To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he has received any representations about the absence of a decision by the European Council of Ministers on trade arrangements for bananas after 1992; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will seek an agreement with his European counterparts at the Luxembourg summit on trade arrangements for bananas after 1992 which guarantees the price and existing access of eastern Caribbean bananas;(3) what steps he intends to take to honour the commitment made in 1987 to guarantee the supply of eastern Caribbean bananas to the United Kingdom after 1992;(4) if he will raise the question of the European Commission's delay in reaching decisions on the Banana protocol under the Lomé convention at the forthcoming Luxembourg summit.

The European Commission is considering arrangements to apply to bananas in the single European market post-1992. The Government will seek to ensure that new arrangements fulfil our commitments to Commonwealth Caribbean suppliers. We shall also take account of consumers interests, the need for budgetary restraint, trade policy considerations and the competition and efficiency objectives of the single market initiative. I have discussed the issue with the Prime Ministers of Dominica and Jamaica and am very alive to their economic needs.Officials are in touch with the Commission, who are aware of the need to make proposals as soon as possible. In the absence of these proposals it would be premature to raise the issue at the Luxembourg European Council.

To ask the Prime Minister if he has made any changes to the composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the 43rd session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

I have appointed my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson) from the Government Benches to be a representative on the delegation to the 43rd session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in succession to my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, South (Mr. Morris). I have also appointed my hon. Friend the Member for Reading, West (Sir A. Durant) as a substitute delegate.

To ask the Attorney-General whether he intends to ask the police to investigate the alleged involvement of the Rev. John Papworth, and Mrs. Anne Randle in the escape of George Blake from Wormwood Scrubs prison; and if he will make a statement.

The police have already completed an investigation, but it failed to reveal sufficient evidence to justify the institution of proceedings against the Rev. John Papworth or Mrs. Anne Randle for any offence.

To ask the Attorney-General in what percentage of cases the Legal Aid Board pays an assisted person's costs or fees.

The Legal Aid Board pays an assisted person's legal costs in all legally-aided cases. These are offset by any contribution due from the assisted person under the rules for financial eligibility for legal aid. In a successful civil action, costs may also be offset by any costs recovered from the other side and, where necessary, out of property recovered in the action.

To ask the Attorney-General (1) what recommendation assistant chief constable Sampson made with regard to the prosecution of Royal Ulster Constabulary officers in connection with the shootings of Eugene Torman, Sean Burns and Gervaise McKerr on 11 November 1982;(2) what recommendation assistant chief constable Sampson made with regard to the prosecution of Royal Ulster Constabulary officers in connection with the shootings of Roddy Carroll and Seamus Grew on 12 December 1982;(3) what recommendation assistant chief constable Sampson made with regard to the prosecution of Royal Ulster Constabulary officers in relation to the shooting of Michael Tighe in November 1982;(4) what recommendation assistant chief constable Sampson made with regard to the prosecution of MI5 officers in connection with the shooting of Michael Tighe in November 1982.

As is the usual practice with police reports covering criminal investigations, the report by Mr. Colin Sampson has not been published and any recommendations he may have made accordingly remain confidential. I have nothing to add to the statement which I made to the House on 25 January 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the Public Order Act seeking more effective powers to prevent provocative racist marches; and if he will make a statement.

We have carefully considered the Commissioner's reported remarks. At present we are not persuaded that the Public Order Act requires amendment. We shall continue to keep the legislation and its operation under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what licences have been issued for the animal procedures carried out on behalf of Kraft General Foods on the effects of the ingestion of coffee; and what steps have been taken to establish such procedures are in accord with practices licensed in the United Kingdom under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986;(2) what licences have been issued for animal procedures carried out on behalf of Nestle on the effects of the ingestion of large volumes of coffee; and what steps have been taken to ensure such procedures are in accord with practices licensed in the United Kingdom under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

We are not aware of any work of this nature being carried out in this country.

(ii) Change in recorded crime (Northumbria)
Year	Recorded crime3	Percentage change from previous year	Recorded crime4	Percentage change from previous year	Crime cleared up	Percentage change from previous year
1986	164,889		157,665		63,651
		+4%		+5%		+13%
1987	172,057		164,956		71,875
		-7%		-7%		-6%
1988	160,768		153,108		67,728
		+13%		+12%		—
1989	181,629		171,733		67,880
		+12%		+11%		+13%
1990	203,825		190,248		76,654
3 Including all criminal damage.
4 Excluding offences of 'other criminal damage' valued at £20 or less.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of visa applications that have been refused in each of the last three years from (a) Pakistan, (b) India, (c) Bangladesh and (d) Sri Lanka.

The information requested is given in the table.

Applications for entry clearance for settlement or temporary purposes refused initially1
	Number of persons
	1988	1989	1990
Bangladesh	3,520	4,270	4,540
India	7,860	9,380	15,470
Pakistan	10,980	12,320	16,530
Sri Lanka	810	710	1,050
1 Some applications refused initially are granted subsequently on appeal

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what increase has been made to the number of police officers and civilian auxiliaries for Northumberland over each of the past five years, and what has been the increase or decrease in crimes reported, detected and cleared up over that period.

The information requested is set out in the tables:

(i) Northumbria Police establishment and civilian strength
Year 31 December	Police establishment	Civilian staff strength
1986	3,378	1,101
1987	3,453	1,115
1988	3,483	1,116
1989	3,514	1,157
1990	3,552	1,202
1991	13,586	21,226
1 With effect from 1 October 1991.
2 Strength as at 31 March 1991.

The Home Office does not set a specific ethnic publications advertising budget. Each case is considered on its merits in conjunction with advertising agencies and the Central Office of Information. The total for the current financial year will not, therefore, be known until year-end.Figures for the past five years, inclusive of VAT, are:

	£
1986–87	11,400
1987–88	64,600
1988–89	40,300
1989–90	30,200
1990–91	34,100

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men were sentenced in 1989 to terms of custody, in prisons or young offenders institutions for sexual offences; and how many of these were sentenced for homosexual buggery, soliciting, indecency and procuring where there was either explicit consent by the parties concerned or an absence of coercion, threats or intimidation.

Information requested is given in the table. Data as to whether consent was given or there was an absence of coercion, threats or intimidation by the offender is available centrally only where lack of consent is an element of the offence.

Number of males sentenced to immediate imprisonment for certain sexual offences—1989
England and Wales
	Immediate Custody
Offence	Young Offender Institution	Unsuspended and Partly Suspended Sentence of Imprisonment
All Sexual Offences	223	2,137
Buggery with consent	—	10
Buggery without consent	11	167
Soliciting by a man1	1	5
Indecency between males	3	20
Procuring of males	—	3
1 Data does not distinguish as to whether males or females have been solicited or importuned by male offenders.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether men imprisoned for consenting homosexual behaviour will be required to undergo the Government's proposed programme of treatment and supervision of sex offenders.

Subject to the provisions of the Sexual Offences Act 1967 and the general criminal law, a homosexual act in private is not an offence provided that the parties consent thereto and have attained the age of 21 years. In the structured programmes to be introduced in certain prisons, priority will be given to those offenders who are likely to represent the greatest risk to the community on release.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the main routes by which asylum seekers from Zaire, Angola, Sri Lanka, Palestine, Uganda, Ghana, Turkey, Somalia, Zambia and Ethiopia come to the United Kingdom; and what are the intermediate stopover points en route.

The available information relates to passengers who apply for asylum on arrival in the United Kingdom. Among those who arrived in the first quarter of 1991 and whose point of embarkation or transit is known, more than 50 arrivals of the approximate total of 3,000 are recorded as having come from each of the following:

• Addis Ababa
• Bombay
• Brussels
• Calais
• Colombo
• Delhi
• Dhaka
• Entebbe
• Istanbul
• Lagos
• Larnaca
• Moscow
• Muscat
• Nairobi
• Paris
• Rome
• Sofia

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals made a further application for asylum in the United Kingdom after having the first application refused, in each year since 1988.

Reliable information is not available. Further applications are not included in the figures for new asylum applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give (a) the spending on energy efficiency in 1989–90 and 1990–91, (b) the number of dedicated energy managers and the number of person years devoted to energy management in 1989–90 and 1990–91 and (c) the number of energy audits completed in the last five years, all in relation to the 21 buildings for which energy consumption figures were given in the answers of 30 April 1990, Official Report, columns 399–402.

The information in relation to the 21 buildings for which energy consumption figures were given in the answers of 30 April 1990, Official Report, columns 399–402 is as follows:

(a) I am not able to provide this information as responsibility for expenditure on energy efficiency for this part of the Home Office rested with property holdings at the Department of the Environment for the periods referred to.

(b) There was one dedicated energy manager in 1989–90 and one in 1990–91. The number of person years for both periods was 1·1.

(c) Seven energy audits were completed in the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 3 June, Official Report, columns 77–78, what information is available on spending by his Department on energy efficiency outside the prison service estate.

Pursuant to the answer of 3 June, Official Report, columns 77–78, the energy management team have only recently taken over responsibility from the property holdings for these buildings. Although surveys have been carried out there has to date been no significant investment in energy management. Bids for such expenditure are currently being considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can now provide 1990–91 figures for the energy spending and the energy consumption for each of the 21 buildings for which 1989–90 information was published in the answers of 30 April 1990, Official Report, columns 399–402.

The energy spending and energy consumption for each of the 21 buildings listed in the answers of 30 April 1990, Official Report, columns 399–402 are as follows:

Building	Cost	Consumption KW hours
Abell House	119,802	4,268,974
Branston	403,084	39,212,806
Cleland House	100,322	3,306,880
Clive House	67,923	2,519,786
Corby	15,530	443,219
Cowley	9,677	492,893
Dunkeswell1	0	0

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to obtain from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis a copy of the document on the meeting which took place recently to discuss the police response to political changes.

I understand the document referred to in the question is an internal management document belonging to the Metropolitan police service. It served as an annotated agenda for the Commissioner's conference. This is an annual event where the top 140 managers in the Metropolitan police service review the performance of the service and plan for the future.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any proposals to amend the legislation governing telephone tapping; and if he will make a statement.

I have no intention to amend the legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the acquisition by BBC Enterprise of Redwood Publishing Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.

I am not aware of any representations made to us concerning the BBC's acquisition of Redwood Publishing Limited. The Monopolies and Mergers Commission is considering the effects on the market of television broadcasters, including the BBC, promoting their own magazines and other goods.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer, Official Report, 3 June, column 81, what was the nature of the matters which led to the dismissal and suspension of officials; how many officials were dismissed and suspended in (a) the Passport Agency and (b) the immigration and nationality department; and if he will make a statement.

Of the eight dismissals, five involved staff working in the Immigration and Nationality Department and related to abuse of position, refusal to work where posted and three instances of unauthorised absence. The three staff working in the passport agency were dismissed for failure to observe working procedures, following a criminal conviciton and custodial sentence and unauthorised absence.Of the eight suspensions, five involved staff working in the immigration and nationality department or the immigration service. Two of these related to cases resulting in dismissal (abuse of position and refusal to attend work); two involved failure to observe working procedures and one offensive behaviour.The three passport agency cases involved two of those resulting in dismissal (failure to observe procedures and the criminal conviction) and the other a financial irregularity.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Mr. Fereidoun Sadeghilakhtaki applied for British citizenship (H.O. Ref: 51 10/12/87); when a decision is to be taken on his application; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Sadeghilakhtaki applied for British citizenship in December 1987. Inquiries on the case started in October 1989. Our request to Mr. Sadeghilakhtaki for his passport, marriage certificate and other evidence received no response. An inquiry from the Bradford citizens advice bureau in May this year about the case indicated that Mr. Sadeghilakhtaki had moved to a different address. We are now asking again to see the necessary documentation, and a decision on the case should be possible as soon as we have received and examined this evidence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the meetings of Trevi and European Community Immigration Ministers in Luxembourg on 13 and 14 June.

The meeting of Ministers concerned with immigration was the tenth in the series of meetings held towards the end of each presidency since 1986.Discussion at the Immigration Ministers' meeting focused on the draft external frontiers convention. Ministers welcomed the progress made in negotiations under the Luxembourg Presidency and concentrated on outstanding issues. The external frontiers convention, the provisions of which are described in more detail later, provides for agreed standards of immigration control over third country nationals at the external frontiers of the European Community, supported by a computerised list of those who are inadmissible. It contains provisions relating to visas, including the mutual recognition by other member states of visas issued for short visits by one member state. In addition it provides for travel without visas between EC member states by third country nationals lawfully resident in an EC country in circumstances in which they would otherwise require visas. The convention further envisages the harmonisation of the visa policies of EC member states in due course. Difficulties arose over provisions in the draft convention for the controls to be exercised at airports within the European Community. Discussion of the draft convention continues.The meeting of Trevi Ministers endorsed various further measures to strengthen practical police cooperation developed during the Luxembourg Presidency, in particular with regard to posting of liaison officers within and outside the EC; co-operation on police training; continued work on the creation of a European drugs intelligence unit and the establishment of a European police information system to combat serious crime. Detailed work on the establishment of a permanent secretariat for Trevi, which was led by the United Kingdom, was fully considered and a decision on the location will be taken during the Dutch Presidency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans too change the ITV levy rates; and if he will make a statement.

The mixed levy on advertising revenue and profits is intended in the 1990–92 ITV contract extension period to yield broadly the same revenue, other things being equal, as would have arisen if the pre-1986 profits-based structure still applied.Meeting this objective depends on accurate forecasting of advertising revenue. In practice this has been lower, and thus the levy yield has so far been higher than was expected. But it is not clear for how long present trends will persist, and the Government are committed to avoiding further under-recoveries of levy. I therefore plan to re-examine the position in the autumn. If any changes to the levy rates are justified they would be introduced by early 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Overseas Development Administration gives aid to countries not helped by (a) the United States of America and (b) the World bank.

The following countries received development assistance (gross oda) from the United Kingdom, but not from the United States of America in 1989:

• Algeria
• Anguilla
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Bermuda
• Cayman Islands
• Chile
• China
• Congo
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Hong Kong
• Kiribati
• Laos
• Malaysia
• Mauritius
• Montserrat
• Nicaragua
• St. Lucia
• Surinam
• Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turks annd Caicos
• Tuvalu
• Uruguay
• Vanuatu
• Virgin Islands

Countries receiving development assistance from the United Kingdom in 1989 which do not receive World bank loans or credits, either because they are not members of the institution or because they have satisfactory access to other sources of finance, are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in rank and order, according to their gross national product per head, the countries to which the Overseas Development Administration gives aid; and if he will give the amount of aid given to each country for the last year for which figures are available.

I refer the hon. Member to table 25 of "British Aid Statistics 1985–1989", a copy of which is in the Library of the House, which lists in order of GNP per head, gross British bilateral aid expenditure for each country in receipt of our aid.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Overseas Development Administration personnel and relief workers sponsored by Overseas Development Administration were in Iraq, Iran, or Turkey on (a) 6 June, (b) 13 June and (c) 20 June; and how many are planned to be there on 27 June.

The numbers of people deployed by the ODA in Iran, Iraq and Turkey on the dates in question were (a) 92, (b) 88 and (c) 85.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the total receipts from sales of council-owned properties in each local authority in Great Britain since the introduction of the right to buy and the numbers of houses and flats which have been sold.

A table showing available information on total sales for each English local authority since 1979–80, and those under right to buy, was placed in the Library on 18 April 1991 Official Report, column 227. Corresponding information on the total receipts from sales for each local authority is not readily available.I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales for information about Scottish and Welsh authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the financial adjustment fixed by each charging local authority in England for 1991–92 to be paid by each charge payer as a result of the failure, anticipated or actual, of all charge payers to pay charges lawfully demanded; and what were the comparable figures for 1990–91.

I am arranging for the available information to be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the level of Government grant per community charge payer for 1990–91 in (a) Doncaster and (b) Kensington and Chelsea.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current (a) level of budget expenditure per adult in each inner London borough and (b) level of external support per adult in each such borough.

The available information is as follows:

Government grants in 1990–91, consisting of revenue support grant, special grants, specific grants in aggregate external finance, community charge benefit grant and transitional relief grant, paid per head of relevant population to Doncaster metropolitan council and to the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea are £338 and £960 respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals against the 1990 rating assessments in the Bournemouth area are outstanding; and if he will make a statement.

On 17 June, there were 2,649 outstanding appeals against the 1990 rating list assessments in the area covered by Bournemouth borough council and a further 143 proposals to alter the rating list had been received by the valuation office.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many properties sold under the right to buy on the Phythian Street estate, Liverpool, are being compulsorily acquired for the purpose of demolition; whether this is in accord with the wishes of tenants; what are the costs involved; how much of the costs will be met locally and how much nationally; and if he will make a statement.

The remodelling of the Phythian Road estate may necessitate some demolitions to create a traditional layout, to allow for proper circulation within the estate and to provide vehicular access to all properties.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many families with dependent children were accepted as homeless in Blyth Valley in 1990.

According to the quarterly returns made to the Department by Blyth Valley borough council for 1990, 279 households were accepted under the homelessness legislation and had a priority need for accommodation because there were dependent children.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to include representatives of the environmental and amenity organisations in membership of the regional aggregates working parties; and if he will make a statement.

The regional aggregates working parties provide technical advice on the issues which concern the supply and demand for primary aggregates. The local authority representatives ensure that the Secretary of State is fully appraised of the environmental aspects of aggregates provision. However, I do of course welcome the views of amenity or environmental groups about the demand forecasts and the environmental implications. Their comments will be very carefully considered in the preparation of the new draft guidelines on the provision for aggregates to replace mineral plan guidance note 6. This will be the subject of a full public consultation exercise in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contribution his Department made to the Green Show, held between 23 and 27 May at the national exhibition centre in Birmingham.

My hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and the Countryside visited the Green Show on Thursday 23 May, and participated in a Blue Peter programme live broadcast on the environment. The Department's leaflet "Wake Up—to What You Can Do for the Environment" was distributed to visitors from the Blue Peter stand. A number of organisations which are grant aided by the Department participated in the show.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what attempts are made to monitor and log fugitive toxic emissions to the atmosphere or water sources from industrial operations in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

By its nature source monitoring of fugitive emissions is difficult to undertake. The regulatory authorities therefore place greater reliance on the application by industry of appropriate safeguards in plant design and process operation to minimise fugitive emissions and on early rectification of any abnormal situations.The National Rivers Authority regularly monitors for a wide range of substances including those consented for discharge to surface waters. Results are entered on public registers held by each NRA region. Some monitoring of air quality is undertaken by local authority environmental health departments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the Government's allocation to Blyth Valley local authority for expenditure on improvement grants of private sector housing in real terms in each year since 1979.

The Government have not made specific allocations to local authorities for expenditure on improvement grants. However, the amounts of Exchequer contribution given by the Department to Blyth Valley borough council towards its expenditure on home improvement grants for the financial years 1981–82 to 1989–90, at current values, is as follows. Information is not available for years prior to 1981–82.

Year	£
1981–82	590,483
1982–83	661,459
1983–84	810,791
1984–85	851,060
1985–86	822,668
1986–87	820,752
1987–88	797,711
1988–89	762,608
1989–90	739,348

Improvement grants were replaced by a new system of renovation grants on 1 July 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the total levels of new houses completed in each year from 1970 to 1979 and in 1989 in Northumberland.

The available information about the numbers of housebuilding completions by local authority area in 1989 is in table 1(b) of "Local Housing Statistics: England and Wales", No. 97 (April 1991). In the case of Northumberland county totals are not shown because of non-response to the regular housebuilding returns by one authority. The Department's current estimate of new housebuilding completions in Northumberland in 1989 is 1,500 dwellings.The publication also lists on page iv the volume numbers in which Northumberland totals for the earlier years can be found. Copies are in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department agreed with Wimpey the sale price of properties at Lower Grange in Bradford at the time city grant assistance for the development was agreed; whether his Department issued advice to the developers over what action they should take to safeguard against speculation over the purchase of such property, including prohibition on early re-sale; and if he will make a statement.

The appraisal of the application for city grant involved the Department's assessment of the likely open market prices of the houses. It is not the Department's practice to issue advice to developers about speculation by purchasers but conditions of grant specify that the houses will be sold at the best prices reasonably obtainable on the open market and that not more than one house is sold by the developer to each purchaser. There is no prohibition on early resale.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to ban the importation of terrapins into the United Kingdom on animal welfare grounds.

I am satisfied that the existing import controls are generally adequate, but with our EC partners, we shall be considering some changes to procedures for monitoring imports of certain terrapin species.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many terrapins have been imported into the United Kingdom in each of the past five years.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made on the issuing of the circular/guidelines on the introduction of compulsory competitive tendering for the management of local authority sports and leisure facilities; and if he will make a statement.

Department of the Environment circular 9/91 on the subject was issued on 29 May.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what use he intends to make of his sanction powers under part 1 of the Local Government Act 1988 in relation to Haringey council.

On 12 December 1990, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, served a notice under section 13 of the Local Government Act 1988 on Haringey council, setting out his view that in 1989–90 the authority had failed to meet the specified financial objective in carrying out building cleaning.My right hon. Friend has now considered the response which the authority has made to the section 13 notice, and which has acknowledged the failure to meet the specified financial objective in 1989–90. The authority has indicated that it has decided to put the work out to tender again, with a start date for the new contracts on 1 January 1992.My right hon. Friend has concluded that the scale of the deficit incurred in 1989–90 and the need to ensure that the performance of this work is placed on a firm financial basis as soon as possible make it appropriate for him to make further use of his sanction powers. He has therefore today made a direction under section 14 of the 1988 Act, requiring the authority to complete a re-tendering exercise for the work by 1 January 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contribution was made by his Department to International Environment Day on 5 June.

[holding answer 14 June 1991]: The Department works constantly to protect and improve the national and international environment. On the day in question my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State was in the United States to discuss environmental issues; my hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside addressed the Association of County Councils' environment seminar, announced the Blue Flag awards for 1991, and attended a Tidy Britain Group conference on protection of the coastline; and I visited the London ecology centre.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Government considers that Dounreay is a potential site for the underground storage of high level radioactive waste.

I have been asked to reply.No work to identify potential sites for disposal of high-level waste has yet commenced. Government policy is that high-level waste should be stored safely for at least 50 years to allow its heat and radioactivity to decay.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Burma concerning the house arrest of the General Secretary of the National League of Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi.

We have frequently urged the Burmese military authorities (the SLORC) to put an end to violations of human rights, in particular the detention of members of the National League for Democracy who won over 85 per cent. of votes cast in democratic elections held in Burma on 27 May 1990. The Secretary of State wrote to the chairman of the SLORC on 6 July 1990, and statements were made on 7 September 1990 and 28 May 1991. The Secretary of State also made a statement at the EC/ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting in Luxembourg on 30 June. We were also associated with an 18-nation demarche on 21 September last year, and with EC statements on 4 January and 27 May 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of his private office have served in the European Community or Commission offices in Brussels.

None. The Private Secretary, one of the two assistant Private Secretaries, and other members of the Foreign Secretary's private office have served in European Community capitals. The other assistant Private Secretary has worked on European Community matters in London.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any kind of assistance is being given to the new Mongolian democracy.

There are no plans to introduce a specific aid programme for Mongolia, but we are making available at least £155,000 in other forms of assistance during the financial year 1991–92. This funding includes a cultural exchange programme, an English language teaching scheme, as well as provision for sponsored visits to the United Kingdom, scholarships for Mongolians to study in the United Kingdom, and specific bilateral aid projects.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance Her Majesty's Government are giving to facilitate the proposed referendum in the western Sahara through (a) the United Nations, (b) the Polisario Front and (c) other ways.

We have remained impartial in this dispute, preferring to support the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General to find a just solution. We and other members of the Security Council approved the Secretary-General's referendum plan on 29 April. We shall be paying our full assessed share of the costs of the operation and are considering a request to provide military observers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what are the reasons for the delay in issuing entry clearance in respect of Mr. Musafar Hussain (Shah) of Pakistan who wishes to visit Mr. Khalid Hussain Shah of 158 St. James Road, Blackburn since the determination by the adjudicator on 7 March 1990 to allow issue of the entry clearance and the refusal of the immigration appeal tribunal on 19 June 1990 to give leave to appeal to the immigration authorities;(2) if he will set out in detail what steps his Department took following the discovery that a copy of the determination of the adjudicator in the matter of the appeal of Mr. Musafar Hussain (Shah) of Pakistan had been sent to the High Commission Islamabad but had not been received by them.

As the hon. Member will be aware from the letter I wrote to him on 12 February 1991, I asked the Home Office to arrange for another copy of the adjudicator's determination to be sent to the High Commission in Islamabad. I have just learned that this second copy was never received. I very much regret this further unfortunate delay, in view of which the Home Office has instructed the High Commission to issue a visit visa to Mr. Hussain immediately.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that decisions of the appellate authorities to allow issue of entry clearance are promptly complied with by entry clearance officers in British posts abroad.

In the majority of cases when an adjudicator allows an appeal, entry clearances are issued as a matter of course. These Procedures are periodically reviewed.Regrettably, given the very large number of cases handled, delays do sometimes occur and when such problems have been identified clear guidance has been issued. Both the Foreign Office and the Home Office are satisfied that the present guidelines are being followed and that significant improvements in the handling of the vast majority of allowed appeal cases have been achieved. We will continue to monitor these procedures closely.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he proposes to give compensation where the issue of entry clearance certificates is unreasonably delayed by his Department or British posts abroad.

It is not Her Majesty's Government's practice to pay compensation in entry clearance cases.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the number of visas granted and the number of refusals, arising from interviews undertaken in Islamabad for entry into Britain on 4, 11, 18, 20 and 27 April.

On 18, 20 and 27 April, the British High Commission in Islamabad was closed, 18 April being a religious holiday, 20 and 27 April falling on a Saturday.The number of visas issued and refused on 4 April and 11 April were as follows:

	Number
4 April
Issued	134
Refused	29
11 April
Issued	139
Refused	52

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to review the cold weather payments system in order to ensure that it is paid as part of benefit on an ongoing basis during the winter months.

Following the cold spell last February, the Government have reviewed the operation of the cold weather payments scheme and major improvements are proposed for next winter. First, the capital rule affecting eligibility is to be abolished. Secondly, payments will be made automatically to eligible people without the need for a separate claim. Thirdly, payments will be made for a seven-day period whenever the Met Office forecasts temperatures averaging 0°C or below. If there is no such forecast but subsequently 0°C or below is recorded for a seven-day period, payments will still be made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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 readily available information about the full and part-time appointments for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is responsible is given in "Public Bodies" and "Public Appointments: A Handbook for Women's Organisations". Copies are available in the Library.

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

The information is as follows:

	£
(a)1989–90	355,085
(b)1990–91	426,380
(c)1991–92 (to date)	81,716

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many licensed mink factory farms there are in Northern Ireland; and if he will publish the names of the parliamentary constituencies in which they are located.

There is one licensed mink farm in Northern Ireland, in the South Down parliamentary constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the Northern Ireland stocking levels for cattle, sheep and pigs; and what stocking density per hectare this represents for cattle and sheep.

[holding answer 18 June 1991]: At June 1990 the numbers of cattle, sheep and pigs on Northern Ireland farms were:

	Number
Cattle and calves	1,506,000
Sheep and lambs	2,505,000
Pigs	590,000

Using appropriate factors to calculate grazing livestock units, the overall stocking density of grazing livestock in Northern Ireland is 1·3 cow equivalents per hectare of grass, forage crops and rough grazing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the numbers of fallen animals which have been disposed of by rendering for each month since that facility was reinstated by Lisburn By-Products.

[holding answer 18 June 1991]: The table shows the monthly intake of fallen animals by Lisburn By-Products.

	Month ending
	30 April 1991	31 May 1991	1 June to 7 June 1991
Large Bovines	15	18	3
Bullocks	1	1	—
Calves	19	6	3
Pigs	20	4	3
Sows	7	11	1
Sheep	9	2	3
Lambs	3	2	—
Foals	1	—	2
Horses	1	—	1
Ponies	—	1	1
Total	76	45	17

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about progress being made on the reform of the common agricultural policy to meet the requirements of the Uruguay round of GATT negotiations.

The Commission is known to be working on new proposals for CAP reform. Although the determination of Agriculture Ministers to reform the CAP is a welcome spur to a GATT agreement, such reform is wholly separate from the GATT and will be unlikely to be completed until after the GATT round.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the number of agricultural livestock killed or injured by sheep worrying in the last 12 months for which figures or estimates are available; and what have been the financial implications for support to farmers.

Figures on livestock worrying are not held centrally, but it is estimated that up to 10,000 animals are killed or injured by dogs in England and Wales each year. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food provides support through a continuing publicity campaign aimed at educating dog owners about the horrors of livestock worrying.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made to ensure the retention of British border controls against rabies.

The Community measures adopted so far allow for the retention of post-import quarantine for dogs, cats and other rabies-susceptible animals.The Government's objective is to ensure that there is no increased risk of rabies being introduced into this country after 1992.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on the failure of the International Whaling Commission to bring to an end commercial whaling.

I have received many letters expressing concern about the possible resumption of commercial whaling. I am pleased that at its meeting this year the International Whaling Commission has maintained the moratorium on commercial whaling.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives of the British Veterinary Association to discuss the control of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

I have not met representatives of the British Veterinary Association recently to discuss this issue but my officials are in close and regular contact.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will ask the Tyrrell Committee to look at the safety of burying carcases of BSE affected cattle in landfill tips; and if he will make a statement.

The Tyrrell committee has considered the survival of the scrapie agent in the soil, and has made no recommendation that landfill sites should not be used. The committee will continue to have this issue in mind in the future consideration of the scientific evidence on spongiform encephalopathies.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next intends to meet the Agriculture Ministers to discuss the reform of the common agricultural policy.

Agriculture Ministers are next due to meet on 26 June, but no substantive discussion of common agricultural policy reform is likely until the Commission puts forward new proposals.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next plans to meet the National Farmers Union to discuss reforms to the common agricultural policy.

I meet representatives from the National Farmers Union at frequent intervals to discuss agricultural isues, including reform of the common agricultural policy.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the progress of the Government's policy to help farmers to diversify their sources of income.

The Government encourage diversification through advice and financial assistance. More than £5 million has been paid in grants. Surveys have shown 42 per cent. of farms in England have diversified.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the European Community on the costs of the common agricultural policy.

The cost of the common agricultural policy was a major consideration at the recent Agriculture Council which agreed the 1991 price fixing package.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to reduce the level of use of pesticides in agriculture.

The Government's policy is that the use of pesticides should be limited to the minimum necessary for the effective control of pests compatible with the protection of human health and the environment.This Department spends over £20 million per year on research into pests and pesticides, particularly aimed at reduced usage.The tonnage of pesticides used in England and Wales has dropped by 18 per cent. since 1979.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representations he has received this year to date about the transportation abroad of animals, particularly horses and ponies; and if he will make a statement.

The Government continue to receive a large number of representations on this subject.In the Community negotiations we are pressing for the continuation of controls which prevent the export of horses for slaughter.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the levels of staffing in the state veterinary service.

The number of staff in the state veterinary service is constantly monitored and is maintained at a level commensurate with its responsibilities.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in which parliamentary constituencies in England Arctic fox factory farms are located.

Information on premises where Arctic foxes are kept is not collected.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate, port by port, of the number of fishing vessels (a) over 400 hp and (b) below 400 hp.

The information requested is somewhat unwieldy. In view of this I am writing to the hon. Member.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has made to the European Commission regarding the overproduction of sugar within the Community.

We have consistently pressed for measures to discourage overproduction of sugar within the Community, and will continue to do so.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many licensed mink factory farms there are in England; and if he will publish the names of the parliamentary constituencies in which they are located.

As of April 1991 there were 26 licenced mink farms in England. Information on their locations is not published.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he intends to review his policies on controlling the use of nitrogen; and if he will make a statement.

Rules concerning the quantity and timing of nitrogen fertiliser applications will in due course be introduced in nitrate vulnerable zones, in line with the provisions of the nitrate directive agreed at the Environment Council on 14 June.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives from Parents for Safe Food to discuss food safety and quality; and if he will make a statement.

Food safety and quality are discussed three times a year at meetings I hold with the leaders of 15 consumer groups, and at meetings of the Consumer panel chaired by my hon. Friend, the Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean), Parliamentary Secretary in my Department as well as at several ad hoc meetings with consumer representatives. Dr. Tim Lang of Parents for Safe Food was present at a meeting with me on 25 April. We have also corresponded with this organisation and last July I offered it a meeting with officials to discuss its pesticides charter which it has not yet taken up.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the United Kingdom pig production population was within the catchment area of the Lincoln veterinary investigation centre; and if he will make a statement.

Based on the June 1990 agricultural census (which excludes minor holdings) the pig population within the catchment area of the Lincoln veterinary investigation centre represents some 131/2 per cent. of the United Kingdom total.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of cases of salmonella that have been considered by the Lincoln veterinary investigation centre for each year since 1986; and if he will make a statement.

The number of incidents of salmonella reported to the Lincoln veterinary investigation centre under the Zoonoses Order 1975 and, since 1 March 1989, under the Zoonoses Order 1989 in each year since 1986 were as follows:

Salmonella incidents reported
Year	Number
1986	57
1987	50
1988	88
1989	445
1990	461
1991	192

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the value to sheep farmers within less favoured areas of the increase in ewe premium supplement agreed at the recent CAP price fixing settlement.

The increase in the settlement to the annual ewe premium of around £1·19 per eligible breeding ewe is estimated to provide an additional £15 million in support payments to sheep farmers in the less favoured areas in 1992.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the final uptake for the pilot nitrate-sensitive areas scheme; and if he will make a statement.

I am pleased to announce that, by the closing date of 31 May 1991, applications to join the pilot nitrate-sensitive areas scheme had been received for 87 per cent. of the agricultural land in the NSAs. Eighty per cent. of farmers in the NSAs have applied to join. Details for each NSA are given in the table.This excellent level of uptake for the pilot nitrate-sensitive areas scheme shows that farmers acknowledge the problem of nitrate leaching into our water sources and, by joining the scheme, that they want to do something about it. Once more Britain leads Europe in environmental policies.We now have the means to reduce nitrate leaching in the areas concerned. We will also increase our understanding of the nitrate problem through our intensive monitoring of the effectiveness of different measures. This will be important prior to the introduction of wider measures in due course as a result of the implementation of the EC nitrate directive agreed on 13–14 June in Luxembourg.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the cost of producing his Department's booklet "Enterprise in Action".

The cost of producing the booklet "Small Firms in Britain 1991—Enterprise in Action" was £17,500. Supplies of the booklet are available from HMSO bookshops at £4 each.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are waiting for youth training places in Greenwich for catering and construction skills.

South London training and enterprise council (TEC) is responsible for the operation of youth training in the Greenwich area. The TEC advise that there are three people waiting to enter catering training places and 44 waiting to enter training places in a range of construction based occupations.