Written Answers

Written Answers To Questions

Friday 20 January 1989

Transport

Security (Heathrow)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on airport security at Heathrow.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 16 January at column 23.

Britannia Bridge

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated cost of reconstruction of the Britannia bridge, on the Commercial road (A13) at Limehouse; what are the likely dates of commencement and termination of the works; what is the estimated period when three traffic lanes will be in operation; and what are the estimated additional costs of providing (a) four traffic lanes throughout the period, and (b) tidal flow facilities for the three-lane time span.

The estimated cost is £510,000. The works should start in February 1989 and take about eight months. A fourth lane will be provided in the summer.Site restrictions and the need to maintain safety make it impracticable either to provide a fourth lane for the whole works period or to operate tidal flow facilities.

Civil Airports

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in the Official Report the names and addresses of the companies or individuals who own each of the civil airports in the United Kingdom.

There is no comprehensive list. The names of those owning most United Kingdom civil airports of any significance are shown in the Aerodrome Owners Association handbook 1988. I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library.

East London River Crossing

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has yet received a response from the consultants for the east London river crossing to his request for a redesign of the cable-stayed bridge over the Thames; and when he now expects work on the scheme to be started.

The consultants report on the review of the design of the bridge is due by the end of this month. The start of works will depend on the outcome of the review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about Greenwich London borough council's application to the High Court to quash the orders in respect of the east London river crossing.

The London borough of Greenwich application to the High Court was heard on 19 December 1988. The decision, given on 20 December, was not in its favour.

Education And Science

Teacher Vacancies

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list by region and number of vacancies currently existing in secondary schools for (a) mathematics teachers and (b) science teachers.

In January 1988 (the latest date for which figures are available) the numbers of vacancies in maintained secondary schools for full-time mathematics and science teachers were:

Region	Mathematics	¹Science
North	4	4
Yorkshire and Humberside	14	18
North West	21	33
East Midlands	10	15
West Midlands	11	20
East Anglia	3	4
Greater London	71	90
Other South East	56	63
South West	15	16
England	205	263
¹ Science includes chemistry, physics, biology, other specific sciences, and combined, integrated or general science.

Local Pay Additions

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of staff in his Department, by grade, in receipt of local pay additions outside London and the south east economic planning region; what are the different amounts paid to staff, by grade; whether this figure varies due to location; what qualifying period of scale-related criteria is used; and whether this varies by location.

No DES staff outside the London and south-east are in receipt of local pay additions. Inside London and the south-east additions are as follows:

£300: AOs and AAs on entry to the grade
£400: AOs and AAs after completing one year in the grade
£500: AOs and AAs after completing two years in the grade
£300: typing and secretarial staff in Inner London in addition to the previous £400 special allowance
£450: typing staff in Croydon and Isleworth

Records Of Achievement

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how he intends to proceed with the report on the national steering committee on records of achievement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I are jointly publishing the records of achievement national steering committee report today. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

We have asked the School Examinations and Assessment Council to consider next steps in the context of its wider remit to advise on assessment and reporting in support of the national curriculum.

The test of the letter is as follows:

P. Halsey Esq. CB LVO
Chairman & Chief Executive
School Examinations and Assessment Council
Newcombe House
45 Notting Hill Gate
London W11 3JB

RECORDS OF ACHIEVEMENT

In my letter to you of 28 September last I invited SEAC to advise the Secretary of State for Wales and me on the arrangements for the provision of information on the assessment of pupils under Section 22 of the Education Reform Act 1988, taking account of the report of the Records of Achievement National Steering Committee (RANSC) once available; and to advise us more generally on the development, implementation and operation of the National Curriculum assessment system.

2. RANSC have now reported: I enclose a copy of their Report. I write on behalf of the Secretary of State for Wales and myself to indicate our initial reactions to the Report; and to invite SEAC to consult on its recommendations and, in the light of those consultations, to advise on the next steps in the context of my letter of 28 September. I would be grateful for the Council's advice by the end of June.

3. RANSC's remit was to report on the experience gained in developing Records of Achievement on the ground and on the implications for introducing such records for all pupils in secondary education in England and Wales; and to prepare draft national guidelines for such records and recording systems. Since the Committee embarked on their work, the context has changed considerably. With the passage of the Education Reform Act, we now have in prospect the introduction of a National Curriculum with its associated assessment and reporting arrangements. Meanwhile, Records of Achievement have been developed in a variety of forms across secondary schools in the majority of LEAs. The Committee have sought to relate that development work to the new context afforded by the National Curriculum.

4. I would be grateful if SEAC would now take forward this work. In doing so, the Council should bear the following considerations in mind.

5. RANSC offer guidelines on the form and content of documents to be given to pupils at 16-plus. They also advocate the production of similar documents through the earlier years of secondary education. The Committee's remit did not extend to primary schools. Subject to your advice, I envisage that there will need to be a consistent basis for the presentation of national assessment results for pupils at each of the key ages of 7, 11, 14 and 16; and that annual if not more frequent reports to parents should include information about pupils' progress in a form to be prescribed in Regulations under Section 22. I look to the Council for advice on whether:

(a) we should use the Regulations under Section 22 to prescribe the format of a document summarising each individual pupil's achievements at the age of 16;

(b) such Regulations should cover the reporting of subjects and activities beyond the National Curriculum; and

(c) the form and content of reports for (i) primary and (ii) secondary age pupils prior to the age of 16 should be similarly prescribed.

6. RANSC also offer advice on the process leading to the preparation of such documents. Much of what they recommend is accepted good practice by teachers. I would see it as for each LEA and for each school to determine its own procedures to underpin the preparation of Records of Achievement.

7. RANSC recommend the establishment of accreditation machinery for Records of Achievement. Bearing in mind the cost and complexity involved, it is not clear to me that any accreditation machinery separate from the support structure needed for the national assessment system is justified.

8. RANSC recommend 1990 as the date by which secondary schools should have schemes which comply with national guidelines; and 1995 as that by which all pupils at 16-plus should receive summary documents complying with the guidelines. I confirm that it is the Government's intention to see early progress on Records of Achievement in all secondary schools. I look to the Council for advice on what should be the precise timetable for the implementation of national requirements, taking account of the need to develop appropriate arrangements for primary schools, and of the timetable for the introduction of National Curriculum assessments.

9. There are issues on which I would expect that SEAC will wish to consult the NCC and CCW. I am therefore sending copies of this letter to Duncan Graham and Hywel Evans.

Attorney-General

Solicitors

To ask the Attorney-General what action the Government are proposing to ensure that the Law Society implements the recommendations made in the 13th annual report of the lay observer 1987 that solicitors should account to their clients for interest on moneys held on behalf of their clients.

The 13th report of the lay observer was published and laid before Parliament on 28 July 1988. Since then the Law Society has made new deposit interest rules. The rules set out a specific timetable for the minimum time certain sums of money may be held before payment of interest need be made. The rules also include an obligation on a solicitor to account for any sum of money exceeding £10,000 held for less than one week, if it is fair and reasonable in all the circumstances that such interest should be paid. The rules do not extend to solicitors acting as stakeholders, or to money held by solicitors as trustees, since the relevant primary legislation does not permit this.

Infant Life Preservation Act 1929

To ask the Attorney-General when was the last prosecution under the Infant Life Preservation Act 1929.

The last prosecution conducted by the Director of Public Prosecutions under the Infant Life Preservation Act 1929 was in 1987. I regret that in my written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Batley and Spen (Mrs. Peacock) on 15 December 1988 at column 600 I erroneously stated that the last prosecution conducted by the director under the Act was in 1980.

Prime Minister

Human Rights

To ask the Prime Minister if she will say what further improvements in human rights performance in the Soviet Union will satisfy the criteria of Her Majesty's Government for attending a human rights conference in Moscow in 1991.

We have agreed in principle to a Moscow human rights conference in 1991, provided that recent progress in the Soviet human rights performance is maintained and consolidated, but obviously much remains to be done. If we are to attend such a conference the promised changes in Soviet criminal legislation must have been implemented, including the abolition or amendment of the political and religious articles; there must be effective guarantees of free speech, freedom of religion and freedom to emigrate, as well as of genuine judicial independence; there must be no political or religious prisoners and no long-term refuseniks; the Moscow conference must be held under exactly the same conditions as the CSCE meetings in the West; there must be no going back on the improvements which have already taken place and which made it possible for us to agree in principle to a Moscow conference.All this assumes that nothing has happened in the meantime seriously to undermine the greatly improved state of East-West relations.

Parliamentary Questions

To ask the Prime Minister how any oral parliamentary questions she has answered by written reply because the question was not reached at Question Time for the most recent year for which figures are available.

According to the available records I gave 179 such replies in 1988.

Buildings (Cleaning Grants)

To ask the Prime Minister whether she will initiate and co-ordinate a programme of Government grants or tax relief to enable the outsides of buildings to be regularly kept clean; and if she will make a statement.

No.

Cabinet Office (Staff)

To ask the Prime Minister what is the number of staff in the Cabinet Office, by grade, in receipt of local pay additions outside London and the south-east economic planning region; what are the different amounts paid to staff, by grade; whether this figure varies due to location; what qualifying period of scale-related criteria is used; and whether this varies by location.

None.

Irish Citizens

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list those benefits available to Irish citizens in terms of financial, educational, migrational and other services available through local or central Government agencies which are not available to other European Economic Community nationals; which of these benefits are not reciprocally available to United Kingdom citizens within the Republic of Ireland; and if she will publish an estimate of the numbers and costs of British citizens receiving these benefits in the Republic of Ireland and Irish citizens receiving these benefits in the United Kingdom.

[holding answer 13 January 1989]: I cannot answer for arrangements made by individual local authorities. As far as central Government is concerned, there are no benefits available to Irish citizens which are not available to the citizens of other EC member states.

Irish nationals, but not other EC nationals, are permitted to vote in elections in the United Kingdom. This provision is now reciprocal. There are no available statistics about the numbers involved.

Citizenship is not a condition for the payment of social security benefits. Contributory benefits are awarded on the basis of the claimant's contribution record, and other benefits are available to those who meet the conditions of eligibility provided that they are legally present in the United Kingdom.

Trade And Industry

Ec (Consumer Policy)

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if there have been any further EEC Commission reports on the integration of consumer policy in the other common policies since the submission to the EEC Council of COM(87)616 final; on what occasions since December 1987 the EEC Council has discussed this topic; what conclusions were reached; and if he will make a statement.

At its last meeting, on 7 June 1988, the Consumer Council considered the Commission's first report (COM(87)616 final) on progress towards implementation of the 1986 resolution on taking the consumer interest into account in other policy areas. The council agreed conclusions which called on the Commission to step up its efforts and to report further to the council by June 1989.

Japanese-Owned Businesses

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many Japanese-owned businesses which have located in the United Kingdom during the most recent 10-year period for which figures are available have located (a) in green field sites; (b) on derelict land; (c) within inner city areas and (d) other.

[holding answer 19 January 1989]: Comprehensive statisics on foreign-owned businesses are not available, but the numbers of Japanese-owned manufacturing companies which have set up in the United Kingdom between January 1979 and December 1988, in the stated types of locations, are as follows:

	Number
(a) in greenfield sites:	39
(b) on derelict land:	0
(c) within inner city areas:	4
(d) other:	38

Some Japanese manufacturers have more than one production site.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much central Government assistance has been spent to encourage Japanese-owned businesses to local in (a) the south-east, (b) the north-east, (c) the north-west, (d) the south-west, (e) Scotland and (f) south Wales for the most recent 10-year period for which figures are available.

[holding answer 19 January 1989]: Information in respect of the regional development grant schemes spent to encourage Japanese-owned manufacturing companies to locate in the United Kingdom is available only at disproportionate cost. However, the amount of regional selective assistance paid or offered to Japanese manufacturers between January 1979 and December 1988, in the stated regions, is as follows:

Regions	£ millions
(a) South East:	nil
(b) North East:	54·6
(c) North West:	0·3
(d) South West:	1·02
(e) Scotland:	18·3
(f) South Wales:	20·6

Nasdim

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much time elapsed between the recognition of NASDIM membership on 31 December 1983 as an alternative to licensing by his Department and the establishment of the system in which his Department automatically contacted NASDIM when he received new applications for licensing under the terms of the financial services legislation.

[holding answer 16 January 1989]: My Department automatically contacted NASDIM over new applications for licences under the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act 1958 from 1 January 1985. In the intervening year there was regular although not automatic contact between my Department and NASDIM concerning licence applications.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the application in 1984 by Barlow Clowes for licensing by his Department was received during that period when his Department did not as a matter of course seek to notify NASDIM of new applicants; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 16 January 1989]: The first papers concerning Barlow Clowes and Partners licence applications were received by my Department on 7 November 1984. Although at that date it was not the Department's practice automatically to consult NASDIM, the Department maintained contact with NASDIM on the progress of the application in the period following that date until licences were issued in October 1985.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement explaining why his Department (a) went for a period without contacting NASDIM as a matter of course about new applications received for licences under the financial services legislation and (b) subsequently decided to establish a system of such contacts.

[holding answer 16 January 1989]: It was my Department's practice before 1 January 1985 to consult NASDIM when the circumstances of a particular case made it appear desirable to do so. On 1 January 1985, a procedure was adopted whereby NASDIM was consulted automatically. This was because NASDIM's membership and activities had expanded significantly during 1984.

Barlow Clowes

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will call for a full report through the Securities and Investments Board from all self-regulatory organisations into the numbers and names of their members who have been suspended from membership following dealings with Barlow Clowes companies, giving the reasons for those suspensions.

[holding answer 16 January 1989]: This is a matter for the Securities and Investments Board and the self-regulating organisations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, at their next meeting with the Securities and Investments Board, officials of his Department will ask for a report on the scale of the business between Christine Leach, a council Member of FIMBRA, and the Barlow Clowes companies.

[holding answer 16 January 1989]: This is a matter for the Securities and Investments Board and the self-regulating organisations.

Self-Regulatory Organisations

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if at his next meeting with the Securities and Investments Board he will ask for a list of the officers and members of the governing body of that organisation and of all the self-regulatory organisations which it has authorised; and if he will make that information available in the Official Report.

[holding answer 16 January 1989]: The members of the Securities and Investments Board and its senior management were set out in the board's report, laid before Parliament under section 117(2) of the Financial Services Act on 28 July 1988. Since that date Professor Budd has left the board and Mr. D. Fellows and Mr. G. Ross Russell have been appointed to the board. The arrangements for publishing details of the members of the governing bodies of recognised self-regulating organisations and of the staff of those organisations are matters for the SIB and the organisations concerned.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has concerning the numbers of officers or council members of self-regulatory organisations who have been suspended from membership of those organisations.

[holding answer 16 January 1989]: This is a matter for the Securities and Investments Board and the self-regulating organisations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will call for a report from the Securities and Investments Board into the different treatment received from self-regulatory organisations by companies or individuals who did business with the Barlow Clowes companies.

[holding answer 16 January 1989]: This is a matter for the Securities and Investments Board and the self-regulating organisations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will take steps to prevent an individual partner, proprietor or director of a trading entity suspended from membership of a self-regulatory organisation from continuing to operate in the financial services industry through his position as a partner, proprietor or director of a second trading entity licensed by the same or another self-regulatory organisation; and if he will make a statement.

holding answer 16 January 1989]: It is open to the Securities and Investments Board and the recognised self-regulating organisations to refuse authorisation to, or with it from, a business on the grounds of matters concerning a director, partner, controller or employee of that firm. Those matters may include the fact that such an individual has been subject to regulatory action by the same or another regulator or was connected with a firm subject to such action. In addition, the SIB has powers under section 59 of the Financial Services Act to prohibit individuals from being employed in connection with investment businesses by an authorised or exempted person. The way in which these powers are exercised is a matter for the Securities and Investments Board and the self-regulating organisations concerned.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what provision his Department makes to ensure that an individual who invested funds through a financial services company which has subsequently been suspended from membership of a self-regulatory organisation can continue to receive advice about that investment.

[holding answer 16 January 1989]: It is open to any regulatory body operating under the Financial Services Act, when it suspends a firm regulated by it, to impose conditions concerning services provided to existing clients. Whether such conditions are imposed, and what form they take, are matters for the body concerned to judge according to the circumstances of a particular case.

Financial Services

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether his Department will be represented on the new committee established under the chairmanship of Christine Leach to consider education of FIMBRA members and competence testing in the financial services industry.

[holding answer 16 January 1989]: No.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether his Department was consulted about the appointment of Christine Leach to the chairmanship of the joint committee of the Chartered Insurance Institute, the College for Financial Planning and the Life Assurance Association to consider education of FIMBRA members and competence testing in the financial services industry.

[holding answer 16 January 1989]: No.

Northern Ireland

Armagh Girls' High School

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the royal school, Armagh, will vacate the premises of the former Armagh girls' high school; what his plans are for the future use of these premises; and if he will make a statement.

The anticipated date for vacating the premises of the former Armagh girls' high school is June 1990. The southern education and library board has plans to use the vacated premises to accommodate Armagh secondary school.

Foreign Language Teaching

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the total number of Northern Ireland secondary schools in which foreign language teaching is available, showing the number of schools which offer French, German, Italian Spanish and Russian.

The information is as follows:

	Number
French	245
German	80
Spanish	73
Italian	16
Russian	3

Roads

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many motor accidents there were in 1988 on the Ballyrainey road, Nowtownards; why the surface of the road is not cleaned; what is its average width; how many 40-foot lorries travel along it as shown by recent traffic surveys; and what proposals he has to improve this roadway.

Two "damage only" and one personal injury accident were recorded on the Ballyrainey road during 1988. The road surface is being cleaned as roadside drainage work is completed. The average width of the carriageway is 4·7m and recent traffic surveys have shown that between 19 and 70 40-foot lorries travel along this road on a working day.The Department of the Environment's roads service is currently carrying out drainage and verge reconstruction work.

Training School (Jordanstown)

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to ensure that there is no conflict of interest within the Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland regarding an application No. 0175 for planning permission in respect of the proposed residential training school-depot at Jordanstown from the Northern Ireland Fire Authority, for which the transportation section of the Department of the Environment has responsibility; and if he will make available to objectors a copy of the report on the noise levels carried out by Dr. Crawford for the Northern Ireland Fire Authority when this is received by the Department of Environment planning service.

[holding answer 12 January 1989]: None. There is no conflict of interest within the Department of Environment (Northern Ireland) in respect of a planning application from the Northern Ireland Fire Authority (NIFA) for a residential training school in Jordanstown. This application is being handled in accordance with normal planning procedures.The release of the report on noise levels to objectors is a matter for NIFA.

Housing Associations

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what capital expenditure has been authorised to be undertaken by each invididual housing association which is currently receiving Government grant aid in Northern Ireland in the eight months ended 30 November 1988: and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 13 January 1989]: The amount of new capital expenditure authorised for each individual housing association in the eight-month period ended 30 November 1988 was:

	£
Abbeyfield (Northern Ireland) Development SocietyLtd.	224,565
Ballynafeigh Housing Association Ltd.	68,203
Baptist Union of Ireland Housing Association Ltd.	148
Belfast Community Housing Association Ltd.	15,970
Belfast Improved Houses Ltd	774,120
Ben Madigan Housing Association Ltd.	1,505
Botanic Housng Association Ltd.	22,500
Broadway Housing Association Ltd.	36,000
James Butcher Housing Association (Northern Ireland) Ltd.	79,550
Church of Ireland Housing Association (Northern Ireland) Ltd.	42,900
Clonard Housing Association Ltd.	20,540
Connswater Housing Association Ltd.	18,526
Covenanter Residential Association Ltd.	6,101
Craigavon and District Housing Association Ltd.	559,704
Craigavon Housing Association Ltd.	103,895
Derry Housing Association Ltd.	210,797
Dungannon and District Housing Association Ltd.	960,252
Fold Housing Association	870,624
Gosford Housing Association (Armagh) Ltd.	20,943
Grove Housing Association Ltd.	14,080
Habinteg Housing Association (Ulster) Ltd.	240,000
Hearth	10,122
Latharna Housing Association Ltd.	51,100
Malone Housing Association Ltd.	6,633
Masonic Housing Association (Northern Ireland) Ltd.	15,121
Newington Housng Association (1975) Ltd.	551,433
Nih Housing Association Ltd.	63,593
Open Door Housing Association (Northern Ireland) Ltd.	147,067
Presbyterian Housing Association (Northern Ireland) Ltd.	776,269
Royal British Legion Housing Association (Northern Ireland) Ltd.	141,873
St. Matthews Housing Association Ltd.	10,578
Students Housing Association Co-op Ltd.	3,329,650
Tennent Street District Housing Association Ltd.	39,030
Triangle Women's Housing Association Ltd.	40,940
Ulidia Housing Association Ltd.	59,611
Willowfield Parish Church Housing Association Ltd.	20,341
Woodvale and Shankill Housing Association Ltd.	232,500

Nine registered housing associations did not receive any authorisation for new capital expenditure during this period. Capital expenditure of £31·47 million will be incurred by housing associations during 1988–89. This expenditure is related to projects approved over the last few years, but now under construction, in addition to projects approved during 1988–89.

Fair Employment

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will implement the recommendations contained in paragraphs 15·5 to 15·110 and 15·112 to 15·123 of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights' report on fair employment, Cm. 237; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 16 January 1989]: The Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Bill contains provisions which reflect the main recommendations of the SACHR report on fair employment in Northern Ireland. The Bill's provisions will implement, in whole or in part, well over half the 123 recommendations. In addition, the Government have broadly accepted a number of recommendations whose implementation does not require legislation.

Defence

Gec—Siemens (Plessey Bid)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, in considering his evidence on the GEC—Siemens proposed bid for the Plessey company, he will seek assurances from the predator companies that their proposed collaboration with Plessey will not jeopardise his Department's range of choice in defence procurement.

As my hon. Friend will appreciate, the proposed bid has been referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. All interested parties, including the MOD, have been asked for their view and we shall, of course, take into account all relevant factors before making our submission to the MMC.

Defence Procurement Contracts

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy with regard to maximising competition in the letting of defence procurement contacts.

As part of our commercial approach to defence procurement, we use competitive tendering, wherever practicable, in the letting of contracts. The proportion by value of contracts let on a competitive basis in 1986–87 was 53 per cent., reflecting a sustained improvement on the 38 per cent. of contracts let in this way in 1983–84. Where work has to be placed without the benefit of competition, we negotiate taut contract terms and conditions. On all contracts, whether competitive or not, we also encourage our prime contractors to make maximum use of competition in placing work. On all contracts over £1 million in value we review with the prime contractor his plans for sub-contract competition.

Elf Transmitter Station, Glengarry Forest

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what area, in hectares, will be covered by the ELF transmitter station at Glengarry Forest.

This will not be known until the summer of 1989 when the results of surveys to determine the position of the ELF demonstrator aerial will have been evaluated.

Scotland

Beef And Veal

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which Scottish local authorities were in receipt of levy-free beef and veal under the provisions of European Community Council regulation 3929/86; in what quantities; and under what conditions.

The European Community Council regulation 3929/86 allocated quotas of frozen beef and veal for 1987. Those Scottish local authorities which applied to participate in the scheme were allocated the following amounts:

Local authority	Tonnes
Central Regional Council	2·935
Lothian Regional Council	8·009
Strathclyde Regional Council	25·509
Orkney Islands Council	0·204

Local authorities are required to ensure that the produce is used in institutional catering in their areas and that the allocations represent an economic benefit to them. Successful applicants must allow their uptake of quota to be monitored by the member state.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which firms in Scotland are licensed to receive and distribute levy-free beef and veal; and what records are kept as to the ultimate destinations of the carcases or finished products.

	Auxiliaries		NNEB			Enrolled Nurse
	A	B	A	B	C	B	C	D	E
Argyll and Clyde	1,542·48	49·81	—	23·04	—	—	353·27	318·60	—
Ayrshire and Arran	881·17	53·40	—	16·34	—	—	298·19	159·18	—
Borders	329·20	10·30	—	2·00	—	—	108·48	52·18	3·72
Dumfries and Galloway	466·12	23·56	—	10·39	—	—	139·53	112·87	—
Fife	894·00	17·40	—	20·69	3·50	—	384·03	309·23	—
Forth Valley	1,133·05	110·00	—	14·13	—	—	141·80	292·83	0·25
Grampian	1,514·02	52·02	2·60	27·55	—	—	596·03	399·78	17·19
Greater Glasgow	3,731·23	175·40	—	85·11	9·00	1·00	872·68	996·17	1·00
Highland	517·59	10·60	—	39·6	—	—	95·16	197·76	40·48
Lanarkshire	1,195·00	22·00	—	31·00	—	—	625·00	502·00	—
Lothian	2,239·40	173·79	—	40·45	7·45	—	361·11	815·25	—
Orkney	35·10	2·00	—	—	—	—	56·82	7·67	—
Shetland	42·58	2·04	—	—	—	—	41·80	5·00	2·00
Tayside	1,535·07	44·33	—	22·50	—	—	624· 19	393·97	—
Western Isles	54·77	—	—	—	—	—	28·30	13·20	2·80
Scotland total	16,110·78	746·65	2·60	297·16	19·95	1·00	4,726·39	4,575·79	67·44

	Enrolled Dist Train			Senior Enrolled				Staff Nurse
	C	D	E	C	D	E	F	D	E	F	G
Argyll and Clyde	—	28·15	—	—	33·70	9·20	—	106·93	545·64	75·49	—
Ayrshire and Arran	—	—	—	0·70	16·6	—	—	175·61	449·43	88·67	—
Borders	—	—	—	—	2·00	1·00	—	—25·59	167·84	16·36	—
Dumfries and Galloway	—	5·42	2·60	2·59	8·00	8·00	—	124·04	260·85	43·24	—
Fife	1·50	41·53	0·50	1·00	13·59	—	—	114·01	518·74	16·66	1·00
Forth Valley	—	12·77	—	—	13·73	—	—	135·51	479·66	2·53	4·00
Grampian	—	33·45	—	—	25·85	2·00	—	455·11	481·35	25·94	—
Greater Glasgow	1·00	73·39	—	2·00	139·83	3·00	—	831·68	1,175·34	18·00	—
Highland	1·88	13·27	—	4·00	6·80	7·00	—	30·47	447·51	44·41	4·15
Lanarkshire	—	—	—	—	2·00	29·00	—	92·00	802·00	17·00	—
Lothian	—	31·30	—	—	13·26	38·90	1·00	367·12	1,700·07	18·96	—
Orkney	—	3·00	—	—	—	—	—	—	15·98	1·18	—
Shetland
—	—	—	—	—	—	—	8·20	24·15	8·44	—
Tayside	—	8·00	—	—	19·33	33·80	—	121·04	949·07	36·32	—
Western Isles	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	8·19	45·32	3·14	—

Information about the firms licensed to receive and distribute levy free beef and veal is a matter of commercial confidentiality. No records are kept centrally as to ultimate destinations of the carcases or finished products.

Football Matches (Arrests)

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many football-related arrests took place outside grounds during Scottish league and cup matches in the 1987–88 season.

This information is not available centrally.

Nurse Grading

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each health board the movement of nurses from the old grades to the new grades.

[holding answer 10 January 1989]: Details of the numbers of nurses in each health board assimilated to each of the new grades are given in the tables, in terms of whole-time equivalent.

Enrolled Dist Train

Senior Enrolled

Staff Nurse

C

D

E

C

D

E

F

D

E

F

G

Scotland total

4·38

250·28

3·10

10·29

289·11

131·90

1·00

2,595·50

8,662·95

416·34

9·15

	Staff midwife				Deputy sister			Sister II
	D	E	F	G	E	F	G	F	G	H	I
Argyll and Clyde	—	80·61	61·45	—	—	15·16	1·74	135·92	325·15	15·53	—
Ayshire and Arran	0·56	76·01	62·30	—	—	—	—	109·43	169·80	5·00	—
Borders	—	26·25	—	—	—	—	—	73·31	57·53	—	—
Dumfries and Galloway	—	38·61	0·79	—	—	19·00	—	23·10	108·72	5·00	—
Fife	—	84·03	9·24	—	—	—	—	78·13	157·27	1·00	—
Forth Valley	—	69·55	11·91	—	10·13	—	—	70·99	191·93	—	—
Grampian	—	98·80	54·62	—	136·00	1·0	—	155·27	317·96	6·00	—
Greater Glasgow	3·06	299·93	37·32	—	61·41	9·64	—	1,039·23	387·94	21·93	—
Highland	—	45·55	36·48	—	—	9·10	—	99·33	106·63	2·00	—
Lanarkshire	—	65·00	75·00	—	125·00	3·00	—	106·00	331·0	2·00	—
Lothian	—	126·81	93·42	—	—	31·18	—	156·60	658·25	21·53	1·00
Orkney	—	3·00	—	—	—	—	—	—	10·90	—	—
Shetland	—	6·00	—	—	—	0·80	—	—	25·00	4·00	—
Tayside	—	102·54	40·34	1·00	—	3·13	—	245·92	293·73	5·00	—
Western Isles	—	10·20	6·50	—	—	—	—	7·80	18·30	—	—
Scotland total	3·62	1,132·89	489·37	1·00	332·54	92·01	1·74	2,301·03	3,160·11	88·99	1·00

	Sister II Midwife			District Nurse Sister II			Sister I			Sister I Midwife
	F	G	H	F	G	H	F	G	H	G	H
Arygll and Clyde	6·80	97·24	5·40	—	89·46	1·00	—	4·00	20·27	1·00	—
Ayrshire and Arran	21·41	78·27	—	—	100·09	—	—	—	—	—	—
Borders	8·54	3·00	—	1·67	36·96	—	—	—	—	—	—
Dumfries and Galloway	11·07	17·00	2·00	—	19·03	—	—	—	—	24·60	4·00
Fife	—	54·17	—	1·00	67·98	—	—	—	—	—	—
Forth Valley	22·26	12·83	—	10·93	97·14	—	—	4·00	5·00	—	8·00
Grampian	22·82	57·56	3·00	3·75	131·39	2·39	—	2·00	—	1·00	—
Greater Glasgow	107·64	71·03	1·00	22·53	386·21	2·66	—	1·00	5·00	4·00	—
Highland	9·76	58·60	—	16·73	65·04	—	2·00	2·00	—	7·00	—
Lanarkshire	19·00	67·00	—	3·00	139·00	—	—	1·00	—	—	—
Lothian	3·33	110·52	2·00	—	195·53	—	—	—	2·00	—	—
Orkney	—	4·35	—	1·75	15·06	—	—	2·00	—	—	—
Shetland	3·80	—	—	1·00	—	—	—	—	—	3·80	—
Tayside	6·00	37·80	—	2·54	101·66	1·00	·	1·37	7·53	—	1·00
Western Isles	—	—	—	12·62	29·48	2·00	—	2·00	—	—	—
Scotland Total	242·43	669·37	13·40	77·52	1,474·03	9·05	2·00	19·37	39·80	41·40	13·00

Health Visitor

Senior Nurse 8

Senior Nurse 8 Midwife

Senior Nurse 7

G

H

I

G

H

I

G

H

I

G

H

I

Argyll and Clyde

108·10

—

2·00

12·00

37·00

—

3·00

7·00

—

1·00

21·00

Ayrshire and Arran

78·20

—

1·00

3·00

25·00

—

4·00

2·00

—

10·00

Borders

33·09

—

1·00

5·00

—

9·00

8·00

Dumfries and Galloway

23·86

1·00

—

13·00

17·00

4·00

1·00

—

2·00

9·00

Fife

98·19

—

42·00

—

2·00

—

11·00

—

Forth Valley

77·56

—

3·00

4·00

—

11·00

3·00

Grampian

138·09

7·60

—

8·00

1·00

—

5·0

49·00

Greater Glasgow

288·92

—

15·00

153·53

16·53

2·00

28·00

2·00

1·00

42·00

4·00

Highland

71·00

—

2·00

5·50

15·50

—

3·00

—

1·50

20·50

Lanarkshire

143·00

1·00

—

7·00

69·00

1·00

8·00

—

20·00

4·00

Lothian

188·78

1·00

—

5·00

61·00

1·00

3·00

13·00

—

71·00

Orkney

8·00

—

2·00

Shetland

13·00

1·00

—

1·00

Tayside

104·05

2·00

—

69·00

4·00

—

12·00

—

8·00

19·00

Western Isles

11·00

—

0·50

1·00

—

2·00

Scotland Total

1,384·84

13·60

1·00

35·00

441·03

119·03

23·00

74·50

16·00

1·00

111·50

223·50

	Senior Nurse 7 Midwife		Clinical Teacher		Field-work Teacher	Practical Teacher	Tutor		Tutor Midwife
	H	I	G	H	H	H	G	I	I
Argyll and Clyde	—	3·00	—	17·00	12·00	9·00	—	23·00	—
Ayrshire and Arran	—	1·00	2·00	14·00	16·00	14·00	—	13·00	3·00
Borders	—	—	—	6·00	4·00	8·00	—	4·00	—
Dumfries and Galloway	—	—	—	8·00	5·00	6·00	1·00	8·00	1·00
Fife	—	—	—	—	17·00	24·00	—	18·00	—
Forth Valley	—	—	—	15·00	12·00	12·00	—	14·80	4·00
Grampian	—	—	—	32·78	27·00	24·80	—	26·30	4·00
Greater Glasgow	5·00	3·00	—	73·30	36·00	35·97	—	104·36	18·00
Highland	—	1·00	—	15·00	7·00	14·80	—	7·00	—
Lanarkshire	1·00	2·00	—	18·00	16·00	16·00	—	37·00	4·00
Lothian	—	3·00	—	60·60	28·28	31·00	—	69·50	12·00
Orkney	—	—	—	—	1·00	1·00	—	—	—
Shetland	—	—	—	2·00	—	2·00	—	—	—
Tayside	—	—	—	35·00	13·00	10·00	—	28·60	6·00
Western Isles	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Scotland Total	6·00	13·00	2·00	296·68	194·28	208·57	1·00	353·56	52·00

Post Basic Students

Enrolled

Staff Nurse

Deputy Sister

Sister II

C

D

E

D

E

F

D

E

F

G

D

E

F

G

Argyll and Clyde

46·00

—

89·00

14·00

—

4·00

—

Ayrshire and Arran

36·00

—

81·00

5·00

—

3·00

5·00

Borders

7·00

—

2·00

—

2·00

—

4·00

Dumfries and Galloway

14·00

—

43·00

6·70

—

Fife

40·00

—

90·00

—

1·00

3·00

2·00

3·00

2·00

—

Forth Valley

16·00

—

97·00

5·00

—

1·00

Grampian

85·00

—

131·00

—

Greater Glasgow

244·00

—

194·00

—

Highland

3·00

10·00

1·00

24·00

2·00

—

1·00

—

5·00

—

1·00

Lanarkshire

57·00

—

38·00

6·00

—

2·00

—

9·00

Lothian

77·00

—

275·00

26·00

7·00

—

9·00

Orkney

—

Shetland

—

2·00

Tayside

62·00

—

43·00

11·00

1·00

—

0·80

—

2·00

Western Isles

—

SCOTLAND Total

687·00

10·00

1·00

1,107·00

75·70

10·00

2·00

3·80

4·00

3·00

7·00

2·00

9·00

33·00

Energy

Wave Power

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to direct officials at Harwell to instruct their wave energy consultants to reveal cumulative failure rate figures for wave energy devices to the designers of those devices, and if he will make a statement.

Failure rate data for all wave energy devices assessed were made available to the device teams. A report from 1983 by Yard summarising this data entitled "Review of Yard's Studies of the Reliability and Maintainability of Wave Energy Devices" is available and copies have been placed in both Houses of Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what is his Department's estimate of the failure rate, in terms of kilometre years per fault, of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board electrical cable crossing the Pentland Firth from Caithness to Orkney;(2) what are his Department's estimates for the failure rate, in terms of kilometre years per fault, of the rigid sea bed connections assessed by wave energy consultants in their series of reports to his Department;(3) if his Department has ever consulted the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board about the failure rates of sea bed cables; and what steps he has taken to assess whether the rates quoted by his Department's consultants, Rendel, Palmer and Tritton, are realistic.

I am informed that various data were collected by the wave energy consultants on reliability of cables and related components from the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board and other sources in their assessment of large-scale wave energy. Typical failure rates for conventional submarine power cables were in the range 0·3–1·0 per 100 km per year. These data were not directly used in the estimation of the reliability of large scale wave energy power collection and transmission systems because of the complex nature of the systems assessed. It was accepted however that loss in availability due to transmission systems unreliability was unlikely to be large and 6 per cent. for fixed devices and 9 per cent. for floating devices were finally assumed based on previous work and engineering judgments of the independent consultants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the outcome of discussions between his officials and the costing department of the civil engineering company Whessoe concerning the application of parametric costing techniques to the prediction of the capital cost of offshore wave power devices; and what conclusions have been reached as to why his Department's estimate was greater than that calculated by Whessoe.

The parametric costing technique is a useful tool in assisting the assessment of the costs of the various renewable energy technologies including wave energy. The total cost estimated by parametric techniques for a component when fully integrated into a system will inevitably be higher than the cost of that single component estimated by a company such as Whessoe. Systems costs include such factors as system design, installation, commissioning, quality assurance and project management and these extra costs have to be added to the "off the shelf" component cost in order to derive the full system cost used in the parametric method of costing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if the decision to close the offshore wave energy programme was made unanimously by the members of the Advisory Council on Research and Development.

The collectively agreed view of the Advisory Council on Research and Development on the wave energy programme and other renewable energy sources was made availalbe to the Libraries of both Houses on 27 April 1982.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will initiate a reassessment of the technical quality of the advice which led to the closure of the first offshore wave programme.

A major input to the discussion in 1982 by the Advisory Council on Research and Development of the renewable energy programme was a strategic review by the chief scientist's group at ETSU. This review was subsequently published as ETSU R13. Information and advice on wave energy for the review was supplied by the device teams. Subsequent work and a report by consultants confirmed that large offshore wave energy was unlikely to be cost effective. I am satisfied that advice on the wave energy programme was the best available at that time and no useful purpose would be served by reviewing the decision procedure then used.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will establish an inquiry to determine whether the programe for wave energy of the energy technology support unit, made all the relevant papers on the methods of reliability calculation written by Professor Stephen Salter available to his Department's wave energy steering committee.

All relevant papers on reliability calculations by Professor Salter were circulated to members of the wave energy steering committee. Indeed in 1984, Professor Salter gave a presentation to that committee putting the Edinburgh university device team's case for the duck device, and a summary of his presentation including such matters as availability and reliability was circulated to the committee members after the meeting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take steps to ensure that the memorandum by Dr. Roy Taylor of the energy technology support unit dated 25 April 1985, relating to the costs of an offshore wave device is communicated to the appropriate Advisory Council on Research and Development committee.

The memorandum for Dr Roy Taylor dated 25 April 1985 was a partial calculation in support of other work which was made available to the wave energy steering group and summarised in "Wave Energy—The Department of Energy's R&D Programme 1974–1983", published as ETSU R.26 in 1985.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the assignments given to Mr. Peter Davies subsequent to his work as manager of the wave energy programme.

Mr. Peter Davies was the programme manager of the electricity producing renewable technologies at the Department's energy technology support unit. This included the technologies of wind, hydro, and wave energy. Mr. Davies was appointed to ETSU after the decision to close the large-scale wave energy programme was made and was charged with the difficult job of running down the programme and completing the various contracts satisfactorily.In 1985, Mr. Davies was transferred to the northern division of the UKAEA at Risley. Since that time his work has included leading the authority inquiry team for the European demonstration reprocessing plant public inquiry. He is currently head of the technical policy division in the UKAEA Risley technical services at Risley.

Departmental Staff (Pay)

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the number of staff in his Department, by grade, in receipt of local pay additions outside London and the south-east economic planning region; what are the different amounts paid to staff, by grade; whether this figure varies due to location; what qualifying period of scale-related criteria is used; and whether this varies by location.

None.

Coal Prices

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether the cost of pensions paid to disabled ex-miners plays any part in British Coal's determinations over the price of coal.

The price of coal sold by British Coal is a commercial matter for the corporation.

Oil Installations (Inspectors)

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many times petroleum engineering directorate inspectors have arrived unannounced at a heliport or airport in order to travel offshore for an unannounced inspection of oil installations.

A short period of notice is normally given by my inspectors when they intend to visit offshore installations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many times petroleum engineering directorate inspectors have carried out unannounced inspections of offshore oil installations.

It is impossible for an inspector to arrive on an offshore installation unannounced. During 1988, however, my inspectors carried out a total of four inspections of offshore installations when the installation to be visited was notified only when the inspector checked in for the helicopter flight.

Petroleum Engineering Directorate (Inspectors)

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many of the existing inspectors in the petroleum engineering directorate have had previous experience working offshore in the employment of an oil company; and what was the duration of the experience for each inspector.

Of my Department's 32 inspectors 10 were previously employed by oil companies, the majority of whom have had experience of working offshore. Records are not kept of the duration of offshore experience for each inspector.

High Moor Colliery (Accident)

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will send a message of thanks to the men and management of High Moor colliery for their response to the accident that occurred on Friday 13 January.

I sent a message on the day of the accident to the chairman of British Coal. I should like to take this further opportunity to express my admiration of the efforts of all those involved in the rescue operation.

Wales

Water Act 1973

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many members of the Water Space Amenity Council, other than the chairman of the Welsh water authority, have been appointed by him under section 23(1) of the Water Act 1973 since the enactment of that Act.

None. This section has been repealed by the Water Act 1983.

Local Pay Additions

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of staff in his Department by grade, in receipt of local pay additions outside London and the south-east economic planning region; what are the different amounts paid to staff, by grade; whether this varies due to location; what qualifying period of scale-related criteria is used; and whether this varies by location.

None.

Welsh Language Teaching

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action has been taken by his Department to increase the number of teachers of Welsh in order that the provisions of the national curriculum can be fulfilled; and if he will make a statment.

A quantification of the future requirement for Welsh language teachers is being prepared. Meetings have been held with local education authority representatives to explore the scale and nature of retraining that will be needed. Discussions are also taking place with the higher education sector about the provision of suitable in-service training courses for serving teachers to equip them to teach Welsh as a second language. The Welsh Office is also liaising closely with the Curriculum Council for Wales about the training needs created by the introduction of the national curriculum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he and the Welsh working party have received about the inclusion of Welsh as a foundation subject in the national curriculum by (a) 1990 and (b) 1992; and how many schools in each local education authority and parliamentary constituency have indicated that they will seek exemption.

The Education Reform Act make Welsh a foundation subject in the national curriculum in Wales. Around 100 responses to the interim report of the Welsh working group have been received to date and more are still coming in. The majority have addressed the question of timing of implementation, but only a small minority have indicated that they will consider seeking exemptions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what estimates he has as to the additional cost of providing sufficient teachers of Welsh to enable the requirements of the national curriculum to be implemented in every school in Wales by (a) 1990 and (b) 1992;(2) what estimates he has as to the additional number of teachers of Welsh who would be needed if the national curriculum requirements for the teaching of Welsh were to be implemented in every school without exemptions by

(a) 1990 and (b) 1992.

We do not expect any significant increase in the overall number of teachers needed to deliver the national curriculum. In the case of Welsh the results of the primary and secondary staffing surveys suggest that there are sufficient teachers in Wales as a whole; but there are shortages in certain parts of Wales and a programme of in-service teacher training will be necessary. The Department is currently considering detailed teacher requirements and will be conducting a survey of secondary staff shortly, which will help establish more precise estimates of numbers and costs.

Environment

Sewerage

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the sewage works in South Yorkshire that are to be allowed relaxation in breaching the legal limits on effluent set by him; what is the time scale for this relaxation; and if he will make a statement.

We have confirmed that applications for temporary variations in consent conditions will continue to be considered in cases where improvements to sub-standard sewage treatment works are in hand or are programmed for completion by March 1992. Applications will be considered over the coming months and it is not, therefore, possible to indicate at this stage in which cases they will be approved.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by water authority the public funds being used to improve the sewerage system prior to the proposed privatisation of the water industry; and if he will make a statement.

Improvements to water authorities' sewerage and sewage treatment works are generally financed by charges and borrowing. In a small number of cases, this investment is assisted by EC funding. Grants are also available under the Rural Water Supplies and sewerage Acts 1944–1971 towards the first-time provision of mains water and ewerage in rural areas and under the Industrial Development Act 1982 in assisted areas. It is not possible, however, to say to what extent authorities will be financed in these ways prior to privatisation.

Notts County Football Club

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received an invitation to visit Notts County football club at Meadow lane.

Notts County football club has invited me to attend a match at Meadow lane and I hope to take up the invitation this season or early in the 1989–90 season.

Council House Sales

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authority houses sold to tenants under the right-to-buy legislation have subsequently been found to be defective.

We know that some 31,000 ex-public sector properties, of types designated under the housing defects legislation, were sold before the defects became generally known; and that those owners are therefore likely to be eligible for assistance, under that scheme. If the hon. Member has a specific point in mind, perhaps he could write to me.

Radioactivity

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if there have been any occasions since May 1979 when information on radioactivity released from nuclear facilities has been withheld for reasons of national interest.

The Radioactive Substances Act 1960 provides in section 8(5)(b) for restriction of knowledge of an authorisation for disposal of radioactive waste should the Minister or Ministers concerned consider it necessary for reasons of national security. It is not Government policy to reveal the existence of any such restricted authorisation.

Rating Reform

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to undertake (a) newspaper, (b) radio or (c) television advertising at the time when he plans that most community charges registration officers will be undertaking a canvass in order to construct a register; and if he will make a statement.

I have no plans to undertake paid advertising on television or radio at the time of canvassing to compile the registers. My Department will, however, commission some newspaper advertising to draw attention to the information leaflet which we intend to send to all households in England in May, to coincide with canvassing.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received any complaints about alleged, factual inaccuracies or misleading statements in "You and the Community Charge"; and if he will make a statement.

We have received a very positive response to the booklet, reflected in the high level of demand. We have received one representation on a few very detailed points.

Football Clubs (Membership Scheme)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to designate Berwick Rangers football club under the football identity card scheme.

No.

Water

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the source of funding for the series of television commercials currently being made for the water industry.

[holding answer 19 January 1989]: I understand that the advertisements are being paid for by the Water Authorities Association out of funds provided by the individual water authorities.

Docklands

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total amount of capital allowances claimed so far in the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone.

I have been asked to reply.Information on expenditure qualifying for enterprise zone allowances in the Isle of Dogs up to 1985–86 is given in the HMSO publication "Enterprise Zone Information 1985–86 Great Britain". Some further information will be published shortly in "Enterprise Zone Information 1986–87 Great Britain", but commercial confidence will preclude giving the full details.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many of the jobs lost in Docklands since 1981 were held by residents of Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Newham, Lewisham and Greenwich; (2) if he will give an estimate of the proportion of construction jobs in the London Docklands Development Corporation area in 1988 that are held by residents of Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Newham, Lewisham and Greenwich;(3) how many of the newly created jobs in the London Docklands Development Corporation area since 1981 have been taken by (i) women, (ii) people from ethnic minority groups and (iii) people who were previously unemployed; and how many are part-time jobs.

This information is not collected, or could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Canary Wharf

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total amount of capital allowances that the developers of Canary wharf are eligible to claim.

I have been asked to reply.No information on expenditure is yet available for this development but commercial confidentiality will almost certainly preclude publication of figures.

Home Department

Prisons

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was (a) the original estimated cost and (b) the actual cost of Wayland, Stocken, Thorn Cross, Full Sutton, Littlehey, Mount, Swaleside and Garth prisons.

The information requested is set out in the table. Figures for original estimated construction cost vary from establishment to establishment in the light of location, individual requirements and the date of assessment. No uprating of these figures for inflation has been made. By contrast, actual costs take account of inflation, as well as changes in price during the course of the contract, changes in content, or circumstances such as bad weather which may cause delay.

Prison	Original Estimated Cost £ millions	Actual Cost £ millions
Wayland	15·10	22·60
Stocken	11·92	13·16
Thorn Cross	7·80	11·56
Full Sutton	17·80	29·85
Littlehey	12·96	29·80
Mount	17·60	24·90
Swaleside	21·73	27·34
Garth	20·70	41·15

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated cost of Brinsford, Lindholme II, Whitemoor, Bullingdon, Woolwich, Lancaster Farms, Milton Keynes, Swaleside II, Banstead, Ashford, Doncaster, Hewell Grange, Teesside, Kirkham and Rochdale prisons.

The information requested is set out in tables A and B. Table A refers to those projects where the main construction contract has been let and where it is thus possible to provide a reasonably accurate estimate of costs. Table B relates to projects where the main construction contract has yet to be let and consequently the estimated costs shown are liable to fluctuate depending on the price levels pertaining at the time the contract is let. The cost estimates in both tables which are at current 1988–89 price levels include, where appropriate, VAT and site purchase costs and are subject to adjustment to reflect agreed cost increases in the construction industry.

Table A
Prison	Current estimated cost (£ million)
Brinsford	27·03
Lindholme II	40·98
Whitemoor	33·80
Bullingdon	45·50
Woolwich	88·90
Milton Keynes	74·50

Table B
Prison	Current estimated cost (£million)
Lancaster Farms	45·00
Swaleside II	65·00
High Down (Banstead)	75·00
Doncaster	65·00
Hewell Grange	55·00
Holme House Farm (Teesside)	45·00

Ashford, Kirkham and Rochdale—These projects are at an early stage of planning and it is not possible to estimate with accuracy overall project costs. However, as these projects are to be modelled on the new prison design brief they are likely at current price levels (excluding any site purchase costs) to cost in the region of £55–60 million each.

Missing Persons

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated number of missing persons under 18 years of age.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. and learned Member for Leicester, West (Mr. Janner) on 5 December 1988 at column 30.

Criminal Injuries (Compensation)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average current delay in dealing with criminal injuries compensation claims.

Information in this form is not available, but the percentage of cases resolved by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board within certain periods of registration is shown in paragraph 6 of its latest annual report (Cm. 536), copies of which are in the Library.The figures for 1987–88 are:

	Per cent.
Up to three months	1·5
Three to six months	2·6
Six to nine months	6·7
Nine to 12 months	20·0
Over 12 months	69·2

Metropolitan Police (Property)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of properties in the Greater London area owned by the Metropolitan police which are empty; how many are surplus to requirements; how many are being repaired; how many are planned to be sold; how many are leased to local councils, giving the figures by London borough; and if he will make a statement.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that on 1 January 1989 there were 409 empty properties owned by the Metropolitan police in the Metropolitan police district. Of these, 102 were surplus to requirements and are planned to be sold. The remaining 307 are either being repaired or are due for repair.Fifteen other properties are leased by the Metropolitan police to London borough councils as follows:

	Number
Bromley	1
Greenwich	1
Harrow	8
Kingston upon Thames	2
Sutton	2
Wandsworth	1

Wandsworth Prison(Rule 43)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of inmates on rule 43 in Wandsworth prison on 1 January.

The number was 391.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times the forensic science service has refused to carry out tests on samples and tissue from suspected AIDS sufferers.

None.

Ayten Mete

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will give full details of the reasons for the refusal of the immigration officer to allow Ayten Mete (EAT/RLE/135/89) from Turkey to visit her relatives;(2)if he wil instruct the immigration officer to reconsider his refusal to allow Ayten Mete to visit her relatives in Britain;(3)if he will make a statement about the immigration officer's refusal to allow Ayten Mete from Turkey to visit her relatives in the United Kingdom.

Ayten Mete was refused entry at Gatwick in accordance with the immigration rules because the immigration officer was not satisfied that she was genuinely seeking entry for the period of her visit as stated by her. It will be open to her to exercise her right of appeal abroad.Following the introduction on 3 January of new guidelines on the handling of representations by right hon. and hon. Members in immigration cases which were fully debated in this House on 10 November, I am not prepared to instruct the immigration officer to reconsider his decision, nor to take any other action not in accordance with those guidelines.

Mr Ishan Barbouti

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the residential status in the United Kingdom of Mr. Ishan Barbouti.

He has refugee status and has been settled here with no conditions attached to his stay since 1984.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is in possession of the contract for the building of a pharmaceutical plant at Rabta, Libya lodged by Mr. Ishan Barbouti with his Department along with an application for citizenship in June 1987.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what inquiries he has received from the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany in relation to Mr. Ishan Barbouti.

None.

Passengers (Embarkation Cards)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what powers he requires passengers leaving the United Kingdom to complete embarkation cards; what questions passengers are required to answer; what penalties are imposed on those passengers who refuse to answer all or any of the questions; what officials issue and collect these cards; and how the information collected is stored.

The power to require passengers embarking in the United Kingdom to produce an embarkation card is contained in paragraph 5 of schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971, as applied by the Immigration (Landing and Embarkation Cards) Order 1975. The embarkation card asks passengers to give their full name, sex, date and place of birth, nationality, occupation, address in the United Kingdom and passport number. Immigration officers require certain passengers to produce to them completed cards upon embarkation. To this end, an officer may issue a card to a passenger on his arrival in the United Kingdom; cards are also available from other sources such as carrying companies. A person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to complete and produce an embarkation card if so required is liable on conviction to a fine of up to £1,000, or to imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. The information contained on cards filled in by passengers in controlled categories is initially stored on computer and is retained on microfiche.

Citizenship

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he does not allow those who assist applicants to apply for British citizenship also to act as referees for their application; when this ruling was reached; and what action was taken to advise applicants and their representatives of the ruling.

It has always been a requirement that referees should be independent of the applicant. Solicitors and agents are excluded. This is explained in the guide given, with the applications form, to all applicants for naturalisation.

Drink-Driving

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has reviewed the continuing need for the non-statutory blood or urine option in drink-drive cases; and if he will make a statement.

The average take-up rate for the non-statutory option fell from 36 per cent. in April 1984 to around 14 per cent. by the end of 1985, and has remained at about that level ever since. The last full year for which statistics are available is 1986, when almost 8,000 motorists exercised the non-statutory option. Of these, only some 20 or so cases have been identified where the analysis of the blood or urine specimen produced a reading below the prescribed limit. This can largely be attributed to delays between providing the breath and blood or urine samples. As Sir William Paton found in his report on the monitoring of evidential breath testing machines in 1986, there is nothing to suggest that evidential breath testing machines are not reliable. I have therefore decided that the non-statutory option should be discontinued. This should allow significant savings in police costs.

Attacks On Women

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes of (a) rape,(b) sexual harassment of women and (c) sexual attacks on women have been committed in the county of South Yorkshire during 1987 and 1988 to date; on how many such occasions the victims were attended to by a woman police surgeon; and if he has any plans to increase the number of women police surgeons employed.

[holding answer 19 January 1989]: There is no legal offence of sexual harassment; the available information on recorded sexual offences is given in the following table. Such information is published annually in table 3.1 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales", supplementary tables, volume 3, a copy of which is in the Library. I understand from the South Yorkshire police that 22 victims in 1987 and 11 victims in 1988 were attended by women police surgeons. The employment of civilian staff is a matter for individual chief officers of police.

Certain sexual offences recorded by the police in South Yorkshire
Number
Offence	1987	1988¹
Rape	73	51
Indecent assault on a female	357	272
¹January to September.

Football Matches (Arrests)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will detail the total number of arrests within English and Welsh grounds during league and cup matches as a percentage of total attendances;(2) if he will detail the arrests which took place at English and Welsh football matches during 1987–88 on the same basis as in the reply of the Secretary of State for Scotland to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson) of 13 January,

Official Report, columns 785–86;

(3) if he will arrange for the statistics of arrests within English and Welsh football grounds to be compiled on the same basis as those for Scotland.

[holding answer 19 January 1989]: The available figures for arrests at matches in England and Wales do not distinguish between those made in and near the grounds; and they relate only to Football League matches. For these I refer the hon. Member to the reply by my hon. Friend the Minister for Sport on 19 December to a question from the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East (Mr. Barnes) at columns 55–58. The total number of arrests as a percentage of those attending Football League matches in England and Wales during the 1987–88 season was 0·03. I do not propose to ask the Association of Chief Police Officers to change the basis of their collection of statistics. It would result in the loss of comparative data for earlier seasons and exclude arrests directly connected with matches where they did not occur within the confines of grounds.

The Arts

Departmental Staff

To ask the Minister for the Arts what is the number of staff in his office, by grade, in receipt of local pay additions outside London and the south-east economic planning region; what are the different amounts paid to staff by grade; whether this figure varies clue to location; what qualifying period of scale-related criteria is used; and whether this varies by location.

None. The Office of Arts and Libraries is located in central London.

Royal Opera House

To ask the Minister for the Arts what was the average subsidy per individual attending performances at the royal opera house, Covent Garden, during 1988.

The overall average subsidy per capita was £21·81 in the financial year 1987–88. The Royal Opera gave 147 performances to a total audience of 284,000 at an average subsidy per capita of £22·94. The Royal Ballet gave 113 performances to a total audience of 203,000 at an average subsidy per capita of £20·25.

Health

Medical Negligence And Accidents

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he plans to meet representatives of the British Medical Association to discuss the treatment of victims of medical accidents and medical negligence.

They have not requested such a meeting.

Silicosis

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the incidence of silicosis per 1,000 population in (a) County Durham, (b) west midlands and (c) Surrey in the last year for which figures are available.

Information about the incidence of silicosis is not available centrally. Silicosis is not separately identified within hospital in-patient inquiry data but is included under pneumoconiosis. In 1985 the estimated number of in-patient cases treated in NHS hospitals with a main diagnosis of pneumoconiosis was 640. Sample numbers are too small for reliable estimates to be made below national level.

The annual report of the Health and Safety Commission in its tables of cases of occupational diseases awarded benefit includes figures on those suffering from pneumoconiosis. A copy of the report is in the Library.

Nhs Technical Staff

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any plans to review the salaries of technical staff working within the National Health Service.

The pay of technical staff is a matter for negotiation in the professional and technical staffs B Whitley council. We understand that the management side of the council is currently reviewing the grade structures of a number of technical staff groups.

Listeria

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned on the increase in listeriosis.

The public health laboratory service is conducting a national survey of retailed and National Health Service cooked chilled food for the presence of listeria, and is undertaking detailed studies to assess the role of contaminated food in causing human cases of listeriosis. In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have commissioned urgent research into areas such as the cooking conditions required to kill listeria monocytogenes in poultry meat, and the physical aspects of microwave cooking.As soon as the appropriate scientific evidence is available from these and other outside studies, we will consider together with MAFF whether any further action is required.

General Practitioners (London)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners there are in each of the regional health authorities covering Greater London.

The information requested is collected for family practitioner committees, which are not necessarily conterminous with health authority boundaries, and aggregated by region. Figures for the Thames regions at 1 October 1987 are as follows:

Number of unrestricted general medical practitioners
Number
South East Thames	1,933
South West Thames	1,537
North East Thames	1,992
North West Thames	1,971

Exhaust Fumes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any estimate of National Health Service costs due to lung disease cases attributable to inhaling exhaust fumes.

Information on cases of lung disease resulting from inhalation of exhaust fumes is not collected centrally; no estimate of costs is therefore available.

Radiation

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations he has received since the publication of the report on the incident in radiotherapy department at the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital and the implementation of the recommendations contained in it concerning (a) the grading of the post of the head of department,(b) the number of physicists employed and (c) levels of supervision required to maintain safety; and if he will make a statement.

None. It is for Exeter health authority to make appropriate arrangements for the effective management of the radiotherapy department at the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital.

Parliamentary Questions

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many oral parliamentary questions he has answered by written reply because the question was not reached at Question Time, for the most recent year for which figures are available.

Since it was created in July 1988 the Department of Health has answered oral questions on two occasions. Up to the end of 1988, 161 oral questions were tabled to the Secretary of State for Health, of which 137 received a written reply.Prior to the division of the Department of Health and Social Security, a total of 950 oral questions were tabled to the Secretary of State for Social Services during the 1987–88 Session. Of these, 822 received a written reply.These figures do not include oral questions which were subsequently withdrawn, unstarred or transferred to other Departments.

Oswestry District Hospital

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether there are any proposals to sell the Oswestry district hospital.

We understand that officers of Shropshire health authority have been approached by a number of parties interested in purchasing the Oswestry district hospital when it is closed. Disposal of the site is a matter for the district and regional health authorities. The hon. Member may wish to write to the chairman of Shropshire health authority for further information.

Abortions

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many private sector clinics and hospitals performing late abortions were inspected to ensure that they have immediate access to resuscitation equipment in the event that the child is born alive in each year since 1967; and how many in each year were found to be contravening this requirement;(2) how many National Health Service clinics and hospitals performing late abortions were inspected, to ensure that they have immediate access to resuscitation equipment in the event that the child is born alive, in each year since 1967; and how many in each year were found to be contravening this requirement.

Inspection of equipment within NHS premises is a matter for individual health authorities.

In the private sector formal requirements that resuscitation equipment should be available on the premises were introduced in 1976 and since that time places approved to perform late abortions have received at least one visit a year from departmental medical and nursing officers in which its availability is monitored. We have no record of any contravention of this requirement.

In addition, health authorities have a statutory duty under the Nursing Homes and Mental Nursing Homes Regulations 1984 to inspect private hospitals not less than twice in every period of 12 months to ensure that they provide and maintain adequate medical, surgical and nursing equipment.

Aids

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has yet received the second report on AIDS and drug misuse from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs; and if he will make a statement.

The council submitted its report on 10 January. We intend to publish the report quickly and make copies widely available.

Thalassaemia

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money is given by his Department for research into the prevention and treatment of thalassaemia.

[holding answer 16 January 1989]: The Department is not directly funding research into the prevention and treatment of thalassaemia.The main agency through which the Government support medical and related biological research is the Medical Research Council (MRC), which receives a grant-in-aid from the Department of Education and Science. I understand that the MRC is funding a number of research projects into the prevention and treatment of thalassaemia.

National Finance

Personal Allowances

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the rise in real terms of the married man's personal allowance during the period 1974 to 1979, and the period 1980 to 1988.

Between 1973–74 and 1978–79, the married man's income tax allowance fell, in real terms, by just over 5 per cent. Since then it has been increased by almost 28 per cent. The real increase since 1979–80 has been 25 per cent.

Personal Taxation

To as the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much a person on average earnings pays as a proportion of his total income in all direct and indirect taxes including value-added tax and national insurance.

It is estimated that a married man on average earnings with no children currently pays 39.5 per cent. of his earnings in income tax, national insurance contributions and indirect taxes (excluding local authority rates).

Budget (Representations)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received in advance of the Budget.

My right hon. Friend has received a large number of representations covering a variety of proposals.

Heavy Fuels Duty

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total revenue received, in the last year for which figures are available, from the duty on heavy fuels used in power stations.

I regret that the information is not readily available.

Exchange Rate Policy

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the latest exchange rate policy.

The Government's policy is unchanged. The need to reduce inflation is paramount and a firm exchange rate is essential to achieve this objective.

Inflation

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many countries in the European Community have a lower rate of inflation than the current rate in the United Kingdom.

The latest available figures suggest that nine European Community countries have a lower rate of inflation than the current rate in the United Kingdom.

European Monetary System

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the main advantage to the United Kingdom of joining the exchange rate mechanism of the European monetary system.

The United Kingdom will join the exchange rate mechanism of the European monetary system when the Government consider that the time is right and because of the advantages that it will bring to the conduct of anti-inflationary policy.

Mortgage Repayments

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will urgently take steps to assist first-time home buyers affected by high interest rates on their mortgage repayments.

No.

Household Savings Ratio

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the savings ratio in the household sector.

The household sector saving ratio has fallen in recent years. However, this has been largely offset by rises in saving by companies and the public sector, leaving total national savings broadly unchanged as a share of gross domestic product. Rises in interest rates in recent months will encourage more saving and less borrowing by households.

Investment

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the level of investment in the economy during the last 12 months.

In 1988 total investment was forecast in the Autumn Statement to grow by 12 per cent.

Taxation (Restrictions)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost in 1988–89 and 1989–90 of restricting (a) personal allowances and (b) mortgage interest tax relief to the standard rate of tax.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Clay) on 22 December 1988 at column 425.

Canary Wharf

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the total tax allowances for which the developers of the Canary wharf scheme in London docklands are eligible.

The precise tax treatment will depend on individual circumstances. A developer who builds property for sale incurs his expenditure on revenue account and is entitled to relief under the normal business expense rules for costs incurred wholly and exclusively for the purposes of his trade. A special 100 per cent. initial allowance is available for construction costs of business buildings within an enterprise zone which are incurred on capital account.

Ishan Barbouti

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to prosecute Mr. Ishan Barbouti for breach of export controls in relation to his activities in constructing a plant at Rabta, Libya, alleged to be for the manufacture of chemical weapons.

Customs have no evidence of any breach of United Kingdom export controls to support proceedings against Mr. Ishan Barbouti.

Capital Gains Tax

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the reduction in annual liability to (a) capital gains tax and (b) capital transfer tax in 1988–89 and 1989–90 as against the 1978–79 indexed regime, specifying in each case the total and average reduction per taxpayer as well as the number of taxpayers in each year.

[holding answer 16 January 1989]: The information requested is given in the table:

		Capital gains tax	Capital transfer tax/Inheritance Tax
Reduction, compared with indexed 1978–79 regime, in:
Total liability (£m):	1988–89	1,250	610
	1989–90	1,150	670
Average liability¹(£):	1988–89	1,450	7,200
	1989–90	1,500	7,700
Taxpayer numbers(thousands)
1978–79 indexed regime:	1988–89	850	85
	1989–90	760	87
Present regime:	1988–89	155	25
	1989–90	145	26
¹ The reduction in the average liability is calculated using the numbers of taxpayers under the 1978–79 indexed regime.

The figures for capital gains tax exclude capital gains realised by companies and taxed within corporation tax. The figures for 1989–90 for the "present regime" assume the same tax structure as in 1988–89 except for indexation of allowances. For each tax, the 1988–89 and 1989–90 tax bases are taken as given. It is not possible to determine to what extent changes to the taxes between 1978–79 and the present may have affected the levels of transfers and disposals.

Social Security

Housing Benefit

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the additional cost to the housing benefit scheme of the changes to Rent Acts which have recently come into effect.

The public expenditure White Paper, which will be published shortly, will as in previous years set out our working assumptions about the rent levels of people receiving housing benefit. These will take account of a number of factors including the potential effects of the provisions of the Housing Act 1988.

Family Credit

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number and proportions of claimants of family income supplement who were one and two-parent families; and if he will give the equivalent data for the family credit.

In April 1987, the latest date for which information is available, approximately 92,000 (41·8 per cent.) one-parent families and 128,000 (58·2 per cent.) two-parent families received family income supplement. The only similar information available for family credit is for 97 per cent. of families and, of them, for those where the parent is an employee. At the end of November 1988 there were approximately 98,000 (42·1 per cent.) one-parent families and 135,000 (57·9 per cent.) two-parent families. There were a further 20,000 families where the parent was self-employed, but no breakdown of this figure is available between one and two-parent families.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Rhizomania

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions have taken place between his Department and the rights of way review committee, Ramblers Association and others about changes to plant health orders which may lead to temporary closure of footpaths where rhizomania is found.

My officials have attended meetings of the rights of way review committee and my noble Friend has been in correspondence with its chairman, my hon. Friend the Member for Saffron Walden (Mr. Haselhurst), about this matter. Public access to any premises declared infected with rhizomania has to be restricted in order to prevent the spread of this serious disease. We accept that it is desirable to use powers under plant health legislation to restrict access and we intend to make appropriate provision shortly.

Potato Marketing Board

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list by percentage sum of money the four main elements in the Potato Marketing Board's annual costs in each year since 1970.

This information can be derived from the board's annual reports.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he had for improving the efficiency and organisation of the Potato Marketing Board; and if he will make a statement.

Responsibility for efficiency and organisation rests primarily with the Potato Marketing Board itself. However, some of the replies to the Government's recent consultation paper on future potato market policy address these topics, and are currently being considered along with other comments.

Eggs

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his scheme to assist egg producers.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given yesterday by my right hon. Frend to my hon. Friend the Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) at column473.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Falkland Islands Ferry

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the circumstances surrounding the incident involving the Falkland Islands ferry on Monday 16 January; if he will consider the suspension of service until a proper agreement on it can be reached; and if he will make a statement.

The Indiana I is a Bahamian-registered cargo vessel which entered Montevideo on 16 January on commercial business with a cargo from the Falkland Islands. A small number of Argentine nationals staged a demonstration. We understand that the Indiana I is operated, and conducts her business, in accordance with normal shipping law and practice. She is not operating a regular ferry service and no separate agreement has been entered into or is required. While we have no standing in the matter, we welcome any normalisation of links between the Falkland Islands and the south American mainland.

Kayed Tameize

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Palestine Liberation Organisation about its assassination of Kayed Tameize.

None.

Mayor Of Bethlehem

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Palestine Liberation Organisation about its threat to assassinate the mayor of Bethlehem.

None.

Boris And Galina Lifshitz

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Soviet authorities about Boris and Galina Lifshitz who first applied for an exit visa in 1979.

We can see no justification for the Soviet authorities' continued refusal to allow Boris and Galina Lifshitz to emigrate. Her Majesty's embassy in Moscow raised the case with the Russians in December and we will be raising it again at the UK-USSR bilateral human rights talks on 26 January.

Mr Raoul Wallenberg

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) oral, and (b) written questions have been addressed to his Department about Mr. Raoul Wallenberg in each session since 1979.

The information requested is available in the Official Report.According to our records the details are as follows:

Parliamentary Questions on Raoul Wallenberg
Session	Oral questions	Written questions	Total
1979–80(15 May 1979–13 November 1980	0	0	0
1980–81 (20 November 1980–30 November 1981)	1	0	1
1981–82 (4 November 1981–28 October 1982)	0	0	0
1982–83 (3 November 1982–13 May 1983)	0	1	1
1983–84 (15 June 1983–31 October 1984)	0	1	1
1984–85 (6 November 1984–30 October 1985)	1	9	10
1985–86 (6 November 1985–6 November 1986)	0	13	13

Session	Oral questions	Written questions	Total
1986–87(12 November 1986–15 may 1987	0	0	0
1987–88(25 June 1987–15 November 1987	0	7	7
1988–89(22 November 1988–to date	0	21	21

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in theOfficial Report, a table showing how many (a) oral and (b) written questions have been addressed to his Department about Mr. Raoul Wallenberg in each month since 1983.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to his earlier question on the same subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he raised the case of Mr. Raoul Wallenberg at the Foreign Affairs Council held on 19 December 1988; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will raise the case of Mr. Raoul Wallenberg at the United Nations; and if he will make a statement;(3)what information he has of the case of Mr. Raoul Wallenberg being raised at the United Nations; and if he will make a statement;(4)what information he has of the case of Mr. Raoul Wallenberg being raised at the European Parliament.

I have recently written to my hon. Friend about Mr. Raoul Wallenberg.

Rights Of Children

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish or place in the Library the Government's response to the questionnaire about the rights of children submitted to them in June 1988 by the legal affairs committee of the Council of Europe parliamentary assembly.

We hope to submit our response to this questionnaire on the rights of children shortly. Copies of our response will be placed in the Library of each House.

Japanese Prisoners Of War

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if, in his recent talks with the Japanese Foreign Minister, he raised the question of Japanese compensation for the relatives of British troops who died in captivity whilst Japanese prisoners of war during the second world war, and if he will make a statement;(2) if, in his recent talks with the Japanese Foreign Minister, he raised the question of Japanese compensation to British troops who were ill-treated in captivity whilst Japanese prisoners of war during the second world war; and if he will make a statement.

No. The question of compensation was dealt with in the 1951 treaty of peace with Japan. Under the terms of the treaty £4,816,473 was made available to the United Kingdom. The bulk of this was paid out, between 1952 and 1956, to approximately 58,000 former prisoners of war, civilian internees and dependants of those who died in captivity.

Visas

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to reduce the cost to Hungarian nationals of obtaining a visa for entry into the United Kingdom.

No. It is our intention that visa fees should remain the same for all applicants irrespective of their nationality.

Ec (Social Dimension)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what is the legal basis for the EEC's social dimension;(2) what are the main issues under the social dimension which fall to be dealt with by qualified majority voting, and which by unanimity under the Single European Act.

I have been asked to reply.The legal base of any proposal in the social area depends on the substance of that proposal. This will determine the voting procedures. The main issues currently under consideration are in the field of health and safety at work and fall to be dealt with by qualified majority voting.

Employment

Unemployment Benefit

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in Nottingham had unemployment benefit stopped because they were considered unavailable for work for each of the months for which figures exist.

Monthly information is not readily available about the number of persons whose entitlement to unemployment benefit is disallowed because they are considered not to be available for work. It could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.However, the table below shows, over the period for which figures are available, the quarterly number of claims disallowed by adjudication officers, in the adjudication office area of Nottingham, on the grounds that claimants were not availble for work.

3 month ending	Disallowed
31 March 1986	61
30 June 1986	71
30 September 1986	122
31 December 1986	96
31 March 1987	125
30 June 1987	45
30 September 1987	109
31 December 1987	122
31 March 1988	109
30 June 1988	89
30 September 1988	90
31 December 1988	54

Minimum Wages

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what minimum wage provision exists in each of the 12 EEC countries.

Five countries—France, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and Luxembourg—have a statutory national minimum wage. In Ireland, as in the United Kingdom, a statutory minimum wage applies only in certain industries. Two countries—Belgium and Greece—have a general minimum wage laid down in national level collective agreements which are binding in law. Three countries—West Germany, Italy and Denmark—set minimum rates of pay by industry level collective agreements applying in all sectors and binding in law.

Mining Regulations

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the dimensions of a development roadway in a single entry system under the current mining regulations.

No dimensions are specified for a development roadway in a single entry system under current mining regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what would be the minimum dimensions of a development roadway with only one means of entry and egress in the proposed changes in mining regulations.

The proposed Mines (Safety of Exit) Regulations 1988, which were laid before Parliament on 29 November 1988 set out the facilities and conditions necessary for safe exit to the surface and include requirements on the construction and maintenance of roads in mines. Under these regulations the normal minimum height of a roadway along which persons walk to or from their places of work will be 1·7m but in certain circmstances this may be reduced to 1·2m.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many miners would be allowed in a roadway with only one means of entry and egress under the proposed changes in mining regulations.

The proposed Mines (Safety of Exit) Regulations 1988, which were laid before Parliament on 29 November 1988, set out the facilities and conditions necessary for safe exit to the surface and includes requirements placing limits on the number of persons working in a place where there is only one way out.The regulations allow for no more than nine persons to work in a place where it is not reasonably practicable to provide two different ways out. However, there are also strictly defined circumstances under which up to 18 persons may be allowed to work in a place with only one way out. In both cases, the mine manager has a duty to make suitable arrangements to ensure, so far as is practicable, that persons can leave the work place safely and that their safety is not endangered by the lack of two ways out.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much air, oxygen, would be available (a) for 10 trapped miners in a situation such as occurred on 13 January at High Moor colliery and (b) if the maximum number of miners were present, under the proposed changes in mining regulations.

The volume of air available for trapped miners in a situation such as occurred at High Moor colliery would be equal to that volume of roadway between the inbye end of the fall and the face of the heading. In this particular case, it would measure approximately 7,350 cu m.Under the proposed changes in mining regulations the maximum number of men allowed to be present without prior notice to an inspector of the mines and quarries inspectorate and workmen's representatives would be nine plus a maximum of three additional persons on limited inspection duties.

Wages Councils (Document)

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give details of those places where it is possible to obtain the document, "Wages Councils: 1988 Consultation Document."

Copies of the document are available in the Vote Office or may be obtained from V. Patterson, Department of Employment, (IRE 2), room 310, Gatliff house, 93 Ebury Bridge road, London SW1W 8RE; the secretary, Office of Wages Councils, Steel house, Tothill street, London SW1H 9NF; divisional offices of the wages inspectorate and the Department of Employment's press office, Caxton house, Tothill street, London SW1H 9NF.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment why it is not possible to obtain the document, "Wages Councils: 1988 Consultation Document", at Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

Her Majesty's Stationery Office bookshops do not stock free publications.

Departmental Publications

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement as to the criteria used in deciding where to place his Department's publications.

The criteria used in deciding where to place my Department's publications vary according to a number of factors including the nature of the publication and the audience for which it is intended; the scale and cost. of distribution; and whether or not the document is priced.

Tourism

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what will be the role of local authorities in the promoting of tourism following the findings of the Government's review on tourism.

[holding answer 19 January 1989]: I am sure that local authorities will wish to continue to play a part in supporting the development of tourism in their areas.

Volume 145: debated on Friday 20 January 1989

Written Answers To Questions

Transport

Security (Heathrow)

Britannia Bridge

Civil Airports

East London River Crossing

Education And Science

Teacher Vacancies

Local Pay Additions

Records Of Achievement

Attorney-General

Solicitors

Infant Life Preservation Act 1929

Prime Minister

Human Rights

Parliamentary Questions

Buildings (Cleaning Grants)

Cabinet Office (Staff)

Irish Citizens

Trade And Industry

Ec (Consumer Policy)

Japanese-Owned Businesses

Nasdim

Barlow Clowes

Self-Regulatory Organisations

Financial Services

Northern Ireland

Armagh Girls' High School

Foreign Language Teaching

Roads

Training School (Jordanstown)

Housing Associations

Fair Employment

Defence

Gec—Siemens (Plessey Bid)

Defence Procurement Contracts

Elf Transmitter Station, Glengarry Forest

Scotland

Beef And Veal

Football Matches (Arrests)

Nurse Grading

Energy

Wave Power

Departmental Staff (Pay)

Coal Prices

Oil Installations (Inspectors)

Petroleum Engineering Directorate (Inspectors)

High Moor Colliery (Accident)

Wales

Water Act 1973

Local Pay Additions

Welsh Language Teaching

Environment

Sewerage

Notts County Football Club

Council House Sales

Radioactivity

Rating Reform

Football Clubs (Membership Scheme)

Water

Docklands

Canary Wharf

Home Department

Prisons

Missing Persons

Criminal Injuries (Compensation)

Metropolitan Police (Property)

Wandsworth Prison(Rule 43)

Ayten Mete

Mr Ishan Barbouti

Passengers (Embarkation Cards)

Citizenship

Drink-Driving

Attacks On Women

Football Matches (Arrests)

The Arts

Departmental Staff

Royal Opera House