To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what decisions he has taken about light dues in 1991–92; and if he will make a statement.

After three successive years in which light dues have been reduced, I regret that increases in costs over that period make a 6·7 per cent. increase in the light dues tariff unavoidable this year. This is not unexpected and was anticipated in the light dues statement of my predecessor a year ago. Even with this increase, which is below the rate of inflation, light dues are still below their 1987 level and are at the same cash level as in 1981. In real terms the burden has been reduced by about half in a decade.Coupled with the tariff change there are two measures which will particularly benefit the regular payers of light dues. First, I am satisfied that there is room for a second year of the "bargain break" introduced in 1990–91 whereby the maximum number of chargeable voyages in the cargo sector will be reduced from seven to six. This will benefit shipping which has contributed in the past to the strength of the liquid funds of the general lighthouse fund. For individual ships the "bargain break" represents a 14 per cent. reduction in their annual liability.Secondly, in response to representations from the shipping industry, I am revising the dues liability for ships paying on a per voyage basis. From April such ships will be required to pay dues on no more than one voyage per month; and "month" for this purpose will be a rolling, rather than calendar, month. This replaces the present rule under which ships of less than 25,000 net tonnage have been liable to dues on two voyages per calendar month (up to the exemption limit) and ships of 25,000 net tonnage and over have been liable to dues on one such voyage. This will have significant cash flow benefits for most cargo shipping, and for some ships the total liability in the year will also be reduced.The necessary order to give effect to these changes will be laid shortly.I have not yet reached a conclusion on the recommendations in the British Ports Federation report about the extension of light dues to pleasure craft, but this matter is being actively considered. Any change here would almost certainly require primary legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much he expects his Department to spend on road construction in 1991–92; and what new schemes are expected to start construction.

Spending on road construction, including land acquisition, in 1991–92 will total over £1,300 million. A total of 53 new schemes, as listed, are expected to be started. Whether and when individual schemes start depend on the satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures.New Starts 1991–92

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to which posts in public bodies he appoints individuals where the posts are (a) part-time and (b) remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

Only one: the chairmanship of the Civil Aviation Authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of those employed in his Department are disabled.

Of the Department's current staff of 15,274, 187 are registered as disabled (1·24 per cent.). A further 188 staff, who have indicated that they have disabilities, have not registered their disability.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the results of the inquiry into the sinking of the vessel Antares from Carradale; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 4 March 1991]: I understand that the inspector's inquiry is likely to be completed by the early summer.Under the Merchant Shipping (Accident Investigation) Regulations, a minimum of two months will then be needed while the report is considered by persons whose reputations are likely to be adversely affected. Unless the Secretary of State finds good reason not to publish, this will follow as soon as possible after the chief inspector has submitted his final report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to carry out his duties under section 13 of the Transport Act 1978 to promote a policy for the use of inland waterways for commercial transport.

I have been asked to reply.The Government wish to see maximum use of rivers and canals for freight transport where it is commercially sensible. But they take the view that customers should be free to choose the mode of transport best suited to their needs. The Government's role is to ensure that conditions of competition are fair and subject to proper safety and environmental standards.However, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Transport may give grants under section 36 of the Transport Act 1981 towards inland waterway freight facilities. This brings environmental benefits by reducing the number of lorries on unsuitable roads.

To ask the Attorney-General whether it is the policy of the departments for which he is responsible to mark property with an indelible mark or similar means of identification.

The Departments for which I am responsible do not at present have a policy of indelibly marking equipment. Each Department records the serial number of equipment where such equipment is so marked.The Crown prosecution service requires all offices to maintain a register of valuable items of equipment recording serial numbers or other identification marks. Line managers are required periodically to check equipment against the register.The Treasury Solicitor's Department is introducing an asset register identifying assets within the Department and recording date of purchase, type of asset, and its location.

To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer of 6 February, Official Report, column 140, if he will now reconsider the status of the eight documents contained on the file with Public Record Office references FO 371/34563–345900 and currently identified as withheld.

The eight papers referred to from the 1943 Foreign Office file on Polish-Soviet relations are retained by that Department under section 3(4) of the Public Records Act 1958. My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor is satisfied, on advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, that the documents are properly retained in accordance with the arrangements set out in paragraphs 28 to 31 of the White Paper "Modern Public Records", Cmnd 8531, March 1982.

To ask the Attorney-General whether the Director of Public Prosecutions will initiate proceedings to prosecute Omar Bakri Mohammed for incitement to murder.

I understand that the Metropolitan police are investigating possible offences by Omar Bakri Mohammed in the light of statements attributed to him by the media. The result of the investigation will be reported to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

To ask the Attorney-General whether the Lord Chancellor has decided whom he proposes to appoint as members of the Authorised Conveyancing Practitioners Board.

My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has today appointed the following people to serve as members of the Authorised Conveyancing Practitioners Board.

To ask the Attorney-General whether the Lord Chancellor has decided whom he proposes to appoint as members of the Lord Chancellor's advisory committee on legal education and conduct.

My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has today appointed the following people to serve as members of the Lord Chancellor's advisory committee on legal education and conduct:

• Mrs. Liliana Archibald
• Professor Richard Card
• His Honour Judge John Gower, QC
• Eric Hammond, OBE
• Brian Harvey
• John Hosking, CBE
• Patrick Lefevre
• Luke March
• The Reverend Dr. Colin Morris
• Dr. Claire Palley
• Ms. Usha Prashar
• Nicholas Purnell, QC
• Peter Scott, QC
• Graham Smith, CBE
• David Ward
• David Wilkins.

The chairman of the advisory committee is Lord Griffiths MC, whose appointment was announced by the Lord Chancellor on 16 October 1990.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will make a statement on the progress of monitoring exercise carried out in the civil service in accordance with the codes of the Commission for Racial Equality and the Equal Opportunities Commission.

Departments, agencies and the Civil Service Commission continue to make good progress in carrying out monitoring exercises and taking follow-up action in accordance with the Commission for Racial Equality and Equal Opportunities Commission codes of practice. My office monitors overall progress.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to what extent the increase in building control inspection fees and planning fees has fallen behind inflation since 1980.

Building control inspection fees are related to the cost of providing the service rather than the rate of inflation. Fees were first introduced in 1982. The retail prices index shows an increase of 65 per cent. between January 1982 and January 1991. Building control fees for the erection, alteration or extension of small domestic buildings rose by 52 per cent. in the same period. The sliding scale of fees for larger construction work is linked to the cost of the works.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) when he will establish a policy for 1991 renewables non-fossil fuel obligation in respect of Northern Ireland.(2) what action he proposes to encourage hydro-electric generation from sites in Northern Ireland.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave the hon. Member for Erewash (Mr. Rost) on 11 February 1991 at column 324–25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made towards implementation of the recommendations contained in the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report of June 1989 on the bus services in Northern Ireland provided by Ulsterbus Ltd. and Citybus Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.

The initial response announced to the House on 24 April 1990 indicated that there had been a positive reaction to the recommendations, none of which was rejected. The follow-up response, which I have today placed in the Library of the House, confirms that 32 of the 58 recommendations have already been implemented and the remaining 26 are in the process of implementation. The response was produced in consultation with the Northern Ireland Transport holding company and the bus companies.I am pleased to report that, among the more important developments, a new market-led approach with emphasis on customers' needs is now firmly established; capital expenditure on all major projects is subject to investment appraisal and post-completion audit; and a new unit, under an inspector general, ensures that quality of service is accorded high priority.The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland will keep the implementation of the recommendations under periodic review to gauge the improvement in bus services and management of the companies. I will report the progress to the House in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to which posts in public bodies he appoints individuals where the posts are (a) part-time and (b) remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

There are no part-time posts in public bodies in Northern Ireland remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the percentage of those waiting for non-urgent operations who wait longer than (a) six months, (b) one year and (c) two years, (i) nationally and (ii) in the South Manchester health authority area;(2) what was the number and percentage of patients waiting for non-urgent operations in 1980, 1985 and 1990 (i) nationally and (ii) in the South Manchester health authority area.

The information requested is given in the tables. Since March 1987 information on waiting lists has not been classified according to urgency of condition. Figures for 1990 therefore relate to all patients waiting for in-patient treatment in the surgical acute specialties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what brief has been given to Touche Ross regarding a merger of North Devon, Torbay and Exeter health authorities; on what date this survey was commissioned; and by what date it will report.

I understand that South Western regional health authority has commissioned Touche Ross to conduct a preliminary examination of the case for mergers between health authorities in Devon. My hon. Friend may wish to contact Mr. Charles Stuart, the chairman of South Western regional health authority for details.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make it his policy not to approve formally any merger between Torbay and North Devon health authorities without prior consultation with the right hon. and hon. Members representing the county;(2) pursuant to his answer of 28 February, what is the timetable for any regional decision, consultation and formal approval for any merger between Exeter, Torbay and North Devon health authorities.

I understand that South Western regional health authority is still considering whether to propose any amalgamation of health authorities in Devon. Should it decide to do so, it would formally consult all interested parties, including right hon. and hon. Members representing the county. The regional health authority would consider the responses before deciding whether to recommend any amalgamation of Devon health authorities to my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what effect including a calculation of capital charges in a business plan for a bid to build a new hospital would have on its financial viability;(2) how capital charging has affected the planning of the building of new hospital projects.

The existing methodology for appraising options for NHS building plans takes account of the costs of capital, including the opportunity cost. The introduction of capital charges will have a similar effect in appraising options.From April 1991, when considering plans to alter service provision, provider units will also need to ensure that purchasing authorities are willing and able to meet any additional costs which may arise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many advertisements for census enumerators were placed in jobcentres in January; and how many of these vacancies were filled by Friday 1 February.

The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and the General Register Office for Scotland made arrangements with the employment service to display a special poster advertising census enumerator posts in all job centres throughout Great Britain from early January 1991. A total of 117,550 enumerators are due to be appointed by 22 March 1991. By 1 February 91,041 people had applied, either to jobcentres or direct to the census offices; and 2,324 appointments had been made. The latest information available centrally is for 20 February. By then 185,960 people had applied and 24,671 appointments had been made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health to which posts in public bodies he appoints individuals where the posts are (a) part-time and (b) remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is responsible for approximately 1,213 part-time appointments to public bodies. Details of these posts can be obtained from the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies 1990". A copy of which is available in the Library.None of our part-time or full-time posts receives salaries in excess of £50,000 per annum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of those employed in his Department are disabled.

A total of 0·74 per cent. of staff working in the Department are registered as disabled. The Department also employs a number of people with disabilities who are not registered as disabled.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will update his replies to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East on 21 October 1987, Official Report, columns 808–09 and 2 December 1988, Official Report, columns 439–40, regarding mortality statistics.

Number of deaths by month of occurrence and age group
	Males		Females		Persons
	65 +	75 +	60 +	75 +	75 +
England and Wales, 1987
January	20,835	12,812	26,067	19,115	31,927
February	17,262	10,609	21,379	15,617	26,226
March	18,662	11,407	22,975	16,530	27,937
April	16,717	10,095	20,788	14,890	24,985
May	16,736	9,977	20,525	14,567	24,544
June	15,930	9,523	19,995	14,047	23,570
July	15,771	9,383	19,836	14,112	23,495
August	15,557	9,304	19,427	13,978	23,282
September	15,404	9,192	18,782	13,353	22,545
October	17,460	10,557	21,788	15,612	26,169
November	17,358	10,488	21,554	15,537	26,025
December	20,183	12,517	25,135	18,313	30,830
England and Wales, 1988
January	19,994	12,411	24,840	18,290	30,701
February	18,486	11,571	23,179	16,906	28,477
March	19,911	12,402	25,661	19,022	31,424
April	17,439	10,666	22,067	16,097	26,763
May	16,608	10,064	20,711	14,939	25,003
June	15,686	9,558	19,638	14,124	23,682
July	15,915	9,682	19,563	13,991	23,673
August	16,071	9,667	19,879	14,218	23,885
September	15,569	9,504	19,099	13,729	23,233
October	17,025	10,427	21,007	15,229	25,656
November	17,774	10,990	22,189	16,056	27,046
December	19,924	12,584	25,647	18,914	31,498
England and Wales, 1989
January	19,576	12,340	24,787	18,306	30,646
February	16,734	10,431	20,769	15,174	25,605
March	18,114	11,351	22,731	16,713	28,064
April	17,317	10,706	21,370	15,531	26,237
May	16,866	10,576	20,755	15,237	25,813
June	16,173	10,053	20,235	14,785	24,838
July	15,795	9,909	20,030	14,703	24,612
August	15,294	9,454	19,134	13,923	23,377
September	15,486	9,589	19,032	13,851	23,440
October	17.030	10,693	21,366	15,545	26,238
November	18,087	11,308	22,539	16,604	27,912
December	27,909	18,587	37,589	28,894	47,481
England and Wales, 1990 1
January	21,018	13,589	27,279	20,606	34,195
February	17,182	10,924	21,290	15,864	26,788
March	18,036	11,387	21,963	16,277	27,664
April	17,154	10,898	21,532	15,881	26,779
May	16,977	10,584	20,775	15,243	25,827
June	16,125	10,088	19,916	14,578	24,666
July	16,087	9,922	20,043	14,771	24,693
August	15,400	9,610	19,501	14,306	23,916
September	15,588	"9,765	18,956	13,814	23,579
October	16,778	10,587	20,594	15,182	25,769
November	—	—	—	—	—
December	—	—	—	—	—
1 1990 data are provisional and the later months in particular are likely to be affected by late registration.

The information requested is shown in the following table.The data for 1990 are provisional, and the later months in particular are likely to be affected by late registration.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set a date to give every prisoner the right of access to prison education and to make the escorting of prisoners to education classes a duty for prison officers; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are already considering the recommendation of the third report from the Education, Science and Arts Committee on this matter and will now wish to take into account the various recommendations that have been made by Lord Justice Woolf and His Honour Judge Stephen Tumim in the report of their recent inquiry into the prison disturbances, April 1990. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has said that the Government plan to issue a White Paper later this year, but we have already made clear the importance which we attach to education as part of a positive and constructive regime and that we want to see more prisoners taking up education courses. Escorting inmates, where necessary, to enable them to attend educational classes or to take part in other regime activities is already part of the task of prison officers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to which posts in public bodies he appoints individuals where the posts are (a) part-time and (b) remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

The chairman of the Independent Television Commission is the only post in a public body to which I have appointed someone who is part-time and remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recorded cases of homicide remain unsolved since 1960; whether these files remain open; and what guidance his Department is giving to police forces on whether to pursue investigations of unsolved homicides.

No central record is kept of the number of recorded cases of homicide which remain unsolved since 1960. Figures for recorded homicides where no subject was charged during the year in question are set out in the table; figures for years prior to 1979 are not available. The police are always ready to investigate unsolved murders further. Decisions about whether to pursue such investigations are operational matters for chief officers of police. The clear-up rate for homicide cases is high; in 1989 it was 92 per cent.

Recorded offences of homicide where no suspects are charged
	Number
1979	32
1980	19
1981	24
1982	50
1983	31
1984	38
1985	34
1986	36
1987	35

	Number
1988	35
1989	57

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of those employed in his Department are disabled.

The Home Office currently employs 138 registered disabled persons, which represents 0·32 per cent. of the total number of staff. No record is kept of staff with disabilities who have chosen not to register.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to review the registration fee payable under the Data Protection Act 1984.

The triennial registration fee is intended to recover the costs of the Office of the Data Protection Registrar. Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary order, the Government propose to increase it from £56 to £75 from 1 June 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Mojisola Soetan, Gena Aina and Aderinjola Absosede Agbabiaka who escaped from East Sutton Park on 5 April 1990 and 22 April 1990 have since been recaptured.

No. These three women are still unlawfully at large.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Bernadette Ambrose, Mavis mary Sasu and Kudi Balogun who escaped from Drake Hall on 4 February 1990 and 25 February 1990 have since been recaptured.

Bernadette Ambrose has been recaptured. The other two women remain unlawfully at large.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many absconders from open prison were recaptured in 1990.

A new system of recording data on the recapture or surrender of absconders was introduced in November 1990. From that date until the end of 1990, a total of 190 prisoners unlawfully at large from open prisons were recaptured or surrendered. This figure includes prisoners who had failed to return to prison having been granted temporary release. The information requested prior to November 1990 is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners absconded from open prisons in 1990.

During 1990 1,148 prisoners absconded from open prisons.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if entry visas have been granted to the Iraqi citizens M. Ibrahim Hammadi and Qahman Al Azzawi since January 1986.

We have been unable to trace any record of the issue of a visa or of the entry to the United Kingdom of a Mr. Hammadi or a Mr. Al-Azzawi from the information provided.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the 700 extra police posts approved by him have been taken up by the local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend announced on 20 December 1990 the allocation in 1991–92 of 564 police posts for the provincial forces, 100 for the Metropolitan police and 36 for the regional crime squads. Of the 564 extra posts that have been allocated to 34 provincial forces 26 have not yet been taken up, by two police authorities which have so far been unable to confirm that they will be able to meet their share of the additional cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who entered Britain on a visa, in the last year for which figures are available, did so for the purposes of receiving private medical treatment; what proportion were required to produce medical records; and what is the procedure if their medical records are not available.

Those coming for medical treatment are not distinguished in statistical records from visitors arriving for other purposes. Under paragraph 23 of the published immigration rules passengers may be required to produce evidence that arrangements have been made for consultation or treatment but production of medical records would not normally be a matter for the immigration officer.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what percentage reported crime has increased in Leicestershire since 1979; and what proportion of that increase was in crimes of violence.

In the 12 months to the end of September 1990, the number of recorded crimes in Leicestershire was 122 per cent. higher than in 1979. Six per cent. of the increase was attributable to crimes of violence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received concerning the location of premises selected for the European bank for reconstruction and development; and if he will make a statement.

The choice of a permanent headquarters building will be made by the European bank for reconstruction and development. Meanwhile the Government have provided transitional accommodation for the bank in the City. I refer the hon. Member to the Overseas Development Administration departmental minute laid before the House on 17 December 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many United Kingdom citizens are to be employed by the European bank for reconstruction and development; and what roles they will perform.

The president-designate of the bank is responsible for staff recruitment from among member states of the bank and he will make his choices on merit. I am pleased to note the bank has selected Mr. John Flemming, previously with the Bank of England, for the senior position of chief economist.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the cost to Her Majesty's Government of the establishment of the European bank for reconstruction and development in London.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Fulham (Mr. Carrington) on 17 December 1990. In addition, we are meeting transitional accommodation and office support costs estimated at £2 million to enable the bank to prepare for operations.

To ask the Minister for the Arts to which posts in public bodies he appoints individuals where the posts are (a) part-time and (b) remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

The appointments which I make of trustees, board members, etc., to posts in public bodies, are part-time. None is remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum; most are unpaid.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount of mortgage interest relief that would be withdrawn per £1 billion existing relief per year if the relief percentage were reduced by (i) 1 per cent., (ii) 5 per cent. and (iii) 10 per cent. in England and in the United Kingdom.

Available estimates for the United Kingdom in 1990–91 are given in the following table.

Reduction in the rate of mortgage interest relief	Reduction in mortgage interest relief per £1 billion of relief
Percentage points	£ million
1	40
5	190
10	370

To ask the Chancellor of the exchequer what is the total amount of mortgage interest relief that would be saved per £1 billion existing relief per annum if the eligible loan ceiling for such relief for standard rate payers were reduced to (i) £29,000, (ii) £25,000, (iii) £20,000 and (iv) £15,000 in England, the United Kingdom and London and the south-east.

Available estimates for the United Kingdom in 1990–91 are given in the table. They relate to all mortgagors and exclude behavioural effects. Estimates for England, London and the south-east are not separately available.

Limit on Mortgage interest relief £	Direct revenue yield per £1 billion of relief £ million
29,000	10
25,000	90
20,000	190
15,000	330

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the amount of mortgage interest tax relief going to each economic planning region of the United Kingdom in 1990–91; and what is the average amount of subsidy per person in each region with a mortgage.

[holding answer 25 February 1991]: Broad estimates, based on the regional distribution of mortgage interest relief recorded in the family expenditure survey for 1988 and 1989, are as follows:

United Kingdom manufacturing investment (including leased assets) £ million 1985 prices
Year	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
Actual Investment (a)	10,264	9,656	10,185	11,505	12,421	11,738
Difference from 1978–79 average (a)—£10,937	-673	-1,281	-752	+ 568	+ 1,484	+ 801
1979 Investment Projected at 1974–79 average rate of change (2·1 per cent.) (b)	12,639	12,905	13,176	13,453	13,735	14,023
Difference from actual level (a)—(b)	-2,375	-3,249	-2,991	-1,948	-1,314	-2,285
1979 Investment projected at year on year per cent, changes11for:
Japan	not available	not available	not available	not available	not available	not available
France	11,365	11,801	12,449	13,838	—	—
USA	11,103	9,905	9,980	10,897	—	—
West Germany	11,680	12,589	13,293	—	—	—
OECD2	not available	not available	not available	not available	not available	not available

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the annual rate of inflation for the fiscal years 1989–90 and 1990–91; and what is his estimate of the rate of inflation for fiscal year 1991–92.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to which posts in public bodies he appoints individuals where the posts are (a) part-time and (b) remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

My right hon. Friend does not make any appointments to posts which are both part-time and remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will provide the information on United Kingdom manufacturing investment given in his answer to the hon. Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams) on 5 June 1990, Official Report, column 406, at constant prices for the latest year available.

[holding answer 5 March 1991]: The table provides revised and updated information for the years from 1985.

[holding answer 5 March 1991]: All items RPI inflation averaged 7·8 per cent. in the financial year 1989–90. The comparable figure for the market price GDP deflator was 6¼ per cent. (adjusted for the distortion caused by the abolition of domestic rates). Complete data for 1990–91 are not yet available. The autumn statement forecast was for an increase in the GDP deflator of 8 per cent. in 1990–91 and 6 per cent. in 1991–92; no such forecast is published for the RPI. A new forecast will be published with the Budget.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list, for each year since 1979, for each of the G7 countries, the amount of (a) civil research and development expenditure undertaken by private firms, (b) civil research and development expenditure undertaken by governments and (c) each of the above as a percentage of gross domestic product.

[holding answer 5 March 1991]: In 1989 civil research and development undertaken by industry in the United Kingdom was £5,730 million which represents 1·1 per cent. of GDP. Prior to 1989 information collected did not distinguish between civil and defence R and D. Comparable information for other countries is not readily available.The available information on Government civil R and D in G7 countries (except Canada) is given in tables 6.8 and 6.9 of the 1990 edition of the "Annual Review of Government Funded Research and Development", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of (a) annual and (b) six-monthly changes in mortgage rates set by building societies on fluctuation in the monthly figures for the retail prices index.

Companies Receiving BES Investments
Industry	1987–88		1988–89
	Number of companies	Amount of investment £ million	Number of companies	Amount of investment £ million
Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry	21	9	13	1
Fishing	20	6	11	1
Manufacture of Metals, Minerals and Chemicals	32	3	21	1
Mechanical Engineering	26	2	7	1
Electrical and Electronic Engineering	51	5	26	1
Manufacture of Transport Equipment	20	7	11	4
Instrument Engineering	20	2	7	1
Food and Drink Industry	30	2	12	—
Textile, Clothing and Footwear Industry	24	1	7	—
Manufacture of Paper and Paper Products	40	3	33	3
Other Manufacturing Industries	49	4	40	3
Construction and Real Estate	50	34	30	3
Wholesale Distribution	41	7	42	4
Retail Distribution	88	27	51	3
Distribution and Repair of Motor Vehicles	24	3	11	1
Hotels and Catering	74	43	42	4
Transport and Storage Services	28	1	21	9
Business, Professional and Technical Services	69	6	64	4
Medical, Educational and Social Services	38	30	26	1
Recreational, Hairdressing and Personal Services	59	4	38	2
Private Rented Housing	—	—	1,948	365
Others	14	2	15	2
Total	818	200	2,476	416

The average size of investment per company is as follows:

[holding answer 5 March 1991]: The mortgage interest payments component of the RPI is calculated using the current rates of interest charged by building societies and banks in order to reflect the changes in liabilities as they accrue for typical mortgage payers. The RPI is an index of prices rather than payments and it is not appropriate to reflect the various arrangements where payments are fixed for set periods.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total revenues to the Exchequer from North sea oil since May 1979, expressed in 1990 prices.

[holding answer 5 March 1991]: The total over the period since 1979–80 is estimated at around £98 billion at 1990 prices.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for each of the years of the existence of the business expansion scheme, what was (a) the regional distribution of BES funds and the associated cost to the Exchequer, (b) the distribution of BES investments by two-digit SIC and (c) the average size of investment.

[holding answer 25 February 1991]: Information on the companies receiving investments through the business expansion scheme is published in chapter 7 of "Inland Revenue Statistics 1990". Further information that is readily available is as follows:

	£ thousand
1983–84	147
1984–85	183
1985–86	224
1986–87	222
1987–88	245

	£ thousand
1988–89	168
11989–90	240
1 Provisional.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual reduction in income tax for a person on an annual income of (a) £10,000, (b) £20,000, (c) £30,000, (d) £40,000, (e) £70,000 and (f) £150,000 as a result of income tax changes since the 1988 Budget.

[holding answer 25 February 1991]: The information is in the table, which compares the income tax liability in 1990–91 with liability under 1988–89 rates of tax with allowances and thresholds indexed to 1990–91 levels by reference to movements in the RPI. The calculations are for a single, non-aged person with no reliefs or allowances apart from the personal allowance.

Annual income £	Increase in tax liability £
10,000	0
20,000	0
30,000	225
40,000	225
70,000	225
150,000	225

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average individual cumulative gain (a) in current prices and (b) in 1990–91 prices to those earning £5,000, £10,000, £15,000, £20,000, £25,000, £30,000, £40,000, £50,000, £60,000 and £70,000 a year as a result of changes in income tax since 1979.

[holding answer 25 February 1991]: Latest estimates of the annual change in income tax liability resulting from the changes in tax rates, allowances and thresholds are in the table. The 1978–79 income tax regime has been indexed to 1990–91 levels of reference to the statutory formula, and allowing for independent taxation.For the purposes of these calculations the indexed regime of 1978–79 is applied directly to the income base of 1990–91. In practice, retention of the regime, indexed as appropriate, for the intervening years would have led to changes in the income base.

	1989–901				1990–912
Group of income taxpayers	Total earned income	Average earned income	Total investment income	Average investment income	Total earned income	Average earned income	Total investment income	Average investment income
	£ billion	£ per annum	£ billion	£ per annum	£ billion	£ per annum	£ billion	£ per annum
Top 1 per cent.	17·8	82,800	6·9	32,200	20·6	78,800	7·4	28,200
Top 5 per cent.	49·7	46,000	12·2	11,300	55·4	42,200	13·0	10,000
Top 10 per cent.	78·5	36,300	15·6	7,300	85·6	32,500	16·7	6,500
Bottom 70 per cent.	134·2	8,900	11·6	880	150·1	8,200	13·5	870
Bottom 50 per cent.	79·4	7,400	7·5	820	88·7	6,800	8·9	830
Bottom 10 per cent.	10·2	4,800	n/a	n/a	11·2	4,300	n/a	n/a
All taxpayer	292·3	13,500	33·6	1,700	321·7	12,200	37·1	1,600
1 Counting married couples as one unit.
2 Counting husbands and wives as separate individuals under independent taxation.
n/a Estimates not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax units and individuals had (a) earned income and (b) total income in the top (1) 1 per cent., (2) 5 per cent. and (3) 10 per cent., and the bottom (i) 10 per cent. and (ii) 50 per cent. of the earnings and income distribution, respectively.

[holding answer 27 February 1991]: In 1990–91 it is estimated that there are 26·5 million individuals liable to income tax of whom 26·3 million have earned income. Information is accordingly as follows:

Thousands
	Number of individual taxpayers in 1990–91
	Earned income distribution	Total income distribution
Top 1 per cent.	300	300
Top 5 per cent.	1,300	1,300
Top 10 per cent.	2,600	2,600
Bottom 10 per cent.	2,500	2,600
Bottom 50 per cent.	13,100	13,200

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total and average investment income and earned income in 1989–90 and 1990–91 of (a) the top 1 per cent., (b) the top 5 per cent., (c) the top 10 per cent., (d) the bottom 70 per cent., (e) the bottom 50 per cent., (f) the bottom 10 per cent., of taxpayers and (g) all taxpayers.

[holding answer 25 February 1991]: Estimates are in the table.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to ensure that moneys provided by the European Community in support of regional need are neither classed as items of United Kingdom public expenditure nor limited because of any curb on public spending imposed by Her Majesty's Government.

The estimated moneys provided by the European Community in support of regional need, as with other receipts from the European Community, are taken into account in setting our public expenditure programmes, which are thus higher than they would otherwise be.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether, pursuant to his answer of 26 February, Official Report, column 480, his Department was aware of the involvement of E C Harris, quantity surveyors, in the proposed new South Glamorgan TEC headquarters building project prior to 24 September 1990.

The Department was aware before 24 September that E C Harris has been commissioned by South Glamorgan TEC to undertake some preliminary work which preceded the tendering process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment to which posts in public bodies he appoints individuals where the posts are (a) part-time and (b) remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

The public bodies sponsored by the Employment Department Group are listed on pages 18 to 22 of the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies 1990" which is available in the House of Commons Library. The list shows the appointments and the salaries paid. Part-time appointments are printed in light type and bold type denotes full-time appointments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of those employed in his Department are disabled.

The Employment Department Group employed 3·2 per cent. registered disabled staff at 1 June 1990, which is the latest available figure. The group also employs people with disabilities who have chosen not to register. The group complies with the code of practice on the employment of people with disabilities issued by the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service, and aims to increase the representation of those with disabilities especially at higher grades. The group as an employer has adopted the disability symbol it recently launched.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will restore funding to the nursery nurses course at Basford Hall college of further education, Nottingham to enable those students currently on the course to complete their studies; and if he will make a statement.

My Department's Greater Nottingham area office is seeking ways to support the continuation of training for trainees currently undertaking NNEB courses in nursery nursing at Basford Hall college of further education.All trainees will be given the opportunity to complete their period on employment training.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans have been made to provide suitable jobs for service personnel permanently disabled in the Gulf.

[holding answer 5 March 1991]: It is too soon to say how many United Kingdom service personnel who sustained injuries in the Gulf crisis might be discharged on medical grounds.Service personnel who are medically discharged because retention in the relevant service is not a possible option are helped by the resettlement officers of each service both before and after discharge. These officers work in close liaison with disablement resettlement officers (DROs) from the employment service, and with a variety of other organisations which can provide resettlement, rehabilitation and training assistance, to ensure that the needs of the service personnel when re-entering civilian life are met most effectively.In particular, DROs are invited to resettlement panels run by the services and can offer advice and guidance there. Anyone who requires further help, perhaps in their home area, in identifying, gaining and retaining suitable work can obtain it from the employment rehabilitation service and from DROs and other employment service staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy to issue guidance on conflicts of interest to the chairmen or women and all board members of all training and enterprise councils.

[holding answer 5 March 1991]: The revised TEC operating agreement which will come into force from April this year includes new clauses on conflicts of interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the location and estimated reserves of natural gas in Scotland.

Exploration and appraisal to date indicate only minor amounts of natural gas in onshore oil and gas discoveries in Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of those employed in his Department are disabled.

At 1 June 1990, 1·18 per cent. of my Department's staff were registered disabled persons.My Department's staff also included at this date other people with disabilities who had chosen not to register. No separate records are kept of unregistered disabled people.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the balance of manufactured trade between (a) Britain and the United States of America and (b) Germany and the United States of America in 1980, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989 and 1990.

The information is in the table. Figures for 1990 are not available for Germany's trade with the United States of America.

Crude trade balance1 in manufactures2 with United States of America
US$ billion
	Federal Republic of Germany	United Kingdom
1980	2·6	-2·4
1983	4·9	-1·7
1986	15·0	1·6
1988	12·6	-0·4
1989	8·1	-1·3
1990	n./a.	-3·7
1 The crude trade balance is exports (fob) less imports (cif).
2 Manufactures = SITC divisions 5 to 8.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what was the value of goods and services supplied to Iraq last year; and if he will make a statement;(2) what was the value of goods and services supplied to Libya last year; and if he will make a statement.

This information is available in Business Monitor MM20: Overseas Trade Statistics for the United Kingdom (December 1990) Table 1b. A copy is available in the Library.Data on United Kingdom trade in services are not available by partner country.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to which posts in public bodies he appoints individuals where the posts are (a) part-time and (b) remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

The chairmanship of British Shipbuilders.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what expenditure has been undertaken under the terms of the European Rechar programme in the United Kingdom and in each of the other EC member states.

The question does not arise, since implementation of most Rechar programmes, including those in the United Kingdom, has yet to begin. Decisions from the European Commission are awaited.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what subjects the Minister for Trade raised with the Argentine Government on his recent visit.

[holding answer 1 March 1991]: Among the subjects discussed were the improvement in relations between Britain and Argentina, the increase in our bilateral trade, the progress of the Uruguay round, opportunities for British investors and exporters, the Argentine economy and the country's plans for privatisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much was paid out as (a) incentive bonuses and (b) rebates to persons opting out of (i) SERPS and (ii) occupational pension schemes for each year since 1986; and how many persons opted out in each case during each of these years.

The main objective of the pensions reforms was to reduce the long-term costs of SERPS by encouraging the growth of alternative forms of pension provision.The Government Actuary estimates that the numbers opting out of SERPS (either in contracted-out occupational schemes or with personal pensions) are as follows:

Great Britain, Millions
	Number in contracted-out schemes	Number with personal pensions	Total contracted-out
1987–88	9·1	3·1	12·2
1988–89	9·3	3·1	12·4
1989–90	9·4	4·0	13·4

The revenue forgone in respect of rebates and incentives is estimated to be as follows:

Great Britain, £ billions
	Rebates to schemes	Rebates to personal pensions	Rebates Total	Incentives to schemes and personal pensions
1987–88	4·7	1·0	5·7	0·3
1988–89	4·8	1·0	5·8	0·4
1989–90	5·3	1·5	6·8	0·6

The amounts paid are shown against the year to which they relate rather than the year in which payment was made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the average amount of maternity leave taken, in weeks, by women in receipt of statutory maternity pay;(2) if he will estimate the proportion of women in receipt of statutory maternity pay who receive the lower rate only throughout the maternity pay period;(3) if he will publish figures showing the number and proportion of women in receipt of statutory maternity pay who receive less than the maximum 18 weeks' statutory maternity pay entitlement.

Detailed statistics about statutory maternity pay are not collected centrally from employers. It is not possible, therefore, to provide sufficiently accurate estimates of the information requested at this time. It is hoped that the information will be available to allow such estimates to be made when a survey of maternity rights being carried out by the Policy Studies Institute is published later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate how many women lost entitlement to the earnings-related element of statutory maternity pay as a result of the 1987 changes which changed the qualifying week to the 15th week before expected confinement.

Information is not available of the numbers of women who either gained or lost the earnings element of statutory maternity pay (SMP) as a result of the 1987 change in the qualifying week.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what guidance he will issue to local adjudicating officers on arrangements for care for claimants in former local authority homes who (a) are existing residents in a former local authority home, (b) are new residents nominated by the local authority entering the home after transfer, (c) are new residents not nominated by the local authority and (d) live in homes where (i) staff employment remains the local authority's responsibility, but the new provider manages the scheme, (ii) property is leased to fall-back provisions and (iii) a fund is made available by the local authority to cover necessary top-ups of fees;(2) what guidance he will issue to local adjudicating officers to assist them in determining the eligibility of individual claimants to enhanced levels of income support when local authorities have transferred elderly residents' homes to independent trusts or voluntary bodies.

Eligibility for income support is defined by regulation. Decisions regarding claims to benefit will be made at local level by the independent adjudication officers, who are provided with guidance on the interpretation of the regulations by the chief adjudication officer in the published adjudication officers' guide.No special arrangements have been made for when homes are transferred out of local authority control. The existing guidance issued to adjudication officers is available to assist in determining eligibility for income support in such cases.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidance he will give to local adjudication officers about eligibility of claimants to income support when they are in nursing homes where arrangements made by health authorities rely on patients claiming income support and where (a) premises are transferred from health authorities to independent providers, (b) beds are reserved through health authority contracts, (c) health authorities have arranged with a third party for sums of money to be available for top-up of income support and (d) health authorities retain rights, or continue to employ staff directly.

Eligibility for income support is defined by regulation. Independent adjudication officers are provided with guidance on the interpretation of the regulations by the chief adjudication officer (rather than my right hon. Friend) in the published adjudication officers guide.The NHS has a responsibility for providing medical and nursing care. This is mainly provided in NHS accommodation. Health authorities (HAs) can enter into contractual arrangements with independent nursing homes for the treatment of NHS patients. They cannot charge people when they do so. Patients in private homes under these arrangements are NHS in-patients and cannot be charged and therefore cannot receive income support as that benefit is designed to provide help with actual charges. HAs cannot make topping-up payments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether it is the policy of his Department to mark property with an indelible mark or similar means of identification.

General guidance on security matters recommends that portable equipment should be given an identification mark. In addition, standards laid down for the housing of IT equipment emphasise the need for it to be kept in secure accommodation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the annual total saving to his Department derived from reducing the level of income support payment granted to asylum seekers.

Asylum seekers are entitled to 90 per cent. of the appropriate personal allowance. If the full allowances were paid, the estimated additional cost would be around £2·5 million per year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people, excluding asylum seekers, are granted less than 100 per cent. of the normal rate of income support payments since the change in social security legislation in April 1988; and if he will outline the reason for not granting the full rate of income support in such cases.

Income support urgent cases payments are available to certain people from abroad, including asylum seekers, and to people who have not received income which they are due and who would, in consequence, suffer hardship. The personal allowance for adults is reduced by 10 per cent. because recipients are not entitled to (or are entitled to less) income support under the normal rules. Allowances in respect of any children together with any premiums are paid in full. No information is available about the number of people receiving urgent cases payments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average state earnings-related pension scheme payment for people retiring in the April of each year since 1979 who are in receipt of SERPS.

The information is not available in the precise form requested. The available figures are as follows:

People retiring in	Gross additional pension payable1 £
8 months ending 30 November 1979	0·70
6 months ending 31 May 1980	0·83
13 months ending 30 June 1981	1·54
6 months ending 31 May 1982	2·43
6 months ending 31 March 1983	3·52
6 months ending 31 March 1984	4·47
12 months ending 31 March 1985	5·65
6 months ending 31 March 1986	7·37
12 months ending 30 September 1987	9·32
6 months ending 31 March 1988	10·43
6 months ending 31 March 1989	12·10
1 Includes a notional amount which would have been paid to those who were contracted out of the state earnings related scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security to which posts in public bodies he appoints individuals where the posts are (a) part-time and (b) remunerated by more than £50,000 per annum.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State makes the following part-time appointments to public bodies:

Public Body	Number of appointments
Attendance Allowance Board	8
Industrial Injuries Advisory Council	17
Occupational Pensions Board	13
Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions	25
Social Security Research Policy Committee	8
Total	71

My right hon. Friend does not make any part-time appointments where remuneration is in excess of £50,000 per annum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received about the level of funding of community care loans and grants at his Department's offices in Greenock and Port Glasgow; what has been his response; and if he will make a statement.

No representations have been received concerning either office. However, following a recent exercise to identify offices whose budgets were under severe pressure, an additional allocation of £30,000 for the loans budget at Greenock was made on 22 February.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what change there has been in the numbers of claims and the time involved in (a) the assessment of a claim and (b) the notification of the assessment to the claimant in Greenock and Port Glasgow, following the installation of computer systems.

The installation of the computer systems in Greenock and Port Glasgow local offices to assess and pay claims for income support and retirement pension was completed in August 1990.From the latest information available, in January 1991, Port Glasgow local office received 341 claims for income support which were cleared in an average of 0·7 days. Prior to computerisation, in May 1989, the office received 327 claims for income support which were processed in an average of 1·7 days. In January 1991, the office also received 21 claims for retirement pension which were dealt with in five days. In May 1989, 25 claims for retirement pension were received which were also cleared in five days.In January 1991, Greenock local office received 850 claims for income support which were cleared in an average of 0·7 days. Prior to computerisation, in March 1990, the office received 626 claims for income support which were processed in an average of 1·3 days. In January 1991, the office received 113 claims for retirement pension which were dealt with in 9·7 days. In October 1989, 112 claims for retirement pension were received which were cleared in 19·4 days.In general, the time taken to receive notification of entitlement depends on the type of payment. If payment is due within three days a girocheque is issued automatically by the computer system and sent by first-class post, with the entitlement notice enclosed. Alternatively, if payment is by order book, the book is issued to the Post Office by first-class post, and the pick-up notice, with entitlement information are sent second class direct to the recipient.