To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has held with the Office of Electricity Supply on the post-privatisation pricing system for industrial users of electricity; what representations he has received from industrial users on the pricing system; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend and I meet the Director General of Electricity Supply from time to time when we discuss a range of matters including electricity prices. I have received a number of representations from industrial users about electricity prices. Under the new competitive regime we have put in place it is for large users to use their commercial strength to negotiate the keenest prices from a number of potential suppliers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of children aged between 5 and 16 years being educated in church schools; and what were the comparable figures for 1980 and 1985.

The number of children of compulsory school age being taught in maintained church schools in England in January 1990 is shown in the following table. Comparable figures for 1980 and 1985 are also shown.

Pupils of compulsory school age in maintained church schools
Type of school	1980	1985	1990
Church of England	804,874	695,414	704,303
Roman Catholic	663,766	577,381	558,370
Methodist	6,000	4,060	4,004

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his oral answer of 23 April, Official Report, column 886, what information is available on a non-standard national basis about levels of truancy in (a) primary and (b) high schools.

This information is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers in full-time employment with seven years' experience are earning (a) £10,000 to £12,000, (b) £12,000 to £14,000, (c) £14,000 to £16,000, (d) £16,000 to £18,000, (e) £18,000 to £20,000, (f) £20,000 to £22,000, (g) £22,000 to £24,000 and (h) £24,000 to £26,000 per annum, or the nearest convenient salary break points.

Information on the number of teachers in full-time employment with seven years' experience as at 31 March 1988 is shown in the table. Information for]later years is not yet available.

Maintained nursery, primary and secondary sector ,full-time teachers with seven years' experience1
Salary at March 1988	England
Under £10,000	1,746
£10,000—£112,000	5,905
£12,000—£14,000	3,023
£14,000—£16,000	1,863
£16,000—£18,000	384
Over £18,000	28
TOTAL	12,949
1 Indicates teachers with completed service of seven but less than eight years at 31 March 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what was the cost of the report undertaken by Professor Ron Carter and others into the teaching of English;(2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the report prepared by Professor Ron Carter and others on the teaching of English.

The material commissioned, at a cost of some £120,000, was not a report but a training package for use as part of the language in the curriculum project. I will arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research he has commissioned into the financial position of students following changes in support, including the student loan scheme and the withdrawal of income support and housing benefit.

The take-up of student loans is monitored by the Student Loans Company and the Department. We intend to conduct periodically student income and expenditure surveys comparable with the baseline survey published in 1989, and to review the access funds scheme after three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will announce the postgraduate bursary and studentship rates payable by his Department for the academic year 1991–92.

The main maintenance rates under the Department's own postgraduate awards scheme in the academic year 1991–92 will be as follows (1990–91 rates are shown in brackets):

	£	£
Bursaries
London	2,950	(2,775)
Elsewhere	2,330	(2,195)
Parental home	1,760	(1,655)

To ask the Prime Minister when the Government next plan to meet representatives of the Vietnamese Government; and when he next intends to discuss with the United States Government trading policy on Vietnam.

The Government are urgently seeking discussions with the Vietnamese Government on the problems posed by the sharply increased rate of arrivals of Vietnamese migrants in Hong Kong. We regularly discuss all aspects of United States Indo-China policy at a high level with the United States Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out the levels of contributions to rent rebates that local authorities are projected to make that correspond to the figures for H RAS (Rent Rebate) subsidy for 1992–93, and 1993–94, set out in figure 64 in the housing chapter of the current public expenditure plans, Cm. 1508.

I have been asked to reply.As stated by my hon. Friend on 28 March at column 535 no decisions have been taken as to the contributions which local housing authorities are estimated to make to their rent rebate costs in 1992–93 and 1993–94. This is because the amounts will depend largely on annual decisions about rent guidelines and management and maintenance allowances for those years. For general planning purposes, the entries at figure 64 in the housing chapter of Cm. 1508 include projected contributions to rent rebates of £420 million for 1992–93, and £536 million for 1993–94 based upon inflation only guideline increases for rent and management and maintenance allowances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Don Valley of 4 June, Official Report, columns 109–10, what information is kept on the levels of expenditure of pensioners; and to what extent this is broken down geographically.

Information on expenditure patterns is extracted from the family expenditure survey. While the published version does not give information on pensioners' expenditure below the national level the information can be broken down by region, although in many cases this can be achieved only at disproportionate cost while in others the size of the sample is too small to support a valid inference. The 11 regions in Great Britain are: the North, Yorkshire and Humberside, the North-West, the East Midlands, the West Midlands, East Anglia, Greater London, the South-East (excluding Greater London), the South-West, Wales and Scotland. Data can also be provided by type of administrative area, viz; Greater London, the Metropolitan district and Central Clydeside conurbation, non-metropolitan districts (with high population density) and non-metropolitan districts (with low population density), but the same caveats apply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what reply he has sent to the letters of 31 January and 10 June from the Terrence Higgins Trust concerning the cost of diets for people with AIDS; and if he will make a statement.

I have replied to these letters today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much money has been allocated to counter food shortages in (a) Ethiopia, (b) Sudan, (c) Mozambique, (d) Angola, (e) Malawi and (f) Liberia from January to the present date; and what percentage of the 1990–91 and 1991–92 overseas aid budgets have been allocated to counter food shortages in each country.

The following bilateral food aid allocations to the named countries have been made since January 1991:

Country	Cost (£ million) (Food aid)	Cost (£ million) (Non-food aid)
Ethiopia	14·196	5·802
Sudan	5·802	3·626
Mozambique	10·959	2·000
Angola	3·626	1·885
Malawi (Mozambican refugees)	1·060	3·000
Liberia	0·0	1·456
Total	129·915	17·769
1 Does not include the United Kingdom share of EC food aid.

The remaining information is not available in the form requested. Bilateral food aid as a percentage of total bilateral aid to those countries in 1989–90 was as follows:

Country	Food aid	Total aid	Percentage
	£ million	£ million
Ethiopia	5·182	12·730	41
Sudan	1·114	25·507	4
Mozambique	2·519	19·048	13
Angola	—	0·733	—
Malawi	—	26·965	—
Liberia	—	0·507	—

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid has been given to Vietnam in the last five years; and what is its current gross national product per head.

[holding answer 20 June 1991]: Britain has provided no direct bilateral aid to Vietnam in the last five years. Since May 1990 over £1 million has been committed in support of projects by British nongovernmental organisations to assist with community development and the reintegration of boat people returning from Hong Kong. Since 1986 the United Kingdom has provided some £2·4 million towards EC food aid to Vietnam and our contribution through the European Commission's pilot scheme for the reintegration of returning boat people will be more than £1 million. No reliable data exists for Vietnam's GNP but it is estimated that in 1988 GDP per capita was approximately US$ 150–200.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what categories of day nurseries are exempt from registration.

The regulation and registration of day nurseries is currently governed by the Nurseries and Child-Minders Regulation Act 1948, as amended. Section 8 deals with exemption from the requirements of the Act, including registration.The 1948 Act will be repealed when the Children Act 1989 comes into effect on 14 October 1991. Registration of day care facilities for young children will then be regulated under section 71 of and schedule 9 to the 1989 Act. Paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of schedule 9 list exemptions from registration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will now make provision for the refund of optical charges under the health benefits low income scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Refunds are already available under the low income scheme for NHS charges incurred for sight tests and also for spectacles provided by the hospital eye service. The review of the administration of the scheme which is now under way, will provide a fresh opportunity to examine the arrangements for optical refunds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what decisions were made at the European Community Health Council on 4 June concerning the campaign against AIDS; and if he will make a statement.

The European Community Health Council agreed to adopt a plan of action within the framework of the Europe against AIDS programme. The intention of the plan is that member states should benefit from the exchange of information, expertise and examples of good practice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 8 March, Official Report, column 322, if he can now list for the year 1989–90 for England and for each NHS region (1) the percentage of women who had (i) general anaesthesia, (ii) epidural or caudal anaesthesia, (iii) spinal anaesthesia, (iv) combinations of these methods of anaesthesia and (v) none of these methods of anaesthesia during labour or delivery;(2) the percentage of women (i) whose labours were surgically induced, (ii) whose labours were induced[by oxytocic drugs, (iii) whose labours were induced by a combination of surgical methods and oxytocic drugs, (iv) whose labours were of spontaneous onset and (v) who had elective Caesarian sections;(3) the percentage of women whose deliveries were (i) at a domestic address, (ii) in a consultant ward of an NHS hospital, (iii) in a general practitioner ward of an NHS hospital, (iv) in a combined consultant/general practitioner ward of an NHS hospital, (v) in a private hospital, (vi) in another hospital or institution and (vii) elsewhere;(4) the percentage of women whose deliveries were conducted by

The estimated national percentages for England for 1989–90 are given in the tables. The feasibility of producing estimated percentages analysed by NHS region is still being investigated and I shall write to the hon. Member when our investigations are complete.

1989–90 England	Per cent.
(i) Anaesthetic administered
General	7
Epidural or caudal	15
Spinal	1
Combination	1
Other including no anaesthetic	66
Not known	11
(ii) Method of onset of labour
Spontaneous onset	74
Elective Caesarean	5
Surgically induced	4
Oxytocic drugs	8
Combination	6
Not known	3
(iii) Place of delivery
At a domestic address	10
In a consultant ward	64
In a GP ward	5
Consultant/GP ward	31
Private hospital	10
Other hospital or institution	10
Elsewhere	10
(iv) Person conducting delivery
Hospital doctor	24
General practitioner	10
Midwife	72
Other	2
Not known	2
1 Less than 0·5 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much public money was given by which regional health authorities to (a) the British Pregnancy Advisory Service and (b) the Life Care and Housing Trust for the last year for which figures are available.

No central record is kept of donations or grants made by regional health authorities. The British Pregnancy Advisory Service receives income as a result of service provision contracts with some district health authorities. Details of these arrangements are not held by the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the numbers of operations and waiting lists for ear, nose and throat operations carried out year by year since 1986 in Trent regional health authority.

[holding answer 7 June 1991]: The information requested is given in the table. It is the time that individual patients wait for treatment that matters, not the total number on the list. The number waiting more than one year for in-patient ENT treatment in Trent has fallen by 8 per cent. since September 1986 and by 33 per cent. since March 1979. At the same time the number of in-patients treated has increased by 6 per cent. since 1986 and by 53 per cent. since 1979.

Numbers of operations and patients awaiting elective admission for the ENT speciality in Trent RHA—In-patients
Date	Number of operations1	Total patients waiting2	Patients waiting over 12 months
			Number3	Per cent.4
1986	n/a	8,873	1,798	20
1987	n/a	7,578	1,629	20
1988	26,708	8,630	1,561	18
1989	26,656	8,516	1,608	18
1990	27,239	9,262	1,659	17
1 Figures relate to the total number of cases operated on in the year ending 31 March.
2 Figures exclude self-deferred cases and relate to the position at 30 September.
3 Figures relate to the position at 30 September and for 1987 to 1990 include any self-deffered cases.
4 Figures for 1987 to 1990 are based on the number of patients including self-deferred cases.

n/a=Not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the numbers of (a) day nurseries, (b) childminders and (c) playgroups in 1990 and the number of places in each.

[holding answer 18 June 1991]: The information requested is set out in the table. The figures include registered provision, local authority provision and for day nurseries and play groups some provision exempt from registration (eg provision on crown property).

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the financial adjustment fixed by each charging local authority in Wales 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.

The collection fund adjustments payable by charge payers in 1991–92 are shown in the table. These adjustments reflect a number of factors including local authority assumptions as to any losses in collection in 1990–91 and estimates of interest paid from and accrued to the collection fund in 1990–91 and 1991–92. There are no comparable figures for 1990–91.

Collection fund adjustments 1991–92
Charging authority	1£
Alyn and Deeside	0·00
Colwyn	-0·17
Delyn	1·99
Glyndwr	0·00
Rhuddlan	0·00
Wrexham Maelor	0·00
Carmarthen	-7·00
Ceredigion	-5·00
Dinefwr	0·00
Llanelli	-8·28
Preseli Pembrokeshire	-2·88
South Pembrokeshire	0·22
Blaenau Gwent	0·00
Islwyn	0·00
Monmouth	0·00
Newport	4·00
Torfaen	0·00
Aberconwy	-3·01
Arfon	0·00
Dwyfor	0·00
Meirionnydd	-3·01
Ynys Mon	-5·01
Cynon Valley	0·00
Merthyr Tydfil	-3·01
Ogwr	-3·00
Rhondda	-5·00
Rhymney Valley	0·00
Taff Ely	0·00
Brecknock	0·00
Montgomeryshire	0·00
Radnorshire	0·00
Cardiff	0·00
Vale of Glamorgan	0·00
Port Talbot	0·00
Lliw Valley	0·00
Neath	0·00
Swansea	0·00
1 A positive figure in the table denotes an addition to the 1991–92 charge.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list total employment in the electronics and information technology industries in Wales in each year from 1979 to the most recent year available.

There are several sources of information for employment in the electronics industry over the past decade. The most complete series available is that of the Engineering Industry Training Board and are given in the following table.

Year	Employment
1979	13,000
1980	13,100
1981	12,300
1982	12,400
1983	13,600
1984	14,900
1985	15,300
1986	15,900
1987	18,600
1988	21,300
1989	23,200
1990	25,900

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the implications for Wales of the recommendations of the Group Transport 2000 Plus report on transport options for the future, published by the European Commission in January.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given on 20 June 1991 by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Transport. My right hon. Friend will assess the implications for Wales of the EC Commission's paper on Community transport policy when it has been completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the advantages over the arrangements now operating in England of the proposed new grant scheme for promoting the development of more flexible forms of community care for elderly people and for people with physical or sensory disabilities; and if he will make a statement.

This grant scheme has been introduced in 1991–92, for which we have announced allocations of £1·3 million to pump-prime innovation. It is too early to judge its effectiveness. Selected schemes will be subject to independent evaluation, along the lines of the existing arrangements to evaluate our earlier initiative to promote the development of innovative services for elderly people, with the aim of identifying and disseminating good practice. However, our main effort of assessment will go into the wider annual review of performance of social services and health authorities in developing effective social and community care, for which the principal means of Government financial support are, and will remain, the revenue support grant to local authorities and mainstream allocations to health authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to ensure that hon. Members representing Welsh constituencies receive copies of all circulars issued by his Department to local authorities in Wales.

Those circulars issued by the Welsh Office to local authorities which deal with decisions or advice on important aspects of policy are distributed as a matter of course to hon. Members representing Welsh constituencies.If the hon. Gentleman has experienced any difficulties with this arrangement perhaps he would write to my right hon. Friend so that my right hon. Friend can consider the matter further.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Cardiff, West of 18 June, Official Report, columns 96–97, if he will list those video cassette recordings purchased for use in conjunction with the video recorder installed in his flat at the Crown Buildings, Cathays park, Cardiff.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what responsibilities his Department has for (a) conservation, (b) transport and (c) the welfare of imported wild birds.

My Department has numerous responsibilities for the conservation of imported wild birds under:

the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora (CITES), and EC Regulation 3626/82, which implements the convention in the European Community;

the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976;

the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; and

EC Directive 79/409/EEC on the Conservation of Wild Birds.

Although these measures are primarily concerned with conservation, some contain subsidiary requirements relating to transport and welfare matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will investigate the reasons for the discrepancy between the number of community charge payers of 41,900,000 registered for 1990 in England, Scotland and Wales and the Government's estimated size of the population aged 18 years and over of the same countries of 43,160,000.

The difference of 1,260,000 between the number of people shown on community charges registers in Great Britain and the estimated population aged 18 years and over is largely attributable to the number of exempt people. We estimate that at least 870,000 people are exempt from the personal community charge, not including those who are exempt by virtue of living in short stay accommodation or because they have no fixed abode, for which no reliable information is available. Other factors affecting the comparison are: errors in the registers or under-registration; errors in reporting the numbers on the registers; errors in estimates of the adult population, which are based on the 1981 population census; and to a limited extent differences in timing and definition. It is not possible to quantify any of these factors.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing, for each local authority levying a community charge in England and Wales, the sum shown in their respective demand statements following the words "plus other adjustments", stating the nature of all elements or charges comprising such adjustments together with his, or other estimate, of the proportion of the global sum attributable to the additional shortfall of income for the year 1990–91 and projected shortfall for 1991–92, respectively.

[holding answer 20 June 1991]: I am arranging for the available information for England to be placed in the Library of the House. Information for Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, by year for the last 10 years, the countries which have made shipments of hazardous waste to England for disposal reported under the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations.

Information on the importation of waste by country of origin into the United Kingdom is available only since the introduction of the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations in October 1988.The information in respect of imports of waste for disposal in England for the financial years 1 April to 31March for 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91 is shown in the following table.

Countries of origin
1988–89	1989–90	1990–91
Australia	Australia	Australia
Belgium	Austria	Austria
Canada	Belgium	Bahamas
Denmark	Canada	Belgium
Hong Kong	Channel Islands	Canada
Ireland	Germany	Germany
Italy	Denmark	Denmark
Netherlands	Finland	France
Switzerland	Ireland	Ireland
	Italy	Isle of Man
	Netherlands	Italy
	Norway	Luxembourg
	Singapore	Malaysia
	Spain	Netherlands
	Sweden	Portugal
	Switzerland	Singapore
	United States	Spain
		Sri Lanka
		Sweden
		Switzerland
		United States

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the organisations and individuals who have been sent a copy of his Department's report "Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England and Wales, Review of MPG6"; and which organisations and individuals have formally been asked to submit comments on this report.

To date 170 organisations and individuals have received this report. They are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give figures for energy expenditure in 1989–90 and 1990–91 consistent with those given for 1988–89 in the answer of 30 April 1990, Official Report, column 448.

[holding answer 19 June 1991]: The information requested is as follows:

	1989–90	1990–91
	£ million	£ million
Electricity	6·558	6·651
Gas	2·628	2·578
Other	0·759	0·480

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 3 June, Official Report, column 108, what information he can provide on energy consumption for 1989–90 and 1990–91 to update, on a comparable basis, the information given in his answer of 30 April 1990, Official Report, column 448.

[holding answer 19 June 1991]: I regret that this information is not available for 1989–90. For 1990–91 I refer to my written answer of 3 June 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the number of suicides by inmates at prisons in England and Wales since 1 January.

Between 1 January and 18 June 1991, 16 prisoners died at their own hand in prison service custody.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to remove the need for people with a mental handicap in long-stay hospitals to complete a patient's declaration before they are allowed to register to vote; and if he will make a statement;(2) what plans he has to allow people with a mental handicap to use the addresses of their long-stay hospital as their residence for voting purposes; and if he will make a statement;(3) how many residents in long-stay mental handicap hospitals are registered to vote;(4) what plans he has to review the rule relating to voting for people resident in long-stay mental handicap hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

Voluntary patients in psychiatric hospitals may register as electors in respect of any address with which they have been associated other than the hospital address. There are no plans to review this arrangement or the requirement for voluntary patients to make a declaration in order to register.A total of 1,661 voluntary patients are included on the 1991–92 electoral register in the United Kingdom, broken down as follows:

	Number
England	883
Wales	164
Scotland	523
Northern Ireland	91

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances visas are granted for non-EC and non-Commonwealth residents to come to work in Britain for stays of a few weeks where payment is made by their employer in the country of origin; what assessment is made of the requirement for a work permit; and if he will make a statement.

Under the Immigration Rules (HC 251 as amended) work permits are generally required by all non-EC nationals coming to work in the United Kingdom, irrespective of their length of stay or the source of their remuneration. Work permits are normally issued to employers only where jobs requiring high qualifications and skills cannot be filled by the EC labour force, and should be obtained from the Department of Employment before the person travels to the United Kingdom. The rules do, however, permit overseas-based people to enter without a work permit as business visitors in order to transact such business as attending meetings and briefings; negotiating contracts; delivering goods and, where necessary, installing and advising on the operation of their machinery here; or if they are sent by international companies to liaise with or advise United Kingdom subsidiaries. Business visitors who are nationals of the countries listed in the appendix to the rules must obtain a visa before travelling here.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Leicestershire on the circumstances surrounding the search of the home of the hon. Member for Leicester, East's constituent Mr. Peach of 15 Rushey close, Leicester.

[pursuant to his reply, 28 January 1991, c. 371]: I now understand from the chief constable of Leicestershire constabulary that a search did take place at the home of the hon. Member's constituent. The search was made following the arrest of a member of the family on suspicion of theft. The person concerned was later released without charge.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies his Department has conducted into the effects of glare from on-coming car lights on dual carriageways and motorways.

Trials were carried out in the early 1960s and in the late 1970s into the effects of anti-dazzle screens erected on the central reserves of sections of the M 1 and M6 motorways. The M6 trial was covered by three reports, a report by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, social survey division No. SS 1058 of 1976; TRRL report SR 327 of 1977 and TRRL report No. 955 of 1980. Copies of these reports are in the Library of the House.There is continuing concern about glare from on-coming lights on all types of roads, often resulting from the poor standard of aim of headlamps on vehicles. This is why new stricter checks on aim will be introduced shortly into the annual test for heavy goods vehicles and extended to cover private car testing as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been conducted by his Department into the effects on traffic congestion of building new roads or widening existing roads; and if he will ensure that such research is placed in the Library.

The effects on traffic congestion of building new roads or widening existing roads are a major element in the traffic and economic appraisals carried out by the Department for all improvements to trunk roads. The Department's methods of traffic and economic appraisal have been developed over many years, based on a continuing and substantial programme of research projects.In the traffic and economic appraisal of road schemes, the effect on traffic flows, queues and speeds are estimated first; these are then valued through the time savings to business and private road users and the improved productivity of commercial vehicles. For schemes in the current roads programme, on average, the present value of benefits, discounted at 8 per cent., is 2·4 times the present value of costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been done by his Department into the savings on emissions from a reduction in congestion; and if he will publish the modelling and methodolgy used to calculate the relationship between emissions and traffic congestion.

The research evidence on road transport emissions of greenhouse gases is summarised in TRRL contractor report No. 223, "UK road transports contribution to greenhouse gases: a review of TRRL and other research", a copy of which has been placed in the Library. To predict the impact of individual schemes on congestion, the Department makes use of detailed traffic simulation models. The models make use of information on road link and junction characteristics to predict vehicle flows and speeds which can in turn be used to estimate fuel consumption and emissions. The Department has a substantial programme of research into this and other environmental issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the number of cars registered and in use; and how many car drivers were (a) killed and (b) injured in road accidents for each year in the periods (i) 1980 to 1983 and (ii) 1986 to 1990.

The information requested is given in the table. Road accident casualty data for 1990 is not yet available.

Cars currently licensed and car drivers killed and injured: Great Britain: 1980–1983, 1986–1990
	Private cars currently Licensed thousands	Car driver casualties
		Killed	Injured	Total
1980	14,772	1,339	78,454	79,793
1981	14,943	1,346	79,733	81,079
1982	15,303	1,472	82,791	84,263
1983	15,543	1,198	71,941	73,139
1986	16,981	1,340	89,816	91,156
1987	17,421	1,327	90,683	92,010
1988	18,432	1,280	98,307	99,587
1989	19,248	1,498	107,681	109,179
1990	19,742	n/a	n/a	n/a

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many motorcycles were registered and in use; and how many motorcyclists were killed in road accidents for each year in the periods (a) 1970 to 1973 and (b) 1986 to 1990.

The information is given in the following table. Figures are for two wheeled motor vehicles, which are motorcyles, motor scooters and mopeds. Road accident casualty data for 1990 is not yet available.Although the number of motorcycles registered has declined, the use of these vehicles has increased. Total motorcycle traffic rose by an estimated 53 per cent. between 1970 and 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the reduction in traffic within the Alnwick built-up area which would result from providing a direct access from the A1 to the A1068.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement about the future of marine radio-navigation in United Kingdom waters.

The United Kingdom has been negotiating over a period of time with eight other countries on the possible adoption of Loran C as part of a joint regional system of marine radio-navigation in north-west Europe and the North Atlantic. My right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State told the House in April 1990 the conditions on which the United Kingdom would in principle have been prepared to enter into an international agreement if it could be achieved by mid-1991. Some but not all of those conditions have been met. But a new factor has been a revised proposal recently put to me by the Racal Electronics Company to modernise and operate the existing Decca chains in the United Kingdom at a lower cost than in their 1988 proposal.I have examined the proposal carefully and Racal has made further improvements to it. I now have decided to accept the Racal proposal and to withdraw from the Loran C discussions. Two main factors have led to this conclusion. First, it is now very doubtful whether an international agreement could be concluded and brought into effect within a timescale which would both ensure a three-year transitional period before the closure of the United Kingdom Decca system (under the existing contract by early 1997) and avoid a price increase in the Loran C investment. Second, the revised Racal proposal means that the case has changed significantly in favour of retaining the Decca system, both in the overall economic appraisal and in the effect on light dues. After taking account also of the costs of a change for users, I have concluded that, despite some factors which point towards Loran C, it would no longer be reasonable to impose this change of system on the United Kingdom user community. In reaching this conclusion, I have had particular regard to the representations made to my by the fishing and electronics engineering industries against a change to Loran C, and to the fact that the Decca system continues to serve the mariners' needs satisfactorily within the overall requirements of marine safety.Our partners in the international negotiations on the Loran C proposal are being informed of my decision. I now intend to invite the general lighthouse authorities to give effect to my decision by entering into formal negotiations with the Racal company on a new contract for operating the Decca system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to seek the implementation of the new draft regulations on the operation of the orange badge scheme; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will announce an implementation date for the new regulations governing the orange badge scheme for the disabled.

[holding answer 19 June 1991]: I refer the hon. Members to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam) on 21 March at column 212.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with chief constables and others about the current level of speed limits on motorways.

[holding answer 12 June 1991]: I have had no recent discussions with the police or others on this question but shall be meeting the M25 Chief Constables' Committee next month and will also be supporting the message of the forthcoming police national motorway campaign that drivers should drive safely and obey the law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council on 17 and 18 June.

A meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council took place in Luxembourg on 17 and 18 June. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I represented the United Kingdom.The Council adopted the food credit regulation for the Soviet Union. It reached a political orientation on a regulation covering technical assistance for the Soviet Union and instructed the committee of permanent representatives to continue its work.The Council agreed that participation in the negotiations on a European energy charter should be limited to European countries (including the USSR) and the non-European members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The Council decided that other countries may accede to the Charter at a later stage and, together with representatives of international organisations, may be invited to attend the negotiations as observers.The Council agreed on a mandate for the Presidency in its negotiations with EC staff unions on pay arrangements.EC and EFTA ministers reviewed progress in the negotiations on a European economic area, which will extend the single market to the EFTA countries. Representatives of the two sides will meet again in Salzburg next week to discuss the next steps. The United Kingdom will continue to contribute constructively to these negotiations, with a view to their early and successful conclusion. We strongly support the idea of a European economic area, which will bring significant economic and practical benefits to the European Community and EFTA.Ministers issued a statement welcoming the abolition of the Population Registration Act in South Africa. They also agreed that EC sanctions against Iraq should be maintained. They decided to give active support for the role of the UN in northern Iraq and to examine with the UN Secretary General what further humanitarian assistance could be provided for those in need in southern Iraq.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the ministeral meeting of the intergovernmental conference on political union on 17 June.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs attended the ministerial meeting of the inter-governmental conference on political union on 17 June. The meeting discussed the structure of the draft treaty on political union, competence issues, and the institutional chapter of the draft treaty.On the overall structure of the treaty, member states and the Commission fall into two camps: those who would like to see a unitary structure with all the activities of the European union coming under the treaty of Rome and those like us who would prefer to see a common foreign and security policy and co-operation on interior/justice matters preserved outside the provisions of the treaty of Rome. The latest Presidency draft treaty is a compromise between these two positions, maintaining three separate pillars of co-operation but attempting to bring them together under a unitary structure. My right hon. Friend argued that, while ingenious, this remained undesirable. The discussion was inconclusive.The Presidency has proposed the extension of Community competence in a number of areas. The meeting discussed both the principle and the practical details of these proposed extensions. My right hon. Friend emphasised that we were not convinced of the need to extend Community competence in the areas under discussion.Discussion of the institutional chapter focussed on the proposed co-decision procedure between the Council and the European Parliament. A range of views was expressed.Several member states thought a co-decision undesirable or unnecessary, others could accept the procedure proposed and some member states wished to see the European Parliament's legislative role expanded even further. My right hon. Friend made it clear we did not see a case for upsetting the existing institutional balance. My right hon. Friend also emphasised the importance we attached to ensuring the rule of law in the Community and argued for the United Kingdom proposals to strengthen the court of justice's powers to ensure compliance with its judgments.Progress in the inter-governmental conference on political union will he reviewed by the European Council on 28–29 June.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what evidence relating to the funding of two-way travel, as well as support and accommodation while in the United Kingdom, together with guarantees from the hon. Member for Hendon, North about Mr. Kumar's subsequent departure from the United Kingdom, would suffice to enable a temporary visitor's visa to be issued to Mr. Ramesh Kumar so as to enable him to make a visit to London at the suggestion of and for the purpose of consulting the hon. Member for Hendon, North about matters concerning Mr. Kumar's wife;(2) what specific guarantees from the hon. Member for Hendon, North regarding departure after the termination of a visa for a temporary visit to the United Kingdom would be acceptable to enable Mr. Ramesh Kumar to make a visit to London at the suggestion of and for the purpose of consulting the hon. Member about matters relating to his wife.

The immigration rules do not require specific evidence to be produced in support of an application. The evidence necessary to satisfy an entry clearance officer will vary in individual cases according to the applicant's economic, social and other circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any representations were received from the United States or any other country prior to his decision to reject the recent Libyan approaches for better relations with the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

We have received no such representations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the French Government about stopping the flow of arms from the Ivory Coast to Charles Taylor's forces in Liberia.

None, but my officials have regular contacts with the French Government at which a wide range of issues, including developments in west Africa, are discussed.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what progress has been made in preparing a strategic plan for the civil service occupational health service executive agency; and what performance targets have been set for its second year of operation as an agency.

The OHS prime financial target for 1991–92 is to recover its full costs by charging customers for its services. Its subsidiary targets are to provide its services at a cost of £472 per productive professional day, and at a cost of £25 per case referral. In addition I have set quality targets of 70 per cent. customer satisfaction rated as very good or excellent, tight turn-round times for case referrals, and the issue of 80 per cent. invoices without errors.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what is his response to the Audit Commission report "The Road to Wigan Pier" on the funding of local museums; and if he will make a statement.

I welcome the Audit Commission's report, "The Road to Wigan Pier?" which makes a number of constructive recommendations for local authorities and their museums and galleries. Officials from my Department have had a constructive discussion with the Audit Commission on the report.The Audit Commission's report covered similar ground to the recently published Museums and Galleries Commission report on local authorities and museums. I will be responding to that report in due course.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reconcile the figures given in his answers of 3 June, Official Report, column 24, and 6 June, Official Report, column 326, concerning the total number of taxpayers with earnings above the national insurance upper earnings limit; and if he will publish figures separately for the number of employees who are basic rate taxpayers with earnings above the upper earnings limit.

My answer of 3 June provided the estimated numbers of taxpayers in 1991–92 analysed by range of earnings subject to national insurance contributions. Tax liability depends on the cumulative annual amount of income subject to income tax. The levels of earnings used in the analysis were the combined Total from employment or self-employment for the whole year which were then compared with the annual equivalent of the NIC upper earnings limit. On this basis an estimated 1.9 million basic rate taxpayers whose main source of earnings is as an employee will have earnings above the UEL.The answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Security on 6 June showed the estimated average number of employees who, in any one week during 1991–92, will be liable for national insurance contributions and whose earnings will exceed the upper earnings limit. Additionally, the answer showed the estimated number of self-employed people who, during the year 1991–92, will be liable for national insurance contributions and whose profits will exceed the upper profits limit.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 13 May, Official Report, columns 23–24, how many reviews of control system and accounting records in money laundering related areas of banks or other financial institutions, have been undertaken; what have been the conclusion of such reviews; and what action has been taken in light of this.

To date there have been some 160 reports on systems and controls related to money laundering commissioned under section 39 of the Banking Act 1987 as part of a rolling programme of identifying and prioritising particular areas of supervisory interest. Banks generally appear to have appropriate systems in place and have, in particular, been helped in formulating and implementing such systems by the publication at the end of last year of the guidance notes on money laundering for banks and building societies.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the accumulated net receipts of income tax from building societies since 1985–86 and the amount affected by clause 50 of the Finance Bill 1991.

Accumulated net income tax receipts from building societies for the six years 1985–86 to 1990–91 were £18,097 million, excluding those subsequently repaid as a result of decisions by the courts. Of these, an estimated £227 million would be repaid if clause 50 were not enacted.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in calculating the composite rate of tax for building societies and banks, for each year since 1985–86, if the Inland Revenue took account of the extra payments of income tax subject to clause 50 of the Finance Bill 1991.

Changes in the timing of tax payments by building societies, reflecting changes in collection arrangements of the kind introduced by the Building Society Regulations 1986, the subject of clause 50, had no bearing on the level at which composite rate was set. However, from societies as a whole there was slightly less income tax due for the financial year 1986–87 than would have been due if the timing arrangements had been left unchanged.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the contributory effects of changes in (a) interest rates, (b) volume, (c) tax rates and (d) the switch from the accrual basis to paid basis of receipts of tax on sums extinguishing liability to tax of building societies comparing 1985–86 with 1986–87 and 1986–87 with 1987–88 and 1985–86 with 1988–89.

I regret that the information could not be provided without disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates the cash flow effects to be of change from accrual to paid basis of extinguishing net tax liability of building society investors.

About £110 million less income tax was received in 1986–87 under the quarterly payment system than would have been due under the old system. However, under the new system, instalment payments amounting to £35 million were due in later years. The new system also affected cashflow within the tax year, by bringing forward the average date at which income tax was payable.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer taking the expected net receipts of income tax from a building society as an index of 100, what are the index estimates of the maximum and minimum additional payments, consequent on the Finance Act 1986 change retrospectively validating the 1985 regulations, assuming the enactment of clause 50 of the Finance Bill 1991, taking account of the effects of the range of society year end and payment dates.

Payments due in a year may be advanced or retarded under the new system introduced by the 1986 building societies legislation. At one extreme would be a hypothetical society with an accounting period ending on the first day of the tax year, 6 April, and crediting interest to investors wholly on a monthly basis on the last day of each month. For that society, income tax due on the 11 months' interest credited on 30 April 1985 to 28 February 1986, less that which had accrued in the first six days of April 1985, would be due in four instalments on the 14 March of the 1986–87 to 1989–90 tax years; tax would also be due in each of those tax years in respect of the 12 monthly creditings made between 31 March to 28 February. Taking income tax due for payment under the old system as an index of 100 for the four years together, tax due in those four years under the new system would be 122·5.At the other extreme would be a hypothetical society with an accounting period coinciding with the tax year, and crediting interest to investors wholly on an annual basis, on 1 March. For that society, no payment of income tax under the new system would be due in the 1986–87 tax year, except in respect of interest on accounts closed up to 28 February 1987. The 1987–88 payment would be slightly less than in a full year. Taking tax due for payment under the old system as an index of 100 for the four tax years 1986–87 to 1989–90, tax due under the new system, if no accounts were closed, would be 72·5.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the rate of economic growth in the United Kingdom per quarter since October 1979.

Figures of the gross domestic product are available from the CSO database which may be accessed through the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the income from North sea oil revenues received by the United Kingdom for each of the years from 1980 to 1990.

Annual revenues to the Exchequer from the North sea have been as follows:

	£ million
1980–81	3,743
1981–82	6,492
1982–83	7,822
1983–84	8,798
1984–85	12,035
1985–86	11,348
1986–87	4,783
1987–88	4,618
1988–89	3,179
1989–90	2,393
1990–91	2,337

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the number of adult male full-time civil servants and the estimated number earning less than (i) half and (ii) two-thirds of the median hourly earnings of all full-time adult male workers on full-time rates.

There were about 251,000 adult male full-time non-industrial civil servants on 1 April 1991, and about 49,000 adult male full-time industrial civil servants on 1 January 1991.My Department does not collect information on actual earnings of individual civil servants. The available information closest to that requested, on the distribution of earnings of civil servants, is published in the New Earnings Survey 1990 part A table 1 and part B tables 36 and 52. A copy of these reports is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the percentage change by volume in United Kingdom exports of manufactured goods to the existing 11 other members of the EEC from 1970 to 1990; and what was the percentage change in volume of imported manufactured goods from the same countries in the same period.

Statistics of global trade with individual countries are available in value terms only. However, volume indices for total United Kingdom trade in manufactured goods are published in the monthly publication "CSO Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics", copies of which are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Internal Market Council held in Luxembourg on 18 June.

I attended the Internal Market Council on 18 June, the last of the Luxembourg Presidency. My right hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, South-West (Mrs. Shephard) attended for the item on baggage regulation. A number of measures were agreed, and in particular, significant progress was made in two single market priority areas for the United Kingdom—public procurement and insurance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to allow equipment submitted for type approval to be re-submitted for partial testing, where it can be technically shown that any adjustments could in no way affect the previous tests.

[holding answer 19 June 1991]: Formal testing is carried out under strict national measurement accreditation service (NAMAS) accreditation requirements. Where the type test results in a report that shows that the equipment submitted fully meets the technical requirements of the appropriate specification or standard, a type approval certificate is issued to the applicant for type approval by the Radiocommunications Agency.If, however, the equipment does not meet the appropriate technical requirements, at the request of the applicant, the type testing may be continued or terminated at that point. The equipment will then be returned to the applicant along with a complete or partial test report. The applicant who may be the manufacturer or importer will in most cases re-design, modify or adjust the equipment prior to making a new submission for formal type testing.When re-design, modification or adjustment of equipment to rectify a failure mechanism for one parameter takes place it is possible that other parameters may be affected to a point where they would now result in a type test failure. It would place an unacceptable responsibility on test houses to expect them to make value judgments on the total effect of such rectification activities on the overall performance of a piece of equipment. In some instances it could result in a test house operating outside its (NAMAS) accreditation conditions. Thus the results obtained from a number of separate type tests will not be accepted for type approval certification.This approach to type testing and approval is in conformance with current practice in other European Administrations.

To ask the Secretary of State for trade and Industry in what circumstances the Radiocommunications Agency issues type approval certificates to companies which are not equipped with the identical test equipment used for type approval testing.

[holding answer 19 June 1991]: Type approval relates to an item of radio equipment submitted for type testing and approval against the appropriate specification or standard. The equipment submitted for type approval is required to be a representative sample of production equipment. Submissions for type testing are made by manufacturers or importers who are not assessed as to their technical abilities or access to technical facilities. Notwithstanding this the applicant has the responsibility to ensure that the equipment supplied to the market place complies fully with the specification or standard against which it was approved. Many large radio manufacturers have fully equipped and certified test laboratories which they use in the design and development of their products. However, smaller manufacturers and importers do not have the personnel, financial resources or suitable laboratory facilities to set up fully certified test facilities. In many cases they make use of external test facilities on a consultancy basis.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what response his Department made to the proposal in the report of the 22nd session of the Codex Alimentarius Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants—March 1990—that the maximum level of total aflatoxins should be set at 10 micrograms per kilogram for all foods.

The United Kingdom and a number of other EC states made it clear at the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants that we favoured a limit of 4 micrograms per kilogram for nuts and figs and their products for sale for human consumption.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Food Advisory Committee's consideration of the possibility of a one part per billion limit on aflatoxin in nuts for sale for human consumption.

The committee concluded that it would be unrealistic to establish a limit for aflatoxin of I part per billion (ppb) at present. It recommended that the following statutory limits should be introduced:

4 ppb total aflatoxin for nuts, dried figs and their products for sale, for incorporation in any compound food or for import for human consumption;

10 ppb for such imports intended for further processing before sale or incorporation in any compound food for human consumption.

The proposed limits of 4 ppb is as strict as any set by other EC member states.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when and in what form he will issue proposals for revised aflatoxin limits for consultation.

We aim to consult on draft regulations under the Food Safety Act 1990 establishing maximum limits for aflatoxins in certain foods stuffs in the course of the next few months.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has consulted the United States Government regarding the use the canthaxanthin in food and feedstuffs.

Scientists from this Department and the Department of Health have discussed the use of canthaxanthin in food and feedingstuffs with United States colleagues.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the expenditure in the United Kingdom under the common agricultural policy on (a) fruit and (b) vegetables, indicating whether the expenditure was on (i) export refunds, (ii) disposal measures, (iii) production support or (iv) other measures in each case; if he will list which fruits and vegetables were involved; and if he will make a statement.

This is an operational matter for the chief executive of the Intervention Board Executive Agency who will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will permit the publication of research tests for BSE identification by Harash Narang on samples of bovine brain tissues supplied by his Ministry.

Publication of the results of Dr. Narang's research is a matter for him and not the Government, but we would welcome it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes in deployment are planned for Her Majesty's ships based in Hong Kong.

In line with our overall intention to reduce the Hong Kong garrison in stages between now and 1997, all parts of the garrison are kept under continuous review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has plans to pay off HMS Endurance; and whether there are any plans for a replacement.

No decision has been taken to decommission HMS Endurance. The requirement for a replacement is being considered. No decision has been taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what steps he took to satisfy himself beyond all reasonable doubt that the finding of the board of inquiry into the accident at Batus, Canada, on 7 July 1989 that no one is to blame for the incident was based upon proper investigation and well-founded evidence as heard by the board of inquiry;(2) what steps he took to satisfy himself beyond all reasonable doubt that the finding of the board of inquiry into the accident at Batus, Canada, of 7 July 1989, that the soldiers were adequately briefed for the execution of their task was based upon proper investigation and well-founded evidence as heard by the board of inquiry.

The board of inquiry into the accident at the Batus range on 7 July 1989 was convened and conducted in accordance with the procedures laid down in Queens Regulations for the Army 1975 and the Board of Inquiry (Army) Rules 1956. The board's findings were considered and accepted by the relevant authorities in the chain of command.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which country accepted responsibility under paragraph 28 of part IV of the exchange of notes between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Canada of 26 November 1979, for the clearance of, including the removal of unexploded rounds from, the area of land in Batus, Canada, upon which Grenadier Guardsmen Adrian Hicks, John Ray and Sean Povey were ordered to spitlock a trench on 7 July 1989.

The general agreements in the exchange of notes under which United Kingdom forces use the Batus range are amplified by the range standing orders. These cover the clear-up procedures that take place after each exercise, including the requirement for the disposal of unused or unexploded munitions. The responsibility for the clear-up rests jointly with Batus staff and the forces who have undertaken the training exercise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the date of entry into the Army of Guardsmen Sean Povey, Adrian Hicks and John Ray and their respective ages at the time.

It is not my Department's practice to release personal information without the prior consent of the individuals concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when a Minister last visited the training site in Canada where Guardsmen Povey, Hicks and Ray were serving in June and July 1989.

The last visit by a Minister to the Batus training area was made in July 1989 by my right hon. Friend the Member for Ayr (Mr. Younger) when Secretary of State for Defence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received that the board of inquiry into the circumstances which led to the serious injuries of Guardsmen Povey, Hicks and Ray in July 1989 be reconvened.

I have received several letters and questions from hon. Members on behalf of the three soldiers. The question of reopening the board of inquiry was also addressed in the House in an Adjournment debate on 3 June at columns 129–36.