To ask the Attorney-General what has been the cost to the Director of Public Prosecutions office of inquiries into alleged Nazi war criminals living in the United Kingdom so far; what is the estimated cost of further investigations during the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

The investigation of alleged criminal offences, including those made justiciable by the War Crimes Act 1991, is a police function. The role of the Director of Public Prosecutions will be to provide advice and guidance on legal issues arising in the investigation. No expenditure has yet been incurred in this respect. The DPP has, however, incurred expenditure of £600 in obtaining consultancy advice in the planning of arrangements for handling war crimes cases. The additional running costs of the Crown Prosecutions service attributable to war crimes cases during the current financial year is estimated to be in the range of £300,000 to £500,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many maternity beds were provided at the Royal Victoria hospital, the Mater hospital and the Belfast city hospital during 1988, 1989 and 1990; and what is the current level of provision at each of these hospitals.

The average number of available maternity beds was as follows:

	1988	1989	1990
RVH (Maternity)	94·5	91·1	86·5
Mater	24	24	24
Belfast City	66·4	64	64

Figures for the current level of provision are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what efforts the Industrial Development Board have made to try and secure a new owner for the factory located at Moss lane, Castlewellan, County Down, currently occupied by Castlewellan Yarns; and if he will make a statement about employment levels in the textile industry in South Down.

Castlewellan Yarns is a division of Linfield Group Ltd. which is the owner of the factory premises at Moss lane, Castlewellan. The group is not expected to vacate the premises for some months, but it has expressed its willingness to co-operate with the Industrial Development Board if an early purchaser is found. The IDB is making the factory's forthcoming availability known to potential investors and will be actively encouraging them to consider Castlewellan as a manufacturing location.The IDB has eight client companies in the textiles sector in South Down. These companies operate at 10 locations and employ over 800 people. The IDB is maintaining close contact with the companies in order to encourage growth and increased competitiveness.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures will be taken to reduce the waiting lists in respect of the chiropody services in the Down section of the Down and Lisburn unit of management.

The management and delivery of services at local level are the responsibility of each health and social services board. I understand that the Eastern health and social services board is currently taking steps to reduce the waiting lists for chiropody services in the Down section of the Down and Lisburn unit of management by providing additional assessment and treatment sessions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many farmers have made application to the agricultural development operations scheme; and how many of these have been successful

Up to Friday 3 May 1991, a total of 1,280 applications had been received under capital grant elements of the agricultural development operations programme. Of that number, there were 144 under the North Antrim flood damage recovery scheme, 1,122 under the capital grant scheme and 14 under the farm innovation scheme. The majority of these applications are currently under consideration and it is not possible, therefore, to provide details of the numbers that will be successful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what level of financial and other resources will be available to the Department of the Environment in order to implement its environmental policies in Northern Ireland.

The provision, including programme expenditure and staff costs, for the implementation of environmental policies by the environment service of the Department of Environment for Northern Ireland is £14·372 million in 1991–92. The activities of other services within the Department, for example, the water service, and of other Northern Ireland Departments, for example, the Department of Agriculture and Department of Economic Development, also contribute towards the achievement of a better environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 25 April, Official Report, column 528, when he will be able to list the names of the members of the four new health and social services councils, excepting those nominated by district councils.

I hope to be able to announce the names of the members of the councils in the next few weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total value of (a) domestic rates and (b) commercial rates, which were collected from Northern Ireland Housing Executive tenants remitted to the Department of Environment (NI) in each of the last three years.

Rates remitted to the Department of Environment for Northern Ireland by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in 1988–89 amounted to £31,812,820·89; in 1989–90, £35,140,698·20; and in 1990–91, £36,759,847·23.Information on the breakdown of domestic and non-domestic rates payable by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive is not readily available and could be obtain only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the board of the Northern Ireland Electricity Service following its decision not to renew the contract of its chief executive.

I last met the chairman on 9 April. The board is required to carry out a triennial review of the chief executive's contract. I understand that the board is currently considering this and that the chairman will make a statement shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the reduction in domestic rate bills in Northern Ireland as a result of the Budget.

The reduction announced in the Budget is a good outcome for the Province's domestic ratepayers. As a result, they will contribute, on average, 36 per cent. less towards the cost of local authority-type services. This is in line with the switch to central funding of 36 per cent. of the amount charge payers contribute to local authority expenditure in Great Britain.Although it should be noted that there is no precise analogy between the community charge which is a per capita charge and the Province's domestic rates which are property based, given that the associated Budget increase in VAT applies fully in Northern Ireland, it is entirely appropriate that ratepayers in Northern Ireland should receive this benefit. Northern Ireland receives its share of all United Kingdom taxation including VAT which, as an unhypothecated tax, is applied towards balancing the Northern Ireland Exchequer rather than being applied to particular purposes. Furthermore, the reduction, when seen in the light of the higher level of exchequer support for the rates in Northern Ireland, represents a very good settlement for domestic ratepayers in the Province.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement about progress in the talks with political parties.

[pursuant to the reply, 2 May 1991, c. 426]: On 26 March I informed the House that a basis for formal political talks concerning political development had been established. It was accepted by all the potential participants—the British and Irish Governments and the four main constitutional political parties in Northern Ireland—that the talks would take place in three strands corresponding to the three principal relationships: those within Northern Ireland; those among the people of Ireland; and those between the British and Irish Governments.Since the political talks began on 30 April there have been a number of bilateral exchanges between me and the political parties involved about a range of practical and procedural issues raised by the participants, concerning strands two and three. In addressing these issues I have maintained close contact with the Government of the Republic of Ireland which is, of course, a participant in both those strands.Yesterday afternoon, I circulated to the parties a paper which indicated how these practical and procedural issues would be handled, and invited the parties to let me have their responses by 10 o'clock this morning. The text of that paper follows this reply.The Alliance party of Northern Ireland and the Social and Democratic Labour party informed me that they were content without qualification that we should now proceed to plenary sessions on the basis that the relevant practical and procedural matters would be dealt with as indicated in this paper. The Irish Government were also content that matters should proceed on this basis.I had a number of exchanges with the leaders of the two Unionist parties both before and after 10 o'clock this morning. They sought a meeting with the Prime Minister on the basis that this might provide sufficient clarification and reassurance to enable them to proceed with talks on the basis suggested.There was a full discussion of the issues and in the light of the Unionist parties' agreement in principle to work the procedure on the basis of my paper, subject to clarification of detailed points with them as well as the other participants, I plan to consult the other participants to see if they are able to proceed on this basis.Following is the text of the paper:POLITICAL TALKS

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the amounts allocated to Doncaster Metropolitan borough council's housing investment programme in each year from 1979 to-date, indicating the change as a percentage each year in real terms.

The information requested is listed in the table. Since 1981–82 authorities have been able to augment the borrowing power of their HIP allocations by drawing on a proportion of their capital receipts. For 1990–91 and 1991–92, under the new capital finance system, the HIP allocation does not convey borrowing approval directly.

8. The strand one formation or the strand two formation, as appropriate, may consider issues further in the light of progress in strand three.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information he has on the average price of (a) a terraced house, (b) a privately owned council house re-sold on the market and (c) other council houses in (i) Grimsby, (ii) Yorkshire and Humberside and (iii) the south-east and London in (x) 1989 and (y) 1990; and what is the percentage of each type in each area;(2) what is his estimate of the average price of

The available information on average prices is set out in the table:

Housing Investment Programme Allocations and Expenditure for Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council
(£ thousands)
	Allocations		Gross expenditure outturn
	Cash	Percentage change1	Cash	Percentage change1
1978–79	14,367	—	14,089	—
1979–80	16,270	-3	18,496	+13
1980–81	14,260	-26	13,796	-37
1981–82	11,170	-29	8,966	-41
1982–83	13,553	+13	13,523	+41
1983–84	14,405	+2	23,789	+68
1984–85	10,020	-34	12,353	-51
1985–86	8,202	-22	14,073	+8
1986–87	6,599	-22	14,774	+1
1987–88	6,808	-2	22,807	+47
1988–89	6,019	-18	22,950	-6
1989–90	4,767	-26	22,442	-8
New Capital Finance System
1990–91	8,810		n/a
1991–92	27,950	-16	n/a

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for Barrow in Furness, Great Grimsby, Westminster, Wandsworth and Elmbridge, the amount of central Government contribution to income under the relevant headings in terms of cash per household together with the reasons for any difference.

The available information for 1991–92 is as follows:

£ per domestic hereditament	Revenue support grant	Special grants	Community charge grant
Barrow in Furness	293	211	251
Great Grimsby	453	38	256
Wandsworth	1,263	234	229
Westminster	1,347	52	219
Elmbridge	198	0	268

Information is not yet available about the amounts of community charge benefit subsidy, community charge reduction scheme grant, and other specific grants expected to be paid to these authorities.The reason for the differences in the total amounts of revenue support grant and special grants are set out in the Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England), the Revenue Support Grant Distribution (Amendment) Report (England) and the Special Grant Report (No. 2). Differences in the amount of community charge grant per domestic hereditament are the result of differences in the numbers of charge payers per domestic hereditament in each area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report the increase in the real disposable income since 1979 of the average council tenant not on income support after payment of income tax, national insurance, council rents and rates/poll tax, school meals, school travel, medical prescription and other medical charges.

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide the basis for his estimate set out in paragraph 2 of his illustrative tables for

	Number of transactions thousands		Average price £ thousands		Number sold as per cent. of total housing stock per cent.
	1989	1990	1989	1990	1989	1990
(i) Council dwellings sold to sitting tenants1
Northern	12·9	11·0	20·3	24·0	1	1
Yorkshire and Humberside	19·3	13·0	20·8	26·8	1	1
East Midlands	12·9	5·4	31·0	37·5	1	—
East Anglia	3·8	1·7	48·9	49·6	—	—
Greater London	24·3	20·7	62·5	60·3	1	1
South East (ex Greater London)	22·4	11·4	56·2	60·0	1	—
South West	11·6	4·9	45·2	46·0	1	—
West Midlands	18·9	11·8	28·4	33·9	1	1
North West	14·3	14·9	21·7	22·1	1	1
England	140·5	94·7	38·4	40·0	1	—
(ii) Other dwellings sold by individuals2
Northern	53·5	43·7	40·9	47·3	4	3
Yorkshire and Humberside	92·7	78·9	45·3	50·4	5	4
East Midlands	57·6	60·6	53·2	54·4	4	4
East Anglia	25·2	35·2	68·7	62·2	3	4
Greater London	64·5	70·0	90·5	90·6	2	2
South East (ex Greater London)	153·7	184·9	86·7	82·5	4	4
South West	64·6	79·7	71·2	66·6	3	4
West Midlands	71·2	74·7	55·5	58·2	3	4
North West	123·6	97·3	44·6	52·9	5	4
England	706·5	725·0	62·8	66·1	4	4

As explained in paragraph 2 of the notes covering the tables of illustrative council tax bills issued on 23 April, the estimates are for all domestic properties and use the same definition of value whatever the tenure of the property. They were produced on a basis different from the survey of property transactions in England and Wales given in chapter 14 of Inland Revenue Statistics 1990.The data underlying the illustrative council tax bills cannot be presented in the form used in Inland Revenue Statistics; and the data underlying the tables in chapter 14 of "Inland Revenue Statistics" cannot directly provide the information needed to estimate the number of properties in each local authority area falling in each of the seven council tax bands.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish a table showing by range of consideration nationally and regionally the number and average value of transactions in 1989 and 1990 in (i) council dwellings sold to sitting tenants and (ii) other dwellings sold by individuals, together with the numbers as a percentage of the national and regional housing stock.

The available information is in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on the future of the Property Services Agency as it relates to Scotland;(2) if he will make a statement on the future of the Property Services Agency.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin) on 24 April, Official Report, column 434.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has made a decision on calling in the development in the green belt of the former Rufford hospital, Lancashire; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has not yet made a decision on this case. I will write to my hon. Friend when the decision is made.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will have discussions with the Audit Commission about ways of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of relevant activities which fall within the responsibility of his Department with a view to securing better value for money; and if he will make a statement.

I am confident that the commission continues to fulfil its remit, which extends to England and Wales, in promoting value for money across the range of services.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the washing ashore at Salthouse, Weybourne and Kelling in Norfolk of dangerous chemicals.

[holding answer 14 May 1991]: On Friday 3 May, the marine pollution control unit of the Department of Transport received a report from the Humber coastguard that the Swedish flag container ship Nordic Pride had lost four tank containers of chemicals overboard during bad weather 20 miles north of Blakeney.In accordance with contingency plans for such incidents, MPCU immediately mounted a comprehensive air search for the containers. At the same time, MPCU scientific staff assessed the threat posed to the marine environment by the chemical—two tanks contained ethyl acrylate, with the others holding CHC feedstock and triethylenetetramine respectively—in consultation with colleagues from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and English Nature. The air search proved negative and since the conclusion of the joint assessment was that the tanks posed minimal threat to the marine environment, recovery was not deemed necessary. Local authorities were advised of the incident, the content of the tanks, and of the possibility of their coming ashore on the north Norfolk coast. The two tanks of ethyl acrylate were found washed ashore at Weybourne on the morning of Monday 6 May. The other tanks remain at sea.Coastal local authorities are responsible for dealing with incidents of this sort where chemical containers are washed ashore and North Norfolk district council, in conjunction with the police, carried out these duties in this incident. I understand that the containers washed ashore and their contents were cleared from the area for safe disposal by the afternoon of Wednesday 8 May.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his advisory committee of industrialists on the environment will consider (a) Kuwait oil fires and (b) rain forest problems.

[holding answer 13 May 1991]: The Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment has not yet held its first meeting. It is therefore premature to say which topics it will address, but it is unlikely that it will consider Kuwait oil fires.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 25 March, Official Report, column 341–42, on what date and by what process the tenders were offered for the supply of oil-skimming equipment to Bahrain; and if any further contracts have recently been awarded to Desmi Ltd.

[holding answer 7 May 1991]: Two contracts—total cost £282,924—for the supply of six heavy-duty oil pollution skimmers to assist the Government of Bahrain in dealing with the Gulf oil spill were awarded to Desmi Ltd. of Stoke-on-Trent on 28 February and 18 March. The selection of Desmi was made on the basis of an earlier tender exercise for the procurement of heavy-duty oil recovery skimmers for their own stocks carried out by the marine pollution control unit of the Department of Transport in January. This was supplemented by further inquiries made by MPCU in the course of advising my Department on the most appropriate equipment for the needs of Bahrain. No further contracts have been placed by my Department for pollution control equipment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if Innoval Europe Ltd, of Fraserburgh, is on his Department's tender list to supply equipment for dealing with oil spills; if he has information on the company's capabilities; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 7 May 1991]: The hon. Member has written to me to draw attention to the features of oil recovery equipment manufactured by Innovac Europe Ltd. and I have passed on this information to the marine pollution control unit of the Department of Transport, which has the professional and operational responsibility for dealing with pollution incidents at sea. I can confirm that the properties of the Innovac systems will be taken into account in any future consideration of Government requirements for this type of equipment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial provision has been made in Government grants for police forces in England and Wales in 1991–92; and what was the comparable figure for 1990–91.

I have been asked to reply.Subject to parliamentary approval, provision of £2,615·7 million has been made for the payment of specific grants and special grants to police authorities in 1991–92. This compares with a provision of £2,269·7 million in supply estimates, and a total provision of £2,366·9 million after supplementary estimates, for 1990–91. In addition to these grants, expenditure on police forces is supported by central Government through revenue support grant and redistributed business rates, but these are not hypothecated to particular services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cars in the United Kingdom are currently fitted with catalytic converters; and what proportion of new cars being sold are fitted with catalytic converters.

At the end of March 1991 over 180,000 cars registered in the United Kingdom were fitted with catalytic converters. In the first three months of this year, approximately 16 per cent. of all new petrol-engined cars being sold were fitted with these devices. These numbers are expected to increase sharply following planned changes in European Community requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations he has received concerning the possibility of an eastern bypass being constructed in Leicester; and if he will make a statement.

The A46/A6 Leicester eastern bypass was added to the national roads programme in the 1989 White Paper "Roads for Prosperity". This would be an outer bypass for through trunk road traffic. Routes have yet to be identified and no representations have been received.Thirteen representations have been received about the route options currently being considered by Leicestershire county council for its Leicester eastern district distributer road. This road is not, however, a bypass as it is estimated that 90 per cent. of the traffic expected to use it would have origins and/or destinations within the city of Leicester. It is a local road proposal and will be fully examined at the local level as part of the statutory processes required for the construction of new roads.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to give full consideration to all the proposed rail link routes to the channel tunnel, with a view to making a decision which will maximise private sector involvement.

There are many issues including the prospects for commercial viability which the Government will consider very carefully before reaching decisions on British Rail's recommendations for the rail link.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the number of vehicle journeys on the A9 between Perth and Drumochter involving the transport of medium and high-level nuclear waste in the last three years; and if he will list the statutory regulations governing the transport of such waste.

My Department does not collect data of the kind requested.Movements of radioactive materials by road are governed by the Radioactive Substances (Carriage by Road) (Great Britain) Regulations 1974 (SI 1974 No. 1735) and amendment Regulations 1985 (SI 1985 No. 1729).

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what restraints are likely to be placed on development and use of Thurleigh airport, in accordance with Her Majesty's Government business aviation policy; and what effect further developments at Luton and Stansted will have on such limitation.

Bedford (Thurleigh) airfield is not one of the airports round London identified by the Government as suitable to provide alternative facilities for business aircraft no longer able to use Heathrow or Gatwick. So business aviation policy will not govern Thurleigh's future. How much scope there might be for handling other air traffic from Thurleigh in addition to that from Luton and Stansted would depend on the nature, volume and timing of that traffic.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service when it was decided not to publish in the Official Report information requested on total expenditure by non-departmental public bodies; and what were the reasons for this decision.

Details of total expenditure by non-departmental public bodies is set out in "Public Bodies 1990" whose publication was announced in the Official Report on 19 December 1990, at column 176 and copies of which are available in the Library of the House. This is the usual method of publicising this information.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the 1991–92 annual budget for Her Majesty's Stationery Office is; and what percentage of that is allocated to staff costs.

[holding answer 14 May 1991]: This question falls within the scope of the policy announced in Cm. 1263: arrangements have therefore been made for the controller and chief executive of HMSO to respond direct. Copies of the letter will be placed in the House Library and with the Public Information Office.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Her Majesty's Stationery Office is being examined as a candidate for privatisation.

[holding answer 14 May 1991]: The future of Her Majesty's Stationery Office is reviewed from time to time. There are, however, no current plans to privatise it.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Central Office of Information; and what percentage of that is allocated to staff costs.

[holding answer 14 May 1991]: This question falls within the scope of the policy announced in Cm. 1263: arrangements have therefore been made for the chief executive of the COI to respond direct. Copies of the letter will be placed in the House Library and with the Public Information Office.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the 1991–92 annual budget for the Royal Mint; and what percentage of that is allocated to staff costs.

[holding answer 14 May 1991]: This question falls within the scope of the policy announced in Cm. 1263: arrangements have therefore been made for the deputy master and chief executive of the Royal Mint to respond direct. Copies of the letter will be placed in the House Library and with the Public Information Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the Official Report those district health authorities in Wales which have implemented his Department's recommendation in the circular on community dental services issued on 6 April 1989 that an annual reminder should be sent to parents about the benefits of regular dental examinations for their children.

This information is not available centrally. Responsibility for the issue of annual reminders rests with district health authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the procedures his Department has adopted to enable him to assess whether district health authorities have provided the necessary annual screening of the teeth of children in state-funded schools in areas of poor dental health and where availability of general dental services is poor.

Health authorities are required annually to provide the Department with statistical returns, including information on the screening of the teeth of school children. This information is published annually in "Health and Personal Social Services Statistics for Wales", copies of which are available in the Library of the House. The level and frequency of screening is a matter for local determination by health authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance on the development of the new management information system referred to in paragraph 4 of his departmental circular on community dental services issued on 6 April 1989.

Since the publication of WHC(89)28 "The Future Development of Community Health Services" and following consultation with the national health service in Wales, a management information system providing an improved level of information has now been successfully piloted. Its introduction throughout Wales is currently under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will have discussions with the Audit Commission about ways of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of relevant activities which fall within the responsibility of his Department with a view to securing better value for money; and if he will make a statement.

From my examination of Audit Commission reports, and from the variety of contacts which I and my Department have with the commission, I am satisfied that the commission is making a real impression on the way local and health authorities deliver the services for which they are responsible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State discussed trust status on his visit to Singleton hospital, Swansea.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether patentable agricultural chemicals which are required to pass safety tests before they receive marketing approval will be eligible for supplementary protection certificates of the type proposed by the EC Commission for medicinal products.

My colleagues and I accept that the patent term erosion in the agrochemical industry is similar to that for pharmaceuticals and that agrochemical patents should have similar supplementary protection. We intend therefore to seek either amendment of the Commission's proposal to cover agrochemicals or the introduction of a new proposal to that effect.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the number of emergency and standby vessels which have been ordered in each of the last three years for service in the United Kingdom's offshore oil and gas industry from shipyards located in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 14 May 1991]: None has been ordered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the grounds on which he based his decision not to select the extension project for St. Margaret Ward Roman Catholic (aided) high school in the form approved by Staffordshire county council and the Diocesan Schools Commission.

In determining capital allocations for improvement work at voluntary aided schools for 1991–92, my right hon. and learned Friend had sufficient resources to allocate for a proportion of improvement projects rated as top priority by their LEAs. The project at St. Margaret Ward school was not Staffordshire LEA's top priority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements exist at Stratford grant-maintained school for the application of the curriculum complaints procedure, as agreed by him and the London borough of Newham.

The governing body of Stratford school is required to make arrangements for the consideration and disposal of complaints relating to the curriculum and to agree those arrangements with my right hon. and learned Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will have discussions with the Audit Commission about ways of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of relevant activities which fall within the responsibility of his Department with a view to securing better value for money; and if he will make a statement.

The Audit Commission has produced reports exploring efficiency and effectiveness in various aspects of the education service, including the provision of primary and secondary schools, further education, and inspectorate and advisory services. The Department will continue to hold discussions as and when appropriate with the commission about its work in relation to the education service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessment has been made of the effect of the closure of the South West London college on the provision of higher and further education in the south-west London area.

The Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council has advised my right hon. and learned Friend that the South West London College Higher Education Corporation should be dissolved and that, following consultations with the students, the college's provision should be transferred to other institutions. We are consulting the college and other institutions on this advice. The final decision will take account of all the responses received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further steps he has taken to secure the safety and welfare of pupils in independent boarding schools.

I refer my hon. Friend to the replies I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Sir M. McNair-Wilson) on 22 January, Official Report, columns 121–23 and 18 February, Official Report, column 24. Following consultations with interested bodies, regulations were laid on 24 April, coming into operation today, which require proprietors of independent schools to report where any member of staff is dismissed for misconduct, or would have been dismissed or considered for dismissal had he not resigned. Proprietors will also be required to provide particulars of all staff, not just teaching staff, on application for registration and annually.My Department is writing to the proprietors and heads of all independent schools bringing these requirements to their attention. Conscientious reporting by schools will enable us usefully to extend the coverage of our list of people barred from employment in maintained schools —DES List 99—which is itself an essential resource for those responsible for the employment of staff in the independent sector.At the same time, we shall provide each school with a copy of the guidance and regulations on the implementation of section 63 of the Children Act 1989. Section 87 places new duties on proprietors of independent boarding schools, and on local authority social services departments, to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils. The guidance, which is published jointly by the Department of Health, the Department of Education and Science and the Welsh Office, has also been sent to social service departments and local education authorities and will, I believe, provide a sounder basis for securing all aspects of the welfare of pupils in boarding schools, including strengthening the arrangements for protecting them from sexual and physical abuse.

To ask the Prime Minister whether Her Majesty's Government made any offer to the Bangladeshi authorities to provide technical assistance in predicting storm surges in the Bay of Bengal.

No. This is an area where the United States of America is the principal donor. Bangladesh's cyclone early warning system was established in the 1970s when a satellite ground station was installed in Dhaka by a Bangladeshi organisation, the Space Research and Remote Sensing Organisation. The ground station has subsequently been upgraded through a project funded by the Office of the United States Foreign Disaster Assistance and implemented by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. United States aid assistance has continued for this activity and now totals excess of US$6 million.The Bangladesh authorities issued warning of the cyclone two days before it struck and an estimated 350,000 people were evacuated to anti-cyclone shelters.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Iraqi representations concerning their need to use helicopters for internal security which led the coalition representatives to concede that point during the ceasefire talks.

The Iraqi use of helicopters was considered at a meeting between General Schwarzkopf and the Iraqi military authorities on the suspension of hostilities at Safwan on 3 March. An Iraqi request to permit helicopter flights for transportation was agreed, without limitations of their use.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the total costs of fire brigades will be met from all central sources of funding, direct and indirect, in the current financial year; and what percentage will be paid locally.

Support for the expenditure of fire authorities in England and Wales is provided by central Government through revenue support grant, redistributed

	Establishment	Strength	Vacancies
1. Wholetime operational ranks: 1 January 19811
Chief Fire Officer	1	1	—
Assistant Chief Officer	4	3	1
Senior Divisional Officer	—	—	—
Divisional Officer I	8	7	1
Divisional Officer II	—	—	—
Divisional Officer III	19	18	1
Assistant Divisional Officer	27	27	—
Station Officer	130	113	17
Sub Officer	102	91	11
Leading Firefighter	136	120	16
Firefighter	714	689	25
Total	1,141	1,069	72
2. Wholetime operational ranks: 1 January 19911
Chief Fire Officer	1	1	—
Assistant Chief Officer	4	4	—
Senior Divisional Officer	4	3	1
Divisional Officer I	2	1	1
Divisional Officer II	6	5	1
Divisional Officer III	11	11	—
Assistant Divisional Officer	28	26	2
Station Officer	131	108	23
Sub Officer	102	100	2
Leading Firefighter	136	125	11
Firefighter	659	683	224
Total	1,084	1,067	317
3. Retained operational ranks: 1 January 1981
Station Officer	8	8	—
Sub Officer	18	16	2
Leading Firefighter	27	23	4
Firefighter	198	114	84
Total	251	161	90

business rates and community charge grant. This support is not hypothecated to particular services, and decisions on what portion should go to meet fire expenditure are at the discretion of the local authority concerned. For England and Wales as a whole, central Government meet about 85 per cent. of the budgeted revenue expenditure of local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current establishment by rank for the South Yorkshire fire service; what is the number of vacancies in each rank; and what were the comparable figures for 10 years ago.

The most recent centrally available figures relate to the establishment of the South Yorkshire county fire service on 1 January 1991. The establishments on this date and on 1 January 1981 are shown, by rank in the table, in comparison with figures showing the strength and the number of vacancies on each of those dates.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what budget has been set for police forces in England and Wales in 1991–92; and what were the comparable figures for 1990–91.

The Government do not set a budget for police expenditure, but the police share of total standard spending—TSS—is an indication of what we would expect police authorities to spend to provide an acceptable level of service. For 1991–92 the police share of TSS for England and Wales is £4,900 million. The comparable figure for 1990–91 was £4,384 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his review of the police national network will be completed and if he will make a statement.

Work is in hand on establishing a detailed user requirement for a network to handle both voice and data communications between police forces and also between forces and other agencies within the criminal justice system. This work is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current establishment by rank for the South Yorkshire police force; and what are the number of vacancies in each rank.

The information is given in the table.

	Establishment	Vacancies held
1	Chief Constable	—
1	Deputy Chief Constable	—
3	Assistant Chief Constables	—
11	Chief Superintendents	—
38	Superintendents	—
47	Chief Inspectors	1
159	Inspectors	—
456	Sergeants	2
2,282	Constables	9
Total 2,998		12

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many lollipop ladies will be made redundant in Cheshire.

Under the provisions of section 26 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, authority for providing school crossing patrols in Cheshire is vested in Cheshire county council. I understand from the chief constable of Cheshire, who administers the scheme by local agreement, that it is expected that by the end of June some 60 or 70 school crossing patrol posts will have been withdrawn. Some further posts are to be reviewed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements have been made to ensure safety for children leaving school grounds once the services of lollipop ladies are discontinued.

Authority for providing school crossing patrols outside London is vested in individual local authorities who may make provision for them where they consider it necessary. The safety of children travelling to and from school is the responsibility of their parents.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Government plans for a new police station at Hamilton, Leicester.

Proposals by the Leicestershire police authority for a new sub-divisional police headquarters at Hamilton have been approved for planning purposes and I understand that a site has now been purchased.Provision for the police building programme is fully committed up to 1993–94. We shall decide later this year which schemes on the planning list should be authorised to start in 1994–95. The Hamilton police station is one of the schemes which will be considered, but there can be no guarantee that it will be given a start date.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions have taken place with the Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers Association concerning consideration of the future of fire authorities under the review of local government.

Home Office officials attended the annual general meeting of the Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers Association on 4 May, at which the future structure of local government was one of the items discussed. Representatives of the association, together with those of other organisations representing fire service employers and employees, will have a further opportunity to discuss the Government's proposals at a meeting of the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council on 21 May 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the cases dealt with by the Parole Board (i) in 1990 and (ii) so far in the current year, were considered by the local review committee (a) six to 12 months previously, (b) three to six months previously and (c) up to three months previously.

These statistics are not recorded centrally in this form and could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases were dealt with by the Parole Board (i) in 1990 and (ii) so far in the current year; what percentage of prisoners had passed their parole eligibility date at the time of the deliberations; and if he will make a statement.

In 1990 the Parole Board considered some 7,400 determinate sentence cases; so far this year it has dealt with about 2,700. The detailed statistics sought on the timeliness of board deliberations are not available. There are not any general delays, but occasionally cases are held up for reasons beyond our control, such as late changes in inmates' circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners who were dealt with by the Parole Board in 1990 received their decision after their earliest date of release; what was the average delay; and what percentages of the decisions were positive.

These statistics could not be provided without incurring disproportionate costs. However, it is rare for a parole decision to be delayed until after an inmate's earliest date of release.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department of all cases dealt with by the Parole Board (i) in 1990 and (ii) so far in the current year, how many have had the home circumstances report completed (a) over 12 months previously, (b) six to 12 months previously and (c) three to six months previously; and if he will make a statement.

This information is not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The probation service is under standing instructions to provide updates on any changes to inmates's domestic circumstances or release plans. A letter has been circulated to all chief probation officers reminding them of the crucial importance of timely home circumstances reports to the parole process.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many instances of alleged maladministration or other complaints about parole dossiers have been reported by the Parole Board during the last two years.

The Parole Board has not raised any specific cases with me.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will have discussions with the Audit Commission about ways of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of relevant activities which fall within the responsibility of his Department with a view to securing better value for money; and if he will make a statement.

I met the chairman and the controller of the Audit Commission on 11 March and had a valuable exchange of views on the commission's work on the police and other Home Office services provided by local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost so far to (a) the Metropolitan police and (b) his Department of the inquiries into alleged Nazi war criminals living in the United Kingdom; what is the estimated cost of further investigations during the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

The cost of the war crime inquiry, which was set up by the Home Office to investigate allegations that war criminals were resident in this country, was in the region of £460,000. It is estimated that police inquiries are likely to cost in the order of £700,000 in this financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce the names of the members of the Royal Commission on criminal justice.

The Queen has been pleased to approve a recommendation that the following be appointed members of the Royal Commission on criminal justice under the chairmanship of Viscount Runciman of Doxford: Mr. Robert Bunyard, Professor Sir John Cadogan, Professor John Gunn, Sir John May, Mrs. Yve Newbold, Ms Usha Prashar, Miss Anne Rafferty QC, Sir John Wickerson, Sir Phillip Woodfield and Professor Michael Zander.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the report of the scrutiny of in-service training for the probation service.

My right hon. Friend received the report on 18 April and I am today placing copies of it in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he will protect family conciliation services by taking responsibility for their funding.

[holding answer 9 May 1991]: The Government are reviewing the future of and funding for conciliation services as part of their consideration of proposals for divorce law reform.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next plans to meet representatives of the Institute of Horticulture; and if he will make a statement.

At present I have no plans to do so.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Advisory Committee on Pesticides is expected to report on the safety of lindane.

Data on lindane are currently being evaluated by the Health and Safety Executive. It is expected to be referred to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides by the end of the year.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the amount of assistance given to agriculture for the disposal of offal and fallen stock.

Government assistance to help the livestock industry overcome its problems on the disposal of fallen stock and animal carcase waste includes: practical advice from the state veterinary service and ADAS on alternative methods of carcase disposal including safe burial and incineration; funding of research with industry and the European Community into the type of rendering systems which will destroy certain pathogens; advising planning and regulatory authorities about the importance of adequate disposal facilities especially where planning permission is sought for incinerators; exempting small incinerators designed for animal waste from the inspection and authorisation requirements of the Environmental Protection Act 1990; helping the rendering industry's examination of useful alternatives to landfilling for meat and bonemeal derived from specified bovine offal; and identifying investment in the by-products sector as one of the priority areas for aid under the EC grant scheme for marketing and processing agricultural products.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the future structure of the Milk Marketing Board.

The Milk Marketing Board for England and Wales has decided to press forward with specific proposals for transforming itself into co-operative status. We hope that the board will shortly bring the dairy trade and other interested parties into its discussions. We welcome the decision to open the way to changes enabling our milk industry to operate with the same competitive flexibility as in the rest of the European market. This must be in the best interests of milk producers, dairies, processors and consumers.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research and development on environmental issues is currently funded by his Department.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is spending about £50 million a year on research and development related to environmental issues; that is almost half of the Department's total expenditure on research and development of about £120 million. This is a very significant level and underlines the Department's commitment to the soundest science on which to base our policies now and in the future.I am pleased to announce the publication today of a brochure describing the wide range of environmental research and development that the Department has commissioned on such issues as conservation; water, air and soil protection; pests and pesticides; climate change; farm woodlands and set-aside; flood and coastal defence; genetic conservation and modification; and protection of fisheries and the marine environment. This brochure has been placed in the Library and the Vote Office of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in rank order the donor nations of the United Nations showing the proportion of GDP donated, for the most recent year available, and the amounts in sterling.

The latest information is as follows; GDP figures are not available.

Official development assistance by United Nations member countries in 1988 in ODA/GNP percentage order
Country	Per cent of GNP 1988	Amount £ million
Saudi Arabia	2·64	1,150
Norway	1·04	553
Netherlands	0·98	1,252
Denmark	0·89	518
Sweden	0·86	861
France	0·72	3,854
Finland	0·59	341
Libya	0·52	72
Canada	0·50	1,318

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to protect from erosion the pensions of former colonial civil servants who served in Zimbabwe before independence.

Responsibility for the payment and protection of the pensions of former Zimbabwe—Southern Rhodesia—civil servants rests with the Government of Zimbabwe. Our obligation towards the pensions of former colonial officers is confined to those for whom the British Government acknowledge a special responsibility by virtue of their having been recruited by, or on behalf of, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, for employment on expatriate terms in the central government of a colony. Zimbabwe pensioners do not come into this category. Southern Rhodesia was a self-governing colony from 1923; recruitment to its public service was made directly by that Government, and staff served on local, as opposed to expatriate, terms of service. There are large numbers of overseas pensioners whose pensions are being eroded in value by falling exchange rates and, indeed, many who receive no payment at all. I could not justify helping Zimbabwe pensioners in isolation, and the financial consequences of assisting all overseas pensioners who face such problems would be prohibitive.

Agency	Date	Aircraft	Tonnage	Destination
ODA	25 April	1 x Boeing 707	37·3	Incerlik, Turkey
ODA	26 April	1 x Boeing 707	23·8	Incerlik, Turkey
ODA	27 April	1 x Boeing 707	27·5	Incerlik, Turkey
ODA	28 April	1 x Boeing 707	28·7	Incerlik, Turkey
ODA	28 April	1 x Boeing 707	25·9	Orumiyeh, Iran
ODA	29 April	1 x Boeing 707	32·4	Orumiyeh, Iran
ODA	30 April	1 x Boeing 707	32·4	Orumiyeh, Iran

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contributions for 1991 are being made to the International Planned Parenthood Federation, the United Nations Population Fund and the World Health Organisation's special programme on human reproduction.

The United Kingdom has pledged the following contributions for 1991:

	£ million
IPPF	7·5
UNFPA	7·5
WHO/HRP	2·55

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total expenditure on population activities for 1991; and what percentage this represents of total gross public expenditure on aid for 1991.

Figures for 1991 will not be available until 1992 and details of total United Kingdom aid expenditure in 1990 are still being finalised. In 1990 ODA spent over £21 million on activities directly related to population concerns, a 21 per cent. increase on 1989 expenditure. In addition, most maternal and child health and women's education programmes contribute to reducing population growth. We shall continue to use all possibilities to extend the availability of family planning advice and assistance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) pursuant to his written answers to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East on 25 April, Official Report, columns 507–8, and 2 May, Official Report, column 288, if he will (a) update the information given and (b) provide details of those supplies (i) obtained from and (ii) despatched on behalf of the voluntary organisation British Aid for the Kurds;(2) pursuant to his written answers to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East on 25 April,

(a) Since 24 April, an estimated total of 541·9 tonnes of further relief supplies have been sent by the Overseas Development Administration, and an estimated total of 124·2 tonnes have been sent by non-government sources. The details of which the Department are aware are as follows: