To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many drought orders his Department has granted in each year since 1979; and how many of these involved varying the conditions of abstraction.

The Secretary of State for the Environment has made the following numbers of drought orders:

	Numbers
1980	2
1981	nil
1982	13
1983	5
1984	92
1985	nil
1986	nil
1987	nil
1988	1
1989	74
1990	65
11991	24
1 To date.

Most of these involve a temporary variation in the conditions governing the abstraction of water, but only a detailed review of all 276 statutory instruments could give a precise figure: this would involve disproportionate effort.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to assist local authorities with the cost of housing refugees; and if he will make a statement.

The cost of housing refugees and other commitments are taken into account in authorities' housing investment programme allocations.The Asylum Bill, which was published on 1 November, contains measures which will modify the duties on local authorities and ease housing pressures.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has received about the extent of unauthorised occupation of local authority housing in Greater London; and what action he plans to take.

Investigations into levels of unauthorised occupation are being undertaken by a number of London authorities, and my Department is taking a close interest in the findings as they emerge. The Government have taken a number of steps which encourage the reduction of unauthorised occupation. These include the financial discipline of the ring-fenced housing revenue account, t he incentive in HRA subsidy rules to minimise voids, and the requirement to publish performance indicators. My Department is also funding research which will provide authorities with models of good practice to prevent such activity in the first place. The primary responsibility for tackling the problem must rest, however, with the owners and managers of the housing—the local authorities themselves.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will authorise district councils to use funds accumulated from the sale of property to build houses and flats for sale or rent to the local community.

Our general policy is to encourage the private sector, including housing associations, rather than local authorities to be the providers of new houses and flats. Local authorities are free to use 25 per cent. of the receipts from the sale of council dwellings to assist this process in various ways, including sponsoring housing association developments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what action he intends to take, following the advice of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, to reduce the number of ports of entry through which live animals and birds may enter the United Kingdom;(2) what action he intends to take in the light of recent advice from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee to introduce a levy on the import of wild birds and animals.

The Joint Nature Conservation Committee's report on the wildlife trade makes a number of wide-ranging recommendations, including those concerning a levy and further restrictions on ports of entry. Because these are not issues which affect the United Kingdom alone, we have drawn the report to the attention of the European Commission and urged it to propose stricter controls throughout the European Community. We expect the Commission to publish proposals for a new regulation on the wildlife trade very soon. In subsequent discussions we shall take full account of the committee's advice.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to issue guidance to local authorities on the planning considerations associated with the water companies' investment to improve the quality of bathing and drinking water; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State and the Secretary of State for Wales have today published Circular 17/91—Department of the Environment—and Circular 62/91—Welsh Office. This gives guidance on the planning implications for local authorities of substantial investment by the water industry to improve the quality of bathing waters, to find alternative disposal means for sewage sludge at present disposed of at sea, and to improve the quality of drinking water.The circular stresses the strict deadlines for improving the quality of bathing and drinking waters, and emphasises local planning authorities' responsibility to work with the water industry to find suitable sites for sewage treatment works and to handle planning applications without delay. It also reminds authorities of the need to allocate sites for sewage treatment works, where appropriate, when preparing or reviewing development plans. And it advises water companies to consider the need for environmental assessment of their proposals at the earliest possible stage.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what initiatives his Department has taken over the last six months to reduce the number of homeless people.

[holding answer 6 November 1991]: On 5 June I announced that selected housing associations would be invited to bid for grants to run pilot schemes as managing agents for private owners, to encourage landlords to let their empty properties to homeless people. The first homes made available through this initiative were let in October. Also in October I announced a new scheme to bring empty flats over shops back into use. Local authorities will shortly be invited to bid for a share of the £25 million to be made available. Accommodation created through this initiative will help to relieve homelessness pressures in many hard-pressed urban areas.Under the Department's new initiative with the Council of Mortgage Lenders, announced on 5 November, repossessed properties will be passed to housing associations for temporary letting to homeless families nominated by local authorities. This will bring empty properties back into use, provide homes for families, restore confidence in the market and help mortgage lenders.These initiatives are additional to our £300 million homelessness allocation to local authorities and housing associations in London and the south-east, which will provide 16,000 permanent homes for homeless families. Work is also progressing on the Department's £96 million initiative to combat rough sleeping in central London. A total of 489 additional hostel places, 530 places in housing leased from private owners and 250 places in permanent housing have been made available this year for rough sleepers. By the end of 1993–94, the total of additional permanent housing generated by this initiative will reach 1,800 places.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the towns and villages in Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, at which the National Rivers Authority has asked for development restrictions; and if he will make a statement as to the reason for those restrictions.

[holding answer 6 November 1991]: This detailed information is not held by the Department. We shall be in touch with the National Rivers Authority and I shall write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the inspector's inquiry into the sinking of the Antares from Carradale has been completed; how much time is required under the Merchant Shipping (Accident Investigation) Regulations for consideration of the report; when the Secretary of State expects to publish the report; and if he will make a statement.

The marine accident investigation branch inquiry is complete; the inspector has submitted his findings and recommendations to the chief inspector of marine accidents who is now preparing his report for submission to the Secretary of State for Transport. Before the chief inspector's report can be published, he is required by regulation 9 of the Merchant Shipping (Accident Investigation) Regulations 1989 to give persons whose reputations are likely to be adversely affected, time to consider the text and further time to provide alternative text if agreement cannot be reached. The duration of both prescribed periods are 28 days but experience has shown that the whole consultation period is likely to take a minimum of three months.In the light of these facts, and with the additional period being required for the printing of the final report, publication is not expected before April 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total number of British Transport Police officers on Scotland's railways for each of the last five years.

The information is as follows:

Year	Number of BTP officers
1986	177
1987	176
1988	172
1989	175
1990	191

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost to British Rail of funding the British Transport police in Scotland for each of the last five years, expressed in constant terms.

I do not have the information in the form requested but the British Transport police have been able to supply costs at 1989–90 prices for the following years:

Year	Cost
	(£000s)
1990–91	5,192
1989–90	5,241

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport of which disused railway lines in Scotland, British Rail still owns, (a) the land and (b) the track bed.

I do not have the information in the form requested. British Rail owns some 155 miles of disused railway in Scotland which in general comprise a large number of short isolated stretches of which only a very small proportion contains the trackbed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the railway inspectorate has given approval to the proposed single-line chord at Cowlairs to join the main Glasgow Queen street line with the line to Cumbernauld; and if he will make a statement.

The Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate gave provisional approval to the single line chord on 29 August 1991. This would enable British Rail to install and bring the new line into use pending an inspection. The works started in September on a new bridge, but work cannot commence on the track and signalling alterations until the bridge is finished, in February 1992. The inspectorate will discuss with BR what amendments may be needed to the scheme in the light of this forthcoming inquiry into the Newton accident.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many bus companies operate within the Wakefield district; and what is the proportion of tendered bus routes within the district operated by each of these companies.

Information about the number of bus companies operating within the Wakefield district could be produced only at disproportionate cost. Information about tendered bus routes within the district is a matter for the West Yorkshire passenger transport executive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the proportion of (a) Scotland's and (b) the whole of Britain's network which is electrified.

As at 31 March 1991, British Rail had some 1,705 route miles in Scotland, of which some 23 per cent. were electrified or in the process of being electrified by projects approved or under construction. BR had 10,305 route miles in Great Britain, 30 per cent of which were or will be electrified.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total public subsidy granted to private companies operating tendered services within west Yorkshire.

Subsidies for tendered bus services are a matter for the West Yorkshire passenger transport authority and executive. The executive has budgeted for expenditure of £15·1 million on tendered bus services including school services in 1991–92.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many harbour revision orders have been applied for since 3 August 1988; and if he will give details of the environmental assessment.

The Department has received 35 applications for harbour revision orders since 3 August 1988, two of which were subsequently withdrawn. Of the remainder, only three involved the authorisationof specific works projects and all three fell within annex II to Council directive 85/337/EEC. In one of these cases—Harwich, Parkeston Quay—the Secretary of State decided after consultation that an environmental assessment was required. The environmental impact statement prepared by the applicant is still being considered, together with representations on the order.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether he supports the CO standards proposed in the draft EC directive on technical inspection of motor vehicles;(2) whether he intends the 3·5 per cent. CO standard in the draft EC directive to be extended to roadside spot checks;(3) what steps he proposes to take to encourage agreement on the draft EC directive on technical inspection of motor vehicles;(4) what information he has regarding the exhaust emission standards proposed in the draft EC directive on technical inspection of motor vehicles.

I refer the hon. Member to the explanatory memorandum on the Commission proposal (7753/91, COM(91) 244), dated 23 September. The in-service CO testing standard proposed by the Commission is 3·5 per cent. for modern conventional petrol-engined cars and light goods vehicles, which is also the current EC prescribed design limit for new engines.The 4·5 per cent. CO standard which has just been introduced into the MOT test is based on the EC type approval limit, including the 1 per cent. manufacturing tolerance allowed for engines coming off the production line. That standard is realistic for vehicles in service, and brings about a significant reduction in pollution caused by excessive emissions from badly tuned engines. We shall be monitoring the results of emission-checking very closely to help us to make a more informed judgment on the merits of the proposal from the Commission, on which discussion in the EC has not yet started.The 4·5 per cent. standard applies to petrol-engined cars and light goods vehicles first used after 1 August 1983, and compliance can be enforced at roadside spot checks. There are no immediate plans to apply different standards, but the longer-term intention is to tighten standards further.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to develop accurate smoke testing protocols for vehicle testing; if this will apply to roadside spot checks; what assessment he has made of the Bosch smokemeter and Lucas Hartridge diesel exhaust smokemeter for this purpose; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are planning to introduce an instrumented smoke check into the annual roadworthiness test of heavy vehicles next summer. This will replace the current visual check for excessive smoke. Research is currently in progress to help determine the best form of instrumentation and the best method of testing which can also be used for roadside checking. The two instruments to which the hon. Member refers are among those being considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve directional signing at Heathrow airport particularly to the motorways.

Directional signing within the airport boundary is the responsibility of Heathrow Airport Limited, and is kept under review by the airport. If my hon. Friend has specific comments on signing at Heathrow, he might want to put them to the airport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has from British Rail on the safety implications of the cab design fault on the class 456 two-coach trains which do not meet operational requirements for service on the south London line; what action British Rail is taking to rectify the problems; and when the new trains are expected to enter service.

It is imperative that drivers of driver-only-operated trains have a clear and unobstructed view of the TV monitors, or other visual aids, on station platforms. The driver's cab window on class 456 trains was too small for this equipment to be seen clearly from the driving position. The driver's seat was therefore modified to slide sideways to give an acceptable view of the platform equipment. Class 456 trains entered service on 30 September.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what temporary speed restrictions there are in force on the south London line to the west of Brixton for safety reasons; and when restrictions are expected to be lifted.

Due to the installation of a new junction, a temporary speed restriction has been imposed in the Voltaire road area pending the completion of further track relaying work. The usual line speed of 45 mph has been reduced to 20 mph for a distance of approximately 220 yards. The restriction is expected to be in place until next spring. Also in the vicinity, there is a speed limit of 10 mph in connection with bridge renewal which will operate until 22 November.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason his Department has authorised the reopening of the direct exit from Market Weighton on to the Beverley stretch of the A 1079; and what representations he has received concerning this matter.

The authorisation for a junction with the A1079 at the eastern end of the Market Weighton bypass is contained in the original orders for the scheme. Before the junction is open to traffic its layout will be improved. Written representations have been received from two members of the public in support of the opening of the junction.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review the closure of lanes in the MI between junctions 41 and 43 to allow better traffic flow during the current resurfacing works.

No. The arrangements were carefully designed to maintain traffic flow in the area and allow work to proceed and, generally, have worked well.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements have been made to allow continued traffic flow during the current resurfacing work on the M1 motorway in West Yorkshire between junctions 41 and 43; and if he will make a statement.

The work on the M1 between junctions 41 and 43 is being carried out in three separate lengths to minimise delays and disruption overall and especially the effect on the important M1/M62 interchange at Lofthouse.Tidal flow traffic management is in operation on the M1 to provide a minimum of two lanes for the dominant peak hour flows. In the morning this is northbound towards Leeds and in the afternoon southbound towards Wakefield.Closed-circuit television and recovery vehicles on permanent duty ensure that incidents are indentified and cleared quickly to keep traffic moving.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to publish the technical reportby his Department on the methodology for appraising investments in road and rail schemes.

I am pleased to say that the report is being published today and I am placing copies in the Library. Further copies are available from the Department's publications sales unit, Building 1, Victoria road, South Ruislip, HA4 ON2, at a price including postage of £2·75.

To ask the Attorney-General what is the latest available annual figure for mortgage foreclosures in Northern Ireland.

In 1990, a total of 2,599 originating summonses for the collection of mortgage arrears were issued in the Chancery Division of the High Court for Northern Ireland. The total figure for all mortgage foreclosures in Northern Ireland is not collected centrally. It is not therefore possible to give figures for possession orders granted, cases where suspended possession orders were made, and those cases which did not proceed after the originating summons was issued.

To ask the Attorney-General when he intends to bring forward legislation on commonhold.

The Government will introduce legislation on commonhold and related matters as soon as parliamentary time for it can be found.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations he had with representatives of (a) miners and (b) underground supervisory staff when preparing the Coal Industry Bill.

My Department consulted British Coal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last consulted representatives of miners or underground supervisory staff on mines safety.

Safety in mines is the responsibility of the Health and Safety Commission and Executive which regularly consult representative organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy to what factors he attributes the safety record of mines owned by the British Coal Corporation.

I pay tribute to the management and work force of the corporation for their impressive achievements in improving safety in recent years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last discussed mines safety with the Health and Safety Commission and Health and Safety Executive respectively.

My Department maintains close contact with the Health and Safety Executive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received over the last three years about the number of hours which can be worked underground in coal mines.

There have been discussions between my officials and British Coal about the number of hours worked by mineworkers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many representations he has received about the charges being levied by electricity companies to connect electricity from (a) renewable sources or (b) combined heat and power projects to the electricity distribution system.

Connection charges are a matter for the parties concerned. Any dispute on the provision of a supply of electricity, including connection charges, may be referred by either party to the Director General of Electricity Supply for determination.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will place an up-to-date copy of the note for guidance on Government publicity and advertising in the Library.

I assume that the hon. Gentleman is referring to the conventions on Government publicity and advertising.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy which company has been retained for the energy and environment publicity campaign.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 5 November, at column 67.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many copies of the annual report of the ministerial group on energy efficiency have been distributed; and what percentage of them were distributed to the news media.

Virtually 2,000 copies of the report have been distributed to date. Further copies will be distributed at exhibitions in coming months. Just over 4 per cent. are being distributed to news media.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy which companies were invited to tender for the energy and environment publicity campaign; and how many submitted tenders.

A number of qualified organisations were invited to tender for the advertising element of the publicity campaign, and a separate group of qualified organisations to tender for the promotional element. All the companies invited made presentations in response, and the appointments were made on the basis of competitive tendering.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the reason for the rise in the estimated cost of the energy and environment publicity campaign.

Further resources are being made available for this new campaign in order to increase still further its effectiveness and impact. The scale of the resources now available demonstrates the Government's commitment to the campaign.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) which organisations submitted tenders for the appointment as accounting advisers on the privatisation of British Coal;(2) which organisations submitted tenders for the appointment as financial advisers on the privatisation of British Coal;(3) which organisations were invited to tender for the appointment as accounting advisers on the privatisation of British Coal;(4) which organisations were invited to tender for the appointment as financial advisers on the privatisation of British Coal.

A number of qualified organisations were invited to tender for the positions of accounting and financial advisers in respect of the privatisation of British Coal. The appointments were made on the basis of competitive tendering.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will place in the Library the first and second interim reports on coal privatisation prepared for him by Rothschilds.

No. The Government will come forward with detailed proposals on coal privatisation in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of shares in National Power and PowerGen, respectively, are owned by foreign shareholders.

Details of the current share registers are a matter for the companies and their registrars. I am advised, however, that it is not possible to identify shareholdings registered here and overseas according to the nationality of their beneficial owners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what is the total of underground workers in coal mines owned (a) by British Coal and (b) others, in the current year and at the end of the two preceding years;(2) what is the total underground work force in private licensed mines.

I refer the hon. Member to British Coal's annual report and accounts and its annual reports on the licensed sector, copies of which are in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the total work force involved in opencast mining.

The Department does not keep details of the number of people involved in opencast mining.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will place in the Library the current edition of the official booklet "The Government Information Officer".

I have today placed in the Library the current edition of the official booklet "The Government Information Officer" which has been in use since 1980.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the changes made since October 1989 in the way fuel trade figures have been (a) collected, (b) analysed or (c) presented.

Fuel trade data are collected by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and there have been no changes in the method of collection since October 1989. The data are published each month in "Overseas Trade Statistics".The Central Statistical Office—CSO—uses the trade data collected by Customs and Excise to compile the balance of payments. The CSO make various adjustments to "Overseas Trade Statistics". From 1989 onwards these have included an estimate for any direct exports of crude oil from offshore fields reported late to Customs and Excise.The trade data collected by Customs and Excise record import values on a "c.i.f basis"—including insurance and freight—and export values on an "f.o.b basis"—free on board. This is a standard convention used both in the United Kingdom and internationally. The CSO, in compiling the balance of payments, put imports and exports on a comparable basis—that is, both imports and exports are recorded on an f.o.b basis. Again this is an internationally accepted convention. Import data are therefore available on both a c.i.f basis and f.o.b basis and this has not been changed since October 1989. The data are published by the CSO each month in the balance of payments press notice.The Department of Energy reproduces fuel trade data in the annual "Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics" and the monthly statistical bulletin "Energy Trends". Prior to 1991 data on imports and exports of fuels by quantity were expressed in tonnes of coal, from 1991 onwards data are expressed in tonnes of oil. Also prior to 1991 these two publications included data on imports only on a c.i.f basis; they now, in addition, include imports data on an f.o.b basis. This follows the convention used by the CSO and means that data on the values of imports and exports are available on a similar basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the meeting of the Energy Council of the European Community Ministers on 29 October.

The Council, which was attended by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy, my hon. Friend the Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory), adopted the SAVE decision, which provides for improved co-ordination of work on promoting energy efficiency in the Community. A draft directive to harmonise energy efficiency requirements for new gas or liquid fired central heating boilers was agreed in principle; the United Kingdom secured the inclusion of cost-effective standards appropriate to the particular circumstances of its domestic heating market.The Commission explained the approach it proposed to take towards opening up, and increasing competition in, the gas and electricity markets. The Commission's objectives are supported in principle by the United Kingdom, which is in the lead on progress towards liberalising these markets. No decision was reached by the Council, but the way was paved for the Commission to enter into bilateral discussions with the member states.The Commission was invited to present revised proposals on oil crisis measures and to adjust its mandate for Community accession to the International Energy Agency.The Council held a detailed discussion on the Commission's communication on energy and the environment. There was widespread scepticism about unilateral Community action and most member states raised serious practical difficulties which remain to be addressed in connection with a carbon-energy tax.The Commission presented a report on the progress of the European Energy Charter for the creation of market-based energy co-operation in western, central and eastern Europe, the USSR and beyond.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he will take to ensure that beaches on the Gower peninsula will meet minimum bathing water quality standards; and if he will make a statement.

In 1990 all seven of the Gower peninsula's identified bathing waters met the mandatory standards for total and faecal coliforms set in the EC bathing waters directive—the standards by which the United Kingdom Government, and the EC, assesses compliance. As part of the investment programme agreed with Dwr Cymru to improve Welsh bathing waters, a sewage treatment works and a long sea outfall are to be built to serve Swansea. This £50 million investment will further improve the quality of all the waters in the area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he will take to ensure that current river stretches in Wales found to be of bad quality are improved; and if he will make a statement.

The 1985 river quality survey indicated that only 0·6 per cent.—about 17 miles—of rivers in the National Rivers Authority Welsh region's area were placed in class 4—bad quality. The investment programmes agreed with Dwr Cymru; recent initiatives such as those to reduce pollution from farms; and the planned setting of statutory water quality objectives under the Water Act 1989 will result in further improvements to river quality.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the problems experienced with the Conwy road tunnel on the A55 road since its opening; what is the estimated cost of overcoming the problems; and what guarantee the contractors have given that there will be no recurrence of this problem.

The tunnel is equipped with failsafe safety systems and TV surveillance cameras which monitor all aspects of its operation.All systems are linked to the control computers and video display screens in the nearby tunnel monitoring building which is manned 24 hours a day.On 1 November a safety system installed to warn of a possible fire hazard or fuel spillage resulting from a traffic accident in the tunnel activated.The video screens clearly showed tunnel maintenance staff that an accident had not occurred. In order to ascertain the cause of the false alarm entry to the westbound bore was necessary The investigation which required the closure of this bore for about two hours established that a heat/gas detection sensor was defective.Systems were tested during the commissioning period prior to the tunnel being opened to traffic, but it Is not unusual for minor problems to develop during the early period of operation once equipment is in permanent use.The cost of replacing any defective electrical components will be met by the contractor responsible for their installation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he proposes to enable empty industrial premises to be occupied.

The Welsh Development Agency, the Development Board for Rural Wales and the Welsh Office continue to work actively to attract the maximum amount possible of inward investment and to encourage indigenous Welsh companies to grow and prosper.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many industrial units stand empty in each of the industrial estate locations in each county in Wales.

This information is not collected centrally by the Welsh Office. Information is, however, available on those units owned by the Welsh Development Agency and the Development Board for Rural Wales. The number of units vacant at the end of October 1991 were 438 and 120 respectively, representing vacancy rates of 12·5 per cent. and 17·4 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he proposes to hold with (a) the Welsh Development Agency and (b) Mid-Wales Development to take measures to attract occupants for empty industrial premises; and if he will make a statement.

I have regular discussions with the chairmen of the Welsh Development Agency and the Development Board for Rural Wales about a wide range of issues concerning the development of the Welsh economy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to commute specific loan charge grants to local authorities.

We will commute specific loan charge grants for housing and urban programme expenditure in Wales on 1 October 1992. My Department will pay a lump sum equivalent to the present value of future grants for each local authority to the Public Works Loan Board or to the local authority itself if any authorities have insufficient Public Works Loan Board debt, though such payments are expected to be small. Annual loan charge grants will then cease. As the commuted sums will repay local authority debt, cancelling out the loss of annual grant, the effect on local authority resources will be neutral. The effect on general Government expenditure will be negligible, because virtually all the transfer payments involved are within general Government spending. Similarly, the effect on the central Government borrowing requirement, the public sector borrowing requirement and monetary aggregates will be negligible, since virtually all the commuted sums will return to the Public Works Loan Board. Within the public sector borrowing requirement, central Government borrowing on its own account will be increased and the local authority borrowing requirement will be reduced by the amount of debt repayment. There is no effect on the planning total. The various transfer payments involved have been taken into account in my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's autumn statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is proposing to take in relation to the findings of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's review of United Kingdom car prices; and if he will make a statement.

The MMC's report on the supply of new cars is currently being considered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. The report will be published as soon as is practicable.The contents of all MMC reports remain confidential until publication. If the MMC finds no adverse effects the Secretary of State has no power to act. If the MMC has reached any adverse findings he will decide what steps, if any, should be taken to remedy the situation. He will also consider whether to announce a period of consultation before reaching his conclusions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date the reference was made to the Office of Fair Trading concerning the sale of British Airways engine maintenance plant at Nantgarw, South Wales to General Electric of America; and on what date he expects to receive the report from the Director General of Fair Trading.

The Office of Fair Trading was first informed of the proposed acquisition by General Electric of the British Airways engine overhaul business on 3 September. I understand that the office's inquiries are nearing completion. We therefore expect to receive the advice of the Director General of Fair Trading in the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the Apparel, Knitting and Textiles Alliance about current EC negotiations with Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has kept in close touch with the Apparel, Knitting and Textiles Alliance as these negotiations have proceeded. The AKT last wrote to me about them on 21 September.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any changes will be made to the Office of Telecommunications' cash limit and running cost limit for 1991–92.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class IV vote 9, Office of Telecommunications, will be increased by £618,000 from £6,757,000 to £7,375,000. The running cost limit for the Office of Telecommunications will be increased by £254,000 from £6,037,000 to £6,291,000.End-year flexibility entitlement of £341,000 on capital expenditure announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July at columns 186–90, has been fully taken up. A £254,000 additional running cost provision is required for increased pay and associated other running costs mainly for 11 extra staff for new work stemming from the duopoly review. A £24,000 extra provision is required for the associated accruing superannuation liability charge. These increases are partly offset by an increase in appropriations in aid of £1,000.The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement yesterday.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any changes will be made to the Export Credits Guarantee Department's cash limit and running cost limit for 1991–92.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class IV vote 4—Export Credits Guarantee Department: administration—will be increased by £2,880,000 from £37,200,000 to £40,080,000 and the running cost limit by £4,257,000 from £30,221,000 to £34,478,000.The ECGD's running costs are not included in the planning total.The increase is necessary to meet additional costs which have arisen because of the later than expected date for the privatisation of the short-term credit insurance operation. The necessary legislation in the form of the Export and Investment Guarantees Act received Royal Assent on 22 October 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the takeover panel to conclude its inquiries into possible breaches of the takeover code in relation to the takeover of House of Fraser; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 6 November 1991]: This is a matter for the takeover panel. I am not responsible for the manner or duration of any inquiry which it carries out as the competent authority for takeover regulation.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the Departments which no longer ensure that a ministerial reply is sent to letters from hon. Members; and if he will ensure that letters from hon. Members receive a ministerial reply.

I have been asked to reply. There has been no change in the existing practice.

To ask the Prime Minister if there are any proposals to change the 1991–92 cash limit or running costs limit for the Cabinet Office: other services vote.

To ask the Prime Minister if there are any proposals to change the 1991–92 cash limit or running costs limit for the Cabinet Office: other services vote.

I have been asked to reply. Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for the Cabinet Office: other services—class XIX, vote 2—will be increased by £850,000 from £24,814,000 to £25,664,000. At the same time the running costs limit will be increased by £806,000 from £21,656,000 to £22,462,000. This reflects the setting up of the citizens charter unit within the Cabinet Office which will be responsible for seeing that the citizens charter programme of initiatives, which my right hon. Friend announced to the House on 22 July 1991 at column 765, is implemented and developed. The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement yesterday.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 7 November.

I have been asked to reply. This morning my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister had a bilateral with President Bush in Rome. He is currently attending the NATO summit now under way there. That summit will set the future course for NATO to ensure that it remains, as it has been, a bedrock of stability in a still uncertain world.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many undergraduates from non-EC countries were attending universities in each of the past five years.

The information is given in the table.

Great Britain—Full-time undergraduate students—All years
Year	Total Non-EC students
1986	17,277
1987	18,301
1988	19,098
1989	20,370
1990	21,174

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of his science budget is spent in Wales, Scotland and England, respectively.

In 1989–90, the latest year for which figures are available, the proportions were 2·9, 7·9 and 77·9 per cent. respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidance he has given the advisory board for the research councils in seeking its advice on the allocation of the science budget in 1992–93 to 1994–95; and if he will make a statement.

I have written to Sir David Phillips inviting the board's advice. The following is the text of my letter:Sir David Phillips KBE FRSChairman of the Advisory Board for the Research CouncilsPROVISION FOR SCIENCE: 1992–93 TO 1994–95I was grateful for the Board's advice for this year's Public Expenditure Survey on the resource needs of the Research Councils, the Royal Society and the Fellowship of Engineering.I am pleased to tell you that the Government has decided that it is right to make a significant increase in the provision for Science, and that it is desirable to provide a planning framework for future years which provides a rising profile. In reaching these conclusions the Government has been heavily influenced by the array of evidence presented by the ABRC in the preparation for this year's survey.DES provision for science comprises receipts from European Community programmes which go direct to the Research Councils, and the balance which is the sum I distribute on the advice of the ABRC, known as the "science budget". The latter (net of the dual support transfer) has been increased by £29 million to £1,002·0 million in 1992–93, by £50 million to £1,056·1 million in 1993–94, and by £85 million to £1,116·3 million in 1994–95. I have summarised in the annexed table the additions and adjustments made to the total provision for science at the start of the Survey from which I arrive at these science budget figures.Next year's science budget is 2·5 per cent. higher in real terms than this year's. The figures for 1993–94 and 1994–95 are, respectively, 4 per cent. and 7 per cent. higher in real terms than in 1991–92. I am particularly pleased that the settlement produces this rising expenditure profile which gives the Board and the bodies funded from the science budget a sound basis for the forward planning and management of their basic and strategic research programmes.I would like to give some fuller explanations of the adjustments shown in the annexed table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the basis for assessing maintenance needs of mature students (a) on higher education courses and (b) on further education courses, when such students are eligible for grants; and if he will consider extending the student loan system to mature students in the further education sector.

Mandatory grants are payable for full-time and sandwich courses leading to a first degree or

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to establish a further education council to prepare for the funding and guidance of further education colleges as they move to corporate status; when and how he intends to appoint the chief officers of such a council; and what timetable he proposes for its early operation.

Subject to the passage of the Further and Higher Education Bill introduced on 4 November, my right hon. and learned Friend intends to establish the Further Education Funding Council as soon as possible. The Bill provides for the appointment of the chairman and the chief executive by my right hon. and learned Friend. The Department will be preparing the ground for the Council by collecting information it will need, and carrying out programmes to help ensure that the colleges are ready for their new role.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what monitoring he undertakes of the time taken to make mandatory award payments to students.

My Department does not directly monitor the time taken by individual local education authorities to assess and pay mandatory awards to more than 500,000 students. We are investigating reports of delays in certain authorities, to ensure that they are taking whatever action is necessary to comply with their statutory duties in the interests of students.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will meet representatives of the local authority associations to discuss how the payment of student grants may be expedited.

My Department is in regular contact with the local authority associations on student grant matters. Improvements have already been made in 1990 and 1991 in the grant arrangements to help expedite payments. We have taken actions with individual authorities reported to be facing delays. All authorities have power to make provisional payments to students, pending completion of grant assessments. We will continue to keep the position under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the consultations entered into with (a) parents, (b) teachers and (c) local education authorities prior to his announcement of a reduction in the percentage of coursework in GCSE assessment.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) on 21 October, Official Report, column 362.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to publish the national results of the 1991 assessments of seven-year-olds; and whether he will also publish the results in each local education authority in England.

I intend to publish both the aggregate national results and the aggregate results in each local education authority in England, as soon as outstanding information has been sent to the Department by local education authorities. The public is entitled to accurate national and local information about the 1991 assessments of seven-year-olds under the national curriculum. The results will provide for the first time both a national picture of the attainments of this age group in the core subjects of English, mathematics and science and a baseline against which to measure progress.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money the Government have put into cot death research in the last 20 years.

I have been asked to reply.The Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid through the Department of Education and Science, is the main Government agency for the funding of medical research. The MRC generally decides the research to support with the funds available to it. The table gives its expenditure on research into sudden infant death syndrome and respiratory distress syndrome for the financial years since 1979–80. Data on earlier years are not available, nor is there central information on relevant publicly funded research which may be undertaken by medical schools, university departments, the health Departments and the health authorities. We also welcome the contribution made in this field by medical research charities.

	£ thousands
1979–80	79
1980–81	134
1981–82	208
1982–83	207
1983–84	244
1984–85	242
1985–86	283
1986–87	476
1987–88	405
1988–89	434
1989–90	297
1990–91	798

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate what the reduction in the income tax revenue would be for 1992–93 on a full-year basis and assuming no behavioural changes (a) if there were no higher rate of income tax for individuals and (b) if there were no additional rate for trusts.

The costs in a full year at 1992–93 levels of income are estimated to be (a) £5·1 billion and (b) £30 million. These estimates are based on a comparison with 1991–92 tax rates and an illustrative indexation of personal allowances and the basic rate limit by 4 per cent.No account is taken of possible behavioural changes or of any effect on receipts of capital gains tax.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those member states of the European Community whose actual government deficit exceeded 3 per cent. of gross domestic product in each of the past five years; and how many in the current financial year plan a deficit of a higher level.

Data and forecasts of Government deficits of member states are published by the European Commission in "European Economy", supplement A,May 1991.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a table showing the real increase in (i) house prices and (ii) average earnings in the United Kingdom: and in each of the six founder members of the EC between 1961 and 1973; 1973 and 1987 and 1987 to date: and if he will include an estimate of the amount of consumer debt in each case divided between housing and other goods and services.

Data for real average earnings growth are published by the OECD in "Historical Statistics 1960–1990". There is no central source of regularly collected data for house prices, or for consumer debt divided between housing and other goods and services.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer why no figures for import penetration overall and by industry have been published in the "Monthly Digest" since June 1989; and if he will publish a provisional estimate of the figures for December 1989 and December 1990.

Import penetration figures published in the latest "Monthly Digest of Statistics", September 1991, table 15.10, are the most up to date available. As a result of recommendations in the 1989 review of Department of Trade and Industry statistics, which considered the arrangements for collection of economic statistics by DTI and the burdens placed on businesses, quarterly sales data for most manufacturing industries, which are used in the calculation of this ratio, are no longer collected. Data for 1989 and 1990 are therefore not available. A footnote was added to the table earlier this year, to inform readers of the reason for the absence of new data.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals were the subject of (a) civil penalties as provided in the Taxes Act and (b) other prosecutions for fraudulent tax claims over the last five years.

The numbers of individuals taxpayers and partnerships subject to civil penalties as provided in the Taxes Acts during the last two years were as follows:

	Number
1989–90	36,642
1990–91	34,327

Comparable figures for earlier years are not available.The numbers of successful prosecutions for false accounts or returns of income, and false claims to personal allowances, deductions for expenses or repayments, during the last five years, were as follows:

	Number
1986–87	20
1987–88	15
1988–89	12
1989–90	14
1990–91	14

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he intends to ensure that further education colleges will not lose financially as a result of the administration and cash flow costs of operating the system of tax relief for vocational training on behalf of the Inland Revenue.

The Government's aim in providing that the new tax relief for vocational training should be given at source is to ensure that it will be available to trainees as quickly and as widely as possible. The Government accept that administering the relief will mean some extra work for training organisations. Additional costs will be offset to the extent that the relief encourages more people to train, hence generating more income.The intention is, however, that the additional cost should be kept to a minimum and to that end the Inland Revenue is currently considering a number of important improvements to the original proposals in the light of responses to their recent consultative paper. The arrangements will be published in regulations later this year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether tax relief for vocational training applies (a) to payments made by an individual for his or her training, (b) to payments made by a parent or other person or organisation on behalf of an individual for his or her training and (c) to payments made by an individual for his or her training but paid to the individual by a parent or other person or organisation.

Tax relief for vocational training will apply to payments made by individuals in connection with their own training. This will include the situation where an individual pays for the training out of funds provided by another person or organisation, but not where that other person or organisation makes the payment directly on behalf of the individual.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish (a) the index number for non-North sea GDP, both annually and quarterly, back to 1970, and (b) an explanation of the methodology and component series which go to make up the series; and if he will ensure that the index on non-North sea, gross domestic product is included in the CSO database.

[holding answer 5 November 1991]: The information requested is given in the table. The series is derived by removing from the output estimate of gross domestic product—GDP(O)—the appropriately weighted contribution from "Extraction of mineral oil and natural gas"—class 13 of the 1980 Standard Industrial Classification. The weights reflect the importance of class 13 activity during various periods for which data are assembled on a given price base. On the final part of the question, the CSO is arranging for the quarterly seasonally adjusted series of GDP(O) less extraction of mineral oil and natural gas to be included on their database.

GDP(O) less oil and gas extraction1
Index 1985 = 100, seasonally adjusted
Quarterly
1970 Q1	80·1
1970 Q2	80·8
1970 Q3	81·2
1970 Q4	81·3
1971 Q1	81·5
1971 Q2	82·2
1971 Q3	82·5
1971 Q4	83·3
1972 Q1	82·4
1972 Q2	85·4
1972 Q3	85·9
1972 Q4	87·7
1973 Q1	90·6
1973 Q2	90·4
1973 Q3	90·9
1973 Q4	90·8
1974 Q1	88·1
1974 Q2	90·8
1974 Q3	91·0
1974 Q4	89·6
1975 Q1	89·7
1975 Q2	88·8
1975 Q3	88·1
1975 Q4	87·7
1976 Q1	89·8
1976 Q2	89·6
1976 Q3	89·4
1976 Q4	91·3
1977 Q1	91·6
1977 Q2	91·0
1977 Q3	91·6
1977 Q4	92·1
1978 Q1	92·8
1978 Q2	94·4
1978 Q3	95·1

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give separate figures for the spending by (a) the Central Office of Information, (b) Her Majesty's Treasury, (c) the Department of National Savings, (d) Customs and Excise, (e) the Inland Revenue and (f) Her Majesty's Stationery Office on (i) television advertising, (ii) radio advertising, (iii) newspaper advertising and (iv) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93.

[holding answer on 5 November 1991]: The expenditure by these departments on advertising and other promotional material is as follows:For expenditure by the Central Office of Information, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by the Economic Secretary on 30 April 1991 at columns

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total expenditure by (a) Her Majesty's Treasury, (b) the Central Office of Information, (c) Customs and Excise, (d) the Department of National Savings and (e) Her Majesty's Stationery Office on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93.

[holding answer 5 November 1991]: Expenditure on press and public relations is as follows:The expenditure for HM Treasury in 1988–89 was £548,264, that in 1989–90 was £564,691 and that in 1990–91 was £510,489. The forecast for 1991–92 is £547,104. The budgets for 1992–93 have not yet been set. Comparable figures from 1979–80 to 1987–88 are unavailable due to machinery of Government changes and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.For details of the expenditure by the Central Office of Information, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by the Economic Secretary on 29 April 1991, at columns

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Treasury has sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.