To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to publish the report into the failure of the Mersey oil pipeline.

I have today published the report, and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Prime Minister what proposals he has to improve ministerial accountability to Parliament.

[holding answer 3 December 1990]: Ministers are already fully accountable to Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if his Department plans to make any representations to the European Commission about allowing United Kingdom objective 2 regions to be eligible for assistance under the European Commission's Telematique programme;(2) if his Department plans to make any representations to the European Commission about allowing United Kingdom objective 2 regions to be eligible for assistance under the PRISMA initiative.

The European Commission has decided that the proposed Telematique and PRISMA initiatives should be restricted to objective 1 regions, which include Northern Ireland. The Commission's decision took account of the requirement in article 12(5) of Council regulation (EEC) No. 2052/88 about devoting approximately 80 per cent. of the European regional development fund to objective 1. Other Community initiatives, notably RECHAR, apply in objective 2 regions.Commercial opportunities arising from expenditure in objective 1 regions under Telematique and PRISMA will of course be available to companies throughout the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the extent to which United Kingdom regions will benefit from the European Community's STRIDE programme.

The European Commission's STRIDE initiative will provide support from the European Community structural funds for research and development projects and technology transfer in Northern Ireland and in objective 2 regions in Great Britain. The Commission has indicated a financial allocation to the United Kingdom of 28 mecu (about £20 million) until 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will prosecute the directors of the Drambuie Liqueur Company for failure to file up-to-date accounts under sections 242 and 244 of the Companies Act 1985.

The accounts for Drambuie Liqueur Company were received at Companies house on 31 October 1990; therefore, section 244 does not apply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the location and number of task forces which have been set up, together with a list of their functions and budgets.

There are five business task forces located in DTI headquarters divisions. Their functions cover certain specific tasks on commodities and steel, aircraft arid aero-engines, shipbuilding, vehicles and market opportunities. The main budgets for which they are responsible are as follows:

	1990–91 Estimates/provision
	£ million
Development of the EH101 helicopter	12·5
Development of the A330/340 airliners	134·0
(Launch aid levy receipts	73·7)
Home shipbuilding credit guarantee scheme	43·5
Shipbuilding intervention fund	25·0
Assistance to redundant steelworkers	16·3
Civil aircraft research and demonstration	25·4

Details of these budgets are set out in the Supply Estimates 1990–91 (class IV Trade and Industry) and in chapter 4 of the "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1990–91 to 1992–93" (Cm 1004).As my Department's contribution to the Government's action for cities programme, there are 16 inner-city task forces. Their function is to generate enterprise in defined areas of particular deprivation and to create training and employment opportunities for the residents of those areas. In aggregate their budget for expenditure on projects in 1990–91 is £20·4 million. Task forces are located in:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to bring all mortgages under the Financial Services Act and to instruct tied agents and direct salesmen to display their status in advertisements, correspondence and premises.

The investment element of mortgages is already subject to the requirements of the Financial Services Act. The display by tied agents and direct salesmen of their status is a matter for the regulatory body concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the outcome of the European Community Industry Council held on 26 November.

[holding answer 3 December 1990:] The Industry Council meeting on 26 November, which Lord Hesketh attended for the United Kingdom, adopted a directive on aid for the Community shipbuilding industry and considered a communication from the Commission on industrial policy. The Council also discussed a Commission proposal to extend the patent term for pharmaceuticals, the industrial implications of the Uruguay round, the future of the ECSC treaty and Community craft industries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the increase of contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency made by Council of Europe member states at the recent pledging conference.

At the November pledging conference at the United Nations General Assembly, donor countries announced contributions to UNRWA for 1991 totalling almost US$200 million. Of this Council of Europe member states have so far pledged some US$73 million.

Public re-current expenditure per pupil1 in calendar years at 1985 prices
£ sterling
	1st level		2nd level		1st and 2nd levels
	1983	1986	1983	1986	1983	1986
France2	920	1,020	1,440	1,610	1,210	1,360
West Germany3	1,080	1,110	1,400	1,580	1,320	1,440
Japan	980	1,030	1,220	1,210	1,080	1,110
United Kingdom4	980	1,050	1,440	1,720	1,230	1,410
United States of America a	n/a	1,760	n/a	2,470	1,740	1,990
>b5	n/a	1,760	n/a	2,130	n/a	1,904

n/a not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice he gives to local education authorities about the extent of the counselling they should give to school governing bodies under the local management of schools.

It is for local education authorities to determine the amount, nature and timetable of training and support for school governors, in the light of local needs. Plans for governor support and training must be included in Schemes for the local management of schools. Over the four years 1989–90 to 1992–93, the Government will be supporting expenditure of around £247 million on the implementation of LMS. Some £24 million will be spent directly on support and training for school governors; other expenditure on equipping all schools with management information systems, and training school administrative staff to use them; on helping LEAs to implement their LMS schemes; on management training for heads and other senior teachers; and, from 1991–92, on support for the administration costs of schools with delegated budgets, will also help governors exercise their new responsibilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will change their conditions of service to allow teachers adequate time for planning, preparation and assessment resulting from the introduction of the national curriculum.

The use of teachers' directed time, and in particular its division between teaching and non-teaching duties, is a matter for head teachers to decide.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was spending per pupil in 1979 and in the latest available year for which figures are available in each of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries.

The readily available data are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much his Department is making available in the current financial year in support of the community education development centre's project to assist local education authorities in the training of teachers designated by schools as child protection teachers; and how many teachers are currently covered by the scheme.

Up to £35,000 is being made available for this purpose by the Department in the current financial year. The principal objective of the project is to train the trainers of designated teachers. Thus, for every local education authority that takes up the offer of the courses, the designated teacher in each of their schools will benefit; and other teachers will also benefit from the knowledge and awareness spread through the schools by the designated teachers. About one sixth of local education authorities have so far participated in the scheme, and more courses are scheduled.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the budget for grant

	1990		11991
	Scientific	Non-scientific	Scientific	Non-scientific
IACR	449	251	433	246
IAH	292	228	283	227
IAPGR	337	222	321	208
IER	115	194	103	163
IFR	381	171	245	131
IGER	308	224	285	209
IPSR	234	92	234	92
Total	2,116	1,382	1,904	1,276
1 Estimate.

Abbreviations:
IACR	—Institute of Arable Crops Research.
IAH	—Institute for Animal Health.
IAPGR	—Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics.
IER	—Institute of Engineering Research.
IFR	—Institute of Food Research.
IGER	—Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research.
IPSR	—Institute of Plant Science Research.

In addition, 295 scientific and 269 non-scientific AFRC staff were seconded to the British Society of Horticultural Research (since renamed Horticulture Research International) on 1 April 1990. The estimated numbers of these staff for 1 April 1991 are 260 and 245 respectively.The number of staff employed on 1 April 1992 and 1 April 1993 will depend on a number of factors, including the funding available to the AFRC through the science budget and the extent of commissions from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and externally funded research. The present estimate is that the number of scientific staff employed by the AFRC at its institutes and Horticulture Research International will be about 1,960 and the number of non-scientific staff will be about 1,400 on each date. No breakdown of anticipated staffing levels at each AFRC institute is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his best estimate of the numbers of 19-year-olds in full-time non-advanced education.

Sums have not been separately identified within grant programmes for this area of training. It is for each local education authority to determine what provision to make to meet local circumstances, taking account of the various sources of income available to it, including general revenue support grant and the LEA training grants scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the number of (a) scientific and (b) non-scientific staff that are employed at each of the Agricultural and Food Research Council institutes; what are his estimates for 1991, 1992 and 1993; and if he will make a statement.

The figures for scientific and non-scientific staff in post on 1 April 1990 and the estimated number of staff in post on 1 April 1991 for each Agricultural and Food Research Council (AFRC) institute are as follows:

In 1989–90, there were 19,000 full-time students aged 19 in further education in England.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has received the annual report of the Science and Engineering Research Council for 1989–90; and if he will make a statement.

The annual report of the Science and Engineering Research Council for 1989–90 has been submitted to my right hon. and learned Friend under the requirements of the Science and Technology Act 1965, and a copy is being placed before the House today.My right hon. and learned Friend and I were pleased to note a number of significant achievements through council activity during the past year, including:

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list all organisations in Denton and Reddish constituency receiving training funds.

There are five organisations in Denton and Reddish constituency receiving training funds through contracts with the Manchester TEC and the Stockport and High Peak TEC. The CCE business centre, Windmill lane, Denton is contracted to provide employment training. The other organisations receive funds under the business growth training programme. These contracts are commercial-in-confidence and names cannot be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what commitment his Department offers to training schemes specifically aimed at encouraging women to return to work.

My Department's work to promote women's participation in training has been based on the requirement that all training providers implement a positive commitment to equal opportunities. Action has therefore been directed at removing the barriers that women encounter in reconciling training with their domestic commitments and allowing them access to the full range of programmes. The training and enterprise councils and local enterprise companies are addressing the specific needs of women returners and providing training schemes that meet them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy in respect of future mining options in Antarctica.

We have tabled, and are seeking support for, an environmental protocol to the Antarctic treaty, but we believe there can be no comprehensive system for the protection of the Antarctic environment that does not deal with the longer term issue of minerals. We therefore see the need to reach agreement on a legally binding instrument to address the question of minerals before the need for it arises.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to direct the British delegation to the meeting of the Antarctic treaty parties in Chile to make clear their support for the declaration of a world park in Antarctica.

The British delegation to the XIth special consultative meeting of Antarctic treaty parties is prepared to discuss all proposals which could lead to a return to consensus within the Antarctic treaty.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Christian Salvesen in respect of plans to remove hazardous materials and waste from their abandoned whaling station on South Georgia.

Officials of this Department have held discussions over the past year with Christian Salvesen plc about pollutants at the four disused whaling stations on South Georgia of which the company are the leaseholders. An operation to clean up the stations, funded jointly by Christian Salvesen and the Administration of South Georgia, will start shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his present policy in respect of the declaration of a world park in Antarctica.

We remain committed to achieving the best possible environmental protection for Antarctica, and to this end, regard the maintenance of the Antarctic treaty system and a return to consensus within it as essential. Whilst we do not see any merit in calling it a world park—it is already a "Special Conservation Area" under the 1964 agreed measures for the conservation of Antarctic fauna and flora—we are prepared to discuss all proposals to protect the Antarctic environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has concerning the intentions of the safeguards authorities of the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect civil nuclear facilities in Iraq.

The IAEA announced on 27 November that their inspectors had carried out a safeguards inspection in Iraq and had concluded that all material under safeguards could be accounted for.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in connection with the recent visit by the First Secretary of the British embassy in Washington, Mr. Sherard Cowper-Coles, to the conference in Boston hosted by the Investor Responsor Research Centre, what costs were involved in (a) travelling, (b) accommodation, (c) entertainment and (d) other expenses.

The costs were as follows:

	US$
(a) Travelling	371·00
(b) Accommodation	108·85
(c) Entertainment	None
(d) Other expenses (meals)	69·15

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has made with regard to the imprisonment of (a) Fatemeh Hosseinzadeh Tussi Moghadam, (b) Dr. Fatemeh Izadi and (c) Nahid Dorudiahi by the Islamic Republic of Iran;(2) what representations he has made with regard to the imprisonment of

None. But we note that the persons in question are mentioned in the report of the UN special representative on human rights in Iran, Mr. Galindo Pohl, and that he has called on the Iranian Government to respond in detail to the allegations of abuses of human rights put to them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is making representations to the Islamic Republic of Iran on their human rights record.

Together with our partners in the European Community, we are seeking a resolution in the third committee of the United Nations which reflects the state of human rights in Iran. This is a matter we take very seriously.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has concerning the need for humanitarian aid in Bulgaria; how much humanitarian aid has been given by the United Kingdom to Bulgaria; and what plans the Government has for future humanitarian aid to Bulgaria.

We are contributing to humanitarian aid through the European Community's PHARE aid programme. The Community has recently approved a mother and child health support programme worth approximately £3·5 million. We have encouraged the Commission to consider urgently Bulgarian requests for humanitarian aid (including food and medical supplies). The question was last discussed during the meeting of the EC-Bulgaria Joint Commission on 30 November.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he is making to the Syrian Government on their human rights record.

Like any other Government, the Syrian Government are well aware of our position on human rights. Following the resumption of diplomatic relations with Syria, we shall be better placed to make representations when this is justified.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will put Kurdistan and the situation of Kurdish people on the agenda of any future peace conference on the middle east.

We cannot at this stage outline the agenda of any future middle east peace conference. We expect the rights of all peoples in the region, including the Kurds, to be respected by the Governments of the countries in which they live. We do not recognise an independent Kurdish state. The frontiers of states in the region are set by international treaty.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is making representations to the Saudi Arabian Government on their human rights record.

The Saudi Government are well aware of the importance we attach to the observance of human rights standards.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those occasions in the past five years when he has used his powers under the Land Drainage Act 1976 or the Water Act 1989 to give directions to a regional or local flood defence committee of the National Rivers Authority, or their equivalent under previous legislation in cases where they are promoting a specific land drainage or flood defence scheme which does not accord with his priorities.

Powers to give such directions in relation to capital land drainage or flood defence schemes have only been available since the coming into force of the Water Act 1989. No direction could therefore be given under the Land Drainage Act 1976, and none has so far been given under the Water Act 1989.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any proposals to restrict the use of canthaxanthin as an animal feedstuff additive; and if he will make a statement.

I have accepted the expert advice of the Food Advisory Committee that the use of canthaxanthin as a feed additive should cease and I have asked the EC Commission to urgently review the data on the toxicity of canthaxanthin in order to achieve concerted EC action to prohibit its use in feed. The EC Commission has responded promptly by referring the matter to its expert scientific committee, the Scientific Committee on Animal Nutrition. This committee is urgently considering data supplied by the United Kingdom.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the quantity and value of grain produced in the United Kingdom in each year since 1979 stating value in real and 1990 prices.

Production and Output of Cereals in the United Kingdom
				Total (£ million)
Calendar year	Production	Output ( = Sales)	Value of physical change in on-farm stocks	at current prices	at 1985 prices
	('000 tonnes)	(£ million)	(£ million)
1979	17,416	1,184	11	1,195	1,315
1980	19,482	1,462	-3	1,459	1,546
1981	19,621	1,693	-30	1,663	1,623
1982	21,910	2,062	-29	2,033	1,859
1983	21,307	1,996	85	2,081	1,759
1984	26,602	2,420	84	2,504	2,421
1985	22,466	2,281	-141	2,140	2,140
1986	24,489	2,174	22	2,196	2,202
1987	21,675	2,043	-35	2,008	2,025
1988	21,028	1,898	-18	1,880	1,980
1989	22,685	1,926	67	1,993	2,067
1990	22,533	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a

n/a Not yet available.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has concerning the use of Gramoxone; whether his Department is aware of any impact of this product on the population of the brown hare; if he is conducting any relevant research; and if he will make a statement.

The use of Gramoxone (active ingredient paraquat) is monitored regularly as part of the rolling survey of pesticide usage carried out by Agriculture Departments, the results of which are published. It has been alleged to cause mortality in brown hares but exhaustive tests carried out by MAFF scientists have failed to establish any link. Another possibility is a virus disease, similar to one found in rabbits, which has been detected in several European countries. To pinpoint the real cause farmers have been asked to report all suspicious deaths of brown hares. Their carcases will be checked for viral symptoms in addition to the normal tests for pesticides.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list (a) the market support schemes and (b) the grant schemes operated by his Ministry for which financial resources do not come from the European Community.

Market support schemes and grant schemes are listed, together with their financial provision in the supply estimates. Figures for the previous 10 years are available in the publication "Agriculture in the United Kingdom 1989" and in the annual review of agriculture White Papers. These publications are available in the Library of the House.

The table shows information on the tonnage of cereals produced and the available information on its value. Following standard practice, valuations are only made of (net) off-farm sales and of changes in on-farm stocks; cereals used directly on-farms are not valued. The valuations are at current prices (ie the prices pertaining in each year) and at 1985 prices.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of (a) scientists and (b) non-scientific staff employed at his fisheries research centres since 1980, including those expected to be employed in 1991 and 1992.

The numbers of staff are broken down as follows:

	1980	1990
Scientific, professional and technical staff	256	251½
Marine staff	88	51
Others (including e.g. administrative and support staff)	134½	101½
Totals (excluding casuals)	478½	404

The manpower numbers at the Directorate of Fisheries Research in 1991–92 will depend upon the estimates for my Department's 1991–92 running costs which are still being finalised.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to make the recently announced payments of the suckler cow premium.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given on 26 November at column 324 to my hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Mr. Gill).

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to publish the report of his chief veterinary officer on animal health for 1990.

My Department is intending to publish the report of the Chief Veterinary Officer—"Animal Health 1990"—on 3 July 1991.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the loss of 380 jobs at the Agricultural and Food Research Council.

I have been asked to reply.The AFRC has announced that an estimated 380 posts will be lost in 1990–91 as a result of a combination of factors, including reductions in commissioned work as a consequence of the Government's "near-market" policy, an anticipated reduction in contracts work from the private sector, and the restructuring of AFRC institutes.I am confident that the AFRC, which is an independent, chartered body, will continue to make every effort to hold redundancies to a minimum by deploying staff threatened with redundancy to other posts, with retraining as required.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to ensure that slaughterhouses in Northern Ireland meet European Community export standards.

Of the 33 slaughterhouses in Northern Ireland, 27 are already approved for intra-Community trade. Required European Community standards are enforced by the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland.

	Controlled			Maintained
Board area	Nursery school places	Nursery classes in primary schools-places	Total places	Nursery-school places	Nursery classes in primary schools-places	Total places	Total places nursery schools and places
Belfast1	700	775	1,475	550	50	600	2,075
Western	500	150	650	—	75	75	725
North-Eastern	725	200	925	100	100	200	1,125
South-Eastern	475	150	625	250	—	250	875
Southern	525	425	950	100	300	400	1,350
Total	2,925	1,700	4,625	1,000	525	1,525	6,150
1 Coterminous with the Belfast city council area.

There is no grant-aided nursery provision in integrated schools or in other schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his reply of 28 November 1990, Official Report, column 399, what is meant by the term "Government of Northern Ireland" in note (5) to the table; and to whom in Northern Ireland the present Government are answerable.

The reference in note (5) to the table in my reply of 28 November, is to Northern Ireland Departments which, under the Northern Ireland Act 1974, are subject to

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provision he has made in respect of the intake allowed into grammar schools in Northern Ireland where there is a number of children of Regular Army personnel in the intake and where the number of children in a yearly cohort is affected by the transfer of such children to those schools from elsewhere when their parents are transferred to Northern Ireland.

Admissions are a matter for individual school boards of governors, and the children of regular Army personnel resident in Northern Ireland are catered for within the normal arrangements. Schools are required to admit pupils up to their approved admissions number and to apply admissions criteria if they are oversubscribed. The admission of children from schools outside Northern Ireland is also a matter for individual schools, but the Department of Education is prepared to consider applications for an increase in school admissions numbers in cases where there are extenuating circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many places in nursery education are available in (a) Belfast city and (b) each education and library board area in Northern Ireland; and in each case how many are (i) in the integrated school system, (ii) in controlled schools, (iii) in maintained schools and (iv) in other schools, respectively.

Details of full-time equivalent nursery pupil places for each education and library board are as follows:my direction and control The VAT Act 1983 Section (49) provides for refunds to "the Government of Northern Ireland."

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many visits he has made to (a) the national library of Wales and (b) the national museum of Wales; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend visited the national museum in September and plans to take up the invitation of the president to visit the national library of Wales at an early opportunity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to visit the national library of Wales to meet staff members to discuss the future of the library.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Torfaen (Mr. Murphy) on 31 October which explained the procedures for dealing with staff inspection reports.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he proposes to enhance training in rural Wales; and if he will make a statement.

The new training and enterprise councils are locally based and run by local employers in partnership with the local community; this will ensure that the needs of a rural economy are catered for effectively. A new all-Wales Agricultural Training Board has been established, with a headquarters at Builth Wells, to meet the training needs of the industry. It will work closely with the TECs and in due course, after the necessary primary legislation, it will be able to extend its remit beyond the strict confines of the agricultural industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of day centre and day hospital places for mentally handicapped people in Wales currently; and what was the comparable figure in 1979.

District	1986		1987		1988		1989
	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B
Clwyd
Alyn and Deeside	16	8	37	9	24	7	30	5
Colwyn	28	9	28	6	25	5	32	10
Delyn	24	2	24	5	25	10	42	12
Glyndwr	19	5	21	5	27	6	36	4
Rhuddlan	22	12	23	9	22	10	32	11
Wrexham Maelor	30	10	31	10	47	14	37	8
Total	139	46	164	44	170	52	109	50
Dyfed
Carmarthen	22	5	16	4	28	9	56	7
Ceredigion	36	8	31	7	57	8	81	11
Dinefwr	16	6	15	2	16	3	42	5
Llanelli	16	3	30	9	22	9	33	9
Preseli	10	2	19	2	15	5	36	3
South Pembrokeshire	22	5	14	3	21	2	63	11
Total	122	29	125	27	159	36	311	46
Gwent
Blaenau Gwent	10	2	14	1	7	3	15	6
Islwyn	19	6	19	6	13	5	29	6
Monmouth	59	12	76	12	70	12	105	18
Newport	48	12	37	8	49	6	73	10
Torfaen	36	11	19	6	26	7	33	6
Total	172	43	165	33	165	33	255	46
Gwynedd
Aberconwy	30	15	51	6	51	14	69	16
Arfon	26	8	34	7	29	3	39	4
Dwyfor	20	3	48	9	41	9	59	16
Meirionnydd	22	9	13	1	25	4	20	0
Ynys Mon	55	17	59	23	56	17	71	18
Total	153	52	205	46	202	47	258	54

There were 3,499 places in local authority day care, training and employment facilities for mentally handicapped people on 31 March 1990. At 31 March 1979, there were 2,540 places in local authority adult training centres for mentally handicapped people. The increase between 1979 and 1990 is nearly 38 per cent.There were 22,484 place-days—that is, the number of places times the number of days the place was available—in NHS day care facilities for mentally handicapped people in the year from 1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990. This is equivalent to an average of 62 continuously available places over the year. Comparable information for 1979 is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many planning appeals were brought in each of the years 1986 to 1989 in relation to each local planning authority in Wales; how many were allowed; and what was the overall cost to his Department of the planning appeal system in each of those years.

The numbers of planning appeals brought and allowed are given in the table.For the financial year 1989–90 the cost of the appeal system was £1,006,200. I regret that figures for earlier years are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to build a marina in Aberystwyth during the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Ceredigion district council submitted a scheme for the development of a marina at Aberystwyth harbour as a project of regional or national importance. An announcement on this and other applications will be made in the House shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning the future of the textile and knitwear industry in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Several. I am aware that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, who has policy responsibility for the textile and knitwear industry, has also received representations. I will ensure that he is aware of any views expressed by the industry in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what sums from public funds were paid to (a) local authorities, (b) private firms and (c) private individuals to repair damage caused by floods in Wales in February; for what purposes such sums were paid; how much of these sums were paid by central Government and for what purposes they were used; and what sums were paid by councils and for what purposes they were used.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of the formal expression of interest by Pembrokeshire health authority in becoming an all-authority national health service trust.

No, but if a formal application is submitted, a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the total budget of family practitioner committees for the years 1988–89, 1989–90 and the predicted forecast for the year 1990–91; and if he will itemise the family practitioner committee budget breakdown for each health authority for each of the years identified above.

The financial allocations made to family practitioner committees in Wales—re-titled family health services authorities from 17 September 1990) for their administration revenue expenditure are shown in table 1.Apart from identifying separately the amounts built in for certain fixed costs, over which an FHSA has no discretion, these cash-limited budgets are not disaggregated into discrete items when they are allocated. It is for each FHSA to decide how its administration revenue budget is best used in accordance with statutory requirements and such directions and guidance as might be given to them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest figure for the number of private sector starts in the housing market in Wales; and what has been the increase since 1979.

Ten thousand and ninety five private sector starts were recorded during 1989—2,509 or 24·9 per cent. more than the 7,586 started in 1979.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each county in Wales his estimate available of the number of people in that county with problems of alcohol misuse.

The only available data are provided in the Welsh heart health survey of 1985, which recorded people drinking in excess of "safe limits" defined by the Health Promotion Authority for Wales. These are 20-plus units per week for men and 15-plus units for women. The figures are as follows:

Health authority district	Proportion of population aged 18–64 drinking in excess of the safe limits	Estimated number of people aged 18–64 drinking in excess of the safe limits
	percentage
Clwyd
Male	37	29,000
Female	12	5,600
East Dyfed
Male	36	14,600

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the finances available to his Department and allocated by his Department to combat alcohol misuse in each of the financial years 1987–88, 1988–89 and 1989–90; if he will indicate the amounts initially available in 1990–91, and any additional sums made available by his Department for this purpose since the start of the financial year.

Responsibility for tackling alcohol misuse rests primarily with health and local authorities. The Health Promotion Authority for Wales has a role in primary prevention and many voluntary organisations participate as part of their overall activity. Finances to these organisations are unhypothecated and it is not possible separately to identify that element earmarked for combating alcohol misuse.Specific funds are made available to Alcohol Concern Wales and these are as follows:

	£
1987–88	38,187
1988–89	42,000
1989–90	49,546
1990–91	68,079

It was announced in June of this year that an additional £150,000 was available for organisations concerned with combating alcohol misuse.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many resignations there have been from the teaching profession in each year between 1985 and 1989, inclusive, in each local education authority area; and if he will publish figures for (a) the primary sector and (b) the secondary school sector.

[holding answer 28 November 1990]: The number of teachers who have moved out of teaching posts in the maintained education sector is given as follows for the years ending 31 March 1986 to 31 March 1988. Information for 1989 is not yet available, and information prior to 1986 is not readily available.

Year ending 31 March	Primary	Secondary
1986
Clwyd	29	60
Dyfed	52	68
Gwent	53	81
Gwynedd	29	36
Mid Glamorgan	56	83
Powys	14	20
South Glamorgan	40	75
West Glamorgan	38	56
Wales	311	479
1987
Clwyd	21	67
Dyfed	26	54
Gwent	48	76
Gwynedd	23	38
Mid Glamorgan	57	102
Powys	23	17
South Glamorgan	51	68
West Glamorgan	47	58
Wales	296	480
1988
Clwyd	22	51
Dyfed	50	62
Gwent	58	87
Gwynedd	20	37
Mid Glamorgan	41	91
Powys	17	29
South Glamorgan	45	63
West Glamorgan	61	61
Wales	314	481

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the names of members nominated by his Department to represent ethnic minority communities to serve on bodies in Wales during the past three years.

(holding answer 27 November): Members are appointed on the basis of their personal qualities and relevant experience and not as representatives of any particular ethnic group. Candidates are not required to state their ethnic origin; consequently, such information is not recorded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what alternatives to benzodiazepine sleeping pills are currently being provided in national health service hospitals.

The current British national formulary lists seven drugs or chemical groups which are available as alternatives to benzodiazepine hypnotics.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has that pharmaceutical companies are providing incentives to national health service doctors to continue supplying benzodiazepines to patients.

We have no such evidence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department is currently doing to ensure that no new patient becomes addicted to benzodiazepines.

Doctors already have advice about the use of these drugs and are aware of the need to prescribe them carefully. The number of prescriptions for benzodiazepines dispensed by community pharmacists in Great Britain in 1989 was approximately 9 per cent. smaller than in 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions for each individual benzodiazepine were issued by community pharmacists during 1989.

The information requested is as follows:

Benzodiazepines
Great Britain: 1989
Drug group	Prescriptions
	(millions)
Temazepam	7·1
Nitrazepam	4·2
Diazepam	4·1
Triazolam	2·1
Lorazepam	1·7
Chlordiazepoxide	0·8
Oxazepam	0·5
Lormetazepam	0·2
Loprazolam	0·2
Clonazepam	0·1
Clobazam	0·1
Totals	22·1

These estimates are based on a sample of prescriptions of approximately 1 in 200 in England and Wales and 1 in 100 in Scotland which were dispensed by community pharmacists.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on touting for business on health authority property by agents for residential and nursing homes.

I refer the hon. Member to the replies my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales gave him on 22 November at column 193 and 30 November at column 517. I am not aware of any such problems elsewhere.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's review of the possible impact of vehicle gases on the potency of pollen grains.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 17 July at column 514.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the percentage of agency nurses employed by the national health service at the present time.

The latest available information relates to 30 September 1989 and shows that agency nursing and midwifery staff accounted for less than 2 per cent. of the total wholetime equivalent nursing and midwifery staff employed in the national health service in England.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which national health service trusts he intends to establish; and if he will make a statement.

National health service trusts are a central element in our plans for reforming the NHS and improving the services which it provides to patients. While remaining firmly a part of the NHS, trusts will have wide ranging and significant powers of self-determination which will enable them to deliver high quality patient care and to provide greater job satisfaction to their employees.The trust initiative has already attracted considerable interest from those working within the NHS. Last year some 86 hospitals and other units indicated that they were considering applying to become operational on 1 April 1991. Staff from the management executive worked closely with these units while they were deciding whether to apply for trust status and during the preparation of their applications. During this period a number of units decided not to go ahead with a formal application for trust status on this occasion.Sixty-six hospitals and other units formally applied for trust status, and regional health authorities have consulted widely on these applications. I have now considered these applications and the comments made on them during the consultation period by those consulted and others. In doing so, I applied four key criteria: that the establishment of a Trust will give clear benefits and improved quality of service to patients; that management has the skills and capacity—including strong, effective leadership, sufficient financial and personnel management expertise and adequate information systems—to run the unit effectively; that senior professional staff, especially consultants, are involved in the management of the unit; that the trust will be financially viable. As a result, I have decided to establish the following 56 trusts, to become operational on 1 April 1991.