To ask the Minister for the Civil Service when he last met or had correspondence with each of the Civil Service pension organisations that are awaiting the payable order awarded to them following an error in the calculation of the retail prices index about this matter; and when he expects Parliament to approve payment of the supplementary estimate for funds for those three organisations.

My Department wrote to each of the organisations awaiting awards from the RPI error funds on 16 March enclosing a payable order for the sums due.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the introduction of DNA testing for the purposes of the immigration rules; and if he will make a statement.

We have received various representations from Members of Parliament and others concerning the possible introduction of DNA testing into the entry clearance process, and the operation of the immigration rules in relation to reapplicants previously refused entry clearance. We hope to make an announcement on both these matters in the relatively near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last visited Wandsworth prison.

My right hon. Friend visited Her Majesty's prison Wandsworth on Monday 6 February 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the chairman of the Press Council; and what subjects were discussed.

I last met the chairman of the Press Council on 18 January. We discussed the chairman's recent appointment to the council, the forthcoming review of the council's role and procedures and the issues raised by the Right of Reply Bill and the Protection of Privacy Bill.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison quarters remain unusable.

Only a few prison quarters which are structurally unsound or substandard are considered to be unusable. National figures are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, but the number of such properties on the Isle of Wight is seven.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received on the electronic tagging of offenders; and if he will make a statement.

In the last 12 months 26 letters have been received, including nine from Members of Parliament, together with a number of representations from interested individuals and organisations. One of the objectives of the forthcoming field trials involving the monitoring of defendants remanded on bail will be to enable decisions to be reached on the use of electronic monitoring in respect of convicted offenders.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he has had with interested parties regarding the introduction of electronic tagging; and if he will make a statement.

We have consulted the magistrates courts, the police and the Crown Prosecution Service in the three areas where we propose to conduct field trials of electronic monitoring. We shall shortly be arranging meetings at which the procedures envisaged can be explained to local legal practitioners and others with an interest. A meeting has also been arranged with representatives of the probation services in the areas concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prosecutions have been brought and how many convictions obtained for hiring or selling video recordings to young people below the relevant minimim age classification in the last 12 months.(2) how many prosecutions for hiring or selling unclassified video recordings have been brought

The latest information available centrally, which may be incomplete, relates to 1987. This indicates that in England and Wales there were six prosecutions under sections 9 and 10 of the Video Recordings Act 1984 for hiring or selling video recordings containing unclassified video works and two prosecutions under section 11 for hiring or selling video recordings to persons below the minimum age specified on the classification certificates issued in respect of works contained in the recordings. None of these prosecutions was in the City of Westminster; one under section 10 was in the London borough of Newham. The extension of enforcement powers to trading standards officers from September 1988 will result in far more prosecutions. I understand in several hundred cases already the British Board of Film Classification has been asked to certify (as evidence for use in criminal proceedings) whether works have been classified and, if so, under what classification.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he has received representations from the British Videogram Association about delays in classifying video titles by the British Board of Film Classification; and if he will make a statement;(2) when his officials last met representatives of the British Board of Film Classification to discuss delays on classifying video titles.

I am not aware of any recent representations from the British Videogram Association about delays at the British Board of Film Classification in classifying video works. Home Office officials are in regular contact with the board about the administration of

Police forces in England and Wales
31 December 1988	Chief Constable1	Deputy Chief Constable2	Assistant Chief Constable3	Chief Superintendent
Avon and Somerset	1	1	3	14
Bedfordshire	1	1	1	5
Cambridgeshire	1	1	1	5
Cheshire	1	1	2	8
City of London	1	1	1	6
Cleveland	1	1	2	7
Cumbria	1	1	1	7
Derbyshire	1	1	2	9
Devon and Cornwall	1	1	3	13
Dorset	1	1	1	6
Durham	1	1	2	7
Dyfed-Powys	1	1	1	7
Essex	1	1	3	11
Gloucestershire	1	1	1	6
Greater Manchester	1	1	6	27
Gwent	1	1	1	5
Hampshire	1	1	3	10
Hertfordshire	1	1	2	9
Humberside	1	1	2	8
Kent	1	1	4	10
Lancashire	1	1	3	13
Leicestershire	1	1	2	7
Lincolnshire	1	1	1	5
Merseyside	1	1	4	19
Metropolitan	1	16	38	158
Norfolk	1	1	1	7
Northamptonshire	1	1	1	6
Northumbria	1	1	3	13
North Wales	1	1	1	7
North Yorkshire	1	1	1	7
Nottinghamshire	1	1	2	8
South Wales	1	1	3	14
South Yorkshire	1	1	3	11
Staffordshire	1	1	1	11
Suffolk	1	1	1	6
Surrey	1	1	2	7
Sussex	1	1	3	12
Thames Valley	1	1	3	12
Warwickshire	1	1	1	5
West Mercia	1	1	2	10
West Midlands	1	1	5	21
West Yorkshire	1	1	4	20
Wiltshire	1	1	1	6
Total	48	58	128	565
1 Includes ranks of assistant commissioner and above in the Metropolitan police and commissioner in the City of London police.
2 Includes deputy assistant commissioner in the Metropolitan police and assistant commissioner in the City of London police.
3 Includes commanders in the Metropolitan police and the City of London police.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to extend local authority access to police records to enable checks to be made on the background of all staff to be employed in areas where they have substantial access to children. the Video Recordings Act 1984 and discussed with its officials on 22 March the length of time taken to issue classification certificates for video works.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has for each police force of the number of officers of chief superintendent level and above, and as to the number of black and Asian officers holding such posts.

The information requested is set out in the table. There are no black or Asian officers in these ranks.

Local authorities are already able to seek the disclosure of information from police records about all those seeking employment in posts with substantial access to children.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to seek to change the law on the availability of surveillance and counter-surveillance equipment.

No, for the reasons given in my response to the debate on electronic surveillance devices initiated by my hon. Friend on 13 March at column 183.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the measures to improve policing in Lancashire for 1988.

I understand that among the measures taken in 1988 by the chief constable and his police authority are the civilianisation of 52 posts previously occupied by police officers; successful operations against crime, including one focusing on crimes committed mainly against the elderly by persons posing as officials; a number of schemes to streamline administrative procedures; the trial use of a computerised custody office system; and a number of successful community and crime prevention initiatives.The chief constable would be pleased to discuss with my hon. Friend these and other examples of effective and efficient policing in Lancashire.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the deputy director-general of the prison service of his inquiry into suicide at Leeds prison.

The report was written as a guide for action within the Department rather than as a public document, but my right hon. Friend announced its main recommendations and his acceptance of them in reply to a question from the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) on 7 March at columns 45–6.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to include in legislation a timetable for achieving 25 per cent. independent television production; if he will make it his policy that once this target is reached he will seek to increase it; and if he will make a statement.

We have sought and received a commitment from the BBC and IBA that, subject to satisfaction in cost and quality, 25 per cent. of original television output will be commissioned from independent producers by the end of 1992. There are no plans to include that target in legislation, but we attach great importance to its achievement and are in close touch with broadcasters and independent producers to monitor progress.Our White Paper on broadcasting proposes that from 1993 there should be a statutory requirement on all Channel 3 and 5 licensees for a minimum of 25 per cent. of original programming to come from independent producers. We will discuss with the BBC in due course the appropriate level of their commissioning from independent producers from 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the established staff for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; by how many the actual staff is below that figure; and what steps he is taking to reduce the delays of the board in dealing with claims.

On 3 April 1989, the board had 312·5 whole-time equivalent staff (7·5 whole-time equivalent staff below its complement of 320), including 31 casual staff engaged as part of the gradual relocation of about 100 posts from London to Glasgow. We have increased staff by about 100 since 1987 to meet the increase in workload, and with the board we are reviewing administrative procedures with the aim of reducing the time taken to resolve claims.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the identity of the victims of the recent amusement arcade burnings.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metroplis that the persons who died were Mr. Kandiahkanapathy Vinayagamoorthy, who was born on 2 June 1960 in Sri Lanka and Mr. Ambikaipahan Anapayan, born on 13 February 1968 in Sri Lanka. The injured persons were Miss Deborah Bernadine Alvares, born 20 August 1962 in east Africa, and Mr. Yurev Alejandro Gomez, born 25 November 1965 in Chile.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the new evidence on the harmful effects on children and young people of the addiction to fruit machines and similar gambling practices and on Her Majesty's Government support for local authorities which are trying to control these activities.

The results of the Home Office research study "Amusement Machines: Dependency and Delinquency" published last year showed that very few young people are at risk of becoming dependent on amusement machines and there is no clear evidence of any association between the playing of machines and delinquency. We have received no reliable new evidence to contradict these results or to throw doubt on the conclusion we reached that further legislative controls are therefore not justified.The Government fully support local authorities in their efforts to ensure the proper control of amusement-with-prizes machines. We issued a circular to all local authorities on 18 November to remind them of the considerable powers already available to them under the Gaming Act 1968 to regulate such machines in their areas. We have also consulted the local authority and trade associations on draft model byelaws controlling, among other things, the opening hours of amusement arcades and it is expected that model byelaws will be available for adoption in the summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Mrs. Nighat Nisar, Ref A 412514 and IMM/90791, applied to the British post in Islamabad for permission to join her husband in the United Kingdom; on what date her application was referred to him; and when he expects to take a decision on this application.

Mrs. Nisar applied for entry clearance on 20 July 1987. She and the sponsor, Mr. Ahmed, were interviewed in Islamabad on 28 October 1987 and the application was referred to the Home Office on 16 December 1987. It was found necessary to interview Mr. Ahmed further in order to establish where he was domiciled at the time the marriage was celebrated; this was undertaken by the entry clearance officer in Islamabad on 2 June 1988. Mrs. Nisar's application was refused on 14 March 1989 because her husband did not meet the domicile requirements for the marriage to be valid under English law. Mrs. Nisar has been informed of this decision and her right of appeal to the independent appellate authorities. This was not a straightforward case, but I regret the considerable delay in deciding it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on measures to protect the anonymity of rape victims in civil cases.

Under section 4 of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1976, as amended by section 158 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, it is an offence to publish or broadcast the name or address or a still or moving picture of a woman after an allegation has been made that she has been the victim of a rape offence, if that is likely to lead members of the public to identify her as an alleged victim of such an offence. The prohibition applies during the whole of the woman's lifetime, unless the courts make a specific direction to the contrary, and it applies whether proceedings follow or not; if they do, it applies in relation to civil as well as criminal proceedings. It is, however, a defence that the woman has given written consent for the matter to appear, provided that no person has unreasonably interfered with her peace or comfort with intent to obtain the consent. Prosecutions require the consent of my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General. The maximum penalty is a £2,000 fine.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the amount of energy that would be saved by the implementation across the United Kingdom housing stock of the recommendation of the Building Research Establishment on the thickness of roof insulation.

Where loft insulation is one inch or less, installation of an extra four inches could lead to an annual energy saving of some 0·73 million tonnes oil equivalent. However, householders are likely to want to opt at least in part for greater warmth rather than simply saving energy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the tonnes of oil or coal equivalent that would be saved if 10 inches thickness of roof insulation were installed in every domestic property in the United Kingdom.

It is estimated that installation of 10 inches of insulation in all domestic buildings with accessible lofts would lead to a potential annual saving of 2·6 million tonnes of coal equivalent (1·5 million tonnes of oil equivalent). However, insulation to that thickness would not be cost effective.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board; and what matters were discussed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board; and what matters were discussed.

My right hon. Friend and I regularly meet the chairman of the CEGB to discuss matters of common interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will invite the right hon. Member who was the Secretary of State for Energy when the Government gave planning permission for the thermal oxide reprocessing plant to open on its completion in 1992.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his interesting suggestion which I have passed on to the chairman of British Nuclear fuels plc.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met his French opposite number; and what matters were discussed.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State last met his French opposite number very briefly in December 1987 to discuss the fast reactor.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the dates of full commissioning to their design capacity of the advanced gas-cooled reactor stations at Dungeness B, Hartlepool and Heysham I and II.

This is an operational matter for the CEGB. The board informs me that both reactor units at Heysham II have operated at their design capacity and the station is expected to be commissioned in 1989. The reactor units at Hartlepool, Heysham I and Dungeness B have operated at substantial load but have not reached their design rating. The CEGB intends to declare interim capacities for these units during 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the date when the Central Electricity Generating Board, or either of its successor generating companies, will submit a planning application for the proposed West Burton 1800 MW coal-fired power station.

The CEGB submitted an application last year for my right hon. Friend's consent to construct a new electricity generating station at West Burton.My right hon. Friend is awaiting confirmation from the Nottinghamshire county council, the Bassetlaw district council and the CEGB that agreement has been reached between them on certain outstanding matters before proceeding with his consideration of the application. These matters relate to access to the proposed site during construction of the station.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received concerning the effects of increased energy prices on pensioners and the low paid.

I have received a number of representations, amounting to 38 cases raised by hon. Members during the last three years and in the same period an average of one letter a week from the general public. However, over the past five years the fuel bills of pensioners and the low paid have fallen in real terms by 15 per cent., while pensions have risen in line with the retail price index.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will estimate the size of the ordering programme for new power station capacity to the year 2000.

In evidence to the Hinkley Point C public inquiry the Central Electricity Generating Board estimated that an additional 15·5 GW of generating capacity would be required by the year 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has to amend the legislation governing the operation of small mines.

Such plans will form part of our privatisation programme in the next Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement concerning the possible effects of the European Commission initiative announced on 9 March demanding greater competition in Europe's electricity and coal markets.

The European Commission has publicised an intention to make proposals on these matters. However, none has yet been received by Her Majesty's Government. We would welcome effective moves towards greater competition in the Community's coal and electricity markets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the revenue total in 1989–90 according to British Gas and to the 12 area boards and two Scottish boards in the electricity supply industry from domestic standing charges.

Forward estimates of revenue from standing charges are not available to my Department. They are matters for British Gas plc and the electricity boards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proposals are being considered for an employee share ownership scheme following privatisation of the electricity industry; and if he will make a statement.

We shall make sure that special terms are available to enable employees to purchase shares in their companies. However, no decision on the type of offers that will be made to employees has yet been taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the direct cost of privatisation to the two Scottish boards and the 12 area boards in the electricity supply industry in 1989–90 when compiled on the same basis as the £76 million proposed to be shown in the accounts of the Central Electricity Generating Board and its successor companies.

My right hon. and learned Friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland is responsible for the two Scottish boards. The costs of preparing for the forthcoming privatisation, incurred by any of the 12 area boards or the two Scottish boards, are the responsibility of the boards themselves.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proposals are being considered for customer rights following privatisation of the electricity industry; and if he will make a statement.

The Electricity Bill currently before Parliament provides customers with a whole range of new rights which they have never had before, including a new system of guaranteed standards of performance with automatic compensation for failures to meet these standards, special consideration for the elderly and disabled and help for those who have difficulty in paying bills. The Director General of Electricity Supply will have the key role of protecting the consumers' interests, and he will be advised on all issues affecting the consumer by the new regional consumer committees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the impact of privatisation on the number of employees employed by the electricity supply industry for 1988, 1990 and 1992.

Manning levels after privatisation will be a matter for the industry, as is the case now.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has about how much an average householder's fuel bills could be reduced if tried and tested measures of energy conservation were adopted.

The scope for improvements in energy efficiency in individual dwellings varies considerably, depending on such factors as existing installations and the lifestyle of the occupants. However, over the country as a whole the scope for cost-effective energy efficiency improvements in the domestic sector estimated to allow savings of at least 20 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next proposes to meet the electricity supply industry trade unions; and whether he will discuss the future of Marchwood Engineering Laboratories and the other research and development activities of the boards.

My right hon. Friend and I meet the electricity supply industry trade unions from time to time. The future of Marchwood Engineering Laboratories is a matter for the CEGB and its successor companies, which have said that the decision to vacate this site would have been the same, whichever successor company Marchwood had been allocated to. I have been assured that this will in no way prejudice essential research into nuclear safety matters, which will either be completed or transferred elsewhere before the site is closed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has about the impact on the average pensioner of fuel price increases over the last five years.

Between 1983 and 1988 the fuel bills both of pensioners and of the low paid are estimated to have fallen by 15 per cent. in real terms. Over the same period, the state pension has risen in line with the retail price index.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the 12 area board chairmen and the chairman of the Electricity Council; and whether the future of the research work at the Capenhurst laboratory into low energy domestic appliances was discussed.

My right hon. Friend and I meet the chairman of the area boards and the chairman of the Electricity Council regularly to discuss a range of issues of mutual interest. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy, Baroness Hooper, has recently visited the Capenhurst laboratory and we appreciate the value of the work carried out there.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the cost of decommissioning the Magnox nuclear power stations (a) in the shortest technologically feasible time and (b) by the lowest book-keeping cost technique.

Decommissioning Magnox nuclear power stations is an operational matter for the CEGB. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member about the estimates of cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what would be the estimated size of a wind park with an output capacity of 1200 MW; and if he will make a statement.

It is estimated that the land area required for a wind farm with an installed capacity of 1200 MW might be between 110 and 140 square miles although there is still considerable uncertainty about this. It is likely that the machines required would be grouped within smaller wind farms, however. Currently, within my Department's research and development programme on wind energy, we are examining the environmental implications and public acceptability of wind farms. The programme is also examining constraints on the United Kingdom's total wind energy resource that would be imposed by such significant environmental factors as national parks, areas designated as being of outstanding natural beauty and urban land.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the progress of negotiations between British Coal and the South of Scotland electricity board with regard to the future of deep mining coal burn in Scotland.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland recently announced that British Coal and the South of Scotland Electricity Board have been able to make substantial progress in their negotiations on a new coal deal. Negotiations on the details of an agreement, including the question of price, are however continuing, and are matters for commercial agreement. Pending completion of the detailed negotiations, the South of Scotland Electricity Board has confirmed that it will continue to take supplies from British Coal at the rate of 2 million tonnes per annum and British Coal has confirmed that it will continue to supply at this rate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the impact on the retail prices index of the 1989–90 increases in domestc electricity prices.

The reported average increase of 6·4 per cent. in domestic electricity prices will add one sixth of 1 per cent. to the retail price index.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of where domestic electricity prices in (a) England and Wales and (b) Scotland will stand in 1989–90 in the league table of such prices in the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development countries.

The Electricity Council undertakes an annual survey of electricity prices in 20 countries. This includes domestic electricity prices. On the basis of the latest comparison at 1 July 1988, prices in England and Wales were in the mid-range of domestic prices in the developed world generally. Domestic prices in Scotland are slightly lower than those in England and Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what were the changes in real terms of (a) domestic and (b) industrial prices between the periods 1974 to 1979 and 1983 to 1988; and if he will make a statement.

In the last five years of Labour Government, between May 1974 and May 1979, domestic electricity prices rose by 9 per cent. and industrial prices by 6 per cent. in real terms.In the last five years of Conservative Government, between December 1983 and December 1988, domestic electricity prices fell by 9 per cent. and industrial prices by 12 per cent. in real terms.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many applications he has received for the 11th offshore licensing round; and if he will make a statement.

A total of 125 applications were received for the 212 blocks on offer from groups involving 84 companies. In terms of the number of applications received, this was a large response and has been exceeded in only one other licensing round in the past 25 years. I hope to announce awards later this year, probably in the early summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairman of British Coal and what subjects were discussed.

My right hon. Friend and I meet the chairman of British Coal regularly to discuss all aspects of the coal industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to further encourage the private sector to research sources of alternative energy.

Energy paper 55, published in June 1988, laid out a strategy for encouraging the private sector to become involved in research, development and demonstration activities and eventually take these functions over from Government. The strategy is aimed at ensuring the full and timely commercial development of those renewable technologies shown to be economic, environmentally acceptable and capable of making a contribution to United Kingdom energy supply. It envisages a collaborative programme to the late 1990s involving Government and the manufacturing and energy supply industries to achieve the twin aims of encouraging and promoting the commercialisation of those technologies which are economically attractive, and reducing the uncertainty in the economics of those technologies currently classed as promising but uncertain so that, where possible, they become economic and confidence is created in them.Already 20 per cent. of the cost of our programme is met by external contributions and we expect this proportion to grow over the next few years as the private sector increases its involvement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the most up-to-date estimate of the percentage of all quarterly electricity bills sent out by estimation without a meter reading in 1980, 1983, 1986 and 1989.

This is a matter for the electricity supply industry. I have asked the chairman of the Electricity Council to write to the hon. Member with the information requested in respect of England and Wales. The question of estimated electricity bills in Scotland should be pursued through my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what further action he plans to take in order to increase his departmental contribution to alleviating the greenhouse effect.

My Department has effective research and development programmes in energy efficiency and renewable energy. There is to be a new campaign to improve energy efficiency within Government and the public sector generally. Electricity privatisation will encourage greater efficiency, will maintain the level of non-fossil generation and will encourage the introduction of new, more efficient and less polluting technology including CHP and combined cycle gas turbines.Such actions, alongside funding of some of the work of the intergovernmental panel on climate change, are prudent now. When scientific understanding of this complex topic improves we, in conjunction with the wider international community, shall be in a position to undertake further appropriate action.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made by his Department in exploiting new and renewable sources of energy following the publication in 1988 of "Renewable Energy in the U.K.: The Way Forward".

Since the publication of energy paper 55 in June 1988, 70 projects committing a further 14 million have been initiated as part of our strategy to develop economically attractive and environmentally acceptable renewable sources of energy. These include a number of collaborative projects with industry aimed at encouraging and promoting the commercialisation of those technologies which are economically attractive, and improving technical performance and reducing capital cost for those technologies currently classed as promising but uncertain.A comprehensive range of promotional literature is now available directed at both lay public audiences to raise general awareness about the prospects for renewable energy, and target professional audiences in particular market sectors to stimulate greater interest in the development of these technologies. Technology transfer plans are now being developed for each technology classed as economically attractive. Over the next year or two, increased effort will be placed on stimulating increased industrial and commercial involvement in both the R and D programme and the uptake of economic technologies by industrial and commercial concerns.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make a statement on any proposed changes to the redundant mineworkers' payments scheme.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) earlier today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the cost of electricity supplied to the steel industry in England and Wales; what is the EEC average; and what is his latest estimate of the position of England and Wales in the EEC league table of electricity prices supplied to the steel industry.

The information is not available in the detail sought.The latest Electricity Council survey of electricity prices in 20 countries, including the EEC, indicates that for a typical high voltage industrial customer electricity prices in England and Wales at 1 July 1988 were in the mid-range of prices in the EEC States and the developed world generally.Current estimates of industrial electricity prices internationally indicate that England and Wales will remain in the mid-range of prices in the EEC after the 1 April tariff revision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy by what percentage he expects demands for electricity to increase over the next five years; how this compares with five, 10, 15, and 20 years ago; and if he will make a statement.

In evidence to the Hinkley Point public inquiry, the CEGB estimated that electricity demand would rise by 2·1 per cent. per annum over the period to 1997, which represents a capacity requirement of 53·6 GW. This figure compares with peak capacity demands in 1984 of 41·9 GW; 1979–42·2 GW; 1974—40·9 GW and 1969—37·8 GW.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the EEC Commissioner for energy; and what matters were discussed.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met Commissioner Cardoso e Cunha on 16 March in London. Discussions covered arrangements for common carriage of electricity, prospects for coal in the United Kingdom, the JET project, the renewables and energy efficiency programmes and the Community directive on gas burn in power stations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will indicate the criteria used in determining when a public inquiry should be held into an application to build a nuclear power station in the United Kingdom.

Before reaching his decision on any application for his consent to construct an electricity generating station my right hon. Friend is obliged to hold a public inquiry into the application if a relevant local planning authority has objected to it.Even if there is no objection from a relevant local planning authority, my right hon. Friend can still call for a public inquiry to be held, if he thinks it appropriate, in the light of other objections received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment he has made of the proposed Anglo-American consortium plans for a safe integrated reactor.

Last December the Atomic Energy Authority signed a memorandum of understanding with Rolls-Royce Associates and others to proceed with the design and development of a 300 MW pressurised water reactor known as the safe integrated reactor. The Department is continuing to keep itself informed of developments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his Department's estimate of the level of fossil fuel imports for the year 1990.

The Department does not publish forecasts of fossil fuel imports.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of the nation's energy requirements could be met by tidal barriers; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington, South (Mr. Butler) on 30 January at column 88.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the EEC Commissioner for competition; and what matters were discussed.

Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State nor I have met the EC Commissioner for competition since his appointment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the contribution of renewables to the supply of electricity in Britain by the year 2000 and 2010.

Renewable energy technologies are at an early stage of development and there is great uncertainty about future projections. The most recent estimates of the contribution that could be made by each renewable energy source in the year 2025 have been published in energy paper 55, copies of which are in the Libraries of the House. Energy paper 55 estimates that by the year 2025 renewable energy might provide up to the equivalent of around 24 per cent. of supply electricity requirements if the technologies can be proven and applied commercially. No estimates are available for the years 2000 and 2010. It is Government policy to encourage the maximum exploitation of renewable sources of energy wherever they have prospects of being economically viable and environmentally acceptable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the total number of people to have visited the visitors centre at Sellafield.

Nearly 145,000 people have visited the visitors centre at Sellafield since it was opened in June 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will meet the director general of Ofgas to discuss implementation of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on gas prices.

My right hon. Friend is due to meet the Director General of Gas Supply later this month when they will discuss a range of issues of mutual interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the current stockpile of tritium in the United Kingdom intended for (a) fusion energy reseach and (b) luminosity use; and what information he has of the amounts of tritium stockpiled and used for non-military purposes in other OECD countries.

There is no stockpile of tritium in the United Kingdom for fusion research. No central records of commercial stocks of tritium are kept, but users have to be registered under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 and are limited in the amount of tritium they are allowed to store on their premises. Their records are subject to regular inspections by the Department of the Environment. I have no information concerning overseas stockpiles of tritium.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give the date of the start of work on the oscillating water column project on Islay, the date of the completion of civil construction work on that project; and the date of the formal signature by his Department of the papers authorising this work.

My Department announced the construction of the shoreline wave energy project in Islay on 1 July 1987.Construction work was started at the beginning of August 1987. The construction and preliminary monitoring phase was successfully completed by the end of March this year. I announced to the House on 23 March that the next phase of the project, to install an air driven power turbine and generator, will now proceed, subject to contract, on the basis of the data acquired so far.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will list the number and amounts of payments for work on wave energy in which settlement of the invoice by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority was more than a year after the submission of the invoice; and if he will give the length of the delay in each case;(2) if he will list those contracts on wave energy research in which final signatures of the papers by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority officials was more than a year after the start of the contract; and if he will give the length of the delay in each instance.

The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what will be the cost, in terms of repairs and lost output, of the minor accident at Dungeness B nuclear power station on 5 February, in which a fuel rod fell into the reactor from the refuelling winch; and for how long the reactor will be out of service.

This is an operational matter for the CEGB and I have asked the chairman to reply diret to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will give the projected figure for the import of coal from the Soviet Union for each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement;

Coal imports from the USSR since 1984 have been as follows:

	thousand tonnes
1984	11
1985	23
1986	48
1987	89
1988	375

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what sum of the grant-in-aid to the Medical Research Council was specifically directed to the study of the problems of sufferers from myalgic encephalomyelitis in the year 1988–89.

The Medical Research Council did not support any research specifically concerning myalgic encephalomyelitis in 1988–89. It did, however, support some work on immune responses to muscles, nerve cells and related structures which may be relevant to the understanding and treatment of this condition. The Medical Research Council is always ready to consider soundly-based scientific proposals for funding of new research, in competition with other applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the Government intend to issue orders under section 222 of the Education Reform Act 1988.

The Government intend to make an order under section 222 of the Education Reform Act towards the end of May this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science which universities, polytechnics and colleges of technology had departments of marine engineering in 1968 and in 1988; and how many undergraduate and postgraduate students each department had in 1968 and 1988.

Figures for 1988–89 are not yet available. In 1987–88 there were no postgraduate or first degree students studying marine engineering at polytechnics and colleges in England, although there were 471 sub-degree higher education students; information for 1968 is not available. Published statistics for university students studying mechanical engineering include students studying marine engineering and are shown in the following table. Comprehensive information for individual departments of marine engineering is not readily available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what safeguards exist under the provisions for delegated schools budgets to ensure that governors do not misuse their positions in respect of the placing of contracts with private companies.

Governers are free to place contracts with whichever company offers the service which best meets their school's needs. There are a number of safeguards: the Education (School Government) Regulations prevent individual governors from participating in any decision in which they have a pecuniary interest; governors acting in bad faith over the placing of contracts, whether for gain or otherwise, would not be protected from personal liability; and the use of improper influence in the placing of contracts would also constitute grounds for the withdrawal of delegated responsibility.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what arrangements he intends to make for consultation on the forthcoming publication of Government proposals on student unions;(2) when he intends to publish the Government's proposals arising from its survey of student unions; and what form the publication will take.

My Department has prepared a factual analysis of responses to the survey of student unions announced by my right hon. Friend in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Mr. Janman) on 18 April 1988 at column 292. The analysis will be sent shortly for comment to the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals, the Committee of Directors of Polytechnics, the Standing Conference of Principals, the Association of Principals of Colleges and the National Union of Students. Thereafter, it will be published. As I indicated in my reply to my hon. Friend the member for Basildon (Mr. Amess) on 17 February 1989 at column 415, the Government will now consider what action might be taken and in due course will consult all those concerned. The form of the consultations will depend on the nature of the conclusions reached.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average rise in salary for each of the last 10 years expressed in relation to the rise in average professional earnings for (a) scale 1 primary school teachers, (b) the average primary school teacher and (c) the heads of primary schools.

[holding answer 23 March 1989]: The information is as follows:

Increases in average full-time primary teachers' salaries [relative to increases in professional earnings]
	Annual percentage increases:
	All Primary teachers1	Relative to professional earnings2	Scale One3	Relative to professional earnings2	Heads	Relative to professional earnings2
As at 1 April
1980	36·9	+ 8·7	36·0	+ 7·9	40·2	+ 11·2
1981	9·0	-7·7	9·9	-6·9	6·0	-10·2
1982	7·6	-0·2	8·0	+ 0·2	7·4	-0·4
1983	5·8	-2·3	6·7	-1·5	3·9	-4·1
1984	5·7	-1·1	6·3	-0·5	5·1	-1·7
1985	7·3	+ 0·5	7·7	+ 0·8	6·8	0
1986	7·3	-2·1	7·7	-1·7	7·1	-2·3
1987	16·5	+ 7·4	—	—	19·9	+ 10·6
1988	4·2	-6·3	—	—	4·2	-6·3
19894	7·2	—	—	—	7·5	—
1 Based on the database of teacher records and relevant salary scales. Figures take account of salary drift and incentive allowances, and include the salaries of heads and deputies.
2 Data is from the average gross earnings of full-time employees for combined occupation groups II, III & V, new earnings survey. Data for 1 April 1989 not yet available.
3 Scale One teachers were incorporated on to the main scale on October 1987.
4 Assuming adoption of the recommendations in the second report of the Interim Advisory Committee on School Teachers' Pay and Conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average primary schoolteacher's rise in salary for each of the last 10 years in absolute cash terms, in real terms and in relation to the rise in average earnings.

[holding answer 23 March 1989]: The information is as follows:

Increases in average full-time primary teachers' salaries
Annual percentage increase:
	actual1	in real terms2	in relation to average earnings3
As at 1 April
1980	36·9	12·5	+11·4
1981	9·0	-2·7	-3·9
1982	7·6	-1·6	-1·6
1983	5·8	1·7	-2·6
1984	5·7	0·5	-2·2
1985	7·3	0·4	0
1986	7·3	4·2	-0·6
1987	16·5	11·7	+ 8·2
1988	4·2	0·3	-5·1
19894	7·2	—	—
1 Based on database of teacher records and relevant salary scales. Figures take account of salary drift and incentive allowances, and include the salaries of heads and deputies.
2 Derived from the retail price index. Data for 1 April 1989 not yet available.
3 Data is from the average gross earnings of full-time employees (all occupations), new earnings survey. Data for 1 April 1989 not yet available.
4 Assuming adoption of the recommendations in the second report of the Interim Advisory Committee on School Teachers' Pay and Conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what will be the estimated number of people graduating with first degrees in each of the years 1989 to 1995; and what number and what proportion of these totals for each year will need to be recruited into teaching to maintain current pupil to teacher ratios, on the assumption that relative pay and wastage continues at current levels.

[holding answer 6 April 1989]: The latest available projections of the total numbers of first degree graduates in Great Britain, including Open university and overseas graduates, were published in the Government's expenditure plans 1989–90 to 1991–92 (Cm. 612). The numbers are shown below.

	Thousands
1989	133
1990	135
1991	136
1992	138

The proportions of these graduates who will need to be recruited into teaching in order to maintain current pupil-teacher ratios will depend in part on the number of recruits from sources other than newly trained graduates.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations has he received regarding the attention paid to environmental factors in the aid programme.

Environmental aspects of aid, including our commitment to sustainable development and such specific matters as rain forest conservation, are frequently raised by hon. Members and members of the public, as well as by the non-governmental organisations with which we have regular contact.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support for forestry is provided under the overseas aid programme.

We have committed about £80 million to forestry projects currently underway. We are encouraging aid recipients to direct more of our aid to forestry and we are increasing our support through British charities and for forestry research. We shall also encourage other donors, including multilateral agencies, to give more support to forestry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future plans for the British undergraduate fellowship scheme, South Africa.

We are increasing the number of awards available for undergraduate level studies by disadvantaged South Africans, some of whom will continue to be sponsored on courses in this country under the British undergraduate fellowship scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria will determine (a) which organisations in Namibia may receive development aid and (b) the amount of development aid available to Namibia in the run-up to the independence of that country.

From 1 April 1990 we expect to provide aid to Namibia on the same basis as to other independent countries. In the meantime, we plan to continue with the existing programme and to make preparations for future activities. In the financial year just ended disbursements on our Namibian programme amounted to about £1·5 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last visited Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.

I visited Sri Lanka in March 1988, when I signed a £20 million reconstruction grant for projects and programmes in the north and east of the island.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support is being given to Dr. John Proctor and the forest regeneration team at Maraca on their work on management of regeneration where rain forests have been destroyed and abandoned and on why rain forests end abruptly and give way to natural savanna.

Since 1987 the ODA has committed £80,500 in support of the forest regeneration team which forms part of the Maraca rain forest project organised by the Royal Geographical Society.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what studies he is financing in the Maraca project or elsewhere to help stem forest destruction by better understanding of the significance of different soil types.

The soil studies of the Maraca project, which the ODA helps to fund, are directed to this end by, for example, helping to understand the relationships between the forest and the soil in the critical boundary zone between the rainforest and the savanna woodland. Examples of other ODA activities include the Overseas Development Natural Resources Institute's land use work in Belize, Cameroon, Indonesia and Sri Lanka and the ODA-supported land use studies being carried out by the World Wide Fund for Nature in Cameroon and Nigeria.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to monitor the work of the joint Brazil—United Kingdom research project on Maraca Island in the Amazon.

The ODA's forestry and environment advisers have been monitoring the project on the basis of regular reports from the research team since April 1987. A review conference took place in Brazil from 3 to 5 April; we expect a report from the Royal Geographical Society.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration he has given, pursuant to the statement on 13 March Official Report, column 170, to the report of Mr. Philip Morrice on fire-fighting and related equipment for saving the Amazon forest; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Morrice reported that the Brazilian authorities needed aircraft, vehicles, patrol boats and telecommunications equipment for fire fighting. I understand that the Brazilian Government are formulating an environmental project, which would cover fire fighting equipment, for consideration by the World Bank. We are discussing with the Brazilians what technical cooperation we could offer in the area of rain forest management and protection.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on (a) multilateral and (b) bilateral research with Brazil on rainforest problems.

Multilateral assistance for research in the Brazilian rain forest has been provided over a number of years through the FAO. Additional proposals are being considered by the International Tropical Timber Organisation and the World Bank. Bilaterally we are currently considering with the Brazilian authorities how and where we might provide further support for their programmes of research on rainforest problems.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the statement of 13 March, Official Report, column 172, to what debt-for-nature swop the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Enfield, North (Mr. Eggar), was referring following his visit to Bolivia; and what lessons have been learned.

My hon. Friend was referring to the arrangement agreed between the United States charity, Conservation International, and the Bolivian Government in July 1987. I understand that Conservation International bought $650,000 of Bolivia's commercial bank debt at an 85 per cent. discount. In return for cancellation of the debt the Bolivian Government undertook to implement conservation measures in the Beni Biosphere reserve in northern Bolivia. Although it is too early to judge the outcome of the scheme, we believe that this type of market based debt reduction mechanism can play a modest but useful role in augmenting the resources available for conservation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what request he has received from the Brazilian Government for (a) further technical co-operation and (b) co-operation to understand the genetic potential of the Amazon; and if he will make a statement.

During his visit to London in March, the Secretary-General of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked us to suggest further work under the aid programme to help cope with problems of the rainforests. We shall be writing shortly offering assistance in one or more of several areas: genetic resources, social forestry and forestry management and further help for research projects like the Maraca project. The Secretary-General of the Brazilian Ministry of the Interior called on me on 6 April and undertook to send proposals for additional aid projects in this area. We offered help in training and institutional links. I hope to send out professional advisers shortly to discuss the details with the Brazilian authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom aid to Ethiopia and the Sudan.

We maintain a small technical co-operation programme for Ethiopia, but the bulk of our aid has been in the form of emergency and relief assistance (more than £21 million in 1988 through bilateral and European Community channels).In the case of Sudan, we have a substantial development aid programme, totalling about £18 million in 1988. We also gave an additional £14·4 million last year, through bilateral and European Community channels, in emergency and relief aid.

To ask the Attorney-General how many local prosecutors have issued instructions to their staff not to comment on the Lord Chancellor's Green Papers on legal reform; and whether he has issued such an instruction.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has reminded all members of the Crown prosecution service that, in accordance with standard Civil Service practice, they should not comment publicly on matters of current political controversy. The director has expressed the view that if members of staff wish to make comments on issues raised in the Green Paper, the most appropriate course is to send them to the working party which has been set up under the chairmanship of the deputy director-chief executive to consider the Department's response to the Lord Chancellor's proposals.All chief crown prosecutors have taken steps to ensure that their staff are aware of the director's views. In addition, one chief Crown prosecutor has informed staff that he will forward their views to the Director of Public Prosecutions, but that they are not otherwise to comment, and one chief Crown prosecutor has issued instructions that his staff should consult him before commenting.I have not issued any such instruction.

To ask the Attorney-General what assessment he has made of the savings to clients in the cost of provision of legal services which would arise from the Lord Chancellor's proposals for the legal profession.

The purpose of the Government's provisional proposals is to ensure that the public are provided with the most efficient and effective network of legal services at the most economical price. No assessment has yet been made of the potential savings to clients.

To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received on the Green Paper proposals on reforming the legal system with respect to their effect on the constitutional relationship between the Government and the judiciary.

As at 31 March 1989 a total of 72 such responses had been received.

To ask the Attorney-General when he expects the Land Registry to become an agency.

The Land Registry's candidacy as an agency has been announced, but no date has yet been fixed for it to assume agency status.

To ask the Attorney-General how many qualified lawyers are employed by the Crown prosecution service; and how many of these are also qualified as barristers.

The latest figures available were given to the hon. Gentleman in my written answer of 16 March 1989. On 31 December 1988 the Crown prosecution service had 1,539 qualified lawyers in its employment, of whom 549 were barristers.

To ask the Attorney-General what is his estimate of the costs to the Crown prosecution service of employing barristers in Crown court appeals againt sentence or conviction and committals for sentence in (a) Greater London and (b) Manchester at the latest available year.

Barristers employed by the Crown prosecution service do not have rights of audience in the Crown court. The average fees paid to counsel instructed to appear on behalf of the CPS in such cases for the period 1 April to 31 December 1988, the only period for which such information is available were:

	£
Appeals against sentence	72
Appeals against conviction	121
Committals for sentence	74

The information given is for the three London Crown prosecution service areas, whose boundaries extend beyond Greater London. Separate figures for Greater London are not available.The equivalent figures for Greater Manchester are:

	£
Appeals against sentence	81
Appeals against conviction	132
Committals for sentence	84