To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the latest figures for police manpower and expenditure in each police force in Wales.

I understand from the local authorities concerned that police strength and the expected current expenditure in 1990–91, excluding loan charges, are as set out in the table:

Force	Police strength1	Estimated expenditure 1990–91 (£ thousands)
Dyfed-Powys	935	31,296
Gwent	1,000	33,003
North Wales	1,335	46,196
South Wales	3,124	108,968
1 As at 31 August 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions and how many convictions there have been under the Registered Homes Act for each year since 1986; and if he will list the sentence for each conviction.

The information requested is given in the table:

Number of prosecutions and convictions under the Registered Homes Act 1984 England and Wales
Year	Total proceeded	Total convicted		Sentence
	against		Absolute discharge	Conditional discharge	Fine
1986	—	—	—	—	—
1987	6	4	1	—	3
1988	9	7	—	1	6
1989	9	5	—	2	3

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the average period of time spent at Cardiff prison by young people aged (a) 15 years and (b) 16 years who were remanded in custody in each of the last three years;(2) what was the average period of time spent at Swansea prison by young people aged

The information requested is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of coroners courts under his responsibility, with the list of vacancies at each court for members of staff.

Coroners courts are not one of the local authority-based services for which the Home Office provides specific grant contribution. Local authorities are responsible for appointing coroners, paying their salaries and meeting any expenses they incur in carrying out their duties, including staff costs. The information requested is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of the visit by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to Leicester on 23 November.

There was no cost to the Exchequer.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the income received by the immigration and nationality department for (a) naturalisation and (b) registration for the last 10 years, including 1990.

Naturalisation fees and registration fees are recorded together. The readily available information, showing receipts net of refunds to unsuccessful applicants, relates to financial years and is as follows:

Financial year	Receipts (£)
1980–81	1,184,000
1981–82	1,981,000
1982–83	10,854,000
1983–84	4,795,000
1984–85	2,845,000
1985–86	3,269,000
1986–87	4,241,000
1987–88	14,437,000
1988–89	5,987,000
1989–90	2,573,000
11990	1,127,000
1 April to October.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken, pursuant to the evidence given by the Director of Public Prosecutions to the Home Affairs Select Committee, concerning the number of police officers obstructing the work of the Crown prosecution service.

The Government's response to the report of the Home Affairs Committee's inquiry into the Crown prosecution service, published on 17 July (Cmnd. No. 1145), suggested that the recently established working group on pre-trial issues would in due course make proposals for reducing the areas of friction between the police and the Crown prosecution service. The working party has just completed its report and I shall give priority to examining its recommendations, in conjunction with my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor and my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what consideration was given to including in the Criminal Justice Bill the legislation implementing recommendations contained in Lord Justice Taylor's final report into the Hillsborough disaster, announced by him on 12 November, Official Report, column 355;(2) on what date the decision was taken to implement the recommendations contained in Lord Justice Taylor's final report into the Hillsborough disaster, announced by him on 12 November,

The Criminal Justice Bill is concerned with the treatment of offenders and the administration of justice rather than the creation of new offences. We decided in October to legislate along the lines which Lord Justice Taylor recommended. We are now considering how the offences should be formulated and will introduce legislative proposals as soon as parliamentary time allows.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to publish a revised edition of the "Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds."

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have today published a revised edition of a "Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds" which reflects the recommendations of the Hillsborough inquiry.I have arranged for copies of the guide, and the Home Office covering circular to local authorities, to be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received about the responsibilities of governors under the local management of schools.

My right hon. and learned Friend continues to receive representations from governing bodies, head teachers, parents and others about the responsibilities of governing bodies under the local management of schools. My right hon. and learned Friend and I are determined to ensure that more resources get down to the school level. It will then be for governors to decide how best to use them. I believe that governors will enjoy the freedom to make their own decisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the figures for 1990 for the percentage of under-fives in nursery schools, nursery classes and infant classes by local education authority in England, in rank order.

The information for 1990 is not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department holds on the number of public service vehicles that fail annual roadworthiness tests.

The failure rates of PSVs at annual test have been placed in the Library.The extract is from the vehicle inspectorate executive agency's annual report 1989–90 and shows that:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the reasons for delay on the construction of the Rayleigh Weir underpass on the Al27; when the work will now be completed; what steps are being taken to minimise the inconvenience caused to local residents; and what steps are being taken to inform in advance those most affected of any changes in arrangements for access to their homes.

Work on the new grade separated junction at Rayleigh Weir began on 4 December 1989 with an original proposed completion date of 1 December 1991. British Telecom underestimated the time it required to divert its cables which has led to a significant delay. The new completion date is 9 February 1992.A liaison officer has been appointed to help co-ordinate the statutory undertakers' works and to deal with complaints. To keep residents informed, the contractor sends out advance notice of works and the liaison officer issues letters about statutory undertakers' works.The situation for residents has been improved by the construction of a new service road, the closure of the entrance to the industrial estate, the laying of a new footpath for access to houses and the provision of a car parking area by the main contractor.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the steps he is taking to enforce section 105 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

I have been asked to reply.The responsibility for the enforcement of road traffic law is a matter for individual chief officers of police.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further measures are planned by Her Majesty's Government to assist the United Nations special relief programme for Angola to help meet the basic survival needs of those most at risk from famine.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to increase aid to Angola; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Members to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Corbett) on 27 November at column 356.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Directorate General VIII of the EC is planning to provide aid funds for building roads in French Guiana; and if he will make a statement.

As it is a French overseas department and not an ACP country French Guiana is not eligible for aid funds from Directorate General VIII.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what environmental guidelines exist for the Commonwealth Development Corporation in deciding which projects to support.

The CDC operates in accordance with environmental policies and procedures which, among other things, require it to:

a. encourage the efficient and sustainable use of environmental resources;

b. seek investment opportunities where sound economic development is coupled with the protection and improvement of environmental resources; and

c. seek ways of safeguarding the welfare of local communities affected by the development projects.

To ask the Attorney-General what is the average length of time elapsing between reference of a case to the Court of Appeal and the hearing of that case; and if he will make a statement.

Since sections 35 and 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 were brought into force on 1 February 1989, I have sought leave to refer 32 cases to the Court of Appeal where I believed the original sentence to be unduly lenient, although I subsequently withdrew eight applications on receipt of further information. To date, 18 of the remaining 24 cases have been determined with an average waiting time of 12·2 weeks. In the same period, I have sought the opinion of the court on a point of law under section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1972 in one case which has yet to be determined. The reference was made on 12 September 1990.

To ask the Attorney-General for what reason the appeal of Mr. Danny McNamee was postponed from 12 November to 18 December.

The listing of cases in the Court of Appeal criminal division is a matter entirely for the court. I understand, however, that Mr. McNamee's application for leave to appeal against conviction which was listed to be heard by the court on 12 November has been relisted for 17 December as the court was not satisfied that the parties would be fully prepared, following an extension of Mr. McNamee's legal aid to include solicitors, a change in junior counsel, and difficulties in gathering evidence to support the application. Subsequently, those representing Mr. McNamee requested that a further transcript from a related trial be ordered from the court reporting contractor concerned.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will ask the Director of Public Prosecutions to take over the case of Dr. Malde Modhwadia of Leicester recently referred to the Court of Appeal by the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

The Director of Public Prosecutions will be represented at the hearing in the Court of Appeal of Dr. Modhwadia's case. Counsel will be instructed to advise the Director concerning the prospects of the appeal succeeding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when each of the research projects mentioned in his answer to the hon. Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack), on 14 November, Official Report, column 180, is due to be completed.

The table sets out the expected completion date for each project:

Project	Expected completion date
1. Effect of the "Actively Seeking Work" provisions	End 1990
2. Survey of incomes in and out of work	End 19921
3. The effect of severe hardship payments for 16 and 17-year-olds	Early 1991
4. Survey of retirement and retirement plans	Late 1991
5. Methods of payment of benefit	Spring 1991
6. The Operation of the Social Fund	Late 1991
1 This project is partially completed. Results are published in: Survey of Incomes In and Out of Work: Erens, B and Hedges, B (SCPR, 1990) and Garman, A and Redmond, G: The changing characteristics of unemployed men, Employment Gazette, September 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the percentage fall over the period since the end of April 1987 in the real value of the income of a person then receiving supplementary benefit and now receiving income support with a transitional addition of £1 per week, assuming no disregarded income and no changes in the transitional addition except those due to the annual benefit upratings.

The level of income support in payment depends upon the individual's circumstances, changes in which may affect benefit entitlement though not the transitional addition. Any hypothetical calculation of the kind requested could not reflect the varying positions of the very small number of people who still have transitional protection. Such people remain better off than those in similar circumstances who have claimed income support since April 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many military personnel and civilians, respectively, have been acknowledged by his Department to have developed various forms of cancer or leukaemia as a consequence of their employment in (a) Britain's nuclear test programme, (b) Her Majesty's submarines, (c) the atomic energy research programme, (d) nuclear power generation and (e) any other field.

The benefit of reasonable doubt has to be given to ex-service men who participated in Britain's nuclear test programme and who have contracted leukaemia (other than chronic lymphatic leukaemia) or multiple myeloma. Sixteen war pensions have been awarded as a result. There has also been one award of war pension for myeloid leukaemia to an ex-service man who served on one of Her Majesty's submarines. The information relating to civilian employees is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the availability of Export Credits Guarantee Department support for grain exports to the Soviet Union.

Several applications for cover on sales of grain to the USSR are being considered at present by ECGD. Decisions will be reached as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of delays by his Department in changing the Companies Act on companies that wish to register for TAURUS and that have a December year end; and what estimate has been made of the costs involved for such companies;(2) what are the reasons for the delay in publishing the necessary changes for the implementation of TAURUS;(3) when his Department first established that there would need to be a change in section 207 of the Companies Act to permit companies to register for TAURUS.

[holding answer 23 November 1990]: No changes to section 207 of the Companies Act 1989 are proposed or necessary. The DTI was aware of plans for TAURUS when it drafted section 207: it had to take a general power because TAURUS was not then fully defined. The DTI has been out to consultation on the current TAURUS scheme and is now considering the replies. Regulations using the section 207 power will be put, as planned, to the House for affirmation next year. The regulations will include provisions allowing companies to pass simply drafted resolutions in order to join TAURUS, making it easier, for those who are ready, to do so early in the two-year build-up planned by the international stock exchange. We are working closely with the stock exchange to ensure the regulations are in place in time for the new system. Recent press reports that DTI is causing delay have been inaccurate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the effect on the balance of payments of the import of foreign oil into Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

The balance of payments relates to trade between the United Kingdom as a whole and the rest of the world. No information is available on the effect on the balance of payments of the import of foreign oil into Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all the hospitals in Northern Ireland that have been designated to accept nuclear-contaminated casualties; and if he will show in his answer those hospitals that have expressed an interest in national health service trust status.

In Northern Ireland the Royal Victoria hospital, Grosvenor road, Belfast is the only listed hospital designated for the reception of nuclear-contaminated casualties. The royal group of hospitals unit of management has expressed an interest in trust status of which the Royal Victoria hospital is a part.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the present level of coal imports into Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

In 1989 2,081,000 tonnes were imported.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any information relating to adverse effects on human health resulting from the illegal use of beta-agonists.

I am not aware of any adverse effects on human health in this country resulting from the illegal use of beta-agonists. However, I understand that the national epidemiology centre, Madrid has investigated a possible link between outbreaks of food poisoning in Spain and the illicit use of clenbuterol in cattle feed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provision exists or is planned to provide and equip a school for special speech therapy for children living in Northern Ireland who are unable to speak.

The following special school and units attached to ordinary schools specifically cater for the needs of children with speech and language problems:

• Thornfield Special School—Newtownabbey
• Enniskillen Model Primary School—Unit
• Gibson Primary School, Omagh—Unit
• Killard House Special School, Newtownards—Unit
• St. Joseph's Primary School, Bessbrook—Unit

However, any child with such difficulties, placed in any special school or unit because other problems are predominant, will also receive speech therapy.Provision for pupils with special educational needs is a matter for education and library boards in the first instance. I am not aware of any proposals for further provision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of bovine tuberculosis have been notified in the last 12 months in each agricultural office in Northern Ireland.

The number of cattle found to be infected with bovine TB during the period 1 November 1989 to 31 October 1990 are as set out in the table for each divisional veterinary office area.

Divisonal veterinary offices	Number of reactor animals
Armagh	408
Ballymena	269
Coleraine	94
Dungannon	139
Enniskillen	191
Larne	466
Londonderry	59
Newry	1,282
Newtownards	221
Omagh	120
Total	3,249

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will reinstate the grant to the Irish language group, Glor na Gael; and if he will make a statement on his reasons for terminating the grant.

	1985–86 £	1986–87 £	1987–88 £	1988–89 £	1989–90 £
Prison Education	22,294	34,618	29,400	31,582	37,044
Action for Community Employment Programme	64,002	140,830	187,274	290,855	315,175
Belfast Action Team Initiative	—	—	1,000	2,219	89,204
Arts Council for Northern Ireland	2,000	4,000	5,000	5,000	19,000
Central Community Relations Unit	—	—	—	—	88,065
Origin of Placenames Project	—	—	47,230	100,000	121,000
Total	88,296	179,448	269,904	429,656	669,488

It is not possible to disaggregate the cost of provision for the teaching of Irish in schools and colleges of further education in Northern Ireland. Irish-medium education is provided in Bunscoil Phobal Feirste in Belfast and Steelstown primary school in Londonderry. In 1989–90 the running costs for such Irish-medium education were approximately £367,000. Figures for earlier years are not readily available. Capital grants have also been made in the past to the Bunscoil amounting to £443,000. A further allocation of £20,000 has been made available to Bunscoil Phobal Feirste to assist in the development and production of curriculum materials in the Irish language.

This matter is now before the courts on an application for judicial review which must be allowed to take its course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has received from the European Commission that the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Fair Employment Commission should be represented on the committee monitoring the bids for structural funds in Northern Ireland; and what reply he has sent.

[holding answer 28 November 1990]: Recognising that it is for the member state to decide, the European Commission had suggested that the Fair Employment Commission (FEC) and the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) could be represented on committees which monitor the administration of the structural funds in Northern Ireland. We explained that, since monitoring committees are concerned with operational considerations, rather than wider policies such as fair employment, it would not be appropriate for these bodies to be represented. The Commission has accepted this explanation and we have now arranged that it should receive the annual reports of the FEC and EOC.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the total Government expenditure on the promotion and development of the Irish language in each year since 1985.

[holding answer 29 November 1990]: Total Government spending on the Irish language in each of those years was as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the total Government expenditure on the upkeep, care and protection of historic buildings and monuments in Northern Ireland in each year since 1985.

[holding answer 29 November 1990]: The information requested is as follows:

	£ thousands
1985–86	2,376
1986–87	2,865
1987–88	2,714

	£ thousands
1988–89	2,727
1989–90	2,772

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will postpone all consideration of opencast coal mining applications until the research recommendations of Roy Waller Associates have been published.

No. Planning applications must be treated on their individual merits and with regard to all material considerations. Mineral planning guidance note 3 on opencast coal mining already recommends that local planning authorities have regard to the environmental, nature conservation, agricultural, landscape, traffic and other effects of a proposal that are relevant to the planning decision. Local authorities are well placed to consider applications and it would be inappropriate to postpone their consideration because of continuing research.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will extend the terms of reference given to Roy Waller Associates to cover the deterimental effects of opencast coal mining on the entire area affected by those operations, including the route used by wagons entering or leaving the site.

No. As I explained in my answer of Friday 16 November, this is a broad-based project which is looking at all the environmental impacts of surface mineral extraction, including the effects of traffic. If information is sparse on any particular issue, the final report of this project will recommend that further detailed research is undertaken.

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

There is no comprehensive information available. I understand, however, that Halifax Town, Hartlepool United, Leeds United, Preston North End and Wolverhampton Wanderers are owned by local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many letters of complaint his Department has received concerning the abolition of the county of Middlesex.

Since the beginning of 1987 a total of 77 letters about this matter, 49 of them stereotyped, have been received by the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the report of the local authority boundary commission on Humberside.

I understand that the commission has just issued its draft proposal on Humberside. It proposes that the districts of Cleethorpes, Glanford, Great Grimsby, and Scunthorpe, should be returned to Lincolnshire. The commission also points out that it would be within the power of the council of the county of Humberside to change the name to East Yorkshire.The commission has invited public comment on its draft proposal by 31 January 1991. It will reassess the draft proposal in the light of all the representations received, before deciding whether to then make a report to my right hon. Friend, or to seek further views before so doing.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in any examination of local government structure, he will make it his policy to consider the importance of historical names and boundaries in relation to the vigour and stability of local democracy.

My right hon. Friend is fully aware of the importance of historical names and boundaries. He would certainly bear them in mind were he to undertake an examination of local government structure.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many letters his Department has received complaining at the setting up and continued existence of the counties of Avon and Humberside.

Following the Local Government Boundary Commission for England's report of 30 November 1988 on its review of the county of Avon, the Department received 784 letters of complaint about the continuing existence of the county.As was recorded in the Department's letter of 17 March 1989, informing the Local Government Boundary Commission for England of the then Secretary of State's direction to it to carry out a further review of the county of Humberside, nearly 7,000 representations arguing against the continuance of the county had been received in the Department. Since that date such letters are redirected to the commission in connection with its current review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was (a) the cost and (b) the weight of scaffolding recently erected on the Palace of Westminster's Victoria Tower; and if he will make a statement.

A total of £1·5 million and 707 tonnes, respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total of external support for the Southend-on-Sea district council in 1990–91; what is the proposed level of such support in 1991–92; and what is the percentage increase.

Total external support, consisting of revenue support grant, net of contribution to the safety net, and receipts from the non-domestic rate pool, for Southend-on-Sea is £51·5 million in 1990–91. The provisional figure for 1991–92 is £67·4 million, which represents an increase of 31 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what level of interest tenants in Basildon have shown in the proposal for a rents-to-mortgages scheme; and whether he has any plans to extend it to other new towns.

I have been delighted by the initial response to the pilot scheme in Basildon. Over 900 inquiries from tenants have been received by the New Towns Commission since the announcement of details of the scheme on 23 October. It is now proposed to extend the pilot scheme to Milton Keynes.Milton Keynes development corporation is in the process of winding up, and is making arrangements to transfer its stock to other landlords. Discussions will therefore begin immediately with Milton Keynes development corporation and the three principal housing associations involved in preparations for the forthcoming ballot on the transfer of the corporation's stock. These are Aldwyck housing association, Jephson Homes housing association and Milton Keynes housing association.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the non-domestic rate poundage increases in Camden between 1979–80 and 1989–90; and if he will show these figures indexed to the retail prices index with 1979–80 = 100.

The information is given in the table:

Camden: Non-domestic rates
	Non-domestic rate poundage1pence	Increase on previous year per cent.	Index relative to the RPI 1979–80 = 1002
1979–80	105·98	—	100·0
1980–81	138·50	30·7	112·4
1981–82	179·60	29·7	130·7
1982–83	192·40	7·1	130·7
1983–84	206·90	7·5	134·3
1984–85	221·20	6·9	136·7
1985–86	227·53	2·9	132·7
1986–87	227·92	0·2	128·9
1987–88	231·74	1·7	126·0
1988–89	230·18	-0·7	118·1
1989–90	229·20	-0·4	109·1
1 Camden were rate capped in each year from 1985–86 to 1989–90.
2 Non-domestic rate poundage divided by the Retail Prices Index and indexed to 1979–80= 100.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give a full list of those bodies or individuals invited to contribute towards the review of sport; on what date he expects the review to be published; and if he will make a statement.

My letter of 10 September to the chairman of the Sports Council invited comments from the council, the Sports Council for Wales, the chairmen of the regional councils for sport and recreation, the governing bodies of sport, the British Olympic Association and the Central Council of Physical Recreation. Comments have also been invited by my Department and the Welsh Office from other bodies where an interest has been indicated as listed. We aim to publish a statement of the Government's policies and priorities for sport next summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the names and occupations of all members of water authorities' customer services committees region by region for the last three years.

Before privatisation the former regional water authorities set up consumer consultative committees on an area basis within their territories and were responsible for all appointments, details of which are not available. Under the Water Act 1989 the Director General of Water Services has established 10 customer service committees (CSCs) to represent the interests of customers and potential customers of the 39 appointed companies. The CSC areas correspond broadly with those of the former water authorities. The director general announced on 27 February this year the appointment of chairmen of the CSCs after consultation with the Secretaries of State for Trade and Industry and for Wales as appropriate, and with my Department; and he subsequently appointed a number of members to each committee. Their names were given in the director general's annual report, which was laid before the House on 19 June and a copy of which is in the Library.For further personal details I refer the hon. Member to the director general.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which Government guidelines or recommendations preclude industrial consumers from membership of any of the customer services committees connected with the water authorities.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the criteria applied for membership of customer services committees of regional water authorities.

Under the terms of the Water Act the Director General of Water Services appoints the chairmen of customer service committees after consultation with the Secretary of State, and not fewer than 10 or more than 20 other members to each committee at his discretion. The only criteria laid down are that the director shall have regard to the desirability of persons appointed having experience and capability in some matter relevant to the functions of a water or sewerage undertaker in the committee's area and the inclusion of one or more persons with experience of the needs of the disabled or who may themselves be disabled persons.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the number of meetings held by each water authority customer services committee for each of the last three years.

Particulars are not available for the consumer consultative committees which were set up by the former regional water authorities. The operation of the customer service committees established under the provisions of the Water Act 1989 is a matter for the Director General of Water Services.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the consultation draft of the revised code of guidance to the homelessness legislation will be issued.

Copies of a revised draft of the code of guidance have today been sent to the local authority associations in England and other groups interested in homelessness, for consultation. Copies have been placed in the Library. A parallel consultation is being undertaken by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales. Responses have been invited by 31 January 1991.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to publish in full the annual report of the Security Service Commissioner under the terms of the Security Service Act 1989.

Subsections 4(6) and 4(7) of the Security Service Act 1989 require me to lay the Security Service Commissioner's annual report before Parliament subject to the proviso that any matter which it appears to me, after consultation with the Commissioner, would be prejudicial to the continued discharge of the functions of the service may be excluded.

To ask the Prime Minister what steps he is taking to strengthen collective Cabinet responsibility.

None is needed.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list each category of parliamentary questions which it is his policy not to answer.

Of those not transferred, none.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the studies commissioned inside the Cabinet Office and Prime Minister's offices by management consultants and others during the last week naming the consultancy, cost and subject in each instance.

No studies were commissioned inside the Cabinet Office and my office by management consultants and others during the last week.

To ask the Prime Minister what changes he has made to the discussion and implementation of Government policy since assuming office.

Government decisions have been and will continue to be reached and implemented on the basis of collective responsibility.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to allow trade unions to organise at GCHQ; and if he will make a statement.

The ban on national trade unions at GCHQ remains in force. All GCHQ staff are free to join the GCHQ Staff Federation, which is listed as a trade union under the terms of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974.

To ask the Prime Minister if the Government intend to take any measures financially to encourage local authorities to build rented accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

Implementation of the Government's housing policies is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment, for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland. The Government's view is that greater diversity of supply of rented housing is desirable, and that generally housing associations should be the main providers of new subsidised housing for rent. Substantial increases are planned in public expenditure provision for capital investment by housing associations financed through the Housing Corporation in England; announcements about the distribution of public expenditure provision in Scotland and Wales will be made by the Secretaries of State concerned in the near future. In Northern Ireland district councils have no housing responsibilities; the Northern Ireland Housing Executive is the sole public housing authority.

To ask the Prime Minister if the Government will reconsider their policy of opposition to the concessionary television licence being applied to a larger group of pensioners.

I have at present no plans to do so.

To ask the Prime Minister what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the promotion by the European Community of an officially approved single language throughout Europe.

The Government are not aware of any such proposal in the Community. The official languages of the Community (Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish) have equal status under the treaty.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the official policy advisers employed in his office.

Those currently employed in my policy unit are Miss C. Sinclair and Mr. J. Mills, both serving civil servants.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it the policy of Her Majesty's Government to publish an indicative list of circumstances in which Her Majesty's Government would authorise the use of the strategic nuclear deterrent.

No.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish a copy of the letter sent by the right hon. Member for Finchley (Mrs. Thatcher) to the Roman Catholic archbishop of Baghdad in September.

It is not my normal practice to do so.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his practice to place in the Library copies of any official correspondence sent to him by any religious leaders.

No.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will bring forward proposals to extend the period of Prime Minister's Question Time to that of the other major Departments of state.

The present arrangements were agreed by the House on 18 July 1971. I have no plans to change the period of Prime Minister's Question Time, and any such proposals would best be examined in the first instance by the Procedure Committee.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make arrangements for hon. Members to visit No. 10 Downing street.

No.

To ask the Prime Minister what changes the Government are proposing to table over the poll tax.

To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to start the review of the community charge.

Some of the changes announced by my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for the Environment on 31 October have still to come through. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will shortly start a careful review of the community charge.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to introduce no new taxes before the next election.

I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement, but since 1979 five major taxes have been abolished, and in my 1990 Budget statement I announced that two more—composite rate tax and stamp duty on securities—will be abolished.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will institute a full review of project Clockwork Orange.

No.

To ask the Prime Minister if he intends to retain Mr. Charles Powell in the same position that he has hitherto occupied in the Prime Minister's office; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Powell is a civil servant and decisions about his future will be taken in due course in the normal way.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on current progress of the inter departmental group on child sexual abuse.

Since May 1989 the interdepartmental group on child abuse has met five times. It has made good progress in addressing a wide range of issues in relation to child care, including research and the co-ordination of Government guidance.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money Her Majesty's Government estimate has been lost in the latest year for which comparable figures are available as a result of fraudulent tax claims and fraudulent social security claims; and how many persons have been successfully prosecuted in England and Wales.

Reliable estimates are not available of the cost of fraudulent tax or social security claims.The number of persons successfully prosecuted by the Inland Revenue in respect of false accounts or returns and false claims to personal allowances, deductions for expenses and repayments, in England and Wales in the year 1989–90, is 11.The number of persons successfully prosecuted by the Department of Social Security for social security fraud in England and Wales in the year 1989–90 is 7,212.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what types of public library facilities are available to the blind; and what types of resources are available in Braille, large print and tape.

A wide range of public library facilities and resources is available to the blind including fiction books, newspapers and magazines in Braille and Moon; fiction and popular non-fiction books in large print; talking books and newspapers; local history and music cassettes, and guides to services and community information. Cassette players are available for loan or use in many libraries, and Kurzweil reading machines in some. Many library authorities also act as agents for the services provided by national and local organisations. Under the public library development incentive scheme, we are supporting the development of a national daily talking newspaper service by Gateshead Libraries and Arts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will review the definition of stillbirth in the light of current professional thinking.

The matter is being given careful consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assurance was given to the court on behalf of his Department during the hearing in June of an application for a judicial review filed by the Natural Medicines Group and the British Herbal Medicines Association, in respect of a review of the new system of fees for product licences; when the review will be completed; and if he will undertake not to increase such fees further until such a review has been completed.

The court was assured that a full review of the fee structure was in progress, publication of the review proposals was expected shortly and any representations as to the fee structure would be fully considered in the course of the formal consultation following publication.We now expect that the review will be completed by 1 April 1991.As was explained in the consultation letter MLX 180 issued to all licence holders by the Medicines Control Agency on 13 September 1990, a copy of which is available in the Library, a further fee increase is considered necessary and is expected to come into operation during December 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the timetable for the establishment of the first group of hospitals with self-governing trust status.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will announce the names of the first NHS trusts shortly. They will become fully operational on 1 April 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Government intend to continue with self-governing hospital trusts.

Yes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what reasons underlie his proposals to change the conditions of service for nurses in the Prison Officers Association at Rampton hospital, Nottinghamshire; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will make a statement about the reasons for the breakdown of talks with the Prison Officers Association at Rampton hospital, Nottinghamshire; and what he intends to do to restore negotiations.

There are no current proposals to change the conditions of service for nurses at Rampton hospital though the Special Hospitals Service Authority is proposing to phase out the assisted travel scheme introduced on an ex-gratia basis in the early 1970s. The authority is currently in negotiation with the Prison Officers Association and other staff associations about this.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the senior management at Rampton special hospital, Nottinghamshire, will continue to receive company cars or car allowance following the new travel allowance proposals.

Like other health authorities, the Special Hospitals Service Authority operates a lease car scheme for those staff who undertake sufficient mileage on official duties. It is not restricted to senior managers and is in line with general practice throughout the national health service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements he has made for patients at Rampton special hospital, Nottinghamshire, to continue receiving visits from relatives during the Prison Officers Association dispute.

Industrial action initiated by the Prison Officers association has, amongst other effects, restricted visiting to patients. Management are doing their best to enable visits to take place whenever practicable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on his proposals for the provision of adequate resources for industrial tribunals in 1991.

The budget for 1991–92 has not yet been fixed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he will extend the jurisdiction of industrial tribunals to deal with wrongful dismissal and other breach of contract claims by dismissed employees.

On current plans, the necessary statutory instrument will be laid early next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the maximum and what was the average time between the making of a claim to an industrial tribunal and its hearing in the years 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989 and in the first six months of 1990; and what he expects the average of these to be in the second six months of 1990 and in the first six months of 1991.

I regret that the information is not available in the precise form requested. The table shows the percentage of applications coming to first hearing at an industrial tribunal within 12, 16, 20 and 26 weeks, respectively, of receipt of the applications.

Percentage
12 months ended	12 weeks	16 weeks	20 weeks	26 weeks
England and Wales
31 December 1985	52	72	82	90
31 March 1987	57	74	85	92
31 March 1988	56	74	83	90
31 March 1989	51	70	81	92
31 March 1990	52	73	82	92
30 September 19901	50	70	83	91
Scotland
31 December 1985	22	70	88	93
31 March 1987	11	47	75	88
31 March 1988	44	72	83	91
31 March 1989	52	78	87	92
31 March 1990	43	72	85	91
30 September 19901	53	74	87	93
1For six months.

It is not our practice to give estimates of future performance of the industrial tribunals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much money was allocated to industrial tribunals during the years 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989 and in the first six months of 1990; and how much he expects the average to be in the first six months of 1990 and in the first six months of 1991.

The budget for industrial tribunals for 1991–92 has not yet been fixed. The allocations for the years 1986 to 1990 were as follows:

Year ended	(£)
31 March 1986	10,736,000
31 March 1987	11,288,000
31 March 1988	10,834,000
31 March 1989	10,151,000
31 March 1990	10,769,000
31 March 1991	12,223,000

The allocations to the tribunals exclude accommodation costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has made an estimate of the likely increase in the work of industrial tribunals when their jurisdiction is increased so as to include wrongful dismissal and other breach of contract claims by dismissed employees.

I do not expect the extension of jurisdiction to result in a significant increase in the work of industrial tribunals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many cases were dealt with by industrial tribunals in the years 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989 and in the first six months of 1990; and how many he estimates will heard by industrial tribunals in the last six months of 1990.

The number of cases in which tribunals promulgated decisions, for the years 1986 to 1989 and for the first six months of 1990, is as follows:

12 months ended	Number
31 March 1987	39,404
31 March 1988	34,233
31 March 1989	29,317
31 March 1990	31,913
30 September 19901	17,304
1 For six months.

It is not our practice to give estimates of the number of cases to be heard by the industrial tribunals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give details of all new European Community proposals on redundancy payments, with an indication of any timetable for implementation.

The Commission's social action programme contains three draft directives on part-time and temporary work, one of which would have the effect of reducing the period for which certain part-time employees have to work for their employers to qualify for the right to a redundancy payment. If adopted the draft directive would need to be implemented by 31 December 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he intends to establish a regional specialist centre for cataract eye surgery at Morriston hospital, Swansea.

My right hon. Friend has no such plans at present.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will specify the target date by which the University hospital of Wales will be performing 800 open heart operations per year.

South Glamorgan health authority is expected to complete as soon as practicable the developments which will enable 800 open heart operations to be performed yearly at the University hospital of Wales. Work is presently in hand to enhance cardiac catheter laboratories and intensive care facilities and progress is being regularly monitored.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to announce the location of the second cardiac surgery unit in Wales.

Consideration is currently being given to the most appropriate arrangements for a further cardiac facility and we hope to be able to reach a decision in the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information his Department holds on the number of patients from Wales who receive open heart surgery outside the Principality.

Comprehensive information on the number of patients from Wales who receive open heart surgery outside the Principality is not held centrally. However, central funds have been made available to South Glamorgan health authority, which manages the regional cardiac services in Wales, and to Clwyd health authority to enable them to secure additional open heart surgery for

Number of persons exempt from paying the personal community charge1
Category of exemption2>
Local authority	C1	C2	C3	C4	C5	C6	C7	C8	C9	C10	C11	C12	Total
Alyn and Deeside	5	0	169	102	32	25	26	463	0	0	0	0	822
Colwyn	6	0	217	97	9	10	0	1,224	2	0	0	0	1,565
Delyn	5	0	213	150	40	50	16	591	0	0	3	1	1,069
Glyndwr	4	0	110	170	67	24	149	820	12	0	0	0	1,356
Rhuddlan	0	0	191	26	0	12	4	823	1	0	0	0	1,057
Wrexham Maelor	41	0	320	454	262	29	38	1,108	2	0	30	150	2,434
Carmarthen	2	0	168	190	76	6	254	533	0	0	11	0	1,240
Ceredigion	1	0	163	122	72	14	52	523	2	0	0	1	950
Dinefwr	1	0	146	75	254	0	2	415	48	0	0	0	941
Llanelli	50	0	246	73	13	6	82	548	0	0	13	0	1,031
Preseli Pembrokeshire	6	354	199	11	301	21	19	425	0	0	0	0	1,336
South Pembrokeshire	8	76	125	12	323	26	11	466	0	0	0	24	1,071
Blaenau Gwent	7	0	228	117	123	0	20	471	0	0	0	3	969
Islwyn	6	0	197	79	21	4	33	269	1	0	0	0	610
Monmouth	2	16	163	324	90	11	383	733	1	0	0	0	1,723
Newport	48	0	549	571	127	38	287	1,256	0	0	57	48	2,981
Torfaen	6	0	302	111	16	51	32	893	0	0	0	0	1,411
Aberconwy	23	0	175	80	87	41	244	961	6	0	0	0	1,617
Arfon	4	0	193	40	35	4	6	78	0	0	0	1	361
Dwyfor	1	0	71	36	15	7	9	378	1	0	0	0	518
Meirionydd	2	0	151	93	38	21	57	286	1	0	0	0	649
Ynys Môn	10	2	187	200	27	8	8	609	1	0	0	0	1,052
Cynon Valley	5	0	209	206	80	0	1	266	0	0	0	0	767
Merthyr Tydfil	15	0	195	90	15	5	43	364	0	0	0	0	727
Ogwr	27	0	615	607	141	27	619	956	0	0	0	0	2,992
Rhondda	12	3	350	89	28	0	176	321	3	0	0	0	982
Rhymney Valley	6	0	351	26	13	5	68	361	0	0	0	18	848
Taff Ely	6	0	226	120	40	2	63	308	1	0	0	0	766
Brecknock	2	2	95	115	5	15	252	478	0	0	0	0	964
Montgomeryshire	4	0	171	39	12	10	128	342	0	0	0	0	706
Radnorshire	2	0	36	30	18	9	25	234	5	0	0	0	359
Cardiff	448	62	749	151	351	79	48	2,196	18	0	192	0	4,294
Vale of Glamorgan	22	0	297	254	180	4	383	1,096	5	0	0	0	2,241
Port Talbot	13	0	221	43	54	8	41	294	0	0	0	0	674
Lliw Valley	6	0	196	130	42	21	63	434	0	0	0	0	892