To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what was the total cost of running the Government quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations in the two most recent years for which figures are available.

Details of total expenditure by non-departmental public bodies can be found in "Public Bodies 1990", copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list his Department's current and planned renewable energy programmes in Scotland by type, cost, site location and capacity.

A total of 38 renewable energy projects currently being carried out under my Department's research, development and demonstration programme have a contractor or site located in Scotland. They comprise:

Technology	Projects	Contract Value
		£ million
Wind	14	15·5
Biomass	13	2·8
Solar	6	0·8
Geothermal	1	0·6
Wave/Hydro	4	0·3

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how much has been allocated in research and development moneys by his Department to cover (a) nuclear power and (b) renewable energy in each year from 1979.

The figures are given in the table:

	Nuclear energy	Renewables
	£ million	£ million
1979–80	145·5	8·2
1980–81	188·0	11·3
1981–82	203·2	15·3
1982–83	212·4	12·7
1983–84	203·8	11·9
1984–85	196·2	14·9
1985–86	189·6	13·6
1986–87	159·7	12·5
1987–88	141·0	16·1
1988–89	159·3	16·3
1989–90	135·9	17·9
1990–91	133·5	20·3
11991–92	93·4	24·5
1 Estimate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what research is under way to establish the cost and feasibility of full decommissioning of nuclear reactors;(2) how many nuclear reactors are fully decommissioned; and at what cost;(3) what information he has as to whether Nuclear Electricity has a fully costed strategy for decommissioning its remaining Magnox reactors.

No commercial reactors in the United Kingdom have yet been fully decommissioned. Nuclear Electric and AEA Technology have programmes of research relating to the decommissioning of nuclear reactors which have the objectives to ensure the continued safety of the public, work force and the environment; to minimise environmental impact; to release land for other use as appropriate; and, consistent with the foregoing, to minimise expenditure.AEA Technology is proceeding with a programme to fully decommission the prototype advanced gas-cooled reactor at Windscale by 1998 to demonstrate both decommissioning capabilities and costs involved.Nuclear Electric's current strategy for decommissioning its nuclear power stations is set out in its report and accounts for 1989–90, which also identified the accounting provisions made for future decommissioning costs, which were based upon Nuclear Electric's estimates of those costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to introduce revised procedures and modify the requirements for detailed site-specific information for windfarm developments of less than 5 MW.

The procedures to select projects to be contracted in fulfilment of a non-fossil fuel obligation are a matter for the Non-Fossil Purchasing Agency Ltd.—NFPA—as the agent of the regional electricity companies on which the obligation is placed. The procedures adopted by the NFPA take into account the statutory requirement to make arrangements which "will secure" the specified amounts of non-fossil generating capacity and the need for advice from the Office of Electricity Regulation on whether the draft contracts available to the NFPA would be likely to meet this requirement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will give details of the cost incurred in debt write-off prior to the privatisation of the electricity generation and distribution companies in England; and what percentage of the total debt this is;(2) if he will give details of the cost incurred in debt write-off for the electricity generating and distribution companies prior to privatisation; and what percentage of the total debt this is.

No debt write-off occurred in connection with the privatisation of the electricity industry in England and Wales. On flotation, moreover, the companies bore new debt to Government totalling £3·583 billion overall, which will accrue to the taxpayer in addition to the proceeds from the sales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy on how many occasions since February 1989 officials from his Department have met representatives from British Nuclear Fuels to discuss the initial nuclear feasibility study; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of these discussions.

The study is still at an early stage. My officials have been kept informed of its progress in the course of their regular meetings with British Nuclear Fuels plc.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations he has had with the chairman of the National Grid Company concerning the environmental health implications of electro-magnetic radiation from overhead supergrid lines on nearby residential properties.

The Department's engineering inspectorate is in regular contact with the National Grid Company in respect of electromagnetic fields and keeps me fully informed on the matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the number of power failures that have occurred in the Doncaster area during the past 12 months giving (a) location, (b) reason for breakdown and (c) the duration of the breakdown until supply was resumed; and what were the figures 12 months ago.

Only supply interruptions of a major nature are required to be reported to the Secretary of State under regulation 35 of the Electricity Supply Regulations 1988. Essentially these interruptions involve 20 MW or more, or 5 MW for one hour or longer or more than 5,000 consumers for one hour or longer. During the past two years no such interruptions involving the Doncaster area have been reported by Yorkshire Electricity other than the blizzard of 8 and 9 December 1990 which affected major parts of Doncaster.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on his talks in Kuwait in relation to British, American and Saudi action to extinguish oil fires.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on his visit to Kuwait, including his meeting with the Kuwaiti Prime Minister on 27 April; and what discussions were held regarding putting out the fires in oil wells caused by the Iraqi armed forces prior to the liberation of Kuwait.

I visited Kuwait on 26 to 28 April with a team of British business men. This visit was part of our response to the request made by the crown prince to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister that Britain should play a substantial part in the reconstruction of Kuwait. My meetings with the crown prince and with Kuwaiti Ministers were very positive and encouraging and I believe that United Kingdom industry will he able to make a significant contribution both to solving the urgent problem of extinguishing the fires and capping the wells and to the reconstruction of Kuwait's oil industry. The most immediate effect of my visit is the Kuwait Oil Company's intention to commission the Kuwaiti British Fire Group, a joint venture of AMEC, Taylor Woodrow and Wimpey, to undertake a damage assessment survey of a number of wells in northern Kuwait. If the Kuwaiti authorities are satisfied with the findings of this survey the fire group is likely to be appointed to put out the fires and cap the wells in that part of Kuwait.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what estimate he made of the ferocity and consequences of oil fires in Kuwait in (a) October 1990, (b) November 1990, (c) December 1990, (d) January 1991, (e) February 1991(f) March 1991 and (g) April 1991, (i) pre and (ii) following his official visit to Kuwait to assess the extent of the conflagration.

The Government's latest view of the consequences of the oil fires in Kuwait remains as stated in the assessment by the Departments concerned, entitled "The Potential Impact of the Burning Oil Wells in Kuwait on the Environment and Human Health" a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House on 15 April 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the level of United Kingdom use of rail for freight relative to other members of the European Community.

The UIC's "International Railway Statistics 1989" gives the following figures for freight carried by rail.

	Rail traffic lifted Tonnes	Rail traffic moved Tonnes kms
	(millions)	(millions)
Belgium	81·1	9,400
Denmark	7·9	1,700
France	153·8	54,600
Germany	621·5	121,500
Great Britain	143·1	16,700
Greece	n/a	n/a
Holland	21·5	3,300
Italy	66·7	21,300
Luxembourg	17·8	700
Portugal	7·3	1,800
Republic of Ireland	n/a	n/a
Spain	38·3	14,400

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many people are recorded as having fallen from British Rail trains in each year from 1981 to 1991;(2) how many people have died as a result of falling from British Rail trains, in each year since 1981.

The information requested is as follows. The figures for 1990 are provisional. Information for 1991 is not yet available.

Number of persons fallen from British Rail trains
Year	Total	Killed	Major injury	Minor injury
1981	60	16	11	33
1982	55	11	7	37
1983	75	13	6	56
1984	82	14	11	57
1985	66	16	8	42
1986	61	12	15	34
1987	70	26	16	28
1988	64	19	13	32
1989	47	19	16	12
1990	31	19	4	18
1 Provisional.

To ask the Lord President of the Council what part the United Kingdom Parliament played in the conference of parliamentary representatives from the member states of the conference on security and co-operation in Europe held on 1 to 3 April.

The President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Spanish Parliament, Senor Felix Pons, wrote to Mr. Speaker inviting six members of the United Kingdom Parliament to attend this conference. Following discussion through the usual channels, a delegation led by my right hon. Friend the Member for Westmorland and Lonsdale (Mr. Jopling) attended the conference. The other members of the delegation were:

• Mr. Frank Cook
• Mr. Patrick Duffy
• Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
• Sir Michael Marshall
• Lord Montgomery of Alamein

Delegations from all 34 CSCE participating states attended the conference and agreed to establish a CSCE parliamentary assembly in which the United Kingdom Parliament will have 13 seats. I am placing in the Library of the House a copy of the final resolution agreed by the delegates.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Don Valley on 29 January, Official Report, column 455, when the branding of vagrants was abolished from the Justices of the Peace Act 1361; what sections of this Act are still in force; and if he has any plans to bring in new legislation within this Act.

On the first part of the question, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 29 January at column 455. As to the remainder, the Justices of the Peace Act 1361 is not organised into sections. The extant power from the 1361 Act is for magistrates to make binding-over orders. We have no present plans for legislation in this area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the review committee exploring the wider use of police criminal records to report; whether the committee explored the practice of employers and local authorities forcing data subjects, prior to employment, to exercise their right of subject access under the terms of the Data Protection Act with respect to personal data held by the police; and if he will make a statement.

The report of the efficiency scrutiny into criminal records was received on 24 April. It deals with various aspects of the question of disclosure from the criminal records, including the issue of enforced subject access for the purpose of job applications. The report is being considered in accordance with the interdepartmentally agreed arrangements for the conduct of efficiency scrutinies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those of Her Majesty's prisons that have coal-fired boiler heating.

The list of prisons which have heating supplied via coal-fired boiler houses is as follows:

• Ashwell, Nottingham
• Deerbolt, Norwich
• Feltham, Onley
• Full Sutton, Rudgate
• Gartree, Risley
• Garth, Stoke Heath
• Highpoint, Standford Hill (Part)
• Hindley, Stocken
• Long Lartin, Thorn Cross
• Littlehey, Thorpe Arch
• Lowdham Grange, Wayland
• The Mount, Wymott

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list by police stations in South Yorkshire how many (a) males and (b) females were held in police cells for the latest date he has available; and if he will show in his answer for each police station the longest length of stay a prisoner in each category has been held;(2) what is the longest period

On Thursday 2 May a total of 24 prisoners were held in police cells in the South Yorkshire police area. All were male and all were held at Doncaster police station. No female prisoners have been held in South Yorkshire police cells as a consequence of the prison disturbances in April 1990. Information about the length of time which individual prisoners have spent in police cells is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information is collected by (a) the Home Department and (b) police forces on the number of persons convicted of firearms offences who were in possession of a firearms certificate at the time when their offence was committed; and if he will make a statement.

Police forces would incur disproportionate cost in collating this information. It is, therefore, not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects Pucklechurch remand centre to be brought back into use.

I am considering a range of prison estate planning issues, including the future of Pucklechurch remand centre. I hope to be in a position to reach a decision in the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department is he will take steps to ensure that women in mother and baby units in prisons are allowed to prepare fresh foods for their babies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by women prison establishment those that (a) do and (b) do not allow mothers who are in prison with their babies to prepare fresh food for their babies other than manufactured baby food.

The provision of food in the three mother and baby units varies with the nature of the accommodation and the age of the children.At HM prison Askham Grange, where mothers may keep their babies with them to the age of 18 months, fresh food is prepared for all the babies by one of the mothers.At HM prison Styal, where babies may stay until nine months old, a range of both proprietary baby food and fresh food is available and mothers may choose in consultation with the nursing sister how to feed their babies. The food is prepared by the cook on the unit.At HM prison Holloway, where the age limit is also nine months, mothers are provided with a range of propriety brands of food for their babies, supplemented by fruit juice and milk. Consideration is being given to extending the range of food available. Mothers may also purchase fresh fruit for their babies from the prison canteen.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the number of strip searches carried out on females sentenced category A and remand prisoners being held in Her Majesty's prisons Durham and Brixton since November 1989; if any prison contraband, smuggled item or illegal correspondence was discovered in any search, indicating which items; in how many cases prisoners refused to be searched and had to be restrained while the search was being conducted; and what were the reasons for the search.

Between 1 November 1989 and 30 April 1991, category A women prisoners held in Durham and Brixton prisons were strip-searched on a total of 244 occasions. No unauthorised article was found. On no occasion did the prisoners refuse to be strip-searched. Strip searching is a routine security measure to which all prisoners—male and female—are subject, both for its deterrent effect and as a means of discovering unauthorised articles.

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 in the press and public relations office of the Office of the Data Protection Registrar.

I understand that the Office of the Data Protection Registrar does not have a press and public relations office. The registrar is advised by a public relations agency on public relations matters generally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been in each of the past five years for offences committed by motorists in yellow box junctions; and what evaluation his Department has made of their effectiveness.

Separate figures for offences committed in yellow box junctions are not available centrally. The Home Office has not carried out any evaluation of yellow box junctions recently.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 6 February, Official Report, column 143, what conclusions he has reached on plans to revise the law relating to squatters and second homes; and if he will make a statement.

We expect to announce the outcome of our review as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan police on the policing of the Thamesmead estate, with particular reference to the police response to allegations of racial harassment.

No. The Metropolitan police continue to give a priority response to racial incidents, as the 1991 strategy statement makes clear.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will obtain for his Department's Library a recording of the LWT "London Programme" broadcast on Friday 26 April, about law and order in Thamesmead; and if he will make a statement.

The Home Office monitors recordings or transcripts of all television programmes dealing with substantive law and order issues. The specific policing matters raised in the LWT "London Programme" broadcast on 26 April are for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long it takes on average for forensic science laboratories to analyse blood samples from the date of arrival at the laboratories concerned.

The information is not readily available in the form requested. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, by police authority in England and Wales, the average time in 1990–91 for forensic science laboratories to analyse blood samples from the date of arrival at the laboratories concerned.

The information is not available in the form requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive a report from the working group set up to review the provisions on the confiscation of drug traffickers' assets.

I am pleased to announce that the working group has now completed its consideration of the provisions of the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986. Its report, a copy of which has been placed in the Library, was published today. It contains a number of important proposals designed to make it easier for the courts to apply the confiscation provisions and to enforce confiscation orders once they are made. In view of the innovatory nature of some of these proposals, it is important that we should give the public and key interest groups an opportunity to comment on what has been proposed. We shall therefore welcome comments on any of the issues raised. In the light of responses to the document, which we are seeking by 12 June, we shall consider what legislative measures need to be taken to strengthen the existing procedures.The working group is now examining the parallel confiscation provisions contained in part VI of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the yield for capital gains tax for the years 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91; and what is the anticipated yield for 1991–92.

The following table shows the receipts of capital gains tax and the estimated total liability to capital gains tax arising on gains realised in each of the years since 1987–88. Capital gains tax receipts in any year reflect liabilities for the previous and earlier years.

	Capital gains tax receipts in the year	Estimated capital gains tax liabilities on gains realised in the year
Year	£ million	£ million
1987–88	1,379	2,500
1988–89	2,323	1,900
1989–90	1,854	12,100
1990–91	21,855	11,200
1991–92	11,400	11,500
1 1991–92 Financial Statement and Budget Report forecast.
2 Provisional.

These figures exclude capital gains of companies taxed within corporation tax.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of capital gains tax paid was paid at 40 per cent. in (a) 1988–89, (b) 1989–90 and (c) 1990–91.

Capital gains tax receipts in 1988–89 correspond to gains realised in 1987–88 and earlier years which were taxed at a flat rate of 30 per cent.: no capital gains tax was paid at 40 per cent. in 1988–89.It is estimated that the proportion of capital gains tax receipts attributable to liabilities charged at the higher rate of 40 per cent. was about a half in 1989–90 and three quarters in 1990–91. The increase in the proportion mainly reflects the reduction between 1989–90 and 1990–91 in receipts attributable to gains realised in 1987–88 and earlier which were taxed at 30 per cent.These figures exclude gains realised by companies which are chargeable to corporation tax.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of staff employed by the Inland Revenue in regard to capital gains tax; and what was their cost for the latest year available.

The estimated staff usage on capital gains tax work in 1989–90 was 1,261 man years, with a direct cost of some £27.5 million.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the revenue cost for the latest year available of the loss allowance provisions within the capital gains tax system.

I regret that appropriate information is not available centrally on which to base a reliable estimate.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the breakdown for capital gains tax receipts as between equities, property, Iand and other capital gains for 1990–91.

The provisional estimate of receipts from capital gains tax in 1990–91 is £1,855 million. It is estimated that about two thirds of these receipts arose from gains on shares and other financial assets with the remainder attributable to gains on land, property and other tangible assets. For a more detailed breakdown by asset type of net chargeable gains arising from disposals made in 1987–88, I refer my hon. Friend to table 11.6 of "Inland Revenue Statistics 1990". The figures exclude gains realised by companies which are chargeable to corporation tax.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current capital gains tax percentage change on equity gains in (i) the United States of America, (ii) Germany, (iii) Japan and (iv) France; and what information he has as to whether there is a time limit to the application of any equity change on gains in these countries.

The latest available information is given in the table, which is supplemented by notes.The general rule in these countries is that if gains are taxed at all they are added to income and taxed at the ordinary income or corporation tax rate as appropriate, but various reliefs and exemptions may apply.None of these countries has the equivalent to indexation which substantially reduces the effective rate of tax in the United Kingdom. Apart from Japan, none of the countries has an equivalent of the United Kingdom annual exemption.

	Nominal rates of tax on equity gains of
Country	Individuals Per cent.	Companies Per cent.
USA1	15 or 28 plus state tax	15–34 plus state tax
Germany2	19–53	50
	10–50 plus local	37·5 plus local taxes
Japan3	taxes 5–15	17–20
France4	16 or 5–56·8	34

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 in the press and public relations office of the Department for National Savings.

The full complement of staff including vacant posts employed in the press office of the Department for National Savings on 1 April each year 1979–91 was as listed in the table. There is no record of how many posts were vacant at these dates.

	Numbers
1 April 1979	6
1 April 1980	6
1 April 1981	5
1 April 1982	5
1 April 1983	4
1 April 1984	4
1 April 1985	4
1 April 1986	4
1 April 1987	4
1 April 1988	4
1 April 1989	4
1 April 1990	4
1 April 1991	3½

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 in the press and public relations office of the Inland Revenue.

The information is as follows:

Year	Complement	Staff in post
1981	6	6
1982	6	6
1983	6	6
1984	6	6

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 in the press and public relations office of Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

HMSO has had no press and public relations office from 1979 to the present date. Press and public relations reponsibilities have formed a small part of the duties of one nominated officer.

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 in the press and public relations office of HM Customs and Excise.

The number of staff in the press and information office of HM Customs and Excise is as follows:

	Complement	Staff actually employed
1979–80	8	4
1980–81	7	6
1981–82	7	6
1982–83	7	6
1983–84	7	6
1984–85	7	5
1985–86	7	6
1986–87	8	7
1987–88	8	5
1988–89	9	7
1989–90	9	5
1990–91	11	9
1991–92	11	9

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to review the indexation of public sector pensions.

I have no plans to do so.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) grants, (b) loans and (c) at what rates of interest for loans, have been made by the European Coal and Steel Community to retail organisations in the United Kingdom in each of the last three years; and what is his estimate of the effect on the competitiveness of the receiving companies and/or bodies as compared to their rivals in the market place for their goods and/or services.

I have been asked to reply. There have been no such grants, but one "conversion" loan in 1990 and one in 1991. There may have been sub-loans made under global loans through financial intermediaries but information about these is not available.The purpose of ECSC conversion loans is to assist with the creation of employment for people made redundant from the coal and steel industries. The loans are available in designated areas throughout the European Community. The criteria applied are set by the Commission. I cannot estimate the effect on the competitiveness of the recipients.The rates of interest attached to any individual line are a matter of commercial confidentiality between the borrower and the Commission.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representations he has received on the new controls relating to sheep scab; and how many of these representations are critical of the self-regulatory nature of the controls.

The Department has received a number of representations about the self-certification arrangements which applied during last autumn's compulsory national dip for sheep scab and all contained some criticisms of the move to owner declarations by farmers.We have completed our assessment of the 1990 national dip and the success of the self-certification arrangements and it is clear that large numbers of owner declarations were not returned to local authorities at the end of the dipping period, as required by the legislation. All comments from interested organisations on the national dip have been carefully considered and, as a result, we have decided to streamline the arrangements to apply during this year's compulsory national dip for sheep scab which will take place during the period Sunday 22 September to Saturday 2 November.The requirement in the Sheep Scab (National Dip) Order 1990 for undipped sheep moved during the dipping period to be accompanied by an owner declaration will be dropped. This will reduce the number of forms that farmers are required to complete and will scale down the involvement of market authorities in countersigning forms at markets.I hope that the Government's positive response to suggestions from those involved in the national dip on how to improve the arrangements will result in greater commitment from the industry on sheep scab control measures. Last year's response was disappointing and we shall be looking for a much better response from farmers this year on the completion of owner declarations.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cats have been diagnosed as suffering from feline spongiform encephalopathy.

Spongiform encephalopathy has been confirmed in 15 cats in Great Britain and one in Northern Ireland.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he has any evidence linking European brown hare syndrome with oilseed rape;(2) what is his estimate of the mortality levels caused by European brown hare syndrome.

Although the grazing of "double low" varieties of oilseed rape was initially suspected as one of the possible causes of European brown hare syndrome, there is no evidence linking oilseed rape with the disease. A virus is now considered to be the likely cause. Mortality may be high in any one incident, but the proportion of diseased animals is unknown and it is not yet possible to assess the wider impact on the hare population.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many incidents of rhizomania have been reported in the United Kingdom in the last three years; and what action he has taken to combat the disease.

Two cases of rhizomania were found in 1989 and three cases, on adjoining farms, in 1990. These cases, which were all in Norfolk, were identified in the extensive survey for rhizomania which we carry out annually. The only previous identification of the disease in this country was at a farm in Suffolk in 1987.We operate a range of controls, including import controls, to combat this disease. Where it is found, we require strict hygiene measures to prevent spread of the disease by movements off the farm and restrictions are placed on cropping on the farm. These normally involve grassing down infected fields, some limitations on root crops on other parts of the farm and a ban on growing sugar beet or planting material. The exact nature of these restrictions will depend on the circumstances of the case.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement concerning his assessment of the prospects of British wool producers in 1991 and 1992.

Returns from wool production form, on average, 5 to 10 per cent. of individual producers' total returns from sheep farming. Prospects for wool producers thus depend on a range of factors, including market prices and input costs. Prices for finished lambs in 1991 so far have been following the usual seasonal trends and prices for British wool, although weak, have shown some improvement in recent sales. In addition, United Kingdom sheep farmers enjoy significant financial support through the EC sheep regime and hill livestock compensatory allowances. This support, which takes account of both market prices and income levels, is likely to total some £394 million in 1990.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how subsidised foodstuffs from EC surplus stocks are now distributed round the United Kingdom; what are the criteria used; how frequently such distributions are made; and what are his plans for the future of these distributions.

The distribution of surplus butter and beef relies on the voluntary participation of charitable and other non-profit-making organisations. The method and timing of distributions are matters for these organisations themselves to decide according to local needs and their own resources. In order to meet the requirements of European legislation, only the homeless and destitute, people in receipt of income support or family credit and people living in welfare hostels are eligible to receive produce under the United Kingdom scheme.We will shortly announce the future arrangements for distribution.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will prohibit breeding from the offspring of BSE-affected cattle.

No.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations his Department has received from local authorities regarding the case for national policy guidance in respect of the need for, and situation of, additional incinerator capacity for bovine spongiform encephalopathy-infected carcases.

We have received a number of representations from local authorities which are considering planning applications for incineration plants seeking advice on the disposal of suspect bovine spongiform encephalopathy carcases. The State Veterinary Service will provide advice and information to any local authority which seeks it.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Department has made of the effects of disposal of bovine spongiform encephalopathy-infected carcases by means of incineration.

Incineration is a safe, effective means of disposal, leaving only sterile ash.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make a statement on his policy relating to the transport and processing of carcases affected by bovine spongiform encephalopathy and the recommended means of disposal;(2) if he will make a statement of his Department's policy relating to the scale and distribution of additional incinerator capacity for the disposal of bovine spongiform encephalopathy-infected carcases in the south-west peninsula;(3) what assessment his Department has made of the number of bovine spongi form encephalopathy-infected carcases that will require disposal by incinerator annually in the south-west peninsula over the next

The carcases of suspect bovine spongiform encephalopathy cases are disposed of by burial or incineration. Although both are safe, well-established methods, incineration in plants which comply with strict conditions laid down by the Ministry for storage and incineration is preferable. Carcases are moved under licence to these incineration plants, and the vehicles used must comply with the licence conditions.Within the south-west region there are two incineration plants in which suspect bovine spongiform encephalopathy carcases are incinerated. However the disposal of carcases is handled on a national basis and is not restricted by regional or other boundaries. Carcases that originate in the south-west are not necessarily incinerated there.At the moment over 90 per cent. of carcases are incinerated. Our aim is to deal with all carcases in this way and we hope shortly to have sufficient capacity to do so. Nevertheless, we would consider contracting with any incineration plant which can meet our standards and has obtained the necessary local authority planning consents and approvals.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will bring forward proposals to require manufacturers of baby food to declare the meat content of the products, just as manufacturers of ordinary meat products do.

The European Commission has issued a draft directive that lays down compositional and labelling requirements for cereal-based and other processed foods for infants and young children. The proposals contain minimum content levels for meat and certain other characterising ingredients. Negotiations in Brussels are scheduled to commence early in June. The Commission also intends to introduce proposals on quantitative ingredients declaration of foodstuffs shortly.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the leaflet "Good Irrigation Practice, Make Every Drop Count" is made available to every holder of a spray irrigation licence in England and Wales.

The leaflet, which concentrates on an early warning system for farmers of impending restrictions by the National Rivers Authority, was intended to go to every licence holder in England and Wales. In the event, the

	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91	11991–92
	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000
Food Safety	409	1,263	1,104	2,700
Environment	7	94	139	310
Imports (Control of Imported Animal and Plant Disease)	232	213	282	325
Animal Welfare	27	50	82	150
Grant Aid Schemes	194	90	70	87
Research and Development	0	4	54	74
Miscellaneous Campaigns	135	659	648	500
(e.g. MAFF Touring Exhibition)
1 Forecast.

Publicity material produced by this department, other than modest amounts of press advertising, consists of authority was unable to introduce the warning system outside its Anglian region this season, and leaflets have therefore gone to licence holders in that region only.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the progress of research on bioavailability of aluminium from food and water at the trace metabolism unit at Southampton.

The work being carried out at Southampton university, which is being funded by the Ministry, is an initial pilot study to investigate the feasibility of measuring differences in aluminium absorption from different foods and beverages. Results are expected later this year and will be assessed to see whether further work should be commissioned.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he will take to ensure the safe disposal of alphachloralose and other pesticides which are held by individuals but which no longer have approved use under the pesticide regulations; and if he will make a statement.

Advice on disposal of unwanted pesticides is given in a code of practice for the safe use of pesticides by this Department and the Health and Safety Commission, which was issued last year. Detailed consideration is now being given to a scheme to offer the collection and disposal of unwanted pesticides held on farms, which would be run by trade associations. This will complement the long-term campaign, launched in March, to persuade those who abuse pesticides such as alphachloralose to kill wildlife that this practice is wrong and unnecessary.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food further to his answer to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) on 25 April, Official Report, column 556, if he will give a further breakdown of his Ministry's expenditure on other publicity materials for each year between 1984–85 and 1991–92; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 3 May 1991]: The information available is as follows:publications, exhibitions and audio visual/video, as well as associated market research and distribution. Individual projects employ a mixture of these media as appropriate. Figures provided for the period 1988–89 to 1991–92 are available following a change in the way expenditure is recorded. Comparable figures for 1984–85 to 1987–88 could only be made available at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the number of occasions during the last 12 months on which he has held official meetings with (i) the National Farmers Union, (ii) the Food and Drink Federation, (iii) the Retail Consortium, (iv) the Consumers Association and (v) the National Consumer Council.

I have held six official meetings with the National Farmers Union on bovine spongiform encepathology and allied subjects, at which the main issue was the responsibility of the farming community to the consumer. I have had four meetings with the National Farmers Union to discuss the technicalities of the price fixing and other EC issues of direct concern to farmers. In addition, I have held the three formal consultation meetings involving the National Farmers Union on the wool guarantee, the autumn hill review and the price fixing, and three on specific subjects (the milk marketing boards, salmonella compensation and landlord/tenant law). I addressed the National Farmers Union annual general meeting on 12 February and will send a copy of my speech to the hon. Gentleman. I also had a courtesy visit from the new National Farmers Union president after his election.The Consumers Association and the National Consumer Council both nominate members to the Ministry's consumers' panel and their senior officers attend the regular meetings held with leaders of consumer organisations. These bodies have met on seven occasions either under my chairmanship or that of my hon. Friend the Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean), the Parliamentary Secretary.I have met the Food and Drink Federation on two occasions and the Retail Consortium on one occasion.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 7 May.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. Immediately after questions I shall depart the House to attend a guard of honour for the Prime Minister of Spain. I shall be having further meetings later today.

To ask the Prime Minister which Department has responsibility for instructing the United Kingdom's World Bank executive director regarding World Bank forest policy.

The Overseas Development Administration.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 25 April 1991, Official Report, column 1208, if he will make a further statement on United Kingdom action in relation to oil fires in Kuwait.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy gave today to him and to my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Latham).

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions he has had with the Data Protection Registrar as to the number of boards of governors and head teachers that are not registered under the terms of the Data Protection Act; and whether he will make a statement concerning the outcome of those discussions.

Information is not available on registration under the Data Protection Act by boards of governors and headteachers. Officials of the Department are in discussion with the office of the Data Protection Registrar on the scope of registration by schools and guidance will be issued in the summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has made any estimate of the cost of registration of each school under the Data Protection Act should boards of governors, head teachers and each local education authority need to register under the Act; and whether he plans to increase grants in order to cover these costs.

I have nothing to add to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member on 19 February 1991, at column 76.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the general items of personal information that are held in relation to individuals in list 99; if he will indicate the number of entries in list 99; whether the individual has the right to challenge the accuracy of the information held against him on list 99; whether he has had discussions with the Data Protection Registrar concerning list 99; and if he will make a statement.

List 99 contains the names, dates of birth, and departmental reference numbers of 1,540 persons who are currently wholly or partially excluded from teaching or work with children or young persons on grounds of misconduct. Before directing that any person shall be excluded, my right hon. and learned Friend offers him or her the opportunity of making representations. List 99 is outside the scope of the Data Protection Act and has not therefore been the subject of any discussion with the Data Protection Registrar.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if his Department keeps any record of the debt charge of schools leaving local authority control.

As the liability of an authority in respect of the principal of, or any interest on, any loan held by the authority for the purposes of a school which becomes grant maintained is not transferred to the governing body of a grant-maintained school, the Department has no need to keep a record of such debts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice his Department gives local authorities in respect of debt charge incurred from capital investment in schools which subsequent to the investment leave local authority control; and what account is taken of any such debt charge when assessing the Department's revenue support for the local authority.

The statutory provisions on debt charges relating to schools which become grant maintained are set out in section 74 of the Education Reform Act 1988. Those debt charges are treated in the same way as other local authority debt charges for the purpose of calculating standard spending assessments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for financing the debt charge paid by local authorities in respect of schools which adopt grant-maintained status.

Authorities receive an appropriate allowance for the financing of their capital debt liabilities, including relevant liabilities relating to schools in their area that are grant maintained, within their standard spending assessments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the debt charge to local authorities in regard to capital spend on schools which have subsequently opted out of local authority control; and if he will list the debt charge by local authority, indicating in each case the number of schools which have taken grant-maintained status.

As the responsibility and the financing for any debt charge attributable to a grant-maintained school

Name of Body	Next appointment due, and length of appointment	Salary
Business and Technician Education Council	Chairman and all 12 members in 1992	Chairman part-time £7,500
	Three-year appointments	Members unpaid
Centre for information on Language Teaching and Research	Three members in 1991 Four members in 1992 Appointed for up to three years	Unpaid
Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges	Six members in 1991 Four-year appointments	Unpaid
Education Assets Board	Chairman and all six members in 1992 Two-year appointments	Chairman part-time £20,310 Members unpaid
National Council for Educational Technology	New Chairman appointed on 1 April 1991 Nine members in 1991 Three1year appointments	Chairman part-time £6,030 Members unpaid
Council for National Academic Awards	25 members in 1991 New Chairman appointed in April 1991	Members unpaid Chairman part-time salary still under negotiation

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if his Department takes account of the debt charge on a local authority in regard to a school which adopts grant-maintained status when determining the allocation of revenue funding between the school and the local authority.

The responsibility for meeting debt charges that relate to the period before a school is incorporated as grant-maintained remains with the school's former local authority. Authorities receive an allowance for capital financing within their standard spending assessments. A grant-maintained school's annual maintenance grant, which is recouped from its former maintaining authority, does not include provision to meet such charges.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the local education authorities that do not provide an educational psychological service from their retained percentage of the budget.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to him on 30 April 1991, at columns 141–42.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the individual appointments excluding casual vacancies he is scheduled to make to quasi autonomous non-governmental organisations in (a) 1991 and (b) 1992 indicating in each case the title of the post, the salary if any and the duration of the appointment.

The information is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what super-computing facilities are available to the Natural Environment Research Council.

The National Centre supercomputers available to the Natural Environment Research Council include the joint research councils' Cray XM P-48 at the Science and Engineering Research Council's Rutherford Appleton laboratory, the Cray XMP-28 at the university of London computer center and the VP1200 at the Manchester computer centre. Time on other supercomputers in the USA and at the Meteorological Office has been obtained on an ad hoc basis for collaborative research projects.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what priority he attaches to a global climate model.

The Natural Environment Research Council has given high priority to the development of global and regional models of the oceans and atmosphere. The science budget also supports a wide range of related research aimed at improving understanding of climate change processes and impacts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide a supercomputer for Natural Environment Research Council work for ocean forecasting.

Decisions on the provision of supercomputing facilities are based upon the advice which my right hon. and learned Friend receives from the Advisory Board for the Research Councils. No advice on this matter has yet been received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what facilities he provides for world ocean calibration development.

The Natural Environment Research Council James Rennell centre at the university of Southampton is actively involved with the British National Space Centre and the European Space Agency in observations designed to calibrate instruments on the European remote sensing satellite—ERS-1—which is used to study temperatures, currents and winds at the ocean surface.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has to finance the work on plants in the ocean at the James Rennell centre of the Natural Environment Research Council marine atmospheric sciences unit.

The Natural Environment Research Council is already supporting research at the James Rennell centre for ocean circulation at the university of Southampton, in collaboration with Princeton university in the USA and the United Kingdom climate prediction centre—the Hadley centre—in the development of mathematical models of the seasonal variation in the production of microscopic planktonic plants in the oceans, with special reference to their role in the absorption of carbon dioxide.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what requests he has received from the National Rivers Authority for more information facilities in the Western ocean.

My right hon. and learned Friend has received no such request.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he is taking to improve relationships with the Japanese in relation to (a) deep ocean technology, (b) the study of the micro-structure of the ocean and (c) global climate weather forecasting.

Working relationships are generally established at a personal level in the course of an individual scientist's work. Scientists supported by the Natural Environment Research Council maintain good relations with the Japanese in relation to both deep-ocean technology and the study of the micro-structure of the ocean. The links between the United Kingdom and Japan relating to global climate weather forecasting are primarily made through the Meteorological Office. Recently visits have been made to Japan to discuss operational meteorological and oceanographic forecasting.In 1989, a round table meeting of senior Government scientists from Japan and the United Kingdom was held in London. Marine technology was one of the many items discussed. A further meeting will be held in Tokyo later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science has met or visited the East Birmingham task force.

I visited the task force area on 21 December 1989, 23 April 1990, 3 September 1990, 30 January 1991 and 1 May 1991. I held meetings with the task force leader on 20 March 1990 and 18 March 1991 to discuss the annual action plan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether he has any plans to review the indexation of teachers' pensions and what action has been taken in the last six months in regard to indexation of teachers' pensions;(2) what plans his Department has for determining future increases in teachers' pensions; and if he will make a statement.

In common with other public service pensions, teachers' pensions are increased at the same time and by the same percentage as the earnings-related element of the state retirement pension. The amount of the annual uprating each April reflects the movement in the retail prices index during the 12-month period ending the previous September. There are no plans to change these arrangements.The Pensions Increase (Review) Order 1991 announced that public service pensions would be increased from 8 April 1991. For pensions which began before 24 April 1990 the increase is 10.9 per cent. For pensions which began on or after 24 April 1990 a proportion of the full increase is paid.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of times there was a failure of water supplies in the Doncaster area during the last 12 months by (a) location, (b) reason for breakdown, and (c) the duration of the breakdown until supply was resumed; and what were the figures for the previous year.

Monitoring the level of service by water companies to customers is the responsibility of the Director General of Water Services.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the names and locations of companies that are known to discharge phosphate waste into coastal and river waters in the United Kingdom.

The control of discharges of phosphate waste into coastal and river waters in the United Kingdom is a matter for the National Rivers Authority. The Department does not keep lists of names and locations of companies making such discharges.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current position on the project for cleaning the stonework of the Palace of Westminster; and if he will take action to speed up the project.

The contract for the current stage of the programme to repair and restore the stonework, which covers the south elevation and the Victoria Tower is scheduled for completion in 1994. Before the stage is completed, plans will be drawn up and agreed with the Houses so that the next phase of the work, covering the internal courtyards, can continue without a break.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list in rank order the water companies with the highest level of purity and lowest level of contamination of the drinking water they supply.

Because of the number and diversity of the parameters used in regulating the quality of drinking water, and also because some companies supply water from a number of different sources, it would not be possible to rank companies in the way suggested.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's current policy on showing the location of public rights of way on Forestery Commission land on its Landranger and Pathfinder maps.

Ordnance Survey policy has not changed. All rights of way which appear on local authority definitive maps are shown on the Landranger and Pathfinder series of maps.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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, in the press and public relations office of the Nature Conservancy Council.

The Nature Conservancy Council employed two people in its press and public relations office from 1979–80 to 1989–90. This was increased to three in 1990–91. The Nature Conservancy Council for England employs two people on this work.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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 in the press and public relations office of the Ordnance Survey.

The information requested is as follows:

	Staff Complement	Staff in Post on 1 April
1979	7	7
1980	7	7
1981	7	7
1982	8	8
1983	6	6
1984	7	6
1985	6	6
1986	6	6
1987	6	6
1988	6	6
1989	6	6
1990	6	6
1991	6	7

Over the same period, the total number of staff employed by Ordnance Survey reduced from 3,587 to 2,482.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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 in the press and public relations office of the Countryside Commission.