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Written Answers

Volume 203: debated on Tuesday 4 February 1992

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Written Answers To Questions

Tuesday 4 February 1992

Transport

Radioactive Materials

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what data on radioactive materials transported into and within the United Kingdom is routinely collected by his Department.

Data supplied about consignments of radioactive materials that have to be notified to the Department of Transport before shipment were detailed in the reply given to the Hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East (Mr. Barnes) on 29 January.

Macclesfield Relief Road

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects work on the new north-south relief road in Macclesfield to be completed.

I expect the section of road between Flash lane and Hibel road to open to traffic on 10 February. Work on the remaining section between Hibel road and Mill lane should be completed shortly after Easter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the reasons for the delay in completing the new north-south relief road in Macclesfield.

Additional contract works, difficulties with the diversion of statutory undertakers apparatus and the late delivery of the Middlewood way footbridge are the main reasons for the delay in completion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which supplier was commissioned by his Department to provide the Middlewood way foot bridge for the north-south relief road in Macclesfield; at what cost this contract was placed; when it will be fulfilled; and why it was late in delivery.

The Middlewood way footbridge was included in the Department's contract for the relief road with Fairclough Civil Engineering at an estimated cost of £370,000. I expect work on the bridge to be completed in the next two weeks. The reasons for the delay in delivery are matters between Fairclough's and its suppliers.

Lorry Drivers (Diabetes)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many lorry drivers who treat their diabetes by injections of insulin have had their HGV licences revoked since April 1991.

Forty insulin treated drivers had their large goods vehicle—previously HGV—licence entitlement revoked between August and December last year. Prior to that, no manual or computer summary record was kept of the numbers of insulin revocations.

Motor Taxation

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total revenue raised from motor taxation in each year from 1979 to 1992; and what is the estimated revenue for 1992–93.

The figures are as follows:

Motoring Taxation (United Kingdom)
£ million
Vehicle Excise DutyFuel DutyTotal
1979–801,1622,6673,829
1980–811,3603,3384,698
1981–821,6184,4256,043
1982–831,8405,0306,870
1983–841,9975,4147,411
1984–852,2645,8718,135
1985–862,4266,2538,679
1986–872,5207,3029,822
1987–882,5997,65110,250
1988–892,7678,50111,268
1989–902,9488,55611,504
1990–912,9239,45512,378
1991–9212,957111,000113,957
1 Revenue for 1992–93 will depend on tax rates in that year.

Vehicle Excise Duty

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the arrangements similar to United Kingdom vehicle excise duty applicable in each of the other countries of the European Community.

Information on the vehicle taxes imposed by other EC countries can be found in "World Road Statistics 1986–1990", published by the International Road Federation. A copy is held in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the categories of vehicle in respect of which vehicle excise duty is chargeable; what is the current rate for each such category; when was the most recent change in respect of each category; what was the previous rate; and what was the revenue derived from each such category in the latest convenient period.

The categories and current rates are set out in Form V 149, available from post offices and vehicle registration offices. I attach a copy for my hon. Friend.For road taxation revenue purposes, these categories fall into five vehicle classes. The estimated VED revenue for each is published in "The allocation of road track costs 1991/91", a copy of which is available in the Library.The 12-montly rate for cars and light vans was £90 prior to 1985. Rates for motor cycles were increased by between £5 and £10 in 1991. The tax structure for taxis, buses and coaches was reorganised in 1989, with increases of between £47·50 and £395 related to passenger-carrying capacity.The VED structure for goods vehicles exceeding 3·5 tonnes was simplified in 1990, involving increases in rates of between £20 and £470 for 140,000 lorries and reductions of between £30 and £570 for 3,800 vehicles. Rates for 320,000 lorries remained the same. The "other vehicles" class comprises recovery vehicles, special machines—mobile cranes, and so on—and "special types"—exceptionally large or heavy vehicles. The rate for recovery vehicles was increased by £25 and the rate for special machines by £14 in 1991. The rate for "special types" was increased in 1990 by £150.

Motorway Services

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that Mercury telephone boxes are installed at all motorway service areas in the United Kingdom.

Leases for motorway service areas—MSAs —in England, require as a standard the provision of public telephones. The choice of supplier is a matter for the MSA operator. MSAs in Wales and Scotland are the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he has made towards (a) increasing competition in the provision of services on motorways and (b) increasing the number of service areas on motorways.

The citzens charter announced the Government's intention to deregulate the provision of motorway service areas with the aim of providing more services more quickly. Detailed proposals will be announced shortly.

Norwich Southern Bypass

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) who specified the mix of materials which has been found to be faulty in the construction of the Norwich southern bypass; and if (a) his Department, (b) the consulting engineers or (c) the contractors are liable for the resulting cost; (2) what is the estimate of the cost of remedial work on the Norwich southern bypass following the discovery of a faulty mix of materials in its construction.

[holding answer 27 January 1992]: The Department's specification for highway works which incorporates British standards is used on all its trunk road contracts including Norwich southern bypass. It lays down criteria for road materials which allow contractors and suppliers a wide choice to encourage the use of local and low cost sources of raw materials to minimise transportation and environmental costs. At Norwich each of the four contracts is using a different combination of ingredients for the bituminous mix. The sources of supply for each varies and some local Norfolk aggregates are being used.The particular combinations of aggregates and bituminous binder used in the heavy duty macadam exhibited unexpected deformation causing a suspension of work while the possible causes were investigated.Adjustments have been made to the mixes within the British standard to provide a material which has greater resistance to deformation.The extent and apportionment of any additional costs will be resolved under the terms of the contract.Present indications are that the completed bypass will be opened to traffic by the original contract completion date.

Home Deparment

External Frontiers Convention

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the external frontiers convention with the universal declaration of human rights, the international covenant on civil and political rights, the European convention on human rights, ILO conventions 97 and 143, the Helsinki final act and the Paris charter and the Council of Europe social charter.

We have no reason to believe that the draft external frontiers convention, signature of which has been held up by disagreement with the Spanish Government over a provision concerning application to Gibraltar, is in breach of any of the United Kingdom's international obligations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the external frontiers convention with the European convention on the legal status of migrant workers and the international convention on the protection of the rights of all migrant workers and their families.

The United Kingdom is not a party to either of the conventions on migrant workers.

Working Men's Club (Membership Application)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will investigate the allegation that applications for membership of a Birmingham working men's club featured in the recent Commission for Racial Equality case were made without the applicant's knowledge; and if he will make a statement.

The conduct of formal investigations and the issuing of non-discrimination notices are matters for the Commission for Racial Equality.

Births (Airports)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children since 1981 have been born in the departure lounges of airports at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick, (c) Leeds/Bradford and (d) Manchester; and how many such babies were affected by provisions of the British Nationality Act 1981.

The Home Office does not keep records of how many children were born in airport departure lounges, but any child born in such a place would be affected by the British Nationality Act 1981, section 1 of which determines whether or not the child has acquired British citizenship by birth.

Mentally Disordered (Press Coverage)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he received a copy of the Matthew Trust report on the Press Complaints Commission and BBC regarding media coverage of the mentally disordered and distressed; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend received the report on 14 January. He has noted its conclusions and the director of the Matthew Trust will be receiving a reply shortly.

Prison Ships

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to the reintroduction of prison ships; and if he will make a statement.

On Monday 3 February, there were 1,221 prisoners held in police cells. My right hon. Friend has asked the prison service to examine a range of options for reducing this number. Among other possibilities, officials will be investigating the use abroad of floating facilities to house prisoners. However, we have no plans at this stage to introduce such facilities here.

Births (British Citizens)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children born in the United Kingdom since 1981 are not British citizens.

Spring Hill Prison

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether following the recent escape from Springfield prison he will institute an immediate inquiry into security at the prison.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to Spring Hill prison.The prisoner who absconded from Spring Hill prison on 5 December 1991 has now been recaptured. Security at Spring Hill is appropriate for an open prison. The allocation of prisoners to open prisons always carries with it an element of risk.

Electronic Tagging

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he proposes to introduce electronic tagging of offenders under the Criminal Justice Act 1991;(2) what progress has been made towards implementation of electronic tagging of offenders.

International Criminals

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now take steps to ensure that international criminals serve their sentences in a high security environment.

Offences committed abroad are already taken into account in the categorisation and allocation process. That process is set out in circular instruction 7/1988, a copy of which is in the Library.

Prison Closures

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has reached a decision as to (a) whether Warrington young offenders institution and (b) which other prison department establishments, are to close following the estate review 1991; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary gave my hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Sir J. Wheeler) on 30 January at column 647.

Prison Security

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now implement all recent recommendations for improving prison security.

Chapter 2 of the White Paper "Custody, Care and Justice", Cm 1647, set out the Government's plans for improving security in prison service establishments. Those plans are being implemented. As to the recent report of an audit of security in prison service establishments holding category A prisoners, conducted by Mr. Ronald Hadfield and Mr. Gordon Lakes, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Sir J. Wheeler) on 16 December 1991 at column 13.

European Year Of Elderly People

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home department what plans his Department is making for the European year of elderly people and solidarity between the generations in 1993.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health is leading the Government's work on this, in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security: I refer my hon. friend to his reply. He is drawing up plans in consultation with a wide range of national voluntary and professional bodies, statutory authorities and other relevant Government Departments.

Immigration Rules (Marriages)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the procedures followed by registrars who conduct marriages so as to ensure that there is no evasion of immigration rules.

I have been asked to reply.Superintendent registrars are statutory officers exercising functions under the Marriage and Registration Acts under the direction of the Registrar General. They are not immigration officers. If a superintendent registrar has good reason to suspect that the proposed marriage of a person from abroad has been arranged for the sole purpose of evading statutory immigration controls he/she is instructed to report the facts to the Registrar General. If the Registrar General is satisfied that the marriage is purely one of convenience then the facts will be passed on to the Home Office.

National Finance

Civil Servants

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what departments and numbers of civil servants are due to be relocated to the north-west in future plans; and if he will make a statement.

The table lists, with likely timings, the plans which departments have announced for relocating or locating civil service jobs away from the south-east which have still to be implemented or completed.

Department and Dispersal locationNumber of postsLikely timing
Inland Revenue, Birkenhead1701992
Social Security Child Support Agency, Birkenhead5001993
Customs and Excise, Liverpool1,3011990–95
Customs and Excise, Manchester3901990–95
Employment Group, Runcorn6131990–93
Employment Group, Bootle611992
Land Registry, Birkenhead1101992–93
Total number of posts3,145

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list by department the number of civil service jobs to be relocated in the west midlands, specifying the geographic location of the areas to which they will move and detailing the dates upon which it is planned to make these relocations.

The Department of Social Security and the Home Office have announced plans for relocating or locating civil service jobs in the west midlands which have yet to be implemented. The Department of Social Security will be opening a Child Support Agency Office in Dudley from 1 April 1993, creating 500 new administrative jobs. The Home Office will be relocating 12 posts from the forensic science service to Birmingham within the next 18 months.

Income Tax

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much 1p on the basic rate of income tax would yield in 1992–93 in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales.

Increasing the basic rate of income tax to 26 per cent. would yield about £1·95 billion, at 1992–93 levels of income. Separate information for England, Scotland, and Wales is not available.

Board Of Inland Revenue

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer further to his answer of 28 January, Official Report, column 487, when he expects to make his decision on proposals relating to the review of management and trading and the review of the organisation and structure of the Board of Inland Revenue; and what consultation he has undertaken.

Excise Duties

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the implementation of EC single market legislation associated with excise duties.

The Commissioners of Customs and Excise have issued draft Finance Bill clauses relating to holding and movement of goods subject to excise duties to relevant trade representative bodies for consultation. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

Customs And Excise

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the terms of reference of the study commissioned from University college, Cardiff, concerning the efficiency of the Customs and Excise Agency in its service at airports and seaports; when he expects it to be completed; when it was initiated; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 3 February 1992]: The Economic and Social Research Council sponsored Mr. E. Maguire, Professor R. Morgan and Mr. C. Kemp to research complaints to and against central Government Departments. The immigration service and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise were selected to be researched, in a project which started on 1 October 1989. Research was completed in September 1991. A draft report has been produced, and is with the Government Departments to identify factual inaccuracies before publication.The terms of reference of the research were to construct a comprehensive picture of complaints received in all areas of the Department, analyse the grievance mechanisms, examine internal attitudes towards complaints, and examine any managerial or policy making use made of complaints patterns or outcomes. The research therefore extended far wider than the efficiency of the service at airports and seaports, although this area was covered in two small exercises seeking travellers' and complainants' views through questionnaires.The survey of travellers concluded that most had no contact with officers of Customs and Excise, and of those who did have contact, most rated the officers positively. The sample of complainants found that few were happy with the responses that they had received from the Department, but nearly half felt that they had achieved something and more than half were impressed by some aspects of the response—especially its speed and the quality of the written reply.

Education And Science

Nursery Education

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many places in nursery schools and classes were provided by local education authorities in 1990–91 and 1991–92 in England and Wales; how many of these places were (a) full time and (b) part time; and what was the total number of full-time equivalent places provided.

Information on the number of pupils in maintained nursery schools and nursery classes in primary schools in each local education authority in England in January 1991, the latest date for which information is available, is given in the table. The table also contains information about the number of pupils under five in

All pupils under the age of 5 in maintained nursery and primary schools as at January 1991
Nursery schoolsNursery classes in primary schoolsOther pupils under 5 in infant classes in primary schoolsAll pupils in nursery and primary schools
Number of pupilsNumber of pupils
Full-timePart-timeFull-timePart-timeFull-timePart-timeTotal pupilsFull-time equivalent of pupils
City001371103127·5
Camden1054443245452501,5601,311·0
Greenwich3523232372,121961304,0242,787·0
Hackney611117601,24171982,9002,220·0
Hammersmith and Fulham240333397483467121,9321,518·0
Islington143131848697642122,4732,053·0
Kensington and Chelsea1658838916430751,118989·5
Lambeth1932505501,329919533,2942,478·0
Lewisham1001303631,825865803,3632,345·5
Southwark1822886221,519911193,5412,628·0
Tower Hamlets44125299084280523,3322,784·0
Wandsworth112976121,460839213,1412,352·0
Westminster7884421377410131,3831,146·0
Barking00371,3531,26902,6591,982·5
Barnet18487431,8271,972964,4433,238·0
Bexley20160079187001,8411,365·5
Brent178703331,7781,91904,2783,354·0
Bromley0011421,03971,1891,114·5
Croydon4738604462,494193,3922,966·5
Ealing20564292,5792,19935,3943,821·0
Enfield0001,4372,003223,4622,732·5
Haringey206363441,7771,68834,0543,146·0
Harrow0009501,487412,4781,982·5
Havering0092288649102,0111,442·0
Hillingdon012003,01152693,2521,652·0
Hounslow001,7552,385924,1512,957·5
Kingston upon Thames69144108654664652,0191,282·0
Merton0022,3148281953,3392,084·5
Newham42967522,57907834,4232,258·5
Redbridge0039844818171,7181,287·5
Richmond upon Thames8520630329851,707873·5
Sutton024001,2474611,534790·0
Waltham Forest532621012,06181703,2942,132·5
Total Greater London2,8335,6199,38941,76329,2533,87392,73067,102·5
Birmingham8401,5142,0475,7139,721019,83516,221·5
Coventry50318291,8252,76674,9953,920·0
Dudley93001202,3711,223254,0482,700·0
Sandwell1431081973,9412,709317,1295,089·0
Solihull0001,6731,746183,4372,591·5
Walsall92671363,3892,36456,5574,524·5
Wolverhampton082113,0461,05644,9282,992·5
Knowsley0082,2521,56903,8292,703·0
Liverpool1634245245,1814,429010,7217,918·5
St. Helens56801,5341,54203,1492,348·0
Sefton131612,0802,36104,7593,561·0
Wirral2328321,8732,87005,0513,973·0
Bolton594503112,2232,40605,4494,112·5
Bury68721931,0751,50512,9142,340·0
Manchester4311333,9752,7912,14829,4808,017·0
Oldham007801,4912,18304,4543,708·5
Rochdale528841299801,92303,9683,036·0
Salford5343621,6107251,99305,2244,680·5
Stockport15771706262,316133,8293,151·0
Tameside0341312,0841,98144,4413,226·5
Trafford0001,5091,63303,1422,387·5
Wigan28157121,8512,7021194,8693,805·5
Barnsley017962,74699833,9322,468·0
Doncaster00643,3062,78706,1574,504·0
Rotherham03872522,2761,10004,0152,683·5
Sheffield1356562884,5122,0463888,0255,247·0
Bradford2003071935,0552,5324438,7305,827·5

infant classes in maintained primary schools. Information on schools in Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Wales.

Nursery schools

Nursery classes in primary schools

Other pupils under 5 in infant classes in primary schools

All pupils in nursery and primary schools

Number of pupils

Number of pupils

Full-time

Part-time

Full-time

Part-time

Full-time

Part-time

Total pupils

Full-time equivalent of pupils

Calderdale003171,3661,65003,3332,650·0
Kirklees353923,6682,08806,3004,196·5
Leeds14272787,1163,10458211,1667,181·0
Wakefield04591013,5701,6951165,9413,868·5
Gateshead857171,5391,60603,2272,429·0
Newcastle upon Tyne5781427171,5242,24425,2074,373·0
North Tyneside65231282,3891,56574,2852,971·5
South Tyneside19753101,4531,52003,7552,652·0
Sunderland58945122,1492,68105,8454,298·0
Total Metropolitan districts3,73512,86612,09192,90282,7621,770206,126152,357·0
Avon8626843692,4587,343511,72110,147·5
Bedfordshire2551,1083443,3529788056,8424,209·5
Berkshire1292,019863,396329436,0023,273·0
Buckinghamshire150901,7249071,9245,0652,986·5
Cambridgeshire90565391,2765,3771187,4656,485·5
Cheshire30801404,5418,1131213,53710,860·0
Cleveland0146428,6555,39716314,4039,921·0
Cornwall258711,4351,7591,5104,8173,301·0
Cumbria186902,0203,728256,6435,186·0
Derbyshire1471,3375996,6043,7781,48213,9479,235·5
Devon422541182,2453,5562756,4905,103·0
Dorset0007811,0233,4485,2523,137·5
Durham2162,290423,4874,5252810,5887,685·5
East Sussex329441,0582,2112,2615,8314,024·5
Essex192361142,0406,064848,5577,377·0
Gloucestershire001504,050324,0974,081·0
Hampshire033901,6105,6405778,1666,903·0
Hereford and Worcester001171,1722,178323,4992,897·0
Hertfordshire881,598436,4223,95741712,5258,306·5
Humberside2028995946,5404,85314213,2309,439·5
Isle of Wight00517591211,0931,005·0
Kent084271,7737,2473,41512,5469,910·0
Lancashire1033,29733,53412,074619,01715,598·5
Leicestershire0501,5833,8103,2666479,3567,102·5
Lincolnshire88211648284,104255,3204,788·0
Norfolk239904603,0561,7695,6864,372·0
North Yorkhire333341262,9054,1003577,8556,057·0
Northamptonshire15584622,1815,060367,9386,537·5
Northumberland19115382,2042,399184,7933,624·5
Nottinghamshire1754921712,3111,83822815,1608,616·0
Oxfordshire671,007691,3684212863,2181,887·5
Shropshire016801,2551,6694733,5652,617·0
Somerset0036513,631523,7703,718·5
Staffordshire9521,0151,4342,7607,79220614,15912,168·5
Suffolk69002,7002,399385,2333,819·0
Surrey9232652,3463,0832236,0754,627·5
Warwickshire075521,3003,856155,9284,893·0
West Sussex13505191111,926322,6062,282·0
Wiltshire0005202,0591562,7352,397·0
Total Non-metropolitan counties3,51723,5246,257103,408146,65821,366304,730230,581·0
ENGLAND10,08542,00927,737238,073258,67327,009603,586450,040·5

Private Schools

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to extend the citizens charter so as to cover any grievance which a parent might have against a private school; and if he will make a statement.

Primary Schools

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are his estimates for the increases in public spending necessary if all primary schools in England were to have a maximum limit of (a) 30 and (b) 32 on class sizes.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) on 24 January at column 343.

Pupils (Learning By Rote)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidance he gives (a) to local education authorities and (b) to Her Majesty's inspectors regarding the desirability of pupils learning multiplication tables by rote; and what representations he has had on the matter.

The national curriculum sets out what is to be taught in schools, and this includes the requirement for pupils to learn mutiplication tables up to 10 times 10. It is for teachers to decide how to deliver the curriculum, and I have not given any guidance on how pupils should learn their tables, nor received any representations on the subject.

Prime Minister

Engagements

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 4 February.

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

Hong Kong

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 28 January, Official Report, columns 503-4, how many of the Ministers listed, other than the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and himself, took part in party political activities during their visit in addition to their official duties.

This information is not centrally recorded and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.Further to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 28 January, at columns 503-4, the list of ministerial visits omitted the visit to Hong Kong of Lord Brabazon, Minister of State for Transport, in February 1991.

Table 1: United Kingdom Trade in Manufactured Goods Value, £ billion
ECUSAJapanOther Countries
ExportImportExportImportExportImportExportImport
198522·131·88·18·40·84·021·514·1
198624·435·38·27·00·94·921·115·6
198728·639·88·77·81·25·422·417·9
198832·445·98·99·31·56·523·321·9
198938·152·810·211·92·07·026·224·4
199044·154·110·612·62·36·627·224·8
199148·049·69·612·01·96·726·523·9

Note: EC includes the former East Germany throughout.

Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.

Trade And Industry

Skelmersdale

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the assistance available from his Department and the European Community for trade and industry projects in Skelmersdale new town.

Skelmersdale is within the development areas, so firms there are able to benefit from the complete range of assistance available under the DTI's enterprise initiative. The individual measures of support are described in existing departmental publications on the initiative, which are widely available and arrangements have been made for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.Skelmersdale new town also forms part of the Mersey basin operational programme area, which qualifies as an objective 2 area under the European Commission structural funds regime. As such, Skelmersdale is eligible to receive European regional development funds and structural funds for appropriate projects related to infrastructure, business support and training.

Maxwell Companies

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what response he has made to representations concerning the adequacy of the supervision by the Securities and Investments Board and the Investment Management Regulatory Organisation of the managers of the pension funds of companies of which the late Robert Maxwell was a director.

My Department is in close touch with SIB and IMRO about regulatory lessons on supervision of pension fund managers to be drawn from the Maxwell case.

Manufactured Goods

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will state the annual size and increase in the value of exports and imports of manufactured goods in each year since 1985 to (a) the European Community, (b) the United States, (c) Japan and (d) all other countries; and also express the year on year changes as an index with 1985 as the base.

The available information is contained in the following tables. Manufactured goods are defined as sections 5 to 8 of the standard international trade classification.

Table 2: United Kingdom Trade in Manufactured Goods Increase in value over previous year, £ billion

EC

USA

Japan

Other Countries

Export

Import

Export

Import

Export

Import

Export

Import

1985
19862·33·60·1-1·30·10·8-0·41·4
19874·24·50·60·80·30·61·32·3
19883·86·10·21·50·31·00·93·9
19895·76·91·32·60·50·52·82·6
19906·01·30·40·80·3-0·41·10·4
19913·9-4·5-1·0-0·6-0·40·0-0·7-0·9

Note: EC includes the former East Germany throughout.

Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.

Table 3: United Kingdom Trade in Manufactured Goods Value Index, 1985 = 100

EC

USA

Japan

Other Countries

Export

Import

Export

Import

Export

Import

Export

Import

1985100100100100100100100100
19861101111018411412098110
198713012510893149134104127
1988147145111111181160108155
1989172166127142239173121173
1990200170132151274164126175
1991217156120144232165123169

Note: EC includes the former East Germany throughout.

Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.

Table 4: United Kingdom Trade in Manufactured Goods Year on year percentage change

EC

USA

Japan

Other Countries

Export

Import

Export

Import

Export

Import

Export

Import

1985
198610·311·21·5-15·713·720·5-2·010·2
198717·412·76·810·831·411·36·315·0
198813·415·32·419·021·319·24·121·9
198917·414·914·327·731·88·212·011·7
199015·82·53·86·614·7-5·34·11·5
19918·8-8·2-9·0-5·0-15·40·7-2·6-3·7

Note: EC includes the former East Germany throughout.

Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.

Auditors

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will bring forward proposals to prevent auditors from taking appointments as liquidators, administrators or receivers; and if he will consult the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland about the necessary changes to their rules.

I have no plans to do so. The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland have published ethical guidelines for their members and these preclude any firm, or member of that firm, which has had a "continuing professional relationship" with any company from accepting an appointment as an insolvency practitioner in respect of it. In this way conflicts of interest are avoided, particularly between those who may have acted as auditors to the company and any subsequent liquidator.

Peter Dixon And Peter Cameron-Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in the investigation into the activities of Peter Dixon and Peter Cameron-Webb at Lloyd's.

The City of London police and the Serious Fraud Office announced in December 1988 that warrants had been issued for Peter Dixon and Peter Cameron-Webb in connection with the Lloyd's PCW investigation. Both were, and are understood to have remained, resident in the United States, but due to certain restrictions could not be extradited.The final report of the Companies Act inspectors who investigated the affairs of Minet Holdings plc and WMD Underwriting Agencies Ltd., which details the activities of Dixon and Cameron-Webb at Lloyd's, was published in August 1990. At that time, the Secretary of State announced his intention to make applications under section 8 of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 in respect of Dixon, Cameron-Webb and John Wallrock. On 31 October 1991, Wallrock was disqualified for five years. The proceedings in respect of Dixon and Cameron-Webb are due to be heard on 6 February.

Insolvency Service Staff

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will supply a figure for the cost of issuing name badges to the staff of the insolvency service.

Hinckley, Leicestershire

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether Hinckley in Leicestershire is placed under objective 2 of the European regional development fund.

[holding answer 31 January 1992]: No. The European Commission refused the Government's proposal that it should be.

House Of Commons Commission

Clocking In

To ask the hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission if he will list the grades of staff employed who are required to clock in and clock out at the start and finish of their day's work.

All grades of Refreshment Department industrial staff are required to register their attendance by clock.

Staff Insurance

To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission whether (a) police and security staff, (b) catering and cleaning staff, (c) Library staff, (d) Official Report staff, (e) Committee Office staff, (f) Fees Office staff and (g) hon. Members' secretaries and research assistants are covered by an insurance scheme in the event of (i) industrial injury or (ii) an act of terrorism in the Palace of Westminster and its outbuildings.

[holding answer 22 January 1992]: All staff employed by the House of Commons Commission are covered against injury or death sustained in the course of their duties by the provisions of the House of Commons staff pension scheme.Insurance cover has been arranged for Members in respect of employers' liability to provide for any of their staff who suffer injury or death at work due to the Member's negligence. The House of Commons Commission is considering the question of further provision to cover Members' staff against acts of terrorism.The terms and conditions of service of police officers and security staff employed in the parliamentary estate are the responsibility of the Home Office.

House Of Commons

Parliamentary Cable Channel

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will take steps (a) to arrange for the cable parliamentary channel to be available on the monitors in No. 1 Parliament street and (b) to remove from them the interruption caused by noises from the House of Lords annunciator.

As I said in reply to a question from the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 27 January (Official Report, columns 701-2), the question of supplying Members' offices with the parliamentary cable channel (or the clean television feed direct from the Chamber) is to be discussed shortly by the Broadcasting Committee. If it approves the proposal in principle, the Committee will then wish to consider whether such facilities should be made available immediately to those parts of the parliamentary estate (such as No. 1 Parliament street) which are already suitably cabled, or whether it would be preferable to introduce the service for all Members, as far as practicable, simultaneously.The provision on the monitors of information from the House of Lords annunciator service has been considered to be generally useful. Unfortunately, it would not be possible to suppress the information from individual monitors.

Braille Transcription Service

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make it his policy to provide a Braille transcription service to enable hon. Members to correspond with their blind constituents; and if he will make a statement.

I shall ask the right hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Orme) as Chairman of the Administration Committee, to invite the Finance and Administration Department to examine the feasibility and possible cost of providing such a service for Members.

Members' Pensions

To ask the Lord President of the Council what provision has been made in recent years in the estimates of pensions for the staff of hon. Members; how this provision compares with the amount notionally available; what the amount actually disbursed has been; and if he will make a statement.

The maximum sum available to an hon. Member to make pension contributions in respect of a person employed by him and paid out of the office costs allowance is limited in any one year to 10 per cent. of the limit of the office costs allowance for that year.Although the total sum notionally available is therefore equal to 10 per cent. of the provision for the office costs allowance included in the Estimates for the House of Commons, the sum actually available is further restricted by the application of a pension provision limitation of 10 per cent. of the gross salary paid to an individual secretary/research assistant. Given that most Members are unlikely to devote the whole of their office costs allowance to salaries, because of the need to meet other expenditure, the notionally available figures shown below are not very relevant.With that proviso, the total sums notionally available, together with the total sums actually expended in each of the last three completed years, are:

Notionally available £Actual expenditure £
1988–891,468,000776,795
1989–901,560,000836,961
1990–911,775,000948,219

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Croatia

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the number of tanks obtained from European nations by the Republic of Croatia for the defence of its borders, and their source.

We have no evidence that any European nation is in breach of the United Nations embargo.

Yugoslavia

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the reports produced in Yugoslavia by the international team of experts have now been submitted to the Hague conference on Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement.

I presume that my hon. Friend is referring to the team of experts alluded to in the report published in The Guardian on 17 January 1992. We have no report of the identity of this team or its activities.

Employment

Offshore Oil

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will introduce a licensing fee for oil companies operating in the North sea to cover the cost of providing health and safety inspectors in connection with their operations.

The Health and Safety Commission has not adopted a general policy onshore of charging to cover the costs of health and safety inspection, in view of the difficulties of devising an equitable and workable system. Similar considerations apply offshore, but charges will continue to be made to cover the costs of regular examinations of life-saving appliances and fire-fighting equipment on installations.

Holidays

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce legislation to ensure that all employees have a statutory right to two weeks minimum paid holiday.

Idnal Fisher Ltd

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the Health and Safety Executive is to initiate a prosecution against Idnal Fisher Ltd., Bradford following the death of Jashir Singh on 9 April.

The Health and Safety Executive is considering what, if any, action is appropriate following the investigation into the fatal accident to Jashir Singh on 9 April 1991 at Idnal Fisher Ltd., Bradford. I have asked the HSE's area director for West and North Yorkshire to write to the hon. Member when a decision has been made.

Crane Accident, St Mary's

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when investigating the accident to a crane on 13 July 1991 at St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly, following the discovery that the safe load indicator was defective due to the damaged crane, what other sources of information were sought to verify its condition when the crane was operational.

As part of the Health and Safety Executive's investigation to establish the condition of the safe load indicator on the crane immediately before the accident on 13 July 1991, the HSE inspector interviewed witnesses to the accident to determine whether the warning bell had been ringing when the crane began to overturn; obtained from the company a copy of the crane manufacturer's data sheet which describes the crane's main dimensions and lifting capacities; observed the engraved plastic cards in the crane cab which also describe the dimensions and capacities of the crane; examined the cam fitted in the automatic safe load indicator; obtained a copy of the last statutory examination of the machine by a competent person.

Allied Colloids Ltd

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the investigation into the accident to James Armstrong at Allied Colloids Ltd., Low Moor, on 25 April 1988 was concluded; what recommendations for improving the loading arrangements were made; if these were implemented; and if he will make a statement on the safety of current arrangements.

No accident to James Armstrong at Allied Colloids Ltd, Low Moor on 25 April 1988 has been reported to the Health and Safety Executive.

Mr R K Palmer (Accident)

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will obtain from the Health and Safety Executive information regarding the accident to R. K. Palmer on 5 August 1991; and whether a prosecution is to be undertaken against either Nationwide Access Platforms Ltd., or A & P Appledore (Falmouth) Ltd.

Mr. R. K. Palmer, and employee of A & P Appledore (Falmouth) Ltd., suffered injuries to his legs and head while working on a mobile elevated work platform.The Health and Safety Executive has initiated prosecution action against Nationwide Access Platforms Ltd. for an alleged breach of section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

Industrial Injuries

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 20 November 1991, Official Report, column 215, what guidance is given to Health and Safety inspectors about the reliance to be placed on statements taken by an employer from employees in investigating accidents where employees are injured.

Health and Safety Executive inspectors carrying out investigations into accidents in which employees are injured, conduct their own independent inquiries. Inspectors are advised to collect all the relevant information during their investigations and this could include statements taken by an employer from employees which may be helpful. However, inspectors personally interview whoever, in their professional judgment, is able to assist them in establishing the facts and do not rely on statements taken by employers.

A Marks And Company Ltd

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action is being undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive regarding the fatal accident to Mr. Lewis Drake at A. Marks & Co. Ltd., Low Moor, Bradford, regarding prosecution; and what changes are to be made to operational procedures to avoid any repetition of the accident.

The Health and Safety Executive has completed its investigation into the fatal accident to Mr. Lewis Drake at A. Marks & Co. Ltd., Bradford. It has deferred a decision on what if any further action may be appropriate until after the inquest into Mr. Drake's death has been held. Following advice from the HSE, the company has already carried out a number of modifications to the plant to prevent a repetition of the accident.

Labour Statistics

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been employed in (a) agriculture and horticulture, (b) coal extraction and solid fuels, (c) shipbuilding and repairs and (d) iron and steel, in Great Britain in 1991.

The information is given in the table:

Employees in employment industries (SIC 80)Great Britain Thousands September 1991
Agriculture and horticulture (Class 01)280·8
Coal extraction and solid fuels (Group 111)79·7
Iron and steel (Group 221)47·4
Shipbuilding and ship repairing (Group 361)46·0

Industrial Disputes

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of working days lost because of industrial disputes in the six months to (a) December 1978 and (b) December 1991; and if he will make a statement.

There were 380,000 working days lost as a result of industrial disputes in the six months to November 1991, the latest available period. This is a fraction of the 6 million working days lost in the six months to December 1978. There are fewer strikes now than there have been for more than half a century.

Business Statistics

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the total number of (a) business start ups and (b) business failures in (i) Great Britain and (ii) each of the regions for the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Regional estimates of VAT registrations and deregistrations, for the years 1980 to 1990, were published in the November 1991 issue of the Employment Gazette, a copy of which is available in the Library.These show clearly the sustained expansion of the small firms sector during the 1980s, in all regions of the country.

Training

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what budget is allocated for (a) employment training and (b) youth training respectively in each region of his training and enterprise and education directorate for the years 1991–92 and 1992–93; and what were the numbers of unemployed people in each of these regions at the latest available date.

The budget allocations for 1991–92 for employment training and youth training in each region of the training enterprise and education directorate—TEED —are given in table (a). The figures for 1992–93 are still subject to negotiation and therefore not available.The number of unemployed people in each of the TEED regions as at December 1991 are given in table

(b).

Table (a)

£ million

England and Wales

YT

ET

South East89·4632·22
London49·1852·09
South West65·2825·18
West Midlands84·5048·71
East Midlands96·5839·94
Yorkshire and Humberside91·4052·80
North West123·5965·17
Northern67·7646·67
Wales50·8832·32

Note: ET budgets exclude national allowances (ie unemployment benefit + £10).

Table (b)

Unemployed claimants as at December 1991

TEED regions

Persons

South East347,357
London385,316
South West190,128
West Midlands246,987
East Midlands and Eastern245,786
Yorkshire and Humberside222,975
North West325,792
Northern134,440

Wales122,910
Scotland228,766
Great Britain2,450,457

Sunday Trading

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will bring forward regulations to prohibit contracts of employment which require shop workers to work on Sunday; and if he will make a statement.

Northern Ireland

Security Forces (Compensation For Injuries)

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list for each year since 1 January 1968 the sums paid in compensation for death and injury inflicted by members of the security forces where the victims were engaged in illegal or terrorist type activity at the time they suffered the injury or were killed; how many persons were paid compensation in each year; in how many of these cases the compensation was paid in out-of-court settlements before a court hearing; and in how many cases an award was granted by the court;(2) if he will publish a table to show for each year since 1 January 1968 the number of applications for compensation for

(a) injury, (b) death, inflicted by the security forces, (c) injury and (d) death resulting from activity by persons other than the security forces, in Northern Ireland for which compensation was refused because the injured party or parties had been involved in terrorist type activity.

Nursery Places

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many places in nursery schools and classes were provided by education and library boards in 1990–91 and 1991–92 in Northern Ireland; how many of these places were (a) full-time and (b) part-time; and what was the total number of full-time equivalent places provided.

The number of full-time equivalent places provided in controlled nursery schools and classes under the management of education and library boards in each of the years 1990–91 and 1991–92 was:

Nursery schoolsNursery classes
2,9251,700
The number of pupils attending on a full-time or part-time basis is a matter for determination by the education and library boards and boards of governors. The 1991–92 statistics are not yet available, but in 1990–91 the number of pupils enrolled was as follows:

Full-timePart-timeTotal
Controlled nursery schools1,8601,9473,807
Controlled nursery classes1,2347962,030

Harland And Wolff (Pension Surpluses)

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the date prior to privatisation when the pensioners' trustees meeting agreed to pension surpluses being used to subsidise the building of ships by the new owners of Harland and Wolff; if he will publish the information on which this decision was based; whether a similar scheme has been considered with the privatisation of NIE; and what rights have previous members of the scheme who object to the course of action taken.

Pension fund moneys have never been used by the new owners of Harland and Wolff to subsidise the building of ships. The pension fund scheme remains unaffected by the privatisation arrangements and members continue to have the right to take up any relevant issues with the trustees. In relation to the Northern Ireland Electricity superannuation scheme, its committee of management and trustees have been given an assurance by the Government that pension scheme surplus will not be prejudiced by the privatisation process.

Wales

Employment Action

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state the latest figures for (a) the number of employment action places provided and (b) the number of places filled; and if he will make a statement.

Contracts for employment action are not expressed in terms of places. The numbers of people in Wales receiving employment action allowances on 9 January, the latest date for which figures are available, was 600.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give his latest estimate of the drop-out rate for employment action in Wales.

Public Libraries

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which county or borough libraries he visited in 1989, 1990 and 1991; and if he will make a statement on his policies covering public libraries in Wales.

My right hon. Friend's policies in relation to public libraries conform to his statutory responsibilities as defined in the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964. In pursuance of these duties, my officials have visited a number of public libraries in the last three years, but my right hon. Friend has not had occasion to do so.

Physically Handicapped People

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will visit the Deeside physically handicapped club at the Melrose centre, Shotton.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his policies concerning the physically handicapped and their social and physical needs.

Advice and guidance on services for people with physical and/or sensory disabilities was issued on 8 May 1990 to all local and health authorities in Wales, and on 7 November 1991 those authorities were sent further advice in the Welsh Office "Protocol for Investment in Health Gain: Physical Disability and Discomfort: Physical and Sensory Disability". Copies of both documents are in the Library of the House. Local and health authorities are required to take them carefully into account in the preparation of their social care plans and local strategies for health.

Bus Demonstration Projects

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to make funds available for bus demonstration projects in Wales.

A total of £0·5 million in supplementary credit approvals has now been made available to local authorities for 1992–93 to promote innovate bus priority schemes. This is additional to the capital provision for local authorities announced by my right hon. Friend on 11 December. Officials will be writing shortly to invite applications.Bus priority schemes will also be considered during the next capital spend.

Local Government Finance

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what will be the sum of the precepts of the spending authorities on the collecting authorities in Wales in 1992–93, on the assumption that local authorities spend at their standard spending assessment; and if he will make a statement.

Precepts on collection funds in Wales assuming expenditure at standard spending assessment level and no drawings from reserves should be £257 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much he estimates will be raised from standard community charges on empty properties and second homes in Wales in 1992–93.

The standard charge, with limited exceptions, is payable for properties which are no one's sole or main residence or have been unoccupied for more than six months.The level of standard charge is determined by reference to the level of personal charge an authority sets for its area. In the main, these have not yet been set for 1992–93.

Alcohol Misuse

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what sum was ear-marked for allocation by his Department as the Welsh share of the central funding initiative for combating alcohol misuse; what sum has has (a) earmarked for each county in Wales, (b) granted to each county in Wales in respect of 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93 and (c) how much was spent for each county in 1990–91; and how much has been spent so far in 1991–92.

The initiative to combat alcohol misuse in Wales is independent of other campaigns and there is therefore no Welsh share. As part of this initiative a recurring amount of £150,000 was made available in 1990–91 and a further £150,000 was added in 1991–92, also recurring. Funds are not "earmarked" for each county; bids are considered on their merits. In 1990–91, the individual projects funded were as follows:

TitleCost (£)
1. Drinkwise material22,647·00
2. "Psst". Education video and supporting teachers packs for secondary schools13,974·00
3. Rhoserchan Project—Rehabilitation centre6,790·00
4. West Glamorgan Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse568·00
5. Youthlink Wales1,358·00
6. South Glamorgan Council on Alcoholism15,156·00
7. Clwyd and Gwynedd Council on Alcohol19,965·00
8. Ty Palmyra Rehabilitaion Centre, Gwent1,623·00
9. Dyfed Alcohol Advisory Service3,480·00
10. Alcohol Concern Wales2,379·00
11. Rhythm and Booze Radio 1 Campaign Broadcast Support Service3,500·00
Total cost91,440·00
It is not possible to identify expenditure by county for 1991–92, as plans have yet to be finalised and grants claimed. In view of the delay, funds will be allocated to additional projects on a non-recurring basis. Forecast outturn is estimated to be around £230,000.

Patients (Referrals)

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he intends to take to fulfil ministerial assurances that contractual arrangements by health authorities in Wales will not interfere in the freedom of general practitioners and clinicians to refer patients to the most appropriate hospital and consultant.

I shall be issuing consolidated guidance on the management and operation of extra-contractual referrals later this month, and this will again emphasise the principle that GP's and other clinicians should be free, when necessary, to refer in the best interests of their patients.Health authorities when setting contracts and establishing mechanisms for managing extra-contractual referrals are required to have as their objective the pattern of referrals which local clinicians and GPs prefer.From this year, the annual performance review with the Department will he held jointly with district health authorities and family health service authorities so as to further enhance the partnership between primary and secondary care in the setting of contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received about difficulties and delays experienced when patients are referred by clinicians in Wales for treatment and its transpires that this must be done by means of extra-contractual referral.

The Department has recorded only one representation about delays or difficulties arising from extra-contractual referrals. Upon investigation, I was satisfied that the problems raised by the correspondent were not related to the extra-contractual referral process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy that all patients in Wales waiting for treatment will be counted in the appropriate Welsh Office statistics; and if he will instruct health authorities that any patients who are described as waiting to go on a waiting list or awaiting extra-contractual referral must be included in that authority's reports and any other published figures.

The monthly returns produced by district health authorities in respect of the treatments they secure for their residents, include statistics for all patients waiting for treatment, whether out-patient, in-patient or day case attendance, across all specialties. Health authorities are required to include extra-contractual referrals in the figures given. They do not operate a system involving people having to wait on one list before being eligible for entry on to another.

Health Service Resources

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has now reached decisions about the allocation of resources for hospital and community health and related services in Wales for 1992–93; and if he will make a statement.

I announced on 28 November at columns 1081-1082 my decision on the allocation of resources for health and personal social services in Wales for 1992–93. Within the £1,877 million resources available, I propose to allocate on a provisional basis £1,420 million for the hospital and community health service and for the cash-limited element of the family health service in Wales. This sum, which is subject to parliamentary approval of the supply estimates, includes the full costs arising from the introduction of charging in respect of many of the services provided in England and Welsh patients. This represents a cash increase of £116·6 million, or 9 per cent. over 1991–92 estimated outturn provision. Of this sum, £54·5 million is to be made available for family health service authorities for their administration expenditure in 1992–93 and for the cash-limited element of the practice expenses of general medical practitioners and GP fundholders. The allocations to family health service authorities will be announced in the course of the next few weeks.Excluding the cost of the artificial limb and appliance service, which is administered through a service level agreement between my Department and the Welsh Health Common Services Authority, and other centrally financed services, £1,357·1 million will be provided for hospital and community health services—£1,228·7 million for current purposes and £128·4 million for capital spending.For current spending, this represents a cash increase of £102·3 million or 9·1 per cent. over estimated outturn for the current year. This sum, together with the additional £13 million which it is anticipated authorities should, as a minimum, realise from further cash-releasing cost improvement savings and income generation schemes provide an effective increase in resources over 1991–92 of 10·2 per cent. £13·5 million of this sum will be allocated to fund the continuing and full-year cost of developments which are being funded centrally in 1991–92. £10£1 million will be allocated to other centrally funded developments which will be announced in due course.The £78·7 million balance of the provision available will be made available for the discretionary use of district health authorities. This provides for a 7·0 per cent. increase in DHA's discretionary revenue provision in cash terms or 2·5 per cent. in real terms, taking account of the latest forecast of general inflation in 1992–93. In addition authorities will be expected to generate a further £13 million—that is, 1·1 per cent.—from new cash-releasing cost improvements and income generation schemes through their contracts with service providers.Thus, in total, DHAs should benefit from a 3·6 per cent. real terms improvement in their purchasing power, exclusive of any reductions in unit costs that arise from productivity gains as throughput increases. As a consequence, authorities should be able to make substantial improvements in the services offered to patients in accordance with the objectives of the patients charter.This increase in DHA revenue provision in 1992–93 is considerably in excess of the 0·5 per cent. per annum growth assumption which was used to calculate the figures given in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones) on 21 March 1991 at columns 1081-82 regarding progress toward capitation shares. As a consequence, I am able to ensure that all DHAs in Wales will receive a minimum revenue cash increase of 6·5 per cent. in 1992–93, and that those which would otherwise be more than below their capitation formula targets will also receive the balance of growth funding in proportion to their respective distances from target.The resulting discretionary revenue allocations for 1992–93 and the increases over their 1991–92 discretionary revenue provision in cash and percentage terms are shown in the table:

AllocationCash increase
£ million£ millionper cent.
Clwyd160·411·47·9
East Dyfed97·96·97·6
Gwent170·110·36·5
Gwynedd96·67·28·2
Mid Glamorgan217·413·16·5
Pembrokeshire43·43·28·0
Powys55·53·36·5
South Glamorgan191·69·46·5
West Glamorgan142·58·66·5
When authorities' estimated shares of the proceeds of capital charges are added to these calculations, each DHA's percentage share of gross discretionary revenue provision in 1992–93 by comparison with its capitation formula target, updated for estimated population changes is as follows:

Gross Discretionary Revenue Provision PercentageCapitation Formula Target Shares Percentage
Clwyd13·814·3
East Dyfed8·58·8
Gwent15·715·2
Gwynedd8·38·7
Mid Glamorgan19·119·2
Pembrokeshire3·83·9
Powys4·74·1
South Glamorgan13·513·0
West Glamorgan12·612·8
Accordingly, the revenue planning assumptions for individual authorities in subsequent years which I gave in my answer of 21 March 1991 have been revised as in table 3:

Percentage growth on previous year for 1992–93 to 2001–02 assuming 0·5 per cent. growth

1993–94

1994–95

1995–96

1996–97

1997–98

1998–99

1999–2000

2000–01

2001–02

Clwyd1·271·101·101·101·091·090·450·450·45
East Dyfed1·101·031·021·021·021·020·450·450·45
Gwent0·00-0·10-0·10-0·10-0·10-0·100·450·450·45
Gwynedd1·501·201·201·191·191·180·450·450·45
Mid Glamorgan0·000·620·620·620·620·620·450·450·45
Pembroke1·371·151·141·141·141·130·450·450·45
Powys0·00-2·15-2·22-2·29-2·37-2·450·450·450·45
South Glamorgan0·00-0·27-0·27-0·28-0·28-0·290·450·450·45
West Glamorgan0·000·760·760·760·760·760·450·450·45

These growth planning assumptions assume that capital charges remain the same over the planning period. Although growth of 0·5 per cent. has been assumed on the recurring revenue total, this is exclusive of capital charges, and this becomes 0·45 per cent. when expressed as a percentage of the recurring revenue and the recycled capital charges combined.

I must stress that the figures in table 3 are for planning purposes only. They will be revised and rolled forward each year to take account of actual allocations. The redistribution of resources indicated by these figures will affect the purchasing positions of health authorities, but the provision of services will depend on where purchasers choose to place their contracts. The future of individual hospitals will therefore not always depend on the relative funding position of authorities in which they are located.

Under the new capital allocation arrangements which become effective on 1 April 1992, £97 million will be earmarked for the purposes of the all-Wales major capital programme. Further details of this programme will be announced in due course. £35 million will be made available for the discretionary capital requirements of DHAs and the new Pembrokeshire health trust, as well as the minor capital needs of various other service providers which are not managed by DHAs. This provision includes a sum of £3·4 million which is available as a result of authorities repaying brokerage loans from earlier years.

£1·7 million of this £35 million will be allocated in the form of additional revenue provision to the prospective pruchasers of the Pembrokeshire trust's services. It will thus form part of the trust's income for 1992–93 which can then be recapitalised to meet its capital requirements. The trust's capital expenditure will, however, also be subject to the external financing limit which I shall be issuing to the trust when its financial plan for next year has been updated to take account of the allocations to its prospective purchasers that are covered in this announcement.

A further £2 million will be held in reserve to meet the minor capital requirements of various other service providers such as the dental hospital, Breast Test Wales and the Welsh Health Common Services Authority.

The £31·3 million balance of capital provision will be allocated between the DHAs on behalf of their directly managed units; and in order to ensure the fair distribution of this sum between service providers, it will be allocated between authorities pro rata to the anticipated revenue income which their units will attract next year. In this way, minor capital provision, like revenue will "follow the patient".

The resulting capital allocations are set out in the following table. No allocation is shown for Pembrokeshire health authority because, when the Pembrokeshire trust comes into operation on 1 April, it will no longer be responsible for the capital needs of a directly managed unit. The trust's capital requirements will be met as previously noted.

Capital allocation £ million

Clwyd4·0
East Dyfed3·3
Gwent5·l
Gwynedd2·1
Mid Glamorgan5·9
Powys1·1
South Glamorgan5·5
West Glamorgan4·3

In addition, property sales in 1992–93 are expected to generate a further £5·2 million and it is anticipated that authorities will benefit from £4·2 million of these receipts. In total, I expect authorities to achieve additional savings and to generate additional income amounting to at least 1·1 per cent. of their recurrent revenue allocations.

These allocations together represent another major increase in the provision for hospital, community and family health service. They once again underline the Government's commitment to the NHS and they underpin the assurances given about service availability and quality in the patients charter. They accord with the new resource allocation arrangements that flow from the NHS and Community Care Act and, in particular, make real progress toward weighted capitation funding. Indeed, they provide a secure basis on which to take forward the "Agenda for Action" which my Department recently published, and to which the NHS in Wales is fully committed. I am therefore sure they will be widely welcomed.

Council House Sales

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what capital receipts have accrued since 1980 to each local authority in Wales from the sale of council houses; what proportion of these receipts in respect of Monmouth borough council have been invested in social housing; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 29 January 1992]: In-year capital receipts are shown in the table. Information on the proportion of these used to fund specific housing programmes is not held centrally.

In-year capital receipts from the sale of council houses1

£000

1981–82

1982–83

1983–84

1984–85

1985–86

1986–87

1987–88

1988–89

1989–90

1990–91

Total 1981–82 to 1990–91

Alyn and Deeside6913884468471,1559431,1502,2573,7242,14713,748
Colwyn7547055324155446057581,3051,4077877,812
Delyn7736511,0683,8894536811,0891,0701,9861,47113,131
Glyndwr7911,2126274381,4987277091,8752,01786710,761
Rhuddlan4123353733916274678441,5411,4578817,328
Wrexham Maelor2,0091,3887198671,3201,9973,0954,43310,3294,32230,479
Carmarthen1,6281,3489639446327418451,5491,7931,69712,140
Ceredigion1,6281,8881,1938195801,0208692,2913,1331,87715,298
Dinefwr7125963363294847687301,1981,2791,2607,692
Llanelli1,6451,8742,1391,3521,1411,6951,9843,2583,3832,23620,707
Preseli Pembroke2,6231,5391,6661,1081,0531,1231,2453,1374,2172,36720,078
South Pembrokeshire1121,1211,5111,0094564467281,7451,9761,15110,255
Blaenau Gwent9541,5861,0057233,4061,3861,5112,9324,7502,16220,415
Islwyn1,6538,2742,7751,7671,5412,1932,5504,1184,2291,53130,631
Monmouth2852603,0362,5631,9742,0882,7634,0974,6892,14423,899
Newport1,8782,6232,8843,1357,5343,4863,4906,9728,5132,74543,260
Torfaen2,6743,7223,0092,5521,4654,8113,5327,1709,3804,87543,190
Aberconwy1,0951,2708046927348581,0712,5663,2011,18813,479
Arfon1,0542,2007238515487777382,0852,5701,24212,788
Dwyfor15122441562201431293525215912,869
Meirionnydd01,0136643413944075901,0541,2964976,256
Ynys Mon1,0858754865171,1449207392,9183,8681,91014,462
Cynon Valley02,4941,1205605261,0621,0151,3025572,07810,714
Merthyr Tydfil1,3791,7841,0328491,2571,6271,8422,6633,1561,21316,802
Ogwr1,4033,8169,1043,2043,1063,6742,9985,1446,2203,46642,135
Rhondda3621912302022753983555577386283,936
Rhymney Valley1,8802,6592,0731,7191,6152,8393,1753,0234,4073,54126,931
Taff Ely209921,8861,7241,8022,9103,6634,7076,1553,53927,398
Brecknock1,9223281,1491,0159181,1591,3241,9771,3251,08612,203
Montgomeryshire101049466487821,2071,0651,8642,2301,0689,924
Radnorshire7016706892813172965957748815005,704
Cardiff2,3551,5154,0155,0396,31211,5299,17914,34916,8198,31979,431
Vale of Glamorgan1,4492,7622,7662,2742,0843,2972,9475,7555,0792,26030,673
Port Talbot8904351,9501,8502,0802,5173,0634,2115,1822,62424,802
Lliw Valley7341,2665026239601,3721,3431,7312,9682,47513,974
Neath1,6361,1407149471,4101,5391,8642,4823,0381,95116,721
Swansea01,6071,8316,0271,5802,2603,5888,4679,6244,37539,359
Total Districts39,19857,14357,21052,66753,92765,96869,175118,929148,09779,071741,385

1 Includes the repayment of principal on local authority mortgages on council house sales.

Local Authority Capital Receipts

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table for each region and each class of local authority in Wales, for housing capital receipts and other capital receipts, showing (a) total cash-backed capital receipts available to local authorities at 31 March 1990 and the amount of those receipts that were set aside as provision for credit liabilities, (b) the total of capital receipts received by local authorities in 1990–91 and the amount of those receipts set aside as provision for credit liabilities, (c) total capital receipts spent by Welsh local authorities in 1990–91, (d) the estimated total of capital receipts local authorities received in 1991–92 and the amount of those receipts that are likely to be set aside as provision for credit liabilities and (e) the estimated total of capital receipts spent on capital projects in 1991–92.

[holding answer 29 January 1992]: I have placed a copy of the information available in the Library of the House.

Hospital Waiting Lists

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will require health authorities in Wales to include all patients awaiting treatment, including those awaiting extra-contractual arrangements, in their returns to the Welsh Office and ensure that such cases are included in the totals of figures published by his Department.

[holding answer 3 February 1992]: Welsh Office waiting list returns already require district health authorities in Wales to report information on all patients resident in their area, including those subject to extra-contractual referral.

Environment

Minis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the development of MINIS in his Department since its inception; and what proposals he has for its further development.

My Department is currently engaged on the 13th round of MINIS returns and reviews. Since I introduced the system in 1980, there have been many detailed changes over the years in the way material is collected and presented. In the early rounds, the emphasis was on establishing the full range of functions being undertaken within the Department and the staff and other costs related to each. The next stage of development was to include better defined aims, objectives and targets in order to clarify what was being achieved and to ensure that these achievements fully supported Government policies and priorities. The most recent developments have concentrated on making MINIS more useful as a system for top management and Ministers, which has entailed the development of supporting line management systems at all levels through the Department; and on considering the allocation of administrative resources alongside the setting of objectives and targets, to ensure that resources are in the right place to do the job.MINIS returns are published after each round and a copy is placed in the Library of the House. Copies of MINIS 13 returns will be made available in the same way in due course.

Radon

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in exploring possibilities of an accreditation scheme for builders engaged in remedial work on radon, pursuant to his Department's response to the sixth report from the Select Committee on the Environment, Session 1990–91, into indoor pollution.

Discussions with the National Radiological Protection Board and representatives of the building industry in the south-west have established that training and experience are essential prerequisites for developing any accreditation scheme. The Building Research Establishment is now arranging a series of training courses for builders and building professionals on radon remedial measures.

Local Government Finance

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from local authorities on the need for supplementary credit allocations to deal with the possible roll-out of previous swaps deals; and what replies he has made.

Two local authorities have asked my Department for supplementary credit approvals in respect of potential restitution payments on interest rate swaps. They have been told that it would be premature to consider such requests until the amounts involved can be estimated with reasonable certainty. They have also been told that, while requests for SCAs will be carefully considered, we do not have a reserve of resources for this purpose, so any additional allocations to one authority would be at the expense of others, or would require an increase in capital expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the sum of the precepts of the spending authorities on the collecting authorities in England in 1992–93, on the assumption that local authorities spend at their standard spending assessment; and if he will make a statement.

The sum of standard spending assessments for precepting authorities in England for 1992–93, on the basis of the reports laid before the House on 24 January, is £20,444·1 million.

Planning Applications

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to revise the criteria used in determining whether to call in planning applications under section 77 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to reflect the new priority being attached to development plans by section 54a of the 1990 Act, as inserted by the Planning and Compensation Act 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to require local planning authorities to determine whether planning applications are in accordance with the development plan before their determination.

Authorities are already required by the Town and Country Planning (Development Plans) (England) Direction 1981 to take a view on whether planning applications depart from the development plan, to advertise any such application which they do not intend to refuse and to notify certain departures to the Secretary of State.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will amend the directions made under section 77 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to require the Secretary of State to be notified of planning applications which depart from the local plan as well as the structure plan and which the local planning authority do not intend to refuse.

We are considering the need for a fresh direction. The basis for notifying applications which depart from development plans to the Secretary of State would be an important consideration in making such a direction.

Compulsory Competitive Tendering

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his answer on 24 January, Official Report, columns 351-53, by what criteria he concluded that there is no case for statutory action in instances where there is evidence of a breach of statutory provisions.

The Secretary of State's conclusion in relation to any case has regard to the circumstances of the case and to the balance of evidence.

Derelict Land

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) on 22 January, Official Report, column 309, what plans he has to continue the national register of vacant and public land; and if he will make a statement.

My Department's register is expected to remain in existence as long as my right hon. Friend's power to direct disposal is limited to sites entered on it. However, only sites for which the possibility of a direction is under consideration are being added to the register. For the longer term, as stated in our 1990 consultation paper "Encouraging The Use of Vacant Public Sector Land", it remains our intention to replace the national register with statutory owners' registers for all relevant public bodies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) on 22 January, Official Report, column 309, what other measures, in addition to the requirement for local authorities to maintain and publish registers of their derelict or disused land, are being considered by his Department to address the problem of derelict or disused land in public ownership.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) on 22 January, Official Report, column 309, how many local registers for derelict or disused land in public ownership there will now be in England and Wales.

A total of 430 local authorities in England will be required by the regulations to make available to the public at their principal offices registers of unused and underused land in their ownership. Under the 1989 code of practice, some 200 other local public bodies including health authorities and development corporations as well as Government Departments and other national public bodies are asked to provide similar registers. All bodies have been asked to deposit relevant extracts with district and London borough councils so that they can be made available locally.Responsibility for land registers in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) on 22 January, Official Report, column 309, if he will make it his policy to require a six monthly return from local authorities to his Department, based upon their registers, reporting on the amount of derelict and disused land in public ownership in each local authority area.

Local authorities are required to make annual returns to my Department of aggregate information relating to their registers and other public sector owners have been requested to do so under the 1989 code of practice. I have no proposals for altering these arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) on 22 January, Official Report, column 309, what is the likely cost to local authorities of the scheme of local registration for derelict or disused land in public ownership.

The extra cost to local authorities of maintaining registers of unused and underused land in their ownership is expected to be minimal. They should be recording this information themselves anyway in accordance with the 1989 code of practice and in the ordinary course of efficient property management.

Planning Policy

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will revise planning policy guidance note 1 to withdraw the general presumption in favour of development as it relates to the preparation of development plans.

A draft revision of planning policy guidance note 1 was issued for consultation in October last year. The final version of this guidance will be published shortly in the light of the many responses we have received.

Lowland Peat Bogs

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of the lowland peat bogs at (a) Thorne moors, Yorkshire, (b) Hatfield moors, Yorkshire, (c) Fenns and Whixall moors, Shropshire and (d) Wedholme flow, Cumbria.

The Department gave consent for the then Nature Conservancy Council to purchase the freehold and leasehold interests of Fens Whixall and Bettisfield mosses site of special scientific interest in 1990. Thorne and Hatfield moors, and Wedholme Flow are sites included in the recent announcement by English Nature and Fisons. The sites are being handed over to English Nature at no cost. All the areas where vegetation exists will be managed immediately for nature conservation purposes, and the remainder will be returned to nature conservation over a phased programme agreed between Fisons and English Nature.

Falkland Islands

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if monitoring of ultraviolet radiation is carried out in the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office on Monday 3 February 1992 at column 11.

National Parks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of each of the national parks in England are designated as environmentally sensitive areas; and what is the ESA acreage in each instance.

Substantial parts of the existing Pennine dales, North Peak and the Broads ESAs fall within the Yorkshire Dales national park, the Peak District national park and the Broads Authority respectively. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's recent announcement of further ESA designations included areas in the Lake district, Peak district and Exmoor and Dartmoor national parks. Detailed work on the ESA boundaries to reflect the particular purposes of each new scheme is still underway. The precise proportion of new ESAs in national parks cannot be determined until their boundaries are set, and for existing areas the information can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Revenue Support Grant (Bournemouth)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the revenue support grant 1992–93 for Bournemouth in 1991–92; and what account he has taken of the tourism factor.

Bournemouth's revenue support grant for 1992–93 is £34·766 million, an increase of 20 per cent. over the comparable figure for 1991–92. The allowance for overnight visitors in the authority's standard spending assessment is £1·088 million, also an increase of 20 per cent. on this year's figure.

Local Government Commission (Guidance)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when, and with whom, he proposes to consult on the draft procedural guidance for the Local Government Commission to be issued under clause 15 of the Local Government Bill.

The draft procedural guidance will be published shortly. The main consultation will be with the local authority associations, but we intend also to publicise the availability of the draft, and we shall, of course, be happy to consider comments on it from any interested individual or organisation. The draft will be placed in the Library of the House.

Solent Wetlands

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made with English Nature on designating the Solent wetlands and saltmarshes under the Ramsar convention.

English Nature has identified the Solent marshes, together with Southampton water, as a potential Ramsar site, but they have not formally recommended designation to Government.

Merseyside Fire And Civil Defence Authority

To ask the Secretary of state for the Environment what discussions he has had with the Merseyside fire and civil defence authority respecting the provisional standard spending assessment and capping criteria; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has had no discussions with the Merseyside fire and civil defence authority on his proposals for the 1992–93 local government finance settlement, nor during the consultation period did he receive any representations from the authority on these matters. My right hon. and noble Friend, the Minister of State for the Home Office, met a delegation from the authority on 23 January 1992 to discuss their review of standards of fire cover.My right hon. Friend laid the Revenue Support Grant Report (England) 1992–93 and associated reports before the House on Friday 24 January. The SSA for Merseyside fire and civil defence authority for 1992–93 is £45·859 million, an increase of 7·4 per cent. on 1991–92, and, as a result of changes in underlying data, £12,000 greater than the provisional SSA proposed on 26 November. The authority's SSA per adult (£44) is the highest of the metropolitan fire and civil defence authorities.My right hon. Friend reaffirmed on 23 January that he remained minded to adopt as capping criteria the provissional criteria announced on 26 November. On the basis of these criteria, the Merseyside fire and civil defence authority could set a budget 7·4 per cent. higher than for 1991–92 without falling to be designated for capping.

Public Records

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals the Lord Chancellor has to maintain collections of public records currently held by county councils in the light of the proposed restructuring of local government; and whether he has sought comments from the Advisory Council on Public Records about this matter.

In recommending any unitary authorities, the proposed Local Government Commission would have to be satisfied about the delivery of archive services. There will be ample opportunities for bodies concerned with archives to offer advice and comment on the commission's recommendations.

Minerals

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the effect of the Town and Country Planning (Development Plan) Regulations 1991/2794 upon the ability of the mineral industry to supply the construction industry with the materials it needs.

The statutory duty for all mineral planning authorities to prepare a minerals local plan will provide the mineral industry with an up-to-date planning framework which will assist with the continuing supply of minerals for the construction industry in an environmentally acceptable manner. The regulations set out the detailed requirements for the preparation of minerals and other development plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what restraints he has placed upon district authorities to prevent them either deferring or overriding county mineral and waste disposal plans; and what mechanism he has provided for reconciling the conflict between county and district authorities on issues of importance to the mineral industry in discharging its role as supplier of aggregates.

District local plans and minerals and waste local plans have to be in general conformity with the relevant structure plan. County planning authorities must be consulted on the preparation of district local plans and have the right to object to any policies or proposals of such plans. The Secretary of State has reserve powers to direct modification or to call in, all or part of a plan should that be necessary. The Town and Country Planning (Development Plan) Regulations 1991 provide that in the event of conflict between the provisions of a minerals or waste local plan on the one hand and a district local plan on the other, the provisions of the more recently adopted or approved plan prevail.

Un Conference On Environment And Development

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has made to the proposals by the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection Committee of the European Parliament on European Communities' participation in the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Brazil in June; and what plans he has to work more closely with the European Parliament on environmental matters.

The European Parliament's Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection Committee last year presented an interesting report on the Community's participation in the UN Conference on Environment and Development. This report, sent to the Commission and member states, will be taken into account in the Community's preparations for UNCED. On future relations with the European Parliament, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 30 January at column 641.

Standard Spending Assessments

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 30 January, Official Report, column 642, if he will publish tables based on the same criteria for the 1992–93 standard spending assessments which were laid before the House on 24 January.

A table containing the information requested has been placed in the Library.<