To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the amount of electricity generated in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years; what proportion was generated from (a) coal, (b) oil, (c) gas, (d) nuclear and (e) renewable energy sources; and what proportion of the electricity from each of these sources was (1) generated and (2) consumed in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, (iii) Wales and (iv) Northern Ireland.

The amount of electricity generated by the major generating companies in the United Kingdom in each of the past five years was as follows:

Percentage share by country of fuels used2
	Fuel3
	Coal	Oil4	Nuclear	Renewable energy sources5
	per cent.	per cent.	per cent.	per cent.
1986
Scotland	6	12	22	95
England and Wales	94	65	78	5
Northern Ireland	0	22	0	0
1987
Scotland	7	7	22	94
England and Wales	92	65	78	6
Northern Ireland	1	27	0	0
1988
Scotland	6	20	23	95
England and Wales	94	53	77	5
Northern Ireland	0	27	0	0
1989
Scotland	5	6	26	95
England and Wales	94	71	74	5
Northern Ireland	1	23	0	0

The amount of gas used to generate electricity accounted for less than 0·1 per cent. of the total.The proportion of United Kingdom electricity sales in Scotland, England Wales, and Northern Ireland was as follows. Data for 1990 are not yet available.

per cent.2
Sales of electricity6	1986	1987	1988	1989
Scotland	10	10	10	10
England	82	82	82	82
Wales7	6	6	6	6
Northern Ireland	2	2	2	2

Sales of electricity cannot be linked to fuels used in generation.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will describe the current arrangements for senior solicitors to become judges in respect of (a) the procedures that are followed when solicitors put themselves forward as potential candidates for judicial office and (b) the measures he is taking to invite solicitors to apply for judicial office; and if he will make a statement on future proposals in this area.

The Lord Chancellor's general policy is that before being considered for a full-time judicial post a candidate must first have served in a part-time capacity for long enough to establish his or her competence and suitability. Those wishing to become judges usually serve initially as assistant recorders or deputy district judges. All applicants are considered on their merits, having regard to the numbers of appointments required.Views are sought from those able to comment on an applicant's practice, professional standing and other qualities. Interviews are also held.Applications from suitably qualified solicitors for judicial appointment are welcomed. The Lord Chancellor has taken steps to encourage more solicitors to put themselves forward for consideration. Such measures include continuing discussion with the Law Society, public speeches, meetings with solicitors' groups and the publication and wide distribution of a booklet explaining the judicial appointments system. In 1988 a special pilot scheme was set up, involving senior solicitors on local review committees, with the aim of testing a further method for identifying solicitors for potential appointment: the results of this scheme are currently being evaluated.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on his consultations on the Faulks committee's proposal that the defence of innocent dissemination should be available to printers.

In a consultation paper published in July 1990 the Lord Chancellor invited views on whether the defence of innocent dissemination should be made available to printers. The Lord Chancellor is now concluding his consideration of the responses received and hopes to make a statement in the near future.

To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received calling for bailiffs to be certificated; what plans he has to introduce legislation making such a requirement; and if he will make a statement.

The recently published National Consumer Council report on private bailiffs recommended that the Community Charges (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1989 be amended to require all bailiffs to be certificated. That is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.The Government have no plans at present to introduce legislation requiring all bailiffs to be certificated.

To ask the Attorney-General when he expects the decision to be reached by the European Court of Justice on the Leybucht bay case: European Commission v. the Federal Republic of Germany.

The Advocate General gave his opinion in ECJ Case C57/89 Commission v. Germany on 5 December 1990, and it is expected that the European Court of Justice will deliver its judgment on 28 February 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions have taken place with other European Community states about a common approach to refugees.

Asylum policy has been discussed in a wide range of meetings at both ministerial and official level between member states of the European Community. The Dublin convention, signed by 11 member states last June, seeks to clarify responsibilities for considering individual asylum cases.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend met the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality on Thursday 14 February to discuss current issues affecting community relations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what resources at 1990 prices have been allocated by the Government to the Commission for Racial Equality for each year since its creation.

The information is as follows:

	Actual grant (£)	At 1989–90 prices (£)
1977–781>	3,150,000	8,172,266
1978–79	4,900,000	11,464,938
1979–80	5,900,000	11,831,234
1980–81	7,000,000	11,862,396
1981–82	7,475,000	11,552,073
1982–83	8,287,000	11,957,462
1983–84	8,629,000	11,900,591
1984–85	9,359,000	12,283,441
1985–86	9,447,322	11,759,029
1986–87	10,583,000	12,737,251
1987–88	10,845,000	12,378,300 "
1988–89	11,256,000	11,973,449
1989–90	11,805,000	11,805,000
1990–912	13,512,400	12,511,481

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many magistrates there are in Britain; and of these how many are (a) black, (b) Asian and (c) women.

I have been asked to reply.As at 1 January 1991 there were 29,062 lay magistrates in England and Wales. Of these, 12,964 were women. Records are not kept of the racial origins of magistrates. However, surveys in 1987 indicated that 528 were members of an ethnic minority and an informal count since has shown that the number of such appointments has exceeded the proportion in the population age groups from which appointments are normally made.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the numbers of, or trend in, the numbers of animal experiments since the implementation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

The number of scientific procedures performed on living animals since the introduction of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 is given in table 23 of "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain I989"—Cm. 1152—a copy of which is in the Library. The table shows that the use of living animals in scientific procedures has been declining steadily for many years. The 1986 Act has given further impetus to this encouraging trend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many meetings he has had with representatives of the Asian community in Britain to discuss the Gulf war; and if he will list the organisations concerned.

My right hon. Friend recently attended the annual banquet of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. A visit to the Glasgow central mosque, planned for 18 January, had to be postponed and rearranged for a date in May. However, I met representatives of the United Kingdom action committee on Islamic affairs on 23 January. Such meetings reflect continuing contacts at ministerial and official level.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many additional uniformed police officers, excluding special constables, have been authorised to be added to the strength of the North Yorkshire police in each year from 1975 to 1990.

It is not possible to distinguish between increases in uniformed and non-uniformed police officers as such information is not held centrally. The establishment of the North Yorkshire police has been increased in the following years between 1975 and 1990:

Year	Police Posts
1975	111
1979	40
1989	15
1990	25

The police authority did not request establishment increases in the years 1980–81 to 1987–88 inclusive.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were (a) recorded and (b) detected by North Yorkshire police in each year from 1975 to 1990.

The requested information for 1975–1989 is published in the annual reports of the chief constable of North Yorkshire for the years 1976, 1978 and 1989. Copies of these publications are available in the Library. Statistics for 1990 are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by parliamentary constituency the number of electors listed in the draft electoral register for 1991–92 and the number listed in the register for 1990–91.

Figures on the number of electors included in draft electoral registers for England and Wales are not held centrally. Figures on the number of local government electors included in the register for 1991–92 will be published by the Office of Population Censuses arid Surveys in the spring; parliamentary constituency electorates will be published in the summer in the OPCS annual reference volume on electoral statistics. Figures relating to the electoral register for 1990–91 were published in the last year's annual reference volume, a copy of which is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average cost in 1990–91 of processing each application for (a) registration as a British citizen, (b) naturalisation on grounds of marriage and (c) other naturalisation;(2) what is the average cost in 1990–91 of processing applications for

The average cost of processing applications in each of these categories during the period April 1990-January 1991 is shown in the table. Average cost of withdrawn applications is not computed separately:

Category of application	Average cost of processing
	Successful	Unsuccessful
	£	£
Registration	79·51	58·00
Naturalisation of a person married to a British citizen	143·95	135·95
Naturalisation on grounds of residence in the United Kingdom	175·50	140·16

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is his estimate of the number, to the latest available date, or Iraqi nationals and other nationals, required to register under the Immigration (Variation of Leave) Order 1991, who, to date, have failed to register; what are the requirements of registration; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many Iraqi nationals are currently registered with the police; what fee is charged for registration; and how many such registrations since the coming into force of the Immigration (Variation of Leave) Order 1991 have been made.

On 21 January 1991, a total of 3,484 Iraqi nationals were registered with the police. Information is not yet available centrally showing the number who have registered since coming into force of the Immigration (Variation of Leave) Order 1991 which required all Iraqi nationals with a limited leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom to register with the police. The requirements of registration are to supply within seven days of the requirement being imposed certain details to the police, such as name, date of birth, address, together with a recent photograph and to keep the police informed of changes in circumstances. The fee for registration is currently £36.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the total cost to public funds of the Metropolitan police in 1991–92; and if he will make a statement.

As police authority for the metropolis, I have approved estimates which provide for net revenue expenditure of £1,415·167 million in 1991–92. There will be a cash limit on current expenditure of £1,370·423 million. Capital expenditure is subject to separate control.I have also approved the issue of a precept of £123·74 per head of relevant population for Metropolitan police purposes. This is not the sum levied on individual community charge payers, but will be levied on local authorities' collection funds which include income from revenue support grant and national non-domestic rates as well as the community charge.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on sports facilities provided by local authorities at community charge payers' expense which are not being used because contracts for their operation have not been put out to tender.

I am unaware of any cases where local authority sports facilities are not being used because contracts for their management have not been put out to tender. SI 1990 No. 1564 specifies that competition in the management of sports and leisure facilities should be phased in by steps from 1 January 1992 to 1 January 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether it is his policy that contracts for the operation and maintenance of sports facilities provided by local authorities must be put out to tender if there is no possibility that the revenue from them will cover costs.

The Government are introducing compulsory competitive tendering in the management of local authority sports facilities because they believe it will result in better value for money from local authority expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has made an estimate of the total cost of registration of all schools under the Data Protection Act; and whether he has any plans to increase grants in order to cover these costs.

No information is available on the extent to which schools make use of personal data held on computer which would make registration necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what official engagements were undertaken by the hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Howarth) during his visit to the west midlands on 30 January.

As sponsor Minister for the Birmingham city action team and the East Birmingham task force, I visited the Hodge Hill access centre, based at Hodge Hill girls' school in Birmingham, and attended a special meeting of the Birmingham city action team at the Birmingham area office of the Employment services in New street. In the afternoon, I visited Coventry polytechnic, particularly the department of health sciences and the department of mechanical engineering and held meetings with academics and students.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the full-time equivalent number of teachers employed in North Yorkshire secondary schools in each year from 1974 to 1990, in each of the following subject areas (a) English, (b) mathematics, (c) physics, (d) chemistry, (f) technology, (g) history, (h) geography, (i) economics, (j) French, (k) German, (l) Spanish, (m) Italian, (n) Russian, (o) other modern languages, (p) religious education, (q) art, (r) music and (s) physical education.

Information on the deployment of teachers within individual local authorities is not centrally available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many (a) heads and deputy heads and (b) other teachers in North Yorkshire infant and primary schools, and North Yorkshire secondary schools, have (i) left the profession, (ii) sought early retirement and (iii) taken early retirement in each year from 1974 to 1990.

The table gives information on teachers leaving the profession and those retiring before age 60, for the years 1985–86 to 1987–88. Information for earlier years

Full-time teachers in maintained schools in North Yorkshire
	Number leaving teaching		Number retiring before 60
	Heads and deputies	Other teachers	Heads and deputies	Other teachers
Nursery and primary Year to 31 March
1986	4	49	18	37
1987	8	52	22	31
1988	5	42	17	22
Secondary Year to 31 March
1986	0	108	7	72
1987	0	100	7	43
1988	1	106	2	35

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the full-time equivalent number of teachers employed in (a) North Yorkshire infant and primary schools, and (b) North Yorkshire secondary schools in each year from 1974 to 1990.

The number of full-time equivalent qualified teachers employed within maintained primary and secondary schools in North Yorkshire were as follows:

January each year	Primary1 schools	Secondary2 schools
1975	2,661	2,805
1976	2,718	2,945
1977	2,744	3,059
1978	2,727	3,126
1979	2,698	3,160
1980	2,648	3,219
1981	2,529	3,197
1982	2,402	3,178
1983	2,304	3,205
1984	2,282	3,197
1985	2,271	3,073
1986	2,274	3,017
1987	2,322	2,938
1988	2,356	2,852
1989	2,411	2,814
1990	2,450	2,795
1 All types of primary school including infant schools.
2 Includes middle schools deemed secondary.

Data for 1974 are not readily available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of staff numbers in his Department involved in full or part-time work arising from abolition of the Inner London education authority.

The DES has an inner London unit with 14 staff. Most of the work of the unit is in connection with schools in the new inner London education authorities. There is however still some residual business arising from the abolition of ILEA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his current estimate of the financial and staff savings arising from the abolition of ILEA; and when the figures were last assessed.

There are already encouraging signs that many of the new inner London LEAs are seeking to increase efficiency in their education service; it is too early to assess precise savings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will list, for those local authorities for which numbers are available for the latest date available, how many pupils with statements of special educational needs are recorded as attending maintained special schools under arrangements made by the authority;(2) if he will list, for those local authorities for which numbers are available, and for the latest date available, how many pupils with special educational needs are recorded as attending non-maintained special schools and independent schools under arrangements made by the authority.

The number of pupils in maintained special schools, non-maintained special schools and the number of pupils with statements of special educational needs in independent schools in each local education authority in England in January 1990 is given in the table.

Pupils with statements of special educational needs January 1990
	Special schools1		Independent schools
	Maintained	Non-maintained
City	0	0	0
Camden	421	0	1
Greenwich	744	0	0
Hackney	663	0	4
Hammersmith	481	0	2
Islington	336	0	0
Kensington and Chelsea	98	0	1
Lambeth	958	0	0
Lewisham	505	0	1
Southwark	578	0	0
Tower Hamlets	484	0	0

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will place responses to his circular regarding the application of local management of schools in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 18 February 1991]: It is not our normal practice to publish responses to consultation on draft circulars. We are considering the responses carefully and will take full account of them in drawing up the final version of the circular.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps his Department is taking to monitor the effect of (a) retention of funds for special needs by the local education authority in the LMS formula and (b) delegation of special needs funds to maintained schools in the LMS formula.

[holding answer 18 February 1991]: We are monitoring and reviewing all aspects of the effects of local management—with the help of LEAs, the local authority and head teacher associations, and Her Majesty's inspectorate. Close attention will be paid to the effects of different ways of managing provision for pupils with special educational needs within the context of LMS—local management of schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what account he has taken regarding the responsibilities of local education authorities under the Education Act 1981, when considering the application of LMS to (a) special schools and (b) children with special needs in mainstream education.

[holding answer 18 February 1991]: Circular 7/88, which guided the preparation of LMS schemes for mainstream schools, stated that the Secretary of State expected LEAs to include within schemes provision for taking into account pupils with special needs as defined under the 1981 Act, including both pupils with and without statements made under that Act. Where provision for pupils with statements of special needs is delegated to schools under schemes of local management, the Secretary of State expects to see LEAs place conditions on governors of schools with delegated budgets, binding them to deliver the provision required by the statements.My right hon. and learned Friend is currently consulting on proposals to extend local management to special schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will publish the interim report of the working group on sport and physical education in the national curriculum.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. and learned Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Pawsey) on 18 February, Official Report, column 23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what date the public consultation stage of the review of the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981 will commence; what time scale has been decided for the completion of the consultation stage; and if he will list the organisations invited to take part in the public consultation.

We expect consultation to begin within the next week. Comments will be invited by Friday 22 March. We shall be writing to the following organisations:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total cost of food purchased by NHS hospitals in each region in the last year for which figures are available.

Information derived from the annual accounts of regional and district health authorities in England is shown in the table.

Revenue expenditure on Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS)—Provisions—1989–90
Region	£000 (cash)
Northern	14,487
Yorkshire	15,718
Trent	17,945
East Anglian	8,566
North West Thames	14,784
North East Thames	19,886
South East Thames	15,917
South West Thames	13,676
Wessex	11,527
Oxford	8,668
South Western	12,950
West Midlands	21,548
Mersey	10,805
North Western	18,596
Regions total	205,073

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the principal achievements of his Department since June 1987.

The principal achievement since June 1987 has been the enactment of the reforms of the health service set out in the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990. The reforms build on the fundamental principles of the national health service and on the achievements of the last 40 years, to secure the best possible use of the record level of resources now available for health care and to give patients, wherever they live in the United Kingdom, better health care and greater choice of services. Improved organisation and management of the national health service through clearer definition of responsibility between those purchasing health services in line with the needs of their local population and those providing and managing those services will be key elements.The national health service has made a positive response and welcomed the greater devolution and delegation of responsibility. Fifty-seven hospital trusts have already been announced and will come into effect from next April along with a substantial number of general practitioner fund holders. Considerable interest has been expressed by others wishing to follow in subsequent waves. These changes mean putting quality and responsiveness to the patient at the top of the agenda.Since 1987, and throughout their period of office, the Government have remained firmly committed to the national health service as a service free to all regardless of means and funded primarily from central taxation. Gross United Kingdom spending has increased from £21·8 billion in 1987–88 to a level of planned expenditure of £32·6 billion in 1991–92. United Kingdom per capita expenditure on the health service will have risen from £383 in 1987–88 to £567.The numbers of patients receiving treatment has continued to rise each year. Targets set in 1986 for cataracts and bone marrow transplants have been met and the target for hip replacements is close to being achieved. There has been a 23 per cent. increase in the total number of heart and lung transplants and a 72 per cent. increase in the number of liver transplants.Besides the increases in the number of direct care staff, doctors and nurses are better paid. The Government have responded positively to the recommendations made by the respective independent review bodies. Last December, broad agreement was reached with the medical profession to reduce to 72 hours per week the long hours worked by junior hospital doctors in hard-pressed posts.The NHS and Community Care Act 1990, also provides the framework for the development of domiciliary day and respite services to enable people to live in their own homes wherever feasible and sensible. This programme will have a phased introduction to avoid overburdening the agencies involved.Since 1987, the Government have placed particular emphasis on the importance of health promotion and disease prevention. In 1990, immunisation and vaccination targets were set under the terms of the new contract for GPs. These have already led to improvements, particularly in the inner city areas where rates were generally low. Since 1988 all English health authorities have had a computerised call and recall system for cervical cancer screening. All women aged between 20 and 64 are expected to be brought into the programme by 1993. The first nationwide breast cancer screening programme in the European Community has been established, and important initiatives have been taken on teenage smoking, alcohol misuse, drug misuse, diet, food safety and coronary heart disease. In January 1988, the world summit of Ministers of Health was held in London, to look at programmes for combating the spread of AIDS. More than £10 million has been made available annually to health authorities and voluntary organisations to continue this work. Further progress has been made towards the WHO European region's 38 "Health For All" targets with many of those relating to health trends, lifestyles and healthy environment having been achieved. With the support of the leading health professions, the Government expect to produce a consultative document in the early part of 1991, which will form the first stages of a health strategy for England and provide the means for measuring improved health outcomes.Other developments since June 1987 include the improved approach to child care practice under the Children Act 1989. Close working between magistrates courts, the higher courts and local authorities with the need for understanding new court processes will be important factors. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 addresses the complex legal and ethical issues surrounding embryos and embryo research.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to receive the Eastern regional health authority's proposals to run down Newmarket hospital to a community facility.

The West Suffolk district health authority is currently consulting widely on the future of Newmarket hospital. The consultation period will end on 28 February. The district health authority will then make proposals to the East Anglian regional health authority. The regional health authority will consider these findings within the wider context of its proposed strategy for acute services in the south western part of the region. If the scheme preferred by the region and the district is formally opposed it will be referred to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the cost to the NHS arising from increased prescription of tranquilisers to those service men and women and their families who are suffering from trauma, stress and long-term mental illness consequent upon the war in the Gulf.

There is no information available on which to base any such estimate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Chief Medical Officer is proposing to issue guidance to general practitioners in regard to the treatment of servicemen and women and their families suffering from trauma, stress and long-term mental illness following upon war in the Gulf with regard to the cost implications and avilability of psychotherapeutic treatment and drug-based treatment.

The Chief Medical Officer does not intend to issue guidance on what is a clinical matter. General practitioners regularly deal with people suffering from stress and mental illness using psychotherapeutic methods and drug treatment. Previous major incidents have given an increased understanding of the approaches which are most helpful.Service men and women will be treated primarily by the services medical organisations. Families will in the main receive care from their general practitioners, in the usual way under national health service arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to collect central data of the number of patients in England and Wales who, having been discharged from national health service hospitals, required subsequent hospitalisation for (a) the same complaint or (b) a different but related complaint.

There are no plans to do so. Decisions about discharge are a matter for clinical judgment. Such decisions will be informed by medical audit but not by central collection of data.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether Scotland will be exempted from the Food Hygiene (Amendment) Regulations 1990; and if he will make a statement.

The Food Hygiene (Amendment) Regulations 1990 apply to England and Wales only. Separate food hygiene regulations apply in Scotland, and amendments are under consideration in the Scottish Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the bio products laboratory has to import unlicensed high purity Factor VIII products from abroad for the treatment of haemophilia A patients; and if he will make a statement.

The bio products laboratory—BPL—is responding to the demand from clinicians for high purity Factor VIII made from plasma provided by United Kingdom unpaid voluntary donors as recommended in World Health Organisation and EC guidelines. It has licensed the appropriate manufacturing technology and is modifying its production facility to manufacture the product locally. For a limited period while those modifications are carried out, and in the interest of meeting the demands as quickly as possible, the BPL has contracted Kabi of Sweden to undertake part of the manufacturing process from an intermediate material supplied by the BPL. This work will be undertaken under the supervision of BPL staff.The BPL is not at present covered by the licensing requirements of the Medicines Act because of Crown immunity. However, some of its products and facilities are already so licensed and it will be seeking licences for other products, including high purity Factor VIII, under the arrangements leading to the removal of Crown immunity. For many years the BPL has been inspected by the medicines inspectorate and its product have been tested by the National Institute of Biological Standards and Control, as are similar licensed pharmaceutical products.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent guidelines he has issued with regard to treatment of haemophilia A patients; and what representations he has received.

Several representations have been received concerning the use of high purity factor VIII for the treatment of haemophilia A patients. The Department has not issued guidance on this matter; decisions whether this treatment is appropriate for individual patients rest with the clinicians within the arrangements and protocols set locally for determining priorities among patient services, including prescribing costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated level of (a) capital repayments, (b) interest payments, and (c) public dividend payments by national health service trusts to the Treasury in 1991–92.

We estimate that the level of capital repayments and interest payments to be made by NHS trusts in 1991–92 will be £70·2 million and £189 million respectively. Dividends payable on public dividend capital will not normally be declared or paid until after the end of the financial year once audited accounts are received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health by how much hospital and community health services revenue plans have been enhanced in 1991–92 to meet the provision in national health service trust prices for depreciation.

HCHS revenue plans have been enhanced by £164 million in the 1991–92 financial year to take account of depreciation provided for in NHS trust prices.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reduction has taken place in the number of junior hospital doctors with a rota commitment greater than 1:3 in the west midlands region since 18 January 1989.

This information is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the West Midlands regional health authority for details.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what timetable, agency and funding has been agreed for his Department's survey into the use and misuse of hormone drugs; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have decided in principle that a survey should be carried out into the prevalence of the misuse of steroid drugs. We are urgently considering the best way to take the survey forward. We hope to be able to give further details shortly and I will write to the hon. Member when these are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he is investigating the source of the outbreak of food poisoning caused by E. coli in the Preston area; what other action he is taking in respect of this; and if he will make a statement.

This outbreak is the subject of ongoing investigation by the public health laboratory service. The Department's Chief Medical Officer has issued a statement about the need for beefburgers and similar minced meat products to be thoroughly cooked before they are eaten. All local authority environmental health departments were notified of the outbreak and asked, through the Department's hazard warning system, to remind food businesses of the need to ensure beefburgers are properly cooked. Both the CMO's statement and the hazard warning notice have been placed in the Library.The Government will consider the need for additional action in the light of the PHLS findings on the outbreak and other cases of human illness due to E.coli 0157 phage type 31 (variant) which have been reported around the country.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether he has any plans to encourage job sharing in the NHS;(2) what plans he has to ensure that full use is made of women's contributions to the NHS; and if he will make a statement;(3) how many women work in the NHS.

[holding answer 8 February 1991]: The latest available information, which relates to 1989, indicates that there were 770,300 women working in the national health service in England, representing 76·6 per cent. of the total work force. We are firmly committed to ensuring that the best possible use is made of their valuable contribution.We take every opportunity to stress to health authorities the importance of flexible working arrangements, including job sharing, which allow women to successfully combine their family responsibilities with those of working in the NHS.To encourage authorities in the development of good personnel policies and practices which enable them to recruit and retain the services of women staff, we have endorsed a wide range of initiatives, including:

To ask the Prime Minister how many permanent secretaries have engineering, science or mathematics degrees; and what percentage that is of the total.

Four permanent secretaries—12 per cent. of the total—have degrees in these subjects. Two have science degrees and two have mathematics degrees. There are in addition a further 12 permanent secretaries—35 per cent. of the total—with social science degrees, including economics and statistics, and one with a professional accountancy qualification.

To ask the Prime Minister how many under-secretaries have engineering, science or mathematics degrees; and what percentage that is of the total.

This information is not held centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will seek to co-ordinate the activities of the Departments of Environment, Trade and Industry and Transport with regard to the proposed relocation of the Ministry of Defence quality assurance unit to Stockton on Tees.

The Ministry of Defence has been in contact with the Departments mentioned during the course of their studies into the relocation of the directorate general defence quality assurance.

To ask the Prime Minister how many political advisers to Ministers are currently employed in the civil service; in which Departments they work; and on what grades they are paid.

There are currently 26 special advisers to Ministers employed in the civil service. The number in each Department is as follows:

	Number
Cabinet Office (including No. 10)	6
Department of the Environment	4
Foreign and Commonwealth Office	2
Department of Health	2
Her Majesty's Treasury	2
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	1
Department of Education and Science	1
Department of Energy	1
Department of Employment	1
Home Office	1
Lord President of the Council	1
Scottish Office	1
Department of Social Security	1
Department of Trade and Industry	1
Department of Transport	1

To ask the Prime Minister which departments of state are still carrying out functions and responsibilities arising from the abolition of the GLC.

The Home Office, the Department of the Environment, the Department of Transport and the Office of Arts and Libraries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many mental illness hospital beds were available in Wales in 1978, 1982, 1986, and during each of the last three years.

Information on mental illness beds and other psychiatric beds, excluding mental handicap, is given in the table:

Average daily available NHS hospital beds
Specialty	1978	1982	1986	1987	1988	1989–90
Mental illness	5,352·4	4,526·7	4,200·4	3,956·1	3,808·9	2,586·1
Child and adolescent psychiatry	84·0	69·0	62·1	61·0	61·0	75·0
Forensic psychiatry	—	—	—	—	—	9·5
Old age psychiatry	189·0	298·0	468·2	488·5	525·7	1,473·4
Total of above	5,625·4	4,893·7	4,730·7	4,505·6	4,395·6	4,144·0

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the outcome of his feasibility study undertaken for his Department, by Gwynedd county council, on possible options for improving the A487 road in the vicinity of Penygroes and Llanllyfni, and of providing a bypass for these two villages; and what is the expected time scale of these improvement schemes.

The study report on the A487 trunk road from Caerau to Pont Seiont, which includes Penygroes and Llanllyfni has not yet been received by the Welsh Office. However the outcome of preliminary consideration of the case for road improvements will be covered in a supplement to "Roads in Wales", to be published next week.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the remit for the south Wales area traffic study; what is its estimated cost; who is undertaking it; when it will be completed; and if he will make a statement.

The study is a review of traffic patterns over most of the south Wales trunk road network. It identifies sections likely to exceed their recommended traffic flow levels in the foreseeable future and evaluates possible solutions. It was undertaken by JMP Consultants Ltd in association with Veryard and Partners for £350,000. Their summary report was submitted last December and it is currently receiving careful consideration. No public statement is likely before the spring.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to issue the revised supplement on "Roads in Wales"; and if he will make a statement.

We plan to publish a 1991 supplement to "Roads in Wales" on 25 February.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will indicate the action he has taken since the announcement of redundancies at the Castle cement works, Clwyd.

As the hon. Gentleman knows from my reply of 15 January, the Welsh Development Agency is taking these redundancies into account in planning its activities. The agency's small firms service have been in Castle Cement recently advising people who are considering self-employment and will continue to play an active role in helping those made redundant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will indicate the action he has taken since the announcement of redundancies at the Brymbo steelworks, Clwyd.

Since United Engineering Steels' announcement on the 14 May 1990 that Brymbo steelworks was to close, I have met, on several occasions, all the parties involved to discuss the future of the steelworks.At my request, the Welsh Development Agency made extensive, worldwide efforts, throughout last summer to find a buyer for the site who would continue steelmaking in some form without success.The Welsh Development Agency is still in consultation with United Engineering Steels over possible future uses for the site.On 30 October 1990, I announced a support package designed to mitigate the effects of the steelworks closure on the area. The package entails the government matching United Engineering Steel's contribution of £260,000 to the North East Wales training enterprise council pound for pound; an extra urban programme grant of £0·5 million this financial year, as well as the revenue appointment of a Brymbo village liaison and advice worker for three years, and an extra £0·5 million for Wrexham Maelor borough council for its Redwither project as part of its 1991–92 credit approvals announced on 10 December. In addition, the Welsh Development Agency has commenced work on £5·5 million programme of works based at the Wrexham industrial estate which should create job opportunities for 500 people. European regional development fund aid of £2,229,345 has been granted towards projects in the Wrexham travel-to-work area under the Clwyd integrated development operational programme.I will be meeting again the hon. Member for Wrexham (Dr. Marek) and representatives of the county and district councils later this week to review the situation and I will be taking further action as and when I consider it necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will indicate the measures he proposes in Clwyd consequent upon the announcement of redundancies in the furniture industry.

These job losses are very much regretted. The Welsh Development Agency takes all job losses into account in planning its future activities and reviews its plans in the light of continuing developments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement of the action he has taken consequent upon the placing of the Glendale company in the hands of the receiver.

While the company is in the hands of the receiver it would be inappropriate for me to intervene. I have however asked the WDA to alert possible purchasers and both the agency and the Welsh Office stand ready to give every possible assistance to any potential purchaser.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report a list of the trade effluent consents that have been granted for the discharge of pesticide waste to sewers, giving for each, the eight figure Ordnance Survey grid reference number for the point of discharge.

This information is not held centrally. Copies of trade effluent consents are available for public inspection at the offices of the sewerage undertaker.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report the information available to his Department on the incidence of faecal material in drinking water.

Water undertakers are required by the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989 (SI 1989 No. 1147) to record on a public register the results of the analysis of samples taken. In addition the chief inspector of the drinking water inspectorate will publish in the summer a full report upon the quality of drinking water supplied in England and Wales during 1990.