To ask the Minister for the Arts how many new museums have been opened in the last three years.

The Museums Association database estimated in 1988 that the number of museums and galleries in the United Kingdom was estimated to have risen to some 2,400 from approximately 1,750 in 1984.I understand that the Museum and Galleries Commission estimates that the number has now risen to approximately 2,500.

To ask the Minister for the Arts if he intends to set up a national television archive; and if he will make a statement.

The British Film Institute already operates an extensive film and television archive and I hope that it will be possible for them to extend this in co-operation with the television industry.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what further progress has been made in the establishment of agencies; and if he will make a statement.

Since I last reported to the House, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment has announced, on 1 December at column 461, his intention that the Employment Service should be launched as an executive agency in April 1990.

Table 1
General manager/senior manager posts for which boards recruited during period 1 December 1985 to 30 November 1989
Category	Post	Date of appointment	(1) Current basic salary	(2) Contract	Board
General Manager	Board General Manager	1/4/1987	39,340	3 years	Northern
General Manager	Unit General Manager (Antrim Hospital)	1/11/1989	31,075	3 years	Northern
Senior Manager	Director of Planning	4/9/1989	30,960	3 years	Eastern

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what proportion of the Civil Service is covered by both existing and proposed agencies.

Staff in the 10 executive agencies established so far under the Next Steps initiative taken together with those in the functions announced to date as candidates for agency status, represent about one third of the Civil Service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list all area board and district manager and any deputy posts which have been recruited in the last four years, together with the salaries and length of contract;(2) if he will list all director, assistant director and deputy posts which have been recruited or advertised in the last four years by health and social services boards, together with the length of contracts offered and the salaries;(3) what information he has about further plans by health and social services boards to recruit management posts; what was the total cost of all posts recruited in the last four years and any posts currently being advertised; and if he will make a statement.

The appointment of general managers and senior managers at board and unit of management level is a matter for boards to decide in accordance with determinations and guidance issued by the Department of Health and Social Services. This guidance is available in the Library.The information requested in respect of general manager and senior manager posts including the present basic salaries and length of contracts is set out in the tables below.The boards will be proceeding to fill other senior manager posts at board headquarters and units of management.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received about the Mersey barrage; and if he will make a statement.

As the hon. Member knows from my discussions with him, an application for inclusion in the initial tranche of the non-fossil fuel obligation has been made by the Mersey Barrage Company. This application is being considered and discussions are taking place with the company.The Mersey barrage project can be considered for inclusion in the non-fossil fuel obligation only if agreement is reached between area boards and the company on a suitable contract and the project is commercially viable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will provide details of any agreements for British Coal to supply coal to National Power and Powergen in future years.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy indicated the main terms of the coal supply contracts recently agreed between British Coal and National Power and PowerGen in the Second Reading debate on the Coal Industry Bill on 4 December. The details, however, are a commercial matter for the parties concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has to re-evaluate the role of nuclear power in the context of environmental damage from fossil fuels.

The Government recognise the contribution that nuclear power can make towards minimising the problems of the greenhouse effect and acid rain caused by the burning of fossil fuels. My hon. Friend will recall the statement made to the House by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy on 9 November when he said that

"the Government will wish to review the prospects for nuclear power as the Sizewell project nears completion in 1994".

The environmental advantages of nuclear power will be taken fully into account in this review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what subjects he intends to raise when he next meets the head of Electricité de France.

My right hon. Friend and I have no plans to meet the head of Electricité de France.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many meetings have been held between his Department and (a) the Central Electricity Generating Board, (b) the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and (c) British Nuclear Fuels plc, on the issues of decommissioning costs, reprocessing costs and nuclear waste management costs for (i) the Magnox reactor programme and (ii) the advanced gas cooled reactor programme in the last 12 months; and what reports have been received by his Department from these organisations on these subjects over the past year.

My Department has had many meetings with the CEGB, BNFL and UKAEA in the past year at which the topics of decommissioning, reprocessing and nuclear waste management were discussed. My Department has received a report from the UKAEA reviewing the CEGB's decommissioning cost estimates for their Magnox and AGR nuclear power stations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) how many meetings he has had with the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board since 1 September; how many telephone conversations he has had with the Central Electricity Generating Board chairman over the same time span; and what issues were discussed in each communication;(2) what correspondence he has had with the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board since 25 July; what issues were addressed; and if he will place copies of the correspondence in the Library.

My right hon. Friend and I are in regular contact with the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board about matters of mutual interest. These communications are confidential.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to offer United Kingdom designed nuclear reactors to Czechoslovakia, under the enabling arrangements of articles III and IV of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, in support of Czechoslovakia's industrial and environmental plan to reduce dependence on fossil fuel-generated electricity.

My right hon. Friend and I have no such plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to deposit with the new European Environmental Agency full details of all contracts held by British Nuclear Fuels with foreign bodies for the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel at Sellafield and to include details of all categories of radioactive waste arising.

It will be for the agency to request whatever information or analysis it requires to carry out the work programme approved by its management board in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out his responsibilities in regard to the operation of the British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. Sellafield plant.

Responsibility for the operation of the Sellafield site rests with British Nuclear Fuels plc.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the total of processed uranium exported by the United Kingdom in each year since 1973–74 (a) in tonnes and (b) in value at constant prices; and what was the total of uranium imported by the United Kingdom in each year since 1973–74: (a) in tonnes and (b) in value at constant prices.

Since 1979, uranium ore concentrate containing over 10,000 tonnes of uranium, has been imported for use in the United Kingdom civil programme. During the same period, uranium ore concentrate containing over 30,000 tonnes of uranium, has been processed by British Nuclear Fuels plc on behalf of overseas customers for subsequent export. Annual figures could be given only at disproportionate cost. The value of this material is commercially confidential. All such uranium is subject to Euratom safeguards and to the terms of the United Kingdom-Euratom-International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards agreement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement concerning the future use of the 40-acre spoil tip at Murton colliery.

The use of land belonging to British Coal is a matter for its management to determine. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what are the average hours worked by employees underground, and surface, at Murton, Dawdon, Easington and Vane Tempest collieries week by week in the current financial year.

This is a matter for British Coal. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many men are employed underground in privately-owned mines in the north-east.

This is a matter for British Coal. I have asked the chairman of British Coal, the licensing authority for privately-owned mines, to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what will be the salaries of (a) the chairman and chief executive, (b) the deputy chairman with special responsibilities for production, (c) the director for corporate affairs and personnel, (d) the director of construction and future programmes, and (e) non-executive directors of the new company Nuclear Electric plc.

The designate board of Nuclear Electric have been appointed at the following salaries:

(i) The chairman is paid £125,000 per annum.

(ii) Full time members of the board are paid in the range £60,000–70,000 per annum.

Non-executive members of the Board have not yet been appointed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions have recently taken place between officials from his Department and the European Commission on the implications of his plans to subsidise nuclear electricity in regard to European Community rules on energy marketing and competition policy.

A number of meetings have taken place with the Commission in recent months on a range of issues to do with electricity privatisation.

	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988
Number of operating projects at year end	69	85	162	360	427	235
Number of draughtproofing jobs completed in year	125,715	39,915	67,808	123,621	162,631	164,749
Number of participant workers/trainees at year end	n/a	932	1,630	1,767	2,027	n/a
n/a— Not available.
1 1980–83 inclusive.

The number of loft insulation jobs completed under the homes insulation scheme is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give for the latest available quarter, and for the same quarter in the previous year, for each metropolitan county and each non-metropolitan county and Greater London, the number of (a) neighbourhood energy action schemes, (b) draughtproofing jobs completed under

July to September 1989 (figures in brackets relate to July to September 1988)
	Number of schemes-projects	Number of draught-proofing jobs completed	Number of loft insulation jobs completed	Number of trainees-participant workers
East Midlands	28(35)	2,313(2,594)	10(48)	271(520)
London	12(33)	288(497)	5(40)	31(610)
North East	18(26)	2,307(3,475)	48(96)	253(508)
North West	45(55)	5,005(6,350)	43(44)	672(1,240)
Scotland	71(73)	8,455(3,559)	384(574)	755(1,122)
South East	23(48)	946(1,421)	26(47)	121(523)
South West	16(29)	802(2,049)	83(183)	190(461)
Wales	35(46)	3,201(2,658)	64(42)	338(1,001)
West Midlands	26(56)	2,458(4,393)	51(336)	314(875)
Yorkshire and Humberside	24(36)	3,331(5,182)	76(180)	351(724)

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will place in the Library the official report on neighbourhood energy action schemes.

It is not entirely clear to what the question refers. However, it may refer to a recent report produced by Neighbourhood Energy Action for its own purposes entitled "Energy Efficiency and Employment Training—One Year On". That report is publicly available from NEA, which I have asked to send a copy to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give for each region and for the United Kingdom as a whole, for every quarter and every full year since neighbourhood energy action schemes started, the number of (a) neighbourhood energy action schemes, (b) draught proofing jobs completed under national energy schemes, (c) loft insulation jobs completed under national energy schemes and (d) trainees under national energy schemes.

Figures in the detail sought by the hon. Member for neighbourhood energy action schemes in the United Kingdom are not available for the period requested. The following table gives the aggregated data that is available in respect of the calendar years to the end of 1988:neighbourhood energy action schemes,

Information on a county by county basis could only be made available at disproportionate cost. However, provisional information on a regional basis is available as follows in respect of community insulation projects co-ordinated by Neighbourhood Energy Action.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many pits have been closed since 1979; and what were the total estimated reserves in them at time of closure.

For a list of pit closures for the period concerned I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Rother Valley (Mr. Barron) on 29 November at cols 254–55. I have asked the chairman of British Coal to write to the hon. Member about the total estimated reserves in the pits concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) how many tonnes extra of carbon dioxide emissions will be produced by United Kingdom power stations, using the generating plant and capacity currently in place, by an average growth rate of 2·5 per cent. in gross domestic product in 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92;(2) how many tonnes extra of sulphur dioxide emissions will be produced by United Kingdom power stations, using the generating plant and capacity currently in place, by an average growth rate of 2·5 per cent. in gross domestic product in 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92.(3) what will be the growth in percentage terms of carbon dioxide emissions from United Kingdom power stations, using the generating plant and capacity currently in place, by an average growth rate of 2·5 per cent. in gross domestic product in 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92;(4) what will be the growth, in percentage terms, of sulphur dioxide emissions from United Kingdom power stations, using the generating plant and capacity currently in place by an average growth rate of 2·5 per cent. in gross domestic product in 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92.

Future levels of emissions will depend on the nature of the plant mix employed to meet the demand for electricity and the shape of the associated load curve. There is no straightforward link between growth in gross domestic product and electricity demand.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what categories of information he will exclude from deposition with the proposed European environmental agency.

It will be for the agency to request information from member states. Until we have received such requests it is impossible to say whether we can meet them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funds he intends to make available to British Rail to enable the recommendations arising from the Clapham disaster to be carried out on the east coast line.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 4 December at column 88. As my right hon. Friend has told the House, finance will not stand in the way of implementing the report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list British Rail lines in Wales closed to passengers in each year since 1979; what discussions he has had with British Rail about the lines which could be reopened for the use of passenger services; and if he will make a statement.

British Rail was given consent to close the Vale of Rheidol line last March. This railway is a narrow gauge steam railway which was operated principally for tourists. The line was sold to Brecon Mountain Railway Ltd. and has continued to operate to a similar timetable. No other BR line in Wales has been closed since 1979.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the average noise emitted by (a) a private car, and (b) a heavy goods vehicle proceeding at their respective national motorway speed limits; and by how much these increase as a result of infractions of the speed limit by (i) 10 mph and (ii) 20 mph respectively.

Assuming a high speed road in good condition, the following are the estimated average noise levels received at a point 7·5 metres from the centre of the vehicle and 1·2 metres above the ground.

	Average noise levels dB (A) at vehicle speeds
Vehicle type	60 mph	70 mph	80 mph	90 mph
Private car	83	85	87	89
Heavy goods	90	92	93	95

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply of 27 November, Official Report, column 82, if he will list the primary, secondary and third 999 telephone routes to the south west coastguard from North Devon.

The routing of 999 calls is a matter for British Telecom.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply of 27 November, Official Report, column 82, if he will cause inquiries to be made into whether the 999 call indicated as having been misrouted was made to Milford Haven because Swansea coastguard was not available or did not answer the original 999 call.

British Telecom has already, at the request of Her Majesty's Coastguard carried out an investigation into the misrouted call. Its finding is that the call was routed to Milford Haven due to a technical fault on the Swansea line, the operator automatically re-routing the call in accordance with standard procedures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether, in circumstances when the primary coastguard is not available on a 999 call, the secondary station contacted has a firm procedure for reporting back to the primary station or takes control of the incident; and if he will make a statement with regard to the incident on 15 August in which a youth drowned in Rapperee cove, Ilfracombe.

It is standard procedure within Her Majesty's Coastguard that any station receiving an indication of a distress situation, by whatever means the information is received, will, if the incident is not within its area of responsibility, pass the information by the most expedient means to the appropriate station for action. In the incident on 16 August, Milford Haven coastguard, having received a 999 telephone call indicating distress, not within its area, passed the information firstly by VHF radio, and subsequently by telex, to Swansea coastguard.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether matters relating to road safety were discussed at the recent meeting of the European Council of Transport Ministers; and what conclusions were reached.

At the meeting I made clear our continuing commitment to road safety and to effective methods of reducing casualties. The presidency concluded the discussion of road safety by asking the committee of permanent representatives to draw up a list of further proposals which the Council might pursue, such as the development of standards for fitting seat belts. We believe that there are real opportunities to cut road casualties by better and safer vehicle design.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings he and his predecessor had over the last year with the British Road Federation and other motoring organisations.

We have met various road user organisations on a number of occasions over the past 12 months to discuss matters of mutual interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he proposes to establish a pedestrian crossing on the A47 Uppingham road at Thurnby, Leicestershire.

The Department has decided to change the traffic signals at the junction of the A47 Uppingham road and Station road, Thurnby, to include pedestrian facilities.The work will be carried out as soon as new control equipment can be manufactured, which is expected to take four to six months.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his reply of 4 December concerning circular HC31/88, if he will relax the criteria for housing co-operatives, which at present are outside the scope of the criteria in the circular; and if he will make a statement.

The Housing Corporation is prepared to apply the criteria in circulars HC 31/88 and HC 74/89 (which has just been issued) flexibly. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind, he may like to take it up with the corporation direct.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the development of a national register for chemically polluted land.

We are reviewing possible registration systems but currently favour the concept of locally held registers of previous land uses which could have given rise to contamination.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy at the next meeting of the European Environment Council to introduce policies to reduce the greenhouse effect by restricting road transport use to lower carbon dioxide releases.

We recognise the important contribution which emissions of carbon dioxide from vehicles make to the greenhouse effect. At the Environment Council meeting on 28 November, my right hon. Friend urged the European Commission to bring forward proposals to reduce these emissions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many tonnes of carbon dioxide have been released into the atmosphere of the United Kingdom in 1987, 1988 and 1989 (a) by electricity generating stations, and (b) by petrol and diesel-driven road vehicles.

Estimated carbon dioxide emission as carbon from selected sources in 1987 was as follows:

(Million tonnes)
	1987
Power stations	54·7
Petrol-driven road vehicles	19·0
Diesel-driven road vehicles	7·3
All sources	158·6

Figures for 1988 are currently being prepared and will be published in the Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics early next year. Figures for 1989 are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of redecorating the Smoking Room in the summer recess; and why the redecoration has taken place.

The renovation of the Smoking Room was undertaken in two stages during the 1988 and 1989 summer recesses as part of the planned programme of work in the Palace of Westminster. The cost, which includes some electrical work, was £9,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what records he, or Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, has concerning the imports of radioactive tritium from Dall Ridge laboratories in the United States of America to the United Kingdom over the past year.

This Department does not maintain records of tritium imports. Users of tritium must be registered by HMIP under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960. A condition of registration requires that proper records relating to the keeping and use of all radioactive material must be maintained. These records are subject to scrutiny by HMIP inspectors.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure that supermarket chains co-operate with his recycling policy for bottle, can and paper banks.

Retail groups, including supermarket chains, are represented on the Government's advisory group on recycling which, among other things, considers ways of encouraging the provision of recycling facilities. They also co-operated in drawing up the Government's programme in relation to the 1985 European Directive on Containers of Liquids for Human Consumption which specifically referred to recycling.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the type and amount of toxic emissions (a) per mile, (b) per minute of transmission, and (c) per head of number of passengers per mile or per minute of (i) a family sized car, (ii) a diesel-electric train, (iii) a double decker bus, (iv) a milk float and (v) a bicycle.

I shall write to the hon. Gentleman.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere in the United Kingdom have been accounted for (a) by electricity generation, and (b) by petrol and diesel-driven road vehicles in 1987, 1988 and 1989.

Percentages of carbon dioxide emissions from selected sources in 1987 were as follows:

	1987
Power stations	34·0
Petrol driven road vehicles	12·0
Diesel driven road vehicles	5·0

In 1987 a little more than one third of carbon dioxide emissions in the United Kingdom came from power stations. Approximately 12 per cent. came from motor spirit and a further 5 per cent. from DERV. Figures for 1988 are currently being prepared and will be published in the Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics early next year. Figures for 1989 are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere in the United Kindom have been accounted for (a) by electricity generation, and (b) by petrol and diesel-driven road vehicles in 1987, 1988 and 1989.

Percentage of sulphur dioxide emissions from selected sources was as follows:

	1987
Power stations	73·0
Petrol driven road vehicles	0·2
Diesel driven road vehicles	1·0

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to issue guidelines to enable Birmingham city council to draw up a proposal for a housing renewal area in central Handsworth to enable a transfer from the existing housing action areas from 1 April 1990.

We shall shortly be consulting the local authority associations and other relevant bodies on the matters councils should consider before they declare renewal areas under part VII of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. We aim to issue advice as soon as possible after the consultation has finished, and in any event before the end of March next.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much additional resources he is proposing to allocate to Leicester city council as part of its new green proposals.

Local authorities' revenue expenditure is supported generally by rate support grant, or, in future, revenue support grant. This grant is distributed between authorities on the basis of an assessment of the cost for each authority of providing a common level of service. This assessment will be made on the basis of a formula, using statistical indicators applied to all authorities. The grant is unhypothecated and is not paid in support of particular services. It is for each authority to decide its own expenditure priorities, including those on environmental matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will act upon the recommendation made in the report of the working group on the water transport industry with regard to an early introduction to the statutory ports of conventional assessment; and if he will make a statement.

The Government recognise the desirability of providing a common basis for the rating assessment of all parts of the ports industry, and indeed for other industries. We hope to return, so far as practicable, all the formula rated industries to conventional assessment at the 1995 revaluation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many tonnes of sulphur dioxide have been released into the atmosphere of the United Kingdom in 1987, 1988 and 1989 (a) by electricity generating stations and (b) by petrol and diesel-driven road vehicles.

Estimated sulphur dioxide emissions from selected sources in 1987 were as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had on the concept of making the polluter pay; and if he will make a statement.

It is an important and well established part of the Government's environmental protection policy that the polluter, not the polluted, should pay. The United Kingdom also subscribe to OECD and European Community recommendations and practice in this respect.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in reducing the pollution levels in the rivers Don and Rother.

[holding answer 4 December 1989]: Yorkshire Water is carrying out a major programme to upgrade and extend the main sewage treatment works which discharge into the rivers Don and Rother and to improve the sewerage system in Sheffield. This programme, combined with improvements to industrial effluent discharges is expected to improve river water quality by the mid 1990s.The National Rivers Authority is responsible for monitoring river and estuarial quality, and for securing any improvements which they consider are needed to meet new statutory water quality objectives to be set by the Secretary of State.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the meetings between his officials and 3D's Ltd., regarding the Bradford West End scheme; and if he will make a statement summarising the discussions.

Members of the Department's team of professional appraisers and other officials have had many discussions on the proposals for the West End development, with representatives of 3D Ltd., and officials from the local authority, at both the regional office and headquarters. Details of the precise dates are not readily available.Advice given to the developers and local authorities regarding any application for city grant is the standard guidance contained in the city grant guidance notes. For reasons of commercial confidentiality it is not our practice to comment on individual city grant proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the numbers of environmental health officers employed by local authorities; whether the resources needed to cover their full range of activities are included in settling the revenue support grant; if he will list the activities considered when deciding the revenue support grant; and if he will make a statement.

In setting the level of revenue support grant my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will consider all services falling to be financed from the general revenues of local authorities. The full range of activities undertaken by environmental health officers is therefore included. It is for local authorities to decide how many officers to employ.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to meet officials from United Kingdom Nirex Limited before the end of the year to discuss present progress in seeking a suitable site for low and intermediate-level radioactive wastes.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to meet representatives of Nirex.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 7 December, what funding will be given to the Groundwork Foundation Trust in Bradford in 1990–91 by (a) his Department, (b) the Countryside Commission and (c) the private sector.

The Groundwork Foundation has allocated £40,000 in 1990–91 to the proposed Bradford Groundwork Trust from funds provided by my Department. As I informed the hon. Member in my reply yesterday, the preparation of a firm proposal for the trust is at present in hand. That proposal will be drawn up by a steering group composed of representatives of the local authority, voluntary organisations and private sector in consultation with, among others, my Department, the foundation and the Countryside Commission, and a programme of work and appropriate funding will then be determined.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will be making further appointments to the board of the London Pensions Fund.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has today appointed Councillor Steve Bullock of the London borough of Lewisham as a member of the board of the London Pensions Fund. This brings the membership of the board to nine. No further appointments are envisaged at this time.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress is being made on the introduction of a new regime for tenant participation grants, as recommended in the review of housing co-operatives; and if he will make a statement.

The then Minister for Housing, the Earl of Caithness, announced on 27 June the Government's acceptance of the recommendation of the report of the committee which reviewed housing co-operatives in England, "Tenants in the Lead".I have today issued a detailed consultation paper which sets out proposals for a new grant regime under section 16 of the Housing and Planning Act 1986. It proposes that, from April next year, local authority tenants will be able to receive assistance direct from the Department and from their council to develop housing co-operatives and other forms of tenant control considered in the review. The Housing Corporation is already consulting on its new grant arrangements for housing association tenants.I am pleased to announce that £3·25 million will be available next year for tenant participation grants. Further provision will be made by the Housing Corporation for grants for tenant participation in the housing association sector. This major increase in resources demonstrates the Government's commitment to promote and develop new housing co-operatives and alternative forms of tenant participation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidelines he is issuing to local authorities regarding seamen who spend much of the year out of the United Kingdom and their requirement to pay the community charge.

Guidance on the treatment of Royal Navy personnel was contained in the community charge practice note No. 9 "UK Service Personnel". This was placed in the Library on 10 May 1989. This guidance suggests that married seagoers might be regarded as having their residence with their family except for continuous absences in excess of six months. Single seagoers who have no permanent home address will not be registered for the personal community charge except during periods of shore leave in excess of 61 days, where registration will be deemed to have begun from day 1. The Department issued further guidance which suggested that merchant seagoers might be treated in the same way as their naval counterparts. A copy of this guidance was placed in the Library on 26 October 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list for each charging authority area, attributing grant income received by precepting authorities under the current grant system to each area in proportion to the adult population in that area: (a) the rate support grant payable for 1989–90 uprated to 1990–91 prices, in line with the assumptions used in his statement of 6 November and (b) the estimated amount of revenue support grant which would be payable in 1990–91 without safety nets or special grants, showing aggregates for each figure for each class of charging authority, for each region, showing inner London, outer London and the rest of the south-east separately, and for each county and metropolitan area;(2) if he will list for each charging authority area, attributing grant income received by precepting authorities under the current grant system to each area in proportion to the aggregate of rateable values in that area:

[holding answer 7 December 1989]: The information requested has been placed in the Library. The figures are consistent with the exemplifications in the consultation paper my right hon. Friend issued on 6 November. Net receipts from the London rate equalisation scheme have been included with rate support grant for 1989–90 which has been scaled to the proposed total for revenue support grant for 1990–91.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list for each charging authority area, attributing business rate income received by precepting authorities under the current system to each area in proportion to the adult population in each area:(a) the estimated revenue received in 1989–90 from the non-domestic rate uprated to 1990–91 prices, in line with the assumptions used in his statement of 6 November, and (b) the estimated amount which will be paid from the national non-domestic rating pool in 1990–91 to each area, showing aggregates for each figure for each class of charging authority, for each region, showing inner London, outer London and the rest of the south-east separately, and for each county and metropolitan area;(2) if he will list for each charging authority area, attributing business rate income received by precepting authorities under the current system to each area in proportion to the aggregate of rateable values in that area:

[holding answer 7 December 1989]: The information requested has been placed in the Library. The figures are consistent with the exemplifications in the consultation paper that my right hon. Friend issued on 6 November. Business rate income is shown for each area: it is not necessary to apportion it from precepting authority level to charging authority level. The total for 1989–90 has been scaled to the non-domestic distributable amount for 1990–91.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the expenditure incurred on property (a) owned by the Property Services Agency and (b) tenanted by the Property Services Agency in each year since 1983 in Scotland; and what is the expected investment in each category in 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93.

[holding answer 8 December 1989]: The expenditure by PSA on major projects on properties held in the name of the Secretary of State for the Environment cannot readily be split between Crown hold and leasehold and a single figure is given for each year. The split is provided below for expenditure by PSA on maintenance and minor new works.

	Major projects	Minor new works and maintenance
		Crown hold	Leasehold
	£ million	£ million	£ million
1984–85	36·4	8·238	3·482
1985–86	30·1	9·166	3·358
1986–87	26·6	7·631	8·527
1987–88	22·0	10·070	3·723
1988–89	19·5	17·258	5·151

With the changed arrangements to be introduced next year, much of this expenditure will be funded by the occupying Departments from their own votes. It is not possible, therefore, to forecast future investment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total staff complement of the Property Services Agency in Scotland; and what it is expected to be in 1990–91 and 1991–92.

[holding answer 8 December 1989]: The number of permanent non-industrial staff in post in the Property Services Agency in Scotland is 1,022. The staff numbes for later years will depend upon the business which PSA Scotland secures.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the value of the assets held by the Property Services Agency and the value of leased properties in Scotland in 1989.

[holding answer 8 December 1989]: The capital value of Crownhold properties in Scotland held in the name of the Secretary of State for the Environment, other than very specialised holdings such as museums and courts, is £155 million. The value of properties leased in the name of the Secretary of State for the Environment, is a matter for each owning landlord.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about redefining the term gipsy as used in the Caravan Sites Act 1968; and what decisions he has reached on those representations.

[holding answer 11 December 1989]: Over the past year I have received representations from two local authorities, the County Landowners Association and a travellers' education project. At this stage, I have no proposals to introduce legislation to change the definition in the Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will consider excluding New Age Travellers from alleged gipsy counts when considering applications by a local authority for designation status under the 1968 Act, as is practised in Wiltshire.

[holding answer 11 December 1989]: Questions of definitions under the Act are for local councils to decide. My role is to assess whether an authority has satisfied its duty to provide gipsy sites before I grant designation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the likely grants, targets and level of the community charge in 1990–91 as levied by Suffolk county council.

[holding answer 11 December 1989]: From April 1990 revenue support grant will be paid to charging authorities (the district councils in Suffolk), who will also set community charges. The expenditure of county councils will be financed by precepts on the collection fund administered by those charging authorities. Suffolk county council will therefore receive no revenue support grant nor will it set a community charge.On present proposals, Suffolk county council will have a standard spending assessment for 1990–91 of £294·176 million, about £15·35 million or 5½ per cent. above its equivalent grant related expenditure for 1989–90.No targets will be set for any local authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what amount of block grant was paid in each of the years from 1980–81 to 1989–90 expressed in cash terms and in constant 1989–90 prices for (a) each London borough, (b) each metropolitan district, (c) Inner London education authority, (d) former metropolitan counties and the Greater London council up to 1985–86, (e) each non-metropolitan county, (f) each non-metropolitan district and (g) each metropolitan joint board showing in each year the total paid to the respective classes of authority.

I have today placed this information in the Library.

To ask the Attorney-General 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.

None.

To ask the Attorney-General (1) how contractors were obtained, and how many tender prices were received, for recent work carried out at the home of Mr. Freddie Andrews (1976 No. 516);(2) whether any independent inspection of completed works authorised by the office of the Official Solicitor has taken place; and whether the work was carried out satisfactorily.

As I said in an earlier reply to the hon. Member for Antrim, East, (Mr. Beggs), Official Report 23 February 1988, column 258, it is not appropriate to publish details of the affairs of any patient without the leave of the court.An application may be made to the court by any person concerned about a particular case for disclosure of any information in respect of which the applicant can demonstrate a legitimate interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements he is making to enable full-time students to pay the community charge; and if he will make a statement.

Arrangements made by local authorities to collect the community charge are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. I understand that local authorities have been given guidance on the procedures for ensuring that students are included in the community charge register for the area in which they reside while they are studying.Full-time students, as defined by the relevant legislation, will be liable for only 20 per cent. of the community charge in their area, and the net impact of this discounted liability is among the factors considered when mandatory student grant rates are decided.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of Britain's gross domestic product was devoted to civil scientific research (a) in 1978–79 and (b) 1988–89.

This information is not available in the form requested since details of spending by industry on civil scientific research are not collected centrally. In 1988–89 public expenditure on civil research and development was estimated to be 0·52 per cent. of gross domestic product compared with about 0·6 per cent. in 1978–79.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many education authorities have specifically run courses to teach children about child abuse.

This information is not centrally available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science by how much teachers' pay will have increased less than inflation at the present rate of inflation during the period of time the interim advisory committee has been in existence by March 1990.

Teachers' pay rose by some 12·5 per cent. between October 1987 and April 1989, the date of the last teachers' pay settlement. As compared with the movement of the RPI over the same period, this represents a real-terms increase of some 1·5 per cent.The interim advisory committee has been asked to advise on what pay increase should be awarded to teachers for the 12 months beginning April 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much a teacher at the top of the main professional grade will be worse off against the present rate of inflation by March 1990.

A teacher at the top of the main scale outside London without an incentive allowance currently earns £14,694. Retail price inflation stood at 7·3 per cent. in October but is expected to fall during next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much a teacher's pay on the top of the main professional grade with an allowance has increased during the period that the interim advisory committee has existed; and by how much it is below or above the increase in average earnings over the same period.

The first incentive allowances were awarded in October 1987. A teacher at the top of the main scale outside London who has held the same incentive allowance since October 1987 would have seen his pay rise by between 11 per cent. and 13 per cent. by April 1989. A teacher who received one of the 70,000 additional allowances coming on stream in 1988 and 1989 would have seen his salary increase by at least 17 per cent. Average earnings increased by 14·2 per cent. between October 1987 and April 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what factors were used to determine the £600 million level of constraint placed on the interim advisory committee in the current year; and what projected rate of inflation is included in the figure.

The IAC's remit reflects the Government's view that teachers' pay should be sufficient to recruit, retain and motivate sufficient teachers of the right quality within what the nation can afford.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the level of constraint on the interim advisory committee in 1988 and 1989 in terms of a percentage rise against those years, inflation rates giving the actual percentage rise for each year and basing the 1989 inflation rate on the present figure.

The remits given to the interim advisory committee for the teachers' pay settlements in 1988 and 1989 were £300 million and £385 million respectively. The IAC's recommendations led to increases to the pay bill of 4·75 per cent. in 1988–89 and 6·3 per cent. in 1989–90. When changes already planned are taken into account, the overall pay bill will rise by 7·5 per cent. this year. Retail price inflation stood at 3·9 per cent. in April 1988 and 8 per cent. in April 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will increase the teaching profession's main pay scale to a level that will restore teachers' pay to a competitive position in a graduate labour market.

The interim advisory committee has been asked to recommend what general pay increase' should be given to teachers in England and Wales, having, regard to the Government's view that school teachers' pay should be such as to enable the maintained school system to recruit, retain and motivate sufficient teachers of the required quality within what can be afforded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measures are to be taken to secure the position of the common main scale as the central feature of the teachers' pay structure.

My right hon. Friend is considering what new pay determination arrangements should be put in place. It is likely that the pay structure resulting from these arrangements will continue to be given statutory force.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what he intends to do to ensure that teachers in all schools have time during the school day away from the classroom to deal with the additional duties attributed to the national curriculum.

The organisation of the school day and the duties to be undertaken by teachers in their 1,265 hours of directed time are matters for head teachers. Not all directed time is taken up with contact with pupils in the classroom. There is scope for teachers to spend time on other tasks such as preparing for the national curriculum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many trained teachers who have left the teaching profession the Government estimate can be persuaded to return to the profession.

The recruitment of qualified teachers returning to the profession has increased steadily in recent years. If the local authority employers support and encourage them, we believe that more will return. Almost 90 per cent. of re-entrants are women and over three quarters of these are aged 30 to 44. In 1986 there were an estimated 191,000 qualified teachers in this group not in full-time service in the maintained sector in England and Wales. We are considering how we might undertake a sample survey of qualified teachers not in service to establish what proportion might return to teaching and what conditions in the teaching profession would encourage more to return.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if a collegiate approach is to be adopted for the teacher staffing structure in schools.

Decisions about staffing structure in maintained schools are matters for LEAs and school governors, and not for my right hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will direct the interim advisory committee on school teachers' pay and conditions to investigate the organisation and management of schools to include a full assessment of the role of the classroom teacher, the role of heads and deputies and the existence of other specific management reponsibilities.

The interim advisory committee has been asked to advise on what changes should be made to teachers' pay and conditions in the year beginning 1 April 1990. In so doing it will be considering the evidence that it has received on a wide range of issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements have been made to promote part-time teaching, job-sharing and managed career break arrangements for women returners to the teaching profession.

The Government agree that every effort must be made to encourage former teachers to return to the profession. "Guidelines for Recruitment", published by the teaching as a career (TASC) unit in May 1988, drew to the attention of LEAs the need for such arrangements to attract qualified women returners to the teaching profession. Education support grant for 1990–92 will support the efforts of a number of LEAs in developing such provision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the number of extra teachers needed to supplement existing numbers excluding current vacancies to meet the additional teaching requirements generated by the new national curriculum in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in the United Kingdom.

The implementation of the national curriculum in England and Wales does not imply increased demand for teachers, although it will change the balance of subject specialism. We are supporting in-service training to provide teachers with the additional support they need to ensure delivery of the national curriculum. The Department's memorandum on teacher supply to the Education, Science and Arts Select Committee—a copy of which is in the Library—analyses teacher demand and supply assuming full implementation of the national curriculum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what means the Government will employ to persuade trained teachers to re-enter the teaching profession.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Members for Barnsley, Central (Mr. Illsley) and Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) on 14 November (Official Report, column 228).

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measures are to be taken to attract sufficient numbers of qualified teachers to fill existing vacancies in British schools.

The recruitment of teachers to specific vacancies is a matter for local education officers, not for my right hon. Friend. The teaching as a career unit (TASC) advises LEAs in England and Wales on recruitment measures. TASC is also involved in publicity to attract qualified teachers back to teaching. The education support grant programme in 1990–91 will support LEA expenditure on local recruitment measures to attract back former teachers and recruit mature entrants with relevant qualifications. Measures eligible for ESG support include "keeping in touch with teaching" schemes and refresher courses, as well as job-share, part-time working and childcare provision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to ensure that there are sufficient teachers to teach the national curriculum.

My right hon. Friend is taking the requirements of the national curriculum fully into account in setting the intakes to initial teacher training, in revising the criteria for initial teacher training courses, in planning the LEA in-service training grants scheme and education support grants and in managing the range of measures being taken on teacher supply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many vacancies in teacher-shortage subject areas have been filled by the announcement of the incentive allowance system; and if he will make a statement.

Incentive allowances were introduced in October 1987. They may be awarded to teachers who teach subjects in which there is a shortage of teachers, or who are employed in posts which are difficult to fill. There is evidence that an increasing number of allowances is being awarded on these grounds, but it is impossible to estimate how many teacher vacancies would not otherwise have been filled.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if qualified professional teachers will be paid extra money for providing support and back-up for licensed teachers.

It will be for local education authorities to consider whether to exercise for this purpose any of the discretions available to them under the school teachers' pay and conditions document.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what support and back-up will be provided for licensed teachers; and what provision will be made for the help, advice and time of qualified, professional teachers.

It is for the local education authority and school governing body to ensure that appropriate support and training are provided for licensed teachers and that qualified staff are available to offer advice and guidance.Training and associated costs for licensed teachers, including the provision of supply cover for a mentor teacher, are eligible for grant support under the local education authority training grants scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measures are being taken to provide increased administrative, technical and ancillary support in British schools.

My right hon. Friend recognises the importance of administrative, technical and ancillary support for the effective running of schools. In England, some activities in the 1989–90 and 1989–91 education support grant programmes—notably some relating to local management of schools (LMS) and the national curriculum—will provide specific grants which can be used to improve such support. Otherwise, it is for local education authorities and, under LMS, their schools to decide for themselves what proportion of available funding to devote to such support. The education standard spending total within the proposed local authority grant settlement for England in 1990–91 allows for priority to be given to such spending, relative to the levels of spending assumed in the comparable total for 1989–90.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measures have been taken to enhance appropriate in-service training for teachers in British schools.

The main instrument of support for in-service training in England and Wales is the local education authority training grants scheme which was introduced in April 1987. In the current financial year it will support LEA expenditure of over £227 million with grant of over £131 million. LEAs and schools are also expected to use at least three of the five non-contact days for in-service training. In addition, two further non-contact days have been made available in 1989 specifically for national curriculum-related training. It is for LEAs to determine appropriate training based on a systematic identification of the training needs of all groups eligible under the scheme.The position in Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local schemes of flexible pay equal to 1 per cent. of the salary bill, resulting from the latest pay settlement for non-clinical academic and academic-related staff in the universities have been approved for funding by the Universities Funding Council; how many have been rejected, and for what reasons; and how many such schemes which have so far been approved have included (a) specific elements for improved recruitment and (b) earmarked money for specific academic departments.

I understand that, as at 5 December, the council had approved 39 schemes. At that date, the council had not yet approved six other schemes: five because insufficient detail was available and one because too high a proportion of the institution's professors would have received payments. Eleven of the approved schemes included specific elements for improved recruitment. The earmarking of money for specific departments does not have to be notified to the council.