To ask the Attorney-General what proposals he has to secure the continuing availability of criminal legal aid in the magistrates courts of rural areas in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

The Lord Chancellor is committed to ensuring that criminal legal aid services in the magistrates courts continue to be widely available. In 1990–91 the Legal Aid Board paid 440,000 bills in respect of criminal legal aid in the magistrates courts. In addition to this, just under 230,000 defendants were assisted under the magistrates courts duty solicitor scheme. This commitment extends to all areas of the country and there are no separate provisions for rural areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those investment projects for which British Rail is awaiting his approval; and if he will make a statement.

On 6 February the British Rail chairman sought authority for investment in 550 fully enclosed car carrying wagons for the import and export of finished cars via the channel tunnel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 16 January, Official Report, column 610–11, what is the latest progress on approving speed limits on the A414 through the village of Danbury; and when approval by his Department is expected to be given.

We are still waiting to hear from Essex county council concerning various legal issues. I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as I am able to report progress.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the pollution incidents on the River Wear over the last 10 years; and how many prosecutions were made as a result.

I understand that information on details of reported pollution incidents, or on numbers of prosecutions, is not held centrally by the National Rivers Authority in respect of individual rivers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting in Geneva on 14 February to review progress made in implementing the global environmental facility; and what commitment has been made by the United Kingdom in terms of (a) financial resources and (b) expertise to the GEF.

The focus of the global environment facility—GEF—participants meeting was to discuss the evolution of the GEF and its relationship with the proposed international conventions on climate change and on biodiversity. The meeting was constructive. The GEF chairman has been given a mandate to approach convention negotiations to explain what links could be developed between the GEF and the conventions and to report to the next GEF meeting in April.The United Kingdom has committed £40·3 million to the current three-year pilot phase of the GEF for global environmental activities including related expertise.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to ensure that applicants for houses under transferable discount schemes are limited to purchasing private sector property within the areas in which such schemes are operational.

No. Cash incentive schemes are aimed at releasing housing in areas of acute housing pressure. Requiring grant recipients to purchase homes within such areas would add to the housing problems of those areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will indicate the cost of hiring the Queen Elizabeth conference centre for the city challenge press conference held on 18 February.

The cost of hiring the Mountbatten suite in the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre for the press launch of round two of city challenge on 18 February was £3,965·00, inclusive of VAT.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations the Minister for Housing and Planning has received from the Federation of Associations of Manchester Estates; what reply is being sent; what action is being taken; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to the right hon. Member on 27 January about Manchester city council's housing investment programme allocation, which is also the subject of a letter dated 6 February received from the Federation of Associations of Manchester Estates. The Department's regional controller in the north-west replied to FAME on 25 February in similar terms.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the standard spending assessment in 1991–92 for North Yorkshire county council for social services; and what is the figure in 1992–93.

The standard spending assessment for personal social services for North Yorkshire county council in 1991–92 is £49·89 million and for 1991–92 will be £52·837 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to issue a consultation paper on marine consultation areas; and if he will make a statement.

I am today issuing a joint consultation paper with the Welsh Office on a new scheme to extend the designation of sites of marine conservation interest in England and Wales beyond the existing statutory marine nature reserves. This new designation is "marine consultation area" and I am publishing a first list of 16 proposed sites together with draft Government guidelines, addressed to regulatory agencies, on the procedures to be adopted in relation to them. Comments are being invited from these regulatory agencies and from others with interests in the localities concerned, the conservation of marine fauna and flora, and the operations likely to be affected. These are to be with the Departments concerned by Wednesday 22 April 1992.The scheme acknowledges the important role that statutory marine nature reserves have played, and will continue to play, in promoting marine nature conservation, while recognising that there is a legitimate conservation interest that extends beyond statutory reserves. The sea itself cannot be fenced off and effective protection of areas marine conservation interest requires voluntary co-operation from a wide range of sea users.The scheme proposed builds on one already in place in Scotland but goes further by way of a Government circular which gives clear guidelines to promote consultation between all the bodies concerned. A draft of this circular forms the basis of the consultation document.All bodies taking decisions that might affect the conservation interest of the listed sites are asked to consult English Nature, or the Countryside Council for Wales as appropriate, at the earliest feasible stage. Any advice offered by the conservation agencies as a result of this consultation is to be given due weight by decision-makers and the conservation agencies are to be told of decisions taken in the light of their advice.The scheme is intended to run on an entirely voluntary basis with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee monitoring results in order to determine its effectiveness. Annual reports, which will be made available to the public on request, will be submitted to the Government Departments concerned.The 16 sites have been selected on the basis of advice from English Nature and the Countryside Council for Wales and include existing and proposed statutory marine nature reserves. A full list indicating area and position is set out as an annex to the circular. Copies of the consultation paper have today been placed in the Library.In addition, detailed descriptions of 16 sites, together with maps, are to be published separately in a free-standing document entitled "Marine Consultation Areas—A Description". Copies of the latest draft are available from my Department.The issue of the consultation paper fulfils the commitment in the White Paper anniversary report "This Common Inheritance—The First Year Report", Cm 1655 —paragraph 5·28, that the Government would publish, on a consultative basis, by early 1992, a first list of proposed marine consultation areas in England and Wales, and draft Government guidelines addressed to regulatory agencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the timetable and implementation date of the housing action trusts in Liverpool.

Liverpool city council and tenants of its 71 high-rise blocks have recently pressed us to reach an early decision on whether to proceed to ballot tenants on the proposal for a housing action trust.Following careful consideration of the feasibility study prepared by the council, my right hon. Friend has decided that a ballot should be undertaken as soon as practicable and convenient for tenants. I would be content for this to begin on 25 March.Liverpool city council's 71 tower blocks currently suffer a range of severe physical, security and managerial problems. Nevertheless, with appropriate investment and management, I believe they can provide an important resource for meeting housing needs and for the foreseeable future. I am fully satisfied that the housing action trust proposal represents the best means of protecting this resource, and improving the housing, environmental and social conditions of tenants.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements are in hand to take into consideration the combined, cumulative effects of emissions from projects in the south-east Thames corridor including the Deptford incinerator, the Bexley incinerator and the Greenwich power station when approval for each specific project is being sought separately.

[holding answer 24 February 1992]: All current applications for power stations and incinerators in the east Thamesside London boroughs are supported by environmental assessment statements. We are satisfied that existing arrangements for considering such applications can provide for appropriate account to be taken of the environmental effects of other developments in the vicinity of the one that is under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to complete the current review of legislation affecting mobile home owners.

[holding answer 25 February 1992]: I shall be announcing proposals in the very near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by region the location of computer-assisted tomography scanners and magnetic resonance machines that were funded by charitable appeals.

The source of funding is not always known centrally. The available information on cases when all or part of the purchase is said to have come from appeals or donations is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the national health service, and at which grades, he expects to earn more than £20,280 per annum following the recent pay review body report.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 5 February at column 207. Following the recent pay review body awards, it is now estimated that on 1 April 1992 at least 83,000 people working in the NHS in England, and in the same categories listed in the earlier reply, will have basic earnings greater than £20,280 per annum. An additional and substantial number in most of those categories will have gross earnings in excess of £20,280, because they receive additional payments such as

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the present procedures whereby medical doctors can remove patients from their panel list without being required to give any reason; and if he will make a statement.

Since the foundation of the NHS, a GP has had a right (subject to certain safeguards as regards necessary treatment) to remove a patient from his or her list without giving a reason. With effect from April 1990 patients have had the same right to withdraw from a doctor's list without giving a reason. The Family Health Service Authority will help any patient who has problems in finding another doctor, and, if necessary, will allocate the patient to a doctor's list.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 27 November, Official Report, column 544, to the hon. Member for Ashford, (Mr. Speed), when he hopes to provide needles for insulin-injecting pens on prescription for diabetics; and if he will make a statement.

I cannot add to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Ashford on 27 November 1991 at column 544.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations he has received (a) in

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost of prescription charges for each year since 1979 in cash terms, real terms and as an index with 1979 as the base.

The requested information is in the table. Only one in six prescription items dispensed in the NHS now attracts a charge, compared with one in three in 1979. Last year over 100 million more exempt items were dispensed than in 1979.favour of and

We have received a number of representations in favour of issuing needles for insulin-injecting pens on prescription during the current session. We aim to make both pens and needles available on prescription as soon as resources allow.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of cases of Legionnaire's disease at each provider unit and trust since April 1991.

In 1991 three cases of Legionnaire's disease were reported in residents of England and Wales in patients who were believed to have acquired their infection in hospital. The three cases were reported from the Freeman group of hospitals NHS trust site at Freeman Road hospital, Newcastle, and the illness in the cases began in June, July and October respectively. There were 10 other cases reported in England and Wales which may have been contracted in hospital, but there was insufficient evidence to determine whether the source was in hospital or in the community.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the communicable disease surveillance centre is preparing a report on the recent outbreak of Legionnaire's disease at the Freeman hospital trust, Newcastle.

The public health laboratory service (PHLS) communicable disease surveillance centre was not involved in the investigation of this incident and will therefore not be preparing a report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has for the introduction of a statutory requirement for pharmacists to inform customers when a medication is cheaper by normal retail sale than by prescription; and if he will make a statement.

Only a small number of items prescribed by GPs can be bought without a prescription. Where these are available at a price less than the prescription charge, the pharmacist is, of course, free to point this out. There are no plans to make this a statutory requirement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has for the introduction of charges for visits to and by general practitioners; and if he will make a statement.

There are no such plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of prescriptions given to adults of less than pensionable age result in the payment of the prescription charge; and if he will make a statement.

An estimated 40 per cent. of prescription items dispensed to adults below the state retirement pension age attract a charge. Extensive exemption and charge remission arrangements, coupled with the prescription prepayment certificate scheme, protect those people who may otherwise have difficulty in paying prescription charges. In 1990–91 a charge was paid on only one item in six dispensed in the NHS and 100 million more items were dispensed free than in 1979, when one item in three attracted a charge.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the Government are doing to help local authorities make the investment in information technology necessary to support its community care reforms.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had on the promotion of non-alcoholic drinks.

We have had a number of informal meetings with the Portman Group and with some of its sponsor companies about how the sensible use of alcohol might be encouraged, in the course of which the promotion of non-alcoholic drinks has been discussed. At recent conferences "Women and Alcohol" in December 1991 and the "Education on Alcohol" conference this month, not only were non-alcoholic drinks advertised but they were the only drinks available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations he has received on the closure of residential care homes run by North Yorkshire county council in (a) Whitby and (b) Harrogate;(2) what representations he has received concerning residential places for the elderly in the North Yorkshire county council area.

No such representations have been received. It is for each local authority to determine the best way in which to meet the need for social services in their area, including residential care.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many places in residential care establishments in North Yorkshire were available in each of the last five years (a) under the management of North Yorkshire county council, (b) in the voluntary sector, (c) under the management of housing associations and (d) with other owners.

The information in respect of elderly people is given in the table.Overall residential care provision for elderly people in North Yorkshire increased from 5,500 in 1987 to 5,884 in 1991.

We are committed to turning our community care policy into practice. We are making £10·175 million available through supplementary credit approval for capital spending in 1992–93 on information technology to support the implementation of "Caring For People". This allocation is more than double that for 1991–92. Local authorities will be free to use their allocation on systems to support any of the various aspects of "Caring For People". These may include systems to support care management and assessment, systems to enable complaints and inspection procedures, project planning and management systems and software to link existing databases with new financial management systems.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total number of employees in his Department; and how many are (a) black, and (b) disabled.

The total number of staff in post in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office including the Overseas Development Administration at 1 April 1991 was 8,277. In voluntary surveys 181 had declared themselves to be of ethnic minority origin. At 1 June 1991 the FCO employed 49 registered disabled staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a table showing the number of (a) men and (b) women in his Department in each of grades (i) 1, (ii) 2, (iii) 3, (iv) 4, (v) 5, (vi) 6, (vii) 7, (viii) SEO, (ix) HEO, (x) administrative trainee, (xi) EO, (xii), CO and (xiii) CA.

The latest available figures for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, including the Overseas Development Administration, are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the new institutions of the CSCE; and if he will list their forthcoming meetings.

At the meeting of the CSCE Council of Ministers in Prague on 30 and 31 January the CSCE's office for free elections was given broader functions and renamed as the office for democratic institutions and human rights.The council also agreed on new functions for the conflict prevention centre; and that the committee of senior officials will henceforth meet more frequently and from time to time as an economic forum.These changes which, together with a new programme of CSCE meetings, will be further discussed at the CSCE follow-up meeting in Helsinki from 24 March to 10 July 1992, are intended to continue the adaptation of the CSCE to enable it more effectively to promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law, to engage in crisis management and conflict resolution and to encourage the transition to market economies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards Cambodia; and what measures he has taken and proposes to take to promote peace in that country.

We support the agreements on a comprehensive political settlement of the Cambodia conflict signed in Paris last October. The United Kingdom played an active part in the negotiations leading up to these agreements. We will continue to work both through the United Nations and bilaterally to ensure that the agreements are implemented fully.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans there are to establish a dedicated computerised intelligence network across Europe for the Customs service.

A new customs information system—CIS—is being developed for use across the European Community. It is planned to use the existing system customs enforcement network—SCENT—as a carrier for the CIS, which is being developed in phases.The first phase will be in place later this year, and will provide encrypted computer messaging facilities at all main ports and airports in the European Community. A central database will be added to this system in the second phase, providing specific intelligence about potential customs offences, and information on recent smuggling trends. In the light of experience from the first two phases, consideration will be given to enhancing the system to incorporate CIS facilities into national computer systems, with the possibility of eventually establishing a fully integrated system.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the start-up costs of the secure customs enforcement network; and what are its annual running costs since it became operational.

Over the first three years of the system, commencing in 1986, EC Commission spending to launch the system totalled approximately 300,000 ecu. More recent figures from the Commission are not readily obtainable except at disproportionate cost.The United Kingdom's Intervention Board executive agency recently installed a terminal at a total cost of £900·71, including first quarter running costs of £55·83.Running costs for the Customs and Excise terminal have totaled £4,987·67 from the time of installation in late 1987 to 8 December 1991.More recent or detailed figures are not available except at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the purpose of the secure customs enforcement network; when it was established; and which authorities have access to the system.

SCENT was developed in response to increasing needs for exchange of information between customs operational investigation services in the European Community. It has an electronic encrypted mailing system, the facility to send messages to telex machines and it provides access to databases of reference information such as Lloyds Seadata. Initiated by the Commission towards the end of 1986, SCENT became operational from 1987 onwards.Access to the system is strictly controlled, and limited to authorised users. Most terminals are used by customs services. Others are allocated to the Commission's directorate general XXI for work on customs questions or movements of drugs precursor chemicals and directorate general VI for common agricultural policy work. The United Kingdom Intervention Board executive agency and its equivalent bodies in other member states have access to the system. The other two users are the International Narcotics Control Board and the United Nations, which has one terminal.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many terminals are connected to the secure Customs enforcement network; and what plans there are to expand access to the system.

There are currently 29 terminals in use, two of which are in the United Kingdom. It is planned to increase the total number of terminals to about 200, most of which should be installed by the end of 1992. Of these, 25 should be sited in the United Kingdom.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many passengers who are United Kingdom citizens returning from Brussels on the 18 February at Heathrow on flight BA 0397 were questioned by Customs and Excise; and what was the result of the questioning.

[holding answer 24 February 1992]: I regret that the information requested is not available. Customs at Heathrow deal with large numbers of passengers and passengers from different sources pass through customs controls simultaneously. No record is kept of individual passenger challenges except where seizures or search of person result.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the rates of VAT charged in each other EC country for (a) food in shops, (b) food in restaurants, (c) books, (d) magazines, (e) newspapers, (f) household fuel, (g) rents, (h) house purchase, (i) children's clothing (j) community centres and (k) transport fares.

Rates of VAT charged in each other EC country for food in shops, food in restaurants, books, magazines, newspapers, household fuel, rents, house purchase, children's clothing, community centres and transport fares according to the latest information available, are set out in the tables.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what, in the latest year for which information is available, is the proportion of consumer spending subject to the standard rate of VAT, exempt from VAT and subject to a zero rate of VAT.

In 1990, the latest year for which estimates are available, some 57 per cent. of consumers' expenditure was standard rated, a further 22 per cent. was exempt and 12 per cent. was zero rated.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest estimates of (a) original, (b) gross, (c) disposable and (d) post-tax income, by decile, in the United Kingdom.

The information, derived from the 1989 family expenditure survey, is given in the table:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total revenue from motor taxation in 1991–92; and what is his estimated revenue for 1992–93 divided into its constituent parts, for the United Kingdom.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, East (Mr. Prescott) on 4 February 1992, at column 100. Revised estimates for 1991–92, and figures for 1992–93 will be given in the Financial Statement and Budget Report.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to receive the European Commission study on the possible distortion of competition between different alcoholic beverages as a result of the proposed European excise structure.

[holding answer 21 February 1992]: I have not been advised of a date for publication of the Commission study.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the objective of the married couples allowance; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the married couples allowance for couples where both partners have the same level of gross income.

[holding answer 25 February 1992]: The married couple's allowance is intended to recognise the special responsibilities associated with marriage, which can encompass a variety of dependent relationships. The effect of the allowance is the same whatever the relative level of income of the partners, provided they earn enough to make use of their allowances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will review the application form for disability living allowance with a view to making it shorter and less complicated.

The form has been carefully designed to be both clear to the applicant and to allow applicants to explain fully the limitations on their abilities. It will, however, be kept under review to enable improvements to be identified and made as and when necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what consultation took place with general medical practitioners or welfare advice groups during the preparation of the application forms for the disability living allowance;(2) what evaluations or tests of the application forms for disability living allowance were made prior to their publication.

Extensive consultation was carried out in Great Britain and Northern Ireland before the final version of the disability living allowance application form was determined. This included consultation with the British Medical Association and various disability and welfare groups and the testing of draft forms with disabled people. The resulting form has been specifically designed for completion by disabled people, with clear layout and large print.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken by the Social Security Agency to appoint equality officers to ensure that fair employment legislation and sex discrimination legislation is being adhered to in relation to all staff appointments.

The Civil Service Commissioners for Northern Ireland are responsible for the selection of all permanent non-industrial staff appointed to the Northern Ireland civil service, including the Social Security Agency. The selection procedures adopted take account of equal opportunity legislation. The Department of Health and Social Services, within which the agency operates, has in place a departmental equal opportunities officer to ensure that the equal opportunities policies of the NICS are put into effect.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken by the area health and social services boards to appoint equality officers to ensure that fair employment and sex discrimination legislation is being adhered to in relation to all staff appointments.

An equal opportunities unit has been established in each health and social services board since 1988. The primary responsibility of these units is to ensure that equality of opportunity policy of their board is applied to all staff regardless of religious affiliation, gender or disability. These units are also responsible for ensuring that the provisions of the fair employment legislation are applied to all staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to ensure that persons involved in interview panels in the area health and social services boards are adequately briefed about employment legislation to ensure equality under the Fair Employment (NI) Act 1989 and the Sex Discrimination (NI) Order 1988.

Each of the health and social services boards organises courses and seminars for staff involved in selection and appointments to ensure its policy of equality of opportunity is applied regardless of religious affiliation, gender or disability and to explain how the provisions of the fair employment legislation apply to staff in post and to applicants and appointees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to publish the religious breakdown of companies, organisations and businesses in accordance with requirements of the fair employment legislation.

The Fair Employment Commission has made public its intention to publish information on the composition of individual private sector concerns with more than 25 employees and specified public authorities. The date and manner of publication have not yet been decided.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Fair Employment Commission will publish its report into employment practices in the colleges of further education located within the Belfast education and library board.

The Fair Employment Commission has forwarded a draft report of its investigation into teaching staff in further education colleges in Belfast to the Belfast education and library board. The board's formal response is awaited by the commission.The commission plans to publish the report when this response has been received and considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the names of the companies assisted by the Industrial Development Board which located factories in each of the district council areas in Northern Ireland from 1 April 1991 to 31 December 1991.

Four new inward investment projects were secured in this period. Three of them, Vision Information Consulting Ltd., Audio Processing Technology Ltd. and the Royal Mail returned letters centre, will be located in Belfast city council area. The fourth, involving HM Customs and Excise, will be located in Derry city and Fermanagh district council areas. The Royal Mail and HM Customs and Excise projects were secured without selective financial assistance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many jobs were created by the Industrial Development Board in each district council area in Northern Ireland from 1 April 1991 to 31 December 1991.

Information in terms of jobs created is not readily available and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost. The number of new jobs promoted in the period, by district council area, is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will issue a statement in relation to the siting of a Department of the Environment liaison office at Killyleagh, County Down.

Following a detailed process of consultation the Department of Environment for Northern Ireland recently issued a statement on the management structure for Strangford Lough. This statement made it clear that the location of the liaison office would be a matter for the Strangford Lough management committee which is now being set up.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many claimants in receipt of income support were having deductions made for (a) social fund loans, (b) fuel costs, (c) in respect of assumed rent and rate contributions from other members of the household and (d) other deductions on 1 January at each social security agency in Northern Ireland; and what were the figures on 1 January 1991 and 1 January 1989.

Social Security operational matters are the responsibility of Mr. Alec Wylie, chief executive of the Social Security Agency. He will write to the hon. Gentleman and copies of his reply will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will issue the draft order in respect of the management of Strangford Lough.

The proposals relating to the establishment of a management structure for Strangford Lough included in the Departments' recently produced statement do not require the making of an order to bring them into effect.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many claimants were having (a) one deduction made, (b) two deductions made and (c) three deductions or more made on 1 January at each social security office in Northern Ireland; and what were the figures on 1 January 1991 and 1 January 1989.

Social Security operational matters are the responsibility of Mr. Alec Wylie, chief executive of the Social Security Agency. However, I understand that the information is not held centrally and therefore cannot be supplied on grounds of disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce an under-fives initiative in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

The report of an interdepartmental review of policy and services for the under-fives is expected later this year. As part of its work, the group conducting the review has commissioned research aimed at quantifying the demand for provision for the under-fives and at improving the information available on the needs and preferences of parents and children. Work is also well advanced on the preparation of a draft children (NI) order. This, among other things, will provide a clearer legislative framework for the development of services for the under-fives and will strengthen procedures for the regulation of day care services, bringing them broadly into line with those introduced in the Children Act 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funds have been made available by the Industrial Development Board in each of the past three years to Messrs Hartstones Ltd. for its Berkshire plant in Newtownards; if the grant-aided plant and machinery is still on site; and if he will make a statement on the redundancies recently announced at this factory.

In August 1989 the IDB made an offer of assistance of £1,045,200 to Berkshire Hosiery (UK) Ltd., a subsidiary of the Hartstone Group plc. The assistance was provided to support a major re-equipment project aimed at securing existing employment and the future development of the company.Since that time some £809,078 of grant has been paid to Berkshire Hosiery (UK) Ltd.—£205,039 in 1989–90, £550,379 in 1990–91 and £53,660 in 1991–92. No grant was paid directly to the Hartstone Group plc.At present all of the grant-aided plant and machinery remains on site.I regret the loss of jobs in the hosiery operation which have arisen from overcapacity in the group. The company has indicated to the Industrial Development Board that its activities at Newtownards will be concentrated on its successful sock business.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many expressions of interest in becoming HSS trusts he has received; and if he will make a statement.

Eleven expressions of interest have been received and I have decided to invite all the sponsors to make formal applications to become HSS trusts in April 1993. The services involved are:

• Belfast City Hospital
• Craigavon Area Hospitals Group
• Down and Lisburn Unit of Management
• Eastern Board Ambulance Service
• Green Park Unit of Management
• Mater Infirmorum Hospital
• Newry and Mourne Unit of Management
• North Down and Ards Community Unit
• North and West Belfast Community
• South and East Belfast Community Unit
• Ulster, North Down and Ards Hospitals Unit

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the most recent information he has on the destination of people who leave the job training programme; how many leavers got jobs, became unemployed or went on to further training; and if he will make a statement.

The most recent information available on the destination of participants leaving the job training programme is for the period 1 April 1991 to 31 December 1991 and is as follows:

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what factors he takes into account before consenting to the short-term letting of agricultural land under section 5 of the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986; and how many consents he has granted in each year since 1986.

Consent to short-term lettings under section 5 of the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 is granted where it would be unreasonable to expect a landlord to let land on a full agricultural tenancy. The main circumstances which would satisfy this requirement were agreed with the industry and are as follows. Within this broad framework each case is considered according to individual circumstances. The categories outlined are not definitive and applications for consent on other grounds may be considered.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements he is making for the implementation of the EC surplus food scheme in the United Kingdom in 1992–93; and if he will make a statement.

In its report on the operation of the first two years of this scheme the European Commission accepted that, judged as a food surplus disposal exercise, the scheme is inevitably expensive when compared with other mean of surplus disposal. However, it concluded that the facility to operate the scheme should continue to be available to member states.The Government endorse the view that the scheme is not a satisfactory method of dealing with surpluses and of assisting those whom it should help. Nevertheless, the Government believe that eligible United Kingdom citizens should continue to have the opportunity of benefiting from the scheme in 1992–93.For 1992, the Commission has, as in 1991, allocated some 150 mecu to the scheme for the European Community as a whole. The United Kingdom has maintained its share, some 25 mecu, which represents about £17·9 million worth of butter and beef.The scheme already makes produce available in the United Kingdom to certain clearly defined categories of people. These are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received concerning the merger of North London News and Capital Newspapers; when he expects the report for the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; and if he will make a statement.

I have received an application for my consent to the transfer to EMAP plc of a controlling interest in Capital Newspapers Ltd. In this case I have discretion either to refer the matter to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission or to give consent without such a reference. Representations from third parties have been invited but none has yet been received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what initiatives he plans to assist those people threatened with the loss of their homes as a result of home equity loan plans that are no longer viable.

[holding answer 21 February 1992]: The Securities and Investments Board has put arrangements in place to ensure that information about problem cases is brought quickly to the attention of all bodies who may be able to help.People in difficulties should contact the appropriate Financial Services Act regulator and also the mortgage lender to discuss repayment and interest terms, and the investors compensation scheme if the investment firm has been declared in default and claims are being considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list (a) the grants and (b) other advantageous terms available to firms sited within areas with development status and those with assisted area status.

[holding answer 25 February 1992]: There are two main grant schemes available to businesses in the assisted areas of Great Britain. Regional selective assistance is available throughout the assisted areas and regional enterprise grants are available in development areas and the intermediate areas of Derbyshire, South Yorkshire, Plymouth and Fife which are covered by the European Community RESIDER and REN.AVAL programmes. Also, consultancy support under the enterprise initiative is given at a higher rate in the assisted areas; and grants or loans may be made by the relevant Secretary of State towards the improvement of basic services.In addition, English Estates, and other agencies in Scotland and Wales, have programmes for the provision of industrial and commercial premises in the assisted areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make it his policy progressively to introduce low-energy lighting in all the buildings operated by his Department.