To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing reconciliations for England, Scotland and Wales between local authority current expenditure as in table 5.8 of Cm. 1520 and the respective aggregate expenditure for grant purposes in successive revenue/(rate) support grant orders.

Following the changes to the local authority finance system, data are no longer held in a form which makes it possible to provide the information requested, except at disproportionate cost. For most years, figures for current expenditure have changed only very slightly from those given to the hon. Member in response to the similar question he asked on 20 July 1990.

Differences in aggregate external finance between the 1990 public expenditure White Paper and the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement
£ million
	1987–88	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91	1991–92	1992–932
England
Revenue Support Grant		–70	–27
Non domestic payments	31	108	115		1,617	1,990
Magistrates courts				27	19	30
Commonwealth Immigrants				30		10
Probation and aftercare			1	20	19	30
Police			34	62	138	230
Education Support					54	50
In-service teacher training				5	–47	–50
Administration of Housing Benefit3				5	15	20
Area Protection Grant4				2	10	40
Other grants			-40	40	52	50
Total	31	38	84	191	1,876	2,400
Scotland
Revenue Support Grant			9	16
Non domestic rate payments					268	260
Urban programme			–3	–6	1
Police			4	–12	2
Administration of Housing Benefit3				1	2
Other grants				1	9	10
Total			11	–1	282	270
Wales
Revenue Support Grant
Non domestic rate payments					138	80
Police			–3	4	7	10
Other grants			1	3	4
Total			–3	7	150	90
Total Great Britain	31	38	92	197	2,308	2,770
1The differences shown are differences after adjustments for changes of classification and switches between departments and spending sectors.
2Figures are rounded to the nearest £10 million.
3Including Community Charge benefit administration.
4Including low rateable value areas grant.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report an analysis using the

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report an analysis for the years 1984–85 to 1993–94, in as far as practicable in the same format as table 5.1 of Cm. 1520 of aggregate external finance of local authorities, showing (a) changes between table 21.4.3 of Cm. 1021 and table 5.3 of Cm. 1520 and (b) changes between table 5.3 of Cm. 1520 and the "Financial Report and Budget Statement" 1991–92.

The information is set out in the table below. It is on the same basis as the information on differences from Cm. 1021 presented in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement—that is, it excludes differences arising from changes in the way expenditure is recorded (classification changes) or from transfers between departments or sectors (for example, switching responsibility for expenditure from central Government to local authorities). Figures for 1985–86 and 1986–87 are unchanged. Corresponding analyses of differences between the supplement and the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" are not available. Details of changes since the supplement arising from the community charge reduction scheme and the measures announced on 17 January to reduce the levels of community charges are set out in table 5.2 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report".economic categories of table 5.6 of Cm. 1520 of the differences in the years 1984–85 to 1993–94 between the

levels of local authority self-financed expenditure underlying

Local authority self-financed expenditure is simply the residual between the level of local authority expenditure (and projections for future years) and the level of central Government support for local authorities (plans for future years). Differences in the levels of local authority self-financed expenditure therefore simply depend on changes in local authority expenditure itself, and in central Government support. Levels of local authority expenditure are shown in table 21.4.6 of Cm. 1021, and table 5.6

Retail Prices Index
	Average annual percentage increase
	January 1986 to March 1991	January 1980 to January 1990	January 1970 to January 1980	January 1960 to January 1970
Goods other than food and fuel and light1 2	5·0	5·8	12·5	3·5
Food, fuel and light and services	4·6	5·7	14·5	4·0
Housing	12·8	11·9	13·5	5·1
1 Includes vehicle maintenance, tax and insurance prior to 1974.
2 Including the cost of meals out since 1968.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a table showing (a) the amount invested by United Kingdom manufacturing industry in plant and machinery in 1970, 1973, 1979, 1985 and 1989 at 1985 prices, (b) the amount invested per person employed in manufacturing industry in each of those years and (c) the nearest comparable figures for France, Germany, Italy and the United States of America in each case.

The following table provides the available information for the United Kingdom, from the annual census of production. In this case, net capital expenditure means capital purchases net of sales.Investment figures derived from the annual census of production differ slightly from those published in the United Kingdom national accounts because of differences in definition and coverage.There are no directly comparable data available for other countries. OECD publishes comparisons of investment incurred by industry groups, but not for plant and machinery alone.

Net capital expenditure in plant and machinery in manufacturing industry at 1985 prices in the United Kingdom
	Total £ million	£ per person employed
1970	7,903·7	983·9
1973	6,665·9	862·0
1979	8,031·3	1,159·6
1985	6,881·2	1,383·0
1988	8,845·4	1,793·4

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a table showing for the period since 1 January 1986 and for the decades 1980–90, 1970–1980 and 1960–1970, the average annual percentage increase in the retail prices of (a) goods other than food and fuel, (b) other goods and services and (c) housing.

The following table gives the available information.United Kingdom capital expenditure in 1988 by up to 8 per cent.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much he expects imports of each tobacco product to increase as a result of the changes in tobacco taxation he announced in his Budget Statement; and if he will show the increases by percentage and by value for each manufactured product and indicate the country of origin by percentage and value.

The aims of the increases in tobacco taxation announced in the Budget statement include an overall fall in tobacco comsumption, both of United Kingdom manufactured and imported tobacco products to which the increases equally apply. It is too early yet to predict the impact of the tax changes on individual classes of tobacco products, let alone by country of origin.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much he expects the sale of each home-produced tobacco product to decline as a result of the changes in taxation of tobacco products he announced in his Budget statement; and how many jobs he expects will be lost in each of the counties of the United Kingdom as a result in the present financial year.

It is estimated that consumption of tobacco products will be about 4 per cent. lower in 1991–92 as a result of the increase in taxation of tobacco products announced in the Budget statement. Reliable estimates are not available for individual products. I cannot predict the impact of these tax changes on jobs in the tobacco industry; this will depend on a wide range of other factors.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the balance of trade with the rest of the European Community in manufactures, including erratics, on a balance of payments at current prices for 1989 and 1990.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 24 April at column 468.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total sum paid out in fees by the Central Office of Information to management consultants in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1990–91 and budget for 1991–92.

Details of fees paid by the Central Office of Information to management consultants for years 1979–80 to 1988–89 were given in the answer at column 168 on 13 March 1990. Figures for the years 1989–90 to 1991–92 are as follows:

	£
1989–90	71,181
1990–91	1Nil
1991–92	2Nil
1 Estimate.
2 Budget.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give for each year from 1979–80, including 1991–92, the number of staff actually employed on 1 April and the full complement of staff, including vacant posts, by grade, in the statistical divisions in the Treasury; and if he will differentiate between staff in statistical posts and staff in administrative posts.

The information is as follows (budgeted complement given in brackets):

Staff in statistical divisions1
	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91	1991–92
Unified grade 52	2(2)	2(2)	2(2)	2(2)
Unified grade 72	8(8)	7(8)	8(7)	7(6)
SEO	4(4)	3(4)	2(3)	2(2)
HEO	5(5)	4(5)	5(6)	6(6)
Senior assistant statistician/ assistant statistician	4(4)	3(4)	4(4)	4(5)
EO	10(11)	10(11)	12(11)	11(12)
AO/AA	13(13)	15(13)	14(14)	13(13)
Total	46(47)	44(47)	47(47)	45(46)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give for each year from 1979–80, including 1991–92, the number of staff actually employed on 1 April and the full complement of staff, including vacant posts, by grade, in the statistical divisions in the Central Office of Information; and if he will differentiate between staff in statistical posts and staff in administrative posts.

The Central Office of Information has not had statistical divisions or staff in statistical posts for the years in question. There are no proposals for any such appointments in 1991–92.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total expenditure by the Central Office of Information on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1990–91 and budget for 1991–92.

Details of the cost of the press office of the Central Office of Information for 1979–80 to 1988–89 were given at column 166 on 13 March 1990. The costs for 1989–90 are as follows:

	£
1989–90	46,612
1990–91	157,240
1991–92	254,740
1 Estimate.
2 Budget.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give for each year from 1979–80, including 1991–92, the number of staff actually employed on 1 April and the full complement of staff, including vacant posts, by grade, in the statistical divisions in his Department; and if he will differentiate between staff in statistical posts and staff in administrative posts.

I refer the hon. Member to the replies given on 21 July 1988, 13 March 1989 and 12 March 1990 (at columns 833–36, 19 and 4 respectively) for the information relating to 1979, 1984, 1988, 1989 and 1990. I regret that information about complements and for staff in post in the intervening years is not available; the position as at 1 April 1991 when there were no vacancies is:

Grade	Staff numbers
Statistician grades
Chief Statistician	1
Statistician	5
Assistant Statistician	2
Sub-total	8
Economist grades
Senior Economic Advisor	2
Senior Principal Economic Advisor	1
Economic Advisor	8·5
Senior Economic Assistant	2
Economic Assistant	1

To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will list the objects and property accepted in satisfaction of inheritence tax during the financial year ended 31 March; if, in listing these, he will specify (a) the amount of tax satisfied in each case, (b) whether any offers of objects carried conditions as to destination, (c) the dates in each case of the recommendations received by him from the Museums and Galleries Commission for the acceptance of objects, (d) the total for the financial year of the tax thus satisfied and (e) how much of this total was covered in the public accounts by means of resort to the Reserve in accordance with Government policy as announced on 26 July 1985, Official Report, column 779; and whether a press notice will be issued by the Office of Arts and Libraries making available the complete list of acceptances during the financial year which is covered in his reply.

The information the hon. Member requests is as follows:

Item	Tax satisfied £	Date MGC recommendations received
*Beachey painting1	360	—
Collections of works by and relating to John Piper	137,918	17 October 1989
*Photographs by and of Cecil Beaton	125,331	16 June 1990
*Old master drawings by Mirola Barocci, da Cortona and Reni	64,490	2 May 1990
*Two Raeburn Portraits	48,439	18 June 1990
Painting by Sickert	84,000	25 October 1990
Shudi Harpsichord	35,000	19 June 1990
*Collection of Post Office and Telegraph Stamps	113,000	16 August 1990
*Collection of paintings and a George III cabinet	211,522·80	6 September 1990
*Collection of paintings and drawings by Runciman	196,000	15 February 1991
*Portrait attributed to Reynolds	20,000	12 April 1990
A collection of musical instruments	126,956	11 January 1991
A collection of papers relating to George Greenough	26,600	11 January 1991
Watercolour by Whistler	7,000	11 January 1991
*Two paintings by Nasmyth	56,000	19 June 1990
1 Additional payments for offer accepted in 1989–90.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what would be the cost of lighting all Britain's motorway network.

The estimated capital cost of lighting the present network in England is in excess of £250 million. The estimated running costs in energy and maintenance would be approximately £30 million per annum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made in reducing drink driving (a) generally and (b) among what were the prime target groups.

Considerable progress has been made in our continuing campaign against drinking and driving in changing public attitudes and so reducing the number of road accidents caused by those who drink and drive. In 1980, 32 per cent. of drivers and riders killed in road accidents, whose blood alcohol level was known, were above the legal limit. By 1989 this had fallen to 19 per cent. Among the target groups over the same period this proportion fell from 25 per cent. to 11 per cent. for the 16-to-19 age group and from 41 per cent. to 24 per cent. for the 20-to-29 age group. The reduction has been less marked for older drivers and our campaign has been broadened to address drivers in their early middle age.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what incentives he intends giving to road hauliers to fit speed limiters to heavy goods vehicles on a retrospective basis.

None. Many operators have voluntarily fitted speed limiters so as to save fuel and reduce maintenance costs and have found this investment to be well worth while.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the authorised capital investment for London Regional Transport in each of the past 15 years.

For the six years 1985–86 to 1990–91, the information is as follows:

Authorised level of capital investment
	£ million cash
1985–86	184
1986–87	273
1987–88	305
1988–89	365
1989–90	486
1990–91	580

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 24 April to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central, what are the technical difficulties relating to the day trains for direct services from the channel tunnel to cities north of London; and if he will make a statement.

I understand from British Rail that there are two main problems. One is the need to avoid the risk of electrical currents from the locomotives interfering with the signalling. The other is the adaptation of the inter-capital train sets, which are too long for stations north of Peterborough and Rugby, so that they have a driving cab in the middle of the train and can be split to operate as two separate trains, while preserving the other characteristics of the train sets. British Rail is investigating with the manufacturers how best to overcome these difficulties and will seek the earliest possible delivery date. As an interim measure, British Rail is examining the possibility of running a few InterCity services from Scotland and the north of England direct to Waterloo to provide a better connection with the inter-capital trains.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will publish an analysis showing (i) for the years 1981–82 to 1989–90 grant-related expenditure analysed by standard region; (ii) for the years 1990–91 and 1991–92 total standard spending and standard spending assessments analysed by standard region (iii) for the years 1981–82 to 1991–92 aggregate Exchequer finance analysed by standard region and (iv) for the years 1981–82 to 1991–92 central Government support analysed by standard region; indicating whether this analysis is consistent with section 5 of Cm. 1520;(2) if he will publish tables showing

I will write to the hon. Gentleman and place the associated tables in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each year from 1967–68 to 1991–92 the aggregate grant percentage for rate revenue support grant;(2) if he will publish in the

I will write to the hon. Gentleman and place the associated tables in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money was spent by local authorities on the provision of speech therapy in the last year for which figures are available.

The vast majority of spending on speech therapy is carried out by health authorities. The relatively small amount of spending by local authorities is not separately identified on their returns submitted to the Department of the Environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the statements or speeches made by, or on behalf of, Ministers of the Crown (a) prior to July 1987 and (b) since covering any major review of the functional organisation of boundaries of local government.

Over the 158 years since the setting up of the Royal Commission on Municipal Corporations of 1833, which can be regarded as the first major review of the functional organisations and boundaries of local government, many speeches and statements have been made by, and on behalf of, Ministers of the Crown. The most relevant to the current situation are the statements made by my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment, for Wales and for Scotland on 21 March and 22 April at columns 401 and 901.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department has commissioned or published in the last 10 years in respect of the effect on health of electromagnetic radiation from electricity pylons.

Matters relating to the possible health hazards from environmental radiation are the concern of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health. However, my Department maintains close liaison with the Department of Health on these issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total capital sum realised from the abolition of the metropolitan county councils and the winding up of the residuary bodies.

One hundred and seventeen million pounds of capital receipts realised from the sale of surplus property and other assets were distributed by the metropolitan residuary bodies, excluding London, to local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number and sites of quarries in County Durham used for waste disposal from industrial and domestic sources.

The Department does not have information on the number of quarries which are used for waste disposal. Durham county council, as waste disposal authority, should be able to provide the information on waste disposal sites in its area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to promote the achievements of Rural Development Commission projects in the rural development areas, in particular those using funds provided from central Government.

My colleagues and I take every opportunity to publicise the achievements of the Rural Development Commission, as does the commission itself. For example, on 19 April my hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside launched a project in Rossendale, Lancashire, which is part of a new partnership between the Rural Development Commission and Help the Aged aimed at addressing the needs of elderly people in rural areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now give a decision in response to the application by the Caradon district council for an article 4 direction in respect of land at St. Veep which the hon. Member for Cornwall, South-East first referred to his office on 22 August 1990.

I have written to my hon. Friend explaining that delay has been caused by awaiting additional supporting evidence which the district council has offered to provide. Officials in my Department have written to the council about this again on 15 April. I assure my hon. Friend that once this additional evidence has been received, or the council confirms that it does not intend to submit anything further, we will issue a prompt decision on the article 4 direction.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what the aggregate external finance will be for each local authority under the illustrative council tax and what is the AEF in payment for 1991–92.

With the council tax, grant and business will be paid directly to each tier of local authority. It is therefore not possible to make direct comparisons with external finance in 1991–92 which is paid to the collection fund in each area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish for each local authority the average illustrative council tax bill per household; showing the average community charge bill per thousand in 1991–92.

The Government issued on 23 April full information on the illustrative effect on household bills had the council tax been fully in place in 1991–92.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his statement to the House on 23 April, Official Report, column 901–3, what is his policy towards the removal or otherwise of the safety net from those local authorities which will attract more Government grant than at present as a result of the proposals outlined by him on that occasion.

The illustrative figures published on 23 April assume that the present area protection grant will be distributed in the same way as the remainder of AEF.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the figures and calculations which result in Grimsby's local government tax bills in each column of his illustrative tables being among the 10 highest in the country.

The illustrative figures are calculated on the basis of a distribution of grant and non-domestic rate income which allows local authorities in all areas to set a council tax of £400 for a band D property occupied by two or more people, if they provide a standard level of service. The corresponding figures are £267 for a band A property and £668 for a band G property.All spending above the standard level falls upon the council tax. Humberside county council spends 4 per cent. above its standard spending assessment and Great Grimsby spends 32 per cent. above its SSA, leading to higher bills in the area than those for standard spending.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the correlation in his illustrative bills table in the new council tax between the percentage over standard spending assessment and size of charge in each band.

All revenue in excess of standard spending assessment will fall to be raised by the council tax for the local authority concerned. Within the area of an authority, the increase in bill for a band G property will be two and a half times that for a band A property. The size of increase required for a 1 per cent. increase in spending will depend on the SSA for the authority and the proportion of properties in each band.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his statement to the House on 23 April, Official Report, columns 901–903, if his review of local government will include the metropolitan districts.

I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend to the House on 23 April at column 901, in which he said that the Government intend no significant changes in the structure of local government in London or the metropolitan areas. However, they are seeking views on how arrangements for some services, such as grants to the voluntary sector and the arts, might be improved in these areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the full cost of calculating the Government's council tax figures and the cost of publishing the documentation outlining the Government's proposed system of local government finance.

No additional expense was incurred in calculating the illustrative council tax figures, as these were compiled from data held by the Department on existing computer systems.The estimated cost of publishing the documents outlining the Government's finance proposals was some £20,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many technical employees on the drinking water inspectorate were (a) previously employed by his Department and (b) previously employed by a water company, statutory water company or water authority or otherwise in the water industry.

Seven members of the professional staff of the drinking water inspectorate were previously employed by my Department, and two by other Government Departments. Four joined the inspectorate from water companies and one from a public analyst. Another was employed by a firm of consultants. Two people are on secondment from the water research centre.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the total number of days that staff of the drinking water inspectorate have spent on water company premises;(2) how many site inspections have been carried out by staff of the drinking water inspectorate;(3) what is the total number of inspections carried out by drinking water inspectorate staff and the total number carried out by others; what is the proportion of drinking water inspections which are sub-contracted out to consultants; and what is the name of each firm of consultants employed by the drinking water inspectorate and the value of the contract awarded in each case;(4) what is the average amount of notice given to a water company before an inspection takes place;(5) if he will list each water company inspection that has been carried out so far in each water company; and if he will give the date of each visit and the conclusions of the inspection.

Since the drinking water inspectorate was established on 2 January 1990, inspectorate staff have spent about 120 days on water company premises. These staff have inspected 15 of the 39 water companies in England and Wales. Two firms of consultants, Watson Hawksley Ltd, and Rofe, Kennard and Lapworth were engaged by the inspectorate to make 24 inspections. For commercial reasons it would not be appropriate to give the value of the contracts.Inspections were made between June 1990 and February 1991 and, in general, water companies were given five weeks' notice. All inspections, except three, included site visits. The conclusions from the inspections will be summarised in the first annual report from the chief inspector of the drinking water inspectorate which is due to be published in July.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take action against Yorkshire Water for the outbreak of cryptosporidia in Hull in 1990.

The final report of the outbreak control team was delivered recently to the drinking water inspectorate which is investigating the incident. The inspectorate will make recommendations to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment in due course upon any action to be taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total sum paid out in fees by the Metropolitan police to management consultants in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1990–91 and budget for 1991–92.

I understand from the deputy commissioner that payments by the Metropolitan police to management and computer consultants, in each financial year since 1984–85, estimated expenditure for 1990–91 and budget estimate for 1991–92 are as follows:

	£
1984–85	346,000
1985–86	433,000
1986–87	558,000
1987–88	702,000
1988–89	742,000
1989–90	939,000
11990–91	1,538,000
21991–92	911,000
1 Estimated outturn.
2 Budget estimate.

I understand that information on spending on management consultants only, and for the years prior to 1984–85, is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total expenditure by the Metropolitan police on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1990–91 and budget for 1991–92.

Year	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991
Grade
Grade 7	1 (1)	1 (1)	1 (1)	1 (1)	1 (1)	1 (1)	1 (1)	1 (1)	1 (1)	1 (1)	1 (1)	1 (1)	1 (1)
SEO	1 (1)	1 (1)	1 (1)	1 (1)	1 (1)	1 (1)	1 (1)	1 (1)	1 (1)	1 (1)	1 (1)	—(1)	—(—)
HEO	2(2)	2 (2)	3 (3)	3 (3)	2 (2)	3 (3)	3 (3)	3 (3)	3 (3)	3 (3)	3 (3)	3 (3)	3 (3)
EO	9 (9)	9 (9)	9 (9)	8 (9)	8 (8)	8 (8)	8 (8)	8 (8)	9 (8)	8 (8)	7 (8)	9 (8)	9 (8)
AO	52(61)	62(61)	58 (61)	57 (61)	51(61)	59(61)	61(61)	61(61)	62(62)	58(62)	55(62)	59(62)	53(58)
AA	—(—)	1(—)	2(—)	—(1)	—(1)	—(1)	—(1)	—(1)	—(—)	—(—)	—(—)	—(—)	—(—)
Supporting grades	10 (9)	11 (9)	9 (10)	12 (9)	7(10)	5 (7)	5 (7)	7 (7)	7 (7)	7 (7)	7 (7)	8 (7)	6 (7)
Graphics grades	3 (3)	2(3)	3 (3)	3 (3)	3 (3)	3 (3)	2(2)	2 (2)	2(2)	—(—)	—(—)	—(—)	—(—)
Data processing grades	4(13)	4(13)	5 (13)	5 (13)	5 (5)	4 (5)	4 (5)	—(—)	—(—)	—(—)	—(—)	—(—)	—(—)
Total	82(99)	93(99)	91(101)	90(101)	78(92)	84(90)	85(89)	83(84)	85(84)	78(82)	74(82)	80(82)	72(77)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce primary legislation to restructure the police forces of England and Wales.

We have no plans for primary legislation, but we are considering what further improvements in the service delivered by the police can be achieved by developments within the present constitutional framework.

The deputy commissioner has told me that expenditure on staff and accommodation costs of the directorate of public affairs, and on recruitment and other advertising and other promotional literature, in each financial year since 1985–86, estimated expenditure for 1990–91 and budget estimate for 1991–92 are as follows:

	£
1985–86	3,622,861
1986–87	4,444,103
1987–88	4,555,000
1988–89	5,475,000
1989–90	5,366,000
11990–91	5,916,000
21991–92	6,390,000
1 Estimated Out-turn.
2 Budget Estimate.

Information for the years prior to 1985–86 is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give for each year from 1979–80, including 1991–92, the number of staff actually employed on 1 April and the full complement of staff, including vacant posts, by grade, in the statistical divisions in the Metropolitan police; and if he will differentiate between staff in statistical posts and staff in administrative posts.

The deputy commissioner tells me that the complement and staff in post in the Metropolitan police statistics branch is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish details of any representations the Government have made to the Trevi group regarding combating terrorism after 1992.

The Government continue to press in Trevi for the closest possible co-operation against terrorism, which we regard as an essential objective in its own right. We have also continued to make clear to our Community partners our intention to maintain necessary checks at United Kingdom ports and airports after 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Kurdish asylum-seekers are required to report to police stations on a weekly basis; how many of them are aged (a) under 18 years and (b) under 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give for each year from 1979–80, including 1991–92, the number of staff actually employed on 1 April and the full complement of staff, including vacant posts, by grade, in the statistical divisions in his Department; and if he will differentiate between staff in statistical posts and staff in administrative posts.

The information available is as follows. Staff in post on 1 April in each of the relevant years in the statistical divisions of the Home Office are set out in the following table:

	Statisticians	Other grades	Total
1979–80	24	127·5	151·5
1980–81	25	127	152
1981–82	24	125	149
1982–83	23	123·5	146·5
1983–84	22	129	151
1984–85	25	128	153
1985–86	26	139·5	165·5
1986–87	24	140·5	164·5
1987–88	24·5	144·5	169
1988–89	27·5	140	167·5
1989–90	30	143	173
1990–91	28	158·5	186·5
1991–92	31·5	168·5	200

The number of vacancies, if any, varies from week to week and no separate record is maintained.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Northumbria as to how many hours' overtime were on average worked by a police constable in his force (a) in 1979 and (b) in 1990.

I understand from the chief constable of Northumbria that the average amount of overtime worked per officer in the federated ranks in Northumbria in 1990 was 185·37 hours. Figures for 1979 are no longer available and the other detailed information requested would be obtainable only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Northumbria as to how many (a) constables,(b) inspectors, (c) chief inspectors, (d) superintendents and (e) chief superintendents there were in his force (i) in 1979 and (ii) in 1990.

The information requested is set out in the table.

At 31 December	1979	1990
Constables	2,529	2,680
Inspectors	190	193
Chief Inspectors	60	63

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Northumbria as to the number of (a) police officers, (b) police cars and (c) motor cyclists who were on hand at Newcastle airport for the recent visit of the Duke and Duchess of Kent; and what was the cost of policing the Kents' visit to Northumbria.

The level of policing for particular events is a matter of operational judgment for the chief constable concerned. I understand from the chief constable of the Northumbria police that a total of 30 officers were on hand at Newcastle airport for the visit by their Royal Highnesses on 10 April. Of these, 12 were drivers, 14 were motor cyclists, and four officers were deployed from territorial divisional duties. The use of motor cyclists in particular resulted in significant reductions in the level of police resources needed during the visits subsequently made by their Royal Highnesses to seven different venues in the county of Northumberland and Tyne and Wear. The additional cost to the Northumbria police was about £2,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Northumbria as to the total real cost of policing in Northumbria for each year since 1979.

No. This is a matter for the police authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Northumbria as to the number of officers (a) stationed and (b) residing at Ponteland; and what are their duties.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to call for a report; nor is the information centrally held.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Northumbria as to the number of serving officers for each year since 1979.

The number of officers on the strength of the Northumbria police at 31 December for each year since 1979 is as follows:

	Police strength
1979	3,339
1980	3,340
1981	3,331
1982	3,329
1983	3,337
1984	3,344
1985	3,368
1986	3,361
1987	3,478
1988	3,460
1989	3,526
1990	3,528

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Northumbria as to the total cost, including manpower, of the force helicopter for each year since it was acquired.

The Northumbria police air support unit became operational in November 1989. I understand from the chief constable that the cost of the first year of operation was £656,320, including police manpower costs of £165,670.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the gross income of (a) a police constable, (b) a sergeant, (c) an inspector, (d) a chief inspector, (e) a superintendent and (f) a chief superintendent in a provincial force in (i) 1979 and (ii) 1990.

Minimum and maximum basic salaries for the years in question are as follows:

	June 1979		September 1990
	Minimum	Maximum	Minimum	Maximum
Constable	3,600	5,700	10,866	18,132
Sergeant	5,450	6,250	17,346	20,896
Inspector	6,250	7,440	19,896	22,590
Chief Inspector	7,100	8,235	22,590	25,128
Superintendent	9,800	10,710	30,729	33,369
Chief Superintendent	10,800	11,775	34,167	36,276

All other entitlements depend on the individual circumstances of the officer in question and are set out in the Police Regulations 1987, copies of which are available in the Library.

To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, how much financial help the Church Commissioners have provided to churches, abbeys and cathedrals in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement.

The commissioners' primary responsibility is the support of the clergy and their funds are not generally available for churches. However, they provided approximately £900,000 in 1987, £1·8 million in 1988 and £2·5 million in 1989 towards church buildings, either under specific legislative authority or to meet legal obligations to do with land ownership.

To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, how much was spent by the Church Commissioners in payment to the staff of Canterbury cathedral in 1990–91.

A total of £54,650.

To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what account the commissioners take of the housing shortage in London in respect of their policies on management of their residential property holdings.

The commissioners' prime responsibility in the management of all their assets, including residential property, is to provide support for the clergy of the Church of England. Within this overall policy, the commissioners' Octavia Hill estates help meet a social need by providing rented accommodation for over 1,500 families on lower incomes who would otherwise look to local authorities for their housing.

To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what is the value of the current assets of the Church Commissioners.

The latest published figure, at 31 December 1989, was £3·1 billion.

To ask the Lord President of the Council how many people are currently employed in the Palace of Westminster; how many were employed five, 10 and 15 years ago; and if he will make a statement.

The House of Commons Commission employs 1,032 staff. A further 1,100 are employed by Members. In addition 7,976 photo identity pass holders are currently entitled to access to the House. These include police and security staff, Department of the Environment personnel, Government Department officials, and others.Comparative figures for five, 10 and 15 years ago in respect of House of Commons staff are 964, 879 and 550 respectively. Meaningful figures for the other categories of pass holders for those years are not readily available.

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on televising the House on cable systems.

In its recent report, the Select Committee on Broadcasting reiterated its belief in the desirability of establishing a television channel dedicated to continuous coverage of parliamentary proceedings. Of the three proposals submitted to it, the Committee concluded that the scheme put forward by United Artists was "the most thoroughly worked out and immediately practicable". The United Artists service, which is expected to begin in the autumn, will be available, without any extra charge to subscribers, to any home or other building served by a local cable network. In addition, it is hoped, subject to the outcome of discussions involving the Independent Television Commission, that the service might also be transmitted via one of the spare transponders on the Marco Polo satellite, for the time being at least by BSkyB.

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will set up a Select Committee to consider Her Majesty's Government's aid to British contractors involved in trying to extinguish Kuwait oil fires.

No.

To ask the Lord President of the Council whether he will make a further statement about the introduction of free telephone calls to European institutions.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Dykes).

To ask the Lord President of the Council when he expects that part of the Ibbs report which will bring responsibility for the restoration of the Palace of Westminster within his responsibilities to be implemented.

The report on House of Commons services, by the team led by Sir Robin Ibbs, recommended among other things that responsibility for the parliamentary works budget should pass from the Secretary of State for the Environment to the House of Commons Commission. The House of Lords has subsequently agreed to accept responsibility for its share of the cost of the services provided under this budget, which include routine maintenance and refurbishment, and the provision of new buildings, as well as the restoration of the fabric of the Palace of Westminster. The Ibbs report envisaged that the transfer of responsibility for these services might take place as early as the beginning of the 1992–93 financial year, subject to the introduction of other organisational changes in the House of Commons service. It is too early to say whether that target will be achieved. There are no proposals to transfer responsibility for these matters to the Leader of the House.

To ask the Lord President of the Council whether he is now able to announce the plans for changes in procedures for the House; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to a similar question from the hon. Member on 25 March at column 607.

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he has any plans to improve the telephone services in the Palace of Westminster.

It is planned to upgrade the software in the Palace of Westminster telephone exchange within the next 12 months. This will enable the automatic routing of outgoing calls by the cheapest means. During the same period it is hoped to modernise the equipment in use in the Members' Message Bureau in order to provide a more efficient message-taking service for Members and the general public.

To ask the Lord President of the Council when the TSRB report on resettlement grants will be published.

During Second Reading of the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Bill on 31 January I announced the Government's intention to invite the TSRB to review resettlement grants. Copies of the report have today been placed in the Library of the House and are available from the Vote Office. It will be published as an appendix to the TSRB's report on parliamentary pensions.Subject to the views of the House, the Government are minded to accept the TSRB's recommendation that resettlement grants should be extended to all Members aged 65 and over on a tapered basis according to length of service and age. This will require a resolution of the House, and I intend to bring this forward at an early opportunity.

To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what plans the Commission has to undertake a fundamental review to improve the way Parliament operates and to ensure that value for money is obtained.

The Ibbs report on House of Commons services was published on 28 November and was given a generally positive welcome by the House in the debate on 17 January. Steps to implement the report are now in train. The whole thrust of the Ibbs report was in the direction of better accountability and value for money in the delivery of services for the House. A further review was not seen to be required.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the public funding of family conciliation services.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the question from my hon. Friend the Member for Chislehurst (Mr. Sims) on 18 April 1991 at column 221.

To ask the Attorney-General what consideration the DPP gives to the need for corroborative evidence when deciding whether to proceed with prosecutions for alleged rape; and if he will make a statement.

Corroborative evidence is not demanded as a matter of law for a charge of rape to be capable of being proved. The CPS assesses the available evidence in accordance with the criteria contained in the code for Crown prosecutors, bearing in mind the legal requirement that a judge shall warn a jury that it is dangerous to convict of rape without some corroboration. Only if the Crown prosecutor considers that there is a realistic prospect of a conviction, and that a prosecution is required in the public interest, will the case proceed to court.

To ask the Attorney-General what was the total sum paid out in fees by the Lord Chancellor's Department to management consultants in 1979–80 and in each following year: and what is his estimate for 1990–91 and budget for 1991–92.

On the information available, the cost to the Lord Chancellor's Department of employing management consultants for each financial year from 1984–85 to date is as follows.

	£
1984–85	Nil
1985–86	221,000
1986–87	473,837
1987–88	134,255
1988–89	205,882
1989–90	178,500
1990–91	147,000
1991–92	1192,000
1 Forecast.

The figures exclude computer consultancy. Figures for 1979–80 and 1983–84 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will give, for each year from 1979–80, including 1991–92, the number of staff actually employed on 1 April and the full complement of staff, including vacant posts, by grade, in the statistical divisions in the Lord Chancellor's Department; and if he will differentiate between staff in statistical posts and staff in administrative posts.

The information that is readily available on the number of staff and complement by grade in the statistics branch of the Lord Chancellor's Department is shown in the tables:

Grade of staff	In post January 1980	Complement
Grade 7/statistician	1	n/a
Assistant/senior assistant statistician	1	n/a
Senior executive officer	1	n/a
Higher executive officer	1	n/a
Executive officer	3	n/a
Clerical officer	6	n/a
Clerical assistant	1	n/a

Grade of staff	In post July 1984	Complement
Grade 7/statistician	1	n/a
Assistant/senior assistant statistician	1	n/a
Higher executive officer	1	n/a
Executive officer	3	n/a
Clerical officer	6	n/a
Clerical assistant	1	n/a

To ask the Attorney-General what was the total expenditure by the Lord Chancellor's Department on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1990–91 and budget for 1991–92.

Total expenditure on press and public relations excluding staff costs is as follows:

	£
1984–85	5,180
1985–86	13,253
1986–87	23,282
1987–88	34,500
1988–89	34,159
1989–90	33,616
1990–91	29,113

The amounts spent for previous years can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.The budget for 1991–92 is £73,000.

To ask the Attorney-General when the Lord Chancellor intends to publish for consultation his proposals for regulations on the competence and conduct of authorised practitioners, the new class of conveyancer, to be made under section 40 of the Courts and Legal Service Act 1990.

My noble and learned friend the Lord Chancellor is issuing these today. Copies of the draft regulations and explanatory consultation document will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the estimates of outstanding debt for (a) Sudan, (b) Zimbabwe, (c) Ghana, (d) Zambia and (e) Uganda.

According to the World bank debt tables 1990–91, the total external debts outstanding for the five countries listed are as follows:

	Total external Debt (US$ millions)
Sudan	12,965
Zimbabwe	3,088
Ghana	3,087
Zambia	6,874
Uganda	1,808

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what concessions have been given to (a) Sudan, (b) Zimbabwe, (c) Ghana, (d) Zambia and (e) Uganda in respect of repayment of debt to bankers and the Government during the last three years.

For Ghana, Sudan and Uganda during the last three years Her Majesty's Government have cancelled old aid loans worth £10·4 million, £1·3 million and £1·3 million respectively, under their scheme for retrospective terms adjustment. Zimbabwe and Ghana have strong records of servicing their debts and have avoided the need for rescheduling. Uganda and Zambia have received concessional reschedulings of their official debts to Government creditors under Toronto terms during the last three years: Uganda in January 1989 and Zambia in July 1990. Sudan has been unable to reach agreement with her creditors and has allowed substantial debt arrears to accumulate. None of the countries listed has reached debt relief agreements with its commercial bank creditors during the last three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate the Government have made of (a) the aid requirements of the Iraqi refugees over the next six months and (b) the United Kingdom's contribution to this; and from which budget the United Kingdom's funds will come.

No such estimates have been made. The appeals launched by the international agencies alone total over US$620 million. So far, the United Kingdom has made available £21 million for refugee assistance, as well as the aid share of the costs of the airbridge and Operation Haven. These costs are being met from the overseas aid programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is being given to Peru to contain cholera.

In response to a request from the Peruvian Government, the Overseas Development Administration made an immediate cash contribution in February of US$20,000 through the Pan American Health Organisation, which is co-ordinating the relief effort. In March we contributed a further £100,000 through PAHO in response to the rapidly increasing scale of the epidemic. In addition, we are providing some £180,000 as Britain's share of the European Community's emergency aid.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total number of United Kingdom flights of relief supplies for Iraqi refugees to (a) Turkey and (b) Iran to date.

I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave on 25 April to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East (Mr. Barnes). As of 26 April, the Overseas Development Administration has sent seven flights of relief supplies to Iran and 20 to Turkey. More will follow.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was, for each year since 1970, the amount of funds given to Chile by Her Majesty's Government under bilateral technical co-operation agreements in 1991 money.