To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-flying sorties were flown over the United Kingdom by United States Air Force aircraft based in the United Kingdom in 1987 and 1988.

A total of 21,869 low-flying sorties were flown over the United Kingdom during 1987 by United States Air Force aircraft based in the United Kingdom and 22,050 during 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many motorised vehicles in his Department and in the armed forces run on lead-free petrol; if he has any plans to increase the use of lead-free petrol by vehicles run by his Department and the armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

The majority of my Department's current vehicle fleet uses and will continue to use diesel fuel. We have already implemented, for petrol-engined staff cars, vans and minibuses, a policy of purchasing vehicles capable of running on unleaded petrol. The remainder of the current fleet of petrol-engined vehicles, which can be technically and cost-effectively adapted to run on unleaded petrol, is being converted during routine servicing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report the names of the destroyers and frigates of the surface fleet, available for service at 24 hours' notice on 1 June 1988, 1 January 1989, and 1 June 1989.

Details of ships available for operations at precise periods of notice are classified. However, the names of the destroyers and frigates that were available for operational deployment immediately or within a short period for each of the dates requested are as follows:

1 June 1988	1 January 1989	1 June 1989
HMS Achilles	HMS Achilles	HMS Achilles
HMS Active	HMS Active	HMS Active
HMS Alacrity	HMS Alacrity	HMS Alacrity
HMS Amazon	HMS Amazon	HMS Amazon
HMS Ambuscade	HMS Ambuscade	HMS Ambuscade
HMS Andromeda	HMS Andromeda	HMS Andromeda
HMS Apollo	HMS Arethusa	HMS Argonaut
HMS Arethusa	HMS Avenger	HMS Ariadne
HMS Avenger	HMS Beaver	HMS Arrow
HMS Battleaxe	HMS Birmingham	HMS Avenger
HMS Beaver	HMS Boxer	HMS Beaver
HMS Birmingham	HMS Brave	HMS Birmingham

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure has been incurred by the British Government on research and development work on the electro-magnetic propulsion of projectiles.

It is not our practice to give details of funding of particular projects. However, I can say that such funding represents only a very small proportion of the defence research programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work has been carried out by the royal armament research and development establishment on the electromagnetic propulsion of projectiles.

The royal armament research and development establishment has been undertaking research into electro-magnetic propulsion of projectiles since the early 1980s. It is not our practice to go into details of particular projects. However, it has a wide-ranging potential application for land, sea and air-based weapons.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any injuries have been caused as a result of research or development work into the electro-magnetic propulsion of projectiles.

I am not aware of any injuries caused as a result of research or development work into electro-magnetic propulsion of projectiles undertaken in the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Ministry of Defence has received any funding from the United States Department of Defence to carry out research or development work into the electromagnetic propulsion of projectiles.

Yes, in December 1986 for a period of three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work has been carried out at the royal armament research and development establishment on behalf of the United States Government strategic defence initiative programme.

Such a programme of work has been in hand at the royal armament research and development establishment since December 1986 with the purpose of achieving a greater understanding of electro-magnetic launcher capabilities.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what action he proposes to take following the publication last month of a proposed order to prohibit UniChem Ltd. from continuing to operate its share scheme as recommended by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in its report published on 17 May.

I have today laid before the House the UniChem Limited (Allotment of Shares) Order 1989 which will come into force on 19 July. Except for a minor technical amendment, this will follow the draft order published in May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in view of the libellous statements made about Mr. Louis Fitzgibbon of Portland place, Brighton by Mr. T. Gizaw, the Ethiopian press counsellor, he will take steps to expel Mr. Gizaw from the United Kingdom.

No. The Foreign and Commonweath Office maintains an impartial stance in this private libel action, where the facts are disputed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has made any representations to the Chinese embassy in Britain concerning the protection of the lives and interests of students from China who are studying in Britain; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Chislehurst (Mr. Sims) on 16 June, at columns 559–60.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will indicate, for each fiscal year since 1979, the total amount of taxation income forgone by Her Majesty's Treasury as a result of extra-statutory decisions on tax liability.

Extra-statutory concessions are operated locally and it would be disproportionately expensive, for the Departments and taxpayers, to collect the detailed information needed to determine precise annual costs. Most concessions are made to deal with what are, on the whole, minor or transitory anomalies under the legislation or to meet cases of hardship at the margins of the tax code. They generally apply to relatively few people and usually involve small amounts of tax in individual cases. There are, however, some exceptions—where the numbers of taxpayers benefiting from a concession and the amounts of tax involved in individual cases are larger.The Inland Revenue has been able to estimate, in terms of broad orders of magnitude, the current annual revenue costs of most concessions appearing in its published booklet (IR1). The details are given in the table—references are to the numbers that appear in the booklet. The five largest concessions are all practices of long standing—A 1, A5 and A67 date from the 1940s, A63 from the 1960s and A65 from the start of North sea oil exploration.

Revenue Cost—£ million	Inland Revenue (Booklet IR1)
250 :	A63 External training course—expenses borne by employer.
200 :	A5 Expenses allowances and benefits in kind (mainly removal expenses and bridging loan costs borne by employers).
50–100 :	A67 Payments to employees moved to higher cost housing areas.
10–50 :	A65 Workers on offshore oil and gas rigs or platforms—free transfers from or to mainland.
	A1 Flat rate allowances for cost of tools and special clothing..
3–10 :	A2 Meal vouchers.
	A6 Miners: free coal and benefits in kind.
	A19 Arrears of tax arising through official error.
	A22 Long service awards.
	A27 Mortgage interest relief: temporary absences from mortgaged property.
	D2 Residence in the United Kingdom: year of commencement or cessation of residence.
	D22 (CGT) Relief for the replacement of business assets: expenditure on improvements to existing assets.
	D24 (CGT) Relief for the replacement of business assets: assets not brought immediately into trading use.
	D26 (CGT) Relief for exchange of joint interests.
	I2 Direct exports from tanker-loading fields.
	I5 Petroleum Revenue Tax instalments.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will redeem the 3½ per cent. war loans; and if he will make a statement.

There are no plans to redeem 3½ per cent. war loan.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next intends to meet his EC counterparts; and what he intends to discuss.

EC Finance Ministers meet on a regular basis. The next Ecofin Council will take place in Brussels on 10 July 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received any representations about enabling EEC nationals, long resident in the United Kingdom to vote for United Kingdom Members of the European Parliament; what is his policy on this; and if he will make a statement.

We receive, from time to time, representations that citizens of other European Community states should be able to vote in European Parliament elections held here. It is for the European Parliament to make any recommendation for such a system to be adopted by the member states and none has as yet been forthcoming.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is seeking alternative accommodation to B wing of Hull prison for unconvicted juveniles; and whether he is considering the former detention centre at Gringley-on-the-Hill as a possible alternative.

There is at present no practicable alternative accommodation for the unconvicted juvenile prisoners who are held in B wing of Hull prison. The accommodation at the former detention centre at Gringley is unsuitable for those prisoners. However the Department of Health and the local authority have reviewed the need for secure accommodation for 15 and 16-year-old boys in the region and plans for a new unit for the Yorkshire and Humberside region are well advanced with a target date for opening in early 1991. A 300-place remand centre is also planned to open on Humberside in 1991. Meanwhile a programme of action has been put in hand to improve conditions in Hull B wing.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Brent, East, 6 April, Official Report, column 239, if he will make a further statement as to the case of Mr. Albert Baker.

Mr. Baker was refused leave to move for judicial review of the Government's decision not to transfer him to Northern Ireland. His petitions remain under consideration and a reply will be sent to him as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the projected public expenditure savings arising from the introduction of a central DNA testing scheme for those seeking entry clearance to the United Kingdom; and if he will identify the savings to his Department and also the appellate authorities.

We do not anticipate any reduction in Home Office expenditure from the introduction of a central DNA testing scheme into the entry clearance process overseas. The administration of the immigration appeals system is the responsibility of my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is taking any special steps to protect the lives and interests of students from China who are studying in Britain; and if he will make a statement.

If any Chinese student feels at risk in the United Kingdom he or she should contact the police.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will allow all students from China who are studying in Britain to extend their stay during the current crisis; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will estimate the number of students from China studying in Britain.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I, gave on 16 June to questions from the hon. Members for Leyton (Mr. Cohen), for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) and for Tooting (Mr. Cox) at column 566.

To ask the Prime Minister if, during the visit of the Prime Minister of Spain on 19 June, she raised the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and prospects for new initiatives to be developed with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies in the lead up to the fourth review conference on the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in 1990.

No, but the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and related matters are regularly discussed with Spain at official level.

To ask the Prime Minister if, during her meeting with the President-Designate of the Republic of South Africa, Mr. de Klerk, on 23 June, she raised the prospects of South Africa joining the nuclear nonproliferation treaty.

No, but the issue was raised by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs during his talks with Mr. de Klerk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to increase his Department's budget for sponsoring research into environmental matters and ensuring that the findings of such research are readily available to inform policy making at a national and local level.

The findings of research into environmental matters sponsored by this Department are published in national and international scientific journals. The Natural Environment Reseach Council publishes an annual report which is laid before the House; copies of the latest report, for 1987–88, are available in the Library. The NERC also issues an annual corporate plan, annual reports of each of its institutes, and other publications detailing strategies in individual areas of science; copies of these are available direct from the NERC. The other research councils have similar arrangements. The Government review their expenditure plans each year after they have received advice from the Advisory Board for the Research Councils.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessment he has made of the contribution of parents to the life and work of schools.

My right hon. Friend and I view the contribution of parents to the life and work of schools as having the utmost importance, and many of our policies are designed to extend parental choice and influence. The Department has funded a major research project to examine the involvement of parents in their children's schooling. The report on the project is due later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has to ease the problems of teacher recruitment (a) in shortage subjects and (b) in regions of high living costs.

Action to tackle teacher shortages has been aimed in particular at London and the south-east where recruitment is hindered by the cost of housing. We have in place a series of measures which have cost £50 million over the last three years. The education support grant programme for 1990–91 includes support for expenditure of £2 million on local recruitment activity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the number of teachers in (a) higher education and (h) postgraduate studies in each year since 1979; and what has been their average real earnings in each such year.

Data are not readily available in the form requested. However, the following may be helpful. The number of teachers in (a) universities and (b) polytechnics, and average salaries for each group are shown in the following tables.

Table A Universities
Year	Number of Lecturers	Average Salary £	Real Terms
1979	18,585	8,458	100·0
1980	18,757	9,979	96·9
1981	18,409	11,187	97·0
1982	17,406	11,936	94·6
1983	17,200	12,543	95·5
1984	16,504	13,342	96·6
198S	16,970	13.964	94·6
1986	16,959	14,242	93·6
1987	16,479	16,592	104·6

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, how many people stayed on in full-time education after 16 for each of the last five years.

The information is as follows:

Participation in full-time education: England. Percentage of age group
	Age at previous 31 August
	16	17	18
1984	45	31	17
1985	45	31	17
1986	45	32	17
1987	45	32	17
1988	47	33	18

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions he has had with education authorities and examination bodies over the possibility of moving the main dates for the General Certificate of Secondary Education and A-levels from the summer.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he proposes to answer the letter of 17 March concerning teacher morale, sent to him by the hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside, acknowledged 20 March, Ref. 55 JB/0525/0076; and if he will make a statement.

I replied to the hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside on 26 June.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on environmental pollution at the Phurnacite plant in the Cynon valley.

The hon. Lady will know from discussions and correspondence with my right hon. Friend that he is fully aware of local feelings about pollution from the Phurnacite plant. Coal Products Ltd's applications for planning permission for proposed developments at the plant to replace the outdated disticoke batteries with a mild heat treatment process are being considered by the local planning authority, Cynon Valley borough council. If planning permissions are given, Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution will need to be satisfied that the process is designed to meet current emission control standards before it is allowed to operate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people died in Wales of cirrhosis of the liver in each of years 1975 to 1988; and if he will make a statement.

The numbers of deaths of residents of Wales where the underlying cause of death was recorded as cirrhosis of the liver were as follows:

Year	Deaths
1975	139
1976	123
1977	121

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library copies of any reports on the health effects of food irradiation which indicate that irradiated food might he unsafe.

A full review of the health effects of irradiation was carried out in the United Kingdom by the independent scientific Advisory Committee on Irradiated and Novel Foods, whose report contains an extensive bibliography. Copies of this report are in the Library. Similar reviews have also been carried out by the World Health Organisation, the Food and Agriculture Organisation and scientists of the EC Scientific Committee for Food. All have concluded that irradiated food is both safe and wholesome.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the Government's policy for the labelling of irradiated food, in the wholesale, retail and catering sectors, respectively.

The Council of the European Communities agreed on 14 June to amend the food labelling directive to provide for specific indication on the label of foodstuffs that have been irradiated. This requirement will be implemented into United Kingdom food labelling legislation in due course. Wholesale and retail sales are covered by the directive, as are sales to caterers, but not sales by caterers. The question of such labelling in the catering sector will therefore need to be given detailed consideration, bearing in mind my clear commitment to informed consumer choice in this matter.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the studies which have been conducted into the effects on human and animal health of food irradiation.

A full list could not be collated without undue expenditure of time and effort since research has been undertaken in a number of countries over a period of more than 40 years. References to the main studies will be found in appendix G to the report on the safety and wholesomeness of irradiated foods by the Advisory Committee on Irradiated and Novel Foods. A copy of this report is in the Library.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the radiolytic products which have been identified in irradiated food.

Most of the known radiolytic products in irradiated food are found either naturally in some foods or are formed as a result of cooking or other methods of preservation. The lack of unique radiolytic products is also reflected in the absence of a detection test for irradiated food. Extensive research has so far failed to find a radiolytic product which could be used as the basis of such a test.

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the nutrients and vitamins in food which may be adversely affected by irradiation.

Some destruction of nutrients, including vitamins, occurs with cooking, storage and processing of all foods. In the case of proteins, carbohydrates and minerals, studies in general reveal no detectable effect through irradiation at the low levels of dose contemplated. The small reduction in some vitamins noticed in some studies would not produce any adverse dietary effects, and nutritional losses through irradiation are not considered to be significant in the diet as a whole. Nevertheless the nutrient content of irradiated food will be monitored under the existing arrangements for monitoring the nutrient content of all foods.

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the commercial organisations that wrote to or lobbied him in favour of irradiation of food.

No commercial organisation has lobbied me on the irradiation of food. Support has, however, been publicly expressed by the Food and Drink Federation, the Spice Trade Association and the Institute of Cereals Manufacturers.

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to safeguard the welfare of animals on farms.

Part I of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968 already makes it an offence to cause unnecessary pain or distress to farm livestock. In addition, regulations on farm animal welfare and welfare codes have been made under the Act. I hope soon to lay before the House draft regulations that will make some of the welfare code provisions mandatory.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he has taken following recent reports that local authorities are failing to enforce regulations for abattoirs relating to hygiene, safety and humane killing.

Recent reports in the media have criticised conditions in some slaughterhouses without identifying the establishments concerned. It is the responsibility of all, including those who produce such reports, to draw to the attention of the appropriate local authority any breaches in the law which they may have witnessed.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to prevent the dispersal of the national fruit collection and archives at Brogdale.

We have made clear our intention to ensure that the national fruit collection and its associated records are preserved, and we are considering what arrangements should be made in the event that Brogdale experimental horticulture station is closed.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his plans for Torry research station; and if he will make a statement.

Torry research station is one of the world's leading research institutes in the area of fish safety, hygiene and quality. It carries out a programme costing over £2 million per annum in support of Government policies for food safety and quality. In accordance with the high priority which the Government attach to these policies, this work, which includes important underpinning research, is to continue.In addition, there is work at Torry research station which is mainly concerned with product and process development. We have consulted the fishing and related industries about their readiness to fund near-market work in these areas. However, the industries have shown very little readiness to fund such work. Accordingly we are now setting in train the necessary steps to concentrate the research at Torry on those areas of work which are required in support of our policies for food safety and quality. This will mean stopping about one third of Torry's current programme. About 30 posts at the laboratory will be lost, although we will endeavour to keep the number of compulsory redundancies to a minimum. Naturally, if between now and the completion of this exercise, any new industry funding is forthcoming we will be ready to try to retain the necessary expertise and facilities to meet the proposed research contracts. In any event, I expect Torry research station to continue to attract significant outside funding for analytical services and consultancies as it has done in recent years.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received concerning the decline in commercial forestry planting levels in England and Wales.

During the last six months I have received nine representations about the possible effects on planting levels of the forestry taxation changes introduced in the 1988 Budget. Some of these were general comments, while others referred to the problems of woodland maintenance and the difficulties faced by forest nurseries. None of the representations referred specifically to a decline in commercial forestry planting levels in England.The situation in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he is able to estimate how many fishing vessels registered in English ports deploy monofilament gill nets, where they normally fish and for which species;(2) if he is able to estimate the number of fishing vessels registered at ports in Wales which deploy monofilament gill nets, where they normally fish and for which species.

[holding answer 15 June 1989]: Data collected by my Department in 1988 of the landings of seafish made by registered vessels over 10 metres show that 251 vessels in England and six vessels in Wales used gill or enmeshing nets, the majority of which would have been of monofilament construction. Comparable data are not collected for landings made by vessels under 10 metres, but we estimate that some 1,000 craft under 10 metres in England and 200 craft in Wales would have used gill or enmeshing nets, some of these boats will also be licensed to fish salmon and sea trout. An illustrative map showing the location of the main gill net fisheries off England and Wales and the principal species caught has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the implications for the food consumer of vitamin losses which occur during the cook-chill process;(2) what evaluation of the nutritional content of cook-chill food has been undertaken in the United Kingdom;(3) what information his Department has collected on whether foods which are high in polyunsaturated acids are suitable for use in the cook-chill process.

After a thorough review of the available data the working group of independent experts concluded that wherever food is heated and/or stored there will be nutrient losses. Where food is to be stored, consideration at the menu planning stage should be given to the reduction in the amount of foods with high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids as they are particularly prone to rancidity during storage.The expert group considered that the nutritional loss in a properly managed cook-chill catering system were no more than in any other large-scale catering system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the latest information his Department has received regarding the levels of heat resistance of listeria in food.

The Department has received copies of the MAFF-sponsored research carried out by the Camden Food and Drink Research Association.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what encouragement his Department gives to general dental practitioners to use the certification scheme for dental laboratories;(2) what involvement his Department has with the certification scheme for dental laboratories; and if he will make a statement.

At present there is no certification scheme for dental laboratories. The Dental Laboratories Association (DLA) has taken the initiative in the formation of an independent body known as the Certification Authority for Dental Laboratories and Suppliers (CADLAS), which plans to commence operation from October 1989.The Department's NHS procurement directorate was approached by the DLA on this matter in November 1987. Since then the directorate's technical staff have encouraged, advised and held discussions with the DLA about CADLAS, in terms of participating in a series of seminars arranged by the DLA throughout the United Kingdom, sending an observer to the first two meetings of the CADLAS council and advising CADLAS on quality assurance requirements and the draft good manufacturing practice (GMP) standard.The Department accepts the need for a recognised system of quality assurance in this field and is confident that CADLAS is equipped to fulfil this role. Its ultimate success will, however, depend on its acceptance and recognition by dental practitioners who have the prime responsibility for the quality of dental prosthetics.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will lay before the House the Government's response to the fourth report of the Select Committee on Social Services, HC 289, Session 1988–89, on midwives' regrading.

My right hon and learned Friend has done so today.The Government welcome the Committee's interest in this matter, and have carefully studied its report and recommendations. The Government wish to take this opportunity of emphasising the importance that they attach to the role of the midwifery profession within the National Health Service and their recognition of the skilful and dedicated contribution that midwives make to the welfare of mothers and babies.The Government followed the principle set out in the Committee's fourth recommendation—that future regrading exercises for NHS staff be separated from assimilation to the new pay scales—when implementing the new grading structure for nursing and midwifery educational staff, but for the reasons given in their response are unable to accept the remaining recommendations.In the Government's view, it is important that the Committee's report should be considered in the wider context. Since March 1988 alone, midwives' pay has increased by over 28 per cent. on average, and the pay of midwives, like that of nurses and health visitors, is now at its highest-ever level in real terms. For the nine out of 10 staff midwives graded E or above in the new clinical grading structure, and the three out of four midwifery sisters graded G, pay levels are now 50 per cent. higher in real terms than they were in 1979. Moreover, the new structure gives midwives, like nurses and health visitors, better clinical career prospects than ever before.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which public relations firms his Department has employed and at what cost, for each year since 1979.

Apart from the special circumstances of privatisation work, the consistent practice of successive Governments has been to avoid the use of public relations firms or other firms outside government for public relations work. The Department has not employed any.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much his Department paid out in advance funding to employment training agents and managers; how much has been recouped; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested is not available except at disproportionate cost.All employment training (ET) training agents and training managers other than local authorities were entitled to 100 per cent. advance funding in the first three months of ET. Advances will be recouped where appropriate up to August 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state (a) the production cost, (b) the amount spent on television advertising so far and (c) the projected campaign budget, in respect of the current commercial for employment training.

The information required is as follows:

(a) The production cost of the commercial was £494,500. This included producing both the 60 and 40 second versions.

(b) The amount spent on television advertising up to 21 June 1989 is £2,024,000 excluding production costs.

(c) The projected budget for the current TV campaign excluding production costs is £3,795,000.

All figures are inclusive of value added tax.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment to what extent extended introduction is being made available to people with disabilities on employment training; and whether its uptake is monitored by training agents, training managers and the employment rehabilitation service.

Disabled people form part of the client group which extended introduction is designed to help. Opportunities to join extended introduction are available in all the Department's Training Agency's areas. Statistics are not available on the number of disabled people entering extended introduction. However, training managers work to remove any obstacles such as premises constraints which could make it difficult for disabled people to take advantage of extended introduction.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures are being taken to inform disablement resettlement officers of the residential training provision available to disabled people wishing to take part in the employment training programme.

The initial training of disablement resettlement officers includes information about residential training provision and incorporates a visit to a residential training college. While in post, they receive further information through written instructions and guidance, as well as through newsletters and information packs which detail the residential training available. Disablement resettlement officers have also taken part in Training Agency workshops about employment training, including residential provision for trainees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of trainees currently taking part in the employment training programme are registered as disabled under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944.

Information is not presently available in the form requested. However, people who identified themselves as having a disability or long-term health problem which affects the work they can do make up 12 per cent. of entrants to employment training.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the disabled trainees who entered the employment training programme by the end of February, are currently training with an employer on a work placement.

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about his future policy on paying training bonuses in 1991–92, and when employment training is run by training and enterprise councils.

The policy for payment of training bonuses remains unchanged.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications for the business on own account scheme were received for each of the last five years for which figures are available; how many were approved; and what were the total grants made in each year.

The information requested about the business on own account scheme is given in the table:

	Number of applications	Number of approvals	Expenditure on grants £
1984–85	15	7	26,272
1985–86	14	5	42,506
1986–87	12	1	4,211
1987–88	9	6	22,012
1988–89	16	8	30,454

The future development of my Department's special schemes for people with disabilities, including the business on own account scheme is being considered as part of our internal review of services for people with disabilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the messages he has received from pensioner organisations (a) agreeing and (b) disagreeing with the sentiments of his recent speech to Age Concern.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the recent speech of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State at the sheltered housing conference on 5 June. We have received no messages from pensioner organisations relating to the speech made on that occasion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what proportion of applications to social fund inspectors the applicant is represented.

The social fund commissioner has advised me that the information requested is not collected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much his Department's Woolwich office have been allocated for (a) social fund loans and (b) social fund grants in 1989–90; and what were the comparable figures in the preceding year.

The information requested is available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many civil servants and at what grade run the independent living fund.

Thirty-two, ranging in grade from administrative assistant to senior executive officer, working under the direction of the trustees of the fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will brief local social security offices about the independent living fund; and if he will make appropriate forms available at those offices.

Guidance on the independent living fund has been issued to all local offices. Posters and explanatory leaflets publicising the fund, and explaining how an application form may be obtained, have also been issued.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the budget for the independent living fund for each of the years for which figures are available.

Up to £5 million was made available for the first year of the independent living fund. A further £5 million has been made available for the current year, but this figure is under continuous review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the criteria for deciding how much money an applicant gets from the independent living fund.

The amount payable is decided by the trustees and is based on the cost of reasonable care which cannot be met from other sources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what items of guidance, by topic, his Department has issued to local authorities on the independent living fund.

The director of the independent living fund is writing to all local authority directors of social services, bringing the fund to their attention, and explaining what help it can give to severely disabled people.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to advertise the independent living fund to potential claimants.

Publicity for the independent living fund has been mainly through the specialist press and organisations representing disabled people. The trustees are responsible for publicity and are continuing to use various methods to make the fund even more widely known.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated cost per successful application for housing benefit transitional payments made by the Glasgow unit of his Department.

[holding answer 12 June 1989]: The work of the transitional payments unit (TPU) involves the processing of applications and correspondence from applicants and local authorities, making awards and payments to successful applicants, liaising with local authorities, producing leaflets and claim forms, and maintaining a free advice line. Both capital and manpower costs were heavily concentrated in the unit's first year of operation; administrative costs have fluctuated according to the level of activity in the unit and will decline significantly in future years. It is not possible to apportion the costs of the TPU between the activities undertaken, nor to produce a cost per claim. However, the full administrative costs of the unit in 1988–89 amounted to 21p in every pound of expenditure on the transitional payments scheme in that year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will publish his Department instructions issued to the transitional protection unit and place a copy in the Library;(2) whether the instructions issued by his Department to the transitional protection unit includes a restriction on the amount of housing benefit transitional protection which can be paid because a local authority is rate-capped; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 19 June 1989]: The housing benefit transitional payments scheme is intended to provide help to vulnerable groups of claimants who experienced reductions in their housing benefit as a result of changes introduced by the Government in April 1988. Because the method of calculating transitional payments involves a comparison between housing benefit in payment before and after 4 April 1988, some applicants who lived in an area whose local authority was rate-capped and which reduced its domestic rates and who were therefore entitled to a lesser amount of housing benefit may well have received a transitional payment for this reason and not because of the Government's changes to the housing benefit scheme. The procedural instructions to the transitional payments unit (TPU) do not provide for a different assessment in these cases, but some cases (less than 100) were incorrectly assessed and transitional payment was reduced on account of rate capping. If the hon. Member is aware of any such cases and will supply the Department with details, the transitional payment will be reassessed and arrears paid.In view of the proximity of the closing date for applications (30 June) and the transitory nature of the scheme there are no current plans to publish the TPU instruction manual.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total capital expenditure invested in trunk roads in London in 1988–89.

Capital expenditure on motorways and trunk roads in 1988–89 amounted to nearly £74 million. Of that total, just over £12 million was spent on capital maintenance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the amount of light dues paid by fishing vessels during the year 1987–88; and what was the original estimate.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Moray (Mrs. Ewing) on 16 February at column 285. The general lighthouse authorities have now received some £191,000 in light dues paid for United Kingdom-registered fishing vessels for the financial year 1987–88. A similar sum is estimated to have been received in light dues paid by non-United Kingdom registered fishing vessels, but disproportionate effort would be required to establish a precise figure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much public subsidy is given to British ports; and what is the situation in EEC countries.

The only grants that the Government make to British ports are for fishing harbour projects and severance payments to surplus registered dock workers. A few local authorities fund the losses of ports which they own. In some other member states public funds meet a large proportion of the cost of port infrastructure developments. Certain ports in all parts of the Community may also receive grants from the European regional development fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by (a) volume and (b) value the amount of trade handled by British ports in each year since 1979.

Her Majesty's Customs and Excise data on the volume and value of imports and exports through the seaports of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1988 (excluding imports of oil and gas by pipeline from the Norwegian sector of the North sea) are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passengers, cars and coaches passed through Britain's ports in each year since 1979.

Information on car, coach and international passenger movements through the seaports of Great Britain, up to 1987, is published in "Transport Statistics Great Britain 1977–1987" (tables 1.9 and 4.11) copies of which are in the Library. Car and coach figures include domestic movements except those to the Isle of Wight. Corresponding figures for 1988 are 4,234,000 cars, including 262,000 by hovercraft services, 170,000 buses and coaches, and 24,867,000 passengers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether those undertaking the London assessment studies have been asked to include consideration of road pricing, area licensing and other methods of road traffic restraint in arriving at their conclusions and recommendations.

The consultants will carry out sensitivity tests on a range of options within the study areas. These tests will assess the effects of road traffic restraint measures on the options.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received any representations from individuals or organisations in the Chiswick area in favour of the new road proposals through Chiswick and Grove Park contained in the west London assessment study published in 1988; and whether he will give summary details of such representations.

We have received a large number of representations from individuals and organisations in the Chiswick area on different aspects of the west London assessment study. It would not be practicable to analyse them in the way requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the results of stage 2B of the west London assessment study; and whether he proposes a period of public consultation before the announcement of the Government's response.

We expect to receive the consultants report on their assessment of options later in the summer. They will be published as soon as possible thereafter. There will be an opportunity for public comment before decisions are taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, following the report of the inter-departmental land compensation working party, he will state the Government's policy in regard to insulation and compensation for injurious affection of schools and hospitals that are subjected to military aircraft noise exceeding 70 dba.

The general position is that compensation for injurious affection arising from the use of public works including airfields is limited to owners and owner-occupiers of residential property, owner-occupiers of agricultural property and owner occupiers of hereditaments not exceeding a rateable value of £2,250. There are no proposals to extend this eligibility.The land compensation working party set up a sub-group to look at the Noise Insulation Regulations 1975 and regulations governing certain civil airports with a view to their possible extension to buildings other than dwellings. It is expected that the sub-group's report will be submitted in July.Buildings near military airfields are not covered by these statutory provisions. However, the Ministry of

	Gatwick		Heathrow		Manchester
	Quota	Actual	Quota	Actual	Quota	Actual
1988 Summer	4,430 (60)	4,430 (57)	2,750 (60)	1,830	6,760	6,723
1988–89 Winter	2,025 (30)	2,040 (11)	2,982 (30)	3,002 (30)	—	1,464
1989 Summer	4,580 (60)	1,281 ( 5)	2,750 (60)	802 (39)	7,098	2,179

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what progress he has made in international negotiations towards the phasing out of noisy aircraft including the BAC 1–11 and the B727; and if he will make a statement;(2) what progress he has made internationally in developing controls over aeroplanes certificated to ICAO's annex 16, volume I, chapter 2 standards; and if he will make a statement.

Internationally the Government have been actively pursuing their objective, first stated in the 1985 White Paper on airports policy (para 8.5), of securing the phasing out of chapter 2 aeroplanes such as the BAC1–11 and B727. Since aircraft have long operational lives, the replacement of chapter 2 by chapter 3 aircraft will be a long and expensive process, but a start has been made with the decision, supported by the United Kingdom, of the European civil aviation conference that from 1 October 1990 no further chapter 2 aircraft should be added to member states' registers. The issue of the

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what forecast demand studies have been made for future public transport requirements in south-east London.

I know of no recent specific studies of public transport demand in south-east London, but the consultants working on the south London and south circular assessment studies are considering whether public transport options might help to solve the problems which those studies are addressing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many night flights have (a) been authorised and (b) taken place in the current year and last year at (i) Gatwick, (ii) Heathrow and (iii) Manchester airports.

Quota and actual movement information for the three airports is as follows:eventual banning of operations of chapter 2 aircraft is one of the main topics to be discussed at the International Civil Aviation Organisation's general assembly in the autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied that Manchester airport plc has consulted adequately in conformity with section 35 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 with representatives from local authorities affected by excessive aircraft noise.

This is a matter between Manchester Airport plc and the local authorities in the neighbourhood of the airport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the designation of Manchester airport under sections 78 and 79 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982.

My right hon. Friend is considering the various representations he has received about designation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he has any plans to lower the maximum permissible take-off noise levels at Manchester airport;(2) if he has any plans to seek an improvement in the monitoring of noise levels in the vicinity of Manchester airport.

These are both matters for Manchester Airport plc.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what representations he has received regarding the provision of an extension of the Northern line of the tube into south-east London to Camberwell and beyond since January 1989;(2) what assessment has been made of the socioeconomic effects of an extension of the Northern line of the Underground to Camberwell and beyond, with particular reference to the effects of improving transport links to areas of higher employment in attracting new enterprise into the area;(3) what assessment has been made of the effects of an extension of the Northern line of the Underground to Camberwell and beyond on overcrowding in the Victoria area;(4) what assessment has been made of the effects of an extension of the Northern line of the Underground into south-east London to Camberwell and beyond on congestion on the roads of south-east London;(5) if, following the publication of the central London rail study in January 1989 and subsequent representations, he intends to provide for an extension of the Northern line to Camberwell and beyond; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has received 17 letters supporting the extension of the Underground to Camberwell. The central London rail study concluded that such an extension would not achieve the study's objectives. It is now for London Underground Limited and London Regional Transport to consider in the first instance whether a line to Camberwell is worthwhile in its own right and how it compares with the many competing schemes for improvements to the Underground network.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce his decision in respect of the inspector's report relating to the compulsory purchase, side roads and bridge orders concerning the Banbury trunk relief road, stages II and III.

Within the next few weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will detail the number of vehicle first registrations, and of replacement driving licences issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing centre, Swansea in each of the past 10 years.

The numbers of first vehicle registrations and replacement driving licences issued have increased by some 15 per cent. and 100 per cent. respectively since 1979–80. The tables provide the year-on-year information (the volumes include commercial vehicles and motorcycles, as well as cars):

Vehicle First Registrations 1978–80/1980–89
Year	Volume
1979–80	2,386,868
1980–81	2,038,140
1981–82	2,004,335
1982–83	2,211,126
1983–84	2,306,742
1984–85	2,253,508
1985–86	2,277,893
1986–87	2,365,901
1987–88	2,554,442
1988–89	2,736,327

Replacement Driving Licences 1979–80/1980–89
Year	Volume
1979–80	1,469,295
1980–81	1,576,957
1981–82	1,354,354
1982–83	1,869,745
1983–84	1,972,378
1984–85	2,035,602
1985–86	2,295,228
1986–87	2,808,782
1987–88	2,920,831
1988–89	2,930,869

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for any future privatisation programme; and if he will name the financial advisers employed to advise on such a programme.

My right hon. Friend keeps the options for further privatisation under constant review. A study of the long-term options for British Rail is in progress, including the feasibility of transfer to the private sector.As part of that work Deloitte, Haskins and Sells was appointed to carry out a factual study of the structural options, National Economic Research Associates to advise on regulation and Samuel Montagu to provide financial advice.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he proposes to deal with the problem of dog fouling.