To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the 1990–91 annual report of the Chief Inspector of Transport Security.

I am today placing copies of this report in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what systematic assessment is made of human error in casualty investigations for shipping accidents.

[holding answer 9 July 1991]: Inspectors carrying out investigations into marine accidents are fully alive to the human factor in all its forms. Their inquiries, therefore, as a matter of course, include examination into the possibility of error and, where it is found, an assessment both of its cause and its effect.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, further to his answer of 2 July, how many accidents listed have been attributed to human error for each year 1981 to 1990 involving United Kingdom registered vessels, and 1989 to 1990 involving United Kingdom ferries.

[holding answer 9 July 1991]: The majority of accidents have several contributory factors and cannot be attributed to one specific individual cause. A list such as that asked for therefore cannot be provided. However, human error is considered to be at least one factor in some 80 per cent. of accidents; this applies to vessels of all types including ferries.

To ask the Attorney-General when he expects to lay before Parliament and to publish the annual report of the Serious Fraud Office for the year 1990–91.

The report has today been laid before Parliament. I have caused a copy of the report to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonweath Affairs if he will list those treaties that have been signed by Her Majesty's Government but have not yet been ratified, giving for each treaty the date of signing.

The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonweath Affairs if he will make a statement on the process by which treaties are ratified by Her Majesty's Government.

Before ratifying a treaty Her Majesty's Government must ensure that they have the necessary statutory powers to enable them to give effect to its provisions and, if not, that the necessary enabling legislation is made. The text of the treaty is then laid before Parliament for a minimum of 21 parliamentary sitting days before it is ratified in order to give Parliament the opportunity to debate its provisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonweath Affairs when he expects Her Majesty's Government to ratify the conventional forces in Europe treaty.

We expect to do so this autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonweath Affairs (1) whether his Department has evaluated what effect withdrawing a regular Royal Navy presence in Antarctica could have on the United Kingdom's current and future association with that area;(2) what assessment has been made of the impact of the withdrawal of HMS Endurance on the study and understanding of the Antarctic continent and protection of United Kingdom interests in that region.

HMS Endurance carries out hydrographic surveys and provides support for the British Antarctic Survey's science programme. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence is aware of the role of HMS Endurance in supporting Her Majesty's Government's commitment to British interests in the area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations were last made to the Romanian authorities about anti-semitism.

We take every suitable opportunity to press the Romanian Government to ensure that the rights of all members of the Jewish and other minority communities in Romania are fully respected. We have asked Her Majesty's ambassador in Bucharest to monitor closely certain recent expressions of anti-semitism in Romania.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to his correspondence with the hon. Member for Islington, North, if he will ask the British embassy in Athens to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death or the hon. Member's constituent Peter Nadin while in police custody; and if he will meet the hon. Member for Islington, North to receive representations on behalf of the deceased's mother.

British consular officers have no investigatory rôle. Mr. Nadin's death was investigated by the Greek authorities in 1984. They concluded that he committed suicide. The Greek authorities reviewed the case in 1985 at our request. They reached the same conclusion. In the absence of new evidence we have no grounds to ask them to reopen the case.In the circumstances, there is little to be gained from a meeting about this sad case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what proportion of moneys allocated to INWARD for industrial promotion in the north-west of England is allocated for the promotion of Cumbria;(2) if he will state on what county justification basis moneys are allocated to INWARD for the industrial promotion of the north-west of England.

For the current financial year, 1991–92, INWARD received from the Department of Trade and Industry grant-in-aid of £900,000. This grant is allocated to INWARD on the basis of an agreed business plan for the promotion of overseas inward investment into the north-west. However, within the broad thrust of promotion of the region it is for INWARD to decide the most appropriate allocations of emphasis, including that to individual counties such as Cumbria, to meet its business objectives.The principal objective is to provide information on all parts of the region in response to investors inquiries. Many of these are relayed to INWARD from the Invest In Britain Bureau as a result of the latter's promotional activities on behalf of the UK. Another objective is to service such investors, on behalf of IBB, when visiting the region. These activities are funded 100 per cent. The DTI through IBB, also funds 50 per cent. of INWARD's own promotional activity overseas, and it is free to attract additional funding from local sources to supplement this activity or for other regional activities in which the Department has no direct involvement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will monitor the use of moneys paid to INWARD for industrial promotion in the north-west to ensure that each county that is a member of INWARD receives its fair share of industrial inquiries.

The Department of Trade and Industry closely monitors the activities of all the regional development organisations, including INWARD, to ensure that the grant is spent to the best effect. An important function of an RDO is to provide a "one-stop shop" where all the potential sites in the region can be accessed by an investor. In responding to inquiries from industry the prime concern of RDOs must be to supply what industry needs, which will include fulfilling locational requirements as closely as possible. Although I have no doubts that all RDOs make every effort to ensure that all local authority members have a chance to respond to suitable inquiries, relations with members are principally a matter for the respective RDO board.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action his Department has taken following his inspectors' reports on Sound Diffusion Ltd.

Following the receipt of the inspectors' report, consideration is being given to the possibility of application to the court under section 8 of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986. A copy of the report has also been provided to the Institute of Chartered Accountants for it to consider the conduct of its members.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to review the scope and contents of the Investment Brokers Act 1977.

I assume that the hon. Member is asking about the Insurance Brokers Registration Act 1977. I have no plans to review it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions since 1988 his Department's inspectors have criticised the performance of Ernst and Young and its predecessors.

Three reports of Companies Act inspectors published since 1 January 1989 contain criticisms of the firms which now form Ernst and Young:

Name of company	Date of publication of report	Name of firm criticized
Alexander Howden
Holdings plc	29 August 1990	Arthur Young
Minet Holdings plc/WMD Underwriting Agencies Limited	29 August 1990	Arthur Young
		Arthur Young
Sound Diffusion plc	1 May 1991	Ernst and Whinney

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what regulations exist to ensure capital adequacy, creditworthiness and sound financial reporting by sellers of insurance not covered by the Investment Brokers Act 1977.

As regards insurance intermediaries not registered under the Insurance Brokers Registration Act, those selling insurance which comprises an investment product are regulated under the Financial Services Act regime, and those selling general insurance come under the Association of British Insurers' code of practice for non-registered general insurance intermediaries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the consultative committee with companies active in space last met; and when it will next meet.

The space consultative committee was wound up in 1987 following the formation of the British national space centre and the introduction of new consultative arrangements with the space industry. The British national space centre regularly consults companies active in space through its advisory committees and other consultative procedures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Leeds, North-West (Dr. Hampson) of 1 July, Official Report, column 19, how many generic manufacturers made representations; and how many of these actually manufacture in the United Kingdom.

[holding answer 9 July 1991]: The represenations received from the manufacturers of generic medicines have come through their representative bodies,

	Central Government (a)		Local Authorities (a)		Health (c)
Year	£ million	Percentage of GDP	£ million	Percentage of GDP	£ million	Percentage of GDP
1960	6,678	2·63	2,266	8·9	861	3·4
1970	14,396	28·3	6,522	12·8	1,979	3·9
1980	75,877	33·3	28,323	12·4	11,633	5·1
1990	156,286	28·9	56,416	10·4	1n.a.	2n.a.
1 1989 = £25,332 million.
2 1989 = 5·1 per cent. of GDP.

Central Government expenditure includes health expenditure given under

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the membership and, where appropriate, the employment, of the Advisory Committee on Advertising in 1980 and the changes since then.

Members of ACA in 1980 were:

Mr. G. C. Draper	Director, Commercial Operations, British Airways
Mr. K. Jacobs	Marketing Manager, Birds Eye Ltd
Mr. W. B. Morrell	Ex Vice-Chairman, Westminster Press Ltd
Mr. B. Nicholson1	Head of Public Affairs, Lloyd's of London
Mr. H. Thomas	Chairman, Thames Television International Ltd
Mr. B. H. Silverman	Marketing Manager, Food Division Co-operative Wholesale Society
Mr. J. S. McClean	Managing Director, Women's Magazines Group IPC Magazines Ltd

Members who have served since 1980 are:

Mr. R. Halstead (1981)	Chairman, Beecham Products
Mr. B. Downing (1983)	Deputy Chief Executive IPC Magazines Ltd
Mr. P. Gittoes (1983)	Head of Advertising Services, Barclays Bank plc
Mr. D. Hughes (1984)	Head of Public Relations, Thorn EMI plc
Mr. M. Samuel (1984)1	Environment Affairs Manager, J. Sainsbury plc
Mr. J. Mellon (1984)1	Chief Executive, IPC Magazines Ltd
Mrs. A. Ferguson (1986) 1	Head of Group Communications, ICI plc
Mr. C. Auld (1987)1	Group Managing Director, Intercraft Designs Ltd

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of (a) central Government expenditure, (b) local government expenditure and (c) national health service expenditure for each of the years 1961, 1970, 1980, 1990 and at the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will show each figure as a percentage of gross domestic product.

The information required is as follows:

Mr. H. Turner (1987)	Managing Director, Television South West
Mr. E. Walsh (1990)	Marketing Director, Birds Eye Wall's Ltd
Mr. N . Phillips (1990)1	Director General, Institute of the Practitioners of Advertising
Mr. R. Spelman (1990)1	General Manager, Marketing, Halifax Building Society
Mr. E. Nicoli (1991)1	Chief Executive—European Operations United Biscuits (Holdings) plc
1 Current Committee members

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list, for each agency nominated for the first time since 1985 by the Advisory Committee on Advertising, whether it applied or whether it was appointed to be considered.

No records are kept of when advertising agencies, nominated by the Advisory Committee on Advertising to take part in competitions for Government work, were nominated for the first time.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the agencies nominated in each year from 1985 by the Advisory Committee on Advertising.

The advertising agencies nominated by the Advisory Committee on Advertising to compete for Government campaigns from 1985 are listed in the table.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the breakdown for the years 1985–86 to 1990–91 of the entry for current grants to persons as given in the analysis of 15 April, Official Report, column 130, of

Local authority current grants to persons in Scotland on functions outside the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Scotland by type of grant
£ million
	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91
Rent allowances	56	72	89	85	105	143
Rent rebates	229	263	296	315	351	385
Total	285	335	386	400	456	528

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish an analysis, comparable with table 5.8 of Cm. 1520 showing (a) that local authority expenditure in Scotland which falls outside expenditure within the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Scotland, tabulated not by function but by departmental programme and (b) that local authority expenditure in Wales which

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish an analysis, parallel to that given by the Chief Secretary on 23 May, Official Report, columns 583–4, of (a) local authority capital expenditure in Scotland which falls outside the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Scotland tabulated by function and (b) local authority capital expenditure in Wales which falls outside the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Wales.

The information requested, consistent with that given in the statistical supplement to the 1990 Autumn Statement (Cm 1520), is given in the tables.local authority expenditure in Scotland on function outside the responsibilities of the Secretary of State for Scotland.

The information requested, consistent with that given in the statistical supplement to the 1990 Autumn Statement (Cm. 1520), is given in the table.falls outside expenditure within the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Wales tabulated not by function but by departmental programme.

The information requested for local authority current expenditure, consistent with that given in table 5.8 of the statistical supplement to the 1990 Autumn Statement (Cm. 1520), is given in the tables.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he makes of the average weekly cost to the Exchequer for each unemployed person taking into account benefit paid, staff costs for administering the benefit agency, costs of job clubs, jobcentres, restart schemes and associated costs.

The cost to the Exchequer for each unemployed person will depend on the person's family and other circumstances, contribution record, any tax liability, and the administrative costs of assessing and paying benefit and helping find new employment. An estimate of the benefit element of this is given in "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1991–92 to 1993–94: Social Security" (Cm 1514), page 11, table 8.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Eltham of 2 July, Official Report, columns 87–88, what list the Advisory Committee on Advertising maintains of agencies considered suitable for nomination to work for government.

The Advisory Committee on Advertising has wide knowledge and experience of many advertising agencies but does not maintain a standing list of agencies considered suitable to compete for Government work.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria are used by the Advisory Committee on Advertising to decide whether an agency may be nominated for Government business.

Advertising agencies are nominated to compete for Government business by the Advisory Committee on Advertising when the Committee considers that the agency's competence, experience and performance match the requirements of a particular competition.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total revenue foregone to the Exchequer over a financial year of (a) individual contributions to pension funds being tax free for (i) standard rate payers and (ii) higher rate payers, (b) the income and capital gains of pension funds being tax exempt and (c) the facility open to an individual of taking up to a quarter of their accrued pension rights as a lump sum payment free from tax.

The latest available estimates for 1990–91 are as follows.

Relief for	£ million
Employee contributions to occupational pension schemes1 2	2,200
Investment income of occupational pension schemes1 3	4,900
Lump sum payments to pensioners1	1,000
Contributions to personal pensions (including retirement annuity premia and FSAVCs) 4 5 1,100
1 The total cost of tax reliefs for occupational pension schemes cannot be calculated by adding together the cost of individual reliefs as this would imply a considerable degree of multiple taxation.
2 It is not possible to provide a reliable breakdown of the total cost of relief between basic rate and higher rate taxpayers.
3 Assuming relief at the basic rate of income tax.
4 Including income tax relief on employers' contributions to personal pensions on the basis that under present arrangements employers' contributions are not taxable as a benefit in kind of the employee.
5 It is not possible to provide reliable estimates of the cost of exemption for investment income and lump sum payments related to retirement annuity contracts and personal pensions.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the rate of London allowance for civil servants in support and executive grades respectively since 1987; if he will make it his policy to submit requests for adjustment to arbitration; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested is as follows.

London weighting allowance
	1 April 1987 £	1 July 1988 £
Inner	1,527	1,750
Intermediate	876	1,000
Outer	641	725

London weighting for civil servants has not been increased since 1988. However, since 1988 London pay points worth between 4 per cent. and 7 per cent., depending on grade, have been introduced for most civil servants in London, along with local pay additions worth up to £1,000 a year targeted at locations with severe recruitment and retention problems.Over the past two years, over £87 million a year has been spent enhancing London pay in this way, in addition to national pay increases. This represents an increase of over 50 per cent. in the London element of the pay bill. Unlike London weighting, London spine points and local pay additions are targeted to ensure that public money is used most cost-effectively. Over the past two years, recruitment and retention rates in London have improved very significantly.The Government's policy is that pay should be based on what is required to recruit, retain and motivate within what is affordable. The Government's intention is to continue to set London pay in accordance with that policy and, where appropriate, to target increases in the London element of pay to ensure that they produce the best value for money for the taxpayer.Successive Governments have reserved the right not to go to arbitration on issues which raise policy considerations. In previous years London weighting claims have raised policy issues in respect of public expenditure control and the targeting of pay increases to secure best value for money on which arbitration would not have been appropriate.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what formal proposals have been made by him to European colleagues to protect the export of Scotch whisky to the Community; what further discussions he intends to hold with EC colleagues on the implications of an EC indirect tax scheme for Scotch whisky exports to the rest of the EC; and if he will make a statement.

At the ECOFIN Council on 24 June, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer successfully argued against the proposal to set a minimum level of spirits duty post-1992 which would have unacceptably increased discrimination against Scotch whisky in the southern member states. As a result, no minimum rate was agreed and at my right hon. Friend's request the Commission will be examining possible distortions in the alcoholic drinks market and reporting later this year. Further discussions on the minimum rate will take place on the basis of that report.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the total annual value accruing to the Treasury of (a) domestic and (b) international sales of Scotch whisky.

The information available relates to the VAT and excise duty yield from domestic sales of whisky which in 1990 is estimated to have been £1 billion. International sales do not produce excise or VAT revenue.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out his current assessment of the effect of a single currency on the annual gross domestic product of the European Community.

It is too early to predict what the effect of a single currency would be on Community GDP. Potential benefits might accrue from reductions in transactions costs and exchange rate risk, and lower inflation. But compared to existing ERM arrangements, a single currency does not of itself guarantee lower inflation or reduced exchange rate risk against non-Community currencies, and the transactions cost advantages are unlikely to be large. Moreover, the success of any move to a single currency would depend on Community economies first having achieved sufficient sustainable convergence in terms of inflation rates, interest rates, budget deficits and market flexibility. Otherwise there would be adverse effects on Community GDP and unemployment.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 28 June, Official Report, column 567, if he will provide the information requested for sterling M3 for the relevant periods prior to cessation of the publication.

The information requested is shown in the following table:

12-month growth rates of sterling M3
Financial year	Percentage change
June 1979-March 1980	19·9
1980–81	17·9
1981–82	14·7
1982–83	11·8
1983–84	8·0
1984–85	11·5
1985–86	16·7
1986–87	18·8
1987–88	20·9
1988–89	20·2
1 Change between June 1979, and March 1980, at an annual rate.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest meeting of the European Community Economic and Finance Council.

The Economic and Finance Council of the European Community met in Brussels on 8 July. The Minister for Corporate Affairs and I represented the United Kingdom.The Council held a discussion of economic convergence within the Community as part of the regular multilateral surveillance of the economies of member states. The Council agreed that greater progress towards economic convergence was desirable and that, where necessary, member states would submit medium-term economic programmes to promote convergence. The Council's conclusions have today been placed in the Library in accordance with article 8 of the 1990 convergence decision.The revised annual economic report was adopted, a copy of which is also in the Library.Over lunch there was a brief procedural discussion of EMU in which it was agreed that the next ministerial meeting of the IGC would be held on 9 September.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent from the Overseas Development Administration budget for each of the past 10 years, in terms of 1991 prices, on construction and infrastructural projects in developing nations, where a United Kingdom company was the only or main contractor.

ODA projects are classified by recipient country sector for records purposes. Details of construction and infrastructure projects where a United Kingdom contractor was involved could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much aid is given by the United Kingdom to (a) Benin, (b) Burundi, (c) Comoros, (d) Equatorial Guinea, (e) Ghana, (f) Guinea, (g) Kenya, (h) Liberia, (i) Madagasgar, (j) Malawi, (k) Mali, (l) Mauritania, (m) Mozambique, (n) Myanmar, (o) Niger, (p) Sao Tome and Principe, (q) Sierra Leone, (r) Somalia, (s) Sudan, (t) Tanzania, (u) Togo, (v) Zaire, (w) Zambia, (x) Guinea-Bissau, (y) Guyana and (z) Nigeria.

The United Kingdom's gross bilateral aid during 1989, the most recent year for which figures are currently available, was as follows:

Country	£ 000s
Benin	331
Burundi	152
Comoros	7
Equatorial Guinea	84
Ghana	50,206
Guinea	456
Kenya	53,941
Liberia	613
Madagascar	316
Malawi	43,114
Mali	1,156
Mauritania	152
Mozambique	22,431
Burma	699
Niger	281
Sao Tome and Principe	—
Sierra Leone	2,808
Somalia	5,295
Sudan	31,436
Tanzania	38,056
Togo	278
Zaire	728
Zambia	19,711
Guinea-Bissau	41
Guyana	6,561
Nigeria	62,963

Development aid programmes to Sudan and Somalia were suspended in 1991. Aid to Burma was suspended in 1988 and the amount shown for 1989 covered residual payments and ongoing costs of trainees already in Britain.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the maximum salary payable to the chief executive of the Natural Resources Institute, including performance-related element, and the length of time of the chief executive's contract.

The chief executive of the Natural Resources Institute is paid as a grade 3 in the civil service. Currently the London rate is £51,300 with a salary range up to a maximum of £59,000 including performance-related pay. The present chief executive was appointed for two years in the first instance ending 31 March 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the first degree obtained by the chief executive of the Natural Resources Institute and from which university or polytechnic it was awarded.

The present chief executive of the Natural Resources Institute has a first degree in economics from Cambridge university.

Agency	Date	Aircraft	Tonnage	Destination
ODA	6 May	1 × Boeing 707	6	Incerlik, Turkey
ODA	16 May	1 × Boeing 707	19	Orumiyeh, Iran
ODA	18 May	1 × Boeing 707	30	Orumiyeh, Iran
ODA	20 May	2 × Boeing 707	60	Diyarbakir, Turkey
ODA	24 May	1 × Boeing 707	38	Tabriz, Iran
ODA	27 May	1 × Boeing 707	12	Incerlik, Turkey
ODA	1 June	2 × Boeing 707	23	Diyarbakir, Turkey
ODA	2 June	1 × Boeing 707	16	Incerlik, Turkey
ODA	2 June	1 × Boeing 707	11	Diyarbakir, Turkey
ODA	4 June	1 × Boeing 707	11	Diyarbakir, Turkey
ODA	5 June	1 × Belfast	19	Diyarbakir, Turkey
ODA	6 June	1 × Boeing 707	13	Diyarbakir, Turkey
ODA	9 June	1 × Belfast	19	Diyarbakir, Turkey

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how much was spent on events and publicity surrounding the launch of the Natural Resources Institute as an executive agency; and whether the cost was borne by the parent department or the new agency;(2) how many staff were in post on the date that the Natural Resources Institute was established as an executive agency; and how many staff are in post now;(3) if he will list the new forms of alternative working patterns introduced into the Natural Resources Institute since its establishment as an executive agency; and if he will give a breakdown by grade of the numbers of staff taking up each new working pattern;(4) what appointments from the private sector have been made to the Natural Resources Institute at grade 7 or above since its establishment as an agency; and if he will list the post, grade and maximum salary payable, including performance-related element;(5) if he will list the quality of service performance indicators adopted by the Natural Resources Institute since its establishment as an executive agency identifying separately those quality of service performance indicators already operative prior to agency status;(6) if he will list those new facilities for staff including nurseries and healthcare schemes, which have been introduced in the Natural Resources Institute since its establishment as an executive agency;(7) what group bonus schemes are in operation in the Natural Resources Institute; and if he will state the cash amount per person awarded in the last year for which figures are available, and the conditions attached to its award;(8) when the last annual report for the Natural Resources Institute was published; and when the next one is due.

I have asked the chief executive of the Natural Resources Institute to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his written answers to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East on 25 April, Official Report, columns 507–8, 2 May, Official Report, column 288, and 15 May, Official Report, column 192–94, if he will update the information supplied concerning aid to the Kurds.

(a) As of 10 July, the Overseas Development Administration has provided a further 293 tonnes of relief supplies as described in the table:

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the regulations and controls that over the export or re-export of wild birds; and, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Glanford and Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley) of 26 June, Official Report, column 498, how many of the imported wild birds are subsequently re-exported.

The Transit of Animals (General) Order 1973, as amended, lays down a number of general measures designed to safeguard the welfare of a wide variety of animals, including captive birds, during their transportation to, from or within Great Britain.Animal health conditions for the export or re-export of captive birds are laid down by the veterinary authorities of the countries of destination and it would be impracticable to publish in the

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many white-fronted Amazon parrots were imported into the United Kingdom in 1988; and what proportion died either in transit or while in quarantine;(2) how many crimson seed-cracker species of wild bird were imported into the United Kingdom in 1988; and what proportion suffered mortality either in transit or while in quarantine.

Information on mortality in birds imported into Great Britain is given in the Ministry's publications "Importation of Birds—Mortality Statistics from Quarantine Returns", copies of which are available in the Library of the House.In 1988, 489 white-fronted Amazons

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has received from the veterinary investigations service concerning the importation and quarantine of wild-caught birds; and if he will make a statement.

The veterinary investigations service is not directly involved in advising on the health conditions under which captive birds are imported and quarantined. Its role in this respect is to report to the state veterinary service the outcome of tests on the carcases of birds submitted for post-mortem examination as required by the terms of import licences.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total volume and value of exports of Scotch whisky to (a) Europe, (b) the United States of America and (c) Japan at the most recent available date.

In 1990, exports of whisky to the destinations specified were as follows:

	£ million	Million litres of pure alcohol
European Community	631	89
United States of America	276	47
Japan	178	21

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total volume and value of exports of Scotch whisky in each of the past five years.

In the past five years, exports of Scotch whisky were as follows:

	£ million	Million litres of pure alcohol
1986	1,070	236
1987	1,136	240
1988	1,289	246
1989	1,470	242
1990	1,712	238

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of total agricultural land in environmentally sensitive areas is subject to ESA agreements; and what percentage of ESA target areas is covered by such agreements.

In the 10 ESAs in England there are 115,960 hectares covered by agreements. This represents 45 per cent. of the potentially eligible agricultural land. The schemes do not target particular areas of eligible land, but as an indicator of the success of uptake, targets were set of 75 per cent. of eligible grassland and 10 per cent. of eligible arable land. The area covered by agreements represents 92 per cent. of these targets.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 1 July, Official Report, column 75, if he will list the commencement date and duration of each publicity campaign.

MAFF's touring exhibition, currently taking consumer information to major shopping centres and agricultural shows, commenced its programme on 20 May 1991 and is scheduled to finish on 5 October 1991. The revision of the Department's range of publications on food is still in hand.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the percentage change in the number of administrative and clerical staff in the national health service in Scotland between September 1979 and the latest available date.

The percentage of all personnel in the national health service in Scotland who were classified as administrative and clerical for statistical purposes was 10·9 per cent. in September 1979 and 12·9 per cent. in September 1990: the corresponding percentages for medical and nursing personnel were 53.8 per cent. and 59·6 per cent. respectively. The figures for administrative and clerical staff include staff engaged in clinically related work and the 1990 figures also include general and senior management grades which contain a number of professional and technical staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been spent through the careers service strengthening scheme in Scotland in each year since 1979, expressed both in current prices and in actual sums spent.

The information is as follows:

£000
Year	Actual expenditure	Expenditure at 1990 prices
1979–80	544	1,176
1980–81	723	1,321
1981–82	937	1,561
1982–83	1,329	2,067
1983–84	1,645	2,446
1984–85	1,664	2,355
1985–86	1,697	2,278
1986–87	1,791	2,323
1987–88	1,887	2,324
1988–89	2,034	2,331
1989–90	2,205	2,376
1990–91	2,247	2,247

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the answer of 14 June, Official Report, column 713, what studies have been undertaken into the possibility that waste from NHS hospitals in Scotland could enter into water supplies.

I am not aware of any specific studies into this subject area. However, all public water supplies are monitored by the water authorities and no reports have been received of any problems of this sort.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will introduce changes in the administration of the eight-day tie-up regulations to prevent discrimination against smaller ports with limited repair facilities;(2) what changes he has considered in the implementation of the eight-day tie-up regulations; and if he will make a statement.

This Government must administer the eight-day tie-up scheme in line with the terms of EC regulation No. 3926/90. However, we are always prepared to consider specific administrative changes in the application of the eight-day scheme provided that they do not conflict with that responsibility. Each case brought to our attention is considered individually and arrangements are made where possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate for local authority usable receipts in 1991–92 and 1992–93.

[holding answer 1 July 1991]: In Scotland, all local authority receipts are usable in the year in which they are generated. My right hon. Friend's estimate of local authority housing receipts in 1991–92 is £248 million. He has, as yet, made no estimate of housing receipts for 1992–93. He has made no estimate of non-housing receipts for either year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what information he received on 4 June concerning the plate mill review in British Steel; what subsequent representations were made by the Scottish Office; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will detail the meetings he, his junior Ministers or his officials have had with the chairman or officials of British Steel from the beginning of June 1991; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 5 July 1991]: My right hon. Friend and I last met the chairman of British Steel on 4 June, when we were told in strict confidence of the company's decision to invest in new plate facilities at Teesside.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what statements he has made to the British Steel chairman about his policy on the plate mill closure;(2) what public statements he has made on the future of plate-making facilities at Dalzell; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 5 July 1991]: It would not be appropriate to disclose details of my right hon. Friend's discussions with the chairman of British Steel which are bound by commercial confidentiality. But we have consistently pressed British Steel over a long period, publicly and in private, to give full consideration to the case for investment at Dalzell.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what representations have been made to the Government of the Irish Republic and the United States Government regarding the collapse of International Investments Ltd., Gibraltar, (in liquidation);(2) what action has been taken to date by the Royal Ulster Constabulary regarding the collapse of International Investments Ltd., Gibraltar, (in liquidation);

International Investments Ltd. was a company registered in Gibraltar and not in the United Kingdom. The liquidation is therefore a matter for the authorities in Gibraltar and the responsibility for making representations to other Governments regarding International Investments Ltd. does not lie with Her Majesty's Government.Further to the RUC investigation into allegations of fraud by the principals of International Investments Ltd., the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland has directed that one person be charged with conspiracy to fraud. The investigations are still continuing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the remuneration and expenses agreed for the chairman of the second strand of the talks at Stormont, Sir Ninian Stephen; and what proportion will be contributed by (a) the Government of the Republic of Ireland and (b) Her Majesty's Government.

I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the statement that I made in the House on 3 July 1991 at columns 319–20.As the talks which were held on the basis of my statement of 26 March 1991 have now concluded without the second strand having commenced, these questions do not arise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many hospitals have been closed in each year since 1974.

[holding answer 5 July 1991]: The information is:

Year	Number
1974	—
1975	—
1976	1
1977	1
1978	—
1979	—
1980	—
1981	2
1982	2
1983	1
1984	—
1985	1
1986	9
1987	1
1988	8
1989	2
1990	2
1991	1

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to publish any regulations on local government finance prior to the summer adjournment.

Subject to final decisions, my Department expects to lay three statutory instruments covering amendments to the non-domestic rating transitional arrangements and the payment of interest to ratepayers, and minor amendments and consequential repeals under the Local Government Finance Act 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce the outline financial settlement for local authorities for 1992–93.

When he is ready to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which areas of central Government support to local authorities are calculated on the basis of (a) the electoral roll and (b) OPCS calculations.

A table showing population figures on the same basis as those used to calculate per capita standard spending assessments OPCS mid-year estimates
Local authority	1987–88	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91	1991–92
	resident population 1	resident population 2	resident population 3	resident population 4	resident population 5
Total England	47,111,701	47,254,459	47,406,652	47,536,278	47,689,395
Regional summary
Northern Region	3,085,700	3,080,242	3,076,779	3,071,318	3,073,112
North West	6,386,300	6,734,334	6,370,079	6,364,162	6,379,723
Yorkshire and Humberside	4,902,600	4,899,285	4,900,232	4,913,298	4,940,355
East Midlands	3,896,900	3,919,918	3,942,254	3,970,599	3,999,063
West Midlands	5,183,000	5,181,243	5,197,687	5,207,000	5,215,960
East Anglia	1,964,700	1,991,600	2,013,680	2,034,639	2,044,577
South West	4,500,780	4,543,254	4,588,374	4,634,235	4,652,426
South East	10,424,300	10,489,393	10,547,132	10,605,020	10,627,779
Greater London	6,767,421	6,775,190	6,770,435	6,736,007	6,756,400

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he plans any measures to improve the ability of local councils to collect the outstanding community charge sums.

We believe the enforcement powers now available to local authorities should enable them to collect the charge effectively. We are proposing some minor changes to the attachment of earnings process.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he proposes to take measures to ensure that armed forces personnel within the United Kingdom pay their community charge, and that those serving overseas may be exempted.

Members of the armed forces are subject to the community charge and its enforcement procedures in the same way as everyone else. Although we do not intend specifically to exempt armed forces who serve overseas, those who do so and move their sole or main residence from this country will not be liable to pay the community charge.

The electoral roll is not used directly in the provision of central Government support to local authorities. However, the annual mid-year estimates of the resident population produced by OPCS are based partly on changes in the electoral roll from year to year. These estimates, along with census data and other indicators, are used to calculate the standard spending assessments and hence the level of revenue support grant appropriate to each local authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish population figures for each standard region in England for the years 1981–82 to 1991–92, on the same basis as was used to calculate per capita standard spending assessments in his written answer of 29 April, Official Report, column 10.

The information requested is shown in the table. There is a lag of nearly two years before the mid-year population estimate is available for inclusion in standard spending assessments. The year shown at the head of the columns refers to the year of the calculated standard spending assessment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to extend the areas where council tenants may turn their council rents into mortgages; and if he will make a statement.

This is a possibility that we shall want to keep under review as the pilot schemes progress.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the work and funding of the National Rivers Authority.