To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many bids for minor works were made by aided schools in the Hereford and Worcester county council area for the year 1991–92; and how many have been approved.

In its capital expenditure plans for 1991–92, Hereford and Worcester county council bid for 11 minor works projects at aided schools. None were approved. For work at county and controlled schools and colleges, the council received a total annual capital guideline of £6·8 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he plans to increase the level of grants agreed for capital expenditure at aided schools.

Capital grants to aided schools have almost doubled in real terms since 1978–79. The following table shows the level of grant available for capital expenditure, excluding repairs, in cash terms for the last five years.

	£ million
1987–88	31·6
1988–89	43·5
1989–90	57·5
1990–91	71·0
1991–92	84·2

My right hon. and learned Friend hopes to continue increasing the level of funds available for capital expenditure at aided schools subject to the constraints of overall policy on public expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when his Department first considered whether schools might have to register under the Data Protection Act; when he expects to issue guidance to school governors about the Data Protection Act; and whether he will make a statement.

The implications of the Data Protection Act for schools have been kept under review since the Act first came into force. The possible need for schools to register on their own account was first considered in 1989 in the light of increasing use of computer systems in schools involving personal data. Following discussion with the Data Protection Act Registrar and the local authority associations draft guidance was issued for consultation in October 1990 and guidance will be issued to schools when the consideration of comments received has been completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the bids made by educational authorities for major works for 1991–92; and what proportion of these bids has been agreed.

Local authorities submitted 521 bids for new major projects in voluntary aided and special agreement schools to start in 1991–92, which would require grant aid of £54 million. Of these, 67 were placed on the starts list and 31 on the design list, involving a grant of £12·5 million in 1991–92, or 23 per cent. of the grant bid for. A further 93 bids were made for projects which require statutory proposals. Additional funds will be allocated as necessary for any such project for which associated statutory proposals are approved in the course of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the cost of educating a secondary school pupil in Hillingdon and in each contiguous local education authority.

In 1988–89, the latest year for which information is available, expenditure per secondary pupil derived from information supplied by authorities was a s follows:

Authority	£
Hillingdon	1,870
Buckinghamshire	1,715
Ealing	2,145
Harrow	1,740
Hertfordshire	1,740
Hounslow	1,895
Surrey	1,635

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the total numbers of (a) males and (b) females in 1989–90 within the university of Wales studying (i) languages (ii) social sciences, (iii) multi-disciplinary studies, (iv) medicine and dentistry, (v) biological sciences, (vi) humanities, (vii) physical sciences, (viii) studies allied to medicine, (ix) mathematical sciences, (x) business and financial studies, (xi) engineering and technology, (xii) veterinary sciences, agricultural and related, (xiii) creative arts, (xiv) education and (xv) architecture, librarianship and information science.

Information for 1989–90 will be published by the Universities' Student Record in University Statistics Volume I—Students and Staff' on 24 February 1991, a copy of which will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions for illegal female circumcision have taken place in the United Kingdom since 1985; and if he will make a statement.

Records available centrally show no prosecutions in the United Kingdom between 1985 and 1989 under the Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what enabling powers are available to him as the confirming authority for local authority byelaws relating to jet skis, as outlined in his answer of 25 October 1990, Official Report, column 262.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department is the confirming authority for byelaws made under the following provisions which permit the regulation of jet skis:

Section 76 of the Public Health Act 1961 for the regulation of seaside pleasure boats.

Section 90 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, for the regulation of the use of waterways in National Parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty and areas where an access agreement has been made.

Sections 13 and 41 of the Countryside Act 1968, for the regulation of the use of lakes in National Parks and waterways in country parks.

Provisions under certain Local Acts.

Section 235 of the Local Government Act 1972, which permits regulation and suppression of nuisances by district and borough councils where no other powers are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he intends to publish full results of his Department's review of section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986 in due course;(2) if he will make a statement on any interim conclusions reached from his Department's review of section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986.

We propose to announce shortly the substantive conclusions of our evaluation of section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from farmers concerning the swiftness and effectiveness of their legal sanctions against travellers trespassing on their land.

We received two representations from farmers' organisations in response to the publicly announced evaluation of section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986, which deals with aggravated trespass on land. Simple trespass is a matter for my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many chief constables are demanding that every applicant for the grant or renewal of a shotgun certificate provides proof of a good reason for requiring such a shotgun; whether this is required by law and whether he will issue further guidance to chief police officers to clarify the matter and confine such a practice to firearms.

The administration of the Firearms Acts 1968 to 1988 is a matter for individual chief officers of police who are empowered under section 28 (1A) of the Firearms Act 1968 as amended by section 3 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 to refuse the issue or renewal of a shotgun certificate if they are satisfied that an applicant does not have a good reason for purchasing, acquiring or possessing a shotgun.Information about the practical operation of firearm controls within each force area in England and Wales is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.Practical guidance on the proper and efficient administration of firearms controls has been issued to the police service in the document "Firearms Law: Guidance to the Police", a copy of which was placed in the Library on publication in 1989. At our request the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has written to chief officers drawing their attention to the guidance given on this matter to help ensure consistency of practice between police forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to encourage the European Commission to adopt adequate standards of data protection; and whether he has any plans to propose the establishment of a Commissioner for data protection for Europe.

We support any move by the Commission to ensure that all Community states ratify the European convention on data protection and introduce national implementing legislation. We have no plans to propose the establishment of a European data protection Commissioner.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of staff numbers in his Department involved in full or part-time work arising from responsibilities transferred from the Greater London council.

[holding answer 19 February 1991]: None.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Home Office annual report 1991 cost to produce and distribute.

[pursuant to his reply of 14 February 1991, column 549]: Costs of £32,500 for design and artwork were borne by the Home Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects the combined heat and power schemes database being compiled by the Office of Electricity Regulation to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

Work is continuing on gathering information for the combined heat and power schemes database, and it is expected that it will begin to come on line during the second half of this year. That part of the database which is not commercially in confidence will be available to members of the public and to interested parties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to expand the energy efficiency grant aid scheme for low-income households.

The home energy efficiency scheme was introduced on 1 January 1991 and early indications are that it has been well received. My Department will monitor its progress carefully, but it would be premature to take decisions on possible expansion of the scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of total United Kingdom energy expenditure was accounted for by (a) transport, (b) buildings and (c) other industries in (i) 1989 and (ii) 1990.

It is estimated that, in 1989, 44 per cent. of total United Kingdom energy expenditure, inclusive of taxes, was accounted for by transport; 42 per cent. was spent on heating buildings and 13 per cent. was accounted for by industry for purposes other than the heating of buildings and for transport. Data for 1990 are not yet available.Data derived from table 9 of the "Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 1990" and building research establishment publications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has any plans to ensure that United Kingdom housing stock achieves a higher rating on the national home energy rating; what targets he has set for developing energy efficiency in the housing stock up to the year 2000; and whether he has made any estimate of the effect of energy efficiency in housing stock on (a) the potential savings on energy expenditure and (b) emissions of carbon dioxide.

The Government promote energy efficiency in housing through information programmes, such as the EEO best practice programme and its current publicity campaign targeted on those moving or improving their homes, including promotion of home energy labelling; through thermal requirements in building regulations; and through financial support targeted on those on low incomes, including the new home energy efficiency scheme, house renovation grants, the local government housing demonstration programme and estates action. Whilst targets are set for individual programmes as appropriate, no targets have been set for the housing stock as a whole, where the rate of improvement in energy efficiency depends upon the decisions and choices of individual householders in the light of their own particular circumstances.Assessments of the prospects for achieving reductions in energy expenditure and carbon dioxide emissions in the domestic sector are contained in the paper submitted by the United Kingdom to the energy and industry sub-group of the response strategies working group of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in November 1989, and subsequently published in January 1990 as energy paper No. 58 under the title "An Evaluation of Energy Related Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Measures to Ameliorate Them".

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether his Department has any plans to use the national homes energy rating as a means of setting performance targets both for new build and for the improvement of existing homes.

My Department considers that home energy labelling is an important means whereby individual householders and those responsible for building and managing housing stock can become better informed about the scope for improving the energy efficiency performance of their dwellings. I therefore welcome the initiatives taken by the National Energy Foundation and MVM-Starpoint to launch home energy labelling schemes based on the building research establishment's domestic energy model (BREDEM).My Department and the Department of the Environment are working with both organisations to help promote the concept of home energy labelling more widely. As explained in the Government's White Paper "This Common Inheritance", our intention is that energy labelling should be sufficiently developed to be incorporated into the building regulations when they are next amended. We are also examining what part home energy labelling can play to achieve energy efficiency improvements in the existing housing stock.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations he proposes to hold with the Director General of the Office of Electricity Regulation concerning the application of the clawback provision in 1991–92 arising from under-provision for inflation in 1990–91 to the price increases permitted to the electricity distribution companies to run from 1 April.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next expects to meet the Director General of OFFER to discuss the formula for prospective increases in the price of electricity for domestic consumers.

My right hon. Friend meets the Director General of Electricity Supply from time to time to discuss a range of electricity matters. It will be for the director general, when he has fully considered the proposals by regional electricity companies for their 1991–92 tariff proposals, to satisfy himself that any changes are consistent with the price controls in their licences.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what proposals he has to strengthen the protection of tariff electricity consumers against price rises greater than the rate of retail prices index inflation in respect of the financial year starting on 1 April;(2) if he will revise the basis on which the month is chosen for the calculation of retail prices index inflation to trigger the clawback provision for domestic electricity prices in the year subsequent to the year for which RPI inflation has been under-estimated.

Modifications to any of the conditions in the public electricity supply licences issued to the regional electricity companies are a matter for the Director General of Electricity Supply in accordance with the procedures set out in the Electricity Act 1989 and in the licences.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on his policy regarding the revision of existing green-belt areas.

Planning policy guidance note No. 2 sets out the Government's policy on green belts. Once the extent of a green belt has been established it should be altered only in exceptional circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on his policy towards green-belt development proposals which are supported by local planning authorities.

Paragraph 13 of planning policy guidance note No. 2 lists the limited types of development which may be appropriate in the green belt. Very special circumstances are needed to justify other types of development. Local planning authorities should inform the Secretary of State if they are minded to approve proposals that materially depart from the provisions of an approved development plan. The Secretary of State may decide to call in proposals for his own determination if planning issues of more than local importance are involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the success of his policies in encouraging public sector bodies to sell their surplus land.

There is some evidence that, in general—against the background of the encouragement, incentives and penalties provided—public sector bodies have in recent years been taking steps to improve their property management. However, there is still too much unused and underused land and, in the light of the responses to last year's consultation paper, we are considering what further action should be taken to improve the position.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes to issue a further circular to charging authorities clarifying the statutory extent of their discretion in seeking the payment of community charge by military personnel serving in the Gulf; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my right hon. Friend to my statement to the House on Tuesday 19 February, in which I announced that it was the Government's intention that no service personnel or associated civilians posted to the Gulf should have to pay the community charge for the duration of their posting. When the judgment in the Anderton case is received, we shall be considering ways of ensuring that this objective can be achieved and I shall present details to the House as soon as I can.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost per chargepayer of collecting the community charge in respect of each collecting council in Kent.

The information requested is as follows:

Community charge collection costs per head of relevant population
	Budget estimates 1990–91
	£
Ashford	9·64
Canterbury	10·48
Dartford	10·77
Dover	10·61
Gillingham	7·66
Gravesham	9·44
Maidstone	9·20
Rochester on Medway	7·10
Sevenoaks	6·44
Shepway	14·92
Swale	9·64
Thanet	10·62
Tonbridge and Mailing	9·67
Tunbridge Wells	6·95

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans there are to ensure that the building regulations in respect of fire, when modified, for England and Wales will be consistent with those related to Scotland and Northern Ireland.

When decisions are taken on the proposals for amendments to part B of the Building Regulations 1985 relating to safety in fire, and to the related practical guidance, the desirability of greater technical consistency between the Building Regulations for England and Wales, and those for Scotland and Northern Ireland, will be an important consideration. At the same time, full weight will also be given to the undertaking in the White Paper "Lifting the Burden" that the Government will examine carefully the possibilities of reducing the level of regulation in this area, where this would not lead to increased risk to personal safety.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the Property Services Agency to be placed on a commercial accounting basis.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave to his question on 14 February 1991 at column 538.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken to ensure that Property Services Agency divisions other than TCS have all complied with all EC/GATT regulations relating to the actions of the Property Services Agency.

As part of preparations for operation as the agent of other Government Departments requiring work services, all PSA services divisions have been reminded of the EC/GATT rules.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements are being made for the valuation of the Property Services Agency and its assets prior to privatisation.

Financial advisers, appointed in connection with the privatisation of the Property Services Agency, will value the business and its assets prior to privatisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guarantees or conditions he is applying to the contract for sale of the divisions of the Property Services Agency to ensure that terms of conditions of service that currently apply to civil servants in that department are retained.

All employees' terms and conditions of service are protected by law against unilateral changes. The contract for sale is likely to refer to redundancy and pension terms, because those arrangements are subject to technical changes. Negotiations are taking place with the relevant trade unions about those changes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the number of officials in his Department employed in the drinking water inspectorate; and if he will arrange for the results of the inspectorate's monitoring to be placed in the Library.

The full complement of the drinking water inspectorate is 26 posts of which 20 are filled, including one by a secondee from the Water Research Centre. Recruitment of the remaining staff for the Inspectorate is currently in progress.The chief inspector's report for the calendar year 1990 is due to be published in the summer. Copies will be placed in the Library of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will provide a borough-by-borough breakdown of his Department's estimate of about 2,000 to 3,000 people sleeping rough in central London, referred to by the Minister for Housing and Planning in an oral answer on 30 January 1991 at column 926;(2) on what date the estimate of people sleeping rough in central London referred to in his oral answer of 30 January 1991

The estimate given in the oral answer on 30 January related to the whole of London and was based on discussions that my Department had during 1990 with voluntary organisations working in the field, in the light of the findings of the Salvation Army survey in April 1989 of rough sleepers in 17 London boroughs. This estimate was not broken down on a borough by borough basis. The figure quoted by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State on 8 February reflects an estimate made by voluntary organisations in seven locations in central London at the end of January 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to ensure funding is available to continue the facilities made available recently to the homeless during the recent cold weather; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer, 21 February 1991]: Yes. We have offered funding to the voluntary bodies and local authorities who provided emergency shelters for rough sleepers in London during the very cold weather to enable them to remain open for longer; 470 places are available at present and we are pursuing the possibility of further short-term emergency shelters. These are additional to the 2,000 direct access hostel places permanently provided in London.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has made any assessment of the impact on employment of the work of the Leeds development corporation.

Between June 1988 and March 1990, 5,241 permanent jobs were created in Leeds Development Corporation's area with a further 885 expected in the year to 31 March 1991. This is a significant contribution towards employment opportunities in Leeds.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total funding for each financial year of the Leeds development corporation.

The amount of grant in aid provided to Leeds development corporation was £2·743 million in 1988–89 and £8·75 million in 1989–90; £14 million is available in 1990–91 and £12 million in 1991–92.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the record of the Leeds development corporation.

Since designation in June 1988, Leeds development corporation has made excellent progress in stimulating the regeneration of its area. By the end of this financial year more than 1·5 million square feet of industrial and commercial floor space will have been completed or be in the course of construction, creating over 1,700 construction and 6,100 permanent jobs. Further planning permissions have been granted for developments totalling 2·5 million square feet.The corporation has published planning frameworks for eight of its fourteen sub-areas. The remaining six will be available by June. Major road improvement works have been completed to open up the proposed new 50 acre Hunslet business park which will provide accommodation for new businesses and allow existing firms to expand. Developers have been selected for three major joint development competitions with Leeds city council, British Waterways and British Gas for key inner city sites. The proposed developments include housing, community, leisure, industrial and commercial uses. The corporation places a high priority on minimising disruption to existing businesses and assisting with relocation. Two major relocation sites totalling 32 hectares have been acquired are being serviced.Assistance to businesses is being provided under various grant schemes. Six city grants, five sites and property grants and twenty environmental improvement grants have been offered. The corporation's community sponsorship grant scheme is also proving popular with nineteen grants having been taken up.In the Calls conservation area, sensitive new developments and pedestrian thoroughfares are linking the city centre with the riverside, where new developments are taking place alongside existing buildings for which new uses are being found. The corporation is working closely with Leeds city council, British Waterways and the Leeds-Bradford city action team to enhance the potential of the River Aire and the Leeds-Liverpool canal. At these and other gateway sites, 28 environmental improvement schemes involving nearly 100,000 sq m of planting/ landscaping, stonecleaning of walls and bridges, repairs and re-paving works have been implemented.Leeds development corporation is to be congratulated on its achievements to date and the efforts it is making to ensure progress is maintained.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the projects assisted with financial support by the Leeds development corporation.

Between designation in 1988 and January 1991 Leeds development corporation has provided financial support for projects as set out in the following table:

	£'000s
Environmental and landscaping works	2,125
Land assembly including acquisitions for relocation of displaced business	11,744
Site servicing	1,588
City grant schemes	839
Industrial sites/property improvement grants	123
Community sponsorship grants	19
Highways	730

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his assessment of the environmental impact of military operations conducted in the Gulf region by (a) Iraqi forces and (b) those forces seeking to implement United Nations resolutions; and if he will make a statement.

The Government did not want this conflict, but Saddam Hussein's intransigence in the face of all peaceful pressures left no other course. Iraqi action has already led to damage to the environment as indicated by the deliberate release of oil into the Gulf. The Government together with the countries of the OECD has condemned this action as a violation of international law and a crime against the environment. As part of the Government's assistance to the Gulf states responding to the spill we have commissioned reports by the National Environment Council into the biological effects of the oil slicks. We have also commissioned and published a study by the Meteorological Office to examine the effects on the environment should Kuwaiti oil installations be fired. Copies of these reports are in the Library. Environmental factors are taken into account by the coalition forces as far as possible in the planning and conduct of military operations as part of the policy of ensuring that collateral damage from those operations is minimised.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the figures for exports, imports and the resulting trade balance for construction materials in each of the years 1988, 1989 and 1990.

The figures requested are as follows:

£ million
	1988	1989	11990
Imports	4,171	4,695	3,570
Exports	1,590	1,845	1,591
Trade balance	2,581	2,850	1,979
1 The first three quarters' figures only. Figures for the full year have yet to be published.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the figures in each of the years 1988, 1989 and 1990 for exports, imports and resulting trade balance for the entire construction sector, excluding construction materials but including the overseas remittances of contractors and consultants.

No figures are available for 1990. Those for 1988 and 1989 are given in the table.

£ million
	1988	1989
Work done by contractors overseas	1,994	1,426
Consulting engineers1	400	440
Chartered surveyors1	100	110
Architects	Not separately identified.
1 These earnings are recorded net of their overseas expenses. The work done by overseas companies within the United Kingdom is not separately identified.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish advice on the new arrangements for waste disposal operations under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, including the introduction of competition and the establishment of local authority waste disposal companies; and if he will make a statement.

My Department and the Welsh Office today issued a draft circular to local authorities for consultation. It gives guidance on the new arrangements for waste disposal operations under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, including the introduction of competitive tendering, and advice on the creation of local authority waste disposal companies (LAWDCs).From May this year, local authorities will have to arrange for waste disposal contracts to be awarded only after competitive tendering. In choosing which tenders to accept they will, of course, have to consider value for money, but will also be able to seek environmental improvements in the form of reduced pollution and increased recycling. They must not discriminate unduly between different types of waste disposal contractor.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East of 5 February, Official Report, column 101, whether similar allowance for losses has been made in respect of the collection of the poll tax; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 15 February 1991]: No. It would not be appropriate to make such an allowance in respect of the collection of the community charge.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details for each local authority of take-up of the disabled facilities grant.

[holding answer 21 February 1991]: The new system of grants to private owners and tenants under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, including the disabled facilities grant, commenced on 1 July 1990. The information so far available relates to the first quarter of operation of the new system and, not surprisingly, the numbers of grants approved and paid were low. A table listing the numbers of grants reported by English local authorities has been placed in the Library. Figures for the fourth quarter will shortly become available and will also be placed in the Library.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will repeal the Housing Renovation Etc. Grants (Reduction of Grant) Regulations 1990.

No.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the expenditure items and cost of each item which his Government have undertaken on an extra-statutory basis since he became Prime Minister.

Spending by the Government is undertaken in accordance with arrangements which have been accepted by Parliament. The normal practice is to ensure that for continuing functions there is a specific statutory authority for the expenditure.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the total number of international flights paid for by Her Majesty's Government for its Ministers and officials in each class of ticket since 28 November 1990.

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

To ask the Prime Minister what effect the changes since 1978 in the rates of children's allowances, children's pensions and child benefit, payable by the Departments of Defence and Social Security, to the widows of members of the armed forces have had on their combined value.

The information is not available in the form requested. For the Department of Social Security war widows' children's allowances and child benefits I refer the hon. Member to the replies given to him on 28 January 1991 at columns 440–42 and on 14 February 1991 at columns 580–82.As regards children's pensions payable by the Ministry of Defence under the provisions of the armed forces pensions schemes these are initially awarded by reference to circumstances, including rates of pay, applicable at the time of their fathers' service ended. Awards are therefore individually assessed. They are subsequently increased in line with the retail prices index.The combined value of war pensions and allowances, child benefit and Ministry of Defence pensions for the widow and two children of a corporal killed in service today would be about £276 per week. Lump sum payments amounting to more than £20,000 would also be payable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received regarding the increase in the cost of subscribing to a full set of British standards in printed form; and if he will make a statement on future proposed charges for this service.

We have received representations on this matter, directly or through right hon. and hon. Members, from one county council and one chamber of commerce and industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received over the recent decision by the British Standards Institute library not to loan out copies of foreign standards; and if he will make a statement on the availability of such information for business in preparation for the single European market.

We have received representations on this matter, directly or through right hon. and hon. Members, from one county council.Whether to lend, as well as to sell, copies of such standards is a matter for the British Standards Institution.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report the information available to him about the number of outlets for the sale of postage stamps, which are not post offices (a) in England and (b) in the counties of Somerset, Devon, Dorset and Wiltshire, and any information he has about the change in the number of such outlets in recent years.

The provision of postage stamps is an operational matter for the Post Office Board. However, I understand that the numbers of non-post-office outlets selling postage stamps in the areas mentioned are as follows:

	Number
England	40,500
Somerset	330
Devon	1,250
Dorset	560
Wiltshire	380

Waste disposal licence appeals
Appellant	Waste disposal authority	Date
Wistech plc	Blaenau Gwent borough council	31 January 1989
Brisco Waste Disposal Ltd.	Swansea city council	30 October 1989
Cribarth Waste Disposal	Brecknock borough council	12 March 1990
Max Recovery (Holdings) Ltd.	Swansea city council	30 April 1990
Euromet Ltd.	Rhymney Valley district council	16 May 1990
Shanks and McEwan (Midlands) Ltd.	Wrexham Maelor borough council	21 August 1990

One appeal has been determined in the past six months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of South Glamorgan health authority relating to the contract given to constructors TERN to upgrade ward 8 and part of ward 9 at the Prince of Wales orthopaedic hospital, Rhydlafar to the standards required for the accommodation of geriatric patients.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to debar the South Glamorgan health authority from undertaking any capital investments

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of the transcript and videocassette of the BBC2 "Timewatch" programme on "The Man who Made the Supergun", broadcast on 13 February.

[holding answer 20 February 1991]: I do not propose to obtain a copy of the transcript and videocassette of the BBC2 "Timewatch" programme for the departmental library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the appeals under section 10 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 currently under consideration, showing the dates when they were first lodged; and how many such appeals have been determined in the last six months.

The appeals under consideration are as follows:which anticipate his decisions on the hospital closure proposals of that health authority not yet publicly announced.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer that I gave him on 15 February 1991 at col. 635.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements he has made with the chairmen of the South Glamorgan, Mid Glamorgan and Gwent health authorities concerning a smoothing mechanism to operate after 1 April in respect of the new budgeting system and the new charging system for cross-border flows of patients to hospitals and clinics.

The 1991–92 revenue allocations to district health authorities in Wales take account of the cost of maintaining cross-boundary flows of patients within the new contractual framework. It is therefore expected that the initial contracts to run from 1 April 1991 will provide for the maintenance of these flows. However, in subsequent years, as the contracting process rolls forward, authorities will have the opportunity of reviewing the existing pattern of services in the light of services available elsewhere and the progressive transition of revenue funding towards weighted capitation formula shares. Authorities were recently consulted about the structure and implementation of a weighted capitation formula and my right hon. Friend plans to make an announcement shortly about its introduction.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much of the total grant to Milford Haven fishing concerns has been specifically allocated to indigenous local non-sector vessels in each year since 1979.

Since 1979 the Department has offered regional selection assistance towards three projects in respect of non-sector fishing vessels based at Milford Haven—£60,000 in 1984, and £75,000 in 1986.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the progress made on fishing trawler decommissioning in Wales.

The Government have no plans to introduce a decommissioning scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether the refurbishment works at Yeoman street, Leicester have been completed; what is his latest estimate of the outturn cost of the refurbishment works; what was the estimate for the cost before the refurbishment work started; and how many staff were employed at Yeoman street, Leicester in (a) January 1990 and (b) January 1991.

Refurbishment is due for completion by the end of next month at a current estimated works cost of £720,000; the estimated cost in October 1990 before work started was £625,000. On 2 January 1990 196 staff were in post and on 2 January 1991 there were 159. The reduction in staffing levels is accounted for by a drop in workloads and the introduction of computerisation. Twenty staff were moved to the newly established contributions unit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 13 December 1990, Official Report, columns 500–1, to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East (Mr. Barnes), whether the Government has yet responded to the European Commission on its proposals for a European travel card for British pensioners.

The EC recommendation asks for a response by 1 March. We shall he responding shortly to the Commission about its recommendation dealing with the provision of an EC over-60s card.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people in (a) Nottingham and (b) the United Kingdom have claimed community charge benefit based on claims for reimbursement by his Department;(2) what is the proportion of those receiving poll tax rebates in the United Kingdom expressed as a percentage of the total number of poll tax payers.

Our latest estimates indicate that the number of people in (a) Nottingham and (b) Great Britain receiving community charge benefit is 57,000 and 8·9 million respectively. The latter figure is 21 per cent. of those liable for the charge.The figures are likely to understate the current position, as some authorities had a number of unprocessed claims when the data on which the estimates are based was submitted.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the impact uprating the war widows' children's allowance by the increase in the retail prices index and deducting any increase in child benefit will have on the combined value of these benefits.

The result of uprating war widows' children's allowances by the increase in the retail price index and deducting the proposed increase in child benefit would be a combined weekly benefit value of £22·10 per child.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answers of 15 February, Official Report, columns 583–84, in what newspapers and on what dates the social security local offices in the county of south Glamorgan advertised the availability of qualifying conditions and the application forms for special cold weather payments.

Offices in the county of South Glamorgan placed an advertisement in both Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan editions of the Cardiff Post on 14 February 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether the period for the cold weather payments announced by the Prime Minister has finished.

The period covered by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's announcements ended on 14 February.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to publish the estimates on take-up for income-related benefits from the 1989 family expenditure survey.

Estimates of take-up of benefits cannot be produced until some time after the relevant data from the family expenditure survey has first become available. We hope to publish the 1987 take up estimates within the next few months, and those for 1989 will follow in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applicants in Nottingham for severe disability premium are awaiting the decision of the appeal tribunal.

The responsibility for appeal tribunals lies with the president of social security and medical appeal tribunals, his honour Judge Derek Holden, who has advised me that his records show that there are no appeals relating to severe disability premium outstanding in Nottingham itself.

To ask the Attorney-General what steps he is taking to encourage the use of low-energy light bulbs in his Department's offices and other buildings.

In the legal secretariat to the Law Officers, advice is, being sought as to the cost-effectiveness of replacing the existing bulbs with low-energy bulbs. Some fluorescent tubes have been removed as the installations provide more light than is required in some locations.In the Treasury Solicitor's Department the majority of its lighting is of the fluorescent type which is more energy efficient than lighting by ordinary lamp bulbs.All Crown Prosecution Service offices have been encouraged to consider energy saving schemes including lighting. New or replacement lighting installations use low energy light sources where this is practicable.The Serious Fraud Office has recently replaced halogen bulbs in the lift lobbies with low wattage long-life bulbs. Existing fluorescent tubes are of a variety which is considered to be energy and cost effective. The Serious Fraud Office is considering further energy savings by the introduction of new generation low-energy bulbs.

To ask the Attorney-General what plans he has to make an annual publication of the funding, payments on account, and the hourly rates paid to solicitors by the Legal Aid Board.

Details of payments made by the Legal Aid Board including details of payments made on

Gross value added per employee in manufacturing industry by standard region of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1988
	North	Yorkshire and Humberside	East Midlands	East Anglia	South East	South West
Orders III—XIX, Standard Industrial Classification (1968)1
1976	5,607	4,994	4,886	5,470	5,655	5,070
1977	6,206	5,719	5,464	6,432	6,667	5,746
197,8	7,017	6,391	6,202	7,001	7,555	6,665
1979	8,343	7,634	6,911	8,227	9,236	7,852
Divisions 2–4, Standard Industrial Classification (1980)1
1979	8,030	7,305	6,934	8,277	8,660	7,943
1980	8,941	8,031	7,906	9,551	9,760	9,182
1981	10,631	9,191	8,775	10,629	10,976	10,326
1982	11,091	10,265	9,944	12,749	12,373	12,041
1983	13,688	11,855	11,100	13,865	14,166	12,935
1984	15,544	12,933	12,172	14,968	15,155	14,282
1985	16,521	13,991	13,479	16,240	16,694	15,370

To ask the Attorney-General what are the reasons for the delay for the case on social security commissioner's file CSB/370/1989 to reach the stage of being referred by the commissioner to another appeal tribunal for determination; and what steps he has taken to ensure that adequate steps have been taken to prevent similar delays in other cases.

The late surge of appeals prior to the April 1988 social security benefit legislation gave rise to a significant increase in workload at the office of the social security commissioners (OSSC) as cases worked their way up the appeal system. Additionally, the OSSC experienced difficulties with the recruitment and retention of staff in 1989 and early 1990. The case on the social security commissioner's file CSB/370/89 was regrettably delayed in the ensuing backlog of appeals awaiting determination by the commissioners.The commissioners are empowered to expedite cases in exceptional circumstances but received no representations on the appellants behalf or concerning her personal circumstances.The Lord Chancellor's Department has been concerned about continuing long waiting times for commissioners' determinations and, following a manpower audit, local management at the OSSC, took in May 1990 a series of measures which have resulted in a reduction in delays. I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 18 June 1990 at column

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was manufacturing output per head in each United Kingdom region in each year since 1976.

The table gives the available information at current prices. Constant price estimates can not be calculated because there are no regional price deflators. Differences between regions may be due to differences in their industrial mix.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is Her Majesty's Government policy towards the continuation of duty-free goods in the EEC after the end of 1992.

The European Commission has made clear its view that, as a consequence of the completion of the single market, duty-free shopping for intra-Community travellers should cease.The Government understand the Commission's view, but equally are aware of the significance of the duty-free trade in the United Kingdom. The Government will examine all the arguments carefully before a decision is made.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost to Her Majesty's Treasury of higher-rate mortgage tax relief in 1985, 1988 and 1990.

Estimates for financial years are as follows:

Direct revenue cost of mortgage interest relief at a rate in excess of the basic rate of income tax
Year	£ million
1985–86	260
11988–89	310
11990–91	470
1 Provisional.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount spent by United Kingdom consumers, inclusive of taxes, on energy in (a) 1989 and (b) 1990; and what proportion of total expenditure that was in each instance.

I have been asked to reply.In 1989 expenditure on energy in the United Kingdom (inclusive of taxes) was £42,150 million. This represents 8·0 per cent. of total domestic expenditure (at current market prices), or alternatively 8·3 per cent. of gross domestic product (average measure at current market prices). Figures for 1990 are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the names of all Government-nominated members and the names of all district council nominated members of (a) the Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners and (b) the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority, in each year since 1979 giving the year of appointment and length of service in each case.

Appointments are as follows:

Name	Year of appointment	Length of service	Nominated by
Londonderry Port and Harbour Commission
Mr. J. A. Allen	1977	9	Council
Captain P. J. Collier	1977	9	Government
Mr. J. T. Eaton	1977	14	Government
Mr. E. F. McCambridge	1977	4	Government

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the latest estimate of local authority spending on refuse collection in each of the district councils.

The information, which also includes the estimated cost of refuse disposal because figures are not recorded separately, is set out in the table:

Estimate of Local Authority spending on Refuse Collection and disposal—1990–91
Council	Amount
	£
Antrim	980,794
Ards	767,700
Armagh	569,000
Ballymena	664,720
Ballymoney	215,271
Banbridge	393,697
Belfast	7,717,660
Carrickfergus	505,454
Castlereagh	812,874
Coleraine	601,752
Cookstown	412,150
Craigavon	1,088,279
Derry	1,566,300
Down	741,196
Dungannon	494,792
Fermanagh	534,460
Lame	621,015
Limavady	413,611
Lisburn	1,057,510
Magherafelt	423,453
Moyle	233,298
Newry and Mourne	831,044

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the commencement date of the Magherafelt bypass; when he expects the bypass to be completed; and at what cost.

There are no plans to build a bypass of Magherafelt within the foreseeable future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many beds have been closed in Northern Ireland hospitals in each of the past five years.

This information is not available in the form requested. The information in the table shows the average number of available beds in Northern Ireland hospitals for 1985 to 1989–90.

Year	Total
1985	16,959
1986	15,962
1987	15,411
1988–89	14,686
1989–90	14,154

Over this period, the number of patients treated increased by 15 per cent. to 315,962. Considerable progress has also been made in providing long-stay patients with more appropriate forms of care in the community in line with the Government's policy of ensuring that people are cared for in a way which promotes their quality of life and provides them with the type of care best suited to their individual needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for the monthly statistical periods since April 1990, if he will show the number of claimants in Mid-Ulster who had (a) been issued with warning letters for not actively seeking work, (b) had their claims referred to an adjudication officer for not actively seeking work, (c) had their claims (i) allowed and (ii) disallowed, (d) had their claims referred to an adjudication officer for refusing suitable employment and (e) been disqualified for refusing suitable employment.

The information is not available in the form requested. The following information relates to claimants in the areas served by Cookstown, Omagh and Strabane social security offices. The office in Magherafelt was badly damaged as a result of a recent terrorist attack and records for the area are not immediately available.Between April 1990 and January 1991 almost 2,000 unemployed claimants were interviewed specifically about their efforts to find work. As a result, three claims were referred to the adjudication officer of which one was allowed and two were disallowed. No claims were referred for refusing suitable employment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will consider compensation for tenants and owner-occupiers of houses affected by security measures taken in relation to RUC stations.

There is already provision in Article 18 of the Land Compensation (Northern Ireland) Order 1982 for the payment of compensation where property is unjuriously affected by such measures. There is also provision in Article 4 of the Land Acquisition and Compensation (Northern Ireland) Order 1973 for the payment of compensation in respect of depreciation in an interest in property as a result of environmental and physical factors caused by security measures. Claims for such compensation should be made against the Police Authority for Northern Ireland.In addition, there is provision under section 28 of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978 for the payment of compensation by the Secretary of State where under the Act any real or personal property is taken, occupied, destroyed or damaged, or any other act is done interfering with private rights of property.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many traffic volume surveys have been carried out by the Department of Environment at Canal street, New street, and the Armagh road in Newry in the past five years; and what were the results of each survey.

Five traffic volume surveys were carried out at Canal street, Newry and one each at New street and the Armagh road. The results of the surveys were:

Location	Date	Total vehicles
Canal street	2 June 1988	889
Canal street	2 November 1988	934
Canal street	8 February 1990	1,045
Canal street	10 April 1990	1,055
Canal street	30 October 1990	991
New street	30 October 1990	682
Armagh road	4 June 1987	940

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the developments arising from the report of the interdepartmental committee on rural development.

The Inter-Departmental Committee on Rural Development reported in December 1990, and I was pleased to be able to announce on 15 February that Ministers had endorsed the broad thrust of the Committee's recommendations.Accordingly, I have allocated ministerial and departmental responsibility for rural development to the agriculture portfolio and have asked that Department to take forward urgently the establishment of an advisory body and resource centre outside Government and under the management of a broad spectrum of rural interests. I am also establishing under the Department of Agriculture a small team of co-ordinators to integrate the responses from statutory agencies to locally developed regeneration plans.A further statement giving more detail of the mechanisms and structures to be put in place to assist the process of rural development in the most deprived rural areas of Northern Ireland will be issued shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assistance is available for the purposes of insulating homes against excessive noise in the vicinity of (a) motorways, (b) heavily trafficked roads, (c) civil airports, (d) low-flying zones and (e) military bases and installations; and in each case at what level of noise the assistance is made available.