Written Answers of 25 June 1992

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Rural Police
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much it costs per year to keep a rural police officer in Wales; what was the comparable figure for 1982; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This information is not held centrally. The unit cost for a police officer in Wales in 1982–83 was £15,474, and the estimated unit cost for 1992–93 is £34,924.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many rural police officers there are in Wales; what were the corresponding figures for 1980, 1985 and 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Records of deployment of police officers to rural areas are not held centrally.

  The table gives details of the total strength of the Welsh forces as at 31 December for the years in question:—

  Year

  Strength

  1980

  6,260

  1985

  6,210

  1990

  6,399

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many rural police stations in Wales have been closed this year; how many closed in 1982; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many rural police stations there are in Wales; and what were the corresponding figures for 1980, 1985 and 1990.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Police stations are not formally classified in this way. The opening and closing of individual police stations is a matter for the force concerned.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement concerning the recent Audit Commission report on rural police stations in north Wales.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  There has been no Audit Commission report dealing specifically with rural police stations in north Wales. The chief constable commissioned a report by the district audit office into the structure of his force. The report has been laid before the police authority and the force is now consulting widely with the local community.

  Immigration
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 May,Official Report, column 10, if he will give the latest position over the funding of the United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  We will make a further announcement as soon as possible.

  Appeals
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many references to the Court of Appeal under section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968 are under consideration by C3 division of the Home Office.

  Mr. Jack
  Any representations alleging wrongful conviction upon indictment are considered with a view to a possible reference to the Court of Appeal under section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968. On 23 June 159 cases involving convictions on indictment and alleging wrongful conviction were under consideration by C3 division of the Home Office.

  Chelmsford Prison
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what measures his Department proposes to take to reduce overcrowding in Chelmsford prison;

  (2) when he expects a reduction in overcrowding in Chelmsford prison;

  (3) how many prisoners there were in Chelmsford prison on 12 December 1991 and 18 June 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  In common with other local prisons, Chelmsford has maintained a substantial degree of overcrowding for some time. In recent months, as new accommodation elsewhere in the prison service estate has come on stream, the amount of overcrowding has been reduced. I cannot give any assurances on whether this welcome improvement will be sustained because this would be dependent on the number of prisoners committed into custody by the courts served by the prison. Further consideration is being given to measures to reduce overcrowding directly in Chelmsford prison and elsewhere. On 12 December 1991 the number of prisoners held in Chelmsford was 389, and on 18 June this year is was 352.

  County Council Elections
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department further to the oral answer on 22 June from the Secretary of State for Wales to the hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth,Official Report, column 4, whether he has yet decided to introduce legislation before 16 July to cancel or delay the county council elections to be held in Wales in 1993 in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I have nothing to add to my reply of 9 June 1992, at column 77. No decisions have yet been taken in this matter.

  Arrests (Evasions)
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the number of occasions in the past five years in which suspects have evaded arrest by securing information that the police were about to call at their homes.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This information is not available.

  Fire Service Vehicles
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what responses it has had in response to the "Competing for Quality" consultation with regard to the maintenance of fire service vehicles; and if he will list those supporting, and those opposing, the introduction of compulsory competitive tendering, for fire service vehicles.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  With the exception of Hertfordshire, all fire authorities and fire service representative bodies in England and Wales have expressed opposition to compulsory competitive tendering for the maintenance of their vehicle fleets.

  Homosexuality
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of Thursday 18 June,Official Report, column 651, if he will show for the last five years ranked by police authority, the total number of prosecutions for all offences involving consenting male homosexual activity where at least one partner was aged over 16 years and under 21 years.

  Mr. Jack
  Information for 1986 to 1990 by police force area is given in the tables. The offence of indecency between males by a man of the age of 21 or over with another male person under the age of 21 does not necessarily involve fully consensual behaviour.

  Table A

  Number of males prosecuted for the offence of indecency between males by a man of the age of 21 or over with another male person under the age of 21 by police force area 1986–90

  England and Wales

  Police Force Area

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Avon and Somerset

  2

  11

  6

  3

  —

  Bedfordshire

  1

  —

  6

  3

  1

  Cambridgeshire

  —

  2

  1

  3

  5

  Cheshire

  —

  5

  11

  6

  4

  Cleveland

  —

  —

  2

  1

  —

  Cumbria

  3

  —

  —

  2

  1

  Derbyshire

  5

  2

  3

  1

  5

  Devon and Cornwall

  2

  3

  9

  2

  11

  Dorset

  3

  —

  7

  17

  6

  Durham

  4

  2

  4

  2

  3

  Essex

  3

  —

  5

  2

  10

  Gloucestershire

  3

  2

  5

  1

  3

  Greater Manchester

  7

  8

  4

  16

  24

  Hampshire

  5

  7

  13

  2

  21

  Hertfordshire

  2

  7

  7

  —

  1

  Humberside

  2

  1

  2

  6

  2

  Kent

  1

  4

  6

  2

  —

  Lancashire

  5

  3

  6

  1

  2

  Leicestershire

  —

  —

  1

  1

  3

  Lincolnshire

  —

  —

  1

  8

  —

  London, City of

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Merseyside

  1

  5

  2

  5

  4

  266

  Police Force Area

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Metropolitan Police District

  79

  71

  63

  157

  180

  Norfolk

  4

  2

  1

  2

  4

  Northamptonshire

  1

  —

  4

  4

  2

  Northumbria

  9

  8

  4

  7

  13

  North Yorkshire

  1

  6

  2

  2

  5

  Nottinghamshire

  7

  6

  1

  25

  62

  South Yorkshire

  2

  33

  16

  16

  5

  Staffordshire

  7

  5

  3

  19

  9

  Suffolk

  3

  2

  4

  1

  —

  Surrey

  —

  1

  3

  2

  —

  Sussex

  4

  8

  14

  13

  —

  Thames Valley

  4

  3

  17

  15

  8

  Warwickshire

  1

  2

  2

  —

  1

  West Mercia

  1

  1

  5

  5

  4

  West Midlands

  14

  23

  20

  25

  20

  West Yorkshire

  30

  25

  23

  13

  7

  Wiltshire

  —

  2

  3

  5

  2

  ENGLAND

  222

  260

  286

  395

  428

  Dyfed Powys

  8

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Gwent

  —

  1

  —

  1

  1

  North Wales

  10

  7

  1

  6

  8

  South Wales

  5

  2

  5

  1

  8

  WALES

  23

  10

  6

  9

  17

  ENGLAND AND WALES

  245

  270

  292

  404

  445

  Table B

  Number of males prosecuted for the offences of buggery or attempted buggery of a male of, or over 21 with another male under the age of 21 with consent by police force area 1986 to 1990

  England and Wales

  Police force area

  1986

  1987

  11988

  1989

  1990

  Avon and Somerset

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  Bedfordshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cambridgeshire

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  Cheshire

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  Cleveland

  —

  —

  3

  1

  —

  Cumbria

  —

  1

  1

  —

  2

  Derbyshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Devon and Cornwall

  —

  3

  1

  1

  —

  Dorset

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Durham

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Essex

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gloucestershire

  8

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Greater Manchester

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  Hampshire

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Hertfordshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Humberside

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  Kent

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Lancashire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Leicestershire

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Lincolnshire

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  London, City of

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Merseyside

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Metropolitan Police District

  2

  2

  2

  —

  —

  Norfolk

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Northamptonshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Northumbria

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  North Yorkshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Nottinghamshire

  2

  4

  1

  1

  1

  South Yorkshire

  3

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Staffordshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  267

  Police force area

  1986

  1987

  21988

  1989

  1990

  Suffolk

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Surrey

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sussex

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Thames Valley

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Warwickshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  West Mercia

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  West Midlands

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  West Yorkshire

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Wiltshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  ENGLAND

  21

  19

  17

  7

  10

  Dyfed Powys

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gwent

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  North Wales

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South Wales

  2

  1

  1

  1

  —

  WALES

  3

  2

  1

  1

  —

  ENGLAND AND WALES

  24

  21

  18

  8

  10

  1 In Cleveland in 1988 there was one female prosecuted for the offence of attempted buggery of a male of or over 21 with another male under the age of 21 with consent—generally, conspiring, inciting, aiding, abetting, causing or permitting a crime is classified under the heading of the crime itself.

  Police Co-operation
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to review the procedures for co-operation and sharing of information between separate police constabularies in England and Wales in relation to the problems caused by new age travellers.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The policing of any event is an operational matter for the police, but my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State will very shortly be meeting with chief constables to consider the intelligence and liaison arrangements between police forces for handling new age travelers.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanism exists for co-operation on areas of common concern between different police constabularies in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Police forces co-operate in many ways, formal and informal, over matters of common concern. In the case of public order difficulties, by virtue of section 14 of the Police Act 1964, chief constables can draw on the assistance of mutual aid from neighbouring forces.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those organisations he is consulting on proposals to amend the law on asylum seekers.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  My right hon. and learned Friend and I are ready to hear the views of interested organisations.

  Juries
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations have been received about increasing the number of multiracial juries; whether 268
  he will introduce regulations to enable a multiracial jury to be appointed in cases where either the defence or prosecution request one; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  We have received no such representations, although I understand that this is an issue which has been put to the Royal Commission on criminal justice in evidence submitted to them. I understand also that the Lord Chancellor has received representations on the matter from the Society of Black Lawyers. We have no present plans for legislation in this area.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce regulations to enable a mixed-sex jury to be appointed in cases where either the defence or the prosecution request one; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  We have no present plans to do so.

  Public Order
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he proposes to review the guidance issued by his Department to chief officers of police concerning the exercise of their powers under section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  On 22 May 1991 we issued guidance to the police on the application of section 39. In January 1992 we reviewed the police response to this guidance with the Association of Chief Police Officers who welcomed its introduction.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from police forces on the effectiveness of section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986 in dealing with mass trespass on private or common land.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  None, since 1990 when the Association of Chief Police Officers responded to the public evaluation of section 39.

  Obscene Phone Calls
  Mrs. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of obscene telephone calls were reported in the year 1991–92; how many offenders were charged; and how many were convicted.

  Mr. Jack
  It is not possible from the information held centrally to identify offences under section 43(1)(a) of the Telecommunications Act 1984—obscene, indecent, menacing or grossly offensive telephone calls—from other summary offences under the same Act. However, our statistics show that in 1990, there were 700 prosecutions and 520 convictions for summary offences as a whole under the aforesaid Act.

  Immigration
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions he has issued to entry clearance officers in British posts on the Indian sub-continent to expedite applications from spouses who have been waiting for more than five years to enter the United Kingdom; if similar instructions have been issued regarding other categories of settlement applicants; and if he will make a statement.
  269
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Kuwait
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Kuwaiti-born Palestinians who have been refused entry to Kuwait and are in the United Kingdom have applied for an extension of their visa or applied for permanent settlement in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is not available.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  International Agreements
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all the agreements between the European Community and(a) Switzerland and (b) Liechtenstein.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  Both Switzerland and Liechtenstein have free trade agreements with the Community covering manufactured goods, and will be part of the European economic area when this comes into effect. In addition, each has a number of bilateral agreements with the Community.

  Pakistan
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for non-settlement entry clearance at the deputy high commission in Karachi have been outstanding for more than one month because the post requires information from the high commission in Islamabad.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The deputy high commission in Karachi has no outstanding applications for entry clearance awaiting information from the high commission in Islamabad.

  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many outstanding applications for entry clearance at the deputy high commision in Karachi are waiting for files which have been requested from the high commission in Islamabad.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The deputy high commission in Karachi has two outstanding applications for entry clearance awaiting information from the high commission in Islamabad. Both are settlement cases.

  South Africa
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the South African Government about the police killings over the past weekend and other violence.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We are in touch with all the main parties in South Africa. We have noted President de Klerk's firm commitment to bring those responsible for the tragic killings at Boipotang to justice. We have urged him to do so as quickly as possible.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  International Agreements
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list all the bilateral and multilateral agreements directly or indirectly negotiated by his Department or a body acting on behalf of his Department with(a) Switzerland and (b) Liechtenstein.

  Mr. Mellor
  I refer to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 24 June,Official Report, column 209.

  China and Porcelain Artists
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the British China and Porcelain Artists Association to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Key
  Such an application was approved in principle by my right hon. Friend the then Minister for the Arts in September 1991.

TRANSPORT

  Road Safety
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will offer advice to school governors on the development of road safety policies in schools.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  As part of our child road safety initiative which highlights road safety education in schools as a key area for action, I am anxious to encourage school governors to be involved in the development of school road safety policies. In support of this, my Department has just produced a road safety information leaflet for governors. The leaflet is widely available from local authority road safety officers in England and Wales and from my Department.

  M25
  Sir Michael Grylls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to deal with increasing trafffic congestion on the M25.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I am today announcing proposals for increasing the capacity of the M25 between junction 12, M3, and junction 15, M4.

  Following very careful consideration of the options, I am proposing to provide new three-lane link roads to run either side of the existing motorway between these junctions.

  The section of the M25 between the M3 and the M4 is the busiest motorway in the country carrying as many as 200,000 vehicles a day. Most of it is already four lanes in each direction, but further capacity is urgently needed to relieve congestion and ensure that this vital link in our motorway network can cope with future traffic growth.

  The new roads will run adjacent to the motorway and will cater for traffic travelling between these junctions. This will improve the flow of traffic on the main carriageway and reduce accidents by separating through

  271
  traffic from vehicles joining and leaving the motorway. These improvements will discourage traffic from using unsuitable local roads to avoid congestion on the motorway.

  Great emphasis will be placed on the environment in this project. The proposals include extensive landscaping, the planting of thousands of trees and shrubs and the erection of noise barriers.

  All those affected will be fully consulted and their comments considered and reflected in the further design work. An environmental statement will be published when this work is completed.

  I recognise that local people will be concerned about the effect of the scheme on their area. Exhibitions will be held shortly to provide the public with information about the proposals and to explain the next steps.

  Motor Cycle Noise Act 1987
  Sir Keith Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what factors have delayed the coming into force of the Motor Cycle Noise Act 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  When the 1987 Act, and the regulations to be made under it, are brought into force, it will be desirable also to have in place a related amendment of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 concerning motorcycle noise. We hope to go out to consultation on the amendment to the 1986 regulations by the end of this year. The bringing into force of the 1987 Act, and of the regulations to be made under it, will follow as soon as practicable thereafter.

  Jubilee Line
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much public money has been spent to date on research, development and associated costs on the Jubilee line extension.

  Mr. Norris
  Up to the end of the financial year 1991–92, some £100 million of public money had been spent on advance works, design, parliamentary work, land purchase, property purchase and project management for the Jubilee line extension. It is estimated that a further £18 million was spent in the first 12 weeks of this financial year.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the crossrail and the Chelsea-Hackey line proposals to be at a stage of development comparable to the present Jubilee line extension scheme.

  Mr. Norris
  These three projects are expected to proceed sequentially. Powers exist to build the Jubilee line extension; public, though not private, funding is in place. It will be some years yet before crossrail is ready to build: that will depend on the parliamentary process and the availability of funds. The Chelsea-Hackney line will follow on as permitted by the availability of funds, the capacity of the construction industry and the ability of the capital to absorb further major construction works.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of how many jobs will be created by the Jubilee line extension.

  Mr. Norris
  The construction of the Jubilee line extension is estimated to create direct employment on-site 272
  on civil works for some 4,000 people and off-site in manufacturing and supply of the order of five times as many more people.

  Traffic Calming
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what schemes he has approved, in which cities, for special funding for schemes costing less than £5 million for experimental traffic-calming package schemes in mixed residential/light commercial areas in the present financial year.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No specific experimental traffic-calming schemes were approved for funding in the current financial year. Part of the transport supplementary grant settlement—minor works or credit approvals—allocated to English local highway authorities might be used for traffic-calming measures, but separate records are not kept.

  River Safety
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the Hayes inquiry into river safety to report; and if he will make it his policy to publish the report before 16 July.

  Mr. Norris
  Mr. Hayes's report is currently being prepared for publication. I hope that it will be published before 16 July.

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has undertaken recently to ensure that the pensions of both current and past British Rail employees are fully protected following future measures of privatisation.

  Mr. Freeman
  No decisions have yet been taken on the details of rail privatisation, but the Government have already made it clear that pension entitlements will be safeguarded. Detailed discussions with British Rail and its pensions advisers have begun.

  Wheel Clamping
  Sir Gerard Vaughan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward legislation to clarify the law on wheel-clamping vehicles on private land; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to establish a licensing authority for private wheel clamping firms.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I refer my hon. Friend and the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 18 June at column 611.

  Biodiesel
  Mr. Milligan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is considering to encourage the development of alternative fuels, such as biodiesel, for vehicles.
  273
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Transport Research Laboratory is currently reviewing national and international research and experience in the use of a range of alternative fuels for road vehicles. This will include biofuels such as biodiesel.

  The findings of this review will be used in further work to evaluate possible roles that alternative fuels might play in meeting our future transport needs.

  School Buses
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will repeal those parts of the Carrying Capacity Regulations 1984 and the Certificate of Conformity Regulations that allow three children up to 14 years of age to be counted as two, thereby sharing double seats on school buses.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I am currently reviewing the Carrying Capacity Regulations 1984 and associated regulations in the bus sector.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what orders have been placed by British Rail for sleeper train services through the channel tunnel; how many of the train sets on order will be capable of using the east coast mainline; and when he now expects these train sets to be available for service.

  Mr. Freeman
  No formal order can be made for sleeper rolling stock until current negotiations between British Rail, its continental partners and the European Commission on its proposed night service joint venture have been completed. If the order is made soon, the railways hope to start night services during 1995. All of the train sets would be capable of running on the east coast main line although the railways have no current plans to run night services on this line.

EDUCATION

  Students
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received about the prospect of student hardship this summer; and if he intends to increase the availability of the access funds.

  Mr. Forman
  My right hon. Friend regularly receives representations on all aspects of student support. We have made substantially more money available in maintenance support for students. The full-year loan and grant together are now over 30 per cent. higher than the grant alone was two years ago. We recently announced a 4.5 per cent. increase in average student resources for the 1992–93 academic year thus maintaining their value in real terms. Access funds are a relatively small and supplementary part of a generous package of student support. We believe that the sums made available to the funds should be sufficient for their purpose, if properly targeted.

  Manchester Business School
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration he has given to the letter sent to him by the Manchester Association of University 274
  Teachers on 12 June, concerning the future of the Manchester business school; what reply he is sending; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forman
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations about Manchester business school. He is concerned at the rift that has developed between the lay members of the MBS council and the university of Manchester authorities.

  Manchester business school is a constituent part of the university and my right hon. Friend has no power to intervene in the internal affairs of universities. He has suggested that both sides should approach an independent figure of standing who is mutually acceptable to them to act as mediator. I am replying to the Manchester Association of University Teachers' letter of 12 June to this effect.

  International Agreements
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list all the bilateral and multilateral agreements directly or indirectly negotiated by his Department or a body acting on behalf of his Department with(a) Switzerland and (b) Liechtenstein.

  Mr. Forman
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 24 June,Official Report, columns 208–9.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what approvals have been given to grant-maintained schools to dispose of capital assets; and how much of the proceeds, in each case, have been returned to the former maintaining authority.

  Mr. Forth
  One grant-maintained school has received my right hon. Friend's consent to the sale of a piece of surplus land. The attribution of proceeds between the school and the former maintaining authority is currently being determined. Another school has received consent for the disposal of part of its premises by annual lease, and for the renewal of this lease.

  City Technology Colleges
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the total amounts and individually for each city technology college, including planned and proposed colleges, the private donations that have been(a) pledged, (b) confirmed, (c) committed and (d) actually paid over; and if he will indicate in each case the nature of donations in kind rather than cash.

  Mr. Forth
  This information is not available centrally in the form requested.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will update the table given in his answer of 12 March,Official Report, columns 602–4, giving the latest available information in respect of each city technology college or proposed and planned city technology college.

  Mr. Forth
  The table covers announced CTCs:
  275

  Name

  Site

  LEA

  Opening dates

  Planned number of pupils

  Total capital cost

  Exchequer contribution

  Sponsors' contribution

  Principal sponsors

  Contracts awarded to sponsors

  School closure involved

  Has a ballot of parents been held and with what result

  £ million

  £ million

  (i) committed1 £ million

  (ii) confirmed2 £ million

  Kingshurst CTC, Solihull

  Kingshurst School site

  Solihull

  1988

  1,150

  9.71

  7.60

  2.11

  2.89

  Hanson Trust

  None

  No

  No

  Emmanuel College, Tyneside

  St. John Fisher School site

  Gateshead

  1990

  900

  8.61

  6.89

  1.72

  1.60

  Peter Vardy

  Building contract - Laings Northern

  No

  No

  Dixons CTC, Bradford

  Newby Square, Bradford

  Bradford

  1990

  980

  9.16

  7.33

  1.83

  2.89

  Dixons plc, Mr. Haking Wong

  None

  No

  No

  Leigh CTC, Dartford

  Downs School site

  Kent

  1990

  1,250

  8.95

  7.16

  1.79

  1.76

  Sir Geoffrey Leigh

  None

  Yes

  No3

  Britschool CCTA, Croydon

  Site of Selhurst Tertiary Centre

  Croydon

  1991

  720

  10.00

  8.00

  2.00

  2.42

  The British Record Industry Trust

  None

  No

  No

  Djanogly CTC, Nottingham

  Sherwood Rise, Nottingham

  Nottinghamshire

  1989

  1,000

  9.75

  8.20

  1.56

  1.90

  Mr. Harry Djanogly

  None

  No

  No

  Macmillan College, Teesside

  St. Michael RC School, Middlesbrough

  Cleveland

  1989

  1,100

  8.45

  6.74

  1.71

  1.51

  BAT Industries plc

  None

  No

  No

  Harris CTC, Norwood

  Sylvan School site, Croydon

  Croydon

  1990

  1,100

  8.66

  6.93

  1.73

  1.78

  Philip and Pauline Harris Charitable Trust

  None

  Yes

  Yes, Majority against

  Bacon's College, Bermondsey

  Bacon's School site, Southwark

  Southwark

  1991

  1,100

  15.47

  413.87

  41.60

  51.00

  Philip and Pauline Harris Charitable Trust/ Southwark Diocesan Board of Education

  None

  Yes

  No

  Haberdashers' CTC, New Cross

  Haberdashers' Aske's, Hatcham, School site

  Lewisham

  1991

  1,150

  9.15

  5.70

  3.45

  64.45

  Haberdashers' Company as Trustees of Robert Aske Charity

  None

  Yes

  Yes, Majority in favour

  Brooke CTC, Corby

  Great Oakley, Corby

  Northants

  1991

  900

  10.19

  8.15

  2.04

  2.04

  Mr. Hugh de Capell Brooke

  None

  No

  No

  Landau Forte College, Derby

  Wood Street, Derby

  Derbyshire

  1992

  900

  10.20

  8.16

  2.04

  2.05

  The Landau Foundation Forte plc

  None

  No

  No7

  Thomas Telford School, Telford

  Old Park, Telford

  Shropshire

  1991

  1,000

  10.75

  8.40

  2.35

  2.35

  The Mercers Tarmac plc

  None

  No

  No7

  ADT College, Wandsworth

  Mayfield School

  Wandsworth

  1991

  1,000

  11.32

  9.06

  2.26

  2.39

  ADT plc

  None

  No

  No7

  John Cabot CTC, Bristol

  Kingswood, Bristol

  Avon

  1993

  900

  To be determined

  Not more than 80 per cent. of cost

  At least 20 per cent. of cost

  At least 20 per cent. of cost

  Wolfson Foundation and Cable and Wireless plc

  None

  No

  No7

  1 Committed sponsorship contributions represent agreed percentage contributions to CTC capital cash limits as secured in formal funding agreements with CTCs.

  2 Confirmed sponsorship includes sponsorship beyond the cash limit.

  3 Public consultations were held by Kent on its proposals to close the Downs School. One statutory objection containing 62 signatures was made to the section 12 proposal subsequently published.

  4 The sponsors commitment is stated net of the proceeds of sale of the site of the former school: the Exchequer contribution will be reduced by the amount of the proceeds of sale.

  5 The confirmed contribution is net of the proceeds of sale of the former school site and of contributions to community provision and the chapel.

  6 This figure includes the donation of the present site, which has been valued at £3.445 million.

  7 In each case, LEA, local schools and other interests consulted on proposal to establish CTC.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Civil Servants
  Dr. Bray
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the civil service grades or grade equivalents of the chief scientific adviser in the Office of Science and Technology, the chairman of the Science and Engineering Research Council, the secretary of the Medical Research Council and the chief scientific adviser of the Ministry of Defence.
  276
  Mr. Waldegrave
  The civil service grades (or grade equivalents) are:

  Chief Scientific Adviser in the Office of Science and Technology

  Grade 2

  Chairman of the Science and Engineering Research Council

  Grade 1a

  Secretary of the Medical Research Council

  Grade 2

  Chief Scientific Adviser of the Ministry of Defence

  Grade 1a

  Departmental Management
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what further plans he has to introduce business discipline and entrepreneurial methods into the management of Government departments.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Government are committed to improving management in government for the benefit of customers, taxpayers and staff by drawing upon a wide range of proven management practices. The next steps initiative has already made use of many such practices: performance pay; businesslike reports and accounts; clear accountability; customer surveys; trading funds; and the financial flexibility to carry money between financial years. And many agency chief executives with business experience have been appointed following open competition. About half the civil service is already operating along next steps lines and the aim is that all the executive functions of government will, so far as practicable, be operating along these lines by the end of 1993.

  The citizens charter will place additional requirements on Government Departments to become consumer orientated, including published standards of service; consultation with users in setting those standards; greater openness and an end to anonymity; and improved systems for responding when things go wrong.

  The citizens charter also calls for a more direct link between performance and reward. I and my colleagues therefore intend to ensure that performance pay schemes are introduced throughout the civil service and that the process of delegating management responsibility for the civil service from the Office of Public Service and Science and the Treasury to Departments and agencies continues. In addition, in line with the commitments in the "Citizen's Charter" White Paper and its companian "Competing for Quality", all Departments and agencies are currently seeking to take forward the Government's market testing initiative and extend competitive tendering to new areas closer to the heart of government.

  In all of this work I am able to draw directly upon the business experience of the citizens charter panel of advisers, chaired by Sir James Blyth, and the efficiency unit, led by Sir Peter Levene.

  Agencies
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the budgets of each executive agency.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Agency budgets are a matter for the responsible Minister, although in the case of trading funds there will not necessarily be an approved budget as such.

  Where an agency has published a corporate plan, a copy of which will be placed in the House of Commons Library, the corporate plan will normally contain this information. A number of Departments also include this information in the relevant section of their departmental report.

  In addition, the table in the "Next Steps Annual Review", Cm. 1760 gives information on the operating costs of all the agencies which had been established as at 1 April 1991.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Access to Neighbouring Land Act 1992
  Mr. Roger Evans
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he proposes to make the necessary order to bring into force the Access to Neighbouring Land Act 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Subject to making the necessary amendments to rules of court, on which consultation will begin shortly, the Lord Chancellor hopes to be in a position to bring the Act into force in January 1993.

  County Court Payments
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the average time taken for county courts to make payments to beneficiaries from sums paid into county courts.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Moneys paid into a county court are required by rule to be paid out within one week of receipt. Where paid in satisfaction of a claim, payment is normally made within one week of acceptance.

  Moneys transferred by a county court to the court funds office for investment are generally paid out within seven working days of demand.

  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what regulations exist to ensure the prompt payment of money paid into county courts to beneficiaries.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The payment out of moneys paid into a county court or invested by the court funds office is governed by part VII of the Court Funds Rules 1987.

  Moneys paid into a county court are required to be paid over to creditors within one week of receipt, except where paid in satisfaction of a claim.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Sovereign Debt
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for each of the last five years what was the amount of corporation tax forgone from British banking institutions in relation to the writing-down of developing country sovereign debt; and how much sovereign debt has(a) been cancelled or (b) been made available for debt-for-environment or debt-for-development swaps, in each of the last five years as a result of this writing-down.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Provisions for doubtful sovereign debt by banks operating in the United Kingdom are estimated to have reduced corporation tax receipts in the last five years by the following amounts:

  £ million

  1987–88

  240

  1988–89

  550

  1989–90

  360

  1990–91

  720

  11991–92

  190

  1 Provisional.

  I regret that the further information requested is not available centrally.

  Foreign Workers
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to alter the tax treatment of non-United Kingdom citizens working in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Dorrell
  My right hon. Friend has no such plans.

  Biodiesel
  Mr. Milligan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce new measures to reduce taxation on alternative fuels such as biodiesel.

  Sir John Cope
  The European Commission has produced a draft directive on the reduction of excise duties on motor fuels from agricultural sources—biofuels. These proposals were reported to the House in an explanatory memorandum on Com(92)36. A detailed assessment of the proposal is currently being made by interested Government departments. As yet, there have been no Community discussions on the draft directive.

  Public Accounts Committee
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the recommendations made by the Committee of Public Accounts during 1990–91 were accepted by the Government; if he will make an estimate of the savings that were made as a result; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Government pay close attention to all the Public Accounts Committee's recommendations and have agreed with the majority of them. It is not possible to quantify resulting savings.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes he intends to make in the scheme announced in the budget whereby the largest VAT payers would be required to make monthly payments on accounts from the autumn of 1992.

  Sir John Cope
  Customs have now completed the consultation exercise launched on Budget day on the details of the scheme. All representations made have been considered most carefully. I can now confirm that the broad outlines of the scheme announced by my right hon. Friend will remain unchanged. However, we have been able to agree to some modifications which respond to points made in consultation.

  Businesses with net VAT payments of over £2 million will still pay monthly amounts on account instead of paying quarterly as at present. However, a business will not now be included in the scheme where exceptional transactions in the year ending 31 March 1991 caused it to exceed the £2 million VAT threshold.

  Second, lower monthly payments will be permitted where a change in business circumstances results in a reduction of VAT liability to 80 per cent. or less of that in the reference period. This responds to concerns that the original two-thirds trigger was too low.

  In addition, we intend to review the criteria for selection for inclusion in the scheme once we have some experience of its operation.
  280
  We have received representations that monthly payments on account should be confined to those EC importers who will gain from the introduction of the postponed accounting system. We have considered these very carefully, but have concluded that this is likely to be inconsistent with the single market and that the scheme would be at serious risk of successful challenge in the European Court of Justice.

  Sanctions
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress Her Majesty's Customs and Excise has made in its investigations into potential sanctions-breaking trade between British and Danish companies and Iraq before, at the time of, and since the Gulf war; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 24 June 1992]: Investigation into potential sanctions breaking trade is a matter for the Commissioners of Customs and Excise who can prosecute in appropriate cases. It would not be appropriate for information relating to any particular investigation to be made public other than in the course of court proceedings. If the hon. and learned Member has information regarding any potential sanctions-breaking trade, Customs and Excise would be grateful to receive it.

  Earning Statistics
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update, to take account of the 1992 Budget, the information on tax changes contained in his reply of 21 October 1986 to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher),Official Report, columns 807–8.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [pursuant to his reply, 22 June 1992, c. 4]: I regret that, due to a typographical error, one of the figures in the table was incorrect. The answer should read as follows:

  Latest estimates of the annual change in income tax liability resulting from the changes in tax rates, allowances and thresholds announced in the 1992 Budget are in the table. The 1978–79 income tax regime has been indexed to 1992–93 levels by reference to the statutory formula, and allowing for independent taxation.

  For the purposes of these calculations the indexed regime of 1978–79 is applied directly to the income base of 1992–93. In practice, retention of the regime indexed as appropriate for the intervening years would have led to changes in the income base.

  Average reduction in income lax per individual1 in 1992–93 compared with the 1978–79 indexed regime

  Range of individual's income in 1992–93

  Total reduction

  Average reduction

  £

  £ million

  £ per annum

  Under 5,000

  500

  150

  5,000 to 10,000

  3,200

  400

  10,000 to 15,000

  4,500

  730

  15,000 to 20,000

  4,300

  1,060

  20,000 to 30,000

  5,000

  1,590

  30,000 to 50,000

  3,600

  2,960

  Over 50,000

  10,300

  21,000

  TOTAL

  31,400

  1,200

  1 Individuals liable to income tax under the 1978–79 indexed regime.

PRIME MINISTER

  Kashmir
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had recently with the Prime Minister of Pakistan concerning Kashmir; what agreement was reached on representations to be made on behalf of Her Majesty's Government about Kashmir; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I discussed Kashmir with Mr. Nawaz Sharif on 17 June. I repeated our hope that Pakistan and India will agree to a means of solving this dispute through negotiation. I made clear our concern about interference in Kashmir by militants from Pakistan, and also briefed Mr. Nawaz Sharif on our representations to the Indian Government about the need to respect human rights and the need for a political process in Kashmir.

  Intellectual Property Rights
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the United States Administration on intellectual property rights regarding forestry products and medicines.

  The Prime Minister
  All these issues were discussed in the negotiations leading up to the biodiversity convention, in which representatives of the United States Administration were involved.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 25 June.

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 25 June.

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

  Council of Europe
  Mr. David Howell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will announce the composition of the United Kingdom delegation for the 44th session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

  The Prime Minister
  The 44th session parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe was opened in Strasbourg on 4 May. The next meeting of this session will be held in Budapest on 30 June, and the delegation from the United Kingdom, for this meeting and the remainder of the session, will consist of 19 Members of the Conservative party, 15 Members of the Labour party and two Members from the minority parties.

  The appointments of representatives and substitutes have been made on the basis of nominations by the parties concerned.

  The same delegation will be representing the United Kingdom Parliament at the assembly of the Western European Union, which next meets in Paris on 30 November 1992.

  Representatives from the Government Benches will be:

  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg becomes Lord Finsberg on 27 June.

  He will be a member of the delegation, and its leader, in his

  capacity as a member of the upper House.

  282
  The hon. Members for:

  Warwick and Leamington (Sir Dudley Smith)

  Calder Valley (Sir Donald Thompson)

  Twickenham (Mr. Toby Jessel)

  Poole (Mr. John Ward)

  Ashford (Sir Keith Speed)

  Medway (Dame Peggy Fenner)

  Lewes (Mr. Tim Rathbone)

  Bournemouth, East (Mr. David Atkinson)

  and the Earl of Dundee

  Representatives from the Labour party will be:

  The hon. Members for:

  Wentworth (Mr. Peter Hardy)

  Tooting (Mr. Tom Cox)

  Wansbeck (Mr. Jack Thompson)

  Newham, North West (Mr. Tony Banks)

  Don Valley (Mr. Martin Redmond)

  Manchester, Central (Mr. Robert Litherland)

  and Lord Kirkhill

  The representative from the minority parties will be:

  The hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber (Sir Russell Johnston)

  The following substitutes have been appointed to act as necessary on behalf of the delegates:

  From the Government Benches:

  Reading, West (Sir Tony Durant)

  Norfolk, North (Mr. Ralph Howell)

  Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Andrew Bowden)

  Ravensbourne (Sir John Hunt)

  Wellingborough (Mr. Peter Fry)

  Bridlington (Mr. John Townend)

  Newark (Mr. Richard Alexander)

  Lord Newall and Baroness Hooper

  From the Labour Benches:

  Pollok (Mr. James Dunnachie)

  Greenock and Port Glasgow (Dr. Norman Godman)

  Newport, East (Mr. Roy Hughes)

  Easington (Mr. John Cummings)

  Leigh (Mr. Lawrence Cunliffe)

  Leicester, South (Mr. James Marshall)

  Hodge Hill (Mr. Terry Davis)

  and Baroness Lockwood

  From the minority parties:

  Lord Mackie of Benshie

ENVIRONMENT

  Methane
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made by his Department in assisting the development and usage of systems to recover methane from landfills and waste-water treatment plants.

  Mr. Maclean
  My Department in its comprehensive waste management research programme has sponsored a considerable body of work on the optimisation of landfill gas production and methods relating to its improved management. Apart from research into the control of landfill gas for safety, there are 10 research projects set up in collaboration with the energy technology support unit of the Department of Trade and Industry on the recovery and utilisation of the gas.

  Direct support for demonstration projects is given by the Department of Trade and Industry. Nine projects receiving support have shown that the extraction and utilisation of landfill gas in boilers, kilns and for the generation of electricity can be economically attractive. Renewables orders made under the 1989 Electricity Act

  283
  which require regional electricity companies to contract for non-fossil fuel sources of electricity have brought forward 53 projects with a total capacity of 85MW.

  London Docklands
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how the provisions of the 1991 Treasury guidelines contained in "Economic Appraisal in Central Government: "A Technical Guide for Government Departments'. were applied in the investment appraisal used in deciding that civil servants should be moved to the docklands, in particular paragraphs 3.2 to 3.12 dealing with alternative options; and if he will publish the investment appraisal.

  Mr. Howard
  On 2 June I announced,Official Report, column 707, that some 2,000 civil servants in my Department would move to docklands subject to securing fully commercial terms giving value for money to the taxpayer. In making a final decision full account will be taken of the Treasury guidelines. To publish details of the appraisal now would jeopardise the negotiations that are currently taking place with developers. I will, however, consider making available the factors which were taken into account, including the investment appraisal, in due course, but that, too, would be subject to commercial confidentiality.

  Environmental Bulletins
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Departmental library receives environmental bulletins or newsletters produced by counterpart departments in other European Community countries.

  Mr. Howard
  No. I am not currently aware of any such bulletins, but I should be happy to consider whether to order any that are drawn to my attention.

  Housing Investment Programme
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were(a) the initial housing investment programme allocations and (b) the housing investment programme bids for each district council in Cumbria in constant 1991–92 prices for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Baldry
  The available information on housing investment programme bids and allocations is as follows. The table also gives corresponding figures for gross capital expenditure on housing.

  Housing Investment Programme (HIP) bids, allocations and gross capital expenditure in Cumbria by district, 1979–80 to 1992–931

  Allerdale

  £ thousands (1991–92 prices)

  HIP bids

  Initial allocations

  Final allocations

  Gross capital expenditure2

  1979–80

  17,581

  n/a

  12,610

  12,299

  1980–81

  17,521

  n/a

  8,285

  9,526

  1981–82

  12,589

  n/a

  5,492

  6,238

  1982–83

  10,824

  n/a

  7,513

  7,251

  1983–84

  8,252

  4,765

  10,039

  11,593

  1984–85

  8,812

  4,987

  5,336

  5,452

  1985–86

  11,704

  4,100

  4,100

  5,537

  1986–87

  17,339

  3,348

  3,348

  4,732

  1987–88

  10,325

  3,012

  3,277

  4,195

  1988–89

  8,700

  2,274

  3,133

  4,199

  1989–90

  6,514

  2,512

  3,098

  8,305

  284

  HIP bids

  Allocations

  Allocations plus supplementary credit approvals

  Gross capital expenditure

  1990–91

  7,537

  3,009

  3,009

  5,136

  1991–92

  6,125

  2,656

  33,741

  n/a

  1992–93

  6,840

  3,167

  33,167

  n/a

  Barrow-in-Furness

  £ thousands (1991–92 prices)

  HIP bids

  Initial allocations

  Final allocations

  2Gross capital expenditure

  1979–80

  9,076

  n/a

  5,331

  5,876

  1980–81

  8,635

  n/a

  4,698

  4,332

  1981–82

  7,290

  n/a

  3,830

  3,523

  1982–83

  4,131

  n/a

  4,281

  4,268

  1983–84

  4,465

  3,815

  4,942

  5,911

  1984–85

  7,209

  3,687

  4,021

  7,969

  1985–86

  8,953

  3,154

  3,154

  5,648

  1986–87

  12,758

  2,511

  3,081

  6,082

  1987–88

  12,517

  2,318

  3,569

  6,170

  1988–89

  13,934

  1,751

  4,353

  6,547

  1989–90

  9,675

  1,320

  3,178

  6,600

  HIP bids

  Allocations

  Allocations plus supplementary credit approvals

  2Gross capital expenditure

  1990–91

  5,575

  2,442

  2,638

  4,157

  1991–92

  4,667

  1,917

  31,942

  n/a

  1992–93

  4,445

  1,614

  31,614

  n/a

  Carlisle

  £ thousands (1991–92 prices)

  Year

  HIP bids

  Initial allocations

  Final allocations

  2 Gross capital expenditure

  1979–80

  12,956

  n.a.

  9,610

  10,585

  1980–81

  11,217

  n.a.

  6,644

  6,285

  1981–82

  10,305

  n.a.

  5,176

  5,465

  1982–83

  10,271

  n.a.

  5,402

  5,958

  1983–84

  8,829

  4,158

  5,303

  7,567

  1984–85

  11,118

  4,599

  4,599

  6,413

  1985–86

  12,941

  3,524

  3,524

  7,434

  1986–87

  14,676

  3,069

  3,069

  8,625

  1987–88

  18,522

  2,589

  2,721

  9,680

  1988–89

  17,440

  2,046

  2,348

  8,869

  1989–90

  16,299

  1,451

  2,085

  11,618

  Year

  HIP bids

  Allocations

  Allocations plus supplementary credit approvals

  2Gross capital expenditure

  1990–91

  14,638

  4,880

  5,426

  7,486

  1991–92

  16,882

  4,301

  35,454

  n.a.

  1992–93

  17,957

  5,225

  35,225

  n.a.

  Copeland

  £ thousands (1991–92 prices)

  HIP bids

  Initial allocations

  Final allocations

  2Gross capital expenditure

  1979–80

  9,294

  n/a

  8,064

  7,388

  1980–81

  13,823

  n/a

  5,671

  4,705

  1981–82

  10,494

  n/a

  5,366

  5,415

  1982–83

  5,131

  n/a

  4,610

  4,538

  1983–84

  4,741

  3,384

  3,916

  5,429

  1984–85

  6,832

  3,436

  3,436

  4,903

  285

  HIP bids

  Initial allocations

  Final allocations

  2Gross capital expenditure

  1985–86

  6,597

  2,668

  2,668

  5,740

  1986–87

  11,920

  2,303

  2,303

  4,917

  1987–88

  7,114

  1,961

  2,196

  9,465

  1988–89

  7,438

  1,493

  1,970

  9,557

  1989–90

  6,128

  1,067

  2,299

  8,881

  HIP bids

  Allocations

  Allocations plus supplementary credit approvals

  2Gross capital expenditure

  1990–91

  4,284

  2,038

  2,038

  3,211

  1991–92

  6,262

  1,515

  31,731

  n/a

  1992–93

  9,012

  1,623

  31,623

  n/a

  Eden

  £ thousands (1991–92 prices)

  HIP bids

  Initial allocations

  Final allocations

  2Gross capital expenditure

  1979–80

  2,949

  n/a

  2,503

  1,909

  1980–81

  3,271

  n/a

  2,299

  2,113

  1981–82

  3,514

  n/a

  2,180

  1,933

  1982–83

  3,072

  n/a

  1,984

  2,502

  1983–84

  3,097

  1,397

  1,734

  3,320

  1984–85

  3,042

  1,726

  1,726

  1,741

  1985–86

  2,567

  1,308

  1,308

  2,039

  1986–87

  3,298

  1,186

  1,186

  1,714

  1987–88

  3,567

  962

  966

  2,055

  1988–89

  2,903

  671

  671

  1,884

  1989–90

  2,431

  521

  521

  1,851

  HIP bids

  Allocations

  Allocations plus supplementary credit approvals

  2Gross capital expenditure

  1990–91

  2,337

  825

  825

  2,529

  1991–92

  2,156

  948

  31,371

  n/a

  1992–93

  2,781

  1,115

  31,115

  n/a

  South Lakeland

  £ thousands (1991–92 prices)

  HIP bids

  Initial allocations

  Final allocations

  Gross capital expenditure2

  1979–90

  5,447

  n/a

  4,202

  3,206

  1980–81

  5,060

  n/a

  3,711

  2,537

  1981–82

  5,168

  n/a

  3,988

  3,403

  1982/83

  4,218

  n/a

  3,008

  4,373

  1983–84

  4,257

  3,384

  4,000

  4,661

  1984–85

  6,186

  3,177

  3,177

  2,914

  1985–86

  6,265

  2,409

  2,431

  4,889

  1986–87

  5,686

  2,041

  2,066

  5,069

  1987–88

  4,977

  1,770

  1,790

  5,878

  1988–89

  5,957

  1,235

  1,235

  4,951

  1989–90

  6,661

  868

  868

  6,986

  HIP bids

  Allocations

  Allocations plus supplementary credit approvals

  Gross capital expenditure2

  1990–91

  6,303

  1,234

  1,234

  3,983

  1991–92

  6,141

  1,399

  31,631

  n/a

  1992–93

  5,834

  1,590

  31,590

  n/a

  1 A new capital finance system was introduced at the beginning of 1990–91 and the figures for allocations for 1990–91 and subsequent

  286
  years are, therefore, not directly comparable with the figures for earlier years. Under the new system the HIP allocation is an assessment of relative need for housing capital expenditure rather than a direct borrowing approval. Borrowing approval is now conveyed by the single, cross-service, basic credit approval, which is set at a level which takes account of each authority's ability to finance expenditure from usable capital receipts.

  2Since 1981–82 local authorities have been able to augment the borrowing power of their HIP allocations by using the prescribed proportion of their capital receipts.

  3 These figures reflect the latest position and are not yet final. n/a = Not available.

  Housing, Cumbria
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new houses were started in each district in Cumbria since 1979 in(a) the private sector,(b) by housing association and (c) by local authorites.

  Mr. Baldry
  Estimates of housebuilding starts by sector Eden for each local authority in Cumbria are shown in the publications "Local Housing Statistics" and "Housebuilding in England by Local Authority Area".

  Figures for 1979 are in table 5 of the May 1980 edition —issue No. 53—of "Local Housing Statistics". Figures for 1980 to 1988 are in tables 1.1 to 1.9 of "Housebuilding in England by Local Authority Areas: 1980 to 1989". Revised 1989 figures are in table 1(b) of the April 1991 edition—issue No. 97—of "Local Housing Statistics" and figures for 1990 and 1991 are in tables 1(a) and 1(b) of the April 1992 edition—issue No. 101. Copies of all these publications are in the Library.

  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many persons were on council housing waiting lists in each district in Cumbria in(a) 1979 and (b)

  Mr. Baldry
  Local authorities report the number of households on their council housing waiting lists in their annual housing investment programme—HIP—returns.

  The figures as at 1 April 1991 are in column B5 of the "1991 HIP1 All Items Print", a copy of which is in the Library.

  The information was not reported in 1979.

  Hydrochlorofluorocarbons
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what position the Government will be recommending to the EC on hydrochlorofluorocarbons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The United Kingdom, with other member states, has agreed that the Community should support a quantitative limit on HCFC consumption, together with controls on use and a phase out date. The Community's proposal for HCFC controls is one of the issues to be discussed at the meeting of the Montreal protocol open-ended working group between 8 and 17 July.

  Waste Management Licences
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give his timetable for the implementation of section 143 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Mr. Maclean
  No timetable for implementation of section 143 has yet been decided, but an announcement due course.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many persons were accepted as homeless under the provisions of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 and part III of the Housing Act 1985 in Barrow-in-Furness in each year since 1978.

  Mr. Baldry
  The information for 1978 is contained in edition No. 52, table 12 of "Local Housing Statistics: England and Wales", a copy of which is available in the Library. For the other years, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Angus, East (Mr. Welsh) on 17 June 1992,Official Report, columns 569–70.

  International Agreements
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the bilateral and multilateral agreements directly or indirectly negotiated by his Department or a body acting on behalf of his Department with(a) Switzerland and (b) Liechtenstein.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 24 June,Official Report, columns 208–9.

  Mortgage Payments
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further action he intends to take to assist home owners facing repossession who are in difficulties meeting their mortgage payments.

  Sir George Young
  All mortgage borrowers will have been helped by the 5 per cent. reduction in base rates since October 1990.

  The Government agreed a package of measures to help borrowers at risk of repossession with the Council of Mortgage Lenders in December 1991. We reviewed progress on that package with CML members on 2 June. They estimate that measures taken since December will save some 55,000 repossessions this year, and that the number of homes repossessed this year will fall.

  Water Use
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the percentage figures for water use in each of the main water regions for(a) agricultural, (b) industrial, (c) commercial and (d) domestic use, respectively.

  Mr. Maclean
  The available statistics are published in the annual "Digest of the Environmental Protection and Water Statistics". Copies of the digest were placed in the House Library.

  Waste
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he takes to ensure that all transporters of waste adhere to regulations governing the safe control of waste; and if he will bring forward proposals to empower waste regulation authorities with rights to inspect waste transporter premises and stop check waste vehicles within the area of the authority's function.
  288
  Mr. Maclean
  Since 1 April 1992 it has been an offence under the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 for any person to transport controlled waste in the course of his business unless he is registered with the appropriate waste regulation authority; or benefits from an exemption provided under the Controlled Waste (Registration of Carriers and Seizure of Vehicles) Regulations 1991.

  Under 7(1) of the 1989 Act, as amended, waste regulation authorities have powers to enter and inspect premises; and under section 5 of that Act waste regulation authorities and police constables have powers to stop and search vehicles in certain circumstances. Guidance on the 1989 Act and the 1991 regulations has been provided to waste regulation authorities in DOE circular 11/91.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that waste regulation authorities which receive imported waste are fully aware of those countries through which waste travels.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations 1988 provide a system of consignment notes, one of which must be sent to the competent authority of the state of destination. In the case of shipments of waste for disposal, this copy will show in code form all the other EC member states through which the consignment is due to pass.

  The current draft of the proposed EC waste shipments regulation would improve upon these requirements. Consignment notes would show routeing arrangements, and this would apply to shipments of certain types of waste for recovery as well as to shipments for disposal.

  Housebuilding
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the level of new starts in local authority housing annually, for the years 1980 to 1991;

  (2) what was the number of housing association new starts, annually, for the years 1980 to 1991.

  Mr. Baldry
  Estimates of the numbers of new housebuilding starts by local authorities and by housing associations for 1980 to 1990 are published in table 6.1 of the annual publication "Housing and Construction Statistics 1980–1990: Great Britain". Provisional estimates for 1991 are shown in the quarterly publication "Housing and Construction Statistics; Part 1", in table 1.2 of the December quarter 1991 edition, No. 48.

  Local Authority Housing
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will show the level of capital spending for local authority housing in the years 1980 to the present day and also as a proportion of gross domestic product, annually, for the same period, in(a) England and (b) Yorkshire and Humberside.

  Mr. Baldry
  Information on housing expenditure by local authorities is only available on a financial year basis. Financial year GDP figures are not available for England or regions of England. The available information, which relates to gross capital expenditure, including spending from receipts, is as follows.
  289

  Gross capital expenditure on local authority housing

  £ million

  England cash value

  Yorkshire and Humberside cash value

  1979–80

  2,947

  218

  1980–81

  2,729

  193

  1981–82

  2,632

  164

  1982–83

  3,235

  221

  1983–84

  3,571

  280

  1984–85

  3,501

  237

  1985–86

  3,023

  225

  1986–87

  3,017

  217

  1987–88

  3,272

  261

  1988–89

  3,604

  282

  1989–90

  5,123

  347

  11990–91

  3,141

  266

  21991–92

  2,801

  n/a

  1 Provisional.

  2 Estimated.

  n/a = Not available.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the(a) highest, (b) lowest and (c) average rents for each local authority housing department in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have today placed in the Library of the House a table showing provisional figures for the average weekly rent in 1992–93 for each local authority in England. No data is held centrally on highest and lowest rents within authorities. For information relating to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland I refer the hon. Member to the respective Secretaries of State.

  Pentachlorophenol
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action is being taken to control the discharge of pentachlorophenol from grey cloth; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Since 1 January 1988 the EC dangerous substances directive 86/280/EEC has required all surface waters to meet an environmental quality standard in respect of pentachlorophenol—(PCP—of 2 microgrammes per litre as an annual average.

  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, on behalf of the Secretary of State, has reviewed a number of trade effluent consents granted to traders discharging effluent which may contain PCP.

  As a result, traders have been given a period of time in which to take measures to control the discharge of PCP in order to enable the environmental quality standard in the receiving water to be achieved. The most effective measure is for traders to tackle the problem at source by accepting only those supplies uncontaminated with PCP, and I understand that they are having some success in this respect.

  New Developments (North-East)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will indicate how much public money has been spent on the Twelve Quays, East Quayside and Teesdale developments; and how that money has been spent.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information for East Quayside and Teesdale is shown in the tables. Public expenditure on the 290
  Twelve Quays site up to 31 March 1992 amounted to £487,000 for various advance works, including a feasibility study, wall repairs and causeway works.

  Expenditure by Tyne and Wear UDC on East Quayside up to 31 March

  £ million

  Land Aquisition

  6.037

  Land Reclamation

  2.469

  Roads and Services

  0.160

  Expenditure by Teesside UDC on Teesdale up to 31 March 1992

  £ million

  Environmental Improvements

  9.998

  Land Aquisition

  10.092

  Land Reclamation

  18.602

  Services

  1.828

  Roads and Transport

  9.162

  Community Support

  0.568

  Housing

  0.867

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was Her Majesty's Government's position on the discussion of international transport and trade in radioactive waste at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government support the aims of the Agenda 21 chapter concerned with radioactive wastes, including the international movement of such wastes. A key priority of the chapter is to strengthen the International Atomic Energy Agency's code of practice on the international transboundary movement of radioactive waste.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the types and amount of radioactive products disposed of on site by Barnsley district general hospital since 17 July 1986;

  (2) if he will give the amounts of radioactive waste burned at Barnsley district general hospital for each year since the issue of authorisation in 1986.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 22 June 1992]: The total radioactivity contained in the wastes incinerated by the hospital since 1986 is as follows:

  Megabecquerels

  1986

  41

  1987

  50

  1988

  41

  1989

  30

  1990

  9

  1991

  11

  During 1991 the daily average disposal rate was 28 Kilobecquerels. This is less than the activity of a household smoke detector.

  1 Megabecquerels = 1000 Kilobecquerels.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what reviews have taken place since 1986 of the authorisation given to Barnsley and district general hospital to burn radioactive waste.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 22 June 1992]: All authorisations issued under the Radioactive Substances

  291
  Act 1960 are kept under review, and revised when appropriate. In this case, the use of radioactive materials and the disposal of radioactive wastes by the hospital have remained broadly constant over the period. No changes to the terms of the authorisation have therefore been needed.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are taken to monitor the levels of radioactivity of(a) the staff, (b) the patients and (c) persons residing in close proximity of Barnsley district general hospital following the authorisation given to that hospital to burn radioactive waste.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 22 June 1992]: So far as the staff and patients are concerned, the hospital undertakes its own radiological monitoring as part of its procedures to ensure the safe keeping and use of radioactive materials and wastes.

  In relation to the monitoring of radioactivity in the vicinity of the hospital, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer to him today.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what records are held of the levels of radioactivity in and around Barnsley prior to 1986 and since that date;

  (2) what monitoring of the environment has taken place in and around Barnsley to determine levels of radioactivity since 1986.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 22 June 1992]: The wastes discharged to the atmosphere from Barnsley district general hospital have an extremely small radioactive content and pose no radiological hazard. Environmental monitoring in the vicinity of the hospital is therefore not necessary.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the terms and conditions of the certificate issued to Barnsley district general hospital authorising the burning of radioactive waste.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 22 June 1992]: The certificate of authorisation issued by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 permits the hospital to incinerate each day material containing up to 2 megabecquerels of radioactive waste. A copy of the certificate will be placed in the House Library.

  First-time Home Owners
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the number of first-time home owners in 1992 and the comparable figures for 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 24 June 1992]: Information is only available for the numbers of first-time buyers who are purchasing their homes with a mortgage through a bank or building society.

  The latest available information is for the first quarter of 1992, when there were 106,370 first-time purchasers with such mortgages in the United Kingdom compared with 131,200 in the same quarter of 1987.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Auditing
  Mr. Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby)
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many of the post 1979 inspectors' reports relating to investigations carried out under the Companies Act 1985 have been prepared by partners from auditing firms criticised in his Department's inspectors' reports.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  Nine accountant inspectors appointed since 1979 have been partners in firms which have previously been the subject of criticism in inspectors' reports under the Companies Acts.

  Weights and Measures
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many inspections were made, by local authority areas, by weights and measures inspectors in 1981, 1988, 1990 and 1991.

  Mr. Leigh
  The total number of enforcement visits by weights and measures inspectors was as follows:

  Number

  1988

  857,527

  1990

  741,085

  1991

  711,205

  Information for 1981 is not available.

  High-definition Television
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what contribution will be required from the United Kingdom towards the £600 million EC subsidy for the development of high-definition television; what is his policy on making that contribution; and what benefits will accrue to the British television industry from the development of a European system of HDTV.

  Mr. Leigh
  The call to spend 850 mecu—about £600 million—on wide-screen and high-definition television services broadcast by satellite and cable is made in the European Commission's proposal for a Council decision on an action plan for the introduction of advanced television services in Europe. Such services will use the European developed MAC—multiplex analogue components—transmission standards. The expenditure is proposed over a five-year period. Our contribution would be calculated on a gross contribution of about 17.5 per cent. less abatement, which would depend on the level of United Kingdom receipts. However, the Government have rejected the sum of 850 mecu as unacceptably high. During negotiations on the proposal, the Government have said that they are prepared to consider a case for a considerably lower sum, provided that it is accompanied by a rigorous justification for the use of public money. We have yet to see a convincing business case presented for any expenditure.

  The Government recognise the potential consumer appeal of wide-screen and high-definition television. There is a market opportunity for such MAC-based services which the satellite and cable TV industry and equipment manufacturers may wish to exploit. The Government believe that it is principally through the cooperation of

  293
  broadcasters and manufacturers that the market will take off. What benefits the British television industry derives from wide-screen and high-definition television must depend primarily on the investments which the individual commercial players decide to make, based on their perception of the development of the market and the needs of consumers.

  Ozone-depleting Chemicals
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to introduce mandatory recovery or recycling of chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  My Department already encourages the voluntary recovery and recycling of ozone-depleting substances. Legislation on the management of industrial and domestic waste is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish recent research undertaken on hydrochlorofluorocarbons for his Department by Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  The results of the study were given by the consultants at a presentation on 4 March 1992, which was attended by representatives of those industry sectors concerned and non-governmental organisation. A copy of the executive summary, which was issued at the presentation, has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his policy on the publication of United Kingdom production figures of ozone-depleting chemicals: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  Information on United Kingdom production of ozone-depleting substances is not published separately for reasons of commercial sensitivity. Production figures are however reported to the Commission of the European Communities which published production levels for the Community as a whole.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the 10 largest users in the United Kingdom of each of(a) hydrochlorofluorocarbons, (b) chlorofluorocarbons, (c) methyl chloroform, (d) halons and (e) carbon tetrachloride; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  On(a), (b), (c) and (e) the information is not available.

  On (d) I refer the hon. Gentleman to the publication "Use of Halons in the United Kingdom and the Scope for Substitution" published by HMSO/Department of the Environment 1991, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Glass (Safety)
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to include BS 7449: 1991 within a forthcoming European safety standard for glass used in furniture manufacture.

  Mr. Leigh
  British Standard 7449: 1991 has been put forward to the European standards body—by the British 294
  Standards Institution as a basis for the inclusion of glass specifications in a draft European standard on safety requirements for cabinets and general storage furniture for domestic use.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he intends to include BS 7449: 1991 within the general safety requirment.

  Mr. Leigh
  Standards of safety are relevant for the purposes of the general safety requirement as soon as they are published. British Standard 7449: 1991—Specification for inclusion of glass in the construction of furniture, other than tables or trolleys, including cabinets, shelving systems and wall hung or free standing mirrors—was published by the British Standards Institution in June 1991. From this date it has been open to the courts to take account of BS 7449 when deciding whether the relevant products satisfy the general safety requirement in relation to aspects covered by this standard.

  International Agreements
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list all the bilateral and multilateral agreements directly or indirectly negotiated by his Department or a body acting on behalf of his Department with(a) Switzerland and (b) Liechtenstein.

  Mr. Needham
  I refer my hon., Friend to the answer given on 24 June Official Report, col 208–9 by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

  Tobacco
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the level of export earnings from tobacco products in(a) 1978–79, (b) 1984–85, (c) 1989–90 and (d) 1991–92 in cash terms and at 1991–92 prices.

  Mr. Needham
  The available information is given in the following table.

  Total United Kingdom exports of tobacco products1

  £ million

  1978

  193.0

  1979

  232.1

  1984

  409.2

  1985

  456.3

  1989

  512.1

  1990

  639.8

  1991

  763.6

  1 Tobacco products are defined as item 122 of the Standard International Trade Classification. Revisions 2 and 3.

  Source:

  Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost of imports of finished tobacco products in(a) 1978–79, (b) 1984–85, (c) 1989–90 and (d) 1991–92 in cash terms and at 1991–92 prices.

  Mr. Needham
  The available information is given in the following table.
  295

  Total United Kingdom imports of tobacco products1

  £ million

  1978

  39.5

  1979

  45.4

  1984

  87.1

  1985

  113.8

  1989

  107.1

  1990

  126.5

  1991

  148.4

  1. Tobacco products are defined as item 122 of the Standard International Trade Classification, Revisions 2 and 3.

  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.

  Regional Aid
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will provide a table of expenditure on regional financial assistance to the Darlington area in each year since the last revision of the assisted areas map in 1984(a) at current prices and (b) at 1984 prices.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Regional financial assistance in the Darlington area comprises expenditure under the regional selective assistance scheme and capital expenditure by English Estates on land and buildings. The amount spent since 1984–85 at current prices and at 1984–85 prices is set out in the table.

  Regional financial assistance Darlington area

  £000

  Regional selective assistance

  English estates capital expenditure

  Current prices

  1984–85 prices

  Current prices

  1984–85 prices

  1984–85

  608

  608

  117

  117

  1985–86

  637

  604

  356

  357

  1986–87

  465

  427

  30

  27

  1987–88

  408

  355

  29

  25

  1988–89

  722

  586

  —

  —

  1989–90

  258

  196

  —

  —

  1990–91

  1,065

  750

  —

  —

  1991–92

  172

  113

  —

  —

  Mersey Barrage
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what controls exist to ensure that the feasibility studies being carried out by the Mersey Barrage Company are of sufficient quality to enable reliable predictions of the likely environmental impacts of the proposed Mersey tidal power barrage.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Mersey Barrage Company has set up three working parties covering water quality, fisheries, and all environmental issues, to assist in ensuring that the work assessing the environmental impact of the barrage is of sufficient quality. The working parties include representatives from both statutory and non-statutory environmental organisations.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how variations in the operational procedures of the proposed Mersey tidal power barrage have been accounted for in the stage III studies of environmental impacts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  In the current phase of work, variations in the operational procedures of the proposed Mersey 296
  barrage are being examined in relation to environmental impact by, for example, considering the intertidal area available for the wintering bird population. This work is expected to be reported later in the year.

  Exports
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many British companies export 70 per cent. or more of their production; and how many of these have received the Queen's award to industry.

  Mr. Needham
  Complete information on individual United Kingdom companies' exports and turnover is not collected by central Government. However, the table shows those companies who were among the United Kingdom's top 100 exporters and whose exports represented more than 70 per cent. of their total United Kingdom turnover in 1990. All these companies, with the exception of Siebe plc, have won a Queen's award for export or technology.

  United Kingdom companies exporting more than 70 per cent. of total United Kingdom turnover1

  Company

  Exports 1990 (£ million)

  Percentage of United Kingdom turnover

  Rolls Royce24

  2,347.0

  70.7

  Lucas3

  633.0

  82.6

  J. C. Bamford4

  277.3

  73.9

  Catepillar UK5

  250.3

  81.8

  Associated Octel4

  205.0

  84.2

  De La Rue6

  147.9

  74.0

  Allied Colloids6

  140.1

  77.4

  Siebe6

  130.4

  86.2

  Amersham International6

  114.7

  76.6

  Polaroid4

  112.5

  76.6

  1 Based on top 100 United Kingdom exporters in 1990.

  2 Incorporates NEI PLC.

  3 Year ended 31 July 1990.

  4 Year ended 31 December 1990.

  5 Year ended 30 November 1990.

  6 Year ended 31 March 1991.

  Source: Financial Times.

  Sub-Post Offices
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to prevent the Post Office restricting sub-post offices from making payment facilities available for the customers of South Wales Electricity.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 23 June 1992]: Customers of South Wales Electricity will continue to be able to pay their bills at post offices. The only change which has occurred is that this work is now negotiated centrally by Post Office Counters, rather than individually by sub-postmasters on their own account. Such operational matters are the responsibility of the Post Office board.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  International Agreements
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list all the bilateral and multilateral agreements directly or indirectly negotiated by his Department or a body acting on behalf of his Department with(a) Switzerland and (b) Liechtenstein.
  297
  Mr. Newton
  Neither the Privy Council Office, nor a body acting on its behalf, has any agreements with either Switzerland or Liechtenstein.

DEFENCE

  Radiation Exposure
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will publish an update of table 1, page 44. printed in HC 479, Session 1989–90 for the years 1990, 1991 and 1992;

  (2) if he will publish an update of tables 1 to 22, pages 29 to 36, printed in HC 479, Session 1989–90 for the years 1990, 1991 and 1992.

  Mr. Aitken
  I will place in the House of Commons Library data tables updating for 1990 and 1991 those to which the hon. Member refers. Data for 1992 will not be available until after the year end.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish an update of tables 1 to 4, pages 50 to 51, printed in HC 479, Session 1989–90 for the years 1990, 1991 and 1992.

  Mr. Aitken
  The tables referred to were part of the memorandum submitted by the National Radiological Protection Board to the Defence Committee in May 1990, and such updating could only be done by the board, subject in certain cases to approval by other organisations. A request for this information is being made to the board. I will write to the hon. Member when it is available.

  Married Quarters
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the numbers and location of empty married quarters in North Yorkshire.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As at 31 March 1992, the latest date for which figures are available, 382 MOD-owned service married quarters were vacant in North Yorkshire. The breakdown by location was as follows:

  Location

  Number vacant

  HMS Forest Moor

  4

  Bedale

  1

  Catterick Garrison

  111

  Dishforth

  64

  Guisborough

  1

  Ripon

  12

  Topcliffe

  7

  Harrogate

  30

  Church Fenton

  52

  Fylingdales

  9

  Leeming

  6

  Linton-on-Ouse

  85

  Total

  382

  This figure represents 8.8 per cent. of the stock and is below the management margin advised by outside consultants as appropriate to meet defence requirements.

  Many of these properties were either undergoing or awaiting major maintenance work or modernisation and some were already allotted to service families who were due to move in shortly.

  In addition, two properties in Whitby and one in Ripon were in the process of being sold.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much liquid radioactive waste is expected to be dealt with by the new A91 building when the new A90 building comes on stream.

  Mr. Aitken
  The A91 radioactive liquid effluent treatment plant is being constructed to process wastes from a number of facilities, including A90, at AWE. It is expected to handle some 12,000 to 15,000 cu m of liquid waste per annum.

  Aldermaston
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reportable incidents or accidents took place at atomic weapons research establishment. Aldermaston in each year since 1962; and if he will detail where possible the type of accident or incident that occurred.

  Mr. Aitken
  The total number of reportable incidents or accidents in each of the years 1962 to 1991 was:

  Year

  Total

  1962

  30

  1963

  24

  1964

  18

  1965

  19

  1966

  20

  1967

  26

  1968

  17

  1969

  32

  1970

  35

  1971

  21

  1972

  29

  1973

  32

  1974

  27

  1975

  33

  1976

  36

  1977

  38

  1978

  52

  1979

  41

  1980

  34

  1981

  36

  1982

  45

  1983

  38

  1984

  24

  1985

  22

  1986

  45

  1987

  42

  1988

  43

  1989

  49

  1990

  41

  1991

  38

  As a result of the variety of legislation governing the reporting of accidents and incidents over the past 30 years the classification of various categories of incident is a complicated matter. I shall write to the hon. Member giving details of the legislation, explanations of the classification categories and the figures for each category.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place copies in the Library of the results of the studies carried out over the last 20 years on the levels of radiation present within any form of wildlife living within the perimeter fence of AWRE Aldermaston.

  Mr. Aitken
  A single study involving rabbits taken from inside and outside a specific compound within the AWE perimeter fence was conducted in 1977. The results showed barely detectable differences in contamination at a level
  299
  that is radiologically insignificant. No other studies have been undertaken, nor are any considered necessary, since regular on-site monitoring of soil and vegetation shows insignificant levels or radioactivity.

  Certain details in the 1977 study report relating to activities carried out at specific sites at Aldermaston are classified. However, my officials are preparing a declassified version of the report which I will place in the Library in due course.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much low, intermediate and high-level waste is expected to be produced and stored at AWRE Aldermaston over the next 10 years.

  Mr. Aitken
  The estimated volumes of intermediate and low level waste generated at AWE Aldermaston to the end of 2001 will be about 2,300 and 36,000 cu m respectively. No high-level waste is produced there. Long term storage of all intermediate and some low-level wastes is carried out safely in purpose built stores at the site pending disposal to the national repository which is planned to be available in 2005. Until then, all intermediate-level waste will continue to be stored on the site. However, most of the low-level waste is regularly disposed of by approved means at the existing land burial site, operated by British Nuclear Fuels plc at Drigg in Cumbria.

  HMS Challenger
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department has made in its efforts to dispose of the former Royal Navy seabed operations vessel HMS Challenger; whether a ship has been identified to operate the LR5 submersible in addition to CS Alert; what steps have been taken to use or dispose of the towed unmanned submersible; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  The marketing of HMS Challenger and its towed unmanned submersible system is continuing. A number of vessels have been identified that would be capable of operating the LR5 submersible. We are considering the way forward.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much low, intermediate and high-level waste is at present stored at AWRE Aldermaston.

  Mr. Aitken
  At December 1991, which is the latest date for which figures are available, 1,800 cu m of low level waste and 2,100 cu m of intermediate level waste were stored at AWE Aldermaston.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the results of the studies carried out over the last 20 years on the levels of radioactive contamination present in soil within the perimeter fence of AWRE Aldermaston.

  Mr. Aitken
  The information as requested is not readily available and can be produced in an appropriate form only at disproportionate cost. However, Aldermaston conducts an extensive programme of external environmental monitoring whose results are made available annually to the statutory authorities and local authorities. I will place a copy of the most recent issue of the off-site environmental report, which includes trends over many years, in the Library of the House.

  Atomic Weapons Research Establishments
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many claims for compensation have been received by his Department since 1962 from past or present employees of the atomic weapons research establishments at(a) Aldermaston, (b) Burghfield and (c) Cardiff; what illnesses those claims were for; and how many have resulted in payments being made.

  Mr. Aitken
  Records of claims dating back to 1962 are not available. The more recent statistics are held in a manner which does not make it possible to answer the hon. Member's question without disproportionate cost. I will write to the hon. Member.

  Loch Lomond-Faslane Road
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of his Department's road from Loch Lomond to Faslane.

  Mr. Aitken
  This private road through Glen Fruin continues to provide a dedicated route for traffic connected with the planning and development of the Clyde submarine base. Under the terms of the planning conditions set by the Secretary of State for Scotland such use will cease and the glen will be restored to its former condition by no later than January 1997.

  Nuclear Testing (Nevada)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the implications for the United Kingdom nuclear warhead testing programme in Nevada of the one-year moratorium on nuclear testing approved by the United States Congress.

  Mr. Aitken
  As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear on 12 May at column 90, the United Kingdom has a continuing requirement to sustain a minimum programme of nuclear tests to maintain effectiveness and safety of our nuclear deterrent. United States policy is a matter for the United States Administration.

HEALTH

  Dentistry
  Ms. Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the recent Department of Health survey on dental practitioners' remuneration.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Ainger) on 2 June at column 451.

  Ms. Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made by her Department of regional variations in the actual expenses incurred by dentists.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No such assessment has been made. The assessment of dentists' expenses made by the dental rates study group is based on national averages.

  The only regional element in the present system is in respect of dentists' business rates. Since April 1991, provided dentists can demonstrate a certain commitment to the NHS, these have been reimbursed directly.
  301
  For the future, the Government remain committed to a fundamental review of dental remuneration and are looking to that review to develop a system which more effectively and fairly remunerates all dentists in the NHS for the important work they do.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on her recent decisions with regard to the balancing mechanism for the payment of general dental practitioners and give the grounds on which she decided to set aside the advice of the pay review body on this matter.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This advice has not been set aside. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hazel Grove (Sir T. Arnold) on 23 June at columns 161–62 announced a revised fee scale to be introduced on 8 July which does not involve recovery of overpayments made in earlier years.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish a table showing the average and median fee income payable to dentists for national health service work in each national health service region, and nationally, for each of the last three financial years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Dentists' median earnings by region are not available for 1989–90. Information for 1990–91 and 1991–92 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The table shows dentists' mean earnings in each regional health authority and their median earnings in England and Wales for the three financial years 1989–90 to 1991–92.

  Average fee earnings per dentist by region1

  Regional health authority

  1989–90 Average (mean) fee earnings2 £

  1990–91 Average (mean) fee earnings2 £

  1991–92 Average (mean) fee earnings £

  Northern

  65,143

  73,794

  89,483

  Yorkshire

  67,341

  74,968

  89,584

  Trent

  70,997

  79,378

  96,491

  East Anglia

  66,129

  74,033

  93,910

  North West Thames

  53,200

  59,102

  70,704

  North East Thames

  63,595

  69,472

  83,661

  South East Thames

  61,271

  66,948

  78,969

  South West Thames

  58,206

  62,092

  69,325

  Wessex

  62,852

  68,904

  82,595

  Oxford

  63,279

  66,627

  77,229

  South Western

  60,785

  67,041

  81,212

  West Midlands

  70,727

  76,728

  94,781

  Mersey

  65,249

  72,616

  89,827

  North Western

  68,752

  75,604

  91,834

  Wales

  65,067

  71,382

  89,434

  England and Wales

  mean

  63,865

  70,265

  84,833

  median3

  63,717

  69,677

  85,139

  1 Per principal in the data of the Dental Rates Study Group. Essentially those dentists who have been in contract for the complete financial year.

  2 These earnings exclude a small amount paid to dentists participating in the capitation trial.

  3 Estimated from group frequency data.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further representations she has received from dentists in North Staffordshire about the proposed reduction in fees.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We have received a number of letters from dentists in North Staffordshire about the proposed reduction in fees.
  302
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has on the extent of dental decay in(a) North Staffordshire, (b) the West Midlands region and (c) the United Kingdom.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Figures on dental decay are not collected centrally for district or regional health authorities. Information on dental decay among five and 12-year-old children in North Staffordshire district is available from surveys by the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry. The 1989–90 survey of five-year-olds showed an average of 1.74 decayed, missing and filled teeth. The 1988–89 survey of 12-year-olds showed an average of 1.72.

  The latest figures available for the United Kingdom are from the child dental health survey of 1983 and the adult dental health survey of 1988. In 1983, the average number of decayed or filled deciduous teeth for five-year-olds was 1.8. The average number of decayed, missing and filled teeth for 12-year-olds was 3.1 permanent teeth. In 1988, among dentate adults in the United Kingdom, the average number of missing teeth was 7.8, decayed or unsound teeth 1 and filled teeth 8.4.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of (i) full-time and (ii) part-time posts on the establishment of the Dental Practice Board; what additional work has been received by the Dental Practice Board as a result of the approvals it is now required to give; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  There were 1,087 full time staff and 487 part time staff employed by the Dental Practice Board when it replaced the Dental Estimates Board on 1 April 1989. We are discussing with the board the implications of the additional work on prior approval for courses of treatment.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of patients registered, and courses of treatment undertaken in England with general dental practitioners for each year since 1988–89.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The introduction of capitation treatment for children from 1 October 1990, means that it is not possible to provide a consistent data series on the number of courses of dental treatment to children. The other information requested is given in the table.

  General dental services—England

  Year

  Number of adult courses of treatment scheduled

  Number of adults registered1

  Number of children registered1

  1988–89

  24,206,520

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1989–90

  22,809,160

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1990–91

  22,558,739

  10,234,160

  3,847,454

  1991–92

  24,273,099

  19,203,525

  6,207,294

  1 The new contract on 1 October 1990 introduced registration for adults and children.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the purchaser or provider in the internal market is the holder of, and responsible for, hospital waiting lists.

  Mr. Sackville
  Purchasers have a responsibility to maintain a record of all their residents waiting for
  303
  treatment regardless of where they are waiting. Equally, providers are responsible for maintaining a record of the patients waiting for treatment at their units.

  International Agreements
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list all the bilateral and multilateral agreements directly or indirectly negotiated by her Department or a body acting on behalf of her Department with(a) Switzerland and (b) Liechtenstein.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  There are no such agreements.

  Adoption
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which other countries have signed the agreement with the Romanian adoption committee; how many children have been adopted under the terms of the agreement; and what steps she has taken to satisfy herself that the agreement is working satisfactorily.

  Mr. Yeo
  I understand from the Romanian Committee for Adoptions that as of 1 June 1992, the following countries have signed an agreement with it.

  Belgium

  Italy

  Canada

  Sweden

  Denmark

  Switzerland

  Finland

  United Kingdom

  France

  United States of America

  Holland

  No children have been adopted by prospective adopters in the United Kingdom under the new arrangements. The first tranche of five applications is currently being processed. We shall continue to review the working of the agreement.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress she is making with the review of responses to the consultation paper on inter-country adoption; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  Responses to the four consultation documents, including inter-country adoption, were considered by the interdepartmental working group as part of its work in reviewing adoption law. We have received a copy of the working group's report which we are now studying.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding is being provided for the new overseas adoption helpline project; what arrangements are being made to provide independent management for the project; and what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the arrangements to publicise this project to all those with a potential interest.

  Mr. Yeo
  A grant of approximately £43,000 has been awarded to the overseas adoption helpline for a period of six months in the first instance. The project is hosted by the Bridge Child Care Consultancy. A project board has been set up whose functions include the provision of independent professional advice. We shall be making arrangements for publicity shortly.

  Lung Cancer
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Liverpool people died of lung cancer last year; what percentage of women and men in Liverpool died of lung 304
  cancer last year compared with the national average; what preventative measures she plans; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In 1991 a total of 527 residents of the area covered by Liverpool district health authority died from lung cancer diseases—ICD 162—malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus and lung.

  On the basis of 1990 population data, standardised mortality ratios, which take account of the age and sex of the population, indicate that 65 per cent. more men and 79 per cent. more women died of these diseases in Liverpool compared with the average for England and Wales. Population figures for 1991 are not yet available.

  It is estimated that, in the United Kingdom, 80 per cent. of deaths from lung cancer are smoking related. Besides general advice designed to encourage smokers to give up and more importantly to persuade people not to start, the Government are engaged in specific programmes of publicity and education aimed at vulnerable groups such as teenagers and pregnant women.

  Maternity Services
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will respond to the Second Report of 1991–92 from the Health Committee on Maternity Services before 16 July.

  Mr. Sackville
  We shall be responding as soon as possible.

  Disability
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the latest figure of the number of people who are registered disabled in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Yeo
  The latest figures for England are given in the table. Information on people who are registered as disabled is collected triennially from the registers maintained by local authorities. Information relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Number

  (as at 31 March)

  People registered as:

  Deaf or hard of hearing

  108,000

  (1989)

  Handicapped (General Classes)1

  1,259,000

  (1990)

  Blind or partially sighted

  230,000

  (1991)

  1 Primary handicap is neither visual or auditory

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements she proposes to make for the national health service management executive to oversee the work of NHS trusts; and where the NHS management executive will base its work of overseeing trusts in the Northern region.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  National health service trusts account to the NHS management executive, NHSME, through the six NHSME outposts which became operational in April as an interim measure, pending the management executive's review of options for the longer term. The north-east outpost, which deals with trusts sited within the northern region, is based in Leeds.

  Food Safety
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to ensure that opportunities for children in residential care to share in cooking and catering are not unduly constrained by the terms of the Food Safety Act 1990 or regulations made consequent on that Act.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 19 June at column 708.

  Hayley Slennett
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with Guy's hospital trust on behalf of Hayley Slennett and her parents; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  None. Hayley Slennett's treatment was the responsibility of Guy's Hospital Trust, and the doctors concerned.
  306
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total bill paid by the Slennett family for treatment to Hayley Slennett at Guy's hospital trust; and how much of it will be received by the national health service.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The terms on which Hayley's treatment was carried out is a matter between Hayley's parents and Guy's hospital. Any private patient income received by the hospital is retained locally.

  Paediatric Cardiology
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average waiting time for paediatric cardiology in each of the regions in England.

  Mr. Sackville
  Waiting time information on paediatric cardiology is not collected centrally.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensions Equality
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the saving to the British pensions industry of the protocol on the Barber judgment restricting equality of pensions to new claimants after 17 May 1990, expressing this saving as an annual amount; and what is the basis on which the calculation was made.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Government Actuary has estimated that the costs for United Kingdom industry could amount to around £50 billion, using his 1987 survey of occupational pensions and interpreting retrospection as meaning equal treatment for all periods of pensionable service before 17 May 1990, including the recalculation of existing benefits in payment, and equalisation is based on the better terms available to either sex. Allowing for the normal practice of spreading the costs over a period of up to 15 years, the annual cost would be about £4 billion. In addition to the protocol, the Government are a party to supporting the Coloroll case to seek confirmation from the European Court of Justice that the Barber judgment does not apply to pensionable service before the date of that ruling, 17 May 1990.

  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the timing of the discussion period relating to the equalisation of the pension age for men and women; and when a decision is expected.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) on 8 June at column 53.

  War Disability Benefit
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people receiving war disability pension are also in receipt of each other benefit, including state retirement pension.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is not available.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people received war disability pension in 1962, 1972, 1982 and 1992.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is in the table.

  Date

  War disablement pensions in payment

  31 December 1962

  487,341

  31 December 1972

  357,750

  31 December 1982

  247,420

  1 May 1992

  197,764

  International Agreements
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list all the bilateral and multilateral agreements directly or indirectly negotiated by his Department or a body acting on behalf of his Department with(a) Switzerland and (b) Liechtenstein.

  Mr. Scott
  The Government have a bilateral social security agreement with Switzerland but not with Liechtenstein.
  308
  A multilateral agreement covering all countries in the European economic area—EEA—including the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, is expected to come into effect on 1 January 1993. Under this agreement, the European Comxamunity social security regulations for migrant workers will be extended throughout the EEA.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applicants for disability living allowance are currently awaiting a decision; and if he will explain the reasons for 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 right hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Income Support
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what arrangements are made for the payment of benefits to those of no fixed abode.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of benefits is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 15 June,Official Report, column 385, what stage arrangements for publication of the York university report on the social fund have reached; and whether he will place a copy in the Library pending full publication.

  Mr. Scott
  The report will be published following examination by Ministers. A copy of the report will be placed in the Library at the same time as it is published.

  British Pensioners
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list those countries where(a) British pensioners are not in receipt of annual increments and (b) British pensioners are in receipt of annual increments, giving in each case the number of such pensioners thought to be currently resident in each country.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The tables show the numbers of pensioners in overseas countries where United Kingdom retirement and widow's pensions were paid at 31 December 1991. Table (A) lists the countries where annual pension upratings are not paid, and table (B) lists the countries where they are.

  Table (A): Number of retirement pensioners and widows benefit beneficiaries in overseas countries where annual pension increases are not paid

  Number

  Albania

  6

  Algeria

  5

  Andorra

  165

  Angola

  1

  Anguilla

  83

  Antigua and Barbuda

  208

  309

  Number

  Argentina

  198

  Ascencion Island

  3

  Australia

  144,381

  Bahamas

  148

  Bahrain

  27

  Bangladesh

  3,856

  Belize

  29

  Benin

  2

  Bolivia

  8

  Botswana

  73

  Brazil

  276

  Brunei

  17

  Bulgaria

  8

  Burma

  3

  C.I.S.

  748

  Cameroon

  3

  Canada

  108,385

  Cayman Islands

  50

  Central African Republic

  3

  Chile

  75

  China

  18

  Colombia

  24

  Cook Islands

  3

  Costa Rica

  16

  Cote D'Ivoire

  1

  Cuba

  1

  Czechoslovakia

  59

  Djibouti

  82

  Dominica, Commonwealth of

  552

  Dominican Republic

  157

  Ecquador

  12

  Egypt

  60

  El Salvador

  2

  Ethiopia

  33

  Falkland Islands and Dependencies

  14

  Faroe Islands

  6

  Fiji

  41

  Gambia

  30

  Ghana

  99

  Grenada

  659

  Guatemala

  7

  Guinea

  2

  Guyana

  198

  Haiti

  1

  Honduras

  6

  Hong Kong

  616

  Hungary

  209

  India

  3,637

  Indonesia

  27

  Iran

  3

  Iraq

  1

  Japan

  68

  Jordan

  11

  Kampuchea

  1

  Kenya

  504

  Kiribati

  5

  Kuwait

  5

  Lebanon

  17

  Lesotho

  9

  Liberia

  2

  Libya

  4

  Liechtenstein

  2

  Macau

  2

  Madagascar

  2

  Malawi

  78

  Malaysia

  101

  Maldive Islands

  2

  Mali

  1

  Mauritania

  2

  Mexico

  102

  Monaco

  220

  Mongolia

  1

  Montserrat

  296

  Morocco

  51

  Mozambique

  3

  Namibia

  23

  Mauru

  1

  Nepal

  14

  310

  Number

  Netherlands Antilles

  6

  New Caledonia

  1

  New Zealand

  31,308

  Nicaragua

  2

  Nigeria

  206

  Norfolk Island

  14

  Oman

  25

  Pakistan

  6,975

  Panama

  6

  Papua New Guinea

  21

  Paraguay

  4

  Peru

  51

  Poland

  2,312

  Qatar

  8

  Romania

  15

  Rwanda

  1

  St. Helena and Dependencies

  50

  St. Kitts-Nevis

  405

  St. Lucia

  746

  St. Vincent

  436

  San Marina

  2

  Saudi Arabia

  63

  Senegal

  10

  Seychelles

  43

  Sierra Leone

  57

  Singapore

  103

  Solomon Islands

  8

  Somalia

  61

  South Africa

  32,491

  South Korea

  4

  Sri Lanka

  182

  Sudan

  6

  Swaziland

  80

  Syria

  5

  Taiwan

  8

  Tanzania

  26

  Thailand

  128

  Togo

  4

  Tonga

  3

  Trinidad and Tobago

  419

  Tunisia

  13

  Turks & Caicos Islands

  9

  Tuvalu

  2

  Uganda

  16

  United Arab Emirates

  90

  Uruguay

  17

  Vanuatu (New Hebrides)

  3

  Vatican City

  1

  Venezula

  43

  Virgin Islands, British

  31

  Western Samoa

  13

  Yemen Arab Republic

  1,692

  Zaire

  4

  Zambia

  185

  Zimbabwe

  5,069

  Table B: Number of retirement pensioners and widows benefit beneficiaries in overseas countries where annual pension increases are paid

  Number

  Alderney

  457

  Austria

  3,311

  Barbados1

  1,585

  Belgium

  4,298

  Bermuda

  373

  Cyprus

  4,103

  Denmark

  488

  Finland

  100

  France (including Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique and Reunion Island)

  9,081

  Germany

  17,693

  Gibraltar

  461

  Greece

  1,262

  Guernsey

  5,134

  Iceland

  33

  Irish Republic

  66,196

  311

  Number

  Israel

  2,772

  Italy

  15,263

  Jamaica

  16,388

  Jersey

  7,137

  Luxembourg

  94

  Malta

  1,988

  Mauritius

  187

  Netherlands

  3,778

  Norway

  297

  Philippines

  129

  Portugal (including Madeira)

  2,581

  Sark

  85

  Spain (including the Balearic and Canary Islands)

  23,979

  Sweden

  276

  Switzerland

  2,253

  Turkey

  355

  United States of America

  67,630

  Yugoslavia

  927

  1 Increases will be paid from April 1992.

  Unemployment Benefit (Disqualifications)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of unemployment benefit claims were disqualified under section 20(1) of the Social Security Act 1975 in each quarter since 1980; and what proportion of disqualified claimants were receiving supplementary benefit and income support in each half-yearly survey of unemployed claimants over the same period.

  Mr. Burt
  The information requested is in the tables.

  Table 1

  Percentage of claims to unemployment benefit disqualified by adjudication officers 1980–91

  Quarter

  Percentage disqualified by adjudication officer

  1980

  Q1

  23

  Q2

  16

  Q3

  17

  Q4

  21

  1981

  Q1

  20

  Q2

  19

  Q3

  15

  Q4

  19

  1982

  Q1

  19

  Q2

  18

  Q3

  16

  Q4

  21

  1983

  Q1

  21

  Q2

  19

  Q3

  16

  Q4

  21

  1984

  Q1

  22

  Q2

  19

  Q3

  14

  Q4

  19

  1985

  Q1

  23

  Q2

  19

  Q3

  14

  Q4

  22

  1986

  Q1

  21

  Q2

  20

  Q3

  17

  Q4

  25

  312

  Quarter

  Percentage disqualified by adjudication officer

  1987

  H1

  23

  H2

  22

  1988

  H1

  24

  H2

  19

  1989

  Q1

  21

  Q2

  21

  Q3

  15

  Q4

  15

  1990

  Q1

  19

  Q2

  21

  Q3

  16

  Q4

  19

  1991

  Q1

  18

  Q2

  23

  Q3

  18

  Q4

  23

  Source: Departmental statistics.

  Sample: 100 per cent.

  Notes: 1. Numbers of disqualifications are based on—quarter years derived from three calendar months, while numbers of claims are
  derived from whole weeks.

  2.In any particular quarter year a number of the disqualifications could relate to a claim made in a previous quarter.

  3. For the duration of 1987 and 1988 statistics were produced half yearly rather than quarterly.

  Table 2

  Percentage of disqualified claimants in receipt of Supplementary Allowance/Income Support 1980–91

  Percentage in receipt of Supplementary Allowance/ Income Support

  May 1980

  46.0

  November 1980

  50.1

  May 1981

  —

  November 1981

  —

  February 1982

  41.2

  May 1982

  43.5

  November 1982

  44.7

  May 1983

  62.4

  November 1983

  61.1

  May 1984

  —

  November 1984

  65.0

  May 1985

  61.8

  November 1985

  60.8

  May 1986

  61.4

  November 1986

  58.6

  May 1987

  67.3

  November 1987

  67.9

  May 1988

  69.6

  November 1988

  71.0

  May 1989

  76.8

  November 1989

  77.0

  May 1990

  79.4

  November 1990

  77.6

  313

  Percentage in receipt of Supplementary Allowance/Income Support

  May 1991

  79.6

  November 1991

  78.0

  Source: Half Yearly Analysis of Unemployed Claimant. Sample size: 5 per cent.

  Notes:

  1. The numbers of disqualified claimants used in this calculation include a small number of disallowed claims. The available statistics do not provide separate figures for these claims.

  2. Figures for May 1981 and November 1981, and May 1984 are not available due to industrial action. Figures are available for February 1982, however, and these have been given above.

  3. Income Support replaced Supplementary Allowance from April 1988.

  Maxwell Pensions
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will detail each item of the funds so far received by the unit set up within his Department to repossess assets belonging to the Maxwell pension funds.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The special unit announced on 8 June is now established. Further details of its work will be given shortly.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review his commitment to the Maxwell pensioners.

  Miss Widdecombe
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State remains committed to the positive measures he announced on 8 June which are intended to ease the exceptional short-term pressures on some Maxwell pension schemes and their pensioners while frozen assets are being released and progress is made in restoring and obtaining other funds. The Department keeps in close touch with trustees of Maxwell pension funds and others concerned with these pension schemes.

SCOTLAND

  Haddington Sheriff Court
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the suitability of the present accommodation at Haddington sheriff court; and if he will consider acquiring Tenterfield house from Lothian regional council to provide a new location for the court.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Considerable efforts have been made in recent years to improve facilities at Haddington sheriff court. Courtroom accommodation is now fully adequate to meet the current workload of the court. However, there are still some shortcomings in the provision for witness and other ancillary accommodation, and further improvements at the courthouse are in hand.

  The Government do not propose to acquire Tenterfield house or any other alternative location for the courthouse at this stage. The position at Haddington as at all other courthouses will, however, be kept under review.

  Teachers (Stress)
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many teachers, upon leaving the profession, have cited stress as a reason; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will give details of the number of teachers who have retired early, over the last five years, due to stress related illness.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The information sought is not available.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of the total work force in his Department is registered as disabled; what steps he is taking to encourage the employment of disabled people within his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  A total of 1.3 per cent. of the work force of the Scottish Office are registered disabled persons. The work force includes, in addition, an unrecorded number of staff who have chosen not to register.

  The Scottish Office policy is positively to encourage people with disabilities to apply for posts. A number of initiatives have been taken to ensure that disabled people are aware of vacancies and ensure that the Scottish Office is an equal opportunities employer.

  These initiatives make use of the fact that the Scottish Office set up its own recruitment unit in 1990, and include the issue of recruitment literature and application forms to disablement resettlement officers in advance of press advertisements, and discrimination in favour of disabled people where possible under the code of practice published by the Cabinet Office. Recruitment literature bears the employment services disability symbol and states clearly that the Scottish Office is an equal opportunities employer. These initiatives have led to the employment of 25 disabled people in the past two years—4.2 per cent. of the total number of staff recruited in that period.

  It is the Scottish Office's intention to continue to make every effort to encourage people with disabilities to seek employment in its ranks, and to this end it has just completed a revision of its recruitment literature, making it more user-friendly to disabled people and giving even greater prominence to its commitment to employ them.

  Land Registration
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to extend registration of title under the Land Registration (Scotland) Act 1979 to further areas of Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  The former Minister for Home Affairs at the Scottish Office made an order on 14 March 1992 making the county of Clackmannan an operational area for the registration of title in the land register of Scotland with effect from 1 October 1992. This is the first stage in the implementation of a revised programme proposed by the keeper of the registers to extend the land register to cover the remaining counties of Scotland, to which I recently gave my approval. The progressive extension of land registration will bring the benefits of guaranteed title and quicker and streamlined conveyancing practices to the whole of Scotland.
  315
  The counties of Renfrew, Dumbarton, Lanark and the Barony and Regality of Glasgow are already in the land register. The timetable for the remaining counties is as follows.

  County

  Operational date

  Stirling

  1 April 1993

  West Lothian

  1 October 1993

  Fife

  1 April 1995

  Aberdeen

  1 April 1996

  Kincardine

  Ayr

  1 April 1997

  Dumfries

  Angus

  1 April 1998

  Perth

  Kinross

  Midlothian

  1 April 2000

  Argyll

  1 April 2002

  Berwick

  Bute

  East Lothian

  Kircudbright

  Peebles

  Roxburgh

  Selkirk

  Wigtown

  Banff

  1 April 2003

  Caithness

  Inverness

  Moray

  Nairn

  Orkney and Zetland

  Ross and Cromarty

  Sutherland

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Tourism
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many tourists he estimates will visit the Province in 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the value of tourism in 1992.

  Mr. Atkins
  Figures are not available for 1992, but the value of tourism in 1991 was £216.6 million, comprising £162 million from visitors from outside Northern Ireland and £54.6 million domestic. The Northern Ireland tourism board is estimating this year a 5 to 10 per cent. increase on the 1991 figure of 1.18 million visitors to Northern Ireland.

  Roads
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why the proposed new road junction scheme at Forster Green hospital has been removed from this year's roads programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  It has been necessary to postpone the start of this scheme until the 1995–96 financial year due to pressures upon available funds.

  Cross-border Co-operation
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he next expects to meet the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Ireland to discuss cross-border co-operation.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  The timing of my next meeting with Mr. Andrews will depend on the progress of the political talks. There continues to be a good deal of contact between Northern Ireland Ministers and officials and their Irish counterparts across a wide range of issues of mutual concern.

  Mr. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on cross-border security co-operation.

  Mr. Mates
  Cross-border security is a constant topic of discussion at Anglo-Irish intergovernmental conferences. At the conference of 27 April both Governments reaffirmed their determination to enhance and strengthen security co-operation.

  Sewage Treatment Works
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to prohibit the erection of dwellings within a specified distance of a sewage treatment works.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland as planning authority, has guidelines for dealing with planning applications for proposed housing developments within specified distances of sewage treatment works and for proposed new sewage treatment works or extensions to existing works adjacent to other existing developments. There are no plans to amend these guidelines.

  National Music Day
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what support his Department is giving to National Music Day.

  Mr. Hanley
  The hon. Gentleman will know that National Music Day is intended to be self-financing. The Department of Education has therefore not been directly involved, but the Arts Council of Northern Ireland issued publicity material to district councils, to promote National Music Day and there will be a number of events throughout the Province.

  Constitutional Talks
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress of his talks with the constitutional parties in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the current state of the inter-party talks on Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress of the inter-party constitutional talks.

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in the inter-party talks; and if he will make a statement.
  317
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about his discussions with political parties about the future of the constitutional position of Northern Ireland.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I refer the hon. Members and my hon. Friends to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Chingford (Mr. Duncan-Smith).

  Community Relations
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many district councils for Northern Ireland have introduced policies for promoting community relations.

  Mr. Hanley
  Twenty-two out of 26 district councils have now introduced policies and programmes on a cross-political basis aimed at improving community relations.

  Planning Applications
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received over the granting of planning applications.

  Mr. Atkins
  As there are 16,000 applications granted each year and a significant number of representations are received in relation to applications, the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Schools (Academic Selection)
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of schools in Northern Ireland base entry upon academic selection.

  Mr. Hanley
  Six per cent. overall. No primary schools base entry upon academic selection, but 30 per cent. of the schools which provide secondary education base entry on a pupil's ability as indicated by the grade obtained in the transfer procedure tests.

  Common Agriculture Policy
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the impact upon Northern Ireland of the reform of the common agricultural policy.

  Mr. Hanley
  Reform of the common agriculture policy is expected to have a favourable impact on Northern Ireland.

  Making Belfast Work
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made with Making Belfast Work since 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Under Making Belfast Work job creation, enterprise development and improving residents' ability to compete effectively for employment opportunities have been identified as priorities, but the programme also addresses poor educational achievement and the quality of life in terms of the social and physical environment. There are encouraging signs of progress in all these functional areas.

  Overseas Investment
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a further statement on the measures he is taking to encourage overseas investment into Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Atkins
  Our efforts will continue to be concentrated on those markets which offer the best chances of attracting mobile investment, with a geographical emphasis on Asia Pacific, North America and continental Europe. We will, in particular, seek opportunities in sectors such as information technology, medical technology and automotive components but we will also respond positively to any inward investment opportunities outside those sectors.

  RUC Stations
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals the Government have to compensate persons whose amenities are affected by security measures at Royal Ulster Constabulary stations.

  Mr. Mates
  There is provision for compensation in the Land Compensation (Northern Ireland) Order 1982, the Land Acquisition and Compensation (Northern Ireland) Order 1973 and the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991. No further proposals are planned.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Property Development Schemes
  Sir James Spicer
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, (1) which property development schemes identified in the 1990 report and accounts do not yet have planning consent; and what is the total value of the commissioners' investment in these schemes;

  (2) how much the commissioners have invested in property development schemes being undertaken in partnership with other developers which have not yet received planning consent; and if he will list such schemes.

  Mr. Michael Alison
  In answer to the first question, there are two such schemes; Ashford Great Park, Kent and Easton lane. Winnall, near Winchester, which are together valued in the commissioners' books at £17.25 million, or 1.67 per cent., of their total property portfolio, without planning permission.

  In answer to the second question, Ashford Great Park is the only such scheme. The commissioners have a current equity stake of £30 million and have supported the partnership with loan finance.

EMPLOYMENT

  International Agreements
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list all the bilateral and multilateral agreements directly or indirectly negotiated by her Department or a body acting on behalf of his Department with(a) Switzerland and (b) Liechtenstein.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There are no bilateral or multilateral agreements directly or indirectly negotiated by
  319
  the Employment Department or a body acting on behalf of the Department with (a) Switzerland and (b) Liechtenstein.

  Training
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many 16 and 17-year-olds are currently on waiting lists for youth training and how many were on waiting lists six, 12 and 18 months ago in(a) North Yorkshire and (b) York.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Employment what is her latest estimate of the average annual cost of each Government-funded training place on training schemes.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The average annual cost to the Government of a place on the two major training programmes in 1991–92 is estimated to have been £2,700 for youth training including credits and £5,900 for employment training.

  International Labour Conference
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans she has for publishing the White Paper on the instruments adopted at the 78th session of the International Labour Conference 1991.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I have today published the White Paper entitled, "International Labour Conference".

WALES

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications have been made under section 49 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 to each local authority in Wales; what proportion of the applications have been successful; and what total figure for each local authority has been reduced or remitted.

  Mr. David Hunt
  This information is not collected centrally. The granting of relief is a matter for individual local authorities. Welsh local authorities granted a total of £1,937 relief under section 49 in 1990–91.

  Forestry
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new policies he intends to introduce on forestry management in Wales following the agreement of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development on joint principles to protect the world's forests.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The guiding objective of the UNCED statement of principles on forests is"to contribute to the management, conservation and sustainable development of forests and to provide for their multiple and complementary functions and uses."

  We are satisfied that forest management practices in Wales meet with this objective.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consideration he has given to the criteria to be adopted to guarantee environmentally sound management of hazardous and toxic wastes exported to and from EC member states under the revised draft EC regulation COM (92) 121, insofar as it would affect Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Under the current draft of the EC Waste Shipments Regulation, all shipments of waste would have to be destined for a facility authorised by the importing country. The Secretary of State considers that the environmentally sound management of waste would continue to be secured by the existing domestic statutory requirements, including licensing conditions, applying to the facility in question. The competent authority concerned would be able to object to shipments which would lead to a breach of such controls.

  Abandoned Workings
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to conduct a survey of the pollution caused by abandoned mine workings and industrial plants in South Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The National Rivers Authority is already undertaking studies to establish the extent of watercourses affected by overflows from abandoned mines throughout England and Wales. Emissions from industrial plants are monitored by the National Rivers Authority, Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and local authorities as part of their day-to-day pollution control duties.

  International Agreements
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if she will list all the bilateral and multilateral agreements directly or indirectly negotiated by her Department or a body acting on behalf of his Department with(a) Switzerland and (b) Liechtenstein.

  Mr. David Hunt
  None.

  Hydatidosis
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what response he has made to Powys health authority following its request for funds for a publicity campaign to alert the public to the dangers of hydatidosis; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Welsh Office has been providing funds to Powys health authority since 1989 for a public education campaign on hydatid disease. Total funding to the end of 1991–92 is estimated at £100,000, and £17,000 has been set aside in 1992–93. Powys health authority have bid for increased resources for 1993–94. This request is being considered as part of the public expenditure round.

  Dragon Advertising
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when a request was first made to his Department by the solicitor acting on behalf of Dragon Advertising for a meeting with his Department's solicitor concerning the
  321
  alleged failure of the Welsh Office to pay a sum owing to Dragon Advertising; at what date his Department Office agreed in principle to such a meeting; when it is expected to take place; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  In December 1991, a letter was received from Dragon Advertising's solicitors requesting a discussion, to which the Department agreed in principle, subject to the production of further information by Dragon Advertising. In March 1992, the solicitors representing Dragon Advertising requested a meeting. As a result, correspondence then ensued between the legal group and the solicitors representing Dragon Advertising and a meeting has now been arranged to discuss the matter on Friday 26 June 1992.

  Residential Care
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to ensure that opportunities for children in residential care in Wales to share in cooking and catering are not unduly constrained by the terms of the Food Safety Act 1990 or regulations made consequent on that Act.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Guidance issued under the Children Act 1989 (Vol. 4, paragraphs 1.139–1.142) on the operation of residential homes encourages the participation of children in cooking and catering activities in appropriate circumstances.

  The Food Hygiene (General) Regulations 1970, as amended, set out the controls necessary for the hygienic preparation of food. Environmental health departments advise on controls bearing in mind the nature of any food safety risk, including the type of food handled and the preparation involved. The person in charge of a home should ensure that all staff and, where appropriate, children in the home are aware of the requirements of the relevant legislation and the procedures to be followed, and that the latter are adopted.

  Numbers of elderly people in Wales aged 65–74 accommodated in nursing homes, mental illness hospitals and units, mental handicap hospitals and units and residential homes for the elderly, as at 31 March 1991

  Nursing homes

  Mental illness hospitals and units

  Mental handicap hospitals and units

  Registered homes for the elderly

  Clwyd

  231

  65

  4

  297

  Dyfed

  152

  56

  1

  239

  Gwent

  198

  120

  25

  157

  Gwynedd

  215

  14

  29

  143

  Mid Glamorgan

  67

  173

  43

  253

  Powys

  28

  43

  21

  96

  South Glamorgan

  93

  98

  23

  178

  West Glamorgan

  231

  61

  5

  98

  Wales

  1,215

  630

  151

  1,461

  Numbers of elderly people in Wales aged 75–84 accommodated in nursing homes, mental illness hospitals and units, mental handicap hospitals and units and residential homes for the elderly, as at 31 March 1991

  Nursing homes

  Mental illness hospitals and units

  Mental handicap hospitals and units

  Registered homes for the elderly

  Clwyd

  699

  57

  7

  1,121

  Dyfed

  323

  87

  1

  801

  Gwent

  606

  152

  11

  519

  Gwynedd

  304

  21

  23

  671

  Mid Glamorgan

  146

  238

  15

  812

  Powys

  104

  59

  13

  273

  South Glamorgan

  275

  140

  17

  776

  West Glamorgan

  717

  103

  3

  420

  Wales

  3,174

  857

  90

  5,393

  Elderly People
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will publish a table showing his best estimate of the numbers of elderly people in Wales as a whole, in each county in Wales and in each district in Wales aged over 85 years who are(a) in hospital or other health authority establishments, (b) in nursing homes, (c) in registered homes for the elderly, (d) in unregistered homes for the elderly, (e) in sheltered accommodation, (f) in other forms of accommodation for elderly people, (g) living with relatives and (h) living in their own homes;

  (2) if he will publish a table showing his best estimate of the numbers of elderly people in Wales as a whole, in each county in Wales and in each district in Wales aged 75 to 85 years who are (a) in hospital or other health authority establishments, (b) in nursing homes, (c) in registered homes for the elderly, (d) in unregistered homes for the elderly, (e) in sheltered accommodation, (f) in other forms of accommodation for elderly people, (g) living with relatives and (h) living in their own homes;

  (3) if he will publish a table showing his best estimate of the numbers of elderly people in Wales as a whole, in each county in Wales and in each district in Wales aged 65 to 75 years who are (a) in hospital or other health authority establishments, (b) in nursing homes, (c) in registered homes for the elderly, (d) in unregistered homes for the elderly, (e) in sheltered accommodation, (f) in other forms of accommodation for elderly people, (g) living with relatives and (h) living in their own homes.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The numbers of elderly people aged 65–74, 75–84 and 85 and over, living in nursing homes, mental illness hospitals and unit, mental handicap hospitals and units, and registered homes for the elderly are shown in the tables. Information on other forms of accommodation is not held centrally. Data at district level are not readily available.
  323

  Numbers of elderly people in Wales aged 85 and over accommodated in nursing homes, menial illness hospitals and units, mental handicap hospitals and units and residential homes for the elderly, as at 31 March 1991

  Nursing homes

  Mental illness hospitals and units

  Mental handicap hospitals and units

  Registered homes for the elderly

  Clwyd

  847

  21

  —

  1,338

  Dyfed

  298

  42

  —

  844

  Gwent

  562

  95

  8

  582

  Gwynedd

  156

  15

  4

  935

  Mid Glamorgan

  143

  109

  1

  891

  Powys

  97

  47

  —

  296

  South Glamorgan

  304

  57

  4

  1,095

  West Glamorgan

  742

  57

  2

  483

  Wales

  3,149

  443

  19

  6,464

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he plans to make an announcement concerning the establishment of new environmentally sensitive areas in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Brecon and Radnor (Mr. Evans) on 22 June 1992.

  Bristol Channel (Dredging)
  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 corporation's prospecting licence for sand in the Bristol channel deeps.

  Mr. David Hunt
  None.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning his licensing policy on sand and aggregate extraction by dredging in the Bristol channel(a) inshore and (b) in the deeps; what consultations he has had with the local authorities on revising the licensing policy; and what representations he has received from the building industry in the region concerning the impact on costs of such policy alterations.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Government policy is set out in "Minerals Planning Guidance Note 6 1989: Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England and Wales". Marine dredged sand and gravel has a very important role 10 play in maintaining supplies of aggregates. It reduces the pressure to work land of agricultural or environmental value and dredging should be encouraged wherever this is possible without introducing a risk of coast erosion or unacceptable damage to sea fisheries and the marine environment.

  There will be a review of the arrangements for marine dredged minerals and there will be public consultation on that later this year.

  Cardiff Bay Training Centre
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what evaluation he has made of the proposed development by the Cardiff Bay development corporation of a training centre of excellence at Cardiff bay; and what expenditure he has allocated to its adaptation.

  Mr. David Hunt
  None. I have received no request from Cardiff Bay Development Corporation for funding of the proposed training centre in Cardiff bay.

  Traffic Calming
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning the funding of pilot schemes for traffic-calming package measures in mixed residential/light commercial areas; if he will make ring-fenced funding available for small-scale or experimental area traffic-calming measures involving capital expenditure below £5 million; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  We have received a number of representations about the funding of traffic calming measures. Local authority associations in Wales have strongly resisted earmarking funds for specific purposes because it would reduce unhypothecated provision and authorities' discretion to determine their own expenditure priorities.

  Cycling
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make special funding provision available to county councils for the establishment of cycle ways, paths or cycle priority schemes in urban areas.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  No. Decisions on allocating resources for the establishment of cycle ways, paths or cycle priority schemes in urban areas are for individual highway authorities.

  Dead Animals (Dumping)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the nature and extent of the problem of the illegal dumping of dead animals in the countryside and the measures he is taking to deal with it.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The state veterinary service continues to monitor the reports of dumped carcasses, but there is no conclusive evidence that large numbers of animals are being left unburied. The Government have taken a number of steps, including the provision of free advice to farmers on alternative and safe methods of disposal for those who do not wish to use the services of the knacker industry.

  Abattoirs
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many abattoirs in Wales meet EC export standards; and how far each market in Wales is from its closest abattoir.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Three abattoirs in Wales have been licensed as meeting current EC structural and hygiene
  325
  standards. Directive 91 /497/EC introduces common health rules for all slaughterhouses but these do not come into effect until 1 January 1993.

  I will write to the hon. Gentleman with the other details requested.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Members' Transport Allowances
  Sir Keith Speed
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what was the total amount spent on rail transport and car allowance, respectively, for right hon. and hon. Members in the last financial year.

  Mr. Newton
  The expenditure from the House of Commons: Members' salaries etc. vote for rail travel and motor mileage allowance for hon. Members in 1991–92 was as follows:

  £

  Rail transport

  901,117

  Motor mileage allowance

  5,679,384

  These figures exclude the expenditure arising from rail and car travel undertaken by the spouses, children and staff of Members.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Sellafield
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information his Department has received, and what action he has taken, following the discovery of radioactively contaminated hydroidorganisms on the beaches near Sellafield.

  Mr. Curry
  Ministry inspectors have received regular reports from British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) during their investigation of the recent incident. It is probable that a damaged diffuser mechanism at the end of the sea discharge pipeline led to hydroids being washed into the pipeline and exposed to liquid radioactive waste before being dislodged and deposited on to the beach. The damaged diffuser has been replaced.

  I have asked my officials to ensure that BNFL takes steps to avoid a recurrence of this sort of incident.

  Dog Food
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidelines his Department has issued regarding the feeding of uncooked offal and meat to hunt hounds.

  Mr. Soames
  The Department has issued no guidelines specifically to hunt kennels. Guidance has been issued from time to time by various authorities on the control of dog tapeworms, advising dog owners generally about the need to cook meat and offal before feeding.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to make it an offence to feed uncooked meat and offal to dogs.

  Mr. Soames
  There are no such plans.
  326
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions in 1990, 1991 and 1992 his Department has met representatives of the Masters of Foxhounds Association; and if they discussed the problems associated with feeding uncooked offal and meat to hunt hounds.

  Mr. Soames
  The Department has met representatives of the Master of Foxhounds Association on several occasions since the beginning of 1990 to discuss the disposal of fallen livestock generally.

  Salmonella
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will outline the steps that are currently being taken to eradicate the cause of salmonella disease; what measures are being adopted to warn and protect consumers; and what information he has on the number of individuals who have been infected by the salmonella virus over the past year.

  Mr. Soames
  The Ministry has a comprehensive set of measures to control salmonella throughout the production chain. These measures include the testing of animal feedingstuffs and raw materials, poultry laying flocks, breeding flocks and hatcheries for the presence of salmonella and the compulsory slaughter with compensation of flocks found to be infected upon investigation.

  Risks from salmonella-related food poisoning can be greatly reduced by following good hygiene, preparation and cooking practices. The Government have produced a range of widely distributed public information material on microbiological food safety containing advice on the safe storage, handling, preparation and cooking of food. In addition, the Chief Medical Officer has issued specific advice on eggs.

  There were 27,693 isolations of salmonella from humans in England and Wales confirmed by the Public Health Laboratory Service Division of Enteric Pathogens in 1991.

  Rabies
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) on 16 June,Official Report, columns 455–56, if he will publish the veterinary advice on the effectiveness of vaccination and blood tests for rabies prevention for cats and dogs being imported for breeding purposes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Effective vaccination confirmed by a blood test offers protection equivalent to quarantine against the introduction of rabies, so long as this is within the framework of strict control arrangements. My answer to the hon. Member for Richmond made clear that the veterinary advice is that these conditions are met in the agreement for commercially traded cats and dogs reached by the Council of Ministers on 15 June.

  Set-aside Schemes
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for the management of permanent, non-rotational and rotational set-aside.

  Mr. Curry
  Management conditions for set-aside land will be published as soon as possible after the relevant
  327
  Commission implementing regulations have been adopted. We intend to keep our requirements as simple and flexible as possible in the first year.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to have a consultation period for all interested parties prior to fixing the management regimes for the newly announced set-aside schemes.

  Mr. Curry
  The management regime cannot be fixed until after the Commission implementing regulations have been adopted. This will leave farmers very little time indeed to make preparations to set land aside this autumn. In the circumstances our first priority must be to publish firm details of the management conditions as soon as possible and I am afraid this will rule out a formal consultation exercise. We do, however, keep in contact with the industry and environmental organisations and will take their views into account when drawing up the management conditions.

  International Agreements
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all the bilateral and multilateral agreements directly or indirectly negotiated by his Department or a body acting on behalf of his Department with(a) Switzerland and (b) Liechtenstein.

  Mr. Curry
  I refer you to the reply given on 24 June by my hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and Lunesdale (Mr. Lennox-Boyd).

  Hydatid Disease
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies have been undertaken into the possible connection between the disposal of fallen stock and the spread of hydatid disease among animals and humans; and what conclusions have been reached.

  Mr. Soames
  It is known that dogs and wild carnivores excrete eggs of the tapeworm which when ingested by livestock, particularly sheep, develop into the cysts which cause hydatid disease. Dogs become infected with the tapeworm when they eat hydatid cysts present in the carcases of dead animals. Humans may become infected by contact with dogs. Successful control of the parasite (tapeworm) requires regular treatment of dogs with an appropriate medicant.

  Bee Diseases
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the technical informationn on bee diseases supplied by S. L. Kidman, honorary secretary of the Cheshire Beekeepers' Association, in relation to bee diseases.

  Mr. Curry
  I received from the hon. Member on 17 June, a letter from Mr. Kidman commenting on possible chemical treatments for varroa in bees. This is receiving attention and I shall be replying shortly.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 2 June,Official Report, column 424, for which veterinary medicines approval is being expedited for the control of varroasis.
  328
  Mr. Soames
  A licence application for a product containing flumethrin has been received and is currently being assessed against the Medicines Act criteria of safety, quality and efficacy.

  Dead Animals
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the nature and extent of the problem of the illegal dumping of dead animals in the countryside and the measures he is taking to deal with it.

  Mr. Soames
  The State Veterinary Service has been monitoring the situation closely and their recent reports indicate that although there are a few incidents of dumping it is not a widespread or persistent problem. However, whenever it does happen the service acts closely with local authorities to try to ensure that offenders are prosecuted. Moreover, legislation is being drawn up to implement the EC Directive on the disposal of animal waste (90/67 EEC) which will have the effect of increasing the penalties for the dumping of carcases.

  Abattoirs
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many abattoirs in England meet EC export standards; and how far each market in England is from its closest abattoir.

  Mr. Soames
  At present 54 abattoirs in England are approved for export to other EC member states; a list is available in the Library of the House. The proximity of markets to abattoirs varies, but the latter are spread throughout the country.

  Eggs
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made in the United Kingdom implementing Directive 89/437/EEC on egg products.

  Mr. Soames
  Regulations will be introduced to implement the requirements of Directive 89/437/EEC on hygiene standards for egg products, replacing the present Liquid Egg (Pasteurisation) Regulations 1963. A consultation paper will be issued beforehand.

  Additional conditions applied to eggs from salmonella infected poultry flocks, introduced by MAFF earlier, are being withdrawn as they are outside the scope of the directive. However, the new regulations will include effective provisions relating to the handling and storage of eggs and the testing of egg products.

  Farmers (Incentive Payments)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish figures showing the increase in the level of incentive payments granted to farmers since 1976 in real terms.

  Mr. Curry
  All farmers benefit directly or indirectly from expenditure on agricultural support in the United Kingdom. This expenditure is in the form of market support measures and other grant and subsidy schemes.

  The publication "Agriculture in the UK" reports figures for expenditure on agricultural support measures, and the attached table shows figures from 1976 for spending on market support and other measures.
  329

  Public expenditure under the CAP and on national grants and subsidies (at constant 1992 prices)

  £ million

  Market support measures

  Other measures

  Total

  1976–77

  557.8

  673.6

  1,231.4

  1977–78

  736.3

  578.3

  1,314.6

  1978–79

  559.6

  526.4

  1,416.0

  1979–80

  854.7

  685.4

  1,540.1

  1980–81

  1,270.1

  713.3

  1,983.5

  1981–82

  1,191.0

  515.6

  1,706.6

  1982–83

  1,802.3

  548.9

  2,351.3

  1983–84

  2,129.2

  559.6

  2,688.8

  1984–85

  2,042.4

  513.6

  2,556.0

  1985–86

  2,594.1

  457.3

  3,051.4

  1986–87

  1,592.2

  383.7

  1,975.9

  1987–88

  1,829.2

  311.4

  2,140.6

  1988–89

  1,431.9

  277.1

  1,709.0

  1989–90

  1,159.8

  281.4

  1,441.2

  1990–91

  1,700.7

  300.7

  2,001.4

  1991–92

  1,735.8

  350.2

  2,086.0

  Sources: 1976–77 to 1983–84—Annual Review of Agriculture.

  1984–85 to 1991–92—Agriculture in the United Kingdom.

  Contaminated Fish
  Mr. French
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what information he has on the quantity and condition of diseased or contaminated fish that are processed for consumption;

  (2) which species of fish are most affected by pollution and contamination in the North sea;

  (3) what is his estimate of the tonnage of contaminated fish that are caught each year in the North sea;

  (4) what information he has on the uses to which contaminated or diseased fish are put when caught;
  330
  (5) what representations he has received regarding the amount of contaminated fish that are caught by North sea fishermen;

  (6) what measures he intends to take to reduce the number of contaminated fish caught in the North sea;

  (7) what is his estimate of the tonnage of caught fish that are not deemed fit for consumption owing to disease or contamination;

  (8) what checks are made to ensure that fish caught in the North sea are fit for consumption.

  Mr. Curry
  I occasionally receive representations on this subject.

  The Ministry monitors levels of disease and contamination in fish and the results arc published regularly in the aquatic environment monitoring and food surveillance reports, available in the Library of the House. Neither disease prevalence nor contaminant levels in fish being landed in the United Kingdom posed a threat to fish stocks or to human health.

  Typical species of fish used for disease and contaminant monitoring are dab and flouder. This is because of their susceptibility to disease and their general distribution in inshore waters. Neither species is of significant commercial value.

  The most recent comprehensive survey of the North sea, the 1987 quality status report showed it to be generally in good shape. Problems areas are largely confined to the Wadden sea, which receives 65 per cent. of North sea river-borne contaminants via the Rhine, Meuse and Elbe. Nevertheless, the Government, with other North sea Governments, is taking action to reduce inputs of contaminants. For example, United Kingdom inputs of mercury and cadmium were down 51 per cent. and 61 per cent. respectively in 1985 to 1991.

  BRITISH ACADEMY: MINISTRY FUNDING RESPONSIBILITY
  BRITISH ACADEMY: MINISTRY FUNDING RESPONSIBILITY
  PAROLE BOARD CASE REVIEW: PROCEDURE
  PAROLE BOARD CASE REVIEW: PROCEDURE
  NATURALISATION APPLICANT NO.R197480/4
  NATURALISATION APPLICANT NO.R197480/4
  PRISONS: RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE: RULES
  PRISONS: RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE: RULES
  CIVIL RIGHTS (DISABLED PERSONS) BILL [H.L.]
  CIVIL RIGHTS (DISABLED PERSONS) BILL [H.L.]
  SOCIAL FUND: POLICY UNIT REPORT
  SOCIAL FUND: POLICY UNIT REPORT
  SOCIAL FUND LOANS: REPAYMENTS
  SOCIAL FUND LOANS: REPAYMENTS
  M.25 MOTORWAY: IMPROVEMENT PLANS
  M.25 MOTORWAY: IMPROVEMENT PLANS
  SCHOOLS: ROAD SAFETY INITIATIVE
  SCHOOLS: ROAD SAFETY INITIATIVE