Written Answers of 18 May 1992

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Stipendiary Magistrates
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many provincial stipendiary magistrates were in office on 1 December 1970, 1980, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1992 respectively: and if he will give the names of the courts outside London which now have full-time stipendiaries assigned to them.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The number of stipendiary magistrates in post on 1 December was:

  Number

  1970

  11

  1980

  1985

  13

  1986

  14

  1987

  1988

  1991

  26

  The courts outside inner London which have full-time stipendiaries based at them are:

  Birmingham ((3)

  Bradford

  Brent

  Cardiff

  Cheshire

  Doncaster

  Feltham

  Hendon

  Kingston upon Hull

  Leeds (2)

  Liverpool

  Manchester (2)

  Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare

  Nottingham (2)

  Circuit/Date

  1 January 1988

  1 January 1989

  1 January 1990

  1 January 1991

  1 January 1992

  1 May 1992

  Midland and Oxford

  Female

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Total

  55

  59

  62

  63

  62

  65

  Northern

  Female

  4

  4

  4

  4

  6

  5

  Total

  54

  55

  55

  56

  58

  57

  North-Eastern

  Female

  3

  3

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Total

  41

  45

  45

  45

  45

  47

  South-Eastern

  Female

  7

  7

  7

  10

  10

  10

  Total

  187

  188

  198

  200

  224

  232

  Wales and Chester

  Female

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  22

  22

  24

  25

  27

  27

  Western

  Female

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  3

  Total

  34

  35

  37

  38

  41

  41

  2

  Pontypridd

  Portsmouth

  Rotherham

  Salford

  Sheffield

  Stoke on Trent

  Wolverhampton

  Judges
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) how many full-time women judges there are currently on the Wales and Chester circuit; how many there were at the end of each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many full-time women judges there are currently on (a) the northern circuit and (b) the north-eastern circuit; how many there were at the end of each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) how many full-time women judges there are currently on (a) the south-eastern circuit and (b) the midland and Oxford circuit; how many there were at the end of each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) how many full-time circuit judges there are currently on (a) the northern circuit and (b) the north-eastern circuit; how many there were at the end of each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;

  (5) how many full-time circuit judges there are currently on (a) the south-eastern circuit and (b) the midland and Oxford circuit; how many there were at the end of each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;

  (6) how many full-time circuit judges there are currently on (a) the western circuit and (b) the Wales and Chester circuit; how many there were at the end of each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The total numbers of circuit judges, and the numbers of female circuit judges, on each circuit at the beginning of each of the last five calendar years and as at 1 May are set out in the table. The Lord Chancellor appoints to each judicial post the candidate who appears to him to be best qualified to fill it regardless of sex or other factors. He has repeatedly made clear his wish to appoint more women to judicial office. The composition of the bench at any one time is, however, dependent on the composition of the legal profession in the age groups from which appointments are made.

  Magistrates Courts
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans the Lord Chancellor has in relation to each magistrates court on the Wales and Chester circuit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  My noble and learned Friend will continue to encourage each magistrates court in England and Wales to provide an efficient and high-quality system of local justice. Under the Justices of the Peace Act 1979, it is for magistrates courts committees, in consultation with the relevant local authorities, to identify the best use of courthouse accommodation in their areas. The proposals set out in the White Paper "A New Framework for Local Justice"—Cm 1829—will strengthen their ability to carry out this responsibility.

  Crown Courts
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will give the location and tier of each Crown court on the Wales and Chester circuit, and when it started to try indictable criminal cases whether as Crown court or assizes/quarter sessions; what plans the Lord Chancellor has in relation to each; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The location and tier of Crown court centres on the Wales and Chester circuit are as follows:

  (a) First Tier Centres

  Caernarfon, Cardiff, Chester, Mold, Swansea.

  (b) Second Tier Centres

  Carmarthen, Merthyr Tydfil. Newport (Gwent), Welshpool.

  (c) Third Tier Centres

  Dolgellau, Haverforclwest, Knutsford, Warrington.

  The jurisdiction to try indictable offences was transferred to the Crown court sitting at these locations following the implementation of the Courts Act 1971 on 1 January 1972, save for Warrington where jurisdiction was conferred in July 1977. To research the dates when jurisdiction to try indictable criminal cases was conferred at the above locations at assize or quarter sessions would involve disproportionate cost.

  The Lord Chancellor, through his senior management, constantly reviews the operational needs of the circuits in relation to both criminal and civil business. There are no changes planned in relation to utilisation of the court centres listed above save for the major refurbishment work currently under way at the Crown court centre at Chester, and similar work planned for the Cardiff and Caernarfon court centres.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Customs and Excise
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to compensate Customs and Excise staff who will lose their jobs as a direct result of the ending of customs controls between members of the European Community on 1 January 1993.

  Sir John Cope
  The implementation of the single market in January 1993 means that routine physical controls on intra-EC freight traffic at the frontier will cease, and be replaced by audit-based checks at importers'4
  offices inland. Customs and Excise hopes to find other jobs within the Department for the great majority of staff affected by the changes. If some redundancies are necessary for non-mobile staff, they will be entitled to compensation payments under section 10 of the principal civil service pension scheme.

  Civil Service
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons over the age of 60 years have been newly employed by the civil service since August 1990.

  Mr. Dorrell
  About 330 people aged 60 and over were recruited to the non-industrial home civil service between 1990 and December 1991, inclusive.

  Rent-a-Room Scheme
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost to the Exchequer in terms of revenue forgone in a full year of the rent-a-room scheme outlined in the Conservative party manifesto under which home owners will be able to let rooms to lodgers without liability to tax on the rent they receive.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Exchequer cost of any rent-a-room scheme would depend on the scope and details of the particular scheme.

  Civil Service Relocation
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil service posts have been relocated from the south-east of England to elsewhere in the United Kingdom since 1979.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Around 29,000. Of these nearly 6,000 were moved between 1979 and 1987 as part of the centrally directed programme and a similar number are estimated to have been moved at Departments' own initiative. Under the delegated approach which has operated since March 1988 a further 17,000 civil service posts have been located or relocated outside the south-east.

  Tax Repayments
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will call for a report on the availability of forms for claiming repayment of tax on bank or building society interest.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Inland Revenue tells me that repayment claim forms are available from the 24 new offices set up to handle repayment claims work. Requests for claim forms can also be made to local tax offices which will forward these to the new offices. Claim forms are issued by post. normally within a few days of the request.

  Civil List
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a breakdown of the amounts paid to Her Majesty's civil list for 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 15 May 1992]: In accordance with the Civil List (Increase of Financial Provision) Order 1990—SI 1990/2018—Her Majesty the Queen receives £7·9 million each calendar year for her civil list.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Museums and Galleries
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what discussions he has held with civil service unions about museum and gallery opening hours.

  Mr. Key
  None.

  Monuments
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the monuments which have been raised at public expense in(a) London and (b) elsewhere in the United Kingdom to General de Gaulle or the Free French Forces.

  Mr. Mellor
  There are no such monuments whose cost has been met by central Government.

  Export Reviewing Committee
  Mr. Channon
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on his conclusions regarding the recent report by the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 14 May 1992]: I am considering the report and hope to make a statement shortly.

  Bohemian Wood Carvings
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the result of his predecessor's meeting with the consultative group on the export of works of art after 1992 in relation to the problems of Bohemian wood carvings stolen from ecclesiastical buildings in Czechoslovakia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 11 May 1992]: Following the then Minister for the Arts' meeting with the consultative group, a letter was sent to the art trade organisations and to the auction houses requesting their co-operation should any items be offered for sale which would appear to have come from a church in Czechoslovakia. In response to a request from a member of the art trade, my office has since asked the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to obtain details from the Government of Czechoslovakia of any particular items which might have been stolen in order to assist in identification. A response is awaited.

PRIME MINISTER

  Roman Catholic Church
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will now make it the policy of Her Majesty's Government to accord the same degree of official recognition to the territorial sees and titles of the Roman Catholic Church in England and in Wales as is accorded to the unestablished Anglican churches outside England; and if he will make a statement on the situation in Northern Ireland.

  The Prime Minister
  Official recognition for Roman Catholic territorial titles was precluded under Acts of 1829 6
  and 1851, the penal provisions of which were repealed in 1871 and 1978. Since it was raised with me by Sir Hugh Rossi in the last Parliament I have been looking sympathetically at the matter and my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary will now be consulting the relevant Church authorities about the practices to be adopted in future.

  Lockerbie Bombing
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the outcome of initiatives taken by the Security Council of the United Nations in relation to Lockerbie and Libya.

  The Prime Minister
  The United Nations Secretary-General has tried to persuade Libya to comply with United Nations Security Council resolutions 731 and 748, including sending emissaries several times to Libya. Libya has rebutted these efforts and has not complied with the resolutions.

  Maastricht Treaty
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister why the new article 123 inserted by the Maastricht treaty which provides for the salaries of the President and members of the EC Commission to be determined by majority vote, was inserted under title IV, which relates to amendments to the treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Authority; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Article I(7) of the treaty on European union reproduces the provisions of article 6 of the treaty establishing a single Council and single Commission of the European Commission of the European Communities—the "merger treaty"—signed on 8 April 1965—see schedule 1.I(5) to the European Communities Act 1972—and incorporates them into the text of the European Atomic Energy Committee treaty. Identical provisions are to be found in articles G(47), amending the European Coal and Steel Community treaty. This is a matter of textual consolidation only; the legal position will remain as it has been since the entry into force of the merger treaty.

  Subsidiarity
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister whether he regards the principle of subsidiarity as applicable in any way to the relationship between London and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government are fully committed to the Union between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, while recognising the need for arrangements which reflect the distinctive interests of its component parts.

  UNCED
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister if he intends to be present at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development for its final two days in June.

  The Prime Minister
  I propose to attend the latter part of the Rio conference. I am currently finalising the details of my programme which will be announced shortly.

  G7 Summit
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what proposals on environment protection Her Majesty's Government plan to put forward at the G7 summit of leading industrialised nations in Munich in July.

  The Prime Minister
  We will propose that the G7 should take effective follow-up action to the Earth summit, including in the area of environmental protection.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Wolds Private Prison
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoner custody officers have either resigned or been sacked, since the opening of the Wolds private prison on 6 April.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  None.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) cell fires, (b) attempted suicides and (c) assaults on staff have taken place at the Wolds private prison since it opened in April.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  None.

  Parliamentary Constituencies
  Mr. Channon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Parliamentary Boundary Commission's initial proposals for Essex to be published.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand that the Boundary Commission for England has not yet decided when it will publish its provisional recommendations for the county of Essex, although it is likely that this will be towards the end of the review.

  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many constituencies would be created by the Boundary Commission if the present average number of electors in Scottish constituencies was applied to the whole of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  This would depend on decisions taken by the boundary commissions when reviewing individual constituency boundaries. However, the approximate numbers, based on figures derived from the 1992 register of electors, are given in the table.

  Country

  Electorate

  Quota

  Number of seats

  England

  36,435,874

  54,571

  668

  Wales

  2,218,551

  54,571

  41

  Scotland

  3,929,112

  54,571

  72

  Northern Ireland

  1,141,466

  54,571

  21

  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Members there would be representing each of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on the basis of an average constituency throughout the United Kingdom of(a) 65,000 voters, (b) 70,000 voters and (c) 75,000 voters.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  This would depend on decisions taken by the boundary commissions when reviewing individual 8
  constituency boundaries. However, the approximate numbers, based on figures derived from the 1992 register of electors, are given in the table.

  Country

  Electorate

  Quota

  Number of seats

  (a)

  England

  36,435,874

  65,000

  561

  Wales

  2,218,551

  65,000

  34

  Scotland

  3,929,112

  65,000

  60

  Northern Ireland

  1,141,466

  65,000

  18

  (b)

  England

  36,435,874

  70,000

  521

  Wales

  2,218,551

  70,000

  32

  Scotland

  3,929,112

  70,000

  56

  Northern Ireland

  1,141,466

  70,000

  16

  (c)

  England

  36,435,874

  75,000

  486

  Wales

  2,218,551

  75,000

  30

  Scotland

  3,929,112

  75,000

  52

  Northern Ireland

  1,141,466

  75,000

  15

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Boundary Commission to report its recommendations on parliamentary representation in Suffolk; and what account he expects to be taken of the possible ending of county boundaries.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand that the Boundary Commission for England has not yet decided when it will publish its provisional recommendations for Suffolk, although it is likely to be towards the middle part of the review. The commission will continue to take account of alterations to county boundaries.

  Police Officers (Ethnic Minorities)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of(a) men and (b) women from ethnic minorities in the United Kingdom who resigned from the Metropolitan police in each of the last five years; and what had been the average length of service.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information is shown in the table:

  Year

  Men

  Women

  Total

  Average length of service Years

  1987

  20

  3

  23

  3·6

  1988

  9

  3

  12

  4·0

  1989

  16

  7

  23

  2·5

  1990

  11

  2

  13

  4·9

  1991

  9

  5

  14

  1·7

  Police Cells
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost to public funds for the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available of keeping prisoners in police cells.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  In the financial year 1991–92, a total of £94.7 million was paid to police forces for holding prisoners who should have been accommodated in Prison Service establishments.

  Private Security Industry
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for the regulation of the private security industry.

  Mr. Jack
  I refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Sir J. Wheeler) on 19 December 1991, at columns 247–48.

  Death Penalty
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all categories of offence which still carry the death penalty.

  Mr. Jack
  The death penalty is still available for the following categories of offence:

  (i) treason

  (ii) piracy with violence

  (iii) offences under the Armed Forces Act 1971 such as surrendering or abandoning a place or thing to the enemy and various offences with intent to assist the enemy.

  Animal Testing
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to encourage organisations currently using live animals to move to humane medical testing techniques; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The controls of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 already require that before any project licence is granted, the applicant must show that he or she has considered the possiblity of using alternatives not involving living animals for any of the procedures. The strict controls of the Act also require that laboratory animals are properly cared for and that suffering is minimised. The use of living animals in biomedical research has been declining for many years and the Act has given further impetus to this encouraging trend.

  In addition, the Home Office funds research into ways of reducing, refining or replacing the use of living animals in scientific procedures.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will undertake a review of legislation controlling the use of live animals in testing non-medical products and procedures in United Kingdom laboratories.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The system of controls established by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 on the use of living animals in research for whatever purpose is working well. The effectiveness of the controls is kept under constant review, both by the Home Office and its inspectorate, and the independent statutory Animal Procedures Committee.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the number of experiments licensed by the Home Office on live animals over the last five years listed under the purpose for which the experiment was conducted.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Project licences issued by the Home Office authorise whole programmes of research 10
  which may involve a number of procedures carried out experimental purposes. The numbers of project licences granted by the Home Office are included in the annual reports of the Animal Procedures Committee. The number and purposes of individual procedures started each year can be found in the annual publication "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals: Great Britain". Copies of these publications are in the Library of the House.

  Derek Bentley
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to make an announcement or decision on his study of the report submitted to his predecessor, the right hon. Member for Mole Valley (Mr. Baker), by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the case of Derek Bentley.

  Mr. Jack
  This report is receiving careful consideration. I shall decide as soon as possible on whether any action on my part is appropriate in this case.

  Immigration
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state his policy towards the financing of the United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Government are not satisfied with the way in which UKIAS' executive committee and general council oversee the service and have been pressing for changes to bring it in line with the standards expected of an organisation which receives grant in aid. In January 1992 my hon. Friend the Member for Fareham (Mr. Lloyd) told UKIAS that its refugee unit was to be transferred to a new body and that it had three months in which to introduce reforms to the remainder of the organisation if it were to continue receiving Government grant. The necessary changes have not been made and the Government are now considering the future arrangements for funding advice and representation for people with rights of appeal under immigration legislation.

  Football (Sweden)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress the Government have made in their negotiations with Sweden on corresponding offences under the Football Spectators Act 1989.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I am pleased to confirm that the Football Spectators (Corresponding Offences in Sweden) Order 1992 comes into force today. This has the effect of enabling the courts in England and Wales to impose restriction orders in respect of football-related convictions in Sweden.

  Electoral Registration
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what figures are available on the number of homeless people who voted in the last general election; what changes will be made to the provisions that exist for homeless people to register; and what guidelines are given to electoral registration officers.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 15 May 1992]:
  11
  Information on the number of homeless people who voted in the general election is not held centrally. The courts have held that a person who has established his residence in a particular place with a substantial degree of permanence is entitled to be registered as an elector. In these circumstances, we have no plans to change the current provisions for the registration of electors; and no guidance has been issued to electoral registration officers on registering homeless people.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Universal Suffrage
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy at future international gatherings to promote universal suffrage.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Kingdom takes every opportunity to promote the principles of democracy, including the right to vote at periodic elections, on the basis of universal and equal suffrage, and will continue to do so in all appropriate fora.

  Ethiopia
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the improvement of human rights in Ethiopia since the fall of the Mengistu Government.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Human rights have improved since the fall of Mengistu. Freedom of expression has largely been restored and there is a commitment, enshrined in the July 1991 charter, to hold regional and national elections. Not surprisingly after an extended civil war, there remains great concern. We continue to discuss with Ethiopian authorities their internal security systems, instances of disfranchisement and delays in strengthening the judicial system.

  Middle East (Arms)
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to restrict the level of arms sales in the middle east.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are playing an active role in discussions of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council about restraining the level of arms exports to the middle east. The five have agreed guidelines governing such exports, and will be discussing mechanisms for confidential consultations at their next meeting in Washington on 28 and 29 May.

  Malawi
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what official representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government to the Malawian Government about the increased human rights abuses perpetrated by the authorities in Malawi; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Together with EC partners, we have made four démarches to the Malawi Government in recent months. Our démarches addressed both individual cases and Malawi's human rights record in general.
  12
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the number of political prisoners about which Her Majesty's Government had made representations over the last two years to the Government of Malawi.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have on numerous occasions made representations on behalf of all political prisoners and detainees in Malawi both bilaterally and together with our EC partners. We have also raised the cases of the following individuals: Orton and Vera Chirwa, Dr. Jack Mapanje, Smon Mhane and Chakufwa Chihana. Dr. Mapanje and Mr. Mhane have since been released.

  Guatemala
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise with the Guatemalan authorities the case of Father Ventura Lux; and if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on violations of human rights in Guatemala.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  We are trying to find out more about the case of Father Ventura Lux. We have raised our concerns about human rights with the Guatemalan authorities on a number of occasions. We believe President Serrano is seeking to improve matters. But, in the circumstances of Guatemala, he faces a difficult task. We will continue to press for improvements.

  Instruments of Torture
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to promote more activity within the United Nations to restrict trade in instruments of torture.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Kingdom supports the work of the UN special rapporteur on torture and encourages states to accede to the UN convention against torture, and to respect its provisions. Universal acceptance of the convention would remove all trade in instruments of torture.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are taken to investigate human rights records of countries that seek to buy instruments of torture.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We oppose torture anywhere and monitor the human rights records of countries thought to practice it. We take seriously any allegations of equipment being exported from the United Kingdom intended for use in torture.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is taken in United Kingdom embassies and consulates around the world to monitor human rights abuses by regimes who may be involved in the trade of instruments of torture within the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  All United Kingdom diplomatic posts monitor and report on the human rights situation in the countries to which they are accredited.

  Overseas Governors
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the proposed budget for the inauguration ceremony of(a) the new Hong Kong governor and (b) the new Bermudan governor.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The costs of the inaugurion ceremonies will be borne by(a) the Hong Kong Government and (b) the Government of Bermuda.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the rules for ceremonial dress of governors, high commissioners and ambassadors serving overseas were drawn up; and when they were last revised.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The rules for ceremonial dress are based on custom and practice which predate the creation of the diplomatic service in 1964. The last review of the need for uniform was conducted in 1969 when all heads of mission were consulted about local protocol requirements.

  Since then, the wearing of uniform has been considered on a case-by-case basis taking account of the views of the outgoing incumbent of the post.

  Governor of Bermuda
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what will be the total cost of equipping the new governor of Bermuda; and what items of ceremonial dress are involved.

  Mr. Goodlad
  A total of £7,200. The items involved are a full dress tropical uniform, and a full dress blue uniform, to include plumes, button, hat, gloves, shoes and sword.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what official vehicles are provided for the governors of Hong Kong and Bermuda.

  Mr. Goodlad
  These are the responsibilities of the Hong Kong Government and the Government of Bermuda. All costs are borne by the respective Governments.

  Queen (European Visits)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the European Community countries to which no official visit has been made by Her Majesty the Queen; what approaches have been received from these countries concerning such a visit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Her Majesty the Queen has not made official visits to either Greece or the Republic of Ireland. I am not aware of approaches from either country for visits by Her Majesty.

  Maastricht Treaty
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those articles of the treaty of Rome that are subject to amendment by the Maastricht treaty, setting out the original article alongside the amended article and providing an explanation in each case as to the meaning and effect of the amendment.
  14
  Mr. Garel-Jones
  Title II of the Maastricht treaty on European union contains those provisions of the treaty which amend the treaty of Rome. Those articles amending the treaty of Rome are described as "replacing" existing articles. A number of new articles are required to be "inserted" into the existing treaty. Some existing articles are to be repealed.

  The implications of the treaty have been discussed at length in parliamentary debates before and after the Maastricht European Council. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs submitted a detailed analysis to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee for its report on "Europe after Maastricht". A similar memorandum from Her Majesty's Treasury was submitted to the Treasury and Civil Service Committee's inquiry into economic and monetary union. These have been published by HMSO.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Magistrates
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Attorney-General what was the number of days worked by provincial stipendiary magistrates in 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I have been asked to reply.

  The number of days worked by provincial stipendiary magistrates was approximately 5,000. Precise figures are not maintained centrally. On 31 December 1991 there were 26 provincial stipendiaries in post, of whom eight were appointed during that year.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Immunisation
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much is currently being allocated by the Overseas Development Administration for immunisation programmes for children; and if he will make it his policy to support the goal of complete immunisation of children by the year 2000.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The ODA spent some £61 million on bilateral health sector assistance in 1990, the latest year for which figures are available. These figures do not identify expenditure specifically on immunisation programmes.

  We continue to support the immunisation goals contained in the plan of action of the 1990 world summit for children. Our 1992 annual grant to UNICEF, which funds immunisation and other programmes, is the highest ever at £9.5 million.

  Environmental Management
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much is currently being invested by the Overseas Development Administration to improve the institutional and regulatory framework for environmental management in third world countries.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The ODA attaches importance to the strengthening of the institutional and regulatory framework for environmental management in developing countries. For example, the ODA is funding a study, costing approximately £230,000, of the air pollution
  15
  problems in Mexico City to assist the Government of Mexico to introduce regulatory mechanisms to control such pollution. My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development will write to the hon. Member giving further examples of our activities.

  Environment and Health Aid
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is currently being given by the Overseas Development Administration to assist the process of monitoring the state of the environment and public health in third world countries.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The ODA has been involved in a number of projects which assist developing countries to monitor the state of their environment. For example, we are working in Ghana and Nigeria to establish the local environment protection council and the federal environmental protection agency respectively, to implement their national environmental protection plans. We have also undertaken studies to summarise information on the state of the environment in a number of developing countries, and have conducted country studies on global environmental issues like climate change and ozone depletion.

  Our health sector assistance concentrates on strengthening the management and delivery of basic health services, to meet priority health needs. The global monitoring of public health levels in developing countries is concentrated within the World Health Organisation and other United Nations agencies, to which we arc major contributors.

  We also fund the training in the United Kingdom of developing country nationals in, for example, environmental pollution control, waste management and epidemilogy.

  Ethiopia
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of the Ethiopian Government regarding the application of good government criteria for British aid to Ethiopia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Good government is essential for sustainable development. We have made it clear to the Ethiopian Government that future aid programme levels will be influenced, as elsewhere, by considerations of good government and human rights.

  Good government is also important in its own right and is part of our regular dialogue with the Ethiopian authorities. For example, the British chargé d'affaires, with EC colleagues, presented an EC démarche of 27 March pressing for peaceful political dialogue and supporting the process of democratisation.

  Malawi
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what attempts are being made by Her Majesty's Government to co-ordinate an international aid freeze on support going into Malawi until human rights abuses are ended and investigated.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We are in close touch with our European Community partners and other donors, among whom our concern about human rights in Malawi is widely shared. Last week's consultative group meeting for 16
  Malawi, held under World bank auspices in Paris, clearly demonstrated the determination of donors to limit new commitments of aid, other than humanitarian assistance in response to the current drought, pending tangible and continuing improvement of the Malawi Government's performance in this area.

  Malaysia
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had on forestry with the Government of Malaysia.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development held discussions on 15 May with a delegation led by the Malaysian Minister of Primary Industries, Dr. Lim Keng Yaik. The two Ministers signed a memorandum of understanding on co-operation for the conservation, management and development of forest resources, copies of which has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

EDUCATION

  Hearnville School, Balham
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will agree to meet a deputation of parents and staff from Hearnville school, Balham, before he considers the application by Wandsworth council to close the school; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The hon. Member's constituents have already taken the opportunity to make their views known in the usual way by lodging statutory objections to the closure proposal, and by voting for the school to apply for grant-maintained status. My right hon. Friend will of course take all representations into account when he considers the proposals.

  Pupil-Teacher Ratios
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the pupil-teacher ratios upon which education policy is based.

  Mr. Forth
  The allocation of resources, including teachers, is a matter for local management decision. The Government do not, therefore, set policy objectives for pupil-teacher ratios—PTRs. However, when determining its own education policies it takes account of the most recent data on PTRs as reported by schools and local education authorities. The latest PTR is for 1991 at 17.2:1 overall for maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools.

  School Funding
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidelines are given to schools as distinct from local education authorities on what proportions of their budgets should be held back for contingencies; and how a school's spending record determines future funding allocations.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department has not issued any such guidelines. Responsibility for the management of a school's budget rests with the governing body and decisions of this sort will need to be taken in the light of the particular circumstances of the schools concerned.
  17
  A school's spending record should only determine future funding allocations in that any underspend will be added to, and any overspend will be deducted from, the school's budget share for the following financial year.

  National Councils
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to broaden the remit and input of the School Examinations and Assessment Council and the National Curriculum Council; what consideration he is giving to merging them; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The functions of the two councils are laid down by section 14 of the Education Reform Act 1988 and their current priorities are set out in their corporate plans. My right hon. Friend is currently considering their future relationship.

WALES

  Inmos
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what meetings have taken place between his Department, the Welsh Development Agency, Inmos and its parent company SGS-Thomson concerning the proposed relocation of the company.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Several.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total amount in receipts received by the Welsh Development Agency in 1991–92; and how much of this total was capital receipts.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Total receipts for 1991–92 were £69·7 million, of which £33.3 million were capital receipts.

  Disabled Facilities
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will list for each district social services area in Wales the number of households awaiting a call to consider the need for handicapped aids and adaptations; and what is the average period before a call is made.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This information is not held centrally.

  Opencast Coal
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many opencast coal applications are(a) outstanding and (b) imminent in Alyn and Deeside; if he will list the locations in each case; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Applications for planning permission for opencast coal mining are the responsibility of Clwyd county council as minerals planning authority. The information requested is not held centrally but one proposal in Alyn and Deeside, for opencast mining at Bannel Bridge, south of Buckley, is currently before me on appeal.

  Appointments
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all the names of appointments that are presently in office that he has made, giving the period for which the appointment was made and any relevant qualifications of the appointees.

  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answer 11 May 1992]: The table lists those public appointments made since my replies of 12 December and 19 December 1991, Official Report, column 534–39 and 272–82 respectively.

  Name

  Current appointment ends

  PUBLIC APPOINTMENTS

  CARDIFF BAY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

  Deputy Chairman:

  Councillor Lord Brooks of Tremorfa

  6 May 1993

  Members:

  Mrs. Honor Chapman, CBE

  2 April 1995

  Councillor Paddy Kitson

  6 May 1993

  Professor Richard Silverman

  2 April 1995

  Mr. James Beveridge

  2 April 1995

  WELSH DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

  Member:

  Mr. E. Glyn Davies

  31 March 1995

  COUNTRYSIDE COUNCIL FOR WALES

  Member:

  Mr. Brian Thomas

  4 November 1995

  DEVELOPMENT BOARD FOR RURAL WALES

  Chairman:

  Mr. E. Glyn Davies

  31 March 1995

  Members:

  Mr. Robert Gee

  24 April 1995

  Councillor Veronica Hollis

  24 April 1995

  Mr. Jeffrey Morgan

  24 April 1995

  Mr. Hywell Roberts

  24 April 1995

  Councillor E. J. K. Shaw

  24 April 1995

  Councillor Roger Williams

  24 April 1995

  Mrs. Christine Lewis

  24 April 1995

  WALES TOURIST BOARD

  Member:

  Mr. E. Glyn Davies

  31 March 1995

  SPORTS COUNCIL FOR WALES

  Member:

  Mr. D. R. Turner

  31 March 1993

  FAMILY HEALTH SERVICE AUTHORITIES

  DYFED

  Non-Executive Member:

  Mrs. Brenda L. Davies

  30 November 1992

  POWYS

  Non-Executive Member:

  Mrs. Patricia A. Antill

  31 March 1994

  DISTRICT HEALTH AUTHORITIES

  PEMBROKESHIRE

  Chairman:

  Capitain Henry W. Phillips

  31 July 1992

  Non-Executive Member:

  Mr. Gerald Henry Monte

  31 October 1992

  WEST GLAMORGAN

  Chairman:

  Mr. P. D. Allen, CBE

  31 July 1992

  STANDING NURSING AND MIDWIFERY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

  Mr. M. J. Vince

  31 March 1996

  19

  Name

  Current appointment ends

  HEALTH PROMOTION AUTHORITY FOR WALES

  Chairman:

  Mr. J. I. Davies

  31 March 1996

  Non-Executive Member:

  Mrs. C. E. Lewis

  31 March 1993

  WELSH NATIONAL BOARD FOR NURSING, MIDWIFERY AND HEALTH VISITING

  Mr. G. Boulton

  14 September 1993

  Professor B. Davies

  14 September 1993

  Dr. D. Harrett

  14 September 1993

  Mr. D. C. Jones-Davies

  14 September 1993

  Mrs. D. A. Keddie

  14 September 1993

  Mrs. A. V. Males

  14 September 1993

  Mrs. S. B. Nuttall

  14 September 1993

  Mrs. T. J. Parry

  14 September 1993

  Mr. N. S. Towns

  14 September 1993

  Mrs. B. Wise

  14 September 1993

  NATIONAL LIBRARY OF WALES

  Council

  Mr. Roy Luff

  17 July 1994

  LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES COUNCIL

  Chairman:

  Mr. W. Gwyn Williams

  30 September 1994

  CARDIFF INSTITUTE OF HIGHER EDUCATION: HIGHER EDUCATION CORPORATION

  Members:

  Mr. Tom Morgan

  31 March 1995

  Ms. Sarah Dawson

  31 March 1995

  HISTORIC BUILDINGS COUNCIL FOR WALES

  Chairman:

  Mr. Thomas Lloyd

  30 April 1995

  WELSH INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD

  Member:

  Mr. M. J. Reilly

  31 December 1994

  BRECON BEACONS NATIONAL PARK

  Members:

  The Hon. Mrs. E. S. J. Legge Bourke

  31 March 1995

  Dr. C. S. Briggs

  31 March 1995

  Dr. D. Jones

  31 March 1995

  PEMBROKESHIRE COAST NATIONAL PARK COMMITTEE

  Members:

  Mr. C. Parry

  31 March 1995

  Mr. W. Evans

  31 March 1995

  SNOWDONIA NATIONAL PARK COMMITTEE

  Members:

  Mr. J. Dale

  31 March 1995

  Mr. R. Collister

  31 March 1993

  INTERVENTION BOARD EXECUTIVE AGENCY1

  Member:

  Mr. O. Rees, CB

  22 February 1995

  MEAT AND LIVESTOCK COMMISSION1

  Member:

  Mr. R. E. M. Rees, CBE

  1 April 1995

  1 Bodies for which the Secretary of State makes some or all appointments jointly with other Ministers.

  HILL FARMING ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR ENGLAND, WALES AND NORTHERN IRELAND

  20

  Name

  Current appointment ends

  Deputy Chairman:

  Mr. Alun Evans, OBE

  14 February 1995

  Members:

  Mr. P. Cornelius

  14 February 1995

  Mr. Charles Armstrong

  14 February 1995

  Mr. Henry Bainbridge

  14 February 1995

  Mr. John Dowson

  14 February 1995

  Mrs. A. Cowan

  14 February 1995

  Mrs. J. Gilman

  14 February 1995

  Mrs. G. Jones

  14 February 1995

  Mr. Edmund Morphet

  14 February 1995

  Mr. Thomas Roskilly, BSc, PhD

  14 February 1995

  Mr. John Sayer

  14 February 1995

  Mr. John Tamplin

  14 February 1995

  Mrs. R. Mudge

  14 February 1995

  Mr. Campbell Tweed

  14 February 1995

  Mr. J. Vaughan

  14 February 1995

  SUB-COMMITTEE FOR WALES OF THE HILL FARMING ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR ENGLAND, WALES AND NORTHERN IRELAND

  Chairman:

  Mr. Alun Evans, OBE

  14 February 1995

  Members:

  Mr. H. Bainbridge

  14 February 1995

  Mr. R. Howells

  14 February 1995

  Mrs. G. Jones

  14 February 1995

  Mr. C. Lewis

  14 February 1995

  Mr. W. Lloyd

  14 February 1995

  Mr. J. Price

  14 February 1995

  Mr. C. Pugh

  14 February 1995

  Mr. John Tamplin, OBE

  14 February 1995

  Mr. J. Vaughan

  14 February 1995

  RENT ASSESSMENT PANEL FOR WALES

  Lay Members:

  Miss M. Evans

  31 December 1992

  County Councillor C. Lewis, JP

  31 December 1992

  Mrs. D. E. H. Roberts

  31 December 1992

  COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURAL VALUATION IN WALES

  Member:

  Mr. G. T. Williams, JP, FSVA, FAAV

  28 February 1993

  AGRICULTURAL WAGES COMMITTEE AND AGRICULTURAL DWELLING HOUSE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CLWYD

  Member:

  Mr. I. G. Richards, BSc, Eng, MICE

  31 December 1993

  DYFED

  Chairperson:

  Mrs. E. D. Williams

  31 December 1993

  Members:

  Mr. G. Davies

  31 December 1993

  Mrs. E. Jenkins

  31 December 1993

  GWENT

  Chairperson:

  Mr. J. L. Evans

  31 December 1993

  Member:

  Mrs. J. M. Williams

  31 December 1993

  GWYNEDD

  Member:

  Mr. R. R. Harris

  31 December 1993

  POWYS

  Member:

  Mrs. L. A. Davies

  31 December 1993

  FORESTRY COMMISSION REFERENCE/ COMMITTEE PANEL (WALES)

  21

  Name

  Current appointment ends

  Members:

  Mr. P. L. Marriott

  30 November 1993

  Mr. R. A. Smart, BSc, FICFOR

  30 November 1993

  Mr. C. H. W. Griffith

  30 November 1993

  Mr. W. B. Walker, FICFOR

  30 November 1993

  URBAN INVESTMENT GRANT APPRAISAL PANEL

  Members:

  Mr. R. James

  31 May 1995

  Mr. K. Doolan

  31 May 1995

  ANCIENT MONUMENTS BOARD FOR WALES

  Chairman:

  Professor Glanmor Williams

  31 March 1995

  WALES YOUTH AGENCY

  Chairman:

  Mr. Gerald Davies

  31 March 1995

  Vice-Chairman:

  Dr. Howard Williamson

  31 March 1995

  HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING COUNCIL FOR WALES

  Chairman:

  Sir Idris Pearce

  5 May 1995

  Members:

  Professor Sir John Cadogan

  5 May 1995

  Mr. Alan Cox

  5 May 1995

  Professor Sir Sam Edwards

  5 May 1995

  Mr. Michael Griffith

  5 May 1995

  Professor Richard Griffiths

  5 May 1995

  Sir Philip Jones

  5 May 1995

  Mr. Alfred Morris

  5 May 1995

  Dr. Brynley Roberts

  5 May 1995

  Dr. Ann Robinson

  5 May 1995

  FURTHER EDUCATION FUNDING COUNCIL FOR WALES

  Chairman:

  Mr. Malcolm Wallace

  5 May 1995

  LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOUNDARY COMMISSION FOR WALES

  Chairman:

  Lady Crawshay, CBE, JP, DL

  30 September 1992

  Deputy Chairman:

  Mr. R. Hall Williams

  30 September 1992

  Member:

  Mr. R. K. Lacey

  30 September 1992

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to announce the next renewables order as part of the non-fossil fuel obligation in England and Wales.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have this under review.

  British Coal
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Boa rd of Trade if he will make it his policy to employ as accountancy or auditing firms, in relation to the privatisation of British Coal, only such firms as have not been subject to criticism in re ports from his Department's inspectors.
  22
  Mr. Eggar
  When making such appointments my Department makes such inquiries as are necessary to establish the professional competence of the firm concerned and takes all relevant considerations into account.

  Euratom Safeguards
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he received a copy of the report on the operation of Euratom safeguards, SEC (92)80 final, from the European Commission;and what contribution the former Department of Energy made to the report.

  Mr. Eggar
  The second "Report on the Operation of Euratom Safeguards", EC 4496/92,—SEC(92)80—was received by my officials on 11 February 1992.

  No information has been sought from my Department specifically in connection with this report. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Renewable Energy Advisory Group
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he plans to publish the report of the Renewable Energy Advisory Group established last August by the former Minister of State at the Department of Energy.

  Mr. Eggar
  Future arrangements for the renewable energy advisory group are currently being considered.

  Decommissioning Costs
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the most recent estimated cost to public funds of decommissioning(a) the Magnox reprocessing plants B204 and B205, respectively, and (b) the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield.

  Mr. Eggar
  Responsibility for assessing the costs of decommissioning the B204, B205 and THORP plants at Sellafield is a matter for the operator, British Nuclear Fuels plc. To the extent that Government programmes have benefited from the operation of the plants, the Government will contribute an appropriate share towards the costs of decommissioning.

  Export Controls
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what steps he proposes to take to constrain further United Kingdom trade in instruments of torture; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he is considering seeking additional legal powers to assist in the process of disclosure in the transfer of all repressive technology equipment and training from the United Kingdom to the rest of the world.

  Mr. Needham
  I have no plans at present to amend export controls for these purposes. When realistic and enforceable controls are identified as necessary, I will act as quickly as possible to impose them. Amnesty International recently sent my predecessor a report on this matter and he provided a full reply to all its recommendations.

  Debt
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation to amend the Insolvency Act 1986 and the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 to ensure
  23
  that debts due by virtue of schedule 4, paragraph 2 of the Social Security Act 1990 be regarded as a preferential debt or a preferred debt, respectively.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  I have no plans to amend the Insolvency Act 1986. Responsibility for amending the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 rests with the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Environmental Impact Assessments
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of British businesses' response to the demands of environmental audit requirements being developed in proposals for European Community legislation.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 13 May 1992]: The Government have received a number of comments from business about the European Community's proposed "eco-audit" regulation as the proposals have developed. The Government welcome the scheme and will continue to consult to ensure that it will meet the needs of British business.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether a list of priorities has been settled in respect of the items in the veterinary sector that are to be considered by the EC Council of Agriculture Ministers during the United Kingdom presidency of the European Community; and if he will make a statement as to what priority has been accorded to animal welfare measures.

  Mr. Soames
  In the veterinary sector the United Kingdom presidency will be giving priority to measures necessary for the completion of the single market and for the improvement of animal welfare. The specific measures to be considered by the Council will depend on the availability of proposals from the Commission and on the progress made under the Portuguese presidency.

  Rabies
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of rabies were reported in(a) France and (b) other EC countries in 1991; and in which regions they occurred.

  Mr. Soames
  EC member states reported the following rabies cases in 1991:

  Country

  Cases

  France

  2,166

  Belgium

  29

  Germany

  3,599

  Italy

  4

  Luxembourg

  16

  Netherlands

  12

  Spain

  18

  Denmark

  —

  Greece

  —

  Portugal

  —

  United Kingdom

  —

  1 In North Africa.

  24
  The disease is present mainly in north-east France, eastern Germany, and at Community border areas with neighbouring third countries.

  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many organisations have approached his Department in connection with the proposed EC legislation on rabies prevention; and if he will list them.

  Mr. Soames
  The Ministry has been approached recently by the following organisations on the general topic of rabies controls:

  Quarantine Kennel Owners Association;

  RSPCA;

  British Veterinary Association;

  National Office of Animal Health;

  Dunwich Womens Association;

  Rushmere St. Andrews Womens Institute;

  Nacton Womens Institute;

  Kelsale Womens Institute;

  Thanet Dog Owners Association;

  The Sled-Dog Sports Federation;

  Hull and Goole Port Health Authority;

  North West Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club;

  Eastern Counties Golden Retriever Club;

  Masters of Foxhounds Association;

  National Farmers Union;

  Farm and Food Society;

  Falmouth and District Hotels Association;

  Healing Parish Council;

  National Equine Defence League;

  Feline Advisory Bureau;

  Walmer Residents Association:

  Bournemouth Residents and Visitors Association of Dog Owners.

  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which countries in western Europe and eastern Europe have had the highest incidence of rabies cases in animals over the past five years; and what information he has on the methods used in those countries to try to prevent the spread of the disease.

  Mr. Soames
  In Europe rabies is mainly associated with the red fox. The highest incidences of disease in western Europe are found in Germany, Austria and France. In eastern Europe the disease is generally widespread with the highest incidences recorded in Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary.

  Oral vaccination of foxes is the chief method for controlling the spread of rabies in both the Community and neighbouring countries.

  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the position in the single market regarding the elimination of quarantine regulations for animals moving into rabies-free countries.

  Mr. Soames
  No proposal has yet been made for the elimination of quarantine.

  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which EC countries enforce compulsory vaccination of dogs.

  Mr. Soames
  Vaccination of dogs is understood to be a legal requirement in Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain. It is also required elsewhere in the Community in specific areas.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further measures he proposes to take to ensure that United Kingdom farming is not disadvantaged by the non-implementation of the common agricultural policy and other regulations in other member states.

  Mr. Curry
  The European Commission is responsible for ensuring that the common agricultural policy is implemented properly in all member states. We are always ready to draw to the Commission's attention any failures by other member states to implement the CAP.

  Farming (Profitability)
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further measures he proposes to take to promote profitability in United Kingdom farming.

  Mr. Curry
  I refer my hon. Friend to the policy statement "Our Farming Future", copies of which were placed in the House Libraries last autumn.

  Viral Haemorrhagic Disease
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he proposes to make viral haemorrhagic disease in rabbits notifiable; how many outbreaks have been confirmed in domestic rabbits; whether any wild rabbits have been confirmed as suffering from the disease; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  Viral haemorrhagic disease in rabbits was made notifiable on 1 June 1991. Two outbreaks have been confirmed in domestic show rabbits and none in any wild rabbits.

  Eggs
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will change the labelling requirements for eggs to ensure that imported eggs are not labelled as British; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  No such change is necessary. It is already an offence under the Egg Marketing Standards Regulations to label eggs as British when they are not.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will carry out a survey of eggs sold in the United Kingdom to ascertain their quality and freshness; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  My egg marketing inspectorate enforces the quality standards laid down in the EC Egg Marketing Regulations in England and Wales at packer and wholesale level. The Agriculture Departments in Scotland and Northern Ireland have similar responsibilities: Trading standards departments of local authorities are responsible for retail sales.

  Dr. David Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce measures to ensure that batches of eggs which have been imported are not released for distribution until the results of salmonella testing are known; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  As was made clear to the hon. Gentleman on 8 March 1990, at column 987, and 27 July, at column 561, such a step would be a clear breach of European Community law.

  Sunlight (Exposure)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice his Ministry has given to farmers and farmworkers about reducing their exposure to the sun's rays.

  Mr. Gummer
  Current public health advice on minimising exposure to strong sunlight is set out in the Health Education Authority leaflet "Are you Dying to get a Suntan", copies of which were distributed to pharmacies by the pharmacy health care scheme in July 1991.

  Salmonella
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the up-to-date position on each of the 17 measures he has taken to control salmonella in poultry to which he referred to in his answer of 3 March 1989,Official Report, column 375; whether any measures have been withdrawn; whether any new measures or other initiatives have been introduced; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  All the measures to control salmonella in poultry listed in the answer of 3 March 1989,Official Report, column 375, were implemented in full.

  The details of the salmonella control measures have been kept under review. New arrangements for slaughter and heat processing of flocks which the Ministry requires to be slaughtered and trials for antibiotic treatment of pullet laying flocks were introduced in March 1990. Less onerous testing and registration requirements for small flocks of breeding birds were introduced in November 1990. The automatic slaughter of laying flocks of domestic fowl infected with salmonella typhimurium was discontinued in January 1991. Arrangements for owners of infected flocks to send eggs for pasteurisation as an option to compulsory slaughter were announced in October 1991.

  Booklets on food safety in the home have been published as well as the production of a video and two information packs for schools.

  The measures introduced to control salmonella in eggs and poultry are necessary to ensure the continued protection to public health. I will continue to keep the measures under close review in the light of changing circumstances and developing scientific knowledge and will continue to press for harmonised salmonella controls to be applied throughout the European Community.

  BSE
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those species of mammals to which attempts have been made to transfer bovine spongiform encephalopathy which have so far been unsuccessful.

  Mr. Soames
  Experimental transmission of BSE has been attempted to the following species of mammal:
  Mice, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs marmosets, hamsters and mink.

  Of these, hamsters and mink have not succumbed to a spongiform encephalopathy. The mink experiment is incomplete.

  Meat and Livestock Commission
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the total Government funding received by the Meat and Livestock Commission for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Curry
  Direct Government funding of the Meat and Livestock Commission—MLC—is confined to payments of the salaries, travel and subsistence and related expenses of Commissioners. Figures for the past five years are as follows:

  £ million

  1987–88

  0·2

  1988–89

  0·2

  1989–90

  0·2

  1990–91

  0·2

  1991–92

  0·2

  In addition, the MLC provides services for Government on a customer/supplier basis for which payments over the past five years were as follows:

  £ million

  1987–88

  12·8

  1988–89

  13·6

  1989–90

  13·3

  1990–91

  10·8

  1991–92

  15·3

  Coastal Defences
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to respond urgently to the National Audit Office report "Coastal Defences in Britain", and the Environment Select Committee report "Coastal Zone Planning"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  The Department is giving careful consideration to the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on coastal defences in England. Officials are likely to be called to give evidence to the Public Accounts Committee after which the Government will respond to any report published by that Committee.

  A separate Government response is being prepared on the report on coastal zone protection and planning by the House's Environment Select Committee.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensions
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total difference in current prices between(a) the cumulative cost of the single pension paid to an individual since April 1979 to date, and (b) the cumulative cost of the single pension paid had the link between the rise in earnings and the rise in the pension been sustained; and what are the comparable figures for the married couples pensions.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The cumulative difference in cost had pensions been uprated by the higher of earnings or prices from April 1980 to date would be £7,690 million.

  This would cost a man on average earnings and his employer an extra £11·20 per week between them in national insurance contributions.
  28
  Notes:

  1. There are no "single" or "married couple" rates of Retirement Pension. The standard pension is calculated on the basis of individual contribution records or, in the case of some married women, on the basis of their husbands' contributions. Adult dependency additions may be awarded where the wife of a pensioner is under pension age. Thus it would be misleading to break down the total cost of all categories of pension into "single" or "married" rates.

  2. The link between the rise in earnings and the rise in the pension was ended in 1980, not 1979. Cost differences have therefore been shown from this date.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) schemes and (b) individuals are currently in receipt of the guaranteed minimum pension; and if he will list the reason in the case of each scheme.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 20 February, at columns 279–80. Analysis of the numbers of individuals involved and the reason in each case is not available.

  Independent Living Fund
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the successor body to the independent living fund will be enabled to provide assistance to new applicants in addition to existing recipients; if he will specify any difference in the eligibility criteria for each group; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The Government are committed to maintaining a fund which supports the most severely disabled people after April 1993. Details of the arrangements will be announced in due course.

  Maxwell Pension Schemes
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 11 May,Official Report, column 46, when regulations will be laid to enact paragraph 2 of schedule 4 to the Social Security Act 1990 to require that, when a pension scheme is wound up, any excess of liabilities over assets is to be treated as a debt on the employer.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the then hon. Member for Ipswich (Mr. Irvine) on 19 December at column 288.

  Pension Funds (Fraud)
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will bring forward legislation to protect the position of pensioners where occupational pension funds have been the victim of fraud; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  We are committed to reviewing the framework of law and regulation within which occupational pensions operate. We are considering the form the review should take and intend to make an announcement soon.

  Water Bills
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what allowance for water bills is included in the calculation of individual income support.
  29
  Miss Widdecombe
  There is no separate allowance for water rates in income support. Water is one of the many items of expenditure which vary. The general movement of prices is reflected in the uprating index applied to income support and the other income-related benefits.

  From this April the uprating index used for the income-related benefits has been modified to include water rates, certain miscellaneous costs and, for 1992–93, 20 per cent. of the community charge.

TRANSPORT

  Thames Bridges
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many railway bridges across the tidal section of the River Thames there are; how many of these incorporate pedestrian crossings; and what authority is responsible for these.

  Mr. Norris
  Three railway bridges across the Thames incorporate pedestrian crossings. Whilst the bridges are the responsibility of British Rail, any pedestrian crossing is the responsibility of the appropriate riparian highway authority.

  BR Rolling Stock
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy that, when granting approval for new rolling stock for British Rail, he will insist on no more than four abreast seating on routes principally serving passengers travelling 40 miles or more.

  Mr. Freeman
  No. It would not be right to impose an arbitrary restriction of this kind. Each case must be treated on its merits.

  Horse Riders (Headgear)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the Horses (Protective Headgear for Young Riders) Act 1990 to be brought into force; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I intend to make the Horses (Protective Headgear for Young Riders) Regulations this month so that they will come into effect before 1 July 1992.

  Heathrow Airport
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action the Government intend to take further to reduce aircraft noise nuisance around Heathrow airport.

  Mr. Norris
  Between 1974 and 1989 there was a 70 per cent. reduction in the number of people living around Heathrow who are exposed to aircraft noise likely to cause annoyance. The phase-out of older, noisier aircraft over the next decade will bring further significant improvements. The United Kingdom has played a leading role in securing international agreement to this.

  Severn Bridge (Tolls)
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will seek to take powers to enable him to reduce toll charges on the Severn bridge.
  30
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  We have no plans to seek any powers in relation to the bridge beyond those contained in the Severn Bridges Act 1992.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received in 1992 about(a) toll increases on the Severn bridge and (b) interruptions to travel across the bridge; on how many days since 1 January travel has been (i) wholly prevented and (ii) impeded by repairs or weather conditions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  My Department has received this year some 40 letters about the toll increases provided for in the Severn Bridges Act 1992. We have had a smaller number of letters about delays on the bridge.

  The bridge has not been closed to traffic at any time this year. High winds have caused operating restrictions on five days. Delays to traffic in excess of 10 minutes due to strengthening and resurfacing work have occurred on five days.

  The Severn bridge provides substantial benefits to users and to the Welsh economy. The early provision by the private sector of a second crossing will reinforce those benefits. I know that Severn River Crossing plc attaches much importance to minimising delays at the existing bridge.

  Southend (Train Service)
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make an official visit to Southend on Sea by train on the Fenchurch Street line to assess its standard of service.

  Mr. Freeman
  I am pleased to see that the service provided on the Fenchurch Street line has improved substantially in recent months and that the line has exceeded its passengers charter standard for punctuality by a considerable margin. I hope to take an early opportunity to use the line to visit Southend.

  Jubilee Line
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the future of the extension of the Jubilee line.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier in response to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes).

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the future of the Jubilee line extention into London docklands.

  Mr. Norris
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave earlier in response to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes).

  Traffic Calming
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what he is doing to take forward his policy to promote traffic-calming measures; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Government support was given to the private Member's Bill on traffic calming which
  31
  received Royal Assent on 16 March. We propose to bring forward regulations later this year. The Department is continuing to provide technical guidance to local authorities on the introduction of traffic-calming measures generally, and to encourage the introduction of 20 mph zones.

  We are making good progress with bypass demonstration project launched in January; we have published jointly with the Department of the Environment a new version of design bulletin 32 on residential roads and footpaths; and we are aiming very shortly to publish an interim report from a joint working group with the County Surveyors Society on the control of traffic speeds through villages.

  Roads, West Cumbria
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has reached for further roads development in west Cumbria.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  There are currently 18 schemes in the road programme for Cumbria either under construction or in preparation with a total estimated cost in excess of £200 million.

  Five of these schemes are in west Cumbria. There are no proposals to add to this programme at present.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what date he anticipates that the proposed channel tunnel fast link will be operational.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is too soon to say. No decision has yet been made on when construction may start.

  Municipal Airports
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to encourage the privatisation of municipally owned airports.

  Mr. Norris
  We wish to see the local authority airports develop and prosper. But as pressure on public sector spending continues, they will have to look increasingly to the private sector to share in the successes and the risks associated with continued expansion.

  Peakes Parking Project
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to announce his decision on phase III of the Peakes parking project following the public inquiry of March 1991.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  A decision on the Compulsory Purchase Order and Side Roads Order, submitted by Humberside county council, in respect of the Peakes parkway road scheme will be issued shortly.

  London Traffic
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to reduce the volume of traffic on London's roads.

  Mr. Norris
  Our approach is set out in the consultation document "Draft Traffic Management and Parking 32
  Guidance for London" published on 11 March. It states that some modernisation in the growth of demand will be achieved by providing through traffic with good alternative routes around London, such as widening the M25, and by encouraging a switch to public transport by improving and extending London's rail networks, making bus travel more attractive and encouraging local authorities to adopt appropriate parking policies and parking standards associated with new development. We are keeping an open mind on the benefits or otherwise of road pricing pending the results of the study now under way.

  East Coast Rail Line
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the electrification of the main east coast rail line will be completed.

  Mr. Freeman
  Electrification of the east coast main line to Edinburgh was completed in July 1991. British Rail has at present no plans for further electrification of the line north of Edinburgh.

  London Underground
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet the chairman of London Underground to discuss improvements to the underground rail network.

  Mr. Norris
  My right hon. Friend and I shall be meeting the chairman of London Underground on a regular basis to discuss various matters, including improvements to the underground.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his Department's estimate of the annual level of capital investment needed to avoid any further deterioration of the London Underground; and what level of subsidy from Her Majesty's Government is proposed for such capital investment.

  Mr. Norris
  In evidence to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission last year, London Underground Ltd. said that an average expenditure of £700 million to £750 million needed to be maintained over the remainder of the decade in order to provide an acceptably modern underground. The grant provision announced in the autumn statement is sufficient to allow for this level to be attained in 1993–94.

  Rail Electrification
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with British Rail about its electrification programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  When particular routes need to be re-equipped, British Rail consider on a case-by-case basis whether electrification is justified. It is for BR, in the first instance, to assess the case and to determine priorities within its investment programme.

  Sexual Offences
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cases of serious sexual offences against men have taken place on the London Underground in the last year.
  33
  Mr. Norris
  There has been one serious incident on the London Underground involving an indecent offence against a male reported in the last year.

  Cycling
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has of the change in the amount of use of cycles as a normal means of transport to work, shopping, and so on; and what contacts his Department has with organisations representing(a) the manufacturers and retailers and (b) the users of cycles.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Recent analysis of the 1988–89 national travel survey reveals that the number of cycles used has doubled since the mid-1970s to about 15 million. Somewhere between 4 per cent. and 5 per cent. of the population use bicycles as transport to work.

  Officials of the Department have continuous contacts with organisations representing cycling interests. These comprise formal meetings, correspondence and telephone conversations.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures his Department has taken since 1987 to encourage the use of cycles as an environmentally friendly means of transport, including encouraging local authorities to provide dedicated routes for cyclists; and what studies his Department has carried out of the practice in other European Community countries with a view to(a) encouraging the use of bicycles and (b) ensuring the rights of pedestrians are respected.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Over the last five years we have carried through the cycle routes programme of research commenced in 1983. This was undertaken to measure the effects of continuous cycle routes in urban areas, particularly on cycle safety and levels of use. The aim was to acces the value and practicality of such schemes for general application. Preliminary results were reported at the international Velo City conference in Milan in 1991, and a final report is due to be published later this year.

  We take careful note of devoloping practice in other EC countries, in addition to the continuing programme of research which we have undertaken in the United Kingdom. Our extensive series of traffic advisory leaflets and local transport notes on cycling encourage local authorities to provide facilities for cyclists, including the establishment of cycle routes. We also stress the importance of taking full account of the rights of pedestrians when introducing features to help cyclists.

  Car Owners' Details
  Mr. Sherman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to change the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 1971 to remove the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's power to supply the name and address of car owners routinely on the payment of £3·50.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The provision which permits the disclosure of the names and addresses of vehicle owners in certain circumstances is well established and has been of considerable assistance to road users over the years. We have no plans to remove it.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has had from women's34
  organisations regarding the willingness of the driver and vehicle licensing centre in Swansea to supply the name and address of a motorist-vehicle owner routinely for payment.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  None.

  Porous Asphalt
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his assessment and evaluation of porous asphalt as a road surface material.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I refer the hon. Member to my statement during the recent debate on noise and spray benefits of porous asphalt—Official Report, 15 May 1992, column 915.

  Networker Trains
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investment approval he has given to complete the Networker build for Kent link services.

  Mr. Freeman
  The then Secretary of State gave approval for the 188 Networkers necessary to complete the replacement build for Kent link services on 19 June 1991. That approval was amended on 20 March 1992 in the light of updated tenders and an order for those vehicles was placed on 10 April.

  British Rail
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what countries he intends to visit in furtherance of information about his proposals for British Rail; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. Friend and I are considering visits to a number of countries, to gain first-hand knowledge of private sector rail operations; details are yet to be finalised. I am sure that this will prove useful in the detailed implementation of our policies for restructuring British Rail.

  M3
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many letters he has received calling for the M3 Bar End-Compton to be put into a tunnel under Twyford down.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Department has received a number of letters about the M3 Bar End-Compton scheme including some suggesting that it should be put in a tunnel under Twyford down.

  Orange Badge Scheme
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place a copy of the amending regulations to the orange badge disabled parking scheme which came into effect on 2 March in the Library.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Copies of the amending regulations to the orange badge disabled parking scheme which came into effect on 2 March 1992 have been placed in the Library.

  Motorway Service Areas
  Mr. Haselhurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from Trust House Forte in connection with his consultation document on motorway service areas and their contract for the M11 services area.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Forte restaurants have responded to the consultation document. Their comments are now being considered along with the replies we have received from some 200 other consultees.

  The chief executive of the company informed my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport on 6 March that he was postponing further work on construction of the M11 service area at Birchanger until future policy on motorway service areas is clarified following the consultation exercise.

  Train Carriages
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment the railway inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive has made of the safety implications of the locking of one in four carriages on trains on the Fenchurch Street and Southend line via Tilbury.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail decided to lock the guard's compartment and the saloon immediately adjacent to it to safeguard passengers when an electrical fault occurred in the transformers on some trains. I understand that this is a short-term precaution pending resolution of the problem and affects only 17 coaches of the 106 units currently in service.

  British Rail has taken measures to reduce possible overcrowding including the provision of additional stock from other lines. I understand that Her Majesty's railway inspectorate has kept closely in touch with British Rail about this matter since this fault developed. It is satisfied that the measures taken will have no adverse effect on safety. British Rail is seeking an early resolution to these problems and hopes to have all the coaches fully available for passenger use as soon as possible.

  Bus Deregulation
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what effect bus deregulation has had on route coverage.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram) earlier today.

  M1-M62 Link
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make plans for the proposed route of the M1-M62 link road publicly available in a larger scale than 1:1250.

  Wild Shellfish

  (Tonnes)

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Species

  West of Scotland (ICES Area VIa)

  Irish Sea (ICES Area VIIa)

  West of Scotland (ICES Area VIa)

  Irish Sea (ICES Area VIIa)

  West of Scotland (ICES Area VIa)

  Irish Sea (ICES Area VIIa)

  West of Scotland (ICES Area VIa)

  Irish Sea (ICES Area VIIa)

  West of Scotland (ICES Area VIa)

  Irish Sea (ICES VIIa)

  Crabs

  6·145

  17·645

  8·090

  71·554

  29·198

  68·723

  9·020

  373·527

  5·658

  484·365

  Velvet Crabs

  —

  —

  —

  2·959

  —

  0·807

  —

  24·569

  —

  77·696

  Lobsters

  8·182

  5·388

  9·135

  7·863

  5·896

  9·690

  8·760

  3·743

  4·404

  6·472

  Nephrops

  2·745

  5,102·216

  17·642

  5,326·428

  16·263

  5,604·026

  30·507

  5,675·214

  25112

  6,013·702

  Whelks

  —

  1·740

  —

  12·034

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  36
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 15 May 1992]: Larger scale plans would be prepared only much later in the design process should any of the options be developed further.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what methods of assessment of visual impact or intrusion have been used by his Department in the development of proposals for an M1-M62 motorway link.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 15 May 1992]: Visual impact of the proposals has been assessed in accordance with the methods set out in the Department's manual of environmental appraisal.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Shellfish
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will specify which body is responsible for the regulation of the harvesting of shellfish in Northern Ireland coastal waters and beaches.

  Mr. Hanley
  Legislation to regulate the fishing industry is generally implemented on a United Kingdom wide basis by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland acting in concert. Under the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 and the Diseases of Fish Act (Northern Ireland) 1967, however, the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland also enjoys certain regulatory powers of its own.

  Gathering shellfish from the foreshore of Belfast lough west of Black head and Orlock point is prohibited under the Belfast Corporation Act (Northern Ireland) 1930 and responsibility for enforcing this lies with the local district councils.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide a table showing the amount of shellfish harvested by species in each of the last five years and their principal areas of extraction.

  Mr. Hanley
  The following is the information:

  Farmed shellfish

  Year

  Pacific oysters tonnes

  Native oysters tonnes

  Mussels tonnes

  Clams tonnes

  Cockles tonnes

  1987

  98·720

  —

  14·135

  —

  —

  1988

  125·650

  —

  26·424

  —

  1·000

  1989

  199·711

  16·080

  104·040

  0·085

  1·700

  1990

  152·110

  29·150

  386·620

  1·200

  2·750

  1991

  169·620

  21·700

  1934·560

  0·320

  2·800

  Note: The principal areas of cultivation are Strangford Lough, Belfast Lough and Dundrum Inner Bay.
  37

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Species

  West of Scotland (ICES Area VIa)

  Irish Sea (ICES Area VIIa)

  West of Scotland (ICES Area VIa)

  Irish Sea (ICES Area VIIa)

  West of Scotland (ICES Area VIa)

  Irish Sea (ICES Area VIIa)

  West of Scotland (ICES Area VIa)

  Irish Sea (ICES Area VIIa)

  West of Scotland (ICES Area VIa)

  Irish Sea (ICES VIIa)

  Queen Scallops

  —

  240·251

  —

  22·582

  —

  53·018

  —

  78·862

  0·152

  191·175

  Scallops

  11·712

  296·697

  —

  222·171

  9·171

  316·639

  46·312

  215·025

  40·783

  188·875

  Squid

  —

  22·242

  1·511

  81·735

  0·095

  105·599

  1·257

  72·762

  3·185

  33·042

  Mussels

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  260·000

  —

  1,810·000

  Weekly Newspapers
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what financial support is being given by the Local Enterprise Development Unit to assist the publication of the new weekly newspaper,The Cross Examiner; where The Cross Examiner will be printed; what are the implications for employment in the existing weekly newspapers in circulation in the Newry/Mourne areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  LEDU has offered The Cross Examiner financial support by way of employment grant totalling £16,000.

  The Cross Examiner will be published in Northern Ireland but will initially be printed in Monaghan.

  Before offering assistance towards the publication of The Cross Examiner LEDU assured itself that the new newspaper will have no significant adverse effect on employment levels in existing competing publications.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which weekly newspapers in Northern Ireland are to receive financial support from the Local Enterprise Development Unit during the current year.

  Mr. Atkins
  LEDU has made offers of assistance to the Derg and District News and The Cross Examiner which could result in both receiving financial support during the current year.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which weekly newspapers in Northern Ireland have received financial support from the Local Enterprise Development Unit in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Northern Ireland Newspapers Group received financial support during 1987 and this support continued in 1988. Nuachtain received assistance in 1990.

  Car Parks, Donaghadee
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals there are for additional car parks in Donaghadee; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  A recent proposal to provide a new central park in New street, Donaghadee was withdrawn as a result of local opposition. There are no other proposals to provide additional car parking at present.

  Voting
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, pursuant to his answer 12 May, column 76, he will publish (a) the number of postal votes issued, (b) the number of postal votes returned and (c) the numbers of proxies appointed for each parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland for the 1992 general election.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information is as follows:38

  Constituencies

  Postal Votes issued

  Postal Votes returned

  Proxies appointed

  Belfast East

  486

  412

  195

  Belfast North

  374

  316

  241

  Belfast South

  675

  573

  181

  Belfast West

  443

  348

  271

  East Antrim

  706

  600

  296

  East Londonderry

  2,010

  1,864

  399

  Fermanagh and South Tyrone

  5,417

  4,910

  430

  Foyle

  1,285

  1,156

  246

  Lagan Valley

  844

  740

  260

  Mid-Ulster

  3,245

  3,057

  393

  Newry and Armagh

  3,384

  3,086

  195

  North Antrim

  831

  746

  201

  North Down

  755

  659

  293

  South Antrim

  676

  568

  286

  South Down

  4,166

  3,872

  1,192

  Strangford

  698

  579

  240

  Upper Bann

  1,587

  1,421

  266

  Total

  27,582

  24,907

  5,585

DEFENCE

  RAF Brawdy
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what financial contribution will be made by the United States naval facility at Brawdy to(a) estate and property management costs and (b) security by RAF personnel when flight training ends at RAF Brawdy, in financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94;

  (2) what was the financial contribution made by the United States Government towards the United States naval facility at Brawdy for (a) property and estate management and (b) security in financial years 1990–91, 1991–92 and the current financial year.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The United States naval facility at RAF Brawdy is subject to a bilateral agreement between the Governments of the United Kingdom and the United States, the details of which are confidential.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimate of the total annual net pay of RAF personnel that will be based at RAF Brawdy after flight training ends in the financial year 1993–94.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The total gross annual pay of RAF service personnel at RAF Brawdy in 1993–94 will be approximately £2·5 million. Net pay is estimated to be about 30 per cent. less. A precise net figure could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to representatives of his Department's meeting with consultants Conran Roche or members of the task force set up by the Secretary of State for Wales to discuss alternative uses, within his Department, for RAF Brawdy and RNAD Trecwn.
  39
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Ministry of Defence has been represented on the west Wales task force since its inception. Officials have already met with Conran Roche, and will do so again as necessary in the future.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the estimate of total saving to his Department's budget by ending flight training at RAF Brawdy in the financial years of 1992–93 and 1993–94;

  (2) what will be the saving to his Department's budget in property and estate management costs by ending flight training at RAF Brawdy in the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94;

  (3) what will be the saving to his Department's budget in base security costs when flight training ceases at RAF Brawdy in financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94;

  (4) what will be the saving to his Department's budget in service personnel costs by ending flight training at RAF Brawdy for financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Ending flying training at RAF Brawdy will save an average of £2 million a year over a 10-year period.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total monthly net pay for all RAF personnel currently based at RAF Brawdy.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The total gross pay for all RAF personnel at RAF Brawdy was £977,373 for the month of March 1992. Net pay would have been about 30 per cent. less. A precise net figure could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of those service personnel presently employed at RAF Brawdy will be made redundant when flight training ceases at RAF Brawdy.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No service personnel presently employed at RAF Brawdy will be made redundant as a result of the cessation of flying training.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total expenditure on local contracts and purchases by RAF Brawdy in financial years 1990–91 and 1991–92; and what are the estimates for 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  For 1990–91 total expenditure on local contracts and purchases is estimated at approximately £340,000 and for 1991–92 approximately £290,000. Figures for 1992–93 and 1993–94 are not available but are expected to commensurate with the planned rundown.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF service personnel will be transferred from RAF Brawdy when it ceases flight training activities; how many of them will go to other flight training bases; and how many of them will go to duties other than those connected with flight training bases.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  When all activities related to flying training have ceased some 560 RAF personnel will be progressively transferred from RAF Brawdy. It is not yet possible to say how many will go to flying training stations or how many will go to other duties as this will depend on service requirements, individual preference and career development.
  40
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what studies are taking place by his Department's officials into alternative uses for RAF Brawdy and RNAD Trecwn; what plans he has for these to involve representatives of the Secretary of State for Wales's task force; and when the report will be published;

  (2) what investigations were made by his Department into alternative uses within his Department for RAF Brawdy before the announcement that flight training would end there.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Although flying training at RAF Brawdy is to cease this year the station will remain open. Studies have taken place into alternative defence activities that could be accommodated at the station. None has arisen. My Department is still investigating possible defence uses for RNAD Trecwn, failing which the site will be offered to other Government Departments. Officials of my Department are taking part in the consideration of other uses currently being undertaken by the west Wales task force set up by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total annual net pay for all RAF personnel based at RAF Brawdy in the financial years 1991–92 and 1990–91.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The total gross pay for all RAF personnel based at RAF Brawdy was £9·9 million in 1990–91 and £11·3 million in 1991–92. Total net pay was about 30 per cent. less. A precise net figure could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Low Frequency Monitoring
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest position on proposals to establish an extremely low frequency listening post of Sron A'Choire Ghairbh beside Loch Lochy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  I assume that the hon. Gentleman is referring to the programme to construct an experimental extremely low frequency transmitter at the location he describes. I have nothing further to add to the answer given by the then Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement to my hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro) on 14 February 1991, announcing our decision not to proceed with this project.

  Naval Support Command
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the date on which Ministers approved the proposals to restructure the fleet support.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In March 1992 Ministers endorsed a package of proposals designed to achieve staff savings and restructure the Department's headquarters organisation as a contribution to overall economies in the support area. One of these proposals was the establishment of a new naval support command.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how large the establishment of the proposed naval support command will be.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The headquarters establishment of the new naval support command will be in the order of 3,300.
  41
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the staff who will make up the proposed naval support command are currently situated.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The naval support command will bring together staff currently located in or near Bath, London, Portsmouth, Weymouth and Stockton-on-Tees.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the advantages and disadvantages of collocating all naval support command staff on one site.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Work is under way to assess all relevant factors involved in setting up the new naval support command including the costs and benefits of full collocation. A principal advantage gained from the collocation of headquarters staff would be the greater effectiveness of multi-disciplinary groups dedicated to supporting equipments and systems in service.

  Staff Relocation
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost of relocating staff from Eaglescliffe to Bath.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  About £2 million.

ENVIRONMENT

  Development Land
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has, or what proposals he is investigating, for payment on deferred terms by developers for land obtained by them for development within areas controlled by urban development corporations.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My Department is currently considering a proposal for a development under which the London Docklands development corporation will benefit from a deferred profit share arrangement.

  New Forest
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has yet decided upon a date for granting national park status to the New Forest.

  Mr. Maclean
  No. We intend to introduce legislation as soon as a convenient opportunity can be found.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the New Forest is in the first tranche of local authorities covered by the Local Government Commission's recommendations for reorganisation.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  We hope to make an announcement about the Local Government Commission's programme of areas before the summer recess. Areas where there is a history of dissatisfaction with the existing local government structure will be high on the commission's list of priorities.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the timetable for the first tranche of recommendations under the local government commission's proposals for the reorganisation of local government.
  42
  Mr. Robin Squire
  The commission will begin its reviews of areas, as directed by the Secretary of State, as soon as practicable after it has been set up. We hope that the commission will make recommendations in time for the first new authorities to be established on 1 April 1994. Others will take longer.

  Mr. Temple-Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to appoint the local government commission and its staff; and how long he expects it will take for the commission to review the structure of local government and make recommendations.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  We intend to set up the new local government commission this summer.

  We want the commission to complete its reviews of local government structure as quickly as possible, subject to the need to give proper consideration to the complex issues involved. We hope that the commission will make recommendations in time for the first new unitary authorities to be established on 1 April 1994. Recommendations on other areas are likely to lead to other unitary authorities being set up later.

  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the procedures adopted by the local government commission in its review of local government.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The procedures for the local government commission to follow are set out in general terms in section 15 of the Local Government Act 1992. My right hon. Friend will issue guidance to the commission, building on these statutory requirements. Detailed procedures for the conduct of individual reviews will be a matter for the commission itself.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to introduce legislation to extend compulsory competitive tendering to local authority housing management; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  A consultation paper setting out our proposals will be published within the next few weeks.

  European Community Environmental Law
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any agreement has been reached between the European Communities and the European Free Trade Association to apply EC environmental law in EFTA states.

  Mr. Maclean
  Under the agreement on the European economic area, signed on 2 May and due to enter into force on 1 January 1993, the EFTA countries will be bound by most EC environmental legislation forming part of the single market provisions. Annex XX to the agreement lists the 32 items of environmental legislation which fall into this category. The agreement also provides for closer co-operation between EC and EFTA countries in the field of the environment and specifies that"environmental protection requirements shall be a component of the Contracting Parties' other policies".

  The official text of the signed version of the agreement will be deposited in Parliament as soon as it is received.

  Waste Carriers
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress made in the registration of waste carriers under the provisions of the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 came fully into force on 1 April 1992 and the responsibility to apply for registration rests with those who transport controlled waste. Each waste regulation authority is required to establish and maintain a public register of carriers and the register must include a copy of each application made to the authority. As indicated in DOE circular 11/91—paragraphs 8 and 9—a co-ordinated national database of carriers is also being established by waste regulation authorities.

  Emissions
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on the principle of equal per capita emissions rights; and if it will be included in his forthcoming submission to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.

  Mr. Maclean
  The preamble to the United Nations framework convention on climate change recognises that per capita emissions in developing countries are still relatively low and that the share of global emissions originating in developing countries will grow to meet their social and development needs.

  Hazardous Waste
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to provide for the disconnection of all toxic industrial discharges to sewers and the immediate cessation of any new consent to discharge toxic industrial waste into sewers.

  Mr. Maclean
  No. Under the Water Industry Act 1991 it is for sewerage undertakers, and in the case of special category effluent for the Secretary of State, to determine whether to accept such discharges and to set appropriate consent conditions. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 it is for Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, in consultation with sewerage undertakers, to include appropriate conditions in authorizations for processes subject to integrated pollution control, and for the chief inspector to have regard to the best practicable environmental option, which may include disposal to sewer.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether sufficient countries have ratified the Basel convention on the transfrontier movement and disposal of hazardous waste for the convention to enter into force.

  Mr. Maclean
  Yes. The Basel convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal came into force on 5 May.

  Closed Churchyards
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will meet representatives from Newcastle borough council and local authority associations to discuss section 215 of the Local Government Act 1972 involving the additional costs incurred following the taking over of maintenance of closed churchyards.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  No. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has no plans to amend section 215 of the Local Government Act 1972, which simply continues a system which has existed since 1855. Such costs are taken into account when deciding the revenue support grant.

  Earth Summit
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment his Department has made of the "Bottom Line" booklet published by Greenpeace prior to the United Nations earth summit in Rio de Janeiro.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Department has studied the Greenpeace booklet and taken note of the views expressed by that organisation.

  Wildlife
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will introduce a wildlife enhancement scheme; what its scope will be; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The wildlife enhancement scheme was launched by English Nature as a three-year pilot in November 1991. It provides annual and fixed cost payments to farmers who agree to adopt management practices which will maintain and enhance the nature conservation value of their land. The scheme is presently open to owners and occupiers in the Pevensey Levels sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) in Sussex, the Culm Grasslands SSSIs on the Devon and Cornwall border, and the Coversand Heath and Peatland SSSIs in Yorkshire and Humberside.

  Sustainable Living
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to adopt a declaration and covenant committing the United Kingdom to the ethic of sustainable living, including a definition of rights and responsibilities.

  Mr. Maclean
  This Government's commitment to the principle of sustainable development was clearly set out in the 1990 environment White Paper "This Common Inheritance". We will develop policies on environmental rights and responsibilities through the citizens charter initiative.

  National Parks
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will bring forward plans to give the New Forest the statutory protection of national park status.

  Mr. Maclean
  We intend to introduce legislation as soon as a convenient opportunity can be found.
  45
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will bring forward plans to increase the resources, responsibilities and local accountability of national park authorities.

  Mr. Maclean
  We cannot commit ourselves to any specific future level of resources for the national parks, but our record on funding them is a good one. National parks supplementary grant has risen by well over 50 per cent. in real terms over the last five years and 24 per cent. more money was made available to the parks in 1992–93 than in 1991–92. In January, we announced our intention to introduce legislation to create all national park authorities as independent bodies, though still within the local government framework, and to take steps to ensure truly local representation on them. The move to independence will bring to the national park authorities freedom to manage their own affairs and a more undivided commitment to park objectives. We will introduce legislation as soon as a convenient opportunity can be found.

  Species Recovery Scheme
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will expand the species recovery scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The "recovery" scheme to assist specific native plants and animals in danger of extinction was launched by English Nature in April 1991. Fourteen species were included in the scheme in 1991–92 and English Nature plans to increase this to 21 in 1992–93.

  Disabled People (Housing)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, by district council, the number of applications made for adaptations to the homes of disabled people in each of the last five years; how many adaptations were carried out in each year; and what was the average length of time to complete adaptations from the request for an adaptation to be made to its conclusion.

  Mr. Baldry
  The current system of renovation grants, which was introduced in June 1990 under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, includes disabled facilities grants. Information about final payments of these grants, which correspond to adaptations carried out, will be shortly published for 1990 and 1991 in "Local Housing Statistics: England and Wales" issue No. 101. An advance copy of the relevant tables has been deposited in the Library.

  For earlier periods, payments of improvement and intermediate grants were made for disabled persons' dwellings under the Housing Act 1985. Details ate also shown in "Local Housing Statistics", in the following issues:

  1987—Issue No. 87, Table 11

  1988—Issue No. 90, Table 14

  1989—Issue No. 94, Table 13

  1990—Issue No. 98, Table 11

  Copies of these issues are available in the Library. A table showing payments during 1991 under the 1985 Act has been deposited in the Library.

  Figures are not available at district level about the number of applications for grants or about the average length of time to complete work funded by grants.
  46
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by district council the number of(a) owner-occupiers and private tenants and (b) council tenants who have applied in each of the last two years for the disabled facilities grant; how many adaptations were carried out in each category; what was the average length of time taken to complete adaptations from the request for an adaptation to be made to its conclusion in each category; and in each category what was the average amount paid by (i) applicants, (ii) district councils and (iii) central Government.

  Mr. Baldry
  A table has been deposited in the Library with the available information about payments of disabled facilities grants under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 during the financial year 1990–91. Figures for the subsequent year are not yet available.

  The table shows the numbers of grants paid to owner-occupants and types of tenant and, without an analysis by occupancy, both the average value of grants and the average contribution from the applicant towards the cost of works.

  The Department provides a 75 per cent. Exchequer contribution towards local authorities' expenditure in England on disabled facilities grants for owner-occupiers and private tenants. Expenditure on these grants for council tenants is eligible for 100 per cent. subsidy from the housing revenue account.

  Figures of the number of applications for grants and the average length of time to complete work funded by grants are not available at district level.

  Aggregates
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many acres or hectares of the borough of Thurrock, Essex, are currently being exploited for the extraction of aggregates; and which other local authority districts within south-east England have a higher proportion of their land area currently being used for this purpose.

  Mr. Baldry
  I regret that this information is not available.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list details of the importation of chemical or toxic waste into the United Kingdom via(a) the port of Tilbury and (b) other docks, wharfs or jetties within the county of Essex over the past five years.

  Mr. Maclean
  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 requested is as follows:

  Year

  Port

  Quantity (Tonnes)

  October 1988 to March 1989

  Tilbury

  83

  Harwich

  104

  Purfleet

  100

  Total October 1988 to March 1989

  287

  47

  Year

  Port

  Quantity (Tonnes)

  April 1989 to March 1990

  Tilbury

  13

  Harwich

  154

  Purfleet

  12

  Total 1989 to 1990

  179

  April 1990 to March 1991

  Tilbury

  26

  Harwich

  2,383

  Total 1990 to 1991

  2,409

  April 1991 to March 1992

  Harwich

  3,021

  Total 1991 to 1992

  3,021

  Total October 1988 to March 1992

  5,896

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which body has responsibility for ensuring that tipping of chemical, toxic or other waste into pits within a particular district authority complies with the licences, and health and safety regulations; and what information he has on the frequency with which such checks have been made in respect of each pit in the borough of Thurrock over the past two years.

  Mr. Maclean
  Essex county council, as waste regulation authority for the Thurrock area, is responsible for granting disposal licences and monitoring them to ensure that their conditions are adhered to and continue to be appropriate. It is the responsibility of the local office of the Health and Safety Executive to ensure that the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 are not breached.

  The Department has no record of the number of site visits made by Essex county council in Thurrock. It would be for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment to advise as to any steps taken to monitor compliance with the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department keeps on the location and size of waste dumps in each local authority area, together with the type and amount of waste accepted in each dump; what such information is available for the borough of Thurrock; and if he will make it his policy to maintain such information as is not already kept centrally.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Department does not keep detailed information on the size and location of waste disposal facilities. Waste regulation authorities maintain on public registers copies of disposal licences for each facility in their area. Essex county council is the waste regulation authority which covers Thurrock. An environment agency which included the waste regulation functions of local authorities would also have responsibility for the maintenance of the licence information they currently hold.

  Climate Change
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the Government's position on the Sao Paulo statement on global climate change and the emission of greenhouse gases.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 15 May 1992]: The United Kingdom welcomed the first report of the United Nations Environment Programme-World Meteorological Office intergovernmental panel on climate change which included the declaration agreed in Sao Paulo in January 1990 by the agricultural, forestry and other human activities sub-group.

  Sink Benefits
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his policy on sink benefits, equal rights of access to sink benefits and use of the global commons; and how they will feature in his Department's submission to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 15 May 1992]: The United Kingdom supports the commitment contained in article 4 of the United Nations framework convention on climate change that all countries should promote sustainable management and promote and co-operate in the conservation and enhancement of sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases. Increases in the absorption of greenhouse gases by sinks will benefit all countries in limiting potential climate change.

  Equitable Emissions Restraint
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on equitable emissions restraint at source; whether this concept will feature in his submission to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 15 May 1992]: The United Kingdom supports article 3 of the United Nations framework convention on climate change which states that all parties should protect the climate system on the basis of equity and in accordance with countries' common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities and that accordingly developed countries should take the lead in combating climate change and the adverse effects thereof.

  Wild Birds
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider taking steps to ban the importation of wild-caught birds into the United Kingdom; what consideration he has given to the recommendations on this subject of the recent Joint Nature Conservation Committee report; and if he will press within the Community for legislation to outlaw the wild bird trade in Europe.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 15 May 1992]: The Government keep this issue under very close review. Last year we endorsed the conclusions of the report prepared

  49
  for us by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee that we should continue to support the present framework of selective international controls on the wildlife trade and that we should refrain from a general ban, as this would remove a potentially important incentive to conserve species abroad. We regard the principle of sustainable use of natural resources as an important aspect of our approach to conservation worldwide.

  We have vigorously pursued the JNCC's detailed recommendations for improved implementation of the current controls; in October last year we wrote to the European Commission urging it to propose EC-wide action and in March at the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species conference in Japan we pressed successfully for effect to be given by 115 countries worldwide to one of the JNCC's most important proposals. This will require exporting countries to make proper assessments of the impact of trade on certain species to avoid import bans by other countries.

  The European Commission has now responded to our concerns by proposing a strong new regulation on the wildlife trade. We intend to make this a priority for our presidency of the European Community later this year.

  With colleagues in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and food, we are also introducing a number of tighter controls to protect birds in transport. The United Kingdom played a prominent part at the CITES conference in gaining worldwide acceptance of the need to suspend trade in birds suffering unacceptably high mortality.

  Seals
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to bring forward proposals to amend the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 in order to ban the shooting of seals on the grounds of fisheries protection.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I have been asked to reply.

  We have no plans to do so.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Lord President of the Council (1) what steps he has taken to recruit members of ethnic minorities in top grades of employment in his office;

  (2) when his office 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;

  (3) 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. Newton
  The Privy Council Office has 31 staff, many of whom are on loan from other civil service Departments. It has no staff in grades 1 and 2, and has three permanent staff in grades 3 to 7, none of whom are members of ethnic minorities. Five per cent. of permanent staff below grade 7 are members of such minorities. Given this background, the conduct of surveys is inappropriate. On the rare occasions when direct recruitment is undertaken, every effort is made to ensure that selection procedures are fair and non-discriminatory.

  EC Parliaments
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will publish a table showing the opportunities for individual hon. Members to ask questions of Ministers and the Head of Government; to introduce draft legislation, participate in debates on subjects chosen by an opposition grouping, raise a specific grievance at a regular interval, apply to an authority not controlled by Government for leave to ask an emergency question or initiate an emergency debate, table and debate a motion on any topic or be free to change political allegiance between elections, in each of the Parliaments of the member states of the European Economic Community.

  Mr. Newton
  Parliamentary procedures, practices and conventions vary widely in the parliaments of the member states of the European Community according to traditions and needs. To supply the information requested by the hon. Member would involve detailed consultation of the parliaments of the other member states and could therefore be made available only at disproportionate cost.

EMPLOYMENT

  Freight Forwarding Agents
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps she is taking to compensate those freight forwarding agents and their staff who will lose their jobs as a direct result of the ending of customs controls between members of the European Community on 1 January 1993.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  We await the formal publication of a study initiated by the European Commission into the effect on the freight forwarding industry of the removal of customs barriers when the single European market is completed.

  Employees dismissed because of redundancy and who satisfy the qualifying conditions may be entitled to redundancy payments under employment protection legislation.

  To anyone unfortunate enough to lose his job the Government are now offering a comprehensive range of help and advice. In 1992–93 we are providing almost 1 million places on employment, enterprise and training programmes through the networks of employment service job centres and training and enterprise councils.

  Industrial Tribunals
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans she has in relation to each industrial tribunal situated on the Wales and Chester circuit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Cardiff regional office has recently acquired some additional accommodation, and this will provide for an additional tribunal hearing room to deal with the increased caseload. The associated office at Shrewsbury, which serves mid and north Wales and parts of the Welsh Marches, has recently moved to new and larger premises, and these new premises also provide for an additional hearing room. Hearings are also held by visiting tribunals at other towns in the region, as determined by the president. There are no immediate plans to further change the tribunal premises, but the matter will be kept under review.

SCOTLAND

  Milk Industry
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the talks of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro), with(a) the President of the Scottish National Farmers Union, (b) the Milk Marketing Board and (c) the Scottish Dairy Trade Federation on the milk industry in Scotland.

  Sir Hector Monro
  I recently had useful discussions with the president and his senior colleagues in the National Farmers Union of Scotland about a number of matters including the future of milk marketing in Scotland. I hope to meet the three milk marketing boards in Scotland and the Scottish Dairy Trade Federation soon.

  Forestry Commission
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to dispose of all, or any part of, the Forestry Commission's assets; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The Government's policy on the disposal of Forestry Commission land and woodlands was set out by my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) on 16 June 1989,Official Report, columns 542–43. This has not changed.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans to privatise the Forestry Commission; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The Government have no such plans.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all the land owned by the Forestry Commission which is currently up for sale, giving the name, amount of land involved and the length of time it has been on the market, in each county or region; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 15 May 1992]: The following forest areas are at present being offered for sale on the open market:

  County/Region and Name

  Area (hectares)

  Period on the Market (months)

  ENGLAND

  Avon

  Abbots Wood—East

  1

  1

  East Tandit

  6

  1

  Old Park Wood

  10

  1

  Round Hill Clump

  2

  1

  Scutches

  5

  1

  Three Corner Wood

  3

  1

  Warren House

  3

  1

  West Tandit/Ox House

  16

  1

  Wraxall

  13

  1

  Yewtree/Snakes Well Fishpond

  11

  1

  Cornwall

  Hay Wood

  54

  21

  Treworgey

  17

  21

  Cumbria

  Walton Wood

  89

  24

  52

  County/Region and Name

  Area (hectares)

  Period on the Market (months)

  Devon

  Brownsham Woods

  71

  21

  Deershill Wood

  11

  21

  Pulsworthy

  3

  21

  Dorset

  Alders Coppice

  7

  9

  Durham

  Edenhill Woods

  16

  24

  Stanley Woods

  64

  36

  Hampshire

  Bordean Estate, Fishers Copse

  28

  39

  Mill Copse

  6

  12

  Roke Mead Copse

  9

  27

  Tapnell

  50

  10

  Lincolnshire

  Wraby Wood

  70

  6

  Norfolk

  Blackwater Plantation

  4

  5

  Northamptonshire

  Hartwell Copse

  7

  6

  Northumberland

  Corbies Crags Wood

  54

  36

  North Yorkshire

  Averhams Wood

  52

  6

  Black Plantation

  14

  12

  Deighton Wood

  5

  2

  Fishpond Wood

  6

  12

  West Gateforth

  47

  18

  Howsham Wood

  81

  3

  Red House Wood

  48

  2

  Sawley Outliers

  42

  2

  Seaton Old Wood

  5

  12

  Turf Graft Wood

  3

  12

  Shropshire

  Coed Detton

  14

  21

  Preston Springs

  38

  1

  Somerset

  Barrow Wood

  13

  19

  Church Wood

  6

  20

  Higher Bitcombe

  30

  20

  Lower Bitcombe

  18

  20

  South Yorkshire

  Green Springs

  12

  18

  The Old Park

  41

  16

  Walker Wood

  6

  18

  Suffolk

  Langley High Wood

  49

  5

  Wiltshire

  Chittoe Heath

  19

  10

  Fry's Wood

  24

  32

  Kidney Bean

  3

  10

  Lower Selves

  10

  10

  New Plantation

  8

  10

  SCOTLAND

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Glaik

  63

  24

  Lochnaw Estate (part)

  57

  24

  Fife

  Drumtennant Strip

  4

  11

  Rameldry West

  8

  13

  Grampian

  Barlatch

  3

  11

  Drakemyres

  32

  12

  East Corrennie and Parkstyle

  5

  1

  Hillend Moss

  16

  14

  Knock Hill Wood

  56

  14

  Mormond Hill

  255

  7

  Tertonie

  7

  10

  53

  County/Region and Name

  Area (hectares)

  Period on the Market (months)

  Wogle

  26

  10

  Highland

  Cuileannach Woodlands

  237

  5

  Strathclyde

  Ballimony and Dunlossit

  3,211

  16

  Carrick Wood

  68

  7

  Daljarrock

  52

  24

  Dalsmirren (part)

  1,094

  6

  Todlaw

  370

  11

  WALES

  Clwyd

  Coed Esgynfa

  6

  11

  Coed Pen Y Gelli

  29

  11

  Crown Wood

  29

  11

  Glol Plantation

  27

  11

  Dyfed

  Alit Banc Sina

  18

  13

  Alit Fawr

  7

  19

  Alit Llwyn Dyfrion

  11

  13

  Alit Pistyll Dewi

  33

  13

  Bwlch Newydd

  8

  26

  Bylchau Duon

  62

  30

  Cilfowyr

  5

  17

  Coed Ffridd Cwmere

  20

  22

  Coed Gwastad

  28

  27

  Coedmore, Coed Newydd

  17

  27

  Coedmore, Home Farm Wood

  3

  27

  Coed Rhyd Tir

  16

  22

  Cwm Cynfelin

  8

  44

  Cynheidre Uchaf

  24

  10

  Danygraig

  10

  13

  Fforest

  22

  19

  Ffynon Lefrith

  25

  30

  GalIt y Cribin

  7

  17

  Glebe Woods

  17

  13

  Glynllydan

  8

  4

  Lon Isaf

  7

  11

  Lower Scourfield

  13

  23

  Maestwynog

  12

  42

  Pant Eynon and Allt y Forlan

  29

  13

  Pencwn Fawr

  9

  19

  Penhill Wood

  4

  19

  Portis Pant

  30

  13

  Quay

  17

  13

  Rams Wood

  26

  23

  Scolton

  30

  11

  Tanyrallt

  6

  42

  Troserch

  35

  19

  Tynton Wood

  4

  19

  Waun Baglan Woods

  26

  26

  Wenallt

  17

  10

  Gwent

  Coed Castellau

  48

  8

  Craig y Merchant

  24

  8

  Darren Ddu

  8

  8

  Hafodrisclawdd

  23

  8

  Luggas Wood and Youngs Grove

  15

  21

  Gwynedd

  Coed Dyfi

  17

  22

  Coed Ty Uchaf

  15

  11

  Glyn Estate

  49

  7

  Moel Groes Heol

  130

  12

  Powys

  Alit Cwm Tywyll

  6

  1

  Craig Yr Henfrordd

  8

  10

  Cwmbach and Cwmcoch

  44

  22

  Great Wood

  9

  22

  Pwll Llydan

  31

  10

  West Glamorgan

  Craig Ynysgollen

  10

  57

  Home Improvement Grants
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the financial limits on the current home improvement grants scheme; and when they were last increased.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 14 May 1992]: Local authorities may give various grants for works of improvement or repair. The amount which they may offer is limited by the percentage rate of grant in each case and by statutory maxima which govern the cost of works eligible for grant assistance. The various percentage rates of grant, and the approved maximum cost for each, are given in a Scottish Office publication "Improve Your Home with a Grant", which is available in the Library.

  The percentage rates of grant have been little changed since 1984, when the rate of repairs grant for works to replace lead plumbing was set at 75 per cent. The various expense maxima are amended from time to time and were most recently changed in 1988.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider increasing the current ceilings on grants available for home improvements.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I have received few representations that the various approved expense limits for works qualifying for improvement or repairs grant should be generally increased. Therefore, I see no strong grounds for a review, although the limits are considered periodically. Where a local authority considers that there are good reasons for the cost of works to exceed the relevant limit, it may seek my right hon. Friend's approval to increase that limit. All such requests are dealt with promptly and sympathetically.

  Disabled People (Housing)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by district council the number of(a) owner-occupiers and private tenants and (b) council tenants who have applied in each of the last two years for the disabled facilities grant; in each category, by district council, how many adaptations were carried out; what was the average time taken to complete adaptations from the time the request for the adaptations was made; and what was the average amount paid by (i) applicants, (ii) district councils and (iii) central Government.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Disabled facilities grants are not available in Scotland. Grants for adapting dwelling-houses to meet the needs of disabled people are available under the improvement grant system, but the information requested is not held centrally.

  Countryside
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any new proposals for protecting the countryside.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 14 May 1992]: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) was set up under the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991 and assumed its full powers and responsibilities on 1 April 1992. SNH's aims are to secure the conservation and enhancement of the natural heritage of Scotland and to foster the

  55
  understanding and facilitate the enjoyment of that heritage. Its wide remit and powers will enable it to promote and encourage the sustainable use of Scotland's natural resources. The Government are looking forward shortly to receiving from SNH its draft corporate plan for 1993–96 setting out specific proposals for action.

  The 1991 Act provides for the designation by my right hon. Friend, on the advice of SNH, of natural heritage areas. This new designation offers the opportunity to develop integrated strategies for the sustainable management of areas of outstanding value to the natural heritage of Scotland.

  Household Waste
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to meet the target of recycling 25 per cent. of all household waste by the end of the century; and if he will make a statement outlining the present percentage of all household waste that is recycled in Scotland and by how much it has changed since 1990.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 14 May 1992]: In Scotland, Government action to meet our recycling targets includes: guidance for local authorities on recycling, including techniques for planning and costing; a requirement that waste disposal authorities give priority to recycling in their waste management planning; a request to waste disposal authorities that they prepare draft recycling plans by August this year; introduction of a system of recycling credits to encourage authorities to pass on to recyclers any savings in disposal costs that they achieve through having waste taken out of the usual disposal route; encouragement to local authorities to make provisions for funding of recycling in their financial planning; joint research with the Department of the Environment and the Department of Trade and Industry on the use of economic instruments to promote recycling; pilot projects in Dundee and Falkirk, promoted by Dundee district council and UK 2000 respectively.

  Within the Scottish Office, Ministers and officials increasingly use recycled paper and have encouraged others to do likewise. The percentage of all household waste that is recycled in Scotland was estimated at about 2 per cent. in 1990. The Government are taking steps in collaboration with local authorities to improve information, so that trends can be reliably established.

  Fish Directives
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish the regulations to implement EC fish and shellfish hygiene directives together with the associated codes of practice for enforcing agencies; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 15 May 1992]: We hope to publish two sets of draft regulations to implement the fish and shellfish directives respectively for consultation purposes in June. Draft codes of practice for each directive should also be issued in June.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek to delay the deadline for derogation applications in respect of the EC fish and shellfish hygiene directives by six months to allow time for considered applications to be made.
  56
  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 15 May 1992]: No. The EC directives require that any derogations must be granted by 1 January 1993 and, in order to meet this, applications must be received by 1 July 1992. Two months is a reasonable period for applicants to decide from which of the requirements of the directives they will require derogations. Detailed aspects of the planning and execution of any works can then progress up to the end of 1995, if necessary.

HEALTH

  Juvenile Offenders
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many additional units of secure accommodation for juvenile offenders will be provided in community homes this year(a) to meet the current demand and (b) to meet the additional demand when section 60 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 comes into effect; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  Secure units may accommodate all children being looked after by local authorities, including those on remand. Two new secure units, providing a total net increase of 14 places to meet current demand, open this year. Plans to meet the additional demand required to implement section 60 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 are being considered by a juvenile remand national steering group.

  Health Authorities (Public Meetings)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether district health authorities are required to hold an annual public meeting.

  Mr. Sackville
  District health authorities (DHAs) are subject to the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960. All their full meetings must be public whenever they are considering any decisions, unless the Act permits them to hold a meeting in private—for example, because of the confidential nature of the business. DHAs are expected to keep the public informed about their work, aims and objectives. Although there is no specific requirement for an annual meeting, in practice their meetings are held more frequently than annually.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists, in number and as a percentage of the whole, in England have stopped providing national health service treatment for(a) adult patients, (b) patients under 18 years and (c) all patients, since the introduction of the dentists' latest contract.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not collected centrally. Since the introduction of the new contract 20·3 million adults and 6·6 million children have registered with national health service dentists. Patient registrations are continuing to increase.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish details of any schemes currently available to national health service dentists to provide for future investment in computer technology.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  A one-off payment of £900 is made to dental practices transmitting their claims for payment of
  57
  NHS fees by computer to the Dental Practice Board at Eastbourne. This scheme was launched last year, and over 230 payments have been made so far.

  Additionally, these and other practice expenses are taken into account by the Dental Rates Study Group when it conducts its annual fee-setting exercise.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps she proposes to take to consult the dental profession about the effect the new contract has had on the practice of dentistry within the national health service;

  (2) what assessment she has made of the level of morale of dentists currently working in the national health service.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The principles of the new dental contract are firmly established. For the first time, dentists are encouraged to carry out preventive dentistry, and to provide all-round continuing care. We continue to discuss with the profession ways in which the contract may be improved and several changes have already been made. Over 25 million patients are now registered with dentists in England. This is a true measure of the contract's success. There are currently 27 per cent. more dentists than there were in 1979 and available evidence shows that dentists are taking full advantage of the opportunities offered by the new contract.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she will review the system of capitation as a method of remuneration for dental treatment of children with the national health service.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We have already announced our intention to undertake a fundamental review of the entire dental remuneration system.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she has undertaken any surveys of the impact that the introduction of child capitation has had on the number of national health service dentists prepared to treat children.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Last September, family health services authorities conducted on our behalf a sample survey of 20 per cent. of dentists on their dental lists. The results of that survey showed that 85 per cent. of dentists are accepting all children for NHS treatment. Precise comparisons with the position prior to the introduction of capitation are difficult, but available information points to approximately the same number of children being treated under both systems.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies have been made of the number of dentists leaving the national health service; and if she will publish any available findings.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Since the introduction of the new dental contract in October 1990, there have been unfounded allegations that large numbers of dentists are leaving the NHS. This is not the case. Very few dentists have resigned from family health services authority lists since October 1990.

  There are currently 15,451 dentists providing general dental services in England, 27 per cent. more than in 1979.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the number of dental practices which have gone bankrupt over the last six years.
  58
  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information on the number of bankruptcies among dentists has been held centrally only since April 1991. Since then, the Dental practice Board (DPB) has received notices of bankruptcy in respect of five dentists. Two of these were in practice together.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish details about the new fee structure to be implemented from 1 July, indicating when the notices detailing the change in maximum charges that can be made from 1 April are to be made available to dental practitioners.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Dental Rates Study Group recommends what dentists' fees should be. The study group is due to meet shortly, and the new fee scale listing dentists' fees for 1992–93 will be available when it has completed its work. The new scale of fees will not change the present maximum charge. Once the new scale rates have been established, we intend to let dentists have posters for display which will allow them to show both relevant sections from the scale of fees and the current maximum charge.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists were involved in NHS practice for each year since 1979.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The number of dentists practising in the general dental services in England is as shown.

  Year to

  Number of Dentists

  30 September 1979

  12,146

  30 September 1980

  12,415

  30 September 1981

  12,835

  30 September 1982

  13,258

  30 September 1983

  13,672

  30 September 1984

  14,066

  30 September 1985

  14,334

  30 September 1986

  14,516

  30 September 1987

  14,765

  30 September 1988

  15,070

  30 September 1989

  15,351

  30 September 1990

  15,480

  30 September 1991

  15,451

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been treated by dentists in the NHS each year since 1979.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information is collected centrally on the number of courses of treatment provided, rather than the number of people treated. This is set out in the table.

  Number of courses of treatment

  Year

  All ages

  Adults

  1979

  27,164,610

  17,351,250

  1980

  28,613,630

  18,599,830

  1981

  29,035,190

  18,975,130

  1982

  29,926,290

  19,724,540

  1983

  30,505,470

  20,316,210

  1984

  30,970,830

  20,864,560

  1985

  31,386,100

  21,338,100

  11986–87

  32,103,110

  21,961,680

  1987–88

  32,418,940

  22,394,600

  1988–89

  34,257,830

  24,026,520

  1989–90

  32,746,110

  22,809,160

  2 1990–91

  N/A

  22,559,000

  1991–92

  N/A

  24,273,099

  1 From 1986–87, data were provided by financial year. Prior to this data was provided by calendar year.
  59
  2 Since the introduction of the new contract on I October 1990 the figures available relate to adult only courses of treatment. Under the new contract dentists are paid under a capitation system for treating children and courses of treatment for children are no longer counted separately.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what charges were made for NHS dental treatment for each year since 1979 at 1992 prices; and what was the percentage increase or decrease in treatment costs compared with the previous year, for each year since 1979.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  General Dental Services (England)

  Income from charges at 1992–931 prices £ million

  Number of courses of adult treatment

  Cost2 £

  Percentage difference

  1979–80

  170

  17,351,250

  239,048,060

  —

  1980–81

  189

  18,599,830

  313,930,820

  31·33

  1981–82

  215

  18,975,130

  367,822,590

  17·17

  1982–83

  246

  19,724,540

  417,283,510

  13·45

  1983–84

  259

  20,316,210

  453,517,990

  8·68

  1984–85

  272

  20,864,560

  502,246,300

  10·74

  1985–86

  295

  21,338,100

  529,015,450

  5·33

  1986–87

  322

  21,961,680

  595,397,970

  12·55

  1987–88

  332

  22,394,600

  658,540,620

  10·61

  1988–89

  375

  24,026,520

  764,593,130

  16·10

  1989–90

  443

  22,809,160

  759,525,390

  -0.66

  1990–91

  425

  22,559,000

  838,870,088

  10·45

  1991–92

  421

  24,273,099

  876,443,488

  4·48

  Notes:

  From 1986–87 data were provided by financial year. Before then data were provided by calendar year.

  1 Using the GDP deflator.

  2 Figures used are actual amounts paid.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will set out the changes to the financing of NHS dentistry showing net gain or loss to the Exchequer for each year since 1979.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  General Dental Services (England) (Cash £ million)

  Years

  Gross Expenditure

  Income from Charges

  Net Expenditure

  1979–80

  336

  70

  266

  1980–81

  419

  92

  327

  1981–82

  481

  115

  366

  1982–83

  538

  141

  397

  1983–84

  584

  155

  429

  1984–85

  640

  171

  469

  1985–86

  660

  196

  464

  1986–87

  742

  221

  521

  1987–88

  820

  240

  580

  1988–89

  950

  291

  659

  1989–90

  948

  366

  582

  1990–91

  1,040

  380

  660

  1991–92

  1,247

  403

  1 844

  1 provisional estimate.

  Electorates
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on the basis of the current electoral roll, what is the average number of electors in(a) constituencies in England, (b) constituencies in Scotland, (c) constituencies in Wales and (d) constituencies in Northern Ireland.
  60
  Mr. Sackville
  The average numbers of electors per constituency on the 1992 electoral registers are as follows:

  Constituencies in:

  Number

  England

  69,534

  Wales

  58,383

  Scotland

  54,570

  Northern Ireland

  67,145

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action is being taken to reduce the size of the under-one-year waiting list for the North East Thames regional health authority; and if she will make a statement;

  (2) if she will publish the waiting list figures for the mid-Essex area for the year up to 31 March, showing the change in the lists for under one year, one to two years, over two years and total change in terms of numbers and as a percentage.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information on waiting times in individual district health authorities for the year to 31 March 1992 is not yet available centrally. Provisional figures for England as a whole show that, in the year ended 31 March, the number of patients waiting over two years for admission fell by 97 per cent., and the number waiting between one and two years by 33 per cent., while the total number of patients waiting dropped by 3·5 per cent., or over 33,000. North East Thames region reduced the numbers waiting over two years and between one and two years by 89 per cent. and 29 per cent. respectively, while reducing the total number of patients waiting by 7 per cent. or over 5,500. The National Health Service management executive will be discussing targets for 1992–93 with North East Thames, as with all the other regions, including how they intend to use their share of this year's £39 million waiting time fund to further increase the numbers of patients treated from waiting lists. These discussions will also cover the regions' plans for tackling their under-one-year waiting lists.

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will undertake research to ascertain the long-term implications of introducing charges for eye tests; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  There is every indication that after an initial drop immediately following restrictions on entitlement to national health service sight tests, the number of tests is now back at 1987 levels. This is confirmed both by surveys carried out by the optical profession and by the increase of 6 per cent. in GP referrals to consultant ophthalmology out-patient clinics during the period 1988 to 1991.

  We have no plans to undertake further research.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for sealth if she will publish the latest figures available showing (i) the established savings made to the health budget as a result of introducing a charge for eye tests and (ii) the number of eye tests undertaken for each of the last five years for which figures are available.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  There are no charges for national health service sight tests. It is estimated that the
  61
  restrictions in entitlement to national health service sight tests to certain priority groups have resulted in savings in the region of £70 million in 1989–90, £90 million in 1990–91 and £100 million in 1991–92 with estimated projected saving of £110 million in 1992–93.

  The optical profession conducts regular surveys on the total number of sight tests, both national health service and private. Their findings indicate that the number of sight tests have returned to 1987 levels, the last typical year before the restrictions were announced.

  The Department collects information on national health service sights only. The number of sight tests paid for by the national health service in England in the last five years is shown in the table.

  England

  Millions

  1986–87

  10·6

  1987–88

  11·7

  1988–89

  12·5

  1989–90

  5·3

  1990–91

  4·2

  From April 1989, national health service sight tests were restricted to certain priority groups. The figure for 1989–90 includes 1–6 million sight tests conducted prior to April 1989 under the old regulations but not paid until 1989–90.

  GP Fund Holders
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 12 May,Official Report, column 80, what detailed assessment has been made of the implications for any given locality of the collective purchasing power of fund-holding general practitioners being greater titan that of the purchasing authority.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  GP fund holders' budgets cover a limited range of hospital services which currently account for around 14 per cent. of total spending per head on the hospital and community health services (HCHS). District health authorities would therefore be responsible for purchasing over 80 per cent. of the HCHS services needed for patients, even in areas where all the GPs were fund holders.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice she has issued to either regional health authorities, district health authorities, family health service authorities, or individual general practitioners regarding the establishment and operation of purchasing consortia among fund-holding general practitioners.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No such guidance has been issued. Judgments on how best to discharge their responsibility for purchasing services for their patients are for GP fund holders themselves to take locally.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is given to family health service authorities on allocating their budgets to general practitioners; what monitoring his Department undertakes; what weight one year's spending puts on the next year's allocation; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Guidance on budget setting for GP fund holders is contained in EL(91)36 "General Practice Funding: Financial Matters", a copy of which is in the 62
  Library. The responsibility for budget setting lies with regional health authorities, although they may delegate some of this responsibility to family health services authorities. The guidance makes it clear that the main determinant of the budget set is the historical level of activity and spending adjusted, as necessary, to take account of significant changes in patient populations and costs.

  Medical Costs
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in the last year for which figures are available in England and Wales what was the average cost to the taxpayer of(a) each unit of blood, (b) each adult course of dental treatment, (c) each child course of dental treatment, (d) each patient consultation with a consultant and (e) each prescription dispensed.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Blood is freely donated by volunteer donors. Handling charges are made to cover the cost incurred by the regional transfusion centres in collecting, processing and supplying the blood to hospitals. In 1991–92, the average handling charge in England for a unit of whole blood was £37·00.

  The average net cost of an adult course of dental treatment in England in the year 1991–92 was £19·331.

  Under the new dental contract introduced on 1 October 1990, general dental practitioners now receive capitation payments for each child registered with them for dental care; numbers of individual courses of treatment are no longer separately recorded. Item of service fees are payable only for some of the more complex treatments.

  The cost of a consultation with a consultant is affected by numerous factors such as the type and complexity of the condition being treated, whether in- or out-patient and location. To estimate and use such a figure would therefore be misleading.

  The average cost of each prescription dispensed in England in the year 1990–91 was £6·152.

  Information relating to Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  1 Average cost based on item of service fees payable for adult courses of treatment, net of patient charges, but excluding other costs such as continuing care payments payable to general dental practitioners, directly reimbursed practice expenses, and employers' superannuation costs which cannot be attributed to individual adult courses of treatment.

  2 The cost includes the drug element and the dispensing fee and is net of charges.

  Tobacco
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health is she will publish the Smee report on the impact on tobacco consumption of an advertising ban.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Chislehurst (Mr. Sims) on 15 May at column 214.

  London Ambulance Service
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received and what data he has in his possession concerning delays in(a) reception of 999 calls at the headquarters of the London ambulance

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  service, (b) dispatch of emergency calls from that headquarters and (c) arrival of ambulances at emergency incidents.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 14 May 1992]: A number of written representations about the performance of the London ambulance service (LAS) have been received over a period of several months. These have concerned delays in answering 999 calls and delays in arriving at emergencies. All the representations are investigated by the LAS and we are satisfied it is acting decisively to remedy the situation by (a) modernising the emergency vehicle fleet (b) introducing more staff at peak periods and (c) building in safeguards to the new computer aided dispatch system.

  Table 1 gives activation time figures for the London ambulance service for 1990–91, the latest figures available. The activation time of an ambulance is the time taken from an emergency call being received to a fully equipped vehicle being on the move. The table shows that 66–4 per cent. of calls resulted in an activation time of three minutes or less. The standards in operation for that year were that 95 per cent. of calls should result in an activation time of three minutes or less.

  Table 2 gives response time figures. The response time of an ambulance is the time taken from an emergency call to the arrival of a fully equipped vehicle at the place where the patient is. The standards for response times were that 50 per cent. of calls should result in a response within seven minutes, and 95 per cent. within 14 minutes.

  It should be noted that in all calculations of percentages the denominator may include calls that did not result in activation and/or response.

  PATIENT TRANSPORT SERVICES 1990–91

  TABLE 1

  Quality of service for London Ambulance Service

  Activation time

  Number

  Total number of emergency calls

  456,695

  Number where activation within 3 minutes

  303,319

  Percentage of calls where activation within 3 minutes

  66·4

  Source: KA34 DH Statistics Division 2B 1992

  TABLE 2

  Quality of service for London Ambulance Service

  Response times

  Number

  Total number of emergency calls

  456,695

  Number where response within 7 minutes

  50,390

  Percentage of calls where response within 7 minutes

  11·0

  Number where response within 14 minutes

  336,734

  Percentage of calls where response within 14 minutes

  73·7

  Source: KA34 DH Statistics Division 2B 1992

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what will be her Department's total expenditure on the establishment of NHS trusts in each year since their first introduction to the end of the current financial year.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 15 May 1992]: A total of £12·7 million in 1990–91 and £26·6 million in 1991–92 was allocated for the first and second wave of trusts. This included developmental costs and a non-recurring revenue addition paid to regions to help cover the cost of public
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  consultation, conveyancing costs and expenditure incurred by trusts during their shadow running period—the period immediately prior to their operational date.

  For 1992–93, a total of £34·2 million has been allocated to meet expenditure and conveyancing costs for the third wave.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Citizens Charters
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what consideration he has given to making the various citizens charters legally enforceable.

  Mr. Robert Jackson
  Certain charter provisions are backed up by legislation. We have, for example, extended the powers of the Audit Commission; we have increased the accountability of local authorities, and increased the powers of the regulators of private utilities.

  But the strength of the citizens charter lies in our commitment to consultation with users; published standards of service, and published results.

  Mr. Channon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will initiate discussions with the heads of nationalised industries, including British Rail, on implementation of the citizens charter.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I fully intend to discuss from time to time the implementation of the citizens charter with the heads of nationalised industries, including Sir Bob Reid —as did my predecessor.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the citizens charter.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesham (Mr. Arnold) earlier today.

  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will indicate the amount of research undertaken by each of the research councils related to myalgic encephalomyelitis.

  Mr. Robert Jackson
  The Medical Research Council is funding a study at the Institute of Psychiatry to investigate chronic fatigue syndrome. The Medical Research Council also supports work in immune responses to the muscle, nerve cells and related structures which may have some relevance to the understanding and treatment of this condition, which is also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis.

  Science
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he last met the president of the Royal Society to discuss the future of science.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I had a constructive introductory meeting with the president of the Royal Society on 7 May.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many civil servants now work in "next steps" executive agencies.
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  Mr. Robert Jackson
  There are now more than 290,000 civil servants working in "next steps" agencies and other organisations operating on "next steps" lines. This means that about half the civil service is covered by "next steps". Improved results to the taxpayer and consumer are being delivered.

  Science and Technology
  Dr. Bray
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on science and technology policy.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 14 May to the hon. Member for St. Helens, South (Mr. Bermingham). at column 173.

  Medical Research Council
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what consideration he has given to the establishment of a national scientific archive on the Carshalton site of the toxicology research unit of the Medical Research Council.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The freehold of the Carshalton site of the Medical Research Council toxicology unit is owned by the Medical Research Council. Its disposal or use for other purposes when the unit moves to Leicester in 1993 is a matter for the council itself.