Written Answers of 2 February 1993

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  EC Official Languages
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to reduce the number of languages used within the European Community as official languages.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  None.

  Philippines (Visas)
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications were received for settlement visas for spouses from the Philippines during 1992; and how many were granted.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  This information is not available in London. I have asked the British embassy in Manila to provide the answer and I shall arrange for the hon. Member to receive a reply from the migration and visa correspondence unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office shortly.

  Security Council (United Kingdom Seat)
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on discussions he has had on the United Kingdom's permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Reform and revitalisation of United Nations institutions and the United Nations secretariat is a current subject of discussions in New York and in various bilateral and other meetings. The United Nations special committee on the charter regularly discusses Security Council reform at its meetings. Cuba and Libya have been active in recent years in pressing the case for abolition of the veto. The wish of Japan, currently a Security Council member, to become a permanent member is well known. At Maastricht, we agreed that Britain and France, as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, will in the execution of their functions ensure the defence of the positions and the interests of the union without prejudice to their responsibilities under the provisions of the United Nations charter.

  Mr. Sheikh Riaz Ahmad
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response the United Kingdom post in Paris has received from the French authorities concerning the case of Mr. Sheikh Riaz Ahmad, a British citizen, of Bradford, about whom the Secretary of State wrote to the hon. Member for Bradford, West, on 4 January last; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The British Consulate-General at Lille has received a report from the French frontier police 82
  on their refusal to allow Mr. Ahmed to land. This indicates Mr. Ahmed was refused entry because he was not able to prove his nationality. Since this explanation is less than satisfactory we are seeking clarification from the French authorities. I am in correspondence with the hon. Gentleman about this case and will write again when I have a further report.

  Yugoslav Republics (Embargoes)
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the terms of each of the arms embargoes and arms export restrictions currently in force in respect of each former Yugoslav republic.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  United Nations Security Council resolution 713 (1991) imposes a complete embargo on deliveries of weapons and military equipment to the republics of the former Yugoslavia until the Security Council decides otherwise. Additionally, United Nations Security Council resolutions 757 and 787 (1992) prohibit any trade with Serbia and Montenegro.

  Council of Ministers
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a statement of forthcoming business in the European Community's Council of Ministers.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The following is the information:

  COUNCIL OF MINISTERS BUSINESS FOR FEBRUARY 1993

  1. The following meetings are planned:

  ½ February: Foreign Affairs Council

  8 February: Internal Market Council

  9/10 February: Agriculture Council

  15 February: Economic and Finance Council

  (a) Foreign Affairs Council—½ February

  Open debate on Danish Presidency work programme

  Enlargement

  EEA

  East/Central Europe

  Israel

  Former Yugoslavia

  GATT

  Commercial Defence Instruments

  Cocoa

  (b) Internal Market Council—8 February

  Completion of the Internal Market including follow-up to Council resolution on making the Single Market work

  Sutherland report

  Abolition of frontier controls

  Regulation of control of conformity of third country imports

  Regulation on Community trade mark [poss]

  Directive on medical devices

  Scientific co-operation in food

  Additional control measures (food)

  Regulation laying down Council procedures for contaminants in food

  Fruit juices and similar products (consolidated version of Dir. 80/181)

  Regulation on business registers for statistical purposes

  Public Works Directive (amendment and consolidation [poss]

  (c) Agriculture Council–9/10 February

  Commission presentation of 1993/94 price fixing proposals

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  Common organisation of the market in bananas (8372/92; 4064/93)

  GATT agriculture (10534/92)

  Transitional measures for Portugal (10181/92; 4064/93)

  Aid for durum wheat producers (4305/93)

  Aid for sheepmeat producers [poss] (4307/93)

  Limit to the production aid for processed tomato products (10495/92)

  (d) Economic and Finance Council—15 February

  The Danish Presidency work programme (open debate)

  National actions to promote economic recovery in Europe and review of convergence programmes

  7th VAT directive

  Follow-up to Edinburgh conclusions on future financing of the Community

  3. The Foreign Affairs Council will meet on 1–2 February. It will commence with an open debate on the Danish Presidency work programme. On Enlargement, the Council will approve arrangements for the opening session of accession negotiations, and on EEA, the Council will be asked to approve a mandate for the Commission to negotiate with EFTA an additional protocol to the EEA agreement. Ministers will then discuss Irael; East/Central Europe; Former Yugoslavia; the GATT and Commercial Defence Instruments. Cocoa will also be discussed.

  4. The Internal Market Council will meet on 8 February and will discuss completion of the Internal Market; the Sutherland report and Abolition of frontier controls. Regulation of control of conformity of third country imports will also be discussed. Other agenda items are for clearance as points only.

  5. The Agriculture Council will meet on 9–10 February. Ministers will discuss the price-fixing proposals for 1993–94; banana market regime; agricultural aspects of the GATT negotiations; transitional measures for Portugal; aid for durum wheat producers and aid for sheepmeat producers. They may also discuss production aid for processed tomato products.

  6. The Economic and Finance Council will meet on 15 February to discuss the ECOFIN work programme and continue discussions on actions to promote economic recovery and to follow up the agreement of the Edinburgh European Council on the future financing of the Community. There will be an open debate on the Danish Presidency work programme and the proposal to amend the 7th VAT directive (special VAT regime for second-hand goods, works of art, antique and collectors' items) is also scheduled for discussion.

  EC Directives
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken and is proposing to take in response to the letter of Commissioner Van Miert of 23 December 1992 concerning the implementation of directives 75/440/EEC and 79/869/EEC.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have been asked to reply.

  In our response we shall set out what has been done in the United Kingdom to implement these directives. In accordance with the usual practice of the Commission, we treat such correspondence as in confidence between the Commission and ourselves.

  Environmental Claims
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to bring forward his proposals to amend the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 in relation to environmental claims.

  Mr. Leigh
  I have been asked to reply.
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  Many environmental claims are already within the scope of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968. We intend to amend the Act to put it beyond doubt that all such claims are covered as soon as parliamentary time permits.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Departmental Administrative Work
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress he has made regarding the location of his Department's administrative work in Cardiff; what influence the market testing procedure will have on such progress; what representations he has had from local authorities, the legal profession and others regarding the ultimate location of this work; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor and I have decided that the court procedures for enforcing the payment of unpaid parking charges, arising under the Road Traffic Act 1991, will be carried out at a parking enforcement centre attached to Cardiff county court. About 20 additional staff will eventually be required.

  We envisaged that the Lord Chancellor's Department's pay and superannuation unit, consisting of some 40 staff, might be centralised and located in Cardiff. However, the position has been considered again as part of the market testing exercise in this area, and centralisation is now likely to take place in London. No representations have been received on this.

ENVIRONMENT

  KPMG Management Consultants
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the contracts awarded by his Department to KPMG Management Consultants over the past 12 months.

  Mr. Howard
  KPMG Management Consultants have been awarded four contracts by my Department over the past 12 months. These are:

  Relocation of Department of the Environment headquarters staff in London (awarded 15 April 1992);

  Planning Inspectorate executive agency independent business advisor (awarded 13 May 1992);

  Department of the Environment Relocation: Consultancy on Advanced Office Support System (awarded 21 May 1992);

  Proposal for the Wirral Business Enterprise Centre (awarded 1 October 1992).

  Radioactive Discharges
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he is taking to take account of the representations received by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution before the consultation period on discharges licences for the Sellafield site began; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution received approximately 38,000 representations shortly before the statutory public consultation period began on
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  16 November 1992. The comments made will be taken into consideration by the authorising departments in their determination of BNFL's applications.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many letters of objection to the application for new discharges licences for the Sellafield site have been received by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution from(a) statutory consultees, (b) local authorities and (c) individual members of the public; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has received approximately 75,000 letters concerning this matter of which it is estimated that more than 50,000 are objecting to the proposals. Of the total received by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution there have been eight representations by statutory consultees and over 100 local authorities have written in.

  Footpaths
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the procedure for extinguishing footpaths; what simple or local appeal or arbitration procedure exists to deal with requests for diverting or extinguishing footpaths; and what arrangements are made for the legal costs involved.

  Mr. Maclean
  Local authorities have powers to make orders to stop up or divert public paths. Any order made must be advertised since it affects public rights. Although some 70 per cent. of orders are confirmed locally, if there are objections which cannot be resolved, the order may be passed to the Secretary of State for confirmation, and a local inquiry may be held. We are introducing regulations to enable authorities to recoup their administrative expenses from an applicant for an order; otherwise, parties are generally expected to meet their own costs.

  Lambeth Council
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance he has offered to Lambeth council to deal with matters raised by the report of the chief executive under section 5 of the Local Government Act 1988.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  None. The primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of fraud lies with the management of local authorities. They should have good systems of internal control and effective internal audit. The auditor has the responsibility of checking the financial control systems of a local authority.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many submissions were received by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution on 25 January, in response to British Nuclear Fuel's application for authorisation for the new thermal oxide reprocessing plant, and associated facilities, at Sellafield; how many of these submissions were in support of BNFL applications; and what proportion of the total submissions came from abroad.

  Mr. Maclean
  On 25 January, HMIP received some 16,000 representations, the majority of which appear to support the proposals, but at present HMIP does not have a detailed breakdown of these figures.
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  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account his decision on the authorisation for the licensing of the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield will make of the letter sent to him in October by the chairman of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee on the British Nuclear Fuels plc proposals to implement a curie equivalence substitution plan for the management of nuclear waste arising from reprocessing of foreign spent fuel at Sellafield.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 27 January, at column 769.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) of 30 October 1992,Official Report, column 859, if he has yet received the report of the nuclear waste borehole public inquiry in Cumbria.

  Mr. Baldry
  There will be no report to the Secretary of State in this case. The planning appeals concerned will be decided by an inspector. That is a matter for the Planning Inspectorate Executive Agency, and I have arranged for the chief executive to reply.

  Letter from Mr. H. S. Crow to Mr. Llew Smith, dated 1 February 1992:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to provide the reply to your Parliamentary Question about the nuclear waste borehole inquiry in Cumbria, as this is a matter for the Planning Inspectorate Executive Agency.
  The planning appeals by British Nuclear Fuels, relating to proposed exploratory boreholes near Gosforth, are to be decided by the Inspector who held the inquiry, as arranged, in November. The Inspector, Mr. P. Burden (who was appointed following the illness of the Inspector originally appointed, Mr. P. Rosser), is concluding his consideration of the case, and I expect his decision to be issued shortly.

  Housing Associations
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what consideration he has given to the ability of people in low-paid employment to meet the level of rents for housing association properties implied by the proposed reduction in housing association grants by 1995–96;

  (2) if he will undertake a full assessment of the consequences of the proposed reduction in housing allocation grant rate to 55 per cent. on the financial viability and viability of the housing association movement and the ability of individual housing associations to attract private funding.

  Mr. Baldry
  No decision on grant rates for 1995–96 has been taken yet. That decision will be taken in the light of a full consideration of a number of factors, including the likely impact on rents and the ability of housing associations to attract private finance.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to preserve and sustain the current scale and diversity of the housing association movement and to ensure that the housing allocation grant funding levels set by his Department will reflect and further this objective,

  Mr. Baldry
  The Government's expenditure plans announced in the Chancellor's autumn statement more
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  than meet the commitment in our manifesto to spend nearly £6 billion through the Housing Corporation over the three years to 1994–95. The value of diversity is certainly one of the factors which we will take into account in making decisions about future levels of housing association grant.

  Planning Appeals
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the mechanism for challenging planning appeal decisions and costs thereof; and what proposals he has to change it.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received no recent representations about the mechanism for challenging planning appeal decisions. Decisions on the award of costs resulting from a planning appeal may be challenged by seeking leave of the High Court for an application for judicial review. My right hon. and learned Friend has received two recent representations in favour of a simpler procedure, but has no proposals to change it.

  Rural Water and Sewerage Services
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to complete his consideration of the desirability of any changes to the legal and financial framework for the provision of rural water and sewerage services.

  Mr. Maclean
  We expect to complete our consideration in the course of this session.

  Opencast Mining
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much land has been affected by opencast mining in the last 10 years; how much of such land was green field and how much despoiled or derelict; and of the despoiled or derelict land, how much was subsequently returned to useful purposes.

  Mr. Baldry
  This information is not held centrally. According to statistics compiled by the County Planning Officers Society's committee No. 3, however, during the last four years 6,490 hectares of land received planning permission for opencasting in England, of which 1,309 hectares was derelict. The equivalent figures for Scotland and Wales are respectively 2,525 hectares of which 563 was derelict and 635 hectares, of which 364 was derelict. The 1988 minerals survey shows that between 1982 and 1984 4,041 hectares of land granted permission for opencasting was reclaimed satisfactorily and only 39 hectares reclaimed unsatisfactorily. All permissions for opencasting carry a requirement fully to restore the land.

  Housing Benefit Subsidy
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each housing authority the amount of housing benefit subsidy paid to the authority and the amount of housing benefit paid from the housing revenue account; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have deposited in the Library of the House a copy of a table showing the information requested by the hon. Member. The table shows for 1992–93 each 88
  authority's estimated expenditure on rent rebates debited to the housing revenue account, the amount of that expenditure which is not eligible for subsidy, the estimated contribution from the HRA towards the cost of rent rebates granted and the estimated amount of HRA subsidy claimed on rent rebates.

  Residential Homes
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that community care homes, which are occupied exclusively by severely mentally impaired adults, qualify for 100 per cent. rebate under the Rating (Disabled Persons) Act 1978, after 1 April 1993; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what steps he is taking to exercise his powers under section 13 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 to make regulations reducing the council tax payable in respect of persons resident in registered charitable residential care or nursing homes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Rating (Disabled Persons) Act ceased to apply to domestic accommodation when domestic rates were abolished, and is of no relevance to the council tax.

  There are no special council tax provisions for occupied dwellings owned by charities. It is right that charities should continue to receive relief from non-domestic rates, because these are a tax on the premises which a charity needs to conduct its own business. But the council tax is a tax paid by residents, whether directly or through their landlord. There is no reason why some residents should be specially treated simply because their landlord is a charity. Instead we focus help by reference to individuals' needs through the discount and benefit systems.

  Registered care and nursing homes will benefit from a number of council tax reliefs. Care and nursing home patients, like severly mentally impaired people, are not counted towards the personal element of the tax. Many registered care and nursing homes will therefore get a 50 per cent. discount. Most will probably have their bill reduced by one valuation band in respect of facilities for disabled residents, and very many are likely to qualify for substantial amounts of transitional relief. Care homes, like other large dwellings, will also benefit from banding arrangements which mean that the bill for the most expensive property in an area is limited to three times that for the cheapest.

  European Environment Agency
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement outlining the latest developments regarding the establishment of the proposed European Environment Agency; and if it is his intention to bid for the agency to be located in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  During our presidency of the EC Council of Ministers, we made strenuous efforts to overcome the blockages which have prevented the establishment of the European Environment Agency, and at the December Environment Council, 11 Council member states agreed to press the Commission to speed up preparatory work. As a first step, the Commission have called a meeting of senior officials on 9 February.
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  The United Kingdom has bid for the agency to be located in Cambridge.

  Marine Pollution Control
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to review the whole area of marine pollution control, as recommended by the second report of the Environment Committee of 1991–92 (HC17) on coastal zone protection and planning, in the light of the grounding of the supertanker MV Braer.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government response (CM 2011 July 1992) to the Environment Committee report stressed the need for different agencies to deal with various marine pollution control functions and pointed to their good record of close co-operation, particularly over oil and chemical pollution from ships. Lord Donaldson's inquiry will no doubt be considering whether the MV Braer incident should lead to any changes in these views.

  Urban Priority Areas
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he is taking in his review of urban priority areas to ensure that local authorities which have both prosperous areas and areas of acute deprivation do not lose priority status as a result of the existence of the prosperous areas.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  In considering information about the incidence of urban needs, we will study results from census and other data at three levels—local authority areas, wards and census enumeration districts, the last covering about 500 persons.

  Tyneside Clinical Waste Incinerator
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne. Central of 15 July 1992,Official Report, column 836, if he is now in a position to announce his decision on the Tyneside clinical waste incinerator application; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The inspector's report on this application, which is the subject of an appeal by Northumbrian Water Group plc, was received by the Secretary of State on 24 September 1992. Together with the report of the assessor, who advised the inspector on technical issues, the report runs to some 200 pages. It raises a number of complex issues, all of which have to be carefully considered before a decision can be issued.

  Good progress is being made and the decision will be issued as soon as it is practicable to do so.

  Architects (Registration) Acts
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take following the review by Mr. John Warne CB of the Architects (Registration) Acts; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  I have today published the report of the independent review of the Acts, which was undertaken following a request by the Architects Registration Council of the United Kingdom. I am grateful for the full co-operation which had been given to the review by ARCUK and the profession generally, and to those who responded in the public consultation on this matter.
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  The review's conclusion is clear: that statutory registration of architects has brought no added benefit to the public, to consumers, or to the profession itself and that there is no reason why architects uniquely amongst the construction professions should be regulated by statute. The established arrangements for self-regulation through the chartered professional institutions provide for satisfactory protection of the public interest, and of consumers. The Government accepts the report's conclusions. I have therefore decided that statutory registration should be abolished at the earliest legislative opportunity.

  Until such time as the Acts have been repealed, the legal restriction on the use of the title of architect will remain and ARCUK will continue to perform its registration, enforcement and other functions in the usual way.

  International Development and Co- operation
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what policy initiatives he is planning to undertake to promote international development and to-operation in the next six months; what meetings he is planning to attend; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 29 January 1993]: My right hon. Friend will continue to play a full part in the work of the European Community and other international fora. We welcome the establishment of the Sustainable Development Commission as envisaged at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio last year. My right hon. and learned Friend is also taking forward the initiatives announced by the Prime Minister at UNCED: the Darwin initiative for survival of species and preparations for an international conference of non-governmental organisations to exchange experience on the practical implementation of sustainable development to be held later this year. He will attend the global technology partnership conference in Birmingham in March, which was also announced by the Prime Minister at UNCED.

  Water Charges
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what review OFWAT is making of flexibility in infrastructure charges.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 1 February 1993]: The Director General of Water Services has announced his intention to undertake a fundamental review of infrastructure charges as part of the overall review of water company charges in 1994. He will shortly be issuing a consultation paper which will set out the options for change to infrastructure charges.

  Urban Programme
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of the funding from urban partnership he intends to provide to projects aimed at benefiting the ethnic minority communities.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Each bid for urban partnership funding will be assessed on its merits against the criteria set out in our guidance to local authorities.

  Council Debts, Gloucestershire
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the indebtedness of(a) Gloucestershire county council, (b) Tewkesbury borough council, (c) Cotswold district council and (d) Cheltenham borough council in each year since 1980.

  Total external debt (temporary and longer-term)

  Year end

  Gloucestershire £000

  Tewkesbury £000

  Cotswold £000

  Cheltenham £000

  1979–80

  16,100

  19,900

  22,000

  26,600

  1980–81

  20,300

  20,500

  23,000

  28,100

  1981–82

  21,400

  19,900

  20,700

  26,600

  1982–83

  25,300

  18,600

  20,400

  n/a

  1983–84

  23,900

  15,300

  16,300

  n/a

  1984–85

  23,800

  18,200

  13,900

  n/a

  1985–86

  45,900

  14,900

  13,900

  n/a

  1986–87

  53,384

  11,740

  19,651

  n/a

  1987–88

  66,763

  11,720

  22,994

  n/a

  1988–89

  92,371

  13,522

  n/a

  30,269

  1989–90

  104,426

  12,727

  n/a

  29,582

  1990–91

  121,114

  9,327

  23,051

  33,977

  1991–92

  124,537

  9,327

  20,497

  40,092

  Figures for 1985–86 and earlier have been rounded to the nearest £100,000.

  Source: 1979–81 CIPFA Return of Outstanding Debt.

  1981–90 CIPFA Capital Expenditure and Debt Financing Statistics.

  1990–92 Local authority returns.

  Local Government Review
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further guidance he is giving to the Local Government Commission for England in relation to sections 17, 18 and 19 of the policy guidance notes published last June; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  We do not propose to issue further guidance on these matters at present.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements he will make to transfer assets and liabilities from local authorities which cease to exist as a result of the Local Government Commission's review to existing or new authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Local Government Act 1992 provides for the Secretary of State to establish one or more residuary bodies if necessary to take over any property, rights or liabilities, and any related functions from local authorities which cease to exist as a result of the Local Government Commission's recommendations.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from councils in Oxfordshire concerning disparities in the proportion of local authority budgets funded by Government grant; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Neither of the representations which I received from councils in Oxfordshire addressed the question of disparities in the proportion of local authority budgets funded by Government grant.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce the outcome of the consultation on the local government finance settlement for 1993–94; and if he will make a statement.
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  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information is as follows:

  Mr. Redwood
  [pursuant to his reply, 28 January 1993, column 854]: I regret that the tax base information listed in the exemplifications for Manchester, Stockport, Trafford, Salford, Barnsley, Wakefield, Crawley, Tandridge, Bolsover and Ashfield does not properly reflect boundary changes. Surrey, West Sussex, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire county councils are also affected. There are consequent changes in the authorities' revenue support grant entitlements and, because the tax base is used to apportion certain levies, in the authorities' standard spending assessments. In most cases the changes are not significant. I shall publish revised figures as soon as possible. My Department has today written to the authorities affected explaining the position to them.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Commonwealth Development Corporation
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidelines the Commonwealth Development Corporation has developed to minimise the environmental impacts of tobacco plantations or processing.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 29 January 1993]: Assessment of the environmental aspects of proposed investments is an integral part of the Commonwealth Development Corporation's project appraisal and approval procedures. CDC has agreed that it should make no new investments in tobacco plantations or processing. Past investments were made in accordance with CDC's environmental guidelines which are currently under review.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Autumn Statement
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish(a) the working assumptions on outstanding central Government debt and average interest rates underlying the entries for central Government debt interest in table 2A.3 of the "Autumn Statement", Cm 2096, (b) a ready reckoner of the effects on such expenditure of increments of £1 billion in outstanding central Government debt and of increments of one percentage point in average interest rates on such central Government debt, (c) the working assumptions on outstanding local authority debt and average interest rates on such local authority debt underlying the entries for local authority debt interest in table 2A.11 and (d) a ready reckoner of the effects on such expenditure of increments of £1 billion in outstanding local authority debt and of increments of one percentage point on average interest rates on such local authority debt.

  Mr. Portillo
  The debt interest projections shown in tables 2A.3 and 2A.11 of the "Autumn Statement" were based on the working assumption that the public sector borrowing requirement is £37 billion in 1992–93, 7 per cent. of gross domestic product in 1993–94, and then falls as the economy recovers.

  It is not conventional practice to publish projections of interest rates.

  The effects of increments to the stock of debt or to interest rates on payments of debt interest will depend upon the composition of the outstanding debt and upon the average cost of funding.

  Ready reckoners for local authority debt interest payments will similarly depend on the composition of local authority debt and the cost of funding.

  Antiques
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the VAT revenue in 1991 under the special scheme; what estimate he has made of the sum which would be raised from the proposed 5 per cent. extra VAT on imported antiques under the new EC proposals; what was the estimated cost of raising the VAT under the special scheme; and what is the estimated cost of raising the additional 5 per cent. VAT on imported antiques.

  Sir John Cope
  There is insufficient information on which to base an estimate of the revenue or the cost of administration of the special scheme.

  Applying VAT at a rate of 5 per cent. to imported works of art, antiques and collectors' items would probably raise less than £20 million.

  Fuel (Tax Differentials)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of(a) the environmental and (b) the fiscal effects of his policy on tax differentials between diesel and other fuels.

  Sir John Cope
  Duty is charged on road fuels at rates which not only raise sufficient revenue but also take account of environmental considerations.

  The environmental benefits of diesel rather than petrol consumption are not entirely clear cut. Diesel engines are
  94
  more efficient than petrol, so they emit less carbon dioxide per mile travelled. But this advantage has to be weighed against higher emissions of nitrogen oxide and particulates (soot/smoke) than from a petrol engine fitted with a three-way catalytic converter.

  It is estimated that ending the diesel duty differential with unleaded petrol would yield around £65 million in 1993–94; ending the differential with leaded petrol would yield £555 million in 1993–94.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the decision at the last Budget to widen the tax differential between diesel and other fuels on(a) the use of diesel fuel and (b) on the levels of revenue generated from diesel use.

  Sir John Cope
  The last Budget increased the duty on diesel and unleaded petrol by 4.5 per cent., in line with inflation. The 7.5 per cent. increase on leaded petrol widened the tax differential between diesel and leaded petrol (duty and consequential VAT) from 4.7 p per litre to 5.8p per litre. The impact of this on diesel consumption is very difficult to quantify. In the short run, however, few motorists will have had time to respond to the wider tax differential by switching to vehicles with diesel engines so the impact on diesel consumption is likely to have been insignificant. Accordingly, we do not expect the real increase on the leaded petrol duty to affect the yield from diesel duty from the present financial year.

  Departmenal Employees
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people over the age of 60 years began employment in each Government Department in 1992.

  Mr. Portillo
  Approximately 150 people aged 60 and over began employment in the non-industrial home civil service during the period 1 January to 30 September 1992. Information for the final quarter of the year is not yet available.

  Details of the numbers recruited into individual Departments could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

  Premium Savings Bonds
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to maintain the minimum payment for purchases of premium savings bonds for persons under the age of 16 years at £10 after 1 February.

  Mr. Nelson
  As announced on 12 November 1992, the minimum purchase for those buying premium bonds on behalf of children under 16 rose from £10 to £100 on 1 February. There are no present plans for further changes.

  VAT
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what repayments of VAT in respect of VAT relief for bad debts were made in the last financial year for which figures are available; and what sum he estimates will be repaid in respect of subsequent financial years.

  Sir John Cope
  In order to keep burdens on business to a minimum, claims for bad debt relief are included with all other amounts of tax entered in traders' VAT returns and separate figures are not available.
  95
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the 12 month delay on repayment of VAT in respect of bad debts was decided; what representations he has received on this point; and whether he has the matter under review.

  Sir John Cope
  Section 11(1)(c), Finance Act 1990, provided for a period of two years, beginning with the date of the supply, to elapse to qualify for bad debt relief. Following representations, that waiting period was reduced to twelve months by section 15(1), Finance Act 1991.

  Representations regarding the length of the waiting period are received from time to time and the matter is kept under review.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what ruling HM Customs and Excise has made on the VAT liability of controlled circulation magazines mailed to other member states of the EC with a positive rate of VAT; and what are the reasons for this decision.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 27 January 1993]: Since 1 January 1993, under the 6th EC VAT directive as amended the tax treatment of goods supplied by VAT-registered traders to non-VAT registered customers in other member states under the distance selling arrangements, including mail order, has been dependent on thresholds. Each member state has adopted a threshold of either 35,000 or 100,000 ecu. If sales to a member state arc beneath that member state's threshold then VAT in the member state of origin is chargeable; in the case of supplies of magazines from the United Kingdom, this would be zero. If sales exceed the threshold laid down by a member state, then all sales to that member state are chargeable at the appropriate rate of VAT in that member state and the trader will need to register for VAT or appoint a tax representative in that member state.

  Where supplies are made to customers who are VAT registered in another EC member state, the removal from the United Kingdom may be zero-rated if the VAT registration number of the consignee is shown on the tax invoice, and tax will be due on acquisition by the customer.

  These arrangements follow the normal rules that goods are subject to VAT in the member state of destination. Until 31 December 1992 tax was supposed to be paid in accordance with the law in the state where the purchaser was. Since 1 January 1993 the thresholds are a simplification measure so that distance sellers supplying small quantities can apply VAT at the rate applied in the country of origin.

  Clearing Banks
  Mr. Shore
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current clearing banks' base rate in the United Kingdom; what information he has about the nearest equivalent in the other member countries of the European Community; and what the equivalent figures were on 7 September 1992.

  Mr. Lamont
  [holding answer 29 January 1993]: The clearing banks' base rate in the United Kingdom on 29 January was 6 per cent. compared with 10 per cent. on the 7 September 1992. Commercial bank rates and official rates in other countries are not strictly comparable, so the talble compares three month market interest rates on the dates specified.
  96

  Short-term (three months interest rates)

  7 September 1992

  29 January 1993

  United Kingdom

  10.3

  6.3

  Belgium

  9.8

  8.4

  Denmark

  11.2

  13.0

  Spain

  13.7

  14.0

  France

  10.5

  12.6

  Germany

  9.8

  8.5

  Greece

  20.0

  24.0

  Ireland

  10.8

  24.0

  Italy

  17.5

  12.2

  Netherlands

  9.8

  8.2

  Portugal

  14.8

  16.0

  Importers and Exporters (Complaints)
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to set up an independent complaints procedure for those importers and exporters who have complaints about administration by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 1 February 1993]: Customs and Excise reviewed its complaints procedure in 1991. As a result it has improved its internal system for handling complaints. Details of how to complain are given in the leaflet "Complaints against Customs and Excise" (Notice 1000). It is intended to introduce an independent tribunal system for customs matters by 1 January 1995, in line with EC agreement.

  Bloodstock (VAT)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Prime Minister's reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe on 18 January,Official Report, column 21, in regard to the level of VAT on bloodstock in the United Kingdom and the rates levied in France and Ireland, what submission the Paymaster General has had from the Jockey Club on this subject; and when he expects there to be a ministerial statement on the outcome of his consideration of their submission.

  Mr. Lamont
  [holding answer 28 January 1993]: Representatives of the horseracing industry have made proposals for changes to the rules of racing intended to make ownership more of a business activity and therefore allow some owners of racehorses to register for VAT. Customs and Excise has drawn up a technical memorandum of understanding to be agreed with the industry as soon as possible.

  International Co-operation and Development
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what policy initiatives he is planning to undertake in the next six months to promote international co-operation and development; what meetings he is planning to attend; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 29 January 1993]: Over the next six months, my right hon. Friend will continue to work to strengthen international co-operation, in particular with EC and G7 colleagues. He will continue to press for a satisfactory conclusion to the GATT Uruguay

  97
  round and to seek to improve the terms of debt relief available to the poorest countries. In the EC, my right hon. Friend will press for progress in implementing the package of measures agreed at the Edinburgh summit to promote economic recovery and in making the single market work effectively. With G7 colleagues he will be working to reduce obstacles to sustainable growth and hence foster employment. My right hon. Friend plans to attend meetings with EC colleagues as well as the EBRD annual meeting in London, the G7/IMF/World Bank meetings in Washington and the Economic summit in Tokyo.

  Income Distribution
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to publish data on the distribution of income which follows on from the 1984–85 analysis published in "Economic Trends", November 1987.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 1 February 1993]: There are no plans at present to update the 1984–85 analysis.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Water Privatisation
  Mr. Wiliam O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of state for Northern Ireland if he intends to introduce the sale of water services in Northern Ireland in the same manner as in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  No decision has yet been taken on how the sale will take place. Options for the method of sale are currently being addressed as part of a consultancy study into a range of major privatisation issues.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he intends to publish the feasibility study currently being undertaken by private consultants into the privatisation of water in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) when he expects to have the results of the feasibility study into the privatisation of water in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  It is expected that the consultancy study will be completed by the end of March 1993. The study was commissioned on a confidential basis because of the commercial sensitives of the issues involved. I therefore have no plans to publish it.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the future employment of people working in the water services industry in Northern Ireland is included in the feasibility study at present being undertaken by consultants; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The future employment of staff does not fall within the terms of reference for the consultancy study.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has for a period of public consultation following the acceptance of the report by private consultants into the privatisation of water in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Water privatisation will require primary legislation and the proposal for a draft Order in Council will be published for consultation in the normal way.

  Trade
  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has for the value of trade in each direction between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland for the whole of 1992, or for as many months as information is available.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information requested is not available from United Kingdom Government sources. However, I refer the hon. Member to table E of "External Trade" (September 1992) published by the Central Statistics Office, Dublin, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

  Education Reforms
  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received regarding the implementation of the Government's education reforms; and what plans he has to meet representatives of the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools.

  Mr. Hanley
  I have received a large number of written representations on a wide range of topics related to the education reforms from a variety of sources: boards of governors, teachers, principals, teachers' unions and parents. These have been mainly concerned about the pressures created by the implementation of curriculum and assessment changes and I have taken measures, where necessary, to ease these pressures. I have also met a number of groups on reforms-related matters.

  I will be meeting the CCMS in the near future, and as part of the present wide consultation about aspects of implementation I will study carefully any representations which the council or any educational interests wish to make.

  Regional Development Fund
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much European regional development fund expenditure there has been in Northern Ireland in each year since 1984–85(a) at current prices and (b) at 1984 prices.

  Mr. Mates
  The following amounts were received from the European regional development fund.

  £ million

  Financial year

  Current prices

  1984 prices

  1984–85

  17

  17

  1985–86

  18

  17

  1986–87

  23

  21

  1987–88

  46

  40

  1988–89

  47

  38

  1989–90

  40

  30

  1990–91

  49

  35

  1991–92

  50

  33

  1992–93

  1120

  176

  1 Estimated outturn.

WALES

  School Governors
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many school governors there were in Wales on 1 April 1989.
  99
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  This information is not available centrally.

  One-stop Shops
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on one-stop shops for business and technology information dissemination; what proposals he has to grant-aid such one-stop shops; and what arrangements he will make to monitor and evaluate their progress.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  An enterprise and business support working group has been set up to consider how the delivery of business and technology advice and support, including information, can be improved. The group includes representatives of training and enterprise councils, local enterprise agencies, local authorities, the development agencies, chambers of commerce and other members of the business community in Wales. Their advice will cover the operation of one-stop shops and arrangements for monitoring and evaluation.

  Business and Technology Information
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the local dissemination of business and technology information; and when he expects to announce pilot projects to further such local dissemination.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Government attach great importance to the dissemination of business and technology information. Consequently, my Department is directly involved in the dissemination of business and technology information, along with many other organisations in Wales which do so with my support. These include local enterprise agencies and business advice centres, the training and enterprise councils, colleges and development agencies.

  Specific initiatives include the Euro info centre set up with EC support. In addition, the Welsh Office, in collaboration with the DTI and local organisations, is involved in a number of technology transfer and awareness programmes. This work has covered a range of technology in special projects in areas such as expert and open systems; new materials and sensors together with programmes covering world-class manufacturing and best management practices.

  These services are being further strengthened by Government and European support. Currently, my Department is supporting technology audits designed to identify commercially viable technology in five Welsh colleges and, through the EC STRIDE programme, support totalling £800,000 is being provided to three colleges and the WDA to enhance the services they provide to industry. Information on European research and technology developments will be disseminated through the relay centre project led by the WDA, which became fully operational throughout Wales in January 1993.

  We have set up an enterprise and business support working group to advise us on how the delivery of these services to businesses in Wales can be improved.

  Incineration Plants
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to give specific financial assistance to local authorities in Wales to monitor emission levels from incineration plants.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  No. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, operators of almost all incinerators with a capacity of under one tonne per hour require authorisation from their district council. The associated fees and charges are intended, in line with the "polluter pays" principle, to recover the reasonable administration, monitoring and inspection costs of local authorities.

  A similar system applies in relation to larger incineration plant subject to the control of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution.

  Home Improvement Grants
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many householders in Wales received home improvement grants during 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92; and how many have been paid to date in the current financial year.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Home improvement grants under the 1985 Housing Act were replaced in July 1990 by a new renovation grant system. Grants completed under the earlier arrangements are detailed in the table.

  Total number of grant completions under the Housing Act 1985

  Number

  1989–90

  19,818

  1990–91

  24,866

  1991–92

  6,394

  11992–93

  233

  1 April to September 1992 only.

  Source: Welsh Office local authority returns.

  Welsh Office Contracts
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answers of 22 January,Official Report, column 454, what representations he has had from the British Printing Federation regional office covering Wales in relation to the routeing of responsibility for placing printing of Welsh Office contracts via the Central Office of Information; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  None.

  Certificate of Education
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many pupils sat the certificate of education in each year since 1985.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The numbers of candidates who sat the Certificate of Education from 1985 to 1992 are given in the table.

  Number of candidates1

  Number

  1985

  2,611

  1986

  3,859

  1987

  6,252

  1988

  7,514

  101

  Number

  1989

  8,612

  1990

  8,336

  1991

  8,038

  1992

  8,379

  1 Includes a small number of candidates sitting examinations in centres other than in schools.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the replacement of the certificate of education in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  This proposed change is an integral part of wider arrangements for the assessment of 16-year-olds, at the end of key stage 4. The changes are being made on the basis of advice which I sought from the School Examinations and Assessment Council. All pupils will in future be required to study each of the relevant national curriculum subjects in accordance with statutory programmes of study to the end of key stage 4. SEAC advised that the certificate of education does not meet those requirements.

  Around 7,700 pupils in Wales are currently entered for the certificate of education. Most of those pupils should, in future, be well capable of achievement under the new GCSE arrangements. The minimum attainment level on the national curriculum 10 level scale for the award of a GCSE will be level 4-the performance expected for a typical 11-year-old. Pupils who are entered for the GCSE and who narrowly miss the GCSE award at level 4 will still be awarded a level 3, provided they have displayed evidence of that level of attainment in their examination.

  The remainder of pupils expected to achieve levels 1 to 2-level 2 is the performance expected of a typical seven-year-old—in each of the national curriculum subjects will be assessed by teachers' own assessment. These pupils will represent a small minority at age 16 and teacher assessment is considered to be the most appropriate way of meeting their special and individual needs.

  Clwyd

  Speculative floorspace—Direct

  Speculative floorspace—Joint ventures

  Bespoke floorspace—Direct

  Number of units

  Area m2

  Area m2

  Number of units

  Area m2

  1979–80

  29

  13,192

  —

  —

  7,750

  1980–81

  11

  16,258

  —

  2

  3,678

  1981–82

  135

  66,800

  —

  —

  —

  1982–83

  19

  27,975

  —

  —

  1,785

  1983–84

  12

  1,858

  —

  —

  198

  1984–85

  5

  4,645

  —

  —

  96

  1985–86

  9

  13,305

  —

  —

  2,492

  1986–87

  18

  6,317

  —

  —

  1,448

  1987–88

  10

  13,623

  —

  —

  456

  1988–89

  23

  15,497

  —

  —

  2,069

  1989–90

  16

  21,646

  —

  1

  9,290

  1990–91

  30

  13,053

  5,946

  —

  2,880

  1991–92

  9

  3,252

  929

  —

  3,530

  11992–93

  25

  21,535

  1,858

  —

  1,207

  1 To end January 1993.

  102
  All performance at every attainment level will be recognised and recorded on an individual pupil's national record of achievement. The record is being developed by schools to reflect a pupil's total achievement, both academic and non-academic. The NRA is recognised by employers and colleges of further education in their selection of candidates for employment, training and further education courses.

  The certificate of education will not be fully phased out until 1996. This phased programme will allow teachers maximum flexibility to manage the adjustment with sensitivity and in accordance with individual pupils' needs.

  The full range of approved qualifications under Section 5 of the Education Reform Act 1988 for use by schools in Wales in 1995 will be listed as part of the annual consultation exercise with examining groups and LEAs. This consultation, administered through SEAC, is due to take place very shortly.

  Disability (Schools)
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many registered disabled teachers are employed by each local education authority; and what proportion of total teacher numbers this accounts for in each authority.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Information on the numbers of registered disabled teachers is not held centrally.

  Advance Factory Building
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures in terms of(a) units and (b) square metres to show advance factory building by the Welsh Development Agency by county for each year since 1979.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The amount of factory space provided either directly or through joint ventures by the Welsh Development Agency in each county since 1979 is as follows:
  103

  Dyfed

  Speculative floorspace—Direct

  Speculative floorspace—Joint ventures

  Bespoke floorspace—Direct

  Number of units

  Area m2

  Area m2

  Number of units

  Area m2

  1979–80

  10

  3,530

  —

  —

  734

  1980–81

  5

  1,579

  —

  —

  584

  1981–82

  62

  16,400

  —

  —

  —

  1982–83

  14

  5,025

  —

  —

  —

  1983–84

  44

  14,516

  —

  —

  —

  1984–85

  4

  6,503

  —

  —

  536

  1985–86

  —

  —

  —

  1

  273

  1986–87

  4

  465

  —

  —

  —

  1987–88

  —

  —

  —

  —

  389

  1988–89

  8

  2,638

  —

  —

  396

  1989–90

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1990–91

  24

  7,432

  —

  —

  —

  1991–92

  41

  7,989

  2,973

  —

  —

  11992–93

  10

  7,711

  —

  —

  —

  1 To end January 1993.

  Gwent

  Speculative floorspace—Direct

  Speculative floorspace—Joint ventures

  Bespoke floorspace—Direct

  Number of units

  Area m2

  Area m2

  Number of units

  Area m2

  1979–80

  35

  32,887

  —

  1

  2,730

  1980–81

  35

  20,346

  —

  1

  14,683

  1981–82

  82

  53,900

  —

  2

  9,150

  1982–83

  35

  22,750

  —

  —

  —

  1983–84

  11

  6,745

  —

  2

  10,910

  1984–85

  1

  1,104

  —

  1

  7,662

  1985–86

  23

  6,689

  —

  2

  9,932

  1986–87

  9

  13,053

  —

  1

  12,084

  1987–88

  8

  8,573

  —

  2

  4,419

  1988–89

  22

  27,434

  —

  1

  8,375

  1989–90

  22

  11,055

  —

  1

  24,897

  1990–91

  20

  22,482

  4,180

  —

  6,224

  1991–92

  12

  17,698

  9,011

  2

  18,254

  11992–93

  5

  5,853

  8,361

  1

  16,936

  1 To end January 1993.

  Gwynedd

  Speculative floorspace—Direct

  Speculative floorspace—Joint ventures

  Bespoke floorspace—Direct

  Number of units

  Area m2

  Area m2

  Number of units

  Area m2

  1979–80

  17

  3,623

  —

  —

  —

  1980–81

  16

  4,088

  —

  —

  202

  1981–82

  41

  9,400

  —

  —

  —

  1982–83

  43

  8,350

  —

  —

  —

  1983–84

  20

  1,174

  —

  —

  215

  1984–85

  18

  1,301

  —

  —

  —

  1985–86

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1986–87

  7

  1,022

  —

  —

  —

  1987–88

  8

  1,208

  —

  —

  —

  1988–89

  5

  1,842

  —

  —

  —

  1989–90

  10

  1,812

  —

  —

  —

  1990–91

  33

  8,826

  —

  —

  —

  1991–92

  8

  6,085

  —

  1

  9,290

  11992–93

  23

  5,945

  —

  —

  —

  1 To end January 1993.

  104 105

  South Glamorgan

  Speculative floorspace—Direct

  Speculative floorspace—Joint ventures

  Bespoke floorspace—Direct

  Number of units

  Area m2

  Area m2

  Number of units

  Area m2

  1979–80

  31

  20,810

  —

  —

  —

  1980–81

  —

  —

  —

  —

  81

  1981–82

  40

  40,500

  —

  —

  —

  1982–83

  46

  7,225

  —

  —

  —

  1983–84

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1984–85

  4

  1,858

  —

  —

  —

  1985–86

  3

  3,252

  —

  2

  3,479

  1986–87

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1,110

  1987–88

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1,835

  1988–89

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1989–90

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1990–91

  —

  —

  4,645

  1

  12,077

  1991–92

  —

  —

  —

  1

  8,175

  11992–93

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1 To end January 1993.

  Mid Glamorgan

  Speculative floorspace—Direct

  Speculative floorspace—Joint ventures

  Bespoke floorspace—Direct

  Number of units

  Area m2

  Area m2

  Number of units

  Area m2

  1979–80

  14

  10,870

  —

  1

  7,880

  1980–81

  26

  15,236

  —

  4

  67,828

  1981–82

  55

  20,100

  —

  —

  1,423

  1982–83

  37

  30,200

  —

  —

  1,599

  1983–84

  23

  8,640

  —

  —

  274

  1984–85

  4

  2,787

  —

  1

  3,030

  1985–86

  6

  557

  —

  2

  7,505

  1986–87

  3

  5,110

  —

  1

  4,316

  1987–88

  22

  12,018

  —

  4

  25,134

  1988–89

  7

  7,590

  —

  2

  27,633

  1989–90

  47

  40,738

  —

  2

  10,824

  1990–91

  35

  35,112

  24,805

  —

  1,022

  1991–92

  29

  16,815

  35,488

  1

  1,858

  11992–93

  10

  6,596

  13,656.5

  —

  —

  1 To end January 1993.

  West Glamorgan

  Speculative floorspace—Direct

  Speculative floorspace—Joint ventures

  Bespoke floorspace—Direct

  Number of units

  Area m2

  Area m2

  Number of units

  Area m2

  1979–80

  4

  1,115

  —

  2

  5,451

  1980–81

  3

  4,181

  —

  —

  268

  1981–82

  41

  22,800

  —

  —

  1,897

  1982–83

  10

  1,350

  —

  —

  —

  1983–84

  27

  27,871

  —

  —

  —

  1984–85

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1985–86

  —

  —

  —

  —

  591

  1986–87

  7

  3,057

  —

  —

  —

  1987–88

  11

  11,202

  —

  —

  28

  1988–89

  12

  2,770

  —

  —

  —

  1989–90

  21

  17,881

  —

  —

  —

  1990–91

  12

  7,200

  2,880

  —

  —

  1991–92

  1

  929

  —

  1

  16,722

  11992–93

  85

  7,896

  —

  —

  3,530

  1 To end January 1993.

  Help Helpline
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether the Welsh health helpline will be operational outside normal office hours on(a) an answerphone and (b) an operational basis; and what proposals he has to monitor its effectiveness.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Since its inception on 30 November 1992, Health Line Wales has been manned from 9 am to 5 pm every weekday, and an answerphone service operates outside those hours. All calls are monitored, and this information will be part of the evaluation of the service.

  Health Service (Catering)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what further progress he has to report on guidance to South Glamorgan health authority in relation to the suspended catering contract awarded to Gardner Merchant.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Further guidance will be issued to South Glamorgan health authority as soon as possible.

  Environmental Protection
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will establish an independent environment agency in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
  108
  Mr. David Hunt
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 15 July 1992,Official Report, column 857–58.

  Offshore Emergencies
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps are currently being undertaken by his Department to secure access to night-time helicopter coverage to deal with offshore emergencies off the coast of Wales and in the Irish sea between 1994 and 1996.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have been asked to reply.

  Sea King SAR flights at RNAS Prestwick and RAF Chivenor will provide night-time search and rescue helicopter coverage off the coast of Wales and in the Irish sea for the period in question.

  Welsh Economy
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what representations he has had for public funding of Cardiff Business School Welsh economic research unit's proposed input-output model of the Welsh economy;

  (2) what consultations he has had with the south Glamorgan training and enterprise council regarding public funding for the Cardiff Business School Welsh economic research unit's proposal for an input-output model of the Welsh economy.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  A request for the Welsh Office to contribute to the funding of the model is being considered.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Professional Boxing
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to place statutory controls on professional boxing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  I have no plans to place statutory controls on professional boxing. The responsibility for the management of individual activities rests with the governing bodies of sport.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will set up an inquiry into the management of professional boxing and its medical control; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  I have no plans for such an inquiry. The British Boxing Board of Control has considerably enhanced its medical safeguards over the past year.

  Tourist Bodies
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage whether, at the end of the term of office of the present incumbent, he will separate the posts of chairman of the English tourist board and chairman of the British Tourist Authority.

  Mr. Key
  The present arrangement, whereby the chairmanship of the British Tourist Authority and the chairmanship of the English tourist board are held by the same person, has worked well for the past eight years. The bringing together of these two posts has increased the effectiveness and efficiency of the two bodies, which complement each other's efforts on behalf of the tourism industry. I therefore have no plans to separate the posts.

  Public Swimming Pools
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the council-owned public swimming pools which have been closed in 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Great Britain Sports Council estimate that the number of council owned swimming pools in the United Kingdom increased from around 1,100 in 1982 to 1,300 in 1992. In addition it is estimated that there are another 200 pools available with an element of community use. Closure figures are not readily available.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make it his policy to set the regime for tax and money for good causes for the national lottery so that the combined total is the same as that for the football pools; and if he will estimate the total of tax and money for other good causes from football pools.

  Mr. Brooke
  Taxation regimes are a matter for the Chancellor. The amount of pool betting duty paid in 1991–92 was £319.46 million. The pools companies contributed over £20 million to the Football Trust in 1991–92, following the reduction of 2.5 per cent. in pool betting duty introduced in the 1990 Budget. A further 110
  reduction of 2.5 per cent. in the 1991 Budget, combined with the 5p levy on every £1 staked by players, yielded over £60 million for the Foundation for Sport and the Arts in the same year.

TRANSPORT

  InterCity
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what expectation for surplus revenue has been set down for British Rail's InterCity operations for the next five year planning period.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail is currently reviewing the financial projections of all its businesses.

  Shipping
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many ships were classified in the British Register of Merchant Ships as(a) general cargo, (b) tanker including ore bulk, oil, (c) container ship, (d) roll-on roll-off ferry and (e) offshore supply vessel in each of the years since 1969.

  Mr. Norris
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many United Kingdom registered vessels had crews of which(a) over 25 per cent. and (b) over 50 per cent. were non-EC nationals in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Norris
  This information is not available.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details for each of the last five years of the number of port state control inspections of(a) British registered ships, and the percentage of those failing to meet safety standards and (b) foreign ships, with the percentage of all foreign ships entering United Kingdom ports that figure represents, and the percentage of those failing to meet safety standards.

  Mr. Norris
  The number of inspections of British-registered ships (excluding fishing vessels), and the percentage of those detained for failing to meet safety standards, for each of the last five financial years is as follows:

  Year

  Number

  Percentage detained

  19871

  1,086

  0.8

  1988–89

  956

  0.2

  1989–90

  23,894

  0.2

  1990–91

  3,414

  0.2

  1991–92

  3,954

  0.2

  1 Calendar year.

  2 Following the Marchioness disaster it was decided to both increase numbers of inspections of United Kingdom ships and revise the statistical basis of their calculation. The figure for 1989–90 onwards reflects this change in policy.

  The number of port state control inspections of foreign registered ships, the percentage of all foreign registered ships entering the United Kingdom that this represents, and the percentage of those detained for failing to meet safety standards, for each of the last five financial years is as follows:
  111

  Year

  Number

  Percentage inspected

  Percentage detained

  1987–88

  2,188

  34.0

  0.8

  1988–89

  1,830

  29.7

  2.5

  1989–90

  1,783

  27.7

  3.0

  1990–91

  2,197

  31.1

  3.8

  1991–92

  2,397

  133.8

  5.3

  1 Provisional figure.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vessels excedding 100 NRT were on the British Register of Shipping in(a) 1965, (b) 1970, (c) 1980, (d) each year since 1985; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Steven Norris
  Information is not available for vessels of 100 NRT or above. The table gives data for vessels of 100 GRT or above.

  Vessels on registers of United Kingdom, Channel Islands and Isle of Man

  100 GRT or more

  Mid-year

  Number of vessels

  1965

  4,437

  1970

  3,822

  1980

  3,181

  1985

  2,378

  1986

  2,256

  1987

  2,165

  1988

  2,142

  1989

  2,053

  1990

  1,998

  1991

  1,949

  1992

  1,747

  Source: Lloyd's Register of Shipping Statistical Tables.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many British registered vessels, at the last available date, had crews of which more than 50 per cent. were Polish nationals; and how many of these ships were(a) tankers and (b) roll-on roll-off ferries.

  Mr. Norris
  This information is not available.

  Tyne and Wear Metro
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to alter the ownership and control of Tyne and Wear Metro.

  Mr. Freeman
  None.

  Radioactive Materials
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy that the transport by air of radioactive materials and waste from nuclear installations should not take place over the north-east of England.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No: there are no safety reasons for adopting a policy of avoiding such transport over particular areas of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the current regulations which govern(a) the transport of radioactive material and (b) the movement by air of radioactive waste from nuclear installations.
  112
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The regulations governing the safe transport of radioactive material by all modes are:

  Internationally recommended regulations
  International Atomic Energy Agency's Safety Series No. 6: Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Materials 1985 Edition (As Amended 1990).

  National regulations for the transport of radioactive materials based on the IAEA safety series No. 6

  Road

  The Radioactive Substances (Carriage by Road) (Great Britain) Regulations 1974 (S.I. 1974, No. 1735);

  The Radioactive Substances (Carriage by Road) (Great Britain) Regulations 1985 (S.I. 1985, No. 1729);

  The Radioactive Substances (Carriage by Road) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1983 (S.R. 1983, No. 344);

  The Radioactive Substances (Carriage by Road) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1986 (S.R. 1986, No. 61).

  Sea
  The Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods and Marine Pollutants) Regulations 1990 (S.I. 1990, No. 2605); Merchant Shipping Notice No. M1432, "The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Marine Pollutants in Ships, the 'Blue Book' and the IMDG Code".

  Air
  The Air Navigation Order 1989 (S.I. 1989, No. 2004); The Air Navigation (Dangerous Goods) Regulations 1985 (SI 1985 No. 1939); The Air Navigation (Dangerous Goods) (Amendment) Regulations 1986 (S.I. 1986, No. 2129); The Air Navigation (Dangerous Goods) (Third Amendment) Regulations 1990 (S.I. 1990, No. 2531).

  Ports
  The Dangerous Substances in Harbour Areas Regulations 1987 (S.I. 1987, No. 37).

  Rail
  British Rail List of Dangerous Goods (L.D.G.) and the Conditions of Acceptance by Rail on Freight Services and Parcel Services (BR 22426 (1989 Edition)) (Class 7) —British Railways Board.

  Inland Waterways
  British Waterways Board Terms and Conditions: Dangerous Goods BWB 1981, and Schedule of Dangerous Goods ("The Green Book"), BWB 1981 (Class 7).

  International agreements and codes for the transport of radioactive materials based on IAEA safety series No. 6 Road in Europe
  European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) (Class 7).

  Rail in Europe
  Convention concerning the International Carriage by Rail (COTIF) Appendix B, Uniform rules concerning the contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Rail (CIM) Annex 1, Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID) (Class 7).

  Sea
  International Maritime Organisation (IMO) International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code) (Class 7).

  Air

  International Civil Aviation Organisation's Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (Class 7).

  The regulations for air transport cover all types of radioactive material.

  Oil Spills
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many oil spills of over 2 tonnes were recorded for waters around the United Kingdom in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Norris
  The published survey of the Advisory Committee on Pollution of the Sea shows that in 1991 there were 95 spills of oil over 1 tonne in United Kingdom waters from all sources (ships, rigs, land-based etc.). Figures are not available for spills in excess of 2 tonnes.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many oil spills requiring clean-up operations by the marine pollution control unit occurred in the last year for which figures are available; and what proportion of all clean up treatments in that year took place in the Bristol channel and south Wales coastal region.

  Mr. Norris
  None. In 1991, all ship-related pollution incidents reported to the marine pollution control unit were assessed by them and monitored where appropriate (including aerial surveillance). In no case was it necessary to mobilise MPCU's clean-up resources.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many oil spills were reported for waters around the United Kingdom (i) between 1980 and 1990 and (ii) in 1990; and how many successful prosecutions were carried out in 1990.

  Mr. Norris
  The survey of the Advisory Committee on Pollution of the Sea shows that (i) in the period 1983–1990 there were 4,170 incidents of oil spills reported in United Kingdom waters from all sources (ships, oil rigs, land-based etc.). No figures are available prior to 1983. (ii) In 1990 there were 791 incidents. In 1990, there were 22 successful prosecutions.

  Radiation Emergencies
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements he has made to implement in his Department the Public Information for Radiation Emergencies Regulations 1992.

  Mr. Norris
  These regulations, in so far as they embrace transport, apply to employers who conduct undertakings from which a radiation emergency is reasonably foreseeable, and first-tier local authorities: the Department therefore has no direct responsibility for their implementation.

  MV Braer
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects(a) the marine accident investigation branch inquiry into the MV Braer and (b) the public inquiry to complete their investigations.

  Mr. Norris
  It is far too early to give any completion dates for either the comprehensive marine accident investigation branch inquiry into the cases of the Braer accident or the complex Lord Donaldson inquiry on the protection of the United Kingdom coastline from merchant shipping.

  Birmingham Relief Road
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further plans he has for consultation in relation to the Birmingham northern relief road in the area of North Warwickshire borough.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The formal non-statutory public consultation has been undertaken for the Birmingham northern relief road. I expect liaison to continue, however, between my Department, its concessionaire Midlands Expressway and those in North Warwickshire borough, as elsewhere.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the line orders in respect of the Birmingham northern relief road.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Within the next few months.

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many duplicate vehicle registration documents have been issued by the DVLA in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The application form for a replacement vehicle registration document serves either as an application for a duplicate of the original document or, if the vehicle has changed hands without it, for a registration document in the name of the new vehicle keeper. About two thirds of all applications are in the latter category.

  The number of applications made in both categories in each of the last five years was as follows:

  Number

  1988

  1,546,678

  1989

  1,757,121

  1990

  1,871,290

  1991

  2,033,694

  1992

  2,027,970

  Rail Electrification
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has received from British Rail for the electrification of the Manchester-Preston-Blackpool railway lines.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have received no investment submission from British Rail for the electrification of these lines.

  Road Lighting
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when(a) the M6 between its junction with the M1 and junction 3 and (b) the Coventry eastern bypass will be provided with lighting.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  There is no case yet for lighting either of these roads. However, a scheme to widen the M6, including the stretch between the M1 and junction 3, is in the Department's road programme, and as part of that scheme we will he reassessing the case for lighting any of the unlit stretches.
  115
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what conclusions he has drawn from the use of plastic lighting shields fixed to the central barriers of part of the M6 between Coventry and Birmingham; and what plans he has to extend their use to other motorways.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The plastic vane type anti-glare screen on the section of the M6 in Warwickshire above the central reserve safety fencing was erected as a trial in the mid–1970s. The trial showed that, while the screen was effective in cutting off light from oncoming vehicle headlights, the installation had no significant effect on the number of injury accidents along this length of motorway.

  The results of the trial are reported in report No. SS 1058:1976 published by the social survey division of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys; TRRL report No. SR 327:1977 and TRRL report No. 955:1980. Copies of these reports are in the House Library.

  I have no general plans to install anti-glare screens on other motorways. However, should a specific problem of headlight glare be identified due to the alignment of a section of road then the provision of an anti-glare device might be considered.

  M6
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the southbound access to the M6 at junction 1 to re-open; and what work is currently being undertaken.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The southbound access slip road is expected to re-open on 11 February. Some further overnight closures will, however, be necessary before the works are fully completed in mid-March. The closure of the slip road is to allow strengthening works to be carried out on both carriageways of the M6 between junction 1 and the M1.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the effect on road accident figures of a new junction on the M6 west of Corley services.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Secretary of State has no plans to build a junction on the M6 west of Corley services. Consequently, no such estimate has been made.

  Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the report, "Guide to Environmental Best Practice for Company Transport", produced in November 1992 by the Government's Advisory Committees on Business and the Environment.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment is to be congratulated on producing this timely and practical advice. Getting the best from company transport fleets will save money, save energy and help save the environment. The guide rightly stresses the importance of companies making the environment a major concern in formulating their transport policies. I urge both businesses and public bodies to do what they can to adopt the best practice approach set out in the guide.

  Rail Passengers (Compensation)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to seek to extend compensation payments for railway passengers to cover overcrowding, unavailability of seats and lack of cleanliness on trains.

  Mr. Freeman
  I understand that British Rail has no plans at present to extend the compensation arrangements introduced by the passengers charter. The current arrangements relate mainly to punctuality and reliability which are the factors passengers say are of most importance to them. Where passengers book a seat, compensation may also be available if the seat is not provided.

  Young Drivers
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to publish a Green Paper on possible restrictions on young drivers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I am considering various options for reducing the high accident rate associated with young drivers. We hope to issue a consultation paper in the summer.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the result of comparisons of injury crashes of drivers aged(a) 17, (b) 18 and (c) 19 years in Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The available information for injury accidents involving drivers aged 17, 18 and 19 in Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England is shown in the table for 1991. Estimates of accidents within each of the specified age groups are not currently available for Northern Ireland but they are being produced for future reference.

  Accidents

  Northern Ireland

  Wales

  Scotland

  England

  Involving drivers aged:

  17

  —

  508

  704

  8,663

  18

  —

  744

  971

  12,294

  19

  —

  715

  1,117

  12,195

  TOTAL (17 to 19)

  955

  1,967

  2,792

  33,152

  Disabled Parking Places
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will outline the action taken in respect of persons who park in spots reserved for disabled people.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Legislation already exists to control the use of parking places reserved for disabled badge holders, both on-street and in local authority car parks, which have been designated by an Order made under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. In both circumstances the police and local authority have powers to prosecute offenders and those parked on-street can be issued with a fixed penalty notice. If prosecuted, able-bodied people who misuse such spaces face a fine of up to £1,000. The level of enforcement given to these offences is a matter for individual chief constables and local authorities to determine.
  117
  In privately owned and operated car parks, it is for individual operators to take whatever steps they consider necessary to see that reserved spaces are not misused.

  M1
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has so far been made on widening the M1; what are the anticipated start and finish dates for the work; and what is the likely cost.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Proposals to widen the M1 between the M25, junction 6A and the M18, junction 32, were added to the road programme by the White Paper, "Roads for Prosperity", in May 1989. The estimated works cost, at November 1987 prices, was given in "Trunk Roads, England: Into the 1990s" as approximately £1 billion. The work is being carried forward under a number of consultant commissions. We expect to let a construction contract shortly to add a fourth lane northbound between junctions 9 and 10, and work should be completed by the end of the year. Other commissions are at earlier stages. Public consultation has been carried out for two sections between junctions 6A and 15 and the results will be announced later this year. Other consultations are in prospect. Subsequent progress will depend on the outcome of the statutory procedures and the availability of funding.

  Liberian-registered Ships
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Liberian Government as to the level of expenditure on inspecting the condition of foreign vessels registered in Liberia in each of the last five years and the frequency with which ships are required to be inspected; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  None. The Liberian registry is managed on behalf of the Liberian Administration by an American company, International Registers Incorporated, which operates from Reston, Virginia, USA. Details of International Registers Incorporated's expenditure on surveys are not available. We understand that Liberian vessels are inspected at least once a year by classification societies or independent surveyors appointed by International Registers Incorporated.

  Company Cars
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the relative accident rates for company cars and for privately owned cars and of the proportion of road accidents in which company cars are involved.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Company-owned cars were involved in 17 per cent. of injury road accidents in 1991. An assessment of the relative accident involvement and casualty rates for company-owned cars is contained in the publication "Car and Driver: Injury Accident and Casualty Rates: Great Britain 1990", a copy of which is held in the House of Commons Library.

  Roads Programme
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if it is his policy to offer land(a) equally advantageous and (b) with comparable public access where land is compulsorily purchased as a result of his Department's roads programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 1 February 1992]: Where my right hon. Friend is authorised to acquire certain special types of land, such as an open space or common, he is required to follow the provisions of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981. The compulsory purchase order is the subject of special parliamentary procedure, unless the Secretary of State for the Environment certifies either that equivalent land has been or will be given in exchange; or that the land does not exceed 250 square yards in extent.

  British Rail (Redundancies)
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many employees British Rail is seeking to make redundant; how many have so far been accepted for redundancy; and how many of those accepted are(a) management, (b) clerical, (c) supervisors, (d) drivers and (e) guards.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 28 January 1993]: British Rail expects that some 7,000 staff will be accepted for redundancy as a result of the response to the voluntary severance offer made last November. Final decisions have yet to be made on those to be accepted.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what forecast has been made of the number of movements of plutomium by air out of Carlisle if the Thorp and Nirex proposals are granted; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 1 February 1993]: The current usage of Carlisle airport by British Nuclear Fuels (12 to 24 flights per year) is not likely to change in the foreseeable future.

  Seat Belts
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what resources have been allocated to provide advice to(a) pregnant women and (b) parents on the installation and wearing of seat belts and restraints for children.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Department provides information of a general nature on the installation and wearing of seat belts and child restraints. Specific advice concerning the installation of particular products is best obtained from the manufacturers or a competent installer.

  Road Safety
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance has been issued to road safety officers in the past 12 months; and what discussions and consultations there have been with road safety officers prior to their publication.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Department offers frequent guidance and advice to road safety officers on relevant
  119
  developments in road safety education, training and publicity. We also alert them in advance to particular road safety campaigns, and hold regular liaison meetings with road safety officer representative bodies to discuss matters of common interest.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent publications have been made available, and to whom, relating to road safety.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The following publications have been issued in the last three months.Circular Roads 1/93 Local speed Limits
  "Killing Speed and Saving Lives—The Government's strategy for tackling the problem of excess speed on our roads"
  The Highway Code

  Copies were sent on publication to local authorities, local authority associations, police, interested professional organisations, lobby groups, motoring organisations, and individuals who have requested copies. I also sent copies of the first two documents to Members who have written to me on the subject of speed in recent months.

  In addition, a number of leaflets and posters have been issued to road safety officers, the police and motoring organisations dealing with winter driving, drinking and driving, including rehabilitation courses for drink-drive offenders; and seat belts.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the statutory duties of local authorities in respect of road safety.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Local authorities have a statutory duty to prepare and carry out a programme of measures designed to promote road safety and make contributions towards the cost of measures for promoting road safety taken by other authorities or bodies. They also have duties in regard of speed, pedestrian crossings, street furniture and other safety aspects.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the local authorities which do not employ road safety officers.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No. It is for individual local authorities to assess their own requirement for road safety officers, having regard to the needs of the local community.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what advice he has issued to local authorities on the appointment of road safety officers;

  (2) what assessment his Department has made of the numbers of road safety officers required per 1,000 population.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  It is for individual local authorities to assess their own requirement for road safety officers, having regard for the needs of the local community.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Race Relations
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reconsider the proposed reductions in section 11 funding.
  120
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Government remain firmly committed to the reduction of racial disadvantage, and section 11 grant continues to play an important role in our programme. My right hon. and learned Friend and I regret, however, that in the present economic circumstances it is not possible to sustain throughout the next three years the level of expenditure that had earlier been planned.

  Persistent Juvenile Offenders
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the full results of his Department's recent survey of police forces, designed to identify the number of persistent juvenile offenders;

  (2) how many persistent juvenile offenders were identified by his Department's recent survey request to police forces for details of juveniles known or alleged to have committed 10 or more offences between 1 April and 30 June 1992;

  (3) if he will place in the Library full results of the recent survey of social services departments, designed to identify the number of persistent offenders;

  (4) how many persistent juvenile offenders were identified by the recent request to social services departments for details of juveniles known or alleged to have committed 10 or more offences between 1 April and 30 June 1992.

  Mr. Jack
  I intend to place a full report of the results of the survey in the Library as soon as it has been completed. The report will show that the survey, in which all police forces and local authority social service departments in England and Wales were invited to take part, was intended to improve our knowledge and understanding of the extent and nature of the problem of persistent juvenile offending. For this purpose, respondents were invited to provide information about juveniles who were known or believed to have committed ten or more offences in the period between 1 April and 30 June 1992.

  Although the results of the survey have improved the level of our knowledge and understanding of the problem, not all respondents (including two of the largest police forces) held their information in a way which allowed them to produce precise numerical data. It is, therefore, evident that the total figure of 106 juveniles identified by this exercise considerably underestimates the extent of the problem.

  Seat Belts (Prosecutions)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful prosecutions there have been in the last 10 years for breaches of the regulations on the wearing of seat belts in cars.

  Mr. Jack
  Findings of guilt at magistrates courts for not wearing a seat belt in England and Wales are shown in the following table. From 1 October 1986, the police have been able to issue fixed penalty notices for these offences as an alternative to prosecution and estimates of the number of such notices are also shown.
  121

  Year issued

  Findings of guilt

  Fixed penalty notices

  1983

  6,909

  —

  1984

  10,935

  —

  1985

  14,115

  —

  1986

  19,211

  18,100

  1987

  7,504

  58,400

  1988

  6,837

  71,700

  1989

  7,275

  89,100

  1990

  8,466

  127,200

  1991

  9,856

  122,800

  Convicted Murderer (Television Broadcast)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of how the interview with a convicted murderer broadcast on television on 26 January was(a) arranged and (b) supervised; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  It would not be appropriate for me to discuss matters which are awaiting trial.

  Prisoners (Cell Occupation)
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners shared(a) three to a cell, (b) two to a cell and (c) occupied a single cell at the latest available date; and what proportion of each category were (i) convicted and (ii) remand prisoners.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The following table shows how many prisoners shared three and two to cells certified as normal accommodation for one person on 18 December 1992. Information is not available for the proportion of convicted and remand prisoners held three or two to a cell, and instead the table provides a breakdown of figures by type of establishment.

  Information is not available on the number of prisoners occupying single cells.

  Establishment type

  Three to a cell

  Two to a cell

  Local prison

  201

  4,072

  Remand centre

  3

  570

  Adult training prison

  6

  118

  Young offender institution

  0

  228

  Female establishment

  0

  34

  Total

  210

  5,022

  Prison Education
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 27 January,Official Report, columns 715–16, how many existing providers of education have responded to his request; and when he expects to be able to indicate how many and which organisations will be contracted to provide education in prisons between 1 April and 30 September.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  By 1 February 1993, the Prison Service had received responses from 42 local education authorities and 61 colleges and institutions of further education. Existing providers have been offered the option of continuing to provide education services on the present terms until 31 August 1993. Where they are unable or 122
  unwilling to do so, contracts will be awarded under the current competitive tender. Decisions are expected to be reached within the next two weeks.

  Channing's Wood Prison (Education)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be able to respond to the letter of 29 December from the hon. Member for South Hams about the tendering for the provision of prison education at HM Prison Channings Wood by Chris Brimecombe and colleagues directors of Vygo, of 42 Churston Way, Brixham, South Devon.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I expect to reply to my hon. Friend this week.

  Prison Cells (Capital Cost)
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average capital cost of a new prison cell in 1992.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The average cost per place for new prisons opening in 1992 was £130,000. This includes both living accommodation and the other facilities needed.

  Wolds Remand Centre
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average weekly cost in 1992 of keeping a person in(a) the Wolds remand centre and (b) a state-run prison.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The average weekly cost of keeping a person in Wolds remand prison from April 1992, when 1 he prison opened, until December 1992 was £626. This compares with an average net operating cost for 1991–92 for all prisons run by the Prison Service of £442 per prisoner per week. This comparison is misleading, since unit costs are higher in the period during which a prison opens and is filling with prisoners, as Wolds was doing in 1992. Wolds is now more than 95 per cent. full.

  Seat Belts (Regulations Enforcement)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance has been issued to police forces concerning enforcement of the Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) Regulations 1983.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  None. The enforcement of road traffic law, which would include the Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) Regulations 1982, is a matter for individual chief officers of police.

  Anthony Charles Jeffs
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will intervene in the planned release of Anthony Charles Jeffs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No. I took the decision in accordance with normal policy and practice for the release of mandatory life sentence prisoners.

  Police (Audit Commission Reports)
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the changes effected by police forces in England and Wales to
  123
  the recommendations made in each of the Audit Commission police papers published since 1988; and if he will give details of the main changes implemented by the police service.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The 11 reports which have been published so far are addressed primarily to police authorities and police forces and offer thematic guidance for auditors who review the work of the authorities.

  Many of the changes recommended in the reports have been introduced by forces. They are also actively promoted in forces by Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary and progress in implementation is reflected in published inspectorate reports.

  Main changes include:

  (a) Increased use of civilians which has released officers for operation duties;

  (b) The implementation of a standing offers scheme for the purchasing of police vehicles which has identified substantial savings;

  (c) Improvements to police communications rooms through: further civilianisation, more flexible shifts, better technology and increased centralisation;

  (d) Introduction of enhanced performance measures including activity sampling;

  Number of Graduates in police in England and wales in 1981 and
  1991

  Force

  1981 graduates

  1981 strength

  Percentage

  1991 graduates

  1991 strength

  Percentage

  1991 graduate appointments

  Avon and Somerset

  89

  3,066

  2·9

  225

  3,072

  7·3

  13

  Bedfordshire

  10

  995

  1·0

  42

  1,090

  3·9

  3

  Cambridgeshire

  30

  1,135

  2·6

  75

  1,239

  6·1

  4

  Cheshire

  37

  1,875

  2·0

  117

  1,867

  6·3

  1

  City of London

  11

  878

  1·3

  54

  809

  6·7

  7

  Cleveland

  29

  1,497

  1·9

  81

  1,477

  5·5

  3

  Cumbria

  32

  1,135

  2·8

  66

  1,183

  5·6

  6

  Derbyshire

  35

  1,805

  1·9

  109

  1,706

  6·4

  0

  Devon and Cornwall

  58

  2,736

  2·1

  181

  2,876

  6·3

  15

  Dorset

  11

  1,191

  0·9

  47

  1,280

  3·7

  4

  Durham

  24

  1,387

  1·7

  100

  1,378

  7·3

  5

  Dyfed Powys

  15

  943

  1·6

  45

  944

  4·8

  5

  Essex

  37

  2,653

  1·4

  115

  2,878

  4·0

  4

  Gloucestershire

  19

  1,144

  1·7

  62

  1,178

  5·3

  4

  Greater Manchester

  159

  7,010

  2·3

  535

  6,975

  7·7

  21

  Gwent

  15

  982

  1·5

  54

  995

  5·4

  1

  Hampshire

  46

  3,093

  1·5

  198

  3,177

  6·2

  18

  Hertfordshire

  46

  1,590

  2·9

  102

  1,679

  6·1

  6

  Humberside

  34

  1,985

  1·7

  112

  2,016

  5·

  6

  Kent

  45

  2,919

  1·5

  119

  3,039

  3·9

  8

  Lancashire

  73

  3,213

  2·3

  239

  3,205

  7·5

  20

  Leicestershire

  39

  1,749

  2·2

  97

  1,808

  5·4

  8

  Lincolnshire

  16

  1,199

  1·3

  57

  1,198

  4·8

  5

  Merseyside

  107

  4,748

  2·3

  323

  4,605

  7·0

  23

  Metropolitan

  684

  25,103

  2·7

  1,592

  28,126

  5·7

  91

  Norfolk

  14

  1,278

  1·1

  51

  1,419

  3·6

  5

  Northamptonshire

  17

  1,019

  1·7

  84

  1,156

  7·3

  3

  Northumbria

  93

  3,378

  2·8

  268

  3,460

  7·7

  0

  North Wales

  17

  1,309

  1·3

  89

  1,343

  6·6

  4

  North Yorkshire

  27

  1,370

  2·0

  79

  1,382

  5·7

  14

  Nottinghamshire

  50

  2,295

  2·2

  180

  2,334

  7·7

  14

  South Wales

  59

  3,132

  1·9

  228

  3,142

  7·3

  12

  South Yorkshire

  61

  2,922

  2·1

  158

  2,989

  5·3

  3

  Staffordshire

  25

  2,122

  1·2

  89

  2,185

  4·1

  2

  Suffolk

  13

  1,126

  1·2

  45

  1,203

  3·7

  5

  Surrey

  36

  1,620

  2·2

  97

  1,681

  5·8

  8

  Sussex

  76

  2,869

  2·6

  192

  2,969

  6·5

  15

  Thames Valley

  63

  3,131

  2·0

  216

  3,722

  5·8

  17

  Warwickshire

  23

  943

  2·4

  74

  1,005

  7·4

  2

  West Mercia

  18

  1,959

  0·9

  114

  2,028

  5·6

  7

  West Midlands

  180

  6,792

  2·7

  479

  6,893

  6·9

  42

  West Yorkshire

  127

  5,210

  2·4

  342

  5,143

  6·6

  2

  Wiltshire

  13

  1,071

  1·2

  52

  1,212

  4·3

  5

  Totals

  2,613

  119,577

  2·2

  7,584

  125,066

  6·1

  441

  124
  (e) Improved management structures—more than three quarters of all forces have undergone, or are in the process of carrying out reviews of their management structures, including shift systems.

  Police (Education)
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list for each police force in England and Wales in 1981 and 1991(a) the number of graduates recruited and (b) the percentage of officers who are graduates;

  (2) what was (a) the number and (b) the percentage of police officers in each police force in England and Wales in 1981 and 1991 who had (a) no GCE or GCSE grade A-C passes, (b) four or fewer GCE or GCSE grade A-C passes, (c) more than four GCE or GCSE grade A-C passes but no A level passes, (d) one A level, (e) two or more A level passes and (f) a degree.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Much of the information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The information which is available is given in the table. The total number of graduate recruits who began initial training in 1981 was 468. The number of graduate appointments in 1991 was 441, a breakdown of which is shown in the table.

  Police National Computer
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which companies are being considered to assist in the project to convert criminal records on to the police national computer; and what is their country of ownership;

  (2) what stage has been reached in the project to load United Kingdom criminal records on to the police national computer; and when the project is likely to be completed;

  (3) what steps are being taken to seek bids for British companies to put criminal records on to the police national computer;

  (4) who are the consultants advising on the project to load United Kingdom criminal records on to the police national computer.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Work is in hand to assess the likely costs and practicality of converting the information contained in the criminal records held on microfiche at the national identification bureau into electronic form for inclusion on the police national computer. Hoskyns Group plc supported by Expert Systems Ltd., is assisting the Home Office in this work. When it has been completed my right hon. and learned Friend will consider how and where the back record conversion process can best be undertaken.

  Force

  Days lost due to assault-related sickness 1990

  Days sick non-assault 1990

  Days lost due to assault-related sickness 1991

  Days sick non-assault 1991

  Avon and Somerset

  1,402

  29,714

  840

  30,357

  Bedfordshire

  582

  13,206

  831

  12,719

  Cambridgeshire

  213

  14,518

  589

  12,518

  Cheshire

  1,109

  19,027

  921

  22,041

  City of London

  37

  9,986

  6

  8,899

  Cleveland

  731

  28,232

  610

  23,384

  Cumbria

  169

  13,256

  358

  12,125

  Derbyshire

  648

  18,675

  1,135

  23,358

  Devon and Cornwall

  865

  26,337

  986

  28,131

  Dorset

  406

  9,259

  325

  13,749

  Durham

  1,191

  14,685

  1,129

  15,825

  Dyfed Powys

  622

  9,703

  223

  10,801

  Essex

  629

  35,889

  454

  32,540

  Gloucestershire

  259

  11,531

  338

  13,148

  Greater Manchester

  3,708

  95,986

  3,618

  86,936

  Gwent

  330

  10,607

  126

  13,627

  Hampshire

  2,170

  30,986

  930

  43,295

  Hertfordshire

  650

  21,668

  640

  22,647

  Humberside

  895

  26,164

  856

  20,096

  Kent

  542

  28,917

  190

  20,324

  Lancashire

  1,371

  51,136

  2,422

  47,516

  Leicestershire

  644

  23,580

  678

  24,466

  Lincolnshire

  670

  15,691

  758

  17,206

  Merseyside

  4,086

  75,330

  4,264

  87,094

  Norfolk

  381

  17,307

  157

  15,314

  North Wales

  623

  17,695

  810

  22,055

  North Yorkshire

  274

  16,047

  419

  18,948

  Northamptonshire

  132

  14,188

  65

  15,276

  Northumbria

  4,296

  32,013

  3,993

  30,281

  Nottinghamshire

  1,302

  2,6934

  1,081

  26,879

  South Wales

  2,422

  40,948

  2,874

  46,868

  South Yorkshire

  1,297

  35,065

  600

  36,728

  Staffordshire

  1,120

  31,696

  1,096

  34,892

  Suffolk

  443

  8,888

  333

  8,649

  Surrey

  811

  14,608

  641

  18,644

  Sussex

  1,026

  29,138

  1,708

  38,921

  Thames Valley

  1,144

  25,848

  761

  35,728

  Warwickshire

  438

  11,919

  275

  13,874

  West Mercia

  487

  24,449

  405

  25,873

  126
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sets of microfiche hold the records on the police national computer.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The police national computer database includes an index of the names of all those for whom there is a record at the national identification bureau. These records, which relate to some 5.25 million individuals, are held on microfiche. There is at least one microfiche for each individual.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many names are held on the police national computer records.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The names database on the police national computer holds 5,292,439 records (excluding aliases). The PNC also holds records of 42,480,704 vehicles, including the name of the registered keeper.

  Police (Sick Leave)
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many days per officer for each police force in England and Wales were lost due to(a) assault-related sick leave and (b) sick leave not due to assaults, in 1990, 1991 and 1992.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested for 1990 and 1991 is shown as follows. The figures for 1992 are not yet available.
  127

  Force

  Days lost due to assault-related sickness 1990

  Days sick non-assault 1990

  Days lost due to assault-related sickness 1991

  Days sick non-assault 1991

  West Midlands

  —

  48,785

  1,279

  64,594

  West Yorkshire

  2,455

  55,160

  2,880

  61,815

  Wiltshire

  456

  9,829

  400

  9,293

  SUB TOTAL

  43,036

  1,094,600

  43,004

  1,167,454

  Metropolitan Police

  7,598

  353,091

  10,564

  310,343

  TOTAL

  50,634

  1,447,691

  53,568

  1,477,797

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to introduce a common methodology for the reporting of manpower requirements, crime statistics and clear up rates by police force in England and Wales.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Each of these matters is dealt with by a methodology which is common to all police forces.

  Mr. Allan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the percentage change in levels of recorded crime since 1979; and what has been the percentage change in the total establishment of the police since 1979.

  Mr. Jack
  The number of notifiable offences recorded by the police in England and Wales rose by 108 per cent. between 1979 and 1991. Over the same perion, the

  1981

  Police force

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  (e)

  Resident population1 ?000s

  Authorised establishment2

  Total police expenditure3 (£)

  Population per police officer1

  Expenditure per resident

  1981 prices (£)

  current prices4 (£)

  Avon and Somerset

  1,344

  3,020

  48,099,044

  445

  35.79

  63.88

  Bedfordshire

  503

  975

  16,909,020

  516

  33.62

  60.01

  Cambridgeshire

  584

  1,140

  18,088,165

  512

  30.97

  55.29

  Cheshire

  929

  1,845

  29,723,727

  504

  32.00

  57.11

  Cleveland

  567

  1,474

  23,187,854

  385

  40.90

  73.00

  Cumbria

  468

  1,128

  17,013,559

  415

  36.35

  64.89

  Derbyshire

  900

  1,767

  29,428,613

  509

  32.70

  58.37

  Devon and Cornwall

  1,378

  2,734

  46,538,966

  504

  33.77

  60.28

  Dorset

  595

  1,176

  19,323,275

  506

  32.48

  57.97

  Durham

  603

  1,355

  20,869,896

  445

  34.61

  61.78

  Essex

  1,389

  2,633

  41,825,130

  528

  30.11

  53.75

  Gloucestershire

  500

  1,131

  16,266,919

  442

  32.53

  58.07

  Greater Manchester

  2,635

  6,941

  111,677,941

  380

  42.38

  75.65

  Hampshire

  1,584

  3,084

  48,798,089

  514

  30.81

  54.99

  Hertfordshire

  812

  1,568

  25,497,169

  518

  31.40

  56.05

  Humberside

  850

  1,972

  32,384,102

  431

  38.10

  68.01

  Kent

  1,463

  2,871

  48,829,581

  510

  33.38

  59.58

  Lancashire

  1,366

  3,158

  50,924,265

  433

  37.28

  66.55

  Leicestershire

  839

  1,727

  27,538,409

  486

  32.82

  58.59

  Lincolnshire

  538

  1,182

  19,972,458

  455

  37.12

  66.27

  Merseyside

  1,518

  4,607

  78,120,172

  330

  51.46

  91.86

  Norfolk

  693

  1,265

  19,903,862

  548

  28.72

  51.27

  Northamptonshire

  526

  1,006

  15,990,957

  523

  30.40

  54.27

  Northumbria

  1,443

  3,355

  53,591,955

  430

  37.14

  66.29

  North Yorkshire

  663

  1,368

  22,684,511

  485

  34.21

  61.07

  Nottinghamshire

  974

  2,259

  35,952,785

  431

  36.91

  65.89

  South Yorkshire

  1,302

  2,872

  44,972,800

  453

  34.54

  61.66

  Staffordshire

  1,004

  2,099

  32,304,078

  478

  32.18

  57.43

  Suffolk

  603

  1,124

  19,478,036

  536

  32.30

  57.66

  Surrey

  726

  1,602

  25,581,395

  453

  35.24

  62.90

  Sussex

  1,306

  2,823

  43,746,202

  463

  33.50

  59.79

  Thames Valley

  1,779

  3,107

  50,747,135

  573

  28.53

  50.92

  128
  authorised police establishment rose by 7 per cent. whereas the actual police strength, including civilians, rose by 17 per cent. to a total of 172,014.

  Police Numbers
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each police force area in England and Wales in 1971, 1981 and 1991(a) the resident population, (b) the police officer establishment, (c) total police expenditure, (d) the police officer-population ratio and (e) expenditure per resident expressed both in current and at 1971 prices.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The requested information for 1981 and 1991 is set out in the following tables.

  The local government rearrangements of 1974 mean that it is not practicable to provide comparable information for 1971. Expenditure per resident is, between 1979 and 1991. Over the same period, the therefore, expressed in current and 1981 prices.
  129

  1981

  Police force

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  (e)

  Resident population1 ?000s

  Authorised establishment2

  Total police expenditure3 (£)

  Population per police officer1

  Expenditure per resident

  1981 prices (£)

  current prices4 (£)

  Warwickshire

  470

  920

  14,956,560

  511

  31.82

  56.80

  West Mercia

  993

  1,921

  31,057,520

  517

  31.28

  55.83

  West Midlands

  2,686

  6,684

  102,556,453

  402

  38.18

  68.16

  West Yorkshire

  2,066

  5,154

  77,772,868

  401

  37.64

  67.20

  Wiltshire

  522

  1,035

  16,342,216

  504

  31.31

  55.88

  Dyfed-Powys

  433

  934

  13,709,012

  464

  31.66

  56.51

  Gwent

  435

  975

  15,013,752

  446

  34.51

  61.61

  North Wales

  613

  1,313

  20,060,165

  467

  32.72

  58.41

  South Wales

  1,295

  3,105

  49,634,021

  417

  38.33

  68.41

  City of London

  5

  1,022

  17,738,644

  5

  3,547.73

  6,332.74

  Metropolitan

  7,323

  26,577

  552,223,788

  276

  75.41

  134.61

  Total

  49,222

  120,008

  2,047,035,069

  410

  1 Details obtained from HMCIC annual report 1981.

  2 Authorised establishment at 31 December 1981.

  3 Expenditure in financial year 1981–82.

  4 Current is taken to mean
  1991.92 prices.

  1991

  Police force

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  (e)

  Resident population1 (thousands)

  Authorised establishment2

  Total police expenditure3 (£)

  Population per police officer1

  Expenditure per resident

  1981 prices (£)

  Current prices4 (£)

  Avon and Somerset

  1,416

  3,085

  111,509,219

  459

  44.12

  78.75

  Bedfordshire

  535

  1,117

  39,147,522

  479

  40.99

  73.17

  Cambridgeshire

  664

  1,231

  47,115,875

  539

  39.75

  70.96

  Cheshire

  959

  1,900

  66,959,764

  505

  39.12

  69.82

  Cleveland

  552

  1,502

  54,802,204

  368

  55.62

  99.28

  Cumbria

  492

  1,183

  45,080,152

  416

  51.33

  91.63

  Derbyshire

  933

  1,825

  66,048,347

  511

  39.66

  70.79

  Devon and Cornwall

  1,497

  2,880

  117,436,426

  520

  43.95

  78.45

  Dorset

  658

  1,287

  52,005,892

  511

  44.28

  79.04

  Durham

  599

  1,389

  48,588,804

  431

  45.44

  81.12

  Essex

  1,465

  2,892

  115,540,004

  507

  44.18

  78.87

  Gloucestershire

  531

  1,183

  44,611,445

  449

  47.07

  84.01

  Greater Manchester

  2,590

  7,057

  248,807,274

  367

  53.82

  96.06

  Hampshire

  1,676

  3,202

  124,970,146

  523

  41.77

  74.56

  Hertfordshire

  842

  1,680

  62,868,458

  501

  41.83

  74.67

  Humberside

  859

  2,025

  77,395,755

  424

  50.48

  90.10

  Kent

  1,525

  3,054

  128,733,936

  499

  47.29

  84.42

  Lancashire

  1,395

  3,225

  122,019,273

  433

  49.00

  87.47

  Leicestershire

  897

  1,827

  67,195,772

  491

  41.97

  74.91

  Lincolnshire

  591

  1,206

  47,235,365

  490

  44.78

  79.92

  Merseyside

  1,443

  4,706

  178,883,939

  307

  69.45

  123.97

  Norfolk

  750

  1,421

  54,100,423

  528

  40.41

  72.13

  Northamptonshire

  580

  1,167

  45,498,974

  497

  43.95

  78.45

  Northumbria

  1,432

  3,586

  132,826,369

  399

  51.96

  92.76

  North Yorkshire

  726

  1,414

  51,679,282

  513

  39.88

  71.18

  Nottinghamshire

  1,017

  2,344

  82,628,633

  434

  45.52

  81.25

  South Yorkshire

  1,296

  3,016

  103,166,171

  430

  44.60

  79.60

  Staffordshire

  1,041

  2,211

  82,162,596

  471

  44.22

  78.93

  Suffolk

  643

  1,216

  48,068,954

  529

  41.88

  74.76

  Surrey

  747

  1,670

  63,420,572

  447

  47.56

  84.90

  Sussex

  1,417

  2,982

  106,177,607

  475

  41.98

  74.93

  Thames Valley

  1,983

  3,725

  149,413,760

  532

  42.21

  75.35

  Warwickshire

  483

  1,016

  39,841,685

  475

  46.21

  82.49

  West Mercia

  1,081

  2,024

  77,230,104

  534

  40.02

  71.44

  West Midlands

  2,615

  6,958

  250,815,603

  376

  53.73

  95.91

  West Yorkshire

  2,070

  5,295

  197,225,852

  391

  53.38

  95.28

  Wiltshire

  561

  1,114

  46,214,702

  504

  46.15

  82.38

  Dyfed-Powys

  471

  944

  35,149,805

  499

  41.81

  74.63

  Gwent

  447

  1,009

  36,682,297

  443

  45.97

  82.06

  North Wales

  653

  1,352

  50,700,394

  483

  43.50

  77.64

  South Wales

  1,309

  3,168

  118,537,290

  413

  50.73

  90.56

  City of London

  5

  798

  40,820,059

  5

  5,717.05

  10,205.01

  Metropolitan

  7,260

  28,439

  1,339,605,000

  255

  103.37

  184.52

  Total

  50,718

  126,325

  5,018,921,704

  401

  130 131
  1 Details obtained from HMCIC annual report 1991.

  2 Authorised establishment at 31 December 1991.

  3 Expenditure in financial year 1991–92.

  4 Current is taken to mean 1991–92 prices.

  Police (Flexible Shifts)
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the police forces in England and Wales which are introducing a flexible shift system.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Many forces are examining the possibility of introducing alternative shift systems following the introduction of the appropriate amendments to the Police Regulations 1987. The following forces are currently holding experiments with alternative shift systems:

  Avon and Somerset

  Merseyside

  Bedfordshire

  Northamptonshire

  Cambridgeshire

  Northumbria

  Cleveland

  Nottinghamshire

  Derbyshire

  South Wales

  Devon and Cornwall

  Sussex

  Dorset

  Thames Valley

  Durham

  West Mercia

  Greater Manchester

  West Midlands

  Hertfordshire

  Wiltshire

  Kent

  Safer Cities Projects
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reinstate the previous level of the safer cities budget for Birmingham to help fund projects for youth and community resources in areas with high juvenile crime rates.

  Mr. Jack
  No. As part of our crime prevention strategy, the grants budget of the Birmingham safer cities project, together with those of the other 15 longer established projects, has been set at £100,000 in 1993–94 enabling funds to be released for work to be started on a new phase of safer cities projects elsewhere.

  Having seen the value demonstrated by Safer Cities, we hope that local communities and interests will be willing to take over the projects and continue their work after Home Office funding for the 16 projects ends in March 1994. Some additional funding from a central budget of £500,000 will be available to Birmingham and the other 15 projects to assist work aimed at leaving in place satisfactory continuing arrangements for the maintenance and development of local multi-agency crime prevention work.

  Through the safer cities project, the Home Office has supported a wide range of work in Birmingham focusing on juveniles including schemes providing football coaching and other sporting activities, tackling bullying, promoting junior crime prevention panels and tackling graffiti. These illustrate what can be done often with modest funding. In addition, the Home Office provides funding for three projects in Birmingham organised by the probation service in partnership with the voluntary sector to provide programmes of supervision for young offenders.

  Youth Crime
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he intends to take to deal with car crimes committed by young people and other youth crime in Birmingham and the west midlands.

  Mr. Jack
  The Government have encouraged the police and other agencies in the development of effective crime prevention programmes aimed at tackling youth crime and has funded a number of initiatives. The Home Office safer cities projects set up in Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton in 1989 have all funded schemes aimed at diverting the young away from car crime and other types of crime. We have also established local drugs prevention teams in Birmingham and Wolverhampton with the aim of tackling the spread of misuse, particularly among the young. In addition the probation supervision grant scheme provides funding for nine projects in the West Midlands probation area which, in the main, provide programmes of supervision for young offenders. Three are based in Birmingham, one of which specifically tackles car crime.

  The Department of Education announced last month that Coventry and Dudley are to receive £147,000, Solihull £99,000 and Wolverhampton £73,500 under its grants for education support and training (GEST) programme for youth crime prevention schemes in 1993–94. The Department of the Environment's city challenge programme in Wolverhampton is providing funding for activities for young people including a vehicle project to divert juveniles from car crime. In addition Birmingham propose to tackle youth crime, amongst other things, under the city challenge programme once their action plan has received approval.

  As part of its programme of action on youth crime for 1993, Crime Concern is planning a series of regional seminars, including two in the midlands, on best practice in diverting young people from crime.

  The Government are also considering what means might be needed to reduce offending by the small group of persistent juvenile offenders.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Badgers
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications for licences were received in the last year for terrier men to send dogs into badger setts; how many were granted; and to whom.

  Mr. Soames
  The Ministry received seven applications in the last year for licences to permit terrier men to enter dogs into badger setts for the purpose of fox control. No licences were issued.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated cost of introducing CAP reform to(a) the activities of his Department and (b) the British farming industry.
  133
  Mr. Curry
  The total estimated cost to the Ministry for the introduction of the CAP reform measures is £25 million in 1993–94, falling to £20 million in subsequent years. This represents a small proportion of total programme costs.

  There will be higher costs to the British farming industry in the first year, when the Community anti-fraud rules require the submission of a good deal of basic information relating to the farm, but we hope to reduce the costs to farmers in subsequent years.

  Sea Fish (Conservation) Bill
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest estimate of the costs of enforcing the Sea Fish (Conservation) Bill.

  Mr. Curry
  The Government have made provision for the cost of enforcing days at sea and extending licensing to vessels of 10 m overall length and below. The estimated cost of these operations is £1.5 million a year for the United Kingdom as a whole.

  Fishing Fleet
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to announce the allocation of fishing days to individual boats under the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1992; and whether the allocation in 1993 will be retrospective from 1 January.

  Mr. Curry
  The Government will shortly be laying before Parliament an order which will set out principles governing the allocation of days at sea. This order will clear the way for the issue of provisional allocations to fishermen, and subsequently for the attachment of days at sea conditions to licences. Such conditions will not be retrospective.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to issue 1993 licences to the British fishing fleet.

  Mr. Curry
  The 1993 fishing licences have been, or are currently being, issued for vessels which require licences.

  Agriculture Returns
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 21 January,Official Report, columns 393–94, what is the reason for the replacement of acres by hectares as the only acceptable measurement on most returns.

  Mr. Curry
  Council Directive on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to units of measurement No. 80/181 EC as amended by Council Directive No. 89/617 EC requires the phasing out of acres by the end of 1994 for these returns.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the current number of full-time equivalent jobs, including family labour, on every 100 acres on farms of(a) under 100 acres, (b) from 100 to 200 acres, (c) from 200 to 300 acres, (d) from 300 to 500 acres, (e) from 500 to 1,000 acres, (f) from 1,000 to 2,000 acres and (g) over 2,000 acres.
  134
  Mr. Curry
  The number of full-time equivalent jobs, including family labour, on every 100 acres on farms in England for the categories requested is shown in the table.

  Number of full-time equivalent jobs1 per 100 acres of total area on agricultural holdings2

  Total area of holding (acres)

  Number

  Under 100

  3.7

  100 - <200

  1.4

  200 - < 300

  1.0

  300 - < 500

  0.9

  500 - <1,000

  0.7

  1,000 - <2,000

  0.6

  2,000 and over

  0.4

  All holdings

  1.3

  1 Includes all workers on the holding ie farmers, partners, directors, spouses, managers, regular family and hired workers, seasonal and casual workers with the exception of persons engaged as trainees under an official scheme and not paid AWB rates or more.

  2 Minor holdings are excluded.

  Source: June 1992 Census of Agriculture and Horticulture.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the current total labour force employed in agriculture and the equivalent figures for 1991, 1990, 1985, 1980, 1975 and 1965.

  Mr. Curry
  The total agricultural labour force on holdings in England as at June for each of the years requested is shown in the table:

  Total agricultural labour force on holdings in England as at June each year

  Year

  Total labour forec1 (thousands)

  2 31965

  421.4

  41975

  503.0

  1980

  523.8

  1985

  495.3

  1990

  455.9

  1991

  445.0

  1992

  440.2

  1 Includes all workers on the holding i.e. farmers, partners, directors, spouses, managers, regular family and hired workers, seasonal and casual workers with the exception of persons engaged as trainees under an official scheme and not paid AWB rates or more.

  2 Data for 1965 exclude occupiers or principal partners and their wives.

  3 Workers on holdings of less than 1 acre are excluded.

  4 Data for 1975 exclude spouses (doing farm work) of farmers, partners and directors on main holdings.

  Set-aside
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list his estimate of the amount of set-aside in the current growing season in each county of England and Wales.

  Mr. Curry
  The table gives the latest available figures for the amount of land currently set-aside under the five year set-aside scheme in each county in England. Information on land set-aside under the new arable area payments scheme will not be available until growers have to declare the area later this year. Figures for Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
  135

  Country

  Area (hectares)

  Avon

  1,390

  Bedfordshire

  1,774

  Berkshire

  2,503

  Buckinghamshire

  5,392

  Cambridgeshire

  3,855

  Cheshire

  907

  Cleveland

  24

  Cornwall

  1,421

  Cumbria

  393

  Derbyshire

  847

  Devon

  1,595

  Dorset

  1,565

  Durham

  970

  East Sussex

  2,672

  Essex

  4,067

  Gloucestershire

  5,552

  Greater London

  261

  Greater Manchester

  126

  Hampshire

  2,750

  Hereford and Worcester

  1,804

  Hertfordshire

  2,135

  Humberside

  1,564

  Isle of Wight

  57

  Kent

  4,546

  Lancashire

  243

  Leicestershire

  1,517

  Lincolnshire

  3,354

  Merseyside

  259

  North Yorkshire

  2,505

  Norfolk

  3,126

  Northamptonshire

  3,986

  Northumberland

  663

  Nottinghamshire

  777

  Oxfordshire

  5,758

  South Yorkshire

  418

  Shropshire

  591

  Somerset

  1,821

  Staffordshire

  1,177

  Suffolk

  3,625

  Surrey

  1,665

  Tyne and Wear

  414

  West Yorkshire

  317

  Warwickshire

  1,751

  West Midlands

  132

  West Sussex

  2,449

  Wiltshire

  3,850

  Total

  88,565

  European Court
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions matters under his jurisdiction have been referred to the European Court; and if he will give details in each case.

  Mr. Curry
  All European Court of Justice cases since July 1985 involving the United Kingdom are listed in the White Papers on Developments in the European Community published bi-annually. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

  Fishing Days (Allocation)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he is giving to producer organisations on the management of their quota pending the introduction of days at sea restrictions.

  Mr. Curry
  The management of quotas allocated to producer organisations (POs) is, in general, a matter for them, operating within a framework of rules which 136
  Fisheries Departments lay down in the interests of the United Kingdom fleet as a whole. Days at sea will not have retrospective effect from the date of their introduction. Management of days at sea will be entirely up to the individual fishermen, since the allocations are to individual vessels not to POs.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will announce details of individual days at sea allocation transfer and any possible licence aggregation.

  Mr. Curry
  The Government will shortly be laying before Parliament an Order which will set out principles governing the allocation of days at sea. This order will clear the way for the issue of provisional allocations to fishermen, and subsequently for the attachment of days at sea conditions to licences. Such conditions will not be retrospective.

  Conifer Plantations
  Mr. Cynog Davis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to amend guidelines on conifer plantations in the United Kingdom relating to(a) siting, (b) species composition and (c) felling regimes.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 29 January 1993]: I have been asked to reply.

  The Government have no plans at present to amend the existing guidance on the establishment and management of conifer plantations.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many successful claims were made for family credit since April 1992 by lone parents who are employed between 16 and 24 hours a week.

  Mr. Burt
  Between 7 April and 30 September 1992, the latest date for which information is available, about 35,000 family credit awards have been made to lone parents working between 16 and 24 hours a week.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many lone parents in receipt of income support in March 1992 became ineligible, following the changes to the definition of full-time work from 24 to 16 hours a week in April 1992; and what is this figure as a proportion of the total number of lone parents claiming income support.

  Mr. Burt
  No one who was working between 16 and 24 hours a week and receiving income support at the point of change has had that benefit withdrawn simply as a consequence of the change in the hours threshold. Many lone parents will be better off because of their decision to claim family credit. Those who chose not to claim family credit may remain on income support under special provisions giving them indefinite protection.

  State Pensions
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what grounds British subjects who retire to one of the old dominions do not receive the annual uprating of their state pension.
  137
  Miss Widdecombe
  Regulations prevent the payment of annual pension increases to United Kingdom pensioners living abroad. There are exceptions to this rule under social security agreements with some countries. Our agreements with Australia, Canada and New Zealand do not alter this. We have no social security agreement with South Africa. In view of the substantial additional cost—about £275 million at April 1992 rates—involved in paying pension increases to all United Kingdom pensioners abroad, there is no prospect of allowing further unfreezing in the present financial climate.

PRIME MINISTER

  India
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he had during his visit to India concerning human rights abuses in Kashmir; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I raised British concerns about human rights in Kashmir with the Indian Prime Minister. He assured me of his Government's commitment to respect human rights and determination to take firm action against wrongdoers.

  Democracy
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will bring forward proposals for an elected second chamber.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Government's progress towards improving democracy in the United Kingdom since 1979.

  The Prime Minister
  We have implemented policies approved by the electorate in four general elections.

  Lord Chancellor's Powers
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will bring forward a transfer of functions statutory instrument under the Ministers of the Crown Act 1975 to transfer the legal powers of the Lord Chancellor to a Secretary of State for Justice in a Department of Justice; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Transfer of Functions Orders
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions since 1975 Her Majesty's Government have used transfer of functions orders to abolish, create or amalgamate Government Departments.

  The Prime Minister
  Twelve. They are:

  1976/1775 Established the Department of Transport

  1979/907 Created the Office of Arts and Libraries

  1979/1451 Dissolved the Ministry of Overseas Development

  1981/207 Office of Arts and Libraries merged with Department of Education and Science

  138

  1981/1670 Civil Service Department changed into Management and Personnel Office

  1983/879 Office of Arts and Libraries became a separate Office

  1983/1127 Departments of Trade and Industry amalgamated into Department of Trade and Industry

  1987/2039 Management and Personnel Office changed into Office of the Minister for the Civil Service

  1988/1843 Department of Health and Social Security split into Department of Health and Department of Social Security

  1992/1311 Department of National Heritage established

  1992/1314 Department of Energy dissolved

  Family Policy
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Prime Minister what action he proposes to co-ordinate family policy across those Government Departments actively concerned with family policy.

  The Prime Minister
  We already have proper and adequate co-ordination of family policy across Government Departments. There is frequent consultation between Departments about a range of issues which touch upon the family. In addition an interdepartmental working party—the family law and administration working party—oversees a rolling programme of work directed at improving family law and business.

  Moscow (Communications)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the discussions between his security officials and Russian officials over the installation of a secure communications line to Moscow during his recent visit to India.

  The Prime Minister
  Given the close proximity of the two visits and the fact that we were both staying in the President's residence, it was necessary to discuss Mr. Yeltsin's communications requirements with both the Indians and the Russians. Arrangements acceptable to all concerned were agreed.

  Intergovernmental Conference
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister what proposals he has for submission to the 1996 intergovernmental conference.

  The Prime Minister
  It is too early to say. The first priority is to ratify the Maastricht treaty and put it into practice. Then we will be able to build on the gains won at Maastricht—subsidiarity, inter-governmental co-operation, codification of competences—in the years between now and the next treaty revision.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 2 February.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 2 February.
  139
  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Financial Assistance
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list, by industrial sector, the firms and projects which applied for financial assistance under section 8 of the Industry Development Act 1982 in(a) 1991–92 and (b) the current financial year.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  A number of assistance schemes, including assistance for exceptional projects, are operated under the powers of section 8 of the Industrial Development Act 1982. Only in the case of AEP is comprehensive information recorded centrally.

  AEP applications by industrial sector have been submitted as follows:

  Sector

  Number

  1991–92

  Engineering

  2

  Newsprint recycling

  1

  Pharmaceuticals

  1

  1992–93 (to end January)

  Computer hardware/software

  3

  Waste disposal

  2

  Metal manufacture

  2

  Newsprint recycling

  1

  Medical research

  1

  Entertainment/leisure

  1

  Commercial property development

  1

  Details about the individual firms and their projects is commercially confidential.

  Teaching Company Partnership Scheme
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many projects have been established under the teaching company partnership scheme in each region; and how many students will be placed under the scheme in the financial year 1992–93.

  United Kingdom imports of denim1

  Value (£000)

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  21992

  United States of America

  1,581

  916

  722

  846

  678

  India

  434

  214

  307

  786

  2,187

  Hong Kong

  1,453

  655

  572

  343

  409

  Italy

  5,507

  3,275

  2,499

  1,564

  2,603

  Germany

  8,218

  4,775

  2,971

  4,636

  4,348

  Belgium/Luxembourg

  3,914

  817

  564

  1,146

  1,524

  Irish Republic

  684

  2,229

  5,654

  423

  70

  Other European Communities

  7,963

  8,699

  6,565

  5,484

  6,832

  Quantity (thousand square metres)

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  21992

  United States of America

  929

  574

  472

  592

  372

  India

  496

  220

  311

  667

  2,426

  Hong Kong

  1,625

  834

  835

  414

  322

  Italy

  1,842

  1,156

  813

  483

  949

  Germany

  3,971

  2,174

  1,225

  1,950

  1,687

  Belgium/Luxembourg

  1,590

  392

  243

  540

  669

  140
  Mr. Leigh
  The regional and territorial distribution of live teaching company scheme programmes is:

  1 April 1992

  31 December 1992

  +/-

  Northern Ireland

  28

  38

  +10

  Scotland

  35

  30

  - 5

  Wales

  24

  27

  +3

  North West

  57

  50

  - 7

  North East

  64

  90

  +26

  West Midlands

  48

  54

  +6

  East Midlands

  30

  41

  +11

  South West

  29

  37

  +8

  South East

  65

  78

  +13

  London

  13

  17

  +4

  Total

  393

  462

  +69

  Two hundred and twenty-nine graduates began participating as teaching company associates between 1 April and 31 December 1992. By the end of March 1993 a total of about 300 new associates will have been placed in this financial year.

  News Distribution
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the Monopolies and Mergers Commission 1 was asked to report on news distribution; and when he expects it to report.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The Director General of Fair Trading referred the supply of newspaper distribution in England and Wales to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in August 1992. The commission was asked to report back to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade within 12 months.

  Denim Cloth
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the quantity and value of denim cloth imported into the United Kingdom from(a) the United States of America, (b) India, (c) Hong Kong, (d) Italy, (e) Germany, (f) Belgium, (g) Ireland and (h) other European Community countries for each year since 1987.

  Mr. Needham
  The available information on quantity and value of denim imports is given in the table.
  141

  Quantity (thousand square metres)

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  21992

  Irish Republic

  566

  1,485

  3,416

  424

  47

  Other European Communities

  5,105

  5,568

  3,034

  2,308

  2,600

  1 Denim is defined as headings 652.42 and 652.63 of the Standard International Trade Classification (revision 3).

  2 January to November.

  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.

  Ship Building
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to introduce new legislation or proposals to stimulate investment in new ship building to augment the United Kingdom register of merchant ships.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I have no plans for additional assistance to shipbuilders. The shipbuilding intervention fund and the home shipbuilding credit guarantee scheme are already available to help shipbuilders construct vessels for any register.

  Methyl Bromide
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many tonnes of methyl bromide have been(a) produced within the United Kingdom and (b) imported in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The information is not available. Methyl bromide is not separately identified in United Kingdom statistical classifications.

  EC Regional and Social Funds
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will discuss with the European Commission the possibility of upgrading Merseyside from objective 2 to objective 1 status within the framework of EC regional and social funds.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Government are currently considering which regions, including Merseyside, should be put forward, for special reasons, for eligibility under objective 1 of the EC structural funds.

  State Aid for Industry
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consultations he has had with the Competition Commissioner Karl van Miert about the proposed softer line on state aid for industry in EC countries; and what representations he has made.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has met Mr. van Miert to discuss the coal review. He is looking forward to discussing other issues with Mr. van Miert over the coming months.

  General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to make representations to the GATT to secure that clear and explicit commitments to(a) the environment, (b) the promotion of sustainable development and (c) to raise incomes of the poor in third-world countries are written in to the preamble and articles of the Multilateral Trade Organisation.
  142
  Mr. Needham
  It is not open to the United Kingdom to negotiate directly on the text establishing the proposed Multilateral Trade Organisation (MTO). The European Commission, which negotiates in the Uruguay round of GATT on behalf of the European Community and the member states, has made proposals to include language on sustainable development, including environmental protection, in the preamble of the proposed MTO text.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recommendations have been made by his Department to GATT concerning(a) revisions to the disputes procedures of the Multilateral Trade Organisation and (b) the accountability of MTO panel members.

  Mr. Needham
  It is not open to the United Kingdom to negotiate directly on the text establishing the proposed Multilateral Trade Organisation (MTO), which is being negotiated in the Uruguay round in GATT. The European Commission acts as sole negotiator on behalf of the EC and the member states. Dispute settlement is not, in any case, part of the MTO proposal, but is covered by a separate draft understanding. No proposals have been made to change this understanding since the draft Final Act was tabled in December 1991. Under the terms of this understanding, dispute settlement panel members would act for, and be accountable to, the Governments who are members of the MTO, acting collectively through a special dispute settlement body.

  Assisted Areas
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what criteria he has used in reviewing the assisted areas map.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The criteria to be used in the review of the assisted areas map were set out in the consultation paper issued in June last year.

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has for a capital moratorium on payments of regional selective assistance.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  None.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has to adjust the cost-per-job limits on maximum regional selective assistance in line with inflation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  There are no such proposals. The scheme is kept under continuous review to ensure the scope for encouraging worthwhile and efficient investment in the assisted areas remain unimpaired.

  Regional Development Fund
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much European regional development fund expenditure there has been in the United Kingdom in each year since 1984–85 at(a) current prices and (b) 1984 prices.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  European regional development fund allocations to the United Kingdom since 1984 are as follows:

  £ million

  (a) Current prices

  (b) 1984 prices

  1984

  367

  367

  1985

  344

  326

  1986

  342

  308

  1987

  445

  386

  1988

  373

  311

  1989

  343

  273

  1990

  330

  253

  1991

  410

  301

  1992

  482

  332

  Coal Industry
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will ensure that coal production is resumed in the 10 pits currently subject to the court judgment detailing that the modified colliery review procedure should be followed.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 1 February 1993]: The resumption of coaling at the 10 pits is a matter for British Coal. However, I do not understand there to be anything in the judgment which either makes the cessation of coaling in these pits unlawful or requires this to re-commence while consultation takes place.

  The judgment does not require the modified colliery review procedure to be followed. It requires that British Coal shall not reach a final decision on the closure of any of the 10 pits until a procedure substantially to the same effect as the modified colliery review procedure, including some form of independent scrutiny, has been followed.

  I have placed a copy of the approved transcript of the Lord Justice Glidewell and Mr. Justice Hidden's judgment of 21 December 1992 in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Cash
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will bring forward proposals for a statutory extension of the redundancy payment scheme for the miners in the 10 pits scheduled for closure until the consultation and review procedure has been completed.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 1 February 1993]: My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade assured the House on 21 October that no miner at these pits will be disadvantaged as regards redundancy terms. That holds good both during and at the end of the current consultation process, and both before and after the end of March.

  Insolvency
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received concerning the application of the insolvency laws to Gallidoro Trawlers of Lowestoft.
  144
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  [holding answer 1 February 1993]: My hon. Friend the Member for Waveney (Mr. Porter) wrote about this matter on 22 September 1992; 1 replied on 18 October 1992.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will review the insolvency laws; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  [holding answer 1 February 1993]: No. Officials in the insolvency service continue to monitor the operation of the insolvency legislation.

  Warship Builders
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing), 10 December,Official Report, column 752, if he will now make representations to the European Commission that agreement be modified to permit subsidy to those companies which were privatised as warship builders.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 1 February 1993]: Not at present, but I am keeping the situation under review.

  Export:Import Ratios
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information he has concerning the export:import ratios in each member country of the European Community in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 26 January 1993]: The figures required are shown in the following table.

  EC countries ratios of exports to imports 1991

  Country

  Export:Import ratio 1991

  Belgium/Luxembourg

  0·98

  Denmark

  1·11

  France

  0·93

  Germany

  1·03

  Greece

  0·40

  Ireland

  1·17

  Italy

  0·93

  Netherlands

  1·06

  Portugal

  0·62

  Spain

  0·64

  United Kingdom

  0·88

  Source: OECD series C.

  Note: Export:import ratios relate to total visible trade.

EDUCATION

  English
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will meet the National Association of Teachers of English to discuss key stage 3 of the national curriculum.

  Mr. Forth
  The National Association of Teachers of English has not asked to meet my right hon. Friend.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received concerning standard attainment tests in English at key stage 3.
  145
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received on the implementation of key stage 3 of the national curriculum in English.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many representations he has received complaining about or asking for changes in the key stage 3 English tests.

  Mr. Forth
  I refer the hon. Members to the oral answer that my right hon. Friend gave earlier to the hon. Members for Manchester, Withington (Mr. Bradley) and for Cambridge (Mrs. Campbell) and to my hon Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Mr. Milligan).

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools have indicated that they will not carry out the key stage 3 English tests in the current year.

  Mr. Forth
  Head teachers and school governors are under a statutory duty to implement the national curriculum and its assessment arrangements. I expect all maintained and grant-maintained schools with 14-year-old pupils to administer the English tests to their pupils in June this year as they are required to do.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of four-year-olds have a local authority nursery place.

  Mr. Forth
  Eighty-one per cent. of all children in England who were aged 4 on 31 August 1990 and still below five at the end of the year were in maintained nursery or primary schools in January 1991.

  Education Funding
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received from local authorities cutting budgets to avoid capping in 1993–94 and the implications on the position of education.

  Mr. Boswell
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of such representations.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received in the last three months from the Association of County Councils on the funding of education services.

  Mr. Boswell
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations from the Association of County Councils about the funding of education services.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he received a copy of the annual survey of the grant-maintained schools centre; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend received a copy of the GSMC survey on 30 November. The survey demonstrated clearly the benefits of grant-maintained status, which enables schools to manage their own affairs and gives them the flexibility to target funding at classroom level. Copies of the survey are available in the Library.
  146
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the latest figures for the number of grant-maintained schools in both the secondary and primary phases.

  Mr. Forth
  To date, there are 262 secondary schools and 75 primary schools operating as grant-maintained. A further 49 secondary schools and 14 primary schools have been approved for grant-maintained status; 161 secondary schools and 61 primary schools have applications in the pipeline after voting in favour of applying for grant-maintained status.

  NNC and Ofsted Reports
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what actions he has taken following the recent presentation of reports by the National Curriculum Council and the Office for Standards in Education.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has sent to primary schools a five-point strategy designed to promote good teaching practice and improved curriculum management in primary schools. He also proposes to ask the new Schools Curriculum and Assessment Authority to advise him on the institution of a rolling review of national curriculum subjects.

  Students Unions
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent representations he has received about the future of student unions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Boswell
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations on student unions in the course of the Department's consultations.

  Newspapers (Essex)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education from which Essex newspapers his press cuttings services provide cuttings for his office.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Department's press cuttings service is not asked to monitor Essex regional newspapers automatically. However, the Department has other arrangements enabling it to receive press cuttings from all regional papers on request.

  National Curriculum
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he next plans to meet the chair of the National Curriculum Council to discuss the progress being made in the implementation of the national curriculum.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend and my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State have regular meetings with the chairman of the National Curriculum Council. Progress in the implementation of the national curriculum is a normal part of the agenda of such meetings.

  Youth Service
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the latest information he has about English local authority budgets for the youth service in(a) 1992–93 and (b) 1993–94.
  147
  Mr. Boswell
  Separate information on youth service expenditure for these years is not yet available.

  Teacher Education and Training
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for the reform of teacher training.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for the reform of teacher education and training; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend announced last June a decisive shift to more school-based training for secondary teachers, which is being introduced over the period up to September 1994. He is now considering reforms to the training of primary teachers in the light of the recent advice from the National Curriculum Council and OFSTED on primary education; and he intends that they should be introduced in September 1994. The quality of teacher training is critical to our school reforms and the raising of educational standards. My right hon. Friend will keep under review the possibility that further reform of teacher training is needed to this end.

  Voluntary Organisations
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received from voluntary organisations during the last three months; and what were their major concerns.

  Mr. Boswell
  Over the last three months we have received a number of representations from voluntary organisations on a range of issues. These included the ending of the Department's initial three-year interim grants scheme to education voluntary organisations in London, and the funding of courses which fall within schedule 2 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992.

  Local Management of Schools
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proposals he has to extend the system of local management of schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  We issued the consultation paper, "Local Management of Schools: the Future Framework", on 11 January. This seeks views on proposals to extend local managment of schools. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  Truancy
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance regarding the connection with bullying has been given to local authorities when using extra money to combat truancy.

  Mr. Forth
  Under the "Reducing Truancy" component of the grants for education support and training scheme for 1993–94, local education authorities (LEAs) could, if they so wished, include in their bids an element designed to promote whole-school action on bullying. A number of authorities have done so on the basis of schemes designed to meet local needs. Practical advice on bullying was contained in the "Action against Bullying" pack distributed by the Department to all LEAs and schools in July 1992.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to increase the number of young people entering higher education.

  Mr. Boswell
  Government policies have led to substantial increases in the number of young people participating in higher education. More than one in four young people now enter higher education compared with only one in eight in 1979. As explained at the time of the autumn statement, the Government's funding for the next three years reflects our assumption that the participation rate of young people in higher education will be maintained at a record 28 per cent. over the next three years, and will rise to about one in three by the year 2000.

  School Governors
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what advice and assistance is being made available to school governors in order that they can effectively carry out their responsibilities.

  Mr. Forth
  All LEAs arrange for training and support for school governors. Authorities either provide this themselves, or may commission it from other organisations. Central Government grant towards LEAs' expenditure is available through the GEST (grants for education support and training) programme. Nationally, expenditure of £10 million is being supported in the current year. This increases to just over £15 million in 1993–94. In addition, department for Education has funded several governor support projects run by diocesan bodies and governor organisations.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he will publish the results of his Department's survey of the membership of school governing bodies conducted in autumn 1992.

  Mr. Forth
  The results of the survey will be published as soon as possible after they have been received.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what provisions have been made governing the conduct of first governors of grant-maintained schools elected parent governors; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The instrument of government of a grant-maintained school makes provision for serving governors who become bankrupt, are convicted of certain crimes or who do not attend governors meetings to be disqualified from holding office. Clause 56 of the Education Bill will, if enacted, provide additional power for the Secretary of State to replace any or all of the first governors in circumstances where there is a serious failure of duties, the school has had a bad inspection report and is unable or unwilling to put matters right or where the behaviour of governors has damaged, or appears likely to damage the education of pupils.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what requirements are laid on parent governors in reporting back to parent electors; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  There are no specific requirements on parent governors to report back to parent electors. The governing
  149
  body as a whole must produce a report and hold a meeting for parents in every school year to inform parents of the governing body's actions over the previous year and to give them an opportunity to discuss these actions.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to monitor changes in articles and instruments of grant-maintained schools' governing bodies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Changes to the instrument or articles of government of any grant-maintained school can be made only if an amendment order is issued by the Secretary of State.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what requirements are imposed concerning changes to the membership articles and instruments and the removal of parent governors of grant-maintained school governing bodies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Amendments to the instrument of government of a grant-maintained school to reflect changes in the composition of the membership of the governing body can be made only if an amendment order is issued by the Secretary of State.

  The instrument of government makes provision for serving governors (including parent governors) who become bankrupt, are convicted of certain crimes or who do not attend governors' meetings to be disqualified from holding office. Clause 56 of the Education Bill will, if enacted, also provide power for the Secretary of State to replace any or all of the first governors in certain circumstances. These circumstances are: a serious failure of duties, a had inspection report coupled with the inability or unwillingness of the school to put matters right, or where there is behaviour by governors such as has damaged, or appears likely to damage, the education of pupils.

  Grants (Gwynedd)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the reasons why his Department(a) did not reimburse Gwynedd county council with the sum paid by way of mandatory education grants, following the completion of form UG 8/91 on 5 October by that authority, (b) indicated that provisional payments would be made soon after 9 October and (c) delayed payments until January 1993; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Boswell
  Form UG 8/91 is a certificate of each local education authority's spending on mandatory student awards in 1991–92, and is used as a basis for adjustments to the specific grant already paid for that year by the Department. Provisional adjustments may be paid after scrutiny of authorities' pre-audit forms due in October, and final adjustments after receipt of audited certificates due on 31 December. Last autumn, however, many authorities' pre-audit forms contained errors, and the Department deferred all adjustments until audited certificates had been received and reconciled. The adjustments will be paid in full shortly.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what reason his Department has not yet replied to the letter from the treasurer of Gwynedd county council of 30 November and 10 December.
  150
  Mr. Boswell
  The Department telephoned the county treasurer, and also wrote on 22 December and again on 19 and 29 January.

  Secondary Schools (Inspections)
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many secondary schools will be inspected over the next four years.

  Mr. Forth
  Every publicly funded secondary school will be inspected over four years starting this September; nearly 4,000 reports will be published as a result.

  Special Needs
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the availability of professional services to children with special educational needs.

  Mr. Forth
  I have this last week, in the Committee stage of the Education Bill, tabled a new clause which puts beyond doubt the ability of local education authorities to continue to provide a range of professional support services to all pupils with special educational needs.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what specific action is currently undertaken by his Department to assist parents who wish to move their child with special education needs from the special school sector to the integrated mainstream school sector.

  Mr. Forth
  The Education Act 1981 and the Education Bill presently before Parliament place local education authorities under a duty to secure that a child with special educational needs is educated in a mainstream school, so long as certain conditions apply and such integration is compatible with the wishes of the child's parents. Both that Act and the Bill provide for the annual review of statements of special educational needs. Part of the purpose of such reviews is to consider whether the school placement remains appropriate. As a result of a Government amendment the Bill provides for the Secretary of State to make regulations governing those reviews.

  Schedule 9 of the Bill provides a new right for parents of children with statements, subject to certain timing conditions, to ask the LEA to substitute a particular named LEA-maintained or grant-maintained school of their choice for the one named in the statement. Subject to certain conditions, the authority will have to comply and regulations may set time limits within which the authority must take action. If the authority do not comply, the parent will have a right of appeal to the tribunal.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will give the number of INSET courses and the numbers of teachers completing training from them, for teachers of young people with special learning difficulties for 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93 and that projected for 1993–94.

  Mr. Forth
  All the figures requested are not held centrally. However, this Department provides funds to LEAs under the grants for education support and training (GEST) programme to support them with the costs of such training. In 1992–93, funds were allocated to support the INSET training of 296 teachers of children with severe learning difficulties (SLD). Of these, 206 were teachers beginning new courses.
  151
  In 1993–94, the eligibility for grant under the GEST programme has been extended to support teacher training in all areas of special educational needs. As a result, the amount of eligible expenditure to be supported has been increased by nearly 40 per cent. to £10 million in order to meet the expansion in training activities. It is too early to say with certainty how many teachers of children with severe learning difficulties will be trained by LEAs under GEST in 1993–94, but preliminary indications suggest that figures will be comparable with those for previous years.

HEALTH

  Smoking
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many patients were admitted to NHS hospitals for smoking-related diseases in each of the last 10 years;

  (2) how many hospital beds, on average, on a daily basis, were occupied by patients being treated for smoking-related diseases in the last year for which figures are available.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information is available only for 1988–89, as given by the Health Education Authority, in its 1991 publication "The Smoking Epidemic". This estimated that 226,000 patients were admitted to hospital in England for treatment of smoking-related diseases and these cases occupied an average of 7,000 beds each day.

  Limited List Drugs
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations were received by her Department between 9 April 1992 and 12 November 1992 seeking assurances on behalf of companies in the pharmaceutical industry that there were no plans to extend the limited list regulations; and what was the response.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  A number of representations were received and the companies were informed that there were no plans at that time to extend the selected list scheme.

  Psychiatric Patients (Deaths)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 25 January,Official Report, column 540, what timetable is proposed for the inquiry of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

  Mr. Yeo
  The inquiry will produce an initial report later this year.

  GP Fund Holders
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the general practices which are fund holding in the area covered by(a) the Mid-Staffordshire health authority and (b) the South East Staffordshire health authority.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The West Midlands regional health authority is responsible for the management of the general practitioner fund holding scheme in these areas. The hon. Member may wish to contact, Sir Donald Wilson, the RHA chairman, for details.

  Cancer Treatment
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the number of (i) male staff, (ii) female staff and (iii) staff working in wards/units caring for patients suffering from cancer employed at(a) University College hospital, (b) Middlesex hospital, (c) St. Bartholomew's hospital, (d) Royal London hospital, (e) St. Thomas's hospital, (f) Guy's hospital, (g) Charing Cross hospital, (h) St. Mary's hospital and (i) Queen Charlotte's hospital on 25 January;

  (2) how many (i) in-patients and (ii) out-patients were receiving treatment for cancer at (a) University College hospital, (b) Middlesex hospital, (c) St. Bartholomew's hospital, (d) Royal London hospital, (e) St. Thomas's hospital, (f) Guy's hospital, (g) Charing Cross hospital, (h) St. Mary's hospital and (i) Queen Charlotte's hospital on 25 January; and what kind of cancer treatment is given at each hospital.

  Dr, Mawhinney
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Nurses
  Ms. Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to increase opportunities for all enrolled nurses to convert to first level registration.

  Mr. Sackville
  It is for regional health authorities, in consultation with employers, to plan for enrolled nurse conversion as part of their responsibility for identifying the level of demand for qualified nurses and for allocating appropriate budgets.

  In addition, we are committed to increasing the number of places available for enrolled nurse conversion as part of the Project 2000 reforms. Central funding has been made available to facilitate this.

  The English National Board for Nursing Midwifery and Health Visiting has been encouraged to develop flexible options which have made it possible to reduce both the length and cost of conversion courses.

  Plastic Surgery
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what safeguards there are to ensure that all surgeons carrying out plastic surgery are suitably qualified, and to protect those individuals undergoing plastic surgery; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Plastic surgeons securing consultant appointments in the national health service have to meet the requirements of employing authorities' advisory appointments committees. These include representatives of the Royal College of Surgeons who ensure that the experience and training of a candidate is appropriate to the particular appointment.

  Self-governing Trusts
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the chairpersons and non-executive directors of all self-governing trusts and the annual remuneration paid to each.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  A list of all trust appointees has been placed in the Library. All non-executive directors are paid
  153
  at the rate of £5,000 per annum. The remuneration for trust chairmen is paid in three bands according to the unit turnover in 1988–89.

  £

  Band 1 (Turnover in excess of £50 million)

  19,285

  Band 2 (Turnover in between £20-£50 million)

  17,145

  Band 3 (Turnover less than £20 million)

  15,125

  Accidents (Children)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many children received hospital treatment following road accidents who had been(a) wearing and (b) not wearing seat belts, in each of the last 10 years;

  (2) what are the assessed costs to the national health service for treating children injured by (a) accidents in the home, (b) as the result of motor vehicle accidents where they were passengers and (c) suffered as the result of road traffic accidents where they were pedestrians.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not held centrally. In the "Health of the Nation" White Paper we indicate that the development of information systems in accident and emergency departments is a key measure in our strategy for reducing accidents. From this April a new minimum data set will be introduced in A and E departments which will record both the cause and the nature of patients' treatment, thus enabling such costs to be assessed. In further developing this data set we will consider whether seat belt usage in road accidents should also be recorded.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are employed by the health education authority to promote(a) the installation and wearing of child seat belts and restraints and (b) child safety in the home.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Several staff are employed by the Health Education Authority on child accident prevention, but none exclusively. The authority produces information for parents and the public, and support for health professionals in their role in accident prevention. This includes information on the installation and wearing of child seat belt restraints.

  Home Safety
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what allocation of funds exist for accident prevention in the home.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No information is held centrally about the cost of the continuing efforts and special initiatives by people working in health and social services which help combat home accidents. Direct expenditure by central Government on home safety is by the Department of Trade and Industry whose consumer safety unit allocate about £1 million per annum to home safety campaigns targeted at the general public and at high-risk groups and in addition funds the home and leisure accident surveillance systems.

  Chlamydia
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has regarding the links between the development of pelvic inflammatory disease and abortions on women infected with chlamydia.
  154
  Mr. Sackville
  We are aware of medical discussions on the nature and extent of the link between infection with chlamydia and pelvic inflammatory disease in pregnant women including those who undergo a termination of pregnancy.

  Articles on this topic have appeared in professional journals in this country and abroad.

  Community Care
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the local authorities who have been offered free consulting time prior to the introduction of community care; what was the basis for their selection; which local authorities have accepted; what was the cost to the Department of this initiative; and which consultancy firms were used in this initiative.

  Mr. Yeo
  Since September 1992 the community care support force has provided practical assistance to local and health authorities in their final preparations for implementing the caring for people reforms. As part of its programme, it has visited individual local and health authorities, by invitation. The support force has offered authorities assistance, including, consultancy support and expects to have committed, by the end of March when it finishes work, about £250,000 in this form of help to authorities. The support force has used a number of consultancy firms and its work also includes: the production of practical guidance and working seminars on key implementation tasks, an implementation helpline and a regular newsletter.

  Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the original estimate of expenditure of the Royal Victoria infirmary, Newcastle, new ward block when the project began; and what is the total expenditure incurred so far.

  Mr. Sackville
  Based on actual building costs and standards prevailing at the start of construction, the original estimated cost of the new ward block was £23.3 million excluding fluctuations. The contract was com- pleted on time in July 1991 and the cost incurred was £27.2 million including £3.4 million for fluctuations. Fluctuations are the sums paid to reimburse the contractor for increases in labour, plant and material costs as the work proceeds. Four small additional contracts have since been let to provide additional facilities on site.

  Maternal Deaths
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 25 January,Official Report, column 536, what provisions exist for identifying maternal deaths following complications after abortions which occur after the notification form has been passed to his Department.

  Mr. Sackville
  As with all maternal deaths, district directors of public health assemble confidential information regarding deaths following legal abortion. This information is collected by the Chief Medical Officer and published anonymously in the "Reports on Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths", copies of which are
  155
  available in the Library. This information is collected independently of the system for notification of abortions under the Abortion Act 1967.

DEFENCE

  High Energy Beam Weapons
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what tests are either currently conducted or planned to be conducted by his Department at his Department's site at Dundennan in Scotland into high energy beam weapons in conjunction with the United States Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency.

  Mr. Aitken
  This is a matter delegated to the Defence Research Agency under its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

  Letter from J. A. R. Chisholm to Mr. Llew Smith, dated 2 February 1993.
  In today's written answer the Secretary of State for Defence informed you that I would be replying directly to your question regarding tests on high energy beam weapons at Dundrennan, Scotland.
  The tests to which I think you are referring are part of a DRA research programme into the feasibility of using electromagnetic energy for the propulsion of a solid projectile to enhance the armour penetrating performance of tank gunnery. This is a collaborative research programme between the United Kingdom and the United States which has nothing to do with so-called high energy beam weapons. The tests will be carried out at a facility that is still in the process of construction on the MOD range at Kirkcudbright; it is due to be completed by the end of May 1993.

  Porton Down
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the source of the biological and chemical nerve agents used in prophylactic research at Porton Down chemical research establishment.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  This is a matter for the chemical and biological defence establishment (CBDE) under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive of CBDE to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Llew Smith, dated 2 February 1993:
  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him what is the sourse of the biological and chemical agents used in prophylactic research at Porton Down Chemical Research Establishment (Question 6. Order Paper 25 January 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
  2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down is to ensure that the UK Armed Forces have effective protective measures (including prophylactic measures) against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. As part of this work it is necessary to investigate the effectiveness of protective measures against the range of potential chemical and biological agents. This involves the use of small quantities of chemical agents which are largely synthesised as required. Some of the chemical agents are provided from residual stocks originally prepared at Nancekuke and on occasion it is necessary to obtain compounds from external suppliers. In respect of biological agents, these are usually produced from cultures held at CBDE Porton Down although again on occasion it is necessary to obtain culture samples from external sources.
  156
  3. The Chemical Weapons Convention which recently opened for signature in Paris allows States Parties to carry out work on protective measures and permits each State Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention to have a single small scale facility in which small quantities of Schedule I chemicals for protective purposes can be prepared or stored. The United Kingdom small scale facility will be at CBDE Porton Down.

  Reservists (Annual Reporting)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many army reservists have not been able to undertake an annual reporting exercise during the last 12 months due to the inability to their units to fund such events; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The annual reporting exercise for army reservists was funded centrally by the Ministry of Defence and not by units, but the exercise has been suspended since autumn 1991 as a result of the restructuring of the reserve forces. The suspension will be reviewed once the restructuring is complete.

  Search and Rescue
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given by his Department to the level of investment in specialist training and equipment undertaken to date by Dyfed county fire brigade to deal with offshore emergencies in tandem with the search and rescue helicopter squadron at RAF Brawdy within his Department's review of the search and rescue service.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The level of investment in specialist training and equipment, by Dyfed county fire brigade is a matter for that brigade.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what consideration was given to the overlapping of circles of coverage in his Department's review of the search and rescue service in the United Kingdom;

  (2) what assessment has been made by his Department of the impact of a withdrawal of the search and rescue helicopter squadron from RAF Brawdy upon response times in dealing with coastal and offshore emergencies in and around the Ceredigion and Pembroke, North constituency.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the open government document "The Future Provision of Royal Air Force Search and Rescue Helicopters", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the average response time taken by Sea King helicopters from RAF Brawdy to reach the scene of a coastal or offshore emergency in and around the Ceredigion and Pembroke, North Constituency in each of the last three years; and if he will publish estimated response times for helicopters from(a) RAF Chivenor and (b) RAF Valley to reach future coastal or offshore emergencies in or near the constituency.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Information on average response time taken by Sea King helicopters from RAF Brawdy for the area and period in question can be provided only at disproportionate cost. For future estimated response times from RAF Chivenor and RAF Valley, I refer the hon. Member to the open government document "The Future Provision of RAF Search and Rescue Helicopters", a copy of which is in the Library of the House and which shows that the civil search and rescue criteria will be met.
  157
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what research has been conducted by his Department on the effect of withdrawing the search and rescue helicopter squadron from RAF Brawdy upon established contingency plans drawn up by the Dyfed fire brigade to deal with offshore emergencies;

  (2) what assessment has been made by his Department into the effect of withdrawing the search and rescue helicopter squadron from RAF Brawdy upon the training needs of local county fire fighters in tackling offshore emergencies.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None. The RAF search and rescue helicopter flight will continue to assist fire brigades in their training for dealing with offshore emergencies when this flight is transferred from RAF Brawdy to RAF Chivenor.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of lives saved in and around the Ceredigion and Pembroke, North constituency in each of the last five years, as a result of the response of the search and rescue helicopter Squadron at RAF Brawdy.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Such estimates are not made. For information on the number of call-outs involving the rescue of people I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Ainger) on 2 November 1992 at column 51–2.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long a person could be immersed in water at(a) 6°C and (b) 7°C before experiencing at least a 50 per cent. chance of becoming unconscious; and how rapidly, in percentage terms, their chances of survival would thereafter diminish.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the 1986 report of the United Kingdom civil rescue helicopter coverage working group, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Atomic Weapons Establishment (Accidents)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the unclassified reports of inquiries into accidents and incidents which occurred at the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston on 15 May 1961, 19 December 1976, 23 July 1978, 29 November 1978, 2 December 1987 and 19 February 1991.

  Mr. Aitken
  It would neither be appropriate nor practicable to place in the Libary unclassified versions of reports into accidents and incidents which occurred at the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston over the last 30 years, nor could this information be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Landing Platform Helicopter
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to place an order for the landing platform helicopter.

  Mr. Aitken
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 15 January to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) at column 840.
  158
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which firms have been invited to tender for the main engines for the landing platform helicopter.

  Mr. Aitken
  Tenders for the main engines form part of the tenders for the landing platform helicopter currently being evaluated by my Department. Details of these tenders are commercially confidential.

  Crossley Engines, Manchester
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many MOD contracts have been placed with Crossley Engines of Manchester in the past 10 years.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department's direct contracts with the Crossley Engines division of NEI Allen Ltd. are for spares and repairs only. Complete engines would normally be supplied on a sub-contract basis through a prime contractor such as a shipbuilder.

  To minimise administrative effort, both by my Department and the company, one enabling arrangement was set up in July 1990. This permits nominated officials to order spares from Crossley Engines as and when required, without having to negotiate separate contracts each time. Since July 1990, we have also placed 15 small contracts for special requirements outside the scope of the enabling arrangement.

  Data on contracts before 1990 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  B Flight 202
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of call-outs flown by B Flight 202 squadron RAF Brawdy in 1986 and 1992; and how many operations in each year were in response to military incidents.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information requested is set out in the table. The figures in brackets show the number of call-outs that involved the rescue of people, including incidents such as the transfer of sick or injured people from ship to hospital.

  Year

  Total Call-outs

  Military Call-outs

  1986

  98 (46)

  11 (4)

  1992

  158 (50)

  7 (2)

  St Anne's Head and RAF Brawdy
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from which bodies, organisations or individuals he has received objections to, or statements of concern about, the proposed removal of search and rescue helicopters from RAF Brawdy; and how many objections or expressions of concern he has received in total.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My Department has received a number of representations from a variety of sources on the withdrawal of the RAF search and rescue flight from RAF Brawdy.

  NATO Status of Forces Agreement
  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress in the renegotiation with the German authorities of the
  159
  supplementary agreement to the NATO status of forces agreement; when he expects the negotiations to be concluded; and when he expects a new agreement to come into force.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  [pursuant to his reply, 9 December 1992, col. 718]: The negotiations on the review of the supplementary agreement to the NATO status of forces agreement have now been concluded. The outcome is a good one from the United Kingdom's point of view. The agreement ensures that our forces in Germany will be able to train effectively and that the quality of life of the forces involved has been preserved. Signature of the agreement is likely in the late spring.

EMPLOYMENT

  Jobcentres
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will re-open the jobcentre in Barnoldswick, Lancashire; and if she will make a statement on the criteria used in deciding whether to re-open jobcentres

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from M. Fogden to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated 2 February 1993:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question to her about the Employment Service office in Barnoldswick. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  The decision to close the office at Barnoldswick in April 1991 was taken only after a full consultation process. The representations we received were considered very carefully and all the relevant factors were taken into account. The office at Barnoldswick had offered only a limited service and did not reflect the full range of services available at our nearby fully integrated office at Colne. It was mainly for this reason that it was decided to close the office.
  There are no plans to re-open the office. However, to ensure that local clients have ready access to job opportunities we have provided two vacancy display boards and a freephone facility in the local library.
  You also asked what criteria are used when considering the re-opening of offices. A number of factors are taken into account when such decisions are taken and these would apply equally to the initial siting of offices. Such factors include:

  —levels of business to be generated.

  —number of clients to be served.

  —the level of service offered to our clients.

  —the proximity of other offices.

  —availability of suitable premises.

  Other factors may be taken into account when looking at specific locations but the overriding consideration is to provide the best possible service to our clients within available resources. We cannot, I am afraid, provide an office in every location.
  I hope this is helpful.
  As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

  Trade Unions
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which employers' associations or employers have asked for trade unions to be required to review members' written authorisations to deduction at source of union subscriptions every three years.
  160
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received no such representations. Under proposals in the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Bill it is employers who will be required to seek renewed consent to check-off deductions from their employees every three years.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many individual claimants have registered as unemployed since(a) April 1990 and (b) November 1990.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  In the period April 1990 to December 1992, and on the unadjusted basis, about 354,300 people on average per month joined the claimant unemployment count and 313,900 people on average per month left the count. The corresponding figures for the period since November 1990 are 371,600 and 321,600 respectively. Of those becoming unemployed about a quarter leave unemployment within the first month; a half leave within the first three months and two-thirds within six months.

  Work Permits
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list for the last five years the number of employers whose applications for a work permit are refused who ask for a review; and what percentage of those reviews result in a reversal.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what research and data collection are carried out by her Department to assess which skills are in short supply to inform decisions on work permit applications.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Department draws on a range of labour market information and consults employer and professional bodies and other relevant organisations to inform decisions on work permit applications.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average time taken to inform(a) tier 1 applicants for work permits and (b) tier 2 applicants for work permits whether their applications have been successful.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information requested is not available in the form requested. During 1992 more than 80 per cent. of work permit applications were decided within eight weeks of receipt.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what has been the average administrative cost to her Department of a place on the employment action scheme;

  (2) what has been the average administrative cost to her Department of a place on the employment training scheme;

  (3) what will be the average administrative cost to her Department of a place on the training for work scheme.

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

  Health and Safety Executive
  Ms. Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of reportable accidents in the north-west resulted in a visit by an inspector from the Health and Safety Executive in each of the last 10 years.

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

  Unemployment Benefit Disqualification
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information is available regarding the lengths of periods of unemployment benefit disqualification imposed by adjudication officers in the area which includes the constituency of Newcastle under Lyme.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from M. Fogden to Mrs. Llin Golding, dated 2 February 1993:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question to her about the length of periods of unemployment benefit disqualifications in the Newcastle-under-Lyme area. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  All decisions on claims for unemployment benefit are made by the independent adjudicating authorities.
  Information about the length of disqualification periods imposed is not collated or published as each is decided in the light of the circumstances surrounding the individual case. Without knowledge of these circumstances no meaningful interpretation of the information could be made.
  I hope this is helpful.
  As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information is available regarding the lengths of periods of unemployment benefit disqualification imposed by adjudication officers in the area which includes Warley East.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Number of National Health Service sight tests1 in Scotland by Health Board area

  Health Board

  1987–88

  1988–89

  21989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1 October 1991 to 30 September 1992

  Argyll and Clyde

  95,153

  98,926

  36,636

  39,703

  46,243

  48,096

  Ayrshire and Arran

  80,202

  85,746

  34,754

  34,606

  38,236

  39,902

  Borders

  16,123

  17,981

  7,176

  5,240

  6,316

  7,163

  Dumfries and Galloway

  29,324

  31,007

  11,761

  11,336

  13,637

  14,704

  Fife

  72,534

  76,854

  24,821

  28,556

  34,049

  35,453

  Forth Valley

  54,525

  58,847

  26,276

  18,426

  21,637

  22,354

  Grampian

  96,777

  108,592

  30,582

  33,367

  36,977

  39,129

  Greater Glasgow

  237,924

  252,843

  131,605

  110,697

  122,878

  128,436

  Highland

  36,185

  36,599

  15,841

  13,091

  15,476

  16,073

  Lanarkshire

  119,371

  119,307

  47,680

  47,983

  56,269

  58,527

  Lothian

  162,353

  176,902

  74,531

  56,682

  66,297

  69,096

  Orkney

  2,674

  2,972

  862

  873

  1,034

  1,156

  Shetland

  7,000

  7,069

  2,808

  2,420

  2,834

  2,700

  162
  Letter from M. Fogden to Mr. Andrew Faulds, dated 2 February 1993.
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question to her about the length of periods of unemployment benefit disqualifications in the Warley East area. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  All decisions on claims for unemployment benefit are made by the independent adjudicating authorities.
  Information about the length of disqualification periods imposed is not collated or published as each is decided in the light of the circumstances surrounding the individual case. Without knowledge of these circumstances no meaningful interpretation of the information could be made.
  I hope this is helpful.
  As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

SCOTLAND

  Fife Health Board
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the resignation of Mrs. Ann Ferguson from the chairmanship of Fife health board; and what severance or compensation payment was made on her resignation.

  Mr. Stewart
  My right hon. Friend has nothing to add to the statements issued by Mrs. Ferguson and by him on 22 January. Any payment made to Mrs. Ferguson at the time her resignation takes effect will be subject to normal rules for reporting expenditure to Parliament.

  Sight Tests
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people had sight tests in all health board areas for which figures are available in(a) the last 12-month period for which figures are available and (b) in each year since 1987–88.

  Mr. Stewart
  The information requested for each of the financial years from 1987–88 to 1991–92 is shown in the table. Information for the period October 1991 to September 1992, the last full 12-month period for which information is available, is shown separately in the table.
  163

  Health Board

  1987–88

  1988–89

  21989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1 October 1991 to 30 September 1992

  Tayside

  83,680

  90,498

  28,103

  28,132

  32,642

  34,802

  Western Isles

  4,320

  4,467

  2,043

  1,773

  2,073

  2,035

  Scotland Total

  1,098,145

  1,168,610

  475,479

  432,885

  496,598

  519,626

  1 One person may have more than one sight test in the period.

  2 Since 1 April 1989 free National Health Service sight tests have only been available to children, full-time students under 19, those in receipt of Income Support or Family Credit, the registered blind and partially sighted, complex lens users, those who hold an AG2 exemption certificate from the Health Benefits Unit, diagnosed diabetic or glaucoma sufferers, and close relatives aged 40 or over of glaucoma sufferers. Information is not collected on private sight tests.

  Littlewoods Pools
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will visit the Littlewoods Pools operation at Inchinnan, Paisley.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Littlewoods Pools is located at Hillington, Glasgow. My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to visit Hillington.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the outstanding appeals under section 70 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, relating to children with special educational needs, will be expedited.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Work is proceeding as quickly as possible on complaints to the Secretary of State under section 70 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980. Such complaints are made by parents of children with records of needs alleging that an education authority has failed to discharge its duty.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to issue revised guidance to education authorities on records of needs for children with special educational needs.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I hope to do so later this year.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  s: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce reforms to the records of needs procedure for children with special educational needs, so as to (a) provide for an appeal to an independent tribunal and (b) specify a time limit for completing records of needs.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The incidence of appeals against the terms of records of needs—around five per annum—is insufficient to justify the setting up in Scotland of a statutory tribunal to hear them.

  The Scottish Office education department has issued guidance specifying the timescale within which a record of needs should normally be completed. Research by Edinburgh university in 1989 showed that over one half of all records of needs in Scotland are completed in under six months and nearly three quarters in under eight months. I regard that as a sound achievement, but I shall continue to encourage education authorities to improve on this performance.

  Green Belts
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his policy for the protection of green belts in and around urban areas of Scotland.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 20 January 1993]: My right hon. Friend's policy for protecting green belts is set out in Scottish Development Department circular 24/1985. Our consistent policy has been to maintain and enhance green belts.

  EC Committees
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many meetings of committees of the EC each Scottish Office Minister chaired during the most recent United Kingdom Presidency.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 20 January 1993]: I assume that the hon. Member is referring to meetings of the Council of Ministers. Scottish Office Ministers did not chair any meetings of the Council of Ministers during the United Kingdom presidency. However, my hon. Friend, the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland, lead for the United Kingdom at the Fisheries Councils on 19 October and 23 November and shared the lead for the United Kingdom at the Fisheries Council on 19 December, and also attended the Agriculture Council on 26 October. My hon. Friend, the Minister for Education for Scotland, attended the Education Council on 27 November. On the occasions where Scottish Office Ministers do not personally attend, they are represented at all meetings of the Council of Ministers by senior officials or by their colleagues in the United Kingdom Government.

  Dounreay (Radioactive Leak)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when his Department was informed of the leakage of radioactive liquor at the Atomic Energy Authority's Dounreay nuclear power development establishment on 21 November 1992; what off-site contamination resulted from the leakage; and how many such incidents have been brought to the attention of his Department since 1988.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 20 January 1993]: A report of this incident was made to my Department on 26 November 1992. No off-site contamination occurred; radioactivity was confined within the immediate plant area.

  Since 1988, four incidents involving radioactive liquor have been reported to my Department from civil nuclear installations in Scotland.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to make a statement on the results of his consideration of representations received on the consultation document, "Competing for Quality: Competition in the Provision of Local Services;" and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 20 January 1993]: My right hon. and learned Friends the Secretaries of State for the Home Department and for the Environment and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage announced the outcome of the Government's consideration on 10 November 1992. These announcements covered England, Scotland and Wales. My hon. Friend the Minister for Education and Housing made a separate announcement on 10 November in relation to home-to-school transport in Scotland.

  Officials are currently holding detailed discussions with representatives of local government, including the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, on the practical aspects of implementing the Government's decisions.

  European Parliament
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last formally and collectively met members of the European Parliament representing Scottish constituencies; what matters he discussed; when he next plans to meet them; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland last met Scottish MEPs formally and collectively on 9 July 1991. Various issues relating to Scotland and the European Community were discussed. There are no immediate plans for a further such meeting.

  Ambulance Service
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet representatives of the work force of the Scottish ambulance service to discuss the efficient operation of services within(a) the Argyll and Clyde health board area and (b) Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 14 January 1993]: My right hon. Friend has no plans to meet representatives of the work force. There are recognised procedures and channels for communication between staff and managers and between trade unions and management on issues relating to the efficiency of the operation of the Scottish ambulance service.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will hold a full public inquiry into the operation of the ambulance service within the Argyll and Clyde health board area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 14 January 1993]: Until my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Advocate has reached a decision as to whether a fatal accident inquiry into the death of Mr. Adleigh should be held, it is not appropriate to consider whether any other form of formal inquiry should be undertaken into the service within Argyll and Clyde health board area.
  166
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the percentage of ambulances in each service in Scotland that responded within(a) eight minutes and (b) 14 to 20 minutes to emergency calls in 1991–92.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 18 January 1993]: There is only one ambulance service for the whole of Scotland and the information in 1991–92 is as follows:

  Percent

  0–8 minutes

  49

  14–20 minutes

  95

  Super-quarries
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what environmental impact assessment has been carried out of the proposal by Redland Aggregates for a super-quarry in South Harris; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 21 January 1993]: As required by the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 1988, an environmental assessment of the proposal accompanied the planning application by Redland Aggregates Ltd. to the Western Isles islands council. The matter is currently before the islands council, although my right hon. Friend issued a direction in September 1991 requiring the application to be referred to him should the council be minded to approve it. Because of my right hon. Friend's possible involvement in this matter at a later stage, I am unable to comment further.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what planning policy guidance he has issued with regard to super-quarries and aggregate mining; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 21 January 1993]: National planning guidelines on the working of aggregates in Scotland were issued in 1977. These guidelines, which are still extant, acknowledge the economic potential of coastal super-quarry developments and suggest that they would, in principle, be acceptable if damage to the environment is limited through careful choice of location and detailed site proposals. Following the commitment given in the Environment White Paper "This Common Inheritance" (Cm 1200) all planning guidance is now being reviewed. In July 1992 a draft national planning policy guideline (NPPG) entitled "Land for Mineral Working" was issued for consultation. This will supersede the 1977 guidelines later this year and will provide the context within which local authorities should prepare up to date development plan policies for mineral working, including super-quarries where appropriate, in full consultation with the local community, and with regard to the economic needs and environmental considerations of their area.

  KS Properties Ltd.
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 17 December 1992,Official Report, column 457, what information his Department had on the company named on the mortgage deed filed at Companies House, Edinburgh, when

  167
  approving the writing-off by the Scottish Development Agency of moneys due under the mortgage deed from KS Properties Ltd., and on the availability of assets in KS Properties Ltd. for the purposes of repaying the loan.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 22 January 1993]: My answer of 17 December, Official Report, column 457 related to the writing off of the balance of a loan owed to the Scottish Development Agency by KS Construction Ltd. The Scottish Office has never been invited to approve the writing off of any debt owed to the agency by KS Properties Ltd.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which present or past directors of KS Construction Ltd. or KS Properties Ltd. are or have been members of area boards involved with Scottish Enterprise, its predecessor body or any other publicly funded enterprise board or organisation in Scotland.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 22 January 1993]: I am not aware that any person whom my right hon. Friend has appointed to any enterprise board or organisation in Scotland is or has been a director of KS Construction Ltd. or KS Properties Ltd. Membership of boards to which my right hon. Friend does not make appointments is generally a matter for the bodies concerned; and information is not held centrally.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate his Department has made of the total fixed capital in the hands of dentists in Scotland, and of return on that capital, over the last three years.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 18 January 1993]: No such estimate is made by the Department. The return on capital is one of the factors that the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration takes into account when recommending the target average net income for dentists.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is planning to maintain the current level of NHS dental services in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 18 January 1993]: The Government remain committed to a comprehensive NHS dental service. Health boards in Scotland are responsible for making arrangements for adequate provision of general dental services in their areas. Health boards have been reminded that they may seek approval to employ salaried dentists if they think this is necessary to ensure the continued availability of NHS dental services in their areas.

  Engineering Industry
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action his Department has taken to assist engineering manufacturing industry in Scotland.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 20 January 1993]: The Scottish Office Industry Department assists the engineering industry in Scotland by providing advice on exports, technology and best management practice and by providing grant-aid. Grants are available to help
  168
  companies to introduce new products and processes, to obtain specialist advice and, in certain areas, to undertake capital investment projects.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for East Lothian on Monday 11 January, c.635, what financial provision is to be made either by his Department or by Scottish Nuclear Ltd. for the eventual permanent storage or disposal of high-level nuclear waste following its removal from the planned temporary dry stores at Torness and Hunterston.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 20 January 1993]: As indicated in my earlier answer, no decision has yet been taken about Scottish Nuclear Ltd's proposed dry store for spent AGR fuel. In the circumstances described in the hon. Member's question, financial provision would be a matter for Scottish Nuclear Ltd.

  Enterprise Zones
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria he applies in determining whether an area should be awarded enterprise zone status; which areas currently meet the criteria; which areas currently enjoy enterprise zone status; if he has any plans to review the criteria; if he has any plans to make further awards; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 27 January 1993]: Enterprise zones are essentially policy instruments to encourage the physical and economic regeneration of areas with particular environmental, physical and economic problems. Since 1987, following an interim evaluation of the enterprise zone experiment, it has been Government policy that enterprise zone designation is an instrument to be used only in exceptional circumstances, where the costs can be justified and where there are no alternative, more cost-effective measures available.

  The case for enterprise zone designation for an area is measured against three basic criteria, broadly the nature and severity of problems in the area; the likely cost-effectiveness of enterprise zone designation compared with other available measures; and the extent to which authorities and agencies can ensure the success of the zone. If these basic criteria are met, the case is considered in greater depth by reference to a range of more detailed issues. Enterprise zone arrangements are, however, kept under constant review. European Commission approval is required for any designation proposals.

  Enterprise zones are currently designated in Inverclyde, lnvergordon and Tayside in Scotland. Orders were laid before Parliament on 12 January proposing enterprise zone designation for sites in Lanarkshire with effect from 1 February 1993.

  My right hon. Friend has no plans for further designations in Scotland other than as set out in the orders for Lanarkshire referred to above.

  Renfrewshire Enterprise
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the annual cost of renting or leasing the premises of Renfrewshire enterprise in Causeyside street, Paisley; what is the annual cost of providing heating and
  169
  lighting for these premises; what is the cost per square foot for each year of these respective charges; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 27 January 1993]: These are operational matters for Scottish Enterprise, and I have therefore referred the hon. Member's question to the chairman of Scottish Enterprise.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what schemes his Department operales to provide assistance to small businesses; if he will indicate the eligibility criteria for each scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 27 January 1993]: My Department itself operates the following schemes of assistance to small businesses.

  Regional Investment Grant
  Available to businesses in development areas with fewer than 25 employees for investment projects. It covers 15 per cent. of the cost of fixed assets to a maximum of £15,000.

  Regional Innovation Grant
  Available to independent businesses or groups in the development areas with fewer than 50 employees for innovation projects. It covers 50 per cent. of agreed project costs to a maximum of £25,000.

  Small firms also have access to a number of schemes designed to meet their needs and funded by the Department of Trade and Industry. Other more widely available forms of assistance such as regional selective assistance are open to small firms and they can also benefit from a full range of schemes operated and delivered through Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the network of local enterprise companies.

  Textiles
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the number of people employed in the textiles industry in(a) Scotland (b) Strathclyde and (c) Renfrew district in each year since 1973; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 27 January 1993]: The information requested is given in the table.

  Textiles industry employment in Scotland, Strathclyde region and Renfrew district 1973–1990

  Scotland

  Strathclyde

  Renfrew

  1973

  68,238

  27,762

  6,706

  1974

  65,261

  26,983

  6,573

  1975

  57,523

  23,731

  5,743

  1976

  55,041

  22,842

  5,463

  1977

  54,610

  22,547

  5,505

  1978

  51,672

  20,918

  4,981

  1979

  48,331

  19,286

  4,785

  1980

  43,708

  16,612

  4,262

  1981

  36,891

  13,050

  3,324

  1982

  31,758

  10,544

  2,700

  1983

  30,374

  10,415

  2,359

  1984

  30,743

  10,367

  2,036

  1985

  31,387

  10,494

  1,921

  1986

  31,782

  10,695

  2,034

  1987

  30,790

  10,873

  2,019

  1988

  29,088

  9,794

  1,862

  1989

  27,689

  9,350

  1,868

  1990

  25,652

  8,854

  1,640

  170
  Source: Scottish Register of Employment.

  Note: The Scottish Register of Employment only holds information for manufacturing units with 11 or more employees.

  As the table shows, textiles industry employment in Scotland declined considerably between 1973 and 1990. This decline was, however, accompanied by a significant improvement in labour productivity.

  Over recent years the industry has faced particularly difficult trading conditions but levels of activity are likely to increase as the economy recovers.

  The Scottish textiles industry has a fine export record and export orders increased between 1991 and 1992.

  Whisky
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the numbers employed in Scotch whisky distilling for each year since 1979; and if he will provide a breakdown by(a) parliamentary constituency, (b) regional/island council and (c) district council in Scotland.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 21 January 1993]: Figures from the Scottish Register of Employment relating to plants manufacturing Scotch whisky are as follows:

  Number of employees

  1979

  22,600

  1980

  21,900

  1981

  20,100

  1982

  18,000

  1983

  15,900

  1984

  14,600

  1985

  12,900

  1986

  12,300

  1987

  11,100

  1988

  10,100

  1989

  10,000

  1990

  10,700

  19911

  10,400

  1 Provisional.

  The breakdowns requested are available on the NOMIS database in the House of Commons Library. Library staff are ready to assist in accessing the information if necessary.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much each district local authority received in per capita contribution of aggregate external finance in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 28 January 1993]: The information is provided in the table for each year since aggregate external finance was introduced. The per capita figures have been calculated using the Registrar General for Scotland's mid-year estimates of total population.

  1990–91 AEF per capita £

  1991–92 AEF per capita £

  1992–93 AEF per capita £

  Berwickshire

  65·86

  98·85

  105·24

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  68·29

  101·99

  105·69

  Roxburgh

  78·44

  109·74

  105·69

  Tweeddale

  68·43

  102·06

  105·74

  171

  1990–91 AEF per capita £

  1991–92 AEF per capita £

  1992–93 AEF per capita £

  Clackmannan

  87·02

  126·51

  140·38

  Falkirk

  84·24

  111·87

  123·95

  Stirling

  109·24

  137·48

  152·56

  Annandale and Eskdale

  61·68

  89·99

  94·04

  Nithsdale

  66·39

  94·45

  107·16

  Stewartry

  55·79

  90·02

  91·88

  Wigtown

  71·04

  103·96

  112·01

  Dunfermline

  78·04

  108·21

  120·28

  Kirkcaldy

  75·08

  103·59

  116·77

  North East Fife

  79·18

  113·13

  125·16

  Aberdeen City

  111·88

  142·33

  152·89

  Banff and Buchan

  78·19

  103·59

  112·09

  Gordon

  68·94

  100·25

  109·34

  Kincardine and Deeside

  71·46

  94·46

  102·51

  Moray

  75·22

  103·32

  119·85

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  70·88

  109·04

  104·92

  Caithness

  75·17

  107·17

  112·88

  Inverness

  74·98

  99·35

  102·79

  Lochaber

  98·75

  136·88

  140·15

  Nairn

  72·38

  97·09

  101·34

  Ross and Cromarty

  105·83

  138·61

  148·05

  Skye and Lochalsh

  101·44

  167·24

  173·35

  Sutherland

  120·86

  135·86

  146·44

  East Lothian

  85·76

  122·72

  134·87

  Edinburgh City

  111·51

  155·83

  172·91

  Midlothian

  84·24

  106·41

  120·91

  West Lothian

  76·54

  106·98

  121·58

  Argyll and Bute

  111·92

  174·76

  193·11

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  76·59

  104·78

  113·69

  Clydebank

  143·15

  163·64

  175·17

  Clydesdale

  82·88

  115·84

  127·87

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  78·29

  100·49

  112·16

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  87·46

  116·41

  127·75

  Cunninghame

  101·24

  125·15

  141·52

  Dumbarton

  88·53

  110·54

  127·81

  East Kilbride

  66·01

  87·19

  97·18

  Table 1

  (1) Revenue support grant and specific grants 1992–93 per cent

  (2) Non domestic rate income 1992–93 per cent

  (3) Community charges 1992–93 per cent

  Borders

  78·1

  10·7

  11·2

  Central

  61·6

  22·1

  16·3

  Dumfries and Galloway

  75·4

  12·3

  12·3

  Fife

  62·5

  22·1

  15·4

  Grampian

  69·0

  19·5

  11·4

  Highland

  72·3

  17·0

  10·7

  Lothian

  55·5

  24·7

  19·7

  Strathclyde

  66·9

  18·6

  14·6

  Tayside

  69·0

  17·1

  13·9

  Berwickshire

  72·5

  14·5

  13·0

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  58·3

  21·4

  20·3

  Roxburgh

  62·6

  17·1

  20·2

  Tweeddale

  69·8

  14·8

  15·4

  Clackmannan

  47·1

  25·4

  27·5

  Falkirk

  51·1

  38·1

  10·8

  Stirling

  39·6

  32·2

  28·1

  Annandale and Eskdale

  49·8

  18·5

  31·7

  Nithsdale

  54·1

  21·2

  24·7

  Stewartry

  63·1

  15·7

  21·2

  Wigtown

  63·7

  10·9

  25·4

  Dunfermline

  50·5

  27·3

  22·2

  Kirkcaldy

  49·7

  25·8

  24·5

  North East Fife

  60·9

  13·9

  25·2

  Aberdeen City

  40·1

  36·7

  23·2

  Banff and Buchan

  48·3

  31·4

  20·3

  Gordon

  69·9

  14·1

  15·9

  Kincardine and Deeside

  71·8

  18·0

  10·2

  Moray

  64·9

  22·5

  12·6

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  56·4

  20·9

  22·7

  172

  1990–91 AEF per capita £

  1991–92 AEF per capita £

  1992–93 AEF per capita £

  Eastwood

  61·30

  89·84

  94·74

  Glasgow City

  188·19

  212·36

  225·91

  Hamilton

  87·87

  116·11

  129·61

  Inverclyde

  105·73

  132·72

  148·50

  Kilmarnock and Loudon

  85·51

  107·59

  118·91

  Kyle and Carrick

  88·37

  113·77

  126·18

  Monklands

  105·31

  141·19

  160·55

  Motherwell

  98·25

  126·86

  143·79

  Renfrew

  95·91

  127·93

  140·78

  Strathkelvin

  89·86

  115·71

  121·05

  Angus

  73·58

  103·05

  112·31

  Dundee City

  112·31

  153·48

  169·74

  Perth and Kinross

  85·78

  113·60

  120·59

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing for each local authority in Scotland the proportion of local authority finance(a) including and (b) excluding housing, derived from (i) central Government, (ii) business rates, (iii) rents, fees and charges and (iv) poll tax in the financial year 1992–93.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 28 January 1993]: The information requested is given in tables 1 and 2. Table 1 shows proportions of local authority income in 1992–93, excluding housing and table 2 shows the proportions including housing. The proportions shown in respect of community charges are inclusive of community charge benefit receipts from central Government. Figures on income from rents, fees and charges on services other than housing are not available centrally.
  173

  (1) Revenue support grant and specific grants 1992–93 per cent.

  (2) Non domestic rate income 1992–93 per cent.

  (3) Community charges 1992–93 per cent.

  Caithness

  67·2

  19·6

  13·2

  Inverness

  51·1

  31·5

  17·5

  Lochaber

  54·4

  29·7

  15·9

  Nairn

  67·2

  9·4

  23·4

  Ross and Cromarty

  63·4

  17·1

  19·6

  Skye and Lochalsh

  72·7

  10·2

  17·1

  Sutherland

  73·3

  8·9

  17·8

  East Lothian

  49·2

  25·0

  25·8

  Edinburgh City

  46·1

  22·7

  31·2

  Midlothian

  64·5

  13·2

  22·4

  West Lothian

  65·3

  20·3

  14·4

  Argyll and Bute

  59·9

  17·4

  22·7

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  63·9

  9·7

  26·4

  Clydebank

  56·9

  19·8

  23·3

  Clydesdale

  53·8

  15·0

  31·2

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  55·1

  21·3

  23·6

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  64·1

  12·8

  23·1

  Cunninghame

  48·4

  29·3

  22·4

  Dumbarton

  38·1

  18·0

  44·0

  East Kilbride

  41·9

  21·2

  37·0

  Eastwood

  75·5

  9·3

  15·1

  Glasgow City

  45·2

  31·8

  23·0

  Hamilton

  53·6

  16·9

  29·6

  Inverclyde

  62·1

  13·5

  24·4

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  57·9

  18·7

  23·4

  Kyle and Carrick

  44·1

  19·2

  36·8

  Monklands

  60·3

  13·8

  25·9

  Motherwell

  60·6

  18·0

  21·4

  Renfrew

  48·7

  19·4

  31·9

  Strathkelvin

  57·8

  10·3

  31·9

  Angus

  65·5

  18·3

  16·2

  Dundee City

  51·7

  25·1

  23·2

  Perth and Kinross

  54·8

  23·4

  21·9

  Orkney

  77·1

  15·3

  7·6

  Shetland

  61·5

  33·4

  5·1

  Western Isles

  89·3

  6·6

  4·1

  Table 2

  (1) Government grant 1992–93 Percentage

  (2) Non domestic rate income 1992–93 Percentage

  (3) Housing (Rents, fees and charges) 1992–93 Percentage

  (4) Community charges 1992–93 Percentage

  Borders

  78·1

  10·7

  11·2

  Central

  61·6

  22·1

  16·3

  Dumfries and Galloway

  75·4

  12·3

  12·3

  Fife

  62·5

  22·1

  15·4

  Grampian

  69·0

  19·5

  11·4

  Highland

  72·3

  17·0

  10·7

  Lothian

  55·5

  24·7

  19·7

  Strathclyde

  66·9

  18·6

  14·6

  Tayside

  69·0

  17·1

  13·9

  Berwickshire

  33·7

  6·7

  53·5

  6·0

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  31·7

  11·7

  45·6

  11·0

  Roxburgh

  30·6

  6·8

  54·7

  8·0

  Tweeddale

  40·5

  8·6

  41·9

  8·9

  Clackmannan

  23·0

  12·4

  51·2

  13·4

  Falkirk

  20·8

  15·3

  59·5

  4·3

  Stirling

  22·3

  17·9

  44·2

  15·6

  Annandale and Eskdale

  30·0

  7·7

  49·2

  13·1

  Nithsdale

  27·2

  10·6

  49·8

  12·4

  Stewartry

  32·7

  7·2

  50·3

  9·8

  Wigtown

  31·2

  4·8

  52·9

  11·1

  Dunfermline

  25·3

  13·7

  50·0

  11·1

  Kirkcaldy

  23·6

  12·3

  52·5

  11·6

  North East Fife

  38·4

  8·8

  37·0

  15·9

  Aberdeen City

  21·1

  19·3

  47·5

  12·2

  174 175

  (1) Government grant 1992–93 Percentage

  (2) Non domestic rate income 1992–93 Percentage

  (3) Housing (Rents, fees and charges) 1992–93 Percentage

  (4) Community charges 1992–93 Percentage

  Banff and Buchan

  23·5

  15·3

  51·4

  9·9

  Gordon

  49·8

  6·6

  36·3

  7·4

  Kincardine and Deeside

  50·5

  9·2

  35·2

  5·2

  Moray

  33·8

  11·7

  48·0

  6·5

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  39·6

  10·6

  38·3

  11·5

  Caithness

  37·1

  7·3

  50·7

  4·9

  Inverness

  29·2

  13·6

  49·6

  7·6

  Lochaber

  45·5

  10·6

  38·2

  5·7

  Nairn

  38·0

  4·2

  47·3

  10·4

  Ross and Cromarty

  45·0

  7·1

  39·8

  8·1

  Skye and Lochalsh

  61·8

  5·0

  24·8

  8·3

  Sutherland

  45·6

  3·7

  43·4

  7·4

  East Lothian

  25·6

  13·0

  47·9

  13·4

  Edinburgh City

  29·2

  14·2

  37·1

  19·6

  Midlothian

  39·3

  8·0

  39·1

  13·6

  West Lothian

  35·1

  10·9

  46·3

  7·7

  Argyll and Bute

  38·2

  10·8

  37·0

  14·0

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  47·8

  7·2

  25·6

  19·4

  Clydebank

  27·3

  9·3

  52·6

  10·9

  Clydesdale

  29·1

  8·1

  46·0

  16·9

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  37·5

  14·5

  31·9

  16·1

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  26·4

  5·3

  58·8

  9·5

  Cunninghame

  25·9

  15·6

  46·6

  11·9

  Dumbarton

  20·7

  9·8

  45·5

  24·0

  East Kilbride

  36·1

  18·9

  10·0

  33·0

  Eastwood

  59·8

  7·4

  20·9

  11·9

  Glasgow City

  24·4

  14·4

  50·7

  10·5

  Hamilton

  24·7

  7·8

  53·8

  13·6

  Inverclyde

  29·4

  6·3

  52·9

  11·4

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  27·3

  8·8

  53·0

  11·0

  Kyle and Carrick

  26·1

  11·3

  40·8

  21·6

  Monklands

  25·6

  5·9

  57·1

  11·1

  Motherwell

  25·7

  7·8

  57·6

  9·1

  Renfrew

  25·0

  9·9

  48·6

  16·4

  Strathkelvin

  35·6

  6·3

  38·4

  19·6

  Angus

  35·3

  9·9

  46·1

  8·7

  Dundee City

  22·9

  11·2

  55·6

  10·3

  Perth and Kinross

  31·8

  13·5

  42·0

  12·7

  Orkney

  73·5

  14·4

  4·9

  7·2

  Shetland

  60·3

  28·6

  6·7

  4·4

  Western Isles

  85·3

  5·9

  5·1

  3·6

  1. Column 1 consists of Revenue Support Grant, Specific Grants and Housing Support Grant.

  2. Column 3 includes standard rental income from unrebated rents.

  Forestry Sales
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in respect of Forestry Commission plantations sold since October 1991(a) those in respect of which access agreements have been concluded and (b) those in respect of which access agreements have not been concluded, indicating the reasons why access was not given in each case.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 22 January 1993]: The arrangements for securing continued public access to woodlands sold by the Forestry Commission were introduced in October 1991. The Commission has sold 18 areas of forest land since then, in addition to those sales which were too far advanced in October 1991 to be included for consideration under the new arrangements.

  An access agreement has been concluded in respect of one of these areas, Steam Mills in Gloucestershire. Access agreements were not concluded for the other areas, which are listed, for the reasons given.

  Newbridge and Chirk By-pass, Clwyd

  176

  Newport-Worcester Trunk Road, Gwent

  These were sales for highway improvements.

  Ifton Quarry, Gwent

  Valley Woods, West Glamorgan

  These were sales which arose from the exercise of reserved powers in the title, eg a landlord's right to resume possession of a leased area.

  Blackwater Copse, Dorset

  Markshall, Suffolk

  Penyrallt (land at), West Glamorgan

  These sales were to former owners under the offer-back procedures.

  Barton Manor Woods, Isle of Wight

  Fishpond, Hampshire

  Oxendean, Borders

  Oxlease, Hampshire

  Patervan, Borders

  Tall Boys, Hampshire

  These areas were subject to third party rights, eg where the access to the area was over land owned by a third party who was not willing to join in an access agreement.

  Dromore, Dumfries and Galloway

  Glenscripesdale (part), Highland

  These areas were sold to Scottish Natural Heritage.

  Corrieour, Tayside

  177

  Mount Pleasant, Highland

  The local authorities decided not to take up the offer of an access agreement for these areas.

  Court Procedures
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to remove the need for witnesses in a trial, including police officers, to provide oral evidence to prove facts where the facts have been included in a statement submitted to the defence and the defence has served no counter-notice challenging their validity; and if he will estimate the saving in police time consequent on such a provision.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 1 February 1993]: A similar proposal was made in part VI of the Scottish Law Commission's number 137—"Evidence: Report on Documentary Evidence and Proof of Undisputed Facts in Criminal Proceedings". We are considering that proposal as well as seeking to identify other means of minimising unnecessary court attendance by witnesses. The time saved by such a proposal would depend on the use made of counter-notices and it is not possible to predict that.

  Hospitals
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many applications have been received from units or hospitals seeking trust status; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many expressions of interest have been received from units or hospitals seeking trust status; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 1 February 1993]: Two trusts are currently operational. These will be joined by a further 15 in April 1993. Twenty-three other hospitals/units have expressed an interest in trust status and are currently developing possible applications.

  MV Braer
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the duration, frequency and geographical coverage, of monitoring activity undertaken by or on behalf of his Department in Shetland or coastal waters around Shetland, following on from the grounding of the MV Braer on 5 January; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 1 February 1993]: Extensive monitoring and sampling is being carried out covering sea and fresh water, sediments, fish, air, livestock and wildlife. Wherever appropriate, studies include control samples elsewhere in Shetland as well as from areas potentially affected by the oil spill. The information already available is copious: for example, on 28 January the marine laboratory in Aberdeen made available to local interests an 11-page bulletin reporting on seawater, sediments and fish monitoring, of which I have sent a copy to the hon. Member. Longer-term monitoring will be co-ordinated by the ecological steering group, which is to be chaired by Professor William Ritchie.

  Health Service Expenditure
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the value of capital expenditure in the national health service in the years 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93; and what was the split between hospital building and equipment.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 1 February 1993]: Expenditure on capital in the national health service in each of these years was as follows:

  Year

  £ thousands

  1990–91

  183·065

  1991–92

  254·300

  1992–93

  1262·360

  1 Estimate·

  Information on the split between hospital building and equipment is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Paisley Pattern
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to promote the Paisley pattern; what steps he intends to take to encourage the development of the industrial manufacture of Paisley pattern goods in the town; and what resources are currently available to propagate the importance of the town's role in the worldwide commercial heritage of textiles.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 20 January 1993]: The local enterprise company, Renfrewshire Enterprise, is involved in a number of ways in the promotion and development of Paisley pattern. I consider that the actions which it has taken and is taking are likely to have a useful impact. If the hon. Member wishes details of Renfrewshire Enterprise's activities in this respect I know that the company will be pleased to provide further information.

  The resources which Renfrewshire Enterprise and other interested bodies choose to devote to the propagation of the importance of Paisley's role in the worldwide commercial heritage of textiles is a matter for those bodies.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Reform
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council (1) if he will make a statement on progress towards improving the working of the House of Commons;

  (2) what proposals he has to reform the House of Commons.

  Mr. Newton
  Reform of the working of the House of Commons is being taken forward by following up the recommendations of the Select Committee on Sittings of the House.

  Discussions through the usual channels are seeking to identify an acceptable basis as to when the House can take decisions on the Select Committee's report.

  HUMANITARIAN APPEALS
  HUMANITARIAN APPEALS
  BAe—TAC: TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY
  BAe—TAC: TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY
  CAROUSEL TRADE
  CAROUSEL TRADE
  SMOKING ON TRAINS: BR REPORT
  SMOKING ON TRAINS: BR REPORT
  NATIONAL RIVERS AUTHORITY
  NATIONAL RIVERS AUTHORITY
  HOUSEHOLDS
  HOUSEHOLDS
  WATER COMPANIES: SALARIES
  WATER COMPANIES: SALARIES
  HIGHER RATE MOBILITY AWARDS
  HIGHER RATE MOBILITY AWARDS
  DIRECTIVE 79/7/EEC
  DIRECTIVE 79/7/EEC