To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to require British Rail to publish the details and results of its investigations into the incidences of passengers falling from moving trains.

This is a matter for British Rail to consider. Information on such incidents is contained in the chief inspecting officer of railways' annual report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which emergency services were involved in the clean-up operation following the derailment and spillage of aviation fuel at the Isle of Grain on 28 November; what were the costs; and which body met each area of cost.

Several organisations assisted at the scene of the accident, including the fire, police and ambulance services. I understand that the three emergency services were not directly involved in the clean-up operation and that they expect to meet their own costs. It is too early to know the total costs of the clean-up operation and the apportionment of them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the current responsibilities of the defence planning and emergencies division within his Department; how many full and part-time staff are employed; and what was the annual budget for each of the last five years.

The current responsibilities of the defence planning and emergencies division are to develop and maintain plans for the use of surface transport, including shipping, in crisis and war; to maintain departmental civil emergency plans and emergency facilities within the Department of Transport; and to manage Government-owned wrecks and their cargoes. Thirty-four full-time staff are employed, one of whom is seconded to another Department.The annual budget for the division over the past five years is as follows:

	£000s
1985–86	3,579
1986–87	3,432
1987–88	2,071
1988–89	2,795
1989–90	2,468

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the 10 worst purchases made by his Department in the month of October as measured against the Government's supply index.

The Department does not keep a central record of prices paid for each item purchased. Sample checks reveal that the prices paid for items on the GSI list were close to or lower than the GSI average prices.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the purchasing policy of his Department.

The Department is bound by the Government's policy that purchasers should base all procurement of goods and services on value for money, including quality (or fitness for purpose) and delivery against price. In accordance with that policy, goods and services are acquired by competition unless there are convincing reasons to the contrary. Under EC rules, and the GATT Government procurement agreement (GPA) where appropriate, the Department is obliged to award relevant contracts in accordance with prescribed procedures aimed at avoiding discrimination on grounds, of nationality.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many driving tests have been completed in each test area in Wales; and what the success rate has been for 1988, 1989 and 1990 to date.

I have asked the chief executive of the Driving Standards Agency to reply to the hon. Member direct.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive the Rail Freight Distribution United Kingdom Business Review report from the board of British Rail; and when it will be made public.

I understand that the British Railways Board is currently considering the conclusions of Railfreight Distribution's review. Publication of the report would be a matter for British Rail.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the inspection of the vessel the Cam Spirit in December 1989 revealed about modifications to make her more manoeuvrable since her name was changed from the Silver Pit.

The name was changed nine months after the inspection referred to. A survey was not required, nor was one undertaken. I understand, however, that substantial changes have been made to improve the reliability of the manoeuvring system.

To ask the secretary of state for Transport if he will make it his policy to dismiss the chairman of London Underground unless London Underground escalators at (a) St. John's Wood underground station and (b) elsewhere are in full working order by Saturday 15 December.

No. A year ago we set London Underground Ltd. (LUL) a target of improved escalator availability, and LUL has made encouraging progress towards meeting that target. The target my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Transport set LUL in December 1989 was to increase overall escalator availability on the underground from 78 per cent.—1988–89 average—to 86 per cent. by 31 March 1992. Performance figures up to mid-September show LUL has achieved 84 per cent. I suggest the hon. Member discusses the availability of particular escalators with London Underground Ltd.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what modifications have been made to his Department's code for standby vessels for North sea operations since the Piper Alpha disaster.

None. A revised code was submitted to the public inquiry which will he amended in the light of Lord Cullen's recommendations.

To ask the Attorney-General (1) on how many occasions between 11 June 1987 and 31 August 1988 officers of MI5 were granted access to any parliamentary ballot papers and counterfoils and the marked electoral registers, returns, declarations and other election documents in the custody of the clerk of the Crown;(2) on how many occasions between 11 June 1987 and 31 August 1988 civil servants were granted access to any parliamentary ballot papers and counterfoils and the marked electoral registers, returns, declarations and other election documents in the custody of the clerk of the Crown.

None, as far as is known. Under parliamentary elections rules set out in schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983, ballot papers, counterfoils and certificates of employment on duty on the day of the poll are to be produced only on the order of the House of Commons or a competent court. No such orders were received during the period mentioned. All the other election documents specified by the Act are required to be open to public access, and applicants are not required to state their occupations or purposes.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will detail the precautions taken to prevent unauthorised access to parliamentary ballot papers, counterfoils, marked electoral registers, returns, declarations and other election documents in the custody of the clerk of the Crown under schedule 1, part V, rule 55 of the Representation of the People Act 1983.

Parliamentary election documents are stored in a locked warehouse on a 24-hour patrolled secure Government site in Greater London. Only selected staff of the Lord Chancellor's Department have access to the warehouse and its contents.

To ask the Attorney-General what was the number of orders made between 11 June 1987 and 31 August 1988 under schedule 1, part V, rule 56 of the Representation of the People Act 1983.

No such orders for production of election documents were received during the period stated. The only documents produced were those where public inspection is authorised under schedule 1, rule 57(2), of the 1983 Act.

To ask the Attorney-General on how many occasions between 11 June 1987 and 31 August 1988 police officers were given access to any parliamentary ballot papers and counterfoils and the marked electoral registers, returns, declarations and other election documents in the custody of the clerk of the Crown.

Under the parliamentary elections rules set out in schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983, ballot papers, counterfoils and certificates of employment on duty on the day of the poll are to be produced only on the order of the House of Commons or a competent court. No such orders were received during the period mentioned. All the other election documents, including marked election registers, specified by the Act are required to be open to public access, and applicants are not required to state their occupations or purposes. Applicants stating themselves to be police officers were given access to marked election registers on five occasions during the period mentioned.

To ask the Attorney-General how many convictions the Director of Public Prosecutions has defended before the Court of Appeal in each of the last five years; and in how many of these he did not express a view as to the innocence or guilt of the defendant.

Records maintained by the Crown prosecution service do not include a total figure for the number of cases proceeding to the Court of Appeal as appeals against conviction. The total number of appeals against conviction heard by the Court of Appeal between 1986 and 1990 is set out in the table; the vast majority would have been conducted by the Crown prosecution service.It is only where exceptional circumstances prevail that the Crown prosecution service does not seek to resist an appeal against conviction; the number of such cases arising in each of the last five years could be ascertained only by a disproportionate expense to the taxpayer.

Appeals against conviction heard by full court
	Number
1985	528
1986	534
1987	343
1988	420
1989	500
1990	1569
1To 30 November.

To ask the Attorney-General when the Director of Public Prosecutions is proposing to make available to solicitors for the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bomings all the material relevant to the preparations of grounds for appeal.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has disclosed a substantial amount of material to the solicitors representing the appellants. Arrangements are being made for the disclosure of outstanding material in his possession, insofar as this is appropriate in accordance with the Attorney-General's guidelines on disclosure. This has been explained to those representing the appellants. Any further material provided to the Director of Public Prosecutions will be considered and disclosed, if this is appropriate in accordance with the guidelines.

To ask the Prime Minister what assessment has been made of the ecological consequences of a military option in the Gulf.

On any realistic estimate, the main effect would be to increase annual world CO₂ emissions by a small amount. Any environmental damage is undesirable, but the international community believes that the issues at stake are overriding. The way to avoid any of the consequences to which the hon. Member draws attention is for Saddam Hussein to comply with the resolutions of the United Nations and to withdraw from Kuwait.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the names, duties and grading of those now employed in his office.

The senior staff currently employed in my office and paid from public funds are:

Name	Grade	Position
Mr. A. Turnbull	Grade 2	Principal Private Secretary
Mr. C. D. Powell	Grade 3	Private Secretary—Overseas Affairs
Mr. D. C. B. Morris	Grade 5	Private Secretary—Parliamentary Affairs
Mr. B. Potter	Grade 5	Private Secretary—Economic Affairs
Miss C. A. Slocock	Grade 7	Private Secretary—Home Affairs
Mr. J. R. Catford	Grade 5	Secretary for Appointments
Mr. A. T. O'Donnell	Grade 3	Chief Press Secretary
Mr. T. J. Perks	Grade 5	Deputy Chief Press Secretary
Mr. C. Fountain	Grade 7	Security Co-ordinator
Mrs. S. Hogg	Grade 1A	Head of Policy Unit
Mr. J. Mills	Grade 5	Policy Adviser
Miss C. Sinclair	Grade 5	Policy Adviser

In addition, there are currently 56 employed oh administrative and support duties. I am considering further appointments to my policy unit.

To ask the Prime Minister if he has any plans to remove the gates to the entrance to Downing street.

No.

To ask the Prime Minister when the Cabinet Office will issue an up-to-date edition of the document intituled "List of Ministerial Responsibilities."

An up-to-date edition will be deposited in the Library as soon as possible after ministerial responsibilities in Departments have been determined.

To ask the Prime Minister whether it is his intention to retain the Department of Energy as a separate Department.

My present expectation is that work in the energy area will justify the retention of a separate department at least until the end of this Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much central Government resourcing will be used to facilitate the setting up of (a) the Battersea Park city technology college (b) the ADT city technology college in Wandsworth and (c) a new Church of England voluntary aided school in Sutherland grove in terms of (i) money and (ii) lost value by virtue of releasing sites at less than market value.

In respect of (a) and (c), I would refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave on 3 December, at columns 14 and 15 respectively. No lease or sale of property for the purposes of establishing the institutions referred to by the hon. Member has taken place in either case. On (b), the total capital cost of the ADT college, Wandsworth CTC will be £11 million of which the Department's 80 per cent. contribution will be £8·8 million. The site for the college was made available at relevant market value.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take in respect of the interim summary of the scientific review group on tree health in the United Kingdom; and when he expects the final report to be published.

The terrestrial effects sub group report, "Air Pollution and Tree Health In the United Kingdom", will be published in March 1991. No interim summary will be published before that time. Copies of the final report will be deposited in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what were his Department's (a) best and (b) worst purchases made in the current month as measured against the Government's supply index;(2) what were the 10 worst purchases made by his Department in the month of October as measured against the Government's supply index.

My Department devotes considerable attention to its purchasing policy. It purchases a wide range of goods and services, which is only partly covered by the Government supply index. Where possible, note is taken of the prices obtained by other Departments, but potential suppliers are assessed against a number of other factors also, in order to obtain best value for money and take full account of environmental considerations. In the case of large or long-term contracts formal tendering procedures are followed. A great many current purchases are made at advantageous rates under long-term or call-off contracts negotiated some time ago. It is therefore not possible to make a meaningful comparison of present prices within the GSI against those obtained by the Department's purchasing procedures.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the purchasing policy of his Department.

The Government's policy is that purchasers should base all procurement of goods and services on value for money, including quality, fitness for purpose and delivery against price. In accordance with that policy, goods and services are acquired by competition unless there are convincing reasons to the contrary. Under EC rules, and the GATT Government procurement agreement where appropriate, my Department is obliged to award relevant contracts in accordance with prescribed procedures aimed at avoiding discrimination on grounds of nationality.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the administrative costs of his Department rose by more or less than the retail price index in the last financial year.

The outturn for my Department was only 6 per cent. higher in 1989–90 than in 1988–89—less than the increase in the retail prices index between those two years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will consider contesting the legal action pending against the United Kingdom for non-compliance with the 1979 birds directive.

We recently learnt that the European Commission may bring forward a proposal for amending the relevant provisions of the directive. We shall consider what action may be required when the Commission has clarified its intentions, but we hope the matter can be settled without referral to the court.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will urge his colleagues in the Council of Ministers to recommend to the European Commission the reinstatement of the pests annex to the 1979 birds directive; and if he will make a statement.

We intend to raise the question of pest control under the directive at the next meeting of the Environment Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information he has about the rate of increase in connection charges for new house building by each utility company since privatisation;(2) what discussions he has had with utility companies regarding the future level of increase of connection charges for new house building.

Under section 79 of the Water Act 1989, a new system of infrastructure charges was introduced from 1 April 1990 for new connections to domestic water or sewerage services. The initial limits on these charges set by my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Wales are increased each year in line with the retail prices index.Increases in other charges made by companies, including any other charges related to connections, are restricted to the increase in the retail prices index plus the K factors set by my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the next 10 years and laid down in companies' instruments of appointment, copies of which are available in the Library.Both the K factors and the limits on infrastructure charges are now subject to review and amendment by the Director General of Water Services.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive a report from Victor Hausner and Associates on its research into the use of the urban programme in creating employment opportunities for black and ethnic minority communities in the inner cities.

My right hon. Friend expects to receive the final report of this research project early in 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what sanctions exist against local authorities in breach of their statutory duty to produce accounts for audit; and what action he proposes to take against those in serious breach.

Any person failing without reasonable excuse to comply with the statutory requirements is liable to prosecution. The auditor is best placed to judge whether such legal action is warranted or likely to succeed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the local authorities which are currently in breach of their statutory obligations to produce their annual audit accounts, setting against each the number of years of default.

The Audit Commission issued in February a list of 29 local authorities in England and Wales which had failed to publish their 1988–89 statements of accounts before the statutory deadline of 31 December 1989. I am arranging for a copy of the list to be placed in the Library of the House. The commission's annual report for 1989–90 stated that nine of these authorities had still not published 1988–89 accounts by June 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish tables showing (a) the number of new buildings, (b) the amount spent on new buildings, (c) the amount spent on repairs and maintenance and (d) the amount spent on building renovation by his Department in each of the last five years.

(1) Civil and Parliamentary Estates
	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89 (iii)	1989–90	1990–91 (Forecast) (iv)
a. Number of new building projects, including renovations and acquisitions (i) (ii)			39	37	32
b. Amount spent on new buildings, including renovation (£ million)	211	301	194	102	102
c. Amount spent on repairs and maintenance (£ million)	147	134	169	187	166

(2) Department of Environment (v)
	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91 (Forecast)
a. Number of new building projects			2	1	3
b. Amount spent on new buildings including renovation (£ million)			4	3	2
c. Amount spent on repairs and maintenance (£ million)	20	23	27	28	29

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will consider means by which assistance from public funds could be provided for those people no longer benefiting from a related rate reduction to contribute to the frontagers' costs of making up private streets to a satisfactory standard.

No. The apportionment of costs incurred in making up private streets to a satisfactory standard is a matter for the individuals and local authority concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy that consultations with the public and with national health service staff in Pembrokeshire

[holding answer 5 December 1990]: The following tables show the information requested in respect of:

(1) the building work funded up to March 1990 by the Property Services Agency, and thereafter by Property Holdings, as part of their responsibilities for the management of the Civil and Parliamentary Estates;

(2) the Department of the Environment's own accommodation.

The figures reflect the gradual transfer of responsibility for new building and maintenance services to occupying departments throughout the period. Information on the number of new building projects prior to 1 April 1988 is available only at disproportionate cost.regarding the proposed national health service trust shall be carried out objectively and independently of the health authority.

A decision on whether to approve a formal application for NHS trust status is subject to a statutory three-month public consultation period. In Wales this will be undertaken by the Welsh Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the dates and reference numbers of any circulars and other publications issued by his Department in respect of alcohol abuse since November 1980.

The following circulars on alcohol misuse have been issued since November 1980:

WOC 8/89; WHC 89(14) Alcohol Misuse—20 February 1989

WHC 90(78) Central Funding Initiative to Combat Alcohol Misuse in Wales: 1990–91 and 1991–92—5

December 1990

WHC 90(79) Combating Alcohol Misuse in Wales: The Next Steps—5 December 1990

The main publications sponsored and/or distributed by the Department are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give a breakdown by counties in Wales of the distribution of funds out of the funding for projects to help combat alcohol abuse announced by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary at his Department on Drinkwise Day in June; and if he will list the organisations receiving cash in each county.

Allocations have not yet been made. However, bids have been invited by 31 December 1990 and I hope to make an announcement early in the new year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish statistics for each Welsh health authority, for the number of drug misuse patients in Wales who receive treatment outside their district health authority areas.

This information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements have been made for giving directives to ensure that district health authority meetings will be open to the press and public.

Health authorities are subject to the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960. This requires a considerable degree of openness in their affairs. Advice was recently issued to health authorities on this matter; this was contained in section 11 of Welsh health circular (90)57, copies of which I have placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are classed as homeless in (a) Ynys Môn and (b) Wales.

The number of persons accepted as homeless during the September 1990 quarter is shown in the following table:

	Number
Ynys Môn	35
Wales	5,337

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the specific Welsh Office responsibilities (a) to which he will give personal oversight and (b) which he will delegate to each of his ministerial colleagues at the Welsh Office.

I have today announced the allocation of ministerial responsibilities within the Welsh Office. They are:Secretary of State, the right hon. David Hunt, MBE, MP: overall responsibility for the whole Department taking a special interest in economic matters, agriculture, fisheries and forestry, industry, Welsh Development Agency and Development Board for Rural Wales, energy and environment policy, Cardiff bay, Programme for the Valleys, financial and revenue support grant issues, European Community issues, constitutional issues, training and enterprise councils.Minister of State, Sir Wyn Roberts, MP: education and training, small businesses and rural affairs, Wales tourist board and tourism generally, transport and highways, Welsh language, arts, National Library and National Museum of Wales, historic buildings and ancient monuments, Countryside Council for Wales, national parks, conservation, general issues relating to public appointments.Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Mr. Nicholas Bennett, MP: health and social work, housing, water and environmental protection, local government, land use planning, urban affairs, including urban programme and urban development grants, enterprise zones, sport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what resources are to be made available to Tai Cymru in the financial year 1991–92.

In gross terms the resources available to Tai Cymru will be over £117·4 million. Taking account of associated private sector funding, the overall programme will be worth above £150 million next year. I am delighted that this will secure a further tranche of over 3,000 unit completions in 1991–92.The package of resources to be made available to Housing for Wales over the four-year period to 1993–94 will now total nearly half a billion pounds. The total allocation of over £480 million means a 36 per cent. increase from 1990–91 to 1993–94; by when the allocation will have virtually trebled in cash terms from five years ago.I am glad that Tai Cymru continues to make good progress in achieving strategic development of housing associations in Wales: by the close of its third full year of operation, and taking account of the provision that I have been able to make this year, Tai Cymru should have increased housing association dwelling stock by over a third.As regards current expenditure, I shall be making available £4·8 million in 1991–92—an increase of £3 million over 1990–91—to cover the costs of the special needs management allowance scheme introduced in Wales this year. The scheme is of particular significance in carrying forward our strategies for vulnerable groups in Wales. I intend that its impact should be kept under continuing review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the level at which domestic rates in Wales would have to be fixed in 1990–91 in order to raise the same amount as under the community charge.

[pursuant to his reply, 5 December 1990, c. 148]: Owing to a typing error an incorrect figure was given. The correct answer is as follows. The estimated average rate bill per ratepayer for Wales in 1990–91 is £430 or 31 per cent. over 1989–90. For a detailed breakdown for each local authority, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones) on 11 May 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received concerning the level of funding for the sheltered placement scheme.

Around 130 written representations have been received on this subject this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment why he proposes to close his Department's jobcentre and benefit office in Amble, Northumberland.

Questions on operational matters in the Employment Service Executive Agency are the responsibility of Mike Fogden, the agency's chief executive, to whom I have referred this question for reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will examine the roles of further education colleges, some sixth forms, and youth training providers to identify and discourage any duplication or waste in staff, premises, equipment and operational costs.

Training and enterprise councils are being given new responsibilities for business education partnerships and work related further education and will be closely involved in TVEI planning. The councils are well placed to address questions of efficiency and resource allocation, in partnership with local education authorities and independent educational institutions.

To ask the Secretary of Stale for Employment if he will take frequent soundings of existing partners in education and training to ensure training and enterprise councils have the best available information on current and developing positions, and to give confidence to companies, schools, careers and managing agents that changes will be negotiated and not imposed.

My Department is in regular contact with education and training interests and their views are always taken into account. In addition, I expect training and enterprise councils to consult relevant organisations in their local area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what incentives he intends to offer to encourage smaller companies to support human resource development through jobs with training.

The Government are committed to encouraging all firms, including small ones, to invest more effectively in the skills which their businesses need. This commitment is fully reflected in the prominence given to this issue in the strategic guidance for training and enterprise councils (TECs). The TECs are responding with plans for a wide range of activities and incentives to support this objective, all of which are tailored to meet particular local circumstances.Training and enterprise councils and the national training task force are also introducing a new initiative, "Investors in People", which is designed to encourage all companies, including smaller ones, to appreciate the business benefits of effective training. Effective training and development will be formally recognised as "Investors In People". This will be important to customers and potential employees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the latest weekly figures for net new business registrations.

During 1989, the latest period for which figures have been published by my Department, the number of businesses registered for VAT increased by nearly 1,700 a week on average. Early indications from data collected by HM Customs and Excise is that there continues to be a substantial surplus of registrations over deregistrations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Labour and Social Affairs Council meeting held in Brussels on 26 November.

The Government welcome the result of this Council.The Council formally adopted the health and safety directive on biological agents, and reached a common position on a directive to control the use of asbestos at the workplace. A decision on an action programme in favour of the elderly was agreed as was a resolution on the comparability of vocational training qualifications.There was a lengthy discussion of the directives concerning part-time and temporary work, as proposed by the European Commission under its social action programme. A clear majority of member states had significant difficulties with the substance of the proposals; and they also agreed that article 100A of the treaty, as proposed by the Commission, was an inappropriate treaty base and that directives of this kind required unanimity in the Council.A large majority of the delegations agreed with the United Kingdom that rapid progress could now be made towards agreeing the proposed directive on the health and safety of temporary workers.There was also discussion of regulations concerned with the free movement of labour and social security entitlements for migrant workers. Some of the other member states had difficulties with the current draft texts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the annual cost of fees and reimbursements to people appointed to (a) public, (b) non-governmental and (c) other bodies by his Department.

[holding answer 5 December 1990]: In 1989–90, the last financial year for which information is available, the annual cost to the Employment Department Group of fees and reimbursements was as follows:

	Fees	Reimbursements
		(£'000)
People appointed to:
Public bodies	307	91
Non-governmental bodies	9,315	834
Other bodies	—	—

This reply does not include information on the former Training Agency, now absorbed into the Department, which could only be supplied at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the purchasing policy of his Department.

My Department follows the Government's policy to base all procurement of goods and services on value for money, taking into account quality (or fitness for purpose) and delivery. Goods and services are acquired by competition unless there are convincing reasons to the contrary. My Department also observes EC and GATT requirements for Government purchasing where appropriate and encourages small firms to compete for its business.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what were the 10 worst purchases made by his Department in the month of October as measured against the Government's supply index;

This information is not available because my Department does not currently subscribe to the Government supply index (GSI). It spends only a comparatively small amount on items covered by the index so that membership would not represent good value for money.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether the administrative costs of his Department rose by more or less than the retail prices index in the last financial year.

Gross running costs expenditure on my Department's administration was 37·2 per cent. higher in 1989–90 than in the previous year. During the same period the retail prices index increased by 7·8 per cent. The increase was mainly due to two factors. First, the Department was charged the full market rent by the then Property Services Agency for its new headquarters building, although the actual rent paid by the PSA, and hence the real annual cost to the taxpayer, was substantially less. Secondly, the Department needed to increase its staff to prepare for the privatisation of the electricity supply industry in England and Wales and to strengthen resources devoted to offshore safety.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has had from the house building industry regarding assurances on the future level of electricity connection charges post-privatisation.

About half a dozen letters have been received from the building industry on this subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had with the directors general of Ofgas and OFFER regarding the rate of increase in connection charges for gas and electricity for new house building.

None. The reasonableness of gas and electricity connection charges is a matter for the respective directors general.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the 75 renewable-sourced projects covered by the first order of renewables under the non-fossil fuel obligation giving the location, type of generator and capacity in megawatts in each case and identifying those projects which would have proceeded without benefit of the above market price available under the non-fossil fuel obligation.

Following is a list of the 75 projects citing location and technology. Some of the generators concerned have not given approval for the capacity of their projects to be published, and I am, therefore, unable to give project-specific information. The 75 projects that the RECs have concluded contracts with in fulfilment of their obligations have an aggregate installed capacity that will build up to some 170 MW. Over half the 75 projects, and over two thirds of the capacity provided by those projects,

Generator	Project site	Project type
Wessex Water Business Services Ltd	Maundown, Avon	Hydro
South West Water Services Ltd	Plymouth, Devon	Hydro
South West Water Services Ltd	Okehampton, Devon	Hydro
South West Water Services Ltd	Okehampton, Devon	Hydro
Ralph Adams	Chippenham, Wiltshire	Hydro
The National Trust	Neath, Glamorgan	Hydro
Glen Lyn Generations Ltd	Glen Lyn Gorge Hydro-electric scheme	Hydro
John Brooke & Sons Holdings Ltd	Hudersfield, Yorkshire	Hydro
Northern Hydro Ltd	Manchester Ship Canal	Hydro
Northern Hydro Ltd	Coniston, Cumbria	Hydro
Northern Hydro Ltd	Manchester Ship Canal	Hydro
Northern Hydro Ltd	Manchester Ship Canal	Hydro
Northern Hydro Ltd	Glenridding, Cumbria	Hydro
Northern Hydro Ltd	Manchester	Hydro
R. J. Armstrong Evans	Ashburton, Devon	Hydro
R. J. Armstrong Evans	Tavistock, Devon	Hydro
Greta, Lady Wales	Garnedd, Dolwyddelan	Hydro
Severn Trent Water Ltd	Llanidloes, Powys	Hydro
Severn Trent Water Ltd	Oswestry, Shropshire	Hydro
Ingleby (451) Ltd	Gwynedd	Hydro
Welsh Water	Powys	Hydro
PJO Wheeler	Harbertonford, Totnes	Hydro
Hydro Energy Development	Derbyshire	Hydro
Hydro Energy Development	Derbyshire	Hydro
Derwent Hydro	Milford, Derbyshire	Hydro
ECC International Ltd	St. Blazy, Cornwall	Hydro
Merseyside Development Corporation	Otterspool	Landfill Gas
NORWEB Generation & Land Fill Gas Ltd	Todhills, Carlisle	Landfill Gas
NORWEB Generation & Land Fill Gas Ltd	Fleetwood, Lancashire	Landfill Gas
NORWEB Generation & Land Fill Gas Ltd	White Lund, Lancaster	Landfill Gas
NORWEB Generation & Land Fill Gas Ltd	Stretford, Manchester	Landfill Gas
NORWEB Generation & Land Fill Gas Ltd	Oldham, Manchester	Landfill Gas
NORWEB Generation & Land Fill Gas Ltd	Swinton, Manchester	Landfill Gas
Biffa Waste Services	Chorley, Lancashire	Landfill Gas
Landfill Gas Ltd	Ambergate, Derbyshire	Landfill Gas
Landfill Gas Ltd	Crich, Ambergate, Derbyshire	Landfill Gas
Shanks & McEwan (Southern) Ltd	Brogborough, Bedfordshire	Landfill Gas
Shanks & McEwan (Southern) Ltd	Brogborough, Bedfordshire	Landfill Gas
Shanks & McEwan (Southern) Ltd	Calvert, Buckinghamshire	Landfill Gas
Shanks & McEwan (Southern) Ltd	Martley, Worcestershire	Landfill Gas
Shanks & McEwan (Southern) Ltd	Martley, Worcestershire	Landfill Gas
Cory Environment Ltd	Stanford le Hope, Essex	Landfill Gas
Thomas Graveson Ltd	Witton, Norwich	Landfill Gas
Thomas Graveson Ltd	Worthing, West Sussex	Landfill Gas
BFI Packington Ltd	Meriden, Coventry	Landfill Gas
Tarmac Econowaste	Staffordshire	Landfill Gas
Blue Circle Industries plc	Dartford, Kent	Landfill Gas
Blue Circle Industries plc	Strood, Rochester, Kent	Landfill Gas
ARC Ltd	Offham, Kent	Landifll Gas
ARC Ltd	Tuttle Hill, Warwickshire	Landfill Gas
Heybush Ent. Development	Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire	Wind
Yorkshire Water Services Ltd	Nr. Denholme, Yorkshire	Wind
Yorkshire Water Services Ltd	Addinhan, Yorkshire	Wind
Wind Electric Ltd	Nr Dalabole, Cornwall	Wind
PowerGen plc	Richborough Power Station, Kent	Wind
Renewable Energy Systems Ltd	St Mary's Isle of Scilly	Wind
UK Wind Farms Ltd	Mydydd Cemmaes, Powys	Wind
UK Wind Farms Ltd	Nr Ulverston, Cumbria	Wind
National Power	Carmarthen Bay, West Glamorgan	Wind
Wessex Water Business Services Ltd	Bristol	Biogas
Wessex Water Business Services Ltd	Avon	Biogas
Haul West Ltd	Kingsteington, Devon	Biogas
North West Water Ltd	Lancashire	Sewage Gas
North West Water Ltd	Tameside, Lancashire	Sewage Gas
South West Water Ltd	Exeter, Devon	Sewage Gas
North West Water	Manchester	Sewage Gas
North West Water	Lancashire	Sewage Gas
Isle of Wight County Council	Forest Park, Newport	Waste Incineration
Energy Supplies Ltd	Byker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Waste Incineration
North London Waste Authority	Edmonton, London	Waste Incineration
Coventry City Council	Coventry, West Midlands	Waste Incineration
Elm Energy UK	Wolverhampton, West Midlands	Waste Incineration
Fibropower Ltd	Dias, Suffolk	Chicken Litter

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will ban those animal procedures involving LD50 and Draize tests.

In respect of cosmetics products, the United Kingdom industry has eliminated LD50 testing except where occasionally required by certain overseas countries and has eliminated Draize testing with concentrated chemicals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the purchasing policy of his Department.

My Department is bound by the Government's policy that purchasers should base all procurement of goods and services on value for money, including quality (or fitness for purpose) and delivery against price. In accordance with that policy, goods and services are acquired by competition unless there are convincing reasons to the contrary. Under EC rules, and the GATT Government procurement agreement where appropriate, my Department is obliged to award relevant contracts in accordance with prescribed procedures aimed at avoiding discrimination on grounds of nationality.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the 10 worst purchases made by his Department in the month of October as measured against the Government's supply index.

The Department is not a participant in the Government supply index scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the administrative costs of his Department rose by more or less than the retail prices index in the last financial year.

Allowing for machinery of Government changes, gross running costs expenditure on Department of Trade and Industry administration was 8·7 per cent. higher in 1989–90 than in the previous year. During the same period the retail prices index increased by 7·8 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has as to whether the Director General of Fair Trading is examining the total financial liability faced by United Kingdom-based manufacturers and retailers currently holding stocks of British Satellite Broadcasting reception equipment and as to whether the Director General of Fair Trading is to examine BSB's compliance with its contracts with manufacturers and retailers.

The director general is aware of the position facing manufacturers and retailers holding stocks of British Satellite Broadcasting reception equipment and has received representations from, among others, retailers of this equipment. The commercial contracts between BSB and the manufacturers and retailers of its equipment are a matter for the parties concerned who may, if necessary, have recourse to the courts in the normal way in the event of any breach of contract. The DGFT is advising the Secretary of State on the wider issues of the merger.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the growth of corporate registrations.

A total of 1,032,200 companies were registered under the Companies Acts in Great Britain between 1980 and 1989. This compares with 521,000 companies registered in the previous 10-year period. The annual series since 1980 is as follows:

Great Britain company registrations
	(thousands)
1980	69·4
1981	72·4
1982	87·2
1983	96·2
1984	97·9
1985	104·6
1986	117·3
1987	128·0
1988	128·9
1989	130·3
11990	104·6
1 January to October.

Further information can be found in "Companies in 1989–90", a copy of which is available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has received any new proposals for directives on financial services for the European Commission in the past six months; and whether he has been notified of any forthcoming such proposals.

[holding answer 5 December 1990]: There have been three main new proposals for directives on financial services from the European Commission in the last six months. In the insurance field proposals for the non-life framework directive (OJ No. C244; 28/9/90) and the insurance committee directive (Com. (90) 344—final) were submitted to the Council in September 1990. The Commission also put a proposal to the Council on 3 October for a directive on consolidated supervision of banks, replacing the consolidated supervision directive of June 1983.I have been notified of two major forthcoming proposals on which my Department will be in the lead. In the insurance sector, a proposal for a life framework directive is expected shortly. The Commission is also expected to propose, before the end of 1992, a directive harmonising arrangements for investor compensation throughout the EC.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contact he has had with British Aerospace plc regarding possible redundancies.

[holding answer 5 December 1990]: Mr. John Weston, the managing director of British Aerospace (Military Aircraft) Ltd. has announced that about one third of the expected 5,000 job losses will be achieved by natural wastage. For other employees affected by the decision, the company has announced a series of supporting measures including job shops, retraining, relocation, self-employment start-up assistance and early release terms. No announcement has been made giving any estimate of the redundancies which will be required.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds are being provided in 1990–91 specifically to help people withdraw from benzodiazepines.

In 1990–91, £15·5 million has been allocated to regional health authorities, which are responsible for developing local treatment services including those which offer help to people wishing to withdraw from benzodiazepines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the annual cost to the national health service in the Doncaster district health service for staff who have been employed through agencies as nurses, operating department assistants, ancillary and other staff.

Information derived from the 1989–90 annual accounts of the Doncaster health authority is as follows:

Expenditure on Non-National Health Service (Agency etc.) staff
	£
Nursing	11,108
Ancillary	Nil
All other staff (including medical and dental)	184,417

Expenditure specifically on the employment of operating department assistants is not collected centrally.For more detailed information I suggest the hon. Member contacts Mr. J. G. S. Smith, the health authority chairman.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what were the 10 worst purchases made by his Department in the month of October as measured against the Government's supply index;(2) what were his Department's

The Department does not subscribe to the Government or hospital supply index.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the administrative costs of his Department rose by more or less than the retail prices index in the last financial year.

Gross running costs expenditure on Department of Health administration was 9·0 per cent. higher in 1989–90 than the estimated expenditure in 1988–89, when the major part of the Department of Health's running costs were combined with those of the Department of Social Security in the appropriation accounts. During the same period the retail prices index increased by 7·8 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the price approved by his Department for the drug Zimovane manufactured by the company Rhone Poulenc; and how much is paid for that drug in other European countries.

The United Kingdom system controls the overall profit that companies make from the sales of all relevant products to the NHS; it does not approve the price of individual medicines.The United Kingdom price of Zimovane is £27·44 for 28 tablets. We do not hold price details for European countries generally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a list of hospitals in England and Wales where patients and staff have been the victims of violence within the past two years; and if he will make a statement.

This information is not held centrally. Appropriate security arrangements for the protection of both patients and staff are the responsibility of, and can best be determined by, health authorities in the light of their knowledge of their premises and the degree of access necessary for patients and visitors. We are making £20,000 available to update the National Association of Health Authorities and Trusts' security manual which is the key reference document in this area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a table showing (a) the perinatal, (b) infant and (c) overall mortality rates by social class in the London regional health authorities in 1970, 1980 and the latest date available.

[holding answer 12 November 1990]: The exact information requested is not available. The available information is shown in the tables.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British service men who have not attained the age of 18 years have been posted to the Gulf.

Numbers of service personnel under the age of 18 currently in the Gulf are as follows:

	Number
Royal Navy/Royal Marines	37
Army	118
Royal Air Force	2
1 Total figure according to returns received to date from units serving in the Gulf.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel went absent without leave for each year since 1986, giving categories showing the approximate lengths of time for which people have been absent, the number of absentees below the ages of 21 and 18 years, and the varying levels of absenteeism in different commands and trades.

[holding answer 22 November 1990]: The information which is held centrally for each of the three services is as follows:

Royal Navy
Approximate length of absence	1987	1988	1989
Under 1 month	52	58	66
1 to 3 months	4	13	7
3 to 6 months	2	3	7
6 to 12 months	2	5	5
1 to 2 years	—	—	3
2 years+	2	—	—
Total	62	79	88
Absentees Under 18	30	24	39
Absentees Under 21	2	10	7