To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidelines govern the maximum length of time that the same consultancy practice may be continuously employed by a Government Department.

I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidelines there are governing the awarding of consultancy contracts on a cost-reimbursable basis.

None, but advice on contracting with management consultants can be found within the Treasury's booklet, "Seeking Help from Management Consultants", and this includes at annex 7 a description of the salient points of such a contract.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has had on the subject of fiscal measures to increase environmental protection in the United Kingdom.

I have received a number of such representations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 13 May, Official Report, columns 23–24, if he has yet completed consultations with law enforcement agencies about which activities and professions should now have procedures tightened in order to combat money laundering; and what discussions have started with which relevant representative bodies.

We hope to complete consultations with law enforcement agencies shortly.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what have been the interest rates in the United Kingdom for each quarter since October 1979.

The information requested is available in table 13.15 of "Financial Statistics".

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the inflation rate in the United Kingdom in each quarter since October 1979.

Following is the information:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much inheritance-related tax has been received in respect of Heveningham hall.

The information requested about Heveningham hall is covered by the normal rules ensuring taxpayers' confidentiality.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, further to his answer of 2 May, Official Report, column 296, he will estimate the effect on Treasury revenues in 1991–92 and in a full year of introducing a higher rate band of income tax of 50 per cent. on taxable incomes over £36,705.

Compared with the income tax regime considered in the previous answer, the revenue yield at 1991–92 levels of income of introducing the rates of income tax shown in the table would be about £0·1 billion lower in 1991–92, and about £0·2 billion lower in a full year. In rounded terms the total yield, compared with the income tax regime for 1991–92 proposed in the Budget, would be about £1 billion in 1991–92 and about £2 billion in a full year. The estimates do not take account of the consequential effect on capital gains tax, nor do they allow for any behavioural effects that might result from such an increase.

Taxable income (£)	Rate per cent.
1 to 23,700	25
23,701 to 36,705	40
Over 36,705	50

Taxable income is income subject to tax from all sources after deducting allowances and reliefs.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect on Treasury revenues in 1991–92 and in a full year of abolishing value-added tax zero-rating on all items except food, children's clothing, and domestic fuel and power.

Estimates of the revenue effect of abolishing zero-rating on all items of domestic expenditure other than food, children's clothing, and fuel and power are as follows:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all items currently subject to the zero rate of value added tax.

Schedule 5 to the VAT Act 1983 applies the zero rate of VAT to a wide range of goods and services. The main areas covered are listed in table 4B.1 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" for 1991–92 which is available in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost to the Exchequer of the increase in unemployment from May 1990 to May 1991 in terms of (a) increased social security payments and (b) reduced taxation receipts, both direct and indirect.

A rise of 100,000 in unemployment is estimated directly to add around £305 million to benefit expenditure in 1991–92—as shown in table 24 of the DSS departmental report, Cm. 1514. Estimates of the effects on tax receipts and public finances as a whole would depend on the assumptions made.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide an estimate of the number of birds which were illegally imported into the United Kingdom for each year since 1987.

Customs detected the following numbers of birds being illegally imported into the United Kingdom in contravention of the laws relating to the convention on the international trade in endangered species—CITES.

	Number
1986–87	209
1987–88	208
1988–89	380
1989–90	533
1990–91	243

It is not possible to estimate how many illegal importations may have evaded Customs controls.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will increase Government grant to London Transport in 1991–92.

Yes. I am pleased to announce that I am increasing London Transport's grant by £53 million and its external financing limit by £39·8 million. This will be charged to the reserve and will not, therefore, add to the level of planned public expenditure. The increase is additional to the £55 million extra grant for 1990–91 announced in February this year. I have approved it because of the current downturn in LT's property receipts and revenue. It will enable LT to repay borrowing it undertook in 1990–91 and to proceed with important investment in the underground and docklands light railway.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about British Rail's external financing limit for 1991–92.

We have now completed discussions with the railways board about the serious financial situation that British Rail faces this year in the light of the downturn in the property market and its reduced forecasts of revenue. The Government have decided to increase British Rail's external financing limit for 1991–92 by £400 million, to a revised total of £1,522 million. This increase will be charged to the reserve, and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure. Last year BR's EFL was increased in-year by £102 million, and BR subsequently overshot the revised EFL by £316 million. I am not, however, requiring BR to meet that overshoot from this year's provision, as would normally be required. I have also today told the chairman of British Rail that I have approved his proposal to invest £127 million in 188 additional Networker vehicles for commuter services in south-east London and north Kent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the titles of the video recordings purchased by his Department during the financial year 1990–91 and 1991–92 to date.

The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of dentists in each family health service authority are offering a less than full NHS service.

Dentists are independent contractors who are free to accept or refuse patients as they see fit. However, having accepted a patient into an NHS continuing care or capitation arrangement, a dentist is required to offer all the care and treatment that is necessary to secure and maintain oral health.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the locations of consultant immunologists in England.

Contracts for consultants are held by regional health authorities or, where appropriate, by teaching health districts. The table shows the locations of consultant immunologists, by regional health authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will increase the maximum help available to people who receive vouchers to cover the entire cost of spectacles.

Voucher values were increased overall by 6 per cent. from 1 April this year. The values of the most commonly prescribed vouchers A, B and D were increased by 7·2, 6·1 and 6·5 per cent. respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give a breakdown of the total number of nursing clinical grading appeals already heard in the Northern region and the numbers (a) upheld or (b) rejected.

The figures for nurse clinical grading regional appeals for staff employed in the Northern regional health authority area are as follows—up to 31 May 1991:

	Number
Total number heard:	77
of which
(a) upheld	14
(b) rejected	8

No national appeals have been heard to date. Information on local appeals is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations he has received from family health services committees and doctors over the delay in being notified over the introduction of the prescribing incentive schemes; and if he will make a statement;(2) when he intends to take action on the prescribing incentive schemes submitted by family health services committees; and if he will make a statement;(3) how many family health services committees were notified that the prescribing incentive schemes submitted for his consideration had been agreed by his Department before 1 April.

We have received several representations from family health services authorities concerning the approval of indicative prescribing incentive scheme applications. I shall be announcing shortly which incentive scheme applications have been approved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he gives to general practices on the introduction of prescribing incentive schemes; and if he will make a statement.

"Improving Prescribing", issued in June 1990, set out proposals for the operation of local, voluntary incentive schemes. Further guidance was included in NHS management letter EL(91)12, issued to family health services authorities and regional and district health authorities on 31 January 1991. Copies of "Improving Prescribing" and EL(91) 12 are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 3 June, Official Report, column 69, if he will list the main items of expenditure included in the £100,000 spent in 1990–91 on improving energy efficiency.

The main items of expenditure included are: dry lining of interior walls; 8-inch cork insulation as part of flat roof replacements; replacement of ill-fitting exterior doors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the number of energy audits carried out in his Department in the past five years and for each audit a statement of its main conclusions.

[holding answer 3 June 1991]: For the years up to 1989–90 it is not possible to provide separate information for the Department of Health. However, some of the conclusions that emerged from audits carried out on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Security up to that time are as follows:

1. Convert tungsten lighting to compact fluorescent.

2. Change fluorescent tubes to high efficiency types.

3. Adjust boiler controls to eliminate overheating during occupancy and unnecessary heating during silent hours.

4. Maintain records of the utilities used.

5. Remedy defects to windows and doors.

6. Display "Energy Management" posters.

In 1990–91 there were no energy audits carried out in the Department. It is hoped to carry out energy audits during 1991–92 on two buildings that will remain part of the Department's estate for the foreseeable future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in converting NHS training directorate ambulance aid and extended ambulance, paramedic training to national vocational qualifications status; and if he will make a statement.

Progress on the development of national vocational qualifications for ambulance staff is well advanced. Occupational standards for ambulance staff have been extensively tested throughout the NHS and in collaboration with the armed forces and the voluntary sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ambulance services in England operate motor cycle or other dedicated fast response paramedic services; what assessment has been made of the costs and benefit of such services; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested is not collected centrally, although we are aware that there are a number of fast response services operating around the country. It is for individual ambulance services to assess the costs and benefits of such services in the light of local circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the cost and benefit of providing helicopter air ambulance facilities; and if he will make a statement.

A long-term, independent study of costs, performance and benefits of air ambulance services in London and Cornwall, funded by the Department, is under way. Any assessment will need to await the results of the study.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to lay the regulations on registration of food premises under the Food Safety Act 1990; and if he will make a statement.

We will make an announcement when we have fully considered the responses made during the consultation on the draft regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to obtain an independent evaluation of the role of the social services inspectorate in the events leading up to the Staffordshire child care inquiry.

[holding answer 18 June 1991]: Children's homes are the responsibility of local authorities. It is their job to see that proper management and monitoring systems are in place.An independent inquiry has been undertaken by Mr. Allan Levy QC and Mrs. Barbara Kahan into the "pindown" experience and the protection of children in Staffordshire children's homes. They were quite satisfied that the social services inspectors who had visited homes in Staffordshire in 1987 as part of a general review on the development of family centres were not told about "pindown" and its workings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the full-time and part-time public appointments for which his Department was responsible for each of the past five years together with the salary and the date when each appointment is due for renewal.

Information about the appointments for which I am responsible is set out in "Public Bodies" and "Public Appointments: A Handbook for Women's Organisations" copies of which are in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the expenditure covered by his Department's hospitality fund for the financial years (a) 1989–90, (b) 1990–91, (c) 1991–92 to date.

The amounts spent on official hospitality are as follows:

	£
1989–90	38,397·87
1990–91	45,419·35
1991 to date	6,866·59

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 14 May, Official Report, column 79, to the hon. Member for Don Valley, (a) where the equipment and the present staff at the Welsh school of instrument making and repair will he relocated when it closes at the end of the current academic year and (b) what alternative arrangements have been made to continue these studies.

These are matters for Mid Glamorgan county council, which administers the school, and for Ystrad Mynach college of further education.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 14 May, Official Report, column 79, to the hon. Member for Don Valley, if he will list the six representations he received, and any others to date, over the closure of the Welsh school of instrument making and repair, showing in his answer whether they were for or against the closure.

The representations received were all by or on behalf of individuals and therefore I cannot give further details. All expressed concern at the closure of the Welsh school of instrument making and repair.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by year for the past five years, and for the current academic year, the number of students taught at the Welsh school of instrument making and repair at Abertridwr; what nationality they were; and what was the student establishment recommended.

This information is not readily available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the titles of the video recordings purchased by his Department during the financial years 1990–91 and 1991–92 to date.

This information is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to improve the biological control of filamentous algae of the cladophora family in Welsh rivers, lakes and reservoirs.

I understand that cladophora growth occurs from time to time when nutrient concentrations, flow and organic conditions are suitable. The National Rivers Authority will be addressing its possible control as part of its wider research into eutrophication.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff there are in each of the counties of Wales who teach pupils with special educational needs.

The number of full-time and part-time qualified teachers in special schools as at January 1990 is as follows:

	Number
Clwyd	120
Dyfed	47
Gwent	73
Gwynedd	50
Mid Glamorgan	104
Powys	28
South Glamorgan	131
West Glamorgan	48

Information in respect of the number of staff in maintained primary and secondary schools who teach pupils with special educational needs is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many free-standing special educational needs schools there are in each of the counties of Wales.

The number of maintained special schools as at January 1990 is given in the table:

	Number
Clwyd	11
Dyfed	5
Gwent	6
Gwynedd	6
Mid Glamorgan	10
Powys	4
South Glamorgan	15
West Glamorgan	5

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is his policy concerning special educational needs provision in Wales;(2) what policy initiatives he proposes concerning the special educational needs of pupils in Wales.

The Education Act 1981 provides the framework for the provision of education for pupils with special educational needs. Local education authorities have the responsibility for securing that appropriate educational provision is made for such pupils. The Education Reform Act 1988, in particular the requirements of the national curriculum, ensures that pupils with special educational needs have an entitlement to the same curriculum as their peers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to call an all-Wales conference on special educational needs provision in the schools of Wales.

There are no plans at present to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many pupils with special educational needs there are in each of the local educational authorities in Wales.

The number of pupils with statements of special educational needs as at January 1990 is given in the table:

	Number
Clwyd	2,512
Dyfed	648
Gwent	1,978
Gwynedd	744
Mid Glamorgan	3,282
Powys	293
South Glamorgan	1,323
West Glamorgan	613

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy concerning the integration of special educational needs pupils into mainstream schools.

The Education Act 1981 provides that local education authorities shall place children with statements of special educational needs in ordinary schools, provided that parental views are taken into account, and that such placement is compatible with the child receiving the provision required, the provision of efficient education for his peers and the efficient use of resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases there have been of unauthorised discharges into the River Dee in the last 10 years, giving details of the source of the discharge and the quantities involved.

This is a matter for the National Rivers Authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the public inquiry to be made into Browning Ferris's application to construct and operate a waste disposal unit in Newport, Gwent, will take place.

There are two appeals which will be heard jointly on 1 October 1991 in the council chamber, civic centre, Newport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from individuals and organisations concerning the application from Browning Ferris to construct a waste disposal unit at Newport, Gwent.

There are four representations, one of which is a petition of 19 signatures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much controlled waste is exported from Clwyd to (a) English counties and (b) Welsh counties.

This information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many formal compliance notices have been issued by waste disposal authorities to landfill waste site operators in Wales during the past five years, with details of why they were issued and the names of the site operators concerned;(2) how many unauthorised emissions of leachate have taken place in Wales from landfill sites to the environment in the last five years, with details of where these have taken place and the names of the site owners responsible.

This information is not held centrally and I refer the hon. Gentleman to the waste disposal authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total sum for implementation of the Children Act 1989 which is allowed for within Government grant to local authorities in Wales (a) via specific grants and (b) via the element included in standard spending assessment in the present financial year.

Specific grant to local authorities in 1991–92 for implementation of the Children Act is £240,000. Standard spending assessments, supported through revenue support grant, are not hypothecated to particular items.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has anything to add by way of a correction to the oral answer to the right hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Foot) on 29 April, Official Report, column 3, about NHS expenditure.

[holding answer 14 June 1991]: The figure I used was £615 million. The mistake was made in the Official Report, and it will be corrected in the Bound Volume in due course.

To ask the Prime Minister what proposals he has for the future management of the links between the Department of Education and Science, the Treasury and individual grant-maintained schools; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have at present no plans to change the existing funding arrangements for grant-maintained schools. They will keep those arrangements under review as the number of grant-maintained schools increases.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will give energy consumption figures for 1990–91 for the 76 per cent. of Cabinet Office holdings referred to in the answer of 6 June 1990, Official Report, column 613, for electricity in kilowatt hours, for gas in therms and for liquid fuel in litres.

The 1990–91 energy consumption figures for the 76 per cent. of Cabinet Office holdings referred to in the answer of 6 June 1990, at column 613, are as follows:

• Electricity 3,641,991 kilowatt hours
• Gas 36,164 therms
• Liquid Fuel 504,244 litres

To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the full-time and part-time public appointments for which his Department was responsible for each of the past five years together with the salary and the date when each appointment is due for renewal.

The public appointments for which the Attorney-General has had responsibility during the last five years are for the appointment of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Director of the Serious Fraud Office, the Director and deputy Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland as well as the Crown Solicitor for Northern Ireland. The salary and date of renewal of each appointment are listed in the table.

Appointment	Salary	Date for renewal
Director of Public Prosecutions	Grade 1	Normal date for retirement i.e. 1995
Director of Serious Fraud Office	Grade 2 post1	By agreement 1993
Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland	Grade 1A	Normal date for retirement i.e. 2011
Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland	Grade 3 post1	Normal date for retirement i.e. 2013
Crown Solicitor for Northern Ireland	Grade 2 post1	Normal date for retirement i.e. 1992
1 With individually negotiated salary.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the titles of the video recordings purchased by his office and the Lord Chancellor's Department during the financial years 1990–91 and 1991–92 to date.

The legal secretariat to the Law Officers has purchased no video recordings for the Lord Chancellor's Department during the financial year 1990–91 or in the financial year 1991–92 to date.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the expenditure covered by his office and the Lord Chancellor's Department's hospitality fund for the financial years (a) 1989–90, (b) 1990–91 and (c) 1991–92 to date.

The amounts expended by the legal secretariat to the Law Officers were as follows:

	£
(a)1989–90	4,389
(b)1990–91	3,625
(c)1991–92 to date	557

		West London County Court
	Population in Boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea	Mortgage possession actions entered		Mortgage possession orders made
		Number	Percentage of Population	Number	Percentage of Population
1986	288,000	189	0·07	116	0·04
1987	284,000	256	0·09	146	0·05
1988	275,000	290	0·11	133	0·05
1989	279,000	484	0·17	189	0·07
1990	n·a·	789	n.a.	571	n.a.

		Westminster County Court
	Population in City of Westminster Borough	Mortgage possession actions entered		Mortgage possession orders made
		Number	Percentage of Population	Number	Percentage of Population
1986	176,000	10	0·01	14	0·01
1987	173,000	4	—	11	0·02
1988	170,000	46	0·03	62	004
1989	173,000	111	0·06	54	0·03
1990	n·a·	266	n.a.	102	n.a.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals have been lodged by the South Yorkshire valuation and community charge tribunal in respect of the uniform business rate for 1990–91; and how many have been received to date for the current financial year.

The South Yorkshire valuation and community charge tribunal received about 13,200 appeals against entries in the 1990 non-domestic rating lists by the end of May 1991. Of these, 12,500 were received in 1990–91 and 700 were received in the first two months of this financial year.

To ask the Attorney-General, how many court actions related to mortgage repossessions there were in (a) Hammersmith and Chelsea and (b) Westminster county courts in each year since 1986; and what percentage of the population this represents.

The number of mortgage actions for possession entered and orders made for possession in (a) West London and (b) Westminster county courts in each year since 1986 and the percentage of the population in the boroughs of (a) Hammersmith and Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea (b) City of Westminster for the years 1986 to 1989, the most recent year available, are shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals have been lodged by the South Yorkshire valuation and community charge tribunal in respect of the community charge for 1990–91; and how many have been received to date for the current financial year.

The South Yorkshire valuation and community charge tribunal has received to date 139 appeals about the community charge. Of these, 117 were received in 1990–91 and 22 have been received so far this financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what policy guidance is given by his Department to local authorities regarding the provision of public conveniences.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many and what representations his Department has received in the last 12 months regarding the provision of public conveniences.

Apart from my hon. Friend himself, one other hon. Member has written about a constituent's concern at the closure of public conveniences in his area. Three members of the public and two interested organisations have also written about the level of provision of public conveniences.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in what circumstances an individual could receive a revised poll tax bill for 1991–92 higher than one for 1991–92 received before the announcement of the general reduction scheme and the changes to the community charge reduction scheme in March; how many people he estimates to have received higher bills; and if he will make a statement.

The community charge reduction scheme as it was amended in March 1991 requires local authorities to calculate reductions based on residence on 31 March 1991. This enables people who moved or became 18 during 1990–91 to qualify for the scheme. It also means that where the number of adults in a household is less than it was on 31 March 1990, account is taken of the lower household liability. No information is available on the numbers of households for which this was a consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of the Bullring, St. Andrews gardens, Liverpool; what talks he has had about its future; if he will meet tenants' representatives to discuss the conditions in which they are living; and whether he will agree to visit this tenement block.

The future of the council houses at the Bullring, St. Andrews gardens, Liverpool, the condition of the living accommodation there and the need to meet and consult tenants' representatives are all matters for Liverpool city council. It is responsible for the management and maintenance of its stock.I have had no discussions about the future of the Bullring although a number of initiatives which are under way, particularly the city challenge invitation to the city, will involve some discussion with the Government later in the autumn. I understand that the city challenge area being considered by the city would include St. Andrews gardens.I have no plans to visit Liverpool in the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many civil service personnel have been involved in considering the report into evaluation of nitrogen oxide abatement technologies for large combustion plants; what is the current total of staff hours devoted to consideration of the report; and if he will make a statement.

For the purposes of part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the technology for the control of emissions of nitrogen oxides from large combustion plant is currently being reviewed by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. The report to which the hon. Member refers is being taken into account in that review. It is not possible to provide a separate estimate of the number of staff hours devoted to the report.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the objectives set out in the White Paper "This Common Inheritance"—Cm. 1200—have so far been achieved.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 26 March this year detailing the major initiatives taken in the six months since the publication of the environment White Paper, "This Common Inheritance".Since then we have continued to work hard at implementing commitments, taking the tally of initiatives so far to well over 100. Among the main achievements of the past three months have been the announcement of new planning controls over farm and forestry buildings and over the demolition of houses; the launch of a campaign of conservation awareness for farmers; announcements of future policy on environmentally sensitive areas; first offers of funding for a wide range of environmental projects by voluntary organisations under the new environmental grant fund; the first meetings of new discussion fora with business and the voluntary sector; the publication of an environmental directory for business; the report of the working group on tourism and the environment; consultation of local waste management plans for recycling; the launch of a new grant scheme for the renovation of cathedrals; and the application of substantial sections of the Environmental Protection Act on 1 April 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what budget his Department has for advertising in ethnic newspapers or magazines, the services and responsibilities of his Department; and what amount of money has been spent on this publicity in each of the last five years.

For the most part my Department informs the public about its services and responsibilities through an extensive range of explanatory leaflets and booklets rather than through advertising. Where a need has been identified, many of these publications are translated into languages other than English.My Department has no specific budget for advertising in ethnic newspapers or magazines. Between 1985–86 and 1988–89 no expenditure was incurred on such advertising. In 1989–90, £21,758 was spent on advertising in the ethnic press to promote awareness of the explanatory leaflets on the community charge and the community charge benefits scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many instances there have been of pollution of water courses and drinking water supplies by leachate from landfill waste sites in England, during the past five years, with details of the extent and source of pollution, and the names of the site owners responsible.

The National Rivers Authority is responsible for monitoring water pollution. Detailed information of the nature requested is not held centrally, but details obtained from the authority's monitoring programme are entered in the public registers kept at each of its regional offices.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultation he has had since his appointment on the subject of economic measures to increase environmental protection.

There is widespread debate in the United Kingdom and internationally about the use of economic measures to supplement regulation as a means of protecting the environment. My Department continues to be closely involved. The Government's approach to these matters was described in chapter 1 and annex A of the White Paper "This Common Inheritance"—Cm 1200—published last September.

To ask the Secretary of Slate for the Environment what action his Department is taking to implement the EC directive on the protection of habitats and species.

The habitats directive has not yet been adopted by the Council. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 will provide the framework for United Kingdom compliance with the directive when adopted.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent pollution incidents Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has investigated at the Shell Haven industrial plant at Canvey Island on 6 May.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has been informed by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution that it did not make any pollution incident investigations at the Shell Haven industrial plant at Canvey Island on 6 May 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will increase the powers of local authorities to protect hedgerows of high amenity or wildlife value.

In our White Paper "This Common Inheritance" we announced our intention to give local planning authorities powers to protect important hedgerows in their areas. A consultation paper issued in December gave further details. Responses to that paper have raised a number of key issues, and we are giving these careful consideration. It would therefore be premature to take action on this matter in the present Planning and Compensation Bill. My aim is to ensure that any scheme commands the widest possible agreement and will be fair and practicable.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the level of Government grant to the Rural Development Commission for (a) each of the last five financial years and (b) the current financial year.

This information is included in figure 23 of the "Department of the Environment's Annual Report 1991" —Cm 1508—a copy of which was put in the Library of the House on 13 February 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total sum for implementation of the Children Act 1989 which is allowed for within Government grant to local authorities in England (a) via specific grants and (b) via the element included in standard spending assessment in the present financial year.

The specific grant to local authorities in England in 1991–92 for social services training includes an element for training for the implementation of the Children Act 1989. Standard spending assessments are not disaggregated into identifiable amounts for individual functions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what formula has been used to determine the element within standard spending assessment for local authorities in England for the costs of implementing the Children Act 1989 in the current financial year.

[holding answer 18 June 1991]: Standard spending assessments are not disaggregated into identifiable amounts for individual functions. The methodology for calculating the "Social Services for Children" sub-block of the personal social services SSA is set out in the Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England) and the Revenue Support Grant Distribution (Amendment) Report (England), which are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department has given any remit to Nirex to undertake research or exploratory drillings connected with the long-term disposal of high-level radioactive waste; and if he will make a statement.

No such remit has been given. United Kingdom Nirex Ltd. does not have responsibility for high-level radioactive waste.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the written answer of the right hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. King) on 16 December 1981, Official Report, columns 171–2, still represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the long-term option for disposing of high-level radioactive waste.

Government policy for high level radioactive waste is set out in the 1982 White Paper, "Radioactive Waste Management"—Cmnd 8607.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action has been taken to determine the origin of birds offered for sale in the United Kingdom for which no exemption has been granted to permit sale under the convention on international trade in endangered species.

Under EC regulation 3626/82, which implements the convention on international trade in endangered species, only birds of certain species require sales exemptions. My Department monitors sales of these birds and investigates any apparent infringements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received the report of the Director General of Water Services for 1990.

I am pleased to announce that the director general has prepared his report for 1990 and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 4 June, Official Report, column 166, with regard to Sheffield urban development corporation, if he will make a statement on the part played by Sheffield development corporation in the establishment of the Meadowhall shopping complex and the jobs created there.

[holding answer 18 June 1991]: At the inception of Sheffield development corporation in June 1988, development of the Meadowhall complex was already under way. I expect Meadowhall, in common with other commercial enterprises in the area, to benefit from the commitment to regeneration evidenced by the urban development corporation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answers of 5 June 1990, Official Report, column 483, and 6 June 1991, Official Report, column 287, when his Department ceased to have a dedicated energy manager; and what other duties are carried out by the officials in the energy management unit.

[holding answer 18 June 1991]: Since September 1990 the work of my Department's energy management unit has been broadened to include other associated environmental issues as part of a policy of developing departmental practice which preserves and enhances the environment. Energy conservation remains a key element of the unit's work and the success of the unit is demonstrated by the reduction in departmental energy consumption reported in my reply to the hon. Member of 12 June 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ask for an investigation by the National Rivers Authority, following the refusal of Dutch harbour authorities to allow a ship to empty ballast water taken aboard from the River Humber because of high levels of pollution identified in the water content.

[holding answer 18 June 1991]: The National Rivers Authority carries out extensive and regular monitoring of the Humber estuary's water and sediment which shows that in general the estuary meets European environmental quality standards on heavy metals. I have, however, brought the hon. Member's concern to the attention of the authority and have asked it to respond to him direct.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his practice to refuse any more dredging orders off the Essex coast where there is evidence of potential damage to fish.

[holding answer 17 June 1991]: The decision to grant a licence for the extraction of marine sand and gravel rests with the Crown Estate after consultation with those whose interests may be affected by the proposed dredging. My Department is responsible for co-ordinating these consultations and formulating the Government view. Each proposal is considered on its merits and I carefully examine all potential environmental impacts including fisheries before deciding whether or not to grant a favourable Government view. On the basis of a favourable Government view the Crown Estate will decide whether to issue a licence to dredge and will lay down appropriate conditions to protect marine and coastal interests.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to co-ordinate and refine land use and economic activity classifications used by the Central Statistical Office, the Ordnance Survey, the Valuation Office, Her Majesty's Land Registry and his Department, respectively, since the report "Handling Geographic Information", prepared under the chairmanship of Lord Chorley.

[holding answer 13 June 1991]: No specific steps have been taken to co-ordinate and refine land use and economic activity classifications, but the following closely related initiatives are under way.In line with the Government's response to the report "Handling Geographic Information", all the bodies mentioned are represented on the inter-departmental working group on the tradeable information initiative established to facilitate the wider availability of Government-held spatially referenced data.The national land use classification—NLUC—published in 1975, is commended by my Department for adoption in any process of compiling land use data. The categories used in my Department's land use change statistics—LUCS—are based on the NLUC, modified to take account of what it is feasible to record from Ordnance Survey maps. None of the other bodies uses a land use classification, except the Ordnance Survey in its work for my Department on the LUCS.The economic activity classification used by the Central Statistical Office and my Department is the standard industrial classification. Member states of the European Community are required under regulation 3037/90 to adopt a new economic activity classification by 1993. None of the other bodies uses an economic activity classification.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what methods are known to Her Majesty's Government to carry out the destruction of nuclear materials as is set out in clause 6(4) in the Radioactive Material (Road Transport) Bill.

I have been asked to reply.The method of destruction/disposal would be a matter for the courts to decide at the time and would depend on the nature and quantity of the material involved. While in most cases orders would be for the disposal of the radioactive material to a licensed facility, in very unusual circumstances a destruction order could be made. This would not necessarily require the destruction of the radioactive material but of the instrument or machinery which contains it in order to facilitate the safe disposal of the radioactive material. The courts would be able to seek advice from any number of organisations, including the Department of the Environment, the Health and Safety Executive, the National Radiological Protection Board and the Department of Transport, on the appropriate disposal methods.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice has been given by his Department to the Haberdashers' Aske's city technology college on the steps it would be appropriate to take to comply with the requirement in its funding agreement that the intake of pupils should be representative in all respects of the community in the area in which the college is situated.

It is for the college to ensure that all requirements of the funding agreement, including those relating to admissions, are met. Advice is available as necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what budget his Department has for advertising in ethnic newspapers or magazines the services and responsibilities of his Department; and what amount of money has been spent on this publicity in each of the last five years.

The Department does not have a specific budget for advertising in the ethnic press and has not spent any funds on this activity in each of the last five years. However, it will shortly be advertising in the ethnic press two publications "How is your child doing at school?" and "Your child's report" which are available in eight ethnic languages. The Department has also published, in the last five years, other leaflets and guides in ethnic languages.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent estimate has been made of the number of students in England who give up courses in further and higher education colleges due to financial difficulties.

This information is not available for further and higher education generally. A survey of all polytechnics and colleges in England identified only 0.2 per cent. of first degree students who did not continue their studies from the first to second year because of financial reasons.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of schools which have now achieved grant-maintained status; and if he will make a statement.

A total of 200 schools have now voted in favour of seeking grant-maintained status. We have approved 88 and rejected 13. Fifty-four schools have published proposals which will soon come to us for decision. Forty-five schools are currently committed to publish proposals following parental ballots in favour of seeking grant-maintained status.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the addresses of all schools which have achieved grant-maintained status, listed in his answer to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) of 12 June, Official Report, column 532–36.

I shall write to my hon. Friend. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has made of the additional public funding Church schools would receive if they were all grant maintained, over and above what they are currently receiving.

It is not possible to give a specific figure. Church schools which become grant maintained are eligible to receive a one-off transitional grant, various special purpose grants and a formula capital allocation. Some of these replace benefits or services which LEA-maintained schools are eligible to receive in another way. Such schools are also to be eligible to bid for 100 per cent. funding of named capital building projects. The amount received will depend on whether the bid is successful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many church schools have applied for grant-maintained status; and how many have received it.

To date, 14 Church schools have applied for grant-maintained status. Of these, we have approved eight, rejected one and have yet to decide the remaining five.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action is being taken by his Department to ensure that local education authorities are assessing all children in their areas with special educational needs and are issuing formal statements describing their specific requirements.

It is for LEAs to decide on the provision to be made for children in their areas with special educational needs. Parents have rights of appeal and complaint under the Education Act 1981 and the Education Act 1944 respectively. These provide safeguards against any avoidance by LEAs of their statutory obligations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to the answer of 3 June, Official Report, column 17, whether any funds were invested in improving energy efficiency in 1990–91, apart from double glazing at Waterloo.

A small amount—under £1,000—was spent in the 1990–91 financial year on roof insulation in one of our Darlington offices.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on the time and cost involved for music users in appealing to the Copyright Tribunal agency in respect of tariffs imposed on them by the Performing Rights Society.

The basic fee for an application to the Copyright Tribunal to settle a dispute with a copyright licensing body such as the Performing Rights Society is £30. The overall cost will depend on several factors including the level of any legal representation the applicant may choose to employ and the degree to which the application is successful. In appropriate cases, the tribunal may direct the licensing body to repay charges already paid under a new tariff and to pay the applicant's costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will institute an inquiry into allegations of price-fixing in the road surfacing industry; and if he will make a statement.

Any alleged price-fixing in the road surfacing industry is a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading. Any evidence of possible anti-competitive agreements should be put to the director general.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his policy in the GATT round of negotiations in helping the countries of Latin America and promoting policies conducive to ameliorating rain forest problems.

The countries of Latin America, like other members of the GATT, would benefit from the improved market access for their products and the strengthening of the world trading system which would result from a successful conclusion to the Uruguay round of trade negotiations. The negotiations are not directly concerned with ameliorating rain-forest problems, but the GATT does allow the introduction of trade measures for conservation purposes, as long as these are not simply disguised restrictions on trade.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will consider the need for radio amateurs to have to present equipment for type approval.

Type approval is not considered appropriate for the amateur service as, in essence, it is to do with experimentation, self-training in communication and technical investigation. To require amateur equipment to be type approved would be unreasonably expensive and could stifle development.