To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much time he has spent on parliamentary duties since he last answered oral questions.

The parliamentary aspect of my official duties consists almost entirely of answering oral questions at the Dispatch Box. I have, however, answered six written questions since I last answered oral questions.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what consideration he has given to European Community issues in his capacity as Chancellor of the Duchy.

The Duchy has several historical links with Europe. For example our coat of arms incorporates the fleurs de lys, sanctioned by Edmund Crouchback on his marriage to the Queen of Nevarre. Today, however, there are no strong links—most have lapsed with the passing of time.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he next proposes to visit the Duchy on official business.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he next plans to pay an official visit to the Duchy.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he plans to next visit the Duchy; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Gentleman and my hon. Friends to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Burnley (Mr. Pike) earlier today.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the effect of falling interest rates on small and medium-sized businesses in the Duchy.

I am sure that the fall in interest rates will be of enormous benefit to all businesses in the Duchy.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the impact of taxation on tenants of the Duchy.

Like everyone else, Duchy tenants have gained tremendous benefits from the reductions in personal taxation brought about by successive Conservative Governments.

To ask the Attorney-General whether he will take steps to ensure that where repossession proceedings are taken in the county court, information on debt counselling and housing advice services will be sent out with the summons.

The Government are keen to ensure that defendants in county court possession proceedings are informed that counselling and advice is available to them.Consultations are taking place with the major advice agencies in order to identify a method of compiling a list of advice agencies that may accompany every county court possession summons.

To ask the Attorney-General what percentage of cases brought to court by the Serious Fraud Office have resulted in a successful conviction.

In the current year from 6 April 1991 there have been 14 concluded trials. Twenty-three defendants have been convicted and six acquitted—a conviction rate of nearly 80 per cent.

To ask the Attorney-General how many cases the Serious Fraud Office has brought to the courts in each year since its creation.

The figures are as follows:—

	Number
April 1988—April 1989	9
April 1989—April 1990	17
April 1990—April 1991	27
April 1991—to date	14

The numbers are based on cases that have been concluded in the court of trial during the relevant period. If currently unconcluded cases are added, the last figure becomes 19.

To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church Commissioners have considered replacing the minimum stipend by performance-related pay.

Stipends have traditionally been regarded as remuneration which enables clergy to pursue their ministry and support themselves and their families, rather than rewards or salaries for a job of work. In this sense, stipends are not competitive remuneration for which performance-related pay might be an appropriate mechanism.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many employees in Wales are paid less than £3·40 an hour; and how many of these employees are (a) women, (b) part-time and (c) in manual occupations.

It is estimated that 185,000 employees in employment on adult rates whose pay was not affected by absence earned less than £3·40 per hour in April 1991; 147,000 were women, of whom 103,000 worked part-time. 102,000 persons were employed in manual occupations. Data for part-time male employees are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding the Welsh Development Agency Bill.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place a copy in the Library of the guidance he has given to the Welsh health authorities concerning the supply of nebulisers free of charge and on long-term loan to those requiring them.

The NHS Act 1977 clearly sets out the responsibilities of district health authorities. Section 1 of the NHS Act 1977 requires that NHS services provided under the Act to NHS patients must be free of charge, except where the making and recovery of charges is expressly provided for by legislation. Later legislation, including the NHS and Community Care Act 1990, does not alter this position, nor does it enable partial charges to be made to health service patients. Health authorities are fully aware of the position which has recently been confirmed to them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to effect refunds for those who have proof of payment for nebulisers prescribed by national health service consultants to national health service patients.

Our officials have asked Welsh district health authorities to examine their existing policies and practices for the provision of equipment, including nebulisers. In addition, authorities have been asked to investigate and report on individual cases involving nebulisers that have been notified and to consider appropriate action.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the levels of pollution from each incinerator operating in Wales; and to what extent they comply with EC legislation.

Information on levels of pollution from individual incinerators is not held centrally. Current emission limits and controls for waste incineration processes under 1 tonne per hour are set out in process guidance notes PG1–25/5(91) issued by the Secretaries of State for the Environment, for Scotland and for Wales and published by HMSO. Operators of incineration processes over 1 tonne per hour are subject to individual authorisation by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. Emission limits and other control standards are included in the specific authorisation documents. The only incinerators covered by EC legislation at the moment are municipal waste incinerators—and there are none of these in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what applications have been received by the Welsh Office to test-burn the imported fuel Orimulsion in Wales or to burn that fuel on a commercial basis.

No applications, in either category, have been received by the Welsh Office. The Secretary of State for Energy is currently considering an application from National Power to extend Pembroke power station to enable it to burn orimulsion. The company is also applying to Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for authorisation to burn this fuel at Pembroke.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will obtain statistics showing the number of midwives, district nurses and health visitors practising within Wales.

As I indicated in my reply on 18 November, at column 34, to the hon. Gentleman's question on the number of midwives, district nurses and health visitors on 18 November, complete information on staff numbers is not available at present for occupational groups such as these. The Department is working with district health authorities to improve the information on the manpower information system from which detailed breakdowns of nursing and midwifery manpower are derived, and progress is being made. Once we are satisfied that the system is a fully reliable source of occupationally disaggregated information, such as numbers of midwives, district nurses and health visitors, such information will be made available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the lengths of long-distance routes approved under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 which pass through harbours regulated under the Harbours Act 1964.

It is likely that parts of the Pembrokeshire coast path, which runs for 269 km between Amroth and Cardigan, pass through harbours regulated under the Harbours Act 1964. However, detailed information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of Stale for Wales what is his latest estimate of the amount of money owed in the poll tax in Wales in the last financial year; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 17 October 1991, at columns 206–7. No further information is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what applications have been received by the Welsh Office to refurbish or extend existing facilities or to construct new facilities, for offloading from seagoing vessels (a) bulk oil, (b) natural gas, (c) liquified gas or (d) coal.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has under consideration no applications from harbour authorities in Wales seeking statutory authorisation by means of a harbour order under the Harbour Act 1964 to carry out such works which they do not otherwise have statutory powers to carry out under their local legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to include estimates of United Kingdom coal reserves in the departmental Brown Book; and if he will make a statement.

Under the terms of the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946, British Coal is charged with the development of the coal-mining industry and it publishes estimates of total United Kingdom coal reserves in its annual report. My Department does not keep separate figures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about further onshore petroleum licensing.

I have placed in the Libraries of both Houses the text of a notice, which will be published as soon as possible in the Official Gazette, inviting companies to apply for exploration licences in respect of unlicensed areas in Great Britain and certain near shore waters. The notice specifies that applications should be made on Wednesday 19 February, 1992. Application forms and guidance notes will be available from my Department.I shall separately be inviting holders of production licences to apply to transfer exploration acreage within their existing licences to the new style exploration licences, subject to agreement being reached on a satisfactory work programme for the area.Successful applicants will be offered exploration licences containing the conditions set out in the Petroleum (Production) (Landward Areas) Regulations 1991. The licences will grant rights for a term of six years and entitle the licensee to carry out seismic surveys and deep drilling subject to the need to obtain the requisite permission from the appropriate mineral planning authorities and land owners and occupiers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his calculation of United Kingdom electricity consumption in each of the next five years; and if he will give his estimate of the generating capacities that will be available from (a) oil, (b) gas, (c) nuclear, (d) coal and (e) renewable sources.

My Department does not routinely forecast electricity consumption. That, and decisions on capacity and fuel choice, are the job of the electricity industry, taking into account the commercial and regulatory environment. When specific needs arise, projections are produced, as, for example, in the UK's submission to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which was published as energy paper 58 and is available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects nuclear fusion to be commercially viable for the generation of electricity.

Nuclear fusion is unlikely to be available as an energy source before 2050 at the earliest. Even if fusion were technically available at that date, its economic prospects are uncertain.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many national indexes are held by the police or his Department, other than those relating to drugs and football hooliganism.

The Department holds the following national indexes (including all national police indexes):

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the amount of money paid by way of compensation to ethnic origin members serving with the Metropolitan police force as a result of claims for racial abuse and harassment from fellow police officers.

Since the beginning of 1990, £21,000 has been paid as compensation to ethnic minority officers in the Metropolitan police as a result of claims for racial abuse and harassment in respect of two cases.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussion he has had with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to the

Ethnic minority officers in the Metropolitan Police by area, broken down into rank and gender
Areas	Superintendent (all men)	Chief Inspector (all men)	Inspector (all men)	Sergeant		Police Constable
				Men	Women	Men	Women
1	—	—	1	3	—	46	13
2	—	—	2	5	2	50	20
3	—	—	—	2	—	40	13
4	—	1	1	2	—	53	17
5	—	—	—	2	—	14	4
6	—	1	1	4	1	54	11
7	1	—	1	5	—	43	14
8	—	—	2	3	—	44	14
Headquarters	1	—	—	10	—	14	8
Police training centre	—	—	—	—	—	21	7

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he plans to exercise his powers under section 8(4) of the Broadcasting Act 1990 to amend rule 21 of the current code of advertising standards in order to fulfil the requirements of the European broadcasting directive—89/552/EEC—and if he will make a statement.

We have no plans to amend the ITC code of advertising standards and practice. Rule 21 states

I understand from the commissioner that these matters are being investigated by the complaints unit.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the number of Metropolitan officers dismissed from the service in each of the last five years, for racial abuse to fellow officers.

There have been no Metropolitan police officers dismissed from the service in the last five years for racial abuse to fellow officers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many neighbourhood watch schemes now operate in the East Staffordshire district in the Burton constituency.

Information is not available in the form requested. I understand from the Staffordshire police that, in the Burton police subdivision, which includes East Staffordshire district, there were 73 neighbourhood watch schemes at the end of September 1991, covering nearly 17,000 households.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of ethnic origin police officers (a) men and (b) women serving in each of the Metropolitan police divisions; and what ranks these officers hold.

The information is as follows:that no advertisement may encourage behaviour prejudicial to the protection of the environment, in accordance with article 12(e) of the directive, and goes on to give guidance as to how this should be interpreted in practice.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how expenditure in real terms on prisons has moved since 1980.

Expenditure on prisons has increased from £744 million in 1980–81 in 1990–91 prices to £1,342 million in 1990–91, an increase of 80 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners, who should have been held in prisons, were held in police cells in each week to date in 1991.

The number of prisoners held in police cells in each week to date in 1991 are as follows:

1991	Number
4 January	504
11 January	557
18 January	570
25 January	567
1 February	604
8 February	616
15 February	639
22 February	672
1 March	673
8 March	639
15 March	762
22 March	641
26 March	728
5 April	633
12 April	503
19 April	545
26 April	487
3 May	516
10 May	603
17 May	661
24 May	600
31 May	593

	Establishments			Headquarters
	Officer inmate ratio	Governor grades inmate ratio	Other staff inmate ratio	Total staff inmate ratio
1 April 1980	·32	·02	·16	—
1 April 1981	·35	·02	·17	—
1 April 1982	·35	·02	·17	—
1 April 1983	·35	·02	·17	·04
1 April 1984	·36	·02	·17	·05
1 April 1985	·36	·02	·17	·04
1 April 1986	·36	·02	·17	·04
1 April 1987	·35	·02	·16	·04
1 April 1988	·37	·02	·16	·04
1 April 1989	·40	·02	·17	·04
1 April 1990	·44	·02	·19	·04
1 April 1991	·48	·02	·21	·05

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hours were worked on average per inmate by (a) prison officers, (b) governor grades and (c) Prison Department civil servants in each year since 1985.

Governors are an all hours worked grade and information about the actual number of hours worked by them during any particular period is not collected centrally. Similarly, no such information is available for the wide range of grades of staff who work in prison service headquarters. The average prison officer hours worked per inmate is as follows:

Prison officer hours worked on average per inmate: 1 April 1985 to 1991
	Hours
1 April 1985	20·35
1 April 1986	20·34
1 April 1987	19·76

1991	Number
7 June	598
14 June	609
21 June	699
28 June	872
5 July	1,049
12 July	1,080
19 July	1,194
26 July	1,190
2 August	1,165
9 August	1,183
16 August	1,301
23 August	1,557
30 August	1,534
6 September	1,584
13 September	1,647
20 September	1,803
27 September	1,665
4 October	1,624
11 October	1,661
18 October	1,802
25 October	1,807
1 November	1,777
8 November	1,718
15 November	1,640
22 November	1,638

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the ratios of (a) prison officers, (b) governor grades and (c) Prison Department civil servants to prisoners on 1 January and 1 July in each year since 1980.

The available information is as follows:

	Hours
1 April 1988	17·30
1 April 1989	18·08
1 April 1990	18·69
1 April 1991	19·72

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many industrial disputes there are at present in the prison service.

On 22 November there were registered disputes at 36 of Her Majesty's prisons. Some of these disputes cover more than one issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current estimate of (a) prisoner numbers and (b) the total certified normal accommodation in the prison estate for each year to 1997.

On the basis of projections made at the beginning of this year, the projected population and certified normal accommodation (CNA) for prison service establishments in England and Wales in each financial year to 1996–97 were as follows:

	Population	CNA
1992–93	45,669	49,114
1993–94	45,836	50,862
1994–95	46,932	51,676
1995–96	48,587	51,850
1996–97	50,262	51,727

The actual prison population is already 1,500 in excess of the figure projected for 1992–93. Until the end of 1994 there will also be temporary reductions in the capacities of those establishments where access is being provided to night sanitation.Prison population projections in calendar year form are published in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin, "Projections of long-term trends in the prison population to 1999" issue 10/91, a copy of which is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the monetary value of the food allowance for prisoners has been in real terms in each year since 1980.

The estimated average cost, per prisoner per week (at September 1991 prices), of the normal dietary scales for the 12 months ending in September, 1983–91 was:

Year1	Current value2 3£
1983	7·22
1984	7·75
1985	7·61
1986	7·25
1987	7·17
1988	7·06
1989	6·91
1990	47·00
1991	46·59

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders were transferred from Hewell Grange to the young offender institution at Prescoed (Usk) during September 1991.

Ten.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what investigations are taking place into the circumstances in which the United States citizen Mr. Fred Leuchter entered the United Kingdom after being barred from entry on the ground that his presence could not be conducive to the public good, and into the role of Mr. David Irving in procuring his entry; and if he will make a statement.

Investigations have shown that Mr. Leuchter was admitted entirely inadvertently. Steps have been taken to avoid a recurrence. He was returned overseas on 16 November.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take in respect of those pit bull terrier owners who have been unable to arrange for their dogs to be tattooed by 30 November, in compliance with the requirements of the exemption scheme set up under section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991; and if he will make a statement.

One of the requirements of the exemption scheme set up under section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 was that the owners of dogs covered by section 1 should have them permanently marked.We are aware that there are a number of owners of such dogs, including pit bull terriers, who have been unable to arrange for their dogs to be tattooed by 30 November. It is wrong that those owners who in other respects have taken positive steps to abide by the requirements of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 should not have the opportunity to obtain a certificate of exemption.My right hon. Friend has therefore laid the Dangerous Dogs Act Compensation and Exemption Schemes (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 1991 which comes into force today, which gives owners of exempted specially controlled dogs until 1 March 1992 to arrange for their dogs to be tattooed in the approved manner. Certificates of exemption will be issued to owners who have not been able to arrange for their dog to be tattooed with a requirement that the dog is tattooed before 1 March 1992, provided that they have complied with the other requirements of the exemption scheme. If an owner has not provided the index of exempted dogs with satisfactory evidence by 1 March 1992 to show that his dog has been tattooed, the certificate will lapse, the owner will be liable to prosecution and the dog may be seized and destroyed.The new order does not change the position for owners who did not notify the police by 12 October of their wish to have their dogs exempted from the provisions of section 1(3) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, or who have not met other conditions of the certificate of exemption. Those who are in possession of dogs to which section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 applies who have not complied with the requirements of the law by having their dogs exempted will after 30 November be liable to prosecution.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce his standard spending assessments for local authorities.

My right hon. Friend expects to make an announcement shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take action to increase to above the national average the standard spending assessment formula for Staffordshire county council to take account of the problems highlighted by pindown and the Utting report.

The standard spending assessment measures the appropriate cost of providing a standard level of service. It is calculated by means of a formula based on each local authority's demographic, social and geographic characteristics. The personal social services element of the formula is applied in the same way to all social services authorities. It would not be appropriate to apply a different approach to the assessment for any individual authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department has taken any census of the homeless in Leeds; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has not undertaken a census of homeless people in Leeds. Responsibility for dealing with households accepted as homeless under part III of the Housing Act 1985 rests with local authorities; I understand that Leeds city council accepted 427 households as homeless in the quarter ending June 1991.A count of rough sleepers was made as part of the census on the night of 21–22 April 1991; 21 people were counted in Leeds. A copy of the "1991 Census: Supplementary Monitor of People Sleeping Rough", published by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys on 9 July 1991, has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessments his Department has undertaken of progress achieved towards meeting the EC directives on cleaning up beaches by 1992.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Fulham (Mr. Carrington) on 12 November at columns 465–66.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward legislation to create a legal and financial framework appropriate to consumer owned and controlled housing organisations.

A suitable framework is already in place for the promotion and support of ownership co-operatives. Grants are available from the Housing Corporation to assist their development and capital support is provided to registered co-operatives through the Housing Corporation's approved development programme. The Corporation is currently developing a comprehensive new strategy for tenant participation in the housing association sector to include both ownership and management options. Tenant management initiatives in local authority housing are promoted by the Department through an enhanced grant programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many commencement orders have been issued to date, pursuant to the Environmental Protection Act 1990; and for what sections of the Act they have been applicable.

Nine. They are as follows:Sections 128 to 139 (save for the amendments made by ss, 128, 130 and 132), 89(7) to (9) and (11) to (13), 105 (partially), 3, 1, 2, 4 to 28, 100 to 104, 105 (partially), 159 and 162(2) (partially), 86(2), (6) to (8), (11), (14) and (15); 88(5), (7) and (9)(b), 89(4), 90(1), (2) and (7), 94(1) and (2) and 96(2) and (3) and 162(1) (partially), sections 86(1), (4), (5), (9) and (13); 87(1), (2) (3)(a) to (e) and (4) to (6), 88(1) to (4), (6), (8), (9)(a) and (c) to (e) and (10); 98(1), (2) (5) and (6) (England and Wales only).The amendments made by sections 128, 130, and 132, 162(2) (partially), 86(3) and (10), 87(7), 89(1)(a) to (f), (2), (3), (5), (6), (10) and (14), 91(1)(a) to (f), (2) to (13), 92(1)(a) to (c), (2) to (10), 93, 94(3) to (9), 95, 96(1), 98(3) and (4), 106(4) and (5), 107(8), 108(1)(b), (3)(b), (5), (7) and (9), 111(1), (2), (4), (5), (7) and (11), 113, 114(1) to (3), 115(4), 122(1) (partially) and (4), 123(7) and (9), 124 to 126, 156, 158, 162(1) and (2) (partially);Sections 86(1), (4) (5) and (13), 87(1), (2), (3)(a) to (e) and (4) to (6), 88(1) to (4), (6), (8) (9)(a), (c) and (d) and (10) and 98(1), (5) and (6) (Scotland only).Sections 29 to 32, 50, 51, 60 (partially), 68, 71, 72, 75, 77, 147, 162(1) and (2) (partially), 86(12), 87(3)(f), 89(1)(g), 90(3) to (6), 91(1)(g) and 92(1)(d), 152 and 49.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether council employees working in Liverpool's direct labour organisation will be allowed to submit competitive tenders for forthcoming HATS projects.

No. Under section 1 of the Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970 local authorities may only enter into agreements with designated public bodies to supply goods, professional services and maintainance work of a minor nature. Although section 89 of the Housing Act 1988 does designate HATS as public bodies for the purposes of the 1970 Act, Liverpool's direct labour organisation would not be able to submit tenders for the major works contracts to be conducted under the HATS projects.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the lengths of long distance routes approved under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 which pass through harbours regulated under the Harbours Act 1964.

The majority of long distance paths start or follow significant lengths of the English coast. Some will pass through harbours regulated under the Harbours Act 1964. However, precise information in the form requested is not held centrally and cannot be obtained except at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the level of actual applications by local authorities for authorisations under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 Air Pollution Regulations; and what estimate his Department has made of the number of applications which should have been made to date.

My Department has not yet received all the quarterly returns for July, August and September from local authorities enforcing part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The figures for the first quarter (April, May and June) were 18 applications for new processes and 70 applications for existing processes. My Department estimated that the first block of processes due to apply for authorisation in the six months ending 30 September would comprise 4,600 to 4,800 processes as well as between 2,000 and 15,000 waste oil burners. It was only to be expected that the great bulk of applications would be received towards the end of this period.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest estimate of funds generated from capital receipts obtained through the sale of council houses; and whether he will now allow local authorities to use these receipts for reinvestment in new construction projects.

The capital value (net of discount) of sales of dwellings by local authorities in England between April 1979 and June 1991 amounted to nearly £18 billion.Since 1 April 1990 local authorities have been free to use 25 per cent. of the receipts from the sale of council dwellings for new capital investment. However, our general policy is to encourage the private sector, including housing associations, rather than local authorities to be the provider of new subsidised housing.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how he proposes to allocate resources in 1992–93 for waste disposal from within the local authority other services block.

I have decided that more investment in waste disposal facilities is needed so as to improve environmental standards. However, this cannot be achieved because local authority investment is necessarily restricted by public expenditure considerations. I have therefore decided that in future, investment in new facilities or major improvements in existing facilities will be drawn from the private sector unless there are overwhelming arguments to the contrary. To bring into effect these arrangements, I have decided that all capital expenditure resources for waste disposal within the other services block should be allocated by way of supplementary credit approvals (SCAs). These are divided between four main programmes as follows:

	1992–93 £ million
Landfill gas/contaminated land	25
Recycling	15
Incinerators	10
Waste disposal (main progamme)	50
TOTAL	100

Furthermore, I have decided that in line with the Government's policy of increasing the role of the private sector in the disposal of municipal waste, main programme waste disposal schemes, and incinerators, will be considered for supplementary credit approvals only if they fall within the following categories:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to consult local government about the guidance he proposes to issue to the Local Government Commission to be set up under the Local Government Finance Bill.

I have issued to the local authority associations and other organisations with an interest, a paper on the guidance we propose to issue to the new Local Government Commission. Copies have been placed in the Library and additional copies are available in the Vote Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will conduct an investigation into the incident at Faslane in which a constituent of the hon. Member for Renfrew, West and Inverclyde was attacked by an unknown assailant during the course of his work as a security guard; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.I understand that the incident in question relates to an altercation between two security guards employed by a private firm working at a contractor's site at the Royal Navy armaments depot, Coulport. The matter has been investigated by the MOD police and I am satisfied that no breach of security has occurred.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the average United Kingdom rate of economic growth since 1973 with comparable data for the previous decade, together with figures for manufacturing output, manufacturing employment and unemployment, and the levels of the real exchange rate in terms of relative export prices.

Most of the information can be derived from data available on the Central Statistical Office's database as series CAOP—gross domestic product at constant factor cost; DVIS—index of the output of manufacturing industries; DYAW—employees in manufacturing industries; BCJD—United Kingdom unemployment total, seasonally adjusted; and BQHM—relative export unit value index.Data in respect of manufacturing employment and unemployment are available from this source only from 1971. Data for earlier years are available in "British Labour Statistics Historical Abstract 1886–1968" and in "British Labour Statistics Year Books" for 1969 and 1970.Copies of these publications are available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimates he has of the increased yield in VAT in 1992–93 as a result of the change he announced on 21 October for the payment of VAT by larger businesses from a quarterly payment system to a monthly system;(2) what estimates he has of the reduction in yield from VAT in 1992–93 as a result of the change he announced on 21 October 1991 in the collection of VAT on imported goods to the system of postponed accounting.

Moving the larger VAT payers from quartely to monthly reporting in the autumn of 1992 will create an estimated once-off cash flow gain to the Exchequer in 1992–93 of about £1½ billion, although the precise effect is difficult to predict since it will depend on larger payers' tax liabilities in 1992–93.Requiring traders to account for VAT on EC imports on their normal domestic VAT return from 1 January 1993, instead of monthly at importation as at present, will subsequently produce a once-off cash flow loss to the Exchequer in 1992–93 of about £1½ billion. Again, the precise effect is uncertain as it will depend on the pattern and terms of trade in 1992–93.Had the Government introduced postponed accounting for EC imports in isolation the cash flow loss to the Exchequer in 1992–93 would have been about £2 billion. The cost would be more because all the VAT on imports would be paid quarterly, but the effect of introducing monthly returns first is that some VAT on imports—that of the largest payers—is paid monthly, rather than quarterly, under postponed accounting.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the volume of outstanding credit granted by Finance Houses Association members to consumers in 1989 and 1990;(2) what percentage of non-mortgage outstanding credit was accounted for by credit cards in 1989 and 1990; and what are the estimated percentage figures for the current year.

Information about credit advanced by members of the Finance Houses Association is not available from official statistics, but I understand the figures are published in the Finance Houses Association annual report 1991, a copy of which is in the Library.The percentages of non-mortgage outstanding credit to consumers accounted for by bank credit cards were 14·4 and 16·6 at the end of 1989 and 1990 respectively. The latest available figures show that at the end of the third quarter of 1991 the percentage was 17·6 per cent. Information about credit on non-bank credit cards is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the national income, 60 per cent. of that figure and the Government debt of each member state in the EC, indicating the differences in accounting treatment where relevant.

For data on the national income of each member state in the EC, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to him on 12 November 1991, at columns 506–7.Data for the level of Government debt are not yet available on a comparable basis for all EC member states. Following are estimates of the ratio of general Government gross debt, valued in nominal terms, to GDP as at 31 December 1989.

General Government gross debt, 1989 (per cent. of GDP)
	Per cent.
United Kingdom1	37·4
Belgium	130·7
Denmark2	58·0
France	46·6
Western Germany	43·4
Greece2	76·1
Ireland3	125·1
Italy	98·8
Luxembourg	8·5
Netherlands	79·7
Portugal2	71·2
Spain	43·2

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the level of the savings ratio in 1989 and 1990; and what is the estimated level for the current year.

The personal sector's savings ratio was 7·1 per cent. in 1989 and 9·2 per cent. in 1990. During the first half of 1991 it averaged 10·5 per cent.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the average income of householders in each of the proposed council tax bands, and of the ratio of the average income level in the top band to those in (a) the middle and (b) the lowest band.

None.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of average earnings is paid in taxation, including income tax, indirect taxes and national insurance contributions, for the average householder in (a) the lowest, (b) the middle and (c) the highest of the proposed council tax bands.

No such estimates of taxes paid are available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions since the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990 came into force its powers have been invoked to work with foreign customs services to intercept illegal arms or military equipment transfers; what has been the cost to date of implementing the Act; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 21 November 1991]: Three requests which are arms related have been received by HM Customs. The directly identifiable costs to Customs of handling these requests has been approximately £45,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries to which the BBC external services broadcast.

The BBC World Service in English is broadcast throughout the world. Broadcasts are also made to relevant countries in the following 35 languages:

Arabic, Russian, Spanish (for Latin America), Polish, Mandarin, Cantonese, French, German, Czech, Slovak, Hungarian, Romanian, Portuguese, Hindi, Persian, Bulgarian, Turkish, Serbian, Croatian, Greek, Indonesian, Urdu, Bengali, Hausa, Swahili, Vietnamese, Finnish, Burmese, Pashto, Somali, Thai, Slovene, Tamil, Nepali, Sinhala.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's planned relations with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Mr. Burns), on 16 October at column 156.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the interests of Gibraltar are represented within the European Community and the European Parliament.

Gibraltar's interests are represented by the British Government in the European Community. In the European Parliament there is an informal arrangement whereby a number of British MEPs take a close and active interest in Gibraltar.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of Ethiopia towards good government.

A broad-based transitional Government was formed in August. Elections to a new national assembly are due within two years. Her Majesty's Government welcome the transitional Government's commitment to respect for human rights, democracy and the liberalisation of the largely state-controlled economy inherited from the Mengistu regime.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Government of Kenya following the arrest of 20 leading Opposition leaders on 15 November.

I refer my hon. Friend to the replies I gave the hon. Members for Norwood (Mr. Fraser) on 22 November, at column 323, and for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Corbett) on 20 November, at column 266.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will cease providing military aid to Mozambique.

No.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to reject any proposal for a common EC foreign policy or for foreign policy co-ordination which would impinge on the United Kingdom's relations with other Commonwealth countries or restrict the right of the United Kingdom to work with other Commonwealth countries on any matter of Commonwealth concern.

We shall not accept any treaty text which would impair our ability to maintain and develop our relations with other Commonwealth countries.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to ensure that the Scottish Office, Welsh Office and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food co-ordinate the payment of livestock premiums so that all farmers in Great Britain receive payments at the same time.

My right hon. Friend the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced on 14 May that it was hoped to pay the majority of first advances under the sheep annual premium scheme no later than early autumn. This target was comfortably achieved in all parts of the United Kingdom. Payment of the second advance is already under way. Each agriculture department aims to make payments under the livestock schemes as quickly as possible. Producers' interests would not be best served by co-ordinating payments in the way suggested.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the reasons why all traffic was stopped from entering Parliament square at 15.05 hours on 19 November.

The management of traffic in London is an operational matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. I understand however that traffic in Parliament square was held up for a short period at 15.05 hours on 19 November to facilitate the passage of the President of Hungary to the Palace of Westminster.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to co-ordinate the activities of the Department of the Environment in dealing with homeless people and the activities of the Resettlement Agency in funding replacement bed spaces for closed resettlement units.

Regular discussions are held between Ministers and officials of the Department of the Environment and the Department of Social Security and the Resettlement Agency. At a local level, the agency holds detailed discussions on the provision of replacement beds for resettlement units which have closed or are to close with local authorities and the voluntary organisations in the area concerned.

To ask the Prime Minister if, pursuant to the answer of 5 November, Official Report, column 43, he will publish the text of the letter from Her Majesty's ambassador in Washington to the Chief of the Shoshone Nation regarding the continuation of British nuclear testing in Nevada.

I have arranged for the text of the letter to be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Prime Minister if, pursuant to the reply of 5 November, Official Report, column 43, he will publish the text of the letter on nuclear testing from his Australian counterpart.

Any decision to publish the text of the letter is one for the Australian Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to introduce a tax-free, non-means tested benefit designed to cover the extra costs incurred by disabled people in their daily lives; and if he will make a statement.

Disability living allowance, which will be both tax-free and non-income-related, will be introduced in April 1992. For people disabled before the age of 65, it will replace and extend the help with the extra costs of disability currently available through attendance allowance and mobility allowance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will undertake to restore the full rate of income support for those aged under 25 years.

There are no plans to remove the differential between the levels of income support personal allowances for those aged up to 24 years and those aged 25 and over.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many resettlement units outside London have been closed since 1987; and whether dates have been set for closing the remaining units;(2) what funding is being made available for resettlement unit replacement bed spaces; and what allowance for inflation is given for both revenue and capital costs;(3) what consultation is taking place with housing organisations, local authorities and residents regarding the planned closure of resettlement units outside London;(4) when it is expected the Leeds resettlement unit will close; and whether the planned number of replacement bed spaces will cater for the same number of beds as in the existing resettlement unit;(5) if he will ensure that proceeds of the sale of land and buildings in the resettlement unit closure programme will be used to fund replacement beds.

The management of the resettlement units replacement programme is a matter for Mr. Tony Ward, the chief executive of the Resettlement Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many social fund inspectors were employed on 30 June 1991;

I am informed by the Social Fund Commissioner that on 30 June 1991, there were 54 social fund inspectors employed and 1,666 review applications outstanding for more than one month. Since 30 June 1991 the Social Fund Commissioner has recruited a further 12 inspectors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost in the current financial year of paying a £10 per week per person allowance for people in bed-and-breakfast accommodation without adequate cooking facilities.

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list any occasions when, in benefit upratings from 1986 onwards, the power to round benefit rates up or down under section 63(5) of the Social Security Act 1986 has not been used to round rates to the nearest 5p indicating by how much and in which direction any rounding diverged from that practice.

[holding answer 18 November 1991]: The table lists those rates whose increased amounts, from April 1987 to April 1991 upratings inclusive, were not rounded in the manner specified. In each case the rate was rounded up or down to the nearest amount indicated except where otherwise specified. The 1986 uprating order was made before the commencement of the Social Security Act 1986.

	Rates
Child dependency increases
Level at which CDIs payable with long-term benefits are affected by earnings of claimant's spouse or partner
for first child	£5
for each subsequent child	£1
Earnings rules
Therapeutic earnings limit	50p
Industrial injuries unemployability supplement permitted earnings level (annual amount)	£1
Income Support
Reduction in benefit for strikers	50p
Industrial Death Benefit
Widow's pension (lower rate)	1p
Industrial Disablement Pension and Pneumoconiosis, Byssinosis Workman's Compensation Scheme
18 or over—100 per cent, rate1	10p
—lesser rates1	1p
Under 18 —lesser rates1	1p
Maximum life gratuity1	£10
Unemployability Supplement —middle rate	10p
Constant Attendance Allowance Normal maximum rate	10p
Invalidity Benefit
Invalidity Allowance —middle rate	10p

	Rates
Non-Dependant Deductions (IS/HB)2
Rent rebates and allowances
Aged 18 or over and in remunerative work3	10p above
Others, aged 18 or over, or on Income Support and over 253	10p above
Low earnings threshold	5p below
Other deductions (IS) (Pre-1992)
Deductions for direct payments
Fuel debt 5 per cent. rate	5p above
Fuel debt 10 per cent. rate	5p above
Arrears of housing costs	5p above
Arrears of water rates	5p above
Deductions for arrears of Community Charge (from April 1990)
Single debtor	5p above
Couple debtors both with IS	5p above
Retirement Pension
Additional pension	1p
Graduated Retirement Benefit (unit)	0·01p
Contracted out deductions (from pre-April 1988 earnings) and graduated retirement benefit	1p
Contracted out deductions (CODs) and increments to CODs (from post-April 1988 earnings)	1p
Statutory Sick Pay/Statutory Maternity Pay4	5p below
Widow's Benefit
Widow's pension (age related)	1p
1 Industrial Disablement Pension only.
2 New Non-Dependent deductions from April 1992.
3 Non-Dependent deductions from April 1991 only.
4 The information for Statutory Sick Pay/Statutory Maternity Pay relates to the 1989 to 1991 upratings. Fron April 1992 rates are to be rounded to the nearest fivepence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many income support and unemployment benefit claimants have (a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully claimed income support under the hardship rule during each quarter from October 1989 onwards in Wales; and how many such claims were in doubt due to (i) not actively seeking work, (ii) refusing suitable employment and (iii) availability for work.

The administration of income support is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has relating to the redevelopment of school and educational playing fields; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has provided funding for the Sports Council to establish a national register of recreational land, which will enable gains and losses to be monitored. The register will include educational playing fields. Decisions on the disposal of playing fields at local education authority maintained schools are for the education authority. However, in view of public concern about the loss of playing fields, we are considering the issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provision has been made for the further education funding councils to consult people and organisations with specialist knowledge of special educational needs; and if he will make a statement.

The Further and Higher Education Bill currently before Parliament requires the further education funding councils to have regard to the requirements of those with learning difficulties in making provision for further education. The funding councils will be able to determine what consultation is needed to enable them to carry out this duty effectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to ensure students with special educational needs wishing to pursue courses of

North Yorkshire local education authority Voluntary aided schools capital programme 1987–88 to 1992–93
Planned major projects	Bids for new projects (cash)	Allocation (cash)	Allocation (1987–88 prices) £000s
1987–88
1. Ermysted Boys Grammar School, Skipton	661	—	—
2. St. Joseph's RC Primary School, Tadcaster	207	—	—
3. St. Aelred's RC Primary School, York	234	—	—
4. St. Peter's RC Primary School, Scarborough	463	—	—
Planned minor works	133	—	—
1988–89
1. Ermysted Boys Grammar School, Skipton	773	—	—
2. St. Joseph's RC Primary School, Tadcaster	135	—	—
3. St. Peter's RC Primary School, Scarborough	504	—	—
4. St. Aidan's CE High School, Harrogate	747	—	—
5. Manor CE Secondary School, York	134	—	—
Planned minor works	442	100	93
1989–90
1. Ermysted Boys Grammar School, Skipton	744	—	—
2. St. Peter's RC Primary School, Scarborough	570	—	—
3. Manor CE Secondary School, York	144	—	—
Planned minor works	474	53	46
1990–91
1. St. Peter's RC Primary School, Scarborough	666	123	19
2. St. Aidan's CE High School, Harrogate	891	117	13
3. Manor CE Secondary School, York	176	—	—
Planned minor works	532	37	25
1991–92
1. St. Peter's RC Primary School, Scarborough	692	260	196
2. St. Aidan's CE High School, Harrogate	447	300	226
3. St. Wilfred's Primary School, York	722	126	20
4. Manor CE Secondary School, York	135	—	—
Planned minor works	585	183	138
1992–93
1. St. Wilfred's RC Primary School, York	515	n.a.	n.a.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he advised local education authorities that they may no longer apply for resources from the voluntary aided schools capital programme for

The Further and Higher Education Bill currently before Parliament will ensure that a wide range of educational provision continues to be available for students with special educational needs, including provision in schools and in colleges of further education.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list all the bids submitted by North Yorkshire local education authority for resources from the voluntary aided schools capital programme and the cash value of these bids in 1987–88 and in each year since then; and if he will list the bids approved and resources allocated in cash terms and at 1987–88 prices.

The information requested is as follows:schools needing work to remedy accommodation deficiencies or overcrowding; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has given local education authorities no such advice. They are free to bid for projects at voluntary aided schools needing work to remedy accommodation deficiencies or overcrowding, and many have done so. Decisions on which projects will receive allocations will be announced in December.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he raised the limit for minor works projects funded by the voluntary aided schools capital programme from £120,000 to £250,000; how he consulted local education authorities about this change; what assessment he has made of local education authorities requirement for resources to fund minor works projects costing over £120,000; how much extra money he intends to distribute to local education authorities for funding minor works; and how much of the voluntary aided schools capital programme for 1991–92 was allocated in respect of projects costing between £120,000 and £250,000.

The limit for minor works projects funded by the voluntary aided schools capital programme is to be raised from £120,000 to £250,000 with effect from 1992–93 as announced in the Department's letter of 30 May to local education authorities inviting bids for 1992–93 capital expenditure. Local authority associations were consulted in March on the proposed change, and were content. Local education authorities' requirements for resources to fund minor works projects costing over £120,000 have been assessed on the basis of previous years' bids. A decision on how much extra money to distribute to local education authorities for minor works will be announced when allocations for all voluntary aided school projects are announced in December. A total of £1·5 million was allocated in respect of new projects costing between £120,000 and £250,000 in 1991–92.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in making his request to head teachers that schoolchildren should take copies of the parents charter for distribution to their parents, what advice he took to ensure that this will not contravene section 45 of the Education Act 1986.

There is no question of the distribution of the parents charter falling within the scope of sections 44 and 45 of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986, which relate to political teaching in schools, nor within the scope of section 2 of the Local Government Act 1986 which relates to the distribution of political propaganda.The parents charter is addressed not to pupils but to their parents. It sets out in objective terms the rights which parents now have in relation to their children's education, and those changes which the Government propose to introduce if Parliament gives its approval. It fully meets the published guidelines on Government publicity.The decision on distribution is one for the governors and head teacher of each school, and not for local education authorities. The majority of schools have already responded positively to my right hon. and learned Friend's invitation to order copies for their parents. Others should follow their example and not be intimidated or misled by inaccurate advice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the age participation index figure for higher education in Scotland and in England and Wales, respectively, for each of the last 10 years.

Separate age participation indices for England and Wales are not calculated.The available figures are as follows:

Academic year	Great Britain1	Scotland3
1981–82	13·1	18·1
1982–83	13·3	18·0
1983–84	13·1	18·7
1984–85	13·7	19·4
1985–86	13·9	19·1
1986–87	14·0	19·7
1987–88	14·6	20·9
1988–89	15·1	21·2
1989–90	17·1	24·5
1990–91	219·3	n/a
1 Defined as the number of under 21 year old United Kingdom domiciled initial entrants expressed as a proportion of the average of the total number of 18 and 19 year olds in the population. Initial entrants are those students entering a course of higher education for the first time. Source: DES.
2 Provisional.
3 Defined as the number of Scottish domiciled entrants to full-time higher education anywhere in the United Kingdom who are aged 20 or less, expressed as a percentage of the population of 17 year olds one year previously. Source: SOED.
n/a = not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of full-time undergraduate and post-graduate students, respectively, attending universities in Great Britain were matriculated at Scottish universities at the latest date for which figures are available.

In the academic year 1990–91, 16·1 and 12 per cent. of full-time undergraduates and post-graduates respectively attending universities in Great Britain were matriculated at Scottish universities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of the recurrent grant distributed by the Universities Funding Council or the University Grants Committee went to Scottish universities in each of the last five years.

The Scottish universities' share of the recurrent grant allocated to GB universities by the University Grants Committee or the Universities Funding Council was 15 per cent. in academic years 1986–87, 1987–88 and 1988–89 and 14 per cent. in 1989–90 and 1990–91. These percentages are based on the figures issued by the UGC or the UFC in their recurrent grant announcement letters before the beginning of the years in question.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the percentage of students at Scottish universities who are domiciled in England and abroad, respectively, for the latest year for which figures are available.

In the academic 1990–91, 19·2 per cent. and 13·8 per cent. of students attending Scottish universities were domiciled in England or overseas.