To ask the Attorney-General if he will bring forward proposals to amend the Latent Damage Act 1986 in the light of recent House of Lords judgments.

The Government have no plans to bring forward proposals to amend the Latent Damage Act 1986.

To ask the Attorney-General whether the Serious Fraud Office has yet received a report from the Metropolitan police fraud squad of its inquiries into the affairs of the National Union of Mineworkers following the Lightman inquiry; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The Metropolitan police have been advised that the case does not fall within the statutory criteria for investigation by the Serious Fraud Office.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will list any opinion surveys conducted by, for or on behalf of the Lord Chancellor's Department or the Law Officers since 1 January 1985 giving the date and purpose of each survey.

There has been one public opinion survey since January 1985.Between December 1988 and January 1989 a poll of 1,000 members of the public was conducted by Public Attitude Surveys Ltd. on behalf of the Law Commission. The survey sought to identify public attitudes to the current law on intestacy; and on the current grounds for divorce.Information about internal opinion surveys is not held centrally in my Department or the Lord Chancellor's Department and the information could be acquired only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what bids for increased manpower have been made by the chief constable of Derbyshire since 1987; and how many additional police officers have been appointed as a result.

The Derbyshire police authority has made two applications since 1987. It applied for 34 additional posts for 1990–91 and was informed that it could have 19 extra posts subject to confirmation that it would meet its share of the cost. The police authority, however, declined to meet its share of the cost following community charge capping of the county council. The offer of the posts was, therefore, withdrawn. The police authority has made an application for 15 extra posts in 1991–92. This is being considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many men were (a) convicted and (b) cautioned for the offence of procuring the commission of homosexual acts contrary to section 4 of the Sexual Offences Act 1967; and of those convicted and cautioned, how many were convicted or cautioned because the procuration related (i) to male homosexual prostitution, (ii) to the facilitation of homosexual acts not involving prostitution, and (iii) to the facilitation of homosexual acts which were otherwise lawful, in each year from 1980 to 1989;(2) how many men over the age of 16 years were

Information for 1980 to 1989 for males convicted and cautioned under section 4 of the Sexual Offences Act 1967 is given in the table. Information is not collected on the circumstances of the offence. It is not possible from the information held centrally to identify the number of convictions and cautions for homosexual acts which were done when more than two persons took part or were present.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider increasing the grant to Relate; and if he will make a statement.

As I announced in my reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Esher (Mr. Taylor) on 15 November at column 216, marriage guidance organisations, including Relate, will receive an increase of approximately 10 per cent. of their existing grants in aid for the next financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to extend the franchise to citizens of EC countries who are permanently resident in the United Kingdom in both local and general elections.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any proposals to bring forward legislation to introduce 24-hour opening in public houses.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training has been given by United Kingdom police officers to police officers in Bangladesh in the last five years to date; what training has been received by Bangladeshi police officers in the United Kingdom over the same period; what was the nature of such training; and if he will make a statement.

There is no central record of any training having been given by United Kingdom police officers to police officers in Bangladesh in the last five years. The centrally recorded training received by Bangladeshi police officers in the United Kingdom in the same period is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to require a reduction of 10 per cent. per annum in the number of animal procedures carried out in the United Kingdom.

Provided that the requirements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 are fulfilled, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary will continue to grant project licences authorising particular programmes of work under section 5. The controls of the Act have themselves given continued impetus to the consistent decline in the use of living animals in scientific procedures which has taken place for a number of years. Overall reductions in the numbers of animals used depend heavily on scientific advances in the development of acceptable alternatives.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now develop a strategy for the promotion, development and use of non-animal research methods with a view to reducing the number of animal procedures.

Much work is already being carried out by commercial companies, academic bodies and charitable concerns to find acceptable alternatives to the use of living animals in research. The Home Office has been funding research in this area since 1984 and established its own research scheme with the passing of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. This scheme is administered by the Animal Procedures Committee which advises my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on the priorities for research and assists in the selection and evaluation of proposals. Details of projects which have been funded by the Home Office may be found in the reply I gave to a question from the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) on 28 November at columns 416–17.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the date by which he expects the Football Licensing Authority to be in a position to issue licences for football grounds at which designated football matches are played.

I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all Home Office circulars which provide guidance to chief officers of police on the disclosure of information from criminal records.

Current guidance to chief officers of police on disclosure of information from criminal records is contained in Home Office circulars 45/1986, 8/1988, 101/1988, 102/1988 and 58/1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list any opinion surveys conducted by, for or on behalf of his Department since 1 January 1985 giving the date and purpose of each survey.

I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the number of staff required to administer the football licensing scheme; what is the current staffing complement of the Football Licensing Authority; and what stage has been reached in filling any further vacancies required by the Football Licensing Authority.

The number of staff that the Football Licensing Authority requires is a matter for the authority itself to determine. I understand, however, that the authority plans initially to employ a total of nine administrative staff and the equivalent of nine full-time inspectors; a complement which will be reviewed as the authority begins to discharge the full range of its statutory functions including the administration of the football licensing scheme. Three administrative staff are in post; the recruitment of inspectors and other administrative staff is in hand; and the authority expects all these staff will be in post by next spring.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received over the availability of Royal Navy and RAF helicopters to rescue people or animals on Exmoor, the Bredon hills, the Quantocks and the Blackdowns in extremely adverse winter weather conditions; and if he will make a statement.

I am not aware of any such representations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training has been given by United Kingdom military personnel to military personnel in Bangladesh in the last five years to date; what training has been received by Bangladeshi military personnel in the United Kingdom over same period; what was the nature of such training; and if he will make a statement.

Training provided for members of the Bangladeshi armed forces over the last five years, both in country and on training courses in the United Kingdom, has covered a variety of military subjects. Further details are confidential between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Bangladesh.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list any opinion surveys conducted by, for or on behalf of his Department since 1985 giving the date and purpose of each survey.

A list of opinion poll surveys conducted by, for or on behalf of the Ministry of Defence since 1985 is given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Navy commander in the Gulf has had any instructions on allowing women reporters on naval vessels.

No such instructions have been issued. Both female and male reporters are permitted, depending on the facilities available, to go on board Royal Navy vessels serving in the Gulf.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has yet completed his consideration of the selective use of reservists in connection with Operation Granby, following his remarks in the House on 11 December, Official Report, column 908.

Up to about 1,500 reservists with specialist skills will be required in support of British deployments to the Gulf. There has been a most encouraging response to my call for volunteers with relevant medical training and experience, but this has fallen short of our requirement. Many have felt unable to commit themselves because there is no legal protection for the jobs of those who volunteer.It remains my aim to meet our requirement for reservists with individuals who express a willingness to serve, but I believe that it is essential that those volunteering should have their jobs protected. To this end, Her Majesty the Queen, in exercise of the powers conferred upon her by section 10 of the Reserve Forces Act 1980, has today, by order signified under my hand, authorised the calling out of the reserve forces. This will enable the selective call-out of members of the Army Reserve, the Territorial Army, the Air Force Reserve, the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, the Royal Navy Reserve including the Royal Fleet Reserve and the special class of the Royal Fleet Reserve, and the Royal Marines Reserve.I intend now to call again for volunteers in the necessary categories, either to serve in the Gulf, or in the United Kingdom or Germany, in order to release other personnel for the Gulf. It will be made clear to those who volunteer that they will be formally called out under the Reserve Forces Act 1980, which will provide a call-out gratuity and legal protection for their jobs. As an additional measure, a supplement of up to 20 per cent. —and more in special cases—will be paid to those reservists called out to make up any difference between their civilian earnings and their military pay.If, in spite of these measures, insufficient volunteers come forward, I will need to call out individual ex-Regular reservists compulsorily. Most of the reservists will be required to report at the beginning of the new year. In view of the Christmas period and my desire to provide the maximum possible warning, individual reservists will be notified now of the possibility that they may be called out compulsorily.In addition to this requirement for medical reservists, a small number of reservists with other specialist skills may be needed. I would also aim to meet this requirement with volunteers, although those coming forward would be called out formally under section 10 of the Reserve Forces Act so that their service could be placed on a similar basis.

To ask the Minister for the Arts how proposed expenditure on arts in 1991–92 relates in real terms to that in 1978–79.

The central Government arts programme for 191–92 will be £559 million, a real terms increase on 1978–79 of £214 million, or 62 per cent. I welcome this trend and hope it will continue.

To ask the Minister for the Arts when he will visit the Pocket theatre in Keswick in the next month to discuss arts funding.

I will not be visiting Keswick in the next month. However, I intend to travel widely in the coming months to visit arts organisations around the country.

To ask the Minister for the Arts whether it is his intention personally to appoint the chair of the Yorkshire and Humberside arts board.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what proposals he has to fund arts in Merseyside; and if he will make a statement.

I am currently considering this matter following lengthy meetings with the chairmen and secretaries—general of the Arts Council, the local authority associations and the regional arts associations. I hope to make a statement before the Christmas recess.

To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he proposes to visit the Haymarket theatre in the city of Leicester.

I have no firm plans to visit the Haymarket theatre, Leicester, at present. However, I intend to travel widely in the coming months to visit arts organisations around the country.

To ask the Minister for the Arts when he last paid an official visit to the ballet; and if he will make a statement.

My predecessor attended a triple bill of ballet at the Royal Opera house on 15 November. I attended a performance at the Royal Opera house on 29 October in a private capacity.

To ask the Minister for the Arts if, in the light of worldwide representations concerned with the taxonomic, palaeontological and scientific work of the natural history museum, he will review funding plans for the museum.

My predecessor took full account of the natural history museum's corporate plan, and the worldwide representations received in the past six months, when he made his funding announcement on 9 November. The museum has now been asked to prepare a further corporate plan, covering the period to 31 March 1995: this will be the subject of discussion with my officials when it is submitted next spring.

To ask the Minister for the Arts when he last met the chairman of national symphony orchestras in Britain to discuss funding for music.

I have not yet met representatives of the symphony orchestras, but look forward to doing so in due course.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when calculating changes in the retail prices index what allowance is made by his Department for community charge rebates.

Following recommendations of the Retail Prices Index Advisory Committee, subsidies and discounts to selected groups of consumers which are funded by central Government are not taken into account in the index as they are regarded as subventions on income which help certain households to meet the price in question rather than reductions in the price itself. In accordance with this principle no allowance is made for community charge rebates.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what financial help is made available to civil servants whose jobs are transferred from London to other parts of the country; and if he will make a statement.

A range of financial assistance is available to civil servants who are relocated from London to other parts of the country. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my right hon. Friend the then Paymaster-General gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Rochford (Dr. Clark) on 15 November 1990, col. 188. All assistance is in the form of reimbursement of reasonable costs that have been necessarily incurred.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what steps have been taken to ensure that the criteria applied by Customs and Excise officials in deciding the appropriate value added tax assessment on leaflets are sufficiently clear that traders can comply with value added tax law without the administrative burden of seeking individual rulings from Customs and Excise on each individual case;(2) what steps are taken to ensure that the criteria used by local value added tax offices in deciding whether value added tax is applicable at the standard rate on leaflets are applied uniformly and do not cause a distortion of trade;(3) if he will instruct Customs and Excise officials to give a precise definition of paper and card so that traders can have certainty that they are complying with the value added tax law in so far as it applies to leaflets.

Recent VAT tribunal decisions have affected the definition of leaflets for VAT purposes. This has meant that the guidance set out in the Customs notice "Printed and similar matter" needs to be expanded. A new version of the notice will be available early next year. Meanwhile appropriate guidance has been provided to local VAT officers, who will refer cases of difficulty to Customs headquarters for advice.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to exempt hospitals from the requirement to pay value added tax on their drug budgets; and if he will make a statement.

Any value added tax on drugs purchased by National Health Service hospitals which cannot be reclaimed under the normal value added tax rules is provided for in the public expenditure funding of the National Health Service.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the implications of the decline in exports of goods and services in constant price terms between the second and third quarters of 1990 for the level of the exchange rate within the exchange rate mechanism.

It has no implication. Imports fell by more than exports and the balance of trade in goods and services at current prices improved by £1·2 billion.The Government have made it clear beyond question that they have entered into the commitments of the exchange rate mechanism knowingly; it will do whatever is necessary to maintain sterling's position in the exchange rate mechanism.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list any opinion surveys conducted by, for, or on behalf of his Department since 1 January 1985, giving the date and purpose of each survey.

The information requested could he collected only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost of implementing a system of tax exemption for sports bodies responsible for the encouragement, development and governance of their sport at a national level, where those bodies are representative of sporting or recreational activities deemed to have clear benefits for the health and welfare of participants; if he will make it his policy to implement such a system; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 14 December 1990]: The cost would depend upon the details of the tax exemption the hon. Member has in mind. As regards the possible implementation of such a system, I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount paid in corporation tax by representative sports bodies in each of the past 10 years and as a total over the same period.

[holding answer 14 December 1990]: I regret that the information could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in descending order the 10 representative sports bodies that paid the highest amounts in corporation tax over the past 10 years.

[holding answer 14 December 1990]: No. Information on individual tax payments is confidential to the taxpayer and the Inland Revenue.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will give the contribution to public funds made by the electricity industry for each year between 1979 and 1990;(2) if he will give the contribution to public funds made by British Gas plc for each year between 1979 and privatisation;(3) if he will give the contribution to public funds made by British Telecom for each year between 1979 and privatisation.

[holding answer 13 December 1990]: The table sets out the external financing requirements (EFRs) of the electricity industry in Great Britain between 1979–80 and 1989–90; of British Gas between 1979–80 and 1986–87; and of British Telecom between 1980–81 and 1985–86. Nationalised industries' contribution to the public expenditure planning total is measured by their EFFts (net cash flows); a negative figure indicates a net repayment of loans or increase in deposits within the public sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what lessons were learnt from the emergency exercise at Trawsfynydd power station.

The annual demonstration of arrangements for dealing with an emergency affecting the Trawsfynydd power station site was held on 22 November 1990. This was witnessed by the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate and found to be satisfactory.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if the Government have decided where they intend to store the irradiated sections of the Berkeley nuclear power station after it has been dismantled and decommissioned.

This is a management matter for Nuclear Electric, subject to the requirements of the Health and Safety Executive in accordance with the conditions attached to the nuclear site licence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has so far been made by Nuclear Electric in dismantling and decommissioning the Magnox reactor and its associated systems and buildings at Berkeley in Gloucestershire.

This is a matter for Nuclear Electric plc. However, I understand from Nuclear Electric that defuelling of the reactors is progressing well and is expected to be completed in 1992. The company tells me that the extent and timing of dismantling of plant and buildings is currently under review and the results are likely to be announced in the next few months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many applications were made for shares in the electricity distribution companies on behalf of children aged (a) under five, (b) under 16 and (c) under 18 years; and what proportion were successful.

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the mode of operation of the levy on the nuclear industry to enable the Health and Safety Executive to be resourced to undertake nuclear research.

Under the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act 1989, the Health and Safety Executive recovers from nuclear licensees the cost of the safety research for which responsibility was transferred from my Department to the Health and Safety Commission on 1 April this year. This arrangement covers the cost of the research and HSE's costs in managing it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list any opinion surveys conducted by, for or on behalf of his Department since 1 January 1985, giving the date and purpose of each survey.

Central records do not separately identify which of the surveys conducted by the Department included questions seeking opinions and which did not. Such information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the cost to the public purse as a result of land purchases in the area within a 30-mile radius of Sellafield by British Nuclear Fuels; what acreage of land has been purchased since 1970; and if he will make a statement.

British Nuclear Fuels plc's business is financed by borrowing on the commercial markets. Land purchases are a commercial matter for the company.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what research he has undertaken to establish the safety of sourgas as a power source for gas-fired power stations; and if he will make a statement.

None. Health and safety at power stations, including appropriate research, is primarily a matter for the employer. The Health and Safety Executive is the public body responsible for ensuring compliance with statutory requirements in this area.

To ask the Prime Minister what are the objectives of Her Majesty's Government for the rest of this Parliament.

The Government's objectives remain to carry forward the programme outlined in the Queen's Speech, Official Report, 7 November 1990, columns 4–6.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will hold an early meeting with the president of Poland; and if he will make a statement on British-Poland relations.

I certainly hope to meet the Polish President—whose election I warmly welcome—before too long. No date has yet been fixed. Our bilateral relations with Poland are excellent. We hope that President Walesa will maintain the IMF-backed economic reform programme, which is vital to Poland's future prosperity. We will continue to give substantial help to ease the transition to democracy and a market-based economy.

To ask the Prime Minister how many people have been killed and how many injured (a) in Great Britain and (b) in Northern Ireland as a result of terrorist activity each month since May 1988.

The information is given in the tables.

To ask the Prime Minister whether he will review the percentage increase in the expenditure on advertising in the press, television and other forms of publicity in each Department of state in the last five years and institute an inquiry into the reasons for any departmental increases which are in excess of the rate of inflation over the period.

Expenditure on advertising in the press, television and other forms of publicity is a matter for departmental Ministers within the Government conventions on the use of paid publicity and advertising.

To ask the Prime Minister if he has any plans to re-establish the public right of way through Downing street.

Access to Downing street has been controlled for security reasons for many years. This does not stop the many people who come to Downing street for meetings, receptions or to present petitions.

To ask the Prime Minister what message he has sent to the newly appointed President of Bangladesh; if he will place the text of any messages in the Library; and if he will make a statement about relations between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Bangladesh.

My right hon Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary sent a message of good wishes to the acting President, Mr. Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed and looks forward to working with the new interim Government of Bangladesh to reinforce the friendly relations which already exist between our two countries.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list any opinion surveys conducted by, for or on behalf of the Cabinet Office and Management and Personnel Office since 1 January 1985 giving the date and purpose of each survey.

This information is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) when he expects to receive a copy of the investigation by Tai Cymru into the financial collapse of the Corlan housing association; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library;(2) when he expects to meet the chairman of Tai Cymru to discuss his report on the financial collapse of the Corlan housing association.

The Housing Association Consultancy and Advisory Service's report has been received in the Department and is being studied. It is not customary to publish reports of inquiries carried out under section 28 of the Housing Associations Act 1985, but 1 will make a further statement when the legal and other implications of the report have been considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether the Pontypridd-Treforest Rhondda ring road scheme is to begin and proceed along the agreed construction time tables announced earlier this year.

It was not possible to accommodate in full Mid Glamorgan county council's 1991–92 bid for transport grant support for the Pontypridd inner relief road scheme. The transport grant settlement announced on 5 December will enable the county council to continue with substantial expenditure on advance works. The timing of the scheme is for the county council to consider in the light of the settlement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning his policy towards single homeless people in Wales.

Local housing authorities are responsible for assessing housing needs within their own areas including those of single people. Working in partnership with housing associations and the private sector, it is for them to secure appropriate accommodation for single homeless people in the Principality, making sensitive use of the substantial resources we are making available to assist in tackling homelessness generally. I am considering what further action might be taken to help assist the single homeless.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many new units of accommodation for single people were constructed in Wales in each of the years 1979 to date; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested is not collected centrally. However, figures for one-bedroomed houses and flats from 1979 to date, may be found in table 6.8 of "Housing and Construction Statistics 1979–1989" a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning his policy on the introduction of new village speed limits on trunk roads in Wales.

Requests for new village speed limits are judged against the criteria and guidance set out in

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list against each of the centres established in Wales as part of the treatment centres initiative (a) its name, location and specialty, (b) its commencement date, (c) the budget allocated to that centre for 1989–90 and 1990–91 and (d) the number of patients treated at that centre since it started work.

The information is as follows:1. Orthopaedic treatment centre, Prince of Wales hospital, Rhydlafar, South Glamorgan:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the new 30 and 40 mph speed limits respectively introduced and removed on trunk roads in Wales in each of the years from 1985 to date.

The information is given in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will take steps to strengthen the ability of local authorities in Wales to bring the standard of the worst landlords in the private sector up to that of the best;(2) what fresh initiatives he intends to take to protect the most vulnerable tenants in the private rented sector from harassment.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 14 December 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those headings of Welsh Office expenditure, including grant in aid or funding of agencies, which include, or may include, some element of expenditure on advertising in the press, on television or radio or other expenditure on advertising and promotion in addition to the figures given in his answer of 11 December, Official Report, columns 332–33.

The figures provided in my anser of II December to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Mr. Fisher) cover all identifiable items of publicity and related expenditure incurred directly by the Welsh Office in each of the years shown.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report, for each standard region, the number of pensioner-only households, specifying those with only one pensioner occupant and those with two or more.

Estimates of the numbers of pensioner-only households for each standard region are given in the table. These estimates are based on family expenditure survey data from 1987, 1988 and 1989 and "pensioners" is taken to be persons of pensionable age.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward proposals to establish constitutionally independent local authorities in the United Kingdom which would be able to raise their own revenue, go bankrupt, and be free from central Government capital controls.

My right hon. Friend has announced that we are initiating a thorough review of local government finance and structure. No options have been ruled in or out at this stage.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what dates revenue support grant and non-domestic rates will be paid to local authorities in 1991–92.

Details of the profile of revenue support grant payments for England for the next financial year have been sent by my Department to local authorities. A copy of the Department's letter has been placed in the Library. The profile, which was determined after consultation with the local authority associations, should ensure that authorities who are diligent in collecting the community charge and non-domestic rates will be able to maintain an adequate cash flow.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the proceeds for each standard region of a levy of 1 per cent. in the estimated value of dwellings together with the number of (a) children under the age of 18 years, (b) disabled persons, (c) retirement pensioners and (d) other adults.

The available information is given in the table. The estimated value of dwellings in each region is based on recent data on house sales prices and numbers of domestic hereditaments in each region. This is the best information available but is of limited accuracy. Population data is taken from the Office of Population Census and Surveys 1989 mid year estimates.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each standard region the number of households with one, two, three and four or more adults.

Estimates of the numbers of households with one, two and three or more adults for each standard region are given in the table. These estimates are based on family expenditure survey data from 1987, 1988 and 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to implement the recommendation of the National Radiological Protection Board to reduce the maximum exposure to radiation for members of the public to 0·5 mSv per annum; and if he will make a statement.

The recommendations made by the National Radiological Protection Board are firstly that the dose limit for members of the public should be 1 mSv in a year and, secondly, since individuals may be exposed to more than one radiation source, that the maximum dose from any single source should not be more than 0·5 mSv in a year. Since 1984, authorisations for the disposal of radioactive waste under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 have been based on these recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward legislation to exempt from the community charge the British wives of United States service personnel resident in the United Kingdom.

The Government have not sought such an exemption because we concluded that these United Kingdom citizens need not be treated differently from other United Kingdom citizens.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement concerning additionality in relation to the Rechar programme application by the Easington district council.

In setting annually the level of public expenditure programmes for local authorities, including Easington, account is taken of anticipated European Community receipts including initiatives such as Rechar. Consequently, these programmes are larger than they would otherwise be. In addition, for 1990–91 the other services block was "top sliced" by £25 million for distribution as supplementary credit approvals to local authorities in receipt of European regional development funds. In the light of representations from local authorities it is proposed to increase the top slice to £45 million for this purpose in 1991–92.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the impact on disabled people of the use of domestic rate relief.

Under the Rating (Disabled Persons) Act 1978 local authorities were required, on application from the occupier of a dwelling, to grant rate rebates in respect of facilities provided for the disabled. With the abolition of domestic rates, these provisions of the Act have been repealed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who represented his Department al: the lecture by Professor I.S. Gray of the university of Oslo on ecological advice and the law in Norway; what report has been made in relation to the system whereby Government White Papers in Norway are sent to ecological experts before presentation to the Norwegian Storting; and if he will make a statement.

The chief scientist of my Department was present at this meeting of the British Ecological Society, at which Professor Gray's presentation, among others, was made. I understand that a report of the meeting is being prepared by the British Ecological Society.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he received the report of the inspector appointed to consider the Anchor complex inquiry, Penryn, Cornwall; if he has consulted English Heritage on the contents of that report; when he intends announcing his decision; and if will make it his policy to deal with the matter with the utmost urgency.

My right hon. Friend received the inspector's report on the inquiry into the proposed development at the Anchor warehouse complex, Penryn on 28 August 1990. He has not consulted English Heritage on the contents of the inspector's report because he has no locus to do so. His decision will be issued as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the number and location of sites in England that have been used for the underground burial of used tyres; how regularly these sites are inspected to check on their safety and any general environmental implications that they may have; if he will make this information available to the public; and if he will make a statement.

Information on the number and location of sites used for the underground burial of used tyres is not held centrally. Her Majesty's chief inspector of fire services wrote to the Chief and Assistant Fire Officers Association in May about the problem posed by tyre dumps. Responses from chief fire officers gave some indication of the number of tyre dumps in particular areas. My Department will be writing to local authorities in the new year to seek further information on the location of tyre dumps.The disposal of waste by landfill is licensed by waste disposal authorities under the Control of Pollution Act 1974. Individual site licences may set down conditions relating to the disposal of used tyres. Used tyres which cannot be remoulded or retreaded are commonly shreded prior to disposal by landfill where they are mixed with other waste.The monitoring of licensed waste disposal sites is carried out by waste disposal authorities. These authorities have a duty to maintain a register of all disposal licences issued by them which are in force and to make this register available to the public.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultation he has had concerning the National Consumer Council report on rental deposits; and if he will make a statement.

My hon. Friend the Member for Worcestershire, South (Mr. Spicer) when he was Minister for Housing and Planning, met the chairman of the National Consumer Council to discuss the report, and discussions have also taken place at official level. We have agreed to explore with the National Consumer Council and other bodies the possibility of a voluntary rental deposit scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what the geological investigations of the land forms in the environs of British Nuclear Fuel's plant at Sellafield have indicated with respect to their suitability for deep dry storage of irradiated waste; and if he will make a statement.

Site investigations for UK Nirex Ltd's deep repository for low and intermediate-level radioactive waste are currently under way at Sellafield. It is too early to say whether the site is suitable for the construction of a repository. Phase 1 of the site investigations is expected to be completed by the end of 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy for owners of land to be made legally responsible for offences committed by people in their employment in respect of offences relating to endangering wildlife and keeping pesticides illegally under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

The Government have no plans at present to introduce legislation to amend the relevant provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act. The keeping of pesticides is governed by regulations made under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 for which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is responsible. It is an offence for any person, without reasonable excuse, to cause or permit another to contravene those regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the West Yorkshire fire and civil defence authority on his proposed financial settlement for 1991–92; if he will publish details of those representations; and if he will make a statement.

We have received a number of representations from the West Yorkshire fire and civil defence authority on our proposals for the revenue support grant settlement for 1991–92, including those put to me when I met a delegation from the authority on 28 November. It is for the authority to make public its representations if it so chooses.We are proposing to increase the authority's standard spending assessment by £6·2 million to £44·1 million, which we believe to be an appropriate assessment of the costs of providing the fire service in West Yorkshire. We shall carefully consider all the representations received before taking our decisions on the settlement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give details of the Housing Corporation's approved development programme for 1991–92.

My right hon. Friend the Member for Bath (Mr. Patten), the then Secretary of State, announced on 8 November the allocation of additional resources to the Housing Corporation to enable housing associations to provide more subsidised housing, with special emphasis on meeting the needs of the homeless. Gross expenditure by the Housing Corporation is expected to exceed £2 billion in 1993–94, a 65 per cent. increase over the current year, with a target of 40,000 completions in that year.This is a clear indication both of the Government's commitment to the housing association movement as the main providers of new subsidised homes, and of our determination to tackle the problem of homelessness.I have today approved the Housing Corporation's proposals for the overall shape of its approved development programme for 1991–92. A further announcement will be made early in the new year about the regional allocation of resources, once I have received the corporation's detailed proposals.The broad outline of the corporation's proposals confirms the priority that is being accorded to the problem of homelessness by the Government and their agencies. About half the total number of new homes for rent will be targeted on the homeless. The corporation's rural programme will also be maintained and increased in future years.It is important that the large investment which the Government are making in the housing association movement should be employed efficiently. The programme shows a further increase in the proportion of schemes for rent funded jointly with the private sector, providing greater leverage of resources for the public sector input. The corporation is also committed to achieving efficiency gains of at least 5 per cent. over three years through, among other things, greater attention to cost competition in the selection of bids.The introduction of the new grant regime under the Housing Act 1988 has been a major task. The corporation's early problems in programming its expenditure are now being resolved, and I am confident that it is able to respond positively to the enhanced role it now has in implementing the Government's housing policy.The breakdown of the approved development programme—ADP—for 1991–92 and provisional plans for the following two years is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures the Government intend to take in order to ensure the continued safeguarding of amenity trees.

Jointly with the Welsh Office, my Department has today issued a consultation paper setting out our proposals to enhance the effectiveness of the tree preservation order system and to clarify and streamline the relevant statutory provisions and procedures. The paper also gives details of the Government's proposal to give powers to local planning authorities to make hedgerow management orders to safeguard key hedgerows, with payment to farmers or others for upkeep. I have arranged for copies of the paper to be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to bring forward amendments to the Local Government and Housing Act 1990 so that capital investment in schools' facilities by a commercial concern or major voluntary club as part of a dual-use agreement is not treated as a capital receipt to the local education authority.