To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will invite Soviet Jews and refuseniks to attend the information forum to be held in London in April following the conclusion of the conference on security and co-operation in Europe meeting in Vienna.

In accordance with the Vienna concluding document, access to the open sessions of the London information forum will be assured, upon request, to any private individuals whether national or foreign, as well as to representatives of the media, non-governmental organisations and religious groups.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received in the last year in regard to the problem of Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong.

We have received representations on all aspects of this problem, from Members of both Houses of Parliament, the voluntary agencies, members of the public, from a number of individuals in Hong Kong and from representatives of the Vietnamese community in the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Namibia.

We look forward to implementation of the United Nations plan for the independence of Namibia, which is due to start on 1 April. This will enable Namibians to take part in free and fair elections to decide their own future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if there are any plans for an Anglo-West German summit meeting.

Plans are under consideration, and an announcement will be made soon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what special programme will be arranged for the state visit of the President of Nigeria; and how he will seek to promote a fruitful exchange of ideas and of trade.

The details of the programme for the state visit of the President of Nigeria are still under discussion. The visit should provide ample opportunity to strengthen the full range of our bilateral relations.

To ask the Prime Minister which Departments do not insure (a) their vehicles, (b) their buildings and (c) their employees with an insurance company but instead carry their own risk.

Normally, Government Departments do not insure unless it would be more economical for them to do so than to carry the risk themselves. Departments are responsible for reviewing their own arrangements, and there is no central record of all the cases where commercial insurance has been taken out. A number of Departments, including the Ministry of Defence and the Crown Suppliers, insure against third party motor risks; and the Ministry of Defence insures against employer's liability risks. As a general rule, Departments do not insure their buildings.

To ask the Prime Minister if, pursuant to her reply of 26 January to the hon. Member for Gainsborough and Horncastle (Mr. Leigh) concerning war heroes, Official Report, column 1178, she will end the means testing of war pensions.

War disablement pensions and war widows' pensions are not means-tested, except in the case of an officer's widow who is widowed following remarriage. War pensions paid to dependants other than widows of which there are about 3,000 currently in payment may be means tested, and there are no plans to change this. The provision of such pensions predates the introduction of the present social security scheme, which has generally made the need for them obsolete.

To ask the Prime Minister what briefing her press officer gave to journalists (a) prior and (b) subsequent to the screening of the television programme "Death on the Rock", and if she will name the journalists and newspapers concerned.

The practice is not to comment on lobby briefings.

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he plans to have any further discussions on the setting up of the Scottish Affairs Select Committee.

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he intends to have any further discussions on the establishment of a Select Committee on Scottish Affairs.

To ask the Lord President of the Council what further steps he has taken to establish a Select Committee on Scottish Affairs.

To ask the Lord President of the Council what further efforts he is making to bring about the formation of a Select Committee on Scottish Affairs in the current Session.

I refer the hon. Members to what I said on 19 January at business questions in reply to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson), at column 484. I am not very hopeful about this matter—at least not in the immediate future—but I am having a meeting shortly with some of the hon. Member's hon. Friends in order to discuss the position and to see if there is any scope for progress.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the total number of successful prosecutions for offences committed under the Civic Amenities Act 1967 for each year of its operation in England and Wales.

It is not possible from the information held centrally to identify prosecutions under this Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many neighbourhood watch schemes are now known to his Department; and how many of these have been established in the last year.

There are now some 64,000 neighbourhood watch schemes in England and Wales, with approximately 20,000 having been established in the last year. The scale of this increase is very encouraging and reflects the public's growing commitment to the cause of crime prevention.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress his Department is making against crime in Greater London.

Data for notifiable offences recorded by the police for the 12 months to September 1988 show a fall of 1 per cent. in London (MPD/City). In the two largest categories, theft/handling and burglary, the fall was 4 per cent. and 3 per cent. respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the aplication by Greater Manchester police authority for an increase in establishment.

My right hon. Friend has announced today that he has approved an increase of 45 police posts in the establishment of the Greater Manchester police.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met officials of the Police Federation; and what subjects were discussed.

My right hon. Friend last met officials of the Police Federation at a social function on 10 January, when conversation ranged over a number of police matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has concerning the employment of additional civilian staff by the Cambridgeshire police department to deal with the administration resulting from the implementation of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988.

None. As I indicated in reply to a question by the hon. Member on 23 January at column 391, this is a matter for individual chief officers of police in the exercise of their responsibility for the administration of the Firearms Acts.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the activities in London of the group known as the Guardian Angels.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson) on 27 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ascertain how many United States citizens, belonging to the group known as Guardian Angels, have been permitted to visit the United Kingdom in the last year to date.

As far as we are aware, three Americans representing the group 'the Guardian Angels' arrived at Heathrow on Sunday, 16 October 1988 and four at Gatwick on 24 January 1989. Others may, of course, have entered the United Kingdom as United States citizens coming here for visits.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will use his powers to deport those United States citizens belonging to the group known as Guardian Angels on the grounds that their presence in the United Kingdom is not conducive to the public good.

No. I am not aware of any justification for the use of the powers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether any of those United States citizens belonging to the group known as Guardian Angels and recently admitted to the United Kingdom have been convicted of criminal offences (a) in the United Kingdom or (b) elsewhere; what evidence was presented to show that they were not likely to have recourse to public funds in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement; (2) by whom the United States citizens belonging to the group known as the Guardian Angels and recently admitted to the United Kingdom are to be employed; and whether they have been issued with valid work permits.

The persons in question were admitted as visitors with a prohibition of employment. Work permits were not required for the purpose of the visits as stated. I am not aware of any reason for excluding these passengers under the immigration rules on the ground that they might become a charge on public funds, or on grounds of criminal record.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of Lord Windlesham's inquiry report into Thames Television's programme "Death on the Rock."

The inquiry into the making of the programme was commissioned by Thames Television and not the Government. We are not in a position, therefore, to place a copy of the report in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis about the use of a photograph of Mr. Nigel Benn, the Commonwealth middleweight boxing champion, by the Metropolitan police in connection with trying to identify someone who had committed a criminal act;(2) whether he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to whether there was any racist motive involved in the release of an identikit picture of Mr. Nigel Benn;(3) whether he will set up an immediate inquiry into the release of an identikit photo of Mr. Nigel Benn; and whether he will make the findings of the inquiry public.

The Metropolitan police have accepted that the publication of the photograph was a serious mistake, and have apologised to Mr. Benn. Steps are being taken to ensure that this regrettable incident does not recur. The Metropolitan Police Commissioner has already initiated an urgent inquiry into the circumstances of the case, and he has been asked to let my right hon. Friend know the outcome.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions photographs of white or black persons have been used previously by the Metropolitan police to make up identikit pictures; on what dates this occurred; and what was the racial breakdown of the persons involved.

I understand that it is not normal police practice to use photographs of particular individuals to make up identikit pictures. Standard identikit packs, comprising photographs of specific facial features, are used.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of printing and distributing identikit pictures of Mr. Nigel Benn.

I understand from the Metropolitan police that it was £28·53.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has assessed the consequences for race relations of the sending out of thousands of identikit pictures of Mr. Nigel Benn by the Metropolitan police.

I am confident that this regrettable error will not be seen as undermining the Metropolitan police's firm commitment to good race relations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is able to announce his decisions on increases in police establishments for 1989–90.

I announced to the House on 14 November at columns 397–98 that I was able to approve 800 additional police posts for provincial forces in 1989–90 and that provision had been made for 300 additional police officers and 250 civilian staff for the Metropolitan police, subject to my being satisfied that earlier increases had been used effectively. That would make a total of 1,100 extra police officers for England and Wales. In addition, I can approve up to 130 posts where satisfied that the full cost would be reimbursed by a third party.Applications from police authorities outside London have exceeded the number available for allocation and I have therefore had to set priorities. With advice from Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary, I have approved increases in police establishments with effect from 1 April 1989 as shown in the following table. The table also shows posts which I would be prepared to approve for stage II probationer training for constables, due for introduction in mid-1989, provided the police authorities apply formally for these posts and guarantee their readiness to meet their share of the costs.

Force	Posts approved	Training posts yet to be formally approved
Avon and Somerset	20	—
Bedfordshire	16	—
Cambridgeshire	15	3
Cheshire	8	—
Cleveland	9	6
Cumbria	9	3
Devon and Cornwall	15	4
Dorset	22	—
Durham	14	4
Essex	15	8
Greater Manchester	45	—
Gwent	5	7
Hampshire	20	—
Hertfordshire	20	—
Humberside	20	—
Kent	27	—
Lancashire	8	7
Leicestershire	18	9
Merseyside	22	—
Norfolk	24	—
Northamptonshire	12	3
Northumbria	30	—
North Wales	—	4
North Yorkshire	10	5
Nottinghamshire	16	8
South Wales	18	10
South Yorkshire	16	11
Staffordshire	16	6
Surrey	6	4
Sussex1	17	—
Thames Valley	44	—
Warwickshire	7	4
West Mercia	28	—
West Midlands	62	—
West Yorkshire	20	12
Wiltshire	7	4
1 Includes approval for three posts at Gatwick airport, where the costs are reimbursed and which were previously held supernumerary to establishment.

Seventy per cent. of the posts approved will be deployed on operational duties identified by chief constables, mainly at constable level. I have also retained 20 posts for allocation to regional crime squads specifically for their work in connecton with drugs. I await consideration of the results of a review of the manpower needs of the drugs wings of the regional crime squads before I decide on their specific allocation.In a number of cases, my approval of extra police posts for forces is conditional either on the police authority's confirmation that their share of funding is available or that the posts specifically identified for training will be so deployed by the chief constable. In some cases I require confirmation on both points.I hope to be able to confirm the Metropolitan police posts before Easter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what amounts are included within the estimated outturn public expenditure figure for the Overseas Development Administration in 1987–88 in Cm. 288-II for (a) aid by way of grants and (b) aid by way of loans.

In terms of the standard economic categories used for the analysis of public expenditure, the estimated outturn of £1,277 million in 1987–88 comprised £1,070 million of grants; £165 million of net lending and investment abroad and to the Commonwealth Development Corporation (including drawings from United Kingdom contributions to international lending organisations); and £42 million of other expenditure (mainly Overseas Development Administration running costs and associated capital items).Nearly all our bilateral aid is provided as grants; gross expenditure from existing bilateral aid loans in 1987–88 was only £14 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much official aid has been given to Nicaragua via non-governmental organisations in each of the last five years.

Precise details are not available on a year-by-year basis before 1986–87. Amounts provided to non-governmental organisations through the joint funding scheme are as follows:

Financial Years	£'000
1980–81–1985–86	137
1986–87	24
1987–88	47

We have also provided some emergency aid to Nicaragua through non-governmental organisations. Total amounts provided for this purpose are:

Year	£'000
1985	100
1986	83
1987	Nil
1988	180

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing in ranked order the per capita contributions made by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development member countries to Nicaragua for the latest year for which figures are available including the total aid given by each Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development country for that year.

I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke) on 19 May 1988 at column 516. Figures for later years are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much bilateral development aid and how much emergency aid has been given to Nicaragua in each of the past five years.

The information is as follows:

£'000s
	Bilateral Aid	of which Emergency Aid
1983	64	34
1984	9	Nil
1985	116	100
1986	86	83
1987	Nil	Nil

Official figures are not yet available for 1988, but Her Majesty's Government committed £260,000 in emergency aid to Nicaragua following hurricane Joan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much development aid and how much emergency aid has been given to Nicaragua by the European Community in each of the last five years; and what the United Kingdom contribution to the aid has been.

Net official development assistance to Nicaragua, as reported by the European Community to the development assistance committee of the OECD in the last five years for which figures are available, is as follows:

	£ million
1983	4·52
1984	10·99
1985	9·76
1986	6·19
1987	8·72

Expenditure on emergency aid is included in the preceding figures and is not available separately. However, the European Community has indicated that commitments made were as follows:

	£ million
1983	Nil
1984	0·089
1985	Nil
1986	0·268
1987	Nil
1988	0·78

In each case, the United Kingdom contribution was around 20 per cent.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the Exchequer in (a) 1989-90 and (b) a full year if (i) the starting point for national insurance were raised from £43 a week to £55 a week, (ii) the starting point for the 7 per cent. rate of national insurance were raised from £75 a week to £85 a week, (iii) income tax thresholds were raised by 10 per cent., (iv) the standard rate of income tax were reduced to 24 per cent., (v) each individual's capital gains tax free allowance were doubled, (vi) the threshold for inheritance tax were raised to £300,000, (vii) stamp duty on securities were halved but extended to gilt-edged securities, and (viii) any adult were allowed to save £1,000 free of tax each year.

Estimates are as follows:

Direct revenue effect, at 1989–90 levels of income
£ million
	1989–90	Full year
(i) Lower earnings limit for National Insurance Class 1 contributions raised from £43 per week to £55 per week1	+80	+90
(ii) Starting point for 7 per cent, rate of National Insurance Class 1 contributions raised from £75 per week to £85 per week	-70	-80
(iii) Income tax thresholds23 raised by 10 per cent.	-1,970	-2,540
(iv) Basic rate of income3 tax reduced to 24 per cent	-1,400	-1,530
(v) Capital Gains Tax exempt amount doubled for single people and married couples	0	-150
(vi) Inheritance tax threshold raised to £300,000	-350	-800
(vii) Stamp duty on securities halved but extended to gilt edged securities	4 + 200	4 + 200
(viii) Every adult allowed to save £1,000 free of tax each year	5___	5___
1 Produces revenue yield because savings on contracted out rebates (which are paid on earnings between the lower earnings limit and the upper earnings limit) are greater than the cost of contributions forgone from those earning between £43 per week and £55 per week.
2 Main personal allowances and the basic rate limit.
3 Estimates are partly based on a projection of the 1986–87 Survey of Personal Incomes. They are provisional and include the consequential effect on capital gains tax.
4 Highly uncertain.
5 Cost would depend on take-up.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money has been lost to the Exchequer each year since 1979 because of tax avoidance and evasion; and how many prosecutions have resulted (a) nationally and (b) in the tax area covering Nottingham.

It is not possible to say how much revenue is lost through tax avoidance and evasion.The numbers of criminal prosecutions nationally for tax fraud in each year since 1979 are as follows.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what child care provision his Department provides for pre-school children of employees; what child care provision, for school holiday or after-school care, is provided for employees' children aged five and over; what plans there are for increasing provision in the next five years; and how these are to be funded.

My Department is taking part in a holiday play scheme for a number of Whitehall departments organised by the Westminster play association for children between 5 and 12. The scheme will run in the Treasury building in Parliament street.Apart from small departmental contributions to start-up costs, the scheme currently in operation is self financing. Consideration is also being given to a similar scheme being operated at the Chessington computer centre.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was raised from taxes on tobacco and tobacco products in 1987–88.

It is estimated that £5,766 million revenue was raised from taxes (excise duty and VAT) on tobacco products. Of this, £1,000 million is estimated to have come from VAT (based on consumers' expenditure on tobacco) and the rest from excise duty.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what figures the threshold for small-scale bingo duty would need to be increased to take full account of the rate of inflation since the tax was introduced.

The small-scale bingo exemption limits would need to be increased to around £420 (daily) arid £1,400 (weekly) to take full account of inflation since the exemptions were introduced.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate for the tax yield for 1988–89 of (a) vehicle excise duty, (b) fuel duty, (c) new car tax, (d) value-added tax on new vehicles and (e) value-added tax on petrol and dery sales.

Following is the available information:

£billion
	Tax Yield 1989–89
(a) Vehicle excise duty	2·8
(b) Hydrocarbon oil duty	8·6
(c) Car tax	1·3

Estimates of the VAT yield from

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his practice when answering certain questions by reference to previous written answers to attach the answer so referred to.

Reference to written answers that have not been published in the Official Report will continue to be copied to hon. and right hon. Members.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when and why duty was imposed on calendars sent from Germany as gifts to persons living in Britain; and at what rate duty is charged.

[holding answer 24 January 1989]: All goods imported into this country, including gifts, may be subject to duty or value added tax. This is because similar goods bought in the United Kingdom bear these charges, and different treatment for imported goods would be unfair on businesses making or selling competing products. Under EC law, which we are obliged to implement, calendars that originate in the EC or have acquired free-circulation status are not liable to import duty but are liable to value added tax at the standard rate of 15 per cent. Gifts between private persons may qualify for relief from import charges by post, but business presents sent to private persons are chargeable unless the import value is £7 or less.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current estimate of tax revenue expected to be raised by the higher rate of income tax in 1988–89; and what were the comparable amounts raised by the higher rates in respect of the years 1987–88, 1982–83, 1978–79, 1974–75 and 1970–71.

[holding answer 23 January 1989]: Information is given in the table.

Tax liability at the higher rate income tax
Year	Tax liability at higher rate £ billion	Tax liability at excess over basic rate £ billion
1970–71	—	10·3
1974–75	1·5	0·6
1978–79	1·8	0·8
1982–83	3·4	1·4
1987–882	8·2	3·9
1988–892	38·8	33–2
1Between 1928–29 and 1972–73 Surtax, a deferred instalment of income tax charged at rates additional to the standard rate, was payable.

2Estimates are based partly on a projection of the 1986–87 Survey of Personal Incomes and are provisional.

3Includes estimated liability to Capital Gains Tax.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the cost of reducing the higher rate of income tax from 40 per cent to (a) 35 per cent., (b) 30 per cent. and (c) 25 per cent. in 1989–90 and 1990–91.

[holding answer 23 January 1989]: Available information is given in the table. Estimates include the consequential effect on capital gains tax. They are partly based on a projection of the 1986–87 survey of personal incomes and are provisional. The base for the comparison is the tax regime for 1988–89 indexed to 1989–90 by 6·8 per cent., the increase in the retail prices index for the year to December 1988. Receipts of tax in 1989–90 would be reduced by about half of the full year cost. Further information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Full year cost at 1989–90 levels of income and gains of reducing higher rate of tax.
Higher rate of tax reduced to	£ million
(a) 35 per cent.	1,200
(b) 30 per cent.	2,400
(c) 25 per cent.	3,600

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what response he has given to the proposals from university vice-chancellors to decentralise funding of universities and retain the links between university research and teaching.

There is currently a wide-ranging debate on the funding of higher education, to which various vice-chancellors have contributed. The Government are watching with interest to see how this debate develops and matures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if the liability to pay 20 per cent. of the applicable community charge will be taken into account in assessing the level of student grant from 1989–90 onwards.

The rates of student grant for 1989–90 were announced on 16 December at column 755. Students' discounted liability for the community charge was one of the factors considered in reaching decisions about those rates.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will list in the Official Report the proportion of pupils in each Northamptonshire school who, in 1988, achieved GCSE grades A, B or C, listing the schools in descending order of proportion from the highest to the lowest;

I regret that this information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of pupils at Northamptonshire schools obtained in 1988 GCSE grades (a) A, (b) B and (c) C.

The information is not yet available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many maintained (a) primary and (b) secondary schools, other than special schools, have 200 or more pupils on their rolls.

In January 1988, there were 9,279 maintained primary schools and 4,010 maintained secondary schools, excluding special schools, in England with 200 or more pupils on roll. The number of pupils in primary schools includes those attending part-time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much additional funding his Department is providing to local education authorities in 1989–90 and subsequent years for introducing local management of schools in respect of (a) training of heads, governors and officers, (b) developing computerised information systems and (c) additional support staff for schools.

Targeted support for expenditure by local education authorities on activities relating to the introduction of local management of schools is channelled through education support grants and LEA training grants. The 1989–90 education support grants programme includes support for £4·9 million of expenditure on the training of school governors, including training on local management. It also includes support for £25 million of expenditure specifically to help LEAs with the introduction of local management of schools through the purchase of computerised management information systems, the appointment of central teams and the training of non-teaching staff. The precise division of expenditure between these heads is for LEAs themselves to decide. It is my intention that support should be maintained at least at this level for a further two years. Training for heads and senior teachers to implement LEA schemes of local management of schools is a specified element of a £10 million national priority area under the LEA training grants scheme. It is for LEAs to determine what additional support to devote to the implementation of the education reforms from block grant or from their own resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blackburn on 12 December 1988, Official Report, column 390, he is now ready to publish a policy statement on science in the light of discussions on the document "A Strategy for the Science Base" by the Advisory Board for the Research Councils.

I have nothing to add at present to my answer of 12 December 1988. at column 390

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to encourage people to come into teaching from careers in industry and business; what initial support he has received for his proposals from the industrial and business sectors; and if he will make a statement.

My Department's action campaign on teacher recruitment has boosting the number of mature entrants from industry and business as one of its main aims. The teaching as a career unit—TASC—targets older people from other careers with special publications, and in its national and local advertising. In conjunction with ICI, we are running a well-subscribed programme of taster courses for older people who are considering a career in teaching. We have funded special teacher training courses designed with those making a career change in mind. We also encourage and support partnerships between education and industry on teacher supply, notably with BP and British Telecom. In addition we have sponsored seven regional conferences to stimulate co-operation between education and industry over alleviating teacher shortage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what extent the further education sector is preparing for the impact of 1992 and the single European market; what resources are being allocated to it; and if he will make a statement.

Employers need an adaptable skilled work force to increase their competitiveness in international markets. The Government have introduced a number of reforms which aim to increase the responsiveness of the further education service to labour market needs. As the message about the single European market is increasingly heard by employers, they will be seeking appropriate provision from the further education sector.A growing range of initiatives, at both national arid local level, are being taken in further and higher education to prepare for 1992. For example, a network of language export centres has been set up to support specific business needs by providing language training, briefings on culture and trade, and export consultancy. And several agencies are promoting exchange visits between students here and in other member states. Such exchanges allow students to pursue their subject interests while practising their foreign language skills and learning about another cultural context. It is not possible for me to quantify the resources allocated to the many relevant activities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received about the content of history syllabuses in use in secondary schools.

Various representations have been received over recent months mainly on issues such as bias and empathy. These will be further considered where appropriate by the national curriculum history working group whose establishment my right hon. Friend announced on 13 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the specific requirements for teachers to receive incentive allowances; and how many teachers applying for such allowances have had their applications rejected.

School teachers do not apply for incentive allowances. Under the school teachers' pay and conditions document 1988, a local education authority has the discretion to pay an incentive allowance if it is satisfied that a teacher fulfils at least one of the following criteria:

(a) he undertakes responsibilities beyond those common to the majority of teachers; or

(b) he has demonstrated outstanding ability as a classroom teacher; or

(c) he is employed to teach subjects in which there is a shortage of teachers; or

(d) he is employed in a part which is difficult to fill.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers receive one of the five incentive allowances in England and Wales.

On the basis of a recent sample survey of LEAs undertaken by the local authority conditions of service advisory board, we estimate that about 140,000 school teachers in ordinary schools are currently in receipt of an incentive allowance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will call for a report from the GCSE boards on their methods of marking GCSE papers in order to establish which boards use criterion referencing as the basis for marking papers.

The GCSE incorporates criterion-referencing to a greater degree than the former o-level and CSE systems. The School Examinations and Assessment Council, which is responsible for advising my right hon. Friend on such matters, is charged with ensuring that GCSE syllabuses approved under section 5 of the Education Reform Act 1988 conform to the objectives of GCSE, and that GCSE assessment arrangements are designed to provide consistent measurement of the standards achieved. We look to the SEAC to take forward work to improve the basis for awarding GCSE grades. My right hon. Friend has also asked for the SEAC's advice in due course on the incorporation of the GCSE within national curriculum assessment arrangements, which require criterion-referenced assessment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what systematic information his Department gathers about the average working hours of teachers in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools.

Information on the average working hours of secondary school teachers (including work outside the classroom) was collected for the first time in the 1988 secondary school staffing survey. Results from this are expected to be available in the spring. Comparable data for primary school teachers are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science which medical schools are currently providing lectures alerting medical students to the dangers of benzodiazepines.

As for other subjects, details of the medical curriculum are for individual institutions to determine. However, the framework for those curricula are set by the General Medical Council's recommendations on basic medical education, which draw particular attention to the need for teaching about adverse drug reactions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on school library provision.

[pursuant to the reply, 23 January 1989, columns 382–83]: My hon. Friend's oral question when tabled referred to student library provision and was correctly answered on this basis. I regret that the Department failed to note when the question was unstarred that the word "school" had been substituted for "student". On this basis the answer is as follows:The level of funding and organisation of school library provision are matters for local decision by LEAs and schools. In recognition of the importance of libraries in supporting the school curriculum, the Department's expenditure plans for 1988–89 allow for LEAs to spend an additional sum of £10 million on improvements in secondary school libraries.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish in ranked order the latest available figures for the level of public awareness of the establishment of the single European market in 1992 among EEC member states.

Our single market campaign is targeted at business in the United Kingdom. The DTI does not therefore undertake regular monitoring of general public awareness of the single market. Limited research on the Department's behalf last August indicated that the general public's awareness of the single market at that time was over 60 per cent.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will raise with the EEC Commission the operation of the fund operated by the West German authorities known as the Marshall aid fund with a view to ascertaining whether the terms offered by the fund are consistent with the EEC rules on industrial aids; and if he will make a statement.

The operation by the West German authorities of a Marshall aid fund, known as the European recovery programme, was noted as an existing aid by the European Commission at the time of the creation of the European Community. I understand that the Commission has since policed the programme as an existing state aid which is subject to the state aid provisions of the EEC treaty.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the possibility of an investment in manufacture in the United Kingdom by the Toyota motor corporation.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 26 January to my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Mr. Powell), at column 667.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he is considering the introduction of a Privatisation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill; and if he will make a statement.

No decision has been taken to bring forward such a measure.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many of his Department's assisted management were in place by 31 December 1988 on a regional basis.

[holding answer 27 January 1989]: By the end of December 1988, 11,487 applications for assistance under the consultancy initiatives had been referred to independent scheme contractors for the appointment of consultants, as follows:

Numbers
North East	602
North West	1,946
Yorkshire and Humberside	1,128
West Midlands	1,174
East Midlands	747
South West	922
South East Cambridge area	751
London area	1,279
Reading area	688
Reigate area	656
Wales	647
Scotland	947

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what arrangements exist, or are planned, to give training to United Kingdom civil servants in the methodology of European scientific collaboration.

Arrangements for any necessary training are the responsibility of the departments involved in European scientific collaboration. No training is provided centrally.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service whether there has been secondment by members of the Civil Service to the equivalent services in the member states of the European Community, and vice versa.

For a number of years, a small number of exchanges between the United Kingdom Civil Service and the Civil Services of France, the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Ireland have taken place. Some of these have been under formal bilateral agreements between Her Majesty's Government and the governments of those other countries. A number of other exchanges have taken place outside the scope of the formal agreements.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will ensure that adequate provision continues to be made for the Civil Service squash racquets club when Thames house north is transferred to the Ministry of Defence.

Departmental occupancy of Thames house north is not yet fully settled, but the building is to be refurbished and the squash courts will cease to be available. No others are currently available on Departmental premises in central London, but possible alternative arrangements are being studied: I place importance on the availability of satisfactory sporting and recreational facilities for civil servants.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Don Valley, Official Report, 13 January, columns 773-774 when the Civil Service Pensioners' Alliance can expect to receive the new payable order for £35,000; and if he will take steps to ensure that its repayment is treated as a matter of urgency.

My officials will authorise payment £35,000 awarded to the Civil Service Pensioners' Alliance from the RPI error funds immediately Parliament approves a Supplementary Estimate that has been submitted for the funds.

To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will publish in the Official Report a list of all national museums, showing for each the adult admission charges in (a) 1978 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) on 26 May 1988 at column 260. Since that date, the science museum introduced in October 1988 an adult admission charge of £2 (with concessionary charge of LI) at the museum in South Kensington.In 1978, admission charges were made by the following museums:

To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on what support he is giving to (a) classical music and (b) popular music.

I do not seek to make a distinction between classical and popular music; some classical music is extremely popular. The Arts Council's direct expenditure on music in 1987–88 was £23,708,211. The Scottish Arts Council spent £5,581,580 and the Welsh Arts Council spent £2,296,500. The regional arts associations also funded music organisations. Additional funds were made available for touring and festivals.

To ask the Minister for the Arts how many new texts have been purchased by the British Theatre Association library in each of the past five years.

I am advised by the BTA that it purchased the following numbers of new texts in the past five years: 1,398 (1987–88), 755 (1986–87), 979 (1985–86), 1,088 (1984–85), and 1,131 (1983–84). Donations over the same period were in excess of 7,500 volumes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 20 December 1988 to the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds, Official Report, column 186, what is the estimate of the additional cost of converting the space released from the canteen that is to be remodelled at Brookslands avenue, Cambridge, for new offices to be occupied by staff transferred from Newmarket.

Plans are not yet fully developed, but the estimated cost is about £350,000. However, the anticipated income from the sale of the offices in Newmarket will be more than sufficient to fund this, as well as a refurbished canteen for 1,100 staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what the arrangements will be for the ballot in a housing action trust; whether each household will have one vote; and, in the case of joint tenancies, which of the joint tenants will be invited to cast vote.

We propose to ask the Electoral Reform Society to arrange for the conduct of ballots under the terms of section 61(3)(a) of the Housing Act 1988. Each secure tenant, including each joint tenant, living within an area proposed for designation will have a vote.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the rental for the Customs and Excise building at King's Reach, Bermondsey, SEl.

The rental charges for privately owned buildings leased by the Property Services Agency are a strictly commercial and confidential matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish his decision on planning appeal numbers, Department of the Environment reference numbers, SE2/5283/219/3, SE /5283/182/1 and SE2/5283/219/4, relating to shopping developments at Westwood road/Margate road, Broadstairs proposed by the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society, Sainsburys and Argyle Stores (Properties) Ltd., following the public inquiry at Broadstairs in June 1988.

My right hon. Friend hopes to issue his decisions shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the impact of current interest rates on the rate of house purchase.

I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the criteria which would need to be satisfied before he would entertain a public inquiry into a proposal to establish a parkway station with its attendant car park in an area in which no railway exists at present.

If such a proposal were to come before my right hon. Friend by way of appeal or call-in, the scale and impact of the development, and the likely degree of public interest, would be among the factors considered in deciding whether to hold a public local inquiry, rather than by proceeding on the basis of written representations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his answer of 25 January, he will set out for each available category of local government staff the numbers in (a) 1968 and (b) June 1988, showing the net and percentage change in each case.

The information is as follows:

Numbers of Staff Employed in Local Authorities in England
June figures
			Change
Local Authority Service	1968	1988	Number	Percentage
Education (Lecturers/Teachers)	488,749	650,651	+ 161,902	+ 33·1
Education (Other)	461,184	650,105	+ 188,921	+ 41·0
Construction	105,346	103,130	-2,216	-2·1
Transport Services	63,654	2,934	-60,720	-95·4
Social Services	215,275	335,632	+ 120,357	+ 55·9
Other General Services	528,284	579,404	+ 51,120	+ 9·7
Police (All ranks)	85,746	118,084	+ 32,338	+ 37·7
Total	1,948,238	2,439,940	+491,702	+ 25·2

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the locations of water quality sampling undertaken by South West Water for every day from 6 July 1988 until the latest available date.

It is the responsibility of the South West water authority to take samples throughout its region in connection with its drinking water supply function: I am advised that it takes samples:

1. At raw water sources;

2. At treatment works at different stages of the treatment process;

3. Treated water at the exit from treatment works;

4. At service reservoirs;

5. Water in the distribution system at hydrants and customers' taps.

Between 6 July 1988 and 25 January 1989, a total of 25,544 samples were taken and analysed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what discussions he has held with the Water Authorities Association about stake-building by water authorities in statutory water companies; and if he will make a statement;(2) what proportion of the Southern water authority's announced need for an increase in charges is accounted for by the necessity to fund the purchase of stock in statutory water companies;(3) if he has reviewed the agreement between the Southern water authority and AIPF Ltd.; and if he has assessed whether they are in the public interest;(4) how much has been committed by the Southern water authority to the purchase of stakes in statutory water companies;(5) what steps he is taking to assess whether the Southern water authority's acquisition of stakes in the Eastbourne, West Kent and Mid-Essex water companies are in the public interest;(6) what discussions he has had with the Southern water authority about its acquisition of stakes in the Eastbourne, West Kent and Mid Sussex water companies; and if he will make a statement;(7) what steps he has taken to

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State regularly meets water authority chairmen, including the chairman of Southern water authority, to discuss all aspects of water policy. The general question of share purchase in statutory water companies has arisen on a number of occasions. It has been made clear to chairmen that there are three constraints: their statutory powers; their external financing limits; and mergers policy, including the special provisions for water mergers announced by my right hon. Friend on 11 January. It has also been made clear that we shall not increase external financing limits to accommodate purchases of water company shares. Against this background, it is for each water authority to decide whether, and under what arrangements, to purchase water company shares; and to justify its actions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the Southern water authority about its external financing limits.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what direction he has given to the Southern water authority to reduce pollution to Chichester harbour.

My right hon. Friend has issued no direction to the Southern water authority in respect of pollution in Chichester harbour. Effluent discharges by the authority are controlled by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, and the inspectorate has powers to vary and tighten discharge consent conditions where appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what investments in statutory water companies have been made by, or on behalf of, any pension fund to which water authorities contribute public money; if he is satisfied that any such investments produce a satisfactory rate of return for that pension fund; what instructions he has given to investment managers of such pension funds in connection with the purchase of water company stocks; and if he will place a copy of such instruction in the Library.

Investments by or on behalf of pension funds are the responsibility of the managers of those funds. Consequently, it is for them to determine, with reference to the appropriate regulations, whether a particular investment forms an appropriate part of their portfolio. The Secretary of State has no information, beyond what is publicly available, about such investments of this kind which may have been made.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the level of increase in expenditure which could be set by the Leeds city council in 1989–90 if the increase in the rates was kept within 5 per cent. and the council made the same use of balances as in 1988–89.

It is estimated that, with a 5 per cent. increase in rates next year, Leeds city council could increase expenditure in 1989–90 by about 5 per cent. (£17 million), if it made the same use of balances as in 1988–89.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to make an announcement about the Government's proposals for the development plan system.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have today published a White Paper setting out our proposals for the future of the development plan system in England and Wales (Cm. 569). These proposals, which reflect the outcome of the consultations undertaken in 1986–87, will improve the effectiveness of the development plan system by simplifying its structure and streamlining procedures for the adoption and review of plans. The strategic role of the counties will continue, but the present county structure plans will be replaced by statements of county planning policies, dealing with the key issues. The main feature of the new system will be a single tier development plan at district level. All district councils will be required to prepare development plans for the whole of their areas, consistent with national and regional guidance and with county policies. Similar arrangements will apply in the national parks. The necessary legislation will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time permits. The White Paper proposes a five-year timetable from commencement to full implementation of the new system.A sound planning system is essential if we are to make realistic provision for homes and business while meeting the growing concern for protection of our environment in town and country. I believe that these proposals are a further significant step towards getting that difficult balance right. They will enable the planning system to serve the needs of the nation in the 1990s.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on his Department's public expenditure plans, following publication of the White Paper setting out the Government's expenditure plans for 1989–90 to 1991–92 (Cm. 609).

The White Paper explains in more detail my Department's plans for expenditure for 1989–90 to 1991–92, announced in summary at the time of the Autumn Statement, and gives comprehensive information about what we have achieved through our programmes in past years, and about our targets for the future.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Evironmnt whether he has any changes to announce to his Department's cash limits for 1988–89.

Yes. I propose the following changes, subject to parliamentay approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates.The cash limit for class X, vote 2 (central environmental services, etc) will be increased by £3·013 million to £253·196 million to cover increased grant in respect of the new towns development corporations' roads programme. This will be partly offset by savings within the vote.The cash limit for class X, vote 4 (royal palaces, royal parks, historic buildings, ancient monuments and the national heritage) will be increased by £14·055 million from £91·201 million to £105·256 million mainly to cover a payment to the National Trust to terminate my Department's obligations under leases in relation to Ham house and Osterley house. This expenditure will be partly offset by savings within the vote.The cash limit for class X, vote 5 (Department of the Environment: administration) will be increased by £0·733 million from £129·337 million to £130·070 million to take account of a receipt which will not arise in 1988–89 as originally expected. The Department of the Environment's running costs limit will be reduced by £0·182 million from £159·862 million to £159·680 million. This reduction reflects transfers of £0·017 million to the Cabinet Office: Office of the Minister for the Civil Service (class XX, vote 1) for the costs of recruitment under the direct entry grade 7 competition 1988, and of £0·165 million to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (class XX, vote 16) for increased expenditure by OPCS on services provided to my Department. The reduction in the DOE's limit will be offset by increases in the gross running costs limits for the other two Departments.The cash limit for class X, vote 9 (Sale of shares in the water services public limited companies, etc) will be increased by £0·300 million from £5·140 million to £5·440 million to cover increased costs of advisors.The non-voted cash limit for the new towns (DOE/NTI) has been reduced by £90·257 million from minus £389·743 million to minus £480 million to take account of disposals of property which are higher than previously forecast. This reduction offsets the increases above which will therefore not add to the planned total of public expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of gross and net public sector capital spending by his Department by both central Government and local authorities for 1988–89 and for each of the next three years at current prices and at constant 1987–88 prices.

[holding answer 24 January 1989]: The following figures relate to the Department of the Environment's public expenditure programmes, housing and other environmental services. The figures for 1990–91 and 1991–92 are rounded to the nearest £10 million. Expenditure by public corporations is not shown.

2. DOE—Housing
£ million
	1988–89 estimated outturn	1989–90 plans	1990–91 plans	1991–92 plans
A. Central Government and local authority capital expenditure in cash terms
Central Government
Gross	874	969	1,200	1,500
Receipts	-100	-116	-120	-120
Net	774	853	1,080	1,380
Local Authority
Gross	3,245	3,153	2,800	2,650
Receipts	-3,150	-3,490	-3,100	-3,000

	1988–89 estimated outturn	1989–90 plans	1990–91 plans	1991–92 plans
Net	95	-337	-300	-350
B. Central Government and local authority capital expenditure 1987–88 prices
Central Government
Gross	823	869	1,040	1,260
Receipts	-94	-104	-100	-100
Net	728	765	940	1,160
Local authority
Gross	3,054	2,810	2,420	2,230
Receipts	-2,965	-3,128	-2,680	-2,520
Net	89	-302	-260	-290

3. DOE—Other environmental services
£ million
	1988–89 estimated outturn	1989–90 plans	1990–91 plans	1991–92 plans
A. Central Government and local authority capital expenditure in cash terms
Central Government
Gross	326	441	440	440
Receipts	-1	-3	—	—
Net	324	438	440	440
Local Authority
Gross	1,462	1,058	860	860
Receipts	-825	-745	-840	-840
Net	637	312	30	20
B. Central Government and local authority capital expenditure 1987–88 prices
Central Government
Gross	307	396	380	370
Receipts	-1	-3	—	—
Net	305	393	380	370
Local authority
Gross	1,376	948	750	720
Receipts	-776	-668	-720	-700
Net	600	280	20	20

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he plans to set up a housing action trust in the North Peckham and Gloucester Grove estates in Southwark.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to proceed with his announced plans for a housing action trust scheme for the Loughborough and Angell town estates.

[holding answer 26 January 1989]: When he has had an opportunity to consider the findings of the consultants studying the proposed housing action trust areas, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will decide the next steps.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans are there (a) to move Government offices to the north and west of the United Kingdom and (b) to relocate some central London office staff to docklands or south of the river.

I have been asked to reply.Under the Government's relocation policy which I announced on 31 March 1988, at columns

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the release of coolant from United States Navy submarines into the waters of Holy Loch in Strathclyde;(2) on what dates United States Navy submarines, moored at Holy Loch, released coolant from nuclear reactor systems into the waters of the Holy Loch; what was the total quantity of coolant released; what was the average amount of radioactivity per litre of coolant released; and whether any radioactive gases were released by United States Navy submarines on these occasions.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Dumbarton (Mr. McFall) on 24 January at column 555.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any Royal Navy submarine had ever discharged any coolant from nuclear power systems directly into the sea.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Dumbarton (Mr. McFall) on 24 January at column 554.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what substitutions for nuclear weapons withdrawn under the intermediate nuclear forces treaty are planned for both British and United States forces within the United Kingdom, on land and on ships based or calling at our ports; and when it is intended to introduce these new nuclear weapons.

There are no plans to substitute for the missiles withdrawn under the INF treaty, which only covered certain specific categories of missiles. The process of modernising and restructuring NATO's nuclear forces, to ensure that they remain effective, responsive and survivable, will not undercut in any way the real reduction in the Alliance's land-based nuclear weapons resulting from the treaty. NATO will continue to maintain only the minimum level of forces consistent with credible deterrence. NATO's nuclear stockpile in Europe is now at its lowest level for 20 years, having been reduced by some 35 per cent. since 1979; it will reduce even further when the INF treaty is fully implemented. Decisions on modernisation and restructuring will be taken as and when necessary.