To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Treasury has taken and is taking to improve the security of its computer systems.

The Treasury regularly reviews the security of its computer systems. The Department follows the guidance of the appropriate authorities on security matters. In the case of unclassified but sensitive information, the Treasury uses the CCTA recommended structural risk analysis and management methodology (CRAMM). CCTA guidance is itself kept under continuous review.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what correspondence he has received from the Forum for Private Business on the implications of high interest rates on the small business sector.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and I have received a number of such representations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of central Government revenue was raised by indirect taxation in the latest year for which figures are available; if he will give a breakdown from each tax; and what information he has on the corresponding figures for the other member states of the European Economic Community.

Central Government taxes are classified in Government accounts as income and expenditure taxes and not as direct and indirect taxes. Expenditure taxes are broadly similar to indirect taxes. The latest information on central Government revenue from expenditure taxes is published in table 7.2 of the 1989 edition of "United Kingdom National Accounts" (the CSO Blue Book). Latest comparable information as is available for member states of the European Community can be obtained from the 1989 OECD annual publication, "Revenue Statistics of OECD Member countries". Figures are given for individual countries with taxes defined in table G.Figures of total indirect taxes for OECD countries were also published in table F of the article, "International Comparisons of Taxes and Social Security Contributions in 20 OECD Countries 1976–86", in the January 1989 issue of "Economic Trends" (No. 423).

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the London weighting in Civil Service pay is calculated; and what weighting is given to the cost of housing.

Since 1982, Civil Service London weighting has been set at levels which are deemed adequate to recruit, retain and motivate staff in sufficient numbers to carry out the work of the Civil Service efficiently. As London weighting is not a cost compensation allowance it is not calculated on the basis of specific costs such as housing.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate by how much duty is underpaid each year by its being paid on potential brewery production rather than the amount of alcohol actually leaving the brewery; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 14 February 1990]: The beer duty is currently charged by reference to the original gravity of the beer prior to fermentation and not to the alcoholic content of the finished product. Underpayment of duty on the lines suggested in the hon. Gentleman's question does not therefore occur.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax discount has been given to brewers to offset wastage incurred under traditional brewing methods for each year since 1979.

[holding answer 14 February 1990]: Since 1880 United Kingdom brewers have been legally entitled to deduct 6 per cent. from the quantity brewed when calculating the duty charge. This deduction is intended to cover normal spoilage and losses incurred in processing and packaging beer subsequent to the duty point; for the financial years since 1979 it reduced the duty liability by the following amounts:

	£ million
1979–80	56·1
1980–81	64·2
1981–82	83·0
1982–83	93·5
1983–84	101·7
1984–85	110·3
1985–86	117·9
1986–87	118·2
1987–88	119·8
1988–89	125·2

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide whatever information is available pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Northampton, North on 5 February, Official Report, column 476.

[holding answer 15 February 1990]: Annual payments to member states under the principal sectors of the Community budget are given in table 18 of the recent Court of Auditors' report (Official Journal of the European Communities, C 312, 12 December 1989). The information in this table, which is for the period 1984–88, covers 87·8 per cent. of total budgetary expenditure. It does not cover all payments to member states and it excludes expenditure on aid to third countries and administration. Information about total expenditure under each of the headings of the Community budget, including the administrative costs of the central Community institutions, is given in table 16 of the Court of Auditors' report and in table 1 of the statement on the 1989 Community budget (Cm. 680). The latter also includes estimates for 1989 which will be updated in the statement on the 1990 Community budget to be published later this year.Actual amounts of own resources collected by each member state between 1984 and 1988 are shown in table 19 of the Court of Auditors' report. Table 2 of Cm. 680 gives similar information for the period 1986 to 1989.Table 0201 of the January 1990 edition of "Eurostat" gives information about member states' population sizes in 1988.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many companies were forced into receivership because of Customs and Excise action to recover outstanding value added tax payments in each of the last three years, and in the current financial year;(2) how much money was owed to Customs and Excise by those companies forced into receivership because of Customs and Excise action to recover outstanding value added tax payments in each of the last three years, and in the current financial year; and what percentage of the outstanding debt was collected;(3) how much value added tax revenue in each of the last three years, and in the current financial year, has been lost to the Exchequer because of the failure of businesses owed money by companies forced into receivership by Customs and Excise action to recover outstanding payment.

[holding answer 15 February 1990]: None.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many concerns registered to pay value added tax on (i) a monthly basis, (ii) a quarterly basis have not paid (a) their most recent value added tax demand, (b) their last two value added tax demands, (c) their last three value added tax demands and (d) their last four or more value added tax demands; and in each case what is the total amount of money involved.

[holding answer 15 February 1990]: The information is not available in the form requested and the cost of producing it would be disproportionate.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish any guidelines issued for those Customs and Excise officials with the responsibility of recovering the debts of those concerns registered for value added tax purposes.

[holding answer 15 February 1990]: The guidelines are as follows:

"AIM OF ENFORCEMENT ACTION. All enforcement action is aimed at recovering tax which a trader has failed to pay voluntarily and encouraging non-compliant traders to become compliant. There are a number of steps leading up to this and, of course, the trader may at any time exercise his option to pay. Whatever action is contemplated, however, there is a simple guiding principle which is always to be borne to mind—DELAY COSTS MONEY.

If a trader delays payment until contacted and tax demanded—whether by assessment or distress visit or by civil recovery action—the sooner that demand is made the sooner some or all of the outstanding tax is likely to be paid. Therefore it is vital that contact at each stage of the enforcement process is made as soon as possible and that a priority system is operated to pursue the largest debts first. Remember, all quarterly traders have an average of 75 days to collect the tax before the due date of payment."

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will take steps to ensure that the term "pocket money" is not used by statutory bodies to describe the personal allowance paid to people in residential and nursing homes and hospitals.

The term "pocket money" is not used in any of the relevant regulations governing amounts for personal expenses or the downrating of benefit for those in hospital for a long time. I share my hon. Friend's dislike of the phrase and have asked for it to be eliminated from DSS publications when next revised. So far as references by other Departments or bodies is concerned, he may wish to make similar representations to those responsible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the Government's record in maintaining the income of pensioners.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him on 2 February 1990 at columns 382–83.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what basis the personal allowance of £34·90 for an elderly widow in receipt of housing benefit is calculated.

The housing benefit personal allowances follow those set for income support, and approved by Parliament. From April the personal allowance for a single person aged not less than 25 will increase to £36·70.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what trading relationships between the Target Group, the National Financial Management Corporation plc and Garston Amhurst companies existed under the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act 1958 prior to the commencement of the Financial Services Act.

There was no obligation under the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act 1958 for information of this nature to be notified to my Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will meet the chairman of Barclays bank to discuss banks' responsibilities in monitoring client accounts under the Financial Services Act.

No. Responsibility for rules on clients' accounts under the Financial Services Act has been transferred to the Securities and Investments Board.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, further to his reply of 8 January, Official Report, column 518, he will provide details of the appointee to the accounting standards task force who has come from the accountancy firm criticised by his Department.

Biographical notes on the individuals appointed by Sir Ronald Dearing as members of the accounting standards task group were given in the press notice issued by the task group on 6 November.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department will be represented at the conference on packaging and the environment to be held in Manchester on 28 to 29 March.

The DTI, in conjunction with the Institute of Metals, is holding a design for the environment conference in Birmingham on 28 March. The conference will cover environmental design problems relating to a variety of sectors including packaging. Therefore, this Department will not be participating in the packaging and the environment conference which is taking place at the same time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will give the average contingency fund for (a) county councils and (b) district councils in Wales for 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91;(2) if he will give the percentage increase of the contingency funds for

I will write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the overall cost of the valleys initiative to date.

I will be giving details shortly of progress in the first 18 months or so on my programme for the valleys. This will include details of estimated expenditure to date, as well as future targets and activity following my decision to extend the programme for a further two years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many perinatal and neo-natal deaths were recorded for each health authority in Wales during 1987 and 1988.

The numbers of perinatal and neonatal deaths in 1987 and 1988 of babies whose mothers usually resided in Wales are given in the table. Deaths are not necessarily registered in the area of usual residence.

District Health Authority of Residence
	Perinatal Deaths1		Neonatal Deaths2
	1987	1988	1987	1988
Clwyd	46	40	23	20
East Dyfed	28	25	17	13
Pembrokeshire	12	19	8	14
Gwent	65	56	36	31
Gwynedd	29	23	17	17
Mid Glamorgan	56	71	27	28
Powys	20	17	7	8
South Glamorgan	50	43	29	27
West Glamorgan	45	40	26	25
Wales	351	334	190	183
1 Registered stillbirths and deaths in the first week of life.
2 Deaths within 4 weeks of birth.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been spent by his Department on publicity materials and advertising relating to the flotation of the water industry.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will supply the costs of water privatisation to Parliament in the normal way.

To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations she has received in relation to arms control negotiation.

The subject of arms control negotiations is often raised during discussions with other Heads of Government. I make it clear that NATO's and the United Kingdom's arms control priorities are:

a 50 per cent. cut in strategic offensive weapons of the US and USSR

the verifiable global elimination of chemical weapons

the establishment of stable and secure conventional balance in Europe through elimination of disparities.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the implications of the right of residence proposals agreed at the Internal Market Council for Immigration Policy.

No. The implications of the right of residence proposals were discussed in this House on 8 February at columns 1100–24 and they are likely to be adopted shortly.

To ask the Prime Minister what contribution her office will make to the NATO exercises due to be held in Norway during March.

There are no NATO exercises due to be held in Norway during March. A Norwegian national exercise, designated "Cold Winter", is planned to take place in March, and forces from several members of the Alliance, including the United Kingdom, will participate.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will review the records held in the public record office but which are not open to inspection because they are either retained under section 3(4), or closed under section 5(1) of the Public Records Act; and if she will consider whether there is any further need for records which are over 40 years old to be restricted in this manner.

No. The retention of records under section 3(4) of the Public Records Act 1958 or closure under section 5(1) is subject to the approval of the Lord Chancellor. There are several categories of records which retain their sensitivity under established criteria for more than 40 years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many terrorist attacks there have been on the Shorts Bros complex at Alanbrooke road, Belfast since 1969; and what was their nature.

The Shorts factory complex in the Alanbrooke industrial estate has not been subject to physical attack by terrorists since 1969. However, the hon. Member will be aware of all the circumstances surrounding the recent bomb attacks against Shorts' property elsewhere in Belfast, and of the armed theft of equipment from its Alanbrooke road factory in 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will bring the area for assembly of the Star Streak missile into the security area at Alanbrooke road, Belfast.

Decisions on the location of work within the Shorts factory complex on the Alanbrooke road are the responsibility of Shorts' management and not Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under what legislative powers Alanbrooke road in Belfast has been closed; what categories of persons are allowed access under those powers; and what consultation took place with local residents in advance of closure.

Shorts plc was authorised to close Alanbrooke road, under powers granted to the Secretary of State by section 19(2)(d) of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978. In authorising the closure, the Secretary of State stipulated that pedestrian access from Montgomery road to the college of further education annex should continue to be provided during opening hours for those persons with legitimate business on the college premises. This has been done by the construction of a closed walkway which gives controlled access to the college annex. Because of the sensitive nature of the security measures then being considered and the urgent need to safeguard the Shorts factory complex from terrorist attack, it was not possible in this instance to consult local residents about the intended closure before it was implemented.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what security precautions have been introduced to protect local inhabitants living adjacent to the Shorts Bros complex in Alanbrooke road, Belfast; and what processes require the protection of high security.

There are no local residents living immediately adjoining the Shorts factory complex on Alanbrooke road. The nearest house is about 70 yards away from the outer fence. The hon. Member will already be generally aware of the equipment which is produced at this factory and, in line with longstanding Government policy on such matters, I know he would not expect me to elaborate further on this sensitive issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what security vetting has taken place on students of Castlereagh college who have access to Alanbrooke road, Belfast.

It is not Government policy to comment on the detailed application of security measures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he proposes to extend the security precautions installed in Alanbrooke road, Belfast to Montgomery road; and if he will make a statement.

The security of Short Bros plc property on the Alanbrooke road is kept under review. There is no plan to close off Montgomery road for security reasons.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which branch of the security forces mans the gate in Alanbrooke road, Belfast.

The hon. Member will know that it is the longstanding policy of Ministers not to discuss in any detail the make-up or efficacy of any physical security measures which may have been implemented at a particular location.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many undergraduates are receiving grants from education boards in Northern Ireland to attend universities in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) England.

The information is not available in the form requested, but the overall number is estimated at 4,200 for the current academic year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements have been made for paying the community charge of students from Northern Ireland who are studying in Great Britain; and whether he has any plans to change the parental contribution or student grants to take into account the payment of rates on a student's home in Northern Ireland and liability for the community charge in England, Wales or Scotland.

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. Northern Ireland students studying in Great Britain will, if they are full-time, as defined by the relevant legislation, 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 Northern Ireland whether he will make available additional funds to the historic buildings and ancient monuments branch of DOE, NI, for the purpose of encouraging early exploration of the archaeological site identified at Bridgend road, Ballycarry, Co. Antrim.

Although archaeological excavation could improve understanding of the site it could also result in destruction of evidence in the area excavated. Such work is therefore carried out only as a last resort, for example, where approved development proposals might damage buried archaeological deposits. There are at present no approved development proposals for the Ballycarry site.The archaeological site at Bridgend road, Ballycarry, Co. Antrim, has been identified as an ecclesiastical enclosure of early Christian period and medieval date. This identification is based on historical records and the evidence of aerial photography.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effect the weather in 1990 has had on (a) the state of the fishing industry in Portavogie, (b) employment in the Portavogie fishing industry and (c) the tonnage of fish landed at Portavogie harbour; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 14 February 1990]: The weather so far experienced in 1990 has restricted the fishing effort and earnings of vessels based at Portavogie. For the period 1 January to 7 February landings of fish at Portavogie are estimated at 257 tonnes compared with 448 tonnes in the equivalent period last year. The impact on employment has been felt mainly within the catching sector but local self-employed small-scale processors and salesmen have also been affected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Southport of 2 February, Official Report, column 368, he will give an estimate of the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions he anticipates as a result of his Department's road building programme.

The emphasis of the expanded road programme is on schemes to relieve congestion. In congested conditions, with slow-moving or stop-start traffic, vehicle engines are significantly less fuel efficient than in free-flowing conditions. The trunk road programme will therefore lead to lower emissions than would be the case if additional road capacity was not provided. However, the actual level of future emissions will depend on a number of factors such as the growth and distribution of traffic, the progress of individual road schemes and the progress of the many other initiatives being undertaken to reduce vehicle emissions. The net effect of these factors cannot be predicted at this stage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the names of all the private security firms currently employed by his Department, the number of employees for each firm on the contract, the total value of each contract and the total value of all contracts for each financial year since 1984–85.

The private security firms listed in the table currently have contracts with the Department of Transport and the total annual value of such contracts since 1984–85 is:

	£
1984–85	190,521
1985–86	244,394
1986–87	296,191
1987–88	334,180
1988–89	456,242
1989–90	565,668

Name of firm	Number of employees	Annual value of contract
		£
Centuryan Security Limited	1	11,661
Centuryan Security Limited	1	9,836
Compass Security Limitedmited	1	8,736
Frontline Security Services	4	26,500
Reliance Security Services Limited	3	107,736
Royal British Legion Attentants Limited	1	12,214
Royal British Legion Attendants Limited	2	46,177
Securicor Security Services	As required	31,000
Securicor Security Services	As required	160,000
Securicor Services (Safelink)	As required	30,000
Securiguard Services (Southern) Limited	3	90,000
Shorrock Guards	1	1,950
Yeoman Security Guards Limited	3	29,858

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the consultants appointed to advise his Department on a preferred route for the proposed link between the M1 and M62 motorways in West Yorkshire will include within their remit any consideration of a possible upgrading of the route to motorway standard.

Early indications are that an all-purpose dual two-lane road would be the appropriate standard for this proposed new link. The consultants will, however, be carrying out a further assessment of scheme standards, including the possibility of a motorway, as route options are developed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list monthly figures for deaths from road accidents for each month from January 1987 till the latest available date.

The requested information is as follows:

Deaths from road accidents; by month from January 1987
	1987	1988	1989
January	333	386	1n/a
February	352	358	1n/a
March	365	360	1n/a
1st quarter total	1,050	1,104	11,178
April	412	385	1n/a
May	410	403	1n/a
June	421	389	1n/a
2nd quarter total	1,243	1,177	11,133
July	466	445	1n/a
August	465	412	1n/a
September	478	439	1n/a
3rd quarter total	1,409	1,296	21,450
October	499	527	—
November	441	461	—
December	483	487	—
4th quarter total	1,423	1,475	—
ANNUAL TOTAL	5,125	5,052	1n/a
1 n/a denotes figures not available.
2 Provisional results.

These figures show the progress made towards our target of reducing road casualties by one third by the year 2000. Fatalities in 1988 were 10 per cent. down on the 1981 to 1985 average of 5,598, which has been adopted as a base figure for the target reduction. There is, however, no room for complacency. The recent move against the trend is, we hope, a temporary setback and we shall redouble our efforts to build on the earlier good progress.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the members of the standing advisory committee on trunk road assessment, their occupations and the period for which they have been appointed to serve.

The composition of the Committee at present is:

• Mr. Derek Wood QC, Barrister, Chairman, reappointed for two years from January 1989.
• Mr. R. H. Stew art, Managing Director of the Planning and Environment Division in the Travers Morgan Group, Vice Chairman, reappointed for two years from January 1989.
• Mr. J. Wooton, Chairman of Wooton Jeffreys Consultants Ltd., reappointed for two years from January 1989.
• Dr. P. B. Goodwin, Director of the Transport Studies Unit, Oxford University, reappointed for two years from January 1989.
• Professor P. J. Hills, Professor of Civil Engineering, Newcastle University, appointed for two years from July 1989.
• Mr. P. Mackie, Senior Lecturer in Economics, Leeds University, appointed for two years from September 1989.
• Miss A. M. Lees, retired, formerly Controller of Transport and Development for the old Greater London Council, appointed for two years from July 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many items of mail he received from the general public on 14 February; and how many of them opposed road building in London.

My right hon. Friend, and officials on his behalf, receive a vast amount of correspondence every day; 14 February was no exception and included some opposing road building in London.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which foreign airports he has visited on a fact-finding basis since his appointment as Secretary of State.

None on a specifically fact-finding basis. However, my right hon. Friend has passed through, and observed, a number of foreign airports when travelling on Government business.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Chelmsford (Mr. Burns), Official Report, 12 February, column 9, how much of the proposed £19 million expenditure on resignalling on the Liverpool street line is being paid by Her Majesty's Government and how much by the resources of British Rail; and if all phases of existing schemes are to completed.

The resignalling schemes at Liverpool street and on the lines to Southend and Colchester will cost some £60 to £70 million and are planned for completion at the end of 1994. Costs of Network SouthEast's investment are taken into account in the calculation of PSO grant, which funds the difference between costs and revenues. Grant cannot be attributed to individual schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representation his Department will have at the conference on road transport and the greenhouse effect organised by the Worldwide Fund for Nature to be held in London on 30 April and 1 May; and whether any paper from his Department will be (i) presented or (ii) circulated at the conference.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be giving the opening address to the conference.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many acres currently designated as green field sites or used for agriculture are estimated as needed for housing and industrial development in the south, south-east and south-west of England by the year 2000.

Structure and local plans include provision for future housing, industrial and other development needs, but not in a form that allows estimates to be made of the types or areas of land likely to be needed for each purpose. My Department has estimated that in the south-east of England (excluding London) the proportion of land in urban use will increase from approximately 12·6 per cent. in 1981 to 13·7 per cent. by 2001 (compared with 42 per cent. that is designated green belt or AONB). Comparable estimates of the rates of urbanisation in other areas are not available.In recent years over half all new housing development in the south-east (including London) has taken place on vacant or previously developed land in urban areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement setting out the criteria which he applies in capping the levels of community charge levied by local councils.

We have made it clear that if local authorities insist on budgeting excessively we shall not hesitate to cap them, but I cannot speculate on the detailed operation of any capping scheme that might be needed.

To ask the Secreatary of State for the Environment whether community charge payers have the right of appeal to the valuation and community charge tribunal over the level of the poll tax; what other matters may be appealed about to the tribunal; and if he will make a statement.

There is no right of appeal to a valuation and community charge tribunal about the level of an authority's community charge. Local authorities decide the level of their charges, and are accountable directly to their residents for their decisions at the ballot box. The community charge matters on which an appeal may be made to a tribunal are set out in section 23 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988. We shall shortly be laying regulations prescribing the circumstances under which appeals on matters relating to non-domestic rating may be made to a tribunal.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities have indicated to him that they will not be able to accept his estimate of the poll tax figures in their area.

No estimates of community charges have been published by the Department. We have, however, published exemplifications showing what the charge would be in each area if authorities continue with the current pattern of raising revenue and spend in aggregate £32·8 billion. A number of authorities have indicated that they will raise more income than is consistent with that figure, and that charges will therefore be higher than our exemplifications.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sites of special scientific interest have been designated since the passing of the Wildlife and Countryside Act in 1981.

I am advised by the Nature Conservancy Council that, by 31 December 1989, it had notified under the 1981 Act 1,853 new SSSIs and 3,251 SSSIs previously notified to local authorities under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to prevent landlords making windfall profits when the rates are replaced by the poll tax.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson) on 8 February, Official Report, Vol. 166, column 756.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek powers to require homes, business premises and shops to display their street or road number upon the front facia of their premises.

No; I do not believe this warrants statutory control.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he is issuing to local councils to encourage more planning applications to be decided locally with fewer appeals to him.

We advised in planning policy guidance note 12 on local plans (issued in November 1988) that where decisions are supported by clear, up-to-date local plans, consistent with national and regional policies and with the relevant provisions of the structure plan, together with specific and relevant reasons for particular decisions, local planning authorities should find those decisions far less susceptible to successful appeal. The guidance note urges them to extend their coverage of local plans and confirms that the Secretary of State and his inspectors will be guided by relevant local plan policies when making their decisions on appeals. This advice has been welcomed as building greater confidence in the planning system and helping to reduce the volume of appeals.This message was repeated in the draft planning policy guidance note on structure plans and regional guidance which was issued for consultation in November. We are currently considering responses and will be issuing final guidance shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to pay an official visit to Warrington to discuss the community charge.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has no plans to visit Warrington.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received from hon. Members concerning his proposals to reorganise the Nature Conservancy Council and the Countryside Commission.

I have received a range of representations from hon. Members, reflecting many shades of opinion about these proposals. These representations include more than 450 letters from hon. Members enclosing correspondence which they have received from their constituents.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the likely budgetary requirements of the Nature Conservancy Council's proposed joint committee in its first year of operation.

The cost of undertaking these functions of the new conservation bodies which are to be discharged through the proposed joint committee will be taken into account when the Government allocate grants for the new bodies in the forthcoming public expenditure round. Discussions about the structure of the joint committee are currently taking place with the NCC and other interested parties and it is too early to estimate the precise costs which will be incurred in the committee's full first year of operation (1991–92).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has taken to introduce custodial sentences for summary offences under part I of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; and if he will make a statement.

None. When the Act was originally debated all parties agreed that custodial sentences would be inappropriate for offences under its provisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what action his Department has taken in response to each of the legislative changes to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 recommended to him by the Nature Conservancy Council since 1986; and if he will make a statement.(2) what assessment he has made of the Nature Conservancy Council report concerning changes and improvements to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, submitted to him on 30 July 1987.

My officials have had several discussions with officials of the Nature Conservancy Council and it has been agreed that a number of suggested improvements in the operation of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 could be achieved by administrative means, which are being introduced as and when necessary. A Nature Conservancy Council statement reflecting these discussions was published in its "Topical Issues—March 1988".The Nature Conservancy Council has agreed with the Government's view that the Act has been a significant advance and does not require fundamental change. It would like to see some reinforcement. The Government are not convinced that further legislation is necessary to achieve the Nature Conservancy Council's stated aims.The question of the conservation of the marine environment raises complex legal and scientific issues which are being examined.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what requirements are placed on local authorities to provide bed-and-breakfast accommodation for the homeless unemployed; if he has any plans to introduce specific grants for the provision of night shelter hostels; and if he will make a statement.

Local authorities' duties to secure accommodation for homeless people (whether employed, or unemployed) are set out in part III of the Housing Act 1985 and described in my right hon. Friend's statement last November (copies of which are in the Library) of the conclusions of our review of the legislation. We have no powers to give councils specific grants for the provision of night shelters.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to respond to the applications of Centrepoint (Soho) for revenue funding for the Dean Street hostel, Soho.

We have received a large number of applications from voluntary bodies for grant aid under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 and will make decisions as quickly as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment for what materials used in the construction industry the United Kingdom currently exports more than are imported.

Exports of the following materials used in construction currently exceed imports in value terms:

• iron and steel tubes, pipes, angles and sections;
• ceramic sanitaryware;
• bitumen and bituminous products;
• paint, varnish, etc; and
• wallpaper, etc.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current value of materials used in the construction industry which are now imported into the United Kingdom.

The current value of materials used in construction which were imported into the United Kingdom was approximately £4·6 billion in the 12-month period ending 30 September 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will visit the Berryhill area of Stoke-on-Trent to see the area of land which British Coal wishes to turn into an opencast site.

No. I cannot give such an undertaking. To do so could prejudice the Secretary of State's position were a planning application to come before him on appeal.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what paternity leave is allowed to staff in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

At present paternity leave is not available to civil servants. The Treasury is, however, finalising arrangements for the introduction of an entitlement to two days' paid paternity leave.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the definitions used in classifying river pollution and the name and classification of each river in the area covered by the North West river authority.

The definitions used in the current general river classification system in England and Wales are set out in detail in the report of the 1985 river quality survey, a copy of which is in the Library. The most recent information centrally available concerning the quality of individual rivers in the area until recently covered by the North West water authority (for which the north-west region of the NRA is now responsible) is also contained in that report.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will institute a departmental study as to the causes of recent weather changes and, in particular, if they are related to damage to the ozone layer; and if he will make a statement.

It is not possible to say whether the particular weather conditions the United Kingdom has recently experienced are due to permanent changes in the world's climate. Current research into climatic change in the United Kingdom and elsewhere will be drawn together in the report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change later this year. This will provide an improved understanding of the science of climate change. We have announced the establishment of a new centre for the prediction of climate change at a cost of £5·5 million, which will continue research to improve our understanding of the climate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the establishment of the development control policy division; and what is its annual budget.

The authorised staff complement of the development control policy division in my Department is nine posts. The division's budget for the financial year 1989–90, excluding accommodation costs, is some £315,000 of which about £205,000 is allocated to pay costs. A small number of staff in other headquarters divisions are also engaged in work related to development control policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications have been submitted by local authorities to designate caravan sites under the Caravan Sites Act 1968 in each of the past 10 years; how many have (a) been approved, (b) been refused and (c) are pending decision; and what is the Government's policy in respect of responsibilities upon local authorities to provide sites under the Act.

Government policy is for local authorities to make adequate site provision for gipsies residing in, or resorting to, their areas. Once the Secretary of State is satisfied that an authority has made adequate provision or that, in all the circumstances, it is not necessary or expedient to make such provision, the Secretary of State may designate that area. The following authorities have been designated in each of the past 10 years:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many directions he has issued under section 9 of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 in each of the last three years; and if he will indicate the area concerned in each case by local authority and the number of sites stated in each case.

The Secretary of State has issued two directions under section 9 of the Caravan Sites Act 1968. In November 1988 he directed Hertfordshire county council to make provision for sites for 110 caravans; and in June 1989 he directed Surrey county council to make provision for sites for 190 caravans.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to introduce legislation along the lines of the United States Superfund Amendments and Re-authorisation Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response and Liability Act in regard to the requirements for the annual corporate public disclosure of toxic materials and wastes used or produced each year in the companies' activities.

Applications for authorisations to operate industrial processes under part I of the Environmental Protection Bill will contain a wide range of detailed information. This information and monitoring data on releases of substances will be made available to the public by the authorities which enforce that legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received from his counterpart in the Republic of Ireland a copy of the brochure, "An Environment Action Programme", published by the Irish Department of the Environment this year.

My right hon. Friend has received a copy of the environment action programme, which we have read with interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department was represented at the conference Recycle Pack 90 held in London on 13 to 15 February.

My hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside spoke at the conference dinner on 14 February.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department will be represented at the consultative conference on technological responses to the greenhouse effect, to be held at the Royal Geographical Society in London on 24–25 April.

Officials from the Department would accept an invitation to attend this conference.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in extending the use of recycled stationery throughout his Department.

[holding answer 13 February 1990]: All letterheaded paper now ordered for used within my Department is recycled. The buff envelopes we use contain at least 50 per cent. recycled paper. We are also conducting trials of the use of recycled photocopying paper in medium-speed photocopying machines, and considering a trial of recycled computer listing paper.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of British aid is directed to projects designed to assist primary education and adult literacy.

In 1988, expenditure on technical co-operation in education, including £47 million provided to the British Council, amounted to some £95 million (23 per cent. of total technical co-operation). A total of £2·6 million (0·6 per cent. of total technical co-operation) was specifically for primary education or adult literacy. A total of £1·1 million or 0·6 per cent. of financial project aid was specifically for primary education. Other projects are of general benefit to education including primary education and adult literacy.In addition to the money spent under the bilateral aid programme, an unquantifiable proportion of the aid funds provided for multilateral donor organisations such as the World bank is committed to primary education and literacy work. In determining how much the ODA spends on the various levels of education in each recipient country, it takes into account existing or proposed projects by those organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will make it their policy to tie the aid which they currently give to Sri Lanka to improvements in the human rights situation in that country.

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) on 29 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list for each of the past five years the sum of bilateral aid to the kingdom of Morocco.

Gross British bilateral aid to Morocco over the past five years 1984 to 1988 has been:

	£000
1984	208
1985	91
1986	157
1987	180
1988	657

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what paternity leave is allowed to staff in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

At present paternity leave is not available to civil servants. The Treasury is, however, finalising arrangements for the introduction of an entitlement of two days' paid paternity leave.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people had taken advantage of the enterprise allowance scheme up to 31 December 1989.

Up to 31 December 1989 over 485,000 people had started up in business through the enterprise allowance scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many state sector teachers, still teaching in the classroom, in the United Kingdom earn (a) over £12,000 a year, (b) over £15,000 a year and (c) over £20,000 a year, expressed as a percentage of the total.

My right hon. Friend announced on 1 February that he proposed to implement in full by 1 January 1991 the recommendations contained in the third report of the interim advisory committee on school teachers' pay and conditions. At that point an estimated 87 per cent. of classroom teachers will be on or above point 7 of the new standard national scale and so receiving more than £12,000; some 68 per cent. will be on or above point 10 of the scale and so receiving £15,000 or more. In addition, some 189,000 incentive allowances with values ranging from £925 to £5,500 will be available for classroom teachers in ordinary schools. Some 60 per cent. of heads and deputies, most of whom undertake some teaching duties, will be receiving salaries of more than £20,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate (a) the percentage and (b) the number of primary schools in England where children are taught one or more foreign languages.

Precise figures are not available, but it is estimated that in 1987 about 15 to 20 per cent. of primary schools in England (excluding nursery and infant schools) provide tuition in French for at least some of their pupils. This represents a number of schools in the range 2,500 to 3,300.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what paternity leave is allowed to staff in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

At present paternity leave is not available to civil servants. The Treasury is, however, finalising arrangements for the introduction of an entitlement of two days' paternity leave.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many courses in (a) environmental studies, (b) media/communication studies and (c) road safety were available (i) when the General Certificate of Secondary Education was first introduced and (ii) at the current moment.

I understand from the School Examinations and Assessment Council (SEAC), the body with responsibility under section 5 of the Education Reform Act 1988 for the approval of syllabuses, that the number of syllabuses now offered by the five GCSE examining groups in England and Wales in these subjects is:

(a) environmental studies: 23

(b) media studies/communication studies: 29

(c) road safety: 1

SEAC does not have information on the number of syllabuses that were available in addition to these when GCSE was first introduced.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many copies of the leaflet "Top-Up Loans For Students" have been printed; at what cost; and what will be the avenues for its distribution.

One hundred thousand copies of the leaflet "Top-Up Loans For Students" were printed, at a cost of £3,800. Sample copies have been sent to the heads of relevant establishments—higher education institutions and schools and colleges providing for students of sixth-form age—and to chief education officers, principal careers officers, and other interested bodies. As the proposals are subject to parliamentary approval, it has been made clear that copies should be made available to students only in response to demand. A copy of the leaflet has been sent to each hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the purpose of producing the leaflet "Top-Up Loans For Students" prior to the report stage of the Education (Student Loans) Bill.

The leaflet is intended to indicate to students, potential students and others how the top-up loans scheme should operate and the terms on which the loan will be offered. The leaflet states that the introduction of the top-up loan scheme depends upon Parliament's approval of the Education (Student Loans) Bill.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he possesses in regard to the NATO international scientific exchange programme for 1990; and what benefits have accrued to scientific and technological education in the United Kingdom from participation in this exchange programme in earlier years.

The NATO international scientific exchange programme comprises science fellowships, collaborative research grants, advanced study institutes, advanced research workshops and special programmes in selected areas of science. The science fellowships programme is administered in the United Kingdom by the science and engineering research council. About 70 NATO fellows are supported at any one time from the United Kingdom allocation of the NATO fellowships budget. The advanced study institutes and advanced research workshops programmes also have strong educational elements. The United Kingdom has obtained clear benefits to advanced science education from its participation in the programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total number of local education authority award holders for each of the years (a) 1988–89, (b) 1989–90 and (c) 1990–91.

The actual or projected numbers of mandatory award holders in England and Wales underlying the Government's most recent public expenditure plans in each of these years are given in table 11.15 of Cm. 1011, a copy of which is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what students on local education authority awards on a full grant (a) at an institution in the London area and (b) elsewhere need to borrow in 1990–91 to bring their grants in real terms up to the level of the 1962–63 full grants assuming an annual inflation rate in this year of (a) 5 per cent., (b) 7 per cent. and (c) 7·5 per cent.

On those assumptions about inflation, the real value of the 1962–63 grant¹ at 1990–91 prices would be:

	(a)	(b)	(c)
	5 per cent. inflation	7 per cent. inflation	7·5 per cent. inflation
	£	£	£
(a) London	3,160	3,220	3,235
(b) Elsewhere	3,023	3,080	3,095

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make it his policy to make the payment of 100 per cent. compensation in respect of bovine spongiform encephalopathy cattle retrospective to 8 August 1988; and if he will make a statement.

No.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 13 February, what factors led him to change his policy in respect of the level of compensation payable in respect of bovine spongiform encephalopathy cattle.

The effect of the disease on the farming industy is becoming greater. It was clearly appropriate to ask whether the compensation arrangements continued to be right when the number of cases will continue to rise and cannot be expected to decline until after 1993.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps his Department takes to ensure that mechanically recovered meat contains no spinal tissue; and if he will make a statement.

The Department brought into force the Bovine Offal (Prohibition) Regulations 1989 which prohibit, as an ultra-precautionary measure, the use of specified bovine offal in food for sale for human consumption.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he has discussed, or will discuss, the development of meat products incorporating a gel containing blood enzymes with his Dutch counterpart; and if he will make a statement;

Should a company decide to use this technique for the preparation of meat products it would need to ensure that the product was safe and labelled in accordance with the Food Labelling Regulations 1984. This would apply equally to home-produced and imported products. In particular, those regulations require that food labels carry details of any process which the product has undergone where the omission of such detail would mislead the consumer, details of any ingredients used in the product which would include blood enzymes, and a name for the food which would distinguish it from any other foodstuff with which it might be confused.Misleading labelling of food is an offence under the Food Act 1984. It is not for me to suggest particular forms of words for labels. A company would need to decide what description of this or any similar process would adequately explain to its intended customers the exact nature of the foodstuff. Trading standards officers are responsible for enforcing the law: I expect that they are already aware of the development of this process but I am drawing the matter to their attention.

To ask the Attorney-General what action is being taken to increase the numbers of immigration appeal reports published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office; how many such reports were sold in each of the last three years; and what representations he has received about the supply of such reports not meeting the demand.

Immigration appeal reports are published quarterly by HMSO. This year HMSO will increase the number of reports printed each quarter from 500 to 550. The number of reports sold in each quarter of each of the last three years is shown in the table:

	1987	1988	1989
First Quarter	525	522	494
Second Quarter	504	508	518
Third Quarter	498	521	476
Fourth Quarter	513	508	452
Total	2,040	2,059	1,940

HMSO printed 600 reports each quarter in 1987 and 1988 and 500 each quarter in 1989 (except the second quarter when an additional 100 were reprinted after stocks had sold out).The Lord Chancellor received representations about the supply of these reports from the hon. Member on 15 February.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what, in each of the past three years, has been the clear-up rate for reported offences involving violent crime.

The information requested is published in table 2.17 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1988", Cm 847, a copy of which is available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received (a) supporting and (b) opposing the building of the new prison at Fazakerly, Liverpool; and if he will list them.

In addition to those from the hon. Member representations opposing the proposal have been received from Liverpool city council, South Sefton (Merseyside) health authority, Aintree parish council, a delegation of local residents and six individual local residents. No representations of support have been received.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make it his policy that all victims of violence, rape and child abuse should be made aware of the financial assistance provided by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; and if he will make a statement.

It is already our policy that all victims of violence, rape and child abuse (and of other offences which might result in an award) should be aware of the possibility of compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. We have made available through the police service a leaflet entitled "Victims of Crime", which describes how compensation may be available from the offender by order of a criminal or civil court, or from the criminal injuries compensation scheme. Victim support schemes (which with Government encouragement and public money, have expanded to cover 94 per cent. of the population of England and Wales) also play a part in informing victims of their rights. The board itself has given detailed guidance to all social services departments and local victim support schemes about the availability of awards in child abuse cases, and this guidance has been made available to all citizens advice bureaux.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in each of the years 1988 and 1989 how many men aged between 16 and 21 years were prosecuted for consenting homosexual acts with other males in the United Kingdom.

Information is not available centrally on the number of males of 16 or over but under 21 who are prosecuted for the offences of buggery and attempted buggery with another male with his consent. In England and Wales in 1988, 71 males of 16 or over but under 21 were prosecuted for an act of gross indecency with another male.Information for 1989 will not be available until autumn 1990.Similar information is not readily available for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Bradford, West of 6 February, Official Report, column 543, concerning the application of Mrs. Jan Begum, ref. H 197247/4, for British citizenship, when and where Mrs. Jan Begum was invited to take the oath of allegiance; and when he expects to issue her certificate.

An invitation to Mrs. Jan Begum, ref. H 197247, to take an oath of allegiance was sent on 12 September 1989 to her son Mr. Khalil Hussain of 13 Tile street, Bradford 8, who has acted as her agent in connection with her application. As no reply had by then been received, a second invitation to take the oath was sent on 6 February 1990 to Hussain at the same address. As soon as Mrs. Jan Begum has taken the oath, a certificate of registration as a British citizen will be issued to her.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the amounts of the precepts made by the Metropolitan police on the London borough of Newham for each of the financial years 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91, together with the related percentage in cash and real terms, respectively.