Written Answers of 15 May 1992

LORD CHANCELLOR

  Court Interpreters
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Department what cost implications the steering group of the major agencies of the legal system has identified in respect of the establishment of courses and training for court interpreters; and what the cost would be of implementing a system of qualifications.

  Financial Year

  Provision + Supplementary £million1

  Outturn £million

  Percentage increase legal aid

  Percentage increase GDP

  Increase above GDP percentage increase

  Number of bills paid2

  1979–80

  101·31 +

  —

  99·35

  —

  —

  —

  971,684

  1980–81

  127·81 +

  5·53

  138·89

  39·8

  14·00

  25·8

  1,088,945

  1981–82

  190·43 +

  —

  170·26

  22·6

  9·71

  12·8

  1,269,685

  1982–83

  222·96 +

  20·00

  215·45

  26·5

  9·50

  17·0

  1,400,772

  1983–84

  244·00 +

  —

  237·22

  10·1

  8·40

  1·7

  1,538,113

  1984–85

  276·40 +

  —

  273·99

  15·5

  7·10

  8·4

  1,705,598

  1985–86

  301·02 +

  25·9

  319·46

  16·6

  9·50

  7·1

  1,964,267

  1986–87

  357·19 +

  23·00

  362·94

  13·6

  7·60

  6·0

  2,225,599

  1987–88

  442·31 +

  —

  433·65

  19·5

  10·70

  8·8

  2,504,194

  1988–89

  488·48 +

  —

  478·49

  10·3

  11·20

  -0·9

  2,460,384

  1989–90

  54602 +

  12·46

  568·83

  18·9

  8·40

  10·4

  2,665,113

  1990–91

  608·27 +

  90·96

  683·81

  20·2

  6·40

  13·8

  2,725,902

  1 Exclusive of administration costs.

  2 The Legal Aid Board does not record its information in the form of the number of people who have received legal aid in any given year. More than one individual can be assisted by a single certificate and it is also possible for an individual to have received separate acts of assistance from the Legal Aid Board on separate issues in a given year. What is recorded is the number of acts of assistance. The number of bills paid correlates to the number of acts of assistance.

PRIME MINISTER

  Department of Health
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will consider ren aming the Department of Health in order more clearly to identify its responsibility for the personal social services.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Dalai Lama
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will invite the Dalai Lama to visit the United Kingdom.

  The Prime Minister
  I have no plans to do so but the Dalai Lama is welcome to visit the United Kingdom at any time. I met him during his last visit in December last year.
  210
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  A steering group of the main agencies of the legal system has been convened by the Nuffield Foundation to promote the use of trained interpreters by the police, the courts and other legal services. The steering group has met four times since January 1991. It will start to address questions of cost at its next meeting on 21 May and will primarily be concerned with the cost to the legal system of using qualified interpreters and the setting up of training courses.

  Legal Aid
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Department what was the legal aid(a) budget and (b) outturn in each year from 1979 to 1991; what was the percentage increase in each year after allowing for inflation; and what number of people received legal aid in each year.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The information required is detailed in the table:

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Electoral Registration
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the public opinion survey carried out by his Department, entitled "Post Campaign Research for Electoral Registration Advertising".

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A copy of a report into the effectiveness of the 1991 advertising campaign on electoral registration entitled "Home Office Electoral Registration Campaign: Campaign Monitor Summary Report" was placed in the Library in January this year.

  Dogs
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he was first requested to confirm the byelaw approved by South Hams district council, based on the Home Office model, excluding all dogs from certain beaches along the coastline of south Devon during the summer months; and if he will make it his policy to approve it immediately.
  211
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  On 19 July 1991, South Hams district council applied to the Home Office for confirmation of byelaws to regulate dogs on various beaches. A number of objections to the byelaws had been sent to the Home Office and the council was asked to comment on these in August and December 1991.

  After considering the objections, and the council's observations, my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary confirmed the byelaws on 11 May 1992 and the consent of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, which is also required for seashore byelaws, was granted on 12 May.

  The byelaws, which were returned to the council by the Department of Transport on 12 May, will come into force on 19 May 1992.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Hotels
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish details of the rateable valuation of each hotel in each parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Mates
  The information is not available in the format requested. I have, however, written to the hon. Gentleman and placed a copy of my response in the Library.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. Mates
  At 31 March 1992, the Northern Ireland Office had 103 London-based staff, all of whom had been invited to take part in an ethnic monitoring survey. Of those who responded, 14 per cent. described themselves as belonging to an ethnic minority. None of these were in grades 1 to 7. The Northern Ireland civil service is not required to monitor the ethnic origin of its staff and the information is not therefore available.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Northern Ireland Departments last conducted a survey of the ethnic origin of their employees; when they next plan to do so; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mates
  In June 1988, the home civil service completed a four-year programme of ethnic origin surveys covering all staff then in post. The Northern Ireland Office has continued to monitor staff who join the home civil service group in the Department and to update its records. The Northern Ireland Office is an equal opportunity employer and this is emphasised in all recruiting campaigns and advertising. The Northern Ireland civil service is not required to monitor the ethnic origin of staff, nor has it current plans to do so.

  Coastal Protection
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any plans to tighten the laws preventing the exploitation of the natural assets and wildlife of the seashore by private extraction companies.
  212
  Mr. Atkins
  There are no plans at present to amend the current legislation.

  Handicapped Children
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many specialist teachers of visually impaired children, who are not attending special schools, are employed on a part-time basis in each of the education and library board areas; and what is their full-time equivalence;

  (2) how many specialist teachers of hearing impaired children, who are not attending special schools, are employed on a part-time basis in each of the education and library board areas; and what is their full-time equivalence;

  (3) how many specialist teachers of visually impaired children, who are not attending special schools, are employed on a full-time basis in each of the education and library board areas;

  (4) how many specialist teachers of hearing impaired children, who are not attending special schools, are employed on a full-time basis in each of the education and library board areas;

  (5) how many specialist teachers of (a) visually impaired and (b) hearing impaired children, who are not attending special schools, are employed directly by the Department of Education for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Hanley
  No specialist teachers of visually impaired children are employed on a full-time or part-time basis in any of the education and library board areas. A support service for all such children is provided by Jordanstown special school.

  A number of full-time and part-time specialist teachers of hearing impaired children are employed in special units attached to mainstream schools as follows:

  Board

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time equivalency

  Belfast

  7

  2

  0·8

  Western

  6

  1

  0·6

  North Eastern

  5

  —

  —

  South Eastern

  7

  2

  1·0

  Southern

  5

  —

  —

  In addition, the education and library boards operate a peripatetic teaching service and four teachers in each board currently offer support to pupils with hearing problems and their teachers in special mainstream schools.

  The Department of Education itself does not employ any teachers.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how often, on average(a) a visually impaired and (b) a hearing impaired child, who is not attending a special school, will be visited by a specialist teacher each year; and what is the average duration of each visit.

  Mr. Hanley
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children, not attending a special school, are registered as(a) visually impaired and (b) hearing impaired in each of the education and library board areas.

  Mr. Hanley
  The latest available information relates to the 1990–91 school year, and is as follows:
  213

  Area board

  Visually impaired

  Hearing impaired

  Belfast

  4

  69

  Western

  29

  63

  North Eastern

  17

  36

  South Eastern

  13

  64

  Southern

  18

  50

  TOTAL

  81

  282

HEALTH

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the position of hospital trusts in the national health service.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  NHS trust status is the management model of choice for the provision of health care within the national health service. The first 57 NHS trusts have shown that they are better able to respond to patients needs through the great freedoms and flexibility that NHS trust status affords. Ninety-nine hospitals and other units became operational as NHS trusts from 1 April 1992 and we look to them and to those coming forward in subsequent waves to continue the tradition.

  Becton and Dickinson Pens
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessments she has made of the cost of providing needles for BD pens on prescriptions;

  (2) whether needles for BD pens will be available on prescription; and if she will make a statement;

  (3) what representations she has received on the question of providing needles for BD pens on prescription; what was the content of those representations; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We have received a small number of representations on this issue. Decisions about additions to the list of items which GPs may prescribe must be subject to the availability of resources and other competing priorities. In the case of insulin injection pens, and their special needles, negotiations about the price are continuing with manufacturers. From the information currently available, the cost of these pens and their needles would exceed the current cost of disposable needles.

  Respite Care
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will conduct a study of the general health of those carers whose dependants are in receipt of respite care.

  Mr. Yeo
  In 1985, the general household survey included a series of questions for people looking after a sick, handicapped or elderly person, so as to provide as full a picture as possible of informal carers. Information was collected about the health of carers and about time off from caring. In 1990, questions about informal carers were again included in the general household survey, and the results will be published in due course.

  In addition, the Department is currently funding a three-year study at the National Institute for Social Work to investigate the effectiveness of respite services for the
  214
  carers of confused elderly people. One component of the study, which is due to report later this year, is the impact of respite services on the health of carers.

  Tobacco Advertising
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to publish the report of the Department's chief economic adviser on the impact of banning tobacco advertising on consumption and prevalence; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The contents of the Department's study on the effects of tobacco advertising will be made available in an appropriate form when it has been completed.

  Intensive Coronary Care Beds
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 12 May,Official Report, column 483, how many male intensive coronary care beds there are in Calderdale health authority; and what is the comparable provision in other health authorities.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In the year ending March 1991 there were four beds designated specifically for intensive care services in Calderdale health authority. Those beds are available for the urgent treatment of male and female patients. Provisional figures of available beds in intensive care wards in Calderdale and other authorities are given in the table.

  Number of available beds in intensive care wards by district 1990–91. (Provisional)

  Number

  ENGLAND

  2,484

  Northern RHA

  202

  A01

  Hartlepool

  7

  A02

  North Tees

  13

  AO3

  South Tees

  21

  A04

  East Cumbria

  10

  AO5

  South Cumbria

  5

  A06

  West Cumbria

  4

  AO7

  Darlington

  9

  AO8

  "right">Durham

  8

  AO9

  North West Durham

  8

  A1O

  South West Durham

  8

  All

  Northumberland

  6

  A12

  Gateshead

  2

  A13

  Newcastle

  79

  A14

  North Tyneside

  4

  A15

  South Tyneside

  6

  A16

  Sunderland

  11

  Yorkshire RHA

  151

  B12

  Hull

  8

  B13

  East Yorkshire

  7

  B14

  Grimsby

  10

  B15

  Scunthorpe

  0

  B22

  Northallerton

  4

  B23

  York

  14

  B24

  Scarborough

  8

  B25

  Harrogate

  6

  B32

  Bradford

  5

  B33

  Airedale

  10

  B42

  Calderdale

  4

  B52

  Huddersfield

  15

  B53

  Dewsbury

  8

  B62

  Leeds Western

  16

  B63

  Leeds Eastern

  19

  B72

  Wakefield

  7

  B73

  Pontefract

  10

  215

  Number

  Trent RHA

  262

  C01

  North Derbyshire

  2

  C02

  South Derbyshire

  21

  CO3

  Leicestershire

  42

  C04

  North Lincolnshire

  6

  CO5

  South Lincolnshire

  11

  C06

  Bassetlaw

  9

  CO7

  Central Nottinghamshire

  6

  C08

  Nottingham

  70

  C09

  Barnsley

  13

  C10

  Doncaster

  24

  C11

  Rotherham

  11

  C12

  Sheffield

  47

  East Anglia RHA

  101

  D01

  Cambridge

  15

  D02

  Peterborough

  15

  D03

  West Suffolk

  14

  D04

  East Suffolk

  5

  D06

  Norwich

  16

  D07

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney

  8

  D08

  West Norfolk and Wisbech

  13

  D09

  Huntingdon

  16

  North West Thames RHA

  138

  E01

  North Bedfordshire

  5

  E02

  South Bedfordshire

  5

  E03

  North Hertfordshire

  3

  E04

  East Hertfordshire

  9

  E05

  North West Hertfordshire

  11

  E06

  South West Hertfordshire

  5

  E07

  Barnet

  20

  E08

  Harrow

  12

  E09

  Hillingdon

  17

  E10

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  7

  Ell

  Ealing

  6

  E14

  Riverside

  27

  E17

  Parkside

  10

  North East Thames RHA

  254

  F01

  Basildon and Thurrock

  7

  F02

  Mid Essex

  13

  F03

  North East Essex

  6

  F04

  West Essex

  2

  F05

  Southend

  66

  F06

  Barking, Havering and Brentwood

  5

  F07

  Hampstead

  18

  F08

  Bloomsbury

  66

  F09

  Islington

  4

  F10

  City and Hackney

  16

  F11

  Newham

  12

  F12

  Tower Hamlets

  17

  F13

  Enfield

  4

  F14

  Haringey

  10

  F15

  Redbridge

  2

  F16

  Waltham Forest

  7

  South East Thames RHA

  159

  GO1

  Brighton

  12

  GO2

  Eastbourne

  2

  GO3

  Hastings

  4

  GO4

  South East Kent

  8

  GO5

  Canterbury and Thanet

  15

  GO6

  Dartford and Gravesham

  3

  GO7

  Maidstone

  4

  GO8

  Medway

  6

  GO9

  Tunbridge Wells

  10

  G10

  Bexley

  5

  G11

  Greenwich

  24

  G12

  Bromley

  20

  G13

  West Lambeth

  12

  G14

  Camberwell

  18

  G15

  Lewisham and North Southwark

  15

  South West Thames RHA

  155

  HO1

  North West Surrey

  23

  HO2

  W. Surrey and North East Hants

  7

  HO3

  South West Surrey

  6

  216

  Number

  HO4

  Mid Surrey

  14

  HO5

  East Surrey

  7

  HO6

  Chichester

  5

  HO7

  Mid Downs

  17

  HO8

  Worthing

  20

  HO9

  Croydon

  10

  H10

  Kingston and Esher

  6

  H11

  Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton

  8

  H12

  Wandsworth

  29

  H13

  Merton and Sutton

  6

  Wessex RHA

  174

  J11

  East Dorset

  22

  J12

  West Dorset

  4

  J21

  Portsmouth and South East Hants

  22

  J22

  South West Hampshire and Southampton

  71

  J23

  Winchester

  4

  J24

  Basingstoke

  12

  J31

  Salisbury

  8

  J32

  Swindon

  12

  J33

  Bath

  11

  J41

  Isle of Wight

  8

  Oxford RHA

  91

  K11

  East Berkshire

  3

  K12

  West Berkshire

  21

  K21

  Aylesbury Vale

  4

  K22

  Wycombe

  4

  K23

  Milton Keynes

  4

  K31

  Kettering

  7

  K32

  Northampton

  13

  K41

  Oxfordshire

  35

  South Western RHA

  138

  L11

  Bristol and Weston

  19

  L12

  Frenchay

  8

  L13

  Southmead

  9

  L21

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  18

  L31

  Exeter

  21

  L32

  North Devon

  6

  L33

  Plymouth

  16

  L34

  Torbay

  10

  L41

  Cheltenham

  3

  L42

  Gloucester

  9

  L51

  Somerset

  19

  West Midlands RHA

  259

  M01

  Bromsgrove and Redditch

  7

  M02

  Herefordshire

  6

  M03

  Kidderminster and district

  6

  M04

  Worcester and district

  12

  M05

  Shropshire

  21

  M06

  Mid Staffordshire

  10

  M07

  North Staffordshire

  16

  M08

  South East Staffordshire

  12

  M09

  Rugby

  0

  M10

  North Warwickshire

  9

  M11

  South Warwickshire

  6

  M12

  Central Birmingham

  8

  M13

  East Birmingham

  7

  M14

  North Birmingham

  18

  M15

  South Birmingham

  10

  M16

  West Birmingham

  11

  M17

  Coventry

  22

  M18

  Dudley

  22

  M19

  Sandwell

  31

  M20

  Solihull

  1

  M21

  Walsall

  8

  M22

  Wolverhampton

  16

  Mersey RHA

  118

  N11

  Chester

  14

  N12

  Crewe

  5

  N13

  Halton

  4

  N14

  Macclesfield

  3

  N15

  Warrington

  4

  N21

  Liverpool

  51

  N31

  St. Helen's and Knowsley

  8

  217

  Number

  N41

  Southport and Formby

  7

  N42

  South Sefton

  20

  N51

  Wirral

  2

  North Western RHA

  234

  P01

  Lancaster

  10

  P02

  Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde

  15

  P03

  Preston

  18

  P04

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble

  7

  P05

  Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

  11

  P06

  West Lancashire

  3

  P07

  Chorley and South Ribble

  0

  P08

  Bolton

  11

  P09

  Bury

  8

  P10

  North Manchester

  14

  P11

  Central Manchester

  19

  P12

  South Manchester

  32

  P13

  Oldham

  10

  P14

  Rochdale

  11

  P15

  Salford

  28

  P16

  Stockport

  10

  P17

  Tameside and Glossop

  5

  P18

  Trafford

  8

  P19

  Wigan

  12

  Special Health Authorities

  48

  T01

  The Hospital for Sick Children

  0

  T02

  National Hospital Nervous Diseases

  2

  T03

  Moorfields Eye Hospital

  0

  T04

  Bethlem Royal Hospital

  0

  T05

  National Heart and Lung Hospitals SHA

  37

  T06

  The Royal Marsden Hospital

  0

  T07

  Hammersmith, Queen Charlotte

  9

  T09

  The Eastman Dental Hospital

  0

  Source. DH Form KH30, SD(Fylde) 14/05/92.

  Care Homes
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her latest estimate of the average weekly cost of a residential care place in local authority care homes.

  Mr. Yeo
  The latest available figures are those published by the Chartered Institute for Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). Its estimates for 1991–92 suggest an average gross cost per place filled, excluding capital charges, for local authority residential care provision for elderly people of £190 a week.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals she has to abolish the division between residential and nursing homes.

  Mr. Yeo
  None. Generally speaking, residential care homes and nursing homes cater for people with different needs. This is reflected in the different services and facilities which they offer.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her latest estimate of the number of residential places for the elderly in local authority care homes.

  Mr. Yeo
  At 31 March 1991, the latest date for which information is available centrally, there were 96,100 places in local authority residential care homes in England whose primary function was stated to be caring for the elderly.

  South Essex Health Consortium
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she has approved the setting up of the South Essex Health Consortium; what is its function; and what statutory base it has.
  218
  Dr. Mawhinney
  The South Essex Health Consortium is a non-statutory body formed to co-ordinate the purchasing of health care services on behalf of Southend, Basildon and Thurrock, Brentwood and part of Barking, Havering and Brentwood district health authorities and the southern part of Essex family health services authority. It did not require the approval of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to be established.

  Residential Care
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to receive the conclusions of the Howe inquiry into residential care; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The report of Lady Howe's inquiry will be made to the local government interests which commissioned it. We will be glad to consider any recommendations relevant to our responsibilities once the report is published, which I believe may he early in June.

  Personal Social Services
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the adequacy of funding of local authority personal social services in the current financial year in terms of the ability of individual social services departments to undertake their statutory responsibilities.

  Mr. Yeo
  Personal social services (PSS) standard spending for 1992–93 has been set at £4,850 million, an increase of 7·7 per cent. (3·1 per cent. in real terms) over 1991–92 standard spending, and 6 per cent. higher than 1991–92 budgets. The settlement provides a realistic increase in resources for PSS taking account of falling inflation, and allows for the first full-year costs of implementing the Children Act 1989, phase 2 of community care, new and increased specific grants, inflation and demography. PSS expenditure has increased by nearly 60 per cent. in real terms since 1978–79.

WALES

  Communications (Eire)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will be meeting the Irish Transport Minister to discuss improving road and rail communications between Eire and the rest of Europe, particularly between St. Cleers and Pembroke Dock and Fishguard ferry ports.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.

  Seashore (Preservation)
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to tighten the laws preventing the exploitation of the natural assets and wildlife of the seashore by private extraction companies.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  There are no plans at present to amend current legislation.

  Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to designate any further areas of outstanding natural beauty in Wales.
  219
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The responsibility for designating areas of outstanding natural beauty rests with the Countryside Council for Wales, although such designations require confirmation by my right hon. Friend before they take effect. There are no proposals currently before my right hon. Friend.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency concerning the level of senior management staff turnover at the agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  None.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency concerning(a) the resignation of Mr. Tony Meredith, the head of the information technology initiative and (b) the future structure and funding of the information technology initiative.

  Mr. David Hunt
  None.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made in conjunction with the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency of the number of information technology-based inward investment projects in the pipeline for Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I regularly discuss a range of matters with the chairman of the agency, including the many prospective inward investment projects.

  Polychlorinated Biphenyls (Pontypool)
  Mr. Roger Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress is being made with Panteg environmental monitoring study being undertaken by the university of East Anglia into levels of polychlorinated biphenyl contamination in the Pontypool area.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The study which I commissioned in January 1991 continues to make good progress. I published the first interim report last October, and I have now placed copies of the second and latest interim report in the Library of the House. The second report describes the detailed sampling and analysis programme which is now well underway. I expect the study to be completed early in 1993.

  Employees in employment in England*

  Net change since previous quarter—(unadjusted)

  Thousands

  Energy and water supply

  Metal manufacturing and chemicals

  Metal goods, engineering and vehicles

  Other manufacturing

  Division 1

  Division 2

  Division 3

  Division 4

  1989

  March

  -7

  -7

  -10

  -32

  June

  -8

  24

  -20

  1

  September

  -8

  27

  10

  22

  December

  0

  -1

  -8

  -11

  1990

  March

  -4

  -11

  -22

  -32

  June

  -4

  -15

  4

  September

  1

  -1

  11

  5

  December

  1

  -16

  -45

  -30

EMPLOYMENT

  Unemployment Benefit Office, Rawtenstall
  Ms. Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many claimants were suspended from unemployment benefit at the Rawtenstall unemployment benefit office in each year since 1987; and what percentage of claimants this represented each year.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  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.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployed people in Wales were last employed in the construction industry in Wales.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  It is estimated from the labour force survey that in the spring of 1991 there were 23,000 unemployed people—on the internationally agreed International Labour Organisation definition—in Wales whose previous employment, within the past three years, was reported to have been in the construction industry.

  Unemployment Statistics
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list the number of jobs lost in the(a) textile industry, (b) transport and communication, (c) construction, (d) energy and water supplies, (e) other minerals and ore extraction, (f) metal goods, engineering and vehicles, (g) other manufacturing and (h) banking, finance, insurance etc. since January 1989, by month, (i) in Leeds, West and (ii) in England, giving the most recent figures available.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The latest available estimates of changes in employment by constituency are for the period September 1987 to September 1989 when censuses of employment were taken. Employment estimates for standard regions are not available monthly and are available only at division level of the standard industrial classification 1980 (SIC 80). The available information is as follows:
  221

  Energy and water supply

  Metal manufacturing and chemicals

  Metal goods, engineering and vehicles

  Other manufacturing

  Division 1

  Division 2

  Division 3

  Division 4

  1991

  March

  -3

  -25

  -65

  -55

  June

  4

  -9

  -49

  -24

  September

  -4

  0

  -14

  1

  December

  -10

  -7

  -16

  -24

  Construction

  Transport and communication

  Banking insurance and finance

  Division 5

  Division 7

  Division 8

  1989

  March

  10

  3

  38

  June

  15

  21

  20

  September

  3

  12

  49

  December

  -6

  4

  11

  1990

  March

  -6

  0

  20

  June

  -5

  0

  16

  September

  -7

  9

  -1

  December

  -21

  -11

  -38

  1991

  March

  -35

  -20

  -20

  June

  -24

  -8

  -25

  September

  -24

  -5

  -6

  December

  -26

  0

  -46

  1 England comprises the standard regions of Great Britain excluding Wales and Scotland.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many training and enterprise councils give(a) £30 per week, (b) less than £30 per week and (c) over £30 per week under the enterprise allowance scheme.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  It is not possible to provide information in the form required, except at disproportionate cost.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Aid
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what specific financial assistance is currently being granted by the Government to developing countries to help reduce pollution and environmental damage; and, of this amount, how much is ear-marked for(a) clean water and sanitation projects, (b) pollution reduction technologies and (c) improved protection for forests and natural habitats.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We examine environmental issues in all projects financed under the aid programme. Separate figures are not maintained for assistance given to reduce pollution and environmental damage. The most recent information available shows that in 1989 £36·8 million was provided in bilateral assistance for water and sanitation projects. In the forestry sector, there are currently 202 projects either under way or in preparation at the total cost to the aid programme of £158 million. My right hon. and 222
  noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development will be writing separately to the hon. Member on the subject of pollution reduction technologies.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to introduce new funding mechanisms to assist developing countries in dealing with the effects of climate changes.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  No. The internatinal negotiating committee for a framework convention on climate change completed its final session on 9 May 1992 in New York. It has been agreed that the global environment facility, under the auspices of the World bank, United Nations Development Programme and United Nations Environment Programme, will provide assistance to help developing countries fulfil their convention commitments. The United Kingom has pledged £40·3 million to the GEF and we have indicated our willingness to commit new arid additional financial resources to replenish the facility at an appropriate moment if other countries do the same.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes Her Majesty's Government propose to make in resources allocated to overseas aid over the next four years; and what percentage of gross national product this will represent.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Public expenditure provision for overseas aid to developing countries is £1,831 million in 1992–93, £1,899 million in 1993–94 and £1,975 million in 1994–95. The provision for 1995–96 will be considered during the public expenditure survey later this year. The percentage of gross national product that these provisions will represent is dependent upon developments in the United Kingdom economy.

  Debt
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what will be the estimated reduction in debt service payments in 1992 on official bilateral debt, from those countries which have received Trinidad terms compared with actual payments made on official bilateral debt by those countries in 1991.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Prime Minister's 1990 Trinidad terms initiative has so far benefited five of the poorest, most heavily indebted countries. The terms reduce the amount of debt service due over the length of the debtor's current International Monetary Fund programme—usually three years—by around 50 per cent.

  Figures for debt owed by or cancelled for any country are confidential. After a framework agreement is reached at the Paris Club, each creditor negotiates a separate bilateral agreement with the debtor. We would need the consent of the authorities in both debtor and creditor countries before we could provide any figures.
  223
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement outlining the response to the comments made by the World Commission of Environment and Development representatives in London on 24 April on the subject of third world debts; and what action is currently undertaken by his Department to encourage the write-down of third world debts by commercial banks.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Government believe that for those poorest countries whose efforts to achieve economic growth have been hampered by the heaviest debt burdens, debt relief has an important role to play. Five countries have so far benefited from the Prime Minister's Trinidad terms initiative, which the Paris Club began implementing in December. We continue to press for an extension of the terms offered, along the lines of the Prime Minister's original proposals, and for all creditors to participate in debt reduction.

  It is true to say that financial flows to developing countries fell during the 1980s. But the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 1990 survey "Financing and External Debt of Developing Countries", confirmed the recovery in financial flows initiated in 1988–89. Recent experience in Latin America shows that determined adjustment and policy reform efforts in Mexico and Chile, for example—can quickly attract considerable amounts of external private funds and export credits. Provisional OECD figures show that, when all financial flows are considered, developing countries received $46·4 billion more in 1990 than they paid out.

  Arrangements for dealing with commercial bank debt must be a matter for the parties to the loans to negotiate between them, but we continue to urge comparability of treatment between official and commercial debt. The Government fully support decisions to allow the IMF and World bank to provide some of their resources directly in support of commercial bank debt reduction, through the Brady plan and the International Development Association's debt reduction facility. The United Kingdom is financing its share of IMF and World bank resources involved.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Maxwell Pensioners
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the assistance given by his Department to pensioners of the Maxwell group of companies.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Waveney (Mr. Porter) on 12 May at column 95.

  Respite Care
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review the levels of funding for respite care.

  Mr. Burt
  People receiving respite care are entitled to claim the higher income support limit appropriate to those in residential care or nursing homes. These limits are reviewed regularly.

  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are in receipt of respite care.
  224
  Mr. Burt
  This information is not available in the form requested.

  Income support is available to temporary residents in residential care and nursing homes in the same way as for permanent residents and no distinction is made in the collection of data.

  Residential Homes
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total expenditure on income support payments to residents of(a) private nursing homes, (b) private residential homes, (c) voluntary nursing homes and (d) voluntary residential homes during the last financial year.

  Mr. Burt
  Expenditure is available only for all residential care homes and nursing homes.

  £ billion

  Residential care

  0·9

  Nursing homes

  1·0

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants for income support in private or voluntary residential care or nursing homes had claims amended from the higher rate for nursing care to the lower rate for residential care during the previous financial year.

  Mr. Burt
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of (1) the number of claimants of income support payments in(a) private nursing homes, (b) private residential homes, (c) voluntary nursing homes and (d) voluntary residential homes and (2) the proportion of the overall number of residents in each category that this represents.

  Mr. Burt
  Information is available only for all residential care homes and nursing homes.

  It is estimated that 60 to 70 per cent. of residents in residential care and nursing homes are in receipt of income support.

  Number

  Residential care

  149,600

  Nursing homes

  103,600

  Source: November 1991 quarterly statistical inquiry.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants for income support in private or voluntary residential care or nursing homes had amended claims for the higher nursing care provision met during the previous financial year.

  Mr. Burt
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the likely expenditure during the current financial year on income support payments to members of(a) private nursing homes, (b) private residential homes, (c) voluntary nursing homes and (d) voluntary residential homes.

  Mr. Burt
  Estimated expenditure in the current financial year is available only for all residential care homes and nursing homes.
  225

  £ billion

  Residential care

  1·1

  Nursing homes

  1·3

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Retail Prices Index
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any plans to reform the retail prices index to bring it in line with other countries in the exchange rate mechanism; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lamont
  I informed the House on 6 February 1992,Official Report, column 256, that I have reconvened the Retail Prices Index Advisory Committee to consider the treatment of the council tax in the index and other matters. I have asked the committee in forming its recommendations to take account of the practices in other European Community countries. The Central Statistical Office will also be involved in discussions on harmonising consumer price indices with the Statistical Office of the European Community and statistical offices of other member states.

  Sustainable Living
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to relate economic policy to potential environmental carrying capacity.

  Sir John Cope
  A healthy economy is essential if the country is to be able to afford the cost of measures to protect the environment. The Government will continue to pursue policies designed to minimise environmental damage, while ensuring that industry remains internationally competitive.

  Bank of Credit and Commerce International
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Ministers have given evidence to the Bingham inquiry.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 14 May 1992]: The Prime Minister assured the House on 22 July 1991, Official Report, column 759, that all Ministers and officials would co-operate fully with Lord Justice Bingham's inquiry, and we have done so. A number of Ministers have given evidence.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times he has met the governor of the Bank of England since 5 July 1991 to discuss the Bank of Credit and Commerce International; and if he will state the dates of such meetings and what was discussed.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 14 May 1992]: My right hon. Friend meets the Governor of the Bank of England from time to time to discuss a variety of matters.

SCOTLAND

  Rents-to-mortgages Scheme
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) expressions of interest there have been and (b) applications have been received from tenants under
  226
  the Government's rents-to-mortgages scheme in Scotland; and what this figure is as a percentage of the total number of tenants eligible to participate in the scheme.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 13 May 1992]: Over 20,000 expressions of interest and 1,159 applications have been made under the rent-to-mortgage scheme. Those figures represent 5·4 per cent. and 0·3 per cent. respectively of the 370,000 tenants estimated to be eligible for the scheme.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Common Fisheries Policy
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are currently being undertaken by his Department to ensure that the common fisheries policy takes environmental protection fully into account.

  Mr. Curry
  We have already endorsed the view expressed in the Commission's recent report on the common fisheries policy, which is forming the basis of the mid-term review of that policy, that environmental aspects of fisheries should be taken into account. The discussion on future action under the CFP is still in progress.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to press for the amendment of the common fisheries policy to ensure that all decisions taken under the policy take into account the prevention of effects on ecosystems and marine wildlife.

  Mr. Curry
  I agree that the common fisheries policy should take into account effects of fishing on the marine environment and whilst the CFP is primarily based on article 43 of the original treaty of Rome, Fisheries Ministers now must have regard to article 130R of the revised treaty which provides for the consideration of environmental matters.

  Fishing Gear Selectivity
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much is currently spent by his Department on studies concerning fishing gear selectivity; and if he has any plans to announce an increase in funding.

  Mr. Curry
  Fisheries departments currently spend about £1·5 million per year on fishing gear and a significant proportion of this relates to gear selectivity. Most recently, we have implemented measures introducing square mesh panels following such research, and further work on those and other aspects of fishing gear selectivity are in hand. Gear selectivity continues to be a high priority in our research programmes.

TRANSPORT

  London Taxi Fares
  Mr. Bendall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about London taxi fares and fees.

  Mr. Norris
  The Secretary of State has made an order increasing London taxi fares by about 6·1 per cent. on average with effect from Saturday, 30 May 1992. The new tariff will incorporate a minimum fare of £1, including an
  227
  unchanged hire charge of 40p, for the first 873 yards or three minutes. The rate will then be 20p for every 291 yards or 60 seconds up to 6 miles and 20p for each 194 yards or 40 seconds thereafter.

  The Secretary of State has decided that the calculations for any future increases should be based on the average earnings for the whole economy rather than the figure for transport and communication workers in Greater London which was used for the past two years.

  The Secretary of State has also increased the fees for licensing London taxi drivers from £70 to £81 and for vehicles from £65 to £78. The increase will take effect on Monday 15 June 1992.

  Healey Mills Marshalling Yard
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department have had with British Rail concerning the future of the Healey Mills marshalling yard, Wakefield.

  Mr. Freeman
  My Department's regional office in Leeds is discussing with British Rail one of the options for improved connections between the M 1 and M62. This involves part of the land area occupied by Healey Mills marshalling yard. The Department's published consultation document makes it clear that this option will be pursued only if it does not affect railway operations.

  A21
  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give a time scale for further improvements to the A21 trunk road.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  There are six schemes in the national roads programme with an estimated works cost of some £70 million for the improvement of the A21 trunk road. They are at varying stages of preparation. The timetable for each scheme will depend on the progress that can be made with the design, statutory and other procedures and the availability of funds.

  There are also a number of smaller scale works in the regional programme, mostly aimed at improving safety and traffic flow.

  Ml-M62 Link
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will add to the available public information concerning his proposal for an M I -M62 motorway link a detailed assessment of the noise implications.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No. It is too early a stage to carry out a detailed assessment of the noise implications of the M1-M62 link road.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will undertake a full environmental impact assessment of his Ml-M62 motorway link proposals before his announcement of a preferred route.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  An environmental assessment has been undertaken, appropriate to this early stage of option development.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to be in a position to make public an analysis of the opinions expressed during the public consultation process on his proposed M1-M62 motorway link.
  228
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The response to public consultation has been very large so far. It will be some time before a thorough analysis has been completed and I am able to make an announcement.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of his Department's proposals for the junction between the M 1 motorway and the A636 at Calder Grove, Wakefield under the suggested yellow route for the M1-M62 motorway link, with particular reference to whether it is planned to divert the A636.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No. It is too early to confirm such detailed junction arrangements.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what means his Department has estimated the number of properties likely to be demolished as a result of the proposed MI-M62 motorway link.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The estimation of property demolition was that judged to be required for each option, at this preliminary stage.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of changes in levels of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxides and low level ozone during the development of his proposals for an MI-M62 motorway link.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No detailed assessment has been undertaken at this early stage.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the extent and implications of farm severance in the development of his proposals for an Ml-M62 motorway link.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  At this early stage no assessment has been carried out into the effects of farm severance.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions his officials have met representatives of local authorities and parish or community councils to discuss proposals for an M1-M62 motorway link, detailing the public bodies concerned and the dates upon which such meetings have taken place.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I will write to the hon. Member with information about meetings with my officials.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will amend his Department's consultation documents and exhibitions relating to the proposals for a M1-M62 motorway link so as to include information regarding the possibility of alternative methods of improving the transport system, including developing the rail and waterway networks and bus services.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No. The consultation document has been issued in considerable numbers and cannot be amended now. It is considered that alternative methods of improving the transport system would not obviate the need for this link road.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the wider effects on woodland areas in the development of his proposals for an M1-M62 motorway link.
  229
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The areas of woodland directly affected by the proposed options have been assessed. In addition, woodland with ecological interest has been identified.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department's proposed yellow route for the M1-M62 link road includes a flyover above Cliff road, Great Cliffe, Wakefield, or an elevated road necessitating the removal of the current bridge at Great Cliffe, at the point where the southernmost access road would join the M1.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  It is too early to be specific about the connection between the link road and the M1.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration has been given to the increased use of the existing rail network as an alternative to the construction of an M1-M62 motorway link.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Government aim to achieve a balance between the various forms of transport so that each can make its proper contribution. It is considered that increased use of the existing rail network will not alter the need for the road significantly.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those properties within the Wakefield constituency which may be demolished as a result of the construction of an M1-M62 motorway link along(a) the proposed yellow route and (b) the proposed purple route.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  As far as is possible to judge at this early stage, within the Wakefield constituency, the yellow route could require 11 commercial properties and the purple route one residential property.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the implications of contaminated soil movement and dumping during the development of his proposals for an M1-M62 motorway link.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  In developing route options, areas of land known to be contaminated have been identified. Any decision to develop a route across such land would involve a full assessment of all the implications.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects his Department will have completed its assessment of the implications of surface temperature inversion for visibility on sections of the proposed yellow route of the M1-M62 motorway link in the Calder valley.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Detailed consideration of the implications of surface temperature inversion would be given after the decision on whether any of the options should be progressed further.

  New Motorways
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what means environmental impacts are taken into account in his cost-benefit assessment of new motorway proposals.
  230
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Decisions on motorway and other trunk road schemes are based on full assessment of all the relevant effects. Some of the effects, including construction costs, time and accident savings, and changes in vehicle operating costs, are valued in monetary terms. Environmental effects are not give monetary values, but a comprehensive assessment is made, covering noise, visual, ecological, air quality and other relevant effects. The techniques used are described in the Department's "Manual of Environmental Appraisal".

  Transport Spending
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of his Department's spending on transport is allocated in the current financial year to each of the following sectors:(a) highways, (b) railways, (c) water transport and (d) other; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  In 1992–93, the proportions are expected to be about:

  (a) Highways, 45 per cent.

  (b) Public Transport, 49·5 per cent.

  (c) Water (sea) 0·5 per cent.

  (d) Other, 5 per cent.

  Inland water transport is the responsibility of the Department of the Environment and is not included in (c). (d) includes air transport as well as expenditure which cannot be allocated by mode.

  Further details are available in "The Government's Expenditure Plans for Transport, 1992–93 to 1994–95: Department of Transport Report 1992", Command 1907.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to abolish the 1988 deadline under the non-fossil fuel obligation for the development of renewable source energy.

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department is in discussion with the European Commission about the 1998 limitation.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of Her Majesty's Government's target for renewable energy he expects to originate from Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Government are currently working towards a figure of 1,000 MW of new electricity generating plant from renewable energy sources by the year 2000. There is no separate figure for Northern Ireland at present. A study is being carried out on the potential for renewable energy in Northern Ireland and the results will assist with setting a renewable target within the overall United Kingdom figure.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimates the Government have made of the contribution that sources of renewable energy could make to achieving the United Kingdom's stabilisation target for CO2 emissions by the year 2000.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Lady to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) on 14 May,Official Report, column 170–71.

  Compact Discs
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if his Department intends to bring forward any proposals concerning the wholesale and retail prices of compact discs.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The Office of Fair Trading recently completed detailed inquiries into the recorded music market, with particular reference to the price of compact discs. It found that no producer or retailer had a market share in excess of 25 per cent.—the threshold for a scale monopoly under the monopoly provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1973—and that there was no evidence of collusion between recorded music producers or retailers, or between producers and retailers. It concluded that prices of compact discs had settled at the level which the market was willing to bear. There was no evidence that the profits of record producers were excessive. In the absence of any evidence of collusion or anti-competitive conduct the Director General of Fair Trading concluded that no action under the competition legislation was appropriate but the OFT proposes to keep the market under review.

  Environmental Protection Technology
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the European market for environmental protection technology is held by United Kingdom companies; and which EEC country has the biggest proportion of the market.

  Mr. Leigh
  United Kingdom companies are well represented among the top European environmental firms in major sectors such as water treatment, waste management and consultancy; and United Kingdom companies are selling environmental goods and services throughout west and east Europe.

  Figures on environmental market shares would depend on assumptions on technologies included. The evidence available suggests that United Kingdom companies are relatively well placed but face competition especially from their German and French counterparts. The market in Europe, as elsewhere, certainly represents important opportunities for United Kingdom companies.

  British Coal
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the organisations or individuals retained to advise or assist him or his Department on the privatisation of British Coal who were not appointed by competitive tender.

  Mr. Eggar
  All consultants retained in connection with coal privatisation have been appointed following competitive tenders.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the organisations and individuals retained by him or his Department to advise or assist on the privatisation of British Coal, giving in each case, the date their appointment commenced and the aspect on which they are advising.

  Mr. Eggar
  Information concerning consultants who have been appointed to give advice in connection with the privatisation of the coal industry is as follows:
  232

  Consultant

  Date contract commenced

  Nature of advice

  N. M. Rothschild and Sons Ltd.

  30 May 1991

  Financial

  Touche Ross and Co.

  12 June 1991

  Accounting

  Messrs Clifford Chance

  19 June 1991

  Legal

  John T. Boyd Company

  5 August 1991

  Mining

  Wardell Armstrong

  5 August 1991

  Mining

  Mr. P. Williams

  7 January 1992

  Safety

  Clearing Banks
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the effect on small businesses of the number of clearing banks.

  Mr. Leigh
  The President of the Board of Trade will consider a possible offer from Lloyds bank for Midland bank in the light of considered advice from the Director General of Fair Trading. This advice will include an assessment of all aspects of the merger affecting the public interest, including the implications for small businesses.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the services provided by the clearing banks for small businesses.

  Mr. Leigh
  In recent years, banks have played an important part in meeting the financial needs of small businesses and have introduced a wide range of new products and services for their small business customers. Details of those products and services are set out in the codes of practice for small business customers which all the major banks have now produced. Clearing banks meet the vast majority of small businesses' needs for finance, currently providing over £40 billion of loans to small companies.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the implications for individual banking customers of a reduction in the number of clearing banks.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The President of the Board of Trade and I will consider the possible offer by Lloyds bank for Midland bank in the light of considered advice from the Director General of Fair Trading. This advice will include an assessment of all aspects of the merger affecting the public interest including the implications for individual customers.

  Bank Mergers
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to meet representatives of(a) the Confederation of British Industry, (b) the Association of British Chambers of Commerce and (c) the Small Business Bureau to discuss bank mergers.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The President of the Board of Trade and I have no plans to meet representatives of these or other organisations to discuss the current merger proposals involving the Midland bank. In order to act in an evenhanded way, we are following the normal practice in merger situations of not receiving direct representations from interested parties but asking them to make their representations to the Director General of Fair Trading. The President of the Board of Trade will consider the proposals in the light of the advice he will receive from the director general which will take account of all the views and arguments that have been expressed.

  Assisted Areas
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress he has made with the review of assisted areas; and what weight he will give to relative unemployment levels(a) on the post-1982 counting method, (b) the pre-1982 counting method and (c) gross domestic product per head relative to United Kingdom average in any revision he proposes to make to United Kingdom assisted area status designation and boundaries.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Government indicated before the election that a review of the assisted areas map would be conducted early in this Parliament. We are now considering how to take that commitment forward and are looking at the criteria to he applied. I hope to make an announcement on this shortly.

ENVIRONMENT

  Estate Action
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to give form B approval to the estate action bid for the Bonamy estate, London SE16; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  A form B bid has not yet been submitted. Officials are continuing to discuss progress with the council.

  Hazardous Waste
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being undertaken to improve the availability and quality of data relating to waste published by his Department.

  Mr. Maclean
  The first stage of an informal in-house review of waste statistics involving policy divisions with responsibilities in this area and co-ordinated by the environmental protection statistics division was completed at the end of last year. As a result of this review a number of immediate steps have been taken to improve information availability: statisticians in the DOE have co-operated with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy in the development of new surveys of waste collection and disposal authorities to gather information on household and other municipal wastes; a programme to develop independent methods of assessing household waste arisings and its composition is also planned; and reviewing the content and form of the annual survey of special waste arisings.

  A considerable amount of underpinning research work is also required to develop appropriate methodologies for collecting data on other waste streams and the results of the review are being used to develop those strands in the Department's research and development programme.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to prohibit the incineration of wastes containing heavy metals, organochlorines and other organic halogens within the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  This would not be appropriate. Incineration is an important waste disposal option. However, it is essential to apply tight environmental 234
  regulation to incineration as to other waste disposal methods. Existing controls are being strengthened through implementation of part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. This already covers new plant and will extend to existing plant later this year. Proposals have also been published for a new European Community directive on hazardous waste incineration.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to ban the trade in hazardous wastes to and from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  Negotiations are in progress on a draft regulation on the supervision and control of shipments of waste within, into and out of the European Community. The regulation will enable the United Kingdom to ratify the Basel convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal. The Government believe that all developed countries should become self-sufficient in final disposal of waste, but that imports of hazardous waste should continue from developing countries which are unable to deal safely with such waste. The Government consider that international movements of waste for recovery should continue subject to appropriate environmental controls, such as those included in the recent decision by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on the control of transfrontier movements of waste destined for recovery operations.

  Emissions
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the latest available figures for the difference between the level of emissions and the level the biosphere can safely absorb.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that the biosphere and other components of the carbon cycle absorb almost half of current man-made emissions of carbon dioxide. We have no information on the amount of carbon dioxide that the biosphere can safely absorb.

  Ozone-Depleting Substances
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress being made towards the halting of production of products containing(a) chlorofluorocarbons, (b) hydrochlorofluorocarbons, (c) methyl chloroform, (d) carbon tetrachloride and (e) halons.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Montreal protocol and associated' European legislation control the production and consumption of CFCs, halons, carbon tetrachloride and methyl chloroform themselves, rather than the production of products containing them. The Government are committed to phasing out production of those substances by the end of 1995 at the latest, and production of products will diminish as the supply of the chemicals is phased out. The protocol is likely to be extended in November to include controls of HCFCs, and the European Community has proposed that those controls should consist of a quantitative limit on consumption, restriction of possible uses and a phase-out date.

  Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the level and quality of the enforcement of CITES regulations by authorities in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  The enforcement of the CITES regulations is kept under constant review by my Department through regular contacts with the police authorities and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, which are primarily responsible for enforcing the regulations. We are currently examining proposed new European Community controls on trade in wildlife, and the enforcement of those controls will need to be considered by the Community as a whole.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the EC CITES committee temporary ban on import of lizards and other reptiles applies to all EC nations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The temporary ban on the import of certain species from Indonesia was agreed by the EC CITES committee and applies to all EC member states.

  Radioactive Waste (Broomfield Hospital)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the serving of an enforcement notice by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution on the Mid-Essex hospital service in February over the unauthorised receipt and storage of radioactive waste at Broomfield hospital in Chelmsford.

  Mr. Maclean
  The outcome of the serving of an enforcement notice on the Mid-Essex hospital service is that Broomfield hospital is no longer receiving radioactive waste from other hospitals and is not accumulating such waste. Radioactive waste being produced by the hospital itself is incinerated in accordance with authorisations granted under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 and the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Rural Housing
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to promote affordable housing in rural areas.

  Mr. Baldry
  We have taken a variety of measures since 1988 to boost supply of low-cost housing in rural areas. We have substantially increased public resources through the Housing Corporation for new investment by housing associations, with a target for new social housing under their special rural programme of 2,400 in 1992–93. In 1991–92 the corporation approved 2,355 units against a target of 1,500, more than making up for the previous year's shortfall. We have also made £30 million available this year for rural local authorities, to provide over 1,000 new social housing units. Amended planning guidance permits development of low-cost housing for local needs on small sites not otherwise designated for housing.

  Hedgerows
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to introduce legislation to protect hedgerows.
  236
  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer of 14 May to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths),Offical Report, column 198.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance his Department proposes to give over the next two years to those charitable organisations which provide shelter to homeless people in Leeds.

  Mr. Baldry
  For 1992–93 the Department has offered financial assistance under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 to the voluntary organisations Caring for Life, Nightstop, St. Anne's Shelter and Leeds Action to Create Homes, all of which are projects which provide direct practical help to homeless people in Leeds. Funding for future years is subject to negotiation.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many units of permanent accommodation are to be provided in 1992–93 in(a) West Yorkshire and (b) Leeds West for mentally ill homeless people moving out of specialist short-term hostels funded by his Department; what resources are to be provided in 1992–93 to meet the needs of these people once they are ready to move into more permanent accommodation; and what arrangements he has to co-ordinate the provision of more permanent accommodation.

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department does not fund directly specialist short-term hostels for mentally ill people. Total housing investment programme allocations made to west Yorkshire local authorities for 1992–93 are as follows:

  £

  Bradford

  11·896

  Calderdale

  7·508

  Kirklees

  11·917

  Leeds

  27·424

  Wakefield

  10·800

  Within their total resources, it is for each authority to consider all the housing needs in its area, including the need for permanent accommodation, and to determine its priorities accordingly.

  Smoke Control Areas
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will introduce controls over sales of unauthorised fuels in smoke control areas.

  Mr. Maclean
  The sale associated with delivery and the acquisition of unauthorised fuels for use in a smoke control area are already offences under the Clean Air Act 1968. We propose to introduce a ban on the straightforward retail sale of such fuel in smoke control areas as soon as possible.

  Pollution
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the results of the recent national nitrogen dioxide diffusion tube air pollution survey.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I have given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Mr. Amess).

  Noise
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish codes of practice for the minimisation of noise from clay pigeon shooting, audible bird scarers, water sports, and off-road motorcycling.

  Mr. Maclean
  A draft code of practice on clay pigeon shooting was produced by the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association. Two consultation exercises have demonstrated that there are complex technical issues which have still not been resolved. The Institution of Environmental Health Officers is to issue guidance to its own members.

  Government officials are working with the National Farmers Union on a code of practice on the use of audible bird scarers.

  Water sports was not a subject recommended for coverage by a code in the report of the noise review working party published in October 1990 and I have no plans to prepare one at present.

  A joint working group convened by the noise council has submitted a draft code for off-road motorcycling for approval. I shall consider that request as soon as possible.

  Carbon Dioxide
  Mr. Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his report to the European Commission on the United Kingdom's strategy for limiting carbon dioxide emissions.

  Mr. Howard
  We are already taking steps to limit carbon dioxide emissions. Earlier this week I announced a new agreement with the energy utilities and Ofgas for the establishment of an energy saving trust. This is an important further initiative which will make a real contribution to the United Kingdom's part in the international efforts to reduce emissions of CO2.

  In the light of this and other recent initiatives, I have now given the European Commission a report on the United Kingdom strategy for reducing emissions of CO2 This builds on the strategy first set out in the Environment White Paper, "This Common Inheritance", and given to the Commission last year. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  Nitrogen Dioxide
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the results of the survey of nitrogen dioxide concentrations in the United Kingdom carried out for his Department by Warren Spring laboratory from July to December last year.

  Mr. Maclean
  The report of the survey is being published today. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library of the House. I am very grateful both to Warren Spring laboratory and to the many local authorities which have co-operated in this excellent piece of work.

  The survey covered over 300 sites throughout the United Kingdom. A similar survey was carried out in 1986. Comparison of the results shows that average concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) have risen by 35 per cent. over the period, largely as a result of motor traffic growth.
  238
  The European Community has set a limit value on NO, concentrations in order to protect human health and the environment, based on studies carried out for the World Health Organisation. The survey results gives us further reassurance that Britain is not in breach of this. There is no evidence that, at current United Kingdom levels, NO2 causes irreversible health effects. But of course we wish to see NO2 pollution levels diminish in future, since high concentrations can cause breathing discomfort in susceptible people.

  Much action is already in hand to curb traffic pollution. An emissions test was included in the MOT test last November. Tough European Community standards for new cars will come into effect from the end of this year, reducing harmful emissions from new vehicles by about 80 per cent. A range of new measures is also being implemented to cut traffic congestion and pollution through better traffic management, parking controls and improved public transport. Those initiatives will take time to achieve their full impact, but we should see dramatic improvements in air quality in a few years'.

  Careful monitoring of the situation is important in the meantime. The report confirms that our continuous monitoring sites for NO2 are well-chosen, but suggests further studies of the possible need for supplementary sites. Maximum public access to monitoring information is also crucial. Daily bulletins and forecasts of air quality, with associated health guidance, have been issued since October 1990, and are now available on a new Freephone number, (0800 556677), on BBC CEEFAX (page 196) and on television weather reports.

  Housing Repossessions
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give his latest estimate of the number of people likely to lose their homes in England in 1992 as a consequence of mortgage arrears and repossession.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 13 May 1992]: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 19 December 1991 a package of measures agreed with the Council of Mortgage Lenders to reduce the number of repossessions. The Government undertook to legislate for the direct payment to lenders of the mortgage interest element of income support. My right hon. Friend also announced the lifting of stamp duty on transactions up to £250,000 for a period of eight months. The Government enacted legislation to implement those measures before the general election.

  As part of the December package, the CML members undertook to advance £750 million to mortgage rescue schemes. Since then, 10 lenders have announced details of their schemes, including better counselling and arrears management to enable borrowers to remain in their own homes; lower interest rates for a specified period for homeowners in difficulties; reduced mortgage payments in return for the lender's taking a share in the equity; and mortgage-to-rent schemes. The combined effect of the measures taken by the Government and lenders will be to reduce the number of repossessions in 1992 and restore confidence to the housing market.

  My right hon. Friends the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for the Environment will be meeting the CML to review progress on 2 June.
  239
  The CML figures of arrears and possessions for the first half of this year are due to be published in the middle of August.

  Antarctica
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to(a) ensure the removal of all United Kingdom abandoned bases in Antarctica, (b) repeal the Antarctic Minerals Act 1989 and (c) ratify the 1991 Antarctica environmental protocol.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government are fully committed to implementation of the environmental protocol to the Antarctic treaty. Ratification of the protocol and repeal of the Antarctic Minerals Act 1989 will depend on the introduction of legislation to give effect to the provisions of the protocol.

  The British antarctic survey has undertaken a survey of all accessible abandoned United Kingdom bases in Antarctica. A programme either to remove the bases, or to retain some as emergency refuges or historic sites is in preparation.

DEFENCE

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. Aitken
  Ethnic monitoring of all civilian staff was introduced in 1988 as an important element of the MOD's equal opportunities policies. A further survey of all staff who did not reply to the initial survey was conducted in March 1991 and resulted in a 90 per cent. response rate. Ethnic monitoring is a continuous process in the MOD and all new entrants, except casuals, are surveyed on joining.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. Aitken
  The information as at 1 April 1992, based on voluntary surveys of non-industrial staff, excluding those in executive agencies is:

  Number

  Percentage of staff in grade

  Grade 1

  0

  —

  Grade 2

  0

  —

  Grade 3

  0

  —

  Grade 4

  0

  —

  Grade 5

  0

  —

  Grade 6

  3

  0·6

  Grade 7

  13

  0·7

  Total non-industrial staff 80,574

  Total respondents to ethnic origin survey 72,505 (90 per cent.)

  Total self-declared ethnic minority staff 1,508 (1·9 per cent.)

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

  Mr. Aitken
  MOD recruitment at grade 7 level is undertaken by the Recruitment and Assessment Services 240
  agency—RAS—on behalf of the civil service commissioners. RAS has put in place a range of measures to aid the recruitment of ethnic minorities. The principles of fair and open competition continue to apply including the commitment to equal opportunities. Above grade 7 level, external recruitment does not often occur.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what technical and financial provisions have been made for the decommissioning and storage or disposal of radioactive waste materials arising therefrom, for(a) Polaris submarines and (b) Trident submarines; and what discussions have taken place with his American counterpart over the United States plans in this field.

  Mr. Aitken
  It is not our practice to make public our detailed plans and costings for decommissioning nuclear submarines. A long-term policy for the disposal of all decommissioned nuclear submarines is being considered but no decisions have yet been reached. Currently, they are stored safely afloat at naval bases where de-fuelling and removal of re-usable equipment takes place.

  There are regular exchanges between the United States and United Kingdom Governments on all nuclear matters under the 1958 mutual defence agreement and we are aware of United States plans for decommissioning and disposal.

  Payment of Commissions
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy regarding the payment of commissions to assist defence exports.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department does not employ business agents in the negotiation of Government-to-Government defence export contracts and does not pay commissions.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role the Defence Export Services Organisation has in providing defence contractors with advice about the payment of commissions to assist defence exports.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Defence Export Services Organisation provides, on request, a wide range of advice to companies on defence export markets, including advice on local laws and regulations governing commission payments.

  Saudi Arabia
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the support provided for defence exports to Saudi Arabia.

  Mr. Aitken
  Within MOD, support for defence exports to Saudi Arabia is provided by the Defence Export Services Organisation which, within the constraints of Government policy, provides assistance and advice to United Kingdom companies seeking to market and sell defence equipment and services to the Saudi Arabian armed forces.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Visas
  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries which are members of the Council of Europe which require visas from United Kingdom visitors and those from whom the United Kingdom requires visas for their nationals.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Member states of the Council of Europe whose nationals require visas to visit the United Kingdom are Bulgaria, Poland and Turkey. United Kingdom nationals also require visas to visit those countries.

  Nagorno Karabakh
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid the Government are giving to relieve the situation in Nagorno Karabakh both bilaterally and multilaterally; and what discussions the Minister for Overseas Developoment has had on the opening of a humanitarian corridor for relief supplies with our international partners.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Government have contributed to a 1 million ecu EC aid package to alleviate the suffering of both Azeri and Armenian refugees from the Nagorno Karabakh region. The Government also support the International Committee of the Red Cross which has set up an operation in Nagorno Karabakh.

  Britain has been active in the search for a negotiated solution to the Nagorno Karabakh dispute through the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe. The opening of a humanitarian aid corridor is part of the process the CSCE has outlined. We have supported this idea in our discussions with other Governments.

  Iraqi Kurdistan
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support Her Majesty's Government will offer to the Kurdish Front Alliance in its preparations for the elections in Iraqi Kurdistan; and what recognition Her Majesty's Government propose to give to the forthcoming elections in Iraqi Kurdistan and to their result.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have told Kurdish political leaders in Iraq that it is in their own interests to work together in opposing Saddam Hussein's repression and in bringing an end to the economic blockade which he has imposed on northern Iraq. We hope that regional elections will help achieve this.

  We support the Kurds' aim of autonomy, not independence, within Iraq's existing borders. Kurdish leaders have told us that this is what they want.

  Foreign Affairs Council
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council held on 11 and 12 May.

  Mr. Hurd
  My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I represented the United Kingdom at the Foreign Affairs Council on 11 May.

  The Council continued its discussion of the Commission's future financing package for 1993–97, focusing in particular on the Commission's expenditure proposals. It also discussed immigration policy and the related issue of internal frontier controls. I reiterated Her Majesty's Government's position that the UK does not agree that article 8a requires the abolition of all frontier controls on people at the Community's internal frontiers.