To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will list the number of professionally qualified loss prevention staff employed by his Department and the qualifications held by such staff, excluding qualifications obtained during police or military service.

The Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office are aware of the need to prevent loss and rely on a series of control mechanisms, systems and procedures which are undertaken by various groups of staff, including internal auditors.Currently within the Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Office and the Police Authority for Northern Ireland, there are 31 fully qualified members of the Institute of Internal Auditors, (MIIA) and 23 more are under training.Thirty one other members of staff hold professional accountancy and auditing qualifications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will introduce the necessary legislation to prohibit the discharge of inadequately treated sewage into coastal waters, rivers and inland waterways and to require that full treatment plants are provided in future for dealing with sewage in Northern Ireland.

A proposal for a European Council directive on municipal waste water treatment is at present being considered. Among other matters, the proposed directive lays down minimum requirements for the collection and treatment of domestic, industrial and drainage waters entering the sewerage system. The Government are carrying out a study of the environmental implications and the likely costs associated with this directive. If the directive is adopted, any legislation necessary to implement its requirements will be introduced.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table to show the number of persons employed by his Department in systems, programming and computer operation, including the major operations carried out.

[holding answer 27 February 1990]: The number of computer staff employed on information technology in Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Office and Police Authority for Northern Ireland is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to ensure parity in valuation for rating purposes throughout the district council areas in Northern Ireland.

[holding answer 5 March 1990]: Parity of treatment in valuation for rating purposes throughout district council areas in Northern Ireland is long established. Parity is achieved through periodic general revaluations which establish for the Province as a whole, patterns and levels of valuations—a tone, which is preserved throughout the life of the valuation list. Revisions of valuation which arise between revaluations are performed within the comprehensive and detailed provisions of the Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 by the valuation and lands office. The Commissioner of Valuation, by the direction of policy and its application through a district valuer office network across Northern Ireland, ensures consistent treatment under this order. A comprehensive system of appeal exists for aggrieved ratepayers with first appeals to the Commissioner of Valuation and thereafter to the Lands Tribunal for Northern Ireland and, if appropriate, Court of Appeal and House of Lords.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table showing (a) increases in regional rate levied in cash and percentage terms, (b) each district council rate increase in cash and percentage terms and (c) domestic and non-domestic rates charged to ratepayers in each district council area in cash percentage charge terms, in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

[holding answer 5 March 1990]: The information is as follows: