can be designated.

ENVIRONMENT

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will establish an independent energy efficiency agency and a renewable energy agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  On 13 May the Government announced that they intended to form a partnership with British Gas and the regional electricity companies to establish an independent Energy Saving Trust to develop and propose new programmes to promote the efficient use of energy. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is considering future arrangements for the promotion of renewable energy as part of the current review of renewable energy strategy.

  Planning Appeals
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of planning applications has been won on appeal since 1987.

  Mr. Baldry
  The information is as follows:

  Planning appeals allowed

  Year

  Number

  Percentage

  Appeals allowed as a proportion of total planning applications decided per cent.

  1987–88

  6,955

  37.6

  1.5

  1988–89

  7,734

  36.7

  1.4

  1989–90

  8,852

  33.4

  1.7

  1990–91

  8,871

  33.6

  2.0

  1991–92

  7,590

  33.7

  11.9

  1 Latest estimate.

  London Docklands
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information the London Docklands development corporation collects on the number or proportion of the jobs attracted to the docklands urban development area that are(a) secured by local residents, (b) taken by those on the unemployment register and (c) taken by those that have participated in training schemes in the docklands area.

  Mr. Redwood
  I am advised that the London Docklands development corporation does not collect information in this form.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate total public expenditure to date on the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone including expenditure on land acquisition, reclamation and preparation, transport infrastructure including the docklands light railway and London Docklands development corporation and Department of Transport expenditure on road schemes and expenditure incurred by virtue of the business rate and 100 per cent. capital allowances provisions of the enterprise zone scheme.

  Mr. Redwood
  Up to the end of 1991–92, the London Docklands development corporation (LDDC) spent £217 million on projects within the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone. This is broken down as follows:

  £ million

  Land acquisition

  21

  Land reclamation

  14

  Utilities and services

  41

  Industry support and community

  1

  Environmental improvements

  12

  Docklands light railway

  40

  Roads and other transport schemes

  88

  TOTAL

  217

  Up to the end of 1989–90, expenditure in respect of rate revenue foregone in the enterprise zone amounted to £38 million. Comparable figures for capital allowances are not available.

  The Isle of Dogs enterprise zone also benefited from regeneration schemes, serving the wider Docklands urban
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  development area. In addition, the Department of Transport contributed to the cost of the Docklands light railway, which serves the Isle of Dogs.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the latest available estimate of the total number of permanent jobs in the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone that are in newly created businesses; and if he will give the source for his estimate.

  Mr. Redwood
  There was a net increase of some 26,000 jobs in Docklands between 1981 and 1990. There are no readily available figures of losses of jobs through failure or relocation.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how much land is owned by the developers Olympia and York in the London Docklands urban development area;

  (2) how much land has been sold to date to the developers Olympia and York by the London Docklands development corporation.

  Mr. Redwood
  The London Docklands development corporation has sold 31 acres of land and 16 acres of water to Olympia and York. Olympia and York may also have acquired interests in other land in the urban development area.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his current estimate of the total amount and proportion of office and commercial floorspace in the London Docklands urban development area that is vacant or unlet.

  Mr. Redwood
  This information is not held centrally.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people have received training at the Poplar Baths construction training centre to date; and of these how many have secured employment on the Canary Wharf development and how many have secured employment on construction projects in the London docklands urban development area as a whole.

  Mr. Redwood
  A total of 407 people have successfully completed courses at the centre. Of these, 270 trainees have obtained employment. including 149 at the Canary Wharf development and an unspecified number on construction projects elsewhere in the urban development area.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is his estimate of the number of jobs that have been attracted to the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone since its inception that have been taken by residents of(a) the London borough of Tower Hamlets and (b) the London boroughs of Newham and Southwark; and if he will provide the source for his estimate;

  (2) if he will estimate the number of jobs that have been lost in the London Docklands urban development area since 1981 either through company failure or relocation; and if he will give the source for his estimate;

  (3) if he will estimate the cost per job in relation to public expenditure for each job attracted to the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone since April 1982; and if he will give the basis for his estimate;

  (4) if he will give the latest available estimate of the total number of permanent jobs in the Isle of Dogs

  345
  enterprise zone that are in companies that have relocated in the zone from elsewhere; and if he will give the source for his estimate.

  Mr. Redwood
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend on 18 May.

  Estate Action
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the estate action programme.

  Mr. Baldry
  The estate action programme now makes a major contribution to tackling the problems of run down local authority housing estates. Resources have increased from £268 million last year to £364 million this year. Local authorities will shortly be invited to submit proposals for new schemes to begin in 1993–94.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department will publish its response to the twenty-second report from the Committee of Public Accounts on homelessness; and whether this will include the Housing Corporation's analysis of the affordability of housing projects undertaken under the new financial regime introduced by the Housing Act 1988.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Department's response to the Public Accounts Committee's report on homelessness was published last August in the form of a Treasury Minute (Cm 1617). It confirmed that the Housing Corporation would be monitoring outturn rents under the new financial regime. This is a continuing process which will inform annual reviews of grant rates.

  Housing Grants
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the component elements used in determining grant rates for licensing associations; and if he will publish the assumptions on affordability adopted by his Department and the Housing Corporation in determining grant rates in each respective total cost indicator area and for different housing types.

  Mr. Baldry
  Grant rates for housing associations are proposed by the Housing Corporation and approved by the Secretary of State in the light of all relevant factors, including outturn rents on completed schemes. Rates are set for broad categories of type of scheme and location so as to enable associations generally to provide housing at rents within the reach of those in low-paid employment. The Government do not publish the underlying factors and assumptions, since it does not wish to imply a view as to what constitutes an affordable rent in any particular case. Outturn rents are for associations to determine and will be influenced by an association's assessment of suitable rent levels for a scheme as well as by its efficiency in managing development.

  Housing Investment
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's latest estimate of the total amount of capital receipts likely to be available to local authorities for housing investment in 1992–93.
  346
  Mr. Baldry
  Estimates of the availability of future capital receipts are inevitably uncertain. However, the department currently anticipates that local authorities in England will have access to some £1.6 billion of usable receipts to support capital investment across all services in 1992–93. decisions on spending from receipts on individual services such as housing are matters for authorities themselves.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has determined any order of priority in dealing with different areas of the country in regard to local government reorganisation; and what timetable he wishes the proposed commission on that subject to work to.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment gave on 3 June to the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Robinson),Official Report, column 546.

  Coastal Zone Protection
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has considered the recommendations of the Environment Select Committee's Second Report of 1991–92 on coastal zone protection and planning; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Environment Select Committee report on Coastal Zone Protection and Planning was issued on 28 April. The Government intend to make a formal response to that report in early July.

  EC Waste Directive
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment with what aspects of the draft EC directive on waste Her Majesty's Government do not agree.

  Mr. Maclean
  The draft Directive on the Landfilling of Waste was the subject of the Seventh Report of the Environment Committee of this House (HC 263-1, 17 July 1991) and the Government's views on the draft Directive are given in our response to that report (Command 1720, 5 February 1992). Copies of the report and the Government's response have been placed in the House Library.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he received the current text of the draft EC directive on waste; when he now expects that it will be ratified; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The draft Directive on Landfilling of Waste was presented to the EC Council of Ministers by the European Commission on 22 May 1991. There have been no Council discussions and there is as yet no firm date for ratification.

  East Thames Corridor
  Mr. Mackinlay
  T ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the consultants examining potential for the future of the East Thames corridor to report; and when he expects the report to be published.
  347
  Mr. Baldry
  The consultants are now working on the second stage of the study and this is due to be completed by about the end of July. We expect that a report on the completed study will be published in due course.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the terms of reference and geographical parameters given to the consultants commissioned to examine regeneration of the East Thames corridor.

  Mr. Baldry
  The terms of reference for this study require the consultants, Llewelyn Davies Planning, to assess the development capacity and potential of the East Thames corridor in the light of its transport and infrastructure requirements and the need for environmental protection and enhancement. The full terms of reference were published on 24 November 1991 and are available in the Library. For the purposes of the study a care area has been defined which includes Stratford, the Lower Lea Valley and the Royal Docks at the western end of the corridor and the areas on either side of the river extending eastwards to Tilbury in Essex and the Medway towns and Sheerness in Kent.

  Local Government Commission
  Dr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the cost, under broad headings, of the Local Government Commission.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Local Government Commission is to be financed by grant-in-aid payments from the Department of the Environment. Parliament has made provision of £1.63 million on class VIII of vote 9 for this purpose in 1992–93.

  Water Rates
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing average water rates in England in each year since 1979 in cash and constant prices.

  Mr. Maclean
  The most complete available historical data on water charges is contained in "Waterfacts" published annually by the Water Services Association, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.

  Dredging
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy for the material removed annually from the harbours and fairways of ports 348
  in England to be used in place of the sand and gravel dredged off the coast for use in the building industry instead of being dumped at sea.

  Mr. Baldry
  The majority of material dredged from harbours and ports is not suitable for use in the building industry. It would not he appropriate Government policy for material removed from harbours and ports to be used in place of sand and gravel dredged off the coast.

  Minerals Planning Guidelines
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment further to his answer of 2 June,Official Report, column 377, to the hon. Member for Warwickshire, North (Mr. O'Brien) if he will list the names of those outside organisations and individuals who have sent in responses to his review of minerals planning, guidelines.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave on 8 June at columns 23-24.

  Bath Bypass
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish his decision following the public inquiry into the Bath eastern bypass.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend hopes to announce his decision shortly, in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport.

  National Parks
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department will review the procedures for closing national parks to walkers during periods of fire risk in dry weather.

  Mr. Maclean
  We have no plans to do so.

  Halon Bank
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will outline his proposals for the establishment of a national halon bank; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  My Department is currently involved in discussions with the producers and users of halons aimed at establishing what might be done to facilitate halon recycling and banking.