Written Answers of 11 May 1992

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for the reform of the standard spending assessments in the light of the Audit Commission's report.

  Mr. Squire
  Standard spending assessments (SSAs) are based on extensive analysis, research and continuing discussions with local authority representatives. The Government are not proposing any major changes to SSAs although data from the 1991 census will be incorporated as soon as possible after they become available.

  The Audit Commission is in the early stages of a study of standard spending assessments, but has published no recent report on the subject. We shall, of course, consider any recommendations which the commission may eventually make.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) why the capital financing standard spending assessment for Westminster for 1991–92 was set at a level higher than that required by the council; what effect this had on the level of poll tax in Westminster; and if he will give the comparable figures for Great Grimsby and Humberside;

  (2) what considerations of policy led to the decision not to use the October figures of each charging authority's debt repayments as included in their budgets in calculating their standard spending assessments; and if he will give the basis of the assumptions which are used in fact.

  Mr. Squire
  The capital financial element of an authority's SSA is based on notional, rather than actual, outstanding debt. This is to ensure that all authorities are treated equally and that past and present policies with regard to financing capital expenditure do not affect SSAs. The use of actual debt would: penalise those authorities who have in the past chosen to use receipts to reduce debt; divert grant towards expenditure on trading services (which are specifically excluded from SSAs as they are assumed to generate income); and provide grant for those debt charges which are already covered by specific grants.

  The method of calculating the capital financing SSA element for all authorities is set out in the Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England). The underlying basis of the calculation is set out in annex VII of the SSA Handbook on Background and Underlying Methodology—copies of both documents are in the Library.

  The following table sets out the information requested:
  12

  1991–92 capital financing SSA element

  Equivalent net revenue expenditure

  Effect on community charge if net revenue expenditure were equal to SSA

  £ million

  £ million

  £ per head

  Great Grimsby

  0·627

  1·650

  -16

  Humberside

  44·489

  36·293

  +13

  Westminster

  20·610

  7·252

  +85

  Urban Regeneration Agency
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has had, and proposes to have, with local government and other interested bodies with regard to his proposals for establishing an urban regeneration agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Department will consult on the proposals to establish an urban regeneration agency.

  Waste Disposal Facilities
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria he adopts when determining planning applications referred to him, or for decision by him following an appeal, that relate to the tipping of household waste and other rubbish.

  Mr. Baldry
  Each called-in application and planning appeal is determined on its merits, having regard to the provisions of the approved development plan and any other material considerations.

  Building Products
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the balance of trade in building products in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Baldry
  The information requested is as follows:

  Year

  Imports

  Exports

  Deficit

  1982

  1·85

  1·31

  0·54

  1983

  2·28

  1·35

  0·93

  1984

  2·63

  1·45

  1·18

  1985

  2·71

  1·60

  1·11

  1986

  3·03

  1·46

  1·57

  1987

  3·56

  1·54

  2·02

  1988

  4·17

  1·59

  2·58

  1989

  4·70

  1·85

  2·85

  1990

  4·65

  2·15

  2·50

  1991

  4·00

  2·17

  1·83

  All figures are in £ billion at current prices.

  Rugby League Stadium, Dewsbury
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the result of his deliberations on the planning application to build a rugby league stadium in Dewsbury.

  Sir George Young
  My right hon. Friend has requested more information about alternative sites for the proposed stadium. He expects soon to receive and assess the further views of interested parties, before a final decision is made about the planning application.

  Barkby Thorpe, Leicester
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has now received the report of the inspector into the Barkby Thorpe, Leicester, methane site; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Secretary of State expects to receive the inspector's report shortly and will consider it carefully before reaching his decision. I shall ensure that the hon. Member receives a copy of the Secretary of State's decision when it is available.

  Environment Week
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contribution his Department is to make towards the environment week, 16 to 24 May, sponsored by the Civic Trust.

  Mr. Maclean
  I will launch the midlands region environment week at the Green Show in the national exhibition centre on May 14. Lord Strathclyde will be launching a leaflet explaining how the public can help to prevent summer-time smog. Officials are discussing other opportunities for participation with the Civic Trust.

  Standard Spending Assessment, Great Grimsby
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment for what reasons his standard spending assessment estimate for capital financing for Great Grimsby in 1991–92 was lower than Grimsby's budget expenditure; how much difference this made to the average poll tax in Grimsby; and if he will make good the difference.

  Mr. Squire
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave earlier today.

  Nitrous Oxide Emissions
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give an estimate of the impact of the introduction of catalytic converters on United Kingdom emissions of nitrous oxide from road transport.

  Mr. Maclean
  Before the introduction of catalytic converters on cars, road transport made a small contribution to United Kingdom emissions of nitrous oxide. Measurements made on the exhaust emissions of cars fitted with catalytic converters show that emissions are a factor of 3–5 higher. Nevertheless, even when all the United Kingdom vehicle fleet is equipped with catalytic converters, road transport emissions will still be small compared with other sources, particularly soils and nylon manufacture.

  Catalytic converters will in any case reduce emissions of other oxides of nitrogen by around 75 per cent.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the latest figures of households accepted as homeless by local authorities following mortgage repossessions for England and Wales.

  Mr. Baldry
  Local authorities report quarterly on the number of households accepted under the homelessness 14
  provisions of the Housing Act 1985, distinguishing where the main reason for loss of the last settled home is mortgage arrears, but they do not separately identify those which were subject to repossession.

  The latest estimate is 3,700 such households in England, in the quarter ending December 1991.

  For information about Wales I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the comparative public sector revenue costs of housing homeless families in(a) Greater London and (b) in English non-metropolitan areas by (i) providing them with newly built council dwellings, (ii) providing them with council dwellings, newly acquired from the private sector and improved for letting and (iii) providing them with bed-and-breakfast accommodation; and if he will publish these figures on a comparable basis with those published in his replies to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 16 January 1987, Official Report, columns 331–32 and on 4 March 1987, Official Report, column 637.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have looked carefully at the basis on which such an answer can be given and have concluded that the information is not available in a form which enables a valid comparison to be made.

  Water Supplies (Pollution)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what consultations his Department has undertaken with the relevant authorities to ensure that local authorities are given adequate guidance in responding to pollution incidents affecting water supplies;

  (2) what consultations his Department has undertaken to improve the emergency provisions guidance given to local authorities in responding to pollution incidents affecting water supply.

  Mr. Maclean
  Local authorities have special responsibility for private water supplies. DOE and Welsh Office consulted the local authority associations and other relevant bodies in preparing the joint circular on private water supplies issued in December 1991, in which paragraph 6.11 deals with the response to pollution. Water companies are responsible for the wholesomeness of public water supplies, but the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989, which were also the subject of consultation, require water companies to notify local and district health authorities of any event which, by reason of its effect on water supplies, is likely to give rise to a significant risk to the health of local people. The Departments have also published guidance on safeguarding the quality of public water supplies, which includes advice on emergency procedures; water companies are advised to consult local and district health authorities with regard to the appropriate steps to be taken when incidents occur. As a result of the Water Act 1989, the National Rivers Authority became responsible for pollution incidents affecting controlled waters used for water supplies.

  Planning Regulations
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his plans for new regulations governing development by local planning authorities or on their land.

  Sir George Young
  New regulations to replace the Town and Country Planning General Regulations 1976, together with associated secondary legislation and policy guidance, are currently being prepared. My right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales intend that the new arrangements should be in force by the end of June. Their main features will be:—local planning authorities will continue to be able to grant themselves planning permission for development carried out by them, such as schools or local authority housing, and will also he able to grant themselves permission for development undertaken jointly with another person, such as a joint venture with a housing association;
  —for all other development proposals to be carried out on local authority-owned land by other parties, planning permission will have to be sought from the responsible development control authority. (Thus a county council which is, for example, seeking to dispose of land with planning permission will have to apply to a district council, unless the development is a "county matter" (minerals and waste in England; minerals in Wales); and the district council would have to apply to the county council for development which is a "county matter");
  —local planning authorities will now have to make a planning application to themselves or to another local planning authority and will be subject to broadly the same statutory procedures as other applicants;
  —applications must be publicised as prescribed by a development order in the same way as applications from the public;
  —to avoid a conflict of interest, applications may not be determined by a committee, sub-committee or officer responsible for the management of the land or buildings concerned;
  —planning permission granted to local planning authorities for development by them or jointly will not pass to subsequent owners of the land. For example, an authority will not be able to grant itself planning permission for council housing, then change its mind and sell the land with planning permission to a developer.

  In addition,
  —a new direction will be made requiring the Secretary of State to be notified of all local planning authority development proposals which do not accord with the provisions of the development plan, giving him the opportunity (if he so decides) to call them in for his own decision;
  —an order will be made to prevent the public from being excluded from committee meetings at which local authority development proposals are discussed; and
  —a circular will be published explaining the new arrangements.

  The Government believe that the new regulations will reconcilee appropriately local planning authorities' need to carry out their statutory functions with safeguards on accountability and publicity.

  I am making this announcement in advance of the new arrangements taking effect, to allow local authorities time to take account of the changes and to modify their procedures accordingly.

TRANSPORT

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to recruit members of ethnic minorities in top grades of employment at his Department.

  Mr. Norris
  Recruitment for senior grades is undertaken by the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency on behalf of the Civil Service Commissioners.

  In order to aid the recruitment of members of ethnic minorities to senior grades the agency has formed links with universities, tertiary colleges and ethnic minority communities. Recruitment literature reflects a multi-racial work force; and validating selection procedures are in place to ensure that selection is fair and non-discriminatory.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what percentage of officers in grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, respectively, and overall in his Department are members of ethnic minorities.

  Mr. Norris
  The numbers and percentages of non-industrial ethnic minority staff identified in the Department and its agencies at 1 April 1991 are:

  Grade

  Total number of respondents

  Number of ethnic minority respondents

  Percentage of ethnic minority respondents

  1

  1

  0

  0

  2

  4

  0

  0

  3

  18

  0

  0

  4

  20

  0

  0

  5

  88

  1

  1·1

  6

  144

  4

  2·8

  7

  660

  20

  3·0

  Total

  935

  25

  2·5

  These figures are based on responses to a voluntary confidential survey of staff. Overall, 4·8 per cent. of all respondents to the Department's ethnic origin surveys are of ethnic minority origin.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department last conducted a survey of the ethnic origin of its employees; when it next plans to do so; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  The Department completed a full survey of the ethnic origin of non-industrial staff in January 1991. A targeted re-survey took place in September 1991, and further targeted re-surveys will be conducted where necessary.

  Ethnic origin information is sought from all new entrants. The Department's ethnic origin database currently records 86 per cent. of staff.

  M1-M62 Link
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the implications of surface temperature inversion for visibility on sections of the proposed yellow route for the M1–M62 motorway link on the Calder Valley.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No such assessment has been made at this early stage.
  17
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all the sites of recognised vertebrate/invertebrate and ecological interest which will be affected by(a) the proposed yellow route and (b) the proposed purple route of the M1–M62 motorway link.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I will write to the hon. Member with a list of these.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the relative proportion of green belt affected by(a) the proposed yellow route and (b) the proposed purple route for the M1-M62 motorway link.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  80 per cent. of yellow route would be situated in green belt and 99 per cent. of the purple route. This is reflective of one of the design objectives, which is to minimise the effect on property.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate as to the number of public representations received(a) in favour and (b) against (i) the proposed yellow route and (ii) the proposed purple route for his suggested M1-M62 motorway link.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  More than 5,000 responses have so far been received, covering a wide range of issues. We have yet to analyse them.

  The purpose of consulting the public and representative bodies at this early stage in the scheme development is to listen to and learn from those affected. The comments received often relate only to localised matters rather than agreeing or disagreeing with any particular overall route.

  Fishing Boats (Registration)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to revise the Merchant Shipping Act 1989 to prevent foreign fishing boats registering as British.

  Mr. Norris
  An order amending the 1988 Act provisions dealing with entitlement to register a vessel as British, is being prepared. It will reflect a recent ruling of the European Court of Justice (commonly known as the FACTORTAME case) and will have the effect of permitting wider European ownership of British registered vessels.

  Sheffield-Manchester Motorway Link
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy with regard to a Sheffield to Manchester motorway link.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  There are no proposals in the current roads programme to provide a new motorway link between Sheffield and Manchester. There are, however, a number of schemes in the programme which will improve journeys between the two cities. These include proposals for a new motorway link from the M1 to the M62 between Wakefield and Huddersfield; widening of the M62 between junctions 18 and 24; and improvements to the A616/A628 corridor. I shall, of course, keep the long-term trunk road network under review.

  M11 (Services)
  Mr. Haselhurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects completion of the services area on the M11 motorway at Birchanger.
  18
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The contract specifies completion of construction by August 1993.

  Motorcycle Licences
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of motorcycle licence holders were provisional licence holders in 1990; and what this proportion was for 1981 to 1985.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Since the advent of driving licences that are valid until age 70 it has become difficult to produce exact figures on licence holders. However, information from the national travel survey 1988–1990 indicates provisional motorcycle licence holders account for nearly 10 per cent. of motorcyclists. This is about the same as the 1985–86 survey although the number of motorcycle licence holders has decreased by about a third over this period.

  Bus Deregulation
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department received a copy of the recently published report, "Local Bus Deregulation and the Consumer".

  Mr. Freeman
  The report has not been submitted formally to my Department, but we are aware of its publication.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Mr. Anthony Benton
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will intervene in the case of Mr. Anthony Benton to refer the conviction to the Court of Appeal.

  Mr. Jack
  Representations from Mr. Benton which have been submitted on his behalf are being considered to decide whether there are any grounds to justify our intervention.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 22 April concerning Mr. Anthony Benton.

  Mr. Jack
  My right hon. Friend hopes to reach a decision on the case shortly. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as a decision has been reached.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when it is expected the Police Complaints Authority will decide on any disciplinary proceedings arising from the arrest and conviction of Mr. Anthony Benton.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This is a matter for the West Midlands police and the Police Complaints Authority.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the contemporaneous notes taken after the arrest of Mr. Anthony Benton are included in the papers of the case submitted to the Police Complaints Authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  These are not matters for my Department.

  Immigration Guidelines
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to revise the guidelines for dealing with hon. Members' representations in immigration cases.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I have no immediate plans to do so, but the guidelines are kept under review.

  Police Cells
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will announce a time-table for reducing the number of prisoners in police cells; how many prisoners were so detained at the latest date for which figures are available; and in which police authority areas;

  (2) when he expects Operation Container to be discontinued;

  (3) what representations his Department has had about the future of Operation Container and the problems it has caused for the police service;

  (4) if he will be meeting representatives of the greater Manchester police authority to discuss Operation Container; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Operation Container was set up specifically to deal with the shortage of prison accommodation in the greater Manchester area caused by the destruction of Manchester prison in April 1990. Since then, the prison population has risen and there is now a general shortfall throughout England and Wales of prison accommodation available to house all those who have been committed to prison by the courts. Measures have been taken to make more effective use of prison accommodation, and new accommodation is being added to the estate.

  Nevertheless, on 7 May there were still 1,638 prisoners in police cells for whom places could not be founed in prisons. They were held by the following police forces:

  Number

  Avon and Somerset

  43

  Bedfordshire

  21

  Cambridgeshire

  20

  Cheshire

  36

  Cleveland

  29

  Cumbria

  31

  Derbyshire

  15

  Devon and Cornwall

  22

  Durham

  34

  Dyfed

  24

  Essex

  13

  Greater Manchester

  233

  Gwent

  2

  Hampshire

  3

  Hertfordshire

  14

  Humberside

  30

  Lancashire

  114

  Leicestershire

  21

  Lincolnshire

  13

  Merseyside

  71

  Metropolitan

  203

  Norfolk

  11

  North Wales

  15

  North Yorkshire

  19

  Northamptonshire

  28

  Northumbria

  79

  Nottinghamshire

  34

  South Wales

  61

  South Yorkshire

  45

  Staffordshire

  11

  20

  Number

  Suffolk

  19

  Surrey

  14

  Sussex

  2

  Thames Valley

  24

  Warwickshire

  11

  West Mercia

  6

  West Midlands

  40

  West Yorkshire

  130

  Wiltshire

  18

  Total

  1,638

  My right hon. Friend the Member for Mole Valley (Mr. Baker) when Home Secretary met a delegation from the greater Manchester police authority on 9 March. My predecessor as prisons Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Mitcham and Morden (Mrs. Rumbold), also met a delegation and visited Manchester to see Operation Container at first hand. I have had no request for a further meeting. I know that it was made clear to the delegation that although changes in the prison population made it impossible to predict when the use of police cells would cease the problem was regarded as extremely serious and the task of bringing it to an end was a top priority for the prison service.

  Neither I, nor my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary regard the detention of remand or sentenced prisoners in police cells as acceptable either for the prisoners or the police. I hope that the measures which we have taken and the availability of new prison places will soon have an impact on the numbers. I cannot give a precise timetable, because the rate of progress is of course vulnerable to changes in the numbers of prisoners committed to prison by the courts.

  Overseas Voters
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of overseas voters in each parliamentary constituency.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The number of overseas voters included in the electoral register for each parliamentary constituency will be published by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in the annual reference volume, Electoral Statistics 1992, series EL No. 19, in the summer. Details of the figures will be placed in the Library shortly. The number of overseas electors included in the draft electoral register for 1992–93 was given in answer to a question from the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) on 3 March 1992 at column.102.

  Young Offenders (Suicides)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders have committed suicide in custody in 1992, 1991, 1990 and 1989.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The number of prisoners under the age of 21 years who have died as the result of an act of deliberate self-harm in each of the years 1989 to 1992 is as follows:
  21

  Year

  Number

  1989

  11

  1990

  10

  1991

  5

  11992

  5

  1 To 11 May.

  Football
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to introduce, in the current session of Parliament, legislation outlawing the sale of tickets for, and on the day of, a football match without the authority of the home club to do so; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Government are committed to introducing this offence when parliamentary time allows, but that is unlikely to be in this Session.

  Appointed by

  Period of office

  The hon. Mr. Justice Anthony Evans

  Lord Chancellor

  April 1989—31 December 1992

  Mr. W. P. Davey CBE, DL, IPFA

  Home Secretary

  March 1989—31 December 1992

  Mr. M. P. McLaggan JP, DL, MA

  Secretary of State for Wales

  March 19891—31 December 1992

  1 First appointed in July 1980.

  No assistant commissioners hold appointment at present. The deputy chairman is required to be a judge of the High Court. No other formal qualifications are prescribed.

PRIME MINISTER

  EC Committee of the Regions
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will now make a statement on United Kingdom regional representation on the EC Committee of the Regions agreed at Maastricht.

  The Prime Minister
  Ministers are considering the nomination of the 24 United Kingdom members (and 24 alternates) on the Committee of the Regions.

  Minister for War Veterans
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will appoint a Minister for war veterans, widows and dependants, within either the Ministry of Defence or the Department of Social Security.

  The Prime Minister
  Responsibility for matters affecting war veterans, their widows and dependants forms part of the departmental remit of a number of Ministers. There are no plans to change this arrangement.

  Lockerbie Bombing
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will make a statement on the representations made to the United Kingdom Government by the Government of Libya about the proposed extradition of two Libyan nationals in relation to the Lockerbie bombing;

  (2) if he will discuss with the President of the United States the representations made to both of them by the Arab League in relation to the Lockerbie bombing and policy towards Libya; and if he will make a statement.

  Sunday Trading
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have taken place over the past 12 months on breaches of the Sunday trading laws.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is not yet available.

  Welsh Boundary Commissioners
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the Welsh parliamentary boundary commissioners and any assistant commissioners, giving their period of office and any appropriate qualifications.

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

  The Prime Minister
  We have had various approaches from Libyans and intermediaries over the Lockerbie bombing. None of them indicates that Libya is ready to comply with United Nations Security Council resolutions 731 and 748. We have worked closely with the United States and France and shall continue to do so.

  War Crimes
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will state the Government's policy towards war crimes in the Channel islands.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government's policy is that people who have committed murder, manslaughter or culpable homicide as violations of the laws and customs of war in German-held territory during the second world war should not be able to use the privilege of residence in the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands to escape justice.

  Church Livings
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Prime Minister for how many church livings he has the responsibility of appointment.

  The Prime Minister
  I am responsible for recommending clergy to Her Majesty the Queen for appointment to 206 benefices where the Crown has rights of presentation. Of these, 126 belong to the Crown in full right, while appointment to the remaining 80 is undertaken alternately or sequentially depending upon the number of other patrons having rights of presentation to those benefices.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Radiation
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will have powers to require the publication by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority of safety reports dealing with radiological risk to the public, under the new arrangements for oversight of the nuclear programme.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. Friend has the same powers as those previously held by the Secretary of State for Energy. It has been UKAEA's practice over a number of years to issue reports annually on the radiological effect of its operations. This information is given both in a safety report and in a report on the Radioactive Waste Disposal by AEA Establishments. I am arranging for copies of the latest reports to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Bank of Credit and Commerce International
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he and his officials have had any meetings with the liquidators of BCCI in the last(a) two months and (b) one month.

  Mr. Hamilton
  My officials met Mr. Morris and Mr. Richards, two of the joint liquidators of BCCI, on 26 March 1992.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has received a copy of the Government of Abu Dhabi's proposal for compensation of the victims of BCCI; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hamilton
  My officials have been supplied with a copy of the joint liquidators' report to the court dated 16 March 1992 containing a 52 page summary of the proposed agreements between the liquidators of BCCI and the Government of Abu Dhabi. I understand that the High Court is to consider these proposals on 11 May 1992 at which time all interested parties will have the opportunity to give their views. If the proposed agreements are approved by the Court acceptance of the compensation offered by the Government of Abu Dhabi will be a matter for individual creditors of BCCI.

  Computer Software
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on discussions between the European Community and the United States of America, and in GATT, on patenting of computer software.

  Mr. Needham
  The draft final text of the trade-related intellectual property rights (TRIPs) agreement of the GATT Uruguay round is a good one overall for United Kingdom business and industry. It is consistent with United Kingdom domestic law and will not preclude the Patent Office from excluding computer software patents.

  Regional Enterprise Grants Scheme
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the changes to the regional enterprise grants scheme that were announced on 6 March will be introduced.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The changes to the regional enterprise grants scheme that were announced on 6 March 1992 by 24
  the then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry were subject to clearance from the European Commission. Now that this clearance has been received I have decided, in consultation with the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales, that from 18 May these changes will become effective and that the innovation element of the scheme will be extended to all inner city task force areas, city challenge areas and the Scottish urban areas which already qualify for the higher level of support under the consultancy initiative.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Gibraltar
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to allow the Gibraltar Government direct and independent access to the European Commission and Parliament on all those matters that presently fall within their competence.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  No. Gibraltar's interests are represented by the British Government in the European Community.

  Treaty on European Union
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who decides disputes about the interpretation of the translation of the text of the treaty on European union.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The treaty makes it clear (article S) that the text in each of the Community languages is "equally authentic". Disputes about the texts are for the parties to resolve among themselves. Where they concern areas of the treaty within the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice they may ultimately be referred to it for decision.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date he published or intends to publish, the text of the treaty on European union; and if he intends to also publish any explanatory guide or other descriptions of its provisions and implications.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The text of the treaty on European union was published as a Command Paper (Cm 1934) on 7 May. Further information on its provisions is contained in memoranda submitted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Her Majesty's Treasury to the Foreign Affairs and Treasury and Civil Service Committees respectively. Copies are available in the Library.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the provisions of article 7a as referred to in the revised article 100a(i) in paragraph (22) of article G of the Maastricht treaty; and if he will indicate where article 7a is located in the various European Community treaties.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  Under paragraph 9 of article G of the treaty on European union the present article 8a of the treaty of Rome becomes article 7a (and articles 8b and 8c become 7b and 7c). Present article 8a was added to the treaty of Rome by article 13 of section II of the Single European Act.
  25
  Article 7a states:
  "The Community shall adopt measures with the aim of progressively establishing the internal market over a period expiring on 31 December 1992, in accordance with the provisions of this article and of Articles 7b, 7c, 28, 57(2), 59, 70(1), 84, 99, 100a and 100b and without prejudice to the other provisions of this Treaty.
  The internal market shall comprise an area without internal frontiers in which the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital is ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Treaty".

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the treaty on European union he signed at Maastricht on 7 February is the text circulating in Conf-UP-U-EM 2002/1/92; in what language was the version he signed; who translated it into English; what check his officials made of the accuracy of that translation; and when an accurate text will be provided in Parliament and published.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The Treaty signed at Maastricht was subsequently circulated as CONF-UP-UEM 2002/1/92. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs signed a version in English translated by European Community linguists. Officials and FCO translators were fully involved in meetings with linguists before 7 February to finalise the texts. The text as signed was made available to Parliament immediately thereafter and was published as a Command Paper on 7 May.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has in his possession a copy of the proposed treaty of Rome as it would be following ratification of the treaty of European union.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  There is not yet an official publication of the treaty of Rome as amended by the treaty on European Union. The treaty on European union has been printed as a Command Paper (Cm 1934).

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what enactment article 100A(i) of the treaty of Rome, which is to be replaced in accordance with paragraph 22 of article G of the Maastricht treaty, was inserted in the treaty.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  Article 100a was added to the treaty of Rome by article 18 of the Single European Act which came into force on 1 July 1987.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the text of the treaty of Rome used as a basis for the amendments to that treaty in the treaty of European union is the same as the text of the treaty of Rome issued in September 1988 by HMSO as Cm 455.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  Yes.

  Bangladesh
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Bangladesh Government concerning reports of a massacre at Lougong in the Chittagong hill tracts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have expressed our concern about these reports to the Bangladeshi authorities who have told us a judicial inquiry will be conducted. We will take a close interest in the report of this inquiry.
  26
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Bangladesh Government to allow UN observers into the Chittagong hill tracts.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  None. We doubt whether there is a role for UN observers in the hill tracts.

  EC Commissioners
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received concerning proposals made by any Commissioners of the European Economic Community concerning changes in or replacement of the commissioners or presidency of the Community; and when he expects any such proposal to be published.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  A declaration attached to the treaty on European union provides for a review of the size of the Commission by the end of 1992. The Commission has made no proposals regarding commissioners or the presidency.

  BCCI
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Abu Dhabi concerning that Government's proposal to compensate the victims of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has had no such discussions, but I raised the plight of BCCI staff and depositors in the United Kingdom during my visit to Abu Dhabi last October. The Abu Dhabi authorities were made aware that we should like to see depositors get as much of their money back from the BCCI as possible and the employees given fair severance terms.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Crown Courts, Yorkshire
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is(a) the capital expenditure and (b) the revenue expenditure on each crown court in Yorkshire for each year since 1979.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  It has not been possible to obtain the information requested in the time available but I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Church Appointments
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department for how many church livings the Lord Chancellor has the responsibility of appointment.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor is responsible for making appointments on behalf of the Crown to 464 benefices where the Crown has rights of presentation. Of these, 194 belong to the Crown in full right, while appointment to the remaining 270 is undertaken alternately or sequentially depending upon the number of other patrons having rights of presentation to those benefices.

  Covenants on Open Land
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received about covenants on open land; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor has received and is considering around 100 letters from Members of Parliament and the public expressing a range of views on the Law Commission's report on obsolete restrictive covenants published in July 1991.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Michael O'Brien
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what further steps are being taken to review the availability of criminal legal aid in cases where defendants are in custody.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  A defendant to criminal proceedings is eligible for legal aid if, in accordance with the provisions of the Legal Aid Act 1988 and legal aid regulations, a court decides that it is in the interests of justice that legal aid be granted and that the defendant's financial resources are such that he or she requires assistance in meeting the costs. The team conducting the review of financial conditions for legal aid is now considering legal aid in all criminal cases. A consultation paper will be issued in the summer.

  Repossessions
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will give the latest figures for repossessions in England and Wales by month in tabular form.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The table gives the total number of mortgage possession actions entered, suspended orders and orders made in England and Wales during January, February and March of this year. These figures do not indicate how many houses have been repossessed through the courts as not all of the orders made will have resulted in the issue and execution of warrants of possession. At this stage the figures are provisional and therefore liable to revision in the future.

  Mortgage possession actions in England and Wales during 1992

  Month

  Actions entered

  Suspended orders

  Orders made

  January

  14,223

  7,052

  5,813

  February

  13,781

  5,902

  4,938

  March

  14,465

  6,201

  5,807

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the total number of confirmed cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy by county or region in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to the latest available date.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information requested to 1 May 1992 is as follows:28

  County

  Confirmed cases

  ENGLAND

  Avon

  1,123

  Bedfordshire

  144

  Berkshire

  299

  Buckinghamshire

  469

  Cambridgeshire

  174

  Cheshire

  1,779

  Cleveland

  65

  Cornwall

  4,052

  Cumbria

  1,304

  Derbyshire

  950

  Devon

  5,586

  Dorset

  4,209

  Durham

  187

  Essex

  229

  Gloucestershire

  1,368

  Hampshire

  1,670

  Hereford and Worcestershire

  915

  Hertfordshire

  177

  Humberside

  227

  Isle of Wight

  347

  Kent

  916

  Lancastershire

  1,403

  Leicestershire

  1,163

  Lincolnshire

  390

  London

  28

  Manchester

  62

  Merseyside

  40

  Norfolk

  1,019

  Northamptonshire

  470

  Northumberland

  242

  Nottinghamshire

  288

  Oxon

  835

  Salop

  1,205

  Somerset

  4,929

  Staffordshire

  1,164

  Suffolk

  604

  Surrey

  458

  Sussex East

  691

  Sussex West

  1,213

  Tyne and Wear

  11

  Warwickshire

  509

  West Midlands

  26

  Wiltshire

  3,063

  Yorkshire North

  1,998

  Yorkshire South

  167

  Yorkshire West

  259

  WALES

  County

  Clwyd

  720

  Dyfed

  2,549

  Glamorgan M

  104

  Glamorgan S

  142

  Glamorgan W

  24

  Gwent

  385

  Gwynedd

  166

  Powys

  521

  SCOTLAND

  Borders

  111

  Central

  50

  Dumfries

  498

  Fife

  98

  Grampian

  330

  Highland

  91

  Lothian

  42

  Orkney

  18

  Shetland

  5

  Strathclyde

  487

  Tayside

  133

  Western Isles

  1

  29

  County

  Confirmed cases

  NORTHERN IRELAND

  County

  Antrim

  135

  Armagh

  26

  Down

  78

  Fermanagh

  36

  Londonderry

  50

  Tyrone

  73

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the total number of confirmed cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy by county or region in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from 1 January until the latest available date.

  Mr. Gummer
  The number of cases confirmed for England, Wales and Scotland from 3 January 1992, and for Northern Ireland from 17 January 1992, to 1 May 1992 is as follows. Many of these cases will have a date of clinical onset of disease, and indeed date of report, before 3 January.

  Confirmed cases

  ENGLAND

  County

  Avon

  204

  Bedfordshire

  24

  Berkshire

  54

  Buckinghamshire

  88

  Cambridgeshire

  33

  Cheshire

  357

  Cleveland

  13

  Cornwall

  741

  Cumbria

  331

  Derbyshire

  258

  Devon

  948

  Dorset

  728

  Durham

  35

  Essex

  52

  Gloucestershire

  188

  Hampshire

  226

  Hereford and Worcester

  154

  Hertfordshire

  22

  Humberside

  32

  Isle of Wight

  45

  Kent

  130

  Lancashire

  347

  Leicestershire

  187

  Lincolnshire

  63

  London

  7

  Manchester

  16

  Merseyside

  15

  Norfolk

  239

  Northamptonshire

  94

  Northumberland

  50

  Nottinghamshire

  50

  Oxfordshire

  176

  Shropshire

  223

  Somerset

  946

  Staffordshire

  482

  Suffolk

  109

  Surrey

  89

  Sussex, East

  133

  Sussex, West

  233

  Tyne and Wear

  3

  Warwickshire

  80

  West Midlands

  5

  Wiltshire

  491

  Yorkshire, North

  391

  Yorkshire, South

  31

  Yorkshire, West

  51

  30

  Confirmed cases

  WALES:

  Clwyd

  156

  Dyfed

  565

  Glamorgan M

  15

  Glamorgan S

  37

  Glamorgan W

  5

  Gwent

  79

  Gwynedd

  34

  Powys

  104

  SCOTLAND:

  Borders

  30

  Central

  10

  Dumfries

  169

  Fife

  17

  Grampian

  69

  Highland

  17

  Lothian

  12

  Orkney

  5

  Shetland

  2

  Strathclyde

  118

  Tayside

  25

  Western Isles

  0

  NORTHERN IRELAND:

  Antrim

  33

  Armagh

  5

  Down

  15

  Fermanagh

  5

  Londonderry

  12

  Tyrone

  16

  Meat Depots
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether distribution and transit depots handling packaged meat fall under the category of cold stores as defined in the draft Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1992; and what requirements these depots will have to meet.

  Mr. Gummer
  Yes. Distribution and transit depots handling and storing packaged meat fall under the category of cold stores as defined in the draft Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1992. Such premises will, therefore, have to comply with the requirements applicable to cold stores laid down in those regulations in order to operate in the single market. The extent to which individual requirements of the draft regulations apply will depend on the operations carried out at each premises. Businesses can obtain advice from their local MAFF animal health office.

HEALTH

  Tobacco Advertising
  Mr. Merchant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she is reviewing policy on tobacco advertising; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Government continue to keep under review the position on tobacco advertising, against the background of our long-standing policy that the right way to control the advertising and promotion of tobacco products is through the voluntary agreements that we have with the tobacco industry.

  "Caring for People"
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason her Department's advice to local authorities and health authorities on implementing "Caring for People" states that the current broad pattern of funding should be regarded as an implied commitment for 1993–94 by the local authority in respect of new clients requiring residential or nursing home care after April 1993.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The funds for such placements will transfer from the Department of Social Security to local authorities. Whether there should be any adjustment to the current pattern of service would be a matter for local decision which should be taken jointly with the relevant health authority. Individual assessment of need will of course determine the exact numbers of people who enter residential or nursing home care after April 1993.

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what proportion of prescriptions for which a prescription charge is paid the cost of the item to the NHS is less than the prescription charge.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The proportion in 1991–92 was 29·4 per cent.

  Hospitals
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice is given to health authorities with regard to public consultation prior to the closure or change of use of individual wards in hospitals where the long-term closure of such hospitals has already been agreed.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Community Health Council Regulations 1985, as amended, require district health authorities to consult the relevant community health council on proposals which would result in substantial changes to health services in the district. It is for regional and district health authorities to consider when further formal or informal local consultation is necessary during the phased closure of a major institution.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Kenya
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current level of aid to Kenya.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Our gross bilateral aid programme in 1990—the last year for which figures are available—was £44 million.

  Sub-Saharan Africa
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the Government's response on aid to sub-Saharan Africa.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Sub-Saharan Africa has a high priority in the bilateral aid programme. Gross bilateral aid flows amounted to £367 million in 1990, the latest year for which full figures are available.

  Aid
  Sir Michael Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of United Kingdom official aid has been untied for purchasing at the discretion of recipient developing countries in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  British aid is provided for specific purposes. Nearly all the aid we provide through multilateral institutions is untied. The untied proportion of our bilateral aid commitments was 18 per cent. in 1988, 24 per cent. in 1989 and 21 per cent. in 1990.

  Tropical Forests
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's current policy on overseas aid in respect of tropical forests.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Government's policy is to help promote the sustainable management of tropical forests and their biodiversity. We have substantially increased our bilateral aid activities to this end and encouraged other donors to do likewise.

  Debt Rescheduling
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to meet third-world leaders to discuss rescheduling of debt.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development regularly meets leaders of third world countries. The rescheduling of debt is often discussed. The Prime Minister's 1990 Trinidad terms initiative has so far benefited five countries, and Britain has relieved developing countries of the burden of aid debt worth more than £1,000 million.

  East European States
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with east European leaders on the question of aid to east European states.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We are in regular contact with colleagues in central and eastern Europe on all aspects of our bilateral relations, including aid.

  Zimbabwe
  Ms. Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is being given to help Zimbabwe deal with the current drought.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Government has provided £7·5 million in balance of payments aid for Zimbabwe, to help relieve the financial burden of food imports, in response to the current crisis.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Freedom of Information
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Attorney-General what is his policy on freedom of information relating to papers in the possession of the Director of Public Prosecutions or the law officers and under consideration where prosecutions have not been instituted.

  The Attorney-General
  Papers relating to prosecuting decisions are distinct from Government papers. Their handling must reflect special considerations, such as the need to avoid harm or unfairness to a prospective defendant or to witnesses if the decision is taken not to prosecute.

  Hillsborough Inquest
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received in respect of the conduct of the inquest into the Hillsborough disaster; and what has been his response.

  The Solicitor-General
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General has received various representations. He is at present considering a formal application received on 16 April, for consent under section 13 of the Coroners Act 1988 to enable the relatives of six persons who died at Hillsborough to apply to the High Court for an order quashing the inquisitions in respect of those six persons and directing a fresh inquest.

  Extradition
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on his responsibilities in relation to extradition.

  The Attorney-General
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary has responsibility for the law and practice relating to extradition.

  I myself conduct certain communications on behalf of the United Kingdom with the Attorney-General of the Republic of Ireland concerning the return of alleged offenders from the republic under the backing of warrants arrangements.

  Mr. Anthony Benton
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Attorney-General when it is expected the Director of Public Prosecutions will make a decision over any possible criminal proceedings regarding the conviction of Mr. Anthony Benton of Walsall.

  The Attorney-General
  The Crown prosecution service has considered whether any criminal proceedings should be brought following complaints regarding the conviction of Mr. Anthony Benton of Walsall. The deputy chief constable of the West Midlands police has been advised that the evidence is insufficient to justify any criminal proceedings against any police officer involved in that case.

  Mr. Kurt Klebeck
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the proceedings taken by the allies at the end of the last war against Kurt Klebeck; and whether he will discuss with his counterparts in the Channel islands the taking of proceedings against him for Nazi war crimes in the Channel islands.
  34
  The Attorney-General
  No.

  Kurt Klebeck was prosecuted and convicted in 1947 by the British military court in Germany for:

  (i) being concerned in the killing of allied nationals, in violation of the laws and usages of war, who were interned in the Hanover/Ahnem concentration camp between November 1944 and April 1945.

  (ii) being concerned in the ill-treatment of allied nationals in the same camp and during the same period as (i) above.

  He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

  The papers relating to the proceedings against Klebeck are open to inspection in the Public Record Office. I understand that he is a German national resident in Germany. The War Crimes Act 1991 is not, therefore, in issue. I further understand that Germany does not extradite its own nationals. The question of his prosecution for offences alleged to have been committed in the Channel Islands is a matter for the German authorities, who have the necessary jurisdiction.

  Crown Prosecutors
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will publish the code for Crown prosecutors drawn up by the Crown prosecution service.

  The Attorney-General
  The code for Crown prosecutors is a public document.

  In accordance with section 10(3) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985, the Director of Public Prosecutions sets out any alterations to the code in the annual report which she makes to me under section 9 of the Act. The annual report is available to the public through HMSO.

  The code was re-printed in January 1992, incorporating amendments that have been made since it was first issued in 1986. A copy of the revised edition was placed in the Library of both Houses on 10 March 1992.

EDUCATION

  Standard Assessment Tasks
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proposals he has for scrapping standard assessment tasks for children of seven years of age.

  Mr. Forth
  None.

  City Technology Colleges
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to reduce the amount of business funding for city technology colleges.

  Mr. Forth
  I have no such plans. Each city technology college represents a funding partnership between Government and private sector sponsors. Sponsors have already contributed some £20 million to the capital costs of CTCs, and are committed to contribute over £10 million more. My Department funds the running costs of CTCs on a basis comparable with that of other secondary schools.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to increase the number of city technology colleges.

  Mr. Forth
  Thirteen city technology colleges are now operating. A further college will open in Derby this
  35
  September, and another in Bristol the following year. In accordance with our manifesto commitments, the Government will enable the creation of new types of grant-maintained and voluntary-aided schools which will embody the characteristics of CTCs.

WALES

  Employment
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps have been taken to increase employment opportunities in the Meirionnydd Nant Conwy constituency; and what plans there are for the immediate future.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Welsh Office, the Development Board for Rural Wales and other Government agencies operate a wide range of measures aimed at increasing employment opportunities throughout all areas of Wales. The Welsh Office and all the other bodies involved in economic development will continue to look for and respond swiftly to opportunities that arise which have the potential to increase employment prospects in the Meirionnydd Nant Conwy constituency.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Ray Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the current unemployment figures for Ogmore, Mid Glamorgan and Wales; and what the figures were in May 1979.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  In March 1992 there were 4,435, 32,551, and 125,871 unemployed claimants in the Ogmore constituency, Mid Glamorgan and Wales. Comparable data for May 1979 for Ogmore and Mid Glamorgan is not available. The comparable number of unemployed claimants in Wales in 1979, seasonally adjusted, was 66,100 and 122,500 in March 1992.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the annual rate of inward investment to Wales for each year since 1974.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Wales has consistently recorded very high levels of inward investment. 1991 was the best ever year with 183 projects promising more than 17,000 jobs and capital investment in excess of £860 million.

  Local Government
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to publish his White Paper on local Government reforms.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Later this year.

  Education
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to implement the Further and Higher Education Act 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Commencement orders establishing the Further and Higher Education Councils for Wales came into effect on 6 May. My right hon. Friend has 36
  announced the membership of the Higher Education Funding Council and the chairman and chief executive of the Further Education Funding Council. He hopes to be able to announce the members of the Further Education Funding Council shortly.

  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next intends to meet leaders of county councils in Wales to discuss educational provision in the Principality.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend has meetings with leaders of Welsh county councils to discuss matters of mutual concern, which are arranged when needed.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the percentage of total council spending to be raised by the community charge this year in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Community charges set by Welsh authorities account for around 11·5 per cent. of their provisional budgeted revenue expenditure for 1992–93. The £40 million that I am providing through the community charge reduction scheme will reduce the proportion to around 10 per cent.

  Recession
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about his plans to alleviate the impact of the recession in Neath.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  It is clear that the Government's policy of bearing down on inflation has been successful and that all the essential ingredients for economic recovery are in place. The latest reduction in interest rates will add further impetus to economic recovery and will be of benefit to, and welcomed by, the business community in Neath.

  Young Offenders
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the provision of secure units for young offenders in south Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I share the urgency for secure establishments to be operational, for I see such as a major agency in combating crime, and I am determined that this will be pressed forward as quickly as possible.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest number of expressions of interest in applying for national health service trust status among hospitals in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Pembrokeshire NHS trust became operational on 1 April. We announced on 19 December 1991 that 14 health units in Wales had been invited to prepare applications to become NHS trusts in April 1993. These applications are expected shortly and there will be widespread consultation before any decisions are taken.

  Elsewhere in Wales, the decision whether to seek NHS trust status is a matter for individual health units, in the light of local circumstances.

  Cardiff Royal Infirmary
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his plans for(a) the future of Cardiff royal infirmary and (b) the future arrangements for accident and emergency services in South Glamorgan.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  These are primarily matters for South Glamorgan health authority. However, I am taking a keen interest and am aware of the uncertainty that exists. I am confident that the current Strategic Review of future intentions by South and Mid Glamorgan DHAs and University of Wales College of Medicine will allow the uncertainty to be removed.

  Planning Decisions
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has received relating to planning decisions(a) in Clwyd, South-West and (b) Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend frequently receives representations on a range of planning matters throughout Wales.

  Environment
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the environmental priorities for his Department during the last six months of 1992.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friends and I intend to pursue the environmental policies set out in the manifesto, "The Best Future for Wales". Attention will focus on land reclamation and housing improvement programmes, together with a wide range of agricultural,

  Imports of hazardous waste

  October 1988 to 1 March 1989

  1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990

  1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991

  11 April 1991 to 31 March 1992

  (1) via Welsh and English ports for disposal in Wales

  5,547·3

  6,693·9

  6,881·5

  4,933·0

  (2) via Welsh ports for disposal in

  (i)Wales

  —

  754·9

  585·3

  459·8

  (ii)England

  43·0

  733·5

  4,758·0

  6,824·8

  1 Subject to validation.

  Note: The waste is consigned to licensed waste disposal facilities.

  Wind Energy
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if his Department was represented at the conference on wind energy opportunities in Wales, organised by the National Farmers Union in Aberystwyth on 7 April.

  Mr. David Hunt
  No.

  Forestry
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the implications for forestry in Wales of(a) the new Forestry Authority and (b) Forestry Enterprise.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The internal reorganisation of the Forestry Commission which was implemented on 1 April 1992 makes a clear distinction between its regulatory and 38
  transport, planning, pollution control and other measures designed to protect and enhance the environment in Wales.

  Pembrokeshire
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures are currently being taken to respond to the economic difficulties of north Pembrokeshire, resulting from the proposed closure of Royal navy armaments depot, Trecwn.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he is taking to relieve unemployment in the Pembroke constituency.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I established the west Wales task force and a strategy group, which I chair, in January. Since then I have announced the allocation of £4·7 million for a range of projects which will develop the industrial and economic infrastructure of west Wales. The task force has commissioned consultants to draw up a five year economic development plan for the area and this report, to which I will give urgent and careful consideration, will be available in the summer.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what volumes of toxic waste have been imported into Wales each year since 1979; and what has been done with those wastes.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information on the importation of hazardous waste into the United Kingdom is available only for the period since the introduction of the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations in October 1988.

  The information is given in the table:

  advisory functions (as the Forestry Authority) and its forest management role (as Forest Enterprise). This has strengthened the commission's ability to lead the way in implementing forestry policy in Wales and improved its efficiency and effectiveness in managing its forest estate.

  Environment Week
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what contribution is to be made by his Department to the environment week, 16 to 24 May, sponsored by the Civic Trust.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Department has not received an invitation to participate directly in environment week. It does, however, provide grant aid for the work of the Civic Trust for Wales, which is participating.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Roger Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the timetable for his proposals for local government reorganisation and in particular the restoration of Monmouthshire.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I will be publishing a White Paper later this year. Legislation will follow. I intend that the new shadow authorities should be in place from 1 April 1994 and fully operational/functional for 1 April 1995. The proposal for a separate council for Monmouth featured in my statement of 3 March on which I have invited views.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Members' Allowances
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Lord President of the Council when he expects to publish the Top Salaries Review Body's report on hon. Members' secretarial allowances.

  Mr. Newton
  I hope to be able to inform the House soon about our plans for publication.

EMPLOYMENT

  Investors in People
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many companies have been awarded the Investors in People kitemark; and what percentage this represents of the companies eligible.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  By 7 May 1992, 50 organisations have been recognised as Investors in People. This achievement reflects the demanding nature of the national standard. This is a small percentage in these early days of the initiative as it is open to all employing organisations to commit themselves to work towards achieving the standard.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people are currently unable to take up a guaranteed training place by reason of such a place not being available.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people have not received an offer of a guaranteed place on youth training.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information is not available in the form requested. The YT guarantee remains a key objective, and sufficient resources will be available to ensure that an offer of a suitable YT training place is made to all 16 and 17-year-olds not in work or full-time education who are seeking entry.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated average employer's contribution to each filled youth training place per annum in 1992–93.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  No reliable estimate is available. For management purposes, the asumption is that on average about a quarter of the total cost of providing youth training is meet by employer contributions.
  40
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons aged 16 and 17 years have been refused a place on youth training schemes in (i) 1989, (ii) 1990, (iii) 1991 and (iv) at the latest available date.

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

  Unit Labour Costs
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the movement of unit labour costs in the United Kingdom and Germany since October 1990.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Between October 1990 and December 1991 unit wage and salary costs in manufacturing in the United Kingdom rose by 6·6 per cent. compared with an increase in the former Federal Republic of Germany over the same period of 11·0 per cent.

  Unemployment Benefit (Disqualification)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployed people were disqualified for unemployment benefit under each paragraph of section 20(1) of the Social Security Act 1975 in the area covered by the Newport, Gwent, unemployment benefit office, in the latest month for which information can be obtained from the office; in how many cases disqualification was imposed for the maximum period of 26 weeks; and what is the estimated cost of obtaining this information.

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

  Unemployment
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the figures for the change in unemployment each month since January 1987.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information requested can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Non-stipendiary Priests
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners how many non-stipendiary priests are currently licensed for parish work.

  Mr. Alison
  The records held by the Commissioners for Crockford's Clerical Directory list 2,159 deacons and priests who are not paid by the Commissioners but who are licensed to, or have permission to officiate, or are otherwise listed as non-stipendiary ministers. Of these 501 also hold other appointments such as school chaplains.

SCOTLAND

  Asbestosis
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to reach a decision in relation to legislation on deferred damages for victims of asbestosis as proposed by the Scottish Law Commission; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend has welcomed and accepted the recommendations made by the Scottish Law Commission in its Report on the Effect of Death on Damages (Scottish Law Commission No. 134). We hope that it will prove possible for a private Member to bring forward a Bill to give effect to the Commission's recommendations early in the current Parliament.

  Housing
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report a list in descending order of the average rents of local housing authorities in Scotland for 1991–92 and for 1992–93; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is shown in the table. Average council house rents are expected to have increased by 7·0 per cent. from £23.14 per house per week in 1991–92 to £24.75 in 1992–93.

  I have placed in the Library a more detailed analysis of local authority housing revenue account income and expenditure outturns for 1991–92 and budget forecasts for 1992–93. This shows the wide variations which exist between local authorities in, for example, the level of council rents, expenditure on loan charges, and expenditure on management and maintenance of their housing stock.

  Average rents (£ per house per week)

  1991–92

  Scotland

  23·14

  1

  Edinburgh

  28·88

  2

  Dundee

  28·40

  32

  Western Isles

  28·31

  42

  Clydebank

  26·93

  52

  Glasgow

  26·78

  6

  Dumbarton

  25·95

  72

  Orkney Islands

  25·60

  82

  Ross and Cromarty

  25·10

  92

  Stewartry

  24·65

  102

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  24·53

  112

  Skye and Lochalsh

  24·51

  122

  Annandale and Eskdale

  24·14

  132

  Shetland Islands

  24·12

  142

  Inverness

  24·08

  152

  Nairn

  24·04

  162

  Roxburgh

  23·94

  172

  Wigtown

  23·60

  182

  Lochaber

  23·59

  192

  Sutherland

  23·43

  202

  Argyll and Bute

  23·43

  21

  Stirling

  23·26

  222

  Gordon

  23·24

  23

  Clackmannan

  23·19

  24

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  23·16

  25

  East Kilbride

  23·11

  26

  North East Fife

  22·89

  27

  Kirkcaldy

  22·63

  28

  Monklands

  22·58

  292

  Caithness

  22·20

  42

  1991–92

  30

  East Lothian

  21·95

  31

  Inverclyde

  21·77

  32

  Hamilton

  21·63

  33

  Strathkelvin

  21·58

  34

  Banff and Buchan

  21·26

  35

  Nithsdale

  21·23

  36

  Dunfermline

  21·21

  37

  Berwickshire

  21·00

  38

  Moray

  20·94

  39

  Aberdeen

  20·76

  40

  Clydesdale

  20·68

  41

  Renfrew

  20·47

  42

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  20·32

  43

  Kyle and Carrick

  20·31

  44

  Cunninghame

  20·27

  45

  Falkirk

  20·02

  46

  Perth and Kinross

  20·01

  47

  Motherwell

  19·72

  48

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  19·31

  49

  West Lothian

  19·03

  50

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  18·84

  512

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  18·81

  522

  Kincardine and Deeside

  18·77

  53

  Angus

  17·90

  54

  Tweeddale

  17·87

  55

  Eastwood

  17·86

  56

  Midlothian

  15·92

  Average rents (£ per house per week)

  1992–93

  11

  Scotland

  24·75

  11

  Western Isles

  30·63

  2

  Edinburgh

  30·63

  3

  Dundee

  30·43

  41

  Glasgow

  29·02

  51

  Skye and Lochalsh

  28·92

  61

  Ross and Cromarty

  28·53

  7

  Dumbarton

  27·94

  81

  Shetland Islands

  27·81

  91

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  27·58

  101

  Orkney Islands

  27·45

  111

  Sutherland

  27·42

  121

  Inverness

  27·37

  131

  Wigtown

  27·33

  141

  Stewartry

  27·00

  151

  Nairn

  26·99

  161

  Clydebank

  26·77

  171

  Argyll and Bute

  26·45

  181

  Roxburgh

  26·27

  191

  Lochaber

  26·14

  201

  Annandale and Eskdale

  25·97

  211

  Gordon

  25·33

  22

  Stirling

  25·10

  231

  Caithness

  24·72

  24

  Clackmannan

  24·69

  25

  Kirkcaldy

  24·63

  26

  Inverclyde

  24·25

  27

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  24·15

  28

  Monklands

  24·11

  29

  Nithsdale

  23·72

  30

  East Kilbride

  23·70

  31

  Hamilton

  23·70

  32

  North East Fife

  23·21

  33

  Strathkelvin

  23·14

  34

  Moray

  22·86

  35

  Dunfermline

  22·84

  36

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  22·61

  37

  Berwickshire

  22·46

  38

  Renfrew

  22·44

  39

  East Lothian

  22·35

  401

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  22·31

  41

  Banff and Buchan

  22·17

  42

  Cunninghame

  22·05

  43

  Perth and Kinross

  21·94

  441

  Kincardine and Deeside

  21·84

  45

  Clydesdale

  21·82

  43

  1992–93

  46

  Falkirk

  21·21

  47

  Motherwell

  21·09

  48

  Eastwood

  20·97

  49

  Aberdeen

  20·65

  50

  Kyle and Carrick

  20·46

  51

  West Lothian

  19·82

  52

  Tweeddale

  19·75

  53

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  19·51

  54

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  19·38

  55

  Angus

  17·90

  56

  Midlothian

  16·21

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefits
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by how much expenditure on supplementary benefit and income support has been reduced in each year as a result of the restriction of mortgage interest payments to 50 per cent. for the first 16 weeks of a claim.

  Mr. Burt
  The information is as follows:

  National insurance widows and invalidity pensioners

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  Uprating date

  Rate of child benefit plus child dependency increase

  Equivalent value of column B amounts at April 1991 prices

  Gross male weekly average earnings, with amounts in column B as percentage

  Equivalent weekly earnings net of income tax and national insurance contributions, with amounts in column B as percentage

  Single person

  Married couple

  (£)

  (£)

  (£)

  (per cent.)

  (£)

  (per cent.)

  (£)

  (per cent.)

  November 1979

  11·10

  24·52

  114·10

  9·7

  79·90

  13·9

  83·60

  13·3

  November 1980

  12·25

  23·47

  135·10

  9·1

  93·40

  13·1

  97·80

  12·5

  November 1981

  12·95

  22·16

  149·50

  8·7

  101·00

  12·8

  105·40

  12·3

  November 1982

  13·80

  22·22

  160·60

  8·6

  107·40

  12·8

  112·50

  12·3

  November 1983

  14·10

  21·65

  172·40

  8·2

  115·50

  12·2

  121·30

  11·6

  November 1984

  14·50

  21·22

  187·40

  7·7

  125·90

  11·5

  132·50

  10·9

  November 1985

  15·05

  20·88

  199·50

  7·5

  134·40

  11·2

  141·60

  10·6

  July 1986

  15·15

  20·68

  210·90

  7·2

  143·80

  10·5

  151·20

  10·0

  April 1987

  15·30

  20·00

  224·00

  6·8

  155·90

  9·8

  163·00

  9·4

  April 1988

  15·65

  19·69

  245·80

  6·4

  174·80

  9·0

  182·00

  8·6

  April 1989

  16·20

  18·86

  269·50

  6·0

  191·30

  8·5

  198·90

  8·1

  April 1990

  16·90

  17·98

  295·60

  5·7

  212·80

  7·9

  221·10

  7·6

  April 1991

  117·95

  17·95

  318·90

  5·6

  230·00

  7·8

  238·30

  7·5

  1 Where the new higher rate of child benefit for the eldest qualifying child applied, the child dependency increase was adjusted so that the total level of support remained the same for all children.

  War widows

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  Uprating date

  Rate of child benefit plus child dependency increase

  Equivalent value of column B amounts at April 1991 prices

  Gross male weekly average earnings, with amounts in column B as percentage

  Equivalent weekly earnings net of income tax and national insurance contributions, with amounts in column B as percentage

  Single person

  Married couple

  (£)

  (£)

  (£)

  (per cent.)

  (£)

  (per cent.)

  (£)

  (per cent.)

  November 1979

  14·00

  30·93

  114·10

  12·3

  79·90

  17·5

  83·60

  16·7

  November 1980

  15·35

  29·41

  135·10

  11·4

  93·40

  16·4

  97·80

  15·7

  November 1981

  16·10

  27·55

  149·50

  10·8

  101·00

  15·9

  105·40

  15·3

  November 1982

  17·10

  27·53

  160·60

  10·6

  107·40

  15·9

  112·50

  15·2

  November 1983

  17·45

  26·80

  172·40

  10·1

  115·50

  15·1

  121·30

  14·4

  November 1984

  17·90

  26·20

  187·40

  9·6

  125·90

  14·2

  132·50

  13·5

  November 1985

  18·55

  25·74

  199·50

  9·3

  134·40

  13·8

  141·60

  13·1

  July 1986

  18·65

  25·46

  210·90

  8·8

  143·80

  13·0

  151·20

  12·3

  April 1987

  18·85

  24·65

  224·00

  8·4

  155·90

  12·1

  163·00

  11·6

  April 1988

  19·25

  24·22

  245·80

  7·8

  174·80

  11·0

  182·00

  10·6

  April 1989

  19·85

  23·11

  269·50

  7·4

  191·30

  10·4

  198·90

  10·0

  April 1990

  20·65

  21·97

  295·60

  7·0

  212·80

  9·7

  221·10

  9·3

  April 1991

  121·90

  21·90

  318·90

  6·9

  230·00

  9·5

  238·30

  9·2

  44

  Annual amount of mortgage interest not included in assessments due to the restriction to 50 per cent.

  Year

  £ millions

  1988

  33

  1989

  34

  1990

  71

  Notes:

  1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest million.

  2. Annual amount for each year has been derived by multiplying the average weekly figure for a week in May by 52.

  3. The figures do not take account of changes in interest rates and case loads, among other variables, during the year.

  Benefits Statistics
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will reissue the table published in the Official Report of 13 February 1992, columns 607, showing the combined value of child benefit and child dependency increases for widows and invalidity pensioners, with amended headings showing the meaning of each column of figures; and whether he will publish a similar table showing the combined value of child benefit and war widows' children's allowances.

  Mr. Burt
  The tables are as follows:
  45
  1 Where the new higher rate of child benefit for the eldest qualifying child applied, the war widow's child's allowance was adjusted so the total level of support remained the same for all children.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion and how many supplementary benefit income support claims from couples are made by women each year.

  Mr. Burt
  There is no information on the proportion of claims from couples made by women.

  Of those actually receiving income support, there are about 35,000 couples in which the woman is the claimant. This is approximately 5 per cent. of the total.

  Source: Income Support Annual Statistical Enquiry May 1990.

  Young People
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many 16 and 17-year-olds who failed to gain a place on a YTS scheme(a) applied for additional benefits and severe hardship payments and (b) what percentage were successful in such applications in (i) 1988, (ii) 1989, (iii) 1990 and (iv) 1991.

  Mr. Burt
  The Government guarantee the offer of a place on youth training (YT) to all 16 and 17-year-olds who seek one. The safety net of income support caters for those who are at risk of severe hardship whilst seeking an initial YT place or for those between YT places.

  No information is available with regard to 16 and 17-year-olds seeking a YT place who claim benefits other than income support. Information about the number of people claiming income support under the severe hardship provision was not kept before 1990. The number of people claiming in 1990 was 14,106 and in 1991 was 25,541. Of these 61 per cent. and 71 per cent. respectively were successful.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has received a copy of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux report entitled "Severe Hardship CAB Evidence on Young People and Benefits"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  We have received the report and are studying the recommendations closely.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what response he has made to the recommendations of the Social Security Advisory Committee regarding benefits for young people.

  Mr. Burt
  We have received the report from the committee and are studying closely the recommendations that they have made on young people and other matters.

  Percentage of Community Care Grants awarded to client groups

  Client group

  National 1989–90

  Leeds West 1989–90

  National 1990–91

  Leeds West 1990–91

  Over 80 with higher pensioner premium

  5·4

  2·5

  5·5

  3·9

  60–79, disabled, higher pensioner premium

  5·1

  2·0

  7·0

  3·7

  60–79, ordinary pensioner premium or over 60 without pensioner premium

  15·1

  7·4

  14·4

  8·6

  Lone parent with disability premium

  0·1

  0·5

  1·0

  0·2

  Family with disability premium

  3·3

  2·3

  3·8

  2·7

  >Others with disability premium

  2·6

  7·6

  13·0

  8·1

  Lone parent without disability premium

  25·4

  35·3

  25·9

  45·5

  Unemployed, signing quarterly with family premium

  0·4

  0·0

  0·3

  0·0

  Unemployed, signing quarterly without family premium

  1·1

  1·0

  0·7

  0·5

  Unemployed or with training allowance with family premium

  8·5

  6·6

  8·1

  5·2

  Unemployed or with training allowance without family premium

  12·8

  23·6

  11·8

  16·2

  Others with family premium

  2·1

  1·8

  2·2

  1·7

  Others without family premium

  5·9

  6·4

  5·6

  3·2

  46
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will restore the full rate of income support for young people under 25 years living away from home.

  Mr. Burt
  We have no plans to change the existing legislation.

  Maxwell Pension Schemes
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will use discretionary powers given under the Social Security Act 1990, to ensure that the debt owed to the Maxwell pension schemes is treated as a preferential debt for the purposes of the Insolvency Act 1986.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Schedule 4 to the Social Security Act 1990 introduced the employer debt provision for occupational pension schemes. There is no discretionary power to treat the debt as preferential for the purposes of the Insolvency Act 1986.

  Occupational Pensions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the level of occupational pension above which unemployment benefit is reduced was last increased; what would be the present limit if it had been increased in line with average earnings; and what is his policy regarding future increases in the limit.

  Mr. Burt
  The £35 per week limit was introduced in April 1981 and has remained at that level. If it had been increased in line with average earnings the present limit would be £84 per week. Increasing the limit would not represent the best use of resources for those who have a measure of support through an occupational or personal pension and we have no plans to do so.

  Loans and Grants
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the percentages of(a) budgeting loans and (b) community care grants which were awarded to each of the 15 client groups defined by his Department for (i) the Leeds, West area and (ii) nationally, for the financial years 1989–90 and 1990–91.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is as follows:
  47

  Client group

  National 1989–90

  Leeds West 1989–90

  National 1990–91

  Leeds West 1990–91

  No income support in payment, involved in a trade dispute

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  Not in receipt of income support

  1·0

  2·5

  0·4

  0·5

  Note: Due to rounding the sum of the percentages in the above tables may not add up to 100.

  Percentage of budgeting loans awarded to client groups

  Client group

  National 1989–90

  Leeds West 1989–90

  National 1990–91

  Leeds West 1990–91

  Over 80 with higher pensioner premium

  0·4

  0·8

  0·1

  0·1

  60–79, disabled, higher pensioner premium

  0·6

  1·1

  0·8

  1·5

  60–79, ordinary pensioner premium or over 60 without pensioner premium

  3·5

  5·4

  3·4

  4·8

  Lone parent with disability premium

  0·4

  0·4

  0·5

  0·2

  Family with disability premium

  1·6

  1·3

  1·8

  1·5

  Others with disability premium

  4·2

  4·8

  4·5

  5·1

  Lone parent without disability premium

  48·6

  49·9

  51·0

  51·7

  Unemployed, signing quarterly with family premium

  0·4

  0·5

  0·3

  0·5

  Unemployed, signing quarterly without family premium

  1·8

  1·8

  1·3

  1·7

  Unemployed or with training allowance with family premium

  15·7

  14·4

  14·6

  15·3

  Unemployed or with training allowance without family premium

  18·4

  16·0

  17·6

  13·9

  Others with family premium

  1·1

  1·6

  1·2

  1·1

  Others without family premium

  3·0

  2·0

  2·6

  2·6

  No income support in payment, involved in a trade dispute.

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  Not in receipt of income support

  0·2

  0·1

  0·1

  0·0

  Note:

  Due to rounding the sum of the percentages in the above tables may not add up to 100.

  Statutory Sick Pay
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what rate of statutory sick pay was payable to a person previously earning(a) half average earnings, (b)

  Date

  Average earnings1

  Statutory sick pay2payable on average earnings of

  Statutory sick pay as a percentage of earnings of

  (a) 50 per cent.

  (b) 100 per cent.

  (c)150 per cent.

  (a) 50 per cent.

  (b)100 per cent.

  (c)150 per cent.

  April 1983

  £147·40

  £40·25

  £40·25

  £40·25

  54·6

  27·3

  18·2

  April 1984

  £159·30

  £42·25

  £42·25

  £42·25

  53·0

  26·5

  17·7

  April 1985

  £171·00

  £44·35

  £44·35

  £44·35

  51·9

  25·9

  17·3

  April 1986

  £184·70

  £46·75

  £46·75

  £46·75

  50·6

  25·3

  16·9

  April 1987

  £198·90

  £47·20

  £47·20

  £47·20

  47·5

  23·7

  15·8

  April 1988

  £218·40

  £49·20

  £49·20

  £49·20

  45·1

  22·5

  15·0

  April 1989

  £239·70

  £52·10

  £52·10

  £52·10

  43·5

  21·7

  14·5

  April 1990

  £263·10

  £52·50

  £52·50

  £52·50

  39·9

  20·0

  13·3

  April 1991

  £284·70

  £43·50

  £52·50

  £52·50

  30·6

  18·4

  12·3

  Note:

  1 Earnings shown are the average for all full-time adult employees. Figures for average earnings from April 1992 are not yet available.

  2 The majority of SSP recipients get occupational sick pay in addition to SSP when they are sick. In many cases this brings the total payment received up to full pay.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he is intending to bring forward amending regulations in light of the Social Security Advisory Committee's report on "The Social Fund and New Structure"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  In considering the conclusions and recommendations of this report, we shall also wish to take into account the findings of the university of York social policy research unit's report which we commissioned at the start of the social fund. We have now received that report and it will be published in due course.
  48
  average earnings and (c) one and a half times average earnings, in cash terms and as a percentage of their earnings, in each year since statutory sick pay commenced.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is as follows:

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what advice has been issued to area social fund officers in the past year to assist them in drafting their guidance to other social fund officers.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to my letter of 10 March 1992 to him, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

  EC Pension Age
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the state pension age for men and women in each EC country.
  49
  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is as follows:

  Country

  Men

  Women

  Belgium1

  FPA

  60–65

  Denmark

  67

  67

  France

  60

  60

  Germany2

  63

  60

  Greece

  65

  60

  Republic of Ireland3

  65/66

  65/66

  Italy

  60

  55

  Luxembourg

  65

  65

  Netherlands

  65

  65

  Portugal

  65

  62

  Spain

  65

  65

  United Kingdom

  65

  60

  Notes:

  FPA—Flexible pension age.

  1 Different contribution conditions apply to men and women.

  2 State pension age is 65, but because of early retirement provisions the effective ages are 63 for men and 60 for women. Pension ages will be raised gradually from 2001 until fully equalised at 65 by 2012.

  3 Retirement pension 65, old age pension 66.

  Rent Subsidy
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the implications for the family budget of the families eligible for income support of the cuts in subsidy to rents introduced on 6 April.

  Mr. Burt
  We are not aware of any significant changes being introduced from 6 April this year in the subsidy paid to local authorities towards housing benefit expenditure.

DEFENCE

  Royal Naval Spare Parts Distribution Centre, Eaglescliffe
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what specific information has come to light since assurances about the future of royal naval spare parts distribution centre, Eaglescliffe were given to the hon. Member for Stockton, South in early 1991 that jobs on the site were safe;

  (2) if he will make a statement about the future of RNSPD at Eaglescliffe;

  (3) what studies have been commissioned about the future of RNSPD Eaglescliffe; and what factors have been set for consideration by (a) Ministers and (b) officials.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Ministry of Defence is conducting a comprehensive examination of its support activities in order to match reductions in the front line. As part of the examination, we are considering whether a more cost-effective operation could be achieved by the introduction of market testing at certain establishments, including RNSPD Eaglescliffe. We are also examining the possible transfer of some headquarters staff at Eaglescliffe to the Bath area, in accordance with our plans to establish a naval support command, but no decision has yet been taken. I have written to my hon. Friend with details of the work in hand.

  HMS Vanguard
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of the naming ceremony for the Trident nuclear submarine HMS Vanguard in Barrow on 30 April.

  Mr. Aitken
  The full cost of the naming ceremony for HMS Vanguard is a matter for the shipbuilder, Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd. In accordance with the established practice, the Ministry of Defence made a contribution towards the April 30 ceremony's cost. This will not exceed £45,000.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has had any discussions with his French counterpart over the use in emergencies of the channel tunnel to transport missiles, missile launchers or other military equipment.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend has had no such discussions. Officials of my Department meet biannually with their French counterparts, however, to discuss arrangements for resupply and reinforcement in times of crisis, including the possible use of the channel tunnel.

  Komsomolet Submarine
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to have urgent discussions with his Norwegian and Russian counterparts over methods safely to remove the nuclear materials from the Komsomolet nuclear submarine of the former Soviet navy that sank off Norway in 1989.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The recovery of nuclear materials from the Russian submarine Komsomolet is a matter for the Russian Government. We would be willing to consider requests for advice from the Russian and Norwegian Governments concerning the future of the submarine.

  Radioactive Waste, Wales
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sites in Wales contain radioactive wastes arising from(a) the production cycle for nuclear warheads and (b) the operation of nuclear-powered submarines.

  Mr. Aitken
  Small amounts of low-level radioactive waste are stored temporarily at the atomic weapons establishment, Cardiff. No sites in Wales hold waste from the operation of nuclear powered submarines.

  HMS Turbulent
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the cause, effect and cost of the fire on the Trafalgar class nuclear submarine HMS Turbulent in Devonport dockyard on 30 April; and whether there are any implications arising from the fire for the future designation of Z-berths for nuclear-powered submarines.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The fire occurred in the electrical switchboard of HMS Turbulent. The precise cause, the full extent of the damage and the costs of repair are still being
  51
  assessed. Twenty-four personnel were treated for the effects of smoke inhalation. There were no other casualties. The fire posed no threat to the submarine's nuclear reactor. There are no implications for the future designation of Z-berths.

  Nuclear Submarines (Health Risks)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the radiological risks posed to people living in Scotland by the presence of nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed submarines on the Clyde and Forth estuaries.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  All Royal Navy nuclear powered submarines are operated to stringent safety criteria. As is 52
  made clear in the latest issue of "Marine Environment Radioactivity Surveys at Nuclear Submarine Berths in the UK", published by HMSO and covering the surveys undertaken in 1990—a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library—there has been no radiological hazard to any member of the general public from the operation of nuclear-powered submarines.

  It has of course been the policy of successive Governments neither to confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons at specific locations or times. I can, however, state that there has never been an accident involving a United Kingdom nuclear weapon that has resulted in any radiological hazard to the public.

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