To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will set out the arrangements governing repayment schemes relating to prescription charge repayments for policemen, firemen and their families.

Police regulations and the National Joint Council for Local Authorities Fire Brigades (NJC) scheme of conditions of service provide for the reimbursement of certain National Health Service charges incurred by police officers and local authority fire fighters. These are charges for drugs, medicines and appliances or for dental treatment incurred under sections 77 to 79 of the National Health Service Act 1977 as amended.The NJC scheme, but not police regulations, also provides discretion for fire authorities to reimburse certain other medical costs in the interests of efficiency. Arrangements for reimbursing charges do not extend to the families of police officers unless they are also members of the service or to the families of firefighters.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the range of weekly earnings for prisoners on standard piece rate.

Under the standard piece rate scheme, individual inmates are paid according to their own output or that of a group and may earn up to a maximum of £3·95 per week.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the maximum earnings of a remand prisoner.

In certain very limited circumstances a remand prisoner may earn up to £5·87 per week (the maximum for a sentenced prisoner), but generally the maximum weekly pay is £2·25.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the range of weekly earnings for prisoners on the modified piece scheme.

The modified piece work scheme is an incentive earnings scheme applied to certain workshops and parties with a designated working week of 23 hours or more. The pay range for production workers is from £3·18 to £5·87 per week and for support workers from £2·23 to £5·27 per week.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish for each of the last five years the number of successful prosecutions for not possessing a valid television receiver licence, separately distinguishing Wales and England.

Information supplied by the national television licence records office is given in the table. The data are based on the areas covered by each television licence inquiry office. The Llandudno office covers part of England and the Shrewsbury office covers part of Wales.

Offenders found guilty of television licence fee evasion
Financial year	England	Wales
1984–85	95,335	6,521
1985–86	106,482	8,737
1986–87	153,593	11,115
1987–88	140,536	9,845
1988–89	152,194	10,516
1989–901	149,008	11,047
1 Provisional.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juveniles are currently being held in prison department establishments; in which establishments and in which wings of those establishments they are situated; whether juveniles are at all times separated from young adult or adult offenders; and whether unconvicted juveniles are separated from convicted prisoners.

For the number of juveniles and the establishments in which they were held I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale) on 23 April at column 24. Details of the location of each juvenile within the establishment are not recorded centrally. The table, however, gives the readily available information about accommodation for juveniles in the establishments concerned.In local prisons and remand centres male juveniles are at all times separated from adult prisoners and, so far as is practicable, are accommodated separately from young adults. Unconvicted prisoners are separated from convicted prisoners so far as this can reasonably be done, but mixing under close supervision may occur for certain regime activities such as education. Wherever possible, convicted juveniles are accommodated in separate wings or discrete units.In the female prison system sentenced female juveniles are held in establishments which also house young adult and adult female offenders, but their sleeping accommodation is in areas specifically designated for young offenders. Unconvicted female juveniles are not held in prison custody.

Prison service establishments in England and Wales which held juveniles on 31 December 1989; by establishment and locations in which juveniles are held.
Establishment and type	Location
Remand centres:
Brockhill	A, B, C or D wing
Cardiff	3 or 4 landing
Dorchester	D wing

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the total number of males under the age of 17 years remanded in custody in remand centres from Welsh courts during 1988;(2) what was the total number of males under the age of 17 years who were made subject to unruly certificates from Welsh courts during 1988.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the question from the hon. Member for Ynys Môn (Mr. Jones) on 8 March 1990 at column 821.

	1 February 1990	1 March 1990	1 April 1990	15 April 1990
Total population	441	451	433	347
(a) awaiting a court hearing1	192	206	187	111
(b) awaiting sentence2	55	60	56	21
(c) young offenders3	80	92	88	0
1 Includes adult and young offenders, convicted unsentenced and inmates on remand. The number of sentenced inmates subject to a further court appearance is not recorded centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
2 Includes young and adult convicted unsentenced.
3 Includes remand, convicted unsentenced and sentenced.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received concerning puppy farms; and if he will make a statement.

Following the Adjournment debate on 21 December initiated by the right hon. Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams), I have received a number of representations on this subject from a variety of sources, including hon. Members, local authorities and members of the public. I am conscious of the need to ensure that all dog breeding establishments comply with the requirements of the law.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in the light of the events of Friday 12 April, whether the circumstances surrounding the massacre of Katyn are no longer within the ambit of the War Crimes Bill provisions.

The Government welcome the recent acknowledgement by the Soviet authorities concerning responsibility for the Katyn massacre. We are unaware of any allegations that any of the perpetrators of the massacre may now be living in the United Kingdom, and there is therefore no reason to broaden the terms of the Bill.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners Cardiff prison is designed to accommodate.

Prior to the recent disturbances at Cardiff, the certified normal accommodation was 252 in the local prison and 85 in the remand centre. Some 95 places have since been lost in the local prison, but should be repaired and available for use within the next four weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisoners were accommodated at Cardiff prison on 1 February, 1 March, 1 April and 15 April, respectively, and how many on each occasion were (a) awaiting a court hearing, (b) awaiting sentence and (c) young prisoners.

The information requested is set out in the table below:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what steps his Department and/or the Northern Ireland Executive have taken to encourage and assist elderly home owners to take up repair/improvement grants to bring their homes up to acceptable standards;(2) which voluntary organisations have been providing services on an agency basis to the Housing Executive, in encouraging and assisting elderly home owners to take up repair/improvement grants to bring their homes up to acceptable standards; how long such arrangements have been in operation; and in which areas of Northern Ireland they have operated.

These matters fall within the day-to-day administration of the renovation grants scheme by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. I understand that it is estimated that 40 per cent. of applicants for repair grants are elderly and in 1989 the Northern Ireland Housing Executive's priority groups for receipt of such grants was extended to include the elderly. There is a disproportionately lower number of improvement grant applications from the elderly and this reflects not only the financial difficulties facing them but the disruption caused by improvement work.The Northern Ireland Housing Executive provides advice and guidance via its network of local grants offices throughout the Province to elderly home-owners wishing to take up repair and improvement grants to bring their homes up to acceptable standards. In response to the level of demand the executive also provides a dedicated home improvements for the elderly service in three of its six regions (Belfast, south-east and north-east) through which assistance is provided at each stage in the grants process from preliminary inspection through to completion. A similar type of service is also available to rural dwellers in the executive's west region.Voluntary organisations continue to play a vital role in providing assistance to elderly and disabled home owners. The Northern Ireland Housing Executive is currently finalising an agreement with Fold Housing Trust for a "Care and Repair" agency service which is intended to provide a comprehensive service of advice and assistance to the elderly, disabled and those in financial hardship. Within the next 18 months this service is expected to be made available throughout the Province and initial estimates are for an annual turnover of around 400 cases of which approximately 200 would be grant-aided.Until now voluntary organisations have provided a home improvements for the elderly service on an agency basis in various parts of the Province as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many miles of hedgerows have been removed, and how many miles planted (a) since 1 January 1960 and (b) since 1979.

The information is not available because grants for the removal of hedgerows stopped a number of years ago.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what conclusions he has reached on the report by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the bus services in Northern Ireland provided by Ulsterbus Ltd. and Citybus Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.

I have today placed in the Library of the House the initial response produced by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland, in consultation with the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company and the bus companies, to the report submitted by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in June 1989.I am grateful to the commission for the comprehensive review it carried out and the series of 58 recommendations it made. The commission found an effective, low-cost and lean organisation with short chains of command supported by loyal, hard-working and often courageous staff. The report noted the high level of civil disorder with which the companies have had to cope, reflected in the destruction of over 1,100 buses since 1969. It especially commented on the dedication of staff at all levels in maintaining services in the face of severe harassment.The commission confirmed that the companies do not operate against the public interest. The report contained 58 recommendations most of which have been accepted and, where appropriate, are being implemented. This should result in a marked improvement of services to the public and the management of the companies. The companies are still considering the feasibility of a few recommendations.The Department continues in dialogue with the companies about the implementation of the recommendations and I will report on progress to the House in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the area of land lost to the sea between the estuary of the River Roe and Magilligan Point during the last (a) five years, (b) 10 years, (c) 15 years and (d) 20 years; what evidence he has on changes in the rate of erosion; what evidence he has on the long term change in the level of the land above sea level in that area; and whether he has any approaches to the EEC for funding for coastal protection works to protect the environment of the Lough Foyle foreshore.

[holding answer 3 April 1990]: The information is not available.The expenditure necessary to stop erosion on this portion of the Lough Foyle coast could not be justified as the cost of coastal protection works would be greatly in excess of the value of the land at risk, consequently EC funding has not been sought.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make an estimate of the cost to public funds of (a) uprating rent allowance for the Royal Ulster Constabulary by the index agreed by the police negotiating board and (b) by the movement in the retail price index since the force maximum was last reviewed.

[holding answer 5 April 1990]: The actual indices for the period 1 April 1988 to 1 April 1990 are not yet available, but it is estimated that uprating by the index recommended by the PNB would cost approximately £5·8 million and uprating by the retail prices index would cost approximately £5 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures he is taking to improve uptake under the farm woodlands scheme.

[holding answer 18 April 1990]: The farm woodlands scheme has, since its inception, had extensive advisory and media coverage and will be widely publicised again in August-September prior to the new planting year.The scheme as it is administered in Northern Ireland is, for all practical purposes, identical with the scheme in the rest of the United Kingdom with the same terms and

	A	B	C	D	E
	New (excl Imports)	Imported new from ROI (not previously registered)	B as per cent, of A and B	Registered in ROI prior to importation to NI	D as per cent, of A and B and D
			per cent.		per cent.
Private cars
1984	57,107	5,285	8·47	1	—
1985	55,599	4,328	7·22	1	—
1986	53,019	872	1·61	1	—
1987	53,769	221	0·40	595	1·09
1988	55,051	380	0·68	2,085	3·62
1989	53,520	133	0·24	3,203	5·63
Light goods (not over 1,525 kg used for commercial purposes)
1984	3,533	869	19·74	1	—
1985	3,818	662	14·77	1	—
1986	3,312	237	6·67	1	—
1987	3,334	278	7·69	1	—
1988	3,129	267	7·86	1	—
1989	2,994	300	9·10	1	—
Heavy goods vehicles (over 1,525 kg)
1984	1,953	5	0·25	1	—
1985	2,503	6	0·23	1	—
1986	2,238	1	0·04	1	—
1987	2,173	4	0·18	1	—
1988	2,183	712	24·59	1	—
1989	2,201	794	26·51	1	—
1 Figures not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table to show how many cases of pollution of rivers and lakes were known to him in each of the last three years; how many in each year resulted in fish kill; and how many of these cases were the result of pollution by (a) the Department of the Environment and (b) the Department of Agriculture.

[holding answer 19 April 1990]: The number of pollution incidents investigated on behalf of the Department of the Environment by the Fisheries

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table of how many motor vehicles, what types and class, were imported as (a) new vehicles and (b) secondhand vehicles into Northern Ireland from the Irish Republic in each of the last five years; and what percentage of the total sales of (i) new vehicles and (ii) secondhand vehicles this represents in each class and type in each year, or as much of such information as is available to him.

[holding answer 19 April 1990]: The Department of Environment for Northern Ireland does not hold information about actual sales of new or second-hand vehicles.The information set out in the tables relates to vehicles registered for the first time in Northern Ireland and vehicles imported as new or having previously been registered and used in the Republic of Ireland.Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland and the Foyle Fisheries Commission over the last three years and the number of associated fish kills are as follows:

	1987	1988	1989
Pollution incidents	995	1,001	903
Fish kills	33	27	57

Pollution investigations were also undertaken by environmental health (rivers) officers who act in conjunction with the fisheries bodes as required. We are unable to identify incidents directly attributable to the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland. For the three years in question there were 39, 32 and 36 incidents respectively reported which involved sewage or water treatment works.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research has been carried out into the stocks of brown trout in Lough Neagh over the past decade; and where the results of such research have been published.

[holding answer 19 April 1990]: None that I am aware of.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the stocks of brown trout in Lough Neagh are now higher or lower than was the case five years, 10 years and 15 years ago; and whether the size and weight of the fish has increased or decreased.

[holding answer 19 April 1990]: In the absence of any research into the stocks of brown trout in Lough Neagh and detailed catch statistics from fishermen, it is not possible to state whether the stocks of brown trout are now higher or lower than was the case five years, 10 years and 15 years ago or whether the size and weight of fish has increased or decreased.The spawning record shows that there are fluctuations from year to year in the number of redds counted in the various tributaries of the Lough Neagh catchment, but as a general guide they do not indicate any long-term trend in the overall state of the stock.A copy of the spawning record is provided at table V in the 1988 annual report of the Fisheries Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland, a copy of which is available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total cost of the police and Army security operation mounted for the visit to Belfast of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Eire; and whether any part of the cost will be met from (a) European Community funds, (b) the Eire Government and (c) the Institute of Directors.

The extra cost of the police operation could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. None of the cost will be met from European Community Funds, the Government of the Republic of Ireland or the Institute of Directors. The cost of the Army operation is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost of carpeting, furnishing and general refurbishment of Woburn house, Millisle, when it was decided to use it as a prison officers' school; how many staff are employed; and what is the number of recruits in training.

Woburn house became the Northern Ireland prison service college on 12 January 1981. As payment records are not retained beyond the minimum of seven years in accord with Her Majesty's Treasury regulations the information required is not available.As at 19 April 1990, there was a total of 54 staff employed at the prison service college, Woburn house, Millisle. There are presently 24 recruits in full-time training at the college—21 males and three females. Other part-time and short courses are run at the college as well.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any valuation was made of the woodworking and other equipment formerly housed at the young offenders centre, Millisle, before it was disposed of when the centre was transferred to Hyde park, Purdysburn.

The available records relating to the equipment and machinery used for vocational training at the borstal at Millisle indicate that the bulk of these items were transferred to the new young offenders' centre at Hydebank Wood and to Lisnevin training school. A few items which were not required, were disposed of under the Government regulations covering the disposal of surplus equipment. As detailed financial records for this period some 10 years ago no longer exist, it is not possible to say what the value of these items were.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures the Government are taking to reduce the burden of bureaucracy on small firms.

I have been asked to reply.The Government recognise that the burden of complying with regulation is greater for small firms. The deregulation initiative, co-ordinated by my Department, therefore takes particular account of their problems. Additional departmental deregulation reviews under the rolling programme and wider cross-departmental work on, for example, simplification of small company accounts, which I announced on 21 December last, promise useful improvements in the regulatory environment. Recent studies by my Department of the problems of getting established in particular sectors will help us target future deregulatory activity more effectively.Examples of recent action which should help small firms include the Department of Employment's easing of restrictions on the employment of women and young people and publication of their "self-employment starter pack". Also, important changes were announced in the Budget, including a new scheme of comprehensive bad debt relief and an increase in the VAT registration threshold. My own Department has simplified the provisions for shareholder information and streamlined radiocommunications licensing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies in Scotland applied for assistance under the Department of Trade and Industry's enterprise initiative between April 1988 and April 1989, and from April 1989 to date; and how many companies in Scotland were actually given assistance under the scheme during each of these periods.

The enterprise initiative is a comprehensive package of DTI services, including the consultancy initiatives, regional selective assistance (RSA), regional enterprise grants (REG), collaborative research programmes, the small firms merit award for research and technology (SMART), the enterprise and education initiative, the managing into the '90s programme and the export initiative.Applications for assistance are only made under project—based programmes. The information requested for Scotland under these programmes is as follows:

	1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989	1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990
Consultancy initiatives:1
Applications	1,529	1,405
Projects approved	1,299	1,162
Regional selective assistance:
Applications	255	313
Projects approved	221	242
Regional enterprise grants:
Applications	482	673
Projects approved	226	432
Smart:2
Applications	74	196
Projects approved	9	20
1 The consultancy initiatives also provides assistance in the form of a business review which is provided to 98 per cent, of applicants.
2 SMART is a competition-based programme. Due to a change in the closing date for the 1990 competition, the 1989–90 statistics include the applications for the two years competitions, but only one year's winners, as the 1990 winners have yet to be announced.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his policies regarding off-balance sheet financing schemes.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 4 April at column 621.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in view of his Department's criticisms of the standard of audit work done by major auditing firms, he will issue statements to warn investors of the quality of work done by such firms.

No. It is for investors to form their own view about those criticised in reports of inspectors which my Department has published.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether following the letter dated 16 November 1989 from the hon. Member for Great Grimsby, he has examined the annual report and accounts filed by CCAB Ltd.

Yes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is planning to cease using the auditing firms criticised by his inspectors as auditors for the public bodies sponsored by his Department.

When making or approving such appointments my Department takes all relevant factors into account.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish any comments made by his Department on the draft syllabus published by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

No. It would not be appropriate to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has received any representations from the Bank of England concerning the encouragement or otherwise of the appointment of non-executive directors by major companies.

The Bank of England has over a long period encouraged the appointment of non-executive directors and this is also the Department's policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his current estimate for the balance of trade between the United Kingdom and Libya.

Information on the value of United Kingdom visible trade with Libya is published in the "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom, Business Monitor MM20", table lb.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he proposes to bring in regulations to define private persons in the sections of the Companies Act 1989 which restrict actions for damages under section 62 of the Financial Services Act 1986; and what consultations he has carried out on such regulations.

My Department will undertake public consultation on its proposals for defining private investor before making the relevant regulations under section 193 of the Companies Act 1989. The intention is to commence such consultations shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many actions for damages under section 62 of the Financial Services Act 1986 have been brought; by whom; and with what result.

Actions under section 62 of the Financial Services Act 1986 are private actions for damages, and as such my Department would not necessarily expect to hear of such cases. In the only instance of which I am aware, the case was decided against the plaintiff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Government have for local education-business partnerships and for the teacher placement service.

I am pleased to announce on behalf of myself and my right hon. Friends, the Secretaries of State for Education and Science and for Employment, that the Government intend to support local education business partnerships across the country. The new partnerships will build on the work already done under the enterprise and education initiative, TVEI and compacts, and foster the development of the work-related aspects of the national curriculum.Partnerships involve local education and business interests in work that brings schools and other educational institutions, industry and commerce closer together for the benefit of young people and the economy.The Government also intend to build wherever possible on existing partnership work. Where they are in a position to make effective proposals, the new training and enterprise councils will be offered the first opportunity to lead and co-ordinate the development of this activity; otherwise, other local bodies and organisations will be invited to bid for this role.There will be a development phase over the next 12 months in which my colleagues and I will collaborate closely. The Foundation for Education Business Partnerships, which has been established by industrial and education interests to foster partnership activity will be kept closely in touch.Financial support will come initially from my Department. With the formation of partnerships from April 1991, the Department's Training Agency will take the lead.My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland will make separate announcements about their arrangements for partnerships.The teacher placement service will continue. Arrangements for its future administration will be developed together with those for local partnerships.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement concerning his policy on referring completed mergers to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

Section 64(4) of the Fair Trading Act 1973 provides that I may refer a qualifying merger to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission (MMC) within six months of the date of the completion of the merger or the date on which material facts about the merger are made public or made available to me or to the Director General of Fair Trading. In addition, I am required, under section 64(5) of the Act, to make my decision on whether or not to refer the merger as soon as is reasonably practicable.Many mergers are either made public or discussed with the Director General of Fair Trading before they take effect. But when a merger is completed before any such announcement or discussion, I am anxious to be in a position as soon as possible to decide whether it should be referred to the MMC. In such cases therefore I shall be looking to the director general for early advice, and to the companies concerned for their cooperation with his Office to enable him to give it. If, in such a case, I had reason to believe that the merger could raise competition or other public interest issues, and that the director general's inquiries were not being answered fully and promptly, I would not allow the lack of full information to deter me from requiring an investigation by the MMC.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will list the number of companies which his Department have prosecuted for the failure to meet the disabled employee quota since 1979.

I have been asked to reply.There have been no prosecutions since 1979 against companies that failed to fulfil their obligation under the quota scheme established by the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much Government assistance has been given to Liverpool through housing investment programmes (a) between 1974 and 1979 and (b) in each of the last 10 years.

Details of the allocations made to Liverpool city council since 1978–79, the first year in which housing investment programme allocations were made, are listed below. Since 1981–82 authorities have been able to augment the borrowing power of their HIP allocations by using the prescribed proportion of their capital receipts. For 1990–91, under the new capital finance system, the HIP allocation does not convey borrowing approval directly.

Housing investment programme allocations for Liverpool city council
	£ thousand
1978–79	35,460
1979–80	42,430
1980–81	47,230
1981–82	39,788
1982–83	49,337
1983–84	41,850
1984–85	38,499
1985–86	31,000
1986–87	27,500
1987–88	25,300
1988–89	20,588
1989–90	123,207
1990–91	233,687

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer of 5 April given by the hon. Member for Lewisham, East (Mr. Moynihan) to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central, if he will list the public meetings held by or attended by the Leeds Development Corporation to which he refers.

The development corporation has held and attended public meetings with the local business community about the planning framework for the Calls and Riverside area and with residents of Armley, Kirkstall and Beza road, Hunslet.The planning meetings of the development corporation are also open to the public.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by location the damage that was recorded in the counties of Yorkshire and Humberside after the earthquake that was felt in these areas on 2 April and the seismographic scale.

No comprehensive list of damage caused by the Bishops Castle earthquake of 2 April 1990, exists at present. Information on damage and other felt effects is being collected by the British Geological Survey under the United Kingdom seismic monitoring and information service which is funded by a number of organisations including the Natural Environment Research Council and my Department. The survey has yielded about 6,000 replies so far and further information is being received daily.It will be several months before all of the information has been studied in detail, but preliminary analysis indicates that little or no damage occurred in Yorkshire and Humberside. The earthquake measured about 5·4 on the Richter seismographic scale.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he hopes to reply to a letter written on 27 February by the Staverton parish council about discharge consent standards at Kilbury sewage treatment works, Buckfastleigh, Devon; and if he will make a statement.

I wrote to Staverton parish council and to my hon. Friend on 23 April.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what examination he is making of alternatives to the source separation of the waste stream prior to recycling; if he has any information concerning the effect mechanical separation would have on the percentage of refused derived products from waste; and if he will make a statement;(2) what assessment he has made of the effect of source separation of the domestic waste stream on the ability to recycle domestic waste output; and if he will make a statement;(3) if he will list those local authorities in England and Wales that his Department is aware of that currently recycle all or part of the domestic waste stream, using the mechanical sorting of waste as opposed to source separation; and if he will make a statement.

This information is not available at present but is currently being sought from local authorities through a comprehensive survey of their recycling activity. Issues relating to the collection and sorting of waste are being considered by the advisory group on recycling jointly run by my Department and the Department of Trade and Industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how much public money has been spent on plants sponsored by his Department investigating the manufacture and use of refuse-derived fuel pellets; if he will list the performance figures from those plants; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will list such private sector research of which he is currently aware into the manufacture and use of refuse derived fuel pellets; and if he will undertake a comparative study between their findings and data from plants sponsored by his Department.

About £12 million has been spent by my Department between 1974 and 1986 on pilot schemes for the manufacture and use of refuse-derived fuel pellets. The results have been published by the Warren Spring laboratory, for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is responsible. Technical problems have now largely been solved, but further work is needed on marketing. Any comparison of these results and private sector research results would be a matter for prospective purchasers of equipment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in the light of the outcome of the arrangements to transfer the housing stock of Rochesterupon-Medway city council, he will revise his guidelines regarding voluntary transfers; and if he will make a statement.

Our criteria remain those set out in the guidelines, "Large Scale Voluntary Transfers of Local Authority Housing to Private Bodies", a copy of which is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make it his policy not to approve any future proposal by Rochester-upon-Medway city council to transfer its housing stock to another landlord which is not accompanied by financial assistance to the tenants' association to emply independent financial and legal advice.

Any local authority wishing to dispose of tenanted housing must comply with the requirements of schedule 3A to the Housing Act 1985. The Secretary of State will consider whether the authority has, in his view, met these requirements before deciding whether to give consent to the disposal. It is for the authority to decide whether it will provide tenants with financial assistance for obtaining external advice.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what grounds he used his powers under section 14 of the Local Government Act 1988 to compel the London borough of Hillingdon to close its vehicle maintenance department.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Surbiton on 13 March at column 189.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the National Rivers Authority for additional staffing and resources; and if he will make a statement.

The National Rivers Authority is currently preparing its first corporate plan. My officials are in discussion with the authority about this and about resources generally. The Government are committed to ensuring the NRA has the necessary resources to carry out its functions effectively. Grant in aid to the NRA for 1990–91 is £93 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many councils have agreed to grant discretionary rate relief to sports clubs for the year 1990–91.

The information for which my hon. Friend asks is not available. Authorities will not necessarily yet have dealt with all applications for relief. We intend, however, to collect later in the year information about the use that authorities have made of their discretion.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why, in the light of his Department's news release of 3 August 1989, no public announcement was made in respect of ozone levels on 17 March and 18 March; and if he will make a statement.

In accordance with the Department's news release of 3 August 1989, information on ozone levels occurring on 17 and 18 March, and also 31 March and 1 April was available from the Department's press office the morning of the day after the episode commenced. No journalist asked for this summary.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to assess (a) the level of carcinogens and (b) the health risks associated with the carcinogens produced by (i) leaded and (ii) unleaded petrol.

My Department funds a substantial programme of research investigating pollution emissions from vehicles using leaded and unleaded petrol. Special emphasis is placed upon organic micro-pollutants, including benzene.The evidence on human exposure to these pollutants provided by this research will be evaluated by the Department of Health for possible health effects.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his meeting at Sandringham in Norfolk with European Commissioners; and whether he discussed rain forest issues.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales invited Sr. Ripa di Meana, European Commissioner for the Environment, and Mr. Ray McSharry, European Commissioner for Agriculture, to visit Sandringham on 19–20 April. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and I were also invited. Discussions were wide ranging.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to undertake the restoration of the stonework to the Victoria tower at the Palace of Westminster; and if he will make a statement.

I am pleased to announce that a contract for the repair and restoration of the stonework on the Victoria tower and the south elevation of the Palace of Westminster overlooking Victoria tower garden was let to John Laing Construction Ltd. shortly before Easter. Work will start later this month. It will take four years to complete at a cost of some £7 million.The placing of this contract marks the start of the final stage of the restoration of the exterior of the Palace of Westminster which began in 1981. It is intended to follow on with the restoration of the stonework of the internal courtyards.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his statement of 3 April on charge capping, what were his decisions in relation to capping Lambeth borough council for 1990–91.

On the basis of the principles that I adopted for inner-London boroughs, Lambeth's revised budget of £293·9 million is, in my opinion, excessive. On 10 April, I therefore designated the authority for charge capping in accordance with those principles, and proposed a cap of £285·1 million, a reduction of £8·8 million or £51 per adult. I am satisfied that, on the basis of the information available to me, the proposed cap is fair and reasonable in all the circumstances of Lambeth. The authority has 28 days, beginning on 10 April 1990, in which to let me know whether it accepts the proposed cap or, if not, what alternative cap it is proposing together with the reasons for it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of people who will be required to pay standard community charge in respect of second homes in each local authority in England.

[holding answer 23 April 1990]: This information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether there are any circumstances under which those residing on islands would qualify for a reduction in their community charge bills; and whether such residents qualified for a reduction under the old domestic rating system.

[holding answer 23 April 1990]: The qualifying conditions for a reduction in community charges, either through community charge benefit, student status or transitional relief apply equally to residents on islands as to residents on the mainland. Under the old domestic rating system, the same principles in respect of rebates and reliefs applied.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the most recent estimate of the total expenditure on the collection of the poll tax (a) in Scotland in the year 1989–90 and (b) in (i) Scotland, (ii) England and (iii) Wales in the year 1990–91.

[holding answer 23 April 1990]: The Government's latest estimate for collecting the community charge in England in 1990–91 is £400 million. The cost of community charge collection in Scotland and Wales are matters for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to fix the maximum standard community charge at nil for empty dwellings in England and Wales on agricultural or forestry land.

[holding answer 23 April 1990]: We have prescribed nine classes of property in respect of which no standard charge is payable. We have also given wide discretion to local authorities to specify additional classes of property for special treatment. Local authorities could, if they saw fit, specify a class of property relating to empty agricultural dwellings for which a lower multiplier would be applied. However, such a discretion may be exercised only before the start of the financial year in which it is intended to operate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to change the arrangements whereby local authorities may fix a standard community charge on self-catering holiday cottages, chalets and the like, with an impact above the level of current rates on farm income from this source.

[holding answer 23 April 1990]: A standard charge will be payable in respect of self-catering accommodation only if the property is to be treated as domestic property, does not give rise to business rates and if no person has his or her sole or main residence there. In such circumstances, unless the local authority had chosen to specify such a class of property for special treatment, the property would be subject to the standard charge in the same way as other qualifying properties. A property will be subject to business rates if it is available for letting commercially for short periods of 140 days or more per year to individuals whose sole or main residence is elsewhere.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take either to secure the retention of the South Yorkshire hazardous waste unit or to provide for the environmental protection of south Yorkshire as far as the tipping, storage and management of harmful or toxic waste is concerned.

[holding answer 23 April 1990]: Both my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I were concerned to receive notice of the intention of Sheffield and Doncaster to withdraw from the voluntary agreement on waste regulation in South Yorkshire with effect from 1 April 1991. We believe that satisfactory arrangements for the management of hazardous waste within the metropolitan areas require effective co-operation between all the districts in these areas and that is why, in cases where voluntary agreements were not forthcoming in 1985, statutory arrangements were introduced under the Local Government Act 1985. Consequently, I would hope that Sheffield and Doncaster will reconsider their position in relation to the voluntary agreement. In the meantime, I have asked Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to let me have a full assessment of the position.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent assessment he has made of the effect of acid deposition on trees; what percentage of trees he estimates are (a) dying from (b) otherwise affected by acid deposition; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 24 April 1990]: The Forestry Commission has carried out a national monitoring programme of annual tree health surveys since 1984. In 1989, tree health showed an overall improvement for the second year running.A study of the effects of air pollution, including acid deposition, on trees was carried out for the Department by the United Kingdom terrestrial effects review group (TERG). The report was published in July 1988 and copies placed in the Library of the House. It concludes that there is as yet no direct proof that air pollution is damaging trees in the United Kingdom, but that some forests are subjected to pollution climates which may be expected to cause stress.Further laboratory and field study data, including information from the Forestry Commission's programme, have become available since the publication of the TERG report which may enable more precise conclusions to be drawn. The Department has therefore set up a sub-group of TERG specifically to evaluate this new information. The group will report in January 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms. Walley) of 20 February, Official Report, column 656, if he will now make a further statement on the feasibility of compiling a register of contaminated land.

[holding answer 23 April 1990]: I am sympathetic to the idea of compiling registers in appropriate form and expect to receive later this week, the report of the internal working party which has been looking at this. I will announce my proposals at the earliest opportunity.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much, for each year from 1980 to 1989, inclusive, was spent by his Department on environmental research to meet (a) United Kingdom needs, (b) European needs, and (c) global needs.

[holding answer 23 April 1990]: The expenditure of the Department of the Environment on environmental research to meet United Kingdom needs between 1980 and 1989 is as follows:

Year	£ million
1980–81	24·1
1981–82	23·7
1982–83	21·3
1983–84	20·4

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement regarding the pollution from oil spillage in the Antarctic.

[holding answer 23 April 1990]: I have been asked to reply.There are no comprehensive data on the quantities of oil spilled in the Antarctic. Overall the impact of oil pollution is believed to be insignificant. The British Antarctic Survey reports only three spills of any size from its operations within the last 10 years. None of these spills, of marine gas oil, amounted to more than six barrels and none had any recorded environmental impact.Following a number of reported incidents by other national operators in the Antarctic, notably the sinking of the supply vessel Bahia Paraiso, the Antarctic treaty consultative parties discussed at their 15th meeting in Paris in October 1989 the prevention, control and response to marine pollution. Recommendations passed included measures to prohibit certain discharges and disposal from vessels, requirements for vessels to comply with specific international conventions on vessel safety and pollution control and a requirement for Governments to increase mutual co-operation in hydographic survey and charting in Antarctic waters, to assist in navigational safety and environmental protection.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the number of British nationals currently working in Libya; and what were the figures for each year since 1985.

Not all British citizens in Libya register with the British interests section in Tripoli, but we estimate that since 1985 the British community there has numbered between 3,500 and 5,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has raised with the Peruvian Government the detention of Victor Taipe Zuniga, president of the National Mineworkers Federation.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Peruvian Government about the detention of politicians, trade union leaders and trade union representatives.

We frequently raise with the Peruvian authorities the cases of individuals who have been detained or who have disappeared in Peru, including politicians and trade union leaders and representatives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Peruvian ambassador; and what subjects were discussed.

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last met the Peruvian ambassador on 18 January, at a lunch given by the Latin American heads of mission in London, at which a wide range of issues were discussed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last raised with the Peruvian Government the subject of the violation of human rights in that country.

We frequently stress to the Peruvian Government our support for democracy in Peru and our wish that human rights be fully respected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Ugandan High Commissioner; and whether at that meeting he raised the subject of claims for compensation on behalf of British citizens.

Since his appointment last October, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has not had a formal meeting with the Ugandan high commissioner. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development raised this subject with President Museveni when she visited Uganda in March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list (a) the bilateral agreements between the United Kingdom Government and Uganda, (b) when they were signed and (c) when they are individually due for review or and renewal.

The main bilateral agreements signed by Her Majesty's Government with Uganda since 1986, when President Museveni came to power, are:

(i) The Overseas Service (Uganda) Agreement; signed at Kampala 18 March 1986 and entered into force on 31 March 1986. Treaty Series/Command number not yet allocated. To be reviewed before 31 March 1991.

The Public Officers' Pensions (Uganda) Amendment Agreement; signed at Kampala on 29 October 1987 and entered into force the same day. Treaty Series/Command number 057/1988 Cm. 145. To be reviewed as necessary.

The United Kingdom/Ugandan Debt Agreement No. 3 (1987); signed at Kampala on 26 April 1988 and entered into force on 5 May 1988. Treaty Series/Command number 067/1988 Cm. 482. Under review.

A number of aid agreements have also been concluded during the period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens have outstanding claims for compensation against the Government of Uganda.

No exact figure is available, but the Ugandan Government have reported that they have received slightly over 1,000 claims for compensation from persons in Britain. The majority of these will have been from British citizens and remain outstanding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will instruct his Department to convey to the official representatives of the Governments of the Soviet Union and India, respectively, the views of Her Majesty's Government on the demands for independence emerging from Lithuania and Kashmir; and if he will make a statement.

We are in regular contact with both the Soviet and Indian Governments on the situations in Lithuania and Kashmir. Both Governments are well aware of our views on the issues arising.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to raise at the United Nations the human rights record of the present regime in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

We have raised, and will continue to raise, our concerns about Iraq's human rights record, both directly with the Iraqi authorities and in all suitable international bodies. We expressed our views firmly at the recent UN Commission of Human Rights in Geneva.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning the topics discussed, and conclusions reached, at the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the European Community at Dublin castle on 21 April.

EC Foreign Ministers met in Dublin on 21 April to discuss preparations for the informal meeting of Community Heads of State or Government on 28 April. Ministers first considered the latest developments in Lithuania and the economic measures introduced by Moscow. The Twelve issued a statement expressing their serious concern and underlining that measures of a coercive nature could make no contribution to the search for a solution through dialogue. Ministers agreed to keep the situation and its policy implications under continuous review. An official working group will meet for this purpose this week.Ministers discussed the implications for the Community of developments in central and eastern Europe. They welcomed the prospect of German unification and the integration of GDR territory into the Community: the meeting on 28 April will discuss how to ensure this is achieved as quickly, fully and smoothly as possible. They also discussed—as will the meeting on 28 April—how best to ensure the healthy development of the Community's relations with other countries of central and eastern Europe, and envisaged a network of association agreements, tailored to the individual circumstances, and the pace of reform, in each of the countries concerned.Ministers also briefly discussed EC institutional reform, and the Franco-German proposal that Foreign Ministers should be asked to consider member states' ideas and report to the June and December European Councils. This issue, too, will be further discussed on 28 April.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated total cost of the security operation by Army and Royal Air Force personnel in connection with the visit of Mr. Charles Haughey to Belfast on Wednesday 11 April.

The armed forces in Northern Ireland provided military support as requested by the Royal Ulster Constabulary. It is not our practice to detail the costs of military assistance provided for specific security operations in Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish for each of the last 10 years (i) the number of low-flying Royal Air Force training aircraft that have crashed over Wales, (ii) the dates of those crashes, (iii) the number of casualties and (iv) the value of the aircraft lost.

Details of major incidents involving RAF training aircraft flying at low level over Wales in the last 10 years are as follows:

Date	Aircraft type	Casualties
22 April 1982	Hunter	One major injury (RAF)
		No civilian casualties
13 May 1982	Jet Provost	No casualties
5 August 1982	Hunter	No casualties
		Two fatalities (one RAF
		and one Royal Brunei
20 April 1983	Gazelle	Armed Service)
		No civilian casualties

It is not our policy to publish unit production costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Air Force pilots have been disciplined for flying below the minimum height while involved in training exercises over Wales.

Very few complaints reveal irresponsible breaches of low flying regulations and, therefore, formal disciplinary action is infrequent. Since 1979, from when records are available, no Royal Air Force pilots have been formally disciplined for flying below the minimum height during training exercises over Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what percentage armed forces' salaries were abated in respect of imputed contributions to pensions in the armed forces in each year since 1960; and what information he has on previous years' abatements.

There is no abatement of the pay of members of the armed forces in respect of imputed contributions to pensions. However, in recommending rates of pay for the armed forces, the armed forces pay review body (AFPRB) makes an adjustment to comparator earnings to reflect its judgment on the additional pension benefit received by members of the armed forces compared with that available for civilian schemes. Between 1981 and 1986 that adjustment was set at 11 per cent.; since then it has been set at 10 per cent. The basis of these adjustments is explained in greater detail in the AFPRB's 10th and 15th reports, Commands 8241 and 9784.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on negotiations for the disposal and future use of RNAD Milford after 31 March 1991.

The Ministry of Defence expects shortly to receive the report of the consultancy study, commissioned in conjunction with the Welsh Development Agency, into potential future uses for the RN armament depot at Milford Haven. In consultation with the Welsh Development Agency and the local authorities, we shall be carefully considering the options identified in the report and will be consulting the trade unions before a final decision is made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the closure of RNAD Milford including the early retirement of staff, the transfer of staff to other MOD establishments and the job resettlement programme.

The closure programme for the royal naval armament depot at Milford Haven is proceeding to schedule, with the progressive transfer of the remaining tasks to the MOD's depot at Trecwn. Milford Haven is scheduled to close on 31 March 1991.The position of the 163 staff employed at the depot is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest estimated cost of the hardenedaircraft shelters to be installed at RAF Stornoway.

Tenders for this work have not yet been invited, and it is not our practice to disclose estimates for specific work projects which will be the subject of contractual negotiations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Ministers in his Department were first made aware of the Walter Somers export order for Iraq.

Earlier this month.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the works carried out at Menwith hill base during the past five years; what is the total cost and sources of payment for the work; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 5 April 1990]: I understand that within the last five years five works projects have been completed at Menwith Hill station. Two involved improvements to operational buildings; a further two involved the provision of additional married quarters; and the final project was for the installation of additional generators. The projects were paid for by the United States Government and I am unable to comment on their cost.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a further statement on the political situation in South Africa.

We welcome the recent announcement that President de Klerk will meet members of the ANC on 2 May. We hope that these discussions will lead to negotiations on the peaceful end of apartheid and its replacement by a system of government acceptable to all South Africans.

To ask the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement on the discussions with the Police Federation regarding the Police (Amendment) Regulations 1990.

The regulations laid on 9 March took account of representations made by my hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby) and representatives of the staff side of the Police Federation, at a meeting with my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary on 17 January. Since the regulations were laid, further representations have been made about the position of officers in forces whose maximum limits of rent allowance were last reviewed in 1988. As a result my right hon. and learned Friend has decided that the protected rent allowances in such cases should be increased in line with the movement in the retail prices index since the date of the force's last rent allowance review. Further amending regulations to give effect to that decision will be laid as soon as possible.

To ask the Prime Minister if she intends to hold discussions in the near future with Chancellor Kohl and other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation leaders concerning the present and future stationing of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation armed forces in the Federal Republic of Germany and the continuing presence of Warsaw Pact armed forces in the German Democratic Republic.

When I met Chancellor Kohl on 30 March, we agreed on the importance of keeping United States and other NATO forces in Germany, as well as the need to look at transitional arrangements for Soviet forces in the GDR. These issues will be discussed further at NATO meetings this summer.

To ask the Prime Minister when she last met the ambassador of the Chinese People's Republic; where the meeting took place; and if she will state the subjects discussed.

The Chinese ambassador called on me on 16 March at 10 Downing street. We discussed Hong Kong and other issues of common concern.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 April.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. Later this afternoon I shall depart for Turkey to be present at the 75th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings on 25 April.

To ask the Prime Minister under what arrangements the forthcoming European Council Meeting in Dublin on 28 April was called; what procedural rules will apply; when the agenda will be announced; and if she will place in the Library any document presented to that meeting for its consideration.

[holding answer 23 April 1990]: The meeting on 28 April is not a formal European Council, but a special informal meeting of Heads of State and Government. It was called to consider the implications for the Community of developments in central and eastern Europe, in particular, progress towards German unification. It will also look at preparations for the CSCE summit. There may be discussion of institutional reform. The agenda, and any papers, for discussion will be a matter for the presidency.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has as to the number of small businesses that will benefit as a result of the decision announced in his Budget statement to increase (a) the profits limit for corporation tax and (b) the limit for marginal relief.

It is estimated that 20,000 companies will benefit from the increase in profit limits for the small companies' rate of corporation tax and associated marginal relief.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated loss of revenue if the 40 per cent. rate for capital gains tax were lowered to 25 per cent.

It is estimated that the cost of charging all taxable capital gains realised by individuals in 1990–91 at 25 per cent. would be about £350 million. The estimate allows for some increase in disposals in response to the reduction in the effective rate of the tax but does not allow for possible short-term effects, nor for possible substitution by higher rate taxpayers of gains for income. No allowance has been made for any change in the treatment of capital gains of companies which are taxed within corporation tax.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many income tax payers there were in Scotland in each year from 1986–87 to the latest year for which figures are available.

The estimated number of individuals resident in Scotland and liable to income tax is 2·04 million for 1986–87 and 2·16 million for 1987–88, the latest available year. Married women are included where their earned income exceeds the wife's earned income allowance and any personal allowances and relief's unused against the husband's income.