To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the amount health authorities in Wales will need to find in 1991–92 from existing funding in 1991–92 to meet the costs of the professions allied to medicine review body's pay awards.

In 1991–92 health authorities in Wales will need to find an estimated additional £0·2 million, over and above the provision for inflation, estimated at £2·061 million, included in their start of year 1991–92 allocations, to meet the costs of the 1991 professions allied to medicine review body's pay awards.The amount to be found by district health authorities from their cash releasing cost improvement savings for all review body awards in 1991–92 is equal to 0·3 per cent. of their notified revenue resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the cost to health authorities in Wales in 1991–92 of the nurses, midwives and health visitors review body's pay awards for that year, and the amount allocated from Government reserves to meet part of these costs.

The cost to health authorities in Wales of the nurses, midwives and health visitors review body's pay awards in 1991–92 is estimated to be £32·1 million. The additional amount allocated from Government reserves, over and above the provision for inflation, estimated at £22·371 million, in authorities' original 1991–92 allocation, to meet part of these costs is £7·3 million.The amount to be found by district health authorities from their cash releasing cost improvement savings for all review body awards in 1991–92 is equal to 0·3 per cent. of their notified revenue resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many mental handicap nurses were employed in each health authority in Wales (a) working in hospitals and (b) working in the community, for each year since 1985.

Complete information is available only on the total staff in post for all nursing and midwifery staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what additional funds have been made available to local authorities specifically to provide care in the community for the financial year 1990–91.

The bulk of revenue and capital funding to individual local authorities is provided through revenue support grant and basic credit approvals respectively. These are not hypothecated to particular services. The local government revenue settlement for 1990–91 allowed an indicative amount for personal social services of £186·8 million, or 5 per cent. over 1989–90 adjusted budgets; the capital settlement for 1990–91 allowed an assumed gross figure of £10·8 million which represented an increase of 21 per cent. over 1989–90. It is for local authorities to determine how resources should be allocated to particular services. Additional funds provided outside the revenue settlement under Welsh Office initiatives and grant schemes were £1·3 million under the elderly initiative; £0·34 million for training schemes on the development of community care and care management and services to elderly people; £0·47 million under the mental illness strategy and £23·6 million allocated under the mental health strategy. In total, these represent a 50 per cent. increase over 1989–90 expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the results of his survey into the supply of teachers in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

I announced last month the results of the Department's survey of teacher vacancies. The survey at the start of the new academic year showed that out of a total of 24,500 teaching posts, 40 remained unfilled, representing 0·2 per cent. of full-time teaching posts in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many jobs he estimates that enterprise zones have created; and if he will make a statement.

By December 1989, the latest year for which figures are available for the United Kingdom as a whole, the number of jobs in enterprise zones had increased by 99,800 since the zones were created.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the total costs of the Property Services Agency THESIS computer system.

Further to my reply of 15 February 1991, Official Report, column 597, it has now become clear that some additional costs should be attributed to THESIS. Property Services Agency Services has also had less success than anticipated in finding alternative uses for some of the equipment purchased for the THESIS project. The effect is to increase the net cost of the PSA THESIS computer system to £12·1 million.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the annual report of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate will be published; and if he will make a statement.

The annual report of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate for 1990–91, its first as a next steps agency, was published on 31 July 1991. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.During the year under report, there was a significant increase in the number of applications for product licences of all types and a continuing heavy workload in other areas. Full costs have been recovered across all the sectors of VMD's business activities. This has been matched by improvements in service and the report describes the benefits which have accrued to the VMD's customers from the initiatives that have been put in place since the directorate was established as a next steps agency. The report confirms the high priority which the VMD gives to ensuring that the consumer, the animals themselves and the environment are properly protected through the licensing procedures for veterinary medicines.The test results gathered for the calendar year 1990 under the national surveillance scheme, which monitors the levels of veterinary residues passing into the meat for human consumption, are also reported. Under this programme more than 48,500 samples were taken in 1990, an increase of almost 20 per cent. on the numbers sampled in 1989. I am pleased to say that the number of samples exceeding the recommended maximum residue limits were reassuringly low.I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the chief executive and his staff on the progress they have made during this first year and look forward to receiving reports of further improvements in future years.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are being taken by his Department to ensure that blue ear disease in pigs is kept out of the United Kingdom.

[pursuant to his reply, 25 April 1991, c. 554]: We took steps to deal with farms where pigs showed suspicious symptoms even before it was confirmed that blue ear pig disease was present in England. Once it was confirmed, on 13 June, our restrictions went further than the trade restrictions required by European Community rules, particularly in the designation of large restricted areas and in the controls imposed on farms which had received pigs which might have been carrying infection.This framework of controls has enabled detailed studies to be carried out on the nature of the disease and its spread, making use in particular of the blood test developed at the Central Veterinary Laboratory. That research shows that the virus can be present in pigs which show only slight symptoms, or none at all; that infection can persist on pig farms long after clinical signs have disappeared; that fattening pigs, as well as those used for breeding, can be involved in its spread; and that it can be spread by animals which themselves show no sign of the disease. The disease is behaving in the same way as similar conditions have done in north America, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.The understanding that we have gained of the disease will be central to planning our own future strategy and that of the Community as a whole. Clearly, infection is more widespread than would be suggested by clinical signs alone, and can be expected to spread further, even where farms are subject to restrictions much tighter than those required by Community rules. It is now equally clear that some elements of the controls which we put in place in June do not increase the level of protection to the national pig herd enough to justify the disruption that they cause.I have, therefore, decided to remove the elements of our restrictions on national pig movements that research has shown not to be worth while. All movement and area restrictions will be lifted from premises other than those where disease has been confirmed or is suspected. However, the trade restrictions required by Community rules—notably restrictions on exports from infected or suspect premises or the parishes in which they are located—will remain. Restrictions will also be maintained on the movement of pigs from such premises until eight weeks after clinical signs disappear, which clearly can be expected to reduce the extent to which infection is spread. The disease will remain notifiable and movements off restricted premises will remain subject to licence.I have greatly valued the close contacts that we have had with the British Veterinary Association and producers organisations since blue ear pig disease was first suspected. In consultation with those bodies we have over the past weeks made a number of adjustments to our controls. We shall continue to consult them fully in the light of any further scientific advice that emerges.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his Department's plans for the working party on school meals; who are the members of the working party; what meetings it has held; what plans it has for the future; and when he hopes to publish nutritional guidelines for school meals.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the catering working group which was established last year by my Department, the Department of Health and the Health Education Authority. Its purpose is wider than suggested by the hon. Member and is to advise the MAFF-DH-HEA nutrition liaison group, an interdepartmental committee of officials, on ways of increasing the provision of healthier food in all types of catering outlets. In addition to representatives from the sponsoring Departments, the membership comprises representatives from the Department of Education and Science, the Royal Society of Health, the industrial catering sector—company staff restaurants—and the commercial sector. An independent academic chairman has been appointed. The Health Education Authority provides the secretariat. Three meetings have so far been held.The working group's terms of reference are to consider and make recommendations regarding:

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will consult local authority associations representing trading standards authorities prior to making directions under section 6(3) of the Food Safety Act 1990; and if he will make a statement;(2) what plans he has to set up consultative arrangements with local authority associations concerning the financial arrangements of actions taken under section 6(3) of the Food Safety Act 1990; and if he will make a statement;(3) what has been the cost of the action taken by his Ministry before and following the making of each direction under section 6(3) of the Food Safety Act 1990; if he will give details of each action taken; and if he will make a statement.

I have issued a direction under section 6(3) of the Food Safety Act to four individual local authorities, each in respect of a premises in their respective areas where my officers were carrying out an investigation in connection with alleged widespread irregularities in the marketing of orange juice. The effect of such directions is to remove from the local authority to myself the costs of any investigation and enforcement action. These costs are carried within the general votes of my own department and are thus not readily separately identified. The investigation is in any case not yet concluded. I will endeavour where appropriate to consult with affected local authorities beforehand on the use of the powers in section 6(3); on this occasion I consider that it was correct in the public interest to exercise my powers without any such prior consultation. My overriding concern must be the protection of the public.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what assessment he has made of the reasons for the fall in applications for new licences and animal test certificates in 1990;(2) what estimate he has made of the average cost involved and length of time required by veterinary medicine companies in preparing data on safety and quality for submission of an application for new products; and if he will outline the data required to be submitted;(3)what assessment he has made of the effect of the cost of licensing veterinary medicine products on the amount of research undertaken.

My hon. Friend has written to me asking the same three questions. I will he replying shortly, and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House and the Public Information Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's relations with the seven new members of the United Nations.

I warmly welcome the entry to the United Nations of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania. the Republic of Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia.We have long had diplomatic relations with the Republic of Korea and now have diplomatic relations with each of the Baltic states. We hope to establish diplomatic relations with the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia shortly. Our support for the admisson of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the United Nations has meant that we also now recognise the Democratic People's Republic of Korea as a state, but have no plans to establish diplomatic relations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent announcement of the third review conference concerning the 1925 Geneva protocol to the biological and toxin weapons convention.

I am pleased to say that on 27 September the ambassador of the United Kingdom delegation to the conference on disarmament in Geneva announced at the third review conference of the biological and toxin weapons convention that Her Majesty's Government had decided to withdraw that part of our reservation to the 1925 Geneva protocol which maintained our right to retaliate in kind if biological weapons were used against us. The protocol prohibits the use in war of asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases, and of bacteriological methods of warfare.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement on the outcome of the ministerial meeting of the intergovernmental conference on political union on 29 July and 30 September.

I attended ministerial meetings of the intergovernmental conference on political union on 29 July and 30 September.The meeting on 29 July was procedural. The Netherlands presidency outlined its plans for the negotiations, to include ministerial meetings in September, November and December, and a two to three-day "conclave" of Foreign Ministers in the week of 11 November. The presidency said that it intended after this conclave to prepare a draft Treaty for discussion by the President of the Council, Mr. Lubbers, during his tour of member states' capitals before the European Council at Maastricht on 9 and 10 December.On 24 September the presidency tabled a new draft treaty text, incorporating substantive changes from the text prepared by the Luxembourg presidency in advance of the European Council in Luxembourg on 28 and 29 June. The ministerial meeting on 30 September concluded that negotiations should continue on the basis of the Luxembourg presidency text. The Netherlands text was subsequently withdrawn. An inter-institutional conference between the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament was held on 1 October. My hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office represented the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Councils on 29 July, 6 and 30 September, respectively.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and I represented the United Kingdom at the Foreign Affairs Council on 29 July. The Council agreed to provide 50,000 tonnes of food aid to Albania and asked the Commission to produce an opinion on the Swedish application to join the European Community. The Council also reviewed progress in the negotiations on a European economic area and on the Uruguay round. Ministers issued statements on the middle east peace process and on Burma. They agreed that the troika of Foreign Ministers should return to Yugoslavia to seek agreement on a ceasefire.At the Foreign Affairs Council on 6 September, the United Kingdom was represented by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Council discussed the association agreement negotiations with Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia, but were unable to reach agreement on a revised negotiating mandate for the Commission. Ministers met their counterparts from the Baltic states and issued a statement stressing the willingness of the Community and member states to establish diplomatic relations with them. Ministers also discussed the latest developments in Yugoslavia and agreed to convene a peace conference on 7 September.My hon. Friends, the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Minister for Trade, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and I represented the United Kingdom at the Foreign Affairs Council on 30 September and 1 October. The Council agreed the Commission's negotiating mandate for the association agreement negotiations with Hungary, Poland and Czechoslovakia. The Council also agreed to send a further 50,000 tonnes of food aid to Albania sourced from eastern Europe under triangular purchasing arrangements. The Council asked the Commission to begin exploratory talks with the three Baltic states on trade and co-operation agreements. It also agreed to include these countries and Albania in the Community's PHARE programme and the generalised system of preferences. The Council asked the Commission to begin exploratory talks with Bulgaria on an association agreement.The Council agreed on the importance of a co-ordinated western response to the recent Soviet request for food aid on the basis of a full assessment of need, burden-sharing, and conditionality. It amended the regulation on a credit guarantee for the Soviet Union to permit purchases from eastern and central European countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement of forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.

The following Councils met between 1–15 October:

• 1 October - Environment Council
• 7 October - Economic and Finance Council
• 7 October - Transport Council
• 14 October - Labour and Social Affairs Council
• 15 October - Consumer Affairs Council.

The Agriculture Council will meet on 21 and 22 October and Ministers will discuss the reform of the common agriculture policy, the agricultural aspects of the GATT Uruguay round, and sweeteners in food. Ministers may also discuss meat products, and food quality.The Research Council will meet on 28 October. Ministers will discuss, and may agree common positions for, the following specific programmes under the third framework programme 1990–1994: controlled nuclear fusion; nuclear fission safety; and human capital and mobility. Ministers may also consider the Commission's proposal for the joint research centre's 1992–1994 programme.The Fisheries Council may meet on 28 October and Ministers might discuss technical conservation regulations.The Energy Council will meet on 29 October and Ministers will give further consideration to the proposed energy charter for the development of a free market in energy across the whole of Europe and beyond. Under the heading of "Energy and the Environment", Ministers will examine issues concerning CO

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to review the Banking Act 1987 in the light of the collapse of BCCI.

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made on 19 July, at columns 715–29, and the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 July, at columns 757–64.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Governor of the Bank of England concerning the latter's statement that BCCI had a criminal culture and the effect of that statement on the careers of members of staff; and if he will make a statement.

I know that the Governor did not intend to imply that all the staff of the BCCI were dishonest or involved in the fraud which led to the closure of the bank. Such an implication is patently not true. Hon. Members may also wish to know that I issued the following statement to the press on 4 October:

"The Government has always made it clear that they would like to see depositors get as much of their money back from BCCI as possible. However, as I said to the House in July, I have always thought that a restructuring would prove difficult to achieve in the circumstances and that now also seems to be the conclusion of the Abu Dhabi Government.

There was, of course, no question of either the Bank of England or the Government being obstructive in this. The Bank have always said they would look at any proposal put to them and there would certainly have been no question of the Government obstructing a successful restructuring had one proved possible. But in fact no proposal has been put forward.

I recognise that this is very disappointing for the employees. The Abu Dhabi Government appear to have made generous proposals to assist them. I hope the staff will find work again soon. In July, the Chancellor, commented in the House that it would be monstrously unfair if honest, hardworking employees of BCCI were tainted by the actions of their superiors. I hope that prospective employers will not hold the fact that they worked for BCCI against them.

Depositors will get compensation from the statutory deposit protection scheme as soon as a winding up order is made. I understand the provisional liquidator is still in discussion with the shareholders about the global position. In the meantime, interim compensation is being provided by the scheme put in place by the Abu Dhabi Government. I understand that the vast majority of depositors with the United Kingdom branches stand to get back 75 per cent. of their full deposit under the statutory scheme. The extent to which depositors will get back the rest of their money will obviously depend on the outcome of the liquidation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is being done to help Asian businesses affected by the closure of BCCI to arrange new banking facilities.

The Government have been most concerned by the continuing stories that Asian businesses affected by the closure of the BCCI are having difficulties establishing new banking facilities. We have therefore taken steps to publicise again the help available from the clearing banks, the provisional liquidator Touche Ross, and Government Departments. The details were again set out in a letter which I sent to Mr. Nirj Deva on 30 September and which was also issued as a Treasury press notice. The text is as follows and has been published in the Daily Jang. We have also placed an advertisement setting out the various helpline numbers in the Asian Trader, which is widely distributed.

Nirj Deva Esq

433 Chiswick High Road

London W4 4AU 30 September 1991

We have spoken recently about the effect which the closure of BCCI has had on the many small Asian businesses which banked with it. As I told you, I have been concerned about the continuing stories that some of these businesses are still having problems establishing new banking facilities. I have been even more concerned at reports that the Asian community believe that the Government is indifferent to their problems, or worse, that BCCI has closed down because it was an Asian bank. Nothing, I can assure you could be further from the truth.

BCCI was closed by the international regulators who authorised and supervised it because of evidence of a massive fraud striking at the heart of the operation. The nationality of those involved was irrelevant. The Government has, however, been acutely aware that many of those who have suffered from the closure of the UK branches are Asian businessmen and small depositors and it is a matter of deep concern to us that so many thriving, profitable businesses of such value to the economy have been so badly damaged. We have the highest possible respect for the Asian community. They are hard working, self sufficient and epitomise everything that we have tried to foster over the past twelve years. That they should so disproportionately have been the victims of this bank fraud is truly tragic.

Because of my concern for the effect on small businesses, both I and my officials have been in regular touch with the Bank of England to ensure that everything that can reasonably be done to help them is being done. I spoke to the Governor again recently because of the continuing stories about the problems small businesses were having, and the Bank pursued the matter with the clearing banks. As I think you are aware, the clearers responded very positively after the closure of BCCI on 5 July, nominating contact points in their branches to deal with potential customers from BCCI. But they have reported that surprisingly few customers of BCCI have approached them.

Similarly, Touche Ross the provisional liquidators have also been doing everything they can to help. From the outset, they made arrangements for customers to release their banking records to the clearers, and they have also been working very hard to find ways of releasing security held by BCCI. This has been taking some time in some cases. As provisional liquidators, they cannot simply release the security without establishing the customers' net position with the bank, and that can take time where the banking relationship of the particular customer in question was complex. But I understand that they have now dealt with all but a comparatively few difficult cases. Most of the businessmen who approached them for help now have new banking facilities established with one of the clearers. Touche Ross also, however, report that surprisingly few businesses have contacted them.

Clearly, neither the clearers nor the provisional liquidator can give assistance unless they are actually asked. I am therefore attaching to this letter a list of clearing bank contact points and the telephone number of Touche Ross and copying the letter to the press, in the hope that the information will therefore reach as many of those who need it as possible. If there are other ways in which I could bring this information to the attention of the Asian business community, please let me know.

I am also taking this opportunity to include some information about the Department of Employment Loan Guarantee scheme and the DTI Enterprise Initiative, both of which may be of use to businesses affected by the closure of BCCI. The Loan Guarantee scheme offers a Government guarantee of 70 per cent. (85 per cent. in Inner City Task Force Areas) on loans of up to £100,000 from participating commercial banks, where a small firm is unable to offer security or lacks the track record normally required by banks and other financial institutions involved in the scheme. Details can be obtained from the address on the attached list.

Any business which applies will have to provide a business plan, and it has been suggested to us that may present a problem for some of the smaller businesses affected by the closure of BCCI. The DTI Enterprise Initiative can assist in arranging consultancy services to help a small business prepare such a plan. Further information can be obtained from the contacts on the attached list.

In some cases, however, all that may be needed is guidance and assistance from more experienced businessmen in the local community or a professional advisor, such as the business's usual accountant. Both may be able to assist a small business in presenting its case to the clearing banks.

I hope this information will be useful. I am very concerned about the continuing stories of Asian businesses having problems and I would welcome any further information you and others can offer about the specific problems being experienced so that we can see what more, if anything, might be done to resolve them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the cost of adopting currently unadopted roads in residential areas in England.

About £3,000 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will consider further action to tackle unroadworthy vehicles.

The Road Traffic Act 1991 extended the power of the police to prohibit dangerously defective vehicles and it provided for all classes of motor vehicle to be prohibited. The Act also strengthened the law about the sale of unroadworthy vehicles. If a dealer is offering an unroadworthy vehicle for sale, he will have to make that clear to prospective purchasers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with British Airways regarding trade routes to Tokyo.

The Secretary of State meets senior members of British Airways management from time to time to discuss matters of mutual interest and officials meet more frequently to consider matters of detail.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the outcome of the meeting of the European Community Transport Council on 7 October.

The meeting of the European Council of Transport Ministers was held in Luxembourg on 7 October. I represented the United Kingdom.I am pleased to report that the Council reached agreement in principle on important proposals on aviation technical harmonisation and the mutual recognition of cockpit crew licences. A draft directive on the limitation of noisier—chapter 2—aircraft was remitted for further study with the object of reaching a final agreement at the December meeting of Transport Ministers.The Council agreed that work should begin on the third aviation package, with a view to completion by the end of June 1992. This work should include discussion on the definition of a Community air cargo carrier.On the aviation arrangements with Norway and Sweden, a draft agreement has been approved in principle. As the Council considered that the proper legal base for the agreement was article 84, this has now been passed to the European Parliament for their opinion. I reminded the Commission of the need for its report on state aid to the airline industry, which should be available for the next Council.On land transport matters, a directive to harmonise the law on seat belt wearing was agreed, which allows member states flexibility on how to apply the new requirements. The Council also discussed, but reached no agreement on, proposals to liberalise bus and coach operations. I expressed my concern over the bureaucratic restriction of operators' freedom to provide services that was inherent in the current approach. On transit, the Presidency provided details of the latest talks with Austria and Switzerland. The discussions are continuing.On inland waterways matters, an agreement in principle was reached on cabotage. Agreement was also reached on a directive on reciprocal recognition of inland waterway boatmasters certificates.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to encourage greater use of the railway system.

To encourage more use of the rail network, I have written to the chairman of the railways board asking British Rail to give positive and sympathetic consideration to reasonable proposals from the private sector to introduce new freight or passenger services; to charge fairly for the use of BR track and facilities; to allow private operators to use their own locomotives if they wish; to allow private operators to use their own train crews, if they wish, as long as they are properly qualified.A copy of my letter to the chairman has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of dentists in each family health services authority offer NHS service only to (a) children on a capitation arrangement, (b) adults exempt from NHS charges and (c) a combination of (a) and (b).

The figures in the form requested are not collected centrally. However, we are currently analysing the results of a recent sample survey of dentists providing NHS treatment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he intends to take to encourage the use for foodstuffs of which are disposable and recyclable.

I have been asked to reply.The Government have set the challenging target of recycling 25 per cent. of the domestic waste stream—which includes packaging materials for foodstuffs—by the year 2000. Achieving this aim requires the existence of technologies to use recyclable material, and markets for the resulting products. The Government are addressing these elements through the support that they are providing to business-led collaborative projects under their environmental technology programmes. Many such projects feature the recycling of packaging.The Government are also monitoring eight kerbside collection schemes the results of which will help to promote and establish best practice and will encourage the take-up of such schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Don Valley of 18 June, Official Report, column 115, if he will make it his practice to keep central records of lists of titles of the video recordings purchased by his Department.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will report on the progress of the interdepartmental ministerial committee on energy efficiency.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 November 1990, c. 79]:I now have pleasure in placing copies of the ministerial group's annual report on energy efficiency in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to extend training provision for prison visitors; and if he will make a statement.

The prison service does not provide formal training for prison visitors. The National Association of Prison Visitors issues guidance and advice on the role of prison visitors, which is supplemented, as necessary, by governors and their staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the BBC's borrowing limits are to be increased.

I am today placing in the Library a copy of a supplemental charter which has been approved today by counsellors of state on Her Majesty's behalf. This increases the BBC's borrowing limit under article 3(w) of the charter from £100 million to £200 million, with power for the Secretary of State to approve further sums up to a maximum of £250 million. These changes are intended to allow for the expected effects on cash flow of the budget payment scheme for television licences and the licence fee settlement announced earlier this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to amend the law on squatting; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend on 15 October at columns 151–2.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next intends to meet representatives of the European Commission to discuss regional policy.

At an informal meeting of EC regional policy Ministers which has been called at The Hague on 18 and 19 November 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on exports of British-made cars.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on exports of British-made cars.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on exports of British-made cars.

Between 1988 and 1990 the number of cars exported from the United Kingdom increased by 60 per cent. The number of cars exported in the first eight months of this year exceeded 400,000. This is an increase of 82 per cent. on the same period last year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the trends in the United Kingdom's share of world trade.

The United Kingdom's share of world exports of manufactures volume has been stable since the early 1980s after decades of decline. The United Kingdom's share of total world trade has been stable over the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next intends to meet representatives of the Scotch whisky industry to discuss the promotion of exports.

My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans to meet representatives of the industry. Ministers take every opportunity to press for improved access to overseas markets for Scotch whisky.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to promote the implementation of total quality management standards by British companies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on Government initiatives to support the implementation of total quality management standards.

The Government are actively promoting total quality management through their "Managing into the '90s" awareness programme and through assisted consultancies under the consultancy help scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to meet representative of British exporters to discuss Government policies on exports.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to meet representatives of British exporters to discuss Government policies on exports.

I frequently meet members of the United Kingdom business community involved in exporting for Britain.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what Government assistance has been given to the West Midlands development agency since it was established.

Since its establishment in 1983, a total of £2–94 million in grant in aid has been provided to WMDA for its inward investment promotion activities. In 1991–92, £670 thousand was offered in grant in aid for inward investment, representing a 67·5 per cent. increase in funding over the last two years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has recently received from the textile and clothing industry.

My right hon. Friend has received representations on a number of issues from representatives of the textile industries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with his EC counterparts on extending consumer choice and commercial competition in postal services.

Officials in my Department have been closely involved with their EC counterparts and with the EC Commission in the formulation of an EC policy to extend consumer choice and commercial competition in postal services. There have also been a number of discussions in the EC Council of Ministers in which we have participated. The EC Commission expects to publish its policy proposals as a green paper shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the current level of company liquidations.

The total number of company liquidations due to insolvency in England and Wales during the first six months of 1991 was 11,055. This represents an annual rate of about 2 per cent. of the stock of companies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next intends to meet representatives of the European Commission to discuss industrial policy.

My colleagues and I maintain regular contact with representatives of the European Commission on a range of issues, including industrial policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to ban the import of shark products.

No. Sharks are not currently recognised as being endangered. Were evidence to be produced that any species of shark was becoming endangered, consideration could be given to controlling the trade under either the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora—CITES—or the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the trade balance in manufactured goods in (a) Germany and (b) Britain in 1990.

Only sections 5 to 8 of the standard international trade classification are included as "manufactured goods". In 1990 the United Kingdom's trade deficit in manufactured goods was £13·7 billion. The Federal Republic of Germany, excluding East Germany, had a surplus of £58·6 billion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the level of inward investment from the United States.

The United Kingdom has maintained its successful track record as the preferred location within the European Community for inward investment from the United States of America. Britain's share of United States direct investment in the EC stood at 38 per cent. at the end of 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he proposes any increase in the audit requirements for small limited companies.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received about the cost burden on employers in the United Kingdom; and what information he has on comparable figures for other European Community countries.

The latest figures published by the Central Statistical Office show that in 1988 the tax burden on business in the United Kingdom, including employers' social security contributions, was 8·9 per cent. of GNP compared with 17–2 per cent. in France, 13·9 per cent. in Belgium and the Netherlands and 10·5 per cent. in Germany.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received seeking further assistance for firms in the footwear industry.

Table 1
United Kingdom exports of manufactured goods1 to Latin America: 1975–1990
Top ten importing countries—ranking by value of United Kingdom exports of manufactures for each year
	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
Brazil	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	2	1	1	2	1	1	1	1	1
Mexico	2	2	4	4	2	2	1	1	2	2	1	2	2	2	2	2
Venezuela	3	3	2	2	4	4	4	4	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3
Chile	7	7	7	6	6	5	5	5	6	6	5	4	4	4	4	4
Colombia	8	8	6	5	5	7	7	7	4	4	4	6	5	5	5	5
Argentina	4	4	3	3	3	3	3	3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	6
Ecuador	9	9	5	7	8	9	9	9	8	8	7	8	8	6	7	7
Peru	5	6	8	8	10	6	6	6	9	9	9	7	6	8	9	8
Cuba	6	5	9	9	7	8	8	8	5	5	6	5	7	7	8	9
Panama	10	10	10	10	9	10	10	10	7	7	8	9	9	10	—	10
Guatemala	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	6	—
Dominican Republic	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	10	10	10	—	10	—	10	—
Uruguay	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	10	—	9	—	—

My right hon. Friend and I have received representations from a number of organisations, representing companies in the footwear industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the number of new contracts which have been won in Kuwait by British companies since the end of the Gulf war.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin) and the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell).

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list British manufactured goods exported to the top 10 Latin American importing countries for each year since 1975, expressing the value of such exports in 1991 moneys.

[holding answer 14 October 1991]: The available information is shown in the tables.

	Value of exports
3. Power generating machinery and equipment	74·4
1978
1. Machinery specialised for particular industries	105·1
2. Power generating machinery and equipment	86·3
3. Other transport equipment	82·2
1979
1. Other transport equipment	113·2
2. Machinery specialised for particular industries	92·8
3. Power generating machinery and equipment	79·1
1980
1. Machinery specialised for particular industries	110·9
2. Power generating machinery and equipment	109·5
3. Road vehicles (including air cushioned)	82·2

	Value of exports
1981
1. Power generating machinery and equipment	108·3
2. Machinery specialised for particular industries	100·8
3. Road vehicles (including air cushioned)	84·9
1982
1. Power generating machinery and equipment	83·6
2. Machinery specialised for particular industries	74·0
3. Other transport equipment	70·3
1983
1. Other transport equipment	52·9
2. Machinery specialised for particular industries	44·4
3. General industrial machinery and parts	40·2
1984
1. Other transport equipment	137·4
2. Metal working machinery	57·5
3. Power generating machinery and equipment	56·8
1985
1. Other transport equipment	96·4
2. Road vehicles (including air cushioned)	82·9
3. Machinery specialised for particular industries	76·3
1986
1. Road vehicles (including air cushioned)	93·4
2. Power generating machinery and equipment	90·4
3. Machinery specialised for particular industries	78·2

Table 1
United Kingdom imports from Latin America: 1975–1990
Top ten exporters to the United Kingdom—ranking by value of United Kingdom imports for each year
	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
Brazil	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Chile	3	4	3	3	3	2	5	3	5	5	4	2	3	2	2	2
Mexico	9	9	5	5	7	5	4	4	3	3	3	3	2	3	3	3
Argentina	4	3	2	2	2	4	2	6	—	—	—	9	7	5	6	4
Venezuela	2	2	4	4	4	3	3	2	2	2	2	4	4	6	5	5
Peru	6	5	6	7	5	6	6	5	4	4	6	6	5	4	4	6
Colombia	7	7	8	8	8	7	8	7	6	6	5	5	6	7	7	7
Uruguay	—	10	9	9	9	—	9	8	7	7	7	7	8	8	8	8
Guatemala	5	—	—	—	—	10	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	9
Cuba	—	6	10	10	10	9	10	10	10	10	—	—	—	9	9	10
Costa Rica	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	8	8	8	8	9	10	10	—
Bolivia	8	8	7	6	6	8	7	9	9	9	—	—	10	—	—	—
Ecuador	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	9	10	—	—	—	—
Panama	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	10	—	—	—	—	—
Nicaragua	10	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the top 10 Latin American countries exporting to Britain for each year since 1975, indicating the type of products imported by Britain and their value in 1991 moneys.

[holding answer 14 October 1991]: The available statistics are shown in the tables.

	Value of imports
1977
1. Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and manufactures thereof	102·4
2. Metalliferous ores and metal scrap	101·5
3. Non-ferrous metals	97·6
1978
1. Metalliferous ores and metal scrap	111·0
2. Non-ferrous metals	81·3
3. Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and manufactures thereof	77·4
1979
1. Non-ferrous metals	145·9
2. Metalliferous ores and metal scrap	142·2

	Value of imports
3. Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and manufactures thereof	100·6
1980
1. Non-ferrous metals	197·8
2. Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials	150·7
3. Metalliferous ores and metal scrap	137·9
1981
1. Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials	183·3
2. Non-ferrous metals	130·1
3. Meat and meat preparations	128·0
1982
1. Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials	214·9
2. Non-ferrous metals	153·1
3. Meat and meat preparations	110·0

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last met the chairman of the British Boxing Board of Control; and what topics were discussed.

I met the general secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control and medical advisers today, to discuss safety arrangements in professional boxing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set up an inquiry into amateur and professional boxing.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what statistical information his Department maintains on the incidence of death or serious injury arising as a result of participation in amateur and professional boxing.

Project	Period of research	Researcher
Guidance and Choice in the 16+ Action Plan	August 1984 – July 1987	Scottish Council for Research in Education
Articulation of the 16+ National Development Programme	September 1985 – August 1988	Jordanhill College of Education
Assessment in the 16+ Development Programme	October 1985 – June 1988	Scottish Council for Research in Education
Accreditation of Work-Based Learning	April 1986 – March 1988	Scottish Vocational Education Council
Competency Testing	October 1986 – September 1988	Scottish Vocational Education Council
Marketing of Further Education by Further Education Colleges	January 1987 – March 1987	Stirling University
The Induction of Teaching Staff into Further Education Colleges	October 1987 – September 1988	Scottish Council for Research in Education
Assessment of Generic Aspects of Competence	October 1987 – September 1989	Edinburgh University
Marketing in Further and Higher Education: A Development Model	December 1987 – March 1988	Stirling University
Young People's Experience of National Certificate Modules	September 1988 – September 1991	Edinburgh University
National Certificate Guidance Information System	October 1988 – September 1990	Jordanhill College of Education

The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys provides information on deaths during sporting and leisure activities through its annual monitor series DH4. The number of deaths in England and Wales where boxing was mentioned are as follows:

• 1986—2 deaths
• 1987—1 death
• 1988—nil
• 1989—nil
• 1990—nil

The Department does not maintain information on serious injuries, although the Sports Council collates general information on sports accidents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will establish a study to ascertain the long-term physical and mental consequences of participating in both amateur and professional boxing.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make it his policy to see that the incidence of brain stem injuries as a result of boxing accidents is monitored.

It is for the boxing authorities to consider what specific information on boxing it is appropriate to collect and monitor.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research he has conducted into the working of the further education system in Scotland in recent years; and if he will publish it.

In the years 1984–1991, the Scottish Office Education Department grant aided the following external research projects particularly relating to the further education system.

Project	Period of research	Researcher
Teaching, Learning and Assessment in the National Certificate	October 1988 – March 1991	Scottish Council for Research in Education
The Single European Market: Implications for Vocational Education and Training in Scotland	October 1989 – September 1990	Glasgow University
Evaluation of Advanced Courses Development Programme in Further and Higher Education	October 1990 – September 1991	Scottish Council for Research in Education
Evaluation of the Installation of the New Further Education College Council System	August 1991 – December 1991	Scottish Further Education Unit
Evaluation of Scottish Wider Access Programme	September 1991 – August 1992	Scottish Council for Research in Education

Details of recent SOED funded further education research projects arc contained in the 1989–90 and 1991 editions of the Department's publication "Educational Research", copies of which are in the Library.Publication of the results of research projects is governed by contracts between researchers and the Scottish Office Education Department. The general policy of the Scottish Office is to encourage the dissemination of research findings by publication of reports or by other means.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of the relevant age cohort attained minimum qualification standard for higher education in each year since 1979.

The qualified leaver index, calulated as the number of school and further education leavers with three or more highers or equivalent qualifications expressed as a percentage of the population aged 17 years, is shown in the table.

	Qualified leaver index
1978–79	18·7
1979–80	19·7
1980–81	20·0
1981–82	20·7
1982–83	22·0
1983–84	22·7
1984–85	21·5
1985–86	21·2
1986–87	22·0
1987–88	22·5
1988–89	24·0
11989–90	25·2
1 Provisional.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will bring forward legislation to abolish the rights of feudal superiors as recommended by the Scottish Law Commission; and if he will make a statement.

The Scottish Law Commission is currently carrying out a major review of property law in Scotland. As part of this work, the commission published a discussion paper in July 1991 seeking comments on various proposals for reform or abolition of the feudal system. Once responses have been received and analysed, the commission will submit a report to the Government making specific recommendations for reform. My right hon. Friend proposes to await this report before deciding whether a change in the law is needed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the criteria by which his Department determines that educational establishments in Scotland have achieved polytechnic status; and if he will make a statement.

The criteria for granting polytechnic status in Scotland are essentially those which have been used in England and Wales modified to take account of Scottish circumstances, particularly the different subject programmes used by the Scottish Office Education Department for funding purposes. The criteria are:

1. accreditation for taught degrees by the Council for National Academic Awards;

2. a higher education enrolment of at least 4,000 full-time (including sandwich) students and substantial part-time provision (of the order of 1,500 students on substantive courses leading to a higher education award);

3. at least 300 full-time higher education students in a majority of funding programmes: and

4. over two-thirds of full-time higher education students on degree level courses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those educational establishments in Scotland which his Department has determined as having achieved polytechnic status.

Two Scottish higher education establishments have been granted polytechnic status— Napier polytechnic of Edinburgh and Glasgow polytechnic.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what criteria the Robert Gordon Institute of Technology has failed to achieve polytechnic status.

The Robert Gordon Institute of Technology has not submitted any application to the Scottish Office Education Department to be granted polytechnic status.