To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consequences would ensue for the United Kingdom economy and United Kingdom citizens in the event of sterling joining the exchange rate mechanism of the European monetary system and what would be the necessary changes in public policy.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Crawley (Mr. Soames) on 8 May, at column 318.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether value added tax is charged on Ministry of Defence purchases from the United States of America which are delivered direct to British forces in Germany; and if he will make a statement.

United Kingdom VAT is not applicable to such purchases. By virtue of international agreements, German VAT is not charged.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much advertising air time Her Majesty's Treasury purchased with each commercial television company in each of the last five years.

[holding answer 15 May 1989]: None.

To ask the Prime Minister what assessment has been made of the effects on discipline in the Civil Service of the practice of officials sanctioning the unauthorised release of official information other than through conventional channels without prior explicit ministerial consent.

None.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the procedure for considering the annual reports of the Court of Auditors; and if she will make a statement.

The annual reports of the Court of Auditors are discussed each year at the Economic and Finance Council in line with a procedure which the United Kingdom was instrumental in securing.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 18 May.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 18 May.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 18 May.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 18 May.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 18 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.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the current number of teaching vacancies at educational establishments in the Bolton education authority area; and what categories of subject the vacancies fall into.

In January 1989 (the latest date for which figures are available) there were 10 full-time teacher vacancies in nursery and primary schools maintained by bolton local education authority—one in the nursery, five in the infant and four in the junior age group.At the same date there was one full-time teacher vacancy (in English) in maintained secondary schools.No information is available regarding vacancies in other educational establishments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the outcome of the latest meeting of the visiting committee of the Open university in terms of evaluation of the future course profile and financial stability of the university.

At its latest meeting on 13 and 14 April the Open university visiting committee began its consideration of the university's programmes and financial forecasts. It will complete its assessment, and report to my right hon. Friend in the summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what response he has made to the letter of 7 March from the chairman of Warwickshire association of youth clubs, Mrs. B. E. Winstanley, about grant aid for the training of volunteer youth workers; and if he will make a statement.

The Department sent a reply to Mrs. Winstanley on May 10. A copy of the reply has been sent to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total cost of maintenance grants paid to part-time students in each of the past 10 years in (a) cash terms and (b) real terms with 1979 = 100.

This information is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the projected cost of maintenance grants to be paid to part-time students in each of the next five years.

The information which would be required to provide such a projection is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to encourage college lecturers to become school teachers.

Last October the Department published a discussion paper on the staffing implications of projected student numbers in LEA-maintained FE colleges in England. That paper suggested that local education authorities should consider redeploying suitably qualified surplus FE lecturers to teach shortage subjects in schools. Under the proposed licensed teacher scheme, FE lecturers with two years' experience will become eligible for qualified teacher status after one year's service as a licensed teacher instead of two as will be the case generally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Bridgend of 5 May, Official Report, column 256, that no further information is at present available, what further information he intends to collect in relation to awards of incentive allowances, for each school or financial year since 30 September 1987; when and by what means he intends to collect such further information; if he will estimate the date or dates of publication of such further information; and if he will make a statement.

The database of teacher records will provide detailed information on an annual basis about the numbers of teachers in receipt of incentive allowances. The first such data, showing the position in March 1988, are likely to become available early next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he collects information from, or has access to, the University Statistical Record.

The Department has no direct access to the University Statistical Record. Given prior notice, the USR can on occasions supply information not available in published reports, although details of individual institutions normally remain confidential.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the figures for each of the last five years for which records are available of the numbers of British citizens imprisoned abroad who returned to this country within that year.

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state for the last year for which figures are available how many British citizens imprisoned abroad received (a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four and (e) more than four visits from consular officials.

The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in the Official Report all those consular posts which have a local benevolent fund or charity on which they can draw for buying extra food, soap, and so on for British citizens imprisoned abroad, stating against each (a) the total drawn for each of the last five years for which figures are available and (b) the total amount available from each source in this financial year.

Many of our consular posts around the world have access to local benevolent funds. Such funds exist purely due to private donations. Since public funds are not involved we do not keep a central list. The funds also vary enormously in their extent and purpose as well as the degree to which consular posts may draw on them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the issue in Hong Kong on 30 November 1985 of a warrant for the arrest of Lorrain Esme Osman, and the quashing of the warrant by the Hong Kong Court of Appeal on 4 May 1989 on the grounds that it was vitiated by bias.

These are matters for the relevant authorities in Hong Kong and for the courts here.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Government of the Republic of Liberia in respect of Lorrain Esme Osman; whether Mr. Osman has diplomatic immunity; and if he will make a statement.

There has been an exchange of notes with the Liberian Government through its embassy in London about Mr. Osman's appointment as Liberian ambassador-at-large to the European Community and his status in the United Kingdom. It is for the courts to decide whether Mr. Osman has any diplomatic immunity, in accordance with the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964 and the facts presented to them.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why his Department is refusing an export licence to allow gas masks to be sold to Israel for purely defensive purposes.

No application has been received for a licence to export gas masks to Israel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications were received for 1989 for allocations through the

Agency and country	Project name	Requested 1989–90 £	Requested 1990–91 £	Requested 1991–92 £	Requested 1992–93 £	Requested 1993–94 £
Accepted
Marie Stopes International
Kenya	Extension of Family Planning Education and Service Programme for National Youth Service	96,957	52,599	101,490	—	—
Lesotho	Creating a Corps of Village-based Family Planning Educators and Motivator	41,269	33,205	35,652	—	—
Pakistan	Lahore reproductive health extension services	22,844	24,270	25,540	—	—
Population Concern
Bangladesh	Chittagong Family Planning	32,820	36,360	—	—	—
Ethiopia	Development of Manual for Training Rural Women Development Agents	39,670	—	—	—	—
Pakistan	Family Planning through Community Institutions	21,535	23,565	23,835	—	—
Pakistan	Training for Womens Development	24,835	25,985	28,240	—	—
	Totals	279,930	195,984	214,757	—	—
Rejected
Marie Stopes International
Haiti	Condom Social Marketing	36,355	44,110	39,935	—	—
Nigeria	Combat Aids	252,080	352,835	208,454	—	—
Tanzania	National Family Planning Radio Education/endorsement Programme	53,793	53,397	53,882	—	—
	Totals	342,228	450,342	302,271	—	—
Under consideration
Marie Stopes International
Ethiopia	Maternal and Reproductive Health Clinic	114,473	91,500	91.476	—	—
India	Comprehensive Family Planning and Preventive Health Service for employees	69,806	73,382	73,382	—	—
India	Contraceptive Social Marketing	57,843	63,627	64,206	—	—
India	Marketing Educational Family Planning Materials	85,000	85,000	85,000	—	—
India	Soap Drama	26,500	—	—	—	—
Sierra Leone	Work based Maternal and Child Health and Family planning	45,171	33,668	30,544	—	—
Population Concern
Caribbean	Family Planning Motivational video Series	40,158	50,098	44,374	—	—
Nepal	Newalparasi Womens Development Project	36,880	52,635	42,555	34,300	29,590
	Totals	475,831	449,910	431,537	34,300	29,590
Application withdrawn by Agency
Marie Stopes International
Africa	Health Education Family Planning film	18,245	—	—	—	—

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which organisations received allocations from the joint funding scheme for population and family planning projects for each of the years 1987 and 1988; what amounts were allocated to each organisation; and for what purposes.

Agency and country	Project name	Spent in 1987–88 £	Spent in 1988–89 £	Under offer for 1989–90 £	Under offer for 1990–91 £	Under offer for 1991–92 £
Africa Now Marie Stopes International
Kenya	Chogoria Family Planning Programme	—	10,300	9,213	8,358	11,182
Bangladesh	Family Planning, preventative health care	23,550	23,793	52,868	—	—

This information is maintained by financial year rather than calendar year. Details of the population and family planning project applications which have been received under the joint funding scheme for the current financial year, 1989–90, and following years are:

This information is maintained by financial year rather than calendar year. Details of the population and family planning projects which have been supported under the joint funding scheme in the financial years 1987–88 and 1988–89 are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contributions for 1989 are being made to the International Planned Parenthood Federation, the United Nations Fund for Population Activities and the World Health Organisation's special programme on human reproduction.

We have made the following pledges for 1989:International Planned Parenthood Federation:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list bilateral disbursements for population and family planning activities in each of the years 1987, 1988 and 1989, classified by project and country.

The Overseas Development Administration funded the following population-related projects in 1987:Bangladesh

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received representations about the increase in pornographic books and magazines in circulation; whether he is giving consideration to a more effective definition of obscenity; and if he will make a statement.

We receive correspondence about a number of aspects of our controls on obscene material. The Government have supported recent attempts to strengthen the test of obscenity in the Obscene Publications Act 1959, and have strengthened the controls on child pornography. Attempts to change the 1959 Act have not yet commanded the support of Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to whether maximum use and benefit is currently being derived from the Metropolitan police car pound at Calthorpe street, London WC1; and if he will make a statement.

I understand from the commissioner that although the car pound at Calthorpe street WCI has not yet been used to full capacity it is regarded as an important acquisition, allowing the Metropolitan police scope for expansion of their removal operations and providing additional space which may be required in the event of closure of other car pounds.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will update his Department's 1982 research into electoral registration entitled "Electoral Registration in 1981".

The 1981 study was based on replies to questions included in the post-enumeration survey following the 1981 census. Parliament will be informed of any proposal, in the light of consideration in due course, to include similar questions in the post-enumeration survey following the 1991 census.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated turnover of off-course betting on greyhound racing for 1989.

The Home Office is not in a position to make an estimate of the proportion of off-course betting attributable to greyhound racing.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will announce if there will be an inquiry into greyhound racing finances;(2) how many representations he has received in favour of an inquiry into greyhound racing finances.

Between November 1988, when the British Greyhound Racing Board launched a campaign for an inquiry into the finances of greyhound racing (and of horseracing) and their relationship to off-course betting, and 15 May, we have received 13 letters from Members of Parliament in support of or asking about such an inquiry. In addition, in that period there have been two earlier questions asking if such an inquiry is to be established, and early-day motion 185, which calls on the Government to undertake a

"wider inquiry into off-course bookmaking and the feasibility of a levy for greyhound racing".

In his reply on 22 March to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Langbaurgh (Mr. Holt), my right hon. Friend said that he would announce his conclusion on the recommendation from the Government-appointed members of the Horserace Betting Levy Board that there should be an inquiry into the long-term funding of racing when he had received and considered advice from Lloyds merchant bank as to the feasibility of privatising the Horserace Totalisator Board. Whether or not the financing of greyhound racing should be included in such an inquiry is among the considerations which my right hon. Friend is taking into account.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give instructions to all electoral returning officers that every polling station should have reasonable access for disabled people, including those in wheelchairs.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Tooting (Mr. Cox) on 6 April 1989, at column 738.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the longest period during the past 20 years for which a person has been held in custody on remand; and who currently on remand has been held for the longest time.

Information about the longest periods held on remand during the last 20 years is not available centrally. On 31 March 1989 one unconvicted prisoner had been held in Pentonville prison for more than three years having been committed to custody pending completion of extradition proceedings. An indication of the length of time spent in prison service establishments by persons received on remand is published annually in "Prison Statistics England and Wales" (tables 2.3, 2.4 of the latest issue, for 1987, Cm. 547), copies of which are in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long Lorrain Esme Osman, currently held in Her Majesty's prison, Pentonville, has been in custody; what grounds there are for Mr. Osman's continued detention; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Osman has been in custody since 7 December 1985. He was committed in custody by Bow street magistrates court on I June 1987 to await the Home Secretary's order for his surrender to the Hong Kong authorities under the provisions of the Fugitive Offenders Act 1967. Since then his surrender has been repeatedly deferred pending the outcome of applications for writs of habeas corpus and related appeals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make available the request for extradition received from Hong Kong accompanying a warrant of arrest dated 30 November 1985 in respect of Lorrain Esme Osman.

The request for Mr. Osman's extradition has been considered by the courts. The information provided to the courts in accordance with the Fugitive Offenders Act 1967 included the arrest warrant and supporting documents. It is not the practice to publish other communications about extradition cases.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy not to order Lorrain Esme Osman to be returned to Hong Kong until the English courts have completed their consideration of the effect of the decision by the Hong Kong Court of Appeal on 4 May 1989 quashing a warrant dated 30 November 1985 on the grounds that it was vitiated by bias; and if he will make a statement.

Under the provisions of the Fugitive Offenders Act 1967 my right hon. Friend cannot order the return of a fugitive until any proceedings challenging the committal for surrender by the Bow street magistrates, whether by way of an application for habeas corpus or an appeal arising from such an application, have been concluded.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in England and Wales have lost their lives in the course of their duty in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

The number of police officers in England and Wales who were killed in the course of duty during each of the past five years is as follows:

	Number
1984	15
1985	7
1986	9
1987	11
1988	2

In each of the years 1987 and 1988 one officer in addition to the above figures lost his life as a result of responding to criminal action while off duty.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints he has received during 1989 about delays in the renewal of passports held by United Kingdom citizens.

We have received about 250 letters of complaint about delays at the passport offices since the beginning of the year. Not all of these related specifically to applications for renewal or replacement of an existing passport.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Beverley of 15 May, what he treats as legitimate uses to which electronic surveillance listening devices may be put as distinct from television-based devices.

The Younger report on privacy referred to the use of equipment for aural surveillance in investigative and documentary journalism and in the observation of patients by hospital staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to implement the remaining provisions of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988.

I signed a commencement order on 17 May 1989 which will bring into effect the remaining provisions of the Act as follows:

Sections coming into force on 1 July 1989
Section 2	(Re-definition of exempted shotguns)
Section 3	(Grant and renewal of shotgun certificates)
Section 4	(Transfers of shotgun)
Section 5	(Restriction on sale of ammunition for smooth-bore guns)
Section 6	(Shortening of barrels)
Sections 7(2) and 7(3)	(Conversion of weapon to which section 1 of the 1968 Act applies not to affect classification)
Section 11	(Grant of co-terminous certificates)
Section 13(1)	(Firearms dealers)
Section 15	(Rifle and pistol clubs)
Section 19	(Firearms and ammunition in museums)
Section 20	(Removal of arms and ammunition to Northern Ireland)
Section 23(4)	(Minor and consequential amendments)
23(5)
23(6)
Section 24(2)	(Expenses and receipts)
Sections coming into force on 1 October 1989
Section 17	(Visitors' permits)
Section 18	(Firearms acquired for export)
Section 23(8)	(Repeal of section 14 of the 1968 Act)

Transitional arrangements have been made to allow owners of smooth-bore guns raised to section I control a period of seven months—from 1 July 1989 to 31 January 1990—in which to comply with the new controls. During this time they will have a number of options open to them. If they wish to retain the weapon in its existing condition they may apply for a firearm certificate, or a variation to an existing one, subject to the criteria laid down in the Firearms Act 1968 being met. They may continue to hold the gun on a shotgun certificate by adapting it so that it has a non-detachable magazine incapable of holding more than two cartridges in the manner approved under section 2(3) of the Act. Or they may arrange to have it de-activated. Alternatively, the weapon may be sold to a registered firearms dealer or to the holder of a section 1 firearm certificate who is authorised to acquire it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what decision he has made regarding allowing Fiore, an Italian citizen, to remain in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 17 May 1989]: In 1981 the Italian Government requested the extradition of Mr. Fiore for a number of offences, but the request failed in the courts because a prime facie case could not be established. No further request has been received from the Italian Government for his extradition. When the extradition provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 are brought into force later this year the United Kingdom will be able to ratify the European convention on extradition, which does not impose a prime facie requirement.Consideration has also been given to Mr. Fiore's deportation under section 3(5)(b) of the Immigration Act 1971. Under Community law, a Community national working here can be deported on grounds of public policy, public security or public health. In accordance with case law established by the European Court, however, it would be necessary to have evidence of personal conduct constituting a present threat to the requirements of public policy. Mr. Fiore has been interviewed by officers of the immigration department of the Home Office, but the evidence available does not meet the strict criteria for deportation required under European law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many letters he has received concerning the pay of administrative and clerical staff in Wales.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what provision there is in Wales for student nurses, whose first language is Welsh, to study for nursing qualifications; and if he will list those schools of nursing in Wales who provide training for nurses whose first language is Welsh.

For individuals in Wales to register and practise as a nurse they must obtain qualifications prescribed by the United Kingdom central council for nursing, midwifery and health visiting. Registration enables nurses to practise anywhere in the United Kingdom. Student nurses in Wales are therefore trained solely through the medium of English.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are his intentions regarding the future funding and status of the Polytechnic of Wales.

The Polytechnic of Wales will continue to be funded from the higher education quantum on the advice of the Wales Advisory Body for Local Authority Higher Education. If it acquires corporate status as a limited company it will become an assisted, rather than a maintained, institution, but its funding arrangements would not change. The question of the polytechnic acquiring corporate status in this way is a matter for Mid Glamorgan county council as the maintaining local education authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for improvement of community dental services; what additional resources he is making available to district health authorities for this purpose; and if he will make a statement.

Welsh Office officials will be discussing community dental services with officers of district health authorities in order to assess the adequacy of current levels of provision in the light of the recently issued circular WHC(89)28 entitled "The Future Development of Community Dental Services".

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether there is any cash limit on the central Government resources available to housing associations in Wales for 1989–90; and if he will make a statement.

There is currently no technical cash limit on central Government resources available to housing associations in Wales, but I determine each year the allocation within which Housing for Wales must plan its development programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if the two recent changes in the staff of his Department responsible for mental health provision were post deletions; and if he will make a statement.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number and value of regional selective assistance applications in Wales in (a) 1987–88 and (b) 1988–89.

The number and value of regional selective assistance applications received by my Department was as follows:

Year	1Number of applications	Value of grant applied for (£ million)
1987–88	198	68
1988–89	267	135
1 RSA project and training grants

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many complaints he has received about the National Health Service in Wales in the calendar years of (a) 1986, (b) 1987, and (c) 1988.

This information is not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number and value of regional development grant applications in Wales for (a) 1985–86, (b) 1986–87, (c) 1987–88 and (d) 1988–89.

The number of applications received by my Department under the revised regional development grant scheme (RDG II) and the related project expenditure were as follows:

Year	1Number of applications	2Related project expenditure (£ million)
1985–86	952	169
1986–87	1,640	351
1987–88	3,438	1,567
1 The RDG II scheme closed to new applications on 31 March 1988. Ineligible applications received subsequent to that date have been excluded from the answer.
2 The related project expenditure represents the capital expenditure forecast to be incurred by applicants on projects toward which grant is sought. An RDG II applicant is not required to state the value of grant applied for.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the inflation-adjusted expenditure on the National Health Service in Wales per year over each of the last 10 years up to the year ending March 1989.

The information requested is set out in the following table:

Total National Health Service gross expenditure
Year	1£ million
1979–80	904·7
1980–81	982·0
1981–82	1,018·6
1982–83	1,048·9
1983–84	1,064·1
1984–85	1,096·1
1985–86	1,109·7
1986–87	1,154·3
1987–88	1,219·0
1988–89	1,273·7
1 Actual expenditure has been adjusted for the effect of general inflation by using the gross domestic product market price deflator, brought to a 1988–89 price base.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the figures for perinatal mortality in Wales for each year since 1979, in a form statistically comparable to those produced elsewhere in western Europe.

The numbers of registered perinatal deaths and the perinatal mortality rates for Wales since 1979 are given in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will be able to publish the final line of route of (a) the Talgarth and (b) the Crickhowell bypass.

Not for some time yet.Public consultation on alternative options for a bypass of Talgarth will be undertaken towards the end of the year and a fee competition for the appointment of consultants to undertake a bypass feasibility study for Crickhowell will be held shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales during which year he expects work to commence on (a) the Talgarth and (b) the Crickhowell bypass.

"Roads in Wales 1989—Progress and Plans for the 1990's" shows Talgarth bypass for possible start in the medium term period April 1991 to March 1994 and Crickhowell bypass as a long-term scheme unlikely to start before 1994–95. It is not possible to be more precise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of National Health Service hospitals in each of the Welsh health authority areas for every year from 1979 to the end of 1988.

A list of hospitals in Wales, up to and including 1987, has been published annually in "Health and Personal Social Services Statistics for Wales" copies of which are in the Library of the House. During 1988, one hospital—Neath annexe in west Glamorgan—closed and one hospital—Minffordd in Gwynedd—reopened.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been allocated to Tai Cymru for its rural housing initiative; and how much of this money will be allocated to each district and borough council area in Wales for 1989–90.

No specific allocation has been made to Housing for Wales-Tai Cymru for rural-housing, but I have asked it to maintain its investment in rural areas in line with previous years at around 25 per cent. of its development programme. With regard to detailed allocations by Housing for Wales to district and borough council areas, I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Gentleman.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if his Department's water and environmental protection division will now reply to the letters sent on 14 December 1988 and 19 March 1989 to M. Mathews, R. H. Lockyear and P. M. Jones regarding the effects of the Water Bill on the Swansea City Council (Tawe Barrage) Act 1986.

A letter was sent on Wednesday 17 May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing the average farm income in Wales for each of the last five years for which figures are available and adjusted for inflation.

Average net income for dairy and livestock farms in Wales for each of the five years since 1983–84 was as follows:

Year	Average net income £ per farm
1982–83	8,052
1983–84	7,562
1984–85	6,746
1985–86	7,914
1986–87	8,509

On an index basis, and adjusted for inflation, the figures are as follows:

Year
1982–83	100
1983–84	92
1984–85	79
1985–86	84
1986–87	81

1982–83 = 100

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the additional powers poll tax registration officers have to the current rate collection system in terms of access and examination of personal details.

The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax and there will be no poll tax registration officers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what special steps are being taken by his Department to mark World Habitat Day.

Following the United Nations General Assembly adoption, in December 1988, of a global strategy for shelter to the year 2000, the Department will be preparing regular national monitoring reports, to be presented on World Habitat Day, on progress towards implementing the global strategy.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the total sum realised by sale of assets by the Commission for the New Towns for each year since 1979–80.

The sums realised by the Commission for the New Towns are as follows:

Year	£ million
1979–80	6·43
1980–81	29·61
1981–82	61·85
1982–83	51·18
1983–84	55·25
1984–85	57·59
1985–86	78·67
1986–87	169·31
1987–88	216·66
11988–89	334·00
Total	1,060·55
1 Provisional.

Figures are gross, before deduction of selling expenses.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects the United Kingdom to meet the Montreal protocol target of a 50 per cent. reduction in the use of chlorofluorocarbons.

The Montreal protocol requires consumption of chlorofluorocarbons to he cut to 50 per cent. of 1986 levels by 1999. We expect this to be achieved within the United Kingdom by the end of this year, 10 years ahead of the protocol timetable.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will ban the discharge of raw sewage into the Bristol channel; when he expects these waters will meet EC bathing water standards; and if he will seek a clean water policy for this waterway on the part of both English and Welsh water authorities.

All the English and Welsh water authorities discharging into the Bristol channel have investment programmes to improve the quality of these waters, taking account of the best available technology. It is the Government's policy that all identified bathing waters should meet the standards set in the EC directive as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing, in descending order, the domestic rate in the pound set by the London boroughs for (i) 1983–84 and (ii) 1989–90, showing for each borough the political control at each date.

The information requested is as follows:

Domestic rate poundage and political control in London
1983–84	Poundage(P)	Control at April 1983
Haringey	242·5	Labour
Southwark	226·5	Labour
Brent	223·5	Labour
Greenwich	209·1	Labour
Islington	204·6	Labour
Lambeth	201·5	Labour
Lewisham	197·5	Labour
Hackney	196·5	Labour
Newham	189·0	Labour
Camden	188·4	Labour
Tower Hamlets	177·5	Labour
Waltham Forest	169·5	No control
Hammersmith and Fulham	167·2	No control
Harrow	157·0	Conservative
Hounslow	155·5	Labour
Bexley	145·7	Conservative
Hillingdon	145·7	Conservative
Havering	142·0	Conservative
Richmond-upon-Thames	140·3	No control
Merton	140·0	Conservative
Barking and Dagenham	137·5	Labour
Barnet	135·0	Conservative
Kensington and Chelsea	134·4	Conservative
Ealing	133·5	Conservative
Enfield	133·0	Conservative
Wandsworth	130·0	Conservative
Sutton	130·0	Conservative
Westminster	128·6	Conservative
Redbridge	128·5	Conservative
Bromley	127·5	Conservative
Kingston-upon-Thames	122·5	Conservative
City of London	117·0	Independent
Croydon	108·5	Conservative

1989–90	Poundage(P)	Control at April 1989
Haringey	363·4	Labour
Brent	344·5	Labour
Newham	297·6	Labour
Hounslow	253·4	Labour
Waltham Forest	250·8	Labour
Greenwich	247·3	Labour
Ealing	235·0	Labour
Hammersmith and Fulham	234·9	Labour
Islington	224·4	Labour
Hillingdon	223·8	No control
Hackney	218·5	Labour
Enfield	217·0	Conservative
Richmond·upon·Thames	215·0	Liberal
Camden	210·7	Labour
Lambeth	209·4	Labour
Sutton	209·0	Liberal
Lewisham	207·2	Labour
Barking and Dagenham	205·4	Labour
Kingston-upon-Thames	203·2	Conservative
Harrow	200·5	Conservative
Bexley	197·0	Conservative
Barnet	195·2	Conservative
Southwark	193·5	Labour
Havering	184·5	No control
Merton	181·1	Conservative
Croydon	165·0	Conservative
Tower Hamlets	162·0	Liberal
Bromley	161·8	Conservative
Redbridge	159·0	Conservative
Westminster	143·2	Conservative
Wandsworth	142·6	Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether an acceptable repair scheme for individual semi-detached Parkinson houses is in prospect.

PRC Homes Ltd. licence No. 050 allows for the repair of individual semi-detached Parkinson houses, but access is needed to the adjoining property to carry out works to the party wall. It is for the individual owner of the property to decide whether this is acceptable.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make any changes to his review of the legislation on homelessness as a result of the report published on 8 May by the London Boroughs Association.

The review of homelessness legislation is not yet complete: the recommendations in the London Boroughs Association's report will be taken into consideration in drawing up our conclusions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance has been given to (a) senior management and (b) other employees of water authorities about the application of the terms of the Financial Services Act to their right to discuss matters relating to the industry.

Detailed guidelines on the implications of the Financial Services Act 1986 have been given to water authority chairmen. Guidance to their employees is a matter for them.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide in the Official Report the most recent sampling data for medium, mean and maximum values of mercury in fish and eels downstream of the Whitlingham sewage treatment works in the River Yare, Norfolk.

The most recent analyses of mercury in fish flesh carried out by Anglian water authority were in 1985 and 1986. The results were:

	December 1985	December 1986
Sample Fish	Eels	Roach and Pike
Number of Samples	28	17
Mean	0·48	0·43
Maximum (mg/Kg wet flesh)	1·21	2·35

The amount of mercury entering the river has been reduced considerably in recent years, and the concentrations in the water column of the river are now regularly below the limit of detection.The improvement can be illustrated by the decline in the concentration of mercury in sediment samples:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why, contrary to the requirements of the EEC bathing water directive 76/160, no bathing waters in the United Kingdom are designated or monitored for directive compliance.

None of the United Kingdom's inland waters meet the criteria for identification set out in article 1(2)(a) of directive 76/464/EEC.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many United Kingdom bathing waters passed the EEC standards for enteroviruses and salmonella in 1988;(2) how many bathing waters in the United Kingdom were monitored for salmonella in 1988; and how many failed the EEC standard for this parameter.

This information is contained in the reports on the 1988 survey of bathing water quality, which I placed in the Library. I also refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers given on 21 February 1989, column 572, and 14 April 1989, column 682.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much allocated aid South Yorkshire and Humberside will lose if funds currently available under the integrated development operation programme of the European Community are shared with other parts of Yorkshire and the north midlands.

Under new Community regulations the Government are shortly to submit to the European Commission the eastern England regional conversion plan and a decision on this plan is expected from the Commission in October 1989. In the plan, the United Kingdom will be seeking adequate provision for all existing and proposed programmes. I cannot anticipate what the outcome will be.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost of the eastern England plan by the European Commission; and what assessment he has made of the extent to which it will delay the projects already earmarked under the integrated development operation programme scheme and affect their financing.

The eastern England regional conversion plan is being finalised in consultation with the plan partners for submission to the Commission. This plan will propose provision for funding the Yorkshire and Humberside steel area IDO as well as all other existing and proposed programmes and other measures which are eligible for ERDF support.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research the Government are sponsoring into the effects of pesticide residues on British wildlife.

A number of Government grant-aided bodies are undertaking or have commissioned research projects on the effect of pesticide residues on British wildlife. For example, a joint Nature Conservancy Council (NCC)/Vincent Wildlife Trust project on the effects of pesticide residues in otters is being undertaken by the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology (ITE); the sea mammal research unit of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is conducting similar research on the effects on seals, and the NCC has commissioned research from NERC on the effects of pollution on birds.I am also advised that the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is currently sponsoring a number of projects including:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total cost of the delivery of the Government's information leaflet on the community charge; how many such leaflets were prepared for delivery; and what was the unit cost of production and delivery.

The total cost of production and distribution of the information leaflet on the community charge delivered to households in England is some £950,000, including the cost of display in post offices. A total of 23 million leaflets were produced at a unit cost for production and delivery of 4·1p.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost of storing the 21 million leaflets entitled "The Community Charge (The So-called Poll Tax): How It Will Work For You."

[holding answer 17 May 1989]: The Central Office of Information is currently in negotiation with the Post Office, on behalf of my Department, in relation to any additional costs which may have been incurred as a result of the temporary suspension of the household distribution of the community charge leaflet.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much the Main Group, Warrington housing association, Manchester and District housing association and the Grosvenor housing association are being paid to manage the Warrington and Runcorn development corporation rented housing.

The agency fee was negotiated between the development corporation and the housing associations. The size of the fee is commercially confidential information.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much of the rent increase imposed on Warrington and Runcorn development corporation tenants will go towards paying the management costs of the housing associations involved in managing the Warrington and Runcorn development corporation rented housing.

The rents of tenants of all the English new town development corporations have recently increased. The percentage change of the average rent has been similar in each town. There is no connection between this general increase and the particular decision of the Warrington and Runcorn corporation to change its arrangements for managing its stock.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date Warrington and Runcorn development corporation tenants will be balloted about who their future landlords will be; and if Warrington and Runcorn development corporation will be one of the names on the ballot paper.

I can assure tenants that they will be given the opportunity to choose their new landlord at the earliest appropriate time. The provisions in the Local Government and Housing Bill for the transfer of ownership of new town housing enable the local district council and approved landlords to be the new landlords. The development corporation, or its successor the Commission for the New Towns, will not be a choice available to tenants.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to ensure that between now and when the ballot is held the Warrington and Runcorn development corporation tenants will not be approached by the consortium of housing associations operating in Warrington under the tenants' choice provisions of the Housing Act 1988.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish his proposed modifications to the second review of the structure plan for Kent.