To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on the major achievements of his Department in the last four years.

[holding answer 11 June 1990]: The Government's achievements in the arts in the last four years have been numerous and varied. Among the most important I would list the following:The maintenance of central Government support for arts activities, and the introduction of measures to encourage greater self-reliance among arts institutions—the arts budget for this financial year stands at £494 million, and will rise by 22 per cent. by 1992–93.The establishment of a three-year programme of funding for the arts, to give arts bodies a firmer base from which to plan their activities.The introduction of corporate planning for the national museums and galleries and other non-departmental bodies, linked to the three-year funding programme.The major expansion schemes at some national museums and galleries, including the Clore gallery at the Tate, the new Tate gallery in Liverpool, the redevelopment of the imperial war museum, and the opening of the Victoria and Albert museum's theatre museum at Covent Garden. The building and maintenance grants to the national museums and galleries have increased by 15 per cent. in real terms over the past four years, and in December 1989 an incentive funding initiative was launched to help these institutions get their fabric into prime condition by the year 2000.The participation of over 2,000 museums in the Museums Year celebrations in 1989, with visitor numbers reaching over 100 million in that year.The Government's support for the development strategies designed to give the regions a larger share of arts spending facilities and to increase access to the arts.New initiatives to encourage arts bodies to market themselves more professionally and to improve the quality of their management.The significant and continuing upsurge in business sponsorship of the arts, encouraged by the business sponsorship incentive scheme through which nearly £33 million of new money for the arts has been raised.The development of incentive funding schemes for the performing arts and for public libraries, designed to encourage subsidised bodies to become more self-reliant in their development and growth.The maintaining of the public lending right scheme introduced in 1981, by which authors are paid for the borrowing of their books from public libraries. This year, the PLR provision is £3·5 million, and it will rise to £4·5 million in 1991–92.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest meeting of the European Community's Economic and Finance Council.

The ECOFIN Council met in Luxembourg on 11 June. The Paymaster General and I represented the United Kingdom. Future progress towards economic and monetary union was discussed and oral reports were heard from the chairmen of the central bank governors, monetary and economic policy committees and from President Delors. The Council agreed that it was important to ensure that stage 1 was successful and that more work was needed in how the Community might progress beyond that stage. It was agreed that Finance Ministers should be involved in the forthcoming intergovernmental conference on EMU. The presidency will submit a progress report to the European Council before its meeting on 25 to 26 June.Political agreement was reached on a package of three corporate tax measures to encourage cross-border co-operation. When finally implemented, these measures will end the double taxation of subsidiaries which transfer dividends to a parent company in another member state and will remove the tax disincentive to cross border mergers. This is a very welcome step forward and will be of real benefit to British industry.The Council also welcomed a report from the Commission on the main features of its new proposals for a system of VAT control and for the collection of infra-EC trade statistics after 1992. The raising of travellers' allowance was also discussed. It was agreed that the Court of Auditors report on export refunds should be submitted to the Committee of Permanent Representatives for urgent further consideration. The investment services directive was also discussed, and it was concluded that the Council should aim to reach a common position on the directive by 31 December 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy concerning the avoidance of motorway and major road construction through designated protected countryside; and if he will make a statement.

There has been no change in the Government's longstanding policy, which is to keep roads away from protected areas like areas of outstanding natural beauty and sites of special scientific interest wherever possible. Special attention is also paid to the effects of new roads on inalienable land owned by the National Trust. In national parks, the Government are committed to ensuring that no new trunk route will be constructed or an existing road upgraded unless there is a compelling need which cannot be met by any reasonable alternative means.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has about the relative cost implications to the motor industry of fitting large or small carbon canisters to motor vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

Carbon canisters are used to control evaporative emissions from motor vehicles. The component cost is likely to range between £15 and £40. The cost of installation is difficult to estimate, but is likely to be higher for the larger canisters that are designed to capture refuelling emissions, because they are more sophisticated and require electronic controls.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence he has of tachograph discs in heavy goods vehicles being discarded when used up and being replaced with new ones so as to allow a further nine hours' driving time; what steps he intends taking to prevent this from happening; and if he has any plans to introduce a system of serialised tachograph discs.

The Department carries out checks on tachographs of heavy goods vehicles both at the roadside and at operators' premises. These can detect the person who drives for a period and then inserts a new chart. There is no evidence that this practice is common. I will write to the hon. Member shortly about the serialisation of tachograph discs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many pedestrians were (a) killed and (b) injured, while using zebra or pelican crossings in 1989.

Provisional estimates are that 109 persons were killed and a further 4,978 persons injured while crossing the road using pedestrian crossings during 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been for failure to stop for pedestrians at a zebra crossing, since the introduction in the current year of the spot fine.

The information collected centrally does not separately identify fixed penalty notices issued for the offence of failing to give precedence to pedestrians at a zebra crossing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions in the last five years vehicle examiners from the Department of Transport have carried out checks on the roadworthiness of motor cars on garage forecourts in accordance with the Road Traffic Acts; and how many prosecutions have been successfully instituted.

The vehicle inspectorate has not hitherto maintained separate statistics of such inspections, but is now starting to do so. Any subsequent prosecutions would normally be pursued by local authority trading standards officers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has made an assessment of the potential damage being caused to the ozone layer as a result of exhaust fumes from jet engines; and if he will make a statement.

For the most part, aircraft operate in the troposphere. Increasingly, however, they are reaching into the lower stratosphere and the Warren Spring laboratory has been asked to consider what contribution they might make to stratospheric ozone depletion. This is an issue that is also the subject of an extensive three-year programme of research by NASA in connection with possible future supersonic transport development programmes. These are important studies, and the results could have a bearing on future policy decisions with regard to aircraft engine emission standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the inspector in the M11 link road public inquiry has submitted his report; and if he will make a statement.

The report has been received and is under consideration together with all the objections and representations made. The Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Transport will announce their decisions as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he has received from Messrs. Eurotunnel details of the inspection procedures which will be made on cars and other vehicles before they enter the channel tunnel; and if, in particular, any progress has been made in providing X-ray machines for vehicles as referred to in the debate on 3 February 1987, Official Report, column 943;(2) if the intergovernmental commission and safety authority has reported to him on the safety arrangements for inspecting vehicles going into the proposed channel tunnel; and if it has indicated whether it is satisfied with the arrangements.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Fearn) on 11 June at column 62. Eurotunnel's designs and operating procedures in relation to safety and security are being considered in accordance with the arrangements specified in the treaty and concession agreement. Further work remains to be done before final approval can be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the latest estimate he has received of the number of vehicles which are likely to go through the proposed channel tunnel each day.

A joint working group, representing the Department of Transport, Kent county council and Eurotunnel, has forecast that an average of 10,000 vehicles per day will use the tunnel in 1993, rising to 14,000 in 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate of the number of miles of new motorways completed since 1979.

Since 1979, 285 miles of new motorway have been completed, and 30 miles of existing motorway widened.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to build a bypass around Danbury; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 12 June 1990]:This is a matter for Essex county council as local highway authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now allow Mr. Alexander Bora, a United States citizen, to enter the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Bora was refused leave to enter the United Kingdom by an immigration officer at Gatwick airport on 12 March 1987.So far as I am aware, Mr. Bora has not sought admission since that date. Should he do so, his case would be given full consideration in the normal way.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total number of prosecutions under section 43 of the Telecommunications Act 1984.

It is not possible from the information held centrally to identify offences under section 43 of the Telecommunications Act 1984 from others under the aforesaid Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on nationally recommended minimum standards to maintain civil defence cover.

There are no nationally recommended minimum standards for civil defence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the National Association of Probation Officers concerning his Meibion Glyndwr police investigations; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has received a letter from the National Association of Probation Officers calling for an independent inquiry into recent arrests by north Wales police. He replied on 11 May confirming that the chief constable had decided that the circumstances of the arrests should be investigated by a senior officer from another force under the supervision of the Police Complaints Authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the terms of reference of the investigation being conducted by Lancashire police into the way in which North Wales police have undertaken action relating to the arson campaign in Wales; whether the investigation is into the entire sequence of police action since the arson campaign first started; and if he will make a statement.

The investigation relates only to certain arrests, the circumstances of which were referred to the Police Complaints Authority by the chief constable of North Wales under section 88 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. The authority approved the appointment of an investigating officer from the Lancashire constabulary and is supervising the investigation. I understand that the terms of reference are:

To enquire into the circumstances leading to and surrounding the arrest of Bryn Fon, Anna Wynne-Williams, Henryd Myrddin Jones and Dyfed Wyn Thomas, to determine whether or not the police action was proper and reasonable.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which groups concerned with reforming the law on Sunday trading he has met; and if he will make a statement.

Since 1986 my ministerial colleagues and I have met individuals and groups with widely differing views on the subject. In the past year these have included representatives of OPEN (previously, the Community Shops Group), the British Hardware Federation, Keep Sunday Special Campaign, the Association of District Councils, the British Videogram Association, the Retail Consortium and the Shopping Hours Reform Council. No proposal to reform the law has yet been put forward which seems likely to command sufficient support to pro vide the basis for legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received concerning the refusal to grant asylum to Chinese refugees; and if he will make a statement.

Representations have been received in respect of one Chinese national who was refused asylum here but was granted exceptional leave to remain. We have also received some 20 representations about the decision not to consider the asylum applications from 33 Chinese nationals who came here from Panama. This group has failed to comply with their terms of temporary admission and their cases will be further considered when they are traced.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what approval he has given for the acquisition or building of new police headquarters and at what cost in England and Wales since 1980.

The information for force headquarters buildings is as follows:

	£ million
1982
Avon and Somerset force headquarters—purchase of site and preparatory works	0·974
1983
Metropolitan police—Bessborough street and Vauxhall Bridge road adaptations work (lease rental £1·175 million per annum)	1·28
Metropolitan polioe—Drummond gate adaptations work (lease rental £1·795 million per annum)	1·64
1984
Leicestershire force headquarters—phase 1	3·655
Dyfed Powys force headquarters	5·9
1989
Thames Valley force headquarters—acquisition of site	1·1
Avon and Somerset force headquarters—phase 1	4·772
Avon and Somerset force headquarters—phase 1A	1·5

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to value the

Table 1
	Age
Charge	14–20	21–25	26–30	31–35	Over 35	Total
Males
Riot	—	4	—	—	—	4
Violent disorder	19	37	20	7	6	89
Affray	7	10	8	—	—	25
Public Order Act
Section 4	21	45	17	6	2	41
Section 5	10	18	11	2	—	41
Grievous bodily harm	1	2	—	1	—	4
Other assaults	6	22	8	3	2	41
Burglary	12	8	3	3	1	27
Theft	12	8	3	—	—	23
Dishonest handling	10	2	4	—	—	16
Criminal damage	4	15	6	1	2	28
Arson	1	1	—	—	—	2
Enclosed premises	1	—	—	—	—	1
Obstructing police	6	11	5	—	1	23
Highway obstruction	8	8	4	1	1	22
Drunk and disorderly	—	1	1	—	3	5
Drugs	1	3	2	—	—	6
Total	119	195	92	24	18	1448
Females
Riot	—	—	1	—	—	1
Violent disorder	4	4	3	—	—	11
Affray	—	—	1	—	—	1

The ownership of the police estate is vested in police authorities, or, in the case of the Metropolitan police, the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District.Home Office circular No. 32/1987, issued in May 1987, asked the authorities to review their management of the police estate with a view to identifying accommodation and sites which are surplus to requirements, either for disposal or, where appropriate, to meet emerging new needs for accommodation. The procedures for reviewing the estate are matters for the police authorities themselves, but Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary has generally expressed its satisfaction with the arrangements which have been made.A proposal to carry out a valuation of the Metropolitan police estate on commercially accepted principles and updating the information on a continuing basis is being considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on those detained, following the 31 March incident in Trafalgar square, as to hose (a) released without charge, and (b) charged, by offence, and by age, sex and place of residence.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that by 8 June 471 people have been arrested in connection with the disorder which occurred during and following the demonstration against the community charge which took place in London on 31 March. Of these, 58 were subsequently released without charge.The information readily available about the charges preferred and the age and sex of those charged with these offences is set out in table 1:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he proposes to review the effectiveness of the current provisions to prevent undue pain and suffering in experimentation on live animals.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no such plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report the annual number of lethal dose toxicity tests permitted over the last five years for which figures are available.

Lethal dose toxicity tests have been separately identified in the statistics since 1987. The numbers of such tests carried out in 1987 and 1988 are published in table 14—columns 8 and 9—of the annual "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain" for 1987 and 1988, Cm. 515 and 743. Copies of these publications are in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has made to the pharmaceutical and other commercial companies undertaking tests on live animals to move towards alternative methods of testing;(2) what further steps he proposes to encourage provision for alternative methods for use in basic research in toxicity testing and drug development to replace experimentation on live animals; and if he will make a statement.

It is a fundamental principal of the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 that animals are used in scientific procedures, for whatever purposes, only where there are no alternatives to their use. All applicants for a project licence issued under the Act must satisfy the Home Office that they have given thorough consideration to the scope for using alternative methods not involving animals.While the use of animals for research and safety testing will remain necessary for the foreseeable future, those involved in animal procedures are well aware of the need to move towards non-animal techniques whenever possible. Work involving living animals is not permitted where alternatives exist.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report those organisations which have received grants from Her Majesty's Government for research into replacement alternatives to experimentation on live animals indicating the amount of the grant in each case.

In 1984 financial assistance was provided to two organisations concerned with animals in research. Some £185,000 was given to the fund for the replacement of animals in medical experiments (FRAME) to help with three projects: a feasibility study of validation of in vitro techniques which might replace animal experiments; work on a possible database of tissue culture techniques; and on examination of the use of human tissue cultures instead of animals in medical research and toxicity testing. Some £30,000 was given to the universities federation for animal welfare (UFAW) to support an evaluation of the effects of various cage sizes and social groupings on the well-being of laboratory rats.With the passing of the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, the Home Office established a scheme which is administered by a sub-committee of the Animal Procedures Committee to grant aid research to reduce, refine or replace the use of living animals in scientific procedures. The Home Office also funds research concerned with the welfare of laboratory animals. In 1988–89, the first year of the operation of the scheme, it was decided to fund the following four projects:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report the number of experiments on live animals carried out in each year since the 1986 provisions took effect, showing how many animals were used for scientific testing in each year.

The information is published in table 18 of "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain, 1988", Cm. 743, a copy of which is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his consideration of the representations made on behalf of Mr. Colin Wallace concerning his conviction, referred to in a letter of 4 June from Mr. J. H. Miller, Private Secretary to the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, to Mr. Wallace.

We hope to be able to reply shortly to the latest representations made on Mr. Wallace's behalf regarding the safety of his conviction.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on plans or studies that assess the measures that would have to be taken by the police or civil defence authorities in the event of widespread contamination by airborne plutonium resulting from a nuclear weapons accident aboard a Royal Navy ship docked at Greenwich.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces to a question from the hon. Member and the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 8 June, at column 724.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to investigate the allegations made by Arthur Lane of alleged war crimes committed by Kiyoaki Tanara and Shigeyuki Hashimoto; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 22 May.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the number of private mortgage possession orders granted in each English region, for the years (a) 1986, (b) 1987, (c) 1988 and (d) 1989.

The number of private mortgage possession orders made in county courts in England for the years 1986 to 1989 are as follows. The numbers of such orders made in the six circuits within England are also given.

Private mortgage possession orders granted in England 1986–89
Circuit	1986	1987	1988	1989
Midland and Oxford	9,382	9,304	8,405	8,756
North Eastern	6,548	7,727	7,221	5,847
Northern	6,323	7,342	8,167	7,984
South Eastern	11,300	11,738	11,844	18,832
Wales and Chester	714	811	564	647
Western	4,784	4,861	4,160	5,027
England total	39,051	41,513	40,361	47,093

The figures given for Wales and Chester circuit exclude private mortgage possession orders granted in Wales.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on progress towards a fair and equitable system for all parties in divorce with particular regard to maintenance of, and access to, the children involved.

The Children Act 1989 represents a major reform of the law relating to children including access to them. It is, however, only a first step in a programme to review family law and its administration which includes consideration of the Law Commission's expected report on divorce later this year, conciliation arrangements and the Government's current consideration of the assessment, collection and enforcement of maintenance.In considering and implementing policy on all these matters, the Government recognise the need for fairness and equity, but regard the interests of the child as their first priority.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on developments since the Director of Public Prosecutions was in touch with Greater Manchester police about the outcome of the trial of Kevin Taylor.

The question of any action subsequent to the DPP's letter of 19 January 1990 to the chief constable of Greater Manchester is one for the chief constable alone.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to grant specific relief or exemption from part of the community charge for those couples who are both blind.

Disabled people, including those who are registered as blind, can already receive higher levels of community charge benefit, which may reduce bills by up to 80 per cent, because of their disability. The income level at which they are entitled to maximum community charge benefit, and where the sliding scale of reductions begins, is higher than for other people. A disabled person who is not a former ratepayer or the partner of a former ratepayer may also be entitled to extra transitional relief.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the inquiries or audits undertaken by the Audit Commission on the finances of individual local authorities in 1990.

[holding answer 12 June 1990]: As for every financial year, auditors appointed by the Audit Commission will undertake audits of the accounts of all local authorities for 1990–91. Information on public interest reports made by auditors to local authorities under section 15 of the Local Government Finance Act 1982 is held by the Audit Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to ensure that hoteliers and business are compensated against loss of earnings as a result of drops in the tourist trade due to dirty beaches.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what alternative methods of charging for water supply and sewerage disposal for domestic customers have been discussed between him and chairmen of water companies; and if he will make a statement.

None. Subject to the general supervision exercised by the Director General of Water Services, it is a matter for each water company to decide what methods of charging to adopt for its services before charging by rateable value is prohibited in the year 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the estimated costs of installing meters in all properties now charged on rateable values.

No estimates have been prepared. The cost of installing meters depends on a variety of factors and in some cases installation may not prove practical without excessive cost. I understand that information on the costs of installing meters will be contained in the second interim report on the national metering trials which the water industry intends to publish early in July. The decision whether to install meters on a wide scale will be taken by each water company, in the light of all the circumstances in its area and under the general supervision of the Director General of Water Services.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the Government's contribution to the water meter trials by area; and what is the total cost of each water meter trial.

The latest estimated cost of each metering trial and the Government's contribution to each trial is shown in the following table:

	Total cost £	Government contribution £
Isle of Wight (Southern Water)	16,133,000	7,394,000
Chandlers Ford (Southern Water)	124,700	62,350
Chorleywood (Rickmansworth Water Company)	220,000	nil
Briston-Hotwells (Bristol Waterworks Company)	331,300	165,650
Haling Park (Thames Water)	548,400	274,200
Bromsgrove (East Worcestershire Waterworks Company)	382,500	191,250
Brookmans Park (Lee Valley Water Company)	694,200	347,100
Turlin Moor (Wessex Water)	197,500	98,750
Broadstone (Wessex Water)	307,000	153,500
Camberley (Mid Southern Water Company)	319,600	159,800
Hutton Rudby (Northumbrian Water)	331,200	165,600
South Normanton (Yorkshire Water)	375,800	187,900

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has had with the Director General of Water Services to ensure that competition is assured in the provision of water services in Yorkshire and value for money is obtained by consumers; and if he will make a statement.

None. The Water Act requires the director general, in carrying out his regulatory functions, to protect the interests of customers in respect of charges and other terms on which services are provided, to promote economy and efficiency on the part of appointed companies and to facilitate effective competition, subject to the primary duties to ensure that water and sewerage functions are properly carried out and that appointed undertakers can finance the proper carrying out of those functions.In setting the initial charges limits for the companies the Secretary of State was subject to the same duties. He took account of the comparative efficiency of each company and incorporated target efficiency savings in the cost projections on which the charge limits were based.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will consider making adjustments to the payment of the uniform business rates to help with the loss of the former business rates paid to the town and parish councils; and if he will make a statement;(2) what representations he has received from town and parish councils over the introduction of the community charge and the uniform business rate and their effects on financing local government; and if he will make a statement;(3) if he intends to take action to assist in the retention of town and parish councils where the reform of the business rate is having some effect on their future; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received many representations from town and parish councils about the introduction of the community charge and the uniform business rate, and about the effects on financing local government. District councils have powers to assist town and parish councils in meeting their costs. The new system means that all councils are now accountable to their charge payers for their decisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what evidence he has of evasion by hotels, guest houses and tourist accommodation of their obligations to pay the uniform business rate;(2) if he has any plans to investigate the use of the fire certificate threshold of six letting bed spaces as a suitable starting point for imposition of the uniform business rate.

[holding answer 12 June 1990]: I have no evidence of such evasion. I have received representations from home owners providing bed-and-breakfast accommodation for a more generous exemption than the 99-day maximum which currently operates: but others, particularly the hotel trade, believe that any exemption in this area could lead to unfair competition. The tourist authorities have represented that the existing exemption could lead to a shortening of the season in which some accommodation is available. We are considering these arguments and others that have been put to us.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the criteria used to determine river quality are identical throughout the European Community; and if he will make a statement.

Member states each use different systems for monitoring and assessing river quality. A review of the various European systems prepared for the Department in 1987 included a comparison of the quality of European rivers according to the classification system in use in England and Wales. This showed that 95 per cent. of river length in the United Kingdom was of good or fair quality compared with 75 per cent. in the European Community as a whole. The review showed that no other member state bettered our position.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the respective percentage of registered disabled persons who are employed by each urban development corporation.

At 1 April 1990, the percentage of registered disabled people employed by London Docklands development corporation was 0·7 per cent. and by Trafford Park development corporation 2·3 per cent. The other corporations currently employ no registered disabled people.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the extent of his programme to monitor the presence of viruses in sewage discharges; and what research is being undertaken to establish any possible health implications resulting from the presence of viruses in sewage discharges.

The monitoring of sewage discharges is a matter for the National Rivers Authority. The Department has commissioned research into the health effects of bathing in sea water, and the results are expected to be available soon.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department intends to proceed with proposals for housing action trusts for the Angell and Loughborough estates in Lambeth.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest guidance given to local planning authorities regarding the design of new shopping facilities.

Planning policy guidance note 6 sets out the Government's general planning policies for major retail development. My right hon. Friend's statement of 6 March, about standards of design for major new buildings, made it clear that considerations such as the density and bulk of a development, and its compatibility with its surroundings, may be relevant planning issues. Only exceptionally should planning authorities seek to control design details, if the sensitive character of the area or the particular building justifies it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been undertaken to establish any possible adverse environmental impact resulting from the discharge into the sea from the north Norfolk coast of glycol; what permissions exist in respect of such discharges; and if he will make a statement.

The National Rivers Authority and the former Anglian water authority have undertaken extensive monitoring of discharges of glycol and a survey of the receiving waters off the north Norfolk coast over the past two years. The results have shown that the discharges are having no detectable impact on the North sea.Details of discharge consents and information from routine monitoring of the discharges are held on the public registers maintained by the Anglian region of the National Rivers Authority, under the terms of the Water Act 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the Acts of Parliament made in each year from 1969 to 1989 which relate to (a) local government and (b) local government finance.

Public general Acts of Parliament between January 1969 and June 1979 which affect local authorities in England include

• Local Government Grants (Social Need) Act 1969^*
• Mines and Quarries (Tips) 1969
• Nuclear Installations Act 1969
• Tattooing of Minors Act 1969
• Public Health (Removing Nuisances) Act 1969
• Vehicles and Driving Licences Act 1969
• Housing Act 1969
• Transport (London) Act 1969
• Late Night Refreshment Houses Act 1969
• Children and Young Persons Act 1969
• Transport (London) Amendment Act 1969^*
• Expiring Laws Act 1969
• Rent (Control of Increases) Act 1969
• Police Act 1969
• Food and Drugs (Milk) Act 1970
• Local Employment Act 1970
• Education (School Milk) Act 1970
• General Rate Act 1970^*
• New Forest Act 1970
• Parish Councils and Burial Authorities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1970
• Riding Establishments Act 1970
• Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970
• Local Authority Social Services Act 1970
• Trees Act 1970
• Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970
• Indecent Advertisements (Amendment) Act 1970
• Education (Handicapped Children) Act 1970
• Local Authorities (Qualification of Members) Act 1970
• Courts Act 1971
• Water Resources Act 1971
• Rating Act 1971^*
• Fire Precautions Act 1971
• Highways Act 1971
• Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Act 1971
• Education (Milk) Act 1971
• Housing Act 1971
• Town and Country Planning Act 1971
• Local Employment Act 1972
• Road Traffic Act 1972
• Deposit of Poisonous Waste Act 1972
• Sunday Theatre Act 1972
• Police Act 1972
• Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act 1972
• Children Act 1972
• Housing Finance Act 1972^*
• Local Government Act 1972^*
• National Theatre and Museum of London Act 1973
• Housing (Amendment) Act 1973
• Furnished Lettings (Rent Allowances) Act 1973
• Fire Precautions (Loans) Act 1973^*
• Education Act 1973
• Education (Work Experience) Act 1973
• Employment of Children Act 1973
• Land Compensation 1973
• Rate Rebate Act 1973^*
• National Health Service Reorganisation Act 1973
• Employment Agencies Act 1973
• Water Act 1973
• Fair Trading Act 1973
• Maplin Development Act 1973
• Slaughterhouses Act 1974
• Local Government Act 1974^*
• Charlwood and Horley Act 1974
• Town and Country Amenities Act 1974
• Control of Pollution Act 1974
• Housing Act 1974
• Education Act 1975
• General Rate Act 1975^*
• Housing Rents and Subsidies Act 1975^*
• Reservoirs Act 1975
• Referendum Act 1975
• Nursing Homes Act 1975
• Mobile Homes Act 1975
• Housing Finance (Special Provisions) Act 1975^*
• Children Act 1975
• Local Land Charges Act 1975
• Community Land Act 1975
• Education (School-Leaving Dates) Act 1976
• Rating (Caravan Sites) Act 1976^*
• Police Pensions Act 1976
• Adoption Act 1976
• Foods and Drugs (Control of Food Premises) Act 1976
• Rating (Charity Shops) Act 1976^*
• Police Act 1976
• Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (Amendment) Act 1976
• Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976
• New Towns (Amendment) Act 1976
• Weights and Measures &c. Act 1976
• Education Act 1976
• General Rate (Public Utilities) Act 1977^*
• Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act 1977
• Control of Office Development Act 1977
• Local Authorities (Restoration of Works Powers) Act 1977
• Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977
• Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978
• European Assembly Elections Act 1978
• Home Purchase Assistance and Housing Corporation Guarantee Act 1978^*
• Local Government Act 1978
• Rating (Disabled Persons) Act 1978^*
• Homes Insulation Act 1978
• Inner Urban Areas Act 1978
• Public Lending Right Act 1979

Acts relating (at least in part) to local government finance are marked with an asterisk (^*).For Acts after June 19791 refer the hon. Member to the answer of my right hon. Friend the then Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities to the hon. Member for Copeland on 4 May at columns

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what beaches in Europe outside the United Kingdom are subject to legal proceedings for failing to meet the bathing water directives; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the Commission is pursuing legal proceedings against all member states except Portugal in respect of directive 76/160/EEC.The Commission has powers under the EC treaty to take proceedings against individual member states which it considers are not complying with their obligations under the treaty. It is for the Commission to decide when to commence such legal proceedings.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to monitor the effects of the community charge on grant aid to local voluntary organisations; and if he will make a statement.

The Government monitor the main categories of expenditure of local authorities, which this year will be affected by the introduction of the community charge and the level of charges, but the grant aid which local authorities provide to voluntary organisations is a matter for them to decide, not the Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the effects on grant aid to local voluntary organisations of local authorities not recovering the level of community charge anticipated when preparing their budget.

If authorities collect charges efficiently, there is no reason why the cash volume of arrears should be greater than under the rating system. There is no reason why local authorities, or those voluntary organisations which receive grant aid from local authorities, need be in any way disadvantaged in the way the right hon. Member implies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all groups and organisations within the Sunderland borough council area that have received urban programme support in (a) 1989–90 and (b) 1990–91; and if he will identify the level of grant received in each case and any conditions attached.

I regret that the detailed information is not readily available to the Department. However, Sunderland borough council, as managers of the urban programme, should be able to provide the information requested direct to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans for, or anticipates direction from the European Commission on plans for, a standard registration for all builders and decorators; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no such proposals, nor does he anticipate any from the European Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the protection available to individuals who receive unsatisfactory service from people purporting to be builders and decorators; and how this is likely to change after 1992.

Under the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982, in contracts for the supply of services, which would include building and decorating, the service must be carried out with reasonable care and skill. Any materials used must be of "merchantable quality", and fit for the job in hand. If the builder or decorator fails in these obligations, the law treats the matter as a breach of contract and the consumer may then look to him for redress through the courts. A number of trade associations operate insurance-backed guarantee schemes, offering protection for the individual against the "cowboy" builder. The Office of Fair Trading is also working with the industry to devise a model fair deal contract for small home improvement works and is examining how an industry-led body could carry out the assessment and approval of insurance-backed guarantee schemes.The position would be unaffected by current proposals for the completion of the single European market.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many (a) families and (b) single people accepted as homeless within the borough of Sunderland area are at present in (i) bed-and-breakfast accommodation, (ii) other forms of temporary accommodation and (iii) of no fixed abode, and are in receipt of state benefits.

The latest available figures for the number of homeless households in bed-and-breakfast and other forms of temporary accommodation are for the end of December 1989. These appear in table 7 of "Local authorities" action under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England; Results for the fourth quarter of 1989; Supplementary Tables", which is the Library.The number of single people among the households accepted as homeless is not reported to the Department by local authorities and we have no estimates.Statistics on the numbers of homeless people in temporary accommodation or of no fixed abode and in receipt of state benefits are not available centrally in the form requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what responsibility his Department has for bottled drinking waters.

Responsibility for regulating the quality of the two main categories of bottled waters—natural mineral water and artificially carbonated mineral or spring water—lies with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Responsibility for any other bottled water has hitherto fallen to the Secretary of State for the Environment, because my right hon. Friend has overall responsibility for EC directive 80/778 on the quality of water intended for human consumption.The existence of separate legal and administrative regimes for different types of bottled water has inevitably caused confusion to producers, local authorities and the public. The current Food Safety Bill will make it possible to establish a single regime under the Food Acts and the food hygiene regulations for all types of bottled water. The Prime Minister has therefore agreed that the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in conjunction with the Agriculture Ministers in Wales and Scotland, and the Minister for Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland, should in future have ministerial responsibility for all types of bottled water.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of dwellings in each district in England are insulated to the standard recommended by his Department.

[holding answer 6 June 1990]: Information at district level is not available. Nationally, we estimate that 90 per cent. of dwellings with accessible lofts have insulation and 15 per cent. of all dwellings have cavity wall insulation. The proportion which meet the

Households by number of adults and sex and ethnic group of head of household: 1988 England
(a) Number of households (thousand)
Sex and ethnic group of head of household	Single pensioner	Other single adult	Two adults	Three or more adults	1All
Males
Indian	1	5	111	68	186
Pakistani/Bangladeshi	1	3	70	23	98
West Indian	2	24	65	25	116
Other	3	26	112	37	178
All ethnic minorities	7	59	359	152	578
White	587	1,180	9,247	2,417	13,433
All ethnic groups	595	1,239	9,606	2,569	14,011
Female All ethnic minorities	16	101	36	13	166
White	2,135	1,343	712	203	4,396
All ethnic groups	2,151	1,445	748	217	4,563
All
Indian	4	17	119	73	212
Pakistani/Bangladeshi	1	8	71	24	104
West Indian	6	78	80	30	194
Other	12	58	125	39	234
All ethnic minorities	23	160	395	166	744
White	2,723	2,524	9,959	2,620	17,830
All ethnic groups	2,746	2,684	10,354	2,786	18,574

(b) Percentage of all households
Sex and ethnic group of head of household	Single pensioner	Other single adult	Two adults	Three or more adults	1All
Male
Indian	1	3	60	37	100
Pakistan/Bangladeshi	1	3	72	24	100
West Indian	2	21	56	22	100
Other	2	15	63	21	100
All ethnic minorities	1	10	62	26	100
White	4	9	69	18	100
All ethnic groups	4	9	69	18	100
Female
All ethnic minorities	10	61	22	8	100

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the total number of households in England and the numbers and percentages of those households which are (a) single-pensioner households, (b) other single-adult households, (c) two-adult households and (d) three or more adult households;(2) what are the numbers and percentages of total households, broken down by sex and racial composition, of people living in

[holding answer 13 June 1990]: The available estimates from the 1988 labour force survey are as follows:

To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement about the death of Mr. Jonathan Moyle in Chile; whether any official of Her Majesty's Government has made a statement as to cause and nature of his death; and what representations Her Majesty's Government have received from Mr. Moyle's family.

The tragic death of Mr. Jonathan Moyle is under investigation by the Chilean authorities. Her Majesty's coroner for Exeter and East Devon has also opened an inquest. It would not therefore be appropriate for me to make a statement at this time. No official statement has been made by any Government Department or agency in London or by the British embassy in Santiago as to the cause of. Moyle's death. Consular officials in London are in regular contact with Mr. Moyle's family.

To ask the Prime Minister what criteria have been used since October 1989 when separating papers relating to Mr. Wallace's case between 10 Downing street, the Ministry of Defence, the Home Office and the Northern Ireland Office.

Departments are given copies of relevant papers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the numbers of employees in each public organisation by the Fair Employment Agency's definition of Protestant and Roman Catholics in (a) the Omagh council area and (b) with a postcode BT79 for those companies or organisations on the fair employment register.

Of the 101 public authorities specified in the Fair Employment (Specification of Public Authorities) Order (NI) 1989, only two—Omagh district council and the Western education and library board—have registered addresses in Omagh. The number of employees in the former is 293 and in the latter 3,514.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to publish the Planning Appeals Commission's report on the public inquiry into the SIBEC (Scotland) Ltd., proposals for a shopping centre, food court and leisure facilities at Bloomfield road, Bangor; and if he will treat the matter as an issue of urgency.

[holding answer 11 June 1990]: Planning decisions on the applications submitted by SIBEC (Scotland) Ltd. were issued on 5 June 1990 and the report of the Planning Appeals Commission on the public inquiry is now available for public inspection or purchase. A copy of the report was sent to the hon. Gentleman for his information on 7 June.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the present level of unemployment in Londonderry city; and what were the corresponding figures in 1969, 1972, 1979 and 1985.

[holding answer 12 June 1990]: The information requested is as follows:

	Numbers
April 1990 (latest available)	7,588
April 1985	9,070

Similar information is not available prior to 1984.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a list of the names and addresses of groups which have received money under the "Making Belfast Work" initiative since it was set up and the corresponding amount given to each group in the relevant financial years.

[holding answer 12 June 1990]: In view of the large amount of material to be collated, I will write to the hon. Member and place copies of the information in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what plans he has to visit Romania; and what steps are being taken to promote trading opportunities there;(2) what plans he has to visit Bulgaria; and what steps are being taken to promote trading opportunities there.

At present, my right hon. Friend has no plans to visit Romania or Bulgaria. My Department promotes United Kingdom trade with both countries by providing companies with information about economic conditions and about specific business opportunities; by using joint commissions and other official contacts to find out as much as we can about local economic policies and priorities; and to support British companies pursuing significant business. I myself led a delegation to Romania in February 1990, and senior officials have recently visited Bulgaria.Additionally, in Bulgaria, we are supporting trade promotion events such as the Plovdiv autumn fair; and we would support similar events in Romania.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action his Department has taken on waste minimisation in industry; how many staff are employed in this area; and if he will make a statement.

Waste minimisation in industry is a key focus of my Department's environmental programme. In November 1989, the Department published a business guide to waste minimisation called "Cutting Your Losses". Some 29,000 copies of the booklet have been taken up so far. The Department and the Confederation of British Industry are currently running a series of regional seminars to inform businesses of the requirements of new legislation on waste and to promote waste minimisation.The Department's environmental inquiry point at Warren Spring laboratory gives general advice to business on a range of environmental issues including waste minimisation; and smaller firms needing more detailed advice from consultants can receive assistance under the Department's consultancy initiatives. My Department is also assisting the development of new environmental technologies through a growing range of initiatives.Separate figures for the amount of staff time devoted specifically to waste minimisation are not available, but the topic involves many members of the Department's environment task force and they also call upon assistance and advice, for example from the Department's research establishments and regional offices, as well as from external organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give consideration to amending the terms of reference of the Office of Fair Trading and the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in the light of Britain's forthcoming membership of the single European market.

The achievement of the single European market does not require changes in the statutory duties of the Director General of Fair Trading and the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. The Fair Trading Act provisions allow the director and the Monopolies and Mergers Commission to take account of competition from outside the United Kingdom—whether from in the Community or elsewhere—in looking at whether a merger would damage competition in the United Kingdom. Mergers with a Community dimension as defined by the EC merger control regulation will, from 21 September this year, be subject to examination by the European Commission. Under the regulation, mergers leading to or strengthening a dominant position and significantly impeding competition in the Common Market will be prohibited by the Commission. The director and the Monopolies and Mergers Commission will retain their important competition responsibilities within the United Kingdom, including responsibility for mergers outside the scope of the regulation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to hear from the Bank of England regarding Harrods bank.

My right hon. Friend hopes to hear from the bank before long.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on discussions between his Department and the Bank of England concerning the control of Harrods Bank Ltd.; and whether the Bank has been sent any recommendations for action since receiving the official investigation report in August 1988.

My Department sent the report to the Bank of England in view of the Bank's regulatory responsibilities under the Banking Act.It is for the bank alone to determine whether any action by it is required under that Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the members of the Financial Reporting Council, together with other relevant information as to their experience, directorships and partnerships.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to his question on 5 June at column 435.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his Department's latest assessment of the effectiveness of City regulation.

Regulation of investment business is for the most part the responsibility of the Securities and Investments Board, which is the designated agency under the Financial Services Act 1986. Other aspects of City activity are regulated under other arrangements. such as the Insurance Companies Act 1982 and the Banking Act 1987. I am generally satisfied with this regulatory structure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to increase the profitability of overseas trade; and if he will make a statement.

It is for individual companies to consider how best to increase their profitability.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to encourage industry to reduce the amount of packaging used for products.

The promotion of waste minimisation in general is a key focus of my Department's environmental programme. The need to minimise packaging and, where essential packaging is concerned, to use materials which lend themselves to recycling, is being promoted through my Department's participation in relevant seminars and conferences and through meetings with representatives from the packaging industry.In March, my Department was co-organiser with the Institute of Metals of an international conference which discussed all aspects of the design of products so as to avoid harm to the environment, including the minimisation of packaging. An example of a product designed with reduced packaging in mind is included in the booklet "Design for the Environment", which my Department has produced with assistance from the Design Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure that all caravans meet fire safety standards.

The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations came into force, with respect to caravans, on 1 March 1990. Their enforcement is a matter for the trading standards departments of the local authorities, which have the necessary powers to inspect businesses selling caravans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the cost to the caravan industry of complying with fire safety legislation in March 1990 instead of 1991.

The Department's cost compliance assessment of improving the fire safety in caravans by the introduction of the 1988 regulations estimated the cost to the industry to be between £3 million and £4 million per annum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department takes to ensure that correspondence with firms and trade associations relating to public safety is received and acknowledged.