To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the allocation to individual programmes in Northern Ireland of the public expenditure totals announced on 8 November.

£ million
Programme	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94
Northern Ireland Office:
Law, Order Protective and Miscellaneous Services	762	810	860
Northern Ireland Departments:
Northern Ireland Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Services and Support	116	120	120
Industry Trade and Employment	466	430	420
Energy	-72	0	0
Transport	165	170	180
Housing	259	270	270
Environmental and Miscellaneous Services	167	200	210
Law, Order and Protective Services (Fire Service)	35	40	40
Education	1,120	1,180	1,230
Health and Personal Social Services	1,160	1,220	1,270
Social Security Administration	128	140	130
Other Public Services	70	80	80
Total Northern Ireland Block
(excluding Social Security Benefits)	4,377	4,650	4,820
Social Security Benefits	1,960	2,120	2,270
Total Northern Ireland Block	6,337	6,770	7,090
National Agriculture and Fishery Support	85	90	90
Total Northern Ireland Programme	6,422	6,860	7,170

To ask the Attorney-General whether he will institute proceedings in respect of the anti-Jewish leaflet, "The Snides of March."

I am not yet in possession of all the material that I need to enable me to make a decision concerning the institution of proceedings. I shall make my

In his autumn statement on 8 November, my right hon. Friend the former Chancellor of the Exchequer announced total public expenditure planning figures for the Northern Ireland programme. I have now decided on the allocations to individual programmes shown in the table: copies of a more detailed statement have been placed in the Library. These allocations reflect my assessment of how best to distribute the Northern Ireland public expenditure totals in response to local needs and circumstances.decision when I have considered the results of further related police inquiries which have been requested by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

To ask the Attorney-General whether he will make a statement about the publication of draft legislation to implement a commonhold scheme.

The Government are today publishing a document entitled "Commonhold: A Consultation Paper"—Cm. 1345. It includes a draft Bill. Comments are invited on this draft legislation and also on certain important policy issues, in particular whether provision should be made enabling the conversion to commonhold of residential long leasehold flats and other developments against the wishes of the landlord. The consultation paper is also available in a version without the draft Bill attached—Cm. 1346.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what evidence he has of failure by local authorities to verify details on claim forms for housing benefit and community charge benefit; how many local authorities have failed so to verify; and if he will list them in the Official Report.

It is the responsibility of local authorities to decide what information it is reasonable to ask for in order to determine an individual's entitlement to housing benefit or community charge benefit. Administrative practices vary from authority to authority and information is not collected centrally on the detail of these practices.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure that nursing and residential homes are fully licensed to care for patients before the patient is sent there upon release from the hospital.

Department of Health guidance asks health authorities to ensure that appropriate plans are made for the continuing care of patients as necessary on their discharge from hospital. These plans should include ensuring that a nursing or residential care home placement is suitable and acceptable in all respects.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure that owners of a residential home who are deemed unfit to run a home will not later open another similar facility.

It is for local authorities to satisfy themselves, by making thorough inquiries, of the suitability of applicants for registration of residential care homes. The Department assists by acting as a channel of information between authorities about people who have had their registration cancelled and provides a consultancy service to authorities seeking information about applications for homes with children and young people under age 18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement concerning staffing levels at Ashworth hospital, Mayhill, on 19 November;

I am writing to the hon. and learned Member about this tragic incident and would like to record here how I very much regret the sad death of Mr. Williams and offer my sympathy to his parents.The Special Hospitals Service Authority, which is responsible for the management of Ashworth hospital, is urgently setting up an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Mr. Williams' death.The management of Ashworth hospital have already launched their own internal inquiry. An early finding is that on the morning of 19 November, with the exception of one ward designated to the care of mentally handicapped female patients, all wards in Ashworth hospital, including that in which Mr. Williams died, were fully manned. During the afternoon and night shifts all wards were fully manned.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the number of registered homeless people in each of the 32 London boroughs on 17 November;(2) what was the known number of homeless people in the United Kingdom on 16 November.

Local authorities have a statutory duty to secure accommodation for households who have been found to be homeless or threatened with homelessness, under part III of the Housing Act 1985. The numbers of households accepted and found accommodation are reported quarterly to the Department. Latest estimates for England, and figures reported by the London boroughs, appear in tables 1(a) and 7, respectively, of "Local authorities' action under the homeless provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England. Results for the second quarter 1990. Supplementary Tables". A copy is in the Library.For information about other parts of the United Kingdom, I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales, for Scotland and for Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about unpaid community charges in Lancashire; and if he will make a statement.

I am not aware of any such representations.The Department's information is that the proportion of residents who had made payments by the end of September varied from 80·4 per cent. in Burnley and 81 per cent. in west Lancashire to 96 per cent. in Hyndburn and 97·2 per cent. in Fylde. This range suggests that some authorities perform more efficiently than others and I look to all authorities to minimise arrears in the four months that remain of this financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the first meeting of the new standing ministerial committee on the environment will take place; which Ministers will sit on this committee; what matters will be discussed; and through whom it will be accountable to Parliament.

It is not the practice to disclose the detailed arrangements for Cabinet committees.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the report of the National Audit Office into the organisation of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution will be published.

This is a matter for the Comptroller and Auditor General.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action is available to him if water companies are unable to bring the designated beaches within their area into compliance with the EEC 1976 bathing waters directive by 1995.

A number of actions are available to the Secretary of State under the Water Act 1989 including, ultimately, termination of the company's appointment as a sewerage undertaker. In addition, if the company were in breach of discharge consent conditions set by the National Rivers Authority it could be liable to prosecution by the authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report for each designated bathing beach in England sampled in the summer of 1990 (i) the E. Coli and (ii) the total coliform level of each sample taken, together with the date that the sampling took place.

No. This information is already held in the public registers maintained by the National Rivers Authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he has issued to social services departments regarding the new system of disabled facilities grants.

A departmental circular 10/90 on "House Adaptations for People with Disabilities" was issued jointly with the Department of Health on 18 June 1990. Copies were sent to all local housing and social services authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to monitor the impact of the system of disabled facilities grants and the impact of the means test on disabled people.

The Department is undertaking a sample survey of 40 local authorities in England to monitor activity under the new house renovation grants system. All aspects of the system are covered by the review including the impact of disabled facilities grants and the test of resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to increase the powers available to Her Majesty's inspectors of pollution.

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 strengthens the powers available to Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution—HMIP—for controlling all major emissions to air, land and water from the processes with most potential to cause pollution; for policing the storage and disposal of radioactive substances and wastes; and for overseeing local authorities' performance of their waste regulation functions. Our White Paper on the environment, published in the summer, proposes that HMIP's powers could be further strengthened by making it a candidate to become a "next steps" agency. This would give them an enhanced status and a clearly separate identity, which should strengthen their authority in controlling pollution.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give figures for the number of rivers classed 1A, 1B and 2 in Derbyshire and those classed 3 and 4.

The latest available information is in the form of maps showing the classification of all rivers included in the 1985 river quality survey of England and Wales. Copies are available in the Library of the House. The National Rivers Authority is conducting another national survey this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those occasions since 1971 on which he or his predecessors have used section 276 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 to revoke planning permission; and if he will indicate any compensation that was awarded.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Reading, East (Sir G. Vaughan) on 27 November, Official Report, column 333.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish a timetable for implementation of the Environmental Protection Act 1990; and if he will make a statement.

I have today placed in the Library copies of our target timetable for implementation of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Part A of the timetable sets out for each subject area of the Act target dates for key tasks such as consultation on draft regulations, the laying of regulations and the ultimate target commencement dates. Part B lists the key tasks in chronological order.The timetable covers implementation plans for the whole Act with the exception of the regulatory system under part II—waste on land. This brings a complete overhaul of our existing waste management systems and we are presently working on the timetable for this. A further announcement will be made on part II as soon as possible.The Environmental Protection Act is a landmark in environmental legislation. It brings with it valuable opportunities to enhance our domestic environment and contribute significantly to the development of international environmental policy. We must all be prepared to seize these opportunities so that future generations can benefit from a cleaner, healthier and greener world.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost of providing treatment for sewage discharges to estuarial and coastal waters.

The cost of providing primary treatment for coastal discharges and secondary treatment for estuarial discharges for populations above 10,000 was estimated at around £1·5 billion by Consultants in Environmental Sciences Ltd. A copy of its report "Study of Coastal Sewage Discharges" is available in the Library. CES Ltd. has recently completed a further study to refine its earlier estimate and to include the cost of providing secondary treatment for discharges to estuaries for populations between 2,000 and 10,000 as required by the draft municipal waste water directive. The revised estimate of costs is now put at some £2.16 billion. Copies of the latest study by CES are being placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Government have measured the effects on sensitive marine environments from discharges of nitrates and phosphates into the North sea; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 27 November 1990]: A substantial part of the marine research budgets of several Government Departments is devoted to work on nutrients and there is extensive monitoring of nutrient levels around our coasts.Monitoring of nutrient levels in coastal and estuarial waters has taken place since 1960 and is now the responsibility of the National Rivers Authority. While nutrient inputs from rivers may have increased, there is no evidence of an increase in nutrients offshore. Monitoring by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland has led to the same conclusion.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department will produce its observations on the fourth report of the Select Committee on the Environment, on pollution of beaches.

[holding answer 27 November 1990]: The Government's response will be published next month.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next intends to review local authority building control fees.

[holding answer 27 November 1990]: Regulations will be laid before the House shortly which will propose increases in building control fees in respect of the erection of small domestic buildings, garages, carports and small extensions and alterations to domestic buildings by, on average, 7 per cent, to take effect from 1 February 1991.My officials are discussing with the relevant local authority associations a restructuring of the fees regulations, with a view to preparing the way for allowing local authorities to set their own levels of fees. I hope to issue a consultation paper early next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will show for each authority currently entitled to apply for urban programme funding and in summary for all such authorities, for each year from 1981–82 to the latest year for which figures are available, at constant prices (a) the amount of rate support grant or revenue support grant received and (b) total grants received under the urban programme.

[holding answer 19 November 1990]: The total amounts of (a) rate support grant or revenue support grant received and (b) urban programme expenditure allocated to the 57 authorities currently entitled to apply for urban programme funding, for each year from 1981–82 to 1990–91, at 1990–91 prices, were as follows:

	Revenue support grant £ billion	Urban programme £ billion
1981–82	4·232	0·238
1982–83	3·642	0·317
1983–84	3·591	0·318
1984–85	3·431	0·320
1985–86	3·339	0·316
1986–87	3·622	0·297
1987–88	3·653	0·321
1988–89	3·667	0·295
1989–90	3·611	0·268
1990–91	4·592	0·259

I shall send the hon. Gentleman tables showing details for all the authorities. Copies of these tables will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement about the funding of local public transport schemes in England.

We are providing resources for the £120 million Manchester metrolink light rail scheme, including more than £50 million of grant. Construction is well advanced, and operations should begin late next year.Subject to my receiving assurances from the South Yorkshire passenger transport authority about costs, contributions to be made by the parties involved, and transfer in due course to the private sector, the £230 million supertram project proposed for Sheffield will he the next light rail scheme to go ahead. Substantial Government grant suppport will be provided.As I announced on 26 November, we are reserving resources for a start on the electrification of the railway infrastructure in the Bradford area.Light rail schemes are being actively considered in other areas. Parliament has granted powers for a number of lines, including the proposed midland metro line between Birmingham and Wolverhampton. The appraisal of that scheme is currently in progress, and we hope that it will be completed as soon as possible. If it proves satisfactory, we will be ready to consider paying grant next year towards the cost of developing the scheme in detail. We will consider other proposals on the same basis, subject to the availability of resources.We also remain committed to taking full advantage of the important contribution which the bus can make to improving the quality of public transport in urban areas. We are examining urgently the proposals put forward by the Bus and Coach Council, including the possibility of earmarking resources for measures to promote bus use, and hope to respond in the new year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in tabular form the number of rail deaths for each year from 1970 to 1989, inclusive, showing (a) total figures and (b) by category of (i) British Rail drivers, (ii) other British Rail staff and (iii) passengers.

The table shows fatalities in accidents on all railway premises. The staff figures include all railway employees; no separate figures are available for British Rail staff fatalities. Similarly, I am unable to provide a breakdown between drivers and other railway employees.

Passenger fatality rates by mode 1975–89
Per billion passenger kilometres
	Air1	Rail	Water2	Bus or coach	Car3	Two-wheeled motor vehicle3	Pedal cycle	Pedestrian
1975	0·0	2·0	0·5	1·9	7·6	153·3	62·8	93·8
1976	1·3	0·9	2·6	1·1	7·4	144·6	60·0	93·4
1977	0·0	0·8	0·0	1·1	7·0	176·0	59·3	92·5
1978	0·0	1·3	0·5	1·0	6·9	175·1	61·8	97·1
1979	0·2	1·4	1·8	0·6	6·5	168·1	69·9	84·7
1980	2·0	0·7	1·3	0·6	5·8	140·0	59·2	77·6
1981	0·2	1·0	0·4	0·4	5·7	117·7	56·8	75·0
1982	0·0	0·6	0·9	0·7	6·0	109·1	45·9	74·8
1983	0·3	0·8	0·9	0·8	4·9	107·3	50·5	76·6
1984	0·0	1·1	0·0	0·8	5·0	109·7	53·8	74·7
1985	0·7	0·9	3·5	0·7	4·7	100·0	47·0	71·6
1986	0·5	0·8	0·5	0·6	4·8	99·8	49·5	74·4
1987	0·0	1·0	69·8	0·4	4·4	99·8	48·8	68·1
1988	0·0	1·7	0·5	0·3	4·1	114·0	45·7	70·1
1989	0·0	0·8	22·8	0·5	4·4	100·1	56·8	68·2

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in tabular form the death rate per thousand miles travelled for each year from 1970 to 1989 (inclusive) for (a) car, (b) rail, (c) air (United Kingdom airlines), (d) air (within United Kingdom airspace), (e) bicycle, (f) motor bike, (g) lorry, (h) bus, (i) ship (United Kingdom-registered vessels) and (j) ship (within United Kingdom waters).

The readily available information is set out in the table.An article concerning fatality rates by mode of transport appears in the Department's publication "Transport Statistics Great Britain 1979–1989", pages 1 to 5, which is available in the LibraryFurther information is either unavailable or could he supplied only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what facilities will be available by 1 December within (a) the borough of Berwick upon Tweed, (b) Alnwick district and (c) Castle Morpeth district for the basic training necessary for obtaining a provisional motor cycle driving licence after 1 December.

Sites have been approved for basic training at Berwick upon Tweed and Belford in the borough of Berwick upon Tweed and at Alnwick in Alnwick district. No sites have been approved within Castle Morpeth district, but sites have been approved nearby at Ashlington and Cramlington. I expect the operators of all these sites to be offering basic training courses from 1 December. Completion of basic training is not a requirement for the issue of a provisional licence, but a licence issued on or after 1 December will not be valid for riding on the road, unaccompanied by an instructor, until a certificate of completion of basic training has been obtained.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to use the rate of return criteria used to sanction investment in the east-west underground rail link through London for proposals for electrification of lines in Scotland.

The east-west cross rail link was approved on the basis that reduced road congestion and other benefits to non-users more than justified the cost to the public sector. My right hon. Friend stated in his 1989 objectives for BR that where, exceptionally, investment in Network SouthEast or provincial services is needed to meet growth in demand but cannot meet the required financial return, cost-benefit analysis can he used.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what technical basis was the proposed standard of 4·5 per cent. carbon monoxide for emission testing in the MOT test determined; what proportion of the current car fleet is technically capable of meeting an emission standard of (a) 4 per cent. carbon monoxide and (b) 3 per cent. carbon monoxide at idle; and what levels of carbon monoxide are typically produced by new models of car at idle.

The proposed 4·5 per cent. carbon monoxide standard derives from EC directive 78/665, which lays down maximum levels of emissions permitted from new vehicles. There is no detailed information available on the number of vehicles that should be able to meet more rigorous carbon monoxide standards, but most modern cars should be capable of achieving lower levels provided they are tuned in accordance with manufacturers' recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the nature and function of the works unit off the eastbound carriageway of the M4 between junctions 14 and 13; what was the cost of erecting the "works unit only" signs for the works unit; when the road between the works unit and the motorway was completed; what was the cost of the road between the works unit and the motorway; and from which subheads of which votes this money was taken.

The works unit referred to is RAF Welford which is made available to the United States air force for conventional munitions storage. The "works unit only" signs which are to the conventional red, white and black design as used for MoD establishments cost £6,634·83 to provide and erect. The entry and exit slip roads, to and from the motorway, were completed on 17 December 1982 and 2 July 1985 respectively. The final cost of the construction of the slip roads was £377,081·84. All the works costs were funded by United States air force, which also contributed towards administration expenses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulations control the emission of diesel smoke from railway engines; which agency is responsible for enforcement; and what action has been taken to control such emissions.

Emission of dark smoke from railway engines is subject to regulations under section 1 of the Clean Air Act 1956. Enforcement is a matter for 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. Action to control emissions is a matter for operators and the enforcement authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement outlining reasons for the delay in repairs to the Gravelly hill interchange of the M6 motorway following the accident of 26 August.

The accident resulted in severe structural damage requiring the closure of two slip roads.An urgent investigation began into the effects of the fire damage and possible remedial works including the possibility of demolishing and reconstructing the existing structure.There are a number of technical matters still to be resolved, but 1 hope that work on a replacement structure will commence before the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning unlawful wheelclamping of orange badge holders.

Orange badge holders are exempt from wheelclamping on the street in areas where wheelclamping is authorised. The exemption does not, however, extend to private car parks or other private land.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the railway inspectorate will be transferred to the Health and Safety Executive; and if he will make a statement.

As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Kingswood (Mr. Hayward) on 19 July, at column 711,

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the number of accidents involving public service vehicles carrying schoolchildren from 1979 to date; and if he will make a statement.

The presence of schoolchildren on a public service vehicle involved in a personal injury accident is not routinely recorded by the police. It is, however, possible to identify accidents in which children travelling to or from school on a PSV were themselves injured.. The table gives figures for 1979 to 1989:

Number of road accidents in which children, up to and including age 16, travelling to or from school on public service vehicles suffered injury or death; 1979–1989:
Number
1979	207
1980	218
1981	209
1982	275
1983	281
1984	289
1985	275
1986	261
1987	219
1988	218
1989	254

Casualties resulting from these PSV accidents are:

Number of casualties in road accidents involving children travelling to or from school by Public Service Vehicle; 1979–89
	Fatal	Serious	Slight	Total
1979	2	44	348	394
1980	2	42	443	487
1981	0	29	341	370
1982	3	35	362	400
1983	2	40	375	417
1984	0	72	500	572
1985	0	43	487	530
1986	1	34	429	464
1987	0	36	451	487
1988	0	24	429	453
1989	1	47	531	579

The figures show that these casualties represent less than 0–2 per cent. of all road casualties and less than 0.1 per cent. of deaths and serious injuries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning the applicability of the European Community environmental impact assessment directive 1985 to the proposed east London river crossing.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Woolwich (Mr. Cartwright) on 23 November at column 231.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice his Department has sought concerning the applicability of the European Community environmental impact assessment directive 1985 and the Highways (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988 to the proposed east London river crossing; and if he will make a statement.

No environmental assessment under the directive was required in relation to the line and side road orders for this scheme, which were published in 1984. An assessment in the form of an appraisal framework of the environmental effects of the scheme was published in 1985, and taken into account by the Secretaries of State in reaching their decision. The directive has been applied to the proposed design changes for which an environmental statement was published in January 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will conduct an environmental impact assessment study for (a) the east London river crossing and (b) M11 link projects; and if he will make a statement.

An assessment in the form of an appraisal framework of the environmental effects of the east London river crossing was published in 1985. The likely environmental effects of the scheme were also exhaustively considered at lengthy public inquiries during 1985–86. An environmental statement on the effects of the proposed design changes to the scheme from the Al3 to the A2016 was published in January 1990. Public inquiries are currently being held into the proposed design changes, at which the Department has presented detailed evidence on the effects of the design changes.Evidence on the environmental impact of the A 1 2 Hackney-M 11 link road was presented at public inquiries held in 1983 and 1987 and was fully taken into account when the decisions to proceed with the scheme were taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the damage to the slip road between the Aston expressway and spaghetti junction in Birmingham to be repaired.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker) today. The slip roads should be reopened in the summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations he has had with the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis regarding the funding of further computer runs to detect multiple share applications for British Gas.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 21 November 1990, at column 148.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the earliest year for which he can differentiate between prosecutions mounted against operators in the North sea which resulted from (a) inspections and (b) accidents; and what are the figures for that year and each subsequent year.

Information is not kept in a form by which prosecutions resulting from inspections and from accidents can be distinguished without disproportionate cost.The six convictions of companies for breaches of health and safety legislation in 1987, 1988 and 1989 all resulted from accidents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the earliest year for which he can, without incurring disproportionate cost, give the percentage of serious accidents on North sea installations which have been investigated by his inspectors; and what was the percentage in that year and each subsequent year.

Accident data are not kept in a form from which the information requested can be extracted without disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the earliest year for which he can give the total spent on the North sea safety inspectorate of his Department without incurring disproportionate cost; and what is the figure for that year and subsequent years at constant prices.

Running costs for the safety directorate for the period 1989–90 were of the order of £7·2 million. Figures for earlier years cannot be separately identified.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, further to his answer of 21 November to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, Official Report, column 150, how the 475 technical staff referred to are broken down between the six certifying authorities.

The information requested by the hon. Member is as follows:

Certifying Authority	Number of Technical Staff Employed
Lloyd's Register of Shipping	275
Bureau Veritas	20
American Bureau of Shipping	70
Det Norske Veritas	90
Germanischer Lloyd	8
Offshore Certification Bureau	12
	475

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether the serious accidents referred to in his answer of 21 November, Official Report, column 149, to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, represent the numbers seriously injured or the number of incidents involving serious injury.

The numbers of serious accidents referred to in my answer of 21 November represents the numbers of persons injured.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what will be the total fees paid out in respect of United Kingdom primary underwriting, United Kingdom sub-underwriting and overseas underwriting of the regional electricity company flotations.

Subject to the terms of the underwriting agreements the commissions paid out for underwriting the regional electricity company flotations will be:

	£ million
United Kingdom primary underwriting:	6·7
United Kingdom sub-underwriting:	29·5
Overseas underwriting:	12·9

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many (a) clear breaches of regulations, (b) probable breaches and (c) possible breaches were involved in the fire and explosion on Piper Alpha on 24 March 1984.

It is for the courts to determine, in matters brought before them, whether breaches of the law have occurred.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many hours were spent on the inspections of Piper Alpha on 21 February 1984, excluding the helicopter flights and meal breaks; and how many inspectors were involved.

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many hours were spent on the inspections of Piper Alpha on 25 and 26 March 1984, excluding the helicopter flights and meal breaks; and how many inspectors were involved.

The visit by one inspector to Piper Alpha on 25 and 26 March 1984 was not an inspection, but an investigation of the explosion in the gas compression module on 24 March. The information requested on hours spent is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many occasions in each year since 1978 his inspectors have used their powers under the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971 to prohibit an activity or use of equipment or to require improvement.

Action to effect improvements is a feature of almost every inspection. Such action takes place against the background of inspectors' powers under the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971. A detailed breakdown of the kind requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many full-time field inspectors engaged in offshore installation inspections were employed by his Department in each year since 1978.

The number of full-time field inspectors engaged in offshore installation inspections since 1986 is set out in the table.

Date	Staff in post
1986	7
1987	5
1988	6
1989	7
1990	6

All figures relate to 1 November of the year in question. There is no data prior to 1986.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cost of publishing the 1990 annual review of British overseas aid.

The total cost of publishing the 1990 annual review of British overseas aid was £76,504·90, a unit cost of £5·10.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list (a) the qualifications and (b) the dates of original appointment of members of the Horserace Totalisator Board.

Board members are appointed by the Home Secretary under section 12(2) of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963; there are no statutory qualifications for appointment to the board, although appointment as an executive member of the board is in practice contingent upon employment by the Horserace Totalisator Board in an executive capacity. Considerations influencing the selection of non-executive members include what commercial or other relevant experience they may bring to the board.The current members of the board, the dates of their original appointments, and their occupations, as detailed in the Tote's annual report and accounts, are as follows:Lord Wyatt of Weeford—Member 1 November 1975, chairman 1 May 1976, Director of Satellite Information Services Ltd.Lord Swaythling—Member 1 October 1981, chairman of Rothmans International plc, a member of the board of Banking Supervision of the Bank of England, and a non-executive director of the Daily Telegraph plc. Racehorse owner.Mr. P. Winfield FRICS–Member 1 October 1981, Formerly senior partner of Healey & Baker until 1988 and continues to act as a full-time consultant. Chairman of Letinvest plc. and the London Auction Mart Limited, a non-executive director of Manders (Holdings) plc. and a special trustee of Guy's Hospital. Racehorse owner.Mr. J. Sanders on FCA—Member 1 August 1983, clerk of the course at Doncaster and Catterick Bridge and a director of Thirsk, Wetherby and Phoenix Park, Dublin. He also has business interests in televised sport and leisure.Mr. B. McDonnell CA—Executive member 1 November 1990, chief executive of the Tote.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list Government expenditure in each of the last five years on funding alternatives to the use of animals in scientific procedures, with the projects supported in each year.

The Home Office has been involved in funding research into finding alternatives to the use of living animals since 1984 when financial assistance was provided to two organisations concerned with animals in research. Some £185,000 was given to the Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments—FRAME—to help with three projects: a feasibility study of validation of in vitro techniques which might replace animal experiments; work on a possible database of tissue culture techniques; and an examination of the use of human tissue cultures instead of animals in medical research and toxicity testing. Some £30,000 was given to the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare—UFAW—to support an evaluation of the effects of various cage sizes and social groupings on the well-being of laboratory rats.With the passing of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, the Home Office established a scheme which is administered by a sub-committee of the Animal Procedures Committee to provide financial assistance for research for the reduction, refinement or replacement of the use of living animals in scientific procedures. The Home Office also funds research concerned with the welfare of laboratory animals. The Home Office has also supported, and part-funded, international work on acute toxicity testing aimed at further reducing the need for formal LD50 tests.In 1988–89, the first year of the operation of the scheme, it was decided to fund the following four projects:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to ban water sports off any bathing beaches in Wales.

The Secretary of State has no powers to ban water sports taking place off bathing beaches. Local authorities are able to make byelaws to control public bathing and to regulate the navigation of seaside pleasure boats to prevent danger to bathers, but this does not include power to prohibit particular activities taking place.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any request has been received from (a) Interpol or (b) other sources, seeking the co-operation of Her Majesty's Government in investigations into allegations of undercover military operations by groups linked to NATO.

The Government have received no such request.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisions the Government have made to check that overseas voters who have registered for a proxy vote are still eligible to vote on the day of the election.

Registration as an elector depends upon eligibility on the qualifying date, and not on the date of any election. No routine checks are made on whether registered electors remain eligible to vote during the currency of the register on which they are included. However, it is an offence for any person, or a proxy acting on his or her behalf, to vote at any election if that person is not eligible to vote.

Females remanded initially into custody by courts in Wales into Prison Service establishments: by court and remand establishment, 1987–89
Estimated number
	Holloway			Pucklechurch			Risley
	1987	1988	1989	1987	1988	1989	1987	1988	1989
Crown Court:
Cardiff	—	—	—	5	4	1	—	—	—
Merthyr Tydfil	—	—	—	—	—	2	—	—	—
Mold	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	7	—
Newport	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	—
Swansea	—	—	—	—	1	1	1	—	—
Magistrates' courts (county):
Clwyd	1	—	—	—	—	—	14	11	32
Dyfed	—	—	—	1	9	12	—	—	—

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will announce the terms of reference of the study into the national criminal records.

I have decided that an efficiency scrutiny should be carried out with the following terms of reference:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking on the draft European Community directive on data protection; and whether he will publish the report of the interdepartmental review committee on the Data Protection Act 1984.

My Department is writing to interested organisations inviting comments on the draft directive and related measures which have been issued by the Commission of the European Communities. I am also placing in the Library of the House, and sending to the same organisations, copies of the report of the interdepartmental committee. The need for legislation will be considered when negotiations on the directive have been completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women were remanded into custody, by prison service establishment, in Wales, by police division during (a) 1987, (b) 1988 and (c) 1989.

[holding answer 23 November 1990]: The readily available information is given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the actual and recommended numbers of educational psychologists in each local education authority.

The employment of educational psychologists and the management of their educational psychology services are the responsibilities of individual local education authorities. The Department does not issue advice to LEAs on numbers of educational psychologists. The number of educational psychologists employed by each LEA on 19 January 1989 is given in the table:

Number of educational psychologists employed at 19 January 1989
	Number of educational psychologists (full-time equivalent)
LEA
Barking	7·0
Barnet	15·5
Bexley	6·0
Brent	7·6
Bromley	10·1
Croydon	10·5
Ealing	7·4
Enfield	10·4
Haringey	6·0
Harrow	7·0
Havering	8·0
Hillingdon	7·2
Hounslow	6·3
Kingston	3·0
Merton	5·0
Newham	10·0
Redbridge	8·0
Richmond	5·0
Sutton	5·0
Waltham Forest	9·3
OUTER LONDON	154·3
ILEA	90·3
GREATER LONDON	1244·6
Birmingham	44·1
Coventry	11·0
Dudley	8·5
Sandwell	12·0
Solihull	8·0
Walsall	10·5
Wolverhampton	9·6
Knowsley	7·0
Liverpool	17·5
St. Helens	6·5
Sefton	10·0
Wirral	10·0

	Number of educational psychologists (full-time equivalent)
Bolton	7·4
Bury	4·8
Manchester	18·0
Oldham	8·6
Rochdale	9·0
Salford	5·5
Stockport	7·8
Tameside	8·0
Trafford	3·0
Wigan	8·0
Barnsley	4·0
Doncaster	9·0
Rotherham	10·2
Sheffield	16·6
Bradford	20·5
Calderdale	6·0
Kirklees	13·5
Leeds	21·0
Wakefield	10·5
Gateshead	7·5
Newcastle	12·0
North Tyneside	8·0
South Tyneside	7·0
Sunderland	11·5
MET COUNTIES	392·1
Isles of Scilly	0
Avon	28·8
Bedfordshire	15·5
Berkshire	19·8
Buckinghamshire	18·0
Cambridgeshire	12·5
Cheshire	13·5
Cleveland	18·5
Cornwall	11·0
Cumbria	15·0
Derbyshire	32·6
Devon	20·2
Dorset	17·6
Durham	18·0
East Sussex	17·3
Essex	39·3
Gloucestershire	13·0
Hampshire	43·7
Hereford and Worcestershire	11·5
Hertfordshire	28·3
Humberside	22·0
Isle of Wight	3·0
Kent	30·0
Lancashire	38·2
Leicestershire	28·5
Lincolnshire	11·0
Norfolk	160
North Yorkshire	17·2
Northants	16·3

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the review of the school premises regulations announced on 2 October is to be completed; how the review is to be undertaken; when consultation with interested bodies is to begin; and when it is envisaged that the review will report to him and the Secretary of State for Wales.

The review will be conducted by a joint group of this Department's officials and representatives of the Welsh Office, and will draw on up-to-date information on educational needs and practice. Consultations with interested bodies are expected to begin at an early stage in the group's work. It is too early at this stage to say how long the review will take or when it will report to my right hon. Friends.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he intends to extend the life of the Co-ordinating Committee for Marine Science and Technology beyond 31 December; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has decided to extend the three-year term of the Co-ordinating Committee for Marine Science and Technology for a further three months until 31 March 1991. This will enable the committee to consider the Government's response to its report on marine science and technology in the United Kingdom.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he made of the requirement for slot machines to be adapted before announcing that the demonetisation of the old 5p piece will take place on 31 December.

Every effort has been made to consult the vending industry to minimise the problems it will experience. Companies were given test coins and two and a half years notice so that they could plan sensibly and reprogramme their machines as far as possible on the normal maintenance cycle.The demonetisation date for the old 5p coin was first announced by the Chancellor at the Trial of the Pyx on 27 April 1990. This gave the vending industry eight months to prepare for the change. Most vending machines have now been converted to accept the new 5p coin.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the progress made in securing an exemption from the European Community investment services directive.

Most member states favour the exclusion of solicitors and other members of the professions from the scope of the investment services directive—ISD. None the less, there are difficult issues still to be resolved if we are to secure the maximum possible benefit for members of the professions, as for all investment businesses, under the ISD. We have to take into account both the attitude of the other member states and the level of minimum capital requirements that would be imposed under the capital adequacy directive—CAD—on all those covered by the ISD. These requirements are higher than the United Kingdom would wish. The issue remains open and the Government are in close touch with the professional bodies on the progress of the negotiations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what view is taken by the Government on the proposed European investment services directive and its requirements for lawyers giving investment advice to carry substantial capital; and if he will make a statement.

Most member states favour the exclusion of solicitors and other members of the professions from the scope of the investment services directive—ISD. None the less, there are difficult issues still to be resolved if we are to secure the maximum possible benefit for members of the professions, as for all investment businesses, under the ISD. We have to take into account both the attitude of the other member states and the level of minimum capital requirements that would be imposed under the capital adequacy directive—CAD—on all those covered by the ISD. These requirements are higher than the United Kingdom would wish. The issue remains open and the Government are in close touch with the professional bodies on the progress of the negotiations. There is a balance to be struck over who is covered by the ISD and what capital they need under it and the CAD.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria are applied when deciding which general or sub post office facilities will be available for the supply of motor vehicle tax discs.

This is essentially an operational matter for the Post Office and the Department of Transport. The location of outlets issuing motor vehicle licences—MVLs—is determined by the Post Office, within the number set by the Department of Transport, and is, I understand, based on such factors as the distance to existing MVL issuing offices and the likely level of business. The size of the MVL issuing network is the result of regular review by the Department of Transport, taking into account convenience to the customer and cost to the taxpayer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what monitoring and action is taken by his Department to stop undue pressure being placed upon the consumers of the services provided by existing or former public utilities for the payment of bills which are held to be outstanding.

The Gas Consumers Council, whose members are appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, represents consumers' interests and investigates complaints. In doing so, it works closely with British Gas plc and the Director General of Gas Supply. British Gas plc has a code of practice on disconnections which provides that no pensioner may be cut off during the winter months and customers experiencing payment difficulties are offered gas payment plans and prepayment meters. As a result, disconnections have fallen sharply from a peak of 60,778 per annum in 1987 to 19,379 in 1989.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has set up four advisory committees on telecommunications to represent consumers' interests in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These committees advise the Director General of the Office of Telecommunications on matters affecting consumers of telecommunications services. British Telecom has various ways of dealing with outstanding bills, including in appropriate cases negotiating a payment package for an exceptionally high bill in one quarter due to special circumstances. Moreover, when there are disputes over bills, customers will not be disconnected provided that the undisputed items on the bill are paid.Following electricity privatisation, responsibility for electricity consumers has now passed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy

To ask the Secretary of Slate for Trade and Industry if he will give an estimate of the number of people employed in the United Kingdom clothing manufacturing industry in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement concerning Government policy towards that industry.

[holding answer 26 November 1990]: The Department of Employment estimates that the number of employees in the clothing manufacturing industry in Great Britain in each year since 1979 was as follows:

Clothing manufacturing industry Great Britain Group 453 and 456 (SIC 80)
June	Thousands
1979	290·2
1980	261·8
1981	224·1
1982	214·3
1983	207·0
1984	212·2
1985	213·0

June	Thousands
1986	210·7
1987	205·0
1988	205·2
1989	199·0
1990	197·3

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give an estimate of the number of people employed in the United Kingdom machine tool manufacturing industry in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement concerning Government policy towards that industry.

[holding answer 26 November 1990]: The Department of Employment estimates that the number of employees in the machine tool manufacturing industry in Great Britain in each year since 1979 was as follows:

Machine Tool Manufacturing Sector
Great Britain
Activity heading 3221 (SIC80) June	Thousands
1979	37·6
1980	37·0
1981	32·4
1982	30·3
1983	26·4
1984	23·3
1985	24·1
1986	23·9
1987	23·1
1988	23·8
1989	24·0
1990	23·5

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is seeking any changes in the current EC regime governing the trade in motor cars, including those of partly Japanese origin, between the member states in which they are manufactured; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 26 November 1990]: The Government are participating in discussions about the European Commission's proposals for the eventual abolition of restrictions on imports of vehicles from Japan. We are adamant that there must be no link between any continuing ceilings set for imports from Japan and the treatment of cars made in the EC by Japanese-owned companies. Such cars are European and must continue to be allowed unlimited free circulation throughout the EC. I believe that this has now been accepted by other member states and by the Commission. I will inform the House of the outcome of the discussions when agreement has been reached.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements he has made to ensure that the National Rivers Authority does not seek to collect individual rod licence fees from Scottish anglers fishing in tributaries of the Esk in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

The Border Esk and its tributaries in Scotland have been subject to English fisheries legislation and administration since at least 1865. The implementation and enforcement of those provisions—including rod licence duties—is now a matter for the National Rivers Authority (NRA). I understand that the NRA is keen to allow sufficient time for consultation and agreement on the way forward and that, to this end, no charges will be made for 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which grounds used by clubs in the Scottish football league are, according to information available to him, owned by local authorities.

Four clubs in the Scottish football league play at grounds owned by local authorities.The grounds are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the results of the annual census of school meals in Scotland held in January; and what were the corresponding 1989 results.

The information is set out in the table. Despite a decrease in the number of pupils present on census day, the number of pupils taking school meals has risen. This reaffirms the Government view that changes in entitlement to free meals would not affect the overall uptake of meals. Free meals formed 30 per cent. of the total meals provided and the number taking their own food increased by just over 1 per cent. Cafeteria-style meals remain popular and their uptake has risen from 64 per cent. to 69 per cent. of all meals taken: there was a corresponding 5 per cent. drop in the uptake of the traditional two-course fixed meal.

Education Authority Schools (Including Nursery and Special Schools)
	1990		1989
	Number	As a percentage of pupils present	Number	As a percentage of pupils present
Pupils present on census day	704,357	—	713,034	—
Pupils taking school meals
—on payment	230,410	32·7	223,456	31·3
—free	99,303	14·1	105,232	14·8
—total	329,713	46·8	328,688	46·1
Pupils bringing own food on school premises	110,290	15·7	104,266	14·6

A detailed statement of the returns from education authorities from which these national figures are derived is being placed in the Library.The following table shows, as a percentage of pupils attending their respective sectors, those primary and secondary pupils taking meals or bringing their own food.

	1990 (per cent.)	1989 (per cent.)
Primary
Pupils taking school meals	52·7	51·5
Pupils bringing own food	23·7	22·2
Secondary
Pupils taking school meals	42·2	42·1
Pupils bringing own food	5·4	5·3

All authorities provide the traditional two-course meals and cafeteria-style meals, with the latter accounting for 69–1 per cent. of all meals served in 1990.The figures are as follows:

	Pupils taking fixed meals	Pupils taking cafeteria meals
1989
Paid	74,345	149,111
Free	44,327	60,905
Total	118,672	210,016
Percentage of pupils present	16·6	29·5
1990
Paid	71,819	158,591
Free	30,019	69,284
Total	101,838	227,875
Percentage of pupils present	14·5	32·4

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of reform in Romania.

Romania has made some progress on democratric reform since the grave setback in June. We are also encouraged by the start of economic reform. However, we urge the Romanian Government to press ahead with further moves to transform Romania into a genuine free-market democracy.