To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what action he will take further to restrict the sales of substances such as butane which can lead to addiction through abuse; and if he will make a statement;(2) what action he has taken and intends to take in the future in order to combat lighter fuel sniffing; and if he will make a statement;(3) if he can provide figures for the number of persons who undertake solvent abuse and lighter fuel sniffing; and what resources he has committed to fighting this.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has the lead in co-ordinating Government policies in this area, which are directed primarily towards education and prevention. It is not possible to estimate the extent of volatile substance misuse with any accuracy as this is essentially a clandestine activity: the numbers are thought to vary greatly over time and place.My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary's main responsibility so far as the inhalation of lighter fuel is concerned is for the application and enforcement of the criminal law. We supported the passage through Parliament of the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985 which penalises anyone who supplies, or offers to supply, a substance while knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that it is likely to be inhaled by someone under 18 for the purposes of causing intoxication. Figures for the cost of enforcing this law, and of police action in dealing with misusers, are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.In view of the very wide range of everyday substances which can be misused, we believe there is little to be gained from further restricting sales. But we shall continue to encourage the voluntary co-operation of retailers in controlling the supply of volatile substances to young people.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many project licence applications were referred to an external assessor by the inspectorate under section 9(1) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, in the years 1988, 1989 and 1990.

Statistics on the referral of project licence applications to external assessors are not collected centrally. Applications are referred for formal external assessment on a case-by-case basis where advice is required on specialised aspects of projects, although the number of such referrals is unlikely to be large. In addition, referrals under section 9(1) are made to the Animal Procedures Committee.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Iraqi army, air or navy officers are known to be present to date in the United Kingdom; how many such personnel have been admitted to the United Kingdom in each of the past five years for courses of study; and how many such officers (a) have le ft the United Kingdom voluntarily, (b) have been deported, (c) are in detention, (d) are subject to restriction on their movements and (e) are resident without restriction.

No information is recorded on the number of Iraqis admitted to the United Kingdom who were serving members of the Iraqi armed forces. Thirty-six Iraqis, whom we now have reason to believe are serving members of the forces, entered the United Kingdom as students to study at various colleges. Thirty-five of these did so without declaring their military status. One was allowed to make a voluntary departure before confirmation of his status was received and 35 are in military custody. We have no knowledge of the presence in the United Kingdom of any other serving member of the armed forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what would be the cost of producing form RPF 7B for application to vote by post or proxy in respect of physical disability in braille.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people with refugee status currently reside in the United Kingdom.

Around 37,000 people, including sough-east Asian refugees, have been allowed to stay in the United Kingdom as refugees since 1979. Corresponding information for earlier years is not available. Comprehensive records are not kept of those who leave the country, die, obtain British citizenship or otherwise cease to hold refugee status here.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from police authorities regarding the practice of introducing women in court as known prostitutes.

We have received a letter from the West Yorkshire police authority, forwarded by several hon. and right hon. Members. I have sent the hon. Member a copy of our reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what comments the International Red Cross has made on the conditions in which Iraqi detainees were held at Her Majesty's prison Pentonville; and what changes the Government are introducing as a result of representations made by the Red Cross.

The detainees initially located in Pentonville are now held in Full Sutton prison in Yorkshire in appropriate living conditions with integral sanitation. This accommodation had been identified before the representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross made their visit. Communications between the ICRC and Her Majesty's Government are conducted in confidence and it is not the practice to disclose details.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to his answer, Official Report, 18 December 1990, column 104, if he will list the dates in 1991 on which information relating to poll tax liability orders will be collected and the dates on which it will be published.

[holding answer 29 January 1991]: During 1991 information on community charge enforcement proceedings in the magistrates courts will be collected on 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December. The information should be available in the Library within six weeks of the end of each quarter.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to require local authorities to apply a multiplier of zero to those public houses occupied by persons as tenants who are also registered to pay poll tax at a separate address.

Under the new standard charge classes which take effect from 1 April 1991, the multiplier may not exceed one times the personal community charge where unoccupied domestic property shares the same building as a business and as a result would be difficult to let separately. In addition we have now prescribed a new standard community charge class of property whereby the multiplier may not exceed one half if the person subject to that charge is also living in job-related accommodation. Charging authorities will have the discretion to apply either a standard charge multiplier of 0 or one half.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information is available to establish the percentage of payments of community charge and uniform business rates which are still outstanding for each local authority for 1990–91.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) on 23 January 1991, Official Report, column 190.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish his best estimate of the cost of administering his proposed community charge reduction scheme.

I hope to be in a position to publish an estimate following further discussions between my Department and the local authority associations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish his estimates of the numbers entitled to relief under the community charge reduction scheme using the tax/benefit model based upon the latest family expenditure survey data, breaking the numbers down by size of household and distinguishing between those receiving automatic relief and pensioners or disabled persons who qualify for special relief.

The figures requested are in the table. They are for England only and are based on the family expenditure surveys for 1987, 1988 and 1989. They incorporate a 10 per cent. per annum allowance for depletion of entitlement for charge payers who have moved or died.

Effect of Community Charge Reduction Scheme in 1991–92, by household type
	Number of households (000's)	Number of adults	CC reduction (£ million
All households	8,950	18,530	1,700
One-adult households	1,150	1,150	190
Two-adult households	6,340	12,700	1,220
Larger households	1,470	4,680	290
Of which extra help to:
Pensioners	350	430	70
Disabled	100	100	20

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many landfill sites containing methane have subsequently been the subject of developments.

Government advice since 1978 has been that building development is inadvisable on former landfill sites known to be emitting methane. Figures for developments on former landfills are not collected centrally. However, since 1988 local planning authorities have been required to consult waste disposal authorities on applications for development within 250 m of landfills.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to ensure that Ordnance Survey continues to show the location of Forestry Commission land on its Landranger and Pathfinder maps.

The chief executive will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has executive power to conclude regulations governing the burning of refuse-derived fuel without reference of final decisions to him.

Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution does not have power to make regulations. Regulations governing the burning of refuse-derived fuel are being prepared by the Department as part of the regulations to implement the EC directive on municipal waste incineration. They will be subject to parliamentary approval in the usual way.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Members for Thurrock and for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin), Official Report, column 87, 21 January, whether Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution will consider the effects of disproportionate costs on small-scale users of refuse-derived fuel when drafting integrated pollution control regulations.

Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution is not drafting regulations. When drafting the guidance to cover the burning of refuse-derived fuel Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution will consult widely the relevant sectors of industry and will take into account the costs to users.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of schemes to assist first-time buyers with below-market value homes (a) in the European Community and (b) in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

The Department is aware of several schemes for assisting house purchase deployed in European Community countries. Most involve assistance towards loan repayments; we are not aware of any schemes in which property can he purchased at less than full market

The 1990–91 and 1991–92 Standard Spending Assessments for Education and Social Services and for each borough in Greater London in £ million·
£ million
Authority	1990–91 Education SSA	1991–92 Education SSA	1990–91 Social Services SSA	1991–92 Social Services SSA
City of London	0·824	0·814	0·396	0·500
Camden	52·762	61·062	33·809	41·584
Greenwich	82·257	98·038	25·451	32·165
Hackney	91·828	106·800	45·074	55·504
Hammersmith and Fulham	45·602	51·587	32·215	38·937
Islington	64·211	76·597	34·146	43·015
Kensington and Chelsea	29·783	34·857	23·497	30·155
Lambeth	105·484	124·829	57·262	71·209
Lewisham	86·010	102·429	35·035	43·806
Southwark	85·168	102·708	40·813	51·017
Tower Hamlets	91·292	112·110	32·414	41·015
Wandsworth	84·149	97·374	43·829	54·869
Westminster	44·456	50·044	34·161	43·073
Barking and Dagenham	48·338	56·906	14·943	18·288
Barnet	88·054	104·134	23·237	29·204
Bexley	67·800	80·499	13·412	16·715
Brent	108·138	124·847	35·191	42·506
Bromley	79·378	92·214	20·353	25·580
Croydon	102·781	120·350	27·523	34·025
Ealing	100·586	119·871	30·872	37·725
Enfield	88·524	105·597	21·500	26·679
Haringey	79·308	93·711	32·528	40·378
Harrow	65·387	75·400	13·080	15·983
Havering	71·015	84·563	13·710	17·183
Hillingdon	69·110	82·574	16·047	20·284
Hounslow	68·774	82·443	18·643	23·032
Kingston-upon-Thames	36·275	43·282	10·989	13·011
Merton	47·164	54·705	15·345	18·567
Newham	98·510	118·059	31·636	38·858
Redbridge	71·225	85·178	17·082	21·655
Richmond-upon-Thames	35·997	41·859	13·677	17·113
Sutton	47·633	56·689	12·233	15·251
Waltham Forest	81·744	96·671	27·274	33·156

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of the people who bought homes for the first time in 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990.

The number of first-time buyers in Great Britain is estimated at 630,000 in 1987, 770,000 in 1988 and 640,000 in 1989. Figures for the whole of 1990 are not yet available, but in the first three quarters of 1990 it is estimated that there were some 450,000 first-time buyers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the standard spending assessments for (a) 1990–91 and (h) 1991–92 for each of the boroughs in Greater London in respect of (i) education and (ii) social services.

The figures requested are shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the appeals under section 10 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 currently under consideration, showing the dates when they were first lodged; how many decisions have been issued since 30 August 1990; and whether he has any proposals for speeding the process.

The table lists the appeals currently under consideration showing the dates they were first lodged. Three decisions have been issued since 30 August 1990. Following internal reorganisation of staff to allow greater priority to be given to these appeals in future, we are now in the process of hiring consultants to provide additional technical support.

Empire Brickworks, Stubbers Green Road, Aldridge, Walsall	1 June 1982
Seal Sands Terminal, Seal Sands, Cleveland	26 June 1984
Empire Brickworks 51, Stubbers Green Road, Aldridge, Walsall	8 September 1986
Empire Brickworks 231, Stubbers Green Road, Aldridge, Walsall	8 September 1986
Empire Brickworks 323, Stubbers Green Road, Aldridge, Walsall	8 September 1986
Empire Brickworks 324, Stubbers Green Road, Aldridge, Walsall	8 September 1986
Aveley Clay Pit 2 & 3, Sandy Lane, Aveley,Essex	10 July 1987
Old Railway Cutting, Chesterfield Road, Bolsover, Derbyshire	7 December 1987
Unit 3 Hartlepool, Sandgate Industrial Estate, Cleveland	7 December 1987
Springwell Hill, Nether Handley, Sheffield	9 December 1987
Norwood Industrial Estate, Rotherham Road, Killamarsh, Sheffield	3 February 1988
Munnery's Copse, Worthing, West Sussex	27 June 1988
Springwell Hill (2), Nether Handley, Sheffield	1 August 1988
Redbournbury Plant, St. Albans, Hertfordshire	24 November 1988
Butterley Hole, Stubbers Green Road, Aldridge, Walsall	6 February 1989
Bakers Hole, Swanscombe, Kent	8 March 1989
Martin Earles No. 1, Cuxton, Kent	8 March 1989
Martin Earles Pit No. 2, Cuxton, Kent	8 March 1989
140 Moss Lane, Macclesfield, Cheshire	13 March 1989
Mucking Wharf, Mucking, Essex	16 May 1989
Offham Quarry, Teston Road, Offham, Kent	19 June 1989
Stangate Quarry, Borough Green, Kent	19 June 1989
Pluckley Brickworks, Chambers Green, Pluckley, Kent	29 June 1989
Vineyard Chalkpit, Rainham, Kent	29 June 1989
Stone Pits 5 & 6, Stone, Dartford, Kent	29 June 1989
Stone 1 & Atlas Stone, Stone, Dartford, Kent	29 June 1989
Barnett & Beddows, Stubbers Green Road, Aldridge, Walsall	6 September 1989
Rough Park Quarry, Mill Lane, Upholland, Lancashire	9 October 1989
Lumm Farm, Lumb Lane, Littlemoss, Droylesden, Greater Manchester	20 October 1989
Halfhead Farm, Shallowford, Stone, Staffordshire	17 November 1989
Bell Terminal, Grangetown, Middlesbrough, Cleveland	20 November 1989
Jolly Farmer Sand Pit, Guildford Road, Runfold, Surrey	21 November 1989
Farnham Sandpit, Alton Road, Farnham, Surrey	8 December 1989
Birch Coppice, Coppice Side, Brownhills, Walsall	8 January 1990
Castner Kellnersite, Runcorn	11 January 1990
Rocksavage Site, Runcorn	11 January 1990
Former Branstons Wharf, Lea Road, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire	24 January 1990
Hoddesdonbury, Cock Lane, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire	5 February 1990

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he received the report from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution on the arrangements for waste regulation in South Yorkshire; what action he has taken on the report; and when he intends to publish it.

Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution submitted its report to the Secretary of State on 12 December 1990. Copies have been placed in the Library, and are available from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution on request. I have concluded on the basis of this report that unless the four district councils in South Yorkshire are able to agree improved joint arrangements which meet Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution's concerns, my right hon. Friend will have no alternative but to set up a statutory waste regulation authority for the area. Officials have written to the councils concerned informing them of these views, and the action we propose to take.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when any parties to the planning appeal regarding the Titnore lane landfill site were informed of the proposed date for the appeal to be heard; on what date the county council was informed; and what representations he has received about the time necessary for all parties to prepare their case adequately.

The parties, including West Sussex county council, were notified formally on 18 January that this inquiry will open on 16 April—the first date on which a suitably qualified inspector is available to take it. An informal indication of an April inquiry was given, inadvertently, to the appellants' agents during a telephone conversation in December. The county council wanted more time in which to prepare its case. However, the council's initial written statement on the appeal proposal was lodged on 19 December, and three months' notice of the inquiry is considered reasonable. Under the inquiries procedure rules this inquiry should have opened not later than 14 March, but that was not practicable.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what provisions have been made for the long-term management or disposal of radioactive wastes arising from the decommissioning of the Windscale piles Nos. 1 and 2, B6 and B16, at Sellafield; and if the costs are rechargeable to any Government Department.

Low-level waste arising from decommissioning of the Windscale piles is likely to be disposed of at the Drigg disposal site. Intermediate-level waste will be disposed of in United Kingdom Nirex deep repository. I understand that the costs of this work will be met by the Ministry of Defence and the Atomic Energy Authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the leaders of local authorities to discuss the housing sector.

My hon. Friend the Member for Worcestershire, South (Mr. Spicer), the then Minister for Housing and Construction, met representatives of the local authority associations at the Housing Consultative Council on 19 November. The council normally meets twice a year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he has issued guidance to local authorities in England and Wales about increased security in public buildings such as libraries;(2) whether he has issued guidance to local authorities concerning security of local authority employees with regard to possible terrorist action.

It is the duty of everybody in the country today to be vigilant. Local authorities are well aware of their responsibilities in this matter and of the precautions which they should be taking.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will undertake a policy and quantitative evaluation of the work of each urban development corporation covering the period of their existence.

Arrangements are in hand for an exercise in 1991–92 to establish baseline data for future evaluation of UDCs and Birmingham Heartlands.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the urban development corporations which have areas of land in their charge which have yet to show some development taking place on land acquired.

The UDCs acquire, reclaim and dispose of land for development as one means of securing the regeneration of their areas. All UDCs currently hold some land which is awaiting development.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies he has conducted into the possibility of smoke pollution from the Gulf reaching the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

A note by the Meteorological Office on possible environmental consequences of burning oil wells in Kuwait was placed in the Library of the House on 17 January by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence. It contains no suggestion that smoke from Gulf oil fires would reach the United Kingdom. The Meteorological Office is continuing to refine its assessment, in consultation with the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what preparations were made before 28 January by his Department to deal with any major environmental consequences of the conflict in the Gulf; on which dates each of these preparations was made; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the projected number of jobs to be created by (a) the London Docklands development corporation and (b) the Merseyside development corporation.

No numbers were projected when these development corporations were set up. To March 1990, there had been a net gain of 29,000 permanent jobs in the London Docklands area and 4,200 in Merseyside's area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local people have secured jobs in the area of (a) London Docklands development area and (b) Merseyside development corporation since their introduction.

This information is not collected by Merseyside nor on a regular basis by London Docklands. However, a London Docklands survey in 1987 indicated that out of 42,000 then employed in the urban development area about a third were residents of the three dockland boroughs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide a table of expenditure on the regional offices of Government Ministries in 1989–90, broken down by Ministry and separating out the cost of running the regional office from the funding programmes it discharges and showing the expenditure on, and of, each regional office separately.

[holding answer 22 January 1991]: The estimated costs of running each regional office of the

Table 2
Department of the Environment/spending in England by standard economic planning regions in 1989–90 (£M)
Standard economic planning regions	Rate support grant	Other service basic capital allocations to LAs	Community charge preparation allocations to LAs	Urban development corporations	Urban Programme	Housing subsidy paid to local authorities	Housing investment Programme allocation to authorities
South east	2,849	60·9	51·5	255·8	50·7	516·7	452·2
South West	785	17·6	13·1	5·0	2·5	2·9	62·3
East Anglia	285	8·4	5·7	—	—	0·3	26·4
West Midlands	1,053	17·1	13·9	3·8	41·0	8·8	127·8
East Midlands	762	12·9	11·1	—	11·4	10·0	60·7
North West	1,695	20·4	17·2	47·3	73·5	29·7	186·6
Yorkshire and Humberside	1,306	19·5	13·3	18 3	27·2	-0·2	106·3
Northern Region	843	11·2	8·6	17·8	41·7	16·2	72·5

The expenditure on urban programme includes previously with DES, DH and DTp. The totals also include LAs contribution (25 per cent.).

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current level of interest rates.

Bank base rates are 14 per cent.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how imports have performed over the latest three months for which figures are available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how imports have performed over the latest three months for which figures are available.

In the fourth quarter of 1990 the volume of imports—less oil and erratics—fell by 1 per cent. on the previous quarter. Volumes in the year as a whole rose by only 1 per cent. compared with export growth of 7½ per cent.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his assessment of the impact on income from income tax of the reduction of the higher rates of that tax.

Since 1979, the top rate of income tax has been reduced from 83 to 40 per cent., and nine separate higher rate bands have been reduced to a single rate. Over that period, receipts from higher rate tax have increased two and a half times in real terms.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to reduce the standard rate of tax; and if he will make a statement.

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

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement on the export performance of United Kingdom manufacturers during 1990.

The volume of manufactured exports rose by 8 per cent. in 1990 after a 10½ per cent. rise in 1989. The United Kingdom share of world trade in manufactures rose for the second successive year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his current estimate of the percentage of central Government revenue raised from income tax in each of the main OECD countries.

The latest estimates by the OECD show that in the United Kingdom the share of taxes on personal income in total tax and social security revenues in 1988 was equal to the EC average.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has of the changing impact of taxes, including income tax, indirect taxes, insurance and local taxes and charges, on 18-year-olds and 21-year-olds between 1 January 1979 and 1 January 1991 on average earnings and incomes for those age groups.

A young person in employment aged between 18 and 20 paid on average 25 per cent. of gross earnings in income tax and national insurance contributions in 1978–79; and will pay 22 per cent. in 1990–91. Information on the effects of other taxes is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Trades Union Congress about the public spending planning total for 1991–92.

None.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest OECD estimates for investment growth in the United Kingdom and Germany in 1990.

Latest OECD estimates for total fixed investment in 1990, published in the December "Economic Outlook" and, partly based on forecasts, show a fall of 1·3 per cent. in the United Kingdom and a rise of 8·2 per cent. in western Germany.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is manufacturing output today; and what was the comparable figure in spring 1979.

Manufacturing output data are published in index form, with the average for 1985 equal to 100. In the three months to November manufacturing output averaged 116·2. In the second quarter of 1979 the index was 108·7.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest estimates for the savings ratio.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Dorset, South (Mr. Bruce).

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the prospects for inflation.

RPI inflation fell from 10·9 per cent. in October to 9·3 per cent. in December. This is consistent with the autumn statement forecast which pointed to a fall to 5½ per cent. by the fourth quarter of this year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the level of export growth over the latest three months for which figures are available.

In the fourth quarter of 1990 United Kingdom export volumes—excluding oil and erratics— rose 2 per cent. on the previous quarter and were 4 per cent. higher than a year earlier.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met representatives of the Child Poverty Action Group to discuss the effects of the Government's policies on child poverty.

My right hon. Friend met representatives of the Child Poverty Action Group last June and has no plans to do so again in the near future.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many building societies and banks are offering a TESSA.

A total of 150 so far, including the great majority of high street banks and building societies.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the amount which has been spent in the last two years as London weighting for civil servants represents increases to the salaries of lower-paid civil servants.

London weighting has not been increased over the last two years. However, of the £87 million spent enhancing London pay in other ways during the period approximately 41 per cent. has been paid to staff with salary maxima below £10,000.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consult all interests, including vending machine operators, shops and the general public, before introducing any new coinage or notes.

It is standard practice for the royal mint to consult interested parties before the introduction of any new coins, and it will continue to do so. Before the new 5p coin was introduced into circulation in June 1990, the royal mint undertook extensive consultations with interested parties and the general public. In addition vending companies were given test coins and two and a half years' notice to plan for the change.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made towards establishing Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and the Inland Revenue as "next steps" agencies.

Following the announcement my predecessor made on 25 July 1990 at c.239–42 on steps to be taken to ensure both Departments operated fully on "next steps" lines I intend to make further announcements in respect of both Departments shortly.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the total cost of British involvement in the Gulf has been calculated.

[holding answer 30 January 1991]: The basis for the calculations of the cost of United Kingdom military operations in the Gulf was explained in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence's letter of 21 January to the hon. Member for Clackmannan (Mr. O'Neill), a copy of which is in the Library.

To ask the Lord President of the Council (1) what plans he has for the improvement of disabled access in the House;(2) when a review of disabled access in the House was last made.

The all-party disablement group carried out a review and submitted proposals to the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee in May 1981 to improve access for disabled people. As I stated in my reply of 21 January to the hon. and learned Member for Leicester, West (Mr. Janner), the Parliamentary Works Officer is carrying out feasibility studies into a number of further proposals that were received in December 1990 from the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley), chairman of the all-party disablement group. Once they have been completed, the results of these studies will be forwarded to the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee for its consideration.

To ask the Lord President of the Council what investigations have been carried out to try to identify extra office accommodation for hon. Members pending the completion of the new office buildings.

The results of a comprehensive space audit of the parliamentary estate will be presented to the Services Committee shortly. They are expected to confirm that there is little scope for providing extra accommodation for Members prior to the opening of phase I of the new parliamentary building later this year. About 100 extra Members' offices will be provided at that time. Planning is under way for phase 2 of the project, with a view to achieving the Services Committee's objective that by the time the new building is complete,

"every Member who wants a room of his or her own should have one".

In addition, urgent consideration is being given to the possibility of acquiring alternative accommodation within a reasonable distance of the Chamber for Members and staff currently occupying buildings, such as St. Stephen's house, which it is proposed to redevelop as part of phase 2. The Services Committee expects to report to the House on these matters shortly.

To ask the Lord President of the Council for what reason the statue of Joseph Chamberlain in the Members' Lobby of the House was replaced with one of Benjamin Disraeli during the Christmas recess; if he will outline the total cost of such a move; and if he will make a statement.

The statues were moved following a resolution of the Advisory Committee on Works of Art in the House of Commons. The cost of the work was some £3,000.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 31 January.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the contribution made by EC members to the Gulf crisis in terms of cash and resources; and if he will make a statement.

The majority of the European Community member states have already contributed to the multinational force in the Gulf, whether with military forces, logistical, medical, financial or other forms of assistance. We are seeking additional contributions to our costs from a number of countries, including EC members. The Community and its member states are also providing economic assistance to those countries most directly affected economically by the crisis, as well as providing substantial humanitarian assistance to alleviate the refugee problem in the region.

To ask the Prime Minister what (a) governmental and (b) international activity, involving Her Majesty's Government, took place before 28 January to prepare the specialist method of responding to any environmental crisis in the Gulf; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have responded promptly and positively to requests from the Saudi Arabian Government for expert advice and assistance following the deliberate pollution of the Gulf by Saddam Hussein. We are also in touch with other states in the region. Since the risk of conflict arose, the Government have been fully conscious of a number of possible environmental risks arising from it and has maintained close contact with the allies on all matters connected with it. It is for the Gulf states affected, drawing on the expertise on offer from the United Kingdom and the international community, to lead the response to the environmental damage that Iraq is inflicting on the region.

To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has made to the Israeli Prime Minister concerning the provision of gas masks to the Palestinian population in the occupied territories.

None. On 14 January the Israeli High Court ordered the army to distribute its stock of masks to Palestinians along the green line between Israel and the occupied territories immediately, and to obtain more for the remaining residents of the west bank and Gaza. The distribution has begun. We welcome this decision.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the latest reports of the pay review bodies.

The 1991 reports of the review bodies on the pay of the armed forces, the doctors and dentists, the professions allied to medicine, nursing staff, midwives and health visitors, and of the Top Salaries Review Body have been published today. Copies are available in the Vote Office. The Government are grateful to the members of the review bodies for the time and care which they have put into the preparation of the reports. The table shows the increases recommended by the review bodies for each group, and their cost.

	Pay increase Per cent.	Range of increases in 1991–92 Per cent.	United Kingdom public expenditure cost1£ million
Armed forces	12·2	211·2–18·0	536
Doctors and dentists	10·2	9·5–12·7	454
Professions allied to medicine	10·8	10·0–14·2	74
Nursing staff, midwives and health visitors	9·7	39·5–11·0	696
Top salaries	9·6	49·5–12·1	10
1 These figures are higher than those in the Review Bodies' reports, which do not cover the full public expenditure costs·
2 University cadets will receive lower increases, down to 7·8 per cent· for first year students· A few Captains RN may receive up to 20·1 per cent· as a result of changes to submarine and bonus payments·
3 A small number of Grade B staff and staff nursery nurses will receive rises of 14·1 per cent· or 14·2 per cent·, and some nurses in receipt of the geriatric lead will receive 9·3 per cent·
4 The 12·1 per cent· is for 2 star officers only; all others receive 9·5 per cent·

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give the number and list the companies in which he has appointed inspectors from within or outside his Department under the Companies Act 1985 since 1979; and if he will give the number of those inspectors' reports which he has published.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave on 8 January 1990, Official Report, columns 519–24. Since that date, inspectors have been appointed in the following cases:

1. BOM Holdings plc.

2. Atlantic Computers plc.

3. Atlantic Computer Systems plc.

4. Astra Holdings plc.

5. London United Investments plc.

6. Norton Group plc.

Seventeen reports have been published in relation to inspections begun since 1979.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central of 23 January, Official Report, column 329, what has been the cost of the 436 questions asked by the hon. Members for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) and Newcastle upon Tyne, Central (Mr. Cousins) on accountancy during the last two years.

Detailed information on the cost of providing each answer is not recorded, but the total cost to my Department has probably been between £30,000 and £60,000 in the period since 1 December 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the laboratory of the Government chemist received the report on environmental sensor technologies commissioned by his Department from Robert Bogue and Partners; to whom and through what outlets the report will be made available; and what was the cost of the consultancy with Robert Bogue and Partners for the preparation of the report.

The report on environmental sensor technologies was received by the laboratory of the Government chemist on 3 September 1990. The findings of the consultancy were presented at an open seminar held in London on 28 November 1990. Copies of a short report which summarises the findings of the consultancy are available free on request from the laboratory of the Government chemist. A more detailed report can be purchased from the laboratory of the Government chemist. The cost of the consultancy is commercial-in-confidence information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the value of export credits granted to Iraq in each year since 1979.

I refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) on 17 October 1990, Official Report, column 837.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many ministerial visits have been made by his Department to Iraq since 1979.

Eight.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the value of export and import trade with Iraq expressed at constant prices in each year since 1979.

These figures from 1979 to 1988 are available from the "Annual Abstract of Statistics"—1990 Edition, tables 12·5 and 12·6. From 1989 to date, the figures are available from the "Monthly Digest of Statistics" tables 15·5 and 15·6.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how much has been spent by his Department on activities arising from trade fairs in Iraq since 1979;(2) if he will give details of financial and technical support supplied to visiting trade delegations from the United Kingdom to Iraq in each year since 1979.

Details of Department of Trade and Industry programme expenditure on financial support for trade delegations is not available for the years 1979–80 to 1983–84. Net expenditure on events opening in subsequent years, with that on trade fairs identified separately is set out in the table:

Assistance provided under the outward and inward trade missions, trade fairs and seminars scheme
Year	£ thousands	Of which trade fairs £ thousands
1984–85	145·6	135·3
1985–86	122·6	108·6
1986–87	158·7	149·7
1987–88	60·3	47·9
1988–89	238·6	221·8
1989–90	559·6	483·6
1990–91	4	—

These delegations received the additional support normally provided from Her Majesty's Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what companies were mentioned in documents forwarded to the Department by Walter Somers and Forgemasters Engineering Ltd. in connection with the inquiries made of the export licensing division since 1988; and in what capacity they were mentioned.

It is not the practice to reveal details of individual licensing applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many inquiries the export licensing division has received since the beginning of 1988 from (1) Walter Somers and (2) Forgemasters Engineering Ltd.; what products the inquiries concerned; which require export licences; and which were deemed to have a potential military application.

It is not the practice to reveal details of individual licensing inquiries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which United Nations agencies have received funding from Her Majesty's Government for work in Cambodia; if the £1·25 million announced to support United Nations work in Cambodia has been fully utilised by United Nations agencies; and if more funds will be made available to them.

Since the Government reviewed their policy towards Cambodia in November 1989 the following allocations have been made to United Nations agencies:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which nations have been refused refugee relief in the last three years.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total cost of United Kingdom subscriptions to international organisations in each of the last five years at constant prices.

The total cost to the United Kingdom aid programme of contributions and subscriptions to international organisations in each of the last five years at constant 1989 prices was as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current level of funding of the foreign investment advisory service; and how many staff it has.

The foreign investment advisory service has received funding as follows.

Period	US$
1 July 1988 to 30 June 1989 (actual)	2,182,000
1 July 1989 to 30 June 1990 (estimated)	3,360,000
1 July 1990.to 30 June 1991 (projected)	3,946,000

In the fiscal year ending 30 June 1990 FIAS employed the equivalent of eight staff years and seven consultant years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the purposes for which the United Kingdom has given aid to Cuba since 1987.

A total of £5,000 was spent in 1988 and in 1989 under a gift scheme run by Her Majesty's ambassador in Havana: the items involved were principally books and information equipment for local institutions. Data for 1990 is not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff are currently working within the joint FCO/ODA assistance unit.

Twenty-three.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the current advisory board members of each of the United Kingdom know-how funds.

The composition of the advisory boa rd for central and eastern Europe is as follows:

• Mr. George Robertson, MP
• Sir Russell Johnston, MP
• Mr. Nigel Forman, MP
• Mr. Gavin Laird, CBE
• Dr. Zbigniew Pelczynski
• Dr. John Howell
• Mr. Angus Cargill
• Sir Frank Lampl
• Dr. Dennis Deletant
• Mr. Ralph Land
• Dr. Edwina Moreton
• Dr. N. S. Wooding, CBE
• Ms. Hella Pick
• Professor Crampton
• Mr. John Murphy

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any of his officials are currently advising east European countries on privatisation policies.

Advice on privatisation in Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia is being given, not directly by officials but by British financial consultancies and individuals under contracts paid for by the know-how fund.

To ask the Minister for the Arts if there have been any items accepted in lieu of tax or allocated since an announcement was last made on the subject to the House.

Since my announcement on 19 December 1990, at column 175, I am pleased to announce that three further offers have been accepted. These consist of a collection of photographs by and of Cecil Beaton, a collection of private and Post Office telegraph stamps of Great Britain—1854 to 1881—and a collection of 38 paintings connected with East Anglia including a number of works by Pieter Tillemans together with a George III cabinet. These offers will satisfy £125,331, £113,000 and £211,552·80 respectively. No decision has yet been taken on the allocation of the Beaton photographs or the stamp collection, but the paintings and cabinet will be allocated to the Norwich Castle museum in accordance with the condition on which the offer was made. As with previous "hybrid" offers, the Norwich Castle museum agreed to pay the offerer an element of the difference between the tax liability and the special price.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by what method he intends to legislate for the proposed privatisation of Northern Ireland Electricity.

Since the matter is in the "transferred" field, it is proposed to legislate for the privatisation of NIE by an Order in Council under the Northern Ireland Act 1974. A small number of consequential amendments to certain United Kingdom enactments may need to be effected by a separate order under the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973. Any necessary taxation provisions, as "excepted" matters, would be contained in a Finance Bill.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what specific measures his Department has taken to promote energy efficiency; what further measures his Department intends to take to promote energy efficiency; and by what amount and what percentage of its total energy bill his Department's energy bill has been reduced over the past year.

On 6 December 1990 the Department of Economic Development issued a consultative paper on energy efficiency in Northern Ireland. It set out the extensive initiatives already under way to promote energy efficiency in the Province; by all other interested parties through a "Partnership in Action" programme. Specific recommendations for further action were made and comments on the consultative paper have been requested by 1 March 1991. A copy of the consultative paper has been placed in the Library.Since 1984 Northern Ireland has had its own interdepartmental committee on energy efficiency. It monitors annual energy use by Government and submits reports to the Secretary of State. In addition, Northern Ireland participates in the United Kingdom-wide ministerial group on energy efficiency. Moreover, schemes of assistance for low-income households and the best practice programme are operative in Northern Ireland.In the calendar year 1990 expenditure on energy in the Northern Ireland Government office estate was £2·1 million which represents a 5 per cent. reduction compared with the previous calendar year in 1990 price terms.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the size of the electorate in each Northern Ireland constituency; and what they were immediately following the last revision of parliamentary boundaries in Northern Ireland.

The number of electors in each parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland on the electoral register in 1990 and in 1983—the first register with details of the revised parliamentary constituencies—was:

Constituency	1990 Register	1983 Register
Belfast East	53,933	56,065
Belfast North	56,991	61,703
Belfast South	53,516	54,115
Belfast West	57,456	60,404
East Antrim	63,025	59,372
East Londonderry	75,407	68,215
Fermanagh and South Tyrone	70,535	68,913
Foyle	74,558	67,918
Lagan Valley	71,904	60,685
Mid Ulster	69,415	64,840
Newry and Armagh	68,154	62,896
North Antrim	69,562	63,951
North Down	68,496	62,194
Strangford	68,242	60,813
South Antrim	66,763	59,931
South Down	75,364	67,723
Upper Bann	67,281	61,447
Totals	1,130,602	1,061,185

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to give discretion to social fund officers, during spells of severe cold weather, to make cold weather payments in cases of need.

This is not in accordance with the regulation of the scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the last occasion on which cold weather payments were made by the Department of Health and Social Services; how many recipients received payments; and what was the total cost to the Department of Health and Social Services.

Cold weather payments totalling £233,194 were made to 46,646 people in respect of the winter of 1986–87.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to grant cold weather payments to (i) pensioners, (ii) those in receipt of income support and (iii) those in receipt of other benefits.

There are no plans to alter the present scheme which provides for a payment of £5 for any period of seven consecutive days during which the average temperature is 0 deg. Celsius or below. Those eligible are people getting income support which includes one of the pensioner or disability premiums or who have a child under five living with them. People aged 60 or over can have savings of up to £1,000 without the payment being affected. For other claimants the corresponding limit is £500.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the average increase in the price of home heating fuel since 2 August 1990.

The increase in prices of home heating oils peaked at the end of October 1990 at between 70 and 90 per cent. above those at 2 August 1990. Current prices are 33 to 38 per cent. above those on 2 August 1990. Some smokeless coal prices have risen by 14 to 17 per cent. in the same period, which included the removal of summer discounts on 8 September 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the names of all Government-appointed nominees to each education and library board since its formation, giving the year of appointment and the length of service in each case.

[holding answer 16 January 1991]: The education and library boards were established in 1973 and are now in their fifth term of office having been reconstituted every four years. The information requested about the membership of the boards during their first four terms could be compiled only at disproportionate cost. All board members are appointed by the head of the department, regardless of the source of their nomination. The current membership of the boards, excluding district council members who are selected for appointment by their councils, is as follows: