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Written Answers

Volume 181: debated on Monday 19 November 1990

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Written Answers To Questions

Monday 19 November 1990

Attorney-General

George Kenyon

To ask the Attorney-General what information he has regarding the decision of the Crown prosecution service not to proceed with the case against David Holt for the alleged manslaughter of George Kenyon on 24 May 1988.

The decision not to proceed with the case against David Holt for the alleged manslaughter of George Kenyon followed a review of the case against him after the case was committed for trial. The Crown prosecution service accepted the advice of leading counsel that there was not a realistic prospect of satisfying a jury beyond reasonable doubt that Mr. Holt was guilty of

1. Cases1 considered by Immigration Adjudicators
Thanet House, LondonHarmondsworth2BirminghamLeeds3Manchester
19864n.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.
19873,0921,3921,046905749
19883,3352,0161,181926778
19895,9342,7602,3681,6281,271
199056,1122,4371,4161,049824
1 Figures are only available for cases, which can consist of more than one appellant. Figures relate to cases allowed, dismissed and withdrawn.
2 Includes hearings at Belfast and Cardiff.
3 Includes hearings at Glasgow and Edinburgh.
4 Immigration Adjudicators disposed of 8,483 cases in 1986, but a breakdown for the individual centres is not readily available.
5 January–September
2. Cases1 considered by the Immigration Appeal Tribunals2
No.
19861,004
19871,127
19881,029
1989706
19903614
1 Figures are only available for cases, which can consist of more than one appellant. Figures relate to cases allowed, dismissed and withdrawn.
2 The Immigration Appeal Tribunal sits at Thanet House, London.
3 January–October.

To ask the Attorney-General what provisions exist for bringing forward the dates of appeal hearings when there have been significant delays by foreign embassies in forwarding appeal papers for the immigration appellate authorities.

The immigration appellate authorities give full consideration to all applications made to them from either party for the early hearing of any appeal.

manslaughter. He was, however, prosecuted and convicted for the offence of operating a machine after a prohibition notice had been served.

I have written to the hon. Member with fuller details regarding the decision.

To ask the Attorney-General whether he has received any representations regarding the case against David Holt and Norman Holt for the alleged manslaughter of George Kenyon on 24 May 1988; and if he will make a statement.

Prior to receiving the hon. Member's question, I have received representations in correspondence from two hon. Members regarding the case against David Holt and Norman Holt for the alleged manslaughter of George Kenyon.

Immigration Appeals

To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the immigration appellate authorities in the United Kingdom, together with the numbers of appeals considered by each of them in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

Multiple Share Applications

To ask the Attorney-General (1) what representations he has received from (a) the Metropolitan police, (b) the Serious Fraud Office and (c) sponsor Departments for further computer runs to detect illegal multiple share applications in the privatisation of (a) British Gas, (b) British Airports, (c) British Airways, (d) British Steel and (e) the 10 regional water and sewerage companies;(2) when he expects to see completed all inquiries into illegal multiple share applications in the privatisation of

(a) British Gas, (b) British Airports, (c) British Airways, (d) British Steel and (e) the 10 regional water companies.

The fraud investigation group of the Crown prosecution service has worked in liaison with the Metropolitan and City police commercial fraud squad to identify and investigate possible criminal offences arising out of multiple applications submitted in the course of the issue of shares for British Gas plc, British Airways plc, Rolls-Royce plc, British Airports Authorities plc and the 10 regional water companies. In each case they have had the assistance of a report by the auditors appointed for the issue by the sponsor Department. It is accompanied by computerised data. The majority of cases arising from the earlier issues have been concluded; most of those relating to the water privatisation issues remain outstanding.It is, however, the practice of the CPS and the police when considering suspect cases relating to the water issue to examine all available data relating to earlier issues to ascertain whether any previous dealing by the suspect is revealed which may be relevant to either the evidential or public interest aspect of the decision whether to prosecute. The computerised data are held by the police and are freely accessible by them.

Prime Minister

Community Charge And Electoral Registration

To ask the Prime Minister (1) what is her estimate, to the latest available date, of the total numbers of persons in (a) Scotland, (b) England and (c) Wales who have not registered their names in connection with the poll tax; and if she will make a statement;(2) what action has been taken to warn people in Scotland, England and Wales of the implications of failure to register for poll tax purposes for the appearance of names on the electoral registers.

The community charges register and the electoral register are separate entities and are compiled with reference to different criteria and for different purposes. There is no question of anyone being denied the right to vote simply because their name does not appear on the community charges register. I refer the hon. Member to the full answer being given today to him on this subject by my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary and to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East (Mr. Barnes) on 15 November 1990 at column 703.

Malaysia

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list all visits of Government Ministers or officials to Malaysia, with dates, since 1979.

I have visited Malaysia in April 1985, August 1988 and October 1989. Other ministerial visits, in the period since May 1979 are as follows:

  • 1979
  • June Mr. Parkinson, Minister of State, Trade and Industry
  • June Lord Carrington, Secretary of State, FCO
  • 1980
  • January Mr. Blaker, Minister of State, FCO
  • March Mr. Blaker, Minister of State, FCO
  • March Lord Carrington, Secretary of State, FCO
  • 1981
  • January Lord Trenchard, Minister of State, Ministry of Defence
  • February Lord Ferrers, Minister of State, Agriculture
  • April Mr. Baker, Minister of State, Trade and Industry
  • September Mr. Rees, Minister of State, Trade and Industry
  • October Mr. Nott, Secretary of State, Defence
  • 1982
  • February Lord Carrington, Secretary of State, FCO.
  • 1983
  • Nil
  • 1984
  • February Mr. Luce, Minister of State, FCO.
  • May Mr. Baker, Minister of State, Information.
  • August Lord Bellwin, Minister of State, DOE.
  • 1985
  • July Mr. Channon, Minister of Trade.
  • September Mr. Lee, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, MOD.
  • November Mr. Heseltine, Secretary of State, MOD.
  • 1986
  • February Mr. Lee, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, MOD.
  • June Mr. Lee, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, MOD.
  • June Mr. Renton, Minister of State, FCO.
  • September Mr. Patten, Minister of State, DOE.
  • October Mr. Jopling, Minister of Agriculture.
  • 1987
  • March Mr. Younger, Secretary of State, MOD.
  • April Lord Hailsham, Lord Chancellor.
  • September Mrs. Chalker, Minister of State, FCO.
  • 1988
  • March Mr. Younger, Secretary of State, MOD.
  • April Sir Geoffrey Howe, Secretary of State FCO.
  • October Mr. MacGregor, Minister of Agriculture.
  • October Mr. Sainsbury, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, MOD.
  • October Mr. Forth, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, DTI.
  • November Lord Glenarthur, Minister of State, FCO.
  • 1989
  • February Mr. Atkins, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, DTI.
  • March Mr. Atkins, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, DTI.
  • April Mr. Younger, Secretary of State, MOD.
  • October Mr. Howard, Minister of State, DOE.
  • October Mr. Major, Secretary of State, FCO.
  • 1990
  • January Lord Brabazon, Minister of State, FCO.
  • February Mr. Maude, Minister of State, FCO.
A record of visits by officials is available only at a disproportionate cost.

Sub-Post Offices

To ask the Prime Minister which Minister is responsible for decisions as to the rules governing liability of sub-post offices to the uniform business rate.

Policy on non-domestic rating, including the valuation hypothesis used in determining rateable values which is set out in the Local Government Finance Act 1988, is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. The assessment of rateable values is undertaken by the Inland Revenue valuation office, responsibility for which rests with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Energy

Electricity Companies

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what arrangements he has agreed for cost recovery by the electricity distribution companies for actions undertaken by them in response to directions from him under section 96 of the Electricity Act 1989 in connection with the outbreak of war in the Gulf;

(2) what discussions he has had with the Director General of Electricity Supply regarding the formal arrangements for cost recovery by the electricity distribution companies for complying with directions from him under section 96 of the Electricity Act or the Energy Act 1976 in the event of the outbreak of war in the Gulf.

My Department has had discussions with the Office of Electricity Regulation on the subject of cost recovery in the event of electricity supply emergencies. I see no connection with the possibility of war in the Gulf.There are no formal arrangements for cost recovery in the event of directions under the Energy Act 1976 or section 96(1)(b) of the Electricity Act 1989. The director general has said that in the event of such directions being given there would be a strong case for considering favourably a request from any company or companies affected for suspension or modification of particular licence requirements to allow them to recover costs necessarily incurred.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what policy considerations led him to conclude his agreement with the leading underwriters in the privatisation of the electricity distribution industry to insert a force majeure clause relating to the risk of war breaking out in the Gulf.

My right hon. Friend decided that the satisfactory underwriting of the sale of shares in the 12 regional electricity companies required specific arrangements to deal with the particular risk of hostilities in the Gulf causing a fall in the market during the offer period. Failure to make such arrangements would, at best, have adversely increased the cost of underwriting and reduced the proceeds from the sale.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will insert a Gulf war risk warning on the advertisements for the flotation of the electricity distribution companies.

The purpose of the advertising campaigns is to publicise the offers for sale of the 12 regional electricity companies. All such advertising contains a warning that shares can go down as well as up and the public should consult an appropriate professional financial adviser if they need advice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment he has made of the impact of a direction under section 96 of the Electricity Act on the profitability and cash flow of the 12 regional electricity companies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next expects to meet the 12 chairmen of the area boards to discuss emergency arrangements arising from a possible outbreak of war in the Gulf and its impact on electricity costs and prices and their companies' cash flow and profitability.

My right hon. Friend and I meet the regional electricity company chairmen from time to time to discuss a wide range of issues.

Fuel Security Code

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met or next expects to meet the Director General of Electricity Supply to review the cost recovery and audit mechanisms in the fuel security code.

I have not met, and have no plans to meet, the Director General of Electricity Supply for this purpose.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had in the last three weeks with the National Grid Company regarding the implementation of the fuel security code and of directions under section 96 of the Electricity Act.

Electricity Appliances (Retailing)

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what discussions he has had with the 12 chairmen of area electricity boards regarding the sale of their appliance retailing chains and Government participation in the receipts thereof;(2) what policy considerations led him to exempt sales of the appliance retailing chains from the property clawback arrangements in the privatisation of the electricity distribution companies.

The regional electricity company—REC—prospectus includes relevant information on the retailing businesses including the directors' view of the prospects for those businesses. I expect to get appropriate value for the taxpayer for all parts of the RECs' business on flotation and see no reason why the Government should expect to participate in any subsequent disposal of the retailing business as a going concern.

Coal Supply Contracts

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he anticipates receiving a letter of comfort from the competition directorate of the European Commission regarding the exemption of the coal supply contracts between British Coal, National Power and PowerGen from article 85(3) of the treaty of Rome.

The coal purchase contracts between British Coal and National Power and PowerGen were notified to the European Commission by British Coal. British Coal has received a letter from the Commission's directorate-general for competition indicating that it is preparing a draft decision for the Commission to exempt these agreements under article 85(3) of the treaty of Rome.

South Wales Small Mines Association

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) when he next expects to announce the commencement of enhanced prices for coal produced by the members of the South Wales Small Mines Association, pursuant to his conditional letter of offer to the association dated 24 October;(2) what response he will be making to the comments dated 30 October of the director of the competition directorate of the European Commission on his letter of offer of enhanced coal prices dated 24 October to the South Wales Small Mines Association.

The offer made by National Power and British Coal to the South Wales Small Mines Association was set out in a paper handed to the association on 24 October at a meeting in my Department. The European Commission's view of the terms of this offer was conveyed in a letter dated 30 October addressed to the solicitors representing the association. I understand that members of the association have voted to reject the offer. It will now be for the Commission to reach a decision on the complaint made by the association which gave rise to the recent negotiations. My Department stands ready to provide the Commission with any further information or assistance it may need.

Sizewell B

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met and next expects to meet the chairman of Nuclear Electric to discuss the contract with the Non-Fossil Purchasing Agency on behalf of the regional electricity companies for purchasing electricity from the Sizewell B nuclear power station.

This is a commercial matter and I have no plans to discuss it with the chairman of Nuclear Electric.

Renewable Energy

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next expects to meet the Director General of Electricity Supply to discuss the Director General of Electricity Supply's study into the environmental impact of renewables projects, pursuant to page 46 of the pathfinder prospectus for the flotation of the electricity distribution companies.

The Director General of Electricity Supply's study of the environmental impact of renewables projects was made in the context of a review of the draft contracts submitted to him by the 12 regional electricity companies, and preparatory to advising the Secretary of State on the appropriate level of the first renewables order. As I informed the House on 30 October, Official Report, columns 443–44, my right hon. Friend set the level of the renewables order—SI 1990 No. 1859—in accordance with the director general's advice. In these circumstances my right hon. Friend has no plans further to discuss the director general's advice with him.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to make a further non-fossil fuel obligation order in respect of projects involving renewable energy sources.

My right hon. Friend intends to bring forward the first additional renewables tranche of the non-fossil fuel obligation next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next intends to introduce an order under the Electricity Act in respect of permitted generating capacity from renewable energy sources.

My right hon. Friend intends to bring forward the first additional order for the non-fossil fuel obligation in respect of renewables next year.

Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what action he is taking to review the basis on which the Director General of Electricity Supply determined the inclusion of particular schemes in the non-fossil fuel obligation.

The object of the director general's review of the schemes submitted to him was to assess whether they were likely to be capable of being qualifying arrangements, under the provisions of section 33 of the Electricity Act 1989, for the purpose of the renewables order that the Secretary of State proposed to make. The Government have no plans to amend those provisions.

Non-Fossil Purchasing Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next expects to meet the 12 chairmen of the regional electricity companies to discuss a strengthening of the role of Non-Fossil Purchasing Agency, pursuant to page 135 of the pathfinder prospectus for the flotation of the regional electricity companies.

The NFPA is the agent of the 12 regional electricity companies, and this is therefore a matter for them.

Nuclear Power Stations

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the life expectancy of Calder Hall and Chapelcross nuclear power stations.

This is an operational matter for British Nuclear Fuels plc—BNFL—subject to any safety requirements stipulated by the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate—NII. In the report on British Nuclear Fuels plc's long-term safety review of Calder Hall and Chapelcross, published by the Health and Safety Executive on 23 April, the nuclear installations inspectorate concluded that the stations would be safe to operate until each reactor is 40 years old, subject to British Nuclear Fuels plc's completing a programme of work and to satisfactory results from the regular test and inspection programme required under the licensing system enforced by the nuclear installations inspectorate. The oldest reactor will reach 40 years in 1996, the youngest in 1999.I understand that it is British Nuclear Fuels plc's policy to continue to operate Calder Hall and Chapelcross as long as the stations remain safe and it is economic. The company believes continued operation beyond the 40 years assumed in the present nuclear installations inspectorate assessment could be economically justified. It will consider a further major safety review to support this view at the appropriate time.

Home Department

Prison Officers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women prison officers working in prisons in England and Wales hold the rank of principal officer; and if he will list the prisons.

There are 40 female principal officers, serving in the following prisons:

  • Askham Grange
  • Bullwood Hall
  • Cookham Wood
  • Drake Hall
  • Feltham
  • Full Sutton
  • Garth
  • Hatfield
  • Hindley
  • Holloway
  • Leeds
  • Low Newton
  • The Mount
  • Nottingham
  • Risley
  • Rochester
  • Styal
  • Wetherby

Prisons

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the action that his Department has taken in any prison in England and Wales for which he has received a report from the inspector of prisons; and if he will make a statement.

Since 1980 Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons has made more than 130 reports to my right hon. and learned Friend on prison establishments in England and Wales. Information about action to implement the recommendations in these reports on individual establishments is set out in the statement we issue when the report is published, copies of which are placed, with the reports themselves, in the Library. Each one is followed up by prison service operational directors and subsequent developments are reported to the chief inspector.

Police Complaints Authority

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the numbers and types of complaint to the Police Complaints Authority in 1989 which relate solely or primarily to Waltham Forest.

The London borough of Waltham Forest lies within the Metropolitan police No. 1 area. Table 5 at appendix C of the Police Complaints Authority's 1989 annual report, a copy of which is in the Library, gives an analysis of the numbers and types of complaints dealt with by the authority in relation to No. 1 area. Figures which relate solely to Waltham Forest are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are serving on the Police Complaints Authority; how, and on what basis, they are appointed; and whether any are (a) women, (b) from black and ethnic minority communities and (c) people with disabilities.

The Police Complaints Authority currently comprises 15 members, including the chairman and two deputy chairmen. All the members, aside from the chairman, are appointed by my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary following a careful selection procedure. The chairman is appointed by Her Majesty the Queen. The normal term of appointment is for three years in the first instance.Of the 15 members, two are women, three are from ethnic minority backgrounds and none is disabled.

Sentences

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which areas have (a) the greatest and (b) the lowest percentage of people sentenced at magistrates courts to receive prison sentences; what are the percentages in each area; and what is the pecentage in Waltham Forest.

The information is given in the table.This information is published annually in volume 5 of the criminal statistics, England and Wales, supplementary tables, copies of which are in the Library.

Petty sessional divisions with the highest and lowest percentage of persons sentenced to immediate custody 1989
Petty sessional divisionHighest percentage
Ardudwy-uwch-Artro121
Ashton-under-Lyne21
Waltham Forest8
Petty sessional divisionLowest percentage
Brigg10
Buckingham10
Bulmer West10
Caistor10
Carmarthen North10
Crickhowell10
Cricklade0
Cullompton0
Diss1
Eccleshall10
Everley and Pewsey10
Gilling East10
Gogledd Preseli1
Hailsham0
Hallikeld10
Hang East10
Holme Beacon10
Howdenshire10
Ilminster0
Isles of Scilly10
Lambeth10
Llandrindod Wells10
Llanidloes10
Lutterworth10
Machynlleth10
Malmesbury10
Mansion House Justice Room10
Market Rasen10
Marlborough10
Middle Holderness10
Newtown0
Plympton0
Rhayader10
Rutland0
Ryedale10
Saxmundham0
South Holderness10
South Molton10
Stow0
Swaffham0
Talgarth10
Tisbury and Mere10
Usk10
Petty sessional divisionLowest percentage
Westbury0
West London (Walton Street)0
Whorwellsdown10
Wincanton10
Witon Beacon10
1 Fewer than 50 people sentenced at the magistrate's court.

Animal Experiments

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the membership of the Animal Procedures Committee, indicating which members have previously held licences to conduct animal experiments, and which have previously been or are currently employed by organisations which undertake such experiments.

The membership of the Animal Procedures Committee as at 15 November 1990 is as follows:

  • Lord Nathan, MA Hon. LLD (Chairman)
  • Dr. Michael Balls, MA DPhil—Reader in Medical Cell Biology, University of Nottingham; Chairman, Trustees of the Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments (FRAME).
  • Mr. Edward Bernard, FIAT—Chairman, Serotec Ltd.
  • Professor Margaret Brazier, LLB—Professor of Law, University of Manchester.
  • Professor Barry Bridges, BSc MD—Professor of Histology, Queen's University, Belfast.
  • Dr. Roger Brimblecombe, PhD DSc FRCPath FIBiol— Consultant, Smith Kline and Beecham Laboratories.
  • Dr. Fiona Broughton Pipkin, MA Dphil—Reader in Reproductive Physiology, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham.
  • Mr. Henry Carter, MRCVS—Senior Vice President, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
  • Professor Anthony Dayan, MD FRCP FRCPath FIBiol —Professor of Toxicology, St. Bartholomew's Hospital.
  • Mr. Roger Ewbank, OBE MVSc FIBiol MRCVS—Director, Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW).
  • Dr. Judith Hampson, BSc PhD—Consultant in animal welfare.
  • Mr. Clive Hollands-Secretary, Committee for the Reform of Animal Experimentation (CRAE).
  • Sir Andrew Huxley, OM FRS—Past President, Royal Society.
  • Dr. Susan Iversen, MA PHd—Director of Behavioural Pharmacology, Merck, Sharp and Dohme Research Laboratories.
  • Professor John Ledingham, DM FRCP—Professor of Medicine, University of Oxford.
  • Dr. Brian Newbould, BPharm FPS PhD MCPP—Director, International Research Affairs, ICI Corporate R and T.
  • Professor Onora O'Neill, MA PhD—Professor of Philosophy, University of Essex.
  • Professor Thomas Pilkington, MD FRCP—Emeritus Professor of Medicine, St. George's Hospital Medical School.
  • Professor Lord Soulsby, MA PhD DVSM AM DSc MRCVS—Professor of Animal Pathology, University of Cambridge.
  • Professor Michael Spyer, DSc—Professor of Physiology, Royal Free Hospital Medical School.
  • Professor Peter Venables, BA PhD DSc FBPsS—Emeritus Professor of Psychology, University of York.
For the reasons set out in my reply to a question from

the hon. Member on 12 November at columns

37–38, it is our practice not to provide information which could identify those involved in animal procedures.

Affiliation Orders

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many affiliation orders have been granted in each of the last three years.

Affiliation orders ceased to be made from 31 March 1989 and orders for financial provision are now granted under the amended Guardianship of Minors Act 1971. Information for the period before such orders were abolished is given in the table.

Affiliation orders granted
YearNumber
198710,580
198811,410
198913,570
1 1 January 1989 to 31 March 1989.

Defence

Service Men

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide for each year the number of service men who leave the armed services and subsequently return, the time lapse and the reasons, where known, for leaving and returning in each case.

Apart from the figures provided in the table for non-commissioned male personnel who rejoined in the last 10 years, having previously served in the armed forces, the information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Year of re-entryRoyal Navy1Royal Marines2Army3Royal Air Force4Total
1980–81339741,0521671,632
1981–82128299844299
1982–83130174841236
1983–841048155146413
1984–85531517984331
1985–865017186108361
1986–878215213103413
1987–8812114213105453
1988–8970925495428
1989–90817376138602
1 The Royal Navy count as re-entrants only personnel who could complete 22 years pensionable service.
2 The Royal Marines count as re-entrants only personnel who could complete their engagement of 9, 14 or 22 years, as appropriate.
3 The Army count as re-entrants only personnel with existing reserve liabilities ie "rejoining reservists".
4 The Royal Air Force count as re-entrants only personnel who were in the Service on full duty in the 5 years prior to rejoining.

Nuclear Weapons (Germany)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what agreements exist with the German Government covering basing arrangements in Germany for present and future nuclear weapons.

The 1954 "Presence of Foreign Forces Convention" (Cmd 9617) provides the legal basis for the presence of all British forces in Germany, apart from Berlin.

Cascaded Equipment

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will give details of the costs to the NATO infrastructure fund of transporting cascaded equipment; and what the United Kingdom proportion of this will be;(2) if he will give details of the NATO cascade programme of equipment limited under the prospective CFE treaty;(3) what is the cost to Britain of cascading equipment.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Woolwich (Mr. Cartwright) on 14 March 1990 at column 290. The alliance is still examining the opportunities for transferring surplus equipment to other nations and the extent to which the costs incurred can be met from NATO common funding. No decisions have been taken and we do not yet know what costs, if any, may fall to the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom currently contributes 12 per cent. of the costs of the NATO infrastructure programme.

Air-To-Surface Missiles

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether the agreements in START differentiating strategic from tactical air-to-surface missiles have any relevance to United Kingdom policy on TASM; and if he will make a statement;(2) if the United Kingdom will limit the range of its proposed tactical air-to-surface missile so that it will not be defined as strategic according to current START rules.

The START negotiations are bilateral between the United States and the Soviet Union; British nuclear forces would, therefore, not be included in any agreement. Our choice of a TASM will be guided by the need to retain a credible and effective deterrent capability.

Trident

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there has been any change in the Government's financial arrangements for the leasing of Trident D5 missiles.

The United Kingdom is not leasing Trident D5 missiles; it is purchasing them outright. The financial arrangements for their purchase remain unchanged.

Hms Challenger

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of the 85 tonne crane installed in. HMS Challenger, including structural alterations to the ship.

A 30 tonne crane was fitted into HMS Challenger in September 1990. The acquisition and installation costs are commercial-in-confidence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why a new 85 tonne crane was installed in HMS Challenger a few weeks before the ship was to be sold to commercial interests; and whether the cost of this crane and its installation will be fully reflected in the price being sought from prospective purchasers.

The crane had been bought some time before the decision was taken to decommission HMS Challenger. The Ministry of Defence will naturally endeavour to obtain the most competitive price possible for the ship from prospective purchasers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he will take to ensure that the decision to dispose of HMS Challenger at the end of the current year will not adversely affect the security of the United Kingdom's strategic nuclear deterrent.

The disposal of HMS Challenger will not adversely affect the security of the United Kingdom's strategic nuclear deterrent.

Hms Churchill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent to date on refitting HMS Churchill at Rosyth dockyard and over what period of time; and how much work would have to be done to allow the submarine's return to the active fleet.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces to the hon. Member for Clackmannan (Mr. O'Neill) on 15 November, Official Report, columns 195–98.

Malaysia (Equipment Sales)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates on which all contracts for sales of military equipment from Britain to Malaysia were signed since 1979 and the date on which the exports were authorised.

It has been the consistent policy of successive Administrations not to provide details of defence exports to specific countries.

Forces In Europe Treaty

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the limits imposed by the conventional forces in Europe treaty on the United Kingdom's holdings of treaty-limited equipment.

The CFE treaty imposes ceilings on the holdings of certain types of equipment by each group of states. It obliges the members of each group to agree a division of these collective ceilings among themselves, and to notify the other parties. The allocations thus agreed for each nation can thereafter be increased with the consent of other members of the same group. As a result of consultations with our alliance partners, we have agreed the following allocations for the United Kingdom, to apply once the reductions necessitated by the treaty have been completed:

Number
Battle Tanks1,015
Artillery636
Armoured Combat Vehicles3,176
Number
Combat Aircraft900
Attack Helicopters384

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the numbers and types of United Kingdom equipment covered by the conventional forces in Europe treaty and their location.

The information requested is as follows:

TypeUnited KingdomElsewhere1Total2
Battle Tanks
Chieftain244508752
Challenger44364408
Centurion112738
Total2998991,198
Artillery
M10743337
M11011516
M1098101109
FH706868
Abbot18133151
105 Lt Gun16713180
5·5" Howitzer99
Pack Howitzer5252
MLRS6814
Total333303636
Armoured Combat Vehicles
FV4321801,0601,240
FV432 Rarden11213
Humber27439313
Saracen12145166
Spartan254278532
Saxon29111302
Saladin11213
Scorpion173115288
Warrior115211326
Total1,4101,7833,193
Combat Aircraft
Buccaneer6262
Canberra5050
Harrier9430124
Hunter3434
Jaguar136136
Lightning11
Phantom9728125
Tornado21496310
Total688154842
Attack Helicopters
Gazelle12865193
Lynx5653109
Scout6666
Total250118368
1 Almost entirely Germany, but some small numbers in Belgium, Gibraltar and Cyprus.
2 Includes equipment deployed to the Gulf area.
A copy of the full United Kingdom CFE data declaration has been placed in the Library of the House.

Trade And Industry

Polly Peck International

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has now decided to request a report on the affairs of Polly Peck International; whether he will investigate the role of the Serious Fraud Office in this matter; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 12 November 1990]: My right hon. Friend is in touch with the Serious Fraud Office and with the administrators of Polly Peck International plc both of whom are conducting investigations. If matters come to light in the course of those investigations or otherwise which need investigating under the Companies Act rather than by the Serious Fraud Office, he will not hesitate to investigage them.The Serious Fraud Office is accountable through its director to the Attorney-General and to Parliament.

Trade Barriers

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent EEC or national trade barriers of all types relating to products from eastern and central Europe have been reduced in the last 12 months.

[holding answer 15 November 1990]: The signing of bilateral trade and economic co-operation agreements between the EC and the USSR, GDR, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and Romania over the last 12 months, following earlier agreements with Poland and Hungary, completed a framework for commercial co-operation with the countries of central and eastern Europe. Agreements include a timetable for the elimination and suspension of quantitative import restrictions by the EEC on industrial and some agricultural imports from these countries. Import arrangements on MFA and ECSC products are covered by separate bilateral arrangements.The liberalisation measures provided for in the co-operation agreements have been accelerated on the initiative of the EEC under its aid programme for central and eastern Europe—PHARE. As a result the following measures have been taken by the EEC.

With effect from 1 January 1990, all quantitative import restrictions were liberalised or suspended for products from Poland and Hungary and limited duty-free access was granted by conferring general system of preferences status on these countries for five years:
With effect from 1 October 1990 all quantitative import restrictions which discriminated against products from state trading countries were suspended for Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia.

The PHARE programme also provides for increased exports to the Community of MFA products from Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland. In December 1989 a bilateral textile agreement was signed between the EEC and USSR which provided for greater access for Soviet textiles to Community markets.

The bilateral arrangements on exports of ECSC products from central and eastern Europe have been relaxed as part of the process to phase out progressively these measures by March 1992.

All EEC trade restrictions which applied to GDR goods were liberalised as part of the German unification process.

Advanced Technology

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department has been invited to contribute to the symposium on European collaboration in advanced technology, organised by the Institute of European Trade and Technology, to be held in London on 16 November.

[holding answer 16 November 1990]: Yes. My Department has regular contacts with the Institute of European Trade and Technology and an official from my Department addressed this symposium on European opportunities for United Kingdom industry.

Esprit

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contribution was made by his Department to the conference on the European Communities ESPRIT programme, organised by ECCO at the Brussels congress centre from 12 to 15 November.

[holding answer 16 November 1990]: The ESPRIT conference in Brussels was organised by the European Commission and provides an opportunity for existing and potential participants in this European Community research and development programme to obtain information on ESPRIT. My officials took part in the conference and will continue to bring opportunities for participation to the attention of United Kingdom industry.

Cosmetic Products

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to ensure that all cosmetic products have their ingredients listed in full on the pack aging in order to protect people with skin allergies.

£,000
1985–861986–871987–881988–891989–901990–911
Gross renovation of local authority dwellings5910154275444500
Gross renovation grants to the private sector3776655264617131,173
1 Local authority forecast.

Passengers

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the numbers of passengers per annum carried by (a) bus, (b) rail, (c) private car and (d) aircraft in Wales in each of the years from 1985 to date; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested is given in the following tables:

Passengers carried, by mode of transport
(a) Bus and coach1
Passenger journeys (million)
1985–86209
1986–87196
1987–88209
1988–89215

Source: Welsh Transport Statistics.

1 Data available by financial year only.

[holding answer 16 November 1990]: The European Commission is about to publish proposals for full ingredient labelling of cosmetics throughout the European Community. I will consider them when they are published.

Cellacast

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps urgently to investigate the health implications of the use of Cellacast; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.A research assessment of splinting materials of this kind was carried out for the Department by a team from Salford university who reported in 1989. Their conclusion was that synthetic bandages are unlikely to cause a problem to either operators or patients unless cast removal is being performed for protracted periods in a particularly confined and unventilated environment. In the latter case, use of dust extraction equipment must be considered prudent.

Wales

Housing, Dwyfor

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the total expenditure in Dwyfor district on housing renovation and repair of (a) local authority housing stock and (b) private sector accommodation, in each of the past five years; and what is the projected expenditure level recognised by his Department for 1990–91 and 1991–92.

The information requested is given in the following table. Information for 1991–92 is not yet available.

(b) Aircraft
Passengers handled at terminals1
1985388,651
1986489,385
1987632,339
1988621,046
1989697,800

Source: Welsh Transport Statistics.

1 Includes all arrivals at and departures from Welsh terminals except transit passengers.

Current information is not available for rail or private car passengers, but a national travel survey conducted in 1985–86 by the Department of Transport showed that the numbers of journeys made within the Principality per person per week were as follows:

Number

Rail0·15
Bus and coach1·21
Car and taxi9·31
Other3·16
Total13·83

Food Industry (Training)

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he is proposing to improve the training of those involved in the food industry in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

A consultation document on hygiene training for food handlers was issued in December 1989 and the comments received are currently being assessed. The Government intend to issue the relevant regulations in due course.

Retail Sales

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on the percentage change in retail sales in Wales for each of the last four quarters; and if he will make a statement.

Ministerial Advisers

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, further to his reply of 13 November, Official Report, column 106, whether he will review his policy with regard to the appointment of special advisers who have previously been parliamentary candidates; and whether he will make a statement on the operation of his current policy.

My right hon. Friend has nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Gentleman on 13 November.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Ec Measures

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list to the most recent available date the number of measures agreed by the EEC and not yet passed into legislation by each of the member states, in rank order.

Figures on the records of individual EC member states in implementing all EC directives are unfortunately not centralised. However, the Commission keeps centralised figures on the implementation of the proposals contained in the original White Paper for a single market. The latest Commission report, produced in October shows that of 107 measures due to be implemented by end 1990, the following measures remained unimplemented in the member states:

number
Denmark15
United Kingdom18
Germany20
number
Portugal20
Spain27
France28
Ireland31
Belgium32
Netherlands33
Luxembourg35
Greece44
Italy62
Further details are given in the Department of Trade and Industry's document, "The Single Market: progress on Commission White Paper", which is available in the Library of the House.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Salmon

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate (a) the number of salmon available for sale in the United Kingdom in (i) 1970, (ii) 1980 and (iii) 1989 and (b) for each of those years, what percentage of salmon were (i) river caught, (ii) caught in offshore waters and (iii) from fish farms.

The information requested is not available in the level of detail sought. The total amount of salmon available for sale in the United Kingdom comprises wild, farmed and imported fish of a variety of species—Atlantic, Pacific, and so on. It is not possible to estimate reliably how much of the total domestic—Atlantic—catch may be offered for sale; further, records of imported salmon are not subdivided by number or species.Comprehensive statistics of wild Atlantic salmon reported as caught by rod, net and trap are published annually by the Fisheries Departments and copies are available in the Libraries of the House. From these it is possible to provide an estimate of the inland and coastal catches of Atlantic salmon. These are:

Inland (tonnes)Coastal
19701,191968
1980934684
11989817555
1 provisional figure
Figures for estimated United Kingdom farmed Atlantic salmon production are:

(tonnes)
1970nil
1980600
198929,000
Figures for the total United Kingdom imports of fresh, chilled and frozen salmon—all species—are:

(tonnes)
19704,700
19805,112
119897,095
1 provisional figure

Bananas

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates are available of the number of bananas from the Windward Islands and Jamaica that would be bought in the United Kingdom if no trade preferences for those countries existed.

None. Our objective is an effective preferential arrangement after 1992, which will enable a continuing flow of bananas from the Caribbean, in line with the Community's commitments under the Lomé convention.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a decision is likely to be taken in the European Community on trade arrangements for bananas after 1992; and by whom.

We cannot say when a decision will be taken as no proposals have yet come forward from the European Commission. The decision will be taken by the Council of Ministers.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals have been put forward by the European Community Commission on preferences for imports of bananas from the Windward Islands and Jamaica after 1992.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the United Kingdom's position on trade preferences for imports of bananas from the Windward Islands and Jamaica after 1992 has changed since Her Majesty's Government's discussion paper was produced.

The Government continue to believe that the framework set out in that discussion paper provides the best means yet identified for balancing the different interests that would be affected by common arrangements for bananas. Discussions of the best way forward continue with all interested parties.

National Finance

Exports

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the annual figure for exports of goods and services, expressed in current price terms, as a percentage of gross domestic product since 1979 and for the first half of 1990; and if he will make a statement.

Information relating to the export of goods and services—current prices—as a proportion of gross domestic product can be found in table 1.2 of the 1990 edition of the CSO's "United Kingdom National Accounts" publication—the Blue Book—and in table B of the CSO's quarterly "Gross Domestic Product" press notice. Copies of both are available in the Library of the House or alternatively the data can be found on the CSO database which can be accessed through the Library.

Debt

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received any representations to assist banks and finance houses in respect of increased indebtedness resulting from property prices; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend receives representations from various sources about a range of subjects in the run-up to the Budget.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has on the levels of (a) personal debt and (b) company sector debt in 1988, 1989, 1990 and estimated for 1991; and what assessment he has made of the reasons for the changes in level.

Figures for the debt or financial liabilities of the personal sector and industrial and commercial companies are available up until the end of 1989 only. These data are set out in table 12.2 and 12.3 of "United Kingdom National Accounts"—the CSO Blue Book, 1990 edition.

Revenue

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each year since 1979 (a) the total tax revenue and (b) the total of all income to the Exchequer since 1979; and if he will also list it on the basis of (i) 1979 and (ii) 1989 prices.

Information as is readily available is included on the CSO database in the following series—identified by their database code:ATAB:

  • general government: total taxes (excluding community charge) and royalties.

ATAF:

  • general government receipts.

DJDT:

  • implied GDP (at market prices) deflator.

The database can be accessed on line by the House of Commons Library.

Taxation

To ask the Chancellor of theExchequer if he will make a statement setting out

(a) the changes in policy which would require to be made by Her Majesty's Government, (b) the restrictions on the freedom of action in tax decision making and (c) the impact on the tax levels and on the zero rate if the various proposals relating to indirect tax harmonisation and Community statistics were approved by the Council of Ministers.

(a) The policy implications of the European Commission proposals covering indirect tax harmonisation and intra-Community trade statistics are detailed in the explanatory memoranda submitted by HM Customs and Excise and the Central Statistical Office respectively. Copies of the memoranda are available in the Library of the House.

(b) The proposals would require approximation of both VAT and excise duties; this would of course constrain our fiscal decisions.

(c) The Commission's revised VAT approximation proposals suggest an unspecified minimum standard rate

and a reduced rate of 4 to 9 per cent; for excises there are various proposals according to product category, for minimum rates or rate bands to be applied from 1 January 1993, and target rates to be achieved thereafter. The proposed rates would have a significant impact on United Kingdom rate levels and revenue; details are again given in the explanatory memoranda.

With regard to zero rates, the Commission's revised thinking of May 1989 accepted that these could be retained under certain circumstances; although the present VAT technical proposals do not include an arrangement to carry forward the legal base for zero rates after 1992. We would not, of course, agree to any proposals which would restrict our ability to retain a zero rate.

The Government have always made it clear that they do not consider centrally determined tax approximation to be necessary for the completion of the single market or desirable for the differing economic circumstances of member states. As adoption of the Commission proposals would require the unanimous agreement of member states, the United Kingdom's position is safeguarded.

Coinage

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the old 5p coin will be demonetised following the introduction of the new 5p coin.

The old 5p coin will be demonetised and cease to be legal tender after 31 December 1990. Although it will not be possible for the general public to spend old 5p coins after that date, it will still be possible to return them by paying them in through the high street banks for a limited period.

Ministerial Advisers

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what general guidelines are issued for setting the salaries of personal ministerial advisers;(2) whether the salary guidelines in connection with the appointment of ministerial personal advisers include annual uprating by reference to the retail prices index;(3) whether he will review the guidelines for the salaries paid to personal ministerial advisers to ensure earnings as advisers do not exceed earnings in previous employment;(4) what are the guidelines for setting salaries for Ministers' personal advisers, where those appointed were previously self-employed.

[holding answer 16 November 1990]: There is a pay spine for ministerial special advisers. The starting point on that spine for each adviser is assessed primarily by reference to the individual's recent normal earnings: this is taken as evidence of the "market rate". There is flexibility to go above this exceptionally if there is evidence that an individual's recent earnings have been less than his or her normal market expectation or that the individual could have expected to increase his or her remuneration in the near future if they did not accept the appointment. These guidelines apply to all advisers, including those who were previously self-employed and I have no plans to revise them. The pay spine is revalued annually in line with the general increase in civil service pay.

House Of Commons

Energy Efficiency

38.

To ask the Lord President of the Council what energy efficiency steps have been taken in the House since 1 January.

Improving energy efficiency in the House is being achieved in three ways—by specific energy conservation projects, better housekeeping, and by incorporating energy conservation measures in the design of new facilities and major replacement programmes.

Members' Working Conditions

39.

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will pay a visit to the west cloisters in the Palance of Westminster to inspect working conditions for hon. Members.

Ec Standing Committees

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement concerning the establishment and operation of the new Standing Committees appointed to consider documents originating from the European Community.

Standing Order No. 102, as amended by the House on 24 October, provides for the establishment of three European Standing Committees from the start of this Session. These Committees will each have 10 members who will be appointed by the Committee of Selection for a whole Session. I hope that the nominations will take place shortly and that the European Standing Committees will be able to begin holding debates on EC documents as soon as possible thereafter.

Scottish Select Committee

To ask the Lord President of the Council what representations he has received regarding the nomination of a Select Committee on Scottish Affairs.

Members' Lounge

To ask the Lord President of the Council what steps have been taken to replace the former Members' lounge adjacent to the Library corridor now occupied by the Labour party.

Although relocation of the facility provided by the room in question did not form part of the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee's deliberations when approval was given for a change of use, it is understood that it will be considered in the context of accommodation becoming available in the House as a result of moves to phase 1 of the new parliamentary building.

Education And Science

Schools (North Yorkshire)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the 1990–91 North Yorkshire education authority capital budget for furnishings and equipment in North Yorkshire schools;(2) what is the 1990–91 North Yorkshire education authority capital budget for building work in North Yorkshire schools.

North Yorkshire local education authority received annual capital guidelines in 1990–91 for education expenditure on schools and further and higher education of £4–1 million. This represents no more than the minimum level of suggested capital spending on education. LEAs are free to spend whatever they think fit from whatever overall resources are available to them for capital spending. I understand that North Yorkshire LEA's capital budget for 1990–91 is in the region of £5 million.

National Curriculum Council

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the cost of the carpet in the foyer of the National Curriculum Council's new building in Skeldergate, York.

There is no carpet in the foyer of the National Curriculum Council's new building in Skeldergate, York.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many staff work in the National Curriculum Council's new building in Skeldergate, York.

The number of staff currently working in the National Curriculum Council's new headquarters in York is 83. The building is also used for meetings of NCC's council, curriculum committees, task groups and conferences.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the cost of the lease of the National Curriculum Council's new building in Skeldergate, York.

The annual rent of the National Curriculum Council's new headquarters is currently under review, but is likely to be in the region of £250,000 plus VAT.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the capital cost of equipment and furnishings for the National Curriculum Council's new building in Skeldergate, York.

The cost of the fixtures, fittings and furnishings of the National Curriculum Councils new headquarters is likely to be £560,000.

Assisted Places

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the schools involved in the assisted places scheme, with the total number of places and the number of assisted places in each school.

The latest information available is in respect of the 1989–90 academic year as follows:

Assisted places scheme Academic year 1989–90
Name of schoolNumber of pupils on rollNumber of assisted pupils
Abbey School, Reading92066
Abingdon School73286
Ackworth School, Pontefract4565
Aldenham School, Elstree37032
Alice Ottley School, Worcester67077
Alleyns School, Dulwich921198
Ardingly College, Haywards Heath4825
Arnold School, Blackpool80075
Ashford School, Kent70042
Bancrofts School, Woodford71080
Bath High School GPDST590109
Batley Grammar School631252
Bedales School, Petersfield4086
Bedford High School1,03498
Bedford Modern School1,200161
Bedford School1,120100
Dame Alice Harpur School1,030153
Belvedere School GPDST, Liverpool550170
Berkhamsted School80027
Berkhamsted School for Girls55728
Birkenhead High School GPDST948260
Birkenhead School990252
Bishop's Stortford College36039
Blackheath High School GPDST57091
Bloxham School, Banbury3694
Bolton School (Boys)1,000246
Bolton School (Girls)1,095242
Bootham School, York3155
Bradfield College, Reading5302
Bradford Girls Grammar90057
Bradford Grammar School1,146212
Brentwood School1,08093
Brighton and Hove High School GPDST744141
Brighton College498100
Bristol Cathedral School461139
Bristol Grammar School1,203270
Bromley High School GPDST69397
Bromsgrove School, Worcestershire5553
Bruton School for Girls580116
Burgess Hill School for Girls5783
Bury Grammar School (Boys)750180
Bury Grammar School (Girls)1,120245
Canford School, Wimborne53027
Carmel College, Wallingford29085
Casterton School, Cumbria38040
Caterham School720122
Central Newcastle High School GPDST780117
Charterhouse, Godalming7009
Cheadle Hulme School1,000134
Cheltenham Ladies College8403
Chigwell School61763
Christ's Hospital8255
Churchers College, Petersfield460110
City of London School850138
City of London School for Girls660108
City of London Freemens School, Ashtead6492
Clifton College, Bristol70069
Clifton High School, Bristol75244
Colfes School, London SE12860178
Colston's School, Bristol34183
Colston's Girls' School660154
Coventry School2,748262
Cranleigh School57040
Croham Hurst School, Croydon (9/89)5905
Croydon High School GPDST1,04094
Culford School, Bury St. Edmunds71047
Dame Allans Boys School, Newcastle upon Tyne440121
Dame Allans Girls School424131
Dauntseys School, Devizes58850
Denstone College, Uttoxeter360119
Douai School, Reading (9/89)2952
Dover College (9/89)3103
Downe House School, Newbury (9/89)4601
Name of schoolNumber of pupils on rollNumber of assisted pupils
Dulwich College1,430282
Durham School (9/89)3785
Edgbaston C of E College for Girls (9/89)4704
Edgehill College, Bideford502140
Ellerslie School, Worcestershire (9/89)2505
Eltham College, London SE970083
Emanuel School, London SW11760278
Epsom College64524
Exeter School675168
Farnborough Hill School520167
Feixstowe College (9/89)3205
Felsted School, Dunmow50051
Forest School, London E17445132
Francis Holland School NW1 (9/89)3605
Friends School, Saffron Walden26575
Giggleswick School, Settle (9/89)2960
Godolphin School, Salisbury (9/89)3204
Godolphin and Latymer School, London W6700172
Greshams School, Norfolk48010
Guildford High School for Girls (9/89)5803
Haberdashers Askes School, Elstree1,300216
Haberdashers Askes Schools for Girls, Elstree1,096115
Haileybury and Imperial Service College (9/89)6894
Hampton School200183
Harrogate College40019
Headington School, Oxford (9/89)6800
Hereford Cathedral School603225
Highate School29836
Hulme Grammar, Boys, Oldham860212
Hulme Grammar, Girls, Oldham585185
Hurstpierpoint College, Hassocks (9/89)5653
Hymers College, Hull865164
Ipswich High School GPDST595123
Ipswich School62675
James Allens Girls School, Dulwich850158
John Lyon School, Harrow490103
Kent College, Canterbury64688
Kimbolton Schools, Cambridgeshire (9/89)6855
King Edwards School at Bath685114
King Edwards School, Birmingham775251
King Edward VI High School, Birmingham560158
King Edward VII School, Lytham645230
King Edward VI School, Norwich761109
King Edward VI School, Southampton944237
King Edwards School, Witley52376
Kings College School, Wimbledon65083
Kings High School for Girls, Warwick985152
Kings School, Bruton (9/89)3333
Kings School, Chester56089
Kings School, Macclesfield1,043154
Kings School, Rochester43851
Kings School, Worcester856166
Kingston Grammar School567149
Kingswood School, Bath48442
Kirkham Grammar School51080
Lady Eleanor Holles School, Hampton81055
La Sagesse Convent School, Newcastle upon Tyne340139
Latymer Upper School, London W61,030308
Laxton School, Peterborough (9/89)1482
Leeds Girls High School946102
Leeds Grammar School1,184197
Leicester Grammar School (9/89)5505
Leighton Park School, Reading (9/89)3605
Leys School, Cambridge37535
Liverpool College700171
Lord Wandsworth College, Basingstoke44082
Name of schoolNumber of pupils on rollNumber of assisted pupils
Lorento Convent Grammar School, Altrincham81960
Loughborough Grammar880125
Loughborough High School52088
Magdalen College School, Oxford500119
Malvern College Group60058
Manchester Grammar School1,460262
Manchester High School965171
Marist Convent Senior School, Ascot (9/89)5001
Maynard School, Exeter530155
Merchant Taylors, Liverpool769203
Merchant Taylors Girls', Liverpool811170
Merchant Taylors, Northwood70068
Mill Hill School54055
Monkton Combe School, Bath34035
Mount Carmel School, Cheshire (9/89)5895
Mount St. Mary's College, Sheffield28352
Mount School, York (9/89)2885
Newcastle Under Lyme School, Staffordshire1,350466
Newcastle Upon Tyne Church High School (9/89)6075
Northampton High School765162
North London Collegiate School, Edgware85083
Norwich High School GPDST835168
Nottingham Girls High School GPDST1,054184
Nottingham High School830134
Notting Hill and Ealing High GPDST768118
Oakham School, Rutland (9/89)9863
Old Palace School, Croydon760184
Oxford High School GPDST65094
Pangbourne College, Reading (9/89)3305
Perse School for Boys, Cambridge48662
Perse School for Girls71066
Plymouth College695187
Pocklington School, York714130
Polam Hall School, Darlington (9/89)4655
Portsmouth Grammar School1,020178
Portsmouth High School GPDST675135
Prior Park College, Bath (9/89)3863
Putney High School GPDST82516
Queen Elizabeth Grammar, Blackburn1,200244
Queen Elizabeth Grammar, Wakefield975153
Queen Elizabeth Hospital School, Bristol480166
Queen Mary School, Lytham700242
Queens College, Taunton61064
Queens College, London W140060
Queens School, Chester57871
Ratcliffe College, Leicestershire42461
Redland High School, Bristol63173
Red Maids School, Bristol475163
Reed's School, Cobham (9/89)3465
Reigate Grammar School87099
Rendcomb College, Cirencester (9/89)2755
Repton School, Derby55945
Rossal School, Fleetwood47645
Royal Grammar School, Guildford800107
Royal Grammar School, Newcastle1,130271
Royal Grammar School, Worcester874257
St. Albans School666121
St. Albans High School for Girls68559
St. Ambrose College, Altrincham64085
St. Anselms College, Birkenhead850184
St. Bede's College, Manchester866220
St. Bees School, Cumbria36782
St. Benedict's School, Ealing58575
St. Catherine's School, Bramley61535
St. Dunstan's College, Catford830153
St. Edmund's College, Ware46359
St. Edward's College, Liverpool850402
St. Felix School, Southwold (9/89)3554
St. George's College, Weybridge60027
St. Helen's School, Northwood88027
Name of schoolNumber of pupils on rollNumber of assisted pupils
St. John's College, Southsea860173
St. John's School, Leatherhead46014
St. Joseph's College, Ipswich73872
St. Joseph's Convent, Reading534102
St. Lawrence College, Ramsgate (9/89)3605
St. Margaret's School, Bushey (9/89)4601
St. Margaret's School, Exeter (9/89)4504
St. Mary's College, Crosby (9/89)804244
St. Mary's Convent, Cambridge55298
St. Mary's Hall, Brighton38652
St. Maurs Convent, Weybridge47057
St. Paul's School, Barnes64082
St. Paul's Girls School, Hammersmith63455
St. Peter's School, York480125
St. Swithun's School, Winchester4060
Salesian College, Farnborough45068
Scarborough College (9/89)3895
School of St. Helen and St. Katherine, Abingdon52080
Sedbergh School, Cumbria49536
Sheffield High School GPDST68381
Shrewsbury High School GPDST57067
Sir William Perkins School, Chertsey49093
Solihull School (9/89)9765
South Hampstead High School GPDST67058
Stamford School95071
Stamford High School1,00683
Stockport Grammar School1,270252
Stonyhurst College, Blackburn43330
Stowe School, Buckingham6084
Streatham Hill and Clapham High GPDST500156
Surbiton High School (9/89)6005
Sutton High School GPDST82168
Sutton Valence School, Maidstone41360
Sydenham High School GPDST650109
Talbot Heath School, Bournemouth597133
Taunton School58551
Tonbridge School6603
Tormead School, Guildford (9/89)5451
Trent College, Derbyshire614129
Trinity School of John Whitgift, Croydon800143
Truro School863115
Truro High School50053
University College School, London NW377068
Upton Hall Convent School600171
Ursuline Convent School, Kent (9/89)3305
Ursuline High School, Ilford410120
Wakefield High School760139
Walthamstow Hall, Sevenoaks53272
Warwick School985136
Wellingborough School83059
Wellington College, Berkshire82932
Wellington School, Somerset798196
Wells Cathedral School58775
West Buckland School, Barnstable53471
Westholme School, Blackburn9515
Westminster School60037
Whitgift School, Croydon900109
William Hulme Grammar School, Manchester790220
Wimbledon High School GPDST70068
Winchester College65921
Wisbech Grammar School566281
Withington Girls School, Manchester56068
Wolverhampton Grammar School635260
Woodbridge School, Suffolk542112
Woodhouse Grove School, Bradford4105
Wycliffe College, Stonehouse32939
Yarm School, Cleveland (9/89)4175

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the fees charged in those schools involved in the assisted places scheme.

Schools participating in the assisted places scheme charge assisted pupils the same fees as other pupils. Fee structures are related to pupils' age groups and differ considerably from school to school. Full details of schools' fees can be found in the directories published by the independent schools' associations, copies of which are held in the Library.

Research Councils

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are his reasons for not publishing the 1990 report of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils.

My right hon. and learned Friend considers that the advice that the board offers as part of the public expenditure survey should be confidential, as is normal for similar advice from other bodies such as the Universities Funding Council and the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council. He recognises that the board may wish to make its views on some matters, including priorities for United Kingdom science, more widely available and will be discussing this with the chairman of the board.

Universities Funding Council

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what policy the Universities Funding Council is required to adopt to ensure that grant aid which has been allocated by it for specific developmental projects is not diverted to other purposes, such as the reduction of general college deficits.

Under the Education Reform Act 1988, the Universities Funding Council is empowered to attach conditions to its grant to universities, including repayment of grant if the conditions are not met.

Church Commissioners

Redundant Buildings

27.

To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, what steps are being taken by the Church Commissioners to make redundant buildings available to alleviate the problems of the homeless.

Some 13 redundant churches have been appropriated to use as night shelters or day centres or sold or leased to local authorities or housing associations, while more than 100 of the sites of demolished redundant churches have been disposed of to local authorities or housing associations.

Ordinations

29.

To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, what representations he has received on the subject of the ordination of women ministers.

Scotland

Civic Government

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to complete the current review of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.

The current review of the 1982 Act has been delayed by pressure of other work but it should be completed shortly. Thereafter we intend to publish in the course of next year a consultation paper setting out our proposals for changes to the Act.

Overseas Development

Mozambique

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations he has received calling for the United Kingdom to help fund the shortfall in the United Nations Mozambique emergency appeal, to help relief and resettlement of refugees and displaced persons; and if he will make a statement.

In addition to early-day motion 1417 of 17 October and questions from the hon. Members for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) and for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd) some 40 letters of representation have been received on this issue. The position remains as stated in my replies to the hon. Members for Bradford, West and for Cynon Valley on 19 October, at column 938, and 13 November, at column 99, respectively.

Rain Forests

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the results of the Minister for Overseas Development's visit to Brazilian and Amazon rain forest projects for Brazilian-British co-operation in conserving rain forests.

My visit was valuable in giving me a closer understanding of the issues involved. I am convinced that our environmental co-operation programme with Brazil is on the right lines and that we should press on with developing our programme in both the urban and the rain forest sectors. I am pleased to have been able to sign agreements on projects in both areas.I also look forward to new project proposals emerging as a result of the Anglo-Brazilian environmental conference, which I opened in Brasilia.

Human Rights Abuses

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for which countries, other than the Sudan, Her Majesty's Government have stopped British development aid, on the ground of human rights abuses.

We have stopped British development aid to Burma and project aid to Somalia. We are at present running down our project aid to Sudan in response to the human rights situation there. We have also delayed implementation of a pledge of programme aid to Sri Lanka pending improvement of the human rights situation there.

West Indies

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the Overseas Development Administration is giving the Windward Islands and Jamaica to diversify into exports other than bananas over the next decade.

Assistance for economic diversification to reduce dependence on bananas has been a significant part of our aid programme to the Windward Islands for many years. Current commitments to agricultural diversification total £3·5 million, and this will be an important area for future aid allocations.Our Jamaica programme focuses on other sectors, though we are providing a grant of £500,000 for the rehabilitation of smallholder coffee following hurricane damage.The aid programme also helps with diversification into tourism, through improvements to supporting infrastructure such as roads and water and electricity supplies, and with training.Investment by the Commonwealth Development Corporation—CDC—supports the growth of the coffee industry in Jamaica and tourism and processing of local production for export in the region as a whole. The CDC is also assisting the banana industry in Jamaica to increase its productivity and thus to improve its competitive position in the European market.

Malaysia

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all offers of aid to Malaysia, with the date the offer was made and the date the aid agreement was signed, since 1979.

The information requested cannot be provided in the form requested by the hon. Lady, but I can confirm that offers of aid have been made to the Government of Malaysia since 1979 in respect of the following aid and trade provision—ATP—projects and, where aid agreements have been signed, a date, if known, has been added:

Offers made for ATP projects and date of aid agreement (only six offers have so far resulted in an aid agreement)

  • Sungei Ahning Dam—28 December 1984
  • Cross Braced Rail Bogies—31 July 1986
  • Rural Water Schemes—28 August 1986
  • Sandakan Power Station—4 March 1989
  • Nucleus Hospitals—13 July 1990
  • View data-date not readily available
  • Pergau Hydro Electric Station
  • Connaught Bridge Power Station
  • Sibu Airport
  • Utora University
  • Digital Multiplex Equipment
  • Labuan/Sabah Submarine Cable
  • Load Despatch Centres
  • Locomotives
  • Railway Braking System
  • Air Navigation Equipment
  • Peninsular Gas
  • Optical Fibre Telecommunications
  • Sarawak Transmission
  • Sungai Piah Hydro Electric Station
  • Transmission Switchgear
  • East-West Malay Submarine Cable
  • Indoor Substations
  • Offshore Gas Development
  • Gas Turbine Generators
  • NEB Consultancy Port Klang Power Station
  • Bersia/Kenering Hydro Electric Station
  • Submarine Telecommuncations
  • Switchgear for NEB
  • Bataing AI
  • Paka Power Station
  • Circulating Water Plant
  • 3KV Transmission Switchgear
  • Communications Equipment
  • 132KV Transmission Switchgear
  • Submarine Telephone Cable
  • Peninsular Gas Phase II

Offers made for ATP/Technical Co-operation Projects and Date of Agreement (only six offers have so far resulted in an aid agreement).

  • Airport Study—19 August 1980.
  • Privatisation Programme—23 June 1988.
  • Ulu Jelai Feasibility Study—March 1985 (exact date not readily available).
  • Liwagu Hydro Electric Study—16 September 1987.
  • Rural Water Supply Supervision—11 September 1987.
  • Medamit 2 Study—15 October 1990.
  • Railways Double Tracking.
  • Meteorological Study.
  • Hill Resort Road.
  • Islamic University Master Plan Study.
  • Islamic University Socio-Economic Study.
  • Peninsular Gas Phase II.
  • Selangor Pipeline Rehabilitation Study.
  • Air Traffic Control Consultancy.
  • Aluminium Smelter Study.
  • Copper Complex Feasibility Study.
  • Engineering Complex Feasibility Study.
  • Nenggiri Hydro Electric Consultancy.
  • Power Generation Feasibility Study.
  • Rail Training.
  • Transformers for NEB.
  • Urea Plant Consultancy.

In addition to ATP activities we have provided various technical co-operation inputs under our regular aid programme for Malaysia. The major elements in the regular aid programme are provision of experts and volunteers and training for students and other trainees.Information on the total number of man years for each of these categories is given in the table.

Year

Experts and Volunteers (man years)

Student and Trainees (man years)

197997164
198056171
198146100
19824376
19833389
198429114
19853486
198642100
198735103
198833105
198933110

Sahara

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what relief aid has been given to the Saharans who are currently living in camps in Algeria having fled from western Sahara following its invasion by Morocco.

Aid Focus

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the evidence on which the Minister for Overseas Development based her statement of 8 November that British aid is focused on the poorest sectors and people within poor countries.

[holding answer 16 November 1990]: In my speech to the Refugee Council annual conference on 8 November, I said that the Government were focusing their growing assistance on the poorest countries, on the poorest groups within those countries, and the most vulnerable. In 1989 over 70 per cent. of our gross bilateral aid went to the poorest 50 countries compared with 63 per cent. in 1986. The report of the Public Accounts Committee published on 18 June 1990 recognised that the ODA's efforts to engage in direct poverty alleviation projects were yielding results. In India alone, our commitments to poverty alleviation activities now amount to £130 million with a further £60 million under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the evidence on which the Minister for Overseas Development based her statement of 8 November that British aid is becoming more and more project orientated.

Brazil

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions were held on human rights abuse, particularly of Yanomani people, with Brazilian officials during the visit to Brazil of the Minister for Overseas Development.

[holding answer 16 November 1990]: We have consistently made clear to the Brazilian authorities our views on human rights abuse. During my visit I took the opportunity to discuss with Foreign Minister Rezek the concerns of both Governments about securing a viable future for indigenous peoples including the Yanomani. We understand that the Brazilian authorities are instituting measures which should be helpful in safeguarding indigenous rights.

Aid Expenditure

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the decision was made that poverty, population and environment are the top priorities for British aid; what proportion of aid was spent on each of these in 1989 and the current year; and how the decision will be reflected in aid expenditure in 1991 and in future years.

[holding answer 16 November 1990]: The alleviation of poverty has been a major aim of the aid programme under successive Governments. Recently we have been giving increasing priority to growth and addressing environmental issues. I see these as interrelated issues requiring increasing attention.

In 1989 a total of £17·3 million was spent on activities directly related to population concerns, a 72 per cent. increase in real terms compared to 1981. In addition most mother and child health and women's education programmes contribute to reducing population growth.

On poverty, I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave her on 26 June, at column 125. On environment, ODA procedures now rightly require that the evaluation of all projects takes account of environmental considerations. The increasing priority given to the issue is reflected in the fact that whereas in 1988 the Government were financing around 80 forestry projects at a cost to the aid programme of £45 million, we currently have in place or in preparation over 200 projects at a cost of some £165 million. Figures for 1990 and future years are not available.

Transport

Fuel-Burning Trains

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers his Department has to control and issue guidelines to British Rail regarding the use of fuel-burning trains in urban areas.

Operational aspects of motive power are a matter for British Rail. Enforcement of controls under the Clean Air Act 1956 on emissions of dark smoke is by local authorities. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, railway engines other than steam locomotives could become subject to statutory nuisance action by local authorities or individuals.

British Rail

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will approve British Rail's proposals for new class 159 vehicles for the Waterloo to Exeter route.

The passengers who use the Waterloo-Exeter route are currently getting a service which is below the standard they are entitled to expect, in spite of the best efforts of Network SouthEast managers and staff.The replacement of the old and unreliable trains on the line has been a priority for both British Rail and the Government.British Rail put to me a sound case for 69 class 159 vehicles to be introduced on the Waterloo-Exeter route, most of which will be converted class 158s, and I approved its proposal today.It means that passengers can look forward to a modern, reliable and comfortable service at least a year sooner than would otherwise have been possible.

Disabled People (Vehicle Excise Duty)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many disabled people in 1989 applied successfully to claim a refund of vehicle excise duty or exemption from the payment of vehicle excise duty.

During the period April 1989 to March 1990 there were approximately 22,000 successful first-time claims by disabled people for refunds of vehicle excise duty. There are currently over 350,000 disabled persons claiming exemption from vehicle excise duty.

Rolling Stock, Kent

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his policy with regard to the supply of the new Networker rolling stock for use on commuter lines serving north-west Kent; and if he will make a statement.

I fully support Network SouthEast's programme of investment in the Kent Link lines. A total of 400 Networker trains were approved in August 1989 at a cost of over £290 million with approval for a further 276 in principle. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has endorsed the 12-car Networker strategy for Kent Link routes. Infrastructure improvements at a cost of over £120 million are going ahead and more rolling stock is likely to be ordered. I understand that the first class 465 Networker is due for delivery to Kent Link in September 1991.

Tachograph Charts

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to reach a decision about the serialisation of tachograph charts.

Warwick Gardens, Peckham

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Minister of State will visit Warwick Gardens in Peckham.

It is, of course, for British Rail to propose a route for a new rail link between the channel tunnel and London.However, I intend to visit Warwick Gardens, which are in the Dulwich constituency, at a time of convenience for my hon. Friend the Member for Dulwich (Mr. Bowden).

Northern Ireland

Enterprise Ulster

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff of Enterprise Ulster are to be declared redundant in 1990 and 1991; and how many of these are remunerated within the range £7,000 to £12,000 per annum.

Fifty, of whom 49 are likely to be in the £7,000 to £12,000 per annum wages or salary range. The precise position will not be known until after the present offer of voluntary redundancy to all staff closes on 27 November 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what kinds of material used by Enterprise Ulster have been conveyed to the private homes of staff members for the purpose of material testing; how long the testing lasted; and when reports on the test results were submitted and to whom.

The only known material conveyed to a member of staffs private home, for the purpose of material testing, was Colfix bitumen emulsion. This was in December 1980, with the results of the experiment published in January 1981 and circulated to line management.

The Colfix bitumen and the small quantity of stones used were paid for by the member of staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff of Enterprise Ulster whose remuneration is in excess of £12,000 per annum are to be transferred to other work in the Government service; how many are to be retained in Enterprise Ulster; and how many are to be declared redundant.

Enterprise Ulster is a statutory body established in 1973. As such, there are no arrangements in place which allow its staff to be transferred to other work in the Government service. Of the up to 50 staff being made redundant in 1990 and 1991, it is likely that there may be one whose remuneration is in excess of £12,000 per annum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what projects were undertaken by Enterprise Ulster in 1988 and 1989; and what was the total cost of each, showing separately the amount contributed by the client or sponsor and the value placed on unused materials returned to Enterprise Ulster depots.

In the 1988–89 financial year, Enterprise Ulster undertook 385 projects at a total gross cost of £2,083,124 to which clients contributed £419,663. In 1989–90, a total of 312 projects were undertaken at a total gross cost of £913,446 to which clients contributed £219,881. No record is kept of unused materials which were either returned to the client or on agreement, transferred to another project of the client or if purchased by Enterprise Ulster, returned to its depots.Details of the projects undertaken in the two years, along with Enterprise Ulster's expenditure and income from clients have been placed in the Library of the House.

Energy Connections

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in establishing whether provision of (a) a natural gas pipeline and (b) an electricity connector between Northern Ireland and Great Britain is likely to be feasible; and if he will make a statement.

The technical and economic feasibility of using gas for power generation is currently being assessed. Several possible routes for a pipeline from Great Britain are being examined and sea bed surveys have been completed. Initial discussions have been held with a number of natural gas suppliers.On an electricity interconnector, discussions are continuing between Northern Ireland Electricity and Scottish Power.

Saltwater Bridge, Kircubbin

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many traffic accidents there have been in each of the past five years and in the first 10 months of 1990 in the vicinity of Saltwater bridge, Rowreagh road, Kircubbin, County Down; how many persons were injured; how many persons were killed; and what proposals he has to improve road safety at this location.

Recorded accidents at Saltwater bridge, Rowreagh road, Kircubbin, are as follows:

YearNumber of accidentsNumber of persons killed/ injured
19850
19860
1987111
19880
1989111
3 1990121
1 Injured.
2 Killed.
3 To date.
A minor road realignment scheme which will enhance road safety at this location is due to commence towards the end of the next financial year.

Poverty And Deprivation

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures the Government will introduce to reduce the level of poverty and deprivation in Northern Ireland, following the report of the Child Poverty Action Group.

The Government aim to provide an effective system of financial help; extra resources being targeted on those most in need. Following the reform of social security in April 1988, which gave increased levels of support to families with children, there have been other improvements, including increased help from October 1989 for disabled and older pensioners on income support or housing benefit and higher limits on savings from April 1990. There will be a general benefits uprating next April, including a real increase in the basic pensioner premium for people aged 60 to 74 on income support or housing benefit and substantial extra income support for many people being cared for in independent homes. The Government have also announced plans to improve the framework of benefits for disabled people. Additionally, the decision to set up a Social Security Agency in Northern Ireland is intended further to improve the quality and responsiveness of service to those in need of help.

District Heating

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action the Northern Ireland Housing Executive is taking as a result of the offer British Coal has made to assume responsibility for the improvement and operation of certain district heating schemes in Northern Ireland.

The chairman of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive has informed me that the executive has rejected the British Coal proposals in view of the high level of subsidy which the proposals required.

Environment

Land Registration

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what circular or communication he has made to local authorities concerning future registration of public sector land; what categories of existing use such proposals cover; and for what purpose.

My Department issued on 12 September a consultation paper which invited the comments of the local authority associations and others interested on our proposals for encouraging the use of vacant public sector land. One of the proposals was for a statutory duty on local authorities and other public sector bodies to keep, and make accessible to the public, registers of their unused and underused land on a broadly similar basis to those requested under the code of practice issued in August 1989. Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the Library. The responses are now being considered.Part VIII of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 places a duty on local authorities to keep a register of potentially contaminated land in their areas whether publicly or privately owned. Copies of a report on the methodology for identifying such land, "Pilot Survey of Potentially Contaminated Land in Cheshire", were sent to all local authorities in July.

Satellite Dishes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received in the current year concerning planning applications for the siting of satellite dishes.

This information is not readily available. Virtually all of the substantial number of letters received on this subject are concerned with the environmental impact of satellite dishes erected under permitted development rights (for which a specific planning application is unnecessary). The consultation, earlier this year, over proposed changes to the permitted development rights for satellite dishes produced nearly 600 responses.

National Stadium

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in the light of the recommendation of the Taylor report and the separate need for a national stadium in the 21st century, what form of public financial support would be available to supplement private sector investment in such a facility in the west midlands.

The Government's priority is the introduction of all seating accommodation in line with Lord Justice Taylor's recommendations. Substantial funds are being made available to the Football Trust from the reduction in pool betting duty. It is for other public authorities in the area to decide their own investment priorities.

Limehouse Link Road

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will break down the estimated £142 million cost of the Limehouse link road into its principal components, including rehousing costs and relocation of businesses; what contracts have now been concluded for construction and associated work, with the names of the respective companies and amounts of the relevant tenders; and what further contracts remain to be concluded.

The figure of £142 million was the estimated cost of the Limehouse link road, prepared by LDDC in 1988, prior to tendering in 1989. It relates to construction costs only. The main construction contract was awarded in September 1989 at a value of £220 million to a joint venture of Balfour Beatty Construction Ltd. and Fairclough Civil Engineering Ltd. Subcontracting is a matter for the main contractors, and the details are confidential to them.

Local Government Finance

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has received to the 1991–92 standard spending assessment announcements from local authorities.

Consultations on the local government finance settlement for 1991–92 will continue until 28 November. The representations received to date from local authorities have shown that the large proposed increases in standard spending assessments are welcomed, and have also included a number of detailed comments on specific points.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what proposals he has for exempting clothing, bedding, furniture and basic equipment from seizure by private bailiffs enforcing the community charge;(2) what proposals he has to amend the Community Charges (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1989 to bring controls on bailiffs enforcing the community charge into line with those applying for distress for rent.

My Department does not propose to make any changes to the Community Charges (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1989 as regards bailiffs employed by local authorities. We have issued advice on the employment of bailiffs by local authorities which included the suggestion that authorities should issue guidelines to bailiffs on their mode of operation. I understand that the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation will shortly be issuing a practice note which will include details of property which it is unlawful or imprudent to distrain.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for requiring private bailiffs enforcing the community charge to show written authorisation from the local authority.

The Community Charges (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1989 already require a bailiff to show the debtor the written authorisation he has received from the local authority if requested to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish figures showing for 1990–91 the average amount in £ sterling per week and the percentage of earnings accounted for by the community charge for (i) a single person, (ii) a single-earner married couple without children, (iii) a single-earner married couple with two children and (iv) a two-earner married couple on (a) 50 per cent., (b) 75 per cent., (c) 100 per cent., (d) 150 per cent., (e) 200 per cent., (f) 300 per cent., (g) 400 per cent., (h) 500 per cent., (i) 700 per cent. and (j) 1,000 per cent. of average earnings.

I regret that it is not possible to produce satisfactory estimates of the amount paid in community charge by households of differing incomes. The amount paid will vary according to the area in which the households live; their entitlement to transitional relief; and their entitlement to community charge rebate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people have been exempted from paying the community charge in each category of exemption in the London borough of Camden.

Information returned by the authority on the number of exempt persons over 18 in the London borough of Camden at 1 June 1990 is as follows:

Number
Severely mentally impaired57
Aged 18 or 19166
Members of religious communities47
In hospital or home21,550
Persons without fixed abode200
Other328
1 Aged 18 who attract child benefit because they are still at school or aged 18 or 19 and on full-time courses of further, but not higher, education.
2 People whose sole or main residence is in an NHS hospital, in a residential care home, a nursing home, a mental nursing home, a private hospital or a hostel providing a substantial level of care, and who are also being treated or cared for in such an institution.
3 People in detention, members of visiting forces, international headquarters and defence organisations, and their dependants (including diplomats), residential care workers employed at a very low salary, and full-time students whose term time address is in Scotland or Northern Ireland. These categories have been combined because of the small numbers involved.

Ince B Power Station

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from local authorities in Gwynedd and Clwyd concerning the environmental effects of the proposed burning of Orimulsion fuel at Ince B power station; and if he will make a statement.

I have received one letter about Ince power station from Gwynedd county council which was forwarded to my Department by the hon. Member for Caernarfon.

Leybucht Bay

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many of his (a) legal and (b) other staff will be sent as observers to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg on 5 December in respect of the Leybucht bay case;(2) what policy considerations led him to decide to associate the United Kingdom Government with the German Government as defendants in the Leybucht bay case brought by the European Commission for infringement of the European Community wild birds directive;(3) how many of his

(a) legal and (b) other staff were sent as observers to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg on 16 October on the occasion of the preliminary hearing of the Leybucht bay case.

The United Kingdom intervened in case C57/89 brought by the European Commission against the German Government on two grounds. First, we believe that the Commission is not entitled to rely upon any presumption of fact and should be required to place before the court the evidence needed to support its case that a member state has not fulfilled an obligation under Community law. Secondly, the Commission interprets article 4 of the wild birds directive EEC 79/409 as imposing an absolute prohibition on any activity or development within a special protection area (SPA) which might cause significant pollution or deterioration of habitat or disturbance to the birds, with the sole exception of works which are strictly necessary to protect human health or safety. We consider this interpretation to be contrary to the wording and intention of the directive, and unacceptable in principle.Two members of my Department's staff attended the hearing of this case on 16 October in support of counsel together with an officer of the Treasury Solicitor's Department. The Welsh Office and South Glamorgan county council also each sent an observer. There are no plans for anyone to attend the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg on 5 December.Information requested relating to the total cost to public funds of the United Kingdom intervention in this case is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answers of 12 and 13 November, when he will be in a position to estimate the total cost to public funds of the Government's decision to associate themselves legally with the German Government as a co-defendant against the European Commission in the Leybucht bay case.

[holding answer 16 November 1990]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him earlier today.

Local Authority Employees

To ask the Secretary of State, for the Environment how many town or county hall employees, except teachers, are recorded as having been made redundant in each of the past 10 years.

Interim Development Order Sites

To ask the Secretary State for the Environment whether he proposes to introduce any controls on interim development order sites in respect of (a) opencast mining, (b) quarrying and (c) any other purpose; and if he will make a statement.

The Minerals Act 1981 provides an opportunity for mineral planning authorities to review interim development orders and other early planning permissions for mineral working and to make orders updating them where appropriate. There are no proposals to introduce further controls, but we are reviewing the operation of the Minerals Act 1981, as announced in "This Common Inheritance".

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding interim development order sites; and if he will make a statement.

The Department is aware of the recent concern about interim development order permissions and has received a number of representations from those affected by them.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has visited any interim development order sites in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has not visited any interim development order sites in the last 12 months, but I shall be visiting a number of mineral sites during the course of next year to see operating conditions at first hand.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many interim development order sites exist in England; and if he will list full details in the Official Report.

All permissions granted under interim development orders before 21 July 1943 have lapsed, but permissions applied for, and granted on or after that date and before 1 July 1948 were preserved by section 77 of the 1947 Act and by subsequent legislation.No records of applications made under interim development orders were required and no information about the total number of permissions granted is currently available. Such records as there are of such permissions will be held by the successor planning authority and we are discussing the information currently available with the local authority associations.

Workplace Accidents

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the reported accidents involving lifting while working received by his Department with regard to local government employees for 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989 showing distribution by age and sex, occupation, incidence rates based on population of England and place of accident.

Mortgages

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the number of families with dependent children who have mortgages; and what was the comparable figure in 1979.

The estimated numbers of households in England with dependent children (aged under 16, or under 19 if in full-time education) buying with a mortgage, were 3·1 million in 1979 and 3·6 million in 1988. These figures are derived from the general household survey.

Disabled Facilities Grants

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence his Department has of the impact of the system of contribution repayments towards disabled facilities grants, set out in circular 10/90 (paragraphs 17, 18 and 67), on the financial situation of disabled persons and their families and on the expenditure of local authorities that waive loan repayments.

I have no evidence to suggest that the system is not working as intended, which is to ensure that the resources available tor grants are used as effectively as possible. All aspects of the new renovation grant system will however be kept under review.

Apple Orchards

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure the protection of orchards containing rare varieties of apples; and if he will make a statement.

Currently we are engaged in a wide-ranging review of tree preservation policies and legislation. A consultation exercise will be launched shortly, providing an opportunity for comments on this and other issues to be considered in that broader context. In addition, I understand that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food continues to fund the national fruit collection at Brogdale which contains some 2,300 varieties of apple.

North Sea (Dumping)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to prevent the further dumping by oil companies of radioactive waste from oil rigs into the North sea; and if he will make a statement.

Disposals of small amounts of radioactive waste from oil installations in the North sea are authorised under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution (HMIP) on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Environment and by Her Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate (HMIPI) on behalf of the Secretary of State for Scotland. Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis and before an authorisation is issued HMIP or HMIPI needs to be satisfied that disposals will not present any significant radiological hazard.

World Climate Conference

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what results were achieved at the second world climate conference; and if he will make a statement.

The second world climate conference was a major step forward in the international response to climate change. Following a week's meeting on scientific issues, Ministers from some 137 countries agreed a declaration which called for an early start on negotiations on a framework convention on climate change, to be completed by 1992. We fully support this agreement, and will play an active part in the negotiations which begin in February 1991.The conference endorsed the need for a global strategy to respond to climate change, involving the participation of all nations. To enable developing countries to play their full part in this, the declaration recognises the need for financial and technological assistance from the industrialised countries.The declaration also welcomed the commitment of the European Community and its member states and of other developed countries to take action aimed at stabilising emissions of greenhouse gases, and particularly carbon dioxide. It urged all developed countries to establish national strategies to limit emissions of greenhouse gases.This conference involved 137 nations, more than at any comparable gathering, and the agreements reached will give added impetus to the work of developing an effective and realistic global response to climate change ready for the 1992 United Nations conference on environment and development.

Employment

Unit Labour Costs

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give, for each year from 1974, an index of the rise in unit labour costs in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France, the Federal Republic of Germany and Japan (a) in local currency and (b) adjusted for changes in relative exchange rates.

Statistics on unit labour costs in the whole economy are not available. International com-parisons of unit labour costs in manufacturing industries are made periodically by the international monetary fund. The latest available data from this source are set out in the tables:

TABLE 1: Manufacturing Unit Labour Costs in Local Currency
United KingdomUnited States of AmericaFranceFederal Republic of GermanyJapan
Index 1985 = 100
197430·759·335·368·589·0
197541·763·542·973·1102·1
197646·265·646·573·8102·3
197751·969·449·178·0106·4
197859·674·553·081·5105·0
197970·382·057·483·7105·2
198085·991·665·690·2104·7
198193·598·273·894·5108·6
198296·6104·382·797·7107·7
198395·3101·787·997·0105·3
198496·599·794·298·1101·2
1985100·0100·0100·0100·0100·0
1986103·8100·8101·9105·0103·3
1987103·899·5101·8111·598·0
1988106·1100·8100·0111·094·5
1989110·7101·6101·3112·295·3
TABLE 2: Manufacturing Unit Labour Costs Adjusted for Changes in Relative Exchange Rates.
United KingdomUnited States of AmericaFranceFederal Republic of GermanyJapan
Index 1985 = 100
197478·782·891·8107·3110·6
197584·474·4104·8101·0106·9
197676·878·2104·7102·1107·4
197776·576·097·3108·3114·7
197883·068·997·2111·9128·0
197998·668·499·2112·2109·2
1980122·069·2103·9110·293·0
1981124·279·399·2100·0102·9
1982114·989·396·7101·791·0
1983103·792·594·4103·198·9
198499·698·996·0101·6101·3
1985100·0100·0100·0100·0100·0
198692·977·2102·5112·5125·1
198790·465·8101·4126·8125·5
198898·463·297·2125·8133·1
198997·965·894·9123·0127·0

Source: International Monetary Fund

Earnings

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish a table showing for each year since 1970 and for the latest month the number of full-time adult males and females in employment together with the number of part-time workers distinguishing between manual and other workers and between manufacturing, other production industries and non-production industries; and if he will add figures for non-adult workers and for the self-employed.

I shall write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of my reply in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many and what percentages of full-time employed (a) men and (b) women, and of part-time employed (i) men and (ii) women, earned less than £3 an hour in April 1990.

The available information on those earning less than £3 per hour in the new earnings survey (NES) sample is published in table 20 of part A of the 1990 NES report.

Labour Statistics

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish a table showing the numbers employed in (a) banking and bill discounting, (b) house and estate agents and (c) legal services.

The information is given in the table.Estimates for the legal services industry can be derived only from censuses of employment. The latest available census figures are for September 1987.

Employees in EmploymentGreat Britain
Industries (SIC 1980)Thousands
June 1990
Banking and Bill Discounting
(Group 814)503·9
House and Estate Agents (Group 834)109·3
September 1987
Legal Services (Group 835)165·3

Industrial Tribunals

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if part-time chairmen of industrial tribunals have been stopped from hearing cases; what is the current waiting time for a hearing date; and to what extent the waiting time has changed in recent months.

Restrictions on the use of part-time chairmen were lifted on 9 November. Information on recent waiting times is not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much further funding has been received by the industrial tribunals; and what plans he has to review the amount further in the rest of the financial year.

The budget of the industrial tribunals (England and Wales) has been increased by £750,000. This will enable the tribunals to operate normally for the rest of the financial year.

Enterprise Allowance Scheme

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give for the enterprise allowance scheme (a) the number of entrants and (b) the total

1987–881988–891989–901990–91 up to 12 October 1990
RegionEntrantsExpenditure (£ million)EntrantsExpenditure (£ million)EntrantsExpenditure (£ million)EntrantsExpenditure (£ million)
London8,99919·743,8979·14
South East8,26417·593,7098·12
Western Division24,51445·046,47313·32
Eastern Division8,22416·19
Southern Division7,45015·98
South West11,26220·8410,34420·97,33517·243,0156·78
West Midlands10,53719·459,67719·157,69117·243,2177·29
East Midlands and Eastern11,56220·329,65619·057,87917·543,6737·6
Yorkshire and Humberside10,19818·899,93519·268,16917·443,2697·6
North West15,95530·3415,31129·8212,26326·965,59311·92
Northern5,72911·075,93812·084,88110·672,1424·52
Wales6,65412·046,94212·925,43312·412,3935·24
Scotland9,89417·918,57217·626,97214·973,3606·89
Totals106,305195·998,522196·377,886171·834,26875·1

Health

Nhs Trusts

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what rules govern membership of trusts and health authorities to ensure that there is no conflict of interest.

The NHS Trusts (Membership and Procedure) Regulations SI No. 1990/2024, as amended, govern the appointment of trust chairmen and directors. The Regional and District Health Authorities (Membership and Procedure) Regulations SI No. 1990/1331 govern the appointment of health authority chairmen and members. The provisions of these regulations together with general guidance issued by the Department are intended to ensure that conflicts of interest do not arise for members of health authorities or directors of NHS trusts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether additional funds were made available to community health councils for consultation on self-governing trusts.

Responding to consultation on the provision of health services is part of the normal function of community health councils. Additional funds have not been made available for consultation on self-governing trusts.

expenditure for each of the years 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91 and for each of the standard regions, Scotland and Wales.

[holding answer 12 November 1990]: The regional breakdown of entrants for each year is shown in the table. Because of changes in scheme administration, separate data for London are not available before April 1989. Expenditure information was produced only at national summary level up to that point. Over 95 per cent. of the programme budget went on allowance payments and estimates are included based on entrant shares.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations have been received by (a) him and (b) regional health authorities about the length of time allowed for consultation on self-governing trusts.

A number of letters have been received. We are satisfied that three months is an appropriate length of time for consultation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the report of the South East Thames regional health authority on local consultation about the application for self-governing trust status of (a) Guy's hospital, Lewisham hospital and mental illness services and (b) St. Thomas's hospital.

Responses to consultation are available from regional health authorities, except where those commenting have made it clear that they are doing so privately.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which regional health authorities held public meetings as part of the consultation about self-governing trusts;(2) which regional health authorities mounted exhibitions as part of their consultations on self-governing trust status.

It is for regions together with trust applicants to determine the range of interests consulted formally and the way in which they are consulted. The methods used in consultation in each region are publicly available from regional health authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will announce his decision about which applications for self-governing status will be granted.

General Practitioners, Trent

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner fund-holding practices will be given the go ahead in the Trent region; on what criteria; and if he will make a statement.

Practices which applied by 1 November this year to join the scheme will need to satisfy the conditions laid down in the National Health Service (Fund-Holding Practices) (Applications and Recognition) Regulations 1990. I understand that 28 practices in the Trent region are currently undertaking the preparatory work necessary to become fund holders. It will be for the region to decide which practices meet the criteria for recognition.

Hospital Beds

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of national health service beds in use in (a) the acute sector and (b) totally in each year from 1979 to 1989; and what is the current figure.

The information requested is given in the table. The latest available figures show that in 1989–90 almost 7·5 million in-patient cases were treated. On a comparable basis, just over 6 million in-patient cases were treated in 1979—a rise of nearly 25 per cent.

Average daily available beds in England
Acute sector (Thousands)Total (Thousands)
1979149362
1980146356
1981145352
1982144348
1983142343
1984139335
1985136325
1986133316
1987–88128297
1988–89123281
1989–90121270

Source:

SH3 return 1979–1986

KHO3 return 1987–88—1989–90

Abortion

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has concerning the rate of sterility caused by infections among women who have had abortions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has concerning the number of licensed abortion agencies which currently routinely screen potential clients for chlamydia infection.

The information requested is not routinely collected. We are aware, however, that some pregnancy advice agencies test their clients for chlamydia infection prior to the insertion of intrauterine devices and in connection with infertility treatment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement outlining the steps which have been taken by his Department to reduce the incidence of pelvic inflammatory disease and tubal blockage following chlamydia infection during abortion.

The form of treatment in an individual case is a matter for the clinical judgment of the doctor concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to the Brook advisory service and other abortion agencies in the last 20 years about the need routinely to screen in advance for chlamydia their potential abortion clients and to prescribe, where appropriate, a course of antibiotics; and what steps he has taken to ensure that these guidelines are followed.

The Brook advisory service is not registered as a pregnancy advice bureau. No such guidance has been issued to Brook or any registered bureaux. The appropriateness of any particular test in an individual case is a matter for the clinical judgment of the doctor concerned.

Residential Care

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice has been given by his Department to agencies concerned with the provision of drug and alcohol services with regard to the funding of residential care after 1 April 1993.

None. We are currently consulting about the specific grant to local authorities. Under the phased introduction of community care local authorities are expected to produce their plans, after consultation, by April 1992. Detailed arrangements for funding residential care for alcohol and drug misusers after 1 April 1993 have yet to be decided.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is able to take in the event of a local authority being unable to meet its duty to provide or arrange residential accommodation for elderly people in need of care and attention not otherwise available.

The provision of residential care is a local authority responsibility. They are expected to give priority to the discharge of their statutory duties. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has default powers which can be used if a local authority fails to fulfil its statutory duty under the National Assistance Act 1948 to provide residential care to people in need of care and attention which is not otherwise available to them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce legislation to extend registration procedures to small residential homes.

We remain committed to seeking an early opportunity for legislation to bring these small homes under regulatory control.

Service Providers (Voluntary Sector)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made by his Department of the resource implications for service providers in the voluntary sector of the implementation of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990; and what financial assistance is being made available to them by the Government.

Although grants are available from central and local government to voluntary sector provider agencies, our community care proposals urge local authorities to contract for services with voluntary sector providers. Guidance will stress the important role of local authorities in encouraging and facilitating the work of the voluntary sector. Authorities will still be able to offer grant support for non-service aspects of voluntary sector work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if it is his intention to issue guidelines on the implementation of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990, for use of providers of services in the voluntary sector.

The Department will shortly issue policy guidance on community care which will be supplemented by practice advice from the social services inspectorate. Both guidance and practice advice will be addressed to health and local authorities and the Department intends that they will be of interest to all community care agencies, including voluntary and private sector providers.

Drug And Alcohol Services

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the implications of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 for the assessment of care management of clients with drug and alcohol problems where there is a need for access to a national network of services to be maintained and a requirement for the provision of funding across existing local authority and health authority boundaries.

The policy guidance which is to be issued soon will emphasise the need for local authorities and health authorities to work together. The assessment of clients with alcohol and drug problems will need to take account of the range of services provided within the area or available elsewhere.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response has been made by his Department following representations from agencies regarding the omission from the National Health Service and Community Care Act of provisions to take account of the special needs of drug and alcohol services.

Section 7E of the Local Authorities Social Services Act 1970 (inserted by section 50 of the NHS and Community Care Act 1990) empowers my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to make specific grants to local authorities. One of these grants will be for voluntary organisations providing services for alcohol and drug misusers. The grant in 1991–92 will support expenditure of £2 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if it is the Government's intention to issue guidelines concerning the resolution of disputes between agencies over the responsibility for funding services for people with drug or alcohol problems, under the provisions of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990.

Guidance which is to be issued soon will emphasise the need for joint working between all agencies concerned with funding community care services. There was wide-ranging consultation including voluntary and statutory authorities. Where there is dispute between health authorities and local authorities, advice may be sought from regional health authorities and the social services inspectorate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision is being made by his Department under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 to ensure that a uniform system for the assessment of persons with drug or alcohol problems is developed across the United Kingdom in order to avoid clients facing several assessments from various agencies before being offered appropriate services.

It is not the Government's intention to prescribe the detailed assessment procedures; these will be for local authorities to develop in partnership with other agencies. In assessing the social and health care needs of their residents, local and health authorities will need to ensure that people with alcohol or drug problems have access to a range of services which may be provided within the area or elsewhere. Where a specialist service is provided by a voluntary body under contract with a local authority, it will be possible for the contractual arrangements to include delegation of the assessment function.

King's College Hospital

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the King's College hospital day surgery block will be used for national health service patients.

Eye Tests

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of national health service eye tests carried out between 1 April 1989 and 31 March 1990.

The number of NHS sight tests paid for by family health services authorities (formally family practitioner committees) in England and Wales between 1 April 1989 and 31 March 1990 was 5·572 million.This figure includes approximately 1·7 million sight tests which were carried out before 1 April 1989 but paid for after that date.

Listeria Monocytogenes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been carried out to investigate the proposition that listeria monocytogenes, damaged by heating and growing in chilled conditions, are more infectious and dangerous than normal listeria monocytogenes.

[holding answer 12 November 1990]: Research at the university of Würzburg, Germany has indicated that levels of haemolysin (a haemolysin is a chemical produced by bacteria which damages or destroys red blood cells (and other mammalian cells)) in some listeria monocytogenes (Lm) have been increased following recovery after heat shock. The production of haemolysin by some strains of Lm has been shown to be a marker for virulence in animals and tissue culture, and is believed to be relevant to the ability of the microorganisms to cause disease in humans. However, the observed higher incidence of haemolysin following heat shock was followed by further work with certain strains of Lm. This showed no increase in virulence for animals or tissue cultures, suggesting that an increased level of haemolysin produced by the micro-organism may not be important in producing disease.Research by other groups has shown that Lm cultured at low temperatures appears to be more virulent in an animal model following intravenous inoculation but not more virulent following introduction into the alimentary tract, that is, oral route.Research continues into the virulence of this micro-organism at Würzburg and at the Pasteur institute in Paris. In the United Kingdom the public health laboratory service is embarking on work to establish virulence markers and work in this field is also taking place at the Moredun research institute in Edinburgh.

Social Security

Disablement Benefit Gratuities

3.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of disablement benefit gratuities paid to claimants in the parliamentary constituency of Greenock and Port Glasgow, under regulation 13 of the Social Security (Industrial Injuries and Diseases) Miscellaneous Provisions Regulations 1986; and what has been the average amount of such payments.

Child Benefit

4.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the level of child benefit for the first-born child in each of the 12 Community countries.

The table shows that the United Kingdom rate of £7·25 a week is second only to the £7·77 shown for Belgium. From next April the United Kingdom rate will be £8·25.

Rates of child benefit in the 12 European Community states on the birth of a first-born child
CountryMaximum normal rates1 £
Belgium7·772 3
Denmark6·364
FranceNil4
Germany3·22
Greece0·982 3 4
Ireland2·99
Italy2·012 3 4
Luxembourg6·93
Netherlands5·20
Portugal2·152 4
Spain0·342 4
United Kingdom7·254
1 Rates quoted are weekly sterling equivalents (most EC countries pay benefits monthly) and have been converted from national currency using purchasing power parity rates. Rates quoted were correct at 1 January 1990.

2 Benefits based on a contributory principle.

3 Benefits have an element of means-testing.

4 Extra amounts payable to certain families, eg, single parents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what plans he has to ensure that families eligible for income support and the £1 per week increase in child benefit for the first born do not lose all the child benefit increase;(2) what is his most up-to-date estimate of the numbers of families with children on income support who will lose

(a) all of the £1 per week in child benefit for the first born announced in the annual uprating, (b) 50p to £1 and (c) 0 to 50p.

As a result of the recently announced uprating of social security benefits, more than 99 per cent. of families on income support will see an overall increase in their total benefits from April 1991. In the course of the uprating, increases in all benefits are generally taken fully into account, including the increase in child benefit paid to about 1–2 million families on income support. Insufficient information is available to estimate the number of families whose income support will he affected by less than £1 per week but this number is thought to be very low. There are no plans for changing the way child benefit is treated in income support.

Family Credit

7.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average family credit payment and what was the average family income supplement payment in 1978–79 in current prices.

19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average family credit payment: and what was the average family income supplement payment in 1978–79 in today's prices.

The average amount of family credit in payment is around £30 a week. The average payment of family income supplement in March 1979 was £5·22 or £11·30 at current prices.

18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families benefit from family credit; and how many benefited from the predecessor scheme in 1978–79.

The latest available information is for the end of August when the family credit case load was 323,000. This compares with 78,000 families receiving family income supplement at the end of 1978–79.

24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest figure he has for the number of families in receipt of family credit; and what was the comparable figure for family income supplement.

The latest information is for the end of August when the family credit case load was 323,000. Family income supplement was in payment to 213,000 families immediately before that scheme came to an end in April 1988.

Invalidity Benefit

14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he plans to change the gap between invalidity benefit and the take-home pay of the average worker.

We have no plans to change the formula for uprating invalidity benefit, which is uprated in line with the retail prices index.

Students (Income Support)

15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to amend the present regulations to enable 19-year-olds in full-time relevant education to claim income support.

We have no plans to change the income support regulations in this way.

Disabled People

16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many disabled people and their carers have benefited from the Government's reforms made in the current year.

More than half a million disabled people and carers have benefited this year from the Government's reforms to disability benefits. Our proposals for improving disability benefits will add some £300 million to spending on disabled people by 1993–94 and will give extra help to an estimated 850,000 people. Spending on disabled people has increased in real terms by more than £4 billion since 1978–79 to a total of £8·3 billion in 1989–90.

22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many disabled people are paying back social fund loans; how many are paying back with deductions from other benefits; and if he will make a statement.

As at 31 October 1990, 26,800 people with an income support disability premium were repaying social fund loans. Most of these will have been repaying by deduction from their benefit. A small number may have been repaying by other methods but a precise figure is not available. Since April 1990, 35,000 community care grants have been awarded to people with a disability premium. In 6,600 of these cases a grant was awarded where the application was for a budgeting loan.

Welfare Rights Agencies

20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received from welfare rights agencies regarding the availability of his Department's claims forms.

There have been no such representations since August. New contracts for the national supply and distribution of all forms have been in operation since September.

Pensions

21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost of uprating the basic pension by £13 for a single person and £20 for a couple.

My hon. Friend will be interested to know that the cost to the national insurance fund of uprating the retirement pension in this way would be approximately £6 billion. Such an increase would also mean a rise in the national insurance contributions paid by an employee on average earnings of approximately £2·93 per week and £5·34 for his employer.

Pensioners (Mortgages)

23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of pensioners make mortgage repayments; and how much of next April's rise in the basic state pension is attributable to rising interest and mortgage rates in the 12 months to September of this year.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridgeshire, North-East (Mr. Moss) earlier today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of pensioners make mortgage repayments; and how much of next April's rise in the basic state pension is attributable to rising interest and mortgage rates in the 12 months to September of this year.

As my hon. Friend will be aware, the retirement pension will be increased by 10·9 per cent. from April 1991, honouring the Government's commitment to protect fully the value of the state pension against changing prices. The corresponding September figure for the retail prices index less mortgage interest payments was 9·5 per cent. The latest information shows that, in 1987 49 per cent. of pensioners owned their own homes and 4 per cent. were making mortgage repayments.

Residential Care Allowances

25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consultations he has initiated consequently on receipt of the Price Waterhouse report on residential care allowances to charitable or other homes for the elderly.

The Price Waterhouse report was commissioned to provide background information for consideration as part of this year's uprating. Other interested parties provided comments or information that they wished to be considered.

Amputees

26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many amputees had their mobility allowance withdrawn or suspended in the last three years for which figures are available.

I regret that this information is not available. The Department's records do, however, show that of the 611,000 people currently receiving mobility allowance, 8,000 are shown as having amputation of a limb as the main cause of their inability to walk.

Benefits

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost in a full year of abolishing the capital rule and deemed income and basing benefit on actual income only for (a) housing benefit, (b) community charge benefit, (c) family credit and (d) age premium for retirement pensioners.

The cost in a full year of abolishing capital limits and tariff income for the income-related benefits and basing benefit on actual income from capital is estimated to be:

1990–91 prices £ million
a. Housing benefit60
b. Community charge benefit70
c. Family credit2
d. Income support60
It is estimated that there would be no cost if the change was made only to income support for those receiving a pensioner premium.

Source: Modelled using data drawn from the 1985, 1986 and 1987 family expenditure surveys. Estimates of capital holdings are uncertain because they are imputed from reported income from investment and savings. The estimated costs quoted assume particular interest rate levels and patterns of capital asset holdings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost in a full year of abolishing the capital rule and deemed income and basing benefit on 10 per cent. of annual income only for (a) housing benefit, (b) community charge benefit, (c) family credit and. (d) age premium for retirement pensioners.

The expenditure effect in a full year of abolishing capital limits and tariff income for the income-related benefits and basing benefit assessment on an assumed interest on savings of 10 per cent. is estimated to be:

1990–91 prices
£ million
(a) Housing benefit110
(b) Community charge benefit220
(c) Family credit12
(d) Income support15
1 Million saving.
2 Million cost.
It is estimated that if the change were applied only to income support for those receiving pensioner premium there would be a saving of £30 million. Savings arise because 10 per cent. income would be assumed on the first £3,000 of savings, whereas at present there is no tariff income at this level, and because a 10 per cent. assumed income is higher than the present tariff income in the lower saving brackets above £3,000.

Source: Modelled using data drawn from the 1985, 1986 and 1987 family expenditure surveys. Estimates of capital holdings are uncertain because they are imputed from reported income from investment and savings.

Housing Benefit

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received on the proposed changes in housing benefit subsidies for 1991–92; what were the views of the local authority associations; and if he will make a statement.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the reduction from 97 per cent. to 95 per cent. in the rate of direct subsidy for community charge benefit and certain housing benefit cases from April 1991. We have received 24 written inquiries from Members of Parliament, 48 letters from individual local authorities, and a number of representations from the local authority associations which my right hon. Friend the Minister of State met to discuss the proposal on 24 September. The associations were opposed to the proposal and felt that benefit expenditure should be subsidised at 100 per cent. The Government's view is that the change is a modest adjustment in the balance between direct and indirect subsidy, the consequences of which were fully taken into account in the proposed local authority finance settlements for 1991–92.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many residents of registered care or nursing homes would have their entitlement to housing benefit ended as a result of the Housing Benefit (General) Amendment (No. 3) Regulations 1990;(2) what assessment has been made by his Department of the implications of the Housing Benefit (General) Amendment (No. 3) Regulations 1990 for the residential security of those residents in registered residential care and nursing homes who were previously entitled to housing benefit.

Under the proposals in the draft Housing Benefit (General) Amendment (No. 3) Regulations 1990, all those in a registered residential care or nursing home who were entitled to housing benefit on 29 October will retain entitlement under the current rules, as will all those who had submitted a claim for housing benefit on or before that date which is subsequently determined in their favour. In addition, residents of registered homes who are not entitled to the special rates of income support because they are in full-time work, or living in a home run by a close relative, will retain access to housing benefit for help with accommodation costs.Information is not available about the numbers likely to be affected by the proposed changes. The special rates of income support will continue to be available to help meet the homes' fees for those in registered residential care or nursing homes with insufficient resources of their own.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations have been received by his Department with regard to the proposal to abolish housing benefit for residents of registered care homes.

We are currently consulting with the Social Security Advisory Committee and the local authority associations on the proposals contained in the draft Housing Benefit (General) Amendment No. 3 Regulations 1990. That consultation process is not yet completed. We have also received a number of letters on the proposed changes from hon. Members and others.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he last met representatives of local authorities to discuss the adequacy of social security benefits to residents of registered residential care and nursing homes.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met representatives from the Association of County Councils in April, when income support for people in residential care homes and nursing homes was discussed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many residents of registered residential care or nursing homes in full-time employment are currently claiming housing benefit.

Community Charge Benefit

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in Wales are currently receiving, under the poll tax benefit scheme (a) family premium, (b) pensioner premium and (c) disability premium.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what proportion of (a) pensioners, (b) two-parent families with children and (c) lone-parent families with children, living in the inner London boroughs, he expects to claim community charge benefit; and how many have already done so.

Grants And Loans

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the cash totals spent in the current financial year to date, and the balances remaining for the rest of the financial year, for each of the DSS offices in Glasgow in respect of (a) community care grants, (b) budgeting loans and (c) crisis loans.

Mobility Allowance

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in the Official Report the number of people receiving mobility allowance for each year since 1979.

The average number of mobility allowance beneficiaries for the years requested is in the table:

YearThousands
1979–80140
1980–81185
1981–82210
1982–83265
1983–84315
1984–85390
1985–86420
1986–87460
1987–88515
1988–89560
1989–90615

Maintenance

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of fathers who are liable to pay maintenance to their wives or former partners for their children actually do so.

Information about fathers is not available in the precise form requested. However, at May 1989, the latest date for which this information is available, 23 per cent. of lone mothers receiving income support were receiving maintenance payments.

Benefit Deductions

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants are currently having poll tax deductions made from their benefit; and if he will make a statement.

Just over 9,000 deductions for community charge arrears were being made at 31 August 1990.