To ask the Minister for the Arts what list he maintains of works of art for which Her Majesty's Government would not consider granting an export licence.

[holding answer 12 February 1990]: Lists have been suggested from time to time, but were never taken forward and form no part of the export procedures.

To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will draw up a list of works of art for which Her Majesty's Government would not consider granting an export licence which includes (a) sculptures, (b) drawings, (c) manuscripts and (d) contemporary works of art.

[holding answer 12 February 1990]: I have no plans to draw up lists of works of art for which Her Majesty's Government would not consider granting an export licence.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each year since 1978 the weight of private sector and public sector rents in the cost of living index; whether those weights include rates when paid by the landlord; and what will be the effect of the index if the landlord does not reduce the rent to take account of the abolition of rates.

The weight for local authority and private rents in the retail prices index, in parts per thousand, has been as follows:

	Weight
1978	32
1979	32
1980	28

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each year since 1978 the weight of (a) rates and (b) water and sewerage rates in the retail prices index together with the implied domestic rate contribution to local government expenditure.

The weights in the retail prices index, to the nearest part per thousand, have been as follows:

	Domestic rate	Water and sewerage charges
1978	32	2
1979	28	6
1980	26	5
1981	28	8
1982	33	8
1983	35	9
1984	37	9
1985	36	9
1986	33	8
1987	42	7
1988	43	7
1989	42	7

The weights relate only to the households covered by the index and do not provide estimates of aggregate contributions to local government expenditure.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing, for each of the years since 1973–74, the public sector borrowing requirement or the PSDR expressed in 1989–90 prices.

Figures for the public sector borrowing requirement for 1973–74 onwards are given in the table expressed in cash terms and in 1989–90 prices.

Public sector borrowing requirement (PSBR)1
	Cash £ billion	1989–90 prices2
1973–74	4·3	21·9
1974–75	8·0	33·8
1975–76	10·3	34·4
1976–77	8·3	24·5
1977–78	5·4	14·0
1978–79	9·2	21·6
1979–80	9·9	20·0
1980–81	12·5	21·3
1981–82	8·6	13·4
1982–83	8·9	12·9
1983–84	9·7	13·4

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of those schemes that meet the general conditions of approval of occupational and personal pensions by the Inland Revenue, are such as to permit payment of an amount related to a person's accrued or prospective retirement pension under the scheme, such payments to be made throughout any period in which that person is entitled to the payment of an invalidity pension from the national insurance fund and to cease at the end of that period.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will undertake to instruct the Inland Revenue to establish criteria for the approval of occupational and personal pensions schemes that provide payments of an amount related to a person's accrued or prospective retirement pension under the scheme, such payments to be made throughout any period in which that person is entitled to the payment of an invalidity pension from the national insurance fund and to cease at the end of that period.

As I explained in reply to a question from the right hon. Member on 13 February, Official Report, column 128, the main purpose of occupational pension schemes is to provide a pension in retirement. Occupational pension schemes are voluntary arrangements, and, subject to the conditions laid down to obtain exempt status, individual employers are free to determine the range of benefits that they wish to provide. It would not be appropriate to require them to provide benefits of a particular type or amount.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the site or sites for the proposed relocation of Customs and Excise headquarters work from London and the south-east have yet been decided; and if he will make a statement.

Having fully considered the work of an internal review team on potential relocation sites, together with the views expressed by staff and the departmental trade union side in a consultation exercise, the Paymaster General and the Board of Customs and Excise have decided that Liverpool and the Manchester area should receive the relocated posts. A synopsis report of the work of the internal review team will be placed in the Library.Accordingly, over the next three to four years, some 1,250 VAT posts will be transferred to Liverpool from Southend whilst the Manchester area will receive about 430 posts from London. In addition, I expect these changes to produce significant benefits both in terms of costs and staffing. Accommodation costs in particular will be reduced, and the opportunities for recruitment and retention of staff outside the problem area of the south-east will be substantially improved. At least 1,300 of these jobs will be available for filling locally which will give a boost to the economy of the north-west of England in accordance with the regional and inner city policies of Her Majesty's Government.In addition, as part of the phased relocation exercise, a further 250 or so existing posts will be transferred from London to Southend to offset the 1,250 posts being moved to Liverpool.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, when he last met his Soviet counterpart, he discussed the status of the rouble; and if he will make a statement.

1989–90 Income Tax and NIC Liability Compared with 1978–79 Indexed Regions
Average Change Per Tax Unit Liable (+ increase, -reduction) and Percentage Changes
Income	Income Tax		National Insurance Contributions		Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions
	Average	Percentage change	Average	Percentage change	Average	Percentage change
£ per annum	£ per annum		£ per annum		£ per annum
Under 5,000	-120	-39·9	-70	-31·4	-150	-36·9
5,000–10,000	-330	-28·6	+20	+4·6	-310	-21·4
10,000–15,000	-650	-28·5	+120	+19·2	-550	-19·4
15,000–20,000	-950	-27·7	+240	+30·2	-730	-17·5
20,000–25,000	-1,330	-27·7	+330	+37·6	-1,030	-18·3
25,000–30,000	-1,830	-28·2	+380	+42·0	-1,470	-20·0
30,000–40,000	-2,640	-27·9	+450	+45·6	-2,220	-21·4
40,000–50,000	-4,590	-30·4	+490	+49·1	-4,150	-25·9
50,000–60,000	-7,300	-34·0	+490	+48·3	-6,870	-30·6
60,000–70,000	-10,690	-37·4	+480	+48·4	-10,260	-34·8
Over 70,000	-32,630	-46·6	+470	+48·1	-32,220	-45·5
All	-1,080	-31·6	+150	+24·1	-930	-24·3
Total tax units liable million)	22·6		19·5		23·3
Total change (£ billion)	-24·5		+2·8		-21·7

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will list the eight inspectors mentioned in his reply to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby of 27 November 1989, Official Report, column 92;(2) if he will name the accountancy firms mentioned in his reply of 27 November 1989,

Details are as follows:

Name of Inspector	Firm of Accountants
Mr. M. G. Lickiss	Grant Thornton
Mr. A. Ridler	Pannell Kerr Foster
Mr. H. G. C. Aldous	Robson Rhodes
Mr. D. L. Spence	Grant Thornton
Mr. M. D. Boohan	Grant Thornton
Mr. J. R. Venning	Robson Rhodes
Mr. J. C. Morton	Price Waterhouse
Mr. A. Sutton	Price Waterhouse

[holding answer 27 February 1990]: Since becoming Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend has not met his Soviet counterpart. A new rouble exchange rate for tourism and business travel was announced in October 1989.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average individual cumulative gain (a) in current prices, (b) in 1988–89 prices and (c) in 1990–91 prices to those earning £5,000, £10,000, £15,000, £20,000, £25,000, £30,000, £40,000, £50,000, £60,000 and £70,000 as a result of changes in taxation and national insurance since 1979.

[pursuant to his answer of 20 February 1990, Official Report, column 680]: I regret that one of the two tables relating to my answer was omitted. This is as follows:The total of moneys paid by my Department to the accountancy firms mentioned could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek to legislate to ensure that the accountancy firms who act as auditors should derive more than 50 per cent. of their income from audits.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Dover of 15 February, Official Report, column 391, if he will name the legal advisers referred to; and if he will publish the text of their letter giving the assurances that certain activities had ceased.

No. It is not my practice to reveal the contents of confidential correspondence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further plans he has to commence the provisions of the Companies Act 1989.

On Monday I signed two orders; one of which commences most of part I (company accounts) of the Act, and certain provisions of part V (appointment and removal of auditors, and written and elective resolutions, amongst others); the other commences most of part VIII (amendments of the Financial Services Act 1986) and transfers functions under the Financial Services Act to the Securities and Investments Board. The dates of commencement are 1 April 1990 for the relevant provisions of parts I and V, and 15 March 1990 for part VIII. The orders provide for various transitional and saving provisions; the provisions in part I relating to preparation and delivery of company accounts will apply only to accounts for financial years starting after 22 December 1989. I have placed copies of the orders in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he intends to make any changes to the location of inner city task forces; and if he will make a statement.

The Government's inner city task forces have proved highly successful in creating jobs, encouraging training opportunities and stimulating enterprise in the country's most deprived areas. Today, I have published a report, "Task Forces In Action" which shows how task forces are helping to achieve the Government's aim of regenerating the inner cities. Since they began, task forces have committed some £49 million to over 1,700 projects to help the people of inner city communities.The task force budget for 1990–91 will be £23·2 million, representing an increase of approximately 21 per cent. on this year's budget. I have today given approval for some 59 further task force projects involving funding of over £2 million.Task forces have always been part of a rolling programme, tackling difficult areas and then moving on. I am delighted to be able to announce that I have decided to establish two new task forces: one in the Wirral, one in Derby.I am also extending the existing task force, in north Kensington, into a part of the neighbouring borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. These task forces will work closely with the business community and with the local authority to improve the job and training opportunities for those in their area. They will all be starting their work as soon as possible.The two new task forces, like the existing ones, are not intended to be permanent. One of their aims is to foster the development of local organisations which can capitalise on the task force work when the task forces themselves leave.The task forces in Doncaster and Rochdale have now made significant progress in meeting those objectives, and I have consequently decided that they should close in the autumn. In the meantime, they will continue to build up the capacity of local bodies to take over their work in the future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures Her Majesty's Government are taking to ensure that any phasing-out of the multifibre arrangement is based on the principle of equal opportunities for all the producing nations.

[holding answer 23 February 1990]: The EC is committed in GATT to phasing out the MFA after its expiry next year if a satisfactory overall deal can be reached which benefits the EC as a whole. The United Kingdom has made it clear that the MFA cannot be looked at in isolation and that among other things there must must be a greater commitment to market opening especially from newly industrialised economies. We are convinced that equal opportunities for all trading partners can best be achieved by the development of a more open, viable and durable trading system, pursued multilaterally under the aegis of GATT.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the cost to his Department of answering questions tabled by the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) since 1 December 1989.

[holding answer 27 February 1990]: The hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) has tabled in excess of 160 questions to my Department since 1 December 1989. Detailed information about the cost of providing each answer is not recorded, but the total cost to the Department has probably been between £10,000 and £20,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will ask the United Kingdom permanent representative in Brussels to seek clarification as to whether the guidance given by Sir Leon Brittan in his letter of 15 February to the hon. Member for Grantham (Mr. Hogg) represents the considered view of the European Commission.

[holding answer 27 February 1990]: Sir Leon Brittan makes clear in his letter of 15 February that the views expressed do not represent the definitive position of the Commission. That could only be given on the basis of a specific proposal put forward by Her Majesty's Government. The letter did, however, provide a sufficiently clear indication of the Commission's thinking alongside which we could judge our own consideration of the merits or otherwise of the proposals concerned. In particular, Sir Leon Brittan has made clear that were we to notify now proposals predicated on the resumption of shipbuilding at NESL, that would cause the Commission to reconsider all aspects of the December 1988 notification, including its decision on the enterprise zone. The Government have always made it clear that that is not something we would be prepared to risk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library any notes from officials arising from discussions between officials of his Department and officials of the European Commission concerning the future of NESL between 22 February 1988 and the present time.

[holding answer 27 February 1990]: No. Such notes are confidential. Contacts with the Commission on this matter were explained in a note placed in the Library on 24 July 1989 by my right hon. Friend the Member for Braintree (Mr. Newton); in a letter I wrote to the Chairman of the Trade and Industry Select Committee on 10 October 1989; in the evidence I gave to the Trade and Industry Committee on 18 October 1989; and in the statement I made to the House on 20 February 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will state the specific reasons why the bid by Mr. Nat Puri to acquire NESL in 1988 was rejected.

[holding answer 27 February 1990]: I refer to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Braintree (Mr. Newton) on 14 November 1988, Official Report, column 748.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the United Kingdom's trade deficit for wood and wood products during 1989; and what proportion of it was constituted by hardwood.

[holding answer 27 February 1990]: The crude trade deficit in wood and wood products was £5,898 million in 1989; the proportion represented by hardwood was 5 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give details of spending undertaken by the Moss Side and Hulme task force since its inception including projects assisted, number of jobs created or estimated for each project, and cost per job.

[holding answer 27 February 1990]: Since its launch in 1986, the Moss Side and Hulme task force has supported 96 projects with a total committed spend of around £3·5 million. The projects have also drawn in some £5 million other public spending and around £1 million from the private sector. Total jobs achieved to date are 524, together with 475 businesses supported and 1,942 training places provided. A cost per job figure is not available, mainly because project funding may be directed towards several objectives of which job provision is only one. I will write to the hon. Member with details of projects involving job creation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if participation in employment training is a necessary condition for assistance by the Moss Side and Hulme task force; and if any reference is made to such conditions to applicants.

[holding answer 27 February 1990]: No. However, projects that the task force considers for assistance must demonstrate clearly that they will offer economic benefits by way of employment or training opportunities for task force residents, and/or encouragement for local enterprise. Employment training is an obvious choice for projects involving training and is used wherever possible. All applicants are made aware of this.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will seek to obtain a transcript of the lecture on the environment by Dr. Martin Holdgate given at the Royal Society on 26 February for her Office's library.

I have seen the transcript of the lecture by Dr. Holdgate and I understand my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will be placing a copy in the House Library.

To ask the Prime Minister whether, in respect of England, any one Minister has the duty of recording, both individually and cumulatively, the additional costs falling to be paid by community charge resulting from obligations laid on local authorities pursuant to new Acts of Parliament, statutory instruments and departmental circulars.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment monitors the costs of all central Government initiatives which are likely to have resource implications for local authorities. In assessing the level of total standard spending appropriate for a particular year, we take full account of new burdens on local authorities and the scope for savings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what comment or dissent was offered by the United Kingdom to the decision of the European Community General Affairs Council of 5 February to ask Ireland formally to request the revision of the treaty of Rome and table framed treaty revision proposals; whether there will be an intergovernmental conference; and if he will make a statement.

The President of the European Council at Strasbourg noted that the necessary majority existed to convene a conference charged with preparing an amendment of the treaty with a view to the final stages of EMU. The Foreign Affairs Council on 5 February considered the procedural technicalities required to gibe effect to the relevant conclusions of the Strasbourg European Council, in particular the requirement to obtain an opinion from the European Parliament.We have made clear that, though we believe the convening of the intergovernmental conference was premature, we will nevertheless participate in it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if there has been any discussion between his Department and the Angolan Government concerning the latest outbreak of hostilities between the MPLA and UNITA; and if he will make a statement.

We have expressed our concern at the recent escalation in the fighting in Angola both to the Angolan Government and representatives of UNITA and have called on them to agree to an early ceasefire and negotiations for a political settlement. And on 19 February we joined with our European partners in issuing a statement calling for an end to the fighting and a ceasefire. A copy of the statement has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any information on the steps taken by the Soviet Government to control those activities of the Russian nationalist group Pamyat which are a threat to human rights.

There are encouraging signs that the Soviet authorities are prepared to take action when nongovernmental organisations such as Pamyat are in breach of the law. On 15 February the Moscow city procuracy opened criminal proceedings against Pamyat under article 1 section 74 of the Russian criminal code which covers

"deliberate actions aimed at causing national or racial emnity or discord".

On 21 February the Soviet Ministry of the Interior announced that it was investigating an incident at the central house of writers at which Pamyat allegedly broke up a meeting of reformists.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Soviet Government regarding recent anti-Jewish publicity; and whether he will seek an assurance that the Soviet authorities will discourage such outbursts.

We have made numerous representations to the Soviet authorities about the plight of Soviet Jewry. Incitement to racial hatred is illegal in the Soviet Union. It is encouraging that the extremist organisation Pamyat is currently being prosecuted under this law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to meet representatives of the Government of Namibia after 21 March to ascertain if Namibia will sign and ratify the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

It is our policy to take every suitable opportunity to raise non-proliferation issues, and the non-proliferation treaty in particular, with states that are not parties to the treaty.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in the meeting of the European Foreign Affairs Council in Dublin on 20 February, the matter of encouragement to South Africa to join the nuclear non-proliferation treaty was discussed.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of the report, "New Concepts In Nuclear Arms Control: Verified Cutoff And Verified Disposal", by Warren H. Donnelly and Lawrence Scheinman, published in February by the Programme For Promoting Nuclear Non-Proliferation.

A copy of the report "New Concepts in Nuclear Arms Control: Verified Cut off and Verified Disposal" by Warren H. Donnelly and Lawrence Scheinman, published by the Programme for Promoting Nuclear Non-Proliferation, will be added to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office library in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions the working group on nuclear non-proliferation of the European Political Co-operation Committee met in each year since 1985; which matters were discussed in each meeting; and how Her Majesty's Government were represented.

The working group on non-proliferation in European political co-operation has met four times in each year since 1985 to discuss matters relevant to the nuclear non-proliferation regime. We are represented by appropriate officials.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas), 15 December 1989, Official Report, column 839, what was the outcome of the meeting proposed with the European proliferation information centre, to which he makes reference.

A meeting with the European proliferation information centre has not taken place, but exchanges of correspondence with the centre about funding continue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which organisations have received from his Department a grant in aid in 1989–90 to assist in the fostering of greater public understanding of nuclear non-proliferation issues and the role of the fourth review conference of the nonproliferation treaty.

No organisation has received a grant in aid in the period 1989–90 for the purpose described in the question. Some funding has been made available to the programme for promoting nuclear non-proliferation (PPNN) for specific purposes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what benefits are expected to accrue to African, Caribbean and Pacific and European Community banana producing countries as a result of the creation of the single European market in 1992.

I have been asked to reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are for the creation of a common import regime for bananas in the European Community in 1992; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply:The European Commission is currently considering the possible arrangements for bananas post-1992 but has not yet come forward with proposals. We have encouraged the Commission and other member states to ensure that any new arrangements fulfil our commitments to our Commonwealth Caribbean suppliers and Lome partners, and that they take account of consumer interests and of the competition and efficiency objectives of the single market initiative.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what amount of public funds have been made available since 1987 by (a) the Department of Health and Social Services and (b) the area health and social service boards to (i) the Northern Ireland Council on Alcohol, (ii) the Council on Alcohol Related Problems and (iii) the Northlands centre in Londonderry.

The information requested is as follows:

Board	1986–87		1987–88		1988–89
	Applications	Awards	Applications	Awards	Applications	Awards
Belfast	327	230	316	109	203	67
Western	1,301	575	1,272	398	1,094	171
North-Eastern	442	179	307	93	213	65
South-Eastern	330	130	266	82	247	51
Southern	1,199	389	1,005	303	767	192

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects Lord Colville's report on the operation of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Acts of 1978 and 1987 to be available.

Copies have now been placed in the Library and are available in the Vote Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what dates he took the decision to close Alanbrooke road, Castlereagh under the powers granted by the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978.

On 1 November 1989, I signed an order under section 19(2) of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978 on behalf of the Secretary of State, authorising Short Bros plc to close off Alanbrooke road for security reasons.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what contributions his Department will make to the NATO exercises due to be held in Norway during March.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many claimants there have been for educational maintenance allowances in each education and library board in Northern Ireland for each of the last three years for which figures are available; and how many awards were made for each of these three years.

The information is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the salmon rivers in the Foyle system and show in a table the number of salmon redds counted in each of those rivers in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

[holding answer 27 February 1990]: The information requested is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table to show for Northern Ireland for each of the last five years the number of grilse and salmon taken in each river estuary by nets, the net catch by driftnetting, by coastal nets and by anglers and the sums raised in licence fees for nets and for fishing licences which allow salmon and grilse.

	1984 Number	1985 Number	1986 Number	1987 Number	1988 Number
River Estuary Nets:
River Foyle	10,560	14,174	12,438	5,298	16,121
River Roe	595	1,145	1,354	551	818
River Bann	—	—	—	—	—
Drift Nets	18,961	25,539	32,759	12,835	17,996
Coastal Nets	13,896	7,340	9,426	8,166	9,066
Anglers1	379	1,814	1,172	390	960
Licence Revenue	£	£	£	£	£
Commercial Salmon Licences	44,628	47,187	48,827	46,309	47,942
Game Angling Licences	138,111	156,629	178,563	194,848	216,842
1 Foyle Area Only

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the salmon rivers in Northern Ireland, not in the Foyle system, and show in a table the number of salmon redds counted in each river in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89
Lough Erne rivers and tributaries:
Colebrooke	15	27	4	21	48
Arney	17	20	n/c	21	18
Swanlinbar	4	5	n/c	4	13
Grarvary	3	6	13	2	7
Ardies	—	—	2	—	—
Drumnavanty	2	—	—	—	—
Kesh	9	14	n/c	2	5
Ballinamallard	17	37	n/c	—	24
Lough Melvin and tributaries:
Total	—	7	n/c	16	52
Lough Neagh and Tributaries:
Lower Bann	—	67	21	—	629
Moyola	—	—	11	n/c	112
Maine	—	—	n/c	21	11
Upper Bann	5	4	n/c	23	5
Blackwater	206	71	59	19	20
Sixmilewater	8	27	n/c	5	3
Ballinderry	—	—	19	12	20
Coastal Rivers and Tributaries:
Fane	n/c	n/c	—	42	19

[holding answer 27 February 1990]: The information requested is listed in the table. The information relates to both the fisheries conservancy board and the Foyle fisheries commission areas and is based on returns of commercial catches of salmon and grilse made to the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland and the Foyle fisheries commission and on returns of anglers' catches of salmon and grilse made to the Foyle fisheries commission.

[holding answer 27 February 1990]: The information requested is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any research has been carried out in Northern Ireland into the angling effort in hours for salmon or grilse caught; and what comparable information he has for (a) the Irish Republic, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) England.

[holding answer 27 February 1990]: Research has not been carried out in Northern Ireland into the angling effort in hours for salmon and grilse caught. I am not aware of comparable information for the Irish Republic, Scotland, Wales and England.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the number of salmon spawning in each of the salmon rivers of Northern Ireland is sufficient to maintain stocks; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 27 February 1990]: Though there is concern about the reduced numbers of adult salmon returning to Northern Ireland salmon rivers, there are sufficient numbers to maintain self-sustaining populations in these rivers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has as to the population of pallen remaining in Lough Neagh; what comparable figures or estimate he has for earlier years; whether any steps are being taken to preserve this fish; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 27 February 1990]: No recent study has been carried out on the population levels of pollen in Lough Neagh. Neither is any statistical information on population figures available for earlier years.The Fisheries Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland is the body statutorily charged with the conservation and protection of salmon and inland fisheries including pollen in Northern Ireland.Fishermen taking pollen are required to hold a licence for a single wall set net or trammel net for the taking of freshwater fish and under byelaw 37 of the Fisheries Consolidated and Amendment Byelaws (NI) 1989 can only do so with nets of a mesh size between 25rn.m and 32mm. This prevents the killing of immature pollen and large spawning adult pollen.In addition to this, the close season for pollen fishing is 31 October to 31 January and is designed to protect spawning stock.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the minimum depth of water at the river Bann, Barmouth at low tide; and what is the depth at Coleraine harbour at similar tide point.

[holding answer 27 February 1990]: The minimum depth at low tide at the Barmouth is 4m and at Coleraine harbour is 4·3m.