To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what study he has made of the feasibility of replacing the present accommodation at the Property Services Agency office at Falmouth avenue, Newmarket, with a two-storey extension; how many civil servants could be accommodated in such an extension; how many cars could be parked in the remaining space; and how much more or less this option is estimated to cost than the cost of moving the Property Services Agency staff now working in Newmarket to Cambridge.

The possibility of redeveloping the site at Falmouth avenue in Newmarket to accommodate PSA's eastern region headquarters was considered at an early stage in reorganisation planning in 1986. A detailed study was not carried out because the site was too small.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will meet executives of Nottingham development enterprise to discuss the relocation of parts of his Department to Nottingham as part of the policy on relocation of such posts away from the south-east.

My Department already has nearly 200 staff in Nottingham. Under the policy which my right hon. Friend the Paymaster General announced on 31 March 1988, my Department is now reviewing the location of parts of its work with a view to finding sites offering easier labour markets, value for money and increased operational efficiency. Where appropriate, areas which are the focus of the Government's regional and urban policies, such as Nottingham, will be considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many miles of hedgerow have been destroyed in the last 20 years; how surveys of landscape change are carried out; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Drake (Dame J. Fookes) on 24 January at column 500.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number and location of breaches in the precautionary standard for pesticides in drinking water in 1988, in supplies provided by Yorkshire water authority; and if he will also list by location how much these breaches exceeded the standard laid down.

During the period December 1987 to November 1988 there were breaches of the standard of 0·1 microgramme per litre for pesticides, specified in the European Community drinking water directive, in water supplies leaving the following four treatment works of the Yorkshire water authority:

• Ripon Camp
• Blackhouse Spring
• Boltby
• Tophill Low

Breaches of the standard at Blackhouse Spring, Boltby and Tophill Low were transient, and I am informed that recent samples from these works complied with the directive. The levels at which the standard was exceeded were below those which would be considered a risk to health.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how long he intends to let Yorkshire water authority relax legal controls under the criteria spelled out by his Department in a letter to water authority chief executives last November at (a) the sewage works at Hickleton in Don Valley constituency, and (b) the other sewage works in Yorkshire under the control of Yorkshire water authority; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has not received any applications for temporary variations in consent conditions from the authority. Each application is considered on its merits. The duration of any temporary variation granted in individual cases will, within the constraints set out in the Minister for Water and Planning's announcement on 7 December 1988, reflect the expected time scale of the capital improvements to be carried out.It is understood that the works at Hickleton will not be the subject of an application for a temporary variation as it is the authority's intention to close the works and pump all sewage to their works at Bolton on Dearne for treatment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what procedure there is to monitor the achievement of the objective of 25 per cent. of new jobs created in the royal docks going to Newham residents as set out in the memorandum of agreement between the London borough of Newham and the London Docklands development corporation.

The London Docklands development corporation and the London borough of Newham plan an employment monitoring unit, staffed by the borough, in an LDDC building in the royal docks. This building, which will also accommodate employment and training counselling, is to be refurbished by LDDC, and should be completed by the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the 1989–90 London Docklands development corporation corporate plan will be published.

The LDDC aims to publish the 1989 corporate plan in September.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has taken any action with regard to the London Docklands development corporation following the National Audit Office report on urban development corporations; whether he will be taking any action in the future; and if he will make a statement.

The effectiveness of the LDDC, and of the Department's controls, are kept under continuous review. The NAO's findings are influencing that process. The report of the Public Accounts Committee is awaited, and the Government will respond to that at the appropriate time.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest estimate of London Docklands development corporation spending on support of provision of education, training, community health care, and community and recreation facilities noted in the National Audit Office report on urban development corporations, paragraph 2.27; if he will give a breakdown by type of the proposed expenditure over the period 1988 to 1993; and if he will make a statement.

The corporation is currently preparing this information for its next corporate plan, which will then be submitted to the Department for consideration. Expenditure from 1 April 1987 to 31 January 1989 on these items was as follows:

	£ million
Voluntary sector	1·375
Health	0·092
Education and training	2·840
Other social	6·421
TOTAL	10·728

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what funding allocation for the construction of the Docklands light railway eastern extension to Beckton has been made to the London Docklands development corporation.

No public expenditure has been allocated. The Beckton extension of the docklands light railway will be funded from land sales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to approve a deferred purchase or payment scheme to fund the construction of the Docklands light railway eastern extension to Beckton; and if he will make a statement.

The DLR Beckton extension will be financed from land sales. No decision has been reached on the precise funding mechanism.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement of his policy in relation to common land following the report of the Common Land Forum.

We intend to introduce legislation based broadly on the report of the Common Land Forum at a suitable opportunity when parliamentary time permits. We are having discussions with various bodies and will make a further statement as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many tenanted properties there were in the London green belt estate of the former Greater London Council at the time of its dissolution; if he will publish a list of such properties in the Official Report; and what is his policy towards the future ownership of these properties.

The Department does not keep records relating to these properties, title to which passed to successors to the GLC. The future ownership of the properties is a matter for those who hold title.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, following his decisions on Cripps Causeway, Bristol, and Bricket Wood, St. Albans, he will make a statement about his policy on retail development in (a) out-of-town locations and (b) the green belt.

The Government's policy on major retail development remains as set out in "Planning Policy Guidance Note 6", a copy of which is in the Library. Ministers have repeatedly warned, and have demonstrated in the Bricket Wood case, that those who pursue to appeal proposals in flagrant breach of established green belt policy risk having costs awarded against them.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the report of the public inquiry into an application to purchase under the Housing Act 1985 the tenancy of Park Side house, Hadley road, Enfield, Middlesex, being part of an estate acquired under the Green Belt (London and Home Counties) Act 1938.

The inspector's report of the inquiry into an application by the London borough of Enfield under section 5 of the Green Belt (London and Home Counties) Act 1938 for consent to dispose of the property known as Park Side house, Hadley road, Enfield is being considered. The decision will be issued as quickly as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conway, Official Report, February, column 600, what is the weight and volume of residual radioactive barium sulphate waste at Amersham.

The weight of residual radioactive barium sulphate waste safely stored in the site effluent treatment plant at Amersham is estimated at about 400 kg, associated with about one cubic metre of slurry. These figures are approximate. More precise figures will not be available until the site effluent plant is decommissioned.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date he intends to publish his report on the investigations that he has carried out within his areas of responsibility into chlorine-bleached packaging, dioxins and food.

As announced on 14 February at columns 189–90, the Department of the Environment in conjunction with the Department of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, is preparing a statement on dioxins in the environment. Publication is intended within two months.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what current estimate he has of the approximate percentage of the housing stock which has chimneys.

The 1986 English house condition survey showed that approximately 75 per cent. of the housing stock in England had chimneys.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes were made to the method of calculating grant-related expenditure in each rate support grant settlement from 1981–82 to 1989–90.

The changes are set out in the rate support grant report (England) for each year. Further information is contained in the "Blue Book", "Grant Related Expenditure: How the expenditure needs of local authorities are assessed for block grant", and the "Green Book", "The technical handbook of grant related expenditure", published each year. Copies of these publications for years up to 1988–89 are in the Library. Blue and Green Books for 1989–90 will be published shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many farms in England and Wales which border Ministry of Defence or visiting forces' airports receive rate rebates.

Agricultural land and buildings are not rateable, though farmhouses are. Information on the number of occupants of farmhouses receiving rate rebates is not available. In any event the location of a hereditament has no effect on the ratepayer's eligibility for rate rebate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he has given to planning authorities in London on planning control of residential densities.

"Planning Policy Guidance Note 12" gives advice on the circumstances in which it may be appropriate to include policies on residential densities in development plans. As the PPG makes clear, that advice applies generally. More specific advice on densities in London is proposed in the draft strategic planning guidance for London which my right hon. Friend published for consultation on Monday. This indicates that each borough is responsible for setting its own general guidelines on densities and dwelling mix for their area as appropriate in the light of local circumstances, bearing in mind the requirement for additional housing in the borough. Provision for new housing should respect established conservation policies and the interests of existing communities; but this has to be balanced by recognition of the important contribution that can be made to overall housing supply in London by conversion of existing houses into smaller units and redevelopment at higher densities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, if pursuant to his statement of 2 March, Official Report, column 418, he has any further information on the originator of the leaflet referred to: and if he will make a statement.

The leaflet was sent to me on 18 October by a correspondent who drew my attention to its availability in libraries under the control of Nottinghamshire county council. I apologise for having mistakenly told the House on 2 March at column 418 that the county council had itself produced this inaccurate and misleading document: I should have said only that I understood that the county council had made it publicly available through its libraries.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to introduce legislation to provide for reductions in the level of compensation payable on a claim relating to the compulsory acquisition of land in respect of the increase in the value of other land owned by a claimant, in line with the provisions applying in Northern Ireland by virtue of section 9 of the Land Acquisition and Compensation (Northern Ireland) Order 1973 (S.I., 1973, No. 1896); and if he will make a statement.

Section 7 of the Land Compensation Act 1961 has, in England and Wales, the same effect as the provision referred to by the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make it his policy to announce his decision on the planning inquiry into the future of Havant town centre development without further delay.

[holding answer 3 March 1989]: My right hon. Friend is considering the Havant Town Centre (Shopping Development) Compulsory Purchase Order, submitted for confirmation by Havant borough council, and the report of the inspector who held a public inquiry into objections. He will issue his decision as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now publish details of the number of sewage works which breached their discharge consents in 1988.

[holding answer 6 March 1989]: The latest year for which detailed figures on non-compliance of sewage treatment works are available is 1987, in which 887 works out of 4,238 tested (21 per cent.) were in breach of their consents. This compares with 23 per cent. failing their consent conditions in 1986.The figures for 1988 are not yet available, but indications are that they will show a further improvement.Water authorities have drawn up capital programmes, at a total cost of between £900 million and £1 billion, with the aim of bringing sub-standard works into full compliance with discharge consents in 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the measures adopted by Her Majesty's Government or by European Community countries for the protection of rain forests; and if he will make a statement.

Details of Her Majesty's Government's activities to protect rain forests are given in a supplement to the December 1988 issue of "British Overseas Development", a copy of which I have placed in the Library. We have no record of the action taken by other countries to protect the rain forests. We and other members of the European Community support the tropical forestry action plan, which promotes action to conserve the tropical forests. As signatories to the international tropical timber agreement the United Kingdom and 10 other Community countries are pledged to encourage the development of international policies aimed at the sustainable use and conservation of tropical forests. The European Community's aid programme finances several rain-forest-related projects.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report his response to the submission made by the National Union of Students on top-up loans for students.

The submission from the NUS has been acknowledged, and my right hon. Friend will consider it with the other responses to the White Paper (Cm. 520). The Government will comment on these responses in due course when they make a further statement on the implementation of their plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many Select Committee recommendations have been made about, and how many accepted by, his Department since June 1987.

In the one departmental Select Committee report completed since June 1987, to which the Government have responded, 21 recommendations were made, of which 17 have been accepted in whole or in part by the Government, or noted, where no further action by Government was sought.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on secondary schools and the opting-out provisions as they affect the reorganisation of education in the borough of Trafford.

The consideration by my right hon. Friend of proposals by Trafford LEA to reorganise secondary schools in its area was suspended whilst the parents of pupils at Sale boys' grammar school voted on whether the school should apply for grant-maintained status. The parents voted against such an application in January 1989, and my right hon. Friend has, therefore, resumed his consideration of the LEA's reorganisation proposals, and will announce his decision in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the implications of the recent judgment on sex discrimination in Birmingham selective schools as it affects the reorganisation of education in Trafford.

The judgment by the House of Lords that the Birminghan LEA was in contravention of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 by providing fewer grammar school places for boys than for girls has no implications for the proposed reorganisation of county schools in Trafford as the current proposals in Trafford LEA will provide equal opportunities for selective places for boys and girls.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the reorganisation of Roman Catholic secondary education in the borough of Trafford.

In March 1988 the Salford Roman Catholic Diocesan Schools Commission published statutory reorganisation proposals for three Roman Catholic secondary schools in Trafford. My right hon. Friend was not satisfied that the proposed arrangements offered improved educational prospects for pupils of all abilities, nor that the high capital cost was justified. He accordingly rejected the proposals on 16 February 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the membership of the advisory board to the Institute of Food Research; and if he will make a statement.

Members of the advisory board are:

Mr. S. G. Metcalfe (Chairman), Deputy Chairman and Managing Director, Rank Hovis McDougall plc.

Professor D. C. Burke, Vice Chancellor, University of East Anglia and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes.

Dr. J. Edelman, CBE, Chairman of Council, British Nutrition Foundation.

Mr. J. A. Lusher, Director, Food Division, Marks and Spencer plc.

Professor J. R. Norris, Director of Group Research, Cadbury Schweppes plc.

Dr. E. S. Page, Vice Chancellor, University of Reading and Chairman of the Food Advisory Committee.

Mr. G. T. Pryce, Chief Executive, Dalgety plc.

Mr. A. Sheppard, Chairman, Grand Metropolitan plc.

Mr. W. G. Walker, Chairman, Van den Berghs & Jurgens Ltd.

Mrs. R. E. Waterhouse CBE, Chairman, Consumers' Association.

The advisory board comprises a unique mix of senior executives reflecting the interests of industry, academia and consumers. It advises the director and management of the Institute of Food Research on strategic issues concerning the food industry nationally and internationally, on trends and developments on food supply and consumption patterns, marketing, manufacturing, and other aspects influencing the choice of the Institute's Research and Development programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the future of the replan programme for the adult unemployed.

Replan has been successful in focusing the attention of the education service on the needs of the adult unemployed, and is having wider benefits in encouraging new approaches by providers. The programme will continue in its present form until October 1991. The Government will conduct a policy review of the programme and its objectives later this year, drawing on the available evaluations of replan initiatives and taking into account changes in the context of employment and training. Decisions about the future of the programme after 1991 will be announced in the autumn.

To ask the Lord President of the Council what arrangements there are for consulting consumers in the work and decisions of his Department.

The Privy Council Office neither provides nor regulates services to the general public and consultation with consumer organisations would not be appropriate to its work or decisions.

To ask the Attorney-General what was the total number of patients whose affairs were administered by the Court of Protection in each of the last five years.

The total number of patients whose affairs were administered by the Court of Protection for the last five financial years are as follows:

	Number
1983–84	18,848
1984–85	22,030
1985–86	22,134
1986–87	23,080
1987–88	25,778

To ask the Attorney-General what was the total income received by the protection division in respect of (a) commencement fees and (b) annual administration fees for the Court of Protection in each of the last five years.

The total income received by the protection division for the last five calendar years was as follows:

To ask the Attorney-General what was the total number of patients for whom a receiver was appointed where the annual income of the patient was insufficient for any fee to be payable in each of the last five years.

Historical data on the total number of patients whose annual income are insufficient for any fee to be payable is not collected. The current figure is 1,410.

To ask the Prime Minister what information she has on Government spending on environmental research in (i) Britain, (ii) West Germany and (iii) the EEC countries as a whole.

The Government of the United Kingdom will spend £161·2 million in 1988–89 on environmental research. Comparable figures are not available for West Germany and other EC countries.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list the Civil Service salary scales on which special advisers attached to Government Ministries are paid, giving by Department employing the special advisers the scale upon which they are placed.

Special advisers are not paid on Civil Service salary scales but, with some exceptions, on a special advisers spine comprising 28 points, as follows:

Scale point	Salary (inclusive)
	£
28	40,520
27	39,570
26	38,625
25	37,420
24	36,210
23	34,560
22	33,280
21	32,000
20	30,660
19	29,310
18	27,960

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of permitted treatments of potatoes in store or pre-storage and their purposes, including any intended to prevent or discourage spoilage by rats.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in each of the last 10 years, what was spent on research by (a) the Government and (b) the private sector on (a) agriculture as a whole, (b) horticulture, (c) the apple and pear industry and (d) the soft fruit industry.

The information requested in respect of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's expenditure in the last 10 financial years is shown in the table.

Post-harvest treatments of potatoes are controlled as pesticides under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986.The following active ingredients are the most commonly used in storage on ware potatoes, and are listed with their purpose. There are no specific products approved to discourage spoilage of potatoes by rats, but rodenticides are available for use in stores, subject to label restrictions.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many Select Committee recommendations have been made about, and how many accepted, by his Department since June 1987.

In the two Agriculture Select Committee reports published since June 1987, to which the Government have responded, 49 recommendations or observations were made. Of these 33 have been accepted, in whole or in part, by the Government or have been noted where no further action by Government was sought.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much has been paid out by his Ministry in compensation for bovine spongiform encephalopathy-infected cattle.

Up to the end of February 1989, £862,177 has been paid in compensation.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information his Department has about the incidence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle by age, sex and breed.

[holding answer 24 February 1989]: About 80 per cent. of cases of BSE have been confirmed in animals between three and five years of age; all but five, confirmed in bulls, have been female. There is no evidence of any particular breed pre-disposition to the development of BSE.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to introduce controls on the export of meat and bone meal which may have originated from scrapie-infected sheep.

Exports of meat and bone meal are subject to and must meet the health conditions laid down by the importing country.

	Growers		Area
	Number	Per cent.	Hectares	Per cent.
In favour	312	30·9	8,867·4	44·7
Against	547	54·2	9,107·5	45·9
Spoiled forms	9	0·9	130,5	0·7
Forms not returned	141	14·0	1,737·8	8·8
Total registered at 9 February 1989	1,009	—	19,843·2	—
Percentage of those voting who were in favour	—	35·9	—	49

In reaching a decision on the future of the Apple and Pear Development Council, I shall take these results into account, along with the views of the bodies I am required to consult under the terms of the Industrial Organisation and Development Act 1947.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further representations he has received about the farm woodlands and woodland grant schemes.

[holding answer 7 March 1989]: I have received no recent representations about the woodland grant scheme as such and very few about the farm woodland scheme. Those that I have received concerned technical points on the rules of the scheme.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) on how many occasions for each year since 1980 establishments have provided meat for United Kingdom consumption whilst export licences had been suspended under the Fresh Meat Export (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations;(2) how many times he has used his powers under the Fresh Meat Export (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure that meat and other animal products from scrapie-infected sheep do not go for human consumption.

Scrapie has been present in this country for at least two centuries without any evidence to suggest that it has been, or can be, a risk to humans Neither has research identified any such risk. Such measures are not, therefore, appropriate.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make scrapie a notifiable disease;(2) what steps he is taking to eradicate scrapie in sheep.

I have no plans to make scrapie a notifiable disease nor to introduce a slaughter policy.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has received the results of the poll of growers conducted as part of the quinquennial review of the Apple and Pear Development Council.

Yes. The results of the poll are as follows:to suspend the export licence of any establishment approved under those regulations; and on how many occasions he has issued a warning of his intention to suspend such an export licence for each year since 1980.

[holding answer 6 March 1989]:My Department suspends the export approval of establishments which fail to comply with the export regulations. Local authorities are responsible for enforcing the legislation on the supply of meat for consumption within the United Kingdom. Records of enforcement actions by local authorities are not maintained centrally.The Fresh Meat Export (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations apply in England and Wales and first came into force on 2 November 1981. The figures of suspension warnings, and suspensions since then are as follows:

	Suspension Warnings	Suspensions
1982	6	2
1983	12	6
1984	2	1
1985	11	7
1986	14	8
1987	22	11
1988	6	4

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next expects a European Community inspector to visit the United Kingdom establishments under the Fresh Meat Export (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations; and whether he will publish the results of the inspection.

[holding answer 6 March 1989]: A visit by European Commission inspectors is taking place from 6 to 16 March. Reports made by inspectors following a visit refer to individual plants and must remain confidential. They are discussed with the inspectors, with the local authority concerned and with the plant management and any corrective action which is necessary is put in hand.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total number of abattoirs in the United Kingdom; what proportion have been and will be visited by European Community inspectors; and if. he will make a statement.

[holding answer 6 March 1989]: At the end of 1988 there were 937 abattoirs in the United Kingdom, of which 99 were export-approved. European Commission inspectors aim to visit 10 per cent. of export-approved premises each year. The remainder is under the control of local authorities, which appoint environmental health officers for supervision.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the evidence for non-pasteurised milk becoming prone to infection with listeria bacteria; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 21 February 1989]: The results of a number of overseas surveys published in the scientific literature indicate that about 10 per cent. of raw milk may be infected with listeria species. It is possible that similar rates of infection exist in the United Kingdom milk supplies. Pasteurisation has however been shown to be an effective treatment for eliminating listeria and other more prevalent pathogens, such as salmonella and campylobacter.Information from the communicable disease surveillance centre on the 1,600 cases of food poisoning associated with untreated milk in the five-year period 1983–87 indicates that the main health hazard associated with untreated milk is not listeria but salmonella (which accounted for just over half the cases) and campylobacter (which accounted for most of the remainder).

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many letters he has received (a) in support of and (b) in opposition to the proposed high-speed Channel tunnel rail link.

We have received a large number of letters, mainly from people who were opposed to British Rail's original proposals. BR is today announcing a revised route proposal which takes account of the comments received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the amount of private finances to be invested in Britain's road network during 1988–89.

We anticipate that about 30 agreements between my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport and private sector developers will be completed in 1988–89. Through these arrangements and the construction of the Dartford-Thurrock crossing the private sector will contribute an estimated £30 million in 1988–89 towards the funding of trunk road improvements in England.Local highway authorities also enter into agreements with the private sector to fund road schemes. Information on these is not held centrally, but the indications are that the private sector makes a major contribution to local schemes.Responsibility for roads in Scotland and Wales rests with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales, respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on plans by British Rail and other undertakings to improve transport infrastructure in the North West region in the period before the opening of the Channel tunnel.

A partnership of public and private sector interests in the North-West, led by chambers of commerce there, is already carrying out a study into the region's requirements arising from the single European market and the Channel tunnel. Government Departments will assist with information and advice as necessary.The plan that British Rail is required to prepare under section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987 on international passenger and freight services will cover all regions.The impact of the Channel tunnel is one of the many factors taken into account in planning the national trunk road programme. There is already a number of schemes in the programme that will improve North/South links. A review of the trunk road programme is in progress, and we expect to make an announcement in the spring.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any proposals to correct the problem of breakthroughs on channel O which can affect radio communications for the Swansea coastguard station.

This problem has been traced to a change of frequency used by the police, and the Home Office are dealing with it by modifying the coastguard radio sites affected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that the Swansea coastguard watch is always at full strength.

The watch is kept at full strength as far as possible, though unforseen absences for sickness, accidents or other problems are from time to time inevitable. The posting of additional staff to Swansea following the recent merger has ensured that the full watch of four regular officers has been maintained on all but a very few occasions, and at no time has the combined strength of regular officers and auxiliary support fallen below four.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the number of coastguard visits to the Hartland area from the Swansea station.

All watchkeeping staff from Swansea have spent a four-day period visiting the Hartland area. Each watch has an ex member of the Hartland staff within the watch, who accompanied them on the visit.Further visits are planned during the summer, using a helicopter from RAF Chivenor, to gain maximum benefits from such a visit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take measures to ensure the adequate working of the Hartland 641 telephone line to the Swansea coastguard station.

The Hartland 641 telephone number was installed when the station was closed so that local people could contact Swansea MRCC if they had general queries. British Telecom assures me that the problems with the line are being dealt with, and that the service will improve when new optical fibre cables are laid later this year.The public have of course been advised that anyone wishing to make an emergency call to a coastguard station should always dial 999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the movement of the Hartland tape unit to Swansea.

The unit was installed at Swansea on 6 December last to deal with additional radio and telephone lines following the closure of the Hartland station. After defects were discovered, the equipment was comprehensively overhauled on 21 February. Two further, minor faults were rectified within 24 hours, and the equipment is now fully serviceable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the agreed local expertise required to maintain safety levels in local coastguard areas; and if he will ensure that the numbers of coastguard with Hartland coast experience in the Swansea station will meet this requirement.

All coastguards take the necessary steps to equip themselves with adequate local knowledge, wherever they work and whatever responsibilities they hold. At Swansea, one member of each watch is an ex-Hartland watchkeeper, so maintaining continuity while Swansea staff become fully acquainted with their increased area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a further statement on the high-speed railway line to the Channel tunnel.

British Rail is today announcing its revised route proposal which takes account of the comments received on their original proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce further details of the second Severn crossing.

We announced on 28 February the shortlist of tenderers for the second Severn crossing. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Hughes) at column 116.We hope to be in a position to announce the successful tenderer by the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the source of funding for development work on using the thermal neutron activation analysis technique for detecting explosives at Harwell; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 6 March 1989]: Research and development work at Harwell on using the thermal neutron activation analysis technique for detecting explosives is being funded by a commercial organisation in the private sector under a contract with the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's Harwell laboratory.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will elucidate the advice given in his Department's document on rape that women adopt secure common sense routines; and if he will make a statement.

This advice is given in full in our crime prevention handbook "Practical Ways to Crack Crime".

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the village and main police stations in the A (Doncaster) division of the South Yorkshire police area and which have (a) opened and (b) closed since 1979.

The police stations currently in use in the Doncaster division of the South Yorkshire police are:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of South Yorkshire as to the number of police employed to cover the A division (Doncaster) of the South Yorkshire police area annually from 1979 to the latest date.

The information requested is as follows:

Police strengths
South Yorkshire police—Doncaster division
Year (as at 31 December)	Number of officers
1979	471
1980	479
1981	493
1982	479
1983	452
1984	488
1985	490
1986	509
1987	497
1988	504

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to review the method of random selection of juries or to introduce legislation thereon.

Provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 which came into effect on 5 January this year have abolished the right to challenge jurors without cause, and ensure that a person summoned for jury service may not have it deferred indefinitely. We expect to bring into effect in July provisions enabling people up to the age of 70 to serve as jurors, if they are willing to do so. We will keep the working of the jury system under review but we have no present plans for further changes in the law.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Cleveland as to what improvements have been made in the last five years to the effectiveness of the Cleveland constabulary.

I understand that among the improvements made in the last five years by the chief constable and his police authority are the release of over 100 police officers for operational duty through the civilianisation of police posts; the implementation of a comprehensive information technology strategy; the amalgamation of two divisions; and the enhancement of the police estate. The chief constable would be pleased to discuss with my hon. Friend these and other examples of the effectiveness of the Cleveland constabulary.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Howard League concerning conditions at Armley prison; and what reply he has sent.

The director of the Howard League wrote to my right hon. Friend on 25 January to express concern about conditions at Leeds prison. I replied on 21 February acknowledging her concern and informing her that the deputy director-general of the prison service has been asked to report to the Home Secretary on the young offender wing at Leeds. My right hon. Friend announced the main recommendations of the report and our response in reply to a question from the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) on 7 March at columns 455–56.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the ages of all those who have committed suicide in custody since 1979, together with the prisons and units in which they were held at the time of their deaths.

The information that follows relates to those inmates of prison department establishments found by coroners' inquests to have committed suicide, and gives the establishments at which they were held and their ages; information as to the units within establishments where these inmates were held is not readily available. Information on those inmates who committed suicide after 1 January 1987 is contained in the reply given on 24 February to a question from the hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr. Sheerman) at columns 834–39.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the sales by (a) the British Broadcasting Corporation and (b) Independent Television companies to South Africa.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now announce the form and scope of the review of prisoners' pay; and if he will make a statement.

In response to recommendations contained in reports last year by the then deputy director general of the prison service and by Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons, I have decided to put in hand a review of the arrangements for paying earnings to inmates of prison service establishments in England and Wales.Inmates are paid at pocket money levels for work done, from which they may purchase items such as tobacco, sweets, stamps, soft drinks and additional toiletries from the canteen. Within approved limits, prison income may be supplemented by private cash. The present arrangements have been subjected to two main criticisms: first, that rates of pay are inadequate, particularly where inmates have access to pay-telephones; secondly, that the system of pay differentials, for different types of work and as between different establishments, does not provide the right incentives. The review will examine these points and a number of detailed aspects of the inmate pay system about which representations have been made from time to time.The vast majority of inmates employed at establishments are engaged in tasks for the prison service (including the manufacture of items for internal use, food production, cleaning, catering, building and grounds maintenance) and productivity is limited by the constraints of the prison routine, turnover of inmates and other factors. In the circumstances, I have decided that this review should not extend to the possibility of paying inmates full market rates of pay.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent contacts he has had with private sector organisations involved in inner city regeneration.

I frequently see representatives of private sector organisations involved in inner city regeneration. Since the beginning of 1989 I have seen the Association of British Chambers of Commerce, Business in the Community, British Urban Development, the Leeds chamber of commerce, the Wearside Opportunity, the Teesside Tomorrow Team, the Building Employers. Confederation and the Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors. I have also visited inner city areas of Leeds. Doncaster, Sheffield, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Preston, Rochdale and Hackney, where I have met many local people and private sector organisations active in the regeneration of their cities.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he last met representatives of Business in the Community; and what matters were discussed.

I last met representatives of Business in the Community at their president's committee meeting on 7 March 1989. The committee discussed how companies can contribute to community regeneration through their mainstream business activities, and what action companies can take to improve opportunities on housing estates.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress is being made in the regulation of estate agents.

I am currently considering the views of estate agency bodies and other interested parties as to whether it might be appropriate to supplement the existing consumer protection provisions of the Estate Agents Act 1979, perhaps with an effective self-regulatory system incorporating a code of practice. I hope to be in a position to announce the conclusion of my review soon.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many programmes are financed under his Department's teaching company scheme; and what plans there are to increase the number of programmes.

The teaching company scheme is not a DTI scheme but is jointly funded by the DTI, the Science and Engineering Research Council, other public bodies and industry. Currently there are 350 programmes. The White Paper, "DTI—the department for Enterprise", (Cmd 278), states the Government's intention of substantially increasing the scheme's size by 1922 and of basing an increasing proportion of programmes in smaller and medium sized firms.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the medium-term prospects for manufacturing industry.

Manufacturing industry is performing well. Output was at a record level in 1988, over 7 per cent. higher than in 1987. And with productivity growing at 7·5 per cent. a year and investment at near record levels, there is every prospect of continued strong performance from manufacturing industry.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidelines are followed within the companies registration office with regard to tradeable information and collaboration with companies in the information services industry.

The guidelines within which the Companies House executive agency operates are set out in its policy and resources framework document, a copy of which is in the Library. The agency's chief executive tells me that there is close collaboration with his principal customers in the information services industry, both through the Companies House users' groups and discussions with individual companies. He would welcome an approach from my hon. Friend if he has any particular point in mind.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if there have been any changes since 1986 in the description and guidelines concerning Government-held tradeable information, published by his Department in 1986;(2) whether a review of policy on Government-held tradeable information has been completed since 1986;(3) which Departments in accordance with the statement of policy contained in section 5 of "Government-held Tradeable Information—An Introduction," published by the Department of Trade and Industry in 1986, created a comprehensive list and description of departmental data and information holdings with a view to investigating the scope for commercial utilisation.

A review of the execution of the policy on Government-held tradeable information, whose description and guidelines are currently unchanged, is due to be completed by the summer. Departmental information surveys are a matter for individual Departments. Such a survey has been undertaken in my Department.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what arrangements there are for consulting consumers on the work and decisions of his Department.

The Office of Fair Trading, National Consumer Council, the nationalised industry consumer councils and consumer organisations such as the National Federation of Consumer Groups give advice to the Department on consumer matters. It is the Department's practice to consult bodies and organisations representing the consumer interest on any proposals for legislation or other action directly or indirectly affecting consumers.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the financial assistance which has been given to tobacco companies under the various industry Acts in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales since 1979; if he will list other financial assistance that has been made to tobacco companies by the Government in the same period; and if he will make a statement.

Total payments to tobacco companies under the Industrial Development Act 1982 both on regional selective assistance and the revised regional development grant schemes are £6·5 million. These are the only schemes under parts II and III of the Act under which payments have been made to tobacco companies. It is not possible to provide a territorial breakdown for England, Scotland and Wales on the grouds of commercial confidentiality as such information would go beyond that which is published in British Business. It is also not possible to provide details of any payments under the original RDG scheme except at disproportionate cost.So far as I am aware, no other Government financial assistance has been given to tobacco companies since 1979.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to receive the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on cinema film distributors; and if he will make a statement.

The last report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the supply of cinema films was published on 11 May 1983. An order based on that report was laid before the House on 7 March.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will set out in the Official Report the approximate expenditure planned in respect of his 1992 awareness programme, together with the sums spent on each component of the programme; and what steps he has taken to acquaint each section of domectic industry or overseas visible or invisible trade interests with the final form of legislation of the European Economic Community relating to their activities.

[holding answer 6 March 1989]: Expenditure to date on DTI's campaign to encourage firms to plan for the single European market has been over £12·5 million. Of this, some £8·75 million is represented by national advertising. The other £3·75 million has provided a detailed and comprehensive range of literature; a major series of business conferences; a national telephone inquiry service and mailing operation; the Spearhead computer database; video materials; and research into business preparations. The campaign represents a major and sustained effort to help Britain's firms prepare for the single market. Resources will continue to be allocated accordingly.Government Deprtments seek to keep all sections of business fully up-to-date on the progress of relevant EC legislation. In addition, the DTI's Spearhead database provides details of all single market measures and other measures (such as environment proposals) of interest to business, including access to the full texts of the relevant EC legislation. Where appropriate, spearhead gives details of how measures have been implemented in the United Kingdom. The DTI has also prepared a checklist showing in tabular form progress on the proposals in the Commission's 1985 White Paper on the single market.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what discussions he or his officials have had with Elanco on the subject of a grant for a possible factory on Merseyside.

[holding answer 7 March 1989]: Neither I nor my officials have had any discussions with Elanco on the subject of a grant for a possible factory on Merseyside.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will institute discussions with the Secretary for Commerce of the United States of America to bring about joint action under the general agreement on tariffs and trade to remove the ban by Indonesia on the export of rattan; and if he will make a statement

[holding answer 6 March 1989]: It is for the Community to pursue this issue with Indonesia and if appropriate in the GATT in the light of the impact of the Indonesian action on Community interests. I would hope to have the support of other GATT members, including the United States, for any action initiated in GATT.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what action has been taken since 19 December 1988 by his Department to bring about the removal of the ban by Indonesia on the export of rattan; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 6 March 1989]: The European Commission, which has competence in external trade matters, discussed this issue with a delegation led by the Indonesian Vice-Minister for Agriculture in Brussels recently. I regret that no progress was made.Further high-level consultations between the Commission and the Government of Indonesia are expected shortly, and my officials will be monitoring developments closely. The Community has also requested consultations with Indonesia under GATT dispute settlement procedures. The Indonesians have yet to agree a date for the consultations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the recent agreement on fast reactors between the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and their counterparts in France and the Federal Republic of Germany; for what time period the agreement will last; and if he has made any financial commitment to the agreement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Mr. Maclennan) on 27 February at column 85. The United Kingdom organisations concerned signed these agreements on the basis of the Secretary of State for Energy's statement of 21 July 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy, Official Report, 9 February, columns 756–57, on safeguards application at Sellafield, what period elapsed between 15 December 1986 and the resumption of reprocessing in separate campaigns.

The next reprocessing campaign after 15 December 1986 was for unsafeguarded fuel from Calderhall and Chapel Cross reactors. It is not in the national interest to reveal the precise timing and operational details of such campaigns.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what current estimate he has of the number of households in England and Wales which are unable to obtain an electricity supply.