Written Answers of 16 June 1992

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Dartmoor Prison
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the practicability of developing HM prison Dartmoor as a community prison, or as a national resource for prisoners with special needs; and if he will make a statement about the future of the prison.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Dartmoor is too large to become a community prison in the way HM chief inspector of prisons has recommended. However, as the only category B prison in the south-west of England, it fulfils the needs of those prisoners from that part of the country requiring that level of security. The sex offender unit provides a national resource as an integral part of the recent initiative concerned with such prisoners. It incorporates both the assessment and treatment of sex offenders and will continue to develop as part of the national programme.

  Major refurbishment is under way at a cost of £25 million and substantial efforts are being made to develop a positive regime for inmates, an example of which is the new intensive therapy unit.

  It is the Government's intention that Dartmoor will continue to provide secure accommodation for category B prisoners in the region.

  Police Numbers
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the criteria for assessing areas of urban population in calculating police manpower figures; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  We shall be reviewing the allocation formula used for approving increases in police force establishments later this year in order to take account of the 1991 census data. Part of this review will involve a close scrutiny of the definition of urban areas used in the formula.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further plans he has to stop the use of animals for testing cosmetics.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Government have discussed with industry how best to eliminate the testing of cosmetics on animals without putting the public at risk. There has been some progress made in developing alternatives to skin and eye irritancy tests. The Government have called on the European Community to set 1998 as the target date for the replacement of all skin and eye irritancy tests, subject to there being validated non-animal alternatives.

  The Government will continue to support work carried out by charitable bodies, academic institutions and industry to develop alternatives to animal testing.

  Security Service
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the report to him by the Security Service Commissioner, pursuant to paragraph 7(3) of schedule 1 to the Security Service Act 1989 relating to retention of records.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  No. It would not be in the interests of national security to do so.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether records compiled by the Security Service kept in temporary files for which a permanent file is not subsequently set up are destroyed within three years.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 22 to 24 of the Security Service Commissioner's annual report for 1991 where he describes the Security Service's policy in relation to temporary records which are not converted into permanent files. Except where no inquiries have been made since the Security Service Act 1989 came into force, such temporary records are now retained so that they can be investigated, if necessary, by the complaints tribunal. The commissioner agreed that this policy was correct in law.

  Road Accidents
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of civilian fatalities were caused by road traffic accidents involving stolen motor vehicles in the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The information is not available centrally.

  Commission for Racial Equality
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for assistance under section 66 of the Race Relations Act 1976 the Commission for Racial Equality has received during the past 12 months; how many applications it supported by providing legal representation during that period; and from how many applicants for whom it initially provided legal representation it later withdrew legal support or funding before the case went to industrial tribunal or county court.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested for the year 1991 is as follows. The number of applications received for assistance under section 66 of the Race Relations Act 1976 received by the Commission for Racial Equality was 1,655.

  The number of applications for which the commission's complaints committee agreed to provide legal representation was 388.

  The number of applicants for whom the Commission for Racial Equality initially provided legal representation, but from whom on review it later withdrew legal support or funding before the case went to industrial tribunal or county court or was otherwise settled or withdrawn by the complainant was 24.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applicants who received legal representation provided through the Commission for Racial Equality or its funded solicitors were represented at tribunals or county courts in the last 12 months.
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  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The number of applicants represented at tribunals or county courts who received legal representation through the CRE in 1991 was 54.

  Crime Prevention
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his response to the Morgan report on safer communities from the standing conference of crime prevention; and what action he proposes to implement any of the recommendations.

  Mr. Jack
  The recommendations in the Morgan report ranged wider than had been expected under the working group's terms of reference.

  The consideration of the report is now being undertaken but it is taking longer than anticipated because of the additional material to be evaluated. I hope to be able to make an announcement in the near future.

  Firearms
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences have been committed with stolen shotguns in each police force area in each year from 1985.

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is not available.

  Notifiable offences of burglary and theft in which shot guns were stolen (a) from domestic premises

  England and Wales

  Number of offences

  Police force area

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Avon and Somerset

  9

  21

  16

  18

  5

  15

  Bedfordshire

  8

  8

  6

  2

  4

  12

  Cambridgeshire

  11

  13

  9

  6

  —

  4

  Cheshire

  12

  11

  7

  4

  7

  6

  Cleveland

  —

  1

  1

  1

  2

  3

  Cumbria

  2

  2

  8

  4

  3

  6

  Derbyshire

  2

  12

  7

  6

  6

  3

  Devon and Cornwall

  11

  12

  11

  22

  14

  22

  Dorset

  4

  4

  4

  4

  2

  1

  Durham

  5

  16

  13

  5

  6

  4

  Essex

  19

  23

  31

  11

  20

  16

  Gloucestershire

  6

  3

  3

  2

  2

  3

  Greater Manchester

  2

  1

  6

  2

  1

  —

  Hampshire

  21

  20

  16

  21

  21

  14

  Hertfordshire

  12

  3

  8

  3

  7

  2

  Humberside

  6

  12

  16

  6

  4

  8

  Kent

  35

  35

  49

  43

  30

  38

  Lancashire

  16

  25

  18

  26

  12

  9

  Leicestershire

  9

  8

  6

  7

  9

  6

  Lincolnshire

  7

  10

  9

  9

  8

  4

  London, City of

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Merseyside

  9

  10

  8

  5

  9

  4

  Metropolitan

  44

  32

  33

  21

  25

  14

  Norfolk

  14

  21

  26

  14

  16

  18

  Northamptonshire

  6

  10

  13

  6

  2

  8

  Northumbria

  17

  17

  9

  11

  15

  16

  North Yorkshire

  16

  22

  18

  10

  5

  8

  Nottinghamshire

  1

  2

  5

  6

  2

  3

  South Yorkshire

  15

  7

  9

  13

  8

  9

  Staffordshire

  8

  7

  2

  7

  1

  1

  Suffolk

  15

  8

  8

  14

  3

  8

  Surrey

  11

  16

  12

  16

  6

  14

  Sussex

  9

  10

  9

  18

  9

  8

  Thames Valley

  16

  43

  35

  23

  15

  20

  Warwickshire

  13

  10

  12

  3

  4

  3

  West Mercia

  19

  13

  14

  9

  8

  1

  West Midlands

  23

  21

  9

  8

  5

  8

  West Yorkshire

  14

  15

  13

  5

  11

  9

  Wiltshire

  2

  5

  3

  1

  3

  1

  Dyfed-Powys

  12

  8

  6

  3

  2

  2

  Gwent

  2

  5

  5

  2

  5

  3

  North Wales

  6

  11

  10

  7

  6

  3

  South Wales

  6

  3

  —

  2

  1

  1

  430
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) shotguns, (b) firearms and (c) rounds of ammunition have been yielded as a result of each gun amnesty declared since 1962.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information is given in the table.

  Year of amnesty

  Shotguns

  Firearms

  Rounds of ammunition

  1965

  2,761

  37,739

  1,694,000

  1968

  9,400

  15,688

  795,000

  1988

  11,254

  31,471

  1,511,000

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many thefts of shotguns there have been in each police force area in each year from 1985(a) from domestic premises and (b) from all premises.

  Mr. Jack
  The number of notifiable offences in which shotguns were reported to have been stolen from(a) domestic premises and (b) all premises, in each police force area in each year from 1985 to 1990 are given in the tables.
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  Police force area

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  England and Wales

  475

  537

  503

  406

  324

  338

  (b) from all premises

  England and Wales

  Number of offences

  Police force area

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Avon and Somerset

  14

  30

  26

  25

  10

  22

  Bedfordshire

  8

  11

  10

  3

  6

  14

  Cambridgeshire

  20

  22

  14

  10

  1

  5

  Cheshire

  22

  13

  10

  4

  10

  7

  Cleveland

  —

  1

  2

  1

  4

  3

  Cumbria

  3

  2

  10

  4

  3

  11

  Derbyshire

  9

  17

  10

  8

  10

  3

  Devon and Cornwall

  18

  25

  19

  32

  25

  29

  Dorset

  6

  5

  6

  4

  3

  1

  Durham

  5

  18

  18

  7

  12

  5

  Essex

  27

  34

  39

  22

  28

  26

  Gloucestershire

  9

  8

  10

  8

  5

  4

  Greater Manchester

  6

  4

  9

  7

  2

  2

  Hampshire

  26

  37

  24

  29

  32

  23

  Hertfordshire

  15

  6

  12

  6

  12

  5

  Humberside

  12

  17

  20

  12

  9

  11

  Kent

  53

  50

  61

  59

  40

  47

  Lancashire

  20

  30

  21

  30

  21

  13

  Leicestershire

  15

  14

  13

  12

  12

  10

  Lincolnshire

  13

  13

  16

  15

  11

  7

  London, City of

  —

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Merseyside

  13

  13

  10

  7

  11

  7

  Metropolitan

  67

  48

  45

  27

  36

  19

  Norfolk

  26

  34

  37

  22

  20

  22

  Northamptonshire

  12

  19

  16

  9

  4

  10

  Northumbria

  20

  27

  13

  16

  18

  20

  North Yorkshire

  16

  27

  22

  16

  8

  11

  Nottinghamshire

  6

  8

  8

  10

  2

  7

  South Yorkshire

  22

  12

  13

  15

  10

  14

  Staffordshire

  9

  11

  5

  7

  1

  2

  Suffolk

  23

  16

  15

  15

  7

  12

  Surrey

  14

  21

  20

  23

  17

  18

  Sussex

  12

  19

  16

  26

  l1

  15

  Thames Valley

  32

  56

  43

  27

  26

  22

  Warwickshire

  22

  11

  19

  6

  8

  5

  West Mercia

  28

  23

  23

  11

  10

  7

  West Midlands

  31

  31

  12

  11

  7

  14

  West Yorkshire

  20

  24

  17

  10

  16

  11

  Wiltshire

  3

  7

  5

  4

  3

  1

  Dyfed-Powys

  22

  12

  12

  5

  5

  3

  Gwent

  2

  5

  6

  2

  9

  4

  North Wales

  9

  13

  14

  8

  9

  5

  South Wales

  12

  9

  —

  2

  1

  1

  England and Wales

  722

  804

  722

  578

  495

  478

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider declaring a firearms amnesty; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  There are no plans at present to declare a firearms amnesty. The last one was held in 1988 in conjunction with the introduction of major new legislation on firearms. We would not wish to encourage people to think that if they hold weapons illegally or use them for criminal purposes, they will be given regular opportunities to dispose of them without the risk of prosecution.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the number of(a) shotguns and (b) other firearms held in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Estimates of the number of shotguns and firearms held on licence in England and 432
  Wales at the end of 1990 were published in Home Office statistical bulletin 23/91—paragraphs 3 and 7. A copy of this bulletin is in the Library.

  The information for Scotland and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the relevant Secretary of State.

  Condoms
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in what circumstances condoms are issued to prisoners on release from(a) women's and (b) men's prisons;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to offer condoms to all prisoners on their release from prison.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Procedural guidelines issued to prison governors in November 1991 advised that the period leading up to release is an important time for educational measures and for individual counselling of HIV-infected
  433
  prisoners and others with lifestyles which suggest that they may themselves be at risk or that they may be a risk to other people. The guidelines also recommended that governors consider introducing schemes under which all prisoners released—and perhaps those going on home leave—have discrete access to a small supply of free condoms. Several establishments—including at least one for women—operate such schemes. We are reviewing prisons HIV/AIDS policy generally, including policy on the issue of condoms.

  West Yorkshire Police Force
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been(a) the total funding and (b) the established number of full-time officers of the West Yorkshire police force in each of the past five years; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding to meet the public demands of this service.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Over the last five years expenditure and the police establishment of the West Yorkshire police have been increased as follows:

  Year

  Expenditure £ million

  Establishment

  1987–88

  129.1

  5,204

  1988–89

  149.4

  5,227

  1989–90

  167.0

  5,259

  1990–91

  1193.7

  5,281

  1991–92

  2218.5

  5,295

  1992–93

  n/a

  5,295

  1 Because of change in capital financing arrangements in 1990, some caution should be used in comparing 1990–91 and 1991–92 with earlier years.

  2 Estimated.

  n/a = Not available.

  The Government are satisfied that the West Yorkshire police authority is able to meet its obligations to provide an efficient police force.

  Police Cells
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted prisoners were held in places other than prisons for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The annual averages for convicted prisoners held in police cells, who, but for the lack of available places should otherwise have been in prison custody, for each year since figures have been available are as follows:

  Annual average

  1981

  0

  1982

  0

  1983

  0

  1984

  0

  1985

  0

  1986

  0

  1987

  0

  1988

  99

  1989

  7

  1990

  213

  1991

  385

  Iraq (Sanctions)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis into the investigations by the Metropolitan police into potential sanctions breaking trade between British and Danish companies and Iraq before, at the time of, or since the Gulf war; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Metropolitan police has carried out no investigations into potential sanction-breaking trade between British and Danish companies and Iraq.

  The Metropolitan and City police company fraud department was involved in discussions with the Department of Trade and Industry, HM Customs and Excise and others. It was decided that allegations of sanction breaking would be referred to HM Customs and Excise for investigation.

  Public Events (Policing)
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give a breakdown by constabulary of the amount of money raised in the last financial year by charging for a police presence at sporting, social and other functions and events.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This information is not held centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement outlining his policy on the allocation of funds raised by charging for a police presence at sporting, social and other functions, indicating whether such funds must be allocated to the police budget, or whether they may be used by a local authority for other purposes.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Section 8(1) of the Police Act 1964 requires all receipts of the police authority to be paid into the police fund. It is for the police authority, subject where appropriate to the approval of the county council, to decide how the financial resources available to it should be applied.

  Maxwell Pension Funds
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to withdraw passports from British citizens under investigation in connection with the Maxwell pension funds.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Withdrawal of passport facilities would be considered in certain circumstances, for example, where a warrant for arrest has been issued in the United Kingdom or where a person was wanted by the police on suspicion of a serious crime.

  The courts also have certain powers to require the surrender of a passport pending trial and in connection with certain civil actions.

  Bail
  Dame Jill Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to ensure that bail is not available to those previously convicted of rape if they are brought before a court on a subsequent charge of a crime involving violence.
  435
  Mr. Jack
  At present we have no plans to introduce legislation for this purpose. The Bail Act 1976, as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1988, already makes special provision for cases in which a defendant is accused of murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, rape or attempted rape. It requires a court which grants bail to such a defendant in the face of prosecution objections to give its reasons for so doing. This provision is intended to ensure that the court addresses the issue fully.

PRIME MINISTER

  Street Children, Brazil
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about his meeting with Mr. Paulo Melo, the president of the Brazilian parliamentary commission inquiring into the killing of South American street children; what representations he made to the Brazilian authorities about the killings and sale of Brazilian children into sex slavery; and if he will take diplomatic and economic measures against Brazil until the Brazilian authorities bring the perpetrators to justice.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to my statement on 15 June 1992,Official Report, columns 649-64.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 16 June.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 16 June.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

  Argentina (Aircraft Sales)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his representations in Washington about the sale of United States A4s to Argentina.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 12 June 1992]: We are in close touch with the United States Government on the question of arms sales to Argentina. The United States Government understand our concerns about arms sales which might affect our security interests in the Falk land Islands as do our other allies.

  Retail Prices Index
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Prime Minister what has been the level of expenditure in each of the last 10 years on the civil list; how the rate of change annually has compared with the annual changes in the retail prices index; and what payments have been made and to whom in each of these years.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 11 June 1992]: I have been asked to reply.

  The information on expenditure for the period 1983 to 1990 is contained in the report of the royal trustees laid before the House of Commons on 15 October 1990
  436
  (HC629). As the report explains, the pre-1991 system required voted supplements to be paid annually to the standing services on the Consolidated Fund. It was thought more consistent with the dignity of the Crown and better financial practice to replace that system from 1 January 1991 with a payment fixed at £7.9 million a year for 10 years to cover Her Majesty's statutory expenses; the arrangements enable any surplus in the early years to be accumulated to meet any subsequent deficit. During the same period, the increase in the retail price, index averaged 5.8 per cent. a year.

ENVIRONMENT

  Aquatic Environment
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. Howard
  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 previous 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.

  Orimulsion
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration his Department has given to the environmental implications of the disposal of the ash residue from burning orimulsion at power stations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Applications have been made to Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to burn orimulsion at four power stations. None of these has been determined. In determining these applications, Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution will consider the environmental implications of all releases from the process to all three media: air, water and land. Ash produced by burning orimulsion is classed as a release to land.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the total amount of local authority capital receipts set aside which have not as yet been applied to debt redemption.

  Mr. Baldry
  Local authority returns indicate that their stock of unapplied capital receipts set aside as provision for credit liabilities at 31 March 1991 was £5.1 billion. It is estimated that at the same date local authorities' outstanding debt stood at around £47 billion.

  Fuel Efficiency
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to set minimum standards for fuel use efficiency.

  Mr. Maclean
  It is already the Government's policy to press for agreement in the European Community on
  437
  minimum efficiency standards for a wide range of equipment. A directive setting minimum standards of energy efficiency for gas and oil-fired boilers has already been adopted.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to set standards for acceptable loss of energy or fuel in distribution, and to ensure that losses above test standard be charged against the profits of the industry.

  Mr. Maclean
  No. We have created a competitive environment for fuel suppliers and it is in their own interest to reduce losses in transmission.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to set standards of fuel use efficiency for the energy-generating industry.

  Mr. Maclean
  No. We have created a competitive environment for energy generators such that it is in their own interest to use fuel more efficiently. An indication of this is the electricity industry's plans for new electricity generating stations of considerably higher efficiency.

  Combined Heat and Power
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being undertaken by his Department to promote the co-generation of heat and power.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government fully recognise the environmental and energy efficiency benefits of combined heat and power—co-generation—and seek to ensure that CHP faces no unnecessary legislative or institutional barriers to its implementation. The Energy Efficiency Office—EEO—of the Department, in conjunction with technical staff at energy technology support unit and building research energy conservation support unit, is responsible for promoting the wider use of the technology, in cost-effective locations. It manages this through the best practice programme which provides independent and authoritative advice and information on energy use and efficiency in industry and commerce as well as in the public sector and in housing. In addition to the project profiles and publications produced, there is a continuing programme of CHP seminars and site visits.

  The EEO also works closely with the Combined Heat and Power Association, the representative body of the CHP industry.

  Energy Conservation
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what public information campaigns are currently being undertaken by his Department to promote energy conservation among the general public; and how much funding has been allocated to each information campaign.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Department is currently running the "Helping the Earth Begins at Home" campaign, launched last November and expected to operate for a minimum of three years. The campaign, which has a budget of at least £10 million, aims to encourage householders to make their homes more energy efficient and thereby help combat global warming.

  Carbon Dioxide
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what specific changes will be implemented on energy policy by his Department in the light of the policy to stabilise carbon dioxide emissions at 1990 levels by the year 2000.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies that I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Fulham (Mr. Carrington) on 13 May at column 136 and to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Mr. Hargreaves) on 15 May at column 237.

  Marine Conservation
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what efforts are currently undertaken by his Department to deal with the conservation and sustainable management of shared seas.

  Mr. Maclean
  The United Kingdom plays a very active role in the work of the Oslo and Paris conventions, the London dumping convention, the North sea and Irish sea conferences, the International North Sea task force, the Irish Sea co-ordination group, the International Maritime Organisation, the European Community as it bears on maritime matters such as the common fisheries policy, and the small cetaceans agreement under the Bonn convention on migratory species. Most recently, it has participated actively in the drafting of the oceans chapter of Agenda 21 for the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, and has, jointly with the Republic of Ireland, appointed a scientific co-ordinator for work to review the state of knowledge of the Irish sea.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward proposals to oblige manufacturers to monitor and publish the energy efficiency levels of their processes and the energy costs of their products.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have no plans to bring forward proposals to oblige manufacturers, either of imported or home produced goods, to publish the energy efficiency levels of their processes or the energy costs of their products. Although gathering meaningful information for comparative purposes is possible and is done in certain processes, for the majority of finished products the complications and cost of obtaining the data outweigh the benefits.

  However, my Energy Efficiency Office through its best practice programme publishes energy consumption guides, where these are meaningful, on specific processing steps. The best practice programme also promotes energy efficiency at all steps of manufacture.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the contribution of energy efficiency measures over the next seven years in reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 14 May to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn), column 200.

  Community Environmental Programmes
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to issue low interest loans to urban and rural community organisations, small businesses and individuals involved in community environmental action programmes.

  Mr. Maclean
  The new rural action scheme which we recently announced as part of our action for the countryside package will provide grants in support of a wide range of local environmental initiatives in England at parish level. This is in addition to £4.054 million awarded by the Department for environmental projects through the environmental grant fund and the special grants programme in 1992–1993. We have no plans for low interest loans for environmental programmes.

  Environmental Impact Assessments
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action is currently undertaken by his Department to ensure the environmental impact assessments are conducted as early as possible in a project cycle.

  Mr. Maclean
  Where a project which is the subject of a planning application requires environmental assessment, the Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988 require the applicant to prepare and submit with the application an environmental statement setting out the applicant's own assessment of the likely environmental effects of the proposed development. This ensures that the environmental information —the applicant's environmental statement and any representations from statutory consultees and the general public—is taken into account in the decision making process.

  DOE circular 15/88 and the Department's booklet "Environmental Assessment—A guide to the procedures" advise developers to discuss with the planning authority the scope of the environmental statement before its preparation is begun and to approach statutory consultees and other bodies concerned with environmental issues at an early stage.

  Public Information
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to allow public access to environmental impact assessments, environmental audit data and monitoring results and to information about the production, use and disposal of hazardous substances.

  Mr. Maclean
  It is my Department's policy to continue to work towards the maximum freedom of public access to environmental information, subject to commercial, personal, confidentiality and national security considerations.

  Flora, Fauna and Habitats Directive
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action his Department is taking to implement the EC flora, fauna and habitats directive.

  Mr. Maclean
  The United Kingdom's current nature protection provisions give this country a firm basis for 440
  implementation of the directive. We are considering what further provisions are necessary to enable the directive to come fully into force within the two years prescribed.

  At the same time the Government's scientific advisers are working on the criteria for site selection as the first step towards compiling the United Kingdom's national list of candidate sites to be considered as sites of Community importance.

  Heathrow Terminal
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he received copies of the consultation documents published by BAA plc in respect of its wish to build a fifth terminal at Heathrow airport; and if he will make it his policy to call in the intended formal planning application and hold a public inquiry.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. and learned Friend was given notice of BAA plc's consultation proposals for a fifth terminal at Heathrow airport. He is aware that a planning application may be made later in the year for the terminal, associated link roads to the M25 and connecting rail access to central London.

  In the absence of any formal application, it would not be right for my right hon. and learned Friend to decide now whether to call in the application for his own decision. He will consider this carefully when any application is made.

  Disabled People (Access)
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what controls or incentives, such as might be incorporated into the grant system, his Department offers to the authorities responsible for places of worship to assist them in undertaking the necessary work to make their premises accessible to disabled people.

  Mr. Baldry
  Part M of the Building Regulations requires reasonable provision to be made for access and facilities for disabled people to and within new and extended places of worship. The provisions are for the benefit of disabled people, including those with impaired sight or hearing. The approved document, which accompanies part M, provides guidance on how the requirements might be satisfied.

  Incinerators
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of whether plants and incinerators proposed for London will breach(a) World Health Organisation standards and (b) EC standards; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  None. Assessment of the environmental effects of these installations is for the appropriate local planning authority or my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to take into account in their consideration of whether to grant consents and for Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to consider before authorising the relevant processes.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department will take a strategic look at the location of plants and incinerators in London.

  Mr. Maclean
  No.
  441
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration his Department is giving to the consequences new plants and incinerators in London will have upon rates of respiratory illness in their locality.

  Mr. Maclean
  None. These are for the appropriate local planning authority or my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to take into account in their consideration of whether to grant consent for the proposals.

  Species and Eco-systems
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to establish United Kingdom-wide surveys on species and eco-systems.

  Mr. Maclean
  Such surveys are carried out by the three country conservation agencies and co-ordinated by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee for the purposes of the quinquennial review of species and the designation of sites of special scientific interest within Great Britain. In Northern Ireland, the Environment Service of the Department of the Environment (NI) carries out similar surveys for site and species protection.

  Falconers
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many licences are currently issued to falconers; and what are the terms and conditions of the licences.

  Mr. Maclean
  To date, no licences have been issued to falconers this year. In 1991, 65 licences were issued in England, Scotland and Wales to fly birds of prey at blackbirds, skylarks, song thrushes, meadow pipits and black-headed gulls.

  Licences are subject to conditions restricting them to the period 1 September to 28 February; imposing a limit of 50 on the number of quarry which may be killed; requiring that the bird of prey to which the licence refers is properly ringed and registered; and requiring that a return showing the birds killed be made by 31 March.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the cost of supervision of falconers, including keeper's time, in the New Forest for 1991 and to date for 1992;

  (2) how many animals and birds, and of which species, were taken by falconers in the New Forest in 1991 and to date in 1992.

  Mr. Maclean
  Licences issued to fly birds of prey at quarry do not require falconers to be supervised. No information is available on the costs of any local requirements that may apply in the New Forest.

  Falconers' returns show only the total numbers of each bird species killed under licence; no details are available on the areas from which quarry is taken.

  Car Boot Sales
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether Her Majesty's Government have any plans to propose legislation relating to regulation of the conduct of car boot sales; and if he will make a statement.
  442
  Mr. Baldry
  Several existing statutory controls are relevant to the regulation of car boot sales. Thus, although the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988—the GDO—gives a general grant of planning permission for the temporary use of land for markets, including car boot sales, for up to 14 days in total in any calendar year, use for more than 14 days requires specific planning permission. A local planning authority may make a direction under article 4 of the GDO which withdraws this general permission and so requires a specific planning application.

  The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 enables local authorities to require the market operator and the site occupier to give them not less than one month's notice of a forthcoming market. The notice gives the authority time to make any necessary provision to avoid disturbance.

  The Environmental Protection Act 1990 requires local authorities to ensure that their land is kept clear of litter and refuse. Since 1 July 1991 authorities have been able to extend this duty to the owners of land used for markets, if there is a problem of persistent littering, by designating the land concerned a litter control area.

  I do not consider that further legislation is needed.

  Assured Tenancy Scheme
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new lets have been created as a result of the assured tenancy scheme introduced in the Housing Act 1980.

  Mr. Baldry
  By 1 April 1988, a total of 6,700 tenancies had been created by the assured tenancy scheme introduced in the Housing Act 1980. No new tenancies could be created under this scheme after 15 January 1989. After that date, new assured tenancies would be of the type introduced by the Housing Act 1988.

  Smog
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent initiatives have been taken by his Department to alert the public to the dangers of summertime smog.

  Mr. Maclean
  On 22 May, my Department published a leaflet entitled "Summertime smog—how to help prevent it". This gives a practical guide on what individuals can do to limit the emissions of air pollutants which cause summertime smog. It also contains details of how to obtain information on the levels of air pollution in the United Kingdom and associated health advice. This is available to the media, on Ceefax, and, since 6 May, on a free telephone line, 0800 556677.

  Pollution
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress is being made by his Department in developing an integrated approach to pollution prevention.

  Mr. Maclean
  Integrated pollution control was introduced by part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and became effective from 1 April 1991. Implementation is being phased in over a five-year period.

  Opencast Mining
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the precise terms of reference of his monitoring exercise in respect of the effectiveness of mineral planning guidance 3 in relation to opencast mining; and if he will give the start date and last date of this consultation exercise.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 2 June, at column 377.

  Ozone Depletion
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent initiatives have been taken by his Department to raise public knowledge of ozone-depleting substances and actions the public can take to mitigate their unintended release to the atmosphere.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Wallace), at column 266.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent CFCs are still needed by the refrigeration and air conditioning industries in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Following a proposal by the United Kingdom, the European Community decided earlier this year that it should seek to tighten the controls in the Montreal protocol so that CFC production and consumption had to be phased out by the end of 1995, subject to any exemptions for essential uses. We now need to consider whether an earlier phase-out is possible within the community, and whether production for essential uses is likely to be necessary. To assist in this, the Department has commissioned a study by March Consulting Group on CFC use within the United Kingdom refrigeration and air conditioning industry. The study will consider the pattern of CFC used by the industry and the extent to which substitution by other refrigerants is taking place; how the pattern of use is likely to change between now and the end of the century; and the quantities of CFCs that industry will need in that period and the extent to which this can be met from recycled material.

  Council House Sales
  Ms. Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will allow Stockport to use the capital receipts it has accumulated through sale of council houses to invest in housing.

  Mr. Baldry
  An increase in spending financed from local authorities' capital receipts would be an addition to public expenditure in just the same way as an increase financed by credit approvals to permit additional borrowing. However, by placing constraints on spending from receipts, the Government are able to issue a greater amount of credit approvals to those local authorities where housing needs are greatest and where resources can be put to best use.

  Housing Authorities
  Ms. Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the top 10 performing housing authorities in each of the past two years; and what position in the rank order is held by Stockport.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Department has made no ranked assessment of the performance of housing authorities. However, in the context of the housing investment programme allocations published last December, the previous Secretary of State issued a list of 51 authorities judged to be well ahead of the field in comparison with others in their DOE region. Stockport was included in the list for north-west region.

  Empty Properties
  Ms. Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the Audit Commission benchmark for empty properties; and what is the level of empty properties in Stockport.

  Mr. Baldry
  The latest discussion by the Audit Commission of options open to local authorities for the better use of their housing stock is contained in the report "Developing Local Authority Housing Strategies", which was published on 28 May. In the report, the commission refers to benchmarks for void turn-around times for local authorities of six weeks in London and three weeks elsewhere. The commission suggests that if long-term voids were held to 1 per cent. of stock nearly all authorities with void intervals within these benchmarks would achieve a void level of less than 2 per cent.

  The latest available information on Stockport's empty council dwellings relates to 1 April 1991 and was provided by the council in its 1991 housing investment programme return, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Local Authorities (Debts)
  Ms. Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average figure for metropolitan authorities of debt in relation to housing stock; and what is the figure for Stockport.

  Mr. Baldry
  No information is now collected by the Department on debt relating to housing stock. However, figures published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy suggest that outstanding debt relating to housing at 31 March 1991 was £61 million for Stockport, or £210 per head of population, and £6.2 billion for all metropolitan districts, or around £560 per head.

  Council Waiting Lists
  Ms. Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people are on the waiting list for council accommodation in Stockport.

  Mr. Baldry
  The latest available information on the number of households on the waiting list relates to 1 April 1991 and was provided by Stockport metropolitan district council in its April 1991 housing investment programme return, a copy of which is in the Library.

  City Grant, Bradford
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the position of the application by 3D Ltd. for a city grant in connection with the west end scheme in Bradford.

  Mr. Squire
  My Department received a revised application for City Grant from 3D on 15 October 1991, for a first phase of the west end scheme, comprising offices in Aldermanbury, and a European pavilion with a multi-storey car park. The developer had to be asked to supply additional information and the application is now under appraisal.

  Wild Birds
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of licences granted for taking and the numbers of birds so taken from the wild, for each species of avian predator in each year since 1987.

  Mr. Maclean
  Details of licences issued to take birds of prey from the wild are given in the United Kingdom's annual derogation reports to the European Commission under the terms of the EC directive 79/409 on the conservation of wild birds. Copies of each report for the years 1987 to 1991 have been placed in the Library of the House.

  RECHAR
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when transitional arrangements for RECHAR funding in 1992–93 will be announced.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The transitional arrangements for 1992–93 for the provision of public expenditure cover for European regional development fund grants to be received, including those under the European Community's RECHAR initiative, will be announced very soon.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 9 June,Official Report, columns 155-56, if he will extend the policy of strict control over development proposals for sites of special scientific interest to one of complete protection unless a question of public safety is at stake.

  Mr. Maclean
  No. I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning on 24 September 1991 announcing additional safeguards for SSSIs which are now incorporated in DOE circular 1/92.

  I also refer the hon. Member to the consultation draft of the planning policy guidance note on nature conservation.

  I will arrange for these documents to be sent to the hon. Member.

  Traffic, Greenwich
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 9 June,Official Report, column 154, if he will publish figures on the increase in black smoke concentrations in the Greenwich area in recent years.
  446
  Mr. Maclean
  The annual mean black smoke concentrations measured at the Greenwich site in u.g/m3 were as follows:

  Year

  1985–86

  7

  1986–87

  13

  1987–88

  11

  1988–89

  14

  1989–90

  18

  1990–91

  20

  Waltham Forest HAT
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to agree a corporate plan with the Waltham Forest housing action trust.

  Mr. Baldry
  A corporate plan has not yet been received from the Waltham Forest housing action trust. It will be agreed as soon as possible after receipt.

  Mortgage Repossessions
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on how many home owners threatened with repossession by banks and building societies have been assisted in each London borough in 1991 and 1992.

  Mr. Baldry
  Figures are not available in the form requested. The Council of Mortgage Lenders estimates that the combined effect of measures taken by the Government and lenders since December 1991 will save some 55,000 repossessions in the United Kingdom this year.

  Mineral Planning
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who appoints members of mineral planning authorities; to whom they report; and what are their terms of reference.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 15 June 1992]: Within the shire counties, London and the metropolitan districts, the members of the mineral planning authorities are not appointed but are elected through the local government elections. In national parks, the Secretary of State appoints one third of the members of the mineral planning authority, the remaining two thirds are appointed by the local authorities involved.

  Members of mineral planning authorities would normally report to the chairperson of any committee on which they sit; in national parks they would normally report to the chairman of the board or committee of the park.

  There are no fixed terms of reference for mineral planning authorities.

  Ferro-Alloys Chimney
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how emission levels from the Ferro-Alloys chimney in Glossop will be monitored by his Department to ensure there is no breaching of the limits laid down by it.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 12 June 1992]: Emissions from the chimney at Ferro-Alloys, Glossops, will be

  447
  monitored continuously using recording instruments. The records will be scrutinised by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution.

  Housing, Liverpool
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many private and public sector properties are currently vacant in the city of Liverpool; what incentives he will provide to Liverpool city council to introduce homesteading schemes; what penalties he will impose on private and public sector landlords who fail to let properties; what is the estimated annual rent and community charge lost on empty private and public sector properties(a) throughout the United Kingdom and (b) in Liverpool; if he will meet leaders of Liverpool city council to discuss a plan of action; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  [pursuant to his answer, 3 June 1992, c. 542]: At 1 April 1991, the number of vacant properties in Liverpool was 5,733 local authority, 843 housing association and 7,908 privately owned.

  As far as local authority stock is concerned, the housing subsidy rules penalise those councils that have more than 2 per cent. of their stock empty and reward those who do better. To further encourage best use of housing resources the Department will be introducing a pilot scheme to promote homesteading of local authority stock, linked with the estate action programme. For private homes, we do not believe that property owners should be forced to let accommodation against their will but our policies are geared to creating the conditions to encourage landlords to let their properties.

  The estimated rent loss, for 1991–92, on empty public sector properties was over £136 million for England and £6.4 million for Liverpool. There are no figures available for the private sector.

  There are no personal community charge losses on empty properties although the council can levy a standard community charge on most unoccupied domestic properties. This can act as an incentive for landlords to find tenants.

  My right hon. and learned Friend will be replying shortly to an invitation from Councillor Harry Rimmer, leader of Liverpool city council, to visit the city. The estate action programme and the vacant dwellings initiative and the prospect of a housing action trust are examples of joint initiatives tackling the city's housing problems. In addition, the council's success in round one of city challenge will lead to a major transformation in the city centre with substantial benefits for its residents.

  Cash Limits
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any further changes to announce his Department's cash limits for 1992–93.

  Mr. Howard
  [pursuant to his answer, 4 June 1992, c. 608]: In addition, subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate the DOE/UA non-voted cash limit will be increased by £159,492,000 from £829,603,000 to £989,095,000. This includes £22,992,000 transferred from the Department of Trade and Industry for inner cities task forces' projects.

  It also includes an increase in grant in aid of £49,300,000 to the London Docklands development
  448
  corporation for the eastern extension of the docklands light railway and capital expenditure relating to the railway.

  Also, £81,800,000 is transferred from the Department of Transport to enable the corporation to take over operational responsibilities for the railway.

  A net figure of a further £5,400,000 is required for setting up the Birmingham development corporation, progressing the Bristol spine road, supporting the Manchester Olympic bid committee's preparation of the bid for the 2000 Olympics and transferring inner cities research to the Department's housing vote.

  All these changes are either claims on the reserve or are offset elsewhere and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Law of the Sea
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what efforts are being made by his Department to bring into force the United Nations convention on the law of the sea.

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

  We are working towards the achievement of a universally acceptable convention. While many of the provisions of this convention are helpful, there are serious objections to part XI, concerning sea-bed mining.

  On 16 and 17 June my officials will be participating in informal consultations chaired by the United Nations Secretary-General in order to seek solutions to the problems in part XI.

  Disabled People (Access)
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what controls or incentives, such as might be incorporated into the grant system, his Department offers to the managers of sub-post offices to assist them in undertaking the necessary work to make their premises and services accessible for disabled people.

  Mr. Leigh
  I have been asked to reply.

  There is no Government scheme for offering grants to sub-postmasters to assist them in making their premises and services available for the disabled. The provision of premises to an acceptable standard for carrying on Post Office Counters business is a matter for the sub-postmaster, usually at his or her own expense, as laid down in the sub-postmasters' standard contract conditions.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Items in Lieu of Tax
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if there have been any items accepted in lieu of tax or allocated since his announcement on 3 June.

  Mr. Mellor
  Since my announcement on 3 June,Official Report, column 570, I am pleased to inform the House of the acceptance of a further six offers: a painting, "Up and Out" by Richard Hamilton in lieu of £7,000; Hambledon cricket club account book in lieu of £39,120; two paintings, "John Frederick Sackville, 3rd Duke of Dorset" by Sir Joshua Reynolds and "Lady Frances Cranfield" by Sir Anthony Van Dyck in lieu of £404,544; two busts by

  449
  Rysbrack in lieu of £418,920; a painting "Lady Charlotte Bonham-Carter" by Peter Greenham in lieu of £8,500; and land known as Nolands farm in lieu of £57,920.

  The paintings "Up and Out" and "Lady Charlotte Bonham-Carter" have been allocated to the Tate gallery. The two paintings by Reynolds and Van Dyck "John Frederick Sackville, 3rd Duke of Dorset" and "Lady Frances Cranfield" are to remain at Knole house, and the Rysbrack busts are to remain at Hagley hall. Nolands farm has been allocated to the National Trust. No decision has yet been taken on the allocation of the Hambledon cricket club account book.

  Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received about the situation within and around the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 12 June 1992]:I am in close touch with the Arts Council about the situation and shall be seeing the chairman of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society on 16 June.

  I am anxious that the current high artistic standing of the Royal Liverpool philharmonic orchestra under its music director, Libor Pesek, should not be jeopardised.

EDUCATION

  Market Testing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list all those functions and areas in his Department and associated agencies that have been identified for market testing in the wake of the White Paper "Competing for Quality".

  Mr. Forman
  The programme for market testing activities within the Department and the Teachers' Pensions Agency in 1992–93 and later years has yet to be finalised.

  School Premises
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will now repeal DES regulation 909; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department is currently reviewing the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981, SI No. 909, as amended, in conjunction with the Welsh Office. While the review is in progress, the 1981 regulations will remain in force. The results of the review are expected to be available later this year.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is his estimate of the consequence of DES regulation 909 so far as the upgrading of school playing fields is concerned.

  Mr. Forth
  The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981, SI No. 909, introduced new quality and suitability requirements for playing fields in addition to minimum area standards. In the 1986 survey of school buildings, local education authorities reported that 5 per cent. of primary and 6 per cent. of secondary schools in the sample needed resources to bring their playing fields up to 450
  the 1981 regulation standards. The national estimate of cost, based on the figures reported, is £60 million at November 1985 prices, or £66 million at first quarter 1992 prices.

  The survey did not identify the type of improvements in quality and suitability which may have been required. Some of the deficiencies will have been dealt with since 1986.

  Non-vocational Education
  Ms. Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will review the funding arrangements for adult education; and what representations he has received about the future of non-vocational education provision.

  Mr. Forman
  There is no need for a review. Funding arrangements in 1993–94 will reflect LEAs' changed duties under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. In calculating the transfer of funds from local authorities to the new further education sector, the Government will leave within local authority standard spending the resources attributable to those courses which fall to LEAs' responsibilities.

  My right hon. Friend has received a small number of representations about LEA expenditure on the further education of adults.

  Further Education Funding Council
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to fund the sixth forms of grant-maintained schools through the Further Education Funding Council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The Further Education Funding Council will not be responsible for funding sixth-forms of schools.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make his policy to require local education authorities to complete statutory special educational needs assessments within a six-month time period; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  On 11 June my noble Friend the Minister of State announced in another place the Government's wide-ranging proposals to legislate on special educational needs. They include regulating the time scales within which assessment procedures must be completed. We shall consult widely on the detail of our proposals.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Environmental Research Programmes
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he received a copy of the Advisory Committee on Science and Technology's report on environmental research programmes; and what responses he intends to make to the report.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The report by the Advisory Council on Science and Technology—ACOST—on environmental research programmes was received by the science and technology secretariat of the Cabinet Office in October 1991. The Government response will be sent to ACOST in July, and published in due course.

  Citizens Charter
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to make publicly available the background papers supporting the decision to develop the citizens charter; and what requests his Department has received to date for this information.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Citizens Charter policies have been fully set out in Cm 1599 and charters relating to individual services. I have had one request to make available unpublished factual and analytical material on the policy analysis reviews relating to the citizens charter, but the policy analysis review technique has not been used for many years.

  Departmental Policies
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster who is the Minister responsible for considering the environmental implications of all of his Department's policies; when that person was appointed; what actions his Department has taken since the appointment of a responsible Minister; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 15 June 1992]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 15 June, Official Report, column 399.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Tobacco
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Overseas Development Administration's policy towards the sponsoring of agricultural development schemes aimed at enhancing the growing of tobacco crops.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Tobacco is an important crop and a source of export earnings in some developing countries. There is, however, increasing evidence that the health risks associated with tobacco consumption will affect developing countries severely, especially by placing increasing burdens on their health budgets, which in most cases are inadequate to cope.

  In these circumstances, it has been Her Majesty's Government's policy since early 1991 that the overseas aid programme should not be used for any purpose which identifiably supports the tobacco sector. Accordingly, no new such bilateral commitments have been undertaken since then. We advocate that multilateral agencies to which we contribute should pursue a similar policy. In addition, we shall continue to help developing countries to reduce their tobacco consumption, and maintain our assistance to farmers dependent on tobacco crops to diversify into alternative activities. The same policy applies to our assistance in eastern Europe and the states of the former Soviet Union.

  Know-how Funds
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent projects in eastern Europe funded by the know-how fund have to meet environmental criteria; and if he will make a statement.
  452
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The know-how fund is a technical assistance programme and most of its projects are in sectors where environmental impact is limited or non-existent; for example privatisation, management training, accountancy development and the stimulation of small businesses. For those know-how fund projects with environmental aspects, the criteria used are the same as those operated for the rest of the UK aid programme. There is a tranche of the know-how fund that is available specifically to fund environmental projects.

  Community Environmental Action
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much is currently allocated by the Overseas Development Administration to assist community environmental action.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Overseas Development Administration does not collate data in the format requested. However, some examples of support for community environmental action are the 124 projects at a cost of about £13 million we fund with non-governmental organisations, and the western Ghats forestry project in southern India, to which we are contributing £25 million, which includes programmes for involving local community groups in the planning and management of the forest.

  Aid (Energy Efficiency)
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much is currently allocated by the Overseas Development Administration to provide more efficient domestic stoves, household lighting and cooling/refrigeration processes in lower-income countries.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Overseas Development Administration does not keep records in a form which classifies financial allocations across the aid programme in these categories. Within our allocations for research work £360,000 is committed to examining the more efficient design, production and marketing of domestic stoves.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what level of capital and technical assistance is granted by his Department to lower-income countries to develop training in designing energy efficient systems for use in homes, offices, agriculture and industry.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Overseas Development Administration does not keep records in a form which enables spending to be identified by the categories requested.

  Conservation Research
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much is allocated by the Overseas Development Administration to promote taxonomic and systematic conservation research.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Taxonomic studies form integral components of a number of natural resources management and conservation projects but disaggregated figures for taxonomy as such as not available. Examples include the central Amazonia flora and vegetation project in Brazil, a forest inventory and management project in
  453
  Ghana, a forest genetics project in Honduras and a plant biodiversity and conservation project in collaboration with the national museums of Kenya.

  Human Development Index
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to support the improvement of the human development index prepared by the United Nations Development Programme.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The United Kingdom welcomes the human development index and the annual human development report in which it appears as a useful contribution to the development debate. Significant improvements have been made since its introduction in 1990, particularly in the use of more recent source data. We will continue to support the report team in the United Nations Development Programme in further improving the index.

  Ethiopia
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United Kingdom Government will support the Ethiopian Government's request for aid for their emergency food security reserve.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have told the World Food Programme that it may draw on the 25,000 tonnes we have promised to supply to WFP's regular programme this year in order to meet this request.

  Southern Africa
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being taken to ensure that United Kingdom and European Community food aid arrives in southern Africa by the end of June; and what aid is provided for port rehabilitation, transport and management.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Food aid for southern Africa needs to flow steadily over the next few months to use all the transport capacity available, and ensure that the supplies do not arrive in the ports all at once. EC and UN food aid is planned with other donors on this basis. A logistics advice centre has recently been set up by the Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference and the World Food Programme in Harare to assist in the co-ordination of food deliveries.

  Support for the rehabilitation and development of ports and island transport routes is an important part of United Kingdom development aid to southern Africa, including over £17 million for the development of Maputo port, and £5.47 million for the repair and rehabilitation for Tanga port in Tanzania. Our present assistance for inland transport includes £31.5 million for the rehabilitation of the Limpopo and Nacala railways in Mozambique, £14 million from the northern transport corridor linking southern Malawi with Dar es Salaam, and £1.27 million for the rehabilitation of the Beira corridor railway.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Fishing Restrictions
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the administrative costs involved in enforcing the days at sea restrictions contained in the Sea Fish (Conservation) Bill.

  Mr. Curry
  The Bill's explanatory and financial memorandum indicates that the cost of administration and enforcement is provisionally estimated at £0.7 million in 1992–93, £2.3 million in 1993–94 and £1.4 million in 1994–95.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will press for other member states to adopt uniform days at sea regulations in line with those he proposes for the British fishing industry.

  Mr. Curry
  I confirm that we shall be pressing hard for other member states to reduce their fishing effort as part of their 1993–96 multi-annual guidance programme.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will bring forward amendments to the Sea Fish (Conservation) Bill to provide for the effect of bad weather on a fishing vessel's days at sea quota.

  Mr. Curry
  Days at sea will be allocated to fishing vessels on the basis of their 1991 track records and it will be possible for fishermen to appeal if they think that their record has been depressed by exceptionally bad weather in that year. Once initial allocations have been made, they will not be affected by bad weather in subsequent years.

  Fishing Boats (Decommissioning)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what sum the Government contribute as part of the European Community's fishing vessel decommissioning grant; what percentage this figure represents of the overall grant; and what are the contributions of other member states.

  Mr. Curry
  The decommissioning scheme which my right hon. Friend announced on 27 February is expected to cost £25 million. Council regulation 4028/86, as amended, provides for 50 per cent. of this to be reimbursed by the Community—70 per cent. if vessels are scrapped—but operation of the Community budget means that the greater part of any such reimbursement is funded by the Exchequer.

  Set-aside Systems
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to be able to publish full and final details of the new set-aside systems.

  Mr. Curry
  I hope that draft legal texts implementing the Council agreement will be adopted soon. The Commission must then table implementing regulations. Until these have been discussed and agreed in Brussels, we cannot finalise our own detailed national arrangements but we shall do our utmost to provide authoritative guidance as soon as possible.

  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with his EC counterparts on measures to ensure that member states implement the new arrangements for set-aside systems.
  455
  Mr. Curry
  Detailed Commission implementing rules will be discussed by member states once the legal texts implementing the Council's decision have been agreed. EC Agriculture Ministers are also considering proposals for a new, integrated administration and control system for certain aid schemes, including set-aside. If, despite these rules, other member states make payments to producers who have not met the appropriate set-aside requirement, their claims for EC reimbursement of the area payments can be disallowed.

  Rabies
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements he has made to safeguard Britain's high health standards on protection from rabies.

  Mr. Gummer
  Agreement was reached in the Agricultural Council on 15 June on the so-called "Balai" directive which lays down trading conditions for species not covered by other Community rules. These include a number of species currently subject to quarantine for rabies on import to the United Kingdom. The measure covers animals that are traded commercially—not pets accompanying travellers.

  The agreement includes strict measures to ensure against the possibility of rabies being introduced into this country. Quarantine remains where the risk of importing the disease exists. The only changes relate to cases where there is no such risk and only involve trade between approved operators after 1 January 1994.

  Our existing rules do not require quarantine for farm livestock, which, although susceptible to rabies, present no real disease risk. After January 1994, similar rules will apply to animals such as rabbits, born and bred in the holding of origin, which can be imported with the same degree of safety.

  We agreed some particularly tough rules to cover cats and dogs within this directive—that is, largely those imported for breeding purposes. If they are born, and have remained, in a single rabies-free premises, have been vaccinated, and the subsequent blood test has proved that vaccination has been effective, they may be exported to the United Kingdom without quarantine. They must also carry microchip identification, full and acceptable veterinary records, and be carried in an approved manner, in a special vehicle, directly from the place of origin to a previously notified destination where further checks may be carried out if necessary. The veterinary advice is clear that this constitutes as effective a safeguard against rabies as the quarantine system.

  Our present arrangements, including quarantine, will continue as far as pet animals are concerned. The arrangements agreed for commercially traded animals provide us with at least the same level of security as the existing system. EC Ministers and the Commission unanimously agreed that they would not contemplate changes in arrangements for pets unless these were at least as effective.

  This agreement is a further example of the success obtainable by Britain being at the heart of the Community. We have safeguarded the principle of the single market without lessening the protection of our nation from rabies. Also of importance, the Council agreed to continue with rabies eradication programmes on the continent. Some progress has been made already and we know that other
  456
  countries are determined to succeed. We all look forward to the day when the Community will be rabies free. The outcome recognises the special situation existing in the British isles and fully safeguards this country against the introduction of rabies.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Kilostream
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those areas of the United Kingdom where Kilostream facilities are not available to industry and commerce.

  Mr. Leigh
  It is a condition of British Telecom's licence that it provides leased circuits throughout its licensed area to meet all reasonable demands.

  Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme
  Mr. French
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many businesses have borrowed money under the small firms loan guarantee scheme in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Leigh
  The number of businesses is not available, some businesses having had two or more loans. However, the number of applications under the loan guarantee scheme in each of the last five years has been:

  Number

  1987–88

  1,222

  1988–89

  2,266

  1989–90

  3,204

  1990–91

  3,393

  1991–92

  2,950

  Power Stations
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate of the number of power stations in(a) Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) England that burn, or propose to burn, orimulsion; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Two power stations in England, at Ince in Cheshire and Richborough in Kent have permission under legislation preceding the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to burn limited amounts of orimulsion. Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution is considering two applications for authorisations in respect of proposals to burn orimulsion at Pembroke power station in Wales and Padiham power station in Lancashire, England. The electricity supply industry in Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters respectively for the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Aerospace
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate of the number of jobs provided by the British aerospace industry.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The latest official figures from the Business Monitor annual census of production is 174,000 in 1990.

  European Fighter Aircraft
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate of the number of jobs likely to be provided in the United Kingdom if the European fighter aircraft goes into full production.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Industry estimates vary between about 20,000 to 30,000 jobs provided or safeguarded directly, and a similar number indirectly with the supporting suppliers of goods and services.

  LINK
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many applications have been received for each category of programme under the LINK scheme; how many of these have been approved in each category; and if he will make a statement on the criteria used in accepting or rejecting an application.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  There are 30 programmes under the LINK scheme which fit into five broad categories. According to the records maintained by the LINK secretariat, by the end of March 1992 a total of 985 full proposals for projects under LINK programmes had been received, of which 380 had been approved. The table lists the numbers of full proposals and approved projects for each of the categories.

  Programme category

  Full proposals

  Approved projects

  Food and Biosciences

  346

  106

  Engineering

  294

  103

  Sensors and Measurement

  155

  73

  Electronics

  127

  72

  Materials and Chemicals

  66

  29

  It is for each programme management committee to decide on the criteria for accepting or rejecting a project within their programme. However, their criteria will include the scientific quality of the proposal and its industrial relevance, its applicability to the priority areas of the programme and the objectives of the LINK initiative. The programme management committees include a number of industrialists and academics who are experts in the topics covered by a specific programme and advise on the selection of projects.

  ICSTIS Trustees Compensation Fund
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much money has been collected through the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services trustees compensation fund; how this money has been spent; and if he will make a statement on how the contribution levels to the compensation fund were established.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services is a self-regulatory body for the premium rate service industry. The compensation funds for chatlines and live conversation services are the responsibility of independent trustees and questions about the funds should be addressed to them.

  Footwear
  Ms. Janet Anderson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on progress on the EC regulation seeking to introduce quantitative restrictions on the import of footwear from China.

  Mr. Needham
  Discussions between member states' officials are continuing in Brussels.

  British Nuclear Fuels Limited
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last met the chairman of BNFL to discuss the removal of civil service pension arrangements from workers being transferred to Urenco.

  Mr. Eggar
  I meet the chairman of British Nuclear Fuels plc from time to time to discuss a range of issues. It is not legally possible for staff transferred from BNFL to another company to remain in the relevant pension schemes. BNFL has made it clear that the new pension arrangements will be established following consultation with staff and trade union representatives and that the benefits of the new arrangements will be broadly equivalent to the current schemes.

  Prospectus Issues
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the previous investigations his Department has carried out into prospectus issues in respect of(a) listed or quoted companies or companies seeking a listing or quote on the stock exchange for their shares and (b) other companies.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  Inquiries by inspectors appointed under sections 432 and 442 of the Companies Act 1985 to investigate and report on the affairs and/or membership of companies are wide ranging. However, in some such cases, part of the investigation may relate to the circumstances surrounding and documentation relating to the issue or acquisition of shares. For example, of those reports under sections 432 and 442 published since 1 January 1987, the following make significant reference to such matters.

  Company Name

  Date of publication

  Aldershot Football Club Ltd.

  2 July 1987

  Milbury plc

  27 October 1988

  Westminster Property Group Limited

  County NatWest Limited

  20 July 1989

  County Natwest Securities Ltd.

  House of Fraser Holdings plc

  7 March 1990

  Aldermanhury Trust plc

  20 March 1991

  Sound Diffusion plc

  1 May 1991

  Rotaprint plc

  24 July 1991

  The Milford Docks Company

  16 January 1992

  BOM Holdings plc

  27 February 1992

  Copies of these reports are available in the Library.

  Market Testing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list all those functions and areas in his Department and associated agencies that have been identified for market testing in the wake of the White Paper "Competing for Quality".
  459
  Mr. Eggar
  My Department has not yet finalised its market testing programme. A statement will be made in due course.

  Departmental Library
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his policy on obtaining books, reports and video-cassettes for his departmental library at the request of hon. Members.

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department purchases the books and other information sources needed to carry out its work. Its library does not provide a service to hon. Members.

  Nuclear Materials
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what involvement Her Majesty's Government expect to have in the forthcoming review conference of the convention on the physical protection of nuclear materials.

  Mr. Eggar
  Given the United Kingdom's degree of expertise on physical protection, which has long been recognised internationally, Her Majesty's Government expect to play an important and constructive role in the forthcoming conference.

  Multi-level Marketing
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many complaints about multi-level marketing companies were received by his Department in the latest 12 months for which figures are available.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 12 June 1992]: Over the last 12 months we have received more than 500 written queries and possibly twice as many telephone queries on aspects of this subject. Most question the legality of schemes. Pyramid selling and similar selling schemes as specified in the Fair Trading Act 1973 are legal provided they comply with the relevant legislation.

  British Footwear Manufacturers Federation
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what dates his Department replied to the faxes from the British Footwear Manufacturers Federation dated 12 and 29 May.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 12 June 1992:] The fax message sent to my officials on 12 May contained information from the federation and thus called for no immediate reply. As regards the fax message sent to me on 29 May, my officials discussed it with the federation by telephone that day and I replied in writing on 9 June.

  Expo 92
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what is the country of origin of the bottled water being served in the English pavilion at Expo '92 in Seville; and how many restaurants and bars there are in the pavilion;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the reasons why no English wine is being served in the British pavilion at Expo '92 in Seville;

  (3) what is the country of origin of the wine being served in the English pavilion at Expo '92 in Seville; and what quantity of wine is held by each outlet.
  460
  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 15 June 1992]: A range of English wines is served in the British pavilion at Expo '92. At present the caterers hold a central stock of more than 50 cases as supplies for the three restaurants and one bar in the British pavilion. These stocks are replenished as required. Also, all the bottled water served in the British pavilion is British.

  EC Proposals
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the experts his Department consults on European Community proposals relating to trade and industry matters.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 15 June 1992]: My department undertakes extensive consultation with a range of expert bodies and individuals in respect of European Community proposals. They are too numerous to list.

  Military Equipment
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of total visible exports were accounted for by items falling under those tariffs heading which have been identified as covering purely military equipment in(a) 1990 and (b)

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 15 June 1992: Military equipment accounted for 2 per cent. of United Kingdom visible exports in 1991. Information for 1990 is not available.

  Note:
  1. Military equipment is defined, in terms of the Standard International Trade Classification (Revision 3), as aircraft and associated equipment (all tariff headings in division 79 other than those identified as "civil"; and excluding spacecraft and launch vehicles); warships (tariff heading 890600 100) and arms and ammunition for (military purposes) (division 98).

  Plutonium
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether plutonium originating in United Kingdom reactors has been exported to, or imported from foreign countries in(a) 1990, (b) 1991 and (c) the current year to date; and what plans there are for the export and import of plutonium in the remainder of the current year.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 15 June 1992]: Information about the imports and exports of civil plutonium is included in the plutonium figures published annually. For the 1989–90 and 1990–91 financial years, I refer the hon. Member to the press releases issued by the former Department of Energy and placed in the Library of the House on 18 October 1990 and 17 October 1991 respectively. Similar information will be published later this year in respect of the 1991–92 financial year. Future plans are a commercial matter for the importers and exporters of the plutonium.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with British Nuclear Fuels plc as to when the company intends to commission the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield.
  461
  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 15 June 1992]: The commissioning process is already under way. Radioactive fuel will be progressively introduced into the various sections of the plant starting in late 1992.

  Pressure Vessel Integrity Committee
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the names and qualifications of the Pressure Vessel Integrity Committee; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 15 June 1992]: The Pressure Vessels Consultative Committee acts as a forum for discussion of relevant national and EC legislation, and is one of the bodies consulted by the Department concerning proposed EC directives in its field. Its present membership is:

  PVCC Membership

  Name

  Mr. B. J. Darlaston

  Berkeley Research Laboratories

  Mr. G. Francom

  Associated Offices Technical Committee

  Mr. M. R. Collyer

  Air Products Ltd.

  Mr. R. K. Jones

  British Standards Institution

  Mr. A. Dewar

  National Power Ltd.

  Mr. D. C. Hoskins

  PowerGen plc

  Mr. J. N. Ruggles

  Cornhill Insurance plc

  Dr. K. Walkin

  Health and Safety Executive

  Dr. A. A. Denton

  Noble Denton International Ltd.

  Mr. J. L. Bayley

  —

  Mr. R. Houston

  British Gas plc

  Mr. J. M. G. Clark

  British Standards Institution

  Mr. M. Hayter

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Mr. R. F. R. Towndrow

  ICI

  Mr. J. A. W. McDonald

  Health and Safety Executive

  Mr. E. Crooks

  Health and Safety Executive

  Mr. J. Kimber

  Lloyds Register

  Mr. J. L. Hardy

  Power Generation Contractors Association

  Mr. T. V. Lipscomb

  NEI International Combustion Ltd.

  Mr. R. H. Shipman

  LPGITA

  Dr. R. Wallace

  Eagle Star Insurance Co. Ltd.

  Dr. J. R. West

  Babcock Energy Ltd.

  Mr. M. J. Willerton

  Beel Industry Boilers

  Mr. A. Morrow

  British Steel plc

  Coal Privatisation
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make public details of all communications he receives from the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission on the safety consequences of coal privatisation.

  Mr. Eggar
  [pursuant to the reply, 22 May 1992, c. 332]: I have today received a letter from Sir John Cullen on the safety implications of the privatisation of the coal industry. Copies of Sir John's letter have been placed in the Library of the House. I welcome the constructive and positive approach the Commission have adopted.

  Coal Industry Safety Inspectors
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many coal industry safety inspectors per 1,000 men were employed in each year from 1985 to 1991.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I have been asked to reply.
  462
  Available estimates of the number of Health and Safety Executive district mines inspectors per 1,000 employees in coal mining are:

  Number

  1985–86

  0.30

  1986–87

  0.35

  1987–88

  0.40

  1988–89

  0.42

  1989–90

  0.43

  1990–91

  0.41

WALES

  Council Sales
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the amount of receipts realised by each county council in Wales from the sales of buildings and land and the amount of receipts currently retained; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information available, which includes receipts from the sale of land, buildings, vehicles and other equipment, is given in the table:

  £000

  Receipts from the sale of fixed assets1

  Unredeemed set aside receipts2

  Clwyd

  17,955

  6,586

  Dyfed

  4,851

  296

  Gwent

  15,948

  1,296

  Gwynedd

  1,975

  2

  Mid Glamorgan

  5,759

  545

  Powys

  2,571

  200

  South Glamorgan

  37,895

  1,255

  West Glamorgan

  5,021

  0

  Total counties3

  91,975

  10,180

  1 Capital receipts in the period 1986–87 to 1990–91 inclusive. Information relating to earlier years is not readily available.

  2 Reserved part of capital receipts, set aside but not yet redeemed, at 31 March 1991.

  3 Excluding joint police authorities.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of the amount of cash realised from the sale of council houses in each of the district and borough councils in Wales giving the numbers of houses sold in each location and indicating the current amount of receipts retained by each local authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Information relating to numbers of houses sold is given in the table. Regarding receipts from council house sales, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Monmouth on 4 February 1992. For receipts set aside and not yet redeemed, the latest available information is that included in the reply given to the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones) on 22 January 1992.

  Council houses sold 1981–82 to 1990–91 inclusive

  Number

  Alyn and Deeside

  1,484

  Colwyn

  801

  Delyn

  1,355

  463

  Number

  Glyndwr

  1,255

  Rhuddlan

  919

  Wrexham Maelor

  3,547

  Carmarthen

  1,192

  Ceredigion

  1,421

  Dinefwr

  892

  Llanelli

  3,350

  Preseli Pembroke

  2,277

  South Pembrokeshire

  879

  Blaenau Gwent

  2,363

  Islwyn

  3,675

  Monmouth

  1,878

  Newport

  4,050

  Torfaen

  3,723

  Aberconwy

  1,724

  Arfon

  1,382

  Dwyfor

  392

  Meirionnydd

  897

  Ynys Mon

  1,654

  Cynon Valley

  1,503

  Merthyr Tydfil

  2,276

  Ogwr

  4,609

  Rhondda

  751

  Rhymney Valley

  3,712

  Taff Ely

  3,900

  Brecknock

  1,444

  Montgomeryshire

  1,350

  Radnorshire

  573

  Cardiff

  7,663

  Vale of Glamorgan

  2,827

  Port Talbot

  3,486

  Lliw Valley

  1,916

  Neath

  2,427

  Swansea

  4,068

  TOTAL

  83,615

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 9 June,Official Report, column 119, what information he has on the election of chairmen or women by the training and enterprise councils in Wales; on what dates they were each elected; for what period they were elected; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The following information is provided in respect of TEC chairmen in Wales:

  TEC

  Chairman

  In post from

  North West Wales

  Mr. T. Jones

  March 19901

  North East Wales

  Mr. J. Troth

  November 19891

  Powys

  Mr. D. Margetts

  April 19901

  Mid Glamorgan

  Mr. Phillips

  September 19891

  Gwent

  Mr. L. Quinn

  March 19901 to October 1990

  Mr. G. Canning

  October 1990

  South Glamorgan

  Mr. R. Helliwell

  January 19901 to March 1992

  Mr. E. Crawford

  April 1992

  West Wales

  Me. P. Allen

  November 19891 to July 1990

  Mr. R. Hastie

  July 1990

  1 Commencement of TEC development phase.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 9 June,Official Report, column 119, if he will place in the Library a copy of the eligibility criteria for the chairmen of training and enterprise councils in Wales.
  464
  Mr. David Hunt
  The eligibility criteria for the TEC directors and chairmen are laid out in paras 6.3 and 6.4 of the TEC operating agreement 1992–93, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Cardiff Bay Barrage
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of Cardiff Bay development corporation concerning the rise in the cost of construction of the proposed Cardiff bay barrage since November 1990; to what extent such an increase is attributable to(a) inflation and (b) design changes; for (b) if he will give details; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have regular discussions with the chairman of Cardiff Bay development corporation about a range of issues, as do my officials and officers of the corporation.

  In November 1990 the development corporation issued and EC prequalification notice which showed the estimated cost of construction of the proposed Cardiff bay barrage as £86 million at November 1988 prices. No recosting exercise was undertaken for the purposes of the prequalification notice since it was intended to be purely indicative for companies with an interest in tendering formally at a later stage. The equivalent figure in the prequalification notice issued this month was £112 million at 1991–92 prices.

  Of the change, £7.9 million is attributable to design changes and the remainder to inflation and roundings in the November 1988 price figure.

  The main details of the design changes were:

  (i) outer harbour dredging;

  (ii) additional fish pass requirements;

  (iii) change to the way in which the barrage meets land at Queen Alexandra dock;

  (iv) change of embankment cross section;

  (v) amendments to the design and size of the then proposed feeding ground at Wentloog lagoon.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will extend his policy of strict control over development proposals for sites of special scientific interest to one of complete protection unless there is a question of public safety at stake.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The revised arrangements published in Welsh Office circular 1/92 should ensure that nature conservation interests are adequately protected in the consideration of applications for planning permission. I have no proposals to extend them.

  Parc Slip Opencast Site
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to publish his inspector's report on the public inquiry held last July into the British Coal opencast executive's application to extend the Parc Slip opencast site at Cefn Cribwr towards Kenfig hill.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The inspector's report will be published when my decision letter on the planning appeal is issued. The case is currently receiving consideration and a decision will be issued as soon as possible.

  Minerals Planning Guidance 3
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the review he is undertaking of minerals planning guidance 3.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  As part of the monitoring of minerals planning guidance Note 3, views were sought on how well the guidelines were operating and whether they had created any problems. The responses of consultees are currently being evaluated and, in the light of the results of that evaluation, we shall consider whether there is a need for any revision of minerals planning guidance note 3. A decision will be announced as soon as possible.

  National Opera House
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a copy of the report he commissioned into the engineering and financial feasibility of the proposed new home in Cardiff bay for the Welsh national opera house.

  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answer 12 June 1992]: I hope to do so shortly.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Lignite Resources
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the quality and extent of lignite resources confirmed in the Ballymoney area of Co. Antrim.

  Mr. Atkins
  Consultants have, on behalf of the Department of Economic Development, carried out an initial study which estimated a lignite resource at Ballymoney of almost 350 million tonnes. The licensee has carried out more extensive prospecting work and estimates the total resource to exceed 600 million tonnes. In general terms, lignite has an energy value approximately one third of that of hard coal. Precise details on the quality of the Ballymoney resource are commercially confidential.

  Schools
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils are at each of(a) the primary and (b) secondary schools in the constituency of Newry and Armagh in (i) the maintained, (ii) the controlled and (iii) the integrated sectors of education.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested is as follows:

  Numbers

  Primary schools maintained

  Anamar, Crossmaglen, Newry

  76

  Armagh Christian Bros, Armagh

  463

  Carrickrovaddy, Newry

  34

  Clady (St. Michael's), Armagh

  38

  Clay, Keady, Armagh

  70

  Clonalig, Newry

  181

  Cloughoge, Newry

  379

  Collegeland, Dungannon

  42

  Dromintee, Newry

  133

  Glassdrummond, Armagh

  88

  Jonesborough, Newry

  142

  Killeen, Newry

  111

  Lissummon, Newry

  36

  466

  Numbers

  Loughgall, Loughgall

  45

  Middletown boys', Armagh

  52

  Mount St. Catherine's, Armagh

  467

  Newtownhamilton (St. Michael's), Newtownhamilton

  97

  Our Lady's, Keady

  43

  St. Brigid's, Newry

  139

  St. Brigid's, Belleeks, Newry

  85

  St. Clare's Convent, Armagh

  248

  St. Clare's Convent, Newry

  654

  St. Colman's Abbey, Newry

  721

  St. Colmcille's, Armagh

  29

  St. James', Markethill

  48

  St. James', Tandragee

  68

  St. Jarlath's, Dungannon

  157

  St. Joseph's Convent, Newry

  453

  St. Joseph's, Armagh

  133

  St. Joseph's, Poyntzpass, Newry

  91

  St. Joseph's, Killeavy

  175

  St. Joseph's, Bessbrook, Newry

  406

  St. Lawrence's, Belleeks, Newry

  54

  St. Louis' Convent, Middletown

  51

  St. Malachy's, Armagh

  76

  St. Malachy's, Chapel Lane, Armagh

  210

  St. Malachy's, Camlough, Newry

  283

  St. Malachy's Carnagat, Newry

  454

  St. Mary's Boys', Keady, Armagh

  233

  St. Mary's, Tassagh, Armagh

  69

  St. Mary's, Jerrettspass, Newry

  53

  St. Mary's, Mullaghbawn, Newry

  226

  St. Mochua's, Keady, Armagh

  104

  St. Oliver Plunkett, Newry

  92

  St. Oliver, Plunkett, Armagh

  111

  St. Patrick's Boys', Newry

  382

  St. Patrick's, Crossmaglen, Newry

  323

  St. Patrick's, Armagh

  533

  St. Patrick's, Cullyhanna, Newry

  282

  St. Peter's, Bessbrook

  274

  Tullyheron, Mountnorris

  48

  Tullymore, Armagh

  56

  Tullysaran, Armagh

  77

  Primary schools controlled

  Aghavilly, Armagh

  90

  Ahorey, Portadown

  21

  Annaghmore, Portadown

  79

  Armstrong, Armagh

  400

  Bessbrook, Newry

  118

  Cabra, Tandragee, Portadown

  30

  Clare, Tandragee, Craigavon

  69

  Collone, Armagh

  127

  Cormtamlet, Newry

  39

  Darkley, Armagh

  110

  Derryhale, Portadown

  80

  Drumhillery, Armagh

  68

  Drumsallen, Armagh

  47

  Foley, Armagh

  102

  Hamiltonsbawn, Armagh

  112

  Hardy Memorial, Armagh

  492

  Keady, Armagh

  44

  Killylea, Armagh

  85

  Kingsmills, Armagh

  27

  Kinnego, Dungannon

  23

  Lisdrumchor, Armagh

  27

  Lisnadill, Armagh

  71

  Mountnorris, Armagh

  76

  Mullaghglass, Newry

  69

  Mullavilly, Tandragee

  68

  Newry Model, Newry

  35

  Newtownhamilton, Newry

  119

  Poyntzpass, Newry

  69

  Tandragee, Tandragee

  321

  The Cope, Armagh

  113

  Tullyroan, Dungannon

  40

  Windsor Hill, Newry

  216

  Secondary schools maintained

  St. Brigid's High, Armagh

  278

  467

  Numbers

  St. Catherine's College, Armagh

  843

  St. Joseph's Boys' High, Newry

  451

  St. Joseph's High, Crossmaglen

  568

  St. Mary's Girls' High, Newry

  550

  St. Patrick's High, Keady

  843

  St. Paul's High, Newry

  1,265

  Controlled

  Armagh, Armagh

  579

  Markethill High, Markethill

  445

  Newry High, Newry

  570

  Newtownhamilton High, Newtownhamilton

  97

  Tandragee Junio High, Tandragee

  318

  Grammar schools voluntary

  Abbey, Newry

  710

  Our Lady's Newry

  812

  Sacred Heart, Newry

  807

  St. Colman's College, Newry

  770

  The Royal School, Armagh, College Hill, Armagh

  643

  There are no integrated schools in the area.

  Notes:
  1 Enrolment figures are taken from the annual school census, completed at January each year.
  2 Pupils enrolled in nursery classes in primary schools are included in the enrolment figures.

  Metal-framed Windows
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place in the Library a copy of the report by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive into the replacement of metal-framed windows and the fairness of the programme in the various parts of the Province.

  Mr. Atkins
  I am advised by the chairman of the Housing Executive that the executive is carrying out a survey into the extent of the replacement of metal windows over the last three years. The survey will also list the stock which still has metal windows. It is intended to provide a data base which will be kept updated as renovation schemes are completed and dwellings sold or demolished. Although this is an internal executive survey, I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Gentleman with the results when the work is completed in a few weeks.

  Housing Grants
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 9 June,Official Report, column 109, what was the basis for the decision at his Office to refuse to accept all new preliminary applications after 28 February for housing grants other than applications for special grants and grants dealing with statutory notices; and when it is expected that the new renovation grants scheme will be introduced.

  Mr. Atkins
  It is anticipated that the new renovation grant scheme will come into operation on 1 October 1992.The suspension of the acceptance of new preliminary applications for grant is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but the chairman has advised me that the decision was taken to enable those preliminary applications already in the pipeline to be processed to formal application stage, where possible, before the introduction of the new legislation, since from that date the executive will be statutorily debarred from accepting formal applications under the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1983. Grant applications approved or processed to 468
  the formal stage by that date can be paid under the 1983 order because transitional arrangements for these have been included in the proposed new legislation. The executive was conscious that, had it continued to accept preliminary applications it would have done so in the knowledge that applicants who may have incurred expenditure would not have been able to progress their applications to formal application stage by October 1992.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Relocation
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what future plans he has to relocate civil service posts from the south-east of England to elsewhere in the United Kingdom; what departments and how many staff will be affected; what is their expected relocation; and if he will will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The table lists, with likely timings, the plans which Departments and agencies have announced for relocations or locations away from the south-east which have still to be implemented or completed.

  Department and dispersal location

  Number of posts

  Likely timing

  Defence

  Bristol

  3,000

  1995–96

  Brampton or Wyton

  380

  1994–95

  Bath

  250

  1994

  Insworth

  120

  1994–95

  3,750

  Inland Revenue

  Middlesbrough

  185

  1991–92

  Sunderland

  190

  1991–92

  Barnsley

  170

  1992

  Birkenhead

  170

  1992

  Dundee

  160

  1992

  Falkirk

  160

  1992

  Hull

  180

  1992

  Leicester

  160

  1992

  St. Austell

  160

  1992

  Swansea

  165

  1992

  Wrexham

  180

  1992

  Nottingham

  1,800

  1992–95

  Washington

  60

  1992

  3,740

  Social Security

  Leeds

  662

  1992–93

  Belfast

  500

  1993

  Birkenhead

  500

  1993

  Dudley

  500

  1993

  Falkirk

  500

  1993

  Plymouth

  500

  1993

  3,162

  Home Office

  Ruddington

  120

  1992

  Birmingham

  12

  1992–93

  Derby

  1,700

  1993–95

  1,832

  Customs and Excise

  Liverpool

  1,290

  1990–95

  Manchester

  390

  1990–95

  Newry

  94

  1992–93

  1,774

  469

  Department and dispersal location

  Number of posts

  Likely timing

  Employment Group

  Runcorn

  400

  1990–93

  Sheffield

  848

  1990–93

  Aberdeen

  85

  1992–94

  Bootle

  56

  1992–94

  1,389

  Health

  Leeds

  1,200

  1992–93

  MAFF

  York

  1,000

  1994–96

  Land Registry

  Birkenhead

  110

  1992–93

  York

  110

  1992–94

  220

  Treasury

  Norwich

  200

  1992–95

  Crown Prosecution Service

  York

  50

  1993–94

  Total

  18,317

  Premium Bonds
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to change the premium bond prize scheme when the national lottery is introduced; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  I have no present plans to change the existing premium bond prize scheme.

  Market Testing
  Mr. McAllion
  to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all those functions and areas in his Department and associated agencies that have been identified for market testing in the wake of the White Paper "Competing for Quality".

  Mr. Portillo
  Following the publication of "Competing for Quality", a review of the scope for market testing services in the Treasury has been undertaken and an announcement about the target for market testing in 1992–93 will be made shortly.

  Bank of Credit and Commerce International
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the purpose of the meeting between Treasury officials and Mr. Jerry Walters from Messrs. Simmonds and Simmonds concerning BCCI on 10 June; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  A delegation including Mr. Jerry Walters attended a meeting at the Treasury on 10 June to discuss European directives. BCCI was not raised.

  North Sea Oil
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the Government's total income, to date, from North sea oil since 1979.
  470
  Mr. Dorrell
  Total revenues to the Exchequer from the North sea since 1979–80 have been £71 billion.

  Lloyd's Underwriters
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total estimated value of the tax changes provided in the Lloyd's Underwriters (Tax) (1989–90) Regulations 1992, SI 1992 No. 511 which came into force on 28 March; what consultations were held with which parties prior to laying the regulations on 6 March; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The regulations involve no change in underwriters' tax liabilities or retrospective tax concessions. They renew for a further year the improved administrative arrangements, introduced last year, whereby the underwriter's agent is made responsible for accounting for tax due at the basic rate on the underwriter's profits. Before their introduction in 1991, these new arrangements were discussed with Lloyd's.

  Charitable Status
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the loss to tax revenue if the governing bodies of amateur sport were to be granted charitable status.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I regret that the information requested is not available. Charities enjoy exemption from tax only on income which is applied to charitable purposes, or where it arises as part of the exercise of a primary purpose of the charity or from a trade carried out by the beneficiaries of the charity. Sport is not a charitable activity.

  Stamp Duty
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost to public funds hitherto of the provisions of the Stamp Duty (Temporary Provisions) Act 1992.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The cost of the increase in the stamp duty threshold from £30,000 to £250,000 for eight months from 20 December 1991 will be about £400 million —£110 million in 1991–92 and £290 million in 1992–93.

  Agencies
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance the Treasury is providing on the setting of targets for executive agencies.

  Mr. Portillo
  A booklet prepared by HM Treasury entitled "Executive Agencies: A Guide to Setting Targets and Measuring Performance" is today published by HMSO. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

  A draft of this guide was printed in the report of the Treasury and Civil Service Committee on the "next steps" initiative, in July 1991 (No. 496).

  The guide describes targets for financial performance, quality, efficiency, and other aspects of performance, and makes suggestions on how to assess the results. Although primarily addressed to advisers in Government Departments, it will be of interest to managers in all the public services, and to all who are concerned with improving the performance of their organisations in accordance with the citizens charter.

  VAT
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list those commodities and services currently rated for VAT(a) at zero and (b) at a level below the maximum and indicate which of those would be enshrined or protected by the terms of the Maastricht treaty;

  (2) if he will list those commodities and services currently rated for VAT (a) at zero and (b) at a level below the maximum and indicate which of those would be enshrined or protected by the terms of the draft European directive on VAT.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 15 June 1992]: Those goods and services which are currently zero-rated for VAT are as follows. There is no reduced rate category in the United Kingdom.
  Food, including animal feeding stuffs (i)
  Sewerage services and water (ii)
  Books, booklets, pamphlets and leaflets, newspapers, journals and periodicals, sheet music, maps, charts and topographical plans.
  Talking books for the blind and handicapped and wireless sets for the blind.
  Fuel and power (ii)
  Construction of buildings (iii)
  Reconstruction of protected buildings
  International services
  Transport (iv)
  Residential caravans and houseboats (v)
  Gold (vi)
  Bank notes.
  Drugs, medicines, aids for the handicapped.
  Certain supplies connected with imports and exports to overseas bodies in connection with international collaboration on defence projects.
  Certain supplies made by or to charities.
  Young children's clothing and footwear.
  Protective boots and helmets.

  Notes

  (i) excludes the supply of food in the course of catering and certain items such as confectionery, crisps and packaged pet food.

  (ii) zero-rating applies to domestic use only.

  (iii) excludes commercial buildings.

  (iv) excludes the supply of ships and aircraft used for recreation or pleasure.

  (v) excludes holiday accommodation.

  (vi) zero-rating applies to transactions between central banks and the London Gold Market.

  The latest text of the EC draft directive on the approximation of VAT rates contains provision for member states which as at 1 January 1991 applied a lower rate, including zero-rates, than the minimum laid down for the reduced rate, in accordance with Community law then in force, to retain those rates.

  VAT rates are not affected by the Maastricht treaty.

HEALTH

  Children Act 1989
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the operation of the Children Act 1989, since its implementation.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There has been a positive and enthusiastic response to the Act from those in the statutory and voluntary sector. The Children Act is the most important step forward this century in the protection afforded vulnerable children in our society. The Act is 472
  operating well. At the end of this year I shall be submitting a report to Parliament on the first year of the Act in operation.

  Elderly People
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance on good practice she gives hospitals and health authorities on the provision of long-term hospital accommodation for the elderly.

  Mr. Sackville
  We made it clear in "Caring for People" that we expect health authorities to purchase continuous residential health care for those highly dependent elderly people who need it. We believe that such care is best provided in small, homely units in the community.

  Health Promotion
  Mr. Enright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations she has received regarding the proposed White Paper on health promotion.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  About 2,100 responses have now been received in response to the "Health of the Nation" Green Paper. We welcome this evidence of the very wide interest in the Government's initiative to improve health. We intend to publish our White Paper shortly.

  Residential Care
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she last met representatives of the Social Care Association to discuss residential care.

  Mr. Yeo
  We last met representatives of the Social Care Association in October 1990. Officials are in regular touch with the association.

  Mr. Bryan Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the resources to be transferred to local authorities for funding residential care.

  Mr. Yeo
  We are committed to providing adequate resources to enable local authorities to meet their new community care responsibilities. Decisions on the transfer and the overall level of resources required will be taken in the context of this year's local government expenditure survey.

  Air Ambulance Service (Cornwall)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial support her Department has given to the Cornwall first air ambulance service.

  Mr. Sackville
  The capital and running costs of Cornwall air ambulance service are provided by charitable donations. The paramedical services are provided by the Cornwall Community Healthcare Trust.

  Aids
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action the United Kingdom is taking through the World Health Organisation and the European Community to combat the global spread of AIDS.

  Mr. Yeo
  The United Kingdom has been an active supporter of the World Health Organisation's global
  473
  programme on AIDS since its inception and is currently the third largest donor. As a member state of the European Community, we provide support for the various EC AIDS initiatives, namely the "Europe against AIDS" programme, the AIDS task force and the EC biomedical and health research programme, which has a substantial AIDS component. The United Kingdom participates in the development of advice for the Council of Health Ministers through the ad hoc group on AIDS. We provide support for the European Community's AIDS progamme for developing countries through our contribution to the European Development Fund and the Community budget.

  Hospital Trusts
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals or units expressed an interest in acquiring NHS trust status(a) for April 1991, (b) for April 1992 and (c) for April 1993; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  A total of 83 hospitals and units expressed an interest in becoming NHS trusts from 1991, 66 applied and 57 were established. In the following year 130 expressed interest, 110 applied and 103 were established. The current position for the third wave of applications is that 154 hospitals and units have expressed an interest in becoming NHS trusts from April 1993 and 151 have so far applied. This is more than in either of the first two waves. This shows that staff and managers in the NHS increasingly are seeing trusts as the best way to improve services for patients.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many applications she has received for hospital trust status; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Moray (Mrs. Ewing), earlier today.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in Shropshire towards practice budgets for doctors and trust status for hospitals.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  There are currently five GP fund holders in Shropshire serving 12.7 per cent. of the population. A further four practices have applied for fund-holding status from April 1993, and if successful, 23 per cent. of the population of Shropshire will then be served by GP fund holders.

  We have received two formal applications for trust status from units in Shropshire: one from the Princess Royal hospital in Telford; and one from Shropshire mental health services. These applications are now out for formal public consultation.

  Health Authorities, Cumbria
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals she has to alter the boundaries of the three district health authorities in Cumbria.

  Mr. Sackville
  None at present. Northern regional health authority, together with its district health authorities (DHAs) and family health services authorities are currently considering the best way to develop DHAs' central role in purchasing health care on behalf of their residents; including the possibility of joint working with neighbouring authorities.

  Malpractice and Fraud
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will introduce a code of practice designed to protect the position of those NHS employees who draw attention to malpractice and fraud; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  It is important that all NHS staff should express professional concerns about health service issues to their managers. Employing authorities need to acknowledge this duty, but they must also retain the right to take action in cases of improper disclosure of confidential material, such as personal patient information. Staff aggrieved by any disciplinary action taken by their employer have recourse to established grievances procedures.

  Private Health Care
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what figures she has for the number of persons making private health care arrangements in west Cumbria.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Building Projects
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many national health service building projects have been completed in England since 1979; and how many are under way.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  More than 600 capital schemes, each costing more than £1 million, have been completed in the national health service since 1979. A further 400 such schemes are in various stages of planning, design and construction, of which 105 are currently under construction.

  Abortion
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many late abortions of pre-born children occurred after 18 weeks gestation during the last 12 months for which figures are available.

  Mr. Sackville
  There were 5,061 abortions over 18 weeks notified under the Abortion Act 1967 in England and Wales in the period 1 October 1990 to 31 September 1991, 2.8 per cent. of the total number.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many sterilisation and abortion operations have been performed on mentally disabled women in the last 12 months for which figures are available; what criteria were used in arriving at these decisions; and how many girls, under the age of 16 years, have been sterilised in the last 12 months for which figures are available, and on what grounds.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information about the number of sterilisation operations is not available in the form requested. Details of the medical condition recorded on abortion notification forms—including unspecified mental retardation—are given in table 27 of the 1990 "Abortion Statistics" (Series AB No. 17) published by the Office of
  475
  Population Censuses and Surveys, a copy of which is available in the Library. The criteria for reaching decisions vary from case to case and can involve relatives and carers, and possibly reference to the courts. The national health service "Hospital Episode Statistics" show that only one female sterilisation operation was performed on a patient under the age of 16 in England in 1990–91.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines are issued to health authorities concerning the use of amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling tests; how many tests were made under each procedure in the last year for which figures are available; how many pregnancies ended in spontaneous abortions following testing; how many ended in clinical abortions; how many babies born after being tested by CVS were discovered to have a physical or mental handicap; what evidence she has of links between the CVS test and disability; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Guidelines to providers of maternity services on the use of tests for fetal abnormalities are contained in the first report of the Maternity Services Advisory Committee: "Maternity Care in Action—Antenatal Care", at paragraph 4.27. Copies are available in the Library. Information on the number of tests carried out under each procedure is not held centrally.

  Information on the number of pregnancies which end in miscarriage following testing is not held centrally. Studies have indicated that amniocentesis is associated with miscarriage in one or two cases in every 200 where the procedure is used. It is more difficult to estimate the level of the association between miscarriage and chorionic villus sampling (CVS), because studies are unable to identify women who would have miscarried among those who request and have termination of pregnancy following a diagnosis of cytogenic abnormality. A recent randomised controlled trial carried out by the Medical Research Council compared CVS with amniocentesis and found that a woman undergoing CVS has a one in 20 less chance of a successful outcome to her pregnancy than a woman undergoing amniocentesis in the second trimester of pregnancy.

  Information on the number of pregnancies which ended in a termination following testing is not held centrally. It is likely that the majority of such terminations would be for chromosomal abnormality in the fetus, and in 1990 this condition was reported in 273 terminations (England and Wales).

  Following reports of a possible association between the use of CVS and the occurrence of limb reduction defects, an investigation was made by the European registration of congenital anomalies and twins (EUROCAT) into seven of its registries, covering 600,000 births. The investigation did not demonstrate a significantly increased risk associated with exposure to CVS in the areas covered by these seven registries.

  We are not aware of any evidence linking CVS with mental handicap.

  Community Care
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she next expects to meet representatives of local authorities to discuss the implementation of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990.
  476
  Mr. Yeo
  We have regular and constructive meetings with representatives of the local authority associations at which we discuss many aspects of social services provision including the implementation of our community care policy. We are next due to meet on 1 July.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many in-patients are waiting longer than a year for treatment; and what was the comparable number(a) in March 1979 and (b) in March 1991.

  Mr. Sackville
  Provisional figures for 31 March 1992 are given in the table. These show that between March 1979 and March 1992 the total number of in-patients waiting over a year fell by 63 per cent.

  In-patients waiting over 1 year

  Number waiting

  March 1979

  185,195

  March 1991

  170,065

  March 1992

  168,650

  1 Based on provisional figures from regional health authorities.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will arrange to collect centrally statistics on(a) first out-patient waiting lists, (b) in-patient 12 to 24 month waiting lists and (c) in-patient 0 to 12-month waiting lists.

  Mr. Sackville
  Figures for out-patient waiting times are not collected centrally, but all health authorities are required under the patients charter to publish information on the local standards they have set for waiting times for first out-patient appointments and on performance against these targets. The Department regularly publishes statistical bulletins which include the numbers of people waiting for in-patient and day case hospital treatment in the 0 to 12 and 12 to 24 month categories. The most recent information for the six months to September 1991 was published on 4 June. For provisional figures covering the period up to 30 April 1992, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby) on 10 June at columns 219-20.

  Residential Homes
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she has any proposals to change the current arrangements for the monitoring and inspection of private care or nursing homes.

  Mr. Yeo
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. McAllion) earlier today.

  Maternity Services
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of home confinements as a percentage of all live births in each NHS region since 1987.

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

  Home confinements as a percentage of all live births 1987–1991

  Regional Health Authority

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  England and Wales

  0.9

  0.9

  1.0

  1.0

  1.1

  Northern

  0.4

  0.5

  0.5

  0.4

  0.5

  477

  Regional Health Authority

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Yorkshire

  0.8

  0.9

  0.9

  0.8

  0.8

  Trent

  0.8

  0.8

  0.9

  0.9

  1.0

  East Anglian

  1.5

  1.6

  1.6

  1.6

  1.6

  North West Thames

  0.8

  0.7

  0.9

  1.0

  1.1

  North East Thames

  1.1

  1.1

  1.2

  1.3

  1.5

  South East Thames

  1.2

  1.4

  1.4

  1.7

  1.8

  South West Thames

  0.9

  1.0

  1.1

  1.1

  1.4

  Wessex

  0.9

  0.9

  1.1

  1.1

  1.2

  Oxford

  0.7

  0.8

  1.0

  0.9

  1.1

  South Western

  1.1

  1.4

  1.5

  1.7

  1.8

  West Midlands

  0.9

  0.8

  0.9

  0.9

  0.8

  Mersey

  0.5

  0.7

  0.7

  0.6

  0.8

  North Western

  0.6

  0.6

  0.8

  0.8

  0.7

  Adoptions
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations were made to the Romanian Committee for adoptions by the United Kingdom Government concerning the conditions on age of prospective adoptive parents incorporated in the agreement signed by the Department of Health on 19 March.

  Mr. Yeo
  The age of prospective adopting parents seeking to adopt a child from Romania was one of more than 40 conditions contained in the draft agreement prepared by the Romanian Committee for Adoptions in January this year. They were the subject of detailed negotiations with the committee before the agreement was signed on 19 March 1992.

  Discussions between the Department of Health, acting on behalf of the United Kingdom health departments, and the Romanian Committee for Adoptions took place between January and March prior to a team of officials from the Department of Health visiting Romania and continuing negotiations direct with the committee.

  The conditions contained in the agreement with the United Kingdom are essentially the same as for the signatories of 11 other countries. Without this agreement in place, prospective adopters are unable to apply to adopt a Romanian child.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of people aged(a) 18 years and below and (b) over 19 years who received out-patient dental treatment from the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale district health authority in each year from 1985, and from Burnley Health Care since its establishment as an NHS trust.

  Patient Transport Services 1988–89—1991–92

  Quality of service for South Yorkshire Ambulance Service

  Table 1

  Activation time

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  11991–92

  Total number of emergency calls

  57,580

  58,842

  64,863

  64,073

  Number where activation within three minutes

  50,516

  44,412

  56,041

  55,782

  Percentage of calls where activation within three minutes

  87.7

  75.5

  86.4

  87.1

  478
  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. W. Ashworth, chairman, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale health authority and Mr. J. H. C. Rawson, chairman, Burnley health care NHS trust for details.

  Finance
  Ms. Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been allocated in joint finance money by regional health authorities in England; and what proportion has been spent on projects for people with learning disabilities.

  Mr. Yeo
  Allocations to regional health authorities in England for joint finance total £134.696 million in 1992–93. Information is not collected centrally on spending by client group.

  Euthanasia
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the guidance she gives to health authorities about the receipt from patients of advance directives commissioning their killing by euthanasia administered by doctors and nurses.

  Mr. Sackville
  We have issued no guidance to health authorities on such directives. Patients are fully entitled to make known in advance their views on possible future medical treatment. Any health professional, however, whilst taking account of the patient's wishes, is bound by the law, and cannot be required to take any action which conflicts with this.

  South Yorkshire Ambulance Service
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received and what data she has in her possession concerning delays in(a) reception of 999 calls at the headquarters of the South Yorkshire ambulance service, (b) the dispatch of emergency calls from that headquarters and (c) the arrival of ambulance at an emergency incident; and what were the comparative figures for (i) 24 months, (ii) 36 months and (iii) 48 months ago.

  Mr. Sackville
  No recent representations have been received about the performance of the service.

  Call logging equipment in use at service headquarters during the last 18 months has shown that on average, 999 calls coming into service control take approximately five seconds to be answered.

  The latest activation and response time figures are given in the tables.
  479

  Table 2

  Response times

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  11991–92

  Total number of emergency calls

  57,580

  58,842

  64,863

  64,073

  Number where response within seven minutes

  18,470

  16,764

  20,246

  18,797

  Percentage of calls where response within seven minutes

  32.1

  28.5

  31.2

  29.3

  Number where response within 14 minutes

  44,210

  41,627

  48,877

  48,509

  Percentage of calls where response within 14 minutes

  76.8

  70.7

  75.4

  75.7

  1 Information supplied by South Yorkshire Ambulance Service: not validated centrally.

  War Pensioners
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes there have been since 1990 in the guidance given by her Department on priority treatment for war pensioners; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  There have been no changes. New guidance will be issued in the near future.

  Disability
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people claiming disability working allowance also receive health benefits; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available.

  Diabetes
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether Reflolux meters for monitoring blood count in the treatment of diabetics are available on prescription.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  A meter may be provided through the hospital service if the consultant in charge of the patient's care considers it clinically necessary. Meters are not available on prescription.

  Liver Transplants
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the annual cost of liver transplantation in the national health service.

  Mr. Sackville
  In the year ending 31 March 1992 expenditure on liver transplantation and associated follow-up services amounted to £13.7 million.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the provision for liver transplantation in the national health service; and what information she has on the number of patients waiting for, and in the convalescent period after, such transplants and the estimated distances such patients have to travel for treatment.

  Mr. Sackville
  The number of liver transplants performed in the United Kingdom rose from 21 in 1982 to 419 in 1991. A total of 64 patients were reported to be awaiting liver transplants at 30 April 1992. There are no figures held centrally on the numbers of people in convalescence following liver transplants.

  Information on the distances patients have to travel for transplant treatment is not collected centrally. There are
  480
  six designated centres where liver transplants are performed. Two of the hospitals are in London; the others are in Cambridge, Birmingham, Leeds and Newcastle. The provision of designated liver transplant centres is kept under constant review.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in how many answers from her Department to parliamentary questions in(a) the current and (b) the last session of Parliament hon. Members have been advised to contact the chairman of a district health authority; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Eleven so far in this Session and 33 in the 1991–92 Session.

  NHS Finance
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to collect centrally information on the amount of over or under-spending and the throughput of patients in each of the last five years of major general hospitals in each region.

  Mr. Sackville
  There are no current plans to require this information to be collected centrally.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list(a) the amount of over and under-spending in each of the last five years and (b) the throughput of patients over each of the last five years in the Warrington health authority.

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

  The information requested on throughput of patients is given in the table.

  Throughput of patients (patients treated per available bed):Warrington Health Authority

  Cases treated

  Available beds

  Throughput

  1986

  128,228

  2,434

  12

  1987–88

  130,330

  2,180

  14

  1988–89

  30,334

  2,056

  15

  1989–90

  32,300

  1,797

  18

  1990–91

  234,023

  1,532

  22

  Source: SH3, KH03, KP70.
  1 The figures for 1986/1987–88 have been converted from the old measurement of discharges and deaths into the present measurement of finished consultant episodes. During 1988–89, information on patient cases treated was collected on both bases to facilitate this conversion.
  2 The figures for 1990–91 are provisional.

  Charitable Fund Raising
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she will consider introducing guidelines for hospital trust charitable fund-raising organisations to avoid them competing for business with charitable fund raising for hospices.

  Mr. Sackville
  It is not for the Government to direct trustees of hospitals in their fund-raising ventures. We believe that the detail of fund-raising events are best decided at local level in the light of local needs and priorities.

  Child Care
  Ms. Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make money available to local authorities so that schools can provide pre-school and after-school care for children of working parents.

  Mr. Yeo
  It is inappropriate to use public funds to help all parents pay for day care services for their children. Public funds should be targeted on children in need.

  Multiple Sclerosis
  Ms. Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals she has to resite the Association for Research into Multiple Sclerosis following the proposed closure of the Central Middlesex hospital; and if she will take account of the needs of multiple sclerosis sufferers at present treated there.

  Mr. Sackville
  I am not aware of any proposals to close Central Middlesex hospital.

  The hospital provides accommodation and other assistance to the charity Action Research into Multiple Sclerosis. I understand that the charity's centre at the hospital has run into serious financial problems, putting at risk the therapy and diagnostic services it has been providing for between 400 and 500 patients.

  The Department of Health agreed in May to provide £75,000 to the Central Middlesex hospital to avoid disruption of treatment for patients.

  Blood Transfusion Service
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she has any plans to introduce screening for human T-cell leukaemia in the blood transfusion service.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe) on 15 June 1992 at columns 415-16.

TRANSPORT

  M25
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to complete his consultations and to publish his proposals for improving the M25 motorway between junctions 11 and 16.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Department announced its plans for improving the M25 last September. The next step will be a public exhibition of its proposals for increasing 482
  the capacity of the M25 beyond dual four lanes between junction 12 to 15. Work on widening the motorway to dual four lanes between junctions 15 and 16 is expected to start in the autumn. Consultants have not yet been appointed to investigate options for providing additional capacity between junctions 11 and 12.

  Road Safety Schemes
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what road safety schemes his Department is currently supporting; and how much funding is allocated to these schemes.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  A total of £31 million was earmarked for local safety schemes in the 1991–92 local roads capital settlement. A total of £43 million has been provided for this purpose in 1992–93. Information on individual schemes executed by local highway authorities using the funds is not readily available, but the average cost of a local safety scheme is about £10,000.

  The Department of Transport spent £10 million on about 300 safety schemes on its trunk roads in 1991–92. That rate of expenditure is expected to continue in 1992–93.

  Cars
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reports he has received on the hazards of electric windows in cars; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I have reports of two cases of electric windows in vehicles causing fatalities to children over the past six years, including the recent tragedy. Both accidents were caused by the children inadvertently actuating switches. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has now asked its members to review their designs and will shortly be meeting to discuss further action. I have asked to be kept informed of the outcome of these discussions. The vehicle inspectorate has also now examined the car involved in the recent tragedy, to determine whether there were any defects in the particular vehicle. It will shortly be reporting its findings to me.

  Goods Vehicle Drivers
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many light goods vehicle drivers have been unable to follow their employment as a result of the revocation or suspension of their licences by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency medical branch; and if he will introduce a proper compensation scheme for such drivers for their loss of income during the suspension or revocation period.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No information is available to the Department on the number of LGV drivers who have been unable to follow their employment as a result of revocation of their licences on medical grounds by the DVLA.

  Drivers have a right of appeal through the magistrates courts against a decision to revoke their licence. If compensation is awarded, the Department has a legal obligation to pay. Proven cases of maladministration may justify an ex gratia compensation payment.

  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many LGV drivers have had their licences
  483
  revoked or suspended in each year since 1988 for (a) heart problems, (b) epilepsy and (c) other medical conditions; how many of these drivers have subsequently had their licences restored; and what is the average time period involved.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Information on the number of LGV drivers who have had their licences revoked on medical grounds is available only from September 1991. Since that date, 541 drivers have had their licences revoked because of heart problems, 97 because of epilepsy and 577 because of other medical conditions.

  Five LGV drivers have had their licences restored following appeal to the courts since April 1991, the cases taking between one and five months to resolve.

  Commuters
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he proposes to institute a London travel survey in order to ascertain the main reasons for commuters travelling in and out of London at particular times; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  A major survey of travel in London was conducted during 1991—the London area transport survey. This will provide comprehensive information on journey purposes and times for each mode of travel. For respondents living in the area bounded by the M25 and who usually arrive at work between 8 am and 9.30 am, the survey also asked whether they could change their hours to avoid travelling during the peak period. The results of the survey will be available by summer 1993.

  In addition, as part of the London road pricing research programme, the Department intends to commission a small survey to assess how motorists, including commuters, would adjust their times of travel in response to charges. The survey is likely to take place this summer.

  A10
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the latest position as regards the consultation study of Travers-Morgan Associates on the A10 Hoddesdon-Cambridge section as outlined in "Roads to Prosperity."

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport is currently awaiting the consultant's report and recommendations. We expect them shortly.

  A1
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether tenders have been received for works to the A1 to upgrade to motorway standard between Wetherby and Boroughbridge; and what is the programme of works.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No. The necessary preparatory works are not yet sufficiently advanced to enable tenders to be invited.

  The proposed upgrading of the A1 to a motorway along the stretch in question is covered by two schemes in the roads programme. The first and more advanced is the Walshford to Dishforth scheme which was taken to public inquiry in March 1992. Subject to the satisfactory
  484
  completion of statutory procedures, and the availability of funds, tenders could be invited next year. The other is the Wetherby to Walshford scheme for which the preferred route was announced in September 1991. The next stage is publication of draft orders under the Highways Act 1980.

  A40
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the A40 through Cheltenham to be detrunked; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The time scale for the detrunking of the A40 in Cheltenham is dependent on the Department's proposals to provide a southerly alternative trunk road route. This consists of Brockworth bypass on the A417, including a new junction with the M5, together with any improvements that may be required to bring the A436 from Shipton Solers to Air Balloon up to a trunk road standard.

  Given a favourable outcome from the recent public inquiry, and subject to the continuing availability of funds, the construction of Brockworth bypass might be completed by the mid-1990s. A feasibility study into the improvements necessary on the A436 route will be undertaken shortly. A decision on detrunking the A40 in Cheltenham will be made in the light of that.

  Severn Crossing
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when a second Severn river crossing will be completed.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The second Severn crossing is due to be completed in spring 1996.

  Railway Passenger Services
  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the Government's proposals for railway passenger services franchising as they relate to the Uckfield service.

  Mr. Freeman
  Our proposals are for the private sector progressively to take over the operation of passenger services under franchises, including services on the Uckfield line, while British Rail will retain responsibility for track and signalling. We intend to publish a White Paper shortly which will set out our proposals in more detail.

  York Ring Road
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will publish the outline plans for the dualling of the northern section of the York outer ring road; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I expect outline plans to be published later this year showing proposals for the improvement of the trunk road section of the York northern bypass, between the A19 of Rawcliffe and the A64 at Hopgrove. That will follow the completion of work carried out by the appointed consulting engineer on alternative solutions to the problems on that stretch of road.

  Noise Insulation
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive the report of the interdepartmental committee which is considering the extension of the noise insulation scheme in the vicinity of civilian airports to schools, hospitals and other institutions.

  Mr. Norris
  I still await the report from the working group led by my Department. Further detailed consultation at official level is required, and is taking longer than expected. I hope that the report can be finalised within the next few months.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the terms of reference and the composition of the interdepartmental committee which is considering the extension of the noise insulation scheme in the vicinity of civilian airports to schools, hospitals and other institutions.

  Mr. Norris
  There are no "terms of reference" as such. The Department of Transport agreed to investigate the costs and practicability of a scheme for insulting schools and hospitals and to report back. It was decided that the report should be submitted to the Department of Transport and the Ministry of Defence for ministerial decision. The group comprises representatives from the highways and civil aviation divisions of the Department of Transport, and from the Department of the Environment, the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Education, the Department of Health and the Treasury.

  Driving Licences
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the cost of obtaining a medical examination was taken into account in raising the fee for a heavy goods vehicle driving licence; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Large goods and passenger-carrying vehicle licence fees are set to recover the administrative costs of licence issue. No account is taken of the cost of obtaining the medical report required by law at initial application for or subsequent renewal of a licence.

  Hazardous Chemicals
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has made to the European Commission to ensure that the Hazchem system of marking hazardous substances is retained for all transportation of these substances in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Norris
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Wentworth (Mr. Hardy) on 12 June 1992 at column 299.

  Motorway Construction
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average cost of providing one kilometre of motorway in a rural area, broken down into(a) cost of land purchase and (b) cost of construction.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 11 June 1992]: Construction costs of roads vary substantially depending on factors such as location and the need for structures. In view of that, the Department does not prepare information on the average cost of road construction per kilometre.
  486
  "Trunk Roads: England into the 1990s" contains full details, including estimated works costs, of all schemes in the trunk road programme.

  Motor Cycles
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many EEC member states have adopted stage 1 noise limits under the relevant noise limits directive for motor cycles; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 15 June 1992]: Our understanding is that all member states have taken legislative or administrative action to implement the stage I noise limits in EC directive 87/56.

  Al2
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the role of his Department's officials who attended the Suffolk county and Waveney district joint members' and officers' meeting in Lowestoft on 9 June about the A12 proposals within Lowestoft; and what information the officials were to deliver to the meeting about timing.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 15 June 1992]: The meeting was one of a series of regular exchanges of information and views on transport issues. The Department's officials were able to report that public consultation on alternative routes for the improved Pakefield to Kessingland section of the Al2, the Lowestoft relief road scheme, was planned for later this year.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on the timing of consultation, design and building he now expects to take place in fulfilment of commitments in the White Paper "Roads to Prosperity" for the Al2 in Waveney, from Blythburgh to Kessingland, from Kessingland to Bloodmoor road, and from Bloodmoor road to Pleasurewood; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what are his plans for keeping the hon. Member for Waveney informed about changes on planning, timing, consultation and construction he is proposing in the dualling of the A12 from Ipswich to Great Yarmouth since the publication of the White Paper, "Roads to Prosperity", and since statements made in the last Parliament by his predecessor.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 15 June 1992]: Schemes to improve the Al2 are at different stages in their development. The present programme for consultation is:

  Blythburgh to south of Wrentham

  late 1993

  South of Wrentham to Kessingland

  late 1992

  Lowestoft inner relief road

  Kessingland to Bloodmoor road section

  late 1992

  A preferred route was announced for the Bloodmoor road to Pleasurewood section of Lowestoft inner relief road in November 1990.

  The timing of subsequent stages will depend on the satisfactory completion of statutory procedures and the availability of funds.

  The hon. Member will be informed as a matter of course at the key stages of public consultation, order publication, public inquiry, when the decision is announced following the inquiry and when construction is due to start.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disability Benefits
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement concerning delays in the introduction of the new disability living allowance and the financial difficulties caused to those people who previously claimed disability benefit.

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

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many applications for disability living allowance(a) have been referred for a medical examination by the adjudication officer in order to assess the claim and (b) have included a request from the claimant for a medical examination;

  (2) what was the number of applications received by his Department for disability living allowance where the form was completed through the benefits inquiry line completion service; and what was the number and percentage of these resulting in an award of (a) higher-rate care component, (b) middle-rate care component, (c) lower-rate care component, (d) higher-rate mobility component and (e) lower-rate mobility component; and how many were refused.

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

  Widows
  Ms. Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a widow's payment available to women widowed prior to 11 April 1988.

  Miss Widdecombe
  We have no plans to do so. The widow's payment of £1,000 replaced the widow's allowance from 11 April 1988. To pay widow's payment to those widows who received widow's allowance prior to April 1988 would be double provision.

  Benefits, Doncaster
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list each of the benefits for which his Department is responsible in the Doncaster area during the current year, giving in each case(a) the total number receiving the benefit and (b) the cost in a full year of that benefit; and if he will give comparative figures for (i) 24 months, (ii) 36 months and (iii) 48 months ago.

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

  Market Testing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list all those functions and areas in his Department and associated agencies that have been identified for market testing in the wake of the White Paper "Competing for Quality".

  Miss Widdecombe
  Discussions are presently taking place with the efficiency unit at the Cabinet Office regarding proposals put forward by the Department. An announcement will be made in due course.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Ms. Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy that invalidity benefit should be payable up to the same age for men and women.

  Mr. Scott
  The age limits for invalidity benefit coincide with the age up to which people can earn increments to their retirement pensions. This is 64 for women and 69 for men.

  Ms. Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the differential rate of percentage increases of national insurance benefits, including invalidity benefit and retirement pensions and income support; and what assessment he has made of how many pensioners are worse off as a result of these differentials.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Our policy is to maintain the value in line with prices of retirement pension and other contributory benefits for people over state pension age. This April they received an increase in line with the retail prices index. Less well-off pensioners on income support received increases nearly 3 per cent. higher than this. All pensioners therefore benefited from the uprating.

  Ms. Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the rule that if claimants are in receipt of the higher rate of income support, because of a previous entitlement to invalidity benefit, and if they lose that right to income support because of a rise in invalidity benefit, their claim is deemed to be interrupted and they lose any entitlement to the higher rate of income support, even though the income support may rise and they may again be entitled to claim it.

  Mr. Burt
  A person who is in receipt of invalidity benefit and makes a claim for income support will be eligible for the disability premium or higher pensioner premium — depending on age—whether or not they have been entitled to income support and eligible for the premium in the past. The hon. Member may wish to write to me if she has an individual case in mind.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will show the social fund budgets for all offices in the Leeds metropolitan district for grants and loans for each year since 1988 both at real prices and at 1992 prices showing the percentage increase or decrease on the 1988 allocation.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of the social fund is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the
  489
  Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Claims (Processing)
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what investigations he has made of the causes of the length of time taken to process claims for attendance allowance and disability living allowance; and what plans he has to increase the funding of the Benefits Agency in order to reduce the time taken.

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

  Maxwell Group
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what steps he proposes to take to keep the House informed of progress over the state of the Maxwell pension funds; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what target he has set for a timetable for the money removed from the Maxwell pension funds to be restored; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  It is not yet clear how much of the missing pension fund assets will eventually be recoverable by the trustees. We have established a special unit to work alongside trustees and others seeking to secure the return of assets, and the unit will do all it can to help speed up this process. We shall keep hon. Members fully informed of developments.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of households in Scotland are dependent on housing benefit; and how this has changed since the current system of housing benefit was introduced.

  Mr. Burt
  The most recent estimate, for May 1990, is that 28 per cent. of households in Scotland receive some of their income from housing benefit (rent rebates and allowances). The corresponding figures for 1988 and 1989 are 29 per cent. and 28 per cent. respectively.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  BBC World Service
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what basis his Department decides the languages and areas in which the BBC World Service should be funded to broadcast.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The languages and areas in which the BBC World Service broadcasts are regularly reviewed jointly by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the World Service in the light of foreign policy objectives. Decisions are based on the political significance of a country or region and the extent of British and wider western interests; the degree of openness in a society and of its people's access to objective news; the range of means 490
  available, besides broadcasting, to project Britain and British views; and in the case of existing language services, the size and profile of their audiences, their impact and influence, and their importance to bilateral relations.

  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the reasons his Department has decided not to fund BBC World Service broadcasts in Japanese.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Following a joint FCO/BBC world service review of broadcasting output in 1990, it was agreed to increase output in Russian, Mandarin and Vietnamese, as well as English programmes to a number of regions, and to end broadcasts in Japanese and Malay for which audiences were small and declining. Both services ceased at the end of March 1991. World Service programmes in English continue to both areas.

  United Nations
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current level of funding for the United Nations; by what date the United Kingdom was requested by the United Nations secretariat to pay dues to the United Nations for peacekeeping operations in 1992; on what date those dues were paid; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Member states' contributions to the 1992 United Nations regular budget will total £593,179,000, of which the United Kingdom share will be £28,260,695.

  We estimate that the United Kingdom's assessed contributions to the United Nations for current peacekeeping operations for the United Kingdom financial year 1992–93 will total £70 million. As at today's date we had been asked to pay $81,178,625 towards those costs, and had paid $41,660,134. The discrepancy between the two amounts arises from an assessment in respect of UNTAC—the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia—which we have received but which has not yet fallen due. We aim to make all our payments in accordance with United Nations financial regulation 5.4, which states:
  "contributions shall be considered due and payable within 30 days (of receipt of the Letter of Assessment)".

  Bahrain
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Bahrain Government about human rights violations; and what meetings he has had with representatives of the Bahrain Government to discuss the treatment of political prisoners in Bahrain.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We keep a close watch on human rights issues world-wide and raise the subject with individual Governments when necessary. The Gulf states, including Bahrain, are well aware of the importance that we attach to the observance of international human rights standards throughout the world.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many certificates have been issued under section 27 of the Data Protection Act 1984.
  491
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I am aware of none so far as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is concerned.

  Entertainment Budget
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was his entertainment budget for 1991.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Expenditure by both wings of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on entertainment in financial year 1991–92 is estimated at £7,102,000.

  That figure includes the grant in aid to the Government hospitality fund, which meets the cost of ministerial entertainment and guest-of-Government visits for all Government Departments, and the cost of other official entertainment by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and by diplomatic missions overseas.

  Market Testing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all those functions and areas in his Department and associated agencies that have been identified for market testing in the wake of the White Paper "Competing for Quality".

  Mr. Goodlad
  We have considered a number of proposals for market testing arising from separate studies carried out on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Overseas Development Administration by Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte. A statement setting out areas of activity to be market-tested will be made once these proposals have been finalised.

  Entry Applications
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the current lists of applicants in each of the queues for(a) settlement and (b) visits at (i) Bombay, (ii) Dacca, (iii) New Delhi, (iv) Islemat, (v) Karachi, (vi) Nairobi and (vii) Dar-es-Salaam.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  As at 30 April 1992., the number of applicants in the queues were:

  Settlement

  Q1

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  Total

  Bombay

  0

  305

  393

  219

  917

  Dhaka

  324

  1,490

  205

  315

  2,334

  New Delhi

  0

  310

  260

  115

  685

  Islamabad

  23

  1,326

  236

  647

  2,232

  Karachi

  6

  87

  20

  7

  120

  There are no queues in Nairobi or Dar-Es-Salaam.

  Settlement queues are organised as follows:

  Q1 Persons with a claim to the right of abode, dependent relatives over 70 years, or special compassionate cases.

  Q2 All spouses, and all children under 18 years.

  Q3 Fiancé(é)s and others applying for the first time for resettlement.

  Q4 Re-applicants.

  Visits

  During periods of seasonally high demand applicants for visit visas in Islamabad requiring a full interview can expect to wait up to five days. Elsewhere they are dealt with on day of application.

  EC Directives
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the title and subject matter of any directives or proposed directives 492
  from the European Community which have an impact on divorce law, abortion law, research on the human embryo, care of the dying, sexual consent, euthanasia, abortifacient drugs or related issues.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The only directives that have an impact upon any of these matters are provisions relating to abortifacient drugs, for which, as with other drugs, marketing and control are governed by a range of EC pharmaceutical directives. There are provisions in directive 65/65 EEC allowing member states to prohibit the marketing of abortifacient drugs under their own domestic laws if they wish.

  Iraq
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress made by the United Nations special commission in Iraq in dismantling the Iraqi nuclear facilities at Ash Sharquat, Tarmiyah and A1-Atheer.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  In the course of the eleventh and twelfth nuclear inspections, the United Nations special commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency made excellent progress in dismantling Iraqi nuclear facilities.

  Details of the 11th inspection are contained in the Official Report, available in the House of Commons Library.

  The report of the 12th inspection has not yet been published. When received, it will be placed in the Library of the House.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

  Glass Recycling
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, how many bottles are used per annum in the precincts of the House; and what provision is made for glass recycling.

  Mr. Beith
  Bottle bank facilities, comprising two 1,100 litre capacity containers, are situated between Peers Court and State Officers Court. The containers are emptied daily by a contractor who sends the glass for recycling. Records are not kept of the total number of bottles used or disposed of each year.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what veal, other than that reared in Britain, is used by the House Catering Department.

  Mr. Beith
  The purchase of food and other consumables in the Refreshment Department is the responsibility of the Director of Catering Services, who will be glad to respond to any further inquiries from the hon. Gentleman.

EMPLOYMENT

  Training
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many training places have been available in the Easington constituency in the years 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91.
  493
  Mr.McLoughlin
  The information regarding the number of training places in Easington is not collected.

  Since 1 October 1990, training in Easington has been the responsibility of County Durham training and enterprise council (TEC). At 29 March 1992, there were an estimated 4,400 people in training on youth training and an estimated 3,400 people in training on employment training in the County Durham TEC area.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many 16 and 17-year-olds who are not in employment or education are not at present on youth training programmes in the Seaham and Peterlee areas.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I understand from the local careers service, which covers the Seaham and Peterlee areas, that there are currently 165 young people in the area who are registered with it as not in employment or education and who are not in youth training.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information she has on the skills being learned by employment training trainees.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  A range of management and evaluation information is collected by the Department about employment training (ET). Employment training is providing unemployed people with the skills necessary for them to get jobs in an increasingly competitive and challenging labour market.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what means she has to assess the quality of ET.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Both nationally and locally the quality of ET is assessed through a number of different measures. These include the achievement of targets for positive outcomes and vocational qualifications; analysis of a range of performance indicators and other management information; and regular and ad hoc surveys and evaluation studies.

  Ms. Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make a statement about vacant training in engineering places in Stockport because of the inability of the training and enterprise council to fund young people to take them up.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Through youth training, 430 young people in the Stockport TEC area are being funded in engineering training. I am assured by the TEC that no other young people have expressed an interest in engineering training under youth training.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people of state retirement pensionable age are in(a) full-time and (b) part-time employment in the Seaham and Peterlee area.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The area most closely relating to Seaham and Peterlee for which data are available is the parliamentary constituency of Easington. The latest available figures are from the 1981 census of population. The number of people of state retirement pensionable age in the parliamentary constituency of Easington working full time in April 1981 was 158. Figures for part-time 494
  employment are not available. Figures for both full-time and part-time employees by age from the 1991 census of population are expected to be released by the end of October 1992.

  Coal Mining
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is her estimate of the number of jobs directly and indirectly dependent upon the present size of the coal mining industry.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  In March 1992, the latest date for which estimates are available, there were 66,500 employees in employment in the coal extraction and manufacture of solid fuels industries in Great Britain. Jobs indirectly dependent upon the size of the coal mining industry are classified to those industries in which they occur—for example, the production and distribution industries—and are not separately identified.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the level of male unemployment in 1982 and at the latest available date in Alyn and Deeside.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Information on the numbers claiming unemployment-related benefits for local areas such as parliamentary constituencies has only been available since June 1983.

  In June 1983 there were 3,393 claimant unemployed men in the Alyn and Deeside parliamentary constituency. In April 1992, the latest date for which figures are available, the equivalent figure was 2,249.

  These figures are on the unadjusted basis and are therefore affected by both seasonal influences and by changes in the coverage of the count.

  Working Women
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether she will list the members of the working group looking at women's opportunities in the workplace and beyond announced on 20 May.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The first members are as follows:

  Lady Howe

  Chairman, Business in the Community's Women's Economic Development Team;

  Responsible for Opportunity 2000;

  Former Deputy Chairman Equal Opportunities Commission

  Joanna Foster

  Chairman, Equal Opportunities Commission.

  Sue Slipman

  Director, National Council for One Parent Families.

  Baroness Denton

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Department of Trade;

  Industry and Government Co-Chair, Women's National Commission.

  Sue Rorstad

  Chairman and Managing Director, Poppies UK Ltd.

  Peter Davis

  Chief Executive, Reed International plc.

  Sheila Forbes

  Group Personnel Director, Storehouse plc.

  Kay Coleman

  Chief Executive, Harvey and Co. (clothing) Ltd.

  495

  Graham Millar

  Managing Director, Nestlé Rowntree.

  Dr. Susan McRae

  Senior Fellow, Policy Studies Institute.

  Sir Bryan Nicholson

  Chairman, Post Office;

  Chairman, National Council for Vocational Qualifications;

  Former Chairman, Manpower Services Commission.

  Margaret Seymour

  Managing Director, Seymour Swimming Pool Engineers accompaniment

  Market Testing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list all those functions and areas in her Department and associated agencies that have been identified for market testing in the wake of the White Paper "Competing for Quality".

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is still considering the proposals put forward by the Department. An announcement will be made shortly.

  Sheep Dip
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when she will publish the Health and Safety Executive's report "Sheep Dip 1990" by Dr. Carole Davidson and Mr. Brian Blatchford.

  Number of complaints initiated in Scotland by HSE inspectorates and local authorities 1982–91

  Factory and Agriculture

  Mines1

  OS

  NII

  Railway

  Local authority

  Total

  1982

  257

  0

  6

  0

  1

  n/a

  n/a

  1983

  283

  0

  4

  0

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  1984

  220

  0

  3

  0

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  1985

  300

  0

  9

  0

  1

  57

  367

  1986 January/March

  89

  0

  1

  0

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  1986–872

  273

  1

  2

  0

  0

  53

  329

  1987–88

  225

  2

  1

  1

  3

  36

  267

  1988–89

  248

  3

  4

  0

  0

  206

  461

  1989–90

  360

  2

  2

  0

  0

  86

  450

  1990–91

  3253

  0

  7

  0

  1

  50

  311

  Notes:
  1. NII = Nuclear installations inspectorate.
  2. OS = Offshore.
  1 Includes HSE quarries inspectorate until 1989–90.
  2 Years commencing 1 April from 1986–87 onwards.
  3 Includes HSE quarries inspectorate.

  Earnings
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will show average earnings per week for(a) males, (b) females and (c) in total for (i) manual, (ii) non-manual and (iii) all both (1) with and without overtime and (2) for each region and for the United Kingdom as a whole.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Information for the regions of England and for Wales, Scotland and Great Britain can be found in tables 12, 13 and X5 of the new earnings survey report for 1991. Comparable information for Northern Ireland can be found in table 1 of the new earnings survey (Northern Ireland) report for 1991. Information on the numbers in the sample in each category, to produce combined estimates for the United Kingdom, is in table 24 of the Great Britain report and table 3 of the Northern Ireland report. Copies of both reports are available in the Library.
  496
  Mr. McLaoughlin
  A Summary of the report is available and is in the Library. Further copies are available free of charge from the Health and Safety Executive's office at the National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh. The report itself is an internal working document and will not be published.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many prosecutions have been brought under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1976 and associated legislation in Scotland in each year from 1982 to 1991; and how many inspection days it is estimated were saved as a result of all proceedings being conducted by the Crown prosecution service.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The number of complaints brought by the procurator fiscal in the sheriff court in Scotland under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 and associated legislation by HSE's inspectorates and by local authorities for the period 1 January 1982 to 31 March 1991 is given in the table. The information required to estimate the figure requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, whether or not an inspector personally conducts proceedings, he or she has to prepare a case and may also appear as a witness.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list, by standard classification, the categories of jobs which are not covered by wage councils and indicate(a) the number of people employed in these jobs both full and part-time and male and female and (b) the average weekly wage before and after overtime for employees in each of their jobs.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I regret that the information requested is not available. The sectors covered by wages councils do not coincide with the categories used in the standard industrial classification (SIC) revised 1980, which is used to compile employment and earnings statistics. It is therefore not possible to identify those employees within SIC categories who are not covered by wages councils. The most recent comprehensive earnings data analysed by SICs are published in the new earnings survey 1991; and
  497
  the latest employment estimates are in the April and May 1991 issues of the Employment Gazette.Copies of these publications are in the Library.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to her answer of 22 May,Official Report, column 336, if she will list those chairmen or women of training and enterprise councils who are no longer holding that office; for what length of time chairmen and women are (a) appointed and (b) expected to serve; if any of the ex-chairmen or women are no longer members of the councils' boards; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information requested on TEC chairmen who no longer hold that office is given in the table. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has set down criteria for the appointment of TEC chairmen in the TEC operating agreement.

  The articles of association of each TEC also require them to make provision for the regular retirement and election or re-election of board chairmen. There is no present length of service prescribed for TEC chairmen. This is a matter for each TEC to decide.

  Training and enterprise council

  Chairmen who have left post since the establishment of the TECs

  Continuing as board member(Yes/No)

  AZTEC

  Ed Holloway

  No

  Bedfordshire

  Ian Dixon

  No

  Calderdale/Kirklees

  Tony Gartland

  Yes

  CAMBSTEC

  Leszek Jakubowski

  No

  Dorset

  Peter Allsebrook

  No

  Greater Nottingham

  Ian Maclean

  No

  Hampshire

  Martyn Wylie

  No

  HAWTEC

  David Hutchins

  No

  Hertfordshire

  Tony Saint

  Yes

  Leeds

  Sir Gordon Linacre

  No

  Manchester

  Geoffrey Maddrell

  No

  METROTEC (Wigan)

  Paul Sneddon

  No

  North Derbyshire

  Roy Pelham

  Yes

  North Nottinghamshire

  Anthony Darbyshire

  No

  North West London

  Alan Coppin

  Yes

  QUALITEC (St. Helens)

  John Gillespie

  No

  Rotherham

  Ken Knaggs

  No

  Shropshire

  David Houghton

  Yes

  South Derbyshire

  Peter Burden

  Yes

  South Glamorgan

  Roger Helliwell

  Yes

  Stockport and High Peak

  Tom Weatherby

  No

  Teesside

  Peter Kerr

  Yes

  Thames Valley Enterprise

  Tim Evans

  Yes

  Wearside

  Anthony Wood

  Yes

  West Wales

  Peter Allen

  No

  Wovlerhampton

  Roy Carver

  Yes

  Established service display teams

  Display team

  Public performances 1991

  Full cost (FY91/92) £k

  Commercial sponsors

  Royal Navy Historic Flight

  26

  28

  Crane Fruehauf, Leyland DAF, BMW, Martin Dawes Meech & Co.

  Royal Navy Helicopter Display Team (The Sharks)

  42

  139

  Westland Helicopters, Fields Aviation, Smiths Industries, Pussers Rum, Securicor Carlton, Maxon Radios.

  Royal Marines Parachute Display Team

  100

  300

  None.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make it her policy to compile and release information on likely unemployment rates.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  No. Macro-economic forecasts are the responsibility of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. However, it has not been the policy of this or previous Governments to publish forecasts of unemployment.

DEFENCE

  Army Air Corps
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 21 May,Official Report, column 261, which Army Air Corps regiment will be based at Dishforth, and as part of which divisional and brigade structure; and where the two Army Air Corps regiments to be attached to 24 Airmobile Brigade will be based.

  Mr. Aitken
  Final decisions on these matters have yet to be taken. On present plans, the Dishforth regiment will support the new 3 (UK) Division; and the two regiments attached to 24 Brigade will be deployed along with the rest of the brigade in East Anglia.

  Laid-up Ships
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for defence where(a) HMS Courageous and (b) HMS Swiftsure are to be defuelled and subsequently laid up.

  Mr. Aitken
  HMS Courageous will be defuelled and stored afloat at Devonport. HMS Swiftsure has already been defuelled at Rosyth and is currently being prepared for storage afloat there.

  Service Display Teams
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those service display teams currently in existence, showing the annual cost to defence funds of each team, the value and source of commercial sponsorship of each such display team, and the number of public engagements in the last full year of their operation.

  Mr. Aitken
  Details of established service display teams are contained in the table. Where costs are not shown, figures are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. In addition, individual service units may form their own local display teams, but information on these is also not held centrally. All service personnel associated with military display teams have operational roles. The commercial sponsors listed may provide financial or other assistance, for example, equipment or services. The value of such support is commercially confidential.
  499

  Display team

  Public performances 1991

  Full cost (FY91/92) £k

  Commercial sponsors

  Royal Navy Field Gun Crews (Devonport, Portsmouth and Fleet Air Arm)

  50

  470

  Walls, Hogg Robinson, DML, Legal Protection Group, Taunton Cider.

  Royal Signals Motor Cycle Display Team (The White Helmets)

  87

  —

  Sealink, Ford, Leyland DAF, Dunlop.

  Parachute Regiment Display Team (The Red Devils)

  86

  —

  News International.

  Army Air Corps Historic Flight

  14

  —

  Lynx Removals.

  Army Air Corp Helicopter Display Team (The Eagles)

  36

  —

  None.

  Household Cavalry Musical Ride

  71

  —

  None.

  Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery Musical Ride

  42

  —

  None.

  Red Arrows

  71

  22,165

  British Aerospace, Breitling, Land Rover, Total Oil, Cellnet, Butget Rent-A-Car.

  Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

  334 (see note 1)

  909

  Rover Cars, Aviation Leathercraft, Rolls Royce British Aerospace, Monarch Airlines, Wickenby Flying Club.

  RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team

  81

  825

  Minolta Cameras, Colab Photographic Processing, Samsonite, Luggage, Sonic Communications, Direct Telecom Services, Air Care.

  RAF Vulcan Display Flight

  33

  292

  Nokia, Henderson Line Rental, Flypast Magazine

  RAF Queen's Colour Squadron

  56

  986

  None.

  RAF Police Dog Demonstration Team

  70

  459

  Spillers.

  Note: Includes solo performances by individual Flight aircraft.

  Croatia
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Walsall, South (Mr. George) of 20 May,Official Report, column 185, which nation is providing (a) the helicopter evacuation assets and (b) ground wheeled or tracked transport for the United Kingdom armoured field ambulance in Croatia; and whether he offered to provide appropriate United Kingdom assets for these tasks.

  Mr. Aitken
  The United Nations is providing all helicopter evacuation assets. The United Kingdom is providing its own ground wheeled transport for the field ambulance unit. There is no requirement for tracked transport.

  Guards Battalions
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 21 May,Official Report, column 262, if he will make a statement on the progress of his plans to provide a public duties increment for Guards battalions assigned to public duties, and on the future of the Tower Guard.

  Mr. Aitken
  We aim to ensure that following restructuring the Foot Guards have sufficient manpower to carry out their public duties both at the Tower of London and elsewhere.

  Israel
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received upon the arms embargo against Israel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  None.

  Nuclear Testing
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has received from the United States Department of Energy regarding complaints made at the Department of Energy's public hearing held in Las Vegas on 14 November 1991 on the environmental and radioactive contamination caused by the continued testing of United Kingdom nuclear warheads at the Nevada test site.

  Mr. Aitken
  None.

  Aircraft
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of all equipment belonging to the United Kingdom armed forces which has been loaned or hired back to the company which produced it for display at military exhibitions or other sales promotion purposes in the last five years.

  Mr. Aitken
  The information requested is not held centrally and could not be provided without disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for each type of aircraft, the numbers sold abroad in each of the last 10 years and to which country or region of the world.

  Mr. Aitken
  A breakdown of the total value of defence exports by geographical region between 1985 and 1990 is given in the "Statement of Defence Estimates 1991", volume 2, table 2.7. The full information which the hon. Member requests could not be released, as details of particular defence sales are frequently subject to confidentiality agreements at the request of the recipient Government.

  Menwith Hill
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the agreements governing the use of Menwith Hill by the National Security Agency of the United States of America.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The use of Menwith Hill by the United States Department of Defence is subject to confidential arrangements between the United Kingdom and United States Government.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations have been held with British Telecom Ltd. regarding the extensions at Menwith Hill near Harrogate; what additional cables have been provided from Hunterstones tower; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department has no knowledge of any consultation with British Telecom regarding extensions at Menwith Hill nor work to lay additional cables from Hunterstones tower to Menwith Hill.

  RAF Wyton
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the size and description of accommodation at RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire, to which the Support Management Group and logistics units may be relocated under present proposals.

  Mr. Aitken
  RAF Wyton offers 7,700 sq m of accommodation suitable for conversion to offices, together with all the normal support facilities expected of an established RAF station. In addition, Wyton can provide all the married and single accommodation which would be required by the support management group.

  Army Apprentices
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the size and description of accommodation at the Army apprentices college, near Harrogate, that will be unused after the transfer of a junior leaders regiment to the college following the relocation of the Army apprentices.

  Mr. Aitken
  No accommodation at the Army apprentices college Harrogate will be unused following the relocation of the Army apprentices.

  Model Tanks
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what security measures have been taken to protect his Department's model tanks used for target practice exercises by the Royal Air Force; how many such model tanks have been lost or stolen during exercises in Wales in the current year; and what is the cost of purchasing such tanks for his Department.

  Mr. Aitken
  During the current year a total of three inflatable tanks have been lost or stolen during exercises in Wales. The sites for the tanks are carefully chosen, with a view to minimising visibility from public places. It is not feasible individually to guard each tank. The total replacement value of the three items is £26,682.

  Survival Clothing
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the survival time during winter months of aircrew wearing survival clothing and non-aircrew without service issue survival clothing, who, as the result of an accident, end up immersed in the North sea 20 to 50 miles east of the River Tay estuary; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  The survival of a person in the North sea depends on a number of factors, including the tolerance of the person concerned to the environment and the prevailing weather conditions.

  In providing search and rescue cover, both the Department of Transport and Ministry of Defence assume a maximum survival time of two hours in the North sea. We do not make separate assessments of the effects of wearing specialist survival clothing.

  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the survival time during winter months of aircrew wearing survival clothing and non-aircrew without service issue survival clothing, who, as the result of an accident, are left stranded during winter months in the Grampian mountains of Tayside, Central or Grampian regions.

  Mr. Aitken
  The survival of a person in mountainous areas depends on a number of factors covering equipment, the tolerance of the person concerned to the environment, and the prevailing weather conditions.

  It is assessed that the rescue of personnel on land needs to be accomplished, where possible, within four hours. No separate assessment is made for the effects of specialist clothing.

  Helicopters
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the base facility for search and rescue helicopters at RAF Leuchars was designed to accommodate Sea King helicopters; and what was the contribution of NATO to its construction.

  Mr. Aitken
  The base facility at RAF Leuchars is of a standard SAR design capable of supporting a number of helicopter types, including Sea Kings. The original SAR facility was demolished to make way for other NATO dedicated facilities. NATO funded 97 per cent. of the construction costs of the current facility.

  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the time taken by a search and sea rescue helicopter to reach the position of an accident of incident in the North sea 20 to 50 miles east of the River Tay estuary following receipt of notification of the emergency, for aircraft based at either Lossiemouth, Kinloss, Leuchars, Bulmar or Prestwick; and how the flight time is affected by easterly gale force winds of 50 mph, 60 mph or 70 mph.

  Mr. Aitken
  After take-off, the time taken, in minutes, to reach the point 20 miles east of the River Tay estuary is:

  Aircraft Base

  Still Air

  Easterly Wind Speed (mph)1

  50

  60

  70

  Lossiemouth

  47

  74

  83

  95

  Kinloss

  47

  74

  83

  95

  Leuchars

  13

  24

  29

  38

  503

  Aircraft Base

  Still Air

  Easterly Wind Speed (mph)1

  50

  60

  70

  Boulmer

  38

  38

  38

  38

  Prestwick

  55

  86

  97

  111

  1 The highest hourly wind speed at RAF Leuchars since 1970 is 47 knots.

  Time taken, in minutes, to reach the point 50 miles east of the River Tay estuary is:

  Aircraft Base

  Still Air

  Easterly Wind Speed1

  50

  60

  70

  Lossiemouth

  57

  89

  100

  114

  Kinloss

  58

  91

  102

  116

  Leuchars

  29

  56

  68

  87

  Boulmer

  36

  36

  36

  36

  Prestwick

  70

  109

  123

  141

  1 The highest hourly wind speed recorded at RAF Leuchars since 1970 is 47 knots.

  Any easterly wind will, of course, benefit the flight times for aircraft from Lossiemouth, Kinloss, Leuchars and Prestwick on their return journey.

  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the time taken by a search and sea rescue helicopter to reach the ski slopes of Glenshee following receipt of notification of an accident for helicopters based at either Lossiemouth, Kinloss, Leuchars, Boulmer or Prestwick; and how the flight time is affected by easterly gale force winds of 50 mph, 60 mph or 70 mph.

  Mr. Aitken
  Helicopter flight in mountainous regions during high winds is extremely hazardous and would be contemplated only in the most serious of circumstances.

  After take-off, the time taken, in minutes to reach the ski slopes of Glenshee following notification of an incident is:

  Aircraft Base

  Still Air

  Easterly Wind Speed1

  50

  60

  70

  Lossiemouth

  28

  28

  28

  28

  Kinloss

  27

  27

  27

  27

  Leuchars

  20

  16

  16

  15

  Boulmer

  62

  49

  48

  46

  Prestwick

  62

  68

  73

  78

  1 The highest hourly wind speed recorded at RAF Leuchars since 1970 is 47 knots.

  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he can give details of the number of rescue missions carried out by search and rescue helicopters during winter months in the Grampian mountains of Tayside, Central and Grampian regions during the last 10 years; and from which base the helicopters left to carry out the missions.

  Mr. Aitken
  It has not been possible to separate the Tayside region from the Central and Grampian regions. Information on rescues carried out before 1983 is unavailable.
  504

  Rescues carried out in the Central region from RAF Lossiemouth

  Year

  Total number of call-outs

  Number of rescue operations undertaken

  Number of people rescued

  1983–84

  1

  1

  1

  1984–85

  0

  0

  0

  1985–86

  0

  0

  0

  1986–87

  0

  0

  0

  1987–88

  0

  0

  0

  1988–89

  1

  0

  0

  1989–90

  1

  0

  0

  1990–91

  0

  0

  0

  1991–92

  1

  0

  0

  Rescues carried out in the Central region from RAF Leuchars

  Year

  Total number of call-outs

  Number of rescue operations undertaken

  Number of people rescued

  1983–84

  5

  3

  4

  1984–85

  1

  1

  1

  1985–86

  3

  1

  1

  1986–87

  1

  0

  0

  1987–88

  1

  1

  1

  1988–89

  1

  1

  1

  1989–90

  3

  0

  0

  1990–91

  6

  5

  6

  1991–92

  6

  2

  2

  Rescues carried out in the Central region from Prestwick:

  Year

  Total number of call-outs

  Number of rescue operations undertaken

  Number of people rescued

  1983–84

  3

  3

  3

  1984–85

  1

  0

  0

  1985–86

  0

  0

  0

  1986–87

  5

  3

  4

  1987–88

  2

  1

  1

  1988–89

  2

  1

  2

  1989–90

  7

  2

  3

  1990–91

  4

  1

  1

  1991–92

  4

  0

  0

  No other SAR flights were involved in mountain rescue in the Central region.

  Rescues carried out in the Grampian region from RAF Lossiemouth:

  Year

  Total number of call-outs

  Number of rescue operations undertaken

  Number of people rescued

  1983–84

  21

  6

  14

  1984–85

  11

  6

  9

  1985–86

  8

  7

  8

  1986–87

  13

  8

  10

  1987–88

  14

  2

  4

  1988–89

  13

  6

  12

  1989–90

  14

  9

  11

  1990–91

  22

  9

  12

  1991–92

  13

  8

  12

  505

  Rescues carried out in the Grampian region from RAF Leuchars:

  Year

  Total number of call-outs

  Number of rescue operations undertaken

  Number of people rescued

  1983–84

  17

  7

  17

  1984–85

  8

  4

  5

  1985–86

  6

  5

  5

  1986–87

  6

  5

  6

  1987–88

  3

  0

  0

  1988–89

  6

  4

  12

  1989–90

  7

  1

  2

  1990–91

  9

  5

  5

  1991–92

  8

  5

  6

  In addition, the Royal Navy helicopters based at Prestwick undertook two rescue missions, saving three people in 1983–84.

  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many rescue missions were carried out by search and rescue helicopters during the winter months in the River Tax estuary, and in the North sea up to 100 miles east of the estuary, during the past 10 years; and if he will detail from which base the helicopters left to carry out the missions.

  Mr. Aitken
  The available information, which covers the periods October to March for the years 1983 to 1992, is as follows.

  Year

  Total number of call-outs

  Number of rescue operations undertaken

  Number of people rescued

  1983–84

  5

  4

  5

  1984–85

  8

  7

  19

  1985–86

  3

  0

  0

  1986–87

  2

  1

  1

  1987–88

  5

  1

  5

  1988–89

  5

  2

  3

  1989–90

  6

  2

  2

  1990–91

  4

  1

  1

  1991–92

  5

  2

  5

  Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Queen Elizabeth military hospital.

  Mr. Aitken
  Future requirements for medical support to the armed forces, including the provision of service hospitals, are being reviewed.

SCOTLAND

  Quarrying
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state his policy toward the creation of coastal super-quarries in Scotland.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  National planning guidelines on the working of aggregates were issued in 1977. These guidelines, which are still extant, acknowledge the economic potential of coastal super-quarry developments and suggest that they could, in principle, be acceptable if damage to the environment is minimised through careful 506
  choice of location and detailed site proposals. These guidelines, along with others, are under review in accordance with a commitment given in the Environment White Paper "This Common Inheritance" (Cm 1200). A draft national planning policy guideline on "Land for Mineral Working" is to be issued for consultation shortly.

  Within the national policy framework it is important that development proposals are considered in the context of up-to-date development plans. These should be prepared by planning authorities in full consultation with the local community and should have regard to the economic needs and environmental considerations of their area. Where the planning authority considers that a development such as a coastal super-quarry is likely to have a significant environmental effect, a formal environmental assessment must be prepared, in accordance with Government guidance issued in 1988.

  Hospital Beds
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the hospitals in Scotland which had consultant obstetric or general practitioner maternity beds in 1990–91, and give the number of each type in each hospital.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 15 June 1992]: The information requested is given in the table:

  NHS hospitals in Scotland: Average available staffed beds in obstetrics by hospital at 31 March 1991.

  Average available staffed beds

  Hospital

  Specialist obstetrics

  GP obstetrics

  Calton, Campbeltown

  —

  8

  Dunoon and District General

  —

  8

  Islay, Bowmore

  —

  3

  Mid Argyll, Lochgilphead

  —

  3

  Oban Maternity

  —

  6

  Rankin Memorial, Greenock

  38

  —

  Royal Alexandra, Paisley

  70

  —

  Vale of Leven District General, Alexandria

  33

  —

  Victoria, Rothesay

  —

  3

  Ayrshire Central, Irvine

  140

  —

  Davidson Cottage, Girvan

  —

  2

  Isle of Arran War Memorial

  —

  4

  Thornyflat Maternity, Ayr

  —

  18

  Borders General, Melrose

  35

  —

  Cresswell Maternity, Dumfries

  45

  —

  Dalrymple, Stranraer

  —

  9

  Dunfermline Maternity

  37

  —

  Forth Park Maternity, Kirkcaldy

  86

  —

  West Fife District General

  7

  —

  Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary

  53

  —

  Stirling Royal Infirmary

  54

  —

  Aberdeen Maternity

  112

  —

  Chalmers, Banff

  —

  10

  Fraserburgh

  —

  8

  Insch and District War Memorial

  —

  4

  Jubilee, Huntly

  —

  7

  Kincardine O'Neil, Torphins

  —

  9

  Leanchoil, Forres

  —

  6

  Maryhill Maternity, Elgin

  —

  13

  Peterhead Cottage

  —

  10

  Seafield, Buckie

  —

  6

  Summerfield Mat, Aberdeen

  30

  —

  507

  Average available staffed beds

  Hospital

  Specialist obstetrics

  GP obstetrics

  Turner Memorial, Keith

  —

  3

  Glasgow Royal Maternity

  92

  —

  Queen Mother's, Yorkhill

  99

  —

  Rutherglen Maternity

  82

  —

  Southern General, Glasgow

  72

  —

  Stobhill General, Glasgow

  46

  —

  Belford, Fort William

  —

  7

  Caithness General, Wick

  15

  —

  Mackinnon Memorial, Skye

  —

  1

  Portree, Skye

  —

  1

  Raigmore, Inverness

  72

  —

  Town and County, Nairn

  7

  —

  Bellshill Maternity

  112

  —

  Wm. Smellie Mat, Lanark

  50

  —

  Eastern General, Edinburgh

  48

  —

  Simpson M. M. P., Edinburgh

  125

  —

  St. John's, Livingston

  50

  —

  Western General, Edinburgh

  37

  —

  Balfour, Kirkwall

  —

  8

  Gilbert Bain, Lerwick

  —

  10

  Arbroath Infirmary

  —

  14

  Blairgowrie Cottage

  —

  2

  Fyfe Jamieson Mat, Forfar

  —

  10

  Montrose Royal Infirmary

  —

  8

  Ninewells, Dundee

  98

  —

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  AEF at 1990–91 prices

  AEF per capita

  AEF at 1990–91 prices

  AEF per capita

  AEF at 1990–91 prices

  AEF per capita

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Berwickshire

  1,243,000

  65.86

  1,746,010

  92.38

  1,794,929

  94.12

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  2,308,000

  68.29

  3,234,050

  95.32

  3,239,279

  94.52

  Roxburgh

  2,750,000

  78.44

  3,578,449

  102.56

  3,507,579

  100.25

  Tweeddale

  1,017,000

  68.43

  1,428,850

  95.38

  1,434,512

  94.56

  Clackmannan

  4,105,000

  87.02

  5,577,150

  118.24

  5,959,844

  125.55

  Falkirk

  12,063,000

  84.24

  14,958,604

  104.55

  15,881,590

  110.85

  Stirling

  8,865,000

  109.24

  10,428,208

  128.49

  11,100,478

  136.44

  Annandale and Eskdale

  2,246,000

  61.68

  3,056,249

  84.10

  3,076,510

  84.10

  Nithsdale

  3,810,000

  66.39

  5,081,068

  88.27

  5,541,296

  95.84

  Stewartry

  1,304,000

  55.79

  1,957,669

  84.13

  1,932,657

  82.17

  Wigtown

  2,153,000

  71.04

  2,956,476

  97.16

  3,053,258

  100.17

  Dunfermline

  10,103,000

  78.04

  13,129,575

  101.13

  13,974,869

  107.57

  Kirkcaldy

  11,065,000

  75.08

  14,203,738

  96.82

  15,359,299

  104.44

  North East Fife

  5,374,000

  79.18

  7,216,822

  105.73

  7,714,528

  111.93

  Aberdeen City

  23,628,000

  111.88

  28,027,103

  133.02

  28,861,065

  136.73

  Banff and Buchan

  6,545,000

  78.19

  8,171,228

  96.82

  8,523,007

  100.25

  Gordon

  4,999,000

  68.94

  6,945,600

  93.69

  7,295,086

  97.79

  Kincardine and Deeside

  3,495,000

  71.46

  4,398,350

  88.28

  4,668,426

  91.68

  Moray

  6,399,000

  75.22

  8,154,754

  96.56

  9,055,136

  107.19

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  766,000

  70.88

  1,108,785

  101.91

  1,049,949

  93.83

  Caithness

  2,037,000

  75.17

  2,660,160

  100.16

  2,704,467

  100.95

  Inverness

  4,630,000

  74.98

  5,779,947

  92.85

  5,799,759

  91.93

  Lochaber

  1,894,000

  98.75

  2,444,587

  127.92

  2,385,190

  125.34

  Nairn

  749,000

  72.38

  929,193

  90.74

  944,417

  90.64

  Ross and Cromarty

  5,101,000

  105.83

  6,258,336

  129.55

  6,475,875

  132.40

  Skye and Lochalsh

  1,160,000

  101.44

  1,811,497

  156.30

  1,832,491

  155.03

  Sutherland

  1,577,000

  120.86

  1,645,496

  126.97

  1,709,073

  130.96

  East Lothain

  7,095,000

  85.76

  9,648,832

  114.69

  10,310,781

  120.62

  Edinburgh City

  48,336,000

  111.51

  63,089,374

  145.64

  67,194,920

  154.64

  Midlothian

  6,852,000

  84.24

  8,032,777

  99.45

  8,792,201

  108.13

  West Lothian

  10,994,000

  76.54

  14,477,036

  99,98

  16,137,370

  108.82

  Argyll and Bute

  7,386,000

  111.92

  10,838,337

  163.33

  11,424,228

  172.70

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  3,093,000

  76.59

  3,987,536

  97.93

  4,158,655

  101.68

  Clydebank

  6,837,000

  143.15

  7,215,249

  152.93

  7,350,534

  156.66

  Clydesdale

  4,834,000

  82.88

  6,326,764

  108.26

  6,696,776

  114.36

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  4,892,000

  78.29

  5,900,728

  93.92

  6,329,204

  100.30

  508

  Average available staffed beds

  Hospital

  Specialist obstetrics

  GP obstetrics

  Perth Royal Infirmary

  42

  —

  Daliburgh, South Uist

  —

  3

  Lewis, Stornoway

  13

  —

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the amount of aggregate external finance allocated to(a) the general revenue account and (b) the general services capital programme for each district council expressed in (i) real terms and (ii) on a per capita basis for each financial year since 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 11 June 1992]: Since 1990–91, local authority current expenditure has been supported by aggregate external finance (AEF) which consists of non-domestic rate income (NDRI), revenue support grant (RSG) and specific grants. The NDRI and RSG components are neither hypothecated to particular services nor to loan charges on these services arising from outstanding capital debt. The general services capital programme is not part of AEF.

  The total AEF, since its introduction, for each district authority, in (i) real and (ii) per capita terms is given in the table.
  509

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  AEF at 1990–91 prices

  AEF per capita

  AEF at 1990–91 prices

  AEF per capita

  AEF at 1990–91 prices

  AEF per capita

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  3,770,000

  87.46

  4,679,439

  108.80

  4,916,156

  114.25

  Cunninghame

  13,879,000

  101.24

  16,044,366

  116.97

  17,406,430

  126.56

  Dumbarton

  7,115,000

  88.53

  8,254,136

  103.31

  9,115,950

  114.31

  East Kilbride

  5,392,000

  66.01

  6,708,466

  81.48

  7,219,067

  86.91

  Eastwood

  3,599,000

  61.30

  5,058,516

  83.96

  5,169,253

  84.73

  Glasgow City

  132,331,000

  188.19

  138,058,582

  198.47

  139,244,287

  202.03

  Hamilton

  9,402,000

  87.87

  11,639,279

  108.51

  12,351,652

  115.91

  Inverclyde

  10,065,000

  105.73

  11,704,978

  124.03

  12,413,361

  132.81

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  6,930,000

  85.51

  8,147,664

  100.55

  8,625,855

  106.35

  Kyle and Carrick

  10,004,000

  88.37

  12,045,450

  106.32

  12,833,699

  112.84

  Monklands

  11,038,000

  105.31

  13,815,041

  131.95

  14,998,882

  143.58

  Motherwell

  14,422,000

  98.25

  17,398,097

  118.56

  18,872,244

  128.59

  Renfrew

  19,221,000

  95.91

  23,980,193

  119.56

  25,310,558

  125.90

  Strathkelvin

  8,015,000

  89.86

  9,669,953

  108.14

  9,706,211

  108.26

  Angus

  6,977,000

  73.58

  9,156,916

  96.31

  9,579,216

  100.44

  Dundee City

  19,571,000

  112.31

  24,749,550

  143.44

  26,241,560

  151.81

  Perth and Kinross

  10,694,000

  85.78

  13,258,095

  106.17

  13,563,475

  107.84

  Note:

  1. 1990–91 prices calculated using the GDP deflator.

  2. AEF per capita calculated using the Registrar General for Scotland's mid-year estimates of total population.

  Housing Statistics
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will publish a table showing(a)the number of non-tolerable houses and (b) the proportion that this represents of the total housing stock in terms of (i) council stock, (ii) Scottish Homes stock, (iii) housing association stock, (iv) private-rented stock and (v) owner-occupied stock in (1) Scotland, (2) Strathclyde region, (3) Renfrew district, (4) Paisley, (5) Johnstone and (6) Elderslie; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will publish a table showing his most recent estimate of (a) the amount and (b) the percentage of housing stock below tolerable standard in (i) Renfrew district, (ii) Strathclyde region and (iii) Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 11 June 1992]: The latest available estimates supplied by housing authorities of the number of dwellings below tolerable standard are given in the table. Information is held centrally only for Scotland as a whole, regions and districts.

  Estimates for March 1991 and March 1992, based on a revised and improved annual return for housing authorities, will be published in the autumn.

  Estimated number of dwellings below the tolerable standard—March 1990

  Scotland

  Strathclyde

  Renfrew

  Total

  80,993

  48,518

  1,110

  Public authorities

  22,561

  21,922

  171

  Private sector and housing associations

  46,547

  17,359

  939

  of which:

  Housing associations

  504

  469

  88

  Private sector1

  46,043

  16,890

  851

  Ownership not known

  11,885

  9,237

  0

  510

  BTS dwellings as a percentage of all dwellings by ownership2

  Scotland

  Strathclyde

  Renfrew

  All dwellings

  3.9

  5.2

  1.4

  Public authorities3

  2.4

  4.4

  0.4

  Private sector and housing associations3

  4.0

  4.0

  2.4

  1 Many authorities could not separately identify owner occupied from privately rented.

  2 Percentages based on number of domestic subjects on valuation roll at 31 March 1989.

  3 Percentages by ownership exclude those dwellings where ownership is unknown.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will publish a table showing the(a) gross and (b) net capital allocation in outturn figures for local authority housing in each Scottish district council, expressed as a cost per dwelling unit; and if he will make a statement.

  (2) if he will publish a table showing the (a) gross and (b) net housing revenue allocation in outturn figures for local authority housing in each district council, expressed as a cost per dwelling unit; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 11 June 1992]: The gross and net forecast capital expenditure outturn figures for 1991–92 on the HRA block for each district council in Scotland, expressed as a cost per council house are set out in the table. The figures include, where appropriate, expenditure in the four urban partnerships and also on the homelessness and energy efficiency projects for which we made available additional resources last year. Final outturn figures for 1991–92 are not available until later in the year.

  Forecast housing capital outturn per local authority dwelling 1991–92

  Authority

  Forecast gross outturn

  Forecast net outturn

  £

  £

  Borders

  Berwickshire

  413

  36

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  497

  215

  Roxburgh

  708

  410

  Tweeddale

  408

  109

  511

  Authority

  Forecast gross outturn

  Forecast net outturn

  £

  £

  Central

  Clackmannan

  553

  225

  Falkirk

  668

  233

  Stirling

  784

  313

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Annandale and Eskdale

  823

  455

  Nithsdale

  743

  417

  Stewartry

  859

  408

  Wigtown

  841

  496

  Fife

  Dunfermline

  603

  211

  Kirkcaldy

  494

  127

  North East Fife

  634

  34

  Grampian

  Aberdeen

  465

  166

  Banff and Buchan

  510

  100

  Gordon

  1,300

  775

  Kincardine and Deeside

  1,202

  771

  Moray

  603

  161

  Highland

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  1,388

  860

  Caithness

  721

  566

  Inverness

  896

  491

  Lochaber

  1,231

  727

  Nairn

  1,070

  656

  Ross and Cromarty

  1,049

  611

  Skye and Lochalsh

  2,268

  1,731

  Sutherland

  1,200

  777

  Lothian

  East Lothian

  669

  109

  Edinburgh

  851

  346

  Midlothian

  575

  123

  West Lothian

  455

  96

  Strathclyde

  Argyll and Bute

  711

  179

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  843

  152

  Clydebank

  762

  261

  Clydesdale

  500

  231

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  473

  85

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  325

  113

  Cunninghame

  530

  208

  Dumbarton

  778

  488

  Constant prices—£ million

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  ESF1 2

  4—

  4—

  4—

  15.2

  16.1

  17.6

  19.5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  10.4

  11.0

  12.0

  13.9

  3—

  ERDF1

  93.0

  95.0

  68.0

  84.0

  116.5

  73.5

  68.1

  —

  —

  33.8

  46.4

  49.0

  53.7

  50.0

  44.5

  3—

  RENAVAL Strathclyde

  5—

  5—

  5—

  5—

  66.8

  2.2

  6.0

  —

  RENAVAL Fife

  5—

  5—

  5—

  5—

  60.2

  1.2

  0.9

  —

  RECHAR West

  5—

  5—

  5—

  5—

  61.5

  1.3

  0.5

  RECHAR East

  5—

  5—

  5—

  5—

  63.2

  4.3

  3.2

  —

  LEADER

  5—

  5—

  5—

  5—

  74.7

  7—

  7—

  —

  PERIFRA

  5—

  5—

  5—

  5—

  70.9

  7—

  7—

  —

  EAGGF

  19.5

  18.2

  15.9

  18.5

  821.9

  822.0

  819.8

  —

  1 Scottish objective 2 and 5b programmes.

  2 Figures for objectives 3 and 4 could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  3 Of which SIDO—Strathclyde Integrated Development Operation.

  4 Not available—ESF figures not held on a regional basis before 1990.

  5 Not applicable.

  6 1990 and 1991 combined.
  512

  Authority

  Forecast gross outturn

  Forecast net outturn £

  £

  £

  East Kilbride

  943

  357

  Eastwood

  694

  436

  Glasgow

  689

  395

  Hamilton

  530

  145

  Inverclyde

  480

  271

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  514

  220

  Kyle and Carrick

  514

  130

  Monklands

  551

  207

  Motherwell

  567

  269

  Renfrew

  570

  210

  Strathkelvin

  656

  210

  Tayside

  Angus

  464

  123

  Dundee

  610

  215

  Perth and Kinross

  548

  75

  Islands areas

  Orkney

  514

  -1,176

  Shetland

  2,052

  1,790

  Western Isles

  1,562

  1,230

  EC Funds
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing in cash and constant terms the amount of moneys allocated by the European Community to projects within Scotland from(a) the social fund, (b) the regional development fund, (c) RENAVAL, (d) RECHAR and (e) other EC funds in each year since 1987; if he will relate any moneys allocated to the Strathclyde integrated development operation to these figures; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 11 June 1992]: The European Commission allocates moneys in ecu on a programme basis. Local partnership committees decide on the allocations of funds to projects within each programme. Each calendar year the Commission applies indexation or inflation rates to awards which are made at constant prices. The available information is set out in the table. There are other EC funds which are of benefit to Scotland but figures for these are not held centrally.
  513
  7 Moneys allocated over the calendar years 1991–93 with no yearly split.

  8 Estimate by fiscal year.

  Note: Figures provided are in constant terms; receipts will take account of the deflator, and exchange rate at the appropriate time.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on how the Scottish Office's interpretation and application of the additionality principle in relation to European funding has varied since 1987.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 11 June 1992]: There was no change in the Scottish Office policy towards additionality from 1987 until 17 February this year, when my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced that in future published expenditure plans would show forecast receipts separately for each expenditure progamme.

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

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 12 June 1992]: Due to revisions in rateable values and in the method of water charging, water rates in Scotland cannot be compared over the period in question. However, the average household water bills and metered water charges are estimated as follows:

  Year

  Average household water bill

  Average metered water charge

  Cash prices (£ per year)

  1992 prices (£ per year)

  Cash prices (pence per cubic metre)

  1992 prices (pence per cubic metre)

  1979–80

  15.4

  37.9

  8.3

  20.5

  1980–81

  19.4

  40.5

  10.0

  20.9

  1981–82

  25.6

  47.7

  11.9

  22.1

  1982–83

  29.5

  50.6

  13.8

  23.6

  1983–84

  27.8

  45.6

  13.8

  22.6

  1984–85

  29.8

  46.7

  14.7

  23.0

  1985–86

  32.8

  48.3

  15.3

  22.5

  1986–87

  31.8

  45.3

  16.3

  23.2

  1987–88

  36.6

  50.0

  17.2

  23.5

  1988–89

  36.6

  47.6

  18.2

  23.6

  1989–90

  38.2

  46.1

  28.4

  34.4

  1990–91

  41.5

  45.8

  30.9

  34.1

  1991–92

  50.9

  53.1

  35.0

  36.5

  1992–93

  58.4

  58.4

  37.3

  37.3

  Until 1989, metered consumers also contributed through the public water rate.

  Inverclyde Enterprise Zone
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date the Inverclyde enterprise zone will cease to exist; what is the current estimate of jobs likely to be created before the expiry date of the zone; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The 10-year lifespan of the Inverclyde enterprise zone will end on 2 March 1999. At designation, we estimated 3,200 new jobs for the area and this has not changed.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the companies which established themselves within the Inverclyde enterprise zone since its inception; and if he will make a statement.
  514
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The following companies are presently on the Inverclyde enterprise zone:

  Cigna

  Norma Scotland

  Checkpoint Clothing

  Riskend Readymix

  Drummond Packaging

  Anaplast

  Ian's Grill and Takeaway

  A1 Installations

  Fairway Leisure

  Tryrare Ltd.

  The Sign Factory

  Rae and Partners

  Britannia Life

  Massily Logan

  C. R. Smith

  Gravel Dry Dock Company

  Mineba

  East End Bakeries

  Lost Wax Casting

  S. and A. Seafoods

  Auto Tec Lucas Ignition Centre

  Puffer Holdings

  Accurate Armour

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will indicate the total number of jobs created in the Inverclyde enterprise zone since its inception; if he will break these down by way of managerial, clerical, supervisory, skilled manual, semi-skilled manual, unskilled manual and male and female employees; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The total number of jobs in the Inverclyde enterprise zone is now 1,000. Information on the breakdown of these jobs into the categories requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only by approaching the individual firms in the zone.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions he has taken action against companies located in the Inverclyde enterprise zone because of serious reductions in employment; if this action involved the triggering of clawback arrangement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  It has not been necessary to take action against any company in the Inverclyde enterprise zone because they have suffered serious reductions in employment.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of those on employment training in Scotland are on placement with(a) private employers, (b) local authorites or other public bodies and (c) voluntary organisations.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  In Scotland responsibility for monitoring the delivery of employment training rests with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I have asked the chairmen of these two bodies to write to the hon. Member with the information he has requested.

  Inverpolly Estate, Wester Ross
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to maintain the national nature reserve status of Inverpolly estate, Wester Ross; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 22 May 1992]: I understand that Scottish Natural Heritage is in discussion with the estate with a view to the re-establishment of a national nature reserve agreement for that part of the reserve within the estate's ownership. The original agreement expired in 1986 although a five-year extension was arranged. The area owned by the estate is also protected as a site of special scientific interest.

  Scottish Co-operative Development Company
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet representatives of the Scottish Co-operative Development Company; what matters he expects to discuss; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 11 June 1992]: I plan to meet representatives of the Scottish Co-operatives Development Company Ltd. in the near future.

  I discussed the company's general aims and objectives together with current projects including the co-operative proposed by the workers formerly employed by Armitage Shanks in Barrhead.

  Under-fives Education
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the development of pre-five education in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 11 June 1992]: It is for local authorities to decide on the extent and nature of the pre-school education they provide having regard to available resources, local circumstances and competing priorities. The number of children attending local authority nursery schools in Scotland has risen from 31,700 in 1979 to 45,238 in 1991, an increase of 42 per cent. Over the same period local authority net current expenditure on nursery education increased from £12 million to £45 million.

  Provision of pre-five education also extends to day care, which can be provided in a number of ways—at day nurseries, with child-minders or at play-groups. Day care provision has been growing steadily in recent years and, in recognition of this, in March this year the Government provided £0.5 million of special support for an initiative designed to improve the quality and educational content of day care services.

  Scotland Europa
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the establishment of Scotland Europa; what is its annual budget; how many staff it is envisaged that it will employ(a) in Scotland, (b) in Strasbourg, (c) in Luxembourg, (d) in Brussels, (e) in London and (f) elsewhere in the financial years 1992–93, 1993–94 and 1994–95; what aims and objectives he has set it; what measurement techniques and criteria he will use to assess its performance; how he will hold it accountable in the public interest; and what plans he has to develop the concept further.
  516
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 11 June 1992]: My right hon. Friend was delighted to be able to be present at the launch of Scotland Europa in Brussels on 26 May. Scotland Europa has been set up as a subsidiary of Scottish Enterprise to provide a representative centre for Scottish organisations in Brussels. Clients who use Scotland Europa's services will be able to obtain early and accurate information about developments in Community policies and to develop better access to the Commission and contacts within other member states. The benefits for Scotland will include a strengthening of Scottish involvement in Community programmes, and the raising of Scotland's profile as a region within Europe.

  My right hon. Friend and I have been most impressed by the enthusiasm with which Scottish organisations both public and private have welcomed the initiative. This enthusiasm augurs well for Scotland Europa's future success.

  Budgetary, staffing, monitoring and other administrative arrangements are matters for Scottish Enterprise, and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  Arts and Broadcasting
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Scottish Office's relationship with the Department of National Heritage as regards the arts and broadcasting in Scotland.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 11 June 1992]: The Secretary of State's responsibilities in the arts and broadcasting fields are not affected by the creation of the Department of National Heritage. He continues to be responsible for support of the cultural heritage of Scotland through his funding of the national institutions—the national galleries, library and museums of Scotland—the Scottish Museums Council, the Scottish Film Council and a number of Gaelic and other bodies. He is not responsible for support of the live and performing arts in Scotland; this function rests with the Secretary of State for the National Heritage. As regards broadcasting, the Secretary of State for Scotland's main responsibility is for the funding of Gaelic television. The Scottish Office will liaise with the Department of National Heritage in the same way as it did with the Departments previously responsible for the transferred functions.

  Councillors' Allowances
  Mr. McMasters
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the standard allowance payable to local authority members in each(a) district and (b) regional authority in Scotland and the amount of special responsibility allowance allocated to each authority.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 11 June 1992]: The Scottish Office environment department does not hold details of the allowances paid to individual local authority members. Each authority decides on its own arrangements within the requirements of the Local Authorities Etc. (Allowances) (Scotland) Regulations 1991 (as amended).

  Steel
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the contacts between the Scottish Development Agency and the NUCOR Corporation relating to steel production in Scotland.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 12 June 1992]: Scottish Enterprise, replaced the Scottish development agency on 1 April 1991. My Department, in co-operation with Scottish Enterprise, remains in contact with NUCOR regarding its possible interest in locating in Scotland. The decision is one for NUCOR to take, but naturally we would welcome any proposals which would lead to the continuation of steelmaking in Scotland.

  East Kilbride Development Corporation
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the individual property assets held by East Kilbride development corporation in the value range £250,000 to £4 million.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 8 June 1992]: It would be inappropriate to disclose the information requested as it is commercially confidential.

  Advertising
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 3 June,Official Report, columns 598-600, if he will give the total 1992–93 budget for the Scottish Office for spending on advertising and other promotional material.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 12 June 1992]: The allocation for expenditure on information publicity and other promotional material in 1992–93 is £3.7 million.

  Youth Training
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many youth training places are available to unemployed youths in Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 12 June 1992]: The information requested is not collected on a constituency basis. However, a special exercise conducted by Enterprise Ayrshire on 14 May 1992 identified 545 youth training vacancies in Ayrshire.

  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many 16 and 17-year-olds are unemployed in Kilmarnock and Loudoun; and how many of them have been offered a youth training place.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 12 June 1992]: In the area covered by the Strathclyde education authority careers office in Kilmarnock, which corresponds with the Kilmarnock and Loudoun district, there were 208 young people aged under 18 years registered as unemployed as at 9 April 1992, the latest date for which figures are available. Information about how many of these young people have either sought or been offered a youth training place is not available centrally. However, Enterprise Ayrshire has confirmed that the youth training guarantee is being met in its area.

  Departmental Policies
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland who is the Minister responsible for considering the environmental implications of all of his Department's policies; when that person was appointed; what actions his Department has taken since the appointment of a responsible Minister; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 15 June 1992]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

  Island Patients
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate his Department has made of the annual cost of introducing financial support for patients on non-doctored islands travelling to primary health care practitioners for treatment.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 15 June 1992]: The costs of introducing a scheme to cover the cost of travelling for treatment to primary health care practitioners would vary according to its range and coverage, £400,000 and £1,200,000 per annum. As my right hon. and learned Friend Lord Fraser of Carmylie stated in his letter of 6 May to the hon. Member, there is however no immediate prospect of introducing a financial support scheme of this sort.

  Shellfish Fanning
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what sum of money has been made available by his Department to meet the costs of hygiene testing at or near shellfish farming sites in pursuance of EC directive 492.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 11 June 1992]: The testing and analysis of shellfish flesh to meet the classification requirements of EC directive 91/492 is being carried out by my Department's marine laboratory in Aberdeen. Additional resources have been provided to the laboratory for what constitutes the major part of the classification exercise. The collection and transmission of the necessary shellfish samples, which are being provided by the growers, is being carried out be environmental health authorities.

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

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 11 June 1992]: The current term of appointment for five of the nine appointed Scottish Homes Board members expires on 31 March 1993. A sixth appointment will expire on 30 September 1993. Re-appointments or new appointments will be considered by my right hon. Friend in terms of the most effective mix of expertise required in the future by Scottish Homes.

  NUCLEAR FUEL REPROCESSING: BNF PLC AND SOUTH KOREA
  NUCLEAR FUEL REPROCESSING: BNF PLC AND SOUTH KOREA
  GLOUCESTERSHIRE FHSA AND THE CLOTHIER REGULATIONS
  GLOUCESTERSHIRE FHSA AND THE CLOTHIER REGULATIONS
  HEREFORD AND WORCESTER FHSA: GENERAL MANAGER'S LECTURE
  HEREFORD AND WORCESTER FHSA: GENERAL MANAGER'S LECTURE
  HIGHWAY CODE REVISION
  HIGHWAY CODE REVISION
  EC BUDGET: MEMBER STATES' CONTRIBUTIONS AND RECEIPTS
  EC BUDGET: MEMBER STATES' CONTRIBUTIONS AND RECEIPTS