To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to be (a) the number of surviving holders of three per cent. war loan who purchased the stock when it was issued and (b) the total nominal value of the stock held by them.

I regret that the information is not readily available in the form requested.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library the Crombie set of rules on the Civil Service.

There is no Crombie set of rules on the Civil Service. However, I am writing to the hon. Member with details of the compensation terms, known as the Crombie code, which applied widely in the public sector from 1947 for those who became redundant as a result of nationalisation or statutory reorganisations. As the House was told on 3 July 1980 (Official Report, column 1823), the need for the Crombie code has long since ceased to exist.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on what research is currently conducted by the open university at its central Milton Keynes campus and its regions, sponsored from the central annual grant to the university.

It is for the open university to decide how much of its recurrent grant should be spent on research. In 1988–89 over £8 million was spent from recurrent grant; this is in addition to funding received from the research councils, DES research grants and other sources. Areas of research cover science and technology, social sciences, arts and humanities and involve both specific research projects and support for academic activity. The open university provides information on its research to the OU visiting committee which advises Ministers on all aspects of the university's work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress he has made on his proposals for the reform of the non-standard routes to qualified teacher status; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is today issuing draft regulations and a draft explanatory circular. Subject to the outcome of consultation on these, he plans to lay regulations before the House with a view to having the new arrangements in place by September.The revised regulations replace the Education (Teachers) Regulations 1982 and are concerned, among other things, with new arrangements for the award of qualified teacher status (QTS), including the licensed teacher scheme; the specialist qualifications needed for teaching hearing or visually impaired pupils; the probationary service of qualified teachers; and the implementation of the European Community directive on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications, as it applies to teachers.The draft regulations and circular have benefited from responses to the consultation document on the reform of the routes to QTS which was issued last year.The majority of those responding to that document supported the principle of the reform. My right hon. Friend is confident that the proposed new arrangements will provide a better framework within which to recruit and train the teachers in our schools in the 1990s.Copies of the draft regulations and circular have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representation his Department had at the latest large scale reprocessing plant safeguards meeting held recently at Sellafield with representatives from Japan, the United States of America, France, the Federal Republic of Germany and the safeguards directorates of Euratom and the International Atomic Energy Agency; and what papers have so far been presented to the LASCAR meeting by United Kingdom representatives.

One member of the Safeguards Office attended the meeting held between 27 February—3 March at Sellafield to consider large-scale commercial reprocessing plant safeguards (LASCAR). The information exchanged at LASCAR meetings is confidential to the parties involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what actions have been taken to improve nuclear safety nationally and internationally by Her Majesty's Government since the Chernobyl accident on 26 April 1986.

The United Kingdom has maintained a high level of safety over 30 years of civil nuclear power production. The Government are committed to continuing this and have made available the resources to ensure it.On plans for dealing with a possible nuclear accident in the United Kingdom, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Merionnyd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 12 December 1988 at column 391.Internationally, the United Kingdom has encouraged the exchange of information and ideas on nuclear safety, in particular between operators and between regulators. The International Atomic Energy Agency is the prime forum for such exchange, but there have also been bilateral exchanges; Her Majesty's chief inspector of nuclear installations last month visited Moscow for meetings with his Russian counterpart.There have been IAEA and EC initiatives on actions to be followed in the event of nuclear accidents. Two IAEA conventions—on the early notification of nuclear accidents and on mutual assistance in the case of a nuclear accident—were concluded in 1986. Similar arrangements for the notification of accidents have been agreed within the EC and the United Kingdom has bilateral agreements with a number of countries. Member states of the EC have agreed other measures to be implemented in the event of an accident, such as those on the contamination of foodstuffs.As further encouragement for the international exchange of safety awareness and information, the World Association of Nuclear Operators has been formed, and will meet later this month in Moscow under the chairmanship of Lord Marshall of Goring.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what departmental representation including papers for presentation, will be made at the eleventh annual symposium on safeguards and nuclear material management in Luxembourg on 30 May to 1 June 1989.

One member of my Department will be attending the symposium.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newport, West, Official Report, 23 March, column 763, on the cargo carried by the PNTL ship Pacific Sandpiper, why section 2(i) of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 was not applicable; and from which country had the consignment of irradiated fuel elements originated.

Details of individual consignments are confidential. Section 2(i) of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 was not applicable as the nuclear material in this consignment was neither enriched nor reprocessed in the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he is taking to monitor heavy metal and other toxic substances from Piper Alpha.

I refer the hon. Lady to the reply I gave on 8 December 1988 to my hon. Friend the Member for Dulwich (Mr. Bowden), and to the replies given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland to the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow (Dr. Godman) on 11 January 1989, and to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Doran) on 3 May 1989.The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland, in co-operation with the operators, Occidental Petroleum (Caledonia) Ltd, has been monitoring debris and other samples from the vicinity of the site of Piper Alpha for polychlorinated biphenyls and radioactivity. A report on this work will be published shortly.In addition, conditions attached to the abandonment programme for Piper Alpha approved by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy include requirements for surveys of the toppled remains and surrounding sea-bed to establish the position of debris and to monitor for leakage of oil or gas. They also require samples of sediment, sea-water and fish to be obtained and examined for the presence of PCBs and radioactivity. The conditions provide for repetition of these surveys and sampling at such times as the Secretary of State may subsequently direct. An assessment of the surveys carried out under the abandonment programme will be published in due course.Occidental have also arranged to have portions of the samples referred to above examined for the presence of heavy metals originating from past drilling discharges. This work is being carried out to check predictions, made on the basis of sampling around other platforms, that the levels of heavy metals present are not hazardous to marine life. These results will also be made available to Her Majesty's Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the chairmen and members of all the public bodies to which he appoints in Wales, together with their salaries and expenses.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received this year about the pollution levels in the Irish sea; and what new steps he is taking to respond to this problem.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on Friday 28 April at column 253.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether in commissioning the Community Projects Foundation to undertake community development projects as part of the valleys initiative the opportunity was given for suitable agencies based in Wales to compete for the contract.

I have not awarded a contract to the Community Projects Foundation. Welsh Office support for the foundation's activities in the valleys is being provided under the urban programme following the submission of applications by local authorities in the normal way. It is open to all voluntary bodies to seek urban programme assistance for appropriate schemes and I see no need for any separate bidding process in relation to community development. The hon. Gentleman may wish to note that the foundation was active in Wales prior to the launch of the valleys programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on the basis of how many job losses the changes currently being considered for the regional analytical chemistry laboratories at Aberystwyth are founded; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.There are currently 16 permanent staff in post in the ADAS analytical chemistry laboratory at Trawsgoed, whose closure in 1990–91 was announced on 21 March 1989. The number of post losses consequent on closure of this laboratory will depend on a range of factors, including the future level of demand for ADAS laboratory services elsewhere and the outcome of the examination being given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales to the possibility of alternative uses for this facility.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement setting out the overseas territories of EEC countries whose inhabitants have the right of settlement in the EEC; and if he will make a statement.

EC nationals have the right to reside in the other member states of the Community in accordance with the Treaties. It is for each Member State to define who are its own nationals for Community purposes. The provisions of the EC treaty relating to the free movement of persons apply to European territories for whose external relations a member state is responsible, such as Gibraltar. Citizens of the following overseas territories are also defined as nationals by the member states concerned:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has regarding recent reports that a boatload of 130 Vietnamese refugees were killed in mid-April by Thai pirates.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees, which administers the anti-piracy programme in Thailand, and the Thai authorities, regularly provide the international community with information on the number and nature of piracy attacks. Other than reports in the press, however, we have no details of this particular alleged attack.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken to persuade the Government of Thailand to bring to justice the pirates responsible for the murder in April of 130 Vietnamese refugees.

We co-operate closely with the Royal Thai Government through its anti-piracy programme, which is administered by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and to which the United Kingdom contributes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultation he is having with other Governments on the latest Iranian threat to citizens of western countries; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to my remarks in the House on 10 May at column 850.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has had any meeting with representatives of 20–20 Vision concerning their programme alleging that nuclear materials in the European Community under safeguards, have been diverted to a black market in Sudan.

No. The private secretary to my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary wrote to Ms. Claudia Milne of 20–20 Vision on 3 February 1988, inviting her to contact the appropriate official with a view to arranging a meeting. As far as we are aware, Ms. Milne has never taken up the invitation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to make monthly reports to Parliament, when in session, on developments and United Kingdom votes at the United Nations in New York.

A very large number of United Nations bodies meet in New York at various times throughout the year. These include the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council and the General Assembly and its subsidiary bodies. For the Government to submit regular reports on developments and positions adopted by the United Kingdom in all these bodies would take disproportionate time and resources. The United Nations itself publishes full and publicly available accounts of the work of its bodies. On major political issues, it is of course already our policy to keep the House fully informed of all developments, including those at the United Nations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the annual contribution made by the United Kingdom to the central funds of the United Nations, for each year since 1979.

Our contribution to the United Nations regular budget for the ten financial years beginning 1979–80 has been as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what rent has been received over the past 10 years from United Nations agencies based in London.

The International Maritime Organisation is the only United Nations agency based in the United Kingdom. Prior to 1982, the IMO paid rent to three separate private landlords. On 29 October 1982, when it moved into its present accommodation, the IMO began to pay rent. The rent paid (in equal quarterly instalments) since then is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which United Nations agencies have their headquarters in the United Kingdom; where they are based; and how long they have been established in the United Kingdom.

The only United Nations specialised agency to have its headquarters in the United Kingdom is the International Maritime Organisation, which has been based in London since its establishment in 1959.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what basis United Nations agencies located in London are charged rent; and what information he has on comparable levels of rent charged by France, the United States of America, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Kenya for United Nations agencies based in those countries.

In 1977, we and the International Maritime Organisation agreed that the rent for the organisation's headquarters building in London would be 12 per cent. of the capital cost of the building, but that we would reimburse the organisation a sum equivalent to 80 per cent. of that amount. Following transitional rent arrangements set out in my earlier reply of today's date, this agreement comes into force in 1990. From then the annual rent payable by IMO, net of the 80 per cent. reimbursement by Her Majesty's Government, will be £1,195,751 per annum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the likely timetable to set up an amendment conference for the partial nuclear test ban treaty of 1963, following the deposition recently of the requisite number of signatory states calling for such a conference; and if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the prospective conversion of the treaty into a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty.

We have had initial discussions with the other depositary Governments to consider preparations for an amendment conference. No timetable has yet been established. We cannot support the proposed amendment: as long as we rely on a nuclear deterrent, we will need to conduct underground nuclear tests to ensure that our weapons remain effective and up-to-date. But we will of course carry out fully our obligations as a depositary Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the United Kingdom has had recently over the current status of the 1963 partial test ban treaty with its depository states.

We have had initial discussions with both the other depositary Governments in order to begin preparations for convening a conference to consider proposals for an amendment to the treaty. We hope that the depositary Governments will soon meet trilaterally to resolve how this should be taken forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last held a meeting with non-governmental organisations on arms control and disarmament issues; what non-governmental organisations were present; which subjects were covered; and if financial support was offered to the non-governmental organisations to help defray expenses in attending the meeting.

I held a meeting with non-governmental organisations interested in arms control and disarmament issues on 24 April. The following topics were covered at the meeting: SNF, nuclear non-proliferation, modernisation, the partial test ban treaty, conventional arms control, chemical weapons, international arms transfers, and East-West relations.The following organisations took part: the Council for Education in World Citizenship, Church of England Board for Social Responsibility, the European Atlantic Movement, the National Peace Council, the Oxford Research Group, Peace Through NATO, Quaker Peace and Service, Scientists Against Nuclear Arms, the United Nations Association, Verification Technology Information Centre, the Medical Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, World Disarmament Campaign, International Peace Bureau, European Proliferation Information Centre, British Atlantic Committee, British Council of Churches, Campaign Against the Arms Trade, Centre for International Peace Building Studies, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Coalition for Peace Through Security, Committee for International Justice and Peace, Council for Arms Control, Council on Christian approaches to Defence and Disarmament.No financial support was offered to representatives attending the meeting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list each category of weapon of which there is deemed a Soviet surplus, giving his definition of how any particular quantity of weapons is so judged; and if he will set out his source of information on Soviet weapon capacity in so far as national security permits

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the NATO booklet: "Conventional Forces in Europe: The Facts" which was published on 25 November last year and which was then placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom has supplied Iraq with chemical protection suits.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about overcrowding on InterCity trains in the western region (a) during 1987, (b) during 1988 and (c) to date during 1989; and if he will make a statement.

Loadings on InterCity trains are a matter for BR management. Although I regularly receive representations on InterCity rail services, the Department does not keep statistics of them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he now expects construction of the A65 Addingham bypass to commence: and what is the anticipated construction period.

Construction of the bypass is due to start in late June and should be completed by the end of 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what data on motor vehicles the driver and vehicle licensing centre currently sells to outside bodies; and what it receives as a result of these transactions.

Apart from the information the DVLC is required to provide under regulation 15 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 1971 either at no charge or at the prescribed fee of 0.50, certain other non-personal statistical information is supplied at charges set in accordance with standard Government accounting guidelines, in these instances normally set to recover costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends to seek any necessary changes in the law to enable the driver and vehicle licensing centre to collect any extra data on motor vehicles which could then be sold to interested parties.

Not at present: there are no plans to collect any extra data, nor to change the law to enable this to he done.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what new arrangements will be made to allow the driver and vehicle licensing centre to undertake profitable ventures.

DVLC already provides certain designated services at charges set in accordance with standard Government accounting guidelines issued to Government Departments. There are no planned changes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has concluded his review of taxi and private hire car legislation; and if he will make a statement.

Last year the Department of Transport completed an internal review of taxi and private hire vehicle legislation for England and Wales. My predecessor invited comments from the taxi and PHV trades, licensing authorities and consumer bodies on problems and possible solutions. Specific areas for discussion included the distinction between taxis and hire cars, vehicle design, knowledge examinations, quantity control and fares. I am most grateful for all the responses sent to the Department; we have studied all of them very carefully.The Transport Act 1985 introduced changes outside London designed to increase business opportunities and to limit the restrictions on entry into the taxi trade. I am disappointed that some district councils still appear to be rationing the issue of taxi licences, which distorts competition and interferes with the operation of a free market. The Act clearly states the exceptional circum stances in which quantity control may be considered, and licensing authorities should look very carefully at all evidence on supply and demand, not least the price at which existing licences change hands, before restricting the issue of licences. I believe that more time should be allowed for the new opportunities introduced by the 1985 Act to develop, and I have concluded that it is too early to propose further legislation. I would also remind applicants for licences that the 1985 Act already makes provision for appeal to the courts against unreasonable decisions by a licensing authority, and I am not convinced that the full scope of action in the courts has yet been explored.In the case of London, it has become clear that the high standards of service and propriety offered by taxis are highly valued by respondents and the public. London passengers enjoy a quality of service based on purpose-built vehicles developed to enhance driver and passenger comfort. Their roadworthiness and cleanliness are ensured by standards set by the Public Carriage Office, and drivers must pass through rigorous driver testing. I therefore do not propose to legislate to change the present arrangements concerning the black cab or the knowledge of London examination. Neither do I intend to alter the present distinction between the taxi and hire car trades.Since 1980, the fares chargeable by London taxis have been adjusted by reference to an index of cost changes in the previous year. This index reflects the movement of earnings and the range of costs involved in cab ownership and operation, including replacement parts, garaging and servicing, fuel, insurance, depreciation etc. In line with the movement in that index last year, from 9 June 1989 the maximum fares chargeable by London taxis will increase by an average of 11·1 per cent. This rise takes into account, among other things, the increase in quality of new taxis coming into service and higher costs associated with the requirement that new taxis be accessible to passengers in wheelchairs. I have today made an order increasing London taxi fares with effect from Friday 9 June 1989.

To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received regarding the nuclear deterrent.

To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received regarding the nuclear deterrent.

To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received regarding the nuclear deterrent.

I have received a number of letters from individuals and organisations.

To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received regarding the performance of the economy.

To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received regarding the performance of the economy.

I have received a number of such representations. Thanks to the policies we have pursued for the last 10 years, and will continue to pursue, the economy is performing exceptionally well.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the reply of 18 April, Official Report, column 183, given by the Lord President on her behalf, whether she will make it her policy to meet any Brazilian request for the supply of four large cargo and two personnel carrying helicopters to assist in the rain forest protection programme.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development gave him on 10 April, at column 344. The further assistance which we are currently discussing with the Brazilian Government with respect to the protection of the rainforests is likely to be in the area of technical co-operation rather than capital aid for equipment like helicopters.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the achievements of UK 2000; and what assessment she has made of the contribution to its work made by Mr. Richard Branson.

Since its establishment in July 1986 UK 2000 has met all the targets set for it each year by Government. In 1988–89 UK 2000 supported over 700 environmental projects involving well over 80,000 volunteer days and 6,000 trainees. Total Government grant was exceeded by sponsorship from the private sector and about 350 new long-term jobs were created.Mr. Richard Branson's active commitment to UK 2000 has greatly assisted the initiative. His expertise remains available because of his continuing involvement as president.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the proposals of the Commission on monetary union; and if she will make a statement.

The European Council announced at Hanover last June that it would discuss the question of economic and monetary union at its meeting in Madrid on 26–27 June 1989, on the basis of the report that it commissioned from a committee chaired by Monsieur Delors.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on environmental pollution at Mountain Ash.

I am fully aware of local feeling about pollution from the Phurnacite plant, Aberaman.

To ask the Prime Minister if, in her recent discussions with President Gorbachev, she raised the right of self-determination of the Baltic states; and if she will make a statement.

I did not raise this specific issue with President Gorbachev. But the Soviet authorities are well aware that we have never recognised de jure the forcible incorporation of the former Baltic states into the Soviet. We are encouraged by recent signs that the Baltic peoples are increasingly able to express their views about their own future. We hope that this process will continue.

To ask the Prime Minister when she last specifically raised the nuclear non-proliferation treaty with a visiting head of state or Government or during her visits abroad.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs raises the NPT and related issues whenever a suitable opportunity arises. The subject of the treaty has not however been included on the agenda for any talks that I have had recently.

To ask the Prime Minister if, during her meeting with the Prime Minister of Italy on 28 April 1989 in London, she raised the issues of (a) the first preparatory committee for the non-proliferation treaty review conference in New York on 1 to 5 May, and (b) the possibilities for new proposals at the 1990 non-proliferation treaty review conference.

No.

To ask the Prime Minister what is her policy towards the promotion by the European Community of an officially approved single language throughout Europe.

I know of no such proposal. The strength of Europe lies in the diversity of its cultural and historical traditions.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 11 May.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 11 May.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 11 May.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 11 May.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 11 May.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 11 May.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 11 May.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 11 May.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 11 May.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I shall attend a Banquet given by President Babangida.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will consider appointing an official historian for the Prime Minister's Office.

I have at present no plans to do so.

To ask the Prime Minister whether she will support a world conference for children to be organised by the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund as proposed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

The Government are currently considering whether to support this proposed conference on the basis of tentative proposals prepared by UNICEF at the end of the executive board meeting in April.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to provide help and support for 18-year-olds who are leaving care.

Eighteen-year-olds leaving care can qualify for income support and housing benefit, and for community charge rebates in Scotland, in the normal way. In addition, from July we propose to disregard totally any payments to young people who have been in care made by local authorities under section 27 and 29 of the Child Care Act 1980 (or sections 24 and 26 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968).

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security since what date his Department has rented Temple row house, Soho road, Birmingham, for use as a local office; what is the current rental; and to whom it is payable.

The Department has rented Temple Row house, Soho road, Birmingham, for use as a local office since 2 March 1972. The current rental is £17,607·17 per annum, payable to Standard Securities plc, 5 Commercial street, Birmingham B1 1RS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what sum is included in income support to assist with the minimum 20 per cent. community charge payment for those who will receive the maximum 80 per cent. community charge rebate; what arrangements will be made to increase this sum in line with increases in community charge; for how many people he estimates this

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list all the European Community meetings on matters concerning his Department held in 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988.

Pursuant to my reply of 8 May, the Labour and Social Affairs Council met on two occasions in each of the years 1985, 1986 and 1988. There were also a number of informal meetings of Employment Ministers and of Ministers responsible for women's issues, at which some social security items were discussed. In addition, there were numerous meetings of officials but information on the number of those meetings could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give for 1978, 1979 and 1988 for each sum will be more than the minimum 20 per cent. they have to pay; and for how many people this sum will be less than the minimum 20 per cent. they have to pay.

The amounts which have been included in income support levels from April to help meet the minimum 20 per cent. contribution to the community charge are £1·15 a week for single people aged 18 to 24, £1·30 a week for single people aged 25 or over, and £2·30 a week for couples. This was a once-and-for-all adjustment and future increases in the overall benefit levels will be made in the normal way.It is not possible to provide estimates of the number of cases where the amounts included in income support will be higher or lower than the actual community charge levels in advance of these levels being set.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the overall increase in pensioner incomes in real terms by quintile group for each year from 1979–80 to 1985–86.

[holding answer 23 March 1989]: The table shows the requested information for pensioner tax units using (a) net income and (b) equivalised net income.social security office and each social security region, the number of

[pursuant to his reply of 26 April]: The available information has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if there exists in Scotland bridging finance and transfer funds similar to that available to local and health authorities in England and Wales to tide them over the period when community facilities for the handicapped are being developed but institutions cannot be closed.

Within their allocations, health boards may make lump sum or continuing payments to a local authority or voluntary agency towards the cost of projects which make it possible for people such as those with a mental handicap to return to the community.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what funding is available from Government sources for the rehabilitation of mentally and physically handicapped people in Scotland who have been moved out of institutions into the community under the "care in the community" policy.

The cost of providing community care facilities for mentally and physically handicapped people discharged from hospital is met primarily by health boards and local authority social work departments from their general allocations from central Government. These allocations have been substantially increased in real terms since 1979. In addition, a number of voluntary organisations providing community care facilities receive grant either directly from central Government or from regional councils or health boards.Under the urban programme, the Government provide 75 per cent. grant for a number of projects which benefit mentally or physically handicapped people in eligible deprived urban areas who may be returning to the community. Scottish Homes will devote a set amount of its capital allocation from central Government specifically to housing for the disabled including mentally and physically handicapped people. A range of specific weekly social security benefits is available to the long-term sick and disabled. Such people are also eligible as a priority group to apply for community care grants under the social fund and also to the independent living fund. These grants are intended primarily to help those leaving institutional care to set up home and remain in the community.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to announce his decision on the report submitted to him on the European demonstration reprocessing plant at Dounreay.

My right hon. and learned Friend is still considering the report of the public local inquiry into the proposed development and he is not yet in a position to predict a date for the announcement of his decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans to introduce measures to increase opportunities for home ownership in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

I intend to ask Scottish Homes to introduce by October 1989 a rents to mortgages scheme for the tenants of their existing houses. It will also be open to any new town tenants who may elect to transfer to Scottish Homes under tenants' choice arrangements. This scheme will run for a trial period of three years.The new scheme will complement the existing statutory right to buy scheme. It will not compete with it, and is aimed at that specific group of tenants who would like to own their own home but who cannot afford to do so even with the discounts available under right to buy. It is not our intention, however, to draw into owner-occupation those who cannot afford it and the scheme will not be available for those tenants dependent on housing benefit.Tenants who participate will buy their homes by means of a normal repayable mortgage calculated by reference to their present rental outgoings increased to reflect the added benefits stemming from owner occupation, but also adjusted to reflect their added financial responsibility for the future upkeep of their homes. As with right to buy, tenants will benefit from an immediate discount on the purchase price of their property. This will be calculated on the same basis as right to buy discounts, but at a level 15 percentage points less. The remaining finance required will be covered by a deferred loan from Scottish Homes on which there will be no repayments until it is redeemed, for example, on subsequent sale of the House by the owner.The outstanding loan to Scottish Homes, will be abated each year by an additional discount, up to the maximum right-to-buy discount level minus 15 percentage points. However the final repayment due to Scottish Homes will be based on the level of the outstanding loan amount and on the market value of the house at the date of that repayment: incentives will be introduced to ensure that the house is properly maintained.I shall be consulting Scottish Homes immediately about the detailed arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many investigations of general practitioners for overprescribing have taken place in Scotland by the health board in the last (a) five years (b) 10 years and (c) 15 years.

[holding answer 8 May 1989]: This information is not available. General practitioners' prescribing is constantly being monitored by health hoards and area medical committees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he or one of his Ministers last met representatives of the Federation of the Highlands and Islands Fishermen; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 9 May 1989]: Ministers have not met representatives of the Federation of Highlands and Islands Fishermen. The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland is, however, in regular contact with the federation and its constituent associations on matters of mutual concern; and they are consulted on all aspects of fisheries management as appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each year since 1979, and for each district health authority, the numbers of National Health Service patients treated in private hospitals under contractual arrangements; and if he will list the costs of treatment to each district health authority in (a) actual amounts and (b) deflated by the health service pay and prices index.

The number of patients receiving consultant treatment under contractual arrangements, and health authority expenditure on contracts with private sector health providers, for the years 1982 to 1986 (latest available) are given in two tables which have been placed in the Library. Comparable data for 1979 to 1981 are not available.The data provided in these two tables are not directly comparable, for the reasons given in the notes on the tables.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statment on trends in deaths and discharges per bed in urology in the Halton district health authority area.

There is insufficient information to determine the trend. In 1986, when urology treatment first became available in Halton, 35 in-patient cases were treated. In 1987–88 there were 553 episodes of in-patient urology treatment and 432 day cases.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that the Thwaites report on the operation of the radiotherapy department of the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital is implemented by the health authority without further delay.

The health authority is fully committed to implementing the recommendations of the Thwaites report following the radiation incident at the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital. Some measures necessarily take longer to achieve than others, but all will be implemented.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each year since 1979 (a) each hospital closed completely and (b) each hospital closed partially, and if he will break that list down by each district health authority, SHA and regional health authority.

I have placed in the Library tables of hospitals that we are aware have been approved for partial or total closure following consultation under the provisions of the Community Health Council Regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give detail of each capital project costing more than £1 million (a) actually under construction and (b) at the proposal or planning stage; if he will give the estimated date of completion for each project; and if he will break this list down by each regional health authority.

Information held centrally on health building schemes, each costing over £1 million, in England shows that there are at present 503 schemes at various stages of planning, design and construction. I have arranged for a list of the schemes with, where available, their expected dates of completion, to be placed in the Library. It is too early to forecast a date of completion for schemes at the programme stage prior to submission for approval in principle.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give, for each regional health authority, details of proposed capital developments costing more than £1 million which have been cancelled for each year since 1979.

I regret that comprehensive information is not available centrally on the adjustments made by health authorities to their capital programmes over this period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many additional permanent consultant posts he estimates will be established within the next 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

It is estimated that 4,843 new consultant posts will be established in England and Wales between 1987 and 1998. This figure, which represents an increase of 33 per cent. in the number of consultants, includes the 100 new posts announced in "Working for Patients".

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with interested groups concerning the Griffiths report on community care.

We have discussed community care at the regular meetings we hold, with the local authority associations and with chairmen of regional health authorities, to consider items of current interest in health and social services. We remain of the view that further discussions with interested parties will be most useful when our present deliberations have been completed and our proposals for the future organisation of community care are made public.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are his calculations or estimates of the incidence of diseases contracted as a result of contact with domestic animals in each of the past 10 years.

Data on which to base the estimates requested are not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are his calculations or estimates of the number of cases of diseases caused as a result of contact with dog faeces in each of the past 10 years.

The only disease contractable from dog faeces on which we have data is toxocariasis. We have no direct information on the source of infection in individual cases. The rise in cases in recent years is at least in part due to the development of new tests and to increased screening and testing of patients with symptoms suggestive of the disease.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are his calculations or estimates of the number of cases of toxoplasmosis in each of the past 10 years.

The data requested are as follows:—

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress being made to agree a code of practice to enable patients to have access to their own medical records.

The medical profession has provisionally accepted a draft code of practice, a copy of which is in the Library. The Department is now preparing to consult over a three-month period other interested parties such as dentists, nurses, midwives, health visitors, patient interest groups and NHS management. As soon after that consultation as is practicable, the Department will issue the code under cover of a circular.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the report of the Department of Health inquiry into the kidney for sale at Wellington Humana hospital.

It would not be appropriate to do so. Reports were prepared by the relevant health authorities and passed to me in strict confidence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he will be taking in response to the Social Services Select Committee's recommendations on midwives' regrading; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Garrett) and my hon. Friend the Member for Batley and Spen (Mrs. Peacock) on 10 May 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the results of the recent test census will be published.

The main aims of the test were to make sure that procedures for delivering and collecting forms would be effective in the 1991 census and to assess the readiness of the public to accept and respond to the proposed question on ethnic group.A report of the public's response to the proposed question on ethnic group will be published when the results of the test and a small follow-up survey in June 1989, have been assessed. This is expected to be towards the end of the year when the draft Census Order is laid before Parliament. The main findings on the census procedures will be published when the test has been evaluated. This evaluation will include an analysis of the proportion of households in each test area who returned a completed form.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has of any DDT residue found in rabbit meat imported into the United Kingdom from the People's Republic of China.

Monitoring by the working party on pesticide residues (WPPR) has revealed residues of DDT and other organochlorine pesticides in rabbit meat imported from the People's Republic of China. These findings were first published in the WPPR's second report in 1986. The results of subsequent monitoring were published in the WPPR's third report on 13 March this year. Although the levels found pose no health concern, imports are being closely monitored and statutory maximum residue levels introduced last year are being enforced.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much has been spent by his Department on advertisements on commercial television in each of the last five years, listed by each television company.

Information on television advertisements in the form requested is commercially confidential.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the price in pence per pound of sugar, butter, and beef and the price per ton of wheat in the United Kingdom; what are the comparable figures for these items in the world market for food; and if he has comparable information for five and 10 years ago.

Information on first hand/wholesale prices in the United Kingdom is shown in the table. There is no single, representative measure of "world" prices for these commodities. Price quotations available vary according 1:o differences in quality, presentation and point of shipment/destination.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information is made generally available on the price of foodstuffs (a) within the EEC and (b) on the free world market; and if he will make a statement.

For the European Community, Eurostat disseminates a range of information, including prices received by producers for certain agricultural commodities, volume and value of imports and exports and consumer price indices for food. Some price data are also available in the specialised trade press and the publications of trade organisations. Price quotations for some products available for "world" trade are published in the specialist press and elsewhere: but these relate generally to particular qualities and presentation at specified locations and are not necessarily comparable with home-produced supplies available on the domestic market: they exclude products traded under special agreements. A significant reduction in agricultural support levels worldwide—a major aim of the Uruguay GATT round—would cause many "world" prices to rise.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the review of the Channel cod quota is to be undertaken and completed; what action he intends taking to ensure the continued viability of the south-west fishery during the interim period; and if he will make a statement.

We will raise the Channel cod total allowable catch (TAC) at the next meeting of the advisory committee for fisheries management (ACFM) this month. The present TAC is the same as the revised one for 1988 and it is 70 per cent. greater than 1983. Overall, and taking account of the valuable swap of Dutch quotas we secured last December, 1989 fishing opportunities in south west are greater in cod equivalent terms than in 1988. As well as pressing for an early review of Channel cod, we will continue to explore the possibility for further swaps which will improve our fishing opportunities.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the cost of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy slaughter programme is met by the European Community; what the total cost has been to date; and if he will make a statement.

The total cost of the BSE slaughter and disposal programme, excluding Ministry staff and other resources, up to 31 March 1989 was just over £1·6 million. None of these costs are being met from European Community funds.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the draft EC directive on food irradiation.

I refer the hon. Member to the explanatory memorandum 10377/88 on this draft directive which has been lodged in the Library of the House.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of vegetables imported from Holland in 1988 were subjected to irradiation.

None.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about possibilities of monitoring foodstuffs for irradiation.

Dosimetric techniques for monitoring the irradiation of food are well established.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of (a) registrations and (b) applications for the set-aside scheme were validated by field inspections in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested is being collected. I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what proportion of the United Kingdom arable area was subject in 1988 to aerial photography of sufficient quality to allow identification of the cropping pattern; and if he will make a statement;(2) whether he has plans for aerial photography of arable land in the United Kingdom in 1989; and what he estimates the cost will be.

Excluding satellite imagery, approximately 1 million hectares of land, mainly in Great Britain, was covered by ADAS aerial photography in 1988. Some 20 per cent. of this area was arable land. This photography was of sufficient quality to allow identification of cropping patterns. Present plans provide for a similar area to be photographed in 1989, both for statutory and advisory purposes. Total budgeted running costs for the ADAS aerial photography unit in 1989–90 are estimated at £250,000.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the research projects undertaken for his Department by the Natural Environment Research Council during the past five years.

[holding answer 8 May 1989]: The following research projects have been undertaken for my Department by the Natural Environment Research Council during the five years ending 1988–89. Some of the projects were completed in that period and others are continuing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funds were allocated from his Department for directly commissioned research relevant to mental handicap for each of the past five years; and whether he intends those funds to be increased over the next five to 10 years.

No research relevant to mentally handicapped people has been directly commissioned by the Northern Ireland Department of Health and Social Services over the past five years.The Department is soon to commission a major research project to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the policy in Northern Ireland to promote and develop community care for mentally ill and mentally handicapped people selected for discharge from long-stay hospitals. The project will monitor the progress and quality of life of individual patients and will run for at least three years.

To ask the Secretary of State far Northern Ireland if he will state the number of food poisoning cases in each area board in the last five years far which figures are available.

The information is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which Departments in Northern Ireland are responsible for consumer food safety.

The Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Agriculture.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has any plans to up-date the law on food safety in Northern Ireland; when his Department last reviewed existing legal provision; and if he will make a statement.

The Food Acts of the United Kingdom (which include law on food safety) were reviewed in 1984 by officials of the United Kingdom Health and Agriculture Departments. Following that review Ministers agreed that consultations should be carried out on the future of those Acts, and those consultations are now largely complete. As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced in the House on 16 March, new legislation will be introduced when parliamentary time permits. In accordance with normal practice in the field of transferred legislation, comparable provision will be made for Northern Ireland by Order in Council under the Northern Ireland Act 1974.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what responsibilities health and social services boards have in the area of food safety.

[holding answer 5 May 1989]: Health and Social Services boards are responsible for investigating food poisoning cases reported by doctors under the Public Health Act (NI) 1967 as amended. In addition, under the Food and Drugs Act (NI) 1958, a chief administrative medical officer of a health and social services board may, if he suspects that any food is likely to cause food poisoning, seize that food and have it tested. If investigations confirm that the food is unfit for human consumption it may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of.