To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for reshaping his Ministry's organisation to make it more effective in meeting the requirement of its customers.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food provides a range of services for our customers. Our regional administrative staff handle grant and subsidy work, licensing and other services for farmers; animal health offices provide veterinary services; and ADAS makes available advice and expertise to farmers and growers.I have been considering how best to improve the delivery of our services, particularly in the light of the decision to establish ADAS as an executive agency from 1 April 1992. As a result, we are establishing three service centre networks, each one dedicated to delivering the best possible quality of service.1.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements he is making to maintain veterinary investigation service facilities for private veterinary surgeons and farmers in Cornwall.

One of the considerations which led to the decision to close the Truro centre was the low level of local demand by private veterinary surgeons for chargeable services. I have now concluded, however, that a VI service unit should be retained at Truro in order to continue to provide statutory and chargeable post-mortem facilities and statutory and chargeable advisory visits. It will be staffed by a veterinary investigation officer and supporting staff. The position will be reviewed in two years' time in the light of the demand, in the meantime, for the services.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the future of the farm woodland scheme.

The farm woodland scheme was introduced in October 1988 for a three-year trial period. That period will shortly expire and the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and I are undertaking a comprehensive review of the scheme.As a contribution to the review we commissioned three farm surveys from Robertson Gould Consultants on the silvicultural and the environmental aspects of the scheme in Great Britain, and from Wye college and the Scottish agricultural college, Aberdeen on the socio-economic aspects in England and Scotland respectively. These have now been published by the three organisations and copies are available from them. In addition we have received a number of submissions from organisations with a particular interest in the scheme. To give us time to analyse this information and to complete the review we have decided to continue to accept applications under the existing rules of the farm woodland scheme until 31 March 1992. An announcement about the outcome of the review will be made in the autumn.Finally, section 2(3) of the Farm Land and Rural Development Act 1988 requires that Ministers review the grants under the farm woodland scheme in Great Britain by 30 September 1991 and lay a report before Parliament. The Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and I have reviewed the annual payments provided under the scheme and have decided that they should remain unchanged. A report giving the background to our decision has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will describe the net effects on supply estimates of the European Community decision on agricultural prices for 1991–92.

The net voted provision for class III vote 1 intervention board—executive agency (CAP market support) is £72·270 million. Gross provision is £1,895 million. It is estimated that changes to market conditions which had arisen after the supply estimate was published would have increased the net provision required to some £110 million and that the price settlement has reduced this requirement to nearly £81 million. Supplementary estimates will be presented as necessary to reflect changes in vote provision required, reflecting also any further changes in market conditions.The effect of the price settlement arises mainly from reduced attractiveness of intervention for beef and dairy products, lowered rates of aid for oilseeds crushing and on protein plants and increased receipts because of the higher cereals co-responsibility levy. The devaluation of the green pound has increased sterling costs of CAP market support but has removed the MCAS on trade both within the community and with non-member states at current market exchange rates.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish a table showing the volume and value of imports and exports of fish-fingers in 1970, 1979, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 and the current year to date.

The value and volume of trade in deep-frozen raw fish fillets, coated with batter or breadcrumbs, are set out as follows. Comparable information is not available for 1970.

	Volume (thousand tonnes)		Value (£ million)
Period	Imports	Exports	Imports	Exports
1979	1·7	4·4	2·8	7·0
1987	2·4	3·2	6·4	7·6
1988	3·5	4·8	10·4	10·8
1989	3·9	5·0	11·0	9·9
1990	3·7	5·0	11·9	11·7
11991	1·8	2·3	5·9	4·9
1 January to May 1991.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish a table showing the volume and value of imports and exports of fish products other than fish fingers in 1970, 1979, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 and the current year to date.

The value and volume of trade in fish products other than deep-frozen raw fish fillets, covered with batter or breadcrumbs, are set out in the table. Comparable information is not available for 1970.

Period	Volume (thousand tonnes)		Value (£ million)
	Imports	Exports	Imports	Exports
1979	208·1	171·5	262·1	102·6
1987	299·2	118·5	647·4	251·6
1988	316·8	119·1	656·4	231·7
1989	361·8	131·3	741·2	256·3
1990	378·8	138·0	807·1	292·6
11991	155·7	172·3	325·9	124·3
1 January to May

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state, for each European Community member country, what requirements, if any, exist at the point of sale for the display of information on the chemical spraying of fruit and vegetables.

Labelling of four preservatives when used on citrus and one when used on bananas is required by some member states. An indication of other post-harvest treatments is required in France and is required in Greece for produce imported from outside the Community. No other requirements are known. However, the Council has asked the Commission to conduct a "close study" of "all aspects and practical consequences" of both pre and post-harvest pesticide labelling.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the work on marine mammals which is carried out at the Truro veterinary investigation centre; and how many and what type have been seen at that veterinary investigation centre in each of the last five years.

Post mortem examinations of marine mammals are carried out on behalf of research workers at the Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London as part of a project funded by the Department of the Environment. The number and type of submissions examined at the Truro veterinary investigation centre in each of the last five years are:

	Post mortem examinations of carcasses			Examinations of carcass viscera only (carcasses not examined)
	Whale	Dolphin/Porpoise	Seal	Whale	Dolphin/porpoise	Seal
1986	0	1	1	0	0	1
1987	0	0	0	0	0	0
1988	0	0	2	0	3	0
1989	1	2	5	1	2	1
1990	1	10	6	0	0	1
1991	0	5	5	0	0	0

Table 6.7 Costs and earnings of hired labour
£ million (unless otherwise specified)					Calendar years
	Average of 1979–81	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990 (forecast)
Hired labour costs Wages and salaries1	906	1,271	1,271	1,330	1,375	1,479
Insurance payments	112	104	99	106	117	129
Other payments2	2	7	7	7	8	7
Total	1,021	1,383	1,378	1,443	1,500	1,616
Hours and earnings of regular whole-time male workers, 20 years and over
Hours per week3	46·1	46·7	46·5	46·6	46·6	46·8
Earnings per week (£)4	84·7	140·8	148·0	155·4	167·4	187·4
Index of earnings in real terms (deflated by the RPI, 1985 = 100)	91·1	101·5	102·4	102·6	102·6	104·7
1 Includes perquisites.
2 Includes redundancy payments, workers' pension scheme and youth training scheme.
3 All hours worked and statutory holidays.
4 Includes pay for statutory holidays, employers' contribution to employees' community charge and payments in kind for houses, board and lodging and milk which are valued at rates laid down by the agricultural wages boards.

Table 6.8 Interest
£ million (unless otherwise specified)					Calendar years
	Average of 1979–81	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990 (forecast)
Interest rates
Average bank base lending rate in the United Kingdom (percentage)	14·4	10·9	9·7	10·1	13·9	14·8
Average rate of interest on bank advances to agriculture (percentage)	16·8	13·3	12·1	12·5	16·2	17·1
Interest charges (for current farming purposes and buildings and works) on:
bank advances	423	656	595	636	881	991
AMC loans	5	6	7	7	9	11
instalment credit	20	30	29	34	48	59
leased assets	14	58	42	50	65	68
other credit1	3	3	4	4	5	6
less interest on deposits2	47	54	40	34	52	54
Total	417	700	637	696	955	1,080
1This includes interest paid on loans from the Agricultural Credit Corporation, from the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland and from private sources.
2Interest earned on money held on short term deposit.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, fisheries and food what plans exist for a team of his scientists to join Cornish fisherman to observe large-scale drift-netting in operation; and if he will make a statement.

A MAFF observer is currently accompanying the present fishing trip. Further plans will be made in the light of findings on this trip. The nets being

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the amount paid on interest charges by farmers for current farming purposes and buildings and works for (a) bank advances, (b) Agricultural Mortgage Corporation loans, (c) instalment credit, (d) leased assets, (e) other credit and (f) interest on deposits for 1990; what forecasts he has for 1991; and if he will make a statement.

The latest estimates of the level of interest payments in 1990 were published in table 6.8 of Agriculture in the United Kingdom: 1990. Forecasts for the 1991 year will be contained in the next edition to be published early in 1992. I am sure that farmers generally will welcome the recent reductions in interest rates, which have been made possible by the success of the Government's anti-inflation policy.used are about one-eighth of the large-scale 50 kilometre nets in the Pacific which prompted United Nations resolution against drift nets.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out the costs of running the state veterinary service, excluding compensation paid as a result of animals contracting various diseases, for each year since 1979; what are his estimates of expenditure for each year until 1993–94; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested for each year since 1979 is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The baseline figures for expenditure for each year until 1993–94, is as follows:

	£ million
1991–92	27·8
1992–93	30·0
1993–94	32·9

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made by the European Community to require compulsory nutrient-labelling of wines and other alcoholic beverages, with full disclosures of all chemical additives, colourings and preservatives, as well as of any pesticide used on the fruit.

General compulsory nutrition labelling is not an option at the moment as there is no support from other member states. We therefore believed it right to put our full weight behind the Nutrition Labelling Rules Directive (90/496/EEC) which, with the exception of drinks subject to the labelling requirements of the wine regime, is fully applicable to alcoholic drinks. The Directive provides for the voluntary declaration of nutrients within mandatory formats. Declarations will be compulsory only if a nutrition claim is made. United Kingdom has achieved provision for a review of arrangements five years after implementation and will look at the need for general compulsory labelling in the light of experience gained.Proposals to amend the EC Food Labelling Directive (79/112/EEC) to require ingredient listing for alcoholic beverages have not yet been received from the European Commission. These are expected late summer 1991.

To ask the Attorney-General what is the average period of time that it takes for the Land Registry to register fully a change in title.

The average period of time that it currently takes the Land Registry to register a change in title is six weeks. A much faster service is provided where the application is urgent.

To ask the Attorney-General what proposals he has for improving the speed and efficiency of the Land Registry.

Following its establishment as an executive agency the Land Registry published performance targets agreed with the Lord Chancellor and covering the three years 1991–1994. Those targets included the following improvements in productivity and speed of services:

	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94
Productivity
Progressive reduction in unit costs	Target: to achieve or better a 6 per cent, improvement over the three-year period.
Progressive increase in output per post per year
Quality of Service
Speed
Percentage of pre-completion applications handled in four days	91	91·5	92
Average handling time for post-completion applications (weeks)	7	6	5

To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer of 24 June, Official Report, column 352, if he will arrange for a copy of the research on the potential costs and savings to the Crown prosecution service, according to the range of options open to the Lord Chancellor's advisory committee on legal education and training, to be placed in the Library.

No.

To ask the Attorney-General how many (a) women and (b) men were authorised to sit as assistant recorders in the last five years at (i) 12 years or under call, (ii) 13 years call, (iii) 14 years call, (iv) 15 years call, (v) 16 years call, (vi) 17 years call, (vii) 18 years call, (viii) 19 years call and (ix) 20 or more years call, respectively.

The information is not available in precisely the form requested. For those who are currently serving as assistant recorders (who include the majority of those authorised to sit in the last five years) the numbers for each length of call, or, in the case of solicitors, length of admission, are as follows:

	Women	Men
12 years or less	1	2
13 years	1	5
14 years	1	16
15 years	—	28
16 years	3	42
17 years	5	47
18 years	4	50
19 years	3	46
20 or more years	9	157

To ask the Attorney-General what is the average length of call and average age on appointment of (a) women and (b) men currently serving as assistant recorders.

The information is as follows:

	Average of length of call1 (years)	Average age (years)
Women	19·0	43·2
Men	19·2	43·4
1 Or, for a solicitor, length of admission.

To ask the Attorney-General what proportion of those called to sit as assistant recorders were women in 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990 respectively.

The information is not available in the form requested. However, invitations since 1986 to attend the Judicial Studies Board criminal induction courses, which must be completed before authorisation to sit as an assistant recorder, indicate that the proportions are as follows:

	Women Per cent.	Men Per cent.
1986	9	91
1987	5	95
1988	4	96
1989	7	93
1990	7	93
19911	15	85
1 To date.

To ask the Attorney-General how many women solicitors and barristers are statutorily qualified for any circuit appointment.

This information is not held by Government in the form requested. Eligibility for appointment depends on the number of years for which a solicitor or barrister has held the appropriate qualification within the meaning of section 71 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990. The Law Society and the General Council of the Bar regulate the holding of such qualifications by solicitors and barristers respectively and lists of practitioners are published on a regular basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will n-rake a statement on an international United Nations arms sales register.

Our initiative for a UN register has received wide support. The European Council on 28–29 June decided that the Twelve should put forward a joint resolution to the next UN General Assembly proposing a register. Leaders at the London economic summit affirmed their commitment to the early adoption of such a register. At their meeting in Paris on 8 and 9 July the five permanent members of the Security Council also endorsed this approach. We are pleased that the recent report of the UN expert study group on transparency has recommended the prompt establishment of a register.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he intends to take to secure the elimination of nuclear weapons in Israel.

As a depositary state of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) it is our policy to take every suitable opportunity both to raise the importance of nuclear non-proliferation with all non-parties to the non-proliferation treaty and to lobby them to accede as soon as possible. This would engage them in an undertaking not to manufacture or acquire nuclear weapons.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will call for a report from Her Majesty's Government's consul on Corfu into the circumstances of the arrest of Mr. Scott Joyce of 28 Cannon Drive, Ash Green, Coventry, on 26 June and his sentencing to 12 months' imprisonment on 27 June, and as to whether legal representation was available to him.

We have received a report from our consul at Corfu about the arrest and conviction of Mr. Scott Joyce. The consul was notified on 27 June 1991 of Mr. Joyce's arrest the previous day. Mr. Joyce's trial was held the same day, after he had confirmed to the consul that he did not intend to request a postponement. He was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment.The consul, aware that Mr. Joyce did not have funds for a lawyer, asked whether he required assistance to contact anyone for funds. Mr. Joyce declined this offer, and was therefore unrepresented in court.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government intend to ratify the European convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters and the additional protocol to the European convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters.

The Government of the United Kingdom intend to ratify the European convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters and the additional protocol to the European convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters in August this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the income from the sale of British Rail property for each year since 1980; what is his estimate of the value of property at present owned by British Rail; and into what broad categories the property can be classified.

Income from the sale by the British Rail Property Board—BRPB—of British Rail property for each year since 1980 was as follows:

Year	Net sales after expenses (£ million)
1980	33
1981	38
1982	29
1983	67
11984–85	145
1985–86	73
1986–87	101

Year	Net sales after expenses (£ million)
1987–88	176
1988–89	265
1989–90	2331
1990–91	2122
1 15 months.
2 Includes sales of property acquired in connection with the channel tunnel rail link project.

The book value of the assets owned by British Rail is shown in BR's accounts, published with the board's annual report; the value of the board's interest in non-operational property on 31 March 1991 was £268·5 million. Operational property may also be sold once it becomes surplus to operational requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the cost of the Jubilee line extension he currently expects to recover from Olympia and York, and other private sources; what is the current estimated cost in current prices of the Jubilee line extension; and whether private sector contributions to the line will be inflation-protected.

The approved cost of the Jubilee line extension is £1,042 million in 1989 prices, equivalent to £1,188 million in today's prices, although the figure is currently under review. The agreed private sector contributions are spread over a longer period than the construction; when costs and contributions are discounted to a common base year, some 17 per cent. of the approved cost is covered by contributions. These are not inflation-protected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether disabled people will be permitted to drive invalid vehicles across the new Dartford bridge.

The Dartford Tunnel Byelaws 1988, as amended, permit the passage of any vehicle, including an invalid carriage, through the tunnels as long as it is capable of maintaining a minimum speed of 10 mph. I understand that the crossing operator, Dartford River Crossing Ltd, intends to propose the same conditions for the new bridge when it opens later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends to announce a shortlist of the options proposed for the route of the channel tunnel rail link; when he expects to make a decision; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are still considering the large volume of material submitted by British Rail in the last 11 weeks. We have also had discussions with the proponents of the options that were studied. The issues were complex and require careful and thorough examination.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether it is a condition of the operating licence for ferries docking in ports in the United Kingdom that the post emergency evacuation and exit signs are in English on all ships.

Emergency signs, illustrations and instructions for passengers are required to be in the English language and any other appropriate language, on all shops operating to United Kingdom ports.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the annual number of movements of radioactive material, including medical isotopes, and sources for use in industry.

My Department does not collect data of the kind requested.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue was received in 1990–91 from value added tax on sales of new cars; and what is the estimated revenue for 1991–92.

An estimated £2·6 billion in valued added tax was received in 1990–91 from the sale of new cars. A corresponding figure for 1991–92 is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the rate of total sales tax as a percentage of the retail price on new cars of two litres or less in the United Kingdom; and what are the comparable figures for Belgium, France, Italy and Spain, respectively.

Rates of total sales tax as a percentage of the retail price on new volume cars of two litres or less in the United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Italy and Spain according to the latest information available, are as follows:

Total sales tax as a percentage of the retail price on new volume cars of two litres or less
Country	Per cent.
United Kingdom	21·4
Belgium	20
France	18
Italy	16
Spain	24·8

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the college of national regulatory authorities from the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Spain was set up to monitor BCCI; why it was established at that date; when its existence was made known to the public; and how.

The College of Supervisors first met in May 1988. The supervisors had for some time wished to improve their capacity to monitor the BCC group as a whole, and this was facilitated by the appointment towards the end of 1987 of a single auditor to the group (Price Waterhouse). The existence of the college became known to the media during 1989. The function of the College of Supervisors was explained in answer to questions in both Houses in 1990 (House of Commons Official Report, 18 January 1990, col. 402, House of Lords Official Report 23 April Cols. 407–23), in connection with the convictions in Tampa, Florida.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what legislative changes, or changes in other statutory procedures, he proposes in the light of the closure of the Bank of Credit and Commercial International.

[holding answer on 22 July 1991]: I refer the hon. Member to the statement that I made on 19 July at cols. 715–29 and the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 July at cols. 757–64.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many copies of the 16th report of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights, 1990–91, on Northern Ireland, have been printed by HMSO.

One thousand copies.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will meet the chairman of Midland bank to discuss ways of improving the flow of information between the main bank and its subsidiaries.

I have no plans to do so.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the adequacy of the information given to shareholders about the financial position of Midland International Trade Services within Midland bank; and if he will make a statement.

I have received no representations on this subject.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Treasury order will be laid bringing into effect the proposal to increase from £150 to £250 the maximum monthly savings limit on an individual employee's contributions under an approved savings-related share option scheme.

The Treasury order will be made as soon as possible after Royal Assent to the Finance Bill and will bring into force the new £250 limit from 1 September 1991.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will revise the procedures for providing guidance to the Bank of England about the production of a list of authorised banks; and if he will make a statement on the categorization used to identify differences in status of authorised banks.

[holding answer 19 July 1991]: The Bank of England has a statutory duty under section 17(1) of the Banking Act 1987, to publish in its annual Banking Act report a list of the institutions authorised at the end of the financial year. The Act also sets out in detail the criteria which the Bank is to apply in determining who should be authorised. The list published by the Bank does not identify differences in the status of authorised banks, except that UK-incorporated banks are distinguished from those incorporated overseas.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the achievements of (a) his policies and (b) his Department in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.

[holding answer on 22 July 1991]: The Government's economic policies are designed to maintain an environment in which business and enterprise can develop and prosper. The Treasury therefore places a high priority on helping small businesses, and among the specific measures included in the 1991 Budget were:

• allowing 700,000 small employers with average monthly PAYE and national insurance contributions bills below £400 to pay quarterly rather than monthly; increasing by over a third the VAT registration threshold to an annual turnover of £35,000—as a result up to 150,000 businesses need not be registered for VAT;
• raising the turnover threshold for VAT annual accounting from £250,000 to £300,000. Qualifying businesses only have to make one return a year instead of four, with payments being made monthly;
• halving to one year the period firms must wait before claiming relief from VAT on debts written off in their accounts;
• increasing by a quarter to £250,000 the profits limit below which companies pay corporation tax at the small companies rate of 25 per cent. The limit for marginal relief was also raised by a quarter to £1,250,000;
• allowing unincorporated firms to set trading losses against capital gains tax, as companies can do already; increasing the limit for capital gains tax relief on businesses sold by individuals on retirement, and reducing the qualifying age from 60 to 55 years;
• reviewing the VAT serious misdeclaration penalty so as to produce proposals for next year. In the meantime, the penalty rate was reduced from 30 to 20 per cent.

Inland Revenue and customs and excise officials also continuously review forms, explanatory notices and leaflets with the aim of providing guidance which is easily understood.Despite the recession, the success of Government's policies is demonstrated by the latest statistics on VAT registrations which show that, although down in 1989, there was a net average increase of around 800 new businesses per week during 1990.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent agreements have been reached on debt release for the World's poorest countries (a) bilaterally and (b) through the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the European Community.

The Government has already cancelled around £1 billion of old aid loans owed by the poorest countries. A British proposal led to the agreement at the 1988 Toronto economic summit that government creditors would reschedule on concessional terms the other official debt of the poorest countries pursuing economic reforms. Twenty countries have benefited so far.At last year's Commonwealth Finance Minister's Meeting in Trinidad, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, when he was Chancellor, launched an initiative to increase official debt relief for the poorest countries. The Trinidad Terms, if accepted by all Paris Club creditors, could lead to debt reduction of up to $18 billion. The Government has been pressing to secure improved terms in line with the original United Kingdom proposals. We welcome the positive commitment to debt relief for the poorest, most indebted countries made by the leader of the `Group of Seven' countries at the conclusion of the recent London economic summit and hope that the Paris Club will be able to reach an agreement on new measures very soon.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the proposed relocation of Inland Revenue work to Nottingham.

The Inland Revenue are to hold an architectural competition for a new building in Nottingham. The new building—which will be ready for occupation in 1994—will house 1,800 jobs which are being relocated from the London area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table to show, for each year since 1968 to the latest available date, the number of terrorist explosions which took place in Londonderry city and the number of bombs defused; how many in each were on (1) the west bank, (2) on the east bank of the River Foyle and (3) how many were in commercial or retail premises.

The information in the precise form requested is not readily available. However, the following table gives details from 1983 to June 1991 broken down in police sub-divisions in the Londonderry area.

Bomb attacks in Londonderry area 1983 to 30 June 1991
	Police sub-divisions
	Strand road	Waterside
All incidents1	175	57
Explosions	139	38
Defusings	109	47
Commercial incidents2	17	5
Explosions	14	8
Defusings	3	11
1 One incident may include more than one explosion and/or more than one defusing.
2 Commercial attacks are included in the "all incidents" figure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total cost of printing and distribution of (1) "Serving the Community—The Northern Ireland Prison Service in the 1990s", (2) "Ring of Gullion Proposal: AONB Guide to Designation", (3) "Working for Patients HSS Trusts: A Working Guide", (4) "Better Service Better Care; What the Changes in Health and Social Services Mean for You", (5) "Registrar General NI: Annual Report 1989", (6) "Legal Annual Report 1989–90", (7) "Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights Report for 1990–1991", (8) "People Policing Progress—The Work of the Police Authority 1988–1991", (9) "Rate Collection Agency Framework Document April 1991" and (10) "Annual Report of the Chief Adjudication Officer for 1989–90 on Adjudication Standards (DHSS)"; and who was awarded the printing contract in each case.

The cost of printing, publishing and distributing the following publications are borne by HMSO who aim to recover costs from sales revenue:

1. Serving the Community—

The Northern Ireland Prison Service in the 1990s.

3. Working for Patients HSS Trusts: A Working Guide.

4. Better Service Better Care: What the Changes in Health and Social Services Mean for You.

5. Registrar General NI: Annual Report 1989.

6. Legal Aid Annual Report 1989–1990 (Title as given not known).

7. Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights Report for 1990–91.

9. Rate Collection Agency Framework Document April 1991.

10. Annual Report of the Chief Adjudication Officer for 1989–90 on Adjudication Standards (DHSS).

Northern Ireland Departments purchase copies for distribution, the total cost of which was £117,265·43.Additionally, "Better Service Better Care: What the changes in Health and Social Services Mean for You" was distributed throughout the Province at a cost of £24,969.One publication, "Ring of Gullion Proposal: AONB Guide to Designation", has not yet been published in final form and costs have not yet been included.The one publication not printed via HMSO, "People Policing Progress—The Work of the Police Authority 1988–1991", was contracted independently by the Department but details are not released to protect commercial confidentiality.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what additional resources the Government will allocate to health and social services in order that provision can be made for training of hearing therapists.

Funding for in-service training is met from within the resources allocated to health and social services boards each year. Over £1 billion has been allocated to the health and personal social services in Northern Ireland this year which should allow board, s to meet the cost of training hearing therapists.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what account is taken of family ties between senior officials of the public body and managers or directors of the tendering body in considering competitive tendering for work previously done by direct labour organisations.

As part of the competitive tendering process, all tenderers are asked to declare family ties between senior officials of the public body and managers or directors of the tendering firm. Similarly, senior officials are expected to declare interests or ties.Where such a tie is declared, or has been identified, the senior official is not permitted to act in any capacity involving the evaluation of tenders for any competition which the firm was taking part.

To ask the Secretary of state for Northern Ireland what inquiries are made as to fiscal probity of the tendering company and its compliance with employment legislation in considering competitive tendering for work previously done by direct labour organisations.

As part of the competitive tendering process, audited accounts and references are to be requested and examined for all tenderers.All tenderers are required to sign undertakings that their organisations comply with all legislation as it in Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy to ensure the provision of resources at the level necessary to maintain a rural education presence in isolated communities.

The Government continue to recognise that Northern Ireland require a relatively high number of small rural schools. Education authorities are required to ensure that their local management of schools arrangements provide adequate resources to all schools which must remain in operation, regardless of their size.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish details of the cash value and age-weighted pupil units allocated by each education and library board in Northern Ireland under the local management of schools to (a) pupils attending secondary schools and (b) pupils attending grammar schools.

The age-weighting of pupils depend on the form attended. There is no distinction between secondary and grammar school pupil weightings. The range of age-weightings in each education and library board is:

Prisoners released on licence from indeterminate sentences imposed for terrorist murder of civilians
Number released by years served												Total released
Year	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18
1982	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	2
1983	—	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2
1984	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1
1985	—	4	3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	7
1986	—	1	6	1	1	1	—	—	—	—	—	10
1987	—	1	—	6	6	3	2	—	—	—	—	18
1988	—	1	3	—	4	7	2	1	—	—	—	18
1989	—	—	—	1	2	5	10	3	5	—	—	26
1990	—	—	—	—	1	5	20	21	—	2	—	49

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the value in cash terms of the monies retained by each education and library board in Northern Ireland to provide advisory services to schools; and what percentage of the funds allocated to each board this cash sum represents.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave on 17 June 1991 at column 34–35.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Irish Government are consulted under the Anglo-Irish Agreement on the release on licence from indeterminate sentences of individuals convicted for murder of members of the security forces and the prison service in Northern Ireland.

There is no consultation between the British and Irish governments, either under the auspices of the Anglo-Irish Inter-governmental Conference or by any other means, about the release on licence of any prisoner serving an indeterminate sentence.

To ask the Secretary of State for northern Ireland how many persons sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of civilians, whose murders were occasioned by political or sectarian motives, were released on licence in each of the last 10 years, indicating in each case the length of time actually served in prison.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what resources are currently being spent on research for alternative forms of energy.

Expenditure in support of my Department's substantial research, development and demonstration programme into renewable energy, is expected for 1991–92 to be about £24 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what quantities of plutonium are currently under safeguards at (a) each of the operating nuclear power plants and (b) at Sellafield; and if he will indicate the proportions of plutonium under nuclear safeguards at Sellafield which originated in (i) United Kingdom nuclear power plants operated by the home nuclear power generators, Nuclear Electric and Scottish Nuclear; (ii) foreign nuclear plants, in fuel shipped to Sellafield for reprocessing and (iii) nuclear reactors operated by British Nuclear Fuels plc and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, respectively.

I refer the hon. Member to my Department's press release No. 195 of 18 October 1990, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what preservation of amenity statements have been produced under schedule 9 to the Electricity Act 1989.

Schedule 9 statements, which constitute the environmental guidelines the licence holder intends to follow, have been produced by all the regional electricity companies, National Power, PowerGen, Nuclear Electric, and the National Grid Company. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the change in terms of percentage and pence per kilowatt hour for domestic electricity consumers since 31 March 1988 in each of the 12 regional electricity company licence areas; and if he will give comparable figures for Scotland and each major European Community country for which comparable figures are available.

Questions on tariffs and prices paid with respect to the privatised electricity companies are matters to be addressed to the companies concerned, though the Director General of Electricity Supply has certain responsibilities relating to these.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions with the European Commission he has had and what written communication he has received concerning alleged violations of article 37 of the treaty of Rome regarding statutory exclusive rights to imports and exports of gas and electricity; and if he will make a statement.

Her Majesty's Government have received no official communication from the Commission on this matter. However, the Government have noted that on 21 March the Commission announced in a press statement that infraction proceedings would be instituted against a number of member states, including the United Kingdom, under article 37 of the treaty of Rome.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he is satisfied with progress towards the development of a competitive gas market by independent suppliers.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 July 1991, cols. 3–4]: Forty-five per cent. of the new gas contracted during the period 1 June 1990 to 31 May 1991 was for supply to the market by companies other than British Gas. Of this 45 per cent., 66 per cent. was sold for power generation. The remaining 34 per cent., amounting to 15 per cent. of total new gas contracted during the year, was destined for the general industrial and commerical market.For the two-year monitoring period 1 June 1989 to 31 May 1991 the corresponding figures are: 37 per cent. of new gas contracted was for supply to the market by companies other than British Gas. Eighty per cent. of this was for power generation, and 20 per cent., amounting to 7 per cent. of total gas contracted, was for sale to industrial and commercial customers.Actual deliveries of new gas to industrial and commercial customers by suppliers other than British Gas were equivalent to just over 1 per cent. of British Gas-contract sales in 1991.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list all the programmes funded by the second framework programme for research and development by the European Community, giving in each case the percentage of the total spent on the programme which came to the United Kingdom and the figures for France, Germany and Italy.

The European Commission has provided selective statistics for the contracts awarded to individual member states for some of the specific programmes of the second framework programme. But these are incomplete. We have already urged the Commission to provide full data. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

To ask the Prime Minister whether, during the course of the state visit of President Mubarak of Egypt, he will raise with the president the case of the British company Wena Hotels.

The Egyptian Government are fully aware of our concern about the problems faced by Wena Hotels. The forthcoming state visit will provide an opportunity to emphasise it. Meanwhile, as my hon. Friend will be aware, Wena Hotels has commenced proceedings in the High Court.

To ask the Prime Minister what research Her Majesty's Government are currently sponsoring on the effects of energetic fragmented sub-atomic particles on oxygen atoms and the global ozone layer.

The Natural Environment Research Council and the Science and Engineering Research Council both undertake a wide range of research, funded from the Government's science budget, which is related to stratospheric ozone. This work addresses all aspects of the global ozone layer and its depletion, including the effects of high energy particles.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will ensure wide circulation of the report on the state of implementation of policies set out in the environment White Paper, "This Common Inheritance," referred to in his speech at Olympia on 10 July.

Yes.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out those areas for which ministers are referring parliamentary questions for reply to next steps executive agencies.

The Government's policy for dealing with parliamentary questions on matters delegated to executive agencies was set out in their response to the Eighth Report of the Treasury and Civil Service Committee (October 1990, Cm 1263) as follows:

"It is for Ministers responsible for particular Agencies to respond in the way they consider most helpful and appropriate to inquiries raised by Members … In the case of Parliamentary Questions concerning day-to-day operational matters delegated to the Agency, Ministers will normally arrange for the Chief Executive to write to the Member (and will reply to this effect in Hansard)".

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 23 July.

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 he having further meetings later today.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the Government's policy on the implications of homosexuality for security vetting.

All candidates for posts involving access to highly classified information are vetted in accordance with the procedures described in the statement of vetting policy announced by my predecessor on 24 July 1990 at columns 159–61.Because homosexual acts, even between consenting adults, remain criminal offences in a number of overseas countries, evidence of homosexuality, even if acknowledged, has been treated under this policy as a bar to clearance at PV (TS)—positive vetting (top secret)—or enhanced positive vetting (EPV) level in overseas posts and therefore as a bar to recruitment to certain areas of employment, including the diplomatic service. In the light of changing social attitudes towards homosexuality in this country and abroad, and the correspondingly greater willingness on the part of homosexuals to be open about their sexuality, their lifestyle and their relationships, the Government have reviewed this policy and concluded that in future there should be no posts involving access to highly classified information for which homosexuality represents an automatic bar to security clearance, except in the special case of the armed forces where homosexual acts remain offences under the service disciplinary Acts.The susceptibility of the subject to blackmail or pressure by a foreign intelligence service will continue to be a factor in the vetting of all candidates for posts involving access to highly classified information. An individual assessment is made in each case, taking account of the evidence which emerges in the course of the vetting process and the level of security clearance required.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of local education colleges' expenditure in each county is currently covered by (a) central Government, (b) local education authorities, (c) training providers and training and enterprise councils and (d) fees paid by students.

The information requested is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which bodies or organisations will be finally consulted by the proposed funding council for further education in determining the annual budgets of individual further education in colleges in Mid-Glamorgan.

The Further Education Funding Council for Wales has not yet been established. The consultation period on the proposals contained in the White Paper, "Education and Training for the 21st Century", has just ended and comments from interested parties are being taken into consideration in formulating the necessary legislation. Once established, the funding council will be required to allocate funds in a way that secures the efficient management of the colleges: the extent of consultation will be a matter for the council itself to determine. It will work closely with the training and enterprise councils, as stated in the White Paper.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to inform general medical practitioners of the range of services provided by the community dental service.

This is an issue for family health services authorities and district health authorities to decide in the light of local needs and circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much time he has allowed for consultation with local authorities in Wales on local government reorganisation; and what consideration he has given to whether the time is adequate.

We have allowed 4½ months from the date of publication of our consultation paper, "The Structure of Local Government in Wales", for the preparation of responses. We consider that this period is entirely adequate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will consult other representative bodies in Wales, in addition to local authorities, on local government reorganisation in the same manner that representative bodies were consulted on the Kilbrandon report in 1974.

We have distributed our consultation paper on "The Structure of Local Government in Wales" to a large number of bodies and persons inside and outside local government, and we will consider all submissions on these matters which are put to us.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to improve the provision of dental services available to residents of the Gower peninsula.

Assessment of the needs for, and securing the provision of, dental services at local level is the responsibility of the appropriate family health services authority and district health authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is average gross income of (a) general dental practitioners and (b) general medical practitioners in Wales for the latest available year.

The intended average gross income for general dental practitioners for 1991–92 is £74,008. The intended average gross income for general medical practitioners is currently £54,790 per annum and will rise to £55,484 per annum from 1 December 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the current waiting lists for patients to have their first consultation with consultants in each of the main specialties in West Glamorgan and Neath hospitals respectively; and what were the comparable figures in each of the last three years.

Information on the numbers of patients waiting for a first out-patient consultation in five specialties, general surgery (including urology), ear, nose and throat, traumatic and orthopaedic surgery, ophthalmology, and gynaecology, at Neath general hospital and West Glamorgan as a whole is published in the "Welsh Hospital Waiting List Bulletin" series. Neither of the other two hospitals in Neath, Cymla and Tonna, treat patients in these specialties. The bulletins are published twice a year giving figures as at March and September and copies are in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to reduce unemployment in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

My Department and other Government agencies operate a wide range of measures aimed at combating unemployment. Last financial year, these secured some 19,500 new jobs in Wales.The Welsh Office and associated bodies will continue to respond swiftly to any opportunities that arise which have the potential to reduce unemployment. Last month, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment announced a substantial package of additional measures to help unemployed people back into work. This includes expert advice and help in looking for a job, extra training and a new work experience programme—employment action. This new package, together with the other measures already in place, amounts to the most comprehensive set of programmes we have ever had to alleviate unemployment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes to visit the Trecwn naval base; and if he will make a statement.

Although I have no present plans to visit RNAD Trecwn, I have asked the Welsh Development Agency and the West Wales training and enterprise council to look at action which needs to be taken to alleviate the effects of the proposed closure of the depot in 1996. Special help will also be available in the area from the employment service in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to visit Cardiff airport; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to visit Cardiff-Wales airport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to announce the outcome of his recent consultation exercise on exemptions for the teaching of Welsh in the national curriculum.

I have now considered the advice of the Curriculum Council for Wales and the representations made by others to the consultation document which I issued in early May. I now intend to proceed to make Regulations to exempt the 10 secondary schools—three in Clwyd, two in Gwent and five in south Pembrokeshire —as specified in my consultation document from the key stage 4 (pupils aged 14 to 16) to teach Welsh in the national curriculum. Schools where exemptions apply will be encouraged to offer those pupils who so wish, the opportunity to study the language.Regulations have been made to extend the implementation timetable for a number of schools in Dyfed, Gwent, Powys and south Glamorgan and to exempt from the national curriculum requirements to study Welsh pupils arriving in schools from outside Wales or transferring between schools in Wales late in their school career but with no previous experience of learning the language.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has of the annual capital and current expenditure of each of the further education colleges in Mid Glamorgan.

The information requested is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to establish counselling and mediation services to enable the Law Commission's recommendations on divorce law reform to be implemented adequately; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are presently reviewing all aspects of divorce reform and conciliation as part of its consideration of the Law Commission's report. It would, accordingly, be premature to reach a view on conciliation and mediation services.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the review of the funding of marriage guidance.

I am considering the findings of the review. The separate question of funding is under consideration as part of the current public expenditure survey.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to provide funding to Relate to assist the probation service with domestic supervision cases.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will undertake an assessment of the burden which would devolve on the public purse were the charity Relate to cease its counselling functions; and if he will make a statement.

No. The detailed research on which to base a firm estimate is not available. Considerable further research and verification would be necessary before the estimate Relate itself has drawn up could be used as a definitive basis for calculation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being taken to ensure that recruits to the Metropolitan police receive training in race relations after their initial training at Hendon initial training school; and how many recruits received such additional training in the financial year 1990–91.

Following their initial training at Hendon training school, probationer constables in the Metropolitan police receive further training on the local area to which they have been posted. The precise content is determined by local training managers but most probationers become involved in discussion groups with representatives from minority groups including the ethnic minorities. A community and race relations handbook is being produced which will be given to every area training unit and to every recruit.Because of the diverse nature of local training arrangements the number of recruits receiving race relations training on leaving Hendon in the financial year 1990–91 could be ascertained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 28 June, Official Report, column 561, if the Home Office research and planning unit will be undertaking any quantitative research on the effects of Crime Prevention Week.

No, but our public relations branch commissioned quantitative market research into the effects of the advertising campaign associated with the week. The stated objectives of the week were to raise awareness of crime prevention and to build new partnerships which could have a lasting benefit in tackling crime. The research found continuing high levels of awareness of crime prevention and positive attitudes to it. A survey of police forces showed that they found the week of value in strengthening their relationship with neighbourhood watch, crime prevention panels, the press, local businesses and other sections of the community. These results indicate that the main objectives of the week were achieved.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the future financing of probation hostels.

We have no plans at present to alter the current arrangements for the financing of probation hostels.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what effect he estimates the abolition of slopping out will have on the programme for the abolition of overcrowding in prisons.

The majority of prisoners are already held in establishments which are not overcrowded. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced on 25 February, at column 660, that the programme to end slopping out would be accelerated and it was planned that by the end of 1994 all prisoners would have access to sanitation. The ending of this practice is a priority, even though the need to take accommodation out of use temporarily to enable sanitation systems to be installed will delay the ending of overcrowding in those establishments—principally local prisons—which are currently operating at levels of occupancy above certified normal accommodation. Under current projections, the average prison population and average available accommodation is expected to come into balance in 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will refer the case of Michael Thynne of Her Majesty's prison Bristol to the Parole Board as soon as the revised procedures for reviewing discretionary life prisoners are in operation.

Over 200 discretionary life sentence prisoners will be entitled to have their cases considered by the Parole Board when the provisions of part II of the Criminal Justice Bill come into effect. We shall need to consider, in consultation with the board, how they should be dealt with and what priorities should be established. The comments made by the European court of human rights on Mr. Thynne's case will be fully taken into account in that consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for rewarding prisoners who work with remission of time served.

The Woolf report suggested that the prison service should consider, as part of its review of prisoners' pay, the option of linking the amount a prisoner earns to earlier release or an earlier date for parole review. The White Paper, to be published later this year, will contain our response to the Woolf inquiry's proposals on prisoners' pay.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to split the Humberside police force or to reduce its complement.