To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if Her Majesty's Government have completed their review of the economic conditions in the hill and upland areas; and if he will make a statement on the rates of hill livestock compensatory allowances and associated scheme conditions for 1988.

My right hon. Friends and I have now completed the annual review of economic conditions in the hills and uplands.Even allowing for recent bad weather, the economic prospects for farmers in the less-favoured areas are currently looking significantly better than at this time last year. Most LFA livestock producers have benefited from a 35 per cent. rise in suckler cow premium and the green pound devaluations, which have provided increased support through the sheep annual premium and beef variable premium. The Government have decided that the rates of hill livestock compensatory allowances should be maintained at their present levels for 1988. The associated conditions will also remain unchanged, apart from some minor amendments to the scheme rules. We shall be laying a statutory instrument shortly to give effect to these changes, which will he explained to claimants when the application forms are dispatched.The Government continue to recognise the importance of the hill and upland areas in the United Kingdom and their reliance on the compensatory allowances for the economic well-being of livestock production. A healthy livestock sector in the hills and uplands makes a major contribution to agriculture, the rural economy and the environment. The Government are committed to providing appropriate support to meet the special needs of livestock producers in those areas. This commitment is demonstrated by the fact that total HLCA payments next year are expected to be over £110 million, virtually double the 1979 levels.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the responsibilities of each of the deputy secretaries in his Department and the numbers and ranks of staff reporting to each.

Information on the five grade 2 posts, which include deputy secretary appointments, in my department and the number of staff reporting to them on 1 October 1987 is as follows:

Post	No. of Staff
Deputy Secretary (Agricultural Commodities)	222·0
Deput) Secretary (Land and Resources)	781·5
Deputy Secretary (Fisheries and Food)	1065·5
Legal Adviser and Solicitor	68·0

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to the average retail price of (i) Welsh, (ii) English, (iii) Danish and (iv) New Zealand butter.

information collected for the purposes of the retail prices index indicates that, in October 1987, the average prices of butter were as follows:

	pence per gramme
Home produced	52p per 250g
Danish	56p per 250g
New Zealand	50p per 250g

No separate information is collected on prices for Welsh or English butter.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his reply of 30 November, what has been the cost to the United Kingdom Treasury to date of the cost of disposing of the 97,190 tons of butter released between 1 December 1986 and 31 October 1987; and if this full amount will fall to be repaid by the Community after 1989 under the arrangements agreed in March 1987.

[holding answer 7 December 1987]: Disposal of this butter has saved money for the Exchequer from reduced storage charges. Without the special scheme the butter would have remained in store and, as I explained in my previous reply, no reimbursements for loss on sale would have been received from the Community. Under the scheme these reimbursements will be paid, but delayed to the four years from 1989. Therefore, the Exchequer is no worse off in this respect. 97,190 tonnes occupy a considerable volume of cold storage, which would have cost about £7.5 million per year to provide.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representations he has received over the past five years regarding the adverse environmental impact of the establishment of intensive poultry farming in England.

Information is readily available only for the period from 1 January 1985 to date, during which my Department received 11 representations about environmental concerns in relation to poultry units.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will review the dangers of disease spreading from trees uprooted in the recent hurricane to other healthy trees; and if he will make a statement.

There is no immediate danger of disease spreading from windblown trees, because the insects and fungi active in the rotting of wood are dormant during the winter months. The Forestry Commission will, however, be keeping a watch on the situation.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many environmentally sensitive areas have been or are being designated in Devon.

[Holding answer 7 December 1987]: No environmentally sensitive areas have been or are about to be designated in Devon. The areas which have been chosen for designation now include all those in England shortlisted by the Countryside Commission and Nature Conservancy Council.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what system he has to ensure that on occasions when it is known that growing conditions in the Canary Islands are going to give rise to exports of tomatoes of poor intrinsic condition, the Horticultural Inspectorate is deployed to ensure that no out-of-grade fruit leaves the dockside in the United Kingdom or is admitted in roll on-roll off vehicles from the continent.

[holding answer 8 December 1987]: When problems with quality of horticultural imports arise or are expected, it is the practice to redeploy horticultural marketing inspectors, so as to intensify quality control at main points of entry. Produce failing to meet minimum standards is outgraded. Although such intensive action has not so far been needed for the Canary Islands tomatoes, we would not hesitate to take action if necessary.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of expenditure in 1986–87 and 1987–88 by the agricultural departments on agricultural grants and subsidies, excluding market regulation, under the common agricultural policy.

Details are given in the table of the outturn for 1986–87 and the latest forecast of outturn for 1987–88.

(£ million)
	Outturn 1986–87	Latest fore-cast of out-turn 1987–88
Price Guarantees
Wool	8·1	2·5
Potatoes	—	—
	8·1	2·5
Support for capital and other improvements
Environmentally sensitive areas	—	3·6
Agriculture and Horticulture development scheme	45·3	43·1
Guidance premiums	3·2	2·0
Farm accounts	0·7	0·7
Farm structure	0·3	0·2
Northern Ireland agricultural development programme	4·0	2·2
Agriculture and Horticulture grant scheme	25·6	1·9
Agriculture improvement scheme (EC)	7·5	29·8
Agriculture improvement scheme (National)	8·9	8·6
Others	0·2	0·5
	95·7	92·6
Support for agriculture in special areas
Hill livestock compensatory allowances	121·7	114·8
Additional benefit to farmers in special areas under AHDS, NIADP, AHGS, AIS(EC) and AIS(nat)	29·9	25·3
Others	4·9	3·8
	156·5	143·9
Other payments
Milk outgoers scheme	9·5	10·9
Weather aid 1985	—	—
Sheep compensation scheme	4·3	1·0
Cooperation grants	2·7	2·5
Producer organisation	1·0	0·8
Forage groups	0·4	0·4
	17·9	15·6
Grand total	278·2	254·6

Some of this expenditure attracts contributions from the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund. These are mainly received in the following year. In 1987–88, £36.7 million is expected to be received from the fund, compared with £41.5 million in 1986–87.The individual figures may not add up to the totals shown due to roundings.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide details of expenditure in 1986–87 and 1987–88 by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce and the agricultural departments on market regulation under the common agricultural policy.

Details of the outturn for 1986–87 and the latest forecast of outturn for 1987–88 are as follows:

To ask the Prime Minister what information she has received regarding the Japanese Government's undertaking to license a second KDD international telecommunications consortium, including British investment through Cable and Wireless plc; and whether in the light of previous representations made by herself, other Ministers and parliamentarians of all parties, Her Majesty's Government will take a continuing interest in the progress of further negotiations.

I understand that Mr. Nakayama, the Japanese Minister for Posts and Telecommunications, has now awarded a licence to the International Digital Communications consortium, of which Cable and Wireless is a member. I very much welcome this decision.The Government have expressed consistent support for Cable and Wireless's involvement in the IDC consortium and I raised the issue personally with Mr. Nakasone earlier this year.We shall continue to follow with close interest the progress of this project.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much is being spent in the current academic year on Soviet studies in universities and polytechnics; and what proposals he has to increase such allocations.

The information requested is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many full-time students in higher education receive no maintenance grant from public funds.

[holding answer 20 November 1987]: In 1985–86, some 89,000 students in receipt of mandatory or full-value discretionary awards received fee payments, but no maintenance, because of high parental or other income. In 1983–84, some 20,000 students in full-time higher education were estimated to be receiving neither maintenance nor fees from public funds. More recent estimates are unavailable.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what evidence he has of variations in prices for funerals, and of regional differences; and how many complaints have been received by his Department on this matter in the last five years.

My Department has received around 70 representations concerning funeral prices in the last five years. In the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report on the acquisition by the Co-operative Wholesale Society Ltd. of the Scottish funerals business of House of Fraser plc, there is some discussion of regional differences in costs. I am not aware of other evidence of price variations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will provide information, on a quarterly basis, showing total imports into the United Kingdom of Belgian carpets for 1985, 1986 and for the first three quarters of 1987.

The information is as follows:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what action he intends to take in relation to low-cost Belgian carpets being imported into the United Kingdom; what representations he has made concerning Belgian state aid to their textile and carpet industry; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have made a number of representations in support of action by the European Commission against Belgian subsidies to their textile and carpet industry. Further representations will be made as appropriate in consultation with the United Kingdom industry.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received from within the United Kingdom concerning unfair competition resulting from the importing into the United Kingdom of low-cost Belgian carpets, and what share of the United Kingdom carpet market Belgian carpet suppliers now take.

I have received various representations from time to time concerning the provision of aid to the Belgian carpet industry but none recently relating specifically to low-cost imports into the United Kingdom. Belgian carpets accounted for 13 per cent. by value of the United Kingdom carpet market in 1986.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a report on the outcome of the Council of Industry Ministers' meeting on 8 December.

I attended a meeting of the Council of Industry Ministers in Brussels on 8 December and took part in a discussion on the future of the steel market after the present quota arrangements end on 31 December 1987. I pressed for the earliest practicable return to a quota-free market in all categories of steel products and for progress with the further restructuring of the European industry that is necessary for the return to free market conditions to be orderly. I argued the case for steel users in British industry to be able to purchase steel at competitive and not artificial prices. I also underlined the point that the British Steel Corporation has carried out very extensive restructuring of its plants, has raised its performance and productivity, and is now inhibited by the present quota regime from taking full advantage of its competitive position. So far as the British position on further restructuring is concerned, I adhered to the position I outlined to the House in my statement on 3 December.The Council and the Commission are agreed on the need to restructure the European industry and to end the quota system at the earliest suitable moment. Considerable

discussion took place, however, on the pace of change and on the details, on which a wide range of views emerged. No final decisions could be reached, but the following conclusions were agreed unanimously as the basis for further discussion at another meeting of the Council on 22 December:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will examine the possibility of reclassifying as a child tax relief that part of child benefit received by families who pay more in income tax than they receive in child benefit.

No. Payments made by the Government are usually treated as public expenditure rather than negative taxation unless the payments are an integral part of the tax system. The definition of public expenditure used in the public expenditure White Paper follows in the main national accounting conventions which in turn follow international guidelines.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the figures on the distribution of income in the United Kingdom for 1984–85 will be published.

The estimates for the distribution of income in the United Kingdom for 1984–85 are to appear in the November issue of Economic Trends, which is expected to be published on Friday 18 December.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the sterling value of British-owned assets held abroad (a) in the United States of America and (b) elsewhere, as at 16 October 1987, and on 7 December 1987.

[holding answer 7 December 1987]: I regret that the information is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his reply of 26 November, Official Report, column 293, how many of the jobs created between 1983 and 1986 were (a) in manufacturing industry and (b) in the services sector.

[holding answer 7 December 1987]: For Great Britain, the figures of net changes in employment are as follows:

Grew Britain employment (including self-employed): thousands, seasonally adjusted (changes on a year earlier in brackets)
	Manufacturing	Services	Total (Manufacturing, services and other)
June 1983	5,580	14,485	22,716
June 1984	5,496	15,007	23,166
	(-84)	(+552)	(+450)
June 1985	5,478	15,445	23,553
	(-18)	(+438)	(+387)
June 1986	5,360	15,748	23,666
	(-118)	(+303)	(+113)
Change between
June 1983 and
June 1986	-220	+1,263	+950

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he proposes to take any measures to reduce wastage of manpower from the Metropolitan police force.

We fully support the Commissioner's efforts to reduce wastage and to improve recruitment. Currently, about half the retirements from the Metropolitan police are voluntary resignations or transfers to other forces.The reasons for leaving the force are monitored, but most, such as domestic ties and the quality of life, are outside the control of the Commissioner. None the less, counselling and advice is given by divisional managers to officers seeking to leave the force early to see if their difficulties may be overcome and their decisions reversed. We hope, too, that the pay review which will be undertaken soon by the Police Negotiating Board will consider whether the remuneration package for officers in London needs revision to meet the problem of wastage.A special effort to recruit Londoners, who may be less likely to move away, is part of the current programme of recruitment, which is running at an all-time high., as is the strength of the force.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to amend the standard required for Home Office contract upholstery from BS5852 part 2 crib 5 to crib 7; and if he will make a statement.

The Home Department's draft guide to fire precautions in existing residential care premises advises that upholstered seating should satisfy as a minimum standard the cigarette and match ignitability tests to BS5852 part 1 and crib ignition source 5 of BS5852 part 2. There is no present intention to amend this to crib 7. The draft guide to fire precautions in places of entertainment (which is currently the subject of consultation) proposes that in temporary structures, tents, marquees etc. upholstery should satisfy ignition source 5 but that where there is a higher than normal risk to life in these premises, it may be necessary to require upholstery to satisfy ignition source 7.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the extension of the time limit for registration under the British Nationality Act 1981.

We have received six letters from hon. Members and two from organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were (a) the categories and (b) the numbers of individual doses of drugs administered to inmates at (i) Her Majesty's prison Pentonville, (ii) Risley remand centre and (iii) Appleton Thorn youth custody centre in the latest available year.

The following table provides the information requested in respect of Her Majesty's prison Pentonville and Her Majesty's remand centre, Risley.The larger part of the medical services at Her Majesty's youth custody centre Thorn Cross (Appleton Thorn) are provided by one doctor. It is a long established policy not to publish information about the prescribing practice of individual doctors.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects Lord Colville's review of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984 to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

Lord Colville's report of his review of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984 is published today. We are very grateful to Lord Colville for his wide-ranging and detailed study. My right hon. Friend informed the House on 23 July at column 338 that he had decided that it would not be wise to discontinue the powers in sections 4, 5 and 6 of the Act. The Government have considered the recommendations made by Lord Colville on the use of these powers, and have concluded that the decision announced on 23 July should be confirmed. In considering their response to the report's other recommendations, the Government will wish to take full account of views which may be expressed in Parliament and elsewhere. Lord Colville's scrutiny of the operation of the Act in 1987 will be published in advance of the debates on the renewal of the Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those journals in which he has recently advertised details of how to apply for British nationality by registration; if information that such an option will cease on 31 December 1987 was included; and what steps he took to ascertain the level of readership by different ethnic minority groups of such journals.

Details of how to apply for British nationality by registration were advertised in 55 local newspapers and 11 ethnic minority papers in March of this year. A further advertisement was placed in 29 local papers and 10 ethnic papers in September of this year. Lists of the newspapers are as follows.The local advertising was placed in newspapers which cover areas with high concentrations of ethnic minorities, as indentified from data provided by the Office of Population Censuses and Survey.The local and the ethnic minority press serving these areas were identified in consultation with a specialist ethnic minority advertising agency.The advertisements drew attention to those options to apply for British nationality by registration which will cease on 31 December 1987.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to extend the deadline of 31 December registration of British nationality in the event of interruption to the postal service.

We have no power to extend the deadline. There is, however, limited power to consider late applications on their individual merits.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Horne Department (1) what was the number of dependants of men and women settled in the United Kingdom after 1973 who were refused entry clearance, under the immigration rule change, HC503, on the grounds that they would have recourse to public funds, in that they required provision of temporary accommodation by a local authority;(2) what is his estimate of the number of dependants of men and women settled in the United Kingdom after 1973 who will be refused entry clearance, if section 1.5 of the Immigration Act 1971 is repealed, on the grounds that they would have recourse to public funds, in that they would require the provision of temporary accommodation by a local authority.

In the period 26 August 1985 to 30 June 1987, 10 wives and children in the Indian subcontinent were initially refused entry clearance to the United Kingdom under the 1985 immigration rules (HC 503) solely because there was no adequate accommodation without recourse to public funds, and 40 were refused partly for this reason. These wives and children were not covered by section 1(5) of the Immigration Act 1971—ie their sponsor was not a man who had been a Commonwealth citizen settled in the United Kingdom on 1 January 1973. Corresponding information for other countries is not available centrally. Information is not available on which to estimate how many will fail to satisfy the accommodation requirement if section 1(5) is repealed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from the chief constables of the west midlands, Northumberland and west Yorkshire on the progress of police inquiries into the alleged offences involving fraudulent use of prescriptions, referred to in the questions from the hon. Member for Workington answered on 3 December by the Attorney-General.

I understand from the chief constables of the West Midlands police, the Northumbria police and the West Yorkshire police that inquiries into the allegations referred to are now being made.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he did not consult the British Shooting Sports Council between 20 August arid 22 September, the date on which he announced his initial proposals on firearms.

Following the tragic shootings at Hungerford and the level of public concern, it was right for the Government to make an early, considered response. In doing so, we took into account the well-known views of the various interests concerned, including those of the shooting community. We have since consulted widely on our proposals to improve firearms controls and this process is continuing.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the implications for the cost of a firearms certificate and a shotgun certificate, respectively, of implementing the proposals announced in the White Paper Cm. 261.

The proposals announced in the White Paper Cm. 261 will have no implications for the cost of a firearms certificate since the procedures for issue and renewal will remain as at present. The fee for the issue of a shotgun certificate will need to reflect the increased time and work involved in processing issues and renewals, but the level has not yet been determined.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many additional police man hours he estimates will be required if his proposals in White Paper Cm. 261 are implemented.

It is not possible at this stage to calculate precisely the additional police man hours, because the exact number of weapons which will require certification under a new category is not known. However, the cost of additional manpower will be offset by increased fee revenue.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the number of persons claiming asylum in Europe over the last three years and their nationalities; and if he will make a statement.

The information readily available is:

Numbers of asylum seekers from 1984–86 by country of application
	1984	1985	1986	Total 1984–86
Austria	7,200	6,700	8,650	22,550
Belgium	3,650	5,300	7,650	16,600
Denmark	4,300	8,700	9,300	22,300
France	15,900	25,800	23,400	65,100
Germany Federal Republic	35,300	73,850	99,650	208,800
Netherlands	3,600	5,650	5,850	14,100
Norway	300	850	2,700	3,850
Sweden	12,000	14,450	14,600	41,050
Switzerland	7,450	9,700	8,550	25,700
United Kingdom	3,850	5,450	3,900	13,200
Total	92,550	156,450	184,250	4,332,350

Numbers of asylum seekers from 1984 to 1986 in Europe1 by country of origin
Country of origin	1984	1985	1986	Total 1984–86
Afghanistan	1,550	3,100	3,450	8,100
Bangladesh	700	2,250	3,400	6,350
Chile	1,800	2,800	3,450	8,050
Czechoslovakia	5,350	4,800	4,750	14,900
Ethiopia	3,450	4,300	4,300	12,050
Ghana	5,250	8,600	10,600	24,950
Hungary	2,250	3,150	4,100	9,500
India	1,750	5,650	8,050	15,450
Iran	13,550	23,500	41,800	78,850
Iraq	2,450	2,950	2,300	7,700
Lebanon	3,450	8,750	12,350	24,550
Pakistan	3,250	4,800	5,000	13,050
Poland	11,200	14,250	20,700	46,150
Romania	3,650	4,500	7,050	15,200
Sri Lanka	13,650	29,600	10,250	53,500
Turkey	10,900	16,600	19,750	47,250
Yugoslavia	1,000	2,050	2,750	5,800
Zaire	2,400	3,600	4,250	10,250
Others	16,150	24,850	36,000	77,000
TOTAL	103,750	170,100	204,300	478,150
1 Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, Yugoslavia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the numbers of casualties in road accidents in which at least one driver or rider failed a roadside screening breath-test in (a) England and Wales and (b) Scotland, during the years 1975, 1978 and 1981, broken down between fatal and non-fatal injuries.

The information requested is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to reduce the time of waiting for driving tests.

We have been recruiting examiners—the number has increased by 100 (7 per cent.) since September 1985, when waiting times peaked at a national average of 17 weeks—and we are continuing to do so as quickly as we can.The recently published review of driver testing has recommended additional measures for more rapid improvement in waiting times. These are being considered urgently and where appropriate will be put into effect as soon as possible in the new year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) for how long road works will continue on the southbound carriageway of the M1 between junctions 3 and 4; and what is the average length of time taken for vehicles to pass through these road works during peak traffic times;(2) how many accidents have occurred on the southbound carriageway of the M I between junctions 3 and 4 during the period of road works on this section; what assessment he has made of the road safety implications of these works; and what steps have been taken to improve safety.

These works should be completed by 18 December, but may be completed earlier if conditions permit. During peak traffic times, vehicles take 15 minutes on average to pass through the works. There have been no reported personal injury accidents on the MI southbound carriageway between junctions 4 and 3 during the period of the roadworks. One damage-only accident has been recorded, but its cause was unrelated to the works. There is no evidence that our standard safety measures are other than satisfactory here, with the advance warning signs provided.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to review the regulations concerning the safety of heavy goods vehicles and their enforcement; and if he will make a statement.

We do have plans for improving the safety of heavy goods vehicles. I announced last month that we will be introducing requirements for heavy articulated vehicles to be fitted with anti-lock braking systems. Other improvements to lorry design and to enforcement will come from current work at the Transport and Road Research Laboratory and in the vehicle inspectorate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of British Rail's total network will be continuous welded track in the years 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92.

The proportion of railway track operated by British Rail that will be continuous welded track in the years listed is as follows:

	Per cent.
1988–89	61
1989–90	63
1990–91	64
1991–92	65

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the £1,020 million planned to be spent by British Rail on infrastructure improvement in the period 1987–88 to 1991–92, as set out in its current five-year corporate plan, he expects to authorise to be spent on replacing existing track and new track.

I understand that British Rail plans to spend about £700 million on track renewal and replacement in the period 1987–88 to 1991–92.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his reply of I December, Official Report, column 485, whether British Rail Engineering Ltd. has been allowed to submit a tender for the new class 60 locomotives; and if he will make a statement.

The Railways Board issued invitations to tender to a number of British and overseas companies, but the only three tenders it has received are all from British firms. I understand that the Board did not invite BREL to tender as a lead contractor, but that BREL is involved with at least one of the tenders.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the responsibilities of each of the deputy secretaries in his Department and the numbers and ranks of staff reporting to each.

The responsibilities and staff of the deputy secretaries in my Department (other than in the Property Services Agency) are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is now in a position to announce a decision on the proposal in the consultation paper on water and sewerage law, that responsibility for unadopted sewers, except those connected to a private sewage works, should be transferred to the water authorities.

Final decisions are still to be taken on the various proposals in the consultation paper. An announcement will be made shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether self-employed persons living on their own business premises will be liable for (a) community charge and (b) the unified business rate.

Self-employed people will be liable to the community charge in the normal way. Rates will be charged only on buildings and parts of buildings in non-domestic use. Thus, for example, a shopkeeper who lives over his shop will be liable for rates only on the shop, not on both parts as at present.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, using the latest statistical information available, he will publish in the Official Report the constituencies of England and Wales ranked accordingly to the percentage of (a) losers and (b) gainers under the community charge proposals showing these percentages alongside that ranking.

As I explained in my reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker) on 26 October at column 38, it is not possible to produce estimates of gainers and losers by parliamentary constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy towards the proposal put forward in its newsletter on homes in multiple occupation by the Institution of Environmental Health Officers, to provide a local homes in multiple occupation sample survey service to local authority; and if he will make a statement.

It is for local authorities to decide whether they wish to use the proposed sample survey service. Any improved means of locating houses in multiple occupation is welcome if it provides a firm basis for policy making.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his question on no-fines properties due for answer on 25 November.

I have answered these questions today.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice is to be given by his Department to the tenants of the Wimpey no-fines properties in Walsall, in the light of his Department's recognition of the unsatisfactory state of these properties, as to what action they should take during the winter months; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 25 November]: The Department has already issued general guidance to householders on remedies for condensation, damp and mould growth. Any tenants who have particular difficulties with heating should discuss these with Walsall metropolitan borough council, who have, I understand been able to help tenants of no-fines houses to apply to the Department of Health and Social Security for assistance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if further consultations have taken place between his Department and Walsall metropolitan borough council regarding the financial aspects of bringing up to an acceptable standard the Wimpey no-fines properties in the borough; and if he will make a statement;(2) what further consultations have now taken place between his Department and Walsall metropolitan borough council regarding the technical matters relating to bringing the Wimpey no-fines properties up to satisfactory standard;(3) if extra funding will now be given to Walsall metropolitan borough council in order that the Wimpey no-fines properties in the borough can be brought up to satisfactory standards; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 25 November 1987]: HIP allocations for 1988–89 will be announced shortly. These will take account of all the information provided by local authorities on technical and financial factors. Both aspects of the repair and improvement of Wimpey no-fines houses in Walsall were raised during the recent HIP round, and there has been no further consultation with Walsall metropolitan borough council since then.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if a Minister from his Department is now willing to receive a deputation from the tenants of the Wimpey no-fines properties in Walsall borough; and if he will make a statement;(2) if a Minister from his Department now intends to visit the Wimpey no-fines properties in Walsall; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer Wednesday 25 November]: Officials have provided Ministers with a full report of the earlier meeting with tenants. There would therefore be little purpose in receiving a further deputation at this stage, and there are no plans for Ministers to visit these properties.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to privatise the Crown Suppliers; and if he will make a statement.

I am considering various possibilities for the future of the Crown Suppliers, following two reports by consultants, one of which concerned the feasibility of privatisation. I have recently received detailed and comprehensive comments from representatives of the staff of the Crown Suppliers, and I do not propose to announce a decision until these have been fully considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of derogations currently in force, issued by his Department, in respect of nitrate and nitrite levels above 50mg/1; and if he will list those areas, geographically and by water authority area, for which these derogations are in force.

Derogations have been given for 47 public water supplies where nitrate levels exceed 50mg/1, and for three supplies where nitrite levels exceed 0·1 mg/1. The Chief Medical Officer has advised that there is no danger lo public health from these supplies. The water authority areas, water undertakers and geographical areas served by the supplies are given in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has reached decisions on any applications by authorities subject to selective rate limitation in 1988–89 for their expenditure level to be redetermined at a higher amount; and if he will announce the proposed rate limits for all the selected authorities.

Two of the 17 authorities designated for selective rate limitation in 1988–89 applied for a redetermination of their expenditure level. These were the London boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Southwark. After careful consideration of those applications and of other relevant matters, I have decided to redetermine the EL for Tower Hamlets at £126·033 million, an increase of £2 million on the original figure: associated with this increase is a requirement that the authority reports to me at intervals about the steps it is taking to improve its efficiency. In the case of Southwark I have decided to confirm the EL at the original figure of £134·193 million.I am also today sending notification to each of the 17 designated authorities of the proposed rate limit which I have determined for 1988–89. The figures are ac follows:

	Pence
Camden	115·41
Greenwich	125 72
Hackney	123·80
Lambeth	92·32
Lewisham	131·76
Southwark	98·02
Tower Hamlets	123·21
Haringey	214·69
Newcastle upon Tyne	270·01
Basildon	49·68
Middlesbrough	32·16
Thamesdown	51·10
Ealing	125·06
Waltham Forest	199·14
Manchester	285·63
Liverpool	268·17
Kingston upon Hull	47·51

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what contingency plans his Department has in the case of an AIDS epidemic amongst heterosexuals in Cardiff in the next five years.

In December 1985, the Welsh Office asked all district health authorities to establish AIDS coordinating teams to ensure that there was proper management of the response to AIDS in their areas. Earlier this year, district health authorities were asked to prepare district operational plans on AIDS. Planning guidelines were published to assist them in this task. The Welsh Office will be responding shortly to draft plans that have been received from all nine authorities.Along with efforts centrally to monitor the progress of AIDS and to ensure that the Government have access to the best available advice, these measures provide a firm foundation for dealing with the incidence of the syndrome.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether, in the light of the fact that they do not have a vote in local elections, he intends to exempt all the residents of Caldey Island, Pembrokeshire, from the community charge.

I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will detail the steps he has taken to implement the recommendations of the Welsh review of radiotherapy and oncology services in south Wales, with particular reference to (i) Singleton and Velindre hospitals, providing data on the same basis, (ii) the provision of scanning facilities at both radiotherapy centres, and (iii) the appointment of a fourth consultant radiotherapist and additional radiographers at Singleton hospital.

A report of the review has been made available to health authorities in South Wales and their views invited. These have been received and considered and an announcement on the implementation of the review's recommendations will be made as soon as possible. In advance of that, arrangements have been made for the early provision of computerised tomography scanning facilities at both hospitals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to improve maternity services in the rural areas of Wales; and if he will make a statement.

The Welsh Office issued a circular to all Welsh health authorities and family practitioner committees in December 1986 which commended to them the recommendations of the perinatal mortality initiative report for improvements in maternity and neonatal services in all areas of the Principality. Progress in implementing the recommendations is being monitored by the Welsh Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether CADW is considering adopting measures similar to English Heritage's plans to offer more money to farmers to preserve archaeological and other sites of historical interest.

Yes. My right hon. Friend is considering the introduction of a carefully targeted scheme of management agreements involving payments to the owners of scheduled ancient monuments, including farmers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date the last appointment was made to the Gwynedd health authority; and at what date he will next be required to make such appointments.

The last appointment was made by the Gwynedd county council in July 1987; during 1988, those appointments which are due to expire on 31 July will be considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance he is giving local authorities in Wales on the acceptability for financial assistance from his Department of schemes to alleviate flood dangers which not only reinstate the status quo prior to the October flood emergency, but go further in taking steps to avoid or limit flood incidents of this sort suffered last October.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to my right hon. Friend's statement to the House on 21 October in column 745. The Department's letter of 23 October, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House, detailed the provisions of the Bellwin scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the basis of reimbursement of incurred expenses, or the payment of fees or salaries to (a) chairpersons, (b) vice-chairpersons and (c) members of health authorities in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

District health authority chairmen in Wales are paid a flat rate taxable honorarium of £11,259 per annum based on a notional three days a week commitment, together with travel and subsistence allowances. Vice-chairmen and members of health authorities do not receive an honorarium, but are entitled to travel and subsistence allowances and loss of earnings payments as appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report the terms of reference laid down by him for each of the chairpersons of health authorities in Wales; and on what date a change was last made to these terms of reference.

It is not the Department's practice to provide terms of reference as such for chairpersons of health authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on the human rights record of Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

We have seen the interim report by Dr. Ermacora, special rapporteur of the UN Commission on Human Rights, and we are also in regular contact with organisations providing relief to Afghan refugees. We supported a further resolution in the UNGA this year which condemned by an overwhelming majority the widespread violation of human rights in Afghanistan by the Kabul regime and Soviet troops.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about East-West relations following the visit of Secretary Gorbachev.

We welcome the results of the United States/Soviet summit in Washington and hope that the agreement on intermediate range nuclear forces will lead to progress on further measures of arms control. The opportunity is there to establish a healthier and safer relationship between East and West. But this requires lasting confidence which needs much greater Soviet respect for human rights and greater co-operation over the peaceful settlement of regional conflicts, including in particular the early withdrawal of all Soviet forces from Afghanistan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the Government's policy towards meeting the African National Congress.

We have received a variety of representations from overseas, from hon. Members and from the public, some in favour of and some against the policy of the Government towards meeting the African National Congress.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to meet representatives from (a) the African National Congress of South Africa or (b) the South-West Africa People's Organisation of Namibia.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no present plans to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the situation in the Gulf.

There has unfortunately been little change since the answer given to my hon. Friend on 18 November. Attacks in the Gulf by both Iran and Iraq continue at a high level, including the two recent attacks by Iran on Danish and Singapore-registered tankers, with the loss of one life and the destruction of one ship, and a further missile attack on Kuwait which hit a decoy barge. We continue to press both sides to implement Security Council resolution 598 without further delay, and thus reduce the dangerous level of tension in the Gulf.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what standing vis-a-vis the Commonwealth is afforded to Fiji by Her Majesty's Government; and what are the status and composition of the British mission there.

We and other Commonwealth members acknowledged at Vancouver that Fiji's membership of the Commonwealth had lapsed. No Commonwealth Government have so far changed the designation of their diplomatic mission accredited in Suva. The British mission has seven United Kingdom-based officers in post.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which managing agents have been given contracts by the Manpower Services Commission to provide new job training scheme places in Greater London; how many contracted places each has been given; and in which London boroughs they are providing places.

The following table shows the managing agents contracted by the Manpower Services Commission to provide the new job training scheme in Greater London and the number of starts each agent has contracted to provide. It is not possible to say in which boroughs places will be provided.

	Contracted starts
ADM	650
Barking Skillcentre	1,200
Bexley Training Services	500
Chelmer Training Association	250
Cranbrook Training Centre	800
Delta	480
Deptford Skillcentre	1,200
Enterprise Training	250
Focus	400
Forest Project	250
Future Framework	1,000
GWS Technical Training	400
Hotel and Catering ITB	900
J and J Consultants	250
JJP	200
Key Training Consortium	750
London Chamber of Commerce and Industry	1,200
LEC	156
Microtech Training Ltd	750
Merton Training Consortium	400
Microtech (and Cable Training)	1,400
David Morgan Training Association	200
Open Learning	250
Park Royal Enterprise Trust	100
PCL Training Services	400
Personnel Consultancy Services	500
Personnel Development Association	400
Pitmans	250
Sight and Sound	1,000
SE Adult Training	900
Southern Training Services	1,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, what are the industry and occupational categories of new job training scheme trainees who have entered work placements.

The information is not available. New JTS provides training. Trainees may undertake a variety of practical experience during training placements with employers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the number of YTS schemes correctly in operation in each London borough and the number of individuals (a) male and (b) female currently registered for each.

[holding answer 7 December 1987]: The following table gives the number of YTS schemes based in each London borough and the numbers of male and female trainees on such schemes as at 31 October 1987.

Schemes may draw trainees living in other boroughs.
London Borough	Number of local YTS schemes	Number in training—October 1987
		Male	Female
Harrow	6	189	103
Brent	10	315	85
Enfield	5	506	308
Barnet	3	18	53
Haringey	15	274	253
Newham	7	302	179
Barking	8	384	225
Havering	8	366	300
Redbridge	11	333	533
Waltham Forest	3	242	140

Table 1
	Total	Environmental	Building and land-scaping	Home insulation	Research and surveys	Library	Youth work	Voluntary acts	Other social services	Cultural
Local authority	4,183	3	0	81	161	264	1	2	1	100
Local education authority	2	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
voluntary organisation	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Nationalised industry	44	0	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	0
Private sector	233	0	0	25	9	7	0	0	0	8
Health authority	98	0	0	1	8	10	0	0	0	1
Government department	44	0	0	0	0	5	0	0	0	5
Other	18	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
Education institution	151	0	0	0	18	35	0	0	0	24
Ex-offenders organisations	627	1	0	65	18	8	0	0	0	4
Churches	481	0	0	1	1	9	8	0	0	10
Youth organisations	249	0	1	1	4	1	0	0	0	3
Old peoples groups	66	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Disability groups	209	0	0	0	4	1	0	0	0	2
Ethnic groups	86	0	0	0	4	1	0	0	0	21
Environmental and conservation groups	467	0	0	11	25	20	1	0	0	5
Other voluntary organisations	2,283	0	0	114	76	116	0	0	0	79
Quasi-commercial body	665	0	0	21	22	19	0	0	2	13
Total	9,963	4	1	335	365	497	2	2	3	280

London Borough	Number of local YTS schemes	Number in training—October 1987
		Male	Female
Kensington & Chelsea	15	38	70
Hammersmith	35	220	108
Camden	24	289	731
Westminster	55	260	161
City of London	17	459	139
Islington	20	389	352
Hackney	12	146	108
Tower Hamlets	11	411	163
Bromley	9	272	233
Bexley	7	307	284
Croydon	11	436	149
Sutton	38	154	488
Merton	21	234	114
Lambeth	62	264	232
Southwark	18	256	258
Lewisham	27	290	212
Greenwich	34	232	109
Wandsworth	44	272	200
Hillingdon	36	355	214
Ealing	34	262	123
Hounslow	37	405	251
Richmond-upon-Thames	13	52	56
Kingston-upon-Thames	22	296	123

In addition there are 3,518 male and 1,384 female trainees in London in schemes negotiated with the Manpower Services Commission's large companies unit; information on the numbers in each borough is not readily available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the most recently available tables to show the total number of community programme projects and places by type of project and type of sponsor.

[holding answer 4 December]: The total number of community programme projects and authorised places, by project and sponsor type, are as follows. Table 1 gives information about projects, and table 2 places as at 14 October 1987.