To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the frequency with which regional directors of the Department of the Environment have met together on a formal basis since 1984; what is the frequency with which full or partial meetings of the regional emergency committees are held; and if he will place minutes of the meetings in the Library.

In addition to any ad hoc meetings that may be required, the regional directors meet regularly, about once a month, to discuss departmental business. The regional emergency committees meet as required, at the discretion of the chairmen.It would not be appropriate to make available the minutes of either type of meeting.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the annual weight and volume of the waste sent to Drigg for each of the years 1980 to 1988 inclusive; and what are his estimates for the years 1989 to 2000.

This is a matter for British Nuclear Fuels plc.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the leakage levels from the London water distribution system.

This is a matter for Thames Water. It is referred to in the first paragraph of page 415 of the prospectus for the water share offers, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when he expects to publish the next leakage control policy and practice report;(2) if he will place a copy of the appendix to the 1985 leakage control policy and practice report in the Library.

A copy of this report, together with its appendices, has been placed in the Library. There are no plans to publish a further edition.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what assessment he has made of the cost of tendering for public sector contract work under the Local Government Act 1988, in terms of time and resources; and if he will make a statement;

No figures are available at present. An in-depth research project is currently being carried out on behalf of the Department to assess the impact of competition policy and this will examine costs incurred as well as savings made. We expect the first phase of the project to be completed next May. Local authorities have been asked to complete a questionnaire which will provide information on the number of contracts awarded to DSOs and private contractors. I hope that the results will be available early next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he gives to local authorities on the practice of using the schedule of rates in seeking competitive tenders from private contractors.

Advice issued by my Department in its circulars 10/81, 6/82 and 19/83 has encouraged the use of schedules of rates by local authorities. The Department has not issued guidance about the use of schedules but has, in those circulars, referred local authorities to guidance and practical advice produced by bodies such as the Association of Metropolitan Authorities, the National Federation of Building Trades Employers (now the Building Employers Confederation), the Society of Chief Quantity Surveyors in Local Government, the Institution of Municipal Engineers and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the Audit Commission's estimate of the savings to be made through compulsory competitive tendering.

The Audit Commission's occasional paper "Preparing for Compulsory Competition" published in January indicated that local authorities can obtain savings of 20 per cent. or more in contract price irrespective of whether work has been won by the private sector or by authorities' own work forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to provide sufficient information to enable private firms to tender competitively for contract work.

Under the competition pro visions of the Local Government Act 1988, authorities are required to prepare and make available a detailed specification of the work for which tenders are being, invited. Any failure to include adequate information might be regarded as anti-competitive and lead to the exercise of the Secretary of State's sanction powers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what has been the average annual percentage rise in house prices in (a) England and (b) Wales since 1968; and what information he has on the annual average building society interest rate for depositors since 1968;

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list all office relocations of his Department's staff since May 1979, stating in each case the location of origin and the location to transfer, together with the numbers of staff transferred;(2) what relocations of his Department's staff, or agencies relating thereto, are curently being considered; and what are the numbers of staff affected.

Approximately 60 posts in the Crown Suppliers were moved from central London to Bootle in 1982. The Department's Eastern Regional Office, comprising some 70 posts, was moved from London to Bedford in 1988. This year, the newly established Historic Royal Palaces Agency, with 20 posts, was transferred from central London to Hampton Court palace. The Department's rent charges unit, with 11 posts, has recently been moved from central London to the Department's north-west regional office in Manchester.In April this year, the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission, for which the Department is responsible, moved its office dealing with properties in care in the northern region, with 20 posts, from central London to Newcastle upon Tyne.Around 38 per cent. of the Department's staff of approximately 6,000 (excluding the Property Services Agency) are already located outside London, 24 per cent. outside the south-east. All other posts have been assessed for relocation potential, and some 1,350 posts have been identified for detailed investigation. Studies covering 320 posts are complete, leading to proposals to move some 90

The information is as follows:posts out of London. These proposals—which include the relocation of the Historic Royal Palaces Agency and rent charges unit—are now being implemented. Studies covering the other posts will be carried out over the next two years or so, as operational requirements allow.Seventy per cent. of the PSA's staff of 22,400 (including the Crown Suppliers) are already located outside London, 45 per cent. outside the south-east. The agency is being restructured in preparation for commercialisation. The scope for further relocation is being examined through the business planning process.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to ensure that, wherever possible, methane from landfill sites and oil fields will be collected or flared efficiently.

All those involved in landfill management have been urged to consider appropriate systems of monitoring and control for landfill gas in accordance with the technical memorandum in waste management paper No. 27. The Department of Energy is responsible for the control of gas from oilfields.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Government are taking measures to ensure that international exchange of data on global warming is not impeded by commercial considerations in the United Kingdom.

The House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology has similarly suggested the need for unimpeded exchange of data relevant to global climate change in the sixth report. The Government will respond to this and other conclusions of the Committee in due course. Much data generated by global monitoring programmes will be available on the same basis as is currently the case for world meteorological data. Arrangements are in hand to provide data from the ERS1 satellite to suitably equipped and qualified universities and institutes groups. Discussions under way on data dissemination in the longer term will take into account the recommendations of the Select Committee.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what consideration he has given to the conclusion contained in the Select Committee on Science and Technology report on the greenhouse effect about the Government's abandonment of research into fast reactor technology; and if he will make a statement;(2) what consideration he has given to the conclusion contained in the Select Committee on Science and Technology report on the greenhouse effect about the United Kingdom's commitment to the proposal for a successor satellite to ERS1 (ERS2); and if he will make a statement;(3) what consideration he has given to the conclusion contained in the Select Committee on Science and Technology report on the greenhouse effect about the Government's commitment to the ocean drilling programme beyond 1991; and if he will make a statement.

The Government will be responding in due course when full consideration has been given to all the conclusions and recommendations of the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology's sixth report.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what funds the Government intend to allocate in 1990 and 1991 to finance research and development into the field of fuel use and emissions control in road transport.

Projected Government expenditure (by financial year) on research and development into fuel use and emissions control covering the period in question is as follows:

• Financial year 1990–91: £2·015 million
• Financial year 1991–92: £1·150 million

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to develop better facilities for climate modelling at the Meteorological Office and if he will offer generous access to those facilities to relevant university research departments.

As the Prime Minister announced in her speech to the United Nations General Assembly on 8 November, the Government intend to establish a new centre for climate prediction. It will build on the existing expertise at the Meteorological Office, which is of the highest international repute. An important function of the centre will be to identify research work including that done in universities, of relevance to climate prediction and to encourage and facilitate its incorporation into improved predictive modelling. International collaboration with other centres of expertise will be a fundamental aspect of the centre's work.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much grant his Department will make available in the next financial year to fund the United Kingdom centre for the prediction of climate change.

Establishing a centre for climate prediction is expected to cost over £5·5 million in 1990–91.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many tonnes of (a) special waste, (b) toxic waste and (c) radioactive waste have been imported through Newhaven for each of the last three years.

The Department's records do not differentiate between toxic waste and special waste which is also classified as toxic waste. In 1986–87 23 tonnes were imported through Newhaven, and in 1987–88 48 tonnes. We have no record of any imports in 1988–89. Radioactive waste is not imported into the country.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals to increase the frequency of visits by inspectors of Her Majesty's inspectors of pollution to landfill sites; and if he will make a statement.

No. A primary role of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution is assessing the performance of the waste disposal authorities. This involves visiting a selection of landfills to assess standards and performance. Sufficient landfills are inspected for the inspectorate to reach a balanced view on how well the waste disposal authority discharges its statutory duties.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the homelessness situation in Britain.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, on 15 November, on the conclusions of the Government's review of the homelessness legislation. A copy of the full report is in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to enable local authorities to take more severe action against those responsible for dropping litter.

We propose to empower all district and borough councils to operate fixed penalty schemes for littering, similar to that currently operated by Westminster city council. In addition, we propose to increase the maximum fine for littering in England and Wales under the Litter Act 1983 from £400 to £1,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what responses he has received to the consultation document on the proposed amendments to the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 and for a cost recovery charging scheme.

Organisations responded to the consultation document issued jointly by myself with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales, for Scotland and for Northern Ireland, and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. A list of these has been placed in the Library of the House: copies of individual responses may be obtained through the Library. Respondents gave a broad welcome to the proposals put forward in the paper.In particular, there was enthusiastic support for the proposal to establish practicable de minimis levels of radioactive material and waste. Many comments were received on the section regarding the disclosure of information concerning possibly contaminated land and our proposals have been amended to clarify this section taking into account the suggestions made.The proposal to introduce a cost recovery charging scheme attracted many comments with only a small minority objecting to the principles of charging. In developing the scheme we will take into account the helpful suggestions and comments received as a result of the current consultation exercise.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response his Department received to the questionnaire sent to local authorities on 3 May about their progress in implementing the new community charge arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

A total of 267 out of 366 local authorities in England responded to this questionnaire. The picture which emerged was generally reassuring. All authorities which responded were implementing the new arrangements and all confirmed they would meet the requirement to send community charge register entries to their residents by 1 December 1989. A report on the results of the questionnaire has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the organisations which have (a) supported him and (b) criticised in writing to him his proposals for changes in the Nature Conservancy Council; and what representations he has had from Mr. Derek Ratcliffe on the future of science in the Nature Conservancy Council.

[holding answer 4 December 1989]: My Department has received a large number of representations about the proposals to reorganise the Nature Conservancy Council. It is not possible to allocate these in a meaningful way to the categories requested. A number of representations contained elements both of support and of criticism. A letter from the former chief scientist of the NCC, Mr. Ratcliffe, made a thoughtful contribution on the need for cohesive operational strategies, the maintenance of high standards in conservation science, evaluation and practice and on maximising the use of scarce resources. We took account of all the points made in the representations received in formulating the Government's proposals (announced on 23 November) to establish a statutory joint committee of the new country agencies to maintain scientific standards and take responsibility for the scientific aspects of nature conservation issues which have a Great Britain or international dimension.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the planned level of inspection of factory discharges into rivers by National Rivers Authority officials over the next 12 months; and what percentage of factory discharges this is estimated to represent.

[holding answer 4 December 1989]: I understand that the National Rivers Authority is currently reviewing its monitoring programmes, including the level of inspection of discharges by factories to rivers and other controlled waters.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many persons who inspect factory discharges are employed by the National Rivers Authority.

[holding reply Monday 4 December 1989]: I understand that approximately 430 officers are engaged in pollution control duties in the field. They are involved in inspecting all forms of discharge, including those from factories.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all those who have been excluded from the proceedings of the M11 extension inquiry; and if he will give the reason for exclusion in each case.

The exclusion and readmission of individuals at the current inquiry into the Al2 Hackney to M11 link road are matters for the independent inspector.Several people have been excluded to prevent further disruption of proceedings. Their names are not known to the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the proceedings of the M11 extension inquiry to be concluded; and what assurances he has received that all points of view will be properly aired and fully considered during the inquiry.

The inquiry will conclude when the independent inspector is satisfied that he has heard all statutory objectors and those others with material points who, at his discretion, he chooses to hear. The inspector has already announced that this will mean the continuation of the inquiry in the new year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all office relocations of his Department's staff since May 1979, stating in each case the location of origin and the location of transfer, together with the numbers of staff transferred.

Following is the information requested by the hon. Member:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what relocations of his Department's staff, or agencies relating thereto, are currently being considered; and what are the numbers of staff affected.

It is planned to relocate the headquarters of the Driving Standards Agency from London to Nottingham in mid-1990. About 100 posts are involved. The location of certain other London headquarters directorates is being reviewed: up to a further 430 posts are involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many children of school age have been injured in traffic accidents in the last 12-months'; and how many have been killed.

In 1988, 47,429 children aged between five and 16 were injured in road traffic accidents and 440 were killed.This is the most recent 12-months-period for which full data are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many children of school age have been injured in traffic accidents involving designated school buses in the last 12 months; and how many have been killed.

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people in the last 12 months have been injured in traffic accidents; and how many have been killed.

In 1988, 317,253 people of all road users were injured in road traffic accidents and 5,052 were killed. This is the most recent 12-months period for which full data are available.Provisional estimates for the 12 months up to June 1989 show 320,576 injured and 5,082 killed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of statutory regulations for operators of designated school buses which require standards of safety to be met (a) in the other member states of the European Community and (b) elsewhere; and what assessment he has made of their comparable figures for accidents involving children of school age and designated school buses.

I have considered what we can learn from the statutory regulations applicable to school buses, so far as we are aware of them, in other European countries and elsewhere.Some European countries require a special sign showing two children in silhouette on a yellow background to be displayed on school buses. We think that this simple, cautionary sign has much to commend it and as I told the House on 14 November, we shall shortly circulate for comment proposals along these lines.In Japan all minibuses, buses and coaches, except those providing a local bus service, are required to be fitted with seat belts on every seat. I have received many representations requesting similar legislation in the United Kingdom. At present we are prevented from enforcing legislation while the European Community seat belt directive specifies that no seat belts need be fitted to minibuses and coaches. We shall continue to press for change, but the view of most of the other member states is that coaches and minibuses are so safe that seat belts would not be worth while except on the front seats. This we have already required. We believe that seats themselves can give a measure of protection in a frontal accident, but seat belts generally prevent ejection and can thus reduce death and injury in a roll-over accident.We have no figures for accidents involving children of school age using buses either in the United Kingdom or in other countries. Our own figures show that in 1988 409 children were killed and 7,923 were seriously injured on the roads in all.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of traffic accidents involving designated school buses where children of school age have been injured or killed; and what consideration he has given to (a) the state of the road, (b) the type of vehicles involved and (c) the time of year as contributory factors.

It is our established practice to make a detailed investigation covering every possible contributory factor leading to a spectacular and major crash. This applies equally to crashes involving buses carrying children of school age as to other vehicles.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to the need for an additional adult to be carried on designated school buses to ensure proper safety procedures are followed.

Supervision is a matter for education authorities and schools. We encourage them to ensure that adequate arrangements exist.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulations exist to ensure that drivers of designated school buses are trained in first aid.

There is no regulation requiring any driver to be trained in first aid.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what safety requirements exist for transport operators of school project trips; and if he will ensure that any new safety standards imposed on designated school buses must also be met on school project trips.

The public service vehicle regulations apply equally to all bus operators. We will indeed propose that any new safety requirements for buses used to carry children between home and school shall also apply to school project trips.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why he decided to allow the Civil Aviation Authority to delay by one year its response to his predecessor's request for advice on airports policy; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend acknowledged, when he sought advice on the adequacy of United Kingdom airport capacity through to 2005, that he had given the authority a testing undertaking. We recognise the need to carry forward airports strategy, but it is important that this is based on fully researched and considered advice. We respect the authority's judgment that it needs to carry out further work before responding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list those sections of the relevant United Kingdom and EEC statutes which relate to the precedence of allocation of slots between charter and scheduled services at United Kingdom airports; and if he will make a statement;(2) what examination of the validity under EEC law of his powers to make airport traffic rules has been undertaken; what are his powers to give preference in slot allocation to scheduled carriers over competing charter carriers; and if he will make a statement.

Section 31 of the Airports Act 1986 empowers my right hon. Friend to make traffic distribution rules which may, inter alia, specify classes or descriptions of air traffic that are permitted under the rules to use any of the airports concerned, and impose prohibitions or restrictions in relation to the use of any of those airports by air traffic of any class or description specified in the rules.Section 33 of the 1986 Act empowers my right hon. Friend to require the Civil Aviation Authority to prepare for his approval a slot allocation scheme for airports at which a limit on movements has been set under section 32, or at which he judges that demand exceeds capacity, or is likely in the near future to do so. No such schemes have been made, and slot allocation at United Kingdom airports is carried out either by the airport operator or by the airport scheduling committee. Such committees are composed of representatives of airlines operating at the airport, and work in accordance with guidelines established by the International Air Transport Association.The relevant EC legislation is Commission regulation (EEC) No. 2671/88. Article 1 exempts from article 85(1) of the treaty of Rome agreements between undertakings in the air transport sector, decisions by associations of such undertakings and concerted practices between such undertakings which have as their purpose slot allocation and airport scheduling in so far as they concern scheduled international air services between airports in the Community. Article 5 states that this exemption applies only if any rules of priority established are neither directly nor indirectly related to carrier identity or nationality or category of service and take into account constraints or air traffic distribution rules laid down by competent national or international authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will hold an inquiry into the cost of car insurance charged to disabled people; and if he will take steps to ensure that disabled drivers are not prevented from driving their cars by high insurance.

No. It is for insurance companies to set premiums in the light of their own underwriting experience. I welcome the initiative the Association of British Insurers have taken to make available a dossier of insurance advice for disabled drivers and their offer to look into any individual difficulties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last discussed (a) possible expansion of the network; (b) possible closure of passenger lines and (c) possible passenger fare increases with the chairman of British Rail.

My right hon. Friend discusses a wide range of railway issues at his regular meetings with the chairman of British Rail. He has recently discussed with the chairman the objectives he proposes to set for the next three years. He hopes to publish them shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will announce the appointment of the next chairman of British Rail.

I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Bob Reid to take over the chairmanship of British Rail next year. His distinguished career as a senior manager in private industry will bring valuable experience to bear on the challenges and opportunities which British Rail will face in the next decade.At the same time, I pay warm tribute to Sir Robert Reid's achievements as chairman over the last six years. He has led British Rail to a new, more commercial approach, with a massive investment programme and more customer-orientated structure. The Government, and the travelling public, owe him a large debt of gratitude.Mr. Reid's appointment will be for a five-year term, at a salary of £200,000 a year. Mr. Reid will join the board from 1 January as chairman-designate and for a period from 1 April until his responsibilities at Shell come to an end in October, he will be non-executive part-time chairman.I am also pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Derek Fowler as deputy chairman for a six-month period next year, and am grateful to him for agreeing to take on this important role. Mr. Fowler, at present vice-chairman and finance member, will become deputy chairman in April to provide continuity and to support Mr. Reid as non-executive chairman. Mr. Fowler has made a valuable contribution throughout his long service on the board, and this extension will make a fitting final stage in his career, to the benefit of British Rail.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many market research and sample surveys were carried out by or for his Department in the last 12 months; what was the cost of each; what was the total cost; how many were carried out in-house; how many were carried out for his Department by outside organisations; and what percentage of the total expenditure was paid to outside organisations.

A total of nine individual ad hoc surveys were carried out by outside organisations at a cost respectively of £114,110, £10,626, £10,243, £230,630, £25,650, £33,732, £4,550, £4,300 and £100,000 making a total of £533,841 in the 12 months ending 30 November 1989. All these surveys were funded by the Department.In addition, the Department has carried out three in-house sample surveys at an estimated total cost of £45,000. The percentage of total expenditure paid to outside organisations, therefore, was 92 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list all office relocations of his Department's staff since May 1979, stating in each case the location of origin and the location of transfer, together with the numbers of staff transferred.

The Department transferred 30 posts from London to its Darlington office in 1988. Only two of the staff transferred with the work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what relocations of his Department's staff, or agencies relating thereto, are currently being considered; and what are the numbers of staff affected.

The Department is proposing to relocate a further 50 posts from London to its Darlington office during 1990. In addition, a senior official of the Department is about to undertake a study of the long-term location requirements of the Department in the light of the Government's policy on relocation. The study will consider various possibilities, including the handling of some functions regionally. It is not at present possible to say how staff will be affected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps are being taken by the Government to encourage PhD students into university research departments.

Approximately 60 per cent. of full-time PhD students are supported from Government sources, primarily through grant in aid from the Department of Education and Science to the research councils and the British Academy. Three thousand nine hundred and ninety six new research studentships were awarded by these bodies in 1989, an increase of 134 over 1988. The postgraduate award-making bodies are better placed than Government to assess national needs for PhDs and to determine the optimum distribution of these studentships between different departments and subjects.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what departmental representation there was at the fourth international energy conference of the Royal Institute of International Affairs, on 4 and 5 December.

I understand that attendance at the conference was by invitation. I am not aware that the Department of Education and Science received an invitation, and therefore the Department was not represented at this conference.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many disabled children are currently in special schools within the South Yorkshire area; and what steps he has taken to ensure that for each child, the local education authority is issuing a statement of needs in accordance with the law.

The number of children in special schools within the southern Yorkshire area in January 1989 was 2,807. LEAs have a duty under the 1981 Education Act to identify special education needs and issue a statement when appropriate. It is for each authority to decide on their own local policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimates he has of the true cost of supporting disabled children in main stream education; and if he will make a statement.

The Department does not collect data on spending on children with statements of special educational needs in ordinary schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the extent of in-service teacher training on disability awareness; and if he will make a statement.

No information is collected centrally on the extent of awareness training on disability. The Government provide substantial support, through the local education authority training grants scheme, for training to meet special educational needs, which include certain disabilities. Five categories of training in respect of special educational needs are currently designated as national priorities, eligible for support at the higher rate of grant under the scheme. In the current financial year, grant is available to support expenditure of £6·6 million in these areas. In addition, authorities are free to draw on the grant available to them under the scheme at the lower rate, in support of further expenditure at their discretion on training on aspects of disability.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much money is currently allocated by the Government for the funding of the study at universities of the behaviour of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere; and how much it plans to allocate for this purpose in 1990 and 1991.

I understand that in 1989–90 the NERC has allocated £155,000 to higher education institutions for research into the chemistry and physics of greenhouse gases. This basic work is included in the £890,000 that the NERC is providing overall in 1989–90 for research in higher education institutions related to climate change and its impacts. It will be for the research councils to decide their future priorities for specific research areas, within the overall totals allocated. My right hon. Friend will shortly receive the ABRC's advice on the allocation of the science budget for 1990–91, and his decisions after receiving that advice will be announced in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what funds the Government intend to allocate for the United Kingdom's participation in the WCRP's global energy and water cycles experiment to place a lidar on one of the polar platform satellites in the late 1990's.

My right hon. Friend has requested the ABRC's advice on what further allocation is appropriate for earth observation instruments, particularly on polar platforms, in addition to the minimum £6 million recently announced for an instrument associated with the proposed earth remote sensing satellite (ERS2). His decisions after receving that advice will be announced in due course. It will be for the research councils to decide, within the overall totals allocated, their priorities for specific research areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what funds the Government are making available in 1990–91 to ensure the maintenance in the United Kingdom of an independent national research programme into global climate changes.

My right hon. Friend has requested the ABRC's advice on the allocation of the science budget for 1990–91. His decisions after receiving that advice will be announced in due course. It will be for the research councils to decide, within the overall totals allocated, their priorities for specific research areas. Global climate change is necessarily a problem on an international scale, and the strength of United Kingdom research enables our scientists to make key contributions to important international collaborative programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his policy on the treatment of local authority supplementary bids for (a) education capital expenditure in 1990, 1991 and 1992, (b) education support grant in 1990–91 in respect of training for school governors, (c) education support grant in 1990–91 and (d) local authority training grants scheme support in 1990–91 where such bids are being made to support the development of magnet schools; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is willing to consider any bids for grants within his responsibility which are submitted by local education authorities as being consistent with the objectives of the grant and the arrangements for its allocation, and are designed to support worthwhile developments. He is currently considering the bids submitted by LEAs for education support grant funding, including those for school governor training, and for LEA training grant scheme funding in 1990–91; the allocations for all LEAs will be announced around the turn of the year.Annual capital guidelines are assessed in accordance with well-established criteria which are familiar to local education authorities. My right hon. Friend expects to make an announcement about annual capital guidelines for LEAs in 1990–91 shortly before Christmas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what the minute of the meeting between his Minister of State and members of Bradford council on 28 September records as the statement of the policy which his Department would operate in relation to a supplementary bid for local authority training grants scheme support in 1990–91 in relation to magnet schools; and if he will make a statement.

The statement of policy given at my meeting on 28 September was as set out in the reply that I have given today to a separate question from the hon. Member on the same subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what view was expressed in the letter from J. W. Whitaker of his Department, to Mr. Nils Purser, assistant director 13-plus, Bradford education directorate, dated 19 October, following a meeting between the Minister of State and elected members at Bradford council, about the availability of resources under the local authority training grants scheme support in 1990–91.

The letter said that the Department could not offer any prospect of making available the significant additional funds the authority was seeking for 1990–91 from within the LEA training grant scheme, since the grant is allocated to LEAs on a formula basis and it was likely that resources would be fully committed on the lines indicated by the indicative allocations, which had been set out in DES circular 20/89. The letter went on to say that LEAs' expenditure is monitored at the end of each calendar year and spare resources resulting from projected underspending are reallocated for use in the final quarter of the financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has received the annual report of the Medical Research Council for 1988–89; and if he will make a statement.

The annual report of the Medical Research Council for 1988–89 has been submitted to me under the requirements of the Science and Technology Act 1965. A copy has been laid before the House, and the report is being published today. I was most interested to study the report and, in an eventful year for the Council, I was particularly encouraged to note:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has received the annual report of the Economic and Social Research Council for 1988–89; and if he will make a statement.

The annual report of the Economic and Social Research Council has been submitted to me under the requirements of the Science and Technology Act 1965, and a copy is being laid before the House today.I was most interested to read about the council's achievements in a challenging year in which its headquarters moved to Swindon. I was particularly interested to note:

To ask the Attorney-General if the serious fraud squad has now completed its investigations into the implications of the House of Fraser report.

No. I frequently discuss the investigation with both the Director of Public Prosecutions and the director of the Serious Fraud Office. It is our joint intention that it should continue to be pressed forward with all dispatch and speedily concluded. The remaining inquiries, which are current, relate to matters outside the United Kingdom's jurisdiction.

To ask the Attorney-General whether criminal proceedings are to be brought against Westway Locksmiths Limited relating to the sale and fraudulent advertising for sale of skeleton car keys; and if he will make a statement.

The Crown prosecution service has received no reports from the police concerning Westway Locksmiths. However, I understand that criminal proceedings brought by Tameside trading standards department are pending before Manchester Crown court. In the circumstances, it would not be appropriate to comment further.

To ask the Attorney-General what was the average delay in replying to inquiries to the Land Registry in Plymouth in (a) November 1989 and (b) November 1988.

The great majority of urgent pre-contract and pre-completion applications are now completed within four days. The percentages of such applications taking longer than that are set out in the table.

To ask the Minister for the Arts if he has any plans to give financial assistance to community-based arts organisations.

I fund the arts at arm's length. It is a matter for the Arts Council and the regional arts association to decide on the funding of such organisations.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has on the performance arts in East Anglia for the financial years 1987 to 1990.

During this period, the performing arts in East Anglia have expanded as in the country as a whole. Audience attendance figures and levels of self-generated income have generally increased. Particular successes have included the Cambridge festival, Wingfield arts and music, and the Norfolk and Norwich triennial festival. For more detailed information, the hon. Member may care to write to David Cargill, the Chairman of Eastern Arts, which is the regional arts association with responsibility for East Anglia. The RAA's address is: Eastern Arts, Cherry Hinton Hall, Cherry Hinton Road, Cambridge, CB1 4DW.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each year since 1981 the number of babies born weighing under 1,500 grams.

The total number of babies born weighing less than 1,500 grams in Scotland in the years 1981–87 is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet representatives of the British Medical Association (Scotland).

My right hon. and learned Friend and I are regularly in contact with representatives of the British Medical Association in Scotland about a wide range of matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will publish the research funded by his Department and carried out by Dr. Carol Jones of the centre for criminology and the social and philosophical study of law at Edinburgh university, which was undertaken in 1987 into the study of the sheriff courts in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Dr. Carol Jones's report on contested cases in the Scottish sheriff courts has not yet been submitted in final form. The question of publication will be considered after it has been received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro), Official Report, 28 November, columns 188–89, how many of the 179 respondents expressed (a) an unconditional welcome for the proposed NCC-CCS merger and (b) the need for a strong science base or co-ordination of standards, research and matters of British or international significance, and (c) the need for sufficient resources.

The Scottish Development Department's consultation paper invited comments on the Government's proposals to bring forward legislation to merge the Countryside Commission for Scotland and the proposed Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland to form a natural heritage agency for Scotland. Of the 179 respondents, 159 expressed a view on his proposal and, of these, 98 in principle supported it. Almost all respondents commented on a range of issues including science and resources, or sought assurances that the Government would address particular issues before finalising their proposals. As a result, the responses are not capable of analysis in terms of the questions posed.In connection with co-ordination on science issues, I refer to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 23 November, at columns

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received in response to consultation on draft regulations on playground supervision; and if he will make a statement.

Sixty-four representations have been received from education authorities, teachers' associations and a wide range of other organisations and individuals representing parental and other educational interests.There has been widespread support for the proposals in the draft regulations which would

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will list the projects concerning the rehabilitation of people with disabilities which his Department is currently funding in developing countries; and if he will make a statement;(2) what action he takes to consult organisations of people with disabilities in the countries concerned before making grants for projects concerning rehabilitation of people with disabilities in developing countries; and if he will make a statement.

The following projects concerning the rehabilitation of people with disabilities are being funded from ODA's bilateral programmes in 1989/90:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, further to his reply of 29 November to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth, what is his forecast for aid for Sri Lanka for 1990–91; what type of projects in Sri Lanka are likely to attract British overseas aid; and what additional aid will be made available to Sri Lanka following the damage and injury caused by civil disturbance.

Britain supports a wide range of projects in Sri Lanka in the education, power, roads and natural resources sectors. Last year a grant of £20 million was signed for reconstruction aid, including the provision of vehicles, railway track, hospital and educational equipment, and support for NGO programmes. The grant has not yet been fully allocated to specific uses, and projects under consideration with the Sri Lankan Government include road rehabilitation and forestry. Britain is also considering providing balance of payments support as part of an economic reform programme which the Sri Lankan authorities are discussing with the IMF and IBRD. Aid expenditure in 1990–91 is uncertain at this stage, and will depend upon a number of factors, including any delays caused by civil disturbances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many market research and sample surveys were carried out by or for his Department in the last 12 months; what was the cost of each; what was the total cost; how many were carried out in house; how many were carried out for his Department by outside organisations; and what percentage of the total expenditure was paid to outside organisations.

No market research or sample surveys have been undertaken in house in the past 12 months. In this period, one sample survey was carried out by an outside organisation at a cost of £10,470·75.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many persons above the age of (a) 60, (b) 65 and (c) 70 years he has appointed to public bodies in each of the last 10 years.

The information is not immediately available, and I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why his Department decided not to recognise the Immigration Service Union or to deduct membership contributions for its members seconded from the Home Office to his Department.

Immigration service officers serving in Foreign and Commonwealth Office posts overseas remain members of the Home Civil Service. Any negotiations on pay and conditions of service of Immigration Service Union members overseas are conducted by the Immigration Service Union with the Home Office and/or Treasury as appropriate. The question of formal Foreign and Commonwealth Office recognition therefore does not arise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of South Africa about the need to treat all British citizens equally with regard to visa requirements.

We would of course be concerned if evidence was presented of discrimination against a British citizen on grounds of colour by any country in the operation of their visa regime.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set up an inquiry into the working of the United Kingdom's visa treaty with South Africa.

The United Kingdom has no visa treaty with South Africa.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received regarding the South African Government's guidelines for British citizens who travel to that country of (a) European and (b) not pure European descent; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has received no such representations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the amount and types of economic assistance currently being given to Poland and Hungary; and what is the planned future level and types of such assistance.

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, gave my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, North-East (Mr. Kirkhope) on 29 November, at column 318. With regard to future amounts and types of assistance, the know-how funds for Poland and Hungary are expected to continue for five years: it is not possible at this stage to say whether additional assistance will be made available in the future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many orphans there are at present in the camps in Hong Kong; how they are to be repatriated; and what measures he will entake to ensure a satisfactory result.

[pursuant to the reply, 4 December 1989, c. 26]: No figures are available for the number of orphans in the camps in Hong Kong, but there are estimated to be about 1,000 unaccompanied minors. The Hong Kong Government are discussing with the UNHCR the establishment of special procedures under the comprehensive plan of action for dealing with unaccompanied minors, with the aim of identifying the most humane and appropriate course in each individual case. This might mean repatriation where the child's parents or closest relatives are in Vietnam, or resettlement where the nearest family ties are overseas.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the estimate of the current level of personal debt in the United Kingdom.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the estimate of the current level of personal debt in the United Kingdom.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the estimate of the current level of personal debt in the United Kingdom.

Figures for personal sector debt are given in "Financial Statistics" table 14·4. The amount outstanding at end June 1989, as shown in the November issue, was about £378 billion. An analysis of the greater part of this debt using an alternative instrument classification and showing the amount regarded as consumer credit is given in "Financial Statistics" table 9.3.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the effect upon exporters of current Government policies on interest rates and the pound sterling exchange rate.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his Department has assessed the effect upon exporters of current Government policies on interest rates and the pound sterling exchange rate.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the effect upon exporters of current Government policies on interest rates and the pound sterling exchange rate.

A forecast of exports for 1990 is given in the Autumn Statement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what amount investment by manufacturing industry in the north-west increased during 1988.

Regional information for 1988 is not yet available. Net capital expenditure by manufacturing industries in the north-west in 1987 was £1,204 million, compared with £1,000 million in 1986. The corresponding figures for the United Kingdom as a whole are £9,754 million and £8,705 million. These figures are expressed in current prices. Constant price estimates are not made, because regional price indices are not compiled.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate at 1989–90 income levels the cost to the Exchequer of (a) raising the ceiling on mortgage interest relief from £30,000 to £50,000 and (b) raising the ceiling for exemption from stamp duty on land and buildings from £30,000 to £60,000.

(a) The direct revenue cost at 1989–90 income levels of raising the ceiling on mortgage interest relief from £30,000 to £50,000 is estimated to be about £900 million. This estimate makes no allowance for any consequential change to the distribution of outstanding mortgages. It is based on a projection of the 1987–88 survey of personal incomes, and is therefore provisional.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will indicate what general guidance is given to banking institutions in the United Kingdom about the total proportion of Third world debt which would be appropriate for them to consider as irrecoverable for taxation purposes, as defined in his answer of 15 November, Official Report, column 330, when writing off amounts of such debt in any one year.

The Inland Revenue issued a statement of practice on 25 January 1983, a copy of which is in the Library, setting out the general principles which it regarded as applying in law to the tax treatment of sovereign and commercial debt. As to the amount, the Bank of England has issued a matrix to the banks to assist them in the process of setting provisions for supervisory purposes; the Inland Revenue has indicated that this should provide relevant material for considering the extent to which specific provisions are properly deductible for tax purposes.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many market research and sample surveys were carried out by or for the Central Office of Information in the last 12 months; what was the cost of each; what was the total cost; how many were carried out in-house; how many were carried out for the Central Office of Information by outside organisations; and what percentage of the total expenditure was paid to outside organisations.

One hundred and forty-four separate research projects were undertaken by COI on behalf of various Government Departments in 1988–89. The total cost of these, including VAT, was £2·3 million. Interviewing, data analysis and the majority of report preparation was undertaken for COI by specialist commercial organisations, usually appointed on tender: some 70 per cent. of the above cost was paid to those outside organisations. The details of each project is a matter for the Department which commissioned the research.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what research has been conducted into the effect of the ending of all personal income tax allowances and in particular the effects on the poverty trap; and if he will make a statement.

All options for reforming the tax system are kept under review.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total repayment of value added tax to local authorities for the last complete period.

Total value added tax repaid to local authorities in the last financial year, 1988–89, was £1,479 million and in the current financial year, up to the end of October, was £1,030 million.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review the repayments of value added tax to local authorities.

There are no plans at present for a review of the provisions of section 20 of the VAT Act 1983.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all office relocations of his Department's staff since May 1979, stating in each case the location of origin and the location of transfer, together with the numbers of staff transferred.

No relocations of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Department's staff have taken place since May 1979.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the married couple's allowance, which is to be introduced in April 1990, will be worth as a proportion of the current available personal allowances.

[holding answer 4 December 1989]: The value of the married couple's allowance in 1989–90 terms is £1,590, equivalent to the different between the present single person's and married man's allowances. My right hon. Friend will announce the level of allowances for 1990–91 in the usual way, in next year's Budget.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate at 1989–90 income levels the level to which the ceiling on mortgage interest relief could be raised if the annual cost to the Exchequer were limited to (a) £0·25 billion, (b) £0·5 billion, (c) £1 billion and (d) £2 billion.

[holding answer 4 December 1989]: Provisional estimates of the costs of increasing the ceiling for mortgage relief above £30,000 are given in the table. All estimates exclude behavioural effects which, for the higher ceilings quoted, would be substantial.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what items are included in the calculations for the retail price index of (a) Japan, (b) West Germany, (c) France, (d) the Netherlands, (e) Denmark, (f) Sweden, (g) Canada, (h) the United States of America and (i) the United Kingdom.

[holding answer 4 December 1989]: Each national survey office includes a great number of items in its retail price index, details of which are published in national statistical sources. Copies of the relevant material have been placed in the House of Commons Library. The information requested for the United Kingdom was published by the Department of Employment in the Employment Gazette for April 1989.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the change in manufacturing output in (a) 1964 to 1970, (b) 1970 to 1974, (c) 1974 to 1979 and (d) 1979 to the latest date available; and what was the change in manufacturing output for (i) West Germany, (ii) Japan, (iii) USA, (iv) France, (v) Italy, (vi) Benelux countries and (vii) Spain during the same periods.

[holding answer 4 December 1989]: Following is the information requested.