To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what are the numbers of (a) deaf, (b) blind and (c) wheelchair-bound civil servants that are currently employed; and what percentage they form of the Civil Service.

At 1 June 1989, there were 7,682 staff employed in the Civil Service who are registered as disabled. This represents 1·3 per cent. of all civil servants. No comprehensive Civil Service—wide information is available about the number of civil servants who are deaf, blind or wheelchair-bound or about the numbers of civil servants who are disabled but who have chosen not to register under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944.

To ask the Minister of Arts how many theatres he has visited in the last 12 months; and if he will list them.

I have made 19 such visits since December 1988. In that month I visited the Apollo theatre, Shaftesbury avenue, and the Unity theatre, Liverpool. In 1989 I have so far visited Sadlers Wells (on 18 January and 3 April); the Old Vic (16 February); the Royal National theatre (1 March); the Tricycle theatre (8 March); the Mercury theatre, Colchester (22 March); the Derby Playhouse (25 April); the Marlowe theatre, Canterbury (3 May); the Theatre Royal, Norwich (8 June); the Theatre Royal, Margate (30 June); the Stephen Joseph theatre in the Round, Scarborough (12 July); the Cricklade theatre, Romsey (14 July); the Hawth theatre, Crawley (28 July); the Theatre Royal, Newcastle (12 September); the Theatre Royal, Brighton (27 October); the Theatre Royal, Bury St. Edmunds (9 November); and the Savoy theatre (28 November. On 1 December I shall again visit the Unity theatre, Liverpool.

To ask the Minister for the Arts if he has any plans to increase the percentage of grants that his Department allocates to drama in West Glamorgan.

The funding of drama in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Arts Council.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what studies he commissioned and what research surveys he drew on as the basis for his statement of 27 November, Official Report, column 432 that Britain has the highest standards for drama and museums.

My statement reflected what many people have said. It is unnecessary to spend public money on research in this field: the evidence should be plain for the hon. Member to see, visit and enjoy.

To ask the Minister for the Arts if there have been any items accepted in lieu of tax or allocated since he last made an announcement on the subject to the House.

Since my announcement on 19 July at column 180, I am pleased to announce that three offers of items have been accepted in lieu of tax; a portrait of Sir Alexander Carew attributed to Gheerhaerdts, a painting by Pissarro, and eight Islamic pottery tiles. The lax liability satisfied was £103,976·42, £73,040 and £42,000 respectively. The Carew portrait will remain in situ at Antony house, Cornwall and the Pissarro painting will go to the Whitworth art gallery, Manchester. The ceramic tiles originally formed part of the Godman collection which was accepted in lieu of tax in 1983 and they will now be allocated to the British museum to join the rest of that collection.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales by how much employment has risen in Wales since 1983.

Over the period June 1983 to June 1989 the civilian work force in employment total has increased by 135,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all those measures which have been taken since 1985 to increase the supply of low-cost housing in rural areas, and if he will make a statement.

Since 1985 the Housing Corporation, and more recently Housing for Wales, has been asked to pay particular attention to rural areas. Consistently about 25 per cent. of the development programme for housing associations in Wales has, therefore, gone to these areas.More specifically, in July 1989, Housing for Wales announced a rural housing initiative to assist local people, and especially young people, to find a suitable home they can afford in their own communities. This initiative will be run on a pilot basis in 31 villages, the majority of homes being provided on shared ownership terms with a pre-emption right to return the home eventually to the relevant housing association.In addition, Housing for Wales has recently commissioned two research projects on rural housing issues. These will consider the nature and extent of need for housing for young people throughout rural Wales and will assist Housing for Wales in the development of its future strategy to meet the needs of rural areas.In June this year a draft planning guidance, "Low cost housing in rural areas in Wales", was issued for consultation and we are currently considering the responses received.In his Budget statement my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced changes to capital gains and inheritance taxes on land sold at less than best price to registered housing associations. Tax is now based on the actual proceeds of sale rather than the market value, thereby encouraging landowners to release small units of surplus land for low-cost local housing needs.Local authorities also have a very important role to play both in assessing local housing requirements and in seeking to achieve the most cost-effective means of matching them. In addition to the general resources that the Department has made available to Welsh authorities we have also allocated £1 million this year between nine authorities to purchase homes which would otherwise become second homes and then to make those homes available to local people.The Department is working with rural authorities and other agencies in Wales to help to broker best practice in meeting rural needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales in what form he keeps figures for rural unemployment in Wales.

There is no classification by which unemployment areas can readily or systematically be categorised as rural or urban.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many people are now classified as homeless in Wales; and what steps he is taking to reduce that figure;(2) if he will make a statement on homelessness legislation in Wales;(3) what plans he has to deal with the homeless in Wales.

The normal measure of statutory homelessness is given by cases accepted by local authorities under part III of the Housing Act 1985. The number of persons in households accepted during the second quarter of 1989 (April to June) was 4,832. The Department is in touch with a wide range of organisations concerned with homelessness and a statement will be made soon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what was the acreage of land acquired by the Land Authority for Wales for each of the past five years; and if he will separately distinguish those figures by district council area;(2) what was the acreage of land owned by the Land Authority for Wales in each district council authority in Wales at the latest available date.

We have asked the chairman of the Land Authority for Wales to write to the hon. Gentleman.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to extend his rents-into-mortgages scheme to local authority tenants.

The scheme is being introduced by the Development Board for Rural Wales on an experimental basis. We shall be assessing its impact within the next 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to use television advertising to promote his rents-into-mortgages scheme.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the estates owned by the Development Board for Rural Wales, showing their location within Wales; and if he will estimate the average income of eligible tenants for participation in the rents-into-mortgages scheme, for these estates.

The development board has five estates at Newtown—Trehafren, Treowen, Measydail, Vaynor, and St. Mary's close—and also housing at Bala, Dolgellau, Twyyn, Llandrindod Wells and Abercrave. It is not possible to estimate the average incomes of the development board's tenants with any accuracy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of Development Board for Rural Wales dwellings have been sold to sitting tenants.

Before the new scheme, 14 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were classified as homeless in (a) Wales, (b) Gwent and (c) Newport in 1979; and what is the most recent figure.

[holding answer 27 November 1989]: The number of cases accepted as homeless during 1979 and 1988 is shown in the following table:

	1979	1988
Newport	313	643
Gwent	1,115	1,671
Wales	4,676	6,818

The number of persons involved in these cases is 864 and 1,635 (Newport), 2,950 and 3,891 (Gwent) and 12,698 and 17,105 (Wales), for 1979 and 1988 respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make a statement on the implications for health, education, housing, roads, the environment, tourism and the arts in Wales flowing from the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Autumn Statement.

Table 1.4 of the Autumn Statement 1989 shows that in round terms my total expenditure provision for 1990–91 is £4,460 million. As explained in the statement, the public expenditure picture is affected by the introduction of the new planning total. On this basis the £4,460 million represents an increase of 15·5 per cent. (10 per cent. in real terms) over the forecast outturn for the current year (£3,860 million). Allowing for changes in coverage of Welsh Office programmes between the two years, the increase is 12 per cent. or 6·7 per cent. in real terms. This compares with the average increase of less than 9 per cent. (3·8 per cent. in real terms) for all other departmental programmes.I announced yesterday the provision that I have made for local authority capital programmes next year. This provides for gross spending of £475 million, an increase of almost 7 per cent. over the comparable provision for 1989–90.I shall be announcing my decisions on other major Welsh Office programmes in due course. Full details of my planned expenditure for the next three years covering all my programmes will be set out in the public expenditure White Paper and the Welsh Office commentary which will be published early next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will list, by health authority, the aggregated total figure for each district of estimated backlog maintenance, for the last available date.

The information requested is determined annually by district health authorities. They reported for 1988–89 the estimate of the cost of backlog maintenance for their respective districts in the following table:

	£ million
Clwyd	19·2
East Dyfed	4·5
Gwent	14·6
Gwynedd	10·0
Mid Glamorgan	26·4
Pembrokeshire	0·7
Powys	1·2
South Glamorgan	45·0
West Glamorgan	11·1

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will give the total number of reported cases of food poisoning in Wales per 1,000 of the population for the years 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988, together with the total for 1989 to the latest date currently available;(2) if he will give the total number of reported cases of food poisoning in Wales per 1,000 of the population for the years 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and for 1989 up to the latest date currently available.

The number of notifications to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) of food poisoning (together with cases as certained by other means) in 1989 totalled 2,670 up to 10 November.The annual notification rates per 1,000 population for 1984 to 1988 were shown in the following table:

Year	Number
1984	0·35
1985	0·47
1986	0·50

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what causes his Department has identified for the increase in incidents of food poisoning in Wales;(2) what research he has commissioned into the causes of food poisoning in Wales and ways of reducing incidence in the future;(3) what response he has made to the increase in the incidence of food poisoning in Wales; what steps he has taken to reduce future incidence; and if he will make a statement;(4) whether he will make it his policy to make additional funds available for local authorities in Wales to strengthen their food inspection and environmental health teams.

All parts of England and Wales have an increased incidence of reported food poisoning to the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre. A contributory factor must be an increased awareness of, and therefore increased reporting of, food-borne illness generally.The Committee on Microbiological Safety of Food., chaired by Sir Mark Richmond, has been asked to establish whether any rise is linked to changes in agriculture and food production, food technology and distribution, retailing, catering and food handling in the home; and to recommend action where appropriate. After the first meeting, in April 1989, the committee indicated that it aimed to submit its first report as soon as possible.The Government have recently announced a series of measures which together will make a significant contribution towards preventing and controlling the incidence of food poisoning.The Food Safety Bill was published on 23 November. This is primarily intended to strengthen existing food law and provides improved powers to protect the consumer. In particular, for the first time it will be an offence to supply food that does not comply with food safety requirements. There will be tougher powers for enforcement authorities. In recognition of the additional burdens which will fall upon local authorities, it has been announced that resources totalling £30 million will be made available to local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales for 1991–92.It is also proposed to amend the food hygiene regulations so as to introduce more stringent temperature controls on certain types of food and to extend these controls into distribution and retailing. These proposals have recently been the subject of a public consultation exercise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects the British Rail Board to publish, for Wales, the results of the consultation process under section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act.

We expect the board to publish its plan, which includes Wales, before the Christmas recess.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what level of total standard spending and aggregate external finance he has proposed for 1990–91; what increase this represents over 1989–90; what is his estimate of the community charge for standard spending in Wales; what are his estimates of the community charges which would be set by individual councils if local authorities budget to spend in 1990–91 at the same level as their income from rates and grant in 1989–90, adjusted for changes in funding arrangements and increased to be consistent in aggregate with total standard spending; and if he will make a statement.

I am proposing to set total standard spending and aggregate external finance (AEF) at £2,114·5 million and £1,738·5 million respectively. Total standard spending would thus increase by 7·1 per cent. and AEF by

Provisional spending and community charge figures for 1990–911
Authority	Standing spending assessment £000	Expenditure projection2£000	Community charge for standard spending £	District and county council charges2£	Difference assuming present spending patterns £	Total community charge £
Alyn and Deeside	6,967	6,962	27	27	0	184
Colwyn	5,196	5,484	27	34	+7	191
Delyn	5,695	6,636	27	45	+ 19	203
Glyndwr	3,785	3,622	27	22	-5	180
Rhuddlan	5,637	6,466	27	46	+ 19	204
Wrexham Maelor	11,122	11,256	27	28	+2	186
Carmarthen	5,436	4,701	27	10	-17	151
Ceredigion	6,505	6,214	27	21	-6	162
Dinefwr	3,499	2,952	27	9	-18	150
Llanelli	8,285	9,030	29	42	+13	183
Preseli Pembrokeshire	7,041	6,148	27	11	-16	152
South Pembroke	4,653	4,093	27	10	-17	151
Blaenau Gwent	9,807	10,713	27	42	+15	184
Islwyn	8,075	7,947	27	24	-2	166
Monmouth	6,599	6,829	27	31	+4	172
Newport	16,125	16,659	29	34	+5	176
Torfaen	9,604	9,591	27	27	0	168
Aberconwy	5,270	5,735	27	38	+11	170
Arfon	6,075	5,946	27	24	-3	156
Dwyfor	3,596	3,511	27	23	-4	155
Meirionnydd	3,828	4,363	27	46	+ 19	178
Ynys Mon	7,034	7,712	27	40	+ 13	172
Cynon Valley	8,507	8,145	29	22	-7	167
Merthyr Tydfil	8,000	7,891	29	27	-2	172
Ogwr	14,959	15,299	27	30	+3	175
Rhondda	11,923	10,836	29	11	-18	156
Rhymney Valley	10,490	11,381	27	38	+12	183
Taff Ely	9,889	8,559	27	8	-19	153
Brecknock	4,197	4,022	27	22	-5	130
Montgomeryshire	4,628	3,992	27	11	-15	120
Radnorshire	2,070	1,943	27	20	-7	129
Cardiff	29,856	30,691	27	31	+ 4	163
Vale of Glamorgan	10,268	9,599	27	19	-8	151
Port Talbot	6,259	6,167	27	25	-2	208
Lliw Valley	5,882	5,368	27	16	-11	200
Neath	6,924	6,895	27	26	-1	210
Swansea	23,514	23,840	27	29	+2	213
Clwyd	225,056	228,557	147	158	+11	—
Dyfed	203,291	201,935	146	141	-5	—
Gwent	248,799	247,225	146	141	-5	—
Gwynedd	141,985	139,287	147	132	-15	—
Mid Glamorgan	319,716	319,296	146	145	-1	—
Powys	77,887	74,342	147	109	-38	—
South Glamorgan	226,991	222,909	147	133	-14	—
West Glamorgan	209,474	219,651	147	184	+37	—
Total districts	307,200	307,198	27	27	0	174
Total counties	1,653,200	1,653,202	147	147	0	—
Total Wales	1,960,400	1,960,400	174	174	0	174

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made by community charge registration officers in Wales in compiling community charge registers for 1990–91.

Excellent progress has been made. I have received provisional estimates of registered population as at 9 November from all 37 community charge registration officers in Wales. They show a very high rate of registration. Estimates of adult population from the registers are very close, for all authorities, to the equivalent estimates based on data provided by the registrar general. The total for Wales is slightly above the registrar general's 1988 mid-year estimate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether, in view of its expanding international operations, he will grant gateway status to Birmingham International airport.

I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Corbett) on 27 November, Official Report, column 80.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the results of the United Kingdom presidency of the European Conference of Ministers of Transport; and if he will make a statement.

During the United Kingdom's year of holding the Presidency of the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) which ended on 23 November, I chaired two regular meetings of the Council of Ministers at which we discussed a wide range of inland transport issues. We also decided to give Hungary and Poland observer status at ECMT Council meetings.In June, as President of the ECMT, I invited all Transport Ministers of eastern and western Europe to a meeting in London to discuss the possibilities of closer co-operation on transport matters. This meeting was followed by a similar meeting in Budapest in September at the invitation of the Hungarian Transport Minister, at which we concentrated on road safety issues.The final event of the United Kingdom's Presidency was a special session in Paris on 23 November on transport and the environment, in which Transport Ministers and representatives from Environment Ministries from ECMT member states met for the first time and reached a broad agreement on co-ordinated international action to back national initiatives. Ministers agreed that mobility is essential to economic development, but that a balance needs to be struck between transport and environmental needs. Considerable scope exists for further technological advances towards environmentally friendly cars and lorries; fiscal measures also have an important contribution to make, as is demonstrated by the actions taken by several member states, including the United Kingdom, to encourage the use of unleaded petrol. Ministers accepted that transport users should bear the costs which they impose on the infrastructure and the environment.Ministers agreed to set up a working group to promote and monitor follow-up action, and to hold a hearing with vehicle manufacturers and the fuel industry. The Swedish Transport Minister, as incoming President of the ECMT, has invited Transport Ministers from eastern and western Europe to a conference on transport and the environment in Stockholm in September 1990.The substantial progress made on international, political, transport and environmental protection matters has made this last year one of great importance for the ECMT.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that the current size of the United Kingdom merchant fleet is sufficient to provide the support which the Royal Navy would require in time of war.

[holding answer 28 November 1989]: The requirement of the Royal Navy for the use of suitable merchant vessels as support in time of transition to war or war is the subject of continuous planning between this Department and the Ministry of Defence. The situation is constantly monitored and there are at present sufficient numbers of these vessels available on the British registry to meet current needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are (a) the total numbers of reported offences, (b) the total number of arrests and (c) the numbers of deaths in the areas of live rails, such as those used by British Rail Network SouthEast track for (i) England and Wales and (ii) the Greater London area each year since 1979.

The information is not available in the form requested. I can, however, provide details relating to the numbers of fatalities resulting from contact with electrified railway lines for the country as a whole. The figures, taken from the Department's chief inspecting officer's annual reports, are as follows:

Year	Passengers killed	Trespassers killed	Railway staff killed	Total
1979	1	10	—	11
1980	—	9	—	9
1981	—	9	2	11
1982	1	11	15	27
1983	—	5	—	5
1984	—	12	8	20
1985	—	4	—	4
1986	1	7	1	9
1987	—	5	1	6
1988	—	4	—	4
Total	3	76	27	106

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what information he has on the instructions or guidelines the British Transport police and the Metropolitan police have issued on the safe apprehension of suspects in the areas of live rails;(2) what specific training or guidelines are given to British Transport police and Metropolitan police officers on the policing of areas with live rails; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

Relevant guidelines have been produced by British Rail's director of operations at the request of the British Transport police (BTP). These have been issued to all police forces throughout the United Kingdom and I am placing a copy in the House of Commons Library as the hon. Member has requested. BTP officers receive specialised training concerning safety aspects of policing British Rail and London Underground railways. All BTP officers are authorised to work on running lines in the same way as British Rail operational staff. I understand that this does not apply to officers in other police forces, but advice and assistance is available from the BTP as and when needed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what type of building is currently being constructed at Slieve Croob, Dromara in South Down; and what consideration is being given to the fact that it is being constructed in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

The building under construction at Slieve Croob is required to provide accommodation for the equipment and personnel involved with the communications relay station.The buildings have been designed and located to take the maximum advantage of the local topography to lessen the effect which the buildings might have on the surrounding environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what type of business or work will be carried out at the building currently under construction at Slieve Croob, Dromara in South Down on completion.

The building work currently under way at Slieve Croob is concerned with the improvement and development of an existing communications relay station which provides a service to the community at large. It is used by a number of public bodies, including the ambulance and other emergency services, the Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland) roads and water services and the Department of Agriculture forestry division.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what amendments he made to the proposed Strangford Lough ASSI part 3, following representations from Strangford Lough Nature Conservation Association and representations from the local community living near Strangford Lough.

[holding answer 29 November 1989]: The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland confirmed the ASSI declaration with six minor amendments to the boundary. These amendments, which recognise changes which took place since the original survey and the need to correct some mapping errors, reduce the area originally included in the ASSI by half a hectare.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has advised the Southern health and social services area boards of the appropriate dates to fly the Union flag on its buildings; and if he will seek information from the board why the Union flag was not flown on its premises at The Mall, Armagh, on Remembrance Sunday.

[holding answer 29 November 1989]: The requirement to fly the Union flag on those prescribed days relevant to Northern Ireland applies to central Government offices only. There is no requirement therefore for the Southern health and social services board to comply.At the request of the Southern health and social services board, details of the prescribed days for flying the Union flag are issued to it each year.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will publish in the Official Report the number of surveyors employed by the Land Registry to serve each of its geographical divisions.

The current number of staff employed by the Land Registry on site and boundary inspections is set out in the table by district registry. At any one time in each district registry a large number of staff is qualified to do this work.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will refer to the Court of Appeal the sentence for the manslaughter of Emma Worthington which was imposed upon Stuart William Ross at Exeter Crown court on 14 November.

The matter is under consideration. I will write to my hon. Friend when I have reached my decision.

To ask the Attorney-General when the appeal of Mr. Khalil Ahmed, date of birth 1 October 1969, Ref. Imm/93246, who has been refused permission by the post in Islamabad to join his wife, will be heard by the appellate authorities.

The papers in this case (which has been allocated the reference number TH/6834/89) were copied by the appellate authorities to Mr. Ahmed's nominated representatives in the United Kingdom on 14 August 1989. They replied on 16 August that they were ready to proceed, but before the matter was listed for hearing they withdrew from the case, as did another firm of solicitors on 4 October. The appeallate authorities wrote to the appellant in Pakistan on 12 October 1989 stating that unless he nominated a further representative before 12 December the appeal would be determined by an adjudicator without a hearing on the papers before him. If no representative is nominated the appeal will be dealt with as soon after that date as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to alter the methods of operation of the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

The interdepartmental working group of officials formed to advise Ministers on the Kemp review of status options for ECGD has now submitted its report, which is being considered by Ministers. A decision on the way forward will be taken as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he proposes to implement the recommendations of the Kemp report on export credit guarantees.

The interdepartmental working group of officials formed to advise Ministers on the Kemp review of status options for ECGD has submitted its report, which is now being considered by Ministers. An announcement will be made as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals exist for the development of a major programme for a national fibre optics communications network aimed at implementing optoelectronic research; and if he will make a statement.

Development of the national telecommunications networks is a matter for the telecommunications operators in response to market demands.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support he has given for trial schemes to test optoelectronic systems and products in Britain; and if he will make a statement.

I have recently licensed British Telecommunications plc to run, in collaboration with equipment manufacturers, a technical trial in Bishop's Stortford to test telecommunications delivery systems based on optical fibre.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are in place to protect with-profit policy holders against a foreign predator acquiring and asset stripping a United Kingdom life insurance company.

The Insurance Companies Act 1982 (section 61) provides that no person may become the controller of an insurance company without first notifying the Secretary of State, who may object if he considers that the proposed controller is not a fit and proper person to be a controller of that company. "Fit and proper" is not defined in the Act, but in considering whether to exercise his power to prevent a change of control the Secretary of State has regard to any issue which may affect the interests of the company's policyholders.Further provisions in the Act require that the long-term business fund must be kept separate from the company's other funds and place restrictions on the purposes for which these funds may be applied. The Act also gives the Secretary of State wide-ranging powers to intervene where this is necessary to protect policyholders' interests. Where appropriate the Secretary of State may require assets of the company to be maintained in the United Kingdom or to be.held in trust.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will introduce new pyramid selling scheme regulations to replace the 1973 regulations.

I have today laid the Pyramid Selling Schemes Regulations 1989, under the Fair Trading Act 1973, which will come into operation on 1 March 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will list the ministerial visits which have taken place in the last two years involving United Kingdom ministers visiting Israel and Israeli ministers visiting the United Kingdom; what further visits are planned over the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 29 November 1989]: I can only answer for visits to or by Ministers of my Department. In the last two years the following Israeli Ministers have visited the Department of Trade and Industry: Mr. Moshe Shahal, Minister for Energy; Mr. Ariel Sharon, Minister of Industry and Trade; Mr. Gad Ya'acobi, Minister of Communications.No DTI Ministers visited Israel in that period, and no inward or outward ministerial visits are currently planned. DTI officials are expected to go to Israel in 1990 for the United Kingdom-Israel joint committee on bilateral trade.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies failed to lodge annual accounts for the financial year 1986–87; and how many prosecutions took place as a result.

[holding answer 29 November 1989]: The chief executive of Companies House tells me that information is not available in the form requested. However, 130,000 companies in England and Wales had not filed their latest accounts at 30 June 1988. These accounts related mostly to financial years ending between September 1986 and August 1987.Companies House seeks to achieve compliance primarily by means of reminders to companies before they are due to file and warning letters after companies have gone into default. These measures are supplemented by publicity aimed at directors and professional advisers.Companies House's present policy is to prosecute only when other methods of obtaining statutory documents have failed. In the year ending 31 March 1989, there were 4,543 prosecutions for failure to deliver accounts. Some, but by no means all, of these prosecutions would relate to accounts for 1986–87.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement regarding the recent Government report on recommendations for the teaching of history in the national curriculum, and its relevance to a multi-cultural society.

In its interim report published in August the national curriculum history working group gave its provisional views on the teaching of history. The group is expected to make its final report to my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Education and Science and for Wales by the end of the year. My right hon. Friends will publish their proposals when they have considered that report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many primary school head teachers have written to him in the month of November, either directly or through hon. Members forwarding their letters to him, expressing concern about teacher morale, pressure of work and administrative or resource difficulties in implementing the national curriculum; and what has been the general nature of his reply to such letters.

The information is not available in the form requested. My right hon. Friend frequently receives correspondence from primary school head teachers about various aspects of education provision. They receive appropriate replies, which I hope they find helpful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science on how many occasions in the last three months he and his Departmental Ministers have visited maintained schools in their official capacities; and what are the equivalent figures for grades 1, 2 and 3 officials in his Department.

In the three months to 30 November my ministerial colleagues and I have visited 30 maintained schools. The equivalent figures for grades 1, 2 and 3 are zero, 13 and three respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he intends to take to reduce the flow of Departmental circulars, letters or guidance notes to head teachers; and whether he will make a statement.

The flow of material to schools over the last year has reflected the need to give schools information and guidance about their new responsibilities under the Education Reform Act. My right hon. Friend recognises the pressure which the volume of material has placed on schools and is taking a close interest in the flow of new material to ensure that it is kept within reasonable bounds and within the capacity of the system to absorb it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the report by Her Majesty's inspectorate on primary schools training of supply teachers.

The report by Her Majesty's inspectorate, "The Implementation of the National Curriculum in Primary Schools", found that primary schools have made a satisfactory start in preparing for the introduction of the national curriculum. Expenditure on training related to the national curriculum (including that for supply teachers) is supported through the local education authority training grants scheme. It is for LEAs to make decisions about training priorities in the light of identified local needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the report by Her Majesty's inspectorate on primary schools on resources to implement the Government's plans for the core subjects of the national curriculum.

The report by Her Majesty's inspectorate, "The Implementation of the National Curriculum in Primary Schools", found that levels of resourcing for the core subjects in key stage 1 were generally adequate. The report also comments on the good use being made of the specific grants which the Government have provided to support the introduction of the national curriculum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he expects the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council to close courses which cannot meet the minimum resource requirements.

The Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council has no power to close courses. It is for the institutions to determine their own academic provision in the light of the funds available to them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish the student-to-staff ratio in engineering courses at polytechnics for each of the last 10 years to the current year.

Available data on student: staff ratios (SSR) are given in the table.

Laboratory and workshop based higher education SSRs at polytechnics: 1978–79 to 1987–88 (England)
Academic year	Ratio
1978–79	7·8
1979–80	8·0
1980–81	8·5

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if his Department will make available resources to the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council sufficient to meet the funding requirements indicated by the Engineering Council.

My right hon. Friend announced the resources available to the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council (PCFC) in his statement on 15 November (Official Report, written answers, columns 272–76). I understand that the Engineering Council has written to the PCFC about the question of resources for engineering education. It is for the PCFC to consider what its response should be.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when Her Majesty's inspectors received a copy of the Engineering Council's recommendations on the minimum resources required for engineering education in the polytechnic sector; and what response they propose to make.

Her Majesty's inspectorate is aware of the statement published in 1984 entitled "Resources for Engineering Education" at degree and HND level. A review of engineering in the polytechnics and colleges, based on HMI inspections over the last five years, is about to be published. The review will include comment on a wide range of aspects of engineering education, including resources and their management.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration the Advisory Board for the Research Councils has given to the proposed merger of the five research councils; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend recently received advice from the ABRC on the future structure of the research council system. This arose from consideration of a report to the board by a review group under the chairmanship of Mr. J. R. S. Morris CBE which recommended a merger of the present five research councils.My right hon. Friend is considering the board's advice and will make a statement in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total Government spending on civil science in Britain (a) in real terms and (b) as a percentage of gross domestic product for each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

The figures of total Government spend on civil research and development are as follows:

	1985·86	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89	1989–90
			Estimate Provision
Real terms (£M) (1989–90 prices)	2,792	2,805	2,729	2,674	2,706
Proportion of GDP	0·62	0·60	0·55	0·52	0·52

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the current pay claim by the National Union of Teachers.

The interim advisory committee will no doubt consider carefully the evidence it has received from the NUT in formulating its recommendations on teachers' pay for 1990–91.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps are being taken to attract more well-qualified young people into the teaching profession; and if he will make a statement.

Since 1986 the Department has taken a number of measures to improve teacher supply, at a cost so far of £50 million. These include bursaries for trainee teachers in maths, physics, design and technology, and chemistry; new forms of initial teacher training courses; and greater publicity and advertising of teaching opportunities through the teaching as a career unit, TASC.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will indicate for the city technology colleges at (a) Solihull, (b) Nottingham and (c) Teesside the number of pupils from outside the agreed catchment area that he has authorised to be accepted.

All pupils under the age of 15 attending the Teesside and Nottingham CTCs are admitted from within the college's catchment areas. There is no defined catchment area for 16-plus admission to the Nottingham CTC, but priority is given to pupils living within a two-mile radius of the college. My right hon. Friend has given permission for nine of the 360 pupils attending the Kinghurst CTC to be admitted from outside its catchment area. I understand that all pupils attending CTCs live within reasonable travelling distance of the colleges.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any evidence that the Soviet Union has reduced its production of modern armoured fighting vehicles.

Soviet officials have said that there has been a significant reduction in activity at the Soviet Union's tank plants during the course of this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has made any assessment of the future of United States air bases in East Anglia, following comments by the United States Secretary for Defence on possible troop reductions in Europe.

The United States Government has made it clear that the Allies will be consulted on any force level reductions made in Europe. Any decisions affecting United States air bases in the United Kingdom will be the subject of full consultations with the United Kingdom Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure has been incurred to date on the study of procurement options for the possible replacement of the WE177 free-fall bomb.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 28 November at column 572.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of procurement options for the possible replacement of the WE177 free-fall bomb that are currently being studied.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member on 17 July at column 71 by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any agreements have been concluded with (a) the United States Government or (b) the French Government regarding the study of procurement options for the possible replacement of the WE177 free-fall nuclear bomb.

Arrangements enabling an exchange of information have been concluded with the United States Government. Negotiations are in hand with the French Government about similar arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether any money has been paid to (a) British Aerospace or (b) Hunting Engineering in connection with the study of possible procurement options for the replacement of the WE177 free-fall nuclear bomb;(2) whether any plans exist to pay money to

Yes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether any of his officials has visited French Government facilities in connection with the study of possible procurement options for the replacement of the WE177 free-fall nuclear bomb;(2) whether any of his officials has visited United States Government facilities in connection with the study of possible procurement options for the replacement of the WE177 free-fall nuclear bomb.

As I have said on several occasions, discussions are taking place with both the United States and French Governments on procurement options for the possible replacement of the WE177 free-fall bomb, which include visits to the appropriate establishments. No decisions have yet been taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures are taken to confirm the identity of those people who receive military training from British service personnel.

Appropriate arrangements are made with the authorities of the foreign Government concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures are taken to ensure that the benefits and lessons gained from military training by British service personnel are not transferred from those who receive the training to those who are authorised to receive it.

The control of information released to members of foreign armed forces during training by British service personnel is a matter for the civil and military authorities of the country concerned. The extent and type of any classified information to which foreign nationals are granted access will reflect their need to know and will also be commensurate with Her Majesty's Government's assessment of the recipient country's ability to control the information in an appropriate manner.Mr. O'Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision is made for the study of the legal aspect of warfare in the military training provided for foreign nationals by British service personnel.

Instruction in legal aspects of warfare is provided to foreign and United Kingdom students where it is appropriate to the subject of the training course concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any British service personnel have been involved in the provision of military training in (a) Zimbabwe and (b) Thailand at any time in the last four years.

British service personnel have provided military training in Zimbabwe to both the Mozambiquan and Zimbabwean armed forces during the last four years. British service personnel have also made several short advisory visits to the Thai armed forces in the same period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which foreign military forces have been provided with military training by British service personnel over the last four years.

Since 1 April 1986, personnel from the armed forces or police of the following countries and dependent territories have attended military training courses in the United Kingdom or received training from British service personnel overseas:

• Algeria
• Australia
• Austria
• Bahamas
• Bahrain
• Bangladesh
• Barbados
• Belgium
• Belize
• Bermuda
• Botswana
• Brazil
• Brunei
• Burma
• Cameroon
• Canada
• Chad
• Chile
• China
• Colombia
• Congo
• Denmark
• Djibouti
• Dominica
• Ecuador
• Egypt
• El Salvador
• Fiji
• Finland
• France
• Gambia
• Germany
• Ghana
• Greece
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Hong Kong
• India
• Indonesia
• Iraq
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Ivory Coast
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Jordan
• Kenya
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• Lesotho
• Luxembourg
• Malawi
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Malta
• Mauritius
• Mozambique
• Nepal
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Nigeria
• Norway
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• Portugal
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Singapore
• Somalia
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sri Lanka
• St. Lucia
• St. Vincent
• Sudan
• Swaziland
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Tanzania
• Thailand
• Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tunisia
• Turkey
• Turks and Caicos
• Uganda
• United Arab Emirates
• Uruguay
• United States of America
• Venezuela Yemen
• Yugoslavia
• Zaire
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any British service personnel have visited Thailand in an official capacity at any time in the last four years.

Yes, there have been a number of advisory visits by British service personnel to the Royal Thai armed forces during the last four years. In addition, troops from the Hong Kong garrison regularly exercise in Thailand and, in 1988, RAF Tornado F3 aircraft used training facilities in the country.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any training in military signalling has been provided by British service personnel in Thailand at any time in the last four years.

Details of military assistance provided to foreign Governments are normally confidential.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any British signalling equipment has been supplied to the Khmer People's National Liberation Army or the National Sihanoukist Army at any time in the last four years.

My Department has not supplied any such equipment to either organisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his current estimate of the stocks of chemical weapons held by the Soviet Union.

The Government's position regarding Soviet stocks of chemical weapons remains as expressed in paragraphs 219–220 of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989 (Cm. 675-I).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost to date of lobbying in the United States in favour of Trident.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 28 November at column 569.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual cost of maintaining the British Army of the Rhine.

I refer my hon. Friend to table 2.3 of volume 2 of the 1989 Statement on the Defence Estimates (Cm. 675-II).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of Warsaw pact armament production; and if he will make a statement.

Our latest estimates for Warsaw pact armaments production relate to 1988 and are as follows:

(a) approximately 4,200 tanks, including approximately 3,500 made in the USSR;

(b) approximately 700 fighter aircraft, plus approximately 200 combat trainers;

(c) 11 submarines (including two major conversions) and five major surface ships; and

(d) approximately 375 ballistic missiles.

It is not yet possible to give figures for 1989. However, we believe that there may have been a fall in tank production and that cuts in some other areas, such as fighter aircraft, are being implemented. Any cuts will, of course, be from high historic levels of output.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to receive the report on the review of the use of helicopters in the land battle; and if he will make a statement.

The balance of investment in weapon systems, including helicopters, is kept continually under review. The results of this work will continue to be taken into account when we reach procurement decisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, in tabular form, each incident at Canadian forces base, Suffield, in which British service men have been injured, giving the date of each incident, the number of soldiers injured and the nature and extent of their injuries.

The information requested is set out in the table:

Date of incident and nature/extent of injuries
	Number injured
7 June 1984: minor injuries	3
5 September 1985: burns face and forearm	1
19 October 1985: eye injury	2
31 October 1985: minor gun shot wound to right forearm	1
31 July 1986: smoke inhalation	1
28 August 1986: eye injury	1
24 September 1986: injuries to leg	1
4 June 1987: fatal	2
17 July 1987: 1 fatality, 2 minor injuries	3

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement regarding leaks in the torpedo tubes of HMS Upholder.

During the trials of HMS Upholder in 1988, a design fault was discovered which could, in certain circumstances, allow water to enter the submarine's torpedo tubes. The tubes were locked shut as a precautionary measure while trials continued. A modification to correct the fault has been designed and will be fitted to the submarine when sea trials have been completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if there have been any problems experienced with the existing aircraft lifts on the Royal Navy's Invincible class aircraft carriers;(2) if he will make a statement regarding replacement aircraft lifts for the Royal Navy's Invincible class aircraft carriers.

The aircraft lifts in the Royal Navy's Invincible class aircraft carriers have successfully supported the operations of these ships over the past 10 years. However, they have experienced a higher than anticipated incidence of defects and failures, and an associated high maintenance and repair burden. Modifications and improvements carried out to date have increased their reliability, but not to the extent considered adequate to enable them to support the ships' role over the remainder of their projected lives. In consequence, a programme to develop a replacement lift has been initiated, and an invitation to tender for proposals is soon to be issued to industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will calculate the number of jobs in establishments producing the procurement budget for each year since 1979.

Estimates of United Kingdom employment dependent on defence equipment expenditure from 1978–79 to 1986–87 (the latest period for which estimates are available) are given in table 6.8 of Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989, Volume 2.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the size of the defence budget in real terms for each year since 1979.

Defence expenditure since 1979–80, after taking account of defence specific inflation, was as follows:

1988–89 prices
	£ million
1979–80	18,015
1980–81	18,564
1981–82	18,736
1982–83	19,894
1983–84	20,230
1984–85	21,126
1985–86	21,030
1986–87	20,270
1987–88	19,936
1988–89	19,073
1989–90	119,106
1 Estimated outturn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list total defence spending as a proportion of gross domestic product for each year since 1979.

Since 1979–80, defence expenditure has represented the following proportions of GDP:

	per cent.
1979–80	4·4
1980–81	4·7
1981–82	4·8
1982–83	5·1
1983–84	5·0
1984–85	5·2
1985–86	4·9
1986–87	4·7
1987–88	4·4
1988–89	4·0

During the current financial year, it is estimated that defence expenditure will be about 3·9 per cent. of GDP.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action his Department plans to take in relation to entry by the Newcastle and District Beagles on to his Department's land at Otterburn training area on 15 September.

On this occasion, the Ministry of Defence has accepted an apology from the master of the Newcastle and District Beagles for crossing the boundary of the Otterburn training area without permission. However, we have given notice that further trespass cannot be tolerated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arms Britain is selling to the Greek side of Cyprus.

It has been the consistent policy of successive Administrations not to give details of arms sales to specific countries. In the case of Cyprus, however, our policy precludes the supply of arms to the armed forces of either side, because of our desire to preserve our neutrality and help bring about a peaceful solution.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what reduction in civil servant numbers there will be in existing Government departments presently dealing with the water industry, after its privatisation.

Following the successful privatisation of the water industry, it is anticipated that as a result there will be a reduction of 47 posts in my Department. Account has been taken of this in setting the manpower baseline for 1990–91.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the ports currently registered for the import of toxic waste, together with the amount of such waste imported, the countries of origin and destinations and the nature of the waste, through each of those ports, for the last three available years.

There is no statutory requirement that ports be "registered" to accept waste.Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution (HMIP) collects information on imported waste from waste disposal authorities every financial year. For the financial years 1986–87, 1987–88 and 1988–89 that information indicates that the following ports accepted the amounts of waste indicated. The information collected does not enable HMIP to determine the amounts of waste in relation to the country of origin, destinations or make-up.Following the implementation of the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations in October 1988 HMIP now collects more detailed information but has not yet compiled data for the current year.

Quantities of waste (tonnes) imported via named ports
Port	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89
Avonmouth	1,519	2,737	—
Barking	—	2,276	—
Boston	—	1,283	164
Bristol	1,333	—	—
Briton Ferry	2,300	7,536	12,360
Chatham	1,730	49	88
Dartford	4,122	4,133	52
Devonport	25	—	—
Dover	1,638	3,559	20
Felixstowe	13,038	21,416	12,311
Fishguard	50	—	—
Fleetwood	1,956	2,173	1,440
Garston	203	—	—
Greenwich	—	2,276	—
Grimsby	271	14	—