To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he intends to meet the Director-General of Ofgas to discuss the cut-off of gas supplies to consumers.

I regularly meet the Director General of Gas Supply and discuss a range of issues of mutual interest. We have noted that the level of disconnections for debt are at their lowest level since records were kept.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any new plans for the generation of energy; and if he will make a statement.

Energy paper 55, "Renewable Energy in the United Kingdom: The Way Forward", published in 1988, set out the Department of Energy's strategy for the development of renewable energy to the year 2000. As stated in the Government's White Paper, "This Common Inheritance", my Department intends to carry out a review of its strategy next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what provisions he will make to cancel the flotation of the electricity distribution companies and refund investors' cheques if war breaks out in the Gulf after first dealings day on 11 December.

It would not be feasible to cancel the flotation after 11 December.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his answer of 12 November, Official Report, column 74, covering the period leading up to first dealings day, if he will make arrangements with the Governor of the Bank of England to refund money to small investors investing in the flotation of the electricity distribution companies, in the event of war breaking out in the Gulf after first dealings day on 11 December.

We have no plans to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will discuss with the 12 chairmen of the area distribution companies a date for the replacement of the RPI-X formula for calculating the annual price increases for the franchise customers of the electricity supply industry.

No. The arrangements for price regulation are specified in the public electricity supply licences and are overseen by the Director General of Electricity Supply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his most up-to-date estimate of the price of electricity from the Sizewell B nuclear power station in the period up to the expiry of the contract on 31 March 1998 with the Non-Fossil Purchasing Agency acting on behalf of the 12 regional electricity companies.

The nuclear contract determines the price of output from all nuclear power stations, including Sizewell B. The details of this contract are commercially confidential.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his answer of 12 November, Official Report, column 76, how many schemes submitted for inclusion in the renewable tranche of the non-fossil fuel obligation have not formed contracts with the 12 regional electricity companies; and what is the total generating capacity of these schemes.

Details of the projects initially submitted by generators for contracting within the non-fossil fuel obligation were given in a parliamentary written answer by my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State for Energy on 5 July 1990 at column 669, to which I refer the hon. Member. Details of the projects actually contracted were given in my parliamentary written answer of 30 October 1990, at columns 443–44. Those projects which proved not ready to contract under this year's renewables order will have a further opportunity under a renewables order which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State proposes to make next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the value of work undertaken for the Overseas Development Administration on rain forest conservation by the Hydrological Institute at Wallingford.

The Institute of Hydrology is at present working on one rain forest project for the ODA. This is a study of the impact of deforestation on climate, which began in September 1990 in northern Brazil. It is supported by a £2·46 million grant under our technical cooperation programme with Brazil. The study is of considerable importance to the better understanding of the effects of deforestation on the climate. It has made an excellent start and I have every confidence in the institute's ability to carry it out successfully.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what extra aid, above that already earmarked is to be devoted to rain forest and arid land work, as a result of the Minister for Overseas Development's attendance at the Anglo-Brazilian environment conference in Brasilia, and Projecto Nordeste.

The conference was designed to be action-oriented in its outcome. The conference report will therefore contain a series of project profiles which will be made widely available for consideration by possible donors in the public and private sectors. The ODA will certainly be among those giving serious attention to these possibilities.The ODA is also giving preliminary consideration to the Projecto Nordeste proposal recently presented by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and its Brazilian collaborators. It is a substantial proposal and will require most careful attention.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the balance in the general revenue account at the end of the year ended 31 March 1989 and 31 March 1990 in each of the 26 local councils.

The information is as follows:

Balance in favour of general revenue account
Council	Year ending 31 March 1989	Year ending 31 March 1990
Antrim	1,403,138	—2
Ards	1486,799	—2
Armagh	588,583	1641,617
Balleymena	555,410	1345,258
Ballymoney	172,776	1244,024
Banbridge	422,603	491,425
Belfast	2,317,206	11,194,417
Carrickfergus	1531,524	1355,879
Castlereagh	160,178	1(324,000)
Coleraine	526,084	453,494
Cookstown	690,229	734,330
Craigavon	1,134,976	11,271,489
Derry	942,476	989,296
Down	600,462	1785,166
Dungannon	450,869	1405,158
Fermanagh	351,517	337,264
Larne	249,027	146,803
Limavady	556,662	1637,473
Lisburn	587,269	11,189,860
Magherafelt	44,297	52,640
Moyle	660	181,709
Newry and Mourne	11,360,239	11,613,383
Newtownabbey	1613,733	1781,029
North Down	421,703	1190,762
Omagh	25,707	17,932
Strabane	1192,281	1(84,721)
1 Uncertified.
2 Not available.

( ) Indicates balance against.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he proposes to take to enable individual complaints of discrimination in employment to be properly examined.

I have written to interested parties seeking their views on what changes may be needed in the fair employment legislation to enable complainants to have access to the information which is necesary for a case to be fully considered and determined.A copy of this consultative paper has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the application of next steps to the Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.

The Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland has been indentified as a candidate for executive agency status. Drafting of the framework document has begun and work is under way to establish how soon the agency can be launched.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by year for the last 10 years the number of Territorial Army reservists who have (a) died and (b) been injured while on service.

The information requested is not held centrally and can be obtained only with disproportionate cost and effort.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will introduce a system whereby RAF authorities warn areas in the flight path of low-flying aircraft in advance so that nervous and sick people can make preparations.

I regret that such a system would not be practicable for routine military low-flying training which is conducted on a day to day basis, as weather and other considerations allow.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to control and cut back the number of low-flying aircraft circulating south-east Gwent.

I have no plans to do so although the United Kingdom low-flying system is kept under continual review and changes are made when necessary, reflecting changes on the ground, and aimed at spreading low flying more evenly and enhancing flight safety, while at the same time reducing, where possible, the disturbance to those on the ground.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from farmers in Wales concerning low-flying aircraft.

Several such representations have been received by the Ministry of Defence over the past year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to provide facilities to compensate for the reduction in facilities for civilian national health service patients at the Royal Air Force hospital in Ely and to provide the hands on training of Royal Air Force medical personnel at the nearby former Royal Air Force hospital in Newmarket.

As I have previously announced, the Princess of Wales RAF hospital Ely will close by 31 March 1993. The regional and district health authorities are responsible for the provision of alternative facilities for NHS patients and we will be discussing appropriate arrangements for the rundown period with them. Royal Air Force medical personnel will continue to train in other Royal Air Force hospitals in the United Kingdom and abroad.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy on negotiations to limit air-launched nuclear weapons in the Atlantic to Urals region.

There are currently no negotiations under way on the limiting of air-launched nuclear weapons in the Atlantic to Urals region. In common with our NATO allies, we seek to maintain the lowest and most stable level of nuclear forces needed to secure the prevention of war.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it the policy of his Department and United Kingdom based defence establishments to purchase wherever possible British-produced food.

The Ministry of Defence awards contracts for food items on the basis of the best compliant tender received in competition. In practice, almost all contracts for food items are placed with United Kingdom suppliers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review the exchange of information between the United Kingdom and France on counter measures to Exocet guided weapons; and if he will make a statement.

Exocet is in service with the Royal Navy. The information we have about the missile system has allowed us to develop counter-measures which can be employed by our forces if necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he is making preparations for further deployment of British Forces in the Gulf.

Following my right hon. Friend's visit to the Gulf, the Government is looking at options for deploying further forces to the area. Decisions will be announced soon.As an immediate step, we will be reducing the notice to move for some army units and two mine countermeasure vessels as a contingency measure to ensure that any deployments can be made as quickly as possible once final decisions are made. Other possibilities remain under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give a summary of the costs to be met by (a) his Department in relation to the incident at Her Majesty's prison Strangeways, Manchester earlier in the current year and (b) those costs which will fall on the Greater Manchester police authority.

The costs incurred to 31 October 1990 as a result of the incident at Her Majesty's prison Manchester are £4·1 million.Of this sum, £3·55 million will be borne by the Home Office and £0·55 million by the Greater Manchester police authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what definition of subversive is used by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Subversive activities are generally regarded as those which threaten national security and which are intended to overthrow or undermine parliamentary democracy by political, industrial or violent means.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether being a bridesmaid constitutes compelling and compassionate circumstances under the current immigration guidelines;(2) whether being a bride or bridegroom constitutes compelling and compassionate circumstances under the current immigration guidelines.

Each case is considered on its merits, taking all the relevant circumstances into account. Paragraph 10 of the guidelines on handling of representations by members of Parliament in immigration cases gives examples of the sort of exceptional and compelling circumstances which would justify deferment of removal, but these examples are not exhaustive.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received urging that police requests for media film should relate only to cases where they are pursuing a specific arrestable offence and not to gathering intelligence; and if he will make a statement.

I have recently corresponded on this subject with representatives of the media. It is for the courts to decide whether a police application for access to journalistic material satisfies the criterion that it is likely to be of substantial value to the investigation of a serious arrestable offence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received over the current late night and Sunday trading practices of small shops; and whether he has any plans to protect small shops from any prosecution under the Shops Act 1950.

In the past three months we have received 13 petitions, with 11,285 signatures, from shopkeepers in support of the OPEN campaign to allow small convenience shops to trade in their full range of goods from early until late on seven days a week. We have also received eight letters of support through Members of Parliament.The Government have no plans for early legislation to repeal the Shops Act 1950.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from senior police officers concerning the implications of their forces' involvement with the poll tax collection system for their other police operations; what indication he has of the costs to police forces of this poll tax involvement; and if he will make a statement.

Home Office officials have been in contact with the Association of Chief Police Officers about the resource implications of police involvement with enforcement of the community charge. However, it is anticipated that, as with the rates system, that involvement will be limited and no central assessment of the costs has been made.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to approve the draft byelaws relating to parks and pleasure grounds which have been submitted to him by Woking borough council.

Home Office officials wrote to Woking borough council on 5 October, asking for a number of minor amendments to be made to the draft byelaws. If the council agrees to these changes and submits a revised draft, we shall then be able to give provisional approval to the byelaws.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many staff and pupils there are in north Yorkshire education authority's schools.

The information requested for maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in north Yorkshire education authority in January 1990 is as follows:

	Full-time equivalents
Staff1 2	5,590·4
Pupils3	96,906·0
1Total number of full-time equivalent teachers employed by the local education authority including student teachers and instructors.
2Excluding non-teaching staff. Information on non-teaching staff is not available centrally.
3Numbers of pupils in 1990 is provisional.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidance he has given as to whether, under sections 13 and 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, in determining political balance on an education committee of a local education authority a council should treat non-elected members of the committee as members of (a) the opposition, (b) the majority party or (c) an addition to both.

Non-elected members of an education committee are not members of the authority. They are disregarded for the purposes of determining the proportion of seats allocated to political groups in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990. Where, however, a political group has a majority of seats on an authority, that group is entitled to a majority over all other voting members (elected and non-elected) on the education committee.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will rank, for the latest year for which figures are available, by order, the percentage of non-teaching staff as a proportion of total staff in each local authority education department together with the following information (a) total teachers, (b) total non-teachers, (c) central administrative staff and (d) the percentage of school budgets retained by the local education authority from total spending on schools.

Numbers of non-teaching staff employed in local authority education are collected quarterly by the joint staffing watch, managed by a group of representatives of local and central Government. The group publishes a joint press notice with DOE giving national figures and local authority employment totals, but these are not broken down by service in individual authorities. Agreement to publish the individual figures has been withheld in the past, by members of the group, but will be now sought with urgency. When permission is forthcoming, the full analysis will be placed in the Library.Total teacher numbers for each local education authority in England are given in the Department of Education and Science Statistical Bulletin 5/90, available in the Library. The budget statements for 1990–91, published under section 42 of the Education Reform Act, give details of each local education authority's spending on central administration and other items. These details are being placed in the Library.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received about the future role and structure of the regional arts associations.

I have received representations from a wide range of organisations and individuals about the proposals I announced on 24 September for strengthening the effectiveness and accountability of the new regional arts boards to take on extended responsibilities for grant giving. I have also received representations from leading arts organisations and individuals about proposals from leading arts organisations and individuals about proposals for the devolution of some Arts Council clients to the new RABs. I am awaiting advice from the Arts Council on both issues before taking final decisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what regard he had in approving expenditure on bridge 230 at Dyers Hall road and the re-routing of the gas mains along Cambridge Park road and at the Green Man, to the fact that the decision to build the M11 link road has not yet been taken, pending the outcome of the recent public inquiry;(2) what is the cost of

The decision to build the link road was taken when orders confirming the line of the new road were made following public inquiries held in 1983 and 1987. The recent public inquiry was solely into objections to the acquisition of land and rights including open space required to construct the link road.My Department is bearing the costs of the advance works and these are estimated at

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will call for a report from London Regional Transport on the reasons for the fire on the Central line in east London on 8 November, on how long it took to deal with it, on the effect upon commuters and what steps are being taken to endeavour to stop a recurrence; and if he will make a statement.

London Underground Limited (LUL) tells me that brake dust in the westbound tunnel between Leyton and Stratford was ignited by sparks from the current collectors of a passing train.The London Fire Brigade was called and while they dealt with the incident the service was suspended between Leytonstone and Liverpool Street, at which point trains were turned back. The suspension of service commenced at 09.18 westbound and 09.42 eastbound; both were resumed at 10.53. Services throughout the day were then irregular due to the disruption to train and crew working arrangements.LUL has a number of initiatives in hand to reduce tunnel fires including using brake blocks which give off less dust, reducing the arcing which occurs at current collector shoes, and increasing tunnel cleaning both by manual and mechanical means.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what restrictions apply on trunk roads to (a) pedestrians on or beside the road, (b) erection of crash barriers, (c) cycling on the road, (d) other types of traffic on the road, (e) parking on the road and (f) stopping on the road.

Traffic restrictions, including stopping and parking provision on trunk roads, vary according to local circumstances. They derive from the prevailing traffic regulation orders under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and are indicated by traffic signs and road markings in the normal way. Changes are subject to statutory procedures for consultation and public advertisement. Installation of safety fences in central reserves is not obligatory on trunk roads but there is a programme to extend safety fencing to most dual carriageways.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to strengthen controls governing the transport by lorry of hazardous materials; and if he will make a statement.

The regulations are reviewed regularly by the Health and Safety Executive in consultation with the Department of Transport. They are amended as appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department will be issuing guidance to local authorities on the new road hump regulations which came into effect on 13 April.

My Department has completed consultation on the new circular roads and traffic advisory unit leaflet in respect of the Highways (Road Humps) Regulations 1990 and copies are now being circulated to local highway authorities. I have placed copies in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence he has received from the London borough of Greenwich that the proposed widening of the east London river crossing to dual three lanes between the A 13 and the Thamesmead spine road will lead to the eventual widening of roads in Eltham, Sidcup, Plumstead and Bexleyheath; and if he will make a statement.

The Department's proposals are currently the subject of public inquiries being held in Stratford, east London. Evidence is submitted to the inspector for his consideration. All evidence including that submitted by the London borough of Greenwich is available for consultation at the Inquiries libraries at Plumstead and Stratford. This evidence will be considered by the Secretary of State for the Environment and myself when we have the inspector's report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made about increased traffic on roads in Greenwich as a result of the proposed widening of the east London river crossing to dual three lanes between the A 13 and the Thamesmead spine road.

The Department's traffic forecasts show that increasing the width of the bridge from 10m to 11m to provide full dual three-lane standard will have very little effect on traffic flows on roads in Greenwich. For example it is forecast that traffic on the A2016 Western way in the morning peak in 2001 will increase by only 1 per cent. as a result of the widening.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to be in a position to publish the conclusions of his Department's research into the accident liability of learner drivers, with particular reference to those who have recently passed their test.

A report on the accident and offence rate of newly qualified and learner drivers is scheduled for July 1992. A final report linking these results to drivers' training and testing experience will follow in March 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has made a decision about proposals to extend the Docklands light railway to Lewisham and Greenwich.

No decision has yet been taken on this proposal. I have already made it clear that a Bill to authorise the extension can only be deposited this year if the project can be privately financed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next intends to meet the chairman of British Rail to discuss forward planning by the board.

I met the chairman of British Rail on 15 November and we discussed a number of railway matters. Planning is a matter for the board, acting on lines settled from time to time with me.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about compensation due to Metropolitan Water Board 'B' stockholders since 1958; and if he will make a statement.

None.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Customs and Excise have taken a decision on prosecutions in the case arising from the seizure of tubes at Teesport; and if he will make a statement.

At Sheffield magistrates court on 15 November the Commissioners of Customs and Excise withdrew the prosecutions against the two individuals charged with offences in relation to this matter under the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. I have arranged for copies of what was said to the court on behalf of the commissioners to be placed in the Library. I understand that the commissioners do not envisage conducting any further inquiries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will state the organisations who have shown an interest in purchasing contents from the strategic mineral stockpile; and what financial return he hopes to obtain.

I am unable to state who has shown an interest in purchasing material from the stockpile for reasons of commercial confidentiality.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the contents of the strategic mineral stockpile.

No. It is the Government's intention to sell the strategic mineral stockpile over the next two to three years while causing the minimum disruption to the market. Revealing the contents of the stockpile or giving an estimate of its value would have a deleterious effect on prices for those minerals listed or presumed to be in the stockpile.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will introduce legislation to place a ceiling on annual percentage rate levels legally chargeable by licensed money lenders.

It would not be helpful to impose a maximum interest rate, since no single rate could be appropriate to the wide range of credit transactions undertaken by licensed money-lenders. However, the Government proposes, as soon as Parliamentary time becomes available, to strengthen the provisions in the Consumer Credit Act 1974 under which courts have the power to reopen credit bargains which they consider extortionate. It is proposed to allow courts to reopen credit bargains on their own initiative rather than, as at present, solely at the request of the debtor or surety.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he proposes to take to ensure that small shareholders who may wish to retain, as of right, share certificates in a company, are not outvoted by institutional shareholders.

Subject to my being satisfied that the interests of small shareholders will be properly safeguarded, I expect the regulations now being drafted to provide that no company may put its shares into TAURUS unless its shareholders have passed a special resolution to that effect. An extraordinary resolution will be needed if a class of shares or any other kind of security is to become uncertificated. In both cases a three-quarters majority will be required. The proportion of private to institutional shareholders required to achieve such a majority will vary from company to company.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has as to the number of public and semi-public firework displays held on and around 5 November for each of the last 10 years.

[holding answer 12 November 1990]: Information as to the number of public and semi-public firework displays are not kept by my Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has as to the number of fireworks-related injuries sustained by (a) display organisers and (b) bystanders on and around 5 November for each of the last 10 years.

[holding answer 12 November 1990]: The figures for overall injuries at displays were published in the Official Report at columns 613–16 on 21 March 1990, but injuries to display organisers and bystanders are not separately identified. However, the Government encourage organised firework displays as a generally safe way for the public to enjoy fireworks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what provision he has made to avoid clawback on invalidity benefit for mothers eligible for the £1 per week increase in child benefit for first children;(2) what proposals he has to avoid clawing back all or part of the £1 per week increase in child allowance for the first-born from those already eligible for overlapping benefits from other welfare payments.

It is proposed that the £1 per week increase in child benefit for the elder, eldest or only child in a family should be taken into account in determining the rate of benefit or rate of increase of benefit payable in respect of that child. It is intended that the adjustment should be made under regulations to be laid before this House in due course.

Year	Residential Care Homes	Nursing Homes	Total
December 1979	—	—	12,000
December 1980	—	—	13,000
December 1981	—	—	13,000
December 1982	—	—	16,000
December 1983	—	—	26,000
December 1984	—	—	42,000
December 1985	55,000	15,000	70,000
February 1986	70,000	20,000	90,000
August 1986	75,000	28,000	103,000
May 1987	84,000	32,000	117,000
May 1988	103,000	44,000	147,000
May 1989	119,000	56,000	176,000
May 1990	125,000	64,000	189,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will state the residential care benefit maximum for each year since 1979 and index this rate against inflation, taking 1979 as the base;(2) if he will state the nursing home benefit maximum for each year since 1979 and index this rate against inflation, taking 1979 as the base.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consultations he undertook with specialist welfare organisations before announcing the form and content of his £1 per week uprating in child benefit for the first-born.

Although my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State did not consult specifically about the decision to increase child benefit for the only, elder or eldest eligible child from next April, we regularly meet with and receive representations and views about social security, including child benefit, from many welfare organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will state the numbers of claimants of (a) residential care support benefits and (b) nursing home support benefits since 1979.

The numbers of people claiming income support supplementary benefit in residential care and nursing homes since 1979 are in the table:

Prior to 1985, limits for residential care and nursing homes were set locally. From April 1985 the present system of national limits was introduced. The table shows the national limits since April 1985 in cash and indexed terms to August 1990, using April 1985 as the base.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales for how many documents or forms he has made orders under the provision of section 2(1) of the Welsh Language Act 1967 during the past 12 months; and if he will list these documents or forms.

No orders have been made under the provisions of section 2(1) of the Welsh Language Act 1967 but three orders have been made using the provisions of section 2(2) of the Act. These orders are as follows:

SI 1990 No. 293—The Community Charges and Non-Domestic Rating (Demand Notices) (Wales) Regulations 1990;

SI 1990 No. 1147—The Town and Country Planning (Listed Buildings in Wales and Buildings in Conservation Areas in Wales) (Welsh Forms) Regulations 1990; and

SI 1990 No. 1693—The Environmentally Sensitive Areas Designation (Wales) (Welsh Language Provisions) Order 1990.

The above orders prescribe a total of 21 Welsh forms or documents where Welsh is used as well as prescribing a variety of Welsh or bilingual forms of words for use in association with the relevant legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Welsh medium primary schools there were in (a) South Glamorgan, (b) West Glamorgan, (c) Mid Glamorgan and (d) Gwent, in 1974 and at the most recently available date.

The information as at September 1989 is shown in the following table:

Welsh medium primary schools1
	Number
Gwent	6
Mid Glamorgan	29
South Glamorgan	9
West Glamorgan	19
1 Schools having one or more classes where Welsh is the sole or main medium of instruction.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on the basis of the latest information made available to him, how many private sector houses there are in Dwyfor district which are unfit by each of the definitions of unfitness by which this information is submitted by district councils to his department; and what proportions these represent of the total housing stock of the district.

The private sector stock in Dwyfor is 85 per cent. of the total. The council's housing strategy and investment programme for 1991–92 suggests that 2,109 private sector dwellings in the district are unfit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what requirements are placed on advisers to him who are paid from public funds in relation to their business interests and in regard to the declaration of such interests.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave him on Tuesday 13 November.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give his most recent assessment of teacher vacancies in Wales in total and by education authority for (a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools and (c) all local authority schools, giving for each the number of posts vacant and the proportion of posts vacant.

The Department has undertaken two surveys of teacher vacancies this year. The results of the first, undertaken in January, reported 346 vacancies. Details are set out in the following table:

LEA	Primary	Vacancies Secondary	Total
Clwyd	31	11	42
Dyfed	3	11	14
Gwent	33	46	79

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Secretary of State will make it his policy to consult the district valuer and to treat his independent assessment of value as of paramount importance when arriving at a purchase price to be paid by private sector landlords acquiring former public sector or Scottish Special Housing Association properties under the housing Acts.

The purchase price to be paid by landlords acquiring tenanted public sector housing under the tenants' choice provisions of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988 falls to be determined by reference to the provisions of section 58 of that Act.Where a public sector landlord, including Scottish Homes, proposes voluntarily to dispose of tenanted housing to another landlord it is in the first instance for the body disposing of the stock to satisfy itself as to the acceptability of the disposal price. Guidance given to authorities with regard to voluntary disposals indicates that the district valuer should normally be invited to value the stock. In considering whether to give his consent to a disposal, my right hon. and learned Friend would wish to satisfy himself that the disposal terms taken as a whole offered acceptable value for money. He would expect to be guided by the district valuer's valuation and he would determine each case according to its merits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what restrictions are to be placed on the title deeds of former public sector or Scottish Housing Association properties sold to alternative private sector landlords under the provisions of the current Scottish housing Acts.

Landlords acquiring property from local authorities and new town development corporations by way of the voluntary disposal provisions require the consent of my right hon. and learned Friend to the subsequent disposal of such stock. He will wish to be satisfied that tenants have been properly consulted and will take account of their views.Under Scottish Homes' voluntary disposal procedures, a condition of sale will be that the new landlord will seek the consent of Scottish Homes before the first subsequent sale can be effected. Before giving consent Scottish Homes will wish to be satisfied that tenants have been properly consulted and will take account of their views.Similarly, landlords who acquire property from the public sector under the tenants' choice provisions will require to obtain the consent of Scottish Homes to the first subsequent disposal. Again, Scottish Homes will have regard to the views of tenants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what powers are available to Scottish Homes to subsidise the purchase price as set by the district valuer to be paid by alternative private sector landlords acquiring the ownership of former public sector or Scottish Special Housing Association properties under the provisions of the current Scottish housing Acts.

Under section 2(2)(a) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988, Scottish Homes has powers to pay grants provided that these have the approval of my right hon. and learned Friend given with the consent of Treasury or in accordance with a general authority. Authorities already in place enable Scottish Homes to pay housing association grant to registered housing associations and co-operatives to acquire and develop properties. In addition, Scottish Homes can pay grants to assist private developers and others in the provision of housing at market rents and for owner occupation. It is for Scottish Homes in the first instance to satisfy itself as to the grounds for providing grants in individual cases.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the statutory steps which must be satisfied before an alternative private sector landlord may acquire the heritage of public sector or Scottish Special Housing Association properties under the provisions of the current Scottish housing statutes.

Private sector landlords can acquire tenanted public sector stock by 2 separate routes, either through voluntary disposal by the authority or through tenants' choice arrangements.Voluntary disposal of local authority stock generally requires the consent of my right hon. and learned Friend in terms of section 12 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, as amended. Guidance given to local authorities on 27 September 1988 sets out the general criteria which my right hon. and learned Friend would expect to adopt when considering applications for consent to disposals of local authority stock. A copy of this guidance has been placed in the House Library.In the case of Scottish Homes stock, my right hon. and learned Friend has already agreed with Scottish Homes the procedures they will adopt in considering voluntary disposal of housing stock. A copy of the procedures is being placed in the Library of the House.The tenants' choice route applies only if the tenants themselves individually choose to transfer. The statutory steps involved in the route begin with the approval of landlords by Scottish Homes. Before approved landlord status is given Scottish Homes will make a rigorous assessment of the landlord. Once an interest has been shown in acquiring stock the approved landlord will be free to approach the tenants concerned. The terms of the new assured tenancy will be agreed between the tenant and the new landlord.Any new town development corporation tenant can choose to exercise tenants' choice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take to ensure that all existing public sector tenants who are currently contemplating a change to an alternative private sector landlord are fully advised of all the implications of the result of the ballot to transfer from the public sector to the private sector landlord.

Transfers under the tenants' choice provisions are conducted on an individual basis and require the agreement of the individual tenants. There is therefore no need for a ballot to be held.Guidance which we have given to local authorities considering voluntary disposals advises that when notifying tenants of transfer proposals they should set out the detailed implications of the disposal for the tenant. Such disposals do not necessarily require a ballot of tenants to be undertaken, but in considering any proposals put to him my right hon. and learned Friend will wish to be advised of the consultation undertaken with the tenants, the outcome of that consultation and the views expressed. His consent to disposal would be withheld where it appeared to him that a majority of tenants affected opposed the disposal. Therefore the holding of ballots is an important element in determining the views of the tenants.Similar guidance regarding voluntary disposals has been given to Scottish Homes.I attach a high priority to ensuring that tenants are well informed about the opportunities available to them. Scottish Homes has been strongly resourced for this purpose and I welcome its establishment of a panel of independent bodies to provide advice to tenants on specific proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report any curcumstances where an alternative private sector landlord could be authorised by the Secretary of State to sell former public sector properties which had been acquired by the alternative private sector landlord via a process of voluntary disposal or tenants' choice under the provisions of the current Scottish housing Acts.

Where an approved landlord has acquired stock under the tenants' choice provisions and then seeks to dispose of the property he must take appropriate steps to consult the tenants involved and seek the consent of Scottish Homes. In determining whether consent should be given Scottish Homes is required to have regard to the views of tenants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria will be used to determine whether a ballot conducted to determine a change of landlord has been fairly conducted; and whether he has specified any circumstances in which he would approve a change from a public to private sector landlord in the event that such a ballot did not achieve a clear majority view among tenants in favour of any such change.

A local authority considering voluntary disposal of tenanted stock is not required by statute to conduct a ballot as a means of consulting tenants. Guidance we have given to authorities advises however that in addition to notifying potentially affected tenants of proposals they may wish to organise a formal ballot to clarify views. In considering any proposals placed before him, my right hon. and learned Friend would take into account views expressed by tenants involved. His consent to disposal would be withheld where it appeared to him that a majority of tenants affected opposed the proposal.Similar arrangements will apply to Scottish Homes. Moreover, the board of Scottish Homes has decided that it will not recommend a transfer to my right hon. and learned Friend unless there is a majority of tenants voting who vote in favour.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report any existing rights that are available to tenants in public sector or former Scottish Special Housing Association houses as a result of the ownership of their houses being transferred to an alternative private sector landlord.

Tenants transferring under the tenants' choice provisions will be free to negotiate with prospective landlords which rights they wish to secure in the event of transfer. Transfer will be on an assured tenancy basis.Tenants affected by voluntary disposals will also transfer as assured tenants. The terms of transfer would be those agreed between the existing and prospective landlords and as detailed in the consultation process. Tenants would generally retain their existing right to buy and would have the right to be consulted prior to any subsequent disposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what records are kept in district health authorities of people sent home due to lack of available beds; and which authorities do not keep such records.

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the practices covered by the Hereford and Worcester family health services authority have met the targets introduced in the general practitioners' new contract for (a) cervical cytology, (b) childhood immunisation and (c) boosters; how many minor surgery sessions they are anticipated to complete this year; how many children under five years have been registered for child health surveillance with them; how many health promotions sessions they will have; and how many patients they are likely to see in them by the end of March 1991.

One hundred per cent. of the practices have reached a cervical cytology target, of which 84 per cent. have achieved the upper target. For childhood immunisation, 98 per cent. have reached a target, 67 per cent. achieved the upper target. For boosters, 97 per cent. reached a target, 57 per cent. achieved the upper target. The Family Health Services Authority (FHSA) expects 4,000 minor surgery sessions per year involving roughly 20,000 surgical procedures, thereby saving patients the inconvenience of attending out-patient departments. A total of 25,000 children under five in the county have now registered with GPs for child health surveillance arid that number is growing daily. The FHSA has approved 12,000 health promotion sessions in its practices for the year; these will provide valuable advice for approximately 120,000 patients by the end of March 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to remind British visitors to (a) France, and (b) other European Community countries that the validity of form E111, providing health care cover, is limited in individual European Community countries even though the form shows an unlimited validity so far as the United Kingdom is concerned.

Forms E111 issued by the United Kingdom have unlimited validity provided the holder continues to be ordinarily resident here. Guidance on the residence condition will be included in the Department's information leaflet when it is next revised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the commentary on the outcome of public consultation produced by each regional health authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the result of the consultation exercise carried out by the West Midlands regional health authority over Walsall district general hospital becoming a self-governing trust.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the financial appraisal, undertaken by Coopers Lybrand Deloitte on his behalf on the financial viability of proposed national health service trusts.

No. These appraisals are confidential documents prepared in order to help inform my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's assessment of proposed national health service trusts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when Waltham Forest district health authority first expressed an interest in being considered in the next round of opt-outs; what type of opt-out has been suggested; whether the proposal contains any timetable for public consultation; and if he will make a statement.

No units will "opt out" of the national health service: NHS trusts will remain firmly within the NHS.An expression of interest in NHS trust status has been received from Waltham Forest health authority. The proposed trust would provide the acute and community services currently covered by the district. Public consultation will be undertaken by the regional health authority if or when a unit makes a formal application for trust status.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each district health authority, regional health authority and for England as a whole the number of (a) acute beds and (b) non-acute beds on 31 March.

A booklet (Summary of bed availability England—1989–90) containing the information requested is shortly to be published. I will arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the starting salary of a student nurse under existing conditions and a student nurse on the project 2000 scheme.

The starting pay for a salaried student nurse outside London is currently £5,695 increasing by yearly increments to £6,630 in the third year of training. These rates will increase on 1 January 1991 to £5,800 and £6,750 respectively. Figures for student nurses in London are currently £7,279 rising to £8,261. From 1 January 1991, these rates increase to £7,384 and £8,381.Project 2000 students receive the following levels of bursary, which are not subject to income tax and national insurance deductions;

	£
Under 26 at start of course:
London	4,700
Elsewhere	4,000
Over 26 at start of course:
London	5,200
Elsewhere	4,500

In addition to the above personal levels of bursary there are additions for dependants. These are means tested on the basis of Department of Education and Science mandatory grant rules.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the funding of air ambulance services.

It is for health authorities to determine whether local circumstances justify operating an air ambulance service and, if so, to fund the services from their own resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list for each district health authority the cost to district health authorities of successful appeals by nurses against their clinical grading;(2) if he will list for each district health authority the total number of appeals at district health authority level by nurses against their clinical grading which have been

This information is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each regional health authority the total number of appeals at regional health authority level by nurses against their clinical grading which have been (a) upheld and (b) rejected;

The information requested is given in the table.

Decision
Regions	Allowed	Disallowed	Failure to agree
England
Northern	7	4	27
Yorkshire	8	6	11
Trent	1	—	1
East Anglian	—	—	—
North West Thames	9	—	17
North East Thames	8	3	48
South East Thames	13	—	30
South West Thames	6	—	14
Wessex	—	—	2
Oxford	7	1	121
South Western	31	11	50
West Midlands	8	1	10
Mersey	1	—	2
North Western	14	1	23
Total	113	27	356

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the number of beds in national health service hospitals which are being prepared in anticipation of casualties which could arise from hostilities in the Gulf; and what proposals he has to fund such eventualities.

In consultation with the relevant Government Departments, health authorities have reviewed their existing contingency plans for national health service treatment of military casualties in the event of war. Should it become necessary, beds would be made available through restrictions on non-urgent admissions. Contingency planning will be taken forward as necessary. The funding position can be reviewed if the need arises.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from organisations and individuals in respect of an out of court settlement for people who have contracted HIV through national health service infected blood or blood products.

[holding answer 12 November 1990]: Since the beginning of August 1990, 106 such representations have been received.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the Heating and Ventilating Contractors' Association concerning compliance by the Nottinghamshire county council direct labour unit with the procedures and competition regulations laid down by the Local Government, Planning and Land Act; and if he will make a statement.

It is our policy not to reveal the identity of originators of complaints about failures by local authorities to comply with the requirements of part III of the Local Government Planning and Land Act 1980. My Department is, however, pursuing a number of matters with Nottinghamshire county council.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average length of time taken to deal with planning appeals relating to (a) minerals extraction other than opencast coal mining and (b) opencast coal.

The latest information available is for the financial year 1989–90 and is as follows:

Case type	Number of cases decided	Median time from start to decision (weeks)
(a) Minerals appeals other than open cast coal	49	37
(b) Open-cast coal appeals	9	40

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received alleging loss of benefits and rights to civil servants from the planned transfer of the Property Services Agency to a wholly-owned Government company; if he will list the benefits and rights referred to and Her Majesty's Government's response in respect of each benefit or right; what plans Her Majesty's Government has to extend the transfer proposal to other areas of work currently in the civil service sector; and if he will make a statement.