To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average length of time taken and the average cost involved of officials' time in his Department preparing ministerial briefs for oral parliamentary questions.

The time taken in preparing ministerial briefs for oral parliamentary questions is not routinely recorded in the FCO. Details of the average cost involved throughout all Departments was given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Treasury in her answer to the hon. Member on 18 December at column 112.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what savings his Department would make were no notice given of oral questions to Ministers and they were answered without civil service time being used on briefings.

No savings would be made and costs would almost certainly increase significantly. If the oral question is known in advance briefing can be tightly focused, thus avoiding the cost of producing a detailed brief, covering all subjects that could possibly arise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in the past 12 months how many entry visa applications have (a) been received and (b) granted in respect of (i) Poland, (ii) Yugoslavia, (iii) Czechoslovakia, (iv) Romania, (v) Albania, (vi) Hungary, (vii) Bulgaria and (viii) the Soviet Union.

The figures for entry clearance applications of all types processed in 1990 in the countries concerned are:

	Received	Granted
Poland	44,912	42,694
Yugoslavia	1,354	1,133
Czechoslovakia	23,258	23,184
Romania	9,911	9,226
Hungary	19,452	19,391
Bulgaria	7,712	7,625
USSR	45,752	45,585

There is no entry clearance post in Albania.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Russian Government about their failure to grant an exit visa to Roman Mronov of Kharkov to allow him to join his wife, son and in-laws in Israel.

We can certainly raise this case with the Soviet authorities, but in order to make our representations most effective we shall need further details.

To ask the Minister for the Arts when the inter-library loan scheme, operated by the British Library at Boston Spa, changed its procedures in respect of books loaned to other libraries in respect of charges made for (a) late return and (b) non-return of items; what other changes have been implemented; and if he will make a statement.

In October 1990 the British Library introduced changes to its system for reminding customers about long overdue loans and charges for lost items. This followed a review in the light of increasing numbers of such items which were causing inconvenience to other customers, and discussions with representatives of other libraries.The principal effect of the changes is to introduce a non-refundable administrative charge on long-overdue items following the issue of three reminders. The separate charge towards the cost of replacement of non-returned items will continue to be credited if they are subsequently returned within six months. Another change is to allow renewals on demand of items on loan if not required by another customer.

To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will provide additional resources to the national museums to fund research on antiquities using the work of Professor Alec Jeffreys, FRS, of Leicester university in relation to stable DNA.

I understand that Professor Alec Jeffrey's work on developing DNA probes involving genetic fingerprinting has been undertaken not only in university departments but in museums, often utilising material from national museums.The natural history museum has been developing DNA studies over the past five years and has recently constructed a special laboratory for this type of work. This work is supported through the museum's grant-in-aid arid also by funding from research councils and private funding agencies. The museum's bid for funding from my Department in 1991–92 has been met in full.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is taking to ensure the security of (a) his Department's computers in-house and (b) lap-top personal computers when used by civil servants outside his Department's offices.

It is not Government policy to disclose details of the protective security measures for safeguarding computers used for official purposes. To do so would be of assistance to potential attackers and therefore reduce the effectiveness of the measures. The measures are kept under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the container of Lindane lost in the channel in 1989 has been located; and if it remains unbreached.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 6 March 1990, at columns 559–60; the container of Lindane has not been located by the French authorities in whose area of responsibility it was lost and in consequence it is not known whether it has been breached.The French authorities have not detected any increase in background levels of the substance in the course of their programme of sampling and analysis of seawater and fish. Sampling by our own fisheries department confirms this.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for the last 12 months for which he has figures the tonnage of (a) nuclear waste and (b) toxic waste that has been (i) shipped and (ii) discharged from vessels within the limit of the Port of London Authority.

I am informed by HM inspectorate of pollution that no nuclear waste has been shipped or discharged from vessels within the limits of the Port of London Authority during the last 12 months. Imports of toxic waste discharged from vessels within the Port of London Authority amounted to 1,189 tonnes between April 1989 and March 1990. No toxic waste was shipped for export. No information is collected centrally on domestic movements of toxic waste shipped or discharged at sea ports.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the child pedestrian casualties in Britain in 1989 occurred in a street where they lived; and in how many of these cases were the motor vehicles involved travelling at above the speed limit at the moment of impact.

The standard report form, STATS19, sent by police to the Department of Transport for all road accidents, does not have information on the addresses of casualties or an estimate of the speed of vehicles involved in accidents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has for a change in the law so that when a child pedestrian is knocked down in a residential street the burden of proof is on the driver that due care was taken rather than on the child.

We have no proposals for such a change in road traffic law which would be contrary to the general principle of the criminal justice system that the burden of proof rests with the prosecution. We are however taking other steps, including encouraging the introduction of 20 mph zones and traffic calming measures and launching a major publicity campaign, which will improve child road safety in residential areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what improvements to the A13 between the North Circular road and Butcher row are currently being undertaken; at what cost; and when they will be completed.

Departmental schemes currently under construction are:

Scheme	Works cost £ million	Estimated date of completion
Leamouth Road Junction Interim Scheme	2·0	Mid 1991
West India Dock Road Junction Advance statutory undertaker's works	3·1	Late 1991

The following schemes are due to start this year:

Scheme	Works cost £ million	Estimated date of completion
West India Dock Road Junction phase 1	1·2	Spring 1992
Canning Town Flyover/Ironbridge widening Advanced Works phase 1 Bridge over A102	0·5	Late 1991

Other schemes in preparation are:

	Works cost £ million	Estimated date of completion
Cotton Street/Blackwall Tunnel	3·5	1994
West India Dock Road Junction phase 2	0·6	1993
Butcher Row Junction	0·7	1993
Canning Town Flyover/Ironbridge widening Advance works phase 2	9·2	1993
Canning Town Flyover/Ironbridge widening	21·0	1997
A13/A112 Junction Improvement	44·4	1996
A13/A117 Junction Improvment	35·6	1995

Progress on some of these schemes will be dependent on the completion of statutory processes which could be subject to public inquiry. Completion dates are therefore provisional.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the duties and activities of the chief inspector of transport security; and if he will make a statement.

The chief inspector of transport security was appointed on 1 November 1990. His duties are to develop the necessary programme on the maritime side and oversee the implementation of aviation and maritime security measures. He also provides a source of advice on security matters in other forms of transport. In particular, he contributes advice on the security of channel tunnel operations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines are issued to British Rail regarding co-operation with other agencies in planning emergency liaison procedures in case of accident during the transportation of (a) radioactive waste, (b) nuclear warloads and (c) toxic waste.

Responsibility for the safety of staff and the public rests primarily with the railway operator and advice is given on request. British Rail liaises at all levels with the emergency services. Emergency procedures are regularly rehearsed both as theoretical and practical exercises to ensure that the emergency services are in a position to deal effectively with any incident that may occur.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the latest developments in making RAF Finningley a joint military/civil airport.

The operation of joint military/civil airfields is not possible under United Kingdom aviation regulations. Civil aircraft may use military airfields subject to such flights being compatible with operational considerations. I understand that civil aircraft are already allowed to use RAF Finningley by prior permission, but the scope to accept additional civilian traffic is severely limited by the needs of military flying. Use of RAF airfields is a matter for the Secretary of State for Defence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what savings his Department would make were no notice given of oral questions to Ministers and they were answered without civil service time being used on briefings.

The time taken in preparing ministerial briefs for oral parliamentary questions is not routinely recorded in the Department of Transport. Estimates are however made where there is a likelihood of exceeding the disproportionate cost threshold—currently £250. However, following an interdepartmental exercise in 1972 an assessment was made of the average cost throughout all Departments of answering an oral question. This assessment was based on staff time, using average rates of pay and associated costs for grades concerned, together with a share of the cost of parliamentary sections and any substantial non-staff costs such as computer usage. This assessed figure is regularly updated and currently stands at £99.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average length of time taken and the average cost involved of officials' time in his Department preparing ministerial briefs for oral parliamentary questions.

No savings would be made and costs would almost certainly increase significantly. If the oral question is known in advance briefing can be tightly focused, thus avoiding the cost of producing a detailed brief, covering all subjects that could possibly arise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Britannia Airways Boeing 757 which lost a wheel after taking off from Gatwick airport on 15 January was given a complete overhaul and service check; and if he will make a statement.

The air accidents investigation branch is carrying out a field investigation into the incident and will publish a report in due course. I shall arrange for the hon. Member to receive a copy of the report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many coaches are estimated to visit central London on an average day during the summer; how many coach parking spaces are available (a) on-street arid (b) off-street; and if he will make a statement on proposals to increase the available number of such spaces.

Latest figures indicate that there are some 1,000 coach movements in central London each weekday. Parking provision is primarily the responsibility of local authorities. There are approximately 80 on-street and 450 off-street spaces, mostly used by tourist coaches. This excludes off-street provision solely for commuter coaches of which there is no record. My hon. Friend the Minister of State will shortly host a further meeting with interested parties to consider initiatives for improving the provision and use of parking spaces for coaches.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements he has made to examine the options put forward by the Civil Aviation Authority on new runway capacity in south-east England; if he will list the membership of relevant working groups; when he expects to announce a decision; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Parkinson) on 26 November 1990, Official Report columns 272–73, when he announced the terms of reference and subgroup structure, and those he had invited to become members, of the working group which he had announced earlier was to be established to build on the Civil Aviation Authority's advice on runway capacity.Responses to those invitations have now been received. On the main group, in addition to the relevant Government Departments and the CAA, are the London and South East Regional Planning Conference—SERPLAN—the Federation of Heathrow Anti-Noise Groups—FHANG—the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign—GACC—the North West Essex and East Hertfordshire Preservation Association—NWEEHPA— the Airfield Environment Federation—AEF—the International Air Transport Association, the International Air Carrier Association, the British Air Transport Association—BATA—the Airport Operators Association —AOA—the Joint Airports Committee of Local Authorities, BAA plc, the Association of British Travel Agents, the British Tourist Authority, and the Air Transport Users Committee.The members of the subgroup which will examine environmental and developmental issues are SERPLAN, FHANG, GACC, NWEEHPA, AEF, the Kent training and enterprise council and the chairmen of the airport consultative committees for Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Bournemouth, Bristol Lulsgate, Southampton and Lydd airports. On the surface access subgroup are British Rail, London Regional Transport, SERPLAN and BAA plc. On the noise subgroup are the CAA, FHANG, GACC, NWEEHPA, AEF, AOA, BAA plc and BATA. On the airport development subgroup are the CAA, BATA and the airport operators at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Bournemouth, Bristol Lulsgate, Bristol Filton, Southampton, Lydd and Manston airports. The subgroups will also include the relevant Government Departments.To ensure the working group has access to a wide range of views, its considerations are to be supplemented by a written consultation. A consultation document was issued on 20 December.Until the group has completed its work and has presented its advice to my right hon. and learned Friend, it is not possible to indicate the timing of further steps. The group is to meet for the first time on 1 February.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to enable British airlines and others directly affected by the economic impact of the Gulf crisis to weather the financial problems facing them at the present time.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to offer financial assistance. He has, however, taken steps to provide certain reinsurance facilities under the terms of the Marine and Aviation Insurance (War Risks) Act 1952, to help ensure that British airlines maintain services that otherwise would not have been operated. These services provide an opportunity for members of the British community in the Gulf region to leave if that is their wish.

Scheme		Successful tenderer	Contract price £ million
A42	Castle Donington North, Contract 2	Tarmac Construction Ltd.	16·8
A6	Quorn and Mountsorrel bypass	Tarmac Construction Ltd.	31·8
A16	Louth bypass	Clugston Construction Ltd.	4·9
A47	Castor and Ailsworth bypass	Roadworks (1952) Ltd.	7·7
A604	(M1/A1 Link) Contract 5S	Balfour Beatty Ltd.	30·7
A523	Macclesfield relief road	Fairclough Civil Engineering Ltd.	18·7
A140	Dickleburgh bypass	J. Breheny (Contractors) Ltd.	2·2
A23	Brighton bypass, Sayers Common to Muddleswood	Amey Construction Ltd.	10·5
A650	Drighlington bypass	A. F. Budge (Contractors) Ltd.	4·9
A1079	Market Weighton bypass	Birse Construction Ltd.	3·3
M62	Closed circuit TV installation, junctions 26, 27 and 29	Serco Ltd.	1·2
A43	Blisworth bypass	Galliford (UK) Ltd.	15·1
A47	East Norton bypass	Midland Oak Contractors Ltd.	1·2
A30	Plusha to Bolventor improvement	Balfour Beatty Ltd.	10·7
A595	Hensingham bypass	Eden Construction Ltd.	4·3
A27	Brighton bypass, Hangleton to Dyke Road	M. J. Gleeson Group Ltd.	8·8
A38	Marsh Mills junction improvement	Hochtief Ag.	22·5
A1	Bramham to Wetherby improvement	Monk Construction Ltd.	14·9
A10	Brandon Creek to Southery improvement	J. Breheny (Contractors) Ltd.	1·0
A47	Norwich Southern bypass, Contract 4	A. F. Budge (Contractors) Ltd.	29·9
M40	Widening junctions 4 to 5	Tarmac Construction Ltd.	35·9
A42	Castle Donington North, Contract 3	Redland Aggregates Ltd.	2·8
A282	Dartford—Thurrock Crossing, Northern approach improvement	Cementation (Major Projects) Ltd.	8·3
A30	Penhale to Carland Cross improvement	Fairclough Civil Engineering Ltd.	9·1
M4	Junction 12 improvements, (Section 278 agreement)	Associated Asphalt Co. Ltd.	1·3
A35	Axminster bypass	Farr Plc	8·1
A41	Whitchurch bypass	Birse Construction Ltd.	8·9
M40	Longbridge maintenance compound, provision of new roundabout	Midland Oak (Contractors) Ltd.	1·1
A11	Red Lodge bypass	J. Breheny (Contractors) Ltd.	4·8
A303	Mere to Wincanton improvement	Wimpey Construction Ltd.	15·3
A30	Zelah bypass	Dean & Dyball Ltd.	2·6
A23	Purley Cross junction improvement, (Section 278 agreement)	Costain Civil Engineering Ltd.	1·5
M42/M40	Umberslade junction improvement	Monk Construction Ltd.	1·5
M5/M6	Closed circuit TV installation, Contract 5	C. M. R. Electronics Ltd.	2·4

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to apprise local authorities of the Department's new proposals for 20 mph speed zones in association with the installation of road humps; and if he will take steps to ensure that local authorities are encouraged to make use of these new regulations.

We have issued a new roads circular—4/90 —on the guidelines to be followed by local authorities when considering new schemes. We are encouraging local authorities to establish 20 mph zones, and have allocated over £31 million for local safety schemes within the minor works allocation of the transport supplementary grant settlement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the road transport sector.

The Government's strategy for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from road transport is outlined in chapter 5 of "This Common Inheritance"—Cm. 1200.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the trunk road improvement schemes in England for which contracts were awarded in 1990.

[holding answer 18 January 1991]: Contracts for the following schemes, valued at over £1 million were awarded in 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the trunk road improvement schemes in England for which his Department plans to award contracts during 1991.

[holding answer 18 January 1991]:] I shall make an announcement soon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to take steps to increase the observance of the 70 mph speed limit by coach drivers on motorways.

[holding answer 21 January 1991]: Enforcement of the law on speed limits is a matter for the police. Coaches first used on or after April 1984 are already required to be fitted with speed limiters to prevent them from being driven at more than 70 mph. From 1 April this year, coaches first used between 1974 and 1984 will also need to have speed limiters. From the same date we shall be including a speed limiter check in the annual roadworthiness tests of coaches.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice he has received about the possibility of setting MOT motor vehicle emission standards based on individual manufacturers specifications; whether he will discuss with the European Commission whether variable standards would conflict with EC legislation; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 21 January 1991]: Setting emissions standards based on vehicle manufacturers' specifications would result in a more demanding in-use standard than the one which has previously been allowed by the relevant EC type approval directive. We therefore propose to set carbon monoxide testing standards on the basis outlined in our consultation letter of 20 September 1990. I hope to be able to sign enabling regulations shortly.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North dated 19 December 1990, Official Report, column 177, on public sector manning, if he will list those parts of central and local government which have (a) increased and (b) decreased manpower since 1979, giving numbers in each case.

I have placed the information requested in the Library of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the price of the most widely selling category of cigarettes is accounted for by excise duties, including value added tax; what are the comparable percentages on petrol, spirits, beers and wines; and if he will make a statement.

The percentage of price accounted for by excise duties and value added tax for the goods specified in the question is as follows:

	Total tax as percentage of price
Cigarettes - 20 king size	72·8
Petrol - 4 star - per litre	59·4
Petrol - unleaded - per litre	55·3
Spirits - 75c1 bottle	68·9
Beer - pint	31·3
Wine - still table - 1 litre bottle	52·9

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any proposals to alter the tax treatment by the Inland Revenue of United Kingdom banks which make provision against Third world debt; and if he will make a statement.

I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget Statement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would have been the effect on the retail prices index had tobacco excise duty, inclusive of the value added tax, been index linked for 1990–91.

It is estimated that the impact on the retail prices index of an indexation of tobacco excise duty in 1990–91 would have been to increase the index by 0.15 per cent.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the gross domestic products of the United Kingdom, France and the Federal Republic of Germany was attributable to manufacturing industry in (a) 1979 and (b) 1989.

[holding answer 21 January 1991]: Figures of gross domestic product analysed by industry, including manufacturing industry, are shown in the annual OECD publication on national accounts. The most recent edition, entitled "National Accounts, Detailed Tables, Volume II (1976–1988)", gives these figures in table 12 for each country.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the change in Exchequer income during the financial year 1991–92 resulting from (a) maintaining the married couple's allowance for those aged 65 to 74 years at its current cash value of £2,145 and (b) maintaining the married couple's allowance for those aged 75 years and over at its current cash value of £2,185.

[holding answer 21 January 1991]: It is estimated that at 1991–92 levels of income the revenue yields in a full year would be (a) £40 million and (b) £10 million, compared with statutory indexation.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the price of hops and barley and of beer in the last 10 years for which records are available.

The information requested is given in the table.

Hops—Growers' Prices (average farmgate)
	£/Tonne
1981	2,636
1982	2,754
1983	3,140
1984	3,307
1985	2,297
1986	2,233
1987	2,299
1988	2,417
1989	2,395
1990	12,400
1 (Provisional).

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of confirmed cases of BSE by county in England and Wales in the months to (a) 17 December 1990 and (b) 17 January 1991.

The information for England and Wales is as follows:

County	Month ending 17 December 1990	Month ending 17 January 1991
Avon	40	17
Bedfordshire	5	1
Berkshire	12	4
Buckinghamshire	25	4
Cambridgeshire	4	6
Cheshire	48	37
Cleveland	2	0
Clwyd	12	24
Cornwall	90	90
Cumbria	40	24
Derbyshire	14	5
Devon	41	129
Dorset	84	81
Durham	4	1
Dyfed	60	43
Essex	4	2
Glamorgan, Mid.	6	1
Glamorgan, South	2	2
Glamorgan, West	2	1
Gloucestershire	45	18
Gwent	7	1
Gwynedd	2	4
Hampshire	29	26
Hereford and Worcester	23	10
Hertfordshire	5	0
Humberside	7	1
Isle of Wight	4	10
Kent	14	15
Lancashire	22	29
Leicestershire	20	7
Lincolnshire	11	8
London	1	0
Manchester	2	1
Merseyside	3	0
Norfolk	27	16
Northants	9	8
Northumberland	6	4
Nottinghamshire	7	2
Oxon	19	11
Powys	12	19
Salop	33	23
Somerset	118	80
Staffordshire	31	18
Suffolk	8	6
Surrey	12	2
Sussex, East	12	15

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what expenditure has been incurred by his Department in ensuring slaughterhouses in England meet EC standards.

The Department does not provide any special financial assistance for compliance with EC standards in slaughterhouses. Advice on these standards is available from the Ministry's veterinary staff.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he is taking to ensure the security of (a) his Ministry's computers in-house and (b) lap-top personal computers when used by civil servants outside his Ministry's offices.

It is not Government policy to disclose details of the protective security measures for safeguarding computers used for official purposes. To do so would be of assistance to potential attackers and therefore reduce the effectiveness of the measures. These measures are kept under review.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the restricted areas in England and Wales where there are still controls in force on the movement of livestock, due to the fall-out effects of the Chernobyl disaster; and how long these will remain.

Some reductions in the size of the post-Chernobyl restricted areas in England and Wales were made on Monday 14 January 1991. Details of the areas still under restriction, in parts of Cumbria, Clwyd, Gwynedd and Powys, can be found in the Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Radioactivity in Sheep) (England) Order 1991 and the Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Radioactivity in Sheep) (Wales) Order 1991. The situation will be reviewed again at the end of the 1991 marketing season with a view to releasing further areas from controls as soon as it is possible to do so without compromising the continuing safety of the food chain.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to speed up the payment of grants and subsidies to farmers; and if he will make a statement.

The timing of payments depends on a number of factors, including the determination of the relevant rates, rules of eligibility and the availability of resources to carry out detailed administrative checks. Subject to these constraints, payments are made as quickly as possible. I fully recognise the importance of early payments to the farmers concerned.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will take steps to co-ordinate the activities of the different departments and agencies involved in the maintenance of war graves to ensure that a memorial will continue to exist to honour the memory of men killed in HMS Amethyst on the Yangtse River, China, in July 1949.

The memorial will remain in St. Nicholas' church and it will be looked after and maintained for anyone wishing to view it or pay tribute.

To ask the Prime Minister what steps have been taken in formulating coalition military policy in the Gulf to avoid damage to cultural and religious sites; and what protection is being afforded to Ur of the Chaldees and to Babylon.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the remarks made on this matter during the debate on the Gulf situation yesterday.

To ask the Prime Minister what steps are taken to co-ordinate action by relevant Government Departments regarding the problem of unemployment amongst the disabled.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Employment has the lead responsibility within government for policies to assist unemployed people with disabilities back to work. There are frequent discussions between the Department of Employment and other relevant departments at ministerial and official level to ensure that policies are properly co-ordinated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will list year by year since 1980 the sources of petroleum coke burned in the United Kingdom;(2) if he will list by year since 1980 his estimate of the tonnage of petroleum coke being burned in domestic appliances in the United Kingdom; and what is the level of sulphur content per tonne burnt.

All petroleum coke supplied to the metal refining industry is produced in the United Kingdom. All petroleum coke reaching the domestic market and used as an industrial fuel for refractory and cement manufacture is imported. Figures realting to the amount of imported petroleum coke used domestically and its sulphur content are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received from independent petrol retailers about allocation of supplies of petrol under contingency plans for rationing; and if he will make a statement.

I have received one such representation which is now receiving attention. Under the allocation schemes which the Department could activate in the event of fuel shortage there is no differentiation between retail outlets operated by the oil companies and those of independent operators. Both would be subject to the same restrictions on their supplies.There are ample oil supplies at present. The International Energy Agency has, in addition, brought into effect a contingency plan which will make available an additional 2·5 million barrels of oil per day to the market. This should further reassure the market and the public that, if shortages do occur, additional supplies will be available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on his Department's request to Sir Ron Dearing to investigate leasing and rental agreements.

My Department has written to the Accounting Standards Board drawing attention to the problem that the accounts of some companies appear to have paid insufficient regard to potential future liabilities inherent in the business such as the impact of early termination of leases or continuing maintenance obligations. This may be a question of judgment in applying existing requirements or it may suggest a need to strengthen accounting standards. The Accounting Standards Board has confirmed that it will consider this problem.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies, units and departments of the knitwear industry have ceased trading during the last two years; what action he intends to take to arrest this decline; and if he will make a statement.

There are no Government statistics available that relate directly to such closures. However, a recent report in the trade journal, Knitting News, suggested that 143 companies, units and departments in the knitwear industry have been affected by closure, closedown of an operation, or change of ownership in the past two years. Decisions on such matters are for the commercial judgment of the firms concerned.The Department encourages growth in all markets by promoting enterprise and by creating a climate in which all sectors of industry can flourish. There are no plans for any new initiatives specifically for the textile and clothing industries. The Department's general regional, export and consultancy services are, however, already available to these industries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on the level of representations at the recent international textile manufacturing exhibition in China by (a) German, (b) Italian and (c) United Kingdom machine manufacturers.

Exact information is not available, but it is estimated that there were about 80 exhibitors from Italy; a further 50 or so from Germany; and at least 10 from the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take proceedings under the Companies Act 1985 against Stock Land and Estates, formerly called J. A. and M. A. Carter Developments, for failure to disclose the recipients of political donations in the financial year ended September 1985.

In accordance with its usual practice in response to specific allegations of non-compliance with statutory disclosure requirements, my Department will look into this and, if there has been a failure to comply with those requirements, it will take appropriate action.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research has been and is being carried out, and at what cost, to determine the dangers of petroleum coke used in domestic appliances.

My predecessor has met suppliers of petroleum coke. In addition, my Department is looking into what evidence there is from those who have sought controls on the supply of petroleum coke for domestic use, as well as existing research work on the burning characteristics of this fuel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action his Department is taking to advise members of the public as to risks associated with the use of petroleum coke; and if he will make a statement.

My Department is discussing with suppliers of petroleum coke the instructions for use of the fuel for domestic purposes, the form of these instructions and how they can be best conveyed to consumers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what initiatives have been taken by his Department to explain to companies wishing to export sensitive technologies, the current regulations and risks involved in such exports.

My Department makes available to exporters a range of guidance booklets and information describing controls on the export of sensitive goods and technology and how they are implemented. We have in addition organised a major programme of seminars to increase awareness of the risks of clandestine attempts to procure such goods for use in nuclear, chemical or biological weapons programmes, or missile delivery systems, and the steps that need to be taken to prevent this. My officials stand ready to provide advice to any exporter seeking guidance on matters relating to export controls.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with manufacturers of computer hardware to make equipment more accessible to disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

No discussions for this specific purpose have taken place since the end of the Concerned Technology campaign in 1989. Concerned Technology was part of the Department's programme to raise general awareness of information technology. The general awareness programme has now ended, and the Department's efforts are directed towards the broader needs of business and commerce through promotion of the use of information technology in accordance with best practice and through support for basic research to strengthen industry's technological capability. My Department's role in serving the interests of disabled people is through encouragement of the develolpment and use of basic technologies which will improve the capabilities and adaptability of all products that utilise them. It is now for those in the industry to respond to demands expressed by the disabled and caring agencies when designing their products.The Employment Department is responsible for a range of special aids, including special computer equipment, to help the disabled to obtain and keep employment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) about which photocopying companies he has received complaints of malpractice;(2) what action he is taking to investigate the complaints he has received of malpractice by photocopying companies;(3) when he expects to report on the conclusions of his Department's investigation into malpractice by photocopying companies.

As I made clear in the Adjournment debate on 12 November 1990, at column 423, I am willing to consider any evidence that might warrant an inquiry under the Companies Act. I have now received information from the hon. Gentleman and from other sources. I continue to liaise with the Director General of Fair Trading to whom the complaints have been copied and who has a duty to consider the continued fitness of licensees to retain licences granted to them under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. But, as I explained on 12 November 1990, I will not be able to confirm whether we or any other authority are conducting an investigation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many regulatory inquiries have been carried out by his Department or its inspectors under the Insurance Act 1982 in each year; and, in each case, which section of the Act was involved.

Taking regulatory inquiries to mean actuarial investigations—section 42 of the Insurance Companies Act 1982—or use of powers to obtain information—section 44—the information requested, drawn from the insurance annual reports is:

Year	Section 42	Section 44
1983	8	24
1984	11	29
1985	6	25
1986	4	21
1987	6	39
1988	1	24
1989	3	31

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give a detailed breakdown of the planned increases in central Government expenditure by ECGD in each year 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93 as announced in the autumn statement as against the plans in the January 1990 public expenditure White Paper.

[holding answer 18 January 1991]: This information will be published next month in the new Trade and Industry departmental report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will review existing trade agreements with the Soviet Union in the light of recent events in Lithuania and Latvia; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 21 January 1991]: Trade agreements are matters of European Community competence. EC Foreign Ministers have expressed their deep concern at recent developments in the Baltic states. They are keeping all aspects of their relationship with the USSR under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide a table showing for (a) primary school pupils and (b) secondary school pupils levels of expenditure per child in education in Cheshire for each year since 1978–79 in (i) cash terms and (ii) constant price terms.

The available information is given in the table.

Cheshire LEA—net institutional expenditure per pupil1
Year	Nursery and Primary2schools		Secondary schools
	cash terms (£)	real terms3(£)	cash terms (£)	real terms3(£)
1978–79	340	745	495	1,090
1979–80	400	755	580	1,090
1980–81	510	810	735	1,170
1981–82	580	840	815	1,185
1982–83	660	895	890	1,205
1983–84	665	865	940	1,220
1984–85	715	880	1,010	1,245
1985–86	760	890	1,090	1,275
1986–87	825	935	1,235	1,395
1987–88	900	965	1,410	1,515
1988–89	960	960	1,545	1,545

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to publish the interim report of the music working party.

My right hon. and learned Friend is considering the interim report of the national curriculum music working group, and will be publishing it soon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will list the changes he has introduced in the regime of independent schools as a result of the case involving child abuse at Crookham Court school in Berkshire;(2) if he will introduce legislation to require head teachers always to inform the police and his Department when a member of staff is required to leave a school because of child abuse; and if he will make a statement.

During the past 18 months, my right hon. and learned Friend has introduced further measures to reduce the risk of pupils in independent schools being subject to physical or sexual abuse by members of staff. The measures described later in my reply strengthen the pre-existing procedures under the Education Acts 1944 and 1981; in addition the provisions of section 87 of the Children Act 1989, which includes a new statutory welfare duty on proprietors and those responsible for running certain independent boarding schools, will be brought into effect in October 1991. From the same date, certain independent schools with 50 boarders or fewer will need to register as children homes and will be subject to regulations, including on welfare, to be made under section 63 of that Act.The Registrar of Independent Schools reminded proprietors on 30 April 1990 of their existing statutory duty to report to the Secretary of State instances where teachers are dismissed on grounds of misconduct or resign in circumstances where dismissal would have been considered. The letter also gave detailed guidance about the standing arrangements for schools to vet prospective employees, noting that in all cases referred to the Department a check would automatically be made of the list of people deemed unsuitable for employment in maintained schools—list 99.It has also been decided that Her Majesty's inspectors visiting provisionally registered schools for final registration, or on routine visits to registered independent schools will now inquire whether appropriate checks have been made in the case of all recent staff appointments.In the case of independent schools seeking approval under section 11 of the Education Act 1981 to admit pupils with special educational needs, Her Majesty's inspectors will include in their regular schedule of questions the inquiry whether appropriate checks have been made, including of list 99 in relation to staff appointments.In order to monitor the volume of enquiries from independent schools about list 99, and so that in any cases of doubt the facts can be verified, the Department has invited those organisations and agencies in the independent schools field who are authorised holders of the list to keep a record of the enquiries they receive. This information, together with the records kept by the Department's teachers misconduct division, will give the Secretary of State a clearer picture in future of how fully the list is being used.Where it comes to the notice of the Secretary of State that there has been a failure on the part of an independent school adequately to check the background of a teacher or other member of staff and, whether as a consequence of this or otherwise, circumstances have arisen which in his view render the school objectionable in the terms of section 71 of the Education Act 1944, consideration is given to bringing the known facts of the situation directly to the attention of all parents, guardians or agencies who place pupils at the school. In parallel, the Secretary of State will invariably consider the notice of complaint procedure provided for in the Education Act.In order to provide help and counsel for boarding school pupils who may have worries which they feel they cannot share with staff or other adults, the Department, with the Independent Schools Joint Council, is providing funds for the experimental boarding school line. The line was launched on 13 January and will operate this term and next. We hope that, apart from providing help, the line will give useful indications about the incidence of pupils' problems, including abuse.Consideration is now being given to how list 99 may be made more comprehensive in its coverage of non-teaching staff, thus supplementing the consultancy service operated by the Department of Health whereby local authorities and voluntary bodies can check the suitability of those they propose to employ in the child care field. This would require that proprietors report to the Secretary of State instances where non-teachers are dismissed on grounds of misconduct or resign in circumstances where dismissal would be considered.Guidance on the implications for independent schools with boarders of the implementation of the Children Act will be published soon. The Department and Her Majesty's inspectorate will continue to work closely with the Department of Health and the social services inspectorate to devise arrangements and support which will make effective the duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils placed on proprietors, or those responsible for running, independent schools with boarders. In particular, it has been agreed that, in their routine visit to schools, social services departments will expect to see firm evidence that proper checks have been conducted on appointment of any staff who are likely to come into regular contact with pupils.Finally, in order to minimise the danger of exploitation of students attending English language schools in Britain, the then Minister of State wrote to European colleagues in November 1989 drawing attention to the British Council's recognition scheme, and advising use of recognised schools only.These additional measures are a mark of the seriousness with which the Secretary of State views the need to prevent any possibility of pupils in independent schools being subject to abuse. He is confident that his concern is shared by the vast majority of proprietors, heads and staff of independent schools, and the independent schools associations, and looks to those in schools to take all reasonable measures to avoid the possibility of abuse, or, in any cases when it does occur, to take swift and decisive action to stop it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many A-levels, and at what grades, were obtained per pupil in 1989 and 1990 in (a) Lincolnshire and (b) Humberside.

In the academic year 1988–89, the number of A-level passes, including AS level equivalent, per school leaver, for the areas in question, was as shown. The figures do not include A-levels achieved in colleges of further education. Figures for 1990 are not yet available.

	A-AS levels per pupil
Lincolnshire	0·40
Humberside	0·38
All-England	0·55

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many general certificate of secondary education passes per pupil were obtained in 1989 and 1990 in (a) Lincolnshire and (b) Humberside.

Amongst pupils aged 16 in the academic year 1988–89, the number of GCSEs at grade G or above achieved per pupil, for the areas in question, was as follows. Figures for 1990 are not yet available.

GCSE grades A to G Per pupil, aged 16
	Per pupil
Lincolnshire	6·66
Humberside	6·32
All-England	6·58

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will meet the director of education in Northumberland to discuss the booklet "Religious Education: Topics for the Middle School" and its consistency with the requirement to teach Christianity in schools; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans for such a meeting. I have taken steps to obtain a copy of the booklet in question and will write to my hon. Friend when I have had an opportunity to consider it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out, at current prices, the value per child in each maintained sector school of education support grants and local education authority training grants.

In 1990–91, the grant payable to local authorities under the education support grants and local education authority training grants schemes represents nationally an average of some £26 per pupil in local education authority-maintained schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out, at current prices, the value of the special purpose grant (development) for each child in a grant-maintained school.

In 1990–91, special purpose grant (development) of some £26 per pupil is available to grant-maintained schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he received about the admissions policy, including catchment area, for Bullers Wood grant-maintained school in the London borough of Bromley.

The Secretary of State approved Bullers Wood school as grant maintained on 10 October 1990. There have been no representations to the Secretary of State concerning the admissions policy of Bullers Wood grant-maintained school.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out the basis on which the grant maintained schools' central annual maintenance grant has been calculated at 16 per cent. in the letter of 27 December 1990 to the chief education officer from the head of the grant maintained schools division; and if he will make a statement.

The 16 per cent. is currently the average central annual maintenance grant figure for grant-maintained schools in this financial year. The individual figure for each current grant-maintained school has been calculated in accordance with the provisions of the Education (Grant-Maintained Schools) (Finance) Regulations 1990—S.I. 1990/549.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures he is taking to ensure the security of (a) his Department's computers in-house and (b) lap-top personal computers when used by his civil servants outside his Department's offices.

It is not Government policy to disclose details of the protective security measures for safeguarding computers used for official purposes. To do so would be of assistance to potential attackers and therefore reduce the effectiveness of the measures. These measures are kept under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the public liability claims against the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, area by area, for the years 1985 to 1990.

This is a matter for the chairman of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive who has advised me that the number of claims made against the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, by region for 1985–86 to 1989–90 is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all bodies and organisations in Northern Ireland to which district councils have the right to nominate members and to which the Government also nominate members.

[holding answer 16 January 1991]: The information is as follows:

• Eastern Health and Social Services Board
• Northern Health and Social Services Board
• Southern Health and Social Services Board
• Western Health and Social Services Board
• The Senate of the Queen's University of Belfast
• The Court of the University of Ulster
• The Trustees of the Ulster Museum
• The Trustees of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum
• The Board of Governors of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland
• Belfast Education and Library Board
• South Eastern Education and Library Board
• Western Education and Library Board
• North Eastern Education and Library Board
• Southern Education and Library Board
• Drainage Council for Northern Ireland
• Fisheries Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland
• Northern Ireland Housing Executive
• Fire Authority for Northern Ireland
• Belfast Harbour Commissioners
• Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners
• Warrenpoint Harbour Authority

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether there is evidence that members of the secret services or the security services sought in 1976 to obstruct any inquiry into events at the Kincora home.

[holding answer 18 January 1991]: I have nothing to add to the published conclusions of Sir George Terry's inquiry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which officials of his Department interviewed persons in the course of duties in connection with the Kincora boys' home from January 1990 to present date.

[holding answer 21 January 1991]: None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will now publish the full text of the Terry report into the Kincora boys' home.

[holding answer 21 January 1991]: No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of parliamentary questions answered by his Department on the Kincora boys' home.

[holding answer 21 January 1991]: Forty, according to the parliamentary on-line information system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will publish in the Official Report the attendance figures for 1990 reported by the Ulster museum, including its outstations, with the percentage increase or decrease on the attendance figures for 1989.

[holding answer 21 January 1991]: In 1990 a total of 296,100 people visited the Ulster museum and the Armagh County museum—an increase of 9·6 per cent. on the attendance figure for 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to introduce an environmental grant fund for Wales in furtherance of policies set out in "This Common Inheritance" (Cm. 1200); and if he will make a statement.

My Department will in 1991–92 fund suitable projects from voluntary organisations in the Principality via the special grants (environmental) programme.As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment told the hon. Gentleman on 19 December 1990 the announcement by the Minister for the Environment and Countryside on that date gave details of his proposals to bring the new environmental grant fund scheme quickly into operation for 1991–92. I shall keep the position under review for next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many North Wales patients used hospital facilities in Wirral, Liverpool and Manchester in 1989 and 1990; and if he will list each of the hospitals.

The available information relates to 1989–90. A total of 13,063 episodes of in-patient and day case care were received by residents from Clwyd and Gwynedd in Mersey and North West regional health authorities in 1989–90. Of these, 3,745 episodes were received in Liverpool, Wirral, North Manchester, Central Manchester and South Manchester health authorities. Information by hospital is given in the table.

Episodes of in-patient and day case care received by Clwyd and Gwynedd residents in selected health authorities by hospital, 1989–90
	Number
Liverpool Health Authority:
Sefton General Hospital	3
St. Paul's Eye Hospital	61
Women's Hospital	78
Dental Hospital	1
Royal Liverpool Hospital	492
Broadgreen Hospital	641
Mill Road Maternity	2
Olive Mount Hospital	1
Alder Hey Children's	744
RLCH Myrtle Street	153
Mossley Hill Hospital	8

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all documents of advice or guidance, all circulars and all other publications it is currently his intention that his Department shall publish in the 12 months from 1 January in respect of (a) the implementation of the National Health Service and Community Care Bill and (b) other aspects of the health service in Wales, together with any projected joint publications.

It is not possible to develop such a list but the tables in chapter 4 of "NHS Wales: Agenda for Action", a copy of which is in the Library, identify the key management actions to be addressed in 1991 and beyond.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance he has offered to Pembrokeshire district health authority and other district health authorities in Wales on the way in which any all-authority national health service trust would operate and the regime under which he would expect such a trust to be regulated in its relations to any purchasing authority and in regard to the national health service directorate in Wales.

All national health service trusts operate under common provisions to provide contractually-based health care to purchasing authorities for their resident populations. The main regulatory factor involving the national health service directorate will be the external finance limit allocated to a trust in any given year.Pembrokeshire district health authority has received advice on these issues, and others relating to the detail of its own trust proposal and my officials will continue to be available to assist the authority and to other potential applicants in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on direct and indirect support to agriculture by the United States of America; and if he will make a statement.

Provisional estimates by the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development are that total transfers to United States agriculture were some US $67 billion in 1989; and $46 billion of this was directly funded by taxpayers, the remainder by consumers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his letter to the right hon. Member for Aberavon of 13 September 1990 concerning West Glamorgan area health authority's proposal to build a new hospital, whether he will now announce the Treasury's decision.

Following the submission by West Glamorgan health authority of an approval in principle for the proposed new district general hospital to serve Neath and Port Talbot, the Department requested on 13 September 1990 further information in the form of a business plan. The aim of this business plan is to demonstrate the viability of the development in the new purchaser-provider environment.The Treasury will reach a decision on the approval in principle submission once this information has been provided.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had regarding the outbreak of salmonella food poisoning in Ely hospital, Cardiff, in 1990 and its future prevention.