Written Answers of 14 January 1993

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Matrix Churchill
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Attorney-General what consideration is being given to bringing charges of perjury against civil servants who gave evidence in the Matrix Churchill case.

  The Attorney-General
  As a result of the submission to the Crown prosecution service by Her Majesty's Commissioners of Customs and Excise, of papers touching upon evidence given at the trial of three employees of Matrix Churchill, a police investigation is currently being carried out. Any decision as to the prosecution of an individual or individuals, arising out of evidence given at that trial, will be made by the Director of Public Prosecutions at the conclusion of the police investigation, and after she has had the opportunity of studying the findings of that investigation.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Structure Plans
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received over the need for agreed local structure plans to be amended, and future structure plans to be drafted, so as to allow for the effects of the recession in the south of England on the likely growth of the working population there; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  None, but I would expect such representations to be made to county councils. There is a statutory requirement for them to prepare structure plans that take account of economic and social considerations, and to keep all matters under review that may be expected to affect the development of their areas or the planning of development there.

  Derelict Land Grant, Walsall
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much derelict land grant expenditure there has been in the Metropolitan borough of Walsall council district in each year since 1984.

  Mr. Baldry
  Derelict land grant expenditure in the metropolitan borough of Walsall council district since 1984 is as follows:

  Expenditure (£)

  1984–85

  1,416,000

  1985–86

  1,339,000

  1986–87

  3,026,566

  1987–88

  3,117,492

  1988–89

  3,474,318

  764

  Expenditure (£)

  1989–90

  3,778,999

  1990–91

  3,738,123

  1991–92

  4,222,623

  11992–93

  3,838,000

  Total

  27,951,121

  1 Forecast.

  A further £22,655 derelict land grant has been paid towards reclamation schemes carried out by non-local authority applicants in the metropolitan borough of Walsall council district.

  Housing, Walsall
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new homes will be provided by Walsall metropolitan borough authority in 1993–94; what is the total provision from central funds which will be received by the authority in support of capital expenditure on housing; and what capital expenditure he expects the authority to incur next year.

  Mr. Baldry
  The level of local authority housing capital expenditure in Walsall in 1993–94 is a matter for the borough council to decide in the light of the available resources. The authority's proposed programme for housing capital expenditure in 1993–94, included in their housing investment programme—HIP—submission, indicates no expenditure on new housebuilding by the council. Walsall's HIP allocation for 1993–94 is £10,474,000.

  Urban Programme
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the amounts spent by(a) local authorities and (b) other organisations preparing bids for urban programme funding for 1993–94.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  It is not our practice to make such estimates. The work will have informed authorities? consideration of what projects to put forward for support from the urban partnership fund; and what to support from their own usable capital receipts.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library copies of all letters and other material sent out by his Department during 1992 dealing with bids for urban programme funding for 1993–94.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  No. This material could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will break down the extra spending power that he forecasts the urban programme authorities will have as a result of the relaxation of the rules governing the use of capital receipts, by authority;

  (2) if he will make a statement on how he calculated the figure of £500 million as the extra amount that the urban programme authorities would raise as a result of the relaxation of the rules regarding capital receipts.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  We estimate that authorities will have £1·75 billion of extra usable capital receipts as a result
  765
  of the relaxation in receipts rules based on authorities forecasts of their receipts in 1992–93. Historically, the urban authorities have had about 30 per cent. of the national total of usable receipts. If this proportion applied to the extra usable receipts, it would provide the urban authorities with about £0.5 billion of extra usable receipts. We have not made any estimates of these receipts at the level of individual local authorities. Local authorities have provided their own forecasts of the receipts they expect to receive during 1992–93 and this information is in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total amount of private sector funding given to schemes supported by the urban programme in the current and last three years.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information is available for three years only, as follows:

  Private sector funding of urban programme projects

  Year

  £ million

  1990–91

  35·4

  1991–92

  22·2

  1992–93

  42·4

  Source: Local authority annual urban programme submissions.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total number of jobs that have been created and preserved by the urban programme since its inception.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The urban programme has created and preserved 230,990 jobs between 1985–86, the first year for which information is available, and 1991–92.

  Source: Local authority annual reports and annual urban programme submissions.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received(a) in favour of an (b) against his decision not to consider bids for urban programme funding for 1993–94.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My Department will be supporting in 1993–94 substantial urban programme—UP—commitments amounting to £156 million and considering bids for support for new projects from the £20 million uncommitted UP resources which form the urban partnership fund.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much of the urban programme funding planned for 1992–93 related to on-going commitments; and how much was to be made available for new bids.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  We expect around two-thirds of the urban programme resources allocated to local authorities in any year to relate to continuing commitments, with the balance for new projects.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of state for the Environment how many schemes supported by the urban programme he has visited.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Department of the Environment Ministers visit the urban priority authorities on a regular basis and have been pleased to see a wide range of schemes supported by the urban programme.
  766
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the planned urban block expenditure for 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 by his Department, together with the figures in real terms, allowing for projected inflation, and the percentage increase/decrease each year.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The planned urban block expenditure figures for 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 are shown in the table; these incorporate the autumn statement changes, including the increase of over £90 million in the resources planned for 1993–94.

  The planned expenditure figures, converted into real terms using latest GDP deflator figures, are in the table, along with the percentage year on year increase/decrease:

  £ million

  1 1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Urban Block planned expenditure

  1,017

  955

  820

  806

  Planned expenditure expressed in real term figures

  1,017

  929

  773

  739

  Percentage increase/decrease

  —

  -8·6

  -16·7

  -4·4

  1Provision based on winter supplementary estimates.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total EC funding received by schemes supported by the urban programme in the current and last three years.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  European Community funding of local authorities? urban programme schemes is as follows:

  Year

  £ million (rounded)

  1990–91

  9

  1991–92

  26

  1 1992–93

  11

  Source: UP claim forms from local authorities.

  Note: Figures for 1989–90 are not available.

  1 To date.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) jobs, (b) training places and (c) schemes are currently supported by the urban programme in each of the urban programme authorities; and what was the allocation for 1992–93 for each of the authorities.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply to his question on Wednesday 13 January,Official Report, column 656. It is not our policy to publish output data for each individual authority under the urban programme.

  Merseyside Fire and Civil Defence Authority
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what his response has been to the representations made by the Merseyside fire and civil defence authority for a review of its standard spending assessment for 1993–94; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I met a delegation from the Merseyside fire and civil defence authority on 12 January
  767
  to hear their representations on our proposals for the 1993–94 revenue support grant settlement. We shall carefully consider their representations before taking decisions on the settlement.

  Housing Refurbishment, Liverpool
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what his response has been to the letter sent to him on 17 December 1992 by Liverpool city council in respect of additional funds to provide for the refurbishment of houses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. and learned Friend has asked his officials at the Merseyside task force to reply direct.

  EC Environment Inspectorate
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions have taken place about the establishment of an EC environment inspectorate within the European Commission; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 11 January 1993]: All member states attended a meeting of national experts chaired by the Commission in March 1992 to discuss issues relating to the enforcement of EC environmental legislation, including the establishment of a network of enforcement agencies and the possible creation of an audit-type inspectorate. Subsequently, the Government have continued to press the Commission to bring forward proposals, as originally suggested by the United Kingdom, for a Community body to audit the application of EC environmental legislation, and has secured growing support from other member states for this idea. We will continue to argue its merits.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Royal Household
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what is the organisational structure of the press facility provided to the royal household by the Central Office of Information; and what is its remit;

  (2) what was the cost in 1991–92, and what is the provision for 1992–93, of the press facilities provided to the royal household by the Central Office of Information; how many personnel are involved and in what capacities: and how much of the expenditure relates to salaries and staff costs;

  (3) who recruits the personnel who make up the press facility supplied to the royal household by the Central Office of Information; to whom they are accountable; and what is their relationship to the head of the Government press service.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Responsibility for the subject of these questions has been delegated to the chief executive of the Central Office of Information. I have asked him to write to the?s right hon. Gentleman direct.

  Letter from Mike Devereau to Mr. Alan Williams, undated:
  768
  You recently tabled three Parliamentary Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster concerning press services provided by COI to the Royal Household. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has asked me to reply.
  The press facility for the Royal Household is provided by staff employed in COI's eight regional offices in England. The staff are COI employees managed by their regional director but working to the brief of the Royal Household. The remit is to make arrangements for press attendance at visits by senior members of the Royal Family while carrying out their official duties in England.
  The cost of work undertaken for the Royal Household by COI in 1991–92 for press facilities totalled £318,260 excluding VAT. The estimated spend for the same services in 1992–93 is some £350,000 excluding VAT. Normally one or two members of COI staff are involved in providing services for each Royal visit. Approximately 50 per cent. of the expenditure relates to salaries and associated staff costs.
  The personnel who make up the press facility are, as members of the staff of the Central Office of Information, fully accountable to me. Their recruitment, training and career development is arranged with the support of the Information Officer Management Unit which provides similar support to all Information Officers working for Government and for which I am also responsible as the Head of Profession for information staff.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Livestock Farms
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the average amounts of capital employed excluding land, on livestock farms within the less-favoured areas at the most recent convenient date.

  Mr. Curry
  The 1992 edition of "Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom" contains estimates based on sample surveys of the level of assets employed on livestock farms in the less-favoured areas. The following table shows the average value of total assets, excluding land and buildings, on LFA livestock farms in 1990–91.

  £?000 per farm

  England

  102·2

  Wales

  92·1

  Scotland

  105·4

  Northern Ireland

  57·7

  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the average farm incomes for livestock farms in the less-favoured areas for each of the last five years up to 1992, using the notional figures which his Department have used of increases of 29 per cent. for last year and 16 per cent. for this year, split between severely disadvantaged and disadvantaged areas.

  Mr. Curry
  Estimates, based on sample surveys, of the levels of nominal net farm incomes on the various types of livestock farm in the less-favoured areas for the past three years are contained in table 14 of the data prepared for the 1992 autumn review of the economic conditions in the hills and uplands, a copy of which has been deposited in the Library of the House.

  Year by year comparisons can best be made by reference to results from a constant sample of farms. The following table shows indices of net farm income for each year from 1986–87 to 1992–93 and estimated income levels for the latest available constant sample.
  769

  Average Net farm income on LFA livestock farms

  Severely Disadvantaged Area

  Disadvantaged Area

  All LFA

  1Index

  £?000 per farm

  1Index

  £?000 per farm

  1Index

  £?000 per farm

  1986–87

  80

  —

  113

  —

  82

  —

  1987–88

  118

  —

  218

  —

  125

  —

  1988–89

  145

  —

  293

  —

  154

  —

  1989–90

  103

  —

  152

  —

  106

  —

  1990–91

  87

  8·3

  58

  2·8

  85

  7·1

  1991–92

  110

  10·4

  91

  4·3

  109

  9·1

  1992–932

  128

  12·2

  102

  4·9

  127

  10·6

  1 1989–90–1991–92 = 100

  2(forecast)

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the rate of the hill livestock compensatory allowance to be paid on eligible sheep in the disadvantaged areas within the less favoured areas of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Gummer
  I am pleased to announce that following the green pound devaluation with effect from 1 January 1993 the headage payment rate for eligible ewes in disadvantaged areas has been increased by 41p to £2.86 per ewe. A statutory instrument will shortly be laid before Parliament giving effect to the proposed new headage rates that will apply under the 1993 scheme. Payment of claims will start as soon as possible.

EDUCATION

  Higher Education
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of students in higher education left their courses before completion and sought employment in(a) 1982 and (b)

  Mr. Boswell
  Destinations of students who leave courses before completion are not collected. Details of leavers in the old universities are given in table 10 of "University Management Statistics and Performance Indicators", 1992 edition, a copy of which is in the Library. Available data for the former polytechnics and colleges are shown in DFE statistical bulletin 9/92, which is also in the Library. The next departmental report will also contain a table of estimated wastage rates; it shows wastage at 13.1 per cent. in 1982–83 and 15·3 per cent. in 1990–91.

  GCSE Grade Changes
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many candidates in 1990, 1991 and 1992, in the Southern examining group area, had their grades altered due to a year-on-year change in standards of more than 3 per cent.; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  New GCSE awarding procedures were introduced by the Southern examining group in 1992. To ensure that these did not result in a change in standards, awarding officers' judgments were reconsidered in those cases where there was a significant change in the proportions of candidates achieving particular grades. The awarding officers' judgments were endorsed in all but two 770
  subjects; in these, 329 grades out of 19,374–1·7 per cent. —were revised. These procedures were not in operation in 1990 and 1991.

  GCSE
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidelines his Department has issued to examining groups on changes to GCSE statistical standards; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department has given no guidelines to the examining groups on this or any other matter relating to the conduct of school examinations. My right hon. Friend will, however, shortly publish a mandatory code of practice which all groups will be required to follow as a condition of his continuing approval of GCSE qualifications.

  Examinations (Criterion Referencing)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) when the Schools Examinations and Assessment Council gave permission for examination groups to move from full criterion referencing to norm referencing; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what was the original timetable for GCSE grades to be fully criteria referenced; when it was revised; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The national trend in the development of school examinations has been in the opposite direction to that implied by the hon. Member's questions. The introduction of the GCSE in 1988 marked a move to a more criterion-referenced examination system. The alignment of the GCSE with national curriculum requirements progressively from 1994 will mark a further move in that direction, since assessment in each of the foundation subjects will be related to clearly defined statements of attainment. The timetable for this alignment has not been altered: it will begin in summer 1994 with English, mathematics and science.

  Teacher Education Units
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement about the future of teacher education units and the tutors involved in them in existing higher education institutions.

  Mr. Boswell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Hawkins) on 17 November 1992,Official Report, column 123.

WALES

  Operation Wizard
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a statement on the commissioning of Touche Ross by the Welsh Development Agency as part of the team of consultants working on the Operation Wizard exercise;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the commissioning of consultants Outram Cullinan and Co., Villiers street, London WC2, as part of the Operation Wizard exercise;

  (3) what ministerial approval was given for expenditure by the Welsh Development Agency on merchant banking consultancy advice on a wholesale or retail management buy-out of WDA operations in 1989–90; what consultations were undertaken; and what guidelines were set for the Operation Wizard exercise.

  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answer 13 January 1993]: The then Secretary of State considered possible options for the future of the WDA's functions in 1988 and 1989. This consideration included professional advice commissioned by the agency on a range of options for increasing private sector involvement. It was decided that the WDA's range of functions should remain unchanged subject to regular review from time to time under the cycle of financial management and policy reviews.

  Dental Health
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he will take to improve the dental health of pupils in the schools of Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  It is the responsibility of health authorities, in conjunction with family health services authorities, to procure adequate dental health services for their area based on their assessment of local need.

  The Welsh Office has circulated an "Oral Health Gain Protocol for Wales" which should assist health authorities in this process.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in order of dental health the health districts of Wales according to United Kingdom dental surveys; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The decannial United Kingdom child and adult dental health surveys do not provide data in the form requested.

  Schools
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) Welsh medium schools and (b) English medium schools have been (i) opened and (ii) closed since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Department does not collect information in the form requested. The provision of both Welsh and English medium schools is the responsibility of the local education authority.

  Health Education
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he will take to improve health education in Wales(a) overall and (b) in respect of dental health.
  772
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  (a) The Health Promotion Authority for Wales has published a series of strategic documents entitled "Plans for Action". The latest document in this series, published in July 1992, presents specific health targets, many seeking improved lifestyles and enabling progress to be measured against the extensive health surveys undertaken throughout Wales.

  Under the new GP contract health promotion arrangements, GPs are required by their terms of service to provide health promotion advice to their patients. New arrangements from 1 July 1993 will ensure that their advice will be delivered within a framework of national and local priorities.

  (b) The Health Promotion Authority for Wales has appointed an oral and dental adviser with responsibility for dental health education in Wales.

  The Welsh Office's recently issued oral health protocol laid down a number of major service targets relating to dental health education including the provision that dentists offer advice to patients on these issues.

  Dyslexic Children
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what policy initiatives he will take concerning the needs of dyslexic children in the schools of Wales; and what is his policy concerning dyslexic children in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  It is the responsibility of local education authorities to identify, assess and make appropriate provision for children with special educational needs, including those who are dyslexic. The Welsh Office supports expenditure by local education authorities for the training of designated teachers of special educational needs in ordinary schools and the initial training of educational psychologists, both of which can help children with dyslexia.

  Our proposals in the Education Bill to provide new rights and improve the assessment and statementing process will be of benefit to all children with special needs.

  English Texts
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the texts by English language Welsh authors proposed for particular study by 14-year-olds in schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The first statutory assessments of 14-year-olds in the subject of English, planned for June 1993, will include a test of reading against prescribed texts.

  A booklet for study by 14-year-old pupils who are at levels 3 to 4 of the national curriculum was announced in November 1992. Based on books which are widely available in secondary schools, the list includes "Illustrated Poetry Broadsheets: Poetry from Wales" which is a thematic collection of poetry by Welsh authors. The wider recommended anthology for all abilities was announced on 4 January 1993 and includes extracts from Dylan Thomas's "A Child's Christmas in Wales" and R. S. Thomas's "Cynddylan on a Tractor".

  The booklists were drawn up by the School Examinations and Assessment Council in consultation with the Curriculum Council for Wales and the National Curriculum Council. The texts are suitably demanding for pupils of this age, and reflect the requirements of the reading attainment target in English.

SCOTLAND

  Mr. Thomas Adleigh
  Mrs. Adams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Lord Advocate will direct that a fatal accident inquiry be held into the death of Mr. Thomas Adleigh of 27 Glencairn road, Paisley.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The death of Mr. Adleigh was reported by Strathclyde police to the procurator fiscal, Paisley who has sought further information as to the circumstances. A decision on whether a fatal accident inquiry will be held into Mr. Adleigh's death will be taken at the conclusion of the procurator fiscal's inquiries.

  Non-domestic Rates
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on non-domestic rates for 1993–94.

  Mr. Lang
  Continuing our policy of reducing Scottish business rate poundages to the level of the English national non-domestic rate, Scottish businesses will pay £68 million less in rates next year than they otherwise would have done. This is a poundage reduction of over 7 per cent. in real terms and an actual reduction in cash terms of 4 per cent.

  The total reduction, due to the Government?s policy and our earlier decision to limit increases in poundages to no more than inflation from 1989–90 onwards, is now at least £400 million.

  1992–93 Poundages P

  1993–94 Pre-NNDR Reduction P

  1993–94 Poundages P

  1993–94 Poundages at Ratepayer Level P

  Reduction to Ratepayer P

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  9·6

  9·9

  7·1

  53·8

  4·4

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  10·0

  10·4

  7·5

  54·2

  4·5

  Cunninghame

  12·2

  12·6

  9·3

  56·0

  4·9

  Dumbarton

  11·2

  11·6

  8·5

  55·2

  4·7

  East Kilbride

  8·2

  8·5

  5·9

  52·6

  4·2

  Eastwood

  5·4

  5·6

  3·6

  50·3

  3·6

  Glasgow City

  16·6

  17·2

  13·0

  59·7

  5·8

  Hamilton

  10·6

  11·0

  8·0

  54·7

  4·6

  Inverclyde

  9·3

  9·6

  6·9

  53·6

  4·3

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  9·6

  9·9

  7·1

  53·8

  4·4

  Kyle and Carrick

  10·0

  10·4

  7·5

  54·2

  4·5

  Monklands

  10·6

  11·0

  8·0

  54·7

  4·6

  Motherwell

  9·6

  9·9

  7·1

  53·8

  4·4

  Renfrew

  10·6

  11·0

  8·0

  54·7

  4·6

  Strathkelvin

  9·3

  9·6

  6·9

  53·6

  4·3

  Angus

  8·2

  8·5

  6·4

  50·0

  3·6

  Dundee City

  13·4

  13·9

  10·8

  54·4

  4·6

  Perth and Kinross

  8·6

  8·9

  6·7

  50·3

  3·7

  Orkney

  40·2

  41·6

  41·6

  41·6

  0·0

  Shetland

  40·2

  41·6

  41·6

  41·6

  0·0

  Western Isles

  55·1

  57·0

  52·8

  52·8

  4·2

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Royal Palaces (Fire Protection)
  Mr. Haselhurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he expects to set up the inquiry to assess the adequacy of fire protection measures at the royal palaces; and if he will make a statement.
  774
  The reduction of £68 million is larger than had been allowed for in drawing up the spending plans we made last year and £56 million of it will be met by increased revenue support grant to local authorities. Local authorities are being asked to contribute the remaining £12 million through efficiency savings.

  The table shows the rate poundages which I intend to prescribe for each local authority in regulations I shall lay before Parliament very shortly. Apart from Orkney and Shetland and, as a result of the reduction for next year, Kincardine and Deeside, which are at the English level, the poundage of every authority has been reduced in cash terms. As last year, I have decided to make larger reductions to those poundages furthest from the English non-domestic rate. As a result, the poundage reductions in real terms range from over 8·8 per cent. in Glasgow to 2·1 per cent. in the case of Kincardine and Deeside.

  The reduction in poundages will again be accompanied by an associated reduction in derating: from 25 to 17·5 per cent. The reduction takes into account the additional £40 million reduction in poundages for this year made following the 1992 Budget.

  Our decision to reduce business rates and to increase revenue support grant next year beyond our original plans yet again, at a time when resources are very scarce, continues to demonstrate the high priority we give to it. We remain committed to eliminating the difference between Scotland and England just as quickly as resources permit.

  Mr. Brooke
  I am pleased to announce that Sir Alan Bailey, former permanent secretary to the Department of Transport, has agreed to chair the inquiry. The other members are Mr. Donald Insall, architect and planning consultant and principal of Donald W. Insall and Associates and Mr. Philip Kilshaw, former deputy senior fire safety inspector in Her Majesty's fire service inspectorate. The terms of reference of the inquiry are:
  775
  "In the light of the Windsor Castle fire to assess the adequacy of fire protection measures for the royal palaces and residences for which I have a financial responsibility, and to report to me."

  The inquiry group has already started work and I hope that it will be able to report within three to four months. The report will be published. I shall make a further statement when I have considered the report.

  Items in Lieu of Tax
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if there have been any items accepted in lieu of tax or, allocated since his last announcement on 3 December 1992.

  Mr. Brooke
  Since my announcement on 3 December,Official Report, column 325, I am pleased to inform the House of the acceptance of two offers in lieu of tax. The offers are of chattels from Sheringham Hall, which will satisfy £119,119 tax, and a Charles I silver gilt standing cup and cover, which will satisfy £199,401 tax. The chattels will be allocated to the National Trust; no decision has yet been made on the allocation of the cup.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Northern Ireland
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning United States policy towards Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  None in recent months.

  Missile Technology Control Regime
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent changes have been made to the scope of the missile technology control regime; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  In the light of concerns about the proliferation of biological and chemical weapons, members of the missile technology control regime agreed, in July 1992, to extend the scope of the regime to cover delivery systems for such weapons, as well as those for nuclear weapons. Technical discussions on details of the changes have now been concluded and members formally adopted the revised guidelines on 7 January 1993. These changes will further strengthen international efforts to combat missile proliferation and to frustrate attempts to deploy weapons of mass destruction. We shall continue to urge all states who are not members of the regime to adopt similar responsible policies on missile exports. A copy of the new guidelines will be placed in the Library of the House.

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

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The following meetings are planned:18 January: Economic and Finance Council 18–19 January: Agriculture Council
  776
  The following subjects are likely to be discussed:

  (a) Economic and Finance Council—18 January

  —Multilateral surveillance including national actions to promote economic recovery in Europe

  —Action at the level of the Community to promote economic recovery in Europe

  —Medium term Financial Assistance (possible)

  (b) Agriculture Council—18–19 January

  —GATT

  —Accelerated transitional measures for Portugal (possible)

  The Economic and Finance Council will meet on 18 January to conduct a multilateral surveillance of the economies of member states and the package of Community measures to promote economic recovery in Europe which was agreed at the European Council in Edinburgh in December.

  The Agriculture Council will meet on 18 and 19 January. Ministers will discuss recent developments in the GATT Uruguay round negotiations. Accelerated transitional measures for Portugal may also be discussed.

EMPLOYMENT

  Unemployment
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number and percentage of people leaving youth training in 1991 in(a) Walsall and (b) west midlands, who were without full-time employment after (i) six months, (ii) nine months and (iii) 12 months.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Of those young people leaving youth training providers during 1991 53 per cent. in the Walsall training and enterprise council area and 51 per cent. in west midlands were not in full-time employment six months after leaving. Twenty-three per cent. described themselves as unemployed; the rest as in part-time work, on another training programme, or on a full-time course at a college or training centre or doing something else. No information is collected about trainee activity after nine and 12 months.

  Solvent-based Paints
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment she has made of experience outwith the United Kingdom on legislation governing the conditions under which solvent-based paints can be used and the circumstances under which they can be applied; and if she will review the United Kingdom legislation in the light of the assessment.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  No assessment has been made of experience outside the United Kingdom on legislation governing the use of solvent-based paints. However, the dangers presented by these products are under regular review, both within the United Kingdom by the Health and Safety Executive and within the European Community through expert working groups involving representatives from all member states. In the United Kingdom, the use of solvent-based paints at work is subject to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988. Specific guidance published by the HSE recommends the substitution of solvent-based paints by less harmful substances, such as water-based paints.

  Jobcentres
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what plans her Department has to extend the range of services offered by jobcentres to the unemployed; and if she will make a statement;

  (2) what are the rules by which jobcentre managers accept advertisements for services to the unemployed; and if she will make a statement;

  (3) what plans her Department has to give jobcentre managers greater discretion on acceptance of advertisements for services to the unemployed; and if she will make a statement.

  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. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Nigel Jones, dated 14 January 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 Questions to her about the range of services offered by Jobcentres, the policy on advertising in Jobcentres and the flexibility which my local managers have on the display of advertising material. These fall within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  The Secretary of State for Employment recently announced a new package of Employment Service measures aimed at providing nearly 500,000 extra opportunities in 1993–94 for long-term unemployed and other people disadvantaged in the labour market. As part of this package, we are introducing a new Jobplan workshop for people unemployed for 12 months. Jobplan will be a five day assessment workshop, which will help identify strengths and skills, set new job goals and draw up an action plan for the client's route back to work.
  We are also expanding our Jobclub and Job Interview Guarantee programmes, which have proved to be very successful, as well as implementing a significant development of Work Trials. Work trials allow people the chance to try out a job for up to three weeks while retaining their entitlement to benefit.
  Jobclub is aimed at people who have been unemployed for six months or more, and others at a disadvantage in the labour market. Jobclub members are given help and guidance in a variety of job hunting methods including interview technique, advice on applying for jobs, completion of application forms and preparation of CVs. Members also have access to telephones, stationery, newspapers, stamps and other resources.
  The Job Interview Guarantee Scheme is also aimed at people who have been unemployed for six months or more. It offers employers a fuller recruitment and selection service in return for a guarantee that they will consider our long-term unemployed clients for their vacancies. I enclose a leaflet setting out the full range of help which unemployed people can access through Jobcentres.
  Our policy for advertising services in Jobcentres is that my local office managers have full discretion to allow companies to display material likely to help our clients find work or training opportunities, providing there is sufficient space available and that no charge is made to the jobseeker for the service offered. There are no plans to change this arrangement.
  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.

  Labour Statistics
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate in percentage and absolute terms of unemployment among black adults in England and Wales.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Results from the labour force survey show that in summer—June to August—1992 there were an estimated 102,000 black people aged 16 and over, in England and Wales, who were unemployed on the international agreed International Labour Organisation definition. The International Labour Organisation unemployment rate for the group was 25 per cent.

  Construction Site Cradles
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action has been taken or is envisaged by the Health and Safety Executive to restrict or prohibit the use of modular system cradles coupled by drop pins on construction sites.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Health and Safety Executive has alerted users of any suspended access equipment on which drop nose pins link together sections of cradles, to the need for thorough examination and maintenance before such equipment is used.

  The Health and Safety Executive has also met representatives of the Suspended Access Equipment Manufacturers Association and the National Association of Scaffolding Contractors. It was agreed that such cradles should be designed so that failure of a key component should not lead to total failure of the whole suspended access platform and that the training and competence of those who install and use them is important. The Health and Safety Executive has successfully advocated that these points be incorporated into the relevant British Standard codes of practice and is updating its own guidance on precautions essential for the safe use of suspended access equipment.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the legal effect of the statement in leaflet IS 26 that a person aged 16 or 17 years has a right to the offer of a youth training place; and what remedy is available if such an offer is not made.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The statement reflects the Government's guarantee of the offer of a suitable youth training place to young people aged 16 and 17 who are not in full-time education or a job and are seeking training. The Department contracts with training and enterprise councils for the delivery of the guarantee at local level and various remedies are available to my right hon. Friend if training and enterprise councils fail to deliver the guarantee. The contract requires training and enterprise councils to record and investigate any complaint made directly by or on behalf of a person in the guarantee group to the effect that the guarantee has not been discharged in respect of that person. Training and enterprise councils are required to use best endeavours to remedy any complaint which is upheld or, if a remedy is not available, to notify my right hon. Friend in writing.

DEFENCE

  Hokum Helicopter
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the capability of the Hokum helicopter.

  Mr. Aitken
  While we have a reasonable appreciation of the capabilities of all helicopters, including the Hokum, which might be used in the anti-armour role, a full assessment of the Hokum's capabilities will only be undertaken if it is offered in the forthcoming attack helicopter competition.

  Apache Helicopter
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the capability of the Apache helicopter.

  Mr. Aitken
  While we have a reasonable appreciation of the capabilities of all helicopters, including the Apache, which might be used in the anti-armour role, a full assessment of the Apache's capabilities will only be undertaken if it is offered in the forthcoming attack helicopter competition.

  Gulf Trust
  Mr. Alison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria have been regarded as relevant in judging eligibility and in making distributions to beneficiaries from the Gulf Trust fund or the relevant service benevolent funds.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The deed of the trust for the Gulf Trust prescribes that moneys must be used to meet the financial needs of the beneficiaries and for the relief of sickness, distress and any other physical or mental disability, arising from the involvement of the armed forces in military or other operations relating to or in connection with the Gulf conflict. Potential beneficiaries are limited to members of the armed forces involved in the Gulf conflict; civilian personnel attached to or accompanying the armed forces in the Gulf conflict; and their respective dependants. The support which the service benevolent funds provide can thus cover a wide range of areas and will vary from case to case, in accordance with individual need.

  Mr. Alison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the range of needs which have been judged eligible, and have been met, by distribution from the Gulf Trust fund through the service benevolent funds.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The support that the service benevolent funds provide can cover a wide range of areas within the terms of the trust deeds and charity law. It is not the practice of the funds to release details of how they have dealt with individual cases.

  Mr. Alison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the latest figure of distributions made by the service benevolent funds, specifying the figures for the three individual funds, from moneys passed to them from the Gulf Trust fund.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information requested is as follows:
  780

  £

  King George's Fund for Sailors

  nil

  Army Benevolent Fund

  304,990

  RAF Benevolent Fund

  287,630

  The figures include moneys paid out up to 31 December 1992, but exclude adminstrative costs and miscellaneous expenses. Some of the payments that were made in the form of loans have already been repaid.

  Mr. Alison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the latest available figure of the sums donated by members of the public to the Gulf Trust fund; what total sums, and under what apportionment, have been passed on to the three service benevolent funds from the Gulf Trust fund; and on what basis the apportionments have been calculated.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As at 31 December 1992, a total of £3,008,051 had been donated to the Gulf Trust fund. No block allocation of funds has been passed by the united services trustee to the service benevolent funds. The benevolent funds are meeting claims arising from the Gulf conflict by payments made to them as necessary by the Gulf Trust fund. The amount of money allocated to each of the service benevolent funds will be announced when the Gulf Trust is wound up.

  RAF Church Fenton
  Mr. Alison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans for the future use or disposal of the RAF Church Fenton headquarters buildings and residential accommodation have been made, following recent decisions about the RAF's future use and requirements of the landing facilities there.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The airfield at RAF Church Fenton is designated as a relief landing ground for RAF Linton on Ouse and this requirement will exist for the foreseeable future. The married quarters are to be retained for service use. The majority of the technical site, however, including the headquarters buildings is scheduled for disposal.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Self-employed Businesses
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the total number of self-employed businesses in the north-east for each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The available information for the northern region—Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Cumbria, Durham and Cleveland—based on the labour force survey, is given in the table.

  Vietnam
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South on 14 December,Official Report, column 27, what discussions he has had with the Vietnamese Government with a view to recovering outstanding trade debts.
  781
  Mr. Needham
  The Export Credits Guarantee Department has attempted to negotiate the settlement of trade debts owed by Vietnam on which ECGD has paid claims. These negotiations have proved fruitless. The Vietnamese Government have now signalled their intention to regularise their payments position with their creditors and to seek a formal restructuring of the official debt under the auspices of the Paris club.

  VAT registrations and deregistrations in Northern region

  Registrations (000?s)

  Deregistrations (000?s)

  Net change (000?s)

  1987

  7·3

  6·2

  1·1

  1988

  8·3

  6·7

  1·7

  1989

  9·1

  6·8

  2·4

  1990

  8·3

  6·7

  1·6

  1991

  6·9

  6·8

  0·1

  These figures reflect the success of the Government?s Policies in encouraging enterprise and new business formation within the region.

  Self-employed in Northern region

  (000's)

  1983

  91

  1984

  92

  1985

  104

  1986

  105

  1987

  108

  1988

  113

  1989

  110

  1990

  115

  1991

  115

  1992

  114

  These figures underline the success of the Government's policy in encouraging the growth of the enterprise culture and self-employment within the region.

  Nuclear Industry
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with(a) Nottinghamshire county council, (b) the European Commission and (c) any other bodies on the question of the compatibility of state aid to the nuclear industry with EC treaty provisions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Government are aware that Nottinghamshire county council has made representations to the European Commission concerning the Commission's decision in March 1990 not to raise objections to the provision of state aids to the nuclear industry. It is for the Commission to respond to these representations as it deems appropriate.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his curent target in megawatts for wind power electricity.

  North-East Businesses
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the net number of new businesses in the north-east for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  The available information for the northern region—Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Cumbria, Durham and Cleveland—based on VAT data, is given in the table. During the period 1987 to 1991 the number of businesses registered for VAT in the northern region increased by 6,800.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Ceredigion and Pembroke, North (Mr. Dafis) on 16 November,Official Report, column 69.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will respond to the fourth report of the Select Committee on Energy on renewable energy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Government's response to the Energy Select Committee report on renewable energy was announced to the House on 16 July 1992,Official Report, column 997.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 17 December 1992,Official Report, column 479, when he received the report by the renewable energy advisory group; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The report by the Renewable Energy Advisory Group was received by the President's office on 24 November 1992. Its printing was then expedited to make it available to Members before the Christmas recess.

  International Trade
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the value of imports, exports and trade balance in manufactured goods with the rest of the OECD countries, in total, and by individual country, in(a) 1970, (b) 1979 and (c) for each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  Information for 1979 and 1991 is given in the table. Information for 1970 and each year from 1980 to 1990 could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
  783

  United Kingdom trade in manufactured goods1 with OECD countries

  £ million

  1979

  1991

  Exports

  Imports

  Crude balance

  Exports

  Imports

  Crude balance

  OECD total

  23,260

  27,208

  -3,948

  69,553

  79,699

  -10,146

  France

  2,320

  3,038

  -718

  9,120

  8,749

  371

  Belgium/Luxembourg

  2,055

  1,928

  127

  5,104

  4,610

  494

  Netherlands

  1,929

  1,845

  84

  6,133

  7,112

  -979

  Germany F.R. 2

  2,781

  5,310

  -2,529

  12,564

  16,484

  -3,920

  Italy

  1,175

  1,971

  -797

  5,135

  5,649

  -514

  Irish Republic

  1,835

  877

  959

  3,985

  2,860

  1,125

  Denmark

  559

  412

  147

  1,248

  1,198

  50

  Iceland

  37

  22

  15

  85

  39

  46

  Faroe Island

  3

  1

  2

  6

  3

  3

  Norway

  443

  482

  -38

  1,078

  991

  87

  Sweden

  942

  1,275

  -333

  2,032

  2,657

  -624

  Finland

  325

  572

  -247

  643

  1,252

  -609

  Switzerland

  2,225

  2,508

  -283

  2,007

  3,659

  -1,651

  Austria

  229

  328

  -98

  738

  892

  -154

  Portugal

  261

  245

  16

  880

  847

  33

  Spain

  360

  441

  -81

  3,340

  1,930

  1,410

  Yugoslavia

  153

  37

  116

  170

  134

  37

  Greece

  242

  58

  184

  499

  206

  293

  Turkey

  129

  19

  110

  547

  298

  250

  Ceuta and Melilla

  1

  0

  1

  1

  0

  1

  Canary Islands

  24

  5

  19

  48

  4

  44

  Japan

  481

  1,441

  -960

  1,929

  6,655

  -4,726

  Australia

  743

  247

  496

  1,229

  416

  813

  New Zealand

  284

  19

  265

  233

  52

  181

  Greenland

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  Canada

  648

  519

  130

  1,148

  1,024

  125

  USA

  3,075

  3,610

  -535

  9,650

  11,978

  -2,328

  1 Manufactured goods are defined as sections 5–8 of the Standard International Trade Classification.

  2 1991 figures include the former German Democratic Republic.

  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the United Kingdom share of the world trade in manufactures in(a) 1962, (b) 1970 and (c) for each year since 1979 to the present; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  The figures requested are shown its the table.

  United Kingdom value share of exports of manufactures from the MMC1 to the World.

  Year

  Per cent.

  1962

  15·5

  1970

  10·6

  1979

  9·1

  1980

  9·6

  1981

  8·5

  1982

  8·4

  1983

  7·9

  1984

  7·5

  1985

  7·8

  1986

  7·6

  1987

  8·1

  1988

  8·3

  1989

  8·2

  1990

  8·6

  1991

  8·5

  1 Main Manufacturing Countries.

  Source: Table E1, Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics, Annual Supplement No. 2, 1981.

  Table E1, Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics, Annual Supplement No. 13, 1992

  There has been a stable or increasing United Kingdom share throughout the 1980s overall, after years of decline.

  Pit Closures
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to extend the term of the existing redundancy agreement for miners following the High Court judgment preventing the immediate closure of pits; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  None. British Coal's redundancy terms are a matter for British Coal. It would, however, seem reasonable for the corporation not to determine its redundancy arrangements from 1 April 1993 until at least the outcome of the coal review is known.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what response he has made to the submission to him from Birmingham city council on the impact of coal industry restructuring.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have seen and considered the paper, a copy of which was handed to me by my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston (Dame J. Knight). We are taking its contents into account along with the other submissions we have received in the context of the coal review.

  Mr. Mike O?Brien
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to repeal or amend section 46 of the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 11 January 1993]: I am considering British Coal's suggestion that this provision be

  785
  repealed, along with all the other evidence to the coal review. We shall shortly publish a White Paper setting out the results of that review.

  Accountancy Bodies
  Sir Michael Grylls
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has received the first annual reports on audit regulation of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants and the Association of Authorised Public Accountants as recognised supervisory bodies under Part II of the Companies Act 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  I have now received the first annual reports of these two associations on their activities as recognised supervisory bodies for the regulation of

  Title

  1989–90 £

  1990–91 £

  1991–92 £

  1992–931£

  Total £

  Dairy Farm, Belfast

  140,411·00

  2,294,559·92

  2,467,744·28

  40,601·58

  4,943,316·78

  North Howard Street, Belfast

  145,962·67

  1,505,163·58

  1,771,311·17

  998,451·68

  4,420,889·10

  Ashton Street, Belfast

  65,442·69

  315,463·54

  637,434·64

  4,365·05

  1,022,695·92

  Bryson Street, Belfast

  —

  —

  613,745·30

  317,898·25

  931,643·55

  Shantallow Village, Londonderry

  —

  —

  1,099,774·66

  1,784,814·94

  2,884,589·60

  Inner City Trust Heritage Centre, Londonderry

  —

  —

  —

  625,000·00

  625,000·00

  Community Enterprise Centre, Creggan, Londonderry

  —

  —

  —

  15,692·59

  15,692·59

  1 To date.

  Costs are generally shared equally between the International Fund for Ireland and the Department of the Environment (NI).

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table to show the sums expended on the Community regeneration initiative special project in each year to date; on which projects they were spent; and what were the sources of the funds, showing in each case the amounts or as much of such information as is readily available to him.

  Mr. Atkins
  The sums expended on CRISP in each year to date and the projects where the money was spent are as follows:

  CRISP town

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–931

  Coalisland

  Cornmill

  12,557·39

  330,079·28

  486,445·41

  Fireclay Works

  —

  11,213·11

  319,805·28

  Weaving Factory

  153,529·75

  113,894·65

  9,300·53

  Carrickmore

  Milestone Centre

  8·480·14

  171,795·47

  1,010,739·55

  Garrison

  Gillaroo Court

  —

  21,531·29

  25,669·47

  Plumbridge

  —

  6,171·05

  17,564·20

  Pettigo

  Environmental Improvements

  —

  14,675·88

  227·86

  786
  company auditors, and have placed copies in the Library. My Department will be discussing the contents of the reports with the bodies.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Community Regeneration
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table to show the sums expended under the Community economic regeneration scheme in each year to date and detailing the projects supported and the sources of the funds, showing in each case the amounts, or as much of such information as is readily available to him.

  Mr. Atkins
  The sums expended on the Community economic regeneration scheme in each year to date and the details of the projects supported are as follows:

  CRISP town

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–931

  Miscellaneous

  —

  442·50

  —

  Derrygonnelly

  Environmental Improvements

  4,838·22

  5,230·93

  —

  Creamery Complex

  —

  5,578·07

  51,597·82

  Newtownhamilton

  Core Project

  —

  2,038·15

  2,394·05

  Belcoo

  Environmental Improvements

  —

  4,731·79

  17,347·78

  Core Project

  —

  753·82

  34·49

  Dromore, County Tyrone

  Environmental Improvements

  —

  22,566·78

  44,636·90

  Workspace Units

  2,921·45

  7,448·65

  110,350·78

  Cullyhanna

  Core Project

  —

  236·54

  3,311·03

  Portaferry

  Brewery Yard

  —

  14,363·87

  55,721·85

  Downpatrick

  Core Project

  —

  555·42

  3,220·00

  Castlewellan Core Project

  —

  14,597·81

  5,828·44

  Crossmaglen

  Core Project

  —

  —

  8,237·37

  Drumquin

  Core Project

  —

  —

  6,254·31

  787

  CRISP town

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–931

  Hilitown

  The Downshire Arms

  —

  10,724·74

  132,844·53

  Castlederg

  Castle Site

  23,920·22

  48,495·00

  32,654·00

  Environmental Improvements

  5,270·29

  35,196·00

  32,493·00

  Cushendall

  Core Project

  —

  —

  54·20

  Keady

  Environmental Improvements

  2,648·72

  4,525·50

  211,140·95

  Old Mill

  —

  32,852·75

  35,560·15

  Draperstown

  Environmental Improvements

  —

  13,789·88

  1,491·50

  Belleek

  Environmental Improvements

  9,029·69

  53,023·95

  3,268·94

  Gateway Centre

  —

  92,518·50

  256,668·12

  Stewartstown

  Environmental Improvements

  —

  4,373·63

  9,240·37

  Core Project

  —

  9·78

  17,935·22

  1To 8 January 1993.

  Costs of the core projects and environmental improvement elements of CRISP are shared equally by the International Fund for Ireland and the Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland.

  Information on the urban development grant element of CRISP is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. This grant is for the refurbishment of property and is available throughout Northern Ireland outside Belfast and Londonderry. It is wholly funded by the International Fund for Ireland.

  Water Services
  Mr. William O?Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much of the regional rate paid by ratepayers in Northern Ireland is charged for water services, including sewage disposal.

  Mr. Mates
  [holding answer 11 January 1993]: Although the regional rate is based on expenditure by central Government in Northern Ireland on services which in Great Britain would be undertaken by local authorities, it is essentially a general charge and the proceeds are not allocated to the component services. However, since 1991–92 arrangements have been made to appropriate in aid of water services, including sewage disposal, the relevant share of regional rate income to facilitate transition to commercial accounting procedures. In 1992–93 the share of the regional rate appropriated in aid of these services is equivalent to poundage of 65·63 p.

PRIME MINISTER

  Objectives
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister what are his objectives for 1993.

  The Prime Minister
  Among the Government's objectives for 1993 are continuing to work for economic growth and recovery and to encourage British industry to take advantage of the great opportunities offered by the single market; reducing the burden of regulations on business; pressing ahead with our reforms of education and health so that there will be more grant-maintained schools and more GP fund holders; continuing to drive for a return to basics in our schools and to give parents more information about how their children are doing; extending home ownership; making further progress with privatisation and contracting out; strengthening and modernising our police force and cracking down on juvenile offenders in particular; continuing our reforms as part of the citizens charter programme to give more power to those who use our public services; bringing forward proposals to develop a network of voluntary help in local communities; defending Britain's interests in Europe and the world.

  Edinburgh Summit
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral statement in answer to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, of 14 December,Official Report, column 34, what was the result of his inquiries relating to Telecom's arrangements for incoming calls at the Meadowbank stadium for journalists attending the Edinburgh summit.

  The Prime Minister
  I wrote to the hon. Member on 16 December setting out the telecommunications arrangements at the European Council media centre.

  Peerages
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the peerages created since 30 November 1990, together with the dates on which the holders were introduced.

  The Prime Minister
  The information is as follows:

  Peers created under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876

  Created

  Introduced

  Lord Browne-Wilkinson (a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary)

  1 October 1991

  15 October 1991

  Lord Mustill (a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary)

  10 January 1992

  11 March 1992

  Lord Slynn (a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary)

  11 March 1992

  11 March 1992

  Lord Woolf (a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary)

  1 October 1992

  1 November 1992

  Peers created under the Life Peers Act 1958

  Lord Waddington

  4 December 1990

  4 December 1990

  Lord Sterling of Plaistow

  17 January 1991

  23 January 1991

  Lord White of Hull

  25 January 1991

  29 January 1991

  Lord Runcie

  1 February 1991

  26 February 1991

  Lord Pallumbo

  4 February 1991

  12 February 1991

  Lord Griffiths of Fforestfach

  5 February 1991

  20 February 1991

  789

  Created

  Introduced

  Baroness James of Holland Park

  7 February 1991

  19 February 1991

  Lord Laing of Dunphail

  8 February 1991

  19 February 1991

  Baroness Seccombe

  14 February 1991

  26 February 1991

  Lord Wolfson of Sunningdale

  26 March 1991

  26 March 1991

  Lord Desai

  5 June 1991

  18 June 1991

  Baroness Hamwee

  6 June 1991

  12 June 1991

  Lord Marlesford

  7 June 1991

  11 June 1991

  Lord Judd

  10 June 1991

  25 June 1991

  Baroness Denton of Wakefield

  11 June 1991

  11 June 1991

  Baroness Hilton of Eggardon

  14 June 1991

  2 July 1991

  Baroness Mallalieu

  19 June 1991

  19 June 1991

  Lord Hollick

  20 June 1991

  25 June 1991

  Baroness O'Cathain

  21 June 1991

  3 July 1991

  Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn

  24 June 1991

  9 July 1991

  Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish

  26 June 1991

  26 June 1991

  Lord Skidelsky

  15 July 1991

  17 July 1991

  Baroness Perry of Southwark

  16 July 1991

  16 July 1991

  Lord Cheshire

  17 July 1991

  24 July 1991

  Lord MacFarlane of Bearsden

  29 July 1991

  15 October 1991

  Lord Craig of Radley

  30 July 1991

  16 October 1991

  Lord Rix

  27 January 1992

  12 February 1992

  Lord Prentice

  30 January 1992

  12 February 1992

  Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank

  12 February 1992

  25 February 1992

  Lord Wilson of Tillyorn

  14 February 1992

  15 July 1992

  Lord Wakeham

  24 April 1992

  28 April 1992

  Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

  24 April 1992

  23 April 1992

  Lord Taylor of Gosforth

  27 April 1992

  29 April 1992

  Lord Roger of Earlsferry

  29 April 1992

  29 April 1992

  Baroness Thatcher

  26 June 1992

  30 June 1992

  Lord Finsberg

  27 June 1992

  13 July 1992

  Lord Parkinson

  29 June 1992

  7 July 1992

  Lord Healey

  29 June 1992

  1 July 1992

  Lord Owen

  30 June 1992

  8 July 1992

  Lord Howe of Aberavon

  30 June 1992

  1 July 1992

  Lord Lawson of Blaby

  1 July 1992

  6 July 1992

  Lord Merlyn-Rees

  1 July 1992

  7 July 1992

  Lord Howell

  2 July 1992

  9 July 1992

  Lord Moore of Lower Marsh

  3 July 1992

  6 July 1992

  Lord Tebbit

  6 July 1992

  9 July 1992

  Lord Younger of Prestwick

  7 July 1992

  14 July 1992

  Lord Amery of Lustleigh

  8 July 1992

  8 July 1992

  Lord Walker of Worcester

  8 July 1992

  21 June 1992

  Lord Archer of Sandwell

  9 July 1992

  14 July 1992

  Lord Ashley of Stoke

  10 July 1992

  13 July 1992

  Lord Eatwell

  14 July 1992

  19 October 1992

  Lord Weatherill

  14 July 1992

  15 July 1992

  Lord Ewing of Kirkford

  17 July 1992

  26 October 1992

  Lord Geraint

  18 July 1992

  27 October 1992

  Lord Stewartby

  20 July 1992

  20 October 1992

  Lord Clark of Kempston

  21 July 1992

  28 October 1992

  790

  Created

  Introduced

  Lord Plant of Highfield

  24 July 1992

  4 November 1992

  Lord Archer of Weston-Super-Mare

  27 July 1992

  20 October 1992

  Lord Ridley of Liddesdale

  28 July 1992

  28 October 1992

  Baroness Jay of Paddington

  29 July 1992

  21 October 1992

  Lord Williams of Mostyn

  30 July 1992

  26 October 1992

  Lord Braine of Wheatley

  10 August 1992

  2 November 1992

  Lord Cooke of Islandreagh

  11 August 1992

  3 November 1992

  Lord Barber of Tewkesbury

  12 August 1992

  2 November 1992

  Lord Hayhoe

  21 August 1992

  3 November 1992

  Lord Gilmour of Craigmillar

  25 August 1992

  4 November 1992

  Lord Elis-Thomas

  18 September 1992

  27 October 1992

  Squatting
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will transfer responsibility for squatting as an issue to the Department of the Environment.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Treasury (Advice to Ministers)
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to market-test the provision of advice to Treasury Ministers.

  The Prime Minister
  The provision of advice to Treasury Ministers is one of the Treasury's core functions and there are no plans for it to be market tested.

  London
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Prime Minister what machinery of government deals with London affairs.

  The Prime Minister
  Government deal with issues within their areas of responsibility. The Cabinet sub-committee on London co-ordinates their policies. The 32 London boroughs and the corporation of the City of London are responsible for local government services in London, with joint arrangements where these are necessary.

  Ministerial Committees
  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will update the list of ministerial standing Cabinet committees published in May 1992 to include a list of those ad hoc ministerial committees established since the formation of his Government.

  The Prime Minister
  I will publish an updated list shortly.

  Travellers
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Prime Minister where the responsibility lies for caravan site provision for the traditional travelling community.
  791
  The Prime Minister
  The Caravan Sites Act 1968 requires local authorities in England and Wales to provide accommodation on caravan sites for travelling people staying in or resorting to their areas. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, local authorities have a discretionary power to provide sites for travelling people.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Prime Minister what provisions exist to improve access to state services for the traditional travelling community.

  The Prime Minister
  In England and Wales, the Department for Education and the Welsh Office respectively provide grant support to local education authorities to help them improve the attendance of traveller children at school and meet their particular educational needs. General medical and hospital services are available to travellers on the same basis as to the rest of the population and health authorities are expected to take account of travellers' needs when planning services. In addition, the Department of Health is funding a number of special schemes aimed at meeting the day-to-day needs of such groups as single rough sleepers, families in bed-and-breakfast accommodation and traveller families.

  In Scotland, education and health services for travelling people are under regular review by the Secretary of State's advisory committee on travelling people. In Northern Ireland, a document published in November 1992 by the advisory committee on travellers reviewed progress on travelling people's access to services. A consultation process is in train.

  Cabinet Papers
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the reason for withholding release of certain Cabinet papers and departmental papers on the royal family and Cyprus beyond 30 years.

  The Prime Minister
  Records relating to these matters are considered for release after 30 years in the normal way in accordance with the provisions of the Public Records Acts 1958 and 1967. Any which are deemed to require protection for longer than 30 years are either closed under section 5(1) or retained in Departments under section 3(4) of the Public Records Act 1958 in accordance with the criteria published in the Government's response to the Wilson Committee report "Modern Public Records", Cmnd. 8531.

  Government of Scotland
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Prime Minister what he has done since April 1992 to take stock of how Scotland is governed; when he plans to announce his proposals for the future; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I am examining a wide range of aspects of the governance of Scotland and have had fruitful discussions with numerous people in Scotland representing many walks of life and political viewpoints. Once the review is complete, the Government will announce the results to the House.

  Bed-and-breakfast Accommodation
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will take steps to investigate the incidence of poor nutrition and ill health among families living in bed-and-breakfast accommodation; and what representations he has received on this subject.

  The Prime Minister
  There is evidence concerning the association between ill-health and adverse social circumstances, but little to identify specific causes of this, particularly the role of nutrition. Indeed, the nutritional content of the diets of people of all incomes is remarkably similar. A balanced diet with more bread, cereals, seasonal vegetables and fruit, and fewer fatty foods can be cheaper than a less healthy diet. The Nutritional task force set up to help implement the White Paper "Health of the Nation" will seek ways to improve the promotion of healthy eating.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will direct the Secretary of State for Employment to discontinue replying to hon. Members' questions over regional unemployment by referring them to the NOMIS data base in the Library; and if he will make it his policy that the information requested should be published in the Official Report.

  The Prime Minister
  I endorse the procedure followed by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Employment, which is to refer hon. Members to NOMIS when more than 10 figures are asked for. The introduction of this procedure was announced, in answer to a parliamentary question, by the then Secretary of State for Employment, on 19 October 1990. This was done only after extensive consultation with both sides of the House and with the then Speaker. The procedure does not result in withholding information and does not deny hon. Members the opportunity of asking questions about unemployment or other labour market issues. NOMIS is a public data base, which can be accessed through a terminal in the House of Commons Library. It provides an open and an efficient way of publishing statistics, which 1 welcome under the citizens charter. The Official Report has never been a statistical digest.

  Council of Europe
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Prime Minister whether he has made any changes to the composition of the United Kingdom delegation for the 44th Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

  The Prime Minister
  With effect from 1 February 1993 my hon. Friend the Member for Ravensbourne (Sir J. Hunt) and my noble Friend, Lord Newall will become representatives on the delegation and my hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and Harlington (Mr. Dicks) and my noble Friend, the Earl of Dundee, will become substitutes. My hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Mr. Jessel) has resigned from the delegation.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 14 January.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 14 January.
  793
  The Prime Minister
  This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

  Coreper
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what changes took place in the operation of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to the European Council during the United Kingdom presidency of the European Council.

  The Prime Minister
  None, other than that the chair was taken by the British representative.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Village Halls
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans his Department has to standardise the financial controls on loans given to village halls under different Government schemes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  There are no plans to standardise the financial controls on loans given to village halls under different Government schemes. However, the Government keep these schemes under review.

  Cars (Taxation)
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the yield in 1991–92, and what is the latest estimate of yield in 1992–93, from(a) petrol duty, (b) DERV duty, (c) vehicle excise duty, (d) VAT on petrol and derv sales, (e) VAT on vehicle sales and (f) car tax.

  Sir John Cope
  Information on the outturn yield in 1991–92 and the projected yield in 1992–93 is provided in the table:

  1991–92 Outturn £ billion

  1992–93 Forecast £ billion

  Petrol duty

  8·0

  8·3

  DERV duty

  2·8

  2·8

  Vehicle excise duty

  2·9

  3·2

  VAT on petrol and derv

  1·6

  n.a.

  VAT on vehicles sales

  2·7

  n.a.

  Car tax

  1·2

  0·5

  No direct figures are available for the VAT spent on petrol and DERV and on vehicle sales. The table contains estimates of the outturn on total VAT yield that can be attributed to these items on the basis of national accounts data on expenditure. For petrol and DERV the VAT estimate covers only consumers? expenditure—the yield from business expenditure is highly uncertain because the majority of businesses can reclaim the VAT paid as input tax. The relevant data are not available for 1992–93.

  The 1992–93 forecasts for car tax have been revised to take account of abolition of the tax in November 1992.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  IRA Bombing Campaign
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes he intends to make in the structure and operations of police forces in England and Wales to counter the current Irish Republican Army bombing campaign.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I consider that the existing operational arrangements for dealing with terrorism are satisfactory.

  Safer Cities
  Mr. Duncan-Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the main achievements of his Department's safer cities initiatives; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many safer cities projects have been established; and what assessment he has made of their effectiveness.

  Mr. Jack
  There are currently 20 safer cities projects which through a partnership approach have delivered over 2,800 crime prevention projects many of which, as the latest safer cities progress report shows, are now delivering effective reductions in both crime levels and the fear of crime.

  Prison Population
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest estimate of the prison population.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The prison population in England and Wales on Wednesday 13 January was 41,134, including 273 prisoners in police cells.

  EC Presidency
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on what was achieved by his Department during the United Kingdom presidency.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  We made progress on a wide range of interior and justice issues including immigration and asylum policy, police co-operation, action to combat drugs, and judicial co-operation. The meetings of Immigration and Trevi Ministers on 30 November and 1 December reached agreement on a number of issues, notably in relation to various aspects of asylum policy and member states' practices regarding expulsion.

  In addition, at a special meeting of Interior and Justice Ministers held on 18 September, it was agreed to establish a joint group of police and judicial experts to report within six months on the organisation and structures of the Mafia and other international criminal organisations.

  Asylum Applications (Europe)
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of asylum applications from European countries were successful in the last year for which figures are available; and what was the figure for the EC as a whole.
  795
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The large majority of recent asylum applications from the former Yugoslavia are still under consideration. Of applications from other central and eastern European countries that were decided in the period January to November 1992, 3 per cent. were recognised as refugees under the 1951 UN convention and granted asylum. We do not have corresponding information on the outcome of such applications to other EC member states.

  Press Office
  Ms. Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 9 December,Official Report, columns 662–64, what progress has been made in his review of his Department's press office's procedures for handling inquiries about individual inquiries.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have completed the review and am satisfied that, under existing procedures, there is no question of my press office divulging personal details of any individual who has not sought to publicise his own dealings with my Department. I propose to continue this policy while reserving the right to stop silly and unfounded rumours.

  Police (West Yorkshire)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police are available for duty on the beat in(a) West Yorkshire and (b) the Pudsey division.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I understand from the chief constable that a total of 2,834 officers out of the present force establishment are available for patrol duties. The corresponding figure for the Pudsey sub-division is 128.

  Bombing (Manchester)
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional measures his Department has taken to assist Greater Manchester police following the bombing in central Manchester on 3 December.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Operational responsibility for the investigation of the terrorist incidents in central Manchester on 3 December rests with the Greater Manchester police, who are able to draw on any assistance which they might require from the Metropolitan police anti-terrorist branch. I have every confidence that, as in the investigation of other forms of crime, the police are well equipped to carry out this responsibility.

  Rave Parties
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to increase the power of local authorities to levy charges and set conditions for the holding of rave parties; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  We have no plans to make any changes to the present arrangements governing the licensing of such events by local authorities.

  Police (Northumbria)
  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he plans to meet representatives of the Northumbria police authority to discuss manning levels.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State met representatives of Northumbria police authority on 10 December to discuss resource matters of concern to them. Staffing levels were included in those discussions.

  Young People (Recidivism)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to deal with the problem of recidivism in young people; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The Government are concerned about recidivism generally. In particular, we believe that more could and should be done to deal with the problem of persistent offending by what appears to be a comparatively small number of juvenile offenders. We are therefore looking urgently and critically at the existing legal and administrative arrangements for responding to juvenile offending.

  Sunday Trading
  Mr. Milligan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans for consultation on Sunday trading.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary said in his statement on 26 November that we are consulting the Shopping Hours Reform Council and the Keep Sunday Special Campaign about how to reflect their models for reform of the law on Sunday trading in a Government Bill. My right hon. and learned Friend and I have also met representatives from a number of organisations and retailers to discuss our proposals for reform.

  Drug and Alcohol Abuse
  Ms. Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contribution the Home Office makes to the Government's overall strategy for tackling drug and alcohol abuse; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The Home Office works closely with other Government Departments to ensure that the law and the wide range of Government policies for tackling the misuse of drugs and alcohol are effective. It has responsibility for the national criminal intelligence service whose drugs division provides intelligence on drug trafficking to Customs and the police. The Government's drug prevention initiative is co-ordinated by the Home Office through a central drugs prevention unit which manages and supports 20 local drugs prevention teams in England, Scotland and Wales. The work of the prison and probation services includes helping offenders with drug and alcohol problems.

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the percentage increase in crime since 1979 for(a) the United Kingdom, (b) South Wales and (c) Neath.

  Mr. Jack
  This answer refers only to England and Wales. Between 1979 and 1991 recorded crime in England and Wales has risen at an average rate of 6·3 per cent. In South Wales it has risen by an average of 7 per cent. Crime figures for Neath are not collected centrally.

  Unemployed Offenders
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of offenders appearing before the courts in the east midlands and in England and Wales were unemployed in 1989, 1990 and 1991.

  Mr. Jack
  Information on the employment status of those appearing before the courts in England and Wales is not recorded centrally.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations his Department has received on the level of funding under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 for the financial year 1993–94 and subsequent years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We have received a number of representations about future levels of section 11 funding from hon. Members, local authorities and representative organisations, individual schools and colleges, professional associations and other interested bodies such as racial equality councils. My right hon. and learned Friend and I regret 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.

  Violent Offences (Women)
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the penalties that can be awarded by the courts for violent offences against women.

  Mr. Jack
  Courts already have at their disposal tough maximum penalties for violent crimes against women, as against any victim: life imprisonment is mandatory for murder and is the maximum penalty for manslaughter, rape and the most serious woundings. Indecent assault carries up to 10 years' imprisonment. Within these maxima, it is for the courts alone to determine the most appropriate sentences in individual cases in the light of all the available information about the seriousness of the offence and the circumstances of the offender.

  Under the Criminal Justice Act 1991, which came into force on 1 October 1991, the courts now have enhanced powers to sentence violent and sexual offenders; within the statutory maxima, courts may pass longer custodial sentences than would be commensurate with the seriousness of the offence, if it is necessary to protect the public from serious harm.

  Police Complaints
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 4 December,Official Report, column 412, if he will list the cases in which out of court settlements or court awards were made in civil actions against the police between 1988 and November 1992; and what disciplinary or other action was taken in each case against the police officer involved.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Refugees
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of refugees from the former Yugoslavia who have been granted entry into Britain in the past 12 months; and what plans he has to increase the number of refugees who will be granted refuge in Britain.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  In 1992, a total of about 5,600 nationals of the former Yugoslavia, excluding dependants, applied for asylum in the United Kingdom. The large majority of these applications are still under consideration and the applicants are being allowed to stay in the meantime.

  In addition, as I announced to the House on 30 November 1992, we are willing to accept 1,000 ex-detainees from Bosnia and other parts of the former Yugoslavia, together with their dependants, totalling perhaps 4,000 in all. The first group of these ex-detainees have already arrived.

  Indictable Offences
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list the number of persons found guilty of, or cautioned for, indictable offences, showing those cautioned as a percentage of all found guilty or cautioned for each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Jack
  Information on persons cautioned and found guilty of indictable offences is published annually in the Command Paper "Criminal statistics, England and Wales". Tables 5.3 and 5.11 of the 1990 publication give the requested data back to 1980. The 1991 volume will be published in February 1993. Table 1 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin issue 30/92 "Cautions, Court Proceedings and Sentencing, England and Wales, 1991" gives estimated data for that year. Copies of these publications are available in the Library.

  Charities
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the support given by the Government to voluntary and charitable organisations in 1992–93; and to how many charities this support was given.

  Mr. Jack
  The information for 1992–93 is not yet available. Details of Government support for the voluntary sector during the last year for which information is available, 1990–91, were given in the reply to a question from the hon. Member for Chislehurst(Mr. Sims) on 16 July 1992, cols 868–69.

  Prison Education
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a further statement on prison education.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Stretford(Mr. Lloyd) on 8 December, col. 555.

  Kent county council has since been granted leave to apply for judicial review of decisions that were taken related to the competitive tendering of prison education. The action is due to be heard in the High Court next month. To avoid prejudicing the outcome of these proceedings and to ensure continuity of education provision in prisons, after 1 April 1993, the prison service has today written to local education authorities and colleges and institutions of further education which currently provide education in prisons. The letter invites them to continue to provide education services in prison establishments on the present basis of remuneration until 31 August 1993, by when the current action and any related legal proceedings should have been resolved.

  It remains the Government's intention to ensure quality and value for money in the future provision of prison education through competition and to let contracts on this basis as soon as is practicable. Accordingly, if local education authorities and colleges and institutions of further education are either unwilling or unable to continue to provide these services on the present terms until 31 August 1993, contracts will be let on the basis of the current competition from 1 April 1993. Otherwise, and subject, of course, to the outcome of the hearing, it is the intention to let such contracts from 1 September 1993.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 11 January,Official Report, column 597, if he will list the 30 private sector organisations which have bid to provide prison education services in 1993–94.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No. I do not believe it is right to provide individual details of the tenderers bidding to provide future educational services to prison establishments in England and Wales while the competition is still running and decisions on the placing of contracts have yet to be taken. It could commercially disadvantage the Home Office in its negotiations and there is no expectation or understanding on the part of tenderers that the information should be made public.

  Channel Islands (Wartime Occupation)
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 30 November 1992,Official Report, columns 7–8, what account he took, during his review concerning the wartime occupation of the Channel Islands, of the documents held by the authorities in Jersey; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  None. The Jersey records are not subject to the United Kingdom Public Records Acts and do not come within my responsibilities. Any decision relating to them is wholly a matter for the Jersey authorities.

  EC Border Controls
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what documents or means of identification have to be shown to immigration officers at British ports of embarkation by travellers to another member state of the European Community; and for what reasons.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Immigration Act 1971 provides that an immigration officer may require any passenger on embarkation to produce a passport or some other document satisfactorily establishing his identity and nationality or citizenship.

  My right hon. and learned Friend is considering the extent to which this power should be exercised in future in relation to travellers to other EC member states.

  Race Relations
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many jobs section 11 funding is supporting in England and Wales currently; and what were the figures for 1992 and in 1991.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Under new projects approved for funding from 1 April 1992, a total of 10,118 posts, in full-time equivalent terms, attract grant support under section 11. A final figure for 1991–92 is not yet available, but it is estimated that 10,425 approved posts were funded. In 1990–91, 9,662 approved posts were funded.

  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inner city projects in England and Wales are being supported by section 11 funding this year; and what were the corresponding figures for 1992 and 1991.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Information is not available in the form requested. A project format for section 11 funding was introduced under new administrative arrangements for the grant which came into effect on 1 April 1992. The grant currently supports approximately 870 projects in England and Wales. Very many of these projects relate to activities throughout authorities' areas, both rural and urban.

  Tyre Dumps
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many tyre dumps in the United Kingdom are classified as major hazard sites; what specific precautions have been taken against fire at such dumps; and if he will make a statement; (2) what contingency plans have been prepared for any serious fires at major tyre dumps occurring in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  It is the duty of each fire authority to make provision for fire-fighting purposes in its area and to ensure that its fire brigade has adequate and efficient fire cover arrangements. These would include contingency plans for all significant fire risks. Those inherent in major tyre dumps, for which the fire service has available special techniques, would typically include arrangements for liaison with the other emergency services and for the evacuation of the area if necessary.

  Following two recent tyre dump fires in Canada and Wales, guidance on the storage of tyres in the open air is

  801
  being revised. No tyre dumps are covered by the CIMAH—Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards—Regulations or the NIHHS—Notification of Installations Handling Hazardous Substances—Regulations.

  From 1 April 1993, all tyre storage in the open air becomes subject to the requirements of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. This will require the occupier or operator of the tyre storage facility to make an application for a licence, under section 30 of the Act to the Local Waste Regulation Authority.

  Merseyside Fire and Civil Defence Authority
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Merseyside fire and civil defence authority in respect of its difficulties in fulfilling its statutory duties; what his response has been; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The chairman of the Merseyside fire and civil defence authority wrote to my right hon. and learned Friend on 30 December about the authority's difficulty in complying with the nationally recommended minimum standards of fire cover in two specific areas. I shall write to the chairman as soon as possible.

  Pescado
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Devon and Cornwall police to raise the fishing vessel Pescado; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The salvage company which has been contracted to raise the Pescado on behalf of the Devon and Cornwall constabulary, is monitoring the weather closely and awaits favourable wind and sea conditions for undertaking the salvage operation.

  The chief constable is responsible for the police investigation into the sinking of the Pescado and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the investigation while it is continuing.

  Inner Cities
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of self-help employment, social and training projects in inner city areas were supported by section 11, urban programme funds or both in the last five years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Information is not available in the form requested

HEALTH

  AIDS
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) on what date the London borough of Bromley applied for AIDS support grant for the current financial year; and what efforts have been made by her Department to urge Bromley to apply for it;

  (2) what amount of AIDS support grant was allocated to each local authority in each year since 1990–91:

  (3) what extra costs she estimates to have been incurred by neighbouring boroughs obliged to deal with HIV/AIDS
  802
  cases turned away by Bromley social services department; and what steps she proposes to take to recompense the neighbouring boroughs;

  (4) by what date London boroughs should apply for the AIDS support grant for 1993–94; and what steps she will take to ensure that the London borough of Bromley applies for the grant on time;

  (5) how many people in each London borough have died from AIDS:

  (6) how many cases of HIV have been reported in the borough of Bromley in each year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Sackville
  In December 1991 the Department issued a circular (LAC(91)22) inviting all social services departments in England to bid for extra resources for HIV and AIDS services in 1992–93 under the AIDS support grant scheme. Criteria for bids under this scheme are set out in the circular. Copies are available in the Library.

  The closing date for bids was 7 February 1992. The London borough of Bromley submitted an application in November 1992 although not in the form and detail set out in departmental guidance. By that time AIDS support grant moneys had been fully committed. The Department was, therefore, unable to allow Bromley's bid to proceed.

  Although not in receipt of AIDS support grant money in 1992–93, we understand that the London borough of Bromley plans to spend £15,000 on HIV and AIDS services in the current year. We have no information to suggest that the borough has been compelled to turn away people affected by HIV.

  For 1992–93 local authority social services departments will again be invited to apply for an AIDS support grant allocation. The closing date for applications will be 8 February 1993. It will, of course, be open to the London borough of Bromley to bid for funds under this scheme.

  Information on the number of HIV and AIDS cases reported in individual boroughs and of deaths is not held centrally.

  The table shows the AIDS support grant allocations which have been awarded since 1990–91:

  Allocations for Individual Authorities

  Authority

  1990–91 Allocation £

  1991–92 Allocation £

  1992–93 Allocation £

  Former 'A's

  Camden

  471,000

  489,840

  730,000

  Hammersmith

  1,003,359

  1,042,000

  1,300,000

  Kensington

  627,500

  652,600

  970,000

  Lambeth

  551,000

  573,040

  930,000

  Westminster

  625,000

  650,000

  940,000

  Former 'B's

  Avon

  127,500

  132,600

  200,000

  Birmingham

  194,700

  202,488

  300,000

  Brent

  290,000

  290,000

  400,000

  Ealing

  250,000

  260,000

  290,000

  East Sussex

  317,500

  263,690

  400,000

  Greenwich

  136,280

  136,280

  190,000

  Hackney

  322,500

  335,400

  460,000

  Hampshire

  106,250

  110,500

  140,000

  Haringey

  357,500

  371,800

  500,000

  Hounslow

  231,250

  240,500

  320,000

  Islington

  235,000

  244,400

  360,000

  Leeds

  234,801

  244,193

  271,000

  Leicestershire

  86,084

  89,527

  115,000

  Lewisham

  163,750

  170,300

  240,000

  Liverpool

  263,000

  253,000

  276,000

  Manchester

  486,250

  510,000

  709,000

  Newcastle

  130,000

  150,000

  223,000

  803

  Authority

  1990–91 Allocation £

  1991–92 Allocation £

  1992–93 Allocation £

  Oxfordshire

  156,250

  162,500

  240,000

  Richmond

  135,000

  140,400

  200,000

  Southwark

  215,000

  215,000

  300,000

  Tower Hamlets

  309,000

  321,300

  481,000

  Wandsworth

  165,122

  120,152

  188,000

  Former 'C's

  Barking

  14,000

  17,173

  32,236

  Barnet

  —

  26,000

  40,000

  Barnsley

  25,000

  11,362

  23,150

  Bedfordshire

  25,000

  25,000

  30,000

  Berkshire

  25,000

  26,000

  50,000

  Bexley

  25,000

  26,000

  46,000

  Bolton

  3,500

  —

  21,105

  Bradford

  25,000

  36,000

  200,000

  Bromley

  8,500

  9,520

  —

  Buckinghamshire

  5,950

  17,640

  16,870

  Bury

  25,000

  26,000

  63,000

  Calderdale

  25,000

  26,000

  32,915

  Cambridgeshire

  20,860

  26,000

  41,000

  Cheshire

  21,000

  26,000

  39,000

  City of London

  25,000

  26,000

  47,000

  Cleveland

  17,000

  26,000

  70,000

  Cornwall

  25,000

  26,000

  39,000

  Coventry

  25,000

  26,000

  68,000

  Croydon

  24,500

  30,000

  49,000

  Cumbria

  17,500

  21,000

  39,000

  Derbyshire

  25,000

  26,000

  39,000

  Devon

  12,250

  25,000

  50,000

  Doncaster

  —

  6,500

  39,000

  Dorset

  13,897

  17,252

  26,009

  Dudley

  25,000

  26,000

  39,000

  Durham

  35,000

  36,400

  55,000

  Enfield

  14,938

  16,702

  50,000

  Essex

  25,000

  35,000

  60,000

  Gateshead

  16,002

  16,640

  38,500

  Gloucestershire

  25,000

  26,000

  43,000

  Harrow

  25,000

  26,000

  42,000

  Havering

  —

  —

  —

  Hereford

  25,000

  26,000

  43,000

  Hertfordshire

  25,000

  26,000

  36,400

  Hillingdon

  23,207

  35,000

  120,000

  Humberside

  40,600

  42,224

  78,000

  Isle of Wight

  25,000

  26,000

  28,170

  Kent

  25,000

  30,000

  93,000

  Kingston

  25,000

  26,000

  64,000

  Kirklees

  25,000

  26,000

  49,000

  Knowsley

  25,000

  26,000

  39,000

  Lancashire

  25,000

  26,000

  27,140

  Lincolnshire

  22,050

  22,955

  39,000

  Merton

  14,000

  17,178

  66,000

  Newham

  72,500

  110,000

  250,000

  Norfolk

  25,000

  26,000

  27,066

  Northamptonshire

  25,000

  26,000

  45,000

  Northumberland

  25,000

  25,000

  31,080

  North Tyneside

  55,623

  52,732

  67,000

  North Yorkshire

  25,000

  26,000

  39,000

  Nottinghamshire

  17,003

  26,000

  60,000

  Oldham

  25,000

  26,000

  39,000

  Redbridge

  18,602

  19,675

  15,374

  Rochdale

  25,000

  26,000

  30,436

  Rotherham

  24,000

  26,000

  39,000

  Salford

  25,000

  26,000

  32,492

  Sandwell

  —

  26,000

  32,564

  Sefton

  25,000

  26,000

  39,000

  Sheffield

  25,000

  26,000

  107,000

  Shropshire

  25,000

  26,000

  130,000

  Solihull

  4,690

  —

  —

  Somerset

  25,000

  26,000

  30,800

  South Tyneside

  39,613

  41,198

  56,000

  Staffordshire

  24,860

  26,000

  39,000

  St. Helens

  18,750

  20,365

  29,675

  Stockport

  25,000

  26,000

  39,000

  Suffolk

  —

  —

  —

  Sunderland

  23,236

  23,520

  60,000

  Surrey

  25,000

  25,000

  39,000

  804

  Authority

  1990–91 Allocation £

  1991–92 Allocation £

  1992–93 Allocation £

  Sutton

  22,260

  30,000

  57,000

  Tameside

  25,000

  26,000

  39,000

  Trafford

  17,737

  26,000

  39,000

  Wakefield

  25,000

  26,000

  50,000

  Walsall

  25,000

  26,000

  50,000

  Waltham Forest

  70,000

  90,000

  135,000

  Warwickshire

  24,570

  25,520

  33,860

  West Sussex

  17,500

  18,200

  23,370

  Wigan

  25,000

  24,290

  26,180

  Wiltshire

  24,000

  26,000

  39,000

  Wirral

  —

  22,500

  39,000

  Wolverhampton

  14,700

  13,050

  15,727

  Computerisation
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she is taking to ensure value for money from investment in the computerisation of the NHS.

  Mr. Sackville
  A national health service strategy for information management and technology was launched on 10 December. It included: new criteria for approving all substantial IT investments. Investments of £1 million or more will be scrutinised by the management executive and not approved unless the criteria are met; new procurement procedures to secure compliance with national standards to ensure compatibility of systems across the whole NHS; and a requirement for general practitioner systems to comply with national requirements as a condition of the GP systems reimbursement scheme.

  Sellafield (Cancer)
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice she has received from the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment on the study by Draper et al. published on 9 January about the incidence of cancer in young people living in the vicinity of Sellafield.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Government welcome publication of this study. It was commissioned by the Department at the request of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment following an earlier report which concluded that there was a higher than expected incidence of leukaemia in young people living in the vicinity of Sellafield over the period 1953 to 1983. This latest study's main finding was that the incidence of cancer in the age group 0 to 24 years in the village of Seascale has continued to be higher than expected when compared with national experience and that for the whole period 1953 to 1990 this was unlikely to have arisen by chance.

  The Government are grateful to COMARE for its advice. In summary, the committee accepts the study findings while acknowledging that studies of this type cannot determine the cause of the raised incidence of cancer in young people in Seascale. The committee also considers that the level of concern raised by the earlier report is maintained by this study. COMARE notes that appropriate studies commissioned by the Government to elucidate the position are proceeding. These studies comprise epidemiological, dosimetric and laboratory- based research programmes which COMARE will wish to consider alongside this latest study as part of their current

  805
  review of the situation around Sellafield. The Government look forward to receiving COMARE's full report on cancer incidence in the vicinity of Sellafield.

  Following is the full text of COMA RE's advice:

  COMARE statement on Sellafield epidemiology study
  1. In September 1989 the Department of Health requested COMARE to review the epidemiological data concerning cancer in the vicinity of Sellafield. At COMARE's request the Department of Health commissioned a study from a group of United Kingdom independent experts including Dr. Gerald Draper, Professors Cartwright and Craft. The results of the study (Draper et al BMJ reference) have now been published and considered by COMARE.
  2. The Report of an Independent Advisory Group, under the Chairmanship of Sir Douglas Black, had previously investigated the incidence of cancer in West Cumbria in the period 1953 to 1983. Draper et al review this earlier period and extends it to the end of 1990. They have considered, in particular, leukaemia and other cancers occurring at ages 0–24 years including four patients in this age range with cancer being diagnosed between 1984 and 1990. One Seascale resident is known to have developed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 1991, which is too recent for analysis in the current study.
  3. Draper et al report that the incidence of cancer arising in the age group 0–24 years in the village of Seascale has continued to be higher than the level expected on the basis of experience in the rest of the United Kingdom. Assessing the whole period from 1953 to 1990, the authors conclude that the pattern of cancer incidence in Seascale is very unlikely to have arisen by chance, although this possibility cannot be entirely excluded.
  4. Analysis of information for the surrounding districts of Copeland and Allerdale, or for the rest of Cumbria, does not show an excess cancer incidence.
  5. COMARE welcomed the study and has accepted its findings. In comparing the information from the period 1953 to 1983 with 1984 to 1990, the Committee noted that the four new cases identified were: two patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, one patient with Hodgkin's disease, and one patient with pinealoma. There were no additional cases of lymphoid leukaemia in the latter period although this was the most frequent type of cancer among the cases in the earlier report. The Committee also noted:

  (i) lymphoid leukaemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma occurring in childhood should be considered as a continuous spectrum of disease and therefore agreed that it was appropriate to combine them in the analyses.

  (ii) there is no body of medical data to suggest that Hodgkin's disease or pinealoma can be caused by radiation.

  6. COMA RE wish to include these new findings as part of their current review of the incidence of cancer in young people in the vicinity of Sellafield. The Committee considers that the level of concern raised by Sir Douglas Black's report is maintained by the new information provided by Draper et al. The Committee acknowledge that studies of this type cannot directly address the problem of determining the cause of the raised cancer incidence in Seascale, which remains unknown. The Committee is aware of the current hypotheses which have been made regarding the causation of these cancers and note that appropriate studies to address the issues are proceeding.

  Community Care
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the full cost to her Department of correcting the calculation for the community care special transitional grant indicative allocations to individual local authorities; and what is her estimate of the cost to local authorities of adjusting their budgetary calculations in the light of these corrections.

  Mr. Yeo
  The cost was minimal. It is routine practice to issue proposed allocations to allow authorities to check and, if they wish, to query the figures. In this case, a revised 806
  circular notifying authorities of their revised allocations was issued less than two weeks after the first. A further circular would in any event have had to be issued detailing the distribution of the additional allocation of £26·8 million for authorities' additional responsibilities for severely disabled people following the closure of the independent living fund. The revised circular was able to include this and therefore give full figures for the special transitional grant.

  DES
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representatives she has received from the daughters of the women who took the drug DES during their pregnancy; what plans she has to assist them with compensation; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  We have received a few representations, including some from DES Action UK, about the potential effects of Diethylstilbestrol. If an individual feels that she or he had been harmed through the mother's use of DES, they may seek legal advice on the nature of any remedy which may be open to them. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. Morgan) on 12 January, column 699.

  Dental Treatment
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for each month in the period from July 1991 to July 1992 the number of applications to dental practice boards for approval of dental treatment above the £600 limit.

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

  General dental services Number of applications for prior approval 1 July 1991 to 7 July 1992 England and Wales

  Number

  1991

  July

  6,583

  August

  5,308

  September

  4,437

  October

  5,746

  November

  4,717

  December

  3,331

  1992

  January

  5,037

  February

  4,551

  March

  4,528

  April

  4,408

  May

  3,907

  June

  4,323

  July1

  902

  1 1 to 7 July.

  Note:

  The prior approval by volume limit was set at £600 from 1 July 1991 to 7 July 1992 and reduced to £200 with effect from 8 July 1992. The figures show all applications for prior approval, including those made for reasons other than a cost in excess of £600.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for each month in the period from July to December 1992 the number of applications to dental practice boards for approval of dental treatment above the £200 limit; and if she will make a statement.
  807
  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  General Dental Services Number of Applications for Prior Approval: 8 July 1992 to 31 December 1992 England and Wales

  1992

  July (8 to 31)

  5,476

  August

  10,624

  September

  17,765

  October

  24,609

  November

  24,069

  December

  23,591

  Note: The figures show all applications for prior approval, including those made for reasons other than a cost in excess of £200.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she intends to publish the Bloomfield report of the review of dental remuneration; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will inform Members of the content of Sir Kenneth Bloomfield's report shortly.

  West Midlands RHA
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list all of the investigations presently being carried out in relation to the West Midlands regional health authority; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Department of Health and the statutory auditor are currently investigating loans made by West Midlands regional health authority to a charitable company, Health Management Trust, to assist a subsidiary company, FIP Ltd. I am also aware that the auditor is conducting a review of West Midlands regional health authority's management of Healthtrac and the management buy-out of the management services information division by Qa Business Services.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish details of the section 20(3) report issued recently in relation to the West Midlands regional health authority by the district auditor; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We will consider publication when our inquiries into the specific points raised by the report are complete.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to improve the management of the West Midlands regional health authority; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Our priorities for the west midlands, which are shared with the West Midlands regional health authority, are to improve the health of the local population and to ensure that services are efficient and effective, underpinned by managerial and financial systems of the highest possible standards. Important changes have taken place in recent weeks to improve the management of the regional organisation, and I am confident that Sir Donald Wilson, the new regional chairman, will provide a strong lead on the challenging agenda ahead.

  Patient Numbers
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to review the use of completed consultant episodes to measure patient throughput; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We have no plans to do so at present.

  Regional Returns
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to publish information from the quarterly monitoring returns from the regions; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  These are management returns which were instituted in 1991–92 and which are still under development. There are no plans at present to publish the results on a regular basis.

  Patient Numbers
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish a table showing (i) the number of acute in-patient completed consultant episodes for the first six months of 1991–92 and the first six months of 1992–93 and (ii) the number of day cases also dealt with over these two periods.

  Mr. Sackville
  The total number of general and acute ordinary admissions and day cases purchased by the national health service in England, and the number of those which were day cases in the two periods, are shown in the table.

  1991–92

  1992–93 (provisional) 000?s

  Ordinary Admissions and Day Cases

  3,520

  3,740

  Of which: Day Cases

  659

  818

  Note: Day cases are defined as acute elective admissions using a bed but not requiring an overnight stay.

  London Health Care
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 6 November 1992,Official Report, column 450, if she will now list the members of the implementation group for Tomlinson on the future of London's health care; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We shall publish membership of the London implementation group when we announce our detailed proposals for change in London's health services.

  Nicotine Patches
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance her Department has issued on the use of nicotine patches; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Department has issued no guidance on the use of nicotine patches, but guidance for the user can be found in the patient information leaflet provided with the patches.

  Female Circumcision
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she is taking to ensure that the law relating to female circumcision is monitored and enforced; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  We are determined to eradicate this abhorrent practice. The Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985 makes it an offence to carry out any of the procedures which are known as female circumcision, but which are more accurately described as female genital mutilation. The Act also makes it illegal to aid, abet, counsel or procure the carrying out of these procedures. Further legal protection is provided by the Children Act 1989.

  In October 1991 we issued guidance entitled "Working Together Under the Children Act 1989" to all local authorities, health authorities, the police, the probation service, schools, doctors and a wide range of voluntary organisations working in the child care field. This guidance contained advice on the 1985 Act and on dealing with FGM. We provide funding for FORWARD—the foundation for Women's Health and Development, which works to educate the relevant communities and the professionals concerned about FGM.

  To date, there have been no prosecutions under the 1985 Act. This may be because it can be difficult to acquire evidence. Any information we receive about specific instances of alleged FGM is sent to the police, and we ask others to do likewise. It is for the police to investigate any such allegations and discuss with the Crown prosecution service how to proceed. When appropriate, we also pass details to the General Medical Council, the local social services department, and the district health authority, if the offence is said to have taken place in a private hospital or clinic registered and inspected by the DHA.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Bosnia
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the pledges made by the United Kingdom and others; and if he will list the pledges which have been converted into cash for relief supplies for Bosnia.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have committed over £70 million in humanitarian relief to the former Yugoslavia. Of this, £41 million has been pledged multilaterally through the EC and over £29.5 million in direct bilateral assistance. Most of this is focused on central Bosnia. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for High Peak (Mr. Hendry) on 23 November, columns 452–53, for details of how we are spending these funds. Comprehensive figures for the commitments made by other donors are not available.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefits Agency Fraud
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether the feasibility study into the market testing of sector fraud within the Benefits Agency has been completed; and if he will make a statement.
  810
  Miss Widdecombe
  The study commissioned into the feasibility of market testing all or part of the fraud work has not yet been completed. Once the eventual findings have been considered decisions will be taken on the extent to which market testing should be applied to this area of work.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will compensate disabled people who are unable to make an application to the independent living fund because of delays in the processing of attendance allowance and disability living allowance claims.

  Mr. Scott
  We have no plans to provide such compensation. The independent living fund is an independent charitable trust which is managed by trustees, who deal with all administrative matters.

  Disability Allowances
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the number of claims received by his Department for the disability working allowance in each month since its introduction; and if he will provide a breakdown by region.

  Mr. Scott
  A regional breakdown is not available. The total number of claims received in each month is as follows:

  1992

  Total

  March

  4,153

  April

  4,124

  May

  2,570

  June

  2,700

  July

  2,344

  August

  2,081

  September

  2,085

  October

  1,432

  November

  1,431

  December

  1,008

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide a breakdown by number and percentage of the total number of (i) initial and (ii) renewal claims for disability working allowance received by his Department that were refused on the grounds that(a) the claimant was not in remunerative work, (b) the claimant's income was above the limit, (c) the claimant was not in receipt of a qualifying benefit, (d) the claimant was receiving family credit, (e) the joint income of the claimant and his or her partner exceeded the limit, (f) the claimant was working less than 16 hours a week or (g) for other reasons.

  Mr. Scott
  By 2 January the total number and percentage of claims refused in each category was as follows:

  Claims refused

  Number

  per cent.

  Not in work or working less than 16 hours a week

  New claims

  11,069

  57

  Renewals

  61

  33

  811

  Claims refused

  Number

  per cent.

  Income of claimant and partner exceeds DWA level

  New claims

  2,150

  11

  Renewals

  108

  57

  No qualifying benefit

  New claims

  5,128

  27

  Renewals

  8

  4

  Receiving family credit

  New claims

  494

  3

  Renewals

  0

  0

  Other reasons

  New claims

  448

  2

  Renewals

  12

  6

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for the disability working allowance have been received by his Department to date; and if he will provide a breakdown by(a) the number and percentage of these that resulted in an award, (b) the number and percentage of these that were refused and (c) the number and percentage of these that are awaiting a decision.

  Mr. Scott
  By 2 January 1993, 24,280 claims had been received with following results:-

  Number

  Percentage

  Awards

  3,360

  14

  Refused

  19,480

  80

  Awaiting further information

  625

  3

  Withdrawn before decision

  815

  3

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the organisations he plans to consult and outline any other plans the Department has for consulting disabled people and their organisations on the next revision of the claim pack for disability living allowance and attendance allowance.

  Mr. Scott
  The disability living allowance and attendance allowance claim packs were developed in close consultation with disabled people and the organisations that represent them. We continue to consult widely both formally and informally. A reprint of the claim packs is being produced for April 1993. A table of the organisations we have consulted since 30 November 1992 is as follows.

  DLA claim pack—Draft consultation with outside organisations

  1. Access Committee for England

  2. Action for Blind People

  3. ADSS Disabilities Committee

  4. Age Concern

  5. Alzheimer's Disease Society

  6. Arthritis Care

  7. ASBAH (Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus)

  8. Association for Speech Impaired Children

  9. Association of Hospice Social Workers

  10. Association of County Councils

  11. Association for Residential Care

  12. Association of Parents of Vaccine Damaged Children

  13. BACUP

  14. Barnados

  15. BCODP (British Council of Organisations of Disabled People)

  16. Birmingham Welfare Rights

  812

  17. British Association of Social Workers

  18. British Epilepsy Association

  19. British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association

  20. British Association of Social Workers

  21. British Medical Association

  22. British Diabetic Association

  23. Cancer Relief Macmillan Fund

  24. Carers' National Association

  25. Caring for People with Disabilities

  26. Caring Costs

  27. Central London Social Security Advisers Forum

  28. CHAR

  29. Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

  30. College of Occupational Therapists

  31. Council on Disability for Shetland

  32. Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust

  33. Cystic Fibrosis

  34. Derbyshire Centre for Independent Living

  35. DHSS NI

  36. Disability Alliance

  37. Disabled Living Foundation

  38. Disablement Income Group

  39. Disablement Income Group (Scotland)

  40. District Nursing Association (UK)

  41. Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board

  42. Federation of Independent Advice Centres

  43. Good Practices in Mental Health

  44. Health Visitors Association (Services) Ltd

  45. Haemophilia Society

  46. Help the Aged

  47. Herfordshire Welfare Benefits Advisers

  48. Huntingdon's Disease Association

  49. Independent Living

  50. Independent Health Care Association

  51. Joint Committee on Mobility for Disabled People

  52. Lancashire County Council Welfare Rights Service

  53. Leonard Cheshire Foundation

  54. MENCAP

  55. MIND (National Association for Mental Health)

  56. Motor Neurone Disease Association

  57. Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  58. Muscular Dystrophy Group

  59. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association

  60. NACAB (National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux)

  61. National Deaf Children's Society

  62. National Schizophrenia Fellowship

  63. National Association for Health Authorities

  64. National Council for Voluntary Organisations

  65. National Information Forum

  66. National Schizophrenia Fellowship

  67. National Bureau for Students with Disabilities

  68. National Association of Voluntary Help Organisations

  69. National Association for Limbless Disabled

  70. National Care Homes Association

  71. NFBUK (National Federation of the Blind of the United Kingdom)

  72. Northern Ireland Council on Disability

  73. Parkinson's Disease Society of the United Kingdom

  74. People First

  75. PHAB

  76. Queen Elizabeth's Foundation for the Disabled

  77. RADAR (Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation)

  78. RNIB (Royal National Institute for the Blind)

  79. RNID (Royal National Institute for the Deaf)

  80. Sandwell Social Services Department

  81. Schizophrenia Association of Great Britain

  82. Scottish Association for Mental Health

  83. Scottish Council on Disability

  84. Scottish Society for the Mentally Handicapped

  85. SENSE (National Deaf-Blind and Rubella Association)

  86. Social Work Department. St. Georges Hospital, Lincoln

  87. Soldiers, Sailors and Airmans Families Association

  88. Spinal Injuries Association

  89. SSAC

  90. Terrence Higgins Trust

  91. The Prince of Wales Advisory Group on Disablement

  92. The Disabled Drivers Association

  813

  93. The Spastics Society

  94. Wales Council for the Deaf

  95. Wales Council for the Disabled

  96. Wales Council for the Blind

  97. Wandsworth Social Services Department

  98. Oakleaf Enterprise

  99. London Borough of Hounslow

  100. Tower Hamlets Law Centre

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many awards of the higher rate mobility component made since 3 February 1992 were made(a) on the grounds that the person was severely mentally impaired and displayed severe behavioural problems and (b) under the deaf-blind provisions.

  Mr. Scott
  Recorded numbers of people awarded the higher rate mobility component since 3 February 1992 are as follows:

  (a) On grounds of severe mental impairment and severe behavioural problems—1,352 at 31 December 1992.

  (b) Under deaf-blind provisions—110 at 30 November 1992.

  Includes new claims and "top-up" claims from existing Attendance Allowance and Mobility Allowance beneficiaries.
  All figures are provisional and may be subject to amendment.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to attempt to identify the numbers of people who lost the chance to submit an application to the independent living fund solely because the Benefits Agency had not processed their claim for the care component of disability living allowance or attendance allowance; and if he will compensate people in this position by extending the independent living fund deadline or otherwise.

  Mr. Scott
  We have no plans to do so.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the numbers of people expected to become entitled to the severe disability premium as a result of extending entitlement to people living with a person who is registered blind; and what is the estimated cost to his Department.

  Mr. Burt
  We estimate that a few hundred severely disabled people who are not currently entitled to the severe disability premium because they have an adult living with them will qualify for the premium because that adult is blind and their presence will be disregarded. We estimate that the cost will be of the order of £1 million a year.

  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many requests up to 26 November 1992 had been received for a review of a decision(a) not to award the highest rate of disabled living allowance care component and (b) not to award the higher rate of attendance allowance.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Benefits Agency
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide details of the amounts, dates and basis upon which the chief executive of the Benefits Agency has been awarded any performance bonus.

  Mr. Burt
  The basis on which the chief executive of the Benefits Agency could earn a performance bonus under his 814
  contract was set out in my reply to the hon. Member on Tuesday 27 October 1992, at column 640. The chief executive's total remuneration for 1991–92 is set out in the Benefits Agency annual report, a copy of which is available in the Library, although the elements within that total remain confidential.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide details of the changes he plans to make to the medical control procedures applied to invalidity benefit announced in his autumn statement; and if he will provide details of how he expects to achieve his estimate of £240 million savings and to specify the numbers of people expected to have their invalidity benefit withdrawn as a result of these changes.

  Mr. Scott
  The changes which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 12 November 1992 are intended to streamline the medical control procedures which already apply to all incapacity benefit claims. People invited to medical examinations will be given more notice, asked to tell us if they cannot attend, and warned that failure to do so without good cause will result in loss of benefit. Improved reports by examining doctors will reduce the number of people who need to be examined more than once; enabling them to deal with more of the cases referred for control action. In the first year, we estimate that some 80,000 people who no longer satisfy the entitlement conditions will be identified earlier than under the existing arrangements.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will express the average income of single people and couples in receipt of invalidity benefit as a percentage of average income of equivalent household units in the country.

  Mr. Scott
  The information in the table is based on the estimates for 1988–89, the two calendar years combined.

  Per cent.

  Income before housing costs

  Income after housing costs

  Singles

  70

  69

  Couples

  76

  79

  Note:

  The estimates are based on Family Expenditure Survey data from the ?Households Below Average Income? series.

  Service Pensions
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) where and on what date the Naval, Military and Air Forces etc. (Disablement and Death) Service Pensions Amendment (No. 2) Order 1992 was first published;

  (2) when he first announced his intention to make the Naval, Military and Air Forces etc. (Disablement and Death) Service Pensions Amendment (No. 2) Order 1992;

  (3) on what date and through which media he has taken steps to publicise to the general public the terms of the Naval, Military and Air Forces etc. (Disablement and Death) Service Pensions Amendment (No. 2) Order 1992.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The legislation was announced in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Mr.
  815
  Hayes) on 17 December at columns 369–70, and through a press release and letter to Members of the central advisory committee the same day. The legislation was laid before Parliament on 18 December 1992 and published by HMSO on 6 January 1993.

  Hearing Loss (Military Service)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) why he proposes to remove the eligibility of ex-servicemen for lump sum compensation claims for hearing loss of less than 20 per cent. caused during their military service;

  (2) if he will publicise the proposed abolition of the eligibility of ex-servicemen for lump sum compensation claims for hearing loss of less than 20 per cent. caused during their military service.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The introduction of a 20 per cent. disablement threshold for claims for noise induced hearing loss brings the war pension rules more into line with those for claims for occupational deafness under the industrial injuries scheme. The proposals form part of a package, the other element of which is the removal, from April 1993, of rank differentials in war disablement pensions; almost 200,000 war disablement pensioners will gain up to £5 a week as a result. The decision was announced in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Mr. Hayes) on 17 December 1992 at columns 369–70, and publicised through a press release and letter to members of the central advisory committee on war pensions the same day.

  Retirement Pension
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to alter the relationship between the level of retirement pension and the cost of living.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The retirement pension is statutorily uprated each year in line with the movement in prices. We have no plans to alter this.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to make the retirement pension a means-tested benefit.

  Miss Widdecombe
  None.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will take steps to remedy the situation referred to by the social security commissioners in decisions CIS/587/90 and CSIS/78/92 whereby a retirement pensioner previously receiving an invalidity pension is deprived of the higher pensioner premium if he or she reached retirement pension age before 11 April 1988.

  Mr. Burt
  The rules discussed in the decisions quoted are intended to ensure that a person who was receiving the premium because he had invalidity pension did not suffer a reduction in income as a result of taking retirement pension. The premium continues provided he remains in receipt of the relevant income-related benefit. The regulations fully reflect this policy. It was never the intention that a person who had already ceased to receive invalidity benefit when the relevant income-related benefit was claimed should qualify for the premium. We have no plans to change this policy.

  Maxwell Pension Fund
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to respond to the Social Security Committee's report published on 12 January.

  Mr. Lilley
  I shall want to read the Committee's report carefully before responding fully. But my immediate response is to endorse firmly its main objective, the early distribution of assets already recovered or in the common investment fund to the Maxwell pension schemes.

  The Committee makes two recommendations intended to help secure that objective. I have, in line with its first recommendation, asked Sir John Cuckney to continue to encourage mediation as a preferred course of action. In this he has my firm support and backing. If rapid progress cannot be made in the common investment fund by agreement I hope all parties will consider mediation.

  The Committee also recommended that Sir John's role be extended to help ensure that any administrator or liquidator does not delay a settlement by pursuing highly doubtful claims to assets that were once in the possession of Robert Maxwell companies. These office holders are variously appointed by, and are accountable to, the court or the creditors. The scope for direct action by other parties is therefore limited. However, I have agreed with Sir John that he will be available to assist the office-holders wherever possible.

  Regulation of Earnings Factors Order
  Mr. Sykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the application of the Social Security Regulation of Earnings Factors Order 1992 as it applies to additional pension paid with invalidity benefit.

  Mr. Lilley
  The policy intention has been that the revaluation order should apply to additional pensions paid with invalidity benefit. We have received legal advice that provisions enacted in the Social Security Act 1990 and carried forward into the Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 have not given full effect to this. This means an estimated £9 million paid between April 1992 and April 1993 will have been paid on a basis which is incorrect on the strict interpretation of the law. We intend to continue payments on an extra-statutory basis to ensure that claimants receive a level of benefits in line with the policy intention. Appropriation will be obtained in due course. The total amount paid on this basis, initially estimated at a cost of £0.8 million, rounded, per month, will be reported in a note to the Department's appropriate account.

TRANSPORT

  Correspondence
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now reply to the letter sent to him on 2 October by the hon. Member for Gower relating to a constituent from Bishopston, Swansea.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I replied to the hon. Member on 18 December.

  Public Transport Investment
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what limits are placed on the freedom of the chairmen of British Rail and London Transport to speak publicly on the investment needs and the maintenance spending required for their main businesses.

  Mr. Freeman
  None. However, in the context of the annual investment and financing review for nationalised industries, Government Departments and the industries find it useful to exchange information in confidence.

  A46 Upgrading
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects(a) commencement and (b) completion of work on the Lincoln to Newark section of the upgrading of the A46.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The scheme is planned to go to public inquiry this spring and further progress will depend on the outcome of that inquiry. It is not therefore possible to provide a firm date for start of construction works, but it is likely to take about two years to complete.

  Railway Expenditure
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what levels of investment spending have been assessed and requested by British Rail as required to(a) maintain the track and signalling so as to avoid speed restrictions and (b) replace outdated track, signalling and rolling stock.

  Mr. Freeman
  The British Railways Board allocates its investment spending within its overall external financing limit. The need for the board to maintain and replace infrastructure and rolling stock was taken into account in determining the additional resources for the railways announced in the Chancellor's autumn statement.

  Mr. Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the additional funds made available to British Rail in the autumn statement for leasing capital equipment could be appropriately used for the ordering of new long-distance network trains for the Kent coast services; and what constraints or impediments prevent British Rail from entering into such arrangements in the near future.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Chancellor's autumn statement enables BR to order on lease an additional £150 million worth of new rolling stock. Only the leasing payments will count against its external financing limit. BR is currently considering which rolling stock orders would be suitable for leasing; the options include new rolling stock for Kent coast.

  I have asked BR to proceed as quickly as possible with negotiations on a suitable leasing arrangement.

  Public Inquiries
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on the role of local public inquiries where decisions they take have national significance in cases where national policy is still under consideration;

  (2) if he will suspend the public inquiry into the Port of Bristol Harbour Revision Order until the future is decided of the collieries in South Wales and the midlands which are linked to the outcome of this inquiry.
  818
  Mr. Norris
  Issues of overall Government policy are not properly a matter for local public inquiries. The Harbour Revision Order about which a local public inquiry is now in progress deals with the transfer to a company, First Corporate, of some of the harbour authority powers of Bristol city council. I understand that the company is constructing a bulk import facility but that it is not relying upon the order to obtain the powers to do so. It is not therefore appropriate to suspend the inquiry.

  Vehicle Inspectorate
  Mr. William O?Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when he expects to report to Parliament following the consultation on the future of the vehicle inspectorate; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what steps he will take to ensure that road safety will be monitored in any changes that may be made in future vehicle testing following the current consultation exercise; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  My right hon. Friend is currently considering the responses to our consultation on the future of the vehicle inspectorate's heavy goods and passenger carrying vehicles testing functions and will make an announcement in due course. As the consultation paper made clear, the Government are determined that under all options for the future, existing standards of vehicle testing should be maintained and where possible improved.

  Oil Tanker Pollution
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assumption he makes for the purposes of pollution compensation schemes of the likely pollution clean-up cost of a major oil tanker pollution casualty on the south coast of England.

  Mr. Norris
  The limits of the funds available under the international compensation arrangements are designed to meet fully the costs of any incident in European waters. The current limit is some £50 million and this has not been exceeded in Europe since the system came into operation in 1978. However a diplomatic conference in November, co-sponsored by the United Kingdom, has agreed on protocols to double the current limit which will come into force once a minimum number of states have ratified them.

  Hazardous Cargoes
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will institute a comprehensive review of the existing methods and routes of transportation of crude oil, oil products and hazardous chemicals around the coastal waters of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Norris
  The inquiry, under the chairmanship of Lord Donaldson, which was announced by the Secretary of State on 11 January will include a comprehensive review of the routing of tankers around the coastal waters of the United Kingdom.

  Salvage Convention
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans Her Majesty's Government have to ratify the 1989 salvage convention.

  Mr. Norris
  It is the Government's intention to ratify this convention as soon as parliamentary time can be
  819
  found for the necessary primary legislation. The main provisions of the convention are applied commercially when there is a Lloyd's open form 1990 contract between a shipowner and a salvor, as in the case of the Braer.

  MV Braer
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the current arrangements for refunding the costs of pollution clean-up in a situation such as that caused by the Braer casualty; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  Under the relevant international conventions, to which the United Kingdom is a party, these costs are recoverable from the ship's insurers and the international oil pollution compensation fund. This is a tried and tested international scheme.
  820
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will widen the terms of reference of the inquiry into the causes of the stranding of the Braer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  No. The terms of reference of the inquiry being carried out by the marine accident investigation branch are broad enough.

  Tyre Treads
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will seek a derogation from the EEC requirement that tyre tread depths should be a minimum of 1·6 mm; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I have no plans to do so.