To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of Government plans for investment in the rural roads network of Northern Ireland.

It is planned to invest some £109 million in developing, improving and maintaining the total road network of Northern Ireland in the 1990–91 financial year. An actual breakdown of this investment between urban and rural roads could be attained only at disproportionate cost to the Department.Investment in the rural roads network will be made according to need, road safety considerations and the priorities established to make the best possible use of available resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the differences in the manner in which prisoners with different classifications are treated by the prison authorities.

The classification of prisoners by age, length of sentence, temperament and record is taken into account in deciding the allocation of prisoners to prisons in Northern Ireland, and determines the amount of pre-release home leave for which they will be eligible to apply in the final stages of their sentence.The security category allocated on committal reflects both a prisoner's escape potential and the risk he would pose to society and the security forces should he escape. Decisions on security categories are taken after a thorough examination of all the relevant information available. Reviews are conducted periodically during sentence and prisoners are often downgraded to a lower security category.The security category is also taken into account in determining the prison to which a prisoner is allocated, and it determines the degree of supervision and control that is exercised. Those in the top risk category are held in single-cell accommodation which is searched at irregular intervals, and they are subject to a higher frequency of searching and cell transfer than other prisoners. They are also assigned individual prison officer escorts during movement within the prison, which is always on a one-to-one basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the systems used for classifying prisoners in Northern Ireland prisons; and how many prisoners there are within each classification.

The classification of prisoners in Northern Ireland is governed by the Prison Rules (NI) 1982 which provide that a prisoner may be classified having regard to his age, temperament and record. On committal all prisoners are in addition allocated a security category. Both a prisoner's classification and security category can be changed during his term of imprisonment.The tables provide a breakdown of the population in Northern Ireland prisons as at 15 January 1990:

Classification	Number
Untried	342
Appellant	14
Adult indeterminate	386
Secretary of State's pleasure	26
Short term star	125
Short term ordinary	131
Long term star	367
Long term ordinary	173
Young person	164
	1,728

Security category	Number
Low risk	144
Medium risk	1,259
High risk	302
Top risk	23
	1,728

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is (a) the total number of red-book prisoners in Northern Ireland, and (b) the number of red-book prisoners who have served over 13 years in prison, and who were denied Christmas parole in 1989; and if he will make a statement.

There are currently 23 top risk (commonly known as "Red Book") prisoners in Northern Ireland, only 10 of whom are sentenced prisoners. Two such prisoners, who are serving life sentences, had spent 13 years in custody at 21 December 1989 but were excluded from applying for Christmas home leave. Home leave schemes are designed to assist prisoners to prepare for their eventual return to the community. Prisoners who are in the top risk category after 13 years in custody are not, in my view, making satisfactory progress and I am not, therefore, prepared to grant them this privilege.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many firearms, listed by the category under which they are identified by the Royal Ulster Constabulary, have been stolen in each Royal Ulster Constabulary division in each of the last five years from (a) civilians and (b) the security forces, or as much of such information as is available to him.

[holding answer 9 January 1990]: Information split into Royal Ulster Constabulary divisions is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Readily available information is as follows:

Firearms stolen in Northern Ireland 1984–89
Year	Stolen from	Bullet firing	Shotguns	1Air weapons/miscellaneous
1985	Security forces	16	—	—
	Civilians	19	79	9
1986	Security forces	14	—	1

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on out-of-court payments made to ex-residents of the Kincora boys' home.

[holding answer 15 January 1990]: The manner in which claims for compensation are finally settled is entirely a matter for agreement between the parties. Out-of-court settlements are, however, quite usual in civil actions and are to the advantage of all parties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what compensation payments have been made to ex-residents of the Kincora boys' home; on what dates they were made; how many cases are still to be processed; and on what dates he expects further cases to be settled.

[holding answer 15 January 1990]: To date, compensation payments have been made to five ex-residents, as follows: £5,000 on 31/3/88; £10,000 on 26/5/89; £7,500 on 26/5/89; £2,500 on 19/7/89; £6,000 on 10/8/89. Eight further claims remain to be processed, but it is not possible to give any indication of when they will be settled.In my reply of 23 June 1989,

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any evidence gathered by the Stevens inquiry into allegations of collusion between members of the security forces and paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland was destroyed as a result of the fire in the office of the inquiry in the Royal Ulster Constabulary complex at Carrickfergus, County Antrim.

[holding answer 15 January 1990]: I understand that it has not so far been possible to assess fully the damage and loss of documents following the fire at the Seapark complex on 10 January. However, as Mr. Stevens made clear in his press statement on 11 January, duplicate files of the investigation were kept at a separate location as a matter of routine and his investigation has not been disrupted.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the average number of claimants of (a) income support, (b) unemployment benefit and (c) family credit, at each box in each of the district offices of the Department of Health and Social Services, in each month during 1988 and 1989.

[holding answer 16 January 1990]: Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However the most recent figures for the average numbers of unemployed claimants by box in each social security office in Northern Ireland are as follows:

Numbers of unemployed at 14 December 1989
Social Security office	Average number of claimants per box
Andersontown	169
Antrim	236
Armagh	216
Ballymena	125
Ballymoney	171
Ballynahinch	49
Banbridge	153
Bangor	247
Carrickfergus	115
Coleraine	367
Cookstown	229
Corporation Street	209
Downpatrick	189
Dungannon	229
Enniskillen	238
Falls	234
Holywood Road	237
Kilkeel	92
Knockbreda	213
Larne	207
Limavady	144
Lisburn 1	168
Londonderry	202
Lurgan	189
Magherafelt	198
Newcastle	230
Newry	211
Newtownabbey	384
Newtownards	341
Omagh	345
Portadown	162
Shaftesbury Square	228
Shankill	250
Strabane	181
1 Figures at 11 January 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total amount spent by each area health board on the provision of home help services in each year since 1980.

[holding answer 16 January 1990]: The information following represents expenditure in cash terms on home help salaries and incidental expenses and does not include similar information on professional and clerical staff involved in the provision of the service:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sums are payable in compensation to farmers who lose livestock as a result of action by the armed forces; and if he will give the average sum payable for the death of (i) a cow, (ii) a bull, (iii) a calf, (iv) a bullock, (v) a sheep, (vi) a ram, (vii) a lamb, (viii) a horse, (ix) a boar, (x) a sow and (xi) a piglet.

I have been asked to reply.It is not possible to provide details of average sums payable in compensation for the loss of various types of livestock as the amount awarded will vary according to the age, pedigree etc. of the animal concerned. However, each claim is dealt with on its own merits, and compensation awards are assessed by reference to current market prices and professional veterinary advice. The Ministry of Defence paid during 1989 in the order of £400,000 by way of compensation to farmers in Northern Ireland in respect of the loss of livestock arising from activities by the armed forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to extend programmes of development assistance to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is, and has long been, one of the largest recipients of British development assistance. The programme concentrates on the energy, natural resources, infrastructure and health-population sectors. Among planned activities for United Kingdom support are more help on the exploitation of gas reserves, further rural development work through local NGOs, and studies directed at mitigating the effects of the frequent and severe flooding to which the country is subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his planned expenditure in Gibraltar in the current financial year.

Expenditure on aid to Gibraltar in the current financial year is expected to be about £0·5 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the approximate cost of holiday visit passages paid in respect of (a) children of

The latest year for which figures are available is 1988–89. In that year, the cost of holiday visit passages for children of staff of the Overseas Development Administration was £22,900. For children of all personnel financed from technical co-operation funds, including technical co-operation officers and supplementees, the cost was £1,089,218.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will outline the initiatives that are being taken in relation to the management, utilisation and conservation of tropical rain forests, particularly in the field of species diversity, genetic diversity and ecosystem diversity; and if he will make a statement.

The Overseas Development Administration is currently implementing a forestry initiative with some 165 projects ongoing or in preparation, with a total value of £150 million. The aims include helping developing countries maximise the economic and social benefits they enjoy from their forests in a sustainable way, and conserving the planet's variety of plant and animal species, many of which are unique to tropical forests.In the field of species diversity, genetic diversity and ecosystem diversity the ODA supports the research work of the Oxford Forestry Institute and other British institutes and universities. We are currently funding 23 projects worth some £4 million in these areas. We also finance such projects under our bilateral country programmes. Examples include the Limbe gardens conservation of genetic resources project in Cameroon; assistance to forestry conservation research in Nepal; assistance for the conservation of the forest genetic resources of Honduras; help with a project in Ghana to bring tropical moist forest under sustained yield management; assisting with forestry inventory and management work in the Oban hills of Nigeria. Following the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Brazilian Government last year we hope to assist with the establishment of a biological reserve in the Caxiuna national forest. Internationally we are collaborating with other donors in the tropical forestry action plan and we support the work of the International Tropical Timber Organisation.

To ask the Attorney-General if he has any proposals to increase the remuneration of duty solicitors; and if he will make a statement.

Legal aid rates are reviewed each year in accordance with the Legal Aid Act 1988. The Lord Chancellor has not yet decided by how much any legal aid rates should be increased this year.

To ask the Attorney-General what progress has been made by the Director of Public Prosecutions in the case of Paul Malone and Thomas Ryder; and if he will make a statement.

Between November 1988 and May 1989 the West Yorkshire police forwarded six reports to the Director of Public Prosecutions concerning their investigations into allegations by a number of persons, including Paul Malone and Thomas Ryder, of criminal misconduct by officers of the Merseyside police. The director has briefed counsel to advise and has so far received his advice upon five of the reports. The sixth advice from counsel is awaited. The evidence and advices received so far are being considered by the director's office and a decision on whether any criminal proceedings should be instituted as a result of the investigations will be taken in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice the Government are giving to businesses considering investment projects in COMECON countries.

Companies considering investment in eastern Europe are welcome to consult my Department. We point out that in all COMECON countries except Hungary the scope for investment is at present limited to participation in joint ventures with local enterprises and that the rules and regulations for these ventures vary from country to country. Direct investment is possible in Hungary and is made more attractive by the existence of an increasingly coherent legal framework and by the availability of British accountants and lawyers based in Budapest. Other countries in this area, such as Poland, offer some similar attractions and are working hard to offer more. Throughout eastern Europe prospects are, perhaps, particularly good in food (production, processing and packaging) and health care (pharmaceuticals and medical equipment), but the risks of investment and the provisions for repatriating profits are changing. We therefore encourage companies to consult the commercial sections of our embassies as well as local representatives of British banks and their usual advisers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the increase in productivity in the motor vehicle industry since 1972 and 1979 together with the number of employees, the number of cars produced, and the trading profit.

Productivity, production and trading profit statistics are matters for the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Employment statistics are a matter for the Secretary of State for Employment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the Government's estimate of the proportion of the output of motor vehicles produced in the United Kingdom in terms of the shareholding by foreign vehicle producers together with (a) the percentage increase in real hourly earnings of adult male manual workers in the motor vehicle industry since (i) 1972 and (ii) 1979 and of all non-manual employees in the rest of the private sector and (b) the increase in output per head in the motor vehicle industry and the rest of the private sector.

An estimate of the proportion of the output of motor vehicles produced in the United Kingdom in terms of the shareholding by foreign vehicle producers is not available. Earnings figures are a matter for the Secretary of State for Employment. Output per head figures are a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations he has received from hon. and right hon. Members, and members of the public concerning the need for legislation to protect the consumer when purchasing goods; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has had regarding inadequacies in consumer protection in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

I and my officials receive numerous communications dealing with a wide range of subjects. Consumers in this country are protected by a substantial body of existing legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will place in the Library copies of his Department's unpublished inspectors' reports which have been given to professional bodies.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to announce whether he intends to refer the takeover bid by Kingfisher of Dixons plc to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; and if he will make a statement.

On 16 January my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced that he had decided, in accordance with the recommendation of the Director General of Fair Trading, to refer the proposed acquisition by Kingfisher plc of Dixons Group plc to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the average waiting time before his Department deals with applicaptions for new trade marks.

The average time from filing to issue of an examination report is nine months. The average time from filing to registration of unopposed applications is 24 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he proposes to take to enable the Patent Office to deal promptly with its duties and to minimise delay to investors and exporters.

An increase of 50 staff has been approved for the trade marks registry to deal with a backlog of cases which has built up since service marks were introduced in 1986. These staff are currently being recruited and trained.The Patent Office, which is in the course of relocating to Newport (Gwent), is due to become an executive agency of the Department of Trade and Industry in the course of this year. This is expected to result in substantial improvements in efficiency and quality of service, in particular when the relocation is complete in the autumn of 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Government in assisting the knitwear and textile industries will offer special financing arrangements for these industries to re-equip with British-made machinery.

[holding answer 15 January]: No. Such arrangements would conflict with the European Commission ban on sectoral aid schemes for the textile and clothing industry. The provision of finance to domestic producers on condition that they buy British goods would in addition be in breach of our GATT and Community obligations. The greatest encouragement to buy British is the availability of competitive British goods and services. My Department's policies are geared to helping business to achieve this.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the Government's policy on increases in productivity in manufacturing industry, and what advice is given to employers seeking to achieve such increases.

The most important spur to the significant productivity growth by British manufacturing since 1980 has come from the competitive pressures of more open markets. Government policies to promote this objective have included privatisation, deregulation, elimination of restrictive practices and international negotiations to reduce trade barriers through the GATT and in the European Community. In addition, the Department of Trade and Industry's enterprise initiative enables businesses to receive various forms of help which develop management skills and promote best practice and so further improve productivity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will respond to the advice he has received from the Advisory Board for the Research Councils on the future structure of the research council system; and if he will make a statement.

I have today written to Sir David Phillips, chairman of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils, accepting the recommendation made to me by the board that it should be reconstituted this spring.The text of my letter is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will list the membership of the ABRC working group investigating reforms of the peer review system under the chairmanship of Margaret Boden; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will outline the scope and remit of the ABRC working group investigating reforms of the peer review system; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the membership and terms of reference of the ABRC's working group on peer review are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will outline British involvement and funding proposals for participation in the subatomic particles research project at the Sudbury neutrino observatory; and if he will make a statement.

The Sudbury neutrino observatory project is a collaboration involving Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom's involvement is through a group at Oxford university's nuclear physics laboratory which is developing a water purification and testing system for the large heavy water detector being built in northern Ontario.The group is supported by means of a research grant of £276,000 over three years (1989–92) from the science and engineering research council (SERC) and a contribution from Oxford university of about £120,000 over the same period.Any application for further funding for the project would be considered by SERC against other calls on its budget.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what right of appeal parents have whose children are refused a place at Bradford city technology college; and if he will make a statement.

CTCs are independent schools and parents will have no automatic right of appeal if their children fail to achieve one of the limited number of places available. However, my right hon. Friend will expect colleges to look at individual cases on their merits.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the impact the introduction of the poll tax will have on the retail prices index in April.

The Autumn Statement forecast is for RPI annual inflation to fall to 5¾ per cent. by the fourth quarter of 1990. It is not the practice to provide more detail than published in table 2.7 of the Autumn Statement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish the 1990 public expenditure White Paper.

The 1990 public expenditure White Paper will be published at 3.30 pm on Tuesday 30 January, and copies will be available in the Vote Office.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total number of premium bond purchases for each of the last five annual periods for which figures are kept.

[holding answer 18 January 1990]: The number of purchases for each of the last five calendar years has been as follows:

	000's
1985	2,530·0
1986	1,949·8
1987	1,962·0
1988	2,036·7
1989	1 1,416·0
1 provisional

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total number of new National Savings bank customers for the investment account for the last five annual periods for which figures are kept.

[holding answer 18 January 1990]: The number of new customers opening investment accounts is not available. The number of new investment accounts opened during each of the last five calendar years was as follows:

	000's
1985	544·8
1986	519·9
1987	697·3
1988	605·3
1989	515·9

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total number of new ordinary accounts opened, under the national savings scheme for each of the last five annual periods for which figures are kept.

[holding answer 18 January 1990]: The number of new national savings ordinary accounts opened in each of the last five calendar years is as follows:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any additional plans to further increase the minimum deposit level for National Savings bank ordinary accounts.

[holding answer 18 January 1990]: My right hon. Friend has no present plans to increase the minimum deposit for national savings ordinary accounts.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any plans to cause the Department for National Savings to issue any further guidelines to retirement pensioners on savings and personal security, either on its own or in conjuction with police authorities.

[holding answer 18 January 1990]: For some years the Department for National Savings has responded to requests to assist local crime prevention campaigns by providing specially prepared leaflets which remind pensioners that their money is safer kept in a savings account than at home. I understand that the department will continue to offer such assistance where it is practicable to do so.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received any representations about the future of the Department for National Savings; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 18 January 1990]: My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations. Our objectives for national savings are to encourage more long-term committed savings and less liquid debt; to make available through the national savings system products gross of tax for the non-taxpayer; and to continue to manage efficiently the investments of many millions of personal savers.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Treasury intends to review its policy on the Department for National Savings.

[holding answer 18 January 1990]: Policy on national savings products and their terms is always kept under review.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much taxation was raised from persons and organisations resident within, or operating within, Scotland during the financial year 1988–89; and if he will list the yield under the heading of each tax.

[holding answer 18 January 1990]: Information is available only in respect of income tax, inheritance-capital transfer tax, and local authority rates. In the case of income tax and inheritance-capital transfer tax, the information is available only in terms of tax liabilities.The latest estimates available are that the income tax liabilities of residents of Scotland in 1987–88, the latest available year, were £3·4 billion, the capital transfer tax liabilities in 1985–86 on Scottish death estates and lifetime transfers were about £70 million, and local authority rates were £1,955 million in 1988–89. Capital transfer tax on lifetime transfers has since been abolished.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the level of (a) portfolio and (b) direct investment overseas each year since 1979, both at current prices and at constant 1989 prices; and what has been the percentage change each year.

[holding answer 18 January 1990]: The estimates of United Kingdom investment overseas at current prices, distinguishing direct and portfolio investment, since 1979 are published in "Economic Trends" for December 1989 (table A8). An assessment of investment at constant prices can be made using the implied gross domestic product price deflators published in "Economic Trends" (table 2) and in the CSO databank. These publications are available in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the level of bank lending to each main sector of United Kingdom residents each year since 1979 at constant 1989 prices; and what was the percentage change each year in each case.

[holding answer 18 January 1990]: Details on the level of lending to the main United Kingdom sectors is published for recent years in "Financial Statistics" (table 6.2) and for earlier years on the CSO databank. An assessment at constant prices can be made using the implied gross domestic product price deflators published in "Economic Trends" (table 2) and in the CSO databank. These publications are available in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the level of foreign earnings of each category of financial institution in the City of London in 1979, 1984 and 1989 or the latest date for which information is available, at current prices and at constant 1989 prices.

[holding answer 18 January 1990]: The available information at current prices up to and including 1988 is given in the published annual Pink Books on the United Kingdom balance of payments (table 6.1) and on the CSO databank. An assessment at constant prices can be made using the implied gross domestic product price deflators published in "Economic Trends" (table 2) which is also available on the CSO databank. These publications are available in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the level of invisible earnings each year since 1970 and for each month since January 1989 both at current prices and at constant 1989 prices.

[holding answer 18 January 1990]: The latest estimates of invisibles at current prices and of trade in services at constant prices are given in "Economic Trends" for December 1989 (tables A1 and A3) and on the CSO databank. An assessment of all invisibles at constant prices can be made using the implied gross domestic product price deflators published in "Economic Trends" (table 2) and on the CSO databank. These publications are available in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage change each year since 1970 in each main measure of the money supply.

[holding answer 18 January 1990]: Details on the level of five money supply measures are published for recent years in "Financial Statistics" (table 11.10) and for earlier years on the CSO databank both of which are available in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the current value of the total assets of (a) pension funds, (b) insurance companies, (c) building societies, (d) commercial banks, (e) merchant banks, (f) United States banks in London, (g) Japanese banks in London, (h) other foreign banks in London, and (i) other major categories of dealers in the City of London.

[holding answer 18 January 1990]: The latest estimates are given in the following publications, which are available in the Library:"Financial Statistics"

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the level of Government grants to the British Council for each year since 1978–79, including the grant allocation for the year 1990–91.

The table shows the level of Government grants to the British Council:

(£'000)
Year	Total
1978–79	45,891
1979–80	50,447
1980–81	56,165
1981–82	63,496
1982–83	68,608
1983–84	73,291
1984–85	81,513
1985–86	86,344
1986–87	91,990
1987–88	100,825
1988–89	101,059
1989–90	110,863
1 1990–91	121,159
1 Estimate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average time taken to process visa applications for citizens of Czechoslovakia wishing to visit the United Kingdom.

Information about the average length of time taken to process visa applications is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, under a visa understanding with Czechoslovakia in 1980, each Government have undertaken to process visa applications for stays of up to three months within 14 working days. Most are issued well inside this time frame.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Watford Gap.

I have at present no plans to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what extra financial provision has been made to English Heritage in each financial year since it assumed responsibility for the relevant duties of the Greater London council; and what was the consequent increase in total expenditure, total grant offers made, total grants paid and total section 3A repair grant offers made since that date.

The Greater London council's historic buildings division and historic house museums transferred to English Heritage in 1986. Additional grant-in-aid of £7·75 million was allocated to English Heritage in 1986–87 to cover the resulting extra costs. Since then the former Greater London council functions have ceased to be identified as a separate entity for the purposes of grant-in-aid but have become an integral part of English Heritage's national organisation and operation. In seeking extra resources each year English Heritage presents its bids on the basis of its work programmes (for example properties-in-care and conservation including building repair and archaeology grants) rather than on a regional basis. Allocation of existing and any additional resources among the regions is entirely a matter for English Heritage. Expenditure on grants in Greater London is as follows:

£ million (cash)
	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89	1989–901
Section 3A repair grant offers	0·74	1·46	1·32	1·58
Total grant offers for the 4 years	£19·457 million
Total grants paid	2·84	4·30	4·81	4·82
	(Total £16·77 million)
1 Planned.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the total expenditure by English Heritage and its predecessor, respectively, the total grant offers made and the total of grants paid, for each year 1981–82 to 1990–91;(2) what was the total income and the income from grant-in-aid, respectively, of English Heritage and its predecessor, for each year 1981–82 to 1990–91.

Prior to the setting up of English Heritage in 1983, the Department of the Environment was directly responsible for historic building grants, archaeology grants and the portfolio of properties-in-care. In 1986

	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91 (planned)
Total provision	36·3	45·9	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Grant in aid (English Heritage)	—	—	49·9	52·2	60·1	65·3	66·2	72·4	78·0
Total Income (English Heritage)	—	—	52·8	55·8	65·1	72·4	75·5	81·2	88·0
Total gross expenditure	34·8	43·5	52·1	55·0	62·8	71·0	78·4	84·7	90·0
Total grants paid	18·4	19·5	24·1	24·8	28·6	27·5	29·5	30·9	30·4
Total grants offered	—	—	27·7	28·2	29·8	34·2	33·0	33·7	36·4

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money the Government have committed to the redevelopment of Chatham and Medway docks; to whom it is intended to distribute the money; and whether any consultancy agencies are involved.

Following the closure of the royal naval dockyard at Chatham, the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust was established in April 1984 to take responsibility for some 80 acres of the dockyard area, containing about 50 buildings or sites scheduled as ancient monuments. The trust was financed by a Government endowment of £ 11·35 million to assist it in repairing and maintaining the historic structures and in promoting the site as a "living dockyard". The Department of the Environment and the Ministry of Defence commissioned a consultancy report on the future of the historic dockyard prior to the establishment of the trust and the trust itself has employed consultants for a number of studies since 1984.The redevelopment of the remainder of the former royal naval dockyard is being managed by the English Industrial Estates Corporation which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. I understand that English Estates will have committed about £26 million to the project by the end of the current financial year and that consultants have been employed to assist with the project.Part of the dockyard was designated an enterprise zone in October 1986, which entitles it to full relief from payment of rates for a 10-year period. Figures for rates forgone are available only for the north-west Kent enterprise zone as a whole, and not for the Chatham maritime enterprise zone as a separate entity.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the extent of retail floorspace in the Tyneside enterprise zone in each year since E2 status was declared distinguishing between floorspace in Newcastle and Gateshead.

The table shows the amount of retail floorspace in the enterprise zone for each year for which information by type of use has been available. The year 1987 is the latest for which such information has been published. There is no breakdown for individual parts of the zone. As the hon. Member will be aware, however, the large majority of the increase in retail floorspace has taken place in the Gateshead area.

Retail floorspace in Tyneside enterprise zone
Year	'000 sq m
1984	0·2
1985	4
1986	20
1987	129

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the sums paid by Government to (a) Newcastle and (b) Gateshead council in 1989–90 in substitution of rates due from properties in the Tyneside enterprise zone, distinguishing between industrial and commercial property.

Claims made by local authorities in respect of rate revenue forgone in enterprise zones do not distinguish between industrial and commercial property. Payments made so far in 1989–90 to Gateshead metropolitan borough council and Newcastle city council amount to £10,835,487 and £1,518,385 respectively. The authorities' final claims are likely to add a further 10 per cent. to these figures.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the full report of the United States Environment Protection Agency into the toxic waste held in Wath upon Dearne concludes that the material must be handled with great care.

In sending forward a summary report and supporting analytical data, the Environment Protection Agency draws attention to the need to handle the material with care because of the presence of volatile organic compounds. The presence of such compounds was one of the reasons for transferring the waste into sealed drums—a task undertaken well before the Environment Protection Agency report became available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to approve city grant and estate action applications in respect of homes for rent and sale on the Lower Grange estate in Bradford; how quickly, after decisions on these applications are announced, he expects a start to new building; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State responsible for housing on 13 December, Official Report, Volume 163; column 727. The Department is continuing to appraise the applications for both city grant and estate action support and I hope it will be possible to reach decisions on both cases in the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is (a) the estimated total cost and (b) the estimated cost to public funds of publishing the report of the review of sport and active recreation in the inner cities.

The estimated total cost of publishing the report of the review of sport and active recreation provision in the inner cities is £19,900, of which £7,900 will be met from public funds and £12,000 from private sector sponsorship.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the percentage of drinking water, by volume, in England that is treated by the addition of (a) chlorine and (b) ozone.

[holding answer 15 January 1990]: Precise information is not available. However, I understand that more than 99 per cent. of water supplies in England are treated by the addition of chlorine as a disinfectant. At only six sites, which produce less than 1 per cent. of water supplies, is water treated by the addition of ozone. It is important to note that even when ozone is used in the treatment of drinking water, chlorine is normally added at the final treatment stage to provide for residual disinfection.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department has taken to reduce the volume of spent batteries and accumulators in household waste.

I have been asked to reply.The Government have long encouraged recycling wherever economically and technically feasible, and the United Kingdom has an excellent record of reclaiming lead-acid and larger nickel-cadmium batteries, and mercuric oxide and silver oxide button cells. Recycling of smaller, consumer-type batteries has not yet proved commercially viable. Reductions in the volume of certain spent batteries and accumulators in household waste is one objective of a modified draft directive recently published by the European Commission. Negotiations have yet to begin on the final form of the directive, and it would not be sensible for the Government to act independently in advance of their completion.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department has taken to promote research aimed at reducing the dangerous substance content and increasing the use of less-polluting substitute substances in batteries and accumulators, and into methods of recycling.

I have been asked to reply.The Department's Warren Spring laboratory has in the past undertaken research into methods of battery reclamation and recycling, and is currently collaborating on a project aimed at recovering consumer-type alkaline manganese and nickel-cadmium batteries from the domestic waste stream. An examination is also under way of the environment, economic and technical issues which recovery involves. The promotion of research is one aspect of a modified draft directive on batteries and accumulators containing dangerous substances recently published by the European Commission. The Government will await finalisation of the directive before deciding upon measures for its implementation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the report of the Director General of Fair Trading concerning ticket allocation at the Football Association cup finals in 1988 and 1989.

I have been asked to reply.The chief trading standards officer for the city of Liverpool asked the Director General of Fair Trading to look into the arrangements for the allocation of tickets at the Football Association cup finals in 1988 and 1989, under his duty at section 2 of the Fair Trading Act 1973. I understand that the director general hopes to be able to respond in the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy that Her Majesty's Government will not enter a reservation on behalf of Hong Kong with respect to the recent listing of the African elephant in appendix I of CITES.

I have been asked to reply.I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in the House on 17 January at column 300.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to enter a reservation to CITES on behalf of Hong Kong to allow the current ivory stockpile in the Crown colony to be placed on the market.

I have been asked to reply.I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in the House on 17 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those lengths of motorway exceeding 35 miles in extent which are not provided with immediately adjoining service facilities.

Motorway	Mileage	Comment
M41	59	MSA proposed for Reading area
M62	38	—
Member 11	54	MSA Proposed for Birchanger (Junction 8)
M25	117	MSA open at South Mimms, under construction at Thurrock, and proposed at Clacket Lane (Westerham) and in the western quadrant of the motorway
M42	40	MSAs under construction at Tamworth and proposed for the Solihull area
1 Heston MSA to Membury MSA.
2 South bound, Southwaite MSA to Killington Lake MSA.

Certain other journeys involving distances of more than 35 miles between MSAs are possible using more than one motorway. It is intended that almost all of the gaps will be filled by the MSAs in the Government's strategic programme which, in addition to those already referred to, comprises sites on:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has considered a public inquiry following the Marchioness disaster; and if he will make a statement.

Under the new regulations governing the work of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, provision is made for investigations into serious marine accidents to take the form of an inspector's inquiry with a subsequent report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State by the chief inspector of marine accidents. This is considered to be the appropriate form of investigation for this accident.It is expected that the inspector leading the inquiry will be in a position to submit his findings to the chief inspector very soon. The report of the chief inspector will then be published at the earliest practicable date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much land is due to be sold off by British Rail in the next three years by region; if he will list the estimated value of that land; and if he will make a statement.

These are commercial matters for the British Rail Property Board and I do not have the information in the forms requested. British Rail's published corporate plan 1989 contains the following forecasts for property-asset sales:

The Government's general policy is to provide motorway service areas (MSAs) at intervals of roughly 30 miles on English motorways. MSAs in Wales and Scotland are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland respectively. Lengths of motorway in England exceeding 35 miles and currently without MSAs are as follows:

Financial years	£ million
1990–91	293
1991–92	248
1992–93	261

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to how many local authorities have active cyclists' consultative committees; if he will list them; and if he will make a further statement.

This information is not collected centrally. A number of local authorities are known to have developed good working relationships with local cycling groups.Our latest local transport note on cycling "Making Way for Cyclists" (published by HMSO) contains several references to the benefits of good consultation with local cycling interests. A copy has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the river and port pilot manning requirements and costs in the United Kingdom and on the continent; and if he will make a statement.

Pilot manning levels and costs in the United Kingdom are matters for the competent harbour authorities. I understand however that since the implementation of the Pilotage Act 1987 on 1 October 1988 pilotage charges have in general been held steady, with reductions being achieved in some cases. As regards manning, there were 1,225 licensed pilots immediately before the implementation of the 1987 Act and 229 pilots have since been made surplus.The Department holds no up-to-date information regarding pilot manning levels or costs on the continent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what guidelines he has issued providing for the safe and harmless transport by lorry on public highways of rotting refuse from controlled household refuse tips of five to 20 years' vintage; when they were last renewed; and what proposals he has to revise them;(2) what guidelines he has issued to local authorities on the transportation of putrescent household refuse of five to 20 years' vintage by lorry; and what proposals he has to revise them.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 18 January, Official Report, Vol. 165, column 330.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines he has issued to provide for the safe, odour-free and pollution-free transportation by rail of rotting refuse of five to 20 years' vintage from controlled household refuse tips; and what proposals he has to revise them.

There are no specific guidelines on the rail transport of putrescent waste. British Rail standards for the transport of dangerous goods generally reflect international requirements. Noxious goods which are not dangerous would be subject to British Rail's conditions of carriage and conditions of acceptance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what alternatives to the Channel tunnel project's safety committee requirement for video surveillance in respect of last resort use of halons are currently under consideration; and if he will make a statement.

The Channel tunnel intergovernmental commission, in giving its decision that Eurotunnel may continue development of its transport system on the basis of the principle of non-segregation of passengers from cars and coaches, laid down a number of binding requirements.One of these is that a video surveillance system should be provided to monitor the interior of the shuttle wagons. Another is that fire extinction measures in the shuttle trains should include a Halon 1301 system or other agent with the same extinguishing capabilities. Halon may only be used either when passengers have been evacuated or as a last resort when the lives of passengers are endangered in spite of the use of other means of extinction.It is for Eurotunnel to consider how to give effect to these requirements when bringing forward for approval design proposals for further development of its system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what stage plans have reached to begin work on the Mitchell bypass on the A30 in Cornwall;(2) when he expects the A30 Mitchell bypass to be opened;(3) when he intends the documentation regarding the building of the A30 Mitchell bypass in Cornwall to be issued to possible contractors.

All the statutory procedures have been completed for the A30 Penhale-Carland Cross scheme which includes a bypass for Mitchell. Tender documents are in preparation and a contract is expected to be awarded later in the year. Construction should take about 18 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the A30 Zelah bypass to be opened.

A contract is expected to be awarded later in the year and construction should take about 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make it his policy for new investment in British Rail to be judged on the basis of cost-benefit analysis.

The new objectives for British Rail, announced by my right hon. Friend last month, allow for the use of cost-benefit analysis where exceptionally investment which increases the asset base of the Network SouthEast and provincial sectors cannot meet the required rate of return of 8 per cent. This will enable the Government to decide whether capital grants would be justified on wider social and economic grounds. For BR's commercial sectors the Government see no case for subsidy and financial appraisal continues to be appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will arrange for Mr. A. J. Woodward and his solicitor to have access to the tape recordings referred to by the solicitors acting for Her Majesty's Coastguard in the case of Mark Woodward in their letter of 12 January to Noel Horner, solicitor, of Truro.

Yes. Arrangements are already in hand for Mr. Woodward and his solicitor to hear the tapes on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he proposes to take to control the level of carbon dioxide emissions from motor cars.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 7 December 1989. (Official Report, 7 December, column 347.)

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Caenarfon of 8 January, Official Report, column 502, on local government finance in Wales, what allowance he has made, in calculating the income from the standard community charge for each district in Wales, for owners of holiday homes who previously paid domestic rates, changing to the uniform business rate for such properties, where they are let out for a proportion of each year.

The assumptions I have made for standard charge multipliers for each district in Wales for 1990–91 are set out in paragraph 3 of the Welsh revenue support grant distribution report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what percentage he based his inflation forecast in determining the Welsh local government expenditure settlement for the years 1988–89 and 1989–90.

The local authority settlements for 1988–89 and 1989–90 represented the Government's view of what it would be appropriate for local government to spend. Like all public expenditure plans they were set in cash terms.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what steps he has taken to promote the marketing of batteries and accumulators containing smaller quantities of dangerous substances or less-polluting substances;(2) what steps he is taking to ensure that consumers are fully informed about the dangers of uncontrolled disposal of spent batteries and accumulators;(3) what steps he is taking to inform consumers of the method of moving batteries and accumulators which are built into appliances;(4) what steps he is taking to set up a deposit system for batteries and accumulators;(5) what steps his Department has taken to reduce the heavy metal content in batteries and accumulators.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Industry and Consumer Affairs on Thursday 18 January 1990 at columns 356–58.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now publish his assessment of the level of farm incomes in Wales for 1989; and what were the corresponding figures for 1988.

Information on the level of farm incomes in Wales in 1989 is due to be published in June in the Welsh Office publication "Farm Incomes in Wales" No. 4, 1990. Some limited information, on average net incomes in Wales for the pair of years 1987–88 and 1988–89 will also be included in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food publication "Agriculture in the United Kingdom" to be published early next month.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the target commencement date for construction of the Penygroes and Llanllyfni bypass scheme on the A487 trunk road in Gwynedd.

Plans announced in "Roads in Wales: 1989" do not include a bypass for Penygroes and Llanllyfni. This section of the A487 is the subject of a feasibility study but it is too soon to speculate on its conclusions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the independent or direct grant schools in Wales that are grant-aided directly by the Welsh Office, noting the amount of aid to be paid in the current financial year.

The only direct grant school in Wales, TS Indefatigable, Anglesey, will receive grant totalling £15,750 in the current financial year. Payments to meet the costs of tuition fee remissions at independent schools participating in the assisted places scheme are shown in the table:

School	Payment— 1989–90 (estimate) £
Howells School, Llandaff	338,380
Howells School, Denbigh	236,811
Christ College, Brecon	186,547
Rydal School, Colwyn Bay	128,121
Penrhos College, Colwyn Bay	163,726
Llandovery College, Dyfed	92,025
Monmouth School for Boys	320,596
Monmouth School for Girls	127,302

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Clwyd, South-West of 30 November 1989, Official Report, column 339, whether he makes any general estimates on a regular basis of figures for rural unemployment.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the five largest hospital building projects in Wales currently under construction; and what is the projected cost of each.

The five largest hospital building projects currently under construction in Wales are shown in the table:

Project	Projected Cost £ million
New Llanelli Hospital	26·9
Singleton Hospital West Ward Block	12·3
Royal Gwent Hospital Development Scheme 6	10·7
North Rhondda Community Hospital	8·0
Prince Charles Hospital Development Scheme 2	5·2

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what have been the five largest hospital building projects completed in Wales since 1979; and what is the cost of each.

The five largest hospital building projects completed in Wales since 1979 are shown in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest estimate of the number of additional houses likely to be needed in Ceredigion over the next five years.

The statutory responsibility for assessing housing need in any particular area rests with the local authority concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to improve the trunk road A487 at Lower Fishguard, Pembrokeshire during the next five years; and if he will make a statement in the light of the latest serious accident.

A scheme for a relief road was considered but deferred because of local objections to its effect on the environment. It will be re-examined and discussed with local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will lay down guidelines to local authorities on the planning, environmental health and waste disposal criteria for granting permission for tipping partly rotted household refuse removed from one controlled refuse tip to another.

Guidance on the disposal of household refuse is contained in the series of waste management papers published by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, and in Welsh Office circulars 76/76 and 38/89. My right hon. Friend has no proposals to issue further guidance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what licences he has issued for the tipping of transported partly rotted household refuse from controlled local authority tips of five to 20 years' vintage.