Written Answers

                    The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.
                

Written Answers To Questions

Thursday 17 January 1991

Transport

Disability

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation to make it a road traffic offence for able-bodied motorists to park in bays designated for special use by disabled people which are situated either on public highways or car parks serving public buildings.

It is already an offence for an able-bodied person to use a parking place reserved for an orange badge holder on the public highway or in a local authority off-street car park which has been designated by an Order made under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. The offence carries a maximum penalty of £400.My Department has no jurisdiction over spaces in private car parks reserved for disabled people. It is for individual operators of these car parks to take whatever steps they consider necessary to see that these spaces are not misused.

Civil Aviation Authority

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the Civil Aviation Authority to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

I understand that my hon. Friend has proposed such an exhibition, which I warmly welcome.

"Vital Transport Statistics 1990"

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of the report "Vital Travel Statistics 1990" prepared for Transport 2000 in December 1990.

Yes.

Environment

Hong Kong

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will instigate a study of the work of the independent commission against corruption in Hong Kong; and if he will bring forward proposals to create a similar body to monitor corruption in local Government.

We consider the existing powers and responsibilities of the Audit Commission and local authority auditors to be adequate.

Radioactive Substances

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many copies of departmental circular 1990/21 on local authority responsibilities for public access to information under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960, as amended by the Environmental Protection Act 1990, have been printed; and to which individuals and organisations it has been distributed.

A total of 5,500 copies of the circular have been printed. Copies have been distributed to all local authorities at county and district level and to local authority associations in England and Wales.

County Hall, London

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the future use of County hall, London, SE1.

Following my answer to the hon. Member on 23 November 1990 at column 226, we announced on 6 December the reopening of the public inquiry on 15 January 1991. The inquiry is in progress.

Housing Investment (Liverpool)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the amounts allocated to Liverpool's housing investment programme in each year from 1979 to 1991 inclusive, indicating the change as a percentage each year in real terms.

Liverpool's housing investment programme allocations since 1979–80 are as follows. The percentage changes reflect 1990–91 as the base year for real term calculations.

	Actual allocation £ million	Percentage change in real terms
1979–80	42·430	—
1980–81	47·172	-6·125
1981–82	39·788	-23·079
1982–83	49·337	+15·774
1983–84	41·853	-18·918
1984–85	38·499	-12·460
1985–86	31·000	-23·636
1986–87	27·500	-14·222
1987–88	24·800	-14·476
1988–89	19·653	-26·144
1989–90	15·240	-27·101
1990–91	27·677	+68·155
1991–92	23·400	-20·238

The actual allocations exclude the £24·267 million Liverpool have received from the estate action programme since 1988–89.Since 1981 authorities have also been able to spend substantial resources generated through the right to buy programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the housing investment programme for Liverpool in the light of that city's commitments under the defective housing legislation; and if he will make a statement.

I have no plans to review Liverpool's housing investment programme allocation. We have taken account of the city's commitments under the housing defects legislation in determining the allocation.

"Greening The Machinery Of Government"

To ask the Secretary of State for the Evironment when he received a copy of the report "Greening the Machinery of Government"; and whether he intends to make any response to the proposals contained in the report.

The director of Friends of the Earth wrote to my right hon. Friend on 20 December enclosing a copy of the report. He will reply to the letter shortly.

Areas Of Outstanding Natural Beauty

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is ready to issue a response to the Countryside Commission's policy statement on areas of outstanding natural beauty.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is grateful to the Countryside Commission for revising and updating their policy statement on AONBs and for the opportunity it gives the Government to restate our policies towards the protection and promotion of these valuable areas. Copies of the full text of our response to the Commission's statement have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.AONBs are an important element in this Government's commitment to protect the countryside—for the sake of its beauty, for its diversity of landscape and the wealth of its natural resources, and for its ecological, agricultural and recreational value. The Commission's statement is an important step forward in the protection and enhancement of the countryside and we look forward to seeing it positively applied by all involved.The formal recognition of the national importance of the natural beauty of an area conferred by AONB designation should be reflected by local authorities in their preparation of structure and local plans and in the exercise of their development control functions. We support the Commission's proposals for statements of intent further to clarify the role and purpose of designation for new AONBs and for management plans to be prepared for existing areas.We also endorse the Commission's proposals for joint advisory committees and for the appointment of officers to co-ordinate and promote local policies towards each AONB. Following the Government's very generous increase in the commission's grant-in-aid for 1991–92 announced in the Chancellor's autumn statement, we expect to see its programme to appoint AONB officers in 1991–92 expanded and plans for future years brought forward.

Buying Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the future of the Buying agency, the Liverpool-based public procurement agency.

Following last summer's announcement of the closure of the Crown Suppliers contract furnishing division, we have reviewed the prospects for the Buying agency and concluded that it should become a "next steps" agency as soon as practicable after 1 April 1991.

Defence

Irradiated Food

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what advice or guidance he intends to give to the forces about the use of irradiated food; and if he will make a statement.

To date the Ministry of Defence has not knowingly procured food treated by ionising radiation. Of the classes of food which, under the Food (Control of Irradiation) Regulations 1990, may now be irradiated we do not envisage large scale procurement of such products, given the current high cost involved in processing food in such a way. However, if we were to purchase permitted irradiated foods, we would follow the requirements detailed in the Food Labelling (Amendment) (Irradiated Food) Regulations 1990.

Armed Forces (Equipment And Manpower)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will impose a moratorium for the time being on any further rundown in equipment or manpower for the armed forces.

We are continuing to refine the detail of the broad proposals announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in July. In doing so we are mindful of the need to sustain both the effectiveness and morale of British forces in the Gulf.

The Gulf

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current approximate daily cost of British involvement in the Gulf area.

As at 16 January the approximate full daily operating cost of our forces in the Gulf area was estimated to be £3·6 million per day.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Meteorological Office has assessed the possible environmental impacts of oil wells in Kuwait being set alight during any hostilities in the Gulf.

The Meteorological Office has produced a note for the Government on the possible environmental impacts of burning oil wells in Kuwait. I am placing a copy of this note in the Library of the House. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will be taking forward further work on this subject.

Chemical Weapons

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) of 30 November, Official Report, column 537, if he has any further information on decisions taken by the Supreme Soviet on methods of destruction of chemical weapons; and whether the United Kingdom offered the Soviet Union any technical assistance in the matter.

I understand that the subject of chemical weapons destruction is still under discussion within the Supreme Soviet with no final decision having yet been made on the nature and location of chemical weapons destruction facilities.

The United States-Soviet bilateral agreement signed on 1 June 1990 allows for exchange of destruction technology between the State parties. In the past the United Kingdom has described to the Soviet Union the methods that we have used to destroy our chemical weapons.

Operation Granby

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total cost to date of British involvement in Operation Granby.

The total full operating cost to 16 January of the United Kingdom's military involvement in the Gulf is estimated to be in excess of £900 million.

Medical Reservists

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the response to his call up of medical reservists; how many of those who volunteered were accepted and how many compulsory call out notices were issued; how many reservists compulsorily called up did not respond and what action is being taken against them; what are the skills of those who have volunteered or been called up; and if he will make a statement.

I am pleased to be able to report that the call-out of medical reservists was successful and that the requirement was met in full. In the case of the Army, 894 vacancies were filled by volunteers. Compulsory call-out notices were sent to a further 408 medical personnel, and 126 personnel were compulsorily called out.A total of 94 Army reservists failed to respond to the call-out notice. We are still investigating the reasons. Some will have been ill or out of the country. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that legal action may be brought against the few who cannot provide an adequate explanation of their failure to attend.The Army reservists are medical specialists with a variety of skills, including surgeons, doctors, anaesthetists, dentists, nurses, physiotherapists and medical technicians.Turning to the RAF, I am also pleased to say that the compulsory call-out of No. 4626 aeromedical evacuation squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force was successful. Call-out notices were issued to all squadron personnel who all responded and made themselves available at their unit. The squadron comprises doctors, nurses, medical assistants and support staff.

Employment

Employment Offices, Essex

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what employment offices he has plans to close in Essex; and if he will give in each case grounds.

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.

Home Department

Civil Defence

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each civil defence region (a) the name of the current chief regional scientific adviser, (b) the date of appointment of the current chief regional scientific adviser, (c) the age of the current chief regional scientific adviser, (d) the employment of the current chief regional scientific adviser at the time of his appointment as chief regional scientific adviser and (e) the amounts paid to each chief regional scientific adviser in each of the last five years in the form of salary, retainer and expenses.

The Home Office has responsibility for appointing a chief regional scientific adviser (CRSA) for the nine home defence regions in England and Wales. The Scottish Home and Health Department and Northern Ireland Office have similar responsibilities for their own home defence regions.CRSAs are not paid either a salary or a retainer as part of their civil defence duties. They are paid expenses as professional lecturing fees together with costs for travel and subsistence in the course of civil defence activities.A table giving the details requested for each of the CRSAs in England and Wales has been placed in the Library.

Satellites

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future ownership and use of the Marco Polo satellite.

British Sky Broadcasting operates five television channels on DBS frequencies via the Marco Polo satellite, which it owns. Under the terms of an agreement to be entered into between the Independent Television Commission and BSkyB, the DBS programme contract originally entered into between the Independent Broadcasting Authority and British Satellite Broadcasting Ltd. would be allowed to run until 30 December 1992. From 30 June 1991 the ITC would be able to withdraw all or any or part of any of the DBS channels for use by domestic satellite licensees appointed by it under the terms of the Broadcasting Act 1990. BSkyB would make capacity on the Marco Polo satellites available to such licensees until the end of 1992 and beyond.

Child Refugees

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is the considered policy of Her Majesty's Government to admit child refugees from Eritrea and elsewhere who have no means of supporting themselves in Britain; what representations he has received from London local authorities about the cost of their support; and if he will make a statement.

All applications for asylum in the United Kingdom from individuals claiming to be refugees are assessed against the criteria of the 1951 United Nations convention on refugees. Age is no bar to qualifications for refugee status and applications from children are considered individually on their merits. Child applicants, like adult asylum seekers, may remain here while their applications are determined. With regard to representations made by London local authorities, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister for Health on 17 December 1990 at column 62.

Mr Michael Thynne

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now expects the Parole Board to carry out the review of the life sentence passed upon Mr. Michael Thynne, currently detained in Her Majesty's prison, Bristol.

Mr. Thynne's case will be referred to the local review committee at the prison where he is then detained in February 1992 as the first stage of a further review by the Parole Board.

Magistrates Courts

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether proposals for changes to the magistrates courts system will extend beyond administrative improvements to existing arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

We have not yet reached decisions on the reorganisation proposals in the report of the scrutiny of magistrates courts. We are still considering the views expressed by interested bodies in the light of the assessment by independent consultants last year of the costs of implementation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that savings obtained through the cash limiting of the magistrates courts in England and Wales will not reduce the efficiency of the magistrates courts system or prolong judicial processes; and if he will make a statement.

We are consulting the representative bodies of the magistrates courts service and the local authority associations about the mechanics of cash limiting current grant. The proposals underpinning the consultations envisage the allocation of grant to magistrates' courts committee areas by a formula based on variables including the number of weighted cases completed in those areas and which is intended not only to reflect the different needs of different committees in providing a standard level of service but also to create incentives for the more effective and efficient management of court business without interfering with the courts' independent judicial functions.

Community Charge

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the chief constables of Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Northumbria, South Yorkshire, West Midlands and West Yorkshire about the effects of plans to cap the community charge in their areas; and if he will make a statement.

The chief constables of Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Northumbria, South Yorkshire and West Midlands, and the deputy chief constable of West Yorkshire, wrote to the then Home Secretary before Christmas about their financial concerns. My noble friend Lord Ferrers met the chief constable of West Midlands among other members of a delegation from the Association of Metropolitan Authorities on 18 December to discuss these issues.

Breath Tests

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report(a) the total number of breath tests conducted by each of the police forces in England and Wales during the period covering the recent festive season and (b) the number which proved positive.

The official breath test statistics for 1990 will not be available until later this year. The Association of Chief Police Officers has, however, collected provisional figures for the number of screening breath tests, along with the positive results, carried out in each police force area between 19 December 1990 and 1 January 1991. These are given in the table:

Police force area	Number of breath tests	Total positive breath tests
Avon and Somerset	754	113
Bedfordshire	962	54
Cambridgeshire	1,600	47
Cheshire	1,032	106
City of London	98	10
Cleveland	794	52
Cumbria	611	56
Derbyshire	818	67
Devon and Cornwall	1,830	152
Dorset	527	47
Durham	750	72
Dyfed Powys	612	52
Essex	3,107	148
Gloucestershire	383	59
Greater Manchester	5,799	425
Gwent	1,319	53
Hampshire	1,762	164
Hertfordshire	613	74
Humberside	1,168	95
Kent	2,101	134
Lancashire	1,764	131
Leicestershire	1,413	86
Lincolnshire	1,294	50
Merseyside	697	149
Metropolitan Police	18,075	838
Norfolk	2,992	53
Northamptonshire	1,097	50
Northumbria	470	157
North Wales	2,235	87
North Yorkshire	925	60
Nottinghamshire	3,462	114
South Wales	1,395	150
South Yorkshire	1,271	133
Staffordshire	947	98
Suffolk	1,235	51
Surrey	1,411	81
Sussex	1,100	95
Thames Valley	4,620	199
Warwickshire	527	50
West Mercia	891	100
West Midlands	2,254	304
West Yorkshire	1,493	230
Wiltshire	975	60
Total	79,183	5,297

Broadcasting (Programme Information)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has held with the chair and members of the Independent Television Commission regarding the intention of the television and radio franchise holders to charge newspapers for programme information; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has not held any discussions with the chairman or members of the Independent Television Commission on this issue. The use of programme information is a matter for commercial arrangements between broadcasters and those who wish to publish the information. The Broadcasting Act 1990 makes provision for adjudication by the copyright tribunal if a publisher considers that the fee being charged by the broadcaster is unreasonable.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Agricultural Efficiency

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North dated 18 December 1990, Official Report, column 132, if he will show the efficiency in terms of gross value added per annual labour unit of agriculture and all other major sectors of industry in Britain.

Information on gross value added per head in other sectors of industry in the United Kingdom is contained in pages 10–37 of the "Business Monitor: Report on the Census of Production—Summary Volume, 1988", available in the Library of the House. These estimates are not fully comparable with those for agriculture contained in my reply of 18 December: they relate to total numbers employed whereas, for agriculture, the denominator is annual labour units (reflecting full time worker equivalents). Furthermore, comparisons between sectors should be interpreted cautiously because of the differing degrees of support and protection embodied in the value added of each sector and because of different deployments of labour and capital.

Food Safety

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has given to local authorities about the operation of the new food safety regulations which implement the Food Safety Act 1990.

Under section 40 of the Food Safety Act Ministers may issue codes of practice for local authorities on the enforcement of the Act and regulations made under it. Seven codes of practice on a range of enforcement aspects were issued to come into operation on 1 January 1991. Copies of the codes have been placed in the Library of the House. Further codes are in preparation.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the outcome of his examination of the relationship between the new committees on microbiological safety of food and the existing committees in the food area.

Yes. I have concluded a change in the terms of references is required in order to take account of the new committees. Consequently the revised terms of reference for the Food Advisory Committee are:

"To assess the risk to humans of chemicals which are used or occur in or on food and to advise Ministers on the exercise of powers in the Food Safety Act 1990 relating to the labelling, composition and chemical safety of food. In exercising its functions the Food Advisory Committee will take the advice and work of the Committee on Toxicity and other relevant advisory committees into account."

In addition, the Steering Group for Food Surveillance is to be renamed the Steering Group on Chemical Aspects of Food Surveillance and its revised terms of reference are:

"to identify through surveillance the need for action to ensure the chemical safety and nutritional adequacy of food".

Fisheries Council

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EC Fisheries Council meeting, held on 19 and 20 December 1990.

The United Kingdom secured a good package consistent with conservation at the December Council.

Irradiated Food

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has of when irradiated food will be on sale in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Since the possibility of licensing under the Food (Control of Irradiation) Regulations 1991 was introduced only on 1 January it is too early for any meaningful estimate to be made.

Set-Aside Scheme

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of farmers who have received payment under the set-aside scheme for (a) tourist facilities, (b) football ptiches, (c) golf courses, (d) game reserves and (e) nature reserves; and if he will make a statement.

The information is not available in the precise form requested. However, the following breakdown of set-aside undertakings under the non-agricultural use option may be of assistance:

Total number of undertakings relating to land set aside under the non-agricultural use option in England in the first two years of the scheme
	Number	Per cent.
Horse-based activities (including livery stables, riding schools, stud farms, etc)	536	(76)
Golf courses	46	(7)
Game cover for commercial shoots	32	(5)
Sports grounds	24	(3)
Recreational facilities (including camping sites, nature trails, etc)	15	(2)
Other	54	(7)
Total	707	(100)

Note: Set-aside entrants may enter more than one non-agricultural use option.

Veterinary Investigations Service

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to announce his plans following his review of the veterinary investigations service; and if he will make a statement.

The review has been a very thorough one and its implications needed to be considered in detail. Those considerations are now in their final stages and I expect to be able to make an announcement shortly.

Milk Imports

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the dates when China, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and the USSR restricted imports of milk; if he will list the quantities of milk imported from the United Kingdom for the full year prior to the restriction being imposed; and if he will make a statement.

The dates when the countries in question restricted imports of milk and milk products from the United Kingdom were:

	Date
China	¹precise date unknown
Egypt	1 July 1990
Jordan	²29 July 1990
Syria	³29 August 1990
Tunisia	20 January 1990
Turkey	25 May 1990
USSR	10 April 1990
¹ Notification received 30 October 1990.
² Notification received 3 September 1990.
³ Notification received 14 January 1991.

The quantities of milk and milk products imported from the United Kingdom for the previous full year (1989) were, in tonnes:

	Milk, cream and other milk products (other than butter or cheese)	Butter and other fats and oils derived from milk	Cheese and curd
China	2,718	—	—
Egypt	1,334	175	141
Jordan	550	34	26
Syria	—	—	—
Tunisia	—	—	—
Turkey	118	2	39
USSR	—	1	—

We have been in frequent contact with all the countries which have imposed restrictions. Both the European Community and the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) have clearly stated that milk and milk products present no risk from BSE.With the help of these bodies we shall continue to make every effort to have these unjustified restrictions lifted.

Milk Quotas

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he intends to set a final date for the notification of milk quota transfers in England and Wales in 1990–91.

Following consultations with the industry and in exercise of powers provided by the Dairy Produce Quotas Regulations I have decided that milk quota transfers notified after 22 April will have no effect on the calculation of supplementary levy liability for 1990–91, even if they are notified as having occurred during that year.

Intervention Stores

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what quantities of (a) grain and (b) butter were held in intervention stores in (i) Humberside and (ii) Lincolnshire at the latest available date and the equivalent date one year ago.

Since the question concerns matters which are the direct responsibility of the chief executive of the Intervention Board, I am asking him to write directly to the hon. Member.

Wildlife And Landscape Conservation

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the dates and locations of (a) national and (b) regional training courses on wildlife and landscape conservation that have been held for Agricultural Development Advisory Service officers in 1990; and if he will make a statement.

National and regional training courses on landscape and wildlife conservation held in 1990 for Agricultural Development and Advisory Service advisers were as follows:

Location	Date
National courses
Worcestershire	February
London	March
Shropshire	June
Shropshire	September
Shropshire	September
Shropshire	November
Regional courses
Yorkshire	May
Yorkshire	May
Worcestershire	May
Warwickshire	June
Warwickshire	June
Somerset	June
West Sussex	July
Dyfed	September
Cambridgeshire	November

This programme of training courses proved sufficient in practice to ensure that all ADAS officers received appropriate training in landscape and wildlife conservation. For this reason two of the proposed regional training courses referred to in an earlier answer to the hon. Member did not take place.

Education And Science

Expenditure

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North dated 23 November 1990, Official Report, column 217, if he will show the total expenditure on State education in actual and 1989 prices, in 1961, 1970, 1980 and 1989, showing the per cent. increase at 1989 prices; and the amount spent on teachers' salaries and related costs in each case, in actual 1989 prices and in per cent. terms, and also the per cent. increase in each case since 1980.

Data for 1961 are not readily available. The earliest year for which data are available on a comparable basis is 1968–69. The data for that and the subsequent years on total education spending, and on spending on school teachers' salaries in England, are as follows:

Total education spending
	Cash terms	1989–90 prices	Increase over previous year	Increase since 1980
	£ billion	£ billion	Per cent.	Per cent.
1968–69	2·1	15·2	—	—
1970–71	2·6	16·5	9	—
1980–81	12·9	21·9	33	—
1988–89	22·0	23·4	7	7
1989–90	24·1	24·1	3	10

Teachers' salaries
	Cash terms	1989–90 prices	Increase over previous year	Increase since 1980
	£ billion	£ billion	Per cent.	Per cent.
1968–69	0·5	3·7	—	—
1970–71	0·6	4·1	11	—
1980–81	3·7	6·3	54	—
1988–89	6·6	7·0	11	11
1989–90	n/a	n/a	—	—

Notes to tables:

1. The total education spending figures are drawn from the education tables of the relevant Public Expenditure White Papers.

2. The figures for spending on teachers' salaries are drawn from local authority spending returns. Data for 1989–90 are not yet available. Spending on teachers' salaries includes on-costs such as superannuation. No account is taken of changes in teacher numbers over the period shown.

3. The columns headed "increase over previous year" show the increase in spending at 1989–90 prices over the previous year.

4. The figures at 1989–90 prices have been calculated using latest GDP deflators.

Iraqi Students

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) pursuant to his reply of 14 January, if he will give a breakdown of the courses taken by the 900 Iraqi postgraduate students who attended British universities during 1986–87;(2) how many students from Iraq are enrolled on postgraduate courses at British universities and colleges of higher education during the current university year; and if he will give a breakdown of the courses they are attending.

I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

Under-Fives

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his answer of 30 November 1990, Official Report, columns 491–92, when he expects the information for 1990 on the percentage of under-fives in nursery schools, nursery classes and infant classes by local education authority in England to be available.

The information requested for January 1990 is given in the following table:

Percentage of under fives in maintained nursery and primary schools in rank order in each local education authority—January 1990
	All under Fives	Nursery schools	Nursery classes	Primary classes
South Tyneside	94	21	37	36
Walsall	91	11	46	34
North Tyneside	91	6	50	35
Salford	87	15	38	34
Liverpool	86	4	46	36
Sandwell	76	2	42	32
Cleveland	75	1	54	20
Knowsley¹	74	—	42	31
Tameside	74	5	35	33
Doncaster¹	74	—	41	33
Wolverhampton	72	12	45	15
Durham	71	17	23	31
Newcastle upon Tyne	70	9	31	30
Manchester	70	4	51	16
Hounslow¹	70	—	66	3
Barking¹	69	—	35	34
Wakefield	69	6	42	22
Solihull¹	69	—	35	35
Bolton	68	7	30	31
Sunderland	68	12	24	32
Barnsley	67	3	47	17
Haringey	67	4	34	28
Gateshead	67	1	33	32
Oldham¹	67	—	34	33
St. Helens	65	2	31	32
Sefton	65	4	28	33
Bury	63	3	26	33
Birmingham	63	8	24	31
Northumberland	63	2	28	32
Sheffield	62	6	39	18
Rochdale	62	14	17	31
Calderdale¹	61	—	28	32
Merton¹	60	—	40	21
Leeds	60	2	40	19
Derbyshire	60	7	31	22
Ealing	60	7	28	26
Nottinghamshire	58	2	46	10
Brent	57	4	28	26
Bradford	57	3	32	21
Kingston upon Thames	57	7	24	26
Coventry	57	5	20	32
Wirral	57	3	21	33
Kirklees	57	6	32	20
Wigan	57	2	23	32
Humberside	56	5	30	22
Rotherham	56	5	35	16
Cumbria	56	7	16	33
Newham	55	13	41	1
Cheshire	54	3	18	32
Barnet	54	7	22	25
Northamptonshire	54	4	16	33
Hillingdon	51	2	47	2
Enfield¹	50	—	20	30
Dudley	49	4	30	16
Warwickshire	49	6	11	32
Inner London	49	7	29	13
Avon	48	7	10	31
Staffordshire	48	7	15	26
Lancashire	48	9	8	31
North Yorkshire	48	2	18	28
Stockport	48	11	6	31
Hertfordshire	47	6	23	17
Waltham Forest	47	5	30	12
Cornwall³	45	1	13	31
Cambridgeshire	45	4	7	33
Richmond upon Thames	45	2	17	26
Harrow¹	45	—	16	29
Isle of Wight¹	43	—	7	36
Havering¹	39	—	4	35
Leicestershire	38	0	22	16
Bedfordshire	38	8	23	7
East Sussex	38	2	6	30

	All under Fives	Nursery schools	Nursery classes	Primary classes
Dorset¹	38	—	6	33
Croydon	35	5	2	28
Norfolk	34	2	3	28
Shropshire	34	2	11	22
Somerset¹	33	—	1	33
Lincolnshire	32	2	6	23
Suffolk	31	1	15	15
Sutton	31	6	25	0
Gloucestershire¹	31	—	—	31
Bexley	30	3	12	14
Trafford¹	30	—	22	7
Devon	28	1	10	16
Redbridge¹	27	—	13	14
Berkshire	26	10	15	1
Surrey	24	2	9	13
Hereford & Worcester¹	22	—	7	15
Hampshire	21	1	4	16
Essex	21	1	5	15
Buckinghamshire	18	3	7	9
Wiltshire¹	18	—	3	16
Oxfordshire	18	6	9	4
Kent	17	0	5	12
Bromley¹	17	—	2	15
West Sussex	10	3	1	6
ENGLAND	46	4	21	22
Note:—
¹ Have no Nursery Schools
² Have no Nursery Schools or Nursery Classes
³ Includes Isles of Scilly

Special Schools

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the number of pupils belonging to each local education authority attending special schools maintained by other local education authorities in January 1989 and 1990.

The information requested is set out in the table:

The number of pupils belonging to local education authorities attending special schools maintained by other local education authorities as recorded on returns made to the Department of Education
	January 1989	January 1990
City of London	6	5
Camden	125	123
Greenwich	119	115
Hackney	222	213
Hammersmith	103	100
Islington	167	149
Kensington	208	196
Lambeth	273	240
Lewisham	195	194
Southwark	237	236
Tower Hamlet	114	111
Wandsworth	206	181
Westminster	161	151
Barking	32	31
Barnet	77	89
Bexley	81	75
Brent	76	74
Bromley	34	25
Croydon	56	55
Ealing	71	74
Enfield	117	101
Haringey	92	91
Harrow	52	46
Havering	47	47
Hillingdon	43	42
Hounslow	25	26

	January 1989	January 1990
Kingston	18	17
Merton	78	64
Newham	59	61
Redbridge	61	74
Richmond	36	35
Sutton	52	49
Waltham Forest	23	19
Birmingham	42	30
Coventry	18	18
Dudley	71	72
Sandwell	76	74
Solihull	40	38
Walsall	20	23
Wolverhampton	11	13
Knowsley	38	23
Liverpool	35	26
St. Helens	33	33
Sefton	25	22
Wirral	28	20
Bolton	77	64
Bury	77	75
Manchester	48	47
Oldham	20	23
Rochdale	45	61
Salford	33	25
Stockport	55	41
Tameside	78	76
Trafford	34	37
Wigan	41	31
Barnsley	27	18
Doncaster	16	8
Rotherham	44	39
Sheffield	7	5
Bradford	20	47
Calderdale	23	25
Kirklees	47	46
Leeds	15	20
Wakefield	63	32
Gateshead	21	29
Newcastle	26	17
North Tyne	31	30
South Tyne	27	32
Sunderland	15	12
Avon	34	21
Bedfordshire	30	21
Berkshire	62	65
Buckinghamshire	83	84
Cambridgeshire	19	13
Cheshire	108	85
Cleveland	16	18
Cornwall	18	18
Cumbria	12	10
Derbyshire	61	46
Devon	13	9
Dorset	10	12
Durham	68	65
East Sussex	57	46
Essex	166	205
Gloucestershire	16	12
Hampshire	100	86
Hereford and Worcester	32	18
Hertfordshire	82	63
Humberside	43	38
Isle of Wight	3	6
Kent	74	56
Lancashire	110	100
Leicestershire	22	27
Lincolnshire	26	31
Norfolk	22	20
North Yorkshire	70	58
Northamptonshire	47	36

	January 1989	January 1990
Northumberland	31	42
Nottinghamshire	43	33
Oxfordshire	19	17
Shropshire	30	28
Somerset	21	13
Staffordshire	58	49
Suffolk	30	35
Surrey	103	67
Warwickshire	84	79
West Sussex	33	32
Wiltshire	36	43

The Arts

London Arts Board

To ask the Minister for the Arts when he expects to announce the chairman for the London Arts Board; and if he will make a statement on the future of the London Arts Board.

Income tax, NICS, and indirect taxes as multiples of average earnings, 1990–91
	Multiples of average earnings
	0·50	0·75	1	1·5	2	3	4	5	7	10	20
Single
Amounts, £ per week
Income tax	24·04	43·28	62·53	101·91	163·49	286·65	409·81	532·97	779·29	1,148·77	2,380·37
NICS	10·64	17 56	24·49	28·28	28·28	28·28	28·28	28·28	28·28	28·28	28·28
VAT	—	11·65	15·60	24·22	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Other indirect	—	17·22	21·50	30·85	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
TOTAL	34·68	89·71	124·12	185·26	191·77	314·93	438·09	561·25	807·57	1,177·05	2,408·65
Percentage of earnings
Income tax	15·6	18·7	20·3	22·1	26·5	31·0	33·3	34·6	36·2	37·3	38·7
NICS	6·9	7·6	8·0	6·1	4·6	3·1	2·3	1·8	1·3	0·9	0·5
VAT	—	5·0	5·1	5·2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Other indirect	—	7·5	7·0	6·7	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
TOTAL	22·5	38·8	40·4	40·1	31·1	34·1	35·6	36·4	37·5	38·2	39·2
Married, no children
Amounts, £ per week
Income tax	15·77	35·01	54·26	92·75	150·26	273·42	396·58	519·74	766·06	1,135·54	2,367·14
NICS	10·64	17·56	24·49	28·28	28·28	28·28	28·28	28·28	28·28	28·28	28·28
VAT	—	10·77	15·07	24·53	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Other indirect	—	19·07	23·36	32·81	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
TOTAL	26·41	82·41	117·18	178·37	178·54	301·70	424·86	548·02	794·34	1,163·82	2,395·42
Percentage of earnings
Income tax	10·2	15·2	17·6	20·1	24·4	29·6	32·2	33·8	35·5	36·9	38·4
NICS	6·9	7·6	8·0	6·1	4·6	3·1	2·3	1·8	1·3	0·9	0·5
VAT	—	4·7	4·9	5·3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Other indirect	—	8·3	7·6	7·1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
TOTAL	17·1	35·8	38·1	38·6	29·0	32·7	34·5	35·6	36·8	37·8	38·9
Married, both working
Amounts, £ per week
Income tax	1·32	20·57	39·81	78·30	116·79	203·55	313·75	436·91	683·23	1,052·71	2,284·31
NICS	7·42	14·34	21·27	35·13	47·23	56·56	56·56	56·56	56·56	56·56	56·56
VAT	—	12·27	16·93	26·27	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Other indirect	—	21·97	25·81	33·49	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
TOTAL	8·74	69·15	103·82	173·19	164·02	260·11	370·31	493·47	739·79	1,109·27	2,340·87
Percentage of earnings
Income tax	0·9	8·9	12·9	17·0	19·0	22·0	25·5	28·4	31·7	34·2	37·1
NICS	4·8	6·2	6·9	7·6	7·7	6·1	4·6	3·7	2·6	1·8	0·9
VAT	—	5·3	5·5	5·7	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

I expect to receive proposals concerning the London Arts Board from the Arts Council in due course.

National Finance

Taxes And Benefits

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report up-to-date figures, using 1990–91 prices, but otherwise on the same basis as those provided in his answer to the hon. Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Squire) of 10 January 1989, Official Report, columns 624–47.

Updated figures for 1990–91 are given in the table. For earlier years, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) on 5 July 1990 jat column 699. The figures given in that reply at 1988–89 prices may be converted to 1990–91 prices in line with the Autumn Statement forecast by multiplying by a factor of 1·19.

	Multiples of average earnings
	0·50	0·75	1	1·5	2	3	4	5	7	10	20
Other indirect	—	9·5	8·4	7·3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
TOTAL	5·7	29·9	33·7	37·6	26·7	28·1	30·1	32·1	34·3	36·0	38·0
Married, two children
Amounts, £ per week
Income tax	1·27	20·51	39·76	78·25	135·76	258·92	382·08	505·24	751·56	1,121·04	2,352·64
NICS	10·64	17·56	24·49	28·28	28·28	28·28	28·28	28·28	28·28	28·28	28·28
VAT	—	10·58	15·45	26·16	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Other indirect	—	18·55	21·99	29·54	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
TOTAL	11·91	67·20	101·69	162·23	164·04	287·20	410·36	533·52	779·84	1,149·32	2,380·92
Percentage of earnings
Income tax	0·8	8·9	12·9	17·0	22·0	28·0	31·0	32·9	34·8	36·4	38·2
NICS	6·9	7·6	8·0	6·1	4·6	3·1	2·3	1·8	1·3	0·9	0·5
VAT	—	4·6	5·0	5·7	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Other indirect	—	8·0	7·1	6·4	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
TOTAL	7·7	29·1	33·0	35·2	26·6	31·1	33·3	34·7	36·1	37·3	38·7

Notes to tables

(1) Income tax payments are calculated on the assumption that the households receive no tax relief other than the standard allowances and only have income from employment. All earners, including wives, are assumed to pay class 1 NI contributions at the contracted rate. The figures for NI contributions are financial year averages.

(2) From 1990–91 husbands and wives will be taxed independently. Previously the tax liability of couples depended on their joint income. To permit comparisons with earlier years the table therefore shows income tax and National Insurance Contributions paid by a married couple in 1990–91 as a proportion of their joint income, assuming, as in the earlier years, that where both partners are earners, the husband and wife share the relevant multiple of earnings in the ratio 60:40.

(3) In order to provide comparability with 1978–79, when support for children was given partly through child tax allowances, child benefit is treated as a negative income tax for the married couple with two children.

(4) Average earnings are taken to be the average gross weekly earnings of all full-time males on adult rates with pay unaffected by absence. These are estimated to be £307·90 per week in 1990–91, using the Government Actuary Department's assumption of 10 per cent. growth over 1989–90 as published in the 1990 autumn statement.

(5) The estimates of indirect taxes are derived from the 1985 family expenditure survey, and are based on the illustrative assumption that 10 per cent. of disposable income is saved. There are wide variations in spending patterns between households with the same composition and similar incomes and estimated payments of VAT and other indirect taxes are therefore approximate, even within the income range for which figures are shown. Outside this range the margin of error is even higher and reliable estimates cannot be made. Because of sampling variation, there can be substantial differences between the estimates obtained from family expenditure surveys for different years.

Football Clubs

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Football League clubs took advantage of the Inland Revenue's amnesty on illegal payments to players; and if he will make a statement.

There was no such amnesty.

Exchange Rate Mechanism

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made with the Bank of England inquiry into developments both before and after the announcement of Britain's entry into the exchange rate mechanism on 5 October.

I have nothing to add to the answer that my right hon. Friend the then Chancellor gave to the hon. Gentleman on 23 October 1990 at column 196. If the hon. Gentleman has any evidence that the decision to join the ERM was prematurely disclosed, he should declare it to the appropriate authorities.

Public Expenditure

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement on the public expenditure planning total for 1991–92.

The Secretaries of State for the Environment, Scotland and Wales have today announced increases in central Government expenditure on a new scheme for community charge reduction and other forms of support for local authorities of some £1·1 billion in 1991–92, net of savings on community charge benefit.The £1·1 billion net increase in central Government support for local authorities will be added to next year's public expenditure planning total. There will, however, be no change in projected local authority expenditure as a result of this switch in financing, and therefore no increase in total public expenditure as measured by general government expenditure (GGE). Local authority expenditure will continue moreover to be subject to capping.On financing, the Government's strategy remains to balance the budget over the medium term. The decisions announced today do not alter that policy and will be taken into account in framing the Budget proposals.

Overseas Development

Management Training (Czechoslovakia)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the sector reconnaisance mission on management training to Czechoslovakia.

I have today placed copies in the Library.

Educational Projects (Czechoslovakia)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cash value of the know-how fund for educational projects in Czechoslovakia; and whether he will list those United Kingdom organisations who have been awarded contracts under it, giving the purpose and duration of each project and its pound sterling value.

Expenditure under the know-how fund for Czechoslovakia in 1990–91 is estimated at £2 million. Projects designed to transfer know-how to Czechoslovakia are listed below by sector, including the name of the United Kingdom organisation responsible for project implementation.FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MACROECONOMIC ADVICETitle:

Assistance for Privatisation

Description: A team of privatisation advisers will undertake a six month assignment to advise the Czechoslovak Privatisation Agency.

Contract: Ernst & Young, Shroders and Denton Hall.
Status: September 1990-March 1991.
Cost: £450,000.

Title: Banking Training

Description: A visit to assess the training needs of the Czechoslovak banking sector.

Contract: Grayson-Bennett Associates.
Status: Completed.
Cost: £12,000.

Title: Banking Training

Description: A programme of six two week seminars for senior managers of various banks in Czechoslovakia. Contract: Grayson-Bennett Associates.

Status: January to May 1991.
Cost: £70,000.

Title: Assistance to the Ceskoslovenska Obchodnoi Banka

Description: Two consultants will work alongside bank staff as part of a team finalising the evaluation of an integrated software package.

Contract: IDOM.
Status: Completed.
Cost: £14,500.

Title: Assistance to the Komercni Banka

Description: The placement of ten Czechoslovak bankers, selected by the Komercni Banka, with British clearing banks, mainly in their documentary credits departments in order to obtain practical, working experience of international commercial banking business.

Contract: Chartered Institute of Bankers.
Status: Completed.
Cost: £35,000.

Title: Assistance to the Investicni Banka

Description: Barclays Bank to provide a three day training course to two employees of the Investicni Banka in the issue of Certificates of Deposit.

Status: Completed.
Cost: £900.

Title: Accountancy Training

Description: The placement of eight Czechoslovak accountants selected by the Ministry of Finance with British accountancy firms.

Contract: Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales.
Status: Completed.
Cost: £13,000.

Title: Workshops on Tax Structure and Public Finance

Description: A programme of workshops to examine tax requirements and procedures resulting from the changes in Czechoslovakia. In addition there will be inward and outward visits by researchers and the provision of computer equipment.

Contract: Institute of Fiscal Studies.
Status: September 1990 to September 1992.
Cost: £25,000.

Title: Insurance Sector

Description: To help establish a new insurance company.

Status: Under way.
Cost: £140,700.

Title: Advice to the Federal Minister of Economy and the Chairman of the State Bank

Description: The payment of air fares for up to fifteen visits per year to Prague by Mr. Stanley Rudcenko, Vice President and Chief Economist at the Bankers Trust and one of an informal group of advisers to the Chairman of the State Bank and Federal Ministry of Economy.

Status: Under way.
Cost: £6,000.

Title: Secondment to the Federal Ministry of Economy

Description: The secondment of Dr. Drabek of the World Bank to act as a Principal Economic adviser to both the Ministry of Economy and the Czech Ministry of Strategic Planning.

Status: Under way.
Cost: £50,000.

Title: Economics for Senior Officials

Description: A programme of lectures and seminars to introduce senior Czechoslovak officials to market economics, and in particular the contemporary economic issues affecting government policy.

Contract: Birbeck College.
Status: Under way.
Cost: £9,500.

Title: Support for World Bank Structural Adjustment Mission

Description: Covering the costs of two United Kingdom experts taking part in a World Bank mission looking at the social safety net in Czechoslovakia as a precursor to a major structural adjustment loan.

Status: January 1991.
Cost: £20,000.

EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

Title: Development of Employment Services in Slovakia

Description: A short visit by two Employment Service officials to Slovakia to ascertain needs in the employment sector.

Contract: Department of Employment.
Status: Under way.
Cost: £3,000.

Title: Training for Employment Services Managers

Description: The Employment Service are to provide a number of courses for the Czechoslovak equivalent of Jobcentre managers.

Contract: Department of Employment.
Status: Under way.
Cost: £53,000.

Title: Training and Retraining of Adults

Description: Up to ten Czechoslovak officials will visit the United Kingdom for two weeks to look at adult training facilities and policy.

Contract: Department of Employment.
Status: Under way.
Cost: £39,300.

Title: Development of Employment Services

Description: A visit by United Kingdom Employment Service officials to Czechoslovakia to look at existing arrangements for dealing with unemployment and a return visit by officials from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs to discuss with institutions in the United Kingdom the handling of unemployment issues.

Contract: Department of Employment.
Status: Completed.
Cost: £19,600.

Title: Secondment to the Prime Minister's Office

Description: The Department of Employment have seconded an official to the Czechoslovak Prime Minister's to advise on the employment and other implications of the economic reform programme.

Contract: Department of Employment.
Status: Under way.
Cost: £50,000.

Title: Secondment to Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs

Description: An official will be seconded to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs for a nine month period to co-ordinate and develop the programme of assistance in the labour field under KHF auspices.

Contract: Department of Employment.
Status: Under way.
Cost: £20,000.

MANAGEMENT TRAINING

Title: Management Training in the Telecommunications Sector

Description: The training of ten senior executives in the Czechoslovak Federal Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.

Contract: British Telecom.
Status: Under way.
Cost: £58,800.

Title: Management Training in the Construction Sector

Description: A pilot management training course for the construction sector.

Contract: Intrinsic Marketing.
Status: Completed.
Cost: £57,950.

ENVIRONMENT

Title: Study of Environmental Problems of North Bohemia

Description: A programme of visits by environmental scientists aimed at producing a report for the Czechoslovak government to better understand the environmental problems of north Bohemia and to develop a realistic programme for their solution, including sources of finance.

Contract: Department of the Environment.
Status: Under way.
Cost: £12,000.

Title: Establishment of an Industry and Conservation Association in Bratislava

Description: A programme of visits and consultancy advice aimed at improving the handling of environmental problems in the local political economy by developing partnerships between industry, environmental NGO's and local government.

Contract: Nature Conservancy Council.
Status: Under way.
Cost: £28,000.

EDUCATION AND ELT

Title: Prince of Wales Scholarships

Description: Two Czechoslovak students will be sponsored to attend courses at Atlantic College, Wales.

Status: The two students took up their courses in October 1990.
Cost: £9,300.

Title: Book Sector Study

Description: A study to consider all factors relevant to educational book development which will form the basis for a more detailed book development programme to be linked to an IBRD contribution to this sector.

Contract: International Book Development.
Status: Under way.
Cost: £44,500.

Title: English Language Teaching In-Service Seminar

Description: A two week seminar in Bratislava to prepare teachers for the introduction of new English teaching materials and methodology.

Contract: British Council.Status: Completed.
Cost: £10,500.

Title: Russian Teachers' Conversion Course

Description: The British Council are to organise a three month intensive teacher training/conversion course for Czech and Slovak teachers of Russian to prepare them for English teaching duties in state primary and secondary schools.

Contract: Bell Educational Trust.
Status: Completed.
Cost: £195,000.

Title: English Language Training for the State Bank.

Description: A three-month intensive course in general and specialised English for senior staff of the Czechoslovak State Bank

Contract: Regent school.
Status: Completed.
Cost: £65,000.

OTHER PROJECTS

Title: Data Envelopment Analysis Programme

Description: The London School of Economics ran a short computer programming course based at the Ecole Polytechnique de Brno. A computer has been installed at the Polytechnique to enable them to undertake further courses.

Status: Completed.
Cost: £10,000.

POLITICAL PROJECTS

Title: Anglo-Czechoslovak Law Seminar

Description: Four Czechoslovak lawyers attended a seminar in London organised by the Anglo-Czechoslovak Law Association.

Status: Completed.
Cost: £2,000.

Title: Training for personnel of Czechoslovak TV

Description: VISNEWS have arranged a short visit for personnel from Czechoslovak TV News to enable them to see how news coverage is approached in Britain and to look at United Kingdom equipment and production techniques.

Status: Completed.
Cost: £5,000.

Title: Media Training for Czechoslovak Radio

Description: A group of journalists from Czechoslovak Radio undertook a two day training session with an individual consultant looking at ways of improving presentation and content.

Status: Completed.
Cost: £200.

Title: Legal Education

Description: The Jan Hus Foundation is to advise Czechoslovak Universities on the reform of their system of legal education.

Status: Under way.
Cost: £5,000.

Title: Broadcasting Training

Description: The BBC World Service is to provide a six week course for Czechoslovak broadcasters on the methods and techniques of broadcasting and journalism in a plural society.

Status: To start February 1991.
Cost: £250,000.

CZECHOSLOVAKIA, HUNGARY AND POLAND

Title: Assistance for Environmental NGOs

Description: A programme of visits, exchanges and consultancy advice aimed at strengthening the network of environmental NGOs in all three countries.

Contract: Ecological Studies Institute.
Status: Under way.
Cost: £125,000 over two years.

Energy

Power Failures, Fast Midlands

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) when he next expects to meet the chair of the East Midlands Electricity Consumer Committee to discuss the blizzard of 8 December 1990 and the number of supply interruptions and the rate of reconnections;(2) when he next expects to meet the chairman of the East Midlands Electricity Company to discuss the impact of the 8 December 1990 blizzard and the response thereto.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to meet either at present. My Department monitored the situation throughout the restoration of supplies. The East Midlands Electricity Consumer Committee has not requested a meeting.

Spent Nuclear Fuel

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Cryer) 12 December, Official Report, column 397, he will set out the definition of civil spent nuclear fuel as used in the context of international nuclear safeguards to which he makes reference.

The expression "civil spent nuclear fuel" used in my answer to the hon. Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Cryer) on 12 December 1990 at column 397 referred to irradiated fuel arising from the operation of reactors in the United Kingdom civil nuclear industry and irradiated fuel from overseas, stored in the United Kingdom before reprocessing.

Kuwaiti Oilfields

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what studies have been conducted by his Department or consultants to his Department on the effects of the mining or bombing of the Kuwaiti oilfields, in terms of (a) oil resource depletion, (b) the stability of crude oil prices and (c) environmental pollution, including effects on global warming.

My Department has not carried out any detailed studies on the possible effects of the mining or bombing of the Kuwaiti oilfields for oil resource depletion or the stability of crude oil prices. However, it seems unlikely that there would be any significant short term consequences for oil supplies, bearing in mind that crude from Kuwait is not at present available to world markets.The Meteorological Office has conducted a preliminary study into the environmental effects. This concludes that even in the worst case scenario the effects on global warming would be almost negligible. Arrangements have been made for a copy of their note to be placed in the Library of the House.

Wales

Welsh Development Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the gross provision for the Welsh Development Agency in every year since 1979 and the provision intended for 1991–92; expressed at 1990–91 price levels.

The information is as follows:

Gross Mainstream Provision
(£ million
	Cask	1990–91 Prices¹
1979–80	35·1	76·0
1980–81	65·7	120·2
1981–82	54·4	90·8
1982–83	62·4	97·2
1983–84	61·9	92·2
1984–85	70·0	99·2
1985–86	63·5	85·4
1986–87	72·0	93·6
1987–88	98·6	121·5
1988–89	115·1	132·2
1989–90	133·4	144·1
1990–91	150·0	150·0
²1991–92	160·0	150·9
¹ Adjusted using latest GDP deflator.
² Planned budget provision.

In addition to the mainstream budgets shown above the Agency was provided with special resources to help mitigate the effects of the steel closures in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The resources involved are as follows:

£ million
	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84
Cash	27·5	22·3	33·7	13·8	6·0
1990–91 prices¹	59·6	40·8	56·3	21·5	8·9
¹ Adjusted using latest GDP deflator.

The Laurels, Bronllys

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on the amount spent by Powys health authority on refitting The Laurels, Bronllys, as office accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

None. This is a matter for Powys health authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes an urgent review concerning the teaching of maths and the teaching of science, after the age of 14 years.

We intend to review the structure of the attainment targets for both maths and science for pupils of all ages in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Educationa and Science.

School Subjects

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for the introduction of a more feasible range of subjects for pupils after the age of 14 years.

We intend to make a statement shortly.

Reading Standards

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what assessments he has made in each of the years since 1980 of reading standards in Wales; and if he will make a statement;(2) what policies he has followed to increase the standard of reading in local education authority schools in Wales;(3) what action he has taken in each of the local education authorities in Wales to encourage improved standards in reading; if he will list the measurements and assessments he has made of reading standards in Wales in each of the years since 1980; and if he will make a statement;(4) what initiatives he will take to improve reading standards in Wales.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the replies given to him on 10 July 1990.An assessment of reading standards is carried out as part of all Her Majesty's inspectors inspections of primary schools and, since 1983, I have arranged for all reports to be published. In addition to these reports, which recently have numbered around 40 per year, the assessment and performance unit (APU) published the results of their survey into language performance of pupils in 1981 and 1982. These assessments have been further supplemented throughout the period by Her Majesty's inspectorate (England and Wales) discussion and advisory papers in the "Curriculum Matters" series and "Aspects of Primary Education". Her Majesty's inspectorate Wales also published its own report "Aspects of Reading in English in the Junior Schools" in February 1989.The teaching of English as a core foundation subject within the national curriculum was introduced into primary schools (pupils aged 5 to 7) from September 1989. Development of pupils' reading skills forms an essential element of the national curriculum programmes of study for English and sets out clear standards for achievement. As from this summer term, the individual achievement of all seven-year-old pupils will, for the first time, be assessed by law.Since April 1989 the Welsh Office has grant funded the appointment of additional specialist English advisers with the WJEC and in each of the local education authorities to support classroom teachers to introduce the national curriculum requirements for English and also from September 1989, Welsh.A summary of the latest Her Majesty's inspectorate Wales findings on reading standards is being made available to all directors of education and chairpersons of education committees in Wales. I have asked that high priority be given to the follow-up of all reports of schools with less than satisfactory performance as noted in Her Majesty's inspectorate inspections, the local education authorities own monitoring procedures or the national curriculum assessment arrangements. I have asked Her Majesty's inspectorate to continue to report to me regularly on reading standards.Her Majesty's inspectorate is organising a conference in July which will be attended by headteachers of primary schools, senior staff, advisers, advisory teachers and teacher trainers. Reading will be featured as part of the conference.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the standard of reading at the age of seven years.

The latest available evidence, based on a comprehensive programme of Her Majesty's inspectorate school inspections over the past 18 months, shows that the teaching of reading in about 83 per cent. of primary schools in Wales is good or satisfactory. I am still very concerned about the 17 per cent. that are not satisfactory. I am therefore, asking local education authorities to give high priority to following up reports on schools with less than satisfactory performance, and I will be receiving regular reports from Her Majesty's inspectorate on reading standards.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Lithuania

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will convene a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the use of force by the Soviet armed forces in Lithuania.

No. We do not believe that raising this matter in the UN Security Council at this stage would contribute to a resolution of the present crisis. We can best help by working bilaterally and with our partners and allies to persuade the Soviet authorities to cease the use of force and return to negotiation with the elected authorities of Lithuania and the other Baltic states. We have raised the Baltic states in the current CSCE meetings at Vienna and Valletta, and are considering how best to pursue the matter further within the CSCE framework.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to impose economic sanctions and to withdraw technological aid to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics until the Soviet troops are withdrawn from Lithuania.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs gave to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Kaufman) on 16 January. The EC has decided not to implement its economic assistance to the Soviet Union if the situation which prevails in Lithuania is prolonged in any way or extended to the other Baltic states.

Test Ban Treaty Conference

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the United Kingdom delegation to the partial test ban treaty amendment conference being held at the United Nations in New York from 7 to 18 January; and if he will indicate the status of all civil servants and diplomats participant in the conference.

The United Kingdom delegation to the PTBTAC consists of the deputy head and one member of the United Kingdom delegation to the conference on disarmament in Geneva and two members of the United Kingdom mission to the United Nations in New York.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on developments to date at the partial test ban treaty amendment conference being held at the United Nations in New York from 7 to 18 January.

The partial test ban treaty amendment conference has been an opportunity for informed and responsible discussion of the issues surrounding nuclear testing. We hope that a consensus outcome will be possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals have been submitted by the United Kingdom delegation to the partial test ban treaty amendment conference being held at the United Nations in New York from 7 to 18 January.

The United Kingdom delegation has played a full part in the partial test ban treaty amendment conference general debate. No proposals have been submitted by the United Kingdom to the conference.

Advisory Companies

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what public relations, public affairs, advertising and marketing companies are retained to advise him; on what basis they are each appointed; what is the cost, tenure and purpose of their appointment in each case; and if he will make a statement.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office seeks the advice of a wide range of groups on presentational aspects of policy. Most advice given is on an informal and unpaid basis. Austin Knight Advertising UK Ltd., however, is retained by the Overseas Development Administration to advertise vacancies for overseas personnel. Their contract started on 1 June 1988 and expires on 31 March 1991. The contract was awarded following a competitive tendering exercise. The ODA does not pay a fee to Austin Knight but pays only for the advertising space.

Ec Audiovisual Support Fund

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the United Kingdom will join the European support fund for the co-production and distribution of creative cinematographic and audiovisual works.

I have been asked to reply.The Government believe that it is for the film industry to decide which European initiatives best serve its interest. We are about to consult industry on the structure of the European co-production fund which was announced by the Government last year. Possible options include using part of this fund for a contribution to EURIMAGES.

Prime Minister

Saudi Arabia

To ask the Prime Minister if he raised with the Saudi Arabian Government during his recent visit the issue of British citizens missing since the tunnel disaster of 2 July 1990.

No. The British embassy in Riyadh remain closely in touch with the Saudi authorities who are continuing their investigations to try to trace the three British pilgrims still missing. We have provided finger prints of two of the pilgrims for comparison with those taken of victims before burial.

Departmental Budgets

To ask the Prime Minister by how much the budget for the Department of Social Security will be decreased and the budget of the Department of the Environment will be increased for 1991–92 in respect of (a) hostels, (b) housing and community charge benefit subsidy and (c) care in the community.

For the 1991–92 financial year there will be no transfer of funds between the Department of Social Security and the Department of the Environment in respect of care in the community; but in drawing up the proposed local government financial settlement for England for that year full account was taken of some £16·35 million in respect of hostels. Similarly, the effect of the £86 million reduction in direct subsidy for housing benefit and community charge benefit in 1991–92 was fully taken into account in drawing up the proposed local government financial settlements for that year.

Nuclear Arms

To ask the Prime Minister if he will now reconsider Her Majesty's Government's refusal to commit the United Kingdom to negotiate a complete ban on nuclear tests and to accept annual mini-reviews on the progress of effective reduction of nuclear weapons, as proposed by Mexico and other non-aligned nations at the review conference on the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in 1990.

We have made clear that we support a comprehensive test ban as a long-term goal to be reached on a step-by-step basis. Because our security will depend for the foreseeable future on deterrence based in part on the possession of nuclear weapons, we have a continuing need to test our nuclear weapons to ensure they remain effective and up-to-date. We believe that the conference on disarmament at Geneva provides the most appropriate forum for discussion of progress on nuclear testing issues.

European Community

To ask the Prime Minister what treaty amendments beyond those in the conclusions of the Rome European Councils are being considered by Her Majesty's Government for submission to the European Community.

The Government have already tabled draft treaty amendments on EMU. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary referred in his speech to the House on 6 December to a number of areas in which the Government would seek improvements in the treaties in the context of the inter-governmental conference on political union. All these are covered by the conclusions of the Rome European Councils.

Iraq

To ask the Prime Minister what is the policy of the allies towards Iraq should the present regime be militarily defeated in the event of war.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the remarks made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in the debate on 15 January at column 814. I have nothing further to add.

Public Records Office

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the findings of the report on the future of the Public Records Office prepared by the civil service efficiency unit published in December 1990.

I understand that my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor has received the report of the efficiency scrutiny of the Public Record Office. The report has not yet been published. I understand that the Lord Chancellor intends to make a statement very shortly.

The Gulf

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list in full the military objectives of the allies if war occurs in the Gulf.

The Government's objectives since the invasion of Kuwait on 2 August 1990 have been and remain those of the United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Advertising

To ask the Prime Minister whose responsibility it is to ensure that departmental Ministers observe Government conventions on the use of paid publicity and advertising; what process of scrutiny is currently in operation; and by what process departmental Ministers are held to account for the actions of their Departments in this regard.

[holding answer 16 January 1991]: It is the responsibility of individual Ministers to ensure that the conventions on Government publicity and advertising are observed by their Department. Ministers are accountable to Parliament for the actions of their Departments.

Northern Ireland

Security

12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he plans next to meet Ministers of the Government of the Republic of Ireland to discuss security in Northern Ireland.

Security matters will be discussed at the next meeting of the Anglo-Irish intergovernmental conference. I expect this to take place shortly.

Udr Four

13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress of his consideration of the case of Winston Allen, Noel Bell, James Hegan and Neill Latimer, known as the UDR Four.

Last Thursday the hon. Gentleman presented my right hon. Friend with a dossier regarding these cases. It is being carefully examined.

Empty Council Housing

14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the most recent figure for empty local authority housing for up to six months, 12 months and over one year, respectively; if he will list the local authorities concerned; and if he will make a statement.

The chief executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive has advised that at 30 November 1990 they had 1,955 unoccupied dwellings of which 1,176 had been unoccupied for up to six months; 292 had been unoccupied for between six and 12 months and 487 had been unoccupied for more than 12 months. Those figures exclude unoccupied properties which are not available for letting.

Anglo-Irish Conference

15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the last meeting of the Anglo-Irish Conference.

The last meeting of the conference took place on 30 November. Matters discussed included the prospects for political talks, security co-operation and economic and social topics. The joint statement issued after the conference was placed in the Library.

Housing Repossessions

16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many writs were lodged before the courts for the repossession of houses in the latest year for which figures are available; how many repossessions occurred over that same period, together with comparable figures for 1980; and if he will make a statement.

Exact information is not available but it is believed that approximately 700 orders to repossess either domestic or commercial mortgaged properties were issued in 1990 compared with about 200 in 1982.It should also be remembered that orders do not always lead to actual repossession, and therefore the total number of repossessions is not known.

Power Station Emissions

17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to what extent present energy policy in Northern Ireland is intended to enable European Community directives on emissions from power stations to be complied with.

Existing power stations in Northern Ireland will be contributing to the United Kingdom programme, announced on 20 December 1990, for achieving the cuts in emissions required by the Large Combustion Plants Directive. As for future power stations, they will have to comply with separate limits given in the directive.

Sunday Trading

18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received regarding Sunday trading.

Apart from the hon. Member raising the matter in the House on 10 May, no representations have been received in recent years regarding Sunday trading in Northern Ireland.

Unemployment

19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the latest figure for the level of unemployment in Northern Ireland; and what proposals he has to reduce that level.

At 13 December 1990 (the latest date for which figures are available) there were 95,570 unemployed claimants in the Province. The Government's economic development strategy for Northern Ireland aims to improve the competitiveness of the Northern Ireland economy and thereby bring about increased profitability and employment.

Government

20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made in creating institutional and political structures of government in the Province which would command broad public support.

I am continuing to seek agreement among the main constitutional parties in Northern Ireland on a basis for talks which would address all key relationships to everyone's satisfaction.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he hopes to announce an appointment in the regional orthopaedic unit at Musgrave Park hospital of a specialist combining treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

It is the responsibility of the Eastern health and social services board to decide on the requirement for orthopaedic consultants at Musgrave Park hospital and for the Department of Health and Social Services to approve the appointment. No submission for approval to the appointment of a consultant combining treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has yet been received in the Department.

Colin Wallace

22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his response to the most recent representations he has had from Colin Wallace.

Mr. Wallace's most recent letter to my right hon. Friend was replied to on 16 August 1990.

Film Industry

23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding there is for the film industry in Northern Ireland.

Support for the film industry in Northern Ireland is provided on the same basis as support to industry generally. In addition modest levels of financial assistance are provided by the Arts Council for Northern Ireland and through the business sponsorship incentive scheme administered by the Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts (ABSA) on behalf of the Department of Education.

Elderly People

24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if any extra resources are being made available specifically for the elderly within the budget of the Eastern health and social services board.

Health and social services boards in Northern Ireland will have resources of £830 million available to them in 1991–92, an increase of almost £84 million on the current year. Individual allocations will be announced shortly and it will be for the Eastern board to determine the distribution of resources across the various programmes of care, including the elderly.

Further Education

25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when decisions will be made regarding further education in Northern Ireland.

The closing date for responses to the Government's consultative document, "Signposts for the 90s—A Review of Further Education", was 31 December 1990. The views received are being carefully considered and an announcement on the way forward will be made in the early summer.

Security

26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the latest security situation.

I refer to the answer that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Leith (Mr. Brown).

Tourist Board

27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future of the Northern Ireland tourist board.

The Northern Ireland tourist board is being restructured and strengthened to enable it to implement the strategy for tourism introduced in 1989 for achieving sustained growth of tourism to and within Northern Ireland.

Irish Republic

28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what subjects he expects to discuss at his next meeting with representatives of the Government of the Republic of Ireland.

I expect to discuss political matters, security co-operation and economic and social topics among others at the next meeting of the Anglo-Irish intergovernmental conference.

Nursery Education

29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of three and four-year-olds have a full-time nursery place.

Eight per cent.

Fallen Animals

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the burial of fallen animals.

I am aware of the problems associated with the disposal of fallen animals and I am very concerned about the particular difficulties arising from the cessation of collection services by the two major rendering

Member	Period of Appointment	Length of Service
The Duke of Abercorn (Chairman)	Since inception on 14 June 1989 to 13 June 1992	14 June 1989 to date
Mr. J. B. McGuckian (Deputy Chairman)
Mrs. M. Spence
Mr. J. Carson, CBE
Dr. B. Feeney
Mr. J. Fitzpatrick
Dr. R. B. Henderson, CBE
Mr. F. Cobain	1 August 1989 to 13 June 1992	1 August 1989 to date
Mr. D. Moreland, CBE	Since inception on 14 June 1989 to 13 June 1992	14 June 1989 until resignation on 31 March 1990
Mr. G. R. Irwin	1 May 1990 to 13 June 1992	1 May 1990 to date

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the names of all Government-appointed nominees to the Northern Ireland Fire Authority since its formation, giving the year of appointment and the length of service in each case.

[holding answer 16 January 1991]: The information is as follows:

Name	Year of appointment	Length of service
Mr. F. Proctor	1973	14½ years
Mr. F. McGibbon	1973	4 years
Mr. J. Stewart	1973	16 years
Mr. T. R. Gildea	1973	4 years
Mr. C. J. Boomer	1977	5 years
Mr. W. H. Jeffrey	1977	4 years
Mr. W. T. Annon	1981	2 years
Mr. J. Burchill	1981	1 year
Mr. J. Foster	1982	3 years
Mr. A. C. Walker	1982	6 months
Mr. A. Cairns	1984	1 year
Mr. W. Morrison	1983	2 years
Mr. H. Smyth	1985	3 years
Mr. J. Parkes	1985	1½ year
Mrs. M. Clarke	1985	1½ year
Mr. H. Montgomery	1989	1 year

plants. I have had useful discussions with one of the rendering plants who are considering providing a disposal service.

I will be meeting next week representatives of district councils in Northern Ireland led by the hon. Member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone (Mr. Maginnis) to discuss the general question of disposal of fallen animals.

Government Appointees

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the names of all Government-appointed nominees to the board of Laganside corporation since its formation, giving the year of appointment and the length of service in each case.

[holding answer 16 January 1991]: The following members have been appointed by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland to serve on the board of Laganside Corporation since its inception on the 14 June 1989:

Name	Year of appointment	Length of service
Mr. J. Walker	1989	1 year
Mr. A. E. S. Barr	1973	4 years
Mr. J. Higgins	1973	5 years
Mr. E. McVeigh	1973	8 years
Mr. N. R. Wilson	1973	1 year
Mr. A. C. McFarland	1975	15 years
Mr. A. N. Creswell	1979	2 years
Mr. S. R. Cameron	1977	1 year
Mr. I. Hunter	1979	10 years
Mr. J. Scott	1981	4 years
Mr. S. Semple	1981	8 years
Mr. T. P. Benson	1985	5 years
Mrs. J. Baird	1989	1 year
Mr. A. Kane	1989	1 year
Mr. A. Keery	1989	1 year
Mr. T. V. Clarke	1973	4 years
Mr. F. Guckian	1973	11/2 years
Mr. R. Price	1973	4 years
Miss C. MacMahon	1973	12 years
Mr. J. Crosby	1973	4 years
Mr. J. J. Cole	1973	4 years
Mr. J. Woods	1973	4 years
Mr. D. Connolly	1973	17 years
Mr. B. Flannery	1975	10 years
Mrs. M. Craig	1977	13 years
Mr. F. Gilligan	1977	13 years

Name	Year of appointment	Length of service
Mr. J. G. Grindle	1977	3 months
Mr. J. Hanna	1977	21/2 years
Mr. P. McCartan	1981	8 months
Mr. J. A. Cathcart	1973	91/2 years
Dr. F. Pinkerton	1977	4 years
Mrs. D. Gharbaoui	1978	3 years
Mrs. R. Forster	1981	8 months
Mr. J. E. Dowling	1982	3 years
Mr. P. Devlin	1981	5 months
Mr. J. Hall	1983	2½ years
Mr. R. W. Hamilton	1982	2 years
Mr. E. Haughey	1984	5 years
Mr. L. Hasson	1985	5 years
Mr. W. Keys	1985	5 years
Mr. L. Thompson	1985	5 years
Mr. K. Spence	1985	4 years
Mrs. E. McMichael	1989	1 year
Mrs. J. Neill	1989	1 year

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the names of all Government-appointed nominees to each health and social services board since its formation, giving the year of appointment and the length of service in each case.

[holding answer 16 January 1991]: The information requested is as follows:

	Year of appointment	Length of service to 1991
Eastern Board
Mr. N. G. D. Ferguson	¹1988	3 years
Mrs. B. M. McLaughlin	1988	3 years
Sir Edward Archdale	1989	2 years
Alderman J. S. D. Gilmore	²1989	2 years
J. Walker	²1989	2 years
A. Maginness	1989	2 years
S. I. G. Adamson	1989	2 years
T. M. Campbell	1989	2 years
Alderman F. R. Kane JP	³1989	2 years
J. J. Ritchie	1981	10 years
G. Morrison	1989	2 years
C. Braniff	1989	2 years
Dr. D. Burrows	1988	3 years
Dr. J. R. Hayes	1982	9 years
Dr. W. P. McMillin	1981	10 years
Dr. J. B. White	1988	3 years
Mrs. A. T. Colgan	1988	3 years
Mrs. A. R. Bagnall	1988	3 years
Mr. J. Black	1990	1 year
Mr. T. I. O'Rourke	1989	2 years
Professor A. H. G. Love	1981	10 years
Professor I. C. Benington	1989	2 years
Professor R. G. Shanks	1982	9 years
Mr. J. J. Eccles	1984	7 years
Mr. D. G. G. Moloney	1984	7 years
Mr. J. T. Poldermans	1984	7 years
Mrs. D. E. Field	1986	5 years
Mr. J. C. Morton	1982	9 years
R. Blaney	1986	5 years
Miss E. Irwin	1983	8 years
Northern Board
Mr. R. J. Hanna (Chairman)	1989	2 years
Mr. B. M. Smyth	1984	7 years
Mr. R. Stinson	1988	3 years
Mr. W. Brownless	1989	2 years
Alderman R. McComb	1985	6 years
Mr. S. C. Dickson	1989	2 years
Mr. W. H. King	1979	12 years
Mr. R. J. K. Loughrin	1990	1 year
Mr. J. W. Fulton	1988	3 years
Mr. P. J. Sweeney	1989	2 years
Mr. M. O'Cleary	1985	6 years

	Year of appointment	Length of service to 1991
Alderman Mrs. B. J. Gilliland	1989	2 years
Mr. R. P. Agarwala	1988	3 years
Dr. B. A. Sims	1983	8 years
Dr. B. G. Patterson	1986	5 years
Dr. R. E. Henderson	1983	8 years
Mrs. L. R. McCausland	1986	5 years
Mr. J. Currie	1980	11 years
Dr. J. G. Swanton	1986	5 years
Mr. M. E. H. Connolly	1982	9 years
Professor W. Thompson	1985	6 years
Mr. D. J. Clement	1987	4 years
Lady J. P. Brett	1984	7 years
Ms. M. E. Fiddis	1984	7 years
Mrs. E. F. Glover	1988	3 years
Mr. J. JD. McMullan	1984	7 years
Mr. J. R. McGuigan	1986	5 years
Southern Board
Mr. J. D. Thompson	⁴1986	5 years
Mr. D. J. Ryan	1988	3 years
Mr. J. A. Doogan	1989	2 years
Mrs. J. Baird	1989	2 years
Alderman S. Cairns	⁵1989	2 years
Mr. S. McKavanagh	1989	2 years
Mr. K. Maginnis MP	1989	2 years
Mr. T. D. Kennedy	1985	6 years
Mr. J. V. McCart	⁶1985	6 years
Mr. W. J. H. Graham	1987	4 years
Dr. B. T. McNamee	1982	9 years
Dr. D. E. Dorman	1984	7 years
Dr. R. B. Flood	⁷1986	5 years
Miss R. A. Calvert	1984	7 years
Mrs. E. Steele	1982	9 years
Mr. W. S. Vaughan	1982	9 years
Mr. J. H. Fairleigh	1981	10 years
Professor R. W. Stout	1982	9 years
Mrs. E. McCabe	1988	3 years
Mrs. A. McNutt	1986	5 years
W. F. Gillespie	1990	1 year
P. Quinn	1990	1 year
Mr. T. Moore	1986	5 years
Mr. M. G. Toal	1986	5 years
Western Board
Mr. R. G. Toland	⁴1984	7 years
A. C. V. Maltby	1982	9 years
Mr. D. F. McQuillan	1989	2 years
Mr. C. O. McClaughry	1985	6 years
Mr. R. Cartwright	1985	6 years
Mrs. A. Courtney	1985	6 years
Alderman J. R. Guy	1985	6 years
Mr. J. McNickle	1980	11 years
Mr. D. C. D. Anderson	1989	2 years
Mr. J. J. O'Kane	1983	8 years
Dr. J. G. McElroy	1989	2 years
B. St. J. McCartie	1986	5 years
Mr. P. T. Darcy	1990	1 year
Mrs. I. McGowan	1982	9 years
Mr. N. W. Bell	1986	5 years
Professor Jennifer R. P. Boore	1984	7 years
Mr. G. W. Odling-Smee	1982	9 years
Mr. W. S. Donaghey	1984	7 years
Mr. K. Cradden	1986	5 years
Mr. F. G. Hughes	1987	4 years
Mr. A. Reid	1988	3 years
Mrs. M. R. Cooper	1989	2 years
¹ Chairman from 1989.
² Previous service: 1985–87.
³ Previous service: 1975–82 and 1985–87.
⁴ Chairman from 1990.
⁵ Previous service: 1977–88.
⁶ Previous service: 1977–84.
⁷ Previous service: 1972–81.

The details for board membership from 1972, when the present boards were established, can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Scotland

Homelessness

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of homeless persons in Scotland aged 16 and 17 years.

The information held centrally does not enable such an estimate to be made. Information based on the number of applications received by local authorities under the homelessness legislation for all age groups was given in a reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart on 1 November 1990 at columns 714–15.

Community Charge

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the number of civil penalties imposed in 1989–90 by each community charge registration officer in Scotland in respect of non-return of annual statutory poll tax forms;(2) if he will list the numbers per thousand liable poll tax payers of civil penalties imposed in 1989–90 by each community charge registration officer in Scotland in respect of non-return of annual statutory inquiry forms.

This information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many amendments were made during 1990 to each poll tax register in each registration area in Scotland.

This information is not held centrally.

Electoral Rolls

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all parliamentary constituencies in Scotland which will have fewer electors registered in the electoral rolls coming into effect in February 1991 than the number of electors registered for 1990.

This information will not be available until the registers are completed in February. I shall write to the hon. Member in due course and place a copy of the information in the Library.

Wheelchair Access

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the capital sums spent by each local authority in Scotland on (a) improving access to public buildings by people in wheelchairs, (b) improving access to public roads and footpaths by lowering kerb heights and (c) improving access to specially adapted public toilets for use by people in wheelchairs for the most recent years for which figures are available.

Information in the form requested is not available centrally.

Housing

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to announce his approval of a grant by Scottish Homes for the LINK housing scheme at Melrose.

I have not yet received any application from Scottish Homes to approve payment of grant in respect of the proposed project by LINK housing.

Forestry

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has required an environmental impact assessment of the proposed forestry plantation at Glen Dye, Grampian region.

No. The woodland grant scheme application for Glen Dye was submitted to the Forestry Commission before the Environmental Assessment (Afforestation) Regulations 1988 came into force.

Population Statistics

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the percentage change in the population of Scotland during (a) the 1970s and (b) the 1980s.

The published estimates show that the population of Scotland fell by 0·1 per cent. between 30 June 1969 and 30 June 1979, and by 2·2 per cent. between 30 June 1979 and 30 June 1989, the most recent date for which information is available.

Labour Statistics

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will express the Scottish unemployment rate as a percentage of the United Kingdom unemployment rate for each year since 1979.

A comparison of Scottish and United Kingdom seasonally adjusted annual average unemployment rates in the period since 1979 is set out in the table. The latest position (December 1990) is such that Scotland's unemployment rate is closer to the United Kingdom average in absolute terms (1·5 percentage points) than it was at any time since January 1979.

Unemployment rates¹
	Scotland	United Kingdom	Scottish rate as a percentage of United Kingdom rate
	per cent.	per cent.
1979	5·7	4·0	142·5
1980	7·0	5·1	137·3
1981	9·9	8·1	122·2
1982	11·3	9·5	118·9
1983	12·3	10·5	117·1
1984	12·6	10·7	117·8
1985	12·9	10·9	118·3
1986	13·3	11·1	119·8
1987	13·0	10·0	130·0
1988	11·2	8·1	138·3
1989	9·3	6·3	147·6
²1990	8·0	5·8	137·9
²December	8·0	6·5	123·1
¹Rates expressed as a percentage of the workforce.
² Provisional.

Private Landlords (Grants)

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number and value of housing authority grants made to private landlords under sections 24 to 26 of the Local Government Act 1988 for the years 1988–89 and 1989–90; and if he will provide a breakdown of the total cost of such grants to individual local authorities in Scotland.

In 1989–90, Scottish local authorities applied for and received consent from my right hon. and learned Friend to make section 24 grants on four occasions, in each case to housing associations. The authorities concerned and the amounts were:

Local authority	Amount £
Shetland Islands council	24,000
Lochaber district council	7,000
North-East Fife district council	43,000
Perth and Kinross district council	25,000

No consents were applied for in 1988–89.

Pollution Control

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether grant aid is available under the farm and conservation grant scheme to cover the costs incurred as a result of reinforcement of the electricity supply due to the installation of new pollution control equipment; and if he will make a statement.

The provision or upgrading of electricity supply as such is not eligible for grant under the farm and conservation grant scheme, as the hon. Member will know from the reply to a similar question put by him to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 3 December.There was, however, one exceptional instance some 12 months ago when the Scottish Office allowed grant on the installation of a discrete three-phase electricity supply to power farm waste handling equipment. In that case the provision of a new supply was cheaper and more efficient than the conversion of individual pumps (which are themselves eligible for grant), to run on the existing supply.

Glasgow City Technology Academy

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent from public funds on the proposed city technology academy in Glasgow.

[holding answer 16 January 1991]: Information on the total expenditure incurred is not available and depends in part on negotiations between the GTA and its professional advisers.

Health

The Gulf

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds have been earmarked for personnel suffering injuries in a possible war in the Gulf in the area health authorities for (a) Sunderland, (b) Durham and (c) Hartlepool; and what assessment has been made on the consequential effects upon local waiting lists.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if Wythenshawe and Withington hospitals, the Manchester Royal infirmary and Stockport infirmary are included in contingency plans for the treatment of air-lifted casualties to the United Kingdom in the event of international conflict in the Gulf; what effect this emergency use of hospitals will have on local patients; if extra resources are being or will be made available to the hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the current number of closed beds in national health service hospitals in the Greater London area; and how many are now available for casualties arising from a war with Iraq;(2) if he will identify the national health service hospitals, number of wards and number of beds in Greater London earmarked for possible casualties in the event of a war with Iraq;(3) how many beds currently closed in Newham health district have been earmarked for use by casualties in the event of war with Iraq; and who will pay for such beds being brought back into use in such circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has, by region, to ensure that the contingency plans for the national health service dealing with casualties of the Gulf crisis in the event of war have no adverse effect on existing waiting lists.

The reception of Gulf casualties will inevitably increase the emergency workload of the National Health Service. We are confident that the health authorities can deal adequately with the increased emergency workload, though some non-emergency admissions may need to be deferred. We do not expect this to be a long term affect and we hope to restore normal level of service as soon as possible.Health authorities' plans for dealing with casualties from hostilities in the Gulf involve hospitals throughout the NHS. It is for health authorities to allocate cases to particular hospitals and information on which hospitals are being used is not available centrally.As my right hon. Friend announced yesterday, we will provide extra money to meet the full costs of any Gulf casualties. We have told health authorities that they should spend what is necessary and we are giving guidance on how to account for and reclaim Gulf costs. This means that health authorities will be able to continue to use all the money in their normal allocations for their normal workload.The Department does not routinely collect information on bed closures, as this is not a good indicator of levels of service in the NHS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what extra resources will be made available to health authorities dealing with casualties of the Gulf crisis in the event of war.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional resources he is making available to the national health service in the event of war with Iraq.

Health authorities will be given extra money to cover the full cost of treating any casualties from war in the Gulf. We are sending health authorities guidance on how to account for this.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give, by region, the number of national health service beds to be made available in proposals to deal with casualties of the Gulf crisis in the event of war.

We would make available such beds as are needed. Our plans envisage that all 14 regions, and at regional discretion a number of hospitals within each region, should share in the treatment of casualties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has received on the likely number of casualties to be handled by the national health service arising from a war with Iraq.

Casualty estimates are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many private hospitals have (a) offered assistance and (b) been earmarked to receive casualties in the event of war with Iraq.

Health authorities will take whatever action they think appropriate, including using private hospitals, to ensure that any Gulf casualties can be treated quickly and effectively.

Dental Practitioners

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the impact on the public of the new contract for general dental practitioners.

The new contract for general dental practitioners means better all-round care for patients, including preventive treatment, under national health service arrangements. Patients now also receive more information about their dental care and the choices open to them. Forty-one per cent. of the population are exempt from dental changes. At present, those patients who are not exempt are charged a fixed proportion (75 per cent.) of the fee paid to the dentist for the treatment given. I have no plans to increase the proportional charge in the foreseeable future.

Food Safety

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the terms of reference of the advisory committee and steering group on the microbiological safety of food.

The terms of reference of the advisory committee are:

"To assess the risk to humans of micro-organisms which are used or occur in or on food and to advise Ministers on the exercise of powers in the Food Safety Act 1990 relating to the microbiological safety of food."

The terms of reference of the steering group are:

"To identify through surveillance the need for action to ensure the microbiological safety of food."

General Practitioners (Additional Payments)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he has given to using enumeration districts instead of wards when calculating the Jarman 8 index of deprivation to calculate additional payments to general practitioners in areas of deprivation.

Using enumeration districts instead of wards as the basis for calculating these payments has been suggested to us by general practitioners and others, but it would raise practical problems, for example of sample size, that would require careful consideration. Such a change would be made only if we could be satisfied that it would achieve better targeting of resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding the use of the Jarman 8 index of deprivation when calculating additional payments to general practitioners in areas of deprivation.

We have received a number of letters on the use of the Jarman index from general practitioners, hon. Members and various interested groups. Although the representations welcome the introduction of deprivation payments they make a number of comments and criticisms which we are studying carefully.

Hospital Waiting Lists

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his current estimate of people in the London borough of Newham waiting for hospital treatment.

The information requested is provided in the following table:

	March	March	Decrease
	1989	1990	Number	Per cent.
Total number of list	1,122	871	251	-22
Number waiting over one year	345	136	209	-60

Note: Excludes self-deferred cases.

Coronary Heart Disease

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the health districts in England and Wales with standardised death rates from coronary heart disease more than 30 per cent. higher than the national average for women;(2) if he will list the health districts in England and Wales with standardised death rates from coronary heart disease more than 25 per cent. higher than the national average for men.

The figures are as follows:

Coronary heart disease standardised mortality rate (all ages)
District health authority	SMR
Males
North Manchester	137
Dewsbury	136
Wigan	133
Bradford	130
South West Durham	130
Sunderland	130
Scunthorpe	129
Burnley/Pendle	128
Bury	127
Hartlepool	127
Durham	126
Oldham	126
Barnsley	126

District health authority	SMR
Females
Sunderland	147
Barnsley	145
South West Durham	143
South Tees	141
Wigan	140
Dewsbury	140
Hartlepool	137
West Lancashire	136
Bradford	134
Durham	134
Oldham	133
North West Durham	133
Burnley/Pendle	133
Rochdale	132
Warrington	131
Pontefract	131
Bury	131

Source:

Public Health Common Data Set 1990 (Based on data for years 1985–1989).

Surgery Buildings

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether, under the cost rent scheme, value added tax on the cost of a site, required under the new EEC regulation to be paid on the cost of the site on completion of a surgery building, even when value added tax was not payable when the site was actually purchased before the operation of the EEC regulation, will be calculated as included in the total cost to be covered by the scheme, as if the new regulation had been in force when the land was actually purchased before commencement of the building.

Yes. We plan to amend the statement of fees and allowances payable to general medical practitioners to allow any VAT liability on site costs to be fully taken into account in assessing the total cost to be covered by the cost rent scheme.

Hiv (Diets)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what communications his Department has received from Anita McDonald concerning the interpretation of her research relating to the cost of diets for people with AIDS or HIV infection; and if he will make a statement.

We have received no such communications.

Deprivation Index

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the impact of altering the banding arrangements to include wards with Jarman scores of 10 or over.

The number of wards (1981 boundaries) which have a Jarman score of 10 or more in England is 1,954. If deprivation payments were to be made at the level (10 or more) the cost would have to be met by reducing other fees and allowances within the remuneration system to ensure that the average net income incurred by general practitioners did not exceed the level recommended by the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body and accepted by the Government. If the payment rate for the band 30–39 was extended down to 10, some £60 million at January 1991 rates would have to be found by reducing other fees and allowance.

Social Security

Crisis Loans

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have been awarded crisis loans due to a period of compulsory unpaid holidays under paragraph 4161 of the social fund manual (a) in 1988–89 and (b) 1989–90 by (i) amount paid and (ii) length of time awarded.

The information is not available.

Occupational Pensions

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security to what level the limit above which occupational pension is deducted from unemployment benefit would have to be raised in order to restore its April 1981 value as a proportion of average earnings; and whether he will increase it accordingly.

Against a background in which occupational pensions have been rising, we have no plans to increase the limit; but had it been raised in line with earnings increases since 1981, it would now be £76 at an annual cost of £14 million.

Income Support

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the percentage fall over the period since the end of April 1987 in the real value of the incomes of persons then receiving supplementary benefit and now receiving income support with transitional protection, assuming that they have no disregarded income.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 20 November at column 108.

Disabled People (Extra Costs)

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will specify the table in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys reports which supports the statements of Ministers in Standing Committee E that the average extra costs of people who are not independently mobile are less than half of the average extra costs of those who are unable or virtually unable to walk; and if he will make a statement.

The information is not contained in the tables published in the OPCS reports but is derived from a detailed analysis of the survey data. That analysis indicates that those people already in receipt of mobility allowance had extra costs, on average, of some £13 per week; the group of people who are not independently mobile, whom we expect to receive the new lower rate mobility component, had extra costs, on average, of £6 per week.

Family Credit

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families employed in farming have been receiving family credit for each year since 1988; and if he will make a statement.

Separate information about people employed in farming is not available. The total number of people in "farming, fisheries and related occupations", which would include all categories of farming, is as follows:

At 30 April	Number
1989	10,320
1990	11,240

Unemployment Benefit

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether employees who pay national insurance are eligible for unemployment benefit during compulsory unpaid holidays.

Under regulation 7 (1)(h) of the Unemployment, Sickness and Invalidity Benefit Regulations 1983, unemployment benefit cannot be paid while an employee is on a holiday which is recognised or customary in his employment. The only exceptions are

1. where the employee has been laid off work for an indefinite period which started more than a week before the holiday, or

2. where the employee has used up his whole year's holiday entitlement between the previous 1 March and the date of the holiday.

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4	Column 5
UR date	Value of CHB + CDI £	ARV at April 1990 prices over the period £	RV at April 1990 prices at UR date £	Value as a percentage of AGWE £
November 1979	11·10	21·31	23·05	9·7
November 1980	12·25	20·91	22·06	9·1
November 1981	12·95	20·15	20·82	8·7
November 1982	13·80	20·50	20·88	8·6
November 1983	14·10	19·94	20·35	8·2
November 1984	14·50	19·36	19·94	7·7
November 1985	15·05	19·44	19·63	7·5
July 1986	15·15	19·12	19·44	7·2
April 1987	15·30	18·64	18·80	6·8
April 1988	15·65	17·99	18·50	6·4
April 1989	16·20	17·27	17·73	6·0
April 1990	1690	—	16·90	5·7

Abbreviations:

UR =Uprating.

CHB =Child benefit.

CDI =Child dependency increase.

ARV =Average real value.

RV =Real value.

AGWE=Average gross weekly earnings.

Notes:

Column 1: Uprating dates refer to the child dependency increases. For all but the first date they are also the uprating dates for child benefit.

Column 2: The rate of child benefit plus child dependency increase is the same for a widow or an invalidity pensioner.

Column 3: The average real value (using the general index of retail prices) of the amounts in column 2 over the period between the urprating dates in column 1.

Column 4: The real value at April 1990 prices (using the general index of retail prices) of the amounts in column 2 at date of uprating in column 1.

Column 5: The value of the amount in column 2 as a percentage of average gross weekly earnings. The source of the earnings is the new earnings survey and the estimates used up to November 1982 are those for adults aged over 21 in full-time employment whose earnings are unaffected by absence. From November 1983 the source remains the new earnings survey but in respect of all full-time workers on adult rates of pay whose earnings are unaffected by absence.

The differential between the present combined weekly rate of child benefit and child dependency increase and that payable in 1979 expressed in terms of April 1990 prices has been caused by the method by which child dependency increases are uprated. Both the child benefit

It is for the independent adjudicating authorities to decide whether a particular holiday is recognised or customary.

Children (Benefits)

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the percentage increase will be in April in the combined value of child dependency increase and child benefit payable to a widow or invalidity pensioner for the first child and each subsequent child in the family.

The total amount payable to a widow or invalidity pensioner by way of child benefit and child dependency increase will be increased by 6·2 per cent. from £16·90 to £17·95 per child from April.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the combined value of child dependency increase and child benefit for the child of a widow or invalidity pensioner at current and April 1991 prices and as a percentage of average earnings, in November 1979 and at each subsequent uprating date; and what was the reason for any fall in real value since November 1979.

The values of child dependency increase and child benefit for the child of a widow or invalidity pensioner at current and April 1990 prices (the latest April figure available) and as percentage of average earnings are shown in the table.legislation and that governing the uprating of benefits provide for the rate of child benefit to be taken into account when determining the levels of child dependency increases of benefits. The method of doing this is to calculate what the child dependency increase would be if the general uprating percentage were applied, and then to deduct any cash increase in child benefit.

Child Poverty

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Pollok (Mr. Dunnachie), of 20 December 1990, Official Report, column 318, if he will publish in the Official Report his response to the National Children's Bureau concerning its report into child poverty conducted by Professor Jonathan Bradshaw for publication by UNICEF.

The response of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is as follows:

Thank you for your letter of 7 December enclosing a copy of the report on "Child Poverty and Deprivation in the UK". The Prime Minister has also asked me to thank you for your letter to him dated 11 December. I would like to comment on some aspects of the report which fall within the remit of my Department.

I read the report with considerable interest, and can assure you that the Government fully agrees with the conclusion that "a key determinant of children's lives is the state of the economy." That is why we have pursued policies aimed at creating a competitive and thriving economy—because we believe that is the best way of helping all the people of this country.

I was also pleased to see that the author recognises the danger of attempting to define a "poverty line", with poor people on one side and people who are not poor on the other. As you know, we have often drawn attention to the fact that no Government in this country—irrespective of political persuasion—has ever accepted that a single "poverty line" can be drawn.

As the author of your report demonstrates, a line fixed at, or around, the benefit level has the paradoxical effect of increasing the number of "poor" people whenever the benefits are increased. I was therefore rather surprised to see him dismiss one "poverty line" on grounds of "intuition" in favour of another equally arbitrary one at 110 per cent. of the supplementary benefit level.

I think the report is rather disingenuous in stating that "only" 45 per cent. of the increase in numbers with incomes below this level are accounted for by real increases in benefit levels. Looked at another way, the report is confirming precisely what we have always argued—that a very substantial proportion (nearly half) of the increase in numbers is attributable to real increases.

I would not dispute that unemployment also played a part in increasing the numbers receiving benefit—but unemployment has virtually halved since the period in question; and the Government has responded to another factor which has also undoubtedly come into play—namely, the growth in lone parenthood, to which we have responded by developing a comprehensive strategy including proposals for enforcement and collection of child maintenance, benefit improvements for lone parents, and better work incentives.

I was also disappointed to notice that the report, in commenting on the growth in numbers of children living in households with incomes below the average, or below half average, has ignored the very significant growth in average income itself. Any statement about the numbers living on incomes below a proportion of the average is simply incomplete without any reference to the overall growth in the average—which rose by some 23 per cent. between 1979 and 1987. Indeed, a careful examination of tables B3 of Households Below Average Income will demonstrate that between 1979 and 1987 the proportion of children below half average income (1979 level expressed in real terms) actually fell.

Trade And Industry

Anti-Dumping Measures

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many items or products are subject to EC anti-dumping duties, import quotas, secret or otherwise, or price maintenance agreements, including those concluded as a result of anti-dumping investigations; and if he will list the products and items concerned, together with an estimate of the effect on the price of these products.

At 31 December 1990 definitive anti-dumping remedies were in force on a total of 56 products imported into the European Community from certain exporting countries. A further 5 products are currently subject to provisional anti-dumping duties imposed by the Commission pending a definitive decision by the Council of Ministers. I have placed in the Library of the House a list of all remedies in force on 31 December. This shows not only duties but undertakings given by exporters to observe minimum price levels.All products requiring an individual licence for import into the United Kingdom are listed in the open general import licence of 4 December 1987, as amended, which is published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. The great majority of products subject to quantitative restrictions are textile and clothing products covered by the Multi-Fibre Arrangement. In addition the United Kingdom maintains quotas on bananas from the dollar area and on a variety of products from the remaining state trading countries. I have placed in the Library of the House notice to importers No. 2291 of 3 January which sets out the 1991 quota levels for restricted textiles and Notice to Importers No. 2293 of the same date which gives the provisional 1991 arrangements for the state trading area.In addition a number of products are subject under Community regulations to surveillance licensing. This does not amount to a quantitative restriction but can allow voluntary restraint arrangements negotiated or accepted by the Commission to be monitored. Such arrangements cover certain textile and clothing products imported from Egypt, Malta, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey, most types of footwear from Korea and Taiwan and certain iron and steel products from (in 1990) Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Brazil. (This in addition to the United Kingdom quota on iron and steel products from the USSR). Iron and steel products from all sources are subject to surveillance licensing so that a check can be made on the prices at which the products are traded.There are no official restrictions on the import of motor vehicles but an inter-industry voluntary restraint arrangement limits the share of the United Kingdom market taken by exports from Japan.Anti-dumping remedies are designed to raise the price of dumped products by an amount which reflects either the dumping margin or the margin of injury suffered by EC industry whichever is the lower. The rates of anti-dumping duty applied to each product at the point of import are contained in the list I have placed in the Library. Whether the full effect is felt at retail level will depend on the extent to which margins are adjusted after the point of import.The exact effect of quota restrictions is very difficult to estimate but those set at levels that effectively restrict trade can be expected to raise prices to the consumer. A number of academic studies have attempted to estimate the price effects in the main sectors. Professor Silberston of Imperial College for instance estimated in 1989 that the ending of the multi-fibre arrangement would lead to a fall of 8 per cent. in average import prices of clothing. In a 1988 study of the cars VRA Professor Alistair Smith of Sussex university estimated that it raised the price of Japanese cars in the United Kingdom by 7·5 per cent. There are no studies covering the whole of the United Kingdom's current restrictions. Estimates are particularly difficult to make where the situation can change from year to year or even more rapidly and earlier studies relating to eastern Europe are now out of date.

Ford Vehicles (Export)

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has been notified of any significant increase in motor vehicle exports from the Dagenham plant of the Ford Motor Company; and if he will make a statement.

I was personally notified by the chairman and chief executive of Ford at the start of the export programme from Dagenham. I have written congratulating both management and work force at Dagenham on their behalf.

Racing

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to investigate the allegations of price rigging and fixing of odds on racecourses and greyhound tracks.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave on 14 January 1991 at col. 353.

Recycling

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer on 26 November, Official Report, columns 276–77, on the importance his Department places on providing outlets for recycled materials in order to achieve the Government's recycling targets, what is his Department's advice to those companies developing markets for refined refuse derived fuels; how they will be helped by current derogation arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

My Department's advice to all manufacturers of refuse-derived fuel (rdf) would be to work closely with potential users to ensure that the product meets their requirements on, amongst other things, calorific value and burn and emission characteristics. I understand that those companies engaged in developing rdf are already doing this to a large extent, but my department has available two schemes of financial assistance (ETIS, the environmental technology innovation scheme—and DEMOS, DTI's environmental management options scheme) which may be used to aid that process.The matter of derogation arrangements is one for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

Daf/Leyland

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has about the numbers of jobs shed by DAF/Leyland in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Holland.

Leyland DAF's total employment in the United Kingdom fell from 6,997 at the end of 1989 to 6,471 at the end of 1990. Of this 526 net reduction, 120 jobs were not lost but transferred out of Leyland DAF with the sale of part of the company's business to VDL group. I have no information on the company's employment figures in the Netherlands.

Exports To Brazil

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will extend Export Credits Guarantee Department cover to British machine manufacturers exporting to Brazil;(2) if he will take steps to enable British knitting machine manufacturers to offer extended credit terms of up to five years, with low rates of interest on supplies of such machines to Brazil.

ECGD cover for export contracts in Brazil on credit terms of up to five years is currently suspended. Brazil is in arrears on debts which have already been rescheduled. These arrears must be settled and an IMF economic programme implemented before .ECGD can consider restoring extended credit arrangements.If and when ECGD is able to resume medium cover, finance will be made available by United Kingdom banks at interest rates permitted under the OECD consensus arrangements.

Terrorism (Insurance)

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he intends to issue guidelines to insurance companies about damage resulting from Iraqi terrorist acts in the United Kingdom.

The Association of British Insurers has issued a statement on this matter. Their guidelines deal with the impact of possible Iraqi terrorist action on existing policies. I am arranging for a copy of the ABI's statement to be placed in the Library.

Church Commissioners

Land Sales

To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, what process of consultation with land users is followed when church land is sold for development.

The consultation procedure depends on the category of Church land to be sold. In the case of glebe land, the relevant diocesan board of finance is the owner and, under the Endowments and Glebe Measure 1976, they are legally required to notify the incumbent (or, if the living is vacant, the churchwardens) who may make representations to the Commissioners. It would also be usual for the board to consult tenants, though they are not required by the measure to do so.The local planning authority will follow its own consultation procedures in relation to any application for planning permission.

To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, how much land has been sold by the Lincoln Diocese Board in each of the latest three available years; and how much was raised by the sales.

Details of glebe sales in Lincoln diocese for 1988–90 are:

	Acres	Proceeds (£)
1988	429	794,874
1989	558	1,349,604
1990	433	1,641,834

To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, how much land has been sold by the Church Commissioners in each of the three latest available years; how much was raised in each of the three years by sales; and how much was reinvested in land.

Sales and purchases of agricultural land for 1987–89 are shown in the following table. They reflect the Commissioners' stated policy of releasing capital for reinvestment in other sectors, through sales of vacant farms as opportunities arise.

	Acres sold	Net sale proceeds £ million	Acres purchased	Net cost of purchases £
1987	835	4·2	Nil	Nil
1988	3,121	11·9	65	147,000
1989	4,791	16·1	14	9,000

To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, what representations the Church Commissioners have received from residents and allotment holders about the sale of church land on the Boulthness Glebe in Lincoln; and what action they propose to take to meet representatives of the allotment holders and local councillors to discuss the sale.

I believe that the property that the hon. Member has in mind is at Boultham. The Commissioners have not received any representations about the sale of church land there and have no plans to meet allotment holders or local councillors.I understand, however, that the Lincoln diocesan board of finance has submitted a planning application for residential development of part of the glebe land and the creation of a wildlife habitat on the remainder. The board will forward any consequent sale proposals to the Commissioners, whose consent is required under the Endowments and Glebe Measure 1976.

Volume 183: debated on Thursday 17 January 1991

Written Answers To Questions

Transport

Disability

Civil Aviation Authority

"Vital Transport Statistics 1990"

Environment

Hong Kong

Radioactive Substances

County Hall, London

Housing Investment (Liverpool)

"Greening The Machinery Of Government"

Areas Of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Buying Agency

Defence

Irradiated Food

Armed Forces (Equipment And Manpower)

The Gulf

Chemical Weapons

Operation Granby

Medical Reservists

Employment

Employment Offices, Essex

Home Department

Civil Defence

Satellites

Child Refugees

Mr Michael Thynne

Magistrates Courts

Community Charge

Breath Tests

Broadcasting (Programme Information)

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Agricultural Efficiency

Food Safety

Fisheries Council

Irradiated Food

Set-Aside Scheme

Veterinary Investigations Service

Milk Imports

Milk Quotas

Intervention Stores

Wildlife And Landscape Conservation

Education And Science

Expenditure

Iraqi Students

Under-Fives

Special Schools

The Arts

London Arts Board

National Finance

Taxes And Benefits

Football Clubs

Exchange Rate Mechanism

Public Expenditure

Overseas Development

Management Training (Czechoslovakia)

Educational Projects (Czechoslovakia)

Energy

Power Failures, Fast Midlands

Spent Nuclear Fuel

Kuwaiti Oilfields

Wales

Welsh Development Agency

The Laurels, Bronllys

School Subjects

Reading Standards

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Lithuania

Test Ban Treaty Conference

Advisory Companies

Ec Audiovisual Support Fund

Prime Minister

Saudi Arabia

Departmental Budgets

Nuclear Arms

European Community

Iraq

Public Records Office