To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate of the number of private and commercial vehicles expected to be on the roads in 1990, 1995 and 1999.

My Department's low and high forecasts of the number of privately and commercially owned cars on the road are:

	Million
11990	19·9–20·0
1995	22·1–23·1
1999	23·7–25·5
1 Average for year.

Forecasts are not made for other vehicle types.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the carriage of passengers by hot air balloons is a recognised method of carriage as defined and regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority in schedule 1 to the Air Navigation Order 20, November 1989, pursuant to the Civil Aviation Act 1982; and if he will make a statement.

Hot air balloons are classified in schedule 1 to the Air Navigation Order as a sub-group of aircraft, so they may be registered in the United Kingdom and flown for purposes specified under the order, including the carriage of passengers.To carry fare-paying passengers (other than in circumstances defined in the order as being private flights) a balloon must be certificated by the Civil Aviation Authority in the transport category (passenger) as set out in schedule 3 to the order, the operator must hold an air operator's certificate and the pilot must hold a valid professional balloon pilot's licence.There are currently 43 hot air balloons certificated in the transport category (passenger) in the United Kingdom, and 27 air operator's certificates have been granted.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will consider using the money saved by providing fewer than eight lanes for the A6(M) Stockport north-south bypass to lower the motorway alignment.

The proposed motorway for much of its length would he significantly lower than the adjacent ground level. A further lowering of the alignment could not be justified. It would require more land, increase considerably the amount of surplus soil to be disposed of and cost some £6 million more.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey, Official Report, 26 April, column 265, if he will estimate how many flights were carrying (a) medical isotopes, (b) reactor fuel and (c) radioactive material for military purposes; and if he will make a statement.

Of the approximately 8,000 flights per year which carry radioactive materials, I understand that over 99 per cent. carry isotopes for medical and industrial use. Radioactive materials transported for military purposes are a matter for the Ministry of Defence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Radioactive Substance (Carriage by Road) (Great Britain) Regulations apply to the transportation of radioactive material for military purposes; and if he will make a statement.

The Secretary of State for Defence is the competent authority in his own right for the transport of radioactive materials for military purposes. The Ministry of Defence uses containers which are designed, manufactured and tested in complete conformity with the appropriate International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) transport regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the proportion of exports from and imports to the United Kingdom, excluding ferry operations, carried in British registered ships; and what approximate proportion of ships engaged in ferry services to and from the continent are registered in United Kingdom ports.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 May 1990 c. 549]: About half the ships engaged in ferry services to and from the continent are United Kingdom-registered vessels.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will mount a full investigation into the delays by the Board of Inland Revenue relating to the Swan Valley Railway (Holdings) plc appraisal for a business expansion scheme.

I shall write to my hon. Friend about the case.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much warning was given to United Kingdom industry of the ending of the quarterly sales inquiry;(2) what assessment he has made of the value of short-term production statistics to British industry;

The outcome of the review of DTI statistics was announced by DTI Ministers on 10 May 1989. The main recommendations included a reduction in the volume of product sales statistics collected in official inquiries and released in the "Business Monitor" series. Most quarterly product inquiries were converted to an annual basis, and the number of headings for which information was collected was substantially reduced. The review also recommended a strengthening of the monthly sales inquiry used for compiling the index of production. Following enlargement of the Central Statistical Office in July 1989 to incorporate statistical inquiry work previously carried out by DTI, ministerial responsibility for implementing the review recommendations on product statistics fell to Treasury Ministers.The last of the full quarterly sales inquiries related to the second quarter of 1989. Announcements explaining this change were included in the "Business Monitors" appearing during June and July 1989, and a detailed article on the impact of the review appeared in

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much average real take-home pay has increased for (i) a single person and (ii) a married couple since 1978–79.

Real take-home pay this year for a single person on average male earnings is estimated to be 40 per cent. higher than in 1978–79. For a married couple with non-earning wife and the husband on average male earnings the increase is estimated to be 38 per cent.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a complete list of the rateable value, by property, of retail premises in Walworth road and Peckham road (a) before and (b) after the recent revaluation.

No. Lists containing details of the 1973 and 1990 rateable values of all retail premises in Walworth road and Peckham road are available for inspection, free of charge, at the office of the London borough of Southwark and the Southwark valuation office.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from charitable organisations about the value added tax and corporation tax implications of affinity credit card schemes; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received various representations, including a submission from the Charities' Tax Reform Group (CTRG), since the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley) on 7 December 1989, at columns 308–09. Customs and Excise and the Inland Revenue have also had discussions with the CTRG about the tax implications of charities' affinity card schemes. It has now been agreed that, with the appropriate contractual arrangements, VAT will be charged on the promotional and other services supplied by the charities, but will not apply to contributions made by the credit card companies for which the beneficiaries are not obliged to do anything in return. The corporation tax treatment of individual schemes will depend on the contractual arrangements, but schemes can be set up in such a way that the charity's income from them qualifies for exemption from corporation tax.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the notes on those clauses of the Finance Bill to be taken in Committee of the whole House will be made available to hon. Members.

Yes. The appropriate notes on clauses were placed in the Vote Office earlier today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration he has given to introducing regulations compelling petrol forecourts to display their petrol prices in both gallons and litres; and what representations he has had concerning those presenting high prices per gallon displaying prices only in litres.

Following consultation with interested parties, I laid an order in 1988 relaxing the requirements to display the price per gallon in addition to the price per litre. Under the recently adopted EC units of measurements directive, the United Kingdom will be required to phase out the use of the gallon for trade after 31 December 1994 at the latest. Although the gallon continues in the interim to be permitted to be used for trade, I understand that the overwhelming majority of garages already sell petrol by the litre. Accordingly, I do not consider it is now necessary to require petrol forecourts to display petrol prices in both gallons and litres. In the last year I have received four letters of complaint about this matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any proposals for the introduction of new labelling laws requiring manufacturers to declare the net defrosted weight of packed sea food.

My Department issued a consultation letter earlier this year proposing that legislation be introduced requiring packages of frozen prawns, shrimps and scampi to be marked with the weight net of ice-glaze. There was no opposition to this proposal which has now been notified to the EC Commission under the terms of directive 83/189/EEC. Subject to satisfactory completion of the notification, I intend to lay an order in Parliament to be debated by both Houses under the affirmative resolution procedure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Beaconsfield of 28 March, Official Report, column 209, which self-regulatory organisations have membership requirements that go further than the vetting of individuals of significance to the shareholdings or management of the business that is making application for authorisation under the Financial Services Act.

I understand that the Securities Association and FIMBRA have membership requirements that go further than those mentioned in my previous reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representation his Department had at the Financial Times conference on industry and the environment held in London on 23 and 24 April.

My Department was not represented at this event, but representatives of the Department of the Environment did attend it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he proposes to make any changes to the previously announced arrangements for metricating the quantities in which whisky, gin, rum and vodka may be served for consumption on licensed premises; and whether he will make a statement.

I announced on 14 December that I intended to lay in draft an order which would permit these spirits to be served in a single round metric quantity of 25 ml from the middle of this year and to end the use of the existing imperial measures by 31 December 1994. Having considered representations on these proposals, it remains my intention to lay an order shortly along the lines previously announced. However, in addition I propose to consult interested parties about the possibility at a later stage of permitting one further round metric quantity of 35 ml and of extending the requirement to use prescribed measures to cover other spirits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what expertise his Department has made available to eastern European countries in toxic waste landfill disposal.

[holding answer 1 May 1990]: My Department has organised bilateral seminars on atmospheric and water pollution control with representatives from Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria respectively. The seminars, which included advice on landfill were designed to identify areas of industrial technology which show potential for bilateral commercial development. Assistance to certain eastern European countries on a range of matters, including environmental problems, is also available under the Government's know-how fund and the European Community's PHARE programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish data on urban development corporations showing both for 1988–89 and 1989–90, by individual urban development corporation (a) the area of land reclaimed, (b) the total area of land bought, (c) the area of land bought by compulsory purchase order, (d) the number of houses built or refurbished, (e) the area of industrial and commercial floorspace built or refurbished, (f) the miles of roads constructed or improved, (g) the value of public expenditure and (h) the value of private investment.

The latest available information is set out in the tables.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements are made by his Department to record the effects of pollution by aerial reconnaissance.

Satellite and aircraft reconnaissance is used by my Department's contractors according to need. It has many applications but usually in conjunction with ground-based monitoring and surveillance techniques. Examples include surveys of vegetation cover change in the countryside, radiometry, tracking of air pollution plumes and trajectories, and detection of phytoplankton blooms in the seas around the United Kingdom. Applications to record the effects of pollution are more problematical although some experimental work on detection of environmental damage in forests due to air pollution and other stresses, for example, disease and drought, has been undertaken. Similar work is undertaken by other Departments and the Natural Environmental Research Council, according to need. The most notable example of the programme of aerial surveillance of marine oil pollution undertaken by the Department of Transport.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the minimum requirements for the National Rivers Authority to (a) record and (b) publish its investigation into pollution of (i) water and (ii) flood defences.

The duties of the National Rivers Authority in relation to both water pollution and flood defences are set out in the Water Act 1989. The NRA is required to prepare an annual report on its activities which must be laid before both Houses and published. The authority is also required to record information about its regular monitoring of water quality and related matters in public registers which are held in the authority's regional offices. The particulars which are to be contained in the registers are set out in the Control of Pollution (Registers) Regulations 1989.In addition, the authority publishes, from time to time, reports and other information on matters for which it is responsible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department has had any recent consultations with North West Water plc regarding the proposed Rossall Point long sea outfall; and if he will make a statement.

The applications for consent to discharge in connection with the proposed long sea outfall are still before my right hon. Friend, and it would not be proper for me to comment on them at this stage.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what number of staff he expects will be employed by the proposed joint committee for the Nature Conservancy Council for the purposes of carrying out the quinquennial review of protected animals and plants under section 24 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

My Department is currently discussing the staffing requirements of the proposed three new country councils—including those of their joint committee—with the chairmen-designate, the NCC and the Countryside Commission. Figures for the number of staff to be allocated to specific functions will not be available until these discussions are complete.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends the proposed joint committee for the Nature Conservancy Council to make a report under paragraph 17 of schedule 3 to the Nature Conservancy Council Act 1973 in respect of its functions under section 24 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Provision for the Secretary of State to publish the advice he receives on the quinquennial review is already proposed in paragraph 14(5)(c) of schedule 7 to the Environmental Protection Bill. Recommendation 4.19 of the second report of the Select Committee on Science and Technology of another place (HL Paper 33—I) is also germane to this point. The Government are currently considering that report, and will announce their response shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the two assessors appointed to the Nature Conservancy Council's joint committee to represent Northern Ireland's interests will have voting powers in relation to matters of United Kingdom or international importance.

We have always made clear the intention that the interests of nature conservation in Northern Ireland should be represented on the joint committee. There are legal and constitutional considerations which may make it appropriate for the Northern Ireland representatives to be non-voting.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has placed, or plans to place, any consultancy contract with the Erasmus centre for environmental studies in Rotterdam.

The Department of the Environment has placed no contracts with the Erasmus centre for environmental studies and has no immediate plans to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans substantially to amend the poll tax legislation; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend will make a statement if and when there is something to announce.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to instigate a national survey to establish those properties where radiation levels are above acceptable levels; and if he will make a statement.

A representative national survey of radon in houses has been carried out by the National Radiological Protection Board; the results are given in the publication "Natural Radiation Exposure in UK Dwellings, NRPB—R190, May 1988", a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. A further programme of radon surveys by the NRPB is being funded by my Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from British Urban Development and Music Corporation of America in respect of the proposed theme park at Rainham marshes in the London borough of Havering; and if he will make a statement.

Among the numerous representations received either from or against the granting of planning consent for the proposed development my right hon. Friend received letters from both organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) why the decision was taken not to call in the application for a theme park and related matters at Rainham marshes in the London borough of Havering;(2) if he will make a statement on the site of special scientific interest at Rainham marshes in the London borough of Havering.

I can add nothing to what my right hon. Friend said in his announcement on 5 April. A copy of the press notice has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has undertaken regarding the environmental side-effects of burning Orimulsion and very heavy residual fuel oils in power stations.

Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution is in consultation with PowerGen plc concerning the use of Orimulsion and very heavy residual fuel oils in power stations. Trials are to be undertaken this summer to assess the environmental effects and what measures might be needed to minimise such effects.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals have been made for the disposal of surplus waste paper from Government Departments which has been collected during the current year.

Each Government Department at present makes its own arrangements for the disposal of waste in the light of local circumstances and security and other considerations. We are currently reviewing the arrangements made across Departments both for the use of recycled materials and for the disposal of waste with a view to maximising recycling. In the case of Department of the Environment headquarters buildings in Westminister and Lambeth, waste paper and cardboard are collected for recycling by contractors. The Department is at the moment considering ways of separating out a higher proportion of office waste for recycling.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be in a position to give a substantive reply to the question from the hon. Member for Leeds, Central on 18 April about the Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities' visit to Leeds on 4 April.

I answered the hon. Member's question on Tuesday 1 May at column 506.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, for how long cleaning services at Wellbar house, Gallowgate, Newcastle, have been provided by ISS Servisystem Ltd.; how many contract terms ISS Servisystem Ltd. has had; and what is the remaining period of the current contract.

Cleaning services at Wellbar house have been provided by ISS Servisystem Ltd. since March 1982; three contract terms have been awarded to it after competitive tender; and the current contract has two years to run, expiring in April 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the proposed joint committee for the successors to the Nature Conservancy Council will have responsibility for providing advice to the Government on the conservation implications of trade in endangered species or their products.

[holding answer 27 April 1990]: Yes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration has been given to the future ownership and holding of Great Britain's national nature reserves currently owned by the Nature Conservancy Council.

[holding answer 27 April 1990]: The Government have no plans to change the ownership of national nature reserves.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentages of English local government revenue for 1990–91 he has calculated will be received from (a) government grants, (b) the uniform business rate and (c) community charges.

The proportions of total local government revenue, including grants outside AEF and treating community charge rebates as central Government support, which are met from these three sources are as follows:

	Percentage
Government grants	48
Business rates	26
Community charges	26

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which Suffolk parish councils have indicated to him that they intend to cease providing certain local services on the grounds that the revenues they expect to receive from their British charge payers, following the cessation of rates from American service men, are insufficient.

[pursuant to his answer, 19 February 1990, c. 662.]: I now intend exceptionally to pay extra grant for 1990–91 only to parish councils which face particular difficulties as a result of the exemption from the community charge of United States service personnel living within their area. I understand that in some parishes where United States service men constitute a high proportion of the population, the parish council precept together with contributions to the area safety net has meant that some charge payers are bearing a heavy burden. I hope that this extra grant for 1990–91 will enable these parishes to continue to provide local services without an undue cost falling on charge payers in their area. This additional support will help those parishes most seriously affected by this problem in the first year of the new system.The grant system provides full compensation at district level for the fact that overseas service men—including those from the United States—are exempt from the community charge. District councils have powers to assist parish councils in meeting the cost of any function which they both may provide. From 1991–92 onwards I would expect district councils to make use of that power to assist parishes with a reduced number of charge payers as a result of the exemption of United States service personnel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of United Kingdom opencast coal is washed.

This is a matter for the British Coal Corporation. However, it is generally true that opencast coal is cleaner than deep mine output and so requires less washing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will impose a condition on the burning of Orimulsion or very heavy residual fuel oil in electricity power stations, that flue gas desulphurisation scrubbers must be installed in that power station.

Control of emissions from power stations is a matter for Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what approaches he has received about the burning of Orimulsion in oil-burning power stations.

PowerGen advised me earlier this year of its intention to burn Orimulsion at the Ince B power station on a trial basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what quantity of spent nuclear fuel has so far arrived at Sellafield from other countries for the purpose of reprocessing; in how many shipments this has arrived; from what country and on what dates; and if he will make a statement.

Over the past 25 years British Nuclear Fuels plc and its predecessors have received some 4,000 tonnes of uranium as spent fuel from Canada, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. The origins, sizes and dates of arrival of individual consignments are matters for the company.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on progress on the research being carried out at Grimethorpe into the benefits of fluidised bed combustion technology; and when this system is likely to be implemented nationally.

Preparations for the experimental work at Grimethorpe, which forms part of British Coal's topping cycle project, commenced in October 1989 and I understand that design work is progressing. British Coal is seeking alternative industrial funding following Ahlstrom's recent withdrawal from the project and the Department's offer of 50 per cent. support up to a maximum of £8 million remains on the table. The financing of the project will be reviewed when the position on industrial participation is clearer.Implementation of this technology would depend upon the success of its development programme. Exploitation of the topping cycle concept will also depend on sufficient confidence that it is economically competitive with other means of power generation.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will issue a code of practice to Government Departments on measures necessary to avoid prejudice to cases going through the courts; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

No. The circumstances which may arise are too diverse for it to be useful to issue more specific guidance than is already available from the general law.

To ask the Attorney-General what are the total costs of the trial of the Winchester Three.

The total amount expended on legal fees in the trial of this case was £215,287·81. To seek to quantify the administrative costs would involve disproportionate expense.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will review his policy in respect of the catering arrangements at Caerphilly castle in the light of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report in respect of monopoly services at exhibition halls.

The document to which I believe the hon. Gentleman refers, the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on electrical contracting at exhibition halls in London, concerns the monopoly that existed in favour of restricted practices by electrical contractors tied to the major exhibition halls.The current catering contract at Caerphilly castle was awarded through open tender for a limited term up to 22 March 1991. Terms of a replacement contract are currently under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the numbers of engineering apprenticeships in Wales in 1979, 1984 and in the latest year for which figures are available.

This information is not held by the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to encourage Welsh companies to invest in east European countries.

I welcome the emergence of market economies in eastern Europe, which will be to the great benefit of the people of those countries. These developments may also bring investment and exporting opportunities for Welsh companies. But there will inevitably also be risks and uncertainties and these are therefore commercial decisions for Welsh companies themselves to consider.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the future of Deeside ITEC.

The future of the Deeside ITEC is a matter for the company itself. When the North East Wales training and enterprise council becomes operational the Deeside ITEC will be able to bid to the council to operate YT and ET schemes as it does with the Training Agency at present.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet the employees of Deeside ITEC.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many young people have been trained in information technology by Deeside ITEC.

This information is not held by the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will visit the premises of Deeside ITEC.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the number of nurses required and the number expected to be available in the years 1991 to 1993; and if he will make a statement.

The aggregation of manpower resource plans submitted by district health authorities in 1989 indicates projected planned staffing levels (PSL) and staff in post (SIP) levels at 30 September 1991 to 1993 at the all-Wales levels as follows:

	1991	1992	1993
General Nurses
PSL	9,832	9,829	9,846
SIP	9,744	9,740	9,749
Children's Nurses
PSL	156	157	157
SIP	137	138	138
Mental Illness Nurses
PSL	2,592	2,778	2,790
SIP	2,474	2,606	2,665
Mental Handicap Nurses
PSL	871	849	822
SIP	840	833	809
Midwives
PSL	1,421	1,475	1,482
SIP	1,339	1,411	1,440

Manpower resource planning is an ongoing management process. These projections may have been revised in the light of developments since the plans were submitted. Revised projections will be available in the manpower resource plans to be submitted by authorities this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for the funding of a paediatric orthopaedic consultant post in the area of South Glamorgan health authority.

The Welsh Office has offered South Glamorgan health authority £170,000 a year to fund an additional orthopaedic consultant under the waiting times initiative. However, it is not currently envisaged that this post should be for a paediatric specialist.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to visit the Prince of Wales hospital, Rhydlafar, near Cardiff.

I have no immediate plans to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what amount of Government grant aid he has given annually to the Laura Ashley Company as expressed as a percentage of the moneys he has given to the Mid Wales Development Board for each of the years since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

I shall write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as the information is available and I will place a copy of my answer in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution on the environmental side-effects of burning Orimulsion and very heavy residual fuel oil in Pembroke power station, with and without flue gas desulphurisation.

I understand that discussions have taken place betwen Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and National Power about the possibility of burning heavy residual fuel oil at Pembroke power station. I am told that no changes to the required standards of emissions for particulate matter (including smoke) or sulphur dioxide from those resulting from current fuel would be permitted by the inspectorate. The question of flue gas desulphurisation does not arise under these circumstances.No proposals to burn Orimulsion have been made to date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to improve health and safety in factories in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.Responsibility for maintaining and improving health and safety standards, and complying with legal obligations, rests with employers and others concerned at the workplace. The Government have increased financial provision for the Health and Safety Commission and Executive over previously agreed levels again in 1990–91. The additional provision is £7 million excluding money transferred from the Department of Energy for nuclear safety research.The commission's priorities for improving health and safety at work throughout Great Britain will be set out in its plan of work for 1990–91 and beyond.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a further statement on her policies towards South Africa.

We want to see the end of apartheid by peaceful means, through negotiations. We shall continue to encourage all parties to take up the opportunity now presented to negotiate a new democratic constitution for South Africa. Meanwhile, we are stepping up our aid programme to help prepare for the time when all South Africans can play their full part in the political and economic life of their country.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the implications for immigration policy of European directives which permit citizens of the overseas territories of European Economic Community nations to settle in the European Economic Community.

No. The question of who are to be regarded as its nationals for the purposes of enjoyment of the rights of free movement given in the treaty of Rome, by reason of a connection either with its metropolitan or its overseas territories, is determined by each member of state in accordance with its nationality law.

To ask the Prime Minister when she next expects to meet President Gorbachev; and what subjects she expects to discuss with him on that occasion.

I expect to meet President Gorbachev when I visit the Soviet Union in June and to discuss with him the full range of international and bilateral issues.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will give details of representations she has had from churches, community groups and individuals objecting to the provisions of sexual services via the public telecommunications systems; and if she will make a statement.

I have received a number of representations about premium-rate telephone services including a few from church organisations. This is a matter for the Director General of Telecommunications who has already taken firm action to control these services including the closure of two services in the Manchester area. He is keeping the matter under close review.

To ask the Prime Minister what discussions she had with members of the Turkish Government during her recent visit to Turkey in respect of their human rights abuses.

I discussed human rights with President Ozal when I saw him on 25 April. He stressed his Government's determination to eliminate abuses and told me that the Turkish Parliament was now in the process of setting up its own human rights commission.

To ask the Prime Minister whether, further to her reply to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby on 1 March, Official Report, column 277, she will provide a list showing the names and business connections of the individuals with accountancy backgrounds who have joined her policy unit since 1979.

Those who have accountancy qualifications are Mr. D. C. Hobson, who joined the policy unit from Coopers and Lybrand, Mr. P. T. Warry who joined from Aerospace Engineering plc and Mr. I. Whitehead who joined from the Bank of Montreal Capital Markets Ltd. London.

To ask the Prime Minister what plans she has to meet Mr. Nelson Mandela in July.

I look forward to meeting Mr. Mandela on 4 July for talks on how the process of peaceful change in South Africa can be taken forward. Mr. Mandela will also meet my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to her reply to the hon. Member for Merionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas), of 26 April, Official Report, column 279, concerning her meeting with the Indian Prime Minister, whether any consideration was given to nuclear-proliferation control measures in the Indian subcontinent in the course of the discussions to which she makes reference.

The reply referred to by the hon. Member concerned my meeting with the Indian President during his visit to London in April. The subject of nuclear non-proliferation was not discussed.

To ask the Prime Minister whether she continues to advocate replacement of the Lance missile.

I continue to support the alliance's position that, where necessary, all NATO's weapons, nuclear and conventional, should be kept up to date.

To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received from British Urban Development or the Music Corporation of America in respect of the proposed theme park at Rainham marshes in the London borough of Havering; and if she will make a statement.

I have received recent representations on this subject. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has received numerous representations for and against the granting of planning consent for the proposed development.

To ask the Prime Minister whether she continues to advocate modernisation of land-based short-range nuclear weapons on the mainland of Europe.

I continue to support the position of the alliance that we will continue to need an appropriate mix of adequate and effective conventional and nuclear forces which, where necessary, will need to be kept up to date.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters in regard to (a) the nuclear non-proliferation treaty review conference in August and (b) the possibilities of environmental assistance to clean up polluted areas were raised during his recent visit to Poland.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, during the meetings of the working group on nuclear nonproliferation of the European political co-operation committee held during 1990, the matter of the export of nuclear capable technology and technology and equipment usable in launching nuclear weapons to Iraq has been raised; and if he will make a statement.

We raised our concern about the incident on 28 March, when a consignment of capacitors bound for Iraq was intercepted at Heathrow, at the meeting of the working group on 3 and 4 April. In subsequent discussion, partners agreed that all possible steps should be taken to ensure that barriers against proliferation are strengthened, and that export controls are adequate. The working group has also discussed the expansion of the missle technology control regime.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's knowledge of commercial interest in the Lear Fan factory in Northern Ireland expressed by Iraq or Iraq-backed companies.

[holding answer 2 May 1990]: In the light of the charges laid against individuals, and of the continuing investigations by Customs and Excise, it would be wrong for me to comment on these matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent the proposed clear-up of abandoned Antarctic bases will be funded from the sale of British Antarctica stamps; and if he will make a statement.

There are no plans to finance the clean-up of abandoned British bases in the Antarctic from the sale of British Antarctic Territory stamps. I refer the hon. Member to a reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science on 18 April 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) why it has been decided to leave in situ the shells of the buildings of the old whaling station in South Georgia; and if he will make a statement;(2) what steps have been taken to remove wastes from the old whaling station on South Georgia; and if he will make a statement.

Following discussions between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the leaseholders, Christian Salvesen plc, work is currently under way to clear up one of the stations. Further decisions will be taken following the completion of this year's work programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will obtain for his Department details of the Australian and French proposals to declare Antarctica a wilderness reserve; and if he will make a statement.

A joint paper on the French and Australian proposals was delivered to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at 10·15 am today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department will be represented at the forthcoming meeting of the Antarctic treaty parties to discuss measures to protect the Antarctic environment.

No decision has yet been taken by the Government on the composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the special consultative meeting of the Antarctic treaty parties to be held later this year in Chile.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the factual basis of history teaching.

The study of history at school should be grounded on a thorough knowledge of the past. That is not at issue. The question is how to ensure that children acquire the necessary foundation of historical information. The national curriculum working group on history made its recommendations, and my right hon. Friend is consulting widely on its published report. In the light of responses he will make his proposals for attainment targets and programmes of study for school history, which will then be the subject of the statutory consultation conducted by the National Curriculum Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to appoint a public relations adviser.

I have no plans to do so. I already have a very satisfactory head of information at the Department of Education and Science. I have always consulted widely about education policy and presentation and shall continue to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blackburn, 30 April 1990, DES 87 and 92, when he was first informed of the discovery by the city technology college trust of the commission of £200,000 charged by Mr. Revere on the purchase of the site of the Brighton city technology college; what is the current valuation of the site; and what will now happen to the site.

The existence of the commission charged by Mr. Revere was first notified to my Department by the trust in a memorandum dated 8 December. The commission was repaid by Mr. Revere to the CTC trust on 12 December and forwarded to my Department on 13 December. The future of the site and its value are now under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he proposes to take action on the report of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils on academic research equipment; what representations he has received on the report and from whom; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations from hon. Members and a petition organised jointly by the publication "Laboratory News", the Association of University Teachers and the British Laboratory Ware Association. My right hon. Friend announced on 15 November at columns 272–76 that an additional £61 million would be made available for the science budget in 1990–91, together with planning additions for the next two years of £58 million and £59 million. He announced the allocations to the five research councils on 10 January, Official Report columns 623–24. It is for the research councils to determine how to spend the additional funds made available to them. However, in their advice to the Secretary of State on the allocations, the Advisory Board for the Research Councils advised that a high proportion of these funds should be directed to preserving the quality of United Kingdom science. The ABRC also suggested that the research councils should deploy some of these additional funds to increase equipment provision through research grants, and that funding of new research programmes and interdisciplinary research centres would also include some provision for equipment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Eduction and Science what is the effect on university research and the conditions of employment of university technicians and support staff of the consultation paper prepared by his Department; what funding will be made available for these purposes; and if the loss of funding to the Universities Funding Council will be replaced.

The Department is considering the responses to the consultative paper. The precise form of any new arrangements resulting from the consultation has yet to be decided. Whatever the decision, there will be no reduction in the total public funding of the dual support system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mental health review tribunals have been held since the Mental Health Act 1983 came into force, up to the latest available date; and how much they have cost.

The information is not available in precisely the form requested. Between 1 January 1984 and 31 December 1989 17,192 cases were considered by mental health review tribunals. The total cost of the service in the financial year 1989–90, during which period 3,894 cases were considered, was approximately £2,335,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations he has received regarding the privatisation of the centre for applied microbiology and research, Porton Down, Wiltshire;(2) what consultations he has carried out with the staff of the centre for applied microbiology and research, Porton Down, Wiltshire, regarding the proposal to privatise it.

I met representatives of the staff side when I visited the centre for applied microbiology and research (CAMR) on 22 January, and I subsequently met representatives of the Manufacturing Science and Finance union in London on 21 February. I have also seen the results of a ballot of staff on the question of privatisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will take steps to ensure that information regarding free and low-price children's spectacle frames is made more generally available.(2) if opticians selling spectacles are under any form of obligation to

The sale of spectacles, including children's spectacles, is a private transaction and as a result no requirement is placed on opticians to stock, display or promote information on any particular brand of spectacle frame. In line with normal retail practice it is up to individual opticians to use their commercial judgment and provide a sufficiently wide range of products to meet all needs. Equally, individual patients can shop around for spectacles at the most competitive price which matches their optical prescription. All children under 16 are entitled to an optical voucher to help towards the cost of their spectacles. The voucher value varies depending upon the strength of the optical prescription.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department monitors what proportion of the cost of children's spectacle frames goes towards meeting the copyright dues for commercial logos which are featured on them.

No. The sale of spectacles, including children's spectacles, is a private commercial transaction. The Department of Health does not therefore collect this type of information. All children under 16 are entitled to an optical voucher to help towards the cost of their spectacles. The voucher value varies depending upon the strength of the optical prescription.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Wakefield of 26 April, Official Report, column 295, he will take steps to require health authorities to record the levels of food wastage within hospitals.

No. Food wastage in hospitals is a matter for health authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if, in the light of the recent High Court ruling in the case of C and G Homes ν. Bath district health authority, he intends to issue guidance to health authorities and local authorities regarding the future use of private housing for the accommodation of mentally ill and mentally handicapped people;

£000s
	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89	1989–90
HCHS Capital	810,559	826,339	829,075	823,718	1,051,067
HCHS Revenue	9,477,389	10,165,358	11,235,675	12,440,491	13,294,668
HCHS Total	10,287,948	10,991,697	12,064,750	13,264,209	14,345,735

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the (i) capital, (ii) revenue and (iii) total expenditure on the National Health Service in England in each of the last five years and the last financial year.

£ million
	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89	11989–90
NHS Capital	928	1,007	1,042	1,130	1,259
NHS Revenue	13,957	15,001	16,574	18,429	19,951
NHS Total	14,885	16,018	17,616	19,559	21,210
1Estimated outturn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what manner applications for product licences to the Medicine Control Agency submitted before the recent changes and regulations will be treated.

[holding answer 5 March 1990]: The level of fees for product licence applications are determined by the date of receipt of an application at the Medicines Control Agency. Any application, therefore, which was received before 5 March 1990 (the operative date of the Medicines (Fees Relating to Medicinal Products for Human Use) Amendment Regulations 1990 SI 1990 No. 210) would attract the rate of fee previously applicable.

We have noted the High Court's ruling, but it would be premature to come to any conclusion about its general effect before the health authority has decided whether or not to appeal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any plans to appoint a public relations advisor.

No. I shall continue to consult widely about health policy and its presentation.