To ask the Attorney-General whether the Department of Public Prosecutions plans to institute any prosecutions arising out of the unlawful killing of Jasbir Singh, following the inquest held by the Bradford coroner.

On 1 November 1991 the West Yorkshire police submitted a report which is being considered at CPS headquarters.

To ask the Attorney-General what are the numbers of staff he has in his private office; and what was the equivalent number in 1981.

Three officials staff the private office serving both myself and the Solicitor-General. The private office was set up in September 1989. Previously each Law Officer was served by a senior personal secretary only.

To ask the Attorney-General what is the income received in fees for each county court in England and Wales.

The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. There are some 275 county courts in England and Wales and in 1990–91 the total income received in county court fees was £134,852,000.

To ask the Attorney-General how many times he has visited the offices of the Immigration Appeal Tribunal since taking office.

I have not visited the offices of the Immigration Appeal Tribunal.

To ask the Attorney-General when the appeal by Mr. Sodigar Hussain—TH/4303/90—was heard in Leeds; when Mr. Hussain or his representatives were informed of the outcome; what is the current position of this appeal; and if he will make a statement.

The appeal of Mr. Sodigar Hussain (TH/4303/90) was heard by the adjudicator at Leeds on 21 August 1991. On 4 October 1991 the adjudicator's determination, dismissing the appeal, was dispatched to the parties' representatives in this country, and on 22 October 1991 Mr. Hussain's representatives lodged an application for leave to appeal to the Immigration Appeal Tribunal against the adjudicator's determination. The current position is that the president of the IAT has adjourned consideration of the application until 12 December 1991, to allow Mr. Hussain's representatives to submit grounds of appeal, if they so wish.It would be inappropriate for me to comment on the decision of the adjudicator to dismiss the appeal or that of the President of the IAT to adjourn consideration of the application for leave to appeal until 12 December 1991 as they are both judicial decisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many international flights arrive from overseas destinations each week into Cardiff airport; how many flights per week arrive from Florida; and how many flights a week arrive from Amsterdam.

In the 1991 summer season, there were about 88 international flights each week into Cardiff airport, of which 45 were scheduled services and 43 were charter services. Of the total number, one flight was from Florida (charter) and 18 were from Amsterdam (scheduled).For the 1991–92 winter season there will be about 75 international flights into Cardiff airport, of which 57 will be scheduled services and 18 will be charter services. Of the total, none will be from Florida and 19 scheduled flights from Amsterdam.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to publish his review on the strategic role of the Merchant Navy.

A statement will be made on the availability of British flag shipping for defence purposes as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will commit funds to local authorities to improve street lighting in high crime areas.

Local authorities already have the freedom to commit funds to the improvement of street lighting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress of the investigation into the loss of the Newlyn fishing vessel, Margaret and William II.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch inquiry into this accident is complete and the inspector who carried out the investigation has submitted his findings and recommendations to the chief inspector of marine accidents. A report on the accident will be published.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many structures in (a) the Solent area and (b) the United Kingdom are going to be fitted with the new white strobe lights under the International Civil Aviation Organisation requirement.

The application of the International Civil Aviation Organisation requirements for the lighting of aeronautical obstructions, is a matter for the Civil Aviation Authority, which has the statutory responsibility for the safety regulation of civil aviation within the United Kingdom. I have drawn the hon. Member's question to the attention of the Civil Aviation Authority and have asked it to write to him direct.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to announce what the shipping requirements in times of conflict should be.

Shipping requirements in times of conflict will depend on the type of conflict. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence is considering the military requirements in the light of the NATO Heads of State and Governments' recent agreement in Rome.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, of 12 November, Official Report, column 429, if he has now received a copy of the report "Blind and Partially Sighted Adults in Britain—The RNIB Needs Survey"; and if he will make a statement.

I congratulate the RNIB on this comprehensive report. It will be very helpful to the Department of Transport in its continuing programme of work to improve facilities both in public transport and in the pedestrian environment for blind and partially sighted people.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to alter (a) by statute or (b) in any other way, the membership or function of the Inland Waterways Amenity advisory committee.

We are currently considering the structure and role of the Council in the light of the citizens charter and other relevant matters in consultation with its chairman and with the chairman of the British Waterways Board. The terms of existing members expire at the end of 1991 and I am consulting both chairmen on future appointments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice has been given by regional controllers to local authorities concerning the treatment of funding required for new build projects, in negotiations on the level of housing investment programmes for the next financial year.

The Department's housing regional controllers remind local authorities during annual discussions on housing investment programmes of the Government's policy that they should fulfil in the main an enabling role in their area, and should concentrate their efforts on the renovation of their own stock. Scarce resources should be directed to where they will be best employed or where best value for money may be obtained, for example by taking advantage of private finance through sponsoring housing associations' developments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning appeals have been lodged with his Department in each year since 1985 against refusal by a planning authority to allow the fitting of security shutters or other external security features on shop premises; and what percentage of these appeals were successful.

The information held by the Department about planning appeals makes it possible to identify appeals affecting shop fronts, but not those concerned specifically with the security of shops.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about his Department's proposals to introduce grants for hedgerow maintenance; and if he will make a statement.

Following announcement of our proposals in July, the Department has received comments from a range of interested parties, including local authorities, landowning and farming bodies, and environmental groups. Our intention to provide new incentives for hedgerow management has been broadly welcomed and we are discussing with the Countryside Commission and others the detailed scope and terms of the proposed scheme. We shall be making a further statement in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to introduce grants for hedgerow maintenance.

We hope to make our proposed new incentives for hedgerow management available next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his answer of 11 November, Official Report, column 395–96, when his discussions with the Countryside Commission and others on the proposed incentive scheme will be completed; and when the proposals will be implemented.

Our discussions on a scheme to provide new incentives for hedgerow management are making good progress, and we shall make a further statement as soon as possible. We plan to establish the proposed scheme in the coming year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what quality standards are required for security features such as shutters, grilles and glass fitted in commercial or retail premises in the United Kingdom; and what information he has on comparable standards prevailing in other EC countries.

There are no statutory requirements expressly requiring or applying to the fitting of security features in commercial or retail premises in the United Kingdom.Voluntary guidance relating to the security of buildings against crime is contained in British standard 8220. Part 2 applies to offices and shops and part 3 applies to warehouses and distribution units.The Department does not keep information on the technical standards and practices applying to security features in commercial and retail premises in other member states. However, information on technical standards is available from BSI's technical help for exporters service based at Milton Keynes. The telephone number is 0908 220022.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made since March 1991 on assisting Homeless Emergency for London People to get blankets from Government stocks.

The Government are providing grants under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 to over 80 voluntary organisations in England for practical projects to prevent and relieve homelessness. Homeless Emergency for London People, whose initiative on behalf of the homeless I welcome, has not asked my Department for direct assistance since March 1991. HELP was invited to bid for funds in February but no formal application was received from it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to review his policy on enterprise zones following completion of his Department's study by PA-Cambridge Economic Consultants assessing the impact of enterprise zones; and if he will make a statement.

The final evaluation of enterprise zones by PA-CEC will not be completed until 1995. Our policy remains that the creation of new zones will be considered only in exceptional circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidelines govern the consultations on water quality, water use and flood prevention strategies to be incorporated in environmental impact assessments to accompany private and hybrid bills; and if consultations require obligatory reference to the National Rivers Authority.

An environmental statement deposited with a new private or hybrid Bill authorising the carrying out of works will, in accordance with Standing Order 27A (Private Business), generally be expected to contain all the information set out in schedule 3 to the Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988. This includes the likely effects of the proposed works on the environment by reference to their possible impacts on water. Promoters are advised when preparing their environmental statement to consult those bodies with relevant information in their possession including, where appropriate, the National Rivers Authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current state of negotiations within the EC with regard to the Commission proposal 91/7 on the marketing and use of bromine-based flame retardants; and if he will make a statement.

The proposal is for an immediate ban on the marketing and use of seven polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBBEs) with three more (pentabromobiphenyl ether, octabromobiphenyl ether, and decabromobiphenyl ether) banned after five years. The Government's position on this proposal was debated in the House of Commons European Standing Committee A on 17 July 1991. The proposal was last discussed in the EC in a Council working group meeting on 1 October.There are two major problems with the current proposal. Firstly, due to a technical oversight in the wording, the three substances which the Commission had intended should remain on the market for a further five years will effectively be banned immediately. Secondly, the efficacy and safety of substitute compounds has not been addressed. The United Kingdom is concerned that, prior to a final ban, substitutes are assessed to ensure that they are effective flame retardants and demonstrably safer to man and the environment. A ban should only follow if the efficacy and safety criteria are met.I understand that the European Parliament Environment Committee has decided to defer consideration of this proposal until a directive on flame retardant materials used in soft furnishings is drafted. This directive will help to inform the debate on the efficacy of substitutes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to publish the draft regulations on genetically manipulated organisms.

A consultation paper containing draft regulations, "Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs): Proposed New Regulations", was published jointly with the Health and Safety Commission on 22 October 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the findings of the drinking water inspectorate into the outbreak of cryptosporidia in the Hull area during 1990.

The investigation by the drinking water inspectorate is nearing completion, and an announcement will be made as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department proposes to take any action to permit the payment of local enhanced severance payments following the judgment in the case of Allsop v. North Tyneside metropolitan borough council.

I understand that the metropolitan borough of North Tyneside has appealed against the judgment. The matter is therefore sub judice.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the capital receipts from council house sales in each district in his Department's eastern region for each of the last five years.

Eastern Region1
Discounted value of all sales (£'000)
Town name	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91
Luton	6,510	9,714	16,503	10,790	n/a
Mid Bedfordshire	4,767	6,031	7,743	3,711	3,198
North Bedfordshire	6,510	n/a	n/a	7,373	65,104
South Bedfordshire	4,486	6,823	8,601	5,465	3,203
Aylesbury Vale	8,415	10,028	11,791	7,090	4,987
Chiltern	3,810	n/a	31,264	0	0
Milton Keynes	1,812	n/a	8,542	5,277	1,782
South Bucks	2,195	3,180	2,931	3,624	37,213
Wycombe	n/a	10,663	11,042	n/a	n/a
Cambridge	6,021	6,536	9,344	n/a	4,002
East Cambridgeshire	2,181	2,744	3,303	1,597	1,092
Fenland	1,528	2,494	3,845	1,585	507
Huntingdonshire	5,446	7,726	9,603	5,531	3,802
Peterborough	n/a	3,740	6,272	n/a	2,056
South Cambridgeshire	4,406	4,718	6,585	4,139	4,112
Basildon	n/a	n/a	7,326	n/a	n/a
Braintree	5,896	8,242	9,136	6,507	2,740
Brentwood	2,125	2,830	3,778	3,229	2,127
Castle Point	1,557	2,050	n/a	n/a	n/a
Chelmsford	3,834	6,521	10,203	8,866	3,509
Colchester	2,375	4,697	8,880	n/a	1,935
Epping Forest	n/a	6,359	6,498	4,793	3,373
Harlow	n/a	n/a	18,346	22,445	9,217
Maldon	1,337	1,713	2,092	1,226	970
Rochford	1,919	2,182	3,888	n/a	831
Southend-on-Sea	3,335	3,082	6,755	n/a	2,424
Tendring	1,843	2,281	3,462	2,791	1,395
Thurrock	6,943	11,418	13,748	11,726	6,418
Uttlesford	2,255	3,528	4,073	1,660	1,261
Broxbourne	6,536	4,632	7,212	3,414	4,947
Dacorum	12,014	15,391	21,420	13,179	7,769
East Hertfordshire	5,433	5,419	8,039	6,188	4,127
Hertsmere	8,546	9,505	11,138	7,537	4,008
North Hertfordshire	4,584	6,310	n/a	7,729	4,774
St. Albans	4,329	5,490	9,026	9,144	8,464
Stevenage	9,516	n/a	16,832	12,735	7,310
Three Rivers	2,645	4,148	6,372	n/a	3,148
Watford	4,459	5,814	8,257	4,537	2,572
Welwyn Hatfield	14,318	18,162	19,878	14,810	7,330
Breckland	3,273	4,140	6,539	4,060	2,069
Broadland	795	n/a	n/a	n/a	25,042
Great Yarmouth	1,247	1,716	2,794	2,348	1,388
Kings Lynn and West Norfolk	2,351	3,252	7,049	2,221	1,350
North Norfolk	1,380	1,887	4,140	3,231	1,168
Norwich	4,245	n/a	16,369	10,562	4,619
South Norfolk	2,239	2,782	4,533	2,805	1,672
Babergh	2,282	2,618	4,305	2,016	1,685
Forest Heath	2,318	3,565	3,707	2,444	1,737
Ipswich	3,436	6,073	11,219	5,730	2,336
Mid Suffolk	1,599	2,304	3,607	3,478	1,207
St. Edmundsbury	3,373	5,360	7,173	4,805	1,679
Suffolk Coastal	2,113	3,602	4,900	2,705	2,630
Waveney	1,582	2,720	4,252	1,844	1,668
1 Figures shown are as reported by individual authorities.
n/a indicates that no data is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the International Council for Bird Preservation on the subject of assistance for Kuwait in tackling the problems caused to bird populations by remaining pools of oil.

The total discounted values of all sales of houses and flats, based on returns from local authorities, are shown in the table. Actual cash receipts in any year will depend on the extent to which sales were financed by loans from the authorities.

I had an exchange of correspondence on this matter with the International Council for Bird Preservation in June and July of this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what standards exist for the presence of lead and derivatives of lead in (a) soil and (b) air;(2) what agency is responsible for the implementation of standards on the presence of lead and derivatives of lead in

(a) The Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989 set down a lead in soil standard of 300 milligrams per kilogram of dry matter. This only applies to those agricultural soils which receive sewage sludge. The regulations are enforced by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. (b) A maximum concentration of 2 micrograms of lead per cubic metre (expressed as an annual mean concentration) is set down in the Air Quality Standards Regulations 1989 which are enforced by the Secretary of State. Compliance is checked at air quality monitoring stations and results reported to the Secretary of State.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what regulations exist for the control of the burning of chlorine or PVC-based waste; and what agency is responsible for the implementation of such controls.

The control of existing plant burning chlorine or PVC-based waste is presently subject to the following regulations:

• The Collection and Disposal of Waste Regulations 1988.
• The Control of Industrial Air Pollution (Registration of Works) Regulations 1989.

The Collection and Disposal of Waste Regulations are enforced by waste disposal authorities. The Control of Industrial Air Pollution Regulations are enforced by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution.Since 1 April 1991, new incinerator plant for these wastes has been subject to the Environmental Protection (Prescribed Processes and Substances) Regulations 1991, enforced by either HMIP or local authorities depending on the exact nature of the waste and the capacity of the incinerator. Existing incinerators will progressively be brought under these controls.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sites of special scientific interest are within 100 m of proposed local road routes.

This information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if a reservoir appraisal, as outlined in appendix B of the planning circular 2/85, has been carried out in the case of the proposed Hook island, Poole harbour, development; and if he will make a statement;(2) if the procedure outlined in appendix A of planning circular 2/85 has been invoked in the case of the proposed Hook island, Poole harbour, development; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 14 November 1991]: Appendix B of DOE circular 2/85 explains the three stages of onshore hydrocarbon development: exploration, appraisal and production. Appendix A of DOE circular 2/85 explains the Department of Energy's licensing procedures which apply to all oil and gas development. BP carried out offshore appraisal drilling in Poole bay in 1988–89 following consultations with local interests and the completion of an environmental assessment.Following successful appraisal drilling to determine the extent of the Wytch Farm oilfield, BP consulted widely on various development concepts. Its preferred option is the construction of an artificial island large enough to accommodate a well site and drilling facilities on which a conventional land-type drilling rig could be operated. Because the island would be in navigable waters, it is necessary for the construction of the island and the works associated with it to have the authority of Parliament. However, the Bill provides that the area of the sea bed on which BP proposes to construct the island will becone part of Dorset for planning purposes. This means that, if the Bill is granted consent, no development will take place unless planning approval is obtained from Dorset county council, or the Secretary of State on appeal.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has made to the Public Accounts Committee report on oil and chemical pollution at sea.

I have been asked to reply.The Treasury minute in response to the 40th report by the Public Accounts Committee on oil and chemical pollution at sea is currently being drafted and will be published shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which cities are eligible to apply for specific crime prevention projects funding under (a) the safer cities programme and (b) urban programme schemes; and if he will list those cities in the last 18 months which have made successful bids for specific crime prevention projects.

The 19 areas where the Home Office has established safer cities projects, listed in the table, are eligible for Home Office grants for specific crime prevention schemes. All have received funding in the last 18 months except Derby, Leicester and Middlesbrough, where projects began operation only this autumn.Fifty-seven designated districts, also listed in the table, are eligible to apply for Department of the Environment funding under the urban programme. Those marked with an asterisk have included crime prevention projects in their programme for 1991–92, the only period for which I understand this information is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the number of motorists convicted of kerb crawling in the Greater London area from January to October 1991.

Information is not yet available for 1990 and 1991. In England and Wales in 1989 there were 891 males convicted of kerb crawling. Of these 49 were within the Metropolitan police district and none within the City of London police force area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of time which elapses between the date of criminal injury and the payment of compensation in respect of that injury.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board does not record centrally the period between the dates of incident and registration of claim. Nor does it produce an average time for processing applications. However, percentages of cases completed within certain periods of registration are shown in the board's annual reports, copies of which are in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of incidents recorded per uniformed police officer for the year 1990–91 in (a) Weybridge, Surrey and (b) Newcastle upon Tyne.

Figures are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to reply to recent representations from the Northumbria police authority.

My right hon. Friend has received a request from Northumbria police authority for a special payment to meet costs arising from the recent disturbances on Tyneside. This is receiving urgent consideration and my right hon. Friend will reply as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Mr. Daya Pal Singh and his wife (S 672230/2(S)), Mr. Harvinder Pal Singh (S 672231/2 (S)) and Mr. Hari Pal Singh (S 672909/2 (S)), all relatives of Mr. Mohinder Paul Singh Bedi of Hayes, applied for political asylum in the United Kingdom; what is their current status in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

No.The hon. Member will understand that it has been the practice of successive Governments not to confirm or deny whether an individual has made a claim for political asylum in the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment is made of the mental health of people held on remand in police cells in England and Wales when they are remanded.

Arrangements for caring for prisoners in police cells are for chief officers of police. I understand that the prisoners concerned are normally assessed by a police doctor on reception.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are taken to ensure that prisoners for whom prison cell accommodation is not suitable are given acceptable alternatives.

The only circumstances under which prison cell accommodation could be considered unsuitable would be on medical grounds. In such cases the inmate would be accommodated in the establishment's health centre or, if necessary, transferred to hospital.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state (a) the number of children detained in relation to section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 in each of the past 15 years, (b) the average length of detention or imprisonment undertaken by such offenders, (c) how many have been released under licence and (d) in how many cases licences were revoked; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 13 November 1991]: The readily available information on the number of persons sentenced in England and Wales to detention under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 is given in table 1. The lengths of sentence imposed on those sentenced under section 53(2) are shown in table 2.Further information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.Information about the number of juveniles received into and detained in prison service establishments under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 are published annually in "Prison Statistics England and Wales", tables 3.2 and 3.13 of the volume for 1989, Cm 1221, copies of which are in the Library.The numbers of prisoners released from prison service establishments in England and Wales on licence from

Table 2
Persons sentenced under Section 53(2) Children and Young Persons Act 1933 by length of sentence, 1984–1989
England and Wales	Number of persons
Length of sentence	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	11989
Up to 4 months	—	—	1	—	—	1
Over 4 months and up to 6 months	—	—	1	1	1	—
Over 6 months and up to 1 year	1	1	2	6	4	3
Over 1 year and up to 18 months	6	9	9	3	4	1
Over 18 months and up to 2 years	23	39	30	36	32	20
Over 2 years and up to 3 years	39	70	71	59	88	66
Over 3 years and up to 4 years	17	20	21	23	25	10
Over 4 years and up to 5 years	5	10	13	14	12	9
Over 5 years and up to 7 years	4	3	3	7	8	1
Over 7 years and up to 10 years	1	1	2	2	2	—
Over 10 years, excluding life	1	—	—	1	—	—
Life	2	1	3	2	1	4
Total	99	154	156	154	177	115
1Comparisons with prison receptions data suggests that there may have been under recording in 1989.

Table 3
Prisoners released on licence from Prison Service establishments in England and Wales from detention during Her Majesty's pleasure or for life under Section 53, Children and Young Persons Act 1933: by year of release and average time served, 1976–90
Year	Number	Time served1(years)
1976	8	7·4
1977	3	9·1
1978	8	7·7
1979	4	7·5

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide an up-to-date list of each television advertising campaign carried out, or to be carried out, by (a) the Home Office and (b) the Metropolitan police during 1991–92, and of each other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000, giving for each (i) the topic, (ii) the commencement date, (iii) the duration and (iv) the advertising, promotional and public relations companies involved.

[pursuant to his reply, 5 November 1991, c. 34–36]: The Commissioner has told me that in 1991–92 the Metropolitan police service is funding one television advertising campaign, which is for police recruitment. This is a part of recruitment advertising for the service which, in this period, is the only campaign costing more than £100,000. It is a continuing campaign carried on throughout the year and is being handled by Collett, Dickenson, Pearce and Partners Ltd. and Moxon, Dolphin and Kerby.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received from the Library Association about the views he attributed to the association in his reply to the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs. Dunwoody) on 11 November, Official Report, column 776.

I am glad to have this opportunity of correcting a slip of the tongue in my reply to a supplementary question from the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs. Dunwoody) on 11 November, Official Report, column 776. I referred to the Library Association when I intended to quote the report "Libraries Choice", which said that the key issues facing public library authorities were not necessarily financial but were those of attitude, choice and commitment. I have acknowledged this in a letter to the Library Association and have copied the exchange of correspondence to the hon. Members for Crewe and Nantwich and for Stoke on Trent, Central.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the initiatives he has taken to assist pupils and teachers in special schools; and if he will make a statement.

It is for local education authorities to ensure that appropriate provision is made in schools for children with special educational needs. The Welsh Office has issued guidance to LEAs and others on staffing for pupils with special needs and on the procedures associated with the assessment and statementing processes of the Education Act 1981. Further, the Department has made grant available, which is being continued in 1992–93, under the grants for education support and training scheme (GEST), for the in-service training of teachers of pupils who are visually or hearing impaired or who have severe learning difficulties and for the initial training of educational psychologists.More widely, we are providing support to LEAs under the GEST programme for the implementation of school teacher appraisal schemes. Appraisal will help teachers, including those in special schools, to improve their professional skills and develop their full potential.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he proposes to assist the blind and the partially sighted; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 12 November 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he proposes to assist those who are deaf or hearing impaired.

Under the provisions of the NHS and Community Care Act 1990, social services authorities are to publish their first social care plans by 1 April 1992. These plans, which in Wales are to be prepared jointly with all other relevant authorities and service providers, and representatives of user and carer interests, will include hearing impairment services and set out the way in which authorities intend to assess and meet peoples needs. The Welsh Office has issued guidance to the authorities on the preparation and content of these plans and on assessment and care management.This has recently been supplemented by the publication of the latest of the Welsh Health Planning Forum's protocols for investment in health services to achieve health gain, which covers the needs of those with physical or sensory disabilities. The Welsh Office is working closely with authorities in the preparation of draft plans to ensure that they address adequately the needs of all client groups.The Welsh Office is making available £1·6 million in the current financial year to encourage the development of more flexible forms of community care for elderly people and those with physical and/or sensory disabilities. So far, 39 projects have been approved, with more in the pipeline, and a circular inviting applications for schemes beginning in 1992–93 was issued in October. We are also making available £600,000 in 1991–92 to organisations active at an all-Wales level in promoting the interests of the elderly and of those with disabilities. Among these are the Wales Council for the Disabled (£250,000) and the Wales Council for the Deaf (£94,000).The Children Act, which came into effect from 14 October, lays a general duty on social services authorities to promote the welfare of children who are in need by providing an appropriate range and level of services. Section 17 of the Act defines children in need so as to include deaf or hearing impaired children. The provision of education for such children is a matter for local education authorities. However, the Welsh Office has made grant available, which is to continue in 1992–93, under the grants for education support and training programme for the in-service training of teachers of the deaf/hearing impaired. Further, the Department has invited bids for grant aid under GEST for the development of a regional centre for the educational needs of those who are deaf and blind. Bids are currently being considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in each district council area are (a) registered as homeless or (b) on the housing waiting list.

(a) People do not register as homeless but present themselves, together with other members of their household, to the housing authority. The numbers of people within households accepted as homeless by local authorities under the Housing Act 1985 in the quarter ended 30 June 1991 are given in the following table:

Persons accepted as homeless: quarter ending 30 June 1991
	Number
Aberconwy	26
Alyn and Deeside	165
Arfon	23
Blaenau Gwent	196
Brecknock	78
Cardiff	1,129
Carmarthen	47
Ceredigion	47
Colwyn	33
Cynon Valley	284
Delyn	191
Dinefwr	79
Dwyfor	24
Glyndwr	30
Islwyn	97
Llanelli	74
Lliw Valley	46
Meirionnydd	79
Merthyr Tydfil	103
Monmouth	83
Montgomeryshire	71
Neath	170
Newport	793
Ogwr	309
Port Talbot	109
Preseli Pembrokeshire	63
Radnorshire	15
Rhondda	86
Rhuddlan	50
Rhymney Valley	95
South Pembrokeshire	60
Swansea	499
Taff-Ely	196
Torfaen	249
Vale of Glamorgan	233
Wrexham Maelor	176
Ynys Mon	31
Wales total	6,039

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many homes have been repossessed by loan or mortgage companies and building societies in each county of Wales during the current year.

Only the total numbers of warrants of repossession are available; those relating specifically to mortgages are not collected separately. However, separate data are available on the number of repossession orders made following mortgage actions. The numbers given in the following table relate to totals of orders made through courts within an area and as such do not correspond directly to the number of homes within that area on which orders were made.

Repossession Orders made following Mortgage Actions1
	January—September 1991
Clwyd	542
Dyfed	608
Gwent	855
Gwynedd	445
Mid Glamorgan	1,203
Powys	98
South Glamorgan	918
West Glamorgan	719
Wales	5,388

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to publish an order to introduce a geography short course for key stage 4 in the national curriculum.

I have published today an order specifying the attainment targets and programmes of study for a short geography course at key stage 4. These documents will come into effect from August 1994.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when he last considered the privatisation of the Bank of England printing works at Loughton, Essex; what conclusions were reached; and what is the latest estimate of the proceeds that would accrue from such a privatisation;(2) if he will make it his policy to seek competitive tenders for the production of Bank of England bank notes; and if he will make a statement.

The printing of bank notes is the Bank of England's responsibility. The bank is, however, fully conscious of the need to ensure that bank notes are produced as cheaply as possible, consistent with maintaining the security and integrity of the note issue and it has assured me that it will take whatever steps it considers necessary to achieve that.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has about the invoicing of fees by Price Waterhouse to the Bank of Credit and Commerce International.

None.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any plans to create a Banking Commission to regulate all banks in the United Kingdom.

No.

Income tax, NICS and indirect tax payments at multiples of average earnings, 1990–91 and 1991–92—percentages of gross earnings
	Multiples of average earnings
	0·5 per cent.	0·75 per cent.	1 per cent.	1·5 per cent.	2 per cent.	5 per cent.	10 per cent.
1990–91
Single people
Income tax	15·6	18·7	20·3	22·0	26·5	34·6	37·3
NICs	6·9	7·6	8·0	6·1	4·6	1·8	0·9
VAT		4·9	4·9	5·1
Other indirect		7·4	6·9	6·6
Total income tax and NICs	22·5	26·3	28·3	28·1	31·1	36·4	38·2
Married, two children
Income tax	0·8	8·8	12·9	17·0	22·0	32·8	36·4
NICs	6·9	7·6	8·0	6·1	4·6	1·8	0·9
VAT		4·4	4·8	5·4
Other indirect		8·0	7·1	6·3
Total income tax and NICs	7·7	16·4	20·9	23·1	26·6	34·6	37·3
Married, both working
Income tax	0·8	8·9	12·9	16·9	18·9	28·3	34·2
NICs	4·8	6·2	6·9	7·6	7·7	3·7	1·8
VAT		5·1	5·3	5·5
Other indirect		9·5	8·3	7·2
Total income tax and NICs	5·6	15·1	19·8	24·5	26·6	32·0	36·0
1991–92
Single people
Income tax	15·4	18·6	20·2	21·8	25·8	34·3	37·2
NICs	6·8	7·5	7·9	6·3	4·8	1·9	1·0
VAT		5·4	5·4	5·6
Other indirect		7·5	7·0	6·7
Total income tax and NICs	22·2	26·1	28·1	28·1	30·6	36·2	38·2
Married, two children
Income tax	0·7	8·8	12·8	16·9	21·4	32·5	36·3
NICs	6·8	7·5	7·9	6·3	4·8	1·9	1·0
VAT		4·9	5·4	6·0
Other indirect		8·1	7·2	6·4
Total income tax and NICs	7·5	16·3	20·7	23·2	26·2	34·4	37·3
Married, both working
Income tax	0·8	8·9	12·9	16·9	19·0	27·9	33·9
NICs	4·6	6·1	6·8	7·5	7·8	3·8	1·9
VAT		5·7	5·9	6·1
Other indirect		9·6	8·5	7·3
Total income tax and NICs	5·4	15·0	19·7	24·4	26·8	31·7	35·8

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the percentage of gross earnings going in (a) income tax, (b) national insurance contributions, (c) VAT, (d) other indirect taxes and (e) the poll tax, of (i) a single person, (ii) a married couple both working, and (iii) a married couple with two children, on (1) 50 per cent., (2) 75 per cent., (3) 100 per cent., (4) 150 per cent., (5) 200 per cent., (6) 500 per cent. and (7) 1,000 per cent. of average earnings in each year since 1978–79

[holding answer 19 November 1991]: Figures for 1978–79 to 1987–88 have been placed in the Library of the House, as noted in the Official Report, 13 April 1989, column 624. Figures for 1988–89 and 1989–90 were published in the Official Report, 5 July 1990, columns 699–702. Updated figures for 1990–91 and the latest estimates for 1991–92 are given in the tables.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give comparable figures for the proportion of bank loans to industry which are for periods of five years or more, for each OECD country, for the latest year for which figures are available.

[holding answer 18 November 1991]: No data are available in the form requested—that is,

Country (currency/unit)	Year	Short-term loans A (up to 2 years)	Long-term loans B (more than 2 years)	Proportion of long term loans to total loans B/(A + B) Per cent.
Austria (Sch billion)	1985	83	68	45·0
Belgium (BFr billion)	1988	655	890	57·6
Japan (Yen trillion)	1988	221	173	43·9
Netherlands (F1 billion)	1988	29	42	58·9
Spain (Pta billion)	1989	1,695	4,478	72·5
United Kingdom (£ billion)	1989	20	20	49·8
United States ($ billion)	1989	152	462	75·3
Yugoslavia (D billion)	1984	1,599	2,922	64·6

To ask the Prime Minister whether he has any plans to extend the debt relief he announced at the Commonwealth Heads of Government summit to all low income debtor countries.

There are no plans to extend Trinidad terms beyond the poorest and most indebted countries. There is widespread agreement that these countries have the most pressing problems. It is right, therefore, that our priority should be to address their problems. So far 22 very poor and indebted countries have benefited from the existing Toronto terms debt reduction package—another United Kingdom initiative. Although the precise criteria for eligibility for the Trinidad terms package are still being worked out in practice, those that qualify will enjoy a much more generous treatment than that presently available under Toronto terms.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has made in his negotiations in the Council of Ministers in introducing Community-wide measures to control salmonella in poultry units.

We have continued to press for Community-wide controls on salmonella to be introduced as soon as possible. The European Commission has now published proposals for a regulation on the control of

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his current policy on slaughtering salmonella-infected egg-laying poultry flocks.

Poultry laying flocks in which the presence of salmonella enteritidis has been confirmed are required to be compulsorily slaughtered with compensation. On 31 October we announced that owners of poultry laying flocks infected with salmonella enteritidis and poultry breeding flocks infected with salmonella enteritidis or salmonella typhimurium would be given the option of sending their eggs for pasteurisation. This option will become available when pasteurisation plants have applied for, and have been granted, approval to process eggs from infected flocks.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has concerning the numbers of dead farm animals disposed of improperly; and if he will collect details from highways authorities concerning the numbers of farm animal carcasses they collect.

We have received some reports of unburied animals and illegal dumping, but as the Agriculture Select Committee accepted in its recent report, most are anecdotal. However, the state veterinary service continues to monitor the situation very closely in consultation with all interested authorities.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has concerning the number of attempts to break Britain's animal quarantine laws during the last two years; what species of animals were involved; and how many confirmed cases of rabies have been identified in animals either in or outside quarantine during that period.

There were 80 prosecutions in 1989 and 1990 for breaches of the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974, as amended. The majority involved dogs and cats. Others related to rodents, primates, rabbits, ferrets, a hedgehog and a margay cat. Since the beginning of 1989, there has been one case of rabies identified in a dog in quarantine.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made at the Council of Ministers in respect of the development of new standards of battery cages for laying poultry.

The Commission is reviewing egg production systems, as required by the EC battery hens directive. I understand that its report, with proposals for revised welfare standards, is likely to be submitted to the Council in the second half of 1992. The United Kingdom will be pressing for significant improvements in welfare conditions and for the directive to be extended to non-cage systems.

Number of suspect BSE animals slaughtered
January 1991
County	Total slaughtered	Number + VE confirmed	Percentage + VE confirmed	Number pending
Avon	63	43	72·88	4
Bedfordshire	6	4	66·67	0
Berkshire	11	8	72·73	0
Buckinghamshire	15	15	100·00	0
Cambridgeshire	6	6	100·00	0
Cheshire	77	74	96·10	0
Cleveland	3	2	66·67	0
Clwyd	33	29	96·67	3
Cornwall	159	130	81·76	0
Cumbria	34	31	91·18	0
Derbyshire	35	32	91·43	0
Devon	200	181	90·50	0
Dorset	179	157	87·71	0
Durham	7	4	57·14	0
Dyfed	113	105	92·92	0
Essex	6	5	83·33	0
Mid Glamorgan	2	1	50·00	0
South Glamorgan	5	4	80·00	0
Gloucestershire	73	62	84·93	0
Gwent	13	9	69·23	0
Gwynedd	5	4	80·00	0
Hampshire	64	54	85·71	1
Hereford and Worcester	38	30	78·95	0
Hertfordshire	8	7	87·50	0
Humberside	8	6	75·00	0
Isle of Wight	14	12	85·71	0
Kent	36	34	94·44	0
Lancashire	50	44	88·00	0
Leicestershire	49	46	93·88	0
Lincolnshire	21	21	100·00	0
London	1	1	100·00	0
Manchester	6	6	100·00	0
Norfolk	37	32	88·89	1
Northamptonshire	8	8	100·00	0
Northumberland	7	7	100·00	0
Nottinghamshire	11	10	90·91	0

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research he is undertaking into cattle disease indistinguishable in symptoms from BSE but not proven as BSE by post-mortem examination.

There are several common diseases of cattle in which the clinical signs are similar to some of the symptoms of BSE, most notably hypomagnesaemia, nervous ketosis, hypocalacemia and listeriosis. A proportion of clinically suspect cases of BSE which do not have the post-mortem changes of the disease is therefore to be expected. Hypersensitivity, agression or recumbency may frequently prevent investigations into alternative causes either because farm staff will be at risk of injury, or because suspects have to be destroyed in order to prevent further suffering. Nevertheless, histopathological studies of the brains of such cattle have been carried out and no new significant neurological diseases have been detected. We will continue to monitor such cases through the epidemic.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a table for each county of England and Wales for each month of 1991 to date showing the number of cattle slaughtered as BSE suspect; and how many and what percentage of cases were subsequently confirmed by post-mortem examinations.

The information requested is in the table: