To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received seeking the introduction of free television licences for retirement pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

Since 1 January this year, we have received five letters—in four cases referred to us by hon. Members —seeking the introduction of free television licences for retirement pensioners.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to permit war widows the same concession with regard to television licences as residents in sheltered accommodation.

The concessionary TV licence is available to retirement pensioners and disabled people who live in residential or nursing homes, or in equivalent sheltered housing provided by a local authority or a housing association. There are no plans to extend the concession.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Cumbria as to any investigations being undertaken into the activities of former directors and executives of Barrow Borough Transport Ltd. arising from the finding of the administrators appointed to oversee the company.

1 understand that the police are not conducting any inquiries into this case.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken since receiving a request from the Independent Broadcasting Authority that representations be made to the Irish Government seeking alteration to the Radio Tara, Atlantic 252, aerial siting or its configuration.

We have made representations to the Irish authorities and await their reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many rule 43 prisoners are held in the segregational unit at Her Majesty's prison, Leicester; and what proposals he has for improving the conditions in this unit.

[holding answer 6 June 1989]: On 5 June 1989, one prisoner was held in the segregation unit at Leicester prison under rule 43 for the maintenance of good order or discipline. There are no proposals for improving the conditions in that unit.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the extent and effect on the running of gym, exercise and education periods of staff shortages at Her Majesty's prison Leicester; and if he has any plans to reverse this situation.

[holding answer 6 June 1989]: The PE department currently has a full complement of four full-time PE officers and the PE programme does not suffer from staff shortages. However, for the 12 months prior to 15 May 1989 the department did run with one PE officer short. This caused 90 classes to be cancelled. Nevertheless, the inmates spent some 29,248 hours on physical education from May 1988 to May 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the 82 states which voted for the adoption of the 1978 Vienna convention on succession of states in respect of treaties; and if he will indicate which of those countries have moved to ratification.

According to the official records of the conference, the Vienna convention on succession of states in respect of treaties was adopted on 22 August 1978 by 76 votes in favour (including the United Kingdom) to none against with four abstentions. Subsequently two of those countries which had abstained informed the UN Secretariat that they had received authorisation to support the convention. This was not a roll call vote and the records do not list who among the 94 participating countries voted in favour.As at 31 December 1988 the following countries had ratified the convention: Dominica, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iraq, Morocco, Seychelles, Tunisia and Yugoslavia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of his Department's studies of Soviet involvement in the Katyn massacre taking account of the recent statement by the Polish Government on this matter.

We are following developments closely. There is substantial circumstantial evidence pointing to Soviet responsibility for the massacre. We urge the Soviet authorities to help establish the facts once and for all.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on Vietnamese troop withdrawals from Kampuchea; and what development he envisages in Her Majesty's Government's policies on recognition of (a) the coalition Government of democratic Kampuchea or (b) the state of Cambodia PRK.

Vietnam has withdrawn some troops from Cambodia, but significant numbers remain. We welcome Vietnam's stated intention of withdrawing fully by September.We recognise states, not Governments, and have dealings with neither the CGDK nor the PRK. We currently for see no change in this policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussion Her Majesty's Government have had with the Egyptian authorities about the use of torture of political detainees in Egypt.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Hong Kong Government concerning the trade in ivory in Hong Kong.

We have informed the Hong Kong Government about our decision to support a ban on trade in new ivory. They are now urgently reviewing their position.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received during the present Parliament about the abduction and taking abroad by their foreign-born fathers of the children of United Kingdom citizen mothers; what information he has of the numbers of such children and the countries where they are now believed to reside; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to the reply, 23 May 1989, c. 455]: Foreign and Commonwealth consular records are kept on an individual case-by-case basis. However, it has been possible to identify 56 cases in which Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers have received, during the present Parliament, representations about British children who have been taken overseas or are being kept overseas against the wishes of their mothers in the United Kingdom.The following table gives details of the number of cases together with the countries to which the children have been taken or in which they are believed to be being kept.In five of these cases—one in Cyprus, two in the United States of America, one in Yemen Arab Republic and one in Yugoslavia—custody of one or more of the children concerned has now been restored to their mothers in the United Kingdom.

Country	Number of cases
Afghanistan	1
Algeria	3
Chile	1
Cyprus	3
France	1
India	1
Iran	3
Libya	1

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has now received British Rail's submission for the electrification of the cross city line from Lichfield to Redditch via Birmingham New Street.

Not yet.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many motor car axle-load movements of 12-cwt could be undertaken to equate with the equivalent damage caused by 1,000 12-ton axle-load lorries.

Except for special vehicles, 12-ton axle loads are not allowed. The road wear from 1,000 12-ton axle-load movements would be about the same as from 160 million 12-cwt axle loads.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of how much the kinetic energy as affecting road surfaces has increased through the raising of speed limits (a) of lorries from 50 to 60 mph and (b) of coaches from 60 to 70 mph.

Detailed research into this aspect of road wear is still in progress. The interplay of the different vehicle forces and suspension types is complex, and the effect on the road surface varies according to speed and loading. Current indications are that, at higher speeds, dynamic effects increase the loading on road surfaces. The increases are small and are countered by the improved load spreading properties of most roads at such speeds. The research programme is aimed at determining where the balance between these opposing effects lies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date Barrow-in-Furness borough council applied to him for approval for the council to guarantee with National Westminster bank plc the overdraft facilities of Barrow Borough Transport Ltd.; and what was his reply.

Barrow-in-Furness borough council applied to the Secretary of State for Transport for approval to guarantee an overdraft facility on 12 August 1988 and submitted further information in support of this application on 16 September and 13 October. The application was, however, overtaken by subsequent events leading up to the appointment of administrators on 21 December.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) on what date Barrow-in-Furness borough council applied to him to make loans to Barrow Borough Transport Ltd.; and what was his reply;(2) what information he has as to the total amount of loans made by the Barrow-in-Furness borough council to Barrow Borough Transport Ltd. and as to between what dates these loans were made; and whether he gave his prior consent to the making of such loans under section 79 of the Transport Act 1985.

We were informed in December 1988 by the council that it had made certain payments on behalf of the company between October 1986 and March 1987 and were asked whether consent was needed. We indicated that retrospective consent was not possible. Otherwise no application for consent to loans has been received and I have no information on loans made by the council to the company. The council does not need the Secretary of State's consent to make loans in connection with the provision or improvement of assets, provided that such loans are on terms no more favourable than those on which the authority can itself borrow.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to (a) how many directors were appointed at any one time to the board of directors of Barrow Borough Transport Ltd., (b) how many of these directors were also councillors on Barrow-in-Furness borough council and (c) the financial status of such appointees.

We have no specific knowledge on these points.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to (a) on what date administrators were appointed by Barrow Borough Transport Ltd. and (b) what the total amount of indebtedness by Barrow Borough Transport Ltd. to Barrow-in-Furness borough council was at the date of the appointment of the administrators; and whether he gave his consent to the appointment of these administrators.

Administrators were appointed on 21 December. We understand from the council that £628,000 was owed to them by the company. The Secretary of State's consent was not required to the appointment of administrators, which was made by the courts following an application by the directors of the company under the Insolvency Act 1986. The Secretary of State was, however, kept informed by the council and made clear that he had no objection to the council's action in connection with the appointment of administrators.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the amounts Barrow-in-Furness borough council transferred to Barrow Borough Transport Ltd. between 6 October 1988 and 10 November 1988; and whether his prior consent was sought for such transfers.

We have no information about any such transfers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his consent was sought for the National Westminster Bank plc to obtain a legal mortgage over Barrow Borough Transport Ltd. property.

No, and we have no information about any such mortgage. Public transport companies are, however, entitled to borrow from banks by way of temporary loans or overdrafts without the Secretary of State's consent, and may offer property as security for such borrowing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by how much revenue to the Exchequer would increase if the fuel duty rebate was abolished.

In 1988–89 some £158 million of fuel duty rebate was paid to local bus operators.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of the abolition of fuel duty rebate on (a) bus fares and (b) bus services in sparsely populated rural areas.

We have estimated in 1988 that, assuming all else stayed the same in the local bus industry, the abolition of fuel duty rebate would result in either an increase in fares of some 13 per cent., supposing the whole effect was on fares, or a decrease in bus miles of some 12 per cent., supposing the whole effect was on bus miles. In practice it is likely that there would be some combination of these two effects. No separate estimate has been made of the effect on bus services in sparsely populated rural areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to introduce the new accompanied motor cycle test; and what will the fee be for the test.

We intend to introduce the new accompanied motor cycle riding test, for both motor cycles and mopeds, throughout Great Britain on Monday 2 October 1989. The examiner, instead of conducting the test on foot, will accompany the candidate on another motor cycle (or sometimes in a car) giving directions by radio link. This will make the test more rigorous. It will cover more ground. The examiner will see the entirety of the candidate's performance in the prevailing road and traffic conditions. The change in the test has been generally welcomed.The test will be available from 212 driving test centres throughout the country.Because of the extra costs involved in providing an accompanied test (provision of examiners' motor cycles, protective clothing and mobile radio equipment) it is proposed that the current test fee of £ 16·50 be increased to £24, compared with £18, with effect from 5 June for a car test. We are consulting all interested organisations on the change in regulations to effect this increase.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for repairing the Taunton bypass section of the M5; and if he will make a statement.

Four major maintenance schemes will be carried out over the next few years to renew completely the southbound carriageway to enable it to carry the traffic expected well into the next century.The first of these contracts has recently been completed to the north of junction 26.Every effort will be made to minimise inconvenience to road users during the works, which will be programmed to avoid peak holiday periods.The decision to do the work following a study of the long-term maintenance needs of this length of M5 which was commissioned by Somerset county council at the Department's request.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the availability of unleaded petrol at motorway petrol service areas since the hon. Member's reply from the Minister for Roads and Traffic of 16 February, Official Report, column 294.

My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment and I are pleased that unleaded petrol is now available at all motorway service areas. The number of unleaded petrol pumps at sites is being increased to meet demand.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will uprate to 1989–90 prices the figures for investment by British Rail in the reply given to the hon. Member for Pembroke on 6 April, Official Report, columns 263–64.

The figures are as follows:

	£ million cash	£ million 1989–90 prices
1948	40	603
1949	44	640
1950	43	624
1951	41	548
1952	38	468
1953	56	666
1954	63	749
1955	68	771
1956	90	966
1957	120	1,235
1958	134	1,324
1959	154	1,512
1960	147	1,427
1961	130	1,220
1962	94	855
1963	73	646
1964	83	710
1965	92	748
1966	81	632
1967	65	488
1968	58	423
1969	39	267
1970	48	305
1971	59	346
1972	73	397

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the outcome of the recent European Council of Transport Ministers meeting in Luxembourg; and if he will make a statement.

I successfully negotiated a satisfactory end-date for the United Kingdom derogations from the Community maximum lorry weight limits. Against a Commission proposal that our derogation should end in 1996 I insisted that we needed more time to bring sufficient of our bridges up to suitable strength. It was a major achievement that the 40 tonne gross and 11·5 tonne drive axle weight limits will not apply in the United Kingdom until 1 January 1999.The Council also agreed to an improved inter-regional air services directive; a regulation to improve the working of air transport computer reservation systems, but with suitable data protection; a directive on road haulage statistics; a Resolution highlighting the need for improved co-operation in air traffic control; and conclusions reaffirming the need to make progress in the Community's transit negotiations with Austria, Switzerland and Yugoslavia. The Commission's proposal on charging infrastructure costs to heavy goods vehicles was referred to Finance ministers. Against the United Kingdom's wishes, but on qualified majority voting, the Council agreed to increase the maximum permitted length of articulated vehicles from 15·5 to 16·5 metres; and to adopt a measure requiring a minimum tyre tread depth of 1·6 millimetres over three quarters of tyres' width.There was discussion but no agreement on a proposed short-term road haulage cabotage experiment; blood alcohol levels for drivers; the wearing of seat belts; and west Africa shipping.The Commission presented a proposal on shipping "positive measures" and a revised proposal for Community spending on transport infrastructure. There was some general discussion on the environment and transport under "any other business".

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the outcome of the Council meeting on heavier lorries on 5 June; and what are the implications for the United Kingdom and roads and bridge expenditure.

We agreed that 40-tonne lorries will not reach British roads until 1999. We succeeded in persuading other member states that an earlier end-date would he premature.This date will give us the time needed for our bridges to be adequately strengthened. The strengthening programme is already underway. There are no new expenditure implications on trunk roads. We shall be talking further to local authorities to consider any implications for their programme.The Council also agreed on a work programme for improving lorries so that by the late 1990s they should be fitted with road-friendly suspensions which will be less damaging to roads and bridges, safer, quieter and better for the environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he next intends to meet the teaching unions to discuss the introduction of localised pay agreements.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall) on 6 June 1989 at column 14.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what was the level of interchange between the Civil Service and outside organisations in 1988.

My Department's report on the interchange of staff between the Civil Service and other organisations in 1988 shows that the number of long-term secondments —that is, those of at least three months' duration—between the Civil Service and industrial or commercial organisations increased by 7 per cent. in 1988 to 505. There was a slight decrease—of some 3 per cent.—in the number of long-term secondments between the Civil Service and other organisations, of which there were 499 in 1988.On 1 March 1989, my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and I launched the Bridge programme to increase contact between Government and business. I am confident that, building on the substantial level of interchange achieved in recent years, this programme will provide a valuable boost to secondments and lead to even higher numbers of people being seconded between the Civil Service and other organisations.A copy of the 1988 interchange report has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement setting out his forecast of the effect of current levels of interest charges on inflation.

Current levels of interest rates will, in due course, lead to a reduction in inflation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement setting out the considerations he takes into account in establishing whether the pound is overvalued or undervalued against (a) the deutschmark and (b) other principal currencies.

The considerations the Government take into account in formulating their monetary policy, in which the exchange rate plays a key role, were set out in my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget speech on 14 March, at columns 294–309.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement setting out the considerations which govern his policy in relation to the level of the pound sterling against other currencies.

I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget speech on 14 March, at columns 294–309.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now specify the considerations which would make the time appropriate to join the exchange rate mechanism of the European monetary system.

I refer my hon. Friend to the speech my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer made to the Royal Institute of International Affairs on 25 January.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements have been made to introduce chargeable payroll deductions in the Civil Service and associated non-departmental public bodies.

Where appropriate a collection charge of 2½ per cent. of the amount of the deduction is made.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Customs officers were in post at the ports of (a) Fishguard, (b) Pembroke Dock and (c) Holyhead as at (i) 5 April 1979 (ii) 5 April 1984 and (iii) 5 April 1989.

[holding answer 6 June 1989]: The numbers of Customs officers in post at the ports of Fishguard, Pembroke Dock and Holyhead at 5 April in the years 1979, 1984 and 1989 were as follows:

	1979	1984	1989
Fishguard	21	22	21
Pembroke	17	118	220
Holyhead	45	39	67
1 excludes four mobile staff not solely engaged in port duties.
2 excludes 14 mobile staff.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Customs officers were in post in Britain as of (a) 5 April 1979 and (b) 5 April 1989.

[holding answer 6 June 1989]: On 5 April 1979 there were 7,600 Customs officers in post at ports, airports and inland premises. The figure for 5 April 1989 was 8,000.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the numbers of new value added tax registrations for businesses with registered addresses in Wales for the calendar years 1987, 1988 and for 1989 to date.

[holding answer 6 June 1989]: The local VAT offices that cover Wales also cover parts of England along the Welsh border. These offices are at Chester, Cardiff, Swansea, Carmarthen, Shrewsbury and Colwyn Bay.The numbers of VAT registrations processed by these officers for the years in question were:

Year	New registrations
1987	11,577
1988	14,748
1989—to 31 March	4,061

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimates he has of the number of small businesses with a turnover of less than £1 million which went into liquidation in (a) 1986, (b) 1987 and (c) 1988; and if he will make a statement.

Grade	1 April 1984		1 April 1985		1 April 1986		1 April 1987		1 April 1988		1 April 1989
	Allocation	Staff in Post	Allocation	Staff in Post	Allocation	Staff in Post	Allocation	Staff in Post	Allocation	Staff in Post	Allocation	Staff in Post
E/DIR/L	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
INS/GD/A	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	2	3	3
INS/GD/B	5	5	6	5	7	6	7	8	8	7	12	12

I regret that the information requested is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what arrangements he envisages for the disposal of the assets at NESL.

I made it clear earlier this year, following the announcement that British Shipbuilders was to close NESL, that the remaining work on ferries originally ordered by Danish interests would take some months to complete, and that no action would be taken to break up the assets in the yard before the end of June.In the intervening period, there have been several expressions of interest in some or all of the yards for a number of purposes including shiprepair, shipbuilding and general engineering.I have therefore asked British Shipbuilders and its financial advisers carefully to evaluate all such proposals with a view to advising me by the end of this month whether one or more of them provides a basis for detailed negotiation for the disposal of some or all of the assets. As with the evaluation of bids for NESL prior to the announcement of closure particular weight will be given to the security of resulting employment. In judging viability it will be necessary to allow for the fact that subsidy from the intervention fund would not be available.In making its judgment on the advice offered by British Shipbuilders on any possible disposal, the Government will need also to take appropriate account of its acceptability under the EC sixth directive on shipbuilding of the balance of advantage by comparison with the alternative of acquisition by the Tyne and Wear development corporation for clearance and development; of the extent to which any form of Government financial assistance was envisaged.Should such a disposal take place, the Government would also have to decide whether measures to assist the creation of employment to replace that in the yards continued to be necessary. Pending a decision, elements of the proposed remedial package not yet implemented, including designation of an enterprise zone, will be held in abeyance.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the establishment and staff in post in each grade of the companies investigation branch of the Department of Trade and Industry in each year since 1984.

The following table shows the posts allocated by grade to the companies investigation branch on 1 April in each of the years in question. Staff in post tends to change in the course of a year. The table, there,fore also lists the staff in post on 1 April.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) how many private limited companies registered in England and Wales have a paid-up share capital of greater than £100,000;(2) how many private limited companies registered in England and Wales have paid-up share capital in each of the bands

This information is not currently available for all private limited companies on the companies' register. However, work is in hand to compile data on the lines requested for companies formed since May 1987 and this is expected to be available from Companies house in a few weeks' time.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has regarding the minimum share capital required by private limited companies seeking authorisation under the Financial Services Act 1986 from the Securities and Investments Board or any self-regulatory organisation; and if he will make a statement.

The financial resources requirements for persons authorised by the Securities and Investments Board or by self-regulating organisations recognised under the Financial Services Act are matters for the board and the organisation concerned. As far as I am aware, none of these regulatory bodies expresses its requirements in terms of minimum share capital.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the sum recovered so far from the Barlow Clowes international fund; and how much has been returned to investors.

I understand the gross realisations, including bank interest, made by the receivers of funds promoted by Barlow Clowes International Limited amount so far to approximately £20 million.No distribution has yet been made to BCI investors pending the outcome of three court cases, two of which have already been heard with judgment reserved. The third case, to be heard in late June, will determine the basis upon which each individual investor's entitlement to any distribution will be calculated. I understand that it is hoped that after judgment of the three cases an interim distribution to investors in BCI may be made in the late summer or autumn this year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list regulations made under section 74(7) of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985; and what plans he has to extend such definition.

Regulations made under section 74(7) of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 are set out in regulation 11 of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Regulations 1985 (SI 1985 No. 1925 (s147)). There are no current plans to extend the definition.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will consider legislation to introduce one period applicable to gratuitous alienation to an associate of the debtor or other parties in terms of section 34(3) of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985.

No such legislation is considered necessary at present.An associate of a person who has subsequently been bankrupt would have been in a better position than any other person to judge the bankrupt's financial circumstances when the alienation took place. To be fair and just, an alienation in favour of an associate should continue to be challengeable if it was effected five years before the date of sequestration of the bankrupt's estate while an alienation in favour of any other person should be challengeable if it was effected two years before the date of sequestration.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total value of tourism in Yorkshire and Humberside at current prices in each of the years from May 1979 to May 1989.

I have been asked to reply.The available information relates to expenditure by international and domestic visitors staying at least one night in Yorkshire and Humberside in each calendar year from 1979 to 1988. Figures for expenditure by United Kingdom residents on day-trips within Yorkshire and Humberside are not available.

Expenditure by tourists in the Yorkshire and Humberside region
£ millions
	British residents1	Overseas residents2	Total
1979	255	60	315
1980	275	65	340
1981	300	80	380
1982	295	85	380
1983	335	110	445

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has any plans to restructure his agriculture department in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Agriculture Department staff presently located at Plas Crug are in the process of moving to Trawsgoed. This relocation will produce worthwhile savings in accommodation costs and some staff economies. There will be no redundancies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in Wales are on the waiting list for (a) heart and (b) lung transplants for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Heart and lung transplants are carried out at supra-regional centres in England and the information requested is not held by the Welsh Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he is taking to ensure a sufficient supply of wheelchair housing for people with disabilities who wish to leave residential care or to set up home on their own; and if he will make a statement.

It is for local authorities and housing associations in conjunction with Housing for Wales to assess housing need in their area and to make appropriate provision for people with special needs including those with disabilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of completions of (a) wheelchair housing and (b) mobility housing by (i) local authorities, (ii) housing associations and (iii) the private sector in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Returns from local authorities indicate the number of dwellings built for the disabled to be as follows. Reliable estimates as regards the private sector are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the major obstacles remaining in the way of an announcement by him of the start-up date for the construction of a replacement for East Glamorgan general hospital.

It is for the Mid Glamorgan DHA to indicate when construction of a replacement for this hospital might commence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he is taking in response to the messages received by the Welsh Office from people in the Talbot Green area expressing concern about the operation of the Purolite factory in that village.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply sent to him on 6 June by my right hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the increase in the current year of 3 per cent. in expenditure on institutions of higher and further education in Wales, in the light of the current inflation levels.

The higher education quantum for 1989–90 is based on a figure 8·75 per cent. higher than last year's allocation. Some LEAs may provide further resources for higher education in addition to their share of the quantum to meet local priorities. Recurrent expenditure on further education is supported from the overall provision for local authority current expenditure on education, which rose by 6·3 per cent. between 1988–89 and the current year. Capital expenditure on higher and further education institutions in 1989–90 is expected to exceed last year's figure of £10·7 million by a substantial factor.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what he intends to do to overcome the shortage of young people in Wales with the higher education qualifications and training required by industry and the financial services.

The reform of college governing bodies under the Education Reform Act, the priorities adopted by the Wales Advisory Body in formulating its advice on the distribution of the higher education quantum and the establishment of a transbinary Wales access unit to encourage and support the development of access courses will all assist higher education institutions to meet the demands of industry for highly skilled manpower. We have been encouraging employers to prepare for potential labour shortages by retraining existing workers, and drawing on the unemployed and other adults entering or re-entering the labour market. Our own training programmes are designed to facilitate this. We are particularly aware of the needs of the financial services sector in Wales and my right hon. Friend is discussing with interested parties measures to strengthen the skill base. He will be making an announcement on this shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy towards a physical expansion of stone quarrying in and around the borough of Taff Ely.

Responsibility for mineral planning in Taff Ely lies with the mineral planning authority, Mid Glamorgan county council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he intends to take to combat the problems of litter on and around the streets of the valleys communities.

We are considering placing a duty on local authorities to clean public areas, having regard to codes of practice which the Government would issue. We are also looking at ways of enabling local authorities to enforce the Litter Act more effectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what measures he intends to take to ensure that the Welsh water authority reduces the volume of sewage which it releases into the rivers of south Wales during periods of high rainfall.

None. The operation of storm sewage overflows during periods of high rainfall is a necessary practice to prevent the surcharging of sewers and the likely consequent flooding of properties with sewage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he intends to take to promote the business of research and development in the new industries of south Wales.

My Department actively promotes a wide range of measures aimed at stimulating industrial research and development. Financial assistance is available for collaborative research and for exploring key technologies. The Link scheme encourages companies to work jointly with universities and polytechnics, while small firms can benefit from the SMART competition and the regional enterprise grants for innovation. WINtech, a division of the WDA, has been established specifically to advance the development and use of new technology in Welsh industry. It provides quality advice on technology transfer and product development, and access to seed capital. Welsh Development International complements this broader effort by working hard to encourage inward investors to establish research and development facilities in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the bill for the current construction of the reinforced concrete monitoring building at the Welsh water authority's area headquarters at Nelson, Mid Glamorgan, will be written off under the Government's write-off of water authority debts.

Recent Government statements on debt write-off relate only to water authority borrowings from the national loans fund. The Government will not be seeking to identify notional borrowings against specific projects.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on the reasons for the differences in the time it takes to clear out-patient waiting lists in Glamorgan general hospital, Cardiff royal infirmary and the average for all hospitals in Wales.

As the introduction to Welsh Hospital Waiting List Bulletin 1989: No. 1 makes clear, for a variety of reasons care is needed in interpreting the data given in the bulletin, thus making meaningful comparisons difficult. In the case of Cardiff royal infirmary the hospital provides a range of specialties which are particularly to it and may be different from those found in other hospitals, notably East Glamorgan hospital. There are further differences between individual specialties, notably in the case of Cardiff royal infirmary trauma and orthopaedics. The East Glamorgan general hospital is understood to have had staffing problems at consultant level which will have affected the notional waiting time figures there, at least in the short term. Detailed information on the explanation for waiting list performance by particular hospitals may be obtained direct from the relevant health authorities, upon which the responsibility to achieve the right balance of services and resources in serving their patients in the light of local circumstances and needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will takes steps to ensure that south Wales rail passengers and freight will enjoy direct access to the continent via the Channel tunnel as soon as any other region of the United Kingdom.

I am keen for British Rail to provide Wales with an appropriate level of service to meet identified needs. It is for British Rail to determine the level and nature of such services in the light of available forecasts of traffic.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes to make any changes to the 1989–90 cash limits for class XVII, vote 5 and WO/UA1.

Yes. Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate for class XVII, vote 6, I propose to increase the WO/UA1 urban aid non voted cash limit by £7,000,000, from £58,646,000 to £65,646,000. This will permit enhanced land acquisition this year by the Cardiff Bay development corporation.This increase will be offset by reductions elsewhere within my expenditure programmes and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.These savings are being found from the roads and transport section of class XVII, vote 5. Accordingly, the cash limit for this vote is being reduced by £7,000,000, from £273,711,000 to £266,711,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals exist for the multiple launch rocket system to be capable of firing short-range nuclear weapons.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals exist for the multiple launch rocket system to be capable of firing short-range nuclear weapons.

I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 20 February 1989, at column 445.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham, Central and Royton (Mr. Lamond) of 7 March, Official Report, column 738, what distinction he makes between (i) a warhead and (ii) a system when comparing the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and Soviet reductions in nuclear weaponry.

A warhead is that part of a missile, projectile, torpedo, rocket or other munition which contains either the nuclear, thermo-nuclear or high explosive device, the chemical or biological agents, or the inert materials intended to inflict damage. A weapon system is the means of delivering the warheads.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many nuclear missiles have been removed from the United Kingdom since the United States/Soviet intermediate nuclear forces treaty; and if he will make a statement.

By the end of 1988, 16 operational missiles had been removed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation general political guidelines for use of nuclear weapons; and how many times they have been followed.

The general political guidelines were agreed by Ministers at the Gleneagles NPG meeting in October 1986. The purpose of the document is to provide political guidelines for the employment of nuclear weapons in defence of NATO within the framework of NATO's strategy of flexible response and forward defence. These guidelines are the basis for both peacetime planning by political and military authorities and a guide for carrying out their respective responsibilities in times of tension or conflict. They are consulted regularly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received about the case for modernising the nuclear deterrent.

My right hon. Friend has received a number of letters from individuals and organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United States Air Force F111G aircraft are based in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated total value to the economy for (a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland as a whole of the presence of military establishments of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation armed forces in various locations in the region and the country.

No such estimate has been made for Strathclyde or for Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his programme for ordering Type 23 frigates for 1990, 1991 and 1992.

Tenders have recently been invited for a batch of up to four type 23s. Decisions will be taken on the precise size and timing of the order after the tenders have been received, evaluated and fully analysed. In the longer term, we have plans to place sufficient orders to maintain a force of about 50 destroyers and frigates.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average time in post of each of the grades in the procurement executives of his Department.

Information about average time in post, by grade, is not compiled in the form requested, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Attorney-General what recent discussions he has had on the pay levels within the Crown prosecution service; and what was the outcome of his discussions.

Pay for lawyers in the Crown prosecution service at grade 7 and above was settled in July 1988, setting levels until the new review date of 1 August 1989.

To ask the Attorney General, what is the establishment and staff in post in each grade of the Serious Fraud Office in each year of its existence, together with the number of cases referred to it.

The Serious Fraud Office was established on 6 April 1989. On 31 March 1989, the final day of the financial year 1988-89, the position was as follows:

Grade	Establishment	Staff in post
2	1	1
3	2	2
5	10	9
6	18	13
7	5	5
Senior Executive Officer	5	6
Higher Executive Officer	10	8
Executive Officer	8	7
Administrative Officer	3	1
Administrative Assistant	2	0
Senior Personal Secretary	1	1
Personal Secretary	4	5
Typing Manager	0	1
Typist	6	0
Support Manager 3	1	1
Support Grade 2	3	0

Of those staff in post, one higher executive officer was on loan from the Crown prosecution service. There were in addition to the figures shown 29 agency staff employed on a temporary basis.The position to 1 June 1989 in the financial year 1989–90 was follows:

Grade	Complement	Staff in Post
2	1	1
3	2	2
5	10	10
6	18	13
7	5	5
Senior Executive Officer	6	6
Higher Executive Officer	11	8
Executive Officer	9	8
Administrative Officer	3	2
Administrative Assistant	2	0
Senior Personal Secretary	1	1
Personal Secretary	6	5
Typing Manager	1	1
Typist	12	0
Support Manager 3	1	1
Support Grade 2	4	1
Total	92	64

Of those staff in post, one higher executive officer was still on loan from the Crown prosecution service. Three of the four grade 5 accountants currently in post are seconded from private practice. There are in addition 29 agency staff employed on a temporary basis.In the period 6 April 1988, when the Serious Fraud Office was established, to 31 December 1988, 109 separate cases were referred to it for consideration. This number includes some matters which have previously been dealt with by the Crown prosecution service. From 1 January 1989 to date 28 separate cases have been referred.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy why, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newport, West, Official Report, 11 May, column 481, on the Pacific Sandpiper, a consignment of spent irradiated nuclear fuel was transported into and out of the United Kingdom without it being reprocessed; and on how many occassions such a stop-off has taken place since May 1979.

The irradiated fuel was from an overseas research reactor and was being returned to its country of origin. The material was subject to international safeguards. It came to the United Kingdom as part of a cargo of irradiated fuel the balance of which was for reprocessing at Sellafield. Since May 1979 there has been an average of about one such shipment a year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what departmental representation was made at the launch of the World Association of Nuclear Operators in Moscow on 15 May.

None. The World Association of Nuclear Operators comprises representatives of every organisation that operates electrical power producing nuclear reactors. It is independent of Government. However, I welcome its establishment and support its aims.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has considered the terms of reference for the public inquiry into the proposed pressurised water reactor at Wylfa in Anglesey; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend received an application from the CEGB on 18 April 1989 for his consent to construct a PWR nuclear power station to be known as Wylfa B. He directed the board to advertise its application and allowed a period of up to 31 July 1989 for objections to be made to him.Until the response to the advertisements is known and the views of the relevant local planning authorities are received, it is too early to speculate whether a public inquiry will be necessary or, if a public inquiry is held, what matters my right hon. Friend will ask the inquiry inspector to consider.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give a timetable for the decommissioning of Berkeley nuclear power station over the next 14 years; and if he will make a statement.